Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-01-06-BOS-min 196 SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 6, 1958 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, January 6, 1958 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman James, Messrs. Reed, Maloney, Tucker and Mrs. Morey were present. Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk were also present. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Juror Board for the drawing of one juror. Mr. Lawrence Dudley Freeman, 6 Marlboro Road, was drawn for jury duty. Mr. Carroll retired. The Chairman read a letter from Frederick A. Mowatt, Loring Air Force Base, Limestone , Maine, with reference to lots 12 and 13, Block 15, Eaton Road. Tax title He stated that on December 26, 1915 he purchased the lots from Amy A. Currier and Daisy L. Hartwell. The deed was recorded at the South District Middlesex Registry of Deeds on December 26, 1945, Book 6921, Page 259. At the time he purchased the land, and since, he has been continuously in the Army. Be was told by the Veterans ' Administration that as he was in the service, the lots were exempt from tax- ation. However, this is not the case and because the taxes were not paid, the Town foreclosed the title on February 23, 1951. Sergeant Mowatt now wants to regain a clear title to the lots and is willing to pay any charges for taxes and betterments that may be due bo that he can sell the land and give a good title to the purchaser. Due to the fact that he is stationed at Limestone, Maine, he appointed Robert C. Merriam to - represent him in the matter. Mr. Stevens said that he recalled similar in- stance where the Board released all right, title and interest of the Town back to the owner, he paying back taxes in the meantime. Mr. Reed reported that Mr. Merriam discussed this subject with him and said this man is sincere about the situation. Mr. Stevens explained that a Town is not supposed to foreclose against anyone in the Armed Service and there is no doubt in his mind that the foreclosure could be upset. He suggested that Sergeant Mowatt pay what is due to date plus betterment, and that the Board find out the correct amount from Mr. Carroll. x:97 Mr. Stevens reported that Mr. Benjamin Golini, who purchased tax title lots 527-533 Asbury Street, from the Town called him on December 31st and said he is willing to sell part of lot 533 to Clarence Tax title Bentley to add to his driveway. The deed was drawn, at the request of the Board, to prohibit Mr. Golini from erecting more than one dwelling and that all the lots were to be combined to make one lot. Mr. Stevens explained that if the Board is in favor, it will have to release lot 533 from the re- striction. He said he would prepare an instrument for the Board to sign and that it should have a ratifying vote passed at the Annual Town Meeting. The Chairman referred to tax title lot 11, Block 88, Short Street, and Mr. Stevens ' letter. Mr. Stevens stated that he has not checked at Tax title all on the deed that Mr. Borella obtained recently from Mrs. Henshaw. The Chairman said that the Board must decide to whom it wants to sell the lot and if it is to be sold to Mrs. Lembo, the Board must determine what it wants to ask for. it. Mrs. Morey suggested advising Mrs. Lembo that the Board will consider selling it to her for $150 the amount offered by the other interested party. Mrs . Morey asked if Mr. Stevens had given any consideration to inserting an article in the warrant this year to cover the Meagherville tax title property. Meaghervilb Mr. Stevens replied that he has heard nothing tax title about it. He took a plan to the Assessors ' Office and land asked for more information on all the lots because the plan as prepared turned out to be only the lots acquired for 1951 and 1952 nonpayment. The Chairman said this is something he will check with the Assessors. Mrs. Morey reported that part of that area is desired for one of the proposed school sites and any- thing that is going to be done should be done before there are a couple of houses constructed there. Mr. Stevens explained that the area could be selected and the taking made. Mrs. Morey said that the Sites Committee wants to be sure of getting an area there and it needs to know how the Town is going to handle the area. The Chairman asked about the procedure in re- gard to redevelopment and Mr. Stevens said that he would give the Board a report on the subject next week. The Chairman referred to Mrs. Rich's letter of December 16th in regard to unpaid ambulance bills 198 and explained that the Board is of the opinion that in some instances the charges are collectable. He said the Board wanted to know how she determined they were uncollectable so he asked her and she explained that she wrote letters and made telephone calls without re- ceving any replies. Her Deputy Collector will take on this list for 3% but she has not authorized him to do it. Mrs. Morey suggested that the Tax Collector turn the list over to the Deputy Collector. Ambulance Mr. Tucker recommended that the Wm. Collector bills give the Board a list of all charges/paid after a six month period of time in an effort to keep the charges. on a current basis. The Chairman said he would advise the Collector that it is the Board's desire to turn the list over to the Deputy .Collector. Mrs. Morey said that if this subject is mentioned in the Minute-man under Selectmen's Meeting, it should be referred to as old ambulance charges. The Chairman read a letter from Raymond E. Lewis, Adjutant, American Legion, advising that the Post has received budget requests from Mr. George Foster. Memorial The Post will be •glad to help prepare plans and budgets and for Memorial Day and Veterans ' Day but felt that the Veterans ' Board should appoint a Committee composed of represen- Day budget tatives from the American Legion. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Sons of Union Veterans and the Lexington Minute Men. The Board submitted for the Board's approval the names of Daniel P. O'Connor and Harold F. Rycroft. It was agreed to make up the budgets for this year using the same figure as was approved last year. Some time before Memorial $ yy the Board will appoint a Committee to arrange/thV observance of both holidays. Letter was received from Mrs. Catherine V. Kelly, 65 Bradfield Avenue, Roslindale, in reply to the Board's Tax title letter of December 26th, advising that she is still interested in acquiring tax title lot 19, Block 18, Reed Street for 1200 . The Clerk was instructed tp find out how long Mrs. Kelly owned lot 18. The Chairman referred to ten offers received for the purchase of the property at 10 Westminister Avenue, Tax title formerly occupied by Mr. Head, taken by the Town for nonpayment of taxes. Mr. Stevens asked if the Board wanted to put any restrictions on it. He suggested that the Board find out how large it is and decide whether or not it wants to advertise for bids, He said he thought the Board would advertise and write all those who have submitted bids. He said he would help in preparing the notice. l 199 The Chairman asked Mr. Stevens if the Board could not move on the little parcel of land on Reed Street that Mr. Jellis would like to acquire. He reported that Mr. Carroll said he had foreclosed it. Tax title The Chairman said he would like to sell Mr. Jellis the piece in front of his property and sell Mr. Hossfield the piece in front of his property and keep a right of way. Mr. Stevens said he would take a look at it. Mrs. Morey brought up the matter of skating on the Baskin Park area. Someone suggested that until the area is made safer, the children should not be en- couraged to skate there. Mr. Stevens explained that the State generally protects a limited access way and if it is not ads- Baskin quate, the State should be requested to make it ads- Park quate. Mrs. Morey said that until such time as there is adequate protection the Town should not do anything and Mr. Stevens said that the Town should show that something is being done to make it safe . Mr. Maloney said the Town should not become in- volved there until something definite has been de- termined in regard to the area. llThe Chairman brought up the subject of people requesting the Town to flood skating areas for Skating neighborhood skating. He said he talked to Mr. Stevens areas and he thought the Board would be getting into some- thing that could become involved. If the Board does decide to flood the areas there should be some restriction in regard to the size of the areas. Mr. Stevens said the question of flooding it, keep- ing it flooded and possibly snow removal had to be con- sidered. He said if there was an area not developed where there is no question of lawns being damaged, etc. , something might be worked out, but beyond that he thought the Town might be getting into some difficulties. Mr. Stevens retired at 9:25 P.M. The Chairman was authorized to advise the Recreation Committee that this is a project in which the Board does not want to involve the Town. The Chairman read a letter from the School Committee advising that an article will be needed for an appro- priation to construct a new Junior High School and an Articles appropriation to renovate the currect Junior High School building. If the Board decides to transfer a part of the Barnes property to the School Committee for administration, another article will be necessary to provide funds for repairs and renovations to that building. 200 Mr. Reed felt that if the building is rented to the School Department the Selectmen should insert the article for repairs. Mr. Maloney said that he is in favor of having offices elsewhere than the building. He does not want to see money spent on the Barnes building, but would like the Committee to have a place suitable for many years to come. The Chairman said he agreed, but the Board would have to answer either yes or no on the request. Mrs. Morey said if they begin to plan for a new build- ing for administration, it would probably run not less than *100,000. Barnes The Chairman suggested that the School Committee property have that part of the Barnes property now being used by the Planning Board, Welfare and Cemetery Commissioners because according to Mr. Smith, that much is all they need now but they would want to expand next year and the year after. Mr. Reed said he thought the building should be controlled by the Selectmen and therefore the Selectmen should put the article in the warrant. Mrs. Morey said if the School Committee wanted to renovate the building it would still be under the control of the Selectmen and that the Selectmen should maintain it. The Chairman reported that Mr. Howard Butler said the Scouts realized when they took the place that when the Town needed additional space they would have to move out. They have some long range plans for building a Scout Administration building. If the Selectmen decide to give the School Department part of the building and later give the School Department more room, that would be all right with the Boy Scouts because it would supply them with inertia to get the new building started, but they would like to know what the Board intends to do. They would be willing to move much of their activity down stairs and rearrange some partitions. Mrs. Morey said that the Boy Scouts should be told they are tenants at will from June on. The Board decided to move into the space vacated by the Police Department the following departments of the Town: The Planning Board, Welfare Department, Cemetery Department, Veterans ' Agent and Civil Defense. It was agreed that School Administration could occupy a portion of the Barnes property and that the specific space and area will be determined at a later date. License Upon motion of Mr. Tucker, seconded by Mrs. Morey, it was voted to grant a Common Victualler license to Geo. R. Reed & Son, 1721 Massachusetts Avenue. 201 Mrs. Morey said she thought the Clerk should call Mr. Greeley and ask if he has the plans of the build- ing built in 1927 which would show construction type in the basement. She said there also should be a wiring plan. The Chairman read a letter from the Planning Board advising that a signed option has been received from Edith W. Willard and Geneive Robinson conveying to the Town land containing about 59 acres on the westerly Article side of North Street. The Planning Board requested an article in the warrant for the 1958 Annual Town Meeting under which a vote may bsr• cffered to acquire the land in accordance with the option terms. Letter was received from the House of Representatives, Washingtoh.D.0 together with a questionnaire con- cerning the operation and enforeement of the Hatch Act to prevent pernicious political activities. Hatch Act The Chairman said that he would discuss the subject with Mr. Stevens in an effort to arrive at the answer to some of the questions. The meeting adjourned at 10:40 P.M. A true record, Attest: /exec tiv® lerk Select n II 11