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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1939-12-27M SELECTMENIS MEETING Dec. 27th, 1939. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7030 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The dlerk was also present. Pir. William Shanahan appeared before the Board and asked if something could be done to reduce the speeding on Pleasant Street. He said his small son came very near being hit this Speeding morning. The Chairman said that there was a maximum speed Pleasant limit notice on Mass. Ave. in East Lexington as one app - St, roaches from Arlington, but there is none on Plesant Street when one approaches Lexington from the Concord Turr- pike and he thought that there should be one there. Mr. Sarano moved that another thirty mile per hour speed limit sign be placed on Pleasant Street just this side of the junc- tion of Plesant and Watertown Streets, Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Town Accountant relative Estimated to outstanding taxes. Mr. Russell said that our estimated Receipts receipts account showed a debit of $34,287.78, which amount account. wokild have to be collected in December in order to balance the account. The Chairman stated that the situation had improved somewhat in the past week, but that we probably would be a little short. He said that the estimated receipts were figured on a 100% basis this year and he thought the fact that we are going to be short should be'borne in mind when figuring the estimated receipts in 1940. 1 Speeding Pleasant St. Letter was received from the Town Accountanct relative to the filing of forms -1099 to the Collector of Internal Revenue. These forms are the reports of salaries paid to the municipal employees. Mr. Russell asked if he was to file Income these forms or if each department was to file its own. The tax forms Chairman said that last week when this matter was discussed, it was left to the Town Accountant and the.Town Treasurer to straighten out. He said that the Town Accountant had a card system showing the total salary paid each employee each year and he thought that therefor he would be the logical one to do th6s work. Mr. Rowse moved that In order not to impose additional burdens on the TownTreasurer, that the Town Accountant' `be, instructed to take -care of the detail in ther, matter. M. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. 7 r L 1 The Chairman called the Board's attention to the Appropriation Committeets letter of last week'in'which they W.P.A. referred to the employment of a "temporary" W.P.A. investiga- Investi- tor. The Chairman said he brought this matter up in order to gator. •avoid confusion later on it it is decided to keep the individual on full time. The Clerk was instructed to write the Appro- priation Committee and state that it is the Selectmen's under- standing that it will be necessary to have a permanent employee in this capacity and that it is a permanent position, not a temporary one. 'Mr. Potter stated that a man from the Internal Revenue Dept, was coming to the High School next Wednesday at 3 P.M. Income to talk on the filing of income tax returns by municipal tax employees. The Clerk was requested to ask the Town Account- returns, ant to attend this meeting and to have a stenographer from the Selectmen's Office attend the meeting and take down the highlights of the speech. Letter was received from the Rev. Chapman stating that Use of after further study, it seemed'unwise to bring Mr. Sanford Hall Bates to Lexington on Jan. 9th, so the engagement had been Cancelled. cancelled and Cary Hall would not be needed. A sub -committee investigated the conditions of the Old Old Adams Adams School building in East Lexington with the idea of using School it for a boys' Club, but the committee voted it would be unwise to expend the large amount of money which would be necessary to make the building useable. Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee advising of the disapproval of the transfer of $50.OQ from the Old Reserve Fund for the demolition of the Old Adams School Adams as the Committee felt that this matter should be postponed so school that it might be taken up for consideration at the annual town meeting in 1940. The Appropriation Committee also felt that some consideration should be given to the proposed use of the land after the building was demolished. Mr. Potter moved that all the bids submitted for the demolition of the Old Adams School be rejected and the certified checks deposited be.returned., Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that an -article be.inserted in the Article warrant for the annual town meeting*in 1940'to see if the Town wishes to tear down the building. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. It was decided to ask fgr•bids for the demolition of the building just before town meeting, the request to be worded in such a manner that the bids can be held until the Town Meeting has acted on the matter. Letter was received'from the Town Counsel relative to licensed Junk collectors. He said he believed the Town By - Junk law coritemplates that the licensed collector is to collect in licenses person. If the license desires merely to maintain a place of business and have someone else collect for him and the Selectmen.'approve., Mr.'Wrightington thought two licenses should be issued, one to'the collector and one to the keeper of the place of business. He called the Board's attention to G.L., Chapter 140, Sec. 202, providing that the junk collector's license shall set forth "the building or place in such town in which it is to be carried on". He said he understood this to mean that a collector must also have a place of business in town. Letter was received from John P. McBride, State Director of Standards, advising that the matter of Lexington junk license was entirely local and that that division had no jurisdiction in the matter. The Chairman read a report of the Chief of Police on Arthur Donahue of Arlington, who is now driving Hyman Weiss' junk truck. The records showed five violations of the law with various fines imposed. Mr. Saran moved that it be the policy of this Board of Selectmen that the licensed collector is to collect junk in. person. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Hyman Weiss that this regulation had been adopted and that he therefor would be unable to employ Arthur Donahue to drive his truck in the future. The Board asked the Clerk what the status of Jacob Bornstien's license was. She replied that he had made appli- cation for a license in 1939 but had not paid the fee and the license was never issued. Bornstien has given her $15, which she has been holding to turn in when the whole"amount has been paid as it has been the policy of"the Board not to accept partial payments on junk licenses. The Clerk was instructed to notify Chief Sullivan that Bornstien had no junk license and therefor had no right to collect junk. Application for a license to collect junk was received from Robert J. Gaffney of 1 Homestead Street., Mr. Potter moved that inasmuch as, Gaffney is a Lexington citizen -and is willing to pay the fee of $50.00 for.the balance of four months of the fiscal year, he be granted a license to expire p , on April 30 1940. Mr. Rows® seconded the motion and it was so voted. It was decided to discuss the whole matter of, junk licenses again next April. Mr. Lindstrom's letters regarding charges for plumping" Plumbing permits were discussed. It was decided to requestMr. Lind. permits, strom to appear before the Board next week to discuss -the matter and to have the plumbers in town present, also. J 1 Letter was received from the'Supt, of Public Works advising that Public Liability insurande for the Water and Sewer'Departments expired on Dec. 31st. Mr. Potter moved' Insurance that the policy be renewed"through the office of Edwin B. Worthen, the present agent. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Rowse, seconded by Mr. Locke, it was voted to grant the following licenses; Licenses Ken's Shell Service Station 1095 Mass. Ave. Methyl Alcohol Johnson Pontiac Company 97 If n Agent's Lies. John F. McGrath Burlington Trans. of Garbage Connors Bros. tI torr If N.E. Rendering Co. Brighton n It n Lowell Rendering Co. No. Billerica n it n Dairy -Dell Farms,. Inc. 430 Concord Ave. Past: of Milk Partridge's Food Shop 1709 Mass. Ave. Comm. Viet. Colonial Pharmacy 1752 If nit n Ida Belle Harmon 150 Lowell St. tt n Sidney B. Heywood 271 Marrett Rd. tt n Bids for printing the 1939 Town Report were received ' as follows: Adams Press, Inc , - $1.65 per page; no charge for author's corrections;'For reprints, up to 100 copies 30S per page. Somerville Printing Co. Inc. - 61.37 per page; school and Town Accountant's -reports (reprints) 30e Report per page; author's correction, $2, per bids. hour. The Hampshire Press, Inc. - $2.01 per page; 100 extra copies of School report, $9.00; 100 extra copies of Accountant's report, $25.50. The Melrose Free Press, Inc. - $1.84 per page; Reprintsof school and Accountant's_ reports 85� per page. Fleming & Son - $1.56 per page; 100 extra School reports, $20.25; 100 extra Accountant's reports, x$41.25. E.'L. Grines Printing Co. - $2.40 per page; (including 100 extra copies of School Report'and 100 extra copies of Accountant's report.) Author's correctiQns $2.'per hour by hand and $3. per hour by machine. Mr. Potter said he thought that next year it would be best to ask for a.lump sum bid for printing of these reports rather than a per -page bid, it being the experience of the Board that bids at so much per page with extra charges for ' author's corrections and unforeseen items has not been satis- factory in the past two years. Mr. Potter moved that the Board accept the bid of the Adams Press, Inc. of $1.65 per 570 C page with no charge for author's -corrections. Mr. Sarano ' seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that the vote of Nov. 20, 1939 to award Mabey' Sarah Mabey $100. daiPages in connection with the Vine Brook claim. project, be recinded. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion And it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that the vote of Dec. 4th to charge' Parking the cost of the parking light in the rear of the Cary Memorial light Building to the Street Lighting account be rescinded. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that the expense be charged to the Traffic Regulation and Control account. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. F.J. Spencer be appointed an Appoint- assistant assessors for the year 1940. Mr. Sarano seconded ments. the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Sarano moved that Mr. William A. Cann of 9 Summit Road be appointed to the Board of Assessors for a period of three years ending Dec. 31, 1942. Mr.. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman again brought up the matter of A.B. Tenney's ' request for a stop sign on Adams Street 'at Hancock. Mr. Sarano said he went to the locus today and he thought there Stop' should be a stop sign on each street. The Board felt, how - sign. ever, that there was no need of the sign on Hancock Street and upon motion of Mr. Sarano seconded by Mr. Locke, it was voted to erect one stop sign on Adams Street'at the junction of Hancock Street. Letter was received from Elizabeth M. Burton of 28 Colony Road stating that there was danger of the temporary Burton water service to her house freezing. Mrs. Burton demanded water. a regular water service to the house and said that if this was not supplied, the town would be liable to suit. The Clerk was instructed to tell Mrs. Burton to apply for a water service and agree to comply with the rules and regulations of the Department. Letter was received from Metcalf & Eddy recommending a change order on Contract 5 authorizing as extra work, the laying of 49.6 feet of 14 inch steel pipe force main including excavation and back -fill". The actual cost of the work was Change $1010.30. Mr. Rowse asked if there was any recourse from Order. this and Mr. Raymond said that the Engineers were going to recommend that the difference in cost between this'and what it would have cost if the work had been done by Mr. Ferguson ' be included in the liquidated damages against Rounds.. Mr. 571 Locke moved that the change order be signed. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Appropriation ro riation Committee recommending that the Board of Assessors and the Board of Poll Registrars cooperate in the matter of the annual listing listing, by the two departments to the end that this work be accomp- lished in 1940 at no greater expense than was'ineurred in 1939. The Clerk informed the Board that Mr. Carroll.. Clerk of the Board of.Registrars, had informed her this afternoon that this would be agreeable to the Registrars. Water.betterment assessments for Fairview Ave., Grant Street and Robbins Road were certified and Sewer betterment Assessments assessments for Robbins Road and Mass. Ave. were certi- abatements fied, and liens. List of Water liens to be recorded Dec. 31st was signed and sewer department abatements were signed. Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board to discuss budgets as follows: Highway Construction under the Betterment Act for 1940 - $15,500. Mr. Raymond said that the portion of Wachusett Drive which has been requested for acceptance is a short piece and on either side it still remains unaccepted but'it is a connection to an accepted street through Wachusett Circle. If the portion Budgets between Wachusett Circle and Prospect Hill Road was accepted. they probably would not get 75% of the signatures and the assessment per ;front foot would be a little higher than in this case. Mr. Raymond said that the drainage program should be considered in connection with the Wachusett Drive and Circle acceptance. He said that in addition to the $7000. requested for the construction of.Bowker Street, there would be an item of $500, to $600; for lowering the water main. It is the feeling,.however, that this item should be included in the Water Maintenance budget. Highway - Drain Construction $19,650,00 Th� e sum of�3450.00 was requested for drainage in Adams and Merriam Streets. Mr. Rowse asked why this was a project of importance, and Mr. Raymond replied that ice always collected in Adams Street in the winter and it cost a great deal to go up there and remove it. He thought it was'no exageration to say it cost from $100. to $125* to take the ice off Adams Street in one storm. Mr. Raymond suggested that some of these projects could be done under'the W.P.A. Upon motion of Mr. Rowse, seconded W.P.A. by Mr.`Sarano, it was voted that the following be submitted" as W.P.A.projects 'Grant Street at Hayes Lane; Mass. Ave. ' and Percy Road; Mass. Ave. to Mill Brook near Charles Street; Adams Street and Merriam Street; and Oakland Street and Merriam 572 Welfare, Street. , Mr. Rowse moved that the Town..proceed with the North Hancock Street 44. P. A. drainage job. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Street Lights $229018.00 +Qr. Raymond estimated that we would have fourteen more lights in 1940 than in 1939. Pub. Works Building,Supervision 6190.D0 -IF-,Raymond said that this was to pay one o�epart- ment Superintendents $5, per week for overtime spent in super- vising the Public Works Building. The Supt. is Mr. Ross and Mr. Raymond thought he put in 260 hours time in 1938. Mr. Raymond said that this budget ought to be considered along with the next one, which is for Public Works Building, Labor and Expenses. There is $2700. that is to be spent for small items and Mr. Raymond thought that it was worth $190. to supervise that. Insurance X9990.00 Mr.-iaymond said that although the new ratetook aid` 7%, the appropriation will have to be higher this.year because more policies come due. This year will be comparable with 1935. Traffic Reg. & Control,Improvement rovement to System $1425.00 -'lhe Mass, ` Ave. andMerriam --- Street item includes two posts and push buttons. Mr. Raymond said he did not believe that people would be satisfied with the lights on Harrington Road working on a pre -determined schedule. He thought that actuators or detectors ought to be.put in at all three places. He said it would cost $1100. to install detectors at Marrett Road and Waltham Street. He retired. Mr. Morse appeared relative to Welfare matters, The meeting adjourned at 11:45 P,M. A true record, Attest: Clerk. 1 1