HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967-10-16-BOS-min SELECTMEN'S MEETING
October 16, 1967
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building,
on Monday evening, October 16, 1967, at 7:30 P.M.
Chairman Cole, Messrs . Burnell, Cataldo, Mabee, and
Kenney were present. Mr. Gray, Acting Superintendent
of Public Works and Executive Assistant, Mr. Wenham,
Assistant Superintendent of Public Works, and Mrs.
McCausland, Executive Clerk, were also present.
At the request of the Town Clerk, two jurors
were drawn as follows:
Jurors
George A. Horner, Jr. 96 Hancock Street
Richard F. Phelps 34 Fair Oaks Drive
Mr. Gray reported a call from a gentleman at
#17 Baskin Road complaining about children cutting
across Worthen Road and going through his property.
He stated, as the Board knew, Hayden has a fence
and he requested that the Town extend the fence to
keep the children off. If this fence were extended,
there would have to be openings made.
The Chairman said this is more of a civil mat- Complaint
ter than anything else.
Mr. Gray said he would call the High School
and request the pupils to keep off, that he would
call Mr. Johnson. He said there are no funds for
a fence, and he could probably get cooperation
from the School Department.
Mr. Cataldo asked if he had put a sign up,
Mr. Gray said apparently not; that he would look
into it, but the Town could not do anything about
a fence this year anyway.
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Legro,
Town Counsel, relative to application by Battle
Green Motor Inn for the erection of a billboard
on Route 128 on railroad embankment south side Billboard
north lane, and also a reply which he had pre'
pared for the Board to sign in the event it voted
to object to the erection of the sign.
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Mr. Cataldo suggested that the Board register an
ob3
action.
Mr. Kenney said otherwise the final say rests
with the Outdoor Advertising Division.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to write the letter, prepared by Mr. Legro, giving
notice of the Board' s objection and requesting that a
hearing be held by the Division before final action
is taken on the application.
The Chairman referred to letter from a group of
Wheeler Road residents, copy of which the Board had
Wheeler received from the Planning Board , and Mr. Legro's Wheeler
Road reply to that Board. Road
The Clerk was instructed to send a copy to each
member of the Board, including the Chairman.
Reference was made to letter from Lipnick & Lee
Tax regarding vacant land owned by Mrs. Veola C. Mason.
Title In the absence of Town Counsel, it was voted to
hold this letter over for the next meeting of the
Board.
Letter with reference to claim from Daniel T.
Carey, 16 Gorham Road, Belmont, Mass. , was held over
Claim from the last meeting of the Board.
As Town Counsel was not present at the meeting,
it was voted to hold the letter over until the next
meeting of the Board.
The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Health
relative to cigarettes being offered to minors at the
Fairs and Carnivals for which the Selectmen have given
Violation permits, and which, of course, is in violation of Gen-
eral Laws, Chapter 70, Sections 6 and 7.
The Chairman stated that in the future care will
be taken to notify the organization requesting permission
of this stipulation.
Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Edward Domings, 8 Dunham
Tax Street, relative to the purchase of Tax Title Lot 3,
Title Valleyfield Street, was read by the Chairman.
The Chairman stated this letter designates the
legal acceptance of the land .
The Chairman read a letter from Edward D. Duncan,
Treasurer, Lexington Savings Bank, in which he reported
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deposits in the Bank under Trustees of Public Trusts,
Cemetery Funds, a total principal of $34,910.00; also
in addition, under Cemetery Trust Funds, the following: Trust
Funds
#22390 - Emma I. Fiske, Flower Fund
Principal $ 300,00
#23736 - Herbert Hilton Trust Fund
Principal $4,577.47
Letter from Mrs. Leo Kutrubes, 4 Bond Road, rela-
tive to the traffic problem at the corner of Waltham
Street and Worthen Road, and also requesting traffic
lights at this intersection, was read by the Chairman. Traffic
It was voted to refer this letter to the Traffic
Study Committee for its consideration.
Mr. Gray stated he had a copy of letter which the
Traffic Study Committee drafted and which the committee
would like to have published in the Minute-man. He
said it might be beneficial ,if the Board issues a policy
statement so its position would be understood. He stated
it was the joint feeling of Chief Corr and Mr. Zaleski,
and said there would have to be a copy for Alan Adams in
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The Chairman stated, basically, there is nothing
wrong with it, but wondered what it would accomplish
Mr. Gray referred to the fourth caption relative
to signs, and stated that motorists do not read them, Traffic
and the Committee felt these should be called to the Study
attention of the public. Report
The Charman asked if the Board had any objection
to the committee issuing this statement.
Mr. Mabee asked about the Worthen Road and Waltham
Street intersection and stated he would like to have a
report on it .
Mr. Gray said this study was made about three years
ago, and that the committee would report back to the
Board.
Mr. Mabee also referred to Massachusetts Avenue and
Worthen Road intersection, andMr. Graysaidthat th t study
was made just about a year ago
Mr. Robert Gary, Chairman, Buckman Tavern Recon-
struction Committee, met with the Board at 7:45 P.M.
Mr. Gary stated the Buckman Tavern Reconstruction Buckman
Committee would like to ask the Board' s approval for Tavern
obtaining the services of Donald M. Muirhead as con-
sultant for the work, and read a letter from Mr. Muirhead,
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in which he stated his charge would be at the rate of
$12.00 per hour; that he had already received $1270.00
and this would apply against the fee not to exceed ten
per cent of the contractor' s charges.
Mr. Gary said there was an appropriation of
$25,000 for the work, and the committee would like
to proceed to advertise for bids which could be this
week or next; bids to close November 9 at 1:00 P.M.
in the Selectmen' s Room, and the awarding of the con-
tract Monday, November 13, 1967. It would take four-
teen to sixteen weeks on the job.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to approve the committee obtaining the services of
Mr. Donald M. Muirhead as consultant for the recon-
struction of Buckman Tavern as outlined by Mr. Gary,
Chairman.
Mr. Gray reported that a gentleman came in to
get the wage schedule.
Mr. Cataldo said this has to be advertised twice.
He stated the Board should get Paul Mazerall to rope
off an area to get around the building, to set this up,
and Mr. Gary replied it would be a great help as they
would have to get a truck to clear out the building.
Reference was made to the Cummings ' property, and
Mr. Gary said he had been unable to contact several
people who were interested, but he would have some in-
formation for the Board a week from tonight, and would
go into the matter further.
Mr. Cataldo asked what they were asking for the
building, and no one seemed to know.
Mr. Kenney said it was beyond repair, that he had
been in, and Mr. Gary said he personally felt it was
Cummings beyond repair,y p , but some houses have been reconstructed
Property and preserved, and he thought the Society in particular
would like to see an effort made to save the small cot-
tage, if they could find someone who could offer the
Board a proposal. He said the Board of Appeals wanted
it to remain as one parcel
Mr. Cataldo asked who could make it one parcel,
and Mr. Gary replied he was not sure, it is part of the
cemetery.
Mr. Cataldo said the Town maintains the cemetery,
and Mr. Gary replied the house and cemetery are con-
sidered as part and parcel of the same picture, but he
could not report anything further at this time; that
the Society is working on it.
Mr. Gary retired at 8:05 P.M.
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The Chairman read a letter from William A. Halsey
relative to the Public Works Building contract, and
certifying that the work has substantially been com- Public
pleted. Works
Mr. Cataldo said this is just for the Board ' s in- Building
formation, that they were still not going to move into
the lunchroom and the general office area, everything
else but that was complete
The Chairman read an application of the Hartwell-
Lexington Trust, 60 State Street, Boston, sent to the
Board from the Department of Public Utilities, relative
to exemption from casing requirement subject to listed
conditions.
This is just for the Board' s information.
Letter was received from Thomas F. Ryan, 53 Vine
Street, requesting permission on behalf of the Saint Paper
Brigid and Sacred Heart parishes, to conduct a paper Drive
drive on October 29, 1967.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant the request.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to sign Certificate of Incorporation on behalf of Cert.
Joan Schnetzer, 935 Massachusetts Avenue, satisfactory of Inc.
character references having been received from the
Chief of Police.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held Minutes
on October 9, 1967.
The Chairman read a letter from Miss Mary R.
McDonough, Town Clerk and Treasurer, submitting her
resignation as Town Treasurer, effective November 16, Resig-
1967. nation
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to accept the resignation, with regret.
The Chairman stated before November 16 the Board
will have to appoint an interim Town Treasurer, and he
would hope by the next meeting it would be able to do so.
The Chairman reported receipt of the traffic pro-
jections on Worthen Road from the State. State
Mr. Cataldo felt the Board should analyze them and Traffic
set up a meeting as planned and do this in the next two Pro-
weeks. Everyone interested can come and the Board could jections
come up with a decision.
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Mr. Kenney asked if it would help if the Board had
the report published, putting it in the Minute-man, and
those interested can come to the hearing, that he felt
the prople should know and let them decide.
Mr. Alan Adams , present at the meeting, said he
would like to report this as one of the items in this
meeting, that the public would realize it prior to the
public meeting.
It was voted to hold an informational meeting in
Cary Hall on Wednesday evening, November 1, 1967, at
8:00 P.M.
Mr. Evert Fowls, Planning Board , came in to the
meeting and the Board asked if that Board would be
available for a public hearing on that date, that the
Board felt the Planning Board should be represented.
