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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-09-06-min 122 CD STD SELECTMEN'S MEETING September 6, 1960 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, September 6, 1960 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Morey, Messrs. Adams, Ferguson and Richards were pre- sent . Mr Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. John J. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present . Mr. Cole arrived at the meeting at 9:18 P.M. Hearing was declared open upon application filed by Itek Corporation for permission to store 20,000 gallons of 5 fuel oil in an underground tank on premises located at 10 Maguire Road. Notice of the hearing was inserted in the August 25, 1960 issue of the Lexington Minute-man, and a copy Fuel oil of the notice was mailed to the applicant and to the storage owners of all property deemed to be affected as they appear on the most recent local tax list. No one appeared in favor or in opposition. The Application was approved by Mr. Bernard J. Belcastro, Chief Engineer, Lexington Fire Department . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a license to the Itek Corporation to maintain an underground tank for the storage of 20,000 gallons of #5 fuel oil on premises located at 10 Maguire Road, Lexington. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held on August 29, 1960 Mr. Stevens discussed the subject of water supply for the Bedford Air Force and it was agreed to hold a Conference conference , to be attended by representatives from the Air Force on Friday morning at 8:30. The Chairman referred to a letter received from the Board of Fire Commissioners relative to the sale of a 1911 American LaFrance truck and reported that the sale of any property or material over $300 in value required a vote of Town Meeting. She asked if the Board felt that the Commissioners should have an article in the warrant fo r the. Special Town Meeting empowering them to sell the truck, She reported that, in checking with Mr. Roeder, she was told that they would probably 123 receive $100 for the truck It has been rebuilt so many times that it has no antique value , and an offer of $300 has been received from° a fireman in Westford. Sale of Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted truck to approve the sale of the 1911 American LaFrance truck by the Fire Commissioners inasmuch as it does not ex- ceed x- ceed $300 in value and is no longer re quire d by the Department . Copy of letter from Dr. Vincent A. McCrossen to the editor, relative to irresponsible dog ownership, was read and placed on file . The Chairman reported that a Building Permit had been issued for the alteration of the Coffee Shop Build- ing. Mr Stevens said he would see what he has in his Building files on the subject. Permit Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Warrant calling a Special Town Meeting for Monday, September 26, 1960. Letter from the Legislative Research Bureau rela- tive to a study of home rule for Massachusetts cities and towns was held over. Study Mr. Stevens was asked if he had any recommendations to make and agreed to draft a letter for the Board to approve . Mr. Stevens retired at 8 :35 P.M. Mr. Car oll reported at length on bids received for a snow loader which were as follows : H. F. Davis Tractor Co. , (Nelson) , $13, 632.00; E. J Bleiler Equipment Co. Inc . , $15,250 and Barber-Green Co , $15,465. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reject all the bids and to authorize Mr. Carroll to re- advertise for a blower-type unit The Chairman read a letter from Mr Carroll advising that Mrs . Jesse Meadous was not contemplating paying any- MacKeen thing near the amount of rent being asked fob the MacKeen Property property, and he will therefore proceed to place the rental in the hands of a realtor. Letter was received fromthe Mystic Valley Gas Com- pany requesting permission to extend a L. inch welded steel high pressure gas main in Pelham Road to serve the new school now under construction. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 124 CD to grant permission to the Mystic Valley Gas Company to extend a 4 inch welded steel high pressure gas main in Pelham Road, the proposed location having been ap- proved by Mr. Carroll; the extension to conform to his specifications. Mr. Carroll explained that work has to be finished on the Maria Hastings School field. Mr. Mazerall would like to purchase a York rake to do the job, at a total cost of $600. He stated that it is possible to rent a rake for $20 per day. The Chairman asked how often the rake would be used and Mr Carroll replied that he could not think offhand but every year similar work has to be done by hand. Rake Mr. Richards said he thought it would be unwise to spend the money until the Town has a larger program. It was the consensus of opinion that it would be better to rent a rake for the limited amount of times it would be used. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. D. Boyd Barker, 39 Moreland Avenue , referring to a LE inch gas line being installed in Fern Street. He said a logical analysis Buckman of the situation would indicate th t before approval is Drive granted, which will involve digging up the street and extension making travel more dangeroud, that some definite pro- vision be made for safe access, such as an extension of Buckman Drive . Mr. Carroll reported that the gas line instal- lation was practically completed Mr. Carroll retired at 9:05 P.M. Mrs. Paul A. Buckley, 139 Shade Street, met with the Board and said she would like to state her case in regard to a Taxi Driver' s license which had been Buckley denied her son. taxi driver The Chairman explained that she talked with Mrs . license Buckley after the Board' s decision and told her that the Board had decided once it made a ruling, an ex- ception should not be made Mrs. Buckley said that anything she might say was not against any taxi company in Lexington and it would not be for consideration to Itier son only but for any other boy. She said it seemed to her an injustice to refuse a boy a license to drive a taxi when he is in high school. She stated that usually a boy is through high school at 172 and her son was 18 last March 31. He would like to earn some money. She said she talked to someone in Registrar Riley' s legal department 125 who agreed thrit the Town can issue any regulations but he could not understand why a boy could not drive a taxi but could drive a truck at eighteen She said most boys her son' s age want to earn money and her son wants to earn money to put himself partly through college . She said he could not drive a taxi but could drive a truck and take any job in the Town and she wanted to know why She asked the difference between driving a truck and driving a taxi The Chairman explained that the reason in saying no high school students would be granted a license was not only a matter of their studies, which was a lesser matter, but the fact that young people do speed around town an unreasonable amount in cars and those in school should not be driving a taxi She explained that some towns have regulations whereby they have to leave their cars at home . Mr Ferguson said that anyone driving a taxi must have a permit from the Board of Selectmen which is dif- ferent than driving a truck Mr. Adams stated that in driving a truck, he would not be conveying passengers, and in driving a truck he has only his own safety to think about He said many taxicabs are loaded up with children going to school, and there is a distinction in dealing with the general public Mrs . Buckley said she had checked with taxi com- panies, not only locally but outside , and they find boys to e alert, they don ' t drink, are on the ball and want to earn money. She said they don ' t like drivers over twenty-four who should be earning a steady living. She said the companies would rather have boys eighteen, going to college as they consider them safe drivers . She said she was pleading her case, not for her son, but because she felt the ruling to be an injustice . Mr. Adams said that because of the plea of the taxi company that they could not get help, the Board lowered the age from twenty-one to eighteen. Mrs . Buckley said that the average boy is not eighteen when he finishes high school. She said her son went to private school for two years and through unfortunate circumstances.with illness and his father' s illness, was taken out. Mr. Richards inquired about the hours, and Mrs . Buckley said that her son has worked off hours many times. He can ' t participate in sports because of the three year ruling, and if he can' t drive a cab, he will have to do something else . She said he could work from 2:30 until 6:30 and perhaps on Saturdays or Sundays he would work a full day I 126 CD oar Mr. Richards asked if he would work as a regular driver, and Mrs. Buckley replied that he would be a part-time student driver, working afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays . The Chairman asked how many hours he would work a week, and Mrs . Buckley replied from 2 :30 until 6 30 five days a week . She said the taxi companies need drivers very badly. The older men need more money and the younger men have a sliding rule . She said no one could tell how much they are going to earn The Chairman said the Board would discuss the sub- ject further Mrs . Buckley retired at 9:29 P.M. Mr. Richards said it seems to be a question as to whether or not the Board modifies the rules . On the plea of the taxi owners, the Bo- rd reduced the age from twenty-one He said he thought the feeling was the boy who had not finished high school should not be driving a cab, and over 90% of the boys are not quite eighteen years of age . He asked if the Board was being a little too harsh on a boy still in high school at eighteen who can take any job at all which the Board cannot regulate . Mr Adams said his feelings were in regard to the studies and he does see the taxis and it is not an easy job. He said he would go along if the Botrd wanted to change the age to eighteen with at least three years of high school. He said some boys at eighteen are mature enough to handle the job and some are not . The Chairman suggested issuing a license at eighteen for six months requiring them to come back for a renewal. Mr. Ferguson said whatever the Board does it would be drawing an arbitrary line and there will always be exceptions . He said Mrs . Buckley' s only argument was the fact that if her son drove a truck, he would not need per- mission from the Board, which is true Mr Adams said he could see no reason for making an exception and the present rule should be kept with no exception. Mr. Cole said that in this particular case he would be disposed to make an exception and Mr. Richards said that he was too A motion was made and seconded to grant licenses at the age of eighteen, if the applicants have a Driver' s Education Certificate , for a period of six month's until they are twenty-one ; all present licenses to run the regular time but renewals will be for six months . Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Adams wished to be recorded in opposition. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to reconsider, and it was Suggested that a taxi driver, to 127 obtain a license at eighteen, must h.ve a Driver ' s Education Certificate , but would be entitled to a license when he reached the age of nineteen Mr. Ferguson said he was opposed. Upon motion duly made and secondea, it was voted to amend the Town of Lexington Rules and Regulations Governing Hackney Carriages, Taxicabs, Renting Cars and other Public Vehicles so that Section 2, item a, will read "Such applicant shall be required to show that he is twenty-one years of age or over, a citizen, a resident of the Town of Lexington, and that he is properly licensed by the Registry of Motor Vehicles or if under twenty-one years of age , that he has a Driver ' s Education Certificate or equal. " Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a Taxi Driver 's license to Paul A. Buckley, License Jr , if he meets the qualifications as outlined in item a, Section 2, of the rules and regulations Application for a Taxi Driv:= r' s License was received from Francis R. Ingram, 85 Aldrich Road, Wilmington, age License thirty-three , Satisfactory character reference was re- ceived from the Chief of Police . Upon motion made and seconded, it was voted to grant the license The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Aiden L. Ripley, 52 Follen Road, requesting permission to hunt on the Tower Estates meadow property, after acquisition by the Town Hunting Upon motion Duly made and seconded, it was voted to advise Mr. Ripley that it is the policy of the Board not to grant permission to hunt on any town-owned land. Mr. Ferguson said that "No Parking" signs had been erected going to Parker Field, but cars continue to park there . He said the Chief should be told that the Signs Board would like to have the "No Parking" enforced more strictly. He stated that it should be determined whether or not it is legal to erect the signs to that they can be enforced It was agreed to tell the Chief that the Board has received complaints and would like enforcement of the "No Parking" and a complete report on it . Letter was received from the Massachusetts Select- men' s Association stating that a Major Medical Hospitali- sation and Disability Income Program is now available to 128 I Insurance its members at a very low cost . The only member of the Board inter- sted in more information on the subject was Mr. Cole , and the Chairman agreed to so advise the insurance representa- tive who called her previously. Letter was received from Mr. Arthur E. Burrell, Director of Civil Defense, requesting appointment of 4rpointment William H. Enders 16 Cushing Roaa, to the position of Intelligence Officer. Mr. Enders has agreed to accept the position and has completed the necessary oath as required under Chapter 639, of the Acts of 1950. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Mr William H. Enders to the position of Intelligence Officer in the Town of Lexington. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Arthur E. Burrell advising that within the next three weeks the Civil Defense Department hopes to complete a contract Local for the installation of the new Local Government Radio Government System. Prior to completion of the contract, he would Padio System like to have the Board designate the Director as the town official responsible for the operation and coordi- nation of this system. It was agreed to send a copy of Mr Burrell' s letter to the Chief of Police , Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, and Superintendent of Public Works and ask if the proposal submitted by Mr. Burrell is satisfactory to them Letter was received from Mr. Donald K. Irwin, Building Inspector, relative to the use of the dwelling at 6 Raymond Str et . 7,oninp- It was agreed to ask Mr. Irwin if the Thompson family living in the house is a resident or if she is renting the property and also to whom the residents pay their rent The Clerk reported that a telephone call had been received from the Lexington Liquor Mart asking the Board to reconsider its decision to close the liquor Lic- or stores during polling hours on Tuesday, September 13 . sales Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted not to change the previous decision made by the Board. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Orders for the following sidewalk installations Allen Street from Waltham Street easterly on the north side of Stedman Road, 374 feet, more or less; I 129 Massachusetts Avenue from Hastings Road 45 23 Sidewalk feet westerly along the southerly side ; Orders Waltham Street from Marrett Road on the westerly side to Forest Street 3772 feet, more or less; Winchester Drive from the westerly side line of southerly side of Winchester Drive from a point opposite the westerly side line of Tyler Road 3250 feet, more or less , to Russel Road The Chairman ~'eported that a telephone call had been received from Mrs . Charles Toscano, 385 Lowell Street, registering a complaint about trucks parking in fiant of her house . It was :'greed to advise Mrs. Toscano that the best solution of her problem would be to request the instal- lation of a sidewalk which would narrow the present park- ing strip. The meeting adjourned at 10:25 P.M. A true record, Attest ec 'five Clerk, Selsc en y�4 f V *Tyler Road 245 feet to Lowell Street and on the 1