HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-04-08-BOS-min 306
SELECTMEN'S M7ETING
April 8, 1958
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in
the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building on Tuesday,
April 8, 1958 at 5:15 P. M. Chairman Maloney, Messrs .
James, Tucker, Adams and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr.
Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Execu-
tive Clerk were also present .
Further consideration was given to the bids opened
March 10, 1958 for the collection and disposal of garbage .
Garbage Upon motion of Mr. Tucker , seconded by Mrs. Morey,
Contract it was voted to award the contract to the low bidder,
Silva Bros. Inc , for a period of three years at $21,000
per year.
A letter received from Raytheon Manufacturing
Company relative to furnishing water to a new labora-
tory building in Bedford was held over.
Mr. Gayer reported that Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel,
has discussed the subject with Raytheon' s legal depart-
ment and all they need from the Board at this time is
a statement that the Board of Selectmen agrees to fur-
nish water to Raytheon under terms that will be mutually
Raytheon agreed upon between Raytheon and the Town of Lexington.
water Mrs. Morey asked if this wouldn't affect the house-
ing development and Mr. Gayer explained that Mr. Stevens
reported that Raytheon has gone to Washington and forced
the MDC to rescind its vote and there is no reason why
they can't do the same insofar as Lexington is concerned.
He said withaa government contract there would be no
difficulty in their forcing Lexington to supply water.
He pointed out that they paid for the line that is now
in there and fir. Tucker asked about a new supply line
if needed and who would pay for it.
Mr. Gayer said that is another question.
The Chairman asked if it was agreeable with the Board
to send such a letter and Mrs. Morey said that the Board
might just as well prepare a similar letter for the hous-
ing development.
Mr. Gayer said that actually the water for Raytheon
is a small amount and should not affect the supply very
much but the housing development is something else .
Mr. Tucker asked if the Board had to take any action
now and Mr. Gayer replied not on the housing development.
It was unanimously agreed to send a letter to Raytheon
307
advising that the Town would supply water to the new labora-
tory building on Hartwell Road in Bedford in an amount not
to exceed 15,000 gallons per year upon terms mutually agreed
upon; the Town Counsel to work out a suitable contract for
execution by both parties which must be acceptable by the
Town.
The Chairman read a letter from Mrs . Arnold W.
Williams, 9 Balfour Street, advising that the resi-
dents on Paul Rev re Road want to have the installa-
tion of sidewalks voted at the Annual Town Meeting,
postponed for the present. Sidewalks
Mrs. Morey a ked how the School Department felt
and the Chairman aid that probably the Board should
check with them.
Mr. Adams sa d that he thought it was a matter
of principle and Paul Revere Road is a County way
designed to take quite a bit of traffic .
It was agreed to advise Mrs . Williams that be-
fore the engineering work is done on this project,
the Board will consider the request that the work be
postponed.
Mr. Adams said he did not think it was ever good
to have children aalking in the street.
Letter was rBceived from the Lexington Historical
Society advising that Edwin B. Worthen, Jr. and Donald
Grant were nominated as regular members for the Historic
Districts Commission and Eugene L. Morgan and Reatt
Admiral Haskell Reed were nominated as associate members.
Letter was also received from the Lexington Arts
and Crafts Society advising that M. Donald Plummer and
S. Lawrence Whipple were selected as candidates for as-
sociate members on the Lexington Historic Districts
Commission. Appointment
Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Tucker,
it was voted to Appoint Edwin B. Worthen, Jr. a member
of the Historic Districts Commission for a term expir-
ing January 1, 1963 to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Mr. Russell Kettell.
Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Adams,
it was voted to approve Surety Bond #632130 in the Bond
amount of $1,000 on behalf of the Executive Clerk to
the Board for a term expiring 4 pril 1, 1959.
Notice was received from the Alcoholic Beverages
Commission relative to the sale and delivery of al-
coholic beverages on Patriotst Day, April 19th. Liquor
It was unanimously agreed to request the liquor
stores to remain closed on April 19th until 5:00 P. M.
308
At 5:50 P. M. , Mr. Grindle and Mr. Snow met with
the Board.
Mr. Grindle referred to a parcel of land at the
corner of Weston and Lincoln Streets owned by Lt. Corr
and Mr. Cataldo and reported that a hearing will be
held this evening by the Board of Appeals requesting
permission to provide for six lots.
Mr. Snow explained that the land was purchased
from the City of Cambridge .
The Chairman asked what the Planning Board was
suggesting, and Mr. Grindle replied that it would be
ideal for the Town to purchase it but the price would
be out of the question.
Mr. Snow said that they are asking $21,000 and
have been offered $18,000 providing the Board of Appeals
grants the request. He said they can get four 40,000
foot lots there now.
Mr. Grindle asked if the Board wanted to have an
article in the warrant for this. He said that none of
the members of the Planning Board likes it and if any-
thing is to be done two lots should be taken, which he
pointed out on a plan.
No decision was arrived at and no action taken.
