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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-01-25-min 578 cn SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 25, 1965 1 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen 's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, January 25, 1965, at 7:35 P.M. Messrs. Brown, Burnell, Cataldo and Sheldon were present. Mr. Legro, Town Counsel, Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. In the absence of Mr. Lincoln P. Cole, Jr. , Mr. Levi G. Burnell was duly elected Chairman, pro tem. Letter was received from the State Department of Public Works, together with an agreement between the State and the Town relative to the relocation and in- Water & stallation of the Town 's sewers and water mains, made Sewer undeecessary by the reconstruction of a portion of Route Route 2 2 in the Town of Lexington. A copy of the letter and Agreement the agreement was sent to Mr. Legro, Town Counsel. A copy of Mr. Legrols letter to the State, dated January 21, 1965, was also received. Mr. Legro reported that he had made some slight changes on this and had sent two copies to the State Department of Public Works. Mr. Carroll stated he is gling over the plan. Mr. Legro explained the agreement is pretty much of a routine contract and he has made some changes with the request that Mr. Carroll review the description of the sections to be installed, which he is doing. The Chairman read a letter from Norman T. May, representing Mr. and Mrs. Bevilaqua, owners of Anthony' s Entrance to/Restaurant, stating that last fall there was discussion Waltham St. of the possibility of selling the present Waltham Street Parking entrance to the parking lot. The Bevilaquas are inter- Area ested in the land or part of the land insofar as it relates to the side and rear entrances to their building. If negotiations are taking place, with a view to including an article in the warrant for the March meeting authoriz- ing the sale of this parcel, Mr. May wkuld like to hear from the Board. A copy of the communication was sent to Town Counsel. Mr. Legro stated there is an article to authorize the sale of the entire parcel. This should be taken care of by the article. Mr. Gray was requested to contact Mr. May, and Mr. Cataldo suggested that he advise Mr. May if the Board re- ceives permission to sell, he will be contacted. c.*ria The Chairman read a letter from Alfred P. Tropeano, attorney for Warren T. and Elizabeth Ferguson, requesting an abatement of the sewer betterment levied against lot L.C. 358 Fairbanks Road. Mr. Tropeano stated in his letter that the petitioners have not, will not and cannot Ferguson receive any benefit, advantage or betterment to the lot Sewer as the same, prior to installation of sewers on Fairbanks Betterment Road, was serviced by mains installed and paid for by the developer, Cary Realty Trust. A copy of the communication was sent to Mr. Carroll. Mr. Carroll reported that he has been in contact with Mr. Ferguson and is supposed to meet him tomorrow at 4:30 P.M. about this particular problem. No action was taken by the Board and the request for an abatement was held over until the next regular meeting. During the week, Chairman Cole received a telephone call from Mrs. Rhoda M. Gelles, 30 Turning Mill Road, registering complaint re plowing sidewalks, and he re- Sidewalk quested that the subject be placed on the agenda for this plowing evening. The Chairman asked Mr . Gray to find out what Mrs. Galles wants. Upon motion day made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order for the follow- Pole ing j/o pole location: (Quote) . location Another letter, dated January 20, was received from Miss Nellie Way Hayden, 151 Grove Strut, with further reference to traffic control. A copy of the Traffic communication had been sent to each member of the Traffic Study Committee. It was agre d to refer the subject to the Traffic Study Committee. A letter was received from Dr. Howard M. Kassler, 11 Winchester Drive, together with a letter to him from Mrs. Anton S. Morton, in which she mentioned "traffic hazards and other matters of safety" with particular reference to Countryside. A copy of the communication had been sent to each member of the Traffic Study Com- mittee. The Chairman stated that Dr. Kassler had met with the Traffic Study Committee about three or fcur months ago and brought with him three other men from this area. They went over the Winchester Drive problem and Dr. Kassler realized what existed here was not just Winchester Drive alone, but existec in many other places in Town. Mr. Sheldon said this matter siould be referred to the Traffic Study Committee. Mr. ('ataldo suggested the possibility of permitting businesses in the area to push the snow onto a vacant town-owned lot. to Mr. Carroll said he would like to discuss this problem ', with the Chief and also talk to the people in the area. He said there is no question but this is a dangerous situ- ation. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Fire Com- missioners inquiring as to whether or not any action had Private been taken on Private Gourdeau' s retirement. At the Gourdeau' s Commissioners' meeting of January 19, Private Gourdeau retirement requested that he be allowed to return to limited duty. Mr. Gray reported he had received a telephone call from Private Gourdeau asking what action the Board of Selectmen had taken, and stating he was able to return to limited duty. Mr. Gray advised Gourdeau that the Board of Selectmen had received a letter from the Board of Fire Commissioners asking that he be retired, and this is what the Selectmen have done and no change would be made unless the Selectmen heard from the Board of Fire Commissioners. Mr. Gray reported, in the meantime, he talked to Commissioner Fitzgerald who told him Private Gourdeau did meet with the Commissioners last Monday even- ing. The Chairman read a letter written by t he Board of Selectmen on December 15, 1964 to the Board of Retirement stating that the Selectmen concurred with the Fire Com- missioners in regard to Private Gourdeau' s retirement, and requested the Board of Retirement to take immediate steps to effect his retirement. The Chairman said the Board should send the Fire Commissioners a copy of the letter to the Board of Re- tirement. Mr. Gray was requested to send the Commissioners a cosy of the letter to the Retirement Board and advise them that as far as the Boa. •d of Selectmen knows, the request for retirement is being processed. Mr. Sheldon said he would like to know if the retire- ment is proceeding. Copy of a letter from Charles T. Abbott, Vice Chairman of the School Sites Committee, to the Lexington School Com- mittee, dated January 19, 1965, was received, together with a copy of the report of the School Sites Committee on pro- Moreland posed school sites at Moreland Avenue versus Pleasant Street. Avenue The Clerk was instructed to have a copy of the report School mailed out to each member of the Board. Site Mr. Cataldo suggested, and the Board agreed, to invite the School Sites Committee to meet with the Board on Monday, February 1, 1965, at 8:15 P.M. to discuss justification of the figures in the report. 0 Mr. Legro advised that he had an engineering ser- vice contract between the Town and Whitman & Howard for the Concord Avenue sidewalk andpertinent woek, which he has reviewed and found to be in order. Engineering B 8 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted contract to sign the Engineering Service Contract, as presented byLegro,Mr between the Town of Lexington and Whitman & Howard for the Concord Avenue sidewalk and pertinent work. Mr. Legro referred to tax title lots on Circle Road and reported that he had discussed this matter with Mr. Purcell, Town Counsel for Arlington, who has made arrange- ments to insert an article in their warrant again to seek authority for the Board of Selectmen to grant to the Town of Lexington flowage rights in the area of the Great Circle Meadow. If he doen not succeed, Mr. Legro will proceed Road on some means of a taking basis. The Selectmen for the Town of Arlington are not willing to release any damages. Mr. Purcell stated for them, they will not seek any damages but this goes on over a period of a couple of years and there can be changes in the Board. The only alternative is to get some agreement of indemnification from the pur- chasers of the tax title lots and that has been considered. Mr. Legro said he thought the article in the warrant is the better way to proceed. Mr. Carroll reported that he will meet Wednesday morning at 9:30 with Mr. Greeley of the State Sanitary Engineers Department in regard to receiving Federal Aid Federal for the proposed force main and pumping station. He Aid said they were going to try and get an indication as to whether the project will be eligible for Federal Aid. Mr. Cataldo asked Mr. Carroll if, in view of the apartments coming in for rezoning, the Board should have some figures for the water main on the frontage road. He said if this is going to happen, the Board should Water take some action at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Carroll said he did not know if this could be Part of the agreement referred to earlier- in the evening by Mr. Legro. Mr. Cataldo said there is no talk of a Special Town Meeting, so perhaps the Board should consider this matter. Mr. Carroll said this would be up to the Board. Mr. Cataldo suggested that Mr. Carroll have some figures for the next regular meeting of the Board. Mr. Sheldon said this installation would be necessary id the aprtments were approved. Mr. Carroll stated