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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-10-13-BOS-min 24 f_ SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 13, 1970 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Bird Room, Cary Memorial Building, on Tuesday evening, October 13, 1970, at 7 30 p.m. Chairman Cataldo, Messrs. Mabee, Kenney, Greeley and Bailey were present. Mr. Legro, Town Counsel ; Mr O'Connell , Town Manager; Mr. McSweeney, Town Engineer and Assistant Superintendent of Public Works and Mrs. McCurdy, Executive Clerk were also present. Mr O'Connell informed the Board that he has received a letter from the Chairman of the Permanent Building Committee regarding the schedule for the new Junior High School ; as follows New Junior High Advertise for bids November 23 Receipt of Sub-bids December 23 Receipt of General bids January 6 Town Meeting January II He requests that this information be given to the Board so that a Town Meeting may be called at the appropriate time. The final plans and specifications will be completed October 19 and he has asked the architects to deliver two sets to Mr O'Connell He would appreciate comments and they should be received by the afternoon of November 5 as they plan to meet that evening to review all comments with the architects The Chairman said that, basically, he would like to get the sense of the Board as we have had many calls about a Town Meeting He felt it would be best at this time to be able to get housekeeping articles such as zoning and re-zoning, out of the way. The Board agreed and the date for the January Town Meeting is to be set at the next meeting Mr O'Connell informed the Board that a request has been received from a group called DARE, which operates primarily in getting resi- dences for youths, for permission to go through Lexington on bicycles on Sunday, October 18, 1970 DARE is sponsoring a "bike day" and DARE would start in Concord to Lexington, proceeding down Massachusetts Permit Avenue to Arlington They would pick up other bicyclists as they go along and would be a group of from 75 to 100 The Board discussed the request and agreed there is no objection to the bicycle parade but would prefer them to use a route other than Massachusetts Avenue as they would be going by the churches at the time of services Mr. O'Connell is to talk with DARE and inform the Police Depart- ment of the route. 242 Mr O'Connell informed the Board that the Town Engineer has been studying the problem of the Center Playground swimming pool, there has been a serious question of the condition of the pool and what Center Pool can be done about it. Mr McSweeney and Mr Donahue of Continental Playground Pool of Lynn looked at the pool and made observations Recommenda- tions of the Town Engineer were read and Mr. O'Connell said that, basically, Mr McSweeney thinks it would be a prudent thing to spend $ 1250 for a survey to examine the conditions of the pool so we would know what we were doing Mr Kenney said he understood the DPW would do the excavating work Mr. O'Connell agreed and said now we need $ 1250 if we were to follow this course of action. If we don't do it, we are getting into problems at the pool and chances are these problems are below ground, not only with the pool but also with the filter system. The major problem is that 12" to 18" of water are lost overnight and the question is, where is the leakage'? Mr. Bailey thought there was justification for the survey. Mr. O'Connell said that it would be $ 1250 to employ the ser- vices of Mr Donahue, who indicated it could be done in about limo weeks Mr Mabee recommended that it be put before the Appropriation Committee and tell them we want it, and let them make the judgment. Mr McSweeney said that this came from Recreation Committee and my association in building the other pool Mr O'Connell said that there are some operating things of the pool that are below state standards and any major refurbishments would bring it up to standards Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee for a transfer of $ 1250 for a survey of the Center Playground swimming pool . Mr O'Connell read a letter from the Building Inspector re- garding a fire damaged carriage house at the rear of 1508 Massa- chusetts Avenue, at the corner of Winthrop Road. Mr Irwin sent Palmer a letter to the owner, James B. Palmer, asking if he intended to Carriage repair the building and also informing him that if he intends to House remove the building, a demolition permit is required from the Building Department There has been oo response from Mr. Palmer on additional letters sent, attempted telephone calls and vistts to the property. Mr Irwin recommends that action be taken under Chapter 139 of the General Laws Upon motion dulymade and seconded, it was voted to schedule a hearing regarding the carriage house owned by Joseph B and Clara R Palmer of 1508 Massachusetts Avenue, which