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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1938-10-25 581 SELECTMEN'S MEETING OCTOBER 25, 1938 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs . Potter, Rowse and Clark were pres- ent. The Clerk was also present. At 7:30 P.M. the Town Treasurer appeared before the Board and presented bids on the loan in the amount of 090,000. for the North Lexington Sewer Project, to be borrowed under the provisions of Chapter 50 of the Acts of 1938. The following bids were received: Loan, Lexington Z rust Co. 100.52 - 1 3/4% Sewer R. L. Day 100.89 - " Project Estabrook & Co. 101.18 - If First Boston Corporation 101.04 - " Tyler & Company 101.69 - tl Smith, Barney & Co. 102.13 - " Goldman Sachs & Co. 100.654 - " Whiting, Weeks & Knowles 100.63 - " Stone, Webster & Blodgett 101.6687 - " There were three brokers present. Mr. Clark said that he would like to discuss the matter a little further before ahrarding the bid and the group left the room. He said he would like the Board to consider the proposition of dating the bonds February 1st, 1939. The Chairman explained that Mr. Waddell could not approve the borrowing until three days before the date of the bonds, and the Government had to have the approval of the State Emergency Finance Board before granting the extension. The Chairman said that the final advice from the State House was to go ahead with the project. Mr. Clark asked if the members could think of any other way to hold the matter up so that the bond payments would start in a later year, but no way was thought of. Mr. Clark then moved that the bid be awarded to Smith, Barney & Co. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Town Clerk appeared before the Board relative to the W.P.A. project for copying of old town records which was presented to the Board for approval last week. The Chairman asked how long the project had been going on and Mr. Carroll said that it had been in operation for one and a half years. Records The Chairman asked what the direct purpose of the project Project. was. Mr. Carroll said that the original project was drawn up by the Selectmen and Mr. Worthen and was for the copying of old town records. They have gone back to the year 1700 and the idea is to preserve the records. The same woman has been doing the work and she is typing the records on plain white paper. The idea is to save the old records and 582 4e use the copied ones when it is desired to look anything up. The Chairman said he thought it would be wise to put the original records in a fireproof vault for preservation. Mr. Rowse asked how many persons were on the project, and Mr. Carroll said that there was one. Mr. Potter asked if this girl did anything else beside work on these old records and Mr. Carroll replied in the negative . Mr. Potter asked if she spent all of her time on this work and Mr. Carroll said that she did and had been working on the project for one and a half years . The town' s contribution for this project amounts fo 087.70 and Federal funds amount to 61733.60. Mr. Carroll said that the town was supposed to provide super- vision and rental of a typewriter. He said he used his per- sonal machine and if the rental of this were charged to the town, it would amount to 4?46. or kti50. a month. Mr. Rowse moved that the project be approved and sub- mitted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. At 8:00 P.M. Messrs . Raymond, Wrightington, Cosgrove, Greeley, Kimball and Nathan B. Bidwell appeared before the Board to discuss the proposed Board of Survey Regulations. Mr. Wrightington said he held a private session with Messrs . Greeley and Kimball on Sunday to discuss the matter. The Chairman said that if the group present could come to an agreement, undoubtedly the Board of Selectmen would accept its recommendations . Mr. Wrightington said that the Statute says that the developer has the right to submit a plat and if final action is not taken within 45 days, he can get a certificate from the Town Clerk stating that the plat is approved. He cautioned that the regulations should be in such form that the developer would not be able to get away with a certificate from the Town Clerk before the Board Chap.211 arrived at a conclusion. He suggested that it might be well to have a preliminary conference with the Board of Survey or Planning Board and then a lot of difficulties could be ironed out diplomatically and the developer might be persuaded to bring in a plat that would meet withthe Board' s approval. The Chairman said that his plan was then to have one plat, one hearing and the 45 day limit and have a preliminary conference so that the plat could be agreed upon. Mr. Wrightington said that the Statute did not include a preliminary submission and if a man would not pay any attention to the regulations and brought in a final plat, the Clerk would have to be instructed to take it and get started on a Board of Survey hearing. He said that the reg- ulations could include the provisions for a preliminary hearing, however. The