Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-11-08-BOS-min 117 SELECTMEN'S MEETING November 8, 1971 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select- men's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, November 8, 1971 , at 7 30 p.m Chairman Cataldo, Messrs Kenney, Bailey and Buse, and Mrs Riff in; Mr Legro, Town Counsel ; Mr O'Connell , Town Manager; and Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were present. At the request of the Town Clerk, two jurors were drawn as follows Richard M Masters I Burns Road Jurors Joseph E. O'Donoghue, Jr 167 Burlington St Mr Legro discussed the deed to convey the land off Waltham Street, 4 40 acres, to the Housing Authority for $1 .00. There is some concern of the Housing Authority' s taking of the Hastings property which ex- Housing tended to the center of Waltham Street back to the Town of Lexington. Authority Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted to sign- the deed to convey the Town land, 4 40 acres, to the Housing Authority for $1 .00, subject to Town Counsel working out this situation with the Attorney for the Housing Authority Mr O'Connell recommended that the Board appoint Mr Roland B 1975 Greeley a member of the 1975 Celebrations Committee for Planning and Celebra- Facilities tion Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was Voted to appoint Mr Appt Roland B. Greeley a member of the 1975 Celebrations Committee Mr O'Connell informed the Board that he had received a report from the Comptroller comparing actual charges to the Town from the State _in comparison with the Cherry Sheet, $4,271 .62 less than the Cherry Cherry Sheet estimate We are $751,000 vs $755,000 on the Cherry Sheet Sheet estimate $1, 187 for Air Pollution Control was not on the Cherry Sheet Chairman Cataldo read a request from Mrs George P. Morey, 90 North Hancock Street, to again defer payment of street betterment assessment on her Blake Road property in the amount of $1 ,250. Pre- vious defermehts were granted on November 9, 1965 and October 29, 1968 Morey Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to defer payment Street under the provisions of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 1950 of the street Betterment betterment assessment levied against property located on Blake Road Deferment owned by Mrs George P. Morey, 90 North Hancock Street, in the amount of $1,250, without interest, until said land or any part thereof is built upon, sold or until the expiration of three years from the date hereof, whichever event occurs first; provided, however, that this ex- Ill tension of time shall terminate immediately if said land or any portion thereof is built upon or sold 118 Chairman Cataldo read a petition from the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Company for the relocation of a pole on Bow Pole Street. Location Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permis- sion to the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Company for the following location Bow Street, southeasterly side, approximately 279 feet southwest of Melrose Avenue - One ( I) pole. (One existing JO pole to be removed The Board discussed the Air Pollution Committee According to a notice received from the committee, a concept is beginning for the formation of a broad based group similar to the Commission on Suburban Responsibility, and this group could be formed either by the Board of Selectmen or Town Meeting. A long list of Town Government and Citizen Organization groups was submitted for consideration of representation on this committee. Chairman Cataldo asked if there is any feeling of the Board. mem- Air bers to support the present committee as it is established now? Pollution Mr Bailey I would have no objection to disbanding the Air Pollution Committee as we know it but to have something like an envir- onmental protection group, as they propose it, would have 15 or 20 members and it puts the Board in the position of creating another , large committee Mr' Kenney I wanted to get the feeling of the Board. Perhaps 111 that committee could be formed reasonably. They did advise and aid the Board when we were attempting leaf burning on our own. The pro- posed intent would go far beyond air pollution and would be an ' environmental protection group I called Stanley Brown to see if the Conservation Commission, through a subcommittee, could handle it and how he felt about the proposed areas, such as drainage, that are being handled now by the Conservation Commission. Mr Bailey Technically, the responsibilities in environment go beyond what Conservation is equipped to handle. When the Bommitse was originally constituted, it was a good compact working group.. If you want to put together an environmental protection committee and do it on somewhat the same basis. Chairman Cataldo What do you see this committee doing? Mr. Kenney I disagree with Mr Bailey Conservation could handle - specifically, in fact, they do now - water pollution and drainage disturbance, and if they were to have a subcommittee to pick up other areas The effectiveness of any committee is combat- ing air pollution, now with the ban on burning, would be in the form of education. I am saying if you. have a separate committee and give these items in areas of drainage and water pollution, they would be duplicated Noise pollution and water pollution I don't think would have any effect Mr Bailey How about deleting the Board of Selectmen, Police and Fire Department representatives and Board. of Health. I would have no objection if it is going to be this way but keep it small . 