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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-11-30M ' SELECTMEN'S MEETING November 30, 1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Monday evening, November 30, 1942 at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Potter,, Rowse, Locke, and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. The members were informed by the Clerk by telephone today that the meeting would be held at 7:00 P.M. rather than 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Emery, Driscoll, Adams, and Fawcett of the Board of Fire Engineers, and Attorney George McLaughlin were present. There was an informal discussion on Fire Department matters. At 7:30 P.M. Chief Edward W. Taylor of the Fire De- partment appeared before the Board. The Chairman told the Chief that Mr. McLaughlin was here as voluntary counsel to the Board of Fire Engineers. He said that when he wrote Mr. Taylor, under date of November 24,, 1942, he did not know that the Board of Fire Engineers was to be present here this evening or he would have mentioned the fact. When he talked to Mr. Wrightington on last Friday, he raised the _question of the Board being present tonight and his advice to the Chairman was that the Fire Engineers should be present. The Chairman said that he explained to the Chief in his letter of the 24th the purpose of this meeting. He said that the group would be very glad to hear anything the Chief had to say on the Chief recommendations that had been made to the Selectmen. Taylor Chief Taylor read the following letter. Honorable Board of Selectmen Lexington, Mass. Gentlemen: This will acknowledge your registered letter addressed to me and signed by your Chairman under date of November 24, 1942. In this letter he stated that the Board of Fire Engineers had.submitted to your Board a written statement in which they recommend that the office of the Chief of the Fire Department be abolished in the immediate future. He also quoted the following vote passed by the Board of Selectmen. VOTED: That before taking formal action on these ' recommendations they be brought before the Chief of the Fire 92 Department and his views upon them obtained and that for ' this purpose he be requested to appear before the Board on November 30, 1942, at 7:30 P.M., and that a copy of these recommendations be sent to him. As Chief of the Fire Department appointed by the Board of Fire Engineers I am in no position to express either my views or my opinions upon any action taken by my superior officers under their recommendations or regulations. Even though these restrictions be removed, anything said by me could justifiably be.considered biased and therefore of no constructive value. I thank this Board for the courtesy extended to me in this matter and regret under the circumstances I cannot comply with your request. The Chairman said that Mr. Wrightington could not be here this evening as he was ill. He asked Mr. Taylor if the letter was all that he had to say and he replied in the affirmative. Mr. Taylor retired at 7:40 P.M. The Fire Engineers and Mr. McLaughlin also retired. Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Locke, it was voted to approve the following licenses: ' Licenses H. M. Lawrence 1777 Mass. Ave. Methyl Alcohol granted Leon Fiola 538 Mass. Ave. Calvin W. Childs 409 F. K. Johnson, Inc. 39-41 Bedford St. Calvin W. Childs 409 Mass. Ave. Agent's License Lexington Theatre 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies The Chairman said that the Veterans of Foreign Wars had requested permission to use Cary Hall on Saturday after- noon, December 19, 1942 for a Christmas party. Use of Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted hall free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Sarano, seconded by Mr. Rowse, it was voted to approve the following pole locations and sign the orders: Massachusetts Ave. from Breck St., 4 poles Massachusetts Ave. Breck St., 1 pole Massachusetts Ave. and Marrett Rd. 1 pole Marrett Road 1 pole Massachusetts Ave. and Tower Road 1 pole Maple Street 1 ' pole Massachusetts Ave. and Plainfield St. 1 pole I Westminster Ave. 1 pole Sylvia Street 1 pole Summer Street 1 pole Massachusetts Avenue at Stratham Rd. 1 pole_ Massachusetts Avenue at Winthrop Rd. 3 poles Massachusetts Avenue at Woburn Street 1 pole . Woburn Street and Utica Street 1 pole Woburn Street and Utica Street 1 pole Woburn Street and Laconia Street 1 pole Waltham Street at Waltham Line 1 pole Waltham Street at Concord Avenue 1 pole Waltham Street at Concord Avenue 1 -0018 Massachusetts Ave. and Hillside Ave. 1 pole Massachusetts Ave. and Lisbeth St. 1 pole Massachusetts Ave. and Lisbeth St. 1 pole Massachusetts Ave. and Bowker St. 1 pole Massachusetts Ave. and Bowker St. 1 pole Massachusetts Ave. and Charles St. 1 pole ' Massachusetts Ave. and Sylvia St. 1 pole The Chairman said that Mr. Paxton estimated that the cost of dimming out the Public Works Building would be $304.00 and the cost of shades for the unprotected windows for the Cary Building would be $33.63. ^' •- The Board felt that the cost of the materials and Dimming out c t work at the Public Works Building was very high and that Public Wks. is it might be done cheaper. It was suggested that some coarse Bldg. __...:4 f_ black paper might be purchased for the windows and cur- & Cary Hall r- tains for the skylights. It was decided to have Mr. Sarano 11 confer with Mr. Paxton to work out some economical way to handle the matter and to report to the Board at the next meeting. The Board discussed.at length the recommendations of the Board of Fire Engineers as submitted under date of November 23, 1942 and also discussed the written reply of Edward W. Taylor, dated November 30, 1942. It was then unanimously VOTED: that the Board of Selectmen of Lexing- ton for the reasons hereafter set forth contemplates abol- ishing the office of Chief of the Fire Department in Lexington if such office legally exists in the said Town. The said reasons are as follows: 1. With a statutory Board of Fire Engineers (which ' includes a Chief Engineer. and Clerk) doing the executive 94 work of the Fire Department, and with full-time experienced ' officers now in the Department, one of whom (the Deputy Chief) is already in charge of fire -fighting operationst etc. in the absence of the "Chief of the Fire Department", it is out opinion that there is no necessity for this latter position. 