HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-01-22M1
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
JAV . 22, 1940.
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, Locke and Sarano
were present. The Clerk was also present.
Letter was received from the Town Counsel advising
DiLuzi that the action of Margaret DiLuzi against the Tcw n for
claim. personal injury resulting from an alleged fall in a hole
left by the removal of a tree after the hurricane was tried
last Wednesday and Thursday, and the Court found in favor
of the defendant.
Letter was received from the Registrars of Voters
Registra- advising of the following dates for registration:
tion dates. Feb. 6, 1940 - Town Office Building - 7 to 9 P.M.
Feb. 13, 1940 It " It - 2 P.M. to 5 P.M.
Feb. 13, 1940 - Arlams School' - 7 to 9 P.M.
Feb. 210 1940 - Town Office Building- 12 noon to 10 P.M.
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Letter was received from Mr. E. B. O'Connor of 2142
Mass. Avenue stating that he wished to aiecept the Board's
Sale of offer to sell lots 5, 6 and 7 on Waltham Street for the sum '
tax title of $1500. Mr. O'Oonnor said he would like to discuss with
property. the Board, changes which had been made in the plan relative
to the Vine Brook taking and the rounding of the corner.
Mr. Potter moved that Mr. O'Connor be invited to appear
before the Board next Monday evening to discuss the matter
and that the Town Engineer be present at that time. Mr.
Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Application for a Common Victualler's License was
'Request for received from Abraham Bornstein at 27 Mass. Ave. A report
license. from the Health Inspector was received stating that Mr.
Bornstein operated a gasoline station and that the place
was not a fit one in which to serve food. He recommended
that the application be denied. Mr. Bornstein appeared
before the Board and said that he merely wished to sell hot
dogs to some of his friends who dropped into the station
occasionally. Mr. Rowse moved that the application be
denied. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Locke, it
was voted to approve the following licenses:
John V. Kinnvall - 42 Fletcher Ave. - Peddler's
John Shea - Concord R., Westford - Trans. of Garbage.
At 8 P.M., Mr. A. Thomas Ferry and Mr. Malcolm Clifford ,
appeared before the Board to discuss the request of the
Stanley Hill Post #38, American Legion, for an appropriation
iso help defrayexpenses in connection with the National
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Convention to be held in Boston in 1940.
The Chairman read Chapter 115 of the Acts of 1939
'
authorizing cities and towns to appropriate one-two
hundredths of one percent of the last assessed valuation
of the town for the National Convention expenses. The
Chairman said that under this Act the Town could appropriate
around $1000. if it so desired.
Mr. Clifford said that he was a.member of the committee
Legion
appointed for this convention and its idea was to spend any
Convent'icxs
money appropriated in Lexington. Mr. Clifford said the
appro-
following committee had been appointed: James H. Russell,
priation
Clyde Booker, Melville Webb, Edmund A. Webb, Leon Burke,
Daniel Cronin, Raymond White, E. C. Maguire, Capt. Boleyn,
Joseph Trani, Eugene Buckley, Albert A. Ross, A. R. Giroux,
Charles MacCormack, Clesson Schofield, Frank Culbertson,
Dr. James J. Walsh, Eugene Partridge and Horace Dearborn.
The Chairman suggested that his name be removed
inasmuch as the Legion was asking the Selectmen to approve
an appropriation.
Mr. Clifford said that the Committee had prepared a
tentative budget as follows:
Repairing banner, costumes for Spirit of 1776 - $50.00
Transportation of Drum Corps, day of parade - 50.00
Printing story of Lexington (this would pay for
5000 phamplets to be distributed to visitors
to Lexington) - 100.00
Refreshments - (This to pay for light refresh-
'
ments to be served to visitors to Lexington
if the National Convention sets aside a cer-
tain day for Lexington) - 200.00
Auxiliary - for food at Buckman Tavern - 75.00
Miscellaneous - 25.00
The National Auziliary will also be in session in
Boston and the local Auxiliary will need funds to entertain
them.
Mr. Clifford said that undoubtedly the budget.will need
revision. The Chairman stated that the sum of $960. was
appropriated in 1930 for expenses in connection.with that
National Convention.
Mr. Rowse asked Mr. Ferry if his organization had
ever taken into consideration the matter of having a small
appropriation for a certain number of years and than a
April 19th
large one say every five years for the 19th of April
funds
celebration. He said he had talked this matter over with
various people and they all thouE#t it would be well to have
one good parade every few years and a small one in the
intervening years rather than a mediocre parade every
year. Mr. Ferry said that he would be glad to take the
matter up with the Allied Veterans Council for its con-
sideration.
They retired at 8510 P.M.
Mr. Potter moved that the Selectmen recommend an
'
appropriation of $500. to be expended by the American Legion
in connection with the National Convention for 1940. Mr.
Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted.
i
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W
At 8:20 P.M. Mr. John T. Cosgrove, Town Engineer,
appeared before the Board. '
The Chairman told Mr. Cosgrove that the Selectmen met
with the Appropriation Committee last Thursday evening to
discuss all salaries. He said there was no doubt but that
there were inequalities in salaries, but in view of the
request for a lower tax rate, practically no increases had
been approved.
Mr. Cosgrove said he merely had asked that his salary
be adjusted to $60. per week. The other employees are in
at the same rate as 1939. He has requested that Mr. Etheridge
be employed for a period of eight months. Mr. Rowse asked
if it was worthwhile keeping this man on and Mr. Cosgrove
Engineering replied in the affirmative. He said that Etheridge had been
budget. working on a survey of sewer connections. The W.P.A. has s
sidewalks and streets project which should have a man at
the head of it and they figured on using Etheridge in this
position. Mr. Rowse said that he understood that Mr.
Etheridge was to be employed for a trial period in 1939
and the continuanne of his employment was to be discussed
with the 1940 budgets. Mr. Cosgrove recommended keeping
Etheridge on for the sewer study. Mr. Rowse asked if he
intended dropping the man when that study was completed
and Mr. Cosgrove replied in the negative. He said he thought
Mr. Etheridge was capable of many other kinds of work, par-
ticularly hydraulics. Mr. Rowse asked if the result to the
town would be worth the man's salary, and Mr. Cosgrove said ,
that his work would forestall to some extent, some future
sewer extensions. Mr. Rowse asked what the W.P.A. project
he mentioned covered. Mr. Cosgrove said that it was a
survey of all accepted streets showing every fixture within
the street lines such as kind of pavement, curbing, pole
locations, catch basins, hgdrants, etc. Mr. Cosgrove said
it was a good project as far as the town's contribution
was concerned. He said he believed Etheridge would be on
the W.P.A. project for about four months and then he would
want him to go back to the Engineering Dept. The W.P.A.
project is for the benefit of the Highway Division,
Engineering Expenses was next discussed. The sum
requested was $1650.. and the Chairman told Mr. Cosgrove that
the Appropriation Committee had approved $1600. He asked
if there would be any particular hardship because of this
reduction of $50. and Mr. Cosgrove replied in the negative.
He retired at 8:45 P.M.
Mr. Joseph A. Ross, Supt. of the Water and Sewer Div.
then appeared before the Board.
The Chairman told Mr. Ross the same thing he had told
Mr. Cosgrove, i.e., that the Appropriation Committee and
Selectmen were approving very few salary increases. The
amount requested for Sewer Maintenance Wages and Expenses
was $4700. and the amount spent in 1939 was $3731.06. The ,
Chairman asked why Mr. Ross was asking for $4700, this year
when only $3700. was spent last year. Mr. Ross stated that
2�
last year there was an item of $300, in for the pumping
station which was not spent because the pumping station was
not ready. This will be spent in 1940, however. $700.
would have been spent for emergency work if it had not,been
for three water extensions that came in toward the end of
the year and interrupted the sewer program.
The Chairman asked Mr. Ross if he believed that the
laborers in his department got a poor deal because of their Water &
work not being steady. Mr. Ross said that 1939 had been Sewer Dept,
their best year for five or six years. The Chairman asked budgets.
him how much money he thought would be needed to keep his
men on all year round and he thought an additional $2500.
for labor would be needed. The Chairman asked if there was -
much work his department could do that would not require
considerable material. Mr. Ross said that when the new
mains were put in Forest, Parker and Muzzey Streets, there.
was not sufficient money to shift the services from the
old main to the new one. This work could be done but the
project would require material. The Chairman suggested that
Mr. Ross give some thought to the matter and advise him of
the minimum amount of money needed to see that the men got
a square deal. He said that the question was a higher rate
of pay or extra compensation for time spent after working
house. Mr. Rowse said that perhaps it might be a good
idea to put the foreman on a weekly wage. He asked what the
foreman would do, however, when there were no construction
projects. Mr. Ross said there was never a time when no one
'
was working in the department and regardless of the kind of
work, the foreman works right along with the men. The men
do not work on stormy days and neither does the foreman
Mr. Sarano asked how many night calls came in during
the year, and Mr. Ross said there would be anywhere from
twenty-five to fifty.
The amount requested for Sewer Construction, Sundry
Streets, was $1000. There was a balance of $2688.08 at the
end of the year but this is now down to about $1600. be-
cause of an extension in Robbins Road. Mr. Ross said he
could not tell how many extensions would be requested in
1940, particularly in view of the North Lexington Sewer
project. He thought that $2600. would be needed.
The amount requested for Personal Services was $4897.93.
Mr. Ross said he requested an increase of $2.50 for the
draftsman, George Harrington. The Chairman asked what the
draftsman did. Mr. Ross said that he assisted the Supt.
