HomeMy WebLinkAbout1948-12-18 CD
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CLi
S1 T?CTMENIS MEETING
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December 18, 1948
A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen
was held on Saturday morning, December 18, 1948.
There were present: Chairman Paxton, Messrs.
Emery, Gay, Driscoll and Nickerson. The Clerk
was also present.
The Chairman read a letter from the Welfare
Agent requesting approval of an expenditure of $50.00
from the Bridge Fund to purchase clothing for three
Ferry children on Columbus Street. Mr. Gay moved
Transfer v that the Trustees of Public Trusts in the amount of
$ 30.00. Mr. Driscoll seconded the motion, and it
was so voted.
The Clerk informed the Board that it is necessary
to obtain a transfer of $ 300.00 for the Selectmen' s
Expenses Account. The sum of $300.00 was charged
to the Selectmen's account for a report on major
street and transportation plan, part of a town wide
development studies for the Planning Board. The
amount of $90.00 was also charged to this account
Transfer for medical panel charges relative to examinations
of Officers Maguire and Knapp and Lieutenant Neal,
all applicants for retirement. These expenditures
were not anticipated when the original budget was
figured and as a result more funds are needed for the
balance of the year. Mr. Driscoll moved that the
Appropriation Committee be. requested to. transfer the
sum of $300.00 from the Reserve Fund to the Select-
men' s Expenses Account. Mr. Gay seconded the motion,
and it was so voted.
Mr. Emery reported to the Board that he has
checked with the Town Counsel relative to having
a three man Board of Assessors instead of a five
man Board. The Town Counsel thinks it would not
be illegal to make the change but recommends that
it be submitted to Town Meeting before any change
in the number of the Board is made. He suggested
that if the Board is so inclined that the Assessors
might be advised that the Selectmen are considering
reorganizing. He stated that the Town Counsel
has gone into the matter very thoroughly and the
change from the original three man Board to a fives
man Board may have been done illegally.
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' At 10;40 A.M. Messrs. Emery and Shanahan of the
Board of Assessors met with the Selectmen. The Chair-
man explained that the Selectmen would like some advise
or opinion pertaining to the Board of Assessors. He said
that the number of houses to be assessed appears to
involve a substantial amount of work. He said that with
their experience possibly they could suggest to the Board
some way of making the operation of the Board better over
a period of time. Mr. Shanahan said that he thought the
Department should havemgood card system installed.
He asked if the Board were contemplating reducing the
Board of Assessors to three men. The Chairman replied that
the Board has thought of the possibility but would like
their opinion before any definite action is taken. Mr.
Shanahan said he believed the Board could use part time
men Who could give more time than the present Board. The
Chairman explained that the subject has been discussed with
Mr. Spencer and either the Board makes an appraisal, which
was opposed by the Town Meeting, or else the problem may be
approached from a maintenance angle with a certain appro-
priation each year over a period of five years intended
to handle the 700 new houses mentioned by Mr. Spencer. He
suggested not ma'tinrthe appointments for the time being
and said that the Selectmen do not want anyone to feel
hurt or disturbed about it. Mr. Shanahan said that he
thought that the two members involved, after serving fourteen
years, would feel that they were worthy of reappointment and
that they should be either reappointed or taken off the Board.
He suggested a letter to the Board of Assessors explaining
why the appointments were lapsing.
Mr. Leland Emery said that the present Board of Assessors
has been together for a long time and it could be that the
people would like new men. He said he has not heard anyone
on the Board speak as if they felt that they should stay on.
He said he did not think the Selectmen would have any
difficulty if they wanted to make a change: Mr. Shanahan
asked if Mr. Cronin would be appointed a full time Assessor
and the Chairman replied that if he is working out well
there is no reason why he should not be appointed a full time
Assessor w1hen Mr. Spencer retired. Mr. Leland Emery said
that he does not think the number of houses to be visited
gives any reason for concern. He said that as far as the
Assessors Office is concerned he would think, leaving Mr.
