HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-08-13-BOS-min 571
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
August 13, 1956
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on
Monday evening, August 13, 1956 at 7:.10 P.K. Messrs.
James, Maloney, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present.
Mr. Gaye; Sup't. of Public Works, and the Acting Clerk
were also present.
Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mr.
Maloney, it was voted that Mr. James be elected Chair-
man Pro Tempore.
Mrs. Morey made the suggestion that an acting
chairman be elected when the chairman was out of town
in the event of matters coming up during the week
that needed attention and for the signing of letters
etc.
Mr. Maloney stated that it was the custom to
elect the oldest member in service for the evening
but that he thought it might be interesting and in-
structive for each member to have the opportunity.
Hearing was declared open upon petition of the
Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone Pole
and Telegraph Company far location of one JO pole on location
Gleason Road, easterly side, approximately 85 feet
south of Dee Road at 7:!}2 P.M.
Mr. Mahon, representing the .Boston Edison Com-
pany, was the only person present at the hearing.
He explained that this t,as a relocation to permit
entrance to a driveway.
Mr. James desired to know if it were to be
set to the lot line and Mr. Mahon replied in the
affirmative and showed its location on a plan.
Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mrs.
Morey, it was voted to grant the petition and sign
the order for the following pole location:
Gleason Road, easterly side, approxi-
mately 85 feet south of Dee Road,
-- One (1) pole.
(One existing JO pole to be removed.)
Mr. Mahon retired at 7:52 P.M.
Mr. Maloney reported that the problem of Mr.
MacNeil's driveway had been turned over to Mr. Gayer
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who is getting it ready.
Mrs. Morey stated that she noticed how close to
the railroad 5 feet Was.
Mr. Maloney said they discussed taking the- cor-
ner of Mr. MacNeil's building and Mr. MacNeil was in
accord with his building facing the other way.
Mr. Gayer opened discussion on sewers and drains
with the Board. He stated that they had $86,050 in the
budget for .sewers. Now Spencer Street has been added
which will be another $2,000, widening an Massachusetts
Avenue opposite Arlex Oil Company which- will amount to
$3200, Bedford Street almost up to Tewksbury Street
which will be $7,000 and 450 feet on Cedar Street which
was not on t he budget and which will amount to $10,500.
This is the part that comes/from Massachusetts Avenue/in
near Paul Revere Road. This was not an oversight on
Discussion anyone's part. The original petition was for 2600 feet
of sewers and one of the people mislaid it. They sent a second
petition which included 450 feet more.
Mr. James desired to know if the second petition
came in after Town Meeting had voted and Mr. Gayer
thought it came in before. However, that meant that
only 2600 feet were in the budget.
Mr. Gayer said there were carryovers but they
were .going to be close on this. On the D'Alessandro
contract on Maple Street, an extra man hole is needed
by the school, so the carryover will not help out
too much. It boils down to the need for about $15,000
he thought. He said that the low bid was about $15,000
more than what was needed to complete this.
Mr. James thought that Spencer Street, 200 feet of
it, was in the budget.
It was thought necessary to see that the man
across from Arlex Oil had sever but that it was not
so important to tie the two ends together on Massa-
chusetts Avenue. Mr, Maloney thought Mr. Gayer could
do this sewer job himself.
Mr. .Gayer stated that $86,000 was appropriated
for sewers last year, actually $103,000, but $18,000
was taken off for Henderson and Blake Roads which
will be included in Street contracts.
Mr. James thought they could ask for more money
at Town Meeting in the Fall or pick it up in an article
in the Spring.
Mr. Maloney asked if the bid were $132,000, how
much would they have to have for that work and Mr.
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James desired to know what the difference in amount
was. Mr. Gayer replied they thought they have $135,000
and the bid is $132,000, there is engineering to be
considered etc. He asked if they should omit $15,000
worth of the work or should they ask for $15,000 more
to do it.
Mr. Maloney said that these were estimates and
they might run into ledge.
Mr. Gayer said they could patch Cedar Street
and not have it permanent until next year and they
could cut corners. They could probably do Spencer
Street themselves and hitch up Massachusetts Avenue.
Mrs. Morey said that in that event, they might
let something/go which might be more important. /else
Mr. Maloney thought that Mr. Gayer's proposal
could be done.
