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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-11-23-min 1.60 CL SEIECTMENtS MEETING November 23, 1953 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectments Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, November 23, 1953 at 7 :00 P. M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. Nickerson, Gay and Bateman were present. Mr. Burns, Suptt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were also present. At 7:00 P. M. hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for permission to locate a pole on Tower Road. Mr. itahon, represent- ing the Boston Edison Company, and Mr. Consilvio, rep- resenting the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company, Pole were the only persons present at the hearing. location Mr. Mahon explained this pole will be used to carry service to a house now under construction by Mr. E. J. Gott. Proposed location was approved by Mr. Burns. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the Order for the following pole location: Tower Road, approximately 190 feet south of Richard Road, One (1) pole, Letter was received from the New. England Telephone & Telegraph Company, custodian of a jointly owned pole line with. the Boston Edison Company, requesting per- mission to make street openings for the purpose of placing an anchor guy in Massachusetts Avenue opposite Minute Man Lane. Mr. Burns said that he would recommend granting the request subject to removal of the proposed anchor guy if any objections are received from the abutters now Street or when the project has been completed. Both Messrs. Opening Mahon and. Consilvio acknowledge Mr. Burns! proviso. Permit Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to approve the request and grant permis- sion for street opening for the purpose of placing.;an anchor guy in Massachusetts Avenue, opposite Minute Man Lane on existing J.0. pole #57/181, as shown on Plan 05-147 dated October 1, 1953. Letter was received from the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company, custodian of a jointly owned pole line with the Boston Edison Company, requesting permis- sion to make street openings for the purpose of placing an anchor guy in Massachusetts Avenue, southeast of Cedar Street. 161 Mr. Burns said that he would recommend grant- ' ing the request subject to removal of the proposed anchor guy if any objections are received from the Street abutters now or when the project has been completed. Opening Bath Mesers. Mahon and Consilvio acknowledged Mr. Permit Burns' proviso. Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to approve the request and grant permission for street opening for the purpose of placing an anchor guy in Massachusetts Avenue, approximately 20 feet southeast of Cedar Street, on existing J.Q. pole #57/167, as shown on Plan 05-148 dated October 1, 1953. Mr. Nickerson mentioned that the Board has been endeavoring to obtain underground service for the East Lexington Fire Station and there is one indivi- Underground - dual opposed to having the pole located on his prop- wires for arty. He suggested that Mr. Consilvio look up the B. Lex. Sta. file and see what can now be done. Mr. Consilvio and Mr. Mahon agreed to contact Mr. Foster, who previously objected, and report to the Board on December 7th. Messrs. Consilvio, Mahon and Burns retired at 7:15 P. M. Copy of letter to the Planning Board from the Chamber of Commerce was received and read by- the Oppose Chairman. The Chamber of Commerce, by a mfjority Zoning vote of the Directors, decided to go on record as Change opposing, the change to establish a zone requiring 40,000 foot lots with a frontage of 150 feet. The Chairman read a letter from the Recreation Committee advising that Dr. Howard Foley has re- Foley signed as Chairman of the Committee and Mr. Robert Resignation Person has been elected to take his place. Mr. Henry Travers' offer of $150 for tax title property on Hickory Street was held over. The Tax title Chai.rO n was authorized to discuss the subject with offer Mr. Cronin, Clerk of the Board of Assessors, in an effort to place a fair price on the lots. Mr. Sanseverino's offer of $150 for tax title Tax title property on Hillside Avenue was held over. The offer Chairman was authorized to discuss this with Mr. Cronin, Clerk of the Board of Assessors, in an effort to place a fair price on the lots. Application was received from Five Fields, Inc. Use of hall for permission to use Estabrook Hall on Wednesday, December 9th from 8;00 P. M. until midnight for the purpose of holding an annual budget meeting. 162 CL Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the use of the hall free of charge, subject to a fee of $1.50 per hour for janitor's overtime services. Farther consideration was given to the Somer- ville Printing Company's bid for printing the 1953 Annual Town Report. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to accept the bid for 500 copies at $4.55 per page, covers counted as pages; 200 copies Bid for of the School Department report at $2.00 perage and 1953 Town 50 copies of the Town Accountant's report at $1.90 Report per page. Mr. Nickerson suggested that the Chairman write to Mr. Smith, Supt. of Schools, and advise him that only one bid was received and it happened to be the same company that was the successful bidder last year. Therefore, the tables will undoubtedly be printed the same as they were last year. Mr. Burns returned to the meeting at 7:30 P. M. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, also arrived at the meeting. Letter was received from Mrs. J. Heaney, 570 Claim for Marrett Road, requesting compensation for damage damage received during construction in front of her property. Mr. Burns said such damage would be the respon. sibilitT of the contractor and he would cheek on the complaint. -The Board received a mimeographed copy of a 1 Act re document entitled "An Act Providing for the Payment Highway Fund in the Year 1954 By The Commonwealth to its Munici- palities of a Portion of the Highway Fund to be Ex- pended by Them For Local Highway Purposes." The petition *as filed by Rep. Paul Zollo (R) Danvers. According to the communication, the Town would re- ceive $52,651.29. Mr. Stevens advised that he did not think it necessary for the Board to take any action. Letter was received from the Department of Corporations and Taxation authorizing the Board to Authorization abate the 1949 street betterment assessment on Lot W to abate Lexington Park, in the amount of $15.89 and to abate assessment interest in the amount of $56.25, there being avail- able for settlement the sum of $150. Mr. Stevens received a copy of the letter and reported that be advised the attorney that as soon as the $150 is paid he would ask the Board to make the abatements. Mr. Burns retired at 7:50 P. M. 163 The Chairman informed the Board that a Mr. Edwin S. Johnston, 6 Preston Road, requested a permit to sell firearms, a license having been issued to him in Waltham when he resided in that City. Mr. Johnston purchases old guns and sells them to dealers, but stated that he does not sell them from his house or Fire arms carry on a business from his house. permit The Board felt, front Mr. Stevens' remarks in regard to the. subject, that too much detail work is involved in granting one license and therefore was not interested in taking any favorable action. Mr. Stevens informed the Board that he is con- Vine Street vinced that Vine Street is a public way. Mr. Stevens retired and Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk and Treasurer, met with the Board at 8:00 P. M. to discuss 1954 budgets. The Chairman explained that the Board is in- Town Clerk & viting all Department heads in this year to obtain Treasurer the answers to any questions in regard to budgets budgets rather than attempt to arrive at an answer itself. He said that Personal Services may as well be con- sidered and inasmuch as there is no breakdown, he would like to have Mr. Carroll explain the figures. Mr. Carroll stated that he has requested an in- crease of $200 and understands that all department heads are going to ask for the same because the new Supt. of Buildings for the School Committee is re- ceiving $5200. He said his request could be con- sidered more or less as temporary and if the other Department heads do not receive an increase, his budget will remain the same as it was this year. He stated that if no increases are granted, it will be the same with him and he is not fighting for any- thing. Mr. Carroll explained that he has requested an increase of $2.00 per week for all hisirls, on the same condition. The new rates will- be $55. 00, $40.00 and $40.00. Parking Meter Maintenance Mr. Carroll stated that this item of $125 is for cylinders and seals for the coin containers. Registration Personal Services Mr. Carrell stated that the item of $600 is for the man who take the listings and it is an increase over last year because there are more people now living in Town which means• it will take longer to cover the outskirts. 164 1-4 c-a O+ Registration Expenses The Chairman said that the Board questioned the item of $600 for printing voting lists. Mr. Bateman asked if supplementary lists were used this year and Mr. Carroll replied that the list varies. He said this is a temporary figure and be might be able to do better. If he can get by with supplements, the amount can be reduced. He suggested that the amount remain as submitted until the Board hears From him. Mr. Carroll retired at 8:15 P. M. Mr. James E. Collins, Welfare Agent, met with the Board. Welfare The Chairman explained that the Board is trying to Budgets have all the department heads in to discuss 1954 budgets. He said that the Board has gone over the budgets, but there are one or two questions. Welfare Personal Services Mr. Collins said that last year he tried to raise the Junior Clerk to a Senior Clerk and the State would not approve the change. The Chairman suggested that he take the items in the order listed on the sheet, the first being Welfare Agent. Mr. Collins said this figure is based on $5,000 per year, the same as the heads of other Departments. He is requesting the step-rate increase on the Welfare Compensation Plan. She is receiving 53 per week and the budget figure is an increase of $240. Mr. Nickerson said that the step-rate plan was not accepted by the Board of Selectmen, and Mr. Collins agreed. Mr. Collins requested an increase ,of $120 for the Senior Clerk and a double step-up bf $240 for the Junior Clerk. The Chairman said that the Junior Clerkeinfor- med the Board that she does Senior Clerk work. Mr. Collins said that there is no differential and one does not do more important work than the other. He informed the Board that he west to Civil Service and asked to have the Junior Clerk's rating changed but the request was denied and the only way to handle the situation is to double the step-rate. The Chairman said that if the Junior Clerk's step-rate is doubled it would affect all Junior Clerks; that it is an unfartunate situation but until the Senior Clerk retires, there is no oppor- tunity for the Junior to advance. 