HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-04-02-min 418 an
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
April 2, 1951
A regular meeting oftthe Board of Selectmen
was held in the Selectmen s Room, Town Office
Building, on Monday evening, April 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
Chairmen Nickerson, Messrs. Gay, Emery, Driscoll
and Hoyt were present. The Clerk was also present.
Hearing was declared open upon the petition
of Morris Bloomberg for permission to maintain one
Gasoline underground tank for the storage of 1,000 gallons
Hearing of gasoline on premises at the rear of 400 Waltham
Street. The petitioner was the only person present.
Notice of the hearing was read by the Chairman
and the application was approved by Captain Beleastro
of the Lexington Fire Department.
Mr. Bloomberg stated that he operates the Plymouth
Motor Company and needs gasoline for private use in
his trucks and salesmen's ears. He informed the
Board that some years ago a permit had been issued
at this location to Mr. A. W. Partridge.
Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Dris-
coll, it was voted to grant a permit to Morris Bloom-
berg to maintain one underground tank for the storage
of 1,000 gallons. of gasoline on premises at the
rear of 400 Wlatham Street.
Mr. Bloomberg retired at 7 :04 p.m.
Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the
Board. He said that the Town Clerks' Association
Sign of will hold a convention in Boston Maty ast through
Welcome to the 25th and he, being a member, is expected to do
Town Clerks something in the way of entertainment. The group
consists of about 350 members and they plan to visit
Lexington on May 24th. Mr. Carroll requested per-
mission to place a welcome sign between the two win-
dows in the Engineering Department. He presented two
samples of the proposed sign - "Welcome to Lexington
National Institute of Municipal Clerks" or "Welcome
National Institute of Municipal Clerks".
Mr. Carroll retired at 7:10 p.m.
Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gal ,
it was voted that the request be granted.
Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, met with
Location the Board. The Chairman stated that it is the opin-
of ion of the Board that the generator, now located
Generator in the Police Department, would be better housed
outside of the building. He asked if Mr. Burns
on uld assume the responsibility of designing a con-
crete water-proof building so that prices may be obtained
from three contractors and 14r. Burns replied in the
affirmative.
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The Chairman stated that there has been some
discussion about t e drainage on Winthrop Road
between Dr. Murray s house and Tracy Amest house. Winthrop
The question now, as proposed by the two abutters,
is how about putting some riprapon top so that Drainage
it will not cave in and so that/lo one will fall in.
Mr. Burns said that inasmuc s the project has U
been done up to this point, he f t that it should
be continued. He said that it is not an expensive
job, but that he would like some time on it.
Mr. Burns reported that he had received a tele-
phone call from George Wadsworth &eking if arrange-
ments could be made for a group from M. I. T. to Experimental
do some experimental work in locating ledge, using Work by
the site of the proposed high school. They have M. I. T.
to use dynamite and rather than go to the expense students
of securing a bond, aske44f Mr. Burns vould have
one of his men do the dynamiting, which he agreed
to do. He explained to the Board that he asked
Mr. Hurley of Stetson Street, a professor at M. I. T.
about locating ledge in connection with town jobs,
particularly sewers. Mr. Hurley would expect to
receive $50 per day and thought he could do between
6,000 and 7,000 feet a day. However, Mr. Burns said
that he doubted if Mr. Hurley could get that amount
of footage a day.
The Chairman suggested, and the Board agreed,
to defer any action until the results of the exper-
iment at the high school area are received.
Further consideration was given to Mr. Kochis +
complaint relative to the drainage on_ lands border-
ing lot 77 on Marrett Road. The Board had again
viewed the area last Saturday and Mr. Burns pre-
sented an aerial photograph of the neighborhood,
and explained that the height of the pipe out of
the reservoir is within an inch of being level at
the entrance to the tax title lot 77 owned by the
Town.
Mr. Emery asked if there is anything in the
Lexington Drainage Act that established future
maintenance. Kochis
Mr. Stevens replied that there is nothing in
the Act to indicate that once the Town does work it Drainage
has to continue with maintenance, but from a practical Complaint
point he did not see how it could do otherwise.
Mr. Emery said that if Town Counsel advises
that the Town does not assume any legal responsibility
to continue maintenance he would be willing to make
a motion to do the work suggested by Mr. Burns pro-
viding the Town definitely stays off Mr. Martin s
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property and further providing the Town secures a com-
plete release, prepared by Tovai Counsel, from Mr.
Martin.
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Mr. Driscoll seconded the motion and it was
so voted.
Mr. Burns was told that this project could
be deferred until the pressure of work had lessened
and he agreed to contact Mr. Stevens relative to
the release for Mr. Martin to sign.
The Chairman read a letter from Swenson Bros.
Swenson re: relative to proposed cleaning of Clematis Brook.
Clematis Mr. Burns explained, by use of the wall map, where
Brook the brook has been cleaned and the portion vxh ieh
Mr. Swenson wants cleaned.
The Board agreed to view the area next Saturday
morning.
The Chairman read a letter from the County
Commissioners, together with petition, for specific
Paul Revere repairs on Paul Revere Road. It was the opinion of
Road the Board that the plans should be studied before
signing the Petition requesting a hearing. Mr. Burns
agreed to contact Mr. Batch, County Commissioner,
and ask to have a set of plans submitted to the Board.
Letter was received from Eugene L. Morgan sug-
gesting that the Committee to be appointed by the
Moderator to study revision of Building and Plumbing
Gas Fitting By-laws also consider a Gas Fitting By-law.
