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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-02-03516 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 3, 1941. ' A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectments xoom, Town Office Building at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. At 7:30 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, appeared Juror before the Board for the drawing of a ;juror. Mr. Roswell S. Eldridge, salesman, of 17 Edgewood Road was drawn to serve on criminal business in Lowell, beginning Tuesday, March 4, 1941. Mr., William Roger Greeley, Chairman of the Planning Board appeared before the Board to discuss the study of re - Planning ceipts and expenditures for the five year period, 1935-1940, Board re: inclusive. Mr. Greeley said that the Planning Board had receipts & tried to workout a statement that was not technical so that expends-- citizens who are not experts in accounting could obtain the tures, statistics easily. He said that the Planning Board felt that with this kind of a statement they could base some sort of a program for the future. The Planning Board has started to draw graphs that will express these figures on a chart. He thought that a figure could be set up showing what should be expended in'the coming years based on previous expenditures. He said of course they did not know what return the State was ' going to make to the Town or what the Town would be taxed by the State. He had in mind going to Commissioner Long and ask- ing him for his best guess. Mr. Greeley said that this plan was on a parallel with that of Brookline and Winchester. More and more towns are working on this basis. Mr. Rowse asked who operated the plan, and if the Town Meeting voted on it. Mr. Greeley said the plan operated through the Selectmen and the Appropriation Committee, as a guide for their recommendations and as a talking point to the citizens at Town Meeting. There is no force in it. A table would be published and upon it the Appropriation Committee and the Selectmen would tend to base their recommendations. He said it was true, in Lexington it would not seem as necessary to have such a plan as in some other places. He said at the present time there was nothing alarm- ing about the method of handling our finances, but at the Town . Meeting there has been an increasing suggestion that a budget be worked out so that Town Meeting members could know what future plans were. The Chairman said that if this;:was to be used as a guide, the uncollected taxes for each year should be shown. He thought that this had considerable bearing on the picture as some people might think that a reserve should be set up to offset the uncollected taxes. 517 Mr. Greeley said his Board hoped that there would be a number of suggestions from the Selectmen and the Appropriation Committee such as Mr. Giroux's. He asked if they should .show the plan to the Appropriation Committee or if the Sel- ectmen should show it to them. The Chairman said that this was a very busy time and he suggested that the Planning Board go over the study with the Appropriation Committee in the same manner as Mr. Greeley did with the Selectmen. He thought that the three Boards should consider the study after Town Meeting. Mr. Rowse said that the Town made a profit each year but that this study showed a deficit which is incorrect. Mr. Locke said that the balance sheet looked wrong because of the old borrowings. He said that we were now paying off money borrowed ten or fifteen years ago. The Chairman said he thought that the money borrowed and spent for the P.W.A. projects should be shown separately. Mr. Greeley retired at 8:00 P.M. Mr. Paxton appeared at 5:15 P.M. He said that the Chamber of Commerce had requested the use of a Conference room on February 6th. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the room be granted free of charge. Mr. Uses of Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Halls Mr. Paxton said the American Legion had requested use of Cary Hall on February 22nd for a Sun Light Dance, Mr. Potter 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 the Red Cross requested use of a Conference roorq on February 11th. Mr. Locke moved that the room be granted free of charge. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that Malcolm Bunker, head of a new organization, The Middlesex County Extension Service and Minute Man Hand Crafts, had requested the use of Cary Hall for a three day fair to show hand -made articles on May 1, 2, and 3 from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. The organization is composed of people from all over Middlesex County who have a hobby and make small articles. They plan to show their products and sell some of them. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Board felt that Mr. Bunker should be told -that the Selectmen were granting the use of the hall free this year so that the organization could get a start but that in the future there would probably be a charge. Mr. Paxton said that last week he mentioned that the insurance policy on the scales in the Sealer of Weights and ' Measures office expired but that this insurance was being taken care of in the schedule form. Street lights Art. for Warrant Mr. Potter moved that the separate policy on the scales I be discontinued. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said he had received a letter from Mr. W.S. Caouette requesting the installation of street lights on Pollen Road from the Tower land to Marrett Road and also on Richard Road and Lexington Avenue. Mr. Potter moved that an article, be inserted in the warrant for the installation of street lights on Richard Road and Lexington Avenue. Mr. Paxton said that he went over Pollen Road and the two locations, that Mr. Giroux spoke of last week, with Mr. Stevens of the Edison Company who will make his recomm- endations to the Board soon. Mr. Paxton said that he had talked with Mr. Truesdell about the request for the street light at the Adams School. Mr. Truesdell feels that a light should be there because in the Light at summer nights, particularly, the children cause quite a lot Adams of damage and secondly there are many evening uses at the School. Adams School and the entrance is inadequately lighted. Mr. Potter thought it was strange that the request came from the Pollen Church rather than the school department. Mr. Paxton thought it was doubtful that a street light placed in the rear of the Pollen Church would be much good to the Adams School. He thought a light over the entrance to the school, operated from inside the building, would be an advantage to those holding functions at the school in the evening. The Board requested Mr. Paxton to discuss the matter with Mr. Grindle and to report to the Board later on. Mr. Paxton said he had looked into the matter of a guard Ret guard on the street light at Winter Street and he found that a guard on Winter would cost 44.15. He talked with the Edison Company and was St. light. told it was their experience that instead of protecting the light, the children like to make a game of trying to break the light through the guard. It was decided to take no action on the matter. Mr. Paxton reported there has been an increase in the price of coal of 34 per ton at the mine, effective as.of October Increase 1, 1940. He said he had overlooked reporting this earlier. In price of He read the last paragraph of the letter to the Lexington coal. Coal Company which stated that the Town would be res- ponsible for any change in price at the mine. He talked with Mr. Wellington of the Lexington Coal Company who said that if that had not been incorporated in the letter, his company would have insisted that it be put in. 1 ' Mr. Paxton said he had received a letter from the Planning Board stating that it was their opinion that the. Widening project of widening Waltham Street from Vine Brook Road to Waltham Massachusetts Avenue was advisable in connection with normal Sto business at that point provided it could be accomplished with- out incurring expense for land taking. The Planning Board felt that general traffic would be little affected by such a short widening and with the un- certainty of the construction of the Circumferential Highway, it did not believe it wise to commit itself definitely on the matter at the present time. Mr. Cosgrove's estimate of the cost of the widening was w2,000.00. Mr. Paxton felt that the widening would not affect the "through" traffic but would be a benefit to the citizens at large. At any rate, he thought nothing should be done until 1942. The Chairman requested Mr. Paxton to write Mr. Ballard and tell him that the matter was being postponed f•or the present. Letter was received from Mary F. Carroll of 676 Waltham Street requesting that the sidewalk be extended from Allen St. Request to Concord Avenue on the easterly side of Waltham Street. to extend Miss Carroll said that the street was narrow and that because side- of the heavy traffic, pedestrians were exposed to traffic walk. hazzards. Mr. Paxton said that the work could be done very easily but that of course there were no funds available at the pre- sent time. He thought what the Carrolls really wanted was a stone wall in front of their property. Due to the lack of funds, no action was taken on the matter. A letter was received from Calvin X. Childs requesting that snow be removed from in front of his showroom. Mr. Childs said he understood that the Selectmen were not going to lift snow from in front of garages and filling stations, Child's but inasmuch as the showroom was neither one of these, he request thought his request should be granted, for snow Mr. Paxton said as soon as he removed the snow from , removal. in front of Mr. Child►s showroom, immediately he would have requests from Aruda, McDonough and other filling station proprietors that snow be removed from in front of their properties. The Board suG ested that Mr. Paxton contact Mr. Childs and explain to him why snow was being removed from in front of certain places only. A letter was received from Anthony Ross & Son advising that they expected to need 3,000 feet of water extensions in the Wellington Farms Development in 1941. 