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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-10-15-BOS-min 94 C" SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 15, 1956 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, October 15, 1956 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. Maloney, James and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Gayer Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Mr. Gayer referred to request received from DeVries for abatement of a sewer betterment assessment DeVries and reported that he has everything straightened sewer out with respect to the original request except Lot C betterment on Lowell Street, beyond Fairlawn Avenue. He explained that the*development has been constructed, this *way the parcel will never be a street. The Chairman asked what Mr. DeVries proposes to do with this parcel of land and Mr. Gayer replied that he did not know whether he would sell it to the abutters or not. The Chairman said that he assumed it would never be built upon, and wondered if he were going to give part of the land to each abutter. Mr. Maloney asked how an assessment could be jus- tified if the land is not bettered and said if Mr. Devries gives this land away, it won't be bettered. Mr. James said the only question now is whether or not this particular parcel can ever be built upon. Mr. Stevens looked at a plan, presented by Mr. Gayer, and said that the lot cannot be built upon because it is not large enough and was reserved for a street. Mr. Gayer explained that the lotting changed so it can never be used as a street. It was agreed to have Mr. Gayer contact Mr. DeVries and find out what he intends to do with thiel parcel of land. The Chairman read a letter from the Emergency Borrowing Finance Board, together with the vote, passed on October approved. 9, 1956, authorizing the Town of Lexington to borrow the additional sum of $60,000 for the Franklin School Addition. 1 95 The Chairman read a letter from the Division of Civil Service relative to two amendments to Chapter 629 of the Acts of 1956. Civil Mr. Stevens explained that if a police officer Service is given punishment duty, he has a right to a hearing. He agreed to check into the subject further and the Chairman was authorized to instruct the Chief of Police to discuss the amendments with Town Counsel. Petition was received from the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for approval of five j/o pole locations on Crosby Road. Pole Mr. Gayer reported that the poles are already locations located and the numbers on the existing poles are different from those indicated on the plan enclosed with the petition. Mr. Gayer was instructed to obtain more definite information before the Board takes any action on the petition. The Chairman read a letter from Louis Kennedy, 11 Somerset Road, advising that the entrance to his driveway is bad, especially in wet weather. Mr. 11 Kennedy is of the opinion that it is part of the street/therefore town property. He requested / and Street that the town repair the entrance to his driveway repairs and also repair some holes in Somerset Road, at the corner of Franklin Road. The Chairman informed the Board that Mr. Gayer deported to him that the holes in the street have been repaired. Mr. Gayer stated that he wrote to Mr. Kennedy and explained that the driveway entrance is private property. The sewer betterment assessment in the amount of $1,249.25 levied against property owned by Chester Lidberg and located on Adams Street, was discussed at length. Lidberg It was decided to advise Mr. Lidberg that when the parcel of land involved is shown on a registered plan as the lot upon which his house is located, to- gether with another seperate lot, the Board will dis- cuss the subject fuizther and consider at that time the possibility of deferring the assessmentaon the seperate lot. i 96 C" MEJm Further discussion was held relative to sewer betterment assessment in the amount of $831.59 levied11 against Lot B, Adams Street, owned by Kendall Wright. Mr. James said that what the Board has to decide on this is whether the betterment stands or whether Wight it does not. sewer The Chairman stated that there is a possibility assessment of connecting to the sewer but it would be expensive because of the ledge. Mr. James reminded the Board that there are Other situations in town just like that and the property owners have paid the betterment. Mr. Gayer was requested to figure out what the assessment would be on 150 root frontage. The Board will then consider abating the difference between the assessment on 150 feet and the original assessment. The Chairman was authorized to ask. Mr. Wright to meet with him some afternoon to discuss the subject. At 8:10 P.M. Chief Rycroft and Lieutenant Corr of the Police Department met with the Board to dis- cuss speed control by radar. Lieutenant Corr advised that, at the Chief' s request, he had Mr. Delaney of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and Mr. McCarthy of the Department of Pub- lic Works, come out and go over zoning of the town. He explained that, in going to court with speeders, Radar the Judge does not want to take an estimate of speed. speed He has been told by the Court that drivers operating control cars in a thickly settled area should be clocked for meahines 1/8 of a mile and outside districts for 1/4. of a mile. Lieutenant Corr explained thi$ can be done only by a cruiser. He *eferr.ed to the electronic meter purchased by the Town of Concord and stated that the Court will not accept it as evidence because it does not concur with the ruling of 1/8 or l/) of a mile. Lieutenant Corr recommended zoning all the main streets in town. If the radar machine is purchased which would be used to zone the town, speed signs would be erected not more than 1/2 a mile apart, A speed check of 100 cars would have to be made for the purpose of arriving at a speed limit and there would have to be a spot map with accident locations checked. The Chief explained that the required signs will cost approximately $25 each to install. The Chairman asked if the department wanted to ask for the machine at the Special Town Meeting and 97 II how much it would cost. Chief Rycroft said he should have an appropriation of about $950. Mr. James asked if the Chief wanted an approp- riation for signs at this Town Meeting and he replied he thought that could come in the March Meeting. Chief Rycroft and Lieutenant Corr retirees at 9:03 P.M. Mr. Gayer reported that he needs $5,000 for snow, Transfer for removal and upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. snow removal Maloney, it was voted to request the Appropriation Com- mittee to transfer the sum of $5,000 from the Reserve Fund to the snow Removal Account. Mr. Gayer retired and the Planning Board met- Waith the Selectmen at 9:55 P.M. Mr. Jaquith reported briefly on the public hearing held by the Boston National Historic Sites Commission and its concern about the Lexington-Concord Battle National Road. He said that the Commission would like an op- Historic portunity to meet with the Selectmen and the Planning Sites comm. Board to further discuss the project. 11An informal discussion was held relative to the Buss land located in the vicinity of the Arlington- Lexington line which the Planning Board would like to acquire for recreational pdrposes. Mr. Maloney suggested that Mr. Snow arrange a conference with Mr. Buss in an effort to work out some mutually satis- factory arrangement whereby the Town may acquire the property. Mr. Jaquith explained the Planning Board's recom- mendation in regard to an article for the Special Town Meeting.in relation to zoning. The Planning Board retired at 10:30 P.M. Mr. Stevens continued a discussion of the warrant and also a report on an accident involving Eugene Maloy, an employee of the Water Department. Accident He explained that Mr. Maloy hit a car in front of him at the lights in Lexington Center apparently causing that car to collide with the car in front of it. The estimate cost of repairs to the town truck is $15. There are two estimates for repairing i 98 the ear which he struck, one in the amount of $448.25 and one in the amount of $471.65. It was agreed to have Mr. Gayer obtain an esti- mate from the Colonial Garage for repairing the 1952 P g Buick sedan involved in the accident and owned by Mrs. Estelle M. Lee, 35 Elizabeth Road, Belmont. Mr. Stevens retired at 10:50 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Ernest Cutter relative to a proposed sewer extension in front of a Pollen Road vacant lot owned by him on Pollen Road. Mr. Cutter sewer requested a hearing with the Board before anything further is done in connection with the sewer. The Chairman explained that this extension was in connection with the Massimilla property at the corner of Pinewood Street and Pollen Road. At the time, he had a septic tank and a number of cesspools overflowing. He also has a swimming pool. Mr. Burns thought it would be possible to connect the Massimilla property by extending the sewer in Pinewood Road and he had a figure of $7500. When the Chairman asked him abtut it he explained that it might develop-that it could not be done Via Pinewood and would have to go up Pollen Road. The Chairman reported that it is not possible to sewer from Pinewood Road so it has to go up Follen Road. Mr. James, who has discussed the matter with Mr. Cutter already, agreed to contact him and explain the situation. If he 'still desires to meet with the Board, an appointment will be scheduled. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Health requesting an additional $1,000 for the Polio Vaccina- tion Program. Transfer Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mrs. Morey it was voted to request txje Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $1,000 from the Reserve Fund to the Board of Health Expenses Account for the continuation of the Polio Vaccination Program. The Chairman read a letter from Sheldon B. Hers- kovitz, 11.7 Chilton Street, Cambridge, advising that Tax title he is no longer interested in purchasing tax title lots 35 and 36, Hillcrest Street and is cancelling his bid. The Boardg ave further consideration to Mr. Harry Tax title M. Sullivan's offer of $2321i. for lots 25 and $6 Hill- crest Street. 1 99 Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted that a proposal to sell the lots be advertised in the Lexington Minute-man and that further consid- eration be given the offer at the next meeting of the Board. Application was received from John J. Deaveaux requesting permission, on behalf of St. Brigid's Holy Name Society, to conduct a dance In Cary Hall on Tuesday, November 20th from 8:00 P.M. until midnight. Use of Hall It was unanimously agreed to grant the request, subject to a charge of *355.00„plus $1.50 an hour for Janitor's overtime services. Jpon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted to establish the polling hours for the Election State Election on Tuesday, November 6th from 7:00 A.M: until 8:00 P.M. and to sign the Warrant for same. Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to sign the following Sewer Orderst Blake Road from Simonds Road southeasterly approximately 570 feet to Preston Road; Sewer orders Chase Avenue from Bennett Avenue northeasterly distant 280.00 feet to Banks Avenue; Follen Road from end of existing sewer south westerly approximately 280 feet to a point be- yond Pinewood Street. Hayes Lane from Fletcher Avenue northerly ap- proximately 200 feet; Richard Road from Pollen Road northeasterly ap- proximately 339 feet; Ross Road from Paul Revere northwesterly distant approximately 360 feet. spencer Street from a point approximately 50 feet northeasterly from Joseph Road north- westerly approximately 200 feet. Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to sign the following Water Order: Chase Avenue from Bennett Avenue Northeasterly distant 280.00 feet to Banks Avenue. 100 r" The number of 1956 Town Reports to be printed was discussed and it was agreed to invite bids for 500 copies and also for 600 copies. The Chairman read a memo from Mr. Tucker ad- vising that Ben Hander, Chairman of the Community Fund Drive, telephoned him relative to flying a Kytoon with a Red Feather Flag. It was determined that no action by the Board is necessary. The meeting adjourned-at 11:10 P.M. AOue record, Attest: /' 26eooive erk, Selector 1