By-law Mr. Stevens advised that the Selectmen have no
authority to direct the Committee to do anything.
It was agreed to have the Chairman inform 14r. Morgan
that the Board has no power to direct the proposed
Committee to include a Gas Fitting By-law in its study,
but that a copy of Mr. Morgan's letter would be for-
warded to the Committee when appointed.
tar. Stevens retired at 8:55 p.m.
The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. William F.
Mason sick pay Mason with reference to her husband's loss of pay
due to sickness in 1950.
1'ie Chairman was authorized to inform Mrs. Mason
that no change is to be made in the original vote
of the Board which denied sick leave pay to Mr. Mason
inasmuch as he neglected to comply with the rule whereby
a doctor's certificate must be presented.
r. Gay reported that Stanley Phalen had called
Winthrop Rd. him to find out how soon work is to be started on
sewer the extension of the sewer in Winthrop Road. The
Chairman suggested, s. nd the Board agreed, that Mr.
Burns advise Mr. Fhalen that his request will be
considered and the work done in its turn on the list.
421
Petition was received from the Boston Edison
Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph
Company for joint pole locations on Woburn Street. Pole
The proposed locations have been approved by the Locations
Town Engineer.
Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr.
Hoyt, it was voted to grant the petition and
approve the following pole locations :
'W burn Street, northerly side and
easterly, from a point approximately
80 feet east of Leonard Road, 3 poles.
ketition was received from the Boston Edison
Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph
Company for joint pole locations on Lowell Street.
The proposed locations have been approved by the
Town Engineer.
Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr.
Hoyt, it was voted to grant the petition and approve
the following pole locations :
Lowell Street, northwesterly from a
point approximately 1,320 feet northwest
of Summer Street, 2 poles.
Letter was received from the Boston Council,
Boy Scouts of America in reference to the Scout
Pilgrimage; April 14th. The Council requested 300
feet of snow fence and metal posts to be erected Snow Fence
on the Lincoln Street side of the playground in: an
effort to control crowds .
Mr. Garrity has no objection to the erection
of the fence and Mr. Burns agreed to furnish it, the
organization to set it up and take it down.
Mr. Burns retired at 9:15 p.m.
Petition was received signed by residents of
Walnut Street requesting the erection of "Children -
Go Slow" signs. Mr. Burns had informed the Board Signs
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that there are no signs on hand and they cost ap-
proximately $20 each.
Ar. Driscoll agreed to make a traffic survey
of the street and report at the next meeting of the
Board.
The Chairman read a letter from lir. Thomas rel- Report
ative to the location of a Communications and Report Center
Center for Civil Defense.
Mr. Emery suggested, and the Chairman agreed,
to contact Mr. Thomas and go over Cary Building with
him, to determine whether or not a suitable place
can be found for the location of a Report Center.
422 cc
Letter was received from the American Legion
requesting permission to hold a Field Day at the
Field Day Center Playground on July 4th and further requesting
Paper Drive permission to conduct a paper drive on June 10th.
The request for the use of the Center Playground
was referred to the Recreation Committee. ,
Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll,
it was voted to grant the Legion permission to
conduct a paper drive on Sunday, June 10th.
Letter was received from Dominic Petringa, 141
Tax title Bailey Road, Somerville, offering $400 for lots
Property 50 through 53 Hillside Avenue, Munroe Deveolpment,
East Lexington.
Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Emery,
it was voted to advise Mr. tetringa that the location!
of these lots is strategic for development purposes
and therefore the Board is not in favor of disposing
of them It this time.
Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Hoyt,
it was voted to grant the following licenses:
Licenses Lexington Theatre, Inc. 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies
John J. Dacey 424 Marrett Rd. Sunday sales ,
Mr. Maurice G. Feely's application for a Com-
mon Victualler's license at 405 Waltham Street was
denied, Mr. Driscoll having reported to the Board
that the owner of the store does not want to rent
it to Mr. Feely.
Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr.
Hoyt, it was voted to signan Order establishing
Woodland Woodland Road as a town way from Adams Street a
distance of approximately 1535 feet. (Copy of Order
Road in Selectmen's files - Highways, Woodland Road, 1951. )
Application was received from the LafayetteClub,
requesting permieion to conduct a Play Night for club
Use of hall members and friends, for which admission will be
charged, in Estabrook Hall on Tuesday evening, May 1st.
Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by +ir: Driseoll,
it was voted to grant the use of the hall subject to
a charge of $10.00.
The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Rich, Tem-
porary Town Accountant, suggesting an increase from
Rate for 85¢ per hour to $1.00 per hour for the part-time
Bart-time clerk in the Accounting Department. The explanation
Clerks given was so that this Clerks wages rate would conform
with the wages paid other part-time clerks in other
Departments. The Chairman was instructed to secure more
information on the subject.
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Further consideration was given to the bids
submitted by F. K. Johnson, Inc. and Frederic R.
Childs for twonew cruising cars for the Police
Department.
It was voted to rescind the vote of the Board,
passed at a meeting held on March 27, 1951, accepting
the bid for two Ford DeLuxe Tudor Sedans. Police
It was then voted to purchase one Ford DeLuxe Cars
Tudor Sedan, turning in the 1949 Chevrolet and to
purchase on Styleline Special Model Chevrolet 2-door
sedan, turning in the 1948 Chevrolet.
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
A true record, Attest:
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