HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-09-20-BOS-min SELECTMEN'S MEETING
September 20, 1971
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Bird Room,
Cary Memorial Building, on Monday evening, September 20, 1971 at 7 30 p.m.
Chairman Cataldo, Messrs Kenney, Bailey and Buse, Mrs Riff in; Mr Legro,
Town Counsel; Mr O'Connell , Town Manager; Mr McSweeney, Town Engineer
and Acting Superintendent of Public Works; Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk,
were present.
At therequest of the Town Clerk, two jurors were drawn as follows
Jurors
Leon Sherlock 32 Bridge Street
William J Weisensee 4 Morris Street
Mr Legro requested the Board to sign the contract for engineering
services for the Spring Street survey to Barnes Engineering Company, Spring
Inc., 411 Lexington Street, Auburndale, Massachusetts. Street
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the con- Survey
tract for engineering services for the Spring Street survey to Barnes Contract
Engineering Company, Inc
Mr. O'Connell reported to the Board that he had contacted Rev.
111 Peterson regarding the letter received by the Board from the Council of'
Congregations stating that a letter had been sent to all pastors of all
churches whose congregations might consider the display of the creche
on their own grounds on a rotating or longer term basis. This inquiry Creche
will form the basis for possible alternatives to the Common as a loca-
tion for the creche.
Mr O'Connell has arranged for a meeting with Rev. Peterson and
Dr. Mann on Tuesday evening, September 28, to discuss the matter of
the creche
Mr. O'Connell informed the Board of the results of the reminder
cards sent out to the apparent owners of unlicensed dogs There were
1,234 names on the list and a response was received from two-thirds of
the people; 189 reported they did not have a dog since the last period Unli-
of licensing;. 19 were out of town. There were 602 additional dog tensed
licenses issued, and there was no response from 424 people. We feel Dogs
we should go forward with formal action on these 424 people as they
have been given adequate time to comply There are 2,612 dogs licensed
in the Town, an increase of 251 over 1970 If the Board is in agree-
ment, we will go forward with the normal citation
The Board agreed that Mr O'Connell is to make the necessary
arrangements for formal action to be taken against the owners of un-
licensed dogs in the Town
Mr. O'Connell discussed the Emergency Employment Act and said Emer
that the State seems to have tentatively approved for Lexington three Empl.Act
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positions, a management systems analyst, a clerical position, and a
radio service man for Police, Fire and Civil Defense That repre-
sents, according to their calculations, $26,400 on wages for these
three jobs; that is $1,800 more than we expected based on the
$28,000 allocation they made There is still no official authoriza-
tion and no federal funds.
Chairman Cataldo read a letter from the president of the Senior
Citizens Club requesting consideration of the Board for permanent
quarters for an office
Chairman Cataldo They requested this two years ago and we
turned them down because we didn't have space for them
Senior Mr Kenney I am sympathetic with their request but they are a
Citizens private organization. I see the probability of some space in Cary
Office Hall building if the Cary Trustees are willing.
Space Mr Bailey Mr Kenney mentioned that it is a private organiza-
tion but it is a private group on its own, coping with a large segment
of Lexington. Anything we can do to get them in this building or
another spot, we should try to do; otherwise, it will fall in the
Selectmen' s lap
The Board agreed to inform the president of the Senior Citizens
Club that as soon as we have moved and all departments are settled
in the complex, the Board will then consider the request for space.
Chairman Cataldo read a complaint from Bruno Nicolas , 55 Albe-
marle Avenue, regarding the condition of his driveway after the
installation of storm drains_on Albemarle Avenue.
Nicolai Chairman Cataldo We have asked the Superintendent of Public
Complaint Works for a report
The Board agreed to acknowledge the letter and inform Mr.
Nicolai that as soon as a report is received, the matter wilt be
considered and he will be informed of the decision of the Board»
Chairman Cataldo read a letter from Paul F Bartel, Lexington
Community Fund Chairman, informing the Board thet United Fund
Sunday will be September 26 and the campaign will run through November
18, with the neighborhood solicitation commencing October 24, 1971
Mr Bartel would appreciate the support of the local volunteers in
their efforts
United Chairman Cataldo This is strictly information. Every year, we
Fund have been asked to appoint someone to represent the employees
Mr O'Connell Several names have been suggested to Mr Bartel
but they are looking for someone to take all Town government
Chairman Cataldo They should have someone from General Govern.*
ment and someone from--the School Department
Mrs. Anne Scigliano 1 heard that they have Dick Barnes of the
School Department', and will have soieone from• the Police Depbi tment
and the Department of Public Works.
