HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-11-16-min 148
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1CTMEN'S MEETING
November 16, 1953
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on
Monday evening, November 16, 1953 at 6 :45 P. M. Chair-
man Reed, Messrs. Nickerson, Gay, Driscoll and Bateman
were present. Mr. Burns, Suptt. of Public Works, and
the Clerk were also present.
Further consideration was given to Mr. Bert E.
Havican req. Havican's request for partial or complete abatement
for abate- of water and street betterments assessed on his prop-
ment -er-ty, Lot 37 Hillcrest Street.
A majority of the Board members inspected the
property and were unanimous in the opinion that the
property had been benefited to the extent of the
betterment assessients.
Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr.
Bateman, it was voted not to make any change in the
assessments as levied.
The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Elizabeth
Leary, 116 Vine Street, stating that she would like tolir
have her property connected with the sewer from 132
Vine Street to 116 Vine Street.
Req. for Mr. Burns said that she wants the. sewer extended
sewer in a portion of Vine Street and explained by use of
the wall map that there is no sewer available for her
to connect with. He said that she claims to be having
trouble with her sewerage disposal system.
Mr. Nickerson asked how close the property is to
the main and Mr. Burns said that there are several
hundred feat and it would involve .an expenditure of
about $3500.
The Chairman was authorized to advise Mrs. Leary
that the request was submitted too late to be con-
sidered in the 1954 budget.
At 7 :00 P. M. Mr. William Maloney met with the
Board. He stated that the Chamber of Commerce plans
to make a change this year in the Christmas lighting
decorations . The company engaged to do the work
Christmas would like to tie pipes with brackets to some of the
lighting parking meters and also have four trees set up in the
vicinity of the Minute Man. He explained that this
would not obstruct the view of the Common or damage
it in any way. He also said that the proposed pipes
and brackets would not interfere with the operation of
the parking meters. The pipes will be approximately
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eight or nine feet tall upon which will be a candle
about four feet tall. He said that permission has
already been obtained from the Boston Edison Company
to attach candles to the Company's poles.
Mr. Nickerson said that inasmuch as the Creche
on the Common was so successful last year, he won- Christmas
dered if the decorations Focused on the Minute Man decorating
would interfere.
Mr. Maloney explained that the Chamber of
Commerce had already discussed the subject with Mrs.
Colby and advised hero that if there is anything
about the proposed decorations that she does not like,
the plans could be changed.
Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. ,Driscoll,
it was voted to grant permission to place pipes with
brackets on some of the parking meters in connection
with the proposed program for Christmas decorations.
Mr. Maloney said that for the past two years the
Board has granted permission to cover the parking Parking
meters on Friday nights during Christmas week, and meters
he thought a similar request would be made by the
Chamber of Commerce this year.
Mr. Maloney retired at 7 :10 P. M.
Notice was received from Commissioner Volpe, Snow
Department of Public Works, advising that the State removal
will assist in plowing Route 2A, Town Gap, 0.20 miles.
The Board was in favor of continuing the arrange-
ment made in previous years whereby the State will re-
move the snow from the entire length of Maple Street
and the Town will plow Massachusetts Avenue.
The Chairman reminded the Board that it will be Moth Supt,
necessary to replace Mr. Garrity as Moth Superin- appointed
tendent.
Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nicker-
son, it was voted to appoint Charles H. Brenton as
local Moth Superintendent to Fill the vacancy caused
by Mr. Garrity's resignation.
Mr. Burns presented a plan of proposed amend- Traffic
ments to the Traffic Rules and Regulations to include Rules & Reg.
the new street and parking area from Edison Way to
Depot Square.
Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr.
Gay, it was voted to amend the Traffic Rules and
Regulations as follows :
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Letter was received tram Mr. Walker, Town
Accountant, with reference to the use of new payroll
forms. He reeommended that the •Accounting Depart-
Payrolls ment make up the weekly payrolls for the following
accounts on .one payroll: Selectmen, Accounting,
Town Clerk & Treasurer, Collector, Pablic Works
Office, Building & Plumbing, Engineering, Health,
Veterans' Services, Cemetery, Supt. & Clerk, Police
Clerk and Library Janitors.
