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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1955-02-27-BOS-min 569 SELECTMEN 'S MEETING February 7, 1955 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, February 7 , 1955 at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. Gay, Bateman, James and Maloney were pres- ent. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for j/o pole locations on Weston Street. Mr. Mahon, representing the Boston Edison Company, Pole was the only person present at the hearing. locations Mr. Burns explained that the poles are to provide service for the Public Works Department maintenance build- ing and will be located on State property. Upon motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it wasvoted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following pole locations: Weston Street, northwesterly side, approxi- mately 10 feet northeast of the Cambridge- Concord Highway - One pole . Weston Street, southeasterly side, north- easterly from apoint approximately 120 feet northeast of Cambridge-Concord Highway - four poles, guy wire and anchor on 14th pole. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for j/o pole location on Revere Street. Mr. Burns explained that permission is being re- quested to move a pole presently located in the street. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following pole location: Revere Street, northerly side, approximately 20 feet west of Ledgelawn Avenue - One pole; existing j/o pole to be removed. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Chairman to sign an agreement between the Boston Edison Company and the Town of Lexington permitting 57® Co C4 the company to install, maintain, repair, renew three poles at the rear of 755 Massachusetts Avenue and to attach a meter switch and metered secondary wires on the third pole. This permission is granted to illuminate the skating area in East Lexington. Mr. Mahon retired at 7:07 P.M. Letter was received from the State Departmentof Johnson Public Works, together with extracts from report of con- Road ference held on February 1 in re construction of Johnson Road in Winchester and Lexington. This summary of the meeting is merely information for the Selectmen' s files. Petition was received from four residents of Richard Road requesting the installation of the sewer to serve Richard Rd. houses at numbers 25, 26* 28 and 30. sewer The Chairman was authorized to advise that this particular project is too late to be considered in the 1955 budget, but if funds remain in the sewer installation. approppiation after completion of the work for which com- mitments have been made, consideration will be given to extending the main to include 'the above-mentioned house. Mr. Francis Coscia' s request for removal of a tree Tree from in front of Lot 63, Fanncrest Avenue, was held over. removal Mr. Burns recommended removal of the tree which is directly in front of the driveway of a house Mr. Coscia intends to construct. Mr. Bateman reported that he had viewed the location and concurred with Mr. Burns. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to post the tree for removal. Mr. Burns retired and the following members of the Planning met with the Selectmen: Chairman Adams, Messrs. Irwin, Jaquith, Ripley and Grindle. Mr. Hathaway arrived later in the evening. The Chairman explained that the Board would like to discuss budgets and stated that the Aprropriation Committee Planning Bd. has reduced the Planning Board budget to $2300. He said budget that at the present time the Selectmen have not made any recommendation. Mr. Ripley said that the Planning Board has never used its entire appropriation, but there are some vital items which they thought they neeeded and would like to have some leeway. Mr. Adams explained that last year his Board asked for $7500 for professional services and with an expert man they would need less professional services which accounts for the drop last year. He said that the master plan is 571 the reason for employing a high-priced man, and it is also tied in with the article requesting $2500. He explained that if they run into something Mr. Snow does not know or upon which he needs help, they will call in an expert and that is what the $1,000 is for. If the item for starting the master plan is eliminated, the Board may as well have a clerk and not a trained man with twenty years experience. He said the Town Meeting voted last year knowing what the program was going to be. Mr. Irwin said that if it is essential to cut any one item, the $1,000 for professional services is the only place to cut. Up to this point the Board has not used the professional engineer and by next year will know exactly what it is going to cost. The Planning Board and the Selectmen agreed on a figure of $500 for professional services and $1,000, as requested, for the preparation of a master plan. The Chairman said that the Board would also like to discuss the subject of a manufacturing zone on Bedford Street. He said in talking to Mr. Adams, he understood Light that the Planning Board does not feel it is ready to pre- manufactur• sent this at the March meeting. He said the Board of ing zone Selectmen will have an article in the warrant for an area bounded by Westview Street, Route 128, and the railroad with a setback of 500 on Bedford Street. Mr. Adams said that the Planning Board has been interested in light manufacturing but met strong opposi- tion two or three years ago. After that the members felt they would not go into a Town Meeting again until they were thoroughly prepared, and that is one reason for hir- ing Mr. Snow. Because of the accumulated work he has been a legal clerk instead of a planner at the moment. He said the Planning Board has not had enough study and perhaps was not quite enthusiastic about this . Mr. Adams said that the Board would hold a hearing as it is required and further suggested including another article in the warrant to amend the present Zoning By-Law which restricts certain things but actually gives the Board no control. Ittwas agreed to present both articles to Town Counsel before including them in the warrant. The Planning Board retired at 8:05 P.M. and the following members of the Capital Expenditures Committee met wL th the Board: Chairman Brown, Mrs. rich, Messrs. Williamson, Goddard and Carrier. Mr. Brown said that he had a list of projects he has been told people want and would like the Board' s reaction. He said one is the police station. L _..J gra 0-4 The Chairman said that the Selectmen plan to have a building committee appointed to bring in final plans rather than lose a year for study. Mr. James explained that this is not a police Capital station, but it is a new Town Office Building. Expenditures Mr. Bateman said it would be the same as the Committee present building, located on the other side of Cary Building following the original plan. Mr. Brown asked if the Board had an estimate of the cost and the Chairman replied $175,000. In the proposed article the Board will request $10,000 for plans not including architect' s fees. Mr. Brown asked if the actual construction would come the following year and the Chairman replied that with the amount of expenditures in the warrant, it may have to be deferred, but the Board would like to re- quest it this year at a Special Town Meeting if pos- sible. Mr. Brown asked if it would be this year or next year, and the Chairman said he could not tell now. He said the building is needed and needed soon. It will be a duplieationbf this building so will not need too much study. One of the committee members asked what the build- ing would be used for besides the police and the Chair- man replied that there is insufficient space for meet- ings and conferences. There is no room for the consul- tant to the Planning Board, the Engineering Department is too small and the Building Office is crowded. The question about overall planning for the Police Department was asked and the Chairman replied that this Board of Selectmen has spent more time with the depart- ment than any other Board insofar as he was able to learn. One of the committee asked if the Board planned to have Police Commissioners and the Chairman replied that the Selectmen do not think it necessary. He said of the five-man Board, two of them will spend considerable time with the Department as soon as Town Meeting is adjourned. He explained that a new schedule has been set up as of January 1st and different procedures instigated. Mr. Brown said that his committee is worried about the Fire Station. The Chairman explained that the Selectmen have asked the Fire Commissioners not to present it at this meeting. Mr. Brown said that they have it down for 1957 and asked if the Board thought the date realistic. The Chairman replied that the Board has not dis- cussed the subject, but his own personal opinion is that it will not be needed in 1957. The rest of the Board concurred with the Chairman' s opinion. 573 Mr. Brown said that the Department of Public Works worries his committee the most. He said that he has a list from Mr. Burns for 1955 and would like to see how much in agreement the figures are with those of the Board. Heave the first item as water mains and laterals - $174, 000. The Chairman said that capital expenditures are about $2,100,000 which means bonding $1,0000000 and therefore the Board has agreed to take out $129,000 for water mains which include Waltham Street and Concord Avenue. He explained that actually this should not be deferred but it is the only item the Board feels can be postponed far another year. However, the Board will recom- mend it again next year. Mr. Brown mentioned $540,000 for sewer mains and laterals. The Chairman said that $1400,000 is for a trunk line and $106,190 is being recommended for laterals. Mr. Brown said he has $76,000 for drainage and the Chairman said that the figure is $63,000 With a carry over. Mr. Brown said he has $227,000 for streets and the Chairman said that $33000 is Chapter 90 which has to be appropriated and $126,125 for streets. Mr. Brown said he has $110,000 for intertown high- ' way and the Chairman said that this item will be postponed but will come up again. He said the estimate is $109,045 not including the drain, or a total of $130,000. Mr. Brown said he had $20,000 for sidewalks and the Chairman explained that the figure is $7,000 plus School Street, a separate article $11„875 and about $3500 for damages. Mr. Brown said he has a figure of $5,000 for curb- ing. The Chairman said that the Selectmen will recommend $4500 and the Appropriation Committee $500. The Chairman informed the committee that there is an item of $76,.500 for the pumping station. Mr. Brown asked if his committee could send the Committee bill for its report to the selectmen for payment and report the Chairman replied in the affirmative. Mr. Brown said he would like to hear how the Board feels about the article for setting up the Capital Ex- penditure Committee as a By-Law Committee. Mr. Bateman said, speaking for himself, that the Cap. Exp. committee came into existence as an emergency group to Com. as help crystallize the thinking of all departments. In By-law Com. previous years it was presumed to have been done by the Appropriation Committee and the Planning Board. He said 57e4 tal it is his thinking that the Capital Expenditures Committee, which is very helpful now, might not be necessary in another five years. He said he thought the committee very important now, but he can' t see it as a By-Law Committee. Mr. Brown said that as a committee they feel it is difficult not to have continuity on the committee; the planning and thinking of the committee would be better if there were a continuity. Mr. Bateman said that was a very good argument. The Chairman said that the committee is doing the work which is actually work of the Appropriation Com- mittee and the Planning Board combined. He said he realizes it is difficult for a committee to work with the membership changing and he has not definitely made up his mind on the Subject. Mr. James said that the Board has not arrived at a decision about this article. Mr. Brown said that the committee is set up very much like the Committee in Wellesley and with the recom- mendation of the State Planning Board. One of the members asked how the Board felt about the School Committee requests. The Chairman said he thought the Board would like to have the school postponed for one year but has not received any answer on this subject. The Capital Expenditures Committee retired at 8:35 P.M. Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to sign layouts of the following streets: Streets Brandon Street, Bertwell Road, Bridge Street, Crosby Road, Fottler Avenue, Hayes Avenue , Fuller Road and Sherburne Road. Letter was received from Boy Scouts of America, Boy Scout Boston Council, Inc. , requesting permission to conduct Pilgrimage a pilgrimage for Scouts and Leaders in Lexington on April 23, 1955 or April 30, 1955 if the weather is in- clement on the 23rd. As in the past, plans include the use of the Center Playground for assembly and the Battle Green for formal ceremonies. The $oar d had no objection; a copy of the letter to be forwarded to the Recreation Committee and one to Mr. Brenton and the Police Chief. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Use of hall to grant permission to Jeanne Ambuter (Co-sponsors, Lexington Minute-Man and Mystic Valley Gas Co. ) to conduct a cooking school in Cary Memorial Hall on March 15, 1955 from 7:00 P.M. until 10; 30 P.M. 575 Upon motion of Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to sign a Certificate of Incorporation on Cert. of behalf of Nathaniel P. Blish, 150 Pleasant Street;; sat- Inc. isfactory character reference having been received from the Chief of Police. The Chairman read a letter from John F. MacNeil advising that he has been dissatisfied in seeing all Insurance the town insurance going to a Boston insurance agency, even though Mr. Hill lives in Lexington. He said he could show the Board ways of saving a great deal of money and would like to discuss the subject. The Chairman was authorized to ask Mr. MacNeil for his recommendations on the subject in writing for study by the Board. At 9:00 P.M. the Appropriation Committee met with Joint meet- the Board, pursuant to Article XIII, Section 2 of the ing on bud- General By-laws, together with the Chairman of the gets School Committee, Chairman of the Cemetery Commissioners and Chairman of the Board of Assessors. Those present were: Messrs. Ferguson, Cave, Madden, Clarke, Read, MacDonald, Donnelly, Fisher, Walker, Potter, Cass and Wadsworth. Mr. Ferguson, Chairman of the Appropriation Com- mittee presided. He said that this is the annual meet- ing held in accordance with the By-laws of the town to advise those present of the budget. He said he would like to state at the outset that the Committee is still flexible, but is meeting early this year and expects to write its report Saturday. He said he wants thosepresent to know the Committee ' s think- ing and also to get the benefit of their thoughts. Het stated that the Committee has been over all the budgets, and over them again trying to eliminate those things which they feel could be postponed until a later date without doing any serious harm to the town . He explained that most of the items make very good sense and can be argued for strongly. He said they have been left out because the Committee feels they can be. The total for operating expenses is about $35,000. He said that the Committee, as explained to the School Committee and the Selectmen with operating expenses of $2,700,000 and capital outlay of $2,2,00,000. He said the Committee figured what the tax rate would be and what the town could afford to spend. He said it looked like a tax rate of $)4B. A general discussion of capital expenditures and bonded indebtedness followed. The meeting adjourned at 10:25 P.M. A true record, Attest: W/ t er•, Se tmen L J