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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-10-27-min 392 A SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 27, 1952 ' A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Build- ing, on Monday evening, October 27, 1952, at 7 :00 P. M. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Emery, Gay and Reed were present. The Chairman read a letter from the State Department of Public Works to which was attached a contract for Chapter 90 work in Hill Street. Mr. Emery questioned signing any contract until slope easements are received from the abut- ters. However, when Mr. Burns arrived at the meet- ing later on in the evening he explained that there are no easements involved. Mr. Emery asked if there were any slope ease- Hill Street ments or other easements involved, and Mr. Burns Chapter 90 replied that there is one on Milk Street, but he Contract does not think they will get to it this year. Mr. Stevens asked if this contract would go that far, and Mr. Burns replied that he doubted very much if it would. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to sign the contract for complete drainage in Hill Street, with the understanding that it will be done under Mr. Burns ' direction. Petition was received signed by several resi- dents on Maple Street requesting the installation of street lights through to Lowell Street. Street Lights Inasmuch as the appropriation for 1952 has al- Maple Street ready been allocated this will have to be consid- ered when the 1953 budgets are discussed and, if acted upon favorably, be given further considera- tion subsequent to July first. Further consideration was given to Mr. Mac- Farland's request for the removal of a tree from in front of his property at 481 Concord Avenue. Tree The Board was of the opinion that the tree, Removal although not in perfect condition, was too good to destroy and therefore voted to deny Mr. MacFarland 's 'ecAlOst to have it removed. License Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Emery, it was voted to grant a Sunday Movie License to the Lexington Amusement Co., Inc. 393 Application for a Junk Collector 's License was received from Vernon S. Rivet, 135 Burlington Road, Bedford. The Chairman read a report from the Chief of Police advising that on January 17, 1949, the appli- Junk License cant was in Concord District Court for collecting Denied junk without a license, was fined $20.00 and ap- pealed. On May 22, 1951, he was in Concord Court again for collecting junk without a license . Both offenses occurred in Acton. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Emery, it was voted to deny the application. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Emery, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls: Uses of Halls 4-H Club Conf. Room 11/6 free Lex. Boys ' Club Estabrook 11/20 free Knights of Columbus Cary Hall 12/27 $35.00 Application from the Lexington Counseling Ser- vice for permission to conduct a brief meeting ("'to vote to adjourn to a later date" ) in a Conference Room on Monday, November 17th, was denied. Application was received from James E. Collins, on behalf of the Lexington Boys ' Club, for permis- sion to conduct a Paper Drive on Sunday, November 16th; Mr. Collins being aware of the fact that Arch- bishop Cushing ' s Drive is scheduled for November 2nd. Paper Drive Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the request . The Chairman reported that Mr. Lindstrom in- formed him that he has not had a vacation since he took his job , and decided that he wants one this Bailding and year. He made arrangements with a retired inspector Plumbing from Watertown to take over the inspections during Insp. his two weeks absence, but the man died. He informed vacation the Chairman that the State has approved Lester Andrews as a Plumbing Inspector, and Mr. Hallett has agreed to take over the Building inspections. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to approve the transfer from the Reserve Fund to pay Messrs. Andrews and Hallett during Mr. Lindstrom's two weeks vacation. The Chairman read a letter from Chief Rycroft in regards to an attempted break which occurred Satur- day night at Bradford 's Garage on Bedford Street. 30 Cr 9y Upon motion of Mr . Gay, seconded by Mr. Emery, it was voted to authorize the Chairman to send a Police letter to the Chief commending the officers; the Commendation information to be transmitted to the men in Wa at- ever way the Chief may determine. Letter was received from Wilbur L. Peabody, Jr. , 64 Locust Avenue, President of the Follen Hill Estates Association, requesting a member of the Board to attend a meeting on November 18th to discuss legal rights and responsibilities of pri- vate roads and town roads. It was suggested that the Chairman advise Mr. Peabody that the Board is unpaid and, in view of the numerous requests of associations and groups Follen such as his, if one invitation is accepted, all Hill invitations would have to be, and the members of Assoc. the Board would not have an evening to themselves. It has, therefore, adopted the policy of not at- tending such meetings. However, any information that a group may desire can be obtained from the Board for from Mr. Burns, if the request for in- formation is submitted . Mr. Emery suggested that the Town Counsel attend this particular meeting inasmuch as he lives in the neighborhood, and, when he arrived at the meeting, agreed to do so. Mr. Burns arrived at the meeting at 7 :30 P. M., and he requested permission to purchase a Purchase of sand spreader. He explained that he had received Sand Spreader two bids; one for $1,635. and one for $1,670. Mr. Emery asked if he has funds in his budget