Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-12-12-BOS-min 7U 3r SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 12, 1966 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, December 12, 1966, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Cataldo, Sheldon and Mabee were present. Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, and the Acting Clerk were also present. Mr. Gray reported he had contacted Mrs. Bertha Murphy land Murphy on Grove Street with regard to her land, and Murphy land Grove she is agreeable to sign an option. He stated he had Grove Street Street given Mr. Legro, Town Counsel, the information and he would prepare the option and submit it to Mrs. Murphy for her signature. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Licenses to sign the following COMM Victualler licenses, both Licenses having been approved by the Board of Health: Bamboo Hut Restaurant 177 Massachusetts Avenue Village Variety 93 Massachusetts Avenue Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted License to sign 1st Class Agent's license for Colonial Garage License 1668 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington. The Chairman read a letter from Richard S. Honor Roll Townsend, 7 Mowers Road, relative to an honor roll Honor Roll for Lexington servicemen. The Chairman asked Mr. Cataldo for a report. Mr. Cataldo said Alan Adams submitted a report to the Board relative to the Honor Roll, which is in Cary Hall, a book of names of World War II Veterans, and a similar book has been requested for the boys in the service now from the Veterans' Agent; a Plaque to be put in Cary Hall for the Korean Veterans' who lost their lives. The Chairman stated he would reply to Mr. Townsend's letter. I 371 Mr. Carroll reported on the Chairs for Cary Memorial Building and read a letter from the Hampden Chair Company Chairs for apologizing for the delay in shipping, which was caused Cary by a fire in their plant. Shipment will be made during the month of January, 1967. Mr. Carroll stated he hoped they would receive them at that time, especially before Town Meeting. Mr. Cataldo reported on the Chairs for the Select- Chairs men's Room, and stated these were shipped December 7th. The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board requesting the Board to give serious consideration to a widening of Bedford Street between Hartwell Avenue and Bedford St. Route 128. Mr. Sheldon suggested that the Board have a meeting with the Planning Board, and discuss the problem. Mr. Carroll stated this points up the fact that the Traffic Committee agrees money is needed for a traffic study to be made of the whole area, Wood Street, Bedford Street and Hartwell Avenue. Mr. Gray stated this will be taken up at the next meeting of the Traffic Study Committee, that Bedford Street and Hartwell Avenue will be developed extensively, the whole complex, that there will be more industrial construction. The Chairman stated the Board would thank them for their letter, and stated it would like to arrange a meeting in the near future to discuss the problem. A letter from the Monument Realty Trust, 18 Muzzey Street, requesting the installation of a gate in the fence between its office building property at 18 Muzzey Opening in Street and the municipal parking lot, was read by the fence Chairman. Mr. Carroll stated he had contacted Mr. Boeing; he referred to this property on the plan and stated there is a new parking lot next to the property. It is for his own convenience. The Chairman thought the question was whether this was for public or private access, and Mr. Carroll replied it is a walking access. Mr. Sheldon asked what this would cost. Mr. Carroll stated this is just for an opening, not a gate. The Chairman asked what other places have access, and Mr. Carroll replied, Scribner's and the Lexington News. He designated the location on the plan. 372 ar Ct The Chairman asked Mr. Carroll what his reaction would be to this request. Mr. Cataldo asked if parking spaces would be lost, and Mr. Carroll replied in the negative, that there was no serious objection to this request. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Monument Realty Trust's request and have an opening in the fence between its property at 18 Muzzey Street and the municipal parking lot abutting the property. A copy of letter from the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, Department of Public Works, to Mr. Walter Steeves, 36 Highland Avenue, relative to the excavating and back- filling of property adjacent to Route 2A, Marrett Road, was read by the Chairman. Mr. Carroll said they apparently have a policy to Steeves' police their own highway system. He said the Town has a Steeves' property crew locating the edge of the filling and relating it property to the property line. He stated he would bring in a plan next week. Mr. Sheldon asked if Mr. Steeves was proceeding, and Mr. Cataldo stated he has fill available. Mr. Carroll stated the property is right near Bacon Street. Mr. Sheldon said if the Hatch Act is involved, Mr. Steeves should be notified to stop; that there would have to be a hearing, but it is not known if there is a violation. Mr. Gray suggested that a copy of the letter be sent to Mr. Irwin. The Chairman read two requests from the Metropolitan Building Movers Co. for permission to move two buildings; one from 428 Concord Pike, Arlington, to Hardy Pond Road in Waltham, and one from 88 Spring Street, Arlington to Permit Plant Road, Waltham. Permit Mr. Carroll stated these are both all right. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Metropolitan Building Movers permissionto move the above two buildings to their new location, subject to the regular conditions. Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Daniel A. Heighton, 62 Chase Avenue, relative to street betterment on their property at 62 Chase Avenue in the amount of $590. was read by the Chairman. 