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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-03-07-BOS-min 593 SELECTMEN'S MEETING March 7, 1955 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Office, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, March 7, 1955 at 7:00 P.M. Chair- man Reed, Messrs. Bateman, Gay, Maloney and James were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk werelalso present. Captain Paul Petelchuk, Middleby Road, met with the Board., He explained that he is at Harvard College and has just movedi, into Lexington, taking title in January. He said that there are no street lights on Middleby Road Street and he is concerned because he has three little girls, lights The Chairman said that the Board usually considers all requests for street lights in July of each year and approximately forty lights are recommended each year. The list i submitted to the Boston Edison Company and they install the lights as soon as they can which in some instances is not too fast. He said he thought the request could be included in this year' s quota. Captain Petelchuk asked what the town intends to do about the swamp in his general area. He inquired as to whether or not it is burned in the Spring and asked if he could burn it. Mr. Burgs explained that it is private property and the owners could request the Fire Department to burn it and in such instances the department usually does if it can be arranged. The ;airman said that there are possibly three or four owiers and explained that their names could be obtained from the Board of Assessors. Captain Petelchuk asked if the town had a mosquito control program and the Chairman replied that the town contribute# to the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project. Captain Petelchuk said that Middleby Road is not Middleby accepted and he understands there is a set procedure, Road to which the Chairman agreed.. He said that he has been talking tosome of the older residents and they are pressed fo money. He asked if there is any possibi- lity of the town going in there in the Spring and knocking off some of the bumps. 04 Co Cid The Chairman explained that it is a private way, owned by the people and the town cannot do any type of maintenance work on an unaccepted street. He said that the Captain could contact some of his neighbors and possibly arrange to have the street levelled off themselves. Captain Petelchuk asked if it couldn't be done with town equipment and taxes. The Chairman explained that when a street is con- structed betterments will be assessed. At the present time there are noobetterments, the street is a private way and each land owner owns to the middle of the street. He said it is a legal matter. Captain Petelchuk said that he is perturbed be- cause about a half hour' s work with the shovel would knot& the bumps off and Mr. Burns explained that there are forty miles et unaccepted streets in Lexington. He said that_theltawn cloak not have anf moral obliga- tion, but if it did, it would mean hiring thirty men to go all over the town. He stated that the people for whom the town is building streets are paying better- ments and they would not be very happy if the town en- tered unaccepted streets and repaired them. The Chairman explained that once the town made entry it would be required to maintain the street for six years. The only way to have it accepted is to present a petition and the Board requires the signa- ture of 759 of the property owners. Mr. Gay asked how long Captain Petelchuk expected to live in Lexington and he replied that he will be here three years. The Chairman said that even if the petition were presented now, the budgets would not be consideped until next October to be presented at the March Town Meeting and if approved, the work would not be done until September so Captain Petelchuk would have only one year to live there after its completion. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, arrived at the meeting at 7:20 P.M. Captain Petelchuk retired. Letter was received from the Massachusetts Shade Shade Tree Laboratories re removal of weakened trees and trees planting hurricane zones. Copy was sent to the Tree Warden. Further consideration was given to Mr. J. Cataldo's Removal request for removal of a tree which he claimed to be of tree obstructing his driveway on East Street. Members f the Board and the Superintendent of Public Works viewed the area and recommended removal. 595 Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to authorize Mr. Brenton to post the tree for removal. Statement of the amount of water sold to munici- palities of the N.D.C. and revenue received was noted and placed on file. Letter was received from the Department of Commerce in re Chapter x.02 recently enacted. Mr. Stevens checked the chapter references and reported that it does not ap- ply to Lexington. Letter was received from Mr. Donald E. Nickerson, together with editorial relative to application of the Northeast Northeast Airlines to service the New York-Florida route. Airlines The Chairman was authorized to advise the Civil Aeronautics Commission that the Board of Selectmen of Lexington wish to go on record as being in favor of the petition and recommends favorable action. Bills amounting to $55.50, incurred by Officer John M. Barry as a result of injury received during the per- formance of his duties, was given to the Chairman by Barry Chief Rycroft. injury It was decided to revise the Police Department Expense budget for 1955 by including this item. Letter was received from Mr. Walker, Town Accoun- tant, to which was attached form #28 for use in notify- ing the Division of Civil Service re Mr. John B. Byrne's temporary employment as Plumbing Inspector. He also Plumbing asked if Mr. Lindstrom was to receive any salary for Inspector the month of March, Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, said that he did not know of any specific provisions and Mr. Lindstrom claims he was disabled in the performance of his duties. Mr. Burns said that he had put through a payroll this week. Further consideration was given to Mrs. Ed. J. Tax title Harris' offer of $50 each for tax title lots 32 and 33 property Poplar Street. Members of the Board viewed the property and also ci.scussed the subject with Mr. Burns. Upon motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to entertain an offer of $100 for each let with a restriction to be written in the deed whereby bhe erection of a dwelling or principle building on these lots will be prohibited. 596 - a Mr. Burns retired at 8:15 P.M. I Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Bond to approve Surety Bond No. F-150988 in the amount of $2,000 on behalf of William George Dooley as Constable of the Town of Lexington. Mr. Bateman reported that the Chairman of the Board of Health informed him that a clerk would spend two-thirds of her• time on health work. The Board agreed to include two-thirds of the salary recommended in the Public Works Department- Personal Services budget to the Board of Health Perso- nal Serviees and one-third to be charged to the Public Works Department - Personal Services budget. Mr. Stevens retired at 9:15 P.M. Further consideration was given to the Lexington LVNA Visiting Nurse Association' s invitation for the Board to appoint a member to serve on the Association' s Board of Directors. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to appoint Mr. Gay as the Board' s repre- sentative. The Chairman read a letter from Ilda J. Field re- Rummage questing permission, on behalf of the Afternoon Alliance Sale of the Follen Church, for permission to use the Barnes property for a rummage sale on Saturday, June I , 1955. Upon motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the request. April 19th The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Leslie Simon booth requesting permission, on behalf of the Sacred Heart Women' s Club, to locate a booth on the church property on April 19th, The Board had no objection. Application was received from Paul A. Buckley, on behalf of Lexington Little League, Inc., requesting Use of hall permission to conduct a meeting in Eatabrook Hall on March 23, 1955 and March 214, 1955 from 8:00 P.M. until 10:30 P.M. Upon motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to grant both requests free of charge. However, a fee of $1.50 is to be charged for janitor' s overtime services. The Clerk Was instructed to arrange to have an ad- vertisement (prepared by Mr. Bateman) for a Town Accoun- 597 tent inserted in the Lexington Minute-Man, the Boston Globe and the Herald-Traveler; the latter two to be run through Sunday, March 13, 1955. Mr. Reed, the only contestant for office of Sel- ectman was sworn to the faithful performance of his duties by Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Maloney, Mr. Bateman was nominated Chairman for the ensuing year. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Maloney, nominations were closed. The Clerk cast one ballot for Mr. Bateman and he was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board of Sel- ectmen for the ensuing. year. Mr. Reed very graeiously w.xpredsed his thanks end appreciation to the members of the Board for assistance and co-operation during his term as Chairman. The Chairman mentioned that the Executive Clerk' s term would expire the end of this month. Appointment Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to re-appoint Miss Hazel J. Murray as Executive Clerk to the Board of Selectmen for a term expiring March 31, 1956. The meeting adjourned at 935 P.M. A true record, Attest: er , Se ctmen( I __----------_ tog I'6's ,o. ssi 0 \ 0I I