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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1935-11-191 L 1 SELECTMEN'S MEETING Nov. 19, 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, Potter, Clark and Giroux were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, appeared and New Mr. Giroux was sworn in as Selectmen for a term to expire Members. in March, 1937, and Mr. Clark was sworn in for a term to expire in March, 1936. Mr. Carroll then retired. The Chairman presented the bond of Tax Collector- Tax Elect, William S. Scamman, in the amount of $25,000.00 Collectors to run until March 1936. Mr. Lyons moved that the bond Bond. be accepted and Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. At 8:00 P.M., hearing was declared open on the application of Marjorie Pierce for permission to main- tain a one car garage at 59 Forest Street. Miss Pierce and Mr. Daniel A. Gorman, Jr., appeared in favor of the application. Mr. Gorman presented plan of the proposed garage. Mr. Lyons moved that the permit be granted subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. At 8:05 P.M., hearing was declared open on the application of the Edison Elec. Ill. Co. for permission to erect and maintain one pole on Watertown Street at the Cambridge -Concord Turnpike. No persons appeared in opposition. Mr. Lyons moved that the permit be granted, and Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. At 8:15 P.M. a group of twelve persons owning prop- erty in the vicinity of Sylvia Street appeared before the Board to protest against the maintenance or con- tinuance of the junk yard owned by Leo A. Boynton at Sylvia Street. Mr. E. Zacharias of Medford, who owns a douse located on the lot next to the junk yard,_ presented a petition signed by nineteen property owners in the vicinity together with some snapshots of the junk yard. The majority of the signers were property owners on Sylvia Street and Taft Avenue. The Chairman read the petition and stated that the reason that Boynton was conducting a junk business was that the business was established before the Zoning Law went into effect. A Mr. Roberts of 31 Sylvia Street stated that he purchased his house in 1922 and that there was no junk business being conducted then. He stated that some time after he moved there, Boynton built a small garage in which he stored paper and he continued to use this building until he built a second garage. Pierce Garage Hearing. Pole Location Complaint Re: Boynton Junk Yard. 152 C31 The Chairman asked Mr. Roberts if he would be willing to appear in Court and swear that the business ' was not established until after 1924, and Mr Roberts replied that while he knew that the paper was being stored in the garage some time after 1924, he could not say just when. The Chairman inquired if Boynton built the house before or after he got married and Roberts replied that the house was built before he got married. Mr. Lyons asked if there were any people on the street who had lived there longer than Roberts and . Roberts replied that there were.but that they were more or less in Boynton's class. Mr. Zacharias stated that there was no junk showing until after 1929. - Mr. Lyons asked Mr. Roberts if he would be willing to talk with the Town Counsel and establish facts as to when the business was established and he stated that he would, and Mr'. Zacharias stated that he also would be pleased to talk the.matter over with the Town Counsel. Mr. Zacharias stated that the house on the Boynton property was burned down in 1932 and since that time, i Boynton had been adding to the junk business all the time. Mr. Roberts stated that the situation was getting worse. The Chairman asked if there were any otherpeople who .could testify as.to an addition to the junk business ' or any change in the property and there was no answer to his question. Mr. Lyons informed the body that the Building Inspector has refused to grant Boynton a permit to re -build the garage which was burned. - The people felt that the tires and junk stored on the premises were a fire menace and since Boynton had been forced to tear docin the building.he had built, all the paper and tires were stored outside. Mr. Zacharias stated that there had been three fires on the premises within a very short time. Mrs. Esther R. Hedberg of 11 Taft Avenue asked if Boynton had a right to burn his junk at any time, and the Chairman informed her that it was nacessary for him to get a permit to burn the same day that he was doing the burning. He suggested that she call the Chief of the Fire Dept. whenever he was doing any burning to see if he had obtained a permit. The Chairman informed the body that the Board was in sympathy with their protest and would do anything in its power to remedy the situation. Mr. Lyons stated that he was in favor of turning the matter over to the Town Counsel for his attention, but stated that Mr. Wrightington would have to have assistance from the neighbors in building up the case. ' V! Mr. Zacharias stated that he thought that Messrs. ' Lassof and Baron of Sylvia Street would be willing to testify. One man asked what Court the case would be brought before and the Chairman