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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-12-08-min 423 SELECTMEN'S MEETING 1 , December 8, 1952 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Build- ing, on Monday evening, December 8, 1952, at 7 :00 P. M. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Gay, Driscoll and Reed were present. The Clerk was also present. The Chairman read a letter from John J. Sullivan, submitting his resignation as a member of the Approp:4 Resignation riation Committee due to the fact that his activities have been curtailed for an indefinite period as a re- sult of an accident. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Burns, Supt of Public Works, requesting a transfer of $6,100 for payment of the Woburn Street water costs, together with an explanation of the project and money involved . Transfer Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to recommend to the Appropriation Com- mittee that the sum of $6,100 be transferred from the Reserve Fund to the Woburn Street crater Construction Account. The Chairman read a letter from.the Lexington Chamber of Commerce requesting the elimination of Parking the enforcement of parking meters during the hours Meters after 6:00 P. M. for the month of December. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it_was voted to eliminate the enforcement of the parking meters after 6:00 P. M. on Friday evenings during the month of December. Letter was received from the Lexington Construc- tion Co., Inc. with reference to an offer to pur- chase a small parcel of land on Wood Street. The Chairman reported that Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, has found some technicalities in the title Tax Title and this particular piece of property may be owned Property by Mr. Napoli. He is now checking and expects to have some information for the Board next week. The Clerk reported that Mr. William H. DeScenza, 31 Stanley Avenue, Medford, had called at the office to find out what decision the Board had made on his Tax Title offer of $150. for fifteen lot' located on Edna, Property Freemont and Bellflower Streets. The offer was held over inasmuch as a majority of the members of the Board want to view the property. 424 = g0 A letter was received from the Appropriation II Committee advising of the following transfers from Transfers the Reserve Fund : Police Department Expenses (new cruiser) $423.24 Elections - Selectmen 147.14 Westview Cemetery - Maintenance 242.00 Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it Uses of was voted to grant the following uses of halls, free halls of charge : American Legion Auxiliary Conf. Room Dec. 15 Meeting Morning Study Group Estabrook Jan. 15 Meeting Lexington Choral Society Cary Dec. 13 :Rehearsal Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to grant the following licenses: Frederic R. Childs 409 Mass. Ave. 1st Class Agent F.. K. Johnson, Inc. 39-41 Bedford St. a a Hardy's Garage 915 Waltham St. a n nt John J. Dacey 424 Marrett Road Common Victualler Sidney B. Heywood 271 Marrett Road 0 '" Licenses Kieran J. Lowry 286 Lincoln St. la n Old Coffee House 1775 Mass. Ave. * re II Regent Delicatessen 1729 Mass. Ave. H IS Corner Variety Shop 856 Mass, Ave. 'Q I The 1775 House 130 Pleasant St. 0 » Ye Towne Diner 17221 Mass. Ave: IS a Lex. Amusement Co. 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies Joseph Trani, Inc. 1757 Mass. Ave. Package Goods Store At 8:45 P. M. Miss Marcia Dane met with the Board, and explained that she was present as a private citizen, not representing any of the various organizations to which she belongs. She stated that she desired to dis- cuss handling of juvenile cases not as a criticism, but because she thought the Town has reached the size where this subject should be considered. When she first wrote Miss Dane to the Board she was going to present other cases but re : since writing, another ease illustrating much better Juvenile what she has in mind came up. She said that she would like to have considered, for the .good o1 the Town, a setup much as the Fire De- partment now has, for the Police Department, that is a Board of Commissioners, not because she does not think the Selectmen are doing a good job, but with the sire of the Town now, it is almost impossible to do the checkup work which should be done with the conditions I as they are now. She said that the pressure being put dt25 on whoever is at the head, should not be put on him. Miss Dane said that she has not talked to the Chief of Police about this. She felt that the business of the Town is too big now for the amount of supervision and backing any Police Department should have. She said that she would present to the Board a particular ease to illustrate what she means. She asked if she were correct in assuming that ordinarily the Board does not follow any of the cases that come in. The Chairman explained that her assumption was not quite correct and stated that either he or some member of the Board is in quite constant attendance to see what is going on that is new or bad - checking up on accidents and general items. He stated that the Board does not make a practice of holding a weekly meeting such as the Fire Commissioners do, and that there are Rules and Regu- lations for the Police Department and the Board relies on the Chief to enforce them. Miss Dane said that the Board may or may not know that on the 14th of November a juvenile was coming out of Connors store with liquor on him, was brought to the Police Station and his father called in. She said that she knew from conversation that a good deal of pressure was brought to bear on the Chief of Police and maybe the