Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-04-22-BOS-min 514 SELECTMEN'S MEETING April 22, 1974 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday April 22, 1974 at 7 00 p m Chairman Kenney, Messrs Bailey, Buse, Brown, and Mrs Battin, Mr O'Connell , Town Manager; Mr Cohen, Town Counsel ; Mr McSweeney, Director of Public Works/ Engineering; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present At the request of the Town Clerk, five jurors were drawn as follows: Dorothy Chapman 6 Patriots Drive Jurors Rosine Patterson 21 Blossom Street Robert T Brown 34 Middleby Road Charles B Scribner, Jr 10 Robbins Road Natalie A Johnson 21 Captain Parker Arms Mr Louis A Zehner, Town Treasurer, met with the Board to request ap- proval of borrowing $1 ,500,000 Bids have been received, and it is recom- mended that we borrow $500,000 from the Harvard Trust Co at 3 85%; $400,000 Treas from the Harvard Trust Co at 3 90%; $600,000 from the Middlesex Bank at 3 90% There will be three notes to sign, dated May I , 1974 and due on June 4, 1974 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to award the contract to the following banks for tax anticipation loans, and to sign the notes dated May 1 , 1974 and maturing on June 4, 1974 Harvard Trust Co $500,000 3 85% (one note) Harvard Trust Co $400,000 3 90% (one note) Middlesex Bank $600,000 3 90% (one note) Mr O'Connell informed the Board that only one bid had been received Police on Police cruisers Rowe Chevrolet bid $19,895, a base bid for six Cruiser cruisers and one unmarked car The estimated total is $21 ,000, after de- Bid cals and other costs are incurred It is recommended that the bid be awarded to Rowe Chevrolet as it is a good, competitive bid Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the recom- mendation of the Town Manager to award the contract to Rowe Chevrolet for the purchase of six cruisers and one unmarked car, at a base figure of $19,895 Mr O'Connell informed the Board that he and Mr Wenham, Assistant Tax Assessor, are to have an informal meeting with the State Tax Commission Rate on Thursday, April 25, to discuss new, equalized evaluations issued by the Tax Commission If the Town feels that these figures are not equitable, we have until June I to file with the Appelate Tax Board for abatement 1 5__5 Selectmen's Meeting April 22, 1974 Chairman Kenney read a recommendation from the Planning Board for appointments to SILC Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the SILC recommendation of the Nanning Board to appoint Paul J MacKenzie and re-appoint Thomas F Costello as representatives to the Suburban Intertown Liaison Committee for a term of office from May I , 1974 to April 30, 1975 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was Voted to approve the Bond bond for Walter C O'Connell , Town Manager, in the amount of $50,000 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Special request of Chief Corr to appoint the following as Special Police Policemen Officers John E Barnes, M I T Lincoln Laboratory and Paul Mazerall , Lexington Department of Public Works Chairman Kenney read a request from the Lexington Youth Baseball Parade League to conduct a parade on Saturday Permit Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permis- sion to the Lexington Youth Baseball League to conduct a parade on Saturday, April 27, 1974, and to request the Police and Fire Departments to cooperate with them Chairman Kenney read a letter from Mr and Mrs Lawrence Karp, 12 Bryant Road, stating, "we wish to direct your attention to the situation regarding youth recreational groups using town lands and en- gaging in discriminatory practices Our daughter, age 9, attempted to register for the AAA Baseball League There are no try-outs for AAA and Linda was rejected solely on the basis of sex The League Direc- tor said that AAA is for boys only and no girls will be allowed in Girls We feel that, since public lands are used by these groups, either Baseball separate recreational opportunities must be equalized for boys and girls at the same age levels, or integration take place The parti- cular case regarding our daughter has a happy ending; the Softball League has bent its rule to allow her to play This departure is to be regarded, as we were told by the Director, as strictly exceptional and not precedential Thank you for your attention to this matter " Mr. Bailey If I understand it correctly, it has nothing to do with discrimination They are complaining about an organized group for 9 year old boys; these people are volunteers and unpaid Anyone who wants may organize a group for 9 year old girls, and we would agree wholeheartedly Mr Buse I concur If they want to form a league and have it integrated, that's fine Mrs Karp was present and said that the League is concerned about insurance and we offered to relieve them of any liability, but they did not feel this would be adequate They have denied a nine year old girl 516 Selectmen's Meeting April 22, 1974 Mr M Busa Would you be willing to organize a league for girls? Mrs Karp