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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1938-03-011 237 SELECTMEN'S MEETING MARCH let, 1838. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room., Tom Office Building, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Ferguson, Messrs. Potter, Giroux, Clark and Ross were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr, Raymond appeared before the Board. He stated that he had authorized the Supt. of the Highway Department to Stearn have new tubes put in the steam roller at a cost of $135. roller - Mr. Potter moved that the action be approved.: Mr. Giroux new tubes. seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that he wanted to discuss the matter of renting Cary Hall. He said that it cost money to heat the hall and he thought that $20.00 would be a fair price to charge the Briggs Class for the,use of the hall on Sundays. They have to start heating tih a hall on Saturday afternoon in order to havd it warm enough for Sunday afternoon. He thought the rates for the use of the hall were ridiculously low. Mr. Giroux suggested that Mr, Raymond set up a schedule of rates that he thought were proper. Mr. Potter thought that if the cause was for charity, the charge should be very low and if not, that the full rate should be charged. The Chairman informed the Board that Mrs. Francis Chamberlain wanted to know how the Selectmen interpreted the clause in the Cary Will relative to the use.of Cary Hall.' Sheds President of the Women's Republican Club and the Board refused to allow that organization to hold a lecture to be open to the public free of charge and was to be of anon -political nature. Mrs. Chamberlain cannot. understand the Board's action inasmuch as the Briggs Class has been allowed to use the hall. Mr. Giroux said he thought there was a difference and that if all the political parties wanted to hold a joint meeting, it would be all right. He said that all churches in the Town were represented in the Briggs Class and no particular religion is mentioned. The 'Chairman suggested that the matter be taken up with •the Town Counsel and Mr, Giroux suggested taking it up with the Trustees. However, Mr. Giroux moved that the matter be referred to the Town Counsel for clarification of the interpretation of the limiations "religious and political nature" in the Cary Will. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Rates for use of Cary Ball Mr. Raymond reported that some days only two or three men reported for work on Welfare projects. He thought it Welfare ' wise to shut down on the Moth Project and asked the projects Board's approval. No action was taken on the matter. 238 The Chairman stated that the Parent Teachers Assoc- iation had requested the use of Cary Hall on the afternoon Use of Hall of March 18th, 1938. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. 14r. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that he talked with Otis H. Perry, who wanted to know if the Board could do anything on his Highway Betterment Assessment for Tower Road, Mr. Raymond said that the land was assessed for approximately Perry t.12 per square foot and the taking of 305 square feet assessment would be valued at ��24.60. I1r. Raymond asked him if he thought he would be treated fainly if he were allotted a 025.00 abatement and TJr. Perry thought that would be all right. Kr. Patter moved that the Board recommend to the Assessors that 0p25.00 be abated on Mr. 'Ferry's taxes. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 1 1 Mr. Raymond said that he had received a bill from the IV. P. A. authorities in the amount of $36.00, this W.P.A. bill covering the additional cost of materials because of the fact that 18 workers were on the sewing project rather than seventeen. Mr. Potter moved that the bill be paid. Yr. Giroux seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Torn Accountant rel- ative to office space. He said that one year ago he advised the Board that it would be necessary to have additional clerical help and additional equipment. He requested that something be done in the very near future to furnish him with larger quarters. He said it was ab - Accounting solutely necessary that he procure additional equipment but Dept. had no room for it. He said that it was impossible for space three people to viork in the space allotted to the Account- ing Department, for which reason he had been forced to work in the Selectmen's Room. The lighting in the Selectmen's Room has had a decidedly bad effect on his eyes. He requested that the Board give early consideration to making some change in the present office arrangements. Mr. Raymond said that if $1,000. was added to the Town Offices and Cary Memorial Building appropriation for the Barnes property they probably would be able to get along until the end of the year. This would cover fuel, telephone, janitor service, linoleum, etc. He said it was not possible to make a very close estimate Money for of the cost of alterations and repairs at the present Barnes pro- time. He said there would be some expense in moving, also. perty Mr. Potter moved that the sum of 01,000.00 be added to the Town Offices appropriation. Yr. Giroux seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Clark voted in opposition. The Chairman stated that the Parent Teachers Assoc- iation had requested the use of Cary Hall on the afternoon Use of Hall of March 18th, 1938. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. 14r. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that he talked with Otis H. Perry, who wanted to know if the Board could do anything on his Highway Betterment Assessment for Tower Road, Mr. Raymond said that the land was assessed for approximately Perry t.12 per square foot and the taking of 305 square feet assessment would be valued at ��24.60. I1r. Raymond asked him if he thought he would be treated fainly if he were allotted a 025.00 abatement and TJr. Perry thought that would be all right. Kr. Patter moved that the Board recommend to the Assessors that 0p25.00 be abated on Mr. 'Ferry's taxes. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 1 1 241 (Pages 239 and 240 ommitted from this book) ' Mr. Raymond informed the Board that he had written up a W. P. A. project for Hardyts pond Brook calling for the ex- penditure of $17,205.00 of Federal funds and $5,240.00 of Town funds, about of which 05,000. would be in actual cash outlay. This would provide about 4400 man days of work and would be a very good project from the point of the Town's contribution and would also take care of flooded lands. He asked approval of submitting the project. Mr. Giroux asked WPA project how this compared with other projects, and he said that thtre was no project that compared with it in the matter of the Town's contribution as compared with the Federal contribution. Mr. Giroux moved that the project be submitted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Board asked Mr. Raymond about Charles Street and whether or not it was absolutely necessary that it be re- constructed this year. He said that the street was in bad shape and had been so for some time. It is passable but it should be reconstructed. The Chairman asked how much it would cost to maintain it if it was not rebuilt. Mr. Raymond Charles St. said that they would merely patch it at a cost of a few hundred dollars. He thought it was an imposition on the people living there not to give them a sidewalk. He said that there probably were 200 houses in the development. ' The Chairman informed the Board that the three members of the Appropriation Committee whose terms expired in 1938 would go out of office at the dissolution of the Annual Town Meeting and therefor will not be members when the Vine Brook meeting is held. The matter can be handled in two ways; One article can be left from the Annual Meeting to be taken Approp. Com. up at the April 25th meeting which, of course, would tie up members the appropriation or the meeting can be closed and the present members reappointed. The Chairman thought it would be best to leave an article until the April meeting as the Town could function as there was no construction work that was very urgent and maintenance money would be available. It was voted to hold the matter over for one week. Ii;+hr was received from the Town Counsel relative to the Will of Tmn I. Fiske. He said that the Adams School gift imposed no ' particulAr obligation and that there probably would be no difficulty in carrying out the condition of the second Fiske will bequest although the yield of $300, would with difficulty produce six bouquets a year. He thought that the matter should be considered and if the gifts were to be accepted, an article to that effect would have to be inserted in the Warrant for the next Town Meeting. He suggested that the Clerk re- mind him about the estate next December if the legacies have not been paid. 242 The Building Inspector and Mr. Wrightington appeared' ' before the Board to discuss the application of James 'J. Waldron for a license to operate a dining car in the center of the Town. The Chairman informed Mr. Wrighting- ton that Waldron had changed the location and now wanted Waldron to erect the car in the driveway beside the Aldrich Block dining car on property owned by James F. McCarthy. Mr. Wrightington submitted a letter to the Building Inspector stating that the issue of a permit to Waldron for a lunch cart on the.same lot as that on-rich the Central Block is located was invalid. He said, however, that this letter would not apply to McCarthyls drive. The application of Dora LaChance for permission to operate an Intelligence Office at 844 Mass. Avenue was LaChance considered. Mr. potter moved that the permit be granted. license Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the State Dept. of Public Health requesting that the Board nominate an Inspector of Slaughter Slaughtering. Mr. Potter moved that the name of Matthew Inspector Stevenson be submitted. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. Application was received from the Lexington Drum Corps for the use of Cary Memorial HallonMarch 17th. Use of hall Mr. Ross moved that the use of the hall be granted on that date, subject to the usual fee. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Clerk asked the Board to discuss the sale price on lots 36 and 37 in Block 22, Dexter Road, which the Board agreed to sell for the sum of $400.00 less a 6% commission. She said that there was a Highway Betterment Assessment on Sale'of lots the lots amounting to $91.20 plus interest, and wanted to know if the sale price included this assessment. Mr. Potter moved that the sale price include the betterment assessment. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Metropolitan Life In. surance Co. suggesting that a ten minute moving picture Pneumonia "A New Day" dealing with pneumonia prevention and control control be sponsored by the Board of Health. The Clerk was instructed to refer the matter to William Viano: Letter was received from the April 19th Committee, Invitation inviting the Selectmen, with invited guests, to review the parade which is to start at 1;45 P. M. Letter was received from the Retirement Board asking ' if the Selectmen had ever received any protest with ref. . k J. 243 erence to the employment of Michael Powers, an alien, by the ' Town of Lexington. The Clerk was instructed to inform the Powers. Retirement Board that the Selectmen knew of no such protest employment ever having been made. Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Ross, it was voted to grant the following licenses: C. A. Harding - 789 Mass. Ave. - Methyl Alcohol Shell oil Company - 1095 Mass. Avenue Overhanging Sign. Letter was received from Fred W. Fisher, Town Counsel of Winthrop, relative to House Bills 47 and 187 and Senate Bill 32 and 72. The Clerk was instructed to make a copy of the letter for each member of the Board. Letter was received from the Town Treasurer a$vising that the Borrowing capacity of the.Town for the year 1938 would be $7961,869.91. Commitment of Water Miscellaneous charges in the smount of $75.95 and Commitment of Water Rates in the amount of $5514.06 were signed by the Board. Letter was received from Fleming & Son advising that after printing the Town Reports they found that the book, one and a quarter inches, was too thick to allow for a wire stitching job. 2ie7 recommended a sewed book and said that the difference in price would be four cents per book or $40., but that the job itself would be far better in every respect. They said that they did not recommend wiring. It was decided that inasmuch as there was no alternative, the book would have to be sewed. Mr. Ferguson retired at 8:40 P. M. and Mr. Potter acted as Chairman Pro -tem. Letter was received from the Chief of Police advising that on February 28th, 1938, he had suspended Patrolman George E. Smith for violation of Rule 7(a) of the Rules and Regulations of the Lexington Police Department. Chief Sullivan and Patrolman Smith appeared before the Board. The Chief stated that Smith had been working in the center of the Town the last month from 6:00 o'clock to 1:00 o'clock on the night shift. Last week he told the man to take Monday off and go on days beginning Tuesday. Officer Neal went home sick on Sunday and the Chief told Smith that he would have to work on Monday and that he would make his day off good later on. Smith went on duty in the center around noon time and the Chief said he saw the man on traffic duty at 3:00 P. M. and he was 100%. He came down by the cor- ner of Waltham Street and Mass. Avenue at 5:00 o'clock and saw an officer on duty but the weather was so bad he could Licenses House and Senate bills Borrowing capacity Commitments Town Reports Smith sus- pension 244 Smith sus - pens ion not tell who it was. At.5=30 P. M. the:Chtef was in his office and upon looking out the window, he saw Officer Smith coming in and he was unsteady on his feet and he could tell that the man had been drinking. He said that the man on duty in the center at 5:00 otclock was standing straight and was all right but it was storming so badly he could not tell who it was. Mr. Ross asked if there were two men on duty in the center at 5:00 o'clock and the Chief said that there were, as at that time the movies are getting out. Mr. Potter said that the Chief saw Smith coming in the driveway at 5:30 P. M. and asked if that would be normal• The Chief said that the man in the center was supposed to stay on duty until his relief came on which is about 5:45 P. M. Mr. Ross asked if the Chief talked with Officer Smith when he came into the station, and he replied in the neg- ative. Mr. Ross asked who was in the station. The Chief said that Harvey was on the desk and that Officers Knapp, John Russell, and Maguire were there. He said at least they were there when he went into the washroom about five minutes after Smith came in. Mr. Clark asked if Smith smelled of liquor, and he said he could not say. The Chairman requested Officer Smith to tell his story. Smith said that he had nothing at all to drink on Monday afternoon. He said perhaps he did stagger when he came in the driveway as it was icy and the wind was 'Slowing extremely hard. He said he was on duty in the center all afternoon. He left his station and went up to