has been damaged by fire Mr O'Connell reported to the Board that the Appropriation Transfer Committee had approved the request of a transfer of $ 1250 to the 243 Vocational School and $4151 to the Health Department for patients in the Middlesex Sanatorium The Committee tabled the request for a transfer from the Veterans' Agent because of the lack of information especially in the matter of a $3100 hospital bill The Chairman asked Mc. O'Connell about leaf burning? Mr O'Connell replied that we haven't formally asked for money. He acquainted them with the action of the Board to adopt the regula- Leaf tions to take effect on October 16 and to schedule the two leaf Pickup pickups in the Town The Chairman of the Appropriation Committee was not favorably inclined to the expenditure of money for this pur- pose but would listen when it was presented to them Residents of Bridge Street met with the Board Mr Lionel Arlan, 54 Bridge Street, was spokesman for the group Mr Arlan said that the reason we are here is because of concern about the traffic hazard that exists on Bridge Street Since the street was finished over a year ago, there has been substantial in- crease in traffic, namely due to traffic cutting through Bridge Street to avoid the light at Waltham Street There are 75 children, plus 8 retired, elderly people on the street We have counted be- Bridge tween 80 and 100 cars using it as a cut-through from 4 00 p.m to Street 6 00 p.m. We feel the speed limit of 30 miles per hour is too fast Traffic for children on the street, and there are no sidewalks The maximum IIIdistance of view is 200 feet and when cars are parked on the hill , it is reduced to 100 feet We are here to get possible solutions, as follows I . We would like a new "go slow-children" sign to replace the at the top of the street which is hardly recognizable 2 Speed reduced from 30 M P H to 20 M P H - posted. 3 Street to be made one-way from 4 00 p.m to 6 00 p.m for traffic to go in one direction 4. Other possible solutions sidewalk installation and instal- lation of sign at the bottom of Bridge Street which prohi- bits right turns during these hours. We would like to know what can be done The Chairman asked, you would like consideration of a sidewalk, on one side? Mr. Arlan replied, on one side The Chairman asked if he had any feeling as to what side? Mr. Arlan had none. The Chairman asked if all residents were in agreement? Mr. Arlan replied, not necessarily I 244 The Chairman said if we felt a sidewalk will help and recommended it, what would the residents feel about it; would they unanimously want it? Would anyone here be against the installation of a side- walk in front of his home? A resident asked if it would cost money? The Chairman said there would be the usual betterment charge. The resident said he might object to it Another resident said she can't say yes, we don't know What is involved; we would have to know all the facts The Chairman said that aside from the cost, we are here to discuss safety Based on your feeling for a sidewalk on one side, our betterments today are $I a foot and 100 feet would cost $100. Let' s confine it to safety He asked if anyone present would object to a sidewalk in front of his house? No one replied. The Chairman said that the Board will take all of their recom- mendations and submit them to the Traffic Committee for it evaluations We did have a request from Mr. Arlan regarding traffic and Chief Corr had the radar there and has agreed that he would periodically put the radar on Bridge Street to try to control it We all recog- nized this before the street went in. We can't set the speed limit for the street, we can only put the radar there The speed limit is set at 85% of the cars traveling on that street; we cannot prosecute anyone at any less than that These are the laws we have to live with; we can't arbitrarily set a speed limit; if we set up a sign at 15 miles per hour and took a person to court, it wouldn't hold up. Mr Arlan asked if 30 miles an hour is the legal speed limit in town? The Chairman replied, ,no, we would have to put the radar up there for a given period of time and if 85% of them travel that, that is what it will be. In the wisdom of the legislature, that was their approach to reasonab eness We have our rules and regu- lations to live by, and it is no good putting it there if we can't enforce it We will submit your recommendations to the Traffic Committee and ask them to come back with the recommendations they see fit. Wb have our limitations on how far we have to go Mr Arlan asked if these rules are established by the Town? The Chairman replied, yes; it is no good for us to set up anything we can't enforce. A resident said you are saying the fact that children are con- stantly playing in the street, you can't take that as a condition? Is that what you are saying? The Chairman replied that legislature said a street was built for automobiles and not for