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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-02-19-BOS-min 440 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 19, 1974 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, February 19, 1974 at 7 30 p.m. Chairman Kenney, Messrs. Bailey, Buse, Brown and Mrs. Riff in; Mr O'Connell , Town Manager; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel ; Mr. McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; Mrs. McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present. Mr O'Connell informed the Board that the Town has received recog- Town Report nition, on behalf of the Town Report Committee, from the Freedoms Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge of an honor certificate award for the 1972 Foundation Town Report for its contribution to better communication in Town Govern- Award ment. Since the integral part of Town Government is Town Meeting, arrangements could be made with Town Moderator Cole to present the award to Mr. Zehner, Chairman of the Town Report Committee, at one of the Town Meetings. The Board agreed that Mr. O'Connell is to make the arrangements. Chairman Kenney read a memo from the Traffic Safety Committee Grant St. stating that, at the request of the Police Department, the Committee Parking discussed parking on the Westerly side of Grant Street between Massa- chusetts Avenue and the Railroad bridge. It was felt that reducing the restriction in this area, which calls for No Parking from Massa- chusetts Avenue 225 feet Northerly, would add much needed parking spaces. We currently have nine parking spaces in this area and the adoption of the amendment to the Traffic Rules and Orders will add three spaces. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to amend the Traffic Rules and Orders as follows By deleting from Article V, Section 2, Schedule #I , the following Location Side From To Type Parking Grant Street West Mass. Ave. 225 Feet Northerly No Parking And by adding to Article V, Section 2, Schedule #I , the following Location Side From To Type Parking Grant Street West Mass. Ave. 75 Feet Northerly No Parking Gift of a Mr Henry Fradette of Fitchburg met with the Board to present Bicenten- Bicentennial flags to the Board of Selectmen and the Bicentennial nial flag Committee. 44j Selectmen's Meeting February 19, 1974 Mr. Fradette I have designed the flag to commemorate the begin- ning of the War for Independence from the time Paul Revere left Boston until the end of the Battle of Bunker Hifl in 1775. Mr. Brown Do we have any idea of how many other people are design- ing Bicentennial flags? We should have our options open and say this is "a" Bicentennial flag, not "the" Bicentennial flag. Chairman Kenney I agree. Mr Fradette offers it to the Town with no strings attached. Mr. Fradette I am offering it to the Town as I did to other Towns. I have asked for a patent as a flag of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. The Board accepted the flags as a gift from Mr. Henry Fradette. Chairman Kenney read a request from Mrs. Robert Gildea, 6 Parker Street, for a sidewalk on Wood Street in the vicinity of the gates to Sidewalk Hanscom Field. Request The Board agreed to inform Mrs. Gildea that there are no funds Gildea available at this time as the budget has been submitted for approval of Town Meeting but she could contact the abutters involved and peti- tion for consideration in next year's sidewalk budget. Chairman Kenney read a recommendation from the Director of Public Works/Engineering to abate water bills. Abatement Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the Water recommendation of the Director of Public Works/Engineering to abate Bills the following water bills Pasquale Luongo Buckman Drive $ 8.75 Meter Taken Out Austin Maloney 18 Blossom Street 14.00 Biller's Error David S. Becker 18 Augustus Road 31.39 Biller's Error Robert McGillion 352 Marrett Road 9.06 Wrong Meter Reading Chairman Kenney read a letter from the Chamber of Commerce regard- ing meetings being held in the Visitors' Center. When meetings are held by groups upstairs, the building is without security on the lower Visitors' levels and readily accessible to intruders who could cause damage to Center the diorama of the Battle of Lexington and/or other valuable and Meetings interesting exhibits on display. There is also the possibility that the inventory of the Chamber could be pilfered. We would like to sug- gest that some consideration be given to custodial services during the hours that the building is being used. After discussion, it was agreed to write to the Chamber of Com- merce that the Board feels a custodian is not necessary as the use of the meeting rooms at the Visitors' Center is reserved for official Town-affiliated groups and they are held responsible for the security of the building. Also, it will be recommended that the groups meet on the first floor if the space will accommodate their numbers and the custodian could be notified in advance to set up tables and chairs. 44 / Selectmen's Meeting February 19, 1974 Chairman Kenney Mr. David Hughes is contacting committees in order to schedule all meetings in the Town Office Building on Monday and Tuesday evenings Mr. O'Connell and I will discuss the Historic Districts Commission meetings which are now scheduled for Wednesdays. Chairman Kenney read a letter of resignation frpm Alan G. Adams Resignation as a member of the Bicentennial Committee. Bicentennial Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was votei to accept with Committee regret the resignation of Alan G. Adams as a member pf the Bicenten- nial Committee, effective immediately. The Board agreed to table the request from the _exington Visiting Nurses Association for an appointment of a Board member to the Board of Directors. At 8 00 p.m , residents of Wachusett Drive and Wachusett Circle met with the Board. Also present Mr Greeley, Stret and Sidewalk Wachusett Committee; Dr. Clarke, Planning Board; Mrs. Frick, CDnservation Com- Drive and mission. Wachusett Circle Chairman Kenney read petitions, dated February 3, 1974, for the postponement of the acceptance of Wachusett Drive and Wachusett Circle because of the combination of three factors I. The present condition of the road is better than it has been in seven years. 2. The general nature of the road which the neighborhood has lived with for 15 to 20 years without one previous petition has not suddenly or even gradually deteriorated. 3. The present economic conditions have not been as bad since 1947 and the best estimates for the next one or two years are even more dismal. We are asking you , the Selectmen, to recommend to Town Meeting that the acceptance of Wachusett Drive and Wachusett Circle be postponed to a more auspicious year. Dorothy A. Mahony, William J. Mehbny, 3IA Wachusett Drive; Ralph R. Berggren, Gretchen Berggren, 47 Wachusett Dcive, Vicki J. Gero, 39 Prospect Hill 'Road; Luther M Hoyle, Jr. , Edith G. Hoyle, 42 Wachusett Drive; Andrea M. Pollack, 61 Prospect Hill Road; Richard F. Kiley, Rita E. Kiley, 37 Wachusett Drive; William I . Watson, Janet P. Watson, 38 Wachusett Drive; Jerry A. Johnson, 33 Wachu- sett Drive; Phillip R. Shaw, Sandra J. Shaw, 31 Wachusett Drive; John F. Solan, Jr. , Bonnie Solan, 65 Prospect Hill Road, Florence M. Murray, 69 Prospect Hili Road. 4141:3 Selectmen's Meeting February 19, 1974 2nd Petition We are not abutters but we live in the immediate neighbor- hood and use the roads. We are asking you to recommend to Town Meeting that the acceptance of Wachusett Drive and Wachusett Circle be post- poned. Susan C. Hodgkins, 33 Prospect Hill Road; Mabel G. Bowles, 28 Wachusett Drive; William Wood, Sandra Wood, 8 Wachusett Drive; Eva Gordon, 19 Wachusett Drive. Petition dated February 13, 1974 The undersigned, all being abutters, wish to inform the Selectmen that we would favor the construction of Wachusett Circle and Wachusett Drive only as an 18-foot road, with the center following as closely as reasonable the center of the present pave- ment, with a sidewalk on the north side of Wachusett Drive generally at the edge of the Town right-of-way and with the grass area of the ttiangle at the Wachusett Drive-Prospect Hill Road corner substantially unchanged from the present condition. We hope the trees at the mail box corner and the cedar at 47 Wachusett Drive can remain. Ralph Berggren, Gretchen Berggren, 47 Wachusett Drive; Audrey J. Friend, 3 Wachusett Circle; Vicki J. Gero, 39 Prospect Hill Road; Janet P. Watson, William I . Watson, 38 Wachusett Drive; Mary Davis Pfeil , John S. Pfeil , Jr. ; 43 Wachusett Drive; Charlotte L. Vote, Frederick W Vote, 2 Wachusett Circle; Agnes L. DuFour, 45 Wachusett Drive; Sandra J. Shaw, Phillip R. Shaw, 51 Wachusett Drive; Andrea M. Pollack, 61 Prospect Hill Road. Chairman Kenney read a report from the Street and Sidewalk Advisory Committee The Committee recommends the Wachusett Drive-Wachusett Circle- Prospect Hill Road proposal substantially as submitted. We stress the importance of handling drainage adequately, especially in Wachusett Circle and on the Wachusett Circle side of Prospect Hill Road. We think it worth recording that Selectman Bailey gave assurance that betterment assessments would not become due before mid-1974. A major issue is the width of roadway. We recommend a 24' pave- ment for Wachusett Drive; and either 24' or less for the Circle. It is our opinion that the character at Wachusett Drive, and the fact that it is destined to be used for much travel other than just to the homes on the Drive amply justify the recommended width. However, we again stress that there is a great need for the Town to establish standards, or guide- lines, to be used in improving old streets with narrower roadways than are called for in new subdivisions. We add two major items relative to Wachusett Drive. I. The flow of storm water down the east end of the Drive, onto Waltham St. , creates a deplorably unsightly and unsafe condition. We urge that steps be taken immediately to correct this situation. There is no probability that this part of Wachusett Drive will be constructed as a traveled way in the near future. Hence, it is not wise to delay correcting the drainage situation until the street is laid out and constructed. We submit that the drainage could probably be charged to "maintenance" at Waltham Street. 