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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1942-12-21 102 SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 21 , 1942 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building on Monday evening, December 21, 1942 at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Giroux, Messrs. Rowse, Locke, and Sarano were present . The Clerk was also present. Mr. Potter arrived at 8:15 P.M. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. He said that the public liability insurance policy was expiring on Insurance January 1, 1943, through the office of Edwin B. Worthen, Mr. Rowse moved that the policy be renewed through the same office. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the Town of Bedford would like to buy our old meter testing unit Meter and is willing to pay $35.00 for it. Testing Mr. Sarano moved that the unit be sold to Bedford Machine for the sum of $35.00. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr . Paxton informed the Board that Dr. Charles E. Scribner had been in to see him again about his October water bill. He said that Dr. Scribner did not appear to be the type of person who would tamper with the water meter but undoubtedly something happened to it. There is Scribner no reason why we should reduce the bill but inasmuch as water Dr. Scribner is a new resident of the Town, Mr. Paxton bill thought it might be a good idea to make some adjustment on the bill. He suggested that the excess water used be charged at the rate of 18fi per 100 cubic feet. This would reduce the excess charge to $11.63. The Board authorized Mr. Paxton to charge the excess water used during the quarter ending September 30, 1942 at the rate of 18 per 100 cubic feet . Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Louis Pfeiffer of the Bedford Selectmen had discussed morning street lighting with him. A train leaves Bedford at 5 :45 A.M. and that Street town would like to have the street lights turned on at Lights 5 :30 A.M. However, Bedford is on the same circuit with Lexington and as Lexington is a larger consumer it would be necessary for Lexington' s lights to be turned on at 5 :30 A.M. in order that those in Bedford might be lighted at the same time. Mr. Rowse asked how much this would cost and Mr. Paxton thought it would cost an additional $ 2.00 per day or about $80.00 until next February 1, 1943. 103 i vA It was decided to take no action on the matter unless Bed- ford made the request of Lexington in writing. Letter was received from the Town of Arlington advis- ing that they would be willing to rent one of their snow loaders to the Town of Lexington after the snow removal Snow work had been completed in that town. loader Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee advising that the sum of $500.00 had been transferred from the Reserve Fund to the Insurance Account so that the Transfer present boiler insurance policy could be cancelled and a Ins. Acct . new policy issued. Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee advising of the transfer of $425.00 from the Reserve Fund Transfer to the Ashes and Dumps Account to take care of the cost of Ashes & collection of salvage materials . Dumps Letter was received from the Appropriation Committee advising that that body had voted to make the $1500.00, Welfare transferred from the Reserve Fund to the Public Welfare- Account Aid and Expenses Account , available for any unpaid bills of the Welfare Department. Letter was received from Governor Saltonstall re- questing that any public buildings now burning oil be Heating converted so that coal might be burned instead of the oil. buildings The Chairman said that the Barnes property was the only town building which burned oil. He read a letter from Mr. Clyde E. Steeves who said that there were no grates for the furnace. Parts of the base are missing, and it is impossible to get any parts now. Mr. Paxton said that the thermostat was just inside the front door and the tem- perature is set at seventy degrees. It is necessary to keep it at this level in order to get the heat out to the wing. He said that if the Red Cross and the Fire Engin- eers did not use the wing, it would not be necessary to heat it. Mr. Paxton said that he would study the situation and report to the Board at the next meeting. Letter was received from Mr. G J. Cronin requesting the appointment of a local Mileage Administrator . It was Mileage decided to appoint Mr. Clayton F. Beach as Mileage Adminis- Adm. trator for the Town of Lexington. The Chairman asked Mr. Paxton what he had found out on the Bashian matter. Mr. Paxton said he talked with Mr. Robert P. Trask and Mr. William S. Scamman, who were mem- Bashian IIbers of the Board of Selectmen at the time the work was Claim 104 done on Wood Street. When Wood Street was constructed, the Selectmen appointed Mr. T . A. Custance to oversee the work and he had quite a few contacts with the abutters. Both Mr. Scamman and Mr. Trask said they recalled that Mr. Custance promised Bashian the replacement of his wall and the construction of a stock fence, although there is nothing in the Selectmen' s records about this . Mr. Paxton said he didn't believe a stock fence could be purchased now and for that reason he thought it might be well to offer Bashian a cash settlement if the Board saw fit . The Chairman said it seemed that there was a moral obligation on the part of a previous Board and he suggested that Mr. Paxton find out from Bashian what amount he would take to settle the matter once and for all and give the Town a release of any and all future Article claims , in connection with this matter. He suggested that an article be inserted in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in 1943 to see if the Town would make an appropriation to pay Bashian' s claim. The Board felt that this was the proper way to handle the matter and requested Mr. Paxton to talk with Bashian and find out how much money he wanted to settle the claim. Mr. Paxton retired at 8 :00 P.M. Upon motion of Mr. Locke, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was voted to grant the following licenses : Daisy DeW. McAlpine 50 Percy Road Innholders Colonial Pharmacy 1752 Mass . Ave. Common Victualler's Frank Reynolds Bedford Trans . of Garbage Lexington Theatre 1794 Mass. Ave . Sunday movies Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 8 :05 P.M. and retired at 8 :22 P.M. The Chairman informed the Board that the Board of Transfer Fire Engineers needed a transfer of $25.00 4-o pay ambu- Ambulance lance bills for the balance of the year. Acct. Mr. Rowse moved that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer the sum of $25.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Ambulance Account. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Potter said that the Public Works Department was To check receiving numerous complaints on garbage collection and garbage he thought it would be a good idea to have Mr. Lamont collec- spend one week a month for the next four months checking tion up on these complaints. The Board voted to instruct Mr. Lamont to do this work. Mr. Rowse moved that the Town Office Building be closed all day Saturday, December 26, 1942. Mr. Potter 105 seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that Mrs. Steele Lindsay had re- quested permission to place Community Fund posters on poles the week of January 1, 1943. Mr . Locke moved that the request be granted provided Posters the permission of the companies owning the poles is obtained. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Wrightington+ s bill in the amount of $150.00 for his services in the Water Guaranty Bonds accounts was re- ceived. Town Mr. Potter moved that the bill be approved for payment . Counsel§ Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Pill At 8 :•30 P.M. the following citizens appeared before the Board: Mr. T . A. Custance, Dr. Clarence Shannon, Mr. J. L. Douglass, Mr. Randall Soderberg, Mr. Wilbur H. Abbott, Mr. William E. Mulliken, Mr. George Smith, and Mr. William Hennessy. Mr. Custance was the spokesman for the group. He said that he had read in the Lexington Minute Man last week of the contemplated action of the Boards of Selectmen and Fire Engineers to abolish the office of "Chief of the Fire Depart- ment" in Lexington. He said that the contemplated action did not fit very well with certain citizens of the Town. He said that fourteen years ago a committee was appointed to Fire study the Fire Department and that when the report was sub- Dept. mitted, the recommendations climaxed with the suggestion that we have a new Chief but the committee had no criti- cism of the present arrangement . The only thing the citi- zens could see then was an increase of from $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 to the taxpayers if the recommended changes were made. He said that at that time it was a jealousy proposi- tion with some people who wanted to make some changes in the Fire Department. Mr. Custance said that some of the citizens felt that the contemplated action was unfair to the citizens who established the office of "Chief of the Fire Department" some time ago and they felt it was a matter that should be brought before the Town Meeting, thus the Selectmen would Petition be relieved of the matter . Mr. Custance said that he, as a former Selectman, would be glad to be relieved of this duty and would prefer to have the matter submitted to the Town Meeting. He said that a petition had been prepared and several persons signed it. The petition requested that before final action was taken toward abolishing the office of "Chief of the Fire Department", the sentiment of the people of the Town first be determined and that final ac- ' tion be deferred until the next Town Meeting to be held in 106 March, 1943, at which time the sentiment of the people of 111 the Town could be obtained. Mr. Custance said that if this petition was not sufficient to influence the Selectmen and the group was given another week, they could get 2000 sig- natures on a petition. He presented the petition, which was signed by 114 persons. The Chairman asked if any others wished to speak and there being none, the Chairman declared the hearing closed. The group retired at 8:40 P.M. Letter was received from Mr. Garrity requesting that the Selectmen ask the Trustees of Public Trusts to trans- fer the sum of $300.00 from the Taylor Flag Fund to the Park Department Wages and Expenses Account as voted at the Town Meeting last March. Mr. Rowse moved that the request be granted. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Seiler' s 1775 House advis- ing that because of conditions, it was unlikely that the restaurant would be opened in 1943. They said that they License would not be applying for a Common Victualler' s license this year, but understood that it would be possible to ob- tain such a license when they reopen. The Board assumed that the license would be granted when the restaurant re- opened. The Chairman reminded the Board of Mr. Worthen's re- quest that funds be made available in January, 1943 to continue the work of indexing old records. The Clerk re- Indexing ported that in June, 1942 the sum of $134.00 was spent Old in the Unclassified Account, and if Mrs . Clarke , the per- Records son who is doing the work, works a thirty-eight hour week her salary will amount of $76.00 per month so there undoubtedly will be sufficient funds. It was decided to allow the work to continue. At 9 :20 P.M. the entire Board of Fire Engineers met with the Board of Selectmen and discussed matters per- taining to the Fire Department at great length. The Board of Fire Engineers retired at 10:15 P M. The Selectmen Fire then discussed the matters further, and it was VOTED: Dept. That the Office of "Chief of the Fire Department" in votes Lexington, if such position legally exists in said Town is hereby abolished, effective at midnight December 31, 1942. It was further VOTED: That a copy of the proceedings in the matters relating to the abolition of the office of "Chief of the Fire Department" be turned over to the Town Clerk as required by law. 107 It was further VOTED: That the Board of Fire Engineers be requested to submit, as of January 1, 1943, a complete report of conditions within the Fire Department as they found them from the time of their taking office . Bids were received on printing the Annual Town Report for 1942 as follows : "Quote Bids) Somerville Printing Co. , being the low bidder, upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded Bids on by Mr. Rowse, it was voted to award the bid to that com- Town Report pany. The Chairman said that he had received numerous calls from aircraft observers because the Observation Tower is so cold. He wondered if the Board would approve an expend- iture of money from the Committee on Public Safety for Observation putting wallboard on the northeast side of the Tower. The Tower Board decided to approve the expenditure provided the Com- mittee on Public Safety voted to have the work done. Commitment of water guaranty accounts in the amount of $1.25 and water guaranty abatements in the amount of $3.59 were signed. The meeting adjourned at 11 :00 P.M. A true record, Attest : Clerk ee* The following bids on printing the annual reports for 1942 were received as follows : SCHOOL ACC 'T 'S FIRM AUTHOR'S CORRECTION PER PAGE REPORTS REPORTS Adams Press, Inc. $3.00 pr. hr. $2.35 $.75 gage $.75 pr.page John F. Fleming & Son 2.23 $37.50 61.50 BomestritaePPriatifgcCo. no charge 1.74 .75pr.pg. .75 pr.page 'ord '.er ary 1