HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-10-20262
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
October 20, 1941
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A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, Lexington
on Monday evening, October 20, 1941 at 7:30 P.M. Chair-
man Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Locke and Sarano were present.
The Clerk was also present.
At 7:30 P.M. Mr. Charles P. LeRoyer of 53 Yale Street,
Winchester, a pepresentative of the Adjutant General's of-
fice, appeared before the Board. He said that he was
authorized to take the preliminary action necessary in or-
ganizing Massachusetts State Guard Reserve Units in Arling-
ton, Lexington and Winchester.
The Chairman said that some months ago the Selectmen
received a letter regarding such an organization but felt
that inasmuch as we had a very active Auxiliary Police Unit,
a State Guard Reserve would be unnecessary.
Mr. LeRoyer said that fifty-four State Guard Reserve
Units had been established in Massachusetts to date. He
said that there was a slight difference between the regular
State Guard and the State Guard Reserve although both are
trained in the same manner. The Reserve Unit may be con-
sidered as a stationary home guard and that all expenses
attached to the organization of the unit are to be borne
State
locally and not by the State. The unit must organize with
Guard
the consent of the Board of Selectmen. The Selectmen must
Reserve
appoint a resident of the Town to act as a recruiting of -
Units
ficer. The Chairman asked what the probable cost to the
community per man was and Mr. LeRoyer said that that de-
pended upon the extent of the activities to be carried on.
He said that it cost $2.50 to $3.00 to furnish a man with
blouse, trousers, and overseas cap. The Chairman said that
If the Board agreed to organize such a unit the matter
would have to be carried to Town Meeting for funds.
Mr. LeRoyer said the plan now was to furnish each unit
with ten rifles at first in order to learn the Manual of
Arms etc. The Chairman asked if $50.00 might be a fair
estimate per man and Mr. LeRoyer said he thought it was a
little high.
The Chairman asked if it was true that the men in the
State Guard Reserves would not be called out of their own
community and Mr. LeRoyer answered in the affirmative. The
Chairman said that he understood that in the event of a
real emergency they would be called anywhere in the State,
the same as the State Guard. Mr. LeRoyer said that up to
the present time no such provision had been made. He said
that there were forty-five to sixty men to a unit and the
age field was twenty-one years to fifty years.
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Mr. LeRoyer retired at 7:45 P.M.
The Chairman asked the Clerk to write the Chairman of
the Committee on Public Safety and ask his opinion on the
matter.
Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 7:45 P.M. and
retired at 8:00 P.M.
Messrs. Wrightington, Sheldon, Paxton and Greeley ap-
peared before the Board.
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. William H. Ballard
containing his opinion relative to the assessment of high-
way betterments. There was a general discussion of highway
betterment assessments and a particular discussion of assess-
ing betterments on streets in the Moreland Avenue section.
Mr. Sheldon and Mr. Greeley said that they would like their
Boards to view the streets in question so it was decided to
adjourn the meeting to Monday, November 3, 1941.
Mr. Sheldon and Mr. Greeley retired at 8:55 P.M.
Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the Red Cross had
requested the use of a conference room on either October
27th or 28th.
Mr. Locke moved that the use of the conference room
be granted free of charge. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion
and it was so voted.
Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the Cary Trustees
had requested the use of Cary Hall on November 26th or
27th for a lecture.
Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted.
Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
The Chairman asked if the Board was willing to allow
the Auxiliary Police to use Estabrook Hall every Thursday
evening unless it was desired by some other organization.
Mr. Potter moved that the Auxiliary Police be granted the
use of the hall every Thursday evening unless it was de-
sired by some other organization. Mr. Locke seconded the
motion, and it was so voted.
Assess"-
ment of
highway
better-
ments
Use of
Halls
Mr. Paxton read a letter from Robert Whitney relative
to insurance on Town Buildings. Mr. Whitney recommended
increasing the coverage because of increased building Insurance
costs. Mr. Paxton said he intended to talk with Mr.
Whitney further on the subject and that there was no need
of taking action on the recommendation now.
Mr. Paxton said he received a bid on tire chains
from Hunt and Marquardt.. Inc. of Boston. They bid $243.80
less a 10% Federal excise tax deduction. The bid of the Tire chain
Colonial Garage was $246.80 on Odell chains. Mr. Paxton bids
said that the Boston firm bid on Weed chains. It was de-
cided to take no action on the matter until the next meet -
Ing.
