HomeMy WebLinkAbout1950-11-28-min 286
SELECTMEN'S MEETING "
November 28, 1950
A regular meetingof the poard of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmens Room, sown Office Building,
on Tuesday evening, November 28, 1950, at 7:00 P.M.
Chairman Emery, Messrs. Gay, Nickerson, and Hoyt
were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works,
and the Clerk were also present.
Letter was received from Eugene B. Hamilton,
Hamilton Trustee of the Home Finance Company, requesting
request an abatement of street betterment assessment, in
for abate- the amount of $264, levied against Lot 176 Ledge-
ment lawn Avenue. n October, 1949, the Board voted to
abate sewer and water betterments levied against this
same parcel of land, totalling $154.15.
The Chairman suggested asking Mr. Hamilton if
he would be willing to deed this lot to the Town and
agreed to check the assessment.
The Chairman read a letter from Wallace E.
Howell, Clerk, Six Moon Hill, Inc. , asking several
Moon Hill questions relative to consequences of having Moon
Road Hill Road accepted as a Town way.
The first series of questions come within the
scope of the Superintendent of rublic Works and
were, therefore, referred to him for a direct
reply. The second series were more or less of a le-
Jgla nature and referred to Town Counsel for report
to the Selectmen.
Further consideration wes given to 1,2. Carrigts
Carrig's request for a water main from the Concord Turnpike
request for to Concord Avenue to a point where he can connect
water onto it in order that he can service a development
which he has on Concord Avenue.
Mr. Burns said that he thought Mr. Carrig wrote
the letter so that this itme would be included in
the 1951 budget.
The Chairman agreed to acknowledge the letter
and advise Mr. Carrig that his request will be among
the many thrt will be considered for the 1951 budget.
Letter was received from Mrs . Robert Coquillette,
Coquillette 53 Forest Street, complaining about a bush obstruct-
complaint ing the sidewalk on Forest Street making it necessary
for school children to walk on the street.
Mr. Burns informed the Board that he received
a call on this last Septmeber and went to look at
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the sidewalk. He said that there is a bush growing
from private property which overhangs the sidewalk
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^nd it did not look particularly dangerous to him.
However, he went over the next m. rning at eight 01
clock and watched the children going to school.
They all walked to school on the other side of the
street and crossed below this particular location.
41e said that the bash has been growing for a long
time and the situation is nothing new.
The Chairman suggested that "lr. Burns find
out who owns the bush and ask if the owner would
have any objections to cutting the bush to jr evenit
obstructing the sidewalk.
Mr. Burns retired at 8:00 p.m.
The following persons met with the Board to Firemen' s request
discuss the firemen' s request for a 56 hour week: for 56 hour
Chairman Roeder, Messrs . Adams and Cook, of the week
Board of Fire Engineers, and Messrs. Belcastro,
Bentley, Fiske, Spellman, Spidel, and Timothy.
Mr. Roeder said that he had requested an
appointment with the Selectmen because the per-
manent fireLan had presented a problem to the
Board of Fire Engineers and they thought they
would like to explain it to the Selectmen.
Lieutenant Spellman said that there hrs been
some talk among the permanent members of the Fire
Department to have the working hours shortened.
Nothing was done for a period of time and finally
the men held a meeting and he was appointed Chair-
man for the group. From that meeting, they elected
a Committeeto investigate shortening the work week
of the permanent men, and instructed the Committee
to bging its findings to the Board of Fire Engi@eers .
He explained that the group present this evening
is to inform the Selectmen es to what has taken
place in an effort to shorten the hours for perman-
ent firemen.
Captain Fiske read the following, and explained
that is is Es near the same as what was told the
Board of Fire Engineers as he could make it:
Some time during the last week in August, discussion
was prevalent among the members of the uniformed
fire fighting force to ascertain what might be
done in the matter of reducing the working hours
of our department. Inasmuch as the Chief En-
gineer was away on his vacation at this time, our
problem was discussed with two members of the Board
was to enlighten them as to What was to be brought
before them at some early dh te.
