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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-10-27-BOS-min 480 SELEC TME'N,g MEETING October 27, 1958 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, October 27, 1958 at 7 30 P.M. Chairman Maloney, Messrs . James, Tucker, Adams and Mrs . Morey were present Mr Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr Gayer, Superintendent of Public v:orks, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met for the drawing of two jurors . George H. Everett, Jr , 23 Jurors Bridge Street and Edwin R Johnson, 4 Watson Road, were drawn for jury duty Mr. Carroll retired. Mr. Donald B. Cobb, 14 Hayes Lane , met with the Board Mr Cobb had been recommended as a member of the Town Celebrations committee and the Chairman ex- plained that he had been invited to attend the meet- ing so that the Board would have an opportunity to meet him and he would know the members of the Board. Mr . Cobb said he would be pleased to do anything that he can. He has lived in Lexington for three years Appointment and is an English teacher in the Lexington High School He was born in Norwood and has always lived in Massachu- setts . He was formerly a teacher in Belmont, but lived in Lexington. Mr. Cobb retired at 7:35 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Donald E. Cobb a member of the Town Cele- brations Committee to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Poehler' s resignation, for an unexpired term ending April 30, 1959 Mr. Stevens said he would leave with the Chairman a copy of the Act relative to Selectmen' s Meetings . Act Mrs Morey asked if the agenda had to be prepared in a different way, and Mr. Stevens replied that he only received a copy of the Act today and has not had an opportunity to study it . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign a deed, prepared by Town Counsel, conveying tax title lot 98 Taft Avenue , Liberty Heights, to Stewart C . Cairns and Grace M. Cairns, 47 Taft Avenue 481 A restriction was incorporated in the deed re- quiring that for purposes of building, lot 98 is to Deed to be combined with the adjoining lots 93 to 97, in- tax title elusive , as shown on plan and that only one building, lot together with customary accessory buildings shall be erected, placed or maintained on the combined lot Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign a deed, prepared by Town Counsel, conveying tax title lot 99 Taft Avenue, Liberty Heights, to Deed to Jennie C & Edward E Gaye , 53 Taft Avenue . tax title A restriction was incorporated in the deed re- lot quiring that for purposes of building, lot 99 is to be combined with the adjoining lots 100 to 104, in- clusive, as shown on plan, and that only one building, together with customary accessory buildings shall be erected, placed or maintained on the combined lot . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign a deed, prepared by Town Counsel, conveying tax title lot 4, , lock 91, Essex Street to John E McManus, 3 Laurel Street. A restriction was incorporated in the deed re- Deed to quiring that for purposes of building, said lot is to tax title be combined with adjoining lots 1, 2 and 3, as shown lot on plan, and that only one building, together with customary accessory buildings, shall be erected, placed or maintained on the combined lot. Mr Stevens said that he had received a letter from Mr. Gayer regarding the sewer betterments against the land of Lloyd Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, under the provisions of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 1950, to extend the time for payment of sewer betterment as- sessment in the amount of $518.74, without interest, Lloyd Sewer until said land or any part thereof is bult upon, sold Betterment or until the expiration of three years from the date deferred hereof, whichever event occurs first; provided, however, that this extension of time shall terminate immediately if the facilities of the sewer main are used for said land or any part thereof. It was further voted to abate the sewer betterment assessment in the amount of $1,166 14, it having been explained to and Egreed by the owners, that in the event Lloyd Sewer there should be any subdivision of the land so that any Betterment of the property is ever requested to have a sewer con- abated nection made to the sewer, there will be a sewer connec- tion charge at that time in lieu of betterments . 482 Zoo The Chairman read a letter from the State Depart- ment of Public Works relative to the possible extension of curbing on the southwesterly side of Marrett Road in the vicinity of #436. The State will do all the necessary work to construct a sidewalk except the sur- face if the town will agree to four items listed in the letter Mr. Adams said he thought the entire area should have curbing and reported that Auto Engineering Inc Curbing parks cars out onto the sidewalk . The Chairman pointed out that the town would have to be responsible for removal of snow. Mr. Gayer said there might be some problem in get- ting a sidewalk tractor up there . Mr. Stevens said that the State wants to make sure the sidewalk can be used during the winter Mr. Adams said there should be curbing and if it is not possible to have it without a sidewalk, then there should be a sidewalk. Mrs . Morey suggested deferring action for the pre- sent . She said that the situation at Countryside is similar, and she felt that a policy should be established for all business areas as to whether or not there is going Sidewalk to be curbing and then go on from there . Upon motion of Mr Adams, seconded by Mr Tucker, it was voted to agree to the conditions set forth in the letter from the State as follows: 1 To provide funds for and place the sidewalk surface . 2. To be responsible for maintenance and snow removal on the completed sidewalk. 3 To be responsible for all slope easements and all grade damage claims by the abutters 4 To make no assessments on abutters for work done by the Massachusetts Department of Public Works . Mr. Stevens retired at 8:00 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the Order for the fol- lowing j/o pole locations, same having been approved Pole by Mr Gayer locations Robinson Road, westerly side approximately 10 feet south of Turning Mill Road, -- One Pole (One existing j/o pole to be removed. ) 483 Robinson Road, easterly side approximately 125 feet south of Turning Mill Road,-- One Pole (One existing j/o pole to be removed ) The Chairman read a letter from Alfred P. Tropeano advising that the Vine Brook Realty Trust is anxious to receive a profile from the easterly side line of Waltham Street across the land of the Trust to the proposed Worthen Road The Trust is ready to petition the Board of Appeals, and the preliminary plans are ready subject only to obtaining the Worthen Road profile . He requested the Board to advise him when the profile will be ready and who the engineer will be . Worthen Rd. Mr. Gayer said that there are no plans for this section and asked if this is something the Town is going to do next year . If it is to be done , money wia have to be appropriated for an engineering study to establish the profile The Chairman asked if it would be wise to discuss this with the Planning Board and Mr. Gayer replied in the affirmative . Mr. James said he felt this was an obligation of the Planning Board He said that if the Planning Board is going to lay out on a map where a road is going to go and require developers to adhere to that as a part of the plan, then they should have the profile as well . Mr. Adams said the subject should b e discussed with the Planning Board right away and asked how much money is involved. Mr. Gayer replied $,000 or $10,000. Further consideration was given to Mrs . Morgenstern' s complaint relative to parking at the intersection of Lowell and Woburn Streets Mr. Adams said he thought there should be both curb- ing and a sidewalk, and thrt the Selectmen and the Park- ing Committee should take a look at the area. Parking It was agreed to discuss this with the Planning Board two weeks from tonight Messrs. Paul Howard, Edwin Howard, Fowls, Bryson and Manasse met with the Board relative to the water problem. Mr. Paul Howard spoke for Whitman & Howard and said that he met with the Citizens ' Group last week and furnished copies of what he presented to the Board this evening. At that meeting they went over the analysis and the Committee agreed, after they got the mathematics down, with Whitman & Howard' s report as submitted to the 484 Board for permanent improvements to the water system. He explained that the group used one formula and he used another . The result was within 10%. He explained that Water the problem mathematically can be solved but the human element enters into it . He said the Committee is in agreement with the suggested temporary measures if the Town sees fit to do them. Mr. Howard said if pressure could be brought to get a bill in the Legislature by the first of the year so that construction could be started by 1960, it would take care of the situation. The Chairman said he understood the M.D.C . has a bill of its own going in Mr . Edwin Howard explained that the M D .C . does not intend to push it . Some time next year, an engineer will be hired, but they do not expect to be in operation until 1962. Mr. Paul Howard said he thought it could be in opera- tion by the Summer of 1960. Mr Fowle