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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-03-03-min 495 SELECTMEN'S MEETING 111 March 3, 1953 A special meeting of the Board of Selectman was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Tuesday evening, March 3, 1953 at 7 :30 P. M. Messrs. Nickerson, Gay, Reed and Bateman were present. The Clerk was also present. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it was voted to nominate Mr. Haskell W. Reed Os Chair- man for the ensuing year. Mr. Batemen moved that nominations be cloeed and upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it Organization was voted that the Clerk cast one ballot for M$'. Reed as Chairman. Mr. Reed was, therefore, unanimoi.sly elected as Chairman, the Clerk having received ' a com- munication from Mr. Driscoll stating that he wished to be recorded as voting for Mr. Redd. At 7 :55 P. M. Mr. Richard E. Moakley, an ap- plicant for the positialof Wire Inspector, met with the Board. Mr. Moakley was the first of four ap- IIplicants, and the interviews were as follows : Chairman; We asked you to come in tonight be- cause you may or may not know there are four ap- plicants for the position of Wire Inspector, and we 'thought we should have each individual come in to see what they had to offer. We would like to know Wire how much time you could devote to the inspections. Inspector Moakley: I don' t know how much time is needed. interviews Some days there might be a lot de inspections Zieces- sary, and other days there may not be any needed. I am in town all the time and, if there were a crowded day, I would make time for it. I know my- self, certain times we must have an inspection' at a certain time because we would be holding up some- one else. I appreciate being able to get an okay if I can't get someone to come there. I know that is part of the job. I want to be honest about it and don't know If I could take a definite hour~ If it is necessary, I would like to make it between 1:00 and 2:00. If the Board feels that a certain h ur should be set for people to come in, I think it could be arranged. I would like to see a place wher people could come in and get a permit; have someone t ere if I that would be possible, possibly incorporating it with the Bailding Department. A person does not have to see the inspector to talk about an oil burner, but he could make his application and pay for it. When an 496 Op application is made in some towns, the fee is paid and the permit mailed. I think that would involve extra bookkeeping. Chairman: We are going to insist on the records being kept in the hall now. It will probably be a good arrangement to have a place where anyone could talk with the inspector a certain hour of the day. Moakley; I dontt even know what the salary is . Chairman: I was going to come to that. Up until now only one inspection was made. We think there should be more. Moakley: I think there whould be a roughing in- spection and then a final oneq Chairman: Do you think oil burners should be in- spected? Moakley: Definitely. There is too much of a ten- dency today for skimping on installments. Chairman: Is it usually a different electrician on the oil burner than on the wiring? Moakley: Often times it is . Gay: Would you consider that as three inspections? Moakley: Sometimes it depends on the season of the year. Sometimes they have to get the^sergiee and get the heat on, and the oil burner is set up before the house is wired . I would think the oil burner, unless it were in- stalled by the contractor doing the wiring, would require a separate permit. You might cover the oil burner with the rough inspection, depending upon conditions. You can tell by the general appearance of a job whether it is a good job or a skimpy thing. Chairman: What do you think would be a fair salary? Moakley: That is a hard question because I don't know how much time will be required. I have a pretty good business, and I can't afford to jeopardize it at the moment. Actually I don't know. Who knows how much time is going to be taken? Nickerson: Do you know Louie Bills? Moakley: I know Louie very well. Nickerson; He has been on since 1926, and he has gone on a low salary more or less doing apublic duty together with the fact that he had a fairly profitable business in the fire alarm system. I think he could in- form you as to what time is required. Moakley; He could tell me how much time he put in. No doubt he put in more time than he was paid for . This town is growing so much I think you almost should have a full-time inspector within a few years . Nickerson: You would not do all the inspections yourself? Moakley: I am pretty fussy about that, and I don't think I would delegate much inspection. I would give the man the work and do the inspections myself. 497 Nickerson; He gets $1250 plus $250 car allowance and has been getting it for one inspection. Moakley: Unless you have to make a salary change, I feel I would be more qualified if I received the position to work under it at the old system to find out how much time is going to be required. If Louie could tell me about how much time he spends, it migh help. Chairman: We want a figure for Town Meet ng. Do you think that it might work out under a flat rate and then so much for each inspection? Moakley: I think you would be better off to set the salary for the job . Some inspections might be a matter of fifteen or twenty minutes and others you find something you don't like you have to find whoever is doing the work, go back with him and have it out. I think it would be better to work on a straight salary. There has been some discussion about a new Wire In- spector in town, and people have told me of different fellows to look out for if I am appointed. Louie Bills always had the utmost confidence in me and a great many of my jobs he never bothered with at all. Chairman: If you could possible talk