No Mr Brown I disagree with the concept that you have to separate boy and girl Sex has nothing to do with baseball and if a girl can play as well as a boy, she should be able to do it There are some sports in which they are not able to compete but, in any sport, it has nothing to, do with separating on equal opportunity, but to play on a team irrespective of a sex Mrs Battin I agree It is hard for parents to organize a new league for just a few girls, as not many 9 year old girls want to play Chairman Kenney I don't think it is anything the Selectmen ought to get involved in Mr Bailey Mrs Karp's only argument is they are using public land Mrs Battin No She went to them and they said her daughter couldn't play There is a case in New Jersey on this Mr Cohen Triple A is a private organization Chairman Kenney Is it the consensus that this is a private matter? Mrs Battin Could we say there is a dearth of opportunity? Mr Brown. I agree it is a private matter but Mr O'Connell The Board might wish to refer this matter to the Recreation Committee The Board agreed that Mr O'Connell is to discuss with the Recreation Committee Mrs Karp's claim of the discriminatory practice of the use of Town-owned land by youth groups Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the min- Minutes utes of the Selectmen's Meeting held on December 3, 1973. Annual The Board discussed annual appointments Appoint- Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the ments following Exp Boards and Committees Name Term Date Board of Appeals George P Wadsworth 5 Yrs 3 .3j-79 Board of Appeals Logan Clarke, Jr I Yr 3-31-75 (Associate Member) Haskell W Redd I Yr 3-31-75 Irving H Mabee I Yr 3-31-75 Robert Cataldo I Yr 3-31-75 Robert M Gary I Yr 3-31-75 Thomas G Taylor I Yr 3-31-75 Town Celebrations Committee Raymond B Barnes, Ch 3 Yrs 4-30-77 William P Fitzgerald 3 Yrs 4-30-77 Ralph V Lord 3 Yrs 4-30-77 5 4 Selectmen's Meeting April 22, 1974 Ex p Boards and Committees Name Term Date Historic District Commission Arts and Crafts Society S Lawrence Whipple 5 Yrs 1- 1-79 Historic Districts Commission Associate Members Arts & Crafts Society Mrs Ruth Adams 5 Yrs 1- 1-79 Historical Society Amy Samoylenko 5 Yrs 1-1-79 Standing Plumbing & Building George E Bullock 3 Yrs 4-30-77 By-Law Committee Gammell Legacy Income Trustee James E Collins I Yr 3-31-75 Bridge Charitable Fund William R McEwen 3 Yrs 3-31-77 Trustee of Public Trusts William R McEwen 6 Yrs 3-31-80 Fence Viewers Rev Harold T Handley I Yr 3-31-75 Louis A Zehner I Yr 3-31-75 Registrars of Voters George E Williams (D) to 3-31-76 Edward J Belliveau (R) 3 Yrs 3-31-77 Executive Clerk Eleanor M McCurdy I Yr 3-31-65 Drug Advisory Committee Margery M Battin I Yr 3-31-75 Sumner E Perlman I Yr 3-31-75 Jack H Monderer I Yr 3-31-75 Charles E Ellicott I Yr 3-31-75 Irving H Mabee 1 Yr 3-31-75 Drug Counselor Charles L McManus I Yr 3-31-75 Street and Sidewalk Advisory Paul J Nicholson I Yr 3-31-75 Committee Advisory Committee on Cable Albert P Zabin Television Advisory Personnel Board Paul C Sidman 3 Yrs 3-31-77 John B Butler 3 Yrs 3-31-77 W Neil Chapman 2 Yrs 3-31-76 Nicholas A LaFauci 2 Yrs 3-31-76 William F McGonagle I Yr 3-31-75 1 51g Selecmen's Meeting April 22, 1974 Chairman Kenney informed the Board that the expiration date of the Taxi taxi licenses is May I and we have had application for renewal Licenses Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the ap- plication for renewal of taxi licenses pending a meeting with Mr Zimmerman on April 29 Chairman Kenney read a letter from Senator Francis W Hatch re- questing that the Board take a position in opposition to Senate Bill 644 S 644 - "which sets a terrible precedent and is bound to have an adverse effect ' Building on your tax rate as it would mandate a minimum wage for all local build- Inspector's ing inspectors tied to the average prevailing base rate of the five Salary highest paid trades in the construction industry, as determined by the Department of Labor and Industries Current department figures relayed by the Public Service Committee indicate something like $10 an hour " After discussion, the Board voted to take a position of opposition to Senate Bill 644 It was agreed to write to Senator Hatch that the Selectmen join him in opposition to the bill as it is a flagrant violation of Home Rule Additionally, whenever the Legislature mandates to set salaries for some of the Town employees, it causes great problems within the internal per- sonnel system Our elected Senators and Representatives are to be in- formed of the Board's position Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Execu- Executive tive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting on Session matters which, if made public, might adversely affect the public security, the financial interests of the Town, or the reputation of a person After discussion of taxi licenses and ice cream vending trucks, it was voted to go out of Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 850 p m. A true record, Attest ti tLExecutive Clerk, Selectmen / r