HomeMy WebLinkAbout1935-11-05132
SELECT1,1EY? S IMTING
Nov. 5th, 1935.
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M.
Messrs. Ferguson, Lyons and Potter were present. The Clerk
was also present.
At 7:45 P.M., Mrs. Bridget Leary appeared before the
Leary Board with reference to her sewer betterment assessment on
Betterment Vine Street. Mrs. Leary wanted to know if she was the only
Assessment one who had to pay an assessment or if the others would have
Vine St. to pay.
The Chairman informed Mrs. Leary that she had been
charged only about one-fifth of what the assessment actually -
should -be and.there was no further question on the matter.
At 8:00 P.M. hearing was declared open on the application
Johnson of Ivar D. Johnson for permission to maintain a one car garage
Garage at 34 Cary Street, Lexington. Mr. Johnson appeared and
hearing, presented plan of the proposed garage. No persons appeared
in opposition and it was voted to grant the permit subject
to the approval of the Building Inspector.
At 8:05 P.M. hearing was declared open on the application
LSteeves of Tb?. Henry Steeves to maintain a two car garage at Grass -
Garage land Street, Lexington. No one appeared in favor or in
hearing. opposition so no action was taken on the matter.
At 8:10 P.M. hearing was declared open on the application
Smith of James R. Smith for permission to maintain a two car garage
Garage at lot #41 Richard Road. Mr. Smith appeared and presented
hearing. plan of the proposed garage. No persons appeared in opposi-
tion, and it was voted to :rant the permit subject to the
approval of the Buil ding Inspector.
Letter was received from the Health Inspector with re-
gard to the building on t^Jaltham Street owned by C. W. Ryder
which is being used for the washing of garbage cans. Mr.
Stevenson stated that the floor of the building was covered
with maggots and that these and all the refuse remained on
the floor all day and at night everything was swept into a
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Mrs. Leary stated that she had received a letter from
the Health Inspector with regard to the condition of the
Health
cellar in her house at Hayes Lane. She stated that the
dondition
tenant in the house had been living there six months and
Hayes
had never paid any rent. She had been trying to put them
Land.
out and was going to go to Curt on the matter in the morn-
ing. The tenant broke the pipe in tl,,e cellar which drained
the sink and as a result water, garbage, etc. flowed into
the cellar. She stated that she did nbt wish to do anything
on the matter until the people were evicted and the Board
felt that inasmuch as she was going to bring the family into
Court in the morning, action on the case could be suspended
until after the family had been evicted.
At 8:00 P.M. hearing was declared open on the application
Johnson of Ivar D. Johnson for permission to maintain a one car garage
Garage at 34 Cary Street, Lexington. Mr. Johnson appeared and
hearing, presented plan of the proposed garage. No persons appeared
in opposition and it was voted to grant the permit subject
to the approval of the Building Inspector.
At 8:05 P.M. hearing was declared open on the application
LSteeves of Tb?. Henry Steeves to maintain a two car garage at Grass -
Garage land Street, Lexington. No one appeared in favor or in
hearing. opposition so no action was taken on the matter.
At 8:10 P.M. hearing was declared open on the application
Smith of James R. Smith for permission to maintain a two car garage
Garage at lot #41 Richard Road. Mr. Smith appeared and presented
hearing. plan of the proposed garage. No persons appeared in opposi-
tion, and it was voted to :rant the permit subject to the
approval of the Buil ding Inspector.
Letter was received from the Health Inspector with re-
gard to the building on t^Jaltham Street owned by C. W. Ryder
which is being used for the washing of garbage cans. Mr.
Stevenson stated that the floor of the building was covered
with maggots and that these and all the refuse remained on
the floor all day and at night everything was swept into a
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small open drain which leads from the .building to the land
surrounding it. He stated that the land around the build-
ing was in a deplorable condition also and he recommended
that Ryder be ordered to cease o;erations within forty-
eight hours unless the Board of Health Laws were complied
with.
The Board voted to send Mr. Ryder a Board of Health
Order instructing him to a'ate the health menace within
forty-eight hours and also to send the Town Counsel a copy
of the Health Inspectorls report and the Board of Health
Order, and to as'_-: Trb?. Wrightington what the Board could do
should Ryder fail to obey the Order.
133
Ryder
Health
Violation.
