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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967-05-08-BOS-min SELECTMEN'S MEETING May 8, 1967 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, May 8, 1967 at 7:30 P. M. Chairman Cole Messrs. Burnell, Cataldo, Mabee and Kenney were pres- ent Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant , Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Execu- tive Clerk, were also present. At the request of the Town Clerk, the following individuals were drawn for jury duty: Edwin L. Field , Jurors 1 Patriots Drive, Ralph H. Dudley, 4 Jean Road and Robert J. Burrell, 3 Childs Road . Mr. Gray reported on invitations to bid on a water billing machine and stated that only one bid had been received. Bid on Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted billing to accept the net bid of $3,873 20 submitted by the machine Burroughs Corporation on Burroughs Equipment programmed to handle all jobs as listed in the Town' s specifica- tions for one water billing machine. Mr. Gray reported receipt of a letter from the Willard-Adams Trust requesting permission to make a connection to storm drain. Mr. Carroll stated the downspout now puts water down to Depot Place and the connection to correct the Downspout situation would be done by the Town but at the expense connection of the builder and he recommended that the connection be made. Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to authorize the connection of the downspout with a catchbasin seventy-five feet away from Depot Square. Mr. Alan G. Adams said the Town owns the old fire station lot and it is becoming a parking lot. He asked if the Town could paint lines in there. Parking The Chairman said Mr Adams was making a formal request that the Superintendent of Public Works look at it Mr. Carroll explained that no lines have been painted there bejcause it is a forty-foot by 100 foot lot and there is no way this lot can be used by itself for parking. He advised it would have to be combined 32 co W4 with adjacent properties to make it effective and effi- cient . He explained in painting lines a situation would be created where the aisle for travel is on some- one else' s property. He said this lot cannot be util- ized for parking and marked out; that he has gone all through this before. Mr. Adams said some of the tenants use it for twenty-four hours. Some of his tenants, tenants from the Central Block and from MacNeil' s building are park- ing there and wasting space. Mr. Carroll stated there is no point in putting lines in there because it will cause a lot of trouble. Mr. Gray stated Mr. Sainato of the Knights of Columbus, told him the organization would like to hold the carnival from May 17, 1967 through May 19, 1967. Mr. Carnival Gray discussed this with the Chief of Police who is not in favor of a permit being granted because of the traffic and the lack of adequate parking facilities. He mentioned parking is restricted on Bedford Street from 8:00 A. M. until 8:00 P. M. Mr. Kenney said he felt , because of the parking, the Board should deny the request. Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to deny the request, submitted by the Knights of Columbus, to hold a carnival. Mr . Gray stated he had a report from the Director of Civil Defense on the cost of the Civil Defense Warning System. He gave each member of the Board a copy C.D. and said if the Board desires to forward the information r D. Warning to the Appropriation Committee sufficient copies are „^ System available. s cost Cost The Chairman asked if anyone on the Board had any objection to processing this information to the Appro- priation Committee and if not, he would send copies to that committee, Letter was received from Mr. Legro in regard to the Sewer Westwood Road - Suzanne Road sewer easements. Easements Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to sign the order of taking of the sewer easements in West- wood Road and Suzanne Road as prepared and submitted by Mr. Legro. M . Carroll referred to the chairs that were former- ly used in the Selectmen' s Room and reported that the School Refinish- Department already has a definite curriculum in the wood- ing working classes and this does not include refinishing. chairs 33 The Chairman said the School Committee itself had not been approached . Mr. Carroll said it had not, but this type of work is not done now. The Chairman said he thought the Board could talk direct to the School Committee on this . Mr. Cataldo suggested that, rather than upsetting any operation, figures be obtained from someone in the business of refinishing. Mr. Carroll reported last Wednesday he and Mr. Gray attended a meeting at the MDC building in Boston in regard to the Bedford-Lexington-Air Force. He said the entire problem was discussed and the MDC representatives said Bedford #1 Bedford must agree to being charged in excess of con- sewer trol as though it was a legal member of the MDC He said Bedford was willing to accept that. The Commission also felt the Air Force should be treated the same as the Town of Bedford, as though it was a member of the District. Mr. Carroll said they got into the question of which agreement should come first. It was agreed by everyone there that Lexington and Bedford should reach their agree- ment ; Lexington and the Air Force should reach an agree- ment and then Bedford make a separate agreement with MDC and the Air Force make an agreement with MDC. Mr Carroll recommended that, as soon as possible, this week, a meet- ithg be held with Bedford, Lexington and the Air Force and start working out the agreement with the Town of Bedford . The Chairman asked if Mr. Carroll needed anything other than professionals on this. Mr. Carroll said he thought the Board should be represented and the Town Counsel should be present at the meeting. He agreed to arrange the meeting. Letter was received from the Town Clerk in regard to a claim for damages filed by Kenneth C. Bird, 171 Shade Claim Street, Belmont as a result of damages to his car due to the neglect of the Town in maintaining its roads. Mr. Carroll said he was making a report to Town Counsel. Mr. Gray reported he checked with Brewer & Lord re- garding insuring groups using Cary Hall. He said for an individual group to take out a policy for one day, or for Insurance one affair, the cost would be somewhere in the vicinity of $25 or $30. Mr. Cataldo asked what it would cost the Town to place coverage, and Mr. Gray replied $00 34 The Chairman read a notice, received from the111 Department of Public Utilities, in regard to a hear- ing to be held May 18, 1967 relative to rates and charges by the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. Request from the Mystic Valley Gas Company for Gas main permission to locate a steel gas main in Heritage Road was held over at the request of Mr. Carroll. The Chairman read a letter from Edward J. Mul- hall, 20 Ward Street, advising that he has decided to have the sewer at his house so that the whole Ward Street street can be done. sewer Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to construct a sanitary sewer in Ward Street from Ash Street to Garfield Street. With reference to the sewer in Blake Road and Mr. Tucker' s visit with the Board , the Chairman said he had been up there and he also talked with the Superintendent of Public Works. It is Mr. Carroll' s opinion that the job should be done to its completion. He stated he had tried to contact Mr. Tucker. Mr. Carroll said it is on a good unit price basis and without any question some time there will be some- one wanting to connect with this sewer. Petition was received from the residents of Green Lane requesting acceptance of that street under the Green Lane Betterment Act. A copy of the petition was sent to the Superintendent of Public Works The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board in regard to Mr. Bramley' s calling attention to water pollution and possible health hazard due to the contem- Munroe ination of Munroe Brook. Brook Mr. Carroll said he read this letter today, but he must have missed Mr. Bramley' s letter. He said he would report to the Board next week. The Chairman read a letter, received by Mr. Perry Article from the Permanent Building Committee, requesting $300 for miscellaneous supplies, expenses and clerk' s salary. Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to insert an Article in the Warrant for the June 12, 1967 Special Town Meeting. 1 35 The Chairman read a letter from Ralph E. Chadwick, Sealer of Weights & Measures, advising that he intends to retire sometime between October 1, 1967 and December Sealer of 1, 1967. He suggested that the Board appoint, as soon Weights & as possible, someone on a provisional basis and request Measures an examination from Civil Service to fill this position. IIII on motion duly made and seconded ' it was voted to follow Mr. Chadwick' s recommendation and the Chairman asked Mr. Gray to find out from the Division of Civil Service whether or not there is an existing list. Letter from the Board of Health, relative to the appointment of a committee to study air pollution, was held over. The letter suggested that the committee con- sist of a member from the Board of Selectmen, Board of Air pollu- Health, Fire Department, Police Department and three tion citizens of the Town. Mr Cataldo suggested that