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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-04-24593 ' SELECTMEN'S MEETING APRIL 24, 1934. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, April 24, 1934 at 8:00 P. M. Messrs. Trask, Gilcreast, Ferguson, Lyons and O'Connell were present at the meeting. The Clerk was also present. The following water liens were signed by the Board: John J. Callahan Shirley St. $19.56 Bessie B. Curtis, 47 Lincoln St. 18.92 Amalie J. Armstrong Homestead St. 28.92 Mabel E. Williams, et al. Reed St. 15.00 Wm. & Mary F. Hawley Cedar St. 13.97 Letter was received from Nelson B. Crosby, Representative, in vhich he stated that he thought the bill to appropriate money in addition to the Middlesex County T. B. Hospital would be given "next annual". Hearing was declared open upon the applications of Harry E. Johnson of 1070 Dass. Ave. Arlington for permission to main- tain a one car garage at 41 Cherry Street, and a one car gar- age at 39 Taft Avenue. Mr. Johnson appeared before the Board and presented application approved by the Building Inspector. No persons appeared to object and it was voted to grant the permits. In reference to the claim of Walter J. Rose of 6 Tewks- bury St. for damage to his house by blasting, the Board did not agree to pay the 48. for the papering of the front hall. The Chairman reported that Mrs. Rose stated that she would stand the expense of the kitchen walls, but the contracts stated that they would//be unable to save the hall paper, there- fore she thought the'tbwn should stand that expense. The Board voted to include this item of $8. in the amount already approved to be done on Mrs. Rose's property, provided the release was signed. Letter was received from the Massachusetts Safety -Counsel of 6 Beacon Street, Boston informing of meetings at the Hotel Statler on April 30th and May lst. Mr. Gilcreast agreed to attend at least one meeting. Copy of the decision of the Board of Appeals granting permission for the addition to the High School was received by the Board. It was voted to grant the following licenses: 594 �c Alchohol Licenses ' Jenney Mfg. Company Marrett Rd. & Waltham St. Anselm C. Mullen 301 Mass. Avenue Common Victualler's Licenses Caroline A. Harrington & Phoebe E. M. Hutchins 1661 Mass. Avenue Annie T. Robertson (Manor Spa) 157 Bedford Street Mike & Christy Hallos 1761 Mass, Avenue Mary A. & Ernest R. Rowland Lowell Street Rufus W. Blake 1783 Mass. Avenue HairdressipL License Anita G. Thivierge 1840 Mass. Avenue Innholder's License Mary G. Mullen & Mary Welsh 203 Mass. Avenue Junk License Arey Greenblott 32 South St., Waltham Overhanging Sims ' I. J. Michelson 1808 Mass, Avenue Don Yuen 1734 Mass. Avenue Chin Lee 1784 Mass. Avenue Pig Permits Ernest H. Ballard Wood Street In regard to Chester A,'Fogg;eit`fas decided to lay this matter on the table for one week. The Board signed four copies of the Standpipe Contract, the same being for the files of the P. W. A. authorities when properly executed as the original was. In reference to the application for the sale of 3.2 Beer of the Lexington Inn, it was voted to lay the matter on the table for one week until it was ascertained whether or not this form of license should be eranted. ' Chester A. Fogg and his brother Herbert Fogg came before the Board in reference to the letter written to Chester Fogg asking that he get rid -of his pugs. Mr. Fogg stated that he has been in the pig business for the last twenty-two .years and he would like to have his.permit renewed inasmuch as this was his living. He had been around to all bf his neighbors and they seemed agreeable to signing In favor of his having a permit. There were also some people that were not at home so that he could not get their signa- tures.•He called attention to the fact that Mr. Tribino hauls manure from Lincoln and dumps it on the land, Busa Brothers also spread munure in that vicinity. he stated that one time when he went into Labes store Mr. Labes informed him that he was going to complain about his pigs. At that time Mr. Tre- bino was dumping manure and Mr. Fogg could even smell it down to his place. Mr. Labes found that it was the manure that had the odor. When he spread manure h'mself he found that it caused an odor, but he plowed it in as soon as possible and if he had to pile it up he covered it with loan or lime. The neighbor who repeatedly objected to his pigs was Mr. L. K. Dunham, 'When asked whether or not he had any trouble with Mr. Dunham, he stated that he had not, brat his son had Mr. Dunham arrested for shooting a pheasant out of season,and since that time Mr. Dunham has complained of his pigs. Mr. ' Fogg stated that he had one building that was hard to keep clean it was so old, and he would like a permit to build an- other building.. The buildings were all whitewashed. He stat- ed that he kept pigs on the Monroe property which is immediate- ly adjacent to his property for twelve ,years. The land there Is high and dry and Mr. Munroe has given him permission to have the pigs there. The land is out of side of the highway and is mostly woods and the water has to be hauled to the pigs as there is none there. The Chairman stated that the report of the Health Inspec- tor of the conditions found at Mr. Fogg's was favorable, and he informed Mr. Fogg that the Board would give the matter consideration. Mr. Gilcreast stated that he would like to have an op- portunity to talk with some of the persons who objected and the matter was therefore laid on the table for one week. Application was received from A. J. Lima of Vialtham St. requesting permission to move a building 30 feet by 4C feet from his premises on Waltham Street along Waltham Street to- ward Waltham a distance of approximately 200 feet. It was voted to grant the permit providing Mr. Lima agrees to provide suitable protection to the travelling public by pro- viding lights and flags, and providing he secures permission from the public