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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1936-03-17 365 SELECTMEN'S MEETING MARCH 17, 1936. A regular meeting of the Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 6:30 P.M. Chairman Ferguson, Messrs. Potter, Giroux and Clark and Ross were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Ross moved that the Tax Collector be authorized Ryder to ,proceed with an action of contract in the various Tax Ryder tax cases as an alternative method of collecting cases. the taxes. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from Elmer A. Lord & Co. stating that the boilers in the Central Fire Station and Village Hall had been equipped to burn oil for Insurance fuel, but that no Crack and Fracture coverage and Fur- on nace Explosion had been added to the policy coverage. boilers. The letter stated that the boilers were of the inex- pensive type and as such insurance was not carried on more important items, it was assumed that the additional protection would not be wanted. No action was taken on the matter. Letter was received from Richard Whittemore advising that a fire insurance policy in the amount of $3300. under blanket schedule expired on April 21st. Insurance. Mr. Clark moved that no action be taken until the next meeting. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it Was so voted. Letter was received from Malcolm H. Clifford, Past Commander V.F.W., inviting the Board to attend a smoker in Estabrook Hall on March 26th. The Clerk was Invitat1af. instructed to advise Mr. Clifford that all the members of the Board would be pleased to attend if possible. It was suggested that Mr. Trask be requested to List of submit a list of the insurance brokers and the amount insurance carried by each at the next meeting. carried. Letter was received from the Town Accountant to which was attached a bill rendered by Harold J. Crumb, M.D. in the amount of $50.00 for visits and medicines Bill for for Public Welfare eases from February 19 to February medical 28 inclusive. The expense was incurred by reason of care. the absence of Dr, Hardeastle. Mr. Giroux moved that the bill be approved for payment from the Public Welfare Dept . appropriation. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from Jasper A. Lane advising the Board that thebonds of the Clerk of the Board and Bonds the Building and lumbing Ins.ppeectors expired on expiring April 1st. Mr. Clark moved that action on the matter 366 be deferred until the next meeting. Mr. Ross seconded ''11 the motion and it was so voted. Cl+ Petition was received from several residents of Street Bartlett Avenue, Arcola and .Pearl Streets for the Lights. installation of street lights. Mr. Clark moved that the matter be referred to the Supt. of Public Works for investigation and report . Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. It was noted that there was listed on the Warrant, Bill for a bill in the amount of *372.17 made payable to John wiring Moakley for electrical work at the Public Works Build- not paid, ing. Mr. Giroux moved that the voucher numbered 1768 be removed from the Warrant for lack of funds. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Petition was received from residents of the Lowell Street section in East Lexington requesting that they be i antted a hteeariinn in regard to a five cent f r flom torratAveoeLeingtoxMee raandrozartet Ave. op_ a ringgranted tobRus on larch 31st. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Citizens Public Cele- April 19th brations Association requesting that they be advised celebration. the name of the Chairman of the Patriots ' Day Celebration. The Clerk was instructed to advise that Mr. Charles L. McCormack was Chairman of that celebration Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seeonded by Mr. Giroux, it was voted to appoint the followingas Special Police pp theyearendingpr1st, 1907: Officers in the Town for April Arthur J. Rocque Charles M. Blake Edward J. Hogan John Fopiano List of George A. Knight Leonard Dellis Special Frank Peters Edward W. Taylor Police. Chester Neal Charles E. Moloy Horwce M. Howard Edward L. Meany John J. Collins Roland E. Garmon Alex Ohison Robert P . Trask John J. Garrity Charles E. Ferguson John Campbell William G. Potter Ralph H. Marshall Archibald R. Giroux Dennis H. Collins Philip M. Clark Mark Dodd Albert A. Ross Charles A. Manley Charles Brenton Jacob Haid John A. Murray John G. Fitzgerald William Davis The report of the Supt. of Public Works for the Report. week ending March 14th was received. Letter was received from the Town Clerk to which Curran was attached letter from Richard S. McCabe, Attorney claim. for Anna Curran of 24 Baker Avenue. Anna Curran sustained an injury on Oak Street on Friday morning, March. 6th, which Mr. McCabe stated was because of a defect in Oak 367 IIStreet, Mr. Giroux moved that the matter be turned over to the Town Counsel for settlement. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Water Guaranty commitment in the amount of $1886.60 was signed by the Board. Commitment The following permits were granted: I. J. Michelson - Overhanging Sign - 1808 Mass. Ave. Western Union Tel. Co. - - 1736 " n Calvin W. Childs - " " - 409 " " F. K. Johnson, - " " - 39-41 Bedford St. Licenses. Ernest C. Martin - " " - 1793 Mass. Ave. Edgar J. Thivierge - " " - 1752 " " Louis J. Reynolds - " " - 1736 " " Waverley Hardware Co. - " " - 1756 " " Application was received from A. Greenblott for a permit to collect junk in Lexington. Greenblott would like to obtain a permit to operate immediately Greenblott and hate the 'fee pro-fated to April 1st when he would Junk apply for a license for the ensuing year . Mr. Ross License. stated that Greenblott owed the Water Department some bills and he would like to have the matter held over for one week to determine whether or not these bills I bad been paid and made a motion to that effect. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Trask reported that Mr. Frank Cutter had agreed to accept the position of Junior Engineer on the Clematis Cutter, Brook Project at a salary of $15.00 per week for a W.P.A. fifteen hour week. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Cutter position. be paid $15. per week. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Trask reported that Harry Burgess felt that he could not afford to continue his work as foreman on Burgess, the Mill Brook job for $25.00 per week. He works W.P.A. twenty-five hp rh week an stated that hewould foreman. balm to be pale 3.U9 per'week in order to stay.-Mr , i'aartoo�epl VAN i.beM�si8l1P2's'9 aeP i or is be and it was so voted. Mr. Trask stated that the Edison Company had called his attention to a pole on the southeast corner of Elm Avenue and a pole on Hancock Street opposite Elm Avenue New which were rotted one-third to one-half of the way to poles. the center. He thought that the company was justified in complaining of the condition of the poles and he stated further that the Board had been informed of this II matter on October 4, 1935. Mr. Giroux moved that the two poles be replaced. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 368 cn 1-3 Mr. Trask submitted amendments to the Traffic IIRules and Orders to be signed by the Board. The Traffic Chairman stated that he wondered if the Board had Amendment. given enough consideration to the "No U Turn" between Waltham Street and Grant Street. He stated that if a person had a car parked in front of Partridge 's, that he would have to go up to Depot Park before he could turn. Mr. Trask stated that the Police Dept. was very much in favor of no U turns as far as Grant Street. Mr. Clark moved that action on the matter be delayed until next week. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Trask stated that he wanted to know if the Payment for Board was going to pay Frank Barry and Ralph Dalrymple overtime anything extra for work done when they were called out work. in the middle of the night . Mr. Clark asked what the men were called out for. He replied that the pit at the Public Works Building was flooding and water had to be pumped all night. Another time, the Police car went out of commission at night and had to be repaired. The Chairman stated that Barry was on a weekly basis and he was paid if he was out sick. Mr. Clark moved that these extra payments be disapproved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Messrs. Ross and Ferguson voted in opposition to the matter. Mr. Giroux then moved that Town employees who are on a weekly basis other than superintendents and assistant superintendents, be allowed their regular hourly rate for all emergency overtime. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux then moved that Barry and Dalrymple be paid in accordance with this ruling. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Trask submitted Rules and Regulations for use of the tennis courts which were read by the Chairman as follows: RULES AND REGULAT IONS. 1. No person shall play for mare than one hour a day if anybody is waiting to play. 2. No other form of play except tennis is allowed on the courts and nobody not actually playing tennis shall be allowed inside the fences except officials of the department or judges during a tburnament. 3. Children Under 15 years of age are not allowed to sign for any of the courts for play before 8:00 A.M. and after 6:00 P.M. They may play if no older persona are waiting to play. 369 4. Complaints of any kind must be made to the Superintendent of Parks or directly to the Selectmen in writing. No complaint will receive attention unless the complainant's name and address is also given. 5. Reservations for tournaments must be made at least one week ahead at the office of the Superintendent of Parks at the Town Office Building. Hours approved for tournament purposes will be stamped on the reservation card by the Superintendent. 6. Reservations may be obtained between 4.00 and 4.30 P.M. at the Superintendent 's Office. 7. A player having signed for a definite hour may claim the court signed for exactly on the hour and the player or players using the court must vacate. Tennis Court 8. A player having signed for a court for a definite Reg- hour must claim this court within ten minutes of his ulations reservation and if not claimed by this time the court will be declared vacant and may then be used by anybody waiting to play. 9. These rules apply only for signing up on the players ' Schedules and shall not prevent further play if any tennis court is vacant, either by reason of default or by not having been signed for. 10. Courts are to be used by residents of Lexington only unless special permission is given. 