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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-01-26-min 4132 CC OD SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 26, 1953 I A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, January 26, 1953 at 7 :00 P. M. Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Emery, Gay, Driscoll, and Reed were present. The Clerk was also it es ent. Mr. tames J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Jurors Board for the drawing of two jurors. Mr. Carl W. Perkins, chemist, 22 Bedford Street and James J. Connell, 55 Forest Street, were drawn for jury duty. Mr. Carroll retired. At 7 :00 P. M. hearing was declared open upon petition of the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permis- Pole sion to locate two poles on Robinson Road . location Mr. Burns, Supt. of Public Works and Mr. Mahon, representing the Boston Edison Company were the only persons present at the hearing. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to approve the petition and sign the order for the following pole locations : (New) Robinson Road, southerly side, approximately 80 feet east of Grove Street, one pole. (New) Robinson Road, northerly side, approximately 240 feet east of Grove Street, one pole. Mr. Mahon retired at 7 :05 P. M. Mr. Burns explained that there are two problems on salaries which can be approached from the basis of cost of living which has been discredited somewhat by the last cost index. He explained that he has a man working for $1.39 an hour who earns $61.00 per week. However, deducting the retirement and Blue Cross, his take home pay is 53 or $55, and in this instance the man has four children. He said that it might be felt that the man could look for another job, and this brought him to the next item. The individual he has in mind is the meter reader, and if he left, the de- partment would be in serious trouble. He agreed that this is not a highly skilled occupation but explained that it is practically impossible to hire men. He stated that the group of men in Lexington are younger than those in comparable towns and have the weapon that if they do not receive more money here, they can some place else. He stated that he lost three men last year and has not been able to replace the. He said that the group of men he now has function very well, 463 and if,they do not leave, will be disgruntled which will reflect in their work. He informed the Board that he has available, to dig the hole, lay the pipe, etc., seventeen men. He has a total force of forty which includes men in the Park Department, but only seventeen laborers. Mr. Burns stated that last year the men were look- ing for a forty-four hour week and therefore not too much was said about raises. He said that he would like to see something done in the nature of a general in- crease for the Public Works Department employees. He felt that if an increase were granted, it would be the last general increase for some time. Mr. Gay asked if Mr. Burns had some men who he would like to raise if a general increase is not approved, and he replied that if he went through the list, there might be four or five men who he would not select for spot increases, but in general he thought this would stir itp too much dissension among the men. Mr. Gay asked if the Union had entered into this, and Mr. Burns replied in the negative. Mr. Reed asked how many applications Mr. Burns had received from men wanting to work, and he replied that he has five or six of which three are no good . Mr. Finery inquired about the amount of money in- volved, and Mr. Burns replied that it will be $7,000. or $8,000. Mr. Emery asked what Mr. Burns had in mind, and he replied a 10% increase across the board. Mr. Driscoll asked about the average hourly rate of the seventeen men, and Mr. Burns replied that it is $1.39 per hour. Mr. Every asked if he had $1.55 in mind, and he re- plied in the affirmative. The Chairman explained that, with the exception of Department heads, the Board had not contemplated any general increases. However, if some of the $1.39 men are running behind, a raise for them might solve that problem. Mr. Burns agreed to submit a definite breakdown of figures for next Monday night. Compensation to the janitors for work at Cary Memorial Building on evenings when it is being used, was considered. Mr. Burns reported that the men will be satisfied with 1..50 per hour, and Mr. Reed suggested a flat rate fee of 5.00 with the Town paying anything additional. Mr. Burns reported that, based on last year's records, the janitors worked approximately 500 hours at Cary Build- ing, and this could mean an item of $750 to be considered in a budget. The Chairman asked Mr. Burns to submit a table of pay for janitor's night work. 464 tc zu to Letter was received from the Bedford Board of Selectmen, together with a copy of vote of the Bedford Town Meeting held in December with reference to the Bedford sale of water to Raytheon and a copy of the permit issued to water the United States Government and Raytheon in regard to laying a ten-inch water main. Letter was received from Mr. Walter G. Black