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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-06-25-BOS-min 507 SELECTMEN'S MEETING June 25, 1956 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Ropm, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, June 25, 1956 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. Maloney, James, Tucker,and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. The Chairman read a letter from Larry Doo, 31 Tree removal Cary Avenue, requesting removal of a tree on town Apron property which he claims to be in the way of a garage removal driveway. He also requested that the hardtop strip extended from the street when it was constructed be dug up, loamed and seeded . Mr. Gayer reported that Mr. Brenton looked at the tree and made a sketch of it which Mr. Gayer presented to t he Board. The tree he wants removed is a beautiful basswood and if removed, would permit him to run the driveway straight. Mr. Brenton felt he could go around it and was not in favor of having it removed. The Board preferred to view the tree and hardtop area before taking any action. The Chairman read a letter from Miss Helen Hotz, 10 Ravine Terrace, Melrose, advising that she plans Sewer to build a house on property owned by her and located extension between #160 and #170 Woburn Street. The sanitary sewer ends at approximately her lot line and would have to be extended about fifty feet to include her house. She was informed by Mr. Gayer that, because of budget limitations, he would not be able to ex- tend the sewer line until 1957. She requested the Board to authorize the extension. Mr. Gayer explained that he informed Miss Hotz that the main extension would have to go through Town Meeting and therefore she should direct her -re- quest to the Board. The Chairman asked if the funds appropriated for sewers were running close. Mr. Gayer replied in the negative and said that this Spring it was decided that any such requests should come before the Board. The Chairman suggested advising Miss Hotz that JJ CL when the main construction, proposed for this year, is completed and funds are found to be available, the Board would consider the extension. Mr. James inquired about the size of the exist- ing main and Mr. Gayer said that it is an eight inch. He explained that, including a manhole, which will be necessary, the extension would cost approximately $350. Mr. Maloney mentioned that the manhole will be used for future developement of the sewer. Mr. Gayer said that this is about as far as the main can go because of the topography of the land. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7:L5 P.M. The Chairman asked if the Board wanted to approve the extension now or wait until the amount of available money has been determined. He recalled an extension on Massachusetts Avenue that has been promised. Mr. James said he would rather do extensions for which the Board is committed and then see what money is left. The Chairman suggested waiting until after the sewer bids come in and said that the Board should know within a month what money will be available. Mrs. Morey recommended advising Miss Hotz that she will have to take her place on t he list. Mr. Maloney said it might do for Miss Hotz to have the sewer extended herself. Mr. Gayer re ted that he has told her if the Town does not gets ff and she still desires the work done he would extend her the privilege of getting the work done and connecting to the house under town super- vision. It was agreed to advise Miss Hotz that the Board would have no objection if she can arrange with the Superintendent of Public Works to have the main ex- tended herself under his supervision. Petition was received, signed by JohnJF. Frazer Street con- and others, requesting a seperate estimate of cost for struction & installation of sewer in and construction of Hillcrest sewer request Avenue. These two items are to be discussed when the 1957 budgets are being prepared. Req. for Petition was received, signed by John J. Manning sewer and others, requesting extension of sanitary sewer to include the area from Kendall Road to Pollen Road on I 509 Marrett Road. Mr. Gayer reported that Mr. Higgins, Assistant Town Engineer, is now making a study of the topo- graphic map and will have an answer. Petition was received from Paul A. & Violet M. Ringland, 19 Parker Street for construction of ap- proximately 70.00 feet of sidewalk. A signed peti- Sidewalks tion was also received from Louis W. & Kathryn L. Mead, 1 Berwick Road for construction of approximately 105.00 feet of sidewalk on Hayes Avenue. Mr. Gayer reported that he checked the budget the other day and he thinks there are funds enough to do these two this year. Mrs. Morey recalled that a request for construc- tion of a sidewalk had been received from Mrs. Baskin and was not approved. The Chairman said that the Board should not approve sidewalk construction in excess of $500 for individual requests and the ones already approved should be paid for from funds carried over. Mrs. Morey said that the sidewalk at the Belfry Club and Mrs . Robinson's never had any blacktop and asked it these two could be taken care of out of the $500. ' The Chairman explained that the carry over from last year could be used plus $500 of this year's ap- propriation. Further consideration was given to Mrs. Baskin's request and it was unanimously agreed to authorize construction Of a bituminous concrete sidewalk in front of Baskin's, Ringland' s and Mead's houses. Petitions for installation of sewer main Cedar Street was received from Anthony J, Sanseverino and others agreeing to pay betterment assessments as pre- Sewer pared by the Supt. of Public Works. Mr. James reminded the Board that funds for this project had been appropriated at the last annual Town Meeting. Mrs. Morey asked when the work would be started and Mr. Gayer replied that it will probably be next year as the trunk line has to be finished first. Mr. Tucker presented the members of the Board with a copy of a proposed news release relative to water shortage about which complaints have been received from the Meriam Hill area and the Fair Oaks section. He ! 1 C said he had the season's first complaint. He stated Water that this comes up every year and he wondered if the Board pressure couldn't do something to alleviate the conditions. Mr. Gayer explained that the Bedford Airbase drained the water tank and installed new chlorination equipment and then started to refill the water tank. As soon as this trouble appeared he asked them to hold off. In addition to that, he had a problem at the intersection -of Forest Street and Clarke Street. There is a 16' main which broke evidently late last winter. He said possibly he was informed about it, but in any event that 16' main is still closed. He said it will be repaired and opened as soon as posit, Bible. It should be opened up again within the next day or so. He said with that main open and -with the standpipe filled at the airbase, from what he can learn from Mr. Burns and the boys now here, the town should not experience too much difficulty. He stated that with these two factors coming at the same time, the pressure was short. Mr. James asked if the pressure dropped here in the Town Office Building and Mr. Gayer replied that it dropped to seventy-five pounds. Mrs . Morey asked if there were any reason why these two factors could not be expressed in t he lease. Mr. Gayer said he did not see anything wrong with Mr. Tucker's thinking, but he thought the •pressure would be alright. Mr. Tucker said if it is not necessary, don't make any restrictions, but if anything can be done to give these people relief, the Board should do it. The Chairman explained last year was the first year the Board did not have to issue a release and he would just as soon hold this one in abeyance. If it is found that the situation is not improved, then release it immediately. Mr. Gayer said the last overall survey on the water system was made in 1934 by Metcalf & Eddy. He said he understands in the long range overall planning, an additional standpipe is planned for next year. Be- fore the standpipe site is selected, he would like to see an overall study of the water system made. Many things in the original' survey were never carried out. He said the engineering department could make it up but of course they just don't have the time. Mrs. Morey inquired about the cost of such a survey and Mr. Gayer said he did not know but could find out. 51 a+� ' The Chairman said that an article could be in- cluded in the warrant for a Special Town Meeting. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Edward Olson, 534 Lowell Street, Lexington, advising that Damage to car the windshield of her car was smashed by a foul ball while parked at the Center Playground, resulting in a $65 repair bill. Mr. Stevens advised that there is no liability on the part of the Town. Letter was received from Ray Feeley, Manager of the Lexington Theatre, in reference to recently passed Sunday Movie legislation regulating the fees charged by cities and License fee towns for Sunday entertainment licenses. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to establish the fee of $50 for a yearly Sunday Movie license. Mr. Gayer reported that when the Dutch Elm disease came into this area, Mr. Brenton's department started to take care of trees on private property as well as town trees. The program has enlarged to the extent Dutch Elm that many town trees were being neglected. He asked disease how the Board felt about Mr. Brenton taking care of ' town trees first. He said the town has been removing trees from private property at no cost and it is now getting out of hand. He said he would be willing to take samples for the people to find out whether or not their trees are diseased and if so, advise them. Mr. Stevens said that the Statute provides that officials of a town can order the trees removed and if the owner does not take them down, the town can do it and charge them. The Chairman said as he recalled, Mr. Garrity would never take down a dead tree. He asked if an order were issued for removal of a tree and it was not taken down, who would remove it, Mr. Stevens said he would check the Statute on it. The Chairman asked if Mr. Brenton had to spend a lot of time on Parks and Playgrounds or if his time is all devoted to trees. Mr. Gayer said that he did have to spend time on Parks and Playgrounds. The Chairman asked if there is enough money in the budget to have someone else remove the trees and Mr. Gayer replied in the negative. He said he thought the private owners should pay. Mrs. Morey said that the town could charge one-half 1 2 CL as much as Meade or anyone else and she did not think the Town should do it without charge. Mr. Maloney asked how many Dutch Elm trees had been removed this year and Mr. Gayer replied that for a guess he would say over one hundred. Mr. Maloney said the Board should know how many trees were taken down on private property and how many on town property. Mr. James said he thought private property owners should take down their own trees and apparently there is some Statute to take care of it. Mr. Maloney said the Town should take them down if they don't, and then bill them. Mr. Gayer agreed to find out the number of trees re- moved this year on private property and also the number on town property. Mr. Stevens referred to the Seabury land adjacent to the Maria Hastings School and said that on the plan circulated before the meeting .he showed the land as divided in three parcels. The offer was to transfer a two and one-half acre piece to the town In return for the grant of a sewer easement. It came before the Planning Board two or three weeks ago and Mr. Snow was upset because he understood the town was going to get all the land adjacent to the school lot. He said he thought Mr. Snow felt strongly that the town should have it. Mr. Stevens reported that Mr. Groden called him today and has been all over this with Mr. Snow. Mr. Seabury is not it a position to give all the land, approximately six and one-half acres. Mr. Groden pro- posed that the town be given the acre on Massachusetts Avenue plias two and one-half acres in the proposal and then userthe three acre piece, making a deal with Grigor to exchange some land. The balance might be two and one-half acres and be proposed selling it to the town for whatever value a competent real estete man put on it. Mr. Stevens said he thought if they were going beyond what was proposed at Town Meeting the proper approach would be through the School Com- , mittee since it is in charge of the land and they could make their recommendation tot he Board of Selectmen. Mr. Stevens said that he has a letter from Mr. Greeley in reference to the ventilating system in Cary Memorial Hall. The Chairman reviewed the subject briefly and said that Kimball quoted a figure of $1500 to put 513 it in working condition, Five residents from Concord Avenue area met with the Board at 8:40 P.M. Mr. Adams, member of the plan- ning Board was also present. Mr. Thomas A. Sweeney, 324 Concord Avenue said that a large percentage of the feeling in regard to the pro- - posed Chapter 90 project is lack of information. Where it is an obvious hazard now the people are afraid of what will happen when it is widened. It will be a speedway, dangerous for the children. The Chairman explained that the plan for widening Concord Avenue was passed in 1945, that it is a County Road for which the State pays one-half, the Town and County one-quarter. The Town appropriates the full amount and is then reimbursed. He said that over the Concord Ave. years every time an appropriation was considered for Chap, 90 widening or constructing Concord Avenue, other streets in town seemed to have priority. This year, the Board felt that the other Chapter 90 roads were completed and therefore, money was appropriated for Concord Avenue. He said the Town does not do the construction which is all done by the state, who makes the survey and lets the contract. The County has made A survey but the Selectmen do not know what the State is going to do II and will not know until July 15th. He explained that the Town Engineer is recommending a twenty-four foot road which is a normal road. Mr. Caleb Warner, 546 Concord Avenue, said that many people are not so much eoncerened as they are in- terested in what is going to happen. They are in basic sympathy with some of the views. It is a substandard road and should become a standard road. He said the meeting is for information and not to register alarm or complaint. He said they have collected some figures on traffic. The bhairman explained that it is a main road and is now a speedway but when widened it will bo a safer speedway and that is what it amounts to. He said there are many bad narrow places on Concord Avenue. The con- struction this year will not go any further than tothe corner of Pleasant Street from the Belmont line if it goes that far. One individual asked if Pleasant Street would be blocked off when the turnpike is constructed. The Chairman explained that the Town has nothing to do with that. The Chairman pointed out on the wall map where the construction is proposed for this year and informed the group that the Board would have to ask Town Meeting for additional funds for completion and at that time the people could object. He said the Planning Board may feel that this project should be held up until it is determined where Route 2 is going. Mr. Gayer said that much fill is needed for the low area and with any normal amount of widening and construction, $20,000 will not go too far. He said it is not known what type of surface will be used. He will recommend a 3. macadam base and just seal it now. Eventually, they could put on a Type I and do the pavement all at one time. The Chairman explained that all the Town has now is a survey. All the easements were taken in 1945 so the land is there. Mr. Sweeney asked if the twenty-four foot width had been determined and the Chairman replied that is what the Board will recommend. Mr. Adams said that the Planning Board discussed the subject this evening. Two years ago they had a group in from Five Fields and they were disturbed about traffic. At that time the Planning Board said it hoped the entrance to Concord Avenue would be moved up to Spring Street. The Planning Board feels that the road should eventually, at the proper time, be a stan- dard road the entire length. He said there is a large sub- division in the Minute Man and one at Five Fields. There is a lot of vacant land still to come in. In order to carry the traffic from side streets, Concord Avenue should be done at the proper time. He said there may be a piece of land there for a school and streets should be wide enough for sidewalks on both sides. One individual asked if Pleasant Street would be access tot he turnpike and Mr. Adams replied that the State haS said absolutely no access. The only access is Watertown Street. They have taken the land at the corner of Pleasant Street and the turnpike. Mr. Sweeney said everyone is concerned about the trees. They are on the road. The Chairman said that if they are in t he way, they 9 will have to go but the Board usually tries to save all the trees possible. One individual asked about bringing up safety prob- lems such as patrolling the road and posting signs. The Chairman said that they might like to discuss the subject with the new traffic Committee, consisting of the Chief of Police, Town Planner and Town Engineer. With reference to the signs, he suggested that a letter be written to the Board. One individual asked if the information on easements bid was available and Mr. Stevens explained that there is a taking plan at the Registry of Deeds which will show how far into the lots the road will extend. The group retired at 9:05 F.M. Mr. Stevens also retired. Mr. Gayer submitted bids on 10,000 feet of 3/4" Type K Copper Tubing as follows: George Caldwell .4784 1% $4,736.16 Bids for John A. McDonald Co. .4.780 % 4,73g•2t copper tubing Millard Brass & Copper .48 0 4,776.00 Red Hod Mfg. Co. .4851 et 4,851.00 Hilco .49 4,875.50 Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted to accept the bid submitted by Johmk. ieDonald.Co. Mr. Gayer retired at 9:15 P.M. Sergeant John C. Russell met with the Board. He said he was present at the meeting to talk about assignments and that do n ditions in the Police Department are very upset. He said he was lbsing the respect of the men because he did not stand up Sergeant for his rights as sergeant. He said he has been Russell's doing patrolman's duty and he thought he could do Assignments anything that was assigned to him, but the men say he does not stand up as being a Sergeant. He stated that he was put in the center doing traffic duty. A patrolman rode by and asked what the stripes were for and he said he had better do something abbut it or they were through with him. The Chairman asked if he were referring to traf- fic duty and Sergeant Russell replied he was put on a paint truck while a younger man, two and a half year's service, was in a patrol car. He said he has treated everyone right in the department but it comes to the point if you have a foreman and pay him fore- man's wages, why not use him as a foreman. He said that he has no keys and the patrolman have, but he didn't want them anyway. He said he asked the Chief about going out with Mike Shea and the Chief said it was an order. The Chairman asked if this was an aftermath of going out on the paint job and Sergeant Russell re- plied in the negative. He said that he did not think he should take that job while a patrolman was available. The Chairman asked if he were assigned to a car, 1 51 and Sergeant Russell replied that he is assigned to nothing; that he is the fill-in man. The-Chairman asked if he were assigned to a car and he replied in the negative. The Chairman asked if, on this particular day, there were patrolmen there and Sergeant Russell re- plied in the negative. He said he was in the car with Officer Porten. The Chairman asked if he were assigned to the car and Sergeant Russell replied in the affirmative and said that it- even• embarrasses Fotten; they are friends. He said he enjoys the center but he is losing the respect of the men and they claim a man of twenty' years should get a little better break than a man of nineteen years. He said the. men are upset about the shifts. They go to his house and discuss it . He said the men have to stand in the middle of the street and do not use the lights. Mr. James asked if what he was saying is that the men are dissatisfied and Sergeant Russell said everyone was dissatisfied. He said it could be straightened out very easily. Mrs. Morey asked how long he had been a Sergeant and he replied five years. He said that he has been in the department twenty-two years. Mr. Maloney asked how' the situation could be straightened out. Sgeant Russell said the way he would do it would be to yge eabh senior man and ask him where he would like to work. Then they would be satisfied, and no one could argue. Mr. James said that Sergeant Russell would put it on the basis of seniority and Sergeant Russell said that there is something more enters into it than that. Mr. Maloney said he saw Sergeants directing traffic many nights and Sergeant Russell said that he did not see Senior Sergeants doing it on that shift. The Chairman asked what he thought he should be doing and Sergeant Russell replied that he would do any- thing but he did not think he should be bounced around like a new man. He said when someone is sick and a * patrolman is around he should not be put in the center. The Chairman asked what he would do if a patrolman were sent up and Sergeant Russell replied that he would be in the car. Mr. James asked if he objected to being a fill-in man all over the place and Sergeant Russell said that was correct. Sergeant Russell retired at 9:30 P.M. * If an emergency exists, he would be willing to do anything. ' L_ It was agreed to request the Chief to meet with the Board at the next regular meeting to discuss the police situation. Chairman Crerie, of the Recreation Committee, Mr. Samborski, Mr. Whipple, representing the Tennis Associ- ation, Mr. Stevens and Mr. Gayer met with the Board to Tennis discuss further bids received for resurfacing and re- Court bids constructing tennis courts. Mr. Stevens said that the Board could make an award or reject the bids. He said at the last meeting the question was raised as to whether or not the specifi- cations included the fence to determine whether or not on the bituminous courts the low bidder was Joyce or Driscoll. He explained that Mr. Gayer thought the fence was included and therefore, in the Driscoll bid which made it lower than the Joyce bid. He said that when he checked with Mr. Samborski he was advised that there was no fence. When he read the specifications he wondered how it got there and what it meant. Mr. Crerie said he did not know how the fence got in that originally when Mr. Samborski drew up the specifications they were drawn from sort of a composite of what had been done in the past and a few things that Driscoll brought in. Ile said that Joyce was the only bidder who bid on the fence. Mr Stevens said that the specifications were not clear. Mr. Samborski said that there was no intention of including a fence because there is an appropriation for that. He explained that it was an oversight on his part and it was not intended to include the fence. He reported that he contacted Driscoll who has done twenty- five or thirty courts at Harvard. He then talked to Mr. Gayer and learned that on anything over $1,000 it would be necessary to invite bids. He explained that in his conversation with the Driscoll people it was his under- standing that the fence would not be included. The Chairman asked if the Board should request new bids and Mr. Stevens said that he did not know how the Board could tell what was in the bids. Mr. Crerie said he would like to have the Board reject all the bids, readvertise and start from the beginning. Air. Samborski asked if the same bidders would be invited and Mr. Stevens replied that they would not want to invite Joyce and then not award the contract to him if he were low. Mr. Mal$ney said that if a mistake had been made, the Board 6uld start at the beginning and then there would be no question about how to handle it. Mr. Crerie said he would go along with that sug- gestion. Mr. James moved that the bids on t he two bitumi- nous courts be rejected and readvertised, to be opened at 7:30 P.M. two weeks from tonight. Mr. Crerie said that there was such a difference in the bids for clay courts that the committee investigated. Mr. Samborski said that he asked Mr. Gibbon of the Driscoll Company, who put in the two clay courts origi- nally, how anyone could bid $825 against a figure twice as high. He said very frankly he knew of courts done by Joyce on that basis. He uses an inferior material and in many cases the courts had to be dug up and the ulti- mate cost was more. He said he checked with the Super- intendent of the Harvard fields who advised that he never heard of Joyce as a tennis court man. He is just beyond being a landscape man and does not begin to qualify as a tennis court specialist. Mr. Samborski said that the Committee was criticized last year with the dilly dallying when Joyce did the work and the results were not too good. Mr. Crerie asked Mr. Whipple to give his reaction of work done by Joyce. Mr. Whipple said that Mr. Samborski had covered it well. After a rain the courts put in by Driscoll years ago were very playable within an hour or so. The court by the swimming pool has a large hole and the water drains in that direction and it takes several days for that to dry up. Soon after a hot spell, the court softened up to the extent that someone left a footprint there. He said he did not know if that was indicative of the construction. He said the equipment tied up there last summer was in the way and there was no need to take all summer to build a tennis court. He said, speaking for the tennis players, they would be quite upset to think that Joyce would build any hardtop courts in this town after what they have seen of the last two. Mr. Tucker asked where Joyce had built tennis courts and Mr. Whipple replied that he had never heard of him. Mr. Crerie said that past experience on clay courts, has not been inducive to recommend Joyce. He said that a performance bond might control the situation. Mrs. Morey asked if the successful bidder could be required to do the work in two weeks and Mr. Crerie explained that the weather might delay the contractor and he could not be held to any specific date. Mr. Crerie said that, based on past performance, 1 519 IIthe Recreation Committee recommends to the Selectmen that the bid be awarded to the next highest bidder on the resurfacing. He asked if in the readvertising the other bid a performance bond could be included. Mr. Stevens said that a. performance bond should be included and the successful bidder was supposed to furnish one. Mrs. Morey questioned awarding the bid to the bidder twice- as high if the specifications are correct. The Chairman said that it has been mentioned that Joyce has used inferior clay. If that is so, it would seem that the specifications are not clear enough as to what type of clay should be used, It was unanimously agreed to reject all the bids and incorporate a performance bond in the new specifica- tions. The group retired at 10:35 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Carroll, ad- Bids on vising that the following bids had been received on a loan $5,000,000 loan in anticipation of revenue for a period of 139 days: Merchants National Bank 1.85% Second Bank - State Street Trust Co. 1.94% Lexington Trust Company 1.97% Mr. Carroll reported in his letter that the bid was awarded to Merchants National Bank, dated June 15, 1956 and due November 1, 1956. Letter was received from John F. MacNeil stating that ,as one of the largest insurance offices in this area, he is most anxious to be represented by a larger amount of insurance and writing them here in Lexington. No action was taken relative to changing the in- surance/now in effect. schedule Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted to grant the following uses of the Barnes property for rummage sales: Barnes Lexington Pre-School P.T.A. September 15th property Follen Church Alliance October 6th Hancock Congregational Church October 20th Application was received, signed by Mrs. Sanborn, tee. 5 20 CDCD C. Brown, on behalf of the League of Women Voters, requesting permission to use Cary Hall, Estabrook Hall, Trustees' Room, Conference Room and the Select- men's Room on September 26th for a Fall Conference of The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to grant the use of the rooms in Cary Memorial Building, subject to a charge of $45, and to deny the use of the Selectmen's Room. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Maloney it was voted to grant a Sunday Movie License to the Lexington Theatre. Mrs. Morey suggested, and the Board agreed, to complete reviewing tax title offers next Monday night, no regular meeting being scheduled. The Chairman read a memo relative to cleaning the Leutz painting in the Trustees' Room which will cost approximately $200. Mrs. Morey suggested contacting the Treasurer of the Trustees of Cary Memorial Build- ing to inquire if there are any funds available to cover the cost of doing the work necessary. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 P.M. ' A true record, Attest: p ec ive Cerk, electmen' I