165 Mr. Collins said that he can't have two Senior Clerks in the Department. Public Welfare Aid & Expenses Mr. Collins explained that the reduction in this budget is due to the fact that he transferred some of the recipients to Disability. He still receives large bills from other cities and towns over which he has no control, but there will be a saving to the town on the transfer. The cost will be only 25% as compared to 100%. Disability Assistance Aid & Expenses Mr. Collins explained that the increase in this budget is to take care of the transfer from General Relief to Disability. Dependent Children Aid & Expenses Mr. Collins stated that nineteen of the 342 put on are from other cites and towns. Lexington is reimbursed, but the money goes into the Excess and Deficiency Account and therefore he has to provide enough in his budget to pay the bills. He does bill these cities and towns but the amounts collected do not affect his budget. Mr. Collins informed the Board that he has $1903 remaining in his General Relief budget and to date the bills total $4357 which will necessitate a transfer Transfer from the Reserve Fund. He said that he has another month to go and will probably need a transfer of $3500, most of which is a result of the aid to the Sawyer family. Mr. Nickerson suggested that Mr. Collins submit his request for a transfer promptly. Mr. Collins retired at 8:30 P. M. Mr. Robert T. Person, Chairman of the Recreation Committee met with the Board, and. the Chairman explained that the Selectmen would -like to discuss budgets. Recreation Personal Services The Chairman seid that he noticed an increase of $200 for the Director. Mr. Person said that is correct and that the Director has not had an increase since the program - started. The Committee feels that he is entitled to the increase due to the additional work. He said that two years ago the Director was given automobile allow- ance but Mr. Person did not think it paid for the use of his car, but it did help. 166 r-y C.a Q+ Mr. Person said that this year's budget had an item of $400 for Clerical and that included the Secretary to the Committee, plus the Clerk on the Recreation playground during the summer. This amount was made budget up of $150 for the Secretary and $250 for the Clerk at the playground. The figure of $300 in the budget for 1954 is just for the Secretary and represents an increase of $150. He said the work calls for more than just attending the meetings and writing up the minutes. They have an arrangement of $5.00 for a meeting and typing the minutes. The Committee is trying to work out an arrangement whereby Miss Crerie, at Cary Library, will stop down to the Town Offices once a week to see Mrs. Bieren. Once a month she will put through a voucher for her work which is outside library time. The item.of $250 for the Clerk at the playground is included this year in the item for Supervision and Instruction. With reference to the item of $100 for janitor!'! fees, Mr. Person said. that there was an arrangement with the School Department whereby if the school janitor had to be on duty for other reasons than recreation, no payment is made by the Recreation Committee. However, if he is on duty solely for the Recreation Committee, he is paid by that Com- mittee. He said that a meeting was held with the School Department recently but be has not heard what the arrangement will be for 1954. Recreation Expenses Mr. Person explained the item of transportation $225, is for buses to the games and purchasing tickets . The item of , 900 is held down to replaceable equipment. Maintenance and Repair is a new figure, but it was included at Mr. Garrity's recommendation and it will not be included in Mr. Burns' budget. Mr. Person agreed to obtain more information in regard to backstops. Recreation Capital Outlay Mr. Person explained that the item of $6500 for tennis courts is to continue the program of replacing two courts each year and this figure includes fencing. The figure of $7,000 is for 1,000 bleacher seats and represents the actual cost plus transportation to the field and erection. They will be 10 tiers, 138 feet long. 167 The Chairman said that he thought the School Committee recommended more bleachers and Mr. Person agreed to obtain more detailed information on this item. Mr. Person retired at 9 :20 P. M. The following individuals, members of the Youth Youth Study Commission, met with the Board: Miss Marcia Study Dane, Mrs. Flynn, Messrs. Dawes and Gilman. Mr. Gilman Commission acted as spokesman for the Commission. Gilman: As Mr. Reed knows, and perhaps the rest of the Board, our reason for coming in tonight is that in the work we have been doing over the past year and a half in studying the situation in regard to youngsters in Lexington, we have die across a considerable amount of evidence indi- cating that our Police Department is not what we, and many of the others, think it should be. We have come to the Board of Selectmen as being the body having Jurisdiction over the Police Department to discuss the matter with them to find out what either or both of us might do. When we interviewed a number of the High School students, we sent questionnaires asking them facts, and gave them an opportunity to talk with one of the Committee members and about 200 of them did, Many of them indicated various things reflecting on the attitude of the Police Depart- ment as they saw it. There were also occasions when we talked with adults in Town when comments were made indicat- ing how people felt in a general way about the Police Department and that was that the work is not carried on in as fine and high a level as it might be. Many of the officers were re- spected but also many of them were not for various reasons. I will bring a number of spec- ific instances that have