regulations do not go to the Attorney General for approval. Mr. Kimball suggested that the group retire and have a discussion and return to the meeting and present their recommendations. It was decided that the regulations should provide for a preliminary conference with the developer so that any changes agreed upon could be incorporated in the final plat. 583 Mr. Greeley said that the group was united on the thought that it was merely a question of the Town Counsel' s wording the regulations in the proper way. The question of checking the work of the developer to see if he laid out property in accordance with his plat was discussed. Mr. Greeley said that in his opinion, the expense of checking a man' s work should not be on him. He said that if a man had to pay to have his work checked, he would no doubt bring the cost down to a minimum. Mr. Raymond said that the work of checking developments might be something that would affect the town considerably in the course of a year. The group said that it would discuss this angle of the matter and come before the Board again. They retired. Letter was received from J. Willard Hayden making a formal offer to the town of the Aldrich Estate comprising twenty-five acres more or less, on Lincoln Street, to be Aldrich added to the Center Playground. Mr. Hayden said that the Estate- gift was made on condition that the tract of land be devoted Hayden to the use of the youth and citizens of the town and that gift. no structure should be erected except such as might be incidental to its use as a playground. He expected that the town would abate unpaid taxes . The Chairman said he had sent the letter to the Town Counsel and asked if there was anything in it that was binding on the town and he said that there was not. Letter was received from the Boston Edison Company advising that it had made a general survey of conditions on the Cambridge-Concord Highway and they reported that there were thirty poles on the southerly side of the street. The writer said that on the southerly side between Petersons and the residence of T . R. Sweet, there was a large cliff Pole that was likely to remain undeveloped for a considerable location- time . He said that the suggestion that one pole be set on Concord the northerly side to supply service to Mr. Sweet could not Highway be carried out with safety as the distance from this property back to Blossom Street was too great . The Board was asked to reconsider the petitions of August 16th and Sept. 19th. Mr. Arthur S. Hutchinson appeared before the Board and said that Mr. Sweet had built a house on his land and wanted electricity. He said that if the three poles could not be put on the highway land they could be put on his land. He said he thought that Mr. Sweet was entitled to service. Mr. Rowse moved that the Board reconsider the petition dated Sept. 19th, 1938. Jr.,': Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Rowse then moved that the Board approve the location of two poles on the northerly side of the Concord Highway easterly from Blossom Street . Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. E. W. Kimball appeared before the Board and suggested that the Planning Board confer with a representative from the Edison and Telephone companies relative to the whole 584 em ze matter of poles on the Cambridge-Concord Highway. Mr. Rowse moved that the Edison and Telephone companies be re- quested to send representatives to this conference. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Wrightington informed the Board that he had sent Lila L. O'Keefe, the tenant at 1557 Mass. Avenue, a fourteen day notice to vacate. The next step is to serve thirty day' s notice expiring December 1st. He said that the Barnes O'Keefes were negotiating for some property in Woburn and property they would know by the end of the week when the purchase contract could be signed and when they could get out . He said that Mr. Raymond was concerned with the fact that money was appropriated for alterations to this property and would go back into E & D. at the end of the year. He suggested that an article could be inserted in the warrant to set this Article 61000.00 up in a separate account. Mr. Potter moved that an article be inserted in the warrant for a later Town Meeting to transfer this money to a separate account . Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman asked the Town Counsel if it was all Mailing right to mail the warrants for the State Election and the Warrants Town Meeting in the sane envelope . Mr. Wrightington said that he would let the Clerk know the next day. The Health Inspector appeared before the Board and presented a report on the chemical examination of water taken from the brook near 468 Marrett Road. The report showed a positive bacteria count. kr. Lamont said that the Untilities Brook - Officer at Bedford assured him that there would be no danger Marrett of infection or contagion unless the water was taken inter- Road nally. The Chairman asked if Yr. Lamont had found any sewage on private property that he would say was finding its way to the brookand polluting it. Mr. Lamont said there was surface water at 454 Marrett Road where the septic tank should be, but he could find no sewage. He said that Mr. Raymond had suggested that he try to localize the source of pollution. Mr. Rowse moved that the Health Inspector be instructed to try to localize the source of the trouble. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Health Inspector reported that sewage from the Coleman property at 13 Somerset Road was finding its way through an old underground pipe into the brook on the Blake Brook at property at the junction of Hayes Avenue and Somerset Road. Somerset This brook is about 250 feet from the Coleman house and about Road 200 feet of that is town property. He suggested that the Town dig up the edge of the bank and break off the pipe and let the ground take care of the seepage, but Mr. Raymond said that that would not solve the problem. He said the proper thing to do was to extend the sewer from Hayes Avenue. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Coleman be instructed to abate the nuisance immediately. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. 585 Mr. Raymond was requested to submit an estimate of the Sewer cost of extending the sewer in Somerset Road. Somerset Iii Mr. Lamont thanked the Board for his appointment as Lamont re Health, Slaughter and Milk Inspector. appointments The Board discussed the matter of changing the meet - Change of ing night to Monday, and Mr. Raymond said that the Town meeting Accountant felt that the week would have to end on Thursday. night He suggested that if this change was made soon and the men knew it was coming, it would be possible to give them an extra hour or two each day and eliminate the loss of 45. or 66. in one week. Mr. Raymond said the heating system in the Town Offices had not been satisfactory to him for some time. He said it should not be necessary to shut the valves off in moder- ate weather. He felt that we were using too much power and he has already had some valves leaking which he had taken care of. He received a report from the service people that Heating there was from 75. to 130. worth of repairs needed on one system. of the vacuum pumps and motors . He made some changes a year ago in accordance with their sug7estions and the repairs seem to be all right. Mr. Raymond said he knew of a man who was a mechanical heating engineer and he requested him to come out and tell what he would charge for making an investiga- tion and report as to what might be needed to put the system. in good repair. This expert has given a figure of 640. He says that the repairs which the service company recommended should be taken care of right away. Mr. Raymond said he thought it was time that the whole system was gone over by an expert. Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. Raymond be authorized to hire the expert and to have the repair work already recommended done, the expense to be charged to the Town Offices and Cary Memorial Building Account. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that there was nothing to be gained in holding up the drainage project in expectation W.P.A. of having the tree projects approved first . He felt that inasmuch as the project was ready to be submitted, it should be submitted. The three tree projects have been returned to be combined into one . The town' s share would now be 63600. instead of 62400. Mr. Rowse asked if the tree project could be started first even though the drainage project was approved, and Mr. Raymond replied in the affirmative. Mr. Potter moved that the drainage project be submitted. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that fire insurance policy under blanket schedule in the amount of 615,000. expired on Nov. 6th through the office of Richard Whit emore. Mr. Rowse Insurance moved that the policy be renewed for five years through t he office of Helen C . Whittemore. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 586 4e Mr. Raymond presented W.P.A. tree project proposal Tree #73 which he said was a combination of the three tree project. projects. Mr. Rowse moved that the project be approved and submitted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that soon it would be necessary to advertise the contracts for the second Vine Brook project Notices. and the North Lexington Zewer project. He asked if it would be all right to use the three publications used be- fore, the Transcript, Lexington Minute-Man and Engineering News Record. Mr. Potter moved that these three publications be approved. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from F. W Dean of 4 Eliot Road stating that an error had been made in the new street sign placed on that street inasmuch as the name was spelled with Eliot Rd. two l' s and two t' s. Mr. Raymond said that the clerk took sign the name of the street from the poll book and inserted an extra L. When the sign was being made at the prison, they thought if there were two L' s there should be two T ' s and so added another T . He said that the prison had agreed to take the sign back and change it so that it would be correct. the Clerk was instructed to so advise Mr. Dean. Mr. Raymond read a letter received from Mr. Guy Frances- chelli of Grapevine Ave. Mr. Franceschelli received notice that his property was to be liened because of unpaid water rates and he said that he could not be expected to pay his Claims . bills when his crops had been ruined because the town did not clean out the brook which ran through his property. Letter was received from Mr. Appollonio of Grapevine Avenue saying practically the same thing. No action was taken on the matter. Mr. Raymond read a letter from the Supt. of the Highway Purchase Department recommending that the Board turn-in the 8 inch of snow plow which it now has and for which an allowance of equipment. 6145. would be made. Mr. Paxton recommended that the Board approve the purchase of two 9 foot snow plows at a cost of $630.00 and also one ten foot moldboard for the grader at a cost of $210. The net cost to the town will be $695.00. Mr. Rowse asked if these would be replacements for worn out equipment and Mr. Raymond replied in the negative. He said that one plow was to be put on the grader. Mr. Potter moved that the purchase of the requested equipment be approved. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Fence - Mr. Raymond read a letter from Mrs. Hazel Nickerson of Belfry Hill. Forest Street requesting that a new fence be put up between her property and Belfry Hill . Mr. Raymond read a letter from Mr. Garrity recommending that 280 feet of four inch fence be replaced there. It was decided not to take any 587 action on the matter until the articles for the annual Article town meeting in 1939 are considered. 111 Mr. Raymond asked if the Board wanted to authorize starting the V .P.A. projects for work on playground, W.P.A. cemeteries, etc. with reference to the removal of trees projects as soon as the tickets came through. Mr. Potter moved that they be started as soon as possible. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond asked approval to start the Moth project as soon as the tickets came through as he wanted to get Moth the brushing and trimming done along the roadsides as soon Project. as possible. Mr. Rowse moved that approval be granted. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that the D. A. R. had requested the Use of use of Estabrook Hall on the evening of November 16th for az Hall open meeting. Mr. Rowse moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter which was received from the First Church of Christ Scientist requesting a "no parking" "No park- sign on Forest Street near the corner of Muzzey Street in ing ' front of the church. Mr. Raymond reported that that was a Forest St. "no parking" area and said that a sign should be there but it had been removed. He said that he would see that a sign was put up in the near future. Mr. Raymond reported that the cottage in which Mr. Garrity lives was badly damaged during the storm and he Damage told kr. Garrity to get estimates on reshingling the to cottage and repairing the chimney. He received a figure of cottage $161.40 from Custance Brothers for shingling the roof. Mr. Potter moved that the work be done but that they get figures from at least three concerns and that the work be given to the lowest satisfactory bidder. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Board again discussed the matter of removing the tree on the Boyd property at 7 Hancock Avenue . kr. Raymond Boyd said that the tree was a private tree. The Chairman stated tree . that Miss Boyd claimed that the Town was putting more weight on the house as a result of cutting the roots and repairing the sidewalk. Mr. Potter moved that the Town remove the tree from the house and leave it on the premises but that the stump be removed provided the legal owner of the house signs an agreement releasing the town from all claims for damages . Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Raymond containing the estimate of expenses in connection with the Storm Emergency for all the departments with the exception of schools, fire and cemeteries. The total figure submitted by Mr. Raymond 588 to am was $19,500. and he recommended that this amount be provided at the next Town Meeting. The sum of x:500. was requested for walls, railings and fence repairs and Mr. Raymond said Storm he believed the property owner could force the town to Emergency repair the walls as most of the trees that damaged them were town trees. Mr. Rowse asked if all of the items were urgent to be done and Mr. Raymond replied in the negative . Mr. Rowse asked what people would be employed on this work and Mr. Raymond said it depended on how the Selectmen wanted to do it. Letter was received from the Fire Department contain- ing an estimate of $2700.00 for expenses incurred as a result of the hurricane. Inasmuch as approximately $500. in bills has already been paid for the fire Dept. , the Board decided to approve $2000. in addition to Mr. Raymond' s