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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-10-20262 SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 20, 1941 • • 0 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. • • 0 0 • 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. • 0 0 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