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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-01-13 591 SELECTMEN'S MEETING JAN. 13th, 1940. A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, at 2:00 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Locke and Sarano were present. Mr. Rowse arrived at 2:20 P .M. The Clerk was also present. Letter was received from Leonard Jellis of 70 Ward Street demanding that ice and slush be removed from streets Snow so that they will be safe. Mr. Sarano said that he had Removal had 15 or 16 telephone calls since the first snow storm. He said that this Board had approved a certain number of side- walks to be plowed on either one side or both sides of cer- tain streets. He went up to the Public Works Building at the time of the first storm and found one sidewalk plow lying idle. He asked Barry if the plow was out of order and Barry said that it was not . Mr. Sarano said he thought that the Board should demand that the sidewalks d esignated on Nov. 20, 1939 be plowed first and that the sidewalk plows should be used until other sidewalks in town have been plowed. Mr. Potter said he believed that the Board was wrong when it laid out a certain few sidewalks to be plowed. He thought all or none should be plowed. The Chairman said the question was whether or not the Board wanted to revise its orders in regard to sidewalk plowing. Mr. Potter moved that the sidewalks designated on the list made up on November 20, 1939 be plowed first and that the equipment be kept in operation plowing other sidewalks as long as is practicable. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge Mr. Jellis' letter and tell him that the regulations were being revised in an attempt to use the existing equipment as much as is necessary. Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board. The Chairman said that he had the unpleasant task of informing the Selectmen that the Town was about to lose its Supt. of Public Works. Last Thursday, Mr. Eddy came to see Mr. Giroux and said that before speaking to Mr. Raymond, Supt. of he wanted to speak with this Board through the Chairman, Public and inform it that Metcalf & Eddy and a Chicago firm were Works the engineers on a very large project that the State is going to do in Boston Harbor. Mr. Eddy said that he had a great need of Mr. Raymond and was anxious to secure his services. The Chairman told Mr. Eddy that the Selectmen could do nothing to stand in Mr. Raymond's way. Mr. Giroux said that he did not get in touch with the other members of the Board at that time as there was some question as to whether or not the contract would go through quickly. Mr. Eddy wants Mr. Raymond for six months and possibly for eighteen months. His request was - could the Town, or would 592 the Town, grant Mr. Raymond a leave of absence for six months . The Chairman talked with Mr. Wrightington and gave him an outline of the facts. He found that it is not within the power of the Selectmen to grant the Supt. of Public Works a leave of absence to go to another position because the Statute says that the Supt. of Public Works shall not hold any other position. The Chairman s aid that Mr. Raymond wanted to take this position as he looks upon it as an advancement both financially and otherwise. The Chairman said he had talked with Mr. Raymond along the line that his loss here would be felt, naturally, but mostly in the matter of drainage and sewage projects. He said that Mr. Raymond and he had more or less mutually agreed to submit for the Board' s con- sideration, the possibility of Mr. Raymond being connected with the Town as an advisor for at least six months on a retaining fee basis. Mr. Wrightington pointed out that it is extremely important that Mr. Raymond be available in the matter of pending law suits on the Vine Brook project as he is the only one having the necessary information relating to them. The Chairman and Mr. Raymond agreed in submitting these facts to the Board so that it could have something to start from. They agreed on the sum of *100. per month retaining fee and agreed that the person occupying the position of Supt. of Public Works should have the right to consult with Mr. Raymond when he wished. Mr. Raymond would be out here a total not to exceed two working days each month to consult and advise. The Chairman said he believed he had outlined the situation as he had it. He said he did not want to informthe Board of this immediately, because he felt that if the deal did not go through, there was no use in stirring things up. The project merely has to have the Attorney General's approval now before going through. Mr. Raymond said that while things were fairly definite, there is a possibility that the project will not go through. He said that if the Attorney General approved the contract, Metcalf & Eddy would want him just as soon as he could get out of here, which he thought would be about one week. Mr. Raymond said that if the project did go through, he would do everything possible to assist the Board and the town to the best of his ability. He said that Mr. Giroux spoke of two stages --six months and 18 months. The present contract which has been signed covers the six months ' stage; the additional 12 months' period depends on what circumstances are six months from now, etc. Some people think that the contract will never be approved. He talked with Mr. Giroux about this matter and he felt that the Board would take the position that it should be informed of this situation and not have it thrown on them suddenly. Mr. Raymond said that if the Board and he decided upon an arrangement such as had been mentioned, he would think that it should be worded so that the Selectmen could terminate it at any time it saw fit. Mr. Eddy advised Mr. Raymond that after six months, 593 I he would have very great difficulty in giving more than a very small amount of time to the Town. The six months ' period is for preparation of a report and final determination of locations of very large conduits all in a study of a great mass of detailed data relative to underground structures on both sides of the Charles River and East Boston. Mr. Eddy selected Mr. Raymond because of his previous work of a similar nature in other places: Mr. Raymond said that this was a distinct advance for him, and with the kind of work he liked to do. He said he had been very happy here and might continue to be for some time. He wanted to point out that the new project was not tied up finally as yet. It all hangs on Attorney General Dever ' s approval. Mr. Rowse said that Mr. Raymond spoke about taking one week to clean up his work here if the matter reaches the point where he actually passes in his resignation. He asked if it was not going to be impossible for the Selectmen to straighten matters out in one week. He said he thought Mr. Raymond was over-optimistic in thinking of making the change on such short notice. He asked if Mr. Raymond felt that he could leave within a week' s time