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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1947-04-24 • 313 SPECIAL MEETING III - BOARD OF SELECTMEN April 24, 1947 A ppecial meeting of the Board of Selectman was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, Thursday, April 24, 1947 at 7 30 p.m. Chairman Paxton, Messrs. Locke , Emery and Gay were present. The Clerk was also present. The following members of the School Committee and the Planning Board met with the Selectmen Chairman, Webster H. Thomas Chairman Edwin B. Worthen, Jr. George Wadsworth Clem Ferguson Thomas S. Grindle Elmer Houdette Mrs. George P. Lorey Gordon Richards The Chairman explained that this special meeting has been called together as a result of a letter received from the Chairman of the School Committee asking that this group hold a meeting. Mr. Thomas said that it has seemed to him for some time that these three groups should get together and discuss problems which are to be faced in the next few years which will involve a substantial amount of money. He said that if the three Boards were in agreement on procedure it would eliminate their being at cross purposes at town meeting. He Said that his committee would like help from the Planning Board and the Selectmen on a site for a new elementary school. Mr. Thomas said that he feels that the town has taken the stand to retain the Hancock School for the next ten years. If the Hancock School is going to be retained the committee may have to change its ideas about the location of a #2 school. He said that they have not formed any opinion on the matter feeling that the selection of a location I hould be worked out with the Planning Board. However, they prefer a locution some where in the vicinity of Adams Street in preference to a Grant Street location Yr. Emery asked if he meant the location to be before East Street and Mr. Thomas replied in the affirmative. He said that it would be somewhere near Baskin' s greenhouses. Mr. Thomas said the advantage of having a location in this neighborhood would be the possibility of taking in the densely populated district in Merriam Hill and some of the pupils now attending Parker School. Mr. Thomas said that the committee also feels it is necessary to go ahead and fix up the nancock School. He said he understands there is a bill in the Legislature which would allow borrowing for repair work on school buildings provided the town appropriated f1om available funds an amount 314 1 equal to $1.00 on tax rate. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen said that it seems to him that there are two things which must be determined, both from the Town' s ability to pay and also from a political angle . First, does the town want a High School as #1 and where does the town want a grammar school as #2? He said that he thought it would be difficult to sell to the town meeting members both schools at one time. He said that he did not think it would be possible to do any major repair work on the Hancock School until we have a new grammar school. Mr. Grindle said that he thought the repairs on the Hancock School should be done during the summer. Mr. Richards aftked if it were settled that the Hancock School is to be retained. He asked if a proper investigation had been made to find out if- town meeting members knew the exact cost of repairs would they still want to keep the school.Mr. Richards asked if a real survey and estimate of the cost of repairing the building had ever been made. Mr. Grindle said that they are after that now. Mr. Richards said that he did not see how they could go ahead with repairs until some definite figure had been obtained. Mrs. Morey said that they Would modernize the Hancock School Building. Mr. Richards said that he believed in order to make it a first class building it would cost as much or more than a new bhilding. Mr. Thomas said that three years ago he had obtained a figure of $40,000 to $50,000 for a modern heating system. Mr. Emery asked what repairs would be made and Mr. Thomas said that they will try to eliminate the bad features without altering the building. Mr. Richards asked if they would keep the wooden floors and stairs. Mr. Thomas said he didn' t know about the stairways. Mr. Ferguson asked Er. Thomas what made him think the town was opposed to a new building other than that they did not want to take three houses on Parker 6treet Mrs. Morey replied that they had been guided by the Nichols report in trying to locate a school in that area. She said there wasn't much point in tearing down the Hancock School unless they were going to locate a new building in that area. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen asked if it wouldn't be better to have an additional school first and then remodel the Hancock School and Mr. Thomas replied in the affirm- ative. Mr. (Richards asked which the town needed first, a new grammar school or a new high school. Mr. Thomas said that naturally a new grammar school was needed first but it is im- possible to avoid having the two overlap. The Chairman said that if the School Committee felt that they needed a new grammar school then a satisfactory location should be found and the plans under way as soon as possible and a construction appro- priation asked for 1948. Mr. Ferguson asked if the proposed school in the East Street area would have a capacity of probably 315 400 pupils. Mr. Grindle said that they would want to start with 400. Mr. Thomas said that they would have plans drawn up for a l4-f'oom school feeling that they do not want to construct any more elementary schools without providing for kindergartens. Mr. Ferguson asked if the number of pupils in the Franklin School and Adams School could be increased. Mr. Thomas replied that these schools are now overcrowded 0 and Mr. Thomas said that he thought the Planning Board and the School Committee could better locate a school site than a special committee. He said that the Hancock School is the critical school now and if a new building is located in the Adams Street area it will relieve somewhat the situation in the Hancock School He said that the School Committee would like to have as soon as possible the opinion of the Planning Board as to a suitable location in the Grant Street and Adams Street Areas. Mr. Thomas said that he wrote a letter to the Board requesting this meeting because he felt that if the Boards present tonight went into town meeting with a definite plan, it would carry a lot of weight in the town meeting. The Chairman of the Selectmen said that as he understands it the School Committee would like the Planning Board to meet relative to a location and then approach the owners of the property. Mr. Richards said that the School Committee wants the Planning Board to select a place for new school and not consider the Hancock School. The Board of Selectmen felt that the School Committee would have a much better chance of building a new school in the Adams Street area before replacing or repairing the Hancock School. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen asked what the School Committee or thePlanning Board of Selectmen asked what the school Committee or the Planning Board intended to do. Lr. Thomas suggested that the Planning Board give immediate thought to the problem and then invite the School Committee to meet with them after the problem had been studied thoroughly. The Chairman asked if the School Committee felt that they would have anything definite to recommend in the event that the town meeting was held in the fall. Mr. Thomas replied in the affirmative. The Chairman asked if there was any money available for preliminary plans and Mr. Grindle stated they could ask the Appropriation Committee for a transfer. The Chairman asked how much the preliminary plans would cost and lir. Grindle said he thought aboat 0 ,000. Mr. Worthen informed the group that an architect cannot make preliminary plans until he knows definitely the location of the building, and he reminded the group that the land could not be purchased until authorized by town meeting. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen said that the town is apparently going to have a recreation committee and in order to *such committee have the co-operation of the School Department. Mr. Thomas said that in the report of the temporary Recreation Committee certain specific renommendations were made relative * make any recreational program work it is most essential that 316 0 to playground areas. Mr. Thomas said he thought some thought should be given to the tie-in of playgrounds in school areas with the additional play areas recommended by the committee. Mr. Thomas said that the School Committee had been discussing the subject of a town painter. He said they had thought for some time of hiring Joseph Vitale as a school painter, the idea being that the time of the two men be apportimned so that they could work half time for schools and half time on town buildings. He said he under- stood that there is some opposition to the School Committee hiring the town painter. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen said that he felt that two men would do more work together than two men working separately. He said Town it wasn't a question only of the school buildings, but also Painter the library and other municipal buildings. He said he For thought it should be worked out so that painters will be Schools working on the interior .or the exterior of the buildings 100% of the time. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen explained that the town painters work on an hourly basis rather tl.an 9,4 :-A . He said that if the Supt . Of Public wort4xeomrom out some method whereby the two painters could be utilized to the best advantage, it would not be necessary to have a school painter. Mr. Grindle said that he would like the painters for June, July and August. Mrs. Morey asked if the Chairman meant for the painters to stay in the employ of the Public Works Department and work for the School Department part time. The Ohairman replied in the affirmative. - The Chairman said that he would like an opportunity to disuses the subject of the town painter with the Sup't. of Public Works. The School Committee and the Planning Board retired at 9:20 p.m. The Chairman explained to Mr. Locke that at the last meeting names had been submitted to be considered as possible appointments to the Appropriation Committee. The Chairman said that it was the opinion of the three members of the Board that they should contact