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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1937-08-17558 SELECTMENTS MEETING AUG. 17th, 1937 ' A regular meetinj� of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 3:30 P.M. Chairman Ferguson, Messrs. Potter, Giroux and' Ross were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. R. L. Ryder appeared before the Board relative to the proposed agreement in settlement of the various Ryder Ryder drainage cases. The agreement was dtawn up by agreement the Town Counsel and Mr. Ryder said that he had no material objections other than the eighth and ninth paragraphs. After discussing the matter, Mr. Ryder agreed to make the changes suggested by him and include in paragraphs eight and nine phrases which would satisfy him and submit the revised agreement to the Board for its consideration. Mr. Raymond informed the Board, that he, as the W.P.A. Sponsor's Agent, was requested to sign a W.P.A. form forms #4516 on the following projects: Water meters; moth; topo survey; and Town records. This form states that the Town will pay that part of the cost of the projects not paid from Federal funds. Mr. Giroux moved that the forms be signed by Mr. Raymond provided he receives the ' approval of the Town Counsel. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Pub.Works Mr. Rayymmond informed the Board that the balance in Labor & the Public Works Labor and Materials appropriation Materials would be less than $3,000.00 by the end of this appropriati6 m month. The sum of $3,000. was included in the approp- riation for the Vine Brook culverts and the work has -not been done to date. Mr. Raymond informed the Board that although the Selectmen requested approval -to use penolithic type pavement on Waltham Street, the request had been Waltham refused. Type I pavement has been recommended. Mr. Street Paxton does not believe that this should be used as Pavement. the rest of Waltham Street was done with the penolithic type of pavement. It Bill look differently and ride differently. Mr. Raymond said that when the estimates were presented, round figures were used and they are going to have a hard time to complete the job with the funds available if they do it with a penetration. Mr. Paxton talked with the Division Engineer and told him why the Town did not want the Type I, and it was taken up with the Commissioners and again refused. Mr. Raymond ' suggested that the Chapter 90 engineer be told that the matter would be taken up with the Senator and Rep- resentatives and see what could be accomplished that way. Mr. Ross moved that the Supt. of Public Works inforcq the engineer that the Senator and Representatives would be approached. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and iti, was so voted. had 4r -Raymond informed the Board that T. A. Custance quested that they do some grading on Follen Road out of the Highway Maintenance appropriation. He is building a house near the junction of Lexington Avenue and the shoulders have never been brought down to grade. Mr. R mond said that the work was important and that Custance was in a hurry for the work, but he did not see where they would get the funds to do it. Mr. Raymond said that this was only part of the job that should be done on Follen Road as it should be cut down to grade on both slides. He estimated that it would cost $250.00 to do the work in front of the Custance house alone. The Chairman suggested that if it could be done, it would be better to wait until after the Town Meeting and get a special appropriation for it. Mr. Ross moved that an article be inserted in the Warrant for the special Town Meeting to take care of the situation and that the Supt. of Public Works prepare an estimate of the cost of the work. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. I Mr. Raymond said that he followed the Board's instructions to put loam on Independence Avenue and when he investigated the matter, he was very much surprised to see what kind of loam had been put in there. It was . very sandy so he held up the bill in the amount of $160. 0. The loam was purchased through the Modern Constrjuction Co., which concern buys it from Akeson in Bedfo d at $.75 a yard and the Town pays $1.30 a yard deliv red on the job. The first delivered was very good but t e latter part was not so good. Mr. Raymond did not think 'he wanted to buy any more of it bedause it is impossible to regulate the character of the loam. How- ever,,he believed that the -contractor did not intend to giveim poor loam so he now approved payment of the bill. r. Ross moved that the bill be approved. Mr. Potter, seconded the motion and it 4as so voted. contract for maintenance of Chapter 90 roads was sthe gned by the Board. Bir. Raymond discussed the signs indicating children suggested by the West Lex. Civic Improvement Assoc. and said that he approved their erection and he thought one should be set on Middle Street at the curve coming up the I hill from Lincoln Street. Mr. Giroux moved that the signs indicating children be approved as follows: Concord Avenue, in the vicinity of the Teeter house; Lincoln Street near the Marrett 559 Grading on Follen Rd. Bill for loam on Independ- ence Ave. Contract Signs indicating children. 