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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-07-30-BOS-min 202 SELECTMEN'S MEETING July 30, 1973 I A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Se- lectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, July 30, 1973, at 7 30 p m Chairman Kenney, Messrs Bailey, Busa, 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 recommended that the Board vote blanket approval to the Cary Library Trustees to hold the annual chalk-in We have re- Library ceived a request for one on August 6 and we could inform the Trustees Chalk-in to let us know in advance on what date it is to be held so that ar- rangements can be made for assistance from the Department of Public Works and the Police Department Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to give blanket authorization to the Cary Library Trustees to hold the annual chalk- in on the Clarke Street side of the Library Mr O'Connell recommended that the Board vote to award the con- tract for Cleaning, Caulking and Pointing the Cary Memorial Building Cary Hall to F DeCenzo & Sons, Incorporated, 25 Valley Road, Medford, in the Caulking & amount of $3,510 It is our intent if this proves satisfactory, then Pointing we open up the question of doing the remainder of the building with the remaining funds Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to award the contract for Cleaning, Caulking and Pointing the Cary Memorial Build- ing to F DeCenzo & Sons, Incorporated in the amount of $3,510 Mr O'Connell advised the Board that Mr McSweeney has received the authority from the Division of Pollution Control to award the con- MDC Sewer tract for the M D C sewer to Grant Street Contract Mr McSweeney explained that he had met with Mr Greeley of the State Department and they discussed the grant There is a bill before the Governor whereby we would receive 90 percent instead of 60 percent in aid for the cost of construction of the sewer Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to award the con- tract for the construction of the Cross Country M D C sewer to Grant Street to Celco Construction Corporation of Weymouth in the amount of $32,855 55 Mr O'Connell informed the Board that he has received information Police which has been publicly announced regarding the finding in the shoot- Loren ing of Loren Haskell , that Judge Hasset has found the Police Officers Haskell acted in the line of duty and are absolved I 20:3 IllSelectmen's Meeting July 30, 1973 Mr O'Connell advised the Board that vandalism is increasing, espe- cially at recreation facilities When schools close down for the summer they become a prime target Money budgeted for normal maintenance has to be used and operating funds are used for security personnel , and this Vandalism can result in a reduction of a program and, therefore, the citizens suffer We would like to appeal to the public to notify the Police at once Also, to serve notice on those responsible that if they are ap- prehended, they would be prosecuted The Board agreed Mr O'Connell informed the Board that under the new law, Chapter 351 of the Acts of 1973, Height and Weight Requirement for Police Offi- cers and Firemen, the new requirement is 5 feet 6 inches We have been Police & using 5 feet 7 inches and it requires the approval of the Board of Fire - Selectmen to become effective here Height Re- Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the quirements Chairman to sign the form to be sent to the Director of Civil Service indicating the approval of the Board of Selectmen of a minimum require- ment of 5 feet 6 inches for a Policeman in the Town of Lexington This requirement is also applicable for the Firemen Mr O'Connell informed the Board that delivery of the new pumper Fire Equip for the Fire Department is expected within two weeks ment Chairman Kenney read a request from the Conservation Commission for the taking of land adjacent to the Burlington Town line, as author- Lexington ized under Article 10 of the Special June 14, 1971 Town Meeting Burlington Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to instruct the Land Town Counsel to prepare the necessary papers for the taking of land Taking adjacent to the Burlington Town line Chairman Kenney read a request from the Town of Burlington for a right of entry to Lexington land at the intersection of Middlesex Turn- Burlington pike and Adams Street Request The Board agreed to withhold the decision until Mr McSweeney Right of receives additional information from the Town of Burlington Entry Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Chairman to sign Liquor Identification Cards for the following I D Cards Andrea Leigh Ross 8 Adams Street Bridle O'Hara 12 Carriage Drive Chairman Kenney read a letter from Curtin Realty Associates in- quiring about future sewer service in the area of Waltham/Allen Streets Sewer The Board agreed to inform Mr Curtin that he should make applica- Curtin tion now for consideration at next year's Annual Town Meeting 204 Selectmen's Meeting July 30, 1973 Mr William Whalon and Mrs Iris Wheaton met with the Board to give a progress report of the Regional Refuse Disposal Committee He in- troduced Mr Peter Camourelis of the Raytheon Company Mr Whalon With respect to our committee, we have to report that no progress has been made at all The City of Waltham has withdrawn out of necessity because it has been faced with critical problems It has become associated with Newton