Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-10-06-min 375 SFLRCTMEN'S MEETING I IIOctober 6, 1952 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, October 6, 1952 at 7 :00 P. M. Charman Nickerson, Messrs. Emery, Gay and Driscoll were present . Mr. Burns, Sup't of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present . Mr. Reed arrived at 9:05 P. M. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for i/o pole locations on Pole Coo .idg a Avenue. Mr. Mahan, representative of the location Boston Edison Company, was the only person present. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following j/o pole location: Coolidge Avenue, northwesterly from a point approximately 25 feet northwest of Diehl Road - three poles. 11The hearing was declared closed and Mr. Mahan retired at 7 :05 P. M. Copy of a letter from George Conklin, 15 Nichols Road, to the Vespa Quinton Company, esti- Claim mating damages from blasting, was noted and placed on file. The Chairman read a letter from Bedford Board of Selectmen advising that said Board has approved the request of the United States Navy for a license to ] ay a water main in Summer, South and Forest Water supply Strtets and Hartwell Road, to convey water to the to Raytheon Raytheon Manufacturing Company. The Bedford Select- men also approved the sale of water to Raytheon by the Town of Lexington. Mr. Burns questioned whether the Bedford Select- men could act for the Bedford Water Commissioners, and Mr. Emery suggested that a copy of the letter be for- warced to Mr. Stevens and that he confer with Mr. Kelley, Town Counsel of Bedford . The Chairman read a letter from Arley A. Ambler, 10 h}orton Road, requesting the installation of a street light between numbers 8 and 10 Norton Road. Street Mr. Burns stated that he will be able to have one light more light installed this year. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to grant the request . 376 00 The Chairman read a letter from Richard F. that a contri- Jackson Health Sanitarian advising t contri- Complaint butingfactor to the stagnant water in the rear of P Mr. Bezanson's house at 19 Hill Street is a culvert in Milk Street which is set too high. Mr. Burns explained the situation, by use of the wall map, and it seemed to the Board that the only solution might involve spending a substantial portion of the drainage appropriation for 1953. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7 :35 P. M. The Chairman was instructed to discuss the sub- ject with Mr. Jackson, The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Stevens in regard to the Welfare Compensation Plan in which he Welfare advised the Board that he does not believe it is Comp. Plan necessary for the Selectmen to attend the public hearing to be held on October 17th. At 8:00 P. M. Mr. Edward L. Mears, represent- ing the First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Mr. Alan Adams, representing the Planning Board, met with the Selectmen. Mr. Mears explained that the Church has ideas in txo directions; one is possible expansion of the building which may be an addition, and the other is that it may want to spend money for parking facili- ties. Before spending any money on the property, the Church would like to know if the Town has any plans for development in that area. Mr. Adams stated that the Planning Board had talked about that area when it rezoned two years ago. It seems to the members of his Board that some day business will go in that direction for a considerable distance. At the time the Planning Board only laid out to Raymond Street, but did set up a ten-foot setback in that area, and had a very definite feeling that sometime within the next ten, fifteen or twenty years business would go down there, with the possibility of widening the street. Mr. Mears asked where the Church reached Town property, aid Mr. Burns replied that the boundary line is in the ditch. Mr. Mears asked if there would be a road ex- tending Muzzey Street down to the High School, and Mr. Burns replied in the affirmative. He said that the School Committee 's plans for the present is a strip twelve or fifteen feet wide to be used for foot traffic, but they have also been to him for in- formation in regard to a constructed road. The Chairman explained when the funds for the new High School were cut down, it took the streeting and ground work. However, there will be a Town Meet- ing on November 17th at which time the School Com- mittee will ask for money. 377 Mr. Mears said that his particular interest is whether the Town has any definite plans in the area. The Chairman said that the definite plans , he would take it, would be that Muzzey Street will be extended up at Park Drive. Mr. Stevens explained that, if funds are approp- riated at the Special Town Meeting, t he School Com- mittee is going along with the foot path. Mr. Mears retired at 8:00 P. M. Mr. Earl Outhet met with the Board. He stated that the Little League is coming to Lexington next year, and the Lions Club is going to spons-, r a team for which they must raise some funds. He mentioned the Merchants Exhibit to be Sound truck held November 13th and 14th and said that the Lions Club would like permission to use a sound truck. The Chairman explained that the Board does not want to be unco-operative, but it is deluged with requests for the use of sound trucks and has re- fused them except in some very extraordinary cases . He said that the Board is not in favor of granting this request. Mr. Outhet said that the Club intends to have two boats on display and asked permission to locate them in the driveway or on Cary Lawn. Mr. Gay suggested using the parking area in the rear, and Mr. Outhet said that they had not thought of that. Mr. Outhet retired at 8:06 P. M. Mr. Stevens reported that he has talked with Mr. Broadhurst who told him that when he received a taking order he wrote to Dr. Barnes that he had it and was going to talk with Town Counsel but would first have to know what Dr. Barnes had in mind. As Barnes ' yet, he has never heard anything from the doctor. claim He also informed Mr. Stevens that, when he met with the Board some time ago, he was representing Dr. Barnes and Mr. Buttrick, but he has not heard any- thing in the meantime. Mr. Stevens reported that he has a claim against the Town on behalf of Emma J. Lannefeld. It is made in her name, but it is in the hands of the insurance company who paid her for damages to Blasting her foundation wall which was alleged to have been Claim caused by blasting. He said that it is a claim against the Town of Lexington Water Department in the sum of 028.50 for damage alleged to have been caused by blasting, and they will have to prove negligence. He said that only a Town Meeting can authorize settlement of a claim beyond 000. 