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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 138 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. ibq 2 139 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 140 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. 1 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 141 Bonus