HomeMy WebLinkAbout1943-01-18137
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
January 18, 1943
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Monday
evening, January 181. 1943. at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Giroux,
Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Locke, and Sarano were present.
The Clerk was also present.
Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board at 7:50 P.M.
Mr. Paxton said that he had been trying to get
various people out of the Barnes property. He made suit-
able arrangements for the Welfare office to be moved into Welfare
the Engineers' office. He got into difficulty about moving Office
the Red Cross office as the Board of Directors does not
meet until this week. They requested permission to stay
where they are until the end of this week and for that
reason the Welfare office has not been moved. It is planned
to move the office on next Saturday.
Mr. Paxton said that inasmuch as the Welfare office is
to be moved to the Engineers' office, the Report Center
could not be moved upstairs.
Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. Sarano be appointed to
represent the Board to make the best arrangements he can Report
with regard to rearranging the tables and telephones in Center
the Selectmen's Room so that they will be in the way as
little as possible. Mr. Locke seconded the motion,and
it was so voted.
Mr. Rowse moved that the Committee on Public Safety
be requested to have the calls from the Newton Warning.
Center go direct to the Police Station. Mr. Locke
seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Mr.. Paxton said that he went up to see Toras Bashian
and after talking with him he felt that Bashian wanted a.
stock fence around Wood Street and wanted the traffic
stopped along the old road, and the latter reloamed. Mr. Bashian
Paxton asked Bashian what he would take to settle his claim Claim
and he replied that he was not interested in the money but
wanted the stock fence. Mr. Paxton said that he could pur-
chase stock fence. for $30.00 to $35.00 from the Security
Fence Company. He can purchase the cedar posts from the
Lexington Lumber Company for 35.00 or $40.00. He thought
the total cost would be from 175.00 to $200.00. Mr. Paxton
suggested that a release be prepared and.a stock fence be
erected rather than waiting for a Town Meeting. The expense
could be charged to Highway Maintenance. It was finally
voted that Mr. Toras Bashian be offered the sum of $100.00 in
full settlement of all his claims against the Town of
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Lexington, providing he will give the Town his formal
release of all claims for damages.
Mr. Paxton discussed t he matter of supplying water to
the Bedford Airport. He had been advised by the M.D.C.
not to sign any contract because the contract stipulates
Water that there shall be a continual supply of water and the
for M.D.C. does not feel that it is equipped to handle that
Airport capacity of water. Finally the M.D.C. 'said it Would give
150,000 gallons per day. Mr. Paxton contacted the Resi-
dent Engineer Inspector and told him the contract would
not be signed as there were certain changes to be made,
but if he would guarantee that the Town would be reim-
bursed, Mr. Paxton would take a change and give him water.
The engineer agreed to this and Lexington gave them water
for three nights, until the reservoir was filled. They
have been furnished with about 35,000 -cubic feet. The
contract sent to the Town for signature was at 18r/ per
100 cubic feet. The M.D.C. and the Government are still
arguing whether or not there will be a continuous supply
of water.
Mr. Paxton reported that the employees in the Public
Works Department were very much pleased with the action of
the Board in giving them an increase of 5yi per hour. They
appreciated it very much.
He said he now had a problem of four men on a weekly
basis: George 0. Harrington, John F. O'Connor, Francis T.
Barry, and James Cassella. He would like to put them on an
hourly rate. If they are on an hourly rate, they do not
get paid for sick leave or for days they are out. -If they
are on an hourly basis, the time actually spent on work in
a certain department may be charged directly to that de-
partment and this will give a clearer picture of expenses.
Mr. Rowse asked what their hourly rate would be based on.
Mr. Paxton said he thought that Mr. Darrington, Mr.. O'Connor
Salaries and Mr. Barry should be set up on the same basis with the
same rate of pay. Mr. Cassella is an assistant mechanic
and he thought he should receive 75¢ an hour. The rates
now figures Barry, 88si; O'Connor, 84.X; Harrington, 75i.
He said he thought that a fair rate of pay for these men,
under present conditions, was $1.00 per hour.
Mr. Rowse said that the salaries were now included in
Personal Services. and he wondered if it might not be wise
to wait until Town Meeting to make the increases. Mr
Paxton said that the positions were listed under Personal
Services, but if the men were put on an hourly rate they
would be paid from Wages and Expenses and those budgets
would have to be increased and the Personal Services
budgets decreased. There was a general discussion on the
matter.
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Mr. Rowse moved that a *1.00 per hour rate be approved
for John F. O'Connor, and Francis T..Barry; a 90f/ per hour
rate for George Harrington, and a 75yi per hour rate for
James Cassella, effective as of January 15, 1943, subject to
the approval of the Appropriation Committee and with au-
thority extended to Mr. Paxton to change the men from a
weekly salary to an hourly rate of pay. Mr. Sarano sec-
onded the motion, and it was so voted.