without leaving things in rather a chaotic state as far as details were concerned. Mr. Raymond said he thought he could do it. Mr. Rowse asked if the Chairman' s idea would he not I. to appoint a Supt. of Public Works . The Chairman replied in the negativd and said that the Selectmen have to appoint a Supt. of Public Works. Mr. Sarano asked what particular phase of Town work Mr. Raymond felt would need the most attention if he were not here. Mr. Raymond said there was nothing that bothered particularly. He said the most important thing now was to get the Engineering data out for Town Meeting and W.P.A. projects. He said that he would plan to come out two or three times a week and spend an hour or so with the Town Engineer making suggestions and recommendations. The Chairman said that Mr. Eddy requested that Mr. Raymond be given a leave of absence, but that was im- possible. His suggestion would be a gentlemen's agreement whereby at the end of six months if Mr. Raymond wishes to return, that the Selectmen would give him every consideration. He said this would not bind the Board but would mean that at the end of six months , Mr. Raymond could come to the Selectmen and say that he wished to return. The Chairman suggested that the Board not go out and ask for applica- tions for the position but that it take some man from the Town personnel and give him a temporary appointment to the position so that at the end of six months, if things are not working out well and Mr. Raymond wants to come back, he can be reinstated. If the man was doing fairly well, the Board could keep him as an Assistant Supt. of Public Works. If the Board gave the position to one of the present town employees and he did not work out, the Board could then ask for applications for the position. He suggested 594 to that the Board think the matter over and if it agreed with him, that Monday night if the man was decided upon, he should be told immediately so that he could report to Mr. Raymond and start working with him immediately. Mr. Raymond said he thought he would know within a week whether or not the project was going through. Mr. Rowse said that the job was for either six or eighteen months. He asked if it was a temporary job and Mr. Raymond replied in the affirmative. Mr. Rowse asked if Mr. Raymond desired such a job as this with Metcalf & Eddy as a permanent position, and Mr. Raymond said that he did. Mr. Rowse then asked if that shouldn't be taken into consideration and Mr. Raymond said that he thought it should. Mr. Rowse said that his point was that Mr. Raymond's desires were toward the engineering business with Metcalf & Eddy or some other firm rather than the Supt. of Public Works position in Lexington. He said he thought that was a fact of great importance. Mr. Rowse asked Mr. Raymond what he considered the outstanding qualities a man should have to qualify for the position of Supt . of Public Works. Mr. Raymond said he believed the man should be an experienced engineer and should possess executive ability up to a certain point. He should at least be able to handle the superintendents of the divisions. He should be able to advise and size up the questions and arguments which arise between the different divisions with respect to their work. The Board decided to think over the situation over the week-end and to discuss it further on Monday evening. Mr. Raymond read a letter from the Regional Council, Public Works Administration, advising that the P.W.A. was P.W.A. not authorized to accept new applications or make new allotments for public works projects. The letter stated that it was impossible for the F.W.A. to assist the Town of Lexington in the construction of the North Lexington sewers. No. Lex. The Chairman said he instructed Mr. Raymond to order Sewers, data prepared so that a W.P.I. project for the North Lex- W.P.A. ington Sewers could be submitted for approval . He asked if the Board approved his action, and it did. Mr. Rowse asked about the status of the Liberty Heights sewers. Mr. Raymond thought the project has been Liberty approved by the State Board but he had some doubt as to Heights whether we could get Federal funds for work in unaccepted sewers. streets. He said he had had the estimates made, and if we get the work approved in accepted streets, the Town can construct with its own forces the sewers in unaccepted streets without adding materially to the cost of the project. Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. Raymond be instructed to see that the Liberty Heights sewer, the Merriam Street, Coolidge Ave. sewer, the North Lexington Sewer and the Drainage Program, were submitted to the W.P.A. in that order and that if possible, the Selectmen be advised prior to February 19th as to whether or not these have been approved by the W.P.A. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. 595 Mr. Raymond retired at 3 :45 P.M. The Board then discussed budgets. The Chairman said that last week Mr. Beach informed the Selectmen that there would be a carry-over of $500.00 in Public Works, Labor, Material and Expenses, but he meant that there would be that much on hand at the time of the Town Meeting. There actually W.P.A. was a balance of $5800. on December 31st. He said he thought budget. the Board ought to change its vote of last week relative to the W.P.A. appropriation. Mr. Potter moved that the vote of last week approving an appropriation of $25,000. be rescinded and the following vote adopted: Voted: That for the time being, the Selectmen recommend an appropriation of $20,000.00 for Public Works, Labor and Materials, with the understanding that this excludes the Merriam Street, Adams Street and Coolidge Ave . sewer, the Town's share of which amounts to $11,116.00 and also excludes the Liberty Heights sewer, the Town' s share of which is $10,508. with the understanding that in the event that these two projects are approved, the Town's share shall be bonded and the receipts under the Betterment Act from these two projects shall go into the Sewer Assessment Fund with the understanding that the said receipts will be used to pay off the bonded debt. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Budgets were discussed and action taken as follows : Department Requested Approved Selectmen's Expenses $1861.00 $1861.00 Law Dept. Personal Services and Special Fees 2500.00 3000.00 Law Dept. Expenses 570.00 420.00 Accounting Dept. Exp ensea 275.00 275.00 Elections Expenses (Under jurisdiction of Town Clerk) 50 .00 25.00 Elections Expenses (Under jurisdiction of Selectmen) 2321.00 2321.00 Budgets Supt. of Public Works Expenses 265.00 265.00 Town Offices Expenses 6000.00 6000.00 Board of Appeals Expenses 200.00 200.00 Planning Board 250.00 250.00 Police - Personal Services 38520.33 38520.33 Police - Expenses 4300.00 4200.00 Bldg. Inspector - Personal Services 1100.00 1100.00 Wire Dept. - Personal Services 600.00 600.00 Wire Dept. - Expenses 100.00 100.00 The meeting adjourned at 5 :15 P.M. A true record, Attest : Cler .