stated that he thought it would be brought before the Superior Court. Mr. Roberts and Mr. Zacharias thought that the 'following persons would testify in the case: Messrs. Baron, Sullivan, Lassof, T rrazana, Helman and LeBlanc. The Chairman informed the body that. the matter would be turned over to the Town Counsel for his attention, together with the petition and the snapshots which Mr. Zacharias had presented. The hearing was declared closed at 8:45 P.M. Mr. Lyons moved that the matter be turned over to the Town Counsel to take whatever action was necessary, and Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Frank A. Faulkner, age 37, of 68 Winter Street, appeared before the Board and stated that he would like, to be a candidate for the office of W.P.A.Supervisor, the vacancy in which he thought might be caused by the election of Mr. S camman to the office of Tax Collector. Mr. Faulkner is married, has three children and has lived here since 1927. He built his own house on ' Winter Street in his spare time. He thought that he was.entitled to consideration as he was a World War Veteran. He stated that he had been a supervisor of construction for the -Kenneth B. Palmer Co. of Wolfeboro, N. H., that he had been a former carpenter for Mr. John Ricker, and that he had been employed by J. W. Knowles ,as"a trouble man and boss carpenter. * He stated that he would be glad to furnish references if necessary. The Chairman told him that his application would be given due consideration. 153. Faulkner applica- tion for position. Letter was received from George H. B. Green, Jr., with reference to his wife's application for a license Green under the provisions of the Acts of 1935, Chapter 378. applica- The letter stated that it was probable that Mrs. Green tion for would establish her office in Boston but that the writer license. would like to know the term of and the fee for the license. Mr. Lyons moved that the term of license be for one year from January lst through December 31st, and that the fee for this period be set at $5.00 and that the sum of 02.50 be charged for the balance of this year. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from J. Henry Duffy stating that Mr. Roland Greeley, Secretary, had resigned from Member of the Planning Board. As it is necessary for the Planning Planning Board to meet with the Board of Selectmen to appoint Board. his successor, Mr. Duffy asked if it would be convenient for the Planning Board to meet with the Selectmen at next Tuesday night's meeting to discuss the matter. He stated that he had been working on E.R.A. off and on since it started. 154 C" Letter -was received from the Secretary of the Appropriation Committee advising that that body would ' hold a meeting on Thursday evening, November 21st, at Approp. 7:30. At this meeting the Appropriation Committee is. Committee to give consideration to the articles in the warrant meeting. for the December.2nd Town Meeting, and the letter stated that the Committee would be pleased to have the members of the Board present and to submit their recommendation with reference to the amount of money necessary for the Elections & Registrations Dept. It was stated that this meeting would probably provide a good opportunity for general discussion with reference to the 1936 budgets. Letter was received from the Building Inspector regarding the washing of garbage cans on the Ryder estate on Waltham Street. The litter stated that Mr. C. Elliott Hadley of Waltham was in charge, and that he had informed the Building Inspector that three trucks, each making two trips per day, are bringing in about 400 cans to be cleaned every day. Mr. Longbottom was given the impression that the place could be kept Ryder clean if there was help enough. He stated that there property on was a supply of hot water and he knew of no reason.why Waltham St. the place could not be kept clean if the drains were kept open. He stated that the drains had recently been dug up and cleaned and when he called, the place was as , clean and sanitary as could be expected. Letter was received from the Health Inspector on the same matter. Mr. Stevenson's letter gave the same information with regard to the number of trucks and barrels being used daily, and stated that all the refuse from the barrels was washed out on the cement floor,, -then cleaned up and placed in barrels inside the building, but it might be left there for a week or more. Mr.. Stevenson stated that the situation had been temporarily remedied in that sand had been spread over the ground to cover the refuse, but that a more satisfactory arrangement should be made. He thought that Ryder should not be allowed to bring the barrels into the town and wash them here, that he housed his pigs in Wobufn and as that city received the benefit of his taxes, the barrels should be kept there as well. Mr. Lyons moved that copies of the letters be given to the Town Counsel, and Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and'it was so voted. E.R.A. The E.R.A. report for the week ending November 14th Report. was received and approved. Letter was received from the.Town Counsel which ' recommended that the water guaranty accounts