Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-02-18-BOS-min 301 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 18, 1957 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Tose. Office Building, on Monday evening, February 18, 1957 at 7:30 P.M. Chair- man Reed, Messrs. James, Maloney, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Stevens. Town Counsel, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission to locate four poles, guy wire and anchor on the Cambridge-Concord Highway, southerly side, westerly from a point approximately 1450 feet west of Blossom Street. Mr. Mahon, representing the petitioner, and Mr. Pole John Oliveri were present at the hearing. location Mr. Mahon explained that the plan accompanying the original petition of September 19, 1956, which the Board granted, was very much in error. ne said all he had at the time was the plan with the petition. These plans are made rip in the company' s drafting room and this is the first time he could recall an error. He explained that the plan actually showed a pole location near Wellington Land add that is what was discussed that evening and that is what/1ft intention of the Board in granting the petition. He said that a few weeks ago his attention was called to the fact that an error had been made and the pole locations intended to be asked for were westerly of the overpass on the Cambridge- Concord Highway. He said he immediately recalled some time ago he had a petition for similar pole locations to reach an applicant by the name of Mann and the Town then chose not to grant the pole locations and the petition was denied. He immediately told his company this was a similar situation. Mr. Olivers said that he had attended the meeting held at the Department of Public Works and he understood that a limited access is proposed, and it would be a waste of time for him to go ahead with the plans already out. The Chairman asked if he were withdrawing his peti- tion for service and he replied it could be rescinded. The Chairman said that the highway will be limited access and there is another ramp which will be close to L F-� 302 L=7 his lot, probably necessitating a taking on his side. ' Mr. Mahon said the order for service could be cancelled and the petition withdrawn. He said he would like to withdraw it and erase from the town records the original grant that was given by mistake . Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Tucker, it was voted, upon request of the petitioner, to rescind the vote adopted by the Board on October 22, 1956, grant- ing permission to locate four poles on the Cambridge- Concord Highway, southerly side, westerly from a point approximately 255 feet west of Wellington Lane . Mr. Mahon and Mr. Olivers retiredat 7 :45 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Robert L. and Dolores A. Lyon offering to give the Town two parcels of property in the Fair Oaks section, conveyed to them by deed of Neil MacIntosh and recorded in Middlesex Lyon' s South District Registry of Deeds in Book 8596, Pg. 595. offer It is too late to have the matter acted upon ,at of land the Annual Town Meeting and the Chairman was authorized to so advise Mr. Lyon, stating that it would be given further consideration at some further meeting. Mr. Stevens requested that a copy of the letter be sent to him. Mr . Tucker asked if the Traffic Committee had done anything relative toarking in front of the Hunt Block between the hours of 4:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. Mr. Gayer replied in the negative and said that last week they did discuss that, because if the bottle- Traffic neck, it would be better if no cars parked in that par- ticular area. Mr. Tucker said this area jams up the entire center and it seemed to him that traffic could be speeded up during those hours. Mrs. Morey said she would like to try it in front of the Hunt Block and also have no double parking. The Chairman asked if parking could be prohibited during those hours as an experiment without changing the Traffic Rules and Regulations . Mr. Stevens explained that it could not be enforced without amending the Traffic Rules and Regulations. He said that sore times the Department of Public Works does approve for a period of six weeks. Approval may be ob- tained for a limited time to see how it works out. Mr. Gayer said that it definitely would improve the traffic. He reported that he has written to the State I �. 303 IIrequesting temporary one-way signs on Clarke and Muzzey Streets for a trial period. He said that the traffic counts indicate the traffic should be going down on Clarke Street and towards Massachusetts Avenue on Muzzey Street. Mr. Tucker said he thought the traffic on Muzzey Street should go from Massachusetts Avenue and no left turn should be permitted from Massachusetts Avenue . Mr. Stevens said that some times things are tried out without any idea of prosecuting . The Chairman asked if Mr. Tucker were referring to where the traffic goes in at Depot Square and he replied that he was referring to the Hunt Block only. Mrs. Morey said that it has been suggested that the bus stop at Douglass ' be set up towards the library, that the area in front of Douglass ' is a natural for parking. She