utility companies if` it is necessary to cut ' the wires. Letter was received from F. K. Johnson in which he stated 596 c� that in order to put the Police Car in good condition it would cost between f'i_ity and sixty dollars, and he suggested replac- ing the car at a net cost to the town of 4325.00. Be called attention to the fact that he felt that the severe winter was the cavae of the condition of the car. It being the intention of the Board to trade the car in at a later date, it was felt that it might 'e good business now to save the expenditure that would be made now and make the purchase. It was therefore voted to authorize the Supt. of Public Works to purchase a new car for the Police Dept. trading in the old car at a cost of $325.00. Letter was received from the Bartlett Tree Expert Co. of Stamford.. Conn. giving figures on consulting service. Petition was received from the residents of Fern Street section, including residents of streets beyond, asking that a survey be made and a layout of the extension of Fern Street and that an exit be made so that the residents of this street would have an outlet on to Follen Road. Before taking any definite action on the petition, it was decided to request the town engineer to check up the petition to find out how many persons who signed the petition were dir- ectly interested in the extension and layout of Fern Street, and what the engineer's recommendation is relative to the layout. Mr. Snee of Woburn St. made verbal request through the ' janitor for the use of the thirteen State flags owned by the town to decorate the hall at the Veterans Hospital for an af- fair to be held there on Friday evening. He was allowed the use of the flags last vear for the same purpose. The Board decided not to allow the use of the flags in- asmuch as it is not customary to loan them for affairs out- side of the town. The Supt. of the Public Works reported that in figuring the bridge construction of Sherman Street the Town Engineer used the State Standards. He would obtain a copy of the stan- dard for the use of the Board before any work is done on the bridge. Another report was received from A. A. Ross in which he stated that the blasting operations of Tewksbury Street began on or about April 2, 1933 and during the month of June work was in progress on the westerly end of Tewksbury Street near Sarwent Street. In view of the fact that blasting was being done so far away from the property of Yrs. Euphemia Brown of 57 Bedford Street, it was voted to deny the claim of Mrs. Brown for dam- ages that she claimed to have been caused by blasting near her home. '. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in reference to the release he had prepared for Annie L. and Farwell E. 597 Thayer of Winter Street to sign in conrecti.on with their re- quest that the town construct a drain from the catch basin in Winter St. to a point near their house to take care of the water from a spring that started from the blasting in that street. He enclosed a new form of release in accordance with the suavestions made. In this connection another letter was received from Arthur L. Woodman, Attorney for Mr. and Mrs. Thayer requesting that a drain be constructed across the en- tire cellar to the point where the town has agreed to con- struct the Pipe. He also asked that his client be not re- quested to sign the release until the '-,lasting in that vici- nity is entirely over. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he stated that the Board would have to petition the County Com- missioners before petitioning the Dept. of Public Utilities to lay out a public way across the railroad as Fletcher Ave- nue. He requested certain information so that he could pre- pare the petition to the County Commissioners. W. Benjamin C. Meady came before the Board and present- ed a document prepared by him showing the amounts being paid on the boilers of the Town that are insured through Elmer A. Lord & Co. and he stated that he was disappointed in the in- formation contained inasmuch as when he endeavored to obtain the information he was shut off from obtaining it. He called attention, however, to'the different types of boilers used in various -buildings and to the excessive charge made, for in- stance, on the cracking coverage on the Cary Memorial Build- ing. He recommended that instead of paying the charge of 339.00 for this type of boiler that the Town establish a sinking fund to take care of whatever cracks there might be in the boiler. He also listed some of the hot water tanks In the various buildings that were not covered now and which were just as likely to explode and that an estimate of cov- ering these tanks for explosion was $155.00. and he felt that if the boilers were going to be covered that these tanks should also be insured. He would recommend that the Cary Memorial Library boiler be taken out, also the Central Fire Station and the Villaqe Hall be taken out of the boiler schedule. Letter was received from hlmer A. Lord and Co. an which they again called attention to the fact that the boiler in- surance expired on May 21st and also giving data in. refer- ence to that line of insurance and asking whether or not the Board desired to have it renewed. Letter was received from A. A. Marshall and also from E. B. Worthen in whcih they called attention to that fact that they held part of the boiler insurance lines and desired to have it renewed. The Board Voted to request Mr. Hill to come before them 598 � at the next meeting on Tuesday eveningto talk over the mattes, of insurance owing to the fact that tey had received the fig- ures presented this evening. The Chairman reported that in'an emergency, it is impos- sible to seci:re the signatures of three members of the Board of Selectmen to get out the combinations of the vaults from the deposit box in the bank and asked that the method of ob- taining the combinations from the deposit box be changed over so that the box may be opened