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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-09-03Morrow case SELECTMEN'S MEETING Sept. 39 1940. A regular meeting of.the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7t3O P.M. Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Sarano, and Locke were present. The Clerk was also present. In the absence of Mr. Giroux, Mr. Potter acted as Chairman. Mr. Giroux arrived at 7t5O P.M., but Mr. Potter continued to act as Chairman. . Dir. Raymond appeared before the Board,. He said that the Board had instructed him to contact Mr. Burnham (in connec- tion with the Kenrick case) to see if he would object to raising the water level two"feet. Mr. Burnham said that it would not do him any harm at all. Mr. Raymond explained what he planned to do there, and Mr. Burnham understands it. Mr. Raymond called on iske, who owns the land on the west side above Burnham's, and he stated that he would have to objection to raising the water. Mr. Raymond saw Morrow, and asked him if he would reduce his claim if the town raised the water two feet, and he replied that he wanted it raised three and one-half feet. Mr. Bailey, the owner above Morrow's land, said he could see no objection to raising the water. Professor Dempsey talked with Mr. Morrow today, and Mr. Raymond thought Dempsey felt that raising the water two feet would help him some. The case is scheduled on the Sept. 11, calender. Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. Raymond contact Mr. Morrow and try to affect a settlement upon the basis of a cash payment, payment of the water bills, and raising the water level two feet, and that Mr. Raymond have releases prepared by the Town Counsel to take care of the other abutters that are affected. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Raymond discussed the matter of putting gates on the drain outlets at Hayes Lane and up above vine Brook Road. He said he did not like the idea of putting on Gates on gates because of the possibility of their -catching debris drain out. or being obstructed by ice. He said that sewer or drain lets openings of this sort were very common. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Rrightington be asked If signs pro- hibiting trespassing would take care of any liability on the part of the town. Mr. Raymond said that Mr. Pichette had settled with the contractor for a sum of money. He has asked shat the town was going to do about the loam. 'Cosgrove talked with Piohette, but could not get him to name a definite figure 1 1 1 ' to settle. Cosgrove got the idea that he would consider *350., provided the Town would take care of the drainage matter on Hayes Lane. Mr. Raymond thought it would cost *150s to put an inlet in Hayes Lane. Cosgrove seemed to think that if we made an offer of $300o and agreed to fix up the drainage matter, that he might sign off. Mr. Rowse suggested that Mr. Raymond ask Mr. Wrightington for his opinion in the matter before doing anything. Mr.•Raymond retired at 8:00 P.M. 1 Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. He said that a Mr. Almada owned two lots at the corner of Baker and Taft Avenues, and had offered them to the town to pur- chase. He believes that because the town has to make a small taking, that it should purchase the lots. Mr. Rowse moved that no action be taken. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that they were getting ready to start the Merriam Street sewer project. We have received sig- natures from 55% of the persons affected, but only 24% on Hanoodk street have signed. The Chairman suggested that Messrs. -Paxton and Cosgrove make one more attempt to get more signatures on Hancock Street. Mr. Paxton agreed to try. 'Mr. Paxton said that the Lions Club wanted to use Cary Hall on October 3 for a penny sale. Mr. Giroux moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton reported that the Football Injury Fund Committee wished to use Cary Hall on November 29 from eight to one o'clock for a dance. Mr. Locke moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that the Chamber of Commerce wanted to use a conference room on September 10, the Red Cross wanted a conference room on September 10, and the P.T.A.• wanted to use Estabrook hall on September 23 from tan to four o'clock. Mr. Rowse moved that all of these uses be granted free of charge. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that he had received bids on coal for the Public Works Building and the Cary buildings, but wished to hold them over for two weeks. He retired at 8:10 P.M. Mr. Paxton returned and asked for permission to pay Pichette claim Almada lots Merriam St. sewer Use of hall 310 Frank Barry his salary of 035,00 per week while he is out Barry's ill. Mr. Rowse moved that the salary be continued for salary the next two weeks. Mr.. Sarano,:seconded the motion and it was -so voted. The Chairman said that he thought -that the Board should have requested a transfer of 0100. for John Lamont as Milk Inspector rather than $50. Mr. Rowse moved that an addi- Transfer tional $50, be added to the $50. already requested of the for Milk Appropriation Committeefrom the Reserve Fund. Mr. Giroux Insp. seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Russell appeared before the Board at 8i30 P.M. to discuss the P.W.A, funds# He said that on the North Lexington Sewer Project, there was cash on hand of $4645.00, and unpaid bills of $5644., including the amount apparehtlf due Mr. Rounds. The total amount of bills in sight amount to *9899., the difference between this and the $5600# is the No. Lea Town Counsel's fees, and a maximum additional charge of sewer $1954* on the Porter Bros, case. The total payments made on this project amount to $140,00,0. The Federal Auditor said that the Government probably would disallow a sizeable amount on engineering. He figured an additional 010 375. duefrom the government, and the total bills in sight are 69899, leaving us about even. We should come out within the amount of money available. On, the .Vine Brook Project, we had set up $19,500, for engineering, and we have spent $21,414 and that inn't.the and., as Metcalf & Eddy have further charges to present. We spent,$1777. on Interest, which apparently is all right. The unpaid charges are $31,000s, and the balance on hand Vine Brook is $299000. We have already borrowed $25,0000' in antioi- Project pation of the grant. Mr. Russell included $9400. pre- liminary expenses, such as charges for years back by Metcalf & Eddy for making studies. The Federal Auditors do not see how we are going to get any allowance previous to June 16, 1933, which wqs the date that the P.W.A. Legislature was first enacted. Mr. Russell thought that if we got the Federal Grants on the entire amount, and eliminated the preliminary expenses of $9400., we should come out even. It all depends on whether or not the government is going t4 allow 45% on 1aftd..damages cases. Mr. Rowse moved that the preliminary charges of $94000, be eliminated. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Mr. Russell retired at 9i00 P.M. Chief Sullivan and Malcolm Clifford appeared before the Board. Mr. Clifford submitted the following list of names and said that they would like to have them appointed Special 1 0 1 Policemen, in connection with the Civilian Defense Committeet Malcolm H. Clifford James V. Walsh William E. baloney .Tames F. Mowat Carl B. Jones Arthur N. Lee Hugo N. Nylander James J. Waldron Jerome W. Carmichael Melville W. Webb Victor N. Rochette, John E. Barrett John Melquist Caywood Greening Arthur R. Linfield M. Lawrence Allen Maurice E. Woodward Marren Pierce Horace G. Dearborn David MaePeake H. Raymond Durling George V. Ryan Lawrence Husted M.D. Clesson C. Schofield J. Chester John A. Sellars Charles H. Miles Hutchinson He said that Chief Sullivan and Sergeant Russell approved the list. Mr. Rowse moved that the men be appointed Special Police, Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. 311 Special Police Mr. Morse appeared at 9:10 P.M. to discuss welfare matters, and retired at 9:30 P.M. ' The claim of Mrs. Mary McDonnell of 71 Woburn Street that she tripped on the sidewalk at the corner of Mass. Avenue and Joseph Road and injured herself was discussed. McDonnell Mr. Locke moved that Mrs. McDonnell be informed that claim the Town assumes no liability in the matter. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Planning Board recommending that the Building By -Laws be amended to provide that signs flat on buildings over stores be not more than two feet in vertical width and of a length not to exceed the width of Signs the building at the frontage line. They recommended that all new signs conform to this regulation not later than January 1, 1945. It was decided to hold the matter over for two weeks. Mr. Russell submitted a report on the Conference of the Municipal Finance Officers Association in Detroit, Letter was received from Frank E. Walker, candidate for Middlesex County Commissioner, requesting permission to operate a sound car in Lexington to advertise his caridi- Request daey. Mr. Rowse moved that the application be denied* for sound Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted, car fl 312 Letter was received from Ralph J. Young of 25 ' Kendall Road stating that the owners of the adjoining property at 2 Hill Top Avenue had moved their outdoor Complaint fireplace, and that all the smoke was blown into his re: smoke windows. He said that if the fireplace was put back in its original position, he would have no complaint. Mr. Rowse moved that the matter be referred to the Build- ing Inspector. Mr. Locke seconded the motion• -end it was so voted. Mr. -N. S. Caouette appeared before the Board. He said that he had sold four lots on Richard Road, three Water exten- of them for immediate construction. He said that he Sion, Richard wanted to have the water main extended to take care of Road these lots. Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. Ross prepare an estimate of the cost of the extension and submit it to the Board for the next meeting. Mr. Locke seconded the motion and it was so voted. The Clerk informed the Board that Mr. Mason of Watertown Street still thought that thq Town should re - Mason ret imburse him part of the cost of spraying his trees. trees The Board felt that the Town should not stand any part of this expense, so no action was taken on the matter. The meeting adjourned at lOtOO P.M. ' A true record, Attestt Clerk. 1