Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-02-26 840.4 to c SELECTMEN'S' METING FEB. 26, 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, 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 Reoorda 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 Town had to have but decided to ask Mr. Worthen's opinion on it. Mr. Worthen did not think so much of such a project but did say he thought it would be a good idea to have the old town records copied and an index media. . 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 Town Meeting, all matters were immediately indexed. He said that the woman on the W.P.A. who worked in his office started with records of 1692 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 Treasurer's 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 hays 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. Worthen 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 Mr. Carroll if he was satisfied that the Town Clerk's records were in a place that were safe from fire, and Mr. Carroll said that hb was aaiisfied that they were. He retired at 7155 P.M. 85 Ir. Raymond appeared- before. the. Beard.. .Hepresented. a letter from Metcalf & Eddy relative to the extension of time on Contract 5 for the equipment of the North Lexington Change Sewage Pumping Station. For various reasons the contractor order. was not able to start his work until Sept. 16th when_.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. Mr. Raymond said that Mr. William Fiske of East Street was made an offer of $250. in connection with 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 Miss 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. Wrightington, 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 touch 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. Fiske's original claim was *550. 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 Mr. 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. 4"osgrove looked into the matter of Mrs. Blake's request for 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 bank 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 8t10 P. M. 86 r CC CC el Chief Taylor appeared beiorsthe 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 he talked with the captains and asked them if they would be willing to have the Bien 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 ntne men and Chief TslYlor 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 this was an excellent way to handle the situation. Chief Taylor retired at 8316 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. suit 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 Board's real interest was that the departments stay within their budgets. , and that they do their work. The matter was held over for one week. Letter was received from the Town Accountant calling Snow the Board's attention to the fact that the largest amount Removal- 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 $9136.10 which is substaptially in excess of that expended in February 1939. Mr. Aussell 87 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. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letters were received from Nina F. Mo Lellan and L1ite . 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 H. amont Chairman of the Town Meeting Members of Precinct Two: , 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 haye 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 Can. of in that each precinct might feel differently on various Twelve. matters. He said that the Selectmen and the Appropriation Co±mittee wanted to do whatever the Town Meeting Members preferred. He said that things would be a little difficult beoause 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. Cistance 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 five 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 figure.of 420;000. ' 'Ee said the W.P.A. budget was set up at $20,000. by the Selectmen and $22,000. by the Appropriation Committee. The Selectm en have aubmitt4d 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 II Accountant to see that funds coming in from these sewer assessments be used to liquidate the bonded debt. There will • a defidiency of about $160(.4 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 88 e well afford to pass- up. Es. .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 X.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 100% 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 based o . 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 Chairman. said that he had requested the Town Accountant to draw off a complete record of how the tax dollars had been spent in the last twenty years. He said that Lexington had not been below a $30. tax rate for twenty years, 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 $19. 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 $130,000. 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 constructibi'i work. Be said thatin the twenties, the Town was in a deplorable condition because very 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 dons about keeping the construction program up. The Chairma4rsaid 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 Selectmen's 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 sus. Mr. Brown said the thought it would be well to pay fl. 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. Mr. Lamont said that we had been adding $1. or $1.50 to our tax rate for a great many years and had reached a point where the Town was eating up its profits. Be asked how much that dollar was going to take out of the citizens' value of their property. He said that the town's valuation was 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 peoplethat have earned and paid for their property, about eight million dollars 89 in value of real estate. The Selectmen say "it is the Welfare rolls and the State and County Taxes that 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 continually taking the deficiency out of the town departments. Mr. ont said 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. Be said that the bonded debt was coming down this year and would decrease every year. He said that if $2.50 was taken off our tax rate, $50,000. would have to come out of the town departments. Mr. Lamont said that it was up to the Selectmen to say what that was to be taken out of. . The Chairman said be did not agree and that the Selectmen's duty was done when they presented budgets to cover what they thought was needed to 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 request 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 $30. 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 ih 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 Towel Meeting Members knowing nothing about the budgets yet they are trying to tell the Selectmen, who know everything about them, how to run the town. He 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 paid that they had been purchased by the 4epartment heads with the approval of the Suptl of Public Works. Of course we have no Supt. of Public Works how, so the Selectmen approve the puehasea. Mr. Potter said that the Selectmen always 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 Committee had any jurisdiction over the School Committee 90 tc and if the schools had to submit their budgets to the Appropriation Committee. The Chairman replied in the Affirma- tive. Mr. Cuatance 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 welfare. In 1939 the department asked for $129,000. and the Selectmen told them to re-write their budget on the *aide 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 tall 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. However, although the Appropriation Committee said last year that $115,000. would not be sufficient for 1939, thattie 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 inetAlled 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 Selectman had no jurisdiction over the schools and librariea. He said, however, that when the new Supt. of Public Works was hired, the idea would be submitted to him. The group retired at 10:20 P.M. Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 10:25 P.M. Welfare relative to Welfare matters. Letter was received from James Stuart Smith advising that the Trustees of the Cary Memorial Building would be glad Cary to have the portraits of the Cary 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 Estabrook Hall on Wednesday March. 13th, from 10:00.-A.M. to 5 P.Y. was received from the Use of BostOn Regional Produce Market, Inc. Mr. Locke moved that Hall. theuseof the hall be granted on that date subject to a fee of $10.00. Mr. Saran° seconded the motion and it was so voted. Application for the use of Cary Hall on February 20th 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 voted. 91 Letter was received from Margaret Collins of 160 Woburn Street stating that she had taken the petition for the Wobutn extension of the sewer in that street to the abutters on the 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. Brown's 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 requesting that he be given consideration when insurance policies Insur• expire ih the future. The Clerk was instructed to place Mr. ance. •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 II $1500. for a snow plow for the tractor from the Snow removal account. 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 porta would cost approximately $500. He said that in 1938 and 1939, the Highway 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 *75. 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 Public Works Building. Mr. Sarano 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 cradle 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. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said that Mr. John Milton Brown, Chatrman of the Committee appointed to study fimedepartment accommo- Report. dations, wanted to know if the Board wanted the committee's report mimeograpUed for the Town Meeting Members. The Board felt that it would be sufficient if the original me filed with the Moderator. 92 11,1 The Chairman reported that Mrs Florence Bruce of North Street claimed that the Town tractor pulled out two of her Damage to Cedar trees when plowing snow. It was decided to ask Mr. 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 8. 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. R. Litchfield of Offer for 486 Itarrett Road offering to purchase Lot 75, Cary Rotate, 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 ih the amount Abatements,of $39.38, Water Assessment Abatements amount to $52.00, etc. and Water Liens in the amount of $207.44 were signed. Letter was reoeived from Mr. Clayton F. Beach asking permiasiontto purchase 693 feet of 18 inch pipe (plain Pipe- concrete* for the North Hancock Strsbt drain. Mr. Beach W.P.A. said that this would amount to approximately $658.35. Mr. 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 effectoesn allowances.April lat. 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 11:10 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. Locks seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Clerk was instructed to write Chief Taylor and tell him to limit aimself 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.M. A true record, Attests Clerk.