said people do not park up further and violate the bus stop and the bus is pulling into the narrow part of the street. Further up the street is wider. Mr. Tucker said if it is possible , he would lila something done about the bottleneck in front of the Hint Block. Mr. Gayer said her would make a point to bring this subject up at the next meeting of the committee and have II a report so that next week the Board can apply to the Department of Public Works for approval of a trial period. Mr . Maloney felt that a telephone call would be sufficient. Mr. Stevens reminded the Board that it would not be enforceable. Mrs. Morey said that as far as the Hunt Block is concerned, there is a police officer there who could tell people who park to move . She said if the parking is to be cut down, the police cars should not then take up the space available to citizens. The Chairman explained that the police car has to be near enough for the officer to hear calls. Mr. James felt that the meters in front of the Hunt Block should be covered from 4:00 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. Mrs. Morey and Mr. Tucker agreed. Mr. Gayer reported that he had sent a letter to Mr. Irwin instructing him to request Mr. Jeremiah to inves- tigate the wiring in this building and report at his earliest convenience. He read a letter from Mr. Jeremiah stating that the building was wired adequately in 1928, but, due to the addition of electrically operated equipment through the years, the 100 amp service is inadequate I 304 and some of the circuits overloaded. He recommended changing from 100 amp. to 200 amp. He also recom- mended a 400 amp. switch in Cary Hall as replacement. Mr. Gayer said that he received an estimate from Hawes Electric Company of $3,220 for the entire job* Wiring Town for putting then up. The estimates for changing from Office 100 amp. to 200 amp., replacing the switch in Cary Hall Building and dividing Up the circuits in this building would be $900. The Chairman asked if he felt the light in this building was inadequate in some of the offices and Mr. Gayer replied in the affirmative . Mrs. Morey said that the most important thing to do now is to take care of the basic wiring. As far as the fixtures are concerned, everything is more or less in a state of flux until the departments are placed. Mr. Maloney said the Board should consider fixing what is necessary. It was agreed to include an item of $1,000 in the budget for -rewiring and changing some of the fixtures. Letter was received from Dr. William 0. Way, 36 Percy Road requesting the installation of a sidewalk in front of his property. Mrs. Morey inquired if there were any other side- walks on the street and Mr. Gayer replied that he re- ceived a copy of the letter, but has not had an oppor- tunity to go out there. The Chairman recalled that, during the past few Sidewalk years, the amount of $500 has been allowed for indivi- dual requests. Mrs. Morey asked if it had been the policy of the Board to put in sidewalks even if the one who wants it is the only one F,n.nthe whole street. Mr. Maloney replied that sidewalks are installed if the owner requests them and is willing to pay. It was deicided to consider the request further after Toon Meeting. Mr. James asked if Mr. Gayer had had an oppor- tunity to look at the Baskin land. Mr. Gayer said if the Board intends to just fill the area, he probably won' t get very far. Coming across Baskin Grove Street is a little brook which is fed by springs play- and goes into a little pond. He said one possibility ground is to make a plan whereby artificial lakes could be built end the material used to fill around it and have an organized water area within this recreation area. * of which $2300 is for flourescent fixtures and labor I 305 He said the land is quite low and will take a lot of fill. Mr. James asked if he were referring to a two- level proposition and Mr. Gayer replied that is how it would end up. He said he has a map started and if .he gets a chance, will try to work out a rough proposal. Mr. James asked how far $5,000 would go and Mr. Gayer replied it certianly would make a showing. The Chairman said he was talking in terms of $10,000 because that is the figure the Capital Expendi- tures Committee has been discussing. Mrs . Morey said that there will be recrea- tion areas coming along and if this were done as a experiment, done by the Town, it could be used as a yardstick to & by as to how much it would cost the Town. Mr. Maloney said if a fair charge is made for equipment rental, it will cost more than $5,000. Mr. James said for that amount of money there might be a skating pond there next year. Mr. Gayer said he would like to have the drawing made up and then have the Board look at it. The Chairman said that the Board should have a figure as the Appropriation Committee is going to press with its report and should have the answer this week. Mr. Gayer asked if there would be any harm in carrying the money over if $10,000 were put in but there was not time enough to do the work. The Chairman replied in the negative but said that if the money is not used, it may be difficult to get more money another year. The Board felt justified in requesting an approp- riation of $10,000. The Chairman read a letter from K. J. Lowry, Jr., 16 Independence Avenue with reference to skating and recreation areas. Mrs. Morey said she thought the Recreation Com- mittee should establish a program of skating areas, when they should be flooded, and have it automatic. Skating Mr. Gayer reported that he has discussed the sub- areas. ject with Mr. Brenton and it has been the policy for the Fire Department to do the flooding. The Chairman said he thought this was a matter for the Recreation Committee and Mrs. Morey said there is a matter of policy. The Committee needs to have a few things told to them that the Selectmen think are within their rights. I 306 The Chairman explained that he has tried several 111; times to contact MP, W. F. Cowles in regard to his re- quest for the extension of a water main in Spring Street. However, he has been unable to get an answer at the house . Water The ,Chairman was authorized to write Mr. Cowles informing him that he had tried to contact him and ask him to call at his convenience . Mr. Gayer retired at 8:45 P.M. The Chairman read a copy of letter from the Planning Board to Alfred P. Tropeano, relative to Hawthorne Acres. The letter stated that the Planning Board has decided that all streets in the subdivision Hawthorne will be required to be 50 feet in width with all road. Acres pavements 24 feet in width. Sidewalks will be required on both sides of the road from Adams Street to Pihlts land and ,also on both sides of the road leading to the school site. Other streets in the subdivision will have to have Sidewalks on one side and all sidewalks are to be five feet wide . Ralph Nason, Father Casey, Mrs. McHugh amd. Mr. Riley met with the Board relative to Cary Memorial Library Library budgets. budget The Chairman explained that the Board had one or two questions and referred to the increase in the item for fuel oil. He said the other item was furnish- ings and furniture. Mr. Nason explained tha the sum of $893.11 spent for fuel last year was only/ a November let and the amount actually spent for the year was $1,108. He explained that the sum of X500 has been allowed for contingencies in the main library. The estimate they had on furniture was from a local contractor, but since that time , they have had bids from a professional library bureau. The group retired at 9:05 P.M. Letter was received from Mrs. Marie Benzaquin, 32 Petterson Road offering $1,025 for tax title lots Tax title 30 and 31, Blk. 18 Ward Street, said lots having been property advertised in the Lexington Minute-man. Mr. Maloney reported that Mrs. Benzaquin called him and said She wanted to reduce the offer to $500. Further consideration was given to Mr. John Casello' s offer for these lots. Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted to sell and convey tax title lots 30 and 31, Blk. 18, Ward Street to John Casello for $200 each 307 plus sewer betterment in the amount of $174; Mr. Casello having been advised on January 15 that the deed will be so drawn as to require that these lots be combined with lots 28 and 29 which he now owns. Further consideration was given to Mr. David W. Walsh' s offer to purchase tax title lots 239-234 in- clusive on Alpine Street. The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. Walsh Tax title that a situation has arisen over which the Board has property no control preventing the sale of those lots at this time . However, if the Board decides—to dispose of them at some future time , he will be given an oppor- tunity to acquire them at the price previously quoted by the Board. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to certify the character of Theron Gaugh, License 451 Concord Avenue for the renewal of his peddler ' s license . Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to sign layouts of the following Layouts streets to be presented to the Annual Town Meeting for acceptance : Allen Street, Blake Road, Boulder Road, Harding Road, Hawthorne Road, Hillcrest Street, Leonard Road, Lincoln Terrace, Longfellow Road, Moon Hill Roads Moreland Avenue , Utica Street and Webb Street . The Chairman asked if the Board wanted to request the Package Goods Stores to close during polling hours Package on Election Day, March 4th. No definite decision was Stores made. The Chairman reported on the ambulance rental receipts as follows: 1941 $371.00 (Ambulanceurchased in 1941) 1942 484.45 1948 1,184.5o 1943 353.08 1949 976.90 1911)1 516.18 1950 1,314.00 1945 511.38 1951 1,425.55 1946 736.61 1952 1,456.00 1947 205.24 1953 1,601.25 1954 1,773.00 1955 1,789.50 1956 2,086.00 $16,784.64 total 308 a10 N TJ Budgets were discussed and the following action taken: Department Requested Approved Recreational - Personal 09,LI67.50 49,467.50 Police - Personal (Approved three new men. One to be appointed April lst arra two later on in the year. To begin at step 3, the first year step 4 and the second step 5, Increases due a year from date of employment.) Police Expenses 15,170.00 14,870.00 Fire - Expenses 24,195.00 22,295.00 Weights & Measures - Personal 1,000.00 1,000.00 Cary Library - Expenses 21,060.00 21,060.00 Verteranst Services 1,820.00 1,625.00 The meeting adjourned at 11:15. P.M. , A true record, Attest: Executive Clerk, Selectmen , kelJ