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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-07-27576 SELECTMEN'S MEETING July 27, 1942 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room on Monday afternoon, July 27, 1942 at 4:30 P.M. The members were told of this meeting by the ¢chairman at the meeting held on July 20, 1942. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. At 4:30 P.M. Mr. Leo Matthews, attorney, and Mr. John B. Richardson of Arlington appeared before the Board. Mr. Richardson has purchased the old Rest Inn Richardson property for the purpose of altering it into small res Rest apartments. Mr. Matthews said he had talked with Mr. Inn prop. Wrightington and asked if Mr. Richardson might be re- lieved of fulfilling the requirements of the Tenement House Act, inasmuch as the Town has voted to petition the Legislature to release its acceptance of the Act. Apparently Mr. Wrightington believes that Mr. Richard- son can have no relief from the requirements of the Tenement House Act. Mr. Matthews said that when Mr. Richardson first applied for a building permit he submitted his plans which were approved as submitted and the permit was issued. Mr. Richardson then started work and after . about ten days he received a call from Mr. Cann stat- ing that something was wrong and that he would have to stop work. eMr. Matthews said that of course Mr. Richardson could not comply with the requirements A of the Tenement House et because it would take steel and other materials not available and because the cost. H would like to proceed with would be rohibitive, e p P the work but did not want to comply with the Tenement House Act. Mr. Richardson said that in accordance with Mr. Cann's suggestion he went to the State Department of Public Safety which approved of his plans. Mr. Cann thought that as long as that department had approved the plans, it was all right for him to go ahead and grant the permit. The Chairman asked if the Building Inspector told him that the Board of FireEngineersthought sprinklers should be installed in the house and Mr.' Matthews said that that was a condition on the per- mit. The Chairman said he could not think of any power that any Board of Selectmen had to waive any laws. He said that the Board would have to discuss the subject with the Town Counsel. is Mr. Matthews said that they had a permit which had not been revoked but that they had been requested to stop work for the time being. He said that where the Town Meeting members had voted to petition the Legislature for relief from this Act, probably no one would complain if Mr. Richardson did not comply with it. He will make the building fireproof and put in a sprinkler system. Mr. Richardson took title to the property on July 3, 1942 and the building permit was taken out on July 7,1942. They have gont to considerable expense arranging for the mortgage etc. Messrs. Matthews and Richardson retired at 4:37 P.M. Mr. Wentworth of Metcalf & Eddy and Mr. Paxton then appeared before the Board. Mr. Wentworth said that Metcalf & Eddy have been employed by the War Department to study the matter of water and sewerage for the Bedford Airport. The War Department made some preliminary surveys and thought it would like service from Lexington if Lexington was agreeable. The Town would have to go to the State for permission to do this as Bedford is not in the Metro- politan District but the Governor now has emergency powers and probably the tie-in would be permitted. The Chairman asked if the government would expect to pay for the water. Mr. Wentworth said that the rule had been that it cannot pay more than the regular local rates. Mr. Paxton said he thought the M.D.C. would install and maintain the meter and measure and charge the Federal Government for the water. Mr. Wentworth said that there were about 1,000 men at the base and they estimate 70 gallons per capita which would mean a daily consumption of 70,000 gallons, but he thought it would exceed that amount. The Chairman said that the only question as far as the Selectmen were concerned was the formal action on the part of the government in requesting this. Mr. Rowse asked if our mains were large enough to supply the base and Mr. Wentworth said he understood that they were not. A reservoir will probably be built at the airport. Our main ends 1250 feet from the Bedford line and probably the government would pay for the ex- tension from the present end. It was left that nothing further would be done on the matter until the Board heard from the government or from Metcalf & Eddy. Mr. Wentworth retired at 4:50 P.M. • Mr. Paxton said that he had received a request for a water main extension in Grassland Street for a distance of approximately 100 feet. The abutters have signed the petition. Mr. Rowse moved that the extension be authorized. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. .577 Re: Water for Bedford Airport Water Main extension 573 Letter was received from the Appropriation Com- mittee advising that the sum of 0225.00 had been trans - Transfer ferred from the Reserve Fund to the Public Works Build- ing -Wages & Expenses Account for the purchase of 25 tons of coal to be stored outside the Public Works Building. Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee advising that the sum of 460.00 had been transferred from Transfer the Reserpe Fund to the Assessors' Department to pay the salary of an extra clerk for four weeks. Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee advising that a sum not to exceed $600.00 had been trans - Transfer ferred from the Reserve Fund to the Police Department - Expense Account to take care of the additional cost of j the purchase of two new police cars. Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee Transfer advising that the sum of $100.00 had been approved for the purchase of food and coffee for the Observation Tower. Mr. Paxton retired at 4555 P.M. Letter was received from the S filer of Weights & Measures advising that, due to tequests for additional Req, for services from the State and Government, the amount of gasoline travel necessary for him had increased. He requested that the Board authorize him to obtain thirty gallons of gasoline per month from the Public Works Building. Mr. Kowse said that his idea was for Mr. Chadwick to pursue his regular duties and not to take orders from the O.P.A. and O.P.M. He thought that if he did get requests from these agencies that he should consult with the Board before complying with them. The Board felt that if Mr. Chadwick would confine his efforts to the line of his regular work no additional allowance would be needed. The Governor's Executive Order #31 was received. Letter was received from the State Department of Public Health relative to the inspections of piggeries Piggeries in Lineotp, Lexington and Bedford. The piggeries in Lexington were reported to be in excellent condition but those in the other two towns were not. The State thought that those piggeries were source of our fly nuisance. The Board considered again the offer of Daniel J. Offer to O'Connell to pay $100.00 for the lot on Fletcher A venue, purchase formerly in the name of Pearce and Kendall. Mr. Potter lot said that his committee felt that the offer was inadequate but would accept $500.00 for the lot. The Clerk was instrucAed to so inform Mr. O'Connell. 0 579 The offer of Neil McIntosh to pay $250.00 for lot 139, Cary Avenue was again considered. After some dis- Lot 139 cussion on the matter, Mr. Rowse moved that the offer Cary be accepted. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Carroll recommending that bids be taken on a loan of $753000.00 in antici- Lean pation of revenue. It was decided to hold the matter over until next Monday. Mr. Locke moved that Miss Hazel J. Murray be ap- pointed temporary Agent for the Board of Health from August 1, 1942 through August 8, 1942. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A bill of $1.50 for repairs to service flags was received. Mr. Locke moved that th_s bill be charged to the Unclassified Account. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The meeting adjourned at 5218 P.M. A true record, Attests Clerk