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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967-10-09-BOS-min 180 co SELECTMEN 'S MEETING October 9, 1967 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen ' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, October 9, 1967, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Burnell, Cataldo, Mabee and Kenney were present. Mr Wenham, Acting Superintendent of Public Works, and Mrs. McCausland , Executive Clerk, were also present The Chairman said the first order of business, which was not on the agenda, was the award Lexington received for the excellence of the Town Report. He Town said he and Mr. Zehner went down to Harwich on Saturday Town Report to receive it, and he wanted Mr Zehner to know how Report Award much the Board appreciates his efforts , that this is Award the first time it entered the competition and came out with the third prize Mr. Zehner said he was grateful for these kind words and he was conscious of how understanding and co-operative the Selectmen had been One other thing, he said, a number of these prizes were awarded , three to each town broken down by the size and population, and generally the Selectmen accepted the awards in the name of the town, and Mr Cole was the only one to in- vite the Chairman to accept the award personally. He stated we on the Town Report Committee, are grateful. Mr. Alan Adams, present at the meeting, said this is the top class award, and asked how it was rated . The Chairman replied he thought it was towns of 20,000 or over. Mr. Zehner retired . Hearing was declared open upon the petition of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company and Boston Edison Company for permission to install a JO pole on Massachusetts Avenue, southwesterly side, approximately 68 feet northwest of Wallis Court Notices of the hearing were mailed to the peti- tioners, owners of property as listed on the petitioners' plan, and also filed with the Superintendent of Public Pole Works. Pole Location Mr Pratt, representing the Boston Edison Company, Location and Mr. Dunn of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, were the only persons present at the hearing. 181 They presented a plan showingthe location and stated it was a relocation requesed by an abutter to widen his driveway, and it would be moved approx- imately ten feet, to make more room for the driveway No one appeared in favor or in opposition and Pole the hearing was declared closed . Pole Location Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Location to approve the petition and sign the order for the following JO pole location: Massachusetts Avenue, southwesterly side, approximately 68 feet northwest of Wallis Court, -- One (1) pole. (One existing JO pole to be removed ) Mr Wenham stated the only thing he had to submit Tree was that Paul Mazerall had a tree hearing last Thursday, Tree Hearing October 5, 1967, at 9: 30 A M for three trees on Laconia Hearing Street . He stated there were no objectors The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board relative to Tax Title Lot #109, Assessors Map #32 (re- corded Lot #86, Kendall Road Mrs Virginia Amichetti, 16 Kendall Road , had written the Board on September 24., 1967 offering $700.00 for this lot Mr. Cataldo said he would be in favor of selling this lot if it were combined with an adjacent lot ; they would not be able to build a house on it Mr. Mabee asked if the amount offered was a reason- able price. Mr. Wenham procured a plan showing the lot and Mr. Cataldo stated there is 80' frontage, 13,600 square feet in the lot . With regard to adjacent lots, #107, 16,698' ; #108, 10,776' Tax Mr Mabee stated he would move to sell this lot , Title subject to the betterments outstanding, and being in- cluded as part of the other lot. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the offer made by Mrs. Virginia F Amichetti, 16 Kendall Road, of $700 00, subject to the existing betterments, and also with the restriction that this lot be combined as part of her property and not used as a separate building lot The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board , Wheeler dated October 6, 1967, relative to a letter enclosed Rd .Group from a group of Wheeler Road residents 1 .152 GL The Chairman said he understood one of the neigh- bors eigh-bors was parking a vehicle on the property, and this letter is in reference to a request from the residents asking for the interpretation of the word "vehicle" . He suggested checking on the legality from Town Counsel, to whom a copy of the letter had been sent Mr Kenney stated he would also like to get a com- ment from the Building Inspector and the Police Depart- ment It was the consensus of the Board to wait until Town Counsel was present The Chairman read copy of letter to Mr. Daniel S Horgan, Chief Engineer, DPW, from the Planning Board , relative to the " jug-handle" access road for left turn Bedford from Bedford Street going west into Hartwell Avenue, Street and requesting a connection to Bedford Street from a Access proposed subdivision. The Chairman stated this is just