HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-02-2684
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3EI,ECT�tEN � � ME^T ING
M , 260 1940.
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A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held
.in the Selettmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M.
Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Locke and Sarano were present•
The Clerk was also present.
Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, appeared before the
Board. The Chairman said that the man at the head of the
Historical Records Division of the W.P.A. came to Lexington
and tried to sell the Town. the idea of having a W.P.A..
project on historical matters. The Selectmen did not feel
that it was anything the Torn had to have but decided to ask
Mr. Worthents opinion on it. Mr. Worthen did not think so
much of such a project but did say he thought it mould be a
good idea to have the old town records copied and an index madbo.
Town
The Chairman said that the reason he had asked Mr. Carroll to
Records
appear tonight was to discuss this subject.
Project.
Mr. Carroll said that the indexing was all completed
from the beginning to the present time. The Chairman asked
if, the index was up-to-date, and Mr. Carroll replied in the
affirmative. He said that after a Torn Meeting, all matters
were immediately indexed. He said that the woman on the W*P.Ao
who worked in his office started with records of 1698 and
copied them up to 1891. He said that from 1880 on the Town
records are in good condition. However, there are a few odd
books, such as Treasurerts cash books, tax return books, etc.
that have not been copied. He did not think that it was
necessary to have these done, however. He said that those
that needed to be done most had been copied. Mr. Carroll said
that he did not have the necessary equipment to do such work,
He has one old typewriter which belongs to himself and another
machine that is 35 years old. He said he did not like to have
an outsider in his office anyway and did not care to go through
the routine of breaking in a new girl. He said that there was
a provision in his bond referring to persons who may be inside
his office. Mr. Carroll said he talked with Mr. Wortheh
today and Mr. Worthen said he would like to have the historical
records copied. This would not have to be done in Mr. Carroll's
office but could be done anywhere. The Chairman said that
Mr. Worthen said that there was no index of town records
previous to 1800 and Mr. Carroll'said that he could not agree
and that there was an index prior to that date. The Chairman
asked Mr. Carroll to talk the matter over with Mr. Worthen
and he said that he would be glad to do so. The Chairman
asked Mr. Carroll if what had been copied had been bound,
and he said that they had not been. The Chairman asked Mro
carroll if he was satisfied that the Town Olerkts records were
in a place that were safe from fire, and Mr. Carroll said that Jib
was saiisfied that they were.
,
He retired at 705 P.M.
Mr. Raymond appeared-- bef or.e.. the... Rcar_d..... ATe. presented.
a letter from Metcalf & Eddy relative to the extension of
' time on Contract 5 for the equipment of the North Lexington
Sewage Pumping Station. For various reasons the contractor
was not able to start his work until Sept. 16th whem-he should
have started it July 3rd. Metcalf & Eddy recommended that an
extension of time be granted of 103 days to cover the period
from the contract date of completion.. Oct. 30, 1939, to
tha actual date of completion, February 10, 1940. Mr. Raymond
recommended that the change order be signed. Mr. Potter moved
that the Board sign the change order. Mr. Sarano seconded the
motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond asked if the Board would want anything from
the Old Adams School other than lumber, he said there was
quite a lot of second-hand brick that the -Town might use. It
was felt that the Town could buy, second-hand material at the
yards of building wreckers as cheaply as it could from the
site of the building. It was therefor decided not to ask for
alternate bids on the demolition of the building.
* T1
Change
order.
Mr. Raymond said that Mr. William Fiske of East Street
was made an offer of $250. in connectionwith his claim on the
Vine Brook taking and the right to flow on land below an,- Fiske
elevation of 176 feet. Mr. Fiske came into the office and claim
told'Xiss Corcoran that he was not satisfied with that offer
' and wanted Mr. Raymond to get in touch with him. Mr. Raymond
did so and talked with Mr. Wrigh.tington, who said that Mr.
Fiske was an old taxpayer and had never cost the town any-
thing. If he thought he had a fair claim, he would be inclined
to settle for what the man asked. Mr. Fiske apparently got
in tough with a neighbor and got an opinion from him that the
neighbor was being treated much better than he was. Mr.
Raymond asked Mr. Wrightington if he had any objection to
increasing the offer of settlement and he replied in the
negative. Mr. Flake's original claim was 0550. Mr. Raymond
asked him what he would settle for and he finally said he
would settle for $400. Mr. Fiske wanted one of the Selectmen
to go over and talk with him. Mr. Potter moved that lir.
Fiske be offered the sum of $400. to settle his claim. Mr.
Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond said that Mr. (oosgrove looked into the
matter of Mrs. Blake's request fer an abatement of her water Blake
betterment assessment on Lot 151 Grant Street. He pointed water
out that the front of the lot was about thirty feet back of assessment
the retaining wall and is approximately fifteen feet higher
than the street and has a large amount of ledge, He recommended
abatement of the water assessment as it is practically impossible
to build on the lot without a very large expenditure for the
removal of ledge.
' Mr.. Potter moved that the Selectmen authorize the
abatement of the assessment. Mr. Locke seconded tha motion
and it was so voted.
Mr. Raymond retired at 8tlO P. M.
86
Chief Taylor apjeared beforethe Board. The Chairman
Firemen•
said he had talked with the Chief about having firemen do
traffic
traffic duty at schools because the sidewalks were not plowed.
,
duty.
Chief Taylor said that lie talked with the captains and asked
them if they would be willing to have the i*on do traffic duty
and they said that they would be glad to. Chief Sullivan
conferred with Chief Taylor and it developed that seventeen
men were needed to safeguard the town. Chief Sullivan could
furnish nine men and Chief Tekylor said that he would furnish
eight. In order that he would not lower the efficiency of.
the department by having the permanent men on duty all over
town, Chief Taylor hired back some of the call men that had
been on duty during the snow storm. He said that if he could
have five call men in the stations and pay them, he could give
eight permanent men to traffic duty. Mr. Potter asked how
he planned to pay these men, and the Chief said he would have
to have extra money in his appropriation for them. It is
costing about $22.50 per day. He said the attitude of the
Appropriation Committee was that it would approve whatever
additional funds he needed as that Committee felt that thin
was an excellent way to handle the situation.
Chief Taylor retired at 8:16 P.M.
The Chairman said he wanted to discuss working out a
wage scale for the men that would assure them of somewhat
reasonable living. At the employees's meeting on last Friday,
Laborers there was an open discussion on the subject. One of the men '
wage pointed out that the laborers ought to have an average income
scale* that would at least enable them to pay their rent and feed
their families. The rents in town run anywhere from $28.
to $40, a month. The Chairman said that nobody wanted to
increase the budgets to accomplish this end. He talked with
the department heads on the subject. Mr. Paxton said he
could accomplish this without increasing his budget if the
Selectmen would approve a higher rate of pay for the men. He
would employ less men in the busy seasons and would have his
men work longer hours. Garrity can stay within his budget and
see that his men get a better rate by having them work longer
hours. Mr. Ross has the most difficulty. Even though he
has the, --money in his appropriation, sometimes the work is not
available because extensions, services,, etc._ are not requested.
The Chairman suggested that the heads of the departments con•
sult further and try to work out the problem. He said that
if the matter could be worked out It seemed the only place
where extra money would be needed was the Water and Sewer
Department. He said that the Boardts real interest was that
the departments stay within their budgets., and that they do th4dr
work.
The matter was held over for one week.
Letter was received from the Town Accountant calling
Snow the Boardts attention to the fact that the largest amount
ikemova1- expended for snow removal in any one month in 1939 was '
Emergency $6694.09. Because of the two recent storms, the expenditures
in February 1940 total $91.36.10 which is substantially in
excess of that expended in February 1938. Mr. t`ussell
on
suggested that the Selectmen declare.an emergenny. Mr.
Potter moved that the Selectmen declare an emergency under
' the provisions of Section 31 of Chapter 44, General Laws,
because of the money expended on snow removal. Mr. Looks
seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Letters were received from Nina F. MoC.Lellan and Alice.
Snow
M. McCarthy commending the Highway Department on the excellent
Removal
work done on removing snow.
At 8:40 P.M., Mr. Eugene L. Morgan, Chairman of the
Town. Meeting Members of Precinct One, Mr. Harold b. amont
Chairman of the Town Meeting Members of Precinct Twat, and
Mr. Norman Brown, Chairman of the Town Meeting Members in
Precinct Three, appeared before the Board.
The Chairman asked how they preferred to handle the
discussion of budgets this year, wondering if .they preferred
to hays individual precinct meetings or to have one meeting
of all the precincts. He said that if the precincts met
Budgets-
separetely, he wondered -if they might not have difficulty
Com, of
in that each precinct might feel differently on various
Twelve.
matters. He said that the Selectmen and the Appropriation
Coittee wanted to do whatever the Town Meeting Members
preferred. He said that things would be a little difficult
because the Appropriation Committee probably would not be
able to get its report out until March 15th. If they waited
for that report before they had their meetings, it would give
'
only ohe and a half weeks to consider the budgets.
Mr. Lamont said that he went to a precinct meeting last
year and nothing whatsoever was accomplished.
Mr. Custance appeared at 8=50 P.M.
The Chairman asked the group to remember that the bud-
gets might be revised right up to Town Meeting time. For
instance, in the past Sive years we have had an average expend-
iture for snow of $17,000. By the time the bills, including
the two storms have been paid, we will have spent about
$15,000. If sidewalks had been plowed, $5,000. would have
been added. If we have no more snow this year, the -Selectmen
probably will not change their f1guk6.dU_"$20 0006'..:.Se said
the W.P.A. budget was set up et $20,000. by the Selectmen
and $22,000. by the Appropriation Committee. The Selectm en
have.submittdd three.W.P.A. sewer projects and they feel an
obligation to do this because of the present opportunity to
get sewer work done very cheaply and at the lowest sewer
assessment rate for many years. If this work is done under
W.P.A. as against doing it by the.Town in some years to come,
there will be a saving to the Town of about $100,000. The
Board may not know at the time of Town Meeting whether or
not the projects have been approved. The Selectmen will
ask for permission to borrow money for these projects and
will also ask the Town to pass a vote instructing the Towh
Accountant to see that funds coming in from these sewer
'
assessments be used to liquidate the bonded debt. There will
e a defidiency
of about 1600k. per year, making a.total of
16,000. for ten years a s against the saving of $100,000.00.
The selectmen feel that it is an opportunity it cannot very
•
.•
well afford to_pasa-up,._Ke.,_.pointed out that the money was
going to be spent by the Federal government somewhere and
if Lexington can save $100,000., the Selectmen would be remiss
in not presenting the projects. If the sewer projects go
through, the W.P.A. appropria tion will be cut to $15,000.
He asked the group to bear ih mind that neither the
Selectmen, the Town Meeting Members noir the Appropriation
Committee could set the tax rate. Only one Board can do that
and that is the Board of Assessors. After Town Meeting, they
have to take into consideration all sorts of fixed taxes
such as Water Tax, Sewer Tax, etc. He said it was not
conservative to estimate 1W% on receipts and if there are
taxes outstanding, there should be some leeway for utilizing
the receipts. Based, on the assumption that the taxes
included by the.Assessors would be approximately the same,
and if the estimated receipts are basdd oA a figure of
90%, the Selectmen figure that the tax rate will be about
$32.50. Mr. Lamont said that that was not low enough. The
Chairmsu:;said that he had requested the Town Accountant to
draw off a complete record of how the tax dollars had boon
spent in the last twenty years. He said that Lexington had
not been below a,$30, tax rate for twenty yearey Mr. Russell
will show how much money has gone to bonded debt, charities,
etc, and what was left to operate the town. Ten or 12 years
ago, we had left to operate'schools and town departments}
outside of fixed taxes $23, or $24. Four or five years
later, we had $18. to 119, left to operate the Town, and in
the last five years we have been operating the Town on between
$16', and $17. Twenty years ago we had $1309000. to
operate our schools and today we have about $230,000, and the
other town departments have been taking the rap.
Mr. Custance said that it was dangerous not to be
doing any eonstructI64 work. He said thatin the twenties,
the. Town was in a deplorable condition because eery little
construction work had been done. -He said that in the thirties
the Town has gone back much in this work and he asked what
was going to be done about keeping the construction -program
up. The Chairma-said that he did not feel that the Town
had gone back, a thought that the present facilities
had been maintained very well.
