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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-10-01-BOS-min 74 SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 1, 1956 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, October 1, 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. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Jurors Board for the drawing of three jurors. The following individuals were drawn for jury duty: Harvey B. Adams, 46 Downing Road, Vincent C. Clccolo, 16 Kendall Road and David B. Dole, 163 Burlington Street. Mr. Carroll retired at 7:03 P.M. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Pole and Telegraph Company for permission to locate one Location pole on Abbott Road. Mr. Stickney, representing the Boston Edison Com- pany, Mrs. Thomas Connell, Mr. and Mrs. S. Davis and Mr. Herbert Bandes were present at the hearing. Mr. Stickney explained that at the present time a customer by the name of Connell is receiving ser- vice by a line going in from Meriam Street across the Lewis property. The Lewis party has requested re- moval of the pole on their property and the only al- ternative the company has to feed Connell is to set a pole on Abbott Road at the property line between Lewis and Connell. The Chairman explained that the property is now in the name of Dunham. Mr. Stickney said the property is now owned by Davis. The line feeds underground from the pole on the back j ^ part of the Connell property and the Davises have given permission to cross the corner of their lot. He ex- plained the proposed location as drawn on the blueprint. The Chairman asked if this would be the only pole on Abbott Road and Mr. Stickney replied in the affir- mative. The Chairman asked if there were any way to pro- vide the requested service without the pole, and Mr. Stickney replied that he did not believe so. The Chairman asked for those in favor to give 75 their names. Mr. and Mrs. Davis registered in favor. Mrs. Connell said that she has no right to be in ' favor. The Chairman asked if she had any objection, and she replied that she wished the pole could be put somewhere else. Mr. Stickney said it is not a good situation for the company to obtain rights by crossing anyone else's property, They can always order the company off at any time and permanent rights are never obtainable. Mr. Bandes said that very reluctantly he wanted to oppose the petition. He said that he sympathizes with the Davises position but he recognizes their right to order the company off their property. He said if there is any other way the Town or the company can put it on so it will not be an eyesore, he thought all the people on the street would be thankful. Mr. Stickney explained that it is not possible to reach the Connell's without crossing someone elses property. The Chairman said the Board would take the peti- tion under advisement. Mr. Gayer stated that he saw no objection in the II fact that it was on the lot line and did not consider- any other aspect. The hearing was declared closed at 7:15 P.M. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, met with the Board. Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mrs. Morey, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order for a pole location oxo Abbott Road, approximately 90 feet southeast of Mariam Street . The Chairman informed Mr. Stickney that the Town had requested the Boston Edison Company to move the pole at 34 Grapevine Avenue or put a shield on the Light light. shield Mr. Gayer explained that the spacing of the poles won't work out very well and he thought it advisable to try a shield first. Mr. Stickney made a note of the request and agreed to inquire about the status of the request. The Chairman said that the Board has received a petition for the location of four j/o poles on the Cambridge- Concord Highway and recalled that previous Boards had refused to grant permission to locate poles on that highway. He said a petition was denied in 1953 76 and the abutters at that time are the same ones in- volved in this new petition. Mr. Stickney said that from the type of Order he thought the petition was for some type of service either private or commercial. He said he was not familiar with this particular petition but would check it. Mr. Stickney retired at 7:20 P.M. Letter from Paul M. Mitchell, Secretary of the Laconia Street Residents} Association, re status of Laconia the street was held over. Street Mr. Stevens reported that, with references to traffic control on a private way, he did take a quick look but would like a little more time before giving an opinion. Petition was received from the Boston Edison Pole Company for permission to relocate one pole on Lowell location Street. The Chairman reported that the relocation has been requested by Mr. Gayer as the present pole is in the middle of the sidewalk. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following pole location: Lowell Street, approximately 425 feet south of Summer Street. One pole.. One existing Edison pole to be removed. Letter was received from D. H. Blenkhorn, Dis- tribution Supervisor, Mystic Valley Gas Company, re- Permit questing permission to locate a six inch steel gas main inlorth Hancock Street to supply gas to nine new homes now under construction on Lindmore Terrace. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to grant the request with the provision that the work is to be done in accordance with speci- fications and requirements of Mr. Gayer. The Chairman read a petition, signed by Donald Clarke, 12 Winthrop Road, et ale, requesting extension Sewer of the Town sanitary sewer to include properties on extension the unaccepted section of Winthrop Road. Mr. Gayer said that the existing profile in- dicates that it may not be possible to go through the drain, but he would have levels taken within 77 the next week or so, The Chairman stated that this project would have to be discussed when the 1957 budgets are being con- sidered. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Ingeborg N. Swenson, 1L$ Spring Street, asking to have a sewer betterment assessment in the amount of $978.32 levied Sewer against her property on Shade Street deferred because assessment the land is being used for dairy farming. deferred Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted, under the provisions of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 1950, to extend the time for payment of sewer betterment assessment on property in the name of Ingeberg N. & Ingelberg N. & Iver Swenson Trs., in the amount of $978.32 and located on Shade Street, without interest, until said lanG6r any part thereof is built upon, sold, or until the expiration of three years from the date hereof, whichever event occurs first; provided, however, that this extension of time shall terminate immediately if the facilities of the sewer main are used for said land or any part thereof. The Chairman reported that there was an error in the bid submitted last week by George Brox, Inc. for Street Work, Contract No. 3. Mr. Gayer read a letter from Whitman & Howard explaining the bid and reported that Brox is still the low bidder. Both Whitmen & Howard and the Town Counsel can see no objection to awarding the contract. Mr. James asked about the engineering costs and Contract No. Mr. Gayer explained that they will be 92% or 10%. 3 awarded Mr. James said that meant there would not be sufficient money. The .Chairman explained that there is drainage which will be taken from another account. Mr. Gayer said that this would be $177,565 in- cluding the engineering. The Chairman explained that this contract in- cludes streets, drains and a couple of water exten- sions. Mr. Gayer said there is $187,4.25 available. Mr. James said that the street construction ap- propriation for 1956 was $170,000. Mr. Gayer agreed and said that on Blake and Henderson Roads there is additional money available for sewer extensions. The bid would be $177,565 includ- ing 10% for engineering services. 7$ r NJ Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Y'daloney it was voted to award the contract to George Brox Inc., the low bidder. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Fire Commissioners requesting a review of the traffic lights in front of the Central Fire Station. ,k The Chairman explained that the State Department Traffic was advised by that Department to wait two or three lights months after Worthen had been open before making a traffic survey, This information, together with a , detailed plan of the intersection at Bedford Street and also at Massachusetts Avenue, will then be sub- mitted to the State who will make recommendations f* traffic control devices. The Chairman read a second letter from Kendall Sewer Wright relative to sewer betterment assessment levied betterment against his property at 71 Adams Street. It was agreed to invite Mr. Wright to meet with the Board to discuss the subject rather than try to explain the situation by further communication. The Chairman reported that Mr. John J. Byrne, Jr., Plumbing Inspector, had requested a transfer of $120 to his personal Services budget. He recalled a meet- Transfer ing with Mr. Byrne in June relative to the $120 which was deleted from his budget covering two weeks vaca- tion salary at whidh time it was agreed to request a transfer. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $120 from the Reserve Fund to the Plumbing Department - Personal Services Account. Mr. Anthony A. Mazza' s request for extension of water main to a house he expects to build on lot #15 Req. for Green Lane was held over from last week. water The Chairman reported that he had checked into this and as far as he can find out, there is no definite layout for Green Lane, and that is apparently the reason the request was denied previously. He ex- plained that if the main is put in, there is no way of knowing whether it is in the street or not because there is no layout. He stated that until some definite information is obtained, no action can be taken on the request. Mr. Stevens advised that if Mr. Mazza does not * of Public Works has already been contacted. Mr. Gayer , 79 have a street, he should not receive a building permit. The Chairman agreed to discuss the subject with the Building Inspector and report next meeting. The Chairman read a letter from the Minute Man Oil Sales requesting permission to park three trucks on town property adjacent to the old brook along the left side of Camelia Place upon the entrance from Bedford Street. Mrs. Morey pointed out that, at such time as Req. to park the Town is using the Fire Station for voting, such trucks on an arrangment would not be desireable. Town property 7. Mr. Stevens advised that the Board should es- tablish a fee, determine under whose jurisdiction the land comes and also give some thought to the fact that to grant the request would be establish- ing a precedent. Mr. Maloney suggested that information be ob- tained as to whether the arrangement is to be on a temporary or permanent basis. The Chairman reported that Mrs. Koffman, 25 Tyler Road, telephoned and requested a Police Woman for the Sun Valley crossing. She considers this location IImore dangerous than where the Police Woman is now Traffic assigned and her child refuses to ride in the school bus because it is so crowddd. The Chairman said that the sidewalk there is under construction and should be completed by the end of the year. Mrs. Morey reported that the "School" sign at the Harrington School is directly across from a 35 Traffic mile an hour speed sign and said that she thought sign the .apped sign should be removed. The Chairman said that the State will not eli- minate the sign but could be requested to move it to a different location. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Jane C. Tax title Boleyn, 2 Essex Street, offering $250 for tax title property lots 9 and 10, Essex Street, shown on the Engineer's plan as Lee Street. The Board is to view the lots before taking any action on the offer. The Chairman read a letter from Harry M. Sullivan, 38 Maple Street, offering $2325 for tax title lots s® 35 and 36 Hillcrest Street. The Chairman explained that no action can be taken on this offer until after October 15th as Mr. Sheldon B. Herskovitz, who previously made an offer for these lots, has been given until that date to check the title to the lots and advise the Board whether or not he is still interested in acquiring them. The Chairman read a letter from John A. Sharkey, advising that his reason for wanting to acquire tax Tax title title lot 13, Hazel Road is because he owns lot 12A. property He wants to purchase lot 13 to meet the town's minimum 100' frontage required before construction plans can be approved for his brother's house. The Board is to view the lot before taking any action on the offer. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. Tucker, License it was voted to sign a yearly theatre license for Ray Feely, d.b.a. The Lexington Theatre. The dates of November 15th and December 3rd were Budgets established as the deadline for receiving 1957 bud- gets. The Clerk reported that a meeting is to be held on Wednesday, October 3rd at the Junior High Insurance School, Room 102 at 3:30 P.M. at which time an in- surance representative will discuss Group Insurance. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 P.M. A true record, Attest: / / �� Executive 'Clerk, cSelectm9n. v