for the Board ' s information. Mr. Mabee stated that is on the Bedford side be- tween the " jug-handle" and Bedford line, and it was stated that it was on the Lexington side, which adds to the traffic problem. The Chairman said the Board has been made aware of the problem and would wait until the Planning Board gets a reply from Mr. Horgan. Letter from the County Commissioners dated Octo- Hearing ber 3, 1967, relative to a notice of hearing to be held Lowell on Friday, October 27, 1967, at 11:40 A.M. , County Com- Street missioners' Office, Superior Court House, East Cambridge, with regard to specific repairs of Lowell Street, in Lexington, was read by the Chairman. The Clerk was instructed to make a note for Mr. Gray to cover this hearing The Chairman read a notice of classification from The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Youth Service, relative to the standards for police detention of Juveniles, which stated that the police facilities for the detention of juveniles do not meet the minimum standards required and are not approved for Lexington. The Chairman stated Lexington should have adequate facilities, that he had talked with the Chief this after- noon and there is a room which they have used The de- partment has never been able to keep them overnight and 183 it has been tolerated up to this time by the Division of Youth Services . If the Town is going to have a de- tention room it is something that can be done without too much trouble. Mr Cataldo asked if they would take into consid- eration that the Town is working on a complete rejuven- ation and tolerate it a little longer. The Chairman said that they could probably be talked to, they did not insist it be done immediately. Mr. Mabee asked if we do nothing, can we continue the way we are Mr Kenney asked if the Chief knew what they wanted, and the Chairman replied in the affirmative, that Chief Corr is aware of it, and stated that fur- ther talk with him can probably develop a plan of action which should be done. Notice from the DPU relative to an investigation made by them relative to the regulations, practices, etc. , of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany and as a result of the investigation, a hearing Hearing would be held at 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, on Thursday, October 26, 1967, at 10:00 A.M. The Chairman stated the Town is not involved on these lines at all and he would have Mr Gray go in Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following JO pole locations approved by the Acting Superintendent of Public Works : Massachusetts Avenue , northeasterly side, approximately 25 feet southeast of Percy Road , -- One (1) pole (One existing JO pole to be removed ) Massachusetts Avenue, northeasterly side, southeasterly Pole from a point approximately 210 feet southeast of Location Percy Road , -- Two (2) poles (Two existing JO poles to be removed . ) Massachusetts Avenue, northeasterly side, northwesterly from a point approximately 38 feet northwest of Percy Road , -- Two (2) poles (Two existing JO poles to be removed ) 184 C— Letter read by the Chairman from Lipnick & Lee, 18 Tremont Street, with regard to lot M 65 Lt 87 M Blk 8 and Lt 37, 38, owned by Mrs Veola C. Mason, and which she would like to sell to the Town, was re- Sale of ferred to Town Counsel. Land The Chairman asked Mr Wenham to find out just where this land is located . The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Health requesting a transfer of $200 for Health-Engineering, He stated this brings up a serious problem, that the Reserve Fund is rapidly being depleted ; that Mr Perry had prepared a statement , and it is down to about $9,000 Transfer Mr Mabee recommended the transfer of $100 to pay the current bill which is outstanding Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was 'ted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $100 to the Health-Engineering account to take care of the cur- rent bill, which is outstanding The Chairman read a request for transfer of $11,250 for Group Insurance. Mr Cataldo said the Board told the School Depart- ment at budget time they needed more money, and the Chairman said the Board also told the Appropriation Transfer Committee . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $11,250, to the Group Insurance Account . The Chairman read a letter from the Cemetery Com- missioners requesting a transfer of $3,152 56; $225.00 Transfer requested for the clerk. He stated he aid not know as this could be done where it was a negative Town Meeting vote on the record . Mr. Cataldo said something has to happen, that the overtime should be cut somewhat, and the Chairman stated they do have to open graves on Saturday and Sunday at times. Mr. Mabee referred to the backhoe they were getting back in July and August . Mr. Cataldo said they should change the concept of their organization, that the Town could be paying two people The Chairman suggested that the Appropriation Com- mittee deal directly with the Cemetery Department on this 1 185 The Chairman stated just prior to the meeting, a letter was handed to him relative