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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-09-26-BOS-min 0 180 i f � SELECTMEN'S MEETING I September 26, 1955 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, September 26, 1955 at 7 :00 P.M. Chair- man Bateman, Messrs. Reed, James and Maloney were pres- ent. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Gay arrived at the meeting at 7:35 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Jurors Board for the drawing of three jurors. The following individuals were drawn for jury duty: Alice C. Monahan, Home Councel , 51 Lowell Street; Margaret A. Roberts, housewife, 281 Lowell Street; Clifford C. Cooper, Jr. , Accountant, 63 Reed Street. Mr. Carroll retired at 7:05 P.M. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. James, Uses of it was voted to grant the following uses of halls, halls all free but subject to a charge of $1.50 per hour for janitor' s overtime services. Lexington Police Women Conf. Rm. Oct. 6 Meeting Lex. Little League Inc. Estabrook Oct. 18 Meeting Lex. Little League Inc. Cary Oct. 21 Award Night Lex. Council Girl Scouts Conf. Rm. Nov. 21 Meeting Council of Churches Cary Nov. 21 Thanksgiving 22-23 Service The Chairman read a letter from Francis Keefe, at- Betterments torney for Mrs. Mary M. Simonds, requesting deferment of Deferred street betterment assessment levied against lots 25 and 26 Bartlett Avenue. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted, under the provisions of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 1950, to extend the time f or payment of street betterment assessment on lots 25 and 26 Bartlett Ave- nue, in the amount of $231.20, without interest, until said land or any part thereof is built upon, sold, or until the expiration of three years from the date hereof, whichever event occurs first. Size of elec. The Chairman read a letter from Robert K. Jeremiah, service en- Inspector of Wires, recommending that the minimum size trance service entrance in all new homes be 100 amperes effective November 1, 1955. Mr. Jeremiah' s recommendation is due to the increased demand for electric ranges, dryers, 181 % .d clothes washers, water heaters and other appliances. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it Was voted to approve Mr. Jeremiah' s recommendation and to request him to inform all contractors of the proposed change and also to give the subject some pub- licity in the Lexington Minute*Man. Upon motion of M . Maloney, seconded by Mr. Reed, Licenses it was voted to grant the following licenses: Lexington Theatre 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies Lex. Cab Company Inc. 11 Depot Square Additional Cab Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Maloney, Sewer Orders it was voted to sign the following Sewer Orders: Shade Street from Spring Street, a distance of 560 feet / northwesterly; Oxford. Street from Theresa Avenue, southerly approximately 300 feet; Adams Street from end of existing sewer, a distance of 1150 # feet northeasterly; Sherburne Road from Winthrop Road, southerly distant approximately 1010 feet; Arcola Street from Bartlett Avenue southerly distant approximately 395 feet; Pearl Street from Bartlett Avenue southerly distant approximately 375 feet; Hayes Avenue from end of existing sewer, a distance of 530 feet C northeasterly. Mr. Gordon T. Richardson, 117 Odell ANenue, Bever- ly, applicant for the position of Superintendent of Supt. Public Works and Town Engineer, met with the Board. Public Works The Chairman said he did not know how much Mr. Richardson knew about the position and Mr. Richardson said that he came to Lexington the other day to look around and he met Mr. Burns. The Chairman asked him to tell the Board some- thing about himself and he stated that he graduated from the University of Maine in 1934 and went to work for the City of Beverly in the Engineering Department and remained until 1939 when they consolidated the Engineering with the Public Works. He then took charge until he went into the service, the Navy. He returned in 1946 and had charge of engineering and water and stayed until 1950 when he went to Nahant. Here the departments were consolidated under Public Works and he has been there ever since. The Chairman asked if they had an Engineering 182 a Department and he replied in the negative. He said that he does all that is done with one or two men; that is establishing grades and figuring the assessments. He is the only engineer, in charge of streets, sewer, water, cemetery, parks, trees and everything except schools and police. He said he believed the Town of Nahant is patterned °after Lexington. The Chairman asked how many men there are in the entire crew and he replied that there are fifteen and one foreman. Mr. James asked how he handled engineering on a major construction job and Mr. Richardson replied that they have Mhitman & Howard do the layout. He said that they just finished a sewer construction project of about $40,000 and Whitman & Howard did the layout. Mr. Reed asked if they do all the engineering and Mr. Richardson replied that he does the engineering on minor construction. He explained that the town does not have an engineering force and no provision was made for one. Mr. Reed asked about the size of his budget and Mr. Richardson replied that the Public Works is about 06,000 for maintenance. Mr. Gay asked if they did any work or if it were all on contract and Mr. Richardson replied that they do all the sewer work and most of the water work with town men. They let our resurfacing because they do not have the equipment. The Chairman inquired about the population and Mr. Richardson said that year-round it is about 3300. The Chairman asked how many miles of streets they have and Mr. Richardson replied about sixteen. The Chairman asked if he had much sewer work and Mr. Richardson replied that the town is pretty well a ewe red. Mr. James asked if all the men were in one labor pool and Mr. Richardson replied in the affirmative, with the exception of the cemetery men. He said they have rubbish collection and that takes three men in the summer and two in the winter. He said the rest are in a pool from which he can draw. He tries to keep two men on trees, parks and playgrounds. Mr. Reed asked if he prepared his own budget and he replied in the affirmative. The Chairman asked about the size of Nahant and Mr. Richardson said that it is one square mile. Mr. James asked if they have any developments and Mr. Richardson replied that they had one last year and one this year, but they are not large. This year there were about eighteeen houses. 183 Mr. Gay asked if he would be willing to move to Lexington and Mr. Richardson said that if he were re- quired he would, but he would prefer to stay in Bever- ly as he has a boy who is a senior and he would like to have him finish school there. The Chairman said that would not be a requirement of the position. Mr. James asked how snow removal is handled and Mr. Richardson replied that they do it all themselves. Mr. Richardson asked if the Superintendent had charge of parks and playgrounds and the Chairman ex- plained that he maintains them. Mr. Reed stated that Lexington has a Recreation Committee, but the men come under the Superintendent of ublic Works. Mr. Richardson asked if the town contracted for most of the large construction and Mr. Reed replied that about 90%. The Chairman said that the town men resurface the streets and there isn' t anything they can' t do but there are not enough men for major construction. Mr. Richardson asked if new developers furnish everything and Mr. Reed replied in the affirmative. Mr. Richardson inquired about the Engineering De- ' partment and Mr. Reed explained that there is a con- struction engineer who takes care of developments, a transitman, a rodman and two others. The Chairman said that they do all the prelimi- nary engineering and turn it over to Whitman & Howard. Mr. Maloney asked if the town owned any equipment and Mr. Richardson replied that they have no heavy equipment, no shovel or grader. Those are rented. The equipment and the operator is hired. The Chairman explained that the Board will in- terview more applicants tomorrow evening and he would let Mr. Richardson know the Board' s decision. Mr. Richardson asked if the Board had settled on a salary and the Chairman replied that for the moment it is undecided. He said it would depend on the man and what his experience has been. He said that when the Board selects the man it wants, the subject of salary will then be discussed. Mr. Richardson retired at 7:16 P.M. Messrs. Stevens and Burns arrived at the meeting. Upon motion of M . Maloney, seconded by Mr. Reed, PARKING AREA it was voted to sign an amendment to the agreement be- tween the Town and the Lexington Savings Bank whereby the bank is to assume the responsibility of removing 184 n CL the old building which it owns and is located in the proposed parking area. Mr. Stevens did not leave a copy of the agree- ment. Petition was received from residents of Lincoln Dump Street for the removal of the dump. The petition was undated, but received at the Selectmen' s Office Sep- tember 20th, too late to be considered at the meeting on the 19th. Letter was received from Mr. M. Dankese on the same subject. Mr. Burns said that when he was informed Collins was dumping garbage in the dump he personally investi- gated and found that the truck did belong to' Collins, but he was disposing of paper cups and paper napkins collected from the Howard Johnson restaurant and was not dumping garbage. The Board felt that over a period of years the dump' has been continually improved and is now in better condition than it ever has been. Messrs. Stevens and Burns retired at 8:15 P.M. Mr. R. L. McQuillan, Chairman of the Board of Health met with the Board. Car Mr. McQuillan brought up the subject of car Allowance allowance for Mr. Lurvey, Health Sanitarian. He Board of explained that the Board gave him $500 for car allowance Health and he has driven 16,000 miles. This is costing him money. He explained that M . Lurvey had not made any complaint, but asked if something could be done. Mr. McQuillan said that last year the Board of Health turned back $600. Mr-. Reed asked if the car allowance came under expenses and Mr. McQuillan replied in the affirmative. He stated that his Board did not want to vote addi- tional money for Mr. Lurvey without first advising the Selectmen. He said they would like to give him an additional $150. Out of the original appropriation of $8700 there is now a balance of $4200. The Chairman asked if the increase would be from now until March and Mr. McQuillan replied that he wants $150 to carry through this year. Mr. Reed asked if the $150 was for a twelve month period and Mr. McQuillan replied that the Board would like to give him $650 instead of $500. Mr. Reed asked if they would request $650 next year instead of $500 and Mr. McQuillan replied in the affirmative. 185 There were no objections to the proposed in- crease of car allowance for Mr. Lurvey and the Board was unanimously in favor. Further consideration was given to the appoint- ment of a Building Inspector and Mia. Maloney said Building that he was opposed to appointing the present encum- Inspector bent if he is to be permitted to carry on his per- sonal business during the time he is acting as Build- ing Inspector. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint Donald K. Irwin as Building Inspec- tor in the Town for a term expiring March 31, 1956 at a salary of $100 per week. At 9:15 P.M. the following members of the School Committee met with the Board: Chairman Wadsworth, Mrs. Marek and Mr. Chapman. School Mr. Wadsworth said that the group came in this Committee evening merely to continue the discussion of elect- ing a member to the School Committee to replace Mr. Colesworthy. The Chairman said that the Selectmen were ready to go ahead with the election, and Mr. Gay said that it couldn' t be done as one member of the School Com- mittee was absent. The Chairman said that the Board would like to have this business completed and the Board would be meeting tomorrow night if the School Committee wanted to meet with them. Mrs. Marek explained that Mr. Cromwell is out of town and she doubted if he would be available be- fore Wednesday. Mr. Wadsworth said that the entire Committee could be present next Monday night. Mr. Bateman stated that the members of the Board have been discussing this subject and speaking for himself he has found Vernon Page to be a hard headed business man and one who works with the greatest of co-operation. He said that Mr. Page is not what the School Committee described the other night but he is a man of extremely high character and one of the most patriotic citizens in town. He said that he may bring something to the Committee which is an executive group and not an educational board. He said he would like to seeMr. Page on the Committee unless the Committee can come up with some- one better. Mr. Gay asked if the Committee had anyone to pro- pose and Mr. Wadsworth replied in the affirmative. 186 He said that perhaps someone else on the Committee should discuss it. Mr. Chapman said that he missed the meeting last week and prior to that he heard there was some thought of finding a candidate upon which there would be unanimous agreement. He said as soon as something starts in that direction he thinks it is a rigged deal, and he felt these things should be decided on objective measures and not on personali- ties. He said everyone present was a represent- ative of the citizens of Lexington. They might feel one way and the town another. He said that he does not think they can select anyone who has not had the courage to run for the office and in his opinion that rules out everyone except those who have demonstrated their interest in being willing to run. He said that there is some gauge bythe number of votes cast. He said he did not care how far back the group wept to select the names of those who have shown their in- terest in school work. Mr. Chapman said that everyone who has run for the School Committee in the past ten years has had some qualifications, and it does not make any dif- ference whether he is in town or not. If he lives here, pays taxes and is interested enough to run' that is sufficient for him. Mr. Chapman said that then he thinks of the personal problem because Vernon Page, Martin and Brucchi called him up and wanted to help him to run. He said he appreciated their help but does not think that any one of them wanted him to be obligated. He said that he personally will go to Vernon Page or Martin or whoever it is and tell him that he is not going to vote for him because, in this case he is going to favor Ed Martin, of the fact that he ran twice for the office and he does not consider it twice rejected, but twice a measure of his interest. He said that he thinks Martin has done a lot to de- monstrate his interest. He said that is how he feels about the situation and does not believe the group should deal with a compromise vote. Mr. Maloney asked if Mr. Martin had indicated that he would be interested and Mr. Chapman replied that he did not think he would dare say. Mr. Maloney said that he knew Mr. Page better than he knows Mr. Martin. Mr. Gay said he was sorry that they had not gone over more names of those people who have run in the past rather than to be confined to the recent ones. Mr. Maloney said that the problems are now and there should be someone who has shown interest recently. 187 Mr. Chapman said that it would be difficult to answer to the town if someone who has not spec time and money to demonstrate their interest were selected. Mr. Reed said that he thought everyone should have made up his mind by now who he wants to vote for and it should not be necessary to go back very far. Mr. Wadsworth said that personally he felt some- one who had already been on the committee would be a great deal more valuable next year. Mr. Reed said that next Monday night should be set as the date for the election. Mr. Chapman said thetall that is necessary is to give everyone a weeks notice so that there will be full balloting. The Chairman said that the Board of Selectmen was giving notice now of the election to be held next Monday night, October 3, 1955 at 7:30 P.M. He said that he would notify Mr. Cromwell by mail. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. A true record-, Attest: /1.7 // % `-Cleri, ectm n, 1 1 IL