officer too, to take care of it with as little fuss for the Connors as possible; She said that this is the type II of thing that is happening all over the nation. She stated that when the case came to Court she went up to hear what happened. They brought the Clerk in and he was sentenced to having sold to a minor. A good number of young boys know about this and feel very strongly that the case was hushed up so to speak from their point of view because perhaps Connors or someone else had enough money to work the thing out so that they did not have to close the store. She said they feel it is easy to go in any store and get liquor, and she thought that if there were a special board, they would give a great deal more time for anything of this sort and give the Chief more backing. She said that some people would be discouraged from trying to get around anyone. She feels that it would be a protec- tion to the young people if a Board had only this to do. She explained that she is not criticising the Board or the Chief but feels that any man in his position has a terrific amount of pressure brought on him all the time. She said that if he were to tell the truth, he would say there is pressure brought on him. The Chairman said that regardless of the number of Commissioners, he would have the same pressure and ex- plained that the Board has had a complete report from him because he considered this an important issue. He said that the Chief's personal opinion is that the Clerk who was fined is as good a man as one could find working any- where. He stated that this was definitely an error that 426 CC gp has been made but resulted in a crime if one wanted to call it that - the man was severely fined. The Chairman said that these people attempt to conduct their business very much above board, and the inuen- does going around town about information have been, to him, very disturbing. Miss Dane said that she could have mentioned other cases, but this is the most recent one, and some of these pressure people might be stopped if there were a Commission set up. The Chairman mentioned that the Police Depart- ment is under Civil Service, and Civil Service binds the Chief very thoroughly in what he can do, and he has to be very formal about these. things. He has con- tacted the Board twice during the past year about derelict of duty and has fined two officers on that score. He said that the Chief is trying to operate the Department right. He informed Miss Dane that it would require a special Act of Legislature to set up a Commission, and he thought it might be very diffi- cult to get men to serve on such a Commissioh. How- ever, Miss Ilan said that she did not agree with the Chairman. The Chairman said that the Chief by law cannot publish any convictions or name any juvenile. Miss Dane said that she still believes it is something that should be tried. The Chairman said that his remarks were not in- tended to be antagonistic and that if Miss Dane had any idea in her mind such as this, the Board will co- operate to make it possible for her to set up the proper machinery, and present it to the Town Meeting. She asked if the Board would rather have it come from an outside group, and the Chairman said that the Board has not considered the subject, and he would not make any remark this evening because he might misinform her. Miss Dane said that she thought this should be con- sidered and also that it would be better to have it come from the Board of Selectmen who would in effect be saying that they were too busy, whereas coming from the outside, it might be criticism. The Chairman explained that it could not be pre- sented at the Annual Town Meeting in March because someone would have to present an Act tocthe Legis- latureand the last day for filing was December 3rd. Miss Dane said that now is the time to be thinking about it so that some action could be taken another year. Mr. Driscoll said that he thought the Chairman had been very modest and stated that he is in close contact with the Chief of Police at all times. He said that no Police Commissioner or Board would be any closer than the present Chairman. He also stated that he thought the Chief of Police is far beyond pressure. 427 Miss Dane said that pressure is often brought to bear in devious ways, not to any one particular person but to all members of the Department. Mr. Driscoll said that the Chief is under Civil Service and trying to do a good job. The Chairman said that he has not spent as much time on police matters as a Board of Commissioners would and that the rumors disturb him because he knows the Chief is irreproachable in his honesty. He never discusses trivia, but he is on the job on anything that requires a town wide aspect, and the Board always tries to back him up. Miss Dane said that in the last year or two there have been several cases where groups of boys had done the same thing and when the court cases were brought there were only two or three who actually went to court. She said that there may be reasons why, but it does something very bad to the boys who don't go as well as to the boys who do go. She said this is the type of thing that is hurting the youngster. The Chairman explained that the boys have to be definitely caught before they can be brought to court and the cases have to be studied very thoroughly or the police would• find themselves in trouble. He said that if Miss Dane wanted to follow it through, arld the •Board could be of any assistance for her to contact him. Miss Dane retired at 9:10 P. M. The Clerk also retired. The Board of Fire Commissioners met with the Select- men and discussed policy and budgets until 10:45 P. M. A true record, Attest : J)/ er