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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-03-12-min 395 SELECTMEN'S MEETING March 12, 1951 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, March 12th at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Emery, Gay, Dris- coll and Hoyt were present. Mr. Burns, Sup+t. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. Hearing was de$lared open upon the petition of the toston Edison Company for permission to lo- pole cate two poles on Walnut Street. The request orig- Location inated with the Middlesex County Sanitarium and the locations were approved by Mr. Burns. No persons were present in favor or in opposition. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Hoyt, it was voted to approve the following pole locations and sign the order. Walnut Street, northeasterly from a point approximately 450 feet northeast of the Lexington-Waltham Line, two poles. The Chairman mentioned that there are a few budgets upon which the Selectmen and the Approp- riation Committee apparently have not agreed. The first one to be considered was Street Lights, sub- mitted in the amount of $31,800. The Selectmen had Lights approvedthe budget as Submitted, but the Approp- budget Committee ommittee approved $30,000. The Board checked the items in the budget and upon motion of Mr. Every, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted not to make any revision and leave the a- mount approved as $31,800. The next budget to be reviewed was Sewer Services, sewer submitted in the amount of $43,500. The Selectmen Services had approved $35,372 and the Appropriation Committee budget approved $28,000. The Board checked the items in the budget and upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by nor. finery, it was voted not to make any revision and leave the amount approved as $35,372. The Board reviewed the budget for curbings, sub- curbings mitted in the amount of $2,000. The Selectmen had Budget approved the budget as submitted, but the Appropriation Committee approved $1,000. Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to revise the budget and approve it in the amount of $1,000. 396 The hoard discussed the Insect Suppression- Capital-Outlay budget submitted in the amount of $2,500 which provides for the purchase of a new Insect Supp. sprayer. Capital Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Hoyt, Outlay it was voted to revise the budget, disapprove the purchase of a new sprayer and recommend that the Article be indefinitely postponed. Mr. burns retired at 7:40 p.m. Mr. harold E. Stevens and Officer Day met with the hoard. The "hairman explained that Officer Day had been invited to meet with the Board inasmuchas he had been the Spokesman of the 5-day week for the Police Depart- ment. He said that the Board would like him to review the speech he made at a meeting of the Taxpayers' Ass- ociation. Officer Day explained that he read the article in the warrant and informed therou that the entire 24 g p Police members of the Department were nfavor of the5-day Dep m i 5-day week week, but he was late in getting the article in and was unable to secure more than 16 signatured due to the fact that some of the men were on night duty or day off. he explained that the men never have a day and a half off or two days off together unless they are ill or on vacation. He stated that the men have had but one change in theirdaysyears , r off in 30 ye r , and tTi t was in 1947 when, by vote of Town Meeting, they were given one day off in six. Officer Day stated thet the 5-day week would nec- essitate three additional men to cever all present duty assignments which will mean an additional eighteen cents on the tax rate this year. (June 1st to December 31st) He also mentioned the Civil Defense Act and the proclamation of the Governor. He explained that when a request is made to the Board of Selectmen or the Q ief of Police by a Town, the police "shall" be sent to any part of the Commonwealth that requests aid or assistance in an emergency and remain on duty until excused of such duty regardless of the days off. he explained that , in addition to the present em- ergency, under the Rules and Regulations of the Depart- ment, the Officers shall devote their entire time tp the business of the Department and cannot engage in any other business. Certain hours are given to the Officers for the performance of their duty and at all times' they must be prepared to act immediately on call. 397 He explained that all Officers are deemed to be on call, whether in uniform or not. They cannot leave Town without permission from the Chief of Police or the Officer in charge. He said that, in additj.on to the list of Towns he originally presented, the following Towns have adopted the 5-day week: Concord, Belmont, Milton, Winchester, Framingham, Lynnfield and Danvers. Each of these towns, with the exception of Danvers, had to add three additional men: Danvers added four. Officer Lay stated .that in 1908 the Officers were given a day off in thirty; in 1911 one day off in fifteen; in 1920 one day off in eight; in 1947 one day off in six. He said that the men have to work Sundays and holidays unless they come on their day off. The night men, on the first half work from 5:30 p.m. until 12:30. The men )n the second half work from 12:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. Mr. Emery asked if the men ever change from day duty to night duty and Officer Day replied that it is usually up to the individual to change if he so desires and it is not punishment duty. He said that some of the men prefer to work nights because it gives them time off in the day. Off icer Day retired at 8:10 p.m. ' The following individuals met with the Board: Leland Emery, Chairman of the Board of Assessors, William Potter, Chairman of the Cemetery Commissioners, Howard Patterson, Chairman of the Appropriation Com- Joint mittee and Messrs. Bateman, Donnelly, 'Tomes, Cleveland, Meeting Sullivan, Hall, Smith, Tucker and Walker. Mrs. Morey,, on Chairman of the School Committee, was also present. Budgets Mr. Patterson explained that the group was meet- ing g in compliance with the By-laws of the Town of Lex- ington and ahked if the School Committee had any ques- tions relative to the budgets and articles to be pre- sented at the Annual Meeting. Mrs. Morey replied that her Committee is very much 'satisf ied with article 40 and said that the Board of Selectmen has not as yet been askedfor an opinion. The Chairman explained that the Board, at pros- sent, doesn't know anything about it. Mrs. Morey explained that the School Committee is planning to offer a vote that the Town appropriate suf- ficient funds, something under $2,000,000, and to ac- cept the recommendations of the Committee of fifteen that part of the High School be built this year. 3ie said that there must be additional school facilities in 1952 and rather than ask for 2i million to build the whole school, the Committee will ask for the lesser amount. 398 ,b Mr. Patterson asked if the Board of Assessors had any questions and Mr. Leland hmery referred to mt the Assessors' request for additional clerical help for a/portion of the year and said he understood this item had not been approved. Mr. ratterson replied that the Appropriation Committee has approved #500 for a part-time Junior Clerk. Mr. Potter questioned the amounts approved for Cemetery Maintenance and Mr. Pattern explained the transfers to be made from the Sale of Lots Funds. The Chairman referred to an item in the Appro- priation Committee report relative to an item of $4000 in the Highway Maintenance budget for repairs to school driveways. He said that the Selectmen had no knowledge of this amount and if it is to be included, the Board does not feel justified in trying to reduce the budget any further. The group retired at 9:05 p.m. Mr. Clifford, Chairman of the Patriots' Day Committee, and Mr. Foster met with the Board to discuss the Patriots' Day budget. Mr. Clifford said that the Veterans' Council thinks the budget should be about $1,000 which would include a morning and an afternoonarade and explained that Patriots . the largest item is transportation fur the various bands. The chairman explained that the Selectmen recom- Budget mended $1,000 less than requested because they felt that the afternoon parade could be eliminated, but as- sured Mr. Clifford that the Board would reconsider the matter. Messrs, Foster and Clifford retired at 9:25 Ran. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Hoyt, it was voted to reconsider the budget and approve the sum of $1,000. Mr. and Mrs . Sorrento, 7 Theresa Avenue, met with the Board and questioned the sewer betterment assessment levied against their property. The Chairman informed them that the Boarcuwould request more information from the Supt. of Public Works, and advise them at a later date. Mr. and Mrs. Sorrento retired at 9:35 p.m. Burns returned to the meeting. The Chairman read a letter from John A. Rodes, 131 Shade Street requesting that something be done to elim- inate the surface water condition and subsequent icing of the lower end of Shade Street. He clamed that his son slipped on the ice in front of 159 Shade Street and suffered a very serious fractured leg, requiring bone surgery. 399 Mr. Burns reported that Mr. and Mrs . Rodes had been to see him and he told them that people pump- Complaint ing water from their cellard contribute to the con- re ice on dition of the street. Mr. Rodes admitted to him. that Shade Street he pumps onto the street himself . Mr. Burns explained to him that, this particular drainage prbject would cost between $9,000 and $10,000 and he could not guar- antee when it would be undertaken. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it way voted to renew the following licenses : Kieran J. Lowry 286 Lincoln Street Sunday Sales Five Forks Dairy Bar 271 Lincoln Street " " (Until 9:30 p.m. ) Man-AMinnit Golf Club 177 Concord Avenue " Daniel P. Curtin 442 Marrett Road " " W.S. Couette 1710 Mass . Avenue Auctioneer Further consideration was given to the bids re- ceived last week for the collection of garbage in the Town of Lexington, effective April 18, 1951. Garbage Upon motion of Mr. rmery, seconded by Nr. Hoyt, Contract it was voted to award the contract to Stanley Roketenetz 159 New Boston Street, Woburn for the period of one year, at his bid of $12,500, j,royiding he is willing to sign a contract pending examination and approval of same by Town Counsel and Superintendent of Public Works. Mr. Burns reported on the propose Sunnyfield sewer project and stated that Metcalf & Eddy a figure for the Sunnyfield cost of construction of the gravity force is $160,000 Sewer plus a top of $16,000 for engineering, making a total of $176,000. He said that he, personally, figures it to be $220,000. Metcalf & Eddy claim that the project can be done inieTght months which is about forty feet a day. Mr. Burns stated that there neverhFs been a contractor in Lexington, even with two and three crews, who could do thatmuch work. Mr. Burns said that he would be willing to go along with twenty feet a day. Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted that the Board of Selectmen recommend the sum of $220,000 for the Sunnyf i eld sewer. Further discussion w held on the subject of Kinneen's Pond and it w; s agreed to recommend that the sum of $5,000 be appropriated to complete the project this year. the Clerk left the meeting at 11:10 p.m. The Appropriation `'ommittee and the Board of Selectmen concurred on the following budgets: Sewer S"rvices, $33,000; Curbinga, $1,000; S'reet Lights, $31,800; Highway Maintenance, 400 `^ ftt $70,000 (including repairsto driveways at Parker and Adams Schools); Sprayer, $2500 not approved. kr, Keith L. MacLean, electrician, 80 Bloomfield Jurors Street and Harold F. Lombard, ClaiaanManager, 23 Eliot Road, were drawn to serve on a Jury Pool. Letter was received from Chief Rycrof t recommending that James F. Manning, 173 Hancock, Cambridge, be appointed a Special Police Officer. Mr. Manning has charge of the Special Belmont Country Club and is a Special Officer in the Towns Police of Arlington and Belmont. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voteto appoint James F. Manning a Special Police Off icer in the Town of Lexington for a term expiring March 31, 1952. The following bids were received on a 1951 Cadillac ambulance= Miller Sales, Inc. $6,850.00AWithout radio 920 Cambridge Street 7,200.00 With radio Cambridge Meteor Sales of N.E. 5,958.00 Without radio 77 Summer Street 465.00 or 500 with radio Lynn 160.00 Generator system Norman E. Moore 7,200.00 302 Highland Ave . W. Newton A true record, Attest: e , lectalen I L