11. Anyone violating these rules and regulations shall forfeit his privilege of the use of these courts. TOWN OF LEXINTUN Per Order BOARD OF SELECTMEN. Mr. Giroux moved that the Rules and Regulations be adopted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. J. L. Douglas appeared before the Board and stated that he would like to erect a sign on the land which the Town owns by reason of taking on the northwest side of Mass. Avenue just southeast of the southeasterly Douglas line of the right of way between Partridges ! store and Sign. the Edison Co. property. Mr. Giroux asked Mr. Douglas if he could submit a sketch showing the location of the pole on which the sign was to be erected with reference to the Edison Co. Building and the street. Mr. Douglas agreed to submit such a plan, and retired. The Chairman suggested that the matter be taken up with the Town Counsel before the permit was granted. 370 Eleven residents of the Fletcher Avenue section CI'' appeared before the Board with reference to the closing of the railroad crossing at that street. Mr. Eugene Buckley was spokesman for the group. The valuation of the property on Fletcher Avenue is $120,000.00, and the people pay the Town $3960.00 in taxes annually. Mr. Buckley stated that the people felt badly because the Board had voted to close the crossing. The Chairman informed Mr. Buckley that the Board did not vote to close the crossing, but they did vote to insert an article in the Warrant to install warning signals but disapproved an appropriation to cover the cost. Mr. Buckley stated that if the crossing were closed, all the traffic would be brought out onto Mass. Avenue in front of Viano 's garage and that school children would have to walk four-tenths of a mile further to go to school. There are from fifty to sixty children in this section. Mr. J. A. Moulton felt that the people had suffered long enough with the street and they now appreciated the fact that it had been constructed and that sidewalks had been built. He stated that the people on the street would not have agreed to construct it if they had Fletcher known that the crossing was going to be closed. He Avenue also felt that it was a hardship to the school children Crossing and that they would cut through the tracks anyway. He stat ed that he had v 1in the section for thirty c years and had used Fletcher Avenue most of the time. He felt that it was the Town's place to force the Boston & Maine to put up the signals and that $1500. was not too much money to be expended. The Chairman stated that the Town petitioned the railroad for the right to cross the tracks at grade when the street was accepted and the railroad did not grant the petition so '-that a hearing on the matter was held before the Department of Public Utilities on June 19, 1934. That Department ruled that the railroad was entitled to close the crossing. One man asked why the railroad was allowed to close the crossing as the Law stated that if a "No Trespassing" sign has not been posted for twenty-years, it -autoiatically makes a street a right of way, and no such sign had ever been put up. Another man stated that he was in the trucking business and frequently had to drive trucks to his home and they were loaded very high and he could not drive under the underpass on Grant Street with them. Mr. Clayton Morse stated that speaking as a citizen he did not wish to see the crossing closed. Mr. Moulton asked if there was any appeal by the Town from the decision of the D.P.U., and the Chairman stated that there was not and if there had been, that it would have been taken at the time the decision was made. The Board told the group that it would take the matter under advisement and the people retired. 371 Mr. Giroux moved that the appropriation for Fletcher Avenue warning signals be reconsidered. The Chairman stated that he would rather talk aver the matter with the Appropriation Committee before he considered changing his vote. The Board felt that it would be best to get the reaction of the Appropriation Committee and to discuss the matter before the adjourned Town Meeting on Monday next. The Chairman read a letter which he had received Applica- from Charles Callahan applying for a position at the tion for playgrounds this summer. No action was taken on the position. matter. Mr. Giroux moved that Howard W. Robbins be appointed a member of the Board of Appeals for the term of five years. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that John A. Lyons and Clyde E. Steeves be appointed associate members of the Board of Appeals for the year ending March 31st, 1937 . Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that the following be appointed as Bridge Charitable Fund Trustees: Howard S. 0. Nichols, term to expire in 1937; Waldo F. Glidden, term to expire in 1938; John F. Turner, term to expire in 1939 . Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that Fred W. Longbottom be appointed Building Inspector for the year ending March 31, 1937; Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that Arthur A. Marshall and James Appoint- F. McCarthy be appointed as Burial Agents for the year ments. ending March 31, 19374 Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that Eleanor M. Lowe be appointed Clerk of the Board of Selectmen for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that Charles E. Moloy and Roland Garman be appointed as Constables for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that the following be appointed as the Dental Clinic Committee for the year ending March 31, 1937: Mrs. William G. Potter; Mrs. Frederick B. James; Thomas S. Grindle . Mr. Ross sedonded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved. that Frank P. Cutter and Bartlett J. Harrington be appointed as Fence Viewers for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that the following be appointed as Fire Engineers for the year ending May 1st, 1937: Edward W. Taylor; Norman C. Hooper; Edward F. Buttrick; Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 372 y Mr. Giroux moved that Mrs. Kenneth P. Blake and Lawrence G. Mitchell be appointed as Gemmel Legacy Income Trustees (Acting with Dept. of Public Welfare) for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that Matthew Stevenson be appointed as Health Inspector foil the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Board discussed the matter of appointing the Health Officer. It was felt that the work of this office had increased materially and that it might be well to appoint separate persons for the positions of Health Officer and Town Physician. Dr. Hardcastle has been the Health Officer since 1932 and it was felt that he had had ample opportunity to make contacts with the townspeople and that it would be only fair to give a new man the same opportunity he had. Mr. Ross moved that Dr. Harold J. Crumb be appointed Health Officer for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that James J. Sullivan be appointed Lockup Keeper for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that Albert Bieren be appointed Measurer of Grain for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was ad voted. Mr. Ross .moved that John E. Kelley and Harold I. Wellington be appointed as Measurers of Wood, Bark and Appoint- Manure for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter meats. seconddd the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that Matthew Stevenson be appointed Milk Inspector for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that John J. Garrity be appointed as Park Superintendent for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that William G. Potter, Philip M. Clark and Albert A. Ross be appointed as Old Age Assistance Bureau for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that Andrew T. Bain be appointed as Plumbing Inspector for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that the following be appointed as the Posture Clinic Committee for the year ending March 31, 1937: Mrs. Edith M. Kelley Mrs. William G. Potter Mrs . Robert P. Trask Miss Margaret W. Kettell Miss Ruth E. Morrison Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. 373 Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Lawrence G. Mitchell be appointed as Public Welfare Agent for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that Charles E. Hadley be appointed as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that William C. Paxton, Jr. be appointed Supt. of Streets for the year ending March 31, ' 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that John O'Connor be appointed Asst. Supt. of Streets for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that Robert H. White be appointed Consulting Supt. of Streets for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that Sydney R. Wrightington be appointed as Town Counsel for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that John T. Cosgrove be appointed Town Engineer for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that Charles E. Moloy be appointed as Town Hall Janitor for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that John L. Murray be appointed as As9 't. Town Hall Janitor for the year ending Appointments March 31,. 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that Dr. C. Reginald Hardcastle be appointed as Town Physician for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross moved that the following be appointed as Public Weighers for the year ending March 31, 1937: William E. A. Mulliken John E. A. Mulliken Jacob Bierenbroodspot Harold I. Wellington Albert Bieren William Bieren Peter Stevens John E. Kel le y Lillian McClure Leo Dumas Paul M. Wagner. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that Louis W. Bills be appointed as Wire Inspector for the year ending March 31, 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. 374 The Welfare Agent discussed the case of Charles E. McCullough and wife who are now living with the McCullough man's father on Concord Avenue. This is a Lexington case. settled case. Mr. Mitchell recommended aid not to exceed $10.00 per week. Mr. Giroux moved that the recommendation be approvdd. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Welfare Agent discussed the case of John J. Coyne and family. Coyne has been working for eummings, the milkman. When he went to work Sunday, he found Coyne that his deliveries had been made. He went to Mrs. case. Cummings who was very much upset about the matter and stated that her husband had evidently hired someone in his place. There seems to be some question as to Cummings' mentality. Inasmuch as there are three children in the family, Mr. Mitchell recommended aid in the amount not to exceed $15.00 per week. Mr. Clark moved that the recommendation be approved. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Mitchell, who is President of the Lexington Invitation. Rotary Club, invited the members of the Board and their wives to attend the ladies night which is to be held on April 6th. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 P.M. A true record, Attest: Cle rk.