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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1946-02-04 4®8 00 1.4 SELECTMEN'S MEETING yC February 4, 1946. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday evening, February 4, 1946, at 7 :50 P.M. Chairman Locke, Messrs. Potter, Sheldon and Sarano were present. The Clerk was also present. At 7 .40 P.M. the following groups appeared before the Board Messrs. Hoyt, Hynes, Raymond Brown, J. Milton Brown, Jenny, Newhall, Hopkins, Winlock and White of the Appropria- tion Committee; Messrs. Cromwell, Houdlette, Nickerson, Ferguson and Gordon Richards of the Planning Board; Messrs. Johnson, Spencer and Worthen of the Committee on Parking Facilities; and Mr. DeFoe, Superintendent of Public Works, Alan Adams, George Smith, and Alfred Tropeano. Parking The Chairman explained that the purpose of the meeting Facilities was to give the Planning Board and the Appropriation Committee an opportunity to hear a report from the Committee on Parking Facilities. He stated that Mr. Worthen would act for Mr. Ballard, Chairman of the Committee on Parking Facilities, who was unable to be present. Mr. Worthen said that he assumed most of the individuals present had read the report, but for the benefit of those who were not familiar with it, he gate the basic plans, the location of the proposed street, and explained at length the parking project. The Chairman said that one question which had been dis- cussed by the Board of Selectmen was pertaining to the area in the rear of the Seligman Block, and the railroad right- of-way. Mr. Worthen informed the group that the Committee felt that the advantages of the proposed area outweighed any ad- vantages that the location at the rear of the Seligman property might have. Mr. Worthen answered numerous questions pertaining to the proposed area, and the group retired at 8:07 P.M. Direction Mr. DeFoe said that he had received a call from the Sign At Bedford Airport requesting the installation of a direction Clarke St. sign at the junction of Clarke Street and Massachusetts Mass. Ave. Avenue. Mr. DeFoe informed the Board that there is already a State sign on this location and he knew of no reason why the request should not be granted. The Board had no objection to a conventional sign being erected at this location. 409 Mr. DeFoe said that he had made quite a study of the Drains possible riprapping on Vine Brook at Waltham Street. He Vine said that, at the present time, if a drain pipe is installed, Brook the situation will not be greatly relieved, but by riprap- At Wal- ping the grade will be lowered. Mr. DeFoe said that lower- tham ing the brook 41 will not help the playground very much be- Street cause the pipes coming out from the playground will be 31 above the bottom of the new open culvert. In order to take advantage of the lowering grade of the brook, it will be necessary to put in a network of drains in the playground and drop them 31 . Mr. DeFoe said this week he took a soundings and a pro- file of the brook. The condition seems to be that there is about 32 feet of muck to contend with. Mr. DeFoe said that he did not believe lowering the brook right now would materially affect the present field. The Chairman asked if there were drains around the playground. Mr. DeFoe said that there is a drain below Clarke Street with drains leading from it. He said that on the Waltham Street side there are three drains that drain toward Waltham Street. There are also two or three drains on the other side that drain into the main drain. He said that the best they can do is to put in riprapping and lower the brook so that there will be a foot pitch. The Chairman read a letter from Mary Francesshelli, Street 34 Grapevine Avenue, Lexington, requesting the installation Lights of street lights. Art. in Mr. DeFoe informed the Board that Grapevine Avenue is Warrant unaccepted and in his opinion two lights would be sufficient. Mr. Sheldon moved Grapevine Avenue be included in the list of streets for which the Board is requesting street lights at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter from the Massachusetts De- Hrng partment of Public Works stating that a hearing would be State held on Wednesday, February 6, 1946, on the matter of lay- Highway ing out a State highway from a point on Massachusetts Avenue near Marrett Road northwesterly to the Bedford Airport. The Chairman requested Mr. DeFoe to attend the meeting, and suggested that the Town Engineer should also be present. Mr. DeFoe agreed to be present at the hearing and re- tired at 8:25 P.M. Mr. Lermond, a representative of the Blue Cross, appeared Blue before the Board. Cross Mr. Lermond said that there has been two Blue Cross Payroll groups in Lexington since 1942; the School Department and Deduettn the Town employees. The association prefers to have pay- roll deductions made, and in talking with the Town Treasurer II he stated that he wou;d be willing to handle the necessary 410 o clerical work. Mr. Lermond