HomeMy WebLinkAbout1937-09-2810
Ross Board
of Survey
hearing.
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
SEPT. 28, 1937.
A regular meeting of the Selectmen was held in the
Seleetments Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M.
Chairman Ferguson, Messrs. Potter, Clark, Giroux and
Ross were present. The Clerk was also present.
At 8:00 P.M. hearing was declared opeJa on the appli-
cation of the Ross Realty Corp. for approval of a Board
of Survey layout of land known as the Wellington Estates,
bounded by Mass. Avenue and Wood Street.
Notice of the hearing was read by the Chairman.
Mr. Barnes, Mr. Ross's engineer, appeared at the
hearing and presented the proposed plan of development
and explained the matter to the Board.
Mr. Carl Hauck was also present at the hearing
and exWimed the plans.
Mr. Barnes said that he would like to get some sort
of a decision on the layout as soon as possible. The
Chairman told him that the Board would consider the
matter and he retired.
Letter was received from the Planning Board ad-
vising that it had reviewed the plans and was of the
opinion that parts of the development presented problems
in sewage disposal. The Board also considered the fact
that the proposed circu*ferential highway was going
through somewhere near this development. The Planning
Board approved the layout of Old Colony Road. The
letter said that the Board would keep the matter uhder
active consideration and would arrange for an informal
meeting with the Ross Realty Corp. on the matter.
It was decided to take no action on the matter
until further report had been received from the
Planning Board.
At 8:05 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the
application of the New England Tel. & Tel. Co. and the
Pole Boston Edison Co. for permission to maintain five poles
location on Spring Street, from the Waltham -Lexington line
hearint. northerly.
Mr. Victorino appeared. He said that the request
was made necessary because a subscriber at 25 Smith
Street, Waltham, had requested service. The Telephone
Company maintains a line of poles in that vicinity and
had to request approval of these additional poles to give
this subscriber service.
Mr. Clark moved that the permit be granted. Mr.
Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted.
1
t
1
Mr. Ross said that he wanted to discuss the ramps
in front of the Catholic Church again. He.told Father
McCarthy of the Board's decision of last week and he was
rather put out. Father McCarthy told him to go ahead with
the work and said that they would discuss the matter later.
He went ahead with the work and ran into the stump of the
tree that the Town cut down and left there last year and
it cost about $15.00 to take it out. Father McCarthy asked
if the Board would reconsider and see if the Town could
not fix up the ram s. Mr. Ross thought it would cost
between $150. and J175. to do the work. Mr. Giroux
asked if the Town would not be called on to repair the
ramps in front of other churches when repairs were made,
and Mr. Ross said that it would have such requests and
he thought the Town should do the work. He said that per-
haps Father McCarthy would be willing to pay one-half of
the bill. The Chairman said that if it was something
that should be done'for,rthe convenience of the town, then
the town should pay for it, but if it were being done for
the convenience of the abutter, that the town should not
pay for any part of it.
Mr. Ross asked what difference there was in this
and the work that the Board authorized in front of the
house that Mr. Custance was building on Follen Road. He
said that that was done for an abutter. The Chairman said
he thought the Board authorized the work because the work
had to be done on account of the new Tower development.
Mr. Raymond said that it was merely for the benefit of the
abutter.
Mr. Giroux suggested that the Town Counsels opinion
in the matter be requested. The Chairman suggested that
Father McCarthy write to the Board and explain just what
he wanted the town to do with regard to the sidewalk and
ramps.
Mr. Giroux moved that the Supt. of Public Works give
the Board a report as to the exact status of the Follen
Road matter. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so
voted. Mr. Raymond was requested to discuss this matter
with the Town Counsel also.
Mr. Raymond read a letter which he had received from
Joseph A. Ross stating that Mary Reardon of Vine Street
had applied for abatement of her sewer betterment assess-
ment and Miss Reardon is receiving Old age Assistance and
her taxes are abated each year. She has no means of pay-
ing the bill. The Board felt that that was not 2ufficient
reason for it to abate the assessment and that the best way
to handle the matter would be to let the bill take its
ordinary course and become a part of the real estate tax
when it could be abated along with the regular taxes. Mr.
Giroux moved that no action be taken on the matter. Mr.
Ross seconded the motion and it was.so voted.
13
Ramps at
Catholic
Church.
Follen Rd.
matter.
Reardon
sewer
abatement.
14
Mr. Raymond said that when the Robbins Road schedule
of estimated betterments was made up, some allowance was
Robbins Rd. made for contingencies above the estimated cost so that
assessments. the total of the sums recorded on the assessment list
comes to about $5757.00. The actual appropriation was
$5400.00 and no charge was made for engineering, overhead
or rental of equipment. He asked if the Board would
approve billing assessments up to the $5757.00, which will
equal the amount appropriated and spent plus 5%.
Mr. Ross moved that these other charges be included
in the betterments. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and
it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond reported that on Sept. 9th, 1937, the
Board voted to include in the Insurance appropriation an
Hold-up allowance of $100.00 to put the hold-up insurance on a
insurance. three year basis and not knowing that the Board had dis-
cussed the matter last week, on last Wednesday morning he
asked Elmer A. Lord & Co. to renew the insurance for
three years. However, on hearing of the Board's action
of last week, he requested them to hold up on the renewal
of the policy. It was decided to hold the matter over for
another week.
Mr. Raymond asked if the Board approved authorizing
Fletcher the railroad to install flanged rails, etc. at Fletcher
Avenue. Avenue at an estimated cost of $90.00 and paying that
amount from the Highway Maintenance appropriation. Mr.
Ross moved that such approval be granted. Mr. Giroux
seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond asked what the Board wanted to do about
insurance. He said that it would cost an additional
$1600. for five years for increased valuations of Town
buildings 10%, and that Ulmer A. Lord & Co. was perfectly
Insurance. willing to wait for its money. The Chairman said that if
the other companies did not want to wait, the insurance
valuations could stand as they are uhtil the annual meet-
ing. It was decided to have Mr. Willard C. Hill in next
Tuesday evening to discuss the matter.
Mr. Raymond said that he had received an application
for the extension of a six inch gas main in Cedar Street
for a distance of 118 feet and he approved the location.
Mr. Giroux moved that the permit be granted. Mr. Ross
Gas seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Extensions. Mr. Raymond said that he had received an application
for the extension of a three inch gas main in Follen Road
and he did not approve the location as shown on the plan
but did approve it if the pipe was moved four feet from
the water pipe. The Gas Company has agreed to make this
change. Mr. Giroux moved that the permit be granted.
Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted.
«+c
Mr. Raymond reported that he had received an applica-
tion from the Telephone Compar.y for permission to install
underground cables in Bertwell Road, North Hancock Street
and Eaton Road. He approved the installation. Mr. Giroux
moved that permission be granted. ter. Ross seconded the
motion and it was so voted.
15
Underground
cable.
Mr. Raymond submitted a copy of a letter from Commiss- Quabbin
ioner Hultman of the M.D.C. addressed to the Selectmen of project.
Arlington and copy of clipping from the August 13th Boston
Transcript relative to the Quabbin Project.
Mr. Raymond said that the W.F.A. would not accept the
signature of the Sponsor's Agent on forms #4516 and request- W.P.A.
ed that a member of the Board of Selectmen sign the form
on the topo survey. Mr. Ferguson signed the form.
Mr. Raymond said that he had received an application
from Mr. Coughlin of 52 Dexter Road for. the Town to put Work on
in a sidewalk or loam strip in front of his house. He Dexter Rd.
said that this was a similar situation to that of Baskin,
Ross and Vanderwoude which were discussed a short time
ago. He could find funds in the Highway Maintenance approp-
riation to do the work. No action was taken on the matter.
' Mr. Raymond said that he had received a letter from
Mr. Howard S. 0. Nichols stating that there was $300: in Repairs to
the Income Account of the hayes Fountain Fund for repairs Captain
to the Captain Parker Monument and that this amount would Parker
be turned over to the Town Treasurer upon order of the Monument.
Selectmen. Mr. Giroux moved that the Selectmen send such
an order to the Trustees of Public Trusts. Mr. Ross
seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond said that in connection with this, he had
in mind getting a stone -cutter to do the work of cutting
the stone. He said that he had contacted a man by the
name of McIntosh on Marrett Road relative to the work.
Mr. Giroux said that Mr. Hayden was very anxious to
have the Shade Street water main started and that Mr.Shade Street
Hayden would like to be advised when it could be started. water.
It was decided to request Mr. Wrightington to draw up the
agreement in the case. Mr. Ross remai-ked that the agreement
should state that the betterments were waived only until
such time as the land was developed into house lots.
Mr. Raymond said that he had received a request from
the Edison Company for permission to replace four wooden Edison
decayed lamp posts with concrete posts on Mass. Avenue. posts.
There are granolithic sidewalks there and when this request
came in he told the man that they had been getting a very
poor job of replacing sidewalks around Edison Company posts.
