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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-11-17 296 SELECTMEN' S MEETING November 17, 1941 A regular meeting* of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building on Monday, November 17, 1941 at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs Potter, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr . Ernest A. Lindstrom, plumbing inspector, appeared before the Board. He said that Albert A. Ross had ordered a septic tank to put into a building and has been informed that there are no 300 gallon tanks available in the State. Our law requires a 300 gallon tank. Mr. Ross has a 200 gallon tank and wanted to know if it would be all right for him to use it. Mr Lindstrom said that in his opinion, it would be all right as the house is small and has only one bathroom. The Board had no objection to Mr Ross using the 200 gallon tank. At 7 :30 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the peti- tion of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Tele- phone and Telegraph Company for the following pole locations : Marrett Road, at northwest corner of Wilson Road, 1 pole ; Pole Marrett Road, between Wilson and Leroy Roads, 2 poles ; 4110 location Marrett Road, at southeast corner of Leroy Road, 1 pole (3 existing joint poles to be removed) No persons appeared in favor or in opposition. Mr . Potter moved that the locations be approved and the order signed. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. At 7 :32 P M. Mr James II F ssell, Mr William C . Paxton and Mr Clayton F. Beach appeared before the Board. Mr . Russell said that the maturing debt for 1942 is $70,500. The credit from the premium account is $200.97 Maturing and there probably will be a credit from the P.W.A. Vine Debt Brook job of $382. 89, leaving the amount to be appropriated $69,916.14 . This year the total appropriation for debt was $74,202 .00 and of this the water debt amounted to $14,000.00 . This year was the first year for many years that there was sufficient money in the Water Surplus Ac- count to meet the annual debt payment. Mr. Russell said that he estimated that we will have $30,000.u0 in the Water Surplus Account this year. The Chairman asked if the water surplus could be used to pay off any other debt Mr. Russell said that it was supposed to be used for Water Department purposes , but the Town can vote to appropriate the sum for some other purpose He did not know if there were any re- strictions as to what use the money could be put to. 2974111 Mr Rowse asked if there was any chance of there being enough of a surplus to reduce the water rates Mr. Russell said he would not recommend that until such time as the Water Department will have surplus enough to meet the debt and outlay items . Then, if there is more than enough money, the rates can be reduced. Mr Rowse said that it would be a bad precedent to charge enough for water rates so that there would be enough surplus for other Town accounts . Mr. Russell said that also, it was not right that in 15 years the Town had to pay out of the general tax levy a total of $442,950. 00 for hater Department debt . The Chairman said that it was Mr Russell ' s belief that the Water Department should be on a self-supporting basis in fact, that is not to borrow for construction etc. Mr. Russell believes that the surplus should be left in the account and used for construction work in future years . He said of course the balance should not be allowed to build up to a ridiculous figure Mr Rowse asked if we were appropriat- ing any money out of the lev-r for a= water expenses and Mr. Russell replied in the negative . Mr. Rowse asked what Mr Russell expected to have left out of the 'aater Department borrowing for 1941, and Mr. Russell said that there was a little more than $'13, 000 . at the present time Mr Paxton said that they had two requests for extensions and these would cost $1,000 . to x'1200. • Mr . Rowse asked how the E. and D Account was Eping to look this year. Mr Russell said it was going to be better than last year The tax collections are better this year. The Chairman said that on the P.W.A. accounts the only money we can figure on is the 5°389.00 from the Vine Brook Project. There is a balance of approximately $5,000.00 in the North Lexington Sewer Account but we have a suit pend- ing and therefore cannot use any of those funds . Mr. Rowse asked Mr. Russell if the Board wanted to shut down the W.P.A. sewer jobs , it could use the available funds to retire the bonds . Mr. Russell said the balance could not be used for that purpose. Mr. Russell said that the money was raised for the construction of sewers and for unemployment