with Louie and get some idea you may give us some information within a few days. Moakley: I would want to do more inspections than he has been doing. Chairman: The Board would want more inspection than he has been doing. Moakley: I don' t do any of the new houses. Nickerson: There were 350 new houses last year. Moakley: Right there, there should be 700 in- spections and allowing one hour for an inspection would be something. Chairman: We will be in touch with you. Mr. Moakley retired at 8:10 P. M. Mr. Charles B. Connolly met with the Board. Chairman: There are four applicants for Wire In- spector, and we are asking them all to come in in fairness to each. We want to find out when and how much time you could devote to the inspections. Connolly: I put about what I could do in my letter. I have talked it over and talked with Mr. Nickerson about my job and when I would be availahle. I work eight hours a day and am employed by Louie Bills. I want to be fair about it and not give any false impression. A lot of our work is out of town. When I am in town I could fill in, but most of it would be before hours and after hours when I could do the work. That is, before eight and after five and weekends. Chairman: We have been thinking about two and possibly 498 ZZ Ca three inspections. It will take a little time for someone to take care of that. Would that make any difference to you? We also intend to keep the records here. Connolly; You mean the rough inspection and the final and one other? Chairman; Possibly on the oil burners. Connolly: Mr. Bills has spot checked oil burners. They are supposed to sawn an electrical permit out before they do any work. I know some have not, but,$nost of them have. They should be made out before any work is started. You do hear about some who have done the work without getting a permit. Chairman; In the last year we had at least 300 new houses and that would be 300 inspections and would double if we require two . It seems to me that you would have to spend more time than you could on weekends $m before you go to work. Connolly: I had 600 permits last year and 300 perp mits for oil burners. You have hot water heaters, oil burners, eledtric ranges. Nickerson: You had your previous conversation with me by telephone, and now Mr. Reed is C hairman of the Board so I want to confirm while you are here what went on with the rest of the Board. I gave you some idea what we are contemplating. When we change, we want to bring this up to something more modern -- two inspections. Could you catch your rough, finished and oil burner in two visits? Connolly: Most of the time you can. Most new houses you can get in, but sometimes there is no one home and you have to make more than one trip. Nickerson; You would have to be out eight hours a day on your own job, and it would not be easy to in- spect at night by flash light. We are going to require possibly double the amount of work that has been done. Bateman; How long does it take to make a call? Connolly: Most times not very long. It depends on the size of the house and what is in it. You have cer- tain things you look for that you want to check - the outlets in the kitchen for appliances, circuits, that the wires are stable. I would say that when one is used to it, it can be done in about twenty minutes. It is like anything else, when you are used to it, you know what you are looking for. Chairman; Have you any idea what you feel the job should pay? Louie was getting about $1500 a year. Connolly: The way he was handling it, I would have been satisfied with $1500 a year, but for two hours a day from my own job should be paid more. It all depends on how much time it requires. I know that Mr. Bills, 499 felt he was not getting enough for his car. You have to cover a lot of mileage in this town. Gay; Is it necessary to have the electrician doing the work there then you inspect? Connolly: Not always. Only when you find something wrong, and you have a question about what he is going to do. Gay: Do you run into that very often? Connolly; Very seldom. Gay ; You could do the work mornings and evenings if you don' t have to have the man there. Connolly: If I couldn' t get the man, he could get me. Gay: to you feel that two inspections are the proper thing or one would be enough? Connolly: I would go along with two; the rough and the final. The oil burner could be inspected in the second in- spection. Sometimes it is not connected on the first inspec- tion. Some places in the winter time when they want to plaster, they will rough the house and put one outlet out on the panel for the meter and request, when you make the roughing inspection, to ask for service. The oil burner at that time will be wired. Gay; You can combine the oil burner with either the first or second inspection? Connolly; I would say so, yes. Mr. Connolly retired at 8:30 P. M. Mr. Robert Jeremiah met with the Board. Chairman; We had you in tonight to get a little more information on this and try and tell you what we have in mind and also to find out how much time you could put in on this job. Jeremiah; I can give about four or five hours a day for inspections and all day Saturdays and I thilnk, in case of necessity, on occasions I would inspect homes on Sunday. I don' t go away summers and, if necessary, could inspect all day Sunday. I don' t want to make any rash promises but feel I could give enough time for inspectiohs. I am foreman on the job where I work and, if occasidns arise, I can take off when I feel like it . Chairman: What particular time of day? Jeremiah; From 4:00 or 4:30 on. Chairman: At the present time we have had one in- spection and are thinking of two now. Jeremiah; I understand that there has beep only one and there should be one on the oil burners. Some of my friends are Wire Inspectors and in some towns they charge another fee for coming back. Chairman; You feel there should be two inlspections? Jeremiah: I do, yes. I think the oil burner man should take out a permit and be charged a fee. Some towns ouu charge $ 4.00 or $5.00, but I think that is high. Ever since I went to school to study electricity I have always been interested in electricity, enjoyed it and I am fussy at work. I like to see things done right. Very often in building trades sometimes things, are done which should not be done, and I think there is a chance for improvement in Massachusetts on wiring. Iaam in- terested in it. Chairman: This job has been paying about $1500 which includes car allowance. Have you any idea what you think would be fair? Jeremiah: If a man is to spend the time he should, I think it should be worth $2,000 or $2,500. There should be more time spent on it than has been inthe past . $250 car allowance does not take care of one-half of what a person would use his car for. Chairman: That has been on one inspection. If we require two, it would be more. Jeremiah: I would say $2500 plus car allowance. I think that is a good fee. Nickerson : You have had your discussion with me, but Mr. Reed is now Chairman. The reason we asked you to come in was to meet you and give you an opportunity to meet us and discuss the matter. As I told you, we are somewhat disturbed about a man working for someone else doing this. It would be difficult for you to get into a house after hours, particularly on a final in- spection. The first inspection in the winter would be done probably by flash light. Jeremiah: I can come and go as I please. I always work this side of Boston. Very seldom do I go on the other side. _ I,work, in Belmont, Melrose, Lincoln. Nickerson; Several of your friends have called me in your favor. Jeremiah; I would go all out to improve conditions. Some of the things I need to be refreshed on I would find out from friends of mine who are Wire Inspectors. Do you feel a person in business in town would have more time available? Nickerson: We feel he would have more availability. He would not be in Lincoln or Concord, but more local. Jeremiah: It works both ways. According to Louie Bills, the Wire inspector's job was interfering with his work. If a fellow is in the contrpcting business in town, and this interferes with it, he would not give it that much more time. Nickerson: We admit there are advantages 'either way. Jeremiah: There is adequate time for the inspec- tions, and they can be Made. In the winter you can't inspect after dark. I/Chairman: We will be in touch with you. 501 Mr. Jeremiah retired at 8:45 P. M. Mr. Charles D. Allen met with the Board. Allen; I suppose this is just routine of What you expect from a Wire Inspector. I feel the time has come when you should have a half-time inspector. A lot of things are being done without supervision. Oil burner men are putting in burners that do not have a license. They are not supervised. People are doing wiring at home without supervision. People are buying equipment never thought of before, television sets etc. I feel you should have someone at least one hour a day in the office and three hours a day out in the field. , Post lamps are going up every day without a permit. , There are laws covering them. It is not an easy job. A man could fall in the cellar stairway or doorway and be hurt. What is a man going to do with a flash light going into houses without floors or boards? Chairman; How would you know the people are do- ing the wiring at home? Allen; You can't unless you have a card file. Gay: How will you find it out? Allen: There are ways of doing it. Batemen: Canft you put equipment in your own home? Allen: Not without a permit. The law does not say you should hire an electrician, but you must have a permit. II Chairman; How many inspections do you think there should be? Allen: At least two in a house and possibly three. The 611 burner should have an inspection if it is put in by a different electrician. There should be a rough wiring permit and occupancy permit. Gay: When the oil burner is put in does the man doing the electrical work assume the responsibility? Allen: He has to if there is no other license taken out. Nickerson: How much money? Allen; $2.50 an hour for four hours a day - $2500 a year, including car. Gay: Would you give up your retail store? Allen: No. I would give up the contracting in Lexington. Gay: Do you work outside of Lexington? Allen; No. I would not do any work in Lexington. Nickerson: Does the Board think that it is a fair requirement that a man is not to do any work in, his own town? Allen: If they do work, they have an outside inspector check it for them: Nickerson: I would rather not see that development. 1 502 Q. The Board agreed. Allen: If I go out and do work I would be bidding against someone else. Ilhave Arlington, Belmont, Lex- ington, Bedford. There is plenty of work. Gay: What hours would you be available? Allen: From 8:00 until 1 :00. Chdirman; Mae hour here and three outside? Allen; Yes. Five days a week. There are no in- spections done on Saturdays in any town. Chairman; We will be in touch with you. Mr. Allen retired at 9 :00 P. M. The Board discussed the bid received from the Estate of Stanley Roketenetz for collection and disposal of garbage and upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it was unanimously voted to reject it. It was further voted to advertise for new bids to be opened on Wednesday, March 11, 1953 at 4;30 P. M. in the Select- menCs Room. Messrs . Stanley, Alex and Joseph Roketenetz met with the Board . (The Chairman had previously asked Mr. Nicker- son to handle the discussion. Mr. Nickerson said that the Board had invited them over this evening to discuss their bid which, to the Board, is astounding in the amount. He stated that the Board is aware of the conditions in the industry now so it would not be necessary for them to rehearse them. He said that franklythe Board does not thinkt hey are as bad ad from $14,500 to $33,669.69, but the Board could not make tine bidder name an amount but could discuss the matter. He stated that it is the Board 's intention, at the present moment, and feel it is a duty, to reject the bid and re- advertise in an effort to obtain a more favorable one for the town. He asked if they had done anything during the day along the lines he had asked them about this morning. Mr. Roketenetz said that the bid was based on last year's figures and that they have been adding quite a bit of money these past two years to the contract. He presented members of the Board with a statement of normal operating expenses of the Lexington garbage collectioh for a one month period which totalled $2,342.21. He also presented a statement of constant, total constant, variable and total variable expenses; the total of both being $30,946.68. Mr. Nicker3 n mentioned that they had taken the monthly figure and multiplied it by twelve and Mr. Roketenetz said that amounts to a little over $28,000. Mr. Roketenetz said that there is the question of using t he garbage and then the additional expense of cooking it. He said that they have six men plus a supervisor. The wages are $52 a week for four men, $55 for two men and $65 for a supervisor! The men 503 want more money and he feels that he will have to pay the four men 060. He submitted a letter from Dr. Shannon of the State and said that he understands their farm is eighteenth on the list. He said that he also understands they have stopped and the money has run outs Mr. Nickerson said that the subject has been dis- cussed with Representatives Brox and Ferguson, and they advise that the amount of money the State appropriated has already been spent andichey have not gone beyond eleven condemnations. Mr. Roketenetz, said that- the first few cases were on small farms, none over 500 pigs. He said that he has 2500 pigs. Mr. Nickerson said that Roketenetz told him and Mr. Gay that they had a plant over there and were going to en- deavor to maintain themselves in the business. He said that he would think if they were going to take :that chance they would figure some value for the garbage, 4nd asked if they were feeding garbage now. Mr. Roketenetz, replied that they have to Until they dispose of the pigs. It may be a few weeks, months or a year. Mr. Nickerson said that when the State reaches them and takes the hogs it should go along fairly fast and Mr. Roketenatz said that it would depend on whether or not there is an appropriation. He said that he has about 800 hogs ready for market and to continue to feed them is only an expense because when a hog reaches 240 lbs., any more weight is useless . The packers dontt want them and pay less money, because they are too fat. Mr. Nickerson said that the Board is not unfriendly but is going to readvertise this quickly. He said that he does not know whether any other bid will be received or not, but at least the Board is going to try. He stated that the advertisement would be in the paper this week and bids would be received until 4;30 P. M. on Wednesday, March 11th. He explained that the Board is trying to do the best it can for Lexington and therefore wants the best bid it can get. Mr. Roketenetz, said that this is the best bid he can give. Mr. Nickerson said that in that case the Board will readvertise and asked if they would resubmit a bid. Mr. Roketenetz said that he did not know. Mr. Gay asked how long it would take them to meet the requirements after the hogs have been taken, and Mr. Roketenetz replied that the disinfection alone would prohably take two weeks and then they have the problem of where to apply for stock. He said that he doubted if any could be purchased in Massachusetts and that the disease is now in New Hampshire and Maine. Rhode Island has been cleaned out. He said that he would be allowed only 5% to start with until the government permits them to go back into business. 504 Op Mr. Gay said that as soon as the pigs have been disposed of they would have no outlet for the garbage for some time, and Mr. Roketenetz replied in the affir- mative. Mr. Gay asked if it could be for a year, and Mr. Roketenetz replied that he does not think it will be that long. Mr. Gay asked if he would have a cooking plant, and he replied that they are thinking about it, because they will have to have one. Mr. Gay asked if he had any idea how much it would cost, and he replied $6,000 or $7,000. He said that he saw a demonstration in Waltham two weeks ago, and it was a dismal failure. The machine was very small and with only a ton of garbage, was not cooked. He said that they would have to have something large and permanent. Mr. Nickerson said that the Board has the problem of disposing of the garbage and that it has not had the best service but contended that the contractor tried and did as good a job as he could. He explained that the Board is not angry because of the price but just disturbed. He stated that the Board is not trying to sell a bill of goods but making a statement of what it feels it must do. He said that if they wished to resubmit a bid again, the Board will be glad to have them do it. Mr. Roketenetz said that since they took over the collection two years ago the town has grown, and Mr. Nickerson said that the Board realized that and went along with them last year. Mr. Roketenetz said that he appreciated it last year and although the collection has not been the best, they have tried to do a good job. Mr. Nickerson agreed that although not perfect, the collection has been good. Mr. Nickerson returned Roketenetz ' check in the amount of $100 which was submitted with the bid on March 2, 1953. The Roketenetz retired at 9 :40 P. M. The Board agreed to approve the figure of $4500 per year for the Clerk to the Board of Assessors, concurring with the recommendation of the Appropriation Committee. The meeting adjourned at 9;45 P. M. A true record, Attest; 1 k