and they have secured some sort of federal financing which they hope will lead to improvements in the Newton incin- erator Other communities, Weston, Lincoln and Concord have an interest in the SILC group which has made application similar to what Lexington did years ago, to see what they can do They have formed a legally con- stituted board and have subcommittees for study, and I suspect they will come in with a report of their own in a few years The outlook of our Board is very dismal Chairman Kenney You say Waltham has made arrangements with Newton, is that for 10 years Mr Whalon It is just conjecture but I would say it is not a per- anent solution Chairman Kenney Wouldn't they want to stay with you? Is that group looking for long-range solutions? Mr Whalon It is beyond the capabilities of a voluntary group to solve their problems None of the three communities involved wanted it in their backyard, and that is the problem with all of them The State Regional now has legislation pending on a variety of disposal methods on incin- Refuse eration, reclamation or landfill , and the minimum area they are talking Committee about is 100 acres and nobody has it We were impressed with the rec- lamation systems that were developed but they have been unable to get substantial landfill areas and they have not been able to get DPW to acquire landfill In respect to our solutions, we should explore every single area It has to be handled by full time, paid professional em- ployees We have to have a dependable operation and explore every single avenue that the life of our landfill is extended The conflict between environmental concerns has got to be balanced If we don't utilize what we have, nobody else is going to take care of it We have to build upwards Chairman Kenney As a practical matter, Mr McSweeney and his de- partment are trying to maximize ours Are you saying that we pull out of the group now? Mr Whalon We meet but don't get a quorum If we don't get re- sponse in the fall , we should dissolve the arrangement and pass on information to the DPW or to have a citizens' group to monitor the progress Efforts are being made by universities and the government We had the opportunity to join SILC and they have 180 acres in Concord, but they don' t have a commitment to get the land Chairman Kenney On your recommendation, we didn't join with them I think it will be a couple of years before they come up with a recom- mendation Also, we would be the largest community in the group 2 (6 Selecmen's Meeting July 30, 1973 Mr Camourelis can express a valid opinion on what is going to happen and keep the Town informed Mr Camourelis I really don't know what's been happening but it might be worthwhile what might happen in 2 or 3 years because I am in- volved as to what will happen in the area On Newton and Waltham, they had an operation funded for $119,000 to study how the two communi- ties might get together but there were political and technical problems Newton's incinerator was not too bad so the proposition was that they get together The cost for additional equipment might be more than the cost of an incinerator and there was a question of whether to proceed It was decided to use the funded money to see how they could improve the incinerator and use it for 5 or 10 years In Lowell , the community is funded by E P A $3 2 million program, $2 4 million from E P A and the balance provided by the Department of Public Works You ought to keep in touch with E P A In 4 or 5 years incineration will be elimi- nated and replaced by paper being further treated to permit material to be used in power plants Chairman Kenney to Mr Whalon Keep in touch with us after your group meets in the fall It might be well to have the Town have its own group Mr Whalon and Mrs Wheaton agreed The Board discussed the Order of Taking for the Hayes Lane Sewer Hayes Lane Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Order Sewer of Taking for the construction of the Hayes Lane Sewer Chairman Kenney read a recommendation from the Director of Public Works/Engineering that the Board approve an intent to take sewer ease- ments under Sewer Contract 73-5-E If approved, he requested the Board instruct Town Counsel to prepare the necessary orders of Takings for Sewer recording at the Registry of Deeds Easements Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted an intent to take the following easements, with awards of damages listed Also, to request Town Counsel to prepare orders of taking for recording at the Registry of Deeds 1 Plan of Sewer & Drain Easement off Woburn Street Lexington, Mass dated May 24, 1973 Woburn St James L & Linda J Moloy and Henry L & Mary C Pedrotti Joint owners - No damages 2 Plan of Drain & Sewer Easement from Lowell St to Laconia St Lexington, Mass dated May 24, 1973 Lowell St Countryside Bible Chapel , Inc - No damages I 206 Selectmen' s Meeting July 30, 1973 3 Plan of Sewer & Drain Easement from Rolfe Rd to Lowell St Lexington, Mass dated May 24, 1973 Kenneth S & Mavis A Champion - $ 50 00 David M & Sheila Franklin - 50 00 John J & Doris G Donahue 200 00 Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Committee concern- ing a request from Alison Marks, 9 Peacock Farm Road, on the traffic Traffic hazards on Bedford Street Bedford The Board agreed to inform Miss Marks that the State Department Street of Public Works has agreed to an amended speed zone regulation from 35 to 30 miles an hour The new signs are to be installed in September Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Committee regard- Muzzey St ing traffic on Muzzey Street at the intersection of 'Forest Street, stating that the Engineering Department is to make arrangements for the installation of more adequate signs warning motorists not to con- tinue as it becomes one-way Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Committee in re- ply to a petition from the Munroe School Parent Teacher Association Munroe for a pedestrian light on Massachusetts Avenue in front of the school School The report states that it does not meet the warrants required by the Pedestrian State for a pedestrian signal light but the location could be assessed Light again when shcool opens in September The Board agreed to so inform the petitioners and the School Committee Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Committee recom- Mass Ave mending the installation of a "Blind Driveway" sign as requested by Driveway Mrs Cyrus Fiske, 1155 Massachusetts Avenue The Board agreed to so inform Mrs Fiske Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Committee recom- mending the denial of a request from Mrs Clarissa Youens, 12 Blossom- crest Road, for a "Caution Children" sign on Blossomcrest Road on the Requests basis that the area does not meet the warrants for such a sign for Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny the re- Caution quest of Mrs Clarissa Youens for a "Caution Children" sign on Blossom- Signs crest Road Chairman Kenney informed the Board that a similar request has been received from Mrs Ronald Levy, 15 Bryant Road Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny the re- quest of Mrs Ronald Levy for a "Caution Children" sign on Bryant Road I 207 111 Selectmen's Meeting July 30, 1973 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny the re- quest of Mrs Ronald Levy for a "Caution Children" sign on Bryant Road Chairman Kenney informed the Board that Town Counsel Cohen recom- mends the acceptance of Chapter 180, Section 17A, of the General Laws Dues in order to permit the Town of Lexington to deduct Union dues Deduction Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that the Town of Lexington accepts Chapter 180, Section 17A, of the General Laws, as amended The Board discussed appointments to the Youth Advisory Commission Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the following for a term of office from July 1 , 1973 to June 30, 1974 Youth Advisory Commission Board of Selectmen Mr Alfred S Busa School Committee Mrs Jane Berchtold Recreation Committee Mr Charles F Gallagher, Jr II III Police Department Captain Paul Furdon Town Meeting Representative Mr Stephen M Politi Teacher Mr Richard Robbat Mr Richard Sandberg (alternate) High School Students Seniors Ginny Comstock Linda Chen Lynn McArdle (alternate) Juniors Josh Cochin Betsy Kassler Madalyn Quinlin (alternate) Sophomores Christopher Anderson Susan Abkowitz Mary Rockwood Junior High Students Matt Powers Jo-Anne Soshnick Doug G Gallagher 20S Selectmen's Meeting July 30, 1973 Organizations of and for yound people Rotary Club of Lexington Mr Gunther Kleeberg Girl Scouts of America Mrs Shirley Hamblen Mystic Valley Mental Health Center Mr Donald K. Tucker Re-Place, Inc Ms Jean Miley Attic Mr William Hays Sacred Heart Church Stephen Doran First Baptist Church David Norcross The Board discussed appointments to the Lexington Commission on Suburban Responsibility Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the following for a term of office from July 1 , 1973 to June 30, 1974 Lexington Commission on Suburban Responsibility Frank I Michelman, Chairman At-large Natalie H Riffin Selectmen I Helena M Butters League of Women Voters Elizabeth H Clarke At-large Lois W Brown Metropolitan Area Planning Council Stanley A Brown Planning Board Jacqueline B Davison School Committee Paul A Plasse TMMA Executive Committee Richard K Eaton TMMA General Membership Howard Cravis Council of Congregations John Maloney Chamber of Commerce Daniel E Power Housing Authority James Hathaway Teachers '209/ Selectmen's Meeting July 304 1973 Clarence D Turner Lexington Interfaith Edward A Silva Town Employee Karen Saakvitne Student Joseph Russo Student Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of April 17, 1973 Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Con- Resurfacing tract 73-10-E, Street and Parking Area Resurfacing, which was awardsd Contract by the Board on July 16, 1973 to Starrett Paving Corp on July 16, 1973 in the amount of $47,790 Chairman Kenney informed the Board of Mr McSweeney's recommeni- ation to add Myrna Road to Contract 72-7-E, which was awarded on April 23, 1973 to P Gioioso & Sons, Inc , for sanitary sewer con- 72-7-E struction Extra Work Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve an'� Order Extra Work Order on Contract 72-7-E to include Myrna Road Chairman Kenney read a report from Mr McSweeney regarding a meeting with the State DPW, District 4 office, on the East Street Chapter 90 project, stating "that the meeting was held to review the available funds appropriated for this project which is in the amount of $180,000 for the reconstruction of East Street under Chapter 90 This does not include the signalization of East and Lowell Streets which also will be included in this project under a separate con- East tract with an approved amount of $17,500Street The preliminary estimate for the reconstruction as prepared bye, Mr Kiernan's office