HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-05-26-BOS-min 357
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
May 26, 1958
A regular meeting of the Board ofSelectmen was
held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on
Monday evening, May 26, 1958, at 7:30 P. M. Chairman
Maloney, Messrs . James, Tucker, Adams and Mrs . Morey
were present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public
Works , and the Executive Clerk were also present.
Hearing was declared open upon petition of the
Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone
and Telegraph Company for permission to locate one
guy wire and anchor on Paul Revere Road.
Mr.Lewis E. Jones, representing the Boston
Edison Company and Mr. Truman F. Ball, 38 Paul Revere
Road were present at the hearing.
Mr.Gayer said that he does not like guy wires
as they are troublesome to the people and also during
snow removal operations . Guy wire
Mr. Jones explained that this is the last line location
pole and it is there to hold the line . At some future
date when the line is completed, the wire will be taken
off.
Mr. Ball said that he was only interested in the
location and that is all he wanted to know.
The hearingwas declared closed at 7:33 P. M.
Messrs . Jones and Ball retired.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant the petition and sign the order for the fol-
lowing guy wire and anchor:
Paul Revere Road, southerly side from a
pole located approximately 340 feet
east of Asbury Street .
Sealed bids for an ambulance were opened by the
Chairman. Two representatives from the Superior
Funeral Coach Sales Inc. were present.
The bids received were as follows : Ambulance
bids
Miller-Meteor Sales of New England, Inc.
1958 M & M Cadillac Ambulance, delivered $11,370.00
Less Federal Taxes 683.00
10,6d7.00
Allowance - present ambulance 3,900.00
j' b,7b7.00
3a8
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Superior Funeral Coach Sales, Inc.
#1 Superior Cadillac Ambulance, 1958 Model $11,500.00
Less Federal Taxes 585.00
Less allowance on 1951 Cadillac ambulance 3,500 00
Final price delivered Lexington $ 7,415.00
#2 1958 Superior Cadillac Ambulance $11,850.00
Less Federal Taxes 600.00
Less allowance on 1951 Cadillac ambulance 3,500 .00
$ 7,750.00
The I. W. Douglas Co.
#1 S & S Model #58443 Ambulance with 1958
Cadillac Commercial Chassis $12,763.50
Less Federal Taxes 700.00
$12,063.50
Allowance 1951 Ambulance and municipal
discount 4,2775.00
$
7, 70t5.50
#2 S & S Ambulance
Net price with Federal Tax deduction and
municipal discount and allowance for
1951 ambulance 9,988,.50
The Chairman explained that this does not mean that
the low bidder is going to receive the bid as the pur-
chase of the ambulance will be in the best interest of
the Town and the Board would advise the bidders .
The two gentlemen left the meeting at 8:40 P. M.
The Chairman suggested, and the Board agreed, that
the members of the Board inspect the vehicles upon which
bids were submitted before taking any action.
Petition was received from the Boston Edison Com-
pany and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Com-
pany for permission to relocate one pole on Burlington
Pole Street
location Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant the petition and sign the order for the fol-
lowing pole locations:
Burlington Street, southerly side approxi-
mately 1160' east of Grove Street .
One existing j/o pole to be removed
Further consideration was given to Mr. Charles
Sacco's offer to purchase lots 325-330 inclusive en
1
359
Wood Street .
Mr . Gayer presented a plan showing the old layout
of Wood Street and the new layout He said he did not
know the status of the strip of land in between and
suggested that it be referred to Town Counsel.
Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7:45 P. M. Tax title
The Chairman referred to the parcel of land Mr.
Leonard Jellis is interested in acquiring and Mr.
Stevens said that the Town cannot take it and then
turn around and sell it to Mr. Jellis .
Mr. Stevens referred to the parcel of Wood Street
and explained that the people expect the Town to clear
the title and it is not the Townts problem. He said
the bidder should run the title and find out who owns
the land and buy it from the owner. The Assessors
would have to assess it to the record owner and if he
does not pay the taxes, the Town can then take it.
Mr. Tucker asked if the owner of this small strip
could convey it to the Town and then the Board sell it.
Mr. Stevens explained that the Town only has
authority to acquire land for municipal purposes, Whether
it is a gift or purchase , the Town only has the right to
acquire it for municipal purposes He pointed out that
if the owner could convey it to the Town, he could con-
' vey it to the adjacent owner direct.