come to our attention from one source or another. One of the things was the conduct of the crowd at- the football games. Two games were drawn as contrasts. On October 17th order in the period between halves was quite good. Contrarywise on the 24th, a week later, they had great difficulty with the kids during the halves. Mr. Gillespie had great difficulty with his band. Another instance, is the case of a youngster reporting standing on the sidewalk in the center of the Town watching another boy riding by on a bicycle. A police officer was standing by and did nothing 168 about it. They have been told in school that it is against the law to ride bicycles on the sidewalks. Situations at the summer playground have been such that a policeman could have been and should have been assigned to help maintain order. Some of the boys let air out of bicycle tires, etc. Gilman: ,There have been instances where the police are setting bad examples, smoking against fire laws and drinking in certain instances. Nickerson: I have been on this Board for five or six years and dozens of times had people tell me how many things were wrong and I have delved into it and found laxity in some cases but have never found any serious dereliction on anyone's part except in a few cases where the Board has called the men in, rebuked them and given extra duty. He said that one cannot tear down, but must build up. Gilman: These have all been items which added up in our minds and is our whole problem of what to do to improve the situation. In none of these cases are we trying to make an specific case. We are trying to see what can be done in Town to improve conditions as far as young people are concerned. We had a comment made at the an- nual meeting of the Boys' Club that the num- ber of truancies in Lexington are greater in Lexington than they are in other towns. We have not checked with the Superintendent of Schools on this. The comments also were that some of the excuses were flimsy and no effort on the part of the police was made to cheek them. This is an impression coming from some- one aware of the situation and capable of assess- ing it. The case, for instance, of the boys taken in with the'theft at the Boys' Club, Some people thought it was not handled in as good a manner as it might have been. Despite the desire of the Boys' Club to have it hand- led on the basis of seriousness of each group, they were all handled the same. Nickerson: I am not trying to impede you, but I have had several occasions to look in with the Chief to theft and the first question I am asked is, were these boys apprehended at the time the theft was made? If they are not apprehended red-handed the police are at a total loss to do any coniacting. They are very limited as to what they can do with a minor. It is one of the most difficult things they have to handle. I have seen boys down in that police department sass the officers* 169 Gilman: In this case it was one where all of them were treated on the same basis of seriousness whereas some of them were not at all involved in the breaking and entering. They were all charged in court with the same charge. It was a case where some of the boys in the Boys? Club felt that the boys were ones who did not have records and would have perhaps profited with less severe treatment. These are all in- dications that have come to us and have built a picture. We are interested in working with you to see what can be done to improve it. Nickerson: Were the boys convicted of the felony? Dane: They were all placed on probation and the same amount of probation. Gilman: One of the problems has been that it is impos- sible to obtain any figures to indicate how many children come in contact with the Police Department byone method or another. We have figures of tose actually charged, but it would be valuable to know how many are appre- hended and not involved in any formal charges. We have raised one or two questions in our own minds which we are interested in having your reaction. One is, for a force as large as ours, and a town as large as ours, it is a definite recommendation of youth authorities that there should be a Youth Officer. He would help the police and the youth too by relieving the rest of the men of responsibility of the young people in town. The question was raised as to whether the Selectmen are hampered by Civil Service as to whether a group such as ours should consider the merits of having the Police Department not under Civil Service, something we don't know very much about. We are coming with thoughts and ideas to see if we can help along with your Board. I think that is about all I have in terms of the Police Department. There are one or two other ideas that do not pertain to the Police Department. Chairman: I have been over most of the subject with this Committee and therefore not asked too many questions because I have already asked them. Possibly members of the Board have some questions. Gilmal : We had thought there, might be same advantage in having a survey made by the National Recreation Association with the idea of perhaps bringing in the Aldrich property again. We have not dis- cussed this with the Recreation Committee, but plan.. to do so. Would this be a special item in the budget approved by the Town or would it 170 CL come under the Recreation Committee? The question came up about the Planning Board hissing outside consultants. Whether it would tie in with that or not--Should we try to push this and in what direction? Chairman: The National Recreation Committee made a survey. Nickerson: It was done, I think, the same year Mr. Hayden gave us the property. I do know the Recreation