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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-02-24 430 SELECTMEN'S MEETING 1111 February 24, 1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Tuesday evening, February 24, 1942 at 7:30 P.M. The meeting was held on Tuesday because of Washington's birthday being celebrated on Monday. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. Messrs . Potter and Rowse had notified the Clerk that they would be unable to attend. At 7:30 P.M. Mr. Morse appeared before the Board to discuss welfare matters . He retired at 8:10 P.M. At 8:12 P.M. the following members of the Appro- priation Committee appeared before the Board: Beorge C. Sheldon, George M. Hynes, Raymond A. Bond, Robert J. Fawcett, Lewis L. Hoyt, James E. Spellman, Richard W. Maynard, and Ronald D. Brown. The Chairman said that the Town Accountant, James H. Russell, had been transferred to Fort Banks at Winthrop and would have to live down there and would Town therefore be unable to serve the Town any longer. He Accountant read a letter from Mr. Russell to this effect. Mr. Russell explained his willingness to help at any and 4111 all times. The Chairman said he wanted to know if the two Boards wanted to grant Mr. Russell a leave of ab- sence for the duration of the war, etc. The Clerk retired at 8:25 P.M. and returned at 8:40 P.M. The Chairman then dictated the following to the Clerk: "After a lengthy discussion with the Appropria- tion Committee, the Board of Selectmen VOTED: To grant the Town Accountant, Mr. James H. Bussell, a leave of hbsence for the duration of the war. It was also VOTED: To grant Mr. Russell two weeks vacation with pay, this to be considered in part as compensation for night and Sunday work carried on during the period of readjust- ment in the Town Accountant 's office. It was fuhther VOTED: That as of this date Miss Eleanor M. Lowe, Clerk of the Board of Selectmen, be appointed Acting Town Ac- countant until further notice, to be compensated at the rate of $25.00 per month from the Accaunting Department- Personal Services appropriation. " In the matter of Article 16 and 17 in the Warrant for the March 2nd meeting, said Articles having to do with transfer of funds from the W.P.A. sewer account to an unemployment relief project account, it was 431 voted: To rescind the previous vote, this being done because of the information furnished by the Town Counsel in his letter of February 19, 1942. The Welfare question of the total Welfare appropriation was dis- Appropria- cussed and the Board voted to let it remain at the tion previous figure approved which is $110,775.25. The Appropriation Committee advised that they would set up an additional $5,000.00 in the Reserve Reserite Fund because of the rescinding of the votes under Fund Articles 16 and 17, which Articles will be indefinitely postponed at the Annual Town Meeting. The matter of the Vocational Training School at the Jefferson Union Company was also discussed and the Selectmen voted to appropriate an additional $750. Vocational in the Public Works-Labor, Materials and Expenses Ac- Tr. School count to cover the Town's cost, in accordance with Mr. Beach's letter of February 24th. It was also voted to instruct Mr. Beach to go ahead with this pro- ject. The Appropriation Committee concurred with the Board of Selectmen in the above matters . • The Chairman suggested that the Board meet on Tuesday, March 3rd rather than on Monday, March 2nd bedatxse of the election. There were no objections . The Chairman said that he attended a meeting yesterday with Mr. J. Wells Farley, the head of the Public State Committee on Public Safety, and Daniel L. Need- Safety ham, also of the State Committee. They urge that Lexington arrange to paint certain parts of the curb- ing with ordinary white paint so that when we have blackouts , they can act as guides . The men also sug- gest that we have wooden horses painted with white stripes for use in blackouts. The Chairman suggested Blackout that Mr. Paxton be requested to consult with the local curbings Committee on the matter and that if the Committee agrees that the work should be done, the cost be charged to the appropriation for the Committee on Public Safety. The Clerk reported that Mr. Walter Sands, Chair- man of the Protection Division, had asked if the Siren Selectmen had any objection to making the connections connec- for the air raid sirens at the same locations on the tions poles that the Town has its fire alarm wires. The Board had no objections to this. 4111 432 Application for the use of Cary Memorial Hall on 41/0 April 29, 1942 from 8:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. was received from St. Brigid's Parish. The Chairman read a letter from Father McCarthy asking that the Board grant the Uses of usual reduction in the charge. Halls Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted, subject to a fee of $20.00. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Application signed by Mrs . Grace L. Merriam for the use of Estabrook Hall on the mornings of February 24, 27, March 3, 6, 10, and 13 for Civilian Defense lectures was received. Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Application signed by Mrs. Alex Hammer for the use of a conference room on Saturday afternoon, February 28 for a meeting to plan an entertainment for the men+in the service was received. Mr. Locke moved that the use of the conference room be granted, free of charge. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Chairman of the Lex- • Training ington Committee on Public Safety calling the Board's Town attention to official regulations of the Massachusetts Personnel Committee on Public Safety requiring the training of for Public the personnel of the regular Town Police, Fire, and Safety Public Works Department. It was decided to request the Chairman to set a date for a meeting and to invite the heads of the various Departments to attend the meeting and to have them urge all their employees to partici- pate in the program. Letter was received from Mr. Wrightington advising that he and Mr. Robert Whitney conferred with State Forester Cook and his Chief Fire Warden about the patrol Fire requirements resulting from St. 1941, Ch. 688. Mr. Patrol Wrightington believed that the State would be satisfied if the Fire and Police Chiefs worked out a schedule for patrol on certain days. A notice was received from the Division of Forestry advising that a patrol would be required for about 20 days during the spring fire season, the patrol to be on certain designated streets. The Clerk was instructed to request Chief Sullivan and Chief Taylor to confer and to arrange to handle the matter within their own Depart- ments without hiring additional employees. 1111I 433 411/ Letter was received from Assistant District Attorney, Albert W. Wunderly, commending Sergeant Frank Neal for his conscientious and intelligent work in his recent investi- gation of the Water Department. Mr. Sarah() moved that the following pole locations be approved. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Edgewood Road, between Hancock Street and Merriam Street - Nine (9) poles . Pole Lowell Street , easterly side and southerly from locations Middlesex Street, Burlington - Three (3) poles - Guy wire and anchor to the second pole. Lowell Street , westerly side and southerly from Middlesex Street, Burlington - Five (5) poles . Application was received from Wilma A. Brown of License Massachusetts Avenue for the renewal of her physiotherapy license. Mr Locke moved that the renewal be granted for a period of one year. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Clerk informed the Board that Partridge's would be unable to serve the evening meal for the election Election officers at the rate of 75)i each and that the best they meals could do would be $1.00 each. She was instructed to see if she could do any better with the Minute Man Lunch, and if not, to make the best possible arrangement with Partridge's. The Clerk informed the Board that $50.00 had been Elections allowed for food for each election, and as an average Expenses of 60 people are fed, it will amount to $60.00 an election. Mr. Sarano moved that the sum of $30.00 be added to the Elections Expenses-Selectmen' s Account to meet this additional expense. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Clerk informed the Board that there was a vacancy in the election officers in Precinct Two. Last August Election the name of William A. Johnson of 303 Concord Avenue was Officer suggested. However, the man was never appointed because Prec. 2 he was undeclared. Mr. Locke moved that Laurina Metcalf Wilson of 479 Waltham Street, republican, be appointed to serve as a Teller in Precinct Two until September, 1942. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 4110 434 A report in letter form covering the activities of • Report the Committee on the revision of the Building By-law on Bldg. was received. The Clerk asked the Board if it desired By-law to have printed copies of this report made to accompany the proposed new Building Code. The Board felt that the report should be printed and sent to the Town Meeting members. Water rates abatements in the sum of $6.08 and water liens amounting to $600,14 were signed. The meeting adjourned at 9 :21 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk I 1111