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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-06-20-BOS-min 143 SELECTMEN 'S MEETING June 20, 1966 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, June 20, 1966, at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Burnell, Cataldo, Sheldon and Mabee were present. Mr. Legro, Town Counsel, Mr. Gray, Executive Asdstant, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works , and Mies Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. Mr. Carroll presented a check, received from the Federal Government in the amount of $130, 700.00, in con- nection with the Woodhaven Trunk Sewer. Woodhaven Sewer Mr. Carroll said he would like the Board' s per- mission, in the Center, to have the Engineering Department start detail surveys from Waltham Street back to Winthrop Road for anything that might be needed in beautification of the Center. The Board had no objection. The Chairman referred to the following statement, a copy of which was given to each member of the Board: "We believe that a slip ramp from Route 2 to Water- town Street will suffice for traffic entering Lexington at this point. We believe that there are enough alternate routes from Belmont Center and Waverley Square providing westbound access to Route 2 to eliminate the necessity for a loop at Route 2 and Watertown Street. We strongly believe that the gateway to Lexington Route 2 from Route 2 along Watertown Street should be dis- statement turbed as little as possible from an aesthetic stand- point and that Bowman Park should not be used as a means to providing a solution to the overall traffic problem. We also believe that the Department of Public Works should provide access to Route 2 for Worthen Road now that it is in the process of designing the next section of the Route 2 reconstruction." He asked if the Board went along with the statement. !1±t. Cataldo said it has already been read at a meet- ing this morning. 44 ar Mr. Gray reported the question was raised, by Mr Storer, as to whether or not this was an official statement from the Board of Selectmen, and he told him it was Letter from Mrs. George H. Macbeth, 507 Waltham Street, relative to a deed for Lot 27, was held over. The Chairman stated this was held over from last week to discuss with Town Counsel Mr. Legro said Mrs . Macbeth has had the deed for quite a while. He guessed she sent it back to her attorney, Mr. McLaughlin, who never sent it to him. Mabbeth Mr. McLaughlin returned the deed to Mrs. Macbeth for deed to her acknowledgement, but as of today, Mr McLaughlin has Lot 27 not received the dedd. Mr. Legro said he has the check Waltham St. and Agreement for Judgment, and he was just waiting for the deed. He advised there is nothing the Board can do unless it waats to send someone down to take her acknow- ledgment The Chairman said the subject of the Goodwin pro- perty on Pearl Street was held over to be discussed with Town Counsel He said Town Counsel had received a copy of the Building Inspector' s letter of June 7, 1966, and Goodwin asked for his opinion garage Mr. Legro replied he thought he wrote to the Board and suggested if it had a hearing, it be kept separate from the other matter. The Chairman said this particular matter is about a two-car garage. Mr. Legro said it is some sort of a structure down there, close to the lot line. The Chairman said Town Counsel suggested that the Board proceed under Chapter 139 of the General Laws and asked if the Board was agreeable. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to hold a hearing on Monday, July 11, 1966, at 8:00 P.M. in the Selectmen' s Room. The Chairman, with refdrence to the hearing held last week in regard to the Cummings' property at 475 Massachusetts Avenue, said Mr Cummings was not present. He said he did arrive at 8:14.0 P.M. and at that point, Cummings ' the Chairman told him the hearing was over and he would 475 Mass. receive a transcript of the minutes Avenue Mr Legro advised it would have been much better if Mr. Cummings had been heard. He said if the Board finds the building dangerous, it should proceed and take its chances 143 The Chairman said his own personal opinion is at the very least it is an eyesore, and in his opinion it was considerably more than that. Mr. Legro recalled that the Board held a hearing before. It will have the testimony of the Building Inspector and can issue an order, have it attested by the Town Clerk and served by Constable. The Chairman asked Town Counsel to draft an order. He said the Board could order Mr. Cummings to have the building removed and asked what a reasonable time would be. Mr. Legro asked if the Board wanted the building removed. Mr. Cataldo wanted to know if the Board could say removed or n made safe. Mr. egro asked if the Board wanted to back up a determination that it has to be removed. That, almost without question, leaves it with Superior Court. Mr. Cataldo asked what ground the Board would be on. Mr. negro said he should think the Board would want to specify what alterations should be made, the things that should be done to the building. He said it should specify the particular things it wants to have done; the things that are wrong with it to make it safe and the alternative to remove the building and then give Mr. Cummings suffi- II tient t ime to do either of the two things. The Chairman said the Building Inspector should come in with a recommendation of what should be done to make the building safe. He asked Mr. Gray to come in with the necessary information as to what must be done to make the building safe. Petition was received, signed by residents on Lowell Street, requesting that the proposed construction of a section of Lowell Street be changed to the eastward to preserve shade trees. Lowell St. Mr. Carroll said he had not seen the plans but did construe- not think there are very many trees to come down. He tion said he would look at this and advise the Board next week. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Robert R. Williams, 19 Ward Street , relative to the installation Request of a sanitary sewer from the corner of Garfield and Ward for sewer, Streets to #19 Ward Street . Ward St. Mr. Carroll said he would have a formal petition sent to Mrs. Williams. Letter was received from William Coughlin, 19 Rawson Avenue, dated June 14, 1966, relative to a flood- Drainage ing condition in his driveway, garage, laundry and playroom. CJ 146 N C7 Mr. Carroll explained the situation by use of a plan and said he would look into the matter and attempt to arrive at a satisfactory solution. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Hannah M. Conner, 54 Outlook Drive, stating she was not at all satisfied Conner with the award made by the Board for taking in Lot 154 award on Middleby Road. He said he would refer the subject to Town Counsel. The Chairman read a letter from the Cemetery Com- missioners advising that on June 9 the Commissioners voted Cemetery to advance one employee' s classification from W-2-6 to personnel W-3-6 which would necessitate an increase of $152 in Personal Services for the balance of the year. The Chairman said he did not know when the Board had approved, in the past, any change of classification in the middle of the year when funds were not available. Mr. Gray stated this is a reclassification of an em- ployee. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to advise the Cemetery Commissioners that it is the Board' s policy to make all personnel changes at the Annual Town Meeting, and suggest that they incorporate this in the budget for next year. The Chairman read a letter from the Cemetery Com- missioners requesting a transfer of $3!}6 to the Cemetery Department Expenses Account to enable the department to pay the Security Fence for repairs made to a damaged fence Cemetery at Westview Cemetery. fence Mr. Gray reported the Board has already approved this once, the fence has been repaired and the company is asking for payment. He said he did not know what the Ap- propriation Committee did on this. The Chairman asked Mr. Gray to follow this through. Letter was received from the 1"linute Man Cab complain- ing about the lack of taxi registration plates on cars Taxicabs being used by the Lexington Cab Company. Mr. Gray was requested to look into the matter and discuss it with Chief Corr. Letter was received from DL;niel A. Lynch, attorney for Connors Bros . Inc . , advising that at a meeting of the Stockholders of Connors Bros. Inc. , held on May 19, Connors 1966, it was voted to amend the Articles of Organization Bros. Inc. by changing the name of the corporation from Connors Bros. Inc. to Vinebrook Corporation. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that the Board's records be changed to indicate the change of name of the licensee and that this change be given to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. 147 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted I to grant Taxi Driver Licenses to Thomas Bresnahan, Licenses 65 Varnum Street, Arlington, and Arthur M. Maxner, L62 Waltham Street, Lexington. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a license to Minute Man Cab Co. for an addi- License tional taxicab, registration 4576. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Middlesex County Extension Service to hold discussions in the conference room, Cary Memorial Build- Use of hail ing, on Wednesdays June 22, June 29, July 6 and July 13 from 9:45 A.M. until noon, free of charge. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Lexington Chamber of Commerce permission to hold a luncheon for new teachers in Cary Hall on September 1, 1966, from 11:30 A.m. until 1:30 P.M. , free of charge. Use of hall Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Lexington Field and Garden Club permission to conduct meetings in Estabrook Hall on October 13, 1966, January 18, 1967, February 8, 1967 and April 6, 1967, Use of hall free of charge but subject to a fee of $3.95 per hour for clustodian's overtime services. II Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen 's Meeting held Minutes on June 13, 1966. I At 7:45 P.M. , Messrs. Sussman, Ripley, Smith and York, Conservation Commission, met with the Board. Mr. Sussman said he had an opinion of value on Conservation 1 the land at t he end of Hathaway Road and Red Coat Lane articles which supports the option. It supports it up to the amount of $56,000. Mr. Cataldo asked who gave the opinion of value, and Mr. Sussman replied Bernard Singer. The Chairman said the Commission was in a position to support its figures and this leaves the Appropriation ommittee and Selectmen still supporting the $45, 000. e said the Board would have to contact the Appropriation Committee and see if it wants to change. Mr. Smith advised the Board he called Mr. Parrish over the weekend. The Chairman said, with reference to Whipple Hill, the Appropriation Committee, Selectmen and Capital IIExpenditures Committee are in agreement to postpone this 148 article. Mr. Sussman said his Commission was about to take a vote on it. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 P.M. to true record, Attest: ecivilerk Selector d' 4� Vy I I