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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-03-20 550 Cmi• SELECTMEN 'S MEETING MARCH 20, 1934. 1 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen wes held at the Selectmen' s Office, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P. M. Messrs . Trask, Ferguson, Gilcreast, O'Connell and Lyons were present. The Clerk was also present. Constable The Bond of John C . Russell as Constable was approved by bond the Board. Special The Chairman gave notice that a special meeting of the meeting Board would be held on Thursday evening at 7 :45 P. M. to re- ceive bids on the temporary loan. Commitments of Miscellaneous sewer charges in the amount Commitmentof $x''97.00; water guaranty charges in the amount of 44208.11 and miscellaneous water charges in the amount of $483.44 were signed by the Board. Infants Renewal of application to board two infants was signed board- for Marion E. Hankard of 8 Garfield Street . ing. Repair The bill of X60.00 to Kenneth P. Blake for repair of the picture Battle of Lexington picture damaged by steam when the radia- for in the Cary Memorial Building broke, was approved by the Board. Mr. Bucharme of Marrett Road came before the Board in Ducharme reference to the application his wife filed last week for ritauru permission to operate a restaurant at the location formerly lica- occupied by Mel' s Restaurant. n The Chairman informed him that he would have to settle the account of 610.00 now owed to the Town before any action would be taken. He agreed to settle within a few days. Mr. W. Benjamin C . Meady of Bedford Street came before the Board and stated that the fact that the appropriation for Boiler ;10,00. for insurance made at the town meeting exceeded the insurance usual amount and the mention was made of the boiler insurance coming due led him to believe that the boiler insurance car- ried must be an excessive amount, and he felt that there might be an opportunity of making a saving. He desired to have an opportunity to bid on the boiler insurance. He de- sired also to get other insurance on the town of Lexington property when the opportunity arises . The Clerk was instructed to furnish Mr. Meady with the information necessary so that he may have an opportunity to furnish figures. Mr. Jacob Kourian of Grove Street and other residents, namely, Dr. Albert Pfeiffer, Mr. John Millican of Burlington fi51 and others came before the Board in reference to having Grove Street put into good conditon. Mr. Kourian felt that the Board should insist that the State come in and build the cut off that had been proposed by them a few years ago, coming across East Street, thence to Bedford Street. He felt that the cut off should not, however, come out on to Bedford Street, but that it should continue up Grove Street and then to Bedford. The Chairman explained to him that this proposition had been abandoned by the State inasmuch as it was their inten- tion to build a circumferential highway which will continue Grove route 128 across Wellesley, Weston and Lexington near the Cambridge Water basin thence across Marrett Road near the Bluff and across Grove Street into Burlington. Construction will start at Lynnfield and work this way. Mr. Kourian stated that he understood that Lexington opposed the cut off when the matter was brought up at a com- mittee meeting at the State House. The Chairman informed him, however, that the cut off was opposed by Bedford inas- much as they did not want traffic diverted by the way of Bed- ford Street into their town, and also by the Town of Arling- ton who did not want to pay the damages they would be called upon to pay . Lexington did not oppose it. Mr. Kourian requested, however, that the Selectmen do what they could toward constructing Grove Street either with C . W. A. Labor or with the State and County contributing, or the town doing the work. He felt that the land in that sec- tion was Rood land to develop and they should have a good street . Mr. Frank P. Cutter was present and made the suggestion that the abuttors might pay for the gravel to be put in to make a foundation for the street to be constructed by the town. Mr. Pfeiffer stated that he understood why the Board would be unable to get the State interested in establishing the route as a through route . Mr. Kourian felt that the abuttors pay enough taxes to have some consideration. The Town Engineer was present at the hearing. The Chairman read a letter directed to the State De- partment of Public Works that had ben prepared by Metcalf Concord and Eddy, Engineers in which they recommended that certain Ave. drainage work be done before the