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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-01-05 SELECTMEN 'S MEETING January 5, 1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Monday evening, January 5, 1942 at 7:30 P M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs . Potter, Rowse , Locke, and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. At 7 :30 P M. Town Clerk, James J. Carroll, appeared before the Board with bids on the loan of $15,000.00 authorized at the December 30, 1941 Town Meeting for the Defense Committee . The loan is to be payable to the National Shawmut Bank at the rate of $3,000.00 annually, on January 1st, for the next five years . Bids were received as follows : Loan Lexington Trust Co. 100.24 - 1472 Second National Bank 100.66 - 1 % Bond and Company 100.345 - 14% First National Bank 100.625 - 1—% Smith Barney & Co. 100.457 - l=p Lee Higginson Co. 100.812 - 1472 Tyler & Co. 100.222 - 1 % 4111 Mr. Carroll said that the Second National Bank was the highest bidder. Mr. Potter moved that the highest bid be approved. Mr Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Carroll said that it was necessary to draw a Juror juror to serve on Criminal Business at Cambridge, Second Session, beginning February 2, 1942. Ford L. Stacey of 10 Tower Road, salesman, was the juror drawn. At 7 :32 P.M. Mr. E A. Lindstrom, Plumbing Inspec- tor, and Mr William A Cann, Building Inspector, ap- peared before the Board Mr Cann said that on June 5, Scurto 1941 a Mr. Paul Scurto Of 104 Broadway, Somerville case came to the Inspector's office and said that he had a foundation on which he wanted to nut a roof so as to preserve the foundation He was refused the permit be- cause the Inspector found out that the man was going to live in the place weekends . Some time later, the In- spector had a complaint that someone was building on Zoar Avenue and Mr. Lindstrom went down and found that a house had been built without any permits whatsoever. He had the Engineers go down and survey the lot and they found that part of the house was in the street. He said that the house was built in violation of the Plumbing, 4110 354 4111 Building, and Zoning Laws , and on November 5, 1941 Mr. Scurto was notified to remove the house The Chairman asked if Zoar Avenue was laid out by the Board of Sur- vey and Mr Lindstrom said that he was not sure . Mr Sarano moved that in view of the report of the Building and Plumbing Inspectors , that Mrs Rose Scurto of 104 Broadway, Somerville be enjoined for violation of the Building and Plumbing Laws at #17 Arlington Heights Terrace Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr Cann retired at 7 :45 P.M. Mr Lindstrom said that some time ago application was made for a cesspool on Concord Hill. The lot originally was owned by Albert A. Ross and he sold it to a builder by the name of LeGault of Arlington. Mr. LeGault LeGault built a cesspool without inspection. The ap- cesspool plication said that the cesspool would be 15 feet from the house and actually it is 13 feet from the house and extends 4i feet over the lot line into land owned by Mr. I D. Larkin of 2627 Mass Avenue . Mr Lindstrom said that the only way to comply with the By-laws would be to build a septic tank in front of the house . Mr. LeGault turned the matter over to an attorney who interviewed Mr . Lindstrom. Mr. Lindstrom said that he notified Mr. Larkin of the situation some ten weeks ago. It was the opinion of the Board that Mr. Lind1110 - strom should consult with Mr Wrightington to see if the Town should take steps to force the cesspool to be located in accordance with Town By-laws or if it was all right to do nothing further in the matter until Yr. Larkin complained. Mr. Lindstrom agreed to con- sult with Mr Wrightington. Mr. Lindstrom retired at 7 :50 P.M. Mr James H. Russell appeared before the Board at 8 :00 P M. He said that in accordance with the Board' s in- structions he had investigated to see what he could do `:out getting someone to take over the work in his office. He talked with Mr Clarence Needham, Town Accountant of Arlin-ton, about hiri '' hiG aon, Mr. Edwin L. Needham. Mr. Needham, Jr. has been assist- _ng his father in the accounting work and has taken entire charge of the Contriburoty Retirement work. He talked with Mr. Needham, Sr. twice and the second time he said he thought it would be all right to hire his son, but that he had had some illness and he did not know whether he would be able to take the job. However, the third time he talked with him he said that his son had been well for some time and he thought he could handle the job without any trouble. 355 411/ Mr Russell talked with Mr Needham, Jr. who said he would be willing to come to Lexington and wanted to know what kind of a proposition the Town would make to him. Mr. Russell told him the salary for the position was 03100.00 and he would offer him w2500.00 to start, and that Mr. Russell would supervise the work. Mr. Needham said that he would be willing to accept the position and would be willing to move to Lexington. He can get a leave of absence from Arlington so that he would not lose his position down there Mr. Russell said that another man, a Mr Fuller, employed with the Ford Motor Company, had called him about the job. Mr. Fuller felt that in view of the present automobile situation, it might be well for him to be looking around for another job. Mr. Fuller said that he would want the full $3100.00 and Mr. Russell told him that it would be a terrific proposition for a man entirely unused to Municipal accounting to step in- to the job at this time of the year Mr. Fuller also asked if the Town would pay an additional amount to give him instructions in the work. The Chairman asked if it would be necessary for Mr. Russell to supervise for awhile until either man got used to the work and Mr. Russell replied in the affirmative . The Chairman asked how much compensation Yr. Russell would consider fair for such supervision, 4111 and he said that he woi11 ex-pert Lie balance of $600. Mr. Russell said he would probably keep the State auditor for a month or so and would par him out of the $600 00. Mr. Potter asked if Mr. Russell thought $3100.00 was sufficient to take care of the situation and he replied in the affirmative. Mr. Rowse asked Mr. Russell what he thought of the caliber of the two men. Mr. Russell said that they were both able men and that he liked the appearance of both of them. Mr. Russell said that Mr. Needham was outside and the Board asked him to come in. The Chpirman told him that the Board understood that he was interested in coming to work for the Town in the Accountant's office and that he understood that it was a temporary position lasting only for the period of Mr. Russell ' s term of duty in the army. He asked Mr . Needham what his qualifications were . Mr. Needham said that he had had twelve years of corporation account- ing and that for the past six years he had been with the Town of Arlington as assistant to his father. He has carried on all the functions of a Town Accountant and has handled all the work of the Contributory Retirement Board. He said he was conversant with municipal affairs and was capable of carrying on the position satisfactorily. Mr Rowse asked if he was a C P A. and he replied in the negative, and said that he was a Senior Accountant. 356 Mr Needham said that he would be willing to move 41/0 to Lexington if he were given the job . The Chairman said that the Board understood that he would be agree- able to a salary of ;2500.00 and Mr. Needham said that that was correct. The Chairman said that the Selectmen would like to leave the question of additional money on this basis : As long as Mr. Russell is stationed near here, the Board would like to have him remain in charge of the Department and that the question of additional money would be considered when it was necessary for Mr. Russell to move from the proximity of Lexington and could no longer give any time to the work. Mr. Needham said that that arrangement would be agreeaoly to him. He said that he would be glad to have Mr Russell help while he was getting used to the work. Mr. Rowse asked how the Appropriation Committee work would be handled and Mr. Russell said he didn' t know that that had not been discussed yet . Mr. Needham retired at 8:20 P.M. The Chairman asLed Mr. Russell if he recommended that the Board hire Mr. Needham and he replied in the affirmative. Mr. Locke moved that Mr. Russell be authorized to employ Mr. Edwin L. Needham of Arlington, as Chief Clerk in the Accounting Department at a salary of • $2500.00 per year and that Mr. Russell be authorized to draw $50.00 per month for supervision of the work in the Accounting Department. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that there were deficiencies in the following accounts : Transfers Old Age Assistance $40.00 Health - Expenses 78 . 13 Law Department - Personal 35.00 Posture Clinic 7. 55 Mr . Rowse moved that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer these amounts from the Reserve Fund. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said thet the T_re Rationing Board Funds fnr would need sone funds for supplies and they suggested Rationing $100.00. He wondered if the Board would ask the Ap- Board propriation Committee to transfer this amount from the Reserve Fund. Mr. Russell questioned that the Town had authority to set up an account for a Board that was not a Town function. He suggested that the expenses be charged to the Unclassified Account, and the Board ap- proved of the suggestion. 