119 III Chairman Cataldo I think we should approach it the other way. Find out what they have in mind and discuss it. If the Conservation Commission assumes more responsibility, and if you wanted to get some- thing done, they say they are overworked now, and to add scathing else, If you think there is a real problem, then that is not the way to do it, in my opinion. Mrs Riff in The Committee is going to meet on November 18 and we could get something from them; we need something to help us with envi- ronmental protection, to be aware of the problems of pollution. The Board agreed that Mr Kenney is to attend the meeting of the Committee on Air Pollution and discuss the matter and report back to the Board. Chairman Cataldo read a request from Dr Sandor Blum for the exten- sion of the sewer on Washington Street to service Lot No 9 Washington Street Chairman Cataldo We have said in the past to those requesting Blum sewer extensions, if the sewer were constructed under the specifications Sewer of the Town Engineer and under the supervision of the Town, we would Washington allow it The Town Engineer has submitted a report on the requirements Street to be met. After discussion, the Board agreed to discuss the matter after Town Counsel submits his recommendations on the list of requirements to be met. Chairman Cataldo read a request from Sheraton Motor Inn for an ex- tension of hours on the Innholder' s Liquor License to 1 00 a.m. on New Year's eve Sheraton Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was tooted to grant the re- Motor quest of the Sheraton Motor Inn to extend the hours of operation under Inn the Innholder's Liquor License to 100 a.m on New Year' s Eve in the Dining Room (Dunfey's Tavern), Tavern Lounge, one Main Ballroom and the adjacent Cracker Barrel Lounge. The Board discussed a letter received from the Brookline Board of Selectmen regarding the gas tax initiative petition drive Brook- line has declared the weekend of November 12-14 as "Public Transport- ation Weekend" and has mobilized to solicit signatures throughout the town, and asks our support in this drive Gas Tax Mrs. Riff in The League of Women Voters is helping Rep Cole collect signatures on petitions throughout the Town Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to support the concept of using gas tax money for public transportation and desig- nates the weekend of November 12- 14, 1971 as "Public Transportation Weekend" and to urge all citizens of Lexington to sign one of the petitions being circulated throughout the Town The Board discussed the recommendation of the Traffic Committee E Lex for a 3-cab taxi stand on Massachusetts Avenue near the Bamboo Hut Taxi Stand I 120 The Board agreed that the proposed location was too close to the intersection of Charles Street and Massachusetts Avenue, and to re- quest the Traffic Committee to submit a plan locating the stand up Massachusetts Avenue beyond the intersection. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Traffic Committee to submit a new plan of the location of the 3-cab taxi stand on Massachusetts Avenue The Board discussed a report free the Traffic Committee regarding Lillian Road A petition had been received from the residents of Lillian Road regarding high speed traffic and the possibilities of Traffic signs, use of radar, use of bumps, or sidewalks to alleviate the prob- Lillian lem as many school children must use the road when walking to and from Road the bus stops The Traffic Committee reports that bumps are not a legal device in this state and signs are ineffective. The Chief of Police has agreed to place emphasis on the enforcement of traffic regulatlens in this location, in addition, we are looking mato the desirability of installing• a sidewalk in this area and shall report our recommenda- tions to you in the near future. Mr. Buss Even though signs are ineffective, I think some signs should be put there for the satisfaction Of the neighborhood as there are many young children in the area Mr Kenney Are there any regulatory signs there now? Mr. Buss None, not even intersections signs. I would suggest "Slow" or "Children" signs on Lillian Road. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to inform the Traffic Committee that the Board recommends that signs be located on Lillian Road and requests that the Traffic Committee recommend what signs would be appropriate The Board discussed a report from the Traffic Committee regard- ing Eldred Street at Bedford Street, a letter had been received by the Board from Dr Vinger stating that a traffic light or a patrolman is necessary at the corner of Eldred Street and Bedford Street during 7 30 a.m. to 9 00 a.m. The Traffic Committee report states that this traffic problem Traffic has been studied in great detail and the Selectmen and Traffic Com- Eldred St mittee are both very familiar with the conditions. It is our opinion, based on a thorough study, that the installation of a traffic signal will not provide a solution to this traffic problem. We believe that relief can be obtained by a redesign of the Hartwell Avenue-Bedford Street junction and by providing a street connection at that location as an alternative to Eldred Street This recommendation has been made in conjunction with land development proposals in the area, most recently in connection with Hadley Road extension. Traffic problems at Eldred Street junction are similar to the conditions at other collector street junctions with Bedford Street In the absence of alternate arterial streets, traffic is forced to use Bedford Street and its volume results in conditions which cannot be eliminated through signalization or other regulatory measures 121 Chairman Cataldo There are probably five areas here of the same priority If you were going to put a police officer there, he is really secondaryrlwhen he is at Eldred Street; how does he know what is happen- ing at the ramp at Route 128? As we have said before, our surveys show that the only people coming out of Eldred Street are going to Lexington Center and they should be going out the back way to Grove Street Mr. Kenney That would be going too far out of their way to the Center. Chairman Cataldo I don't see any solution Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to send Dr Vinger a copy of the Traffic Committee report The Board discussed a report from the Traffic Committee regarding a petition that had been received from the residents of the Worthen Road area for approval of a traffic control signal at the intersection of