stated that there seems to be oc some misunderstanding between the Treasurer and the Town Accountant relative to payroll deductions. Mr. Dine of the Division of Accounts informed Mr. Lerner that it was a mat- ter of Town policy whether payroll deductions could be made. The Chairman agreed to contact the Town Accountant. Mr. Lermond retired at 8:35 P.M. Price The Chairman read a letter from the Lexington Trust Stevens Company stating that the Executive Committee has set a price Gravel of ,$5,000 on the so-called Stevens Gravel Pit on Utica Street. Pit The Chairman read a letter from James J. Carroll in- forming the Board that from instructions received from his physician to curtail some of his activities, it is necessary for him to resign as a member of the Patriots ' Day Committee. 19th April The Chairman read a letter from James J. Carroll in- Celebra- forming the Board that the Patriots' Day Committee voted to tions request an appropriation of $1,000 to cover the expenses of hiring bands or music and transportation for a 19th of April celebration. Sell Lots The Board gave further consideration to Jessie W. Rob- on Asbury bins' offer of x;250 for Lots 540 to 548 Asbury Street and & Edna Lots 559 to 567 Edna Street, Lexington. A proposal to sell these lots was advertised in the January 31, 1946 issue of the Lexington Minute-Man. No persons contacted the Select- men'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 Jessie Robbins. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Vote to A second offer was received from Charles D. Sullivan Advertise in the amount of $900 for Lots 48 to 52 Fletcher Avenue and Lots 48- Hayes Lane, Lexington. 52 Fletcher Mr. Sheldon moved that a proposal to sell the lots be Ave. Lex advertised in the Lexington Minute-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. Award At 8,-45 P.M. Messrs. Richards, Ripley, Nickerson of Contract the Committee on Fire Stations and Chief Engineer Emery Central appeared before the Board relative to the bid on the Central Fire Fire Station. Station The Chairman asked what had happened to the change in the quoted price. Mr. Emery replied that the clause to which the Board objected was to be removed. Mr. Richards explained that the contractor had seen all his material men and obtained firm bids. 1 411 The Chairman asked if the contractor felt he was in a position to contract the job, and Mr. Emery replied in the affirmative. Mr. Sheldon asked in the Board voted to sign a con- tract would the contract be ready for signatures at the next meeting of the Boaru. Mr. Emery replied in the affirmative. He said that if the Board voted this evening to sign a contract, they have actually bought something. Mr. Potter asked what the contractor would sign in the way of a bond. Mr. Richards replied that he would sign a Surety Com- pany 100% completion bond. Mr. Sheldon moved that the Town accept the adjusted bid of the Tredennick-Billings Company of Boston to con- struct the new Central Fire Station for the sum of $107,688, and that the Selectmen sign and approve said contract for said work as presented. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Clerk was instructed to hold the checks and bonds of all the bidders until next Monday evening. The group retired at 9 :05 P. M. Memorandum was received from James J. Collins, Agent Brown & of Soldiers' Relief and Military Aid, requesting approval Blodgett of the following individuals under Soldiers' Relief; Thomas Soldiers ' Brown, 435 Waltham Street, Lexington, under treatment at Relief Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, - $12.00 a week; and Frank Blodgett 1650 Massachusetts Avenue, Veteran of World War II and now a patient at the Massachusetts General Hospital - $5 .00 a day for hospitalization. Mr. Sheldon moved that the request be approved. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Application was received from the Sacred Heart Church for permission to use Cary Memorial Hall on the evening of March 15, 1946, from 8:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. for a St. Use of Patrick's Day Concert. Hall Mr. Sarano moved that the use of the hall be granted, $25 Chg. subject to a charge of $25. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Application was received from the Lexington Senior High for permission to use Cary Memorial Hall on the eaten- Use of ing of February 19, 1946, from 8:00 P.M. to midnight for Hall A Junior Prom. Free Mr. Sheldon moved that the use of the hall be granted, free of charge. Mr. Sarano seconded the motion, and it was so voted. 412 00 1.4 The Clerk informed the Board that Mrs . Harold Wheeler ' Display had requested permission to display the Red Cross Flag at Red Cross the Red Cross Headquarters from 9 :30A.M. to 4 :30 P.M. every Flag day, except Saturday and Wednesday, during the Red Cross Drive. Mr. Potter moved that the request be granted. Mr. Sheldon seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A true record, Attest : C erk j I f L e 1