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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1943-04-26 216 StLVINSN'S MtETING April 26, 1943 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in ' the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Monday evening, April 26, 1943 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Rowse, Messrs. Potter, Locke, Sarano and Sheldon were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board at 7 :30 P.M. He said that the Trustees of the Children's Museum had requested the use of Estabrook Hall on Friday evening, May 14, 1943 at 8:00 P.M. for an educational lecture to be given by C. Russell Mason. There will be no admission Use of charge. Hall Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Req. to Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Carlson, 83 East Street, had scrape made a request to have Grant Street scraped. Grant St. Mr. Sarano moved that Mr. Paxton be authorized to scrape Grant Street, subject to the usual charge. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton stated that construction of a water main in Spencer Street had just been completed and the gas shovel has not yet been removed. Mr. Nardelli, a contractor working on Spencer Street, requested the use of the shovel to dig a Equip. cesspool hole. rental Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Paxton be authorized to rent the gas shovel to Mr. Nardelli at the usual rate. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that he had received a request for the layout of Adams Street as a County way. He said that Howard Hatch, Middlesex County Engineer, thought that the Board of Selectmen should request the County County layout of the street following the same lines as layout they are now. The only differences would be getting the of Admas distances down to hundreds , and angles to seconds instead Street of minutes. Mr. Paxton said that both he and Mr. Cosgrove are of the opinion that one of the troubles on all streets is narrowness in width, and that it might be possible to widen this layout from East Street over to the Burlington line. He said that he thought the Town could have a fifty or sixty foot layout without too much expense being incurred It is now a forty foot layout. However, it would be best to request the County to make a layout even if the forty foot layout were kept. Mr. Paxton said that there might be takingof land claims by Mr. Burnham and Mr. Caderio, but that they would be very small. The Board decided to have Mr . Paxton or Mr. Cosgrove contact the abutters and report to the Board next week. 217 Mr. Paxton reported that the Town has a contract to furnish water to the Bedford Airport which has not been signed. One of_.the. reasons the contract has not been signed is that the Metropolitan District Commission has not approved it due to the fact that certain construction in Arlington, tying in with our 16" main from. the Arlington Standpipe, has not been completed. Mr. Paxton sent a copy of the contract to Mr. Water Wrightington who thought that a time limit on the Contract Contract should be inserted or the Town should be given an option to terminate on reasonable notice. Mr. Wrightington said that paragraph 2 of the contract places the Town wholly at the meligrot the, United States Army with respect to any dispute as to any questions of fact. Mr. Paxton said that the construction in Arlington will be finished within a month and he would like to have everything lined up so that the Board can sign the contract. However, it is necessary to have the approval of the Metropolitan District Commission first. Mr. Paxton reported on the hearing held on House Bill #1483 relative to charges made by the Middlesex County Sanatorium. He said that it was brought out at this hear- House ing that if the County calculated the expenses on a per Bill patient basis, as the present law requires , the small #1483 communities would have no complaint as to partial treatment. Mr. Paxton suggested that if the Board wishes to be re- corded either in favor or in opposition to Bills which come up for hearing at various times, notice should be received so that the Bills can be studied. The Chairman instructed the Clerk to write Rep. Charles E. Ferguson and request that copies of all Bills which would affect the Town be sent to the Board in advance so that recommendations can be made at the hearings. Notice was received from the Department of Public Utilities of a hearing to be held on May 5, 1943 in relation to the use, method of construction and continuance of guard rails on railroads operated within the Commonwealth. Hearing Mr. Paxton said that he had called Mr. Allan Brooks, Secretary of the Department, and this has to da with the metal salvage campaign and does not have any effect an, the Town. The Chairman read a letter from the War Parents of America stating that the By-Laws of that organization call for a meeting on the third Thursday of each month, and they would like to use Estabrook Hall for these meetings . The Uses of Auxiliary Police use the hall every Thursday and the War Halls Parents group would like to know whether or not the Police would relinquish their use one Thursday each month. Mr. Sarano agreed to take this matter up at the next meeting of the Committee on Public Safety. 