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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-03-23-BOS-min 69 SEIE C TMEN 'S MEETING March 23, 1959 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, March 23, 1959, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Maloney, Messrs . Adams, Ferguson and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr . John J Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Harold Stevens, Town Counsel, and the Acting Clerk were also present. Mr. Raymond W. James came to the meeting at 8:35 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of four jurors, and the following individuals were drawn for jury duty: Mr. Arthur J. Jurors O'Leary, 19 Normandy Road; Joseph A. Blume, 18 Hamilton Road; Raymond Hutchins, 2 Weston Street and Edward J. McCann, 32 Grove Street. Mr. Carroll retired. The minutes of the Selectmen ' s meeting held on March 17, 1959, were approved subject to minor cor- Minutes rections . The letter from Mrs. Dexter Smith, 55 Hancock Street, held over, relative to the "Willard Property" being used for the Girl Scouts one Saturday in May, was discussed. A copy of this letter had previously been sent to Mr. Stevens . Recreation Mr. Stevens felt that tts Board should advise the Willard Recreation Committee of the restrictions on its use, Property that it is now available for use, and we should like to be consulted about programs the t will be scheduled. Mr. Stevens suggested that a letter be written to Mrs. Smith, telling her that her letter is being refer- red to the Recreation Committee . Mr. Adams suggested that the Fire Warden check it to this case . Mrs Morey felt that as each area becomes available , the Reaction Committee should look the area over and recommend how it should be used. Mr. Stevens said he advised the Recreation Committee when the property was acquired, also the Assessors and Police, but felt the Fire and Police Departments should also be notified from the point of view of protection. Mr. Stevens said this raises another question, -- of Sun Valley. At present we have two or three parcels, 70 CD nu two are separated by intervening land sold to two owners The decision should be made whether we are going to get Planning enough land to cut through with a connection. The Plan- Board ning Board has this under consideration for an early decision. Mr. Stevens presented a petition for legislation to validate the appropriation to Mark Moore (Article 61) . Petition He said it should be signed with the Selectmen' s names for legis- and addresses and mailed to Mr. William Madden this lation evening. The Board signed the petition and Mr. Stevens took it for mailing. Mr. Stevens reported that we how have the last option of the Middleby Road land . He said he had Options asked Mr. Carroll to proceed with the plans of this area and of theSwenson lot on Marrett Road and the East Lexington School site . Mr. Stevens retired to attend another meeting. The Chairman read a letter from Anita Dale Sey- mour, 161+0 Massachusetts Avenue , relative to her ac- cident on the sidewalk in front of the Motel on Massachusetts Avenue . Accident Mr. Stevens reported that he had talked with her and suggested that the Board write and inform her that he would keep her advised. Mrs . Morey spoke of another accident which hap- peneld this morning just this side of Cheryl' s Bakery, where the sidewalk does not quite meet the excavated part. She wondered if there was any reason a surface could not be put on that Sidewalk now. Mr . Carroll replied the there is too much frost in the ground there as thesun does not strike that side of the street. He said he could put more gravel in and would take care of it tomorrow. The Chairman read a letter from the Lexington Junior Chamber of Commerce, requesting a permit to set up and operate a refreshment booth at the Depot April 20th Square Green on April 20th. In conjunction with the booth, they wished to operate a merry-go-round for eight children whichlhe Cott Beverage Company would supply. Mrs . Morey said that the Town did not allow it on the Common and this should be treated like the com- mon. The Board unanimously agreed that Emery Park should not be used It was suggested that a latter be written advising them of this fact, but that the 71 Library Trustees have offered the Massachusetts Avenue driveway of Cary Memorial Library as a suitable site for their merry-ground and Booth. The Chairman read a letter from William Meadows, Jr. , relative to his vacation pay. Mr. James said he had three comments on the let- Vacation ter. First, who told him that the checks would be pay coming, had no right to. Second, he could have taken his vacation early in January. He could not have, since our vacation policy distinctly says that the vacation period is from June first through Labor Day. Third, his vacation last year was for 1958, the calendar year 1958. Since he resigned early in 1959, he had not earned any vacation for 1959. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve bond #741127 on behalf of Ethel U. Rich, Bonds Tax Collector, in the amount of $97,800.00; also bond on behalf of James J. Carroll, Town Treasurer, in the amount of $76,200.00. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Licenses to approve the following licenses: Robert N . Cann 48 Hancock St. Auctioneer (renewal) James Joseph Green 8 Fiske Road n n Mr. Charles H. Vole of the Board of Health, met with the Board with reference to the Hamilton sewer. Mr. Hamilton purchased the property at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Worthen Road and wishes a sewer to service these two lots, since the Board of Health will not permit septic tanks in the area Mr. Maloney said he made it very clear to Mr. Hamilton that he would have to pay for it. He said he felt it would not be good policy to allow it. In any event, he felt it should be at his expense Mr Cole informally presented a proposal for a re- zoning of an area bounded by Spring Street, Route 2 and 128, more or less, as an apartment house area, for luxury apartments, totalling probably $5,000,000.00. His plans caused considerable discussion. Mr. Carroll retired. Mr. Ferguson requested the 9 Hancock Street pro- perty to be put on theagenda this evening relative to the Red Cross He said he had had two or three people 72 110 ask what the situation is . He said he understood they have had a letter in for quite some time on it . 9 Hancock St Mr. James said there was a difference of opinion Red Cross among the members of the Board for the Red Cross. They held to the point that the amount of fixing up they would require for their operations would not amount to much and we took the stand that we wanted it done right . The Chairman said that when Mr. Gayer and Mr . Carroll looked it over, the building did not have historical value enough to warrant putting it in condition. Mr . Ferguson said from what he had heard from the Red Cross, they were not looking for a permanent location for a year or too. The Chairman said if they occupy a building, it always becomes one of those permanent things . Mr. Ferguson said the Red Cross feels this building will serve their purposes and will do very nicely. The Red Cross is a charitable organizationlhat hhs done a lot of good. Possibly in that situation the Town is justi- fied in bending over backwards . What they would be will- ing to do is to send a letter that they would be completely responsible ; keep it in repair, etc . It sounded reasonable . The Chairman replied that what they told us was nothing more than a makeshift job. This building, in our opinion, is in such condition it should be torn down, and to put it in a good condition would cost a lot of money . Mr. Ferguson said at the moment, the building has to stay just as it is, and there it is for another year . There would be no harm done if theRed Cross were to use it. The Chairman said once they went in, we would have no further control over it . If it is going to be fixed up, it is going to continue to be a landmark for our Town. Mr. James suggested turning it over to the Historical Society and let them rent it . The Chairman said he did not think it was adequate for the Red Cross, and he felt now was thetime to put them in a place that is suitable and adequate . Mr. Nickerson, Chairman of the Board of Appeals, came in at 9 P.M. He said he thought we were going to be faced with requests for outside signs and this was the first one . This is a request from Cabot, Cqbot and Forbes for an illuminated sign 461 long x 20' high to be facing fror Route 128 both ways. 1,000 square feet is a lot of sign. The sign would be completely erected by the first of July this year . This sign would be on the land they have agreed to sell to Raytheon, and would be way out of order on size . If we start a precedent, we are going to have many requests 1 i 73 for signs in Lexington. He wanted to know if we should go along with these neighbors, take care of them on a temporary basis, unless we had a positive feeling. The Chairman said we had never discussed it. Mr. James said when we were writing sign by-laws, this is what we wanted to avoid The Clerk was dismissed at 9 10 P.M. and the Board continued their discussion A true record, Attest: Acting Clerk, Selectmen ✓ , cfr 11 1