figure. The amount of damage as estimated by the School Dept. was $575. and as estimated by the Cemetery Dept. was about $700. It was decided to approve $1000. to take care of both of these departments. The amounts therefor to be asked for storm emergency are as follows: Fire Department U2000.00 Cemetery & Schools 1000.00 All other departments 19500.00 (Already expended-Fire Dept. ) 500.00 U23000.00 Mr. Rowse moved that the term of borrowing for the storm emergency money be six months. Mr. Clark seconded the motion and it was so voted. The warrant for the town meeting was then drawn up and Warrant signed. The Board discussed the proposed Hayden gift of the Aldrich property and Mr. Clark moved that the Board go on Aldrich record as not approving it, but the motion was not seconded. property Mr. Clark then took the Chair and Mr. Rowse moved that the Board recommend the acceptance of the gift. Mr. Giroux seconded the motion and it was so voted. It was decided to exclude the transfer to the Park Transfers Dept. Wages and Expenses account and the transfer to the Road Machinery Account. The Board again discussed the matter of street clean- ing and the Chairman said that Mr. Raymond had emphasied the fact that the gutters were cluttered up, referring Street particularly to the drainage problem and fire hazard. Mr. cleaning. Raymond said that it was his idea to clean these up so that fire would not start on public property and then spread to private property. Mr. Rowse asked if there had been two extra trucks put on this work and Mr. Raymond replied in the negative. Mr. Rowse said that what the Board wanted to approve was the use of enough trucks up to four in order to keep the ten men on this work busy. 589 The Chairman informed the Board that the Salvation Army had requested a permit to hold a tag day on Saturday, Tag Day October 29th. Mr. Clark moved that permission be granted. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman stated that the Board had taken no action on Mr. Paxton' s request that money be borrowed in anticipa- Chapter tion of reimbursement for Chapter 90 work. Mr. Clark moved 90 Loah that a loan in the amount of 62,000. for Chapter 90 Main- tenance and a loan in the amount of 610,000. for Bedford Street construction be approved, and bids requested on same, the term of the notes to be one year. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Clerk asked what hours the Board wished to have the polls open on election day. Mr. Clark moved that the Polling polls be opened on Nov. 8th at 8:00 A.M. and closed at hours. 8:00 P.M. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Town Accountant approving a bill in the amount of 61195.73 rendered by the Boston Bill for Edison Company for service from Sept. 1st to Sept. 20th. Street Mr. Clark moved that the bill be approved. Mr. Rowse Lights seconded the motion and it was so voted. Water liens in the amount of 6336.96 were signed by Water the Board. Liens Letter was received from i,.r. E. B. Worthen stating that in the past analyses had been made of traffic accidents Traffic which were worthwhile as they revealed that a number of analyses accidents occurred in certain spots . He suggested that a survey be made of the records for 1938 determining the most hazardous spots . The matter was held over for one week. Letter was received from the Town Clerk advising that Lecture the following had been appointed to the Cary Lecture Committee. Committee: Nina F. McLellan, Thomas S. Grindle and Robert H. Holt . Letter was received from Robert H. Holt confirming the following dates for Cary Lectures : October 28, 1938 December 14, 1938 Dates for January 4, 1939 Lectures. February 2, " March 8, " April 11, " Letters were received from the Mass. Dept. of Con- servation, the Division of Forestry, regarding the use of Fire W.P.A. crews and National Guardsmen to assist local offic- hazards ials in their efforts to reduce fire hazards in forest areas . It was decided to hold the matter over for one week. 590 Mr. Clark moved that the petition of the New England Tel. & Tel. Co. and the Boston Edison Company for the joint relocation of one pole on Mass . Avenue, northerly side from Forest Street northwesterly approximately 106 feet, be Pole granted. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. locations. Mr. Clark moved that the petition of the New England Tel. 8: Tel. Co. and the Boston Edison Co. for permission to remove four poles on Mass . Ave. , northeasterly side, from opposite Forest Street and extending southeasterly approx- imately 332 feet be granted. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Board of Board of Appeals order granting permission to Victor Appeals N. Rochette, M.D. , to maintain a physician' s office at order. 255 Bedford Street was received. Common Victualler' s license was granted to the Colonial License. Pharmacy, 1752 Mass. Avenue. Messrs . Mitchell and Morse appeared before the Board Welfare relative to Welfare matters. The meeting adjourned at 12:15 A.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk.