HomeMy WebLinkAbout1943-12-27SELECTMEN'S MEETING
December 27, 1943
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held.
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday,
evening, December 27, 1943, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Rowse,
Messrs. Potter, Locke, Sarano and Sheldon were present.
The Assistant Clerk was also present.
At 7:30 P.M. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board.
He said that the Boston Market Gardeners' Association
had requested the use of Cary Hall for their Annual Get
Together on January 17, 1944, from 6 P.M. to 11 P.M.
Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted,
subject to the usual charge. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion,
and it was so voted.
Mr. Paxton said that Miss Corcoran wanted to terminate
her services as of December 24, 1943. However, he felt
that she was entitled to a vacation but before he granted
it to her, he wanted the approval of the Board.
The Chairman felt that Miss Corcoran was -entitled to
two weeks' vacation with pay.
Mr. Locke moved that the Board accept Miss Mary E.
Corcoran's resignation effective as of January 10, 1944.
Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Mr. Potter moved that Miss Corcoran be given two
weeks' vacation, with pay, ending January 10, 1944. Mr.
Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
The Assistant Clerk was requested to send copies of
the vote to Mr. Paxton, Mr. Carroll and Mr. White.
Mr. Paxton discussed the matter of pictures for the
Pictorial Report. He made three suggestions for the Park
Department: (1) Picture of the park with pave channel and
gardens taken from the playground road approximately at
the backstop; (2) Picture of the swimming pool; and (3)
Picture of Hastings Park and the Center Playground taken
from Massachusetts Avenue.
361
Use of
Hall
Clerk's
Vacat'n
Pictures
for
Report
The Chairman requested Mr. Paxton to check the Enclosed
foundation of the playing field in view of the possibility Field
of someday having an enclosed field andconcrete stands
located there. The Chairman said that if they recommended
to Town Meeting an enclosed field with concrete stands,
they did not want cracks to develop in the concrete at a
later date.
Mr. Paxton said that he would take care of the matter.
Mr. Paxton said that under the Public Works Department
he would suggest the following pictures: A picture of the
'Public Works Building taken from Bedford Streak a picture of
the meter testing room showing the meter testing machine,
with the enclosure around the machine removed; Follen Road,
taken from the old Nunn House, in the northern section and
including a section of Tower Park; a picture of Cary Memorial
Building taken approximately by the Baptist Church and
362
Postwar
Lbt
Lines
Layouts
Dimout
showing the Town Office Building.
A letter was received from the Employers' Fire
Insurance Company regarding a simplified manner of handling
the Town's Insurance Policies.
Mr. Paxton said that it was the same plan that he
had spoken to the Board about last week suggesting that
five major companies be given policies expiring each successive
year so that a policy would expire each year for five years.
The Commissions would be pooled and certain allotments would
be given to the agent the Board desires.
The Chairman read a letter from Francis E. Lombard,
Chairman of the Committee on Town Employment requesting
information regarding the number of people, both male and
female, that the Town would have to employ over and above
those now engaged to carry on the work in the postwar period.
It was decided to hold this matter over until Mr. Paxton
submitted his five-year program on postwar work.
The Assistant Clerk was requested'to send Mr. Paxton a
copy of Mr. Lombard's letter.
The Chairman said that quite a few of Lexington.'a_
"lot lines" are known only by Mr. Spencer, and he thought
that a block survey would be a good postwar project.
Mr. Paxton suggested an aerial survey, but the'
Chairman felt that he would like to see definite "lot lines"
established by a block survey. He requested Mr. Paxton
to talk with Mr. Spencer-- about the survey.
Mr. Paxton said that a year or two ago he thought that
it was not going to be necessary to re -construct streets.
However, in the development of the Town we have a number of
streets only two rods or 33 feet wide. Somebody is liable to
build a house twenty feet back from the street in a critical
spot, and in the future if the street has to be widened, the
Town will have damages brought against it. Mr. Paxton said that
the Town Engineer has prepared some definite layouts for some
of these streets. He further stated that the County is willing to
make the layouts, and asses these streets may be main arteries
in the future he felt it would be cheaper to do the work now
than ten years from now.
The Chairman said that the layouts should be done one at
a time. He requested Mr. Paxton to submit a list of the Streets
to the Board.
The Chairman read a letter from the Massachusetts
Committee on Public Safety cautioning against the removal
of permanent dimout shielding or other forms of dimout
light control because the dimout may be resumed at any time.
No action was taken on the matter.
1
The J. T. Carlson bill in the amount of $5.00 for
flowers sent to Mr. Garrity's father was submitted.
Mr. Sarano moved that the bill be approved for
payment. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was
so voted.
A preliminary discussion was held on Mr. Paxton's
budgets. He stated the amounts which were appropriated
last year and also informed them of the balances in his
accounts as of November 30, 1943. Mr. Paxton advised
the Board of the amounts in his various accounts that
he was requesting for 1944.
No action was taken on the matter.
The matter of appointing the two Assessors and the
Assistant Assessor was discussed.
A letter was received from Mr. Wrightington stating
that an assesspt.'is to continue on office "until his
successor is duly elected or appointed".
Upon motion of Mr. Sheldon, seconded by Mr. Locke,
it was voted to notify Mr. Frederick J. Spencer that he
is to continue in office as Assistant Assessor until
further notice.
A letter was received from the State Emergency
Public Works Commission regarding the progress of
municipal postwar public works programs.
The matter was held over until Mr. Paxton has
completed his five-year program of postwar work.
A letter was received from the Appropriation
Committee advising that the following sums had been
transferred from the Reserve Fund: $30.00 to the
Assessors' Department - Personal Services Account to
take care of the Assistant Assessors in listing polls,
and $30.00 to the Registrations Department - Personal
Services Account to take care of the Assistant Registrars
in listing polls.
A letter was received from the Appropriation Committee
advising that the Unclassified - Rationing Board Budget
in the amount of $625.00 had been approved. Their request
of $100.00 for office equip re was reduced to $50.00.
The Assistant Clerk was requested to have a copy of
this letter put in the budget books.
A letter was received from the Appropriation
Committee recommending that a 15% wage adjustment bonus
be paid to all full-time employees in the employ of the
Town as of December 31, 1943. No bonus to to exceed
$325.00 and is to be paid during the calender year of
1944. Of the total amount a portion is to be allocated
to the School Department.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the former vote of recommending
to Town Meeting a 12W¢ bonus for all Town Employees be
rescinded. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so
voted.
363
Carlson
Bill
Paxton
Budgets
Appoint'g
Assessors
Postwar
Transfer
Ration-
ing
Budge
15%
Bonus
364
Bonus
Mr. Sheldon moved that the Selectmen recommend
to the Annual Town Meeting that a cost -of -living
bonus of 15% be paid to all Town Employees, including
School, Fire and Police, not to exceed 075.00, and
based on 1943 pay rates. Mr. Locke seconded the
motion, and it was so voted.
The Board. then discussed the .suggested order of
Town Departments and ptdtures for the 1943 Pictorial Town
Report Report.
The meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
A22'rk.I
1