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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-05-21-min 456 SELECTMEN'S MEETING CY May 21 , 1951 1 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmenwas held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, May 21, 1951 at 7:00 p.m. Chair- man Nickerson, Messrs. Driscoll and Gay were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. Mr. Burns discussed the water betterment assess- ment levied against the Bond property on Bennington Road and explained that the land fronts on both Bennington Road and Pelham Road. He stated that an assessment was levied because there was no record of Bond water a water main in Pelham Road. Mr. Bond informed Mr. betterment Harrington, of the Water Department, that there is assessment a main which his father installed privately. Mr. Burns explained that there is no way of telling the size or anything about it. The Chairman agreed to contact Mr. Emery and ask him to request Mr. Bond to write a letter giving the vital statistics or make an appointment with Mr. Burns to meet him. Mr. Burns discussed water maintenance charges and explained that all the administration of the Water work, as well as the purchase of cards, bills, etc. are charged to Water Maintenance. Mr. Burns reported that Mr. Swenson is now in a position where he wants to do something withlis land on Allen Street and is willing to give the Town what- ever land is necessary to make Allen Street into a Allen St. forty foot street. He is willing to do this now (Swenson) while the land is owned by him -- one ownership. Mr. Burns told him that he would advise the Board. Mr. Burns stated that if the Town makes such a taking he felt the next item would be a request to have the street constructed. For that reason, he merely told Mr. Swenson that he would present the mat- ter to the Board. Mr. Burns said that the proposal is desirable and something that may have to be done some time in the future. At that time the Town will have to negotiate with individual owners. Mr. Burns said that his Department cannot do the drawings and engineerings right away. The Chairman said that Mr. Swenson could be told that if the Town did become party to such a deal, it could not be pushed for time -- that it will take some time. , 457 The Chairman suggested, and the Board agreed, II that Mr. Burns tell Mr. Swenson that the Board is definitely interested and will visit the area again, study the situation and endeavor to arrive at some conclusion. Mr. Stevens arrived at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Burns said that he received a telephone call from the State with reference to Paul Revere paul Revere Road and there seems to be some doubt as to whether Road or not the Town wants to proceed with the construction. The Chairman said that there is no doubt in the Board's mind and that this is a project which is to be done. Mr. Burns agreed to so advise the State. Mr. Burns retired at 7:30 p.m. M7r. H. Webster Thomas met with the Board. He said that there are two men in the Civilian Defense organization who would do an excellent job judging from what they have done in the divisions in which they acre now active. He mentioned Manfred Warren and Fred Newhall, without recommending one more than the. other. He stated that Mr. Warren has done an excellent job in breaking down the districts and procuring good men for the districts. Furthermore, he is in Lexington during so-called business hours. Mr. Thomas explained that he had to work nights with the aid of Mrs. Thomas who did the clerical work. He said that haDing an office with a part-time secretary may be a solution but not in his particular case due to the fact that he is out of town so much. He said that during the last war Mr. Warren was very active and very good in his job and it was for that reason that he asked him to take on responsibilities this time and he has had absolutely no trouble or difficulty with him. He stated that Mr. Warren has an excellent group of district wardens under him. With reference to Fred Newhall, he said that he also has done a very good job. Hetook over in the middle of the organization period because Mr. Sukeforth res4.ned. He said that from what he has seen of Mr. Newhall's work, he believes he would be a good Director. He said that there are two or three other men in the organization who are good but he questions their ability to organize and ability to get people working. Mr. Thomas explained that there is another possib- ility, which he would not be in a position to judge, and that is to do what other towns are doing -- appoint a fulltime employee of the Town as Director. He would then be under the direct supervision of the Board. 4513 CD Presumably he would be given extra compensation and relief from some of his present duties. Mr. Thomas said that this job, as a volunteer job, falls into an entirely different category than anything he has ever coma in contact with. He said that he thought Lt was goingto be continuingfor � possibly ten years .. Mr. Thomas also mentioned Mr. George Graves who is retired End in Town and Mr. Robert Merriam Who did an excellent job in World War II. Mr. Gay asked if the organization were far enough along so that it would not take too much time and Mr. Thomas replied in the negative. Mr. Thomas said that if one of the secretaries in the Town organization were available for stenographic work, etc. it could be done at her convenience within a forty-eight hour period at the present time and would not require a full-time secretary or one who would work afternoons or mornings just for Civil Defense. Mr. Thomas retired at 8:05 p.m. Mr. Allen, representing the Army Air Corps En- gineers, Mr. Paul Howard and Mr. Edwin Howard, of Whit- man & Howard, consulting engineers, and Mr. Burns met with the Board. M . Allen explained that they have some laboratories for the Air Corps to be constructed between Wood Street and the new entrance to the air base. Design money is Air Corps available and they expect construction money in the request for next fiscal year, July 1st. He stated that there will water and be facilities for ultimately 5,000 people and now he is interested in obtaining water and disposal of sewage. sewage They hope to obtain water from the Town of Lexington disposal and maybe tie into the Metropolitan sewer through the Town's sewage system if available, and if not, direct. Otherwise they will have to pump the sewage into the Concord River about three miles away. The stream now at the Base is too small to take any more. He stated that he is not so much interested in a contract at this time as a basis for a design, but to know whether the Town will be willing to furnish water and a disposal of sewage. He said that they figure about 30 gallons per capita per day for 5,000 people which would be 150,000 gallons per day for an eight to ten hour period. Mr. Allen said that they will have a tank of 5,000 gallon capacity for fire protection and that they are rewired to provide water of 2,000 gallons a minute for a period of two hours for fire protection. They will have their own fire protection system and water line within the government-owned area. He said that what the connections would be with the Town systems would depend on what negotiations can be made. 459 He said that there may be afew people living here, but not many as the buildings are just labor- ' atories. Practically all of the buildings will be in the Town of Lexington, but the land does go into Bedford. Mr. Allen said that he is not in a position to discuss a contract, but requested a meeting with the Board to discuss the subject as it would affect their design. t Mr. Burns said that/discussion is about something of which he knows very little and he would like to take the time to go into it further. The Chairman explained that the Board is merely listening this evening, and although very much inter- ested, before it could even hazard an answer the group would have to spend more time with Mr. Burns. Mr. Allen said that he would like to tie into the 10" water main and also tie into the sewage system as being the simplest solution. He said that he cannot tell how long the buildings will be operated. They will be permanent three-story concrete buildings and will cost about $25,000,000. If started in July they will be completed in about a year and a half. The Chairman stated that the Board will be willing to discuss the subject further at any time. He suggested that the group carry along with Mr. Burns to a point where he can report to the Board. Mr. Allen agreed to write Mr. Burns a letter ex- plaining just what the Array Air Corps wants. The group retired at 9:15 p.m. Mr. Burns also retired. Letter was received from Mrs. Florence R. Russell, 7 Okk Street requesting an abatement of the water better- Russell ment assessment levied against her property, claiming water that she has been connected to a main and paying for it assessment since 1938. The Chairman was authorized to confer with Mr. Burns. Mr. Stevens reported his conversation with Mr. Crowley with reference to Lot 66, Grapevine Avenue, and Tax title Mr. Crowley admitted that it would be his fault if the property Board did not now sell him this lot because of his neg- lect to answer the letters written to him. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to sell and convey Lot 66, Section 2, Grapevine Avenue to Mr. Michael J. Crowley, 299 Newbury Street, Boston. Mr. Stevens retired at 10:05 p.m. Letter was received from Robert L. Innis requesting Innis extension of water main from Marrett Road down Leroy request for ' Road, then down Ellison Road, across Roosevelt Road and water to a point on Ellison Road between lots 63 and 64. 460 csm The Chairman suggested, and the Board agreed, that this should be studied, inspected and a report received from Mr. Burns. Application was received from the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for a joint pole location on Massachusetts Pole Avenue . The proposed location had been approved by the Town Engineer. Location Upon motion of Mr. Gay, s econded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following jointly owied pole location: Massachusetts Avenue, northeasterly side, approximately 85 feet southeast of Plainfield Street, one pole. (One existing pole to be removed. ) Notice was received from the State Department of Public Utilities with reference to a hearing to be held Edison hearingcoon June 7, 1951, Room 166 State House at 10:00 a.m. relative to proposed Boston Edison rates. Letter was received from the Board of rublic Wel- fare requesting transfers from Trust Funds for the Transfer following: fr Bridge Fund Hospitalization at the Children's Medical Center for Robert Kirkland, son of Grace Kirkland, 33 Reed Street - $130. Hospital expense for Bertram W. Hill, 6 Gibson Road - $80. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to request the Trustees of Public Trusts to approve the expenditures from the Bridge Fund. Bill was received from the Adams Press, Inc. in the amount of $585 for printing the new Zoning By-Law. Mr. Driscoll moved that the bill be approved for payment and charged to the Selectmen's Expenses Account. Mr. Gay seconded the motion and it was so voted. Uses of halls Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to approve the following uses of halls: William H. Lyon Estabrook Hall Free Lexington Senior High Cary Hall Lexington Junior High " " Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, it Licenses was voted to approve the following licenses: Lexington Theatre, Inc. Sunday Movies Countryside Associates, Inc. Sunday Golf 461 The Chairman reported on the second-hand business 111 operated by F. B. Hubley Co. , at 312 Marrett Road. It was agreed that the fee for the license would be $2.00. Letter was received from Mrs. Rich, Temporary Town Accountant, inviting the Board to an outing at Outing Mr. Walker ' s home on Saturday, September 8, 1951 at 4 o'clock, Upon motion of Mr . Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to sign the following Sewer Orders: Sewer Adams Street, Woodland Road, Marrett Road and cary Orders Avenue. (Copy of each Order in Selectmen's files - Sewer Orders, 1951 ) Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to re-appoint Dr. William L. Cos- Appointment grove as a member of the Board of Health, for a three- year term expiring June 1, 1954. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m. A true record, Attest: �e 4Len.