The Chairman stated there was a vacancy in the
position of Sealer of Weights and Measures, that the
Board can make a provisional appointment, and read a
memo from Mr. Perry, Town Comptroller. He stated he
had talked to the executive clerk in Belmont where
Sealer of Mr. Chadwick was the Sealer and they have an assistant
Weights & who has taken over automatically. He said he didn't
Measures know whether he was a veteran or not.
Mr. Cataldo waid he would like to consider
Bernard Belcastro for the position, and the Chairman
said he would have to take the Civil Service exam.
Mr. Cataldo said he is here and has an office
and asked if the Chairman would talk with him.
The Chairman said he would report to the Board
next week.
Mr. George P. Morey, Chairman, Trustees of Public
Trusts, met with the Board .
Mr. Morey introduced Mr. William McEwen to the
Board, and stated he is Secretary of the Employers
Group, Investment Manager. He stated Mr. Rutherford
is not present this evening.
Trust Mt . Morey stated the Trustees met on September 27
Funds and voted to ask the Board to request certain funds.
He stated Mr. Legro had received a copy of the meeting
and read his letter to the Board. He said he would like
whatever the Board voted tonight to be confirmed by
Counsel for the Town. He said the Trustees were con-
cerned about the fact that they have been accumulating
for a long, long time and they would like to get rid of
them, and have voted to turn over the following amounts
to the Selectmen: (Quote) .
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VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $150.00 of
accumulated income from the Orin W. Fiske -
Battle Green Trust Fund to be used for the
maintenance of the Lexington Battle Green
or the monuments erected thereon.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $900.00 of
accumulated income from the Geneva M.
Brown Fund to be used for improving and
beautifying the (Common) Battle Green and
the triangular parcel of land in front of
the Masonic Temple.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $1500.00
of accumulated income from the Cemetery
Trust Fund - Munroe to be used for Nunroe
Cemetery.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $900.00 of
accumulated income from the Charles E.
French Colonial Cemetery Fund to be used
under the direction of the Cemetery Com-
missioners for the care of the older part
of the cemetery in which are buried the
bodies of Rev. John Hancock and his wife.
The vault enclosing their remains to re-
ceive due care.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $600.00 of
accumulated income from the Hayes Foun-
tain Trust Fund to be used for the care
of the fountain and the grounds immediately
around it.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $1000.00 of
accumulated income from the Herbert Hilton
Fund to be used under the direction of the
Cemetery Commissioners for general cemetery
purposes.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $2700.00 of
accumulated income from the Everett M.
Mulliken Fund to be used for the care of
Hastings Park.
VOTED To turn over to the Selectmen $200.00 of
accumulated income from the George W.
Taylor Flag Fund to be used for the care
of the Battle Green.
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VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $900.00 of
accumulated income from the George W.
Taylor Tree Fund to be used for the care,
purchase or preservation of trees for the
adornment of the Town.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $1200.00 of
accumulated income from the Albert Ball
Tenney Memorial Fund to reimburse the
Town for the expense of nightly illumi-
nation of the Lexington Minuteman
Statue.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $2500.00
of accumulated income from the William
Augustus Tower Memorial Park Fund to be
used for the care, maintenance and im-
provement of Tower Park.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen a total of
$9000.00 of accumulated income from the
Bridge Charitable Fund and the Elizabeth
Bride Gerry Fund to be used for the
benefit of the deserving poor of the Town
without distinction of sex or religion.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $2500.00 of
accumulated income from the Beals Fund to
be used for the benefit of worthy, indigent,
American-born men and women over sixty
years of age.
VOTED: To turn over to the Selectmen $800.00 of
accumulated income from the Harriet R.
Gilmor Trust to be used under the direc-
tion of the Board of Public Welfare for
the benefit of the poor people of the
Town.
VOTED: In accordance with the request contained
in a letter from the Chairman of the
Board of Selectmen dated June 27, 1967,
addressed to Mr. Morey, and filed with
these minutes, to approve the expenditure
from the Bridge Charitable Fund of $500.00
out of income to pay for summer camp ex-
periences for children whose families are
in receipt of assistance from the Board of
Public Welfare, to be paid as bills are sub-
mitted. The payment of two bills for a
total of $119.00 already received was approved.
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VOTED: To approve the payment of bills of $27.00
and of $9.00 from the income account of
the Herbert Hilton Fund to J.T. Carlson
from flowers placed by him in the Hilton
cemetery lot.
VOTED: To approve the expenditure of $270.00 from
the Edith C. Redman Trust for the purchase
of sod for the Battle Green.
VOTED: To authorize the expenditure of $37.68 from
the income of the Charles E. French Fund
for the purchase of medals.