This matter lay dormant until October 23rd when 18
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permanent members of our department met at Fire Head-
quarters to discuss ways and means of obtaining this
reduction of working hours . Lieutenant Spellman
was elected Chairman and Private Wilson Secretary
of the group meetings, and after much discussion on
the matter , it was voted to elect a Committee of
5 members, with group committee Chairman, Iaieutenant
Spellman as a member ex-officio.
The Committee was elected as follows: Captain Bel-
castro, Captain Fiske, rrivate Spidle, Bentley and
Timothy, and they were instructed to gather the nec-
essary information whereby the 56 hour working week
might be placed upon the official Town ballot at the
Annual Town Meeting in March. This method of approach
to our problem was taken because the group meeting
felt that by doing it in this manner, it would relieve
all the Boards concerned of the responsibility of
making a decision either in favor of or against
our problem, thereby leaving it strictly up to a
vote of the people. The group also voted unanim-
ously to instruct the Uommittee to contact the Board
of Fire Engineers as soon as some definite plan had
been arrived at, and inform them of the aims and
plans of the uniformed members of the Fire Depart-
ment.
The above elected Committee held its first meeting
at Fire feadquarters on October 31st, and elected
Captain Belcastro as Chairman and Captain Fiske and
Private Spidle as co-secretaries. After talking
over the previous group meeting, Captain Belcastro
was instructed to contact Mr. Joseph Manning, who
is a representative of the St'te Firemen's Associa-
tion, relative to any assistance Mich he might be
able to give us in the matter of our problem. Cap-
tain Fiske was instructed to contact Mr. Charles
Ferguson, our Representative in the General Court
from this district, to find out the proper steps to
follow in the filing of this Bill, allowing us to
place it on the aforementioned ballot.
The second Committee was held on November 9th with
all members present . Mr. Ioseph Manning met with
us and outlined the general procedure that he had
followed in helping to secure these reduced working
hours for various Departments throughout the State.
In concluding this meeting, Mr. Manning agreed to
contact our Committee with any additional informa-
tion that he might obtain from the State House.
The following day we received this short note from
Mr. Manning, and I quote:
'Dear Captain c Lieutenant: Information received
at State House - Have your Representative or Senator,
whichever is agreeable•, file in his name and that
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will save you getting signatures .
In haste, Joe Manning. '
The second group meeting was held at Fire Headquar-
ters on November 14th with 13 members present . A
report of progress was made and accepted by the
members and a general discussion was then held on
the ways and means of presenting our proolem to
the voters of the Town. Captain Fiske then reported
on his meeting with Mr. Ferguson who informed him
that he would gladly see that the Bill was prop-
erly drawn up and correctly worded and return it
to us with instructions for whatever action we
deemed proper, and informed us that when we re-
turned it to him he would file it in the proper
manner.
A copy of this Bill, which the Committee now
has, was received properly worded from sur. Fer-
guson on Novenberl7th and upon contacting our
Chief Engineer, he agreed to arrange for our Comm-
ittee to meet with the Board of Fire Engineers
at their next meeting. This meeting was held on
November 21st and the Committee presented its
problem to the Engineers, at the s me time stating
their reasons for not having contacted them before,
and also explained to them that the time element
in this matter was of great importance inasmuch
as the Bill had to be filed on or before the sec,
and Wednesday in December in order to receive the
earliest possible considEration from both branches
of the Legislature. Questions were asked by all
the members of the Board regarding the filing of
the Bill, cs well as working conditions of various
Departments throughout the State. A pamphlet was
passed among the members of the Board which had
been compiled by the Brookline Taxpayers 's Assoc-
iatiun and after all available information had
been given the Board we were informed by them that
they desired a little more time to talk the matter
over. In a short while we were celled back and
informed that they would meet with us on Sunday,
NOvember 26th and let us know their decision.
