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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1954-09-27-BOS-min 442 CL SELECTMEN'S MEETING September 27, 1951 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Build- ing, on Monday evening, September 27, 1951i at 7:00 P. M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. Gay, Batsman, and James were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present . Mr. Maloney arrived at 7125 P. M. Jurors Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of two jurors. Mr. Frank W. Lutz, baker, 2t Spencer Street and Mr. Gardner C. Ferguson, banker, 54 Burlington Street, were drawn. Mr. Carroll retired and Mr. Donald E. Nickerson met with the Board. Mr. Nickerson presented a plan, drawn by Miller & Nylander, of the land at the far end of the Lexing- ton Golf Club and indicated land on the plan now owned by the Club. He explained that the Club would like to acquire ap r oximately an acre and a half of land owned by the Town. He said that the plan was drawn up at the Club's request centering it on the brook which seemed logical. He reported that the land is swampy and of practically no value to anyone else. He said Lex. Golf that if the Selectmen would primarily be willing to go Club re along with disposing of this parcel, the Club would additional then offer a certain amount of money for it. However, land before that, they would like to know if the Selectmen would be willing to insert an article in the warrant for the March Town Meeting. If so, the..Club will make an offer. Mr. Nickerson said that if the land is acquired the Club might lengthen the 7th hole and in any event they would dry it up a little bit. He explained that the land in question goes from the land presently owned by the Club up to Veterans' Lot A on Hill Street. He said that if the Board is favorable, the Club will instruct Miller & Nylander to make a specific drawing with the bounds. The Chairman said that the Board would prefer to have the Club submit an offer rather than have the Board entertain one. ' Mr. Nickerson retired at 7:15 P. M. Mr. Bateman said that he would , like to see the land lotted out on fifteen foot lots for veterans be- 443 fore this proposition is voted upon. He said that he personally would not vote to sell it to the Club if it would in any way interfere with any Veterans' Lots that may be laid in the future. The Chairman read a letter from Supt. John Hurricane Blackball Smith advising of an increase of $3393.60 damage to as the amount of damage resulting from the hurricane schools of August 31, n951A. The Board authorized the Chairman to inform Mr. Smith that the Selectmen do not feel justified in approving the amount of $750, submitted in the ori- ginal estimate, for reseeding and regrading the field adjacent to the Junior High School building. The Chairman reported that Mr. Clayton Morse had inquired, through the Clerk, as to whether or Grange not the Board would approve charges for janitor's janitor's fees on the Friday and Saturday the Grange had fees scheduled its annual Fair but was obliged to cancel due to the hurricane. The amount involved was $10.50. Inasmuch as the organization is to pay for the use of the hall, plus janitor's fees for the two days of the Fair, the Board felt justified in cancelling the charge of $10.50. The Chairman read a letter from Robert Jeremiah, Wire Inspector, advising that the electric wires at Electric 55-6x-63 Bloomfield Street are in a dangerous con- wires dition as a result of the recent hurricanes and recom- mended calling this to the attention of Henry Shea, Boston Edison Company, Box 246, Woburn, Mass. Mr. Burns agreed to contact Mr. Shea and the Chairman was authorized to instruct Mr. Jeremiah to report any similar conditions he may find in other areas of the town. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Survey, Health Sanitarian, in reply to his request for a re- port re lots 117-118 Oak Avenue, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 Eastern Avenue insofar as operation of Lots on cesspool or septic tank disposal systems are con- Eastern Ave. corned. & Oak Ave. Mr. Lurvey reported evidenoe of ledge and springs in the area, but in order to give a definite answer he requested the Board to contact Mr. Burns and have him arrange to pin point each lot and have a test pit dug. He would then run a percolation test and give the Board an acourate report. Mr. Burns said that he has discussed the sub- ject with Mr. Lurvey and suggested that the Board 444 C.w leave it up to him and Mr. Lurvey to work something out. In the meantime the Chairman is to contact Mr. Tropeano, who has submitted an offer for the lots, and advise him that the Board is in doubt about sell- ing them because of the lack of water and sewer faci- lities. If the Board does decide to dispose of the lots it will be on the condition that the purchaser installs both water and sewer. Mr. Burns retired at 7:x,5 P. M. and Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, met with the Board. Kr. Stevens referred to letter from the Tax Col- lector, dated September 17, 195h, advising the Board that she had refused a partial payment of $200 on an Busa $800 deferred street betterment assessment levied deferred against Angelo Buss' s property on Grant Street., assessment. He advised the Chairman to write Mr. Busa and remind him that in 1951 be requested deferment and received sande under the provisions of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 1950. Under the terms of the Act, and vote of the Board, the full amount became due when he sold any part of the land and therefor* nothing less than the full amount can now be acdepted. Mr. Stevens explained that if the betterment is not paid, the Tax Collector will then add it onto the 1955 tax bill. At 8:10 P. M. approximately thirty repreeenti atives from the various veterans' organisations met with the Board, at the request of the Lexington Allied Veterans' Council, to discuss the program proposed by the United Nations Committee for observance of United United Nations Day, October 23, 195t . Nations Day One speaker reported that at the last meeting Observance of the Allied Veterans' Council, it was voted to oppose the present setup of the United Nations Day Observance and also the Chairman of that Committee. Mr. Daniel O'Connor said that the Council feels Mra..,W1,lliams, the Chairman o,g the Committee, has been associated with the World Federalists. He reported that he has material on the World Federalists and they are connected with the United Nations Day. Some of the things they advocate is abolishment of the United States of America, tear down the flag and stamp on it. He said that everyone connected with the World Federalists who have comecout as speakers are cited by the F. B. I. as anti*Americ.ns. He stated that the speaker engaged for United Nations Day, if the stories 'phoned in are true, 445 is a Communi$t. The Council has asked the F. B. I. for information and also written to District Headquarters On the subject. He said that India has never 'helped the Tri. N. but the town is going to have an Indian speaker and Indian students in the schools. He said that the Council wanted to do something drastic but thought the matter should first be brought to the attention of the Board. He said the reason the Coun- cil is opposed is that the members feel the town will be pointed to as furthering the interest of Communists. Mr. Donald Guiler said that the subject of U. N. Day was brought up at the last meeting of the Lexington Minutemen and they voiced their opinion against the Committee. This was then carried to the Allied Veterans Council and he was appointed a member of this Committee. He said the Council isnot opposed to the U. N. which is a group of sovereign countries working together. However, the World Federalists are something else and quite different. The Council objects to members of the World Federalists serving on committees appointed by the Board of Selectmen, as they are definitely against the United States. Mr. Maurice Gagne said that the proposed speaker, Jansen was, up until about a year ago, Public Relations Counsel of India. In talking with the F. B. I. he learned that the operation of these communists is to place speakers in the public schools. He said that if this individual is permitted to speak in Cary Hall the speech should be scrutinized very carefully. If the students are talking in the schools he thought the Council should know what they are going to discuse, and it protests Indian students being in the schools. The Chairman explained that the Board has heard rumors of this the last two or three days and it Seems to be the impression that the Board of Selectmen is responsible. He said that to this day, he does not knowwho is on the Committee and further stated that the Board did not appoint the Committee or the Chair- man working on the Committee. He asked how Mr. Bashian' s name came to be on the program which, apparently the Veterans' group oppose, and Mr. Bashian replied that he is on as a private citizen and not as a representative of any organization. The Chairman said that the Board received a letter, as did all organizations, requesting a reps resentative be sent to the meeting on September 16th. 446 He asked how many members of the organizations ob- jected to the proposed program. Mr. O'Conner said they objected by turning down the invitation. The Chairman said that all the organizations were repre®ented on the Committee and it would seem that it was up to the organizations to be present and object. Mr. ©'Conner said that they have not had a representative since the United World Federalists took over. They have never attended a meeting since the first one. ' The Chairman asked if he did not think it would have been a good idea to have someone present to ob- ject to the proposed program and Mr. O' Conner re- plied that they do not want the name of the organi- zation tied in with this group. The Chairman asked if there were anyone present at the last meeting and Mr. O'Conner replied that there was but only as a "watchdog° and not as a mem- ber of the organization. Mr. Bashian said that he was present and his name was used only as a private citizen. The Chairman asked if he approved of the program as a private citizen and he replied that he did not approve of the entire program. The Chairman said that he was endeavoring to determine 'Who planned the program and asked if Mr. Bashian helped to start the program. Mr. Bashian re- plied that he attended a few of the meetings. The Chairman stated that the U. N. Committee is not a town committee and was not appointed by the Board. He explained how it began in 1949 and said that it was made up of members of various organiza- tions. He said the Board was requested by the Presi- dent of the United States to ask the Committee to plan a U:. N. program. He said that the Board read the names on the letter and felt that these individuals were re- liable citizens. He said that Mr. James attended the meeting representing the Board and at that time there were at least thirty individuals and nn one voiced any objection, Mr. Gagne asked if the Chairman of the Committee was to serve in that capacity year after sear and the Chairman replied that Mrs. Morse, former Chairman, re- signed and as far as he is able to determine the mem- bers of the Committee appointed Mrs. Williams and she acted from there on. He stated that the board did not make the appointment. He said that it would appear to be up to the Committee to make a change in the Chair- manship. 447 .t. Mr. O'Conner said that he did not think it would be out of order for the Board to look over the speech before it is made and the Chairman said that the Board is working on the subject. He has some information that does not all correspond to what has been said here this evening, but some of it is the same. Mr. Guildr said he thought the Board would find that the Chairman has been a World Federalist. The Chairman said that from what he can find out, the U. N. Committee consists of one member of every organization in town. Mrs. Morse asked a member of every organization to serve on the Committee. The Selectmen did not appoint the Committee. Mr. Guiler said that the veterans are not op- posed to the U. N. The World Federalists are quite different and he thought they were using the United Nations in this town to carry out their own ends. Mr. Maloney asked what the group thought the Board should do and Mr. O' Conner replied that the speaker whould submit his speech to the Board first. If it is objectionable, the Council can provide a speaker to refute any argument that he may have. He said the Council has men capable of meeting him. He said that if the students of India are not what the council thinks they should be, the Council can replace them with some Americana who fought for this country. Mr. Maloney asked if he felt the Board should see this speaker' s subject before he delivers it and pass on it. Mr.. Stevens said that it might be possible to secure a copy of the proposed speech. Mr. Maloney asked if a member from this group should pass on the speech if the Board does obtain a copy said Mr. George Royal said that there is nothing to prevent the speaker from deviating from the speech. Mr. O'Connor said that the Council could have enough representatives present at the meeting to stop it by talking and moving around. The Chairman explained that the Board has been in touch with Senator Lodge in regard to the speaker, Mr. Jansen. He said that possibly next year the pres- ent Committee could be abolished and a new Committee organized. The Chairnanaaaked if the group would be willing to have the speaker go on if the speech is net ob- jectionable and Mr. O' Conner replied in the affirm- ative. The Chairman said that he would rather abolish the entire program than to have it begin and then be broken up. He said t he Board would continue to in- 448 Cad veatigate and asked the group to designate one in- dividual with whom the Board could work. The group named Mr. O'Conner, and left the meeting at 9:25 P. M. Mr. George Wadsworth, Chairman of the School Committee, met with the Board, and said that he would like to find out about a Fall Town Meeting. Special The Chairman said that there definitely would Town be a Fall Town Meeting and it will be more or less on Meeting school items. Mr. Wadsworth said he was thinking about the last of October, say, the 27th. Be stated that hi Was not proposing the date, but just indioating a ti4i. The Chairman said that he would prefer to have the meeting in November and Mr. Wadsworth stated that November would be all right. The Chairman said that he would cheek with the Planning Board and then contact Mr. Wadsworth. Mr. Wadsworth said the first or second week in November would be agreeable and retired at 10:05 P. M. The Chairman read a form letter from the United U. S. Day States Day Committee, Inc. re celebration of United States Day, October 23, 1954. No action was taken. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the following uses of halls were approved: Lafayette Club Estabrook Oct. 5 Meeting Uses of Veterans of Foreign Wars Carry Nov. 4 Dance halls Lexington Knights of Columbus Carr Nov..:7 Breakfast Letter was received from the Lexington United Nations Committee requesting permission to conduct a meeting in the Selectmen's Room on November 4, 1954 from 8:00 P. M. No action was taken. The Chairman read a letter from the American Poppy Drive Legion Auxiliary requesting permission to conduct a Poppy Drive on Friday, October 22nd or Friday, October 29th in the event it rains the first Friday. Upon motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted to grant the request. Application was received from George E. Peak, 22 Ewell Avenue, for a Public Carriage License. The ap- Public Carriageplioant made a notation that his cab will work from Lic. denied the East Boston Airport. Town Counsel had previously advised the Board on a similar application that he could see no basis for issuing a license from Lexington to be used in another city and recommended that no license be issued. 449 .w ' The application, therefore, was not approved. Mr. Bateman reported that Robert H. Moore, 23 Coolidge Avenue has offered to assume payment of ex- Tree for penises incurred in removing an evergreen tree donated Common by George E. Smith and transplanting it on the Common to replace the one damaged by the recent hurricane. The Chairman agreed to acknowledge the offer and also write a letter of thanks to George R. Smith. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P. M. A true record, Attest: le , St1.ectme I