HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-09-19-min 155
S1LXTMsN' S METING
September 19, 1960
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen' s Room, Toem Office Building,
on Monday, September 19, 1960, at 7 40 P M Chair-
man Morey, Messrs . Adams and Richards were present
Mr Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Carroll, Superintend-
ent of Public Works , and the Executive C]e rk were also
present Mr. Cole a,,rived at the meeting at 7:50 P.M.
Hearing was declared open upon application of the
Davenport Garden & Flower Center for permission to
store 1,000 gallons of gasoline on premises located
at 482 Bedford Street .
Notice of the hearing was advertised in the
September 8, 1960 issue of the Lexington Minute-Man Gasoline
and a copy ofthe notice was mailed to the applicant hearing
and to the owners of prop,.rty deemed by the Board of
Assessors to be abutters .
No one appeared in favor or in opposition.
The application was approved by Chief Engineer
Belcastro, of the Fire Department .
The hearing was declared closed and upon motion
duly made and seconded, it wa voted to grant a
license to the Davenport Garden & Flower Center to
store 1,000 gallons of gasoline in anunderground
tank on premises located at 482 Bedford Street,
Lexington
Hearing was declared open upon applicationof
Raytheon Company for permission to store 2,000 gal-
lons of gasoline on premises located at 10 Maguire
Road.
Notice of the hearing was advertised in the Gasoline
September 8, 1960 issue of the Lexington Minute-man hearing
and a copy of the notice was mailed to the applicant
and to the owners of property deemed by the Board of
Assessors to be abutters .
Mr. Richard P. Tarbox, representing the applicant
was the only person present at the hearing . He ex-
plained that it is expected therewill be about twenty-
five cars for individuals and company use which will
be serviced at this location but not garaged there.
The hearing was declared closed and Mr Tarbox
retired
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The application was approved by Chief Engineer
Belcastro of the Fire Department
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant a license to Raytheon Company, Foundry Avenue ,
Waltham, to store 2,000 gallons of gasoline in an under-
ground tank on premises located at 10 Maguire Road, Lex-
ington .
Mr Stevens presented five copies of a contract
between the Town of Lexington and J. J. Ryan Construction
Co , Inc . , in the amount of $7, 350.00 for sidewalks and
% i ecalk appurtenant work (Contract No. 7) .
Contract - Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to sign the contract as presented by Mr Stevens .
Notice was received from the County Commissioners
advising that a hearing will be held at the County
Commissioners' Office on Wednesday, September 21, at
10:00 A.M. with reference to highway improvements,
under Chapter 90 for 1961
Mr. Carroll stated that he is concerned about the
Town' s position right now because in 1959 the sum of
$36,000.00 was appropriated for the construction of
Concord Avenue and during 1959 it was determined that
it wasoing to cost an additional amount of approxi-
mately 615 ,000.00 . It was decided to wait and complete
Concord Avenue in 1960. In the meantime , the project
was held up because the M.D.C . proposed to go in there
with a water main.
He explained that the Town asked for an additional
$I0,OOO.00 for resurfacing Maple Street and Winchester
Drive That project is almost completed and the estimate
indicates that therewill not be money enough to finish
the paving. He said he did not feel he should request
$36,000 00 to do a portion of one street while these two
projects are waiting. He said he was advised to request
an appropriation for streets, the particular streets to
be determined at a later date . He said he would like to
have Concord Avenue cor•ipleted but can' t until the MDC
water line is completed
The Chairman said that funds should be requested
but a decision as to what streets it is to be used on
should be held over until Mr. Carroll decides what he
wants.
The Chairman read a letter from the State D.P.W.
with reference to Chapter 90 work, Winchester Drive
and Lowell Street intersection. The recent grading
operations on property of the new church located on
Lowell Street have created a problem that seriously
affects the proposed Chapter 90 construction .
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Mr. Carroll said he felt that the Town will have
to take a slope easement on the church property, and a
slope easement plan should be pr, pared
Mr Carroll was aut aorized to have a slope ease-
ment prepared arra to obtain slope easements .
The Chairman read a letter from the School Com-
mittee asking the Board to consider the sidewalk needs
of the Grove Stre t school as soon as possible . The Sidewalks
Committee hopes to have the sidewalks completed by the
opening of school in September, 1961.
Messrs . Carroll and Stevens retired at 8 25 P.M.
