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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-12-15 313 411, SELECTMEN' S MEETING December 15,1941 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday December 15, 1941 at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs . Rowse, Locke , and Sarano were present. The Clerk was- also present. The Clerk informed the Board that Mr. Potter was ill. A letter was received from Alfred B. Chiacchia offer- ing to pay $100.00 for lots 36 and 37, Section 3, Farmhurst. Offer to The Chairman said that these lots were previously assessed purchase for $700.00 and contained 36, 000 square feet. Messrs . lots Potter and Spencer recommended that this offer be refused and that Mr Chiacchia be advised that the Board would ac- cept $250.00 for the lots . Mr Locke moved that the recommendation be approved Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A bill in the amount of $65.00 was received from Mr. Wrightington for his services in the tax sale of Town land formerly owned by James J and Susan C. Gaffney. Counsel Mr. Rowse moved that the bill be approved for bill payment Mr . Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. At 7 :35 P.M. Mr Malcolm H. Clifford and Chief James J Sullivan of the Police Department appeared before the Board. The Chairman told them that the Selectmen had re- ceived a long list of names of the members of the Auxiliary Police Department whom the Selectmen were Auxiliary asked to appoint as special police officers . He said police that the Board was informed that there was some criticism to the effect that some of the men on the list were noncitizens. He asked Mr Clifford if he had checked to see if the men were all citizens and Mr. Clifford replied in the negative . He said the practice was for Sergeant Neal to approve the men. The Chairman said the Town Clerk had a list contain- ing all citizens of the Town and he suggested that Mr Clifford check with Mr Carroll on the matter Mr Clifford agreed to do this . He retired at 7 :50 P M. Chief Sullivan retired at 7 :52 P.M. Mr Leon H. Truesdell appeared before the Board and presented a petition signed by about 100 persons Pet. for asking for the installation of a light in the Adams light at School yard. The Board told him that it would discuss Adams School the matter and he ret-red at 8 :00 P.M. 314 Mr. Paxton and Mr. Morse appeared before the Board 411 The Chairman said he had requested the two gentle- men to come in together so that the Charles Nutt case could be discussed. This man is under 18 month' s pro- bation and a couple of weeks ago, left town. He is now Charles back in Lexington, but is not working. The Chairman said Nutt that Mrs Nutt called at his house on Saturday and said that she would have to have aid for herself and three children. Mr. Paxton said that Nutt had talked with him several times and that he did not care to put him back to work. The Chairman said that the matter would be discussed later on in the evening. Mr Morse retired. Mr. Paxton said that the Community Fund requested the use of Cary Hall on January 19, 1942 for a Rally. Mr. Use of Rowse asked if Estabrook Hall would be large enough. and Hall Mr. Paxton said that it might be although they asked for Cary Hall. Mr. Rowse moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge and that Estabrook Hall be used if it is large enough. Mr Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton asked how the Board felt about closing the Town Offices at 3 :00 P.M. the day before Christmas . The Board had no objection. • Mr. Paxton said he had been requested to bring up the matter of sand for air raid precautions . He wondered Sand for if it might be advisable for the Town to deliver sand at Air Raid various places in the Town where people could go and get Precau- sand to use in the home . He said that one of the Modoono tion boys was selling sand from door to door In view of this, it was decided to take no action on the matter. �. Mr . Paxton asked if he was supposed to submit the personal services budgets or wait until the Salary Com- Budgets mittee ' s report had been received. The Board told him to submit the budgets on the present salaries and then they can be revised later on. Mr. Paxton said that there are two Edison poles where we have street lights that have to be renewed. It Street is customary for the Town to pay for the concrete post Lights and the cost will be $89.66. Mr. Rowse moved that this expense be approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr Paxton asked if the Board had come to any de- cision on the Public Works Building. It was decided to let Mr. Paxton go ahead and make such alterations as he desired. 