Mr. Paxton said he appreciated very much the Board's
action in this matter and said he knew that the men them-
selves would be pleased.
Mr. Paxton retired at 8:30 P.M.
Letter was received from George W. Emery, Chairman of
the Board of Fire Engineers, relative to legal assistance
given the Town by Mr. George A. McLaughlin, as follows:
January 15, 1943.
Mr. Arohie R. Giroux, Chairman Selectmen,
Town Office Building
Lexington, Mass.
Dear Sir;
Answering your inquiry, please be advised that prior
to the hearing held on December 14th, but subsequent to
the first joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and Board
of Fire Engineers, I had had at least two long conferences
with Counsel George McLaughlin in behalf of the Board Of
Fire Engineers. Mr. McLaughlin also had conferred with the
entire Board of Fire Engineers in Lexington and there had McLaughlin',
also been frequent telephone conversations - all with res- Bill
pest to the proposed abolition of the office of Chief of
Fire Department. It will also be recalled that subsequent
to the hearing, at which Mr. McLaughlin officiated, he
gave advice over the telephone on several occasions to
Miss Lowe, to W. Emery and to W. Giroux and was also
called into consultation on December 31st with reference
to Mr. Taylor's petition for_retirement.
It is the opinion of the Board of Fire Engineers that
if the Board of Selectmen had not adopted and gone to a
final conclusion with reference to abolishing the above
stated position, these visits, consultations and advice
Which the Board of Engineers had from Mr. McLaughlin, would
probably not be a proper charge against the Town of Lex-
ingtonbut inasmuch as the recommendations of the Board
of Engineers were adopted, it is out opinion that all legal
fees in connection with the matter are a proper charge for
'the Town to assume.
GWE/KFM
Very truly yours,
/s/ George W. Emery.
Chief Engineer
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The Chairman said that he thought that the above
information should be a matter or record.
A long letter was received from Mr. George V. Morse
calling the Board's attention to the importance of keep-
ing trained workers in the Welfare Department. To replace
a worker on Old Age Assistance or A.D.C. requires the
employment of a person certified from the Civil Service
list.
Mr. Morse requested that the Board make the positions
in the Welfare Department attractive so that the present
employees would not be induced to, leave the Town to take
positions where the pay is better. No action was taken
on the matter.
Letter was received from the Clark of the Board re-
porting on the audit of the W.P.A. School Lunch Project
for the year ending December 31, 1942. The receipts as
listed in a journal, receipt book, check books, and bank
Audit of deposit book were checked and found to be in order. The
W.P.A. invoices were checked for additions and extensions. The
payments were checked with statements and the bank book.
The cash balance for the end of the year was $251.64.
Miss Lowe reported that the accounts w ere in excellent
condition.
Members to
Planning
Board
Letter was received from Hazel J. Murray accepting
the position as Board of Health Agent beginning January
23, 1943.
Commitment of miscellaneous charges and water rates
abatements were signed.
Upon motion of Mr. Locke, seconded by Mr. Potter,
it was voted to grant the following licenses:
Waverley Hardware & Supply, Inc. 1756 Mass. Ave. Methyl Alcohol
Lexington Theatre 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies
The Clerk informed the Board that there was an error
in the appointments to the Planning Board made December 7,
1942. Mr. Ferguson was appointed for a term ending March
31, 1945 and Mr. Cromwell was appointed for a term ending
March 31, 1944.. Both of these appointments should have
been for a term ending March 31, 1943.
Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Locke, it
was voted to rescind the votes of December 7, 1942 elect-
ing Clem H. Ferguson for a term ending March 31, 1945 and
electing Richard P. Cromwell for a term ending March 31,
1944.
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Mr. Rowse moved that both Mr. Ferguson and Mr.
Cromwell be appointed for a term ending March 31, 1943.
Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
The Chairman told the Board that even though the
Selectmen did come to a decision on the bonus question
last week it was after the Clerk had left and it was not
a matter of record.
Mr. Rowse moved that the Selectmen agree with the
Appropriation Committee to approve a 70 bonus for 1943
based on 1942 earnings, with a maximum bonus of $150.00,
this to be retroactive to January 1, 1943 if approved
by the Town Meeting, payments to be made quarterly. This
bonus is to apply only to full time regular employees.
In the event of any employee leaving during the year, he
is to receive a pro -rata part of the immediate quarter
involved. Payments are to be made following the end of
each quarter. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was
so voted.
It was decided to meet'on Saturday,
at 2:00 P.M. to discuss budgets.
Mr. Morse appeared before the Board
retired at 9:07 P.M.
January 23, 1943
at 9:00 P:M. and
The question of a vacation for Miss Lowe was discussed.
The Chairman said he understood that the vacation she had
last year was for the year 1941 and therefore she would be
entitled to a vacation for 1942. The Board then voted that
Eleanor M. Lowe be granted two weeks vacation with pay be-
ginning January 25, 1943 and ending February 6, 1943.
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk
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Bonus