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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1938-02-15L 213 SELECTMENtS MEETING FEB. 15th, 1938. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the SelectmeAts Room, Town Office Building, at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Ferguson, Messrs. Potter, Giroux, Clark and Ross were present. The Clerk was also present. Letter was received from Helen A. McCaffrey of McCaffrey 33 Parker Street asking ghat the Board intended to do re fence. relative to the fence between her property and the Center Playground. The Clerk was instructed to notify Miss McCaffrey that the Selectmen had included this fence in the budget but that they had no idea whether the Town Meet- ing members would approve it or not. Request was received from Mr. Otis H. Perry of 1134 Mass. Avenue for an adjustment of his Highway Betterment Assessment for Tower Road. Mr._ Perry said that when the street was constructed, 205 square feet of land was taken and the stone wall, trees and fruit bushes along Tower Road were removed and he received no consideration for all of these. It was decided to hold the matter over for one week and to request type Supt. of Public Works to sub- mit a report on it. Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board. He said that he understood the Board voted not to include the W.P.A. Curbing project in the budget.He said that he was going to be up against it on W.P.A. projects before a great while inasmuch as they had only two weeks to go on acme of the projects. There are 60 persons on Clematis Brook which will run about six weeks, 17 IuLrAnns on the East Lexington Skating Rink which will run about five weeks and 21 on the Moth project, which will run three weeks. It was his opinion that the Selectmen should ask to'have the curbing project approved but that they would not have to call it into operation until needed. He said, however, that the situation would be taken care of if a Vine Brook project could be done. Mr. Clark suggested that itwouldbe a good idea to have such a project ready in case the Town voted down the Vine Brook matter. Mr. Raymond said that the lower end of the brook could be done. The Chairman said that that was something that would have to be done eventually but that it was not going to relieve the portion on the other side of Mass. Avenue. Mr. Ross said he thought the curbing project was worthwhile as it"was something that the Town would have to do sometime anyway. Mr. Ross moved that the curbing project be approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Giroux voted in favor of the project with the reservation that it be doneonly if needed to keep going later on. Mr. Clark voted in opposition. Perry Assessmeni W.P.A. 214IOU V Mr.'Raymond reported that he had.,a request from a Mrs. Leighton of 93 Gleason Road that a sidewalk and , Leighton drive be built at her house. Gleason Road was built request. under the Betterment Act and this was done for the other people. Mrs. Leighton believes that she is entitled to the same thing although her house was not built when the street was constructed. No action was taken on the matter. Mr. Raymond discussed the Scott claim which resulted when an automobile owned by a Mr. Scott was struck by a sidewalk plow on Waltham Street a short while ago. Scott Scott claim. has sent a letter to Mr. McAvoy, the operator of the plow, and says that if McAvoy does not see fit to settle the claim, he will take the matter to court. No action was taken on the matter. Mr. Raymond said that he had talked with Michael Shea, Vacation pay the Town Painter, who said he would like to have his for Town vacation pay while he is in the hospital. Mr. Raymond Painter. said that•he put through one week's vacation from Town Offices and Cary Memorial Building and the other week could be put through out of Highway Maintenance. Mr. Giroux moved that this be dame. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Boston office of the ' W.P.A. requesting that the town have a pool of white collar projects in case it was authorized to increase the Lexington quota. Mr. Raymond said that he had a letter from Mr. Garrity relative to the tree trimming project expressing the opinion that it was very valuable to the town. Mr. Garrity said that he would have no difficulty in keeping up the tree records after the pro- W.P.A. ject was completed. Mr. Ross moved that the tree trimming Labor and project be submitted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and Materials, it was so voted. Mr. Clark voted in opposition. The Chairman asked how far the $10,000. approved for Labor and Materials would carry and Mr. Raymond thought that it would last until the middle of August but said that the playground would have to be forgotten. The Chairman said that assuming this amount,would last until * the middle of August, if Mr. Waddell allowed the $35,000, to be made available for welfare from Excess and Deficiency, there would be no free cash until October. The Chairman asked Mr. Raymond what amount would be nebded.to carry through until October on the basis of the present quota. Mr. Raymond said he thought $16,000. should be provided. Dump on Mr. Raymond said that Hans Sorenson was complaining Woburn St. because the town did not take care of the dump on Woburn Street near his property any more. He requested that the ' town cover it with sand or filling material and says that he will then fence it in. Mr. Raymond_ said that it was private land. Mr. Potter moved that no action be taken on ' the matter. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that he had a request for •six street lights on Laconia Street, which is unaccepted. There are between fifty and sixty people living in that section. Mr. Ross moved that an article be inserted in the Warrant to see if the Town would vote to install these lights. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that House Bill #1107 came up yesterday before the Committee on Transportation. He went Into the hearing and he did not statehis position on the bill at all. Last year, the Board instructed him to oppose the Bill, but it has been rewritten and he thought it to be very fair. Mr. Raymond said that Fred Townsend was put on the Engineering Department payroll last fall temporarily at 20, per week. He is now on the W.P.A. part time and as there is plenty of work in the Engineering Department, Mr. Raymond wondered if the Board would approve carrying the man at $.50 per hour for his time over the W.P.A. ' Mr. Potter moved that the. Board approve Mr. Townsend's employment. Mr. 'Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that one of the rosette orn- aments on the front of the Cary Memorial Building waa rotted, probably due to not having been painted soon enough or not having been properly painted. He took it down and Custance Brothers estimated that it will cost $50. to make a new one of the proper material. Mr. Potter wondered if they could make such an ornament in a trade school. The Chairman suggested that•Mr, Raymond talk with Roger Greeley on the matter. Mr. Raymond submitted a petition for the acceptance and construction of Taft Avenue, Cary and Cherry Streets. He said that the persons did not uite fulfill the Boardlp general requirement of 75� of the abutters sign- ing. Mr,. Ross moved that articles be inserted in the Warrant for the acceptance and construction of these streets. The estimated cost is $10,000.00. Mr. Raymond said that a Mrs. Harrod had requested a W.P.A. project for the construction of Pine Knoll Road. However, nothing can be done until the street is accepted; Mr, Raymond read a letter from Mr. Garrity dated January 13th, 193$, which he had apparently overlooked. The letter recommended that Frank Mowatt's wages be in. 215 Street Lights - Laconia House Bil] #1107 Townsend Ornament, - Cary Mem. Building. Taft Ave.., Cary and Cherry Sts. Article. Pine Knoll Road 216 Mowatt's creased from $,50 to $.55 per hour increase, on as_a permanent man. Mowatt has since January 3rd and Air. Raymond the increase. Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Potter seconded the motion and. _and.that he be put been paid at this rate said that he recommended , the increase be approved. it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that he had received two applica- tions for the use of Cary Hall, one from the Lexington Chapter Demolay on March 4th from 7:00 to 12:00. Mr. Use of Hail. Ross moved that the use of the hall be granted on that date subject to a fee of $15.00. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The other application was received from the Lexington Grange for the use of the hall on September 23rd for the purpose of holding a fair. Mr, Ross moved that the use of, the hall be granted. on this date subject to a fee of $15. Mr. Potter seccnded the motibn and it.'.waa mo - voted, Heating Mr. Raymond stated that Mr. Clyde 8teeves had sub- unit - mitted an oral report of the cost of installing a separate Town Office heating unit in the Town Office Building, Mr. Steeves Building stated that it would cost $2500, if -the boiler was put in the other building, and if this is done, he does not believe that there will be any saving on the heating costs. If the boiler is put in this building,.it will cost more money and Mr. Steeves does not believe that the saving will amount to more than $100, per year. It was decided to take no action on the matter. Tree trim- Mr. Raymond asked what the Board wished to do on ming the tree trimming project.' Mr. Ross.moved that the pro - project jeet be started. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that Mr. Garrity requested approval Caterpillar to expend the $50.00 to pay school children for gathering Contest. tent catterpillar eggs. Mr. Ross moved that Pdr. Garrity's request be granted., Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Street sign Letter was received from the West Lexington Civic Hilltop Ave. Improvement Association requesting a street sign on Hilltop Avenue, Mr. Ross moved that the matter be turned over to Mr. Raymond -for investigation and report. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Robert C. Merriam appeared before the Board. He said that he had had a number of conferences with Mr. Raymond as a result of which, the $1800, which he asked to be Patriots refunded had been reduced. The reasons were that he was Drive using figures outside town figures and also the town figured some points in assessments that he did not appreci- ate. He would like to have the street accepted with an agreement that no betterment assessments would be levied 217 for the street, water or sewer mains. He wanted it pri- marily because an accepted street was a good selling Point. He said that the assessed valuation of the build- ings there now was.$24,000, including DresseUTIs house which he said was the equivalent of four houses based on an average valuation of $6000.00. The Chairman said that as he understood it, it was up to Mr. Merriam to petition the Board to put an article in the Warrant to have the street accepted, together with the amount that he felt the Town should.reimburse him. Mr. Merriam said he felt he should be reimbursed for what would have been the net cost to the town if.it had done the work under the Betterment Act, The Chairman said that the Dresselly house was not an additional assessment. to the town and probably should not be taken into consideration. He said he thought that the following question would be asked at the town meeting: Why shoi3ld Mr- Merriam be reimbursed if the work cost him $7200. and the betterment assessments he would have to pay if the Town had done the work would amount to $8000.00? Patriots Mr. Merriam said that there would be a small net cost to Drive the town anyway. Mr. Merriam said that he was requesting $1100.00 and that under the present policy of the town, it would not,put in the street and utilities when he wanted them. He was therefor forced to invest his own capital when he would much prefer to have that principal invested in real estate." He thought he should be treated the same ' as the average person who came in under the Betterment Act. The Chairman asked if Mr. Merriam still wanted the article inserted in the Warrant if the Selectmen were not in favor or sponsoring it. Mr. Merriam said that he had not consid- ered that and would have to think it over. He retired. Mr. Raymond said that he believed it would be good policy for the Town to accept the street if it resulted in bringing in the building of only one house because there was no maintenance. Mr. Giroux asked Mr. Raymond what he thought a fair figure of what Merriam was entitled to would be and Mr. Raymond said that he did not see how the man was entitled to anything. It was the general feeling of the Board that Mr. Merriam was not entitled to reimbursement. Mr. Clark moved that the article be inserted in the warralt for the acceptance of Patriots Drive provided Mr. Merriam requested it. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and'it was so voted. Mr. Henry G. Wilton appeared before the Board. He said he would like to submit an application for the extension of a water main on the northerly side of the Concord Turnpike from Watertown Street to the Arlington line and along Bowman Street to the Arlington line. He said that he had purchased the property bounded by the Belmont Country Club and consist- ing of approximately 162 acres, He said that he was proposing to build houses on lots that would run about 22 to the acre. He proposed to build houses of a character that would'fit in with the character of the town and would sell for $6800. or 218 $7000. He said he would like to leave Bowman Street in the development as one of the streets. He asked if there would be some reasonable assurance that the town would give him water if he went ahead and built houses. The Chairman told him that he would have to have a Board of Survey hearing and 9 hips layout would have to be approved. Mr. Wilton said that he was merely informing the Board of his intentions so that if it is desired; it could include sufficient funds in the budget to take care of the extension. The Chairman told him it would be necessary to insert a,separate article in Wilton the warrant asking for this extension and inasmuch as there request was as no street layout, there would y oul be no sense in inserting for water. an article in the warrant. Mr. Ross asked how soon Mt. Wilton wanted to get started, and he said that he intended to start about March 10th. He is figuring on a minimum of 159000 square feet to a lot. Mr. Wilton said that he would be willing to lay the main himself on his own land. He asked if there was any reason to believe that if he built 21 houses this spring, he would not be able to sell them because there was no water. The Chairman said that he could not say. He said that if he laid his.own main there was no reason why the Town should disapprove connecting it with the Town water supply. Mr. Wilton said that he had assur- ance from the Boston Elevated Railroad Company that it would give him service when there were 15 families living in the development. He retired. Application for a Common Victualler's License at the ' corner of Mass. Avenue and Depot Square was received from James J. Waldron. Mr. Waldron intends to,place a diner beside Waldron the Central Block. Mr. Giroux said that Mr. Waldron had been License granted a building permit. It was decided to lay the appli- cation on the table because the Board had no right to grant it at this time according to Gen. Laws, Chapter 140, Section 6. Mr. Nrightington appeared before the Board to discuss Clifford various suits. He said that he thought it would be best to Motors try the claim of the Clifford Motor Sales, et als because of Suit the evidence on hand. Cheney The Board. instructed Mr. Wrightington to try the claim claim of Yvonne Cheney vs. the Town of Lexington. Mr. Wrightington asked what the Board wished him to do on the claim of Mabelle S. Appleton against the Town. Mr. Appleton Giroux moved that the Town Counsel be instructed to settle claim the case for $100. if possible. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Aetna Casualty Security Co. stating that Roland Garmon had.given the Town as a reference. Garmon The company requested the Board to certify to Mr. Garmon's case, character. Mr. Giroux moved that the Board approve the statement. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 219 ' Letter was received from Hollis M. Gott stating that Gott re he was connected with Gilmour, Rothery & Co. and requesting Insurane that he be given some town insurance. The Clerk was instructed to advise Mr. Gott that his request would be considered when insurance was being placed. Letter was received from 111. S. Caouette requesting that the Board make some decision on tax title property. Tax Title The Clerk was instructed to advise Mr. Caouette that due to property the pressure of business, the Board would be unable to con- sider the matter until after the Town Meeting. Board of Appeals findings granting permission to CharlesRyder V1, Ryder to maintain a riding school at 24 Maple Street, Bd. of was received. Appeals order Invitation was received from the East Lexington Men's Club to attend its 30th anniversary celebration on Invitation Feb. 28th. The Clerk was instructed to accept the invita- tion with thanks. Letter was received from James F. Lit'tle advising that he had a party interested in lots 36 and 37 in Block Tax Title 22, Dexter Road. Mr. Little asked rt.at the Town would sell property these lots for, plus a 65 commission. It was decided to ' hold the matter over for one week. A letter was received from St. Brigid's Church re- questing the use of Cary Hall on March 1st for a Reunion. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted sub- Use of ject to a fee of 615.00. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion Hall. and it was so voted. Application was received from Dora LaChance to main- tain an employment bureau at 844 Mass. Avenue, Mr. Potter License moved that the application be denied. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that Nathan B. Bidwell had re- quested that he be allowed to see the AuditBr's Report in Ryder the Ryder Drainage case provided the Board bad no objection. case. The members said they had no objection to Mr. Bidwell►s seeing the report. Request was received from the Arlington Gas Light Co. for the use of Estabrook Hall on April 7, 14, 21, and 28. Mr. Potter moved that the company be granted the use Use of of the hall on the 7th, 14th and 28th only, inasmuch as Hall the hall is already engaged for the 21st, subject to a fee of 05. per afternoon. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. 220 The Chairman stated that Mrs. George Smith wanted to know if the 'Noments Republican Club would be allowed to Use of Ball use Cary Ball for a lecture to be given by Leland Bickford. ' denied. She said that it would be a non-partisan talk and would be open to the public free of charge. It was the opinion of the Board that the request should be denied because such a use would be violating the terms of the Cary will. The Appropriation Committee appeared before the Board and budgets in general w ®re discussed. The Committee requested that the Selectmen consider a 7z% reduction in Budgets salaries for the last six month of 1938 and also discuss the wage scale for laborers with the idea of reducing them. It was decided to meet with the Appropriation Committee on Saturday afternoon, February 26th. They retired. Mr. Potter moved that the salary of John W. Raymond, Jr. be set at $4600.00 per year beginning January lst, 1938. Salary - Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Supt. of Mr. Potter then moved that it be the sense of the Public Works meeting that the position would be worth $5100. per year eventually. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from W. E. Ballard requesting Article that an article be inserted in the Warrant relative to the Burl. St. Committee report on the additional Burlington Street park ' Park area. Mr. Potter moved that an article be inserted in the Warrant. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so .voted. It was decided that the X50.00 for extra traffic duty and the 1100. for services of the matron in the Police Budgets Dept. budget be approved; that the salary of the Board of Registrars be approved for $300.00; that the budget for the Wire Inspector be approved in the amount of $710.00. Commitment of eater Mis. Charges in the amount of Commitment �22. was signed by the Board. The meeting adjourned at 12:15 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk. [/'