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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-01-19-min 45$ ZG SELECMEN&S MEETING OD January 19, 1953 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Build- ing, on Monday evening, January 19, 1953, at 7 :00 P. M. Messrs. Gay, Driscoll and Reed were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Gay acted as Chairman. Letter was received fromthe Lexington Allied Veterans ' Council submitting the names of five in- dividuals to be appointed as the 19th of April Com- 19th of mittee. April Comm. No action was taken and the Clerk was instructed to place the cdmmunication on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Board. The Chairman read letters from Charles D. Allen, 1786 Massachusetts Avenue and Robert Jeremiah, 109 Wire Simonds Road, applying for position of Wire Inspector Inspector which will be vacant due to Mr. Bills ' retirement. Both applications were placed on file. Mr. Burns arrived at the meeting at 7 :10 P. M. Letter was received from the State Department of Public Works advising that the sums for Chapter 90 have been tentatively allotted as follows: Chapter 90 Project State Town County Hill Street 0,000 $4,000 $4,000 Maintenance 1,000 1,000 1,000 The Chairman read a letter from the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, in regard to proposed sewage disposal agreements with Mr. Burns, representing the Town of Lexington. The initial connection charge of U. S. k. $35,000 is acceptable to the Engineers and in exchange Sewage for this payment the Town would convey certain things Disposal to the United States; a).1 listed in the letter. A copy of the letter was handed to Mr. Stevens With the request that he prepare a reply. Mr. Reed reported that he was requested to attend a meeting on Sunday, January 18th, at which represen- tatives from various towns were present in regard to the proposed Metropolitan refuse disposal incinerator. At this meeting the group was given the initial cost to each town which is based on the population at the present time. ' 459 The annual cost to Lexington would be $14,807.68 and that is temporary. After that the cost to the Town would be figured according to tonnage. The incinerator could be operated by the State or the M. D. C. and there was opposition from every town represented because they all felt the M. D. C. was doing things in a very expen- sive way. He explained that the towns prefer to band together and build an incinerator themselves and operate it themselves. He said that the towns expressed concern in regard to the operating cost of the M. D. C. incinerator. Brighton was represented by the Board of Public Works and that city must have an incinerator immediately; by M. D. C. July first at the latest. The Brighton representative Incinerator would like to receive a report of the policies of the different towns as soon as possible. If Brighton does not join the group it will mean the loss of the largest user of the proposed incinerator. Mr. Reed stated that it was left that there would be a meeting of the representatives from each town, preferably the Chairmen of the Boards of Selectmen and representatives of the Incinerator Committees, two weeks from yesterday at which time the policies of each town will be presented. In the meantime the Incinerator Com- mittees of each town is supposed to get together and try to arrive at some agreement as to what each town is going to do. As soon as the Committee makes a report, they will then report to the M. D. C. He said that at the present time he believes Belmont and Watertown would team up on an incinerator of their own. He said that the Chairman of the Boards of Selectmen of the various towns will re- ceive a letter in regard to the coming meeting. Mr. Stevens arrived at 7 :25 P. M. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Stevens in re- gard to private ways which are open to the public and intersect with public ways without any sign at the in- tersection. Mr. Stevens recommended that a check be made of Street all such intersections that proper signs be erected to Signs prevent4iability for damages arising from defects in these Streets. He discussed the subject with Mr. Burns and the expense involved will necessitate including an item in the budget. Mr. Burns estimated about 200 signs at $2.00 each. The Clerk was instructed to place the matter on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Board. Letter was received from Mr. Stevens advising that Representative Ferguson informed him that the Department Met. of Mental Health has completed its survey and effective State January 19, 1953,. Lexington and Bedford are placed within Hospital the district of the Metropolitan State Hospital in Wal- District tham and Lexington. 460 CCU CO Mr. Stevens reported that he attended the hearing before the Committee on Municipal Finance at the State Bill House today in regard to Parking Meter Receipts and re- S-343 corded the Board as being in favor of Bill S-343. Messrs. Stevens and Burns retired at 8:10 P . M. Letter was received from Mfrs. Jane Whittemore, Secretary of the Community Services of Lexington, re- Use of questing permission to conduct an annual meeting in Selectmen's the Selectmen's Room on the bvening of April 15th or Room April 22nd. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, it was voted to grant the use of the room for April 15th. Letter from the Board of Retirement in regard to placing Chapter 781 (additional funds for pensioners ) on the ballot for March 2d was held over. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Reed, License it was voted to grant a Sunday Movie License to the Lexington Amusement Co., Inc. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, Bartlett it was voted to give written notice of intention to lay Avenue out Bartlett Avenue from Lowell Street a distance of 971 feet more or less westerly. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, Gleason it was voted to give written notice of intention to Road lay out Gleason Road from North Hancock Street northerly a distance of approximately 760 feet to Fuller Road. At 8:30 P. M. the following members of the Rec- reation Committee met with the Board= Chairman Foley, Recreation Messrs. Crerie, Person and Potter. Budgets for 1953 Budgets were discussed and the Chairman explained that the Selectmen have not taken any action in regard to per- sonal services. Doctor Foley informed the Board that the Personal Services budget represents an increase of about $2.50 per week for some of the key personnel. In regard to Expenses, he explained that the item for Craft Materials has increased due to the increase in attendance of the afternoon craft classes estab- lished by Mr. Samborski. The classes are attended by eighty or ninety children. Doctor Foley referred to the Capital Outlay bud- get, particularly to the item of $]3 ,595 for Little League and said that the Committee has taken the old soft ball diamond and cut it down to a Little League diamond . ' 461 In so doing, the softball has to be moved out. The Junior High School baseball diamond is also being cut out. The Committee has taken for a model the Little League field in Woburn and he said that the best location in Lexington is on the Aldrich property where the Legion held its affair last year. Doctor Foley explained that this figure included approxi- mately $1750 for a chain link fence all the way around, $995 for a dugout, grading, loaming and seeding, $3500 for a hot top parking area outside the fence, and $1000 for engineering services. The Committee retired at 9:10 P. M. The following members of the Board of Fire Com- missioners met in regard to 1953 budgets : Chairman Roeder, Messrs. Fitzgerald and Sheldon. The Chairman explained that the Selectmen have not come to any conclusion or decision in regard to personal services. The Chairman read a letter from the Commissioners in regard to Personal Services which proposed three alternatives as follows : 1. Addition of six new men for a net gain of two. 2. Addition of three new men for a net gain of one . 3. Removal of the ambulance from the Fire Depart- ment insofar as the operation is concerned. Mr. Fitzgerald said that the situation in regard to manpower is very serious and that either the Select- men or the Commissioners will be called upon to account for a loss of life or serious loss of property. The group retired and the meeting adjourned at 9:50 P. M. A true record, Attest ;