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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-02-21-BOS-min 44b SELECTMEN'S MEETING SPECIAL MEETING February 21 , 1974 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room on Thursday, February 21 , 1974 at 10 30 a.m. Chairman Kenney, Messrs Bailey, Busa, Brown and Mrs. Riffin; Mr. O'Connell , Town Manager; Mr. McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engi- neering, Mr. Emanuele Coscia, Mgr. Planning and Administration, Public Works Dept. , Police Qhief James F. Corr, Police Captain James J. Lima, Jr. , Representative Lincoln P. Cole, Jr. , Miss Casey, Assist- ant Executive Clerk, were present. The Board discussed the layout of streets. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to lay out the following streets Vote to Lay Tewksbury Street - '305 feet, more or less, from Bedford Street out 1974 Southwesterly to Roger Greeley Vi4lage. Streets Nickerson Road - 1633 feet, more or less, from Massachusetts Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue. Carmel Circle - 446 feet, more or less, from Nickerson Road111 Southerly to end. Abandonment of Holland Street 95 feet from the accepted portion of Holland Street Northwesterly to end. Chairman Kenney After our discussions with the residents of Deleted Wachusett Drive, Wachusett Circle and Prospect Hill Road, I feel it Streets would be in the best interest of the Town not to lay out these streets. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted not to ley out the following streets Wachusett Drive - 590 feet more or less from Prospect Hill Road Easterly. Wachusett Circle - 230 feet more or less from Prospect Hilt Road Northeasterly to Wachusett Drive. Prospect Hill Road - 380 feet more or less from the accepted por- tion of Prospect Hili Road Northwesterly to Outlook Drive. 1 449 Special Selectmen's Meeting February 21 , 1974 Gasoline Station Operators met with the Board. Chairman Kenney: We have requested representatives or owners of the gasoline stations in Lexington to meet with the Board of Selectmen so Gasoline that you may inform us of your problems and probable solutions. We would Station like to know how many stations are open in the evenings. Operators After much discussion, the following points were brought out Most operators were operating on the Sargent Plan of pumping gas to cars whose registration plate ended in an odd number on the odd numbered days of the calendar and cars whose registration plate ended in an even number on the even numbered days of the calendar. Mr. Russell of Russell 's Texaco at the Countryside said he had a card system and sold gas by appointment every half hour or so and, thereby, was able to give better service. All gas station operators voiced the opinion that they were afraid to stay open at night without police protection because of the violence at many of the stations. Most of them have received threats of one kind or another. These, for the most part, came after the "No Gas" signs were posted. The operators stated that they have high school boys working at night and they were hesitant to expose them to such danger. Selectman Bailey asked if this was the biggest problem and if the people, as a whole, cooperated. It was agreed that the public, as a whole, did cooperate with the operators and observed the "Odd and "Even" system. All operators who also do repair work said they were unable to do much repair work because of the long lines of cars waiting for gas. Revenue from repair work has fallen off considerably. As the operators are governed by State and Federal laws, they are not supposed to give preferred treatment to regular customers. Many felt that this was un- fair. It was brought out that most of the operators felt that the State and Federal legislators didn't understand the problems of the station operators. All the station operators agreed that they just do not receive enough gas. They were only getting 85% of the 1972 allocation, which is just not enough. Most operators were charging a $3.00 minimum for small cars and a $5.00 minimum for large cars. Many were charging a flat $3.00 minimum and a $5.00 maximum, regardless of car size. One of the men present felt that if a minimum charge, regardless of the amount of gas obtained, could be enforced it would help eliminate the long gas lines as people were "topping off." 450 Special Selectmen's Meeting February 21 , 1974 Mr. O'Connell , Town Manager, pointed out that, legally, this cannot be done A minimum charge in a restaurant is different in that you have the option to obtain goods, i .e. food or drinks to make up the minimum charge. If a person's gas tank does not require enough gas to make the minimum charge, you cannot charge for it. There can be no tie-in of sales, either. Captain Lima of the Police Department pointed out that there are bad traffic jams between the hours of 7 00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. and be- tween 4 30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. He felt that the station attendants have been channeling the traffic in the best possible way but felt some guide- lines should be set up. Representative Cole suggested that the dealers sit down with Captain Lima and decide what hours they will be open and stagger the system so that some stations would be open in the evening hours to accommodate the working people who get home late in the evening. This meeting would be followed up with a schedule published in the Lexington Minute-Man. It was agreed that this would be done, and Chair- man Kenney would again contact them after March 1st. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at II 55 a.m. A true record, Attest t �0.tu_(5 QCT t_. Assistant Executive Clerk, Selectmen NSA