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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-02-06-BOS-min C) .) c7J1 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 6, 1956 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, February 6, 1956 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Bateman, Messt°s. Gay, Reed, James and Maloney were present. Mr. Gayer, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. Mr. Mahlon, representing the Boston Edison Company, met with the Board to discus• proposed lighting for Lighting the new municipal parking area located between Waltham Parking area and Muzzey Streets. He presented two plans; one of the original lighting arrangement and one of the pre- sent arrangement. The Chairman said that he thought there should be a light at the entrance on Waltham Street. Mr. Gay inquired about the lights and Mr. Mahon replied that they are 2500 lumen. Mr. Mahon said that they could abandon the light at the entrance to Muzzey Street and put a light at the entrance on Waltham Street. Mr. Gay asked why there couldn' t be a light at both entrances and Mr. Mahon replied that it could be arranged. Mr. Maloney said that there doesn' t seem to be ample lighting at the Edison Way parking area. Mr. Mahon suggested installing 2500 lumen lamps on whatever poles the Board wants and if it is found that the illumination is not adequate, change to 6000 lumen. It was agreed 'to place a light at the entrance to the parking arda on Waltham Street and eliminate one on the second pole. Mr. Mahon referred to the hearing held two weeks ago on a pole location on Grove Street. At the time he had a plan showing the frontage on Mr. Northrup' s land which he questioned. The company obtained the exact frontage from the registry and he has twenty feet-•more than he thought he had. He said he talked to M . Northrup and the location is now agreeable to him and presented the Board with a revised plan to be attached to the grant the Town Clerk will send the company. Mr. Mahon retired at 7:45 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Carleton E. Mason, 332 Shade trees 101 Shade Street, stating that the value of his prop- erty has been depreciated because of the removal of two old shade trees. He requested suitable replace- ments as soon as possible. The Chairman said that he did not know why the trees were taken down and asked Mr. Gayer to look into the situation and take care of it. Letter was received from Alta C. Galbraith, 178 Curbing Waltham Street, registering complaint because the curbing installation did not include his property. The Chairman requested the Clerk to make a copy of the letter for Mr. Gayer and then asked Mr. Gayer to find out why the curbing- was installed. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, arrived at the -meeting at 8:00 P.M. He discussed informally the Act passed in 1915 authorizing the assessment of betterments for water main extensions. Mrs. Francis J. Coyne* s letter re plowing 294a Snow removal Bedford Street was held over. private way The Chairman reported that permission was given by the Board of Appeals to build one of the houses, one house has been there for many years and he did not know how the other house came to be built there. He asked if the property owners should apply for accep- tance of the way. Mr. Stevens said that was the procedure if they wanted it to be a public way. He said that he did not know any reason why the town cannot plow it. Mr. Gayer saidthat it is not an unaccepted street but is a private way. Mr, Gayer retired at 8:35 F.M. Mr. Stevens discussed the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting and retired at 8:.50 P.M. The following members of the Capital Expenditures Capital Committee met with the Board: John A. Carrier, Mrs. Expenditures John Rich, Donald E. Williamson and D. Sargent Committee Goddard. Mrs. Rich said hat the committee wondered if the Selectmen could give any final public works figures for 1956. The chairman mentioned the following proposed budgets: Sidewalk construction $25,000 Curbing 12,500 Chapter 90 20,000 333 Drainage 50,000 Sewer construction 335,775 Water construction 130,000 Voting machines (rental) 1,200 Car for building inspector Mrs. Rich asked about recreation figures and the Chairman explained that the purchase of land in East Lexington is out. He reported that Mr. Baskin has offered to give the town land on Wyman hoed and an amount equal to the 1955 taxes will be recommended in payment. Mrs. Rich asked if there were figures available on the Additional Town Office Building. Mr. Reed replied that the only figure is the one quoted the other evening. Mrs. Rich said that the committee is anxious to know if there is any change in the request for building the Franklin School annex. The Chairman said that he would have the answer -tomorrow morning if she would call him at the Select- men's Office. The Committee retired at 9:20 P.M. Mr. Nahigian, his attorney, and eight othez in- Nahigian dividuals met with the Board to discuss drainage on Middleby Rd, Middleby Road. drainage Mr. Nahigian said that he has been living here about one month. His cellar flooded and the field in the batsk of his house flooded and until this day his yard has been under water. He said when he purchased the house there were no water marks in the cellar. During the hurricane the culvert was blocked. The town opened it and the water left on its own. It was left open for about four days. The following week the town put in a new and larger pipe. -Three weeks after that it rained the whole weekend and the water did not leave but just stayed there. The neighbors told him the pipe was put in higher than it was before and that is what caused the water. He said during September and October there was an odor every night. He said if the pipe should be lowered and the town put it in, it should be lower to get rid of the water. He said the water is so deep a child could drown. The Chairman explained that after Mrs. Nahigian called him, he went over with the Superintendent of Public Works and checked. The pipe was actually a few inches lower, not higher, than it was before. It was lower on the side toward town than it was before. He stated that there are records here showing that com- plaints were registered about water in the house as soon as it was built. 34 Ct Pt PP a Mr. Woodhull, 220 Lincoln Street, said he has lived here since 1950 and walked all the way out to the middle of the meadow and looked all around. Since last August when it stormed so badly, water has been going onto his lawn. When it rained during hurricane Edna it was flooded and cleared itself in a matter of days and there was just as much water then as there was this year. He said this year be- fore August when we had the flood he has been all the way out to the end of his property. It is not a desert but, on the other hand, it is covered with about six inches of water as it is all over the area. In addition, there are places where the water is at least three feet deep. He said to his knowledge this situation has been brought about by this storm and the replacement of the pipe with a new one. The Chairman asked if the water was running through the culvert all the time and Mr. Woodhull replied that there is a steady flow of water. He said there is some- thing that has caused the situation to change this year. The Chairman said he was correct. There never has been such a rainfall and the year before the water table was not the same. Mr. Watson, 11 Middleby Road, said that the new main has caused all the trouble. The sewer main was installed and the town made a road of that place, and it is dammed up. He said during the hurricane he had two feet of water right behind his garage and never had two inches before in all the years he has lived there, which is since 1927. He said that the culvert is not as low as it used to be. The Chairman asked if the water main was below the culvert and Mr. Watson replied that he was sure it is. Mr. Reed asked if the brook was on the other side of the trunk line and Mr. Watson replied that it is on the south side. Mr. Crandall, 40 Middleby Road, said that last year water continaully washed down from Outlook Drive; in fact came up from the catch basin which is located at the junction of Middleby Road and Outlook Drive. He said the water comes up and washes down Middleby Road. He said that it came in so excessively that it blocked up the upper half. The town went up and dug it out and, 0 that time, they were putting the pipe back in again. He said he thought it was higher and spoke to Mr. Wessinger who said it had to be raised on account of the water main. The Chairman said that the Board would go up there and see what is causing the trouble, but he could not say this evening what could be done, if anything. Mr. Reed said that a more thorough study would be made. 335 The Chairman explained that the water table all through the town is the highest it ever has been. Mr. Reed explained that if the solution involves an expenditure of any money, it will have to be in- cluded in the budget and voted upon by Town Meeting. Those who were present wring the discussion were: Messrs. Arbeen4,232 Lincoln Street, Mederios, 20 Middle- by Road, Nalkashian, attorney for Nahigian, Chernay, 252 Lincoln Street, Conrad, 212 Lincoln Street. Mr. Caney, 21)4 Lincoln Street, was unable to attend this evening. The group retired at 9:50 P.M. The following members of the School Committee met with the Board: Chairman Marek, Messrs. Cromwell, Sidwwalks Chapman, Wadsworth and Martin. Mr. Smith, Su/pit. of Schools, and his secretary, Miss Smith, were also present. The Chairman explained that the list of sidewalks Mr. Smith presented to the Board would cost between $150,000 and $200,000. He said there is, for the moment, $55,000 worth of sidewalks listed by the Board, part of which will be done by the State if the town appropriates money for black topping. The sidewalks, not State Prop- erty, will be gravelled. He mentioned the following sidewalks: Lowell Street from the Town line of Arlington up toLaconia Street on the northern end; Maple Street, what is now completed, between Mass. Avenue and Lowell Street which may be a State project with curbstone and blacktop; Part of Lowell Street is State from Maple to Summer Street. The Chairmen said that Woburn Street is included in the list but it is very doubtful that it will be recom- mended. He reported that Wilson Road and Crosby Road have been taken out. Then there is the piece of Marrett Road from Middle Street to Lincoln Street; Lincoln Street from Audubon Road to Marrett Road. The Chairman said that $25,000 worth of sidewalks will be done this year if the town votes the money. Mrs. Marek said she would like to discuss Crosby Road. The Chairman said that it is not a through road and there are signs up to that effect. He said the Board is suggesting that wooden horses be placed to 336 C") block the road after school in the afternoon and be- fore school in the morning. He recalled that the road was put through at the request of the School Committee and unless they take some action, it will be a through way. Mr. Smith said that the original layout of Crosby Road provided sidewalks. Mr. Reed said the Board had no knowledge of a sidewalk. Mrs. Marek asked if it wasn' t wiser to sippnd money for sidewalks than it is to spend it for transportation. The Chairman said there was no question about their comments but the Board is now asking for fifty cents on the tax rate just for this year' s sidewalks, which is only one item. There is also drainage, streets and sewers. He said that Itwnuld cost a quarter of a million dollars to do the sidewalks correctly. Mrs. Marek asked if the $25,000 would cover all the streets mentioned and the Chairman replied that it would take care of only about half of them. The subject of janitor' s salaries was discussed. Janitors' The Chairman read the salaries established for salaries the janitors and saidthat he could see no reason why the School Committee could nbt have a copy of the re- port submitted to the Board by the Personnel Advisory Committee. The subject of the Town painter was discussed and the Chairman explained that , without hiring more painters, it is not going to be possible for Mr. Shea and his assistant to work at the schools this year. Mr. Wadsworth mentioned building up a painting crew and the Chairman saidthat the School Department should handle their own painting problem separate from town painter. Mr. Chapman said it will cost more to have the school painting done by contract. The proposed addition to the Franklin School, which Mrs. Marek stated will cost $400,000 for eight rooms and an all purpose room, plus grading, was dis- cussed at length. The meeting adjourned at 11:10 P.M. A true record, Attest: rit, Se tme�il �