re- questing the installation of a water main in Slocum Road extension and Minola Road, a distance of approxi- mately 500 feet. The Board was not in favor of changing its policy Black req. and therefore, due to the fa@t that the deadline for for water receiving such requests was set as October 15th, de- termined that this application will have to be placed on the list for next year. Mr. Stevens arrived at the meeting at 7 :35 P. M. The Chairman mentioned that it is time to ad- vertise for collection of garbage, the present con- tract expiring on April 19, 1953. It was agreed to use the same form of advertisement that was used in 1951. Adv. far Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, garbage it was voted to advertise for bids in the January 29th collection and February 5th issue of the Lexington Minute-Man; bids to be received at the Selectmen's Office until twelve o'clock noon, March 2, 1953. Letter from Board of Retirement in re placing Chapter 781 on the ballot for March 2nd was held over. The Chairman agreed to contact the Board of Retirement and obtain more information. Messrs. Stevens and Burns retired at 7 :55 P. M. Mr. Garrity met with the Board, and a brief dis- cussion was held relative to his 1953 budgets. He said that he has included an item for airplane spraying and believes it is a mistake not to do more spraying. Mr. Garrity retired at 8:30 P. M., and Mr. Cole, Director of Civilian Defense, met with the Board to discuss his budget for 1953, Mr. Cole said that the amount in his budget has to be a guess, and stated that there should be more infor- mation cards for each individual engaged in Civilian Defense. He said that if anything is done in regard to the generator, he thought the present one would be turned in for a larger unit. He explained that at the time the present generator was purchased the oil burners in Cary Building were not taken into consideration. The turn-in value is `500. The Chairman explained that the Board was not going to recommend the purchase of a gen- erator unless the members, in considering the item fur- ther, changed their minds. Mr. Cole retired at 9:00 P. M. 465 Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, returned to the meeting II and discussed the subject of incineration. He said that the Act of the Legislature providing for the M. D. C. to set up incinerators, calls for in- cinerators in• four or five locations but provides that they are to be furnished to the towns when the towns accept the Act. They cannot be located in any town unless the governing body approves. The money has been appropriated and if any town accepts the Act, the M. D. C. could immediately proceed, providing they could get the Selectmen in the town in which the incinerator is Incinerators to be located to approve the site. He explained that no community has accepted the Act. Mr. Stevens said that the communities of Arlington, Belmont, Brighton and Watertown are interested enough to have held a meeting for the purpose of discussing the subject, and apparently each of the communities has an Incinerator Committee at work, and he attended their meet- ing. The importance of the garbage situation was made very clear at that meeting. All the towns are selling garbage to hog farmers an& at the present time the Federal Government has put a quarantine on all hogs in Middlesex County which means that no hogs can be shipped in or out or slaughtered for market except in certain slaughter houses where the meattwill be processed at high t emper- ature. The reason for this is the disease is like the 1 hoof and mouth disease in appearance, and it comes from the hogs eating raw garbage in the sense that raw gar- bage contains uncooked pork scraps. He reported that there is a Bill in the Legislature which calls for State and Federal aid to the farmers for loss in selling the diseased animals. He said that if the hogs around here cannot be fed raw garbage, they can' t compete on feeding grain or cooked garbage, and asked what would happen if the Board did not receive any bids for the collection of garbage. He stated that at the present time the only alter- native is incineration or in the interval sanitary dumps with a trench ten feet deep and mechanical equip- ment. Mr. Stevens said that the temper of the meeting was that the problem is becoming more acute, and they felt it would be better to have an incinerator built by the towns instead of by the M. D. C. It was left that some decision had to be reached, and therefore a meeting will be held next Sunday. At that time each of the Incinera- tor Committees and Selectmen are to have decided what their attitude is to be as far as their town is con- cerned. The (chairman referred to the case of the Callahan boy who lost an eye as a result of an accident at the center playground, and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Chairman to 403 co advise Mr. Lynch that the Board is not in favor of in- serting an article in any warrant and suggest that if he so desires, have it inserted under the signature of ten or more registered voters. Mr. Stevens retired at 9:55 P. M. Certification and report form was received from the Division of Civil Service certifying requisition for appointment of one police officer. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was unanimously voted to appoint George W. Forten, 945 Waltham Street, as patrolmal in the Lexington Police Department, effective February 6, 1953 at a salary of $59.55 per week. Notice was received from the Secretary of the Commonwealth on behalf of Alfred Wilson, Jr. , 24 Cert. of Bennington Road, who has applied for a Certificate of Inc. Incorporation. A satisfactory character reference was received from the thief of Police. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to sign the application. Warrant for the assessment for maintenance, opera- tion and repair of the Middlesex County Sanatprium, its the sum of $20,083.61 was noted and referred to the Board of Assessors. Letter was received from Mrs. Leon W. Truesde .l',. on behalf of the Pollen church Alliance, for permis- Rummage sion to conduct a rummage sale at the Barnes property Sale on Saturday, May 2nd. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to grant the request. Letter was received from Wendell Irvine, on be- half of the Lexington Chapter, Red Cross, requesting Permit permission to erect a small Red Cross thermometer in Emery Park. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the request. Mr. Roeder's letter with reference to Chapter 77, Section 59A - mutual aid was held over, and the Chair- man was authorized to discuss the subject with Town Counsel. Letter from the Lexington Allied Veterans ' Coun- cil submitting names for appointment to the 19th of April Committee, was held over frcmu last meeting. April 19th Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Gay, Committee it was voted to appoint the following individuals to serve on the 19th of April Committee for 1953 : Col. 467 Connell Albertine, Lexington Minute Men; Martin Bashian, Lexington Minute Men; Daniel P. O'Connor, American Legion; George Glover, Veterans cf' Foreign Wars and George E. Foster, Massachusetts State ,Guard Veterans. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to grant the following uses of halls ; R. F. Jackson Conf. Room Jan. 28 Health Agents Meeting Lex. Chamber of Comm. Estabrook Feb. 5 Annual Meeting R. F. Jackson Cary Hall May 16 4-H Girls ' Day Youth Study Commission Selectmen's Rm. Feb.11 Meeting Application was received from Mr. A. Magaletta, Manager of the Junior tigh Baseball Team in Bedford, requesting permission to conduct a dance in Cary Hall on February 14th. The request was denied inasmuch as the Board felt that the uses of the hall is limited to local organi- zations or organizations made up of local citizens. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to grant the following licenses : Countryside, Inc. 400 Lowell St. Common Victualler (renewal ) Lex. Amusement Co. 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies At 10:20 P. M. the following members of the Planning Board met with the Selectmen to discuss Edison Way: Chair- man Adams, Messrs. Hathaway, Irwin, Johnson, Potter and Ripley. Mr. Burns, Supt of Public Works, was also present. Mr. Adams reported that he and Mr. Johnson went in to see Mr. Howland of Minot, DeBlois"& Maddison, and he would judge that it is now in the hands of the Selectmen to carry on negotiations. The Chairman stated that he had discussed the sub- ject with Mr. Johnson, and he thought that Mr. Howland seemed to be ready to trade, and if the Board could get Edison an overall arrangement whereby it could acquire the Way land and do the blacktopping and not exceed the amount intthe Parking Meter Fund, it might be good business to present it to the Town Meeting. He suggested that one or more representatives fromthe Planning Board meet again with Mr. Howland and a representative from the Board of Selectmen. He mentioned that the Board would not like to present a plan to the Town that would cost more than what is in the Parking Meter Fund. Mr. Adams said that he told Mr. Howland his visit was purely informal. The Chairman said that he would like to have an esti4ate on the amount of money required to blacktop the area, subtract that from the amount of money in the Parking Meter Fund and tell Mr. Howland the Boards would recommend that the Town Meeting carry this through. 468 CC Mr. Adams suggested that the project be a parking area with Edison Way being the same as it was planned. He explained what he had in mind by use of a plan, aid was then talking Chairman said that he about more than15s 000. Mr. Johnson said that Mr. Howland 's firm has spent $13,000 and is willing to take it back if the Town makes a parking area. Mr. Adams said that he thought the next step would be to obtain some figures. It was left that Mr. Burns would furnish the Chair- man with some quick approximations as to that the pro- ject will cost in regard to blacktopping and drainages and Mr. Adams was to call Mr. Howland and make an appointment for him to meet the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and Mr. Johnson and himself. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 P. M. A true record, Attests le / 1 1