He said if the Board would send him the plan title
and lot numbers, he would check into the situation fur-
1 ther.
Petition was received signed by Lexington realtors,
members of the Boston Real Estate Board, requesting the
Selectmen to instruct the Chief of Police to enforce the
following: No person shall be allowed to sell or show
real estate in the town of Lexington on Sundays. Also,
no Real Estate Office shall be allowed to remain open on
Sundays . This, is in essence the law according to Sec. 5
of Chapter 136, G. L. Petition
Letter was received from Frederick 0. Fitzgerald, from realtors
Belford Associates, requesting that his signature be re Sunday
withdrawn from the petition. closing
Letter was received from the Homeland Reity, Inc .
withdrawing the signature from any petition that might
be submitted to the Board.
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. W. H. Lyon,
in opposition to the petition, and suggesting that the
Board let the individual brokers, builders, salesman
and developers use their own discretion about Sunday
closing.
1 No action was taken by the Board.
'b0
Mr. Stevens reported that the Millyan property,
acquired by vote of Town Meeting on May 12, 1958,
will be free and clear of occupancy by June first He
Millyan land said that insurance should be placed on it for fire
and also liability. He said the Board would have to
decide what is to be done about the property.
Mr. Stevens reported that a hearing is scheduled
for tomorrow morning before the Emergency Finance
Hearing Board on the Standing School Building Committee borrow-
ing.
The Chairman referred to the letter received last
week from Raytheon Manufacturing Company relative to
the sale of water by the Town to a new laboratory on
Raytheon Hartwell Road in Bedford.
water Mr. Stevens said that it is not ready to report
on this and asked to have a copy of the last contract
mailed to him.
Mr. Stevens said that he has arrived at the con-
clusion that the new Building and Plumbing By-Laws
should be published in the Lexington Minute-man unless
the Board decides to reactivate the bulletin boards.
He said it would be much more expensive to have them 11
ant
to each house than to have 'them published. He
checked with the Clerk who checked with the Town Account-
ant and there is enough money held over in the account
to cover the publications .
Mr. Stevens retired at 8:35 P. M.
Mrs . Morey reported that she and Mr. Adams met
with the Traffic Study Committee oneday last week.
The Chief brought in some interesting facts as to how
many people were parking all day and as she recalled,
there were thirty-nine cars parked all day in the muni-
Parking cipal parking area at the rear of the Lexington Savings
Bank. She said there was some discussion about the in-
stallation of parking metthrs, but the Committee was not
too much in favor of the idea. She asked how the Board
was going to let the thirty-nine local business men
know they are hurting their own business . The Chief had
the registration numbers taken every three hours and
there were thirty-nine stalls filled with the same cars
all day long.
Mr. Adams reported that the Chief said it is very
dig'ficult to enforce the three-hour parking limit. He
has tried talking to the merchants, but it does not have
much effect .
Mr. Adams said the suggestion was made that the
a61
private parking areas, such as the Savings Bank, have
signs indicating it is private property.
Mr. Tucker asked if there was any alternate plan
the Board could propose instead of taking a negative
attitude .
Mr. Adams said that Mr. Snow pointed out that
with the cars parked against the buildings, it would be
difficult for fire apparatus to get in. He said that
Mr. Snow has a plan showing less cars with better cir-
culation.
Mr. Gayer explained that the plan referred to was
laid out and then changed to take more cars and there
is quite a difference in the number of cars that can
be parkedbetween the two plans .
Mr. Adams said it was to be free parking space
unless abused.
Mrs . Morey said she thought the Board needed a
release from the Board of Selectmen on the subject to
the effect that there will be meters
The Chairman said that the release in the paper
could state that the abuse of parking in the munici-
pal parking lot may result in the installation of
meters .
Mr. Gayer said that there is a three-hour limit
in the lot and asked why a few tickets couldn' t be
given out if the desired results are not obtained.
The Chairman said the Board could try that next .
Mrs . Morey said she suggested to the Committee
that the area be two-hour parking with the exception
of the rear where it could be three-hour.
Mr. Geyer said that if there is not police per-
sonnel sufficient to enforce the regulations, nothing
would be gairys d by changing the time limit .
Mr. Tucker asked to have a report of progress on
the parking situation in two weeks.
Mr. Gayer retired at 8:35 P. M.
Mr. Kenneth Smith met with the Board and said he
would like to have a gate put in the fence along tB
municipal parking area between Waltham and Muzzey
Streets, making access to the Lexington News . He said
when the fence was installed, the statement was made Gate-parking
that there would be no need of access to the parking area
area The people who have rented it up to now have
vacated and it will be much easier for him to rent it
if he has access to the parking area .
The Chairman said he did not recall what the de-
cision was, but the Planning Board, at the time it was
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laid out, did not want any access to the parking lot,
principally because they felt it would be a hazard.
He said the Board then wanted it very clearly under-
stood that there would be no access and there was no
retail business there that had any entrance or exit
on the parking lot . He said the Beard could discuss
the matter and let Mr. Smith know.
Mrs. Morey asked if Mr. Smith' s idea was to have
a gate right at the door and he replied that he didn't
care if it is right at the door, but if the opening was
beyond Dr. Hunt 's fence, it would not benefit him.
Mrs. Morey asked if the fence was so that a client
could use it for parking, and Mr. Smith replied that
it is more for the customer if it is a retail business
that rents the but.lding. He said it would be easier
to rent if there is an opening there for customers,
Mr. Smith retired at 8:45 P. M.
Letter was received from David F. Toomey, Commander
of the V.F.W. submitting the name of Jerome Garrity to
represent the veterans on a committee to formulate plans
for the observance of Memorial Day and Veterans ' Day.
Mr. Toomey said that members of the Post contend
that the veterans or members of their families are not
Ambulance to be charged for the use of the Town ambulance as
money was set aside by the Town during World War II
for the purpose and when purchased, it was known as
the Veterans ' ambulance.
An extensive search of the records was made and no
information was found to indicate that it was the in#ent
that veterans or members of their families were to
have the use of the ambulance free of charge.
Further considerationwas given to Mr. Matthew
M. Zubowitch's offer of $800 for tax title lots 98
and 99 on Taft Avenue
Tax title Some time ago, Mr. James and Mr. Tucker met
Mr. Zubowitch at the lots and were advised that he
desired to build a small house on them. He has
lived in that neighborhood for thirty-two years.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
that a proposal to sell be advertised in the Lex-
ington Minute-man and that further consideration be
given the offer in two weeks, a copy of the advertise-
mdnt to be mailed to the abutters.
Futher consideration was given to Mr. Louis
Rosendorn's offer for tax title lots 152 and 153
Theresa Avenue .
363
11Some time ago, Mr. James and Mr. Tucker met Mr.
Rosendorn at the lots. They total 4200 square feet,
each 301 x 701 , and there is sewer and water in the
street. Mr. Rosendorn said these are the lots that Tax title
Porter used for second hand automobile repairing but
at that time , there was no evidence of junk cars on
the lots .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
that a proposal to sell be advertised in the Lexington
Minute-man and that further consideration be given the
offer in two weeks; a copy of the advertisement to be
mailed to the abutters .
Further consideration was given toan offer re-
cevied from John P. Doherty and Eileen M. Hurly, 31
Spring Street, for the purchase of tax title lot #217, Tax title
Spring Street. A Mrs . Lillian Cowan, 100 Boylston
Street, Boston, is also interested in acquiring the
property.
Mr. Raymond C. Carron, 17 Spring Street, made an
offer some time ago for tax title Lots 233 and 231. Tax title
Spring Street.
It was the unanimous opinion of the Board that
it would be in the best interest of the Town not to
dispose of these lots in view of the possible widen-
ing of Spring Street. The Board may be able later
to barter them for frontage on adjacent lots for
widening .
Mr. F. K. Johnson, Mr. Leonard Foster and the
Planning Board met with the Selectmen at 9:00 P. M.
Mr. Foster reported that he and Mr. Johnson,
representing themselves as individuals, did after
the last Town Meeting, contact Cabot, Cabot and
Forbes. First of all, he had previous contact with
them and secondly, he thought they represented pro-
fessional promoters. The theory was to secure from
them the interest in picking up the options represented
by or controlled by the Federated Stores . He said
after two meetings a letter of intent has been signed
by Cabot, Cabot and Forbes to pick up the options.
