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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-06-09-BOS-min 3 21 SELECTMEN'S MEETING June 9, 1969 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, June 9, 1969, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cataldo, Messrs. Mabee, Kenney, Greeley and Bailey were present. Mr. Burke, Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. McSweeney, Town Engineer, and Mrs. McCurdy, Executive Assistant, were also present. At the request of the Town Clerk, three jurors were drawn as follows : Jurors Klaus Schneller 12 Blossom Street Graydon M. Wheaton 5 Hadley Road Daniel J. Griffin 384. Woburn Street The Chairman asked the Board to approve the request to the Appropriation Committee for a transfer of $3,000 to the Election Account, to cover the payment of out- Transfer standing bills in the amount of $800 and the cost of the Referendum; there is a balance of $163.19 in the account . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee for a transfer of $3,000 to the Election-Selectmen Account No. 1900. The Chairman asked the Board to approve the request om: frthe Town Clerk for a transfer of $1500 to Election Account No. 1950. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request of the Town Clerk to the Appropria- tion Committee for a transfer of $1500 to the Election- Town Clerk Account No. 1950. The Chairman read a letter from Town Counsel, re- questing that the Board sign a release relating to the Town's claim against the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company, in the amount of $172.60. Release Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the release relating to the Town's claim against the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company, in the amount of $172.60. The Chairman read a letter from Daniel Small, request- ing permission for the "18 x 72" organization to held an Permit auction on the green in front of the Visitors' Canter on Saturday, June 28, 1969. Mr. Kenney said that he had no objection as long as there was a responsible adult to supervise the auc- tion. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the "18 x 72" organization to hold an auction on the green in front of the Visitors' Center on June 28, 1969, subject to the stipulation that a letter be submitted to the Board stating the name of an adult to sponsor and supervise the auction. The organization is to contact Mr. Mazerall to make arrangement for the use of the .green. Mr. Burke requested the Board to approve the re- classification of two employees. One, Joseph R. Medlin has been in training as a shovel operator and has passed the required examination for a hoe equipment operator. He has been making $3.10 per hour, W-3-D, since 1966 and it is requested that he be reclassified as shovel opera- tor, W-5, Step D, at $3.41 per hour; effective today and the anniversary date of April first. He has operated a shovel since November and got his license early in April; there is only one item of equipment that he is not quali- fied to operate. The other employee is James F. Donovan who has been in training as a heavy equipment operator on a front, loader. He is a full time, S-2-A, Step B, at $2.74 an Public hour as a laborer. It is recommended that he be re- Works classified to W-2-B, Step C, at an hourly rate of $2.93, Employee effective today with an anniversary date of April first. If we keep him in the same step and gave a grade increase, it would only mean seven cents an hour. We are trying to take some of these men who are qualified to operate heavy equipment and move them into grade W-3 with the classification of heavy equipment operator. If the anniversary date is changed, it wopld mean to go 15 or 16 months without an increase. The Chairman said that he could understand the re- classification but hbt the step raise. It is difficult to set a precedent to give a step increase within a year. Mr. Burke said that he felt that the increase is not adequate by moving to the upper grade without the step. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent of Public Works and reclassify the following Public Works employees : Joseph R. Medlin as shovel operator, W-5, Step D, $3.41 per hour James F. Donovan as laborer W2-B, Step C, $2.93 per hour 323 R The Chairman read a letter from the Mystic Valley Gas Company requesting location of a 2" gas main in Phinney Road. This location has been approved by the Town Engineer. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the request of the Mystic Valley Gas Company to locate a 2" gas main in Phinney Road. The Chairman read a letter from a resident of Dane Road and Foster Road, requesting permission for a block party to be held on Sunday, June 22, 1969, from 7:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. Permit Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the residents of Dane Road and Foster Road to hold a block party on Sunday, June 22, 1969, from 7:00 P.M. to 11 :00 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from the residents of Taft Avenue, requesting permission for a block party to be held in front of 62 Taft Avenue on Friday, June 13, Permit 1969, from 9:00 P.M. to 12 :30 P.M. It was agreed to change the time from 12:30 P.M. to 11 :30 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the residents of Taft Avenue, Ann Street and Holland Street to hold a block party in fron of 62 Taft Avenue from 9:00 P.M. to 11 :30 P.M., subject to the restriction of the Chief of Police. The Chairman read a letter from the Promenaders Club, requesting permission to have a large truck parked behind Cary Hall for a clothing drive for Morgan Prom- Memorial on June 13-15, 1969. manaders Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the Prom-manaders to park a truck in the rear of Cary Hall for a clothing drive for Morgan Mem oriel on June 13-15, 1969, subject to the regulations of the Superintendent of Public Works. Upon Motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Chairman to sign the Liquor Identification I.D.Oard card for Brenda Marshall, 19 Lillian Road. The proposed Jury List was discussed and will be ap- Jury proved at a later date. list Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to Dog Off. sign the Warrant for the Dog Officer to service notice to Warrant the owners of unlicensed dogs, as of June 2, 1969. 34-2 ji Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Order of Construction of Sewer on Blossom- crest Road. The Chairman read a letter frost lir. Conroy re- questing extension of Town sewer to the Kitchen subdivision. The Chairman said that he is asking us to vote to extend the sewer to this development. It was agreed to write to Mr. Conroy advising him that, when all the bids for the trunk sewer are in, we will be in a better position to consider his request. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Common Victualler License for Alexios Common Panagiotou, 178 Bedford Street,. subject to the approval Victualler of the Board of Health; also to inform Mr. Panagiotou License that the Board has voted that his establishment shall close at 11 :00 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Worthen Rd. to .sign the sewer betterment assessments for Worthen Waltham St. Road and Waltham Street. Mr. Mabee informed the Board that he would like to exercise the option on the Douglass property as soon as possible.. The Chairman informed the Board that petitions have been received for a Referendum on Article 9- Referendum Amendment to the By-Law, of the 8:15 Special Town. Meeting and Article 2-Appropriation for the new Junior High School, 8:00 Special Town Meeting, June 2, 1969. The signatures have not been checked and will be given to the Town Clerk tomorrow .morning for certi- fication. Mr. Belcastro, Dog Officer, met with the Board. The Chairman asked Mr. Belcastro to describe the situation at the dog kennel. Mr. Belcastro said that when he picks up dogs with distemper, he must tie them up outside, as Dr. Smith does not want them near the other dogs. Dr. Smith wants us to build a kennel in his yard so that the dogs will be separated. I prefer to. have a shed built at the dump and, if the operation is moved, I could move the shed, too. Mr. Greeley asked if he would take good care of the dogs? 325 Mr. Belcastro said that he would take the sick dogs to Dr. Smith. Mr. Kenney said that someone would have to check in on them seven days a week. Mr. Mabee asked how many dogs are at Dr. Smith's? Mr. Belcastro said that he is filled up; he has taken them to Dr. Chabot's, but he doesn't want any more; now I have to take them home. Mr. Greeley asked if six "runs " would be enough at the dump? Mr. Belcastro answered in the affirmative. Mr. Mabee asked the number of stalls we would need in town to take care of the current situation. Mr. Belcastro said that he would be happy with six stalls, Mr. Kenney asked what Arlington does about weekends? Mr. Belcastro said that they have a man five days a week and one part-time man on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 A.M. to 12 :00 N. They won't let out dogs on the weekend, and charge $2.00 a day for board. The Chairman said that the Dog Officer in Arlington has room for ten or twelve mores spaces. He asked if Mr. Belcastro could talk with him about them? Mr. Belcastro said that he had talked with him and was told that the Board would oul have to talk to the Town Manager. It was agreed that Mr. Gray is to talk with the Arlington Town Manager to see if arrangements could be made to take care of the Lexington dogs. Mr. Belcastro retired from the meeting. Mr. Taylor of the Permanent Building Committee met with the Board. He said that the time schedule, the 30 day period, when- we must award the contract, expires on July 7th. We must get approval of the Emergency Finance Board and the State Board of Education meets on June 24th. We must gobefore that meeting and we must have a vote of Refer- Town Meeting. We have to go to the Emergency Finance endum Board on June 26th for State Aid. We have to get these to let the contract by July 7th. The latest date we can • have the election is June 23rd. The Chairman said that is impossible; we would have to have the Warrant out by this Friday. The signatures would have to be checked.. On the awarding of the bid you could get an extension from Tocci. The State Board of Education wouldn't meet in July, anyway. The Town Clerk wants July 7th because of the people voting; we told her that we couldn't go to that date because of our statutes. It is impossible to have it on the 23rd. According to Mr. Legro, the other alternative would be if we changed the policy of the Town and go to a day other than a Monday. This is a decision that the Board would have to make. Mr. Greeley asked if we could have it on June 25th? Mr. Taylor said that the Emergency Finance Board could change the date of the meeting, but it is the Board of Education that bothers me. The Chairman said that, in his opinion, Mr. Taylor's most serious problem is with Bond Counsel on the playfield. Mr. Taylor said, you mean the Conservation. This is the first time anyone has indicated there would be a problem with Bond Counsel. The Chairman said that Mr. Legro told you. Mr. Taylor said that we presented a number of al- ternative ways we could build and he didn't agree with them. We have an Article for $5.5 million and $50,000 allocated to this; obviously, we can't build on Conser- vation land before we get it squared away. We could bond the $50,000 and turn it back to the Town. The Chairman said that Mr. Legro says that this is not the case. I am saying that should be squared away. Mr. Taylor said this is a misunderstanding; I will talk with Mr. Legro. Maybe, we won't build on that play area and might have to come back to the Town for an appropriation. The Chairman said that both Boards could talk with the State Board of Education and get a vote sub- ject to the Referendum. In the best interests of the Town, it should be set on June 25 or 26. Mr. Taylor said that if we had it on June 25th, we wouldn't have to re-schedule the meeting with the Emergency Finance Board; we could get approval of the Board of Education and go to the Emergency Finance Board. Mr. Legro came into the meeting. Mr. Taylor said that we have been talking about getting approval, subject to the vote of the Referendum. Mr. Legro said that they did give approval, before in 1965. The Chairman said that we can't set the date four- teen days before the calling of the meeting. Mr. Legro said that you are not going to vote to- night to call a meeting. 327 The Chairman said that if the signatures are certi- fied, we will have a meeting of the Board on Thursday or Friday morning to sign the Warrant and set the data of the Referendum. Mr. Legro said that within ten days you must call a meeting within fourteen days after the call; after the signatures are checked. Mr. Legro informed the Board that he had heard from Counsel for the owners of the Steeves property; the op- tion expired on June 16 and they have not been successful in making arrangements with the assignee, and they will have none. I suggest an extension of the option. I couldn't recommend the exercise of the option knowing the option couldn't convey full title and that would lower the value of the land and we would have no place to go but up. My opinion is to exercise the option, but it has just a week to go. Mr. Greeley said, in other words, make a taking by eminent domain. Steeves Mr. Legro said that the option says we shall not Property exercise without one or the other parcels . The Chairman said that you are telling us that next Monday we won't sign the option. - Mr. Legro said that it is his recommendation that II the Bo rd vote not to exercise the option but make the tak . . Greeley said that if we voted to make the taking, it wo d be the same amount of money. . Legro said that the Board would make a determina- tion o award of damages . e Chairman asked if he had talked to Mr. Smith about it? . Legro answered in the negative It was agreed that the Board would talk with the Con- servation Committee. The Chairman said that we discussed the Douglas■ prop briefly and would like to exercise the option. . Legro said that he has been waiting to make sure therli s no referendum. I think we ought to have a title Douglass examtion before the Board exercises the option; it Option will three or tour weeks. . Greeley said that the referendum on that did not come . . Mabee said that if the title is O.K. , we exercise the option. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to I adjourn at 9:12 P.M. A true record, Attest : 'tSe Executive Clerk, Selectmen