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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-12-26-BOS-min !33 SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 26, 1956 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Wednesday 'evening, December 26, 1956 at 7:30 P.M. Chairmen Reed, Messrs. Maloney, James, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Execu- tive Clerk were also present. Mr. Gayer submitted bids for removal of sixteen diseased elm trees, to be cut off at ground level and deposited at the town dump, as follows: Hartney Tree Surgeons, Inc. $1,460.00 Removal of 25 Eastern Avenue, Dedham Diseased Trees F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co. 1,462.00 8 Main Street, Framingham Frost & Higgins Company 1,760.50 20 Mill Street, Arlixgton Cedar Lawn Tree Service 1,770.00 4 East Common'lth Rd., Cochituate Fred Ralston & Company 1,920.00 47 Braintree Street, Allston Brine's Tree Surgery, Inc. 2,016.00 Bedford, Mass. Madde Bros. Tree Service 2,193.00 Bedford Robert K. Rushton 2,223.80 Lexington Mrs. Morey asked what proportion of the removal cost is charged to the owners and Mr. Gayer replied that no charge is made. Mrs. Morey informed him that the law permits towns to charge for removing diseased trees and Mr. Gayer explained that he had raised that question last summer when he was discussing Dutch Elm disease with the Board. He said that it has been the Board's policy to remove them without charge. 234 1.4 CEJ The Chairman asked if all the trees were on private property and Mr. Gayer replied in the negative. The Chairman explained that the Board had dia- 1 cussed charging the owners of the property on which trees were located, but did not arrive at any definite de- cision. He said that not the number of trees to be removed is increasing each year and somewhere along the line it may be that a change will have to be made in the present policy. He said that there had been some discussion relative to charging the owners for removal if the tree had not been removed by them within a certain time. He said that now it may be advisable to charge for removing trees on private property. Mrs. Morey suggested that the Board made a pub. lic statement with reference to the law permitting the Town to levy a charge against the owner. Mr. Maloney said that unless the Town removes the trees and then levies a charge, the disease will spread while the town is arguing with the owner about remov- ing them. Mrs. Morey said that the law provides that the trees have to be taken down within a certain period of time which is not very long. Mr. Stevens explained the law as he remembered it. Mr. Maloney said that if the trees are not re- moved properly and disposed of properly, the disease - '" -on will continue to spread and nothing had been accom- plished. He asked if the list presented by Mr. Gayer constituted all the trees to be removed at the present time. The Chairman explained that there are other trees' that the Town plans to remove itself. Upon motion of Mr.. Tucker* seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to accept the low bid .of $1,.460 submitted by Hartney Tree Surgeons, Inc. Bid Mr. James said that hb thought it would be help- accepted ful to have the list of how many trees have been taken down over the past four or five years and Wow many were on private property. The Chairman said that if Mr. Gayer would fur- nish that information, the subject could be dis- cussed further when budgets are being discussed. If the budget seems too high, further consideration can be given to the possibility of charging for re- moving trees from private property. Mr . Gayer explained that Mr. Brenton is unable to keep up with his work because of the Dutch elm dis- ease work. 235 Mr. Gayer reported orted that Richard- W has requested some money on hiscontract. He said/li . the con- tractor doing the work through the golf course and wants $13,584.93. He reported that he had discussed the mat- ter with Whitman and Howard and they feel, as he does, that the request is justified. The Town did ask him to wait and he would have been through now if he had not been asked ,to hold upp He said the Town will still retain the 2% and the bond. The Town has been holding 10% un- the work was completed and he is asking for 6% of that 10%. He said that the work has been very satis- factory. Mr. Stevens said that Mr. Gayer would obtain con- sent of the bonding company. It is not required, but it is only fair to advise them. Mr. Gayer said that he would like to have any funds remaining in the Reserve Fund applied to drains. He re- Drains ported that there were extras in D'Allesandrots contract which was paid. A drain was put in from Paul Revere Road down to meet the c'main line which was not included in the contract, and there was ane other. He said Tower Road is to be done and he will run short in this account. The Chairman explained that the drain in Paul Revere Road was an old one from Greenwood Street down to Minute Man Lane where cesspools were going- into the drain and forming a pond on Brucchits land. He said that permission was obtained for an easement through private property to connect down to Minute Man Lane. T4 Chairman said he would find out what the final date/for transferring from the Reserve Fund. Mr. vens asked if the Board intended to carry along/Mr' llins for collection of garbage for Garbage another year. If so, he should ask the bonding com- bond pang' for a bond. The Chairman explained that Mr. Collins' contract has another year to go and as far as- he knows, the Board will go along with it. Mr. Maloney suggested that notices be sent out in the Spring requesting the householders to co-operate by depositing garbage only in the containers. The Chairman read• a letter from the Cary Memorial Library Trustees advising that the following individuals had been nominated as members of the Historic Sites Com- mission: I 236 Rev. Floyd J. Taylor Mr. George W. Emery Historic Mr. Arnold E. Howard, Associate Sites Mrs. Winthrop Harrington, Associate Commission Pursuant to vote of the Town Meeting ]geld on November 19, 1956, accepting Chapter 447 of the Acts of 1956, upon motion of Mr. Tuckeri. seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to appoint the following indi- viduals to serve as the Historic Districts Commission: , Charles G. Davis, Lexington Historical Society, for a term if four years; Russell H. Kettell, Lexington Histerical Society, for a term of one year; Philip B. Parsons, Lexington Arts and Crafts Soc- iety',for a term of two years; Rev. Floyd J. Taylor, Cary Library Trustees, for a term of three years; Dexter A. Smith, Board of Selectmen, for a term of five years; Mrs. Robert C. Merriam, Lexington Historical Society, for a term of five years; Mr. Arnold E. Howard, Cary Library Trustees, for a term of five years. Messrs. Steveaa and Gayer retired at 8:03 P.M. ' The Chairman read a letter from the Lexington School Committee, with reference to Chapter 32b of the General Laws, requesting that the Selectmen act on the matter so that the insurance coverage program for town employees may be put into effect as soon as possible in 1957. The Chairman explained that the Board has not taken any action on the subject in the past merely because thererwas very little demadd for this type of coverage, particularly in the Town Office departments. However, Group this year it, seems to have beem promoted more by the Insurance Teachers Association. Mr. James said that it would have to be determined whether of not the Town wants to pay $35,000 a year to provide everyhting, or does the Town want Blue Cross and Blue Shield to be taken care of by the individual or pay $5,000 a year for group insurance or does the Town want nothing -- three cheices. The Chairman asked if Mr. James meant to let it - remain the way if is and add group insurance or do nothing and he replied that is what has to be done. 937 Mr. Maloney said that the Board would have to dee- ide what the voters might want and Mr. James pointed out that in two Cases the voters don't have to decide, Mr. James recalled that all the insurance agents who had expressed interest in group insurance were advised that the Board would discuss the subject with them before making any decision. He suggested invit- ing these agents to meet with the Board for the pur- i pose of discussing an insurance program in light of what they had to offer and what has come up since they wrote to the Board. However, it was decided first to have Mr. A. Irving Dodge, Chairman of the Personnel Policy Com- mittee, to meet with the Board next week to discuss group insurance. Mrs. Morey suggested placing a call to Mr. Chesley Dunlap and asking him in this evening to ex- plain the program. Mr. James said that he was in favor of a sugges- tion made by Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, of having a committee and he was also in favor of inviting . Dodge to meet with the Board and telling him that the Board would like to have a completely unbaised group look into the subject and submit recottendations. It was agreed to invite Mr. Dodge to meet with the Board next Wednesday, January,2, 1957. The Chairman read a letter from Supt. John Blackhall Smith to which was attached salary schedules that are proposed for custodians and sec- Salaries retaries effective April 1, 1957. The School Com- mittee had made provisions in the budgets for the various increases that will occurras a result of these new schedules. Letter was received from the American Legion Stanley Hill Post 38 requesting permission to con- Drive duct a Blue Crutch Drive in conjunction with the March of Dimes, on Friday, January 4, 1957 and Saturday, Jan- uary 5, 1957. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. Tucker it was voted that the request he granted. Further consideration was given to Mr. Antonio Busa's offer of $300 for lots 63-67 inclusive on Rawson Avenue. Tax title The Board was in favor of the suggestion sub- mitted by the Planning Board whereby that Board would discuss with Mr. Buse the possibility of exchanging tax title lots for property the Town might acquire. 238 NQ for recreational purposes. Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it wags voted to renew the following licenses: Ma1tin's Drug Store, Inc. 1793 Mass. Ave. Com. Vic. The 1775 House Inc. 130 Pleasant St.Com. Vic. Woodhaven Country Stores, Inc. 4214 Marrett Rd. Com. ViCA The meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M. A. true record, Attest: EkestativeClerk,l, Select