Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1954-09-13-BOS-min 431 rv'. SELECTMEN'S METING September 13, 1954 L regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday,evening, September 13, 1954 at 7:00 P. M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. Gay, Bateman, James and Maloney were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. The Chairman read a letter from Charles M. Blake, 72 Meriam Street, stating that during blasting on Meriam Street in connection with installation of a water main his house and garage, which have an outside finish of Claim for stucco, developed a number of cracks. damage Mr. Burns reported that he has written to the insurance company on the subject and also forwarded a copy of the letter to Mr. Blake. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. John Verdone, 85 Woodbine Road, Belmont, requesting town water for a single family dwelling to be constructed at 26 Deming Road. Mr. Burns explained that the road is only a twenty foot layout. There is at present a service to take Req. for care of one house already completed and this would go water in beyond that. The distance is approximately four or Deming Rd. five hundred feet and Mr. Burns said that he could not see anything going in there but a service, the cost of which would be paid by Mrs. Verdone. Upon motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to advise Mrs. Verdone that the only possible solution is to extend a service from Waltham Street, the cost of which would have to be assumed by her. Mr. Burns retired and the following members of the School Committee met with the Board: Chairman Wadsworth, Messrs. Cromwell, Norris and• Mrs. Marek. School Mr. Smith, Supt. of Schools, was also present. Committee Mr. Wadsworth said that the School Committee has rat new been debating for about a year now, trying to figure schools out what it will have to do on the school proposi- tion, and would like to discuss the subject with the Selectmen before talking to any other committee. One of the problems is the enrollment in the High School and the enrollment in the Junior High School which is going to be a very serious question within 432 two or three years at the outside. He said the committee was planning to bring back one grade from the High School to the Junior High School in 1956 which would relieve the High School until about 1957 or 1958 but the trouble is that the Junior High School isoing to be loaded in 1958 and by 1960 olose to 1500 or 1600 is expected in that build- ing. It should not operate over 1,000. He said that the committee is loathe to make a decision on the Junior High School, but the question of adding on to the building involves the land that ie there which is questionable. The postibility of Munroe being available for an overflow is a question at the present time. The papulation certainly is not increasing in that area. If-there *ere another Junior High Sitheol, the problem would be where to put it. He said the oommittee tools it should have a thorough study and more information as to what it is eventually going to end up with. Mr.. Wadsworth said that on the other hand they have the elementary population. One solution which seems feasible to the eomnittee, which would postpone the Junior High, would be to go ahead with the High School and put on the additional twelve or fourteen rooms, finish the auditorium and the shop and keep the four grades over there for awhile. The reason the com- mittee is looking in that direction is that it has to have those rooms anyway eventually. There is no ques- tion whatsoever but that they are going to need the rooms and if this is done it will postpone the question of the Junior High School. Mr. Wadsworth said the proposition which the com- mittee feels would be the safest solution and the least expensive and which would give them an opportunity to get through three, four or five years, would be the fol- lowing: Build ten rooms down at Maple Street to handle the elementary situation for the moment instead of a six- teen-room school which would be about one-half a million dollars. Try for this at the Fall Town Meeting. Then try and get the High School completed with the additional rooms at the Maroh Town Meeting to have it ready by 1956. He said that the ten. rooms down there will give the committee a breathing space of a couple of years and then they can look over the situation at the Franklin School or putting more rooms at Maple Street. Mr. Gay asked how long it would be before they needed the High School anyway and Mr. Wadsworth re- plied that they were going to try and get it next year. Mr. Gay said that it would be put off for only a IIyear and asked if that would be good. 433 f Mr. Wadsworth replied that they will have it ready by the Fall of 1956. Mr. Smith said that the auditorium, shop and fourteen classrooms is estimated at $875,000. The "h*irman said that the discussion in regard to the Maple Street is for ten rooms and he