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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-05-18 516 SELECTMEN'S MEET ING • May 18, 1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Monday evening, May 18, 1942 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs . Potter, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The Assistant Clerk was also present. At 7:35 P.M. Mr. Herbert A. Thurber of 8 Dee Road appeared before the Board. This man is willing to pay $300.00 for lots 1 and 2 on Dee Road, but is not in a position to pay the full amount at present. He asked Lots 1-2 the Board what he would be expected to pay. The Chair- Dee Road man asked him what he could pay. Mr. Thurber said he would like to pay $25.00 now and the balance to be paid one year from July 1st. He said that he expected two increases in salary with which he would pay for the lots. Mr. Potter asked him if he could make another payment in six months and he replied in the affirmative. The Board requested Mr. Thurber to write a letter offering to pay $25.00 now, and enclose his chec4 for this amount, $25.00 in six months , and the balance to be paid in a year . Mr. Thurber agreed to do this and retired at 7:40 P.M. 4111 Letter was received from the Rationing Board re- questing the use of their office in Cary Hall on Tues- day evenings. This request was made because of the fact that many applicants for gasoline work during the day and are unable to appear before the Board in normal Rationing working hours . Board The Chairman said that he had written Mr. Graves, evenings Chairman of the Rationing Board, that his Board could use their office evenings . He suggested that Mr. Graves obtain a key to one of the outer doors of Cary Hall so that Mr. Moloy need not be present to open or close the hall. The Chairman asked that the doors be locked after the Rationing Board meetings . This letter was written so that Mr. Graves could report to his Board at their meeting this afternoon and the Chairman asked for the Board' s approval. Mr. Rowse moved that the Chairman's action be ap- proved. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Board discussed the proposed regulations governing the use of the Veterans ' Memorial Ambulance. Ambulance Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Rowse, it Regulations was voted to adopt the Regulations as follows : 4111 51? 1111 REGULATIONS GOVERNING TF USE OF THE VETERANS ' MEMORIAL AMBULANCE Lexington, Mass . May 18, 1942. The Veterans ' Memorial Ambulance is to be used for the following purposes only: 1. Emergency accident cases . 2. Emergency illness cases in the Town of Lexington that require immediate transportation to a hos- pital, or doctor. 3. Such other cases as may, from time to time, be specifically authorized by the Town Welfare Agent. The rates for the Ambulance are to be: Lexington to Boston or Cambridge $10.00 Lexington to Waltham 8.00 Lexington to Arlington 7.00 All other trips, minimum charge 5.00 plus 20yC per mile until ambulance • has returned to headquarters . These Regulations adopted by the Board of Selectmen May 18, 1943. Letter was received from William Viano in which he complained of the groups loitering on the sidewalk in front of his theatre and the other nearby doorways. Complaint The Board discussed this matter and considers it Loitering to be a serious situation. It was therefore, decided to order the Chief of Police to take drastic action to correct this unpleasant situation. At 7:55 P.M. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. Mr. Paxton said that Mrs Gwendoline Bowker Johnson had requested the use of Cary Hall on June 12, 1942 from Use of 8:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M for a recital. There is to be Hall no admission charge . Mr. Rowse moved that the use of the hall be granted at a charge of $10.00. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that he has until May 22, 1942 to send in an application relative to the denial he re- New trucks ceived for the purchase of new trucks . At present he is using about 50% of his equipment, and he wondered if the Board wished him to do anything further relative • to obtaining the new equipment. 518 Mr. Rowse moved that nothing further be done on this • matter. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton retired at 8:00 P.M. An agreement between the Town of Lexington and the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company, releasing said Company from any and all claims which the Town may Release have against it arising out of the use of water dis- tributed by the Town and used on the premises of the said Company while occupied by Anthony Rosa & Son was received. The release was signed by the Board. Letter was received from the Committee on Public Safety giving a statement of the finances of that Committee as of this date. The Chairman informed the Board that Messrs . Bond, Hoyt, and Spellman had been re-appointed members of the Appropriation Committee for three year terms expiring with the adjournment of the Annual Town Meeting in 1945. The Chairman informed the Board that Harvey F. Winlock had been appointed to fill the position of Robert J. Fawcett; the term to expire in 1943. He also informed the Board that Fred C. Newhall had been ap- pointed to fill the position of W. Russell Rosenberger; • the term to expire in 1944. At 8:08 P.M. the following members of the Appro- priation Committee appeared before the Board: Messrs . Sheldon, Winlock, Bond, Newhall, Spellman, Maynard, Hoyt, Brown, and Town Accountant White. Mr. Sheldon said that his Committee would take a formal vote relative to increasing the starting salary of clerical help from $13.00 to $15.00 per week and let the Selectmen know later on. Mr. Sheldon said that Mr. Carroll' s girl had been offered a position paying $25.00 per week, but Mr. Salaries Carroll thought she would stay with him for $20.00. Mr. Sheldon said that if the salary policy is changed it will put the two Boards in a very bad position, and it is the feeling of his Committee that they have no choice in the matter but to refuse the increase. Chairman Giroux said that the Town could not compete with the salaries being paid for defense work. Mr. Rowse asked if the Appropriation Committee had any objections to employing married women. Mr . Bond said that he felt this should be done only as a last resort. Mr. Rucker, Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, appeared before the Board at 8 :20 P.M. • 519 111/ He requested $350.00 for equipment for the Demolition Squad. They plan to have the equipment put in boxes and put on the Town trucks . All the equipment, which includes shovels, crow bars , etc. is something which can be used by the Town after the emergency. Demolition Chairman Giroux took a poll of the Board of Select- Squad men and all members were in favor of granting the re- quest. Chairman Sheldon took a poll of the Appropriation Committee and all members were in favor of granting the request. Mr. Rucker requested the sum of $100.00 for the purchase of tea and coffee for men on duty at the Ob- servation Tower. Chairman Giroux took a poll of the Board of Select- men and all members were in favor of granting the re- quest. Chairman Sheldon took a poll of the Appropriation Committee and all members were in favor of granting the request . Mr. Rucker said that his Committee would like authority to apply for Secondary Communications license through the F.C .C . Mr. Rucker explained in detail what this system was and how it worked. He said that he • would need $485.00 for the system. Communicatic After a lengthy discussion, Chairman Giroux polled license the Board of Selectmen and all members were in favor of approving this expenditure. Chairman Sheldon polled the Appropriation Committee and all members were in favor of approving this expendi- ture. Chairman Giroux informed Mr. Rucker that Miss Lowe, Clerk of the Board, would be instructed to complete the application for this communication license . The matter of dimming the street lights was dis- cussed by Mr. Rucker and the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Rucker retired at 8 :45 P.M. Mr. Sheldon brought up the matter of the Forest Warden' s salary. He said that the Appropriation Com- mittee hesitated to change the action of the Town. Forest His Committee feels that anything voted at Town Meet- Warden' s ing should not be changed. Mr. Sheldon said that if Salary the ommittee changed this , they could then change anything else, such as salaries . The Board of Selectmen had nothing further to say on the matter, and Mr. Sheldon said that his Committee will take this up at its meeting. II/0 Tat) Mr. White asked the Board of Selectmen to consider S purchasing a calculating machine to be used in the offices of the Tax Collector and the Town Accountant. The net cost of the machine will be $270.00. Mr. White asked what decision had been made rela- Salary tive to Miss Charbonneau's salary. The majority of the Board of Selectmen agreed to go along with the Appro- priation Committee The Appropriation Committee retired at 9 :00 P.M. The Board of Selectmen left the meeting to in- spect the street lights which have been shaded. The Board reconvened at 9 :07 P.M. The Board discussed the purchase of a calculating Calcula- machine and voted to request the Appropriation Committee ting to transfer the sum of 270.00 from the Reserve Fund to Machine cover the cost of this equipment. Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 9:08 P.M. and retired at 9 :15 P.M. At 9:15 P.M. Mr. Stevens and Mr. Brown, representa- tives of the Boston Edison Company and Mr. Paxton ap- peared before the Board. The question of dimming the street lights was dis4110 - cussed at length. Mr. Stevens said that all other communities in the Edison area are holding off before Street taking any definite steps until the Edison Company sub- Lights mits to the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety their various experiments for approval. Mr. Stevens said that the Boston Edison Company is well aware that if they are dilatory, the Army may step in. He said that he would let the Board know within a few days the result of the conference between the Boston Edison Company and the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety. It was decided to take no further action until we heard from the Boston Edison Company. Mr. Stevens and Mr. Brown retired at 9:45 P.M. The Chairman informed Mr. Paxton that the Board Oak was anxious to have the Oak Street job shut down. Mr. Street Paxton recommended that the work be completed to the end of Ames Avenue. He said the work could be finished by the middle of June. Mr. Rowse suggested that Mr. Paxton notify the men that the job is to be shut down. Mr. Paxton retired at 9 :50 P.M. • ;521 410 The Chairman asked the Board whether or not it would approve paying the Public Health Association for visits made on communicable diseases . The Board discussed the matter and it was decided to take no action. Letter was received from Mr. Beach stating that it would be impossible to have a W.P.A. project for collect- ing waste materials scattered about the Town. Invitation was received from the British Naval and Military Veterans ' Association inviting the Board to attend their annual pilgrimage to Lexington, Concord, and Bedford. Report of the School Lunch Project for the month of April was received. The meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. A true record, Attest: Assistant Clerk /,