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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-10-91-BOS-min 265 SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 1, 1973 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men'S Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, October 1, 1973, at 7:30 p.m. Chairman Kenney, Messrs. Bailey, Buse, Brown, and Mrs. Rifffn; Mr. O'Connell, Town Manager; Mr. Cohen, Town Counsel; Mr. McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering; Mrs. McCurdy, Execu- tive Clerk, were present. Hearing was declared open upon petition of Texaco, Inc. for the installation of an additional 8,000 gallon underground storage tank on the premises at 915 Waltham Street and Concord Avenue, Lexington. A notice of the hearing was inserted in the September 20, 1973 issue of the Lexington Minute-man and sent by certified mail by the applicant to the abutters, as listed on the records of the Assessors. Application was approved by Henre P. Fradette, Acting Fire Chief. Mr. Muench, representing Texaco, Inc., explained that the installa- tion of this additional tank would enable the station to have fewer Texaco deliveries and would cut down the truck traffic in the Town. This tank Hearing would be used for unleaded gas. Chairman Kenney asked if anyone was present in favor or in opposi- tion to the petition? ,Hearing no reply, the hearing was declared closed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permis- sion to Texaco, Inc. for the installation of an additional 8,000 gallon underground gasoline tank on the premises at 915 Waltham Street and Concord Avenue, Lexington, and to issue a new license as follows To keep store and sell 24,000 gallons of gasoline in one 8,000 gallon tank and four 4,000 gallon tanks, 650 gallons of waste oil in one 560 gallon tank, 560 gallons of fuel oil to be used to heat the building in one 560 gallon tank, all in underground tanks; 600 gallons of motor oil, 600 gallons of anti-freeze, 600 gallons of chemical accessories, 100 gallons of automatic transmission fluid, all in approved containers above ground, on the premises at 915 Waltham Street and Concord Avenue, Lexington. Mr. O'Connell recumnended that the contract for street and side- walk'construction be awarded to the lowest bidder, Starrett Paving Contract Corporation, Marlboro. 73-6-E ,Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to award Contract 73-6-E to Starrett Paving Corporation, Marlboro, for street and sidewalk construction, in the amount of $81,056.75. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that the new Mack fire engine has Fire Engine been delivered to the Fire Department and has been delivered to the Fire Department and has been put into service. Ladder #1 has been turned over to the Mack Company and has been sold to Smithsfield, Rhode Island. 256 Mr. O'Connell discussed the bids for the compactor for the Hartwell Avenue sanitary landfill; Hedge & Mattheis Company, Needham Heights, Buffalo-Bomag $52,385; Powered Equipment Corp., Newton Highlands, Rex- Factor $49,500; State Equipment Corp., Burlington, Hyster $46,920. After review by the Public Works Department, Mr. McSweeney recommends, and I concur, that the Town purchase the Buffalo-Bomag from Hedge & Mattheis Company in the amount of $52,385 This recommendation is based on a 3-day trial period at the landfill and taking into consideration the per- formance, operational characteristics of the machine as they relate to the driver, maintenance service, availability of parts, warrantee, etc. $45,000 would be available from the General Revenue Sharing Fund for the purchase of this machine, and $27,000 would remain in the Article and revert to E & D. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to purchase a Buffalo-Bomag from Hedge & Mattheis Company in the amount of $52,385. Hearing was declared open on the petition of the New England Tele- phone and Telegraph Compamy for installation of underground conduit on Bedford Street, Harding Road and Simonds Road. Notices of the hearing were sent to abutters as shown on the peti- tioner's plan and also filed with the Director of Public Works/Engineer- ing. A report from the Director of Public Works/Engineering was read stating that the purpose of the conduit is to increase trunk capacity between the Town of Bedford and the Town of Lexington, which will eventu- ally result in the elimination of the existing overhead cables. The permit for Bedford Street will be issued by the State Department of Public Works. The location is satisfactory to this department with one condition that the proposed conduit be placed approximately five feet Conduit below the existing culvert at Station 25+35 to allow for future lower- Bedford St. ing of the culvert, if needed. Harding Road and Simonds Road locations Harding Rd. are satisfactory to this department and all excavation near the roots Simonds Rd. of the trees must be done by hand. Therefore, this department recommends that the New England Telephone company be granted permission to install said conduit and manholes. Mr. Robert Dunn, representing the New England Telephone Company, was present and explained that the conduit is needed to relieve the over- loaded situation at Hartwell Avenue and the trunk between Lexington and Bedford. Chairman Kenney: Is there any timetable on the elimination of overhead wiring? Mr. Dunn There is a 419 cable that would eventually come down but that would be about 1975, but I can't give you a timetable. This job would start early in the spring of 1974 for a period of 2 to 3 months; we are waiting for the State Permit. Chairman Kenney The recommendation is for the conduit to be placed 5 feet below the existing culvert on Bedford Street and all excavation near the roots of trees must be done by hand. Mr. Dunn There is no problem; if there is any difficulty, a tree man is consulted in the area. We will replace the sidewalk that is dug up, and we will not tie up traffic. A steel plate will be put in the driveways or it will be backfilled. 