Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-05-28-min 462 SELF'CTMEN'S MEETING •rte; May 28, 1951 1 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, May 28, 1951, at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Emery, Driscoll and Hoyt were present. Mr. Burns, Suptt. of Public Works, and the Clerk ware also present. Mr. Gay arrived at 7:30 p.m. Hearing was declared open upon the petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for joint pole locations on Taft Avenue. No persons were present in favor or in opposition. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr . Hoyt, it was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following pole location: Pole location Taft Avenue, approximately 95 feet northwest of Baker Avenue, (one) 1 pole . (One existing jointly owned pole to be removed. ) Hearing was declared open upon the petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for joint pole locations on Warren Street. No persons were present in favor or in opposition. Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Emery, it 11 was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following pole location: Warren Street, apporximately 385 feet south of Percy Road, one pole. (One existing jointly owned pole to be removed. ) Hearing was declared open upon the petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for joint pole locations on Summer Street. Mr. and Mrs. John Compobosso were present at the hearing. Mr. Compobosso explained that he had applied for the service. Mr. Burns asked if the proposed location met his approval and he replied in the affirmative. The hearing was declared closed and the Compobossos retired. Upon motion of Mr. &very, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following pole location: Summer Street, southeasterly from a point approximately 610 feet southeast of Lowell Street - three poles - guy wire and anchor to the third pole. 463 Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, met with the Board at 7:40 P.M. The following members of the Planning Board also met with the Board: Chairman Adams, Messrs . Irwin, Johnson, Potter and Ripley. Mr. Adams said that the planning Board had two or three items which, it seems to him, require joint action of the two Boards. He said the first subject is Edison Way and the Selectmen know the history. One of the Planning Board projects this year is parking through- out the center of the Town. Edison Way is a part of this and he said that possibly the Planning Board did not under- stand the situation and had invited a Mr. Howland to attend a meeting last week. Mr. Howland was v ery co-operative but his comments were very different than the angle dis- cussed by the Board of Selectmen. He said that the $wo Boards should not be working in opposite directions. The Chairman stated that the Selectmen have studied the subject for some time under Mr. Ballard+ s supervision, and still owe him a small amount of engineering work in order to give him what he terms tools to work with in his negotiations . This information will be ready shortly. Mr. Adams said that the Planning Board is interested in the problem as an area for parking. Mr. Potter said that he thought the Planning Board ' should confer with Mr . Ballard and absorb some of his ideas so that he will not be working for a period of time and then have the planning Board in disagreement with him. He stated that the Planning Board has never heard from Mr. Ballard and it is difficult for the members of the Board to know what he has in mind. Mr. Johnson asked if it were true that Mr. Ballard's objective is circulation of traffic and a new street. He said it seemed to him that the parking was an incidental ' result of a new street which would in theory circulate traffic, and that the Planning Board had parking as its objective. He asked where it tied into the parking area. The Chairman stated that the length of the street is 800 feet which would be available for parking on the rail- road side and that it would park approximately forty cars. Mr. Johnson asked, in the event the street were built, if there is anything in the construction of it that would benefit more thah just this parking area. He asked what is the purpose of the street except to park maybe forty cars. He said that he thought that number of cars could be parked on the land which was not taken. Mr. Howland said that they could park more cars on his land if the street were not built. I 464 an Mr. Potter informed the Board that Mr. Howland is negotiating with the owner of the store (Woolworth) and if there is enough parking in the rear they will extend the store forty feet further, giving them an entrance. He said that this would affect the street. The Chairman said that there is also a possible 20 foot setback on the O'Connell block. Mr. Gay said he thought the Board was thinking in terms of parking on both sides of the street and it seemed to him that there would be room for more than 40 cars. The Chairman stated that if there is to be a 40 foot street, the traffic could not be two-way and also have parking on both sides. Mr. Burns explained that the proposed street will be a 30 foot pavement, 7 foot allowance for cars and 3 foot allowance for people getting out. The Chairman said that he did not think the problem had ever been studied from a parking view point only without a road. Mr. Adams said that he thought some factual work should be done before any decision is made and he also thought the information should be available for both Boards. The Chairman said that he thought the Planning Board could present facts and figures to the Selectmen for con- sideration if they think the prlblem should be studied from a parking viewpoint only. He explained that the Selectmen have worked on the scheme for a r oad and parking along the road. He said that the Selectmen would be willing to work with the planning Board if it could coincide with their ideas. Mr. Adams said that possibly thef irst thing to do would be for both Boards to secure data and then sit down and work out a compromise one way or another. Mr. Hoyt asked if the Planning Board had given any more consideration to the idea that there might be some building on the side of the road opposite the railroad. Mr. Adams replied that personally, he had a different impression from Mr. Howland's visit. Mr. Johnson said that Mr. Howland thought it would not be economically sound but it seems to him that if there is a new frontage opened up, someone is going to construct a building and use it . He said that if this happens the objective is lost and the Town will have merely donated frontage. The Chairman asked if the Planning Board were as fearful now as it was three months ago that new building might be constructed and thus throw this out. Mr. Johnson replied that personally he thought it was very probable. I 465 The Chairman said that he thought Mr. Ballard, subsequent to getting a layout of the road, would find out from all of the abutters just what the parking situation would be. He suggested that the Planning Board take it from a standpoint of using it for parking only with no circulating street. Mr. Johnson asked if the future widening of Massachusetts Avenue would be affected if this street were not constructed. He asked if this street is essential in order to widen Massachusetts Avenue at some future time and the Chairman replied that he did not think so. He said that the street is to relieve traffic on Massachusetts Avenue and to relieve the parking situation. Mr. Johnson asked if the abutters are willing to go along with the street and donate land to build it. He also asked if t he Boston Edison would donate land for Edison Way only and the Chairman replied that he did not know. He said that from hit talk with Mr. Ballard he feels sure that Mr. Ballard has not approached the Boston Edison on just running the road up to the rail- road. He said that he would like to see Mr. Ballard carry his scheme through to a point where he could lay it down in front of both Boards. If both Boards do not think it should be done that way, they can go on from there. It was left that the Board of Selectmen would con- tinue with Mr. Ballard, securing additional data and the Planning Board will proceed with the development of several plans and discuss the subject with the Board again at some future meeting. Mr. Adams said that the second subject for discussion is Johnson Road. He stated that the Kelley Construction had one development, Pleasant Associates another and Debonis had one. At the last meeting of the Planning Board a vote was passed to have a preliminary layout made of the entire area. It was also voted to recommend com- bining with Winchester in putting theroad through. He said that the Planning Board should have some idea as to just where the road will be located and such inform- ation will be helpful in the long range development of the entire section. Mr. Burns said that as he recalls the subject the Selectmen had held up the petition for a layout pending receipt of releases of any claims for damages. The Chairman said that an endeavor will be made to line up the data and further consideration will be given the subject by the Selectmen. Mr. Stevens explained that the Town of Winchester has had a petition filed for some t ime with the County Commissioners and he thought a good deal of the layout had been made. 466 az Mr. Driscoll asked if the Planning Board was in m4 favor of the Selectmen signing a petitionibr the layout of Johnson Road and Mr. Adams replied in the affirmative. He said that the Planning Board should know where the road is to be located. Mr. Adams said that the third subject for discussion is proposed layouts of certain streets which the Planning Board believes would be a benefit to the Town. He said that his Board did not contemplate any construdtion now but merely having the layouts made. He mentioned Bernard Street to Grove Street and the extension of Grassland Street to Waltham Street. Mr. Burns mentioned the extension of Stedman Street up to the School. The Chairman asked if the Planning Board would have the layouts made and then refer them to the Selectmen. Mr. Adams replied that the Planning Board has not as yet gone into the mechanics of the matter but he thought the people on Bernard and Grassland Streets would give land to the Town. He said that the land-taking should be done. Mr. Potter said that unless the Board of Selectmen think the idea is a good one, there is no object in the Planning Board going ahead. Mr. Hoyt said that he thought the Planning Board's idea was correct and that some of the land shouldbe obtained. Mr. Adams said that his Board did not expect an answer this evening, but would recommend the extension of certain streets and refer the subject to the Selectmen. The Planning Board retired at 8:20 p.m. Mr. Stevens said that he has a partial release of land from water betterment assessment levied against land Gentile of Cherubino and Louisa Gentile. He explained that the Release Town is not forfeiting any money and this is similar to the situation, for which a release was recently signed, on Burlington Street. Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to sign the release prepared by Mr. Stevens, (Original mailed to Mr. Stevens and copy to Tax Collector. ) Letters were received from Mr. Carroll, Town Clerk, Legal together with summonses in actions of tort by Edward G. Action Blaguszewski and Edwin A. Ryf a. Mr. Stevens explained that this action arose out of the Bedford Street, $hea contract, and he said that he would handle it. A dup- licate of the summonses had been mailed to him by Mr. Carroll. Mr. Stevens suggested that a letter be written to those individuals selected as jurors who have not yet returned the questionnaires, rather than sending a sum- Jurors mons, advising that the information requested is required by statute. 467 The Chairman read a letter from James E. and Elsie P. Evans, 196 Burlington Street, advising that the Commonwealth has t aken, for the new Route728 a portion of their land . There is a balance of $180 due on the vater betterment assessment against Evans this property, the original amount of which w as ap- partial portioned over a ten year period. They would like release of to have the balance remain apportioned against the water house and remaining land so that they may convey to betterment the State a taking free of encumbrance. Mr. Stevens said that he would prepare the release and the Clerk was instructed to obtain the necessary information from Mr. Burns. Mrs. Russellts letter applying for an abatement of the water betterment assessment in the amount of $90.00 levied against her property at 7 Oak Street Russell was held over from last week. Water Mr. Burns explained that she had water when she Assessment built her house and paid for the service. on Mr. Stevens said that the property has been Oak Street bettered to some extent. Before she was connected to a private line with no one obligated to maintain it. Now she is connected to the Town main. Be said that he does not see how the Board can make any decision until it is determined what is to be done relative to the West assessment. At 9:05 p.m. Mr. August Schumaker met with the Board. He explained that he is interested in purchasing Schumaker some land from Mr. Bashian but the question about reurchase so-called Old Mass. Avenue has come up. He said that of land Mr. Bashian is of the opinion that he owns all of Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Stevens explained that a title examiner would have to determine the status of the property and sug- gested that Mr. Schumaker have his attorney look up the title. Mr. Schumaker retired at 9:30 p.m. Mr. Stevens also retired. The Chairman read a letter from Clifton A. Temple applying for water and sewage service to a house he is Temple building at 31 Gleason Road. Mr. Burns informed the request for Board that this would require an extension of approx- water and imately 150 feet and that he expected to have a complete sewer list, prepared for the next meeting, of all requests for water and sewer extensions . No action was taken on Mr. Templets request and the Clerk was instructed to place it on theagenda for next week. Petition was received from residents of Valley Road requesting that a sign beerected at the corner of Valley Road and Bedford Street cautioning motorists of the Sign children in the vicinity. 41438 an The Superintendent of Public Works was instructed to have a sign painted on the street. The Chairman informed the Board that Mrs. Morey, 111 Chairman of the School Committee, requested permission Lights to have two spot lights installed outside of Cary on Building on the evening of graduation to enable the Cary Bldg. students to have a reception out of doors. Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Emery, it was voted to grant the request. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Emery, it was voted to grant the following licenses : Francis D. Flanagan 4 Aerial Street Peddler Countryside Associates Lowell Street Sunday Golf Licenses Lexington Theatre, Inc. 1794 Mass. Avenue Sunday Movies Mr. Emery reported that Dr. Barnes' son, William, has been practicing mddecine in Chelmsford and is now Renting located in Rockport. He would like to open an office in Barnes Lexington and asked Mr. Emery if the Board would rent property him the three rooms formerly occupied by his father. Mr. to Dootor Emery said if the Board is not in favor of renting rooms in the Barnes property he might be interested in the Sexton house. Decision was held over until the next meeting of the Board. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m A true record, Attest: <::"--e16kfrE/7"-4.4.1-44-r I