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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-11-23-BOS-min 283 SELECTMEN'S MEETING November 23, 1970 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Bird Room, Cary Memorial Building, on Monday evening, November 23, 1970, at 7 30 p.m Chairman Cataldo, Messrs Kenney and Bailey were pres- ent 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 Legro informed the Board that he had reviewed and approved Financial the contract signed by the Board on November 16, 1970, subject to Aid his approval, for Financial Assistance by and between the Common- Housing wealth of Massachusetts and the Lexington Housing Authority Auth Cont Mr O'Connell informed the Board that a petition has been re- ceived by the Planning Board, signed by 726 citizens, for a request for a public hearing on Citizens' Article 13 in the Special Town Meeting Warrant (To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Conservation Commission to purchase or otherwise acquire and author- ize the Selectmen to convey for conservation purposes ) The Chairman said that we all recognize there is no legal requirement for this. No one has seen a report on this to see what the Board' s position will be Mr Kenney said that the Planning Board is deeply engrossed in this problem The Chairman asked on what basis should they hold a hearing on this? Meagher- Mr Kenney replied, to accomodate the public. ville The Chairman said regardless of what they say, it is under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen It would take the whole of Meagherville and turn it over to conservation; it is not all tax title Mr Legro said he didn't know if there was any other land other than tax title that is owned by the Town, it is a very peculiar ap- proach The Chairman said that we were not petitioned. Our answer should be that the Board has reviewed the request of the Planning Board and where there is no statutory requirement for a hearing, the Board feels there is no real basis for a hearing There are going to be hearings on Meagherville at that time for implementa- tion of the study; their attorney felt there was a requirement of the Planning Board. Mr Legro added there will also be an adequate opportunity for them to be heard as these matters are covered by infor„mtional meetings of TMMA 284 The Chairman said there is no reason for them not to cover all this at their informational meetings. Mr Bailey recommended that the Conservation Commission get all the facts Mr Legro said he thought they did but the Commission demurred until after the study. The Board agreed not to hold a hearing as there are many ave- nues of recourse for the petitioners to make their feeling known. If they would like to submit a petition to the Board, it would be very happy to accept it. Mr O'Connell said that as a matter of information for the Board that he had received a letter from an Attorney for Choate, Foster Hall and Stewart regarding a bequest from Mrs K. Claudine Foster Bequest in the amount of $300 for flowers for Munroe Cemetery This is a new one and this money won't be available until about a year from now. Mr O'Connell informed the Board that he had received a re- quest from the Chamber of Commerce to erect a Christmas tree in Center the large planter in the Center. Christmas Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant Tree approval to the Chamber of Commerce, subject to the approval of the Town Manager, subject to the approval of the Town Engineer as to safety and, also, subject to liability. Mr O'Connell gave a progress report on the perambulation of boundaries He said that the boundary of Winchester had been Boundaries covered, with the assistance of one member of the Winchester Board of Selectmen Lincoln is scheduled for tomorrow at 9 00 a.m and that will leave only the Town of Burlingtop. Mr. O'Connell informed the Board that he had received a re- Harrington port from the Building Inspector on the Harrington House. House The Chairman said that in the absence of a full Board, we will make copies to be submitted to the other members and we will dis- cuss the report at our next meeting Mr Donald Irwin, Building Inspector, met with the Board and Award was presented an award for completion of the Municipal Building Building Officials Conference-Phase III Inspector The Chairman complimented Mr Irwin for his outstanding job and for representing the Town of Lexington Mr Irwin retired from the meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign a liquor license for the following (renewals) Package Store Buse Bros Liquors, Inc. 131 Massachusetts Avenue Liquor License Joseph Trani Incorporated 1775 Massachusetts Avenue 28i Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the character of the following who have applied for Certificate of Incor- poration Gordon Lawson 362 Emerson Road Cert of "Satya Community School, Inc " lncorp Douglas S Baird 14 Percy Road "Living Alternatives, Incorporated" Howard Kiedaisch 21 Flintrock Road "Professional Ski Shops Association, Inc." The