VOTED: To approve the purchase of 100 shares of
Shawmut Association stock out of the
$3500 transferred by the Cemetery Commis-
sioners to the Trustees for the account
of the Westview Cemetery Perpetual Care
Fund (see minutes of last meeting) and an
additional $2000.00 so transferred.
VOTED: To sell $20,000 U.S. Treasury 21s of
6/15/69 from the Westview Cemetery Perpet-
ual Care Fund and to invest the proceeds
in $20,000 of legal discount corporate
bonds, the balance to be invested by the
Treasurer at his discretion in stock of
one of the three banks in which the assets
of the Fund are presently invested.
He said the Trustees believe the votes are within the
scope of the various instruments and would like to have
the Board request that these be turned over to it.
The Chairman asked, on the funds that are to be used
for the Cemeteries, rather than being turned over to the
Cemetery Commissioners they would be turned over to the
Selectmen. He said what the Board could legally request,
they would.
Mr. Morey asked that the Board request $7,000, and
the Chairman said the Board would make every effort to
spend the money judiciously.
Mr. Morey retired at 8:50 P.M.
Mr. Cataldo referred to a call he received from the
Superintendent of J.F. White Company, stating they had
200,000 yards of peat, which was coming out of Spy Pond Lincoln
in Arlington, which he said he would like to see if it Street
could be used in conjunction with the Lincoln Street Project
project. He stated it is pretty dry, and it might save
money to finish the Lincoln Street project.
Mr. Gray reported that Mr. Zehner was having a '
meeting Thursday evening, that there were two replace-
ments needed. He said the School Department would send
its representative.
Mr. Alford Peckham's name was suggested, and it
was stated that this was his professional field.
Mr. Kenney stated the Board could make the appoint-
ment now.
Uponrxnotion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to appoint Mr. Alford Peckham a member of the Town Re-
port Committee if he is willing to accept the appointment.
Mr. Mabee suggested the name of Doris Pullen, if
Appoint- she were willing to serve, and upon motion duly made and
menta seconded, it was voted to appoint Doris Pullen a member
of the Town Report Committee if she signifies her will-
ingness to serve.
The subject of Data Processing was referred to in a
Data Pro- letter from Mr. Perry, Town Comptroller, and Mr. Gray
cessing stated he would report back next week.
Mr. Cataldo said with regard to committees, the
Town Office Building Committee has two vacancies, but
there are so many changes in the Town being thought
of, he didn' t know how much further it could go. He
mentioned the separation of the Town Treasurer and
Clerk; Superintendent of Public Works; Installation of
Data Processing and the space needed. He wondered how
much further he should go at this time, and asked what
the Board wanted him to do. The projections of what
exist; the locations of these offices, come up with an
overall plan.
Mr. Alan Adams stated the Structure of Town Govern-
ment Committee is coming up with something in March, and
there would be some changes.
Mr. Cataldo said this is what the Committee has been
thinking about, and would like some direction from the
Board. He said his personal feeling is that the committee
cannot be ready for the March meeting, to see what changes
are going to be made and then do the job.
Mr. Mabee said he felt it was important to have a
flexible building program.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
Executive to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discus-
Session sing, deliberating or voting on matters which, if made
public, might adversely affect the public security, the
financial interest of the Town or the reputation of any
person. 1
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Following discussion with the Fire Commissioners,
g s
land acquisition, slope easements, salaries, Union,
Ass' t. Bldg. Inspector, it was voted to resume the open
meeting.
Mr. Cole reported that the School Committee would
like to meet with the Board on an informal basis on Meeting
Tuesday evening, November 7.
The Chairman reported that the Board had heard from
two CATV companies already. He said he had been told to
hold off making any decision until some time in January, CATV
that there is some Federal action coming up, and the
best thing to do is to hold off, and he would pretty
much take their word for it.
Mr. Kenney said there was no urgency about it.
The Chairman said he would seriously consider
having something.
Mr. Kenney referred to the Cummings ' property. He
stated Donald Noyes asked if the Board felt it should have
the O.K. of the Historic Districts Commission.
Mr. Cataldo stated if the Board declares it unsafe, it
doesn' t need their permission, that it is in the Town By-
Laws.
Mr. Kenney stated if it is that clear, there is no Cummings '
need for it. Property
Mr. Cataldo said he would like to talk to Mr.
Lawless himself, and ask how much he wants for it, that it
depends on what he is asking.
The Chairman stated he would get in touch with him.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to
adjourn at 10:00 P.M.
A true record, Attest: /
', ecutive Clerk, Selectmen
The next regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen will
be held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building,
on Monday evening, October 23, 1967, at 7:30 P.M.
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