asked how long it would be before an addition to that building would be needed. Mr. Wadsworth replied that if there is no change in the situation they will either have to add on to that school or add on to the Franklin Sohool in 1956 or 1907. The Chairman said that he was wondering whether or not it would be bsttes' to b ftld the sixteen rooms and save on the cost. Mr. Wadsworth said that the direct addition to the Fiske School may have cost $10,000 or $13,000 more but he doubted it. He said that Mr. Norris thinks the job is large enough so that there is nothing to be gained by not doing the entire job at once. Further- more, many people feel that something should be done in the Franklin area. This way, it is giving the col- mittee an opportunity to really see what is going to happen in the next two or three years. He said they 111 were trying to keep, if they could, in looking over the Long Range Planning reports, the amount of money in the line of the total amount they had talked about in the past. To a certain extent, they were talking about two elementary schools right away. This was a possibility of keeping the seventh grade back and not putting them in the Junior High for another year. Mr. Bateman asked about the operating cost of adding the Maple Street School as compared to the Franklin. Mr. Wadsworth replied that he thought the cost would be greater but they have to take into considera- tion the transportation problem. He said that if the building Continues or any number of children come into the new houees,they will run into difficulty. There is no room in the Fiske School. The committee asked the Planning Board where they felt the school should go and they were strong in the recommendation that the committee would be in a jam down in that area. Mr. Cromwell said that he made an estimate, not in- cluding anything discussed this evening, but in general teems something about the coat of new buildings. Taking Into account the addition to the Franklin School, the new Maria Hastings School, the Maple Street School, Franklin School addition and the fact that the town has not been 111 getting all of the State reimbursements it is going to get, and assuming increased assessed valuation by 1907, 434 CL the cost of additional schools will be about 761 on the tax rate. He said the cost of running the school system will increase a great deal more than that, but the cost of paying for the schools that they have built or are building will not amount to what one would suppose. He said that the rate will not go up $4.00 or #5.00 for building the schools. The cost of running the schools will •go up more than that. Mr. James asked if this was assuming that all income from assessments will be applied against the school and Mr. Cromwell replied that he was *assuming that you divide up the total cost of paying principle- and interest leas State reimbursements by the asseesed valuation. The increase would be very small because the town has not received any reimbursement on the High School as yet. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, arrived at 7:40 P. M. The Board of Selectmen were in favor of a complete building program at one meeting, preferably the Annual March Meeting, rather than to ask for a limited number of rooms and an addition at a later date. It was sug- gested that the School Committee discuss the subject with the Appi►opriation Coiamittee. The Committee retired at 8:00 P. M. and Mr. Burns returned to the meeting. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission to locate two poles with guy wire and anchor on first pole on Castle Road. Mr. Gerald F. Gillis, representing the Boston Pole Edison Company, Mr. Charles H. Cole and Mr. William location L. Hench were presentat the hearing. Mr. Gillis explained that Mr. Henchhaa applied for service and the poles are being placed on the wooded side of the street'. Mr. Burns said that as far as the proposed loca- tioh is concerned he has no objections. Mr. Cole said that he would like to have a heavier pole installed and Mr. Burns agreed to discuss the sub- ject with Mr. Baugus of the Boston Edison Company. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, petition for the following j/o pole location was approved subject to Mr. Burns contacting' the Boston Edison_Company: Castle Road, southwesterly fro* a point approxi- mately 275 feet southwest of Hayes Avenue. Two poles. Guy wire and anchor on first pole. 4a Messrs. Cole and Hench retired. Petition was received from the Boston Edison ✓Comapny and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for j/o pole location on Balfour Street, approximately 85 feet west of BallflowerrStreet. Mr. Burns explained that the petition should not have been presented to the Board inasmuch as Balfour Street is a private way. No action was taken. Mr. Gillis retired at 8:08 P. M. Petition was received from residents of School Street requesting the Board to take some action to eliminate the traffic problem