in the none Abatements. of James F. Maher in the amount of 112.13 and Gertrude D. & Walter Brown in the amount of 112.13, be abated. Mr. Lyons moved that the recommendation of the 155 Town Counsel be approved, and Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. ' Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works which atated that he inspected the premises at the corner of Rindge Avenue near Rawson Avenue, and he found only a small dump which he did not consider objectionable. He found a "No Dumping" sign at the corner of Albemarle and Rawson Avenues and a considerable number of tin cans scattered around the place, but there was no evidence of any dumping done recently and there was no garbage or refuse in sight. He stated that the Dump on dump was not within sight of any house. When the streets Rindge are being cleaned in this vicinity, Mr. Trask will Avenue, instruct the Highway Department employees to dump the cleanings on this area. The letter stated that if the writer had not yet found the dump referred to by the Health Inspector, he would be pleased to have'further information as to its. location. Mr. Trask appeared and stated that although he had found three dumps previously, he had found the fourth dump today near the end of Rindge Avenue. He stated that there was a large area and that signs had been put up but that they had been torn down. He stated that if the Town went down there and covered the area, it would have to buy the material as there was no fill available at the present time. He thought that possibly the owner of the property might be induced to clean it up, and the Board instructed him to check up on the matter and see if he could force the owner to clean up the property. The following licenses were granted: H. L. Tyler - 27 Maple Street - Pasteurization of Milk. Clifford A. Faulkingham - 3.Bow Street - Alcohol Licenses. C. warren Pierce, Jr. - 157 Bedford Street - " The Board of Health abatement in the amount of $230.00 was signed by the Board. Commitment of Water rates in the amount of $44.15 was signed by the Board. Letter was received from the Town Accountant which stated that under ihstructions received from the State Special Dept.of Public Works, no payments are to be made on the State special State Highway Fund for Waltham Street construction Highway except -on the approval of the local engineer representing Fund - the Department. Mr. Russell submitted a special warrant Waltham on which he had listed two payrolls chargeable to the account St. which are to be approved and returned by the State Engineer tomorrow, and he asked that the Board sign ' the warrant. He stated that the warrant would not be turned over to the Town Treasurer until he had received the payrolls properly approved by the State Engineer. 156 Mr. Russell suggested that Mr. James J. Carroll be appointed as Trustee of the account' and that the account be known as "Town of Lexington, Mass. - Special State Highway Fund -- James J. Carroll, Trustee". Mr. Lyons moved that Mr. James J. Carroll be appointed Trustee of the account and Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Clark reported that the Town Physician had Lewis received a complaint to the effect that Bruce Lewis violation and his children who have been ill with Scarlet Fever of and have been quarantined, have been violating the quar- quarantine. antine by going out in the car visiting the stores and doing shopptng, etc. Inasmuch as previous complaints had been received on account of this family, the Board instructed the Clerk to turn the matter of Lewis!s violation of quarantine over to the Town Counsel for action. The Supt. of Public Works appeared before the Watertown Board. The Chairman asked him when he thought Street. Watertown Street would be completed, and he said that he thought that it would be 'done this week. Mr. Trask stated that he had hired Mr. Edward H. Mara to go into the Stone Building and repair the Stone ceiling in the book room in the rear of the section Building. occupied by the Librarian, and to paint the floor and walls to match the rest of the building. Mr. Trask stated that he had authorized Mr. George Swanson to replace the five windows in the section occupied by Miss Nichols at an approximate cost of $12.00 per window. He stated that the frames in the windows were rotted. The Supt. of Public Works stated that he would like to recommend Clayton F. Beach to the Board for consideration as the new W.P.A. supervisor. He stated that Beach had been working on E.R.A. under Mr. Garrity and Mr. OfConnor since it started and that he had been very satisfactory and that the men hsd liked him very much. Mr. Beach is now getting about $61.00 per month on E.R.A. He has a large family and has a large house on Oakland Street on which the Home Owners Loan Corp. has taken a mortgage. The Chairman asked Mr. Trask if the Highway Dept. was getting caught up in its work, and Mr. Trask replied in the negative. The Chairman then asked if it would be possible for John OlConnor, Asstt. Supt. of Streets, to do the work of the W.P.A. Supervisor. Mr. Trask replied that it would be possible but not advisable.. The Board asked Mr. Trask what:he