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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-10-14• • • SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 14, 1941 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, `:'own Office Building on Tuesday evening, October 14, 1941 at 7:30 P.M. This meeting was held on Tuesday due to the fact that Monday was a holiday. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. At 7:30 P.M. Mr. Paxton and Mr. John S. Crosby of Arlington appeared before the Board. The Chairman said that he wrote Mr. Crosby explain- ing the circumstances because of which he was invited here tonight. Judge.Williams, who presided in the Wilson case, suggested that Mr. Crosby be appointed to determine the amount of money to be returned to the Town in the water theft case. The Chairman asked Mr. Crosby if he would be willing to make an estimate of this and Mr. Crosby said that he would be if he could be of any service to the Town. He said that he thou, -ht he would go about it in the follow- ing; manner: He would check his water bills for the past two years, compare Wilson's crops with his and the acreage of both, and work out a figure from that point. The Chairman said that Judge Williams suggested that if Mr. Crosby agreed to do this, it would be done as quietly as possible, without publicity. Mr. Crosby said that he would prefer that it be done that way and that he was doing it as a service to the Town of Lexington. The Chairman said that Judge Wilson said that Mr. Crosby would be en- titled to compensation. He asked if. Mr. Crosby had any suggestion as to what his compensation should be and Mr. Crosby said that he would leave that to the Board entirely. The Chairman asked if the Board would rather set a figure of compensation now or leave it open until after Mr. Crosby completed his work. :tor. Potter thought it would be difficult to determine the compensation now and that if Mr. Crosby was willing to take his chances of compensation, it would be better to let it go until after he named a figure. Mr. Crosby said that he would be willing to take his chances on compensation. The Chairman asked how many years back the Board wished Mr. Crosby to go and if the Board wanted to figure on one meter or on all four meters. Messrs. Crosby, Sarano and Paxton left the meeting at 7:50 P.M. to discuss the subject. Mr. Crosby to determine figure in water theft 258 The Chairman asked the Board if it thought the Wilsons should make restitution on all the meters and Mr. Rowse thought they should make restitution for all water that was taken and not paid for. Messrs. Crosby, Sarano and Paxton returned at 8:00 P.M. Mr. Potter said he thought the Board should consider only the land on the left side of Pleasant Street and should not consider the Fern Street garden. The Chairman told Mr. Crosby that the Board would prefer that he base his figure on the land in the hollow because there were three meters on services supplying this farm. He told Mr. Crosby to have his figure cover 1939, 1940 and 1941. He said that Mr. Crosby would undoubtedly have to take the rainfall into consideration. Mr. Crosby said that he would take his re- cords and let it go at that. He thought it would be fair to take the past two years and arrive at an average figure. The Chairman told him to ask Mr. Paxton for any information that he wanted. Mr. Crosby said that he would do the best he could and retired at 8:03 P.M. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the Red Cross had re - Use of quested the use of a conference room on October 15th. Hall Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the room be grantedfree of charge. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that they were running into conflicting uses of the various halls and rooms and he suggested that all requests for uses be submitted at least a week in advance and that everybody be required to file a formal application. It was decided to adopt Mr. Paxton's recommendation and have all requests for the uses of halls come through his office. Mr. Paxton read a paragraph from the Selectmen's Records of February 15, 1938 relative to a separate heating unit for the Town Office Building. At that time Mr. Clyde Steeves es - Heating timated that it would cost $25,000. if a boiler was installed (Town in the Cary Memorial Building to serve the Town Offices, and Offices he did not believe that there would be any saving in the heat- ing costa He figured that if a separate boiler was put in this building, the saving would be not more than 0100.00 per year. Mr. Paxton read a letter dated November 26, 1940 from Mr. William R. Greeley to the Selectmen. Mr. Greeley had a a e h tin engineer stud g g y the matter and the litter recommended the installation of a thermostat in the Selectmen's room. Mr. Paxton said that it seemed logical to him to have a separate heating system in the Town Office Building and he would be glad to discuss the matter with a heating engineer. He said that he would report on it at a later date. • • 0 • • Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Cosgrove contacted Mrs. Baldwin and Miss Pilkington, the owners of the property on Spring Street, who would be affected if the water main was extended to serve the Dempsey property. The two women are definitely opposed to the extension because it cost them a considerable amount of money to have the main extended as far as their house. Their assessments would total $940.00. They are the only other abutters. The Board felt that because of the expense involved and the fact that the other property owners are opposed, it could not authorize the extension in accordance with Professor Dempsey's request. Mr. Paxton said that he, together with Mr. Worthen, had inspected the Old Power House at 177 Bedford Street which the Misticke Co. offered to sell to the Town. He said he could not see any real use that that particular building could be put to at the present time. It is some distance from the Public Works Building. If they attempted to use it as an auxiliary store room or garage, consider- able alteration would be necessary. The owner wants $12,000. for the property. Mr. Rowse moved that no action be taken on the matter. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that he found out that Mrs. W.V.T. Hinckley was 77 years of age but was considered a broker by the Boston Insurance Co. Mr. Rowse moved that the $5,000.00 policy expiring November 6, 1941 through the office of Mrs. Hinckley, be renewed through the same office. Mr. Paxton said that he sent letters to eight companies requesting bids on tire chains and only one was received. The Colonial Garage bid $246.80 for O'Dell chains. Mr. Rowse thought that we should have more than one bid. Mr. Paxton said he would try to get some others. The matter was held over for one week. Mr. Paxton said he had received a request from John L. Pichette that the interest on his water betterment assess- ments for 1940 and 1941 be abated. In 1939 the water main was extended in Grant Street to serve the Richards' house and betterments were assessed against Joseph P. Grace, Pichette's brother-in-law, for two lots. Stone was piled on these lots by the contractor of the Vine Brook Sewer and Drain Project so that Grace did not have the use of the lots. He does not mind paying the water betterment but does think the interest should be abated because the lots were unsaleable because of the Vine Brook Project. The interest amounts to about $28.00. Mr. Paxton said he thought Pichette had a certain just claim. 259. Spring St. water main extension Old Power House prop for sale Insurance Tire ehsh bids Req. for water bettermert abatement U Police car Servicing He said that he believed it was May of this year before the Town settled the Grace claim. Mr. Rowse moved that the interest be abated up to time of settlement of Gracets claim. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Town Accountant called the Board's attention to a bill being paid to F. K. Johnson, Inc. by the Police De- partment on which were listed two lubrications. He said that on June 24, 1941 the Appropriation Committee was in- formed that the Police and Welfare Departments had been my strueted to have their automobiles serviced at the Public Works Building. Mr. Paxton said that on this particular day the police cars were not brought up until four o'clock and it was too late to do them then. The Clerk was instructed to ask the Police Department to give the Town mechanic 24 hours notice of the time it wishes to have the cars greased so that proper arrangements can be made to take care of them. The Chairman read a copy of a letter from Joseph A. Ross to Mr. Raymond dated September 25, 1939. In this let- ter Mr. Ross said the following time was due him for vaca- tions which he was not able to take: one week in 1936, two weeks in 1937 and two weeks in 1938. Mr. Ross said that from this could be deducted ten days which he had taken off at one half day at a time. Mr. Ross wanted to know if he would be compensated for the vacations which he did not take. The Board voted to take no action on the request. Mr. Paxton said he thought some definite To make vacations should be established. He thought 'a study of every employee should be kept accurately. of vaca- that he and Mr. Russell make a study of each 'tions time in relation to vacations. He said that this when they had an opportunity to do so. Mr. Paxton retired at 8s45.P.M* policy on that the time He suggested individualts they would do Mr. Morse appeared at 8:45 P.M. and retired at 9:07 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from the Lexington Grange 'Request stating that the National Grange was holding a convention to have in Worcester in November and on November 16th will visit 'flags Lexington. The writer requested that the flags be flown at flown the Common on that day. Mr. Potter moved that the American flags around the Common and the State flags in front of the monument be flown on November 16th. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A letter was received from the Town Couhsel saying that he found no legal justification for the Wire Ins- pector refusing to approve construction work in his de- partment in order to enforce compliances for the Plumbing • • • • • and Building Inspectors. He suggested that if specific authority is now lacking in the By-laws to accomplish this, it would be wise to include additional requirements in the proposed By-laws. The Clerk was instructed to send a copy of the letter to the Building and Plumbing Inspectors. A letter was received from the United China Relief, Inc. requesting that the Selectmen appoint a local person to serve as Chairman of the observance of United China Re- lief Week and to give the matter some publicity. The name of Mrs. Robert C. Merriam was suggested as chairman and the Clerk was instructed to advise Mrs. Merriam of this and to request the local paper to give the program some publicity. United China Relief An invitation was received from the Sturbridge De- fense Committee to attend the Dedication of the Sturbridge Invitation Defense Center on October 25th. Mr. Potter moved that the Lexington Committee on Pub- lic Safety be asked to attend. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A letter was received from the Appropriation Committee advising that the sum of $25.00 had been transferred from Transfer the Reserve Fund to the Dog Officer -Expenses Account. Application for an overhanging sign permit at 1779 Massachusetts Avenue was received from W. H. Lyon. Mr. Potter moved that the permit be granted subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Potter said that Superintendent of Schools, Grindle, had discussed with him the matter of policing at the football games at the center playground. The Chairman said that he was present at one of the games and that there was several fist fights and other dis- turbances on that day. There are two officers in atten- dance but they are unable to control the number of people present. He suggested that members of the Auxiliary Police might help out. Mr. Potter moved that Malcolm H. Clifford be requested to call for ten volunteers from the Auxiliary Police to be on duty at the high school football games. These volunteers are to wear their badges and carry their night sticks, it being understood that there will be no compensation. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Commitement cf water and sewer house connections was signed. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 P.M. . A true record, Attest: Clerk Sign permit Policing football games