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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-05-13-BOS-min 437 SELECTMEN'S MEETING May 13, 1957 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, May 13, 1957 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman James, Mr. Tucker end Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Mr. Gayer presented a sketch showing Waltham Street, Estimate the High School drive, Worthen Road extension as planned on Baskin at one time and Lot A on Waltham Street,' now owned by the dev. Town. He said the figures he had relative to the develop- Waltham 5t. ment of the so-called Baskin property and the road are only estimates. He reported that a thirty-foot pavement and water from Waltham Street figures about $23,500. The Chairman inquired about the length and Mr. Gayer replied that it is approximately 500 feet. Mrs . Morey asked if it was for sewer, water and drain. Mr. Gayer said it included those plus pavement and supervision. He broke the total down in the following amounts : Fill $10.00 per foot $5,000 Excavation 7.50 " 3,750 Pavement 4.25 2,125 Drain 205' 6.00 If IT 1,500 Relaying part of 8" drain 1,500 Water from Waltham Stree , $8.00 per foot 4,000 Sewer 1,500 19,375 Land datmages & Contingencies, 10% 1,937 21,312 Engineering, 10% 2.1.31 23,443 Mr. Tucker said it seemed to him unwise to make this a through traffic artery. Mrs. Morey inquired where the drainage would go and Mr. Gayer replied that it will go into the 8 drain. Mrs. Morey said that there is another drain which needs to be checked which goes over and across Waltham Street, a natural drain which used to be a little brook. IIMr. Gayer said he would be glad to check it. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7:45 P.M. 431 The Chairman said this would have to come into ' the Special Town Meeting and asked Mr. Gayer if this Figure was accurate enough to use for an appropriation. Mr. Gager said he would like a little more time, another week to recheck amd make sure that the figure is about right. Mrs . Morey asked if the layout of the Barkin land had been approved by the Planning Bpard and Mr. Gayer replied that he did not know. It was left that Mr. Gayer would bring in a firm Figure next Monday night, one that can be used in requesting an appropriation. Mr. Gayer presented a plan of Oak Terrace, now called Bruce Road and said he understood the Town owns two lots there that are for sale. He said Bruce Road has been accepted to a point, indicated on the plan, but the Town has paved it and there is water down to Hillside Avenue. He said he was Tax title guessing that a portion of the street will have to be accepted at a Town Meeting, but it is already constructed. He said it was built in 1954. He said he was calling, this to the Board's attention to make sure that the two tax title lots are not sold as some- one has been inquiring about them in the Engineering Department. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Commons, 402 Bedford Street, stating that she has not been in- formed of the amount of the settlement of her claim for damages regarding the sewer easement through her land. She daid that she noticed from the Annual Town Report that one of the court cases was still pending and asked if the other one had been settled. She also enclosed a letter from the Board of Health Commons ' stating that there is no reason why she cannot at claim for this time connect her property to the Town sewer. damages Mr. Stevens showed the Board a taking plan of sewer the property involved and said there is about 585' easement across Buttrick's land, 100' across Commons' and 600 ' across Barnes ' land. He mentioned that the Buttricks settled for $600 or $1.00 per foot, and said that Barnes has not settled. He said that there was some confusion and the Board did state just about what she says in her letter. At that time he advised the Board that no arrangement could be made because each parcel of property was different 439 sand the Town could not pay her more that a fair value. She has a long lot and there is not a thing she can db with the back land. Dr. Barnes does have a chance of doing something with a subdivision in the back. He said he thought the Board could advise her that the Town will pay her a $1.00 per foot and suggested that the Board credit her with $100 on the connection charge. Mr. Gayer reported that the estimate for the con- nection is $200. The Chairman asked if he knew what the betterment was and Mr. Stevens replied that is more anyway. Mr. Stevens said that he has not written to Mrs . Commons and perhaps the best procedure would be to have someone meet with her and go over the matter. He said she could come in some Monday night and discuss it. The Clerk was instructed to remind Mr. Stevens that he is going to write her to meet him some night. Mr. William Roger Greeley met with the Board at 8:00 P.M. He said his firm made an outline of some pro- posed planting and presented a sketch. He said their most important planting of all would be a wall of green connecting the whole thing, and making a courtyard to shut out the parking space. He said they think it is important to have this go in in the winter. He said if an arborvitae is planted it will be good for twelve mdnths. He said they would like a connecting wall of Planting green with a path coming through and in their judgment plan for this would add a lot to the beauty of the entire setup. Town He said as far as the green gumdrops are concerned, they Office would thin out the planting here now and put some over Bldg. here, indicating on the plan, and perhaps add a little. He said they would let it be natural as it grows which would save some attention. He said if the Board wants to consider this, hits concern would like to consult a nursery or nurseries and get cOmpetative prices on setting this out. Mrs. 1Torey asked if this was in the province of the Town Office Building Committee and said the Committee 's funds should take care of it. Mr. Greeley said this, here pointing to the sketch yes, but not the rest. He said it becomes a matter of co-operation, and the Board could direct him later. He said the season is very advanced and he thought it would be better to wait until next Fall. 440 He asked if he would leave the matter up to the Board an await instructions. The Chairman replied that, at this point, the Board would want some figures and then it would have to deter- mine where the money will come from. He said it may be necessary to request an appropriation at a Special Town Meeting. Mr. Greeley suggested that the Board write his concern a letter advising that it approves in general the scheme and would like some estimates of the cost. He said however, now is no time to obtain estimates if the work is to be done in the Fall. The figures now would mekely give the Board an idea. He said he is one of the three partners and would like to have a letter from the Board. Mr. Greeley retired at 8:15 P.M. Mr. Alexander MacMillan and Mr. Donald Irwin, Building Inspector, met with the Board. The Chairman said he understood Mr. MacMillan had a problem in view of the fact that he purchased some property on Sylvia Street which he has been fixing up and' now finds it is within a couple feet of town property. Mr. MacMillan said it is about two feet on town land. Mr. Irwin said the piece of proderty owned by Mr. MacMillan is the old synagogue which he purchased and then requested, permission to convert it into a two-family house. He said this was a Board of Appeals case. The plot plan in the Engineering Department and the one Mr. MacMillan presented shows a two-foot side yard on one MacMillan side and six on the other. He said he did not know how property or why Mr. MacMillan found out it is two feet over.__ Sylvia St. Mr. MacMilland said he started to make a driveway and took a tape/measured from the line and forty feet came in about eight inches from the corner of the house. He said the eaves project one ard. a half geet. The Chairman asked who owns the adjoining lot and Mr. Irwin replied that it is owned by the Town. He said the Town owns half of lot 17 and the synagogue people had a driveway on Town property. The Chairman said, accroding to the plan presented by Mr. Irwin, that the Town owns a full forty foot lot and half of lot 17. Mrs. Morey asked what was on the other side of the land elided by the Town and Mr. MacMillan replied that there is a new house there. 441 Mr. Tucker asked what Mr. MacMillan wanted the Board to do and he said he would like the rest of the half lot. The Chairman said, in other words the twenty foot strip, the rest of lot 17. Mr. MacMillan said half of the half lot would be all right. Mr. Irwin suggested first having the lot lines veri- fied. Mr. Gayer said he thought the Town could survey this p operty. The Chairman said that could be done and then pre- s ming it turns out to be as shown on the plan, the Board h s an alternate of leaving the situation as it is or d sposing of the rest of lot 17 or the rest of lot 17 and 18. Mr. Irwin explained that Mr. MacMillan is interested i:i obtaining enough area for a driveway. Mr. Tucker asked