said that this seems to be tied in with the relocation of Route 2 . The Chairman asked if the M.D.C . was going to tie in at Pleasant Street, Arlington, to come up to the stand- pipe in 1959 and Mr Howard replied in the affirmative . Mr. Howard said that if the M.D.C . does all it plans to do only a little sooner, there will be no water problem. The Chairman referred to pumps in spotted areas and asked what would happen to the border areas when the pumps are working. Mr. Howard replied that the hills use so little water by comparison it would not matter. He said there is a minimum of four houses and a maximum of sixty houses, and they should use water in the same way as their neighbors and obey restrictions . The Chairman pointed out that there is no problem when the use of the water is restricted. The Chairman asked if those present were in agreement on the study that if M.D.C . does what it plans to do a little sooner than it planned, that the situation in Lex- ington will be all right . Mr . Fowle said he thought they agreed that the tem- porary recommendations should be followed. Mr. Howard said that there would be some trouPle in dry hot spells in the Summer until the M.D.C . goes ahead unless the temporary measures as suggested are carried out . Mr. Adams asked if the booster pumps would be in op- eration next Summer if approved at the Annual Town Meeting, and Mr. Gayer replied in the negative L 485 Mr. Fowler said that the C ommitteets feeling is that they can talk about accelerating the M.D.C . program, but it has no power over that and it might be better for the Town to db what it can and not count on anyone else He said if it would be no financial hardship on Cambridge , Lexington could either replenish the water or pay for it . The Chairman asked if the water pumped out of the water basin was filtered before going into the pipes, and Mr. Howard replied in the affirmative . He said it would not be as good quality as the town now has . He has not made a detailed study in regard to water from the Hobbs Brook Basin but thought it would be under $100,000 The group, with the exception of Mr. Edwin Howard, retired. Mr. Howard referred to the Power Construction Co. , low bidder on C ntract No. 2 . He reported that they seem to be a working group and Federico said he worked for Mr. Howard in 1937. They now have a contract in Worcester for a sewer job which has just started. They should finish Worcester and then come to Lexington which will be five weeks Mr. Howard said he wanted the Board to understand. The bonding company advised today that they will definitely bond Power. He said they could put a second shovel on in Worcester and move both shovels to Lexington. Mr Howard reported th= t the second Contractor, T. D. Sullivan, has $16,000 They are good to do business with but slow, and have never had a job of this size . If the contract is not given to Powers the Board will have to go to Cibotti, an increase of $25,000. He asked if the Board wanted to wait six weeks and save the $25,000. It was unanimously agreed not to rescind the vote previously passed, awarding the contract to the Power Construction Co. Mr. Howard retired at 9 15 P M Letter was received from the Homeland Realty, Inc . , offering $200 for tax title lots 146 and 147 Tarbell Avenue . Tax title Mr . James said there is no water or sewer available for these two lots and he therefore felt that the offer should be rejected. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to advise Homeland Realty that it is the Board' s opinion that it is in the best interest of the Town not to dis- pose of these lots . Letter was received from Leeland Construction Co. relative to the purchase of tax title lots on Freemont 1-4 486 ►C Street If the lots are sold, the Planning Board re- Tax title commended restricting lots 234-242 for two houses only and lots 631-634 for one house . It was unanimously ag1eed not to dispose of the lots in thit area Letter was received from Mr. Nickerson, Chairman of the Board of Appeals, in regard to the Annual Town Report. Report He suggested that the Board merely note the re-issues and go into detail on new business only The Board was in complete agreement with the sugges- tion. Mrs . Morey reported that the League of Women Voters are anxious to amend the General By-Laws, whereby all Town records will be available at Cary Memorial Library. It was suggested that three copies of any publication, is- sued by the Town and distributed through the Town, should be filed at the library. This would include every report submitted to a Town Meeting Mrs . Morey agreed to compose a letter to be sent out covering the subject The meeting adjourned at 9:50 P.M. A true record, Attest Sel toren r r I