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Home My WebLink About1957-09-12-BOS-min 1 - SELECTMEN'S MEETING September 12, 1957 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Thursday evening, September 12, 1957 at 7:00 P.M. Chairman James, Messrs. Maloney, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present. The Executive Clerk was also present. Messrs . Roland Greeley, William Madden, Thomas Grindle, Donald Clark, and Robert Kent attended the meeting. The Chairman explained that Town Counsel would also be present, but a little late. He said the meeting con- cerned Article 9 in the Warrant which is an article to authorize the Selectmen to acquire a certain parcel of land on Hancock Street , mainly the Gray property, to provide a second means of vehicular access to the Junior High School site . He said that the Town does have a right-of-way a couple of hundred yards from that spot on Burlington Street, but it is not considered desirable to use that as a vehicular access point because of the narrowness of Burlington Street. He said he thought this was all set until a couple of days ago he talked to Austin Fisher and he indicated that he was not at all sure the Standing School Building Committee wanted this piece of property included because it would then require additional expen- diture on the part of this Committee to build a roadway from Hancock Street into the Junior High School. He also told the Chairman that he was not at all sure that the Schdol Committee or the Superintendent of Schools was in favor of this , and since confusion seemed to be existing, he, the Chairman, decided to call this meeting of everyone concerned to come to an agreement going to Town Meeting. He said he would like to hear first from Mr. Kent. Mr. Kent said that his Committee has not met since the Chairman talked to Mr. Fisher. Be said that he and Mr. Fisher spent some time and he thought he succeeded in getting information. He stated that, after talking to Mr. Stevens, it was his understanding that this article only involves authority of taking. He said that the Committee hopes to pin down the location of the building on.,the site a week from tonight, and it will probably be closer to the Adams Street end of the site than the Burlington Street end. 2 I•ak He said that it may be 1200 feet from the Building to Burlington Street . He said this puts the Committee in the road building business if it constructs a vehicular access, and it will also be expensive. He explained that the Committee will meet next Thursday with the architect and Mr. Gayer to get some informa- tion in regard to the road. He said he thought it was safe to say it is possible, maybe likely, that the Com- mittee will find it advisable to put a vehicular en- trance to Hancock or Burlington Street. He explained that he was speaking as an individual and that the Committee may conclude that a foot path is desirable because of the expense involved, but because of the number of students coming from the Manor, and the distance, he guessed that the Committee would want a vehicular access. He said the authority to make the taking seems desirable and the Committee should be in a position to take a definite stand within two weeks. Mr. Clarke said that last Monday night the School Committee talked about the various articles in the warrant and there was lack of knowledge about the piece and where it was and the reason for it. They tried to contact Mr. Greeley, but without success. At that time the Committee seemed to arrive at the decision that this was a matter for the Standing School Building Committee. The School Committee said that it would not111 take a stand that night saying that this is necessary or not necessary and wanted to find out more about it. He said that Mrs. Marek called him this evening and asked him to attend the meeting. She recalled an earlier conversation in relation to an easement going on out there that there had been talk about acquiring this at some time, and that is the way the Committee now stands. He said he was present this evening to find out more rather than say the School Committee feels it is necessary at *1.00 or $15,000 or X number of dollars. It would rather say this is something it would bow to the Building Committee. Mr. Greeley said that the Sites Committee throughout has proceeded on the premises that a reasonable vehicular access to the site would be needed both from Hancock and Adams Streets. The location of the school building may be an irrevelant factor. The location of the building will be more than 1200 feet in from Adams Street. If the school building is on the Adams Street side of the site there will be an athletic field development that might be better accessible from Hancock-Burlington Street. The Committee also felt that this should not be a through street and the mis- take made on the Hastings School should not be repeated. 3 He said if there is no access from the Hancock-Burlington area, there will be a number of people making the turn through Coolidge Avenue down Adams Street, etc. He said that circulation is very unsatisfactory and be thought it was important to have vehicular access . He said son king would have to be done about Burlington Street. The right of way is only forty feet wide which is not enough for sidewalks and a good roadway. He said that going onto Burlington Street is putting cars onto a street that is not adequate and he felt the acquisition of this parcel is important. He said the intersection of Hancock, North Hancock and Burlington Street is much better than the right of way the Town now owns going over Burlington Street. Mr. Grindle said that the Planning Board knew nothing about this until today and personally he thought it would be necessary to have two streets. Mr. Greeley said that the Planning Board member of the Sites Committee has been strongly in favor. Mr. Jaquith said his personal feeling is that it would be a mistake to put in a vehicular load in that forty foot strip, particularly as far as winter is concerned. He explained that two or three years ago the Planning Board reviewed the area about the first time the plans for the development of the Lidberg pro- perty came in and it had in mind an easement there. He said the Planning Board felt there were problems in trying to get a road through the easement because the Gray house is close to the road and Hancock Street coming into the junction goes at an angle. He said this would have a road at an angle and a road from the High School site. If there is a load of traffic out and a load in there, the intersection might have to be widened. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7:25 P.M. Mr. Greeley pointed out that this is not a high- way, but is definitely a school way. Mr. Stevens presented a plan and indicated the easement. He said until the exact point is located, it can't be decided whether more of this land or more of that land is needed and the only parcel which might cost the Town some cash is Lot D which has been appraised for him for $4,000. Mr. Jaquith said another factor is that the Town will be building on high land. Mr. Kent said he thought it is inevitable that they have to have a driveway. Mr. Greeley explained that the Committee had intended to have this included in the original Art- 111 icle last Spring, and it was just a slip or technical- ity. 4 Mr. Madden said that on the basis of what the Chairman had bo say the other night, the Appropriation Committee voted to recommend favorable action. Mr. Maloney said the Board thought it was in the plans in the beginning. The Chairman asked if it could be summed up that it is the sense of this group that everyone is in favor of getting authority from Town Meeting to acquire this land. Mr. Greeley said he thought it was his burden and he would present the Article if the Board would like to have him. The Chairman said he thought it would be highly desirable. Mr. Kent said he was in favor of the authorization. Mrs. Morey said that the original appropriation was $65,000 of which $50,000 has been spent leaving a balance of $15,000. Mr. Tucker said that most of the discussion is concerned with the narrowness of Burlington Street. He lives near that part of Adams Street and there is a traffic problem there. Adams Street is narrow and there is a hill there and if more traffic is put on that street there will be more of a problem. Mr. Greeley said that Adams Street has something that passes for sidewalks and Burlington Street does not even have room for sidewalks. Mr. Greeley asked if it would be appropriate to mention the appraisal if there is discussion. Mr. Stevens replied in the affirmative and said he would be willing to tell anyone. He said an appraisal has been made by a real estate expert and it is a matter of record. The meeting adjourned at 7:L.0 P.M. A true record, Attest: Executiv Cler Selec men irC ( �5 l i!t I L