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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-10-26-min 126 CL SELECTMEN'S MEETING October 26, 1953 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Build- ing, on Monday, October 26, 1953 at 7:00 P. M. Chairman Reed, Messrs. Nickerson, Gay and Bateman were present. Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works, and the Clerk were present. Mr. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of two jurors to serve beginning Monday, December 7, 1953. Mr. Harry N. Bowman, carpenter, Jurors 280 Concord Avenue and Mr. Frank J. Clare, 443B Massachusetts Avenue were drawn. Mr. Carroll retired at 7 ;03 P. M. Further consideration was given to petition from the Boston Edison Company for the location of four Pole poles on the Cambridge-Concord Highway. locations Mr. Burns said that if the Board did not approve the petition, the company would advise the applicant for service that either the installation will be made underground or that it can't afford underground in- stallation. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to return the petition, order and plan and to advise the petitioner that consideration will ° be given to an application for underground installa- tion. The Chairman read a letter, signed by ten indi- viduals, requesting acceptance of Field Road. Mr. Burns explained that it was originally in- tended to automatically accept all streets constructed Article re : by private contractors and according to Town specif- Field Road ications. However, insome instances the property own- ers preferred to have the streets remain private and he its suggested that if a street is to be accepted, peti- tions should be submitted. The Chairman was authorized to advise the peti- tioner that an article will be included in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1954, at which time Town Meeting Members will be given an opportunity to vote on the subject. Petition was received, signed by forty property owners, requesting acceptance of Minute Man Lane and 127 Battle Green Road at the November 30, 1953 Special 111 Town Meeting. Mr. Burns informed the Board that the subdivid- er has not completed all of the work on the shoulders. Article re : The Chairman was authorized to advise the pati- Minute Man tioner that there is not enough time to do the pre- Lane liminary legal work required by Statute for accept- Battle Green ance and if the contractor completes the work, an Road article will be included in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, March, 1954, at which time the voters will have an opportunity to vote on the subject. Further consideration was given to the bid re- ceived from the Security Fence Company and upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it Fence bid was voted to accept the bid, in the amount of $794, for furnishing and installing a chain link fence and walk gate, according to specifications, at the North Lexington Playground. The Chairman reported that Mr. Garrity, Sup't. of Parks, has been paying for his own heat and light. Mr. Garrity's The Town paid for the water, rent and telephone bill. retirement He said that he thought the Board should make some definite arrangement with Mr. Garrity before he re- tires as to just what the rent is to be and also to establish whether or not Mr. Garrity is to pay for his own telephone service and water. Mr. Nickerson suggested establishing a very reasonable rent and have Mr. Garrity defray the other expenses. The Chairman said that Mr. Garrity has been pay- ing $27.50 per month according to the Town Accountant's records . This figure does not include water or tele- phone. He asked if the Board wanted to go along with the $27.50. Mr. Nickerson asked if any major repairs are needed on the house and the Chairman replied that Mr. Garrity might want the Town to make the repairs on the house. He said he didn't know why Mr. Garrity would want any repairs made now any more than he has before. Mr. Burns said that the house is in fairly good condition both inside and outside. Mr. Nickerson said that if the plumbing system should fail it would be Mr. Garrity's responsibility to make the repairs. He said that if the house is rented for $27.50 and the town has to paint it or put on a new roof, the rent money would be out for that year. Mr. Burns said that the house, being so close to the Common, would have to be painted array whether by Mr. Garrity or the town. Mr. Nickerson said his suggestion would be to make the rent just as low as possible and still have a 128 r-� C.� E.1+ clear conscience. Mr. Bateman asked what would be done with the house if Mr. Garrity did not live thbre and Mr. Burns said it would have to be rented or torn down and that he did not think major repairs could be made for $25 or #30 a month rent. Mr. Nickerson said that Mr. Garrity could be a tenant at will and if major damage occurs he can be asked to vacate. Mr. Gay asked about plumbing repairs if the present system does not conform to the Plumbing Laws and Mr. Burns replied that the system there now is all right. Any change, however, would have to be made in accordance with the Plumbing By-Laws. Mr. Burns reported that a manhole in Massachu- setts Avenue, Lexington Center, blew up Friday night but no one was hurt. He explained that the gas com- Gas leak in pany does have a leak somewhere between the corner Massachusetts of Waltham Street and the block of stores. There was Avenue gas in the manhole and it has been traced all through the line there. It would probably not bother except for the fact it happens to be right along side of a telephone and electric duct and it is getting into the ducts and manhole which can be serious. He said that repairs will necessitate digging up the new street. Mr. Burns discussed spotlights for police of- ' ricers and reported that he has Saugus of the Edison Company working on the subject. However the location Spotlights to be opened for the gas main is different than that for police to be opened for installations necessary for the spot- officers lights. Mr. Burns retired at 7 :30 P. M. and Mr. Garrity met with the Board. The Chairman said that he spoke to Mr. Garrity the other evening and asked him to meet with the Board. Mr. Garrity's He explained that the Board would like to establish a house rent fair rent, ask if he felt the house needed any repairs, and also to ask him what he felt would be a fair rent. Mr. Garrity said that the house does not warrant repairs it would really need. He stated that for two or three years the house was full of termites which did considerable damage on two sides. However, he feels that they have all been destroyed. He said that it should remain as it is with the exception of a few clapboards and a coat of paint. Mr. Garrity said that he would be willing to paint the inside. Ne repairs have been made since 1904 at which time the Board wanted him to raise the rood'. There are three roofs and if any such work was done it would be very expen- sive. The kitchen floor goes