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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1939-04-24 278 ' SELECTMEN'S MEETING April 24, 1939. A regular meeting of the Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, at 4:00 p. M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. Upon motion of Mr. Locke, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was voted to grant the following lincenses : Edith H. VanAmringe, Inc. , 1711 Mass . Ave. Overhanging Sign Waverley Hardware, 1756 Mass . Ave . ft n Licenses A. Mercadante, Lowell St. Trans. of Garhage Hugh McIntosh, 442 Marrett Road Sunday Sales Marie A. Miller, Marrett Road " " George Holman, Hill Ave. Slaughter & Slaughter House William G. Potter, Walnut SSt. Keeping of Swine Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Locke, Special it was voted to appointed Ervin F. Castner of the Mdsx. Police County Sanatorium a Special Police Officer to serve until April 30, 1940. Letter was received from the Board of Fire Engineers thanking the Selectmen for arranging to borrow a ladder truck from the City of Cambridge. Chief Taylor and Norman Hooper appeared before the Board. Chief Taylor said that after thinking the matter over, the Board felt that it would not be good policy to request the coming Town Meeting to purchase a new ladder truck because it was turned down just a month ago, so they had abandoned the idea of a new truck. He got prices from three concerns on repairing the old ladder truck and the cost of replacing the upper engine case was $495. 90 and the only difference in the bids was in the labor. The American LaFrance Foamite Co. was Fire Dept. the cheapest and their price was about $600.00. truck The Chairman asked if the Fire Department could make the repairs itself if it could have the use of the Cambridge truck and Chief Taylor replied in the affirma- tive. He said that they had discovered a firm in Brooklyn, N. Y. who, if the upper case was sent to them, would weld it and guarantee that it would stand up. This would cost $165.00 plus the shipping charges, which would be about $50.00. Chief Taylor said if the engine was taken down and sent out there, he thought it would be foolish not to replace the other worn parts in the truck. The total cost would be about $650 .00. 279 The Chairman asked how much money there was in the budget for repairs , and Chief Taylor said there was about $200. so that an additional 050.00 would be needed. He said that the figures submitted by him were based on the assumption that the main crank shaft was all right. Mr. Potter suggested that Chief Taylor talk with the Sterling Motors Co. and get prices from them as he thought that they would do the repair job very reasonably. Chief Taylor said he would do this and let the Board know what price he received. They retired. The Chairman commended Mr. Robert J. Fawcett for his suggestion that Lexington borrow a ladder truck from the City of Cambridge and also commended Mr. Potter for making the arrangements to do so. Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board. He said that in 1936 he started out getting releases only, but after the Cataldo case was started, they began making takings as well as obtaining releases where it was necessary to go onto private land. A great deal of time is re- Takings & quired in order to make up takins, and Mr. Raymond Easements suggested that the Town be satisfied with an oral state- ment from the owners of property to the effect that they would not object to the Vine Brook Project. He said that a great deal of the Engineer' s time was taken up making these takings . The Chairman asked if Mr. Raymond had taken this up with Mr. Wrightington and he replied in the affirmative and said that the only one he thought the town should make an official taking on was Ryder. Mr. Rowse suggested that Mr. Raymond discuss the matter with Mr. Wrightington and report back to the Board. Mr. Raymond said it was a question of whether or not the Town wanted absolute protection, or if it would accept the work of the owners that they would not object to the project. The matter was held over for one week. Mr. Raymond brought up again the matter of the trees at the Carlson property on East Street. One tree was within the right of way and the other is believed to be on private property. Carlson wants the town to take Carlson trees out one tree or both of them, and Mr. Raymond said it would cost about $50.00 to do this. Mr. Rowse moved that no action be taken on the request but that Mr. Carlson be informed that the town would approve his removing the trees providing he would indemnify the town against any claim for damages . Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that fire insurance policy under blanket schedule in the amount of $30,900; expired through the office of Elmer A. Lord and Co. on May 21st. 280 Mr. Potter moved that it be renewed for a period of Insurance five years through the same office. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond said that in the Engineering budget this year, money had been provided for the employment of a designing engineer as of April 1st to take the place of William Kearns. He said he would like to get a man of high calibre even though it cut down the time the man was available. He wondered if the Board would approve letting this go along for a month or two so Engineering that they could pay a man more money and get a better man Dept. man temporily. Mr. Rowse asked if his would be a part time job, and Mr. Raymond said that there was plenty of work for a man to do right along. It was decided to take no action on the matter. Mr. Raymond informed the Board that he did not see how they could put Tony Cataldo' s son to work as a truck driver in the Water Department as there was not work Cataldo work enough to keep the regular men going. It would be making a job for somebody, although if Tony himself returned, his job would still be there. Mr. Rowse moved that no action be taken on the matter. Mr. potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond informed the Board that Wallace Wei- singer nge had been served with writs in the matter of the car which collided with the snow tractor in March. He Claim re: said that Weisinger was in charge of the equipment and Weisinger as he understood it, the plow was standing, still on the left hand side of the road when a car ran into it. Mr. Potter moved that the Town Counsel be instructed to defend Weisinger and the Town' s interest in the case. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Metcalf & Eddy stating that the Lee Construction Co. was the low bidder on Contract B. of the Vine Brook Drain Construction project and that after interviewing the low bidder, they found that he was considerably troubled over his alleged mis- understanding of certain requirements of the specifica- tions. The Bonding Company felt that because of the wide spread between the first and second bids, an error must have been made and the company was therefor un- Contract B, willing to furnish a bond. Vine Brook Letter was received from Mr. Wrightington advising that in order to enforce the town's rights on the bond, it was important for the Selectmen to vote to accept the bid of the Lee Construction Co . and to give notifi- cation of the acceptance. 281 Mr. Potter moved that the Contract B. of the Vine ' Brook Drainage project be awarded to the Lee Construction Co. at their bid of $105,400.00, subject to the approval of the P. W. A Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Rowse asked how much money there was available for the job and if there was enough, and Mr. Raymond said that he thought there would be sufficient money if the land damages were not too heavy. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Raymond wire the P. W. A. of the Board' s acceptance of the low bid and to carry out the instructions contained in Mr. Wrightington' s letter. Mr. Saran seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond informed the Board that the Minute-Man Sportsmens ' Club had requested permission to hire the Use of grader for one day to work on private property. Mr. grader Rowse moved that the request be denied because it might denied be interfering with private contractors Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond reported that the American Legion Auxiliary had requested the use of Cary Memorial Hall on May 5th for an entertainment from 8:00 to 11:00 P. M. Mr Potter moved that the use of the hall be Use of hall granted on that date free of charge, it being under- stood that this was one of the free uses of the American Legion. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond informed the Board that Mr. Paxton had written three concerns and had requested bids on a roller. Oxily one bid was received and that was from Purchase of the Buffalo-Springfield Roller Co. and was in the sum roller of $1200.00. There is ;1500. available. Mr. Potter moved that the bid be accepted. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond asked if the Board wanted to continue not making payments on the garbage contract. Only two complaints have come in since the third day of March. Garbage Mr. Potter moved that the payments be made to date. contract Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman read a notice of a meeting to be held on Thursday, April 27th, relative to the finances of the Metropolitan Sewer Commission. Mr. Potter moved Meeting that Mr. Raymond and Mr. Russell attend the meeting. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 282 Letter was received from the Town Counsel to which was attached copy of a letter sent by the Town Counsel of Milton to the State Senate Committee on Public Service Proposed regarding a proposed bill extending the liability of bill municipalities for torts of employees. The Clerk was instructed to give Mr. Raymond a copy of the letter and to take it up next week. Mr. Garrity furnished the Board with a copy of a telegram received from Henry H. Kitson stating that the Capt. Par- Town had no authority to mutilate or cover up any part ker statue of the Captain Parker Statue. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Raymond write a letter on the matter and submit it to the Board next week. The Board signed an easement to the Boston Edison Edison Co. Co. granting the right to erect three poles in Center poles Street. Invitation was received from the Lexington Chapter, American Red Cross, to attend a lecture on Wednesday Invitation evening, April 26th. The Clerk was instructed to call this to the attention of the Welfare Department officers. Letter was received from the Building Inspector stating that he had interviewed the property owners adjoining the Canessa estate where Frank Canessa applied for a third class agents license . They all admitted that the place had been less objectionable for the past year or so, but Mr. Robbins, who owns three or four lots in the rear, said that the place was disgraceful previous to that time. The neighbors are wondering how the place would be conducted in the future if a license were granted. A paper signed by 11 property owners protesting against the granting of a license to Frank Canessa was Canessa re- received. quest for Mr. Sarano said that Mr. Lewis Hoyt called him license objecting to the granting of the permit, and Mr. Sarano said it might be all right if a fence were put around the property so that it could not be seen from the street. Mr. Hoyt said he would consider the matter and let him know if he thought it still would be objectionable but Mr. Sarano did not hear from him again. Mr. Rowse moved that the application be denied. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Board again discussed the matter of Edith Willard Willardts water guaranty. Mr. Rowse moved that the water water guaranty in the amount of 0167.70 be abated and guaranty that there be no further charge made. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 283 Letter was received from the Commissioner of Taxation stating that each city and town for which a tax rate has not been fixed for the current year Tax rate and shall postpone the fixing of such rate pending further Town Meeting action by the General Court. It was therefor decided to postpone the Town Meeting until the General Court has taken definite action. Surety bond in the amount of $500. for the Build- ing Inspector and one in the amount of $1,000. for the Bonds Selectmen' s Clerk were approved. Letter was received from the pastor of the Sacred Heart Church requesting a permit to run a carnival on the Murphy lot in East Lexington from June 12th Permit for through June 17th. Mr. Rowse moved that the permit be Carnival granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Board of Appeals order granting permission to Board of Clarence H. Conroy to maintain his house within the Appeals 20 foot setback line was received. Order The Chairman reported that he talked with Mr. Goodhue in the Mass . Dept. of Public Welfare, together Welfare with Mr. Wrightington, on the matter of welfare in Lexington. The Board wished to go on record as being in Chamber of favor of establishing a Chamber of Commerce or some Commerce similar organization. The Chairman informed the Board that Robert C. Merriam would be unable to serve as a member of the Tenement Tenement House Act Committee. Mr. Sarano moved that House Act Louis J. Reynolds be appointed a member of the Coy}- Committee mittee. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that the Appropriation Committee would like to know what the Board' s stand would be in the matter of step-rate increases for the Police and Fire Dept. if the School Department eliminated them from its department. It was the feeling of the Board Salaries that if the step-rate increases were eliminated in the School Department , that it would be only fair to elim- inate them in the Police and Fire Departments for a period of one year. The Chairman said that in his budget, Mr. Lindstrom was allowed $20. for the purchase of a cabinet, but he finds that the one he wants to purchase costs 00.88. 284 Cabinet for He would like permission to buy the cabinet. Mr. Rowse Plumbing moved that permission be granted. Mr. Potter seconded Inspector the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Supt. of the Middlesex County Sanatorium requesting that Ervin S. Castner be Special appointed as a Special Police Officer in place of Chester Police Neal, who has been retired. Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. 1 Castner be appointed as a Special Police Officer for the period ending April 1, 1940. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Commitment of water liens in the amount of $271.32 was signed by the Board. Messrs. Mitchell and Morse appeared relative to Welfare matters. The meeting adjourned at 6:20 P. M. A true record, Attest : Clerk I