Concord Avenue highway is Drainage constructed. The letter was sent by the Chairman and he re- ceived word from the State Department that the recommenda- tion called for considerable expenditure and inasmuch as the appropriation had already been made, it would be necessary to obatin additonal money and they did not feel inclined at this late hour to make this request . Metcalf and Eddy sug- gested going overt he head of the State Dept . but the Chair- man did not think it was proper to do this inasmuch as this 552 1-c information was not available to the State when they requested the appropriation. The Town Engineer stated that he preferred to have a sta- tion wagon in preference to a sedan for the engineering de- Station partment inasmuch as the instruments could be much more easily Wagon, carried and the upholstery would wear very much better. Engineering The Supt . of Public Works presented figures showing the Dept. cost of a sedan to be 1630.97 and a station wagon, $750.30. The Town Engineer stated that he would rather wait until later in the year to have money enough to make the purchase of the station wagon. No action was therefore taken at this time. Abatement Abatement in the amount of 490.70 of charges in the Wel- fare Department uncollectable was signed by the Board. Standpipe Letter was received from the Federal Administration of Bata Fublic Works approving of the award of the bid for the co nstuc- Contract tion of the concrete base for the standpipe to Patrick F. ' Dacey. TB hospital Invitation to inspect the Middlesex County Sanatorium inspec- on March 23rd at 2:30 P. M. was received by the Board. tion The Chairman reported that the Lexington Gold' Club de- sired a license to sell beer and wine. Beer & No applications had been received prior to this date and no fee for clubs was established. wine It was voted to establish a fee of e25. for a Club to Club Lie- sell beer and wine. ense. It was also voted to grant a license to the Lexington Golf Club to sell beer and wine at Hill Street. Roland Garmon came before the Board, at the Board' s re- quest, to talk about the Janitorship of the Stone building. , His father until his death recently held the position of Jani- tor at a salary of 4125. per year with free rent of a kitchen, dinning room, sitting room, hail, two bed rooms, and bath . Janitor In recent years he received the fees of 42.00 per night for Hall. Roland gave a summary of the rentals of the Building Stone during 1933 showingthat the hall was rented 122 times for Bldg. which he received 2.00 or a total of X244. He stated that when his family first went to live at the building the hall was rented about three times a month, now it is rented that many times a week. He stated that he furnished the coal for the kitchen fire, but that water and lights were paid for by the Town, also that it took about one half of his time to look after the building especially in the winter time when dirt is being tracked into the building. Mr. Garmon suggested that a regular salary be paid instead of the fees, also that the rate should be higher. He also stated that people hire the hall for rrivate -*sin for wrist parties . He also suggested that if a change in rate is made, it should not go into effect for one month after the date it is changed as engagements are made for the hall at the 42.00 rate . 559- The Board discussed the matter and decided to recommend to the Cary Library Trustees, custodians of the building, that the fees for rental of the building be turned into the Treasury and that Roland Garmon be given the rent of the rooms he now has and that he be paid 610. a week salary, he to provide the fuel for the kitchen range. The Board voted to go on record as favoring Senate Bill #260 and to notify Senator Cotton and Representative Nelson Senate B. Crosby. This Bill is known as an Act providing for the Bill Coordination of State, Metropolitan and Local Police and More Effective Means and Methods of Crime Detection and Sup- pression. #260 Report was received from Stanley A. Higgins, Assistant Town Engineer, giving the damage alleged to have been done to the house of Mrs. Eup? emia Brown at 57 Bedford Street. Damages to The Board felt that the damage may have been done last year Brown house when work was done nearer this house, and did not feel that it could have been done by the blasting at Shirley Street, and decided to request information from the family in re- gard to the matter. Letter was received from A. A. Ross, Supt. of the Water Dept . in which he stated that the City of Waltham requested IIpermission to lay a 10 inch water main in Walnut Street from the Waltham Lexington line connecting with the 10 inch main which already exists in Walnut Street about 1000 feet from the Wal- tham line. Waltham proposes to do all the work and furnish Water all the material at no charge to the town. The request is main made to provide an emergency supply for Waltham. The connec- Walnut St. tion is to be used only as an emergency supply and would benefit the 'own of Lexington also . Mr. Ross recommended that permission be given for this main, and stated that the City Manager of Waltham is to take the matter up with the Metropolitan District Commission to secure permission. It was decided to obtain the opinion of the Town Coun- sel as to whether it would be proper_to grant permission to have this main installed. The Board voted to grant an auctioneer' s license to Leslie J. Wood of Webb Street and a Licence to haul garbage Licenses through the town to Joseph Douglas of Bedford. Application was received from D. F. Ross of 3 Depot Ross Motor le Square for a first class agent ' s license to operate under the VP�rmit Henley Kimball Co. To have a salesroom for motor vehicles it would be nec- essary to have a hearing before the Board of Appeals . Mr. Ross, however, did not intend to display cars upon the pre- mises, and the Board therefore voted to grant him an Agent' s 554 1-c License with the proviso that no cars are to be displayed on the premises . Letter was received from D. W. Tucker of 47 Grant Street in which he stated that in the recent thaw the brook in back Vine of his house rose so high that the wall was undermined and now Brook the brook is full of rocks and is washing away the banks . The Supt. Of Public Works reported on his investigation of the conditons and found that the wall that was referred to was not constructed by the town. He stated that the flow of the water was not stopped by the rocks in the brook so that it would not be necessary to do any emergency work at the pre- sent, but when the weather is warmer he would set the men at work cleaning out the brook. The Board were invited to march in the parage April 19th. It was voted to inform the April 19th Committee that the April Board would ride in the parade to Woburn St . halting there 19th to march to the reviewing stand, and would review the parade celebra- from the stand, to be located in front of the Cary Memorial tion Building. The Committee suggested that John N . Morse, the only surviving member of the G. A. R. that is able to be out, be requested to review the parade from the reviewing stand. The Board therefore decided to extend invitation to Mr. Morse as suggested. ' Docket Letter was rece ved from the Federal Emergency Adminis- #2066 tration of Public Works in which permission was granted to withdraw the item of backfilling of trench estimated at 41,000 from the project No. 2066 Sewer construction. Letter was received from Sarah Eddy Holmes acknowledging the letter of the Board accepting the signs given in memory Holmes of her father in 1925 and in which she asked that in place signs of the words "T3oard of Trade" that her father' s name be painted on the signs . The members of the Board did not have any recollection of the past correspondence or the matter having been brought before the Board and the Clerk was therefore requested to bring in the records at the next meeting in reference to the matter. Copy of the vote passed by the Town at a Town Meeting February 10, 1915 in reference to sewer rentals was presented by the Supt . of Public Works . This vote states that the sewer Sewer Rentals rental charge shall be approximately 25,i. of the Yearly water rates after making a deduction therefore representing the water used through lawn and garden hose. In regard to the water used through lawn and garden hose, it would be hard to judge just how much water was used unless the water was meter- ed and this would be a considerable expense. No action was taken on the matter. 555 Letter was received from Curlys L. Slocum accepting his Aipointment appointment on the Board of Assessors and expressing appre- Mr.Sloeum, ciation. Assessor Letter wns received from the Building Inspector report- ing inregard to the place in which Mrs . Mary Lowe is living on Wood Street. He stated that Mrs . Lowe had funds in the bank and that she informed him that she was going to endeav- Log�yy..@@ or to wet a bank loan to a build a home for herself. He house stated that the conditons at the house were not unsafe to live in and he recommended that she be allowed to remain there until she formulates her future plans. The Board voted to make the following appointments for Appointments the year ending March 31st, 1935 unless otherwise desig- nated: Animal Inspector Dr. Chester L. Blakely Board of Appeals Arthur N. Maddison (Building and C . Edward Glynn Law) Charles E. Ferguson Howard W. Robbins George C . Hatch, Jr. Bridge Charitable Fund Trustees Mr. Howard S . 