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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1964-11-09-min 441 IISELECTMEN'S MEETING November 9, 1964 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Buildimg, on Monday, November 9, 1964, at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Cole, 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. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission to locate one pole on Moreland Pole Avenue. location Mr. Serverson, representing the Boston Edison Company, was the only person present at the hearing. Notices of the hearing were mailed to the petitioners, owners of the property as listed on the petitioners ' plans and also filed with the Superintendent of Public Works . Mr. Serverson explained the petitioners would like to move a pole to the property line, it now being located in front of a window. The Chairman reported tYst MT% Daniel Tocci, 37 Moreland Avenue, and Mrs . Marion F. Runstein, 39 Moreland Avenue, telephoned to be registered in favor of the proposed lo- cation. The hearing was declared closed, and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the peti- tion and sign the order for the following j/o pole lo- cation: Moreland Avenue, northwesterly side, approximately 174 feet southwest of Buckman Drive, -- One pole . (One existing i/o pole to be removed. ) Mr. Legro stated he had prepared a Certificate of Entry, for the Board's signature, relating to the drain which runs southwesterly to Munroe Road in connection Cert. of with one of the lateral sewers in the Woodhaven area Entry Upon motion duly made and seconded , it was voted to s$ the Certificate of Entry as prepared by Mr. Legro Mr. Legro stated he had prepared a Certificate of Entry, for the Board ' s signature, ,,elating to the drain Z! 412 01, which runs westerly and northwesterly from Lowell Street to Ridge Road . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Certificate of Entry as prepared by Mr. Legro Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Exec tive 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 with Town Counsel pertaining to a claim for damages, slope easements on Massachusetts Avenue, and the Lyon property on Waltham Street, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Mr. Carroll referred to snow plowing and stated he had some recommended snow plow rates for hired equipment which he thought the Board should approve. He presented each member of the Board with a schedule he had prepared and stated thst Lexington's rates are lower than other cities and towns, He explained how his recommended rates differed from the present rates The Chairman asked if the Town would have difficulty getting contractors to plow if the rates were not increased 11Mr. Carroll said it was difficult to answer, but he thought Lexington should keep in line with other cities and towns. If the contractors are not satisfied, they are not going to do a good job, and the present relations are very good.. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the rental rates for hired equipment, effective as of December 1, 1964, as follows . Effective December 1, 1964 THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS MAXIMUM RENTAL RATES FOR HIRED EQUIPMENT OF SNOW PLOWING & HAULING ALL EQUIPMENT TO BE IN FIRST CLASS OPERATING CONDITION ALL TRUCKS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH CHAINS (FUEL, OPERATOR AND CHAINS INCLUDED IN PLOWING RATES) PLOWING HAULING TARE WEIGHT RATE REG. CAPACITY RATE 8,00 . to 10,000 lbs. 7.50 12,001 to 16,000 lbs . 4.75 10,001 to 14,000 lbs. 8.00 16,001 to 22,000 lbs. 6.00 14,001 to 20,000 lbs. 8.50 22,001 to 28,000 lbs. 6.50 20,001 tO 24,000 lbs. 10.00 over 28,001 (2 axles ) 8.50 over 24,000 lbs. 10.50 over 28,001 (3 axles) 9.50 443 On PLOWING ONLY. Not hauling, the following rates may be added if they apply: (a) Owner furnishes own plow - add $1.50 per hour (b) Owner furnishes own helper - add $2.50 per hour. (c) For each completed year of plowing fob the Town of Lexington up to 20 years maximum - add $0.05 per hour. Mr. Carroll referred to trunk sewer work for 1965 and said he has been talking about the possibility of replacing the force main from the pumping station up to Hamilton Road with a new one, and putting in new pumps in the pumping station. This he intends to include in Trunk his budget. He stated a number of petitio .s have come sewer in from the Winter Street area which will require a small budget pumping station. These are two projects that he intends to include in his 1965 budget. He said, however , that per- haps both of these projects will be eligible for Federal aid because it will be reducing the pollution of the Shawsheen River which is Bedford 's water supply. The sug- gestion was made that the Board contact the State Division of Sanitary Engineers to see whether or not Lexington would be eligible and if so, this information will be available for Town Meeting. He asked for the Board 's reaction as to whether Whitman & Howard or he should con- tact the iltate. The Chairman asked about the money involved, and Mr. Carroll said the force main would be in the vicinity of $130,000, and he had no idea what the pumps would cost, possibly $10,000 each for three. The Winter Street trunk sewer will cost between $60,000 and $70,000. The Board was in favor of having Mr. Carroll con- tack the State Division of Sanitary Engineers . Mr. Legro retired at 8 :08 P.M. Mr. Cataldo said this year, removal of cars from Massachusetts Avenue that interfere with snow removal operations, should be policed, and if they are not No Parking moved, the owners should be informed that the Town will have them towed. Mr. Carroll said there is the question of who will tow them. Thewreckers don't want to take these cars because they are afraid of the damage that might be in- volved. Mr. Sheldon said these people who park their cars all night disregard warning tags and he thought Mr. Carroll could work with the Police Department . 444 ,v' rl 01 The Chairman said it was, then, the sense of the Board that the following traffic regulation should be strictly enforced: No Parking ARTICLE V PARKING, Section 8. No All Night Parking It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle, other than one acting in an emergency, to park said vehicle on any street for a period of time longer than one hour between the hours of 2:00 A.M and 6:00 P.M. of any day. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petitions and sign the orders for the fol- lowing j/o pole locations : Pole Waltham Street, easterly side, southerly from a point locations approximately 55 feet south of Concord Avenue, -- Eighteen poles. (Eighteen existing i/o poles to be removed. ) Waltham Street, westerly side, approximately 265 feet north of Lexington-Waltham Line, -- One pole. ( One existing pole to be removed. ) Dunham Street, northerly side, westerly from a point approximately 165 feet west of Edmund Road, 8- Four poles . (Four existing i/o poles to be removed. ) Request was received from the Mystic Valley Gas Company for permission to locate a 2 ' welded steel gas main extension in Hadley Road to serve gas to nine new Gas main homes. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the request, subject to Mr. Carroll 's approval of the specifications. Letter was received from the State Department of Public Works to which was attached a map of the Town Federal-aid showing the revised Federal-aid Secondary System as Secondary selected by the State Highway Department . System The Chairman referred the subject to Mr. Carroll for research and report of his recommendations to the Board. 1 445 The Chairman read a letter from William Glass, 6 Flintlock Road, calling the Board 's attention to a water leak between #6 and #8 Flintlock Road and in Water front of the Parker School. leaks Mr. Carroll stated that before he was aware of the complaint, the leak in Flintlock Road had been repaired. With reference to the wet spot on Bedford Street, there was a water main gate which was shut off on which the packing was loosened. He said if this has not already been repaired, it will be. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Alice M. Morgan, 20 Robbins Road , relative to burning leaves in the gutter Burning Mr. Sheldon stated, and the Board agreed, that burning leaves leaves in the gutter is prohibited in Lexington and every effort is made to enforce the regulation Letter was received from Miss Edna G. Sanford, School Social Worker, with further reference to the use of the Bridge Bridge Charitable Fund A copy of the letter and Fund Summer Camp report was mailed to each member of the Board. Mr. Cataldo suggested that the Chairman contact Mr. George P. Morey, Chairman of the Trustees of Public Trusts, before talking with Miss Sanford. The Chairman read a letter from the Retail Division, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, requesting permission to Christmas hold a Christmas parade on December 6. parade Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Retail Division of the Chamber of Commerce permission to hold a Christmas parade on Sunday afternoon, December 6, commencing at 2:00 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Taxi Driver license to Paul Perry, 360 Manett License Road, satisfactory character reference having been re- ceived from the Chief of Police. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held Minutes on November 2, 1964. Mr. Gray stated that Mr. Kelley, who wants to acquire tax title lots on Marl and Orchard Street, told Mr. Cataldo he would accept the restrictions on the lots. He re- called t}jat the Planning Board had no objection to selling the lots provided the lots were combined to his present lot . Tax title The Board asked Mr. Gray to find out how much Mr. lots Kelley is willing to offer for the lots . 44[6 01 Mr. Gray read a letter from the School Committee advising that it had voted to release the piece of Town-owned land between Worthen Rosd and Lot #25 (1 Baskin Rd. ) Sale of for possible purchase by Mr. L. Albert Wilson. land to Mr. Gray reported that Mr. Wilson has been informed Wilson that this would be presented to the Annual Town Meeting in March for permissipn to sell, and if he wanted to plant trees on the property in advance, he would be do- ing so at his own risk The Board instructed Mr. Gray to obtain an appraisal on the parcel. Mr. Gray reported a telephone call received by the Chairman from Mr. Harrington in regard to a betterment Harrington levied against property owned by him and located on betterment Winter Street when Coach Road was put through. It was agreed that Mr. Gray and Mr. Carroll should review the matter. Mr. Arthur Burrell, Civil Defense Director, met with the Board. He said that there has been strong objection from one of the bidders for police radios because the lew bidder was not awarded the contract. He explained that he and Mr. Gray met with the representative of General Electric, and reviewed the entire situation. He stated General Electric ' s bid was non-responsive to the specifications. They did not comply. He explained that Chief Rycroft was insistent that they have at least 30 Watt output on the transmitter and a solid unit with the relays on vacuum. He stated that General Electric submitted bids on two different units and neither one of .Jhich met the specifications . He said, personally, he did not think General Electric has a legitimate complaint . He reported the sales representative has threatened a number pf things and he found him to be unreliable . = Mr. Gray said one of the things the sales repre- sentative mentioned os the specifications is what they call coating. They claim the General Electric unit will eliminate interference. Mr. Burrell felt the paragraph to which the sales representative had reference was in terpreted differently. Mr. Cataldo asked what the problem was . M Mr. Gray explained that Mr. Brown called because he received a call from the local resident and wanted to know what the Board had done. He felt it should be on the agenda. They left it with Mr. Boardman, the representative, that if there was any change, he would be notified. He told Mr. Boardman the Board had made an award on the re- commendations of the Department head and would not make a change unless the Department head requested a change. 447 Mr. Sheldon pointed out that any Board has the right to reject the low bid. Mr. Burrell stated again that neither unit met the specifications. Mr. Sheldon explained that even if the bid met the specifications the Board does not have to make the award to the low bidder. Mr. Cataldo stated that in the best interests of the Town, the Board voted for Motorola. Mr. Burnell stated the Board has received nothing in writing from this individual, and it was decided not to make any comments to him in writing. Mr. Burrell retired at 8:10 P.M. Mr. Cataldo asked if anyone had conferred with the School Department at all on the Moreland Avenue School Moreland site to discuss what is to be used as an access Avenue Mr. Carroll explained he has seen the plans and School it is proppsed to use Philip Road They do not plan to use Moreland Avenue. Mr. Burnell mentioned the time it took voters to vote in the Presidential election last Tuesday and said it is obvious that more voting machines are needed He felt that two additional machines should be purchased for each precinct, two to be purchased next year and two the following year. Mr. Sheldon said he did not think this was an immedi- ate problem as the machines will not be needed until 1966 M,r. Burnell said he suspects the Town is using the State 's minimum requirements Mr. Sheldon said it would be a simple matter in 1966 to project the growth of the Town and it may be found that only one machine will be needed for eadh precinct or it may need two The Chairman said there were many factors that con- tributed to the long lines, and the biggest factor was the referendum He said for the next election, two years from now, the Board could defer any action until it is known what the ballot will be. He said the Town could rent machines. Mr. Sheldon asked if the Town had to purchase them if acquired on a rental basis Mr. Carroll retired at 8:50 P.M. Mr. Cataldo suggested opening the polls at an earlier hour. Mr. Burnell said rather than meeting the State 's minimum requirements, the Town could contract for these machines on the basis of whatever the requirement is at the middle point . He said a decision should be made 448 , z - yr l , when the Board is going over the budget. Mr. Brown said he would be in favor of buying one this coming year. Mr. Cataldo said the Board knows it will not need the machines until 1966 and he would be inclined to wait. He suggested possible improvements to the machines could be made No action was taken. Mr. Cataldo referred to the stand on the lawn of the Town Office Building on Election Day, November 3 The Chairman reported that he contacted the woman in charge of the food sale and she admitted that permission was not given by him. He explained to her that it was contrary to the policy of the Board and it was understood that there would be no recurrence. He stated there was a misunderstanding of some proportion. The meeting adjourned at 8 :55 P.M. A true record, Attest : e tiv Cle k,_4 en