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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-10-31-BOS-min cn 212 a SELECTMEN' S MEETING October 31, 1955 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, October 31, 1955 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Bateman, Messrs. Gay, Reed, James and Maloney were present. The Clerk was also present. Hearing was declared open upon peitition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for permission to locate six Pole poles, guy wire and anchor on Winchester Drive. Mr. location Mahon, representing the Boston Edison Company, was the only person present at the hearing. He explained that the petition is for an exten- sion of existing line for the DeVries Construction Company, tmd the Chairman reported that the proposed locations have been approved by Mr. Burns, Superin- tendent of Public Works. Hearing was declared closed at 7:35 P.M. and Mr. Mahon retired. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to grant the following go pole loca- tions: Winchester Drive, southeasterly from a point approximately 1,040 feet southeast of Fiske Road. Six poles - guy wire and anchor on sixth pole. The Chairman read a letter, copy of which was sent to each member of the Board, from the Metro- Group politan Life Insurance Company, advising that Harvey Insurance A. Smith, Roy Johnsen and Charles E. Heath, residents of Lexington would like to submit a proposal for Group Insurance for Town employees. Mr. Reed felt that the other three agencies who were interested might like an opportunity to resubmit a proposal and explained that the employee pays half and the Town pays half with the dividend going to the Town. Mr. Maloney felt that inasmuch as the employees have manifested no interest, it would be better to defer any action until the proposition is ppasented by the employees. The Chairman was authorized to advise the Metro- politan Life Insurance Company that the subject had been presented by three different groups and discussed 213 for several years. However, inasmuch as the employees have never shown any interest in the subject, the Board prefers not to go into it any further at the present time. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Edward DeHart, 8 Warren Street, requesting installation of signs to warn motorists of Children playing in the area. The Clerk was instructed to refer the communi- cation to the Superintendent of Public Works. Notice was received from the City of Waltham re petition for approval of a plan and profile of a Hearing proposed street and adjacent lots on an area of land situated on the northerly side of Trapelo Road, formerly owned by George Cross. No action was taken. The Chairman read a letter from the East Lex- ington Men' s Club asking that arrangements be made Traffic to have a police officer on duty between 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. on Massachusetts Avenue between Curve and pleasant Streets. Mr. Reed said that there just isn' t an officer available to assign to traffic duty during those hours, and suggested that the Chairman find out whether or not a State Police Officer could take over the duty at Acdess Road thereby relieving a local officer. The possibility of installing a traffic light at Wardrobe' s drugstore was also discussed and theChairman agreed to confer with the Chief of Police and report to the Board next Monday night. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Fire Commissioners advising that apparently there Aerial has been some misunderstanding as they were under ladder test the impression that a test of the aerial ladder was authorized by the Selectmen. They would like in- structions as to whether or not a teat should be conducted. It was agreed to have the Chairman telephone the Board of Fire Underwriters and find out what the requirements for aerial ladders are, whether or not they are inspected and if so who does the inspec- tions in this area. Upon receipt of this informa- tion, an appointment is to be made for the Fire Com- missioners to meet with the Board. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, met with the Board at 214 rz 8:00 P.M. He brought the Board up to date on the progress being made in re the parking area between Waltham and Muzzey Streets. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Ext. of Pur. .& to sign an Extension of Purchase and Sale Agreement Sale Agreement between the Town and Henning W. Swenson dated October 24, 1955 until 10:00 A.M. on November 30, 1955. Mr. Stevens retired at 8:35 P.M. The Chairman reported that Mr. Ferguson, the Town Moderator, Mr. Gardner Ferguson, Chairman of the Appointment last Appropriation Committee, met with him and ap- pointed Paul A. Buckley, 139 Shade Street, a member of the Appropriation Committee for the unexpired term ending with the adjournment of the Annual Town Meeting in 1957. At 8:0 P.M. Chairman 4ass, Messrs. Burnham and Cronin of the Board of Assessors and Mr. Leland Assessors Emery, former member, met with the Selectmen. The Chairman of the Board said he would like first to discuss appointing someone to the Board to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Emery' s resignation. He referred to the list of suggested name's sub- mitted by the Assessors and said that some of the men definitely cannot serve. He asked if the Assessors had any preference and Mr. Cass replied in the negative. He said that the Board had some difficulty in computing the list and has not ap- proached any of the suggested names. The Chairman 1eported that James J. Connell, Forest Street, is interested and would accept ap- pointment. Mr. Cass said that the Assessors do not know what, in particular, the Selectmen would like to have discussed and Mr. Maloney explained that there has been some talk about the appraisal of the property in the center. Mr. Reed said that the Board did not mind assessing the houses as residential houses, but thought the land should be assessed as business. Mr. Burnham explained that last year the land where Dr. Hunt is and where Fred Johnson is was changed to 50E per foot and the land where George Smith and James Carroll is was changed to 25¢ per foot. Mr. Cass explained that the Assessors have been going up on the business land on which there are houses in which the people still live, but have not 215 thought it good to increase the land to the extent where the people will be forced to sell for business purposes. However, as soon as the land is put to commercial use, the assessment will be increased, but the Board does not want to drive anyone from his home, He stated that the trend is to bring the assessments up slowly. They start at $3.00 on the Woolworth Block and move down to 504 on the fringe area. The Board of Assessors retired at 9:20 P.M. Mr. Ralph J. Frissore, 16 Webb Street, met with the Board in re his offer of $5,000 for tax title lots 213-258 on Asbury Street and lots 579-584 on Edna Street. The Chairman explained that Murray Dearborn came to the Board and reported that Mr. Frissore Tax title wanted to purchase a parcel of land and the Board property informed him that it did not want to sell the lots because there was no sewer available. Then he came back and wanted to know what could be done. He was informed that it could be sold with the re- striction that it would be sewered. Mr. Dearborn said that the purchaser would purchase the lots with restrictions. The Chairman said t hat the Board was not interes- ted in selling the lots then and is not particularly interested now. He stated that it was learned a num- ber of lots in the area sold for $1100 per lot. Mr. Frissore was going to build seven houses so the figure of $?700 was arrived at. The Board took into considera- tioh estimated taxes for twoears recordingof title 5' s and land court- costs and interest and arrived at a figure somewhere about $6,000 and entertained an offer of $5,000. He said the Board does not want to sell the lots and will not reduce the price. Mr. Frissore said that he understood the Board would sell the lots if he would wait until the sewer was in before he built any houses and at the time he thought the sewer would be in within a year. He then found out that the sewer would not be installed for at least three years and therefore he could not see investing money in land he could not use. The Chairman explained that the trunk line will be installed within a year but it will be another year or two before the laterals are put in. Mr. Reed explained that. it would probably be longer than that as the Board requires signatures of 75% of the owners before considering installation of sewers. 216 Cla Mr. Maloney asked how Mr. Frissore could build on the other side of the street if the sewer situ- ation is so serious. Mr. Reed said that every septic tank added to the area creates that much more of a problem. Mr. Frissore said that with Mr. Lurvey on the job there wouldntt be too much. of a problem. If he buys the other six lots and Mr. Lurvey passes them, he could build six houses. Therefore, there will be houses built there whether on that land or not. Mr. Reed said he realized approval of indivi- dual lots could be obtained. However, after a period of time the land is saturated and then the problem arises. He explained that the difficulty is not when the houses are built but two or three years after. Mr. Frissore said he would not like to invest the money and have it tied up for two or three years. He said purchasing the other six lots depends on these owned by the Town because he does not want to put in water and have someone else buy the lots and have the water already in. He said he could not understand why the restriction could not read that all disposal units would have to be in the front of the house, based on the premises he could get per- mission from the Town and then if the sewer were put in, it would just mean tying in to the line. Mr. Reed said that the Board could ask the Board of Health to make a thorough study of the area in- Volved and if there would be no problem before the sewer is installed, the Board might reconsider. The Chairman said that Mr. Lurvey would look the area over. Mr. Frissore retired at 9:30 P.M. Chairman Wadsworth, Messrs. Chapman, Martin, Cromwell and Mrs. Marek of the School Committee and Sup,ft. of Schools Smith met with the Board. Sidewalks Mr. Wadsworth said that the committee has re- ceived a large number of requests for additional bus service for the children and parents are very excited and tell the committee how dangerous the various and sundry streets are. He said that the bus transportation is running into a large amount of money. One thing the people do not realize is the children who have to go only 200 yards along one of these streets is just as badly off as someone who must go half a mile. He said that the committee has been wondering somewhat about what the plans were for sidewalks in the town as far as the long range picture is concerned. He explained that they would like to be able to tell the parents something is go- ing to be one or is not going to be done about side- 217 walks. He stated that the problem is serious enough with them so that they would like to know what the Selectmen are thinking in regard to sidewalks. The Chairman asked if the same problem did not arise every time a new school was opened and Mr. Wadsworth replied that these are not exclusively with the Maria Hastings School but the demand has been getting worse. The Chairman said, inreference to School Street, that the Board has contacted Representative Ferguson and the State but as yet have not received a reply. He stated that he and Mr. Burns have viewed the sec- tion between Middle Street and Lincoln Street and that is the area about which he has written to Com- missioner Volpe. He explained that a sidewalk of sorts can be put in there and Mr. Burns can plow on that side of the street the way it is now. However, another plow will have to be purchased. He stated that School Street will be all right, Massachusetts Avenue will be all right on the side from Hastings Road and School Street will have a blacktop side- walk with curbing. Something may have to be put in on Lincoln Street. He explained that the Board plans to put sidewalks on Maple Street and perhaps on Lowell Street. He suggested that the School Committee ad- vise the Board where they think sidewalks are needed. Mr. Reed said that Maple and Lowell Streets are both State roads so that it is a question of what the State is going to give the Board for an answer. Mr. Chapman asked if this were a subject that the Planning Board has in its studies and Mr. Maloney re- plied that he thought they should be consulted. Mr. Reed suggested that the Planning Board give some thought to requiring the subdividers to install sidewalks. The Chairman said that if the Committee would bring in some plan as to where the sidewalks should go the Selectmen could summarize it and then present it to Town Meeting. He explained that nothing can be done this year because there just isn' t any money avail- able. He said he could talk to the Planning Board, but he did not recall that they have Very much to do with sidewalks. Mr. James aaid that sidewalks is primarily a school problem and the greater proportion of people using the sidewalks will be school children. He said he thought the sidewalks should be placed where the the School Committee seew the need for them. The Committee retired at 9:55 P.M. X18 Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to sign a Sunday Movie license for the Lexington Theatre. Invitation was received from the Massachusetts Graduation Chiefs of Police Association and the Graduating Class to attend graduation exercises of Ninth Local Police Officers Training School on Thursday, November 3rd. Mr. James accepted and Mr. Gay agreed to attend if possible. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Paper drive to grant Dr. John Murray' s request, on behalf of Archbishop Cushing, for permission to conduct a paper drive on Sunday, November 6th, The Chairman explained that there is a matter of Vacation policy that should be decided upon relative to vacs- policy tions and following a discussion on the subject, the following policy was unanimously adopted,; 1. The vaction period is from June first through Labor Day. a. Any employee having worked for the Town a period of six months prior to June first is entitled to one weeks vacation during the vacation period. 3. Any employee having worked for the Town a period of one year prior to June first is entitled to two weeks vacation during the vacation period. 4. Any employee having worked for the Town fifteen years prior to June first is entitled to three weeks vacation, but the third week must be taken outside the vacation period unless it is con- venient to the department head to allow it to be taken during the regular vacation period. 5. Any employee having worked for the Town twenty- five years prior to June first is entitled to four weeks vacation, but the third and fourth weeks must be taken outside the vacation period unless it is convenient to the department head to allow it to be taken during the regular vacation period. The Clerk was instructed to have mimeographed copies of the policy prepared and distributed to all Town employees. 219 I The meeting adjourned at 1025 P.M. A true record, Attest: /° Ele , Seotmtitn