257 SeleOtmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 1Mr. McSweeney The conditions on the trees will be the same on the State permit as on ours. No one appearing in favor or in opposition, Chairman Kenney de- clared the hearing closed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permis- sion to the New England Telephone Company for the following installations subject to the restrictions that the permit for the location on Bedford Street is to be obtained from the State Department of Public Works and the proposed conduit is to be placed approximately 5 feet below the exist- ing culvert at Station 25+35 to allow for future lowering of the culvert, if needed. Also, all excavation near the roots of trees must be done by hand Bedford Street From North Hancock Street, northerly approximately 6,079 feet of underground conduit; also, 10 man- holes 54/213; 54/214; 54/215; 54/216; 54/217; 54/218; 54/114; 54/115; 54/116; 54/151B. Harding Road: From Bedford Street, easterly then southeasterly, approximately 305 feet of underground conduit. rn Simonds Road: From Bedford Street, easterly approximately 109 feet of underground conduit. Chairman Kenney read a petition from the New England Telephone Com- pany and the Boston Edison Company for the relocation of six poles and the removal of two anchor guys from poles on Massachusetts Avenue at Jean Road and School Street. Chairman Kenney: This work was done in conjunction with the side- Pole walk Construction on Massachusetts Avenue, and it meets with the approval Reloca- of the Department of Public Works. No hearing is required. tions Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Maas.Ave location as submitted on the petition from the new England Telephone Com- Jean Rd. pany and the Boston Edison Company, as follows School Street Massachusetts Avenue: Southerly, approximately 165 feet from Jean Road, six poles to be relocated, also remove six poles. Northeasterly approximately 262 feet from School Street, two anchor guys off poles 57/184 and 57/183. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that a transfer request has been Real Est. received from the Board of Assessors for $7,000 to pay the cost of getting Tax Bills set up and running one set of tax bills by outside computer processing. Transfer 111 258 Selecmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 During the 18-month fiscal year, two tax bills must be prepared and almost 10,000 bills must be sent out on March 15, 1974. Our billing machine just about survived the last billing routine and it would cost about $10,000 to replace it; we would still be able to only average about 430 bills a day. We would propose to go to computer processing and this is consistent with the Davis systems and procedures report to the Data Processing Systems Study Committee. We have received proposals and we have selected the Arlington Trust Bank of Lawrence as it quota- tion was the lowest. It costs about $4,000 to get our records on tape and $3,000 to cover billing runs. We will be paying $4,050 for the setup, $1,350 for 10,000 run of bills, and an estimated $150 for changes. It would be 3 cents per bill charge if we care to have the envelopes stuffed by machine; they would deliver to us the bills in envelopes ready to be mailed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request to the Appropriation Committee for a transfer from the Reserve Fund to Account #3000-Assessors' Expenses in the amount of $7,000. Chairman Kenney informed the Board that Mr. Zehner has submitted his recommendations for appointments to the Town Report Committee. Town Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the Report following members of the Town Report Committee Louis A. Zehner, Committee Chairman, John E. Taylor, Richard W. Hoover, Gerald L. Gilmore, Mrs. Edith Cheever, and Mrs. Shirley Stolz, Consultant. Chairman Kenney read a letter from Commissioner Campbell stating Chapter 90 that the State Department of Public Works has revised its policy re- Street Signs garding the use of Chapter 90 funds to allow municipalities to purchase street name signs for use on the local street systems. It was re- quested that a list be forwarded to Commissioner Campbell. Mr. McSweeney agreed to compile a list of street signs that are needed and to submit it to the Board. Also, to check into the possi- bility of including Historic Site direction signs. Grassland Chairman Kenney read a letter from George G. Cahaly, 64 Grassland Street Street, requesting information on the progress of construction of Grassland Street. The Board agreed to inform Mr. Cahaly that Grassland Street is the top priority of the contractor and the work is to begin within a few weeks. Chairman Kenney read a request from the Board of Retirement for Cuzner approval of retirement of William H. Cuzner of the School Department. Retirement Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the retirement of William H. Cuzner, School Teacher, under the Non- contributory Pension Account. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Minutes minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held on May 14, 1973. 