Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-02-09-BOS-min Q) I3 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 9, 1970 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Se- lectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, February 9, 1970 at 7 30 P.M. Chairman Cataldo, Messrs Mabee, and Greeley were present. Mr Legro, Town Counsel , Mr Gray, Executive Assist- ant, Mr. O'Connell, Special Assistant to the Board, Mr. Burke, Superintendent of Public Works; Mr McSweeney, Town Engineer, and Mrs McCurdy, Executive Clerk, were also present At the request of the Town Clerk, one juror was drawn Juror Stanislaw Feld 6 Hickory Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize William Martin, Assistant Town Engineer, to sign the Engineering Engr Department Payroll during Mr McSweeney' s vacation of February 16- Dept 20, 1970 Payroll Mr. Gray said that a memo has been received from the Planning Board asking if $ 1 ,000 could be made available for borings and tests on Vine Brook land, to determine the suitability for housing for the elderly He had discussed this request with Mr. O'Connell Vine and there are no funds available for this evaluation Brook Mr McSweeney said that we cannot use the option funds and Study there is no money in the Engineering Department to do this After discussion, it was agreed that there were no funds available for a study of the Vine Brook land, and to so inform the Planning Board Mr Gray informed the Board that two petitions have been re- ceived regarding complaints against a dog owned by W F Davis, Dog 18 Boulder Road, and a dog owned by E P Nawoichik, 16 Nichols Complaint Road The Board agreed to refer the petitions to the Dog Officer for investigation and a report to the Board on next Monday evening Mr Gray informed the Board that some time ago, the Board re- ceived a complaint from Gerard Legere, 16 Grapevine Avenue, regard- ing his high water bill of $ 139 76 Mr Gray had looked into the Legere matter and had received a report from Public Works that there was Water Bill nothing wrong with the water meter There had been some construc- tion in the area and while building the house next door, they had used Mr. Legere' s water, with his permission. Mr. O'Connell said that he had talked with Mrs Legere and after she had received this bill for $ 139 76, her next bills were for $33 and $35 A 4 Mr Gray said that the recommendation is that the bill remain as it was submitted Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the recommendation that there would be no abatement of the water bill of Gerard Legere, 16 Grapevine Avenue. Mr. Gray requested the Board to sign a water abatement for the Douglass Funeral Home in the amount of $98 05, as the wrong Abatement reading had been taken Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the water abatement for the Douglass Funeral Home, in the amount of $98 05 Mr. O'Connell reported to the Board that he had been asked at the last meeting to check out the request of the Middlesex County Council of the International Reading Association to use Estabrook Hall on May 4, 1970 for a panel discussion and demon- stration of materials which could be used to teach reading to the reluctant reader He said that they are a properly constituted association with a County charter and a membership of about sixty Permit local people, including Lexington teachers. Previously, they had Estabrook held meetings and had served an evening meal at Diamond and other Hall schools but, because they did not have dues, they found they couldn't afford the fee charged by the School Department. There- fore, they are looking for a place to hold their meetings with no fee for the hall , but they would be willing to pay the custodial Charges. Mr O'Connell recommended that permission be granted under these conditions Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the Middlesex County Council of the International Reading Association for the use of Estabrook Hell on May 4, 1970 from 7 30 P.M to 9 30 P.M , at ho charge for Ebtabrook Hall but the Association is to pay for custodial services. Mr Greeley recommended that the School Department be made aware of the fact that the Board has granted permission to this group and we feel that organizations of this type should be given an opportunity to use the school facilities at no charge, rather than the use of a building under the jurisdiction of the Selectmen. It was agreed to write to the School Committee regarding future requests for the use of their facilities. Mr. McSweeney reported to the Board that an informational meeting had been held last week with the residents of Bloomfield Bloomfield, Street, Minola Road and Downing Road We have proposed putting Minola & a sidewalk on the easterly side of Bloomfield Street; on the Downing Rd Southerly side of Downing Road; and no sidewalk on Minola Road Approximately twenty-two residents on Downing Road were in favor of the street and one was in favor of the street and sidewalk, f k I ti and didn't care what side it was built on, four residents objected to a sidewalk on either side and thirteen objected to a sidewalk being constructed The Chairman asked what happens to the island on Downing Road? Mr. McSweeney said that we propose to take it; we propose to put a granite curbing about 250' , around it as it would last longer and it would be easier to maintain On Bloomfield Street, we presented it as purely a policy to build a sidewalk when we construct a street There is no sidewalk on the subdivision, on Bloomfield Street Mr Mabee abstained The Board agreed to accept the location of the sidewalk on the southerly side of Downing Road, and the easterly side of Bloomfield Street Mr McSweeney discussed East Street He said that there were approximately twenty residents present and they were told that we proposed doing from Grant Street to Lowell Street and, if this were approved, a hearing would be conducted by the County. There were a few objectors who claimed that if we widen the road, it would increase the traffic and speeders We took a show of hands after the discussion on how it would be built and how it would in- volve Chapter 90 and ten of them were in favor of building it, three objected to it, and the remaining group would like to have some time to think it over We explained that this wouldn't come up next Thursday night at the legal hearing and said that they could contact their Town Meeting members as TMMA will hold inform- East Street ational meetings, or they could write to the Selectmen Generally speaking, ten residents felt that this is the way to do it The Chairman asked if he had told them that we would not do the whole span this year? Mr McSweeney replied in the affirmative; he said that he had told them that this was between the Town and the State and they would decide Mr Greeley said that he would like to make the point that very close to Burroughs Road we do have an existing sidewalk but none beyond If you look at the existing pavement, we do have some extremely bad site distances and he recommended very strongly