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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-08-25-min 343 SELECTMEN'S MEETING August 25, 1952 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Rooms Town Office building, on Monday evening, August 25, 1952 at 7 :00 P.M. Chairman Nickerson, Messre. Emery, Gay and Driscoll were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of two jurors for a JurT Pool. Mr. Emil Jt Vadeboncoeur, 35 Brandon Street Jurors and Mr. Adam S. Wood, 126 Cedar Street were drawn. Mr. Carroll retired and Mr. Burns, Supt of Public Works, met with the Board. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the Town of Lexington for permission to maintain one underground tank for the storage of fuel oil at 1625 Massachusetts Avenue. Notice of the hearing was read by the Chairman, but no persons were present in favor or in op- position. Fuel Oil Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. permit Gay, it was voted to grant a license to the Town of Lexington to maintain one underground tank for the storage of fuel oil on premises located at 1625 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Burns resorted an accident which pocurred last Friday involving a Town truck, operated by Mr. Wallace Weisinger. Mr. Weisinger was proceeding down Simonds Road and struck the right front fender of a car coming out of Harding Road. Two estimated for the cost of repairs were received; one for $129 and one for 090. Mr. F. K. Johnson submitted the figure of $90. M r. Burns said that there is no question in his mind but that the Town is at fault. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to authorize the Superintendent of Public Works to pay for the damages, subject to his ob- taining a release from any and all future claims, in the amount of $90; this sum to be paid from the Highway Maintenance Account. The Subject of betterment assessments to be levied, resulting from construction of streets last year, was discussed and in following the same 344CC CO Street formula used in previous years the figure arrived Betterment at was $5.67 per foot for each side -- roadway Assessments excavation and 50% of the drainage divided by determined twice the length, including loaming and seeding. Mr. Burns explained that the lien was put on at 47.50. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was unaninously voted to establish the figure of 45.67 per foot for each side as the betterment assessment to be levied on the following streets : Cary Avenue, Woodland Road and Aerial Street. The Chairman explained to the Board that Mr. Burns had called and stated that, if the Board would agree, he would late to employ Mr! Mayon, Boston Edison Representative, to contact in- Mr. Mayon dividuals from whom the Town is trying to obtain to rep. easements. Mr. Mayon is willing to do this and Town on his charge will not exceed $100 with the possibility easements of being not more than $75. The Chairman said that he had called Mr. Emery on the matter, but was unable to contact the other members of the Board as they were on vacation. The Board was unanimously in favor of authorizing Mr. Burns to employ Mr. Mayon as out- lined by the Chairman. The Chairman read a letter from John A. Winter, 125 Alewife Brook Parkway, West Somerville, in regards to obtaining water for a house he is building on Norton Road. Mr. Burns explained this request involves more than just an extension of a water main. The IWinterts line runs in back of Norton Road and used to run to req. for the peat factory. The pipe is located in land water owned by the Town of Arlington and to give Mr. Winter anything at all, Lexington would have to obtain permission from Arlington. He stated that if permission is obtained, this will be •a service. Mr. Burns was instructed to advise Mr. Winter that negotiations with Arlington will be started and if successful, Lexington will give him water service when his turn arrives on the list. The Chairman read a letter from John C. Holloway, 33 Reading Hill Avenue, Melrose, re- Holloway's questing the extension of both water and sewer mains req. for to service a house he intends to build on lots water & 255, 256, and 257 Chase Avenue. sewer Mr. Burns said that he recalled a similar request, received about two years ago, upon which the Board did not take favorable action. The Clerk was instructed to check this and it was left to the discretion of the Chairman. 345 1 Letter from Stephen B. Smith, 54 Louis Avenue, Arlington, requesting water to service a house he is building on Philemon Street. The letter stated that Arlington town water is just around the corner and he Smith's wanted Lexington to make the extension. req. for The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. Smith water that Lexington cannot a lve his problem by working with Arlington, and furthermore there are no funds vailable to make an extension. Petition, signed by eleven residents of Bridge treet, was received requesting the acceptance of the Bridge treat. Mr. Burns agreed to have assesment sheets Street repared and sent out for signatures to b e returned 1 -got later than October 15th. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, '' t was voted to insert a notice in the Lexington Ainute-Man advising the citizens of the town that equests for water and sewer extensions, drainage, idewalks, curbings and acceptance of streets will be squired to be in the hands of the Selectmen on or before October 15, 1952 in order to receive con- sideration for the 1953 Annual Town Meeting, Letter was received from the First Naval District stating that it is proposed to provide water supply .Por an industrial facility in Bedford by constructing a pipe line connection to the water main through which Navy rem. the U. S. Veterans Hospital is supplied from the water for water system of the Town of Lexington. The District Officer requested that the Town of Lexington indicate by :Letter that it has no objection to the Navy's obtaining water through a connection with the water main by which the hospital obtains its water supply. Mr. Burns said that he does not see where Lexington has any authority to tell one agency what it can or, can't io and questioned the town':s right to authorize tapping into a private line owned by someone else. The Chairman was authorized to advise the First level District that the Town of Lexington has no jurisdiction over the pipe as it does not own it. The Clerk informed the Board that a gentleman, :representing Mrs . Florence Russell, 7 Oak Street, ::alled at the office in regard to a $90 water better- Russell mlent assessment levied against her property. Mr. Stevens advised the Board not to take any action until betterment the water betterment assessment levied against land bwned by West and located on Oak Street is settled. 346 Q. 00 Petition was received,, signed by 11 residents, complaining about trash, debris and parking on Complaint Pleasant Street. The Chairman was authorized to r efer the -matter to the Police Department for correction and report of progress. Mr. Viano's letter of May 7, 1952 re drainage problem on Bedford Street was placed on the agenda, but no action taken. Mr. Leeland MMConchie 's offer of $400 for lots 527-533 inclusive, located at the corner of Asbury and Balfour Streets, was held over. The Board instructed Mr. Burns to contact Mr. McConchie and ask him for a concrete case of what he intends to do with the lots. Contract No. 5 between the Town of Lexington and George Brox, Inc. for street and drain work was pre- sented by Mr. Burns. Brox. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, Contract it was vo4ed to sign the contract, awarding the work to George Brox, Inc., the low bidder, for street and drain work, Contract No. 5. All copies were t aken b y lbwn Counsel. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to sign a contract between the Town of Lexington and Whitman & Howard, Engineers, for en- gineering services in connection with Contract No. 5. Mr. Burns retired at 8:40 P.M. Letter was received from the Board of Fire Hoxie Engineers, enclosing communication from Frederic A. Retirement Hoxie requesting retirement. Mr. Stevens retired at 8:55 P.M. Application for certificate of incorporation was received on behalf of James G. Denman, 25 Woodcliffe Road. 1 Letter was received from the Chief of Police Cert. of advising that an investigation had been made and Mr. Inc. Denman was found to be of good character and re- putation. The Board of Probation had been contacted and shown that he has no criminal record. The Chairman agreed to contact Mr. Robert Aiken, of the Woodhaven Associates for further character reference. Further consideration kas given to Mr. James Harrison's offer of $100 each for Lots 20 and 22 Rangeway, water betterments to be included in purchase price. The Board had advised Mr. Harrison on March 21, 1951 that it would entertain an offer of $500 for both lots. 347 The Chairman was authorized to advise Mr. Harrison Tax ' that the Board is not interested in any price less Title than that previously entertained. Letter was received from Mrs. Rich, Town Accountant, advising that the April 19th Committee has presented more bills for payment, totalling $80,20. There is now less than $50 in the Leroy S. Brown Income Fund from Unpaid which a transfer has already been made to cover bills bills incurred by the Committee in excess of the appropriation of $1,000. The Board was unanimously in favor of holding these bills over until the 1953 Town Meeting at which time an appropriation will be requested. Letter was received from Mr. Robert E. Ross, 103 School Street in which he referred to conduct of Officer Mowat and Sergeant Russell. A special meeting of the Board is to be held on Complaint Wednesday, August 27th at 7 :30 P.M. to discuss the re Police matter with Chief Rycroft and Sergeant Russell; Officers Officer Mowat out on vacation. Letter was received from Henrietta W. Bennett, 154 Bedford Street, requesting permission, on behalf Rummage of the Ladies Auxiliary, V.F.W. , to conduct a rummage Sale sale at the Barnes property on Saturday, September 20th. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the request. Letter was received from Mae McCauley, 75 Spring Street, requesting permission, on behalf of the 4-H Use of group, to conduct a rummage sale at the Barnes pro- Barnes perty oh Saturday, September 27th. property Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the request. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls : American Legion Estahrook Sept. 10 free Uses of hail A. L. Auxiliary Conf. Room Sept. 15 free Lex. Police Relief Asscn Cary Oct. 17 $35 Lex. Choral Society Cary Dec. 14 free Application was also received from the Lexington Choral Society requesting permission to conduct a concert in Cary Hall on the evening of April 26, 1953. The Lexington Arts and Crafts Society had pre- ' viously applied for the same date and were advised that the Board does not desire to make commitments so far in advance and it was suggested that the group re-apply some tine after t he f irst of January, 1952. The Clerk was instructed to so advise the Lexing- ton Choral Society. 348 Op Upon motion of Mr. Gay seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to grant the following licenses: Lexington Amusement Co. 1794 Mass. Avenue Theatre :r. a d n to Sunday Movies Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, Deed it was voted to sign deed, prepared by Town Counsel, conveying Lot 28, Rangeway Road to Anne M. and Robert A. Butler, 21 Burlington Street, Woburn. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Emery, it was voted to 1pign the Warrant for the State Primary to be held on September 16, 1952. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. A true record, Attest : The nxtirggulnr meeting of the Board will be held ' on Monday evening, September 8, 1952 at 7;00 P.M. The Board met on Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M. with Chief Rycroft and Sergeant Russell at which t ime a letter received from Robert E. Ross, 103 School Street was discussed at length. Officer Mowat will be reques- ted to meet with the Board on the same subject upon his return from vacation. 1