Mr. James asked if they did not put that extra
150 feet in now in Cedar Street, what the result," would
be.
Mr. Gayer said they would have more money,
Mr. James said that he would like to look in the
Board's notes when they were discussing sewers and if
they discussed only 2600 feet, he thought that was all
they should do. He ascertained that this price was the
unit price.
Mr. Maloney agreed with Mr. James but thought
that Mr. Gayer could report on it and if they found
the situation good, not too much ledge and not as
much expense, they might be able to do more. As they
approached it, they would have a better idea.
Mr. Tucker asked if in these ce tracts, the con-
tractor runs into ledge, do they have to be paid more.
Mr. Gayer replied that they include some ledge
in the estimate but it can run into more money if they
run into a lot of ledge. Once the contract is let, the
contractor completes it regardless of expense.
Mr. Gayer introduced the subject of sidewalk snow
plow tractors.
Mr. James asked what the appropriation was and
Mr. Gayer replied that it was roughly $12,000.
Mr. Gayer recommended getting the larger H. F. Sidewalk
Davis Oliver tractor, including the Angledozer blade snow plows
which had less horsepower buthhe felt would do a
better job.
Mr. James asked if he thought the $2,000 would
be well spent for the difference and the reply was in
the affirmative.
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Mr. Maloney thought it would be an advantage.
Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr.
Tucker, it was voted to purchase:
H. F. Davisrs ?we Oliver Model 006-32" sidewalk
plows with one Angledozer blade.
Mr. Gayer said that on that grader he would like
to have a wing and he thought they could patrol Massa-
chusetts Avenue with a wing which would release three
trucks.
Mr. Gayer gave Mrs. Malley the garbage contract,
part of which she read aloud to the Board.
Mr. Maloney asked how many complaints Mr. Gayer
had daily and he replied that today he had only '6
or 8 but usually there were about 30.
Mr. Maloney asked if he picked the garbage up
Garbage when they called in and Mr. Gayer said that he picks
Contract up the calls every day. He read the Board a letter
from soma new residents in Lexington residing at 38
Paul Revere Road who reported they did not receive
collection unless they called in each time. He hada
so many complaints from them that he finally deducted
$5.00 from Mr. Collins remuneration.
Mr. Maloney said that that contract was $10,000
lower than the other bid.
Mrs. Morey said that now there were many mere
streets and people which made it more difficult.
Mr. James said that perhaps they should talk to
Mr. Collins and asked if it would be possible for him
to collect the garbage properly if he were getting more money.
Mr. Maloney explained that he had had a prob-
lem in getting and retaining help.
Mr. Gayer left the meeting at 8:35 at which #ine
the Fire Commissioners, Chairman Sheldon, Messrs.
Roeder and Fitzgerald, met with the Board.
Mr. James said that the Board had no idea what
subject the Fire Commissioners wished to discuss.
Fire Mr. Sheldon gave each member of the Board a
Commissioners memorandum to read and stated that they were out of
money for the reasons outlined and were holding up
$463.
Mr. Roeder said they had not funds to pay it
with. He said it was part of the whole personal
service account but if they pay this now, somebody
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might not get paid in December. Re said that this year
they asked for $2,000 for Extra' Duty and the snow storms
wiped it out.
Mr. Tucker asked if the Extra Duty men were call
min and Mr. Sheldon said then:were used for inspections
and vacations and same are call men and some regular
men. H. said they ended, the year with obligations from
last Fall.
Mr. James asked if there were two ways in which
these fellows could get paid - one by money and one by
time off and could they choose whichever they wished.
Did this money shortage arise in some part due to the
fact that they have not been able to take their time
off?
Mr. Sheldon reported that they hare said they
must take money.
Mr. Roeder stated that if they do not take time
off and cannot emd-eaame$-take time off, they pay them. He said
that when the present Fire Commissioners took over
that there was Extra Duty running back for gears so
they squared the thing off and started fresh to keep
a record of it. Fire
Mrs. Morey said that $1i38 still had not been paid Commissioners
and they should have had it on the first of May. She Transfer
' desired to know why it wasntt paid.
Mr. Sheldon said they were running out of money
at that time.