Mr. Grindle said a meeting had been held ten days
ago on the Zoning By-Law of Filene ' s and it was very
Zoning definitely understood that there would be changes
By-Law there . The Planning Board made the changes and none
of them has to do with the parking. At the present
time , the parking area for automobiles is at the ratio
of three to one and their survey, which they had made,
said the correct ratio should be four to one and that
is what the Planning Board put in. At a meeting today,
Filene 's are not sure they can go along with that on
the present land there . Unless the Planning Board goes
back to the three to one or three and a half to one ,
the Zoning By-Law can' t go in the paper tonight but can
a week from tonight. He said personally he was opposed
to it.
The Chairman asked if Mr. Jaquith would accept the
three to one and Mr. Grindle replied that he did not
know. He explained that Mr. Jaquith said if something
could not be agreed upon tonight, it would have to wait
another week.
Mr. James asked what affect that would have on the
May 12th Town Meeting, and Mr. Grindle replied that it
would not affect it at all.
Mrs . Morey said that the School needs to be voted
if it is going to be voted and if there is any possibil-
ity that this might be prolonged, the school should have
its meeting the week before anyway.
309
Mr. James said that whether it is three to one or
four to one , he di ntt have much feeling. When the
three to one was r commended, it was apparently re-
commended with a g od reason and there must have been
some study made in eating that was a good figure to
use . He said as he recalled it, Filene ' s engineering
people recommended four to one and said it was a good
recommendation and these are the only facts he has
upon which to make a decision. He said there is no
objection on his part to the three to one . He said he
did not think the Board could apply any ratio to a
Center on the basi of experiences in other places.
He asked how the P anning Board felt about three and
a half.
Mr. Grindle said that if that is what everyone
wants, he would no object.
The Chairman = aid that if Filene agreed to the
figure, he would 1 ke to know why the change is being
made now .
Mr. Grindle s= id this is a survey made for them,
and Mr. Snow said .e thought their attorneys pushed
for this .
Mr. James ask= d if this was the only point at
issue and Mr. Grin.le said it is as far as he knows.
Mrs. Morey sa d she thought it should be delayed
for a week, and th= Chairman said that delaying it would
not solve too many things .
Mr. dames sal• that was his feeling and he would
recommend three an. a half to one .
The Chairman = eked how Mr. Snow felt and he replied
that the more they get the better .
The Chairman aid that four to one would not be
agreeable to Filen 's and Mr. Grindle said that was
according to Mr. Jcquith.
Mr. Snow said that ratio includes the driveway and
it is total areas available for parking. He said it
is total square foct of area devoted to parking .
The Chairman eked for a decidion.
Mr. James ask d if the Board was saying on a three
to one, one foot o t of every four total land area is
devoted to stare o three feet out of every four is de-
voted to parking. He said there is a difference .
Mr. Grindle s id in a four to one ratio , the four
included parking, rives, loading areas, and all open
spaces .
Mr. Gayer ask d if it was possible to get the
number so high it ould be impossible for film to do
what they propose nd Mr. Snow replied in the affirmative .
Mrs. Morey said she did not think the decision
should be made thio evening.
Mr. Snow said they hope to build 550,000 square
310
feet and as he understands it, it is floor area and not
ground area
Mr. James said they have fifty-six acres exclusive
of the State taking and exclusive of the Hayden land;
that is close to four to one, and he could see how
four to one could squeeze them.
Mrs. Morey said if they need that much space for
parking, they need to build a smaller store .
Mr. Grindle said that is his personal feeling but
three and a half would be all right.
Mr. James said he thought the three and a half
figure would solve the problem.
Mr. Adams said they agreed on four and he would
like to know why they changed before he goes along
with them.
Mr. Grindle said they did not agree to four .
Mr. Adams said he thought it would be much better
to defer this for another week.
Mr. Grindle said the Planning Board has the
Millyan land down on Massachusetts Avenue and he wants
to subdivide it.
Mr. James asked if this was the lot the Town would
like to have for a road and Mr. Snow replied in the af-
firmative .
Mr. Snow pointed the area out on a plan and said
that the road could go through two houses, and the
question is the cost involved. He said he could not
see why Mr. Millyan could not have a variance for
the small amount of area and that he be permitted to
build on lots, which he indicated on the plan, and
occupy them as long as necessary by some agreement so
that some reasonable price could be arrived at. Her
said Mr. Millyan wants $28,000 for the house and land
but if he has two lots upon which he can build, be did
not think he would ask that much, and it is a matter of
negotiation.
Mr. Adams asked if this subject could be put on
the agenda for next Monday
Mr. James said there are some engineering recom-
mendations and he thought negotiations should be
started to see what can be done toward arriving at an
agreement.
The Chairman suggested that the Planning Board
see what can be worked out and report next Monday night.
Messrs . Tucker, Grindle and Snow left the meeting
at 7:50 P. M.
Further consideration was given to appointments
to be made and it was voted to make the following
appointments:
311
Dental Clinic - - John Blackhall Smith, Clare A. Burke,
Elizabeth Haroian
Appointments
Gammell Legacy Income - - Mrs. Grace Merriam
Civil Defense Director - Richard M. Purinton
Bridge Charitable Fund - George P. Morey
Veterans ' Graves Officer- Maurice Healy
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 P. M.
A true record, Attest:
i
�Exe�utiv� Clem , Bele tmen
1G x