218 '.4 pz pz The Chairman read a letter received from Mrs . Mayo, Seoretary of the Lexington Chapter American Red Cross, expressing appreciation of the Chapter for all the Town has done in the way of furnishing quarters in the Barnes property. The Red Cross would like to continue to use Red Cross some chairs and a table, which are the property of the Town, until such time as they are supplemented with other equipment. They would also like to continue to use the garage at the Barnes property fttr the car and the room leading to the garage for storage purposes. Mr. Potter moved that the requests for the temporary use of the furniture and garage and the room be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter received from Mr. Carroll relative to a writ of attachment, in an action of contract, Writ of against the Town of Lexington and Inhabitants, attaching Attach- the goods of Rupert H. Stevens , answerable to John McCourt ment Co. of Boston in the amount of $150.00. Mr. Carroll stated that at the time of the serving of the writ there were no goods in his possession payable or due Rupert H. Stevens . The Chairman read a letter received from W. S. Caoubtt9, president of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, in reply to the Board's letter with reference to the matter of bus stops as outlined by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Co. Mr. Potter moved that the stops be approved as submitted, Bus Stops by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company, subject to the approval of Mr. Paxton. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton retired at 8:25 P.M. Mr. Morse appeared before the board to discuss welfare matters and retired at 8:45 P.M. Letter was received from Geiano Sanseverino of 11 Tax Title Lisbeth Street, Lexington, offering to pay the sum of $75.00 Property for lots 67 , 68 and 69 on May Street, Liberty Heights. fids' e£Tex "2iitarttienfitf3p e .°by 6Se biAliftt@i°05$1. nd *c ''toJ' sttidy-i Text tible �53op�pty: Letter was received from. the Division of Civil Service authorizing the continued provisional temporary employment Sealer of John Lamont as Sealer of Weights and Measures from March 1, 1943, to June 30, 1943, pending the result of an examina- tion which was held on February 6, 1943. ** Mr. Potter moved that the Board of Selectmen sell and convey lots 67, 68 and 69 on May Street, Liberty Heights, to Mr. Sanseverino for $75.00. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 219 Mr. John Lamont appeared before the Board at 8:55 P.M. The Chairman read a letter received from the Victory Garden Committee requesting the Board of oelectmen to con- sider passing an ordinance or by-law to protect the gardens against destruction. Victory ., _ The Clerk wns instructed to send Mr. Wrightington a gardens copy of the letter and request him to draw up some regula- tions to be enforced by the Police Department covering \V vandalism, stealing and trespassing on Victory gardens. Mr. Lamont said that he would like to have some in- structions from the Board in relation to permits to keep Swine swine. After some discussion, Mr. Potter moved that the permits responsibility of issuing swine permits be left with Mr. Lamont. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Lamont reported to the Beard that he had received =complaints about the charges being made by Mr. Canessa for Cesspools cleaning cesspools . He feels that the prices now being charged are too high. Mr. Lamont was instructed to contact Mr. Canessa this week and report to the Board. He agreed to do this. Mr. _Lamont retired at 9:20 P.M. Letter was received from Mr. Wrightington, together with II his bill in the amount of $50.00 for services and $3.00 for disbursements in the petition for instructions with reference Legal to the Trusts under the French will. This was brought at bill the request of the Trustees of Public Trusts. Mr. Potter moved that the bill be approved for payment, subject to the approval of the Trustees of Public Trusts . Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Letter was received from Mr. Wrightington, together '' , with his bill in the amount of $50.00 for services rendered in the case of Rogers v. County Commissioners. Legal 1 Mr. Potter moved that the bill be approved for payment. bill Mr: Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Locke, it was voted to approve the following licenses. J Mrs. E. Whalen .250 Mass. Ave. Boarding Infants John Kenealy 856 Mass. Ave. Sunday Sales bavid Buttrick Co. 384 Bedford St. " " Marie A. Miller 580 Marrett Rd. " e Dorothy Day Lappen1780 Mass. Ave. e e . -3- George E. Wardrobe 807 Mass. Ave. " " `f " Manor Spa 269 Bedford St. e e Thomas Montague 21 Bedford St. Funeral Director Thomas Montague e e " Public Carriage IIWm. Viano 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies Marjorie Rose Old Belfry Tea Room-Common Victualler Max Sulkin 132 Main St. , Waltham Junk License Carroll Bros. Allen St. , Lex. 100 Swine Leslie J. Wood 62 Webb Street 12 Swine Gustave Hurtado Westview Street 255 swine Swenson Brothers 29 Allenstreet 1 w ne Berman's Market 12 Mass . Ave. Overhanging Sign Peters' Music Shop 1719 Mass. Ave. " " 220 ".3 The matter of an Assistant Clerk to the Board was dis- cussed. Mr. Potter moved that Miss Mary Jean Doherty be appointed Assistant Clerk, effective April 3Qy 1943. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Potter noved that the Committee on Public Safety - be notified that a full-time girl should be employed to handle the clerical work for that Committeecand also to handle the duties of the switchboard. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Appointments to the Board of Public Welfare were dis- cussed. Upon motion of Mr. Potterseconded by Mr. Sheldon, it was voted to appoint the following persons members of the Board of Public Welfare, authorized under a special act of the Legislature4 Chapter 6 of the Acts of 1943, and accepted by the annual town Meeting held on March 15, 1943: Archie R. Giroux, Ernest Cutter, Harold F. Lombard, John A. Lyons and Public Matthew Stevenson. Welfare All appointments were made for a period of one year Board beginning May 1, 1943 with the exception of Mr. Giroux, who was appointed for a term of only three months for the purpose of assisting in organizing the new Board and bring to it the benefits of his experience with the Board of Selectmen which, -- up to. the appointment of this Board, has been the Board of Public Welfare. The Clerk was instructed to notify the members of the appointments and invite them to meet with the Board of Select- men on Monday, May 10, 1943 at 8:00 P.M. Mr . Potter retired at 9 :50 P.M. Letter was received from Mr. Carroll stating thathe was contemplating issuing books listing the inhabitants of the Town of Lexington. He said that the project would be entirely outside of the confines of the duties of his office as Town Clerk or Town Treasurer. The-Clerk was instructed to write Mr. Carroll that the Board of Selectmen would have no onjections to his handling the printing and sale of the list for the year 1943. The Clerk informed the Board that Mr. Carl A. Arvidson, 55 Kendall Road, Lexington, had requested permission to re- Burial move the body of his daughter, who died from scarlet fever Permit in 1935, from its present location in Westview Cemetery to the family lot in the same cemetery. Mr. Sarano moved that the Board of Selects as the Board of Health, issue a permit for the disinterment of the body of Edith Arvidson from the present lot in West- view Cemetery to the Arvidson family lot in the same cemetery. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. List of water liens and commitment of water miscellaneous charges were signed. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. A true record, Attest : Clerk 221 SELECTMEN'S MEETING May 3, 1943 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Toom, Town Office Building on Monday evening, May 3, 1943, at 7 :30 P.M. Chairman Rowse, Messrs. Potter, Locke and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board at 7 :30 P.M. Mr. Paxton said that the Field and Garden Club had requested the use of Hstabrook Hall on May 17, 1943, from Use of 7 :30 ott. Hall Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted free of charge. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that he had talked with the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company in regard to the bus stops in Town. He said they were following the regulations Bus recommended by the Office of Defense Transportation. He Stops said that he had gone over these stops in detail and there was no question on them except in a few instances. He recommended that they be approved as submitted. Mr. Potter moved that the bus stops as submitted by the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company be approved. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the cooking W.P.A. uteri ils used in connection with the W.P.A. Luncheon Cooking Project were stored in the back room under Cary Hall. Utensils Mr. Paxton said that he had received a letter from Pierre Northrup pertaining to Lexington Homes Inc. subdivision on Watertown Street. An approval of this subdivision was never given to them. Mr. Paxton said that Lex. Homes this has been done on other subdivisions if they have met Inc. the required specifications. These lots do come up to the Watertown specifications and the certificate of approval form was St. drawn tp by Mr. Wrightington. Mr. Locke moved that the certificate of approval of the Lexington Homes Inc. subdivision on Watertown Street be signed. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton discussed Chapter 90 maintenance, stating that the Department of Public Works had allotted the sum of $1,000.00 on the condition that $1,000.00 be contributed by the Town and $1,000.00 by the County. Ch. 90 Mr. Potter moved that the Town Treasurer be requested to Mainte- obtain bids on a $2,000.00 loan for financing Chapter 90 nance maintenance. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 222 4;1- Mr. Paxton submitted a lengthy report relative to Switch- the switchboard. board The Clerk was instructed to send a copy to each member of the Board, and the matter was held over for one week. Mr. Paxton told the Board that the labor question was very critical. He discussed the matter at some length Labor and suggested that if the situation became such that there Crisis would be only one man, Mr. Weisinger should be retained. He is young, very capable and most cooperative. Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Brenton in the Park Department was a similar type of man. Mr. Homan service man in the Water Department has requested a' 51 per hour increase. He has been with the Town since 1923 and due to the present labor crisis we can't afford to lose him at this time. Mr. Paxton recommended a wage increase for Mr. James Casella from 751 per hour to 80/ per hour. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the Shovel Operator formerly received $1.00 an hour for operating the shovel and 70/ an Jxbur for operating other equipment. Mr. Weisinger is now a very good Shovel Operator. Wage Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Paxton be authorized to Increases increase the wages of James Casella from 75/ to 801 per hour. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Paxton be authorized to increase Walter Holman's wages 51 per hour and Wallace Weisinger's wages 5/ per hour and that Mr. Weisinger be promised $1.00 per hour if and when he does any shovel work. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Paint Mr. Paxton said that the white police car was cleaned Police car up before the 19th of April and it was taken out in the rain and therefore the white paint which was put on when it was cleaned, streaked. He said that the car needed to be re- painted, and that the cost would be approximately $20.00. Mr. Paxton retired at 8:50 P.M. The Board discussed the matter of painting the police car and upon motion of Mr. Locke, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was voted to authorize Sergeant Russell to have the car painted white. A letter was received from the Committee on Public Safety relativeto the request of the War Parents of America to use Estabrook Hail the third Thursday of every month. Use of The Auxiliary Police now use Estabrook Hall every Thursday. Hall The letter stated that, although the Committee appreciates the value of this new organization, it-felt that if the Auxiliary Police were to change their schedule, which has been in effect for over two years , it would cause a great deal of confusion and unduly interrupt the functioning of that group. Mr. Sarano said he would report to the Board on this next week. 223 A letter was received from Mr. Wrightington relative to the passing of an ordinance or by-law to protect Prot. of Victory Gardens against destruction. Mr. Wrightington Victory said that the Selectmen have no power to adopt Town by- Gardens laws and he could see no reason for such a by-law. He Gardens said there is plenty of law against larceny and trespassing. The problem is one of detection and enforcement. No action was taken on the matter. A letter was received from Rev. Vincent J. Mackay, Pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, requesting permission to Church conduct the annual Carnival during the week of June 7, 1943, Carnival instead of June 14, 1943, as previously granted. Mr. Locke moved that the request be approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A letter was received from Eugene A. McCarty, Commander Lexington Post No. 3007, Veterans of Foreign Wars , requesting Poppy Day permission to hold a "Poppy Day" on Saturday, May 29, 1943. Mr. Sarano moved that the request be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Sarano, seconded by Mr. Locke, it Licenses was voted to grant the following licenses : Minute Man Golf Concord Ave. Common Victualler Katherine T. Leary Waltham St. Public Carriage Hugh McIntosh Marrett Rd. Sunday Sales Ralph J. White Woburn St. Junk Calvin W. Childs Concord Pike Alcohol William Viano 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies John Sullivan 2407 Mass . Ave. Swine George Holman Hill Ave. Slaughter Upon motion of Mr. Sarano, seconded by Mr. Locke, it Bond Release was voted to authorize the Chairman to sign a release on the bond of Wilbur Roberts formerly Food Stamp Cashier. Mr. Morse appeared before the Board at 9:00 P.M. Welfare to discuss Welfare matters, and retired at 9:35 P.M. A letter was received from Ulysses J. Lupien, Director of Civil Service stating that the examination for promotion Exam for to Chief in the Letington Police Department is scheduled to Police Chief be held on July 7, 1943, and is open to the permanent Ser- geants and regular Patrolmen. Notices of the examination were enclosed with instructions that they he posted at Police Headquarters. Mr. Lupien requested that arrangements be made asuitable room in which to conduct the examination. The Clerk was instructed to advise the Department of Civil Service that the Selectmen's Room would be available ' in which to conduct the examination, 224 oa The Chairman said that he had received a complaint I relative to pigs being kept by Dr. Butler at 297 Bedford Street . The Board discussed the matter and upon motion of Mr. Locke seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was voted to instruct Mr. Lamont not to grant permits to keep pigs on lots. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 P.M. A true record, Attest : f 1 ti