Mr. Maloney asked if they had any funds at all
in that account and Mr. Sheldon said they did not, that
it was a special account and they could not dip int•
the weekly account.
Mr. Roeder said that $138,000 consists of regular
man and call men and $2,000 is Extra Duty and Mutual
Aid and $1,000 is secretarial services.
Mr. Sheldon said there las no leeway.
Mr. Maloney suggested asking for it at the Fall
Town Meeting.
Mr. Roeder said that if there were any money
available they would like dome now.
Mr. Sheldon said that if the Selectmen would put
it in the warrant, theycould pay it now on the theory
that they would get i .
Mr. James asked if the Selectmen made a sugges-
tion that the Appropriation Committee make a transfer
from the Reserve Fund, would the Fire Commissioners go
over there and tell them the stoiy.
Mr. Sheldon replied in t he affirmative.
Mr. Fitzgerald said that some of the men really
needed their money.
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Mr. Roeder said that the 1954 Extra Duty total
amount was only $32. This year it was $L63 due to
ehorthandedness, sickness etc.
Mr. James requested that they write the Board
a letter requesting a transfer for this appropriation.
Mr. Sheldon then went on to say that they felt
as a Board that they would like to give Mrs. Fisk
Captain Fisk the vacation money :;Mr. Fisk never took and they voted
vacation her t#e vacation. The man had a vacation coming to
money him.
Mr. Maloney said that he thought that was their
decision.
Mr. Sheldon said that they- wanted the Board to
know they did it.
Mr. James asked if Captain Fisk would have had
four weeks.
Mr. Sheldon replied that he would but they just
figured on giving Mrs. Fisk the two weeks.
Mr. Sheldon said that they have four men on the
disabled list and have had to use these men sparingly
such as on the desk. Thi* leaves them shorthanded and
Extra man aggravates the Extra Duty situation. He wished to
Fire Dept. know hoa the Board would feel about an extra man.
One man at thu*. time'would help quite a bit for the
balance of the year.
Mrs. Morey asked if they did not have Captain
Fisk's salary and Mr. Sheldon replied that they have
replaced him by a private.
Mr. Roeder reported that there is an examina-
tion September 15 for a Lieutenant and they will have
to have an officer. Possibly they could pay the ex-
penses for the examination out of Personal Services.
Mr. James asked if it were a Civil Service examin-
ation and Mr. Sheldon retorted that they will hire
the Chief from Belmont to give this examination- on
his own time. They do not have any records of that
sort of thing available.
Mr. James asked if he would make up the examina-
tion, give it, grade it and make up the results; and
the reply was in the affirmative.
Mrs. Morey asked if they had a waiting list and
Mr. Sheldon said they always had one.
Mrs. Morey asked if they were getting a physical
examination now and Mr. Sheldonareplied
replied in the affirma-
tive - that the Bard gave them and
they are using it.
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Mr. Roeder @slid it was -Dr. Learyts list.
Mr. Tucker asked how long was the time before a
man went on after Captain Fisk died.
Mr. Sheldon replied that it was three weeks pos-
sibly, that they had a man on the waiting list who
was No. 1 and they put him on. They are meeting
about the middle of October and it would mean 7 or
8 weeks at the outside.
Mr. Maloney asked if they found that the men en-
joy extra pay or do they want to get off.
Mr. Sheldon said that they would always work when
they want them to or when one of the men has an emer-
gency at home but they are not asking for work. They
can get more money outside. They pay 41,26 straight
time. The Police get *2.00 per hour.
Mrs. Morey mentioned that fact that it amounted to
the same thing where one was straight time.
Mr. Sheldon asked the Board what they wished to
do about the new man.
Mr. James said the Board would talk about it
and if they coma to an agreement, would make up an
article and the Commie ioners could write a letter
at that time.
Fire
Mr. Sheldon said he had a letter from Roy Cook Department:
on the dump. There is dumping from Arlington and Dump
other towns. Refuse and garbage is dumped up there
and the place is alive with rats. There are 4 or 5
dead dogs up there. They put in 90 hours of extra
duty in. addition to what the regular force did.
There was damage to the hose. A million gallons of water
were dumped there and it cost the Town something.
