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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1936-05-19 492 S1 LECTMEN 'S MEETING May 19, 1936. A regular meeting of the Board of Se]e ctmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P. M. Messrs. Ferguson, Potter, Giroux, Clark and Ross were present. The Clerk was also present. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works stating that he had interviewed Mr. George V. Hunt of 58 Farmcrest Avenue relative to the matter of a wall along his property. Mr. Hunt has agreed that a sloped embankment would be acceptable to him if the Town provided a minimum of eight inches of loam, seeded the slope, excavated along the top of Hunt property, the enbankment and set out plants for a hedge, he to Farmcrest Ave. provide the plants. Mr. Raymond said that he failed to mention to Mr. Hunt that a release would be re- quired. Mr. Giroux moved that Mr. Raymond be authorized to settle with Mr. Hunt in accordance with the agree- ment provided the proper release is signed by Hunt. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was sb voted. Letter was received from the Supt . of Public Works stating that Toros Bashian of 2778 Mass. Avenue Wall,Bashian had requested that the Town finish the wall opposite property his property which was started as an E.R.A. project. Mr. Raymond stated that he thought the wall should be finished for the distance of approximately 20 feet and he thought that it would take two or three men only a day to finish it. Mr. Clark moved that the job be finished. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond stated that there were a few boulders Boulders on the slope of the bank on the Bashian property which might become dislodged in a heavy rain and roll onto the highway. He thought that they should be taken out. Mr. Giroux moved that Mr. Raymond be authorized to have the boulders removed. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Supt. of Public Works informed the Board that he had received a suggestion from the Town Engineer that Locust Avenue be constructed from its present end to Follen Road as a W. P. A. project. Mr. Cosgrove Locust Ave. had pointed out that there might be a moral obligation for the Town to do this work without the usual better- ment assessments since the land was donated for the the purpose of a highway some eighteen years ago by Mr. Richard G. Tower, now deceased. 490 Mr. Clark stated that he would like to look over the land before he voted on the matter and moved that it be held over for one week. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Supt. of Public Norks reported that some of the dump on Pleasant Street had been covered but no fence had been erected and the dumping continues. Mr. Paxton had planned to put up a snow fence until such time as grass could be started over the dump. Mr. Raymond said that there was a small drainage problem involved since the material placed in the dump had nearly com- pletely stopped up the natural water course and the water will be unable to find its way into the pipe under Pleasant Street and will probably result in stand- ing water on the surface of the dump. He said that it might be advisable to extend the pipe through the dump a matter of 100 feet or perhaps build a catch basin ' in Pleasant Street to Which the water might find its way and thence enter the pipe under the road. Mr. Raymond thought that it would cost at least $1000. to lay the drain pipe and about ¶75. to build the catch basin. Drainage, The catch basin would serve adequately until sidewalks Pleasant St. were built on Pleasant Street. dump Mr. Clark asked Mr. Raymond which he thought would be more economical for the Town to do and he replied that it would be more economical to build a catch basin. The Chairman thought that it would be cheaper to build the catch basin on private property. Mr. Ross asked if an open drain would take care of the matter for the time being and Mr. Raymond answered in the affirmative. Mr. Potter moved that the matter of drainage at the Pleasant Street dump be turned over to Mr. Raymond to handle. Mr . Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Supt. of Public Works informed the Board that the Supt. of the Highway Division planned to start work on Lowell Street about May 25th. Last week the street Lowell had been cleaned up and some oil used to lay the dust Street until the real job could be completed. The Supt . of Public Works informed the Board that in the matter of the drain and ditch across the property of the Lexington Home for the Aged, he found that the catch basin at Mass. Avenue was not connected with the drain and that no street drainage ran through the ten inch pipe into the ditch. Mr. Mulliken, owner of the adjoining property, informed Mr. Rey mond that there is no connection to the pipe for the purpose of draining his property. Mr. Raymond suggested that the ditch be 494 11 filled in so that pools of water will not stand in the vicinity and thought that this would abate the mosquito Drain on menace to some extent. Mr. Raymond wrote Mr. Rowse Mass. Ave. and asked his approval of this plan but has not received a reply as yet . Mr. Rowse stated that the Town excavated the trench many years ago., The Chairman stated that if the Town dug the trench it would have the right to go onto the property to fill it in, but if not , it would not have any right. Mr. Raymond thought that it would take about 15 truck loads of fill but that a lot of it would have to be