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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-02-27526 3 v �c SELECTMEN'S MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 1934. A regular meeting; of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday February 27, 1954, at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Trask, Gilcreast, Ferguson, and O'Connell were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Albert A. Ross came befoi°e the Board to discuss Trunk line tre matter. of ,pack filling on the trunk line sewer job. sewer Mr. Ross suggested that this work be done by the unemploy- ed men in the town and that some of th�� work be done by machinery. He stated that we would ha77e to apply for an additional loan on this project as it is not in the con- tract. It is, however, included in the grant, and request ,Mould ha•.Te to be made that the matter of back fill be taken from the request of the grant. The Board therefore voted that the back fill to ile taken from the grant, request, and the Strte Engineer be notified on the matter. Silt sto McClintic Marshall Corp. celled the attention of Mr. p, Ross to the fact that the standpipe is constructed so that standpipe there may be a silt stop if the Board sees fit to out one in. This will give opportunity to clean the standpipe if , necessary. Mr. Ross presented letter relative to an agreement of Morang William F. Mnrang to pay $5. per month on his water bill. Mr. Morang paid one installment on his water bill, and the water Board agreed that he should continue monthly payments, but if he does not continue the Board gave authority to Mr. Ross to shut off the water without coming before the Board again in regard to tine matter. Nater ''ept. Mr. Ross presented furter details in reference to the time the men on the Water Department worked during the time freeze ups. The Board, however, decided to lay the matter of paving extra pay for this work on the table until Mr. Lyons was present. Mr. Ross presented report in reference to the viola- tion of the thirty hour rule on the se-rer contract, and it PUPA appears that the violations made were approved by the In - violations specter, Mr.. Barstow, extent in one case where there was an error on the part of the timekeeper. At 8:05 P.M. the bids we-oe opened on the proposal for Bids stand- erecting a concrete foundation for a steel standp9_pe in Lex- ' i.ngton in accordance with the notice to contractors published ' Pipe found& -three times in the Lexington Times Minute -Man, and specifi- tion cations furnished by the Board of Selectmen. ' Bids were received as follows: Patrick F. Dacey, 18 Muzze�T St., Lexington $2298.00 Patrick Ross, 55 Park Avenue Ext., Arlington 2420;00 Simpson Bros. Coro. 193 Hanover St., Boston 2690.00 Areese Construction Co., llz12 Adan.s St., Newton 4750:00 Williams & King, 14 Jerome St., Dorchester 3423.00 John MacDonald Construct'on C-.215 Calif. StNewton3945;00 Chandler Censtructi nn Co. Inc. 45 Neln✓')ury St " 3290;00 James Cheserone, 915 Chestnut St., Waban 2850.00 E. C. Blanchard & Son, 50 Picks ing St. Danvers 3774.00 Bond Bros., Everett, Mass. 3243.00 Certificate of compliance was signed in all cases ex- cept i.n case of Patrick Ross. Mr. Ross was present and thought that he had signed what was nec(-ssary, and was willing to sign if he received the bid. Certified checks were also received _n all cas s. The Board voted to accept the bid of the loweFt bid- der, Patricir F. Dacey, of 18 Muzze7T Street, Lexington at his bid of $2298.00. Water Liens against the following properties for the following amounts were signed as follows. ' Louise Edgar Mass. Avenue $17.53 Chis. G. Camouges 68 Cliffe Ave. 12.33 Mary Murphy 74 Cliffe Ave. 15.33 Willens McDonald Moreland Ave. 13.50 Lialian N. Wil' ­ins Follen Road 18.96 John P. Daile,,r Marrett Road 1.6.55 Anna E. O'Connell & Mary J. Marshall Marrett Road 7.50 Ernest Foley School Strut 30.38 Helen B. Sarano Lincoln St. 22.86 Helen B. Sarano Marrett Road 45.96 Roger W. Brown Outloc]; Drive 21.60 527 Mater liens It was voted to rebate to Mrs. Philomena Pero of Beer 3.2 12 Waltham Street the sur.: of 20 due her for two months license on the 3.2 beer license which she held and which the Board voted to cancel on March lst. Circular letter was received from the Town of Fram- Public utili. ingham )° lative to public Uti_]ity Rates. No action was ties taken on the matter. Letter was recei.ved from the Suot. of Pul)l_ic Works in which he stated that he com-run_i_cated with the Arlington ' Gas Co. relative to the possibil9ty of having further leaks on Coolidge Ave. as comp'_a'_ned of by Mr. Tinlcham, and was informed by them that the two le.. -s mentioned were caused by a broken standpipe, and .,i -en the frost is out of the ground, permanent repai-s will be made so that there will be no further trouble. Gas leaks, Coolidge Ave. 528 c� �c The Chairman reported that the District Nurse talked ' with'him in regard to the report of the Town Ph7*sician, in which he stated that there should be moi°e nursing done. Nursing The district nurse felt that he would give a more definite statement as to what work he felt was necessary. The Dis- trict Nurse has felt for some time that there should be another nurse employed and the Chairman agreed to get a further statement from the Town Physician to find out how much work he felt should be done in addition to what is now being done. The Building Inspector came before the Board and str;ted that he had notified some of the persons violating the Zoning Law and the following action had been taken: Mr. C. B. Daniels, 881 Mass. Ave, removed his sign; Frank Gibson, 812 Mass. A,7e., removed real estate sign at Lockwood Road. coning Dr. Ivan G. PVIe, 11 Muzzey St., Dr. Robert H. Wells, 1430 'violations Mass. Ave. & Dr. C. Reginald Hardcattle, 57 WA ltham St. applied for hearings before the Board of Appeals for permission to maintain physician's offices. Dr. N. Ellard, 1355 Mass. Ave, has removed his dentists sign; Robbins & Smith are maintaining a real estate sign on Mass. , Ave. and have applied for Board of Appeals hearing. Mr. Scott of Grove St. has removed "is sign advertising simonizing. Mrs. Jos. Swan, 23 Bedford St., has removed real estate sign; Walter E. Jones of Winter Street removed his sign main- tained advertising dog kennels. T -he case of Malcolm W. Hampton of 26 Par'rer St., who main- tains a shop on the Bean premises, and the sign maintained by Thomas Montague at 21 Bedford St, were referred,by the Building Inspector to the Town Counsel. Mr. Longbottom inquired of the 3oard whether or not they desired to have him proceed against the four plumbers who are operating plumber's shops from their homes, namely Lester Andrews, Robert Watt, Joseph Buckley and Cha:. Collins. Mr. O'Connell suggested that -it procedure is made again- st any it should be made against all or to leave t•he'persons alone who are endeavoring to make a living;. The Board discussed the matter as to whether or not they would proceed against any of these parties, and it was decided to lay the matter over until all the members of the Board were present to discuss the matter. Hearing was called at 8:30 o'clock on the B'oard's not- ' ice of intention to lay out Bla1�e Road, from Simonds Road 529 to Eaton Road a distance of approximately 210 feet, Eaton Road from Bertwell Road to Blake Road a distance of approxi- mately 792 fejt, and Gleason Road from Simonds Road to Wil- liams Road a distance of approximately 658 feet. Owing to the fact that there were ,iot very many present, the hearing Hearing, was called on the three streets together. Blake Eaton Mr. Little presented signatures of almost 75% of all & Gleason the properties represented agreeing to pay their proport- goads ionate share of the highway betterment tax on these streets and stated that he would get one more signatu,e before Fri- day next that would bring the amount over 75%. The Town Engineer was present to answer any questions in regard to the proposed construction of the streets. The Chairman explained that the cost of it 1:°✓as reduced to the minimum amount by making the travelled roadway only 24 feet instead of 27 feet, the tra'Telled width of Harding Road. The Town Engineer explained that. they intend to have two five foot sidewalks of G­aTTel_ on either side of the street; also that there rad been no change in the layout which was made several ye.�rs ago a_nJ that the grade is the same as the existing grade. Mr. Hazen Hamlin inquired wh«tether or not there will be anything done in regard to fixing the property where they cut the, edges and the Town E=I neer stated that there will ' be nothing done on the properties. Mr. Nickerson was pre- sent and inquired whether the grade would be changed or not. Mr. 11ells inquired whether or not tT-e storm surface water would be taken care of. The Town Engineer informed him that he thought there was only a small amount of drainage there to be taken care of. Mr. Little explained that there had never been any trouble with drainage in that section except at one time when the drain in Gleason Road was plug -ed up and flooded into the cellars. He stated that Mr. Blake,had some men put in there and they found that the drain pipe had been plugged up by roots of a willow tree which had blocked the pipes up and after this was dug out and fixed and the water flowed, there was no more trouble. Mr. Parker was present and stated that he would like to have Bertwell Road accepted inasmuch as he lived on the corner of Eaton Road and his house faced nn Bertwell Road. He felt that if that small sec -ion of Bertwell Road could be accepted to Simonds Road, that it should be done. Mr. Little stated that he found that there were now several people on Bertwell Road that would like to haTre Bertwell Road accepted and that he would be very glad to see what could be done about putting through this proposition. Mr. Parker felt, }.owover, that if anything happened that they could not obtain the signatures of sufficient ' persons on Bertwell Road to put the street through, that the small section that spoke of should be nut through. 530 coon *00 The Board informed him that there would probal-ly be ' a Town Meeting sometime during June, and the Board would endeavor to see what coi,ld be done about accepting that section of the street. The hearings were declared closed and the Board voted to sign an order for the layout of Blalre Road to Simonds Road to Eaton Road a distance of approximately 210 feet, for the layout of Gleason Road from Simonds Road to Wil- liams Road a distance of approximately 658 feet, and for Eaton Road a distance of approximately 658 feet, and for Eaton Road from Bert -well Road to Blake Road a distance of approximately 792 feet. -*_= The Town Engineer and the Supt, of the Water & Sewer Department wee before the Board and the Chairman read the report of Metcalf & Eddy on drainage in the vic1nity of the Shea property in East Lexington. Drainage After reading the report the Board discussed whether or not they wound asl= the Town for $24,000 which would be the cost of doing the drainage work to relieve the Shea pro- perty for which an award of damages had already been made in the amount of ap,,roximately $9000. to Mr. Shea for the water run into his property or • hether th?•r 17nn1d e.,pend $10,000 as they had estimated prior to receiving this re- port and complete the work next year. Ware regi- Report was received from the Health Inspector in ref- ' erence to the condition of the house in which Mrs. Flora denee Ware, recipient of Old Age Assistance, lives. This was referred to him for inspection owing to the fact that the visitor from the State House objected to the conditions at the house. The Inspector reported that he found that Mrs. Ware lived upstairs and was unable to come downstairs and while the odor of dogs was noticeable, he did not think it was objectionable and he found that they raise one litter of dogs each year and they are only kept in the house in the extreme cold weather as they provide a ,yard for them out- side. Mr. Gilcreast felt that when he went there, that the odor of dogs was very obj^ctionable, -Mt it was voted to leave the matter with the Clerl, to take up with the visitor from the State Dept. of Old Age Assistance to find out what they desire to have done -in regard to the matter. Letter ,was received from the British Military and Naval Parade Veterans Association in which they requested permission to nave their usual parade and exercises on the Battle Green on Sunday, May 27th. It was voted to grant tT,_is permission. Shelalea In regard to the divislon to be placed on the insur- , house ance on the Shelales house on the barn and the house, it was decided to place $300 on the barn and. $1700 on the house. r ' The Chairman reported that Chief Taylor informed him that he was able to Fet the boiler at the Central Fire Sta- tion insi�ected and it was therefore voted to have this Boiler boiler :insured lander the blanket insurance policy carried through the office of Elmer A. Lord & Co. Letter was i,ecelved from the Rutland State Sanatorium In which they stated that Nelson S. Dwyer, formerly of Cedar Street, Lexington, was diagnosed as second stage case of pulmonary tuberculosis and that they considered the disease Dwyer TB quiescent and therefore lie was not in need of hospitalixa- Case tion at Rutland. They asl-ed that sometir�7 be done about his removal. It was decided ".o make an effort to locate some of family and to see whether or riot they would take him before making any arrangements for his removal. It was voted to grant a First Class Agent's License License to the Lexington Automobile Co., Wil -Ilam G. Murphy, to do business at_97 Mass. Avenue, at the sales room at that lo- cation. Circular letter was received from Dr. Henry D. Chadwicir relative wo prevelance of measles and deaths caused by Measles this disease and sug;;ested that every effort be made to ' Provide adequate medical care and nursing care for children when exposed to measlos. It was voted tolair over the matter of appointment of April 19th the Aoril 19th Committee until the next meeting of the Committee Board. Mr. Trask felt that they should start the proposition by shutting in a steam shovel and perhaps get as far as Fot- tler Avenue this year and as1, for th, balance of the appro- priation this ,year. He felt that owing to the fact that the Appropriation Commit';ee are against bonding the Town, that thelT would riot cooperate with the Board on an issue of 'bonds for this proposition. Mr. Ferguson felt that :if part of the work is done this year, that we would still have the same condition ex- isting as we had previously for which the Town had been sued and he felt that the job should be completed. The Board decided to lay the -matter over for one week for further discussion. The Chairman reporter''_ in regard to the he2ring on Ple sant Street that he and the Town Engineer attended the pleasant hea Ing and Mr. Custance was also there reporesenting the ' Hatch property. Street The proposition presented apparently .was agreeable to the County Commissioners, "-ut Mr. Kendall, County Engineer sta ed that he did not like the grade of the street where it would meet the proposed concord avenue highway. He thought that the layout of the old road was good enough. 332 Mr. Trask, however, called attention to the curves in the present highway, and finally the matter was left with that the Cl_airman of the Board and the Town Engineer to try to zjet them to change the grade of the new state high- way. Letter was received. from Mr. Ross in which he stated that he comilunicated with the Metropolitan Sewer Commis - Cesspool sioners in regard to disposal of cesspool material in the material trunk line sewer and they objected to the material being dumped into the server unless the material is diluted. Mr. Ross sug,,ested that a special manhole be constructed with a trap and a flush valve in order that the material may be diluted. This manhole would have to be constructed adjacent to a manhole in the trunk line sewer. This would cost approximately $300. The Board felt that this was a large sum to expend for this proposition and felt that the Town was still a rural Town and that theT,e could be some places found for dumping the material that would not be objectionable. Letter was received from the Town Accountant in which Snow removal he called attention to the fact that tYi� exnPnditures in & WaterMaintthe Snow Removal Account and Water Maintenance Account ex - accounts ceeded the amount allowed and it Twos therefore necessary to declare an emergency in both of these accounts, and it is therefore voted, under authority of Chapter 44 of the Gen- eral Lavas, to declare an emergency in the Removal_ of Snow Account on account of the excessive gilow storms recently, and in the Water Maintenance Account on account of the freeze-up in the water mains caused by the intensive cold weather. Mr. Gilcreast reported that he had made an investi- Light ongation of the light situation in that section of Waltham S Waltham t, Street between Allen St., and Blossom Street and he felt whereas he had also talked with Miss Carroll in regard to the matter, and he gathered from her that alti-ough she did not actua"ilv want that, but she really wants a light at the foot of her steps alt=iough she did not admit it. The Board formerly informed her that if she desired to have this light near her steps, she could have it upon payment, of $10 for -.loving the pole. He stated that Miss Carroll also called attention to the fact teat there cars parking along there in the summertime that were disturbing. Mr. Gilcreast felt that he could not recommend that additional lights be put in inasmuch as there was sufficient light in this section, but h^ felt that the matter of parking cou d be viewed in the summertime to see whether or not there was anything objectionable that would warrant the change of any of the street lights in this section. 