if he wanted ten feet, twenty feet or what. Mr. MacMillan said he would like half of the half lot. The Chairman said the Board would have a survey made to make sure the boundaries are correct and then de- cde what can be done about the ten or twenty foot strip ELlet him know. Mr. MacMillan asked what the Board would want for the land and bhe Chairman replied that he did not know. Hpp said the Board would have to check and find out what it has asked for lots of a similar size in that area. Mr. Tucker pointed out that if the Board advertises tis property for sale and someone comes in it would ave to be sold in one piece and then Mr. MacMillan might not get what he wants. The Chairman said that if Mr. MacMillan is interested ii. acquiring lot 18 and that half of 17 he should send the Board a letter with a bid. Mrs. Morey asked if that shouldn't wait until after the survey is made. The Chairman said that should cone first. Mr. MacMillan said that property has cost him so much now he does not want to spend too much on it. The Chairman said that the first step would be to determine the boundaries and then see what can be done about the ten feet that Mr. MacMillan is interested in. F$e said when the survey has been made the Board can look into the sale of lot 18 and the remainder of lot 17. Messrs. Irwin and MacMillan retired at 8:30 P.M. I 1 442 mm Mr. Leonard Jellis, Sr., 115 Reed Street met with the Board. He said back in 1853, Plan Book 1, Map 16, Reed Street is shown as a County Poad layout. Then that property was sold to the Meagtar people, and they made a real estate development, Book 77, Page 21t, owner, Mark 0. Meagher. They extended Reed Street from what is now Ash Street through to Center Street and left a triangular piece of land, assessed to no one since 1892, which is noir large enough for anyone to use. He said he wants the Board to assess this piece of land to the abutters, who are in agreement to taking over the frontage. .He pointed out on a plan what he thought was old Reed Street but said that there is no name on it. He pro- posed that the Board carry out Laurel Street through Jellis re : on paper and discard this piece of road entirely which triangle at is only a piece of dirt road. He said the wind up there Reed St. is west and he gets all the dust across his land. He said this piece was picked up by the Assessors in 1951 and assessed to Meagher and is now in the hands of the Town Clerk for foreclosure. He said he wants it assessed to the abutters. The Chairman pointed to the plan and asked what the piece was that Mr. Jellis claims is not Old Reed Street. Mr. Jellis replied that it was a driveway into the Hammond Reed estate. He said in 1775 on card one, map ohe, Reed Street was shown as a County Road, but as a County Road it went no further than Ash Street. The Chairman said it would be helpful if this piece was now in Mr. Carroll's hands for foreclosure. Mr. Stevens agreed and said that it could then be sold. The Chairman said that something would be done and Mr. Jellis retired ab 8:55 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Dexter A. Smith, Street 55 Hancock Street, requesting the Installation of a light shield on the street light at the corer of Hancock shield and Adams •Streets. The request was referred to Mr. Gayer. The Chairman read a letter from Leo Savage,advising House that Mr. DeVries, who built his house officially number listed the house as 3 Russell Road. *owever, the front of the house is facing Whipple bad knd he would like to have his house number changed to 443 Whipple Road. The request was referred to Mr. Gayer. The Chairman read a letter from Dunn Ford Sales applying for a transfer of license to store motor fuel. Mr. Stevens said he would advise the Clerk in the morning whether or not a hearing is required or if the License license obtained by Mr. Childs goes with the land. The Chairman read a letter from James E. McCarthy, President of the Woodhaven Associates, requesting per- Street mission to conduct a street dance on Munroe Road, Friday, Dance May 25th between 8:00 P.M. and midnight. Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Tucker, it was voted to grant the request. At 9:10 P.M. Chairman Grindle, Messrs. Jaquith, Soule, Burnell and Snow met with the Board to discuss the prop©sed Filene shopping center. Mr. Jaquith presented a geographical plan showing the area Filenes have come up with and would like at the moment. he said the Planning Board is not convinced that it should come within 250 ' of Shade Street. Filene 's have in mind the possibility of putting in a restaurant. He explained that if the property is re-zoned they will not try to get any damage from the State on the basis that it was business property. Mr. Stevens said before it is re-zoned_ the Town should get a letter from the Department of Public Works. The Chairman referred to the Hayden property end Mr. :Jaquith explained by use of the plan that the Planning Board is concerned about a sharp drop off. He said the Board has not discussed whether this section will be approved or not but personally he thought it might as well go in the areas. Mr. Jaquith read through whet the Planning Board has drafted, which has been re-drafted by Filenes and re-drafted by the Planning Board. Following a lengthy discussion, the Chairman said he would like to have the points of difference listed and taken up one at a time and then decided upon. Mr. Jaquith agreed and the Planning Board retired at 10:40 P.M. Mr. Stevens and Mrs Morey discussed land to be 444 Com"' [s7 acquired for the new Junior High School. ' Messrs . Stevens and Gayer retired at 10:55 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Charles F. Kitching, representative of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company of Worcester advising that he would like to serve on the Insurance committee to study group Insurance for municipal employe s. Committee It was agreed to refer the letter to the Moderator who was authorized and directed by vote of the Adjourned Town Meeting in March to appoint such a committee. Letter was received from James F. Flynn, on behalf of the Lexington Senior High School Parent-Teacher Assoe- elation, requesting permission to operate concessions on the playground at Parker Field for "Spirit of Lexington Day", Saturday, May 18th. The Board had no objection. The Chairman reported that he had called Mr. Walsh, president of the Middlesex & Boston Street Railway Com- pany, in regard to petition for a license to operate motor vehicles in the Minute Man Highlands area. Bus The petition was instituted on behalf of the residents license and the company has agreed on a trial run for thirty days. There will be just one bus that presently goes down Pleasant Street to Harvard Square. The bus will go in in the morning and come out in the afternoon one trip each day for a trial 'of one month. Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Tucker, it was voted to issue a license to the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company to operate motor vehicles for the ferriage of passengers for hire upon certain ways or streets in the Town of Lexington as follows: From the junction of Watertown and Pleasant Streets via Pleasant Street to Concord Avenue, thence via Concord Avenue, Hutchinson Road, Webster Road, Stearns Road to -Pleasant Street, thence via Pleasant Street to the Concord Turnpike Route 2. Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mrs. Morey, it was voted to re-appoint Harold E. Roeder to the Board of Fire Commissioners for a three-year term Appoint- expiring May 1, 1960. ment 445 The Chairman said he was instructed by the Board to speak to Chief Rycroft about parking on Grant Street. Illegal He was advised by the Chief that this would be the last parking time he would discuss the subject with the violaters. IHe has spoken to them half a dozen times. The Chairman reported that Messrs. Donald G. Colony, Paul A. Buckley and A. Edward Rowse have been appointed Appoint- to the Appropriation Committee for three year terms ex- ments piring with the final adjournment of the Annual March Meeting in 1960. Mrs . Morey reported that the two School Building Committees have decided upon September 16th as the Town date for a Special Town Meeting. Meeting Letter was received from David F. Toomey, Commander Permit V.F.W. , requesting permission to solicit the sale of "Buddy Poppies" on May 24th and 25th. Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mrs . Morey, it was voted to grant the request. Mrs. Morey submitted the names of Nishan Haroian, 353 Concord Avenue., and Luella D. Wadsworth, 26 Hayes Dental Avenue, for appointment to the Dental Clinic. Clinic Letter was received from Howard Whitmore, Jr. , Mayor of Newton, requesting the name of a Lexington Met. area official whom the Board thought should be the municipal represen- representative and identified with the proposed tative regional organization to cope with the regional problems in the Metropolitan area. It was agreed to ask Mr. Reed to represent the Town Of Lexington. The meeting adjourned at 11:20 P.M. A true record, Attest : of -'.F:Eec ive .�ler�Select n 1