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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-01-11-BOS-min Hearing 310 STREET HEARING ON CONSTRUCTION AND SUBDIVISION STREETS January 11, 1977 A formal hearing was held by the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday evening, January 11, 1977 in Cary Memorial Hall, Cary Memorial Build- ing at 7 30 p m. to discuss unaccepted and subdivision streets up for acceptance by the Town; also the reconstruction of Hancock Street, a Chapter 90 Street, and the discontinuance of Hinchey Road and Wood Street. Present at the hearing were Dr Howard M Kassler, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen; Mrs Margery Battin and Mrs Mary Miley, members of the Board; Mr John J McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; Mr William J Martin, Assistant Town Engineer and Mr Peter M Chalpin, Senior Engineer The meeting was called to order at 7 35 p m by Dr Kassler, who explained that these hearings are required by law and are held for the purpose of getting feedback from the people for the Select- men to use in laying out streets which are to be presented for acceptance at Town Meeting Dr Kassler stated that we would take the subdivision streets first, stating that these were non-better- ment streets The first subdivision street to be taken up was Brent Road The description was read by Dr Kassler Brent Road From Hathaway Road a distance of 650 feet, more or less, to Emerson Road Dr Kassler then asked if there were any comments There were no comments The hearing was declared closed on Brent Road The hearing was declared open on Emerson Road, from a point easterly 990 feet, moreor less, from the end of Suzanne Road and westerly to the end of that section of Emerson Road, read by Dr Kassler who asked if there were any questions One resident asked if the possibility of renaming parts of Emerson Road is still under consideration, and if so, would delay- ing this portion of the construction make it easier, or less ex- pensive later? Mr McSweeney said no, as it was two separate items There were no further comments The hearing was declared closed on Emerson Road The hearing was declared open on Suzanne Road, from Emerson Road a distance of 250 feet, moreor less, to Millbrook Road, read by Dr Kassler who asked if there were any comments There were no comments and the hearing was declared closed on Suzanne Road 311 Street Hearing on Construction and Subdivision Streets January 11, 1977 The hearing was declared open on Lois Lane, from Bedford Street a distance of 950 feet, more or less, to end, read by Dr Kassler who then asked if there were any questions There were no comments or questions and the hearing was de- clared closed on Lois Lane Dr Kassler stated that we would now go into Hinchey Road and Wood Street, which were up for discontinuance as a Town Way Hinchey Road, as a Public Way 300 feet, more or less, from Hartwell Avenue easterly to the end The description was read by Dr Kassler Mr Julian Busgang asked why it was being discontinued as a private way? Mr McSweeney explained that the Town is responsible as long as it is legally a private way; stating that we still own it but are just releasing liability as a public way Mr Busgang suggested a Mail Box for Hartwell Avenue business w/pulloff Mr McSweeney went on to say that the Planning Board can take under consideration any further use of the land There were no further questions, and the hearing was declared closed on Hinchey Road The hearing was declared open on Wood Street, as a Public Way 1000 feet, moreor less, from Station 0+00, the Lexington/Bedford Town Line to Station 10+00, read by Dr Kassler, who then asked if there were any comments Mr McSweeney explained that this was from the guard station to the boundary line about 1000 feet in on the Air Base There were no comments and the hearing was declared closed on the Wood Street discontinuance The hearing then moved on to the Construction or Betterment streets The first one to be heard was Banks Avenue, from Carville Avenue a distance of 800 feet, moreor less, to Chase Avenue, read by Dr Kassler who then asked if there were any questions Mrs Roberta Cochran of #10 Banks Avenue questioned the Oak tree. She said she would like this saved if possible Mrs Cochran then brought up sidewalks, wanting to know if they would be put in when the street was constructed Mr Friedman, of the Planning Board, said it was not necessary to have sidewalks Mr McSweeney stated that 1 ) All this concensus is taken into consideration at the time of the hearing and also at the time of construction, and, 2 ) that we have to contact the school de- 312 Street Hearing on Construction and Subdivision Streets January 11, 1977 partment regarding how many walkers, etc , there are Mrs Cochran said that do not want sidewalks on either side of the street Mr McSweeney stated that a number of things have to be taken into consideration before final plans are put through Mr Julian Busgang said he was in favor of the construction as the street has been a disgrace for a number of years There were no further comments and the hearing was