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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-02-08-min / 7- A SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 8, 1965 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, February 8, 1965, at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Burnell, Brown, Cataldo and Sheldon were present Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. Mr. Traopeano 's letter of January 21, 1965 request- ing a meeting with the Board and abatement of a sewer Ferguson betterment assessment levied against property of Warren T sewer and Elizabeth Ferguson, Fairbanks Road, was held overage betterment again at the request of Mr. Carroll. The Chairman read a letter from Olive M. Murat, 16 Garfield Street, registering complaint about the Murat condition in which her property was left after sewer claim of pipes were installed. damages Mr. Carroll explained damage to the fence and mail box was caused by the Town when work was being done on the sewer ervice He stated he was not aware of this K until recently and called Mrs . Murat and informed her that these two items would be taken care of. He con- tacted the contractor and said the other condition would definitely be taken care of this spring. The Chairman read a letter from the Bedford Board of Selectmen advising it had authorized the engineering Bedford firm of Haley & Ward to request bids on the sewer metering Lexington equipment for the Bedford-Lexington station, and that an sewer article has been included in the warrant for the Annual equipment Town Meeting requesting funds for installation of the equipment Letter from Mrs Ruth Morey, President of the Lex- ington Historical Society, in regard to restoration of Historic 3 historic signs was received and copies sent to the signs Board Mr. Carroll reported that Mr. Colella looked at the signs and it is his opinion that one can be painted by the Town. The other two are badly worn and should be replaced He said wood carving is very, very expensive and he would obtain a quotation for presentation at the next Board 111 meeting. I( A Letter was received from Mr. Jeremiah relative to the appointment of a substitute Wire Inspector to cover the Town during his vacation. Wire Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Inspector to appoint Wallace Cupp, 141 Woburn Street , Lexington, substitute Wire Inspector for a three week period com- mencing March 4, 1965, the date on which Mr . Jeremiah will start his vacation. Requests for permission to operate refreshment stands on April 19 were received from the Battle Green Chapter. , Permit Order of DeMolay, and the Lexington Emblem Club Mr. Burnell said the Board should have a policy and refer these requests to Mr. Gray for processing Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to advise the Battle Green Chapter, Order of DeMolay, that the Board has no objection to the sale of ice cream on the Masonic Temple property, and to grant permission for the sale of ice cream along the parade route. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Permit to advise the Lexington Emblem Club that the Board has no objection to the operation of a refreshment stand April 19 on prop :rty of Mr. Thomas Connor. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve bond #8028551 in the amount of $86,5000 on Bond behalf of Mary R. McDonough, Temporary Treasurer, same having been approved by the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation. Letter from Masoa Hirakawa, a sixteen year old Japanese Sponsor boy, asking for a sponsor to enable him to study in the United States, was referred to the Lexington Rotary Club. Letter was received from the Lexington Association of Independent Insurance Agents stating the item of re-rating proposed a year ago has not received the attention the Association feels necessary Mr Gray recalled when this was originally proposed, it was the recommendation of the Agent handling the Town's Insurance insurance that a re-rating not be applied for. He stated this was very thoroughly explored and the agent definitely recommended that the Board not at that time ask for a re- rating as the Town was receiving as favorable a rate as it could possibly get . The Chairman suggested that Mr. Gray contact the Town's agent again to find out whether or not the situation has changed I � 9A Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the character of Adolph F. Youngstrom, 10 Valley Road, an applicant for a Certificate of Incorporation, Cert . of satisfactory references having been received from Chief Inc . Rycroft Report of the Advisory Committee on human relations problem was held over The Chairmen explained this was held over at his request to give him an opportunity to read it , which he had done. The Board unanimously agreed it was an excellent report. The Chairman stated the report would become a matter of public record and the press could have a copy. He asked if the Board wished to take any action. Mr. Sheldon recommended that the Board accept the report and thank the committee The Chairman said it was important to read the last three or four paragraphs which he proceeded to do . Mr. Cataldo asked if it would be advisable to invite the members of the committee to meet with the Board. The Chairman said he thought Mr . Kent should be in- vited A woman attending the meeting, who neglected to give her name, stated that she had