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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-10-27-BOS-min 455 SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 27, 1969 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, October 27, 1969 at 7:30 F.M Chairman Cataldo, Messrs . Mabee, Kenney, and Bailey were present. Mr Legro, Town Counsel; Mr Gray, Executive Assistant; 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, three jurors were drawn as follows : Charles L May, Jr 12 Briggs Road John J. McDonald , Jr. 18 Baker Avenue Jurors Frederick Rodd 25 Swann Lane Mr. Legro requested the Board to sign the contract awarded to Brentwood Construction Corporation on October 20, 1969 for sewer and storm drains , in the amount of $63,781.88 Brentwood Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to Contract sign the contract for sewer and storm drains awarded to Brentwood Construction Corporation, in the amount of $63, 781 88 . Mr Legro informed the Board that he had met with the Town Office Building Committee and Mr. Dean, Archi- tect . We had a good session and Mr Dean conceded on many of the points Mr. Kenney said that Mr Dean agreed to a limited redesign and would so redesign at no extra charge, if the bids come in too high. However, he wished to limit the area of redesign to the $708,000 estimate, plus a 10% contingency; anything beneath which he would have no redesign responsibility. Mr. Dean would also like Town the $708,000 estimate increased by $11,000 to cover an Office increase in the size of the building and the extra work Building involved. We ask the Board to give us the latitude to increase this estimated cost by $11,000 if it will be necessary in our final negotiations with Mr. Dean. Mr. Legro said that I am to inform Mr. Dean of the Board ' s approval as to content. Mr. Kenney said the contract for the architectural services is in the amount of $48,000 minus a credit of $3,000 for work done and paid for in connection with 45b the original proposal presented to the Town Meeting. In addition, the Board authorized Mr. Dean to prepare the plans to make application for federal reimbursement on the proposed emergency operations center at a cost of $800. The Chairman said that it is the feeling of the Board to proceed; we approve the form and the content . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the form and content of the contract with Perry, Dean & Stewart for Architect' s services for the Town Office Building. Mr. Gray informed the Board that two letters have been received from the School Committee regarding the acquisition of land. One letter states that the School Committee would still like to have the Woburn Street School Land site so that when and if expanded junior high school Acquisition facilities are needed , the Town will have suitable al- ternatives to consider. The other letter states that two sites will be required for replacement of Hancock, Monroe and Parker elementary schools and one site should be reserved for a possible junior high school after Muzzey has been phased out ; in addition to the school now being planned . The Chairman asked if anyone knew how much land they want? Mr Gray replied , only the original plan of some 20 odd acres The Chairman said that our direction should be to have appraisals made and ask for some money Mr. Gray said that we have appraisals but they should be updated . It was agreed to update the appraisals . Mr Gray informed the Board that an abatement of $816 for sewer assessment had been voted on October 20 for Chesley M. Dunlap. Mr Dunlap has informed us that iOa'lsp he does not want to connect to the sewer Ae9daament Mr Gray was instructed to write to Mr. Dunlap, in- forming him that the assessment of $816, in lieu of betterments, will only be effective until December 31, 1969; if Mr. Dunlap wants to commit 'himself for the sewer, he doesn't have to have it installed until spring or early summer of 1970. Mr Gray submitted a list of insurance agencies that Insurance are eligible to participate in the dividends ; 50% for the Agencies agency handling the account and 50% to be divided among nine agencies . 45 IUpon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the following list of insurance agencies to participate in the distribution of the commissions on the Town' s insurance schedule, as follows : Brewer and Lord , 50%, and 50% to be distributed to: Bartlett Insurance Agency John D Beckwith W.S Couett Fred Hersom MacNeil Insurance Agency Milton F Hodgdon J. Quinton Rush Northwest Insurance Agency Otis Brown Insurance Agency Mr Kenney asked Mr. Gray to look into the possibil- I ity of having this money in future years returned to the Town in the form of lower premium charges . Mr Gray said he would discuss this with Brewer and Lord Mr. Gray said that a letter had been received from Yale Altman, 10 Marshall Road, stating that he did not accept the decision of the Board of the award of no dam- ages in connection with a sewer easement on his property Altman Mr. Gray and Mr McSweeney are to look into it and Easement report back to the Board i Mr. Gray reported that he had talked with Mrs . Collins of Hill Street. Her husband has been away and she wanted to discuss with him the decision of the Board Collins ' to award them $500; Mrs Collins is to call Mr Gray at Easement a later date. Mr. Gray said that Mr Mazerall would like to remove the trees in Lexington Center end place them in a nursery. He asked if the Board had any objection? The Chairman aakdd if it is definitely going to be designed and all ready by next spring? Mr McSweeney replied in the affirmative. Lexington The Chairman asked if Mr Mazerall is going to put Center the trees back in the summer? Trees Mr. Gray said that he is going to put them in a new location. It was agreed that Mr. Gray is to discuss the re- moval of the trees with Mr Mazerall. Mr. Gray said that he had talked with Mr. Jaquith regarding the demolition of the barn on the Douglass property. He asked for permission for a hearing to de- Douglass molish the building to be held on November 19, 1969. Property The Chairman asked Mr. Legro if we condemn the building, do we have to go through a hearing. 