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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-01-12Stanley Wilson SELECTMEN'S MEETING 0 January 12, 1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town office Building on Monday, January 12, 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. Mr. Stanley Wilson of 4 Pleasant Street appeared before the Board. He asked how the Board arrived at the figure that he and his brother were to pay the Town for water. The Chairman said he believed that the Board should not go any further in the matter. He told Mr. Wilson that the Selectmen accepted a suggestion from the Justice presiding that a person living outside of Lex- ington be appointed as an expert in the case. Mr. Wilson again asked how the Board arrived at the figure and Mr. Rowse said that the expert recommended a figure and that the Selectmen accepted it. The Chairman asked Wilson if he went down to the Probation Officer to discuss the figure after he was advised of it and he replied in the negative: The Chairman said that the Selectmen could recommend but that the Court could have set any figure it . desired. He told the man thit his proper objection would be to Chief Probation Officer, Smith, who would undoubtedly take it up with the fudge. Mr. Potter said that the ex- pert suggested by the Court was a farmer who was supposed to make a fair estimate of the amount of water that was used. Mr. Wilson said that he had no desire to go to Court again but he .thought that the figure was unfair. The Chairman told him that if he wanted to, he could meet him at the Court House tomorrow morning at 9:30 and that he, the Chairman, would arrange with the Chief Probation Officer for a conference with the Court. Mr. Wilson said he didn't know if he could go down in the morning or not, but he would try. Mr. Wilson retired at 7:45 P.M. The Committee on Mages and Salaries appeared at 7:45 P.1f. and retired at 9:12 P.M. Mr. Wrightington appeared at 9:15 P.M. The Chairman told him that Albert A. Miller, one of the engineers, was thinking of leaving the Town's employ to go to work on a defense project. Mr. Miller wanted to know if his position would be protected during his ab- sence. Mr. Wrightington said that the man would not be in the armed forces and that Chap. 708 of the Acts of 1941 would not apply to him. 0 J • The Chairman told Mr. Wrightington that the Selectmen thought they might like to renew the garbage contract at the present rate if they could do it. He asked if the Board, acting as a Board of Health, could renew the con- tract without taking bids. Mr. Wrightington read Article 15 of the General By-laws which says that bids must be obtained from at least two people if a contract exceeds $1,000.00. Mr. Wrightington advised against renewing the contract without taking bids. The Board then discussed the matter of fire arms for the Auxiliary Police, fees for permits"etc. Mr. Wrightington said that there was some question in his mind as to the authority for appointing Special Police and that he would have to give the matter further thought before advising the Board. Mr. Wrightington suggested that the Committee on Public Safety be regarded as a Committee under the Governor rather than under the Selectmen. He suggested that the Board get something on record to show that the State Committee had adopted the local Committee and that the latter came under State jurisdiction. Mr. Wrightington said that the Town was authorized by Statute to provide funds for the Committee on Public Safety, but he did not believe that was sufficient to make members of the Committee town employees. The Statute says that members of these Committees are not entitled to the benefits of civil service, pension, or public liability statutes. He thought that indicated that they were to be regarded as State officials rather than Town employees. Letter was received from patrolman Richard G. McCormack advising that he was leaving the employ of the Police Department to enter the Naval Forces of the United State on January 16, 1942. Mr. Wrightington said that McCormack was protected under Chapter 708 of the Acts of 1941. Mr. Locke moved that the Selectmen accept the resigna- tion of Richard G. McCormack in accordance with the pro- visions of Chapter 708 of the Acts of 1941, under which he is deemed to be on leave of absence. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Wrightington said that any person appointed to take McCormack's place would be a temporary employee. (Called a military substitute) Garbage Contract Aux. Police Comm. on Public Safety Patrolman McCormack enters Naval Force Application was received from the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. for the relocation of six poles on SpringStreet, north - Pole westerly side and southwesterly from Marrett Road, Location Mr. Locke moved that the application be approved and the Order signed. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Metropolitan State Hos- Spec. pital requesting the appointment of Joseph E. Swan as a Police Special Police officer. Letter was also received from the School Department requesting the appointment of Thomas F. Ryan, Jr. as a Special Police officer. Mr. Rowse moved that both men be appointed Special Police officers for a term to expire March 31, 1942. Mr. Saran seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a statement suggested by the United United War War Fund requesting the co-operation of Lexington citizens Fund in the campaign to be held from January 22nd to February 11th. The Selectmen had no objection to the statement and authorized the Chairman to have it inserted in the local paper for the next two weeks. A check in the amount of $37.60 was received from Mr. Wrightington for.costs in the case of Lexington v. DeVincent. Letter was received from the Sacred Heart Parish re- questing permission to hold a Carnival on the Viano lot Carnival the week of June 8, 1942, Mr. Sarano moved that the permit be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. • 1 ] 0 Letter was received from the Town Treasurer advising that the Town's borrowing capacity is $768,300.75 for 1942. Letter was received from Major General Wilby advising that the WPA sewers in East Lexington could not be con- WPA tinued unless they were directly connected with military Sewers necessity. Letter was received from the principal of the Franklin School stating that the School Lunch Project had been School carried on successfully there for the past year. The Lunch principal hoped that the project might be continued. The Clerk was instructed to tell her that the Board would give the project serious consideration. The Chairman read a statement suggested by the United United War War Fund requesting the co-operation of Lexington citizens Fund in the campaign to be held from January 22nd to February 11th. The Selectmen had no objection to the statement and authorized the Chairman to have it inserted in the local paper for the next two weeks. A check in the amount of $37.60 was received from Mr. Wrightington for.costs in the case of Lexington v. DeVincent. Letter was received from the Sacred Heart Parish re- questing permission to hold a Carnival on the Viano lot Carnival the week of June 8, 1942, Mr. Sarano moved that the permit be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. • 1 ] 0 The Chairman said that Mr. Paxton wanted to know if the Board wanted to have the Munroe School included in School the School Lunch Project. The Clerk said that if it was, Lunch the children would be transported from the Munroe School to the Adams School each noon time. It was decided to take no action on the matter until the next meeting. The Chairman said that Mr. Paxton received a letter from the Boston Edison Company requesting that "No Park- No Parking Ing" signs be placed around their plant at the corner of Signs Massachusetts Avenue and Grant Street. This action was suggested by the War Department. Mr. Rowse moved that the requestbe granted and "No Parking" signs be erected. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said he had received bids on coal for the Public Works Building and the Cary Memorial Building from the Lexington Coal Company and Robert W. Fawcett. Both Coal companies bid $8.45 a ton. It was decided to have Mr. Bids Paxton fill up the bins at both places and to divide the business as equally as possible. Application for the Transportation of Garbage License was received from D. J. Kelley of Bedford. Garbage Mr. Potter moved that the lieense be granted. Mr. License Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted, The resignation of Luther R. Putney, as Chairman of the Lexington Committee on Public Safety, was received. L.R. Putney The Board voted to accept the resignation with regret and resignation to inform Mr. Putney of the Board's appreciation of his services. The Chairman said that the Board could recommend to the State the name of a person to succeed Mr. Putney. It A. Ruckerts was decided to submit the name of Allen W. Rucker. name sub- mitted Mr. Rowse said that he had talked with Robert Kelley of Follen Road about the LeMay fence and Mr. Kelley still insists that the fence be removed. It was decided to inform Miss LeMay that the Board had no LeMay choice in the matter other than to order her to remove fence the fence. The question of a new addressograph machine for the Water Department was discussed. Mr. Rowse left the meet- AddremD- ing to ask the Town Accountant what the expense could be graph charged to if the machine was ordered now. He returned Machine to the meeting and said that the machine could be paid from the Water Maintenance Appropriation. Mr. Rowse moved that a new addressograph machine for the Water Department be ordered at a cost.not to exceed $900.00, the expense to becharged to the 4ater Maintenance Account. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Clerk was requested to instruct Mr. Paxton to get the best Allowance possible on the old machine. 374 The records of the meeting of the Board held on Monday, January 5,-1942 were declared approved. Water abatements in the amount of $41.67 were signed. The meeting adjourned at 11:10 P.M. A true record, Attest: lerk