been requested by Mr. Kent to ask the Board not to take any action until the members of the committee have an opportunity to discuss this with the Board. The Chairman said the Board had accepted the report but that did not mean it agreed or disagreed Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Yearly Dump Permit to Frederick Dexter of Dump permit Arlington Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny application submitted by Dana M. Greeley, 1359 License Massachusetts Avenue, for a Taxi Driver License Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the following licenses : Andrew J. Gnoza, Bedford, Taxi Driver; Raymond E. Murphy, Lexington, Taxi Driver; Licenses Country Squire Restaurant, Lowell Street, Common Victual- ler Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls : Uses of halls League of Women Voters Estabrook March 3 Free 11 Premiere Performance Estabrook Feb. 20 Free Estabrook Mar. 20 Free hstabrook Apr. 3 Charge Apr. L. Charge Q ►-c Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Minutes to approve theminutes of theSelectmen's Meeting held 111 on February 1, 1965. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Warrant to sign the Warrant for the Annual Election March 1, 1965, and Town Meeting March 15, 1965. Mr. 0/Brien, 420 Massachusetts Avenue, met with the Board at his request O 'Brien re Mr. O'Brien complained about cars being parked on parking his side of Massachusetts Avenue by Dunn Ford for the and stone- reason they interfere with snow removal and sanding. wall He also complained about the condition of a stone- wall in front of his property The Chairman suggested that Mr. O'Brien discuss his complaints with the Superintendent of Public Works and if a solution is not arrived at, the Board would discuss the matters with him again. Mr. O 'Brien agreed and retired. At 8:30 P.M. , Mr. Alan B. Wade and Mr. Whalen, 14 Benjamin Road, his attorney, met with 17 he Board. Mr. Wade said they had a desirable situation going on and he thought if he brought it to the attention of the Selectmen and they were to think it over and do Kennedy something or maybe not, it might be useful to the Town Library and also help their area in Lexington, Five Fields. He said he was a newspaper reporter and has handled stories about the Kennedy Library. They are searching for a site. A Mr. Kay has been appointed aid he is looking for a site. They have not found a site that can be occupied right now, or a site big enough. The MBTA yards have been proposed At the same time, there has been trouble getting them cleared in any time for the Kennedy Library schedule. They are not sure of the schedule but want to go ahead faster than four or five years. He said the latest situation on yards in Cambridge, according to a Mr . Lincoln, the MBTA has offered to clear some of the equipment but it will not all be cleared before four or five years . The Kennedy people would like to go ahead much sooner than that The Library people hav- had aerial photographs taken of sites in Cambridge. In the meantime, the people in Five Fields have had indications there could be more zoning proposed. It was suggested that maybe something could be done to solve the Kennedy Library and at the same time would be a more acceptable neighbor for the people in the area . He said they are talking about scholars and cabinet ministers for residents I The Chairman asked if the area Mr. Wade would be interested in was on the west side Mr. Wade replied it is Mr. Roberts ' thirty-three acres The Chairman asked if he knew the requirements of the Library Committee . Mr. Wade replied the decision has not been made as to where to locate the Library. If Lexington made a bid, it would not be in thin air. He said Robert Kennedy will make the final decision Mr Wade would like the Board to support the idea and so advise Mr. Kennedy. The Chairman asked if he proposed that the Town pur- chase the land. Mr. Wade replied in the negative and said he would like the Selectmen to urge Mr. Kennedy to consider the area at Route 2 and 128 for the Library Institute site and hope he would look into it. Mr. Whalen said the poeple on the other side of Route 2 have been in opposition to the proposals that have been submitted for the rezoning of this land In the opinion of the people on the other side of Route 2, it would impair the character of the neighborhood and would lead to a further demand for further rezoning all down Route 2. He said he felt that were all of these various rezoning proposals enacted, each in its turn could further increase the isolation of that part of the Town from the main part of the Town which would be bad for him and the others in the area. He said, recog- nizing the increasing demand on the Town for revenue, they have tried to examine each proposal to find if there was anyone they could live with and they have tried to et- press an opinion that if something came along that would be compatable the people in the area would endorse it. He said they do not own the land and cannot dispose of it. but are talking about land other people own. He said on more than one instance these people have indicated a desire to sell and by advertisements in the paper heve themselves suggested a variety of proposals for theuse of this land. Therefore the people in Five Fields feel there is some moral justification in this proposal that would be good for the Town He said in their opinion this would give the Town something it lacks. He said with the exception of Cary Library, the various historical structures the Choral Society and the Arts and Crafts , there is not in Lexington any substantial cultural or educational institutions of any kind. There is no hospi- tal, no museum, no institution of higher learning. tie said he thought the Town could have',a good balance among the things that go to make up a good community. He said some cultural institution of whatever type of some substance the people could in the future be nappy with what is here. He said it was because of a combination of these various reflections, the incessant demand for the use of this pro- perty on the top of the hill for some other use than that to which it is now devoted, and also in consideration of the people t a feeling that the future of the Town could stand something of this type and finally the realization of the Kennedy Library became a problem to the people sponsoring it, he and Mr. Wade gave some thought that this might be advisable for Lexington. He said the late -resident selected the small portion of the land adjacent to the Harvard Business School. This was done before and it was done when it might have been expected he would have served two terms and assembled eight years of papers ; that it might be able to stand on its own two feet. Although this has not been voiced, it seems obvious that when merely three years of a first term, the library might not fulfill its purpose if not tied to something else He said his group has felt this land here might be an appropriate place . They with the Minute Man National Park there is assured for posterity an annual increasing number of Americans coming to this area. If the Kennedy Library were here, it would be natural for people to bring their children to see it He said their suggestion has been to Mr. Pay, the architect, that if the west side of the hill was used for the library and such other structures that might be required for classes and parking, that the presently existing residences on this hill might be retained for scholar residences Mr. Pay has indicated he saw this as an urban type of institution. He said some time in the definite future, Route 2 would provide an access He said he and the others felt this might be something the Town might consider doing. He said the Trustees of the Library have not arrived at any decision and he would like to know if the Board felt there was any merit to the proposal and if so, to get its aid The Chairman asked if he was reflecting the thinking of the areas in Five Fields Mr Wade said Five Fields had a meeting and there is no question that they would support this The feeling is this would be more acceptable than anything proposed The Chairman said should the Kennedy Library be located there, he assumed it would be tax exempt and the homes would become tax exempt . Mr. Wade said he presumed so. The Chairman asked if he was asking the Board to endorse such a proposal and carry the ball. Mr Wade said they have no status They are trying to find some place, and if they have not made a decision, it would be a good thing for Lexington he have this It would 12-01, 111 be a location where there are now 100,000 cars a day going by The Chairman said if there is a National Historical I Park this might be a double attraction and increase the load of tourists Mr . Burnell asked if they believed a building could be adapted to the contour of this land Mr Wade replied the map downstairs showed six build- ings on it . Mr. Burnell said access to this land would be through Spring Street Mr. Wade said they would come off Route 2 headed directly for this area Mr. Wade said even if the Board favored such a pro- posal and followed through, the negotiations would be made with the owners of the property. He asked if these owners should be consulted before going any further. He said he would be glad to ask Mr Roberts and report to the Board The Chairman said he thought the Board should discuss it Mr. Sheldon said the Board should take a position before it encourages anyone to go to the land owners Mr. Wade said all that has been done were some talks Iin Five Fields and talks with Mr.Pay and with the Library people Mr. Lincoln is still telling them five years before the MBTA gets out The Chairman said the Board would discuss the subject and let them know. Messrs . Wade am Whalen retired at 8 :35 P.M. Unon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting on matters w rich, 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 of the proposal made in regard to the Kennedy Library, tenants in Town-owned house oh Massachu- setts Avenue, TMMA request, letter from The 1775 Trust and problem of employee in the Accounting Department, it was voted to resume the open meeting Mr. Gray reported that Allan V. Mead, of the Jaycees, has inquired again about using the dump for a circus now that it has been det.rmined the Center Playground cannot be used He said he did not know where, on town-owned land, such an activity could operate He explained Town Counsel 's basic objection was charging admission to re- creation land • It was agreed to advise the Jaycees that there is no Town land, to the Board 's knowledge, available for a circus and suggest that they contact the School De- partment Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 9:S5 P.M. A true record, Attest /y/ L Zl!/ -xec ive -Clerk Select en 1