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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-11-19-BOS-min 157 SELECTMEN'S MEETING November 19, 1956 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, November 19, 1956 at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. James, Maloney, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Mr. Mahon representing the Boston Edisoh Company, Mr. Consilvio, representing the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, Benjamin Pickering, 3 Patriots Drive, Richard Sears, 1 Guy pole Patriots Drive, Roderick Firth, 2 Patriots Drive Patriots Drive and Mr. Holcombe, representing the Church of Our Redeemer, were present at the meeting. The Chairman stated that the subject of the proposed guy pole location on Patriots Drive would be taken from where it left off last week at the hearing. He explained that the Board be- lieved it necessary to have a representative pre- sent from t he telephone company. Mr. Consilvio reported that he went up to Patriots Drive and Meriam Street this morning with Mr. Mahon and a telephone company engineer. They spent considerable time there looking the situation over and studying it. He said there is no question but the company needs this stud very, very badly. However, if it is not possible to obtain per- mission from Patriots Drive, perhaps the comra ny could petition on Meriam Street from the existing pole which would be almost the same. He explained that, reason number one, the companytHants to make sure it does not curtail service in/event of an emergency and the second reason is personal injury. Therefore is comes to the town begging for per- mission to plAce this steel stud pole. He said that there is a very heavy load going down Oakland Street and the company is replacing cable which will give additional weight. The Chairman said that one of the questions brought up was why there were so many cables and wires going up Oakland Street. Mr. Consilvio replied that it is to supply that neighborhood and for no other reason. 158tmml MC Mr. Pickering asked if there was a cable there now and Mr. Consilvio replied in the affirmative. Mr. Pickering asked why they needed more. Mr. Consilvio replied that the company has re- quests by weeks and days for increase in service. Some people may want to go from a two-party line to a one-party line. He said the company can't string open wiring there and in this case the company does have requests for service in that section. Mr. Pickering asked if they were new requests and Mr. Consilvio replied that he was not able to pinpoint the parties asking for additional service but there are records in the engineering department of requests for service. Mr . Consilvio explained that the pole in question is the main pole supplying telephone service in Patriots Drive. Should anything happen to that pole, the telephone and Edison service will be lost. Mr. Pickering said he could understand where the company feels the need of a stud pole, but that being an old established neighborhood, he could not see why it needs a stud pole there. He said if it had not been struck by a truck it would not have gone over. He said if the company is going to put in a new cable to supply the area, it would be more to the company' s advantage to cut in Abbott Road where the new development is. Mr. Consilvio said he never heard about the truck hitting the pole. Mr. Mahon explained that it was not a truck that hit the pole, a truck came along and picked up the telephone cable. He explained this pole is what they call a i/o pole and is heavily laden with all types of construction. They have a primary line, ahort-circuit wires, fire alarm boxes, fire alarm wires, a strEet light unit and two standpipes. He said these standpipes carry Edison service in a seperate pipe and another pipe carrying telephone service . Those .services are going into Patriots Drina He said this pole is heavily laden and if he/ever saw one this is is. He explained that there is a terrific pull on the pole and they need something to hold it. 'He said if the pole let go all of the services, telephone and Edison, in the entire area would let go, particularly those Patriots Drive 1 159 II because that are getting underground service from that pole. He said the pole is badly needed and the company likes to keep its construction as Safe as possible and would not apply if it was not necessary. Mr. James said that the row of trees, of which Mr. Mahon spoke,will not be there very much longer. They are considered to be brush and will be taken down. Mr. Pickering said that if the stud pole is put in where the company has asked for it in the applic- ation, it will not be in those trees. It will be on this Bide of the trees so they will not shield it, Mr. Mahon explained that there is s similar situation ,gf a steel guy pole in gront of St. Brigid's Church on assachusetts Avenue. Ae said he has yet to hear what the real objection is. Mr. Pickering said he objected because he paid extra to have underground telephone and electric services. The idea was not to have any poles or wires on the street. Mr. Sears said he would like to back up what Mr. Pickering said. He said they would be making progress backwards if the pole is put on Patriots Drive, and any new construction should help rather then undermine what has been done in the past. He said putting the pole on Meriam Street is a pos- sible alternate which might serve the purpose. Mr. Firth said he agreed with what had been said by the other two abttt% rs; they had paid extra for underground service. Ahis pole would be on Patriots Drive and would be in a very conspicuous place on the drive when the church property is landscaped. 1#e said it seemed to him that there should be some alternative such as taking the line off further up Meriam Street or putting the pole on Meriam Street in front of the church. He said this would be disadva1tageous to the church, but it would at least protect Patriots Drive. Mr. Holcombe presented a plan showing the church progerty and explained that the ultimate plan is for school building, parish house and eventually a chapel. Mrs . Morey asked if all the trees would be taken down and Mr. Holcombe replied that there is nothing but shrub growth, overgrown bushes. He said he could not say the church is opposed, but definitely does not like it. 160 Mrs. Morey said a pole might be placed on Meriam Street and asked where. Mr. Mahon said he looked at it as. suggested last Monday night but there is a fire hydrant directly opposite. He said if it is not desirable to have the pole on Patriots Drive it is possible to put it five or six feet southerly from the fire hydrant. The Chairman declared the hearing closed and //aid that the Board would take the petition under advisement and discuss it further at another meeting as a Special Town Meeting is scheduled for eight this evening. The group retired at 7:20 P.M. The Chairman left the meeting and Mr. Maloney acted as Chairman. Letter was received from John E. Harvey, 1 Constitution Road, advising that he owns lots 69 and 70 at the corner of Paul Revere and Constitution Roads and it appears that each lot is subject to a betterment assessment due to the proposed in- stallation of a sanitary sewer. He therefore re- quested an abatement of any assessment on lot 69. Ihasmuch as no sewer has been installed, the Sewer Board could take no action either to grant or betterment deny the requests The Clerk was instructed to so advise, Mr. Harvey and ask that he reiterate his request when the assessment. has actually been committed. The Chairman read a letter fron Attorney Francis Keefe advising that lots 25 and 26 Bartlett Avenue, Estate of Sidney M. Simons; had tree't been sold, On September 26, 1955 the Beard extended betterment the time for payment of a street betterient assess- ment against these lots until the expiration of three years or the land was sold. The Chairman read a letter from the Bureau of Old Age Assistance advising that George S. Head, formerly of 10 Westminister Avenue, died September Head 12, 1956 and was interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Assistance Arlington, on September 14, 1956. He was the recip- ient of $7,531.33 worth of assistance from the Town from the year 1940 through August, 1956. 9 161 The Chairman read a letter from .A. I. Dodge, Chairman personnel Policy Committee of the Lex- ington Teachers' Association, advising that ap- Group Insurance proximately 95% of all town employees have in- dicated that they are in favor of the acceptance of Chapter 32B of the General Laws which would establish a group insurance plan for all town em- ployees. Therefore he was requesting the Board to take necessary action to place the question relative to the acceptance of this Chapter on the March 1957 ballot. The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the letter and advise Mr. Dodge that the subject has not been discussed to the extent that any indication could be given as tb the Board' s feeling on the matter as requested by Mr. Dodge. Letter was received from thq Board of Health requesting an increase in salary for Mr. Lurvey, Executive Health Sanitarian, and Mrs. MacDonald, Salaries Clerk. Further consideration is to be given tb the request when budgets for 1957 are being discussed. Certification was received from the division of Civil Service on the Board's request for two permanent patrolmen. The Chairman reported that Chief Rycroft is Police list conducting an investigation on each man on the list and then an appointment will be made for the applicants to meet with the Board for in- terviews. The Chairman reported that Mr Hugh Gordon, et al, want to sit in on the Selectmen' s Meeting on Monday, November 26th. This is im connection with the League of Women Voters ' study relative to the Review of Structure of Town Government. The Chairman Was authorized to advise Mrs. Gordon that Monday, November 26th will not be con- venient but an appoiiiitment will be made for some other. meeting. The Board agreed to meet tomorrow, November 20th at 7:30 P.M. if the Special Town Meeting is completed this evening . The meeting adjourned at 7:55 P.M. A true record, Attest: / ) 'ai / Exec1tive�Clerk,cSelect en. ,. r'1