Spencer out, that the town could be given satisfactory work
for the next five years. He said he does not believe the
present expense will increase but remain stable for several
years. He stated that he, personally, likes a five man
Board and the town has had both a three man and a, five man
Board. He stated that a three man Board can very easily
become a two man Board. He said that the five men cost
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about so much. Some day the town will have full
time paid assessors who will work hard for three
months of the year only, for that is the nature of
the business. He said that he would stay to the
voluntary system if possible. He does not see where
the town eeh look forward to a full time paid Board
of three members. There is a lot of work this time
of year but he did not think there would be ehough
for them to do on a full time basis. He said that he
thought that the town could do well to copy Newton's
card system. The State House has expressed the opinion
that the card system used by Newton is the best in the
state and he thought Lexington should pay some attention
tä their opinion. He asked why all the cards would
have to be installed at one time.
He said that the office is not working full
speed all year and he thought that they could start in
any time this year and put all new property on cards
and take on whatever they can for the older property.
He said that he thought that the Board could do the
town in about three years without any expenditure
Assessors of money except for the cards. Cdr. Emery also stated
that the work runs heavy in the period from December
through March. The summer months are quiet with a
little more activity in October and November, with a
dull period just before December. He said there isn't
much that can be done to even up the work. He said
if the present Board cannot do it some other Board
appointed by the Selectmen can. The Chairman said
that there are about 700 houses to look at. Some
are new, some are partially completed, etc. He asked
how many they could do in a day. Mr. Emery replied
that he thought they could do fourteen new houses
in a day. The Chairman summed it up that the Assessors
present felt that the immediate problem is one that the
Board of Assessors can solve; that they definitely
feel a five man voluntary Board is a better set up than
a three man Board; that there would be no difficulty
if the Selectmen made no appointments by January first
providing a letter of explanation was written; that
a card system should be installed and that a period
of from three to five years would be adequate and
that the Newton system is the one which should be
followed.
The Chairman said that if there is a voluntary
Board he did not think it would be right to give
them a tape and expect them to measure property. Mr.
Emery said he did not think tie tape as it is used in
Newton is nearly as complicated as it sounds. They do
not measure every house. The card indicates the type
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of heating system, hardwood or soft wood finish, and
also gives the value of the interior. He said that he
does not believe that they carry the tape measure to
the extreme. The Chairman said that the Engineering
Department has the exterior measurements up to 1940
and the Building Inspector has a complete set of plans
for every house since he was appointed Inspector. Mr.
Emery said that he still believed that the Assessors
could take care of the work. Messrs. Shanahan and Emery
retired at 11:20 P.M.
The following members of the Board of Fire Engineers
met with the Selectmen to discuss the 1949 budget: Chair-
man Thomas J. Donnelly, Messrs. Andrews, Cook, Fawcett,
Hinds and Roeder. The Chairman explained that the Board
of Selectmen is recommending a 10% increase. Mr. Donnelly
said that if the 70 hour week is adopted the minimum men
the Department can work with will require an additional
six men. Mr. Andrews said he was under the impression
that the men were promised a 70 hour week about two years
ago. Mr. Emery and Mr. Driscoll both stated that no such
promise was made while they were members of the Board
of Fire Engineers. Mr. Driscoll said that the hours
were reduced from 112 to 84 but he believes the Depart-
ment is too small for a 48 hour week. Mr. Emery asked L� �
if it were Mr. Donnelly' s opinion that the men were over
worked but there is the matter of looking at other towns
and finding that Lexington is away out of line.
Mr. Emery asked if there was any reason from the
point of view of being over worked and Mr. Donnelly re-
plied in the negative. Mr. Andrews stated that by in-
creasing the Department to the extent of six men the
town will have a better coverage. Mr. Driscoll asked
if any thought has been given to the possibility of
using auxiliary or call men. Mr. Donnelly said that they
did not think this would work out. He explained that the
auxiliary and call men are not subject to the same
restrictions as the regular men.
The Engineers retired at 12;30. The Board discussed
the subject and they returned to the meeting at 12:35.
The Chairman explained that the Board discussed the subject
briefly and all the members are sympatheticwith the prob-
lem of the Fire Department and the problem of shorter hours.
He explained because of the Townts growth there are a
number of other problems. The bonded debt has been increased
over a million dollars with the possibility of a new high
school. There is also the problem of water and sewer
extensions. The Board is sympathetic to the idea of shorter
hours in the Department and recognizes the increased cost of
living. He explained that it was the Selectmen who invAAtigated
the general increase which as yet has not been discussed with
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the Appropriation Committee. He said it will be 11,
difficult to try and sell a 10% increase in salary
and at the same time reduce the hours of one Depart-
ment. He said that the Board would like the Engineers
to reconsider their budget on the basis of thinking
of using call men and auxiliary men. He asked if they
would try to develop something whereby the permanent
men will have a reduction in hours by using the call
or auxiliary men. He said that the Board is not
saying "No" to a 70 hour week but is trying to cor-
relate the Engineer's ideas with the problems of the
Town. Mr. Donnelly said that the Engineers would attempt
to see what can be done and report to the Board. Mr.
Roeder stated that by using call men they-will still
need more men. The Chairman said that even so the
town will still save several thousands of dollars on
an annual basis. Mr. Roeder asked if the Board of
Selectmen would be in favor of 70 hours providing
something can be worked out that will not cost as
much money. The Chairman said that he thought the
Board was more or less in favor. The Chairman suggested
that when they have a report to submit to the Board that
they contact the Clerk and make an appointment. The
group retired, and the Chairman read a report from the
Health Inspector relative to the proposed contract
of a sewer in North Hancock Street.
The Inspector checked the cesspools from
Hamilton Road westerly to North Hancock Street where the
present sewer ends. He stated that the cesspools at
No. 79-83-87-91-95-101 and 105 were all working
Sewer in satisfactorily and in good condition. The cesspool
No. Han- at #91 is now working but nearly full and indications
cock Street are that it will overflow as it has in the past.
The one at #95 is in very bad condition and over
flows most of the time. Mr. Emery suggested that
the order berresiinded temporarily or invite Mr. Morey
and Mr. Burgoyne to meet with the Board. The Chair-
man stated that the chances are that neither of these
individuals will be selling their property and the
fact that the order is recorded places a lien on their
property. He suggested that Mr. DeFoe hold the work
in abeyance until 1949 and have another inspection
made in the Spring. The Board had no objection.
Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr.
Driscoll, it was voted to grant the following licenses :
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2f)
Innkeeper - Bessie Withrow Renewals
Daisy MacAlpine
Common Victualler- Sidney B. Heywood Licenses
Shoppers Haven
1st Class Agent - Frederick R. Childs
Colonial Garage, Inc.
An application was received from the Senior
Class of the Lexington High School requesting per- Cary
mission to conduct a dance in Cary Hall on December Hall
28th from 7:30 to 12:00 P.M. Mr. Pinery moved that Use
the use of the hall be granted subject to a charge
of $ 35.00. Mr. Gay seconded the motion, and it
was so voted.
The Chairman explained that an authorization had
been received from the Division of Civil Service Police
pending the establishment of an eligible list. Appts.
The Division submitted a list of sixteen veterans as
applicants. He said that the Chief of Police had
suggested that the Board request an extension of time
whereby he would have an opportunity to interview the
applicants, and those who showed the most promise
should then be interviewed by the Board of Selectmen.
The Clerk was instructed to write the Division of
C4.vil Service and request one month extension of time.
Upon motion of Mr. Finery, seconded by Mr. Gay, Sign
it was voted to sign the order for the construction Order
of a water main in Colony Road.
A true record, Attest;
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e , s ectm nt
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