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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-11-24-BOS-min SEL-iTMEN+ S MEETING November 2 , 1958 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, November 21p , 1958, at 7'30 P. M. Chairman Maloney, Messrs . James, Tucker, Adams and Mrs Morey were present Mr Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Gayer, Szperintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Donald T. Clark, writtsn on behalf of the School Committee , relative to salaries for secretaries and custodians. The Chairman suggested a meeting with Mr. Clark Friday morning . It wrls agreed that such a meeting Salaries should be held in an effort to establish a uniform schedule for similar positions in the various Town departments out it was decided to send Mr Clark a list of rates currently being paid for him to con- sider before arranging a meeting . Mr Stevens referred -o the proposed pedestrian crossing fron Essex Street across the Boston & Maine right of way to Valley Road, and read a letter from the attorney for the railroad.* Mr. Stevens examined the records at the County Commissioners ' office and also examined the plans Tere was a plan filed in 1871 or 1872 showing the proposed layout of the railroad and shows what apparently is Valley Road It indicates that Valley load was an existing road at the time the railroad cams through. He said it seems to him that there is an established grade crossing at that loca- tion which arose out of the fact the road was there first . He stated that Route 128 came along and the road changed. Nevertheless, it had been used as a. means of access and egress . He explained the fact that the road is now continued on the other side does not take away the need for pedestrians to get across . He said the Dedestrian way should be laid out, if that is what the Board decides, down to this grade crossing and that is it. Mr. Stevens said he should write the railroad and say the Sele :,,tmen will object because they want it maintained so pedestrians can get across . Then the railroad, if it wants to, can file and have a hearing and could as,c to have it altered and cut it down to ten or twelve; feet relative to closing the crossing. ow< aob The Chairman asked if the railroad was supposed to maintain this crossing, and Mr. Stevens replied that he thought it was the railroad' s obligation be- cause the road was there first The Chairman asked if the discussion involved the Pedestrian foot path across from Reed Street and Mr Stevens re- crossing plied that he was discussing only the path going across the railroad If it is a crossing, it is up to the rail- road to maintain it and the Town has the right to design a foot path as a pedestrian way to go up to it. It was unanimously agreed to proceed with the lay- out and Mr. Stevens was instructed to advise the rail- road that the Board wou'd oppose because it wants it maintained so pedestrians can get across Mr. Stevens reported on the hearing held last Friday on the M.D.0 water extension and said there were no representatives present from Waltham or Boston and so there were no objections He said that much of the discussion was about increase in rates, and it was the general feeling of the members of the Commission that this would be the time to ask for an increase in rates . Mr. Stevens said that the Commissioners wanted to know the Town' s attitude He said that the Town took the view that the M.D.C . was required to furnish the Town water with sufficient pressure , which they have not been doing, and there is no question but they will have to pay for the construction to Lexington' s line . He stated that if by such construction for Waltham, it is put through a part of Lexington, Lexington should not be required to pay anything because it will be there and available for use He then advised the Commissioners that Lexington' s need beyond Watertown Street is due to the fact of the big use by the Airport and Lexington expected a very substantial contribution from the Federal government. He reported that Mr. Gayer brought in a Mr. Marshall from the air base who said that there had been no figures presented and therefore he could not say how much would be contributed The only way they can be supplied is through Lexington and therefore the situa- tion would have to be worked out on the basis of those receiving benefit would have to pay for it. It was finally decided that the M.D.C . would file the bill . Mr. Stevens said that in the meantime an effort could be made to work something out between Lexington, the air M.D.0 Water force , Waltham and the M.D.C . in sharing the cost . He stated that $1,600,000 . was what they were going to ask for and now it is going to be $2,000,000. He said be- fore the air force gets into it, Waltham, Lexington and the M.D.0 should discuss it so that a figure can be 521 given to the air force people He said that the next step is to take this up with Waltham and until this is done , it will not be known how much of this $2,000,000 will be expected from Lexington and how much from the Federal government . Mr. Gayer was instructed to contact the Superin- tendent of Fublic Works in Waltham. Mn. Stevens reported that he had a suggested amend- ment to the Limited Town Meeting Act . Last year when the matter cf filling vacancies was tried, from those who did not make a three-year term, the result ran into Amendment to a tie . He then ruled the proper interpretation was that Limited Town the tie would be determined by the elected Town Meeting Meeting Act members However, it is not specifically covered so he suggested adding after Section 2 an amendment to cover this He said the bill would also provide for sub- mission to Town Meeting on the ballot The petition was signed by the Board and taken by Mr Stevens The Chairman read a letter from Mr Gayer advis- ing that he had received a formal petition for the con- struction of a water main in Circle Road from Hillcrest IIAvenue approximately 850 feet to the end Mr Ga)er said that last Spring Busa wanted water Circle Road and was told. he would have to petition in a formal Nater manner. There are houses there now The Chairman asked if there were a number of Town owned lots involved, and Mr . Gayer replied in the af- firmative . He said that Busa signed for all the Town lots. Mr. Adams said that to act favorably on this petition would be going back to the old policy. The Chi irman explained that this is a street with people living on it and Mr. Adams said he would like to defer action until he had an opportunity to look at the street. The Chairman said this is nothing new as the Town has installed 600 feet of water main for one house And here water will be installed for Town land Mrs . Morey asked how this street differed from Haywood Avenue and Mr Gayer replied that insofar as he is concerned, there is no difference . Mrs . Morey asked how many occupancy permits had been issued and Mr. Gayer replied that he did not know. Mrs . Morey said the t until the Board had more in- formation she did not think anythin should be done Mr. Adams asked if, under the former policy, this would have been done without the Board seeing it, and 522 Mr Gayer replied that it would have been put in his budget Mrs . Morey said she thought someone should ask Mr. Busa why he signed for the Town lots . The Chairman suggested inviting Mr. Busa to meet with the Board so he could answer the question. Mr Adams said, speaking for himself, there is the matter of an established policy of requiring 50% of the owners ' signatures Mr. James asked if this would be a dedd end, and Mr. Gayer replied in the affirmative . The Board deemed the petition to be in improper form and therefore no action was taken. The Chairman read a letter from Norman J. Richards, attorney for Dr. Chester Blakely, petitioning for abate- ment of a sewer betterment assessment in the amount of Blakely $696 23, levied against property on Winter Street sewer Mr. Gayer presented a plan of the Blakely pro- assessment perty and said he thought it could be subdivided Mrs Morey suggested deferment on a three-year basis Mr Gayer said the Board could abate the assess- ment and then at some time , the property could be subdivided Mr. James said he would like to ask Mr Stevens if it could be abated with a provision that the land would never be built upon The other method would be deferment Mr. Stevens said the Board could present to Mr. Richards the two possibilities, one of abatement with the possibility of a connection charge some time in • the future if it i ever divided and built upon and the other would be to lay out a lot and defer on that lot. He said if it is abated, it should be with the understanding that at any time a house is built on Winter Street, there will be a connection charge in lieu of betterments . It was agreed to advise Mr. Richards that rather than grant an abatement, the Board would consider an extension under the provisions of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 1950 of the time for paying the assessment . If he would furnish Mr . Gayer with a plan showing the division of the Blakely property into separate lots, on one of which will be located the present house , it would result in there being land not built upon whibh would bring the matter within the provisions of the statute , and after apportionment, the Board would be in a position to extend the time for payment upon such a request. ' The Chairman read a letter from James F Sawyer, 5 Centre Street, relative to two bills received for a sewer betterment assessment on Lots 1 and 2, Block 18, Reed Street . Mr. Gayer explained thrt an assessment had been levied on lots 1 and 2, Block 18, Centre Street, in Sawyer the amount of $277 .20 and later on, an assessment of sewer $249.39 levied against lots 1 and 2, Block 18, Reed assessments Street, which was an error Upon mction duly made and seconded, it was voted to abate the sewer betterment assessment in the amount of 9249.39 levied against Lots 1 and 2, Block 18, Reed Street. Petition, signed by two of three owners, was re- ceived far the extension of the sewer to service house owned by Laurence Anderson, 527 Bedford Street . Sewer Mr. Janes said he thought the extension should be done this year and the Board agreed. Upon mction duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew the following licenses : Licenses The Carriage House 271 Lincoln St Common Victualler (ren'w1) Regent Delicatessen 1729 Mass. Ave " It ' Old Coffee House 1775 Mass Ave " " 1st Class Agent " Dunn Ford Sales 409 Mase . Ave . " Upon motion duly made and seconder , it was voted to sign an Order for the construction of a sidewalk in Taft Avenue from Charles Street a distance of 90.05 Sidewalk feet southeasterly along the northeasterly side of Taft Taft Avenue Avenue It was also voted to sign an Order for the con- struction of a sidewalk in Taft Avenue from Tarbell venue a distance of 80 feet northwesterly along the southwesterly side of Taft Avenue Mr Gayer retired at 8 45 P M. Sealed bids, for printing the 1958 Town Report, were opened and read by the Chairm^n as follows Lexington Pres, Inc 6(10 copies 7 82 per page 7(0 copies 8 07 per page 860 copies 8 32 perage 2(0 copies School Reports $85. 00 50 copies Accountant' s Reports $40.00 I s a24 4 ai Somerville Printing Company, Inc 600 copies $5,05 per page 700 copies 5.30 per page 800 copies 5.55 per page 200 copies School Reports $2.85 per page 0 copies Accountant ' s Reports $2.75 per page Mrs . Morey reported that the Town Accountant ad- vised that in the years he has been here , he has never had any recuests for copies of the Accountant' s Report Mr. James suggested that if it is definitely deter- mined that there is no need for additional copies, that none be printed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to accept the bid submitted by the Somerville Printing Company, Inc , for 700 copies of the 1958 Annual Town Report. Mr. James reported on the bids received for group insurance and said he would have a copy of the analysis Group prepared for each member of the Board. He explained that Insurance the next step is to hold a consultation with the employees ' committee and then the bid may be officially awarded at the next meet ng of the Board Mrs . Morey reported that a meeting of the Traffic Study Committee had been held and it was suggested that Mrs Michael W Morrison, 13 Bedford Street, should. be Street advised thpt the Board is asking the Boston Edison Com- lights pany to recommend improved lighting in the area from the monument up to the Atlantic & Pacific Mr . James suggested, and the Board agreed, that a lighting engineer should be engaged to make a survey. He said he knew of an engineer connected with Sylvania whom he would contact The meeting adjourned at 10 05 P M. A true record, Attest 1Electtti Cle Sel ctmen