to Air Pollution, which he read to the Board, and stated actually, it makes a lot of sense. Mr Kenney stated there are a great many muni- cipalities that prohibit outdoor burning Reference was made to leaf pickup by the Town and the Chairman stated that nothing could be done this year about it; that waste pickup would cost the Town $2.00 on the tax rate. Leaf pickup would be seasonal, on a one time basis The Chairman said the four recommendations of the Committee are already in effect in the Town, but should be enforced . Mr. Alan Adams felt these rules could be enforced by putting out patrols , or instruct the police, that the rules had always been on the books , but have never Air been enforced Pollution The Chairman said the patrol cars are covering the Town, and it could be part of their normal duties, asked who represented the police department on the committee, and Mr Kenney replied , Lima. The Chairman suggested putting out a directive, that there are four good recommendations which can be spelled out to the departments involved , and stress their unanimous endorsement of this plan Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to carry through thas the Chairman suggested . Sgested . The Chairman said with regard to the second part of the letter, to have the Public Works Department re- view figures and update them The Chairman read a letter from the Lexington Historical Society relative to the buildings located at 465-467 Massachusetts Avenue known as the Cummings ' property, and requesting that the Board defer until December 1 the demolition of these buildings. Mr. Mabee asked what is going to happen after its study Mr. Kenney felt this was the Society' s first re- quest and it should be asked to come in and discuss this 465-467 with the Board Mass .Ave. The Chairman felt the Society should be told what action the Board has taken and for them to double their efforts for their research Mr Cataldo said now that the Board has made this decision, it is not going to back down before the dead- line, and to ask them to come up with something con- structive. 186 co The Chairman suggested writing Mr. Gary informing him of the action taken, the length of time the Board has spent, and if he has any questions to meet with the Board ; that the Board felt Lawless has no right to have an extension It was suggested that possibly Mr. Gary was at the Appropriation Committee meeting this evening and would come down and talk with the Board . The Chairman stated the Board would like to bring the matter to his attention. Mr. Gary said the only thing he could report at this time is that the Society has expressed, perhaps belatedly, to find someone to take an interest in the old house and look forward to the time when it can be restored and preserved. He said there is active re- search going on, indicating as far as can be determined , that this is quite an old house and was occupied by one of the dignitaries of the period that predates the Revolution. He said he was told that if the Board takes action as of November 1, it would be highly dis- astrous, that a definite proposal for fixing this property up could be shown the Board at that date, but it would take another month. The Chairman asked if the Society had any idea of buying the property, and Mr. Gary replied this only came up last week at its meeting and that particular aspect was not discussed at any length. Mr. Burnell said if that is pre-revolutionary property, if they can justify prices, a potential buyer could be interested Mr. Cataldo asked if anyone has been in the build- ing, and Mr Gary replied several of the directors The Chairman said part of the Boardts reluctance was the other little red house ; that the Board kept giv- ing extensions so that something could be done . Mr. Gary said that was brought up at this meeting, that the Society is conscious of the fact , but it was unaware of any publicity being given this property Mr Mabee asked how it came to the attention of his Board Mr Gary said he would hope the Board could agree that if this property could be restored -- The Chairman said the Board had gone through the same thing with this owner. Mr . Gary stated the Society would have no business to consider the purchase of this property, that it couldntt afford to write that kind of cost 11 187 Mr. Cataldo said the buildings in back are beyond repair; the small house perhaps could be fixed, that the Board had gone back and forth, and this is it ; that unless a good concrete proposal comes, he could not see the Board going this way. Mr Gary asked if the Board considered this a hazard and Mr. Cataldo said the back is all burned , that squirrels and chipmunks and children have ruined it , there is nothing there. Mr Gary asked if one month would make that much difference. The Chairman said Mr Lawless had been given three or four extensions, that the Board had put itself in a pretty bad position. Mr. Gary said the present owner would certainly know it would be due to the efforts of the Historical Society Mr. Cataldo said this was not an extension. This is a notice, so what would the Board do then. The Chairman