Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-02-16SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 16, 1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held I � u in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Monday, February 16, 1942 at 7;30 P.M, Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke, and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. He said that John Lamont had requested the use of a Use of conference room on February 20th from 8;00 P.M. to 10:00 Hall P.M. for the purpose of forming a Garden Club. Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the room be granted free of charge. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that Mr. G. DeMilia, who is pur- chasing some lots on Valleyfield Street, had requested Stake that the Engineers stake out the lots so that he could 'lots tell where the lines were. The Chairman asked if the Board had any objections to the Engineering Department doing this work, and there were none. He then in- structed Mr. Paxton to have the Engineering Department stake out the lots. The Chairman asked what the Board wished to do Steno. about the $30.00 item for stenographic service in the Eng. Engineering Department budget. He asked Mr. Paxton if Dept. this work might hot be done by one of the girls in the Public Works Department and Mr. Paxton said that it could be done but that Mr. Cosgrove liked to do this work after hours. He suggested that the item be left in. Mr. Potter moved that the Board approve the sum of 030.00 in the Engineering Department -Personal Services budget for stenographic services. Mr. Saran seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that he saw that the Board had in- creased Miss McNamara's salary by $2:00 per week and Salaries Miss Sousa by only $1.00 per week.. He pointed out that Miss Sousa had been -in the employ of the Town for practi- cally the same length of time as Miss McNamara and he thought that they should be treated alike. The Chairman said that on the $36,000,00 budget for Highway Highway Maintenance Mr. Paxton had planned to drop four Maint. men because of waa increases and lack of work. If the budget is out to 301000.00 he will have to drop four or five men now. The Chairman said that he was the one who suggested the cut in the budget and he was now willing to change it back to $36,000.00 in view of Mr. Paxton's arguments. Mr. Paxton said that when the Water Department men were not busy on Water Department work, they will be put to work in the Highway Department. If increases are given where merited, there will not be sufficient money. Primarily the Highway Maintenance money will be used for labor as there is not much material involved in this bud- get. Mr. Paxton said he planned not to hire extra men this year. He said that the Board's argument that there would not be as much traffic on the road this year did not mean that the roads would not still wear. Traffic does the roads good in the summer time, but they still will crack from frost, etc. He said that on the $30,000. budget he would have to let several men go. Mr. Rowse said that part of the thought behind the reduction was that there were two or three items that Mr. Paxton would not have to do because the work could be done by the unem- ployed. Letter was received from the Lexington Trust Company relative to the street lights in front of the bank at Massachusetts Avenue and on Muzzey Street. The bank sup- plied the lights in 1930 and agreed to operate them to conform with regular street lighting, and the Town agreed to pay the bank $54.00 a year which is the equivalent to the amount it would cost the Town if the Edison Company supplied a single street light in front of the bank. The writer said it would be necessary to find some way to control the lights in the event of a blackout. The Board instructed Mr. Paxton to consult with the Edison Company to work out some satisfactory solution of the problem and to report to the Board. The Chairman read a letter from Frederick J. Spencer relative to water betterment assessments levied against John Sullivan for the extension of the water main in Paul Revere Road. Although Mr. Sullivan's land abuts Paul Revere Road, his house is on Massachusetts Avenue and he gets his supply from the main in that street. Mr. Paxton said that the land was not benefitted until such time as the lots might be used. The Clerk was instructed to check with the Town Counsel to see if it might be in order to abate the assessments and charge the equivalent as an entry fee when and if the main is used. Mr. Paxton retired at 8:00 P.M. Mr. Clayton F. Beach, Thomas S. Grindle, Supt. of Schools, and eight members of the Appropriation Committee appeared before the Board. • 421. Street lights Sullivan water b e tt ermert assessmert Vocational Training School The Chairman told the group that they were asked to come in to hear a report from Messrs. Beach and Grindle on the matter of finding a method whereby people on wel- fare, or who might come on welfare, might be trained to do some kind of work. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Beach recommend- ing the establishment of a Vocational Training School. He said he, together with Mr. Grindle and others, had called at the Jefferson Union Company and had looked over the plant with Mr. Freeman, the Treasurer of the Company. Mr. Freeman said he would be willing to allow the building to be used for the training school. All expenses excepting rental, stock, and replacement of tools will be paid by the State. The State will employ an extra watchman for the building. Mr. Beach thought that about $500.00 would be needed for tool and stock items. Mr. Beach said that the project would be under the control of the State Department of Education. Although others might be trained.. W.P.A. workers will be given the preference and would be paid 057.00 per month while training. Mr. Grindle said that Mr. Freeman had talked with his foreman who was worried about interrupting his production. The workers will set up the machines when they are through so that they will be all ready for the Jefferson Union employees to use them in the morning. Mr. Grindle said that Mr. Freeman thought that it would be quite a job to put the machines back. The Chair- man asked if Mr. Beach thought a number of Lexington men who were either on W.P.A. or idle could be moved into industry through this project and he replied in the aft firmative. He also thought that men who will lose their jobs in the future -- white collar workers, might be trained. Mr. Rowse akked how many men Mr. Beach had that could be trained on this project and he said at the present time he had only 7 or S. Each man must take a mechanical aptitude test before he gets on the project. The course would take six weeks. Mr. Rowse thought it might be better to have the Jefferson Union train the men privately rather than have the Federal Government and the State in the picture at all. He asked if other Towns could send men in to be trained and Mr. Beach said that they could, but that Lexington men would have the pref- erence. Mr. Beach aepeated that the men would be paid while learning. Both Boards agreed to have Mr. Beach and Mr. Grindle continue their talks with Mr. Freeman to see if the pro- ject might be put into operation. Mr. Beach and Mr. Grindle retired at 8:P5 P.M. • • 0 0 • - 4L The Chairman read the following statement to be printed as the Town's program for the duration of the war. This program is to be adopted by the Town Meeting under Article 34. "Recognizing the difficulties with which municipalities will be faced during the war, and realizing the great finan- cial problem of all our citizens, the Selectmen and the Appropriation Committee submit the following program with the recommendation that it be approved and adopted by the Town Meeting as the general plan of operation during the war years: 1. All non-essential construction and luxuries shall be eliminated. 2. Maintenance of highways, parks, and other Town facilities shall be on a minimum basis, the preservation of the present condition being the only obligation. 3. Every Town Department and official or employee shall use the utmost ingenuity in the accomplishment of his or her task at the lowest possible cost, with the conservation of equipment, time, and materials carefully guarded to the smallest item. 4. The careful scrutiny of all expenditures shall be incumbent upon all, to the end that appropriations may be conserved with unspent funds showing at the end of the year. 5. The calling of Town Meetings, other than the annual meeting, shall be discouraged unless deemC abso- lutely essential by the two Boards. 6. To the end that funds may be available for real emergencies, or for the stabilization of the tax rate, transfers from Reserves (Excess & Deficiency Account) shall be carefully scrutinized and denied except on these grounds, or for valid reasons. 7. The raising of funds by bonds or notes of the Town, excepting notes issued in anticipation of taxes, shall be denied to the end that our debt situation may be strong at the close of the war." The Chairman said that some funds shoulc be pro- vided.in the Selectmen's Personal Services budget to pro- Selectmen's vide for a Clerk during the vacations of the regular Personal Clerks. It was decided to add $52.00 to the appropria- Services tion to pay a girl for four weeks at 613.00 per week. The following changes in salaries were made: Mary E. Corcoran increased from $21.00 to $23.00. Isabelle M. Harvey increased from $21.00 to $23.00 Cidaliza Sousa increased from $15.00 to $17.00. Salaries Public Health Assn. The Chairman told the Boards what would happen if the Highway Maintenance budget was reduced from 636,000. to $309000. It was decided Py both Boards to approve 36,000. for this budget. The Appropriation Committee retired at 8:50 P.M. At 8:58 P.M. Mr. George V. Morse, Mr. Lyon Carter, and Mrs. Robert Moore, of the Public Health Association, appeared before the Board. Mr. Ralph Smith and Mr. Harold Lombard of the Committee to study Public Welfare, appeared before the Board. Mr. Carter said that the Committee to study Public Welfare had asked the Association to meet with it to dis- cuss ways and means of bettering Public Health service. They had various meetings together. It was felt that per- haps there was some duplication of effort between the Town Physician and the Medical Clinic which might be eliminated. They had a meeting to which the Advisory Council of the Public Health Association was invited, consisting of doctors Crumb, Harrington, Newell, and Rochette. Various suggestions were made which Mr. Barter read to the Board. He left a copy of them with the Board. Mr. Carter said that the two nurses employed by the Asso- ciation were crowded with work now and if the Town wants the welfare people taken care of by the Association, it will cost a great deal of money, time, and effort. He said that for the past two months between 35 and 40 wel- fare recipients have been treated. They thought that it would be very satisfactory If one nurse could give the majority of her time to Town health problems. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Wrightington saying that it would be invalid for the Town to vote to pay the Public Health Association any sum of money and that the Town Treasurer could not pay out money for this purpose. The Chairman said that, as the Board understood it, .some of the welfare cases go to the Clinic and are looked over by one of the doctors there then come back to the Town for prescriptions and if they need care, Dr. Rochette calls on them. He wondered if the Doctors couldn't get together and eliminate this duplication. Mr. Carter said that the Association would like to have the Town pay the salary of one nurse for the time she puts in on Town work. The Chairman said that undoubtedly this might be a good program, but that the Town Meeting usually objected to any additional expense. Mr. Wrightington appeared before the Board at 9:12 P.M. The Chairman asked him if there would be any.ob- jection to increasing the Public Welfare appropriation by an amount sufficient to pay part of the salary of the nurse, and Mr. Wrightington said he could see no objection to it. Mr. Wrightington retired at 9:16 P.M. is :4205 Mr. Carter said that the Association was going to do everything possible to take care of welfare people whether or not the Town appropriates the money. Mr. Rowse asked if it would be possible for all of the Town's cases requiring attention to be referred to the Public Health Association for treatment, and thq�e requiring home care be treated by the Town p#ysician. Mr. Carter said that at the present time they be- lieved the work was being done only superficially, but that every case actually needing medication was being taken care of. Mr. Rowse said he would like to see the Public Health Association assume some responsibility be- yond what it is assuming now. Mr. Carter said that the Association was more interested in the border line cases -- the persons who were not actually on welfare, but who cannot pay a doctor's fee. He said they did not feel they could take on the Town work to the exclusion of other cases. He said they couldn't do it with the pre- sent personnel. Mr. Rowse said that they might be able to do it by re -arranging their work. Mr. Carter said he believed that the Association had worked closely with the Welfare Department. Mr. Rowse agreed with this, but said that he had always felt that the association could do more, but he didn't know if they could do it with the present personnel. Mr. Rowse asked if the Association could be a S clearing house and take care of what they could and turn the other cases over to the Town physician. Mr. Carter said that they did no curative work; they do not take care of the persons who are sick --that is up to the Town physi- cian. The people who can come to the Town Clinic are treated. They also have the Well Baby Clinic. They are not able to have their physician give service^in the home after a visit to the Clinic. Mr. Rowse asked if it was possible for welfare people to go to the Clinic and Mr. Carter replied in the affirmative, but baid that if further treatment was needed, the person was sent to the Town physician. Mr. Rowse said that was just what he was trying to eliminate. Mr. Carter said that their idea was to take care of the border line cases first and this usually takes up all their facilities. Mr. Lombard said that his Committee was amazed at the amount of hospital bills the Town was paying and wondered if steps might not be taken to eliminate some of the hospitalization, and it was with that thought in mind that they met with the members of the Public Health Association. The Committee was in accord with the sug- gestion of the.Association that an Article be included in the Warrant for an appropriation to pay the Public Health Association. It is in favor of anything that will tend to alleviate the welfare burden. 0 '41,26 Mr. Rowse asked if it was absolutely necessary to stop the use of the beach wagon and Mr. Carter said that they felt that if a person was getting free medical care he ought to find some way of getting into Town and that the beach wagon is for emergency cases only. The group retired at 9:40 P.M. Mr. Wrightington rettrned at 9:42 P.M. The matter of transferring the unexpended balance in the W.P.A. was discussed. Mr. Wrightington said that Mr. Russell talked with Mr. Searle last summer and the latter was opposed to the transfer. Mr. Wrightington talked with Mr. Searle later and thought that he would approve it. He said he would write the Board a letter on the subject. The Chairman told Mr. Wrightington about the Vocational W.P.A. Training School project at the.Jefferson Union Company Training and asked if the Town's expense would be a proper charge School to the W.P.A. Labor and Materials appropriation. Mr. Wrightington said he could not see that this differed from any other W.P.A. project, and he thought that it could be arranged. The Board went over the warrant for the Town Meet- ing. Mr. Potter moved that the warrant be signed. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Commander Frank Culbertson and two other members • of the American Legion appeared before the Board and American requested that an article be inserted in the warrant Legion to provide funds for the erection of a bulletin board Article to contain the names of those Lexington citizens with the armed forces of the United States. Mr. Potter moved that an article be inserted in the warrant for this and an appropriation of $50.00 to cover the expense be requested. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Wrightington and the others retired at 10:24 P.M. Mr. Allen W. Rucker and Mr. Walter E. Sands ap- peared before the Board. Equipment Mr. Rucker said that the Committee on Public Aux. Fire- Safetyhad obtained bids on equipment for the Auxil- men iary iremen from seven concerns. The lowest bid on all items was $700.80. Mr. Rucker suggested that more than this amount be approved however, as the quotations were rather old. Mr. Potter moved that the sum of $800.00 be ap- proved for the purchase _ of fire fighting equipment. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted, Mr. Rucker and Mr. Sands retired at 10:30 P.M. T I Mr. Morse appeared before the Board to discuss -wel- fare matters at 10:32 P.M. and retired at 10:57 P.M. In the matter of the Public Health Association dis- cussion, it was decided not to insert an article in the Public warrant. The Board felt that it would be best to dis- Health cuss the matter after the Town Meeting, and if necessary Assn. to handle the matter within the Public Welfare budget. The subject of playground instructors was discussed. The Chairman asked if the Board wanted to eliminate all but key persons for the playground this summer. He siEgested that the Red Cross, and Boy and Girl Scouts donate their services for this work. It was decided to eliminate all instructors but the followings One male supervisor at the Center, 10 weeks @ $20. - $200, n It n it E. Lexington tt n n 18. 180. n to ° it N. Lexington 't " 18. - 160. The total approved for instructors was $540.00. Mr. Rowse requested the Clerk to write the Town Clerk and ask him to leave a list of the licensed dogs in the police station so that if a dog is lost over the weekend, the owner may be located. Letter was received from William H. Ballard asking if the Town would be interested in purchasing the pro- erty at the rear of 177 Bedford Street for the sum of 13,000.00. Mr. Potter moved that the offer be rejected. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Wrightington saying that it had come to his attention that Lexington had no formality in the closing of roads for repairs. He suggested that a vote authorizing the Supt. of Public Works to cause a road to be closed if he thinks it necessary, and that the Supt. have each action of this kind ratified at the meeting following the action. Mr. Locke made a motion, seconded by Mr. Sarano, that the following vote be adopted: VOTED: That the Board of Selectmen, acting as Road Commissioners authorize the Superintendent of Public Works to cause to be closed any public way in the Town when, owing to repairs or for other reasons, he believes traffic upon the road would be dangerous to the public and when it is impracticable to obtain advance approval of this Board. When the Superintendent of Public Works causes any highway to be closed without previous author- ization by this Board, he shall report his acts to the next meeting of this Board and ask ratification. When- ever a road is closed, warning signs to that effect Los t dogs Property 177 Bedf. . Street Closing Roads J r • shall be posted at each end of the part of the road which is closed." It was decided to approve the sum of $15,000.00 for Snow Removal, this figure to be revised just before Town Meeting if necessary. The engineering Department -Personal Services bud- get was approved as follows: John T. Cosgrove $32000.00 Stanley A. Higgins 2,296.00 J. Bruce Lewin 1,774.17 Leigh V. Farnham 750.00 Albert A. Miller 205.00 John Lichtenberg 1,146.00 Stenographic services 30.00 Total TIMI":Z'1 The Chairman asked the Board to meet on Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30 P.M. The appropriation for the Dog Clinic was approved In the sum of §950.00. The matter of appointment of a patrolman to the Police Department was considered. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. James F. Mowat of 27 Police Waltham Street be appointed subject to the approval of Appoint- the Division of Civil Service. Mr. Mowat"s appointment ment is to be effective as of March 6, 1942. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Chief Taylor informing Tires the Board that the Tire Rationing Board denied his for petition for new tires. Chief Taylor pointed out Chief the importance of the Chief and Call Firemen having Taylor good tires. He said that the local Tire Rationing Board was asking for a ruling in the matter in the hope that some relief on the condition might be granted. A letter was received from Chief Taylor pointing out to the Board of a new order from the Director of Forest the Division of Forestry requiring a Forest Fire Patrol Fire in Lexington. The Chairman suggested..that the matter Patrol be turned over to the Town Counsel to see if the men on duty at the Air Observation Post could be appointed Auxiliary Firemen to take care of the situation. The Chairman said that Mrs Lindstrom wished to be relieved of his duties of inspecting cesspools and tug - Bested that these duties become Mr. Lamont's once more. Mr. Lindstrom did this work when it first became necessary for people to procure permits before building cesspools. Cesspool Mr. Locke moved that Mr. Lindstrom be relieved of Inspect. this work and that Mr. Lamont assume it. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Regulations covering the use of ammunition by the Auxiliary Police were adopted. The Clerk was instructed to send copies of these regulations to Chief Sullivan, Allen W. Rucker, Malcolm H. Clifford, and Ralph I. Dkle. Letter was received from the Allied Veterans Council recommending that the following persons be appointed to the 19th of April Committee for 1942: 19th of James J. Carroll George E. Foster April Leon A. Burke Fred W. Bodge Committee Albert G. Frothingham Mr. Locke moved that the persons suggested be ap- pointed. Mr. Saran seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The meeting adjourned at 11:20 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk