Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-10-29-min 31 SELECTMEN'S MEETING $, October 29, 1951 A regular meeting of the Board of Select- men was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, October 29, 1951 at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Every, Gay and Driscoll were present. The Clerk was also present. Jurors Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of three jurors. The following jurors were drawn: James Warren Bean, mover, 26 Parker Street Mary E. Stankard, separator, 131 Marrett Road Carl R. Petterson, custodian, 6 Hill Street Mr. Carroll retired at 7:04 P.M. and Mr. Burns, Sup' t of Public. Works, met with the Board. Mr. Burns discussed snow truck hiring and explained that Bieren plows Meriam Hill and Grove Street. This year he wants $1.00 per hour more and was paid $6.50 last year. He said that the highest rate he can find so far on the State is *6.00. II Mr. Bieren wants $7.50 per hour- or else he will plow for the State. His reasons in favor of making the change is that he will plow a section of Route 128 which Will be very easy going and he will have more work. One of his complaints is that he has been laid off too soon on Town work. However, hr. Burns told the Board that he has never let any truck go as long as there is plowing to be done. Mr. Driscoll said that he thought the rate was to high and if the increase is granted to Bieren, it will have to be considered for the other trucks. Mr. Burns agreed that he, to©., felt the rate Snow excessive, but if Bieren does not plow the hill, Plowing it will undoubtedly be necessary to put on two trucks for this section. He said that Bieren does good work and is very conscientious. He reported that the truck situation this year is serious. In previous years he had about eight trucks and this year he can count only four or five. He said that Bieren has two trucks and the Town uses both of them. The Chairman asked if Mr. Burns had done any- thing actively toward obtaining a squad of trucks and he replied in the affirmative. He said that it is difficult to secure trucks for plowing. Mr. Emery inquired as to the amount of money being discussed and Mr. Burns replied that if he has eight trucks, working ten or twelve hours plowing it will average about $100 per day; twelve storms would cost $1,200. Mr. Burns agreed to discuss the subject wiph Bieren and report to the Board next week. .1 2 C7� Co CO Mr. Burns discussed drainage of Williams Road and explained the situation by use of a large map. He said that he has been trying to obtain a right-of-way through Baakin's land and at first Baskin was agreeable, but six weeks Drainage ago he changed his mind. However, Mrs. Baskin Williams telephoned to say that he is out of Town, has Road purchased the Kelley land and will discuss the subject again. He wants some commitment from the Board whereby if he allows the Town to run the drain down Gleason Road, the Town will con- tribute to the cost of drainage when he develops the land. Mr. Burns told him that the present Board could not bind any future Board. H6 is willing to allow the Town to dump water onto the end of Gleason Road for the present time. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7 :30 P.M. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Burns wait until Baskin returns, discuss the overall picture with him and- then have him meet with the Board next Monday at eight o'clock. Letter Was received from Daniel S. Toomey, Street 8 Drew Avenue, requesting the installation of a Light street light at the corner of Cliffe Avenue and Drew Avenue. Mr. Burns approved the location and recommended granting the request. Upon motion of Mr. Gay seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to authorize the Sup' t of Public Works to have one street light installed at the corner of Cliffe and Drew Avenues. Letter was received from Thornton S. Cody, Street 8 North Street, requesting that traffic warning Signs signs be painted on the street until such time as elevated signs are received. The request was granted and Mr. Burne instructed to have the signs painted as soon as possible. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Street Driscoll, it was voted to authorize the Chair- Lights man of the Board to settle all future requests & for street lights and street signs with the Signs Superintendent of Public Works. Letters were received from the U. S. Army Water & Engineers in reference to water and sewer cervices Sewer for for the A.F. Bedford Research Center. Army Project Mr. Bairns said that supplying the water is fairly simple. The only question in his mind is the rate which he thought would be the same as the Bedford Hospital rate. 33 The Board felt that the same rates could be used ' for the Army providing a clause is included to Water and increase the. rates if the Town has to pay more. Sewer for Mr. Burns referred to the communication Army relative to the sewer and explained that he is project working on this project now to determine if existing facilities can be used. He said that he would like to have two more weeks time, and it was agreed that a letter should be written to the Army Engineers advising that this project will take considerable study which will require three or four weeks time. Mr. Converse Bill met with the Board at 8:10 P.M. The Chairman explained that he had invited Mr. Hill to meet with the Board to repeat what he had told him about the insurance problem and hot+ his firm is handling insurance. Be explained that Mr. Hill was not present to try and sell his firm, but merely at the request of the Chairman. Mr. Hill said that at the present time there are a nu*ber of agents participating in the Town's insurance and he thought there Were about twenty- five. There are sixty p ►lieies. Every time a policy has to be changed it necessitates con- siderable trouble and work in the Public Works Office. If any money is changed, collections must be made from each Agent and there might be fifty bookkeeping transactions. Be explained that the fire schedule causes trouble because Insurance when an amount is changed every policy has to be changed and every agent for Lexington has a certaJ,n amount of insurance allocated to him. Mr. Hill informed the Board that his company handles the insurance for Rockland, Belmont, Arlington and Winchester. Be explained that by having an insurance company handle the insurance, many small -expenses such as printing the forms, etc. are saved the towns. Be