relief. Mr. Rowse said that that was What he meant. He wanted to know if the money could be turned over Into a relief account and give men a chance to work on certain jobs and not be given aid Mr. Russell said that the money could be trans- ferred for the construction of sewers in co-operation with the Federal Government Mr. Rowse thought that the money could be used for sewer construction by Town forces and that it did not have to be used in conjunction with the Federal Government. He requested Mr. Russell to take up this question with Mr Waddell ' s office and Mr. Russell said that he would. The Chairman read the vote passed at the Town Meeting when the $85,000.00 was appropriated and pointed out that the money was to be used for the construc- tion of sewers in conjunction with the aid of the Federal • Government. 238 The Chairman told Mr. Beach that the Board would 1111 like to "get the picture" as to the situation on the W.P A. sewers . Mr Beach said that to date the situa- tion was as follows : Streets Estimated Cost Expended to Date Liberty Heights $19,900.00 $33,650 .71 Merriam Street and Coolidge Ave. sewers 9,175.00 9,278.71 Manor Section 50,000.00 3.23 Unaccepted Streets 5,925 .00 1,148 .44 ( constructed by the Sewer Dept ) Total X185,000.00 Q44,081.09 The Chairman asked why the Sewer Department did some of the work and Mr. Beach said that the Sewer Department had to do the work on unaccepted streets. Mr. Beach said that 62% of the Liberty Heights project had been completed and Mr. Paxton said that 38% of the Merriam Street and Coolidge Avenue project had been completed. Mr Beach said tnat they had to construct about 100 feet more in Tucker and Ames Avenues and also had to lay the sewer in Baker Avenue . He thought this work would take another five months . The Chairman asked why the Merriam Street and Uool- idge Avenue job was running into so much money and Mr. Beach said that they encountered quicksand in Merriam Street and also the job was done in the middle of winter. The Chairman said that the Town would take a loss on the matter of betterment assessments because of the excessive cost of the work. The Chairman said that $44,000.00 of the $85,000.00 had been spent . He wondered if it might not be wise to shut down the Liberty Heights job and give the people in the Manor some part of the money. Mr. Pax- ton said that the people in the Manor had not been too ready to send in their signed lists of betterment assess- ments The people in the Dal Street section have gone through a great deal of inconvenience through having their roads closed and because of blasting, and he would dislike very much to leave that territory uncompleted and then have to ro bacc and clean it up He said that the worst part ol the leo .;as completed now. They have sufficient stock on hand and have gone through the larger part of the ledge. He thought they were going to work out of it shortly and that we might now reap some of the benefits if the W.P.A. is kept going. He would like to have the job continue as a W.P.A. project He said that he thought the W.P A. would make much more progress in the next few months. The average monthly bill for equipment used by W.P.A on this job has amounted to more than $300. 299 410 Mr. Rowse thought that the Board should have a comparison on the estimated cost as a Town project and as a V.P.A. project before it could consider finishing it as a Town project Mr Beach said he also would like to see the W P.A finish the Liberty Heights job before going to T\orth Hancock Street. Mr Rowse asked Yr Paxton if he had given any thought to Town projects to work men who might otherwise be candi- dates for welfare . Mr. Paxton said that there were some projects that should be done and that he would make up a list of them. He said that as he understood it then, the Board would like him to increase the welfare aid accounts so as to provide some sort of a project for men to work out the welfare aid The Chairman told him the Board had in mind a protect similar to that in Winchester Mr. Beach and Mr Russell retired at 8 :20 P.M. Mr Paxton informed the Board that the Lexington Use of Choral Society had requested the use of Cary Hall on Hall February 10, 1942 for a rehearsal and on February 11, 1942 for a concert. Mr Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge for tle rehearsal and that a charge of 1425 00 be mane for the concert use Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it - as so voted. Mr Paxton said that tne Superintendents of Highways and Public Works in surrounding towns would like the use of Estabrook Hall on Novemoer 27 , 19`-1 for the purpose of forming an ornanizat_.on. Mr Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Board