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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1935-01-021 RECORD of SELECTMEN I S MEETINGS beginning January 2, 1935, 1 24' 249 SELECTMENIS MEETING JANUARY 23, 1935. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P. M. Messrs. Trask, Gilereast, Ferguson and Lyons were present. The Clerk was also present. The Annual Report of the Town Counsel was received and read. Letter was received from the State Forester calling.at- tention to the fact that the Forest Warden and Moth Supt. should be appointed during the month of January. It was Appoint - therefor voted to make the following appointments subject ments•, to the approval of the State Forester: Edward W. Taylor - Forest Warden for the year 1935. John H Garrity - Moth Supt. it tr e Letter was received from W. R. Greeley calling atten- tign.to the fact that he was unaware that an officer was Officer ' requested at Cary Memorial Hall during any performance and at Cary also that the doors should be kept clear and he felt that Hall. The following abatements were signed by the Board: - Charge against Dept. of Public Welfare of the State, not allowdd on the Vera Sanford case - 2.50 Charge at-ainst the State Dept. of Public Health - 8.57 Board of Health on claim for subsidy, Water Abatements Webster case, incorrectly figured. Water Dept. - various errors, etc. - 435.69 Sewer Dept. - bills outlawed - 99.15 Water Betterment Assessment - in error - 54.00 The following comddtments were signed by the Board:- oard:-Water ' WaterLien Charges - 34.87 Sewer Service charges_ 3.69 Commit - Water Service charges 7.20 meats. Water rates, second section - 7269.94 Hearing was declared open on the application of William E. R, Coulton for permission to maintain a garage at the Coulton corner of Eaton Road and Blake Road. No one appeared to re- Garage. present the petitioner. Therefor no action was taken on the application. Letter was received from the Dept. of Conservation, Div- ision of Forestry, calling attention to the requirements of Moth Chapter 132, Section 14, General Laws, requiring the expend- Work, iture of $5000. for moth work. Letter was received from the State Forester calling.at- tention to the fact that the Forest Warden and Moth Supt. should be appointed during the month of January. It was Appoint - therefor voted to make the following appointments subject ments•, to the approval of the State Forester: Edward W. Taylor - Forest Warden for the year 1935. John H Garrity - Moth Supt. it tr e Letter was received from W. R. Greeley calling atten- tign.to the fact that he was unaware that an officer was Officer ' requested at Cary Memorial Hall during any performance and at Cary also that the doors should be kept clear and he felt that Hall. 250 this should be called to the attention of the persons mak- ing application. The Clerk explained that Mr. Greeley called at the office and stated that he did not see anything on the ap- plication which called attention to the fact that an of- ficer was required, but the application was presented and showed thereon in large letters the question as to whether or not an officer was required and also on•the back of the application attention was called to the fact that passage- ways must be clear and le pt unobstructed. The Board felt therefor that the matter was fully tak- en care of and there was no need for further explanation. At a previous meeting of the Board it was voted to make a charge of $15, to the State Guard for the use of Cary Memorial Hall for the installation of officers. Mr. Giloreast explained that the organization has Rental of just started and that there are only 26 members and thy have Cary Hall, very little money. When they spoke to him about obtaining the use of the hall, he had thoughtthey had due6-and had some funds in the treasury but he found.that Mr. -Seltzer had to pays for the use of the hall out of his own pocket owing to the fact that they did not have any funds. Under the circumstances, the Board voted to refund to the Mtate Guard the money paid for the use of the hall. Letter was received from the Town Engineer in which he called attention to the fact that Albert Miller, employed'in h is department, was a graduate of Northeastern University, 28 years old, married and has one child, and .started working Millerts for the Department in September 1929 at the salary of $17; Salary. per week. The following April he received $19. per week and has been paid at that rate up to the present time. Mr. Cosgrove recommended an increase in the amount of $3. per week to Mr. Miller and stated that this was figured in his budget for 1935. The Board voted to increase the salary of Albert Miller $3. per week, same to begin January 1st, 1935. It was voted to grant the following licenses: Motor Vehicle Agents Colonial Garage, Inc.. 1668 Mass, Ave,. Calvin W. Childs 409 Mass. Ave. D. F. Ross 3 Depot Square. Common Victuallers Mary A. & Ernest R. Rowland, Lowell St.` Annie T. Robertson (Manor Spa) Bedford St. Rufus W. Blake 1773 Mass. Avenue. Innholders Mary G. Mullen & Mary A. Welsh 283 Mass._Auenga 1 ' Pasteurization of Milk F. H. Reed Lowell Street Swenson Brothers Marrett Road Herbert Dalrymple 9 Sheridan Street. Letter was received from Mrs. Caroline T. Reed of 73 Waehusett Drive in which she stated that she would like to have Wachusett Drive accepted. It was decided to send her the necessary paper for signatures of seventy-five per cent of the owners. Letter was received from Town Counsel in which he called attention to the fact that he had been unable to get any payments from James A. Nickerson on the guaranty bond for water extensions to houses built by Nickerson near Pierce's Bridge. Some payments, however, had been made by Herbert B. Keene and he stated that he was unable to get in touch with Mr. Keene owing to the fact that he had been ill. Upon checking up he found that Mr. Nickerson was working for Neil McIntosh and receiving $S. per week and is down and out, and there remains a balance of $166.20, $75. having been paid by Mr. Keene on the account. He inquired whether or not the Board desired to bring suit against Mr. Nickerson. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in regard to the case of Andrew N. and Ruth N. Haskell in which he stated ' that he had arrived at an agreement with the Attorney to accept a check for $100, and the Town to put in water free of charge -and to furnish free of charge to Mr. and Mrs. Haskell as long as they live in the house. Copy of letter received from Matthew S. Heaphy Attorney for the Haskells, was attached to the Town Counsel's letter and with one cor- rection that the water be furnished "to theml', the Board agreed to the statement contained in the Letter and voted to authorize -the Town Counsel to proceed to settle for $100., the town to install the water free of charge and furnish the water free of charge to the Haskells while they live in the house. Notice of Fire Fightijig Conference to be held Friday, January llth of Worcester emorial Hall was received from the Mass. Dept. of Agriculture. The Board discussed the matter of establishing a fee to be paid for funerals of persons who are being aided on the Welfare Department, The Chairman explained that the amount has always been $50* and that Mr. Marshall felt that he should get more for having a funeral and furnishing the casket and Mr. Marshall stated that in cases where a charge of $50, was made noth- ing more than a pine box was furnished. There were two funerals recently, that of Henry Walker and Mrs. Williams, and Mr. Marshall stated that he felt he should have more money for these funerals. 251 Nickerson Case • Haskell Case. Charge for Funerals. 252 The Board, after discussing the matter, decided to , make the charge for all funerals in welfare cases $50. The Town Engineer came before the Board in reference to plan of the land of Stephen Trebino on Utica Street and presented plan for the approval of the Board. This plan was originally approved in 1929 after a Board of Survey. Utica St, hearing but the Engineering Department could not find any Plan, plan. The Board therefor agreed to sign another plan so that Mr. Blake could file the same for the sale of lots, There were two small changes that the Board desired to have the Engineer make on the plan and he agreed to make the corrections before Presenting the plan to Mr. Hallie C. Blake. The Town Engineer discussed with the Board the matter of the construction of a sewer in the Bow Street section. He stated that he has been busy and could not get the de- tail, but explained that roughly he felt that the cost of installing the 3ewer:8nm the Reservoir end in that section Bow St, would be aplr oximately. $40,000. but this would be less than Plan, extending the sewer up Bow Street. The Board had already agreed to insert an artiole'in the Warrant requesting the installation of the sewer in Bow Street and felt that if t1ne persons in this section are desirous of having the sewer that they will have to ,speak for the prmject themselves. ' Letter was received from the Supt. of the_Water and Sewer.Dept. in which he called attention to the fact that he did not provide for the patching'of trenches by the Highway Department in the 1935 budget for the Water Dept, and he stated that the Supt. of Public Works informed hit Water Dept.that at least .$1500. should be provided for this purpose, Budget. The Board therefor voted to approve the additional sum of $1500. for the Water Department for the patching of trenches, excavation and repairing, by the Highway Department, Court Letter was received from the Supt. of the Water and Cases Sewer Dept, calling a ttention to the fact that Stanley E. Water Dept.Cliffe and Arey Greenblott did not appear in the Small Claims Court on bills owed to the Town of Lexington and he has therefor notified Mr. Wrightington, Letter was received from the Chief of Police in which he reported in regard to the parking conditions at Hancock and Bedford Streets, that cars should be allowed Parking to park on one side of Hancock Street from the corner to Conditions.the railroad crossing and one side of Elm.Avenue westerly from Bedford Street and on one side of Bedford Street north- erly from Elm Avenue and both sides of Bedford Street east- erly from Elm Avenue, but there should be no parking on Elm Avenue in front of Masonic Hall. It 53 Parking Conditions. Board of Health. J Park Dept. Budget. The Board discussed the matter and decided that they ' felt that there should be no parking around the 9ma11 triangle in front of Masonic Hall on any side and that parking should be allowed on the right hand side of Han- cock Street from Bedford Street, and that parking should be allowed only on the right hand side of Elm Avenue from Bedford Street and only on the left hand side of Bedford Street from Hayes Fountain toward Bedford and that there should be no parking on the right hand side of Bedford Street as far up as Johnson's garage. In regard to the parking on Mass. Avenue in front of the Catholic Church, the Board again discussed the report of the Chief of Police and voted to adopt his recommenda- tion that 450 parking be allured on both sided of Mass. Avenue from Elm Avenue to Parker Street and the Board also voted to prohibit parking on the right hand side of Forest Street from Mass. Ave. The Clerk was requested to draw up.the necessary regulation for the signatures of the Board at the next meeting. It was decided not to paint the street on Mass. Ave. but that if the change was announced in the church that the officers could regulate the traffic in this manner for one or two Sundays and then the people would be used to the regulation. 1 Letter was received from the State Dept. of Public Health calling attention to the set of regulations of maternity hospitals wherein cases of inflamed, swollen or discharging eyes are'to be reported in writing within six hours after such discharge to the Board of Health. The general Laws, Chapter 11�, Section 50 placed. the re- sponsibility upon the physicain for reporting such cases and also upon the Board of Health for the following up of such cases so that measurers may be taken to prevent blindness. Mr. John J. Garrity came before the Board to dis- cuss the Park Department budget. He presented a schedule showing the payments made in 1934 of the various items. In the Moth Dept. for 1935 they were asking for less money than was spent in 1934 owing to the fact that some of the expenses of this department could be charged to the Shade Tree Department. Th-,& expenses in 1934 were $2157.02 and for 1935 estimat- ed at $1923.00. For the Shade Tree Dept. in 1934 the amount was $1394.23 and estimated at $1762. for 1935. He stated that he was working with the U. S. Dept. of Agri- culture on the spraying of trees for the elm leaf beetle ' and they had picked out the trees in Lexington as one of the Towns owing to the fact that there are so many street elm trees. He figured on fifty gallons of fish oil to spray the trees designated and stated that the sprays for 53 Parking Conditions. Board of Health. J Park Dept. Budget. 254 Cn c� n this should be made about the 22nd of May and according ' to the amount of foliage on the trees as it should be done before the spraying of arsenic of lead. Mr. Garrity explained that if the Town was infested with gypsy and brown tail moths we would be required to expend the 05000., but owing to the fact that the Town is in good condition except in the outskirts, it is not necessary to expend this amount. He found there were more moths around the boundaries of the other towns than in the Town of Lexington. Mr. Garrity also stated that the Town was in good condition owing to the fact that he had a moth scout crew furnished by the E.R.A. and most of the woodland sections of the town had been covered by this crew.: Under the swimming pool part of the budget, Mr. Gar- rity was asking $200. for two new slides. He stated that the cost was considerable to repair the slides last year and that they had now gotten six years but of the alidhs and needed new ones. This accounted for most of the ad- ditional expense on the swimming pool and outside.of the repairs to walks. He stated that the walks were in very bad condition and should be replaced. The center playground expenses were practically the same as last.year. He stated that he would like to put in a curbing around the track to prevent the dirt from kicking up and estimated the cost at $150.00. He had ' in mind putting in a granolithic curbing. Mr. Ferguson suggested putting in a brick curbing and if the top part was knocked oft; bricks could be more easily replaced and if the concrete was chipped it would look-ery pooRrly. The Board felt that Mr, Garrity should include the expense of this in the center playground budget, Mr. Garrity called attention to the fact that he felt that the Town should pay for the prizes that were given at the playground inasmuch as he had begged from various organizations of the town, and therefor,includ- ed an item of $40. He stated that the most expensive prize that was given was -$3.00. Mr. Garrity stated that the flag pole on the common should be loweeed as in the present condition it is very unsafe. He found that last year the estimate given was entirely too low and he was requesting $600, for the low- ering of the staff. The Clerk called attention to the fact that there would be some funds available from the Trust Funds for the use on the Battle Green. Mr. Gar- rity suggested that the Taylor Flag Fund should be allow- ed to accumulate and it would eventually go &- long way toward providing a new flag pole. Mn the Buckman Tavern budget, $150, was requested for repairs to the cottage, He stated that if sufficient E.R.A. work was provided, ' it would be possible to out down the amount allowed for the Buckman Tavern but not knowing whether it woud be pro- 255 Clerk. vided On not, he included it in his budget. In East Lexington Playgrounds, another $100. was asked for labor to keep a man 14 weeks.. On the North Lexington playground, the expenditure was reduced from $1528.65 to $280., the tennis courts having been provided in 1934. 'Mr. Garrity also asked for additional labor to keep the various parks in the Town looking well and added to the budget a provision for the expenditure of $160. for the Somerset Road Park. He also felt that something should be expended at the park on Bow Street recently purehased by the Town as there would be requests as soon as the weather became good to do work there and he had plans made that he would later present for this park. In the general appropriation he asked for $900, for a new truck. He stated that he did not have a regular truck driver and owing to this fact no one had figured any responsibility in caring for the truck and tools and he felt that he should have a man whom he could designate as truck driver. It was voted to approve the tentative estimate of 'Mr. Garrity for the Park Department. The. meeting adjourned at 10:45 P. M. A true record, Attest: Clerk.