315 411, A letter was received from the Lexington Lions Club requesting permission to erect poles at the various en- trances to the Town and to place on the poles the stan- dard Lions Club insignia. Mr Paxton wondered if the Lions Club and the Rotary Club tnsignia could be on the Lions Club same pole . It was decided to allow the Lions Club to put insignia up its insignia, but to have Mr . Paxton meet with a rep- resentative of the Rotary Club and of the Lions Club to see if the insignia could not be erected at places Mr. Paxton approves of. The Board then discussed the matter of the light at the Adams School which Mr. Truesdell requested. Mr Pax- ton said he didn' t believe that a high-power light should Light at be attached to the building. The light would have to be Adams on a pole and the cost would be about $16.00 a year for School power. Mr. Paxton recommended an 80 candle power light. The Board instructed Mr. Paxton to have the light in- stalled. n- stolled. A letter was received from the office of Price Ad- ministration requesting that the Town of Lexington do Waste Paper everything possible to cooperate in the National Waste Conserva- PaperConservation campaign The Clerk was instructed tion Camp. to bring the matter to the attention of all the Depart- ") went heads and the organizations in Town. The County Commissioners ' Order dismissing the peti- tion of Henry Flynn against the Town of Lexington for the relocation, alteration, and construction of streets in the Moreland Avenue section was received. A letter was received from the Chairman of the Com- mittee on Public SafetY requesting that the Board provide the sum of $145.00 for the purchase of insignia for the defense workers. Mr Locke moved that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer the sum of $145 .00 from the Re- serve Fund for the purchase of these insignia. A letter was received from Allen W. Rucker, Chief Observer of the U. S. Army Air Craft WarningService, Rubber coats stating that the volunteers on duty at the ost were Observ.Tower exposed to the weather 24 hours a day. He recommended the purchase cf fcur 5/4 length rubber coats and four southwester hats for tare use of the men on duty in inclement weather Mr. Rucker said that both the hats and the coats would be the property of the Town of Lex- ington. Mr. Locke moved that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer the sum of $50 .00 from the Reserve Fund for the purchase of these hats and coats . Mr.Sarano • seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr . Paxton retired at 8 :30 P.M. 316 410 At 8 :32 P M. Mr. Norman Hooper , Fire Engineer, and Chief Edward W. Taylor appeared before the Board to dis- cuss the Fire Department budget for 1942. Chief Taylor said that he was asking for : 1200.00 for Forest Fires which is the same as the amount appropriated in 1941 . Mr. Rowse said that to his knowledge the first that the Board knew that Chief Taylor was running over on the account this year was last Monday night He said that if it had not been for running over in that account, we might have avoided the Town Meeting of December 30, 1941 The Personal Services account was then discussed and the Chairman told the Chief that he had figured his salary increases from January 1st and it was the usual practice to have all salary increases start as of April 1st. The Chief said that he would be pleased to revise his figures. The Chairman also requested the Chief to submit a budget for the maintenance of the ambulance for 1942 The Chief said that new boxes was the only outlay that he was requesting. He said that the Appropriation Committee asked him why he had not put in a request for a ladder truck etc. and he said that he didn' t believe there was any chance of getting delivery on equipment now. He said that he might be able to get a two ton Ford chassis however. The Chairman told him that if he thought there was a chance of getting it , then he should include it in his budget. 1111 The Chairman then told the Chief that there was some question as to the legality of his charging fees for oil burner inspections . He asked the Chief to check this point.with Mr Wrightington. The Chairman said he under- stood that Chief Taylor was keeping all fees in a petty cash account and he asked what he did with the money. The Chief said that the cash was used to make small pur- i chases such as stamps , small parts , etc. The Chairman told the Chief that he was acting illegally. Article 14 of the By-laws requires that all moneys collected by any officer shall be paid over to the Town Treasurer imme- diately. The Chief said that he had been collecting these fees and keeping the account in this manner for several years and did not know that he was acting illegally. The Chairman requested the Chief to submit a report on money taken in and paid out so that the Selectmen would have a clear picture of the situation. Chief Taylor and Mr. Hooper retired at 9 :55 .e.M. A letter was received from the Town Treasurer recom- Loan mending a loan in the sum of V5,000.00 in anticipation of revenue. Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. Carroll be requested to take bids on a loan in this amount, the bids to be received at 7 :30 P M. on December 22, 1941 . The notes are to be dated December 23, 1941 and payable December 18, 1942. Mr Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 317 411/ Mr . Morse appeared before the Board at 10:05 P.M. and retired at 10 :25 P M. Commitments of water rates and water miscellaneous charges were signed. The records of the Selectmen' s meeting held on December 8, 1941 were declared approved. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M. A true record, Attest : Clerk i