HomeMy WebLinkAbout1945-01-2973
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
January 29, 1945
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held In the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on
Monday evening, January 29, 1945, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman
Locke, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Sarano and Sheldon were
present. The Clerk was also present.
At 7:30 P.M. Mr. William C. Paxton, Supt. of
Public Works, appeared before the Board.
He stated that during the past week several galls
had been reoeived from citizens requesting assistance Coal
in having coal delivered. Mr. Paxton said that he under- Emergency
stood all municipalities are supposed to cooperate, and Calls
it would be helpful if the .Board would make some policy
so that the public may be t.old.something definite when
the galls come in.
It was decided to have the Chairman contact Mrs.
Casey, explain the situation t.o her,'and ask her cooperation
in handling calls for the use of Town equipment for trans-
porting coal during an emergency.
A letter was received from the Boston .Edison Company
pertaining toone of the revised Utilities Orders in
relation to the conservation of coal. Utilitj*.s
Mr. Paxton'said that he had talked with Mr. Washburn Order
of the Boston Edison Company who said that what the U - 9,
company had in mind was to have the Board of Selectmen
bring this matter to the attention of the Police Department
for enforcement.
Mr. Sheldon moved that a copy of the War Production
Board Utilities Order U-9, prohibiting_oertain uses of
electricity be sent to the Chief of Police with the request
that his departmentcooperate in enforcing compliance of
this program.. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it
was se voted.
The Chairman read a letter from Fred E. Hersom, Jr.,
36 Blake Road, Lexington, stating that it is necessary
for Mrs. Hersom to walk from Blake Road to Hillside
Terrace every day to care for her daughter who is ill.
Inasmuch as Blake .Road to Burlington Street is the
shortest way, it would help Mrs. Hersom if Blake Road
could be plowed, and he requested the Board to reconsider
its decision of January 22, 1945.
It was decided that in the event another snow storm
occurred this week that Blake Road should be plowed
underthe circumstances.
Hersom
Request
Plow
Blake
Road
74
Application was received from David A. Rix, 803
Waltham Street, requesting a Board of Sur1ey Hearing
Rix relative to the laying out or locating the street or
Court way designated as Rix Court.
Mr. Paxton .said that this matter came up a few
years ago and Mr. Rix wanted the own to do something.
At that time. he was given the idea that the sown did
not have money in the drainage account, and it would be
available the following year. However, the war prevented
any further work of this_nature. r. Paxton believed.
that Mr. ix wanted the own to have enough money
available to take care of the drainage if; and when there
is sufficient labor to do the wBrk. However, if a Board
of Survey Hearing is held, the oard must act and either
accept the plan or reject it.' If it is accepted, bond
must be filed and an agreement signed that the construction
will be completed within.a definite period of time. Mr.
Paxton said that under the present conditions, he.t1d
not believe anything could be gained'by having a board
of Survey Hearing. He said that the Board of Selectmen
were someat sympathetic at the first hearing, but he
would suggest that this application be withdrawn.
It was decided to have Mr. Sarano contact Mr. six
and explain the situation to him.
The Chairman read a letter from the Belmont Board
of Health relative to mosquito control.
Mosquito The Chairman asked Ar. Paxton if he would 'contact
Control the Belmont Board of Health for more detailed information
and report to the Board.
Mr. Paxton agreed to do so, and retired at 8:15 P.M.
The Chairman read a letter from the Chief'of Police
stating that Lieutenant 4a1' had requested reimbursement
Lt. Neal for the use of his privateautomobile in connection with
Car Police work.
Allowance Mr.'Sheldori moved that the Chairman be empowered
to investigate the matter and make some arrangement with
the Chief, and, if necessary, include a sum of money in
the 1945 budget to coverthis item. Mr. Serrano seconded
the motion, and it was so voted.
A letter was received from Albert G. Frothingham,'
Secretary of the Lexington Allied Veterans Council,
submitting the following names to serve on the Town of
Lexington Patriots' Day .Committee: John Lamont,
as Chairman, - Lexington. Minute -Men, Inc.; Albert H.
Burnham - Sons.of Union Veterans Malcolm H. Clifford -
Veterans of roreign Wars; Henry. . Cotton - American'
Legion;Clarence MacPhee - State Gua$d Veterans; George
1
75
N. Foster, ex -officio,- Lexington Allied Veterans Couneilj
and Albert . Frothinham, Secretary - Treasurer, - Patriots
%m i tentAiliiidcletegkaeleBunet�i ;; - Trea"':.:^e.' Pa9
1[c Frothingham stated in his letter that the tentative Comm.
plana for the celebration of April 19, 1945 are somewhat
similar to that of the past two years. The ouncil .
requested the slam of $500.00 for Patriots' Day and $250:00
for the observance of Memorial Day.
Mr. Sheldon moved that the members recommended by
the Allied Veterans ouncil be appointed to serve as the
Town of Lexington Patriots' Day Committee. Mr. Sarano
seconded the'motioh, and it was so voted.
The Clerk informed the "soard•that t he Women's Army
Corps would lt]pa permission to exhibit a sign about
WAC Sig
4}+ high by *wide at the Lexington Red Cross Head- & F7a g
quarters for a period of approximately thirty days. Ditp y
They would also likepermission. to display a flag on a
10' pole at the same time.
Mr. Sheldon movedthat permission ba granted.
Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was to voted.
A letter was received from Mr. harold T. Oowsm, Cowan
2408 Kaasaohuaetta Avenue, Lexington, stating that he would Tax titin
pay $75.00 fpr Lot 32, Summit Avenue, Lexington. Offer
Mr. Sarano moved that -a proposal -to sell the lot
be adverticed.in the Lexington MI.nute-Man, and further
consideration be given the offer at the next meeting of
the Board. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was
so voted.
A letter was received.from Mr. Wrightington stating
that he had completed trane.fer of Lots 24 and 25, Bleck
20, Bertwell Road, Lexington, from the:Town to John F.
and Margaret Daniela. Mr. Wrightington enclosed a
Check for $225.00 in payment of the lots and also general
releasee from Mr. And Mrs. Daniels. and Mr.° Cole. Mr.
Daniela is conveying a part of the lot to Cole.
The ('lark informed the board that the School Nurse
had brought to her attention -the fact that there have
been occasions when school=children have been confined
with contagious diseases of which the Board of Health
has bad no report or a delayed report..
Ma: Potter moved that t he Clerk be authorised to
write the Doctors soliciting their cooperation in reporting
all communicable diatases4, W. Sarano seconded the motion ,
and it was so voted.
Daitels
Cole
T'ax Title
Case
Releases
Rop orting
Contagious
Diseases
76
The Chairman informed the Board that the Clerk tiad
received a call from the Massachusetts General Hospital
requesting the use of the ambulance on January 31, 1945,
Use. of to take one Chester Banks of 8 Brandon Street to the
Ambulaniss hospital and return.
The Board authorized the use of the ambulance,
and the Clerk was instructed to commit the bill, provided
the patient is not being aided.
At S:35 P.M. W. bite appeared before the Board
and stated that the Appropriation Committee had approved
the Selectmen's Department - Personal Services Budget
as follows:
Executive Clerk - $35.00 plus 15% plus $2.00
Senior Clerk 22.00 plus _18%.plus 1.00
,Mr. White said that..the.Appropriation Committee had
approved.15% increaaea, plus _.the .step rates; this to be
effective in all. departments. -
The increasesrecommended bythe Board of Selectmen
f or the Fire Department, Police epartment, Supt. of
Public Works, Supt. of Parka & Playgrounds and Secretary
in the Assessors' Department were not approved.
Mr. White retired at 8:43 P.M.
Mr. Pfeiffer,' a Selectman in Bedford, telephoned
and asked the Chairman if the Town of Lexington' would
Clark's include an Article in the Warrant relative to Clark's Mill
Mill Dam in Bedford Which the Town of Bedford wants to purchase,
Dam The Board saw no objection to including to Article ,
and the Chairman told. Mr. Pfeiffer that his request would
be granted, and asked him to submit detailed information
on the matter to the Selectmen.
Art. In
Warrant
W. Sheldon moved fpr reconsideration of action
previously taken by the pard relative to Personal Services
Budgets. Mr. Rowse aeoonded the motion.' The majority
of the Board not being in accord, themotion was, there-
fore , loot.
The Board considered the Articles in the Warrant
for the Annual Town Meeting.
At the request of the Board of Fire Engineers, there
is an Article to see if the Town will vote to authorize
the Selectmen to obtain bigs and let a contract for the
erection of a new Central ire Station assoon as govern-
sent regulations will permit, and appropriate money there-
for. There is also an. Article relative to the East
Lexington 'tire Station,
oo
owzi
1
Mr. Sheldon informed the Board that the Central
Fire Station would cost possibly $100,000.00 and the Fire
East Lexington Station would cost approximately $40,000.00
It was tentatively voted that $8,000.00 per year
be bonded for ten years and $20,000.00 be transferred from
the Excess and Deficiency Account to pay•for the cost
of a Central Fire Station.
It was also tentatively voted that $5,000.00 per
year be bonded fop six years and $10,000.00 be w propriated
or transferred from the Excess and De icieney Account for
the cost of construction of the East lead. ngton Fire
Station.
W. Hoyt, Chairman of the Appropriationommittee,
appeared before the Board and asked if any fuither in- Welfare
formation had been received relative to the Civil Sallries
Service Salary Schedule for the Public Welfare Department.
The 'Chairman stated that he had been advised by
W. Lyons, Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare, that
a new schedule of Public Welfaresalarieswas pEepared
in October, but it has not been adopted by the oard of
Public Welfare and no step -rate increases are required
until this schedule is adopted.
Mr. Hoyt retired.
77
Stations
Public. Welfare Budgets were then acted upon a's
falai*:
Public Welfare Department - Personal Services
Mrs. Casey, Temporary Agent, $3¢.00 plus 15%.
(No steprate increase)
Miss Mitchell, Temporary Social Worker, $25.00
Plus 15% plus $2.00
Miss Crosby, Jr. Clerk, $22.00 phis 15%. (No
rate increase; reached maximum.)
A true record, Attests
Cerk.
step-