said , if, in the time left, the Historical Society could oome up with a semblance of a plan, delaying action we have ordered, with full implementation Mr. Maybee asked if the Historical Society have a list of houses they would want preserved? This was not one of them. Mr. Gary said he would have to check the list The Chairman asked why it was not brought up be- fore, and Mr Gary said he would be glad to ask them, that there is a relatively small group who have taken it upon themselves to carry the ball. When properties come to their attention, they want to search them out These people have just now come upon the fact that this house was being demolished and they didntt realize it had developed to the point that it has Mr. Cataldo said it had been five years . , that it had been partly boarded up, burned twice He said this house was not identified as a prerevolutionary house, and it has not been at this time either Mr. Gary said as far as the Society redoubling its efforts, it will be fully checked out within the next few weeks. If it does prove to be an historical house, then we have something to go on; an interested buyer who wants to get these houses to remodel. Mr Lawless knows this right now. The Chairman stated the Board made a commitment, and asked Mr. Gary to push his Society to double its efforts, I AL SS z prior to November 1 to come in with some substantial means. Mr. Gary said there is real interest in this, to find a qualified buyer to reconstruct the property, and stated the Board had dealt with a previous owner and a realtor. The Chairman thanked Mr. Gary for coming in. The Chairman said he had a request from the Lexington Lexington Minute Men to use the Green for their Installation on Minute Men October 21, from 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. and they will be assisted by some Bedford Minute Men who will fire a cannon salute. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was noted to grant the request. Town The Chairman referred to the Town Report Committee Report and stated there are two vacancies on this committee, Committee and Mr. Zehner would have two names at the next meeting. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Perry, Town Data Pro- Comptroller, relative to the Data Processing Center . ceasing It was agreed to hold this over until Mr. Gray returns. The Chairman referred to the position of Sealer of Weights & Measures, and stated that Mr. Ralph Chadwick Weights & retired as of September 30, 1967 and has since died . Measures A vacancy exists and Mr. Perry had sent a letter to the Civil Service, and he would follow through on this. Mr. Edward Owens met with the Board. The Chairman stated Mr. Owens called him regarding the guard rail that the Board placed on Adams Street, a section of which is in front of his house. Mr. Owens said he was here to object and ask that Adams St. the section be removed. He said his neighbors would Guard Rail have been here also, but Mr. Cole felt he could repre- sent them. He said this protest is not only his but the whole neighborhood' s. He said it should be a block or so to the north, that no one knew anything about it until the rail was put in. He said there are three reasons to ask that it be removed: 1. For the appearance of the neighborhood, it degrades the looks of the neighborhood, that the Board couldn't have realized what it would look like, so perhaps it was put up 1 189 not realizing how bad it would be, that it is hideous , that this monstrosity de- values the property, that money was being taken out of their pockets by their elected officials . 2. That in correcting one safety problem, others have been created. He said many children ride their bikes on that road, regularly on the road. Two cars meet, where is that child to go! He said many of the parents have told them to ride on the sidewalk. He said there are five or six set steel posts with four sharp corners. Children have fallen off onto these posts. He said he had been there ten years and he had never seen one hit by a car, that now they hit the rail and fall into the street, that they have to ride on a narrow sidewalk. Alterna- tives are, first, widen the road. The Town owns the right of way there, so the sidewalk can be separated from the road- way. He said it might be expensive. Put a stone curbing there. He said when the Town put the sidewalk in, correct it by making it a safe sidewalk, a stone curbing 8" or 10" painted white, then it will be seen. 3. Put cement posts along there with a sable wire. This is done in residential areas, and would not be nearly as bad as the monstrosity there now, not nearly as de- preciative to the neighborhood. Enforce the speed limit. It is done on Hancock Street at Adams Street, checking to see if cars stop at the stop sign. He said SO% of the cars do, that it is a narrow road Remove that rail, that the Board wanted a pretty town, and asked that it be considerate of the rest of the people and help them keep the neighboorhood . He said these are the alternatives they offer, widen the road, put in a stone curbing, install cement posts, that is what they ask. The