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SELECTMEN'S MEETING
August 25, 1969
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the
Selectmen's Roam, Town Office Building, on Monday evening,
August 25, 1969 at 7 30 P.M Chairman Cataldo, Messrs. Mabee,
Kenney, Greeley and Bailey were present. Mr Gray, Executive
Assistant•; Mr. Burke, Superintendent of Public Works and Mrs
McCurdy, Executive Clerk,were also present.
At the request of the Town Clerk, seven Jurors were drawn,
as follows:
Irwin L Miller S Diamond Road
Michael D Maltz 36 Hayes Avenue Jurors
Bruno Nicolai 55 Albemarle Avenue
Arnold Jeltseh 52 Liberty Avenue
Robert H. Morrison 76 Blake Road
Norman A. Kress 15 Fulton Road
Richard L Trexler 11 Hutchinson Road
Mr Gray requested the Board to sign a copy of the attested
vote on the traffic amendment regarding Hill Street, which is to Traffic
be sent to the State DPW for approval A vote is not needed as the Amendment
Selectmen voted the amendment on August 11, 1969
As a point of information, Mr Burke reported to the Board
that the asphalt strike is still on and a vote was taken to con-
tinue the strike
The Chairman read a letter from the Mystic Valley Gas Com-
pany which requested permission to locate a 6-inch high pressure
welded steel gas main in Spring Street; this request has been
approved by the Town Engineer
Mr Louis Stockwell of the Mystic Valley Gas Company was
present and explained that the plan shows the proposed gas main
all the way down to the Raytheon driveway; we will only go into
Kennecott Copper, provided we find the pipe at that point. The Permit
road has been filled and the pipe is very deep there; we would
like a more shallow location but we had one instance this summer
where we had to go in and repair and, at that location, we had
to install 130 feet of pipe, The 6..ineh,main willibave hbout
21/2 feet of cover.
Mr Greeley asked if this would be near the new telephone
lines?
The Chairman replied that part of it is,
Mr Greeley suggested that the two companies coordinate
their plans so that the street would not be dug up twice
After discussion, the Board agreed to grant the permit with
the stipulation that the Mystic Valley Gas Company contact the
Superintendent of Public Works for a permit in order to coordinate
the installation of the gas main and telephone conduit in the same
general area.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the
Order of Construction for sidewalks on the following streets
Order of
Construction Bridge Street
of Sidewalks Grassland Street
Hillcrest Avenue
Manley Court
Vaille Avenue
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the
Order of Construction of sewers in the following streets:
Adams Street
Bedford Street
Lowell Street
Massachusetts Avenue (Ryan)
North Street
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Common
Common Victualler Licenses for the following
1 Victualler
Licenses Buttricks 34 Bedford Street
Lexington Golf Club, Inc. 55 Hill Street
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per-
Permit mission to the Church of Our Redeemer to conduct a rag and paper
drive on October 26, 1969 from 1 00 P.M. to 6 00 P.M.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant per-
Permit mission to the residents of Field Road and Barberry Road to hold a
square dance on August 31, 1969 from 7:30 P.M. to 11 00 P.M.
The Chairman informed the Board that a request has been received
from the Superintendent of Public Works for a transfer of $700 to
Transfer the Street Sign Account #5550; this request is necessary because the
street signs were damaged by vandals and must be replaced.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the
Appropriation Committee for a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the
Street Sign Account #5550, in the amount of $700.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the
Minutes Minutes of the Selectmen's Meetings held on July 14, August 11 and
August 18, 1969
3(47
Mr. Kenney said that a letter has been received from the Plan-
ning Board which stated that the Design Advisory Committee had
reviewed the plans for the Town Office Building and had submitted
a 4th alternative plan to connect the existing Town Offices to
Cary Memorial Hall and to connect to the Police Station. The Build-
ing Committee had previously considered this plan but was not in
favor of it as they would have to build two sides or it would be out
of balance; there would be a problem with the Cary Memorial Trustees
because of the restrictions in the deed; there would be a problem at Town
Town Meeting time because people would have to walk around; along Office
with the problem of construction plus the grades in front Building
Mr Gray said that the Cary Memorial Trustees had indicated to
the Committee that they were not in favor of having Cary Hall used in
any way except as provided for in the will, They had agreed to hav-
ing the Civil Defense located there but would not want the building
used for other offices and would be just as happy to get Civil De-
fense out of there.
Mr Greeley suggested that correspondence with the Cary Trustees
be put into the records for future reference If and when questions
arise as to the use of Cary Memorial Building, the records should
show that our judgment is made in terms of the gift.
The Chairman said that there was a complete file stored in the
vault at Cary, if somebody wanted to take the time to go through it.
The Board agreed to answer the letter from the Planning Board,
stating that the proposed plan including the Cary Memorial Building
could not be used as it would not be in accordance with the terms of
the will.
The Chairman informed the Board that the Sister City trip to
Mexico is scheduled for September 10, and he would be unable to at- Sister
tend; he asked if any member of the Board could go. City
No member of the Board would be able to attend.
Mrs Sperduto was present at the meeting and the Chairman said
that a representative of the Board would be unable to go to Mexico;
the Board would continue to support the principle of the Committee
but there mould be no public funds expended for this project. The
Appropriation Committee is adamant on this and it had been made
quite clear to the Sister City Committee two years ago,.
Mr Mabee informed the Board that copies of a written report Drug Con-
from the Drug Consultant would be mailed to them and members of the sultant
Drug Advisory Committee. Report
Mrs Davison, Mr Kula and three residents of Spring Street
met with the Board regarding the underground conduit installation Spring
proposed by the Telephone Company Street
The Chairman said that a report has been received from the Under-
Telephone Company and Mr Gray has met with them to discuss the ground
plans As a result of the hearing on June 16, the question was Conduit
39
raised as to why the conduit installation couldn't come up Hayden
Avenue rather than Spring Street and Marrett Road and bypass
Spring Street As I understand the report, they would have to
come up: Spring Street to Hayden Avenue. Plan "A", as submitted
by the Telephone Company, involves building approximately 1900
feet of underground conduit on Marrett Road from Waltham Street
to Spring Street and 4900 feet of underground conduit on Spring
Street from Marrett Road to the Waltham line. Lateral connec-
tions will be built from this new conduit system to the various
side streets off Marrett Road and Spring Street to provide the
underground carrying plant needed for the gradual removal of the
existing aerial plant; at a total cost of $138,847.
Plan "B" proposes to construct 5500 feet of underground con-
duit on Waltham Street from Merrett Road to Hayden Avenue, 5500
feet of underground conduit on Hayden Avenue and 2400 feet of
underground conduit on Spring Street from Shade Street to the
Waltham line. It will still be necessary to build the 1900 feet
of conduit on Marrett Road from Waltham Street to Spring Street
because the State Department of Public Work's intention of re-
paving Marrett Road in the near future. The total cost of
building underground conduit on Hayden Avenue and Spring Street
will be approximately $247,350.
Mr Kula said that the Telephone Company is putting this
in to service the industrial area and the last time the residents
had met with the Board, after hearing the arguments presented,
they are convinced of it. This plan does not serve Hayden Avenue.
Mr Gray said that he had met with the engineers of the
Telephone Company and they wily be able to serve Hayden Avenue
from Spring Street at the cost they quote, bringing a separate
line over and they will be able to expand down Hayden Avenue.
Mr Greeley asked if they go down Spring Street would the
cost be a great deal less than if they came around?
Mr Dunn replied in the affirmative.
A resident of Spring Street asked how much conduit is needed
for residential and how much for the other side of Route 2?
Mr Dunn said that they have trunks for Waltham, going from
Waltham to Lexington
The Chairman asked if they were going to loop these trunks?
Mr Dunn replied in the affirmative.
The residents objected to having Spring Street dug up and
said that they are digging it up for nothing; Hayden Avenue is
not occupied and it would cost them less money in the long run.
Mrs Davison said that the residents hoped that the overhead
lines would be taken down and underground conduit put in; if they
felt they were going to get relief from poles and wires, they
would get the benefits.
Mr Dunn said that they are going to do this.
Mrs Davison said that this plan ii to service an area that
we are not pleased with and we are getting nothing for it.
99
Mr Greeley asked when the overhead wires Would be removed?
Mr Dunn replied that he couldn't say when they would be re-
I III moved They are on joint poles with the Edison Company and the
Telephone Company can't tell them what to do. We are trying to
meet some of the requirements and are putting in joint trenches
for any new housing
Mr Greeley said that it may be five, ten or fifteen years
before there is relief on Spring Street by putting the overhead
wires underground.
Mr Dunn said that there is a plan of Hayden Avenue to put
some underground as far as we can, but Edison has to go along
with us about the poles
The Chairman asked how much more would it cost to lay the
cable?
Mr Dunn said that cable is very expensive, based on so much
per foot, weight and size of the cable.
The Chairman said that they are saying if you spend the money
now on Hayden Avenue, you won't have to spend it later
Mr Kenney said that these people are trying to get answers.
Mrs Davison said that it is just the basic alienation of the
people; we have put up with hardships and see nothing in the
future but that it would serve an area we would not be happy with
The Chairman said that there could be no expansion of a resi-
dential area; there is no room for development If Plan "B" is
adopted, you have no way of getting relief from these poles. We
Illdon't want the streets dug up any more than you do; regardless of
what route is taken, your position is, it is not the money nor
the conduit, it is really the whole ball of wax.
Mr Dunn, Mr Kula, Mrs Davison and the residents were in-
formed that the Board would take the matter under advisement
Later in the meeting, Mr. Greeley said that he didn't think
that a good comparison of Plan "A" and the long range cost had
been given by the Telephone Company; they compared the cost of
the installation projects on the basis of what we asked for.
He was willing to approve the request but would like to ask the
Telephone Company to give a careful statement of long range com-
parison and what part would be put overhead.
Mr Mabee said that he had mixed emotions about it as they
didn't get all the answers; ,the people of Spring Street are
irrational about their requests. He would be in favor of it if
it improved the telephone service between Waltham and Lexington. Spring St
Underground
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant Conduit
the petition of the Telephone Company to install underground con-
duit service according to Plan "A" as submitted by the Telephone
Company, subject to the preparation of realistic costs of the
complete loop and the estimate of time of putting the heavier
cable underground.
L_
400
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into '
Executive Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberatifg or
Session voting on matters which, if made public, might adversely affect
the public security, 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 8 52 P.M
A true record, Attest 1'
Executive Clerk, Selectmen