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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-01-03-BOS-min 281 SELECTMEN' S MEETING January 3, 1956 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, January 3, 1956 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Bateman, Messrs. Gay, Reed and James were present. Mr. Gayer, Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Burns and the Clerk were also present. The Chairman read a letter from Rufus L. McQuillan, Chairman of the Board of Health, requesting a transfer of $14.93 to the Board of Health Personal Services Transfer Account to take care of a shortage in the account for 1955. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reedi it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $14.93 from the Reserve Fund to the Board of Health Personal Services Account. The Clerk reported that Mr. Palmer, Town Accoun- t tant, had advised a transfer of $4.67 to the Sealer of Transfer Weights and Measures Expenses Account to balance the account for 1955• Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer the sum of $1 .67 from the Reserve Fund to the Sealer of Weights & Measures Expenses Account. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Cie*, met with the Board Jurors for the drawing of two jurors. Richard W. Maynard, president, Lexington Lumber Co. , 77 Meriam Street and Raymond L. Jewett, Asst. Sales Mgr., 119 Maple Street were drawn for jury duty. Mr. Carroll retired. Hearing was declared open upon petition of the New Conduit England Telephone and Telegraph Company for permission location to locate underground conduit on Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Consilvio, representative of the petitioner, telephoned the Selectmen' s Office and explained that the main haul on one side of Massachusetts Avenue is going across to School Street. This will feed all the houses in the Grand View Avenue area dnd the new de- velopment in that vicinity. If the conduit is not located underground, it would be necessary to place a pole on the opposite side of Massachusetts Avenue which would be the only pole on that side. 28 C, Mr. Gayer approved the proposed location and no one appeared at the hearing in opposition. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. James, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the m der for the following conduit location: Massachusetts Avenue: From manhole 54/87 easterly and southerly approximately 95 feet of 'underground conduit* petition was received from the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Pole Company for permission to relocate one pole on Marrett location Road at Tufts Rcad. The proposed location was approved by Mr. Gayer; the present pole now being located in the middle of Tufts Road. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by M . James, it was voted to grant the following j/o pole locations Marrett Road, at Tufts Road, -- one pole. (One existing j/o pole to be removed. ) Sidewalks The Chairman r ead a letter from the State Depart- ment of Public Works relative to the matter of a side- walk on Marrett Road between Cary Avenue and Lincoln Street. The State has estahlished a policy regarding sidewalks along State highways which involves the co-operation of the town and the availability of funds. The State will do all the work necessary to construct a sidewalk except the surface if the town will agree to the following: 1. Provide funds for and place the sidewalk suff ac e. 2. Be responsible for maintenance and snow removal on the completed sidewalk. 3. Be responsible for all slope easements and all grade damage claims by the abutters., 4. Make no assessments on abutters for work done by the Massachusetts Department of Public Works. In connection with this particular sidewalk, it appears necessary for the Town to grant a drainage easement for the outlet into the Town system for a proposed drainage system which will become necessary if the sidewalk is constructed. The report from the State Engineer indicates that the cost for surfacing the sidewalk would be approximately $1200. 280 Following receipt of a commitment from the Town agreeing to the above conditions, the State will place the project on its priority list and will do the nec- essary work at such time as funds become available. It was agreed to advise the State that the Board is in favor of the project and will present it to Town Meeting for approval. Petition, signed by property owners on Utica Street, was received requesting the installation of a sewer the Sewer entire length of the street. The Chairman reported that several people had con- tacted him in this regard and he advised them that it would not be done until 1957. The Chairman was authorized to acknowledge the petition and advise that inasmuch as the closing date for receiving requests for projects to be done in 1956 was October 15, 1955, this particular item is not included in the budget recommendations for this year. Letter was received from Suptt. John Blackhall Sidewalks Smith together with a list of desirable sidewalks. No action was taken. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it Licenses was voted to grant the following licenses: Village Variety Store 93 Mass. Ave. Common Viet. Anna E. Phillips 29 Depot Square " Geo. R. Reed 8h Son, Inc.1721 Mass. Ave. " " Countryside Pharmacy 317 Woburn St. " " Rowe-Jackson Chevrolet 39-41 Bedford St. 1st. Class Agt. Wal-Lex Motor Co. 91s Waltham St. 1st. Class Agt. Lexington Theatre 179!61 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies Jean Baker 173 Mass. Ave. Intellig. Off. Application was received from the Lexington Police Use of room Woments Association requesting permission to conduct a meeting in the conference room, Cary Memorial Building, on January 5, 1956. Upon motion of Mr. Reed, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to grant the use of the room free of charge. The Chairman read a letter from Edwin B. Worthen Lantern in reporting that following his last lecture there was Cary Bldg. considerable criticism of the operation of the lan- tern. He suggested replacing the present lantern to a slide operation. The Clerk was instructed to make a copy of the letter for Mr. Gayer and to advise Mr. Worthen that the matter would be taken care of before the Annual 284 Town Meeting in March. ' Mr: Stevens, Town Counsel, met with the Board Cary Ave. at 8:00 P.M. and read a proposed agreement between sewer system the Town and Mr. Sweeney relative to the use of Lot 118 Cary Avenue In connection with a sewer system for Lot 117. The Board had no objection and Mr. Stevens stated that he would have a final draft prepared for the Board1s signatures next Monday. Mr. Stevens retired at 8:20 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Angus McIver, Sewer 30 Follen Road, stating.that earlier in the year he had expressed a desire to be connected to the public sewer, and was advised that the request would be in- cluded in the list of projects to be considered in the 1956 budget. Mr. Burns reported that it will cost approxi- mately $7,000. He said that the request is not un- reasonable as there is a very bad situation there with sewage runningldown thesidewalk which cannot be corrected except by connection to the sanitary sewer. Budgets of the Public Works Department were dis- II Budgets cussed until 9.55 P.M. at which time Messrs. Gayer and Burns retired. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Carroll, Town Article Clerk, requesting the insertion of an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for the approp- riation of $325 to pay expenses of the Town Clerk in- curred outside the Commonwealth in securing informa- tion which may tend to improve the service in his office. Mr. Reed mentioned including the item in the budget and the Chairman agreed to contact Mr. Carroll bn the subject. The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Article Assessors requesting the insertion of an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for the acceptance of Chapter 6149 of the Acts of 1955. Letter was received from Supt. John Blackhall Smith requesting the insertion of an article in the Article warrant for the Annual Town Meeting requesting an appropriation for wages of custodians required to be in attendance at school buildings during meetings of certain organizations that are unable to pay the required fee. 2085 Letter was received from Supt. John Blackhall Smith requesting the insertion of an article in the Article warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for an approp- riation of $429,000 for the purpose of constructing an addition to the Franklin School and the appointment of a committee to plan and supervise the construction of the addition. He also requested insertion of an article for the appointment of a committee empowered to secure options on a site for a Junior High School. Letter was received from the State Department of Corporations and Taxation advising that the sum of Bonds $67,400 has been established as the amount not less than which the 1956 bond of the Treasurer shall be written and the sum of $?7,700 has been established as the amount not less than which the 1956 bond of the Collector of Taxes shall be written. The Chairman read a letter from E;nest E. Rogers advising that he is no longer able to devote suf- Insurance ficient time to his insurance business to give the Town service and he has made an arrangement with John F. MacNeil to handle the town insurance formerly held by him. The Chairmai instructed the clerk not to acknow- ledge the letter and not to notify Brewer & Lord of the change. Letter was received from John F. MacNeil re- ferring to letter from the Appropriation Committee Insurance in which was mentioned the recommendations submitted in 1954. He stated that his office was not consulted toward its ideas. He said that he would await the Board' s reply as to how his proposal can be put into action. No action was taken. Bill for the 1956 Selectmen' s Association dues in Selectmen's the amount of X75 was approved for payment. dues Letter from the Town Celebrations Committee re Appointment resignation of Mrs. Dodge was held over. The Chairman was authorized to acknowledge the communication and to ask the Committee to advise the Board whether or not there are any individuals whom they would like to suggest as a replacement. It was agreed to meet tomorrow evening- to discuss budgets. 286 The meeting adjourned at 10:25 P.M. , A true record, Attest: 7�erkS ctme�a � I