Mr. Nickerson said that if the recording of
payrolls would be better on one sheet he thought the
Department heads could send in the payroll data every
week and Mr. Walker could transfer it to a master
sheet.
Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7:35 P. M.
Mr. Bateman said that he •thought Mr. Walker's
suggestion would save time and energy.
Mr. Driscoll said that he thought the Depart-
ment heads should be consulted and asked how they
feel about the proposed system.
Mr. Nickerson suggested that the Chairmen dis-
cuss the subject with the Department heads, give them
a copy of Mr. Walker's letter and obtain a reply from
them as to how they react.
Mr. Burns retired at 7 :40 P. M.
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The Chairman read a letter from Brewer & Lord
advising that figures showing the cost of the new High
Insurance School Building had been received from Mr. Smith. Mr.
Hill, of Brewer & Lord recommended coverage in the
amount of $1,445,000 made up as follows :
General construction, including
War Memorial Library $1,6001000
Fixed Equipment 40,500
Architects' Fees 80=000
1,720;b00
Less cost of excavations 115,538
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Insurance Required 90% 1,444,456
In addition, new movable equipment
General Equipment 100'000
Library Equipment 11,000
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The letter also recommended increasing the cover-
age on contents of all Town Buildings from $239,800 to
$400,000.
Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay,
it'was voted to insure the new High School Building for
$1,445,000 and to increase the coverage on contents of
all Town buildings from $239,800 to $400,000.
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Mr. Nickerson said that he had "been studying the
list of agents and percentages received by them on town
insurance and prepared a revised list with only four or
five different ratings. He explained that if, after
considering the proposed dhangesi the Board approved it
no agent would be receiving anyless money and that if
a change is to be made, he thought it should be done
this year due to the coverage on the new High School
Building,
The Board Was unanimously in favor of the revised
schedule and upon motion of Mr. Bateman, seconded by
. Mr. Gay, it was voted and approved as follows :
Brewer & Lord 23.000%
Tracey W. Ames 8.000
R. C. Merriam 7.500.,
Albert I. Carson 3.250
W. S. Couette 3.250
Norman A. Downs 3.250
Samuel L. Fardy 3.250
Foster & Lamont 3.250
Writ. H. Lyon 3.250
H. D. Broderic 3.250
John F. MacNeil 3.250
Charles F. Vaughn 3.250
Milton F. Hodgdon 2.250
Edward A. Lerner 2.250
John J. Sullivan 2.250
J. Quinton Rush 2.250
Jasper A. Lane 2.250
Donald M. Fifield 2.250
W. S. Cooledge Co. 2.250
Bradford Giddings 2.250
Merlin J. Ladd 2.250
Leslie H. Bull 1.250
C. Irving Lohr 1.250
Ernest E. Rogers 1.250
Charles R. Soar 1.250
The Chairman read a letter from the Massachu- Police
setts Chiefs of Police Association inviting the training
Board to attend graduation exercises of the Local graduation
Police Officers Training School in Framingham, Novem-
ber 20th at six o'clock.
The Chairman, Mr. Bateman and possibly Mr.
Nickerson planned to attend.
Certificate of Incorporation, James F. Connell,
was held over,
Mr. Traver's offer of $150 for lots 30-38, 24 &
27, Hickory Street were held over.
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Mrs. Clariscie Russell's letter in regard to
redeeming Lot 164 Ledgelawn Avenue was held over.
Bid was received from the Somerville Printing
Company for printing the 1953• Town Report as follows :
Town
report 500 copies $4.55 per page
200 School reports 2..00 * *
50 Accountant's reports 1.90 n "
This was the only bid received from six invita-
tions and the Clerk was instructed to place the sub-
ject on the agenda for the next meeting of the Board.
The Board decided to hold a Special Meeting on
Thursday evening at 8:00 P. M. for the purpose of
discussing budgets.
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The meeting adjourned at 8:05 P. M.
A true record, Attest :
Cler , S ecbmen
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