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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1940-10-14SELECTMEN+S MEETING I October 14,1940 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7=30 P.M. Messrs. Potter, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Rowse arrived at 8;15. P.M. and left at 8:45 P.M. Mr. Carroll appeared before the Board for the draw- ing of a juror to serve on civil business at Cambridge, beginning Monday, November 18, 1940. Mr. Russell C. Hinckley, underwriter, age 40 of 44 Bertwell Road, was the juror drawn. At 7:30 P. M. hearing was declared open upon the petition of the Boston Edison Company and the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. for joint pole locations of three poles on Follen Road, southerljr from Locust Avenue. Mr. Howard F. Moyon, of the Edison Company, and Mr. Henry D. Miller, builder and owner of the house at the corner of Follen Road and Locust Avenue, were present at the hearing. Mr. Miller said that he did not want two poles in front of his house, and that a line of poles would have to come up Locust Avenue anyway. Mr. Moyan said that ' his company laid out its plan in anticipation of addi- tional business. The line now ends at the notherly side of Locust Avenue. This line is to serve the house at 205 Follen Road, and it.could serve Mr. Miller's house also. He said that perhaps later on the Town would want street lights installed, and obviously a light would have to be near the corner. Mr. Moyan said that these circumstances were not unusual, and that his company had given the matter considerable study, and came to the conclusion that this was the best thing to do. Mr. Miller and Mr. Moyon discussed the subject at some length. The hearing was declared closed at 8:10 P.M. The Board considered the petition, and while in sympathy with Mr. Miller's objection to poles in front of his property, felt that the Edison Company had given the matter considerable study, and that if this was the conclusion they had readhed, it was the best way to serve the neighborhood. Mr. Sarano moved that the petition be granted as presented. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr, Raymond appeared before the Board. He said that last week the Selectmen asked him to investigate the claim ' of loss of water at the Porter and Wilson well. N 0 Juror Pole location hearing 382 «..1 He found that the water level was about three or four feet lower than it was before we built the sewer. The contractor did everything he could think of to build , the sewer so that it would not affect that level. Mr. Raymond did not know now what more they could have done. He believed that if the case were tried and ex- perts testified, the weight:,ct evidence would be that the sewer had affected the level somewhat. Mr. Raymond thought that the combination of the two jobs did the damage. While we might exonerate the sewer, the blame would go right back on the brook project. He talked with Mr. Bowler, who originally put the well down, and with 'Porter claim Mr. William Porter. Porter and Wilson had Bowler under contract for a number of years, and he was not able to fulfill his contract, but they did not know if the fault was with the well or with the electric service. There is no reason why another well could not be put down there, or why a deeper well could not be put in, although it would cost $600. or $700. to put in another well. Mr. Bowler gave an off -hand opinion over thelphone that the case would be settled for $250. as far as the well was concerned. Mr. Potter thought that the logical thing to do was to try to make some sort of a settlement. After some discussion on the subject, the Board was of the opinion that it did not care to offer Mr. Porter more than $700. in settlement of his claims. Letter was received from the Town Accountant with ' reference to the Vine Brook Funds. Mr. Raymond recom- mended borrowing $10,000. in anticipation of the Federal Grant on the project. He said that the $500. owed Borrowing Salvueei would not be paid him until sometime next on Vine summer. The $2112. owed DiMarco & Ciccone has been Brook pro- held back in connection with the claim for damages to 'jeet private property. They might start suit for that, and we might have to pay it. Mr. Raymond said he planned to request a semi-final requisition as soon as he could get the papers out, but that probably would not be until after the Stevens case comes up, and it would be two, or three weeks at best before we could get any Federal money. The middle or latter part of November would be the best we could hope for. Mr. Rowse moved that the Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow the sum of $10,000, for a period of one year, in anticipation of reimbursement from the Federal Government, Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted, Mr. Raymond said that Mr. Paxton informed him that Bullock Mr. J. Bullock had been in about his lot on Sheridan St. claim He said that if anything more was to be done for Mr. Bullock, it would have to be done at the expense of the docket. He thou t that Paxton could do a pretty good job for $50. or 060. He said that Mr. Paxton might have more information,and if Mr. Bullock's complaint ' seems reasonable, he thought it might be Well to fix up the lot. Mr. Potter suggested Making him an offer of a cash settlement, and Mr. Raymond said that he would try to do this. Mr. Raymond retired at 8:55 P.M. Mr. Morse appeared at 8:55 P. M. and retired at 9:27 P.M. 1 C Letter was received from Mr. Morse advising that it was necessary to request an additional $15.00 for the aid to Dependent Children "other administration items'. Mr. Sarano moved that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer this smoun't from the Reserve Fund. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Morse with reference to the appropriation for Aid and Expenses for Public Welfare. He said that the amount on hand would probably carry for six and two=thirds weeks from October 10th, and he be- lieved he should consider November 21st as the final payroll he would be able to make out of the -present balance on hand. He recommended that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer the sum of $6,000. from the Re- serve Fund to the Aid and Expenses for Public Welfare Account. Mr. Potter suggested that the matter be held over until next week, and it was decided to do this. Letter was received from Mr. Garrity stating that ever since the flags of the Shenandoah Flag System were• turned over to the Park Division, there had been a question as to when the flags should be put out. He suggested that the Selectmen make up a list of the holidays and special occasions when they thought the flags should be put out. Mr. Locke moved that Mr. Garrity submit to the Board a list of the days when he thought the flags should be put out. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Garrity stating that when the Park Division budget was made up for 1940, it was agreed that $250. should be transferred from the Fiske Battle Green Fund income to the Park Division appropriation. He requested that the Selectmen request the transfer. Mr. Locke moved that the Trustees of Public Trusts be requested to transfer the sum of $250. from the Fiske Battle Green Trust Fund income to the Park Division appropriation. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Transfer for ADC Transfer for Ch. 117 Shenandoah system Transfer for Park Dept. an Letter was received from Hiram W. Jackson resigning his position as Warden in Precinct Three. It was voted Resign.of to accept the resignation with regret. H. W.Jackson Mr. Locke moved that Charles H. Schofield of 30 Warden Fletcher Avenue be appointed as Warden in Precinct Three in Mr. Jackson's place. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Town Counsel's bill in the amount of $25.00 for ser - Bill in vices in the cases of Burnham v. Lexington was received. Burnham Mr. Locke moved that the bill be approved. Mr. Sarano case seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Paxton advising that the Use Baptist Church had requested the use of the garage at the of Barnes property for a rummage sale on October 18. Mr. garage, Locke moved that the request be granted. Mr. Sarano Barnes hse. seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Clerk informed the Board that each time it granted the use of the garage at the Barnes property, it was necessary to move the WPA equipment, the power mower, and various other equipment, and that Mrs Moloy was in- convenienced a great deal by it. Mr. Sarano moved that the Board adopt the policy of not allowing the use of the garage in the future. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Paxton stating that when the boiler at the Public Works Building was started, it was found that one section was totally unfit for use. Mr. Lindstrom, Plumbing Inspector, inspected the boiler and although a new section could be installed for $250., he Boiler at believed it more economical to install a new boiler with P.W. Bldg. an automatic water feeder for approximately $1130. Mr. Paxton recommended that he be authorized to secure bids on a new boiler, and that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer funds from the Reserve Fund to pay for it. Mr. Sarano said he would like to look at the boiler before making any decision, so it was voted to wait until next week before taking action on the matter. The clerk said that Mr. Lee Tarbox had asked if the Permit for Belfry Club might be allowed to distribute hand bills to handbills advertise the Fun Fair to be held on October 19. It was denied. the feeling of the Board that, because of complaints having been received about handbills, it would be better to discourage the practice of allowing them to be dis- tributed. The Clerk was instructed to tell Mr. Tarbox how the Board felt on the subject. 4 Letter was received from Hiram W. Jackson resigning his position as Warden in Precinct Three. It was voted Resign.of to accept the resignation with regret. H. W.Jackson Mr. Locke moved that Charles H. Schofield of 30 Warden Fletcher Avenue be appointed as Warden in Precinct Three in Mr. Jackson's place. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 1 r Application was received from the Salvation Army for permission to hold a Tag Day on Saturday, October 19, Tag Day Permit Mr. Sarano moved that the permit be granted. Mr. Locke Salvation Army seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Raymond stating that there were on file in the office of the Supt. of Public Works ,certificates of completion for Contracts IA and 2B Docket No. Mass. 1370-F with DiMarco & Ciccone, Inc. and Peter Salvucci Upon motion of Mr. Locke, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was unamioualy voted that the following resolution Resolution V.B. be adopted: Drain Whereas certificates of completion for each contract on the Vine Brook Drain and Sewer Project, P.W.A. Docket No. Mass. 1370-F have been submitted to Metcalf & Eddy, the Engineers, be it resolved that the Board of Selectmen hereby accepts the Docket No. Mass. 1370-Ffor and on behalf of the Town of Lexington. Letter was received from the Planning Board advising that the body had voted to change its previous recommend- Planning Board ation regarding signs, and was now of the opinion that no re: Signs sign should be permitted in excess of 3 feet in height for the total over-all height of the sign. Letter was received from the Chamber of Cop merce stating that the citizens were provolked by one man speed traps being operated by the Police Department, and recommending that the conventional two man system be used when the traps were in operation. The letter also said that complaints had been received concerning refuse along the streets which had been thrown out by passing motorists. The Clerk was instructed to inform the Chamber that the matter of the speed traps would be taken up with the Chief of Police. Complaint re: speed traps & refuse Letter was received from the Town Counsel advising that he had arranged with the counsel for the Colonial Colonial Gar, Garage, Inc. to settle the two eminent domain cases against cases the Town for $1500. The meeting adjourned at 9:55 P.M. A true. record, Attest: Clerk