declared closed on Banks Avenue The hearing was declared open on Cushing Street, from Sullivan Street a distance of 410 feet, more or less, to the end, read by Dr Kessler who then asked if there were any questions Mr Henry O'Neil of #10 Cushing Street asked to be recorded in favor of construction as proposed Dr Kessler said that the Board was willing to go along with the request of the neighbors and put the cul-de-sac on town land, and said that there would be no final decision on sidewalks until after formal hearing He also said that he did not think the neighbors will be disappointed One resident asked if the street acceptance was definite Dr Kessler stated that nothing was definite, going on to ex- plain that it had to be voted on by the Board, and then Town Meeting had to vote on it He also said that they were working on the bud- get now and would be voting on same within the next four weeks Mr Martin explained that the plans had to be filed with the Town Clerk by 2/21/77 A resident asked how they would know if it had been accepted He was told to call the Board of Selectmen late in February Mr McSweeney said that the real problem was the budget, and that within the next 3 to 4 weeks we should know the status as to how it will be presented at Town Meeting Dr Kessler went on to say that it was a matter of the Board deciding how much we have to spend Mrs Lund of #17 Cushing Street thought they were being rejected each year because they were a little street and quite a distance from the Center Dr Kessler stated that this is not so, and explained that the streets are taken according to priority, (the ones most needed are on top of the priority list ) Dr Kassler also said that any street which feels it is being abused, to let the Board know He stated that we are all human and all make mistakes and that the D P W works very hard Mrs Sullivan #2 Cushing Street asked if they were not plowed because it is an unaccepted street? Mr McSweeney said "No, " and went on to explain that we have a number of routes, and only two men to each route and that some have to be first and some have to be last 31: Street Hearing on Construction and Subdivision Streets January 11, 1977 Mr Martin explained that on unaccepted streets any maintenance other than snow plowing is the responsibility of the abutters, and that once it is the responsibility of the Town He also stated that all problems should be taken into consideration during construction and design Dr Kassler said that no sidewalks were recommended by the Planning Board on either Banks Avenue or Cushing treet There no further questions and the hearing was declared closed on Cushing Street The hearing was declared open on Emerald Street, from Asbury Street a distance of 540 feet, more or less, to Bellflower Street Dr Kassler stated that the Planning Board had recommended the construction of this street with a hammerhead located northeasterly of Edna Street, and no sidewalks Mr Ralph Johnson of #16 Emerald Street stated that all the points he would have brought up have already been brought up and answered One resident questioned the idea of a hammerhead going in, stating that Emerald Street has always gone all the way through Mr Martin explained that between Bellflower and Asbury Street was a paper street and that the Planning Board recommended that Emerald Street only be developed as far as Edna Street, suggesting a hammerhead turn at Edna Street Mr McSweeney said it would be like a "tee"; pull into one, back out into the other Mr Martin stated that this section was classified as a "Paper Street" in 1961 Mrs Johnson, #16 Emerald Street, asked if there would be some way to turn around Mr McSweeney answered "yes" Mr McSweeney then asked how many were in favor of construction as proposed? Those in favor were Mr & Mrs Ralph Johnson, 16 Emerald Street Mr & Mrs Daniel Castanheira, 17 Emerald Street Mrs. Grace Stalter, 41 Asbury Street Mr & Mrs Leo McSweeney, 24 Bellflower Street There were no further comments and the hearing was declared closed on the construction streets The hearing was declared open on the reconstruction of Hancock Street, a Chapter 90 street Mr William Spencer of #32 Hancock Street asked if there were any new developments since the last hearing? Mr Chalpin answered, "no" He also went on to explain that there was a modified plan drawn up by the Mass D P W but nothing definite 314 Street Hearing on Construction and Subdivision Streets January 11, 1977 1 had been decided upon Mr William Martin read two main points of a letter received from Mr Gilman, President of the Historical Society, stating that if there is any damage to the new wall at the Hancock-Clarke House that the Contractor/Town will be liable Also, they would like the utility pole at the South Corner moved across the street Mr McSweeney corrected the erroneous figure of $10,00 per foot for underground wiring which was given at an earlier hearing, stating that the cost for Edison alone would be $60 00 per foot, and that does not include the cost of telephone wires There were no further comments and the meeting was declared closed at 8 45 p m MARY B WINSOR Principal Clerk I I