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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-06-24-BOS-min 504 CgJ SELECTMEN'S MEETING June 24, 1957 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, June 24, 1957 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. Hearing was declared open upon the application of Mr. Angelo Busa for permission to maintain one under- ground tank for the storage of 1,000 gallons of gasoline on premises at 137 Grant Street, Gasoline The application was approved by Bernard J. Belcastro, Hearing Deputy Chief of the Fire Department. No person appeared in favor or in opposition. Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Tucker, it was voted to grant Mr. Angelo Busa a license to maintain one underground tank for the storage of 1,000 gallons of gasoline on premises at 137 Grant Street. Mr. Gayer reported that Mr. William G. Potter had an extremely high water bill. During the winter there was a break in a temporary line and they installed to feed the boiler. He asked Mr. Gayer if he could do anything about the bill. Mr. Gayer told him in Potter's a case such as this he would present it to the Board. water Mr. Gayer read Mr. Potter's letter to him stating bill that any consideration the Town might give by way of an adjustment in the bill would be appreciated‘ . Mr. Gayer reported that the pit meter registered a consumption of 228,400 feet of water for the six months period from November 29, 1956 to May 4, 1957 which was billed in the amount of 4325 .36. When the meter reader went back to check the meter reading, he found that a consumption of 94,400 cubic feet of water had registered from Ma7 4, 1957 to May 29, 1957 which would cost Mr. Potter 4122.72. For the total period from November 29, 1956 to May 29, 1957 the pit meter registered 2,414,544 gallons at a cost to Mr. Potter of 4448.08. Mr. Gayer explained that the cost to the Town for water ie $80.00 per million gallons so the Town paid 4193.16 for the water registered on Mr. Potter's meter and the cost to him would be 4448.08. Mrs. Morey asked how large his bill was for a similar period last year and the Chairman asked what a normal bill would amount to for the same period. 505 Mr. Gayer said he did not have that information. Mr. Tucker asked if the break was in Mr. Potter's own line and Mr. Gayer replied in the affirmative. Mr. Maloney said the break was in his own pipe and not in the Town's pipe. Mrs. Morey asked if it ran through the meter and Mr. Gayer replied in the affirmative. He explained that it was a temporary line they laid during the summer which they continued to use and it 'froze. He said when the high reading was noticed, the meter reader went back. Mr. Reed asked if it was still leaking in May, and Mr. Gayer replied in the affirmative . He re- ported that NIr. Potter started looking around and found the leak. The Chairman said he would like to know what the normal bill would 'have been. Mr. Tucker asked what bearing that would have on the subject. Mr. Maloney said that Mr. Potter probably does not want the town to lose any money, but is looking for some consideration, He said he is in a special price brackett for the amount of water he used. Mr. Reed said he thought he thould pay what it cost the Town anyway. Mr. Gayer agreed to find out what the normal bill for that period would have been and report at the next meeting of the Board. Mr. Gayer reported that work on Dutch Elm diseased trees not owned by the Town id getting heavier all the time. He asked if the Board wanted to make a decision relative to taking care of Town trees first. Mr. Maloney said it is reported that the large elm tree in front of his place of business is diseased. Dutch He said he had heard about something the DuPont people Elm hadto combat it. disease Mr. Gayer said he had not heard anything about it. He stated that he receives the agricultural bulletin all the time and to his knowledge there is nothing to combat the disease. Mr. Reed asked if he intended to take care of the Town trees first and let the private trees go. Mr. Gayer replied in the negative, and said that the trees on private property would be taken care of by a private concern under the supervision of the Tree Warden and paid for by the owners. X06 Cm" L'rJ He said if the people refuse to have the trees taken down he would like to check with Town Counsel to see what can be done by way of forcing them to have the trees removed. Mr. Reed asked how many p'ivate trees and how many Town trees were diseased. Mr. Gayer said he had that information before but he didn't have it now. The Chairman asked if the Town crew could take care of all the public trees. Mr. Gayer replied that they could do a better job than they are doing now but he could not say that all of the diseased trees would be taken care of. Mr. Maloney suggested that Mr. Gayer find out how many trees have been taken down in 1957 on Town pro- perty and how many on private property. Mrs . Morey said that if a tree has Dutch Elm dis- ease and the owner is told to take it down and refuses, the Town can take it down and the owner will have to pay a portion of the cost. Mr. Reed said that the Town can take them down any- way but he was not positive