Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-08-24-BOS-min 248 SELECTMEN'S MEETING August 2)1 , 1959 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen ' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, August 2)1 , 1959, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Maloney, Messrs. James, Adams, Ferguson and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. John J. Carroll, Superin- tendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held on August 10, 1959, subject to minor corrections and clarification. At 7 :30 P.M. , hearing was declared open upon peti- tion of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for approval of a j/o guy wire and anchor location on Hudson Road Mr. Mahon, representing the Boston Edison Company, was the only person present for the hearing. The proposed location was approved by Mr. Carroll. Guy wire and Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted anchor to sign the petition and sign the order for the follow- ing guy wire and anchor locaticn: Hudson Road, northeasterly side, from a pole locat. d approximately 25 feet southeast of Spring Street. Mr. Mahon had two men with him who he explained were contractors trying to develop a parcel of land off Douglas Road near the Woburn line, running southerly from East Street. At the present time , thereis a j/o pole directly in the middle of Douglas Road on East Street which hampers the developers in getting a water line installed. He explained that he did not have a petition ready to present to the board, but was asking the Board to advise the telephone company, if agreeable, to relocate the pole as a telephone project and the Boston Edison Company will in due time present its proposition He said he was asking the Board for a vote of confidence so that the pole can be relocated, and presented a blue- print indicating the pole involved. The Board had no objection. Mr Mahon and the two gentlemen retired at 7:40 P.M. 249 Mr. Carroll referred to a discussion held relative to abandonment of the railroad crossing at Westview Street Westview and reported that it was the original intention of the State Street Department of Public Works to abandon it, but steps have Railroad been taken to make sure it is not abandoned and he said it Crossing will continue to be a through way. Mr Carroll said that about two months ago, he asked approval for the installation of a water main in Massachu- setts Avenue from Bonair Street to provide water to a house owned by Mr Clark. He had requested the instal- lation due to the fact that the Health Sanitarian was in difficulty because he had approved a cesspool near Mr. Water Clark' s well. The Water Order was prepared and executed Order �y the Board, but he held up on recording it because he was not certain that Mr. Clark would pay for the instal- lation, as he never paid for the water service charge of �p1e5. He advised that he heard the problem had been cor- rected and received a le ter from Mr. Lurvey to the ef- fect that the ( riginal problem no longer exists. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to rescind the vote of the Board to construct a water main in Massachusetts Avenue from Bonair Avenue a distance of 150' ± southwesterly. Recommendations for lighting Waltham Street were re- ceived from Mr. Carroll, and he said if the Board desires to go ahead with the project, he would recommend item E in the recommendations . Mrs.Morey said she was opposed as she does not like mercury vapor lights and she felt the Board should wait until it has been determined whether or not it likes the Waltham St. lights on Bedford Street. She said some lights satisfy lighting requirements as well as others . Mr. Carroll explained that there is no other type lighting except incandescent which are much more expen- sive to operate and are practically obsolete . He said the largest incandescent lamp is 1,000 lumen and is much more expensive to operate than the mercury vapor. Mr. Ferguson asked how many lights would be going beyond Forest Street and Mr. Carroll replied that the last one would be at Forest Street. Mr. Ferguson asked if the Boston Edison Company recommended as many as seven lights and Mr. Carroll replied that there are seven lights there now and the company recommends nine Mr. Adams asked when the lights would be installed on Bedford Street and Mr Carroll replied that it would be the end of the year. Mr. Adams asked if the Waltham Street lights would 250 n CC be installed at the same time as -he Bedford Street lights and Mr. Carroll replied that it is up to the Board to de- tide 4 Mr. Adams said he thought sooner or later something would have to be done about lighting Waltham Street. Mr. Ferguson said Waltham Street would be seven times as bright as it is now, and Mr Carroll explained that this was done in Depot Square There were 8,000 lumen before and they were increased ten times. Mrs . Morey asked if the Board had to go from 800 lumen to 11,000 lumen. Mr. Carroll said he was not particularly in favor of doing Waltham Street and not doing the other streets in the Center. He suggested going over the recommendations made bS the Boston Edison Company and including an item in the budget He said if the Board agrees to have this type of light, the Center should be done all at one time . Mrs Morey said that Clarke Street has incandescent and it is good. Mr Carroll explained that Clarke Street is an entirely different type of street Mr. Adams suggested trying mercury vapor on Bedford Street and including an item in the budget for Waltham Street . Mrs. Morey explained that if these lights are in- stalled on Waltham Street, the merchants will immediately want them in the Center. She suggested that the Board adopt a policy whereby Cl and C2 areas be illuminated with this type of lighting. Mr. James said that, regardless of what the plan will be, the Board has only two choices; big incandescent which will not do the job or mercury vapor. He said there is no question but that the Board should have the mercury vapor installed, and whatever the plan is, mercury vapor will be installed on Waltham Street. Mrs. Morey said that the question is, is a change needed. She said that perhaps more lights are needed on Waltham Street. M Carroll explained that the lights are now as close as they can be located. Mr . Ferguson said he would like to see the Center and Waltham Street done at the same time , as he was not in favor of going from a brightly lii3hted Waltham Street to a dimly lighted Center. The Chairman said he Nought the Center should be better illuminated but the lights are not twenty-five years old and any change to those lights would be more costly. Mr. Adams said that he agreed with Mr Ferguson. It was agreed to defer action on lichting Waltham Street and consider it as a 1960 budget item; Mr Carroll to bring in an estimate of the cost to install Mercury 251 vapor lights in the Center down to the Post 0!'fice . The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Stephen Rus- sian, advising that he has been engaged as attorney for Mr. and Mrs . Daniel J. Fink to recover damages Claims for sustained by them as a result of sewer easements and damages temporary construction easements taken by the Tcw n through lot 17, Peacock Farm Road. It was agreed to refer the letter to Town Counsel. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. S. E. Abbott, 2678 Massachusetts Avenue , citing examples of indif- ference on the part of town officials . Complaint It was obvious that Mr Abbott was misinformed or confused on several items, and it was agreed to acknowledge his letter and endeavor to clarify the matter . The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Richard M. Purinton advising th t he will complete the preparation of the radio equipment request for Civil Defense and Civil Defanse also help as needed in the completion of the Town Civil Defense Plan. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Mr. Arthur Burrell, 102 Gleason Road, Director of Civil Defense for an unexpired term ending March 31, 1960. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign an application for Certificate of Incorporation filed by Mr . Paul F. Bowser, 171 Grant Street, satis- Cert. of Inc . factory character reference having been received from the Chief of Police . Mr. Morris, a representative of Itek, met with the Board and said that his company is of the opinion that there are questions in the minds of the Select- men, and in the minds of the people of Lexington, as to what its plans are Itek He explained that they started of a year or so ago, talking 100,000 square feet of space The plans proceeded 'lut had to be revised as the company+ s growth increased They hoped to start building in June or July and did not want to start later than July because of the weather . Furthermore , they were very conscious of the steel situation. As their requirements increased, they found themselves no longer talking 100,000 square feet but 150,000 square feet With the added requirements he1new he could not get the steel and if he went into detail design, he could not start until July. Therefore , it was decided to change and they concentrated entirely 252 n CC on the architect with a schedule that would complete all of the design by December 15th, go out to bid in December, award the contract in January and start construction as soon as the weather would permit. Instead of talking about a completion in April or May, they are now talking about a completion in September. This will give the com- pany an opportunity to obtain a firmer bid. He explained that a bid taken in December and January is often a better bid than can be obtained in June . He reported that the development of the site plan has been continued and he would show the Board what is being considered which will eventually be about 355,000 square feet. Messrs. Morris and Carroll retired at 8:35 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted License to renew James P. C onnell' s Guide License for a period of one year expiring August 211 , 1960 . It was agreed to invite all the guides to meet in the Selectmen ' s Room on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, for the purpose of making a study of the guide ' s pro- gram for 1960. Letter was received from Representative Thomas P. O'Neill,Jr , together with a copy of the legislation National providing for the establishment of a Minute Man National Park Historical Park and a copy of the Committee Report. The Chairman read a letter from the Metropolitan Planning Conference, 689 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge , inviting the Board to appoint arepresentative to the Conference . Mr. Ferguson said he would like more definite in- formation on the subject before making an appointment , and Mr. James said he could obtain information and would report back to the Board It was agree to acknowledge the letter ftnd ad- vise the Chairman of the time and place of the confer- ence , a memer of the Board would attend. Mr. Adams said the t parking in the center is be- coming worse and there is no enforcement of the law. He said it seemed to him that, even without the law, something can he done to alleviate the parking situation. The Chairman reported that he spoke to the Chief and he agreed to send out some letters to those individuals who park all day in the municipal parking area and also have an officer check it . Parking Mr. Adams said he thought the railroad station lot is the answer. The Chairman reported that the location was refer- red to the Planning Board and that board is working on it *of the Conference that if he would inform the Board 2E The Chairman reported thr't he talked to Mr. Stevens who advised him that the Selectmen can control the taxi stand. Taxi Stand Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to increase the present stand by one car and allow each company to keep two cars on the stand at any one time . The Chairman also reported that after he found out it was within the Board' s jurisdiction, he called Mr. Durkin of the Minute Man Cab Company and told him what the Board was planning to do and he was very receptive to the arrangement. Mr. Ferguson mentioned th't the No Parking signs have been removed from. Park Drive and it was agreed to Signs find out why they have been taken down. The Board discussed Worthen Road, and it was agreed to write the Planning Board requesting information on the subject so that the board may have some idea of the Worthen Road appropriation to be requested for 1960 and what will be included in the appropriation It was agreed to ask Mr Carroll to report at the next meeting on what the policy is for taking care Recreation of recreation areas at the schools It was also agreed areas to obtain a co y of a letter from the Recreatin Com- mittee relative to the control of the school play areas The Uhairman reported thit Mr Luongo owns land on Moreland Avenue which abuts Buckman Drive . He is will- ing to co-operate with the 'own but wonders if there is any tax title land in that area that he can use for his garden because he needs the income . Mr. Snow said that Mr. Luongo would co-operate but he wants some land in that area. Luongo The Chairman told Mr. Snow that he was sure the Board would be willing to co-operate and asked him to look into the matter. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to hold the next regular meeting of the Board on Tuesday, September 8, 1959, at 7:30 P.M. The meeting adjourned at 10 05 P.M. A true record, Attest: ecdive Jerk,( Select n