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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1936-04-28454 A SELECTMEN'S MEETING ' APRIL 28, 1936. A regular meeting of the Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:00 F.M. Chairman Ferguson, Messrs. Giroux, Clark and Ross were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Potter appeared at 8 P.M. Mr. David GearY4 Water Registrar of the Town of Arlington, and Mr, E ward O'Brien, Supt, of Public1brks, appeared before the Board to discuss the matter of water rates being charged by the Town of Arlington to the two houses in Lexington on Lowell Street, which are just over the line. Mr. Geary said that last Fall he was informed verbally by Mr. Ross that Lexington would assume the responsibility of billing these two houses. Mr, Ross was authorized to make this statement by Mr. Trask. 'Mr. Geary told the Arlington Board of Public Works that Lexington would assume responsibility of the billing and the Board agreed to abate all water rates for the preceding year. He billed Lexington in September and again in January and neither bill was paid. Another bill was rendered in February which was not paid and ' nothing further has evdr been done in the matter. There is $14.00 outstanding now. Mr. Ross stated that he wrote Arlington at one time Mater- and stated that Lexington would not assume responsibility rates, for the billing and later took the matter up with Mr. Trask houses on who agreed that Lexington should assume the responsibility, Lowell St. The Chairman stated that thesectwo houses received water from the house in Arlington and that Lexington would have no way of forcing collection except .through a lien as there is no way at the present time that Lexington can get in to shut off the'watere Mr Ross asked Mr e Geary if Arlington had a regula tion stating that'a service might be shut off even though more than one house received its water through that service, and he replied in the negative. Mr, Geary suggested that Arlington bill Lexington direct and then Lexington could bill the consumers* The Chairman suggested that it would be possible for Lexington to lay a two inch main from the Arlington line for the service, have it go in direct from the street and buy the water from Arlington. He stated that if Lexington could get an easement when the pipe is laid and put in its own meters, it might work out all right. He advised the two men that the matter would be discussed with the Town Counsel and that they would be advised and they retired. '. Mr. Wrightington appeared and stated that such an easement would be for the purpose of giving Lexington the ownership of the pipe and the right to meter it. He said 455 that it was 'a question of whether or not Lexington could ' buy the water from Arlington and charge it to the consumer. The Chairman asked if this were done, if the people would have the right to stop any town employees from entering their property for the purpose of shutting off the water. He replied that it could be handled by getting a proper easement to -all the services and by buying the water from Arlington. The Town Counsel made a report on the Ryder drainage Ryder case. case. Mr. E. E. Taylor appeared before the Board and dis- Application cussed his qualifications for the position of Supt, of for Public Works. position. At 8:00 P.M, hearing was declared open on the appli- cation of John D'. Campbell for permission to maintain a one car garage of cement blockconstruction at 238 Lincoln Street. Mrs. Campbell appeared and presented plan of the Campbell proposed garage. No persons appeared in opposition. Garage Mr. Ross moved that the license be granted subject to the Hearings approval of the Building Inspector. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. At 8:05 P.M. hearing was declared open on the appli- Johnson ' cation of Harry E. Johnson for permission to maintain a Garage one car garage at 33 Taft Avenue. No persons appeared in Hearing, favor or in opposition so no action was taken on the matter. At 8:10 P.M. hearing was declared open on the appli. Johnson cation of Harry E. Johnson for permission to maintain a Garage one car garage at lot #10 Taft Avenue. No persons appeared Hearing* in favor or in opposition so no action was taken on the matter. Mr. Bernard P. Snee appeared before the Board and presented an application for the use of Cary Memorial Hall on May 29th for the purpose of allowing the Bedford Hospital Legion Post to have their annual ball on that date. He stated that the Government had ruled that the Hospital could not charge for anything held in the Government Hall. Mr. Roland E. Garmon, Commander of the Stanley Hill Post, A.L., stated that the Lexington Post was agreeable to the Bedford Post using the Hall. The Chairman informed Mr. Snee that the rate for the use of the hall was #40.00. Mr. Giroux asked what the proceeds of the ball would be used for and he was advised that the proceeds were used for charity. The Chairman stated that he believed that the Board could not ' do anything to reduce the rates for out -of -Town organize- tionsi but that he would check on the matter and would advise Mr. Snee if this was correct. Use of Hal] byy Bedford Legion. 