264
Claim of
Mary
McDonnell
McIntosh
water
guaranty
Two-way
radio
Mr. Paxton informed the Board that Waltham's water
main came only as far as Trapelo Road so that it would be
impossible for Professor Dempsey to tie into it.
Mr. Wrightington brought up the claim of Mary Mc-
Donnell against the Town. This is the woman who claims
she tripped on the sidewalk in East Lexington and received
bodily injuries. Mrs. McDonnell has retained a lawyer who
has been in conference with Mr. Wrightington. The woman
has been receiving aid from the Town for several years and
he told her attorney this. He said that he understood so
but that if he did not take the case, she would give it to
some other lawyer. Mr. Wrightington asked if the Board
wished to make some settlement. He recommended doing
nothing for her.
Mr. Sarano moved that no action be taken. Mr. Locke
seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Mr. Paxton retired at 9:15 P.M.
A letter was received from Neil McIntosh advising that
he had settled his water guaranty account for $29.09, under
protest. He requested an appointment with the Board to dis-
cuss the matter. The Clerk was instructed to make an appoint-
ment for Mr. McIntosh.
A letter was received from the Town Accountant inform-
ing the Board that the Chief of Police had put through a
bill of $2030.65 for furnishing and installing the two-way
radio system. Mr. Russell said that the contract provided
that payment was to be made after thirty -days of satisfac-
tory operation. The Chairman said that the two-way radio
system was officially installed on October 14, 1941. It
was decided to hold the bill up for 30 days from October
14, 1941 and to ask the Chief to report to the Board as of
November 14, 1941 as to whether or not the radio system is
working satisfactorily.
A letter was received from H. P. Hood & Sons informing
the Board that that company was now handling its own liabi-
Overhang- lity for personal injuries by reason of overhanging signs.
Ing sign The company asked if their letter would be considered evi-
dence that it would assume the liability required by the
Town.
A letter was received from the Town Counsel advising
that Section 10 of the Overhs)ngirg Sign Regulations pro-
hibited accepting H. P. Hood & Sona' letter in lion of an
Insurance policy. It was decided to insist that the company
file an Insurance policy in accordance.with the reEp lations.
Mr. Wrightington retired at 9:25 P.M.
The Chairman said that Mr. Garrity spoke to him about
reserving the land on Woburn Street, acquired from the
Ryders by tax title foreclosure, for playground purposes.
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He asked the Planning Board to consider the matter and
read a letter from them concerning it. It was the Plan-
ning Board's feeling that while a playground should un-
doubtedly be provided near Woburn Street in the future,
It might preferably be located nearer Lowell Street than
this property. They recommended that the land be sold if
a proper price might be secured. The Planning Board felt
that for the present, the playground facilities at the
High and Munroe schools were adequate.
The Chairman asked how the Board felt about the
matter and the members concurred with the Planning Board
in its opinions.
A letter was received from the Committee on Public
Safety requesting that the sum of $200.00 for the estab-
lishment of a Report Center.
Ryder land
on Woburn
St. for
playground
Mr. Locke moved that the Appropriation Committee be Transfer
requested to transfer the sum of $200.00 from the Reserve for Report
Fund for the establishment of a Report Center. Mr. Sarano Center
seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
A letter was received from Chairman Clifford of the
Auxiliary Police unit advising that the Executive Committee
of the Auxiliary Police Force felt that a high school home
football game was not an incident which should require the
services of its organization. Mr. Clifford said that the
Auxiliary Police Force was an organization for defense
emergencies.
Aux.Police
football
games
A complaint was received from Catherine C. MacDonald
of 96 Winter Street to the effect that the dogs owned by Complaint
Sabatino lodice of 65 Winter Street and Joseih Pastena of re dogs
74 Winter Street were a nuisance by reason of their viscious
dispositions. Miss MacDona]d's complaint was sworn under
oath.
The Clerk stated that she had talked with the Dog
Officer who said that in his opinion the dogs are viscious
and should be restrained.
Mr. Potter moved that the dogs be ordered restrained,
until further notice. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and
it was so voted.
The report of the Retirement Board for the month of
September was received.
Abatements for the following departments were signed:
Water Department, Selectmen's Department and Health Depart-
ment.
The meeting adjourned at 9:40 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
.
Clergy