560 c� ac Road end; Shade Street; Middle Street, at the curve coming up the hill from Lincoln Street. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter recommended that a "Stop" sign be set "Stop" sign. at the junction of Clarke and Forest Streets, but no action was taken on the matter. Mr. Raymond asked if the Board would approve his contacting private owners and telling them that the Granolithic Town had a very desirable price on granolithic side - sidewalks. walks and asking if they were interested in having the work done. Mr. Giroux moved that Mr. Raymond be author- ized to contact private owners in this respect. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that there was a lot of work to be done in connection with the heating system and he Work on wondered if the Board would suggest the name of a heating steamfitter to do the work. The Chairman suggested system. Clydd Steeves, and the Supt. of Public Works questioned whether or not he could do the work inasmuch as he was an Assessor. The Chairman said that Mr. Steeves could, inasmuch as he was not approving the bills. Mr. Ross suggested the name of Henry Meade, but it was decided to allow Mr. Raymond to use his own judgment. Mr. Raymond said that the Water Dept. had purchased 208 feet of eight inch water pipe from the Warren Pipe Water Dept. and Foundry Co. and the price was $1.35 per foot which pipe. might be an error. The pipe was for Sherburne Road, and the Accountant questioned the bill because earlier in the year the pipe was $1.32 per foot. It was Mr. Raymond's recollection that he was told then that there would be an increase in price later on. He asked if the Board would approve payment of the bill if it was found that this was the present price. Mr. Giroux moved that the bill be approved. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that William French, employed by the Highway Department, was injured last week in an French automobile accident. He worked for four days before salary. the accident and his salary was put through for a full week when he actually did not work Friday and Saturday. He asked if the Board wanted to pay him for these days or not. The Board ":thought that French should be paid for the four days pending the Court decision on the accident: Pole The Chairman informed the Board that the Boston location - Edison Co. and the Telephone Company had applied for ' School St. approval of a pole location on School Street in front of a house being built by a Mr. Smith. The hearing will be held in two weeks, but Smith is very anxious to move ' into his house and asked for verbal approval of the location. Mr. Potter moved that verbal approval be given. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. n J Mr. Raymond read a letter from W. C. Paxton request- ing an; increase in the car allowance for John O'Connor. He is now receiving $20.00 per month car allowance and averages 200 miles per week. The letter said that the allowance did not cover the operating cost, let alone the upkeep of the car. Paxton recommended that the rate be increased from $20.00 to $30.00 per month. Mr. Raymond said that the salary O'Connor receives in relation to that which some of the other men in the Highway Department receive, is very low. The Chairman said he thought that this allowance should be compared with that made other employees and the mileage compared and decide whether or not it would be better to have a town car. Mr. Ross moved that the matter be left on the table. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that on July 16th, John McAvoy parked his car on Mass. Avenue where the Highway Dept. was working and Ernest Williams backed his truck into the car damaging it. The cost of repairing the car was $16.50 which McAvoy paid but he thought that the Town should reimburse him for at least part. of the bill. Mr. Raymond said that he would like to discourage the men from bringing their cars to work. He stated that the accident was due to negligence on the part of Williams. Mr. Giroux moved that one-half of the bill be paid subject to the receipt of a release from McAvoy. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 561 O'Connor car allowance McAvoy accident Commitment of water liens in the amount of $60.97 Commitment was signed by the Board. Better was received from Stanley Doucette of Charles Street offering to purchase lots 33 and 34 on that street for the sum of $100.00. Mr. Potter said that he would like to view these lots, and moved that the matter be held over for two weeks. Mr. Gir6ux peconded the motion and it was so voted. Lots on Charles St. Letter Was received from the Health Inspector re- garding the odor from garbage trucks. He suggested Odor from that the garbage collector use a slanting roof with garbage sliding doors on the truck. Mr. Potter thought it would trucks. be a hardship to request the contractor to do this as it would cost about $1,000.00. Ir. Giroux moved that the Chairman write the contractor and request him to keep the garbage truck covered at all times. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. 