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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1938-06-21391 W.P.A. Projects f or Women. SELECTMEN' S'I MEETING, ' JUNE 21, 1938. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectments Room Town Office Building, at 7:00 s $s P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter and Ross were pres- ent. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Clark arrived at 7:30 P:.M. Mr. Raymond and Mr. Beach, and Mrs. Ahearn and Mrs. Houlihan of the W.P.A. appeared before the Board. The Chairman stated that the local office had received a number of requests to putt women on the sewing project and they had to refuse theml as the additional employment would not be approved by Boston. Colonel McDonough sent out a list of projects suggesting that the Board look them over, but the Chairman said that the type of women we bad were not ones that could do' the work listed. He said that these two women were out to'',suggest some projects that we could work in. Mrs. Houlihan said that perhaps a household aid pro- ject would work out here. Mrs. Ahearn said that in every city or town where these.pro jects were proposed, the men objected as of course therei are complications in sending strangers into a private home. She said, however, that ' they had had very good luck. They have 150 housekeeping aids in Boston and have had'' very little diffictilty. The success depends entirely upon the supervisor. They require that the homes be recommended by some agency, either the Public Welfare Department or a private organization such as a Public Health Association,.ete. They never assume that they have the right to' go into a home without a letter euthorizing them to do so. They feel that if an agency requests this help, :,it is responsible. If anything goes wrong they refer the trouble to the certifying agency. The women are for the most part unskilled and they are employed to do nothing but manual household work. They may not work exceeding twenty-eight hours a week, may not stay nights and must leave when the man of the house comes home. They work 113 hours per month for $52.50. The Chairman asked if this aid was limited to homes on Welfare and Mrs. Ahearn said that it was not, that any low income family can have it. The Chairman asked if they had any complaints from nurses' associations or doctors. Mrs. Ahearn replied in the negative and said that that was because this service was one which they could not give. The hospitals use it a great deal in the cities. Unless there is a sufficient need in any'town, a projedt would not be promoted. Winthrop has this service. Mrs. Ahearn said ' that churches would be certifying agents. She said that Mrs. Houlihan would be in charge of the project and would send someone to Lexington to interview the women. 391 W.P.A. Projects f or Women. 392 n V The Chairman asked what expense the Town would have to stand on this sort of a project. She replied that the , Town would have to provide space for the supervisor, transportation for the supervisor and in case the needy homes were not equipped with for instance a broom, mop, pans, etc., it would be necessary to supply them. However, it is a very small expense. Mr. Beach asked how small a personnel they could have. She said that you could have just as small a personnel as the Town needed. If only three women were certified, you could have a project for three women. Certifications are going on all the time. Mr. Ross asked if the supervisor would be a Boston or local woman and Mrs. Ahearn said she would be a local woman. Mrs. Ahearn said that they were disposed to take care of emergencies only and primarily in connection with illness, so that the wage earner might leave the home and continue his work and bring in the money. The Chairman asked if they had any other projects. She said they had a cleaning and renovating project, pri- marily to take care of public buildings, for instance, some building that we would like to clean up but did not have the funds for. The women would wash the floors, walls, etc. and do up the curtains and all cleaning work. However, if a building was to be painted, the women could not wash the walls as that would be part of the painting job. She said that they had some projects -where, school departments ' and hospitals were having this work done. The Chairman asked if the sewing unit restriction is likely to remain as it is now and she replied that she did not know. If you have agreed to pay money for a certain number of women for a certain length of time, the project will be continued for that period. Mr. Clark asked if sewing projects were discontinued in any`town where the towns did not contribute. She replied in the negative as she knew of no towns that did not contribute. However, there were some towns that voted not to continue the project. Mr. Clark asked what happened to the women then, and she said that she did not know. Mr. Clark asked if it would be cheaper to take care of the women on welfare, and she said that she would not say so. She said that they had a school lunch project in various places and Mr. Clark said that the Lexington Public Health Association took care of that in Lexington. Mrs. Ahearn said that the lunch projects were more successful in larger cities as there were more under -nourished children there. The Chairman asked Mr. Beach if he had any projects to suggest and he said that he did not. Mrs. Ahearn said that she was interested in white collar projects also but did not understand that there was any need for them in Lexington. Mr. Raymond