Mr. Raymond told him that the company would have to have
16 0
the work done in accordance with the townts specifications
and by the same contractor that the Town used. Mr. Giroux
moved that Mr. Raymondrs action be approved. Mr. Ross
seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond told the Board that Leigh Farnham, who
Farnham has been employed in the Engineering Dept., was very ill
sickness. and was not expected to live on Saturday last. However,
he has shown some improvement. He asked if the Board would
approve paying Mr. Farnham at the rate of about $18.00 per
week while he is out of work. Mr. Giroux moved that Mr.
Farnham be kept on the Engineering Dept. payroll for one
month. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Giroux moved that the shelter house at the bus
Bus Stop stop on Cedar Street be moved where it could be used more
shelter. and that the Supt. of Public Works consult with the Supt.
of the Middlesex and Boston Street Hwy. Co. as to where
the shelter should be placed. Mr. Ross seconded the
motion and it was so voted.
Letter was received from the Town Engineer relative
Tax Titles. to the Tax Title property acquired by the Town, and it
was decided to hold the matter over for one week.
Letter was received from M. Bowman Judkins stating
'
that at a meeting of the Board of Assessors on Sept. 25tH,
he was asked to reconsider his resignation. Mr. Judkins
said that he resigned from the Board of Assessors merely
Judkins
because he was going to be away for a few months and did
resignation.
not feel that he should be on the Town payroll while unable
to perform his duties. He therefor requested that he be
given a leave of absence from October lst, 1937 to January
1st, 1938.
Mr. Giroux moved that the vote of last week to accept
the resignation of Mr. M. Bowman Judkins be rescinded.
Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr.
Giroux then moved that Mr. Judkins be given a leave of
absence until January lst, 1938. Mr. Ross seconded the
motion and it was so voted.
Commitment of water liens in the amount of $151.15
Commitment.
was signed by the Board.
Letter was received from Chief Sullivan advising that
on September 24th, while the Police car Reg. #M1216 pur-
Damage to
chased in 1937, was parked in front of the Court house in
Police car.
Concord, a fire was discovered in the back of the rear seat
and also in the rear seat cushion apparently caused by a
cigarette. The cushions have been removed to be repaired
but the car is still in service. The Chairman remarked
that the insurance would undoubt8dly take care of the
damage.
17
Letter was received from the Boston Edison Company
' thanking the Board for its order to replace the wooden Letter of
posts in front of the Catholic Church with #4 concrete thanks
posts.
Letter was received from Dorothy Lindsay requesting
the use of the Conference Room in the Cary Memorial Build- Use of
ing for the Smith College Club on Nov. 3rd, and 17th, and Conference
December 1st and 15th at the rate of $1.00 per evening. Room.
Mr. Potter moved that the request be granted. Mr. Giroux
seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Letter was received from the District Attorneyt•s
office stating that in view of the recent slaying of two
police officers in Newton, that office was recommending
that police officerx be equipped with bullet-proof vests.
Mr. Ross moved that the letter be referred to the Chief
of Pblice for recommendation. Mr. Potter seconded the
motion and it was so voted.
Letter was received from E. W. Harrod advising that
within the last month he had had the privy at his house
on Mass. Avenue cleaned out.
Bullet-proof
vests.
Harrod
privy
Letter was received from the Burbrec Nurseries, Inc. Letter of
' thanking the Board for allowing that Company an abatement thanks.
of $100.00 to be applied on the July water bill.
Letter was received from the Board of Retirement ad- Collins
vising that it was voted on September 21st to continue Retirement
John J. Collins in service until March 31', 1938.
Letter was received from the Board of Retirement
stating that at a meeting of that Board held on September White
21st, it was voted that Robert H. White be continued in Retirement
service until December 31, 1937 and that he be retired as
of that date.
Notice was received to the effect that the East Lex-
ington Skating Rink project had been approved by the W.P.A.
W.P.A.
Letter was received from the Welfare Agent advising Unemployment
that he had written to the heads of the various churches Bureau
in town relative to the unemployment bureau.
Application was received from Mr. John F. Ballard of
12 Glen Road for the construction of a granolithic side- Sidewalk
walk'in front of the vacant lot adjoining his property.
The Clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Ballard that there
were no funds available at the present time and that his
request would be considered when there were funds available.
It was decided to hold the meeting the week of Oct. Meeting.
11th on October 13th, due to the holiday.
18
The Chairman said that Judge Northrup would like to ,
know when the Town wants to take over the Barnes property.
Barnes If the tenants are to be out by November lst, he will
J)roperty. have to give them notice within the next two days. The
Chairman said that he would advise Judge Northrup that the
Town Counsel had been requested to search the title to
the property and that he would be given ample time to
serve notice on the tenants•to vacate.
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk.
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