HomeMy WebLinkAbout1948-11-01573
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
November 1, 1948
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen
was held in the Selectmen's Room on Monday evening,
November 1, 1948 at 7:30 P.M. There were present:
Chairman Paxton, Messrs. Emery, Gay, Driscoll and
Nickerson. The Clerk was also present.
At 7:30 P.M. Mr. William H. Ballard and Mr. Parking
Edwin B. Worthen, Jr., met with the Board for the
purpose of discussing the possible revision of the
existing parking regulations. Mr. Ballard said that
it appeared to him that now the Selectmen have author-
ization for the acquisition of parking meters it might
be well to go as far as eliminating parking entirely in
some of the narrow parts of Massachusetts Avenue. He
said that he suggested in his letter the discontinuance
of present parallel parking on one side of Massachusetts
Avenue only and that he did not go into traffic and traffic
lanes. He suggested that they consider the widening of
Massachusetts Avenue in front of the blocks in the center
with the individual owners. If it is necessary to take
property by eminent domain the Town Counsel should be
consulted. The Chairman explained to Mr. Ballard and
Mr. Worthen what has taken place in so far as Mr. Scott
in the Central Block is concerned. He said that the Board
realized that a very definite study of parking meters has
to be made and he personally likes the idea of no parking
in front of the Central, Hunt and O'Connell Blocks. The
Chairman suggested that Mr. Ballard discuss this subject
with Mr. Worthen and have another plan drawn up showing
the existing street line and curves; also showing the
straightening out of Emery Park. Mr. Ballard and Mr.
Worthen retired at 8:15 P.M.
Mr. Emery moved that a letter of appreciation be
sent to Mr. Ballard for his interest and suggestions on the
•subject of parking. Mr. Nickerson seconded the motion, and
it was so voted.
Upon motion of Mr. Emery seconded by Mr. Nickerson
it was then voted to ask Mr. Ballard if he would attend
the Selectmen's meeting when Mr. Scott presents his plans
relative to what he proposes to do with the Central Block,
Mr. Ballard to act as a spokesman for the Board in an effort
to arrive at some satisfactory agreement. Mr. Nickerson
suggested that Mr. Ballard might give some thought as to
the method by which the subject should be presented to
Mr. Scott.
574
Welfare
Agent re:
Salaries
DECALS
Mr. James E. Collins, Public Welfare Agent, met with
the Board for the purpose of discussing a change in the
Welfare Department Compensation Plan. He presented
the Chairman with a copy of the plan to be submitted
to the Division of Civil Service whereby salary ranges
for positions in the Welfare Department have been fixed.
Mr. Collins explained that the Senior Clerk has come
within $25.00 of her low maximum and the Junior Clerk
has come within $85.00 of her maximum. He further ex-
plained that he is trying to work out a budget for 1949
and must submit a plan to the Civil Service. The Chair-
man asked Mr. Collins if it would be possible for him
to prepare his budgets with the exception of salaries
because of the fact that the Board of Selectmen experts
to consider all the salaries in the town. Mr. Collins
retired at 8:30 P.M. and Mr. John Kaufman met with the
Board.
Mr. Kaufman requested an appointment with the
Board to discuss Decals for the town equipment. He
explained in detail what the cdloring would be and stated
that the Public Works Department would put the Decals
on the vehicles. He gave the Board a list of prices, and
towns now using Decals and retired at 8:40 P.M.
Mr. Nickerson said he understood the Boafd had
disposed of this subject and the Chairman said that•
Mr. Kaufman had talked with Mr. Emery and requested
an appointment to meet with the Board. Mr. Nickerson
said he would be willing to reconsider if the Board
wants Decals. Mr. Emery said he would like to have
Decals on the equipment if the Board is advised by
Mr. Worthen that it is a good picture. The Chairman
stated that when the picture is on the equipment all
one will get is a general picture. The Chairman asked
what the Board wished to do and Mr. Emery asked him
for his opinion. Mr. Driscoll moved that an order be
placed for 500 Decals at 60¢ each but the motion was
not seconded.
Mr. DeFoe arrived at the meeting at 8:50 P.V.
The Chairman asked him how many vehicles he had. He
Said there would be about thirty. The Chairman asked
him how many Decals he thought should be ordered. He
said he thought they should be ordered. He said he
thought they should be tried out and order only 150.
The Chairman asked him if he would have enought funds
in his Road Machinery Fund to pay for them and Mr.
DeFoe said he would rather not say until a later date.
Mr. Driscoll suggested that Mr. DeFoe check with other
towns as to the quantities they purchase and a list
of the towns now using Decals.•
The contract for the construction of the North
Branch Vine Brook was signed by the Board. Sign
Contract
Mr. Emery moved that the Supt. of Public
Works be authorized to call Mr. Daddierio and tell
him that Tracey Ames has been most helpful to the
town and if there is any way Mr. Daddiero: can
arrange with his bonding agent to give Mr. Ames
a portion of the bond it will be appreciated by the
Board. Mr. Gay seconded the motion, and it was so
voted.
Mr. DeFoe presented requests for the installation
of street lights and by the use of sketches explained
them to the Board. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded
by Mr. Gay, it was voted to authorize Mr. DeFoe to pro-
ceed to make the necessary arrangements for the in-
stallation of the following street lights:
Grant Street -
Meriam Street
Cherry Street
one light.
- two lights, approximately 300 feet up
from Adams Street on the right hand side.
and Sutherland Road - four lights, one to
be placed at the corner of Cherry and
Sutherland.
