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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-10-10-min 185 SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 10, 1960 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Built ing, on Monday, October 10, 1960, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Morey, Messrs . Adams , Ferguson and Cole were present. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Mr. Richards arrived at 7:45 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held Minutes on October 3, 1960. Mr. Stevens presented an Exercise of Option to acquire the land the Town was authorized to acquire from Kingston Homes, Inc., a parcel of land contain- ing approximately nine acres between Hawthorne Acres Option Section One and the Town land, sometimes known as Willard Woods. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to exercise the option to purchase the land. Mr. Stevens referred to the proposed parking area land which the Town was authorized to purchase from Mr. Cataldo and reported that the railroad Board of Directors will meet Wednesday. He informed the Board that he had been discussing with them the matter of getting a right-of-way which is subject to approval of the Department of Public Utilities . During dis- cussion, it was brought out that it could be granted to the Town without DPU approval, but if so, the Town would have to agree to indemnify the railroad harm- less from any damage arising out of that taking and they would want insurance in addition. He stated that he felt this to be unreasonable . The other way, is to acquire the right-of-way from the bank up to the rail- road property and then to lay out as a public town way the way from Depot Square to the land to be acquired from the railroad. He stated this could only be done with approval from the County Commissioners and the DPU, similar to what was done on Fottler Avenue . Mr. Stevens said the railroad representatives want something to indicate that the Board would proceed on that basis and he read a letter which he drafted, to be sent if the Board agrees. 1 186 }-' 0.4 The Chairman inquired about the cost of insurance, ' and Mr. Stevens said he did not know the exact cost, but the policy insuring the railroad on the limits they want, according to Converse Hill, would not be issued unless the Town put up lights . With lights the estimate of the premium is $1500 a year. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to proceed on the basis of establishing the crossing as a public way. Mr. Stevens referred to the store owned by Mr. Trani and now under alterations, and reported that Mr. Tropeano, Trani Trani's attorney, called today and said they would accept building the figure of $10,000. He will report further on the subject next week. Mr. Cole retired at 8:00 P.M. Mr. Stevens stated that sufficient progress has been made so it is in order for the Board to vote that the date of termination of the contract with the Air Force for water service at Laurence G. Hanscom Field would be extended from November 1,1960 to January 1, 1961. Mr. Ferguson asked why Mr. Stevens recommended Air Force an extension at this time . He said if the Air Force water was going to have a draft of the contract Wednesday, 111 action on the extension could wait until next week. Mr. Stevens stated that the Military Command is operating on a termination notice that shuts the water off November 1. Mr. Stevens said if there was no evi- dence that the Air Force was making every effort to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion, he would not make the recommendation, but he thought the group was satisfied that a good deal of progress has been made The Chairman explained that the Air Force would like to hurry this so that any action to be taken could be done at the November Town Meeting. Mr. Ferguson said he had no objection to moving, but he thought the only way to keep the Air Force moving is not to extend the time now. Mr. Richards said that if Mr. Stevens felt it would not harm the Town 'a position to extend the time to January 1, 1961, and would not jeopardize the Town' s position, he would be in favor of the extension. Mr. Stevens said the Air Force should be told that progress has been made . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to notify tha Air Force, through Mr. Carroll, Super- intendent of Public Works , that the Notice of Termination 187 to be effective November 1, 1960 would be extended to January 1, 1961. Mr. Stevens explained that his thought in extend- ing the time two months instead of one is to eliminate the necessity of another extension, and it should be acted on at the meeting in November. Mr. Stevens retired at 8:20 P.M. Mrs. Balza, 103 Lincoln Street, and several other residents of Lincoln Street, met with the Board. Mrs . Balza explained that she had requested the appointment because of the reaches in the area. She said they havelad an exterminator inside the house and sprayed outside, but they still have roaches from the dump. Mrs. Balza said she lives across the street about at the gate of the dump and has had roaches from the dump for two years . The Chairman stated that the Board appreciates the problem but also appreciates the fact that the dump has been there for a number of years before the new homes were built. She said that every elffort has been made to keep the dump as sanitary as possible and it would be a matter of years before it is filled. She explained that with the new system of sanitary fill, the dump will last a shorter period of time than it would otherwise . The Chairman asked Mr. Carroll if these people had contacted him, and he replied in the affirmative . He Roaches from stated that the property had been sprayed and the dump dump is sprayed weekly. He reported that he was advised by Town Counsel not to pay the exterminators' bills incur- red by the residents. He has contacted the Waltham Field Station and also had a representative from the State Department of Health out, and both said he was doing as much as he could and there