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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-09-15-min 357 SELECTMEN'S MEETING September 15, 1952 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, September 15, 1952, at 7 :00 P. M. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Driscoll and Reed were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. Mr. Gay arrived at the meeting at 8;20 P. M. Hearing was declared open upon the petition of the Crowell Tube Company for permission to store 5,000 gallons of #2 fuel oil at 177 Bedford Street. No persons were present in favor or in Hearing opposition and the Chairman reported that the app- Fuel Oil 1_cation had been approved by Captain Belcastro of permit the Fire Depw tment. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to grant the petition and sign a license granting the Crowell Tube Company per- mission to maintain one underground tank for the dtorage of 5,000 gallons of #2 fuel oil at 177 Bedford Street. Mr. Burns called the Board 's attention to a number of requests received during the year for street lights and upon his recommendation a motion Street was offered by Mr. Driscoll and seconded by Mr. Reed Lights tc authorize the following installations : Westview Street, from railroad track 2 Coolidge Ave., from Weir's House 1 Field Road, Five Field's Development 5 Barberry Road, N '* 4 Wildwood Street, Patriots Forest 4 Patterson Road "' "' 2 Golden Avenue, at Arlington Line 1 Vine Street a Blossomcrest 1 Notice was received from the Middlesex County Commissioners advising of a hearing t o be held on October 2, 1952, at 10:30 A. M. to discuss matters p rtaining to public roads for the yeer 1953. Letter was received from William Schwarz, 25 F it Oaks Drive, requesting the Board to grant him a hearing for abatement of a sewer betterment assess- m nt in the amount of $637.79, claiming that it is p actically impossible for him to ever connect to the s wer without the expense running into a thousand dollars or more. 358 gp The Chairman requested Mr. Burns to figure an estimate of what he thinks it would cost Mr. Schwarz to connect to the sewer and report to the Board next Monday night. The members of the Board felt that they would be in a better posi- tion to judge, upon receipt of this information, whether or not the property has been bettered by the installation of the sewer. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7 :30 P. M. The Chairman reported that Mrs. Florence Russell, 7 Oak Street, telephoned him regarding the water betterment assessment levied against her property in the amount of $90. He ex- plained that he informed her that the Board had voted to abate the assessment, but , sub- Russell sequent to another matter being settled, and water could not do anything about it, therefore, at betterment the moment. He told her that he would confer with the Tax Collector to find out whether or not she would be willing t o send a bill without idle assessment for the time being. Mr. Stevens explained that the Tax Collec- tor could not do that but Mrs . Russell could pay the taxes and get a receipt for the amount paid without paying the betterment. The Chairman agreed to call Ws. Russell and discuss the subject with her. Mr. Reed reported on Lot 4, Block 95 Reed Street, for which Mrs. Walter Cunha made an offer of $50. He explained that Mrs. Cunha has a fifty foot frontage and would like to ac- Tax Title quire this parcel of land for a driveway. He Property said that this lot is the only tax title prop- erty between the Cunha lot and Center Street. Mr. Driscoll suggested, and the Board agreed, to withhold action until the next meet- ing of the Board when Dir. Emery would be present. Letter was received from Jerry DeSimone, 80 Windsor Street, Medford, offering $350 for lots 12 and 13, Block 15, Eaton Road. The Chairman reported that he had viewed Tax Title the lots and that they are located on a fin- Property ished street, with water and sewer. There is an outstanding sewer betterment in the amount of $120. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to entertain an offer of $1,500. 359 Letter was received from Leeland G. McConchie in reply to the Board 's letter entertaining an offer of $2,.000 for lots 476 and 477, 527-533 inclus- Lve on Asbury and Balfour Streets. Mr. McConchie submitted another offer of $1,600. providing the town can give him a clear title, one that a bank would accept for a loan. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to reject the offer. At 8:05 P. M. Mrs. Nellie norris, 40 Windsor Avenue, Somerville, met with the Board. She claimed that the contractor working on Justin and Calvin Streets had removed the top soil from her property and instead of replacing it had spread it on someone else 's Lind. The Chairman explained that any damage made to property by a contractor is a private matter be- tween the contractor and the individual owning t 3e Mrs. property, He stated that the Board would assist Norris her in anyway possible, but cannot take action it- self . He suggested that Mrs . Norris assemble her information , put it in writing and submit it to the Board. He said he thought she would find the contractor to be reasonable and also find that the Board would be willing to assist her. He asked if she were interested in collecting for damage and she replied in the negative. She said that she does not want damage or money but does want the top soil returned. The Chairman