They now have some suggestions. Limbs and papers
should be segregated and not put together. If papers
could be segregated and burned daily, allot of burning
would be eliminated. They have requested before and
suggest again that a 2i inch line be run in there.
Mr. James asked if they meant a permanent line
with a hydrant. He said that he had been up there
for the 'last two Saturdays.
Mr. Roeder said that papers should be On t flat
surface and burned, then wet down and pushed over.
The trees should be burned when it rains. He said
that Arlington had a special dump for trees.
Mr. Fiztgerald suggested that they have a
special ratan up there to burn.
Mr. Sheldon said that smog was created by •burn-
ing papers and trees all together and that papers
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alone will, not creat• smog.
Mr. Roeder said that two or three years ago the
discussion they had with the Selectmen when Bill Burns
was there was that Public Works would furnish all
nozzles and hese. The nozzle. repaired was $90 from
damage at the dump. He said that Bill Burns agreed to
buy enough hose and nozzles to take care of the dump
work.
Mr. Tucker asked what caused the damage to the
nozzle.
Mr. Roeder said that a truck backed in there and
backed over it.
Mr. Maloney suggested using smaller hose of 1 or
1* inches.
Mr. Roeder said that cheap nozzles would do it.
If the hydrant were there, it 'could be shut off or
turned on at any time.
The Fire Commissioners retired at 9:10 P.M.
Mr. Gayer returned to the meeting at 9:15 P.M.
Chap. 90 Upon motion o4, Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Tucker,
it was voted to sign agreements for maintisfanc• of
Wood Street, Chapter 90.
The Chairman informed Mr. Gayer of the Fire Com-
missioners suggested re the dump.
Mrs. Morey asked how long it would take to in-
stall a hydrant and Mr. Gayer said about two days.
Dump Mr. Gayer said that they had ptanned on that and
a house for the caretaker with a telephone in it, but
it was just one of those things they had not gotten to
yet.
Mr. Tucker asked how much it would cost go bring
a line in.
Mr. Gayer said he was figuring on a 6 inch main.
If they had that, they could hitch the fire engine
on to it„
Mrs. Morey suggested he bring in a figure.
Mr. Gayer said he had money in dumps he thought
he could put it on.
Mr. James read the letter from Mr. MoFaul re-
garding seder abatement at 94 Spring Street. He
also read the answer to the Selectmen from Mr. Gaye,'
Mrs Maloney mentioned that this was tarn up
before when the three houses were built there. Since
that time two of the houses were sold and this is the
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third one. It was agreed with the men before the sewer
was put in that that. betterment would be paid off be-
fore they got in,
Mr. Gayer said that lots of places they were paid.
Mr. Maloney felt that you could not charge them
for something you could not give them.
Mrs. Morey asked if he were at a spot where he could
run a line in at an. angle which would give hime complete
service, and Mr. Gayer said that in some cases that was
possible, but not here.
Mr. James said he would like to give this man some
5. abatement but he would like to wait until Mr. Reed
returns before it is voted on.
Mr. Maloney said that he was told before that 50%
would be fair.
It was decided to hold this over for Mr. Reed's
return.
Mr. James read the Board the letter from t he
property owners on Lincoln Terrace requesting the Lincoln
street be accepted as a publio way. Terrabe
Mr. Gayer was asked to take care of this and he street
'lid he would make estimates of costs or betterments acceptance
and get the petitions signed. It was determined that
the street is sewered and built on solid ledge. this
is just a formal Town Meeting vote if the drainage
is all right.
The letter from the Cary Memorial Library Build-
ing Addition Committee was taken under consideration.
This was a hold over from the last meeting. Mr. Gayer
had made a plot plan which the Board looked over. Park'
Mr. James thought they wanted the Library prop- facilities
erty squared off, for library
Mrs. Morey said that if the building were in use,
it would not be able tI be obtained ata minimum price.
She suggested adding to Douglass' driveway another
driveway which would make it easier for any car to
turn it although it would eliminate one parking space
on Massachusetts Avenue. She reported that the e com-
mittee did not wish to lose the lawn because they de-
sire an outdoor reading room but they would• have to
lose some of the lawn.
Mr. Tucker agreed on this and felt that parking
facilities were more important than an outdoor reading
room.
Mr. James suggested having somebody ask Mr-. Douglass
what his price would be.
Mr. Maloney said that he would be glad to talk with
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Mr. Douglass about a common driveway and common parking
space and felt Mr. Douglass would be co-operative.
Mr. James gave the plans to Mr. Maloney and re-
quested he talk with Mr. Douglass.
Mr. James read a letter from Thomas A. Sweeney
regarding the speeding on Concord Avenue with special,
mention made of the school children. r
Mrs. Morey reported that these children go to
school by bus.
Mr. Gayer stated that if they start posting signs
there, they will be posting them on every street in
town. He said they had *Plow Children" signs.
Mr. Tucker said it seeme4 as though they mjght
get some different sign such as "Narrow Residential
Streets - $low Down*.
Mr. Gayer said they had two "Slow Children" signs.
Mr. James and Mr. Maloney suggested putting them
up over there.
Mr. James requested a letter be written to Mr.
Sweehey informing him that the Board was having these
signs put up.
In regard to the letter from the residents of
Street Wyman Road requesting street lights in said road
lights it was decided to bays Mr. Gayer check into it.
Mr. James read a letter received fron the resi-
dents of a portion of Harding Road requesting that
that portion immediately adjacent to their proper-
ties be paved.
It was determined that part of Harding Road
was not accepted amd that it would call for esti-
Harding Rd. mates. Harding Road was done some years ago and
street Williams Road developement came later se that it
acceptance left this little piece of road.
This was referred to Mr. Gayer.
The garbage contract was again taken under dis-
cussion. Mr. James suggested having Mr. Collins in
Garbage to meet with the Board. Mr. Gayer agreed this would
be feasible.
Mr. Tucker asked how serious the situation was
and Mr. Gayer said that the contract calls for two
pick ups a week and asked the Board what he could
say when people ask if that is not the case.
Mr. Maloney thought he should pick it up im-
meadiately on a complaint but should have three trucks
in there all the time to do this.
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Mr. Gayer said that sometimes some of Mr. Collins'
help talk to the citizens and of course, do not know
how to talk to them.
Mr. Tucker inquired if the situation were bad
enough to have Mr. Collins in and suggested that Mr.
Gayer keep a record of how many trucks he has on
every day for two weeks.
Mr. Gayer asked if the Board wanted collection
once a week or twice a wee$ and did they wish to give
• himrmore money or what.
Mr. Maloney suggested that Mr. Gayer use every
method he4hould to have him enforce collection insofar
as possible.
Mrs. Morey said that the contract should have
been on a sliding scale.
Mr. James said he would like, to wait until Sep-
tember 1 before doing anything because there will then
be more people living in the trwn, back from vacations .
Mr. Gayer retired at 9:55.
It was thought that the Golf Club should be al-
lowed to water every night from 12 to 9:00 A, M.
Mr. James read the letter from Attorney Paul J. Violation of
McCormick written to Mr. Robert Trebino of 63 Spring' Zoning By-
Street, a copy of which was sent to the Board, re- laws
garding a zoning by-law violation.
It was determined to give a copy of the letter
to Mr. Donald Irwin, Building Inspector, as this was
unddr his jurisdiction.
The, letter from Mr. Santhel. P. Snow, Planning
Director, regarding revision of the General By-Laws Revision of
was read by Mr, James. General
Mr. James thought somebody should talk to Mr. By-Laws
Snow about it.
Mrs. Morey thought it seemed reasonable that
this could be done while a committee was making recom-
mendations.
Mr. James thought the Board should know what
should be changed and wondered if it were necessary
to have a committee to change these things.
It was decided to make an appointment with. Mr.
Snow to come in and have him point out some of the
things needed to be changed. Also it was decided to
include this in the list for the Town Meeting subject to
dropping late,
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The letter from the Commonwealth of Massachus-
etts Emergency Finance Board enclos ing the vote ap-
Borrowing proving the borrowing for the Franklin School Addit-
ion was read by Mr. James.
The letter from the Town of Reading enclosing
a questionaire relative to Parks and Recreation wan
Questionaire taken under consideration.