A verbal request was received from the Salvation Army
for permission to hold their annual Tai Day in Lexington on Tag Day -
Saturday, November 16th, and the Board voted to grant the
request.
The report of the Slaughter Inspector for the months of Slaughter
August.. September and October was received and accepted. Report.
The E.R.A. report for the sweet ending October 31st was E.R.A.
rece5ved. Report.
The Clerk reported that she had received from Mr.
Francis J. Kelley, the duplicate receipt which had been held Arnold
by Mr. Arnold for payment of the water guaranty in the amount Water
' of 0112.13 on the Bridge Street Account, and the Board there- Guaranty.
for voted to approve refunding the above sum to the Home
Owners Loan Corporation..
Letter was received from Irvin Y. Davis, Attorney for
Harry V1. Pierce of 43 Farm Crest Avenue, Lexington. Mr. Pierce
Davis had been retained. by Pierce to take whatever steps claim.
necessary to collect from the Town for damage to his
property caused when the water main was broken on Farm Crest
Avenue. Mr. Davis suggested that the matter be turned over
to the Town Counsel and that the Town settle the matter be-
fore entering litigation inasmuch as the damage amounted to
only $60.00.
The Board voted that the matter be turned over to the
Town Counsel for his attention.
Letter was received from Mr. Eugene L. Dorgan which
stated that the alteration work at the Stone Building had Stone
been completed. The letter also stated that the exterior Building.
lantern might be set in place now as the final coat of paint
was dry.
Letter was received from Edward L. Casey, State Director
of the National Youth Administration, requesting that the Letter:
Board list organizations and individuals in this locality Nat. Youth
' which were outstanding for their educational and recreational Admin.
activities among young men and women.
The Board voted to take no action_ on the matter.
134
appeared to discuss the Oakland Street foot bridge. Mr.
Oakland
Sargent stated that at a meeting of the shareholders held
Street
cn
Foot
be willing to entertain the proposition of taking over the
Bridge.
foot bridge for the reason that the shareholders had come to
the conclusion that they could not support it any longer.
This foot bridge runs from the foot of Oakland Street across
the railroad tracks and down onto the platform. It was
built in 1905 at a cost of $2666. and the upkeep of it for
the last 16 years has averaged X210.83 per year. This in-
cluded shovelling snow, putting on sand in the winter, light-
ing, and painting it every five or six years. Three years
Letter was
received from
Mrs. Carl Becker of 49
Outlook
over the bridge in one day and that the Town would not be
Street
Drive requesting
that a street
light be installed or
that
the foot bridge. He stated that if the Town refuses to take
Light.
street between
Prospect Hill .Road
and Downing Road.
The Board
instructed the
Supt. of Public ':'forks
to go
over to Outlook
Drive and see
if a light were needed
and
voted to insert
an article in
the warrant requesting
author-
ization for the
'_nstallation
of such a light if approved
by
11r. Trask.
The Board again considered the letter received from
Concord Pierre L. Northrup, Attorney for Ernest DeVincent of Concord
Ave. Avenue. This letter requested. that 1r. Northrup be allowed
rezoning. to attend the meeting of the Planning Board, Selectmen and
Board of Appeals which is to be held relative to the rezoning
of Concord Avenue.
No action was taken on the matter.
The Board amain considered the letter received from
Bus stop Air. Harry L. Fuller inquiring what the Board intended to
complaint. do about the bus stop at the corner of Slocum Road and
Mass. Avenue. The Board voted to instruct the Supt, of
Public '°forks to observe the conditions at this corner and
to report at the next meeting of the Board.
Letter was received from the Town Clerk requesting that
Juror. a Juror be drawn to serve.on Criminal Business beginning
Ta!,nday, December 2nd, 1935.
Mr. Clifford W. Pierce, salesman, of 1 Eustis Street '
was the juror drawn.
Mr. Fred B. Bartlett of 104 Bedford Street was appointed
Election a Teller in Precinct Four to take the place of J. Everett
Officers. Cumming who was unable to serve, and Mr. Fletcher 1W. Taft
was appointed as ';Darden in Precinct Three to ta'�:e the place
of Harvey F. Vdinlock who also was unable to serve.
At 8:30 P.M., Mr. Edward Sargent of Oakland Street
appeared to discuss the Oakland Street foot bridge. Mr.
