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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1938-08-16 465 SELECTMEN'S MEETING Aug. 16, 1938. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7 :00 P.M. Chairman Giroux and Mr. Potter were present . The Acting Clerk was also present. Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board. He stated E;iot Road that he had received a letter from Mr. Elwyn G. Preston sign. relative to the sign at Eliot Road. Mr. Raymond said that the sign was down now, but that one was being painted which would be put up in another week to take care of the matter . Mr. Raymond stated that he had been requested to write Mr. Wrightington to find out if Viano would settle the Colonial Colonial Garage suit for a few dollars more than the jury Garage verdict and Mr. Wrightington replied that inasmuch as suit. Viano has agreed to settle for 42605.00 he would not recommend doing anything further on the matter. Mr. Raymond presented a letter from the W.P.A. Ad- ministration relative to General Letter #184. The letter stated that hereafter when submitting 301 Project proposals, it will be necessary to conform with General Letter #184 and suggested that the following paragraph be added to all copies of the 301 form submitted for approval: "General Letter 184: The rates of pay for all persons engaged upon this project paid directly by the Sponsor will not be less than the occupational rates of pay prevailing in the locality as determined by the Works Progress Administration". Mr. Raymond said that he had tried to get in touch with Mr. Leary, Chief Zone Engineer, on the matter but had been unable to do so. He presented a schedule of rates showing the difference in the W.P.A. rates and those now being paid by the Town as follows : W.P.A. Town Rates per hr. Rate . W.P.A. Compressor Operator .75 .55 Wage Jack Hammer Operator .60 .55 Rates. Gas Shovel Operator 1.622 1.00 Blaster 1.00 1.00 1Q ton or less Truck Driver .65 .50 - .65 Tractor Driver .75 .55 Engineer Sr. 1.59 J.T.C. 1.31 Engineer Jr. 1.18 S.A.H. 1.00 Chief of Party 1.132 J.B.L. .795 Al M. .568 Rodman .68 .50 Carpenter 1.1OQ 1.00 Tree Sprayer .60 .60 Tree Surgeon .69 .60 Supervisor 1.20 O.F.B. .68 4 466 me Mr. Raymond said he felt that if these rates were enforced it would disrupt the town departments, create dissension, interfere with efficiency, encourage men to go on W.P.A. and be satisfied with W.P.A. work, and beginning September 1st, would increase the cost $2000.00. He stated the increased rates would amount to about $500. a month, on the basis we are operating on now. Mr. Potter asked if the argument that wages in small towns are not as high as in cities could be used, and Mr. Raymond said that these rates were lower than city rates. Mr. Giroux stated that he thought this was going to be a problem for all communities and he would like to suggest the names of three chairmen of Boards of Selectmen in near- by towns to write to and ask what they are going to do about it . He mentioned Whittemore Brown of Concord, J. Warren Killam of Reading and George Lowe of Arlington. Mr. Giroux said that he talked with Mr. Merriam of the Appropriation Committee about the matter and he was interested to find out how sane of the other towns were going to meet the situation. Mr. Raymond said that he expected Mr. Leary would be back the latter part of the week and he would try to get in touch with him. Mr. Giroux said that he would like to have included in the recordsthe suggestion that the Board authorise Mr. Raymond to immediately write Mrs. Rogers, Senator Walsh and Senator Lodge and explain to them the problem this places on the town and ask if they thought it should be done . Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux voted that Mr. Raymond be author- ized to do this. Mr. Raymond reported that in 1936 or 1937 a request was received from a resident of Westminster Ave. to have the street light on the pole nearest the Arlington line moved to another pole to give more uniform lighting on the street, and this was done. It was felt that this light , Street was not necessary on the pole nearest Arlington because Light there was a light on the next pole in Arlington. Mr. Westminster Raymond said that since that time he had received about Avenue three calls, all from the same source, saying that they had had their garage broken into since the light was removed and they requested that it be put back. Mr. Raymond said that it coat $10. to move a light and he felt there should be one where it is now. The garage they complain of is about 100 feet back from the street. Mr. Raymond said he received another call from someone who apparently knew of the request to move the light back, asking that it be left where it is. Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux voted to take no action on the matter. Mr. Raymond said that if the Washington letter 184 relative to W.P.A. rates stands and we have to meet them, about $17,000.00 will be needed to go to the end of the year. There is an article in the warrant for the town 467 meeting August 25th to cover additional funds for labor and materials. If we do not have to pay the rates, $15,000. will be needed to cover October, November and December. He thought we would run out of funds before the first of October. Mr. Raymond said the projects to be done include the Haskell Street drain, the Eustis Street drain, the new topo survey project, the Hardy ' s Pond Brook Project, the moth project, the curbing project, the sidewalk project and the playground project, including the fence. W.P.A. Mr. Raymond said that $4320. was included for the fence labor and and backstop materials and Mr. Garrity feels that he can materials get a very much better price than that and probably save at funds. least 10% of that figure. Mr. Giroux asked why, with the need for money so great, we needed to put the fence up this fall . He thought it might be well to let it go until spring and save that $4000. Mr. Raymond said that if that were done , it ought to be in in good season next spring. Mr. Giroux thought the funds could be requested at the Annual Town Meeting. He said the money would have to be borrowed now and he thought it unwise to ask for it now there it does not involve much work. Mr. Potter asked what the ratio was on the project, and Mr. Raymond said that the proportion figures about 17 to 24 or 25. He said the labor .i s only about $1,000.00. Mr. Giroux said he would be in favor of finishing the work on theround itself but would be opposed to asking for the $4000. for the fence inasmuch as it provides very little labor. Mr. Raymond said that if the fence was taken out about $11,000. would be needed and would take care of the operators and Miller on the extra schedule but would not take care of the other engineering force or Mr. Beach or the Clerk. Mr. Giroux asked Mr. Raymond if he could find out thether or not we would have to pay the additional rates before the Town Meeting and Mr. Raymond replied that he assumed he could do so. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted not to ask for the money for the fence at the next Town Meeting but to ask for $11,000. if the additional labor costs are not included and $13,000. if they are included. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted that as of May 1st, Slaughter 1938, no tax per head be charged for animals slaughtered. fees. Mr. Raymond presented a letter which he had drafted Letter to to be sent to the Emergency Finance Board dated August Em. Fin. 16th which he would like to have the Board authorize the Board. Chairman to sign. Mr. Giroux signed the letter. Mr. Raymond said he had investi gate d the coal re- quirements for the Welfare Department . He reported that from July, 1937 to and including June, 1938, there were purchased 82 tons of nut coal, 731 tons of stove coal, 8'i tons of egg coal, 4 3/4 tons of soft coal, 22 tons of stove coke and 84 tons of nut coke, making a total of 199 tons distributed. There were 391 orders, of which nine 468 td were for one ton, 378 for 1000 pounds and 4 for 500 pounds. 3e Welfare Mr. Raymond said that he did not see how a low bidder could Coal be controlled on any specifications you could write with- Requirements out considerable expense for testing and checking on weights, quality, etc. , and while we may get some very low prices, in justice to local dealers and other dealers, someone should be assigned to test and check all orders . Mr. Raymond said he would not recommend this and thought the Town of Lexington could do no better than to give the business to local dealers . Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux voted that the orders be placed as in the past, with local dealers. Mr. Raymond presented a form of release to be signed Release in settlement of a claim for an automobile running into a hydrant. Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux voted that the Chairman sign the release. Mr. Raymond said he thought it would be a good idea to Bids on go as far as taking bids on the playground fence now. He Playground thought he could get a better price now than in the spring. fence. Both Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter thought this would be a good idea. Mr. Raymond reported that in the matter of the over- loading of the trunk line sewer, so far he has been unable to discover any serious defects . He said that the studies had not been completed yet and he expected to find one or two bad defects. They have corrected two small ones but they could not have contributed in any great degree to the overloading of last month. Mr. Raymond said that he was beginning to feel more and more that a considerable extent of the overloading is due to cellar drainage. Mr. Raymond said that there were over 800 house connections and he thought it was beginning to be quite common to put the connections in so that people can take out a clean-out cover and let water that goes into the basement go into the sewer. He said he would like to have the Board authorize him to Sewer proceed to make an inspection of all the premises in town Study connected with sewers to determine first whether or not they had water in their cellars during the recent floods, how they got rid of it, what the elevation of the cellar floor is and the elevation of the sewer connection from the house. He said with that data, he could plot it on a plan and determine where large amounts of leakage are coming from and make studies to correct the conditions either by insisting that the owners provide automatic cellar pumps to pump the water out on the surface of the ground or into drains or by the provision of independent drains in the street which will be assessed against the property owners. He thought this study would cost approximately $500,00 and thought that some of the other studies, such as the drainage map etc. could be postponed and this one made. He said it would take about eight weeks. Mr. Potter asked him if he felt this was more important than the others and he replied in the affirmative. He said he felt the North Lexington sewer project might be held up unless we have proof that we are going to improve the existing sewers . Mr. Raymond 469 said the condition could be remedied by making sewer connections so they are a foot or so above the cellar floors and he said the town could force the people to correct the situations. Mr. Raymond said there was one case on Mass. Avenue now, the O 'Connell property, which was bothering the Plumbing Inspector. He said he would like to have the Board instruct him to enforce the Health and Plumbing Regulations in regard to the use of the sewer system. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to order Mr. Raymond to see to it that the Sewer and Health Regulations are en- forced. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted that Mr. Raymond be authorized to make the sewer study as outlined by him. Mr. Raymond said that during the heavy rains in July, up to July 28th the Highway Dept. was put to a lot of extra work in the way of street cleaning, drainage main- tenance, patching, sidewalk repairs and on remedying washing out on Charles Street construction. The total damages were estimated by Mr. Paxton on July 28th at about $2600.00 of which $900.00 was damage to Charles Street work. Mr. Raymond said that parts of the curbing were washed out three times and loads of gravel were washed down more than three times and had to be carried back. Charles Mr. Raymond said the appropriation would be short $900. Street for Charles Street when the construction is completed account. after they pay all the bills. Mr. Raymond said there was a bill due the Road Machinery Fund which could be can- celled and not show as an overdraft on the appropriation, but would show on their books upstairs. Without this bill, the overdraft would be about $500.00. Mr. Raymond said they had been fortunate on the Mass. Ave. drain project, however, and he thought there would be approx- imately $650.00 left in the drainage appropriation after all the work authorized had been done . He said that he would like to suggest that the sum of $$500. be trans- ferred from the drainage account to the Charles Street construction account. However, inasmuch as the warrant for the town meeting had already been drawn, it was not possible to do this . Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer the sum of $ 900. to the Charles Street appropriation to take care of the over- draft. ver- draft. Mr. Raymond presented a revised draft of the engin- eering contract for the Vine Brook drainage proj ect. Mr. Vine Brook Giroux and Mr. Potter moved that it be submitted to Mr. Contract Wri ghting ton with the request that it be returned, with his opinion, before the meeting next Tuesday evening. Mr. Raymond said that he had studied the Board of Survey layout of the property owned by the Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank in East Lexington, and would recommend 470 that the streets be laid out substantially as indicated 3Q on the blue print presented by the Bank inasmuch as there Board of will be a drainage and sewage problem at the end of Survey - Smythe Avenue and practically the same number of linear Arl . Five feet will have to be constructed whichever layout is Cents Sav- approved. Mr. Raymond referred to the blue print present- ings Bank. ed by the Bank and the Plan bubmitted by the Planning Board. Mr. Raymond said that the sewer assessments for the sewers involved because of the difference in layout would amount to about $1125. If the blue print layout is used, the sewer assessments amount to $2100. He said that the Planning Board layout called for a dead end at Smythe Street. Mr. Raymond said that he would recommend the lay- out submitted by the Bank. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to accept Mr. Raymond ' s recommendation on the matter. Mr. Raymond said that he found it necessary to pur- chase more tires and had obtained bids for the same . He said that the Webster Thomas Co. was the low bidder. He presented bids as follows: Bids on Webster Thomas Co. - $145.46 tires. Calvin W. Childs - 168.04 D. F. Ross - 177.32 F. K. Johnson - 177.24 Colonial Garage - 187.14 Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted that the bid for tires be awarded to Webster Thomas Co. , the low bidder. Mr. Raymond reported that it would cost from $2500. to 43000.00 to put drainage in Middleby Road and did not feel that the expenditure was justified at this time. He said there was no question but that the water was coming Middleby off an accepted street and contributing to the washing Road. out of Middleby Road. Mr. Giroux asked Mr. Raymond if the town would be justified in repairing the dangerous gulley there . Mr. Raymond replied in the affirmative as he said it would be necessary to go in there with a plow this winter and the condition the street was in now might cause a machine to be wrecked. He recommended that a scraper be sent in there to smoothe the road out. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to authorize Mr. Raymond to do this work. Letter was received from Frank G. Poitrast stating that he was willing to pay $725.00 for Lots 135 to 142 Sale of inc. on Fottler Avenue if the Board would have the town lots - engineer stake and survey the lots according to a drawing Fottler Ave. he prepared. Mr. Raymond said that it would cost approximately $60. to prepare the plan and survey these lots. After discussing the matter, Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux voted to have this work done if Mr. Poitrast would be willing to pay for one half the cost, that is $30.00, plus the purchase price of $725.00 . 471 Mr. Potter reported that he had talked with Angelo Busa of Grant Street, and he said that Mr. Busa claims Busa clam the damage to his property was not caused by the water but by the sewage that came on with the water. Mr. Potter said that Mr. Busa wanted to know if the town would re- imburse him, and if not, he was going to proceed with his suit. Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux voted to take no action on the matter. Petition was received from the Boston Edison Company Abandonment and the New England Tel. & Tel. Co. for permission to of poles. abandon twenty poles on Follen Road. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to grant the petition. Application was received from the Hub Advertising Co. for permission to erect a flat sign for the A & P Tea e Store at 1759 Mass. Ave. The sign is to be 27' x 6' . Letter was received from the Building Inspector in Commercial which he stated that the town's building by-laws restrict signs. the size of commercial signs to twenty square feet in surface area, and not Hire than ten feet in any dimension. Mr. Longbottom stated that this by-law was a cause for much dissatisfaction and hardship to the businessmen and in his opinion should be amended to allow signs attached to the face of stores the full width of said stores and not over two feet wide. Mr. Longbottom also recommended that before a sign is erected, the applicant be required to take out a permit with the Building Inspector and a small fee of 25¢ charged for the same. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to go on record as sponsoring the change in the Building Laws in accordance with Mr. Longbottom's recommendations. They further voted to instruct Mr. Longbottom that the Board was going to recommend that commercial signs be not wider than two feet nor longer than the length of the store, and that if any signs larger than that are erected before this change is made, that he see that they are removed. Letter was received from the Town Treasurer stating that it would be necessary to make a borrowing in antici- pation of revenue in the amount of $50 ,000. He suggested Loan that the bids be received Tuesday, August 23 and dated August 24th and payable January 27, 1939. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted that the Town Treasurer be author- ized to request bids on such a loan. Letter was received from the Supt. of the Moth Division recommending that the Board advise the Moth Committee appointed in December, 1937, as to what its Moth duties are and what the Board expects of the Committee . Committee. The Acting Clerk was instructed to have the Clerk draft a letter to the Committee explaining its duties, etc. 472 Letter was received from the Boston Edison Co. in Edison Co. response to the Board's request that a survey be made Survey. concerning the advisability of placing overhead wires underground on the Cambridge-Concord Turnpike. The letter stated that Messrs. W. H. Knodell and F . E. Randall of that Company would be glad to meet with the Board and advise them of the conclusions reached as a result of the survey. The Acting Clerk was instructed to make an appointment for this meeting same time after Labor Day. The Chairman stated that the Health Inspector had Stacchi reported that the premises operated by Samuel Stacehi on swine Laconia Street, where he has a permit to keep swine, is permit. in a filthy condition and he had therefor revoked his permit to keep swine. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to confirm Mr. Stevenson' s action in revoking the permit. Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux voted that John Lamont, Milk, Health 83 Cary Avenue, be appointed as Health and Milk Inspector and to take the place of Matthew Stevenson who is being Slaughter retired. Mr. Ross wished to be recorded as being in favor Inspector. of this appointment. Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux voted to nominate John Lamont of 83 Cary Avenue for the po. iion of Slaughtering Inspector to take the place of Matthew Stevenson tho is being retired. Mr. Ross wished to be recorded in favor of this nomination. Mr. Potter and Mr. Giroux moved that the occupants Barnes of the Barnes property be notified that the premises must property. be vacated by September 1st. The Acting Clerk was in- structed to see that the August rent was collected and the water bill paid. Mr. Giroux stated that Mr. Kimball had called the Board' s attention to the fact that inasmuch as the Barnes property is in a residential zone, if the Town desires to use it as an office building, it will be necessary to hold a hearing on the matter before the Board of Appeals. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted that the hearing be requested. The Chairman reported that complaint had been received Bornstein that Bornstein is again storing junk on Sylvia Street in Junk violation of the Zoning Law. This matter was taken to Court and Mr. Bornstein ordered not to store junk there . Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to instruct the Building Inspector to investigate the matter. The Chairman reported that Mr. Willard Hill would Playground not be able to attend the closing exercises at the play- closing. ground and make the awards. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to invite J. Willard Hayden to address the audience and award the prizes on this occasion. 473 Letter was received from the State Dept. of Public Works stating that the Commissioners had increased to Bedford II $6,000.00 the Chapter 90 allotment made recently for Street. Bedford Street in Lexington, on condition that the town shall contribute 65,000. and the county $4,000. for this work. At 8:30 P.M. hearing was declared open on the appli- cation of the New England Tel . & Tel. Co. and the Boston Edison Co. for joint pole locations as follows : Cambridge-Concord Highway (State Highway) at north- easterly corner of Blossom Street - 1 pole; Southeast corner of Blossom Street - 1 pole; Pole Blossom Street southerly from Cambridge-Concord Locations Highway - set 1 pole; Cambridge-Concord Highway (State Highway) at Blossom Street - remove 1 pole; No persons appeared in favor or in opposition. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter voted to grant the petition. The Board signed commitment of water miscellaneous charges in the amount of 6328.70. Commitment The Board signed Public Welfare Abatement in the Abatement amount of $83.00. Mr. Mitchell appeared before the Board relative to IIwelfare cases. Welfare. Mr. Giroux and Mr. Potter moved that Election Officers for the year ending Sept. 1st, 1939 , be appointed as follows: Precinct One. D Charles J. Dailey Warden D. John D. Barry Deputy Warden D Barlett J. Harrington Inspector D Michael E. McDonnell Deputy Inspector Election R George Foster Inspector Officers R Frank Lambert Deputy Inspector R Mary E. Stankard Clerk R Alfred Hayward Deputy Clerk D Mary A. Rowland Teller D Donald Cameron " D Harold MacGilvray n D George F. Stygles " R Frank A. Cook, Jr. " R Arthur