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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-11-25-BOS-min 8i SELECTMEN ' S MEETING November 25, 1968 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen ' s Room, Town Office Building , on Monday evening , November 25 , 1968 at 7 30 P M Chairman Cataldo, Messrs Cole, Mabee, Kenney and Greeley were present Mr Legro, Town Counsel , Mr Gray , Executive Assistant, Mr Burke, Superintendent of Public Works , Mr McSweeney, Town Engineer , Mr Wenham, Assistant Superin- tendent of Public Works , and Mrs McCurdy , Executive Clerk, were also present Mr Clarke and Dr Fobert met with the Board The Chairman said that the Board has written you about school sites, and asked if they had done anything about the areas we are holding for school sites? Mr Gray said that he had talked with Dr Fobert and had requested that a letter be written to the Board The Chairman informed Mr Clarke that the Board would like to know about it right away Mr Gray said that a letter had been received from Mr Clarke regarding the 1969 Warrant on Lincoln Street, and it states that the School Department plans no request for funds for further developme nt of playing fields Mr Gray asked the Board to approve a request for a transfer of $225 to the Elections Account We had previ - ously requested a transfer of $3,000 and the Appropria- tion Committee approved $2 ,000 This amount is needed to pay bills for the November election Transfer Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to approve the request to the Appropriation Committee for a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Elections Account in the amount of $225 Mr Gray said that a request has been received from the Newcomers Club to hold a scholarship dessert and card Request party at Cary Hall on March 19, 1969 We usually have for Cary Town Meeting on the third week in March and he asked the Hall feeling of the Board on this request It was agreed to inform the Newcomers Club that an- other date should be selected Mr Gray informed the Board that a letter has been received from Mr Wal lie stating that Chief Corr has denied his request for a gun permit , as he does not belong 86 to a private club and he would like a meeting with the Board to discuss it Mr Gray said that, under the sta- tute, the Chief has the right to make the regulations; theca is a need for protection of life and property The Chief had advised Mr Wallie that if he joined an organized gun club , he would issue a permit The Chairman said that it is the feeling of the Board to support Chief Corr in the matter of issuing gun permits It was agreed to inform Mr Wallie that the matter of issuing a gun permit is within the jurisdiction of the Chief of Police Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, Executive deliberating or voting on matters which , if made public, Session might adversely affect the public security, the financial interest of the Town or the reputation of any person Following discussion regarding the finances of the Town, it was voted to resume the open meeting Mr Whalon of the Suburban Refuse Committee met with the Board Mr Whalon said that as of now, the Regional Refuse Board of which Lexington is a member, has seven communi - ties participating , Arlington having joined last year Under the existing law, every community may pay a sum not exceeding $3, 000 to defray the expenses of the Board ; the total is $21 ,000 The Board has three members from each community and subcommittees are appointed to various com- Suburban mittees , including finances and engineering , to inquire Refuse into various methods for disposal , primarily for incin- Committee eration The possibility does exist for rail hauling and both the Pennsylvania Central railroad and the Boston and Maine have tracks within reasonable reach of communities making up this Board Our engineering subcommittee is of the opinion, not knowing after a year and a half of meet- ing with engineering firms if it would include the most permanent refuse disposal , that they are no more certain of the problem of refuse disposal as there is no clear an- swer at this point Some communities , like Waltham and Bedford , have an urgent problem, but Lexington is not in this position There has to be some serious engineering activity taken to supplement the engineering efforts of our Board Without exception , we are told by those people who are informed on this , the sum of money is inadequate for an engineering study of any consequence It is of such a detailed nature., that if the Refuse Committee came to Lexington and tried to sell it they wouldn ' t buy it without having a program they would believe in There wouldn 't be anything more than a cursory program that 87 could come up with an evaluation of the proposed loca- tion and outlined specifications that would be suitable As a consequence, our Board has voted to ask an amend- ment to existing legislation of $3,000 per community, to increase this amount to a sum not in excess of $ 10,000 This would make $70 ,000 available to our committees , which we feel would be adequate Mr Cole is going to introduce it in the Legislature with Mr DeNormandie of the joint House and Senate Committee on refuse disposal He recommended this figure to us In view of the fact that legislation is permitted , we feel legislation will be introduced As the Warrant for the Town Meeting closes fairly soon , 1 thought you ought to consider an Article calling for this appropriation If pressed , we would be able to act on it Mr Greeley asked about Federal subsidies for the engineering progilam Mr Whalon said that his Board made application a year ago and it was not acted on favorably We didn ' t submit this year because we were informed that there were fewer funds available this year than last year HUD does not contain anything of such an involved character We have felt that we ought not to depend on any Federal funds Mr Mabee said that you are asking for more money This pre-supposes a distinct advantage to join up with other communities Why is it that we are going to be better off with six other communities? Mr . Whalon said that there is legislation available for those who have joined together to act This is a nation-wide problem Last year , there were all kinds of legislation passed Whether we like it or not, we are married to communities I don ' t know whether this is going to be the answer; whatever we may come up with is going to be with other communities who could adopt it or reject it Mr Greeley asked if there is evidence of economy when you get beyond dumping? Mr Whalon said that, financially , people are satis- fied that there are advantages Arlington is in and if they see the advantages they will stay Mr Cole said that, in answer to Mr Mabee, things are only solved on a regional basis In my opinion , refuse is one of them We have to start thinking now as we are going to have a problem To show foresight, we have to take the lead . Mr Mabee said that the question in his mind was that we had nothing but trouble with Bedford for four years, why think we could get along with six others? I 88 Mr Cole said that we must make the effort In this area , the only way it is going to be solved in the future is by a regibnal effort. do the•,future, we are going to run out of land . We can 't do it by ourselves Mr Mabee asked if it is definitely more economical on a regional basis? Mr Whalon said that the alternative would be a dif- ferent kind of approach , controlled by somebody else Mr Kenney said that what you are saying is , we are going to have regional whether we like it or not Mr Mabee said that Belmont and Winchester have their own incinerator Aren ' t they a lot better off? Mr Cole said that incineration is not necessarily the answer As time goes on , we have air pollution , and our aim is to preserve the clean air and clean water I feel rather strongly about it and I think the answers are found in further exploration I think we should put an Article in; Town Counsel could write the motion before Town Meeting If legislature starts in January , it is time consuming and he would have to have some time to get the motion in order Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to insert an Article in the Warrant for the 1969 Annual Town Meeting to increase the appropriation for the Suburban Refuse Committee from $3,000 to $ 10,000 ; this to be acted upon if the legislation has been enacted Mr Greeley asked Mr Whalon if his group has inves- tigated the possibility of joining with Belmont on the incinerator Mr Whalon replied in the negative Mr Adams said that they would have taken us in but they didn ' t want anyone else to run it Mr Mabee asked if the Committee would explore the possibility of joining with Winchester; they have had a lot of difficulty and are going to rebuild , which in- volves a substantial amount of money Their incinerator is already over the capacity , it might be a good time to join with them The Chairman said that there was no answer for this year , this is, at best, five years away for a finished in- stallation n- stallation Mr Cole said that Mr Whalon should be congratulated for a job well done The Chairman thanked Mr Whalon for meeting with the Board and said that he had read the minutes of the Com- mittee meetings and our Committee has attended more meetings than any other one in the area Mr Whalon retired 1 89 Mr Gray informed the Board that the law requires a Community Service Director for the Welfare Department Mr Cole said that he felt David Toomey would be happy to serve in that capacity Welfare It was agreed that Mr Gray is to contact Mr Toomey and an appointment will be made on next Monday evening The Chairman said that a vacancy exists on the Board of Health , due to the death