Oakland
Sargent stated that at a meeting of the shareholders held
Street
on October 14th, it was voted to ash. the Town if it would
Foot
be willing to entertain the proposition of taking over the
Bridge.
foot bridge for the reason that the shareholders had come to
the conclusion that they could not support it any longer.
This foot bridge runs from the foot of Oakland Street across
the railroad tracks and down onto the platform. It was
built in 1905 at a cost of $2666. and the upkeep of it for
the last 16 years has averaged X210.83 per year. This in-
cluded shovelling snow, putting on sand in the winter, light-
ing, and painting it every five or six years. Three years
ago the matter was put up to the Selectmen and s. Trask,
who was then Chairman, advised that only sixty people passed
over the bridge in one day and that the Town would not be
interested in taking it over. Mr. Sargent stated that the '
Town Counsel was of the opinion that the Town could maintain
the foot bridge. He stated that if the Town refuses to take
it and the railroad refuses to take it, the bridge would have
to come down.
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Tile Chairman asked how riucr tir.2e was sa-'ed by using the
bridge, and Yr. Sargent stated that it was about three or
four minutes and that the distance saved was about a quarter
of a mile.
The Chairman asked how much it would cost the Town to
take it over and Pt;r. Sargent replied that he did not think
it would cost the town anything if it z-aould agree to main-
tain the bridge.
Oakland
The Chairman then stated that he thought it would be
Street
better to postpone decision on the matter until after the
Foot
election when there would be two additional members on the
Bridge.
Board.
It?. Sargent inquired if the Board thought that the Town
would vote to accept the foot "-,ridge and the Board felt that
it would not because of the fact that it would be benefitting
only a few people in the Town. Mr. Sargent then stated that
he thought that waiting until there was A full Board would
be a waste of time. He asked if the Town would consider
taking down the bridge for the material, and the Chairman
stated that the Siu.pt. of 'Public 71orks could look at it and
see if the Town could use the material. It was I: -Tr. Sargent's
idea that either 'Welfare men or V.P.A. men could do the work
but the Chairman stated that he did not believe that this
would be possible.
The Chairman suggested that.Mr. Sargent go to the Boston
and I•raine Railroad to see if that' corporation would consider
taking over the bridge, and Ilr. Sargent decided to do this.
A report was received from the Building Inspector which Aldrich
stated that the barn in the rear of the Post Office was barn.
being demolished.
Letter was received from the Health Inspector which
stated that he had received_ an application from Ir. John
Brown of 450 Waltham Street for a permit to keep a saddle
horse. Brown stated that he was going to dispose of his
pigeons and. arranC-e the henhouse so that he ?:dight keep the
horse in it. 1,1r. Brown and =r. Richard Cassidy appeared
before the Board to discuss the matter. The Chairman read
the Board of Health Regulations concerning the keeping of
horses and told Brown that a Board of Appeals hearing was
necessary before a permit mirght be granted for the main-
tenance of a stable. Brown stated that he would have to
fix up his henhouse in order to keep his horse in it and
the Chairman advised him not to do anything on rebuilding
the henhouse until after he had had a Board of Appeals
hearing.
Letter was received from tT,e Health Inspector with
regard to a dump on Rindge Avenue. The letter stated that
all the neighbors have been using Rindge.Avenue as a dumping
place. He had posted "No Dumping" signs on both Rindge
Avenue and Rawson Avenue and recommended that dirt or gravel
be dumped on Rindge Avenue to cover the dltmp.
The Board voted to request the Supt. of Public Works to
cover the dump with dirt and to see that it was kept covered.
Brown,
permit to
keep a
horse.
Dump.
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The following permits were granted:
Licenses. Ruth F.T. loodward, 15 Dexter Road - Board two infants.
Newcomb & Dailey, 34 Bedford Street - Methyl Alcohol
R. J. Barber, corner 71oburn and Lowell Sts. - Permit to
sell pony rides on Sundays, Nov. 3rd and 10th.
Letter was received from the :'dorks Progress Admin
istration stating that two projects were to b e carried on
P.P.A. in connection with the State Dept. of Public Works., namely
program. the sidewalks program and the Farm -to- Market program. The
letter urged that all communities help in supplying some
of the material cost and the truck '_sire for these projects.
The Board voted to take no action on the matter.
The 'Narrant for a Special Election to be held on Nov.
Warrant 18th, 1935 and the ,Parrant for the Town Ialeeting to be held
signed. on December 2nd, 1935, was signed by the Board.
Application was received from the 1Iothersingers of the
Use of Parent -Teachers Associations for permission to use
Estabrook Estabrook Hall on November 8th, some afternoon the week of
Hall. Nov. llth and every other week thereafter.
The Board voted to grant the group permission to use
the hall on the requested dates free of charge.
Letter was received from. the Injury Fund Committee for
Use of Lexington High School players requesting permission to use
Cary Hall. Cary Memorial Hall on November 29th from 8;30 P.M. to 1 A.M.
for the purpose of holding a dance. The entire proceeds of
the dance are to be used for payment of bills for medical
and surgical care of the members of the High School football
team.
The Board voted to grant the use of the hall free of
charge.
The result of the examination of the Meadows family at
the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Sanatorium was read by
Meadows the Chairman. i,'Pilliam, Sr., William, Jr., Janet, and
case. Albert Meadows showed a one } tuberculin reaction but showed
no tuberculosis on the X -Ray. Richard Meadows showed a
negative tuberculin reaction and was negative on the X -Ray.
77arren Meadows showed a one i tuberculin reaction and showed
a tubercular tendency on the X -Ray, and Sanatorium treatment
was advised in his case only. The Chairman stated that Mr.
Meadows },-ad advised hl�7 ! that his wife and Marren, Janet and
Richard were going to New Hampshire on Sunday, November 10th
to stay with his sister and that he was going to stay with
the other two children at home.
The Board felt that inasmuch as ;Darren was going to
New Hampshire with his mother Sunday, that he would be out
of the State and therefor would not come under the jurisdic-
tion of the local Board of Health.
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The Clerk revorted that a petition had been received
from the Edison Elec. I11. Co. for permission to erect and
maintain six poles on Narrett Road approximately 1345 feet
' in a northwesterly direction from School Street and that
hearing on the petition would be held on November 12th.
The Edison Co. had requested that the Board grant them
permission to start work before the hearing was held, and
the Board felt that it would be all right for them to start
the work, but voted not to sign the petition until the hear-
ing had been held.
Commitment of sewer services in the amount of $.69 was
signed by the Board.
The Supt. of Public Works asked the Board if it wished
to authorize the extension of approximately 200 feet of ten
inch water pipe in Middleby Road, to take care of the house
now occupied by Frank Barry. The Supt. stated that the
house was now being s..inplied with water from the old main
from the reservoir and that it was his plan to take out this
old pipe as it could be used for other extensions. The cost
of extending the main in ',Tiddleby Road would be approximate-
ly five or six hundred. dollars and Mr. Trask thought that
the value of the pipe to be removed was about $1000.
The Board felt that there was no necessity of removing
the old pipe and extending the new one at this time and
voted tot ake no action on the request.
' The Board amair_ discussed the matter of extending an
eight inch water main in Sylvia Street and Mr. Trask stated
that it would cost approximately $2100. to extend the main
a distance of 500 feet. He stated further that he thought
that the people on Sylvia Street were getting fairly good
pressure. He stated that there was a hydrant at the top
of the hill in Arlington which has good pressure.
The Board voted not to authorize the extension.
The Supt. of Public 'corks reported that there was a
hydrant in front of #62 Cary Avenue which is actually in
the driveway to the house. The occupant of the house is in
constant danger of striking it and r"r. Trask recommended
that the hydrant be moved approximately six feet to the
right and he estimated that the cost would be around "25.00.
The Board voted to approve the recommendation.
137
Pole
Location.
Commitment.
Water ext.
Ividdleby
Road.
"Tater ext.
Sylvia
Street.
Hydrant,
Cary Ave.
The Suz;t. of Public *Norks reported that he had received
a request for a street light, in Rockville Avenue, a private Street
way. Light.
The Board voted to insert an article in the Warrant
asking that the installation of the street light be author-
ized.
' The Supt. of Fvblic Works reported that he had received
A reo_uest for a sewer extension of 65 feet in Bow Street
from -a I,Tr. '71ggins whose house is at the corner of Theresa
Ave. and Bow Street. Vliggins has already been assessed a
,in
sewer betterment but felt that he would rather connect with
Wiggins, a sewer to be extended in Bow Street rather than change his
Sewer plumbing all over.
Connection. . The Board felt that Wiggins would not have been
assessed for sewer betterments if it was impossible for him
to connect with the sewer and therefor instructed the Supt.
of Public vorks to look over the property and report his
recommendations at the next meeting of the Board.
The Supt. -of Public orks asked the Board's opinion on
Changing whether or not Police officers were supposed to change the
tires on tires on the Police car.
police The Board felt that it was up to the Chief of Police
car. to see that there were good tires on the cars and that the
question as to who should change the tires was not one for
the Board to decide.
The Chairman stated that he had received a complaint on
The Sunt. of
i'ublic Works
stated that on the matter of
Light in
the light for the
parking space
in the rear of the Town
rear of
Office Building,
if the Board was
willing to put up with
Town
the situation as
it is now for
the next seven weeks, that
Office
it would be best
to do the lob
right after the first of the
Bldg.
year. I:Ir. Trask
thought it would be best to install a light
The Board instructed the Supt. of Public Works to
similar to the one
in the rear
of the Library.
The Chairman stated that he had received a complaint on
The Welfare Agent appeared before the Board and brought
Moretti up the case of Anthony Moretti which was discussed last
case. week. He recommended that I,Ioretti be aided in the amount of
$9.00 per week, and the Board voted to approve the recommend-
ation.
The Welfare Agent reported that he had talked with
Donald Timothy of Kendall Road and had told him that his
trouble was liquor. He had talked with Mrs. Timothy, the
boy's mother, and she said that the trouble was that Donald
came home almost every night under the influence of liquor.
She told him this morning that she did not want to see him
come home in that condition again. She thought that the
trouble was that lie had nothing to do. lir. Mitchell had
talked with Frank Timothy, a brother, who was thoroughly
disgusted with Donald, and who said that his brother had a
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account of the slowness and lack of protection at night on
Lincoln
account of the ditches in Lincoln Street and he wondered
Street
if something could be done to rush the job along. Mr. Trask
reported that there were sixty men working one and a half
days a week on the job and of course not much could be done
in that length of time. He stated that it would be approx-
imately one month before the drainage was completed if the
men started laying pipe this week.
The Chairman stated that it would be too late to do
anything this fall on the construction of the street and
that all the Town could do would be to fill' in the holes.
Pleasant
The Board instructed the Supt. of Public Works to
Street
patch up the sides of the bridge on Pleasant Street at the
j bridge.
Concord Turnpike.
The Welfare Agent appeared before the Board and brought
Moretti up the case of Anthony Moretti which was discussed last
case. week. He recommended that I,Ioretti be aided in the amount of
$9.00 per week, and the Board voted to approve the recommend-
ation.
The Welfare Agent reported that he had talked with
Donald Timothy of Kendall Road and had told him that his
trouble was liquor. He had talked with Mrs. Timothy, the
boy's mother, and she said that the trouble was that Donald
came home almost every night under the influence of liquor.
She told him this morning that she did not want to see him
come home in that condition again. She thought that the
trouble was that lie had nothing to do. lir. Mitchell had
talked with Frank Timothy, a brother, who was thoroughly
disgusted with Donald, and who said that his brother had a
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very bad temper when under
caused a lot of trouble at
in Joseph Tranits shack.
The Board instructed II
for Timothy to live and to
he finds something to do.
hears that Timothy has been
immediately.
the influence of liquor and
home. Timothy is now staying
P. Mitchell to find some place
pay for his -board and room until
The first time that 11r. Kitchell
drinking, he is to stop aid
1.39
Donald
Timothy
case.
The 'Nelfare Agent reported that the landlord of the
house in which Edward Ferry lives had been in to see him and
reported that Ferry was three months in arrears in his rent Ferry
and he wanted to know if t' e Town 5iould pay it. Ferry has case.
been worl.ing on E. R.A. and Pias also been given supplementary
aid. The electricity has },eon shut off. lilr. LTitchell stated
that he did not thine t:! e Town srould pay the back rent and
stated further that %_e ;qac' not talked with Ferry on the
matter.
The Board advised T,ir. iitchell to talk with- Ferry and
to do what he thought ',nest "or the neXt week.
The meeting ac_jo.irned at 10:17 P.Tvi.
A true record, Attest
C
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- �a � iE
Clerk.