Mr. William J. Ahearn and Paul J. Rivais, owners
of the Minute Man Cab Company, met with the Board
Mr. Ahearn said they were interested in additional
parking space in the vicinity of the depot . At the
present time , they are serving about 1200 families in
Lexington taking people to and from the center for shop-
ping, medical care , etc The company has six cars and
four of them have to be parked in other areas such as
the Esso station. They also have permission to park
in the lot off Meriam Street. However, on rainy days,
this means that people have to walk to the office and
wait for a car. If they had a space in Depot Square , that
walk would be eliminated, and it would be a convenience
to the customers and to the cab company He said cus-
tomers have asked them to find out whether or not the
Selectmen would provide additional parking space in the
depot
The Chairman asked where the cars are garaged when
not in operation.
Mr. Ahearn replied that two cars are at the stand
and the rest are at 6 North Street . He said they do
not always have six cars on the road at one time .
Mr. Adams asked if they ever considered another
stand at the lower end of the town, and Mr. Ahearn re-
plied that 95% of his business is regular trade ; people
who come down town to do their shopping and they arrange
to end up at the waitingroom. He said he would be satis-
fied with two additional spaces; then they would have
parking space for four cabs .
The Chairman asked if they parked at the rear of
the Central Block.
Mr. Ahearn replied in the affirmative and stated
that they could have only one space and that could not
be reserved as the area serves some of the stores in
front .
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Mr Ahearn said that there is presently a require-
ment whereby a license to drive a cab cannot be issued
to anyone living outside of Lexington. He asked if this
particular requirement could be taken out of the regu-
lations .
The Chairman stated that some time ago, the Board
suggested to the Lexington Cab Company that the two
companies get together and consider the rules and regu-
lations to see what changes might be made that would be
beneficial, and the Board is still waiting to hear
Mr Rivals said this regulation was difficult for
the company to live by.
Mr. Ahearn said that there are many young boys but
he knows from his customers that they prefer to have a
driver twenty-five years or older . He said he has seen
customers look in the cab and when they see a young boy
driving, they leave the cab He said he is not interested
in the age limit, but would like the Board to remove the
clause that requires an applicant to be a resident of
Lexington
The Chairman asked if he was disturbed about the
twenty-one year old age requirement, and Mr. Ahearn
replied in the negative .
Mr. Rivals said he thought it was a good regu-
lation and should remain.
Mr. Ahearn said he had asked the Lexington Cab
Company to attend the meeting this evening, but Mr.
Dalrymple had other plans made .
Mr. Rivais said these two items being discussed
now are the ones bothering them
The Chairman said they wereasking the public to
provide a place for private cars
Mr. Ahearn said the municipal parking areas are
for the convenience of the public and are beneficial
to the stores, and he was asking for the same consider-
ation
Mr. Adams asked if they wanted space for four cars
for their cars or space for four cars divided between
the two companies .
Mr. Ahearn replied that he wanted two additional
spaces for his own company
Mr. Richards stated that th:, company is parking in
a metered area.
The Chairman said that until the Town has the addi-
tional parking area, the Board will probably resist
marking off any further areas for taxicabs.
Mr. Rivals asked what recourse the company had if
the Bo rd resisted, and Mr. Richards explained that it
has no recourse I
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The Chairman said that the Boir d would discuss the
matter and let Mr Ahearn know.
Messrs Ahearn and Rivais retired at 8 45 P.M.
Mr. Rithards also left the meeting.
It was agreed to hold the matter over for discussion
when all members of the Bo rd would be present .
Mr . Burrell, Civil Defense Director, chief Rycroft,
Chief Engineer Belcastro, and John Carroll met with the
Board to discuss the new Local Government Radio System.
Mr. Burrell had written to the Board suggesting that
the Civil Defense Director be designated as the Town
official responsible for the operation and coordination of
the system.
Mr. Burrell explained that that he has said in his
letter is that the Town will be operating under a new
type of radio system and it will require someone to be
responsible for it and responsible to the F.C .C . He Local
stated that everyone on the police frequency will have Government
to get off after 1963 and the F.C .C . has made available Radio Sy; te
the additional channels in between each of the two ex-
isting channels . He said any activity of a governmental
agency can be out on the air. In Lexington, the Town
can have four departments on it ; the only type of license
that can do this . He said the additional fact is that
the Federal government is contributing half of the cost .
He stated that the Civil Defense Director, whoever he is,
has the responsibility of certifying once a year that the
system is used for the purpose andmanner for which the
government gave funds. He said he saw the need for some-
one to keep the records and make reports.
Chief Rycroft stated that the Town has had its system
for a number of years and basically because the Police
Department was the first department in Town on radio, that
department became the department in charge of the system
but there wac nothing specific He stated that everything
at the F.C .C . has nothing to do with Civil Defense because
his signature is on everything at the F.C .C . He stated
that he has to have the six monthst check and he keeps
records and those records are checked He said that there
have only been a few monor items on which henhas had any
trouble , and he did not believe anyone operating in the
Town could ever say that they have ever had any trouble
He said that as it is written now, he is the one responsi-
ble to the F.C .C . and his name appears on all the records .
He said he has had no trouble and could not see why any
change should be made He stated that the only item for
which the Town would receive part payment would be the
new transmitter He asked what it would cost to operate
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that insofar as repairs areconcerned, and Mr Burrell
replied that he did not have any idea. He said the tele-
phone lines involved would cost money
The Chief asked if payment wouldn' t have to be made
if he was in charge .
Mr. Burrell said that the Chief was licensed under
a police frequency and this is a Local Government frequency
purchased ley the Civil Defense .
Chief Rycroft said th t regardless, the Town would
be buying it.
Mr. Cole said the Town is buying it through Civil
Defense and getting 50%
Mr . Burrell said any additional unit would be
eligible , but replacement units are not He stated
that anything purchased under Civil Defense is eligible
for maintenance up to 10% of the purchase cost He said
that, up until 1963, the F.C .C . has permitted other Town
Departments to share the frequency as it does noir. After
1963 it will be police only, and to replace the present
system they have comp up with a new frequency.
Chief Belcastro asked why the, sys ler could not go
along as it has been with the Chief of Police in charge .
Mr . Burrell said that there is no reason, and said
he could ask the same question - why can' t the Civil
Defense handle it .
Chief Belcastro said that the system has been going
along for many years, and if the Chief' s name appears on
the program, he couldn't see why it should not continue .
The Chairman said thatthe Town Departments are in
operation twenty-four hours a day whereas tYe Civil De-
fense is on call twenty-four hours a day and delinquishine
control of the radio system is serious .
Mr. Burrell said th?t the Civil Defense organization
is the Town government ; every member of the Police, Fire ,
and Public Works is a part of the Civil Defense organization.
He said the Library and School Departments were also part
of it . He said the Board should decide what it wants of
the Civil Defense Department
Mr. Cole asked if the Civil Defense Director would
be in charge of all activities in the event of an emergency.
Mr. Burrell replied that it depended on whether the
Board wanted to talk legally or practically. He said the
Director, as coordinator for the Selectren, would make
certain overall decisions . He said the details as to how
each Department worked would go to each Department Head.
Mr. Adams asked if the Town' s radio would be eligible
for reimbursement where it is now or if it would have to
be under the control of the Civil Defense Directar .
Mr. Burrell replied that he did not think there was
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anything that says it cannotbe under the control of the
Police Department . He said radio, by itself, is one of
the responsibilities of the Director. He stated that
there are more radios in Civil Defe tse than there are in
the rest of the Town put together He said no other De-
partment of the Town has Civil Defense regulations or
received amendments such as the Civil Defense does . He
stated th t the F.C .C . and Civil Defense relatio :s were
very close .
Mr Carroll asked if all the radio sets would be
on the new frequency, and Mr Burrell replied in the
negative .
The Chief said that 1963 was discussed some time ago
and at that time , consideration was given to the subject
of going local or going police He explained that the
Public Works could call in and report anything it thought
he should know and the Fire Department could do the same .
That is the reason he went along withit and could not
see anything to be gained by a change
The Chairman asked what the change in operation would
be , and the Chief replied that F.0 C . has nothing to do
with Civil Defense .
Mr. Burrell said he was proposing an administrative
change . He stated that someone in the Town has to be
Responsible for this system. He said in a control system,
the control must be in the hands of the Director
Mr. Adams asked what action had been taken in other
towns .
Mr. Burrell replied that no town has yet installed
Local Government Frequency.
Mr. Carroll asked what was wrong with the system as
used in the recent hurricane , and Mr. Burrell said he
could not get into the Town frequency.
Chief Rycroft said the town-wide frequency is not
anything different than he has been working with The
only change is a wave length and crystals in the sets
Mr. Burrell stated that the Town would be going
from a police service radio into a Local Government
radio operated under department rules and regulations
and requirements .
The Chairman asked about the necessity for making
a decision.
Mr. Burrell said that at this point the Town has
no one in charge of this system. He said Chief Rycroft
is not in charge of the Local Government.
Chief Rycroft felt that he was in charge .
Mr. Adams said he would like an o portunity to think
the subject over and the other members..of the Board agreed
The group retired at 9:40 P.M.
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Upon motion dul:: made and seconded, it was voted
to approve the minutes of the Selectments Meeting held
on September 14, 1960.
The Appropriation C ommitte9. met with the Board at
9:45 P.M. and Mr Blaisdell'tRart �Ee Committee will make
the following recommendations in regard to appropriations
Appropri- to be voted at the Special Town Meeting on September 26:
cations Article 2, $22,700 .00; (the Committee was not unanimous
in this recommendation) Article 3, $12,250.00; Article 4,
$12,000.00; Article 5, $3,000.00• Articles 6 to 22, 100 .00;
Article 23 $50 .00, Article 24, $50.00; Article 25, 3,000 .00
a toil of $53,150.00 to be transferred from the Excess and
Deficiency Account
The Committee retired at 10 05 P.M.
The Chairman read a letter from Chief Rycroft re -
porting that he had made a check relative to parking in
Taxi Depot Square and ha.. talked with owners of both taxi
ar -inP businesses . They have assured him that the only cabs
that will be parked in the future will be parked in
4he taxi area designated for them by the Town
The Chairman read a letter from Chief Rycroft ad-
vising that he will be on his annual vacation starting
Appointment September 24
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to appoint Lieuten.int Jams F. Corr as Acting Chief
during Chief Rycroft ' s absence .
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Irwin, Build-
ing Ihspebctor, advising that the mimeographed copies of
the Building, Plumbing and Sign By-Laws trediminishing,
With a temporary mimeographing of fifty more copies of
the Building By-Law, there will be enough copies to last
until some time after the Annual Town Meeting and he re-
commended that an appropriation be considered for printing
the By-Laws in a more permanent form.
It was agreed to ask Mr. Irwin to obtain prices for
printing one pamphlet, incorporating all three by-laws,
similar to the setup used for the Zoning By-Law, using
one side of a page only and providing for insertions when
amendments are made
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to approve the following j/o pole location:
Marrett Road, in traffic island at inter-
section of School Street,--
One pole . (One existing j/o pole to
be removed) .
163
The Chairman reported that Mr. Gaffney, who op-
posed location of a pole on Bow Street, informed her
that he is taking the ratter to court .
Notice was received from the D.P.U. advising th;t
a hearing will be held on September 28 at 10 00 A.M. ,
Room 166, State HOUSE- , upon petition of the New England
Telephone and Telegraph Company for approval of the Telephone
company' s proposal to substitute for its presently dis- director3es
tributed "Boston and Vicinity Alphabetical Directory"
with four directories each covering a part of the Metro-
politan area.
Letter from the Lexington Junior Chamber of Com-
merce requesting permission to erect highway signs Signs
on the main roads in Lexington has held over .
Communication was received from Registrar of
Motor Vehicles , Clement A. Riley, Co-Chairman of the 1960
"Jimmy" Fund relative to solicitation of contributions
from Town employees . "Jimmy" Fund
It was agreed to handle this through the Selectmen' s
Office .
Letter was received from Reverend Harold T. Handley
requesting permission, on behalf of the Church of Our
Redeemer. tb conduct a parish paper drive on Sunday,
October 23, between 1:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. Paper Drive
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant the request .
Application was received from Richard S . Gazan,
112 Bertwell Road, age 20, for a Taxi Driver' s License . License
Satisfactory character reference was received from the
Chief of Police
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant the license
Letter was received from the Planning Board with
a copy of Mr. Snow' s recommendations for the develop-
ment of Hillside Avenue .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to sign a Sidewalk Order for the installation of a side- Sidewalk
walk on Massachusetts Avenue opposite Marrett Road to
opposite Pelham Road.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to sign Water Order for the installation of water main
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te '^ Order in Tarbell Avenue from Tucker Avenue to the existing
main in Tarbell Avenue
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to meet at 6:45 P.M. on Monday, September 26, 1960,
prior to the Special Town Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
,T xe tiv� Clerk, Selec Fn
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