of Mr McQuillan Board of Mr Gray is to check with Mr Heustis and the Board Health will make an appointment next Monday evening The Chairman said that a vacancy exists on the His- toric Districts Commission , we have received nominations Historic from Arts and Crafts and the Library Trustees ; the His- Districts torical Society will have their nominations in by next Monday evening Mr Gray informed the Board that he had a meeting with the Post Office Superintendent and he agreed to ask Town his people to use behind the railroad tracks for parking Office Mr Gray has issued a directive to the Town employees to Parking use the parking area in back of Town Offices and keep the circle in front free of cars The Chairman said that he would like to discuss the figures to give the Capital Expenditures Committee We have a figure of $38,000 for drains , which includes Meriam Street and some requests for drains ; last year it Drains was $40,000 He has asked Mr Zaleski for a figure for and the section of Worthen Road for the subdivision ; we will Worthen discuss it later this evening Mr McSweeney has a figure Road of $55 ,000 for Worthen Road at Bowman School. Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to submit to the Capital Expenditures Committee the figure of $38 ,000 for drains Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to submit to the Capital Expenditures Committee the figure of $55,000 for Worthen Road at Bowman School. The Board discussed Lincoln Street Mr McSweeney said that it would be $ 110, 000 to finish the whole area We presently have 16 or 2 acres The area remaining is about 8 acres and we are taking $45,000 Lincoln Loam is $4 00 a yard and will be spread by contracting Street forces (This is not the I ' of gravel for the proposed bailfieid ) The Chairman said that he felt they should buy 3" of gravel , spread it , and put on 3" of loam, throw seed on it, and leave it there on the remaining area. yU Mr McSweeney said that would be one-half the cost The Chairman said that it could be used for many of the functions we now put in the Center Playground , I wouldn ' t go along with $45 ,000, myself Mr Greeley said that all we have done so far , we have done permanently The Chairman said that he would like to finish the fletd and use the rest of the money to see what materials we can get in there Mr Greeley said that we would be doing it on a long ran9e basis, not a temporary basis Mr Mabee said that he felt the people on Lincoln should be a lot happier now with what we have done Mr Kenney asked how much it would be for the ballfield? Mr McSweeney said it would be $6 ,000 Mr Kenney said that maybe we should ask for more than $ 10 , 000 in the Article The Chairman said that it would be up to the Board Mr Mabee said that $6 ,000 would do the field alone Mr McSweeney asked about $ 12 ,000? The Chairman said that we were very fortunate we had some money to work with , we went to the White Company and they hauled $5 , 000 worth of loam alone. Mr Greeley asked why the Board had to decide now? The Chairman said that we have to have a figure for Capital Expenditures Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to ask the Capital Expenditures Committee for $25 ,000 for Lincoln Street Mr Gray discussed the Force Main and said that Bed- ford was having a special Town Meeting to ask for $500,000, they already have $275 ,000 from their pumping station and Bedford have appropriated $40 ,000 The application was filed Sewer August 28; Mr McSweeney checked today and it is still being processed The Chairman said that we should have an answer by next month The Board discussed the fee for Package Goods for a Package liquor license Stores Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted that Fee the fee for a liquor license for Package Goods Stores would remain at $ 1500 00 Motel The fee for a liquor license for motels was discussed Liquor Li - The Chairman said that the existing fee is $ 1500; we cense Fee could go to the extreme of $2500 , by statute Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to raise the fee for a liquor license for motels to $2500.00 91 The fee for a Club License was discussed Mr Gray said that we have had requests for applica- Club tion and they have asked the fee Liquor The Board agreed to set the fee for Club Liquor Li - License censes on next Monday evening Mr McSweeney informed the Board that he had a re- quest from the DPW about adding to the 1968 Chapter 90 , the name of Spring Street, and to add Worthen Road to the 1969 request. When Lowell Street is built, to have any Spring remaining money for Spring Street We don ' t have another Street street to transfer this money to, Lowell Street is by itself for 1967 and 1968 ; this is just carrying on the 1969 request, they would like to include Spring Street Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to amend the 1968 request by adding