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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1945-11-19 323 SELECTMEN'S MEETING November 19, 1945 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmenmas held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, November 19, 1945, at 9:50 p.m. The lateness in calling the meeting to order was due to the fact that the Board attended a previous meeting which was sponsered by the Lexington Rotary Club. Chairman Locke, Messrs. Potter, Rowse, Sarano and Sheldon were present. The Clerk was also present. Application was received from the War Parents of America War Inc. , Chapter No. 1, requesting the use of Estabrook Hall on Parents Thursday evening, November 29, 1945, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 Use of p.m. , for a business meeting. Hall Mr. Sheldon roved that the use of the hall be granted, Free free of charge. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Application was received from the Lexington Athletic Boosters Boosters Club requesting permission to use Estabrook Hall Use of on the evening of December 6, 1945 from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 Hall p.m., for a meeting. Free Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted, free of charge. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. At 9 :50 p.m. Messrs. Goerge W. Emery, Gordon Richards, and Donald E. Nickerson of the Fire Stations Building Building Committee appeared before the Board. Committee Mr. Richards said that the Committee felt that it Fire would be willing to obtain bids on the hew fire stations. Stations The Chairman asked if the Committee could get the firms to bid, and Mr. Richards replied in the affirmative. The Chairman said that he, too, felt that they should be obtained. Mr. Sheldon asked if getting a bid would obligate the Town in any way. Mr. Emery said that he had talked with both architects that day and they had no objection. They both advised advertising for bids, and if the bids received are too high, or for any other reason may not be acceptable, they can be discarded. Mr. Emery said that if the Committee did not try to get bids, and then found out that the construction might possibly cost $50,000, the members of the Committee would be in an enviable position to justify themselves at Town Meeting. He again stated that both architects agree that an effort should be made to obtain bids. 324 oc Mr. Nickerson asked if the Board of Selectmen intended to leave the contracts up to the Committee. Mr. Emery said that the Committee has six or eight Architects contractors of whom they approve. Obtain Mr. Emery asked if the Committee made up a list and Bids declared it closed, and then the Board of Selectmen is Selectmen approached, what would the Committee do, Open Mr. Potter asked if they anticipated any reaction locally by contractors whose names might not be included on the list. After further considering the matter, it was decided to leave the decision as to whether or not the bids would be opened or closed up to the discretion of the Committee. Mr. Emery asked if the Board wanted the architects to obtain and open the bids. It was decided to have the architects obtain the bids, and to submit them sealed to the Board of Selectmen. The group retired at 10:05 p.m., and Colonel Barry appeared before the Board. Hold Over Colonel Barry reported that there is a balance of Insurance at least $1,500 in the insurance account, but he does not know, at this time, what the additional premium on the liability policy will be . It was decided to hold the matter of insurance appraisal over for another week. Permission Colonel Barry said that Mr. Harold Levy, Engineer ( iv__ggn� for the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, called St&- % to in person, and requested authority for the Commonwealth have Street to discharge water, from the street drain that they-propose Drain into to construct on Marrett Road near Spring Street, into the Reservoir old reservoir. Colonel Barry said that if the drain is discharged into Spring Street, the street would have to be torn up and patched. Mr. osgrove, Town Engineer, does not feel that discharging the water into the reservoir would have any depreciable effect on Vine Brook. Colonel Barry recommended that Mr. Levy' s request be granted. Mr. Sarano moved that the request be granted, and that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Works, be given permission to discharge water, from a street drain they propose to construct on Marrett Road, into the old reservoir. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Replace Colonel Barry said that the Boston Edison Company Two Old called his attention to the fact that there are two old Light Poles steeloles, one on Harrington Road, and one on Massa- chusetts Avenue, which need to be replaced. 325 Colonel Barry said that he believed the poles should be replaced, and it will cost x`54 per pole. Mr. Sheldon moved that the Boston Edison Company be authorized to replace the two poles mentioned above. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A letter was received from the Department of Public Works, Ch. 690 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, relative to bridges eligible for Maple transfer to that department in accordance with the provisions Street of Chapter 690 of the Acts of 1945, and was held over from last Bridge week. Colonel Barry read the Act, and checked the Maple Street Bridge, and informed the Board that this bridge is eligible for transfer to that department. Colonel Barry presented a draft of a letter to be written to Mr. Herman A. MacDonald, Commissioner, advising that the Board of Selectmen acting as the Board of Public Works, and having charge of the Maple Street Bridge, approve Methe transfer under the provisions of Chapter 690 of the Acts of 1945. Yr. Sheldon moved that such a letter b, written. hr. Rowse seconded the :lotion, and it was so voted. Colonel Barry submitted a sketch of the Manor Sewer Manor System. He informed the Board that he has arranged for a Sewer conference with representativeSof the Manor, and would like Conference the approval of the Selectmen for the use of the Selectmen' s Room on Friday, November 23, 1945 for the conference. The Board had no objection. Colonel Barryls recommendations relative to sick leave Held Over and short absences were held over until the next