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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-09-16-min 486 3t G. SRLI CTMEN'S MEETING September 16, 1963 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, September 16, 1963, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs Brown, Burnela, Cataldo and Sheldon were present . Mr. Legro, Town ounsel, Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works , and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present . Mr. Carroll requested that decision relative to Tax title Mr Alvin Morrison's offer to purchase tax title Lot 7A on Pleasant Street be held over. Mr. Carroll reported that the County Commissioners will hold a meeting September 25, 1963 at 10 :00 A.M. Chapter 90 relative to 1964 Chapter 90 allotments. He said he would be on vacation but would send Mr. Higgins to the meeting. He recommended that the Board send a letter to the State Department of Public Works requesting $8,000 for maintenance and $60,000 for construction. The request for $60,000 for Chapter 90 construction is for funds to be combined with the 1963 allotment of $50, 000 and the sum of $35,100.06 already received by the Town under Chapter 782 of 1962. The total amount will be used to reconstruct Massachusetts Avenue from the Arlington-Lexington line in a westerly direction as far as funds will permit . It was agreed to send a letter as suggested, and also to have Mr. Gray attend the hearing. Mr. Carroll reported that Worthen Road has been resurfaced by the general contractor and suggested that the Board send a letter of appreciation for the co-operation given by B. J. Pentabone, Inc. and Trimount Bituminous Products Co. Mr. Carroll referred to the house and land at 96 Laconia Street acquired by the Town for school pur- poses. He reported on the condition of the house and said he did not think it could be rented for more than 96 Laconia $75 or $100. Street It was agreed to authorize Mr Carroll to rent the house as is Upon motion duly mads and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order for the 48t following j/o pole location Jeffry Terrace, northwesterly side, northeasterly from Pole from a point approximately 31+ feet northeast of locations Demar Road, -- Two poles Jeffry Terrace, southeasterly side, approximately 337 feet northeast of Demar Road, -- One pole. Letter was received from Ernest A. Giroux, Trustee of the Minute Man Park Realty Trust, regarding the possible future setback of the Central Block property should the Town acquire a strip for widening Massa- Central chusetts Avenue. Block Mr. Carroll stated that he is working on a plan setback which he will have ready for the next meeting. No action was taken on the matter Letter was received from the Board of Appeals advising that Mr. Anthony J. DiRocco 's petition to build a house on Lot #2 Dunham Street had been denied. Dunham The Board of Appeals feels that the only way to handle Street this is for the Selectmen to insert an article in the warrant for the acceptance of the street . Mr. Carroll reported that a petition for the ac- ceptance of the street has been received with a very good percentage of signatures A letter fromMrs Robert Kent, 15 Patriots Drive, relative to traffic on Wadman Circle was referred to Traffic the Traffic Study Committee . Mr. Carroll retired at 7:50 P.M. Letter was received from Joseph D. Augustine, Jr. , 26 Melrose Avenue, offering $600, lus sewer better- ment assessments in the amount of $$351.01 for tax title lots 63-66 Rawson Avenue. Tax title Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that a proposal to sell the lots be advertised in the Lexington Minute-man and that further consideration be given the offer. The Chairman read an offer from John A. Sousa, 195 Brooks Street, East Boston, offering $50 for tax title lots 10 and 11, block 21 Hickory Street. Tax title 488 mc Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Co to reject the offer, which the Board considered too low. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held on September 9, 1963. The Chairman read a letter from Donald K. Irwin, Building Inspector, requesting an additional $50 for Out-of-$tate travel. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the Transfer sum of $50 from the Reserve Fund to the Building In- spector 's Out-of-State Travel Account ; Mr. Irwin to be advised that $50 will have to be transferred from his Expenses Account to the Excess and Deficiency Ac- count at the end of the year. The Chairman read a letter from J. F. Fenske, on behalf of the Lexington Junior Chamber of Commerce Trailer Petition Drive Committee, requesting permission to place a trailer in front of Carroll's store on Saturdays during the month of October. Upon motion dulymade and seconded, it was voted to grant the request. Decision relative to placing the Town's insurance with the Lexington Association of Insurance Agents or leaving it with Brewer & Lord was held over. Mr. Sheldon moved that the insurance be retained by Brewer & Lord, but that a different method of dis- tribution of commissions be instituted whereby the commissions would be confhed to those brokers legiti- mately in the insurance business, maintaining an office in Lexington. Insurance Mr. Brown suggested two separate motions. Mr. Sheldon's motion was not seconded, and therefore lost . Mr. Cataldo moved th •t the Town's insurance busi- ness be placed with the Lexington Association of In- surance Agents, not cancelling the insurance for any specific time, but that something be worked out through Mr. Gray such as of January 1. Mr. Brown said he thought the motion should read that the insurance be taken over possibly at the expi- ration date . Mr. Cataldo agreed to the suggested amendment . Mr. Burnell said he would be away for two weeks and would like more time to think about this. Mr. Brown said he had expressed his feeling to the Board and did not want to vote one way or the other 489 because of possible conflict of interest Mr. Cataldo 's motion was not seconded, and therefore lost. Decision was held over until the next meeting, at which Mr. Burnell will be present. At 8:15 P.M. , Mr. Homer Hagedorn, Mrs. Battin, Mr. nichards and Mr. Adams met with the Board. Mr. Hagedorn stated the group was representing the Town Meeting Members Association and representing the committee on the structure of Town government of which Mr. Stevens is also a member. He explained the charter underwhich the group is working charges it to conduct functional, operational and historical studies of the structure of Town government. The historical studies have been completed. He stated the group is not committed to any particular solutions and not agreed yet on the nature and priority of public problems it may come to consider. Many of them must have something to do with coordination because there are a large number of boards and committees. Beyond that it is premature to say in what direction the studies will take the committee . He said he doubted if any panacea of a Town Manager is going to take precedence. He said they wanted, first of all, to inform the Town Meeting a little bit better of some of the things that concern them and beyond this the committee may or may not come to conclusions it thinks should be brought to the Town in some fashion. He said they need co-operation of a large number of people starting with the Selectmen and would like to talk to the Board from time to time and ask it to do various things for the committee. He said they are thinking of trying to conduct a functional study of the way the administration looks, something that would show up any duplications, if there are any. He said they are in this with such other committees as the com- mittee to revise the By-Laws, and will have many points in common, but have not yet met with them or any other group. Mr. Sheldon said if there is anything the Board of Selectmen can do as a Board or as individuals to help the group pursue its studies, they are available at home nights as individuals or at the meeting as a Board to help. He said beyond that he did not know how the Board could help the committee at this point The Chairman suggested that possibly the committee would like to discuss questions with Mr. Gray. The group retired at 9:25 P.M. 490 #, MC tot Mr. Kolovson, of the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Eric Anachuetz, 26 Turning Mill Road, met with the Board. Mr. Kolovson said one of the main projects is the service provided at the information booth and they have been discovering the past two years thet the guides have not been adequate in numbers or in their demeanor. He stated that Mr. Lee Tarbox has stated many times this year when he called for guides for a special group from Boston he was unable to get them even with advanced notice About three weeks ago, Mr. Anachuetz spoke to him about a walking guide tape he has developed which he would like to have the Chamber of Commerce try out through its information booth and make it available to tourists on a rental basis. He said his concern was what this might Guide do to the guides, but they do not feel an adequate in- Service formation service is being provided by the guides . He said the tape would not interfere with the guides . He reported that he checked the Green twice yesterday, once at 12:30 and once at quarter of two. There were tourists but no guides in the area He said the Chamber is asking for the Board's permission to use the tape and its guidance. Mr. Anachuetz explained the tape and gave a demon- stration. He proposes to start with five machines and feels this is an appropriate time to start on an experi- mental basis. He said this may be not only a nationwide thing, but a countrywide. Tapes such as this are being used in a number of museums in the country. Mr. Brown inquired about the rental fee, and Mr. Anachuetz said it would be $1.00. Mr. Sheldon asked about a deposit charge, and Mr. Anachuetz stated he would try it without a deposit charge and ask the attendant at the booth to take the driver's license number. The cost of the machine is $34.95. He explained the Chamber of Commerce is not financing this; it is entirely at his own expense. Mr. Kolovson said the Chamber of Commerce would realize 25 on each rental. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the Chamber of Commerce permission to use the tape. Mr. Kolovson and Mr. Anachuetz retired at 8:45 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Fire Commissioners, to which was attached an abbreviated Fire form showing the activities of the Fire Department and Department the Board of Fire Commissioners . Mr. Cataldo said it was a good report, but not what the Board is looking for. He said he wanted a list of where the money is being spent and a copy of the minutes of the Commissioners ' meetings. The Chairman said if it was the wish of the Board, 491 ' he would reiterate the request, but felt that if the Board is going to do this with one department, it should request the same information from all departments. Mr. Sheldon said he was satisfied with the report and there is no more information that he wanted. Mr . Cataldo said the original request was for an expense report and the minutes . Mr. Brown said he did not think it would be asking too much to have a report of the meetings . Mr. Sheldon explained that the Commissioners do not have a secretary at the meetings and one of the Commissioners writes the minutes out and then gives the information to a girl to be typed. Mr. Burnell said there is so much to do, he would be willing to leave this in the hands of competent Com- missioners and not become involved in details . He said he did feel that the Selectmen did not have the Boards in for conferences often enough. Mr . Cataldo said he was not questioning anyone, but the Board did make a specific request for a copy of the minutes . Mr. Burnell said minutes are public and available. He said he liked the report and would like to see it continued and thought it eventually would give the Board the same type of information it receives from the Police Department . Mr. Cataldo asked if there was any reason the Board has not received the minutes . Mr. Sheldon replied he thought the Commissioners felt this report was what the Board wanted. Mr. Brown said he would like to see more effort done with Mr. Gray along the line of centralized pur- chasing. Mr. Cataldo asked if Mr. Brown meant getting a purchasing agent, and Mr. Brown replied that it would come to that in the future. He said he thought it would be better to concentrate along these lines rather than asking the departments for reports. The Chairman agreed to request the Commissioners to send the Board a carbon of the minutes. Mr. Burnell said he would like Mr. Gray to submit a report of his progress to the Board also . At Mr. Burnell 's request, the Fire Commissioners ' letter of July 16, 1963 relative to extra duties per- formed by men in the Fire Department other than those under which they are classified, was placed on the agenda. 1 492 mc c. On truly 29, 1963, the letter was acknowledged and the Commissioners advised that further consideration would be given the subject when the 1964 budgets were beingdis- cussed Mr. Sheldon said he thought this was a very dangerous situation and if the Board begins to set up different categories, it will have as many categories as there are men in the department. He explained that when the Commissioners hire a man and he says he can do certain things, he is told that he would be expected to do them. He said he did not think there is any reason to set up different categories because it would start trouble. He said once this is started, every man in the department will have a reason why he should have a category. Mr. Burnell said he believed when Mr.Evans talked to the Board about this, the category of fireman was to establish the salary for that particular job, a fireman, and had nothing to do with the special assignments that would be made later Mr. Sheldon said all the men are firemen and there is no mne man with a special category except Captain Sorenson. Mr . Burnell said the Chief could assign these men but it would not change their pay He suggested that a letter be sent to the Commissioners explaining it to them - - all members of the Fire Department are firemen and will perform such other duties as the Chief or Com- missioners so direct Mr. Burnell said it seemed to him that there should be an overtime policy established by the Board and the Overtime responsibility of granting overtime should be placed in one individual, and as he recalled, this one individual was going to be the Executive Assistant. He said he believed this was discussed with Mr. Carroll who said the only overtime is of an emergency nature. Mr. Cataldo said police officers on night duty and officers on their days off have to go to court for $3.90. He said most surrounding towns have set up a schedule Mr. Brown said he had been asked the same question, and he did some checking . He said if the Board would go along and ask for an appropriation it would amount to $4,000 in extra pay Mr. Burnell said he thought it would be well if something like this was handled through Mr. Gray and the Police Department, and he would need more facts on this before taking any action. Mr. Cataldo suggested that this is something to be considered in next year 's budget. 499 The Chairman read a letter from the Appropriation Committee advising that a transfer of $750 to the Park Department - Wages and Expens,-s Account - had been ap- Transfer proved. No action was taken on the request for a transfer of $7,000 to the Library Expenses Account. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to call a Special Town Meeting to be held on Monday, Town Meeting November 25, 1963, at $:00 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to certify the characters of Priscilla L. McEwen and William R. McEwen, Jr , who applied to the State for Cert of Inc. a Certificate of Incorporation. Satisfactory character references were received from the Chief of Police. Mr. Legro retired at 9:.25 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the Painters ' Guild of the Lex- ington Arts and Crafts Society to hold an outdoor Exhibit exhibit on the Buckman Tavern grounds on Sunday, October 13, 1963. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant Taxi Driver 's licenses to John E. Whittier and Paul F. Smith, satisfactory character references Licenses having been received from the Chief of Police. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission to the Bay Path Colonial Girl Use of hall Scout Council, Inc. to use Estabrook Hall on September 23, 1963, from 9 :30 A.M. until noon. The Chairman read a letter from Chief Rycroft ad- vising the Board that he would be starting his annual vacation on September 23. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Acting Chief to appoint Lieutenant dames F Corr, Acting Chief of Police during the period of time Chief Rycroft is on vacation. Further consideration was given to Reverend Landon Lindsay's letter relative to the appointment of a bi-racial council. Bi-racial The Chairman reported that he had tried several council times to contact Mr.Lindsay and was finally able to reach him this evening. He asked him if he thought 494 MC c* a bi-racial council would parallel the Civil Rights Committee in Town. Mr. Lindsay said possibly it would but he thought there was a need for such a group, and suggested that the Board of Selectmen make a resolution advocating that all citizens be mindful of the law and conform to the law. He said he thought what Mr. Lindsay would like is a resolution from the Board. Mr. Cataldo asked why Mr. Lindsay would make a statement such as he did without first getting more information. The Chairman explained that the council would be advertised and anyone seeking redress could know where to go. Mr. Cataldo asked if this wasn 't the purpose of the Civil Rights Committee . The Chairman said he thought at the moment Mr . Lindsay would be satisfied with a resolution from the Board. Mr. Burnell said he thought the Civil Rights Com- mittee was a group of fine citizens . He said he was in favor of what this group of pepple is trying to do to establish civil rights for all citizens, but the people on the Civil Rights `'ommittee have done an ex- cellent and a generally independent job of accomplish- ing their purpose . Mr. Cataldo said it was the Board 's feeling that the Civil Rights Committee was doing a good job. Mr. Sheldon asked if it would be in order for the Board to endorse the Civil Rights Committee . He said the most the Board should do would be to endorse the work of the Committee. The Chairman agreed to write a letter to Mr. Lindsay and to tell him that it was also being released to the press. He suggested that Mr. Lindsay be told the Board reaffirms its faith in the Civil Rights Committee and would strongly recommend that all citizens be aware of the law and support the law, and that the Board does not feel another committee at this time would do anything different from what the Civil Rights Comrrittee is<ldoing. Further consideration was given to the appointment of an Industrial Committee. Mr. Sheldon said he was still of the opinion that Lexington a member of the Board of Selectmen and a member of the Executive Planning Board should be on the committee with Mr. Gray Park De- also a member, but possibly as a navoting member . velopment Mr. Cataldo asked if Mr. Sheldon wanted a five man Committee committee . 495 Mr. Sheldon moved that the Committee consist of three businessmen, a Selectman, a member of the Plan- ning Board, to be appointed by the Chairman of the Boards, and Mr. Gray, Ex-Officio. Mr. Sheldon submitted the name of Dr. Walter Baird, Chairman of the Board of Baird Atomic. He re- ported that he had asked Dr Baird if he would serve if such a committee were appointed and if his name was chosen, and he had replied in the affirmative. He reported that Dr. Baird travels the country for his company and has considerable stature in the electronics business Mr. Burnell submitted the name of Duncan E. MacDonald, 30 Hancock Street, who is a Ph.D. , a Vice President and Director of Itek and who has lived in Lexington for some time . Before becoming an officer of Itek, he was con- nected with Boston University, and has indicated his willingness to serve if appointed. Mr. Cole submitted the name of Dr. John Howard, 23 Patterson Road, a senior scientist at Cambridge Research Laboratory. Mr. Brown said he hoped all these individuals would be in favor of industrial expansion in the present zoning areas and it might be possible that one of them would not be particularly inter sted in getting industry to Lexington. Mr. Cataldo said he would withdraw Mr.Moore 's name because Mr. Gray will provide the local representation. The goal of the committee would be; 1) to analyze all the proposed NASA in the northern part of greater Boston and report all information to the Board. Then the Board would authorize the committee to support it in any way possible. 2) to come back and catalog what the Town does have available for sites, both in location and size, at the same time obtain from the Board ;of Assessors what the assessed values are at this point. It was also suggested that Cabot, Cabot and Forbes be alerted that such a committee has been established. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to establish an industrial committee to be known as the Lexington Executive Park Development Committee and to appoint the following individuals to serve on the com- mittee : George C. Sheldon, representing the Board of Selectmen; a member of the Planning Board, to be desig- nated by the Chairman of that Board; Dr. Walter S. Baird of Baird Atomic, Duncan E. MacDonald of Itek and William T. Welsh of Raytheon. Mr. Gray referred to Mr. Eugene F. Delfino's offer to purchase tax title lots 77 and 78, block D, Reed Street . 496 IND mit He reported that the Planning Board had recommended that the lots be sold to Mr. Delfino subject, for a period of 99 years from the date of sale, to the restriction that, for purposes of building, all of lots 77 to 80, inclusive, are to be combined to form one lot and that no mune than one dwelling, together with customary accessory buildings, shall be erected or placed on the combined lot. Tax title Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that a proposal to sell the lots be advertised in the Lexington Minute-man and that further consideration be given the offer. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 P.M. A tkrue record, Attest : M1 1 .I R e t'tiv C1= , Selo en