HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-06-19 SELECTMEN'S MEETING
} JUNE 19, 1934 55
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in
the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M.
Messrs. Trask, Gilcreast, Ferguson, O'Connell and Lyons were
present. The Clerk was also present.
The following orders were received from the Board of
Appeals:
Order of findings in the ease of Annie Bierenbroodspot who was
granted permission to build an addition of two rooms and
a bath to her house on Ridge Road;
Order of findings in the ease of Cyril A. Wood and Carl Petterson
who were granted permission to operate a golf driving range
at Marrett Gardens on Marrett Road; Board of
Order of findings granting George H. Spellenberg permission to Appeals
erect a two story building on Laconia Street to be occupied
for living quarters and a garage for his express business;
Order or findings refusing to grand permission to the Community
111 Club of East Lexington to erect a club house on Baker Ave.
The application for a Peddlers License of Manuel Silva
of 11 Grandview Avenue to peddle bakery products in Lexington License
was approved.
Letter was received from the-au-114111g Inspector in which
he asked for a leave of absence for a period of approximately
five weeks beginning July 1st and in which he suggested the
appointment of parley Tibbetts. Building
The Board voted to grant the leave of absence to Mr. Inspector
Longbottom for the period requestedfand also to appoint Mr.
Tibbetts as Building Inspector during the absence of Mr. Longbottom.
The Clerk reported that Dr. Nell C. Crawford was not
satisfied with the report of the Board in regard to the drain-
age of the ditch that runs through her property, and stated that
she had received the same report for the past twenty years. She
felt that if nothing could be done, that she was entitled to Crawford
some consideration on her taxes. complaint
The Supt. of Public Works was present and stated that this re
same ditch had been in existence for the past twenty years and drainage
owing to the fact that they did not have any funds, he did not
see what could be done.
Dr. C. Reginald Hardcastle came before the Board and pre-
sented information furnished by the State House in reference
to immunizing dogs for rabies . He stated that the State Dept.
was anxious to have the dogs immunized owing to the fact that
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there were five people bitten last year in Lexington and at 11the present time they were having considerable trouble with
rabies in the Town of Winchester and if dogs come from that
town and bite dogs in this town, rabies will spread very
easily.
They suggested that a free clinic be set up with a doctor
and assistant in charge with a nurse to fill the syringes .
Dr. Hardeastle felt that some of the Boy Scouts and some of
the B.R.A. men could assist in this work He stated that it
would cost approximately fifty cents per dog.to cover the oost
of the services of the physicians and the treatment.
The Board informed Dr. Hardeastle that they would consider
the matter andinform him what they would do at a later date.
Rabies The circular stated that the towns of Natick, Framingham,
Watertown, Belmont, Newton and Melrose had set up clinics for
the immunization of dogs . It was to be noted, however, that
the owners of non-licensed dogs do not bring them to the clinic.
There are approximately 900 dogs in Lexington and it would cost
at least 300. or 000. to have this work done, and axing to
the fact that the Warrant for the Town Meeting on June 25th
was closed, it was decided to lay the matter over until the
next Town Meeting.
Alcohol Alcohol license was granted to Arthur B. Field to well
license alcohol at 851 Mass. Avenue
Jui •List It was voted to lay the matter of revising the jury list
on the table for one week.
The Chairman explained that Mr. ROBS had extended an
Invitation invitation to the Board to attend the N.E. Waterworks Field
Day on Wednesday, June 27th.
Letter was received from Irving Hall requesting consid-
Insurance eration of any insurance revision that might be made in the
near future.
Letter was received from John J. McDonnell of Vine Street
calling attention to the condition of Vine Street in which
he stated that there was considerable broken glass, nails
spikes, sharp stones and holes in the street causing him to
receive several flat tires.
Vine St. The Supt. of Public Works stated that he would do 'some
work on Vine Street within the next two or three weeks inas-
much as the regular maintenance work would have to be done
on this street.