456 Hunt property, Farm Brest Avenue. Sheffres Junk License. Mr. George Hunt of Farm Crest Avenue appeared be- fore the Board relative to alleged damage to his property due to the elevation of the street. He said that previous to the Town's decision to put the street through, he called the Town Engineer's attention to the fact that the street was about three feet higher than his lawn and at that time he was informed that no walls would be built by the Town. He spoke to Mr. Trask about a"retaining wall and asked him to go over -and see the property and Mr. Trask stated that he would, but he did not. Mr. Hunt saw - Mr. Trask again and was advised to talk to the Supt. of Streets. Mr. Paxton said there was nothing he could do about it. The Town is now constructing gravel sidewalks on the street and he felt that a gravel sidewalk would wash down on his lawn and he is not in a position to build the wall himself. He has picked up several rocks and stones already which have gashed down onto his lawn. He thought; that something should be done on the matter now. The Chairman 'told `Mr. Hunt that the matter would be discussed with the Supt, of"StTeets and he retired. Mr. Ross moved that the Clerk talk with the Town Counsel to find out if the Town Would be compelled to put in such a wall. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that if Mr Wrightington ruled that the Town should build the wall, he thought the Board should view the whole street and see if other walls should be built. At 8:30 P.M. Mr. Theodore Sheffres of Lisbeth Street appeared before the Board and stated that he`would like to be granted a Junk License." He stated that he had boon ill with Tuberculosis in a sanatorium and had engaged Hyman Weiss to work for him. Weiss got a license and never paid Sheffres anything. Sheffres stated that he intended to carry on his business from Lisbeth S+reet but that there would never be any junk around as he would store the junk in Waltham where he had a place of business. The Chairman advised him that he.would have to make an application to do business in a business area and that if his storage place was in Waltham, for him to make out an application stating this. He retired. Mrs C. F. Goodridge and Miss L. M. Hannaford appeared before the Board to complain about the condition of Lincoln Complaint Street, Mrs. Goodridge stated that the Town began to res Lincoln work on the street on January 14, 1935, and she,has had Street nothing but destbuction since'then. She said that the Town had hired men who'were irresponsible and would not do any work. Drain pipe had been dumped in front of her property and she wanted it removed and also she wanted the roots of old trees removed. She pays $146, for taxes and she felt that she was entitled to some consider- ation. onsideration. She has had a paperhanger come in to do over the y 1 J 1 house and he has done nothing during the last two days but ' fill in cracks. _ The Chairman informed her that the whole trouble was that the work had been done with W.P.A. labor and the Town had nothing to do with the hiring and firing of the men. Mr. Giroux told Mrs. Goodridge that Edith Nourse Rogers and Senator Walsh were working on the matter. She stated that she had a cousin who knew Mrs. Roger* very well and the Chairman told her to write Mrs. Rogers on the matter. Mrs. Goodridge asked if some gravel could be used to fill in the holes until something permanent was done. The Chairman told her that the Supt. of Public Works would be instructed to look at the street and to do something about it, Mr. Giroux told her that the Board would advise her as soon as they had any word from Washington. 1 1 The Board signed.the application of William'B can for Sunday Golf on May 30 10, 17, 24, and 31st, 1936. Mr. George C Brehm of Cambridge, appeared before the Board and presented his qualifications for the position of Supt. of Public Works. Mr, John W. Raymond appeared before the Board and presented his qualifications for the position of Supt, of Public Works. Mrs. James and Miss Katherine Kinneen appeared before the Board and asked how much longer they would have to stand investigation of their property caused by Mrs. Leary's oomphaints. The Chairman advised them that they could advise a % o h r g ii rt7� , 9; tAjp�j t �of. �e9aiflaa citizen and the only thing to do was to investigate a complaint as there is always the possibility that conditions might change. If Mrs. Leary continued to make trouble, they could bring her into Court. Mrs. Kinneen stated that it was very annoying to have the Health Inspector coming down so much and that it was quite a bother. The Chairman suggested that if the Board received any more complaints they could call Mrs. Kinneen before going down to make an investigation. They stated that this would