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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-10-20-BOS-min 474 �-C SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 20, 1958 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, October 20, 1958, at 7:30 P.M Chair- man Maloney, Messrs . James, Tucker and 1"irs. Morey were present Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Stevens, Town counsel, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Mr Adams arrived at the meeting at 8:20 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of two jurors . The following individuals I'I Jurors were drawn for jury duty: Henry C . Wiltshire , 10 Eliot Road, David E Acker, ) 9 North Hancock Street . Mr. Carroll retired. The Chairman read a letter from Whitman & Howard in regard to the bids received October 6, 1958 on Con- tract No. 2, Sewer, Water and Drain Work. Contract Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Tucker, No 2 awarded it was voted to award the contract to Power Construction Co , the low bidder, in the amount of $107, 891.85. The Chairman read a letter from Vincent P Smith, Stations Operation Assistant, Boston Postal District, requesting permission to park five 3/4 ton trucks in a Town parking area on a temporary basis from ;.3:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M daily and all day Sunday. Mr. Gayer said he had a thought on the subject Post Office and that was to request the employees of the Post Office not to park their cars in the Town driveway. A letter to this effect was written to the local Superintendent in April of this year. The Board was willing to grant permission to park the trucks at the rear of the Town Office building on a temporary basis, after the Chairman has contacted the local post office . Further consideration was given to Mr. John A. Wilson' s request for deferment of a street betterment assessment . Mr. Gayer presented a plan and explained the loca- tion of the house and indicated the land involved Mr. James said that in view of the fact that it is difficult to isolate the house on a lot on Moreland Avenue and that Mr. Wilson will probably have house lots on Moreland Avenue , he thought the Board would be justi- fied in deferring the betterment. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by krs . Morey, 47.E it was voted, under the provisions of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 1950, to extend the time for payment of the street betterment assessment, in the amount of $747.60, without interest, levied against property Wilson owned by Daisy Wilson and located on Moreland Avenue , betterment until said land or any part thereof is built upon or deferred sold or until the expiration of three years from this date , whichever event occurs first Letter was received from John J. Garrity ad- vising that he intends to vacate the house at 9 Han- cock Street and that it will be empty as of November first. Mr. James said that it hardly seems worth while House at to do anything with the house but if it is useful to 9 Hancock someone without any large expenditure , it seems short- Street sighted to take it down. Mrs . Morey said that the Lexington Historical So- ciety was interested in the building as a display place where articles of historical interest could be shown. Mr. James said he thought the Bpard should know how old the building is and suggested that Mr Ripley might have some idea. Letter was received from the Lexington Chapter American Red Cross indicating interest in renting the house at 9Hancock Street and asking for information relative to the various costs involved in occupying the property The Chairman was authorized to advise the Red Cross that the Board would like an opportunity to make a careful examination of the building to deter- mine whether or not it would be in the best interest of the Town to maintain it, as it understands the building is in very bad condition. Mr. Gayer said that since the School Department took over the Barnes property there is no place for the survey truck and he would like to keep it in the Red Cross garage formerly used b- the Police Department where Station the Red Cross is now keeping a Station Wagon. He ex- Wagon plained that the boys in the Engineering Department live within walking distance of the office whibh would mean that, if the truck is kept at the barn, they would have to go after it every morning and return it every night . Mrs Morey asked if the Red Cross Station Wagon could be kept at the barn She said that the drivers all have their own cars and could drive to the barn after the wa-on. It was `greed to ask the Red Cross how it would 4 ' feel about garaging the Station Wagon at the Public Works Building. Mr. Stevens referred to the sewer betterment levied against the Lloyd property and said it should be the understanding with the owner that in the event the land was divided into house lots and a connection requested, a charge would have to be paid in one lump sum the same as Lloyd sewer would have been assessed for betterments He said the betterment betterment could be apportioned and postpone the time for paying on the small lot without interest The bet- terment would have to be apportioned between the house lot and the small lot and when Mr. Gayer has the in- formation, the Board could then take action. Mr . Stevens reported that he has two damage claims for which he would like the Board' s authority to settle He explained that a service trench that the Public Works Department had dug for a sewer or water washed out during Claims a rain storm on September 27th or 28th and two cars ran into the dithh One driver ruined a wheel and tire and the estimate is $47.25 The other driver ruined a spring and tire and the estimate is $40 .75 He said there isn' t much question about the liability. Mr. Stevens was authorized to settle the claims, offering to pay 50% of the cost of the tire . The in- dividuals involved were Eleanor McGowan and Joseph P. O 'Connor. Mr. Stevens retired at 8:20 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Wilbur M. Jaquith relative to the one-way traffic regulation on the road between Depot Square and Meriam Street . He suggested Traffic that the Board consider making the traffic between the Regulation hours of 7 :00 A.M. to 10 00 A.M or to 12:00 P.M. either one-way in an easterly direction or two-way traffic for this period He felt thilt this would make a better morning traffic flow in the Depot square area The Boardfelt it would be difficult to make this one-way part of the day and two-way part of the day It was agreed to advise Mr. Jaquith that the Board would like to leave the regulation as it is but if after a fair trial period, it proves to be a major problem, further consideration will be given to the subject The Chairman read a letter from Mr . Spiris, Adminis- trative Assistant, Lexington Public Schools, stating that he had two or three requests for more protection for school children going to the Franklin School. He said that he understands that even though there is a walk line and a push button at the Marrett Road and Waltham Street cross- 477 ing, it is still quite hazardous for young children.The Chairman read a letter from Chief Rycroft ad- vising that on three different occasions this crossing had been observed in the morning while the children Traffic would be attending school and the highest number of children crossing was eight and the lowest number was five . He rerorted that there was no hazard if the "walk light" button functioned properly and the child- ren wait for the lights to change . He has contacted the State Traffic Control who services the lights and reouested that the button be inspected to see that the lights function properly. It was agreed to send a copy of the Chief' s letter to Mr Spirts The Chairman read a letter frorr_ the Peacock Farms Association advising that the Association desires to discourage traffic from using Peacock Farm Road as an Traffic access to Route 2 by the erection of stanchions in the middle of the street or make it impossible for cars and trucks to exceed a speed of about fifteen miles per hour . Mrs . Morey reported that the Traffic Study Com- mittee recommends that the abutters petition for side- walks for which an assessme--t of $1.00 per foot will be levied, the Town to pay the balance . It was also agreed to advise that every subdivision is supposed to have two recognized means of egress . Mr. Gayer referred to snow plowing on the side- walk on Marrett Road from Waltham Street towards Swen- son' s Farm, and reported that about ten years ago, the Town did plow the walk there for one year . It was not plowed the following year and has not been plowed since , He presented a map showing the areas that will have to Sidewalk be plowed if sidewalks on State highways are to be plow- plowing ed. He said he is convinced he will not have the equipment or time . The Chairman asked how many sidewalks are not being plowed and he replied that there are quite a few. He mentioned Maple and Lowell Streets and said that Marrett Road was an agreement between the Town and the State . Mrs . Morey said that all sidewalks along heavily travelled roads should be plowed. Mr. Adams said th. t Mr. Gayer should obtain a sbhool bus plan, as it should not be necessary to plow sidewalks where the children are picked up by bus . Mrs . Morey suggested that Mr. Gayer go over the subject with Mr . Spirts . 4Th �-C Letter was received from Mr. Gayer relative to a sewer betterment assessment levied against property on Ross Road owned by Mrs . Louise Sutherland. The subject has been discussed with Town Counsel, and he felt that if the amount of the assessment was larger than the amount Sutherland of the estimate signed for, it may be a policy question sewer as to whether the Board of Selectmen feels in fairness Betterment there should be an abatement to the lower figure . Mr. Gayer was instructed to have an abatement pre- pared for the Board to sign next week. The Chairman reported thr.t Mr Gayer has talked to him about equipment and there are funds available to pur- chase a pickup truck. The Board had no objection providing funds are avail- able . Letter was received fniim Alyce D Monahan, copy of which was mailed to the Board, relative to deferment of a sewer betterment assessment. It was agreed to advise Miss Monahan that the sub- ject would be discussed with Town Counsel and to advise her also that the Executor of the estate is the individual who should negotiate the betterment charges. Letter was received fnrMr. Spirts relative to salaries for custodians and secretaries . The Chairman reported that he has talked to Mr. Spirts on the telephone and expects to meet with him within a day or two. Mrs . Morey said she is interested in the subject because work is being done on the library budget and they should be all alike Application for a Certificate of Incorporation was received on behalf of John W. Fulton, 78 Hill Street, Donald M. Wacome, 102 Burlington Street and John T. Cert of Inc . Pollard, Jr , 53 Munroe Road . A satisfactorycharacter reference on each individual was received from the Chief of Police Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the application and return it to the Secretary of State The Planning Board met with the Selectmen to dis- cuss the proposed location of Worthen Road from Waltham Street to Route 2, and retired at 10:15 P M. The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board relative to the use of the Reiss land, located between Hinchey Road and Westview Street, for a Town dump. The 479 Planning Board believes this to be a matter worth looking into further. However, it is the opinion of that Board that the present dump should be filled in first The Planning Board feels that at the time the use of the Eeiss land is investigated, consideration Dump should be given to the need of locating a dump in the easterly section of town, the cost of operating two or three dumps and the possibility of cooperative costs of operating an incinerator in Belmont in the Concord Avenue vicinity. The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board relative to street names and acceptances -- Moore Realty Moore Realty Trust. Burnham Road and Emerson Road from Adams Street Trust to Vine Brook are ready for acceptance as town ways . The remaining portion of Emerson Road, including the box culvert, Thoreau Road and Alcott Road can be ready for acceptance at the Annual Town Meeting However, the work should be completed to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Public Works and grants of utilities and all necessary easements obtained from the Moore Realty Trust. It was recommended that no action be taken on the acceptance of Crawford Road and Linmoor Terrace until Town Counsel obtains the grant of utilities from IIthe Moore Realty Trust and the grants of easements from the Hofheimers and Savenors In regard to the suggestion that L1nmoor Terrace and Crawford Road be combined into one street, the Planning Board 's opinion is that this should not be done It is the Board' s opinion th-t Linmoor Road would be a better name than Linmoor Terrace and that Ballard Ter- race and Crawford Road be combined into Ballard Terrace The Planning Board agreed to assume responsibility of notifying the Selectmen when subdivision streets are ready for acceptance by the Town. Mr. James reported that he had received three or four telephone calls requesting permission to hunt on Town-owned land Huhting The Board was unanimously opposed to granting per- mission for any hunting on town-owned land The meeting adjourned at 10 45 P.M. rc- A true record, Attest c �,R L xeotti Clerkk, Sel toren