Letter was received from Clayton Morse in which he /sailed
attention to the fact that there were no street signs for
Street Sherman Street at Grant Street and at Fletcher Avenue.
Signs Supt. of public Works was requested to attend to the
matter.
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The Board signed the original regulation prohibiting park- Parking
ing on either side of Watertown Street as adopted at the last Regulation
meeting of the Board.
The Supt. of Public Works was requested to have the signs
prohibltng parking on this street put up as soon as possible.
Memorandum was received from the Town Accountant in which
he called attention to the fact that Mr. Byron C. Earle,
Collee4er -ef Taxes, has placed Miss Mildred Thompson on a Clerk
weekly basis of $16. per week. She previously had been paid
at the rate of $.40 per hour receiving $15.20 per week.
Letter was received from William J. Dodd, National or-
ganizer of the Disabled American Veterans of the World War,
asking for the rree use of Cary Memorial Hall on July19th,
1934, from 8 P .M. to 11 p.M. to conduct a special meeting of
all service-oonneeted disabled veterans of Lexington and sur-
rounding towns. Free use
The Chairman called attention to the fact that it was of Cary
not the custom to allow the free use of the hall to outsiders, Hall
but if there were any local people interested in the affair,
they might be given consideration.
It was decided to leave the matter with the Chairman to
check up to find out if there was any local interest in the
organization and if so, the Chairman was to grant the use of
' the hall if he saw fit.
Circular letter was received from the Dept. of Corpora-
tions and Taxation calling attention to Chapter 44 of the
General Laws and the effect the National Recovery Administra- Notes
tion Cede #141 of Fair Competition and Investment Bakers `as
adopted on March 23rd, 1934 by President Roosevelt had in ref-
erence to present and future issues of town and district notes .
Circular letter was received from the Alcoholic Beverage Alcohol
Control Commission calling attention to the fact that after Licenses
July 1st, applications for 1 icenses or permits shall be approved
by the Commission before being granted by the Town of Lexington
The Chairman reported that Joseph Chiuccariello, who was
before. the Board at a previous meeting relative to fixing up
his property, will now have an open ditch through his property
at least ten feet wide in addition to the sewer taking made
through hisproperty, and it does not leave very much for him
to build upon.
The Chairman recommended that the Town purchase the land Chiuccar-
for drainage purposes rather than endeavor to pay him for cello
damages, or fix up the lot for building purposes . Property
The Board therefor voted to leave the matter to the Char-
man to secure an agreement of purchase for the land. The land
was assessed for approximately $300.
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Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works
in which he called attention to the fact that the Highway
Department has had to hire a drill compressor and will con-
tinue to do so for some time on account of the great amount
of 1 edge and boulders encountered in the construction of
streets and sidewalks. He stated that if a compressor is
hired from the Water and Sewer Department it is liable to
cause a delay in the work o f that department. He recommended
that a compressor that had been used very little and had
been out of the factory for ten weeks, and only used for five
weeks, be purchasedon a rental basis. He stated that the
machine, when new, sold for $1880 and could now 'be bought
for $1700.00 It wouldbe hired for $210. per month and the
cost of hiring the machine could be credited to the purchase.
Compressor The Board discussed the matter, and Mr. Ferguson felt
that a second-hand machine might be bought for a lower price
from some other contractor going o ut of business that' would
be just as good and he felt that for the slight saving it
would be better to purchase a new compressor.
Mr. Sdamman stated that there were not sufficient funds
to make a purchase of a new compressor.
It was felt however, that a new compressor could be
purchased on the basis of fifty per cent during 1934 and
the balance next year, and the Board voted to authorize the
Supt. of Public Works to purchase a new compressor for the
highway department on this basis.
Mr. John Duff and son came before the Board and •pre-
sented an appraisal of the Hancock School.
Appraises It was decided to refer this appraisal to Mr. Ferguson
and request that he report in regard to the matter.