on the signature of the•Chair- man of the Board before any employee of the bank. Under the present arrangement, it requires the signatures of three mem- bers of the Board and it is embarrassing to the bank when he opens the vault without the signatures of the other two mem- ',ers . The Board voted to approve the action of the Chairman in opening the vault to endeavor to find out whether or not the Town Accountant's combination was correct inasmuch as his vault did not open when the State Accountant endeavored to open it. It was also voted in the future that the Chairman should have authority for a period of one year to open the deposit box at the bank in the presence of any bank official. Report was received from the Health Inspector in regard to the piggeries of Ernest K. Ballard and John Sullivan, both reports being very good. General report of activities of the Health Inspector was also'received. The Supt. of Public Works presented summary of -the bids presented on oils and greases for use in the various Town trucks and it was stated that for the past four or five ,years the Town had been using Mobiloil and it had given satisfactory ser- vice, but the American Oil Company claims that their Amoco Motor Oil and the City Service Refining Co. claims that their City Service motor oil will give just as good satisfaction. The Chairman reported that he had used the Gulf Refining Co. supreme motor oil and that he had had no trourle with the oil. It appeared from the price estimates that the cost per Tallon of this oil was 33 cents. The BoaPd felt that one of the lower priced oils should be used to try out and requested the Supt. to do this to find out how it worked. The Supt. stated that in the course of a year, approximately 30 barrels of oil are used. The Supt. of Public Works made another traffic count of the trucks using Clark and Forest Street and from the second report it would appear that there was no cuase for complaint b-- residents of Forest Street of the use of the street by trucks to avoid the traffic signals. 599111 - The 991, The Chairman.therefore stated that he would send a let- ter tc the complaintant advising him to the count made by the Town. The Chairman reported having written to Senator Cotton in reference to connecting the sewer with the trunk line sewer and suggested that the Bill be subject to referendum by the next Town Meeting.. Mr. Lyons :resented a letter received from Henry S. Ray- mond of Clarke Street calling; attention to the condition of the historic elm at the corner of Mass. Avenue and Clarke St. and stating that it needed to be repaired by cementing the holes in the at. The Chairman stated that Mr. Garrity was making a study of all the historic trees and was going to present a report to the Historical Society relative to the trimming of the trees. The Supt. -of Public Works reported"that Hillcrest.-At7e- the was very rocky and he suggested that filling be put in along the Marriette property or any other abutting property rather than dig a trench so low. The Board felt that he should obtain a release from Mr. Marriette or any others before any action was taken, they being mindful of the suit against the Town on the Vanderwoude situation which was very similar. The Supt.. stated that he would obtain a release before making any change in the grade of the street. Mr. Gilcreast called attention to the fact that there were many complaints about the broken sewer pipe in the rear of Child's Garage. The Supt. of Public Works stated that some of the pipe was ordered for the sewer of 33" in Diameter and the pieces cost 8. or $9. each, and he stated that the pipe in the rear of Child's Garage that was broken, claim has been made to the railroad company for, and they have paid for some of the pipe. The Board requested the Supt. of Public works to make a report to them at the next me tine as to how much pipe was broken and how much had been paid for. Mr. Gilcreast called attentiont o the fact that Ryder's swill trucks have been going down Waltham Street between one and two o'clock in the morning and he desired to have the Health Inspector check up and find out whether or not Mr. Ryder is now keeping pigs on the W91tham Street property. The Chairman stated that several applications had been received -for positions at the playground and they probably would be considered at the next meeting after Mr. Garrity looks over the applications. He stated that there were a great many more applications than usual and that .7t had been the custom in the past to 600 �c employ girls who were going to college and their employment at the playground woul�' assist them to obtain their tuition. He stated that one or two of those who had been employed were now out of college and he desired to have the Board discuss whether or not the Board desired to adhere to their original policy of employing those whose services at the playground would allow them to obtain their college education. The Board voted to adopt the policy of employinP only those who are qualified for the positions at the playground, but through which services they will obtain a college education. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he stated that he received word in regard to the damage suit 6f of Judge Beaudreau of damage of taking of land on Mass. Avenue when the street was relocated. Some time ago letter was re- ceived from the Town Counsel in rearcs to this matter and he advised settling in the amount of QCC. The Board at that time refused to make settlement. He now stated that the client has agreed to settle for $125. The land taken in the relocation is hardly mentionable inasmuch as the new line is almost iden- tical with the old line. However, the Selectmen considered that it would be an expense to try the case which is now on the list and therefore decided to notify the Town Counsel that they would be willing to settle for $125. The meeting adjoi.irned at 10:30 P. M. A true record, Attest; Clerk. F 11