HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-11-27 200 C.71
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SELECTMEN'S M.ESTING
NOVEMBER 27, 1934.
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.
Peddler. Application to peddle was signed for Frank N. Champlin.
Belfrey The Board affixed their signatures to the Board of
Circle. Survey plan of Belfry Circle which they voted to approve
tentatively at the last meeting.
Certificate of Incorporation of the Mass. Farm Bureau
Incorpor- certifying to the character of Robert P. Trask, one of the
ation. incorporators, was signed by the Board.
Abatement. Abatement of the Welfare Department in the amount of
$35.94 was signed by the Board.
Letter was received from Eugene G. Kraetzer in which
he called attention to the heavy trucking on Hancock Street
Trucking during the early hours of the morning between six and seven
on Hancock and asked that inasmuch as the Board had made a ruling pro-
Street. hibiting heavy trucking on the street, that it be prohobited
at this time in the morning.
The Board decided to request the Police Department to
make an investigation to find out what concern was doing
the trucking in the morning.
Letter was received from M. Bowman Judkins in which he
requested the reduced rate for the use of Cary Memorial
Use of Hall on December 7th for a lecture to be given in the in-
Cary Hall. terests of furnishing information on the Townsend Old Age
Revolving Pension Plan.
It was voted to grant the use of the hall at the rate
of $15.00.
Application was received from Hollis Webster represent-
ing 'the Lexington Historical Society in which he asked for
Use of reduced rates for the use of Cary Memorial Hall on January
Cary Ha)3. 9th.
It was voted to grant the use of the hail at the rate
of $15.00.
The'Board of Selectmen considered the betterments de-
rived by the acceptance and construction of Fletcher Ave.
from Woburn Street a distance of approximately 1500 feet and
determined that the benefit or advantage to the abutting
land within the area to be in the amount of $1.6065 per front
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foot and that it shall be assessed proportionately as follows:
No. Name Descr.. Frontage Amount
4B0 Timothy & Bridget Leary Lot. 2 14.60 ft. 23.46
481 William L. Barnes Lot 3 98.77 158.67
482 Etta L. Whiting Lot 3 59. 94.78
483 Est. of Bartholomew D.
Callahan 90. 144.59
484 Alexander W. & Dorothy 151.01
A. Parks, T. by E. 94.
485 Beulah M. Butters Lot 21 100. 160.65
486 Helen M. Dalrymple Lot 22 100. 160.65
487 Norris G. McKay Lot 23 80. 128.52
488 Morris G. McKay Lot 24 75. 120.49
489• Mabel V. Thompson Lot 1 50. 80.33
490 John L. & Berthan V.
'ichette, T. by E. Lot 2 50. 80.33
491 Kelley Coal Company Lot 3 55.36 88.94
492 Lowell Co-operative Bank Lot 4 50. 80.33
493 Grace L. Haynes Lot 5 50. 80.33
494 Roy D. & Genevieve R.
Keene_, T. by E. Lot 6 50. 80.33
495 Lexington Co-op. Bank
(T.T.Town of Lex. ) Lot 7 50. 80.33
496 Winifred A. Bannon Lot 8 50. 80.33
I 497 Lexington Co-op. Bank Lot 9 50. 80.33
498 Patrick Brannon Lot 10 50 80.33
499 Lowell Co-op. Bank Lot 11 50. 80.33
500 Sebastiano Paladina Lot 12 50 80.33
501 Olive C. Myers Lots 4&5 83.90 134.79
502 J. Alonzo. Moulton Lot 19 71.89 115.49
503 Bridget Leary Lot 18 75. 120.29
504 Patrick McLaughlin Lot 17 70. 112.46
505 Patrick McLaughlin Lot 16 90. 144.59
506 Leora A. Burke Lot 15 90. 144.59
507 John L. Murray Lot 14 95. 152.62
508 Benjamin Pearce & Arthur
Kendall(T.T.Town of Lex. ) ' 172. 276.32
509 Jefferson Union Co. 247. 396.81
510 Harry M. Aldrich Lot 50 95. 152.62
511 Harry M. Aldrich Lot 49 92.33 148.33
512 Harry M. Aldrich Lot 48 95. 152.62
2593.85 4167.12
Letter was received from Barry Mead of 254 Windsor Street,
Cambridge, in which he stated that on October 4th while driv-
ing on Bedford Street in fr, nt of #26, his automobile was damaged
when it fell into a hole about l2 feet wide and 1 foot deep,
damaging his car to the extent of repairs costing *15.
IIReport was made by the Supt. of Public Works on the sub-
- jest and it was voted to deny the claim for responsibility in
the matter owing to the fact that no notice had been received
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before this date and the Board felt that it would be a hard
thing to tell that the accident was caused owing to a condi-
tion on the highway.
The Board, acting as a Board of Water & Sewer Commis-
sioners, signed the followed water liens:
Water Liens. Patrick Malloy, 25 Fermcrest Avenue $15.00
Marguerite A. Cofrin, 40 Tucker Avenue 12.27
Arthur W. Hughes, 117 Fottler Avenue 15.07
The Board authorized the Supt. of the Water and Sewer
Department to. proceed in the small claims Court. of Concord
for the collection of the following claims:
A. Greenblott, Waltham, Mass. Two bills totalling $13.20,
outstanding since 1929, for junk Bold Mr. Greenblott.
Bornstein, Annie, 32 Mass. Ave., Lexington. Three bills
totalling p8.35, outstanding since 1930 and 1932, for re-
Water Dept, pairs to service.
Claims.
Spellman, Walter 6 Shirley Street, Lexington. Three
bills totalling $35.50, outstanding - two since 1930,and
one since 1933, for renewing water service and installing
sewer service.
Day, Ethel M., 2142 Mass . Ave., Lexington. One bill for
$44.00 outstanding since 1931 for balance due on renewal
of water service.
Dredle, Jamas O., 559 Mass. Ave. , Cambridge. One bill
for $6.70 outstanding since 1931 for repairs to service on
Garfield Street.
Silk, John, Broadway, Arlington. One bill for $5.00 for
hydrant connection outstanding since 1929.
Pasquale Constr. Co., Jamaica Plain, Mass. One bill for
$18.00 outstanding since 1933 for stock sold.
Cliff, Stanley E. , Simonds Rd., Lexington. Two bills for
$20.80 outstanding since 1933 for services installed. (Bal-
ances due ).
Brown & Estey - 83 Appleton St ., Arlington. One bill for
$33.75 outstanding since 1931 for service installed.
The Board felt, however, that letters should be given
to the parties that it was the intention to proceed An the
Small Claims Court against them for these amounts and give
them a last opportunity to pay the bill.
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In reference to the letter of the Town Counsel in which
he advised that no proceedings be made against the owner of
the land on which a woodshed was erected by Mary E. Lowe, the
Chairman reported that he had instructed the Building Inspec-
#or to proceed against the owner of this building to have it Lowe Case
removed inasmuch as it was a violation of the Building Law.
The Board voted to ratify and approve the action of the
Chairman in instructing the Building Inspector to proceed in
this case.
Telegram was received from Frederick A. Mansfield, Mayor
of Boston, as Chairman of the Mayor's Committee on P. W. A.
in which he asked what P. W. A. the Town contemplated under
the set-up of thirty per cent grant from the Government, also
what project they would consider under a fifty per cent contri-
bution from the Government. P= W. A.
Supt. of the Water and Sewer Dept. was present and stated Projects,
that he felt that with a thirty per cent grant, it did not
pay the Town to continue with the 'experience they have already
had especially with construction such as. the trunk line sewer,
but he did believe that a fifty per cent grant might be some-
th ing to consider. Mr. Ross suggested the replacing of water
mains and extending the sewer system as projects that might be
done under a fifty per cent grant.
The Board discussed the matter and felt that inasmuch
as a new school house will be needed within the next two or
three years, that it might be well to request a grant for a
school house. It was stated that it will take a long time
also to select a site and get plans and specifications for
the school house.
The need of a fire station for the Town was also discussed
and Mr. O'Connell suggested a new police station owing to the
fact that the officers now are compelled to remain in the
building on the ground floor which is very damp and unhealt*,y.
The extension of a sewer system was also discussed and it
was felt that any or all of these projects could be submitted for
consideration.
Mr. Lyons felt that the Board should not consider spending
money just for the sake of spendingb tt and because it was easy
to borrow because itw ould have til/paid back at some time and
would be an increase on the tax rate. He felt the Board should en-
deavor to decrease the tax rate . The Board felt that these pro-
jects were bound to come whether or not they were under the
grant and the Town would have an opportunity to save money by
taking advantage of the grant.
After considering the matter at various angles, it was
voted to reply to Mayor Mansfield that the Board would con-
sider building a new school building, a f ire station and the
extension of the sewer system under the fifty per cent grant.