Chairman said a petition had been received from residents in the area asking for protection. A curbing I X90 c could have been put in, but the Traffic Study Committee recommended against it, that it would be more dangerous. He said as tar as the Board is concerned, it is not a permanent factor. Adams Street is one of the streets where widening is going to be done , possibly using County Funds . The Traffic Committee gave the maximum protection to the children. Mr. Owens said the Town could give protection with- out being ugly, and the Chairman stated it probably could have with stone bounds connected with wire cable. Mr. Cataldo said this was considered last year. The Chairman said the sharp corners would be taken care of. Mr. Mabee said he agreed that it doesn' t look as nice as other devices might, but his question to Mr. Owens was, did he and the neighbors feel it creates a hazard, and is the hazard worse than what the Town is preventing and asked him to answer honestly. Mr. Owens replied it has been up two weeks, and al- ready a child has fallen on it. Probably if a car had hit a child, the result would have been worse. Mr. Mabee asked did the Town improve the safety or did it hurt it. He said again, he agreed it didn't look good. Mr. Owens said if stone barriers had been put in, and the reply was, it would cost too much and would not be the protection this rail is. Two cars have already hit this, that the Board knmws and recognizes full well it is not the nicest looking thing. Mr. Owens said there are sidewalks all over Town as close to the road. Mr. Burnell said he had gone up to see the rail the next day and there were two mothers pushing carriages, and he was glad that this situation had been taken care of. Mr. Kenney said it was a temporary expedient. The Chairman said Adams Street is a Town project be- cause of the shopping center in Burlington, and something would be done about it, that a section may be done in the coming year. He said the ideal thing is a wide enough street and proper curbing. This will be standard on Adams Street. Mr. Owens said to let him urge the Board to do some- thing post haste less detrimental to the looks of the neighborhood, that is why he was here. Mr. Owens retired at 9:15 P.M. 1 19:t Mr. Edward Dever and Mr. Herbert Hoffman met with the Board. Mr. Dever stated he was an attorney in Arlington, and introduced Mr. Herbert Hoffman, President, to the Board, who, he said, would speak this evening. Mr. Dever said Cablevision Corporation of America is in existence in forty-eight states, only exceptions are Hawaii and Alaska. They have one station in Nashua, N.H. Licenses in Malden, Medford, Brockton, Somerville, Beverly, Amesbury, Hull. They have erected a tower in Malden which would service this area. They have two broadcasting stations, WBOS FM, WMTV in Maine. Mr. Hoffman stated twenty-six communities in the Commonwealth have CATV, one-quarter million receive TV the modern way. He stated it is a community venture, and would give Lexington its own TV station. It could include the High School, tied in with the school system, tutoring help, educational programs, etc. They install cables along the town ways and pay for this. Licensing fee would be per mile per year for cable installed rather than 5% of gross income. He stated they have a tower in Malden which services an area of twenty miles and which is located near the Medford border. He stated CATV they feel well qualified in this business, and he would invite the Board to visit Nashua which is operating. He stated the installation charge is $$L4..95, and a monthly charge of $1 .95, no contracts are required, that they operate similar to the telephone company. He said they would not raise their rates, in fact they might reduce them later on, but no new rates for 10 years. Mr. Cataldo asked if they had surveyed and what it would take to cover Lexington. 1. What would their licensing fee fully cover. 2. Valuation of their system within the Town. Mr. Hoffman replied about $400,000.00 worth of plant, cabling, etc. , 100 miles of street, they make a study of how many homes per mile. The Chairman asked if they had been in any area long enough to be assessed. Mr. Hoffman stated they string the cable along the utility pole only where there are poles, and go under- ground where they go underground . He said the tower would be up in six weeks in Malden, and would be oper- ating in April of next year. Mr. Cataldo asked how long it would take to come up with costs, etc. , and Mr. Hoffman replied a complete study could be done in three or four weeks . Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Dever retired at 9:50 P.M. 192 co w_ 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 security, Session the financial interest of the town, or the reputation of any person. Following discussion relating to departmental matters, and appointments, it was voted to resume the open meeting. A true record, Attest. p (-i /J Exec tive Clerk, Selectmen The next regular meeting of the Board will be held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, Obtober 16, 1967, at 7:30 P.M. c3s' a/\ 1