444 Selectmen's Meeting February 19, 1974 2. The easterly parts at Wachusett Drive should be carefully studied by the Planning Board and the Engineering Department to deter- mine whether the currently steep and excessively rough stretch near Waltham Street should be closed off (probably permanently) to vehicular travel and a turn-around constructed at the end of the presently used roadway, or whether it appears desirable to program the entire easterly section for improvement, to Waltham Street. There seems to be no valid reason for indefinitely avoiding this decision. We believe the owners are entitled to a policy decision by the Town. (Signed) R.B. Greeley For the Committee Mrs. Gretchen Berggren, 47 Wachusett Drive Of the 10 households signing the petition of February 13, all of us would prefer to see an 18 ft road to a 24 ft. road. If we don't have it narrower, we would go back to postponement. Mr. McSweeney An 18 ft. roadway is not feasible; it is a high maintenance cost for the Town to accept this. On a 24 ft. road, you have minimum standards; it is the accepted roadway width for neighbor- hood streets. Chairman Kenney It is the opinion of the Engineering Department and the Traffic Safety Committee that a substandard road is unsafe and economically unfeasible. Dr. Clarke About three years ago, the Planning Board came to the point that street standards are not as safe as they could be. Up to this time standards were set for subdivisions and we thought it was an improper use of our standard. Officially, the standard is 30 ft. For these reasons, the Planning Board felt it should revise them. Two years ago, a draft was written for new standards but we lost our Planning Director, so nothing has been done. However, we hope to get at it this year. A residential street that does not carry significant traffic from town was based on the idea of cars 7 feet wide and clear- ance of 3 feet, and a minimum street should be 18 ft. wide. The range should be 18 to 24 feet, provided with the desires of people living on it. If some people wanted 18 feet, and some people wanted to park on it, it should be 24 feet. On the older streets on settled ways effort should be made to keep to the lowest width and not change the character of the street itself. Chairman Kenney Do the people who signed the February 13 peti- tion understand there would be no parking on the street? Mrs. Berggren That is the way we have always handled it. Mr. Bailey Where do we stand on solving the drainage problems without having to improve the street above? Chairman Kenney We could install a drain on Wachusett Circle and connect to the existing Town drain. Do Wachusett Circle only, and this would involve $10,000. 445 Selectmen's Meeting February 19, 1974 Mr McSweeney The main drain would have to come dwon Wachusett Drive, and there would not be catch basins. This would be in the vicinity of $8,000 to $ 10,000. Mrs. Charlotte Vote, 2 Wachusett Circle This still does not solve the problem of the width opening of Wachusett Circle, you have the entire triangle cut off at 24 feet. Chairman Kenney to Dr, Clarke Do I understand that the Planning Board is not making a recommendation now? Dr. Clarke We tentatively propose a range between 18 to 24 feet. We have not come out with a formal document now. Mr. Greeley We see no validity in narrowing below the Circle. We recommend sticking to the accepted standards that are in practice until the Planning Board, the Selectmen, and the Traffic Safety Commit- tee have agreed to some policy of having narrower streets. Mr. Brown How many areas are there in Town, and how big a project is it to come up with a general policy that these streets can fit into? Is this a tremendous job for the Planning Board? Dr. Clarke I would think it would be 10 percent of the streets that are not accepted. It would be a 3 or 4 months' job, particularly as we cannot get at it for 3 months Mr. Buse I think it is possible to vote to lay out at this time and wait for the Planning Board to come up with changes. Mr. Bailey If we vote to lay out, we have to have a specific pave- ment. Chairman Kenney It would be easy for us to say 18 feet but the best information from our advisers is that this is substandard and not safe. If we do not act in the best interests, then we are not doing the job we are supposed to do. I wouldn't vote to support 18 feet. Mr. Bailey Neither would I support 24 feet if it caused as much distress as this Mr. Downey Where does this type of proposal come from? Chairman Kenney There is a drainage problem. Over the years, the street has been in a state of disrepair and we were petitioned by the abutters. Mr. Greeley I would ask Mr. McSweeney to estimate how much of the $8,000 for drainage would be wasted if we approved Wachusett Drive in a year or two? Mr. McSweeney None of it would be a waste, it is a permanent drain. Mrs. Vote, 2 Wachusett Drive We signed the first petition and until we actually saw the engineering drawing, we didn't have a way of visualizing how the street would be like when they got through with it. I expected the street to be essentially the same but it looked totally different and a lot of us object to it and it will be used differently by people coming down from Prospect Hill. The corners are going to be completely cut off and paved. Chairman Kenney Even at 18 feet, you would have to make consider- , able change in the road. 446 Selectmen's Meeting February 19, 1974 Mrs Vote We realize that but there would be no triangle when they are through Chairman Kenney The street as it Stands now floats all over the right-of-way. Mrs. Pfeil , 43 Wachusett Drive The main reason the petition was started was because of drainage. We go along with 17 feet and don't want the street changed by cutting off the triangle. Mr Bailey It is not possible to build even an 18 ft. street without chopping into that triangle. Mrs. Vote I would rather live with the drainage problem than see the street change that much. Chairman Kenney The Board will take the matter under advisement. All interested parties retired from the meeting at 8 37 p.m. Chairman Kenney read a request from Waltham Mayor Clark for the Waltham appointment of two representatives of Lexington to the Waltham Ancil- Ancillary lary Manpower, Inc. Manpower The Board agreed to reappoint Mr. Mongiello and to submit another Appointment appointment from the proposed Personnel Advisory Board at a later date. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted ,to reappoint Mr. Enrico A Mongiello as Lexington's representative on +he Board of Directors of tfie Waltham Ancillary Manpower, Inc, Gasoline Chairman Kenney informed the Board that he had arranged a meeting Station with the gasoline station owners on February 21 at 10 30 a m. in the Owners Selectmen's Meeting Room. Chairman Kenney read a letter of complaint from Mr Julian J. Bussgang, Signatron, Inc. , regarding Boston Edison construction site Signatron on Hartwell Avenue, stating that this construction is an eyesore on Boston an otherwise well-planned street with many attractive industrial Edison plants developed in accordance with a strict zoning code. Many visi- Hartwell tors to our plant have questioned me what is the monstrosity on the Avenue site in question. I have inquired of the secretary of the Board of Appeals, the Planning Director, and the Building Inspector how it ever came to pass that Edison was allowed to build a fenced-in area with a multitude of poles in the middle of a street on which all service wires run underground and whether any conditions were imposed on the appearance of this development. A report from Mr. McSweeney was read stating that he had dis- cussed the matter with William Jones, District Manager of Boston Edison Company, and he suggested that he and the appropriate repre- sentative from Boston Edison Company, who is familiar with the project, meet with Mr. Bussgang and review the matter with him person- ally. He further assured me that Boston Edison has complied with all the necessary laws, acquired necessary permits, public hearings, etc. that are associated with this type of a project. 447 Selectmen's Meeting February 19, 1974 The Board agreed to inform Mr. Bussgang of the above information and tell him that a meeting will be arranged by Mr. McSweeney as soon as possible. Chairman Kenney read a request from the Director of Public Works/ Intent to Engineering for a vote of intent to take sewer easements between take sewer Blossom Street and Lawn Avenue. easements Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted an intent to Blossom take a 30 ft. permanent and two 10 ft temporary easements for the con- St. d struction of the Blossom Street interceptor between Blossom Street and Lawn Ave. Lawn Avenue. Chairman Kenney informed the Board that a request has been re- Sheraton ceived from the Sheraton-Lexington Motor Inn for dinner dancing in the Lexington dining room. They now have an entertainment license and this could be Motor Inn added to it. Naturally, Sundays would be excluded. Dinner The Board had no objection. Dancing Chairman Kenney reported on the meeting on February 13 with State Bedfetd DPW Commissioner Campbell. We discussed the Hartwell Avenue connector Eldred fringe parking lot, the traffic situation on Bedford Street, and a Streets signal light at Bedford-Eldred Streets. Essentially, we were not enthu- siastic with the meeting but Mr. McSweeney said that because the State is doing additional planning with their consultants, some work is being done on the connector In terms of timing, the Number I item with the Hartwell State DPW is reconstruction of Bedford Street with six lanes, three in Avenue each direction. Preliminary traffic studies can be done in three to Connector six months They are talking about Bedford Street from Route 128 to the jughandle at Hartwell Avenue. It would not be a substitute for the Hartwell Avenue connector H W. Lochner has been contacted to study the Hartwell Avenue connector. If there is a requirement for more de- tailed environmental studies, we are set back perhaps as long as a decade. The only timetable we got was that Bedford Street could start within a year and a half. Mr. McSweeney: We have a copy of preliminary sketch plans Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Execu- tive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting on Executive matters which, if made public, might adversely affect the public Session security, the financial interests of the Town, or the reputation of a person. After discussion with the Appropriation Committee on budgets, it was voted to go out of Executive Session. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 10 p.m. A true record, Attest (1!),ge--er—A----Y )29' xecutive Clerk, Selectmen