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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-01-14-min 108 Mr SELECTMEN'S MEETING ' January 14, 1963 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, January 1L., 1963, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Ada}gs, Messrs. Richards, Cole, Burnell and Brown were present. Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present. Mr. Carroll mentioned sending a letter to persons whose petitions for street acceptances were not approved by the Board and read a draft of such a letter. He sug- gested that, in the future, the street acceptance budget should be closed in early October or November and the Board should consider the requests before Christmas, Street determine what streets are to be presented and then Street acceptances send a letter to the others advising that their peti- acceptances tion has been denied. In this way, they will know what action has been tkken before the Town Meeting and will have an opportunity to petition to have an article inserted in the warrant under the signature of ten or more registered voters. The Board agreed to send out the letter as drafted by Mr. Carroll. Mr. Carroll referred to the acceptance of Winter Street and said there is the problem of the name and said that the street will have to be renamed. He said Sky Winter View Road would probably be changed to Winter Street, Street & and there should be an article in the warrant for the Sky View Annual Town Meeting to change the name of the street . Road The Chairman said that Mr. Carroll could discuss this with the Planning Board as changing street names is one of its functions . Mr. Carroll said he is working out the easements on the Woodhaven Trunk sewer which crosses the swamp be- hind Allen Street on property owned by the Evangelical Sewer Church of Cambridge. He reported that Mr. Snow has easement been in contact with church authorities relative to a connection to Worthen Road, and Mr. Higgins has been discussing the sewer easement with them. He asked if the Board wanted to get an easement for Worthen Road at the same time the sewer easement is obtained. The Chairman said he thought the read easement should be obtained at the same time and if it is not needed, it can be abandoned. 1 f') Mr. Richards asked if a future developer would have to build it if the church decided to divest it- self of the property. Mr. Carroll stated that Mr. Snow has been talk- ing .about getting this easement and he, Mr. Carroll, is interested in getting the sewer built. He said he did not want to run into any difficulty with the read. Mr. Richards said if the church is willing to do business, he thought it could be worked out . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petitions and sign the orders for the fol- lowing pole locations, all having been approved by Mr. Carroll: Pole locations Burlington Street, in traffic island at intersection of Grove Street, -- One (1) pole . (One existing JO pole to be removed) . Clarke Street, northwesterly side, approximately 177 feet southwest of Parker Street, -- One (1) pole. Grant Street, westerly side, approximately 233 feet north of York Street, -- One (1) pole. Toe Chairman read a letterfrom Charles N. Collatos, Commissioner of Veterans ' Services, asking the Board to eliminate a hazard caused by a great amount of rocks piled on the lot in the rear of his home on Hutchinson Road when the sewers were placed. Complaint Mr. Carroll said there was no danger as far as he could see and he did not think it was the Board's re- sponsibility to become involvdd in going onto private property to remove any fill that may have been left on it. He said the sewer was installed in 1961, the lot is owned by Mr. Carrig and he does not know where the fill came from. It was agreed to advise Mr. Collatos that the Board has no knowledge of where the material came from and inasmuch as the lot to which he referred is private property, the Town has no authority to enter. It was also agreed to suggest that Mr. Collatos contact the owner, James Carrig. A letter from Robert Townsend, 265 Bedford Street, requesting that parking be prohibited at any time on the southeasterly side of North Hancock Street at the Traffic 110 corner of Bedford Street, was referred to the Traffic Study Committee. Questionnaire from the Continental Casualty Company Garbage relative to the garbage contract was referred to Mr. Contract Carroll. Letter was received from the State Department of Public Works in reply to the Boardts letters of October 18, 1962 and December 18, 1962, requesting certain modi- Interchange fications to the proposed interchange at Spring Street at Spring and and Waltham Street . Waltham Sts. Mr. Richards said there are several points to consider and one is what stand the Board is going to take on Spring Street. He said he wondered what is going to happen at the conference with Cabot , Cabot & Forbes . The Chairman said the State was entitled to an answer and that the letter should be shown to the Planning Board. Mr. Richards said it appeared to him that if Cabot, Cabot & Forbes is able to convince the Department of Public Works the advisability of swinging the access road into a curve, there might be some opposition. The Chairman suggested acknowledging receipt of the letter advising that it has been referred to the Planning Board for study. Mr. Richards said he did not think there is a chance of too many changes. The Chairman said he would acknowbdge receipt of the letter, and after a consultation with the Planning Board, would answer it again within a few days. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Chapter 90 to sign a statement of expenditures for Chapter 90, verbal approval having been given by Mr.Carroll. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permissionlie Mystic Valley Gas Company Permit to locate a 2 inch// e�I gas main in Baskin Road to serve Lot #25, the proposed location having been approved by Mr. Carroll. Mr. Burnell reported on a meeting of the Traffic Study Committee held Saturday morning and stated that Chief Rycroft has been making a speed zone study on Concord Avenue and in the process, the radar machine broke down. It has to be sent to Connecticut for repairs and this will hold up the study for a while, but not for very long. In the meantime, the Committee 1[ .1 agreed that speed zone signs should be erected without waiting for them to become legal. He said at least Traffic agree that the signs will be placed at strategic places Concord Ave. and they might replace those that are there now. The Committee did not recommend taking any action relative to the installation of traffic lights at Waltham Street and Concord Avenue until such time as it can be better determined what the aate is going to do about that ramp. The Committee also wants to have traffic lines painted at that intersection as soon as the weather permits. Mr. Burnell said Simonds Road has been a source of trouble traffic-wise. Mr Carroll had stop signs painted on the pavement on both sides of Simonds goad Traffic and also some signs stenciled on Simonds goad itself. Simonds However, these have not been completely effective. He Road reported that Mr. Carroll has made a traffic study of all these intersections and has a very thorough report whichis available to the Board. The Committee recom- mends that the Board apply to the State for stop signs on all streets leading into Simonds Road, beginning with Harding Road and going to Preston. Mr. Burnell referred to Raymond Street and reported that the Committee recommends that this street now be Traffic changed as a one-way street going in the opposite Raymond direction, that is going from Muzzey Street to Clarke Street Street. Mr. Burnell reported that Mr. Carroll is going to write the State relative to Eldred Street. The Chief reported that the traffic there is very bad in Traffic the morning and he does not feel it is the Town ' s re- Eldred Street sponsibility to police this as it is caused by the construction of the Grove Street bridge. He explained that Mr. Carroll would ask the State to police this. Mr. Burnell reported that the Committee will ask Mr. Brooke of the Department of Public Works Traffic Division to come out and meet with the Committee. He Traffic explained that the Committee is interested in getting the pedestrian control law understood so that an article can be inserted in the warrant on the subject for the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Burnell said that he has already had a tele- phone conversation with Mrs. Raymond J. Flynn, 310 Concord Avenue. He reported that the Police Depart went is patrolling Concord Avenue and has been checking in unmarked cars for violations of cars passing school buses. 112 Mr. Legro arrived at 8:20 P.M. Mr. Joseph Conroy met with the Board. Mr. Conrpy referred to the Moulton property on Marrett Road and stated that a client of his purchased the property last summer. He said quite a few years ago, Mr. Moulton conveyed a portion of it to the old Moulton Tower Estate and they mdde Tower Road out of it. He property said there were two reserve strips andhis client is interested in purchasing the one adjacent to the pro- perty, and would like to insert an article in the warrant. The Chairman explained that an artide could be inserted by ten or more registered voters. Mr. Conroy stated that he would not put it in without the approval of the Selectmen The Chairman said he thought these two strips were discussed with the Planning Board some time ago, at which time it was a matter of policy that the Board did not want to dispose of them Mr. Carroll explained that he thought the Plan- ning Board wanted access to the rear land and would object to selling these parcels. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Conroy contact the Planning Board. Mr.Conroy retired at 8:30 P.M. The Capital Expenditures Committee met with the Board. Public Works Capital Outlay budgets were con- sidered and the following action taken: Budget Requested Approved Public Works Sidewalk Construction $50,000.00 $40,000.00 Capital (The specific locations to Outlaybe decided later) budgets Curbing 5,000.00 5,000.00 Off-Street Parking 20,000.00 00.00 Mr. Richards said the Board should have some idea of the title to all of the land, whether it is Mr. Buckley's interest or some other person's interest The Chairman said he thought an article should be included in the warrant for the March Meeting to acquire any or all of the land as shown on Mr. Carroll's plan. It was finally decided not to take any action this year. Chapter 90 Construction 60,000.00 60,000.00 Chapter 90 Maintenance 8,000.00 8,000.00 Road Machinery Capital Outlay 29,700.00 29,700.00 113 ' At Mr. Carrollts suggestion, it was agreed to include an article in the warrant for subdividers' Article reimbursement, to appropriate $10,000 and carry over $20,000. The Capital Expenditures Committee retired at 9:40 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into executive session for the purpose of dis- cuhsing, deliberating or voting on a matter, which, Executive if made public, might adversely affect the public Session security, the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person Following the Chairmants report of a conversation with Colonel Cowan, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Mr. Carroll retired at 9 45 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Legro in which he bade observations relative to the Law Department budget, together with 1963 budget estimates for Per- Law Depart- sonal Services, Expenses and Special Fees. went budget II The Clerk was instructed to place the letter on the .enda for the next meeting of the Board. Mr. Legro reported that he had received a tele- phone call from Daniel Buckley, attorney for Frank T. Settlement Neal, advising that he will accept $50 for a lot for dump taken by the Town for the dump site. site lot Upon motion duly made and seconded, it Was voted to authorize Mr. Legro to settle for $50. The Chairman read a letter from Dennis J. McSweeney requesting an offer in settlement of damages for lots 4, Settlement 5, and 6, Block 78 on Hazel Street, taken for the dump for dump site site lots Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize Mr. Legro to make an offer of $50 for each lot. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Ralph M. Smith, 1162 Massachusetts Avenue, relative to a side- Smith better- walk etterwalk betterment assessment and her water bill. ment and The Chairman said Mr. Carroll thought there must water bill be a leak in the house and he would be glad to send a man down to check. He said he would contact Mrs . Smith. 114 C- Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 11Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectments Meeting held on January 14, 1963. . Mr. Legro retired at 10:05 P.M. Officer George Portents resignation as Dog Officer was held over . The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Frank DiGiammarino, Lexington High School teacher, relative to a proposed Student Student Government Day program. Government The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. DiGiammarino Day program that the Board would be glad to cooperate . The Chairman read a letter from Lt. C. E. Benedict, employed by Globe Security Systems, Inc. , as a guard supervisor at Systems Development Corporation, request- Special ing appointment as a Special Police . A satisfactory Police character reference was given verbally by Chief Rycroft . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Lt. C. E. Benedict a SpecialPolice Officer in the Town for a term expiring March 31, 1963. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve bond on behalf of Julian Roberts, Deputy Bond Collector, in the amount of $5,000 for a period expir- ing December 31, 1963. The Chairman read a letter from Alfred P. Tropeano requesting that an article be inserted in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting to provide for the appoint- Article ment of a committee of five inhabitants of the Town to act as a liaison committee between prospective concerns that want to settle in Lexington, and the Planning Board and Board of Appeals . Mr. Tropeano also suggested that the board consider the extension of Worthen Road to Adams Street . Worthen Road it was the feeling of the Board that it was a little dubious of the value of such a committee. Mr. Burnell suggested talking with Mr. Tropeano to find out what he has in mind beyond the land now zoned for this type of use. The Board authorized the Chairman to advise Mr. Tropeano that it can see no very useful purpose in the suggestion at the moment, and that his recommendation relative to the extension of Worthen Road would be re- ferred to the Planning Board. 1 ICU Mr. Richards said he thought, at some time, the Town should vote on the location of liquor stores and find out if they are to be confined to the canter of Town. He said he felt the Board could act in the Article future if it knew this was of no concern. He said he wondered whether or not theboard should insert an article in the warrant to let the people determine whether or not liquor licenses are to be confined to C-2 zones . He said if the people are content the way it is now, then the Board has that guide to go by and could issue a license. It was agreed to include an article in the warrant and to so advise the Planning Board. Mr.Richards said the Town should decide whether or not people are to be made to fence in their swimming pools, and he thought there should be an article in the warrant on this. Article It was agreed to include an article in the warrant to cover the subject of fencing swimming pools. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Stanley E. Robbins, 12 Stedman Road, a Fire Commissioner for an unexpired term ending March 31, 196x, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Roeder's resig- nation. Further consideration was given to the subject of Auxiliary Police. Mr. Burnell said he thought the Board should disband the Auxiliary Police and put the Civil Defense Police in operation. Auxiliary It was agree€ to invite Chief Rycroft and Mr. Police Burrell, Director of Civil Defense, to meet with the Board next Monday night . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Licenses to grant the following licenses: David C. Pinkham 29 Depot Square Common Victualler Donald J. MacDonald 458 Marrett Road Taxi Driver Richard F. McCobb 1 Sunnyknoll n " The Chairman called the Board's attention to the fact that the Lexington Cleansers and Carolyn Frocks are presently maintaining signs that are in violation of the Historic Districts Act. Signs It was agreed that the Chairman should write an- other letter to both establishments and ask that they conform to the Act or the Board would have to take legal steps 116 mc Cy The meeting adjourned at 11:05 P.M. , A true record, Attest: e tiv Cler , Selec fnen ` 1