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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-01-17-BOS-min 495 S FCTMEN'S MEETING January 17, 1966 A regular meeting of the Board of Seldctmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, January 17, 1966, at 7:30 P M. Chairman Cole, Messrs Burnell, Cataldo , Sheldon and Mabee were present. Mr Legro , Town Counsel, Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. Letter was received from Mrs . David R. Israel, 5 Whitman Circle, requesting the erection of traffic signs aing Lowell Street where the Fiske School bus travels. Mr Gray reported that the Traffic Study Committee met Friday morning, discussed this request and recommended that appropriate signs be erected. Traffic Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the erection of appropriate traffic control signs along Lowell Street, the route of the Fiske School bus Petition was received from residents of Dewey Road requesting the installation of a sidewalk on the Estabrook side of Grove Street Mr Gray reported that the Traffic Study Committee discussed this petition and took a look at the location mentioned in the petition. He said there is a sidewalk on one side of the street and there is a sidewalk on Dewey Road with a crosswalk to the opposite side of the street He said, in looking at the site, and driving both directions, there is sight distance It is a short distance from the crest of the hill, and this is a marginal situation. If a sidewalk is installed, the committee recommends that it be for a distance of 150 feet and then have a crosswalk. Sidewalk The Chairman asked if funds were available, and Mr Gray replied in the negative He stated this proposed 150 feet would cost between $500 add $600, and further reported that the committee is not convinced the children wtll use the sidewalk Mr Cataldo asked if the proposal was acceptable to the people, and Mr Gray replied it had not been discussed with the people who signed the petition Mr. Carroll said this is so minor, there is no real priority Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize Construction of a sidewalk on the Estabrook Road side of Grove Street for a distance of 150 feet with a crosswalk. Cc 496cr cta Leber was received from the Metbopolitan Building Movers Col, requesting permission to move a building from 2993 Massachusetts Avenue to a new location at Walden Pond Reservation. Mr . Carroll said he bad not looked at this, but thought Permit it would be all right and recommended that the Board approve it subject to approval by him and Chief Corr. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Metropolitan Building Movers Co. permission to move a building from 2993 Massachusetts Avenue to a new lo- cation at Walden Pond subject to approval of the Chief of Police and Super$ntendent of Public Works, and subject to the established conditions. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Carroll, dated January 11, 1966, relative to the Town' s share of funds distributed by the State under Chapter 679 of the Acts Chapter 90 of 1965. The Chairman said this would mean an adjustment in the Chapter 90 budget . The Chairman read a letter from Richard S . Townsend, 7 Nowers Road, suggesting that the Town provide some means of making a Public display of the names of Lexington men serving in the Armed Forces. Servicemen Mr. Cataldo suggested that this could be placed on the list the Board intends to consider relative to the uses and contents of the Public Facilities Building . Mr. Sheldon suggested this might be a subject on which the Veterans' organizations would be able to make some recommendations. Mr. Adams said he had some experience and he knew there is not a complete list available and suggested that the Veterans' Agent might be of some help on this . The Chairman said he thought the Board should refer this to the Veterans' Agent to see how difficult it is to obtain the names and having determined that, find out whether the Public Facilities Building might be a suitable place. Mr Gray reported that the Draft Board does not have sufficient clerical help to compile these lists for cities and towns . The Chairman read a letter from Mr Burrell, Director of Civil Defense, relative to the use of the second floor Public of the Public Facilities Building for temporary storage of Facilities shelter supplies . Building Mr. Sheldon questioned the advisability of using the second floor for such a purpose and asked why the basement couldn't be used. 497 IIMr. Burnell said he surely did not want to use the second floor for storage It was agreed to place the letter on file until such time as the Board establishes Rules and Regulations govern- ing the use of the building The Chairman read a. letter from the Planning Board, submitting an article for insertion in the 1966 warrant Barrymeade for laying out, as a public way, of an extension of Barry- meade Drive to the land of Busa Letter was received from the Planning Board with reference to parcels of land Town Meeting authorized the Selectmen to acquire for municipal purposes, but which have not been acquired Mr Gray reported that the land on Woburn Street has been referred to Mr Legro who has asked for additional Land acqui information He said he has the information and a letter sitions will be typed. The Chairman said the pieces number one through eleven and asked Mr Gray to prepare a statement of the status of each p rcel for the members of the Board. The Chairman read a letter from the American National II Red Cross reporting on repairs recently made to the building at 9 Hancock Street The Chairman read. a letter from the American Legion, Stanley Hill Post, #38, requesting bermission to operate a booth at Massachusetts Avenue and Mariam Street on April 19, 1966 and to conduct the Legion' s Second Annual Country Fair on Parker Field September 2, 3 and ti., 1966. April 19 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Legion' s request to operate a booth at Massa- chusetts kvenue and Meriam Street on April 19, 1965. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Country to grant he Legion' s request for permission to conduct its Fair Second An ual Country Fair on Parker Field September 2, 3 and LF, 19 6 Mr. urnell said he thought the Board should prescribe off-see t_ rritory and stay within it The Chairman said Mr Burnell meant areas. Mr Burnell said he thought the Board had granted use of some Town land away from the Green, and this he would not object, to, but he did think the Board should keep the stands awLy from the immediate vicinity of the Green . The Chairman asked that the members of the Board II drive around and be prepared next week to establish a policy. 498 s• The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Aiden L Ripley, resigning as a member of the Board of Appeals Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Resignation to accept the resignation with regret The Chairman said if the Board had no objection he would contact the Cgairnan. of the Board of Appeals in regard to a poasible replacement The Board had no objection Letter from John F. MacNeil, recommending Roy Cook Deputy as Deputy Chief of the Fire Department , was referred to Chief the Board of Fire Commissioners . Letter from Chester Rudnicki, 102 Prospect Street, Somerville, a candidate for United States Senate, with reference to a "new frontier for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts" , was noted and placed on file Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Premiere Performance Company the use of Esta- Use of hall brook Hall on January 21, 1966 from 8:00 P.M until 10:00 P M , free of charge, but subject t a custodian' s charge for overtime services. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Use of hall to grant the Town Celebrations Committee the use of Estabrook Hall on January 20, 1966 from 7:30 P.M until 10:00 P.M , free of charge. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Use of hall to grant the Town Meeting Members Association, Precinct 3, the use of Estabrook Hall on January 25, 1966, from 8:00 P.M Cantil 10:00 P.M , free of charge . At 8:00 P M. , hearing was declared open, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 220 of the Acts of 1965, relative to plans of the Itek Corporation ato enlarge the parking Itek park- area at the rear of its facilities at Maguire Road, Lexington ing hearing Massachusetts, as a part of a facilities expansion program. Notices of the hearing were mailed to the Itek Corporation, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Works, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Natural Resources Department Mr. John Kastler, representing the Itek Corporation, Mr. Tura, of the Avco Corporation, and Mr Roland Greeley, of the Planning Board, were the only persons present at the hearing. Mr Kastler submitted a letter received last Friday from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public 499 Works,. Division of Waterways, notifying Itek that a license is required from the Department of Public Works for filling in, over or under the waters under its juris- diction commencing at the natural high water line At the bottom of the letter it stated that Kiln Brook is one of the streams coming under the license jurisdiction of the Department under Chapter 91 of the General Laws. However , no license is required unless there is encroach- ment on the brook below the normal high water line Mr. Kastler said they do not propose to encroach upon the brook and he pointed out drawing he had this eveang was the same one submitted to the Town in 1959 which pro- posed a future parking lot in this area near Kiln Brook but not encroaching upon it No one wished to speak infhvor or in opposition and the Board had no questions. The hearing was declared closed and the Chairman said the Board would take the matter under advisement and inform Itek of its decision. Messrs. Kastler and Tura retired at 8:06 P.M. Mr. Greeley said it seemed to him that the letter sub- mitted from the State waives the Department of Public Works ' interest but he doubted very much if it affected the Town' s interest under the Acts of 1965 as the Chapter is amended He said be thought the Town was very much interested in cases like this and he thought the Town of Bedford would be very much interested. Mr. Carroll said there is no question about the fact any paving will affect the runoff. The question is how much and to