said that the Board could not assure her that she would get the top soil back, 'aut it would ask the contractor to correct the damage by restoring the top soil. He said that Mr. Burns will tell the contractor, Wes-Julian, about the complaint and he will try to have the company contact her at Mon 6-2953... Mrs. Norris said that if the Chairman would do that for her she would be very grateful, and retired at 8:23 P. M. The Chairman reported that he had talked with Mr. Roeder, Chairman of the Board of Fire Commis- sioners, today and they now have received Mr. Hoxie's letter resigning under protest. Mr. Stevens recommended that the Chairman ad- vise Mr. Hoxie that, if he wants to come to Lexing- ton by such and such a date, a medical panel will F. A. Hoxie be set up for another examination. He also sug- resignation gested that the Chairman inform him that the Board of Fire Commissioners has been requested to delay action on his resignation until a certain date, and the Selectmen have been assured that action would be withheld until that date. 360 Letter was received from William H. Sullivan, 14 Milk Street, Lexington, offer- Tax title ing $400, plus betterment of $162.61 for property Lot 86, Kendall Road. The Board preferred to view the prop- erty before taking any action on the offer. Letter was received from Mr. and Mrs. Harry Jones, 7 Williams Court, Somerville, offering $25 for lot 70 Brandon Street, ad- Tax title jacent to a house they have recently pur- property chased on lots 68 and 69. The Board preferred to view the prop- erty before taking any action of the offer. Letter was received from Mr. and Mrs. Dominic Varello, 440 Massachusetts Avenue, Tax title Lexington, advising that they are willing to property negotiate for lots 50 through 53 on Hillside Avenue. The Board is still of the opinion that it is to the best interest of the Town to retain this property. Mr. Burner eported that last summer Raytheon requested the Town of Lexington to furnish water for a new plant in Bedford and at that time the Town of Bedford was asked if it could supply water and, if not, to advise the Board in writing that there would be no objection to Lexington supplying it. Rep- resentatives of the Navy and Raytheon met With Mr. Bhrns to work out the details. He Raytheon asked them to write a letter concerning the Water Supply entire situation, and he would confirm it with the Board. Later on a Water Commissioner from Bedford said that the Navy should not get water without letting the Town of Bedford tap off the line. Mr. Burns told him also to write the Board and explain the original un- derstanding and that their position has changed. In the meantime , the Navy has asked for a confirmation, and Mr. Burns said that he believes the only thing he can say is that the Town of Bedford has changed its position due to the fact that new development is coming at that end, and they will have to clear tae matter with the Town of Bedford. The Chairman reported that he had gone up to Freemont Street following Mr. Dwyer's visit with the Board last week relative to water com- ing down from Cedar Street. Drainage Mr. Burns said that the only solution is to extend the drain up Cedar Street, but to help the situation he could build a berm and agreed to do so. 361 qt The Chairman reported that he had viewed the II tax title property at the rear of Mrs . Durf eeas p: operty, 172 Waltham Street, about which she com- p ained last week. He explained that it appears Mrs. Durfeeas a if the builder who constructed the houses in complaint t is area pushed the debris back on to town land w ich is land locked. Mr. Stevens said that the Board should have s mething in writing from the property owner giving tae town permission to go over private property in oder to clear out the debris. Mr. Burns retired at 9:15 P. M., and Mr. Stevens retired dt 9:35 P. M. Mr. Reed reported favorably on James G. Denman, 25 Woodcliff° Road, who has applied for a certifi- cate ertifi- c to of incorporation. Cert. of Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Gay, Inc. J.-; was voted to sign the application. Letter was received from the Disabled American Veterans, Arlington Chapter 49, requesting permis- sion to conduct an Annual Forget-Me-Not Drive on Tag Day Friday evening, September 26th and all day Saturday, September 27th. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Dris- IIcoll, it was voted to deny the request. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls : Uses of Lafayette Club Estabrook Hall Sept. 23 Free halls 4-H Club Conference Room Sept. 24 Free Further consideration was given to Mr. LaGrassaas application for a public carriage license. The Chairman reported that Mr. LaGrassa t old h.:m that he has some connection with the people who 1 ve at 2173 Massachusetts Avenue, which is at the e rner of Cedar Street. He wants to operate a taxi License b siness from the rear of the house and have a Denied t lephgne at 2173 Massachusetts Avenue. Consideration was given to the fadts that the applicant is not a resident of Lexington, the area is residential, and the hazard of a taxi driving in and out of this particular location. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to deny the application. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. License I Reed, it was voted to grant a Sunday Movie license ti) the Lexington Amusement Company. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P. M. A true record, Attest : , erk