Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-03-02-BOS-min 46 Cc SELECTMEN'S MEETING March 2, 1959 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, March 2, 1959, at 7:30 P. M. Chairman Maloney, Messrs. James, Tucker, Adams and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, Mr . Stevens, Town Counsel, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Upon motion of Mr . Adams, seconded by Mr. Tucker, Minutes it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen ' s Meeting held on Monday, February 23, 1959. Mr. Stevens referred to the sewer betterment as- sessment levied against property owned by Dr. Blakely and located on Winter Street, and Mr. Carroll presented Sewer a plan of the Blakely property. betterment Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mr. James, assessment it was voted to abate the sewer betterment assessment in the amount of $696.23. Mr. Stevens gave an informal report of progress on the MDC water line extension conference held on February 24th. He explained that Mr. Toole will re- MDC water commend the following extensions to the Commission: 5500' 36" line from Park Avenue to the Arlington-Lexing- ton line at an estimated cost of 343,000 to be paid by MDC ; 1300' of 36" line from the Arlington-Lexington line to Watertown Street at an estimated cost of 082,000 to be divided 73% or $59,860 to be paid by Lexington and 27% or $22,140 to be paid by Waltham; 7600' 36" line from Watertown Street to Waltham Street at an estimated cost of $478,000 to be paid 57.5% or $274,850 by Lexington and 12.5 or $203,150 to be paid by Waltham. 3600' 16" line from Waltham Street to the Waltham line at an estimated cost of $120,000 for which Waltham will be responsible ; 2,000,000 gallon tank and 24" main at an estimated cost of $600,000 to be paid for by MDC . He explained that he assured the group that studies showed Lexington does not need that storage and it is 47 willing for them to build the tanks solely to the size they need for their own system purposes . Their big cost is due to the fact that this is planned as an elevated tank and they need their water on the top. Mr. Toole said that he would recommend to the MDC a total project of $1, 623,000 of which the Commission will pay $943,000 Lexington will pay $334,710 and Waltham will pay $345,290. He stated that these figures are straight engine- ering figures so there is no reason why Waltham should not accept them. The cost to Lexington p e ington of $334,710 will have added to it the cost of the line from Waltham Street to Route 2 to the standpipe which Lexington will have to pay. He explained that Mr. Carroll is working on this with George Howland. Then he will be in a position to sit down with the air force, tell them what it is and ask them to let Lexington know what can be done If the Air Force says no, Lexington will tell the MDC all it wants is the Arlington-Lexington line . If the Air Force agrees to pay for the part Lexington thinks is fair and Waltham does not go in with it, Lexington will recommend that the project be completed down to the point of the tank at Waltham Street. The Commission will assume Walthamts share of the cost un- til such time as Waltham uses it . Mr. Stevens explained that the contract now has a provision that either party canterminate the contract He said the Air Force could not be expected to pay and have the Town terminate the next year, but he would not agree to completely take that part out , He said it would have to be tied to some estimated computation. Mr. James asked what the Board needed to know be- fore discussing this with theAir Force . Mr. Stevens replied what element should go in the cost which they are to share and what portion of the cost is a fair amount to put on them and that depends on how much water they are using. Mr. James' said the Board would need the estimated cost of the main from Waltham Street and Route 2 to the standpipe and the cost of the standpipe up to Westview. Mr. Carroll explained that they total $600,000 and he is trying to work out what the Town considers is a reasonable percentage of the total cost it should charge the Air Force He said one method is the percentage of the water the Air Force uses . The other method is to find out how much water which will be used by the Air Force will flow through the new 36-inch line . 48 CC 1.4 Mr. James asked if the Town would be committed to any part of thds expenditure if the Air Force did not use any water, and Mr. Carroll replied that he definitely felt not. Mr . Stevens said it looks now as though Lexing- ton will get two new entrances of water and get just double what it gets naw. Mr. Stevens said any further standpipes in Lex- ington can be put on a hill and therefore they can be built cheaper, and the Town should make certain that it has the hill sites . He said it would seem desirable to select the one or two places that might be needed in the future and acquire them now. He said Mr. Carroll is of the opinion that the most desirable site is on the hill in back of the Green property. Mr. Stevens referred to the case pending where the Lexington Golf Club had a hearing before the Board of Appeals and said that the subject of rubbish and trash on the street was brought up He said the Club is going to try and improve the situation but the ap- Hill Street pearance of the road invites people to dump there. at Golf He explained this is where the bank was widened and Club the question was raised as to why the Town couldntt do something to improve the situation . He said if the Board thought it advisable, parking could be prohibited on the side of the street away from the Club He said the Town could probably improve the shoulder and provide parking. Mr. Adams asked to have Mr. Carroll study the subject and report to the Board. Mr. Abbott and Mr. Snow met with the Board. Mr. Snow presented a plan of Rangeway and said that one of the plans on record is Park Heights. Plan 2 which shows the Rangewgy from Sky View Road Rangeway southerly to the boundary line of the Park Heights subdivision. He said thereis no record in the Town of this everrbeing laid out by the Board of Survey which was in existence at the time . The Town owns two lots at the southerly end on the easterly side of Rangeway. He stated that because of the general topography and the gas line easement in the plan for development, the question arises as to the status of Rangeway. He said it seemed to him it is only a right of way. He said after that is determined, the question will arise as to whether or not the Select- men wish to sell these lots. Mr. Adams said the first question is whether or not Rangeway is a way and what its legal status is. Mr. Stevens said the question should be decided 49 by the Board as to whether or not it is in the best interest of the Town to sell the lots . He said if the Planning Board feels the idea is undesirable , then he thought the lots should not be sold. If the Board decides not to sell the lots, the developer will have to see if he can get a second access somewhere else . He said if the Planning Board feels it is un- desirable to have a second access to this area created in this place, that is a sufficient answer. TO,e Chairman said that the Board would not want to go along with a dead end water main but the developer might be willing to install it . He said the Town should not have to spend money to improve a developer's situ- ation. Mr. Stevens said the Planning Board could tell the developer exactly how it feels and that the Town is under no obligation to provide him tith a second means of access. The Chairman said if the Planning Board would make a recommendation, the Selectmen would try and cooperate and the lots would not be sold until the Planning Board was in favor of selling them. Messrs . Snow and Abbott retired Further consideration was given to an application from Berman's Market, Inc . to transfer its license for the sale of all alcoholic bev^rages, not to be drunk on the premises, from 12 Massachusetts Avenue to 55 Massachusetts Avenue . The Board did not sign the license and authorized Berman's the Chairman to contact Mr. Berman to discuss the area license to be used for parking. Mr. Stevens retired at 8:30 P. M. Three Silva brothers met with the Board and re- ported difficulty with frozen garbage receptacles. They said the situation is not only a problem in Lex- ington but also in other towns . The ground is frozen and many of the buckets freeze up tight, making it im- possible to collect the garbage and then the Town re- ceives complaints. They did not think it fair to be charged $5.00 when a complaint is not legitimate . The Chairman asked if the main complaint was the $5.00 charge and Silva replied in the affirmative . He said they bid the contract low and they are taking money from the livestock to meet the payroll. He said there were six complaints today, every one of them frozen solid and it was impossible to collect the garbage . He said many of tha underground containers are not properly installed. The garbage is not always I 50 PIC frozen in the container, but the container is frozen in the well . They presented a card which is left at111 the houses in Concord. Mr. Tucker said he thought the card system was good and that there should be some allowance made. He asked how much of a project it would be to make a record of the houses where the buckets are frozen, and Mr. Silva said that on Bedford Street alone there were twenty-four frozen buckets. Mr. Carroll said he has cooperated 100% with the contractor and his method of charging them on the Garbage complaints is to give them five complaints. He said Collection he has told them repeatedly to call in or come in the next day on the complaints he did not feel were justi- fied and they would be deducted. He said he told the contractor he would take his word for the namber of complaints not justified. He said this was done for a time . Mr. Silva said the contract has read the same for ten years and the other collectors were not charged for complaints . He said he is trying to do a good job and they work on the trucks themselves. The Chairman said the Board felt they were doing a good job. He said all they have to do is to tell Mr. Carroll about the complaints they feel are not justified Mr. Mr. Carroll said his job is to enforce the con- tract and that is what he is doing. The Chairman said the Board would cooperate . He said Mr. Carroll is willing to take Mr . word on the complaints not justified and he did not think they could ask for much more . Mrs. Morey said that if there was no penalty, the collection might not be so good. Mr. Carroll said he told Silva that if he con- sidered the collection over a period of three years was good, he would go before the Board and ask to have the amount of money deducted returned to him. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Silva make a fresh start and report all the unjustified complaints to Mr. Carroll who would take his word for it. The Silvas retired at 8:55 P.M. Mr. Charles Babcock, 7 Brandon Street, met with the Board. Mr. Babcock said that he has a piece of property with approximately 200 foot frontage , part of which borders land owned by the Town of Arlington and it is a pie-shaped let. He explained thet his street better- ment assessment on his property was 41500 and he was 51 told at the street hearing that he should come in after the street was conttructed and there was no Babcock' s reason why some arrangement could not he made on street that particular part of the lot as it is of no value betterment to him or anyone else . He said he tried to square it off by purchasing land from the Town of Arlington but he could not do business with Arlington. Mr. Carroll presented a plan of the property owned by Mr. Babcock. He said he understood no de- ferment could be made on a parcel of land upon which a building is located. He suggested that Mr. Babcock have this parcel of land put on record as parcel A and ask for deferment on that parcel. He said the amount to be deferred would be approximately $450. Mr. Babcock understood he was to have a plan made and filed at the Registry. He retired at 9:10 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the following j/o pole locations, all having been checked by Mr. Carroll: Aerial Street, northerly side, westerly from a point Pole approximately 20 feet west of Daniels Road, -- locations Five poles. Barrymeade Drive, southwesterly side , northwesterly from a point approximately 55 feet northwest of Lincoln Street, -- Five poles . Concord Avenue , southwesterly side , southeasterly from a point approximately 270 feet southeast of Blossom Street, -- Sixteen poles. (Sixteen existing j/o poles to be removed. ) Concord Avenue, northeasterly side, approximately 600 feet southeast Of Pleasant Street, -- One pole (One existing j/o pole to be removed. ) Mr. Walter O' Brien, 34 Homestead Street, left a letter with the Clerk that he received from the Col- lector in regard to a sewer house connection charge . O'Brien Mr. Carroll reported that he has discussed the connection subject with the O' Briens and advised them that re- charge gardless of what refunds their neighbors received, their charge was correct. He said he checked with 52 the foreman and was advised that the time charged was legitimate . The Chairman asked if it was raining when the connection was made and Mr. Carroll said he did not know but there was a ground water condition there . Mr. Carroll said the charge is correct and it was agreed to so advise Mr. OtBrien. Statement was received from the MDC indicating Water the amount of water sold to all municipalities and the revenue received during the previous calendar year . Mr. Carroll retired at 9:20 P. M. Letter was received from Edwin B. Worthen, Jr. , suggesting three alternate names for the proposed Emerson Rd road from the junction of Route 128 and Bedford Emerson Rd. Street to Route 2, now referred to as Emerson Road. It was suggested the t a copy of the letter be sent to the Planning Board. Letter was received from the Capital Expenditures Committee requesting permission to have the Committee , whose members are not Town Meeting Members, to sit on Town the floor at the Annual Town Meeting. Meeting It was agreed to ask the Moderator to grant the request and suggest that it be announced at the be- ginning of the meeting . It was also agreed to advise the Committee to submit the request to the Moderator. Application was received from the Lexington Choral Society for the use of Cary Hall for three rehearsals and two concerts . The Clerk reported that the Society is consider- ing the erection of a temporary ceiling on the stage . Use of hall The uses of the hall were granted free of charge , no admission being charged, and the Chairman was authorized to advise the Society that the Board questions the advisability of erecting a temporary ceiling and to point out that the Town cannot be held responsible for any damage or injury. Application was received from the Fine Arts Chamber Orchestra for permission to conduct a concert in Cary Hall on Sunday, April 5, 1959. This group accompanies the Lexington Choral Society in its con- certs . It was voted torant the use of the hall sub- ject to a charge of 035 .00. 53 The Chairman reported that he had contacted Mr. Collins, Welfare Agent, relative to the salary established for the Social Worker, He explained Welfare that the schedule the Board is obligated to pay Social the Social Worker is set at a minimum of $3600 per Worker year which would be an increase of 44¢ a week . Mr. James said that the salary is now figured on the basis of $3600 per year . Mr. Adams advised that the Republican Committee would like to use the Selectmen's Room on March 24th for a meeting. The Board had no objection. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 P.M. A true record, Attest: xec tive Jerk, Select n