meeting of the Board. Colonel Barry' s report on water rates, and any decision Held Over pertaining to same were held over until the next meeting of the Board. Colonel Barry reported that he had attended the meeting Ch. 690 of the State Advisory Council, Division of Employment Security Maple St. of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, held at the State House Unemploy- on November 19, 1945. He said that the meeting was very poorly meat attended, and that there were seven council members sitting Bade against nine persons representing various Towns. All represent- Meeting atives of the Towns expressed opposition to any proposed legis- lations, not only on a tax or contribution basis, but also on a reimbursement basis for any actual benefit payments by the municipality. Colonel Barry said that it appeared that the Council is in IIfavor of the proposed change in the Massachusetts Employment Security Law, and if the legislation is enacted, Towns will have to contribute regardless of whether or not any of the Town Employees receive unemployment benefits. Colonel Barry stated that every course opened to the Town should be taken to prevent passage of the legislation if and when it is intro- duced. 326 00 1.4 The Clerk was instructed to write to Representative Ferguson, and request him to follow any proposed changes in the Massachusetts Employment Security Law, and to advise him that the Board of Selectmen wish to be recorded in opposition to the change proposed by the council. Washington Petition for the construction of a sewer in Washing- Street ton Street was received. However, seventy-five per cent Sewer of the abutters had not affixed their signatures to the petition. Mr. Sheldon said that he knew of two property owners who he felt would sign. It was decided to have Mr. Sheldon contact them, and Held Over to bring in the petition next week. Col. Barry's Colonel Barry informed the Board that the Appropriation Budgets Committee had requested him to meet on December 3, 1945 to discuss budgets. It was decided to have Colonel Barry submit his budgets to the Board of Selectmen on Monday evening, November 26, 1945, Mr. Rowse informed the Board that the Appropriation Employ Miss Committee had no objections to using the $100 available Bickford in the Highway Department - Personal Services Account to Junior pay for a girl to be employed in the Selectmen's Department, Clerk inasmuch as there is no money available for this purpose Selectmen's in the Selectmen's - Personal Services Account. Office Mr. Potter moved that Miss Ruth Edna Bickford be employed as Junior Clerk in the Selectmen' s Department, as of November 30, 1945, at a salary of $20 per week; Miss Bickford's salary to be charged to the Highway Department - Personal Services Account until the annual appropriations in March, after which she will be paid from the Selectmen's - Personal Services Account. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter from Chief John W. Rycroft in reply to an inquiry received from the Chamber or Commerce Patrol relative to patrolling Lexington Center between the hours Lexington of 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. Center Chief Rycroft stated that under existing conditions, and with the present number of officers in his department, it is impossible to assign a foot patrolman to Lexington Center during the last half of the night. Chief Rycroft stated that officers will cover the Center from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. ; patrol for one half hour, back to the Center for one hour and patrol again for one hour; alternating in this manner from 1:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. 19th April A letter was received from the Lexington Allied Committee Veterans Council nominating the 19th of April Committee. Held Over Appointment of the Committee was held over until the next meeting of the Board. 327 Application was received from the Hudson Bus Lines, Grant II Medford, Massachusetts, for a license to operate motor Bus Line vehicles for hire over the following described road: License From Arlington-Lexington Town Line on Westminister Avenue to Lowell Street; on Lowell Street to the Arling- ton-Lexington Town Line, in either direction. Further consideration was given to Albert Butler's Butler's application for a Public Carriage License . Taxi The Chairman read a letter from Chief John W. Rycroft License stating that upon investigation it was learned that Mr. Denied Albert T. Butler has had a room at the residence of Mr. Lowe, 419 Marrett Road, Lexington, for the past two weeks. Mr. Butler is married, and is not an ex-serviceman. Mr. Potter moved that the application be denied. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Architects' contract for professional services pertain- Sign ing to the proposed Central Fire Station was received from Contracts Leland and Larsen. Contract was also received from Andrews, Fire Jones, Biscoe Goodell, for professional services pertain- Stations ing to the pro posed new East Lexington Fire Station. (Archtts) The Board checked the contracts with th recommendations submitted in Mr. Wrightington's,(Town Counsel letter, dated October 3, 1945, and were of the opinion that both contracts conformed with Mr. Wrightington's suggestions. II Mr. Rowse moved that both contracts be signed. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Sarano, seconded by Mr. Sheldon, Deed Part it was voted to sign the deed, prepared by Mr. Wrightington, Lot 19 conveying Part of Lot 19, Downing Road, Lexington, to Downing Rd George W. & Beatrice E. Stevens. Signed Further consideration was given to the appointment DeFoe of a Superintendent of Public Works in the Town of Lexington. Appointed The Chairman informed the Board that Mr. Joseph H. Supt. of DeFoe had expressed a willingness and a genuine desire to Public come to work for the Town of Lexington at a salary of $400 Works per month. $400 Mr. Rowse moved that Mr. Joseph H. DeFoe, 56 Court per Road, Winthrop, Massachusetts, be appointed as Superintend- month ent of Public Works in the Town of Lexington, effective on December 21, 1945 at a salary of $400 per month. Mr. Potter seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A true record, Attest : --)-/C erk <. 94-4-6441 (1 ' ,t, -0--/ IIMr. Sarano moved that the license be granted. Mr. / \ Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 0� CY