1 1 D [1 Mr. Gilcreast reported in regard of the application of Henrietta Dow th�:t h= ;vould recoml end $5, per week in this case. The Board tberefore voted to grant $5. per ,reek Old Age Assistance In this case. The Clerk reported that the Government coal allotment to the Town ,vas nov wi-thdrarin and upon the apnroval of Mr. Gilcreast one half ton of nti_, codLl was granted to Mr. Henry Walker on Feb. 24th. Parr. Walker hard previously had one ton of Government coal on Jan. 9th. In the case of Michael Cardillo, he received one ton of Governemt Coal on Jan. 5tl,, and he was formerly given an increase of t. w -el: for fuel. It was decided, there- fore, to no,rT grant him $1.00 a weep increase to provide for his fuel. In regard to the case of Mrs. George W. Makechnie, it was decided to give iter $2. a weep extra to Mas,- lst to pro- vide for her coal. Also, in the case of Mrs. Harah Devine $2 a week extra was allowed for coal. It was decided not to make any additional allowance in the case of Mrs. Flor- ence Mann. The Chairman reported that he had put in considerable time on the holiday and all Fridasz morning getting ready the applications for the Civil Works Projects in the pro- per forms. He also stated that telegram requesting that ten per cent of the men be laid off was received, so that the applications had to be changed to meet this new re- quirements. Telegram was also receliTed stating that they were ready to grant new projects where necessary,. and there- fore he attached the statement to the applications that the Board would agree that they would supply materials on the projects out of Town Funds i_n accordance with the projects formerly discussed before the Board. 533 Old Age ease,coal Civil Works Mr. Mitchell reported that application was .received from Robert Morrison who lives in one of George Bailey's houses. The man has a niece who lives frith him 'eeping Morrison house and was a watch repairer. He has lived in Lexington case for many ears and has .a settlement here. The Board voted t'o grant a week in this case. Application was received from Rby Peterson of Blossom Peterson Street, who has been on the C.W.A. The man has a wife and case one child, and lives in house owned by his mother. He has a settlement in Waltham. No aid was granted as yet in this case. Mr. Mitchell called W. Stygles of Oak Street at home has been laid off partment. His son George zens Camp. The Chairman stated the C.W.A. work. at enti_on to the fact that Mr. G. who has a 'wife and six children St7gles the C.W.A, work on the Moth De- case also was sent home from the Citi- th.,.t hewould place him baclr on 534 coo Application was received frim Esther Marie Wright,"who ' `s a sister of Mr. Johanson, who lives on Sylvia Street. She is divorced from her husband and has one child who is Wright with her grandmother in Bedford. At the present time the Case worian has a settlement through her husband in Somerville. The Board felt that inasmuch as the woman was only 22 ,years old, that aid should not be granted in this case at the present time, inasmuch as the woman formerly worked and it was felt that she might secure a position again. Mr. O'Connell reported that when she obtained her divorce, she did not request any alimony. T'he Chairman reported that the Chief of the Fire De- partment informed him that he felt that he would hale to re- sign his position as Chief of the Fire Dept. as it was taking Chief,Fire up too much of his time for the ,ompensation he received. Dept. He is now receiving $500. per year salary and $200. for the use of his car. Mr. 'Traylor has been in that office since 1913 and it was felt that the Town has for a long time had his services at a very low ra''e and it was therefore voted to increase his salary to $1200 a year and not to make any allowance for the use of his car. This amount was to be subject to the apnroval of the Anprorriatinn Committee. The matter of recognition of the services of Robert H, ' White as Supt. of Streets for the past fifty years was dis - - cussed and it was felt that due to the fact that Mr. White Mr.YVhite will still be consulted by the Supt, of the Highways, that at this time, the Chairman should write him a letter of ap- preciation of his service to the Town. Letter of appreciation was received from the Lovell Bus Lines, Inc. on the assistance rendered them by snow plow service of the Town, to enable them to keep their bus sche- duled. Notice was receivo,! from the Dept. of Education of the State in which they stated that they approved the application of Bertram Sibley of 14 Forest Street, for admittance to the Cambridge Evening Industrial School. The Meeting adjourned at 9:30 P.M. A true record, Attest: - Clerk. n