HomeMy WebLinkAbout1944-06-05SELECTMEN'S MEETING
June 5, 1944
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on
Monday, June 5, 1944, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman.Locke, Messrs.
Potter, Rowse, Sheldon and Sarano were present. The.Clerk
was also present.
At 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Clyde Steeves, James J. Carroll,
Raymond L. White and William C. Paxton, appeared before the
Board. Mr. Seaman arrived at 7:40 P.M.
The Chairman informed the group that the matter of
working with skeleton crews on Saturday mornings in the
various Town Offices during the summer months was discussed
by the Board last week and there was some question raised
as to policy. The Chairman said that the Selectmen appreciate
that they have no control over the office of Town Clerk, Tax
Collector or Assessors. He said that it would be well to
endeavor to arrive at a common policy, and the Board would
like to know how the various department heads felt about it.
With the exception of the Superintendent of Public Works,
whose department is more active in the summer months, it was
the concensus of the group that there were very few requests
for information, either by individuals calling at the office
or telephoning, on Saturday mornings.
The group retired at 7:45 P.M.
511
Skelet n
Crews
Summer
Months
Mr. George W. Dmex m Chairman of the Board of Fire
Engineers, appeared before the Board.
Emery mery eaid that he had Mrs. Phelps' amended option
and also an agreement from F. K. Johnson for $500.00
signed with restrictions.
The Chairman raised the question as to who would handle
the Articles pertaining to fire station on the Town Meeting
floor..
It was decided that the Chairman of the Board of
Selectmen should handle these Articles.
Mr. Emery said that the Board of Fire Engineers would
be very glad to answer any question asked by Town Meeting
Members.
Mr. Emery retired at 8:10 P.M.
The Chairman read a letter from Raymond L. White,
Town Accountant, calling the Board's attention to Wallace
Weisinger's wages, which amounted to $93,15 for one week.
The total number of hours represented nearly fifteen hours
a day, including Sunday,
It was decided to take this matter -up with Mr. Paxton.
Fire
Station
Wages
512
At 8:20 P.M. Mr. Paxton and Mr. Cushman of the Colonial
Beacon Oil Company, appeared before the Board.
Mr. Cushman presented a plan showing where the proposed
four -inch petroleum pipe was to be laid,and stated that
both Mr. Garrity, Superintendent of Parks & Playgrounds,
and Mr. Cosgrove, Town Engineer, have approved this plan.
Mr. Paxton said that he had contacted the Colonial
Beacon Oil Company in an effort to obtain information per-
taining to the charges made by other Towns in similar
instances. This is the first experience of this kind by
the Colonial Beacon Oil Company in this section of the
country.and, therefore, Mr. Paxton was unable to secure
much information from them. The Standard Oil Company
informed him that in the western part of the State they
Oil received easements for as low as 50% per rod_ and the
Line easement was two roddswide. Mr. Paxton said that he con-
tacted the Shell Oil Company, Inc. to inquire what their
experience was in placing the line to Waverly Oaks. They
touched some Town property in Berkley, Sherborn and Norton,
but none of these would be comparable with the Town of Lexington.
In the case of the easement through State owned
property of the Department of Mental Health in Waverly, and
the State Agricultural College, the rate will be $1.00
per rod; or approximately 6% per foot.
Mr. Cushman said that he has been obtaining easements
on private property, and is paying 50% a running foot.
Mr. Rowse asked if the Colonial Beacon Oil Company
was ready to pay that to the Town of Lexington.
Mr. Cushman replied that his company is willing to pay
the Town in the same proportion as they pay the property
owners.
The Chairman requested Mr. Paxton to have a map prepared
to be used at Town Meeting, and asked Mr. Cushman if he
would arrange to be present to answer any questions that
might be raised.
Mr. Cushman agreed to explain what his company is
asking and what it is prepared to pay. He further stated
that he would have a letter written to the Board of Selectmen
previous to Town Meeting confirming this.
Mr. Cushman retired at 8:30 P.M.
Ins.
Mr. Paxton informed the Board that a fire and theft
insurance policy on automobiles and equipment of the Town,
amounting to $23,452.00, will expire July 1, 1944, through
the office of Robert C. Merriam.
Mr. Rowse moved that the policy be renewed through the
same office. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so
voted.
1
Mr. Paxton discussed fire insurance with the Board
and stated that there were some policies which would expire
in July. He also informed the Board that a few agents, who
had Town insurance, no longer live in Lexington. Mr. Paxton
stated that he would like very much to reduce the number of
policies and suggested grouping one -or two policies held by
the same agent.
Upon
was voted
$15,000.00
12,000.00
motion of Mr. Rowse, seconded by Mr. Sheldon, it
to cancel the following fire insurance policies:
Aetna Insurance Company, expiring July 10, 1944
Aetna Insurance Company, expiring November 13, 1944
One policy is then to be written through the office of
William H. Ballard; in the amount of $27,000.00 for a five-year
period beginning July 1, 1944.
Upon motion of Mr. Rowse, seconded by Mr. Sheldon, it
was voted to cancel the following fire insurance policies,
placed through Robert H. Whitney, with the Patterson, Wylde
& Windeler Insurance Company:
$44,300.00 Hartford Fire Insurance Co., expiring July 9, 1944
10,000.00- " It " " " Nov .13, 1944
20,000.00 Northern Ins. Co. of N. Y. " Dec. 5, 1944
One policy is then to be written, through the same office,
in the amount of $74,300.00 for a five-year period beginning
July 1, 1944.
It is the understanding of the Board that Mr. Robert H.
Whitney, the agent now serving with the Armed Forces, will
be given credit for this business.
Upon motion of Mr. Rowse, seconded by Mr. Sheldon, it
was voted to cancel -as of July 1, 1944, the following
policies placed through the office of Louis J. Reynolds:
$16,000.00 Fire Ins. Co. of'Hartford, Conn., expiring July
1,300.00 -Federal Mutual Fire Ins. Co. " Apr.
513
10, 1944
25, 1948
One policy is then to be written, through the same office,
in the amount of $17,300.00 for a five-year period beginning
July 1, 1944.
Upon motion of Mr. Rowse, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it
was voted to cancel, as of July 1, 1944, two policies, one
expiring May 4, 1945 and one expiring May 19, 1944, totaling
$35,000.00, through the office of Edward W. Taylor.
514
Elim.
Taxi
Stand
Shades
Lamps
It was further voted to
the office of Tracy W. Ames,
already held by Mr. Ames, in
making a total of $43,700.00
period as of July 1, 1944.
place this business through
to be grouped with the policy
the amount of $8,700.00,
to be written for a five-year
Upon motion of Mr. Sheldon, seconded by Mr. Potter,
it was voted to renew, through the office of Paul W. Hederstedt,
150 Congress Street, Boston, for a five-year period beginning
July 1, 1944, the $30,000 policy formerly held by John
Valentine.
Mr. Paxton said that the Chief of Police had suggested
that the taxi stand be eliminated. He has checked this stand
located at Depot Park, and it appears that neither Leary or
Rose use the stand. Mr. Montague uses it very litte.
Mr. Rowse moved that the taxi stand at Depot Park be
eliminated and this space used for parking. Mr. Sheldon
seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
The Chairman read a letter from F. B. Rosenberger of
on 42 Locust Avenue, requesting that a1 shade be installed on the
street lamp in front of his house.
Mr. Paxton said that he had also received a similar
request from Mrs. Smith, 11 Bloomfield Street.
Mr. Potter moved that Mr. Paxton request the Boston
Edison Company to shade both of these street lights. Mr.
Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Weisinger
Wages
Slaughter
Insp.
The Chairman stated that it had been called to the
Board's attention that Wallace Wessinger worked 103 hours
in a week and the question is, can a man put in that number
of hours in one week.
Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Weisinger works 48 hours a week
for the Public Works Deparmtment, 24 hours at the Public Works
Building gassing equipment and keeping it clean, and
he also has a telephone at his home and takes care of any
emergency calls. When he works on Sundays he receives time
and a half and double time for holidays. Mr. Paxton said
that he is willing to give overtime to any man and has asked
different employees of the Public Works Department to work
overtime, but they have refused.
Mr. Paxton informed the Board that since Mr. Weisinger
took over the Water Service, the cost has dropped from $2.50
to 85 per service.
Mr. Paxton retired at 9:15 P.M. and Mr. George G.
Whiting, Slaughter Inspector, appeared before the Board.
Mr. Whiting said that Mr. Monsignore has a permit to
slaughter three days a week, and the time he spends on
inspection intereferes with his own work. Mr. Whiting
said that he does not spend a whole day at a time inspecting,
but his days are very much broken up and if he is t9 continue
the work this way he expects more money.
0.3
1
515
Mr. Rowse asked how much local slaughtering was being
done, and Mr. Whiting replied that there was very little
inasmuch as people who raised hogs or sheep for their own
uae kill them in the fall.
It was decided to have Mr. Potter, Mr. Whiting and Mr.
Monsignore meet to discuss this matter in an effort to arrive
at some satisfactory arrangement.
Mr. Whiting.retired at 9:30 P.M.
Chief Rycroft appeared before the Board.
The Chief said that he would like very much to have
the Board rescind its vote of April 5, 1943, which suspended Rescind
Rule 5, Sections 1 and 3 of the Rules and Regulations of the Vote to
Town of Lexington pertaining to the Police Department. Suspend
The Chief &Aid that several officers are now working Rule 5
out of Lexington and ,during an emergency it is sometimes Police
difficult to locate an officer. He said it is embarrassing Dept.
to make changes because most of the officers working want Officer
the changes made to fit in with their own plans. Chief Working
Rycroft said that each officer is entitled to one day off Elsewhere
in eight and that time off is no concern to the Chief of
Police. However, the, rest of the week all officers should
be available. He said that he is too shorthanded at the
present time to let this situation continue, expecially now
that vacations are scheduled.
Chief Rycroft retired at 9:40 P.M.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the vote of the Board of Selectmen
passed on April 4, 1943, suspending, during the present
emergency, Rule 5, Sections 1 and .3 of the Rules and Regulations
of the Police Department, be rescinded. Mr. Rowse seconded
the motion, and it was so voted.
Mr. Leonard of the Roy 0. Leonard Flag Pole Company
appeared before the Board at 9:40 P.M. He said that he would Flag
like to sell tie Board the idea of proceeding with the erection Pole
of the flag pole at the Common.
Mr. Leonard said that no doubt the price is high, and
it is higher than it would have been last year. He said that
in six months more it will be impossible to obtain a piece
of lumber the, size of this pole. Mr. Leonard said that today
it would cost anyone $2,050.00 to get the pole out of East
Boston. He said that Was the best price he could .obtain.
Mr. Leonard said if the Town did the grading, cut up
the pole and carted it away, $60.00 could be deducted from
the total charge. If the guy ropes can be attached to the
trees, another $50.00 could be deducted. He said that the
present cross trees were in very good condition and he
thought that new ones would not be needed. This would save
an addttiopal $150.00.
After further discussion, Mr. Leonard retired at
10:05 P.M.
516
Town
Counsel
Latter
Attchmt
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Wrightington
informing the Board that pursuant to instructions from.
John A. Lyons, Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare,
action has been brought in the name of the Town of Lex..
ington against Elizabeth Latter to recover Welfare payments.
An attachment of her real estate has been made in Middlesex
County.
The Chairman read a letter from A11en..W. Rucker
Discon- stating that effective May 29, 1944, the Army Aircraft
tinue Warning Service will be completely discontinued. The
Obs. T^Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety has been
notified to this effect, and requested to have the water,
light and telephone service discontinued.
The Board decided to hold this matter over for
further consideration before arriving at a final decision
relative to the disposition of the Tower.
Health
Insp.
re:
Latter
House
Sweeney
Cesspool
Cleaning
Permit
Gas at
Pub. Wks
Bldg.
Req. to
Borrow
State'
Flags
The Chairman read a letter from John Lamont, Health
Inspector, informing the Board that he had inspected the
premises of Mrs. Latter, 147 Woburn Street and while he
found an accumulation of dust and dirt from neglect of
cleaning, there was no filth of any kind.
Letter was received from Sweeney Motor Trucking
Co., Inc., 16 Robin Street, Everett, requesting'a permit
to clean cesspools in the Town of Lexington.
Mr. Sheldon moved that a permit be granted for a.
period ending March 31, 1945. Mr. Sarano seconded the
motion, and it was so voted.
Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board at 10:15 P.M.
and stated that he had been checking his figures on the
gas at the Public Works Building and finds that for a fifteen
month period the amount of gas unaccounted for is 72 gallons
per month which would include normal shrinkage.
Mr. Paxton retired at 10:17 P.M.
The Chairman read a letter from the Office of the
Mayor, City Hall, Boston, requesting permission to borrow
the set of 48 State Flags to be used ori Flag Day. The plan
is to have the flags carried by a special company of the
State. Guard.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the request be approved, subject
to the following provisions; 1. That the flags are picked up
at the Cary Memorial Building, and you may instruct your
driver to ask for Mr. Moloy, the janitor, who has charge
of the flags.. The flags are in boxes and it will be necessary
for you to put them on the poles. 2. We ask that you insure
the flags against loss ordAnage in the amount of $1,000.00
and that any flag lost or damaged will be replaced. 3. That
the flags must be returned by you in the same condition as
you received them. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it
was so voted.
1
The Board gave further consideration to Mr. Joseph
Corsi's offer of $200.00 for Lots 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, Block 18,
Reed Street, Lexington. A proposal to sell the lots was
advertised in the June 1, 1944 issue of the Lexington Minute -
Man. No persona contacted the Selectmen's Office as a result
of the advertisement.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the offer be accepted and that the
lots be sold and conveyed to Mr. Corsi. Mr. Rowse seconded the
motion, and it was so voted.
The Chairman informed the Board that Mr. Carroll had
advised the Clerk that the foreclosures on Lots 30 and
31, Farmhurst, Section 3, Farmcrest Avd.nue, have been
completed and the lots may be sold.
Mr. Ralph Cochrane of 16 Farmcrest Avenue has offered
$300.00 for these lots.
Mr. Sheldon moved that a proposal to sell the lots
be advertised in the Lexington Minute -Man, and that further
consideration be given the offer at the next meeting of the
Board. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted..
#diet of unlicensed dogs in
received.from the Town Clerk.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the
turned over to the Dog Officer.
motion, .and it was so voted.
the Town of Lexington was
Dog Warrant be signed and
Mr. Sarano seconded the
Application was received from Manfred Warren requesting
the use of Cary Memorial Hall on the evening of June 8, 1944,
for graduation exercises.
Mr. Sarano moved that the application be granted, free
of charge. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so
voted.
A group`: of petitions, orders and plans for jointr_ or
identical pole locations was received from the New -England
Telephone and Telegraph Company and the Boston Edison
Company, to be signed by the Board of Selectmen. These
orders are merely to bring the records of the Legal Depart-
ment of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company
up to a current basis.
The Chairman advised the Board that Mr. Garrity had
inquired as to what procedure the Board wished him to take
relative to displaying flags during Flag Week.
Mr. Saran° moved that Mr. Garrity be instructed to
follow the.same procedure as he did last year. Mr. Rowse
seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
517
Tax Title
Sal e
Tax Sale
Unlic.
Dogs
. Dog Warrant
Signed
Use of
Cary Hall
Pole
Locations
Flags &
Flag
Week
The Chairman said that he had contacted Mr. Carroll Ryder Land
relative to the Ryder land on Maple Street, and was informed Maple St.
that Mr. Ryder has agreed to pay the back taxes not later Held Over
than June 20, 1944.
The matter was held over until that date.
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 P.M.
7e
41
C rk.
A true record, Attest: