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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1943-04-05 207 SELECTMEN' S MEETING April 5, 1943 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s /loom, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, April 5, 1943. Chairman Rowse , Messrs . Potter, Locke, Sarano and Sheldon were present. The Clerk was also present. At 7 :30 P M. Mr. John J. Garrity appeared before the Board. He said that he had requested an appointment with the Board so that '^e might report on the progress of the Victory Garuen Committee of which he is Vice r'hairman. He said that the Committee as originally appointed by the Board of Selectmen was supposed to allot land for garden purposes, but that he and Mr. Lamont had one a 114-tle farther than that . He said that ,)500 questionnaires on this subject had been mailed, 1530 had been returned, and 1360 people had indicated that tney play cd to have a garden. He has received 121 applications from persons desiring land for gardens . Mr. Garrity said that he Committee, which consists of four District Chairmen ( one for each precinct ) , voted to charge $5.00 to have the lots plowed and harrowed. The lots will all be 60' x 60' . He said that the Committee would need money to pay the person doing the plowing He suggested that the sum of x;300.00 be set aside for the Victory Garden Committee and that whatever money he collects will be turned over to the Town Treasurer. The Chairman asked Mr. Jarrity under what authority he was giving individuals the use of tax title land and what would happen if the JJoard received an offer for the land after a garden had been planted. He replied that he had a form prepared by Mr. Wrightine*ton covering this . Mr. Garrity retired at 7 55 P.k. Mr. Sarano moved that the amount for the Victory Garden Committee be increased from $100.00 to $300.00, to be provided from the Unclassified Account-War Activities and that all money collected by Mr. Garrity be turned over to the Town Treasurer. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton and Acting Chief Russell appeared before the Board at 7 56 P.D.. The Chairman said that the purpose of calling in the Acting Chief and Mr Paxton was on the question of the employment of police officers on other jobs, whether town Police jobs or private business. He explained that the reason working in this question came up was that one of the police officers, other depts. 1 208 a SW Mr. Mowat, was listed on the Police Department payroll and also on the Park Department payroll, for 24 hours during the past week. The Chairman read the following from the Rules and Regulations of the Town of Lexington pertaining to the Police Department : "Rule 5. Sec. 1. Every officer shall devote his whole time to the business of the department and is expressly prohibited from following any other calling or being engaged in any other business. Sec. 3 . All members of the department will be deemed to be always on duty, whether in uniform or not, subject to such relief therefrom as shall be allowed by the Chief of Police. " Acting Chief Russell told the Board that, in his opinion, he did not think working for another department would interfere with the work in the Police Department if the men worked on their long day off. He said that he would not approve of the men going out of town to work. The Chairman said that if the officers were going to be allowed to work on their days off, some emergency ruling should be passed to cover this for the duration, and some restrictions should be made so that the work in the Police Department or any other department would not be jeopardized. Upon motion of Mr. Sarano, seconded by Mr. Sheldon, it was voted that during the present emergency, or until rescinded by vote of the Board of Selectmen, Rule 5, Sections 1 and 3 of the Rules and Regulations of the Town of Lexington pertaining to the Police Department be suspended. Mr. Sarano further moved that the time an officer could devote to work in another department, should not exceed 24 hours, on his long day off, and the time should be approved by the Chief of Police. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Acting Chief Russell retired at 8:15 P.M. Mr. Munroe Hamilton of 35 Robbins Road appeared before the Board. He referred the Board to his letter of March 4, 1943 requesting an abatement of water and sewer betterment assessments on Lot 35 Robbins Road. The matter was dis- cussed and the Chairman informed Mr. Hamilton that further consideration would be given his request. He retired at 8:40 P.M. It was decided to have Mr. Potter and Mr. Paxton meet with Mr. Spencer relative to Mr. Hamilton' s requests and to report to the Board next week. 1 209 Mr. Paxton said that the Lexington Minute Men had re- quested the use of a small room in Cary Memorial Building for a regular meeting to be held on April 12, 1943 from Use of 8:00 P.M. to 10 00 P.M. Hall Mr. Potter moved that the use of the room be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton reported that Mr. Rogers of 81 Hancock Street called to see him the other day in regard to an alleged claim for damages as a result of the work on Roger' s Hancock Street in 1941. He informed the Board that there Hancock St were several other claims which included some received Claim from residents in the Oak Street Section. It was decided to take no action on the matter at this time. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the Office of Defense Transportation had disapproved his application New truck for the purchase of a new truck. Mr. Paxton retired at 8:45 P.M. ,r. Raymond White, Town Accountant, appeared before the Board. He advised the Board that Miss Clifford would be leaving his department on April 15, 1943 . He said he Girl for would like to employ a girl to replace Miss Clifford and Accountare asked what salary he would be authorized to pay. It was Office decided that Mr. White could employ another girl and the Board authorized him to pay a salary not to exceed $18.00 per week. Mr. White was agreeable to employing a girl for less than $18.00 per week if possible. Mr. White retired at 9: 10 P.M. Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 9:10 P.M. to discuss welfare matters and retired at 9 25 P.M. Petition was received from the Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for a jointpole location on Crescent Hill Avenue, northeasterly Pole side, approximately 80 feet southeast of Haskell Street. location Mr. Cosgrove approved the plan submitted. Mr. Locke moved that the location be approve and the Order signed. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Application was received from Mrs. William E. Myers, 65 Bridge Street, for a license to maintain a Boarding Hole for Infants. Dr. Rochette reported that Mrs. Myers Infant is physically equipped to board two infants, and Acting Boarding Chief Russell reported that he believed Mrs. Myers to be a woman of good character. Mr. Sarano moved that the' application be approved. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. I __ 210 0.4 00 Request was received from Rev. Vincent J. Mackay asking permission for the Sacred Heart Parish to con- Carnival duct its annual Carnival during the week of June 14th Permit through June 19th, 1943 on the land owned by Mr. Viano at Bow Street. Mr. Potter moved that permission be granted. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mrs. Martha Yntas, 40 offer to Moreland Avenue, offering to pay $100.00 for lots 315 to 339 inclusive on Moreland Avenue. The Clerk in- urcchase formea -tne chairman that Mr. Spencer considered the, iotoffer too low. Mr. Potter moved that Mrs. Yntas be advised that the lowest price the Board would accept for these lots is $250.00. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A form release was received from John C. Paige & Co. in connection with the cancellation of Bond #72$7394 on be- Bonds half of Eleanor M. Lowe as Clerk of the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Locke moved that the Chairman be authorized to sign the release. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. National Surety Bond #632130 in the sum of $1,000.00 ' on behalf of Hazel J. Murray as Clerk of the Board of Selectmen was received. Mr. Potter moved that the bond be approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from the Department of Conservation, Forest Division of Forestry, relative to Forecasting Forest Fire Fires Weather and to Forest Patrols. It was decided to refer the letter to the Board of Fire Engineers for their eonsicwation. Letter was received from Mr. Carroll together with two copies of wwetits for the amount of $1500.00 for welfare aid, Writs hospital aid and hospital care, answerable to the City of Cambridge on Saturday, May 22, 1943 . The Chairman requested Mr. Morse to check as to what this is for and report to the Board next week. Notice was received from the Department of Public Utilities that a hearing would be held on April 16, 1943 Lovell upon the application of the Lovell Bus Lines, Inc. for a Bus hearing certificate of operation of motor vehicles for the carriage of passengers for hire in the Town of Lexington, over the following route From the junction of Marrett Road and Lincoln Street, over School Street to Mess. Avenue, over Mass. Avenue to the junction of Mass. Avenue and Lincoln Street and return over the same route. 211 Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was voted to grant the following licenses : William Viano 1794 Mass. Avenue Sunday Movies Western Union 1736 Mass . Avenue Overhanging Sign The Chairman read k letter from Mr. Lamont relative to an application received from Mr. Edward W. Porter of 29 Poultry Cedar Street, Roxbury for permission to keep 3,000 poultry pouy at the old Cary Farm, 84 Cary Avenue, Lexington. Mr. Lamont permit said that he had interviewed Mr. J. Willard Hayden and he seriously objects to chickens being kept at this location. Mr. Lamont suggested that a modified permit be granted to Mr. Porter who has rented this property from Mr. Ryder. The Clerk was instructed to request Mr. Lamont to ob- tain a statement from Mr. Porter as to that he proposes to do; whether he intends to raise chickens or is this to be a collection point. Letter was received from Mr. George E. Graves, Chairman of the War Price and Rationing Board, notifying the Board Rationing of Selectmen that Mr. Arthur R. McCarter had resigned as a Board member of the Rationing Board. He requested the Selectmen's approval of the appointment of Mr. Lyon Carter to fill the (vacancy. Mr. Potter moved that the Lexington War Price and Rationing Board be notified that the Selectmen approve of the appointment of Mr. Lyon Carter. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The matter of appointing a Board of Public Welfare was discussed and held over for one week. Letter was received by the Chairman from dames J. Sullivan acknowledging the Board's letter of March 23, 1943. Water rates abatements, commitment of water lien costs , and special commitment of water rates-Bedford Airdrome were signed. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M. A true record, Attest: Cle‘