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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967-02-13-BOS-min 4186 SFTFCTMEN' S MEETING February 13, 1967 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen ' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, February 13, 1967, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Burnell, Cataldo, Sheldon and Mabee were present . Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works , and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present . Mr. Gray submitted a change order, Architect ' s project No. 6607, Public Works Building, for the addi- Change tion of seven telephone outlets, an additional $176.00, Order and to provide covered trench for pipes to truck lift pits, an additional $816.50, which he stated had been approved by the committee. Upon motion duly marde and seconded, it was voted to approve the change order increasing the contract by $992.50. Mr. Gray reported that Chief Corr requested the Board to appoint Captain Paul E. Furdon as Acting Chief during his absence this week. Acting Upon motion duly made andseconded, it was voted Chief to appoint Captain Paul E. Furd.on, Acting Chief of Police, during Chief Corr' s absence from Thursday, February 16, 1967, through Monday, February 20, 1967. Mr. Carroll said on Route 2 at Watertown Street, he had a set of plans submitted to him by the State Route 2 Department of Public Works . He said this concerns it- self with the street layout and sidewalks, etc. He explainedthese plans indicate the State is going to put a sidewalk on Watertown Street from Peacock Farm Road on the east side all the way across the bridge ending on the south side of Route 2. There is going to be no great pedestrian travel, but it seemed to him it might be a Sidewalks better idea if the sidewalk was on the other side of the street and suggested that the State build a sidewalk on both sides of the street within the limits of the construction. He said he thought the State would go along with the request, but the Board would have to make the request. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the State Department of Public Works to construct sidewalks on both sides andfurther, if only one side is to be constructed that it be on the further side. 4 87 Mr. Carroll said on the south side of Watertown Street the State has indicated afbrty-eight foot pave- ment which narrows down to meeting the existing pavement twenty-two and a half feet wide. He said the State has Route 2 carried the construction to within about 200 feet of the State road Belmont line , and has also determined, from a point about 500 feet from the Belmont line toward Peacock Farm Road will be State road. He said there is about 500 feet in length from the Belmont line to the beginning of the ramp that will be a Town road and he felt this should be all State road. He said the Board should ask the State to build it right to the Belmont line, and he would continue the same width of construction, twenty-two and a half feet to the Belmont line. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the State Department of Public Works to con- tinue the construction on the south side of Watertown Street to the Belmont line so that the entire length will be a State road. Mr. Carroll referred to the westbound ramp coming from Peacock Farm Road and asked if the• Board shouldn't have the State remove that so there would be no left turn on oncoming traffic. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to include this in the two requests mentioned above. Mr. Carroll referred to the article in the warrant in regardto the Hartwell Avenue traffic study and said he received a letter from Wilbur Smith. They have come up with a detailed estimate from $17,000 to $26,000. He recommended 'Wet the motion contain $26,000 because he would rather be high than too low. Traffic The Chairman asked. if Mr. Carroll couldn' t choose a Study cost figure somewhere in between. Mr. Carroll saidhe wouldrather have the $26,000. The Chairman said there is a lot of latitude. Mr. Carroll said there is a question in hismind how much of the work the Town could supply. The Chairman asked if Mr. Carroll could supply any of the work, and he replied possibly a great deal. The Chairman said that should have a bearing on the ultimate figure , and Mr. Carroll said he thought it would be better to have the $26,000 figure. Mr. Carroll said this is an estimate for the article andhe may not even use this firm. The Chairman said if $26,000 is put in the motion, that is the amount that will be assessed against the tax levy. He asked how much of the work Mr. Carroll felt the 111 Town could do. 4 8 S ca C'3 Mr. Carroll replied right now the Board should assume that the Town will do none of it. The Chairman asked if Mr. Carroll could have a figure between now andthe time it is put in the motion. Mr. Carroll said the Chairman was asking him for an answer he could not give, and right now the Engineering Department is tied up. Mr. Arhhur Burrell, Director of Civil Defense, met with the Board and said last November to spoke to the Board about the possibility of having a training exercise concerning the key personnel of the Town. He said he thought it would be a great help in understanding how the people function under emergency conditions. He