the Board write these departments and ask for recommendations. The Chairman said the Board would still have to come up with three citizens. It was agreed to write the department heads for recommendations and consider the subject further at the next meeting. Upon motion dull made nd seconded, it was voted to renew tne roilowifig Auctioneer Licenses: Licenses John D. Brucchi, 63 Paul Revere Rd. Bertram P. Gustin, 50 Bloomfield Street Robert 0. Rockwell, 3 Graham Road Robert N. Cann, 4.8 Hancock Street Joseph A. Belcastro, 184.1 Mass. Avenue Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew the following Intelligence Office licenses: Starrett Associates, Inc. , 594. Marrett Road Emanuel Sugarman, Inc. , 591.E Marrett Road Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to sign sewer orders for installation of sanitary sewers in Grant Street from Colony Road , a distance of 4.83 feet, Sewer more or less, northerly, Suzanne Road from Mill Brook orders Road a distance of 280 feet, more or less, northeasterly Lake Street from Columbus Street to Massachusetts Avenue and Lowell Street from Peartree Drive to Woburn Street. Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held on May 1, 1967. The Chairman read a letter from the Town Clerk advising that it is necessary to borrow $1,000,000.00 in anticipation of taxes. Borrowing Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the low bid of 2.15% discount + $8 received from the New England Merchants National Bank of Boston. Mr. Cataldo said he would like a motion that the Executive Board make public the item of bringing in fill to Session Lexington which was discussed two weeks ago. minutes purged Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to take out of Executive Session and place on public record that portion of the minutes in Executive Session, held on April 17, 1967, pertaining to the fill to be obtained from M. DeMatteo Construction Co. as follows: Mr. Cataldo stated he had been talking to Mr. De- Matteo on the basis of using some of his excess fill to use on the farm on Bow Street. It has been tentatively agreed not to start the project until Aughst. He said, taking this into consideration, he has talked to Mr. Carroll briefly. He said he would not start until August and the Town should consider taking the fill if he starts. If the Town takes it, he does not want anyone to feel that he, as a membe' of the Board, was taking fill out of the Town. He explained it is fill coming out of the Medford River bottom and can be had free and he has made the original contact with them. He said he wanted it on the record that he started this on a personal basis for his own farm. He said actually he would like to pursue it with Mr. Carroll to get a soil analyst to look at it and see if it is a type of fill the Town would want to use on Lincoln Street. It will be delivered and spread with- out charge. Mr. Carroll said the question is, if the material is that good. Mr. Cataldo said it would do a good job down on the farm, and he would not be working in the best interest of the Town if he did not see if it could be used on Lincoln Street . He said he would like permission to work with Mr. Carroll. Mr. Carroll said it would cost approximately $100 to get a soil engineer. Mr. Cataldo said if the Board votes to do this, then it could be in open meeting. Mr. Carroll informed the Board that the Town of Arling- ton is using this for three-foot fill right now. Mr. Legro said there may be some fact he does not know about, but he could not see anything wrong. 37 Mr. Cataldo stated DeMatteo is willing to push the loam up, dump the material and put the loam back over and he is willing to sign an agreement . Mr. hataldo said he definitely would want an agreement. Mr. Legro said he presumed DeMatteo wants to get Something out of this and he should submit a Certificate of Insurance. Mr. Cataldo stated DeMatteo wants a place to dump. Mr. Legro asked if he would be willing to give a per- formance bond. Mr. Cataldo said he talked to this effect. Mr. Legro said if DeMatteo is going to move loam, dump this material, the Board should have some assurance that he is going to finish the job. Mr. Carroll said he wanted it done neatly. The Chairman said there is no reason for not pro- ceeding with a motion on this. Mr. Cataldo said at that time the Board agreed that Mr. Carroll and he would talk to the soil analyst . This has been done and a report has been received. He stated DeMatteo fill as far as Mr. Haley is concerned, the fill is good for what use it is being recommended for. He explained that, going through the locations, he, Mr. Carroll and Mr. Haley agreed to start with the Hartwell Avenue land fill, to