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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-03-04 95 SELECTMEN'S MEETING MARCH 4, 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. At 7:30 P.M. the Town Clerk appeared before the Board for the drawing of a juror to serve on civil business at Lowell, Juror. first session beginning Monday April lat. Mr. Frederick C. Hadley, draftsman, of 12 Bertwell Road, was the juror drawn. Letter was received from Mr. John W. Raymond, Jr. , notifying the Selectmen that in accordance with Section 15, Chapter 40, G.L. , the right taken by eminent domain of a temporary leasehold interest in the location described underll. in the Order of Taking dated September 274 1938, on lands now or formerly of Colonial Garage, Inc. , said taking being recorded in Middlesex South District of Deeds, Book 6248, Page 2, and Lease- consisting of the right to use said land by the Selectmen or hold other duly authorized agents of the Town or contractors with interest the Town and their agents or servants for the operation of Release engineers and workmen, and the storage of equipment and of materials for construction, or materials removed from construction, or for any other purpose in the construction of said public works, including the right to erect and maintain such temporary office quarters and shelters as may be reasonably necessary, is no longer required for public purposes. Mr. Raymond said he believed there should have been an article in the Warrant for the Annual Meeting to effedt the Supple- abandonment of this easement. He talked to Mr. Wrightington mentary on the matter and he thought it would be in order for a Warrant. supplementary warrant to be mailed in the same envelope with the Appropriation Committee Report. Mr. Raymond suggested the form of article. Mr. Locke moved that a supplementary warrant be prepared to tak care of this matter. "otter was received from the Town Accountant relative to the article in the warrant for an-appropriation for Unemploy- ment Relief. Mr. Russell said that hapter 46 was enacted Art. re last year and this extended the time in which towns might funds appropriate money for temporary emergency unemployment relief. for Un- This Legislation provided that any town may by a two-thirds employ- vote establish and appropriate money for a :separate fund for meat expenditure by or under the direction of the boards or relief. officers in charge of Town departments, subject to the approval of a board of administration consisting of su0 Town officers sit drrielis as the Town shall, by its vote, dtermin4, ror the construction, improvement or repair of public ways, public parks, sewer and water supply systems, municipal buildings, and other municipal works of undertaking whereby empolyment may be afforded to citizens of the Town, who shall be determined in such manner as the Town shall, by its vote, prescribe to be ill need thereof] or for the purchase or hire of materials, 96 tc supplies and equipment and the employment of labor for the furtherance of,or as the contribution of the Towh to any federal unemployment relief project undertaken or to be undertaken within the Town. It therefor will be necessary to first designate the board of administration and secondly, to designate the citizens to be afforded employment. The letter further stated that we have previously had an appropriation for purchase of materials and equipment and for wages of super- intendence on public works projects on which welfare aid recipients may be required to work. The last time an appropriation was made for this purpose was under Article 28 of the annual 1938 warrant, and as of March 1st, there was a balance in that account of $563.15. Mr. ussell suggested that an article similar to Article 28 in the 1938 warrant to appropriate money for unem- ployment relief be submitted. Mr. Locke moved that this article be inserted in the Article supplementary warrant. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Town Accountant calling the Board s attention to the fact that a Fire Dept. payroll was listed on the warrant today in the amount of $135. for pay for Emergency extra duty. This extra duty payroll has been occasioned by Fire Dept. the extra traffic work being performed by the Fire Dept. to budget. protect children. Mr. Russell said that this was a larger amouftt than was expended for the same purpose in any one nmonth in 1939. Mr. Sarano moved that the Selectmen declare the existence of an emergency under the provisions of Section 31, Chapter 44 General Laws. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was unan- imously voted. The Chairman said that Mr. Paxton tried out plowing the side walk on Mass. Ave. early today and found that it could be done very easily so with the approval of three members of the Board, Paxton was told to plow Mass. Ave. Sidewalks to the Arlington line. Mr. Potter moved that the action of the majority of the Board in ordering this work done be approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Town Counsel. He said he had reviewed Mr.Clay Gleason's letter of February 23rd regarding transportation by W.P.A. men of other W.P.S. men. The Clerk was instructed to give a copy of Mr. Wrightington's letter and one of Mr. Gleason's letter to Mr. Raymond and ask him to go over both of them and give the Board his opinion on the matter. The Chairman said that the Appropriation Committee had taken up the matter of an ambulance and voted to approve a sum not to exceed $2100. for the purchase of one. The Appropriation Committee approved of a suggestion which has been made that the ambulance be known as the Veterans' Memorial Ambulance and that it be purchased from the balance of the fund that has been outstanding for years for a veteran.' memorial. The same 97 suggestion has been made with reference to the land on Clarke Street and also that it be suggested to the Town Meeting that Land on when the Town extends the Cary Library, if ever, the wing on Clarke Clerks Street would be known as,the Veterans' Memorial Wing. Street. The Appropriation Committee approved of this. Mr. Potter moved that the Selectmen approve of it. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Clerk was instructedtto write the Rev. Paul H. Chapman and tell him that the Selectmen and the Appropriation Committee approved of the suggestion that the funds be trans- ferredifrom the Veterans' Memorial Fund and that when a wing is built that it be known as the Veterans' Memorial Wing. Letter was received from Clayton F. Beach relative to the Liberty Heights sewer project. He was imformed that Lib.Htgs Washington had asked for a official project number, which W.P.A. meant that the work had been approved although` said approval sewer had not reached Boston as yet. At 8s P.M. Messrs. Paxton and Ross appeared beforetthe Board to discuss the matter of wage rates. Mr. Ross said that Mr. Paxton, Mr. Garrity and he discussed the matter and Wage considered the hourly rates. Where they thought a man should scale. be increased, they made a note of it. When they got through they were pretty much satisfied that the men in each depart- ment would be on an equal basis. Mr. Ross said that he had IIfour men that would go from 55 cents to 60 cents per hour and one man would go from 50 cents to 55 cents per hour. The fou. men first named hangle equipment. The C hairman.:,asked if the men would average a fairly good week's pay if they were given this increa$e and the work went along in the same way it did last year and Mr. Ross replied ih the affirmative. He said the chances were that they would get some work connecting house sewers as a result of the W.P.A. sewers. Mr. Paxton said that if at any time during the year he or Mr. Ross felt the need of hiring additional men, they would confer to see if there were men available in the other depart- ment before hiring outsiders. Mr. Ross said that that would cost an additional $433. per year but that he would not require an additional appropriation. Beginning May let he would have two less men and he would not attempt to replace them. Their pay will offset this increase. Mr. Paxton said that the rates of pay had been based on the schedule of minimums and maximums for laborers, equipment operators and foremen. He said that he was figuring on increasing fourteen men in his department and he was co}ifident that his appropriation would be sufficient to cover the increases. He said that in 1939 two of his men retired and one man got throught.so there are three less regular men. One man retired the first of this year. Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Garrity had only four men that were affected. The Chairman asked about the Public 'corks Building employees and Mr. Ross said that he had charge of them. Mr. Raymond included enough in his budget to pay Stone $22.00 per week, Cassella $22.00 per week, Devey (Blacksmith) . $.60 98 CC CC per hour and Barry (mechanic) $35.00er week. The three men felt that Mr. Devey should receive a $.05 per hour increase and that Mr. Barry's rate was all right: The Chairman said that inasmuch as the Public Works Building budget would not allow for increases , he suggested that the other increases be granted and that Mr. Rosa submit his budget next year with recommended rates included. Mr. Paxton said that the matter of holidays with pay was discussed and all three men agreed that the men should be granted two other holidays with pay, the fourth of July and Labor Day. The Town pays for Christmas and Thanksgiving and that is all, although the men have to take other holidays off and do not get paid. Mr. Sarano moved that the increases for the Highway Dept. Water and Sewer Dept. and Park Department employees as itemized on the submitted lista be approved. Mr. Patter seconded the motion and it was so voted. This vote was passed with the understanding that the department heads stay within their budgets. Mr. Sarano moved that the men in the Highway, Water and Sewer and Park Departments be granted two additional holidays with pay, the fourth of July and Labor Day. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman asked Mr. Paxton what he recommended on plowing the sidewalks. Mr. Paxton recommended continuing Sidewalk on Maas. Ave. to Cedar Street, Bedford Street from the center plowing. to Parker School, Woburn Street from Mass. Ave. tb Utica Street, and Waltham Street from Masa. Ave. to either Marrett Road or Brookside Avenue. He said that if those were done, probably he would get complaint from Mrs. Dailey 6h Marrett Road And he thought perhaps it would be well to do Marrett Road from Bacon Street to Mass. Avenue. His estimated coat for this work was $250.00. The Chairman asked if he had any idea how much money he had spent on snow removal. He said that up to last Thursday Snow night, they had spent a total of $10,974.84. The Road Removal Machihery bill is $1456.02 for Fehruary, making a total of funds. $13,430.88 to date. The Chairman asked Mr. Paxton if he would have ready for March 18th a written report on everything spent on snow removal to that date so that the Board would know how much money would have to be appropriated for Snow Removal. He asked that this figure include the funds for setting out snow fence in the fall. Mr. Locke asked Mr. Paxton about Hancock Street. Hs said Snow that it was very flat and in rather badcondition because it Removal was bo slushy and wet. If given authority, he would do the main streets first and Hancock Street next, as he considered that was more or less a. main street. They retired at 8:30 P. M. Mr. Sarano moved that the sum of $250. for sidewalk plowing be approved, this amount to be charged to the Snow Removal appropriation. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. L _ 99 Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 8:40 P.H. relative to Welfare matters. Welfare. A petition signed by the abutters of Cary Avenue re- questing that a schedule of estimated betterments for the con- Cary struetion of that sptreet be prepared, was received. The Clerk Ave. was instructed to turn the matter over to the Town Engineer. The Clerk informed the Board that the P.T.A. wanted to change their request for the use of Estabrook Hall during the day to the following dates, the meeting a to be held in the evening: April 5, 12, and 26, May 3, and May 10th. Mr. Locke moved that the new dates be approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. Use of The Red Cross requested the use of the Conference Room Hall. on March 12th, the Tenement House Committee requested the use of the Conference Room on March 8th and the Chamber of Commerce requested the use of the Conference Room on March 7th. Mr. Locke moved that the uses be granted as requested. Mr. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said that a new group of about forty townspeople had been formed who called themselves the Lexington Choral Society. They had requested the use of Eatabrook Hall Use of for eleven Monday evenings as follows: March 11, 18, 25, Estabrool April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, and 20. Mr. Potter moved Hall. that the use of Eatabrook Hall on those evenings be approved provided there were no other engagements. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee stating that they would recommend that the Assessors be authorized to use the amount of $20,000. from E. & D. toward E. & D. the reduction of the 1940 tax rate. The Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation has furnished advice that the maximum amount that the Town will be permitted to transfer is $36,000. Mr. Potter moved that the Selectmen approve of the recommendation that $20,000. be used toward the reduction of the 1940 tax rate. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Potter said that his committee had looked at Lot 75 on Marrett Road which Mr. P. E. Litchfield offered to purchase for $100.00 They recommended that the offer Sale of be accepted. Mr. Locke moved that the lot be sgld to Mr. lot. Litchfield for the sum of $100.00 and the Town Counsel requested to prepare the deed. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said that the Selectmen originally approved 20,000. for w.P.A. and the Appropriation Committee approved ' 11,000. The Appropriation committee has now approved $15,124. which is the figure Mr. Beach gave as the cost of all projects W.P.A. outside of sewer projects. Mr. Saran moved that the previous budget. vote of the Board to approve $20,000. for W.P.A. be rescinded and that the Selectmen approve $15,124. for the 1940 budget. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. 100 r4 tt The Chairman said that the Appropriation Committee was requesting $15,000. for the Reserve Fund and $115,064.50 for charities, feeling that it undoubtedly will be necessary to Reserve transfer money from the Reserve Fund for charities sometime Fund during the year. Mr. Potter moved that the Chairman be Budget. instructed to suggest to the Town Meeting that it approve the Selectmen' s total welfare figure of $123,30B.57 and that it reduce the Reserve Fund by the differetne between that figure and the amount recommended by the Appropriation Committee for charities of $115, 164.50. Mr. Locke Seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said that Mr. Beach figured the Town's cost for the three W.P.A. sewer projects at $71,297.00. However, it may cost the Town an additional $5400. for W.P.A. unaccepted streets and $10,140. for materials requested from sewers- the Government which may not be approved. Therefor, it is possible that the total Town s share will be $87,837. or about (, $88,000. The Cherilnan said Ehat if by the time of Town Meet- ing we have not heard from the Government, that the Town Meeting be requested to authorize the borrowing of $88,000. in order tobe on the safe side. Of course if tt is not all needed, it will not be borrowed. He told Mr. Merriam about this and.,Mr. Merriam agreed with him. Re said the Approp- riation Committee and Selectmen were going to Meet on March 18th with Messrs. Beach and Cosgrove and probably could decide on the final figure at that time. Commitments of water rates, water miscellaneous charged, Commito water liens and water assessment abatement were signed. menta The meeting adjourned at 9:50 P. M. A true record, Attest: T Clerk.