children A resident asked if you do take the course of setting up radar, would it be possible to put the "children playing" signs up first, so people would take that into consideration? The Chairman replied that we will submit these recommendations to the Traffic Committee and before the street is zoned, we would install the signs that the Traffic Committee recommends A resident asked what is the record of the Town getting a one- way street sign during certain hours? The Chairman replied, zero; we have asked the Traffic Committee during the last three months for some. Mr. Arlan asked what about limitation of right turns? The Chairman said that is one thing we will submit to them; how it comes out, I can't answer A resident asked when the Board was going to make its recommenda- tions? The Chairman replied, within three weeks The residents of Bridge Street retired from the meeting. Mr. Legro reported to the Board that he had concluded the Bolt Beranek and Newman land acquisition today; we put some provisions in B B & N the deed The only one that hasn't been completed is the Crawford land. Mr.. Crawford asked that it be put over to this week The Chairman read a letter from Mrs Alice Kroll , 51 Wellington Lane Avenue, requesting a deferment of sewer betterment assessment of Kroll $75, as she is a widow and unable to pay Deferment The Chairman said that as he understood it, we have no basis for Request a deferment but he will talk with Mrs. Kroll Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the character of Phyllis Salusti , 110 Kendall Road, who has applied for Cert of Certificate of Incorporation, "Naples Club, Inc " Incorp Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s meeting held on September 14, 1970 Minutes Upori motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign a water abatement for Gerard L Legere, 16 Grapevine Avenue, in the amount of Abatement $52.50, adjusted bill . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Sewer order of construction of sewer on Old Shade Street Order Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the War- rant for the State Election to be held on November 3, 1970. Election Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to set the hours Warrant for the polls to be open on November 3, 1970 from 7 00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. The Chairman said that some time ago, Green and White brought us a proposal to service a house on Pleasant Street and the Board said Green and that there should be a definite water connection, that we will not White Sewer accept it into Mason Street and he has to pay betterments. Mr. Green Connection has proposed a sewer connection to Mason Street and this will require an easement over two parcels of land that were not included in the original subdivision of Mason Street 246 The Town Engineer feels the easements should be subject to Town Counsel 's review Also, that if the sewer connection is approved, there will be a sewer charge in lieu of betterment in the amount of $701 .53 The developer is requesting there be no sewer betterment assessed against this lot because he contends this lot was part of the original subdivision and that he constructed and paid for the sewer lateral in Mason Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per- mission to Green and White for a sewer connection to Mason Street, subject to a review by Town Counsel of the grant of easement. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to make full charges in lieu of betterments to Green and White. Mr O'Connell reported to the Board that he had forwarded the information on open burning to Mr Legro on October 9th The Board agreed to forward a report on the Youth Center Com- Youth Center mittee from Mr McManus, Drug Consultant, to Selectman Greeley, Committee who will discuss the contents with Mrs. Foskett of the Committee. They are considering a residential treatment center and Mr McManus feels they should clarify in much greater detail the kind of pro- gram they wish to develop The Chairman informed the Board that an invitation has been re- ceived from the Simon Robinson Lodge to attend divine services at Invitation the Church of Our Redeemer on November 8, 1970 Members of the Board will attend It was agreed to forward the invitation to Town officials. Civil Serv. The Chairman read a letter from the Director of Civil Service, Underprivi- requesting the name of the person in charge of programs related to ledged the disadvantaged or underprivileged Program The Board agreed to reply that Mr O'Connell is to be desig- nated Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or Executive voting on matters which, if made public, might adversely affect the Session public security, the financial interests of the Town or the reputa- tion of a person 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 9 50 p.m A true record, Attest &e.6.4.44,„, )22 Executive Clerk, Selectmen