be satisfactcr7 to them and retired. Sunday Golf. Applicatim for Position. s Kinneen re Leary complaint. Mr. Ralph Adams appeared before the Board to present Application his qualifications for the position of Supt. of Public for Works. position. M r. Garrity presented a letter signed by eight residents of Robbins Road. The letter requested that shade Request trees be planted on that portion of Robbins Road running for shade southerly from Locust Avenue. The Chairman stated that trees* he did not think the Town had the right to plant trees on 458 y unaccepted streets and We Giroux stated that he believed that it had not been the practice of the Board to do so, and do advised Mr. Garrity. The Supt. of Parks informed the Board that he wished to buy an Ideal Power Mower at a cost of $360a plus35„ for the riding sulky, with a discount of 6%. ten days. He Purchase of said that this power mower would be interchangeable with power all the equipment they have now. The Cemetery Dept* has mower for an Ideal Hower. Park Dept, The Chairman asked if this item was included in the budget and he replied in the affirmative. He said that he had received only one bid as this is the only company that manufactures this type of machine. Mr. Ross moved that the Supt. be authorized to purchase an ideal power mower at the price gxioted above. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Supt, of the Park Division informed the Board that he would'like to buy a power sprayer at a cost of $1093.50. Mr. Giroux asked what the amount was that was appropriated and he was informed that it was *1100. The Fitzhenry-Guptill has the same pump as the one now owned by the Park Division. He received only one bid Purchase of as this is the only one he could get. He tried 'the power Harding sprayer and it did not produce. This power sprayer, sprayer is to replace the old one which is 23 years old. The Board asked him what he was going to do with the , old sprayer and he said he supposed he would give it away. The Town bought this old sprayer in conjunction with the State Dept, and each paid one-half the cost. The Chair- man #hought that Mr. Smith should be consulted before the Town gave away the machine. Mr. Giroux moved that the Supt, of the Park Division be authorized to -purchase an FX Power Sprayer, complete with spray hose, couplings and nozzle, for the sum of $1093,50., Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from W. R. Greeley advising the Trees on Board that the Elm trees on the Munroe Tgvern grounds Munroe needed some work to make them safe. He asked if it might T#veru be possible'for the Town to assign men',to take care of Grounds. these trees. The Chairman stated that the -Town could do nothing on private property. Mr. Garrity stated that he was working out a P.P.A. project for care of trees and he would..attempt to include work on the trees on the Munroe Tgvern grounds In the project. The Clerk was instructed to advise Mr. Greeley of this fact. Purchase of Mr. Potter moved that the Board approve the purchase Motorcycle, of a motorcycle for the Police Department at a cost of $399, less the trade in din the old motorcycle of" 149.50. ' Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that the following rates of pay be ' established for the Election Officers to,serve at the Pay for Primary Election on April 28tha Wardens, $11.00; Election Other Officers, $7.00. Mr. Ross seconded the motion Officers. and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Lexington Baseball Club requesting a blanketpermit for the use of Parker Field for the coming season: The letter stated that when the schedule was made out, the Board would be furnished a copy. Mr. Potter stated that he did not believe In. Use of giving this club a blanket permit for the use of the Parker field as there might be some boys now in school who Field, might form a team-. Mr. Potter moved that the Club be requested to present a schedule before further action would be taken. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Town Counsel calling the attention of the Board to Chapter 204 of the Acts of 1936, which provides that the Town might, at the Annual Meeting, vote to hold a Town Caucus for the Article re nomination of candidates for Town offices. He stated Town that it was not clear to him"just how it could be made" Caucus effective in the year in which the vote was adopted, but he commended putting in the Warrant for the next Annual ' Town Meeting an article which would have a so-called Town caucus which apparently would be a vote for the elimination of candidates so that it the final election only the two highest candidatesfor each office would be on the ballot. He stated that this was something which he had sought for many years to accomplish in Lexington and hoped that under this new Legislation it might be possible to work it out satisfactorily. Mr. Giroux moved that such an article be included in the Warrant for the next Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the R gent of the D.A.R. stating that the Chapter had "been Aa ged $2.00 for the use of a meeting room in Cary lemorial Hall and that this Use of was the first time that such a charge had been made. The Hall by letter asked if the charge was a proper one. Mr. Potter D.A.R. moved that the bill be abated and that no charge be made to the D.A.R. for the use of a meeting room in the future. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Building Inspector stating that Miss Harrington now agreed that there must have been a misunderstanding on her part and that she was now Harrington willing to withdraw her claim for any reimbursement from Complaint ' the Town. She would like a load of filling, some loam and the services of a relief worker to shovel the dirt from the sidewalk because there is no chance to dump the load. Flue hin g Trunk Line Seger. Mr, Giroux moved -that the Chairman advise Missy harrington that it does not lie within the power of the Selectmen to furnish either materlil or labor for work on private property. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted, Letter was received from the Acting Supt. of the Water and Sewer Division stating that the trunk line sewer between Waltham Street and the East Lexington Railroad Station was greatly in need of flushing and he recommended that this work be done at an early date. He stated that if this work was approved it would be necessary to charge the expense involved to an account outside of Sewer Maintenance inasmuch as the present balance in this account must be reserved for installation of services and maintenance of street sewerage, The only two existing accounts from which the funds might be secured are trunk line $525,51 and trunk line repairs, $517.04. Mr. Ross stated that inasmuch as all work had been completed an the trunk line, the present balance in the account would no doubt be transferred at the next Town Meeting. He asked that he be advised to what account the expense should be charged, Mr. Albert Ross stated that there was about six inches of dirt in the trunk line from Hayes Lane to Break Nurseries and he figured that it would cost about $200. to clean it out. Mr. Ross moved that the Acting Supt. be authorized to clean the sewer and to charge the expense incurred to the trunk line repairs account. Mr, Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Lettdr was received from Francis J. Nevins of Purchase 292 Mass. Avenue stating that he wished to change his of land, offer from $60, to $100, for lot 3 in the Bacon Development. Mr. Clark moved that the Board accept Mr. 'Nevins offer subject to the approvalof the Committee named at the Annual Town Meeting, Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Liberty Height s Ames .Ave. Community Club requesting that street lights be installed Street on Ames Avenue, an unaccepted street. The letter also Lights & requested that the attention of the Board of Health be Dump, called to the dumping of rubbish, etc. on Ames Avenue beside,. the property occupied by Mr. Anderson. Mr. Clark moved that the request for street lights be turned over to the Supt. of Public Works for Investigation and report. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted, The Clerk reported that she had requested the Health Inspector to investigate the health condition referred to and report on the matter, Applications for the position of Supt. of Public Works were received from Leslie D. Moore of West Newton 1 L_ 1 II and Julius Abrams of Winthrop. No action was taken on the applications. Upon mot ion of Mr, the f ollowing licenses James F. McCarthy- - James F. McCarthy - Sarah Berman A. C. Bierenbroodspot - Carroll Bros. - John N. Connors - Frank Dias - Joseph A. Douglas - A. S. Duren M. Fitzpatrick & Son— Chester A. Fogg Dennis J. Kelley - Robert A. McAdoo - Frank Reynolds - Ryders Stock Farm - Carroll Bros. - Chester A. Fogg - Antonio Mereadante - William G. Potter - Swenson Bros. Clark, seconded were granted: 80 Bedford St. it by Mr. Potter, 22 Mass. Ave. - Wood St.,Bedford - Allen Street - Nelson Rd. Lincoln 388 Concord. Avd. - Crosby Rd., Bed. - Carlisle Cambridge Woburn St. - Hartwell Rd. - Goncord - South Rd.,Bed. - Cary Ave. Allen St. - Woburn St. - Lowell St. - Walnut St. - Allen St. - Undertaker Public Carriage Sunday Sales Garbage N _ it it " Licenses, n n n n n n n 50 Sw ine 200 " 16 " 900 100 n The Board discussed the request of Everett S. Emery for a W.P.A. project on the mosquito menace at the Mosquito Winning Farm. Mr. Giroux moved that the Supt. of Public Menace. Works be requested to find out if the W.P.A. would consider this particular job asa W.P.A. project. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Application for the use of Cary Memorial Hall on . May 22nd was received from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The organization desires to hold a dance, the proceeds Use of of which are to be used for charity. Mr. Clark moved Hall. that the use of the hall be granted subject to the usual fee of $25. if the hall is available. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The report of the Supt. of Public Works for the week Report ending April 25th was received. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works relative to the bills of the Public Works Supply Co. for the purchase of a bit grinder and of John Moakley for labor and matgr3alb in connection with rewiring of the Public Works Building. The letter stated that for his own protection and for the benefit of the records, he desired to make a statement in regard to these bills. The purchase of the bit grinder was made after careful study and on the advice of the Supt. of Streets and the Wpt, of the Water and Sewer Division, Albert A. Ross. In fact it was Mr. Ross who advocated this purchase most 462 cn ¢ strongly. It was intended that the bill should be paid jointly by Highway Maintenance, Water Maintenance and ,. Public Works Dept., Labor & Materials, this being a e proper charge for new equipment and there 'having been a sufficient amount included in the budgets of all three of these divisions to take care of this cost. The cost to these divisions for purchasing and sharpening bits has been very high, in 1934 $1,896.00 being spent for drills and replacements and in 1935, $387.00, which was mostly for sharpening. He found that there had been accumulated, as a result of the wholesale purchase of bits in 1934, a total of more than 3000 bits at the Public Works Building. These bits are in perfectly good condition and only needed sharpening. He considered the purchase of the, bit gti?nder one of the best investments the Dept. of Public Works has ever made and stated that it will more than pay for itself this year in using up old bits which have been accumulated and which have never been sharpened even once. He felt that the divisions which have always carried the expense of sharpening and replacing bits should pay for the grinder as was planned in the budget and could see no justifica- tion in charging the purchase of this equipment to the Public Works Building any more than other equipment which is used by the Water, Sewer and Highway Divisions. In regard to the rewiring of the Public Works Bills for Building, he considered that this was an emergency bit grinder condition which required emergency action due tot he and fact that various circuits established for lighting rewiring only had become so badly overloaded by the addition of Pub. Works various electric motors from time to time that the lines Building, were not heavy enough to carry the electricity required with the result that ruses were being b16wn every day and the substitution of nails, coins and other pieces of metal in place of fuses resulted in burping out motors because of overloaded circuits. He stated that he could point to several large bills in the last year for repairing expensive motor parts which could be traced to this condition. No only has the new setup eliminated any further motor trouble, but the first month's bill received after 'the installation of the new meters shcwed a reduction of $20.00 in the total Edison Elec. Ill. Co. bills for the Public Works Building as a result of the various motor driven machines being wired through a special power meter instead of 90% of them going through the light meter and being charged at light service rates. , He contended that there had been a very definite saving in the cost of repairs ind in'the bills for electricity, to say nothing in the saving in loss of time as a result of the rewiring of the Public Works Building. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works , stating that he had interviewed Mrs. Mary D. Hatch who ' stated that she had no specific claim against the Town but felt upset when she was charged interest on her taxes when the Town was actually owing her money for damages. Mr. Trask explained that there could be no relationship between interest charges on a tax bill and any other claims against the Town and suggested that if she felt the Town was obligated to her in any way for services rendered, that she set forth the amount and reason therefor in the form of a bill to be rendered to the Board of Selectmen. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works stating that since -the original quotation received from the Burbrec Nurseries of $2.75 each for Maple trees, a new price of $2.25 each had been secured. $200.00 is available in the budget for tree planting and since there have been requests for more than seventy trees to be planted, he recommended that authority be given to the Supt. of the Park Division to purchase as many Maple trees as might be required, the total cost not to exceed $200.00. Mr. Ross moved that the recommendation be approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Hatch Claims. Purchase of Maple trees. W.P.A. Rental of equipment. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works to which was attached a statement from the Water Dive ' billing the Public Works Dept., Labor and Materials, for the sum of $769910 for rental of equipment. The letter stated that in the past this account had not been used to pay for rentals and that if rentals were to be paid for, the Highway Division might properly charge rental for trucks and other equipment so that bills for rentals against W.P.A. would run into several thousand dollars each quarter. Mr. Trask felt that the manner in which this had beenhandled was entirely reasonable and fair since it was all town equipment and was being used for the general good of the town. He said that any other method would require an'appzopriation of at least $15,000. over and above $5000, already appropriated for Labor and Materials. Mr. Ross stated that in Belmont they did not allow Water Dept. a quipment,to be used on W.P.A. projects. The Chairman stated that tyre would not be enough money in the Labor and Materials appropriation to pay for all rentals. Mr. Ross then mw ed that the Water Dept. be instructed to abate the bill rendered and to charge no further rentals to the Public Works Dept. Labor and Materials account. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works stating that the traffic lights at the junction of Pleasant ' Street and the Concord Turnpike could not function due to the fact that the pad in Pleasant Street on the northerly side of the new bridge was not properly located so that Hatch Claims. Purchase of Maple trees. W.P.A. Rental of equipment. 10 Traffic Light s, Pleasant Street Purchase Orders. traffic passing over the street did not touch the pad at any point. In order to have the lights function properly it would be necessary for the Town to spend about $1500 in relocating and rebuilding Pleasant Street from the point 100 feet north of the bridge to the Concord Turn- pike. At least two of the signals would have to be relocated by the State and the curb installed by the State at thecorner of Pleasant Street and the Concord Turnpike would have to be moved about 15 feet in an easterly. direction. When these lights were installed, the Lexington Dept. of Public Works was not consulted as to the proper location of Pleasant Street and the State Dept, located the lights and the curbing in accordance withthe old travelled way of Pleasant Street instead of in accordance with the new layout and the new bridge plan, plans of which were already available had the State 15ept. taken the trouble tofind out about it. Mr. Clark moved that the Supt. of Public Works be requested to furnish an estimate of the cost of operating the lights on a time switch instead of on a pad. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works stating that the purchase order system was installed by him for the purpose of keeping control of purchases made and he did not understand why the Appropriation Committee should dictate as tohow they were to be used. Mr. Trask has received no complaints from the Selectmen or from the Town Accountant. The claim by the Appropria- tion Committee that purchase orders did not contain sufficient detail, Mr. Trask said, was apparently based on the theory that these purchase orders should be used for the benefit of the Appropriation Committee acting as an auditing Committee and he had no idea that they were to be used for any such purpose. He stated that tire prices were established by competitive bidding and he saw no reason why the amount needed to be placed on the purchase orders each time. Purchases made through the Middlesex Co. Farm Bureau have also been made on a competitive basis and he stated that he had records in his office to show *hat the prices on the various commodities had been. Mr. Trask stated that he had not considered it necessary to check on prices for stock parts of automobiles, etc. which are made at establl6hed prices. If the Selectmen wish to have these purchase orders include an itemized detail of prices on every purchase made, it would be necessary to have additional clerical assistance. Mr. Trask stated that it was very interesting to note that the Appropriation Committee had seen fit to criticize one of the most important improvements made in the Dept. of Public Works during the past year when for years there never was any record of any kind whatsoever of the purchases made or prices agreed upon. He said that it was a ;trade practice to 01 y J C buy sand by the ton and the normal moisture contained therein was given .no consideration. The Town purchases ' sand which has been stored in a stock pile for sevdral weeks or months and it could not possibly contain more than a nominal amount of moisture, which is 5%.. Mr. Potter moved that the Appropriation Committee be sent a copy of Mr. Trask's letter. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works stating that the snowshoes and sandals had been purchased by the Engineering Dept. so that the men could continue their field work every week during the winter as it Bad a vase of calling off all field work or equipping the men so they could get about on the snow. Mr. Potter moved that the letter be referred to the Appropriation Committee. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received fromthe Supt. of Public Works stating that the Water Maintenance budget was made up in December and at that time it was intended that the Dept. could get along the best they could with the old 1929 truck. On Feb. 11 Mr. Trask brought to the attention of the Board the fact that Calvin Childs hada good buy in a used Ford chassis and the Board instructed him to ' purchase it. He thought tYB refor that this was a matter for the Board of Selectmen to explain rather than.the Supt. of Public Works. Mr. Giroux moved that the Chairman write a letter to the Appropriation Committee explaining the matter. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works stating that the bill from the Lexington Ambulance Service included an item of $7.00 for ambulance service fair the wife of Thomas . Sullivan who is an employee of the Town. Mr. Trask did not think this a proper charge against the Police Department but felt that it.should be collected from the party who was responsible. He stated that he had not approved the item but was referring it to the Board for consideration. The Chairman stated that he thought that if the Police Department called an ambulance that the Town should be liable for the bill and it was up to the Department to collect from the individual if possible. Mr. Giroux moved that the bill be approved to be paid by the Police Department and that that Department be requested to try to collect from Sullivan. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 465 Snowshoes for Engineering Dept. Purch as e of Ford Chassis. Bill for ambulance service. ' Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works Thompson stating that he had arrangeiwith Frank Thompson to set bille up and take down the poll booths at the Adams School for the Primary Election to be held on April 28th, Mr. Thompson agreed to do the work at the rate of fifty cents per hour. log W.P.A. Projects. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works stating that the following proposed W.P.A. projects were now in the hands of the Engineering Division for study: Grant Street Construction Hibbert Street " Robbins Road. " Grove Street Repairs Concord Ave. Culvert Replacement Independence Ave. Drainage Map Making, Mr. Trask reminded the Board that it was essential Sponsor's that it appoint a Sponsor's AgInt immediately to Agent. represent the Town in all W.P., matters. This work has been carried on by the Supt. of Public Works up to the present time, The following commitments were signed by the Board.- Commitments oard:Commitments Water Rates Commitment, Section 3 - 14809.79 Water Guaranty Commitment - 1040,15 The following abatements were. signed by the Boar d: Abatements Water Guaranty Abatement $1040.15 Hydrant Rental Abatement - 1987.50 Mr. Clark asked the Welfare Agent if Mrs. Hadley's allowance had been reduced, and he replied in the negative. When she was in the hospital, Mr. Mitchell Hadley stated the children were given 06.00 per week. For case. the last week or two she has been given $8.00 per week. 'the gets $4.00 per week for the two children from the Fireman's Pension Fund. This is handled by Warren Hadley who takes out the interest on the house. One boy is now at a C.C.C. camp and will turn in about $25. per month. The Chairman turned over to Mr. Mitchell a letter received from Mrs. Hadley requesting additional aid for further report. The Welfare Agent reported that Mrs. Mary E. Landry Landry has been receiving Old Age Assistaned in the case* amount of $6.00 per week and he recommended an increase of $1.00 per week. Mr. Giroux moved that the recommendation be approved. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Welfare Agent reported that Daniel Buckley Buckley was going to -work on the W.P.A. Saturday, Mr. Mitchell case* asked approval of,aiding the man in the amount of $6.00 this week and next week in order to provide for his room and board until he gets some work on the W.P.A. L C 467 Mr. Mitchell stated that he thought that Mrs. ' Kelley should be aided by Cambridge inasmuch as she was`residing in that city. Miss Mary Kelley is earning $37.00 per week and she has always borne the brunt of her motherts care. None of the other children have Kelley ever helped her. The mother is over 70 years old. case. Mr. Mitchell stated that he would talk over the settlement with Cambridge and straighten out the matter and find out whether Cambridge or Lexington should aid the woman. The Board remained tb,discuss the qualifications of Supt, of the four men who appeared before the Board as applicants Public for the position of Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk Works. retired. The meeting adjourned at 11:45 P.M. A true record, Attest; Clerk. L 1 May 5, 1936. Mr. G}iroli,x moved that the present Supt. of Public Works be reappointed until such time as his successor is chosen. Mr: Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. A true record, Attest; Chairman, Selectmen.