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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-09-190 SELECTMEN'S MEETING September 19, 1941 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held In the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 4:30 P.M. The Chairman telephoned the Clerk this morning and said to call the meeting for 4:30, that Mr. Rowse was out of Town, and to telephone the other members. Accordingly, the Clerk telephoned Messrs. Locke, _Potter, and Sarano and left work that the meeting would be at 4; 30 P. M. Messrs. Potter, Locke, and Sarano were present, and the Clerk was also present. Mr. Giroux arrived at 4:45 P.M. Mr. Barnes of the firm of Barnes & Champney, architects, appeared before the Board. He said he was appealing to the Board to be permitted to build a small house with a found- ation which is acceptable in every Town around Boston, in- cluding Newton. The Building Inspector is insisting on a different type of foundation. He says that a wall of extra- ordinary strength and one difficult to build is required in this particular location (Follen Hill). Mr. Barnes said that such a wall was,needed where there was a steep grade, but there was no such condition on the lot he is building on. Mr. James P. McCarthy of Cambridge, the owner of the house, appeared before the Board. He said that Mr. Cann had stopped the work, saying that the wall was not satis- factory. The builder had started laying the wall, believ- ing he was proceeding as he was permitted to proceed. Mr. Barnes talked with Mr. Cann the day before yesterday, and found that Leigh Farnham, in writing out the permit, had described the foundation as being poured concrete, and had made that note on the permit. The builder did not notice it, and signed the plans. Mr. Barnes explained to Cann that it was a mistake, and asked for a change to the original wall design, but that was refused. Mr. Cann gave him no good reason for doing this. Barnes said that there was no reference to footings in the Building Law. He said that he was building a house for Mr. McCarthy which had to be economical, and he protested Cann's action, because he thought it was imposing a hardship on them. Barnes took an engineer to the lot :today and asked his opinion. The engineer substantiated everything Barnes himself believed. Cann's reasons are that they have considerable depth of excavation. At one high point, it does measure eight feet, and that will be cut in the finished grade. The maximum height of the wall is seven feet, and the back':wall is more than strong enough for that. Cann says that the lot is a mud hole in the spring. Two-thirds of the cut is solid boulder clay and absolutely impervious to water. • There is no possible danger. It would cost an additional $300.00 to build the wall as Mr. Cann wants it. Mr. McCarthy said that Mr. Barnes was a member of the American Institute of Architects, and he would not put up a building which was not all right. The two men retired at 4:50 P. M. Mr. Leigh Farnham appeared before the Board. The Chair- man asked him where the Building Laws specified that a re- taining wall had to be built, and Farnham said that the only reference to foundations was in the section marked "Founda- tions". He retired at 5:00 P. M. Mr. Sarano left the meeting at 5:00 P. M. Mr. Wrightington appeared at 5:07 P. M. and discussed with the Board the order of the votes for the September 22nd Town Meeting. The Chairman informed the Board that Mr. Paxton had suggested that money be borrowed for the Spring Street con- struction. Mr. Potter moved that the Town Treasurer be requested to borrow the sum of $15,000.00 for one year, in anticipation of reimbursement by the State and County. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 P. M. A true record, Attest: Clerk • • •