The Chairman reported that he and the Town Engineer,
Tax Collector and Clerk of the Board attended the hearing
before the Dept. of public Utilities and the Town Counsel
was present and pleaded for the layout of a pdo lic highway
over Fletcher Avenue. He stated that Mr. Roland Sawyer,
Fletcher Attorney for the Boston and Maine railroad, requested that
Avenue the grade crossing at Fletcher Avenue be abandoned.
The Town Counsel requested that the Dept. of Public
Utilities Commission visit the location inasmuch as they
could then see that it would not be possible to abandon this
crossing.
The Supt. of Public Works called attention to the tact
that he felt that the water pipe under Blossom Street would
Water have to be lowered on account of the new Concord Avenue high-
pipe way for a distance of five or six hundred feet.
Mr. Mitchell came before the Board and reported that he
received word from John J. Kelley that Mr. Viano had served
notice upon him that he would evict him for non-payment of
rent. The rent on the house is $25. per month and Mrs .
Kelley works in the block and for her compensation the rent
was reduced to $17.00 per month. Mr. Kelley is o n F.E.R.A.
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receiving $12. a week and he had one boy getting $2. per week.
His daughter is not working.
Mr. Mitchell stated that the money received in the house
was less than the State budget and recommended that the rent of
$17. per month should be paid. Kelley
The Board felt that Mr. Mitchell should check up with Mr . Case
Viano and find out if he actually intended to evict Mr. Kelley
and if so, they would authorize the payment of $17. per month
rent, Mr. Kelley to work out the rent.
Os the recommendation of Dr. Hardeastle, the daughter of
John Cotter needed some dental work done do her teeth and ac-
cording to Dr. Shannon, the replacements would cost $15. Mr.
Cotter is on the F.E.R.A. earning $12. per week. He stated that
he end.,.:. ._ :,3 •to get the work done at either Harvard or Tufts
Dental and they informed him that they were not doing any more
work this summer.
The Beard requested Mr. Mitchell to find out whetherr
not he could get the work done by Forsythe Dental or the Eye Cotter
and Ear Infirmary. Case
Mr. Mitchell stated that the State authorized the work
doneenly to the extent of relieving pain, but Dr. Hardcastle
feels that the replacements should be made so that she can get
the benefit of her food as she is not a well girl.
Mr. Mitchell reported that Mrs. Paul McDonnell stated
that she needs clothes and the District Nurse also finds that McDonnell
she needs clothes for herself and children. Case
No action was taken on the matter.
Mrs. Pasquale Moretti came before the Board with her
daughter and presented a notice which had been served upon
her relative to the violation of the Zoning Law by maintaining
a two family house on Melrose Avenue, and asked what she was
going to do about it.
The Chairman informed her that she would have to do what
the notice said she would have to do. Moretti
She Mated that she had two bath rooms in the house and Zoning
that her son lives in one tenement. The Chairman asked her if Violation
she had not heard about this violation before and she stated
she had not. He inquired whether or not she had taken the bath
room out before when she was informed she could not use the house
for two families, and she stated that she had not taken the bath
room out but she did take the set tubs in the kitchen out. She
stated that she did not know anything about the Zoning Law and
she wanted to know why she wan not stopped years ago instead of
letting her go on all this time. Her daughter stated that no
one would take the house over and pay $50. a month rent for it
and. this Money has to be paid to the bank inasmuch as the house
is not entirely owned by them.
The daughter called attention to the fact that other resi-
dents of the vicinity should have to vacate their houes if they
had to inasmuch as they were also violating the Zoning Law by
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maintaining two families. She called attention to Mr.
Aquaro's house and to the fact that Mr. Aquaro secured a
permit to remodel his one family house into a two family
house . She also stated that Mr. Joseph Vitale's sister
was just married and they have made over their house for two
families . The Dattolis have also more than one family living
in their house and several others in this district haVC the
same circumstances.
The Chairman informed her if there were any other vi<stions
in the district that they would be investigated, but in the
meantime she should follow out the order served upon her.
Mrs. Moretti stated that her son was 1 iving in the house
and she would not evict him.
The meeting adjourned at 9:07 P .M'
A true record, Attest:
Clerk.