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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-01-11-min ti)eflo t) SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 11, 1965 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, Janus y 11, 1965, at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Brown, Burnell, Cataldo and Sheldon were present . Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, Mr Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. Letter was received from the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company re- questing "leave to withdraw" their joint petition for installation of two poles on the northerly side of Pole peti- Aerial Street . tion Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted withdrawn to grant the request The Chairman read a letter from Governor Endicott Peabody relative to the functions of the Commonwealth Economic Service Corps in the Federal Anti-Poverty Program. He Opportunity requested that a copy be mailed to each member of the Act Board. Letter was received from the Town Clerk advising of Nathan B. Ricker's resignation as a member of the Board of Appeals. Letter was received from the Board of Appeals sug- gesting appointment of Munroe Hamilton. Board of Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Appeals tQ appoint Munroe H. Hamilton, 66 Robbins Road, an A sociate Member of the Board of Appeals for an unex- pired term_,,ending March 31, 1965. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the character of Kenneth J. Draper, 21 Taft Cert. of Avenue, who has applied tothe State for a Certificate Inc of Incorporation, satisfactory character references having been received from Chief Rycroft Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the characters of John M. Doukas, 114 cedar Street and Burton L. Williams, 17 Dane Road, who have applied to the State for a Certificate of Incorporation, satisfactory character references having been received from Chief Rycroft. r 01 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the following licenses : George R. Reed & Sons, Inc . Common Victualler renewal Minute Man Restaurant tt " n Robert E. Fogg Taxi Driver Licenses Robert J. Jackson Paul M. Perry Angus M. McIver " It " James Marchese Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4 mp to grant the following individuals Yearly Dump Permits : Permits P. Lawrence DiRusso - Nelson F. Fleming - Raymond Mercier Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Notices of Intention to lay out the following streets : Notices of Albemarle Avenue Cutler Farm Road Intention Skyview Road Hudson Road Frost Road Columbus Street Saddle Club Road Bennett Avenue Todd Road Chase Avenue Turning Mill Road Melrose Avenue Bruce Road Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held on January 4, 1965. Mr. Carroll reported that one of his employees in the Water Department, Miss Blanche Richards, would like to take three weeks vacation, one without pay, from February 4, to March 2 or 3. He asked that the Board Vacation act favorably and said it would not interfere with the operation of the department. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve three weeks ' vacation, one without pay, for a period from February I} until March 2 or 3. Letter was received from the MDC Sewerage Division MDC sewer regarding future sewer charges to the Town, a copy of charges which had been mailed to each member of the Board. Letter was received from the State Department of Chapter 90 Public Works relative to Chapter 90 allotments for construction and maintenance in 1965. LThf:f/ Mr. Carroll advised the amounts are the same as in 1964 and the communication was placed on file. Form letter was received from Edward Brooke, Attorney General, relative to action filed in the United States District Court against four salt com- Rock salt panies for al]ged price fixing. Request was made prices to preserve all records, correspondence, checks and vouchers relating to rock salt bids or purchases. Mr. Carroll stated he is having the information compiled. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Duncan, Treasurer of the Lexington Savings Bank, requesting additional illumination of the passageway between Massachusetts Savings Avenue and the municipal parking area Bank Mr. Carroll reported he looked at the situation and passageway he thought the Boston Edison Company should look at it He explained it would involve shifting an underground connected line on Massachusetts Avenue to bring it in line with the alley and this could be very expensive . He said apparently the light at the end of the parking lot is not meeting the Savings Bank's requirements, and possibly a light half way down would suffice. He said he would like to discuss the subject with the Boston Edison and report next week. Mr. Gray reported he received a letter from Rev. Father Casey requesting aid from a trust fund for the Trust Talbert family, nine children, 33 Mellex Road Fund Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Trustees of Public Trusts to consider financial aid to this family from one of the Trust Funds . Mr. Gray reported that Mr. Gordon Steele, Chairman of the School Sites Committee, informed him that there is a possibility of Federal aid for the purchase of land for school sites which would amount to about 30%, but School would require an article in the warrant similar to the Sites ' article passed in June, 1964, for the Conservation Com- article mission. Mr. Steele would like to have an article in the warrant . Mr. Gray said he thought it would be worthwhile The Chairman said a space could be reserved and the subject investigated further. Mr. Cataldo explained that an article could be in- serted and if the result is that the Boadd does not want to act on it, it can be indefinitely postponed. 