Mr. Hoyt and ask him to complete his term. Mr. Paxton asked if that would be agree- able to Mr. Locke. Mr. Locke said he thought so. The Chairman said that the three members of the Board recommended the following individuals and their names had been suggested as possible appointments: Robert J. Fawcett, Jr. , Douglas Gleason, Howard Patterson and Alfred Tropeano. Mr. Locke questioned whether or not Mr. Tropeano would help a committee. The aValrmen said that he is a fellow who has come along fairly well and as far as his group is concerned it might be too bad to by-pass him. Mr. Paxton said that 317 IIof coarse he was only an alternate in the event that Mr. Hoyt refused to remain as a member of the committee. Mr. Locke asked if Mr. Patterson knew anything about finance and budgets. He said that in the past years the town has had some men with excellent judgment and balanced experience on the Appropriation Committee. He said that the first qualification for a member of the Appropriation Committee is the man and not the section of the townkin which he lives. Mr. Locke said that he would like very much to have Kenneth Clark serve on the Appropriatimn Committee. The Chairman asked the Board if Kenneth Clark' s name should be added to the proposed list and there was no objection. The Chairman said that the next problem to be considered is the appointment of the Board of Fire Engineers. Mr. Emery hp- said that we have had any number of people approach one or pointm't all of us to become a member of the Board Of Fire Engineers. of Roy He said that Roy Cook has said nothing for a long time but Cook as a couple of Sundays ago he asked Mr. Emery to talk the matter Chief over with him. He would like very much to be on the Board Eng. con of Fire Engineers. He feels his ability to maintain the sidered morale of the Department has been impaired because of the title of Deputy. Chief. He also feels that his prestige and the regard in which he is held in other towns and cities suffers somewhat because of the fact that he has only the rank of Deputy Chief when he is actually the operating head of the Department. Mr. Emery said that the Board of Fire Engineebs feel that Roy Cook should be elected Chief Engineer and then have another member elected Chairman of the Board of Fire Engin- eers. £'he Town would still have the Board of Fire Engineers as a Board of Directors setting the policies and Hoy Cook would have a title, prestige and promotion. Under the Statute it is permissible to elect as many officers to the board of Fire Engineers as necessary. Mr. Locke asked if this would be agreeable to the other members of the Board of Fire Engineers if they were reappointed. Mr. Emery said that he had explained it to them and the board is unanimously in favor if it meets with the approval of the Selectmen. Mr. Locke said that he felt that Roy Cook should be recognized and given all the co-operation possible. The Chairman said that he thought the board of Fire Engineers would work out well but he hoped that some time the hoard Board of might extend their powers properly so that they would be Public called a Board of Public Safety at which time the Chief of Safety the Fire Department and the Chief of Police Department Suggested would come under that Board and they would report to the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Emery said that the Board has suggested the ap- pointment of Lester Andrews as a member of the Board of 318 `► Fire Engineers. He has been a regular call man for several years and this would make it a six man Board instead of Appointment five. Mr. Locke said in effect Roy Cook would be made a of Board of member of the Board even though it is a six man Board. Fire Eng- Mr. Emery said he took the liberty of telling the board ineers of Fire Engineers about this and they were agreeable. He said that in effect the siz e of the meetings would be the same. Upon motion of Mr. Gay seconded by Mr. Locke it was voted to make the following appointments to the Board of Fire Engineers for a period of one year effective May 1, 1947. Alan G. Adams 15 Somerset Road Thomas J. Donnelly 16 Smith Avenue William H. Driscoll 25 Winthrop Street Robert J. Fawcett 511 Marrett Road Roy Cook 23 Charles Street Lester Andrews 1 Hill Street The Chairman said that now the Board has the appointment of two members to the Recreation Committee. Mr. Locke said Recreation that those appointments according to the town meeting are Committee in conjunction with appointments to be made by the School Appointments Committee and the Town Moderator. The Chairman said that the Board understood that but he thought the Selectmen could make their appointment and not notify those appointed uhtil the School Committee and the Town Moderator had selected their candidates. The Chairman informed Mr. Locke that the three members of the Board had considered Bertram P, 9ustin and Thomas Moon. He said the one disadvantage of appointing Thomas Moon would be that he will undoubtedly apply for the position of Recreation Supervisor. Mr. Locke suggested that the Board of Selectmen defer any appointments until the School Committee and Moderator hadmade their appointments . The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m. A true record, Attest : erk/ Af L,1`