0. Nichols Building Inspector Fred W. Longbottom Burial Agents James F. McCarthy Arthur A. Marshall Clerk, Selectmen Helen C . Whittemore Constables Charles E. Moloy Charles A. Cummings Dental Clinic Mrs . Thomas S . Grindle Committee Mrs . William A. Potter Mrs. George Washburn Fence Viewers Frank P. Cutter Bartlett J. Harrington Fire Engineers Edward W. Taylor Norman C . Hooper Edward F . Buttrick Gemmell Lewacy Income, Mrs. Kenneth Blake acting with Dept. Mr. Lawrence Mitchell Public Welfare 556 C, Imc Health Officer Dr. C . Reginald Hardcastle Health Inspector Mathew Stevenson Lockup Keeper James J. Sullivan Measurer of Grain Albert Bieren Measurer of Wood, Bark John E. Kelley and Manure Harold I . Wellington Milk Inspector Matiew Stevenson Moth Dept. Supt . John J. Garrity Odorless Cart, Charge Peter Canessa of Park Superintendent John J. Garrity Plumbing Inspector Andrew T. Bain Posture Clinic Committee Miss Ruth E. Morrison Mrs . Edith C . Kelley Miss Margaret Kettel Mrs . Robert P. Trask Mrs . William G. Potter Public Welfare Agent Lawrence G. Mitchell Public Works, Supt . William S. Scammon Registrars of Voters George H. Lowe Sealer of Weights and Charles E. Hadley Measures Slaughter Inspector Mathew Stevenson Stone Bldg. , Inspector Roland Garmon Supt. of Streets William C . Paxton, Jr. Supt . of Streets, Con- Robert H. White suiting. Supt. of Water & Sewer Albert A. Roes Dept . Town Counsel Sydney R. Wrightington Town Engineer John T. Cosgrove 557 Town Hall Janitor Charles E. Moloy Town Hall Janitor, Philip E. Leaf Assistant Town Physician Dr. C . Reginald Hard- castle Weighers (Public) William E. Mulliken John E. A. Mulliken Jacob Bierenbroodspot Harold I. Wellington William Bieren Albert Bieren Peter Stevens Rupert H. Stevens John E. Kelley Edward F. Smith Miss Lillian McClure In reference to the appointment of the Wire Inspector, Mr. O'Connell nominated Edward O'Connor. Appointments The Chairman reported that James Smith, who had been in the electrical business for years in Lexinqton, a man 60 years old, has applied for the positdon of Wire Inspector. The Board discussed the arpointment, but voted to lay it over for one week. In reference to the appointment of Fire Engineers, Mr. Lyons nominated William Tower to take the place of Norman Hooper. It was stated that Mr. Hooper' s' work as a State Fire Engineer takes him out of the Town a great deal of the time Engineers and it was felt that hew ould not be able therefore to give the time to attend fires. The suggestion was made that the Engineers duties were not to fight fires but to supervize the Department. A vote was taken on the nomination of William Tower as a Fire Engineer in place of Norman C . Hooper and the vote was lost. The Board therefore voted to appoint Edward W. Taylor, Norman C . Hooper and Edward Buttrick as fire Engineers for the term or one year ending March 31st, 1935. Letter was received from the Division of Animal Industry Approval, approving the appointment of Dr. Chester L. Blakely as Animal appontit- meof Inspector. Dr.Blakell The Chairman reported that the baseball team desired to have a benefit dance and asked for the Hall at the reduced rates . It was felt that although this team was a local team that 558 01 Cied it would not be in the same category as the Minute Boys and it was felt that they were not entitled to the reduced charges. Mr. Mitchell reported that he talked with Mrs . Philomena Pero in regard to taking Michael Pero back, and that she stated Michael that she allowed him 5. per week and his board to work in the Pero kitchen but his work was not satisfactory and she could not keep him. The Board therefore voted to grant him t•wo days a week Welfare aid until he becomes definitely located, as at the pre- sent time he is with one of his relatives in Waltham. In reference to the application of Robert Milam who lives Milam at 37 Byron Avenue and has a wife and one child and pays X32. a month rent, it was decided to give him three days on Wel- fare . He was recently employed on the C . W. A. but wrs laid off. In reference to Arthur N. Lee of Ward Street, Mr. Mit- Lee chell was authorized to give him temporary aid inasmuch as he has a family of children and he is now ill with the mumps. Mt. Mitchell reported having received application from Rose Manuel Rose, Jr. of Waltham Street, but no action was taken on this application. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 P . M. A true record, Attest: lerk. 1 L