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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-02-05-BOS-min 49 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 5, 1973 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room on Monday, February 5, 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; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present. Chairman Kenney informed the Board that Mr. Stephen Politi , Chair- man of the Youth Committee, requests that the sum of $983 be approved for the printing of the Youth Committee booklet, which is to be distri- buted to the townspeople when the Town Report is delivered. Originally, Youth $750 had been allocated for the printing of the booklet. Booklet Mr. Busa and Mr. Brown felt that they should stay with the $750. Mrs. Riff in and Mr. Bailey disagreed and felt it should be printed with the recommended cover, which would bring the cost to $983 After discussion, the Board agreed to stay within the $750 appro- priation. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that he was contacted regarding a position on House Bill 3343, an Act to eliminate the requirement that municipal employees take the oath of allegiance. 1 don't think the Town Manager should take a position on political matters. Mr. Brown Being a teacher, I have taken the oath for years and it is really a pro forma thing This is something which bothers some H3343- people as not being basic to their philosophies. I don't think one Municipal should take the oath as a joke and more people do this. It is my feel- Employees' ing that upholding the Constitution of the U.S or the State has meaning Oath of and in this regard, I would go along with the sub-committee which Allegiance recommends going along with the position of the bill , and living with it is a reasonable thing. I can see the point of people who see it as making a joke out of it. Chairman Kenney Purely because of the lack of time to delve into this as the hearing is tomorrow, I think the Board wishes to avoid taking a position right now. The Board agreed. Dr. Cosgrove, Chairman of the Board of Health, met with the Board and explained that a series of clinics for medical services for senior Board of citizens have been planned by the Board of Health but the big question Health has been funding. We asked the federal government for $500 and an Sr Clinic individual has offered to give us $500. Are there any legal entangle- ments for the Town to accept this individual' s offer? Chairman Kenney are your our costs? Dr Cosgrove We figure four hours a morning for Visiting Nurses at $30. 50 Selectmen' s Meeting February 5, 1973 Mr. O'Connell The donor could pay the bills as a donation, in- stead of the Town having to pay them. The Board agreed, and informed Dr. Cosgrove that the individual donor could pay the bills. Dr Cosgrove thanked the Board and retired from the meeting. Chairman Kenney read the annual request from the Greek Orthodox Permit Church of Cambridge for permission to have the Ten Mile Road Race, Road starting at the Minute Man to the Arlington line Race Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permis- sion to the Greek Orthodox Church of Cambridge for the Ten Mile Road Race on Sunday, March 18, 1973, at 100 p.m., with a police escort to the Arlington line Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the Cert. of character of Dorothy Kravett, 23 Constitution Road, who has applied Incorp. to Secretary Davoren for Certificate of Incorporation "Tay-Sachs Foundation of New England, Inc." Chairman Kenney read a request from the Painters Guild of the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society to use Buckman Tavern Grounds for Arts and art exhibits Crafts The Board had no objection to the use of Buckman Tavern grounds Exhibits by the Painters Guild on Sunday, May 20, 1973, 12 00 Noon to 6 00 P.M. (rain date of May 27) and Sunday, October 7, 1973, 12 00 Noon to 6 00 P.M. (rain date of Oct. 14). The request was referred to the Town Manager for the proper arrangements to be made. Chairman Kenney read a request from Mrs. Glide Chardo, 184 Concord Avenue, for a sewer extension to service her home. Chardo A report from the Director of Public Works/Engineering was read Sewer stating that her home is not included in the budget at this time but Request it is recommended that this area be assigned a priority based on the Concord outcome of bids for projects proposed for the coming construction Avenue season. In the event no funds are available this year, Mrs Chardo may make a formal petition early next fall for the 1974 budget. The Board agreed to write to Mrs Chardo and state the recom- mendation submitted by Mr McSweeney. Chairman Kenney read a recommendation from the Traffic Committee regarding the request of Mr. Dale Kutnick, 10 Gould Road, for overnight Overnight parking in his area. It was stated in the report that it is not the Parking Town's responsibility to provide parking for private vehicles in Gould Rd. residential areas; therefore, there is no reason to exclude this or any other area from the all-night parking ban Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the recommendation of the Traffic Committee and to inform Mr. Kutnick that the area a1- the intersection of Turning Mill Road and Gould Road is not to be used for overnight parking . I 51 Selectmen' s Meeting February 5, 1973 Chairman Kenney read a letter from Mrs Crothers regarding the North culverting of the North Lexington Brook. Lexington Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the Brook matter pending a report from the Director of Public Works/Engineering. Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Leader, 17 Fairfield Drive, met with the Board to discuss the installation of Town and Country street lights on Fairfield Drive and Brookwood Road Chairman Kenney read a report from the Director of Public Works/ Engineering stating that the luminaire and standard do not provide sufficient footcandles and good quality lighting per unit to meet our current lighting policy for public ways. We cannot agree with Dr Leader' s comparison between the standard type and Town and Country type located in Winchester as the Town of Winchester does not have the updated street lighting program and is still using 1 ,000 lumen incandescent lamps, as compared to Lexington' s 3,500 lumen mercury Street vapor In summary, the Boston Edison approved contemporary street Lights light is not recommended for general use because it does not meet the required standards for roadway safety in a public way, both for pedes- trians and vehicular traffic Chairman Kenney We referred this request to the Planning Board and received a letter stating that "it concurs with the Design Advisory Committee's opinion that Boston Edison contemporary street light is not suitable for general use as a standard residential lighting fixture " We installed one of these lights on the Green and we solicited comments, and they were mostly negative Dr. Leader We are people who are interested enough in an aesthetic and quality area and we are interested in doing something for our area. We find these lights attractive and in calling Boston Edison I was told the orders for them are increasing After further discussion, it was agreed to withhold a decision pending a report from the Director of Public Works on his investiga- tion with the Town of Winchester. Chairman Kenney read a report from the Traffic Committee regarding interim measures to alleviate traffic conditions on Brookside Avenue during peak school hours The report states the following recommenda- tions Traffic Clarke Jr I . Installation of a sidewalk on the northerly side of Brookside High Avenue from Stedman Road to Waltham Street and upgrading of the exist- ing sidewalk on Waltham Street between Brookside Avenue to Marrett Road. 2. No parking on either side of Brookside Avenue during school . 3. Continuation of a program by the school administration to urge children walking to and from the school from the west side of Waltham Street to cross at the traffic signals at Marrett Road and pro- ceed on the sidewalk on the east side of Waltham Street to the school rather than to cross at Brookside Avenue, as they continue to insist on doing. f" ‘) Selectmen' s Meeting February 5, 1973 4 Acquisition of a sight distance easement to be cleared on the east side of Waltham Street Just south of Brookside Avenue (some of the easement would be on public land and some on conservation land) 5 The widening of the corners on the south side of Brookside Avenue at Waltham Street and Stedman Road to improve turning radii . The Traffic Committee has evaluated the current circumstances ata* at this time, we cannot find sufficient justification to either relocate the crossing guard or extend her hours at her present station. Also, the Engineering Department will continue to study the turning movements at both the Waltham Street intersection and the school entrance (Stedman Road) intersection of Brookside Avenue. After discussion, the Board agreed to accept the recommendations of the Traffic Committee regarding interim measures to alleviate traffic conditions during peak school hours on Brookside Avenue. Mr McSweeney was instructed by the Board to meet with the Traffic Committee and the Permanent Building Committee to discuss a second access road to the Clarke Junior High School Mr. Temple Scanlon, Chairman of the Lexington Housing Authority, Mr. Frank Michelman, Chairman of Lexington Commission on Suburban Responsibility, and Mr. Eric Clarke of the Planning Board met with the Selectmen to discuss scattered sites. Mr Scanlon 1 have had conversation with Mr. Michelman regarding Article 99 of 1972 Annual Town Meeting appropriation of $500 and that the Lexington Housing Authority is charged with the responsibility. Basically, on the problem of housing we had hoped to make positive moves. As far as financial commitments, we are not worried; there may be areas through HUD and the Department of Community Affairs but they are not clear as to what areas or what the funds will be in the coming year Scattered On the construction at Vynebrooke, we are overdue as far as occupancy - Sites we should have been in there in November but hope to have it completed Lexington by the middle of March. On landscaping, there is a shortage of Housing materials; there has to be maintenance by full time employees and in- Authority creased personnel in our agency On the basis of that, we request the Board of Selectmen to maintain the moratorium on selling Town-Owned lots for six months Also, to keep the $500 in the budget and the Housing Authority can come back to you by September 15 with a report that this can or cannot be done We will come in with a program asking for a transfer of these properties on a certain basis, or the concept we have in mind cannot be done. We would like to have until September 15 Mr Michelman I concur with Mr Scanlon's request It is the sense of our Commission that the way the matter was handled at Town Meet- ing that the Housing Authority was to be the agency to do this They got off to a good start by firming up with MHFA for a model program. LCSR had a general discussion of the general outline and we concurred that the Housing Authority as the agent has not changed. The only point is if it should turn out in six months that Housing is unable to make ends meet, 1 suppose LCSR would be grateful to pick up the ball to see if there were some other means - or it might be conceivably possible for some other agency to get it built Selectmen' s Meeting February 5, 1973 Chairman Kenney I assume the Planning Board would concur? Mr Clarke Yes Tax Title Upon motion dulymade and seconded, it was voted to extend the Moratorium moratorium on the sale of tax title lots to September 30, 1973 Extension Mr Scanlon, Michelman and Clarke retired from the meeting. Chairman Kenney read a request from Mr Peter Chalpin, Engineer, to rescind the vote of January 22, 1973 for stop signs on Hayes Ave- nue and Meriam Street, and to vote to amend the Traffic Rules and Orders, Article V111 , Section 22, Schedule 07, by adding Meriam Street Northwestbound at Hayes Avenue Stop Sign Meriam Street Southeastbound at Hayes Avenue Stop Sign Traffic Hayes Avenue The Board agreed to request the traffic count at Meriam and and Meriam Hayes Avenue. Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to table the request to amend the Traffic Rules and Orders for stop signs on Meriam Street and Hayes Avenue pending a report on the traffic count to be submitted by the Engineering Department. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to remove from the table the application from Martin L Hagerty, 301 Bedford Street, Auctioneer' s for an Auctioneer' s license License Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Auctioneer' s license for Martin L. Hagerty, 301 Bedford. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the in- tent to lay out the following streets Subdivision Streets Barrett Road, from Worthen Road to end Bond Road, from John Poulter Road to end. John Poulter Road, from Winthrop Road to Worthen Road. Vi les Road, from Waltham Street Southeasterly for a distance of approximately 1 ,053 feet. Intent to lay out Streets Betterment Streets Grassland Street, from Payson Street to Valleyfield Street Holland Street, from Taft Avenue 200 feet t N E to end Alteration and relocation of Fern Street, from Westerly sideline of Pleasant Street 100 feet t Southwesterly Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the notice to the Town Constable to deliver the notice of intent to the abutters of said streets, and the notice of street hearings in Cary Hall on February 15, 1973, at 7 30 p.m. 54 Selectmen' s Meeting February 5, 1973 Chairman Kenney read a memorandum from Mr McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering regarding Chapter 90 East Street reconstruc- tion, as follows East St. I . Preliminary design plans are transmitted herewith indicating Chapter 90 roadway alignment, areas requiring slope easements and trees scheduled for removal as prepared by the Massachusetts De- partment of Public Works, District 4 office 2. Plus a print of the plan of slope easements prepared by the Town Engineering Department in accordance with the requests from District 4 The State has advised us that before they will prepare final con- tract drawings for this project, they will require a memorandum of agreement substantially approving the preliminary design It is to this end that we request that you review these plans and advise us of any comments you may have Additionally, if these plans are accept- able please vote an intent to take the slope easements so that we may prepare the necessary information for Town Counsel, and hold the neces- sary tree hearings. Mr. McSweeney The only change will be from Grant Street to 200 feet beyond East St. The Board reviewed and approved the submitted plans on East Street Easements Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Trees plans submitted by Mr McSweeney, Director of Public Works/Engineering showing the proposed slope easements, trees' scheduled for removal, and proposed roadway alignment for the East Street Chapter 90 project Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to instruct Town Counsel to prepare the papers for the necessary takings for slope and driveway easements, as shown on the plan prepared by our Engineer- ing Department Also, to instruct the Tree Warden to post the trees and hold the required tree hearings. Mr McSweeney submitted a preliminary design for improvements of Belfry Belfry Hill showing a service road, footpath, benches and landscaping. Hill Chairman Kenney We are talking about a $30,000 project Concept The Board agreed to the concept and a copy is to be sent to the Capital Expenditures Committee and the Appropriation Committee Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign water Water abatements for the following Abatements Joseph Cataldo 52 Bow Street $ 8 75 Meter Out Hei-Ching Liu 4 Shaw Place 83 16 Defective Dial David Ahearn 26 Dewey Road 17.57 Meter changed Tony Venutti 397A Lincoln Street 8.75 Meter taken out I 55 Selectmen' s Meeting February 5, 1973 Cljairman Kenney informed the Board that the Warrant must be signed. 11 I Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Sign Warrant for the 1973 Annual Town Meeting. Warrant Chairman Kenney informed the Board that he had called the Superin- tendent of Schools about the substitution of the Bridge School for the Clarke Junior High School as a polling place for Precinct 3 and he could Bridge see no problems. School as ' Mr. Barnes of the School Department came into the meeting and in- Polling formed the Board that the School Committee approved the substitution Place for of the Bridge School , and would like to work out a solution on the Precinct 3 storage of voting machines. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to substitute the Bridge School instead of the Clarke Junior High School as the polling place for Precinct 3. 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 affect the public security, the Session reputation of a person or the financial interests of the Town. After discussion of matters of financial interest to the Town, it was voted to go out of Executive Session Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10 40 p.m. A true record, Attest j" Executive Clerk, Selectmen /