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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-01-19 378 SELECTMEN'S MEETING • January 19,1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Monday evening, January 19, 1942 at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Rowse, Potter, Sarano, and Locke were present. The Clerk was also present. In the absence of Mr. Giroux, Mrs . Rowse served as Chairman. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. He said that the Lexington Minute-Men had requested the use of a Con- Use of ference Room on January 23, 1942 from 8:00 P.M. to 10:00 Halls P.M. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the Conference Room be granted free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the Chamber of Commerce had requested the use of Estabrook Hall on January 30, 1942 for a meeting. Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that he regretted to inform the Board that he was in error when he reported that the cost of Adams installing the street light at the Adams School would be School $25.00. When the Edison Company investigated, they found light that it would be necessary to install two poles and to run the wires in. The estimated cost is $132.30. It was decided to hold the matter over until next week so that Mr. Giroux could express his opinion on it. Mr. Paxton said that he had talked with the State Department of Public Works about the method of paying Traffic for the traffic signals at Waltham Street and Marrett signals Road. The Town installed a traffic island there and did some patching at a cost of about $150.00. The State De- partment asked that the Town get bids on one controller with the idea that the controller be purchased by the Town and delivered to the State to replace the one they used. Mr. Paxton talked with Mr. Russell and he said that he would approve of this method of payment. Mr. Paxton received two bids , both amounting to $977.50. Mr. Paxton said that he talked with Mr. Williams, of the State Department, who said that he preferred that the matter be handled in this way. Mr. Paxton said that before the bill was put through for payment he would re- quest the State to send him a letter stating that the equipment had been received and that this was our method of paying for it. • 379 411/ Mr. Potter moved that the purchase of the controller and the method of handling the matter be approved. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that it had come to his attention that the laborers in the Public Works Department would like to have a meeting soon to discuss the question of P.W. Dept. wage increases. He talked it over with Mr. Giroux who laborers suggested that a meeting be held the week of February 2nd. The date of the meeting is to be determined later. The Clerk reported that she had checked on the September 1, 1941 water bill, amounting to $187.75, Wilson Bros . rendered Wilson Brothers . This was the amount of water water bill recorded on the meter that was registering backwards . She said that the bill was correct. Mr. Potter said that the figures submitted to the Court, which the Wil- sons are to pay the Town, was supposed to cover all of the water used for the past three summers including 1941 and therefore this bill should be abated. Mr. Paxton''Tn- structed to have an abatement prepared. " Mr. Paxton said that it would be necessary for Mr. Garrity to have some clerical help this week for work on Clerical payrools , bills, etc. The Board told Mr. Paxton to have help for • Miss McNamara, in the W.P.A. office, work for Mr. Garrity Garrity part time until the Board decides how the matter is to be handled. Letter was received from Miss Jeanne LeMay of Follen Road saying that the fence from her land to the boundary LeMay line of Follen Road would be removed as soon as the con- fence dition of the ground warrants it. Letter was received from Mr. George P. Washburn, president of the Lexington Choral Society, requesting that the hours which that group uses Estabrook Hall be Use of changed so that on January 21, 28, and February 4 they Hall might use the hall from 7:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. It was decided to grant the request, but to give the matter considerable thought next year before granting a re- quest for similar uses . Mr. Paxton said that the Choral group advertised in the local paper for members from Lex- ington and out of Town also. Mr. Washburn also asked for permission to do some experimenting with the platform on the stage of Cary Hall with the view of fitting it into the scenery. The Board thought it would be all right to allow this pro- viding it was doze by their own laborers and under the supervision of our janitors . Mr. Paxton retired at 8:40 P.M. 380 Report of the School Lunch Project for the month 4111 of December was received. Letter was received from Mr. William R. Rosenberger, president of the Hancock Church Men's Club, urging that all members of the Board attend the meeting onFebruary 12th. All of the members said they would attend. Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 8:42 P.M. and retired at 9:15 P.M. A long letter was received from Neil McIntosh rela- tive to his water guaranty account. The Clerk informed McIntosh the Board that Mr. Giroux had written Mr. Wrightington account to get his opinion in the matter so it was held over un- til the next meeting. Letter was received from Mr. Wrightington informing the Board that Chapter 699 of the Acts of 1941 is con- fined to construction of Public Buildings. He said that Ch. 699 careful attention would have to be paid to that Statute Acts of in the construction of any public buildings or making 1941 contracts for such construction. It does not apply to other municipal contracts. The only other rule which the Board should follow is Article 15 of the General B-- laws which calls for solicitation of bids or advertising 1110of contracts exceeding $1,000.00. A questionnaire relative to hours of work and rates of pay was received from the Town of Winchester. The Firemen's questionnaire asked if the Town had adopted, or if the 70 Hour Selectmen were in favor of adopting, the Firemen's 70 Bill Hour Bill. The Clerk was instructed to inform the Town of Winchester that the Board was not in favor of the Bill. Letter was received from one Malcolm F. Steele offer - Lots on ing to pay the sum of *20.00 for lots 132, 133, 134, and Webb St. 135 on Webb Street. Mr. Potter said that he felt the offer was inadequate. It was therefore decided to reject it . Letter was received from Mr. Wrightington advising that the Auxiliary Police are appointed Special Police Auxiliary Officers under the authority of General Laws Chapter 149, Police Sections 176 and 177. During the period of service, they become Town police officers and as such are entitled to carry weapons when on duty under General Laws Chapter 41, Section 98, and there is no need of issuing licenses to carry weapons or charging fees for that purpose. He said that the Town was not liable for their negligent acts. In view of the foregoing, it was voted to appoint the following police offieers : Thomas F. Ryan, Jr. , 23 Bedford Street , term to expire March 31, 1942 and Joseph E. Swan, 23 Bedford • Street, term to expire March 31, 1942. ,381 410 Spellenberg, Arthur R. 494 Lowell Street Folkins , Charles C. 144 Woburn Street Reed, Raymond 40 Wachusett Drive Beauvais , John A. 47 Burlington Street Cavanaugh, James F. 149 Grant Street Wellington, Joseph H. 21 Prospect Hill Road Twombley, Everett Lester 104 Bertwell Road Maloney, Bernard T. 14 Bertwell Road Chrystie, Henry 173 Waltham Street Special Murphy, L. Francis 5 Bennett Avenue Police Snowdon, Garfield 424 Marrett Road Roberts , Wilbur W. 38 Bow Street Fickett, George E. 36 Cary Avenue Palmer, Robert H. 424 Marrett Road Regan, George A. 396 Lincoln Street Ward, Lawrence B. 19 Pine Knoll Road Nelson, Cornelius 32 Simonds Road Peterson, Edward 43 Marrett Road Beauuchesne, Joseph R. 95 Spring Street Jackson, Roger W. 25 Do. Hancock Street Lowry, Kieran J. Jr. 15 Bridge Street Fleming, Nelson Forbes 10 Center Street Saunders, Robert Wesley . The Clerk asked what date the Board wished to set as a final one for the submission of Articles to be inserted Articles in the Warrant for the annual meeting, and it was decided to set February 2nd as the date. Mr. Potter moved that the following licenses be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Peter G. McDonagh, 301 Mass. Ave. , Methyl Alcohol Mrs . C. A. Fogg, 239 Woburn St. , Garbage Letter was received from Mr. Paxton advising that it would cost approximately $1500.00 to widen Massachusetts Avenue to the Edison Light Building and approximately $2000.00 to widen Waltham Street on the southeasterly side from the MacKay property to Vine Brook Road. At 9 :50 P.M. Mr. Allen W. Rucker , Chairman of the Lex- ington Committee on Public Safety, Robert Whitney, and Dr. Harold J. Crumb appeared before the Board. The Appropria- tion Committee was also present. Mr. Locke moved that the Petty Cash Account of $50.00, authorized by the three Boards , be eliminated and that the Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety be authorized to approve items up to $50.00. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. • 382 Mr. Sheldon poled his Board and there was no objection 410 to this. Mr. Rowse suggested that the Town Accountant be requested to furnish the three Boards with a weekly statement showing all expenditures approved by the Chair- man during the preceding week. Mr. Rucker informed the group that for the purpose of its own records, the Committee on Public Safety was earmarking the following sums : General Operating Ex- penses, $500.00; Telephone, $750.00; General Supplies and Maintenance, $50.00. Mr. Rucker informed the Board that the cost of con- necting the power and installing the lights, wiring, etc. to the Observation Tower would be $271.50. This figure is comprised of the following Figures : $183.50 for Edison installation; $40,00 for telephone installation, and $54.50 for power, outlets, etc. These expenditures were approved by the three Boards. Mr. Rucker said that miscellaneous equipment for the Air Observation Tower, such as stove, dishes, furniture, etc. would cost about $90.00. The three Boards approved of an expenditure not to exceed $90.00 for miscellaneous equipment. Mr. Rueker said that Dr. Crumb informed him that 24 stretchers were needed for the Medical Division. The Rotary Club is donating six and Dr. Crumb believes that if the Committee purchases six, it will be sufficient. Thesestretchers cost $10.50 each. He recommended that six stretchers be ordered immediately. 4110 Mr. Sheldon polled his Board and Mr. Rowse polled the Selectmen and both Boards approved of the purchase of six stretchers at a cost not to exceed $65.00. Letter was received from the Department of Labor and Industries recommending that fuel purchases be planned to provide a large supply for storage purposes. Abatements of A.D.C. charges amoutting to $49.19 were signed. The meeting adjourned at 10:40 P.M. A true record, Attest: �. aurs- er