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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-08-09-min 115 SELECTMEN'S MEETING August 29, 1960 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, August 29, 1960, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Morey, Messrs . Adams, Ferguson and Cole were present Mr. John J. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present . Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission to locate two poles on Pelham Road. Mr. Mahon, representing the Boston Edison Com- pany, was the only person present at the hearing. He Pole explained that there are two existing poles on pro- locations perty of the Grey Nuns and the intention is to extend the line down to the new school under construction. Mr. Mahon stated that, in looking up some old records of the company, it was found that many years ago when this street was rather indefinite as a street, the poles were located on private property and the company would Atm like to move them onto a public way. The hearing was declared closed, and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the peti- tion and sign the order for the following pole locations: Pelham Road, southeasterly side , northeasterly from a point approximately 35 feet north- east of Warren Street, -- 2 poles Mr. Mahon retired at 7:36 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held Minutes on August 22, 1960 . Letter was received from the Mystic Valley Gas Company for permission to install a 4 inch welded steel low pressure gas main in Winthrop Road and Highland Avenue, necessitated due to the fact that the existing main is pitted to such an extent that Gas Main it precluded repair work. The proposed location was approved by Mr. Carroll. 116 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission for the installation of the main, the location and installation to conform to Mr. Carroll' s specifications . Letter was received from the Mystic Valley Gas Company for permission to install a 4 inch welded Gas Main steel high pressure gas main in Kendall Road and Sherburne Road to serve new homes in the area. The proposed location was approved by Mr. Carroll. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant permission for the installation of the main, the location and installation to conform to Mr. Carroll' s specifications. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Chapter 90 to sign a Memorandum of Agreement for Chapter 90 main- tenance . The Chairman read a letter from the Historic Districts Commission advising that the signs referred to in the Commission' s letter of July 25 were the sign on the building used for guides at the corner of Massa- chusetts Avenue and Mariam Street, various signs on the Battle Green, such as tha one near the grave of the British soldiers, and the bulletin board on the Signs library property. The Chairman asked if someone from the Engineering Department could make a check some time to determine just what signs are being maintained by the Town. Mr. Ferguson suggested a list of the signs other than street and vehicular traffic signs. Mr. Adams reported that the lock on the Old Belfry is broken and the building needs some attention Mr. Carroll reported that he was talking with the Chairman today about rubbish disposal in general. He explained that he arrived at a decision over the week- end and has been studying the possibility of using the Tophet swamp area for sakitary land fill. He had a plan made up, which is available if the Board would like to see it, for the purpose of studying the entire Ml area with the idea in mind that the Town can purchase the lots it does not now own. He had two men from the State Department of Health out and showed them two sites he has been considering for sanitary fill. They told him that, as far as Tophet swamp is concerned, it could be used but because of the four or five feet of peat, it would be 117 an expensive operation and would result in bringing in fill from the outside They also told him the State Health Department would not permit the erection of any building with an underground basement on a sanitary land fill or any place where rubbish had been dumped , the reason being trapped gases. He said he did not think the Town should consider using this area as a sanitary land fill if it cannot later be used for development . The other area he had in mind is owned by Simeone and located off Maple Street. He said this consists of about sixty acres and could be readily made into sanitary land fill but he has heard that someone has an option to purchase the property for $250,000.00 and the option has a year and a half to run. Mr . Carroll said he thought the entire subject should be studied by a consultant engineer and that funds should he authorized at the craning Special Town Meeting to have a study made with a report prepared for the Annual Town Meeting, including in the report of refuse disposal, the problem of garbage disposal. The Chairman asked if the only reason Mr. Carroll was now hesitant about using Tophet swamp was because if used for sanitary land fill, it could not in the future be used for building. Mr. Carroll replied that he thought an analysis should be made to find out just how much potential tax money might be lost. He said it should be determined whether or not the Town will be hurt by using the area for sanitary land fill. He said it is such a complicated and time consuming subject, he thought very definitely an engineer should be engaged. Mr. Adams asked if he wanted expert advise and Mr. Carroll replied in the affirmative . He said he did not want to be put in the position of someone making a re- commendation because of personal interest in an in- cinerator. He said if Tophet swamp was not zoned for Ml, that area could be used for twenty-five years at least for sanitary land fill, but the fact it is an Ml area complicates the matter. He said all this should be analyzed. Mr. Ferguson mentioned that Arlington!kas built over land fill,and stated that many industrial buildings are built without cellars . Mr. Carroll said that because this is an Ml area the Board should have facts and figures as to whether or not the Town is missing an opportunity to push this as in- dustrial land or if it should be tied up as a land fill. The Chairman said that if a study came out in favor of Tophet swamp, the land acquisition problem involves 118 prniq CD 0.01 only a few parcels . If it is to be some place else, a move will have to be made rather quickly. She said that placing a dump in any area will meet resistance . She said she thought that if the Bo a- d approved of this , there could be an article in the warrant and the warrant signed next Monday, instedd of tonight, after Mr. Stevens has looked at it . Mr. Adams asked how much money was involved and Mr. Carroll replied between $2500 and $3000. He said he would like a study of the entire subject, including garbage . He said the Town has considerable open area but the open area has problems connected with it . He said if he recommends an area , he wants to be sure it is correct and it would take him a long, long time to make a comprehensive study. Mr. Ferguson said Mr. Carroll' s problem at the moment is to find a location within the Town to dump and if he can make a land fill, an incinerator will not be necessary for some time He asked if the in- formation could be obtained from a Town Committee or if a consultant was necessary. Mr. Cole said that any local individual would not look at it objectively. Mr. Carroll explained that the Board would not have to follow the recommendations but it would at least know what should be done . Mr. Adams said he thought it was worthwhile enough to include an article in the warrant . The Chairman explained that if there is an article in the warrant, someone could amend the vote and ask for $500.00 for the expense of a committee to be appointed by the Selectmen It was agreed to hold the warrant for the next meeting and to discuss the proposed article with Mr. Stevens . Mr. Ferguson suggested that the subject be mentioned to the Planning Board Mr. Carroll presented a plan of the proposed off-street parking area ná. explained where the Town needs additional land and where it does not need ad- ditional land . The plan showed the Maximum use that can be obtained from the land. He explained that it Proposed will cost $15,000.00 to go down as far as the cross-over Parking Area road and to do the complete job will cost approximately double or a little more . Mr. Carroll said he would like to make a sketch similar to this plan on a smaller scale and have enough copies run off so that all the Town Meeting Members could have one . 119 Mr. Ferguson asked if it would be black and white , and Mr Carroll replied in the affirmative . Mr. Carroll asked if the Board was in favor of constructing half of the area or all of it. If it is the intention of the Board to request $15,000.00 and build only half, he will have the sketches drawn to show only half It was agreed to request the Special Town Meeting to appropriate $15,000.00 and authorize construction of only half the area . Mr. Carroll advised the Board that if the drought continues, he may have to pump water and he would like Water to have an item in the paper this week informing people that the hourly ban for watering is on Mr. Carroll retired at 8:25 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from FrmIk M. Hodgdon, 70 Reed Street, in which he referred to a proposed street at 60 and 62 Reed Street. He said he did not intend to give the property, on which he has paid taxes for 42 years, to Pond Realty or anyone else . The Chairman rported that she talked to Mr. Hodgdon and he claims ownership to a parcel of land, and Pond Realty also claims ownership. She advised Mr. Hodgdon to consult an attorney to take care of his interest, Proposed Road but he said he had a couple of lawyers . Reed Street It was agreed to advise Mr. Hodgdon that the situ- ation is one over which the Board has no jurisdiction and is a matter between him and Pond Realty and suggest that he consult an attorney. The Board received a copy of a letter from resi- dents of Alcott Road to the Planning Board asking that Street Name Board to consider a new name for Alcott Road. Letter fromSears, Roebuck and Co. , requesting per- mission to park a trailer on two parking spaces at the rear of their store was held over . Mr. Ferguson said he did not think the Board should grant permission for the use of municipal property for a private enterprise . He said if it were for charity, Use of park- he might feel differaotly, but he doubted if the Board ing spaces had any right to grant the use of the spaces for that purpose as the property was taken for public parking purposes . Mr. Adams said he felt granting permission would be establishing an undesirable precedent. 120 1.4 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to advise the concern that Town property should not be used for private enterprise , and that there would be no objection if the company uses its own property on which to park the trailer. Letter was received from Mr. Donald K. Irwin, Building Inspector, stating that, with the Board' s Study of approval, he would like to make a study of the fees Building charged by the Plumbing and Electrical Inspectors Dept Fees and his depar ent in comparison with other communities . Any recomme9aations as the result of a study would be presented to the Board for approval before adoption. The Board had no objection. The Chairman read a letter from George W. Forten, Dog Officer, reporting an investigation of written C onplaint complaint filed by Mr.. and Mrs. Hereon, 30 Blake Road, re Dog about a dog owned by Mr. Paul M. Wagner, Jr. , 33 Blake Road. Mr. Forten said, in his opinion, the dog should be restrained during the day and taken indoors at night, and he recommended that a hearing on the sbbject be held. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to hold a hearing on Monday, September 12, 1960, to deter- mine whether or not an Order should be issued concerning the restriant or disposal of a dog owned by Mr. Paul M. Wagner, Jr. , 33 Blake Road. Letter was received from the Board of Fire Com- missioners asking if the Board had any objection to the disposal of a 1911 American LaFrance truck stored Fire truck at the East Lexington Station . It will be necessary to Make room for the present Ladder Truck when the new one is delivered. It was agreed to advise the Commissioners that if they want to dispose of the truck, an article will have to be inserted in the warrant for a Town Meeting Mr. Ferguson suggested that the truck may have value as an antique A form letter received from the Legislative Re- search Bureau relative to a study of home rule for Massachusetts cities and towns was held over . The Chairman explained that the Director of the Study of Bureau is asking Boards of Selectmen to make suggestions home rule to help in the study. Mr. Adams said that Mr. Stevens has had consider- able experience on the subject and may have some help- ful ideas. I 121 It was agreed to ask Mr Stevens if he has any recommendations to make Further consideration was given to an application for a Taxi Driver' s License filed by Paul A. Buckley, Jr. , 139 Shade Street The Chairman reported that he should have graduated this year if he had not gone off to school, but came back to Lexington when his father was ill The Board has established the policy whereby no License student while attending High School will be granted a license , and Mr. Adams said th ,t there could be instances where an exception could be made , but there is a policy and some other individual may want the same consideration It was the opinion of the Board that inasmuch as a definite policy has been established and enforced on previous occasions, there is no justification for changing the policy now. The application was denied Application for a license to drive a Taxi was re- ceived from Walter G. Hodgdon, 32 Hancock Street, Lex- ington, age nineteen, not a student . Satisfactory character reference was received from the Chief of Police . Taxi Driver' : Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted license to grant a Taxi Driver' s License to Walter G. Hodgdon, 32 Hancock Street . Further consideration was given to application for a Public Carriage License for Car Number 321-701, received from the Minute Man Cab Inc The Chairman read a letter from the applicant Cab License advising that arrangements have been made with the propiietors of theLexington Esso Service Station lo- cated on Woburn Street to park vehicles on the premises when not in use . A signed statement to this effect was received from Jerome F. Garrity, proprietor of the station. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant a license to the Minute Man Cab Inc. for an additional vehicle . Signing the warrant for the Special Town Meeting to be held on September 26, 1960 was held over until the next meeting of the Board. {, •; ` U The meeting adjourned at 9:06 P.M. A true record, Attest: cec Clerk, Selec en