The Chairman said the Selectments business was not to
approve budgets to reach a certain tax rate. Their duty
was to present to the Town what they thought should be
appropriated to maintain the equipment and sere sas. Mr.
Brown said the thought it would be well to pay 1. or $1.50
more on the tax rate and not put off construction work.until
a day when a great deal of it will have to be done. Ur,
Lamont said that we had been adding $1. or $1.50 to ourtax
rate for a great many years and had reached.a point where
the Town was eating up its profits. He asked how much that
dollar was going to take out of the citizens' value of their
property. He said that the townts valuation_waa twentythree
million dollars and anybody would admit that that is anywhere
from 20% to 40% more than the true valuation. He said the
Town has taken out of the pockets of the people.that have
earned and paid for their property, about eight million dollars
J
1
1
6
•
in value of real estate. The Selectmen say "it is the
Welfare rolls and the State and County Taxes.tEat are the
reasons for it and that it cannot be helped". He asked if they
were going to continue to boost the tax rate. The Chairman
said that the Selectmen had not increased the tax rate, but were
oontinuallyy taking the deficiency out of the town departments.
Tas=t.said
Mr. there was no better time than right now
to bond. Mr. Potter said that if we had not had our bonded
debt to pay off in the last eight or ten years, the rax rate
would not have been so high. Mr. Lamont said he did not know
why anybody should pay for street construction out of cash
now when money rates were so low. The Chairmansaid that
the Selectmen had not approved doing any construction. He
said that the bonded debt was coming down this year and would
decrease every year. He said that if #2.50 was taken off
gur tax rate, $50,OOq..would have to come out of the tewn
.departments. .
Mr. Lamont said that it was up to the Selectmen to say
what that was to be taken out of.. The Chairman said hie did
not agree and that the Selectmen's duty was done when they
presented budgets to cover what the ht was needed to
g Y thought
maintain the town. Mr. Lamont asked if the Selectmen did
or did not care to acknowledge the fact that the Town Meeting
Members had made a requdst for a $30. tax rate. .He said that
70% of the Town Meeting Members had requested it.
Mr. Custance said that he was willing to work toward
a $300 tax rate, but did not want to accomplish that by
destroying values.
Mr. Brown said that he did not believe that 70 or 80%
of the Town Meeting Members wanted to accomplish a $30* tax
rate that way.
The Chairman said that the Appropriation Committee would
undoubtedly show what would have to be eliminated th order to
accomplish a $30. tax rate. He said that the Town Meeting
was the power here and it could vote anything it wanted.
Mr. Lamont asked if the Selectmen would want the Town
Meeting Members, who know nothing about the budgets, to cut and
slash them in order to accomplish a $30, tax rate. The Chair-
man said that that was just the point. He repeated what Mr.
Lamont had said about the TowA Meeting Members knowing nothing
about the budgets yet they.are trying to tell the Sele toren,
who know everything about them, how to run the town, a said
that the Town Meeting Members could not issue a mandato to
the Selectmen. He said that the Selectmen were going to
operate within the laws they were supposed to operate under.
Mr. Morgan asked if materials were purchased by the
individual departments or by one person. The Chairman
}said that they had been purchased by the apartment heads
with the approval of the Suptl of Public forks. Of course
we have no Supt. of Public Works Snow, so the Selectmen
approve the puchases. Mr. Potter said that the Selectmen
arrays asked for bids when purchasing anything.of size.
'
Mr. Morgan asked if a saving might not be made if equipment
was loaned from one department to another and the Chairman
said that that was being done now. He explained the Road
Machinery Fund. Mr. Lamont asked if the Appropriation
Committbe had any jurisdiction over the School Committee
Welfare
and if the schools had to submit their budgets to the
Appropriation Committee. The Chairman replied In the affirma-
tive.