The Town Engineer came before the Board in reference
to the letter of the Lexington Co-op. Bank in which they
asked for an abatement of the Highway Betterment Assessment,
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of $180.42 at 23 Eaton Road on account of the expense the
bank was put to , o build a retaining wall and lower the
garage under the living room and build new steps to the front
piazza and a new ramp to the garage on account of the lowering
of the grade.
The Town Engineer reported that he differed with them
in regard to the lowering of the grade inasmuch as the grade
was not lowered on this street. He stated _that the grade re-
Eaton Rd. mained the same as it did when the street was originally
Assessment. laid out and therefor he felt that the bank was not entitled
to consideration for an abatement.
The Board therefor voted to notify the bank that owing
to the fact that there was no change in the grade of the
street that they would not consider an abatement in this
case.
The Town Engineer advised t-'at in cases of this kind,
the only way that the Town could do would be to figure the
cost of the retaining wall in the total cost of the constr-
uction of the job if they desired to stand the expense of
cases of this kind.
The Chairman reported that Dr. Blakely advised that a
dog that had rabies bit several of the dogs in the town and
thatedogs be restrained owing to the prevalence of rabies,
and that there were several cases of rsbies in neighboring
towns and as a matter of protection he felt that the dogs
should be restrained. The Board therefor voted to pass an
Dogs Re- order restraining the dogs for a period of ninety days or to
strained. March 1st, 1934. The Chairman reported that Dr. Blakely
felt that if conditions were better it might not be necessary
to restrain the dogs for that length of time and the quaran-
tine might be lifted at a later date.
RESTRAINT ORDER
Ordered: That all dogs shall be restrained from running
at large within the limits of the town of Lexing-
ton (that is tied, leashed or kept within owner's
property) during the period from December 1st, 1934
to March 1st, 1935.
By Order of the Board of Selectmen,
Robert P. Tnask
Chairman, Selectmen.
Committment of water rates in the first section of
Commitments. *5282.16 was signed by the Board; also commitment of sewer
service charges in the. amount of $9.71 and commitment of
water service charges in the 'mount of $88.99 were signed.
Invitation to attend a legislative luncheon given by
Invitation. the Mass. Civic League at 3 Joy Street, Boston, on Tuesday,
December 4th, at 12:30 was received by the Board,
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Letter was received from John J. Donovan of 11 Theresa
Avenue in which he extended thanks to the Board from the
people in the section of Bow Street for the establishment of
a park on the land formerly owned by Guiseppe Chiuccariello Park.
and recently purchased by the Town for park purposes.
Report was received from the Supt. of Public Works in
which he recommended the purchase of a truck snow plow. He
stated that with one more blade plow they could put on eight Truck
five ton trucks and two Ford trucks leaving the five ton Snow Plow.
tractor for emergency. The Board voted to authorize the
Supt. to pixchase this plow.
Letter was received from Mr. Ross in which he reported
in regard to the meeting at the Metropolitan District Commis- Meeting.
sion on Mondy, November 19th, relative to proposed charge in
the matter .of assessing rates.
Letter was received from the Chief of Police in which he
called attention to three bad accidents which happened on
Mass. Avenue near Oak Street and felt that something should Lights
be done about light in this section to avoid future acci- on Mass.
dents. Avenue.
Mr. Gilcreast took the letter and agreed to make an in-
vestigation with the Town Engineer to see what they could re-
commend to the Board.
, Ill
The Clerk reported that Mr. C. E. Hanley of 502 Mass.
Avenue also called attention to the fact that there is too
much speeding on Mass. Avenue in that section and that there
have been several accidents in the daytime and felt that
something should be done. Speeding
The Board discussed the matter and felt that in order and
to control speeding there would have to be additional police Police i
officers and another prowl car. The Board felt that when the Dept.
recommendations are made for the Police Department, that they
should recommend the purchase of two prowl cars and two ad-
ditional men so that the department would be equipped suf-
ficiently to control the traffic.
The Chairman reported .that he had written a letter to
William Dailey informing him that the Selectmen had ordered
the pool room closed at 11 o'clock promptly every night and
agreed to allow the continuation of the pool room in the Pool
Central House until further notice and this was agreed upon Room.
after talking to the Chief of the Fire Department who agreed
to send a man to inspect the pool room every night before
closing hours.. This is now the only pool room being operated
in the town.
The Chairman stated that Mr. Dailey complained of the
order to close the pool room at eleven otclock inasmuch as
he stated that most of the people played pool from 11 until
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12 o 'clock and he would lose a great deal of business by this
order.
The Board voted to confirm the action of the Chairman
in ordering the pool room closed at 11 P. M. as they felt
that this was long enought to have the pool room opened.
Mr. Lyons reported in regard to taking up the matter
of granting a Common Victuallers License to serve beer and
wines that the Alcoholic Beverage Commission informed him
License to that unless they had any particular record against an ap-.
Serve Beer plicant and the party is willing to pay the license fee, the
and Wine. license should be granted and then if the party violates the
provisions of the license, it could later be revoked.
In reference to the application of the HomeDining Room
for a license to serve beer and winesit- was decided to in-
quire whether or not the operatorPhilomena F. Pero, has
ever been convicted on any violation of the law.
Mr. Ross came before the Board to explain the matter of
the Polley sewer assessment. Mr. Ross stated that Mr. Polley's
house is constructed upon lots 205 and 206 at the corner of
Taft Avenue and Tarbell Avenue. The lots have 40 feet frontage
and 70 feet depth. The assessment of lot 206 was made on
Polley Sept. 4, 1929, when the sewer was extended from Charles Street.
Sewer In furnishing the estimate on the proposed sewer, he based the
Assessment. estimate on the assessment made on lot 206 and in 1929 there
was a much lower rate than this year's rate for constructing
sewers.
The Town Engineer was present and stated that in a case
of this kind where a sewer assessment was made on a corner
lot you would have to figure the individual case and that no
two assessments could be figured alike.
The Board felt there was nothing they could do brit esr�
plain the situation to Mr. Polley and directed the Chairman
to write a letter giving him the information set forth by
the Town Engineer and the Supt . of the Water and Sewer Dept,
Wyman Mr. George E. Wyman of Locust Avenue came before the
Sewer Board again in regard to the sewer assessment that he came
Assessment. to the Board about one year ago. He stated at the time he
was before the Board, Mr. O'Connell agreed to assist him to
endeavor to be reimbursed by Mr. Bernard and not until re-
cently it was found that in the sale agreement which Mr.
Wyman presented to the Board, Mr. Bernard was released from
any claim to him. The sewer was constructed in Locust Ave-
nue under a gentleman's agreement made by Mr. Custance Inas-
much as Robbins and smith desired to have the sewer extended
for their development. Mr. Bernard agreed with Mr. Custanee
that he would pay the sewer assessment charge. The work was
done in June 1928 and the bill did not go out until December
1929. He bought the place. in August 1929 and he did not know c
that there was any sewer constructed by the property inasmuch as
Mr. Johnson of Johnson & Johnson of Woburn looked up the title
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and found no encumbrances. The Town did not vote to install
the sewer at a Town Meeting and the Selectmen did not vote
to pass an order to be filed at the Registry recording any
betterment against this property and therefor nothing was on
record. The bill however, was commited to the Tax Collector
for assessments, he did not accept the tax bill without the
better• ent tax being paid and therefor advertised Mr. Wyman 's
property for taxes. In order to save the property from being
sold for taxes,. Mr. Wyman paid the sewer betterment of $301.
under protest. Mr. O'Connell recently found that Mr. Bernard
had a release of claims signed by Mr. Wyman and therefor Mr.
Wyman could not collect this amount from Mr. Bernard. Mr.
Wyman therefor again appealed to the Board as he felt that
he was ill treated and there was no reason why he should have
paid the $301. and he felt that if the matter went to Court
it would not be Rod for the Town to have had a gentleman 's
agreement to do business.
The Board, after considering the matter, decided to
insert an' article in the warrant for the next Town Meeting
requesting the Town to reimburse Mr. Wyman..
Mr. Edgar J. Thivierge came before the Board and stated
that he would like to have the fee for druggists license
reduced owing to the fact that after figuring up the amount
of business he did, namely $640. worth of business during the Liquor
year and taking out his license fees of $200. he was in the License.
hole $6.18. He felt that a charge of $50. would be sufficient
for the license.
After considering the matter, the Board voted to have
the license fee remain $150. for drt ggists and all other
fees to remain the same as fixed last year except the. Common
Victuallers License to serve all kind of liquor on the premises
this fee to be increased from $2000 to $2500.
The fees now remain as follows:
Druggists $150.
Bottled goods (beer and wine) 200.
Retail stores (bottled goods, liquors) 300.
Common Victuallers License to serve beer
• and wines. 1000.
Common Victuallers License to serve all
liquors. 2500.
Mrs. Eugene Monahan came before the Board in regard to
highway betterment assessment on her property on Crescent
Hill Avenue. She felt that the assessment was high for the Monahan
value of the land. Assess-
The Town Engineer was present and explained to her ment.
that when the highway betterment was made on Haskell Street
that she would receive the benefit of the betterment made on
Crescent Hill Avenue. He also called attention to the fact that
111 she thought she also still owned a small strip of land on Sum-
mer Street Extension when the highway was put through. He was
requested to check this matter up with the Assessors.
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The Board discussed the matter of parking regulations
and felt that the parking on both sides of Pleasant Street
should not be allowed as on Sundays when persons are at-
tending the Catholic Charch., it is not possible for cars to
Parking drive through Pleasant Street.
Regulation. The batter of turning on the highway on Mass. Avenue
in the center of the town was also discussed and it was
felt that a regulation should be made covering cars turning
on the street which makes it very dangerous.
Mr. Gilereast reported in regard to the use of the hall
by the Bedford Band that there were 165 people in the hall
at the last concert on the 21st, and the matter was discussed
Use of as to whether or not it was proper to grant the free use of
Cary Hall. the hall for the entertainment of that number of persons es-
pecially during the winter time when it would be more .Costly
to operate the hall.
Mr. Trask reported that the Lexington Band would also
be requesting the use of the hall and the Bedford Band is
an outside band.-
It was felt that during the winter months the free use
of the hall should be discontinued.
Durant It was voted to increase the Old Age Assistance of
Old Age. Robert E. Durant from $4.00 per week to $6.00 per week.
Hill It ws voted to grant Mrs. Amos D. Hill of Spencer
Old Age. Street Old Age Assistance inthe amount of $5.00 per week.
Brown It was voted to grant Old Age Assistance in the amount
Old Age. of $5.00 per week to Mary M. Brown who lives at the house of
Annie T. Carroll on Waltham Street and is a transfer from
Boston.
Cobb It was voted to grant Bessie B. Cobb. of Carville Ave.
Old Age. Old Age Assistance in the amount of $5.00 per week.
Cary It was voted to grant the free use of Cary Memorial
Hall. Hall to Archie Giroux for all day and evening of December
30th for an exhibit of art from all of the associations in
the Town.
Mr. Mitchell came before the Board and reported that
Chapin Effie Chapin desired assistance. Her boy who was on the
Case. C.C.C. worked at Meriams and also worked for_the Fuller
Brush Co. There is $24. a month rent due . Whis boy is now
working on the Bow Street job and will be expected to pay the
rent out of his salary.
McHarg Mr. Mitchell reported that Grace McHarg of 31 North
Case. Hancock Street was at present at the Pyschopathic Hospital
and would either be sent to an assylum or to Tewksbury.
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Mr. Mitchell reported in regard to Harold C. Smith who
was on the E.R.A. and has three small children with one
other expected. The Town Physician reports that the con-
finement was liable to be a hospital case and the woman has
made arrangements to go to the Cambridge Hospital. Mr.
Mitchell suggested supplementary medical aid in this case,
which he expected either to be a State Case or chargeable to
some other town.
It was voted to ap rove hospital aid in this case.
In reference to Samuel T. Watson, now on E.R.A. and
getting $12. per week, he has,..three small children and $12.
per week is not sufficient. HR requested groceries : and
coal. Mr. Mitchell requested that he be given two days ad-
ditional work each week and given $6. rather than granting
groceries and fuel each day. It was voted to grant this
request.
Frank Faulkner, who was employed with Mr. Ross, broke
his ankle and requested assistance owing to the fact that
he has not received any insurance.
The matter was left with Mr. Mitchell to check up with
the insurance company and grant aid if he saw fft.
In reference to Florence Ayres, housekeeper for George
Blume of Percy Road, Mr. Mitchell reported that she was not
receiving any salary for her work as housekeeper and she
has one of her children with her. She has applied for the
board ofone of her children in Lynnfield.
It was voted to approve $3.50 for the board of her
child.
It was voted hot to grant any additional aid to Harry
Slater.
It was voted hot to grant any aid to John Canessa.
It was voted not to grant any aid to Peter Palermo.
It was voted not to grant any further aid to Manuel
Rose who requested fuel.
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 P M.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk.
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