and he replied in the affirmative. Mr. Burns brought up the subject of sewer installation in Franklin Road to service the last two lots on the road, and said that it will involve about $1,.800,,, and the assessments will be between $1,100 and $1,200. Mr. Emery asked who had petitioned for the sewer, and Mr. Burns replied that it was Mr. Baskin. Mr. Emery asked if he had funds in his bud- get, and he replied in the affirmative. Mr. Emery asked if the work uld be done for houses that do not exist, and Mr. Burns replied that building permits have been applied for. Mr. Emery asked why the Board should impose a financial burden on people who have been here for years and who do not want the sewer. Sewer in The Chairman asked if Mr. Burns thought even- Franklin tually when this area is built up and Reed and Road Kingsley continue the use of the cesspools a bad condition might exist. �6� 1395 Mr. Burns said that he thought within six months after the houses are completed there will be requests for the sewer. He said that he does not know how either of these houses are getting by now. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Burns contact Mr. Baskin and advise him that the Boa d might ap- prove the installation if there is not too much ob- jection from the abutters and ask Mr. Baskin to cir- culate his petition. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7;50 P.M. Letter was received from Manuel Souza, 5 Gil- man Terrace, Somerville, requesting the extension of a water main in Eastern Avenue from School Street. The arrangement for supplying water to the Eastern houses on Eastern Avenue is strictly private, made Avenue between the neighbors, and the Board does not want to Water interfere in a private line. Letter was received from Roessler & Sons Inc . , 117 Salem Street, Woburn, quoting a price of $215. to remove paint from the Minute Man monument and to clean same. Letters were also received from F. F. McGann & Sons quoting $2.65 to work on the Minute Man Bas- Relief Memorial and $235 to apply a new bronze patina color tone lacquering the background and Cleaning waxing at the site of the Captain Parker Statue. Monuments Mr. Stevens agreed to inquire about trust funds that might be available for this work. The Chairman was authorized to proceed to have the work done if the money is available. Mr. Burns retired at 8 ;15 P. M. and Messrs. Burke and Barrett, representing the Chamber of Com- merce, met with the Board. Mr. Burke explained that the Chamber of Commerce is going to put on another Christmas promotion hav- ing to do with retail sales. They would like to land Santa Claus in a helicopter within the Town limits and would like to have him within a short distance Chamber of from the shopping area and have selected the Common Commerce as the site. He would distribute candy and movie Christmas tickets to the children and then parade to the center Retail with two bands - the High School Band and a band from Plans the Murphy General Hospital. The date for the pro- posed activity is Saturday, December 6th. The Chairman said that the Board has a particu- lar regard for the Common and has always tried to keep anything commercial away from it. He said he thought it might be feasible to land a helicopter on the Common but was sure the Board would not approve. 396 gO He reviewed the tentative plant to have a creche on the Qommon this Christmas and suggested that the Chamber of Commerce land the helicopter on the ball field. It was concluded that the Chairman would contact Doctor Foley, of the Recreation Committee, and, if agreeable, contact Mr. Burke re landing the helicopter on the enclosed field. It was also suggested that the route of the parade be deter- mined as late as possible due to the fact that the New England Telephone Company may be digging Mas- sachusetts Avenue up from Clarke Street to Harring- ton Road. Messrs. Burke and Barrett retired at 8:25 P. M. Mr. Burnsr eturned to the meeting at 8:40 P. M. Mr. Stevens reported that he had talked with Mr. Holt in regard to the culvert on Tavern Lane and was advised that he sold the land to Berglund but made no representations to them about the cul- vert. Mr. Stevens said that if the Town is providing drainage for land, it is something different than repairing a road. He stated that, if the road is passable and all the Town is doing is draining the land, he did not think it would be considered as re- pairing the road. Mr. Burns said that Tavern Lane was laid out. When the Town went through with the sewer, a con- Calvert struction road was built and no problem was created Tavern Lane until a house was erected. He said that, if the culvert pipe is fixed, Mrs . Berglund will insist upon having the road repaired to her satisfaction. Mr. Stevens said that the Town cannot make re- pairs to the road, and the Chairman said that she would have to be informed that the Board does not believe it is the townTs responsibility, and, if she wishes to press the issue, she will have to take legal measures. He asked if the Board wanted to authorize the expenditure of $50 or $100 in an effort to correct the situation, but no action was taken. The Chairman reported that he and the Chairman of the Planning Board, together with representatives of the Recreation Committee visited the area in the vicinity of Grassland Street which the Committee would like to acquire and develop as a play area. The Committee wants to acquire five lots with the possibility of four more and the lots are 501 x 2501 . Of the five lots, two are owned by the Town. He asked Doctor Foley to present the Board with a concrete plan and find out from the owners if they would dispose of the lots and if so at what price. The Meeting adjourned at 9:10 P. M. erk