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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-04-07-BOS-min 44: SELECTMEN'S MEETING April 5, 1971 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Bird Room, Cary Memorial Building, on Monday evening, April 5, 1971 , at 7 00 p.m Chairman Cataldo, Messrs Kenney, Bailey and Buse and Mrs Riff in were -present.. Mr. Legro, Town Counsel;, Mr. O'Connell , Town Manager; Mr McSweeney, Town Engineer and Acting Superintendent of Public Works and Mrs. McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were also present Mr O'Connell requested approval of the bond for the Town Clerk in the amount of $2, 100, approved by the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation; also, the bond for the Assistant Town Clerk in the amount of $2,000, which does not require the approval of the Commis- s iener. Bonds Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the bond for the Town Clerk in the amount of $2,100. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the bond for the Assistant Town Clerk in the amount of $2,000. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that an invitation has been re- ceived from the School Department to attend a meeting, arranged by the Superintendent of Schools, at the Senior High School on April 14 at School 2-00 p.m. to review discipline procedures arising out of the recent Dept. fire at the school. The public is not invited but they hope that Meeting members of the Board will attend. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that he had received a notice that the School Department has scheduled a half-holiday on Good Fri- School day, April 9, for all personnel , administrative and custodians, and Closing all schools will close. The notice was to all staff people and will have a bearing on all school offices and custodians. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that he had received a letter from Mr. Slowey, Chairman of the Red Cross, asking permission- to dis- play a red banner across Massachusetts Avenue at Mariam Street as Red Cross publicity for the Bloodmobile on April 26; they would like to fly the Banner banner after the 19th of April , from April 20 to 26. If the Board Bloodmobile grants approval , they would have a banner made up; if not, they would ask for some alternate approval for a sign in the Center. The Chairman said that we all are sympathetic with the Red Cross but we couldn't grant permission for the banner. Mr. Kenney suggested they have a car parked in the Center with a sign on it. Mr. O'Connell said that he would work something out with the Red Cross. The Board agreed to deny the request for the banner. 444 Mr. O'Connell said that permission was asked to fly the Red Cross Red Cross flag on May 8, World Red Cross Day. Flag The Board agreed to grant permission to fly the Red Cross flag under the American flag at the Town Office green on May 8, 1971. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that he had received from the State the certification of the primary list for Police Captain. Police Lt. Lima topped the list by rather a wide margin and I propose to Captain appoint him as Captain. Lt. Lima was high at 90.58%; Lt. Dooley, 85.92%; Sgt. Withrow, 84.60%. The Chairman asked if he had discussed salary? Mr. O'Connell replied that he will discuss it with Chief Corr. Mr. O'Connell distributed to the Board copies of a memo regard- Bicentennial ing the Chairman for the 1975 Celebrations Committee. Chairman The Board agreed to discuss the recommendations of the Town Manager as soon as possible. , The Chairman informed the Board that a copy of the Great Meadows Great study has been received. Meadows Mrs. Riff in took the copy and will submit it to another member Study of the Board when she has finished reading it. The Chairman said that members of the Board have a copy of a letter from the Planning Board with recommendations regarding the Lexington- position of the Board on House Bill No. 3344 and what action should Burlington be taken to protect the Turning Mill Road area from the hazards of Land industrial development on the other side of the Burlington-Lexington town line. The Chairman said that the hearing by a legislative committee is set for April 13 at the State House and I think we have no al- ternative but to oppose the legislation to construct a bridge or tunnel or otherwise to provide access to connect the land in the Town of Burlington on the westerly side of new Route 3 with the land lying on the easterly side of said Route 3. We should have the position of the Board on record. Mr. Kenney said that he would like to read the entire recom- mendation from the Planning Board. The Board agreed to discuss the matter and take a position. Later on in the meeting, the Board agreed to take the posi- tion of being opposed to House Bill No. 3344. Upon motion duly made and seconded, It was voted that the Board of Selectmen is opposed to House Bill No. 3344 for the con- struction of the bridge to provide access to connect the land lying on the westerly side of new Route 3 with the land lying on the easterly side of said Route 3, under the provisions of Chap- ter 90 of the General Laws, and to expend such sums as may be ap- propriated therefor for this purpose. I 445 The Chairman readYouth a a request from the Lexington Yo Baseball t B Leagues, Inc. for permission to hold the annual opening baseball parade with Police escort and fire engine on Saturday, May I , 1971 , at 130 p.m Baseball Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- Parade mission to the Lexington Youth Baseball Leagues, Inc to hold the annual opening baseball parade on Saturday, May I, 1971 at 130 p.m. The Chairman said that Chief Corr will be requested to make ar- rangements for a Police escort and Chief Spellman to furnish a fire engine The Chairman read a request from Mr WI Ides, President of the Knights of Columbus Building Association, for an extension of the K of C hours of operation under the Club Liquor license to 100 a.m. on the Liquor evening of May I , 1971 Hours Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny the re- quest for an extension of the hours of operation to 100 a.m on the evening of May I , 1971 . The Chairman read a request from Mr Cobuzzi , Manager of the Knights of Columbus, for an extension of the hours of operation under the Club liquor license to 12 00 M on May 2, 1971 . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the request of the Knights of Columbus for an extension of the hours of operation under the Club liquor license to 12 00 M. on May 2, 1971 . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to :approve Bond the bond for the Collector of Taxes in the amount of $ 117,200 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the request of the Veterans' Agent to abate the ambulance bill submitted Ambu lance to Donald Moreau, 93 Vine Street, in the amount of $ 10 00 as Mr. Abatement Moreau is receiving Veterans' benefits. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the character of the following who have applied for Certificate of Incor- poration Cert.of Incorp. Harrell F. Beck 30 Woodland Road Richard E. Harding 1 Harrington Road "Promise, Inc." Robert E. Lenk 59 YgIrk Street Marjorie P. Lenk 59 York Street "State 1 , Inc." Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Minutes minutes of the Selectmen' s meetings held on March 15 and March 29, 1971 1 4"� Intelligence Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the In- License telligence license for Starrett Associates, Inc , 2 Militia Drive, (renewal) The Chairman read an invitation from the Town Celebrations Commit- Parade tee to participate in the parade on April 19 at 7 00 a.m. The Board agreed to participate The Chairman read an invitation to attend open house at Ready' s Men' s Store on April 23, 1971 from 7 00 to 9 00 p.m. The Chairman read a letter from a junior citizen requesting that the former Central Block area be kept green and, possibly, with flowers planted Mr Legro came into the meeting at 7 22 p.m The Board discussed the Central Block The Chairman said that he had talked with Mr Giroux and Mr Matheson on the building and they are adamant as far as giving up an- other inch of land I said we had to look at it, discuss it and come back with a recommendation, regardless of personal feeling I asked the Engineers for the building line of the Trani Building extended; we set bp barricades at different intervals and took pictures; Mr. McSweeney brushed on some theoretical buildings at different loca- tions The Chairman showed pictures of the 15 ft. where we tenta- tively agreed, the building line extended, the 25 ft setback with 30 ft radius, 30 ft setback with 35 ft radius, 30 ft setback with 40 ft radius and, also, with a 50 ft. radius, and a 2-story building. He said there are 20,000 sq ft in the whole area; the depth of the lot is about 120 ft. The radius is the answer We are looking for direction Does the Board want to go beyond 15 ft. and, if so, to what point? Central Mr Bailey replied, to make it worthwhile. Block Mr Kenney said that we should further discuss it and get some kind of cost estimate Mr. Buse said we should discuss whether the height of a build- ing with one or two stories won't affect the view. Mrs Riff in said the Board should talk about it and take ad- vantage of the lot being perfectly clear. I have had calls about it and we ought to pursue it. There may not be an option, but we should discuss it The Chairman said that if the approach is to talk about it, the Board must face up to the fact that we must go to Town Meeting and make a taking. We should have anappraisal made and discuss it at that point Mr Kenney said that he had thought about it and would be against taking the whole parcel . The Center does need more specialty stores A 25 ft setback with a 30 ft radius would give us the visual impact. 447 Mr. Bailey said that even if I agreed with you, we would still have a problem We are holding the bag for the whole town We are in trouble if we try to outguess Town Meeting If they want to take the whole thing and we shut off all avenues, we are in an unfair situation The Chairman said that the Board does understand they are willing to accept the fact that we don't need Town Meeting action on the first part. Mr Legro said that as soon as you go beyond 15 ft you have Town Meeting action. The Chairman asked if the Board should have Mr Lund do the ap- praisal? Mr. Bailey said we have to have it; starting with everything and figuring out two or three alternatives The Chairman said, as I understand it, you want to discuss with the owners to go substantially beyond the 15 ft Mr. Busa said that he would concur with Mr Kenney and the Chair- man and not take it all Mr. Kenney said we should find out what this will cost; this is a big town-wide issue and we must respond to town-wide interest. Mr. Bailey asked what is the time schedule of the owners? The Chairman said they would put a machine in there in two weeks and start digging the foundation They had preliminary meetings with Historic Districts before and they would start to schedule hearings soon Mr Busa asked if there was anything in previous minutes on whether it was discussed to take more than 15 ft The Chairman said it was originally agreed to swap the fire sta- tion lot for 15 ft of front land Mr. Bailey asked if we could make up a list of three or four alternatives? The Chairman said that he would give Mr Lund the pictures and he could do an appraisal on these setbacks The Board agreed the Chairman would talk with Joe Lund and get some estimates on making a full appraisal and report back to the Board at the next meeting. Also he was to inform the owners of the Board's feeling to looking into the possibility of acquiring more than the origianl 15 feet Mr McSweeney came into the meeting at 7 37 p.m Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Com- pany and the New England Telephone