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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-03-26-BOS-min 353 SELECTMEN'S MEETING March 26, 1957 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Conference Room, Cary Memorial Building, on Tuesday evening, March 26, 1957 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman James, Messrs. Reed, Maloney,, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mrs. Morey, it was voted to sign five sets of the contract between the Town of Lexington and Pittsburgh-DesMoines Steel Company for furnishing and building steel standpipe Contract and appurtenances. Mr. Stevens said the contract would not be de- livered until he obtains the necessary insurance certificates. Mr. Stevens referred to the incident whereby a Mrs. Blake ran into a water hydrant which cost $271.91 to repair, and reported that the insurance Claim company has offered tiro settle . He presented a release which release the Board signed and returned to him. Mr. Stevens reported further on the claim of Dr. Barnes. He said that on this case, which is a sewer easement, the damage was appraised at *1500. The Board offered $1850 and Mr. Stevens told the Board before Tenn Meeting that he had told the attorney for Dr. Barnes that he recommended $2500. Barnes Today he received a call from the attorney, and claim he advised him that there are two years taxes unpaid. The attorney argued and wanted to go to $3250 or as close as he could. Mr. Stevens told him he would take it up with the Selectmen, but did not think they would be using good judgment going into Town Meeting doubling the appraiser's figures. Mr. Stevens said he was not willing, and would not recom- mend anything beyond *2500. Dr. Barnes ' attorney said he would have to get more money,' Mr. Stevens said he waseusuming that the Board does not want to go over $2500. The Board was unanimous in its decision to keep the price to $2500. 354 'NEK‘4 ti Mr. Stevens referred to the voting machines and explained that last year the Town leased the machines and under the leamit said that any time the Town could purchase the machines and be credited whatever amount was paid in rental. He sed d it is a one-year lease with an option to purchase , and the vote says that the Town voted to lease them on ten-year deferred plan. He said he assumed Mr. Carroll had it on a basis whereby the Town could just lease on a year to year arrangement. If they were kept for ten. years and paid rent, the Town would own them. However, it is not that Voting way, and the contract on the eight machines is a pur- machines chase . He said the Town now buys the eight machines and pays over a period of ten years. He explained that the Town is being obligated to purchase them and paying for them over a ten year period with interest at 3i%. Mr. Maloney said it was very clear to him that the Town was paying 3i%. Mr. Reed said he understood the Town would own them outright. Mr. Stevens said that the motion was to lease and he would see what can be worked out. At 8:1© P.M. the Planning Board, Mr. Snow, Mr. Gummere and two engineers met with the Board. The Chairman reported wgt after Mr. Gummere and his assod ate was t here/Int time he promised to write Iet out tolling what the Board of Selectmen thought about the project which he presented. He explained that he did write a letter and suggested that there were questions in everyone 's mind that remained unresolved and in a telephone conversation told him some of the things about which the Board iS concerned. He mentioned water, sewer and street construction. He explained that the second item was some feeling on the part of the Board that the five-year time was a bit unattractive and so he suggested to Mr. Gunfire that another meeting bb held after he had told the Chairman that his engineering people have looked into these problems. Mr. Gummere said, with respect to the five-year waiting period, he would have to say in all fairness that first of all if the Town had any doubts, they would not want to go forward. He said a ,natural part of this is the Town would obtain the advantage of adding to its tax base, but they could not determine that for the Town, He said it would be less than 355 natural in looking out for their own interest if they did not suggest that other than an industrial plant, a single plant development might not be what the town wants and any commercial development is apt to take some years to put into effect. He said five years is a short time on these things and not a long time . He said in regard to the utilities, the three items were sewer, water and streets. Mr. Homer and Mr. Agler have been taking borings on the site and have talked to Mr. Gayer and maybe Mr. Snow. They are preparing recommendations which are not final, but of which they have copies. From what they have told him, he believes that the plans the Town has under way and are discussing with the firm of Whitman•_:& Howard that there is nothing that they would require at the site, if the Town chooses to go forward, that it will not already be providing in the plans it is now considering or about to consider. He said those plans will be enough to take care of the project. He said he was speaking about water first. They understand that the town plans a sewer extension along Route 128 from the north which, as he understands it, will be in or completed by the time he was speaking of in 1962. He said he understood the Town is planning