Committee is considering this very same thing, bringing it up to date from 1938 to 1953. Gilman: Perhaps we should get together with the Rec- reation Committee. Should we insert an article in the Warrant? Chairman: Your Committee might help to see that it was passed. Gilmaa : What of the deadline for the Warrant? Chairman: Some time in February. Gilman: What would be the deadline for submitting reports to be printed in the Town Report? Clerk: December 15th. Gilman ; We could submit whatever report we could for that time and then have additional report for the Town Meeting. Chairman: I would say so. Dawes : The Youth Officer. Can that be handled by the Police Officer himself? The man has to be trained for that position. It does not mean another man for the force. Chairman: In this town it would mean another man. We don't have enough as it is now and I would say it would be a request for another man made by the Chief for his own Department. Dawes : Does the initial movement come from the Select- men? Chairman: It could be both ways. He could make the re- quest or we could make it over him. Dawes : These kids are hard to handle, Nickerson: We have discussed this matter before. You get into a very difficult situation because you are contemplating hiring a specialist to do a cer- tain job. We have a Police Department here where people go from $3800 to $5000 which the Chief gets. Who are you going to hire to do what you want done without paying him more than you pay the Chief? You will either have to raise the Department heads too or have a dif- ficult situation with the specialist getting $1,000 more than the Chief. Dawes : How about training one of the younger men? 171 Nickerson: That is the only solution, but if you get a man like that you will have to replace him and he will probably be one of the best men of the Department or you would not want him. The list of Police Officers from which we have to draw is distressingly empty. We have to have examinations and it takes years before you go through the list. You may have three or five and in the meantime they become dis- interested and take some other position. Gilman: It may be that one of the things we should recommend to the Town is if we are going to get better public service, not only in the Police Department, but all the way through, the taxpayers must realize they, have to pay for these things. Would it be the proper method to insert an article in the Warrant in the terms of a Youth Officer? Chairman: I don't think you would get anywhere at all. I think it should be a budget item in the Police Department. Gilman : We could bring it in as a recommendation. Nickerson: If some group wanted to recommend it, when the Police Department budget is voted they could rise and vote to amend the budget by approp- riating x number of dollars for the purpose of having a specialized man for that partic- ular purpose. If someone rises next Ms#eh and suggests it without having done a very thorough selling job to the Appropriation Committee, the Selectmen and the Town at large, it undoubtedly would not pass. If the selling job had not been done, the money would not be there. Gilman: There is the question as to whether we could sell it to the March meeting. Nickerson: Very serious, I would think. Dane : Other than the Board of Selectmen and the Appropriation Committee where should one sell such an idea? Chairman: The Selectmen consider the recommendations of the Department heads and one would be the Chief. Nickerson: You have the P.T.A., churches, papers, precinct meetings. There is also the matter of your re- port yo re going to make of your studies. Gilman ; If therny things the Board thinks they should be telling us, maybe not now, but if there are things, we would be most appreciative of any- thing of that sort, Dawes : This police thing Dame from a multitude of sources and came together over a period of years. Gay: Do you intend to put these cases in your report? Gilman: No. It is merely things that have come to us and our problem is how can we relieve it. 1.72 The group retired at 10:00 P. M. Mr. Potter, Chairman of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners met with the Board. He said that he has two problems. One is the Supt. of Supt. of the Cemetery Department, and he asked what Cem. and the Board is going to do with him on the Veterans' Agent. Vet. Agt. He stated that this man has a pension and his combined salaries exceed $8700 and he might lose his pension. The Chairman said that the Agent is asking for an Increase as Veterans' Agent on a full-time basis. Mr. Potter said that when Mr. Healey first found out that the combination of salaries brought him above the amount allowed for him to receive a pensions he suggested that his wife be given the job as Clerk to the Board. This did not seem too bad and the Commis- sioners went along with him. Now he wants to reduce the $900 for Cemetery work. Mr. Potter said the Commis- sioners are going along with the $900 for Mr. Healey and $1,000 for his wife, but are not giving any increase. Mr. Potter said the other- problem has to do with Cemetery wages for the men in the Cemetery Department. He said Wage Rates that last year the Selectmen increased the rates for the men in the Highway Department and the Commissioners did not know it at the time. He asked if the Board has decided to raise the hourly rate of the employees in the Public Works Department this yearand said if they have the Commissioners would like to know. The Chairman said that the Board has not made any decision but would let Mr. Potter know very shortly. The meeting adjourned- at 10:10 P. M. A true record, Attest : Clem, Se etme 1