4 Mr Legro said that the Historic Districts Commis- sion would have to have a hearing. He would be glad to look into the matter. He said that the Board could make a determination to demolish the building as it is open to the weather, delapidat4d and dangerous . Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to condemn the building on the Douglass property at the rear of Massachusetts Avenue Mr. Gray informed the Board that he had sent them Taxi Fees copies of taxi fees in surrounding towns He recom- mended that no action be taken until the Traffic Commit- tee meets The Board agreed Mr Gray informed Mr Kenney that the Traffic Com- Mass . Ave. mittee is going to discuss the intersection of Massachu- Worthen Rd . setts Avenue and Worthen Road at the meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 29. Mr. Osborne and Mr. Simpson of the Peacock Farms Association met; with the Board . Mr. Osborne said that the purpose of the meeting is to present plans for the landscaping of the traffic loop Peacock at the intersection of Route 2 and Watertown Street . At Farms a previous meeting with the Board, it was agreed that we Route 2 would make out a plan and review it with you and then present it to the State DPW. We have retained John Frey of Mason and Frey to look over the problem of visual and acoustic screening between the loop and the houses ad- joining it We have approved the plan, as submitted by Mr. Frey and would like to present it to the Board The DPW has told us that they are waiting for some initiative on your part . The Chairman said that is not the case. We have been in touch with the Commissioner several times and we are waiting for him Mr Simpson said that his understanding with Mr. Richardson of the DPW was that we were supposed to come up with a plan that had the joint approval of the Select- men and us He is delaying the progress on his own plan until this plan is jointly approved The Chairman said that at our last meeting with the Commissioner, we discussed the project and he said that as soon as they were ready with the project, he would call us . We will have our Public Works Department take a look at the plan and come back to us . Then we will contact Commissioner Ribba and sit with him and Mr. Richardson. Mr. Osborne and Mr. Simpson retired from the meeting 459 Mr. Burke informed the Board that four bids have been received for the resurfacing of Massachusetts Avenue from Route 128 to Cedar Street, under Chapter 90 maintenance. Massachusetts Broken Stone Company of Weston was the lowest bidder on five items as follows: Item 1 - For about 600 tons of street surface course bituminous concrete Type 1 fur- nished and laid . $ 8.65 per ton. Item 2 - For about 50 tons of driveway and walk transitional area surface course, bi- tuminous concrete Type 1 furnished and laid Resurfacing $18 55 per ton. Mass Ave. Item 3 - About 22 manholes adjusted to grade. $40.00 each. Item 4 - About 13 catch basins adjusted to grade. $40.00 each. Item 5 - About 14 water boxes adjusted to grade. $20 .00 each. Mr Burke recommended that the contract be awarded to Massachusetts Broken Stone Company. They propose commencing on November 10 as the work has to be com- pleted by November 15 for Chapter 90 funds . The Chairman said that he thought we were going to consider Chapter 90 and Chapter 616; why reseal now when we were supposed to put the sidewalks in part of this section this year? Mr. McSweeney said that we filed Chapter 616 money for Worthen Road although we knew we didn' t have enough money to go the whole distance The Chairman said that he thought the sidewalk at Estabrook Road was on a temporary basis . Mr Burke said that this contract would have to be awarded next week as they have to start on November 10. Mr. McSweeney suggested transferring Chapter 519 funds . It was agreed that Mr Burke and Mr. McSweeney will look into this matter and report to the Board on next Monday evening. Mr Burke reported to the Board that two tree Public Works climbers had resigned last week. There is one man in Employee 46(® the department who is interested in the work and is presently classified as a laborer, W-2A, Step B, $2.74 per hour. He recommended that the man be raised to a tree climber, W-4, Step A, $2.89 per hour. Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent of Public Works to reclassify one laborer, W-2-A, Step B, to tree climber, W-4, Step A, at the rate of $2 89 per hour. Mr. Burke informed the Board that, in September, a contract was awarded to Zani Excavating Co. for the construction of two tennis courts, in the amount of $13,300. As in many contracts, there was a subcon- tractor involved, who was located in Connecticut and must be certified to work in Massachusetts In Sep- tember, a verbal quotation was given to Mr. Zani for $3400 or $3500; on October 20, a written quotation Tennis was received for $3440; on October 21, another quo- Courts tation was given for $6575 It appears that Zani will not be able to fill the contract unless he can get an- other subcontractor to do the paving. Mr Burke said that he was expecting a letter from 2ani' s attorney which, unfortunately, he hadn't received as yet . He suggested that the Board might want to rescind the vote of September 22, 1969, awarding the contract to Zani Excavating Company and hold the $500 check, which was a bid deposit, as a penalty. We can rebid this during the winter and get a contract out in the spring. The Chairman asked Mr. Burke to report the status of this to the Board on next Monday