is in the amount of $210,000 - $30,000 in excess of the amount previously mentioned After careful review, it was agreed by all those in attendance!, that the project should go ahead as designed Mr Kiernan asked me whether I would consider requesting the Board of Selectmen to allocate $47,686 bond issue for Chapter 90 that was being allocated to the Town for the fiscal year 1974 by the Common- wealth of Massachusetts I have reviewed this request with Mr Norman Cohen, Town Counsi1 , to ascertain whether the Board of Selectmen had the authority to do, this Mr Cohen, after consultation with Mr Walter Abel , Bureau of Accounts and Mr James Dunn, State Department of Public Works informs me that these funds when appropriated can be assigned to this project Therefore, I would recommend that the Board of Selectmen vote to assign these monies in the amount of $47,686 to the East Street Chap- ter 96 project 210 Selectmen's Meeting July 30, 1973 If this request meets with your approval , I will make the neces- sary arrangements with District #4 office to expedite this project " Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to allocate the $47,686 bond issue for Chapter 90, which is being allocated to the Town for the fiscal year 1974, to the East Street project which was voted by Town Meeting, with the understanding that this action meets with the approval of Town Counsel and the Director of Accounts Chairman Kenney read a report from Mr McSweeney in reply to a request from the Lexington Mews Trust, 10-12 Muzzey Street, for con- sideration of Town funds to assist in the reconstruction of a side- walk The report states that "the cost of reconstructing should be Lexington wholly borne by the abutter except when the Town requests work beyond Mews normal requirements This appears to be a case where the abutter is Sidewalk proposing a sidewalk beyond the normal requirements, which would obviously improve the property, and then asking the Town to partici- pate in the cost of the improvement In any event, no portion of the sidewalk should be laid level This department will not approve a 6" bituminous berm since it is highly susceptible to plow damage We recommend granite curbing " Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the recommendation of the Director of Public Works regarding the Lexing- ton Mews' sidewalk and to inform Mrs Samoylenko, Trustee, that the Town is unable to participate in the funds for the reconstruction of the sidewalk Also, plans must be approved by Mr McSweeney prior to commencement of the project Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Committee inform- Gleason ing the Board that his department had cut down the bushes at the Road intersection of Gleason Road and Fuller Road to improve the visibility Bushes The Board agreed to inform the petitioners who reside on Gleason Road Lowell The Board again discussed a request from Mr Ephraim Weiss for a Street ramp at the intersection of Lowell and Woburn Street and it was agreed Ramp that Mr McSweeney is to report back to the Board Chairman Kenney informed the Board that Mr O'Connell has given Garage recommendations for the policy on Garage and Yard sales and it will be Sales discussed at the Selectmen's work session, to be held shortly 4-H Chairman Kenney read a letter from the Lexington 4-H Volunteers Show Horse Club for the use of Willard's Woods for an instruction clinic on Permit August 19, 1973 The Board had no objection to an Instruction Clinic being held on August 19 from 10 00 a m to 4 00 p m but would recommend to the 4-H Club that the Harrington School area be used as it is most suitable for a horse show, with the understanding that the equipment be removed 211 Selectmen's Meeting July 30, 1973 and the area cleared of litter at the conclusion of the event Alsc , the Director of Recreation and the Park Superintendent are to be con- tacted for assistance in the preparations for the Clinic Chairman Kenney read a memo from Mr Michelman of the Lexington Commission on Subui^ban Responsibility proposing that the Scattered Sites Committee look into the lots that are more easily cleared LCSR through the Housing Authority, and he would like permission to have Housing Town Counsel look into those plots of land that were recommended by Authority the Planning Board and have 10 or 11 cleared by title Mr Busa We are planning to go forward with this type of con- struction on a single house basis with 2 or 3 bedrooms We had an idea we could go through local contractors without going through the bond bid procedure There is legislation now to provide the mechan- ism to provide the authority to construct turnkey without going out to bid, without adheringto the regulations on the bondinglaws 9 It would simplify and cut costs quite a bit The Board agreed to inform Mr Michelman that the Board had dis- cussed his report and suggestions regarding scattered site housing and concurs with the outlined procedures Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Exe- cutive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting, Executive on matters which, if made public might adversely affect the public Session security, the financial interests of the Town or the reputation of al, person After discussion of matters of public interest, it was voted to go out of Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go out of Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at1030pm A true record, Attest 222 Executive Clerk, Selectmen j II