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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-07-28-BOS-min 4(14 ►-C 2 SELECTMEN'S MEETING , July 28, 1958 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Bdilding,, on Monday evening July 28, 1958, at 7:30 P. M. Chair- man Maloney, Messrs. James, Tucker, Adams and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works and the Acting Clerk were also present. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of three Jurors . The following Jurors individuals were drawn for jury duty: Arthur G. Ruge, 50 Hill Street, Charles G. Esterberg, 10 Barrymeade Drive, Robert E. Thompson, 1L1. Normandy Road. Letter was received from James J. Carroll, Town Treasurer, advising that it will be necessary to bor- bow $500,000 in anticipation of taxes, payable the first of December. Borrowing Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize Mr. Carroll to arrange for a loan of $500,000 payable December 1st . Mr. John V. Rycroft, Chief of Police, met with the Board at 7:45 P. M. He introduced Mrs . Jeanette Berube, 581 Lowell Street, to the Board, and said he had picked her for school duty at East Street ani Adams Street, as there is a vacancy at Fiske School, where her child goes . Mrs. Morey asked how rugged she was, when the heavy show and rains came, and she replied if the children could take it, she could . Police Woman Chief Rycroft and she retired. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Mrs. Jeanette Berube a Woman Police Officer for School Traffic Duty, appointment to take effect in September upon the opening of Schools . Mrs. Morey asked if it was necessary for her to have a physical examination as a part time worker, and the reply was that they never have . Mr. Stevens said they are not in Civil Service, and the Chairman replied that it might be something to look into. Mr. Stevens said if anything happens to them, he didn't know if the Town would be able to pay them sick 405 leave, as they only get paid when they work. Mrs. Morey said that was the reason that she had a question about a physical examination. Some are more susceptible tocolds than others, and they say they can take it. Mr. Stevens said he had prepared an Order of Taking for a Slope easement, on the northeast side of Lowell Street in connection with the construction of a side- walk, and it runs from a maximum of 5 feet to a minimum of 3 feet. Order of Mrs. Morey said she thought the sidewalk was on the Taking other side and Mr. Stevens replied that he was pretty Slope Ease- sure this had been requested by the State went Mr. Gayer replied that the Town requested it of the State last year. Mr. Stevens brought up the subject of a Town Meeting and it was said that if we have a Town Meeting, we have to have it the Monday before Labor Day. Town Meeting Mr. Maloney said we would cooperate if we have to. Mrs. Morey said to see what the Planning Board has in mind and maybe they would want to meet with the Board. Mr. Stevens said he would take care of finding out from the Planning Board. Mr.Stevens retired at 8:00 P. M. to attend an- other meeting. At 8:15 P. M. , Mr. Wayne Sharpe, 20 Flintlock Road, met with the Board relative to his water bill which was excessive . They have lived in Lexington ten years and this is the first time they have had such a bill . He brought several bills with him; he hadn't kept all of his bills, just a few of them. It usually averages $18 to *20 in summer, less in winter . They have used the same amount of water all the time , this last quarter was $111, and he felt they Water Bill wouldn' t use that amount. when the meter was checked, they took it out and put in a new one . Since the new meter was put in it reads 567 cubic feet. It was on 00 when it was put in and was installed the end of June . The Chairman and Mr. Gayer looked at the bills and Mr. Gayer said he would have to have the record in order to do anything about it, and that he would cheek it in the morning. Mr. Sharpe said that readingwould be $1.25 roughly andMr. James replied $1. 0 Mr. Maloney said there wasn' t much they could do until Mr. Gayer traces this through. 406 'ag■a Mr. Sharpe said they had never had a bill anything like this one and they had been in this house for three years . Mr. Gayer said of course something could have happened and there could have been something wrong. It is hard to know. Mr. Sharpe said there had been blasting at the house next door and he wondered if it could have jumped the meter, but Mr. Gayer replied in the negative . y Mr. Adams asked when the blasting was done, and Mr. Sharpe replied that there was construction next door, but there was someone in his house all the day long . The Chairman said that Mr. Gayer would look into this matter a little further andsee what could be done . Mr. Sharpe said they used more water a year ago and this year, they have done no watering at all. He said anything the Board does will be appreciated. Mr. Sharpe retired. Mr. Gayer said he couldn't explain it, and Mr. Adams said that the blasting stuck in his mind. Mrs. Morey brought up the subject of Garbage col- lection twice a week, and asked if there was any way the collections could be increased at this time . Mr. Gayer replied not unless you advertise and Garbage ask for a new contract. Collection The Chairman said everyone he talked to feels they are getting good garbage collection. Mr. Gayer said they have had fewer complaints than at any time since he had been here, and they were docking the contractor for all the misses, which he did not like, but it was in the contract and they were enforcing it . They still get five or six calls a day. Mrs . Morey said one woman told her it had never been so good. She also remarked that corn would be coming in, andshe felt the stores should sell larger garbage containers. Letter was received from the Mystic Valley Gas Company requesting permission to extend a 2" high pressure gas main from #26 to #31 Curve Street, for Permit the purpose of supplying gas to #31. The request was granted subject to the provision that the work be done in accordance with the specifi- cations and requirements of Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works . Sealed bids for an ambulance were opened by the Chair- man. Representatives from the companies were present . 407 The bids received were as follows : Miller-Meteor Sales of New England, Inc. 1958 M-M Cadillac Ambulance with allowance of trade-in, Less Federal Taxes $ 6,500 .00 Superior Funeral Coach Sales, Inc . Ambulance Bids 1958 Superior Cadillac Ambulance 148 Headroom 11,780 .00 Less Federal Taxes 600 .00 11,160.00 Less allowance '51 Cadillac 4,180.00 Final price delivered Lexington 7,000.00 I. W. Douglas Campang Cadillac Commercial Chassis delivered 12,888.00 Less Federal Taxes 700 .00 12,166.00 Municipal Discount and Allowance for 1951 Ambulance 1 ,27.00 Net 7,913.00 The Chairman said that these bids would be taken under ad- visement. The letter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Works, relative to Lexington Traf- fic, copies of which had been previously sent to members of the Board, was discussed. Mr. Gayer reported theft° were some changes made at the meeting of the Traffic Study Committee held on July 24th. Page 3, where it says: Traffic "By adding at the end of Article VIII, Section 19 the Pol- 1 owi ng: (b) A driver of a vehicle shall make a right turn only from Clarke Street onto Massachusetts Avenue between the hours of 4:00 P. M. and 6:30 P. M. so that they would agree with our limited parking. This is for a 60 day trial period. Mr. Adams said permission should be granted by the Board. Mr. Gayer spoke of the parking on Bedford Street and Mrs . Morey said it should be to Valley Road instead of North Hancock Street. 1 408 20. Letter was read by the Chairman from the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Works , relative to Concord Avenue being narrowed to 281 from 30' . It was moved and seconded to send a copy of the Concord Ave . letter to the abutters. The Chairman read a_ letter from Mr. Gayer, rela- Bids for tive to the 1958 street constructionlproposal to be Street Const .published in the Lexington Minute-man. Bids will be opened August 4th at 5 P. M. in the Selectmen's Office . The letter from Denis Fullerton with regard to sewer at #2400 Massachusetts Avenue was held over. Mr. Gayer showed a plan with regard to the loca- tion of the sewer and said we should go to the next manhole, + a distance of 210 If they hit ledge, it Sewer will cost plenty. The Chairman asked if we could get borings, and Mr. Gayer replied in the affirmative . The Chairman said to take a few borings andsee what they came up with. Mr. Gayer said it would relieve five houses and they could probably get Joe Pitt to come in and make the borings . Mr. Gayer is to report further on this matter . Letter from Ruth Johnson, 45 Grove Street, rela- tive to a deferment of a water betterment assessment in the amount of $140 was read by the Chairman. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Water to extend time of the above payment until said land Betterment or any part thereof is built upon, sold or until Assessment three years from the date hereof, whichever event occurs first; provided however, that this extension of time shall terminate immediately if the facilities of the water main are used for said land or any part there of . Letters from Arline K. Morrison, 13 Bedford Street and Helen E. Ryan, #10 Bedford Street, copies of which had been sent to the Board previous to the meeting, Traffic were discussed at length. Bedford & Mr. James said there is no half-way solution Hancock Sts . there . Mr. Tucker suggested signs "Historic Area-- Heavy Pedestrian Traffic" . Something like this might attract more attention. Mr. Adams spoke of painted pavement signs. Mrs . Morey brought up the subject of the curbing at Dur.and's, and Mr. Gayer said it had been attended to. 409 The Chairman read a letter from Paul F. Bartel., relative to the vacancy on the Board of Public Welfare . Vacancy Mr. Maloney agreed to contact Mr. Bartel . Letter was received from Mr. Snow, together with a plan of John W. Baskin Playground. The Chairman showed the plan to members of the Board and it was agreed to notify Mr . Snow to get an estimate of costs. Mr. Gayer asked that Mr. Snow notify him and let him get the estimate . Mr. James said to instruct Mr . Gayer to get the estimate . The Chairman inquired if it could be gotten right away and Mr. Gayer replied that he would report to the Survey of Board before he does it, and Mr. James said to report Baskin Play- to the Chairman. ground area Mrs . Morey said that we didn't want to spend $1,000 if it wasn't necessary. Mr. Gayer reported that granite markers cost $20 each and if you put them in, you might as well put them in right. The Chairman asked that he do it rightmay. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew the license of James P. Connell, 55 Forest Street, to be a guide within the limits of the Town of Lexington for a period expiring July 28, 1959. Mr. Adams suggested that as these guides represent Lexington, he felt they should have some ceremony, and Guide license thought they should come before the Board to receive their licenses. Mr. Tucker felt it was a fine idea and the Board agreed. The Chairman said that in the future all guides should appear before the Board to receive their com- missions, and Mrs. Morey suggested that all of the guides come in at some future meeting, those who had previously received their licenses as well. The Chairman read a letter from Henry Flynn, 26 Bird Hill Road, relative to the street signs on Bird Hill Road and Davis Road. These signs have rm ver been taken down. The Chairman said if we change the names of the streets, we are obligated to change the signs and asked Mr. Gayer if he had checked into it . Mr. Street Signs Gayer replied in the affirmative . Mrs . Morey inquired if someone could paint over the signs and the Chairman asked if the posts were wooden. Mr. Gayer replied that be new a gsme stamped steel. 41€) m The Chairman inquired how long it takes to get a sign and Mr. Gayer replied that it is all over Town, not just one . The Chairman said it should kava been done Wien the names of the streets were Banged. It was suggested that the names be stenciled, and Mr. Gayer replied that if you did it for one, you would have to do it al over town. The Chairman said wherever a sign is changed, we are obligated there . Mr. Tucker asked how many streets have we changed the names of, and Mr. James replied ten or twelve . Mrs. Morey said we can replace the signs, otbeP- wise we shall put up new ones . The Chairman asked what are we doing in regard to new detelopments and Mr. Gayer said they are putting up the posts which is a big job and we are putting up the signs. The Chairman replied that he th ould put up all be could. Upon motion made and seconded, it was voted to sign a deed, prepared by Town Counsel, conveying Tax Deed Title Lots 187 - 190 Hillcrest Avenue to Joseph F. and Gloria Fitzgerald, #32 Hillcrest Avenue, the deed to be recorded within the next week or ten days. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. John B. Smith, Secretary, The Lexington Field and Garden Club, requesting the Board to appoint a club member for the Appointment Committee to administer the development of Willard Willard Forest. Forest Mr. James suggested that the Board advise Mrs. Committee Smith at such time a committee is formed, it will con- sider their request. The Chairman read a letter from R. L. McQuillan, Chairman of the Board of Health, advising that the Doctors Health Department has decided to employ the local tele- phone answering service for reaching doctors in emergency cases. In an emergency, a citizen should call the Police Department, Fire Department or Telephone Supervisor, who will call the service and a doctor will be contacted by them. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign Sidewalk Orders for Bernard Street as follows: .........._ 411 BERNARD STREET Middlesex, ss. Town of Lexington WHEREAS, the Town of Lexington at a Town Meeting duly called and held on March 17, 1958, adjourned to the 24th da of March, 1958, and adjourned to the 31st day of March, 1955, duly adopted under Article 22 of the Warrant the following vote : "VOTED: That the Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized to construct concrete, bituminous concrete or other sidewalks, at such locations as they shall determine, where the abutting owner pays one-half of the cost or otherwise, and to appropriate therefor the sum of $25,000.00; and to provide for payment therof by transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account ." NOW THEREFORE, We, the undersigned being a majority of the Board of Selectmen of said Town of Lexington, duly elect- ed qualified and acting as such, do hereby pursuant to said vote and under provisions of Chapter 83 of the General Laws, as amended, and of any and every other power and authority us hereto in any way enabling determine that public conven- ience requires the establishment of a sidewalk on the South Easterly side of Bernard Street from Bedford St. North East- erly 104.21' , and it is therefore : un.u6nuv that a bituminous concrete sidewalk be construct- ed on the South Easterly side of Bernard Street from Bedford St. North Easterly 104.21' and that one half of the cost thereof be assessed upon the abutting estates. Annexed hereto and made a part hereof is a schedule of the owners of said abutting estates and an estimate of the assessments upon them. Witness our hands at Lexington aforesaid this twenty- eighth day of July, 1958. /s/ Ruth Morey Majority Alan G. Adams Board of Raymond W. James Selectmen 412 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Lexington, Mass. Middlesex, ss. B July 28, 1958 Then personally appeared Raymond W. James, Alan G. Adams and Ruth Morey, and severally acknowledged the foregoing in- strument and statement by them subscribed to be their free act and deed and the free act and deed of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Lexington, before me . /s/ James J. Carroll Notary Public My commission expires Mar. 7, 1959 SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATED BETTERMENTS xsrznnwj TO IN THE FOREGOING ORDER Owner as of January 1,, 1958 Lot No. Frontage Assessment Clara E. Bunzel 22-A 104.21 104.21 MacNeil The Clerk reported that Mr. John MacNeil telephoned Water & relative to his water and sewer betterments. This matter Sewer will be referred to Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel. Truck bids were brought in by Mr. Gayer. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Tucker, it was voted to pur- Truck chase a Reo truck, 46,000 pounds gross weight, from Truck Bids Center, Inc. , 1033 Mass. Ave . , Boston 18, Mass . Mr. Gayer submitted bids for a Front End Loader, which were opened on July 21, 1958, as follows: 413 H. F. Davis Tractor Co. ' Model OL 200 Delivered 14,745.00 Backhoe 3,175.00 Terms 2% 10 days 17,9 0.00 Morrissey Brothers Tractor Company Model TL 16 Tracto-Loader 17,650.00 Terms 1% 10 days Clarke-Wilcox Company Model 85A 13,375.00 Bids for Model 125A 16,375.00 Front End Backhoe 3,950.00 Loader Pesco Equipment Company Model WV Net 15,225.00 Shanahan Equipment Model 175 19,995.00 E. J.. Bleiler Equipment Co.. Inc. Model 154 15,470.00 350 Backhoe 2,415.00 Terms 1% 15 days Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to purchase the Front End Loader from E. J. Miller Equip- ment Company, Needham Heights, Mass Meeting adjourned at 9:55 P. M. A true copy, Attest: Acting Clerk, Selectmen.