considered the recommendations of Mr . Hill and Mr. Whitney with reference to an appraisal of the Town property. The Chairman said that the first step was for the Board to decide if it wanted an appraisal Appraisal and if so how much it would cost. The last appraisal of Town was made in 1905 and the cost was LL 1450.00 Mr Pax- property ton said that when the appraisal was first made , it was understood that the Town would have tre value of its buildings checked every three years . No money was ap- propriated in 1 ,736 for it so it is now six years since the last appraisal. Mr Paxton was requested to ask Mr Fill what the cost of an appraisal woulc be and to send a copy of the letter to Mr. dihitr_e- A letter was received from Thomas Walsh of 6 Ames Avenue advising the Board that on Saturday, November Claim 6, 1941 at approximately 3 :00 P M. his son, Janes J. • Walsh, fell in tue trencu on Carville Avenue and sus- tained injuries . 300 The Chairman read a report from the Police Department on . the accident and Mr. Paxton read a report from Louis Lawrence and Frank Friend the Time Keeper and Engineer on the job Mr Paxton said that the Engineering De- partment took pictures also. The Board requested Mr. Paxton to send copies of the correspondence to Mr. Wrightine*ton. Mr Paxton read a letter from Whitney Smith, at- torney for John F. Daly, owner of the property at the corner of Concord Avenue and Waltham Street. Mr Daly Claim claims that the Town cut down his bank in the construc- tion of Waltham Street and that a dangerous condition no exists because 01 falling earth and boulders . Mr. Paxton said that it would be easy to stop the stones from falling into the street by putting up posts and a chain link fence at a cost of i150.00 and a retaining- ? wall such as Il.r Daly wants would cost between $;000.00 and $7,000.00 No action was taken on the matter. The Chairman said that in the early fall the Board talked about giving the low income group of Town employ- ees some increase to help them meet the increased cost of living. He thought that men earning less than S,,d0 .00 Salaries per week and having families should be included Mr laoorers Paxton said that the cost of food had gone up 15% since January 1st and the cost of living had gone up 7%. He 4111 said he would like to see all the laborers on an hourly increase. He talked with Mr. Russell about this and Mr. Russell suggested that if there was a possibility that this would be done in the early part of 1942, that it be pushed ahead to December 1st so that he would have a prededent of that month in 1941 to go on in 1942 . Mr. Paxton said that it would cost about $350.00 or $400.00 to increase the men 5an hour for the month of December. Mr. Rowse asked if it was Mr. Paxton's intention to follow the cost of living up and down with these men Mr. Paxton said it was his understanding that the Selectmen wanted to adjust this and last September the Board told him to bring the matter up again when the temporary em- ployees were laid off. Mr. Rowse thought that the prob- lem should not be considered from a point of view of the increased cost of living The Chairman sugiested that the matter be held over for one week. Mr. Paxton said that Miss Ruth Hayes of the Water Department had notified him that she was going to get Ruth Hayes through next Saturday. She has worked for the Town for five years , starting at $12.00 and finally got up to $15.00 She became disgusted and has obtained another position at an increased salary. 301 4111 Mr. Paxton said that there were a number of old printed Town reports down stairs that were of no use and he asked approval to sell them. The Board had no objection. At 9 :00 P M Chief Sullivan and Sergeant Neal ap- peared before the Board. The Clerk retired. At 9 :30 P M Sergeant Neal and Mr. Paxton retired. The Clerk returned. The Chairman told the Chief that the Selectmen had noticed that the Police Department was being charged Supplies higher prices for automobile supplies and tires than the for Public Works Department is paying for the same materials Police from the same sources . He said the Board wondered if the Dept. Chief would be willing to discuss these purchases with the Supt. of Public Works before buying, and try to get the same rates . The Chief said he would be very glad to do this . The Chief informed the Board that Officer Henry Harvey had been ill and unable to work since October 6, 1941. He Officer said he thought Mr. Harvey was in bad shape and he did Harvey not know if he would be coming back or not. The Board ill requested him to check with Mr. Harvey' s physician and 4111 get a report on his condition. The Chairman asked the Chief how the two-way radio system was working and the Chief said it was working very Two-way well. The Board asked him if he thought it was all right radio bil: to pay the bill and he said that he did. approved Mr. Potter moved that the Town Accountant be in- structed to put the bill through for payment. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chief read a letter from Mr. Anderson of Stone- ham who said that the cost of service on the radio for 1942 would be $225.00. The estimated cost for replace- ment of parts is $50.00, making a total of $275.00. The Chairman told the Chief to include this in his budget for 1942. Y The Chairman read a letter from the Chief to the effect Report on that it was his opinion that the 30 miles per hour speed 30 miles limit has been effective and had decreased the number of p.h. accidents in Lexington. The Clerk was instructed to send a copy of the letter to the Planning Board. The Chief retired at 9 :50 P.M. Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 9 :53 P.M. and retired at 10 :13 P.M. 302 A letter was received from the Appropriation Committee • Trans to advising that the sum of $10 00 had been transferred to Dog Off the Dog Officer-Expenses Account rather than the $25.00 re- Acct. quested. A lengthy letter was received from Chief Edward W. Taylor relative to the excessive costs of the repairs to the East Lexington Fire Station over the estimated cost. The Chairman said that he would check the correspondence referred to in the Chief' s letter and would talk with the Board about it again next week. A letter was received from Edwin B Worthen requesting Insurance that he be given consideration when insurance policies are expiring. The Chairman said that all policies expiring in 1941 had been renewed and the Board agreed that Mr Worthen should be given consideration next year. An application was received from Gorham Buttrick of Poultry 384 Bedford Street for permission to keep 1,000 poultry permit at 342 Bedford Street. Mr. Locke moved that the location be approved and the permit granted Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Board discussed the proposed amendment to the Health Regulations to control the receiving and spreading4111 of manure . Mr Potter said he believed the proposed regu- lations would not accomplish what the Board wanted, that Proposed is , to minimize the odor and fly nuisance. He said the amendment Board would have to allow the farmers to pile manure and to Health then they could cover it with loam or something else and Regulations it would be all right . He said that there was nothing to stop a man from opening up the pile and spreading it. He suggested that each of the farmers be asked to refrain from spreading manure from June 15th to September 15th. Mr. Potter thought that this would impose no hardship on them. It was decided to invite the farmers to appear before the Board again and to request them to refrain from spread- ing between June 15th and September 15th. The Chairman said that Maurice E. Woodward was ap- Woodward' s pointed on June 2, 1941 and that it would be necessary to wage rate increase his wage rate from 84.75 to $5.00 per day as of increase December 2, 1941. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Woodward's salary be in- creased. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 303 410 A letter was received from the State Fire Marshal advising that a hearing would be held on November 19,1941 on the application of Albert A. Ross for reinstatement of Gas Lie. the gasoline license at the old Paul Revere Garage on reinstat Marrett Road. Mr. Garrity said that unless valid objections were made at the hearing and sustained, the license would be reinstated. The Board had no objection to the reinstatement of the license. The Chairman informed the Board that he had received a complaint relative to Peter Canessa dumping material Complaint taken from cesspools into a manhole on Bow Street near number 22. The Clerk stated that Mr Harrington of the Water and Sewer Department investigated and found that there were two manholes located on the trunk line between Bow Street and the Arlington line which Mr. Canessa could use. Mr. Rowse moved that Peter Canessa be ordered to use these two manholes except in the winter time when snow made them inaccessible . He then is to dump into the man- hole located on Bow Street near the railroad track. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Water abatements in the amount of $5.55 were signed. 4111 Commitment of water miscellaneous charges were signed. The records of the Selectmen' s meeting held on November 10, 1941 were declared approved. The meeting adjourned at 10:35 P.M. A true record, Attest: cleric