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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-05-09-BOS-min 68 CD c) SELECTMEN'S MEETING May 9, 1955 A regular meeting of the Board of; Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, May 9, 1955 at 7:00 P.M. Messrs. Reed, Gay, James and Maloney were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, Chief Rycroft and the Clerk were also present. In the absence of Mr. Bateman, Mr. Reed ser- ved as Chairman. Sealed bids for supplying four mobile radio units were opened by the Chairman and read as follows: Link Radio Corporation Item 1. 4-Link Radio Corporation Model 6000- Bids on 30DR-C1 Mobile FM Radio Transmitter- radios Receiver units, complete with all accessories and Western Electric Hangup type handset or Military type handset as preferred. RF Output 30 Watts to operate in the 152-17 MC band, Universal 6/12 volt power supply. Unit Cost $378.00 Total $1512.00 Alternate Bid. Item 2. 4-Link Radio Corporation Model 6000- 30VR-C1 Mobile FM Radio Transmitter- Receiver Units, complete with all accessories and Western Electric Hangup type handset or Military type handset as preferred. RF Output 30 Watts to operate in the 152-174 MC band, Universal 6/12 volt power supply. Unit cost $332.50 Total $1330.00 Prices quoted are F.O.B. Lexington, Mass. Discount 1% 10 days. Delivery 30 days . Motorola Four 25 Watt Mobile Transmitters together with associated Sensicon Receivers housed in a locked dust-proof single steel housing complete with all accessories. Motorola Model T43G-1 $1,545.08. Delivery six to eight weeks. 69 DuMont Four DuMont Type 301-B Two-way Mobile Units, complete and ready for installation, 6/12 volt operation $450.00 each uninstalled f.o.b. Lexington. If installed, price per unit will be $ 175.00. Radio Corporation of America Four Type CMC-30A3, 30 Watt, 6/12 volt , CARFONE, FM mobile equipment. Includes transmitter/ receiver, power supply, tubes, crystals, palm microphone loudspeaker and case and control head $1,620.00. The Chairman stated that the Board would take the bids under advisement . Two individuals were present at the opening and the Chief retired at 7:13 P.M. Further consideration was given to bids opened Bids on last Monday for a Hydraulic Spray Machine. The Chair- sprayer man read a letter from Fitzhenry-Guptill Company stat- ing the machine quoted is a standard production unit, parts are available at any time. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to accept the low bid of $2190.00 sub- mitted by the Fitzhenry-Guptill Company. The Chairman read a letter from the State De- Chapter 90 partment of Public Works advising that the following Chapter 90 assignment of funds, conditional upon the town and the county contributing the amounts shown: Hill Street & Winchester Drive State $20,000 Town 10,000 County 10,000 Maintenance State 1,000 Town 1,000 County 1,000 Letter was received from Thomas W. Merrigan, Req. for inf. Secretary of the Greenfield Study Committee on Fire on insurance Protection, requesting information re insurance pro- tection of municipal buildings and contents against fire, vandalism or wind damage. The Chairman is to answer the letter. Letter was received from the Division of Civil 70 Service advising that a notation will be made on the Police records of that office of a temporary assignmaht of inspectors Police Lieutenant James F. Corr, Jr. and Patrolman George C . Barry, as Inspectors at an additional salary of $360 a year, effective April 29, 1955. Letter was received from the Board of *ealth re- questing an appointment on May 16th re Town of Arling- ton using land in Lexington for rubbish disposal. Request for Letter was received from Mrs. David E. Hume, 21 sign adv. Parker Street , on behalf of the First Parish Church, re- denied questing permission to have a sign carried through Lex- ington Center for the purpose of advertising the Church Fair. It was the unanimous opinion of the Board that some more suitable mode of advertising should be arran- ged and the request was denied. Further consideration was given to letter from Tax title James D. Henderson & Son, Inc . , 1 Court Street, Boston, property re tax title property on Marsh, Spruce, Ward, Pearl, Hickory and Elm Streets. Request was made in the let- ter for a list of all land controlled by the Town and the names and addresses of private owners controlling the balance. The Board felt that town employees should not be expected to compile this data for a private real estate firm. However, it was the opinion of the Board that Mr. Burns should have information prepared on tax title property which would be available to any individual who might desire to copy it. The Chairman read a letter from Colonel E. F. Carey, Complaint ADC liaison Office, Lincoln Laboratory, stating that Town Clerk he had been very rudely treated by Mr. Carroll, Town Clerk, and refused a resident fishing license. It was decided to ask advice from Town Counsel re letter of reprimand. Mr. Burns retired. Mr. Gordon Steele, Mr. James J. Crerie, Chairman of the Recreation Committee and Mr. Charles Allen met with the Board. The Chairman explained that he did not know un- Adams School til Friday that he was to conduct the meeting this skating rink evening, but he was aware of the fact that Mr. Bateman had invited the group to meet with the Board to dis- cuss the skating rink at the Adams School. He said that there is some misunderstanding and possibly the Selectmen and the Recreation Committee do not know ' 71 what the situation is. He said the Board vould like to see if Mr. Allen can be paid what is owed to him and also determine where the money is to come from. He said when this subject was first presented to the Board Mr. Steele asked if it would be possible to obtain a sum of money to install lights in back of the Adams School. At the time he was advised that the Selectmen had no funds and it was sug- gested that he contact the Recreation Committee. Mr. Steele said he would like to hear from Mr. Allen as to what the problem is. The Chairman explained that the bill was $776.37 of which Mr. Allen received $260. He contributed $200 leaving a balance of $316.37 which he feels is due . Mr, Alen said 'the explanation was correct. Mr. Steele said that the Chairman stated the case correctly. He came to the "Board for information and co-operation to get the lights because of the impor- tance of the lights to the teenagers. At the Board' s suggestion he went to the Recreation Committee and re- ported to that committee that a survey had been made. Some individuals contributed a great deal in the way of labor and materials to help put the program across at a very low cost. He said that Good Gulf contributed the ' poles and Jenney Gasoline gave the reflectors. Men in the community dug the holes and poured cement and an estimate was obtained as to what it would cost to wire the poles after they were erected. This estimate came from the Boston Edison Company. With this as a basis they felt $500 would be a fair cost. He 'said that annually he contacts about 100 electrical contractors and went to Mr. Allen in order to give him an oppor- tunity to get some of the money because he had done work in previous year's. He said after he gave the Recreation Committee the estimate and received approval he went to Mr. Allen and explained that there was only $500 to work with and after payment to the Boston Edison Company and some others, Mr. Allen could have the balance as that was all the money there was to work with. Mr. Steele said that he naturally thought Mr. Allen understood the situation fully or he would have put it in writing. He said that possibly some- where along the line Mr. Allen had the idea that the group was making money by taking up a collection but no collection was ever taken. Mr. Steele stated that he thought there were other factors that have been troubling Mr. Allen and possibly he felt that he had done most of the work for the town and should be paid this time to allow for other items. He stated that no one made any money on the project. 72 Mr. Steele explained that the poles Mr. Allen wired were all put up by co-operation of men of the Town and men of the Public Works Deartment ; the men mixed and poured the cement and dug the holes. Mr. Allen did furnish the wire to go to the five poles and furnished the light bulbs. He said when he told Mr. Allen he could have all that Was&left of the $500 he meant it and thought Mr. Allen understood it. He said that at the rate of $3.00 an hour and the cost of material an es- timated bill of $700 was out of line. He stated that in fairness Mr. Allen should study the bill himself as per- haps someone else had made it out. Mr. Steele said that he does not know how the Misunderstanding came about and he was never contacted by Mr. Allen. If he had been, possibly the matter could have been straightened out before it reached this stage. Mr. Allen said he was given five second-hand fix- tures which had to be rewired, adapt and use plumbing fittings and half as much time was spent in drilling and taping in the shop as there was on the rink. He said he had to run the poles, run the wiring, put a police box on, put a station inside, put a meter box on and use several hundred feet of wire cable. Mr. Crerie said that in his letter to the Board he stated that win all fairness to Mr. Allen, we re- spectfully request that you invite Mr. Allen and Mr. Gordon Steele to appear before you in order that the situation may be clarified". He said he would like to indicate to Mr. Allen the committee ' s interest and de- sire to be fair. Mr. Crerie quoted from the Recreation Committee minutes of meetings December 2, 19514, December 9, 195/4, January 1, 1955 and April 11, 1955. He said his Com- mittee contracted with Mr. Steele for $500 to do a cer- tain piece of work for which the Committee was billed and for which it paid. The Committee had no contract with Mr. Allen, and the Committee feels no responsbility in the matter. The Chairman explained that the Board had a public hearing at 8:15 P.M. and would therefore have to dis- continue any further discussion. He said that the Board would study the information presented this evening and make an appointment to meet with the group at a later meeting. Messrs. Crerie, Steele and Allen retired at 8:25 P.M. At 8:25 P.M. hearing was declared open upon notice of intention to lay out School Street, northeasterly a distance of approximately 21400 feet from Marrett Road 73 at Lincoln Street to Massachusetts Avenue. There were twenty-six persons present. The Chairman explained that the hearing was held in accordance with law and was a matter of legal pro- School Street cedure. He stated that the Board had the layout , as hearing prepared by the Town Engineer, to widen School Street and install sidewalks on the westerly side. He said that the project is the result of demands of the people for control of traffic and speed. When the Board re- qtested the State to make a speed test, the reply was that widening the street and installation of sidewalks is the answer. He explained that furthermore a side- walk is needed for the new school. The Chairman explained that he would first ask if anyone had any questions. Then the Board vo uld hear from those in favor of the project and then rrom those in opposition. Mr. Burns explained that there was a layout of only one side of School Street, and that was back in 1929 = the side towards the school. The engineers have followed that and gone over forty feet to make a forty foot layout. That makes an eight foot sidewalk on the school side; five foot walks and three foot grass plot, From there they move over to give a twenty-four foot roadway, the entire length of the street. At present it varies from eighteen, twenty to twenty-one feet and actually the only place the engineers are moving over is on the Grandview Avenue and Eastern Avenue side of the street. He stated that there would be minor changes at Marrett Road and Massachusetts Avenue ends. Some one asked where the curbing would be installed and Mr. Burns replied that it will be on the same side as the sidewalk. The Chairman explained that the sidewalk will be permanent and the Board does not want to install a per- manent sidewalk without curbing. The Town will assume the cost of the curbing. Mr. Burns explained that the abutters will pay 50% for the sidewalk and the town will pay 50% which will be about $1.00 per linear foot for a bituminous sidewalk. Someone asked if the road would be completely re- paved and Mr. Burns replied in the negative explaining that it will be just extended. Someone asked what would happen to the trees and telephone poles. Mr. Burns replied that if the trees are in the way, they will have to be taken down and if the poles are in the way, they will have to be moved. 74 CL The Chairman stated that the Board of Selectmen does not like to take down trees and is very reluc- tant to do so. Mr. Burns explained that most of the trees will be taken down because of age or interference. The Chairman asked those in favor to state their names for the record. Mr. Hugh Thompson said he was in favor as the street should be *idened. Thirteen individuals indicated approval by a show of hands and two individuals indicated opposition by a show of hands, one being Mr. Lofchie. Mr. Lofchie, 88 School Street said that the safety of the children going to and from the shhool is not met by the addition of the sidewalks when a street is built this width. He said it would 'seem more economical to merely close the street to traffic. The Chairman explained that would be impossible. He also explained that the Board cannot put a speed limit on the street because the State will not approve it. Mr. Burns said that a twenty-four foot pavement is the standard width for residential streets and it must be that wide to take care of parking cars. One individual asked when the work would be done if it is approved by Town Meeting and the Chairman replied that it has to be ready for school. He said there would be a Town Meeting the latter part of this month or the first of June for this and one or two other items. Mr. Lofchie asked if the street would be patrolled and the Chairman explained that the Selectmen had re- quested an additional patrol car at the March Town Meeting and it was overwhelmingly refused. The hearing was declared closed at 9:00 P.M. Hearingwas declared open upon notice of intention Proposed to lay out Proposed Road from Bedford Street to Massa- Road chusett, Avenue, southwesterly, a distance of approxl- hearing mately 1930 feet. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, arrived at the meeting and there were fourteen other persons present. The Chairman stated that the Board intends to pro- ceed with this road. Previously there was some doubt as to how the project was going to be done and whether it was going to be done. The Board now feels it is a necessity and has had the road laid out. He explained that at one time there was a discussion about using the middle of the brook as the property lines came down to the middle of the brook. However, that has not been followed. In some cases the middle of the brook is the middle of the road and in some instances it by-passes some property. 75 ' He explained the amounts of property taken in this layout as follows: Viano 6,200 square feet 700 r n. Seth & Maxner 9,500 " n First National Stores 13,300 n n Seth & Maxner 31,350 Whalen 6,700 n n Catholic Church 8,550 n n n n 800 n n McDonough 2,/450 n ft Lex. Construction 13,360 " n Ladd 8,500 n n Katie Reed L ,500 n n Dearborn 3,300 n n n 100 n n Lex. Home for Aged 800 n n n n n n 12,000 n n Freet eman 17,350 " 14 et The Chairman asked if there were any questions. Mr. Freeman said he wanted to object to the way I the road is coming out Stratham Road. He said that the better egress would be from the existing proposed high- way which would come further up Massachusetts Avenue. The Chairman explained that the proposed highway , goes down through the ball field and this is only as far as the Board intends to go at the present time. This portion is only part of a proposed road which will come over to Route 2. Mr. Freeman said that he was interested only in coming out onto Massachusetts Avenue, and the notice he received only mentions coming out on Massachusetts Avenue. The Chairman again stated that this is only part of a road which will go over to Route 2. The Chairman asked if there were any questions in regard to the layout and there were none. The Chairman asked if the First National Stores was in accord with the entrance off Bedford Street. Mr. MacDonald replied that they are in accord with some adjustments mutually agreeable to the three parties involved. He said that Bedford Street involves some interchange of property but in accordance with the mutual adjustments and they are in favor. Mr. MacDonald asked if they would have access to the road from their property and the Chairman replied in the affirmative. 76 o sad The Chairman asked all those in favor of the pro- posed road to give their name or indicate their ap- proval by a show of hands,. Mr. Seth stated that some time ago Mr. Ballard spoke about this and it is the intention of the Seths and Maxners to grant twenty-five feet along the brook and they hope it will go through. The following individuals wished to be recorded in favor: Murray Dearborn, Father Casey, Mrs. John Whalen, Seth and Maxner, Mr. McDonough. The Chairman asked if anyone present wished to be recorded in Opposition. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman opposed. The Chairman stated that this is the beginning of a circumferential highway which the Planning Board has proposed and will take the traffic away from the center of town. Mrs. Freeman asked how the road would go into the ball field and the Chairman replied that it would be in front of Hastings Park. The Chairman explained that the proposed road will be presented to Town Meeting and it is really to obtain the sense of the Town Meeting members. The Selectmen feel it is needed for the Fire Department and also for the establishment of another business area in town. There were no further questions and the hearing was declared closed at 9:15 P.M. Decision re Mr. Lyon' s requests for abatement and/ or deferment of water betterment assessments on property located on Wachusett Drive and Marrett Road was held over. The meeting adjourned at ]i0:05 P.M. A true record, Attest: �Cle , S;k/'71ectmtn I