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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-02-23-BOS-min 582 Co SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 23, 1955 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building on Wednesday evening, February 23, 1955, the members of the Board having been duly notified as to the change of the meeting from Monday, February 21, 1955. Chair- man Reed and Messrs. Gay, Bateman and Maloney Were present. The Clerk •Was also present. Mr. Jamea J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board at 7:00 P.M. for the drawing of two jurors. Jurors Paul G. Yewell, sales engineer, 81 Spring Street and Carl 0. Johnson, cab proprietor, 167 Blossom Street were drawn for jury duty. Mr. Carroll retired and Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, met with the Board. Mr. Burns reported that between eighteen and twenty Bids for sets of specifications for removing trees were taken removing out and twelve bids submitted as follows: trees Mead Bros. Tree Service Bedford *1,1x18 P & D Company Canton 1,534 Cedar Lawn Cochituate 1,580 Collins Shade Tree Specialist Lexington 1,691 Mahoney Brothers Lexington 1,700 MaoQuinn S. Weymouth 1,900 Colonial Handy-Man Co. Lexington 2-,37 Boston Foundatiobi Co. Roxbury 2,384 Brines Tree Surgery Arlington 2,447 New England Tree Expert Co. Boston 2,101 F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co. Framingham 2,665 Frost & Higgins Co. Arlington 2,710 Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to award the contract to Mead Bros. low bidder, at their quotation of $1,418. The Chairman read a letter from Logan Clarke, Jr. , Ewell Ave. 16 Ewell Avenue, requesting the Beard to consider fin- ishing one of the access Poade to Ewell Avenue. Mr. Burns reported that this man bad discussed the subject with him at 4:30 this afternoon and that he had also talked to him before. Mr. Burns told him that the only procedure is for him to present a petition to the Board requesting acceptance. He said that Mr. Clarke agreed to circulate a petition and present it to the 583 Board after whichestimated Mr. Burns would have the estimat d assessments prepared. He said that it will not be necessary to acknowledge the letter. The Chairman brought up the subject of Mr. Lindst •om, Building & Plumbing Inspector. N:'. Bateman said that Mr. Lindstrom told him he definitely wants to be retired as he believes it will be better for him, and also for the town. He said that he expected a telephone call this evening from Dr. McCarthy regarding Mr. Lindstrom' s condition. Mr. Batemaan� stated that he personally does not believe Mr. Liindsttrom will return asTlaspector inasmuch as he will only be able to take a desk job. Mr. Burns stated that in his opinion the posi- tion or Building Inspector is a full-time job, but Building & said tat the Plumbing Inspector could possibly be Plumbing considered as a part-time job. Inspector Mr. Maloney said that he could see no justifi- cation in paying two men to do the work Mr. Lind- strom aas been doing alone. . Bateman pointed out that it would be dif- ficultto find a man who would take the job and do as much-work at home as Mr. Lindstrom did. Mr. Bateman called Dr. McCarthy' s office but he was not in. No action was taken on the matter. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, arrived at the meeting at 7:35 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Q. R. Glenn, 105 Winter Street advising that he is still interested in purcha ing lots 35 and 36 Hillcrest Street on the terms mentioned in the Board' s letter of January 19, 19514. At that time Mr. Glenn was informed that the Tax Title Board Would entertain an offer of $800 plus water property betterments and unless a reply was received it would be assOmed he was no longer interested in purchasing the lots. In the meantime, the Board established a price of $,321.90 for both lots which includes betterments, and this figure has been quoted to others interested in the property. The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. Glenn that the price for both lots is now $2,321.90 and if he desires to purchase them at this figure, the Board will be pleased to discuss details as requested in his letter. Litter was received, signed by Reuben L. Seth, Mildred B. Seth, James 0. Maxner and Dorothy R. Maxner, 584 C advising that they will contribute to the town, in Maxner & connection with the proposed street from the Cen- Seth offer tral Fire Station, a strip of land not to exceed twenty-five feet in width from the center line of brook, which they own on the northerly side of the proposed street for the consideration of $1.00 and the right of access to this proposed street from other properties owned by them. Memorandum was received from the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association in re the Association's Bill Bill H-910 H-910 relative to incurring liabilities in towns in eases of extreme emergeneiel involving the health or safety of persona or property. No action was taken on the subject. The Chairman referred to provisions of the Zon- ing By-Law that require garden apartments and hotels Hotels & to connect with a sanitary sewer and said that Mr. sewer conn. Seabury therefore will have to connect to a sanitary sewer in order to erect his building. Mr. Stevens said that would seem to follow and asked if the sewer were available. The Chairman replied that it is up at School Street and Lincoln Street and Merrett Road. He said that in reading the Zoning By-Law it appears that Mr. Seabury cannot build unless he connects with a sanitary sewer. Mr. Stevens said that the Planning Board could not approve it, and there would have to be a sani- tary sewer. He would rule that a sanitary sewer is a municipal sewer. The Chairman inquired about takings ip re the proposed parking area and Mr. Stevens stated that it Land is possible to take the land on some basis so that takings if the award is too high the town will not have to go through with it. However, it obligates the town t0 pay the owners expenses such as attorney's fees, experts, etc. Mr. R. L. McQuillan, Chairman of the board of Garbage Health, met with the Selectmen. Be reported that Mr. Collins, the garbage con- tractor, has protested because some of the indivi- duals to whom the Board of Health issues permits to transport garbage through the town, are apparently picking it up. The Chairman said that the 1775 House is now selling garbage to a collector, and previous to this it was being picked up by Mr. Collins. Mr. Burns 58r had told the Chairman that there is nothing in the con- tract guaranteeing any amount of garbage. Mr. McQuillan said that these permits, of which there are five, are issued with the understanding that it is for transporting garbage through the town and if it is legal, his Board will advise the individual in- volved to stop. Mr. Stevens said that he would look into the matter. Mr. McQuillan reported that Mrs. Manley, Clerk to the Board of Health, is having a terrific time trying to do Board of Health work with the Police work. He said Board of that she jtist can' t do both. Health Clk. The Chairman said that the Selectmen are recommend- ing money for a girl, but the Appropriation Committee is not going along with it. Mr. McQuillan asked who was going to do it and Mr. Bateman replied that someone will have to discuss it on the Town Hall floor. Messrs. McQuillan, Stevens and Burns retired st 9:20 P.M. A mimeographed letter was received from George P. Davis, Chairman of the Massachusetts Council for the Council for Aging, req�iesting the Board to appoint a local council. Aging The purpose of the Council is to coordinate work of the Departments of Ment&l Health, Public Health, Labor and Industriesl, Education and Welfare, for the aging at the State level and to promote facilities for the aging at the local level. The Clerk was instructed to obtain Town Counsel' s opinion as to whether or not it is mandatory for the Board to appoint such a council. Letter was received from James F. Hourihan, real estate agent, 114 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, offer- ing $1200 nn behalf of a client for tax title lots 187- 19, 200-2D5, 236-238, 242-246, Circle Road. The Chairman reported that there is no water in Tax title or near this street and it was the opinion of the Board property that it would be to the best interest of the town to re- tain the property. The Chairman referred to the report submitted by the Personnel Advisory Committee insofar as it relates to vacations and mentioned that the Board has not taken any formal action on the subject. Upon Motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by Mr. Gey , it was voted to adopt the following policy regarding 686 CL Policy re: vacation allowances, effective January 1, 1955: Vacations 1 week at 6 months service 2 weeks at 1 years service 3 weeks at 15 years service weeks at 25 years service These vacations are subject to certain adminis- trative provisions and controls as follows: 1. A person eligible for more than 2 weeks vacation must take his additional weeks outside a "normal'" or defined vacation season. If he prefers he may take his 3 or 14 weeks at one time provided it is outside this "normal" season or does not result in extra coat or extra inconvenience to his de- partment if taken during the regular season. a. Vacation cannot be accumulated from year to year. 3. On termination in good standing, a person will re- ceive pay for any vacation earned but not received. Letter was received from the Lexington Allied April 19th Veterans' Council suggesting that the Selectmen par- ticipate in the 19th of April celebration. The Chairman was authorized to advise that the Board will be pleased to take part in the observance and will wait to hear from the Council when the pro- gram is prepared in detail. Letter was received from Mrs. H. G. Dearborn, Legion Aux. Secretary of the American Legion Auxiliary, requesting Booth permission to erect a mobile booth at the corner of April 19th Massachusetts Avenue and Meriam Street on April 19th. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to grant the request. Letter was received from Connell Albertine, on Paper Drive behalf of the Church of Our Redeemer, requesting per- mission to conduct a paper drive on Sunday, March 27. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, sedonded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the request. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. Bate- man, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls: Minute Man Council Girl Scouts Conference Room March 9 N N• N N N " m April 13 N Mt N "' M N' N June 8 Lexington Little League Estabrook Hall Mar. 17 Lexington Field & Garden Estabrook Hall Mar. 29 587 Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, Pkg. Stores it was va'ted to request the Package Goods Stores to Election Day remain closed during polling hours, 7:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.; on Election Day, March 7, 1955. The Chairman mentioned that the Board had not taken any formal action on the recommendations of the High School building Addition Committee as presented by that C',ommittee two weeks ago. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to authorize the Chairman to advise the Committee that the Board of Selectmen is unanimously High School in favor Of the recommendation to complete the High Bldg. proj. School Building, that is the shops and auditorium, and also the 'addition of a sixteen room wing. (The Clerk telephoned Mr. James who stated that he was in favor of completing the project in one year rather than two years as recommended by the Approp— riation Committee. ) Mr. Bateman referred to Mr. Linn B. Swain's meet- ing with the Board last week in re Lexington supplying water to twelve residents of Burlington. The Board was in favor of advising Mr. Swain that Lexington Burlington would agree to supply the water. However, the Clerk water was instructed to contact Mr. Stevens and Mr. Burns before any commitment is made. The subject of the Town Accountant was discussed, the present accountant hot having been re-appointed when his term expired December 31, 1951,. It was un- Town animously voted not to re-appoint Mr. Frank D. Walker Accountant as Town Accountant and to advise him that the Board intends tc replace him by March 31, 1955, at which time his services will be terminated. The meeting adjourned at 8:Ls5 P.M. A true record, Attest: ler , Se ctmei