a trunk sewer from the east along Route 2. He said he was not sure of the details bat thought it would come to the point of Route 2 an4 128. He said he could conceive from thb '. contour of the land that there is no reason why they could not, if the Town's capital expenditure program did not contemplate the second part, build the second part and amortize it over a period of whatever the Town may suggest to them. He said they would like to have utilities to the edge of the site an where they are being provided and are already being contemplated they would consider hoer most easily they could be tied up. He said they have not asked towns for commitments and towns have not asked them for commitments . He said they would live up to their obligations and they believed the Town is reliable. He said, in reference to the streets, these men haye had nothing to do with them at all, The Wilbur Smith engineering firm is doing that. They say there are three steps with respect to the spot from the corner of Shade Street and Spring Street over to Route IA. He said this is not an immediate problem and can be met by signalization, by signs and by some spot widenings. 356 N As alternates, there is widening and bringing westward the junction of Routes128 and 2 bringing eastward the junction of Springs Street and Route 2. As a final step, if it is an extreme problem they could follow the route discussed and which the Board indicated on a large scale map. There is a possible road between old 128 and 2A and comes down to a point east of Richards' property which could be joined. He said these men here tonight have some plans with them and would goover them with the Boards. Mr. Agler said he talked to Mr. Howard about what is here now and what is planned for the future. There is an existing water line in Spring Street and Shade Street. They were told of a proposed water line coming along Route 128. Mr. Howard told him this site would be adequately supplied, and his report to the Town will cover that in more detail. Mr. Agler said, in regard to sewers, that Mr. Howard informed him there is a proposed sewer which will come north on Route 128 and said it might be a 14" sewer and that the depth will be low enough to pick up the site and the site will hot be overload that size sewer. He said the line coming in from the east would come into this area. Mr. Gummere asked if his impression was correct that the Board has this tentatively planned to go to the corner of Route 2 and 128. Mr. Gayer replied that would be the extent of the proposed sewer. Mr. Gummere said the worst could be, would be the problem of tying in on a fairly long run. He said if this will not be constructed for some years in the future, they could find a means of constructing it and working out some arrangement with the Town. Mr. Adams asked if the sewer from that end would take care of all of these and Mr. Gayer replied in the negative . Mr. Reed said he thought the Board would rather have it go down to Bow Street sewer. Mr. Gummere asked if it could work one way for awhile and possibly reverse . Mr. Gayer said that it is a problem of encnnomias. Mr. Reed explained that the one from Bow Street will come faster than the Board thinks it will. The Chairman asked if the water demanl would be very great and Mr. Gummere replied that it is estimated 357 at 250 gallons per minute according to figuring with Mr. Gayer. Mr. Adams asked if some of it would be for air conditi'oning, and Mr. Gummere replied int he offirma- tive . Mr. Adams asked if they w ould use their own wells. Mr. Gummere replied that they had not contemplated it, but it is a matter of engineering that should be examined in some detail. He said the 250 gallons a day would be the minimum based on 600,000 square feet of store . Mr. Adams asked if it was a 24 hour average and Mr. Gummere replied in the affirmative. Mr. Gayer said that by the time the Town makes the correctional changes it will have to make, he did not think this load would have any effect. He said when the system is up to the state it should be in this won't be anything, out of the ordinary. Mr. Adams said that it figures 300 something a day. Mr. Gummere asked if the additional need for water the Town is contemplating would be within five years. • Mr. Gayer said he hoped so but had not way of knowing. Mr. Gummere said that the borings show that the upper northeast corner is about as natural a screening and insulation one could get. The borings indicate coming northwest of the nob that the ground is good to fair. Mr. Morey said that this could potentially be- double the size Mr. Gummere is talking about. Mr. Gummere replied in the affirmative .but said it would be a number of years. Mr. Adams asked how much further they had to go to be ready for presentation. Mr. Gummere replied that they should have more work and are waiting to do it until they know as well as the 'Board can tell them what the attitudes of the Boards are . He said he realized the Planning Board does not take a position until after the hearing. ' Mr. Grindle explained that the Planning Board does not make a decision until after the public hear- ing. He said tl-e Board is very anxious, if there are any such hearings, to have them moving right away, within a few weeks if possible . He said it was en- tirely up to Mr. Gummere to decide if he wished to go 358 M1 ahead. He said that the Planning Board would not Be ahead if the Selectmen did not want it to. He said he would like to have a hearing in April and then a Town Meeting in May or June before people go away. Mr. Gummere said that would be very acceptable from his point of view. Mr. Adams said there would be about two months before a Town Meeting and time is short. Mr. Gummere said that would put more pressure on Mr. Holmes and himself and asked if it would be in order to inquire about the Selectmen's feeling. The Chairman said it is possible a little toe soon but within a very short time the Board could let him know exactly what its feelings are and at the same time let the Planning Board know. Mr. Gummere said the sooner he knew the sooner they could get started* He said they would do nothing until they heard from the Board. Mrs. Morey asked if he would be willing to odes in and answer questions at a couple of meetings and get the tenure of it and find out heir it will go. She asked if hetiwould mind coming out in the open now. Mr. Gummere replied not at all but they do not want to do anything that the Board thinks they shou]d not do. Mr. Gummere and his two engineers left the meeting at 9:00 P.M. Mr. Snow replied that a new district would have to be created because this does not fit into the present zoning. He said that the Board would have to determine on wheff it proposes to hold the meeting. The Chairman said this was a justification for any change in zoning. Mr. Snow said it would have to be determined whether the Town would consider it. Mr. Maloney asked if the Board of Appeals could vary the zoning to give these people permission to come in if the Town is in favor of having them in. The Chairman explained that there is no category that would apply. He asked why it is any different than Lexington Center where there is a group of stores. Mr. Snow replied that there are several things. Mr. Adams explained that if it is zoned for this particular project it could be controlled. Mr. Tucker asked that decision these people expected this evening. 359 The Chairman explained that they would like an informal approval of the plan. He would like to have the Selectmen say they are in favor of their proceeding and in favor of re-zoning. Mr. Tucker said the Board should know what it is going to invest and what the Town is going to get out Filene 's of it. zoning Mr. Reed said that by the time the project is there, the utilities will be there regardless of whether this goes through or not. Mrs. Morey said that other than residential this is as good as anything that could come along. Mr. Reed said if this is re-zoned the Town will realize more taxes than it does now because it will be business property. The Chairman said his interest is the potential assessment on'the property by going along with this is a lot higher than it would ever be with houses and it Gantt involve the Town with as much service as the same number of houses. Mr. Adams said that a clear policy has never been established, and whatever way this comes out the Board will know what the people of the Town want. He said the sooner this is settled, the faster everything is going along. He said he did not think the Town would ever get a better financial proposition than this one . Mr. Reed said he would be in favor of going ahead with it and find out what the people of-,the Town want. The Chairman asked how much time was required to prepare a proper zoning article. Mr. Snow said they would want a few restrictions as possible and the Planning Board would have to get together with them. Mr. Stevens adtised that any approval the Selectmen gives should be,`up to now, it is all right but you want to see what the zoning change is going to be when written out. The Chairman said that the Board is willing to present it to the people and also willing to write a zoning law to cover this type of project, but further than that it can't say because it does not know what the zoning is going to look like . Mr. Stevens advised that up to now the Board does not see anything objectionable, but a definite zoning change should be drafted so the Board can see what will be involved because that would have to be presented to a public hearing. 360 m"' r NJ Mr. Snow said that the present group will have no control over this once it is completed and that it would be turned over to a New York concern. Mr. Gummere and-Ithe two engineers returned to the meeting at 9:15 P.M. The Chairman said that he was authorized to say for the group here present that from what they have seen and heard of this plan to date, they have no objection. The Town does not have a zoning clas- sification into which this fits. However, the Board is willing to proceed a writing of a zoning law to ecompass this type of project and present it at the earliest possible moment to the people . Mr. Gummere said that was encouraging to him. He asked if the Board had any idea what that might involve in time. The Chairman said that the Boof�l�si felt it would lite to have it out of the way before/S M ar. Mr. Gummere said from,his:_point of`viewwthat would be desirable . Be said if he does his part it could be presented to the Town the way It should be done so that the Town will probably understand it. The Chairman said it would require an educational program. The group retired at 9:25 P.M. After the Clerk left the meeting, the Board voted to authorize Mr. Gayer to put through two weeks vacation pay for Michael .X. Shea, recently retired because of ill health. A true record, Attest: --426S-;:five 1erk,( Select en c‘'