Mr. DeFoe said that he had checked with the Town
Counsel again on the Cataldo assessment. Mr. Cataldo
can pay the entire betterment or defer the assessment
by paying interest until he sells the land or any part
of it. The only other alternative is for the Board
to abate the assessment. The Chairman asked if it was
possible to eliminate the interest charge. Mn DeFoe
said according to Mr. Lynch it is not. He said that
he asked Mr. Lynch if there was any way the Board could
help Cataldo and his reply was that only one thing
could be done and that was to abate the assessment
in whole or in part. Mr. Emery suggested that the
Chairman contact Mr. Cataldo and explain that because
of the law the interest cannot be abated.
Mr. DeFoe reported that he has sufficient funds
to purchase two pieces of equipment but at the present
time there is nothing that he would recommend bgying.
The Chairman suggested that he postpone the purchases
until next year and let the money revert back to the
Road Machinery Fund.
Cataldo
Assessmerd
New
Machinery
576
Eng. Serv.
Sidewalk
Water in
Oak Street
Rental of
Bleachers
Discussed
Mr. DeFoe asked about negotiating with Miller and
Nylander in an effort to have some engineering service
done. He asked if the Board wanted to leave it up to
him to enter into an agreement. The Chairman suggested
that he make the ag1eement and let the Board know about
it.
A letter was received form Robert Schrock, 200
Waltham Street, together with a petition for the con-
struction of a sidewalk from 181 to 201. The Chairman
agreed to discuss this with the Supt. of public Works
to determine whether or not the sidewalk should be con-
tinued up to Winthrop Road.
The Chairman read a letter from Alfred p. Tropeano,
attorney for Alphonso B. and Margaret L. West with
reference to the application for the installation of
a water main in Oak Street. Mr. West desires to go on
record that he will petition for deferment without
interest until such time as he sells lots being bettered
by the installation of the water main. Mr. Tropeano
recommended that before Mr. Larson builds houses the
Board consider widening Oak Street. The Clerk was
instructed to &sk Mr. Lindstrom to postpone issuing
building permits on Oak Street until he has talked
with either the Shairman or the Board.
Mr. Gay said that Saturday morning Manfred Warren
told him that the Town of Stoneham requested rental of
the bleachers for Thanksgiving Day and it is possible
that the Town of Concord might also want to rent them.
Mr. Gay said all the Board would have to determine was
what the charge would be and he thought it would be a
nice gesture. The Chairman said that he has a little
different picture on the subject. In the first place he
knows the struggle over the years Mr. Garrity has had
to get the enclosed field and bleachers. He said that
this is the first year that the field has been under
the supervision of anyone other than the Board of Select-
men. He said that is is a good thing to co-operate but
the bleachers are wooden and without much doubt some of
the boards would be snapped. He said that Mr. Warren
would be making the arrangements only and it would be
up to someone else to do the work and pay for the repairs.
Mr. Driscoll said that the bleachers would get more wear
transporting them back and forth than at the enclosed
field. Mr. Emery asked who had control of the use of
the bleachers. The Chairman said he would think it
would be the Recreation Committee under the Board of.
Selectmen. Mr. Gay said that he would think the town
renting them would come and get them and then return
Sad
1
them in the same condition. Mr. Emery asked if
Mr. Gay were bringing this up to the board officially
or casually. Mr. Gay replied that Manfred Warren had
asked him to bring it up. The Chairman suggested that
Mr. DeFoe check with Mr. Garrity and ask his opinion
as to how much damage might occur to the bleachers
by taking them up and putting them down and going in
and out of the field. He also suggested that Mr. DeFoe
ask if Mr. Garrity felt that e legitimate charge of
$100 would be sufficient. Mr. DeFoe retired at 9:35 P.M.
The Chairman read a letter from Harold Conant
stating that he has rendered a bill to the town for
damage by fire to his cedar trees in the amount of y'''
$500. He has now received in exchange for a receipt
for the fire damage. The Clerk was instructed to Conant
advise Mr. Conant that the assessment of taxes was Claim
entirely within the jurisdiction of the Board of
Assessors and a subject over which the Board of
Selectmen have no control.
577
A letter was received from the Lexington Allied
Veterans's Council inviting the Selectmen to participate
in the Armistice Day memorial services to be conducted
in Cary Memorial services to be conducted in Cary
Memorial Hall at 10:00 A.M.
Paper
Requests were received from Rev. Joseph A. Cronin Drive
and Rev. E. R. MacDonald for permission to conduct a
paper drive on Sunday, November 14, for the Archbishop
Cushing Charity Fund. Mr. Emery moved that the requests
be approved. Mr. Gay seconded the motion, and it was
so voted.
The Chairman read a letter from John J. Craffey, Tax
37 Hamilton Street, Dorchester, offering $500 for 19 Title
lots on Garfield Street. The Committee on Tax Title
Property inspected the area and there is a large tract
of land which it is expected will be laid out in 100'
lots. They recommend that the town retain these lots
and, if possible, have them made into 100'. Mr. Emery
moved that the offer be rejected on the basis of the
recommendation. Mr. Gay seconded the motion, and it
was so voted.
The Board gave further consideration to the request
received last week from the American Legion that Holiday
World War Veterans be given the day off on November
llth without loss of pay. Mr. Driscoll moved that
all employees in the Public Works Department be
granted a holiday on November llth without loss of
pay. Mr. Emery sedonded the motion, and it was so
voted.
578
An application was received from the Lexington
Arts & Crafts Society for permission to conduct a
Christmas Party in Estabrook Hall on December llth
from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. A similar request was
granted last year free of .charge. Mr. Emery moved
that the request be approved and the use of the hall
be granted free of charge. Mr. Nickerson seconded
the motion, and it was so voted.
The Chairman informed the Board that he had
received a telephone call from Miss Eleanor Hood
who wished to thank the Board for their efforts in
attempting to straighten out the difficulty she had
with her landlord.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
A true record,
Attest: