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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-02-11-min 16 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 11, 1963 A regular meeting of theBoard of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen ' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, February 11, 1963, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Adams, Messrs. Cole, Brown and Burnell were present . Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. Mr. Legro arrived at 8:20 P.M. Mr. Carroll reported that the Air Force paid a portion of its water bill, the bill of January 1, 1963 for the month of December. The bill totaled $31,509.37 of which $21,413.52 was arrears on the old contract . The Air Force paid $7,483.06 at the 13¢ rate plus the construction rate but did not pay the 23 rate for the Air Force month of December and ignored the arrears in the old water contract. Mr. Carroll said he has reported this to Mr. Stevens and was bringing it to the Board' s attention as a matter of information with no recommendation. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to call a special meetinE for Monday, February 25, 1963 pursuant to petition received, signed by the required Referendum number of registered voters, the polls to be open from 7:30 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the warrant for the Special meeting called for Warrant Monday, February 25, 1963. The Chairman read a letter from Edward A. Starr, 17 CushingStreet, relative to a billingmade bythe Starr water Water Department. bill Mr. Carroll reported that he has talked to Mr. Starr and he apparently tdinks there is something wrong with the meter, but as far as his department can tell, there is nothing wrong with it and the consumption is now back to normal. Mr. Carroll said he must have used the water but he would have the meter checked if Mr. Starr is willing to pay $5.00 if the meter is found to be reading correctly. It was agreed to advise Mr. Starr that the Board would have his water meter tested if he is willing to pay a charge of $5.00 if the meter registers correctly 162 mr PaulJ. McCormack The Chairman read a letter from , attorney for Francisco Mazzone, owners of lots 2 and 3 on Vine Street, relative to sewer facilities. Mr. Carroll mentioned that this situation had been discussed at the time the sewer budget was being con- sidered. He presented a plan entitled "Proposed Sewer in Vine Street ' and indicated the lots involved. He explained that this is vacant land andthe budget esti- mate was $6,000. The land is very steep and consists Sewer mostly ledge. led e. Vine Street It was agreed to advise Mr.MeCormack that the Board has established a policy whereby installation of sewers is not authorized to service vacant land while there are homes presently in the need of sewer facili- ties. The Chairman read a letter from Anthony J. DiRocco, 8 Dunham Street, stating that he has a lot on Dunham Street upon which he would like to build but is unable to obtain a permit until a 6" water main replaces the Water and 2" main and the sewtr is extended. Sewer, Mr. Carroll presented a Ilan entitled "Proposed Dunham Street Sewer in Dunham Street and indicated the two lots owned by Mr. DiRocco. He explained that there is a 2" service in the street and he strongly recommended that no further connections be made to that line. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny Mr. DiRocco 's request for water and sewer to serve the vacant land he owns on Dunham Street . Letter was received fromihe State Department of Public Works advising that N. Pandelena & Son, Inc. had requested an extension of time on the Chapter 90 contract Mr. Carroll stated that this is a routine requet, that there will be loaming and seeding to do and he recommended that the request be granted. Extension of Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted ' contract to extend the completion date of N. Pandelena & Son, Inc . , Chapter 90 contract covering highway work on Concord Avenue, to May 22, 1963. Letter was received from Bernard H. and Regina E. Rudwick requesting installation of street lights on Street Brown Road. lights Mr. Carroll reported that the lights have been ordered Mr. Mercurio Dankese' s request for settlement was held over. Mr. Carroll reported that Mr. Dankese called him X60 about a week ago because he was concerned about the time running out in which he could bring suit. Mr. Dankese Carroll advised him to consult an attorney to protect claim his interests. The Chairman read a letter from Helen and LeRoy Johnston stating that a telephone pole was left dangling at 12 Brandon Street. Utility Mr. Carroll reported that he had called Mr. Frank pole Consilvio, of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, who said he would have the old pole, now strapped to a new pole, removed. The Chairman read a letter from Joseph M. Gavan, to which was attached a plan of the proposed route to be taken in moving a house from Route 2 to Eldred Street. Mr. Carroll reported that he had discussed this with Chief Rycroft and they both agree thatthe pro- posed route is acceptable Moving Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted permit to approve the request for a permit to move the house via the route on the enclosed plan; Mr. Gavan to con- tact Mr. Carroll, post a bond in the sum of $5,000 and make the necessary arrangements with Chief gycroft ana Mr. Mazerall, the Tree Warden. Letter was received from Charles Collazzo, 2360 Massachusetts Avenue, describing problems of street and sidewalk layout in his neighborhood. Traffic It was agreed to refer the letter to the Traffic Study Committee. Notice was received from the State Division of Waterways relative toa hearing to be held on March 7, 1963, at 10:30 A.M , Fourth Floor of thePublic Works Hearing Building. Mr. Carroll said he thought perhaps the Board should refile on the Kiln Brook project and ask Repre- sentative John Brox to make sure he is at the hearing if he needs to be. The Chairman asked Mr. Carroll to contact Mr. Brox and have a petition prepared for the Board's signature next week. Upon motion duly made and seconded,it was voted to grant the petitions and sign the orders for the Pole following j/o pole locations, all having been approved locations by Mr. Higgins, Assistant Town Engineer 164 l_J Grove Street , southeasterly side, northeasterly from a point approximately 245 feet northeast of Eldred Stret, -- Two (2) poles. (Two existing JO poles to be removed. ) Marrett road, northeasterly side, at Massachusetts Avenue, -- One (1) pole. (One existing JO pole to be removed ) Albemarle Avenue, northwesterly side, approximately 69 feet northeast of Rawson Avenue, -- One (1) pole Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen 's Meeting held on February 4, 1963. Further consideration was given to the Law Depart- 'Law Depart- merit budgets and it was agreed to recommend $6,000 for ment budget Personal Services, $1200 for Special Town Counsel, $3,500 for Special Fees and $3,000 for expenses . Letter to the Fire Commissioners re budget esti- mates was held over. The Chairman read a survey report received from the Special Housing Survey Committee. The Chairman reported that he had talked with Mr. Wm. Roger Greeley and his group will settle for an official committee. He said he thought it could Housing be appointed under Article two of the warrant. He Committee said this involves acceptance by a Town Meeting and then a Housing Committee is elected. It wasagreed that the Chairman should discuss the subject with Town Counsel. Request from the Lexincton 14.-H Horse Club for per- Horse Show mission to use town recreation land for the club's horse show was referred to the Recreation Committee. Letter was received from the Lexington Lodge of Elks requesting permission to operate a refreshment stand on April 19in the driveway between Trani 's store Refreshment and Charles ' store . stand The Board had no objection, permission having been obtained from the owners. 1:65 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign applications for Certificates of Incorporation on behalf of Edith H. Schmidt, Park Road,and Charles Cert. of Inc Seabury Ward, 588 Lowell Street, satisfactory character references having been received from the Chief of Police. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew a Taxi Driver License for Coleman F. Vaughan, License 259 Middlesex Street, Burlington, satisfactory report having been received from the Chief of Police. Notice was received of the Middlesex County Select- ments Association meeting at the Stoneham Town Hall on Meeting Wednesday, February 20, at which time Attorney Hugh J. Morgan will discuss the Conflict of Interest Bill. The Chairman reported that he called Albert Gray, Jr. , applicant for the position of Executive Assistant, who said he would let the Chairman know his decision by Executive Wednesday. Assistant The Chairman said the rate for the position should have been quoted $9740 instead of $9700 and the effective date should have been March 31 instead of April 1. Mr. Cole made a motion that the Selectmen act as a committee, or appoint a committee to investigate the pos- sibility of having a budliner running from Lexington to Budliner Boston . The Chairman suggested, and the Board agreed, that the subject be held over until the next meeting. The Chairman read a letter from the Lucky Penny Trust requesting an abatement of a portion of the side- walk betterment assessment on land subject to an ease- ment for a high-tension cline. Request for Mr. Legro explained that the Board has the power abatement to abate the betterment, but he did think it was a matter of policy. He said he thought the easement should be checked, and if the lot is not bmildable, the sidewalk does not better the land very much. He said it appears difficult to see the benefit to the property. Decision was held over until the next meeting. Mrs. Elizabeth Barabush, 53 Eldred Street, met with the Board relative to the traffic problem at Bedford and Eldred Streets She said the situation is that Traffic between the hours of 7 30 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. there is a lot of congestion there. The 166 , State erected a bright red stop sign going out of Eldred Street which does not help the situation. The people in the area want a uniformed officer ten hours a week to control the flow of traffic on a temporary basis. Mr. Cole said he brought the situation to the Board originally and at the time, it was taken up with the State and for a period of time the situation improved. Mr. Burnell asked if there was police protection there at any time and Mrs . Barabush replied in the negative. Mr. Carroll reported that he had written to Mr. Dunne, State Highway Engineer, and in his reply, Mr. Dunne pointed out the fact that this area is outside the limits of the State project. He said the sign was erected at the time Mr. Dunne wrote the letter and it does not help the situ- ation at all. He stated that he had intended to bring this matter up at the next meeting of the Traffic Study Committee. He reported that the Chief of Police is keenly aware of the problem and felt that if funds were available, he could get off-duty men to work. Mrs. Barabush said the State had committed itself by erecting the stop sign. The Chairman said the Board would contact the Chief of Police and see what can be done about protection. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discus- sing, deliberating or voting on a matter which, if made Executive public, might adversely afcect the public security, the Session financial intere t of the own, or the reputation of any person. Following a discussion with Messrs. Cass and Grush of the Board of Assessors, it was voted to resume the open meeting. At 9:05 P.M. , Mr. Carroll returned to the meeting, at which time, Mr. John Bellizia came into the meeting. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Legro with reference to the claim of Robert C. Stewart for property damage to a motor vehicle and for personal injury to Claim his daughter Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize Mr. Legro to settle both the property damage and personal injuries for the amount of $115. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Legro with refer.,nce to the claim for damage to the Lewis G. Pollock Claim property, 30 York Street. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize Mr. Legro to settle the claim for the amount of $257. 167 Mr. Legro reported that he had prepared a deed conveying Lot 7, Block 18, to Lee E. Tarbox, which the Board voted to sell for $500 plus $113.75 sewer better- ment and taxes of $35.92 for the balance of the year. Tax title Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to execute the deed to be held by Mr.Legro until pay- ment has been received from Mr. Tarbox. Mr. John Bellizia said he was trying to determine the future of the Pine Meadows Country Club and dis- cussed the operating expenses, the assessment and his tax bill. The Chairman asked if he had entered a formal appeal and Mr. Bellizia replied in the affirmative. He said he has not heard from the Board of Assessors since he filed an appeal. Real estate The Chairman explained that, by law, the Selectmen assessment have no control over the Board of Assessors . He asked if Mr. Bellizia would take this to the Appellate Tax Board and Mr. Bellizia replied that he would. The Chairman said the Board of Selectmen could discuss the subject, but it does not have any authority Mr. Cole said the members of theBoard could have a personal conversation with the Board of Assessors. Mr. Bellizia retired at 9:20 P.M. Mr. Louis Aronan, 12 Scotland Road, met with the Board and said there were a number of other residents of the road present relative to extension of the sewer. He said he received a notice that Scotland Road was not Sewer included in this year ' s budget but Blodgett Road is. He said he wanted to know about connecting into the sewer extension coming in Peartree Road. He said the situ- ation is bad, the land is wet in the spring and the water table very high. The Chairman explained that theBoard is faced with petitions for sewers totaling $650,000 and is trying to limit the extensions to really bad areas . He said the Board would review the situation. The group retired, and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into Executive Session for Executive the purpose of discussing, deliberating or voting on a Session matter which, if made public , might adversely affect the public security, the financial interebt of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Following a discussion relative to the request for sewer ib Scotland Road, it was voted to resume the open meeting. 168 3C The Chairman reported a telephone call from Mr. Nickerson advising that the board of Appeals is going to be sued by Itek and that Board was making formal application for defense counsel, Donald E. Legro. The meeting adjourned at 11:0� 5 P.M. A true record, Attest: e tiv� Cler , Selectee r