HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941-12-15L`
9
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, 19141 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,
The Chairman said that these lots were previously assessed
for $700.00 and contained 36,000 square feet. Messrs.
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. Vlrightington for his services in the tax sale of
land formerly owned by James J. and Susan C. Gaffney.
Mr. Rowse moved that the bill be approved for
payment. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so
voted.
At 7:35 P.M. Mr. Malcolm i?. 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
asked to appoint as soecial police officers. He said
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.
Cliffordagreed to do this. He retired at 7:50 P.M.
Chief Sullivan retired at 7:52 P.M.
Offer to
purchase
lots
Town
Counsel
bill
Auxiliary
police
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 retired at 8:00 P.M.
3114
Charles
Nutt
Mr. Paxton and Mr. Morse appeared before the Board.
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
back in Lexington, but is not working. The Chairman said
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
•
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•
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. I;Ir. 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.
•
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•
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 insignia could be on the
same pole. It was decided to allow the Lions Club to put
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
be attached to the building. The light would have to be
on a pole and the cost would be about $16.00 a year for
power. Mr. Paxton recommended an 80 ;candle power light.
The Board instructed Mr. Paxton to have the light in-
stalled.
n-
sto1led.
A letter was received from the office of Price Ad-
ministration requesting that the Town of Lexington do
everything possible to cooperate in the National Waste
PaperConservation campaign. The Clerk was instructed
to bring the matter to the attention of all the Depart-
;� ment heads and the organizations in Town.
The County Commissioners' QPder 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 N6,)145.00 for tine purchase of insignia for the
defense workers.
Mr. Locke moved that the Approriation Committee
be requested to transfer the sum of 9145.00 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 Warnin Service,
stating that the volunteers on duty at the �ost were
exposed to the weather 24 hours a day. Fie recommended
the purchase cf' four 3/4 length rubber coats and four
southwester hats for'tree 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 JW50.00 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 B:30 P.M.
43E
Lions Club
insignia
Light at
Adams
School
Waste Paper
Conserva-
tion Camp.
Rubber coats
Observ.Tower
A letter was received from the Town Treasurer recom-
Loan mending a loan in the sum of y75,000.00 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.
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 fcr .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 lst
and it was the usual practice to have all salary increases
start as of April lst. 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.
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-
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 actin; 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 I',r. Hooper retired at 9:55 �?.M.
A letter was received from the Town Treasurer recom-
Loan mending a loan in the sum of y75,000.00 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.
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, 1041 were declared approved.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk
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