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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-01-13-BOS-min 202 SELECTMEN t S MEETING January 13, 1958 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, January 13, 1958 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman James, Messrs. Reed, Maloney, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. The Chairman read a letter from Paul J. McCormack stating that in several instances the Town has exceeded its rights and privileges it has under a right of way on land owned by Mr. McCormack and Albert C. Brun. The right of way in question runs from Lowell Street to the Harrington School property. Mr. McCormack claimed that concrete stakes and McCormack light poles were erected and grading was done on claim land not owned by the Town. He also stated that the Town installed drain pipes in the right of way, emptying water into an existing water hole in their land. Mr. Gayer said that he could explain the refer- ence to drainage. It had been assumed that the ease- ment was a general easement over which the driveway was constructed. He said he contacted Mr. Stevens and the easement is for the driveway only and does not include any other use. He explained that down below it empties into school property, but the pond is partly on Town property and partly on McCDrmacks property. He said he has been working with Mr. Stevens to see what can be done and what should be done. He reported that the catch basin was built in the street so the child- ren could get across from the sidewalk on the other side. It was run parallel to the driveway and then went into this pond. The Chairman asked when that was done and Mr. Gayer replied just recently. The Chairman asked when the concrete stakes and light poles were put in and Mr. Gayer replied that it was last year. Mr. Gayer said that he and Mr. Stevens are aware of the situation and Mr. Stevens has been working on it. The Chairman agreed to advise Mr. McCormack that Mr. Stevens and Mr. Gayer are looking into the situa- tion. I 203 Petition was received from the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Pole Compau requesting transfer of location for exist- location ing j/o pole to the telephone company. This is apparently a transfer of ownership. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mrs. Morey, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order for the transfer of ownership of the following pole : Lowell Street, northeasterly side, approx- imately 25 feet southeast of Fairlawn Lane. Petition signed by Peter H. Grimes, et ale, was received for extension of sewer to include Freemont Street and also for the acceptance of the street. Sewer and The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. Grimes Street that it is too late to include these projects in the 1958 budget. Letter was received from Ernest J. Corrigan, to- ether with Rupert H. Stevens ' bill in the amount of .354.44. Mr. Corrigan wished to be advised whether or not the Town intends to pay the bill. Corrigan Mr. Gayer explained that presumably this is the bills total cost and as it stands now, the Town is paying only for the difference in the size of the water mains plus a portion of the drain which it agreed to install. The Chairman said that apparently the bill is for sewer and water in Worthen Road and all the Town agreed to do was to pay for the difference of an 8" and 12" water main, as far as this particular bill is concerned. He said he presumed the reply to the letter would be to refer to an earlier letter advising what the Town was going to pay for and what it was not going to pay for. Memo was received from Mr. Paul Palmer, together with literature relative to enabling legislation passed by the State which permits towns to honor payroll deduc- Article tions for charitable organizations such as the United Fund. Mr. Palmer asked that the Board include an article in the Warrant on the subject this year. Mr. Tucker pointed out that the administrative cost would be exhorbitant and he said he would 'not be in favor unless a minimum deduction was established. Mrs. Morey questioned whether or not there could be a vote to limit the amount of deduction. Mr. Maloney said that the present bookkeeping system is not set up to handle this. The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. Palmer that, in the Board's opinion, the amount to be gained by such a system would be considerably less than it would cost the Town to operate it and for that reason, it is not in favor of the proposal. 204 If, however, he felt strongly about the subject, he could obtain the signature of ten or more registered voters next year and request the Board to insert an article in the Warrant. The Chairman read a eopr of letter from the Transfer Appropriation Committee to the Recreation Committee, advising that a transfer of $5,000 from the Reserve Fund to the Recreation Committee 's Expenses had not been approved. The Appropriation Committee felt that the proposed expenditure is not unforseen or an emer- gency and that an amount of this size should be ap- proved by Town Meeting. Mr. Gayer retired at 8:10 P.M. Letter was received from Mrs. Rich, Collector of Collecting Taxes , with reference to collecting ambulance bills, ambulance suggesting that Mr. Wright, her Deputy Collector, be bills authorized to collect all accounts receivable for the Town including ambulance, water and sewer house con- nections. The Chairman agreed to discuss the subject with Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel. The Chairman read a• letter from John Blackhall Smith, Superintendent of Schools, with reference to the use of the Barnes property. Mr. Smith would like the large room on the second floor rear for School Committee meetings and other meeting purposes. The Chairman explained that the room is not Barnes heated at all. The Boy Scouts use it but they have property purchased a couple of space heaters. He said that eventually the School Committee should have the main building but he did not see why the Boy Scouts should be dispossessed on short notice. Mrs. Morey said that six months ' notice would be reasonable. Mr. Reed said he understood the Boy Scouts wanted the room downstairs. The Chairman explained that they would prefer it if it were fixed up and they would like to rearrange the partitions. He said they would go there if it is fixed up so the Board should decide how much it is going to be fixed and who is going to pay for it. Mr. Reed suggested that the Scouts do the repairs in lieu of rent. Mrs. Morey said she thought the main portion of the Barnes ' property should be given to the School Department. She suggested that it be let to the School Department who would take care of the expenses and the building remain under control of the Selectmen. She also suggested that the Boy Scouts use the wing and be given six months ' notice . 2O The Chairman said he thought they would need more than six months ' notice. Mr. Reed said that if the School Committee is not interested in the part in which the Scouts are interested, he could not see why they could not stay there indefinitely. The Chairman explained that according to Mr. Smith's figure for his need for the next ten years, the main part of the building is more than the square footage he said he wanted. The only question is the meeting room. He said it would give them a good meet- ing room there in the building but he thought it would be expensive to heat. Mrs. Morey said -it might as well be done properly and she could see no reason why the Boy Scouts could not use the room for their council meetings. She thought they should be given an opportunity to work it out. Mr. Reed said that if the School Committee requests $13,000 to renovate the building, he would vote against it. The Chairman explained that if the Board controls the Building, it is then up to the Board to decide how much renovation is required, and the first decision is who is to have control. Mrs. Morey pointed out that if the Selectmen are to have control, they would put the article in the Warrant. Mr. Reed said he did not think the Board should give the School Department control of the building. Mrs. Morey asked if the Board could give the Committee the use of the building, the Committee to pay for the renovations and upkeep and when they move out, the building will revert to the Board. Mr. Maloney said that once the Town Departments are out of the building, the Board would have no further use for it. The Chairman said he would like to reply and tell Mr. Smith under what conditions permission is being granted. Mr. Maloney suggested letting it to the School Department for a nominal fee so it will be legal and have that department operate and maintain the building and do the necessary repairs to its satisfaction. Mr. Reed said he would like some reservation for the Boy Scouts. Mrs. Morey said the Selectmen could advise that the Boy Scouts are to remain in the wing of the building until the space is needed, but the Board would. expect to know a year in advance when the space will be needed and further that the Scouts and School Committee are to work out something whereby the Scouts may have the use of the meeting room. 206 Mr. Maloney said that the Boy Scout offices are poorly heated and if the School Department has to change over the heating system, it would have to go all the way with the change. Mrs. Morey suggested that the Board also advise that some attehtion will have to be given to the heating system .and the Board wohld expect the School Department to provide for it in its renovation. The Chairman said perhaps the School Department would make the renovation on the first floor in lieu of rent. He said they would need some wall board, cleaning up and painting. Mr. Tucker asked if the Board wouldn't also want to reserve the garage for Town use. The Chairman said he would write to Mr. Smith stating that the School Committee will have the main portion of the building, but the Selectmen expect them to make some arrangement whereby the Boy Scouts can use the meeting room on occasion; the wing of the building will remain with the Boy Scouts; the garage will con- tinue to be used by the Town; in the uenovation they will have to contider the heating problem for the meet- ing room and also for the Boy Scout area; the Committee will be expected to renovate and maintain the building and pay a nominal rent and provide for its own custodian. Mrs. Morey said the Committee should also be ad- vised that any changes in the parking area will be com- pletely at the discretion of the Selectmen and also that the Town will maintain the grass. Further consideration was given to Mrs. Catherine Kelly's offer to purchase tax title lot 19, Block 18, Reed Street. The Chairman reported that Mrs. Kelly purchased her present lot, 18, in 1953 and it has been assessed Tax title to her since 1936. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Tucker, it was voted to sell and convey Lot 19 Block 18, Reed Street to Mrs. Catherine V. Kelly for 1200 plus sewer betterment in the amount of 1113.36. Letter was received from Edith B. Cheever advis- ing that it is necessary for her to resign as a member of the Town Celebrations Committee. The Chairman reported that he had asked Mr. Gustin, Resignation Chairman of the Committee, for some suggestions as to replacement but has not received a reply. Mrs. Morey said that Mrs. Cheever had mentioned Mrs. Walter Sands. It was agreed not to take any action until the Chairman has heard from Mr; . Gustin. 207 The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Greeley stating that the conversations in re planting were initiated by a member of the Board who talked to him and asked him to make a study tf the planting. Mr. Greeley said it is not his intention to force his services upon the Town, s The remainder of the evening/deavoted to budgets and the meeting adjourned at 11:00 P.M. A true record, Attest: -e tiv Clerkc, Belec n C s oh' 1