wondered if a project could be written ' that would involve searching records in the Registry of Deeds to tabulate all property rights, easements, etc. conveyed by and to the Town. He said that the Town records 393 were not very good and often it required a lot of work to ' look up such things. He said that he did not think there were many that we did not have record of but that some people in the town thought that there were easements in cases where there actually were none. He thought this would entail a year's work for one woman. Mrs. Ahearn said that it was an eligible project but she hesitated beedase we would have a project employing one person, but if only one person was qualified for the work perhaps the project would be allowed. The Chairman told the group that the Board would consider the information given and they retired. Mr. Ross recommended that the project Mr. Raymond suggested be written up. Mr. Clark said that he found there was a growing resentment against W.P.A. work in Lexington. He received a. petition protesting against the W.P.A. construction of a sidewalk on Merriam Street and he called some of the people and asked them why they were against the sidewalk. They said that they were against creating W.P.A. work to build sidewalks and curbing. He said that he would suggest that before sidewalk work was done any- where, the opinion of the abutters be obtained first. Mr. Ross said that in connection with the Merriam Street sidewalk, this was a case inhere the people had no sidewalks and had built their lawns out beyond the town line and naturally they did not want them cut of f . Mr. Raymond ' said that he did not have Merriam Street in his original list for sidewalk work but Mr. Rowse suggested that it be included. The Chairman asked Mr. Raymond if he thought the title searching project would be cf direct benefit to the town, and he replied in the affirmative. Mr. Ross moved that a project be submitted to provide for the searching of titles, conveyances, etc. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Clark moved that action be deferred on the female projects as discussed with the W.P.A. representatives. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman asked if the Board wished to request Mr. Lyon Carter and Miss Eastman of the Public Health Association to come in and discuss the matter at the next meeting. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Carter and Miss Eastman be invited to attend the meeting and a copy of the record of the discussion on the matter be furnished them. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton, Supt. of the Highway Department, and Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board. The Chairman stated that Mr. Paxton had definite ideas on a forty hour week and wished to present them. Mr. Paxton said that there were some advantages to a forty hour week. Weather conditions are not always favorable to highway construction or maintenance and he said it seemed too bad to have a good Saturday go to waste when they could be doing construction work. Around 1932, the Board issued an 394 Forty hour week. order that men should work only forty hours a week and during that time, Mr. White sent Paxton over to call for a man to operate the tractor at four o'clock in the morning and the man felt incensed that he had to work at that hour and have it come out of his forty hour week. He also said that the equipment angle should be con- sidered. He said that it probably would be necessary to put additional men on and then additional equipment would be needed. Mr. Clark asked why it would be necessary to put on more men. Paxton said it would be necessary in order to complete the street construction within the season. He said that that is the reason why we have had so much trouble with some streets --late construction. It is advisable to get construction work done as soon as possible. The temporary help is kept from fifteen to twenty-five weeks as they do not want to take a chance on going over the thirty-two week period, as it means a vacation. He said another thing to be considered was the attitude of the Highway Department men if faced with a forty hour week, and he thought that that was the most important angle. The only incentive they can give these men is to give them a maximum number of hours when there is work. There is a very good attitude now and when tem- porary help is hired it harts their attitude. Paxton thought the attitude of the regular employees should be kept at a high level. Mr. Ross asked if they were working 48 hours a week now and Mr. Paxton replied in the affirmative. Air. Ross asked if he knew of any other towns that were, and he said that he did not. Mr. Ross said he did not think that there were any towns around working 48 hours a week. The Chairman asked if Paxton thought the Boards purpose would be accomplished by these means and he replied in the negative. He did not think that there would be as good work done or as good construction made. The men he has employed as temporary employees so far have worked for him in previous years. Mr. Potter asked what the men earned and Paxton said that they earned $.50 an hour. He took Mr. Russell's figures and found that the average hours per week for the average man was less than forty-four hours. The Chairman asked what would happen if the men could not work over forty hours per week but could make up the lost time. Mr. Paxton said that the men averaged forty hours per week anyhow and would go below the forty hours a week naturally. Mr. Clark said he had no