Traffic Waltham Street and Worthen Road The report states that studies by the Worthen- Engineering Department indicate that this intersection does not, at this Waltham time, meet state warrants for a traffic signal. The Traffic Committee Inter- agrees with this finding, which is based on a detailed analysis of section traffic counts and turning movements at this intersection, and recommends that no action be, taken on the petition until changed traffic conditions warrant a review of the situation Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the rendation of the Traffic Committee that no action be taken at this time on the intersection of Worthen Road and Waltham Street, and to so inforls the petitioners. The Board discussed a report from the Traffic Committee regarding a petition that had; been received from the residents of Prospect Hill Road for enforcement of the speed limit and the posting of a speed limit sign reading 25 mph near Marrett Road and/or a sign reading "Watch for Children." The report states that speed limits are governed by state regula- tions and a speed limit of less than 30 mph cannot be approved unless Traffic specific warrants are met, which is not the'case here We are con- Prospect vinced that signs, such as "Watch for Children" are not effective and Hill Road may be harmful by providing a false sense of security The Chief of Police has agreed to enforce the traffic regulations including the use of radar to check speeding We further recommend that considera- tion be given to the inclusion of Prospect Hill Road on the list of sidewalks to be built. The relative priority of this location will' need to be determined in relation to other sidewalks. required. Upon motion duly made and seconded, rt was voted to accept the recoMnendations of the Traffic Committee regarding Prospect Hill Road, and to so inform the petitioners. Chairman Cataldo said that Mr Peter Roudebush of the Boston Boston Transportation Planning Review sent us a letter asking for our com- Trans meets and submitting a map illustrating the major transportation Planning related problems discussed at the meeting held on October 5 with Review 122 representatives of the Town and the Boston Transportation Review repre- sentatives We asked the Traffic Committee for its comments and a report has been received stating that BTPR representatives4.hav,c not been able to state specifically what their mandate is. It is our im- pression that the aim of the BTPR can be stated as "determining transportation problems within the area bounded by Route 128 and recommending policies for their resolution " The map distributed as a result of the October 5 meeting illustrates the difficulty of deal- ing with this very broad and vague approach in the absence of any stated criteria or limits The identification of problems by indi- viduals, mostly laymen, represents many different and, at times, contradictory viewpoints and cannot, therefore, serve as a sound basis for decisions The Traffic Committee is of the opinion that, At this time, the Boston Transportation Planning Review has not transmitted to us anything of substance which permits or requires comment We shall be glad to review and submit to you our comments on any specific 'find- ings or proposal the BTPR may make in the future The Board agreed to accept the report of the Traffic Committee on the inadequacies and lack of purpose of the Boston Transportation Planning Review The Board discussed the proposal submitted by the League of Women Voters for a recycling center at the Hartwell Avenue landfill . Mr O'Connell We had discussions with the League of Women Voters and their long range plans can only be dealt with as part of our budget On the short range part, something can be done on how we can better collect newspapers The contractor is not doing a good job and perhaps we could add a trailer If the Board chooses to consider the possi- Hartwell bility that the League of Women Voters go forward, the Board might Recycling wish to make available the $3 00 a ton the Town is getting to go toward the cost of collecting and recycling The Board voted origin- ally for it to go into E & D because the Town set up the contract with the contractor and it was the logical place to go Mrs Riff in How many tons would there be estimated in a week? Mr O'Connell There is a potential of about 40 to 150 tons a week, which would go a long way towards the ,hauling cost Until we get into costs, I don't see the Town purchasing equipment now. Chairman Cataldo I would recommend that we get a 40-yard dumpster and, regardless of the market, keep it empty when it gets filled. We can do it with one unit if we do it twice a week. if we have a contract at a set price, it would be done as often as we want Mrs Riff in I can't speak for the League of Women Voters bat I think they would be happier if the Town assumes the responsibility. The Board agreed that Mr O'Connell is to come back to the Board with a figure on the cost of a dumpster at the Hartwell Avenue land- fill Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or Session voting on matters which, if made public, might adversely affect the public security, the financial interests of the Town or the reputa- tion of a person. 123 After discussion of matters of financial interest to the Town and employment at the aew. Junior High School site, it was voted to go out of Executive Session and resume the open meeting. The Board discussed requests received for abatements of sidewalk betterment assessments Mazyck Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny the re- Assessment quest of James F. Mazyck, 38 Reed Street, for the abatement of the sidewalk betterment assessment of $93 40 for Lot No. II Vaille Avenue. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny the re- quest of Thomas P Damm, 40 Reed Street, for the abatement of sidewalk Damm betterment assessment of $23 for Lot No IOA Vaille Avenue. Assessment Upon motion duly made and seconded; it was voted to adjourn at 9 45 p.m. A true record, Attest Executive Clerk, Selectmen I