Mrs. Morey said that Mr. Snow would have the
answers to some of it, the Recreation to another part
and Mr. Gayer to the remainder.
It was decided to have Mrs. Morey see that
the proper ones filled it out.
The letters from the Planning Board and fret
Tax Title Mr. Alfred P. Tropeano relative to Lots 27-30, Block
property #1, Meagher Plan were taken under consideration and
it was decided to take them up with the Planning
Board later in the evening.
The letter from Mr. Alfred P, Tropeano con-
Tax Title cerning Lot 7, Eastern Avenue, was taken under con-
property sideration,
Mr. Maloney said that the man who owns Lot 9
won't sell it.
It was decided to write a letter saying that
Lot 7 Eastern Avenue was sold to Manuel Sousa, 12
Eastern Avenue on December 6, 1954 and the deed was
recorded January 21, 1955, and thdt the Selectmen
do not consider any modification on the restriction
on Lot 8 to be desirdable.
Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr.
Sidewalk Tucker, it was voted to sign the sidewalk orders
Orders for Lowell Street and Lincoln Street.
Request from the Civil Service concerning
Joseph Beloastro was to be filled out after con-
sulting the Chief of Police.
At 10:35 P.M. the Planning ,Board met with the
Planning Selectmen concerning Lots 27-30, Block #1, Meagher
Board re: Plan.
Tax title Mr. Snow showed the Board a plan with a scale of
200 feet to an inch Of Garfield Street and the
Magnuson property access onto Redd Street. There are
4 Lots involved out of which they want access and he
said he had not seen any layout and they do: not know
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where they want to come out. He said they do not need
l lots kid needed 50 feet at the most. Coming out of
this Otos is a very poor intersection.
Mr. James asked Mr. Snow if they could suggest
to Mr. Tropeano that he get straight with the Planning
Board before he obtains the land.
Mr. Snow said they had not seen the plan. A year
ago the Planning Baord said this was a subdivision.
They passed title to the property without putting a
plan on record and have subdivided somewhere down near
this line. The Board should find grout what they want to
do first.
Mr. James said that perhaps the Board should have
Mr. Tropeano and the Planning Board in at the same time.
Mr. Snow asked what was going to be done with the
* other two lots as only two would be needed for a street.
Mr. Jaquith said that a house on two of these lots
would make a very small lot.
Mr. Snow suggested asking Mr. Tropeano .to show
what they were going to do and ask to see the plan.
Mr. James thought they should find out what they
are going to do with the whole area.
Mr. Snow reported that Mr. Flannery wanted a dead
end street with no turnaround.
Mrs. Morey asked if there were any other way and
' had all the lots been built upon.
Mr. Snow replied in the negative. He said it was
not a question of comming out here but a question of
what lots they are coming out on. This could be faced
one way or another.
Mr. Tucker said they drove way up in there.
Mr. Snow said one could walk through the area.
He said it was a pretty wooded area and some of the best
land in Lexington was right there but there was a poor
approach. If they sell orztain lots, that fixes the plan.
They just bought so many feet in there and the rest is
by deed.
Mr. Jaquith said he would like to mention one other
point. He wanted to know if the Board knew the status
of the road coming off Wood Street and what portions Proposed
would be taken by the State by eminent domain. road
Mr. James said they did not know even though they
were supposed to know by July 1. However, they did
know it was going through.
Mr. Jaquith said that the Planning Board was con-
cerned as to zoning, what part would be business.
* Were they intending to build a house?
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Mr. Snow said in regard to Wood Street, if it goes
through on a narrow right of way and is taken in the
name of the Town, it will be just another Bedford Strebt
or Massachusetts Avenue unless It can be made limited
access and gotten into manufacturing or research. It
would be of some value- then. That is why they want to
know the status of the road and whether the Town will
have any say as to the cross section.
Mr. James said that Mr. Gayer was trying to keep
them informed.
The Planning Board left the meeting at 10:40 P.M.
It was decided to write a letter to Mr. Tropeano
saying the Board would not consider selling these lots
until they knew mere definitely what Mr. Flannery pro-
posed in the way of development and that the ,Planning
Board had it under discussion and would make recommenda-
tions to the Selectmen.
The meeting adjourned at 10:50 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
Acting Clerk, Selectmen