259 Selectmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 Chairman Kenney read a letter from Mrs. Clifford Porter, 393 Lincoln Street, regarding traffic conditions on Middle Street. Traffic Mr. McSweeney agreed to come back to the Board regarding traffic Middle signs and the possibility of painting a line down the center of Middle Street Street. jJpon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Contract Contract 72-9-E awarded on July 30, 1973 to F. Dicenzo and Sons, Inc. for clean- 72-9-E ing, caulking and pointing the Cary Memorial Building in the amount of Cary Mem. $3,510.00. Building The Board and the Town Manager discussed filling the vacancy on the School Committee because of the death of Vernon C. Page. According to the Selectmen-Town Manager Act, when a vacancy occurs in the member- ship Of the School Committee or the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Selectmen or the remaining members of the Board of Selectmen shall call a special Town election to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term, ex- cept if such vacancy occurs less than one hundred days prior to the annual election and not less than three members of such committee oY School Board remain in office, the vacancy shall remain unfilled until _such Committee annual election. Vacancy Chairman Kenney We are obliged to call a special Town election Special as the period of time exceeds 100 days. The Town Clerk advises us Town that the closing date for filling nomination papers is, by law, 35 Election days Prior to the election. We should allow sufficient time for can- didates to acquire signatures. upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to call a special Town Election to fill a vacancy on the School Committee, on Monday, December 3, 1973, with polling hours of 7 00 a.m. to 8 00 p.m. Chairman Kenney reported that on September 28, 1973, Mrs. Riff in, Mr. Brown and he had signed signature cards and had examined the con- tents; of the Selectmen's safety deposit box at the Lexington Trust Company. In the box was a copy of the vote of the Board on June 21, 1937 authorizing any three selectmen to have access to the box and, Selectmen' also, a key to a vault in the Town office building which no longer Safety exists. Deposit Mr. O'Connell recommended that combinations to all vaults in the Box Town Office Building be placed in the safety deposit box and he will contact the department heads to submit them to the Selectmen's Office. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Busa signed signature cards which are to be forwarded to the Lexington Trust Company. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reaffirm the vote of June 21, 1937 that any three members, together, of the Board of Selectmen of Lexington be granted authority to have access to Safe No. 266 in the vault of the Lexington Trust Company. 260 Selectmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Safety Committee in reply to a request from the School Committee to investigate the Grassland safe walking conditions for students attending the Franklin School. Street Area The report states that the committee finds no unusual hazards along Franklin this route and, in a sense, all pedestrian routes for school children School involve some hazards. Recommendations will be withheld until all of the sidewalk and roadway improvements in the area are completed. The Board agreed to accept the report of the Traffic Safety Com- mittee and to recommend to the School Committee that a representative sit in on meetings with the Traffic Safety Committee. Chairman Kenney read a report from the Director of Public Works/ Engineering in reply to a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Champion, 6 Rolfe Champion- Road, requesting that a sewer manhole not be located on his property. Rolfe Rd. The report states that the manhole is needed in order to avoid the Sewer Ease- existing drainage system in Rolfe Road, and relocation would necessi- ment tate tearing up Rolfe Road. The Board agreed to accept the recommendations of the Director of Public Works/Engineering and to inform Mr. and Mrs. Champion that Mr. McSweeney will arrange a meeting with them prior to the actual beginning of construction. Also, that one manhole is necessary and will be placed one foot beneath the ground level. Uncollect- The Board discussed the request from the Tax Collector to abate able Ambu- ambulance bills that are uncollectable lance Bills The Board agreed to send a letter to each one on the list re- questing that payment be made for emergency ambulance service but if, because of financial hardship or some other reason, he is unable to meet this obligation an explanation must be submitted in writing. The list is to be publicly posted on November 15, 1973. Mr. Furash, Appropriation Committee; Mrs. Brown and Dr Clarke, Planning Board; Mr Michelson and Mr. Politi, Bicentennial Committee, met with the Board to discuss proposed programs for the Bicentennial Bicentennial celebration. Capacity Mr. O'Connell We briefed the military assistance groups at Analysis Hanscom Field on September 27 and they are seeking to help us with their support. The proposed program of events has not been reviewed and approved by the Selectmen. Capacity Analysis How many people can the Town accommodate? The conclusion is a maximum number of people, roughly, 120,000- 150,000 people; beyond that, there would be a problem. There would be six people deep throughout the 31 mile parade route. If we were to allow parking and start outward to a radius of a mile, we can store cars up to 90,000. Studies give us a stong