if this area is zoned, the water main will have to be extended and where the State is going to put in some 1500 feet for Cabot , Cabot & Forbes, he thought the Town should go the whole way, out to Waltham Street. '582 L.yh.l Mr. Legro asked if this wculd be within the ramp road, Z1 and Mr. Carroll replied in the affirmative. Mr. Legro said there may have to be an additional contract. Mr. Carroll said he would report next week, and re- tired at 8:15 P.M. Letter was received from the Board of Fire Commissioners, in reply to the Beer d's letter requestingadditional infor- mation relative to the appropriation of 18 ,500 requested by the Commissioners for modernization of the Fire Alarm Room at Fire Headquarters. Mr. Sheldon said he thought any consideration of this should wait until the Board has the Commissioners in to discuss their budget, as there are some questions he would like to ask. The Chairman read a letter from Anton S. Morton and Sabra W. Morton, 3 Rolfe Road, urging the Board to give its approval to the land purchase presently under con- sideration, that of the Swenson farm for conservation purposes. Notification was received from the Massachusetts League of Cities and Towns of the opening of the period Employee for nominations for the League's Outstanding Municipal of Year Employee awards . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unani- mously voted to nominate John J. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, for Massachusetts Municipal Employee. upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Common Victualler License to Harvey J. Comrie, License d.b.a. Village Variety Store, 93 Massachusetts Avenue . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant Yearly Dump Permits to the following individuals: Dump Gunnar Hemmingson, Bedford; Roy Holman, Pinehurst; John Permits Maguire, Stoneham, andThomas Porter, Woburn . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the Lexington Lions Club to use Uses of Gary Memorial Hall on Wednesday, February 24, 1965, halls from 7:Li5 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. for a Heart Seminar, free of charge. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the New England Vegetable Growers Association, Inc. , to use Cary Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 27, 1965, from 6:00 P.M. until 12:00, subject to a charge of $35.00, plus $3.L1.6 per hour for custodian's Use of overtime services. hall The Board felt that in the event Town Meeting were adjourned to Monday, March 29, 1965, the custodians would have ample time Monday to clean the hall up and prepare it for Town Meeting without incurring any addi- rional charges for the Association. 010 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 Executive interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Session Following conference with the Planning Board, the Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures Committee, and then just the Appropriation Committee, it was voted to resume the open meeting. upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen ' s Meeting held Minutes on January 18, 1965. Invitation was received from Charles H. McArthur, Jr. , President of Country-wide Offices Corporation, to attend a preview of the building constructed fort he Invitation Northeastern District Sales Office of Burroughs Corpo- ration on Saturday, January 30, 1965, at 4:30 P.M. The entrance driveway is the new Hayden Avenue Off Spring Street opposite Raytheon. Invitation was received from William D. Maitlanyl, Marine Corps League, to attend a presentation on the safety and use of firearms to be held at the American Invitation Legion Hail, Fletcher Avenue, on February 3, 1965, at 8:00 P4M. Notice was received from the Massachusetts Roadside Council, 20 Louisburg Square, Boston, relative to hearings scheduled for Thursday, January 28, 1965, before the Hearing Mercantile Affairs Committee, at 10:30 A.M. in Room 423 at the State House. The Chairman stated he had received this evening a report from the Advisory Committee to the Board whose directive was "A study group on the human relations problem, to report back to the Bo-rd of Selectmen no later than December 1, 1964 with its recommendations as to what future action should be taken; the report to encompass action, lack of action or whatever might be indicated." The Clerk was requested to send a ccpy of the report to each member of the Board. It was unanimously agreed to meet on Saturday, January 30, 1965, at 9:00 A.P . , to discuss budgets with Chief Rycroft; at 10:00 A.M. to discuss budgets with the Board Budget of Fire Commissioners and at 11:00 A.M. to discuss budgets meeting with the Recreation Committee. Uplon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at 11:02 P.M. A true record, Attest : y 401 „ ecutive, Cl , Select