378 Petition was received, signed by over 100 registered voters, requesting the insertion of an article in the warrant which ago uld amend the Zoning t By-law by adding to the C-2 district an area located on Bedford Street, now in an R-1 district. Mr. Burns said that sewer betterment assess- ments were levied against two parcels of farm land and one house lot owned by Jerry Cataldo on Bow Street. At some time in the discussion, Mr. Cataldo Cataldo understood the assessment on the farm land would be interest deferred without interest, but this was never done, abated and he has now received a bill for interest amount- ing to $55.60. W. Cataldo is opposed to paying the interest but will pay the entire assessment in one payment. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to abate interest, billed to Ciriaco Cataldo, in the amount of $55.60. Mr. Gay brought up the subject of sand being spilled on the streets due to overloaded sand trucks, and the Chairman was authorized to con- Sand tact the Chief of Police and ask him to instigate trucks another campaign to control the situation. Petition, signed by six residents of Bartlett Avenue, was received requesting the construction Bartlett Ave. of a sewer in Bartlett Avenue from the new M. D. C. sewer trunk line to Lowell Street. Mr. Burns explained that he asked these people to have a request in by the fifteenth and that he would prepare an assessment sheet for the property owners to sign. The return of the signed assessment sheet would determine whether or not the sewer is installed. Messrs. Burns and Stevens retired at 9:15 P. M. Letter was received from Edward J. McCaffrey, Postmaster in Concord, requesting permission, on behalf of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States, to install a temporary pub- Public lic address system on the Common for use the address afternoon of Monday, October 13th. It is esti- system mated that 2500 postmasters will visit the Green on that day. The Board was in favor of granting the request. A second letter was received from Mr. McCaffrey inviting the members of the Board to attend cere- monies on the Common, Monday, October 13th at 3 :00 P. M. ' 379 Letter was received from Mr. Harry Jones, 7 Williams Court, Somerville, accepting the Board's price of $50 for Lot 70 Brandon Street. Mr. Gay moved that a proposal to sell the lot Tax title be advertised in the Lexington Minute Man and that property further consideration be given the offer at the next meeting of the Board. Mr. Reed seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Further consideration was given to Mrt. Marion B. Steeves ' offer of $300.00, plus water betterment assessment of $75 for Lot 57 Grandview Avenue. A proposal to sell the lot was advertised in the Lex- ington Minute Man on October 2, 1952. No persons Tax title contacted the Selectmen's office as a result of the property advertisement . Mr. Emery moved that the offer be accepted and that Lot 57 Grandview Avenue, Lexington, be sold and conveyed to Mrs. Marion B. Steeves . Mr. Gay seconded the motion, and it was so voted . Letter was received from Mr. W. C. Casey, 1063 Massachusetts Avenue, on behalf of the Sacred Heart Women's Club, requesting permission to hold a rum- Rummage mage sale at the Barnes property. sale Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to grant the request. Letter was received from Mrs. Ann L. Culbertson, on behalf of the American Legion Auxiliary, request- ing permission to erect a booth at the corner of April 19th Massachusetts Avenue and Meriam Street on April 19, 1953. The Chairman was authorized to acknowledge the letter and advise Mrs . Culbertson to reiterate her request some time after the first of January, 1953. The Chairman read a letter from Miss Dorothy L. Colby, 19 Pine Knoll Road, in regard to a Nativity Scene that a group is planning to have on the Com- mon for Christmas. Apparently the group is not re- questing funds directly. They will supply the Christmas building and figures and set it up, but they want the Town to store it and provide protection while it is on display. The Chairman was authorized to advise Miss Colby that the Board suggests having a cover for the front of the building and further that the Town can- not assign police officers because of the limited number, tnzt will do everything possible to co-op- erate. Mr . Emery suggested the use of volunteer auxiliary police. 380 0D Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant a Sunday Movie License to the Lexington Amusement Company, 1794 Massachusetts Avenue. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls, free of charge . Little League Baseball Estabrook Hall Oct. 9th 4-H Club Estabrook Hall `" 20 Legion Auxiliary Conference Room m 20 V. F. W. Auxiliary Conference Room M 22 Lex. Choral Society Cary Hall Dec. 12 The Chairman reported that he went to see Mr. William Ballard in regard to Edison Way. Last May Edison the Chairman wrote to Mr. Ballard and asked him if Way he would try to negotiate with the property owners and see if they would make a deed of gift according to the Planning Board 's suggestion. No reply was ever received to that letter. Now Mr. Ballard has told him that he went to see the owners, and they will have nothing to do with such a plan. The Chairman said that there is the question of whether or not the Board wants to try once more and ask the Planning Board to go along with the Selectmen on the matter or to say definitely that they are not willing to go along. He said that if the Planning Board definitely does not want to go along with the Selectmen, the matter should be presented to Town Meeting and be decided upon by the Town Meeting members. Mr. Emery suggested,ard the Board Agreed, that the Chairman clear this with the Chairman of the Planning Board. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 P. M. A true record, Attest: �''Y� ler