On Sunday, November 26th we were informed by Chair-
man Roeder that certain members of the Board of
Fire Engineers would meet with all available mem-
bers of the Committee at approximately 3 :00 P.M.
but due to duties attendant upon the storm, only
2 members were ale to meet with the Board. Captain
Fiske and Lieutenant Spellman met with Chairman
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Roeder, Chief Engineer Cook, Mr. George Hynes and
Mr. Alan Adams . Chairman Roeder told us thet Mr.
Hynes would explain the findings of the Board, which
were in effect that the Board felt thi t the Board
of Selectmen should be informed of the steps that
had been taken by the Committee elected by the mem-
bers of the Fire Department . Chairman Roeder and
Mr. Hynes offered to accompany the Committee to
its meeting with the Board.
The third group meeting was held at Fire Headquarters
on November 27th with 18 members present and the de-
cision of the Board of Fire Engineers was relayed
to the meeting by group Chairman Lieutenant Spell-
man. After a discussion on the matter, Captain
Belcastro and Captain Fiske were asked to say a few
words on the suggestion of Mr. Hynes, and the ques-
tion was brought to a vote on inst'uctingthe Com-
mittee to meet with the Selectmen, the result being
a unanimous vote in favor.
Shortly before the third group meeting was convened
on November 27th official notice was received by
the Committee and relayed to the group meeting that
the Board of Fire Engineers hed put in a request
for 3 additional men for the purpose of installing
the 70 hour work week. This information was received
from the Chairman of the Board of Fire Engineers,
Harold Roeder. P discussion followed and a vote
was taken which showed a unanim3us vote against favor-
ing the adoption of this work schedule.
The Chairmen said that Captain Fiske mentioned
18 men two or three times in his report and asked
if that is the number of men definitely interested.
Captain Fiske replied th-t there were 18 men
at the first meeting, 13 at the second meeting and
18 at the last meeting. He explained that some of
the personnel has to cover this Station.
The Chairman asked if the Committee represented
100% of the permanent force and if every member of
the Fire Department, full-time members, were dis-
satisfied.
Captain Fiske replied that when the discussion
first started, there was a paper circulated asking
for members interested in signing a petition to sign
the paper, but he did not know how many signed.
The Chairman inquired as to the basic dissatis-
faction of the present work week.
Captain Belcastro replied that the trend is
to have a shorter work week and it has been put into
291
effect in verious departments throughout the State.
He said that they are trying to adopt the same work
week other cities and towns have. He stated that
one f eature is that the men have a long day on --
24 hour tour of duty. With the 56 hour weak the men
will work a 10 hour thy and a 14 hour night. He said
that another thing that comes into the light in the
56 hour week is th< t they do not have any meals out-
side of the station, and that the Town would be better
covered during meal hours . He said that a number of
the fires, possibly 50%, occur during meal hours .
The Chairman asked if the 24 hour stretch was
what the men disliked and Captain Belcastro replied
in the affirmative.
Captain Fiske said that another thing is the
fact that the firemen' s work week is so far above
the other Departments of the Town, they would like
to get it down to a comparable basis .
The Chairman asked what other Towns are operat-
ing on a 56 hour week and Captain Belcastro read the
following, compiled by the Brookline Taxpayers ' 'Assoc-
iations
Arlington 48 Malden 48
Belmont 61 Methuen 56
Boston 48 Milton 56
Brookline 70 Medford 48
(asking 56 ) Natick 56
Cambridge 48 N. Bedford 48
Chelsea 56 Quincy 48
Dedham 56 Revere 48
Framingham 70 Salem 56
Holyoke 70 Waltham 48
Lawrence 48 Watertown 70
Lowell 48 Wobunr" 70
Lynn 48 Worcester 56
The Chairman asked if the group wished anything
from this informal meeting tonight except to let the
Selectmen know what they have in mind .
Captain Belcastro said thLt they wished the
Board would be in favor and go along with the 56
hour week.
The Chairman asked if they would like an expres-
sion of opinion this evening and Captain Belcastro
replied in the negative.
The Chairman asked how many additional men would
be needed and Captain Belcastro replied that it will
mean eight more men.
The Chairman asked how many more officers will
292
de
be needed and Captain Belcastro said that they
will need one more.
The Chairman said that, to be perfectly frank,
the Board could notthis evening give even qualified
approval of this because the Board has not studied
it. he said that the Selectmen have in mind all
the other needs of the Town and to say thft they
would endorse this or approve it at this time is
something they just could not do. He said that
the firemen must appreciate that adding eight more
men to the Town taxes is a aubstgntial thing and
he thought the Board would feel that it would have
to be weighed with other interests of the Town.
Mr. Gay asked how the Department s budget
would be figured if this were not acted upon until
the Town Meeting.
The Chairman slid that the Town Meeting approp-
riations are not made until at least two weeks after
the Election.
Mr. Hoyt said that if the Town votes in favor
on the ballot it would vote in favor of an increased
appropriation at the Town Meeting.
Lieutenant Spellman arid th t the idea in meet-
ing with the Board of Sleectmen was to acquaint the
Selectmen with what hes transpired, and whichever
way the townspeople vote, it will not embarrass
any member of the Board.
The Chairman said that the Selectmen appreciate
the group meeting with the Board. he said that 1951
was going to be a difficult one financially; that
there are many other Departments and each one feels
that it is very important also. Ie said that it
would have to be a compromise of what the Selectmen
and the Appropriations Committee feel is a fair fig-
ure to ask the Town to assume.
Mr. Hoyt said that this information would be-
come known before long and the Taxpayers ' Association
will probably ask if increased protection would be
furnished.
Captain Belcastro replied that the protection
would not be increased and that there would be the
same number of men working during the day with the
56 hour week.
Captain Fiske said thrt there are two hours
out at noon and two hours out at night for meals
so that the Town, with the 56 hour week, will gain
four hours of protection each thy.
Mr. Icickerson asked how much less sleeping hours
the men wouli have and Captain Belcastro replied
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that they will have lq hours at night and one man
will be on desk duty 24 hours a day. The crew at
night has to divide the desk duty.
Mr. Roeder said that under the 56 hour week
there will be no absenteesfor meals.
Captain Fiske said that 70% of the fires occur
during meal hours.
The group retired at 8:40 P.M.
Mr. Thomas Sullivan, janitor at the Adams School,
met with the Board because he did not receive any Sullivan
pay for the hours he stayed at the school on Election pay for
Day, November 7th. election
The Chairman explained that the Selectmen felt
that Mr. Sullivan had to bein the building as school
janitor and did not see thrt it had anything to do
with the election.
Mr. Sullivan scid thrt he did n t have to be
in the building after five o' clock and that he is
always paid for any time after regular working hours .
The Chairman tsked if the amount of money Mr.
Sullivan requested would cover only from five o'clock
on and he replied in the affirmative.
The Chairman askea how late Mr. Sullivan staged
in the building and he replied that he was there
until 11:30 P .M.
Mr. Hoyt asked if the organizations using the
building evenings usually paid Mr . Sullivan and he
replied in the affirmative.
The Chairman said that the Board would review
the situation and Mr. Sullivan retired.
Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Gay,
it was voted to pay ''4r . Sullivan for 62 hours at
the rate of $1..50 per hour.
Letter was received from Mr. Winthrop Potter Complaint
25 Summit..Road, complaining about a vicious dog re dog
owned by Mrs. Philip Johnson, 22 Summit Road.
The Clerk was instructed to give a copy of the
letter to Dog Officer, John Russell and request an
investigation and report for next Monday night.
Letter was received from the Chamber of Commerce
Off Street narking Committee and held over until
the next meeting of the Board.
The Chairman suggested, and the Board agreed,
to meet next Monday at 7:00 o'clock., before the
AdA*.rned sown Meeting, and return after Town Meeting,
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.
111 A true record, Attest:
- le L 721-1/ ---1-1-44.474