Spring Street Mr McSweeney said that he would like to transfer re- quest # I , which is on Massachusetts Avenue , to another location The State would like both of these requests by January I , 1969 The Chairman said that Chapter 616 money only can be for reconstruction , not a betterment street What streets can we assign? Mr McSweeney said that we have $55 , 000 for Worthen Road Massachusetts Avenue from Worthen Road to Route 128 we could resurface and put sidewalks in ; we always have Adams Street We have $70 ,000 between the two of them I would like to straighten out Adams Street The second result would be Worthen Road behind the Bowman School Worthen Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to Road designate Worthen Road for Chapter 90 funds Mr McSweeney said that we have $35 ,000 in Chapter 679 funds He would like to resurface Massachusetts Avenue from Worthen Road to Route 128 Mr Legro asked if sidewalks come within 679 funds? Mr McSweeney replied that they do Mr Cole asked him to check it and make sure Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to resurface Massachusetts Avenue from Worthen Road to Route 128 Mr McSweeney said that a request has come in for a sewer from the Americana Company Americana Mr Cole asked if Waltham had a sewer over to the Town Sewer line? Mr Greeley said that they do have the sewer but not the capacity Mr Mabee said that, assuming they had the capacity, when we re-zoned they agreed to do it The Chairman asked Mr McSweeney to talk with Mr Howe of Waltham and get his version of the story Mr Greeley asked how much more money it would cost to do it? Mr McSweeney said that it would be about $50 ,000 more It was agreed that Mr McSweeney is to talk with Mr Howe of Waltham Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to sign the Certificate of Incorporation for the following Cert of Inc John Nolan 4 Grimes Road Joseph P Pemsler 6 Castle Road Lewis G Pollock 24 Partridge Road "Art and Technology , Inc " The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board re- garding Stedman Road. The letter states that the Planning Board is in favor of laying out and constructing Stedman Road as a private way between Allen Street and lot 87. The Chairman said that this was discussed last week and we were waiting for the decision of the Planning Board. He asked the Board's feeling on the matter. Mr. Kenney said that he thought they were going to solve the problem about the single access. The Chairman asked if the Board was going to pursue the issue of a single access if we want the Articles in the Warrant? The Warrant closes December 13 and what ap- 'Stedman proach shall we take. oadMr. Greeley said that he was not unhappy about a single access if they provide an adequate opening for cars and children at Marrett Road. Mr. Mabee and Mr. Cole were in favor of double access roads. Mr. Greeley suggested that the Board ask Mr. Gray, Mr. McSweeney and Mr. Zaleski about a second access road. The Chairman said that the Planning Board wanted a pedestrian way laid out. Mr. Greeley said that they felt this was going to be a saving to the Town. The Chairman said that it was his feeling to stay out of Stedman Road. Mr. Greeley said that if we give the School Department that part, it is their responsibility. 33 Mr. Legro said that they would take it for school purposes. Mr. Kenney said that it was Mr. Legro's idea to leave Stedman alone and build a walkway. Mr. Mabee said that we, as a Board, think there ought to be two accesses; wouldn' t that change the whole picture? Mr. Greeley said that the Planning Board thinks that children would use the sidewalk; the question is whether we would close out the legal rights of the property owner? The Chairman said that if they build another access, there will be a sidewalk on both sides . Mr. Legro said that people have rights that we would take away; this was shown on a survey not accompanied by a profile. Only a long, extensive search would disclose what the rights are. The Chairman asked if this would have to be resolved for the Town Meeting? Mr. Legro said that they have to know where they are going to locate the building on the site and this will be effected by what means of access there is going to be. The Chairman asked that a meeting be set up with Mr. Taylor to go through this and tell them the Board's feeling; the majority of the Board has serious reserve- " tions on a single access and we would like an answer. The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board regarding the Workable Program. The letter states that the Planning Board has been asked by the LCSR to prepare a Workable Program for the Town in order to obtain fed- Workable eral funds for various housing assistance programs under Program consideration by the LCSR and to request that the Town boards, committees and departments cooperate with the Planning Board by discussing the program, provide neces- sary information and take any other action needed to make the Workable Program a success. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to support the preparation of a Workable Program for Lexington. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign First Class Agents ' Licenses for the following: Liaenses Lawless Mawhinney Motors, Inc. , Auto Engineering, Inc. , Rowe Chevrolet, Inc. , and Lexington Auto Sales, Inc. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held on Minutes November 18, 1968. I 94 The Chairman said that a letter has been received Interim from the Planning Board regarding the Interim Open Space Open and Conservation Plan for Lexington. The plan is under Space review by the Planning Board and has not been fully ap- proved or adopted. The Chairman said that he had talked with the Super- intendent of Public Works and Mr. Mazerall. Most of our trees from the Arlington line to Lexington Center will Trees have to be removed. He had asked them to come in with a program to start at the Arlington line to Lexington Center. Mr. Kenney asked about Data Processing. He said that the Article which was in the Warrant last year requested Data the Committee to come back in 1969. We have found out Proces- that to gather the necessary information to set up sys- sing Com. tams is going to take a considerable amount of time. He recommended that the Board vote to insert an Article in the Warrant to continue the Data Processing Committee for a future date. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to insert an Article in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meet- ing to continue the Data Processing Committee for a future date. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, Executive deliberating or voting on matters which, if made public, Session might adversely affect the public security, the finan- cial interests of the Town, or the reputation of a person. After discussion of matters of financial interest to the Town, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Mr. McSweeney read a letter from the Planning Board regarding road construction costs of $50,000 on the con- struction of Worthen Road across the Bowman School land, and cost to the Town of $32,500 for the extra width of Worthen roadbed, culverts and pavement on 1430 feet of Worthen Road Road in the proposed subdivision. Also, it is antici- Sub- pated that only about one-half of the total reimbursement Division will be needed in 1969 and there should be added to this the cost of reimbursing_ the developer of Maureen Road- Emerson Road subdivision for the extra drainage and other items required by the Town in excess of the needs of the subdivision alone. The letter further states that the cost estimates for street construction were the province of the Town Engineer and the Planning Board is reluctant to furnish anything more than rough guestimates, which should be verified and refined by the Town Engineer. 95 Mr. McSweeney said that he felt the subdivider should come in with an estimate or cost and we can either agree or disagree. With the expense of exploring 25 or 30 feet, we are talking about a sizeable amount of money. We must have had six or seven meetings on this and our part is, should we participate in this and to what extent? The Chairman asked if there was enough money for that, we don't have to worry about it for the next Town Meeting. Mr. Greeley asked if we have paid the contractor? He thought the funds in the appropriation were all gone. Mr. Legro said that the additional sewer costs is coming out of the sewer appropriation. Does the Board want to ask for $16,000 or $17,000? The Chairman said that Mr. McSweeney doesn't know any of the ground rules. Mr. McSweeney said that he hasn't even met these people; we are talking about serious negotiations here. Mr. Greeley said that we asked the Planning Board and they are trying to make an honest guess. Mr. Legro said that he thought one is talking about what we need to know about a figure in the Article and Mr. McSweeney about a final figure. The Chairman said that Mr. McSweeney is saying to put $20,000 in the Article and when the street is constructed, he needs $35,000. Mr. Gray said that when the money is put in the budget, it is an estimate. Mr. Mabee said that they are going to build to your standard specifications; the only thing is, how much wider? Mr. McSweeney said that they are talking 25 or 30 feet, up to 100 feet. The Chairman said that we will agree to submit a figure of $20,000 to the Capital Expenditures Committee. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to submit the figure of $20,000 to the Capital Expenditures Committee for the Article on reimbursement to subdivisions. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 11:20 P.M. A true record, Attest: c , r Executive Clerk:---: =Z— Lo; lerk, Slector, o p U voit 11F �.