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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-01-07-min 97 Selectmen ' s Meeting January 7, 1963 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, January 7, 1963, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Adams, Messrs . Richards, Cole, Burnell and Brown were present. Mr Legro, Town Counsel, Mr. Carroll, Super- intendent of Public Works, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present . Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New 'ngland Telephone and Telegraph Company fcr permisssion to locate a guy wire and anchor on Dane Road. Mr. Serverson, representing the Boston Edison Company, and Mr. Mercurio, 27 Dane Road, were present at the hearing Notice of the hearing was mailed to the peti- tioners, owners of the property as listed on the Guy wire petitioners ' plan and also filed wi ,h the Super- and anchor intendent of Public Works Mr. Serverson explained that the line goes down Dane Road and instead of being upright has a list to it . Mr. Mercurio agreed anc said that something should be done about it The Chairman asked if Mr. Mercurio had any ob- jection to the proposed location, and he replied in the negative. The hearing was declared closed and Mr. Serverson and Mr. Mercurio retired. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order for the fol- lowing guy wire and anchor location: Dane Road, from a pole located on southwesterly Bide, approximately 169 feet northwest of Sherburne Road, -- One guy wire and anchor. Mr. Carroll said he wanted to bring up the pos- sible acquisition of a piece of land out near Grant Parking Place which will be needed in order to construct the area addition to the parking lot . He said if the Board does not want to include this as an article for the Annual Town Meeting, the subject should be discussed 98 3C with Mr. Buckley. He explained that the problem is the fact that Mr. Buckley's property is in the middle of Grant Place. He suggested that if the Town is go- ing to do anything with this piece of land the Town owns, someone should start negotiating with Mr. Buckley to find out how much he wants for the land and perhaps have an appraisal made . The Board agreed to go ahead Mr. Carroll presented each member of the Board with a letter with reference to his 1963 budget which Article calls for the Town to seriously consider municipal or contract garbage and rubbish backyard collection in 1964. Mr. Legro reported that Mr. White, Town Accountant, called him about his budget and he said he did not think this is the time to make a change. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Legro submit his Budget budget as he sees it. Mr. Legro said the salary and special fees are out of balance with each other. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Legro submit re- commendations to the Board. The Chairman read a letter from Carmine N. Ciriello, L Stedman Road, relative to thG status of Stedman Road Utility poles and relocation of two utility poles. Stedman Road Mr. Carroll explained that he had given the Board the wrong information. He said he would look this up and write Mr. Ciriello. The Chairman read a letter from James P. Dunne, District Highway Engineer, relative to a potential Traffic hazard at Route 2A, Marrett Road. Mr. Dunne advised that the department has recog- Traffic nized the condition and is hopeful that the project for improving sight distance, alignment and traffic safety on this section of road can be expedited to take care of what might otherwise become a traffic hazard Letter was received from the State Department of Appropria Natural Resources relative to 1963 appropriations for ations Insect Pest Control and Dutch Elm Disease Control. At 8:15 P.M. , Chief John W . Rycroft met with the Board. The Chairman explained the major reason the Board asked him to come in was because it had a conference with the Director of Civil Defense who feels the Auxili- ary Police Force should be trained according to Civil 99 Defense standards or it should be abandoned. Chief Rycroft said tht was one mants opinion Auxiliary and asked how the Board felt about it. Police The Chairman explained that before making a de- cision, the Board wanted to discuss the subject with the Chief. He said the Board wanted to follow, as far as it can, the procedures recommended by the Civil Defense Department . Chief Rycroft said since 19L11 the Town has had very good service and it was their say so and not his , when it was found out he was losing men because of attending meetings. He explained that there was a special meeting, at which time attending meetings was put to a vote. The men said they would come any time the chief wanted them, but they would not attend meet- ings/ He said there are many old people on the list who he wished would not come out, but they do . He said that no damage has been done in Town for several years. He said he attended a meeting at which Civil Defense had experts present and he said at that meeting, and would repeat, directing every car north if there was a warning, could not be done. He told the group to definitely forget all about the flow of traffic Chief Rycroft said Lhe Director wants him to teach the men what law is but he does not want to teach any law in case som,one gets into trouble. He said suit could be filed for false arrest . The Chairman said following the vote last year there was in effect no Civil Defense Department Mr. Burrell came back and the Board feels where the Town had voted for Civil Defense, it should set up an organization at least on a standby basis . He said the Board agreed to cooperate to the extent of a standby force with training for natural disasters. He said the Board wants the Civil Defense group kept active . Chief Rycroft said standby is what the Board has now . He asked how the Director would know the men need more training as there has been no disaster to determine whether or not more training is needed. The Chairman said the request was made and the Board did not want to do anything until it talked with the Chief He asked if it was all right to say the Chief feels that the force, even though it has old members , is adequate for what it has been used in the past. Chief Rycroft replied in the affirmative and said anything he had in the past has worked out well. Mr. Burnell asked if the Chief approved of the Auxiliary Police under Civil Defense. 100 4N, 3C Chief Rycroft replied that he did not know they were under Civil Defense. He said he did not believe Civil Defense gave any orders and his interpretation is that the Director gives the Police Department help if it is needed. The Chairman hairman said he thought it was more than that . He said the Town had to accept some Chapter several years ago and he thought the law spelled it out . He said he was quite sure the Town was obliged to accept the Civil Defense Act. The Chief said he thaght going along as it is the chance of getting the men out is good. He said he had forty-five special police out on Halloween ' . Mr. Burnell explained that the Director ' s interest is determining if the auxiliary police will become part of the Civil Defense and part of the Police operation under the Chief. Mr. Brown said that was right, and if so, who would be responsible for training the men. Mr. Burnell said in other words, should there be auxiliary police or not . He said he thought this was something the Civil Defense Act called for. The Chairman said the green uniforms were pur- chased under matching funds. Chief Rycroft asked what type of training would be given the men. Mr. Burnell rpplied that he remembered Edward Cass giving men the law and some doctor from Bedford Street gave them first aid The Chairman asked if the Chief thought at the present time and for the purpose they are serxing, the special police are adequate. Chief Rycroft replied in the affirmative. Mr. Cole asked if he thought the Police Department should train them Chief Rycroft replied in the affirmative and said he did not know what training they need. He said there may be first aid but he did not want anyone shooting. Mr. Cole said he assumed in the case of an emergency, they would help the regular police and the Chief replied that was correct. The Chairman said he thought the Board should clarify the law . He said he would look it up and show it to the Chief and see where the situation stands from there on. It was agreed to meet with Chief Rycroft on Saturday morning, January 12, at 9:30 to discuss budgets and to meet with Mr. Carroll at 10:00 to discuss his budgets Chief Rycroft retired at 8:25 P.M. 101 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectments Meeting held Minuteg on January 2, 1963. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs . Coleman, Wild Acre Inn, requesting permission to erect signs, Signs designating the location of the Inn, at Percy Road, Slocum Road and Highland Avenue . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted that the request be denied. The Chairman read a letter from Walter Gavan 266 North Beacon Street, Brighton, requesting per- mission to move a house from 12. O Cambridge-Concord Highway to a lot on Eldred Street . Permit M . Carroll reported that he told Mr. Gavan he would have to obtain a permit from the State. He explained that Waltham Street would be blocked entirely if a utility wire was hit. He also re- ported that he advised Mr . Gavan the Town would not cut any tree branches . The subject was referred to Mr. Carroll for investigation. IIAt 8:30 P.M. , Messrs. Wheeler, Cabot, Cabot & 11 Forbes, Dr . Fletcher, Kennecott Copper Corp. , Charles McArthur, Country-Wide Offices Corporation, Messrs. Route 2 - Fry and Dodge met with the Board. Mr. Meyer of the Spring Stred Planning Board was also present . Mr. Wheeler explained the reason for the meeting is that he had read in the local paper about the pro- posed route 2-Spring Street interchange and the problem was what went on between the Department of Public Works, the Selectmen and the Planning Board which was not made known. The Chairman explained that the Board did not have too much choice. Mr. Wheeler presented a plan entitled "Spring Street and Route 2, Lexington Mass D P W April 2, 1962 Scheme 2" , and stated it was a basic plan which he had been operating Ander since last spring. He said he WLs concerned be- cause the ramp was in the C-3 zoned property which meant a lose to Cabot, Cabot & Forbes. He explained they hope to be able to move the access off the property into land which is not presently zoned. He said one other thing that concerned him, when working with County-Wide, was the question of placing the access into the property. He said they lost a very considerable promotional ad- vantage He said the main concern is the fact they 102 3r have only nineteen acres and will lose about four acres. Then there is the question of an additional ten acres . He said the loss of four acres in the C-3 zone is a concern Mr. McArthur explained the Country-Wide plans in ac- quiring a tenant for a building on five acres and pre- sented a plot plan entitled "Proposed Buildings for Burroughs Corporation" which showed the roads as they understood them to be. Mr. Wheeler said if this plan as proposed goes through and the land taken by the Commonwealth, the Bur- roughs Corporation would not be located in Lexington. In effect, it means giving up fifteen acres of frontage on Route 2 leaving about nineteen acres of land with frontage on an access road. He said it cuts down between 50% and 60% from the Town's point of view of what would have been had for tix revenue. He said in talking with the State, he understood it is flexible and they will not have to go before the Bureau of Public Roads for approval. He said, to allow Burroughs to go ahead and allow Country-Wide's project to proceed, they would like the jug handle and the present position they have moved easterly into the low area immediately ad- jacent to their property. He said he would like to have a bulge as shown by FL . McArthur to allow him the maximum development room for his own office building pro- ject. They would also like to pursue the question of having additional access off Route 2 coming in a westerly direction. He said another question is how far Spring Street is moved from its present location . Mr. Wheeler said they want 1) Move Spring Street back; 2) Get the jug handle removed to the east and 3) Definitely not take the property between Route 2 and the frontage road. He said beyond that is the definite requirement of having the frontage road remain bowed out . The Chairman said asft.r as 1) Spring Street is concerned, five members of the Board of Selectmen and one member of the Planning Board would go along with it. 2) The Board was in favor of moving the jug handle approximately 600 feet to the East and 3) Move north side of jug further north. He said this was 11 subject to engineering and he thought it was up to Mr. Wheeler to do the layout and then have a combined meeting with the State. He said the next stop is for Mr. Wheel r to come back with some plans and after that would be a meeting with the State. The Chairman asked if they would need a sewer and Sewer Mr. Wheeler replied in the affirmative. Mr. Carroll explained that the sewer would hot be available until the spring of 1964. The group etired at 9:30 P.M. iO3 The Chairman read a letter from the Addressograph- Mmltigraph Corporation recommending the purchase of Assessors' certain items, totaling $279.50, to complete the Town' s billing billing system system The Chairman said if it is the last of the in- stallation needed and money is avaiIble, the items should be purchased He suggested holding this over until the appointment of an Executive Assistant and said he would find out from Mr Cronin exactly what it means . Sealed bid received from the Somerville Printing Company was opened and read by the Chairman. The bid was $5.50 per, page for 700 copies and $5.75 per page for 00 copies; $3.50 per page for 250 copies of the school report . Town Report Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Bid to accept the bid of $5.50 per page for 700 copies of the 1962 Annual Town Report, $3.50 per page for 250 copies of the school report Appointment to the Board of Fire Commissioners was held over until the next meeting. Appointment The Clerk was requested to make a 7:15 P.M. ap- pointment with Stanley Robbins and Alden Stucke. The Appropriation Committee met with the Board at 9:50 P.M. and the Chairman explained that in re- Transfer questing a transfer of $1,000 for the Law Department Special Fees Account, the amount should have been $1,163.17. The Appropriation Committee retired at 10:00 P.M. Application for the position of Executive As- blatant was reoa.ved from Alex Hrisanthopoulos, Pascoag, Rhode Island. Application It was agreed to advise Mr. Hrisanthopoulos that the Board is looking for someone with working experience in municipal affairs. Phe Chairman read an application for the position of Executive Assistant received fromPaul F. Talbot, Application Groton Connecticut . No action was taken . Getter from Roy G. A. Petterson, former appli- cation for the position of Executive Assistant, was Executive noted and placed on file . Assistant 1 104 Cow LT Upon motion duly made an seconded, it was voted to grant the following Taxi Driver licenses, subject Licenses to receiving satisfactory reports from the Chief of police Franklyn J. Crosby William C. Forster Angus W. McIver Leslie F. St.George Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Warrant to sign the Warrant calling a Special Town Meeting to be held on January 28, 1963 at 8:00 P.M. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M. A true record, Attest _ARkpec tiv Clerelect en At A �I 1