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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1934-11-27200 SELECTMENtS SING 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, OtConnell 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 deoided_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. inglihe Lexington Historical Society in which he asked for Use of reduced rates for the use of Cary Memorial Hall on January Cary Hal , 9th. It was voted to grant the use of the hall at the.rate of $15.00. The'Boabd•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 D 201 ' foot and that it shall be assessed proportionately as follows: No, Name Deser.. Frontage Amount QPM Timothy & =r get Leary Lot. 's- -It. 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 A. Parks, T. by E. 94. 152.01 485 Beulah M. Butters Lot 21 100, 160.65 486 Helen M. Dalrymple Lot 22 100, 160.65 487 Horris.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. Ilichette, 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. 80.33 497 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 Marry M. Aldrich Lot 48 95. 152.62 2593.85 $4167912 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 front of #26, his automobile was damaged when it fell into a hole about 12 feet wide and 1 foot deep, damaging his- car to the extent of repairs costing $15. Report -was made by the Supt. of Public Works on the sub- ' -' jeet and it was voted to deny the claim for responsibility in the matter owing to the fact that no notice had been received 202 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 $13.24, outstanding since 1929, for junk Bold Mr. Greenblott. Bornstein, Annie, 32 Mass. Ave., Lexington. Three ';hills totalling $8.35, outstanding since 1930 and 1932, for re - Water Dept.• pairs to service. Claims. Spellman, Walter 6 Shirley Street, Lexington. Three bills totalling J35.50, outstanding two since 1930,and one since 1.933., 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, Jams 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 $28.80 outatanding 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 givem to the parties that it was the intention to proceed to the Small Claims Court against them for these amounts and give them a last opportunity to pay the bill, 1 203 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. Loge, 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 eonsider.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- thing 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 now 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 along 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 unhealtIL7. The extension of a sewer system was also discussed and it was felt that any or all of these projects_ could be submitted for J consideration. Mr. Lyons felt that the Board should not consider spending money just for the sake of spendingb;t .and -because it was easy to borrow because it w ould have to/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 jests 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 Highwqy Betterment Assessment ; 204 Eaton Rd, Assessment, Dogs Re- strained. of $180.42 at 23 Eaton Road on account of the expense the bank was put to t;o build a retaining wall and :lower the garage under the living room and build new steps to the front piazza and anew 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- mained the same as it did when the street was -originally 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 teat in cases of this kind, the only way that the Town could do would be to figure the asst 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 prevalance of rabies, and that there were several cases of rabies in neighboring towns and as a matter of protection he felt that the dogs should be restrained. The Board therefor voted: to pass an order restraining the dogs for a.period of ninety_days or to March lst, 1934. The, Chairman.reported that_Dr. Blakely felt that if eonditiors 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 Burch lst, 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, I L 205 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 five ton trucks and two Ford trucks leaving the five ton tractor for emergency. The Board voted to authorize the Supto to p=hase this plow. Truck Snow 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 19tji, 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, Gilereast took the letter and agreed to make an in- vestigation with the Town Engineer to see what they could re- commend to the Board. The Clerk reported that Mr. C. E, Hagley 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 €►fficers 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 ofelock 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 z 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 206 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 repotted in regard to taking up the matter of granting a Common Victuallers License to serve beer and wines that the Alcoholic Beverage Comrriission 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 Home Dining Room for a license to serve beer and wines, it -.was decided to in- quire whether or.not the operator, Philomena.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 yearts 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 but +aar 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 gmitb:. 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 riot go out until December 1929. He bought the place. in August 1929 and he did not know i'. that there was any sewer constructed by the properij inasmuch we Mr. Johnson of Johnson & Johnson of Woburn looked up the title 207 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 wente 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. 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. 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 tieing 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 b �eEZod for the Town to have had a gentleman's agreement to do business. Board, The 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. Th.ivierge 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 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 6ness t 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 druggists 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 wente 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. 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. 208 r� c-� c� 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 Chireh.,_it is not possible for cars to Parking drive through Pleasant Street. Regulation. The Matter 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 $5,00per 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. 01d 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 Pyschopathie Hospital and would either be sent.to an assylum or to Tewksbury. Mr. Mitchell reported in regard to Harold C. Smith who was on the.E.A,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 R.R.A. and getting $12. per week, he has.three small children and $12. per week is not sufficient. He 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 w -as 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 Me In reference to Florence Ayres, housekeeper for geowge 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 gvant any further aid to Manuel Rose who requested fuel. The meeting adjourned at 11;20 P. M. A true record, Attest: L' Clerk. 209