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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-01-16SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 16, 1941 A special 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, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. The Chairman said that he talked with Mr. Wrightington onight. Mr. Wrightington said that Stevens insisted on the V/ Town paying the man who measur s the gravel taken by the In re: Town in connection with the reement in the settlement of Stevens the Stevens case, and that Mr. Paxton said he would see that oase there was not much time put in so the expense to the Town would be small. The Board had no objection to paying as Stevens requested. The Board then discussed budgets. Out of The matter of Out of State Travel was discussed and the State suggestion was made that the Appropriation Committee set aside Travel a sum in the Reserve Fund for this. The Chairman reminded the Board that the question of pay - Ing the chief officers serving at elections more than -the tellers, was to be discussed when budgets were taken up. The Election warden receives $11.00 and the two inspectors and the clerks 'officers receive $7.00 per day, the same as the tellers. However, the 'salary inspectors and the clerks have to report three or four hours before the tellers and they must remain until the counting is done. Mr. Rowse moved that the inspectors and clerks be paid $9.00 per day instead of $7.00. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. At 10:45 P.M. Messrs. Sheldon, Maynard, Fawcett, Hoyt and Hynes of the Appropriation Committee appeared and budgets were discussed. Mr. Sheldon brought up the question of the Lexington Public Health Association charging the Board of Health for calls made on tuberculosis patients. The Clerk was instructed to write the Association and ask them about this. Mr. Sheldon thought the Community Fund should take care of this work. The meeting adjourned at 11:25 P. M. A true record, Attest: —Crer�Y� �. a, 0.111 I n I C SELECTMEN'S MEETING I January 20, 1941 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, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. At 7:35 P.M. Mr. George V. Morse appeared to discuss wel- fare matters. He retired at 8:00 P. M. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. He said he wished to discuss the matter of trucks hired for W. P. A. work. A couple of weeks ago Mr. Beach received A call from the Department of Public Utilities notifying him that the W. P. A. Department had trucks working for it that did not have Common Carrier plates. The next day an inspector came out and it was necessary to lay off all the hired trucks working on W. P. A. that did not have these plates. The only man who did have them was Jacob Bornstein. He claims that he did not make any complaint to the Department of Public Utili- ties. Mr. Paxton retired and Mr. & Mrs. Bornstein appeared. W. P. A. Trucks Mr. Bornstein said he had been working on the W. P. A. Project on Oak Street. About four months ago he asked Mr. Beach to sign his application for a Common Carrier's license and Mr. Beach told him if he applied for this, he would put all Town trucks on the work. Mr. Bornstein said the reason Bornstein he applied was that one morning he was picking up some men truck on and Arthur Forsythe said he had no right to transport the men W.P.A. or carry the Town compressor unless he had the Common Carrier plates. Mr. Bornstein said there was work on the Project for a truck at all times but this morning Mr. Roberts, Mr. Beach's assistant, came down and told him that his truck would not be used as they were going to use Town trucks. Mr. Bornstein said that he could not get along on his W. P. A. earnings and had to have work for his truck or Soldiers' Relief. Mr. Potter asked if Mr. Bornstein thought there were other trucks that got more time in than his and Bornstein replied in the negative. He said that in 1940 only one truck got more time in than his. The Board asked him how much a Common Carriers plate cost and he said $10.00 the first year and $5.00 each year after that. Mr. & Mrs.Bornstein retired at 8:15 P. M. and Mr. Paxton returned. Mr. Morse said Bornstein applied to him for Soldiers' Relief ' and he had taken the case up with Commissioner Flynn's office and they said they would give him a recommendation within 48 hours. Mr. Morse retired at 8:22 P. M. u T 0 Trucks for snow removal & W.P.A. It was decided to hold the Bornstein case up until next week when the reaction of Commissioner Flynnts office would be known. Mr. Paxton said during 1940 they spent an average of $78.00 per week for truck tiire. The minimum hired in one week was one truck and the maximum was eleven. The problem in 1941 will be different because they will need trucks only on the Sewer and Moth Projects. Mr. Garrity said that his moth truck can take care of the W. P. A. Moth work. There are two trucks in the Highway Department that are used only during snow storms so if an additional two trucks are purchased, they will have five trucks available for W. P. A. during most of the year. They feel that these would adequately take care of the W. P. A. Projects. Two trucks would cost about $2500.00. Assuming that these trucks work 200 days each, they will pay for themselves within one year. The Chairman said that it might be difficult to get trucks in 1941 for snow work and if these other two trucks were purchased, they could be used for that purpose also. Mr. Paxton said the proper way to do this would be.to charge the cost to Road Machinery and then they would be owned by that Fund and whenever they were used they could be charged to that account. Mr. Paxton said that if there was a snow storm and it was necessary to hire trucks, it was only logical they would hire those with Common Carrier plates first, but it would undoubtedly be necessary for him to disobey the law for fot many of them have Common Carrier plates. Mr. Rowse said W. P. A. work was Federal Relief Work and if the Town purchases trucks for the Projects, it will turn the Federal work into Town work. Mr. Paxton was requested to ask Mr. Beach to check up and see how many were going to apply for the Common Carrier plates and report at the next meeting. Mr. Paxton said the Boston Regional Produce Market had Uses of requested permission to use Estabrook Hall on February 12th Halls for a meeting from 10:30 A. M. until 4;30 P. M. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted subject to a fee of $10.00. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted.. Mr. Paxton said he had received a letter from Filomena Ruggiero who is willing to accept the original Ruggiero award of 60.00 on the Vine Brook Drainage Project, pro- vided she.is given the right to excavate fill and gravel from the Mercadante property on which she has foreclosed. 1 1 1 IM ' The Chairman suggested that a.copy of Mrs. Ruggiero's letter be sent to Mr. Wrightington. Mr. Paxton said he had done this and Mr. Wrightington had instructed him to report on the matter to the Board and to see Mr. Ruggiero and tell him to apply to the Planning Board for a hearing to amend the Zoning Law so that sand and gravel might be excavated. It was the feeling of the Board that if Mr. Wrightington could still settle the case of $150.00, it would be best to settle for that amount. Mr. Paxton asked if the Board would have any objection to Ruggiero filling in the land and there was none. Mr. Paxton said Peter Canessa wanted to buy 501 of suction hose and 25' of discharge hose. The cost would be about $80.00. Mr. Wrightington said that as far as the legal end of this was concerned, the Board could authorize the purchase of the hose if it so desired. Mr. Paxton asked Canessa if he could get along without the hose for awhile and he said he could not. In re: Hose The Chairman said that if the Court ruled (Rodenhiser for Canessa v. Lexington) that the Town did not have the right to limit cesspool cleaning permits, then the Town would not have to maintain the equipment. New hose was purchased for Canessa last year but he ' claims that the Sewer Department took it and used it. The Board told Mr. Paxton to buy the hose and give it to the Water and Sewer DepartmEnt and that Canessa be given some used hose from that Department's stock. Mr. Paxton brought up again the Abbott Road Sewer. The Davis assessment is $194.00 and the Whitney assessment is $334.00. Mr. Whitney told Mr. Paxton he thought that Davis was going to pay the entire assessment. He is hot Abbott Road willing to pay any part of it. The Chairman said that Mr. sewer assess - Coleman, the real estate man, told him today that Davis ments was willing to pay his assessment and some part of the balance due on the Whitney assessment. Mr. Paxton said Mrs. Davis told him she was not willing to pay anything be- yond her own assessment. Mr. Locke said that this lot was all blue gravel and that Davis would have trouble with his cesspool. The Chairman instructed Mr. Paxton to talk with Mr. Davis on the matter. Mr. Paxton presented a map showing the sidewalks plowed. The Chairman said last evening he had a call from Mrs. Earl Archibald on Downing Road about the traffic lights on Marrett Road and Waltham Street. These lights have not been operating for several months. M Traffic lights at Marrett Rd. & Waltham St Colonial Garage re: Snow lift- ing Mr. Paxton said this was an old system and so affected by the temperature that the lights would not work. He said that lights at this point were listed first in the recommendations submitted bz7 the State. The cost of a new system here would be about J2900.00, and it was felt that the State would pay about $1450.00. The State would take the bids, supervise the installation, etc. and probably the Town would simply pay the State the $1450.00. The Board told Mr. Paxton to look into the matter further and submit his recommendations to the Board at the next meeting. A letter was received from the Colonial Garage asking relief from a problem which the lifting of snow would have eliminated. The writer said that there were two surface water drains on Massachusetts Avenue opposite its property on the southerly end, into which all the surface water on the westerly side of Massachusetts Avenue from Waltham St., drains. Thus, when the snow is piled up at the entrances to the driveways, the flow of water is impeded to such a degree as to cause a very serious obstacle to the free use of the driveways. The writer said that he felt some correc- tive measure should.be taken. The Board felt that Mr. Paxton should do whatever is necessary to obviate a hazard of any sort at this location. Mr. Paxton said in order to remedy the situation, it would be necessary to lift the snow from in front of the whole Colonial Garage. The Board told Mr. Paxton to do merely whatever was necessary to eliminate the drainage problem. He said he would see Mr. Viano on the matter. Mr. Paxton retired. Letter was received from the Town Accountant con- taining a statement of the receipts for 1940, together with the estimated receipts for that year. Letter was received from the Town Accountant advising that the balance in the Sewer Assessment Fund on December 31, 1940 was $5,686.64. The note payable in 1941 on account of Sewer Construction Loan of 1940 is $9,000.00. Mr. Russell recommended that the sum of 052500.00 be transferred from the Sewer Assessment Fund to the Maturing Debt account to meet in part the 1941 maturities on the 1940 Sewer Loan. Mr. Rowse moved that the sum of $5,500.00 be transferred Article from the Sewer Assessment Fund to the Maturing Debt account for at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, Warrant and it was so voted. The Clerk informed the Board that General Laws, Chap. 94, Section 119 required that the fee for each slaughter license should be $1.00. In the past no fee has been chared. Mr. Potter moved that in the future a fee of 91.00 be charged for slaughter licenses. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. F 1 -7 ' The Town Counsel's bill in the amount of $604.80 for services in the case of Stevens v. Lexington was received. Counsel's bill Mr. Potter moved that the bill be approved for pay- in Stevens went. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. case Letter was received from Merlin J. Ladd of Oakland Street offering his services to the Town in connection with Merlin Ladd insurance matters. The Clerk was instructed to send a copy of req. ins. the letter to the Supt. of Public Works and to acknowledge it business with thanks. Letter was received from George W. Bean, 359 Bedford Street, requesting that he be given employment with the Geo W. Bean Town. The Clerk was instructed to refer the matter to the applied for Supt. of Public Works. work.' Letter was received from the American Legion Auxiliary #38 requesting permission to operate a Food Booth at Emery Permit for Park on April 19th, Food Booth Mr. Potter moved that the request be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that Alan Adams had informed him that Winchester had a two-way radio system which was still Radio system ' tied in with Arlington. He requested Mr. Locke to obtain accurate information as to what would be best for Lexington to do with reference to this subject. Mr. Paxton returned at 10:00 P. M. to discuss budgets. He requested $3600.00 for Highway Maintenance and said this included the resurfacing of Percy Road. He requested $7,000.00 for Spring Street and $1500.00 for Grove Street under Chapter 90 Construction. He said Spring Street was the most important. When he attended the hearing at the County Office he felt that the Town would have to pay 1/3 of the cost. Mr. Giroux told him the cost to the Town would be about $5,000.00. Mr, Paxton requested the purchase of a new truck under Road Machinery to replace the second-hand truck purchased in 1935. Mr. Rowse said he thought the money for this truck could be transferred from the Road Machinery Account at a later time in the year. The sum of $1,000.00 was requested for curbing on Woburn Street. Mr. Paxton said this would do about 700 feet. The sum of $18,000.00 was requested for Follen Road reconstruction. Mr. Paxton said this estimate was made on the following design: Reconstructing the street from Pleasant,Street up to Summit Road and from there on, grading the shoulders, widening the existing pavement to a 30 foot width, and giving the street from Summit Road on, a surface treatment. Mr. Paxton re budgets 502 His idea is thatrwithin a few years the back end of the hill ' will be developed and the balance of the road can be re- surfaced. It was voted to recommend an appropriation of 6,000.00 from the Levy and the borrowing of $12,000.00, the latter to be borrowed fnr four years at the rate of $3,000.00 per year. Mr. Potter and Mr. Paxton retired at 10:55 P. M. The sum of $2500.00 was requested for Sewer Services and the Board voted to recommend an appropriation of $1500.00 and request the Appropriation Committee to set aside $11000.00 in the Reserve Fund in case it is needed. The sum of $20,000.00 was approved for snow removal, it beingunderstood that this amount was subject to revision prior to the Town Meeting when we know how much money has, been expended.in 1941. Other budgets were acted on as follows: Requested Approved Board of Retirement - Expenses $250.00 $250.00 Fire Department - Personal Services Building Department Expenses 379325.25 130.00 360951.25 105.00 ' - Dog Officer - Expenses 10.00 10.00 Plumbing Department - Expenses 135.00 105.00 Sewer Maintenance - tillages & Expenses 3,700.00 31700.00 Sewer Maintenance - Services 21500.00 12500.00 0;11000.00 is to be set aside in the Reserve Fund to be available if needed.) Sewer Construction - Betterment Act 69000.00 6,000.00 Sewer Construction - Sundry Streets 21000.00 20000.00 Highway Department - Drain Construction 51750.00 21650.00 (The Bow Street item of $3,100.00 was not approved.) - Highway Maintenance - Wages & Expenses 36,600.00 36,000.00 Snow Removal 20,000.00 209000.00 ' The meeting adjourned at 11:35 P. M. A true record, Attest: r u Traffic Regulation & Control 11620.00 1$80.00 (The item for beacon maintenance was reduced from $120.00 to $80.00 inasmuch as the beacon at Mass. Avenue and Marrett Road is to be removed.) Street Lights 22,700.00 22,700.00 Street Signs - 400.00 400.00 Highway Dept. - Curbing Construction 1,000.00 11000.00 Highway Dept. - Reconstruction 1830000.00 18,000.00 (6,000.00 to be appropriated and $12,000.00 to be borrowed and paid in four years at the rate of $3,000.00 per year.) Contributory Retirement System - Pension Accumulation Fund 139777.00 13,777.00 Contributory Retirement System - Interest Deficiency on Funds 404.77 404.77 The meeting adjourned at 11:35 P. M. A true record, Attest: r u