Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-02-24 543 SELECTMEN'S MEETING IFebruary 24, 1941 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on February 24, 1941 at 7:30 P. M. Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke, and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. In the absence of Mr. Giroux, Mr. Potter acted as Chair- man. Chief Edward W. Taylor of the Fire Department appeared before the Board at 7:30 P. M. The Chairman told him the Board would like to hear what he had to say about the purchase of the resuscitator. The Chief said that the Department had an inhalator now which had done very good work but was now almost obsolete. The resusci- tator is the only thing he knows of that, will do the work the inhalator can do. This equipment would do away with the prone pressure work that has to be done now on people who are non- Resuscitator breathing cases. If you have a breathing case, the inhalator in fine, but it will not work in a nonbreathing case. It is difficult for a person administering aid by the prone pressure method to have his strokes coincide with the number of breaths per minute that the person is taking. The resuscitator auto- matically takes care of this. Also with the inhalator, they have now way of knowing whether or not the person has anything in his throat, and the resuscitator tells immediately whether or not there is something in the throat. Mr. Potter asked how many men in the Department could handle this equipment and Chief Taylor said that everyone could use it. Mr. Rowse asked if the inhalator would still be kept in the Department and the Chief said it would. The Chief said the resuscitator would be kept in the station and taken out only when needed. Mr. Potter asked the Chief how he felt on the question of civil service for the men. Mr. Rowse said he understood the Chief used to be against it. Chief Taylor said he was against it at one time because a man from any part of the State might be qualified to work in Lexington and it was his Civil Service belief that only Lexington men should be employed by the Fire Dept. Lexington Fire Department. He said he understood now that he would not have to take men from out of town. Mr. Potter asked if the call men would come under this and he replied in the negative. Mr. Rowse asked if the Chief felt he would have as good disciplinary control with civil service and he replied in the affirmative. He said he was confident he would have no trouble. Mr. Rowse said he believed it was only fair for the Fire Department to have this program as II long as the Police Department has it. 544 el He said however, he felt it would be better for the townspeople to think it over for awhile. His idea would be to have a committee appointed at this Town Meeting and have a report submitted at a later Town Meeting. , He said it would be too bad if it were turned down at this Town Meeting for lack of information. Chief Taylor said it would be better to have a committee appointed to study the matter. He said the first time it came up in Arlington it was turned down. The Board then discussed the matter of salary with Chief Taylor. Mr. Rowse said that everybody wanted him to stay on the job and felt that he wanted to stay. Chief Taylor said he didn't know if he was very keen about staying. He became Chief in 1913 and has remained in office for 28 years. He Chief said the job took a lot of time and he would be better off Taylor's if he didn't have it. Mr. Rowse asked the Chief what he salary would be satisfied with and he said he would be satisfied with his present salary plus what he would get if he retired. He said he thought this was reasonable and would stay, but if he did not get it, he would not stay. He said he could make more money attending to his own business. Mr. Potter said that there was a difference of opinion between the Selectmen and the Appropriation Committee and he asked if the Chief would be willing to stay if both Boards came to an agreement. The Chief said if the proposition was attractive to him he would stay. Mr. Rowse told him that the Appropriation Committee had approved hj salary on the basis of 61500. 00 per year. Mr. Potter told him that the Board understood he made a request for additional men. The Chief said that his De- partment was inadequately manned, particularly during lunch More men periods. For instance, if a call comes in to East Lexington for Fire for the ambulance during lunch period, two men have to go out, Dept. leaving on man on duty. The Selectmen felt it would be too bad to have to put on additional men just because we have an ambulance. The Clerk was instructed to bring this matter up next week when there will be a full Board present. Chief Taylor retired at 8:05 P. M. Mr. Rowse moved that the salary of the Chief of the Fire Increase: Department be increased from 61,000.00 to 61500.00 per year, Chief starting April 1, 1941. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and Taylor it was so voted. Mrs. John Fitzgerald appeared before the Board. She said she wanted to renew in person her request for Mrs. some insurance business. She said she was interested in Fitzgerald those policies placed through agents who have left town or req. ins. who have retired. Mrs. Fitzgerald said she had lived in Lexington 37 years and last year received her broker's license ' 545 IIMr. Rowse asked her what companies she used and Mrs. Fitzgerald said what policies she had placed, she had put through the American Employers. Mr. Rowse asked if she would submit to the Board- 4 list of the stock companies with whom she could do business. She said she would be pleased to do this and retired at 8:20 P. M. ifia8:25 P. M. , Messrs. Robert C. Merriam and William C. Paxton *ppeared before the Board to discuss the purchase of the water pipe in Patriot* Drive , from Mr. Merriam. The Supt. of the Water Department made up an estimate of the cost of construction which Mr. Merriam thought was too low. He felt that there were certain overhead costs which were not included in the estimate. He said he did not feel it quite fair to expect the result from the Water Re: Purchase Department you would expect to get from a private business. of water pipe He said that there was a great deal of the work done in 1937 in Patriots and he felt the average cost per foot was the figure that Drive should have been used. Mr. Merriam said his average cost per foot was $2.94 of which $1.01 was for ledge. Mr. Merriam called the Board's attention to the fact that a sewer main was laid. in S.teason Street two years later and the same kind of ledge was incurred and that year the Town's average cost per foot was $5.69. He felt considering the great amount of ledge he had to contend with, the sum of $1,000.00 was a very reason- ' able amount for the Town to pay. If the Board did not want to pay him the $1,000.00 then he was going to move for indefinite postponement of the article. Mr. Paxton said the difference between the actual coat given by Mr. Merriam and Mr. Ross' estimate depended on the amount of trench ledge and trench excavation that was assumed to be charged to water construction and the amount charged to sewer construction. Mr. Ross felt that fifty percent of the ledge and trench excavation should be charged to the sewer construction, and therefore based his estimate on these quantities. However, Mr. Merriam felt that a greater proportion of ledge and trench excavation should be charged to the water construction. Mr. Paxton also said that each water job varied and that extra fittings would have a great affect on the cost per foot. Mr. Rowse asked Mr. Merriam if he would be willing to pay the betterment assessment if the two dead ends in the street were tied in and he said he would expect to pay a betterment assessment of about $99.00 although he did not need the extension. The Board suggested that Mr. Merriam discuss the matter with Mr. Ross and he agreed to do this. Mr. Merriam retired at 8:50 P. M. Mr. Paxton said he did not believe this sort of a situa- ' tion should come up again on account of the Board of Surlaey regulations. A 546 C77:1 el He said that in Brookline, they get a statement of the cost from the builder or developer and then the Town examine his books and pay him exactly what his cost has been. Of course they satisfy themselves that the job has been done properly. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the Chamber of Use of 8ommerce had requested the use of a conference room on Hall February 27th. Mr. Rowse moved that the request be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said he contacted Mr. Custance with reference to using a room in the Barnes ' property, but they had not had an opportunity to go d own and make a decision on the matter. Mr. Paxton said St. Brigid's Church had requested the. use of Cary Hall on April 23rd for a Reunion from 8:00 P, M. until 1:00 A. M. Mr. Rowse moved that the use of the hall be granted subject to a charge of $20.00. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that the State Organization of DeMolay had requested the use of the Center Playground for an athletic Paxton talked with Mr. Garrity day some Saturday in June. Mr. y DeMolay req: about this and Mr. Garrity said as far as the fields and for use of tennis courts are concerned, probably not much harm would be Center Play- done to them. He would not allow the group to use the pool, ground however. Of course he tries to keep this clean and it would be necessary for all the people who were to use the pool to be examined first. Mr. Paxton said the group had planned baseball games, tennis, track, etc. There would be probably about 600 people attend and they would like to hold a dance in Cary Hall in the evening. Mr. Sarano moved that the request be denied, it being felt that the playground was for the use of the townspeople and that harm might come to it. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton read a letter from Supt Thomas S. Grindle, stating that the School Committee felt that the cost of in- Light at stalling a light over the door at the Adams School should Adams Sch. be borne by the Selectmen inasmuch as the maintenance of the light would have to be paid by the School Committee. Mr. Potter said that if the School Committee did not feel it was going to get enough additional protection from the light to warrant paying for the installation, then there was no need of it. Mr. Rowse moved that the East Lexington Men's Club, who made the request, be informed inasmuch as the Adams School is school property, any action on the matter will have to come from the School Committee. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 547 ' Mr. Paxton said he had received another letter from Mr. Gleason who claimed that his automobile was damaged when it Gleason I went over a catch basin on which the cover had become loosened. claim for Mr. Gleason said that he felt that he should be reimbursed damage *47.00 rather than the .00 25approvedbythe Selectmen last � week. Mr. Paxton was instructed to contact Mr. Gleason and make such settlement as he could. Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Garrity had requested the Board to writea letter authorizing him to set out shade trees on private property. He claims in the past the Select- men had approved this. These trees would go in on the side- Shade trees walk. Mr. Potter said he could see trouble in this because if the Town dug up a lawn and did any damage, it would be re- sponsible, and if the tree died it would have to be replaced. Mr. Rowse thought it would be all right if the owners would agree to indemnify the Town against any damages. It was de- cided to have Mr. Garrity in next week to discuss the subject. Mr. Potter asked Mr. Paxton about the Oak Street sewer costa and he said he would bring in the figures next week. .A letter was received from Mr. Roy A. Ferguson of 11 Berwick Road to which was attached a sheet signed by 17 II owners of property agreeing to pay their sewer betterment assessments om that street. Mr. Ferguson said he belived Beswick Rd, some action should be taken this spring. Mr. Paxton said sewer he knew of no reason why this extension should not come under the W. P. A. project for the Manor Sewerbut he doubted if the work would be done unti.l some time in 1942. A letter was received from Mr. John W. Raymond, Jr. advising he was leaving, February 22nd, for an indefinite stay in Bermuda. He said last week he requested the P.W.A. to consider an increase in the amount of grant for the Vine Brook project. Also last week he explained to Mr. Paxton his plans in connection with the raising of the dam on Vine Brook Burnham's land and arranged with him to make certain tests grant at the Public Works Building in order to work out the best method. He said he had talked with Messrs. Marbton and Eddy of Metcalf & Eddy and they agreed to furnish someone to attend P.W.A. to any matters required to wind up the P. N.A. projects. He Correspond- said that Mr. Kilbourne Whitman of Metcalf & Eddy's staff ent was qualified to handle the correspondence and act as P.W.A. correspondent. J The Board requested Mr. Paxton to check with Mr. Russell on the additional grant and follow ip up. 548 cd Cl The matter of financing the cost of constructing Patriots Drive was discussed. The total amount approved for highway construction and reconstruction amounted to $24,500.00. It was voted to raise $7500.00 from the tax levy and to bond 117,000.00, the latter to be paid as follows: 2 years at 4,000.00 and 3 years at $3,000.00. Mr. Morse appeared at 0:45 P. M. and retired at 10:03 P.Y. A bond in the penal sum of $1,000.00 covering Mr. Gordon D. Bldg. Richards as Building Inspector was received. Mr. Locke moved Insp. that the bond be approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, bond and it was so voted. A letter was received from the County Commissioners advising that House Bill #2042 relating to the apportionment of the State and County tax had been submitted to the General Court. Also the valuation of Middlesex County has been in. House creased and the proportion of the State tax to be paid has Bill been increased 1.247%. In Suffolk County, the valuation of 2042 Boston alone has been reduced making their proportion of the State tax 4.141% less. The Clerk was instructed to write Representative Charles E. Ferguson and inform him that the Board of Selectmen wished to be recorded in opposition to this Bill. The Plumbing Inspector submitted some proposed gas By-laws. Gas By-The Clerk was instructed to forward them to Mr. Eugene L. Morgan, ga , Laws Chairman of the Plumbing By-law Committee and to request that his committee study them in relation with the proposed Plumbing By-laws. An abatement of $6.00 for the use of the ambulance was signed. A letter was received from Mr. Giroux advising that the Board of Selectmen had been appointed a committee in charge of Patriotic exercises to be held in Cary Hall on April 18th. Commitment of water miscellaneous charges in the amount of $89.13 wan signed. The meeting adjourned at 10:25 P.M. A true record, Attest : Clerk J`