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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1964-01-20-min 54 SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 20, 1964 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, Janu-ry 20, 1961 , at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs Brown, C-taldo, Burnell 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 At 7 30 P.M. , hearing wPs declared open upon petition - of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission to locate underground conduit' in Lowell and Woburn Streets Conduit Mr Dunn, representing the petitiongr, was the only hearing person present at the hearing Notice of the hearing was mailed to the petitioner, owners of the property as listed on the petitioner 's plan, and also filed with the Superintendent of Public Works No one was present in favor or in opposition and the hearing was declared closed Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition, the proposed locationz:having been approved by Mr. Carroll, and sign the order for the fol- lowing conduit location: Lowell Street: Southeasterly, from pole 58/70 approxi- mately 130' feet of underground conduit Woburn Street : Soutnwesterly, from Lowell Street, approxi- mately 25 ' feet of underground conduit . All conduit to be placed in sidewalk Pt 7 :33 P.M. , 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 Waltham Street . Mr. Dunn, Representing the telephone company, and Bole Mr Serverson, representing the Boston Edison Company, Location Notice of the hearing was 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 that there are two poles with a guide to trees which are to be taken down and fili this petition is for a pole to support the line across the street . No one was present in favor or in op 'osition, and the hearing was declared closed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition, the proposed location having been approved by Mr. Carroll, and sign the order for the following pole location Waltham Street, northwesterly side, approximately 317 feet southwest of Worthen Road, -- One pole At 7 :35 P.M. , hearing wp°s declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission to locate one hip guy and anchor on Massa(:husetts Avenue opposite Charles Street Hip guy Mr Dunn, representing the telephone company, and and anchpr Mr Serverson, representing the Boston Edison Company, were the only persons present at the hearing Notice of the hearing was 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 proposed hip guy and anchor is in connection withthe new block of stores on Massachusetts Avenue and this is to guy the take-off pole on the other side of the street No one was present in favor or in opposition, and the hearing was declared closed Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition, the proposed location having been ap- proved by Mr. Carroll, and sign the order for thefollow- ing hip guy and anchor location Massachusetts Avenue, from a pole located approximately 120 feet northwest of Charles Street, -- One hip guy and anchor Upon motion dulymade and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held Minutes on January 13, 1964 The Chairman read a letter from Mrs . C. Russell Smallman requesting permission, on behalf of Girl Scout Troop #382, to sell flags during the Patriots ' Day ob- servance in April, 1964 A similar request was granted to the Girl Scouts last yea It Permit 5 6 t Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the request The Chairman read a letter from the Standing School Building Committee requesting that an article be inserted Article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in March to provide funds for all or part of the remodeling of the present High School building. The Committee also informed the Board in the letter that it will not be sufficiently far along to request additional funds for the new elementary school on the reservoir site off Middleby Road. However, it will need design money before this coming summer and the Committee will need an article at a Special Town Meeting. The Chairman suggested, and the Board agreed, that the reference to an article for a Special Town Meeting be discussed with the Committee when it meets with the Board and the School Committee, an appointment to be arranged by Mr. Gray At 7:40 P.M. , hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Pole and Telegraph Company for permission to locate two poles Locations on Winchester Drive Mr Serverson, representing the Boston Edison Company, and Mr Duhn, reprAsenting the telephone company, were the only persons presait at the hearing Notice of the hearing was 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 that there is a new develop- ment going up here in the spring, part of which is in Lexington and part of which is in Winchester. The two poles in Lexington happen to be in the public street. No one was present in favor or in opposition, and the hearing was declared closed Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition, the proposed locations having been approved by Mr Carroll, and sign the order for the fol- lowing role locations Winchester Drive, northerly side, westerly from a point approximately 60 feet west of Berkshire Drive, Winchester, -- Two poles Messrs . Serverson and Dunn retired. Petition was received, signed by seventeen registered Article voters, requesting the insertion of an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting relative to prohibiting huht ing 57 Petition was received, signed by thirteen registered voters, requesting the insertion of an article in the Article warrant for the Annual Town Meeting relative to amending the General By-Laws in regard to hunting in the Town Petition was received, signed by thirteen registered voters, requesting the insertion of an article in the Article warrant for the Annual Town Meeting relative to the installation of sidewalks along Concord Avenue between Waltham Street and #137 Concord Avenue . Petition was received, signed by seventeen registered voters, requesting the insertion of an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting relative to an amend- ment to the Zoning By-Law with reference to the land on Article the southwesterly side of Bedford Street at the corner of Hartwell Avenue Petition was received, signed by thirteen registered voters, requesting the insertion of an article in the Article warrant for theAnnual Town Meeting relative to an amend- ment to the Zoning By-Law with reference to land at the Southwesterly line of Bedford Street, property numbered 30 Petition was received, signed by eighteen registered voters , requesting the insertion of an article in the Article warrant for the Annual Town Meeting relative to an amend- ment to the Zoning By-Law with reference to land of Boudreau, located on Bedford Street Petition was received, signed by eleven registered voters, requesting the insertion of an article in the Article warrant for the Annual Town Meeting relative to an amend- ment to the Zoni g By-Law with reference to a new para- graph at the end of Section L. (g) A 1 - Garden apartment and hotel districts A communication, signed by residents of Laconia Street, was received in which they referred to a health hazard at the two vacant lots located at the corner of Woburn and Lowell Streets Complaint It was aged to refer the subject to the Executive Health Officer with the request that he make an investi- gation and report Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the following licenses Ellen M.Sullivan, Licenses d .b. a. The Colonial Coffee Hruse - Common Victualler; Caywood Greening, Jr , Taxi Driver 58 a.,- Upon .=Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Premiere Performance Company permission to use Estabrook Hall on Saturday, January 25, 1964 from Use of 8 :00 P.M until 10 :00 P.M. , free of charge, but subject hall to janitor ' s fees of $3.00 per hour. Mrs . Sullivan inquired about having the piano tuned and Mr. Carroll was authorized to have it tuned . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it waP voted to sign notices of intention to lay out the following streets; hearings to be held on January 29, 1964: Street Bryant Road Phinney Road Albemarle Avenue layout Fairbanks Road Rogers Road Blake Road notices of Fessenden Way Rolfe Road Dunham Street intention Marshall Road Sanderson Road Nowers Road Mill Brook Road Suzanne Road Sullivan Street Page Road Tufts Road Sky View Road (Alteration & Relocation) Mr. John J. Carroll retired at 8 :00 P.M. Mr. Norman J. Richards and Mr. Ivan Douglas met with the Board. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Richards, dated January 13, 1964, withreference to the land situated at the corner of Bedford Street and Worthen Road - Lexington Plaza Trust. Mr. Douglas intends to request the Town Lex.Plaza Meeting to rezone the property numbered 30 Bedford Street Trust from an R-1 District to a C-? District Article & Mr . Richards presented a plan entitled "Plan of Land gift of land in Lexington, Mass . Scale 1" = 30 ' , Sept . 5, 1963, Schofield Brothers , Registered Land Surveyors, 4.8 Park Strey_ Framingham, Massachusetts " . He stated that he has been in contact with the First Congregational Society Unitarian Church, which owns the property abutting onto Mr. Douglas ' property He explained that the Society wants to acquire a connecting link in the rear of its premises to connect their parsonage land with the church land Mr. Richards said his client would deed to the Town fifteen feet He said it was the sugestion of the Plan- ning Board that a buffer zone wap not satisfactory unless the fee and control was in the Town. This fifteen feet would be fifteen feet of the seventy-five foot and run back as a buffer zone. Mr. Douglas said he has to save room for a rear drive and will be back about twenty-five feet from the edge of the buffer to the edge of thewalk around the building which is a twelve foot walk, He said he would be beck about thirty-seven feet. 59 Mr. Richards said there is a restriction on this property now, a recorded restriction of forty feet and it is not the intent to construct any buildings in this area He said it would be his client 's intent to grant an easement for travel which would preclude any building on this area. He said the Planning Board asked if residences could be built here, but he believed it would not lend itself to that . He said he was not unaware of the Town Meeting feeling towards further encroachment upon the Battle Green area. Mr. Richards said it should be noted that immediately across from these buildings here, it is zoned C-2 which is the land occupied and used by the Atlantic and Pacific. Mr Richards said if the Town would have any use for It, his client would be willing to give it to the Town as gift. He said it was his intent in being here this evening for the Board to consider whether or not such a gift would be of any value to the town an, he did not mean monetary He said the gift would be unrestricted. Mr. Richards read a letter which he received from the Planning Board in regard to the whole subject. Mr. Sheldon said Mr . Richards ' proposal was sub- stantially what the Planning Board had requested. Mr. Richards said he believed it was up to the Board of Selectmen to determine if they want to put an article in the warrant to accept the gift He said he did not believe a petition of ten citizens asking the Town to accept such a gift would be wise He said the Planning Board has stated in its letter its interest in an access and a buffer strip. Under those conditions, his client would make a donation and is not interested in any nominal cost Mr. Cataldo asked how many square feet of land Mr. Richards was talking about and he replied he was not sure, but it has been estimated 30,000 square feet, more or less Mr. Burnell said he would like to have the entire Planning Board in this evening to discuss this subject The Chairman said the Board would take the matter under advisement and let Mr. Richards know forthwith. Messrs . Richards and Douglas retired at 8:25 P.M. Later in the evening (9 ,35 P M , the Planning Board met with the Selectmen, and the Chairman read Mr . Richards ' letter to that Board He asked if it confirmed what the Planning Board wanted Mr. Meyer said he had the Planning Board ' s letter to Mr . Richards and it was thought that the land could be acquired for $1.00. He said the Board 's attitude is , Cr once the Town acquires the fifteen foot strip and the back land, the Board would not be interested The Board was divided, two mildly opposed and two mildly in favor He said it was decided to have a meeting with Mr. Richards and Mr. Douglas and then make a decision. He explained that the Planning Board gave them no assurance that it was in favor Mr S .eldon asked if the Planning Board would oppose inserting an article Mr. Greeley stated that the 2lanning Board told him it was not agreeing to support the articles, but encouraged the insertion of an article. Mr. Sheldon said the Planning Board agreed to reserve its decision until later Mr. Burnell asked what the Planning Board proposed to do with the back land, and Mr. Myer replied, nothing. Mr. Brown asked if this we .e done, would not Mr. Johnson come in later Mr. Meyer said that was a possibility. Mr. Brown said this would give him the basis for coming in. Mr Burnell said that was a different situation. Mr. Brown said Mr. Johnson could agree to do the same thing. Mr. Meyer said the Planning Board gave no assurance that it would be in favor. Mr. Greeley said he thouht the Planning Board pro- posed to just sit on the back land but he would nit want to accept it with any restrictions . The Town should be free to do with it what it wants to . Mr. Sheldon asked about the traffic. Mr. Greeley said it was just a case of whether the Plaza has six stores or eight The Plaza is going in there anyway. Mr. Burnell said this will open an entrance to Bedford Street . Mr. Greeley explained that the egress would be there anyway. Mr. Meyer said the service station is in the C-2 zone . All that is being discussed is the portion where the yellow house is and the Planning Board would have no objection to putting in an article and holding a hearing. Mr. Meyer said the rezoning will be too much to do for the March Town Meeting Mr. Burnell asked if this would be done as a Board or if a consultant would be hired. Mr. Meyer said the Board is in the process of writing it now; Mr. Hardy is working on it Mr. Legro said Mr. Hardy has done it . Mr Meyer said that was right but now the Planning Board is making changes. The Planning Board retired at 9:55 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board Mr Carroll said he had an idea for the Board 's consideration, and mentioned that various towns nearby and around Lexington have their clerical forces, the girls, working at 8 30 and going home at 4:30. He said this was a suggestion because the various departments around the building have this thought in mind and asked him if Change in he would present it to the Board for consideration. He Town Of- said there is more business in the morning between eight fice hours thirty and nine than there is from four-thirty to five. He said people find it more convenient to drop in at eight-thirty on the way to work than they do at five o 'clock Mr. Sheldon said many times he wished he could get in at eight-thirty Mr. Cataldo said in the summer the building would be closed in the heat of the day and in the winter the clerks could go home in daylight Mr. Sheldon said there would be very little opposition. Mr. Carroll said there were no objections and he did not think a petition was necessary The Chairman said if more citizens could be served between eight-thirty and nine than there could between four-thirty and five, he would not object 11 Mr. John Carroll said there is one problem The Engineering Department works from eight to five. Mr. Brown said there would be no- reduction in the number of hours Mr. Carroll asked what the Board would propose to do with the Engineering Department. Mr. Brown said nothing would be done . Mr. Carroll said it would be ridiculous to leave them here alone half an hour at night . He suggested that their lunch hour be reduced to half an hour. He said he could not see them in the building by themselves after four-thirty Mr Burnell said they could not go home for lunch in half an hour. The Chairman asked Mr. James Carroll when he thought would be a good time to start the new schedule, and he replied that if the Board is going to make a change, why not right away Mr. Brown said some publicity should be given to it . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that the Town Offices will be open from 8 :30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. , effective Monday, February 3, 1964, and that suitable notices be placed with the local press. Mr. Burnell asked if Mr Carroll thought he could work his Engineering group on a half hour for lunch and operate effectively A 9 C7 Mr Carroll said that only one man goes home and he could bring his lunch. The Chairman suggested that Mr Carroll work out some arrangement with the Engineering Department per- sonnel so they can leave at four-thirty, but continue to work forty hours per week. Mr. James Carroll retired at 8:45 P. The Chairman read a letter from the Library Trustees to the Appropriation Committee relative to the insertion of articles in the warrant for capital expenditures to be financed by transfer of balances in current accounts. Mr. Legro advised that this balance is on borrowed funds and there are some technicalities. Mr. Sheldon said all the Board has to do is to agree to insert an article in the warrant . Upon motion dulymade and seconded, it was voted to insert the article as requested in the letter to the Appropriation Committee. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing, Executive deliberating, or voting on matters, which, if made public, Session might adversely affect the public security, the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Following discussion of several items, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Mr . Brown reported on the inspections he, Mr. Gray and Mr . Carroll made today of Public Works Buildings and equipment . The meeting adjourned at 10:05 P.M. A true record, Attest: ve erk, electme� 1