on that street. School St. Mr. Burns said that he has had several requests traffic for signs and there are twelve now ready at State Prison and if it hadn' t been for the recent storms they would have been called for and erected. The Chairman was authorized to request the Chief of Police to assign an officer to School Street oc- casionally. The Chairman read a letter from R. J. Fontaine, 11Revolutionary Road, re water pouring down the road after heavy rains. Water on Mr. Burns said that he sent a crew up there Sat- urday night to unblock the brook and filled in Revo- Revolution- lutionary Road with more gravel. He said a keg full ary Road of nails had been placed in the mouth of the pipe and he had it removed. He said there is no question but the problem exists and if the town is responsible for the water going onto an unaccepted street, he will have to take care of it. He said that a great deal of the trouble does come from Paul Revere Road. That was a Chapter 90 project and there are no drains. Furthermore, Mr. Fon- taine happens to live at the foot of a hill and a storm such ab that of Saturday could not be controlled by any- system. nysystem. He said that the people on Revolutionary Road do not want to have the street constructed as they do not want to pay for it. Some relief will result from the removal of the keg but every time there is a four or five inch rain storm his property is washed out. The -Chairman said that apparently the answer is to have the street accepted and drains put in, and the Board authorized him to advise Mr. Fontaine and further to invite him in to discuss the subject with the Board if -he is not satisfied with the reply to his letter. Letter was received from the Bureau of Accounts advising that the sum of $164,000 for payment of L _ 436 1-1CL Hurricane liabilities incurred or to be incurred to meet the amount emergency resulting from the hurricane damage on approved August 31st hes been approved. Communication was received from the Hurricane Relief Board, together with copy of Chapter 689, Hurricane& Acta of 1954, advising that it is necessary for the liason Board to appoint a liason officer if the town is to officer request reimbursement under this Aot. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to appoint William M. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, as liason officer between the Town and the Hurricane Relief Board. Mr. Stevens retired at 9:30 P. M. The Chairman reed a letter from the Appropriation Committee advising that a transfer of $183.90 from Transfer the Reserve Fund to the Board of Health Personal Ser- vioes had been approved to pay the new Sanitarian' s salary from September 2, 1951 to September 15, 1954, the date Mr. Jackson's resignation becomes effective. Mr. Burns presented two bids received for in- stalling an oil burner at the library and reported that two companies did not answer and one called and said that he could not handle it. Oil burner Patrol Oil Burner Corp. will do the jab accord- f6r Cary ing to appeifieations for $1687.00 plus $$60 if a Library 5,000 gallon storage tank is used instead of 1,000 gallon. George E. Jones submitted a bid of $1213.32 for 1,000 gallon tank and $1838.62 for a 5,000 gallon tank. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Maloney, it was voted to accept George E. Jones' bid of $1243.32 and have a 1,000 gallon tank installed. Mr. Burns retired at 9;50 P. M. UN Meeting Further consideration was given to report received from the Lexington United Nations. Committee. Mr. James agreed to represent the Board at the Committee meeting scheduled for Spptember 16. Further oonsideration was given to Mr. Jeremiah's Wire Insp. letter suggesting a change in his office hours from hours 8:00 A. M. - 9:00 A. X. to 4:00 P. M. - 5:00 P. M. In a two month period he received only one telephone call and one personal visit during morning hours. Although the Board had no criticism of Mr. Jere miah's work it was felt that some arrangement should 437 f Y. be made that would be more satisfactory to the contrac- tors and people in town. However, no objection was voiced 'in regard to the proposed change of hours. The Chairman read a letter from Col. Connell Albertine,, on behalf of the Church of Our Redeemer, requesting permission to conduct a paper drive on Paper Sunday, October 24, 1951 . Drive Upon motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted to grant the request. Application was received from the Lexington Little League requesting permission to conduct a Use of hail meeting ifi Eatabrook. Hali- on Friday evening, Septem- ber 17 from 8:00 P. M. until 11:00 P. ,M. Upon motion of Mr. Maloney, seoonded by Mr. Gay, it las voted to grant the use bf the hall free of charge. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to sign deed, prepared by Town Counsel, Tax title conveying Lot 3, Essex Street to J. Edward McManus et ux. The meeting adjourned at 10:20 P. M. II A true record, Attest: er , ectme4 I