C. ReadelF, " R L. Ellsworth Pierce ri R Arthur W. Hughes " 474 Precinct Two le R Irving B. Pierce Warden R Clyde Steeves Deputy Warden R Lucius Austin Inspector R Clifford Pierce Deputy Inspector D Randall Richards Inspector D Ruth Ray Deputy Inspector D Johh H. Dacey Clerk D Mary E. Manley Deputy Clerk R Arthur L. Hanson Teller D Edward McGrory " R Elizabeth Nourse " D Madeline J. Corbett I' R Edward B. O 'Connor R William S. Bramhall D Helen McCaffrey If D Jesse Condinho Precinct Three R Hiram. W. Jackson, Jr. Warden R Franklin W. Coleman Deputy Warden R Frederick H. Tullar Inspector R Mark L. Dodd, Jr Deputy Inspector D Charles E. Moloy, Jr. Inspector D Cornelius P. Cronin Deputy Inspector D John McKearney Clerk D Patrick H. McDonnell Deputy Clerk D John Corcoran Teller D Victor H. Harmon R Samuel Wellington R Emma Hovey " D John J. McCormack D Henry Meade R Esther Graham R William H. Stevenson Precinct Four R Howard Custance Warden R Frederick S. Britton Deputy Warden R William E. Mulliken Tlnspector R Irene Robinson Deputy Inspector D Katherine Kiernan Inspector D Daniel A. Gorman, Jr. Deputy Inspector D Frank Maguire Clerk D Alfred Tropeano Deputy Clerk D James J. Waldron Teller D George A. Bullock R Charles P. McEnroe " 475 Precinct Fourt (Cont ) R Carl Hauck Teller D Robert L. Lowe " D Agnes Hall If R Robert Cady R Madeline Peterson The meeting adjourned at 8:33 P.M. A true record, Attest: luMe a Acting Clerk. 476 emn Lexington, Mass. August 22, 1938. I hereby take the following action on matters voted on by Mr. Archibald R, Giroux and Mr. William G. Potter at the Selectmen's Meeting held on August 16, 1938 : 1. Approve authorizing Mr. Raymond to write Mrs. Rogers, Senator Walsh and Senator Lodge in regard to General Letter #184 relative to W.P.A. rates. 2. Approve taking no action on changing location of street light on Westminster Avenue . 3. Approve not asking for money for fence at playground at the Town Meeting to be held on August 25th, but to ask for the funds at the next Annual Meeting; and approve requesting $11,000 . for W.P.A. Labor and Materials at Town Meeting if the additional labor costs are not included and $13,C00. if they are included. 4. Approve making no charge per Mead for animals slaughtered in Town as of May 1st, 1938 . 5. Authorize Mr. Giroux to sign letter to Emergency Finance Board. 6. Approve placing orders for coal for welfare recipients with local dealers, as in the past. 7. Authorize Chairman to sign release in connection with damage to hydrant. 8. Authorize Mr. Raymond to take bids on playground fence. 9. Approve authorizing Mr. Raymond to make sewer study; approve ordering Mr. Raymond to enforce the Health and Plumbing Regulations in regard to the use of the sewer system. 10. Approve requesting Appropriation Committee for transfer of $900. from the Reserve Fund to take care of overdraft on Charles Street construction. 11. Approve submitting engineering contract for the Vine Brook Project to Mr. Wrightington for his opinion. 12. Approve Mr. Raymond 's recommendation in connection with Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank Board of Survey plan. 13. Authorize Mr. Raymond to accept bid of Webster Thomas Company for tires . 477 14. Approve sale of lots 135 to 142 inc. on Fottler Ave. for 4725.00 plus 430,00 to cover one-ha if the cost of surveying the lots and making a plan of sane. 15. Approve taking no action on Angelo Busa 's claim. 16. Approve petition of Boston Edison Co. and New England Tel. & Tel . Co. to abandon twenty poles on Follen Road. 17. Approve change in building laws to restrict commercial signs to be the full width of stores and not over two feet deep; and that the applicant be required to obtain a permit from the Building Inspector before erecting such a sign. Also approve instructing Mr. Longbottom that the Board was going to recommend this change and advise him that if signs larger than that are erected, to have them removed. 18. Authorize instructing Clerk to draft letter to Moth Committee re their dlties. 19. Approve revoking pig permit of Samuel Stacchi, Laconia Street. 20. Approve appointing John Lamont as Health and Milk Inspector; approve nominating John Lamont as Slaughter- ing Inspector. 21. Approve notifying occupants of Barnes property to vacate premises by September lst. 22. Approve requesting Board of Appeals hearing on use of Barnes property as office building. 23. Approve instructing Building Inspector to investigate complaint re Bornstein storing junk on Sylvia Street. 24. Approve requesting Mr. J. Willard Hayden to speak at closing exercises of playground. 25. Approve granting pole locations on Cambridge-Concord Highway and Blossom Street. 26. Approve appointment of Election Officers. ( 4e0e1e6Ti*A-7/ Selectman. �