that the Board not vary from having East Street as a Chapter 90 road this year, the traffic count is very high The Chairman said that we will have to decide what section we will recommend for the $60,000 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Warrant for 1970 Annual Town Meeting Warrant The Chairman read a request from the Greek Orthodox Church of Cambridge, requesting permission for the annual ten-mile race to Request start at the Minuteman on Sunday, March 22, 1970, at 12 Noon, also, for a police cruiser to escort the leading runners to the Arlington line. 5 (56 Mr Greeley said that this request is for Palm Sunday and there would be many church services, he felt that this would not be a good time because of church services It was agreed that Mr O'Connell is to check out this request for 12 Noon on Sunday, March 22, and see if it is possible to ar- range for a better time for the race to start. Minutes Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of February 2, 1970 The Chairman read a letter from the ABC regarding rules and regu- lations for Washington' s Birthday, February 16, 1970 ABC Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that Package Goods Stores are to remain closed but Motels and Clubs may serve dur- ing the specified holiday hours on Washington' s Birthday, Fbbruary 16, 1970 The Chairman read a letter from the Director of Accounts which Free Cash informed the Town that $740,521 is the sum of available funds or "free cash" as of January I , 1970 The Chairman read a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Ap- peals requesting an adjustment in fees and suggested the following fees Board of I $ 20 charge for renewals Appeals 2. 250 maximum charge for Subsidized Housing hearing 3 150 charge for an original Finding and Determination. 4 Related F & D' s fee of $30-$50, according to compli- cations affecting cost 5 $30 charge for variations for side, front and rear yards. 6 Board of Appeals to be given the right to establish charges for petitions considered exceptionally costly. After discussion, it was agreed to write to the Board of Appeals and recommend the consideration of a fixed fee schedule, rather than a sliding scale Mr. Michelman and Mrs Skov of LCSR met with the Board Mr Greeley said that the Commission requested this meeting re- garding the minority group employment, because the Board inserted the Articles in the Warrant and they thought the Board might like to LCSR ask questions of Mr. Michelman, who prepared the draft of the Articles Mr. Michelman said that there would be no presentation but we hoped to meet with the Board because of a report read to us one even- ing regarding a question on the scope of the coverage. The Chairman gave him a copy of Articles 36 and 82. Mr. Michelman said that when Mr Greeley presented it to us, it was the Commission' s view that a motion narrower in coverage than what was presented in the Warrant would be within the Article and could be presented to Town Meeting The Chairman said that it is our feeling that, basically, our construction contracts go over $ 100,000 for sewers, water and drains and only last three or four weeks, which is a short period to get in- volved in minority employment If there is anybody really interested in doing this sort of work, we would be willing to talk with them as far as the Town hiring them and training them within our own depart- ments; we would rather not get our construction contracts involved in this way Mr. McSweeney said that the owner usually is the operator and he probably has a three-man crew on one sewer job and these are people he has hired all along; it is not a big, general contractor type of thing Mr Michelman said that he is wholly prepared to believe that sewer contracts and other contracts that the Town lets are, as present- ly carried out, not suitable occasions for this By-Law but, considering this is an amendment, it has seemed to us that we should draft it generally. We think the residents of the Town and Town Meeting members believe it is not to be taken lightly, as kind of casual changes do not meet with favor The draftsmanship here is, it would provide the au- thority if and when it might develop in the future. Suitable occasions might arise and rather than be required to go back and have another amendment we did this The Chairman said that we said to look at the By-Law changes and not take them lightly; this is the reason why I question the practical wisdom for putting this in You have an appropriation that exists and we do not know how this is going to work and if we had experience be- hind us, how can Town Meeting members adopt this Mr Michelman said that it presents a serious question for a Town Meeting Member, who would not be acting responsibly if he didn't give it serious thought We are now asking that this By-Law be con- sidered on its merits The Chairman felt that we would be in better shape if we get the $ 10,000 and get the program going Mr Michelman said that they want Town Meeting to vote on the By-Law; it has other attributes, just as we discussed nine months ago, that it provides legal support and also invites some review by the Attorney General ' s Office if, in the future, doubts still exist The Chairman said that everybody is anxious to try it on a sub- stantial project and make an attempt to really make it work and have something come of it; we will have no problems on that score but he could see some problems in getting the By-Law through Mr Michelman didn't doubt that there would be problems there Mr. Greeley asked if the Chairman was saying that it is a mis- take to apply this to sewers, water and drains; are you saying to ex- clude these? The Chairman said that there are two thoughts on this 1/( y I ) it is not logical to apply it to sewers, etc and 2) was it prac- tical to present it this year? Mr. Michelman said that it is probably a matter of some inter- est; as he understands it, similar material will be presented to Town Meetings in several other Towns. The Chairman said that if we didn't have one last year, fine; but we did Mrs Skov said that this is purely an enabling act Mr. Greeley said that this is an advance item coming before the Town Meeting and there is ample chance to discuss; if the Adminis- trative Officers take a hard look at it, they can use the powers of persuasion, if Town Meeting passes it, talk with the contractor. We think it is a moral commitment and would like it to pass. The Chairman said that the Article is in the Warrant and it will make a difference about how the Article motion is drafted. Mr Michelman said that the Commission will discuss the motion. Mr Michelman and Mrs. Skov retired 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 repu- tation 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 appoint Youth Charles McManus as Youth Counselor for the Town of Lexington, to Counselor work under the supervision of the Selectmen' s Drug Advisory Com- mittee Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 900 P.M A true record, Attest 4xecutive Clerk, Selectmen Al ;4-1 r