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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-12-16-min 15 SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 16, 1963 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, December 16, 1963, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Brown, Cataldo, 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. Miss Mary R. McDonough, Assistant Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of two jurors. The fol- lowing individuals were drawn for jury duty: Oscar W. Krichmar, ?3 Asbury Street, and H. Ger Smith, 250 Waltham Street. Miss McDonough retired Mr. Legro said he had a deed, which he would like the Board to execute, conveying lots 63 to 66, inclusive, on Rawson Avenue to Joseph D. and Lucille Augustine. Tax title Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to execute the deed, prepared by Town Counsel, convey- ing tax title lots 63 to 66, inclusive, Rawson Avenue, to Joseph D. Augustine and Lucille Augustine. Mr. Carroll reported that he has a balance in the Snow Removal Account of approximately $1,000, and sug- gested that a transfer of $10,000 be requested for the balance of the year Transfer Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $10,000 from the Reserve Fund to the Snow Removal Account . Letter was received from the Mystic Valley Gas Company, requesting permission to locate a 2" welded steel gas main in Grapevine Avenue. Mr. Carroll had no objection. Gas main Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the Mystic Valley Gas Company to locate a 2" welded steel gas main in Grapevine Avenue to serve six new homes, the extension to conform to Mr. Carroll's specifications and subject to his approval The Chairman read a letter from the First Church of Christ Scientist asking to have the walk in front of the church on Forest Street plowed each time the walk on the Myzzey Street side is plowed. cl Mr. Carroll said the problem here arose the first storm. They called, but he did not pick snow up there the first storm. He explained that if he did not pick Snow Removal up the snow, just plowed it with a sidewalk tractor, it would complicate the problem. Most of the snowstorms there is only one sidewalk plowed and one left. He said during minor storms, the snow is not picked up, but when they are lifting snowy they will pick it up. Petition was received, signed by residents of Bedford, Shirley and Tewksbury Streets, with suggestions pertaining Traffic to traffic control on Bedford Street at Worthen Road and Bedford Street at Harrington Road. Mr. Carroll reported that the Traffic Study Committee has discussed the traffic situation, and has also discussed it with the State Department of Public Works. He has written to the State asking for a traffic study at this and other intersections along Bedford Street. Mr. Burnell said Mr. Gray was acquainted with this subject and could write a letter conveying the information. He explained that the Committee is working onthe traffic on Bedford Street up to Hartwell Avenue. The Chairman read a letter from Brewer & Lord, to- gether with a list showing the percentage participation Insurance of the various Lexington agents for the year 1962. Mr. Brown moved that his name be stricken from the list. Mr. Sheldon said he thought it was the intent of the Board that commissions be confined to brokers in Lexington who are maintaining offices here . The Chairman said another approach would be to con- tinue the status quo, always facing the problem of adding more names. He said the third approach would be two differ- ent outfits, one insurance firm and one group of insurance agents; one or the other would have received all of the commissions. He asked if the Lexington agents would give these people the right to share in it if they had received the Town's insurance and been given the right to handle it . Mr. Cataldo said he understood all the insurance would go into a pool. The Chairman asked, supposing this had gone out to bid and one firm obtained the bid, if there would be any question who got the business. Mr. Burnell said it would be just that firm. Mr. Cataldo said then the bid price would be to the Town's advantage. He said there is no reason why this insurance commission should be distributed. He said the Town should go after the best possible premium and let whoever writes it get the commission. He said whoever 1 writes the business is entitled to the profit and the Town is entitled to the best premium. The Chairman said by putting it out , it may be possible to get a low bid and regret it afterwards. Mr. Cataldo said anything could be put out to bid and not come up with the right company Mr. Brown explained that a five-year premium could not go out to bid each year . Mr. Cataldo said it could be put out on a five-year policy. Mr. Sheldon asked how many other persons would qualify as being residents having duly authorized places of busi- ness. The Chairman replied he thought there was just one. Mr. Brown said he could think of only one, Beckwith. Mr. Sheldon moved that, in relation to the 1963 commissions, the percentage arrangement between Brewer & Lord and participating brokers remain the same and the brokers in Lexington be confined to those residents of the Town maintaining legally established businesses here. Mr. Cataldo asked why he would confine it to a resident maintaining an office here and doing business . Mr. Sheldon replied he would change it if this is the way the Board feels. He did not realize that he was excluding any members of the Association, and would delete the "residents of Lexington". The Chairman asked if he thought it was fair that the company doing all the work receives 30% and the others receive the remaining 70%. Mr. Cataldo said they were willing to go along. The Chairman said if he were doing all the work and all the servicing, he would not want any part of the 3O% - 70%. Mr. Cataldo said they came in and argued to maintain it He said he considered it fair, because this is what they propose. The Chairman said they did not propose it considering putting everything in the pool. Mr. Gray said he was meeting tomorrow with Mr. Stolz and would try to clarify this . Mr. Cataldo requested him to ask Brewer & Lord what they think is fair and equitable . The Chairman said he thought each year the Board would have one or more different groups trying to get the Town 's business and will have to reach the point where the outfit that gets the business will get the commission. He said he personally did not believe a 70 - 30 split was fair. Mr. Sheldon suggested that Mr. Gray find out what Brewer & Lord thinks about it The motion was withdrawn and the subject held over. Mr. Legro retired at 8:00 P.M. 18 en tr 01 The Chairman read a Proclamation, received from the City of Cambridge, relative to priorities of M.D.C. Proclamation Highway construction Mr. Gray agreed to contact the City Manager in an effort to obtain more definite information pertaining to the Alewife Brook Parkway. The Chairman read a letter from William E. Maloney, Treasurer of the Emerson Gardens Realty Corp. advising that it is desirable to have the apartment complex lo- Emerson cated off Maple Street officially known as Emerson Gardens Gardens. Mr. Carroll presented a plan of Emerson Gardens and stated that about two years ago, he had a nutering system worked out for Emerson Road and started with al up at Peacock Farm Road. When he reached this area, the numbers were 144 to 162 on the left-hand side of the road. This garden apartment has nine buildings and will have nineteen buildings, and at the time, 160 was assigned to the entire area at the request of the architect. Each building has a separate mail box and the mail is not being delivered. The Post Office has suggested that this coal- ' plex be named the Emerson Gardens and then the corporation will number the apartments. Mr. Sheldon asked if there was any objection to that and Mr. Carroll replied in the negative. He stated he did not want to proceed without clearing it with the Board. He said there would be no number for Emerson Gardens, but the apartments will be given a number Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to officially designate the garden apartments at 160 Emerson Road as Emerson Gardens, the Engineering Depart- ment to notify the Post Office and other appropriate Town Departments. The Chairman read a letter from the State Department of Public Works advisingthat the sum of 100.86 has $35, been made available for the Town of Lexington under Chapter g �P 718, Acts of 1956, and conforming with the amounts apportioned under Chapter 782, Acts of 1962. Highway Mr. Carroll said it might be a good idea to go further Funds with Massachusetts Avenue, and Egreed to look into this . The Board was in favor of continuing work on Massachu- setts Avenue if the money is available. Decision, relative to the Lexington Association of Independent Insurance Agents ' request for theBoard to sign a Broker of Record form,was held over. Mr. Gray reported that he talked with the Rating Association, and there seems tobe some confusion. 9 Mr. Anderson said the rating bureau would not talk with anyone except theBoard or anyone with a letter from the Board. There is a difference between a rating and a grading. Mr. Anderson said they do not discuss one Broker of phase of the operation of one department with another Record form department when they come into a community to regrade He did not know anything about the Broker of Record form and said if the Board wanted to, it should write a letter to the group to discuss Town rating which he said is very rarely done. Sooner or later they will ,_et around to grading Lexington anyway; whether it will be this year, next year or five years, he could not say. However, they will do this whether the Town aske for it or not . Mr. Sheldon said there was little or no point to the request made of the Board. Mr. Gray said, in his opinion, there would not be much point to it. Mr. MacNeil called him today and discussed this. He said he did not personally talk to Mr. Anderson and did not understand it this way. Mr. Sheldon said that since Mr. Gray is going to talkrto Brewer & Lor d anyway, he personally did not think the Board should sign this form unless Brewer & Lord felt it good business to do so. He said he would like Brewer & Lord's opinion. Mr. Gray reported that Mr. MacNeil would like to bring in experts in this field of regrading to discuss it with the Board. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to take no action. Mr. Carroll retired at 8:20 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Health relative to replacement of equipment for the Lexington School Dental Clinic. Transfer Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $1,000 from the Reserve Fund to the Dental Clinic Expenses Account . The Chairman read aletter from the Town Celebrations Committee advising of a meeting on December 19 for the purpose of discussing coordination of Veterans ' Day and Meeting Memorial Day programs . The Chairman stated he has already agreed to attend the meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to establish the sum of $86,500 as the amount not less 20tr s7: than which the 1964 bond of the Treasurer shall be written; $111,000 as the amount not less than which the 1964 bond Bonds of the Collector of Taxes shall be written, and $1,800 as the amount not less than which the 1964 bond of the Town Clerk shall be written. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Irwin suggest- Appointments ing names for appointment to the Standing Plumbing and Building By-Law Committee. Appointments to the Committee were held over. Appointment of a representative to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council was held over . Mr. Sheldonsaid the first decision to make was whether the appointment is to be made from the members of the Board or not . Mr. Burnell said if it is to be made from the Board, he thought the Chairman should be appointed for Appointment a period, at least . The Chairman said he would be willing to accept the appointment until more definite information is atailable He said he would take it as a temporary appointment. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Lincoln P. Cole, Jr. , Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, to represent the Town of Lexington as a member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Appointments to the Lexington Housing Authority were held over. Mr. Sheldon said he thought the Board owed ., Mr. Greeley an opportunity to go on that Authority and Lexington is more than entitled to this opportunity if he wishes Housing to serve. He said it was not his impression that Mr. Authority Greeley word refuse. Mr. Burnell said if he is willing to accept ap- pointment, he thought he should be asked Actual appointments to the Authority were held over, but the following names were submitted for con- sideration: Temple Scanlon, William Roger Greeley, Edwin Bennett, A. W. Rhuby, Walter Phoenix, Stillman Williams, Norman Richards . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held on December 9, 1963. At 8:45 P.M. , the Appropriatinn Committee and the Capital Expenditures Committee met with the Board. Mr. Gary, Chairman of the Capital Expenditures I Committee, discussed an assembly of figures submitted to his committee by various departments and reported at length on recommendations the Committee proposes. The group retired at 9:34 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following licenses : Licenses Motels Management, Inc . 1720 Mass. Avenue Innkeeper Minute Man Restaurant 1715 Mass Avenue Common Victualler Auto Engineering, Inc . 436 Marrett Road 1st Class Agent Morris Motors 14.00 Waltham Street 2nd Class Agent George W. Blaisdell 31 Mague Avenue Taxi Driver West Newton Robert W. Hawkins 2 Partridge Terr n n William E. Anderson 653 R Lowell Street n n Isabelle M. Kitson 847 Mass . Avenue " " Richard W. McLellan 1843 Mass. Avenue " " (All subject to satisfactory references being received from Chief Rycroft. ) Robert B. MacIver 24 Woodcliff° Road " " Don A. Ericksson 41 Preston Road " " Alan J. Carine, Jr. 77 Bedford Street " " II David L. Setterlund 12 Utica Street " " Letter was received from the Metropolitan Building Movers Co., requesting permission to move a building from 2 Pilgrim Road, Arlinton, to 21 Woburn Street, Waltham. Permit via Route 2 to Blossom Street, left on Blossom Street to Waltham Street, left on Waltham Street to Lexington Street, at the Lexington-Waltham line . Mr. Carroll said he would go over the route with the Chief of Police. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Town to hold the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, March 16, 1964.Meeting Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to establish January 20, 1964 as the closing date for the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discus- Executive sing, deliberating, or voting on matters, which, if made Session public, might adversely affect the public security , the financial interest of theTown, or the reputation of any person The meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. IIA true record, Attest c � � cxftive Jerk Selectt r A