Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-12-01-min 418 tc SELECTMEN'S MEETING December 1, 1952 ' A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Build- ing, on Monday evening, December 1, 1952, at 7 :00 P. M. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Gay, Driscoll and Reed were present . The Clerk was also present. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of two jurors. The fol- lowing individuals were drawn for jury dutyt Francis Jurors J. Coyne, Jr. , 25 Bridge Street and Paul Ousback, 214 Pollen Road. Mr. Carroll retired at 7 :04 P. M. , and Mr. Burns, Sup't of Public Works, met with the Board. The Chairman read a letter from John B. Smith, Supt: of Schools, requesting that some provision be made for funds to pay insurance premiums on the new High School building and contents. Insurance Mr. Burns stated that he thought he has already asked Mr. Hill df Brewer & Lord, to,:hheck this. The Chairman read a letter from Thomas C. Short, 26 Middle Street, complaining about the surface water condition in front of his house. Mr. Burns said that this man has a point well taken and that this subject has been discussed for about five years. He said that the town did not divert Surface the water but stopped it from going into Mr . Scott's Drainage property. Mr. Short knows this and asked Mr. Burns to Middle St. bring in some dirt, but he told him that this would not solve his problem, and it was felt at the time that the cost of drainage installation, which would take care of only two properties, was too high. Mr. Driscoll inquired about the amount of money involved, and Mr. Burns replied that it is in the vicinity of y$2,500 or $3,000. He informed the Board that he has included this item in his drainage budget for 1953. The Chairman read a letter from the Bedford Water Commissioners advising that the Commission would have no objection to any arrangements that may be made be- tween the Town of Lexington and Raytheon Company in regard to supplying water to the company. The matter is to be presented to the 'scoters in Bedford at a special town meeting in the near future . 419 The Chairman was authorized to advise the Com- missioners that Lexington was not aware of the fact that it is necessary for them to take this subject up III at a Town Meeting, and, if that is true, Lexington will wait to hear from them before taking any action. The Chairman reported that he went over to 275 Concord Avenue to inspect the hole in the street Holman about which Mrs. Holman wrote last week, and the complaint Board authorized him to answer her letter. The Chairman reported that he had viewed the trees on Hastings Avenue that Mr. BOl1'ard would like to have rembved and stated that one of the trees [ is Removal of in line with the garage which Mr. Ballard is building. trees Upon motion of Iva'. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to request Mr. Garrity to post the trees for removal. The Chairman read a letter from Chief Rycroft advising the Board that on Friday, November 2.9th, Mr. McGann, an employee of Connors Bros. was fined Sale of $100 for selling beer to a minor. The boy claimed beer to to be eighteen years old, had a fishing license minor showing he wr.s seventeen years old, but a birth record verified his correct age as fifteen years. Certificate of Incorporation was received from the State on behalf of David T. Toomey, 1061 Mas- Cert. of sachusetts Avenue. Incorp. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to approve the application. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to grant the following licenses : Morris Motors 400 Waltham St. 1st Class Agent Lex. Amusement Co. 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies Berman's Market, Inc . 12-14 Mass. Ave. Package Store Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7 :35 P. M. The Chairman reported that he and Mr. Burns had visited Dawes Road. A letter was received last week from Albert B. Wolfe, on behalf of himself and Roger B. Tyler, trustees and owners of Philip Road, Lantern Lane and the extension of Dawes Road, requesting that the same be accepted by the Town. He said that, as explained by Mr. Burns, one goes down Dawes Road which was constructed some years ago and which is still a Request for private way, then to the extension of Dawes Road which street is now, then up to Lantern Lane to Buckman Drive which acceptance is in the same category. Mr. Burns is not in favor of accepting streets with an unaccepted street intervening. 420 CC Mr. Stevens said that it would not be a good policy to have a gap in between, and recommended that the Board advise Mr. Wolfe that it is the policy of the Board not to recommend acceptance of streets that do not connect with an existing way. The Chairman presented a blue print and trac- ing of a parcel of land located on Wood Street for which offers to purchase have been received from Donald B. Lindsay, 47 Wood Street and Harvey Nugent who owns an adjoining property. He explained that he had written to Mr. Lindsay and asked for an ap- pointment to go over the area with him but never re- ceived a reply. Today he went over the area with Mr. Nugent. The acquisition of this triangle will pro- vide Mr. Nugent with another house lot. Mr. Lindsay Tax title wanted to acquire it for protection. The Chairman property explained that there will be approximately sixty- five to seventy feet between his property and any house that Mr. Nugent may erect. Mr. Reed said that he would not be in favor of selling this land to Mr. Nugent for the price of one dollar. Mr. Stevens suggested that the Board find out from the Assessors what the surrounding property is assessed for, and Mr. Burns was asked to obtain the information. He returned to the meeting and reported that the lots in this area are assessed for $900. Mr. Burns retired at 8;10 P. M. and Mr. Daniel P. O' Connor, Commander of the American Legion, met with the Board. The Chairman explained that the subject to be discussed was the use of a Conference Room in Cary Building which he thought was used by the Legion for Executive Committee meetings. Mr. O'Connor stated that it is used for all regular meetings because the State would not allow more than fifty people to gather in their previous meeting room over the Savings Bank until certain changes had been made and the bank did not want to spend any money on it. The Chairman said that according to the records, the Legion was authorized to use the Conference Room for executive committee meetings only and that, if the situation at the bank is so involved, he thought the Board might approve a request for the use of the Conference Room for regular Legion meetings. He explained that the Board had invited Mr. O 'Connor to the meeting this evening because the Legion has been using the room for some time and apparently is unaware of what the original permis- sion was for. He explained that it is for the use 421 of that room only and does not include the use of the kitchen or the other rooms, turning all the lights on, and overriding the objections of the janitors. He ex- plained that these incidents will have to be stopped. He said that the Board is not trying to censure the Legion but merely trying to acquaint the organization with the history of the use of the room. He asked Mr. O' Connor to take this matter under advisement of his group and if they wish to change the request for the use of the room, submit it in writing. He also asked American that the group make sure that it uses that room only Legion re unless there is a very valid reason for changing. use of Con- Mr. Gay asked how often they required the use of ference Room the kitchen, and Mr. O' Connor said that they meet once a month and always serve coffee and icecream. He said ' that they could use an electric plate in the Conference Room. Mr. Gay asked how many attend the meetings, and Mr. O'Connor replied that it is somewhere between thirty-five and fifty. Mr. Gay asked{ if they needed room for ritualis- tic work, and Mr. O' Connor replied in the negative. Mr. Gay asked if the meetings were for the en- tire Post and if the janitor was paid. Mr. O' Connor replied in the affirmative to the first part of the question and said that they do not pay the janitor when they have their meetings there. Mr. O''Connor stated that the Legion has sufficient funds to erect a building if they had the land and in- quired about the possibility of purchasing the so-called Adams School lot. Mr. Stevens explained that there is some restric- tion in the deed, and the land will not become available to anyone for some years. Mr. O' Connor retired at 8:35 P. M. Chief John W. Rycroft and Officer Joseph A. Bel- castro met with the Board at the Board's request, relative to a charge of neglect of duty preferred Belcastro against Officer Belcastro by Rycroft. Neglect of Following the informal hearing, the following ac- Duty tion was taken by the Board: Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was unanimously voted : That Officer Joseph A. Bel- castro be and hereby is found guilty of the charge of Neglect of Duty in that on Saturday, November 22., 1952, after he had been duly assigned traffic duty at the intersection of Waltham Street and Massachusetts Avenue, See * Lexington, between the hours of 4 :20 P. M. and 5 :30 P. M. below without authority and contrary to the orders issued by the Chief of Police. Further voted : That Officer Joseph A. Belcastro perform 42 hours of punishment duty, the same to be per- formed at such times as may be designated by the Chief of Police. * he left said intersection between 4:30 P. M. and 5:00 P. M. 422 gp ** Officer Belcastro retired at 8:55 P. M. Chief Rycroft retired at 9:25 P. M. Before retiring he recommended that the Board investi- gate the possibility of obtaining permission to take mental patients to the Metropolitan State Hospital rather than having to take them to Worcester. He suggested that the Board contact the Commissioner at the Department of Mental Health, State House, Boston. Letter was received from the County Commis- sioners re petitions for assessment of damages by Willard S. Levings and Barbara R. Levings, and Howard W. Hollis and Wilhelmina Hollis, on account Damages of land takings for the relocation of Paul Revere Paul Revere Road. Road Mr. Stevens said that he is taking care of this and suggested that the Chairman acknowledge the letter and advise the County Commissioners that the Board has requested Town Counsel, Harold R. Stevens, to represent the County as well as the Town in both cases. Application was received from James T. Moran, Revenue Agent, on behalf of the United States In- ternal Revenue Department, for permission to con- duct interviews in a Conference Room on Friday. December 5, 1952, from 9 :00 A. M. until 5 ;00 P. M. Mr. Moran explained to the Clerk that this will eliminate the necessity of taxpayers goingtto._the Boston office to discuss their returns. Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted to grant the request free of charge. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 Fl M. ** Both Chief Rycroft & Officer Belcastro retired before vote of Board. A true record, Attest : 1-4/Cfrk. /