4110 357 Mr Russell retired at 8 :30 P.P.R. Chief James J Sullivan and Sergeant John W Rycroft appeared before the Board at 8 :35 P M. The Chairman read a letter from the Chief advising Hearing: that on January 4th he notified Sergeant Rycroft not to Serg' t. report for duty until he had a hearing for violation of Rycroft Rule F of the Rules and Regulations of the Lexington Police Department, for being absent without leave . The Chief said that Sergeant Rycroft failed to report for duty on January 3, 1942 at 5 :45 P M The Chief said that just before the first of the year Sergeant Russell told him that Sergeant Rycroft wanted the night of January 1st off. January 3rd would be his regular night off, and the Chief said he assumed that Sergeant Rycroft would appear for duty on that night inasmuch as he had January 1st off and so he posted him for duty. Sergeant Rycroft failed to appear. The Chairman asked Sergeant Rycroft what he had to say. Sergeant Rycroft said that Halloween was supposed to be his day off and that he worked that day so he had a day coming to him. The day after Christmas he asked Sergeant Russell to ask the Chief if he could have New Year's night off. He saw him a couple of times after that and Sergeant Russell said he had not had a chance to speak to the Chief The next time he saw him, Ser- geant Russell told him that it would be all right for 1111 him, to take January 1st. off. Sergent Rycroft said that he did take January 1st off and as January 3rd was his regular night off, he assumed that everything was all right and that he was entitled to it. When he got the Chief's notice yesterday he spoke to Sergeant Russell about it and Russell said that he did not know if Chief Sullivan understood the matter completely. The Chairman asked Sergeant Rycroft if it was his understanding that New Year 's day was to repay him for Halloween and Sergeant Rycroft replied in the affirma- tive. The Chief said that all of the men work on Halloween and that none get an additional day off for it. If the day men work in the evening they get a dai* off for it as they do double duty and work 16 hours . The men working the last half do not work the first half as the day men take care of that. The Chairman asked Sergeant Rycroft if Halloween should have been his regular night off and he replied in the affirmative . He said that he had days off for this before. The Chief asked Sergeant Rycroft if he thought that the period of emergency was the proper time for him to take two nights off in one week. Ser- geant Rycroft said that he didn't even think of it . He said that he asked for January 1st off and was told that it was all right and that if it wasn't he would have been told not to take it. 4111 358 The Chairman said that, having had that night off, it • appeared that the Chief assumed that he would report for duty Saturday night. Sergeant Rycroft said he hadn' t even thought that he should work Saturday night. The Chief said that if the matter had come to him direct, he would not allow him to be off. Mr. Potter asked if any other officers were off Halloween and Sergeant Rvcroft replied in the negative as he was the one who was supposed to be off that night The Chairman asked if after having the night of January 1st off, Sergeant Rycroft considered that he should have checked up to see if it was all right for him to take Saturday night off and Sergeant Rycroft said that he did not consider it necessary because of the understanding he had with Sergeant Russell. The Chairman asked him if he was basing his argument on the fact that Sergeant Russell understood that taking the day of January 1st off was to make up for Halloween and Sergeant Rycroft replied in the affirmative. Mr. Potter asked if the officers arranged for their days off with the Chief or with Sergeant Russell. The Chief said they always made their arrangements with him. Mr. Rowse asked if Sergeant Rycroft usually went to the Chief with things like this and Sergeant Rycroft said he did if he saw the Chief, but that he worked nights and did not al- ways see him. In that case, he made arrangements with Sergeant Russell. 1110 Sergeant Rycroft retired at 8 :55 P.M. The Board discussed the matter with Chief Sullivan and he retired at 9 :00 P.M. Mr Sarano moved that Sergeant Rycroft forfeit one day off for failure to properly check directly with the Chief of Police as to his nights off. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Salary Committee comprising Messrs. J. Milton Salary Brown, Thomas Donnelly, William E Driscoll, and Eugene Committee T. Buckley appeared before the Board at 9 :12 P M. to discuss their report The Clerk retired. The Committee remained with the Selectmen until 11 :25 P.M. The Clerk then returned to the meeting and Widening Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. He said that the Mass . Ave estimated cost of widening Mass . Avenue in front of & Waltham the Edison building was wl500.00 and for widening Wal- Street them Street to Vine Brook Road, the estimate was $2,000. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Paxton send in a memo- randum of this so that it could be attached to the budget. Mr. Paxton said that he had talked with Mr Sabin of the State Department of Public Works and he thought that this might be considered as Chapter 90 construction The Chairman said he didn't believe there was going to be any Chapter 90 construction. :359 t, . 4111 Mr . Paxton said that one of the night watchmen at the Public Works Building was gettIng through this Thursday. Mr. Paxton has a man in mind in the Highway Watchman Department who has been employed by the Town for over at Public 20 Years whom he thol,ght would fit into this job very Works Bldg. well . The man Is not elderly but he is not physically fit to do hard manual labor . He would like to put him to vork this Friday nicht . The Board had no objection. Mr. Paxton said that he and Mr. Russell had talked over the Water and Sewer Stock Accounts . The Stock Ac- counts had been a revolving fund whereby they could pur- Water and chase any materials they saw fit . He didn' t believe that Sewer Stock they were filling the purpose for which they were in- Accounts tended and Mr. Russell said that Mr. Waddell ' s office did not approve of it anyway. They recommended closing out the Accounts as of December 31, 1941 The Board had no objection. Mr. Paxton said that he had received a letter from John R. Toner of 17 Spring Street. Apparently when they Toner were blasting on Spring Street, a stone flew and broke a Claim window. It will Probably cost about $2.50 to fix It. The Board told him to settle the claim and to get a letter from Mr. Toner releasing the Town from any further claims. Mr. Paxton retired at 11 :45 P.M. 4111 Mr . Locke moved that the following licenses be granted. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Waverley Hardware Supply, 1756 Mass Ave , Methyl Alcohol Peters Music Shop 1719 Mass . Ave . Overhanging Sign Mr. Locke moved that the Rcard approve the appoint- ment of Mr. Frederick J . L;pencer, Secretor-, of the Board Adm. Tire of Assessors , as administrator of the Lexington Tire Rationing Rationing Board Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and Board It was so voted. Mr. Morse ,,ppeared before the Board at 11 :45 P.M. and retired at 12 :00 P M. The Chairman said that the matter of increasing the radius of the curve at the junction of Waltham Street and Curve at Concord Avenue had been called +o his attention. Mr. Waltham St. Potter thought there was no need for any chan -e so no Concord Ave action was taken. The Chairman said that Mr . Paxton's term expired on December 31, 1941 Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Paxton be reappointed Supt. of Public Works for a three month' s term expiring 4111 360 March 31, 1942, his salary to remain at 13600.00 per year 1110 The reason for appointing Mr Paxton for a three month 's term was that the Board wished to have his term expire on April 1st, the same as other appointed officials . The Clerk informed the Board that on January 2, 1942 a rabid dog came from Burlington to Lexington and bit ten Rabid dog or twelve dogs in the Town. Dr Blakely is recommending that all the dogs bitten be put to sleep and the Clerk wondered whether or not the Board wished to do anything further in the matter. She was instructed to talk with the State Department of Public Health to determine what they recommend the Town to do in the matter. Forest Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. Edward W. Taylor be appoin- Warden ted Forest Warden for the year 1942. Mr . Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Commitments of water rates , water miscellaneous charges , and water liens were signed. The records of the meetin,: of the Board held on Monday, December 29, 1941 were declared approved. Abatements for the Public Welfare, Old Age Assis- tance, and Board of Health Department were signed. The Chairman asked the Board to meet on Saturday, 4111 January 10th at 1:30 P.M. , to discuss budgets . 1 The meeting adjourned at 12 :15 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk