HomeMy WebLinkAbout1944-07-31542
American
Legion re:
Redecorating
Conference
Room, Cary
Building
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
July 31, 1944
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on
Monday evening, July 31, 1944, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman
Locke, Messrs. Potter, Rowse and Sarano and Sheldon
were present. The Assistant Clerk was also present.
The Chairman reviewed the Selectmen's Records
regarding the American Legion use of the conference
room in Cary Memorial Building.
At 7:40 P.M. Mr. Charles McCormack and Mr.
Arthur N. Lee, representing the American Legion,
Stanley Hill Post #38, appeared before the Board.
The Chairman read a letter written to the Legion
in 1931 granting the use of the conference room in
Cary Memorial Building as temporary headquarters.
The Chairman asked if the Legion now has permanent
quarters.
Mr. Lee said they have quarters, but they did not
know whether or not they would be permanent. He said
the Legion is now located at the G.A.R. Hall.
The Chairman stated that the Selectmen have
control of the Cary Building, but there is a question as
to whether a building given to the Town as this one
was, should be specifically marked, as painting it with
Legion colors.
Mr. McCormack said the Legion colors are blue and
gold, and although the room does not have to be in these
colors, they would like it painted as near as possible
to the Legion blue and gold.
The Chairman asked if the Legion uses the room
at the present time, and Mr. Lee stated that they use
it for their Executive Meetings.
Mr. Rowse asked if the Legion stored articles in
the room, and Mr. McCormack said their records are kept
there.
Mr. Sheldon asked i it_ wens necessary to keep the
room exclusively for the Legion.
Mr. Lee stated they would like to have it that way
because the records are kept in the room, and there is
no closet in which to store them in the event that
another organization used the room.
Mr. Sarano asked why the records have not been
moved to the G.A.R. Hall, and Mr. Lee said that they use
the records at the Executive Meetings.
Mr. Potter said the Board of Selectmen appreciate
the Legion, but there is a possibility of the returning
Veterans of World War II forming an organization of their
own, and they too may want the use of a room.
Mr. McCormack said he realized this fact, but the
room was in poor condition and needed to be painted.
At 8:04 P.M. the two representatives and Mr. Rowse
retired to inspect the conference room.
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Mr. Rowse returned to the meeting at 8:06 P.M. •
and moved that no action be taken on the American Legion
request for redecoration of the room at Cary Memorial
Building, and if any question arises as to its use,
the Legion will have to share the room with other
organizations. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and
it was so voted.:
Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Sarano,
it was voted to rescind the vote passed on July 17, 1944,
appointing Miss Mary McDonough Temporary Treasurer
during the incapacity of James J. Carroll, Town Treasurer
in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 41, Section
61A Pthe General Laws.
At 8:07 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk and
Treasurer, appeared before the Board.
Mn Minter A. Pickering, Salesman, 12 Winthrop
Road, was drawn to serve on Civil Business at Cambridge
on the llth of September next.
The Board discussed the matter of a temporary
treasurer with Mr. Carroll and he retired at 8:20 P.M.
At 8:22 P.M. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board.
He stated that the Police are in need of a water cooler.
•He contacted various filter companies and the only cooler
that he can secure is from the Puro Filter Company.
The company will not sell the cooler, but will rent it
for $5.00 a month on a contract basis for three years.
Mr. Potter asked if at the end of the three years
the cooler would become the Town's property, and
Mr. Paxton replied in the negative.
Mr. Potter moved that the water cooler be rented
from,the Pura Filter Compantr for $5.00 a month on a
contract basis for three years.
Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Garrity had spoken to
him about the swimming at Butterfield's Pond and the
LexingtonIeservoir. Although nothing will be done this
year, lir. Paxton suggested that next year both Butter -
field's Pond, and the Lexington Reservoir be posted with
"No Swimming" signs. The Town owns both of these
properties, and they should be posted in order to
protect the Town's interests.
Mr. Rowee moved that Mr. Paxton's suggestion be
approved, and that "No Swimming" signs be posted at
Butterfield's Pond and the Lexington Reservior. Mr.
Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Mr. Paxton stated that he had received a plan from
Mr. Cushman of the Colonial Beacon Oil Company. The
route does not quite follow the lines the Selectmen
desired to have followed, but it is as close as the
543
Rescind
Temp. Town
Treas.
Vote
Juror
Water
Cooler at
Police
Station
No
Swimming
Signs
544
Pipe Line
Held Over
Sale of
Section of
Flagpole
Oxford St.
Sewer
Construction
Surfacing
Insurance
Surfacing
Company can go in considering the topography of the land.
Mr. Cushman will return from his vacation on August
21, 1944, and at the August 28, 1944 Selectmen's
Meeting he is going to try to submit all the necessary
papers on all the properties.
Mr. Paxton stated that Mr. George Whiting had
offered $10.00 for a section of the old flagpole.
Garrity is going to retain a piece of the pole for
historic purposes.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the section of the old
flagpole be sold to George Whiting for the sum of
$10.00. Mr. Saran° seconded the motion, and it was
so voted.
Mr. Paxton said that the property owners on Oxford
Street had requested sewer construction on that street.
This has been delayed as long as possible, but after
inspection with Mr. Lamont, Health Inspector, papers
were sent to the property owners for the required
signatures. Mr. Paxton stated that he expected to have
these papers at the next meeting of the Board, and if so,
he thought he would be able to start construction
immediately.
Mr. Paxton advised the Board that on August 19, 1944,
the Automobile Liability Insurance Policy expires through
the office of L. J. Reynolds. This policy is usually
divided between three Agents, viz. Robert Merriam, L. J.
Reynolds and Mrs. Fitzgerald, but the amount of the
premium is so small that Mr. Paxton recommended it be
given to one Agent. Mr. Paxton said that Mr. Reynolds
has been handling the major part of the work connected
with this policy. He also stated that the policy
usually cost about $1,100.00 a year. Last year there•
was a drop in rates so that we actually paid about
7700.00, however, there is a clause in the policy stating
that if a piece of equipment is not in use we receive
an abatement. Thus, the net cost to the Town was
actually about $200.00.
Mr. Rowse moved that the policy expiring on
August 19, 1944, through the office of L. J. Reynolds
be renewed through the same office; Mr. Reynolds to be
sole Agent. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was
so voted.
Mr..
Mr. Paxton stated that the Public Works Department
has been doing some surface treatment of road pavements
throughout the Town, and he wondered if the Board had
any questions.
sID
1
545
Mr. Sarano asked the amount of territory they
intended to resurface.
Mr. Paxton stated about 100,000 square yards of
honing, 30,000 square yards of a one -inch mix and
70,000 yards of seal coating. He submitted a report
of the honing and resurfacing accomplished over a
period of years with respect to this year's work.
He further stated that he is making a hydrant
survey to establish any weaknesses in the system.
Mr. Rowse informed Mr. Paxton that the
American Legion uses the conference room in Cary Painting
Memorial Building and_it is in very poor condition._•. Conference
He stated that the room needed to be painted. Room
Mr. Paxton said this condition was probably
due to a cracked radiator in the room about two or
three years ago. He said that this room is the
only. one in the Cary Building that has not been
painted since 1940, and when the Town Painter
finishes with the School Department work, the room
will be painted.
The Chairman read a letter from Leon W. Bateman,
Secretary of the Lexington Chamber of commerce, regarding
the flashing lights at the intersections of Waltham
Street with Massachusetts Avenue and Marrett Road. Traffic
Mr. Paxton said that he had talked with Mr. Conditions
Edgar Copell of the State Department and requested
him to make a survey of the situation. Mr. Copell
will check to determine what street should have the
red light on the intersection of Waltham Street and
Marrett Road.
The Chamber of Commerce letter also stated that
a dangerous condition existed on Waltham Street and on
lower Massachusetts Avenue between Percy Road and
Pleasant Street due to speeding automobiles. The Chamber
requested the Board to have the police carefully watch
these locations.
The Assistant Clerk was requested to give Chief
Rycroft a copy of this letter, and to ask him to see that
these areas are carefully watched.
A letter was received from Philip B. Fleming,
Major General, U.S.A., Administrator, Federal Works
Agency, requesting a report of postwar public
construction.
The matter was held over pending further
investigation.
Postwar
Construction
546
Bill for
Defect in
Street
Pole
Location
Mosgz ito
Control
V.F.W. Aux.
Request
Legion
Honor Roll
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. R. W. Day,
6 Burton Street, Arlington, Massachusetts, enclosing
a bill for a broken spring on his car caused by a
defect in the street near Child's Garage in East
Lexington. Mr. Day said that in Mayxhe had also
broken a spring because of a defect in the street
in front of the East Lexington Fire Station: Mr.
Day requested reimbursement for the spring broken
on June 17, 1944.
Upon motion of Mr. Potter, seconded by Mr. Sarano,
it was voted to take no action on the matter.
Petition, three copies of the order and two
copies of the plan from the Boston Edison Company
were received authorizing the following transfer of
location of an existing pole:
Spring Street, westerly side, approximately
1123 feet south of the Cambridge -
Concord Highway. One (1) pole.
Mr. Rowse moved that the order be signed. Mr.
Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
The Chairman read a letter from Richard P.
Cromwell, Clerk of the Planning Board, advising that
at the last meeting of the Planning Board, it was voted
to suggest to the Board of Health that the present would
be an appropriate time to inaugurate a modern program
of mosquito control in the Town of Lexington. The
Planning zoard will be very glad to assist in such way
as may be desired.
The Assistant Clerk was instructed to acknowledge
the Planning Board's letter advising that the Board of
Selectmen would like very much to have the Planning
Board look into and study the matter.
The Chairman said that he hada request over the
telephone from Mrs. Brown of the V.F.W. Auxiliary asking
if the Town has about twenty-four surplus chairs and
two desks that could be loaned to that organization
until such time as they could obtain their own.
It was decided to notify Mrs. Brown that at the.
present time there is nothing available that could be
turned over to the V.F.W. Auxiliary.
At 9:30 P.M. Mr. Paxton retired and Mr. White,
Town Accountant, appeared before the Board.
Mr. White stated that he had contacted Mr.
Clyde Booker regarding the Honor Roll, and Mr. Booker
is willin? to have other organizations use the
Honor Roll List in the `1own Accountant's Office.
0,3
1
The Chairman said that the Board could them
assume that the list may be viewed and copied by any
organization.
Mr. White said that was correct, as long as the
list was not removed from the Town Accountant's Office,
Mr. Booker had no objection to its use.
Mr. Rowse asked what would happen to the list
after the war.
.Mr. White stated that he thought the Legion
would turn the list over to the Town Clerk.
Mr. White said that he would like the Board's
approval of a change in personnel. He stated that
Miss Eleanor Clifford has left the employ of the
Town to become married. Mr. White stated that he
would like to hire Mrs. Constance Sansing as Junior
Clerk in his office at a salary of $20.00 per week.
Mr. Sheldon moved that Mrs. Constance Sansing
be hired as Junior Clerk at a salary of $20.00 per
week. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so
Mr. White stated that he would like to have
Mies Virginia Tarbell as Senior Clerk in '-is office
at a salary of $22.00 per week.
Mr. Rowse moved that Miss Tarbeli be made Senior
Clerk in the Town Accountant's Office at a salary of
$22.00 per week. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and
it was so voted.
Mr. White retired at 9:15 P.M.
547
Personnel
Town Account-
ant'ts
Office
voted.
The Chairman read a letter from William R.
Florence, S.F. i/c, U.S.Navy, who recently purchased
the Police motorcycle. Seaman Florence stated that when
he purchased the machine it was his understanding Siren on
that it was sold with all equipment, however,. the Police
Chief of Police removed the Siren. He stated that Motorcycle
at the present time he is r,5 ng the machine for Naval
Police work and would like to obtain the Siren.
The Assistant Clerk was instructed to send the
Chief of Police a copy of '.thi'a letter, and request
him to kindly handle the matter.
Latter was received from Brown's Letters Corporation
and Construction Reports Inc., requesi;ing a list of Postwar
Postwar Construction Projects for the Building Trade
of New England.'
No action was taken on the matter.
A letter was received from .Milford 0. Woodward,
489 Waltham Street, Lexington, offering the sum of
300.00 for Lots 25 and 26, Block 21, ;Dexter Road,
Lexington.
Taxi itle
Offer
548
Held Over
Maloney's
Tax Title
Offer
Vicious
Dog
Complaint
Girl for
Planning
Board Held,
Over Until
September 11
Mr. Rowse moved that a proposal to sell the lots
be advertised in the LexingtonMinute-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.
A letter was received from Mrs. M. D. Fleming,
36 Ward Street, Lexington, offering the sum of $50.00
for Lots 3 and 4, Block 4, Earl Street, Lexington.
Upon motion of Mr. Sarano, seconded by Mr. Rowse,
it was voted to refer the offer to Mr. Potter for
investigation, and to hold the matter over until the
next meeting of the Board.
. The Chairman read a petition from Mr. William
E. Maloney, 289 Bedford Street, Lexington. The
petition regarding Mr. Maloney's previous offer of
200.00 for Lots 27 and 28, Block 1, Harding Road,
stated that he intends to make a playground on the
two lots, and it was signed by six neighbors who
enthusiastical]vapproved. Mr. Maloney again offered
$200.00 for the said lots.
Upon motion of Mr. Sheldon, seconded by Mr.
Sarano, it was voted to advise Mr. Maloney that the
lowest possible amount acceptable to the Board for
these two lots is $300.00, however, if he wishes
to condition the land as a playground he may do so,
but, of course, these lots will be subject to sale
at any time.
The ':hairman read a petition signed by residents
of Ward Street, calling the Board's attention to a
vicious dog owned by one Nina Wilson, Ward Street,
Lexington.
Upbb.emotion-of'Mrt-Potter - sedohded: by"Mr:
aheldon, it was voted to request the dog officer to
investigate the complaint and report to the Board at
their next meeting.
The Assistant Clerk was requested to acknowledge
the petition by writing to Mr. Hugh C. Tupper, advising
that the Dog Officer had been requested to investigate
the matter and report to the Board of Selectmen.
Letter was received from the Planning Board
requesting the Selectmen to arrange for -some girl
in the Town Offices to take care of the Planning
Board's records, '-inasmuch:-. as Miss Corcoran has left
the employ of the Town.
The Assistant Clerk was requested to advise the
Planning -oard that at the present time the Town Offices
are shorthanded, but'an endeavor will be made in the
near future to secure someone who is able to handle
this work.
1
The matter was held over until the September
11, 1944 meeting of the Board of Selectmen.
The Chairman read a form letter from George C.
Parsons, Chief of Inspections, Massachusetts Department
of Public. Safety, requesting the identity of the
a t1ioi stied representative sof the commissioner of
Public Safety.
The Assistant Clerk was requested fill in this
form, and return it to •'1r. Parsons. •
At 9:43 P.M. Mr. John A. Lyons, Chairman of
the 3oard of Public Welfare, appeared before the
Board.
Mr. Lyons stated that Mrs. Casey had been advised
by thebZtate to take no action on the matter of anpointing
an Agent for State, Military and Soldiers' Relief.
No action was taken on the matter.
Mr. Lyons retired at 9:45 P.M.
Application was received from IVrr. Richard Infanta
of 33 Maple Street, Lexington, for a Sunday Sales
License.
Letter was received from Chief Rycroft, advising
that Mr. Infants: is a man of good character, and that
he has no police reord.
Mr. Infanti also desired to sell milk and vegetables
on Sundays.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the license application be
disapproved. Mr. Rowse seconded the motion, and it was
so voted.
549
Rep. Comm.
Public
Safety
Mr. Wrightington's bill for services in connection
with the Phelps' land for a Central Fire Station was
received in the amount of $100.00.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the bill be approved. Mr.
Rowse seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Bill was received in the amount of 30.00
submitted by C.P. Larrabee for the handling and
trucking of a large section of the old flagpole from
the Lexington Green to the Public Works Yard.
Mr. Potter moved that the bill be approved for
payment, and that it be charged to the Flagpole Account.
Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
Upon motion of Mr. Sheldon, seconded by Mr. Sarano,
it was voted to grant the following licenses:
William Viano 1794 Massachusetts Avenue Sunday Movies
ee e e e e n n
Marjorie Rose 1840 Massachusetts Avenue Common Victualler
550
The Chairman stated that the following men had been
contacted, and were willing to serve on the Postwar
Projects Committee: Mr. Edwin B. Worthen, Mr. Winthrop
H. Bowker, Mr. Elmer C. Houdlette, Mr. Lester T. Redman,
Mr. Lee E. Tarbox, Mr. J' Milton Brown, Mr. Arthur C.
Dodge, Mr. Lincoln Grush and Mr. Roy A. Ferguson.
Mr. Potter moved that above named gentlemen be
appointed the Postwar Projects Committee. Mr. Sheldon
seconded the motion, and it was so voted.
The Assistant Clerk was requested to notify the
gentlemen of their appointment.
The Chairman informed the Board that he will be
out of Town the week of August 14, 1944, and the
week of August 21, 1944. Therefore, he will be unable
to attend the August 14th Selectmen's Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
Assistant Clerk.
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