Company for permission to relocate five JO poles on Grant Street Notices of the hearing were mailed to the petitioners, owners of Grant St the property as listed on the petitioners' plans, and also filed with Poles the Town Engineer Mr Powers, representing the Boston Edison Company, and Mr. Dunn, representing the New England Telephone Company, were present Mr Dunn explained that the petition is for five poles to be re- located on Grant Street, we are just moving them back to get them off the sidewalk. Mr McSweeney, Town Engineer, has approved this 448 No one having questions, the Chairman declared that part of the hearing closed No one appearing in favor or in opposition, the Chairman de- clared the hearing closed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Company of the following location of poles Grant Street, northwesterly side, southwesterly from a point approximately 105 feet southwest of Hayes Lane,-- Five poles (five existing JO poles to be re- moved). Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Company for permission to relo- cate one pole on Eli6t Road Notices of the hearing were mailed to the petitioners, owners of the property as listed on the petitioners' plans, and also filed with the Town Engineer Mr Powers, representing the Boaton Edison Company, and Mr Dunn, representing the New England Telephone Company, were present. Mr Dunn explained that this petition is to relocate the pole on the property line to clear the driveway The Chairman asked if anyone in the audience had a question? Mr Wesley W. Mansir, 16 Tavern Lane, asked to see the exact lo- Eliot Rd. cation on the plan Pole Mr Dunn showed the old location and explained to Mr Mansir that the new pole will be located exactly on the property line Mr. Mansir asked if the land had been surveyed? Mr. Powers replied, yes. Mr. Mansir said that he just wanted to make sure it stays on the corner He is agreeable as long as the pole is located on the property line The Chairman said that if it is not on your property line, come back to the Board and we will make sure it is properly located No one being recorded in favor or in opposition, the Chairman declared the hearing closed Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Company for the following location of a pole, with the condition that the pole is to be located on the property tine of Wesley W Mansir, 16 Tavern Lane Eliot Road, northeasterly side, approximately 210 feet north- west of Pelham Road, one pole (One existing JO pole to be removed) Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Woburn St. Company and the New England Telephone Company for permission to re- Pole locate nineteen poles on the northwesterly side of Woburn Street, and one pole on the southeasterly side of Woburn Street. 449 Notices of the hearing were mailed to the petitioners, owners of the property as listed on the petitioners' plans, and also filed with the Town Engineer Mr. Powers, representing the Boston Edison Company and Mr Dunn, representing the New England Telephone Company, were present Mr Dunn explained that this was a job done in conjunction with the State when Woburn Street was reconstructed We have nineteen or twenty poles to remove and the same number to replace Mr. McSweeney, Town Engineer, was present and the Chairman asked if he had looked at all these locations Mr McSweeney replied that he had, this was laid out by the State and they just moved them back from their previous location As far as I know, there have been no complaints The Chairman asked if anyone in the audience had a question? Mr George Saintato asked to see the plan for the two poles in front of his home at 394 Woburn Street. Mr Dunn showed -the plan and the exact location to Mr. Saintato, who was satisfied with the explanation. Mr Christopher Cammarata asked for the exact location of the pale at his store on the corner of Woburn and Lowell Streets He said that the existing pole is on the sidewalk and would like to know where it is going to be placed. The Chairman explained the location to Mr. Cammarata and said that when Woburn Street was reconstructed, the State had tentative permission to relocate this pole but it could be changed Do you ob- ject to the present location? Mr Cammarata replied that, originally, it was on the lot line; it is not going to be moved any more? Woburn St Mr Dunn replied, no Poles Mr Cammarata said that the present location was acceptable to him. No one being recorded in favor or in opposition, the Chairman declared the hearing closed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to the Boston Edison and the New England Telephone Company for the following location of poles Woburn Street, northwesterly side, northeasterly from a point approximately 38 feet northeast of Lowell Street, -- Nineteen ( 19) poles Woburn Street, southeasterly side, approximately 29 feet southwest of the Lexington-Woburn Line,-- ,+. One ( I) pole Mr. Legro retired from the meeting. Mr McSweeney said that he had heard from Washington and the Re- gional office on the sewer project and, verbally, we can issue an 450 order and go ahead tomorrow, as long as we did all our negotiations Bedford before February 23 and voted the intent to award the contracts on Sewer February 22, 1971 . We have all the necessary votes, for awarding Project the contracts, to comply with the Davis Bacon Act I will send in the certified copy of the vote of the Board of Selectmen on Febru- ary 22, 1971 , of the intent to award the contracts for WPC-Mass - 2 17 Traffic Sig The Chairman informed Mr. McSweeney that we received the permit Mass Ave. from the State for the traffic control signal located at Massachu- Worthen Rd setts Avenue and Worthen Road. The Chairman informed the Board that a permit has been received Jr High from the Department of Natural Resources on the Junior High and there will not be a Hatch Act hearing Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 7 59 p.m. A true record, Attest Nj/vtL Executive Clerk, Selectmen