about 'the cost. He explained that the Town dries Rat have to obtain permission from the owner to take/a ttee that had Dutch Elm disease. Mrs . Morey said that until the Town has soma way of covering the diseased trees she would say let them stand. Mr. Gayer explained that they are sprayed with D.D.T. and the Department of Agriculture claims it is as effective as burning. Mr. Maloney suggested that Mr. Gayer find out what other Towns are doing in regard to the diseased trees on private property. Mrs. Morey said if it comes to the point where the individual had to have the tree removed himself, it would be good to get a company that will not overcharge. Mr. Reed said he thought the bill should be sub- mitted to the Town and the Town reimbursed by the owner. Mr. Reed called Mr. Gayer's attention to a small Drainage pond between Countryside and the old Munroe property, almost opposite Petree Dr yg. He said he noticed two or three Removal of trucks takingdirt S the side of the hill and he loam asked Mr. Gayer to call this to Mr. Irwin's attention. 507 Mrs. Morey asked what the Board thought about in- serting a notice in the Minute-man,,just before the corn season, asking householders to put/alks in the bag the corn came in and place them beside the garbage pails. The Chairman said he thought the suggestion was all right, but not in itself. He said it should be part of a list of suggestions. Garbage Mr. Gayer reported that the contractor is doing a much better job this year than he was a year ago at the same time. He said he has put on another truck. Mr. Reed reported that he has noticed the trucks do not have as much paper as they hsed to in the garbage. Mr. Tucker gave Mrs. Morey some ideas he had written on this and other subjects. Ars. Morey asked if "No Parking" signs could be placed opposite the Golf Club right at the curve. The Chairman explained that it would be a part Traffic of, the Traffic Rules and Regulations and would have Control to be approved. Mr. Reed said he thought they could be put up as an emergency. Messrs . Fitzgerald, Carlson and Rooney, represent- ' ing the Lexington Lions Club, met iaith the Board. Mr. Fitzgerald said they would like to operate a game of chance in connection with the 4th Of July program at Parker Flte. He explained it is called a cup game. There o games on either side and two in the front, six operating all at one time. It Lions Club takes several people to man the game, four operators 4th of and a cashier. It is a two to one or three to one July game and the prize is two packages of dl;garettes or Celebration money. The Chairman asked how this was any different from any other game of chance and "Mr. Rooney replied that there is no wheel. He said it would be operated by members of the Lions Club only and not by the promotor. Mr. Carlson explained that money derived from the game is in a pool. The expenses such as publicity, police, electricty and advertising are taken out and the difference is split with the Lions Club. The Chairman asked if the money for this was part of all the income and not a special item and Mr. Rooney replied definitely not. J $ r- Cv Cr'9 Mrs. More asked if children under eighteen would be prohibited free playing and Mr. Carlson re- plied that they will/everything possible to keep minors away from the game. Mr. Maloney explained to the group that there is no possible way the Board of Selectmen could grant permission for this. Mr. Reed asked if the Lions Club was unanimously in favor of the game and Mr. Rooney replied that the Committee agreed on it. He said the promotor would like to bring in three games but the Lions Club is staisfied with one. Mr. Reed said he understood some of the members were opposed to the game . Mr. Fitzgerald said the only objection throughout the entire group was wheels. Mr. Reed said that some of the members do not want anything that would affect the name of the Club and Mr. Fitzgerald said that the Club could stop the game if it is not staisfactory and that is in writing. Mrs. Morey inquired about other games and Mr. Fitzgerald said that there will be rides, refreshments and twenty-four booths. There will be a few games for children where they will win some kind of a prize. Mr. Maloney asked if arrangements had been made with the Park Department for setting up the booths, and Mr. Fitzgerald replied that the man in charge of the parks attended a meeting the other night. They are now waiting for the Boston Edison Company to determine where the transformer will be located. He said they will be operating Wednesday night and Thursday. The Chairman asked if they had contacted the Chief of Police and Mr. Rooney said that they plan now to sit down with the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief and the man in charge of the Park Department. Mr. Fitzgerald said they plan to start at left field and go towards the tennis court. The only baseball game will be the Little League which will be played on their own field. Mrs. Morey said she felt everything, to some extent, is a game of chance and they did not need the last one which is an out and out game of chance. She said she would prefer not to have this extra one game included, but that is only hir personal feeling. Mr. Maloney said that the Board could not grant permission, bht he had no objection. 500 The group retired at 8:10 P.M. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, and Mr. Gould, attorney for Mr. Corrigan, met with the Board. Mr. Gould said he hoped to get some things straightened ot.t so Mr. Corrigan could go ahead with his development. He said there is an agreement between the Town and now Ernest Corrigan regarding the property he purchased from Baskin. He is interested in getting twenty-five lots developed out of a total of eighty-one. The original plan was to develop eighty-one which was sub- mitted and preliminary approval given. However, the development became cumbersote and it was cut down to twenty-five so the area would be properly developed. He said that under the agreement with the Town there was to be a street built. He said he believed the plan shows where Mr. Corrigan has his streets laid out and there is a question as wie.re the Town was to tie in. He said he thought that had been settled so it will be tied in from Waltham Street to the nearest street in the development. He said they were told that the Town does not have the money to build the street but that a Special Town Meeting might be necessary. Mr. Corrigan has made ar- rangements to have six houses built almost immediately. These six houses would not be ready for occupancy until October 15th at the earliest. He said he would like to -suggest that some arrangement be made so that a temporary street could be cut in there as a means of ingress and egress for the time being. He said they assume that between now and October 15th there would be a Town Meeting and the funds would be made available so the street can be completed under the agreement. The Chairman explained that there is a problem III timing. The Board expects to have a 'Town Meeting , September 16th. If money is voted at that time for the street there is still several months subsequent to the appropriation of funds before a street could be completed because of engineering, bids and construction. Mr. Gayer said he questioned the time necessary to complete the street end Mr. Corrigan thought two or three weeks would be enough to build 600 feet without contemplating the mechanics. Mr. Reed asked if utilities had to go in and Mr. Gayer said that' is the way it it planned, Mr. Gayer said if the existing portion of Worthen Road is to be matched the street in question will. have to be fifty feet. 1 510 The Chairman said he could not see any need for making the street fifty feet now. Mrs. Morey said she thought thirty feet would be adequate and she said she would like to be sure it is going to match the streets in the development. Mr. Gayer said he believed the development streets are twenty-four.feet. Mr. Reed explained that the road does not go directly in but goes in at a right angle. The Chairman suggested having the engineering wsr* done now and when that is done and a reasonable estimate is available request bids before Town Meeting. Then as soon as the appropriation is made, the bid could be awarded. He asked if it could be done that way this Fall. Mr. Gayer said he thought it could be done and asked who would pay for the utilities from Corrigan's line down to the existing utilities. Mr. Stevens explained that the agreement does not say anything about utilities and just refers to building a street. He said he did not thiel; the Board /of Survey ever had anything to do with utilities. He asked it Mr. Gayer was planning to see if the engineering work could be done. Mr. Gayer replied that it will depend on personnel. He said he was going to lose Robert Higgins but he thought he could get someone to do it. The Chairman said he would like to have the engineer- ing done, bids prepared and out before September 16th*. Then the Town will be ready to let the bid as soon as the appropriation is made September 16Vh. Mr. Gould asked when the street would then be finished and Mr. Gayer replied that it wouldn't be three weeks. The Chairman asked if Mr. Corrigan would accept the idea of a filled and rough graded street for the winter to make sure of a good street before the paving is put on. Mr. Gould asked if that would be advisable during the Winter and Spring. Mr. Gayer said it would be the best thing for it. The street would be rough, but passable. The Chairman said that there isetill something to be found out in regard to utilities. Mr. Gould said the Board 's suggestion is a rough graded street with pavement to be completed in the Spring as early es practical and the Chairman said that was correct. Mr. Gould asked if it would be necessary to negotiate 511 with the Town to obtain permission for the temporary use of the road between the present High School Road and the efld*bf 8ortigants,tedaperary° road while this is going on. Mr. Stevens Said-he thought Mr. Gould could check with the School Department and find out what its plans are for the summer activities if any. Mr. Reed said that the Board would give tentative approval so if it is not school property he will not have to come back to the Board anion. Mr. Gould said it should/b� 1ecessary for him to come back again for quite some time until the vote of Town Meeting. Mr. Gould