The purpose of picking up these options is the develop-
ment of an office-park type of proposition in that
area. They have a company at the present time, the
identity of which he did not have , who would like to
come to that property. The size of the building would
be about 100,000 square feet, about thirty acres, or
a total of 150 acres, costing about two and one-half
million dollars, 600 or 750 employees, percentage of
364 1014
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area transfers from outside negligible . 11Mr. Foster said that if this area were totally
developed in the ten to fifteen acres, it could, with
zoning restrictions, be developed and be a credit to
the Town. He said he and Mr. Johnson thought it was
time to expose what they have been doing to the proper
Zoning authorities and they hope to have a meeting this week,
if possible, with the Planning Board, at which time they
would have a representative from Cabot, Cabot and Forbes
and the company for the purpose of answering questions.
At present, the company would like to go into design work
immediately and start construction early in the Fall and
occupy it in 1959. The area they are interested in would
be the Hayden property facing on Route 128.
Mr. Johnson said that Mr. Wheeler would like very
much to have the total holdings of Cabot, Cabot and
Forbes of what they have option on which would include
the Richards and Pilkington property which wouAd be a
rezoning of some 200 acres. At the moment they have
one customer but this they feel would fit a very
desirable pattern. Mr. Wheeler said this company
would be more particular of what the overall picture
is than anyone else . He expects by tomorrow he can
divulge the name of the company and give more details
about it. He will call tomorrow and arrange to come
to Lexington if the Boards want to, so that there would
be a public announcement tomorrow.
Mr. Grindle asked ff they discussed roads, and
Mr. Johnson replied th t the property goes back to
Spring Street again.
Mr. Jaquith asked about the sewer and Mr. Johnson
replied that they did not discuss that. He said as
near as they could determine, the property runs down
to the foot of present Concord ?venue .
Mr. Snow explained that it is bounded by Old Shade
Street and there is a small piece of land owned by the
same group of people who own Woodhaven development.
Mr. Adams said he would assume this would be of
considerable magnitude .
Mr. Johnson said he was told this company they
have in mind for the Swenson-Hayden area is not interested
in the other because of the location and the contour of
the land. They-hale bMen- looking for abbntsiaryehra;;and_,
they are very anxious to have this lot.
Mr. Jaquith asked if it was their intention to have
the whole area rezoned including the Richards, Pilkington,
Swenson and Hayden.
Mr. Johnson replied that is what they would like.
365
Mr. Jaquith asked if the acquisition of the
Hayden property would be contingent on owning the
Richards property and Mr. Johnson replied that he
did not think it would.
Mrs. Morey asked how the 600 or 700 employees
would get into the building and how the construction
workers would get in.
Mr. Johnson replied that if they acquire the area,
it will be plotted out in areas of suitable size and
roads would be built. The section this company is in-
terested in is facing Route 128 so they would have to
construct a road.
Mr. Adams asked if these people were familiar with
the State plans and Mr. Johnson replied they are very
familiar with them and think something can be worked out.
Mr. Johnson said that Mr. Wheeler would like to meet
with the Planning Board promptly and go into the matter
further.
Mr. Grindle said they would want a joint meeting,
and have as many members of the Boards present as pos-
sible.
It was agreed to meet in the Selectmen's Room on
Wednesday night at 8:00 P. M.
Messrs. Johnson and Foster retired at 9:30 P. M.
Mr. Snow presented plans and explained the pro-
gress that has been made and what may be proposed rela-
tive to the Worthen Road and Emerson Road projects.
The Planning Board retired at 10:15 P. M.
The Chairman was authorized to contact Mr. Charles
H. Cole to determine whether or not he is in a position Appointment
to accept reappointment as a member of the Board of
Health.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to
sign a deed, prepared by Town Counsel, conveying tax Deed
title Lot 11, Block 88, Short Sbreet to Concetta Lembo.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to sign a Sewer Order for the construction of a common Sewer Order
sewer in Depot Square from Meriam Street southeasterly
a distance of 153 ' more or less .
The meeting adjourned at 10:35 P. M.
A true record, Attest: j // ��`��
r ' xE edtztiiv- Cler9c, Sele amen.
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