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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-10-17-BOS-min 29i SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 17, 1966 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, October 17, 1966, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Burnell, Sheldon and Mabee were present. Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, Mr. Carroll, Superittendent of Public Works , and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. Mr. Cataldo, who had a previous meeting, arrived at 8:25 P M. Mr. Gray said several weeks ago, he brought up the question of abating an ambulance bill for a veteran Ambulance living on a very limited income ; the abatement having bill been recommended by the Veterans ' Agent. abated Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to abate ambulance bill #175 in the amount of $12.00 incurred by Mr. Patterson, 1970 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington . Mr. Gray said he received a bill, first appli- cation for payment, on the Public Works Building, Addi- tion and Alterations in a the amount of $58,14.2.85 which Payment the committee has approved and recommended for paymmnt . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve payment of $58,142.85 to John Tocci & Sons, Inc. Mr Gray reported receipt of a verbal request from Mr. William E. Maloney for permission to move a building from Arlex Oil Corp. up Bedford Street to Route 128. He said he believed Mr Carroll had seen the building. Permit Mr. Carroll said it is a small building, 10* x 12'* , but he did not know if the Chief of Police had seen it or not . He suggested that the Board grant a permit subject to the Chief' s approval Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant Mr Maloney permission to move the building, subject to Chief Corr' s approval. The Chairman read a letter from the Mystic Valley Gas Company requesting ppermission to locate a gas main in Wallis Court. Gas main Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant peression to the Mystic Valley Gas Company to locate a 2-inch high pressure welded steel gas main in Wallis Court. 294 N The Chairman read a letter from Seymour Schwartz, 115 Brown Road, and Henry Delfiner, 8 Brown Road, requesting the Board to grant them relief from those parts of the sewer betterment assessments which they state exceed the charges made to the neighbors. The Chairman said Mr. Carroll had received a copy of Sewer the letter and apparently these two individuals are assessment objecting to the cost. Mr. Carroll explained the sewer is not in yet and these people have been asked to sign a petition. They want the sewer, but don' t think the assessment against their properties will be fair. He said this si something the Board cannot abate now. He submitted a plan of Brown Road and indicated the two properties, stating the estimated assessment against Mr. Delfiner' s property is $1,1831 .89 and the estimied assessment against Mr. Schwartz! property is $1,218.60. He explained the assessment of sewer betterments as required by statute and said other assessments in the area are $1,167.06; $1,255.00; $1,160. 75; $1,161.41 and $1,1618.13 Mr Sheldon said if the people are objecting, the sewer does not have to be put in. The Chairman stated the Board does not have the right to make any abatements until after the work has been done and charges made. At that time, the people have the right to petition for an abatement and the Board can consider it. Mr. Sheldon said the Board is under no obligation, nor is it making any promises to abate. The Chairman asked Mr. Carroll to compose a reply for his signature . Mr. Sheldon said the first thing to find out is how the majority of the people feel. Mr. Carroll said he believed the majority of the people on Brown Road want the sewer. Letter was received from the Metropolitan Building Request to Movers Co. requesting permission to move three buildings move 3 to L'rassland Street, coming from Arlington. buildings Mr. Carroll said he had not looked at this yet and requested that the Board not act until next week. The Chairman said the request would be held over for one week. The Chairman read a letter from Elaine Whitney, a tourist, who suggested that Hill Street be marked by a Street sign sign. Mr. Carroll said there used to be a sign there . Mr. Mabee suggested referring the subject to the Planning Board so Hill Street becomes Revere Street or Revere Street becomes Hill Street. euv Mr. Carroll said he would take care of the sign. The Chairman reviewed Mr Carroll' s recommendations in his letter of October 13, 1966, relative to street lighting, a copy of which was mailed to each member of Street the Board. lighting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adopt the policy of installing only mercury vapor street lights in the future. Letter was received from Mr. Carroll, a copy of which was mailed to each member of the Board, relative to his 1967 new programs, additional personnel require- 1967 Budges ments and equipment purchases. P W. Dept. The Chairman said this should more properly come before the Board at its budget session. Mr. Sheldon explained Mr. Carroll is saying his budget will reflect this. The Board will have to dis- cuss it later as a budget anyway. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Carroll advis- ing he has a balance of $15.51 in the Street Signs budget. He said he could either stop installing signs or request Transfer a transfer of $250, and recommended the latter. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve a transfer of $250 from the Reserve Fund to the Street Signs ticcount, and the Chairman asked Mr. Carroll to prepare the necessary forms. Notice was received from the Metropolitan District Commission to which was enclosed a proposed revised Sewerage schedule of ratios Table III for which a public hearing District will be held on October 27, 1966. The Chairman explained this was more for Mr . Carroll' s information and it would be available to him. The Chairman read a letter from Phyllis E. Thomas, 55 Ivan Street, stating new information had been obtained relative to the Eldred, Bedford Streets ' traffic and she requested an gopointmdnt with the Board. Traffic The Chairman said if the Board had no objection, it could make an appointment for next Monday. Mr. Sheldon questioned whether she should meet with the Selectmen or the Traffic Study Committee. Mr. Burnell said this should be a meeting with the Traffic Study committee, and in writing to her, advise that she should have an opportuhity to go over this with the Traffic Study Committee, which she has already about a year ago Mr. Gray said this has been studied at individuals ' 9E� co requests and the Board' s request several atimes within the padt year. The Committee has been back to the State three times, and each time the same answer is given. Mr Mabee asked if the new information shouldn' t be brought up at a Traffic Study Committee Meeting. The Chairman said Mrs. Thomas could have an audience with the Traffic Study Committee. That Committee will listen to any information she has and she could attend the Committee ' s meeting on Friday at 11:00 A.M. If she still wants to meet with the Board after that, an appoint- ment will be made . Certified list from the Dividion of Civil Service, dated October 4, 1966, was held over from the last meeting of the Board. The Chairman informed the Board he had received a verbal extension of time. Mr Gray said the Board would receive a written ex- tension and this is to give the Chief a chance to check the names off. The Chairman said action on the list would be held over. Letters regarding 1967 budget requests were received from the Civil Defense Department , Planning Board, Cary Memorial Library Trustees, Recreation Committee, Board of Budgets Assessors, Accounting Department, and Police Department. The Chairman said these would all be held until budget time and asked that a copy be made of each one for the Appropriation Committee. The Chairman asked Mr. Gray to replyato letter, re- ceived October 10, 1966, from the Capital Expenditures Committee, in regard to 1967 budgets The Chairman read a letter fromMr Irwin, Building Inspector, stating if the Board had no objection, he would arrange to have Mr. Soule cover his office during the Building period of time he is attending the Institute for Municipal Inspector Building Officials in Connecticut. He also said, due to a change in plans, he would like to take the remainder of his vacation period on occasional days the remainder of the vacation year. The Chairman stated the Board had no objection, and approved of this approach The Chairman read a letter from the Town Celebrations U.N. Day Committee inviting the Board to participate in the exercises at the Common on UN Day, October 24, 1966, at 7 00 A.M 1 297 IIThe Chairman read a letter from Dr William L Barnes, requesting permission to hunt on his property at 404 Bedford Hunting Street The request was referred to the Chief of Police for a permit The Chairman read a letter presented by Mr Jules P. Sussman, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, Use of requesting the use of the small meeting room in the Visitors ' Visitors' Center Building for its meetings, and for the Center purpose of storing a locked filing cabinet in the room. Mr Sheldon said this was assuming there are chairs upon which to sit. The Chairman explained he did bring to the Com- mission' s attention the fact the building is not furnished at this time . The Board still has not made any rules and regulations, but it is not going to object to Town Com- mittees using the room. Mr. Gray said there are funds in the account and he thought chairs should be purchased Mr. Sheldon suggested that Mr Carroll be asked to bring in an estimate of what he thought would be required . The Chairman asked if this shouldn' t be done through the committee. Mr. Sheldon explained he merely meant to find out what Mr. Carroll' s recommendations are. Mr. Burnell said the Board has to decide what the rooms will be used for, whether or not there will be a large table and chairs or chairs such as those in the Selectmen' s Room The Chatrmaai said the Selectmen should concern themselves with the policy of the building Mr Mabee moved that Mr Gray come in with suggested rules and regulations so the Board could vote on them next Monday evening. Mr. Sheldon suggested that the committee who was responsible for this vuilding come in with some suggestions regarding furniture. The Chairman said as far as this Board is concerned, the sense of the Board is it will approve committees and commissions of the Town using the building. This does not mean the Chamber of Commerce will have a room by itself. He said if the Conservation Commission wanted to put a file cabinet in there, that was its prerogative. Mr. Sussman stated he did not say the commission would put the filing cabinet, but it would like to. Mr. Burnell said he would hope there would not be a filing cabinet in either of those upper rooms, and if there is going to be a series of files, they could be downstairs in the basement The Chairman, addressing Mr. Sussman, said he knew what the thinking is and what the ramifications ,aee 2 93 ac Mr. Sheldon reported that Board requested him to contact the Arts & Crafts Society regarding nominees for appointment to the HIstoric Districts Commission. He did this , and the two names given him were Harold E. Searles , 59 Liberty Avenue, and S. Laurence Whipple, 15 Belfry Terrace The Chairman real a letter from the Board of Trustees of Cary Memorial Library, dated October 17, 1966, requesting the Board to direct the architect , Mr Frey, to include in his Lexington plans for the beautification of Massachusetts AVenue , the Center landscaping of the grounds at Cary Memorial Library He said , as far as he could see, there would be no objection and., addressing Mr Gray, said he had a meeting tomorrow morning on the Center Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant an Auctioneer' s license to Charles E. Parks, License 10 Hawthorne Road, Lexington, subject to receipt of a letter from the Chief of Police. 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 , Executive might adversely affect the public security, the financial Session interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Mr Cataldo arrived at the meeting at 8 25 F.M. Following discussion with Mr. Jules P Sussman, Chairman of the Conservation Commission; advancements of certain personnel in the Department of Public Works; Grove Street easement; Assistant Building Inspector and the proposed Salary Schedule as submitted by the Salary Study Committee, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 10: 39 P .M. A true record , Attest iv Cle k, Selec en I