retired at 8:45 P.M. Mr. Clarence Walker and Mr. Edward Munroe met with the Board. Mr. Walker asked what could be done about Tavern Lane and said he and Mr. Munroe had a common problem in that they feel, since the drainage was installed in 1956, the street has never been restored to the condition it was found. He said that Mr. Gayer has talked it over with 'him to some extent and made an investigation. However they never got to the point of meeting at the site to II see if their opinions agreed or disagreed. He said his objective has been to get Mr. Gayer or some member of the Board to look at the str- et and perhaps Mr. Gayer needs a little moral support from the Board to encourage him to take a good look. The Chairman said that the Board could look at it, but that would not tell what it looked like before the drainage was put in. Mr. Walker said the condition today is much worse than it was. There are boulders sticking out and there is a sunken condition in the road. He said there is a boulder on the side of the road and a pile of dirt along both sides of the road that has been left. The Chairman asked if Mr. Walker was talking about the condition caused by the drainage installation and not the water. Tavern Mr. Walker said that the drainage came first and Lane there was also an installation of gas. He said the street, never having been hard surfaced in the beginning Is in a bad condition. He said he would like to go a little bit further and do something to improve the access to the property. He said he could not build a new street, but if something was done initially to take some of the expense off, maybe he could finish it. CEJ LIE1 Mr. Reed said that the road was not in good condi- tion in the first place and it is not up to the Town to take care of private property, but it should be put back in. Mr. Walker said he lived in the area from 1935 to 1940 and it was a good passable road in those days, and there never was any settling of water. Mr. Reed explained that the reason the Town installed the drain was a result of complaints received from the people on the street. It was agreed that the Board would meet Mr. Walker and Mr. Munroe at Tavern Lane at 8:00 toMorrow morning. Messrs. Walker and Munroe retired at 9:00 P.M. Ext. of Mr. Stevens explained that it is necessary to again time extend the time for passing papers with Esco and Millican. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to extend the time for passing of papers to July 31, 1957. All copies of the instrument signed by the Board were -r taken by Mr. Stevens. Mr. Stevens asked if there were any further develop- proposed ments regarding the proposed road from Depot Square and road said that Mr. •MacNeil wants to start construction of his building. Mr. Maloney said that he would have some informa- tion for the next regular meeting of the Board. Mr. Stevens retired at 9:05 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from LeRoy Johnston, who owns property on Cliffe Avenue, requesting extension of the sewer to include his house at 78 Cliffs Avenue. Sewer Mr. Gayer reported that the Cliffe Avenue sewer item in the 1956 budget was not approved. The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. Johnston that the installation will not be made this year inasmuch as no funds were appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting in March, but the project will be discussed when the budgets for 1958 are being prepared. Mr. Donald E. Nickersoh, Chairman of the Board of Appeals, met with the Board. Mr. Nickerson explained that the point at issue is a Secretary for the Board of Appeals. He informed the 1 513 Board that the Secretary had been receiving $2.00 per hearing for many years. He said his question, in dis- cussing the subject with Town Counsel, was whether or not the Board of Appeals could increase that amount. They average about six hearings every two weeks, and he suggested that the amount be increased to $4.00 per hearing. He said that Town Counsel asked what the increase would mean to some other people in the building. Mr. Maloney asked if all he wanted to do was to in- crease the overtime rate . The Chairman asked if all the notes were transcribed. Mr. Nickerson replied in the negative and explained that his Board had been under the impression that the notes had to be transcribed. However, he talked to Town Counsel and was advised that the notes do not have to be transcribed. They have to be retained and if a case goes to court that particular set of notes would have to be written up. However, that happens only on the average of once in three years. The Chairman asked what the duties are other than attending the meetings and taking down the information. Mr. Nickerson explained that notices have to be Board of sent out, applications received, applicants advised as Appeals to what to do. Block plans are obtained from the Engineering Department and they decide what people are to be notified, usually twelve to twenty. Occasionally there may be a hearing where 100 people have to be notified, but that is a routine form. The girl attends the hearing, takes down the D$tes and writes up the decision of the Board which/usyially a copy of the petition. The Chairman asked if the position required a girl full time five days a week and Mr. Nickerson re- plied that the girl should give the Building Inspector 50 of her time. R Mr. Nickerson retired at 9:15 P.M. Mr. Maloney said he thought the Boys ' Club Building should be torn down immediately because if it isn't there will be problems. He said he had a note for Mr. Geyer instructing him to shut off the water, have the gas in the street shut off end everything in the building. Boys ' He said there are some things in the building that will Club be moved. The Hayden Building will be ready to take the building boys in the Fall. The Chairman said that Mr. Gayer should first ob- tain prices for taking the building down. c-• 4.1 Mr. Stevens had some doubts as to whether or not the building could be torn down without a vote bf Town Meeting and said he would like to check any notes that might have been made when the property was acquired from Mrs. Sexton. License Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to renew the Countryside Market% Sunday License. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Re- Retirement tirement advising that Arthur Silva had been re-elected System a member of the Contributory Retirement System. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. William Roger Greeley requesting instructions as to the colors that will be used in painting the ornamental wood panel in the triangular pediment of the Old Town Office Building so that the painting of the new Town Office Building , Painting will be agreeable to the Board and the Building Com- T. 0. mittee. building Mrs. Morey suggested that the Chairman acknowledge the letter and tell Mr. Greeley that the Board is sure he will arrange to have the painting on the new build- ing blend with that of the old building. The Chairman read a letter from Samuel Borella, 9 Ward Street, on behalf of the 4-H Horse Club, re- Permit for questing permission to place bardboard signs at the signs intersection of Hill and Bedford Streets, Cedar Street and Massachusetts Avenue and Paul Revere Road and Massa- chusetts Avenue in connection with the Horse Show to be held on Sund8y, June 30th. The Board had no objection. Certificate of Incorporation was received from the Secretary of the Commonwealth on behalf or William Lyon, 55 Waltham Street. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to sign the Certificate. The Chairman read a memorandum relative to a telephone call received from Mr. Fred Newhall. For a number of years Mr. Worthen conducted an examination on the hisboDy of- Lexington for youngsters who wished to obtain a Guide License. If they passed the examination he advised the 1 515 Board of Selectmen who then issued a license. Mr. Garrity is willing to give the examination but would like some authorization from the Board and suggested the establishment of a minimum age limit. He also suggested that sone certification be obtained from the Chief of Police relative to the applicants. The Board was in favor of having Mr. Garrity con- tinue the examinations and was of the opinion that the children should be at least twelve years of age before obtaining a Guide license. The Chairman read a letter from Pitney-Bowes, Inc. relative to the adoption of the Metered Mail system. The Board agreed to grant the company permission Metered to make a survey of the present mailing procedures in mail the Town Offices, a report of the findings to be sub- survey witted to the Board. According to the letter, this would incur no obligation on the part of the Town. The Chairman informed the Board that a Mr. Meader, Sound representing the Atlantic & Pacific, requested permissior. Truck to operate a sound truck through Lexington on Wednesday in connection with a motor cavalcade advertising programs . The Board was unanimously opposed. The Chairman reported that he had discussed the Great Meadows with Thomas Rawson, Clerk to the Arling- Great ton Board of Selectmen, and suggested that inasmuch as Meadows the Lexington Selectmen were not having a regular meeting; next Monday night, a meeting of the two Boards might be arranged. The Chairman was authorized to make whatever arrangements he could for a joint meeting. The Chairman reported on a meeting he and Mr. Reed attended last Wednesday evening. He said that Colonel Dunlop, Bedford Air Base, wants a committee from each of the various towns, together with three or four of the officers of the Air Base personnel, to review the steps the Air Base personnel has taken to reduce noise and to review the flight patterns the aircraft is now taking, and then submit a report with any recommendations they might have to make. He said it appears that Colonel Dunlop and the Air Base personnel have done all they can and he wants a group of citizens in the Town to review it and when complaints come in he will have people in each town who know that everything has been done that can be II _ 6 6 done. He said it had been voted to establish such a committee which is to consist of two representatives from each town. Mr. James suggested, as one of two individuals, Mr. Milne, a retired gentlemen. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M. A true record, Attest: e iv ler Select n I d 3 1�i