Chairman read a letter of resignation from Charles T Abbott from the Committee on Procedures of Street Reconstruction and Under- Street ground wiring Committee Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept, with regret, the resignation of Charles T Abbott from the Committee on Procedures of Street Reconstruction and Underground Wiring The Chairman recommended that Malcolm R Gavin be contacted to see if he would be willing to serve as a member of the Committee Mr O'Connell agreed to call Mr Gavin and report back to the Board. The Chairman read a letter from the Moderate Cost Housing Asso- ciation submitting nominees to replaceMr Earsy on the Lexington LCSR Commission on Suburban Responsibility The Board agreed to hold the appointment until the full Board meets next week. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Ann Valihura, 67 Grassland Street, requesting the purchase of Lot 26 Valleyfield Street, Map 24, Tax Title Farm Section 4, Lot 44 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to refer the request to the Planning Board for a recommendation. The Chairman read an invitation from the MBTA to attend a meeting on December 3, 1970 in the Needham Town Hall to discuss the operations MBTA of the MBTA. Meeting The Chairman said that if any member could attend, he should in- form Mr O'Connell Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Minutes minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held on November 9, 1970 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Or- Simonds Rd der for Construction of Sidewalk on Simonds Road-from Preston Road, a Sidewalk distance of 1465 feet, more or less, to Burlington Street Order I 28b The Chairman informed the Board that a report has been received from the Traffic Committee in answer to our request for recommenda- tions to alleviate the traffic situation on Thoreau Road The report states that the maximum grade is 9 9 per cent and the center line radius of the curve is 159 ft., neither is exces- sive but the combination justifies the following recommended Thoreau Rd measures Traffic A warning sign indicating a dangerous curve ahead, an advisory speed plate, curbing be installed along the curve to prevent cars from running over grass plots The view down from, Lowell Street is unobstructed and a sign, therefore, is not warranted to indicate the hill A sign, children crossing, is not warranted and there is no provision for such a sign in Massachusetts After discussion, the Board instructed Mr McSweeney to talk with the Traffic Committee and report back to the Board The Chairman read a letter from the Suburban lntertown Liaison SILC Committee stating that if the Board would like to appoint an ob- server, the Committee would approve The Board agreed to think about it and submit nominees at the next meeting The Chairman informed the Board that a letter has been received from Mr Mistretta of the State Department of Public Works regarding the Chapter 90 section of Worthen Road We have had some discussions with the Planning Board and, as we understand it from them, the Trinity Convenant Church subdivision is not contemplating building that section The state has asked us to sign an agreement with them on Chapter 90 for Worthen Road Keeping in mind that the Church is not going to develop the other section we have to tell the state that Worthen Road, as presented to them for Chapter 90, is no longer as we presented it As I understand it, we can redesignate it to another section of Worthen Road Our answer to Mr. Mistretta is that we are no longer proposing Chapter 90 Worthen .Road as it was proposed to him and we have to sit down with Worthen Rd him to discuss what to do with another section of Worthen Road. It is their position if we don't sign this agreement, we have to desig- nate another section and complete that section. Mr. Kenney asked if it is possible for us to request another street? Mr McSweeney replied that they would be happy to change it but the requirement is they can't, either by statute or what is built into the mechanics of Chapter 90 funds Mr Kenney asked if it is redesignated, what other section could it be? The Chairman said the only other section would be Marrett Road to Colonial Acres Mr Bailey asked if our Chapter 90 is specific as to location? 1 2 87 The Chairman replied, yes, the motion was pretty specific I think that the people should know this section isn't going to be built by Chapter 90 funds We must meet with Mr Kiernan of the State DPW and see under what conditions we can spend this Chapter 90 money The Board agreed that Mr McSweeney is to set up a meeting with Mr. Kiernan Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Execu- tive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting on matters which, if made public, might adversely affect the public secur- Executive ity, the financial interests of the Town or the reputation of a person Session 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 20 p.m A true record, Attest 4)11 Executive Clerk, Selectmen 1 II