373 Mr. Carroll stated they are correct, there should Abatement be an abatement for thirteen feet for the unextended portion of pavement in front of their property and he would prepare the abatement form for the Board to sign next week. Copy of letter from Mrs. Dominic Petringa, 60 Lowell Street, to Mr. Carroll relative to drainage problem was read by the Chairman. Mr. Carroll stated he had talked to her and advised Drainage that the drainage will be in the 1967 budget, and also stated that he had written to her. Letter from Mr. Burrell, Director of Civil Defense, was discussed by the Board. Mr. Sheldon stated the Town already has a committee and Mr. Cataldo stated at the present time, it doesn't Civil really know towards what it is working; that he felt Defense they had a good working organization now and it is the intention of the committee to sit down with Mr. Burrell to have him work out the Federal and State aid problem. He stated the committee is in the midst of interviewing architects at the present time, and is meeting once a week, and it would be against the knowledge of the committee at this point. Mr. Sheldon felt it wasn't necessary. The Chairman stated Civil Defense has certain specifications they would expect in it, closeness with the committee. Mr. Cataldo said he was aware of this, and the committee has full intention of going through this. Mr. Cataldo replied Mr. Burrell can come to any meeting, and he would be glad to let him know what the committee' s thinking was. Mr. Gray said he had told Mr. Burrell that. Mr. Cataldo would be talking with him. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Minutes of the Selectmen's meeting held Minutes on December 5, 1966. At 8:00 P.M. the Selectmen's decision on the tree at 1303 Massachusetts Avenue was held. The Chairman stated he was sure all the members of the Board had received many letters on this subject. Tree The tree hearing was held on Monday, December 5, and 1303 Massa- stated that tonight is the Selectmen' s decision, and chusetts the Board will discuss it; it is not a hearing, and Ave. the Board will ask Mr. Carroll for his opinion. 3 74 co Or. Carroll stated the process of designing the roadway, Chapter 90 Construction, pointed out the tree in question jutted out into the highway and prevented making the highway a uniform width of forty feet all the way. He stated he recommended to the Board that the tree be posted and as far as he was concerned, the tree is a potential hazard. He said there have been no cases where anyone has hit the tree but it is an obstruction. The tree is *lite old, but he was not sure of its age, and he also realized the tree is beautiful, and quite healthy. A large portion of it did come off. Their feeling is, as engineers, the tree must be treated as an obstruction from preventing the curbing going in. Anything else along the edge of the road as well, and in their opinion, in order to obtain good highway design, the tree should go. South of the location, there is the infamous curve between Pelham Road and Munroe Tavern and there is a petition into the State to have the curve straightened as an accident hazard. This has been J , approved and this hazard will be eliminated at no cost to the Town. The State is looking at the problem of elimination of the curve, flattening out the curve, and would seriously question whether they would be wise to approve Federal and State funds to eliminate an accident, and a few feet away there was another one not eliminated. He said again he was completely aware that the tree is old and beautiful, and that no accidents have occurred at that site. He said it is not feasible to push the curbing or move the road in the opposite direction and have problems on the other side of the street. Mr. Cataldo asked if Mr. Carroll could give any of the conditions that would exist, what the difference would be in the roadway, and Mr. Carroll replied the difference would be 2k feet, 37i feet wide if the tree stays. Mr. Cataldo asked if in five years from now if the tree died, how many feet of curbing would have to be replaced, and Mr. Carroll replied probably 250 feet. Mr. Cataldo also asked would it be possible to relocate the curbing, and Mr. Carroll replied in the affirmative and said it would be expensive, probably $1500 to $2,000, and also in paving the road, where it was crowned. Mr. Cataldo asked how far this contract goes toward East Lexington, and Mr. Carroll replied 100 feet beyond the tree now. Mr. Cataldo also asked if the State's position on straightening the road were accepted, could the Town take the curbing out and end up with one foot. Would this change the layout of the road at all. 375 Mr. Sheldon suggested that in view of the fact 11there were no compelling reasons for taking this tree down, that the tree not be removed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that the tree not be removed. Mr. Cataldo wished to be recorded in opposition. The Chairman stated he wished to make an announcement with regard to a meeting on Wednesday, December 14, 1966, at 4:00 P.M. in the office of the Department of Public Works at 100 Nashua Street when a decision will be made with regard to the intersection of Watertown Street and Route 2. This meeting is in Meeting keeping with the Governor' s promise. He told Dr. Jick, who was present,. that he could take this as a notification. Mr. Cataldo asked if the Board thought the people in Belmont should be notified. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discuss- ing, deliberating or voting on matters which, if made Executive public might adversely affect the public security, the Session financial interest of the Town or the reputation of any person. Following discussion with regard to a letter from the Conservation Commission and discussion with Mr. Carroll with regard to the Pumping Station at North Street, it was voted to resume the opening meeting. At 8:40 P.M. Mrs. Batt in, Messrs. Adams, Russian and Bryson met with the Board. Structure of Mr. Russian, betig the spokesman for the committee, Town Govern- stated that his committee was talking in terms of areas ment Comm. of Town construction. He said it has had a committee for school construction and that committee's functions are reaching a point involved in new construction within the limit of the next ten years. One additional school between now and 1971. He said it seems when school comes to an end other departments and agencies will fill the bill. He said his committee is talking of an addition to the Town Office Building, Public Works Building, and other structures will come into existence, including a third fire station. He felt they should explore the possibility of changing the whole manner in which build- ing is done by the Town if we are to establish a committee for Town construction. If you have a committee of new people going through that has to learn all the mechanics, that is a waste. What is expected of a committee -- 37'' CO 3r Ct experience can be a great help, both in total time and effort. There are innumerable instances of wasteful efforts, and we want to progress. A permanent committee should be more competent to give the best design for the least dollar. He stated they have a choice - a committee established under an article in the warrant or a By-Law committee. The Chairman stated he felt the volunteer committees have done good work. Mr. Russian stated it should be a permanent building committee, that other Towns had gone through this. He mentioned that Concord had a General Building Committee, a give-man committee hired for two-year terms. The Chair- man is an instructor at Tufts. This group is appointed by the Selectmen in that Town. Next he spoke of Brookline. The building commission is again made up of five, appointed annually. The commission is comprised of an architect, builder, and two other citizens as officials. Any project which affects any committee must have the approval of the Selectmen before it can get to Town Meeting. He stated that Brookline has an annual appointment; that the member- ship hasn't changed in ten years, there is a feeling of permanency there. The particular committee involved with the use of the proposed structure will have an ex-officio member on that committee. Wellesley, he stated, is most attractive. They have a by-law creating a permanent building committee. This committee has a five-man board and its requirement is there has to be an attorney, engineer or an architect and a building contractor, so Orme would have to qualify under these vocations. In Wellesley they have been very successful. He said there is no requirement that the agency involved has a veto power. Mr. Russian said it seems that this concept is instrumental in light of present and future needs of Lexington. As far as our committee is concerned it makes a lot of sense, and it would like to propose it at Town Meeting in March. Mr. Sheldon suggested that most of the building that will be done will be in the Public Works area; the Library is another area. He suggested that it is pretty important to be public works oriented to be sure the building you design is for Public Works and will function; that he was just saying there is another side oo it. He felt it was very important to be sure that there are people on it who know what the objectives are; that he felt the committee should think about it. 377 Mr. Cataldo felt that the Board of Selectmen should ' have control; that there should be someone to report to. Different phases involved in appointing such a committee were further discussed. Mt was finally agreed that the Structure of Government Committee would work up a more detailed proposal and submit it to the Board. The Committee retired. Mr. William Rae, Chairman of the Arlington Great Meadows Committee met with the Board. Mr. Rae submitted reports to each member of the Board. The Chairman stated the Board would like to read this Great report and give it some thought. Meadows Mr. Rae stated some money should be appropriated. $20,000 or $25,000, and would be jointly split. He stated this has been going on for twenty to twenty-five years. Mr. Sheldon asked how that much money could be spent, and Mr. Rae said the two Town Committees had worked jointly from the beginning and the committees feel the best method would be for park and recreation. In order to develop this he said they would have to know more about 1 the land, water control and watershed, and the committee felt it should be done now. Mr. Sheldon asked what assurance does the Town have that Arlington will go along with any reasonable program. Mr. Rae suggested that the Board go over the report. and iron out some of the questions that it has. The committee feels it should be developed so people can enjoy it from the standpoint of recreational purposes, a major park idea, for ball and skating. He asked that the Board come up with a recommendation, and stated if it is really interested, to keep the thing going. The Chairman said the Board would read the report and set up a meeting with the Lexington part of the committee. Mr. Rae retired at 10:00 P.M. It was suggested that an article should be put in the warrant to acquire land, areas to be taken for Worthen Road Article at Marrett Road. Mr. Cataldo stated an article should be put in for the March Town Meeting. Mr. Sheldon moved that an article be prepared for insertion in the warrant. The Chairman asked if Mr. Carroll had a plan, and he replied in the negative, not yet. Mr. Carroll stated he 378ar C'3 had never formulated any specifications, but he would have someone work on it and bring it to the Board. Upon 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. Foliating discussion with Mr. Carroll relative to the Bedford Sewer problem, and a report to the press relative to the appointment of nine police officers, and an item relative to Minute Man Highlands, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10:35 P.M. A true record, Attest: / ez''o-,C0,44tk-4-1 Act ngg C rk, electmen I 1