HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-03-18-BOS-min 341
' SELECTMEN'S :IEETING
March 18, 1957
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building,
on Monday evening, March 18, 1957 at 7:00 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.
Mr. Henning W. Swenson met with the Board.
The Chairman explained that Mr. Swenson was in-
vited to the meeting so that he could be made aware
of the Board 's intention relative to Allen Street
and to obtain Mr. Swenson's reaction. He said that
he understood Mr.; Reed had already discussed the Allen
subject with him. Street
The Chairman explained that the town' s financial
situation is such that the Board would like to have a
vote passed by Town Meeting this evening in proper
order to make the layout and taking and as soon as
Mr. Swenson, or whoever might purchase the. land from
him, is ready to start any construction at all, the
Board could go to Town Meeting, as soon as possible, to
obtain funds for installing water and constructing the
street.
Mr. Swenson asked if there would be any time
limit in regard to taking the land, and the Chairman
replied that the Board is required to make entry but
not to complete the project within two years.
Mr. Reed explained that the Board is taking two
steps and in doing it this way might be able to get
the money at a later date .
Mr. Swenson said it would suit him all right.
Mr. Reed said that the Selectmen did not.. know
what the Town Meeting members would do, but as a
Board, the Selectmen could assure him that they would
put it in a warrant for construction.
Mr. Swenson said he would give the town the land
if something was started within two years.
Mr. Reed said if the money was not appropriated
at a Special Town Meeting, it would be appropriated
at an Annual Town Meeting anyway.
Mr. Swenson said that suited him all right.
The Chairman asked if he thought Mr. Carroll
would approve of this action, and Mr. Swenson replied
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that he has been up to see him and he believed he
would. He said he spoke to Lawrence Carroll and he
thought it would be all right, but could not say
anything beyond that.
The Chairman asked if there was any serious
disapproval and Mr. Swenson replied in the negative
and said he could not guarantee anything.
The Chairman said that the Board would proceed
this way.
Mr. Swenson said he spoke to Mr. Gayer about a
little different grade and he said he thought he
could take care of it.
Mr. Swenson retired at 7:10 P.M.
The Chairman read a letter from Mrs . Rich,
Barnes Collector of Taxes with reference to article 62 in
claim & the warrant for the Town Meeting this evening. She
taxes reported that William Land Bertha Barnes owe real
estate taxes for 1955 and 1956 and in the event
settlement is voted under this article, she felt the
town should beaid the overdue taxes A copyof the
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letter was given to Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel.
The Chairman reported that Mr. Smith, 20 School
Street had been in to see him and Mr. Reed relative
to sewer betterment assessment levied against lot 56,
School Street.
Mr. Reed reported that, according to Mr. Smith,
he has three seperate lots, but on the Assessors '
records the property is shown as one lot. Mr. Smith
claims that Mr. Burns had informed him that he could
get a deferment on the lot bordering on Grandview
Smith Avenue. It is shown as one lot on the Assessors '
sewer records, but the betterment was put on three seperate
betterment lots.
Mr. Stevens asked if the amount of the betterment
would be affected.
Mr. Maloney said Mr. Smith believes he is en-
titled to an abatement on one lot; two he is willing
to pay for. He claims the town did not better his lot
as a sewer was there to which he could connect.
Mr. Reed reported that he is connected to the
School Street sewer and did not connect to Grandview
Avenue when it went up there because it would have
cost him too much. That sewer was installed by a
private contractor.
Mr. Maloney said he thought Mr. Smith should
pay for the two lots on, School Street. He was asked
to sign a petition for the sewer in School Street
but said he did not need it.
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However, after some conversation with Mr. Stockdale
he said he would sign the petition to help the other
people.
Mr. Reed said that the house in on all of the
lots.
Mr. Stevens explained that if Mr. Smith connected
to the contractor 's sewer he should have paid a charge
in lieu of betterments. He could not have gone in
for free.
Mr. Reed said he was willing to make some adjustment
if it can be done legally.
Mr. Stevens said he could not tell whether or
not this is a seperate lot. He explained that if it is
one lot and the Board is of the opinion that he was
charged out of proportion, it could charge what it
believes to be proper. He said that usually the
longer side is used if there are two sides to consider.
The Chairman asked Mr. Stevens to look into the
matter and advise the Board what can be done . He
said he would like to get it clear so that the Board
will know what it is talking about.
Further consideration was given to Mr. Gerald
Holton's offer to purchase tax title lots 534 and 535
Butler Avenue . A proposal to sell these lots was advertised
in the March 14, 1957 issue of the Lexington Minute-man.
No persons contacted the Selectmen's Office as a result
of the advertisement . Tax title
Upon motion of Mrs . Morey, seconded by Mr. Tucker,
it was voted to seal and convey tax title lots 534
and 535 Butler Avenue to Mr. Gerald Holton for $800
plus sewer betterment assessment in the amount of
191.60
Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mrs. Licenses
Morey, it was voted to renew the following Auctioneer
Licenses:
John A. Schoppet 8 Dee Road'
Win. S. Couette 1710 Massachusetts Avenue
Robert W. Cann 48 Hancock Street
Frederic B. Hubley 4 Stetson Street
The Chairman referred to the Great Meadows and
Mr. Reed reported that he had talked to the Chairman Great
of the Finance Committee in Arlington, who presents the Meadows
vote, and they are going to ask to have a committee
appointed to study the subject.
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Mr. Stevens said that the Board could write a
letter to the effect that inasmuch as the land is in
Lexin ton the Selectmen were very much interested in
Lexington,
anydisposition d
of the land an would like to give
serious consideration acquiring it for Town of
Lexington purposes.
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Mr. Maloney reported that last Saturday Mr.
McQuillan was up at the dump at which time there was
an outside concern dumping there. The dump attendant
tried to stop him but he would not get out so Mr.
Mr. McQuillan put him out.
Mr. Gayer was requested to submit a set of
rules governing the use of the dump.
Mrs. Morey said that she thought the Town
should purchase the Notth Street pit for some
future use, whether for a wood-burning dump or other-
wise .
Mr. Maloney said that the North Street pit has
been discussed many times.
Mr. Gayer reported that he had out a backhoe in
and dug a ditch from the face of the dump which will
permit going straight out to Lincoln Street.
Mr. Maloney asked if the town land went over the
brook and Mr. Gayer replied that he guessed' it must
be 700 of 800 feet.
Mr. Maloney asked if it would pay to use a culvert
and go straight across.
Mr. Gayer said he moved the ditch back 00 or 600
y 5
feet and entertained the thought of putting in a culvert
but it is quite expensive.
Mr. Maloney said there seemed to be a lot of land
there and he thought it would be good for quite a period
of time . He said he could see no reason why it could not
be camouflaged on Lincoln Street.
Mr. Maloney said that there are outside trucks dump-
ing and if they could be stopped it would help.
Mr. Gayer reported that a number of them have been
caught and also local men working out of town have come
back to Lexington to dump.
Mr. Maloney suggested advising them that their license
will be suspended by the Board of Health.
Mr. Tucker asked if there were many repeaters and
Mr. Gayer replied in the negative. He said on the whole
they have been good, but have to be watched.
The Board discussed the article relative to the
Junior High School.
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Mrs . Morey said that in the discussion, the Board
felt that the School Committee should have money to
take care of the immediate needs and not plunge into
this program.
Mr. Maloney said the Committee should have some
specific things to do with the money appropriated end
he thought the project was being done a little too hasty.
Mr. Reed asked how the work could be done with the
children going to school.
Mr. Tucker said he was opposed to the $310,000 and
there would have to be some very good arguments to change Junior
his mond. High
Mr. Reed said he would not be in favor of anything School
over $100,000.
Mrs . Morey said that would at least permit tie new
Committee,to get started.
Mr. Tucker said he would be in favor of an appro-
priation so the Committee would have money to clean the
building and do what it essential.
The Chairman was authorized to make a statement to
the effect that the Selectmen are opposed to an appro-
priation exceeding $100,000.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 P.M.
A true record, Attest :
xec�%tive lerkA Selectnn
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