is nothing more to be done . He has been advised that he is spraying often enough, once a week. One woman said she thought spraying the dump was fine but it just drives the roaches back onto their property. Mr. Carroll said there is a 'imit as to how much spraying he can do on private property. He said, as far as the Town assuming additional repponsibility, it is going further than it should be by spraying private property. Mr. Adams asked if the problem was continuous, and Mr. Salza replied t}at it is seasonal . He asked how the roaches could infest thel area if the dump was being sprayed. Mr. Carroll replied that all he can do is have the 188 0-1 ground sprayed and he could not spray under it . He ex- plained that a fogging machine was purchased this year for use at the dump. Mr. Dankese said it is fine to say the dump was there before people moved in, but it is time the Town looked forward to getting rid of the dump. The Chairman explained that the recent Town Meeting, a month ago, voted funds for a study of refuse and garbage disposal which will be ready for the Annual Town Meeting in March. She pointed out that when a move is mac the Board must know where the move is to be . Mr. Dankese said that all the people purchased their property with the understanding that the dump would not last longer than five years. He said there are also rats. He said he could get several hundred people to a meeting and that would be the next step, and they would also go to the State Department of Health. The Chairman assured the group that more is bang done to control the dump now than was ever done before . Mrs . Salza said the people on Baskin Road were going to attend the meeting this evening, but they had to go to a P.T.A. MeePing. The Chairman stated that the Board appreciates the fact that there is something undesirable in the center of the Town from many points of view and is taking steps 111toward relocating the disposal facilities and trusts that some action will be taken in March. She explained that would not mean, however, that the dump would be eliminated the next day. Mr. Richards informed the group that this year the Town is spending one-third more than it has ever spent in the history of the dump. He said it is an open dump but the Town is spending close to x+30,000.00 a year in covering it up. He said actually the only program the Board can do is a. control program. The group retired at 8:10 P.M. Mr. Carroll reported that he received two bids for a sand spreader and stated that E. J. Bleiler Equipment Co. did not bid. The bidders were Dyar Sales & Equipment Sand Company, total net bid 1955.25 and the Sandberg Equipment Spreader Company, total net bid 2178.54. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the low bid, upon Mr. Carroll's recommendation, of $1955.25 submitted by the Dyar Sales & Equipment Co. Copy of letter to the Planning Board from T. H. Reenstierna was received, advising that the Vinebrook 1 189 Realty Trust is deeding to the Town land for a 70' street, to provide for a secondary artery around the Town. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. John Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, relative to the ap- pointment of Mr. Robert Higgins as Assistant Town Engineer. Appointment Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Mr. Robert B. Higgins, A sistant Town Engi- neer, effective October 13, 1960, at the rate of *6500 per year for a term expiring March 31, 1961. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs . Anne Barnes, Clerk in the Building Department, stating that she would like to purchase one of the desks stored in Cary Memorial Building. The Board felt that possibly the desks might be used some time by the Civil Defense Department and it was agreed to advise Mrs. Barnes that the Board has not de- Desks termined the desks to be excess and therefore would not be disposed of. Letter was received from Mr. Hodgdon, 70 Reed Street, relative to a proposed street to be constructed by the Pond Realty Trust in the area. Letter was received from Mr. Stevens , Town Counsel, advising that title has been acquired to a parcel of Title land on Winthrop Road, situated between lots 223 and 225, for the purpose of providing an access from Winthrop Road to Town land . Mr. Carroll retired at 9:28 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from the Central Middle- sex Multiple Listing Service relative to a real estate sign at 627 Massachusetts Avenue which is in violation of the Sign By-Law. Letter was received fromMr. Irwin, Building In- spector, advising that the sign had been previously Sign noticed by him and action taken in the form of a letter to the real estate firm and to the owner of the property. Letter was received from Mr. Irwin, Building In- spector, advising that the sign had been previously noticed by him and action taken in the form of a letter to the real estate firm and to the owner of the property . Letter was received from the Board of Appeals rela- tive to suggestions for enforcemat of the Zoning and 190 c s 7E1 Sign By-Laws outlined in a letter last May. It was agreed to advise the Board of Appeals that the subject had been discussed with the Building Inspector and since that time, the Board has received Violations regular reports from him and is presently watching what is coming along before taking any definite action. Mr. Ferguson asked if Mr . Irwin understood that he should take some action on violations himself with- out waiting for complaints, and it was suggested that possibly he should meet with the Board. Mr. Richards said he received a request from Mr. Busa to mentionto the Board that his appeal, relative to a Package Goods Store license , is still pending and Busa Liquor he has not heard anything about it. Re would like the License Board to write the ABC and request the exact status of the license . It was agreed to write the ABC that it is the Board' s understanding an appeal has been made, and it would-like to know the exact status of the license to determine whether it can legitimately grant one or two additional Package Goods Store licenses. The Chairman read a letter from Westinghouse Broad- casting Company requJsting permission for a "Voter-Cade" caravan to stop gritLAxington for about thirty minutes on November 5. 8ta on WBZ-TV is conducting an intensive "Get Out The Vote" campaign. Voter-Cade The Board had no objection and suggested tht one of the directors contact the Chief of Police to discuss the subject and work out the details . At 9:45 p,.M. , the Planning Board met with the Select- men. The Chairman explained that some time has passed since the last discussion relative to Worthen and Emerson Roads and it seemed, parcularly in view of the joint meeting tomorrow night, that the subject should be discussed again for the benefit of the Selectmen and the new members of the Planning Board. Mr. Burnell brought up the subjact of Buckman Drive and said that in 1947 the Town obtained an easement from Mr. Luongo across part of two of his lots for a water line . At that time, the Selectmen were talking about Buckman Dr. the possibility of carrying Buckman Drive across his land. In 1957, the subject came up again in the form of a petition from some of the people on Fern Street and related streets. At that time, the Planning Board made a thorough study of the area and agreed that it was advisable and necessary to have a second means of access 191 in the Moon Hill section, that the present Fern Street was not sufficient. He said there were three or four possibilities; Buckman Drive, Summit Road, Moreland Avenue and a road down to Pleasant Street . He stated that the one down to Pleasant Street was almost im- possible to carry out, and Moreland Avenue would mean only an extension after it could be connected to Worthen Road some time in the future, and Summit Road would be very expensive . Therefore, the Planning Board came back to the Luongo land as being the most logical approach to the problem. He stated that various member s of the previous Boards met with Mr. Luongo and tried to arrange ways of obtaining an easement across the three lots, but noAhing was finally agreed upon. He explained that recently Mr. Snow has been looking for tax title land that could be exchanged for the Luongo land, the problem being that he must have land upon which to grow his vegetables. Mr. Burnell reported that at a Planning Board meet- ing held August 22, 1960, the sub5ec was discussed again and asked Mr. Snow to contact Mr. Lu o to see if some arrangement could be made to acquire ess over this land. He said the Planning Board, d previous Boards, have agreed that Buckman Drive should be extended over the Luongo land and be connected. It is now a matter of working out the arrangements with Mr. Luongo as the Town will have access over his land. The Chairman said that if there is an article in the warrant to acquire land and build the street, there will be opposition on the Town Meeting floor, and there should be alternate figures of what it waild cost to do something else . Mr. Burnell said it would have to be Buckman Drive or Summit Road as Moreland Avenue is too far in the future and Summit Road would be very expensive . Mr. Snow said there are forty-seven homes between the intersection of Dawes Road and Buckman Drive that have no other means of access. Mr. Burnell said that it is the opinion of the Planning Board that while Buckman Drive is not the only solution, it is the best solution, and that a meeting with the group from 'Buckman Drive would be arranged. Following an informal discussion of Worthen Road and Emerson Road, the Planning Board retired at I0:L.0 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Mr . Dan H. Fenn, Jr. , Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, requesting 192 permission to park a "mobile headquarters" in one of the parking spaces on Massachusetts Avenue at Depot Square , a trailer to serve as a distribution center for liter- Mobile ature and information about the Democratic candidates. headquarters The Board was not in favor of making public streets available for any use of this type and the request was denied. The Chairman reported that Captain Harper, USAF, requested permission to display a Minuteman ballistic missile near the statue of Captain Parker for a few days commencing November 7, 1960 . The Board was receptive to the proposal and it was agreed to advise Captain Harper to contact Chief Rycroft and Superintendent Carroll to work out the details. Application for a Yearly Dump Permit was received from K. Henry Pihl, 27 Burlington Street . The truck Permit Mr. Pihl intends to use is garaged in Cambridge but he will take only rubbish from his home to the dump. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the license . The Chairman reported that Miss Edith Willard, North Street, would like to take a few pine trees from Trees the woods and plantthem as a buffer. She explained that both Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and Mr . Mazerall, Park Department, had been contacted and could see no objections . The Board had no objection. The Chairman reported that Robert H. Kingston, Nancy Hudson and J. S. Nason Whitney are willing to Committee serve pm am infprial enomilttee tp stadg tam Town Report. It was agreed to have 800 copies of the 1960 Annual Town Report printed. The Chairman mentioned that a change had been sug- Committee gested for the Traffic Study Committee and Mr. Ferguson agreed to serve on the Committee . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Polling to have the polls open from 7:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. hours on State Primary Day, Tuesday, November 8, 1960. The Clerk reported that Mr. John Sullivan, 31.1 Marrett Road, made a verbal complaint about a First Class Agent's license being held by I. W. Douglas, 815A Waltham Street . Mr. Sullivan said that the agency was no longer in business at this address, 193 Mr. Richards agreed to obtain some information on the subject from Mr. Douglas. The meeting adjourned at 10:55 P.M. A true record, Attest: n 8xea. tive: Clerl , SelectmieSa 111 I