HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-06-06-min 1
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
June 6, 1960
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on
Mcnday, June 6, 1960, at 7 30 P.M Chairman Morey,
Messrs Adams, Ferguson, Richards and Cole were pre-
sent Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr . Carroll, Super-
intendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk
were also present
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held Minutes
on June 1, 1960
The Chairman reported that the Theatre Guild, of
the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, is planning a
play in the fall and presently attempting to raise Theatre
money by the sale of items made by members of the Guild
organization The activity is planned for noon on
July 4, The Board had no objection
Mr. Stevens reported that he had prepared an
11/ agreement covering payment of the purchase price Agreement
of the land theTown is acquiring from Mark Moore , Mark Moore
Article 45 in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meet-
ing, land through which Emerson Road will be ex-
tended.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to sign the agreement as prepared by Mr . Stevens
The Chairman read a letter from the County Com-
missioners to which was attached dopy of order dated
May 27, 1960 for the discontinuance of the crossing Valley Roa'
of Valley Road, over the tracks of the Boston & Maine crossing &
Railroad; and for authority to lay out Valley Road footway
as a footway over the tracks of the railroad.
Mr. Stevens explained the communication is a
matter of information, the orders have to be filed
with the Department of Public Utilities, and that
no further action by the Board is necessary
The Board considered a letter from the General
Attorney of the Boston & Maine Railroad, dated June
1, 1960, stating that the Railroad has recently been
handling its freight traffic for Lexington customers
at a siding in the vicinity of theformer North Lex-
ington station and, as it appeared that this change
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in operations might be construed to involve a "relocation
of a freight depot" under General Laws Chapter 160, Section
Pelccation 129, requesting approval of such relocation by the Board.
of freight Upon consideration thereof and on motion duly made and
depot seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve the relo-
cation of the freight depot of the Boston & Maine Railroad
from the Lexington Station to the siding in the vicinity
of the former North Lexington station.
Vacation & Mr Carroll presented each member of the Board with
Sick Leave a copy of a Proposed Vacation & Sick Leave Policy for
Policy Town Employees .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to go into executive session for the purpose of dis-
cussing, deliberating or voting on a matter which, if
made public , might adversely affect the public security,
the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation
of any person.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to resume the open meeting.
Mr. Stevens retired at 9:13 P.M.
Mr Robert Kent, Mr. David Shoemaker, 50 Peacock
Farm Road and Mrs . S. E. Luria, 48 Peacock Farm Road,
met tith the Board .
Mr . Kent explained that he was representing Mrs
Luria and Mr Shoemaker who are members of the Lexing-
ton Committee of the Emergency Public Integration Com-
mittee . One of the purposes of the committee is the
distribution of leaflets and carrying of signs during
business hours in front of the various Woolworth stores .
The purpose is to call attention to and protest the
'Icketing policy of Woolworth' s in the south On Saturday, last,
the members of this corruuittee in Lexington decided to
carry cards and distribute leaflets on Massachusetts
Avenue and told the manager of Woolworth ' s what they
were going to do. They thought they would inform the
police and had a conversation with the man on the desk
He told them they could carry no signs or distribute
leaflets without thepermission of the Board of Select-
men, and pointed to the provisions of the Town By-Laws
to this effect. Now they have one of three courses to
follow. They could desist from picketing; they could
proceed and defend the ensuing prosecution on the ground
that the By-Law was unconstitutional or come before this
Board and seek permission to distribute leaflets and
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carry signs along Massachusetts Avenue in the vicinity
of Woolworth' s . He said the third course is the most
desirable for neither he nor his clients have any desire
to vindicate the right of free speech in Lexington.
Mr Fermuson asked who the members of the Committee
were , and Mr Shoemaker replied that as of now they are
the only two.
Mr. Ferruson asked if they would be the only in-
dividuals carrying cards, and Mr Shoemaker replied in
the negative He said they hoped to recruit interested
people and have them help.
Mr Cole asked if they had a committee, and Mr
Shoemaker replied that this is a subcommittee of Bpid
The Chairman asked how long they expected to con-
tinue and Mr. Shoemaker replied that they would like to
continue throughout the summer or until such time as
they are unable to continue because of going away, and
the activity itself may become less fruitful as the
summer goes on.
The Chairman asked if they would be picketing the
new Woolworth' s in Bedford, and Mrs Luria replied that
Epic had people out there last Saturday
Mr. Richards stated that he supposed the purpose
of the By-Law was to prevent litter on the street, and
asked what their experience had been
Mrs . Luria replied that she hau only been in such
a line twice in her life She said she was in Concord
for two hours and there was only one person who threw
the leaflets away and the people in the line picked them
up. She said people take them home and discuss them
with their families and that is what the committee wants .
Mr Richards said the Board wouldn't want a large
mount of litter created that could not be cleaned up
for Sunday
Mr. Shoemaker replied tla t they would consider it
to be in their own interest tobe careful and not have
any litter .
Mr Richards asked if he could give the Board a
time for the permit, and Mr. Shoemaker asked if they
could apply for another permit.
The Chairman suggested that they apply on a
monthly basis .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant permission tothe Lexington Committee of the
Emergency Public Integration Committee to distribute
leaflets and to carry signs in the vicinity of Woolworth' s
store on Satrudays during the months of June and July
from 9:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M.
The group retired at 9:20 P.M.
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Mr Irwin, Building Inspector, met with the Board
to discuss enforcement of the Zoning and Sign By-Laws
enforcement Mr. Stevens came back to the meeting at 9:20 P,M,
of By-Laws At the conclusion of the discussion, it was
agreed that Mr. Irwin would report to the Board again
in two weeks . He is also to continue reporting the
monthly complaints received at his office but in a
condensed form.
Mr. Irwin retired at 10 30 P.M.
Mr. Stevens also retired.
Letters on the subject of enforcing the Zoning
and Sign By-Laws were received from the Board of
Appeals and the Planning Board, copies of which are
to be mailed to the members of the Board.
Letter was received from John T. Pollard, Jr. ,
53 Munroe Road, on behalf of the Countryside Bible
Sign Chapel, requesting permission to erect a small
directional sign on the southwest corner of the
intersect- on of Lowell and Woburn Streets
The request was referred to Mr. Carroll with
the suggestion thatthe sign be placed on a street sign.
Letter was received from Elizabeth Scheibe , re-
questing deferment of a water betterment assessment
in the amount of $494.71 inasmuch as no change has
Deferred been made in the status of the property on Lincoln
Betterment Street, formerly owned by Emily R Scheibe , since
Assessment the last deferment
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted,
under the provisionsr,of Chapter 159 of the Acts of
1950, to again extend the time for payment of a water
betterment assessment in the amount of 0.94.71, levied
against property at 376 Lincoln Street, formerly owned
by Emily R. Scheibe , without interest, until said land
or any part thereof is built upon or sold, or until
the expiration of three years fromthe date hereof, which-
ever event occurs first; provided, however, that this
extension of time shall terminate immediately if the
facilities of the water main are used for said land or
any part thereof.
Mr. Adams said he thought the dump rules and regu-
lations should be amended to permit any trucks used for
Dump rules disposal of home rubbish use of the dump without charge
& regulations It was agreed to discuss the subject at the next
meeting of the Board.
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Letter was received from the National Park
Service relative to an application for a permit
to make an addition to a dwelling owned by Mr.
Richard Shhner. Nat 'l. Park
The Clerk was instructed to send a copy of
the communication to each member of the Board, Mr
Nickerson and Mr. Irwin
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant the following licenses, satiafactmry character Licenses
references having been received from the Chief of Police :
Thomas Wilkie 5 Spring Street Taxi Operator
Frank Burns 15 Taft Avenue Peddler
Upon motion du y made and seconded, it was voted
to appoint Mrs Patricia N Fox, 18 Edgewood Road, Appointment
to the Town Celebrations Committee for a three-year
term expiring April 30, 1963 .
The Chairman reported that she had been informed
that the Town of Arlingtonwas holding a hearing this
evening relative to the removal of sand, gravel, etc ,
from an area of the Great Meadows . She said that she
sent a letter to the A lington Selectmen advising that
such removal is in violation of Article 27 of the General
By-Laws and Section 9b of the Zoning By-Laws . Great
Mr. Nicksay, Clerk of the Board, telephoned and Meadows
explained that a letter had been received from Appolino
and Luongo, who are building garden-type apartments
next to the Great Meadows and they have asked for per-
mission to grade in the rear of their property a strip
30 feet wide and 500 feet long. It has been referred
to the Town Engineer for study.
Mr. Nickaay also stated that the Committee on Great
Meadows will meet with the Board next Monday at 0:15 P.M.
to discuss the entire matter.
It was agreed to advise Mr . Nicksay that Lexington
had an appropriation of $20,000 for its purchase and tell
him the Board is interested in a conference after next
Monday's meeting with the Committee .
The meeting adjourned at 11:05 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
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