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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-03-11 101 SELECTMEN'S MEETING MARCH LL, 1940 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7130 P.M. Messrs. Potter, Giroux, Sarano and Locke were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Giroux said that there was no Chairman of the Board at the ntoeent, and he therefor moved that Mr. Locke be appointed temporary Chairman, pending the electimn of the permanent Chairmen. Mr. Sarano seconded the mdtion and it was so voted. Organise- Mr. Giroux said that Mr. Potter was the senior member tion. of the Board and had the longest experience and an excellent knowledge of town affairs. He believed that the nomination as Chairman of the Board was due . Potter, and he so moved. Mr. Sarano said that he, for,; ways looked to Mr. Potter for guidance when he was in doubt on any measure, as he felt that he was very fair and impartial, and very well informed on town affairs. He said that it would give him great pleasure to second Mr. Giroux's motion. Mr. Potter said that he thought that Mr. Giroux had done excellent work as Chairman of the Board, and he thought that the best interests of the town would be served if Mr. Giroux would act in this capacity during the coming year. He then requested that the motion just made be withdrawn, and Mr. Giroux said that he was willing to withdraw his motion in view of Mr. Potter's request. Mr. Potter then moved that Mr. Giroux be elected Chair- man of the Board of Selectmen for the coming year. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted unanimously (Mr. Rowse withing to be recorded in favor) . Mr. Giroux thanked the Board for its continued faith in him and said that the past year had been the most pleasant since he had been a member of the Board of Selectmen; and that while times had been difficult, the Board had worked harmoniously, in a spirit of friendship, toward the best interests of the Town as it saw them. Letter was received from Mr. Raymond relative to private cars transporting N.P.A. workmen. He said that he understood that Workmen's Compensation Insurance carried by the Town did not cover W.P.A. workmen and that none of the wages of the W.P.A.- W.P.A. workmen were included when audits were prepared in trans- determining the amount of insurance payments. Two years ago portatio it was decided not to include W.P.A. and Welfare workers under the Workmens' Compensation insurance. Mr. Raymond recommended that the owner of the cars obtain insurance to provide for extra territorial coverage and to provide for the transportation of passengers for hire within the limits required, that is to and from work. He thought that they should also obtain insurance for property damage for the minimum limit for which such insurance is ordingrily carried. The Board discussed the matter and upon motion of Mr. Locke, seconded by Mr. Potter, it was voted to deny Mr. Beach's 102 request for permission to allow private cars to transport W.P.A. workmen to and from the jobs. The Chairman informed the Board that the total amount Snow spent for removal of snow from the sidewalks since the Feb. Removal 14th blizzard was $207.00. Invitation was received from the Auxiliary of the V.F.W. Invitation to attend an installation in Cary Hall on March 15th. The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the invitation with thanks. Letter was received from the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, Arlington Chapter #49 requesting a permit to hold a carnival on Mass. Ave. opposite Sylvia Street on Carnival the evenings of April 18th, 19th and 20th. Mr. Locke moved that the organization be informed that the residents in Fast Lexington had objected strenuously to such carnivals and that the Selectmen decided a year ago to allow only one carnival a year to be operated there, the matter of which organization to hold the carnival to be decided by the various Lexington organizations. Mr. Potter seconded the moti n and it was so voted. Letter was recieved from Mrs. F. B. James requesting Resigns- that her name not be considered when reappointments to the tion. Dental Clinic Committee for 1940 were made. The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge Mrs. daffiest resignation with regret. Letter was received from Luther R, Putney requesting ' that his name not be considered when reappointment to the Bureau of Old Age Assistance for 1940 were made. ' t map decided to write to Mr. Putney and ask him if he would re- consider the matter. Letter was received from Mr. W. S. Caouette on betalt of Mrs. Hallie C. Blake requesting that estimates be prepared for the construction of Blake Ave. from Patriots Drive to Edgewood Road, under the Betterment Act so that work could be started this spring. The Clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Caouette that it was too late to do anything on the street this spring but that the Engineering work would be done when possible. Letter was reclived from Malin J. Ladd of 1 Oakland Street, LexiAgton, agent for the Hartford Fire Ins. Co. Insurance requesting that he be given consideration when insurance policies are to be renewed or when new policies are to be written. The Clerk was instructed to place his name on the list of those requesting permission to write town insurance. Letter was received from Mr. Charles R. Soar of 298 Marrett Road requesting that he be considered in the writing of some of the Town's insurance. The Clerk was instructed to place Mr. Soar's name on the list of persona requesting insurance. - 103 Bond in the penal sum of $1,000. written by the New Amsterdam Casualty Co. on behalf of Mr. Charles E. Ferguson as Building Inspector of Lexington running from Beb. 1st, Bond 1940 to Feb. 1st, 1941 was received. Mr. Locke moved that the bond be approved by the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the State Dept. of Public Health to which was attached copy of a letter from that W.P.A. department to the Boston office of the W.P.A. approving the Sewer- construction of sanitary sewers in Hancock Street, Merriam Hancock St. Street and Collidge Ave. , Merriam St. and Adams Street. ect. Letter was received from Mr. Frederick E. Priest of Watertown containing two proposals for the demolition of the old Adams School. The Clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Priest that no action would be taken on the matter until after Town Meeting. Letter was received from the Town Accountants gelative to the Public Works, Labor, Materials & Eepenaes account for W.P.A. projects. Mr. Russell said that there was an over- draft of $839.48 and a total expenditure of $6661.46 had been W.*.A. made this year. This overdraft is permitted by the provisions account of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1938 which provides that cities and towns may, in the period after the expiration of any fiscal year and before the regular appropriations /have been made, incur liabilities for the purpose of provideing cooperation with the Federal government in unemployment relief and other projects, provided that liabilities incurred during said interval do not exceed in any one month, one-twelfth of the sums spent for similar purposes during the preceding year. During the year 1939 the total expenditures for Labor & Materials was $19703.72 and one-twelfth of that amount is 01641.98. Therefor, during March, it will be possible to incur liabilities and make payments to create an overdraft of I 1641.98. As the overdraft now amounts to $839.48, only 802.50 may be expended for the balance of the month. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Russell and Mr. Beach be in- formed that the Selectmen were limiting the overdraft on Labor & Materials for the balance of the month to $802.50. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Russell said that Sec. 8, Chapter 215 of the Acts of 1939 provided that a vote could be passed by two-thirds of the Town Meeting Members declaring an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservatic;n of the public health, safety or convenience of the Town, which would make it possible for funds to be used immediately rather than waiting the usual five days after the dissolution of the meeting. Mr. Russell suggested that it might be advisable to offer a vote a t the Town Meeting to declare the vote for Labor and Materials an emergency measure so that the money would be available immediately for expenditure. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Russell's suggestion be adopted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. - 104tv Letter was received from the Town Treasurer stating Tax title that there was.;a discrepancy in the title to lots 36 and 37 property Black 22, Dexter Road, which he previously notified the Selectmen were the property of the Town and could be sold. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Carroll be requested to take the matter up with the Town Counsel in an effort to obtain a clear title to the land. W. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Locke, the following uses of halls were approved: Lexington community Chest--Conference Room - March 21st, Use of free of charge; Hall. Eastern Star - Cary Hall - June 8th - free of charge; Boy Scouts, Cub Pack - April 13th - free of charge; V.F.W.- Cary Hall, March 15th - free of charge. Request war received from St. Brigid's Church for per- mission to allow the Reunion on April 24th to run until one o'clock rather than Midnight. Mr. Potter moved thatt the request be granted subject to an additional charge of $5.00. Mr. Sarano seconded the motio4 and it was so voted. The Chairman said that the Board had allowed only $105. for automobile allowance for the wealth Inspector and $50. will have been spent by April 1st, leaving a Auto. balnace of only $55. for the rest of the year. He asked allowanceif the Board wanted to have the changes in automobile allowances effective on Jan. lot or April 1st. Mr. Potter moved that the changes be effective on April let. Mr. Baran. seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman:>said that Joseph Vitale of Rawson Avenue had complained about the drainage in front of his house. Mr. Sarano said that Bow Street was an accepted street that is surfaced and it drains into another etreot. There is a• large Drainage pont of water at the intersection and Vitale's house is Bow St. opposite the intersection and the man cannot get into his house without boots. There is no place for this water to go as there is frost in the ground and the ground will not absorb it. Mr. $arano said he thought it would cost around $1500. to corredt the situation. The Chairman said there was no money to do the work so he suggested the matter be held up jo be considered when we get our new Supt. of Public Works. a thought perhaps there might be money in B. & D. in the fall to do the work. Mr. Potter moved that the Town J`ngineer be authorized W.P.A. to send out betterment assessment schedules for the exingten sewers Manor Sewers so the people would know before Town Meeting what their assessments amount to. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said he did not believe that the Approp. Preliminary riation Committee Report would be out in time to notify the Town Town Meeting Members of the informal Town Meeting to be hold Meeting on March 19th. He suggested that the Town Meeting Members be notified by post card and that the expense be charged 105 to the Unclassified Account. Mr. Potter moved that the Chairman's suggestion be approved. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Locke moved that Mr. Moloy be instructed to request small groups who have been granted permission to use F.atabrook Use of Hall to move into a conference room when practicable. Mr. Hall. Potter seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said that the Board had approved the purchase of a tractor from Road Machinery and the purchase of a V-plow from Snow Removal. He said that if the tractor Road was turned down, it would be unnecessary to purchase the Machinery V-DLow and he wanted to know if in that event the Selectmen wanted to recommend the purchase of four snow plows, at a cost of $12000,OQ from gnow Removal. The Board felt that this was the thing to de. The Chairman said that the .Selectmen had recommended certain increases in salaries but had taken no definite stand Salaries on the question of a salary cut. The Appropriation Committee has taken a stand in opposition to any salary cut. Re wanted to know what position the Board wanted to take should the matter arise at the Town Meeting. Mr. Potter moved that the Chairman be authorized to say that the Selectmen were opposed to a salary out. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Chairman said that Mrs. Malcom Fuller of 32 Independ- ence Ave. had requested that a police officer be stationed Police at the intersection of Mass. Ave. and Independence Ave. .as Protection children were going to and from achoel and sidewalks were not children plowed on the westerly aide of Mass. Avenue. Mr. uarano said that there was an officer at that location this morning. Mr. Morse appeared before the Board relative to Welfare matters. Welfare The meeting adjourned at 9126 P. M. A true record, Attest: Clerk. ��r