HomeMy WebLinkAbout1944-03-06424
Meet to
Disc.
Annual
Budgets
Fire
Station
SELECTMEN' S MEE`1' ING
March 6, 1944
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday
evening, March 6, 1944, at 8:00 P.M. Chairman Rowse, Messrs.
Potter, Locke, Sarano and Sheldon were present. The Clerk
was also present.
The following members of the Appropriation Committee
were also present: Messrs. Hoyt, Hynes, Winlock, Maynard,
Newhall, Brown, Bryant and White.
Mr. Clyde Steeves, Chairman of the Board of Assessors,
was present and Mr. Tracy Ames, representing the School
Committee, appeared at 8:15 P.M.
Mr. Hoyt, Chairman of the Appropration Committee, said
that this meeting was called in accordance with Article 13,
Section 2 of the General By -Laws of the Town, to consider
the items which make up theannual budget.
Mr. Hoyt said that Mr. Walsh, Chairman of the Cemetery
Commidsioners, who had been notified of the meeting, did
question the Sale of Lots Fund Transfer. Mr. Walsh would
prefer to build up the fund.
Mr. Steeves said that he had read the Appropriation
Committee's Report, and had no questiond.
Mr. Rowse said that the Board of Selectmen had
originally approved $300.00 requested in the Patriot's
Day Budget. When the Appropriation Committee recommended
that the sum of $150.00 be taken from the Leroy Brown Fund,
the Board of Selectmen rescinded their previous vote and
agreed with the Appropriation Committee. He said that the members
of the 19th of April Committee were upset when they read
in the Appropriation Committee's Report that $150.00 of the
300.00 requested was to be taken from the Leroy Brown
Fund.
The Chairman said that the Board had decided not to
recommend taking any amount from the Leroy Brown Fund.
Mr. Hoyt asked Mr. Ames if there were any questions
pertaining t q, he School Department Budget, and Mr. Ames
replied that ad gone over the report briefly and that he
had no questions.
Mr. Hoyt said that the Appropriation Committee has
not definitely decided on the wording of the statement
pertaining to the fire house, but the Committee is unanimoudly
opposed to the erection of a coMbination station, and
unanimously opposed to the taking of the Leary Property for
the purpose of'.buildi ng a Central Station. However, they
do not oppose building a Central Fire Station.
1.4
1
The Appropriation Committee is opposed to both
the Leary and the so-called Barnes Property for a
Central Fire Station.
Mr. Rowse said that the Selectmen felt that in
view of the fact that the Town bought the property, the
citizens should have an opportunity to vote for it.
If it is turned down, the Board of Selectmen will
then consider another location.
Mr. Potter asked if the Appropriation Committee
was opposed to building a station, and Mr. Hoyt replied
that his Committee was not opposed to building a station,
but was opposed to that particular location.
Mr. Hoyt asked Mr. Ames if he thought the School
Committee would raise any question pertaining to salaries,
and Mr. Ames replied in the negative.
The group retied at 8:45 P.M.
Mr. Ralph H. Marshall and Mr. Albert F. Douglass
appeared before the Board.
Mr. Marshall stated that because of ill health it
was necessary for him to make a change in his business.
He said that he has known Mr. Douglass for a number of
years and he has been an undertaker in Chelsea for a
period of twelve years. He said that Mr. Douglass has
taken over the building and will manage the business.
Mr. Marshall will be associated with Mr. Douglass and
still interested in the business.
The'Chairman asked if Mr. Douglass was the sole
owner. Mr. Douglass replied in the affirmative and stated
that the property is in his and his wife's name. He
said that a Mr. Locke is his assistant.
Mr. Douglass said that Mr. Marshall released the
premises and then he (Mr. Douglass) had to notify the
State Board. The State sent out a representative to
see that the premises and equipment were in proper con-
dition. He said that the Inspector had checked the
premises and had given his approtial.
Mr. Locke asked Mr. Douglass if he were going to
live in Lexington, and Mr. Douglass replied that he
had purchased a home on Percy Road. He said he
didn't know how long he would operate his firm in
Chelsea. He said that the business there had been
in his family for three generations.
Mr. Marshall and Mr. Douglass retired at 9:00 P.M.
Mr. Potter moved that the Board;bf Selectmen, acting
as the Board of Health, issue a Funeral Director's
License to Albert F. Douglass at 1844 Massachusetts
Avenue, Lexington. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion,
and it was so voted.
Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board at 9:05 P.M.
He said that he had an insurance policy in the
amount of $2,000.00 on the dwelling at Westview Cemetery
425
F1.7:n 1
D1: ctor's
License •
Funeral
Director' e
Li cens e
Ins.
Policy
Expiring
426.
which would expire on March 25, 1944. In the past,
this policy has been taken out with John Valentine
for a five-year term. Mr. Paxton said that there are
now twenty-six different agents, and that the policies
have been reduced from 96 to 83. He said that it will
be impossible to reduce the policies below 50 if the
same number of agents were to be maintained.
Mr. Potter moved that the policy on the building
at Westview Cemetery, in the amount of $2,000.00, be
renewed through the office of Robert C. Merriam.
Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Mr.
property
Ins. throught
Mr.
the same
Use
of
Halls
Comm.
Public
Safety
Paxton said that the aircraft and motor vehicle
damage policy would expire on March 22, 1944,
the office of Elmer A. Lord & Co.
Locke moved that the policy be renewed through
office. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and
it was so voted.
Mr. Paxton retirad at 9:10 P.M.
Application was received from the War Parents of
America for the use of Cary Memorial Hall on Sunday,
May 28, 1944, from 3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Mr. Potter moved that the use of the hall be
granted, free of charge. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion,
and it was so voted.
Application was received from Rev. William J.
Desmond requesting the use of Cary Memorial hall, May
5, 1944, from 8 P.M. to 1 A.M., for the purposed' conducting
the Parish Reunion.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the use of the hall be granted,
subject to a charge of $15.00. Mr. Sarano seconded the
motion, and it was so voted.
Application was received from the Victory Garden
Committee requesting the use of Estabrook Hall on March
27, 1944, from 8 P.M. to 10 P.M.
Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted,
free of charge, and that no deposit be required. Mr.
Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Letter was received from Edwin B. Worthen, Testing
Officer of the Committee on Public Safety, suggesting a
proposition to eliminate much of the equipammt and telephone
lines now in the Selectmen's Room. Mr. Worthen suggested
that individuals who now man this equipment take stations
in the various parts of the Town Office Building reached
by the lines through the switchboard. Inasisuch as several
offices in the building are locked at night, Mr. Worthen
requested the Board to work out some plan by which the
Committee on Public Safety could have immediate access
to the locked offices in the event of a test or an alarm.
The Clerk was instructed to give Mr. Paxton a copy
of this letter and have him check with the various depart-
ment heads and also to confer with. Mbti Worthen on the matter.
A letter was received from the Appropriation Com-
mittee advising that on Monday evening, February 28,
1944, that Committee voted to recommend unfavorable action
under Article 30. The Committee is unanimously opposed
to a combination Police and Fire Station. The letter
stated that it was also voted to recommend a definite
site for the East Lexington Fire Station -- Locust
Avenue,
The Committee reconsidered the Elections Department
Expenses Selectmen Budget, and approved it in the amount
of $2,565.40.
The Chairman read a letter from Clarence S. Walker
expressing thanks for the use of two flags from Cary
Memorial Hall during the recent Fourth War Loan Drive.
The Board gave further consideration to Mr. Alfred
R. Batstone's offer of $50.00 for Lot 104 Bartlett
Avenue, Lexington.
A proposal to sell this lot was advertised in
the March 2, 1944 issue of the Lexington Minute -Man.
No persons contacted the Selectmen's Office as a result
of the advertisement.
Mr. Locke moved that the offer be accepted, and
that Lot 104 Bartlett Avenue, be sold and conveyed to
Mr. Alfred R. Batstone. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion,
and it was so voted.
Application for a license to peddle oil and coal
in the City of Boston was received from John B. MacDonald,
509 Woburn Street, Lexington. According to the
application, Mr. MacDonald had been convicted on February
17, 1944 of selling short weight and with no license.
The Clerk was instructed to have Chief Rycroft
make a thorough investigation as to Mr. MacDonald's
character and any possible record he might have, and
report to the Board.
A letter was received from the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, Department of Agriculture, relative to
the nomination of an Inspector of Animals.
Mr. Sheldon moved that Dr. Chester L. Blakely
be nominated as Inspector of Animals for the year
ending March 31, 1945. Mr. Locke seconded the motion,
and it was so voted.
A letter was received from the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, Department of Public Health, relative
to the nomination of an Inspector of Slaughtering.
Mr. Sheldon moved that Mr. George G. Whiting be
nominated as Inspector of Slaughtering for the year
ending March 31, 1945. Mr. Sarano seconded the
motion, and it was so voted.
4ZT
Approp.
Comm.
Article
#30
Use of
Flags
Tax Title
Sale
Peddler
License
Animal
Insp.
Slgh.
Insp.
.28
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Wrightington giving
Athletic his opinion as to the right of the Town to appropriate
Equip. money for athletic equipment. He enclosed a copy of
Statute 1935, Chapter 199.and stated that he believed a
part of the School Committee Appropriation could be used
for the purchase of athletic equipment.
Licenses
The following licenses were granted:
Anthony J. Ryan, Inc.
John L. Shea
William H. Lyon
William Viano
942 Washington St. Dorch
Concord Road, Westford
1779 Mass. Avenue
1794 Mass. Avenue
It was decided to hold the meeting next
7:15 P.M.
The meeting adjourned at 10:05 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
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