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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-06-10-min a 1 c) SELECTMEN'S MEETING June 10, 1963 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, June 10, 1963, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Cole, Messrs. Brown and Cataldo were present . Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. Mr. Carroll, in reference to bids received for the Woodhaven Trunk Sewer, said that during the week:_ he had a number of discussions with Mr Edward Howard and Mr Donald Legro and tried to work out something to reduce the price. This project was approved for Federal Aid and in talking to the government representative, Mr. Woodhaven Carroll was informed that a reduction of more than 5% sewer bids is not allowed, a provision- being made to this effect in the agreement . Later they agreed to reconsider and Mr. Legro wrote Mr. Carroll a letter stating that it could be done . Last Friday, Whitman & Howard contacted the contractor Joseph Capone & Son, Inc . The contractor does not want to accept the job at a reduced price be- cause of the fact he set it up so that some of his money is in the items that would be in the 16" main. Mr. Carroll said, in his opinion, there is nothing to do but reject alLbids. He recommended not includ- ing the 16" line and readvertising as soon as possible. He said he thought bids could be ready within four to six weeks. The Chairman said there should be something in the record as to the increases that have taken place to make clear it is not a matter of poor planning. Mr. Carroll stated that it is definitely not a matter of poor planning and no one anticipated this at all. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reject allbids received Monday, June 3, 1963, for the Interceptor Sewer, Town of Lexington, Massachusetts , Contract No. 5 (1962) . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to readvertise for bids, the 16" line not to be included. Mr. Carroll reported that he received a bid last Wednesday on painting the Police Building, Cary Memorial Building, the Town Office Building, and the Town Barns. 376 3r He stated that he did advertise but only one bid was re- ceived and that was from the Kenney Co. , 11 Prescott Street, Arlington, for $4,845. He reported that these people have done work for Mr. Spirts who recommended them very highly Bid Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the bid and award the contract to the Kenney Co. at its bid price of $4,845. Mr. Carroll reported that he checked with the State relative to the takings on Spring Street-Route 2, and was advised that the takings have not been made He ex- Route 2 plained that as a whole the takings along Route 2 will takings not be made for a few months, but a special effort may be made to make these specifically. Mr. Carroll informed the Board that he will take Vacation the first week of his vacation next week, but would plan to attend the Monday night meeting. The Chairman read a letter from the Standing School Building Committee relative tocompleting the water main loop by connecting the Senior High School facili- ties with the main on Forest Street in the interest Senior High of safety and fire protection. The committee's con- Water main tractor has given an estimated price of $7,726.05 for the necessary line including one hydrant Mr. Carroll said he thought he discussed this subject with the Board once before. He has informed the School Building Committee that there is now only one connection to the High School and that is from Waltham Street He recommended connecting out to Forest Street, and apparently funds are available now that bids are in. He explained that the section from where the flag pole is to' Park Drive would be paid from the Committee' s budget and the section from Park Drive to Forest Street would be paid for by the Town, approximately $6,000. The Chairman asked if Mr. Carroll had funds, and he replied that this would have to be included in next yearAA budget. He stated that he is going over this with Mr. John Barnaby, a member of the Committee, to- morrow Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to advise the Committee that the Board approved the project, pursuant to Mr. Carroll checking the figures, and that an item will be included in the 1964 Water Department budget Ott Mrs. Arthur N. Barabush, 53 Eldred Street, and Mrs. Hazen A. Thomas, 55 Ivan Street, met with the Board. Mrs. Barabush referred tothe May 30 issue of the Minute-man, in which the Planning Board' s figure 8 sketch mentioned the vehicle volume from seven in the morning until seven at night on a normal week day. She said it was five years old but as of that time, the volume from Hartwell Road to Route 128, about 5,000 feet, was 15,000 She said since then, she felt it safe to assume that the volume is from 20,000 to 25,000. She said she also under- stood from the Minute-man that the Armory is under con- struction and that will have 175 men and 55 United States government vehicles on hand which will add to the traffic conditions. According to the Minute-man, no traffic problems were anticipated because of the parking area but she said she is not interested in the parked cars, but Traffic on the moving cars that cause the problem Eldred She said the situation on Eldred Street is serious Street and becoming more serious and is all out of proportion. She said it is safe to assume that one out of every two vehicles on Eldred Street is driving so as to endanger and if anyone is hurt, it is driving to as to endanger, manslaughter and excessive speed She has written IIletters to "Tell it to Joe", the Minute-man, the Chief of Police and Mr. Carroll of the Public Works Department . Mrs. Barabush said if this dangerous condition and lackadaisical attitude is to be continued, it is her opinion that each and everyone who knows of the condition and lets it go along that way is just as responsible for anything that happens to anyone as the driver. She said there are no caution signs or control on the street what- ever. She said the Selectmen are the representatives of the people and should not take satisfaction in that the State did not give any aid. She said the people are bothered by a situation like this because they feel they are not being considered. She said there is a school zone, a United States Armory and 25,000 cars a day, and something should be done. She said the problem is so tied in with the State, the Board should have a repre- sentative from the State here to discuss it with residents of the area, and if the State won 't do anything, she knew where she should go fromthere . Mr. Carroll explained that he was aware of the situ- atioh, has discussed it with State representatives and been advised that nothing will be done until the Grove Street bridge is opened. He said the solution is not erecting signs but one, he thought, of enforcement, and he realized that the Police Chief is very short of men. Mrs. Barabush asked to have the traffic slowed down and sugge_,ted making Eldred Street one way and erecting a pedestrian light '78 ,U MC EtEC- Mrs. Thomas said Eldred ,Street is a drag race area. There is a policeman and a registry man living on the street but they don't want to become involved. She asked to have a posted speed limit of fifteen miles an hour and said at the further end of Grove Street one is tempted to exceed the speed limit and this could be corrected She said she was concerned about traffic lights on Bedford Street at Eldred Street The Chairman said that nothing definite could be done this evening and he recommended that the subject be submitted to the Traffic Study Committee for restudy. Mr. Carroll subgested that Mrs. Barabush and Mrs. Thomas attend the Traffic Study Committee meeting. Itwas agreed to write Mr.burnell and ask him to call a meeting of the Committee to be held on Monday, June 24, at 6 30 Y.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was votaid to go into Executive Session for the purpose of dis- cussing, deliberating, or voting on a matter which, if made public, might adversely affect the public security, Executive the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation Session of any person.. Following a discussion pertaining to Mr. Nicholas Durso's drainage on Patterson Road, custodians' overtime fees, conference with Chief Engineer Beloastro, the Board of Assessors, and Mr Mabee of the Planking Board, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Mr. Irving Mabee, Chairman of the Planning Board, met with the Selectmen. The Chairman stated that the Board is interested in the date for a fall Town Meeting and how soon the Plan- ning Board can have the C-1 Zone changes. Mr. Mabee asked if there were other items for a fall Town Meeting, and the Chairman replied there is nothing as important as the zoning change. C-1 Boning Mr. Mabee said the Planning Board has met several change times and he would like to give the Board a date if he could. He ex lained he was unable to get the other members of his Board to subscribe to it . He stated one handicap, as of May 31, the Board is operating without a Planning Director and this means that he and some of the other members do more than what they would normally be required to do. He said they are also trying to get a replacement for Mr. Snow. In the meantime, Mr. Snow will act as a consultant for the Board on a limited basis And for a definite period of time. He stated this arrangement can be terminated at any time if the Boad so wishes and it will do as soon 01 as it gets a permanent Senior Planner. He said the Board has met three or four times on the zoning and is getting to the point where it thinks its goal is August 31 when it can be referred to someone Mr. Legro will delegate He said all he could tell the Board of Selectmen is that this zoning is the number one item on his Board's agenda, but he could not give a date because these things take a lot more time than one would think The Chairman asked if Mr.Mabee was reasonably sure it would be some time in the fall Mr. Mabee replied he would not say the Board is reasonably sure but it is shooting for it . Mr. Brown stated the Board is concerned because at the Planning Board' s request last spring, the Selectmen agreed to go along because it had a certain amount of assurance that this change would be ready Mr. Mabee stated it takes ten times longer than if anyone were to do it alone. Mr. Cataldo said all these conditions and problems were understood last March, that the Planner was leaving, etc Mr. Brown said it was his understanding this would be ready probably for a fall Town Meeting, and the Board owes a certain amount of responsibility to those people it asked to wait The Chairman said he also understood it would be ready in the fall. Mr. Mabee asked who the people are that are waiting. Mr. Cataldo replied Mr . Stephen Russian and Mr. Mark Moore. Mr. Mabee asked if these people would meet with him. He said the Planning Board may be far enough along to help them, and it is hoping to have five zones. He said these individuals would probably be concerned with only one. He said he would call them and explain the situation. Mr. Brown asked if the Plannning Board would be pre- pared on Route 2 and Mr. Mabee said the Board is waiting for the State on that. Mr. Mabee read off twelve categories - trades and services, office buildings, business office types, build- ing trades and contractors, undertakers, food places, gas and retail automobiles, building material dealers, billboards. He explained these are all thugs that have to be put in a category and that is why Route 2 seems easy. Mr. Cataldo said the night he attended a Planning Board hearing it was brought out that the Planning Board would have a committee to make a study of some proposed 380 MC wt expenditures and income for the next ten years . He said something such as the zoning is more important to workron than a report such as that Mr. Mabee explained that long range financial com- mittee is something on which the oard just barely got started and said it is not wasting any time . He said the Board would do the best it can and that is all he could tell the Selectmen Mr. Cataldo said suppose you are not ready for a fall Town Meeting, and Mr. Mabee replied that if his Board is not ready, it will tell the Selectmen. Mr. Cataldo asked if he would give the Board a definite date and he replied positively he would not because he could not. He said he would contact Mr. Russian and Mr. Moore . Mr. Brown asked if, during the period of replacing Mr. Snow, Mr. Gray could help the Planning Board. Mr. Mabee replied possibly and said he would suggest it to his Board. Mrs . Mabee said in the Board' s recommendation to the Town Meeting, it did not give Mr. Moore any hope in *regard to his proposal on Bedford Street that C-1 would not suppose that this would be holding him up. He ex- plained the Board is only talking about revamping com- mercial districts within themselves He said the Board is talking commercial which precludes apartments or dwellings, but he would get in touch with both of them and see what their situation is Mr. Cataldo asked on what basis the Planning Board has Mr. Snow as a consultant and Mr. Mabee replied on an hourly basis, a verbal arrangement at the moment. Mr. Cataldo asked if Mr. Snow was going in for that type of work and Mr Mhbee replied that was his under- standing Mr. Mabee referred to Mr. Harvey Newgent' s pro- Newgent posal for the Chiesa land and stated that the Planning proposal Board thinks, from a subdivision control basis, it can get Mr. Newgent in and out of there, but this does not alter the Board's recommendation. Mr. Mhbee referred to a letter from Mr. Fern Church, 285 Emerson Road, and said the problem was several sections of Emerson Road that are numbered differently. He ex- Emerson plained it was the Board's decision to name Emerson Road Road a long, long time ago and eventually it will be a con- secutive road. If it were named five names and then became a consecutive road, the situation would be terrible. The Planning Board is looking eventually for a eonsecutive road. Mr. Mabee retired at 9 50 P.M. ever include any apartments in any nature, and he would 381 Mr. Richard Michelson and a Mr. West, representing resentin P g the Jaycees, met with the Board. Mr. Michelson reported that they had met with the Recreation Committee relative to bringing the Hunt Three Ring Circus to Lexington for a one-day stand, and obtained approval from the Committee for the use of Parker Field, which is the track field. He said the date he has is Circus July 22, a Monday, and he would hear definitely from the circus tomorrow as to whether or not this date is ac- ceptable to them He explained there would be two shows, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. The circus insures the area it is on and the equipment for $300,000 liability. He has a certificate of the insurance policy and it is approved as far as the Fixe Marshall is concerned. The admission will be $1.00 for children and $1.50 for adults. Mr. Cataldo asked if the Jaycees would be responsible for police protection , and kr. Michelson repAed in the affirmative. Mr. Michelson said he would need permission from the Board or the Water Department to get 500 gallons of water. Mr. Cataldo asked if he would accept what the Chief recommends for police protection, and Mr. Michelson re- plied in the affirmative He said he thought they would need five detail men for each performance. Mr. Michelson said he would need a letter from the Board of Selectmen approving this for the date Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the Jaycees ' proposal to bring in the Hunt Three Ring Circus for a one-day stand, July 22, subject to whatever police protection is recommended by Chief Rycroft. Messrs. Michelson and West retired at 10:00 P.M. The Chairman reported that, as approved by the Board, he met with Mr. Converse Hill relative to the Insurance possible change in handling the Town's insurance, and Mr. Hill requested the courtesy of meeting with the Board next Monday. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Norman Richards, on behalf of the residents of Colonial Acres, requesting permission to hold a block party at the lower intersection of Dane and Foster Roads on Sunday, June 16, from 5:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M. Permit Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the request. 3S2 me C- Letter from the Fire Commissioners requesting a transfer of $2,708 from the Reserve Fund to Fire Alarm Account was referred to Mr. Gray who is to obtain more definite information. Mr. Cataldo said the Fire Commissioners should be Fire Alarm advised not to spend the $800 in the Expense budget system allocated for Civil Defense Alarm System. Mr. Gray was requested to find out what the Fire Commissioners intend to do now in regard to this item. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting held on June 3, 1963 Letter from the Lexington Choral Society request- Choral ing permission to store equipment in Cary Memorial Society Building on a permanent basis was referred to Mr. Gray Letter was received from Mr.McQuillan, Chairman of the Board of Health, advising that insufficient funds were requested to cover the salary of the physiotherapist, ,Transfer and it will be necessary to have a transfer of $114. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to request the Appropriatidn Committee to transfer the sum of $114 from the Reserve Fund to the Posture Clinic Personal Services Account Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Annual Warrant to the Dog Officer. Lettert was received from the Town Celebrations Com- mittee advising that there is a small quantity of the 250th anniversary commemorative plates and dishes avail- able Report was received from the Pesticide Board, Pesticide State Department of Public Health, and the Clerk was Board Report requested to mail a copy to each member of the Board. Announcement was received from J. Edgar Hoover, FBI gradu- Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation , of the ation graduation exercises of the FBI Academy to be held June 19, at 10:30 A.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Common to grant a Common Victualler License to the Penguin Victualler Ice Cream Co. , 135 Massachusetts Avenue. The following individuals were selected to serve as the Route 3 Advisory Committee : Robert Cataldo, Route 3 Otis S. Brown, Jr. , Roland B. Greeley, Natalie Riffin Committee and Sumner Pearlman. Mr. Gray referred to an offer of $50 received from Kenneth Kelley for lots 20 and 21, Block 16, located & the corner of Earle and Orchard Streets . Tax title He reported that the Planning Board had no objection to the disposal of the lots subject to a restriction that these lots be combined with property now existing and owned by Mr. Kelley to make one lot only. Upon motion dulymade 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 by the Board. The meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. A true record, Attest: Executfive( lerky Selec Tien c.L �f 'tL