conviction that to make a parking plan possible for more than 90,000 and to have 15,000 cars parked at Hanscom and the Moll would require between 150 to 200 buses. We judge this to be unfeasible and unsafe. If you think about 261 Selectmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 where we would park these buses, it would take as much as three hours to get people back to their automobiles. We came to the conclusion that a practical limit of the group to see the parade is around 120,000, made up of people essentially in a 1-mile radius of Lexington. Mr. Furash: What is the current crowd count? Mr. O'Connell This year, it was not over 40,000. Plan for Controlling No invitation plan - first come, first served. Traffic The public would welcome up to the stated figure. We would turn the Control traffic off based on the occupancy of the street. Physical Controlled Plan at 8 or 9 Access Points: Plan to be tied in co*uuercial radio; effective communication network is essential. We would have a staffing plan that would build up and peak and level off. Physica. We are talking about $5,000 per hour There would be an 18-hour span, Control and is that really what the Town wants to do? We would hold cars at the curb and give walking people a 30 minute chance to get out. Medical Aid: The concept is to get this service provided under the direction of the National Guard as it is the only one involved in the business of rendering medical aid. Our approach would be to engage them. We would have a plan and provide sites and they would provide people for the units, medical staff, etc. The State National Medical Guard has 50 positions that they have to qualify for duty each year. Aid This Service would be provided for a whole group of towns. In addi- tion, the Red Cross would man the field units. There would be station wagons to take care of simple problems up to the more serious problems, and they could call for an ambulance at the medical aid station. The National Guard is tied in with helicopter support. There should be rest Stations around the town which would be operated, hopefully, by the Red Cross or some civic group. Also, these could serve as "lost Child" stations. Fire Protection. We can turn the perimeter of the Town over to Mutual Aid. If fire equipment is displayed around Town, we are Fire limited to one unit. We could attempt to borrow regular fire engines Protec- and some jeep-type units. An important requirement is added personnel tion to fully man all units. Public Health: To make maximum use of public and semi-public Public buildings that are equipped, so that we can reduce the number of port- Health able units. Communication The key is to have central communication to exer- cise control of all functions; to be tied in with surrounding towns, Communi- State and Civil Defense, and commercial radio. We hope to borrow cation communication equipment from the military. Selectmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 Contingencies We would have to have a contingency plan to deal Contin- with such things as a major medical plan if a restaurant served bad gencies food; weather, traffic; a contingency plan to deal with program can- cellation - when a decision would be made and how it would affect the Town. Hopefully, we weould achieve military assistance in regard to manpower. Mr. O'Connell continued You are familiar with the existing budget plan to get $100,000; the figure I use for developing a com- plete and adequate plan for carrying out Bicentennial I, as proposed, and Bicentennial 2 is $250,000. The problem is where the additional $150,000 to $100,000 .would come from. The program plan, as the Com- mittee would like to see it develop, is 2 to 2115 times the planned taxpayer budget program, and the military may very well be the answer to it. At the meeting at Hanscom, the Base Commander said that he would ask for extraordinary funds in his budget for 1975 and, in order for them to provide that kind of _help, he would have to have approval of $100,000 for Lexington and Concord. If that amount is not forth- coming, the amount of money he could use would be minimal. Bicentennial Mr. Bailey: Your figure of $250,000 is for right now through the Budget tourist season of 1975? Mr. O'Connell Yes. Chairman Kenney You ate to understand that this is preliminary. We wanted members of your committees to be aware of proposals coming and, also, the amount of managerial and administrative work involved. To this end, we have voted the Town Manager to be the Director of Plans and Operations on an interim basis until the position is filled, and to undertake the responsibility of recruiting candidates for the Director's position as expeditiously as possible. Mr. Furash What is the amount of money for the weekend? Mr. O'Connell It is the lion's share, $200,000. The money goes up when you draw thousands of people and you have to be ready to control vehicles and control the crowd. Chairman Kenney Is the Bicentennial Committee still talking of the existing or present budget? Mr. Politi Yes. Chairman Kenney And additional costs would be picked up by the military? Mr. O'Connell If the military comes through, then my figure goes down accordingly. Chairman Kenney We will be- making overtures to the Pentagon for funds for Hanscom, and the State Legislature for the National Guard. If these are not forthcoming, there would have to be drastic changes. Mr. Michelson We have been attending joint meetings at Hanscom with Concord once a month with the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and the National Guard. We have been doing our