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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1945-04-09138 SELECTMEN'S MEETING April 9, 1945 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, April 9, 1945 at 7:30 P.M. Chair- man Locke, Messrs. Potter, Sarano, Rowse and Sheldon were present. The Clerk was also present. The members were notified of this meeting by a notice mailed April 5, 1945. At 7:30 P.M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, appeared before the Board for the drawing of two Jurors jurors. Shirley L. Smith, Gas Tender, 7 Bowker Street, was drawn to serve on Criminal Business, First Session, at Cambridge on Monday, Mai* 7, 1945. Mr. Lincoln C. ()rush, Production Manager, 10 Tower Road, was drawn to serve on Civil Business, First Session, at Cambridge on Monday, May 7, 1945. Mr. Carroll retired at 7:35 P.M., and Mr. Eben Johnson, 20 Parker Street, Arlington, appeared before Eben the Board. Johnson Mr. Johnson said that he understood that Lot 37, Re: CaryStreet was owned bythe Town. Lot 37 The Chairman stated that the Town did own this Cary St. property, and asked what Mr. Johnson wished to know about it. Mr. Johnson said he wanted to know whether or not he could build upon the lot. The Chairman asked what the frontage was, and Mr. Johnson replied seventy feet. Mr. Potter asked why Mr. Johnson was asking this question, and he replied that there is a foundation oft the lot which has been there for several years and he wondered why a house had never been built on it. Mr. Potter asked if the foundation were new, and Mr. Johnson replied in the affirmative. Mr. Rowse asked Mr. Johnson if he had talked with Mr. Cann, the Building Inspector, and he replied in the affirmative. He stated that Mr. Cann had told him that the frontage should be seventy-five feet. The Chairman said that he believed the Board should check to determine when the lot was sub -divided, and when it was recorded the first time. He said that Held the Board would endeavor to obtain more information and Over advise Mr. Johnson further. Mr. Johnson said that he would be interested in buying the property if it were possible to build upon it. Mr. Johnson retired at 7:45 P.M. 1 The Clerk was instructed to write Mr. Cann and ask whether or not the lot could be built upon and if not, why not. Mr. Potter said he had talked with Mr. Spencer about the possibility of his contacting the abutters of these small tax title lots. He said that some of these lots are too small for house lots, and if the Board would allow Mr. Spencer something for the use of his car and nothing for his time, he would then be able to contact the abutters to determine whether or not they would be interested in purchasing adjacent lots. Mr. Potter felt that this would be a tremendous help in disposing of some of the tax title property, and also eliminate the sale of small lots upon which might be erected undesirable buildings. Mr. Rowse moved that the Appropriation Committee be requested to transfer the sum of $100.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Assessors' Department - Expenses Account, increasing the item of auto allowance from $150.00 to $250.00. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton appeared before the Board at 7:30 P.M. He said that he had a caterpillar tractor at the Publie.Works Building which had been discarded in 1943, when a new unit had been purchased. He stated that it is approximately twenty years old, and since it has been stored in the rear of the building, a number of persons had looked at it. He said that he has always set a price of 475.00 on it, and he has just received a bid from Albert P. Iodice offering to pay 475.00. Mr. Potter asked how long it had been since the unit had been used, and Mr. Paxton replied that it was used in 1943. Mr. Sheldon moved that Mr. Paxton be authorized to accept the bid of $75.00 received from Albert P. Iodise. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that there is a drainage problem on Downing Road. He said that the water extends out• to the street, and is eight feet deep causing a great deal of difficulty to James Coscia, who has registered a complaint with Mr. Paxton. Mr. Paxton said that Manuel Ferry of 50 Downing Road also approached him claiming that the existing conditions, because of improper drainage, are a health menanee. Mr. Paxton said that the only way to eliminate the condition is to extend the drainage system which will cost approximately w1,150.0O for a distance of 221 feet. 139 Contact Abutters Re: Sale Tax Title Lots Sale of Old Tractor Draining Downing Road 140 The Chairman asked how the responsibility is deter- mined, and what the Town's responsibility is. Mr. Paxton replied that the complainants contend that the water comes down from Prospect Hill Road, and if this is the case, the Town should take care of it. He said, however, that he did not believe such a content- ion was correct. Mr. Potter moved that no action be taken on the matter inasmuch asrDowning Road is an unaccepted street. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton said that the re -districting of precincts was mentioned in 1944, and he submitted a precinct map with proposed changes. Re -dist- Mr. Paxton stated that in Precinct One he would ricting suggest changing the line coming down Pelham Road so Precinetsthat it would come down Marrett Road over Maple Street and down to the Woburn line. In. making this change, 88 voters will have to be deducted from Precinct One and added to Precinct Two. He said that the second change would be in Precincts Three and Four. Mr. Paxton said that Williams Road is laid out as far as Bertwell Road and there are no houses on it. He would suggest coming up Bertwell Road to Grove Street and up Grove Street to Burlington Street. This would necessitate the deduction of 120 voters from Precinct Four and adding them to Precinct Three. Mr. Paxton said that he was trying to balance the precincts by population. The Selectmen felt that the suggestions as submitted indicated a fair balance of the precincts. Mr. Rowse moved that the proposed changes be approved. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. Paxton asked the Board to set a date for the Ins. consideration of fire insurance. Date It was decided to discuss this subject on Monday, April 23, 1945. The Chairman said that he had received a complaint pertaining to the Lincoln Street dump. Mr. Paxton said that he hopes it will be possible to Lincoln go in a short distance fsff the street and start sloping Street the dump and to fill in the hollow on wither side of the Dump present driveway. He said that it was impossible to control the situation unless he had a man at the dump twenty-four hours a day. Mr. Paxton retired at 8:35 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from George W. Emery, Chief Engineer of the Board of Fire Engineers, submitting the following bids for the disposal of the 1922 Lincoln Chassis: M. Sulkin - p10.00 (Waltham); Morris Motors, Lexington - $10.00; and Ralph White, Lexington - $5.00. Mr. Rowse moved that the bid of Morris Motors be accepted. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter from S.R. Wrightington, Town Counsel, relative to the demolition of the old fire house in East Lexington. Mr. Wrightington said that, in his opinion, the vote at the recent Town Meeting authoriz- ing the contract for the construction of a new fire house on the site of the old one in East Lexington in -plies the demolition of the old building, and no further voted would be necessary. The Chairman read a letter from the Town Lnr*ineer suggesting dates for the perambulation of Town bounds. Mr. Potter moved that the dates be approved, and the surrounding Towns notified. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 141 Sale of Chassis Fire Dept. Demolition Fire Stat. East Lex. Dates Peramb'ltn A letter was received from Guy Lepore, 53 Reed Street, Tax offering $150.00 for Lot 35 on Reed Street. This same Title individual offered $100.00 in February, at which tire the Offer Board decided that the lowest figure acceptable for this particular lot would be y200.00. Mr. Sheldon moved that no change in the price be made. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion,, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Annie Sacco, 11 Thurston Street, East Boston, Massachusetts, offering Sacco $250.00 for Lots 90, 91, 92, 93, and 94, Albermarle Avenue. Tax Title Mr. Potter informed the Board that he and Mr. Spencer Offer had looked at these particular lots which are on a steep hill, and were formerly owned bit Mrs. Sacco's father. Mr. Potter recommended that the offer be accepted. Mr. Sarano moved that a proposal to sell Lots 90, 91, 92, 93, and 94, Albermarle Avenue, be advertised in the Lexington Minute -Man, and that further consideration be given the offer at the next meeting of the Board. The Board gave further consideration to Mr. Frank Ambrocey's offer of $75.00 for Lots 33 and 34, Marvin Street, Lexington. A proposal to sell these lots was advertised in the April 5, 1945 issue of the Lexington Minute -Man. No persons contacted the Selectmen's Office as a result of the advertisement. Mr. Sheldon moved that the offer be accepted, and that Lots 33 and 34, Marvin Street, be sold and conveyed to Frank Ambrocey, Mr. Rowse seconded the motion and it was so voted. Ambrocey Tax Title Sale 142 Nunnan Complaint Held Over Rabies Vaccine Coll. Bond Clerk Selectmen Bond Decennial Census Licenses A letter was received from Arthur E. Nunnan, 309 Marrett Road, Lexington, requesting that something be done to prevent the children in his neighborhood using his property as a public playground. It was decided to have Mr. Potter investigate the complaint and report at the next meeting. The Chairman read the following bids on rabies vaccine to be used at the Rabies Clinic in May: Lederle Laboratdries -'4.80 for a 50 cc. vial; Pierson's Drug Store - $200 per vial of 50 cc., less 2% 10 days of invoice, tags, less 10% per vial of 50 cc; and Dr. Chester L. Blakely submitted a price from the Pitman - Moore Company -50 cc. $2.00, less 10%, and 2%. Mr. Sheldon moved that Dr. Blakely be authorized to purchase the vaccine for the Rabies Clinic direct from the Pitman -Moore Company. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Bond in the amount of $50,200.00 on behalf of William S. Scamman as Collector of Taxes in the Town of Lexington was received. Mr. Potter moved that the bond be approved. Mr. Fowee seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Bond in the penal sum of $1,000.00 on behalf of Hazel J. Murray as Clerk of the board of Selectmen was received for a term from April 1, 1945 to April 1, 1946. Mr. Rowse moved that the bond be approved. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A letter was received from James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, advising that the Decennial Census was started on Monday, April 2, 1945 with seventeen persons assisting in this work. Upon motion of Mr. Rowse, seconded by Mr. Sarano, it was voted to approve the following licenses: Albert F. Douglass 1844 Thomas M. Montague 25 Woburn Livestock, Inc. Lowland Dairy Farm 92 William Viano 1794 Sweeney Motor Trucking Ernest C. Martin 1793 H.P. Hood & Sons 1729 Mass. Avenue Depot Square Lex. St.,Wob. Adams Street Mass. Avenue Everett,Mass. Mass. Avenue Mass. Avenue Blossom St. Blossom Street relocation order, to Order Signed the Registry, was signed by the Board. Held Over 2 Wks. Funeral Director Funeral Director Trans. Garbage Past. of Milk Sunday Movies Clean Cesspools Overhanging Sign Overhanging Sign be recorded at It was decided to hold over the appointment of the Board of Fire Engineers, and also the Board of Public Welfare for two weeks. co 1 1 Mr. Rowse sur*7ested the name of Rufus L. McQuillan as a possible member°of the Board of Health. 7t was decided to have Mr. Potter contact Dr. Pyle to find out whether or not he would be interested in serving'on this Board. Mr. Potter called to the Board's attention the fact that the Town Meeting had noted to raise the salaries of the Treasurer and Tax Collector, and he reminded the Board that the Town Accountant, the Assistant Assessor and the Town Engineer held positions comparable, for which no increase was approved. No action was taken on the matter. A true record, Attest; 143