Rudd's Market to pay a bill and then came direct to the station. Mr. Giroux asked who relieved Smith and what time he did. He replied that Lennon relieved him at 5:00 o'clock. He went to Ruddts Market and talked.to Jack Rudd -and paid the bill and then came direct to the station. Mr. Giroux asked if he talked with anyone else. Smith replied that he said "hello" to Mr. Caouette and Mr. Clifford Price of the Five and Ten Cent Store. Mr. Giroux asked if he talked with anyone else the last half hour before he went off duty. Smith said that Clifford Price was the only one he talked to as there were very few people out because the weather was so bad. Mr. Giroux asked if he saw the Chief when he came into the station and he said he saw him only through the window. Mr. Giroux asked if he talked with any of the officers. Smith said he did not recall .that he talked with any of them as he read the paper. He said that Knapp, John Russell, and George Barry were in the guardroom as far as he could recall. Mr. Giroux asked the Chief if he saw Officer Smith through the window and he replied in the affirmative. He asked if he talked with him or smelled of his breath and he replied in the negative. . Mr. Clark asked if the Sergeant reported that the man 1 1 0 245 was drinking and the Chief said that there was no sergeant ' on duty at the time. Mr. Giroux asked if he spoke to - Officer Smith at all, and the Chief said that he did not. Mr. Clark asked if this was the first offense he had run across since the last trouble and the Chief said that it was. He said that Smith had been on duty for the last month and he had seen him every night and the man had been as straight as a string. He had been 0. R. Officer Smith retired and the Chief remained. Mr. Ross asked if this man had been up on charges before, and the Chief said that he had about four years ago, Mr. Clark asked why the Chief did not speak to the man when he came in. The Chief said he did not want to make a scene. He knew it was a bad night and it was bad working. Smith came in to see him this morning at 8:00 o'clock and the Chief told him that he saw him come in and that he noticed how he was walking. Mr. Ross asked if he was one of the men that did not speak to the Chief or that was un- ftieMily with him. The Chief replied in the negative and said that he and Smith were the best of friends. He retired. Mr. Potter moved that the Chief be notified that no action was taken on his letter advising of the suspension and that none would be taken until after the hearing of witnesses which would be at the next meeting of the Board; and that Officer Smith be restored to duty in the meantime. ' Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Budgets were discussed as follows: Town Physician: It was voted not to recommend raising the salary of the Town Physician as it is in line with that paid in other Town Physi- towns and it is a method of introducing a new doctor to the cian Town. Mr. Ross thought that $750.00 should be provided for the purchase of a shovel attachment. for a trenching mach- ine. It was decided to explain to Mr. Raymond that no additional money would be provided and that the Board would recommend that this attachment be purchased from the Road Machinery appropriation. Letter was received from Mr. Garrity advising that the salary of the clerk in the Park Department should be $637.00 rather than $364.00. The reason for this increase is that Park Dept. when the budget was first figured, the Clerk was being paid half time by the Park Dept. and half time from the WPA approp cation. It was voted to increase the item for Clerk to $631.00. '"Ristrations Dept. - Expenses 'XXXe Z=Lries I e�' mwas reduced from 30.00 to $15., making ,the total appropriation $416.00. Registrations 246 Fire Department - Expenses ' Equipment or- en reduced from $400. to $300.; Repairs reduced from $1,000. to $900.00; Furniture and Furnishings reduced from 1200. to $150. Total amount approved, $6953.75. Public Welfare - Personal Services; It was voted o concur with t a Appropriation Committee in a salary amounting to $985.00 for Gertrude Mitchell. This provides for an increase of $1.00 per week beginning April 1st, 1938. Public Works Building - Wages and Expenses- It was voted to include the $225.00 for painting one side of the building in this appropriation, making the total amount approved $8529.00, Mr. Giroux explained that Mr. Rucker had talked with him relative to transferring Miss Elinor Moakley from the Selectmen's Office to the Accounting Department. He said that he understood that the Appropriation Committee would approve an increase in salary for Miss Moakley if she were transferred and had not made a definite decision as to whether or not her salary would be increased if she remained in the Selectmen's Department. It was voted to disapprove Diss Moakley being transferred to the Accounting Depart ' ment and to stand on the recommended salary of $24.00 per week beginning April lst, 1938. Police Pensions It was voted that the sum of $1125. be added to this budget. The meeting adjourned at 10;25 P. M. A true record, Attest, C re- -r 1