cover the area with two or three feet. This would reduce the beautification cost and will be an opportunity to get the dump site cleaned up and also it will be an opportun- ity to see what the fill can be used for in other locations. He said he would like to have DeMatteo start hauling this week. Town Counsel feels, as far as Hartwell Avenue is concerned, the Board could go forward by giving Mr. DeMat- tbo a letter of permission to go in, but DeMatteo would absolve the Town of all liability and file a Certificate of Insurance. Mr. Cataldo explained that DeMatteo would have to obtain a permit from the Board of Health. He has dis- cussed this with Mr. McQuillan who said he could see no problem in granting a permit . Mr. Cataldo moved that the Board of Selectmen grant permission to DeMatteo Construction Company to haul the material to the Hartwell Avenue site and put it in such condition as the Superintendent of Public Works recommends; that the Board write a letter to DeMatteo with those conditions; that DeMatteo obtain a permit from the Board of Health. 11 The motion as presented was seconded and voted unanimously. 38 1e Mr. Cataldo stated DeMatteo was going to call to- morrow morning and he would like to tell him that there will be a letter for the Chairman' s signature. He said he would like to be able to tell him this is the Board ' s action. Mr. Cataldo said he would like the Board' s permis- sion to meet with Dr. Fobert, Robert Bond, Ben Bertini, Mr. McQuillan of the Board of Health and Mr. Zaleski, Planning Director to discuss going into the Lincoln Street area. He said he felt everyone affected should know what the Board has in mind, and that all these depart- ments should be in on it. He said if it is decided to go ahead with this Mr. Carroll can come up with recommended grades . He said he would like the Board ' s permission to go forward on the project in this manner. Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was unanimously voted to authorize Mr. Cataldo to proceed as outlined . tt W Q 3 Barrett, ewheelerdRoad, and H. S. VanBurenmetBwithithe Board in regard to the interpretation of the Zoning By- Law in so far as it relates to garaging commercial vehicles in a three-car garage located in a residential Zoning area. The Chairman explained that until a building permit has been issued and a violation exists the Board has no control. He also advised that to obtain an interpretation of the Zoning By-Law, the Planning Board would be the Board to see. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discuss- Executive ing deliberating or voting on matters which, if made Session public, might adversely affect the public security, the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation of any individual. Following discussion with Mr. Carroll pertaining to public works matters, a discussion with Mr. Gray rela- tive to the acquisition of land , departmental matters, it was voted to resume the open meeting. At 10:05 P. M. Chairman Parrish, Zehner, Bretscher, Kolovsnn, Blaisdell, Mrs. Souza, Appropriation Committee, and Mr. Perry, Comptroller met with the Board. Mr. Parrish reported that the Committee had Transfers approved a transfer of $1,000 from the Reserve Fund to the Highway Maintenance Account. Mr. Parrish referred to a request from the Board for a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Police Expenses Account and stated money has been set aside and is awaiting the immediate need for it. r. Parrish said the Committee had a question on the Cemetery commissioners Personal Services, for which an article has been inserted in the warrant for the Special Town Meeting in June. Article The Chairman said the Commissioners want the girl to be full-time and asked to have the article inseOted in the warrant. He explained that the Board agreed to insert the article but it by no means means that the Board sanctioned it. He said this is a budget request and should come up at the Annual Town Meeting The Chairman mentioned the subject of an Advisory Council to the Department of Civil Defense and asked the Appropriation Committee to appoint a member of its committee to serve on the council. Advisory Upon motion duly made and Seconded, it was voted Council to to appoint an Advisory Council to the Department of C.D. Civil Defense, consisting of a member of the Board of Selectmen, member of the Appropriation Commmittee, a member of the School Committee and two citizens. Mr. Mabee agreed to serve on the council as a representative from the Board of Selectmen. The Appropriation Committee retired at 10:4.0 P. M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10:4.0 P. M. A true record, Attest: o�fti Cle , Sele toren I