Mr. Custanee asked what the difference was between the
amounts approved for Welfare by the Selectmen and by the
Appropriation Committee, The Chairman explained that the
year before last, the town spent $115,000, for all forms of
welfate. In 1939 the department -asked for $129,000t and
the Selectmen told them to re -write their budget on the "*is
of $115,000. spent for the previous year. The Appropriation
Committee said that it approved what the Selectmen were
trying to do, but that it was an impossibility and it therefor
would set aside a sum of money in the Reserve Fund for
charities. Last fall it was necessary to transfer funds
and in all a_total was transferred to make up a net difference
of $8500. This year the Welfare Dept, asked for "$'129,000.
but the Selectmen said that they would not approve more than
was spent last year and therefor approved $123,500. Howeverp
although the Appropriation Committee said last year that
$115,000. would not be sufficient for 1939, thatla all they
approved for 1940.
Mr. Lamont said that the general impression among the
Town Meeting Members was that various employees received
money from different accounts and he suggested that a list
of the total salary paid each employee be prepared. He said
that there were several economies that could be inn tAlled
and thought that a postage meter would be excellent. He
also thought there would be a distinct saving if all town
printing w as let out to one bidder. This would include
schools, libraries, etc. The Chairman said that the Sielsotmrn
had no jurisdiction over the schools and libraries. He said,
however, that when the new Supt. of Public Works was hired,
The
Mr. Mcrae appeared before the Board at 101
group retired at 10120 P.M.
Letter was received From Demes Stuart Smith advising
that the Trustees of the Cary Memorial Building would be glad
Cary to have the portraits of the Gary family placed in the room
portraits on the second floor of the wing nearest to the Town Office
Building where the Trustees met. The Clerk was instructed
to so notify Mr. Worthen,
Application for the use of 8stabrook Hall on Wednesday
March 13th, from 1O100.tA.M. to ,5 P.M. was received from the
Use of Boston Regional Produce Market, Inc. Mr. Locke moved that
Hall, the. -use of the hall be grant®d on that date subject to a
fee of $10.00. Mr. Sarana seconded the motion and it was to
voted.
• Application for the use of Cary Hall on February 80th
was received from the Boston Market Gardners' Association.
Mr. Potter moved that the use. of :the hall be -granted subject
to the usual fee, Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was
so
25 P.M.
relative to Welfare matters.
1
1
noted.
1
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no
Letter was received from Joseph A. Ross, Supt. of the
Water and Sewer Dept. recommending the purchase of a welding Welding
machine or the parts with which one might be built, He said :. machine.
a new machine would cost $1100. and the pa.rtt would cost
approximately $500. He said that in 1938 and 1939, the
Higbway Dept. spent $431.98 for welding; in 1934 the Water
Dept. paid $322. for the hire of a welding machine to thaw
frozen pipes, and 475. in 1940. Thus $828.98 has been paid over
a period of four years for the use of a welding machine.
Mr. Ross said that a machine could be assembled at'the
Publico Works Building, Mr. Saran recommended appropriating
$400. for the parts and said that the mechanic, Mr. Barry,
could assemble the machine, put it on a cradle, and put the
radle on a truck. Mr. Potter moved that the Board approve
400. for the purchase of parts with which a welding machine
is to be built, this expense to be charged to the Road
Machinery Account. Mr. Saran seconded the motion and it
was so voted.
The Chairman said that Mr. John Milton Brown, Chatrman
of the Committee appointed to study fins department accommo-
' dations, wanted to know if the Board wanted the committeers
report mimeographed for the Town Meeting Members. The Board
felt that it would be sufficient if the original was filed
with the Moderator.
Report.
Letter was received from Margaret Collins of 160 Woburn
Street stating that she had taken the petibion for the
extension of the sewer in that street to the abutters on the
Woburn
Street
assessment list. Only one person was willing.to sign the
sewer,
petition but did not do it. No action was taken ,on the matter.
Application for the renewal of Wilma A. Brownts
physiotherapy license was received. Mr. Potter moved that
License,
the license be renewed. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and
it was so voted.
Letter was received from Mr. W. S. Caouette requestiaig
that he begivenconsideration when insurance policies
Insure
expire iia the future. The Clerk was instructed to place Mr.
ante.
•Caouette's name on file. for future reference.