evening, after you have received the letter from Zani' s attorney We may have no other alternative recourse but to rescind the vote. The Chairman read a letter from the Housing Author- Housing ity which stated that present indications are that the Authority number of eligible applicants for Senior Citizens Hous- ing cannot be met by the existing available facilities . To serve this need, the Housing Authority believes ad- ditional facilities should be constructed in the next two to three years; a minimum of forty units would be required. Therefore, the Housing Authority requests the Board to consider the need for Senior Citizen Hous- ing when planning or discussing any changes in land use within the community. Mr. Gray was instructed to write to the Housing Authority and inform them that the onus is on them; they have to find a site 461 `v, The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Woodward , re- questing t� that the Board consider tha possibility that the 4-H Club and Lexington Light Horse Club have the use of the former Hennessey land for a permanent horse Hennessey ring and the use of the stable. Land It was agreed that Mr Gray is to meet with a representative of the 4-H Club and the Lexington Light Horse Club to discuss their proposal and , also, to have a member of the Recreation Committee at the meet- ing. The Planning Board met with the Board . Mr. Lund said that they would like to discuss the Drummer Boy and our necessity for keeping the right-of- way. We are recommending that the right-of-way be provided for the jug-handle on Bedford Street so that, eventually, access would be provided. There is a traf- 4 fic problem and we think the intersection needs to be resolved, especially in regard to TOPICS Mr. Graham recommended that a meeting be held with the State to discuss the possibility of that intersec- tion being handled under the TOPICS program. Mr. Lund said that, at the present time, we think Drummer the possible exit and entrance to the Drummer Boy sub- Boy division should be at Winter and Eldred Streets but don't think it should be built until the intersection problem has been resolved . The Chairmen asked if the intersection, itself, will have a bearing on the Drummer Boy land? Mr. Lund replied in the negative . The Chairman said that we did not want this re- quest to interfere with the request for the direct ac- cess for Route 128. It is the State' s position that they didn't have money to pay for it and turned it down. I asked them to re-submit it on the basis of " is this engineering design feasible?" They are supposed to an- swer us within two weeks . Once we get this answer, we can then discuss the intersection. It was agreed that the Board would hold considera- tion of the Bedford Street intersection to be handled under the TOPICS program until an answer is received from Commissioner Ribbs on our request for direct access to Route 128. The Planning Board retired from the meeting The Chairman read a letter from the ABC regarding ABC Vets & the rules and regulations for Veterans ' Day, November 11 Thanksgiv- -i and Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1969. Ing Day Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to notify the Package Goods Stores to remain closed on November 11 and November 27, 1969; Motels and Clubs may serve liquor during the usual hours . Sewer Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted Order to sign the Order for Construction of Sewer on Winter Winter St. Street, from Morris Street to Marvin Street . The Chairman read' a letter from Commissioner Ribbs regarding our letter for a fence at Baskin Play- ground and Route 128. The letter states that fencing I Baskin was installed along Route 128 during construction, in Playground accordance with the land use at that time. Changes in fence land use after the highway construction which requires changes or the addition of fencing must be considered the responsibility of the owners . Accordingly, the fencing at the playground would be the responsibility of the authorities who developed the playground . It was agreed that Mr. Gray is to talk to the Recreation Committee and if there is enough money for a fence, to come in with some bids . The Board discussed the Town charges . The Chairman said that there is no charge now for Drain drain connection permits . He suggested a charge of $25. Connection Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Charges to charge $25 for a drain connection permit Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted I St Opening to charge $5 00 for a street opening permit . Dump It was agreed not to discuss dump permits . Street Construction and Water Main Construction betterments were discussed. Betterments Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted for Street that the property bettered by street construction and and Water water main construction will be assessed on the follow- ' Main Construe- ing basis : One-third by the Town, and one-third as- tion sassed against the property bettered on each side of the street. The average cost of street or water con- struction over the past three years will be used as a base in the determination of the amount of the better- ments . Sidewalk Construction Betterments were discussed . Sidewalk Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted Betterment that the charge is to be $1.50 per foot, according to Chapter 83„Section 26, the rate set by the Selectmen is not to exceed one-half. 4flP Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session, for the purpose of dis- cussing, deliberating or voting on matters which, if Executive made public, might adversely affect the public recur- Session ity, the financial interests of the Town or the reputation 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 10:15 P.M ( A true record, Attest : C,a Executive Clerk, Selectm n