520 Food Stamp Plan. A letter was received from Robert broker, outlining the coverage that the connection with the Food Stamp Plan. IWOW Whitney, insurance ' Town would neer! in The Chairman suggested that Mr. Morse be given a copy of the letter and that the matter be taken up at the next meeting. A letter was received from the Surplus Marketing Adminid tration requesting that the Chairman be authorized to sign an agreement between that Department, the State Department of Public Welfare, State of Massachusetts and the Town of Lexington; whereby the Food Stamp Plan would be put into effect in Lexington. Mr. Potter'moved that the Chairman be authorized to sign the agreement, that two members of the Board witness his signature, and that the Town Counsel be authorized to sign the agreement provided he believes it to be in proper form. Mr. Rowse asked if the inaugration of the Food Stamp Plan. called for the authorization on the part of the Town and the Clerk was requested to check this point with the Town Counsel. The Chairman said he talked with Mr. Robert C. Merriam about Patriot's Drive. Mr. Merriam talked with Mr. Marshall ' Blake Ave. and Mr. Stone who previously objected to making Blake Avenue "through" a "through" street and that they are now willing that the street, fence be taken down so that the street will be open through to Patriot's Drive. Mr, Merriam wants to get whatever is coming to :;him because of the water and sewer mains which he installed in Patriot's Drive, when and if the Town accepts the street. Mr. Merriam said that he would like to know how the -Select- men felt on the subject. If they did not oppose it, he would be willing to bring the matter up at the Town Meeting pro- vided there was an article in the warrant covering it. Mr. Merriam figured that he would be entitled to about 01,000.00 on water but he was not prepared to state what he should be reimbursed for tl.e sewer. He said he would talk with Mr. Ross to get his idea and then come in and discuss the matter with the Board. Mr. Paxton said he probably expected to be reimbursed every- thing over the $1.80 per foot which it cost him to install the water main, It was left that Mr. Merriam should discuss the matter with Yr. Paxton and Mr. Ross and that he come before the Board next week to discuss the subject. ` Mr. Paxton said that nothing had been allotted to the Town for Chapter 90 -Maintenance this year. He requested $1500. Chapter for Grove Street but for some reason the County made an ' 90 Main- error and thought that the complete reconstruction of Grove tenance Street was requested. They therefore allowed the sum of $20,000.00 for Grove Street as a project for 1942. 521 ' Mr. Patch, the County Engineer, felt that there would be many towns that would not take advantage of their Chapter 90 Maintenance allotments and ile suggested that Lexington appropriate $1,000.00 for this account and he felt that the Country and State would match it. It was decided to request $1,000.00 for Chapter 90 - Maintenance. The Board then discussed the Road Machinery Account with Mr. Paxton. He said there was a balance of X12,038.98 on December 31, 1940. The question of an additional tractor for sidewalk plowing was discussed. Mr. P^.;rton said he Sidewalk thought one would cost about 2,000.00 exclusive of the Plow plow. He said however, that he would prefer to get some information on the subject before quoting prices and mak- ing recommendations. The Chairman requested him to get whatever information he could and submit it to the Board the next meeting. The Road Machinery Account was approved, as requested, in the sum of $7800.00. The Chairman said that in the handling of the stamps in connection with the Food Stamp Plan, there were bound Food to be errors. He asked who would have to stand any loss and Stamp Mr. Morse said that the Town would. The Chairman asked Rotating Fund. The next budget discussed was that of the Public Works Building - wages and expenses. Mr. Paxton said the increase in the budget was all in the labor item. Last year the Pub. Wrks. Board attempted to increase all the laborers in the Pub- Bldg. bud- ' lic Works Department so that they would average $25.00 per get. week but because the salaries of the men at the Public Works Building had been established definitely, there was no money in the appropriation to increase them. The watchmen are now receiving q'22.00 per.week. Mr. Paxton said thev worked from 44 to 47 hours per week. They cannot leave the building for lunches or dinner. The Superin- tendent first