Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-12-23-min 2 2R ce ol SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 23, 1963 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, December 23, 1963, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Brown, Sheldon and Cataldo were present. Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present . Mr. Legro, Town Counsel, arrived at 8:45 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of two jurors. The following Jurors individuals were drawn for jury duty: Ernest L. Carpenter, 4 Cutler Farm Road, and Neal B. Hayes, 19 Sky View Road. Mr. Carroll retired. Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, pre- Garbage sented each member of the Board and Mr. Legro with a preliminary draft of the garbage contract. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition of the Boston Edison Company Pole and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Compay location and sign the order for the following pole location: Emerson Road, northeasterly side, northwesterly from a point approximately 120 feet northwest of East Street, -- Two poles. (Two existing j/o poles to be removed. ) Request for permission to move a building, received from the Metropolitan Building Movers Co. , was held over Permit pending receipt of report from Ni". Carroll Mr. Carroll reported that he and Chief Rycroft had gone over the proposed route and had no objections . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the Metropolitan Building Movers Co. to move a dwelling from Route 2 to Blossom Street, left on Blossom Street to Waltham Street, left on Waltham Street to Lexington Street at the Lexington-Waltham line, subject to the usual conditions. Mr. Carroll stated that he thought the new Plumbing and Building By-Law Committee should be notified about 23 the decision of the Board that in the future the Plumbing Garbage By-Law should be amended so that all new homes connected disposals to the sewer should have garbage disposal units. He also said the plumbing should go out the front of the new houses so that any sewer main in the street can be connected in the future . In discussing the 1964 sewer budget with Mr. Carroll, it was agreed to obtain a letter from the Executive Health Sewer Officer listing the requests in the order of their urgency budget based on deficiencies and problems encountered by the Board of Health. Letter was received from Carl Blake, Chairman of the Town Meeting Members Association, relative to Town Meetings, a copy of which was sent to the Board and Town Counsel Mr. Blake was present at the meeting and said that the keeping of precise records of Town Meetings would Town Meet- be very helpful and would give a record to be referred ing to whenever a question came up. He said if there Members re were questions at a future time, one would have more Town than memory to go on. He said there would be a cost Meetings but he thought it nominal and well worth it. Mr. Blake said the second item is relative to the establishment of a policy of airing By-Law changes and similar actions prior to the formal public hearings. Mr. Sheldon said this does not require any mechanics other than those that exist and would be a dissemination of information The Chairman explained that the proposal would double the cost in regard to notices . Mr. Blake suggested that this be done through the public press The Chairman said he was thinking of the legal ef- fectiveness of this . Mr. Blake said this was the type of thing where the Town Meeting members could get on the telephone. The Chairman said, personally, he thought the idea was good. Mr. Sheldon suggested that the Town Counsel be asked for an opinion. Mr. Blake referred to item three, providing legal counsel at the Town's expense for advice and assistance of Town Meeting Members in formulation of articles. Mr. Blake said he thought the historical background of the Town Meeting form of government has been one in which every citizen is supposed to have his say and opportunity to present the Town business he would like to 24 Cr see transacted As it now stands, it is difficult to do this properly. He said it can be done properly by legal counsel in drafting of articles and motions . He said this is something Town Counsel can't do without more compensation. This would make it possible for Town Meeting members to present in correct legal form articles and motions. Mr. Cataldo said under the present system, if a group of people have a motion they want to present to Town Meeting that is going to affect the majority of the Town, a Board will sponsor it so an individual will not have to sponsor it. Mr. Blake said last year he could not get any Board to sponsor his mental health article. The Chairman asked if this wouldn't lead to harass- ment of Town Counsel. Mr. Blake suggested that the Board could say there would be no more than eight hours for it. The Chairman mentioned multiplying that by 200 and Mr. Blake said there would never be 200, and the Board could put a ceiling on the number of hours. The Chairman said the Town Counsel has received a copy of the letter and the Board would discuss all phases of it with him. He said Mr. Blake might want to discuss phase 2 with the Planning Board. Mr. Cataldo said if the Town Meeting members at- tended the Planning Board Meetings, they might find it helpful. Mr. Legro arrived at the meeting at 8 :L5 P.M. The Chairman said the Board would keep Mr. Blake informed, and if he needed another opportunity to be heard, it would be granted. The Chairman read a letter from Robert W. Fuller, to which was attached a bill for $84 for damages to Claim his car which he elimed were caused by a cave-in on Hill Street. A copy of theletter had been sent to Town Counsel. Mr. Carroll reported that the service was in- stalled on December 5, a Thursday. It sunk over the weekend and one call was received. One of the Town men was coming to work at 7:20 that morning and sent someone up to patch it. They arrived to patch it just as this car went into the trench. Decision was held over. Mr Carroll retired at 8 :50 P.M. Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Schmertzler, of Traffic the Hancock School PTA, with reference to the inter- section of Bedford Street and Worthen Road, was re- ferred to the Traffic Study Committee. 25 Decision relative to the distribution of insurance commissions was held over pending receipt of information Insurance from Mr. Gray. The Chairman read a letter from the State relative to Boston Regiohal Planning Project hearings. He said where this applies to the highways and Route 3 would be Boston involved, he would suggest that the Chairman of that Regional committee be the liaison man on this. Planning It was agreed to advise Donald M. Graham, Planning Project Director, that Mr. Cataldo would represent the Board at the subregional meetings to be held after the first of the pear. The Chairman read a letter from the Committee For Safe Bicycling, Inc. , indicating interest in Lexington as a desirable area for eycling. It was suggested that the committee contact the Minute Man National Historical Park Commission. Pursuant to request from the Director of Public Assistance, it was voted to request the Appropriation Transfer Committee to transfer the sum of $2500 from the Reserve Fund to the Public Welfare General Relief Account, subject to the existence of money Pursuant to request from the Veterans ' Agent, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to Transfer transfer the sum of $500 from the Reserve Fund to the Veterans ' Services Account, subject to the existence of funds. Letter was received from the Board of Fire Com- missioners requesting the insertion of an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting requesting an Article appropriation of $13,000 to replace Engine #4 Mr Cataldo said he thou:ht the Board should have more information on the subject and it was agreed to request the Fire Commissioners to meet with the Board next Monday night. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the following individuals to the Lexington Lexington Housing Authority, authorized by vote of the Town Meet- Housing ing on November 25, 1963: William Roger Greeley, Burton Authority Williams, A. W. Hruby and Temple Scanlon, and to invite them to meet with the Board for a few minutes next Mon- day night . 2 6 !) tr Q1 The following individuals were suggested as appoint- Standing ments to the Standing Plumbing and Building By-Law Com- Plumbing & mittee: Robert Custance, Perry Lord, Leo Dunn, George Building Bullock (Henry Kirkland alternate choice) , and Richard Committee Souza. The Chairman agreed tocontact each individual to determine whether or not he would accept the appointment. Appointments to the Conservation Commission were held over. At 9:25 P.M. , Mr. Samuel P. Snow met with the Board relative to the areas needed near the Senior High School Recreation for recreation. He reported that he received a telephone call from Mr. Kelly, Chairman of the Recreation Committee, but never heard from the School Department. He explained he took 1962 material and n}ade a series of analyses based on various policies, which he submitted. He said while he has worked them out in detail and knows each one will work in terms of space, area, etc. , every- thing he has is in very crude sketch form which can immedi- ately be drafted in final form. He said if acceptable to the Board, he would give it a series of sketches. He said he would like a decision that represents the consensus of the School Department, Recreation Committee and the Select- men. Mr. Sheldon said that Mr. Snow should be given an opportunity to go before the School Committee. Mr. Snow said he thought he would write up this material now with a sketch. Mr. Sheldon said then the School Committee could be brought in for a joint meeting. Mr. Cataldo said the School Committee should be told this Board has waited long enough; they have not made the effort to work with Mr.Snow. The Chairman said he would write the School Committee and statecthat the Board is prepared now to finalize the scheme for this play area involving both the school and all the citizens of the Town, and the only thing it is wait- ing for are the Committeets comments. Mr. Snow retired at 9:55 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the following licenses : Colonial Store 856-Mss'. Avenue Common VetWaller Licenses Geoffroyts Pharkaoy 411 Waltha]a Street n n Early Bird Restaurant 3969 -Lowell Street Mawhinney Motor Sales ' 'Marrett Road lst"Clasi Agent Gh.arles Sanborn 32 games Street Taxi Driver 27 iirieztet R1T is 7i: North :Street Taxi Driver Nazi IL & North r5"tr t it r71 G X18 $ Oxh to ��' n Raman& 6 erdxiant 8tr-bet n j rE.'iBongpo3rta; 307 Woad Stmette P- a Motten dulyninnadiv3andL secont4sdlo it was"voted " to, approte- the mina es of t .e-Selectlftnall MeetiPgs heli. Minutes nn Dec!ember. 1t1. and 16. '1 At 10:00 P.M. , Mr. Irving Mabee, Chairman of the Planning Board, met with the Selectmen. He presented a sketch of the Lyon property, lo- cated on Waltham Street, and indicated the access the Lyon Planning Board desires to acquire for the Town parking property lot. He reported that the PlanningBoard had an ap- praisal about a year or two agoand indi- cated - 39,000, the area on the sketch which was included in this figure He explained it works out about $4.00 a square foot for thefront piece and $3.00 for the other. Mr. Mabee said Mrs. Lyon is very interested in sell- ing, and Robert Lyon is paying $7.00 a square foot for land he is purchasing from the State. Mrs . Lyon is willing to sell a parcel, which he indicated on the sketbh, for $6.00 a square foot, about $62,500. He stated that his Board thinks the appraiser 's figure is too low and what she is asking is too high. The Planning Board is prepared to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the property he purchased for $52,500. Mr. Sheldon asked if he meant this as a formal offer, and Mr. Mabee replied in the affirmative The Board of Selectmen was unanimously in favor of making Mrs. Lyon an offer of $52,500. Mr. Mabee said he would report back to Mrs. Lyon and then report back to the Board. Mr. Brown suggested, if this property is acquired, that Mr . Gray start coordinating the extension of the back land for a parking area The meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M. A true record, Attest : u3ve� lark Selec