down about three inches 129 rr 1 but he did not think it should be repaired. He said I that the heating apparatus is all right for the time being. He put in an oil burner two years ago, an electric stove, a bathroom and a new sink. With the exdeption of a coat of paint the house will be all right. The Chairman stated that because of the location of the house, the town will have to maintain a good appearance, but it is his understanding that Mr. Garrity pays for heating and lights. Mr. Garrity said that he pays for everything but water and telephone . The Chairman said that the Board assumes he would pay for those two items from now on and Mr. Garrity said that he would have the telephone changed; the bill now being 011.00 per month. The Chairman asked if he had any idea as to the rent and Mr. Garrity said that if the Board left it as it is he thought it would be fair. He stated that he now pays $240 a year. The Chairman said that he checked today and the figure he was given was : 27.50 per month. Mr. Garrity said that if that was so, the amount has been changed. However, he thought it would be all right and he would have no objection. II Mr. Nickerson said that he was under the impres- sion that Mr. Garrity always paid $20. The Chairman said that he would contact the Accountant' s office again and find out what the cor- rect figure is. Mr. Garrity said that Mr. Walker told him he was paying $240 a year, but whatever the figure is will be- all right with him. Mr. Garrity retired at 7 :40 P. M. and Mr. Stevens met with the Board. It was unanimously agreed to permit Mr. Garrity to remain in the house subject to a rent of $21.66 per month with the understanding that Mr. Garrity is to pay for water, telephone, heat and lights. ($260 per year) The Chairman read a letter from the Lexington Scheibe Park Field and Garden Club, Inc . offering the Town a deed to Scheibe Park, the triangular parcel of land sit- uated at the corner of Lincoln Street and Marrett Road. The Clerk was instructed to send a copy of the letter to Town Counsel and place the item on the agenda for next week's meeting. L 130 EL The Chairman read a letter from the lapproprrtation Committee requesting the Board to insert an article in the warrant for the Special Town Meeting to be held on November 50th, which provides for the authorization of a committee to study all positions in the Town, other Article than those filled by election and those under the con- trol of the School. Committee. The Chairman said that the employees ? Union is practically out of existence and that any attempt to establish Civil Service has been dropped. He said that, in his opinion, this article_ would revive both activities . Mr. Nickerson said that he thought it was in order for the Appropriation Committee to propose any- thing the members feel is good for the Town, and that the Selectmen are compelled to insert the article. However, he thought the Board should have a very de- cided e- cided opinion and express it at the Town Meeting. Further consideration was given to insurance distribution. The Chairman read a letter from Milton Hodgdon requesting consideration in participating as an in- surance broker on insurance business for the town. Mr. Nickerson said that if an individual works Insurance for an insurance company, he has to be licensed and said there must be a number of men in the same cate- gory. If Mr. Hodgdon is included, he thought there should be others apply. However, if he pays for office space and has no drawing account, the state- ments in his letter are substantiated. The Chairman was asked to contact Mr. Merriam and determine just what Mr. Hodgdon?s status is. If Mr. Hodgdon operates separately, that is, pays for office space and has no drawing account, the insurance percentages formerly paid to Ballard and Whitney re to be divided 2.58% between Larner, Sullivan and Hodgdon, the balance to be divided with the agents in the lower brackets. However, if Mr. Hodgdon is not eligible the percentages for Larner and Sullivan will be 02.74% and the balance to be divided with agents in the ldwer brackets. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Trustees of Cary Memorial Library inquiring as to what Library the Selectmen have done to prevent further damage to damage the grounds and building at the East Lexington Branch Library. The Chairman was authorized to write a letter of transmittal to the Chief of Police and request him to submit a report to the Board. 131 Letter was received from Mr. Carroll, advising that the following individuals have been appointed to Committee serve on the School Street School Building Committee : Lincoln P. Cole, B. G. Colesworthy, Jr., John P. Hanrahan, Mrs. George P. Morey and Paul K. Palmer. Letter was received from the Appropriation Com- Transfers mittee advising that transfers from the Reserve Fund have been approved for the Board of Appeals, in the amount of $525 and for the Elections Jurisdiction Selectmen's Account in the amount of $120. The Appropriation Committee recommended that the Charge for charges made for a Board of Appeals hearing shouldbe Board of increased to cover the actual costs. Appeals The Chairman wasauthorized to request the Board Hearings of Appeals to advise what it believes to be the average cost to the Town per hearing. Further consideration was given to Miss Spills- Tax title bury's offer of $10 for Lot 7-A Pleasant Street. The property Chairman reported that the developer left this small piece as it appears on the map for some reason or other and it is assessed for $950 as a front lot. However, it is actually a back lot and Mr. Cronin said . , he thought the town should receive $200 for it , Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr. Bateman, it was voted to entertain an offer of $200. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls, all free Uses of of charge, but subject to a fee of $1.50 per hour for halls janitor' s overtime service : Lexington Boys ' Club Estabrook Nov. 5 Meeting Alcoholics Anonymous 't Nov.15 Meeting Lex. Health Council Conf. Room Nov.12 Meeting The Chairman reported that the figure obtained by Mr. Driscoll for bleacher seats is $1700 for 1,000 Bleacher seats, which includes setting them up and taking them seats down. The Chairman reported that Mr. Robert Person is now acting as Chairman to the Recreation Committee. The Chairman reported that he had talked with the Chief of Police and was informed that the officers Police do charge $7.00 for duty at football games, and that extra duty they should have been receiving this amount last year. charge He stated that theofficersreceive $1.75 per hour for extra duty. 132 Co 104 Mr. Nickerson said that he personally thought a change of rate in the middle of the year was not good business procedure. The Chief told the Chairman that he thought some- one was advised last year that the rate would be in- creased, but there is nothing in writing and apparently the subject was discussed verbally. The meeting adjourned at 9 :05 P. M. A true record, Attest : Clek ' / 1