handled by wheelbarrow . Mr. Potter moved that the matter be held over for one week so that Mr. Raymond could get an estimate of the cost of doing the work. Mr. Ross seconded the mation and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works stating that in the opinion of John O'Connor it would be inadvisable to attempt the reconstruction of Reed Street as a W.P.A. project as Clematis Brook and Lincoln Street will absorb nearly all available suitable W.P.A. men. O'Connor was of the opinion that it might be advisable to work out a drainage project for the street. The drainage plan for Reed Street as outlined by Metcalf & Reed Eddy calls for the abandonment of the open brook Street. between Reed Street near Vaille Avenue and Sunnyknoll , Avenue and north of Sunnyknoll Avenue. Mr. Raymond recommended a drainage project for the street if the Board wanted to submit another W.P.A. project, but if the problem was merely to get Reed Street in a more presentable condition, he would recommend honing the street, oiling it and putting in pea stone. Mr. Clark moved that the matter be held over for one week so that Mr. Raymond might get an estimate of t}.e cost of doing this work. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that Colonel Keville of the Belmont Springs Golf Club had telephoned him with regard Underpass, to the reconstruction of Watertown Street from the new Watertown highway to the Belmont line, which involved taking Street . land from the Golf Club. Colonel Keville intimated that if when the sttjeet was constructed an overpass was built from the tenth green to the eleventh tee he felt sure that the owners of the club would forego any land damages. Mr. Raymond stated that if ledge was not encountered it would cost about 3000. to construct the underpass . The Chairman thought that it would be best to find out what the land damages would amount to and compare it with the estimated cost of the underpass before doing anything fubther on the matter. Mr. Raymond stated that Mr. Harold B. Needham of Fern Street informed him that the Town improped the portion of Independence Road that comes down from the hill 495 V and joins Ferm Street opposite his riveway, which goes down hill towards his house. Since that improvement, the water runs down Fern Street and has washed out his driveway a depth of about two feet. Needham had contacted the previous Supt. of Public Works but nothing had been done . Mr. R r mond had a letter from Mr. Needham which said that the Town would have to fix his driveway or remove the water pipe which crosses his land to his father's house . Mr. Needham said that no permission had sever been given the Town to lay the water pipe across his land and that he never wanted Needham it in the location which it had been placed, and when complaint Mrs. Needham questioned the men who were laying the re water pipe,,ithey did not give her any satisfaction. driveway. He wants the driveway oiled and gravel spread, and Mr. Raymond told him that he did notthink the driveway would stay even then. Mr. Raymond thought that the only way to take care of the matter would be to provide drainage for Fern Street and Independence Avenue. Mr. Raymond thought that possibly Mr. Scamman knew some- thing about the matter. Mr. Potter moved that the matter be held over for one week. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond received a complaint from Barney Tocio of Crescent Hill Avenue who said that his driveway had been washed out during the period of building the roadway. A couple of loads of gravel and stone dust are needed. The driveway extends back about 25 feet Tocio and the sidewalk is higher than the drive. The Chairman complaint asked Mr. Raymond if he thought the driveway was washed re out due to the construction of Crescent Hill Avenue. driveway. Mr. Raymond said that he did not think so with the present construction but that it might have happened before the bituminous construction was put in . Mr. Raymond did not know if a gravel drive would stay without a heavy binder. According to Toclo, he was promised two or three years ago that the work would be done by the Town. Mr. Potter moved that the matter be held over for one week and that Mr. Raymond talk with Mr. Scamman in regard to the matter in the meantime. Mr. Raymond informed the Board that Mr. Paxton held received a price of $450. for an Austin-Western road hone. This machine was shipped to a concern in Watertown but was never used and that is the reason why it may be purchased cheaper than the list price. The Dyer Sales machine is $860. Each of these two machines requires a heavier tractor than the Town has . The Galion machine is much lighter and can be handled by a five ton Purchase truck and Paxton has in mind using this on light work' of road only and if after a few years he finds that road honing hone. works out satisfactorily, then he will advise buying a heavier machine . Paxton included the purchase of a road hone in his budget. Mr. Clark moved that the Galion planer be purchased 49604 from the Good Roads Machinery Co. at a price of $400. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. W.P.A. Mr. Giroux moved that the Supt. of Public Works project. look into the matter of indexing the Selectmen's Records for a period of five years back as a W.P.A. project. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross suggested that Mr. Raymond look into the a matter of making a r ecord of each meter in the water system as a W.P.A. project, but no action was taken on the matter. Mr. Raymond stated that Mill Brook was the boundary line between the property of Shaw and Leary in East Lexington. The Metcalf & Eddy report called for the Shaw bottom of the brook to be 14 feet wide and the foreman Complaint in charge of the work had planned the bottom of the brook to be ten feet wide, and the Town would have to take more land which would b alanee the give and take. Mr. Raymond thought that the Town should get releases from both Shaw and Leary and the Board instructed him to do this. The Chairman informed the Board that Miss Cecilia Maguire was going to get married in July and that she would like to know how the Board felt about her working Employment for a while after she was married. The Chairman asked of Miss her if she intended to work for more than a year and Maguire. she stated that she did not. Mr. Raymond said that he would appreciate very much the Board's allowing Miss Maguire to continue working for him after her marriage as she knew the details of the office and he did not. Mr. Giroux moved that inasmuch as Mr. Raymond is a new man and an experienced worker is needed, that the Board have no objection to Mr. Raymond employing Miss Maguire in the Supt. of Public Work's Office until such time as he familiarizes himself with the duties of the office. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Albert A. Miller appeared before the Board and said that on January 10, Mr. Trask asked him to draw up a plan of a proposed locker building and that he wanted it according to the specifications that Mr. Garrity had set forth and that the work was to be done on his own ti .e. Miller went ahead with the work and spent about 28 hours in the preparation of the plan. He said that he was an engineer and not an architect and therefor he spent more time than an architect would. After the plan was completed, Mr. Trask asked him for the bill and he gave him one in the amount of $20.00. He thought that inasmuch as Mr. Trask asked him to do the work in behalf of the Town and to do it on his own time, that he shoul 497 receive the compensation asked. Mr. Giroux asked if there was any reason why this work could not have been done on Town time . Miller said it probably could have been done although the Engineering Department does not do architectural work. Mr. Giroux asked if he thought that the plans were sufficidntly complete so that the house could be built from them. Mr. Miller said that such was not the understanding Miller re that he had with Mr. Trask. He merely asked him to bill for draw up plans so that the Board would have a very good plan. idea of what the building would be like. Mr. Giroux moved that inasmuch as Mr. Trask in his capacity as agent of this Board made a contract with Mr. Albert A. Miller to pay him for time spent after hours in drawing plans for a proposed playground house, that the bill be paid out of Park Department funds, with the understanding that in the future no member of the Engineering Department shall make any contract with the Town for such work without the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that the Supt . of Public Works be requested to look into the practicability of appoint- Town ing a town plumber to take care of general town work and Plumber. discuss the matter with the Chairman of the School Committee and report to the Board. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Joseph Ferry appeared before the Board and said that Mr. Garrito0had informed him that the Town was going to pit on'a regular man on tree work and that he was wanted to work on the W.P.A. tree project. He has been on Welfare for about two years and he thought that if there was a job open in the Moth Department that he should be given it. He is now working for his brother three or four hours a day Ferry, and he told Mr. Mitchell to remove him from the. re Welfare rolls . He said that he would be willing to position. accept a W.P.A. job provided he would automatioally go to work for the Moth Department upon the .completion of his work for. the W.P.A: He= asked Mr. Garrity for the job and he said that if the Board approved him that he could have it. He has worked on trees since he was 14 years old. He said that Mr. Garrity did not want him and that he had someone else in mind. He thought Mr. Garrity had more jobs than he could handle. The Chairman informed him that it was not the policy of the Board to interfere with the Superintendents of the various departments with regard to the hiiing and discharging of employees, and that if he wanted to do anything further on the matter, to see Mr. Garrity. IIS 498 cn 0.4 At 8:00 P.M. hearing was declared open on the sat application of Orrin L. Dyer for permission to maintain Dyer a one car garage at the corner of Harding and DeeII Garage Roads. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer and the builder appeared Hearing. and presented plan of the proposed garage. No persons appeared in opposition. Mr. Potter moved that the permit be granted subject to the approval of the Building Inspector . Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. J. Warren Kilham, Jr. , representing John Caderio, Alfred J. Brousseau and the General Construction Co. , appeared before the Board to discuss the Board's request that that organization renew its bond with regard to the planting of an orchard and a cover crop on property in the vicinity of Adams and North Streets. Mr. Kilham thought that his clients had lived up to Bond of their agreement with the Town and that while they had General every intention of completing the work they would like Construction very much not to have to renew the bond due to the Company. expense involved. Mr. Kilham retired. The Chairman read a letter received from the Town Counsel stating that he was notifying the parties concerned that the Board demanded that a second bond be furnished and that they had until May 24th to perform. Mr. Wrightington will inform the Board if he received the Bond on that date and suggested that the Board decide then whether the circumstances required litigation. It was the feeling of the Board that there was no need of litigation. Mr. Potter stated that they had put in some very good trees and had mulched them, etc. , but he doubted very much that the cover crop had been put in. He thought that the bond should be renewed in the amount of $5000. , one-half of the original bond and he so moved. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Use of Mr. Warren of the High School requested that he be tables by allowed the use of the horses and tables which are in High School. the Cary Memorial Building on May 27th and 28th for an exhibition. Mr. Giroux moved that the High School be allowed to use the tables and horses provided they furnish transportation to and from Cary Hall and that they be responsible for any damage. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and, it was so voted. Supplies Letter was received from Edward L. Kelley requesting for that the Board furnish him with some pajamas . Mr. Kelley. Giroux moved that the Clerk be instructed to purchase the supplies . Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Bill for Letter was received from the Selectmen's Association dues enclosing bill for dues. Mr. Giroux moved that the bill be paid. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 499 Letter was received from the Town Counsel stating that he was enclosing a revised edition of the Fletcher Avenue agreement . The agreement the Selectmen signed Fletcher previously was unacceptable to the Boston & Maine Railroad Avenue because of the form of one of the paragraphs as it related Agreement to what would happen when the present signal wears out. As it is now drawn, there is no obligation on the town to pay for a new installation when the present signal wears out but if the Town chooses to do so, the railroad agrees not to close the crossing. Mr. Potter moved that the new agreement be signed, Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Clerk informed the Board that the Town Accountant had suggested that the Board pass a vote to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer $450.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Supt. of Public Works ' Office- 1 Expenses-Account to pay for the use of Mr. Raymondrs car. The Chairman stated that he thought the Board should discuss whether or not Mr. R r mond should be Car for allowed to use the Town car. Inasmuch as the Town car Mr. Ray- is insured, he felt that the Board would be justified mond. in allowing Mr. Raymond to use it as there would be a saving of $200. or more. Mr. Giroux moved that the previous vote of the Board to pay Mr. Raymond six cents per mile for trans- portation to and from Beverly be rescinded. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux then moved that the Supt . of Public Works be authorized to use the Town car for transportaltion to and from Beverly during the trial period of six months inasmuch as by so doing the Townvaill save money. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from F. J. Leary, Supervisor of Operations of the W.P.A. endorsing Mr. Frank Cook, Application whom, the letter said, was an applicant for the position of Supt . of Streets in Lexington. No action was taken on the matter. Letter was received from the Commander of the British British Naval and Military Veterans asking the Board Veterans . if it would approve Sunday, June 14th, for the annual pilgrimagd of that organization to Lexington. The Board felt that this date would be satisfactory. Letter was received from Edward Readell and letter Letters of was also received from Florence Archibald thanking the thanks . Board for their appointments to the playground positions. The Chairman informed the Board that the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee approved the offer of Sale of Francis . Nevins of $100. for lot 3 in the Bacon lot. Development. 500 0-3 Letter was received from the Town Counsel to which was attached certified copy of the final decree entered Sheffres May 8, 1936, in the case of Weiss vs. Sheffres. Mr. Junk Sheffres was restrained from engaging in the junk bus- License. iness in Lexington for five years. Mr. Clark moved that Sheffres be notified that in view of the decree the Selectmen w ere unable to grant him a junk license . Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Allen C. Smith of 5 Forest Street, dry goods Juror. business, was the juror drawn to serve on criminal business beginning Monday, May 25th. Letter was received from the Town Counsel regarding the water guaranty claim of D. J. O'Connell as surety on the Mercadante bond. The original Mercadante claim sent to Mr. Wrightington was $179.84 for 1933 O'Connell and 1934 and the charges for 1935 and 1936 brought this Water amount to $350.00. He thought that the charge for the Guaranty. next six years would be approximately $80. per year which would make a maximum of the entire period of aboud $830.00. O'Connell has offered to pay one-half of that sum now, or $4$0.00, if given three months to complete the payment . Mr. Wrightington thought that it would be to the advantage of the Town to accept that offer and dispose of the entire claim against this surety. That would leave open the town's claim against Mercadante if it ever became of value. Mr. Potter moved that the Town Counsel be notified to accept Mr. O 'Connell's offer of $450. in settlement of the account. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Hanaford Mr. Wrightington informed the Board that the Water Hunn.aford water guaranty was a small amount and his Guaranty. records indicated that it had already been abated. Mr. Giroux moved that the Board approve the following W.P.A. Projects: W.P.A. Reconstruction of Grove Street; Projects. Build retaining wall between shrubbery and sidewalk at High School; rebuilding the driveway and grading the property in front of the school. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Robert C. Merriam appeared before the Board and said that he wished to bring out what the Red Cross was doing in connection with Police Departments. The Red Cross has run first aid classes and quite a few people have passed the courses. The Fire Department has been quite interested and two years ago this training served to save the life of a citizenof the Town who had been poisoned by monoxide gas. A year 501 ago the Red Cross became interested in providing first aid on the highway in case of accidents and installed first aid kits in various gasoline stations. The local chapter made a survey and did not think that gasoline Red Cross stations were the place to set up stations inasmuch as re first Police cars were now equipped with radios and could aid classes reach an accident very quickly. The local chapter has for Police . equipped both Police cars with first aid kits. The Red Cross recommends that Police Officers pass a first aid course and that the Department be required to furnish first aid when required on the highway. The local chapter voted at the last meeting that if the Selectmenw ere interested in having the policemen take these courses, they would be very glad to furnish the instructions free of charge. The course takes about fifteen hours and would be given here in town. The Chairman asked Mr. Merriam if he would present the matter to the Board in a letter and informed him that the Board would discuss it if he did. Mr. Merriam agreed to do this. The Board received complimentary tickets for the Tickets dan a to be held by the Veterans of Foreign Wars on for dance. Friday evening, May 22, and the Clerk was instructed to thank the Commander for the tickets. Mr. Potter moved that the matter of placing the Supt 's. bond of the Supt. of Public Works be left to him. Mr. bond. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Board of Appeals findings on the following applications were received: James J. Cosgrove given permission to alter a one family house to accommodate more than Board of one family; Appeals Frank A. Napoli given permission to maintain a findings . roadside stand on Marrett Road for one year; Robert C. and Gordon P. Merriam given permission to let the building at 7 Oakland Street for a printing and publishing business . Letter was received from the Town Counsel to which was attached a copy of the agreement imposing restrictions Moody on the land of Henry S. Moody in East Lexington. The Agreement, Clerk was instructed to furnish the Planning Board with a copy of the agreement. Report of the Supt . of Public Works for the week ending May 16th was received. Report. 111 Commitment of Miscellaneous water charges in the amount of $6.00 was signed by the Board. Commitment. Letter was received from the Fawcett Stoker Co., Inc. asking that they be allowed to make a survey of 502 the heating system in the Cary Memorial Building with Heating a view toward effecting economy through the use of a Survey. Stokol Automatic Coal Burner. Mr. Potter moved that the firm be allowed to make the survey. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that the Lexington Baseball Club be allowed to use the large diamond at Parker Field on the following dates: Tues . - May 19 - Waltham Use of Sun - May 24 - Watertown Parker Tues. - May 26 - Wayland Field. Sun. - June 7 - Belmont Fri. - June 19 - Lincoln Sun. - June 21 - Maynard Sun. - June 28 - Bedford. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that the Board meet every other Meetings week during the months of June, July and August, and that the June 2nd meeting be omitted. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Welfare Agent discussed the case of William McCormack and son. He is trying to get McCormack's McCormack birth certificate from Ireland. He recommended that case. aid be increased from $10. to $11. per week. Mr. Clark moved that the recommendation be approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Mitchell asked if it was the intention of the Board to grant his request that the salaries of the two Salaries. clerks in his office be increased. The Chairman informed Mr. Mitchell that in view of the feeling of the Appropriation Committee the Board felt that no increases should be granted. Married Mr. Mitchell asked the Board how it felt about girls girls working after they were married and the Chairman working. informed him that the Board was not in favor of having married girls continue to work except in unusual cases. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk. 1