The Board agreed to let Mr. Bartel come back to Mr O'Connell
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orb
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign water abate-
ments for the following
Abatements
Donald Earnshaw Frozen Meter 0 7 - $16.67 Incorrect amount shown
542 Mass Ave. Frozen Meter 23 - $ 17 50 Incorrect amount shown
Chairman Cataldo read a letter from Mr Herbert S Kassman, Secre- LCSR-
tary of Polaroid Corporation, submitting two nominees for the position Rte 128
of representative of Route 128 Industry on the Lexington Commission on Industry
Suburban Responsibility Howard Scharfman and David S Gray; also that Appointment
he would be willing to serve on LCSR for another year.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reappoint
Herbert S Kassman a member of the Lexington Commission on Suburban
Responsibility as a representative of Route 128 Industry, for a term
expiring June 30, 1972.
Chairman Cataldo read a notice of a meeting with the State DPW to
be on September 27, 1971 to discuss the current status and plans
for Route 2. Route 2
_Mrs. Riff in, Mr Bailey and Mr McSweeney are to attend the Meeting
meeting
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the
minutes of the Selectmen's Meetings held on September 8 and September
13, 1971 .
Chairman Cataldo read a letter to the Board from Mrs Kenneth
Merrill , 9 Gleason Road, stating that she had stepped on glass, which
had been covered with leaves, in front of 70 North Hancock Street and
received a severe foot laceration. She requested that the Town clean
up this area and the area from Gleason Road down to Bedford Street.
Also, Mrs Merrill requested reimbursement from the Town for bills in-
curred.
Mr Legro These letters usually come to the Town Clerk and she
is required to send a copy to me I have received a copy from the Merrill !
Selectmen and will make my investigation I will ask Mr. McSweeney Accident
for a report and will make my recommendation to the Board
Mr O'Connell I would like to comment that this has been a
continual problem with glass being covered with leaves We put trash
baskets on poles, hoping they will put it in there but it hasn't been
successful .
The Board agreed to instruct the Superintendent of Public Works
to clean up the area involved, and to so inform Mrs Merrill; also,
her request for payment of medical bills will be considered after the
Board has received a complete report on the matter
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the
street betterment assessments for the following streets Street
Assessments
Bridge Street - Grassland Street - Manley Court
Ewell Avenue - Hillcrest Avenue - (2 sections)- Vaille Avenue
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Chairman Cata I do read a letter from Mr John E Donofrio, es i dent
of Charles River Cable Television Inc requesting a meeting with the
CATV Board to discuss consideration of a franchise to build and operate
a CATV system in the community.
The Board agreed to get a copy of House Bill No. 6076 and evalu-
ate the entire situation before discussing it with applicants for a
CATV system
Chairman Cataldo informed the Board that Mrs Frick of the Con-
servation Commission called regarding hawkers and peddlers in the lawn.
Hawkers 6 She feels we should be more careful when we issue permits to them as'
Peddlers she has recently had two unpleasant experiences with young people,
License one very persistent magazine salesman and one very young boy selling
candy. They are licensed by the State and we have regulations in the
Town. I know of no way of controlling it.
Mrs Riff in Except to advise people not to let them in
Mr O'Connell Chief Corr gave me a memo indicating if the Board
desired it, under the existing by-law it could require that the Chief
of Police issue a permit Now, all it does is to ask them to make
themselves known to the Police Department The Police Department would
be happy to do this. If they could grant permits, they could deny a
permit for adults using a group of children to solicit
Chairman Cataldo They can stop that now.
Mr. Legro I thought the Chief was controlling that situation.
Mr O'Connell Theytried to keepit under control but it is
getting out of hand because the Police Department has not actually
issued a permit but just asked these people to identit^t' them9eii9s.
If they didn't have a hawkers and peddlers license, they were told
they could not operate in the Town
Mr. Kenney The by- law is quite explicit that any person en-
gaged as a hawker, peddler, canvasser or door-to-door salesman lin the
Town shall register with and obtain a permit for the same from the
Chief of Police upon such terms and conditions and with such appro-
priate charge to be made therefore as the Selectmen may determine.
The Board agreed to request the opinion of Town Counsel regarding
the hawkers and peddlers license if a Town permit is required if a
hawker or peddler has a State license or could we prohibit a hawker
or peddler from selling with a State license
Upon motion duty 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 pi,`lic
Session security, the financial interests of the Town or the reputation of a
person.
After discussion of matters concerning land acquisition and the
reputation of a person, it was voted to go out of Executive Session.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at
9:40 p.m
A true record, Attest all, / I
Executive Clerk, Setectmen/
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