thought of Frank Faulkner, who also had applied for the position. Mr. Trask replied that Faulkner was only a second-rate y 1 157: carpenter, that he was lazy and that the Town always had had trouble with him. He felt that the 250 men that would be under the supervision of Faulkner if he were appointed would not have any respect for him. The Board instructed Mr. Trask to have John O'Connor act as temporary supervisor beginning in the morning, and decided that the matter would be held over for one week. The Supt. of Public Works reported that Mr. Waldo Resignation Glidden had resigned as the W.P.A. Administrator and of W.P.A. that a man had been sent out from Boston to take his Administra- place but that he did not know if the man was permanent tor. or not. The Supt. of Public Works reported that Mrs. Hutchinson who owns property on the northerly side of the Concord Turnpike from the present Watertown Street' to Appleton Street and a section on the southerly side, is anxious to know what the Board is going to do on Bowman Street. The Supt. of Public Works recommended that Bowman Street be abandoned from Watertown Street to the Arlington Line. No action was taken on the matter. ' The Chairman stated that Mr. Dennis Collins had spoken to him about a hole in the street at the corner of Woburn and Cottage Streets. The Supt. of Public Works stated that Cottage Street was a private way and that the Town could not do anything on it. He stated that the street was in a very bad condition. The Chairman stated that Maurice Page claimed that the Town went in on his property to install the Mill Brook Drainage and never took an easement. Mr. Trask stated that an easement was taken on the land owned by the Town of Arlington and Page is claiming that he owns the same parcel of land, which is an indefinite area. Mr. Trask stated that he would talk with the Town of Arlington and see, if possible, just what land that Town claims. Bowman Street. Cottage Street. Page Claim. Mr. Giroux stated that he had received complaints. from people in East Lexington with regard to the disposition of ashes. He wondered if a plan could Removal be worked out so that Forsythe & Mabey, for instance, could of take over a regular route and set a minimum fee for the Ashes. collection of ashes. The Chairman stated that he had never received a complaint in regard to the Collection of ashes since he had been a member of the Board, and the only way that the matter could be taken care of would be for the people to make written complaints. He stated that the 158 problem was`wbether or not the town should take' over' -the removal of ashes. Mr. Giroux stated that he would see Forsythe & Mabey and see if some plan could not be worked out. Report. The report of the Supt. of Public Works for,the week ending November 16th was received and approved. The Welfare Agent appeared before the Board. He discussed the Anthony Carr case and stated that the Carr family had been evicted a week ago. A Mr. Wagner from case. the S.P.C.C. and Mr. Mitchell appeared at the Concord Court this morning and have to go up again tomorrow morn- ing to discuss the case with Judge Wilson. They are trying to prove a case of neglect. The Welfare Agent stated.that he had received an application for Old Age Assistance from Mr. Michael J. Holian Holian, age 74, a citizen who lives with his daughter, case. Mrs. Thomas.T. McCarthy at 8'Taft Avenue, Mr. Holian has an Arlington settlement but has -no money or accounts in any of the Arlington banks. Air. Mitchell recommended that Holian be aided in the amount of $5.00 per week and Mr. Lyons moved that the recommendation be approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Welfare Agent reported. that he had received an application for aid from the Graziano family Graziano living on Philomen Street, East Lexington. There is case* a family of six,and one boy has been working on E.R.A.- One of the boys fell out of a tree and hurt his arm and had to go to the hospital. The family could not pay the hospital bill and Dr. Hardeastle thought that the Town should pay the bill. Mr. Mitchell recommended that the Town pay the bill for the hospitalization and Mr. Lyons made a motion to approve Mr. Mitchellts recommendation. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Mitchell brought up the case of Marciano Cardillo of Albemarle Avenue who has been receiving Cardillo Old Age Assistance. He stated that it has been the case* custom of the Board to grant an extra $2.00 per week during the winter.months for coal and he recommended that Cardillo be given an increase of $2.00 per week until May lst to provide for fuel. Mr. Lyons moved that the recommendation be approved, Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Welfare Agent brought up the case of Mr. J. E. Barnes and Mr,, Warren S. Grant. .Both men's houses are Barnes & in the Home Owners Loan Corp. He thought that the Grant cases. Grant problem might be solved as Grant was being changed over to the W.P.A. and would earn $15. or $16." per week and that Grant might be able to pay the interest himself. 1 G 1 ' Mr. Mitchell stated that the Barnes boy was work- ing in New Hampshire and that he was going to try to get him to j.ay $1. or $2. a week towards his family's support. Mr. Mitchell suggested that this money be put toward the interest on the mortgage and that the Town pay the balance to Barnes and have Barnes show the receipt for the interest each month. The Chairman suggested that the interest be paid direct to the H.O.L.C. and that Barnes' weekly allotment be out down and that the boy be requested to contribute something to his parent's income. Barnes is now getting $9,00 per week on Welfare. .The Board instructed Mr. Mitchell to talk with Barnes to see if he thought the boy would contribute something each week and report next week. Mr. Mitchell informed the Board that he would like engage an investigator for the next three or four months to check up on each family and follow up each case closer. Mr. Potter asked him what funds would pay the salary of the investigator and Mr. Mitchell stated that the Welfare Account would have to stand the expense. The Chairman asked him why he thought it was necessary to engage.a visitor, and he replied that it was necessary because he could not contact the 100 to 125 ' families on his rolls. He stated that the law required that quarterly visits be made to every Mothers' Aid case and that semi-annual visits be made to every Welfare case. Mr. Mitchell is unable to do this now as he stated that the work of fulfilling the Government requirements had increased 50%. The Chairman asked if it was impossible for Mitchell to make any visits to speak of with his present work, and he answered in the affirmative., The Chairman then inquired how long this investigator would be employed, and Mr. Mitchell stated that he thought the investigator should be paid $25.00 per week, and employed for about three or four months. Mr. Goodhue of the State Dept. had recommended a Miss Amanda Leonardi who lives in Brookline Mr. Mitchell stated that he thought George Morse might be a satisfactory person for the position as he has worked as an Assistant Assessor and has some knowledge of the Town. The Board asked him if a more efficient job might not be done by an outsider and Mr. Mitchell replied that it would depend entirely on the personality of the person. Mr. Clark inquired if the purpose of employing the investigator was to take away aid from those people not entitled to it or to help Mr, Mitchell out in his work, and Mr. Mitchell replied that he would be employed for both reasons. Mr. Clark asked if Mr. Mitchell thought enough money would be saved to compensate the salary the Town was going to pay, and Mr. Mitchell stated that he thought it would. Mr. Giroux inquired if Mr. Mitchell expected an increase in Welfare Assistant to Welf are Agent . 160 during the winter months and the answer was in the affirmative. Mr. Giroux asked if Mr. Mitchell would expect George Morse to furnish a car for the $25.00 per week he would receive and Mr. Mitchell stated that he would. Mr. Giroux asked how long it would take to complete the investigation. Mr. Mitchell stated that there were between 75 and 80 familes on Welfare, 30 on Old Age Assistance and 4 or 5 on Soldiers Relief. He felt that approximately five visits a day could be made and that the work would take at least one month but that it*would be necessary to follow up the cases and make two or three visits to each family and to talk over the cases with Mr. Mitchell. Mr. Giroux remarked that if the in -formation got out that the Town was investigating Welfare cases that it would probably tend to do away with anyone trying to get aid if they were not entitled to it. The Chairman asked if Mr. Mitchell would recommend that a man or a woman be employed and he replied that he thought a man could do a better job. Mr. Lyons made a motion that an investigator be appointed to assist Mr. Mitchell in the Welfare Department for the next four months at a salary not to exceed $25..00 per week, the assistant to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen, he to furnish his own trans- portation. Mr. Potter seconded'the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that the Board had discussed the possibility of appointing a committee bf about five to study the welfare situation in the town and to receive its suggestions and recommendations. Mr. Giroux stated that he thought that anything that would make for more contacts with larger groups of the town would be a good idea as the townspeople would have more knowledge of what was going on. Mr. Clark wondered if it was an admission that the town was not doing a good job, and the Chairman stated that he did not think it would be. Mr. Mitchell asked if it was the Boardts idea to have one member from different town committees, and the Chairman stated that he thought it would be best to have a committee made up of people not connected with any welfare or charitable organizations whatsoever. Mr. Lyons" moved that a Committee of five citizens be appointed by the Board of Selectmen to consider and recommend ways and means of improving the administration of public welfare. Mr. Potter se(donded the motion and it was so voted. The meeting adjourned at 10:58 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk. fl I� 1