562 # Mr. Giroux moved that the Supt. of Public Forks Town establish rules and regulations regarding the parking employeest of cars owned by Town employees. Mr. Potter seconded cars. the motion and it was so voted. Red Gross Mrs. F. R. Kimball requested that the Red Cross Use of be allowed to use Estabrook Hall on the evening of Hall. Sept. 22nd for the purpose of holding a meeting. Mr. , Giroux moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Garrity stating that the last public exhibition of the playground activities Playground will be held on August 29th at 2.30 P:M. and he requested awards that a member of the Board address the audience and award the prizes. Mr. Giroux moved that the Chairman be present. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. A request was received from John W. Leary for per - Leary re mission to use one of the taxi stgnds on Mass. Avenue taxi stand. at DeDot Square. Mr. Ross moved that Leary be granted the privilege of using a stand, but that he was not to have exclubive rights to any one stand. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Arlington Gas Light Co. requesting the use of Estabrook Hall on Sept.. 23rd, 30th Use of Hall. October 7th and 14th, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. for the purpose of conducting cooking classes. They re- quested that the rate be set as low as possible. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted on these ' dates at the rate of $5.00 per afternoon. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted Board of Appeals findings granting the petition Board of of Guiseppa Cacciola to maintain a roadside stand at Appeals 708 Marrett Road and dezjring the petition of the Medford orders. Trust Co. to allow dancing at the stand at the corner of Marrett Road and Waltham Street, were received. Letter was received from the Boston Municipal Research Bureau to which were attached five copies of a bulletin discussing the Quabbin extension of the Metropolitan Metropolitan Water System. The Bureau recommended a Water retarded completion program to reduce assessments System. markedly as large blocks of water bonds mature during the next five years; a vigorous effort to increase the membership and consumption of the district; giving localities veto powers over all future Metropolitan projects. The letter urged that the Board's views be submitted to the Governor or to Metropolitan officials or the press. No action 'was taken on the matter. Red Gross Mrs. F. R. Kimball requested that the Red Cross Use of be allowed to use Estabrook Hall on the evening of Hall. Sept. 22nd for the purpose of holding a meeting. Mr. , Giroux moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Garrity stating that the last public exhibition of the playground activities Playground will be held on August 29th at 2.30 P:M. and he requested awards that a member of the Board address the audience and award the prizes. Mr. Giroux moved that the Chairman be present. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. A request was received from John W. Leary for per - Leary re mission to use one of the taxi stgnds on Mass. Avenue taxi stand. at DeDot Square. Mr. Ross moved that Leary be granted the privilege of using a stand, but that he was not to have exclubive rights to any one stand. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Arlington Gas Light Co. requesting the use of Estabrook Hall on Sept.. 23rd, 30th Use of Hall. October 7th and 14th, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. for the purpose of conducting cooking classes. They re- quested that the rate be set as low as possible. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted on these ' dates at the rate of $5.00 per afternoon. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted L 1 The Clerk reported that the t'Welcome to Lexington" signs were owned by the Board of Trade and the Chairman said that in view of this, the Town could not maintain them. Mr. Giroux moved that an article be inserted in the warrant to request the Town to take over these signs. Mr: Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 563 "Welcome to. Lexington Signs". The Chairman asked if the Board wished to do anything furthler on the Barnes property. Mr. Giroux moved that Barnes the Chairman write Judge Northrup asking the lowest property figure that the heirs would accept for the property. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and,it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that the Building Inspector make a report on the Barnes property and its present use. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Application was received from P. Palmariello;£or permission to keep 200 ducks on Vallevfield Street. Permit to The Health Inspector recommended that the permit be keep ducks granted. Mr. Potter moved that the permit be granted. Mr. Ross seconded the motion, and it was so voted. the Chairman said that the Appropriation.Committee had requested the Vine Brook Drainage Committee to meet with them next week and Chairman Ballard wanted the approval of the Selectmen before he agreed to the meeting. Mr. Potter moved that the Selectmen approve the Vine Brook Drainage Committee meeting with the Appropriation Committee. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman reminded the Board that no definite action had been taken with regard to the letters redel'Fed from Willard C. Hill and Robert Whitney re- garding the insurance appraisal. Mr. Ross moved that the matter be placed on the table for the time being and that an article be placed in the warrant for the next annual meeting to see if the Town would appropriate money to pay for the work. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. The meeting adjourned at 5:25 P.M. 'A true record, Attest: Clerk. Meeting. Insurance appraisal. 564 SELECTMENIS MEETING AUG. 17, 1937 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Ferguson, Messrs.. Potter# Giroux, Ross and Clark were present. The Clerk was also present. The Chairman reminded the Board that no definite Richards action had been taken with regard to Mrs. Charles case. Richards' statement that she could not pay anything toward the care of her daughter at the Middlesex County Sanatorium. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. and Mrs. Richards be billed for the entire care of their daughter Agnes during her stay in the hospital. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. , At 8:00 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the application of John Baskin for permission to maintain a Baskin two dar garage of brick construction at 45 Adams case. Street. Mr. Baskin appeared in favor of the application. No persons appeared in opposition. Mr. Ross rioved that the permit be granted subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. At 8:02 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the , Pole petition of the Boston Edison Co. and the New Eng. Tel. location & Tel. Co. for permission to locate one pole on hearing. Oakmount Circle, approximately 465 feet southeast of York Street. No persons appeared in favor or in opposition. Mr. Ross moved that the permit be granted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. At 8:04 P.M. hearing was dedlared open upon the Shaw application of Anna Shaw,for permission to maintain a garage one car garage of wooden construction at 11 Hamblen .hearing. Street. Mr. & Mrs. Shaw appeared and presented plan of the proposed garage. No persons appeared in opposition. Mr. Ross moved that the permit be granted subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works in which he stated that he had investigated the cost Water rate of installing six inch water mains during the past assessment five years to determine the advisability of making a change in the assessment rate in accordance with the Boardfs instructions. Using the same method of arriving at the assessment figure as used in the past, , the assessment rate based on the extension costs for the past five years would be $.94 per four. Mr. Raymond did not recommend a change in the assessment for 1 L water Mains for the coming year. Mr. Giroux moved that no change be made in the assessment rate. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works containing the result of his investigation into the nedessity of stop signs at various locations in town. In determining thexe locations, Mr. Raymond took into account the visibility, the amount of traffic and entering traffic, and whether or not the traffic would be local or a combination of local and out of Town traffic. He listed the streets he thought should have stop signs. The Chairman suggested that a copy of the letter be sent to theChief of Police and his recommendation received. Mr. Giroux moved that the Chairman's suggestion be followed. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. N The Board considered the property which the Town has acquired through foreclosure of tax titles. Mr. Potter moved that the Town Engineer be requested to check up on the lines of the thirty-four acres which were formerly owned by O'Riorden, et als; in the back of the sand pit near Westview Street to determine whether or not the Lexington Sand and Gravel Co. was excavating in Town land. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. 565 Stop signs. Tax Title property Mr. Giroux moved that a Town Meetirig be held on Town September 27th 1937. Mr. Ross seconded the motion, and Meeting it was so voted. Mr. Giroux moved that the Welfare Department Unemploy- establish an unemployment bureau and secure adequate meat Bureau publicity in the local paper regarding it. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Chief of Police stating that he had been informed by the State Police that Patrolman Henry H. Harvey had been arrested on August Police 13, 19$71.for being drunk and operating an automobile Officer while tinder the influence of intoxicating liquor. The suspended. Board discussed the matter with the Chief of Police, who said that the case had not come up as yet but would come up on Thursday, August 19th. Mr. Giroux moved that Officer) Harvey be suspended immediately until further noticeiin view of the charges preferred against hiza by the 'State Police. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it 'was so voted. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P. M. A,true record, Attest: Clerk.