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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1943-09-07SELECTMEN'S MEETING September 7, 1943 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, September 7, 1943, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Rowse, Messrs. Potter, Locke, Sarano and Sheldon were present. The Clerk was also present. Mr. S. R. Wrightington, Town Counsel, was also present. This meeting was held on Tuesday, September 7, 1943, inasmuch as Monday, Labor Day, was a holiday. The members were notified of this meeting at a previous meeting of the Board held on August 23, 1943. At 7:30 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll appeared before the Board for the drawing of two jurors. Mr. Howard S. 0. Nichols, asst treas., 29 Hayes Avenue, was drawn to serve on criminal business, First Session, at Cambridge on Monday, October 4, 1943. Mr. Kelsey G. Reed, Manager, 10 Franklin Road, was drawn to serve on criminal business, First Session, at Cambridge on Monday, October 4, 1943. 1 7 ! r• need, F,ana er, 1C F^fr'91 ." Rcad• was e ;,i _ ?eS e „7_on at a':r e, Mr. Carroll ,stated that as Chairman of the 3rd War Loan Drive he was requesting: that the Selectmen authorize the display of the Shenandoah Flag System on Thursday, September 9, 1943, the opening day of the Drive. The request was granted. Mr. Carroll retired at 7:45 P.M. No persons appeared in favor or in opposition of the hearing scheduled upon the petition of the Boston Edison Company for permission to erect on Grove Street, south- easterly outh- easterly from a point approximately 85 feet southeast of Winter Street, - three (3) poles. Mr. Sarano moved that the petition be granted and the order signed. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that he understood Mr. Wrightington had made a suggestion relative to the type of letter accepting offers for the purchase of tax title property. Mr. Wrightington said that in the future the Board should not accept an offer until it has been advertised. He suggested that the following formbe used. Your offer of $ for Lot belonging to the Town of Lexington has been considered by the Selectmen. A proposal to sell will be advertised in the Minute -Man and will then be given further consideration by the Selectmen, the result of which you will be notified. 285 Jurors Flags Pole Locations Tax Title Property Forms to be used. 286 T.Rel nap ::Claim Dog Case Police Rules & Regula- tions Plans 'Fire House Mr. Wrightington further suggested that the notice inserted in the Lexington Minute -man be changed to read "may" be completed without further notice, rather than "will" be completed without further notice. The Chairman asked Mr. Wrightington if the Reinap case had been settled. Mr. Wrightington said that Mr. Bidwell, attorney f ' Reinap, has been away a great deal and has not recently seen his client. He said that Mr. Bidwell will let him know when he has any information. The Chairman said that another thing to be taken up with Mr. Wrightington this evening was the complaint received from Wilbur R. Fletcher against Thomas Warren. The Chair- man reviewed the case and read the correspondence to Mr. Wrightington. Mr. Wrightington said that if the Board wanted to take action the only thing to do was to take a bill in equity and seek to enjoin Mr. Warren for constructing a building (kennel) without a permit. However, if the Board does not want to take action it would be better to wait and let Mr. Bidwell, the attorney for Mr. Fletcher, take the action. The Chairman asked Mr. Wrightington if the only way to dispose of.,the dogs was by court proceedings, and Mr. Wrightington replied that the only way is to proceed under the dog statute. Mr. Wrightington thought possibly a letter from him to Mr. Wateen:might have some results. Mr. Locke moved that the Clerk be requested to instruct Mr. Wrightington to bring suit against W. Warren and to send him a copy of the records of the Selectmen's Meeting. which Mr. Warren":. attended, together with a copy of all the correspondence. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that he had received a completed report of the new rules and regulations of the Police Department. Mr. Wrightington said that he would study the reg- ulations and report to the Board on them. Mr. Wrightington retired at 8:20 P.M. Mr. Eugene L. Morgan appeated before the Board at 8:25 P.M. The Chairman informed the Board that Mr. Morgan had called him at his home and said Haat he would like to show the Board some proposed sketches of a fire house for the Town of Lexington. This would involve no obligations of any kind as Mr. Morgan simply wants to show the Board his idea. Mr. Morgan presented plans and explained them to the Board. He retired at 8:45 P.M. 064 1 Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. He said that last year the Town had purchased a lathe for repairing meters at a cost of $160.00. Mr. Louis Bills wants to purchase or rent the lathe, but would prefer to ,purchase it. Mr. Paxton suggested that the difficulty of selling this equipment would be the possibility of not being able to replace it in the future. Mr. Sarano moved that no action be taken on the matter. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter received from Mrs. Annie Bornstein requesting a reduction in her recent water bill. She stated that she had two leaks in theplumbing system and she was unable to secure a plumber. Inasmuch as the leaks were inside the house, upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was voted to take no action on .the request. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that the janitors had heard about the men at the Public Works Building receiving an increase" in salary and also about the salaries of the High School janitors, and Mr. Moloy requested that Mr. Paxton take the matter up with the Board. The Board discussed the request and upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was voted to in- crease the salary of Mr. Moloy, Janitor, from $38.00 to $40.00 per week, and to increase the salary of Mr. Murray, Ass't Janitor from $27.00 to $29.00, subject to the approval of the.Appropriation Committee. Mr. Paxton said that the girls in his department were very much disturbed and have requested more money. He said that two have reached their maximum, and one is receiving $17.00 dollars. Mr. Sheldon moved that a subcommittee consisting of two members of the Board of Selectmen meet with a sub- committee of the Appropriation Committee together with Mr. Paxton to draw up a program pertaining to salaries of the Clerks, and submit it to the Board. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton informed that Board that he is about to purchase the Bean property on Bedford Street, and requested permission to pipe 400' of the brook at the rear of this property. Mr. Potter moved that the request be granted. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. It is the understanding of the Board that the Town will bty the pipe and Mr. Paxton will lay it. The Board, as five inhabitants of the Town, signed a petition to the Middlesex County for the continuation of the layout of North:Street to Lowell Street. 287 Town Lathe Water Bill _ Janitors Increase Salary Study Pipe Bean Property Petition North St. 288 Tax Title Property Held Over Tax Abate- me nt Bd. Pub. Welfare Military Aid Modoono Democrat Rep. Police Exam Results A letter was received from Mr. Paxton outlining a. suggested study of our betterment procedure to be made by the Planning Board. Mr. Potter moved that a copy of the letter be sent to Mr. Wm. Roger Greeley, Chairman of the Planning Board. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton retired at 9:15 P.M. Mr. Potter suggested that the Board meet next Monday at 7:00 P.M. for the purpose of looking over lots owned by the Town on which we have received offers to purchase. The following offers were held over for one week. Wm. M. O'Brien Lots 6 & 7, Sec. 3 Marrett Road $350.00 A. Palladino Lots 1 & 2,.Mass. Avenue 50.00 Anthony Rochette Lot 6 (Fair Oaks) Marrett Rd. 150.00 (3 payments of $50.00 each) Lt. Fitz -Gerald Four acres, Grove Street 160.00 G. Sanseverino Lots 65 & 66, May Street 65.00 Henry DeVincent Lots 315-319 Moreland Ave. 300.00 A letter was received from Munroe Hamilton again requesting abatement of taxes on Sunnyside Lots. It was decided to have Mr. Potter check this matter again. A letter was received from the Board of Public Welfare requesting the Board of Selectmen to consider and act upon the appointment of a new member to take the place of - Mr. Giroux. The matter was held over for one week. Application for military aid was received from Dominic P. Modoono. Mr. Modoono has been honorably discharged from the Army of the United States due to the fact that he has a torn acchlles tendon --right leg and a spinal' disorder. . The Board felt that there was no evidence that Mr. Modoono was unable to support himself, and upon motion of Mr. Sheldon, seconded by Mr. Locke, it was voted to take no action on the matter. The Clerk informed the Board that Miss Virginia Welsh Democrat, in Precinct 3, will be unable to serve. The Clerk was requested to submit the name of a Democrat to fill this vacancy. The appointment of a Republican Teller in Precinct 3 was held over for another week. A letter was received from the Department of Civil Service advising that the elegible list has now been established for promotion to Chief of Police in the Lexington Police Department. The matter was not con- sidered, but was held over for one week. Mr. Potter retired at 9:50 P.M. 4.4 1 1 289 A 1943 Tax Bill amounting to $21.00 for the land beyond Butterfield's pond was receiVed from the Town of Burling- ton. Mr. Sarano moved that this bill be charged to.the Highway Maintenance--Wage & Expenses Account. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman informed the Board that a bill in the amount of $610.00 had been paid by the Board of Health for the confinement of four Graves children who were hospitalized for Scarlet Fever. Mrs. Graves and the four children live at 14 Reed Street. Her husband Earl R. Graves works and lives in Connecticut. The Clerk was informed by Mrs. Graves that her husband carried an insurance policy from which a portion of this bill could be paid. The Clerk has written the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and requested that the insurance be paid to the Town of Lexington ifossible. A reply was received advising that the amount of 0434.00 was due Mr. Graves but under the conditions of the insurance certificate the money must be paid directly to him. Mr. Graves informed the insurance company that he would return t� Lexington and take care of the obligation. Mr. Sheldon moved that Mr. Wrightington be instructed to place an attachment in an endeavor to collect the money. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 P.M. A true record, Attest: