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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-05-14-min 452 SELECTMEN'S MEETING May 14, 1951 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen 's Room, Town Office Building on Monday evening, May 14, 1951 at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Emery, Driscoll, Hoyt and Gay were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. Mr. Harold E. Stevens, Town Counsel, arrived at 7:40 p.m. Mr. Burns discussed in detail proposed changes in the system of operating the Water Department which he believes, if adopted, will prove to be more efficient . In connection with a possible change, he requested permission to engage the Registrar in charge of the Water Department in the Town of Arlington to set up a system in Lexington for which he will charge approx- imately $200. His assistance will include preparing routes for the meter reader, new system of numbering, Change in lettering, etc. Mr. Burns explained that he will have Water Dept . to ask George Harrington to work with the Registrar for billing a few nights and have one of the girls in the office system help during the day. He said that the only additional cost at this particular time will be for new cards and he thought $500 would be ample, which would include the Registrar' s fee. Mr. Burns also discussed the present system of posting accounts and explained the work in the Water Department and also the work in the Tax Collector' s Office insofar as posting water accounts is concerned. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Hoyt, it was voted to authorize the Superintendent of Public Works to adopt the over-all measures outlined by him with the exception of any reference or change in the work as now done by the Tax Collector. Mr. Stevens reported that he had called Mr. Daniel W. Birmingham relative to his offer to purchase Taxtitle Lot 64 Grapevine Avenue. Mr. Birmingham is no longer property interested and Mr. Stevens submitted a letter signed Grapevine by him to that effect. Avenue Insofar as Lot 66, Grapevine Avenue, is concerned the Board authorized Mr. Stevens to contact Mr. Crowley, ttho made an offer in 1950, that in view of the lapse of time the Board has not arrived at a decision as to what action is to be taken at this time. The Clerk was instructed to bring the subject up again next Monday night. Mr. Stevens presented an original and two copies of the contract between the Town of Lexington and Richard White Sons , Inc. for the construction of sewers in Bedford, Mill, Manning and Hill streets. 454 Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to sign the contract approved by Sewer Town Counsel. The original and two copies were all Contract taken by Mr. Burns. Messrs. Harvey A . Smith, Sr. and his son, Harvey, Jr. met with the Board at 8:20 p.m. Mr. Smith said that he wanted Meson to tell the Board about his experience when, due to an accident, it was necessary for him to use the Town ambulance. Harvey, Jr. explained that after the accident occured the ambulance arrived and up to that time he had been bleeding very badly. when the attendants arrived with the ambulance they did nothing to stop the bleeding, and he said that evidently they did not know how to. He said that if his injury had been any worse he would have died as the men were not prepared to take care of his case. Smith The Chairman explained that Lexington is a small complaint town and has been a small town, but is now growing very rOpidly. Up to this time there has been no ae reason to assign anyone to the ambulance who would ambulance be trained to handle such an emergency. He explained that trained personnel would be an added expense to the town. Mr. Smith, Sr. said that his complaint was to see that in the future the service is improved. The Chairman stated that an endeavor would be made to see that the men who take the ambulance out know first aid. The Smiths retired at 8:35 p.m. The Chairman agreed to discuss the subject with the Board of Fire Commissioners. Mr. Stevens retired at 9:20 p.m. The Chairman read a letter from C. H. Fiske, 1155 Mass. Avenue requesting extension of Marrett Road sewer to service his house. Fiske Mr. Burns explained that it will require about 150 request feet, at $10 per foot to extend the Follen Hill sewer for sewer to take care of Mr. Fiske's house. He said that if funds are available when the project is completed it may be possible to consider this request. The 'hairman read a letter from the State Depart- ment of Public Works relative to advertising Chapter 9.0 projects. Letter was received from Mr. Milne, a new resident, requesting the acceptance of Preston Road. The Chairman agreed to discuss the subject with a Mrs. Evans and took the communication. 454 an cdn Letter was received from Mr. Hill stating that inasmuch as the Board has decided not to have an appraisal made, there should be some changes made in the existing ' policies. Mr. Burns was requested to study the communication and submit a report with his recommendations to the Board at a later meeting. Tree removal The Chairman read a letter from Charles A. Golay, 79 School Street, relative to a town tree left on his property. The Clerk informed the Board that she had given Mr. Garrity a copy of this letter and he agrees that the tree is dangerous and should be removed. He plans to take care of it this week. Letter from Socony-Vacuum Oil Company requesting Socony the removal of a tree on Waltham Street, near the side- request walk entrance to the service station, was held over from for removal last week. of tree The majority of the members of the Board had vis- ited the location and upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Hoyt, it was voted to deny the request to have the tree removed. Mr. Burnsxetired at 10;80 p.m. Letter was received from H. Webster Thomas, resigning as Director of Civil Defense, effective not Resignation later than June 1st. The Board agreed, under the cir- of cumstances as outlined in Mr. Thomas' letter, to accept Mr. Thomas the resignation and invite Mr. Thomas to attend the as Director Selectmen's meeting next Monday night to discussthe of Civ. Def. subject. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Hoyt, it was voted to sign a contract in duplicate between the Spraying Town of Lexington and the F. A. Bartlett Tree Expebt Contract Co. for helicopter spraying, providing the contract is approved by Town Counsel. Notice was received from the Secretary of the Com- Gert. of Inc. monwealth relative to Andrew Towl, 10 Washington Street, Lexington, who has applied for a certificate of incorporation. SatisfEictory character reference was received from the Chief of Police. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to sign the application. Letter was received from the Town Accountant, with copy of letter from the Town Treasurer adirising that due to an error in the turnover sheet dated November 21, 1950, the Excess and Deficiency Account will be decreased by $28,922.04. 455 Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Hoyt, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls free of charge: Uses of halls R. F. Jackson Conf. Room May 23 4-H Meeting " " nn May 24 " " " " " Conf. Room June 14 " " Lex. Allied Veterans Cary Hall May 30 Memorial Services Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to grant the following licenses: Licenses Clarence E. MacPhee 14 Baker Ave. Sunday Sales Countryside Associates Lowell St. " Golf Lex. Theatre, Inc . 1794 Mass . Ave. " Movies The meeting adjourned at 10:25 p.m. A true record, Attest: k 1 1