what extent it will affect it . In order to answer it, the Town would have to do a fantastic study The answer in this particular case would be the additional amount of runoff would be insignificant if the overall runoff is used. He said he thought the Board should ask how much it can afford without having a serious effect. The Chairman said the Board could grant this and it would not have a serious effect, but at some point, the Board would have to stop and find out what action it will have to take. Mr Sheldon said perhaps the Board should find out what the Hatch Act says and whether or not the Town is involved Mr. Legro stated he had read it very carefully a couple of weeks ago There is nothing much in the Act that is helpful. Mr Carroll said there is no question about the Act applying to this. It is marsh land. He said in his mind it definitely comes under the wet lands bill. GJ 500 CZ The Chairman said the Board could safely grant this but it should establish a policy very shortly so in future extensions in that area it can vote a little more know- ledgably. Mr. Carroll said the problem is, this is not the only area in Town to which this applies. He said the Board could not set a policy on it and should be careful, and if it sees one that appears to be dangerous to the Town, it would have to spend some money. He said in his opinion the whole of Tophet swamp could be filled in with no harm to the Town if the Town is willing to construct the neces- sary channels or pipes to take the water out of the area. He said this was not to say it would be of no harm below the Town of Lexington. He said if this is going to be used for industrial land, it may have to be piped. Mr Legro said one of the problems is to retain water rather than have it run off. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve Itek Corporation' s plans to enlarge the parking area at the rear of its facilities at Maguire Road as shown on plan entitled "Pkaposed Parking Area Itek Corporation Lexington Facility" , Aberthaw Conat. Co. Dec . 28, 1955. The Chairman said any- legislation such as the Hath Act is to maintain a balance . There was a danger of losing all wet lands and now it is left so the Selectmen in Towns and City Councils have it in their power to maintain this balance in their area. Mr. Cataldo said this is only the beginning. There are 200 acres of swamp land zoned industrial. Mr Greeley suggested that the Board might want to refer the general issue to the Conservation Commission for a policy recommendation He asked if there were areas of the Town that should be kept- oven He said he thought the Board should approve this one and ask its advisors to recommend a policy. Mr. Sheldon asked if the Board wanted to refer the general matter to the Conservation Commission for further study. Mr. Cataldo and Mr. Burail said they would rather refer this to the Planning Board. It was agreed to refer the matter to the Planning Board for a recommended policy. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Common. Victualler License to the Muffin House of Licenses Lexington, Inc . , d.b a. Pewter Pot, 1710 Massachusetts Avenue. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Taxi Driver License to Eugene T McManus , 112 Palmer Street, Arlington 5O ', Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Taxi Driver License to Christopher Kent Pelky, 4 .Daniels Street, Lexington. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Taxi Driver License to Paul Richard Connor, 273 Woburn Street, Lexington. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Taxi Driver License to John Leo McHugh, 46 Hamilton Road, Somerville. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign notices of intention to lay out as town ways the following streets : Street Suzanne Road Partridge Road notices Brigham Road Butler Avenue Dewey Road Kendall Road Juniper Place Middleby Road Mill Brook Road Wright Street Mohawk Drive Moreland Avenue Laconia Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Seldctmen' s Meeting held Minutes on January 10, 1966. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the following individuals to serve on a Town Report Committee: Louis A Zehner , Appropriation Committee; Wallace B. Baylies, Nancy Hudson, Frank H. Totman, Jack L. Mitchell, Tax Dollar Committee Town Repvth The Chairman said he would ask the School Com- Committee mittee to name one of its members as an Ex-Officio member of the committee, and Mr. Gray would also be an Ex-Officio member. Mr. Cataldo reported, with reference to the Public Works Building, that the committee had reduced the figure to $325,000. This was accomplished by taking some items out of the cost estimates. It was felt that the Public Works Department could do certain things for less money. He said the committee recommends including $13,000 in Mr. Carroll' s budget. The Chairman asked where in thleebudget the $13,000 would go. Mr Carroll replied under Public Works Building. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to include $13,000 in the Public Works Building Expenses budget for 1966 (Article 4) and to so advise the Appropri- ation Committee Mr.Legro retired at 8:45 P M 502 CI 3t3- Mr.John Graham and Mr James Grant, Cemetery Com- missioners, met with the Board relative to their Personal Services budget. The Chairman said it was the Board' s understanding when Mr Healy retired, the positions of Cemetery Super- intendent and Veterans ' Agent were to be separate. He explained the Board appointed a Veterans' Agent and under- stood the Commissioners were going to appoint a Superintendent. The Chairman said the Board has no quarrel with the Commissioners' appointment, Mr Kling, who, it understands, will receive an increase of $520, and as a working Superintendent, will have Mr. Healy' s job Mr Gray explained Mr Kling will take on the paper work and Mrs. Healy will answer questions and take calls from undertakers She will be working thirty-five hours instead of twenty-four The Chairman said Mrs. Healy helped Mr Healy in the Veterans ' Department He said he thought this could con- tinue if Mrs. Healy would answer the telephone for the Veterans' Agent Mr Gray explained she did not take the calls for the Veterans' Agent . The calls were held and Mr. Healy did most of the clerical work. Mr. Gray said he understood when he talked to Mr. Healy before he retired, all the calls go direct to the Westview Cemetery and Mr. Kling would be able to take them up there in the office Mrs. Healy would be in mornings to do the same amount of work she was going when Mr. Healy was here . All the work in the afternoon would be taken care of at an office in the cemetery. The Chairman said the Commissioners have created a part-time job and made a full-time job. He said there is also a Cemetery Superintendent, Mr. Kling, and asked what happens when he retires. He said then there would be a Superintendent and a full-time clerk which the job does not call for . Mr Cataldo said especially at 8-9. Mr Graham said Mrs Healy claims she comes over Saturdays and nights and the undertakers call her Saturdays and nights Mr. Gray said she should not be doing that, that is the Superintendent' s job. Mr Cataldo asked if Mrs . Healy was working part time now. Mr. Graham replied she works twenty-four hours, is through at one o'clock Mr. Kling takes all the calls after that. Mr Gray left the meeting with the Cemetery Com- missioners to go over the budget. When he returned, he reported that theeCemetery budget will showntwenty-four 11hours a week for the Clerk and an additional $20.00 a week for Mr Kling, the Superintendent . He also reported 503 the item for a compressor will be taken out of the Expenses budget. At 9:20 P.M. , Namara . ii57t, Wadsworth and Abbott, of the Board of Appeals, Campbell, Greeley, Fowle, Bryson and Mrs. Riff in, of the Planning Board, met with the Selectmen. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting onmatters which, if made public, Executive might adversely affect the public security, the financial Session interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person Following discussion relative to proposed change in the Building Department and enforcement of Zoning By-Laws, d3t was voted to resume the open meeting. At 10:25 P.M , Mr Kolovson and Mr . Michelson met with the Board.. Mr. Kolovson said he had a misunderstanding and really did not know where the initiative had to come from to pull off the experiment and what was required. He said he thought it _had been implicit in the summary report and he was still not sure what role they had to play other than of course they would want to analyze the results The Chairman stated that, number one , it was going Lexington to be advertised that an experiment was going to take Center place. parking ng Mr. Kolovson said they had it in the paper and it experiment was to have been done tonight The Chairman asked who was going to do it . Mr. Kolovson replied he did not see what they could do because it involves the Town agencies . The Chairman asked what it consisted of. Mr Kolovson replied five or six spaces in front of the Central Block, leaving what existed at Depot square and then taking nine spaces from the Hunt Block down towards Edison Way and remove the five spaces from Waltham Street back toward Michelson' s. The Chairman said this could be done between the Police and Public Works Departments . Mr. Gray said the Superintendent of Public Works felt any instructions should come from the Board of Selectmen. The Chairman said tomorrow he would instruct the Superintendent of Public Works and The Chief of Police the experiment will start and they will implement it. Mr. Kolovson said he would like to have it in the newspaper. 504 Mr Sheldon asked why he couldn't start griday night. Mr Adams said it should start Monday, January 2 . Mr.Michelaon said it ends February 28. 4r. Cataldo suggested that the Chairman, Mr. Kolovson, the Chief of Police and Superintendent of Public Works get together and discuss the subject Mr. Gray said he would arrange a meeting . Mr. Kolovson explained they are undertaking a drive to determine what stores they might be able to interest based on this type of experiment Mr Cataldo asked if the Board could get a cross section of the layout being proposed, with the cross section. Messrs . Kolovson and Michelson retired at 10:30 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn. A true record, Attest: / 01 ecplive / ler Selectme7