He made up the plans for water and sewer connections and
extensions and kept the old plans up to date. He is on duty
at the Water Shop when the Supt. is not there, takes the
calls, makes up time cards, work orders, -etc.
Mr. Sarano asked Mr. Ross how much extra time he put
in at the Public Works Building. Mr. Ross said he went
up there two or three times a week in the evening to check
up. Mr. Ross said that although the Chairman had told him
that no increases had been approved, he felt that his
'
salary should be adjusted. He has received no increase
since he became Supt. three years ago.
24 r"
tz
Water Maintenance, Wages and Expenses, was next dis-
cussed. Mr. Ross said that the interest on debt was re-
duced by $1200. and the equipment and repair item was ,
reduced from $1700. to $1200. The sum of $35,000. was
allowed for the Metropolitan Water Tax. Mr. Ross said he
would let the Board know as soon as possible what the
M.D.C. figured this tax would be.
Mr. Rowse asked if Mr. Ross had given any considera-
tion to the advisability of lowering the water rates and
asked if this was the proper time to consider it. Mr. Ross
said he had given the matter some thought, but believed
that our water assessment would be increased materially
beginning either next year or the year after because of the
extensive construction program in the western part of the
State now being carried on by the Metropolitan District
Commission.
The sum of $5100. was requested for Replacement of
Mains in Percy Road and $3600. for Warren Street. Mr. Ross
said that Percy Road was more important than Warren Street.
The sum of $4900, was requested for Eliminating Dead Ends,
Mr. Ross said that there were three dead ends at Grant
Street and these have to be flushed about once a month.
As a result, much water is wasted, and this, of course, is
costly.
The sum of $3200. was requested for an extension of a
main in Oak Street. Mr. Ross said this was inserted because
if the sewer is extended in Oak Street, a water main should '
be laid in the same trench.
Water Construction, Sundry Streets, was then discussed.
There was a balance of approximately $3000. at the end of the
year, but some mains have been put in.since then so that the
balance is about $1000. No further action was taken on these
budgets, and Mr. Ross retired at 9:50 P.M.
Mr. Raymond appeared before the Board at 10:00 P.M.
He said that the Selectmen had recently received a request
Street for street lights in the Winter Street section. He looked
lights. over the situation and said that there was a total of
twenty-four houses that would be benefitted if nine lights
were installed as follows: four on Winter Street,'two on
Hillcrest Street, two on James Street, and one on Wright
Street. He thought it would be in order to see if the'
Town Meeting would approve this. Mr. Raymond said he thought
the houses would each average over $3000. in valuation.
Nine lights would give fifty percent service. The cost is
$16. per year per light so the total would cost about $150.
The poles are all in but two. Mr. Raymond said that this
section was comparable to the Laconia Street section.
Mr. Raymond reminded the Board that the town voted
in 1939 to install street lights in Oalanount Circle.
However, there are some people on the street who felt they
would rather not have the lights put in. Mrs. H. C. Blake
is the one who wants the lights. Mr. Raymond said he thought
it would suit her if they put in two or three lights on her
end of the street. Mr. Rowse moved that the procedure be
' followed. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so
voted.
Mr. Raymond said he had a request for a street light
from the family living at 4 Wadman Circle. This is a dark
spot and he would recommend one light and said that it
would serve four houses.
Mr. Potter moved that an article be inserted in the
warrant to see if the Town would approve nine street lights
in the Winter Street section and one for Wadman Circle.
Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond said that there had been some complaint
from Mr. W. S. Caouette because he did not receive a notice
before a betterment assessment was made. Mr. Raymond
thought there was some justification for his complaint.
Mr. Ross brought the matter to his attention and suggested
that we start the practice of sending out notices to
property owners as soon as the Selectmen authorized a water
main extension. He read the proposed notice and said that
he thought this was a good idea. Mr. Rowse suggested
not if ying the people before the extension is authorized.
Mr. Raymond said he thought that that would result in too
much delay. Mr. Potter moved that no action be taken on
the matter. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so
voted.
25`
Notices
re
assess-
ments.
' Mr. Raymond read a letter from Metcalf & Eddy recommend-
ing.an extension of time on Contract A to extend the time
of completion for 81 days. That would correspond with the Change
date of completion for all the work including construction order.
work. All of the pipe was laid and practically all the work
was done on the contract date which was August 26th, and he
recommended that the change order be signed. Mr. Potter
moved that the recommendation be approved. Mr. Locke
seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond said that with regard to the weather-
stripping of the door at the pumping station, he thought Pumping
Mr. Roundt.a l estimate of 450. was quite high so he station.
requested Metcalf & Eddy to get separate proposals with
the idea that the work would be done and paid for out of
the project, although the probability is that we cannot
get a Federal grant on it. Two bids of $50. each were
received, but on one there was a deduction of $19. if the
bidder did not have to do the painting. Mr. Raymond
recommended that the bid of $31. without painting be
accjppted. Mr. Rowse moved that the recommendation be
approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so
voted.
' Mr. Raymond said that under the revised Sewer Act, all
sewers built with the aid of Federal funds shall not be
included in computing the cost of sewers for the previous
five years in arriving at the sewer assessment rate. It
26
throws the 1940 sewer assessment rate down so low that the
rate is less than it will be for those sewers constructed '
Sewer with the aid of the W.P.A. Mr. Raymond said that if
Assessment this were known, we would not get many signatures on
rate* requests for W.P.A. sewer projects. Mr. Raymond said he
wrote the Selectmen about this a couple of years ago and
so did Mr. Cosgrove. They informed the Board that if
sewers were not built by the town, the assessment rate would
be very low on the five year average cost. The Chairman
suggested that the town borrow a little more.than 50% of
the cost of the sewers and have the W.P.A. appropriation
absorb the balance. Mr. Raymond read sewer assessment rates
of sewers constructed under the Town as compared with the
rate if sewers were constructed under the W.P.A. He said
that there was no lot that was not bettered to the extent
of at least $1.50 per front foot. Mr. Raymond asked if the
Board wanted him to send out new sewer assessment lists
to the Liberty Heights and North Lexington sections based
on the 1940 assessment rate. He also asked if he would send
out new lists to the people on. Woburn Street. Mr. Rowse
asked if Woburn Street could be done under W.P.A. and Mr.
Raymond replied in the affirmative. Mr. Rowse suggested
that Mr. Raymond write the people and tell them that the
Town is requesting that the work be done under W.P.A. and
ask them if the projects are approved, they will agree to
pay the assessment rate. Mr. Raymond said he thought that
we should do some sewer work with town funds. The Chairmen ,
said he thought it would be best to wait until we see how
many sewer projects are going to be approved by the W.P.A.
and then consider doing the rest of them with Town funds.
Mr. Raymond said that if the Woburn Street job was done next
year with Town funds, it would bring the assessment rate back.
Mr. Rowse moved that the Woburn Street sewer be sub-
mitted to the W.P.A. for approval. Mr. Sarano seconded the
motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond said he had been asked if the town
wanted to have an insurance appraisal. It was pointed out
Insurance that there had been an increase in costs amounting to about
appraisal 7% since the dppraisal was made in 1935. Mr. Raymond
thought that the depreciation in town buildings almost
balanced the 7%. The inquirer wanted $300. to bring the
appraisal up to date. Mr. Potter moved that no action be
taken on the matter. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it
was so voted.
Mr. Raymond reported that the Chamber of Commerce
Use of would like the use of Estabrook Hall for a meeting on
Hall. Jan. 26th. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be
granted free of charge. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion
and it was so voted.
27
The Chairman said that he talked with the Tovin
' Counsel about the possibility of Mr. Raymond resigning,
Mr. Wrightington thought it was a practical matter that Supt, of
should be worked out in the best way possible, but from Public
a legal standpoint, he had no fears about not appointing Works
a Supt. of Public Works right away. He said that Mr.
Wrightington suggested that if Mr. Raymond was made avail-
able and it was agreed to pay him a retainer fee, he
thought it should be charged to two accounts, one amount
for P.W.A. work and one amount for Town work. The Town's
share can be charged to the Superintendent's salary account
until the Town Meeting and he thought it could continue to
be charged there and that the Town Meeting Members should be
told that an amount is in the Superintendent's salary account
to cover that item. Mr. Raymond said that if he resigned
and his services were made available to the town, he thought
he should have copies of the Selectmen's records and of the
departmental weekly reports. Mr. Raymond said he thought his
clerk should be kept in the office so she could make a record
of all calls and in many cases take complaints and later
refer them to the proper individuals.
It was decided to take no action tonight, but to call
a special meeting when and if Mr. Raymond resigns. The
Chairman said that if Mr. Raymond did resign, the Board
should pass a vote to retain him as P.W.A. correspondent.
' Mr. Morse appeared before the Board to discuss welfare Welfare
matters.
Applications for the position of Building Inspector
were received from the following;
J. L. Douglass; David Kirkbright; Frank A.
Faulkner; James Irwin; Charles E. Ferguson; Building
George R. Mitchell; George A. Jaynes; George Inspector
E. Swanson; Perley C. Tibbetts.
The Clerk was instructed to furnish the members with
the information supplied on each application.
It was decided to hold the matter over until next
Monday evening.
The following commitments were signed:
Water House Connections for 1940 - $14.15 Commitment
" it it 1939 - 28.55
Sewer House Connections - 35.86
The meeting adjourned at 11:55 P.M.
A true record,- Attest: