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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-06-11-BOS-min 495 111 SRLRCTMENIS MEETING June 11, 1956 A_ regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectments Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, June •11, 1956 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. James, Maloney, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present. The Executive Clerk was also present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and Mr. Consilvio, representing the New England Telephone Manhole and Telegraph Company, met with the Board. location Hearing was declared open upon petition of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for per- mission to locate one manhole on Massachusetts Avenue, southerly from Pelham Road, Mr. Consilvio explained that permission is being requested to place this manhole int he sidewalk. He said that the present manhole is plugged and fully loaded with wires, connections, etc. The conduit is already located. ' Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the Order for the following manhole location: Massachusetts Avenue, from approximately 356 feet southerly from Pelham Road, one manhole. Mr. Consilvio retired at 7:35 P.M. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, met with the Board. Petition was received from the Boston Edison Cap- Pole pany and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Com- Location pany for permission to locate one pole on Massachusetts Avenue, southeast of Bow Street. Mr. Gayer said the only question he has is whether or not the location of the proposed pole fits in with what is already there. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mrs. Morey, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order, subject to approval of Mr. Gayer. The Chairman read a letter from Charles M. Blake Defective advising that Mrs. Blake fell on the: sidewalk in front sidewalk of Lexington Trust Company and received a sprained right ankle, a bad bruise and laceration on her left knee. The letter stated that examination shows sev- eral defective spots in the sidewalk. 496 Mr. Gayer reported that there were several bad spots which have all been taken care of; the little holes and cracks having been filled. Mrs. Morey reported that Mrs. Blake has been to a doctor and is going again Wednesday. Mr. Blake informed her that he is not -going to sue, but said something should be done. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Crerie, Bids on Chairman of the Recreation Committee, advising that tennis court the Committee has reviewed the bids for reconstruc- tion of two tennis courts and resurfacing two tennis courts and requests that the bid be awarded to the second lowest bidder. The reason for the request is based upon unsatisfactory performance in the past by the low bidder. Mr. Maloney recalled that the last bid awarded to P. X. Joyce, the low bidder, was after Mr. Burns had some conversation with him about his work. Mr. Stevens advised that the Board of Selectmen could vote to reject the bid on the grounds the bidder is not qualified in view of the fact that the tennis courts he has constructed have not been satisfactory. Before arriving at a decision, the Board would like an opportunity to view the specifications par- ticularly in reference to the fence mentioned in Joyce's bid but not referred to in the other bids. Mr. Gayer agreed to obtain the desired informa- tion and submit it to the Board next Monday evening. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. James, Contract it was voted to sign contract, prepared by Town Counsel, between the Town of Lexington and E. Susi & Williams Corp. for laying water mains, etc. Contract No. 14 All copies of the contract were taken by Mr. Stevens. The Chairman reported that the Board has no appointments for Monday, June 18th, and suggested devoting the evening to viewing tax title property on which offers-have been received. He said a de- cision could also be made on the tennis court bids the same night. A regular meeting would be held the following Monday and then the Board could go on its summer schedule of meeting every other week dur- ing July and August. The members of the Board agreed to the suggestion. Mr. Gayer reported that he is down to $20,000 on the parking lot and owes Brox $1386.00. He said he 7 r will also need $800 for the fence, and explained that Additional as he understood it, the $20,000 is being held in an- funds for ttoipation of damages, parking area Mr. Stevens explained that there were two sepa- rate appropriations; one for acquisition and one for construction. Mr. Maloney said that the subject was discussed a long time ago and a decision made before work was started. The Chairman recalled that Mr. Burns thought there was money available. Mr. Gayer explained that $1,998,52 has been spent to date on construction. The Chairman said that this would have to come in as an unpaid bill for the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Tucker asked if the contractor would have to wait untill next Spring for his money and Mr. Stevens said that it could be requested at a Special Town Meeting. Mr. Maloney said he thought the contractor should be paid. The Chairman suggested a transfer from the Re- serve Fund and wait until an appropriation is made for the fence. Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $1,386.00 from the Reserve 'Fund to the parking Lot Construction Account, 1955 Carryover. Mr. Gayer said that he would like to hire another mechanic. The Chairman asked if he had money to pay him and Mr. Gayer replied that he would need a transfer. He said that he is sending out quite a lot of work which comes under Road Machinery Wages & Expenses and the mechanics are paid from Public Works Building Wages & Expenses. He said that with the amount of equip- mentthe town owns, more than one mechanic is needed, as many times it is necessary to pull a man in to help the mechanic.. He said the town could save money by not having the work done outside, and that Mr. Hauck Gantt begin to handle it all. He asked if the Board is agreeable to hiring another mechanic could money be transferred from Road Machinery Account to pay his salary, and what could be offered as a salary. Mr. Maloney asked how much equipment Mr. Hauck could take care of and Mr. Gayer replied not as much as he would like because he is not able t o do �.t. Mr. Maloney said he did not think the town owned 498 a enough equipment to warrant another mechanic. Mr. Gayer said that he is sending out clutch jobs and brake relining jobs. He stated that the meter reader's car burned out a bearing a month ago and it was fixed only this week because Mr. Hauck was so busy. Mr. Maloney said that brake work is a specialty and once a mechanic is hired he becomes permanent. He said the brakes on the big trucks are too big for the mechanic to handle and those brakes should run for five years. Mr. Gayer explained that the mechanic does not touch the brakes on the big trucks. Mr. Gayer explained that he would like to start a preventative- maintenance program and have each ve- hicle taken into the garage and gone over and not wait until it breaks down as is the procedure at present. He said that the mechanic now is pulled from one job to another. He said the trucks are getting greased but they are a disgrace to the town. He said that Mr. Hauck is a good mechanic but he just - can't make the rounds and furthermore, there is some very old equipment. Mr. Maloney said that he and Mr. Gayer very defi- nitely did not agree. He said it would cost about $10,000 a year for mechanics and said that would take care of alot of repair work. The Chairman said that this additional mechanic could probably be a mechanic and something else. Mr. Maloney said Mr. Gayer could take one of his own men but he moi- definitely would not add another man to the payroll just ass maintenance man. Mr. Gayer said that two mechanics would be a great help during snow storms and Mr. Maloney ex- plained that he had the same problem. The Chairman said that the question is whether another full-time mechanic is warranted. Mr. Maloney said he thought Mr. Gayer should give the Board some proof that another mechanic is needed by keeping a cost account for each vehicle. Mr. Gayer said he thought the town could save money by a preventative maintenance program, and he has a man he can get if the Board is interested. Mrs. Morey asked if the extra man could be em- ployed fon something else when there isn't anything to be done in a mechanical line and Mr. Maloney said it would develop that there would. always be something for him to do. Mr. Gayer said that with a preventative main- tenance program there would be definite work for the man. 499 11[ Mr. Tucker asked if the town had such a program at present and Mr. Gayer replied in the negative. Mrs. Morey asked how much money had been spent for repairs during the last five months and Mr. Gayer replied that he would be able to give the Board de- tailed information next week, Mr. Gayer asked what the Board wanted to do about vacation policy. Vacations Mr. James asked if he had some people who have been away who worked for the town previously and have come back for one reason or another and why they left in the first place. Mr. Gayer said that William Mason worked for the town from 1928 to 1937 and came back in 1947. Mr. James said he has worked eighteen years and is entitled to the vacation. Mr. Tucker said he thought it should be continuous service. He said if the man left for war work, it could be called a leave of absence. The Chairman explained that in the past, the de- partments have gone on the basis of total service. Mr. Gayer said that is the way he thought it should be done. Mr. Tucker said he understood the three weeks vacation was for faithful service and if a than leaves the town and then comes back, he did not think he should get the vacation for faithful service. The Chairman said he would still go along with the total years of service. Mr. Gayer said he would like the Board to set up a policy so he can work out a vacation schedule. Mr. James said that if a man were discharged and then for some reason rehired, the first service should not prevail. Mr, Tucker said that a policy should not be es- tablished for one or two individuals, and his thought is that the philosophy back of longer vacations is a reward for long, continuous and faithful service and he thought the word continuous important. He said not many businesses grant the extra vacation if the em- ployment period is not continuous. He said he thought the exception would be a case where a man left to help the war effort and that should be considered a leave of absence. It was agreed to have Mr. Tucker prepare a vacation policy for the Board's consideration. Mr. Gayer retired at 9:45 P.M. 111 Upon motion of Mrs. Morey, seconded by Mr. Tucker, cn it was voted to sign a Sunday Movie license for the Lexington Theatre. Request, was received from Edward T. Scanlan, on behalf of the St. Brigidts Building Fund Comittee, for permission to use the Barnes property for a rum- Barnes mage sale on Saturday, June 23rd. property The Chairman was authorizedto write the Trus- tees of Cary Memorial Building, now that the Trus- tees ' Room has been cleaned, and inquire as to wether or not chairs could be provided so that the room can be used by various groups for meetings. A discussion was held relative to the appointment of a Town Celebrations Committee and the following Town tentative appointments were made; further considera- Celebrations tion to be given the subject at the next Board Meeting. Committee Bertram Gus tin 3-year term Bentley Hutchins n " Raymond Lewis n n Edith Cheever 2 " Paul Poehler, Jr. re it tt Joseph Rooney " n Col. Albertini 1 It It ' Maurice Gagne It " It Melissa Williams n rt n The Chairman was instructed to call these in- dividuals to find out whether or not they would accept if appointed. Mr. Fred D. Wells was suggested as a member of the Community Council. The meeting adjourned at 10:2D P.M. A true record, Attest: / �y J- , divelerk, electme prI