discussed a salary of X24.00 a week but thought that the extra $1.00 would compensate for the men not being able to leave the building. It was decided.to increase the salary of the three watchmen to a straight $25.00 per week, it being understood that the men are not to receive any overtime pay. It was decided to increase the wages of the blacksmith, Mr. Deevy, from 60� to 65� per hour. The labor item was approved in the sum of $7160.50 and the total budget was approved in the sum of $3760.50. Mr. Paxton retired at 9:35 P.M. Mr. Morse appeared. The Chairman said that in the handling of the stamps in connection with the Food Stamp Plan, there were bound Food to be errors. He asked who would have to stand any loss and Stamp Mr. Morse said that the Town would. The Chairman asked Rotating Fund. 522 if he was sure that the bank would approve the Rotat- ing Fund and Mr. Morse said that he thoughtthey would, but he did not know if the bank had actually had a_meet- ing of the Board of Directors to approve it. The Chairman asked him to get a written confirmation from the bank. Mr. Morse retired at 10:05 P.T;. The Chairman said that Mr. Ferguson believed it would Mr. Richard3be difficult for him to do a good job as Building Inspector as acting while the Legislature is in session and he recommended that Bldg. Insp. the Selectmen appoint Mr. Gordon D. Richards to take his place during that period. Mr. Sarano moved that Charles E. Ferguson be given a leave of absence from his position as Building Inspector for a period of six months, and that Gordon D. Richards be appointed Acting Building Inspector in his place. Letter was received from the Chief of Police of Watertown advising that that town had purchased a two-way Two-way frequency modulation set at a cost of 0,754.00. The chief radio said that the system had been very satisfactory and he would recommend it to other towns. A letter was received from Mr. Lyon Carter, President of the Lexington Public Health Association, stating that the nurses of the Public Health Association were employed to otuberculosiswork for he Town He said there was d t no obligation on the part of the Board of Health to employ the Public Health nurses. Mr. Carter said it was the Public definite responsibility of the Board of Health to see that Health the work was done and to assume payment for said work. He Association said he was going to appear before the Appropriation Committee. and would outline where the responsibility of private charity ends and that of the Municipality begins. He said the Public Health Association was doing many things which were really the responsibility of the Town. The Chairman called the Board's attention to the fact that the ambulance was being used to remove people from, hospitals to their homes. He said that inasmuch as the ambulance was to be used only in emergency cases, he Use of wondered if this should not be stopped. The Clerk was Ambulance instructed to write Chief Taylor and tell him that it was the understainding of the Board that the ambulance was to be used only in emergencies and to ask his opinion on the question of removing persons from the hospital to their homes. A letter was received from the Veterans of Foreign Wars inviting the Selectmen to attend a banquet and Military ' 523 Ball on Saturday, February 15th, The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the invitation with thanks and to advise that Invita- all of the members of the Board would attend. tion Notice was received from the Town Clerk that the following dates had been set for the registration of voters: Feb 4th, Town Of�ice Building, 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Feb. 11th, it it 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Feb. 11tia, Adams School 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Feb. 19th Town Office Building 12:00 noon to ,107:00 P.M. Certificate of Water Liens in the amount of $120.44 were signed. The Chairman told the Board that there would be a joint meeting with the Appropriation'Committee on Thursday, February 13, 1941. The Fire Department budget was considered and the following changes were made: Stenographic services reduced from 135.00 to $20.00. ' Repairs reduced from 01,000.00 to 4800.00. Shop supplies etc. increased from $150.00 to 4250.00, to take care of photographic supplies. Light and Power increased from 525.00 to x'600.00. Laundry increased from X250.00 to 4300.00. Sundry Items reduced from gZOO.00 to 6100.00. Out of State Travel, $300.00, eliminated. Total amount of budget approved, $7685.00. A separate account for the Fire Department, Rescue and Salvage was set up and approved in the amount of $625.00 to cover 4200.00 for the maintenance of the ambulance and X425.00 for the purchase of a resuscitator. Fire Department - Outlay was approved in the amount of 750.00. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 P.P1J. A true record, Attest: -------- Cle-r .