The Chairman said that last week the Selectmen
approved charging four V -lows at $1200, to the Road Machinery
Account. He said that the -Supt, of the Highway Division
Equip -
thought that this charge should be made to the Snow Removal
ment.
account. He also thought that the $1500, for the snow plow
on the tractor should be charged to.the -Snow Removal account.
Mr. Potter moved that the Board rescind its vote of last week
to charge the four V -plows and the snow plow on the tractor
to the Road Machinery Account, Mr. Locke seconded the motion
and it was so voted. It was then voted to approve $3600,
from the Road Machinery Account for the tractor and.to approve
$1500. for a snow plow for the tractor from the Snow removal
aneount.
Letter was received from Joseph A. Ross, Supt. of the
Water and Sewer Dept. recommending the purchase of a welding Welding
machine or the parts with which one might be built, He said :. machine.
a new machine would cost $1100. and the pa.rtt would cost
approximately $500. He said that in 1938 and 1939, the
Higbway Dept. spent $431.98 for welding; in 1934 the Water
Dept. paid $322. for the hire of a welding machine to thaw
frozen pipes, and 475. in 1940. Thus $828.98 has been paid over
a period of four years for the use of a welding machine.
Mr. Ross said that a machine could be assembled at'the
Publico Works Building, Mr. Saran recommended appropriating
$400. for the parts and said that the mechanic, Mr. Barry,
could assemble the machine, put it on a cradle, and put the
radle on a truck. Mr. Potter moved that the Board approve
400. for the purchase of parts with which a welding machine
is to be built, this expense to be charged to the Road
Machinery Account. Mr. Saran seconded the motion and it
was so voted.
The Chairman said that Mr. John Milton Brown, Chatrman
of the Committee appointed to study fins department accommo-
' dations, wanted to know if the Board wanted the committeers
report mimeographed for the Town Meeting Members. The Board
felt that it would be sufficient if the original was filed
with the Moderator.
Report.
92
The Chairman reported that Mrs Florence Bruce of Horth
Street claimed that the Town tractor pulled out two of her
Damage to
Cedar trees when plowing snow. It was decided to ask fir.
trees.
Garrity to go over to Mrs Bruce's when he is able, to see what
,
it would cost to replace the trees.
Letter was received from Chief Sullivan with reference
to Henry S. Raymond's complaint that boys were shooting air
' Complaint
rifles in the neighborhood of Clarke Street. The Chief said
re air
he had instructed the officers to watch for these boys and
rifles,
eliminate.the nuisance. The Clerk was instructed to so
notify Mr. Raymond.
Letter was received from Mr. F. M. Litchfield of
Offer for'
486 Marrett Road offering to purchase Lot-75, Cary Estate,
lot*
for the sum of $100. Mr. Potter said that he would ask
his committee to look at the lot and }report on the matter
at the next meeting.
Commitment of Water Miscellaneous Charges iii the amount
Abatements,of
$39.38, Water Assessment Abatements amount to $52.40,
etc.
and Yater Liens in the amount of $207.44 were signed.
Letter was received from Mr. Clayton F. Beach asking
permission%tto purchase 693 feet of 18 inch pipe (plain
Pipe-
concrete* for the North Hancock Street drain. Mr. Beach
W.P.A.
said that this would amount to apprdxImately $658.35. lir.
Potter moved that Mr. Beach be authorized to purchase the
pipe. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted.
'
The Chairman asked the Board if it wished to have
Auto
the changes in the automobile.allowances go into effectoon
allowances.April
let. It was decided to hold the matter over for
one week.
Mr. Robert C. Merriam Chairman of the Appropriation .
Committee, appeared before the Board at 11s10..P.M. He said
Fire Dept,
that the Appropria tion Committee had approved an additional
budget.
$300, for extra duty in the Fire Dept. budget, making a total
of $400, approved for this item. Mr. Potter moved that the
Selectmen also approve $400, for this item. Mr.-Locke seconded
the motion and it was so voted.
The Clekk was instructed to write Chief Taylor and tell
him to limit #imself to hot more than five days traffic duty per
week, for his men and to discontinue this duty if the weather
changes.
The meeting adjourned at 11%30 P.Bi.
A true record, Attests