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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1936-01-29' SELECTMEN18 MEETING JAN. 29, 1936 A Special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectments Room, Town Office Building, on Wednesday, January 29, 1936, at 3;30 P.M. Messrs. Ferguson, Potter, Clark and Lyons were present. Mr. Garrity and Mr. Trask appeared before the Board to discuss the Park Dept. budget. The items as listed in the budget were read by the Chairman. He noted that an additional instructor for East Lexington was requested and he asked the reason for this. Mr. Garrity said that no one knew what was going to happen to the W.P.A. after July lst and that it had been suggested that the Town make provisions for an instructor. The Chairman asked why an extra instructor was necessary, and Mr. Garrity stated that the attendance had increased from 168 ,to 270 in the past year. He had included an item of $75.00 for prizes in the budget and he stated that he was doing this rather than ask individuals for donations. The Chairman noted that there was an item for transportation to the swimming pool from East Lexington and asked if transportation was furnished from North Lexington. Mr. Garrity replied that they used to transport the children from North Lexington but had discontinued the practice because the attendance was so very poor. Mr. Ferguson.stated that the increase in the ap- propriation was due mainly to the following: Repairing Park Drive, $600; new tennis court fence, $500; fence at center playground, $900; fence at East Lexington playground, $425; and insurance, $400. The Chairman asked which fence was most important and Mr. Garrity replied that the tennis court fence was the most important. Mr. Clark moved that the fences at the center and East Lexington be omitted and that the budget of the Park'Dept.'be approved in the amount of $15,082,00. Mr. Lyons -seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman asked why the repairs to Park Drive should be charged against the Park Dept. instead of the Highway Dept. and Mr. Trask replied that it was because it was a park property. Mr. Trask asked if it was a question of the Board deciding on approving either the fence or the new field house. Mr. Potter thought that the field house was of more importance than some of the items in the budget and thought that the Town could get along without the new fences or even the new tennis courts, but that as ' sanitary conditions at the Center Playground were very poor, something should be done immediately. Mr. Garrity asked Mr. Ferguson what he thought a locker 271 Park Dept. Budget 1272 building would cost and he replied that he thought it would cost between $5000 and 16000. Mr. Garrity and Mr. Ferguson both were opposed to doing the work with Welfare or W.P.A. labor and advised doing such a job by contract. The Chairman stated that Mr. Garrity had gone as far as he could in recommending the construction of a locker building and that he could not even have a plan drawn as he did not have enough money. He thought that the Board should have a plan ready before the Town Meeting but he did not see how it could be done. Mr. Garrity figured that the labor for such a locker building would cost about $3000, and the materials would cost about $2000. and with architect's plans and fees about $5500. should be appropriated. Mr. Clark thought that it would be just as well to ask for $6000. as $5500. and have the job done properly and he moved that an article be inserted in the Warrant asking for the sum of $6000. for the purpose of constructing a locker building with proper toilet facilities at the center playground. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Lyons voted in opposition to the matter. Mr. Garrity then retired. 1 Mr. Trask requested the sum of $6500, as the Town's share of the cost of repairing Lincoln Street from Marrett Road to Middleby Road, Mr. Clark moved that Lincoln the sum of $6500. be approved to complete Lincoln Street Street provided the State and County contribute a like amount. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Board then discussed the Police Dept. budget and the Chairman asked if it would be possible not to increase the appropriation at the present time but if it were found necessary to appoint a reserve officer later, to ask for additional funds. He then asked if the Board wanted to request the Dept. of Civil Service to hold an examination to establish an eligible list. Mr. Potter moved that such a request be made. Mr. Lyons seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Trask stated that there was an item of $110', in the budget for liability insurance and Mr. Lyons Police questioned the fact that the Police Dept. should carry Dept. liability insurance as there was no liability. He Budget. said that the Town was not liable for any of the depart- ments that it was required by law to maintain, but that it was liable for the Water Dept. as it did not have to maintain it, and it was a self-supporting department. Mr. Trask stated that he thought that the Town was liable for the Highway and Street Department also. Mr. Lyons talked with Mr. Willard C. Hill's office on the matter and stated that the Town was not liable but that the insurance was carried to protect the town's agents. Mr. Lyons then moved that the Police Dept. budget be approved in the amount of $37,934.41. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 1 273 The Supt. of Public Works submitted the budget for the Town Office and Cary Memorial Building in the amount of $10,450.48. He stated that.two-thirds of the painting work had been done and that $600. would be needed to Town complete the work. . He stated that the W.P.A. was Office & costing the Town about $50. per month for telephone Cary Mem. service. Mr. Clark moved that the budget be approved Bldg4 in the amount of $10,450.48. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The insurance budget was discussed and Mr. Trask stated that the fire insurance would amount to $37510 and the miscellaneous insurance would amount to $151.24 Insurance making a total of $3902.24. Mr. Potter moved that the budget be approvedas submitted. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Clark moved that the budget for Street Lights in the amount of $220500 be approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Board discussed the budget for the Highway Construction,, Pleasant & Watertown Street Account, to complete the cross. -over. The amount requested was $1200.00 which represented the townts share of the cost of -the work. The Chairman asked why it was necessary to complete the cross-over. Mr. Trask` replied that it was a dangerous place even though the traffic lights were working, but Mr. Ferguson thought that there was not enough traffic on Watertown Street to warrant spending $1200. for completing the cross- over.. Mr. Lyons moved that the budget be approved as submitted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Street Lights. High.Con., PleasantSt, Mr. Trask stated that the Highway Dept, equipment budget would amount to $5750.00 and was made up as follows: Automobile for Supt. - $650.00 Highway Automotive grader - 4500.00 Dept. Clam shell for excavator - 600.00 equipment Mr. Potter moved that the budget be approved as submitted. Mr. Lyons seconded the motion and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Lyons, seconded by Mr. Potter, it was voted to approve the sum of $5000. for Public Pub.Wks., Works, Labor and Materials, with the understanding Labor & that an additional $5000. could be requested at a Material later meeting if needed. C 274 y The Board discussed the budget for the Supt. of Public Works' office. Mr. Lyons moved that Mr. Trask's ' Supt. of salary be set at $4000. per year, but the motion was Pub.Wks. not seconded. He then moved that Mr. Trask's salary Office. be fixed at $3650. per year and Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter then moved that the total budget in the amount of $5059.00 be approved. Mr. Lyons seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman reminded the Board that no action had been taken on the request of. the Sealer of Weights and Sealer of Measures that his salary be increased. He read a list Weights & of salaries paid in other towns. and it was noted that Measures. Lexington paid the smallest salary. Mr. Clark moved that the salary of the Sealer of Weights & Measures be increased to $500. peryear. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Trask submitted the budget for the Public Pub. Works Warks Building in the amount of 9175.00. He stated Building that there was an increase in labor which was due to Budget. the fact that the Water and .Sewer Departments had paid the salary of •one man previously but now he proposed to charge the salary of that man to this account. Mr. Clark moved that the budget be approved In the amount of $9175:00. Mr. Lyons seconded, the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Trask stated that the Engineering Dept. Engineering budget had been increased by $565. which was due to Budget. the fact that $500. was added for part of' -the salary of George'Harrington and that $65, had been added to cover automobile liability insurance. Mr. Potter moved that the budget be approved in the amount of $10,611.43. Mr. Lyons seconded the motion and it ' was so voted. The following budgets were then discussed; Garbage Collection - $3600.00 Various Sewer Construction - 1500.00 budgets. Sundry Streets. Dumps and Ashes - 2100.00 Sewer Maintenance - 5395.00 Hydrant Rentals - 7950.00 Sidewalk Construction - 1000.00 Traffic Reg. & Control - 1600.00 Health Department - 6100.00 Town Physician - 750.00 Dog Clinic - 350.00 Mr. Potter moved that the budgets as listed be approved. Mr. Lyons seconded the motion -and it was so voted. The Chairman reminded the Board that no action had been taken on the request of. the Sealer of Weights and Sealer of Measures that his salary be increased. He read a list Weights & of salaries paid in other towns. and it was noted that Measures. Lexington paid the smallest salary. Mr. Clark moved that the salary of the Sealer of Weights & Measures be increased to $500. peryear. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 275 i Letter was received from Mr. Calvin W. Childs stating that he understood that the Town was not going to remove the snow from in front of gasoline stations Snow this year and requesting that the Board advise him Removal, as to the reason for this decision. It was decided Garages. to advise Mr. Childs that the reason for the decision was economy. Application was received from Dr. James J. Walsh for the admission of Elizabeth Forsythe of Woburn Street Forsythe to the Middlesex County Sanatorium. Mr. Clark moved T.B. case* that the application be approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Town Counsel informing the Board that he had obtained settlement without trial of the two bills in equity which the Town brought against the Donnelly Estate to prevent the maintenance of'a bill- board at the junction of Marrett Road and Mass. Avenue facing Lincoln Street and at the corner of Waltham. Donnelly Street and Marrett Road. The former billboard was bill board never completed and the latter has been removed. This case, was a billboard in existence before the enactment of the statute regulating billboards and had been main- tained in previous years without any permit from the Board of Public Works because it was one of the boards ' protected by an injunction obtained by the Donnelly Estate in the litigation to test the validity of the State regulatlbns, which was terminated in favor of the State last winter. If any billboard is attempted on either of these locations in the future, it will have to be under a new application of which the Town will have notice, unless the Department of Public Works changes its present regulations. Mr. Wrightington presented a bill in the anount of $188.15 covering the first Donnelly case and a bill in the amount of $41. covering the second case. Mr. Potter moved that the bills be approved. Mr. Lyons seconded the motion and it was so voted. The annual report of the Cemetery Commissioners Annual for the year 1935 was received and approved. Report. Water rates commitment in the amount of $4849.68 was signed by the Board. Commitment The Board signed the deed to the property on Grove Street which has recently been sold to Philip Pearson K. Pearson of Waltham. Property, The meeting adjourned at 5:45 P.M. A true record, Attest