intro- Civil Defense duced Ernest R. Hamilton, Region One Training Office, and training Harold Perkins and Sidney Pierson of the University of exercise Massachusetts. Mr. Hamilton outlined the early history and background of simulation training and benefits that could accrue to the Town. He stated they propose to put on this emergency operation center training for Lexington at no charge, to be conducted by the University of Massachusetts. It is only one concept of operating and they want to see if they can apply it to Lexington' s own emergency operation center. This will involve cooperation with the University of Massa- chusetts collecting data on resources, conducting training sessions and finally coming up with a training exercise. Mr. Perkins, of the University of Massachusetts, said they have been engaged in conducting Civil Defense training for three and a half years, training instructor-level students. The biggest portion of the problem is being sure they can cope with any situation with the greatest of ease. They will set up an operational control room using a b' x 7' status board and will have a visual aid reference of what- ever action is taking place in the community. They will contract with the local printing eompany 'to develop maps to put on the display boards . At the center itself, there will be the Chairman supervising, his public information officer and Civil Defense Director. There will be an operation staff - fire, police, health and welfare, public works and. shelter. He explained the exercises and stated they would last between two and a half to three hours. There will be emergency messages necessary to move equipment or personnel, dynamic messages and fina :lY, a eel message. They t +ain both the operators and the simulators. Mr. Sheldon asked where simulation ended andactual movement of people began. Mr. Perkins replied this will all be on paper and they would like to conduct this exercise in May. I 489 Mr. Burrell said he was looking for formal permission from the Board to put this on. The Chairman said he thought it was an excellent idea. The Board had no questions, and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted. to authorize the proposed Emer- gency Operating Center training exercises to be conducted by representatives of the Department of Defense and the University of Massachusetts. The group retired at 8:10 P.M. Mr. Cataldo reported. the Town Office Space Committee has interviewed, many architects and as d Chit morning unanimously voted to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that it contract with the architects Perry, Dean, Hepburn and Stewart, a company of about seventy people. They are completely architectural people andhave a good re- lationship with construction and mechanical people. The committee feels they are extremely competent and capable of doing the job. They were selected because they are the people who did Williamsburg. Upon motion duly made and. seconded, it was voted to enter into a contract with Perry, Dean, Hepburn and Stewart as recommended by the Town Office Space Committee, Mr. Cataldo moved that the Executive Session of the minutes that had to do with kindergartens- and the Cemetery Executive Department budget, specifically last week's meeting, be Session in- made part of the public record. to Open The motion was seconded and unanimously carried. Meeting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order for the follow- ing J0 pole locations, all having been approved byMr. Carroll: Pole locations Lowell Street, westerly side, northerly from a point approximately 97 feet north of North Street, -- Eighteen poles . (Eighteen existing JO poles to be removed. ) The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Harold Andleman, 1130 Massachusetts Avenue, stating she strongly advocated the installation of sidewalks in the Munroe Tavern area that has been under construction. Sidewalks The Chairman said he would acknowledge the letter with thanks and advise Mrs. Andleman this will come up some time in the future. W 490 N The Chairman read a letter Prcnn the Planning Board recommending the adoption of underground wiring as a town-wide standard. Mr. Cataldo pointed out this includes streets the Board is recommending for acceptahce. Mr. Carroll said either the Town or the owners would have to pay for the relocation of the lines on the property. Undergrourr3. Mr. Carroll said the Town would have to pay in the street street and the people would have to pay for the service into lighting their house. Mr. Carroll said that was correct and it would cost about $300 or $4400 per house. The Chairman said this is going to be a very ex- pensive proposition. Mr. Cataldo asked if the Board could get some in- formation from the Boston Edison Company as to how muck this would cost and who would. pay 2 r it . Mr. Carroll replied in the affirmative . The Chairman saidif the individual home owner kc.ows he is going to get a $300 or $1+00 bill, there might be a different attitude on the part of the public. Mr. Carroll said the Edison may be willing to give the Board an estimate, as an example, of a couple of streets now in the budget. Letter, dated February 10, 1967, from Jules P. Sussman, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, with reference to the New Amsterdam property, was held over until the