said very definitely that he is not look- ing for the town's business and that he would be glad to do it for nothing more or less as a civic duty. He explained that his company can do it because it wholesales and retails. The Chairman said that Brewer & Lord is organized with the experts, clerical help, etc., that do this work and the ideal arrangement from a business standpoint would be to deal with one firm on the three and a half or four million dollars worth of fire insurance the Town has and clear with that firm on details. Re said that it would mean that no local insurance agent would receive any less money that he receives now. 3 OD Op Mr. Hill explained that there are one or two agents who write their own policies and receive a little more than agents who do not. He said that his firm has 4800,000 insurance at the present time. He would be willing, if the Board wants to, to throw all the commission in so that everyone would participate in his percentage of the fi800,000. The Chairman said that his idea was to discuss this matter with Mr. Hill and if he is willing to do the job, he will do all the work and the Board would tell him what percentage it wanted to all- ocate to the various agents. The Town would then be dealing with one company and not have from 60 to 100 policies. Mr. Hill said that he would suggest five good companies and have it all in five. He said that at the end of the year the Board would have to decide who it to receive the commission. Mr. Emery asked if anyone would receive less commission than he now receives and Mr. Hill replied that those who write their own policies would receive 5% less'. Mr. Stevens asked if the arrangement would be an oral agreement and Mr. Hill replied that he would like to have something from the Selectmen telling him what to do. Mr. Stevens asked how he handled the other Insurance towns and he replied that they have, a gentlemen's agreement. Mr. Gay asked when a change in handling the insurance would begin and Mr. Hill replied that there are no polioies expiring until next July. Mr. Driscoll asked it Mr. Hill insured any towns for property damage and he replied that. he does not know if it is customary to carry insurance on equipment, but he thought- some towns dow The Chairman read s bulletin from the Massachu- setts Selectmen' s Association relative to proposed legislation to extend Workmen's Compensation coverage to firemen and policemen and asked if Mr. Hill had an opinion on the subject. Mr. Hill said that if someone working for the Town is killed the Town will pay them in accordance to the law, a fixed policy, and there will be no sympathy contained in it. He said that personally he would be in favor of such a bill. The Chairman asked -if the cost would be terrific and Mr. Hill replied that he did not know that it would be, as the rates are classed by towns all over the State. Mr. Hill retired at 8:35 37 The Chairman reported that $10 is needed in the Elections Account to pay for renewing the Postal Mailing Permit #3011 and $375 in the Selectmen's Expenses Account. The shortage in the latter being due to the following unforeseen expenditures that were not included in the budget. Civil Service Bulletin $192.90 Reprints of Bulletin 68.40 Transfer Advertising Zoning By-laws 573.30 Jury Forms 10.01 Upon. motion of Mr. E very, .seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $10 from the Reserve Fund to the Elections Account-Jurisdiction of Selectmen, and $375 from the Reserve Fund to the Selectmen's Expenses Account. The applications for licenses for retail package stores by William E. Phillips and John James Phillips and Frank G. O'Neil were taken up and discussed. Liquor Upon motion duly made and seconded it was Licenses unanimously voted to reject the aforesaid applications as in the opinion of the Selectmen the present three retail package stores are adequate in number and location to meet the reasonable demand of the public for places at which they may obtain alcoholic beverages. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to certify statement of expenditures Chapter 90 of the cost of Chapter 90 contract #12964. Petition requesting catch basins on Prospect Hill Road was held over. The Chairman explained Drainage that Mr. Burns had discussed this subject with the State and it will be many months before the State has a solution to the problem. Letter from Samuel F. Parker relative to the draining of street surface water from Lowell Street Drainage onto property owned by Carmine Massimilla, 108 Bow Street, was noted and placed on file. Letter was received from Mr. Edwin B. Worthen advising that on October 17, 1951, there was on Public deposit at the Lexington Savings Bank, under Trustees Trusts of Public Trusts, Cemetery Funds, a total principal of $30,185.00, represented by 228 separate accounts Mr. Burns and Mr. Stevens retired at 9:25 P.M. Mr. Joseph J. Sheehan' s offer of $400 for lot* Tax Title 243-258 Asbury Street was held over for another week. 11 I Letter was received from Paul A. Hoyte, 2520 Mass. Avenue, offering $500 for Lot 5 Mass. Avenue, adjacent Tax Title to his house. 38 C.i OD Letter was received from A. J. Bachelder, 2526 Tax Massachusetts Avenue, offering 4500 for Lot 4 Mass, Title Avenue, adjacent to his house. Mr. Driscoll moved that a proposal to sell the lots be advertised in the Lexington Minute-Man and that further consideration be given the offers at the next meeting of the Board. Mr. Gay, seconded the motion and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls free of charge: Use of Hall Lex. Community Concert Cary Hall Dec. 29th musical ° ° r Mar. 13th Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, License it was voted to grant application, received from the Lexington Theatre, Inc., for a Sunday Movie Lioeaae. The Chairman informed the Board that Charles Durkin, who Was granted a public carriage license last week, oalled the Selectmen's Office and re- Taxi quested permission to operate a taxi stand on Stand Waltham Street at the so-called Aldrich Block. The Chief of Police is not in favor of the location from a parking viewpoint. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to deny the request. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to request bids for printing 500 copies of the 1951 Town Report, bids to be received not later than 5:00 P.M. on Monday, November 19, 1951. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 P.M. A true record, Attest: 47411e , rle-'c'' .men