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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-12-19-BOS-min 274 C") SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 19, 1955 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, December 19, 1955 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Bateman, Messrs. Gay, Reed, James and Maloney were present. Mr. Gayer, Assistant Superintendent of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. Letter was received from Alfred P. Tropeano ad- Tax title vising that he has been authorized to offer *1400 for property lots 27 through 30, Block 1, Reed Street. The pro- spective purchaser desires to construct a second en- trance to the Wolrath property which he is buying. It was agreed to advise Mr. Tropeano that the Board will not be viewing any tax title property un- til after the first of the year. Letter was received from the Recreation Committee Recreation in re functions which the Committee feels should be Committee under its jurisdiction, and upon which they want the Town Meeting to act. The Chairman suggested discussing the subject with the Committee when it meets with the Board on budgets. Appointment Letter was received from Mr. James J. Carroll, advising that the Moderator has appointed Ralph H. Tucker to the Maple Street School Building Committee to fill the vacancy caused by Edward Lerner, Jr. ' s resignation. Hearing was declared open upon application of Gasoline Anthony P. Modoono for permission to maintain one underground tank for the storage of 1,000 gallons of gasoline at 192 Woburn Street. Notice of the hearing was inserted in the Decem- ber 8, 1955 issue of the Lexington Minute-Man and the application was approved by B. J. Belcastro, Deputy Chief of the Fire Department. Mr. Modoono, the petitioner, Charles Laubinger, 279 Woburn Street and Mr. Perduyn, 280 Woburn Street, were present at the hearing. Mr. Modoono explained that the gasoline would be used for his three trucks, three cars and tractor. 27 Mr. Perduyn asked if he planned to add to the fleet and Mr. Modoono replied that he would like the business to grow if possible. Mr. Gay asked the type of business and Mr. Modoono replied that it is landscaping. Mr. Perduyn asked if the property was zoned for residential or business and the Chairman replied it is a farm, the family has been there for many years, and are one of the oldest families in Lexington. Mr. Modoono said that his family has lived there for thirty years. The Chairman explained that under the Zoning By- laws if a business was in existence at the time the laws were established, it remains and the Board is not at liberty to change it except in very, very extreme cases. Mr. Gay inquired about the location of the tank and Mr. Modoono stated that it will be in the rear about 400 or 500 feet away from the street. Mr. Perduyn asked if the property was being oper- ated as a farm or a landscaping business at the time the Zoning By-law went into effect. The Chairman replied that it was a farm. Mr. Perduyn said that this then was a different use. Mr. Maloney explained that anything to do with raising, growing, cultivating any type of trees is farm- ing and treated so by the experts. Mr. Perduyn asked if Mr. Modoono operated out of this location and he replied that he does landscaping on other property. Mr. Perduyn asked if that was different and Mr. Maloney explained that it is not. He said it is a non- conforming use in a residential area and it cannot be changed until someone purchases the property or changes the use. he said that it is not offensive and as far as the tank is concerned, Mr. Perduyn could have one if he had use for one. He stated that gasoline tanks are not offensive or dangerous. The Chairman said that all the abutters were noti- fied of the hearing but none of them wished to make any comment. The hearing was declared closed at 8:140 P.M. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to grant a license to Anthony P. Modoono for permission to maintain one underground tank for the storage of 1,000 gallons of gasoline on the premises located at 192 Woburn Street. The group retired and Mr. Burns met with the Board. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the New Manhole and England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission to conduit locate manholes and underground conduit on Bedford Street. location 276 Cid Mr. Consilvio, representing the petitioner, was the only person present at the hearing. The Chairman said that this is on State highway and asked if permission had been obtained. Mr. Burns explained that the petitioner obtains permission from both the State and the Town. Mr. Consilvio stated that this run of cable has been taken up with the State but permission also must be obtained from the Town. He explained that the loca- tion is from Westview Street to the Bedford tine. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order for the following manhole and conduit locations: Bedford Street (State Highway) From the Lexington-Bedford Town Line southeasterly, approximately 1313 feet of underground conduit and two manholes. From manhole 54/119, southeasterly and easterly to Pine Knoll Road, approxi- mately 40 feet of underground connedtion. Mr. Consilvio retired at 8:45 P.M. Lot 118 Mr. Mark Lurvey, Health Sanitarian, met With the Cary Ave. Board re use of tax title lot 118 Cary Avenue in con- nection with a system for severing a house now under construction at 72 Cary Avenue. He presented a plan of the lots involved. The Chairman asked Ph en the sanitary sewer would be constructed in the street and Mr. Burns replied that it will be between five and six years. He said that when the sewer is installed this arrangement will just disappear. The Chairman asked if the proposed solution would take care of the lot for five or six years and Mr. Lurvey replied that he has been advised it will. Mr. Burns said he would not object to the use of the tax title lot for this purpose but he definitely would be opposed to selling the lot because sooner or later there would be pressure to build on it. Mr. Maloney suggested selling the lot with re- strictions. Mr. ,Burns said that if the lot is purchased the owner will contact everyone and will not be satisfied until he puts another house up. The Chairman said that M . Burns' idea is for the Board to grant permission for the use of the land for a bed. 277 Mr. Lurvey explained that half or three quarters of the bed is on the other piece of land, but it is the only way it could be made work. Mr. Maloney recommended letting the builder use it and stated that in a few years the lot will be worth more money. Mr. Burns said that he has no objection to using the lot, but there should be an agreement whereby he maintains it or keeps it in good operating order, sub- ject to supervision of the Board of Health. Mr. Lurvey explained that Mr. Lucas, the Engineer, will follow it through. Mr. Lurvey retired at 8:50 P.M. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it Chapter 90 was voted to sign a statement of expenditures under Chapter 90 contract 16067 Maintenance and contract 15993 Hill Street. Petition was received for acceptance of Whipple Street Road and Mr. Burns explained that the road is already acceptance constructed and acceptance is merely routine . Petition was received for construction and ac- Street ceptance of Utica Street. acceptance The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. Cronin, the first signer of the petition, that it is too late to include the project in the 1956 budget. Mr. Burns reported that he and Mr. Gayer have an appointment this evening with the Long Range Planning 1956 Committee and commented briefly on what he has pre- projects pared to present. At the present time requests for sewer construction under the Betterment Act amounts to $146,000. If anything is done on Route 2 there are one or two crossings that should be made - Watertown Street and Pleasant Street - in order to take care of Carrig' s development and also in the hollow at Concord Avenue at Route 2. He said it would be money well spent to put the pipes in and let them stay there for awhile. A random figure of 1,000 feet is about $50,000. He said that another item which should be done or forgotten is the extension of Eldred Street. He said that the sewer and tbreet should be done due to the number of people moving in and this is a good year be- cause Eldred Street is one that has been requested. The sewer ruhs about $L8,000. Mr. Burns reported that the requests for street construction is about $151,000. 278 Mr. Reed asked if pearl and Arcola Streets were included and Mr. burns replied in the negative. He said it was decided to leave them as they are, after installation of sewer, and see whether or not the people were satisfied. Mr. Burns said that construction of Eldred Street would be somewhere around $!{0,000. Mr. Burns referred to water construction Waltham Street from Marrett Road to Concord Avenue which is about $65,000. Concord Avenue from Pleasant Street to the present 12" main is another $65,000 and the water main in Eldred Street is $16,000. Mr. Reed said that last year there was $160,000 for the Waltham Street total which was cut out of the budget and Mr. Burns explained that there were more pieces included than that. Mr. burns said that he has had a request for water extension in Webb Street, also for Dunham and Young Streets which he did not include. On Webb Street he has 100% of the signatures. In these developments he has supplied the hydrants, fittings and valves. M6aking allowance for that he has rounded out a figure of $30,000. Those two items total $38,800 and the total of all is $507,900. He explained that in ad- dition is the sewer main on Lowell Street to come from the trunk line to take care of Haskell Street, Crescent Hill and the other part of Lowell Street. He does not have the figure but it will run into some money. Mr. James recalled some discussion about another standpipe and Mr. Burns stated that he has that for 1957. Mr. James said the reason he brought it up was because of the discussion at the airport the other night and with the new development they will expect to get water through our line. He asked if Federal help could be obtained and Mr. Burns replied that he tried that and they put the standpipe on the base. Mr. Burns said that the standpipe is not a question of one large one at one spot but it would be better to have one on Spring Street, one on Merriam hill and one over on Waltham Street. If there is a standpipe built on Spring Street the people will not get any more water than they do now, but during the summer high draft they will get by. When the M.D.C1 can't supply the Town and we had the storage we could get by. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 8:35 P.M. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. James, 279 it was voted to appoint Mr. Richard Gayer, Superinten- dent of Public Works and Town Engineer for the Town of Appointment Lexington, effective January 1, 1956 at a salary of X8500. Messrs. Burns and Gayer retired at 8:140 P.M. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to approve Town Counsel' s bill for pro- fessional services in the amount of $3565. Mr. Stevens retired at 8:45 P. M. Mr. Carroll, Town Clerk and Treasurer, met with the Board and discussed budgets until 8:55 P.M. at Town Clerk' s which time he retired. budget The Chairman read a letter from the County Com- missioners requesting appointment of three of their Special employees as Special Police for the parking areas and Police grounds at the Middlesex County Sanatorium. Pending satisfactory character references from the Chief of Police, it was vOted to appoint the fol- lowing individuals as Special Police for terms ex- piring March 31, 1956: James E. May, Charles W. Varney and William J. DiCicco. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls: Use of halls Sachem Council Boy Scouts Cary Reunion Dec. 29 Town Meeting Members Assn. Conf. Meeting Dec. 29 la-A Town Committee Cary Exhibit May 3, 1950 Chief John W. Rycroft met with the Board at 9:15 P.M. and an informal discussion was held on budgets for 1956. The subject of a Traffic Committee was considered Traffic and it was suggested that such a committee should in- Committee elude the Chief of Police, Consultant to the Planning Board, Superintendent of Public Works, a member of the Board of Selectmen and a member of the Chamber of Com- merce. Chief Rycroft retired at 9:55 P.M. Chairman Fitzgerald, Messrs. Roeder and Sheldon, Fire Commissioners, met with the Board and discussed budgets until 10:45 P.M. at which time they retired. Letter was received from Donald T. Clark, Chair- 280 man of the Appropriation Committee, in reply to the Insurance Chairman' s letter of December 5th relative to Mr. John McNeil' s insurance proposal. The Clerk was instructed to place the letter on the agenda for the next meeting. Town Letter was received from the Town Celebrations Celebrations Committee advising that Mrs. Dodge has resigned. At- tached to the letter was a stationery bill in the amount of $27 and a request for the use of the Select- men' s Room every second and fourth Tuesday until April. The appointment of Mrs. Dodge' s replacement was held over until the next meeting and the Clerk was authorized to arrange for the use of the Selectmen' s Room some night other than a Tuesday as the Board of Appeals hold meetings on that night; conference room to be used if necessary. It was agreed to meet on Thursday, December 29th to discuss budgets. The meeting adjourned at 11:05 P.M. A true record, Attest: ectm n. I