next meeting when Town Counsel would be present. Letter from Dr. L. M. Titelbaum, 216 Concord Avenue, complaining about a barking dog, was referred to the Dog Dog Officer, and the Chairman read the Officer' s report. It was agreed that, according to the report and recommendation of the Officer, no justificatin for restraint exists. Verna was received from Metcalf & Eddy in regard to Memo re: Recreation and Conservation. Recreation & Mr. Sheldon saidthat is the subject of the steering Conservation committee' s next meeting of which committee he is a member. and he has read the memo. This is the first of seven or eight reports the Boardwill receive. The Chairman said it will be available and asked Mr. Gray for a condensation of the salient points. Notice was received from the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission pertaining to Washington' s Birthday, Liquor February 22, 1967. February 22 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 491 that hotels and restaurants may sell alcoholic beverages during the usual hours. "Package Goods" Stores may sell and deliver alcoholic beverages between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M. on the holiday and until 11:30 F.M. on the night before. The Chairman reada letter from Peter Sowkow, 614. Valleyfield Street, together with a plan showing two pro- posed foundation cellars which Mr. Sowkow said he was sub- mitting as requested by the Hatch Act. Mr. Gray said under the Hatch Act, Mr. Sowkow will have to have a hearing before the Board . The Chairman said if a hearing is held, the Division Sowkow re: of Natural Resources have to be notified. Hatch Act Mr. Gray said there is a small brook and this is not a waterway. The Chairman asked Mr. Gray to check with Town Counsel and see if a hearing is necessary; if so, have it set up. Letter was received from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 3007, requesting permission to operate a stand April 19 on the property at 1668 Massachusetts Avenue, per- mission having been obtained from the owner. April 19 The Board had no objection. Mr. Cttaldo suggested that Mr . Gray handle all future requests for locations of stands on April 19. Upon motion duly made andseconded, it was voted to sign an Order for the construction of a sewer in Adams Street from Westwood Road a distance of 285 feet north- easterly to North Street. Letter was received, signedby seven Precinct Five Town Meeting Members, asking the Board to give careful Opposition consideration to the proposed tax increase as they are to tax vigorously opposed to further town tax increases. increase The Chairman said he did not think these people are aware of how the tax dollar is broken down, and he would answer the letter which was addressed to him. Letter was received from Mr. Perry, Comptroller, in regatd to the financial reports as of December 31, 196$. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held on Minutes February 6, 1967. Mr. Sheldon suggested that Mr. Gray give the Board a breakdown of the amounts requested in "other articles" . 4192 Mr. Sheldon said he read the report of the Fire Commissioners which had to do with certain discussions Fire Comm. they had with the firefighters and he thought Mr. Gray policy should review that to make sure everything discussed and agreed upon is in line as far as other Town Departments are concerned. Mr. Gray stated the Chairman had written the Fire Commissioners a letter andthose things were covered. The Chairman asked Mr. Gray to make sure the Com- missioners' policy is the same as the policy for the other Town Departments Mr. Sheldon said he received a request this evening from Mr. Sussman that Mr. Gray bring him up to date on the status of the New Amsterdam, Pihl, Trinity Covenant Church and Rosetti parcels. Mr. Carroll retired at 8:1.0 P.M. Chairman Parrish, Messrs . Blaisdell, Grant, Kenney, Zehner and. Mrs . Sousa of the Appropriation Committee, met with the Board. The Chairman stated the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee had requested an executive session before it goes on with all the business it has with the Board this evening. 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. Mr Gray retired. Following discussion off the record pertaining to personnel, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Mr. Parrish suggested reductions of $150,000 in the school budget, $100,000 in the general budget, $450,000 in the articles and $200,000 in the Selectmen' s articles Budget in an effort to reduce the tax rate. reductions The Chairman said the Board would go over the budgets in an effort to reduce the total of $450,000 by $200,000. The Appropriation Committee was in favor of going over the budgets, arrive at a figure, and invite the Boards in for discussion. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, February 15, 1967, in the Conference Room, Cary Memorial Building, to go over all budgets again. The Appropriation Committee retired at 10:35 P.N. 493 IUpon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, 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. Following discussion pertaining to a highway, Regis- trars , and Great Meadows, it was votedto resume the open meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 11:15 P.M A true record, Attest: Gj u � C iv Cler Select/gen I ,