objection to working them an hour or two overtime to finish a job but he still thought the laborers were so much better off than people in industry that were getting one or two days a week that there was no comparison. Paxton said that they had men in all departments operating equipment who were getting much less per hour than those on the V.P.A. Mr. Paxton said that the Efficiency of the department would be mkintainod by the 48 hour week. He said that he realized that the h LN N 1 1 395 Retirement Act was for the benefit of the men in the long run but the 5% deduction each week meant a whole lot and he thought the Board should consider that. He also stated that if the town could keep its employees interested and satisfied, they would not be interested in Civil Service. They might also in the future want time and a half if limited to the forty hour week. He thought that Lexington should be proud of its employees because they took the interest they did in their work. The Chairman asked how the Water Department employees felt. Mr. Raymond said that they were on a five day week now and had been all the time. The Chairman asked how Mr. Raymond could keep the efficiency up if one department worked six days and the others did not. He asked if the men were not dissatisfied. Mr. Raymond said that they were. He said that there were twelve to fourteen men available in the Water Department and the town did not appropriate money enough to keep the Water Department operating all the time. The town does not appropriate enough money to keep the men working all year. Highway work is more seasonable. The Water Department men are not satisfied and have not been for a long time. Mr. Ross said he thought that the Board would find that the average wage of the Water Department men was lower and Mr. Raymond said there was no question about it. Paxton said that the average rate per hour for the Highway men was lower than the Water Department average ' wage per hour. Mr. Ross said he thought there was only one case where the Highway Department paid less than the Water Department. Mr. Paxton retired. The Chairman asked how the Board felt on an average of forty hours per week. Mr. Clark, said that he was not opposed to that. Messrs. Potter and Ross said they were not opposed to it. The Chairman asked if it would be possible to put some of the Water Department men on the Highway Department subject to call. Mr. Raymond said he did not think it practical because the Highway Department crew is split up between three or four divisions and if the Water Department was cut down to nine men there would be times when it would be necessary to get four or five from the Highway Department. He said the whole trouble was that there was plenty of work that could be done in Water and Sewer construction and the town just would not do it. The town is not providing sewers and water when both are drastically needed. Mr. Raymond said that there were more dwellings in Lexington today without sewers than there were in 1915 before there was any sewerage at all. He thought the Board was increasing the cost about 20% on Highway maintenance by cutting the time down to forty hours per week. Mr. Clark asked him to explain the ' statement and Mr. Raymond said that Mr. Paxton had already explained it. Mr. Ross suggested that Mr. Raymond come In at the next meeting with a recommendation as to how all departments could be satisfied so that if possible they would know how the Water Department could be put on 396 an equal basis. Mr. Potter said he thought it would be best to have the Supt. work out the best solution he could with the money available. Mr. Ross moved that the vote of the previous meeting be amended so as to read as follows:_ "Voted: In order to conserve departmental funds so that.the employees may have the most continuous employment possible during this difficult year, the Board hereby orders that all town employees on an hourly basis shall work an average not exceeding forty hours per week, except in case of emergency,. this to be effedtive June 20, 1938", Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. At 8:30 P.M. hearing was declared open on the appli- cation of Santa Hausherr for perms ssion to maintaina two Hausherr car garage at the corner of Winter and Marvin Streets. garage Mr. Hausherr appeared and presented plan of the proposed hearing garage. No persons appeared in opposition. Mr. Ross moved that the permit be granted subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. At 8:32 P.M. hearing was declared open on the appli- Gaudet cation of James Gaudet for permission to maintain a one garage car garage at 4 Aeriel Street. No persons appeared in ' hearing. favor or in opposition. Mr. Potter moved that the permit be granted subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Matthew Stevenson appeared before the Board. The Chairman said the Board had asked him in as a result of a letter received from Russell I. Prentiss of the Mass. Division of Dairying and Animal Husbandry, who had reported that the scores on dairy barns had been submitted incorrectly. Mr. Stevenson said that he had been on the job for six years and hever had a complaint from any State officer until Mr. Prentiss returned the reports on the dairies this year. The reason they were returned was Milk that he had missed in putting down a couple of scores. He Inspector. corrected the reports and returned them to Mr. Prentiss at the State House but the envelope was returned. He then addressed it to the State Board of Agriculture and it was returned again. Another State Inspector was visiting him one day and he showed him the envelope and the Inspector said he did not understand why Prentiss had not received the letter. Mr. Stevenson told the Inspector to address it which he did and it was not returned. Mr. Potter asked if this was the only thing that Mr. Prentiss criticized and Mr. Stevenson said that it was. He said the reason for it was that Mr. Dalrymple on Concord Hill moved his cattle ' from one barn to a smaller one and hedid not whitewash it so Mr. Stevensan did not score it. Dalrymple was ' going to be there temporarily so he did not blame him for not whitewashing it. Mr. Potter moved that the Board inform Mr. Prentiss that it was their understanding that the complaint had been corrected and that everything was satisfactory. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Stevenson said that Mr. Wallace of Somerville told him that he would be glad to come out to- Lexingt on some time and go over the pasteurization plants with him. Mr. Raymond said that they had been losing lanterns from the construction jobs and there had been some dis- turbances at the center playground and East Lexington playground. He wondered if the Board would request that the Police Department make hourly visits up to midnight at the playgrounds and look after the construction jobs. Mr. Ross moved that the Police Department be requested to, do these things. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. 397 Police protettion Mr. Raymond reported that Mr. Bowler had sent in \ a certified check for 11500. He talked with Mr. Hatch, County Engineer, and agreed tofurnish him with all the engineering data on Westview Street one week before July 1st and if no one objects at the hearing., they will go ahead with the relocation. Mr. Potter moved that the check be placed in the safe deposit box at the Lexington Trust Co. for the time being. Mr. Clark seconddd the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that the Field and Garden Club was very anxious to complete its work on Depot Square and have revised the question of the town's buying the driveway. Some time ago, the railroad offered it to the town for 3000. and Mr. Eugene Kraetzer now has an offer of this for $2000.00. Mr. Clark moved that no action be ' taken on the matter. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Repairs to tree. Westview Street. Depot Square drives. Mr. Raymond said that there was a large tree on Mass. Avenue near Spencer Street in front of the Harrington house which projected into the pavement and reduced it about three feet. The tree needs repairs if it is desired to make it last as long as possible. The repairs would cost about $150.00. He thought the roots of the tree constituted a hazard and he wondered if the Board wanted to have the tree posted for remval or repair it. It is one of the oldest and largest trees on the Avenue. Mr. Clark said he was in favor of keeping the tree as long as possible. Mr. Ross moved that the tree be repaired and preserved. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that Mr. Bowler had sent in \ a certified check for 11500. He talked with Mr. Hatch, County Engineer, and agreed tofurnish him with all the engineering data on Westview Street one week before July 1st and if no one objects at the hearing., they will go ahead with the relocation. Mr. Potter moved that the check be placed in the safe deposit box at the Lexington Trust Co. for the time being. Mr. Clark seconddd the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that the Field and Garden Club was very anxious to complete its work on Depot Square and have revised the question of the town's buying the driveway. Some time ago, the railroad offered it to the town for 3000. and Mr. Eugene Kraetzer now has an offer of this for $2000.00. Mr. Clark moved that no action be ' taken on the matter. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Repairs to tree. Westview Street. Depot Square drives. Selfridge request to keep horses. Mr. William E. Selfridge of 103 North Street appeared before the Board relative to the application of Leeland G. McConchie (his son-in-law) for permission to keep fourteen or fifteen horses on the premises. The Chairman asked him if he was the owner of the property and he replied that it was in Leeland McConchie Is name. The Chairman asked if this farm involved the use of the so-called Caderio land and he replied in the negative. The Chairman are%arked ths.t Mr. Selfridge had a petition before the Board of Appeals. Mr. Selfridge said there was a mistake as Mr. McConchie signed it rather than the two men that were going to run the stable. The Chairman asked if Messrs. Howes and Stanton were involved in this application. Selfridge said that they had leased his barn for one year. The Chairman asked if they were going to be involved in this now. Selfridge said their horses were there and that he was not going to came back at the end of a year to ask for another permit. The Chairman asked where they were ming to take the horses and Sel- fridge said he did not know but would like to rent the barn so that he could get some income from it. He said it never occured to him that he would have to have a permit to keep horses in that neighbot!hood. The Chairman said that some of the neighbors felt that this was just a method of getting around the Board of Appeals denial. Mr. Potter asked if part of this original farm was in Woburn, Mr. Selfridge said that it was not but part of it was in Burlington. The Chairman asked if there were any quarters in the barn that could be used as a club and Mr. Selfridge replied in the negative. Mr. Selfridge said the horses were there now and were there illegally, but, he thought he would allow them to remain until after the hearing. The Chairman told him the matter would be taken under advisement and he retired. Mr. Potter said that if .the man could derive income from keeping the horses and still not maintain a riding school, he saw no objection to allowing him to do it. Mr. Ross moved that action on the matter of issuing a permit be deferred. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ra7mond said the Town Counsel advised that the Signs. Town erect Private Way" signs at the Munroe station. He asked what the Board wished to do about it. Mr. Clark moved that two "Private Way" signs be erected at the .drives to the Munroe station. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that the railroad made a charge Mass. Ave. . for the rental of a right of way for a drain under their drain. tracks which amounted to 0.90 a year. He said that it was possible that it might be finally settled so that the town could make a lump sum payment for this, probably hot over $100. after going through the Law Department of the 51- 1 1 1 399 Railroad. In view of that and the fact that the Railroad ' charged for persormel during construction of the drain, he asked if the Board wanted him to proceed with the installation at Mass. Avenue about opposite Hibbert Street. He thought it best to put in the pipe and agree to pay the $75. but not agree to pay the $9.90 per year. The taking has already been made and he did not believe the town would have to pay the rental chane. Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Raymond be authorized to proceed to install the drain and to disregard the rental charge. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that a demonstration of the two patching mixers, Wonder and flex, had been made. The Rex Purchase was the low bidder and Wonder the next, but they preferred of Mixer. the Rex Mixer.primarily because it had a much better dumping device than the Wonder. He thought that some one was very apt to be hurt with the Wonder. The Rex machine which was demonstrated to them had been used only once before for a demonstration and the company would allow $25.00 on it for that reason. Mr. Ross moved that the Rex which had been used for the demonstration be purchased. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that automobile fire and theft insurance expired through the office of E. B. Worthen on Insurance July let. Mr. Clark asked if there was fire and theft insurance on the police cars. Mr. Raymond said that there was. Mr. Clark moved that the Board discontinue fire and theft insurance on police cars and renew the policy other- wise. The motion not being seconded, it was lost. Mr. Potter moved that the entire policy be renewed. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman reported that Mrs. Agnes Richards was 014.00 behind in her weekly payments on the Board of Richardst Health bill. Mr. Potter moved that Mrs. Richards be bill* advised that unless she lived up to her agreement with the Selectmen of May 10th, that the Board would proceed to collect the bill otherwise. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The following Board of Appeals orders were received.- eceived:Lexington LexingtonSavings Bank, 41 Percy Road - Request to Sub- divide lot - Denied; Howard M. Munroe, Woburn Street - Pony riding school - Board of Granted, Appeals Colonial Garage, Inc., Mass. Ave. - Install gas tanks - Orders. Granted: New England Water Supply Co., Westview Street - Building ' to house water pumping equipment - Granted. 400' Mr. Raymond said that property owners in the vicinity ' of Bennett and Chase Avenues, etc. had petitioned the town to remedy the condition of overflowing cesspools. He talked to four owners who signed the petition and found that there were about eight locations where there are cess- pools overflowing and undoubtedly there are more. He did not believe that the people cared to pay sewer betterment assessments unless they could be reduced materially by being constructed under the W.P.A. He wrote the W.P.A. and was lead to believe the work could be done if it could be shown that the streets were open to the public use and that the Town had put in some improvements such as water mains. This project could be ccmbined with the Oak Street project, reducing some of the cost by omitting part of the work on Oak Street. He wondered if the Board wanted him to proceed to work out the preliminary plan for sewers in that region to take care of these people. Mr. Ross moved that the Supt. of Public Works investigate further and report. Mr. Potter secsmded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond asked if the Board would approve a project for street construction and some drainage which had been included in the budgets end repeatedly removed. The W.P.A. Chairman remarked that they would have to go before the Town Meeting and Mr. Raymond said that it would be necessary to get the project approved first. Mr. Ross moved that the I project be submitted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that most of the owners on Charles Street had agreed to removing the walls but there were two owners that would like to have walls built. They are Mr. Walls on MacGillivary and Mr. Andresen. He thought MacGillivary Charles St. would be satisfied if a wall was started one foot high and sloped back. Andresen thinks that the soil would wash down and he has just spent 6100. for shrubs and would like a wall three feet high. Both of these people have walls that are 3" to 6M in the street which gives those people the use of land that belongs to the Town of Lexington and prevents the Town from doing a real good job. He recommended that he be authorized to build low walls at both of these Places if they will be acceptable to the owners. Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Raymond be authorized to do this. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that he had received a request from William Shanahan to extend the center line on Pleasant Street about 5001 from its present end near Watertown Signs - Street toward Mass. Ave. Mr. Raymond thought that the Pleasant St. center line would not be observed there because it does not conform to the requirements of the State Dept. of , Public Works for center lines. He thought it would be best to have two signs marked "Children - Go Slow". Mr. Potter moved that the signs be erected. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. ' Mr: Raymond reported that the Town of Bedford wanted t to rent he grader for a day. Mr. Potter asked if he could spare it and he said that he did not know just when he could. Mr. Potter moved that the matter be left to the discretion of the Supt. of Public Works. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that he objected to renting it and Mr. Clark asked him why. He said it was competing with private business. C L Mr. Raymond asked authority to buy a Sickle Bar Mower for use in mowing brush and lawn at the roadsides, this to be purchased out of the Road Machinery Fund which he thought would be sufficient to carry to the end of the year. Mr. Potter moved that the purchase be approved in the amount of $377.50. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that J. Willard Hayden had reminded him that the Board voted to install lights in :Shade Street. He looked over the situation and although Hayden asked for three lights, he recommended that four be put in and another three more in the future will give standard light- ing in that street. Mr. Potter roved that the street lights be installed. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. 401 Grader Purchase of mower. Street Lights. Mr. Raymond reported that Robert Durkin was willing Shack on to tear down the shack on the lot at Lincoln Street which Lincoln is owned by the Town if he can have the lumber. Mr. Potter Street moved that Durkin be authorized to tear down the shack. Mr, Ross sdconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that approval had been received so that he could start the W.P.A. street drainage project. He said there were funds enough in the Labor and Materials appropriation to carry our present quota through the latter part of October. He asked authority to start the project and said he would probably do Eustis and Haskell Streets first and would proceed to take the necessary easements. Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Raymond be given this authority. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond asked approval to put Charles Preston, now on Welfare, at work to get caught up on painting at the Public Works Building and Cary Memorial Building at the rate of $.55 per hour for a five day week. The man will then go off welfare. He said he thought the Town Painter was going to do some work at the Library but Miss Kirkland informed him that the Library Trustees had not approved the work. The paint for this has been pur- chased and cost about 6100. The Chairman told Mr. Raymond to take up the matter with Mr. Fred Fischer through Mr. Rowse. He thought Preston would be employed twelve to W.P.A. Painting work. 402 fourteen weeks. He said he was. anxious to get the Cary ' Memorial Building caulked. Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Raymond's suggestion be approved but the motion was not seconded. Mr. Potter said the trouble was that hiring mechanics such as this created a great deal of criticism. No action was taken on the matter. Notice was received from the County Commissioners of Westview a hearing to be held at 10:00 A.M. on July lst upon the Street. relocation of Westview Street. Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Raymond be instruct9d to attend the hearing. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Request was received from the Secretary of State ' Statement for a statement of character on Fletcher W. Taft, one of of the incorporators of the New England Town Hall, Inc. character. Mr. Clark moved that the statement of character be signed. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman reminded the Board that it had not appointed the committee to revise the Plumbing Laws. Mr. Plumbing Ross moved that Mr. Raymond be authorized to endeavor to Laws. get some outside plumber to serve on the committee. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Ross then moved that Mr. Charles E. Ferguson be a member of that committee. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. , The Chairman suggested that Mr. Raymond consult with Chap. 211 the Engineering Department on Chapter 211 of the Acts of 1935 and give his version of the matter at the next meet- ing. The Chairman said that Maurice Page wanted to know Sidewalk. why a sidewalk could not be installed on Independence Ave. under the W.P.A. Mr. Raymond said that a small walk three feet wide probably could be put in. Letter was received from Bridget Leary requesting that the Board do whatever possible to collect the rent due her from Herbert Stone, an employee at the Public Leary re Works Building. Mr. Raymond said that Mrs. Leary came rent in to see him and he talked to Mr. Stone and told him that town employees should pay their bills or pressure might be brought to bear. Mr. Stone has already paid $20. on the rent. The Chairman said that it was not the Board's job to get after torn employees to pay their bills. At 8:35 P.M. hearing was declared open on the appli- Board of cation of Frank H. Ready, Administrator, Bernard McCaffrey Survey Estate,' for the approval of the Board of Survey of a p;an Hearing. of a proposed street to be known as Aaron Road. The Chair- man stated that the application had been improperly signed and therefor the hearing would have to be adjourned until July 5th at 8:45 P.M. Notice was received from the County Commissioners of Westview a hearing to be held at 10:00 A.M. on July lst upon the Street. relocation of Westview Street. Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Raymond be instruct9d to attend the hearing. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Request was received from the Secretary of State ' Statement for a statement of character on Fletcher W. Taft, one of of the incorporators of the New England Town Hall, Inc. character. Mr. Clark moved that the statement of character be signed. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. 403 Mr. Ross moved that the Highway Betterment Assessment in the amount of $203.09 in the name of James R. Smith, Abatement Tower Road, be abated. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter received from Mr. Helge Anderson of. 132 Spring Street canmending the Police Dept. Thanks for for excellework done in recovering goods stolen from Police his home. Mr. Potter moved that the Police Department Dept. be written a letter of commendation and thanks. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that Mr. O'Keefe, who rents the Barnes property told him that there was to be a hearing before the Board of Appeals on Friday evening relative to his maintaining the convelsecent home at the Lee property, Mass. Ave.,, East Lexington. After the hearing, some work has to be daze if it is approved and he might not be able to vacate the Barnes property by July lat. No action was taken on the matter. A petition signed by 18 persons was received. This petition was to protest against the sidewalk being built on Merriam Street, and was the one mentioned by Mr. Clark earlier in the evening. Mr. Raymond said that he would remove that street from his list. Barnes property Protest re sidewalk. Letter was received from the Town Counsel stating that he found nothing in the Retirement Act which author- ized a town to revoke its acceptance even with the pres- ervation of the rights of those already in the system. A Mr. McCormack in the Insurance Department thinks Section 37B of the original Act permits a town to do this, but Mr. Wrightington does not agree. However, it is possible for the Legislature to auth ori ze the town to revoke its Retirement acceptance. He talked with Mr. Damren of the Tax Act. Commissioner's Office who said emphatically that the Legislature will not even give a courteous hearing to an applicant for such relief because that was the experience of the Town of Southbridge that tried to get out last year. He suggested that the Selectmen communicate with Southbridge. Letter was received from T. A. Custance recommending Police Carl R. Sumner for the position of Police .Officer. position Letter was received from the Town Treasurer advising Tax title the Board of sixteen properties which had been foreclosed property through the Land Court and now belong to the Town. Upon motion of Mr. Ross, seconded by Mr. Potter, it was voted to grant the following licenses: Licenses Elizabeth Burton, 38 Colony Road - Board Infants A. H. Cameron, 42 Carville Ave. - Peddler's License G. W. Bean, 359 Bedford St. - Sunday Golf. Driving Range George Holman, Hill Avenue - Slaughter House License. Mr. Ross moved that the Highway Betterment Assessment in the amount of $203.09 in the name of James R. Smith, Abatement Tower Road, be abated. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter received from Mr. Helge Anderson of. 132 Spring Street canmending the Police Dept. Thanks for for excellework done in recovering goods stolen from Police his home. Mr. Potter moved that the Police Department Dept. be written a letter of commendation and thanks. Mr. Ross seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that Mr. O'Keefe, who rents the Barnes property told him that there was to be a hearing before the Board of Appeals on Friday evening relative to his maintaining the convelsecent home at the Lee property, Mass. Ave.,, East Lexington. After the hearing, some work has to be daze if it is approved and he might not be able to vacate the Barnes property by July lat. No action was taken on the matter. A petition signed by 18 persons was received. This petition was to protest against the sidewalk being built on Merriam Street, and was the one mentioned by Mr. Clark earlier in the evening. Mr. Raymond said that he would remove that street from his list. Barnes property Protest re sidewalk. 404 Questionnaire was received from the P.17. A. requesting , P.W.A. information on the sanitary sewer. Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Raymond be appointed Official Correspondent and Sponsor's Agent, Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so: voted. Messrs. Mitchell and Morse appeared before the Board Welfare. relative to Welfare matters. The meeting adjourned at 12-.00 midnight. A true record, Attest: Clerk. . 1 1