558 The Chairman said the Board would meet at 9:00 A.M. Meeting Saturday morning to determine what policy it will adopt on salaries. Mr. Cataldo suggested that the Town Barn Study Com- mittee should be activated Mr.Carroll retired at 8:00 P.M. Messrs. Ells, Richey, Ripley and Sussman, of the Conservation Commission, met with the Board. Mr. Cataldo disqualified himself for the record and abstained completely from any discussion. Conservation Mr. Ells presented a plan entitled "A Compiled Commission Plan of Land" Lexington, Mans. Scale 1" = 100 ' , April 16, Swenson 1964, showing land formerly owned by Swenson and now Farm coned by Mr. Anthony Cataldo. Mr. Ells explained the committee has been trying very hard to determine what course it should follow in proposed land acquisition for the Town. It realizes the tax burden on the Town and also the burden being placed on the Town because of increased population. The Commission is trying to find what amount of open land the Town Town n will need, and the best figures are the will be developed in twenty years with 48,000 to 50,000 popu- lation. At that time, the Planning Board recommended that the Town have 1500 acres of land in open space. At present, there are 750 acres of open space. This leaves 750 acres of land to acquirewwithin the next twenty years because at that time the land in Town now will be filled with houses and it will be impossible to tear them down to make a park. The Commission feels it is wise to try and get as much of this acquisition as early as possible because each year the land values go up. It is suggesting that the 750 acres be acquired within the next ten years. This would make a land acquisition goal of seventy-five acres a year. He said the Commission would like guidance on this . He said as far as they can see, this is what they have to work on now and it is valid. The Commission would like to provide in each area of the Town, within a reasonable distance of each neighborhood section, a substantial amount of natural area so people could enjoy the environment of a rural type because that is why the people came to Lexington. It would also like to con- nect these areas so one could travel from one to the other without having to go through a back yard Mr. Ells said this particular piece is 80 acres bounded on the north by Marrett Road over which 5,000 cars a day travel. It is bounded on four sides by streets, providing immediate access and it is next to a school site . He said e it is an area with high dry land and with meadow land, maybe shooting for an arboretum. It has a stand of young pine, wet land area which will prevent flooding down stream. He said it has many advantages which the Com- mission has considered not only as one of these substantial areasyin the overall plan, but as a parcel in itself. he Chairman asked what the Commission considered open space Mr. Ells replied almost anything; the Battle Green in the Center is open space. He said open space land can be not valuable at all for public recreation; a dum is open space, but when there is a piece of land that can be used and seen by the passing people, it is valuable open space. The Chairman said the Commission is recommending Pi seventy-five acres a year for ten years, and asked if that was correct. Mr. Ells replied this is the sense of what the commission feels the Planning Board has recommended, It feels this is a goal to shoot for and to do w hat the Planning Board thinks is good for Lexington, He said the opportunity for acquiring this land will pass at the close of ten years, and once the houses are built, the land will not be turned back into Little League fields or anything else. Ile said the judgment must be made within this next decade. Mr. Sheldon asked, if the Town voted the entire amount, how sure could it be that 50% aid would be available. Mr. Ella said the Commission hopes to be absolutely sure, and expects to have definite approval before Town Meeting. He said it hopes to obtain final approval; if not with the State seal, at least a reading. He said if the final approval for State aid does not come through and the Town Meeting voted it, the Commission would think long and hard before acquiring a parcel of land under these conditions. Mr. Sheldon said the article would have to be drawn in case the money did not come through. Mr. Ells atated the money has to be appropriated by the town. The Chairman asked if there was a possibility that less than 50% would be forthcoming. Mr. Ells replied the Commission will have the information before Town Meeting. He stated it is selling for about $2900 or $3000 an acre, and with State Aid, it would be $1450. Mr. Brown asked if the Town would be reimbursed in one year or over a period of years. Mr. Wlls replied the Federal reimbursement would be the first year. The State aid may be a budget item covering more than one year. The Commission is meeting on the 21st to discuss this . He said he understood State Aid would come through over a period of time and not one year. o 01 The Chairman asked where the State gets this money. Mr. Ells replied he believed it is undersignated tax funds, plus a bond issue. The Chairman asked if negotiations in this matter were started by the Conservation Commission. Mr. Ells replied in the affirmative. The Chairman said across the field is Judge Cotton's land under negotiation. He asked if this were acquired, could twenty acres be set aside for a school site. Mr. Sussman reported a call he received from Mr. Gordon Steele, Chairman of the School Sites Committee, on this and told him the Commission would take a look at the land immediately in regard to topography. He said they found the high gravelly land most suitable for school sites on this eighty acres, is right next to the Franklin School. He said if they could find land next to it, it would be better to enlarge the area. He said Federal aid to about 20% is available for school sites purposes for that part of the school site without blacktop or concrete on it. He stated if the land is acquired under the Conservation Law, it cannot, without going through further motions, be used as a school site . The Chairman stated the Board has voted to insert an article in the warrant, as requested by the Commission, but this in no way commits the Board to supporting it. Mr. Sussman said that was correct. He said there was another article the Commission was thinking of but it decided it was best to concentrate on this article only at the present time. However, it will come in the form of two articles; One for the appropriation of the fund, as it was at the last Town Meeting. He said he would try and take the two articles up together so Town Meeting will not be asked to:appropriate money to the Fund before it decides on the land. The Chairman said the Board will take all projects in view of the possible tax rate and w ill back articles in the order it deems their importance to be to the Town. He said the Board feels there should not be a big jump in the tax rate in one year, and does feel the people are interested in a fairly stable tax rate. Mr. Sussman said the Commission feels, in this matter, it is not really so much progress it is imple- menting here as it is to try and create a situation for the Town. It is trying to create the environment of the Town it feels the people wish. He said in studying, the Commission feels that in cases where towns act aside large tracts of land, that this alone has helped to stabilize the tax rate. He said expenditures of money for this land increase the value of adjacent properties and it also stabilizes the population. He daid when the population density rises, the cost per capita rises. The Conservation Commission retired at 8:26 P.M. a"" Y The Capital Expenditures Committee met with the Board and presented charts which it said showed the same numbers that appear in the Committee 's report, Capital a copy of which each member of the Board had received. Expenditures The Chairman referred to the last paragraph of the Committee report and asked if the Committee was going to be unani- mously in favor. Mr. Boughton replied he believed the Committee to be in favor. Mr. Cataldo said the Committee recommends stopping with the Hunt Block on the Center redevelopment . Mr. Boughton said he thought he would suggest that as that is all the Board has discussed specifically with the Committee. The Capital Expenditures Committee retired at 9:00 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of dis- Executive cussing, deliberating, or voting on matters which, if Session made public, might adversely affect the public security, the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Following discussion pertaining to Lexington Center, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Mr. Harold E. Stevens, attorney, met with the Board, at his own request , for an opportunity to explain an article submitted by ten or more registered voters for insertion in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for a change in zoning. He explained the article calls for rezoning certain land from an R 1-One Family Dwelling District to an A 1-Garden Apartment District. He stated the land is under agreement by purchase, subject to it being rezoned to A 1. He introduced the principal officers, Mr. Monte Wallace, President, Mr. Neil Wallace, Executive Vice President, Mr. Dan Grady, Executive Vice President and Mr. William Tyler, attorney. He reported that the group had just been to the Planning Board and explained to it what this article is about. He stated it is not planned to have merely an- other garden apartment area. The concept on which this development is based is the idea of retaining the natural beauties of the area, the trees, development of building plans adapted to the site itself, and keeping large amount of open-land for park and recreation purposes, and includes the construction of recreational facilities . This has actually been put into practice in Norwood, and they hope the Board will go down and see for itself what it is like. Mr. Stevens said the best way of showing this to the Board is to go through some film strips with accompanying explanation, which is of the Norwood project. Following the presentation of the film, Mr. Monte Wallace, President, said the important thing they are try- ing to do is to convey here what they are trying to do with garden apartments which is different than what is generally done on small sites where most of the site is covered by parking areas. He said it is important that the Board understands it would be a mistake to think of apartments as it knows them. This is a special concept if developed here. He said the site in Lexington seems to be an excellent site for this type of garden apartments ' development. It abuts a principal industrial zome and fronts on Route 2. The project would be in excess of $4,000,000. The group retired at 10:00 P.M. The following requests for articles for the Annual Town Meeting were received: 1. Petition signed by ten or more registered voters for a zoning change by adding a district on the south- westerly side of the Cambridge-Concord Highway to the special Commercial District. (Benjamin Greene) . Articles 2. Appropriation for replacing pavement and landscaping around the front entrance to the library. 3. Appropriation for construction of public facilities building. 4. Authorization for the School Committee to use the Veterans ' Memorial Library in the High School for other than library purposes . (Mrs. Moray) Mr. Cataldo said, with reference to the Veterans ' Memorial Library article, that the Board has requested a legal opinion from Town Counsel and it should wait for his opinion. He also suggested appointing the committee of three for the perpetual use of the library. He said this request for an article does not have the required ten signatures, and suggested that the Board insert an article with the intent to have the matter clarified. The Chairman said he sent a copy to Dr. Fobert and hopes to have some kind of an answer back from him. Mr. Cataldo pointed out the Board does not have to frome its article around the one submitted. He said the Board is aware of the situation and it is the Board's intent to have it cleared up, and if anything is going to be done, a committee should be appointed. He said this situation could arise again ten years from now. Consideration of Mr. Irwin's report on the Cummings' property 465 - 475 Massachusetts Avenue was held over. Boort II JuQ Mr. Greeley, representing the Planning Board, met with the Selectmen at their request. The Chairman stated that Benjamin Greene came in Article with an artihle for the warrant which he wants in if the Roberts ' article is going in. Mr. Greeley stated the Planning Board assumes they do not feel they are ready and it can therefore be assumed this is coming at a later meeting. The Planning Board hopes it will come in, but it does not intend to initiate it. The Chairman asked if the Planning Board would con- sider the entire article it had the last time. Mr. Greeley replied the Planning Board is not coming in with it now. He said his hope would be that Roberts would come in at a later Town Meeting. Mr. Cateldo said the Board would rather put the whole article in, buffer strip and all. Mr. Greeley retired at 10 :30 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn. A true record, Attest: oteadtiv Cler. , Selec/ �en