2. Whereas the present "call" chief of the Fire Department first assumed the responsibilities of such office in 1913 when the population of Lexington was approximately 5,600, its total assessed valuation $8,562,600.1 and its full time Fire Department employees numbered 3 or 4; yet in 1942 its population is estimated at about 14,000, its as- sessed valuation is 22,302,328., and its full time Fire Department employees number 15; in the Board's opinion, due to said changed conditions, the responsibility for the extinguishment of fires should be placed upon a full time regular duty officer. 3. In the Board's opinion, the safety of life and property in the town would be best preserved by having the responsibility incident to the extinguishment of fires placed in a full time regular duty, experienced officer, - and such officer already exists within the present struc- ture of the Fire Department; rather than continuing said responsibility in a 'calls chief who has no regular hours on duty at the Fire Station, and who is very frequently out of Lexington on his own business during daytime work- ' ing hours. The Board feels it would not be fulfilling its responsibility to the Tarn by continuing a system in which fire fighting operations are in charge of an officer whose past three year attendance at bell -alarms is about 58%, when we have available the services of an experienced sub- ordinate who can attend every fire and be present with the arrival of the first apparatus. 4. Due to war uncertainties and possible emergencies, the efficiency of the Fire Department should be kept at the highest possible level; and, in the Board's opinion, such efficiency (in peacetime as well as wartime) would be more readily attained by having as a responsible head an experienced full time, regular duty officer, particularly as such officer would serve the same hours of duty, both day and night, at the fire house, as the other permanent personnel. 5. Our citizens are faced with the heaviest tax burdens in the history of the United States. It is the duty of municipal officers to eliminate all unnecessary expenditures; and it is the opinion of the Board that, with experienced full time officers already available within the Department, in the interest of economy the position of 'Chief of the Fire Department`' is no longer necessary. ' 95 ' FURTHER VOTED; that a copy of such reasons be given Services because of an increase in salary of $1.00 per to Edward W. Taylor, together with a copy of these votes, T,)wn.Trs. and that he be notified that he is allowed one week in the matter up with the Appropriation Committee inasmuch Town Trs. which to answer the said reasons in writing, and that on Monday, December 14, 1942 in the Selectmen's Room at 8:00 Letter was received from the State Guard asking what State o'clock P.M., he will be given a hearing on the abolition !7tnte of the said office, if within three days after receipt of the Committee appointed by the Committee on Public Safety this notice, he shall so request in writing; and FURTHER VOTED: that the Clerk of the Board of Select- Bus Stops men turn over to the Town Constable a copy of these votes, that it would with'.directions that he serve the same personally upon be useless to attempt to secure this permit Edward W. Taylor and make a return to the Board of Select- men of his service. It was the feel- such a petit- The Clerk informed the Board that Mr. Cavanaugh, who purchased the lots on Freemont Street a couple of weeks ago, would like to have them staked out. Also, Mrs. Miller, ne^. to who purchased some lots on Rockville Avenue would like to s�a<:e have her lots staked out. Req. to I Mr. Potter thought that if the engineers gave the stake,lots people the street lines then they could run back the side lines themselves. It was decided to have the engineers stake out the lines of the street. Letter was received from the Town Treasurer advising of the necessity of transferring $37.00 for Personal ' Services because of an increase in salary of $1.00 per Old week granted Miss McDonough on June 1, 1942. T,)wn.Trs. Mr. Rowse moved that the Treasurer be advised to take re.. for the matter up with the Appropriation Committee inasmuch Town Trs. tr r:;:ler as his department is within the jurisdiction of that body. req. for Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. transfer was so voted. Letter was received from the State Guard asking what State action had been taken on the organization of a local secur- !7tnte ity unit. The Clerk was instructed to find out what action Guard >rd the Committee appointed by the Committee on Public Safety to allowing had taken in the matter. It was held over for one week. Mr. Rowse moved that the Board sign a petition to the Old County Commissioners for the abandonment of a section of Old Shade Slrac e St. Old Shade Street. St. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that two representatives of the Lovell Bus Lines had called on him relative to allowing Lovell their buses to stop on Massachusetts Avenue between Mar- Bus Stops 3s Etc -Ns rett Road and Arlington Herts. They said that it would be useless to attempt to secure this permit unless the Board of Selectmen endorsed the petition. ing of the Board that it should not endorse It was the feel- such a petit- ion unless a substantial number of residents of the Town I wished to support it. The Clerk was instructed to write Mrs. Vaccarest of Marrett Road and tell her that if she submitted a petit- ion containing a sufficient number of names in favor of the idea, the Board would endorse it. A request for certificate of character of Leonard K. Cert. of Dunham of 11 Leonard Road was received. The Chief of character Police said that the man was of good character. Mr. Potter moved that the man's character be endorsed. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Request for approval of the application of Mrs. William B. Mason of 60 Oak Street, for a license to board infants was received. Mr. Potter moved that Mrs. Mason's application be approved and signed. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman asked whom the Board wished to handle budgets for 1943. He said that it was logical that the person who was to handle them at the Town Meeting should have charge of them now. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Rowse be elected to handle the budgets from now until Town Meeting. Mr. Sarano sec- onded the motion, and it was so voted. Highway Department abatements in the amount of $80.95 were signed. The following commitments were also signed: Water Rates $6,670.61 Water Lien Costs 4.00 Sewer Miscellaneous Charges 7.50 The meeting adjourned at 11:25 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk 1