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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1944-02-28418 Jurors Abate-.' ment Water Bill:i Play- ground Bori nge Report Later SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 28, 1944 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, February 28, 1944, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Rowse, Messrs. Potter, Locke, Sarano and Sheldon were present. The Clerk was also present. At 7:30 P.M. Mr. Carroll appeared before the Board for the drawing of two jurors. Mr. William J. Marshall, Shipper, 9 Independence Avenue, was drawn to serve on Civil Business, First Session, at Cambridge, beginning April 3, 1944. Mr. Hugh E. Leonard, Salesman, 23 North Hancock Street,. was drawn to serve on Criminal Business, First Session at Cambridge, beginning April 3, 1944. Mr. Carroll retired at 7:31 P.M., and Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board. Mr. Paxton said that Raymond J. Barber, 24 Maple Street, received a water bill on September 1, 1943, in the amount of $45.08. Mr. Barber thought the bill was high, and on September 23, 1943, Mr. Paxton checked the service and found a leak in an old service going to a barn. Mr. Paxton said that this was something of which Mr. Barber had no knowledge. His December 1, 1943, bill was $21.01, which would bring the. two bills to a total of $66.18. Mr. Paxton informed the Board that Mr. Barber's usual charge is about $3.75 per quarter. He said that in similar cases the Board had authorized abatements. Mr. Sarano moved that Mr. Paxton be authorized to prepare an abatement in the amount of 030.00, leaving a balance of $36.18 to be paid by Mr. Barber. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that he had checked with Mr. Cosgrove about getting the borings on the playground, and Mr. Cosgrove informed him that the company which would do this work is too busy to take the borings at the present time. Mr. Cosgrove thought that it would be necessary to go down to solid soil. Mr. Paxton said that there were several ways to handle this matter, and which ever method is the best and least expensive would probablSr be the method used. He said that he hoped sometime this summer to have tests made of the bearing capacity of the soil. The Chairman asked Mr. Paxton if he would obtain the location of the quicksand under the Cary Memorial Building, and report to the Board. Mr. Paxton retired at 8:00 P.M. 4.4 1 1 1 1 The Chairman informed the Board that Mr. Clayton F. Beach had died from a heart attack, and the funeral would be held on Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 1944. The Clerk was instructed to send flowers. The Chairman read a letter from H. W. Thomas, Pack Committee Chairman of Cub Pack 76, requesting the use of Cary Hall on Monday evening, April 3, 1944, from 6:45 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be granted, free of charge, subject to the rules and regulations .pertaining'to the use of Cary Memorial Building. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter from John J. Garrity requesting the Board to set aside $250.00 to be used by the Victory Garden Committee during the year 1944. Mr. Potter moved that an amount, not to exceed $250.00, be made a'ailable for work in connection with the Victory Garden Committee. 419 Beach Funeral Flowers Use of Cary Hall A -letter was received from Joseph Casella, 97 Reed Street, offering the sum of 650.00 for. Lots 25, 26 and 27, Block 18, Ward Street, Lexington. Mr. Sheldon moved that Mr. Casella be advised that the Board would not accept less than $125.00 for these lots. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A.letter was received from Alfred R. Batstone 49 Bartlett Avenue Lexington, offering the sum of $50.00 for Lots 104, Bartlett Avenue. Mr. Sheldon moved that a proposal to sell the lot be advertised in the Lexington Minute -Man, and that further consideration be given the offer at the next meeting of the Board. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman -read a letter from the Lexington War Price and Rationing Board stating that from the number of complaints received at that office regarding the Lexington Welfare car, the Rationing Board was again urging that the use of gasoline by this car be carefully scrutinized. Mr. Graves, Chairman of the Board, suggested that a sign "Town of Lexington" on the car might curb uses of the car except on Town business. The Board felt that the Public Welfare Board should be notified of this complaint and, inasmuch as it is the second official complaint, the suggestion that a sign be placed on the car door, lettered Town of Lexington - Welfare Department, should be considered. Victory Garden Amount Tax Title Offer Tax Title 8d1 e C omplai nt s Welfare Car 420 Relation Harrod Prop. To. Zoning By -Law Warden in Precinct Four Trans. Leary Prop. Taking Location Fire Stations Approp. Comm. A letter was received from Mr. Wrightington regarding the relation of the Harrod Property to the Zoning By -Law. This property is in an R-2 district. Mr. Wrightington said that no amendment to the By -Law is required to erect a fire station on the Harrod Property, but the Town would have to obtain the approval of the Board of Appeals. He said that if for some reason the Board of Appeals did reject the application, it would then be necessary to make some amendment toihe Zoning By -Law excluding fire stations from the control of the Board of Appeals. the Clerk was instructed to send a copy of Mr. Wrightington's letter to the Appropriation Committee. The Clerk informed the Board that Mr. Custance, t Warden in Precinct Four, recommended that D. Miller Bestick, 52 Reed Street, be appointed to fill the vacancy in Precinct Four cased by the death of William E. Mulliken. Mr. Potter moved that D. Miller Bestick, 52 Reed Street, Lexington, be appointed Inspector in Precinct Four for a term ending September 1, 1944. Mr. Locke seconded the motion, and it was so voted. -The Chairman said that Mr. Wrightington had brought to his attention that if the Leary Property is taken by Eminent Domain, it will be necessary to transfer $6,900.00 from the Excess and Deficiency Account for this purpose. Mr. Potter moved that the amount of $6,900.00 be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account for the purchase of the Leary Property in the event that it is taken by eminent domain. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman said that Mr. Hoyt had suggested that the Appropriation Committee meet this evening with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the location of the fire stations. The Chairman informed the Board that there have been three different committee reports on fire station -- 1929; 1933 and 1940. At 9:20 P.M. the following members of the Appropriation Committee appeared before the Board. Messrs. Hoyt, Winlock, Bryant, Newhall, Maynard, Hynes, Brown, Jenny and White. Mr. Hoyt of the Appropriation Committee said that his Committee is interested in what influenced the Board of Selectmen in recommending the taking of the Leary Property and utilizing it in connection with the Barnes Property for the Central Fire Station. The Chairman said that the Board of Selectmen had gone over three reports made by three separate Committees relative to fire stations. He said that these three Committees had been authorized by Town Vote. 0 Sy 1 421 The first committee reported in 1929 and suggested three sites, namely, Massachusetts Avenue and Grant Street, Phelps' Garage on Bedford Street, and the land on the easterly side of Cary Memorial Building. He said that the next committee reportedin 1933, and this committee decided that the property, formerly owned by Dr. Barnes, now owned by the Town, was the most desirable location. The third committee reported in 1939 on three sites, namely, Bedford Street next to Johnson's Garage, Hastings Park, and the so-called Barnes Property. This committee was of the opinion that the Barnes Property was the most desirable and suitable location. The Chairman said that the Board has had the benefit of discussion with the Planning Board, and the present Board of Fire Engineers. He said that the Town Engineer had made a sketch of the present location of the Town Office Building, Cary Hall and Town owned land in back of the 'Leary Property. The Chairman said that the first and paramount reason for approving this location is that it is generally accepted that the Barnes Property was purchased to make a Civic Center in the Town, and one of the principal argumentS3 used at the time it was purchased was that it would be the proper location for a fire station. He said that the Board believed that the townspeople wanted the fire station on this site. The Chairman said that there were also two other factors to be considered. The Board felt that if a fire station were located anywhere on Bedford Street, it would necessitate considerable street construction, widenings and land takings. He further stated, that the Board felt that in the event that other parts of Lexington developed ahead of the northern section of the Town, and the principal apparatus had to go through the main section of the Town for most fires, it would be regretted. He said that the Board realized one of the arguments is that the Town would be adequately taken care of by three stations if one station were located on Bedford Street, and that if it were located on the Barnes Property, it might be necessary to have four stations to cover the Town. The Chairman said that even if this had to be faced in the future, it should be faced when the need is more apparent. He said that the Board felt that a Central Fire Station should be in the. Center of the Town, and geographically the Center of the Town has been estimated at the Mulliken House on Waltham Street. The entire Town is within a three-mile radius of the Barnes Property. The Chairman said that the Board felt it would be safer to have apparatus stationed near the congested area, even though it would go through the area, than it would be to station it at Bedford Street and have it go through the Center of the Town. He pointed out that the right-hand turn going into Waltham Street is very bad coming down Massachusetts Avenue, and it could be handled much better if approached from the Barnes Property. <, 422 The Chairman said that the location of the Police Department in the basement of this building has been con- sidered to be temporary, and upon development of the• Town, it is desirable to have a police station. He said that the Board believed that the two departments which are protecting the safety of the Town belong together, and • ' should cooperate. They work together on fires, and the Fire Department helps the Police Department with their equipment, :(Below')':' • The Chairman also said that the undergrounu cable for servicing a station is on Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Winlock asked the Chairman if the Board of Selectmen were unanimous in recommending the Barnes Property as the site for the Central Fire Station. The Chairman replied in the affirmative, and said that the Board was also unanimous on a combination fire and police station. Mr. Sheldon said that it would appear that this is a question of present need, against possible future develop- ment. He said that he would hesitate to select a location now, where the Town is going to need it in about fifteen years from now. He believed that the Central Fire Station should be located on the Barnes Property, and at some future date, a supplemental station could be located at the northern part of the Town. Mr. Hoyt asked if it would be fair to assume that the Board of Selectmen felt obligated to offer the Barnes site to the townspeople. The Chairman said that the Board is very much con- vinced that the Barnes Property is the best location, regardless of any previous reports. He said he believed it was up to the Board of Selectmen to recommend what they believed to be for the best interest: of the Town. The Chairman said that the Board believed that the Town would like to have a definite recommendation, and the Selectmen will make a definite recommendation. He said that it is intended to give everyone a chance to present arguments, for and against, and to have the Town decide on the location of a Central Fire Station. A discussion was then held relative to the location of the proposed new station in East Lexington. The Chairm..in informed the group that the Town owned property directly in back of the Harrod Land. He said that the question had been raised about the location of the Middlesex Turnpike, and he has been informed that it will be located 700 feet east of the HarrddPProperty,. - He said that the two-way radio should be combined with the Fire Department, so that the Fire Chief would be able to send back for Police Assistance or for additional equipment, if necessary. 1 He said that there would not be an overpass in connection with this new turnpike, but there will be a traffic circle. He said that if the central Fire Station is located on the Barnes Property, a station a little farther east might be desired. He said that it would cost the Town more money if it is located on the Harrod Property, but the Board decided that is the best site. Mr. Hoyt asked whether or not the Board felt that the present East Lexington site was advisable. The Chairman said that the Board felt that the Harrod Property was the best location and are, therefore, recommending that the property be purchased for the purpose of locating a Fire Station on it. The Appropriation Committee retired at 10:45 P.M. The Chairman informed the Board that the next meeting, Monday, March 6, 1944, would be held at 8:00 P.M., at which tame, the Chairman of the Board of Assessors, the Chairman of the Cemetery Commissioners, the Chairman of the School Committee and the Appropriation Committee would meet. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 P.M. A true record, Attest: 2 ,+ 423 Next Meeting