planning with the hope that the military comes through with their promises to us. We have a plan 263 Selectmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 for political pressure for October 25, inviting both state and federal for presentation. Everything has been done in good faith. The Bicen- tennial has been planned with Concord for additional federal aid. Mr. Bailey: I would guess that the budgets of federal installa- tions would not be active until the fiscal year of July 1, 1974 and they would not know if they are getting the money. The cutoff date for us' is March. Mr. O'Connell They would get advance signals next spring, late spring. Mr. Politi Our budget has always relied on expectations of aid from the military. We are forming a non-profit organization and ex- pect to make money from the sale of medallions of several thousands to $30,000 being raised. Chairman Kenney- We will be looking for someone to assist in this plan. Mr. Furash There is some lack of clarity. N . Michelson: It has been spelled out in our budget at a figure of $40,000; $20,000 for the Director. Mr. O'Connell For general information, I have gotten to the point of a promising candidate, one who may or may not be interested;, we are at the point where that decision would have to be made by October 15. Mi. Furash. The concensus of our committee was that it was the Bicentennial not the Town Manager's responsibility. There are lots of other ',things for him to do and this is not the most important use of his time in our committee's point of view. Whether it can be done by bringing someone in separately, no comment. The concept was put before Town Meeting and I am not sure they heard it in all its detail. Chairman Kenney- We are saying we would have in-house assistande. Mr. Bailey• Essentially, he would be involved. Mr. Furash: The person would have to be supervised. Chairman Kenney He will be. We have been offered assistance by one company. Mr. O'Connell: Mr. Williams of Raytheon is the Raytheon manage ment individual. Mr. Furash. What success have we had in federal and state fund-1 ing? Mr. O'Connell it is too early to say; assurances are quite strong,. Mr. Furash. If we asked the state to introduce legislation, ha' e you talked to our legislators and asked them? Mr. O'Connell We have. I would point out that we have to equip these people with the right information. On October 25, the purpose is to start arming these people. Chairman Kenney Rather than ask the state legislature for $25,000, we are asking the National Guard to put it in their budget. 2641 Selectmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 Mr. Furash. It doesn't hurt to try. I don't think it unrealistic to put up $100,000 and to have it matched. Mr. O'Connell There is a grant procedure for the Town to apply through the American Revolutionary route, and the form runs to 50 pages. Mr. Furash I am saying if we are going to bring in professional help to do this, we want a mutual understanding that the basic purpose is to be directed at attaining such funds. If not, there would have to be a drastic curtailment of events. By March, we should have a good idea of this and can tell Town Meeting whether we have to match it. That is his basic purpose. Chairman Kenney• The 1974 budget calendar is essentially on Budgets schedule. Mr. Furash. When will we see the material? Mr. O'Connell Those items recommended by the Town Engineer should be in by the end of the week. The total requests are approximately $3 million. I expect to be recommending a budget of not more than one-half that on a gross budget basis. Chairman Kenney- They will be forthcoming to the Selectmen and the Appropriation Committee. By October 15, we would review the capital budgets. 1 Mr. Furash I would appreciate some form of review on the parking situation in the center. Chairman Kenney We have a $3,000 appropriation for the extension Meriam St. of the Meriam Street lot. We took 25 or 30 meters from behind Craft Parking Lot Cleaners and put them over at the front of the existing lot and it is working well. It is being used for all-day parking. Selecemen's Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to have the Meeting Selectmen's Meeting on Tuesday, October 23, 1973 at 7 00 p.m. Mrs. Riff in reminded the Board that the date of the moratorium on Tax Title the sale of tax title lots expired on September 30, 1973. Moratorium Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to extend the moratorium on the sale of tax title lots until March 31, 1974. 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 security, Session the financial interests of the Town or the reputation of a person. After discussion of a matter concerning the Battle Green and matters of financial interest to the Town, it was voted to go out of Executive Session. Mr. O'Connell discussed the history of the creche being located Creche on the Battle Green. It has been traced back about 50 years; the new one sponsored by the Rotary Club and later on by the Chamber of111 260 Selectmen's Meeting October 1, 1973 Commerpe. Then, the Public Works Department was asked to take over not only the storage but setting up and taking down the creche, and the citizen group identification disappeared. Mrs. Scigliano of the Lexing- ton Minute Man is now doing some research on the background. The Board agreed that Mr. O'Connell is to come back to the Board when additional information is received and it will be an agenda item before the end of October. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 11:05 p.m. A true record, Attest E ecutive Clerk, Selectmen 1