Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1949-01-0337 SELECTMEN'S MEETING January 3, 1949 A regular meeting -of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday evening, January 3, 1949, in the Select- men's Room: There were present: Chairman Paxton, Messrs. Emery, Gay,: Driscoll and Nickerson. The Clerk was also present. At 7:30 P.M. Mr. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board of the drawing of jurors, as follows: John H. McCormack, 58 Dexter Road, was drawn to Jurors serve on Civil Business, Second Session. Robert E. Ryan, 10 Bedford Street, was drawn to serve on Civil Business, First Session. Harold S. Furness, 39 BertweIl Road, was drawn to serve on Criminal Business, First Session. Mr. Carroll retired at 7:38 P.M. A hearing was declared open upon the petition Of the Pole Boston Edison Company for permission to erect or constr- Location uct such a line of wires, poles and other fixtures as may be necessary to sustain or protect the wires of the line along or across the public way or ways of Lexington. No persons appeared in favor nor in opposition. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it was voted to grant the petition and sign the order for the following pole location: Sutherland Road, southeasterly side approximately 10 feet south west of Cherry Street. The Chairman read a letter from Sydney P. Birch, 35 Complaint Independence Avenue, registering a complaint of the gar- Garbage bage service in his neighborhood. The Clerk was instructed to forward a copy of the complaint to Connors Brothers and also a list of the garbage complaints received by the Pub- lic Works Department. The Chairman informed the Board that bids should be Bids obtained for printing the 1948 Town Report. It was decided to request bids to be received not later than January 24, 1949, for printing 500 copies of the annual report. The Chairman mentioned also that bids should be received.for the collection of kartage so that a figure Bids would be available for Town Meeting. It was decided to advertise for -bids to be submitted March 1, 1949, for the period of one, two and three years. 38 Fire Depart- ment Assessment At 7:35 P.M. the following members of the Board of Fire Engineers met with the Selectmen: Chairman Donnelly, Messrs. Andrews, ,Cook, Fawcett, Hines and Roeder. Mr. Donnelly explained to the Board that the Engineers have received a petition signed by all the firemen requesting a 56 hour work week. The firemen wanted to put this issue on the ballot but the Town Counsel advised the Board that it could not be inserted in the March ballot but must be inserted in the ballot for a state election. The reason for the firemen wanting the subject on the ballot was to relieve the Board bf Select- men, Fire Engineers and the Appropriation Committee. Mr. Donnelly said that he understood the men were satisfied with 72 hours, and the Fire Engineers feel that 56 hours is out of order but that they should have 70 hours instead of 84. He explained that the Engineers feel that either the _auuciliary or call men working nights will not prove satisfactory.. He said they would like six additional men which will not increase the coverage and which will still leave the town undermanned according to the Engineers. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen asked the Engineers if from their experience would they think that there would be any savings to the community, and additional protection if instead of a Board of Fire Engineers there was a Board of public Safety correlating the activities of Fire and Police Departments. This Board would have control of both Fire and Police Depart- ments. Mr. Donnelly replied that this question would require considerable thought and he did not believe any member of the Board of Fire Engineers could give an answer immediately.. After a lengthy discussion on the subject of shorter hours and increased personnel the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen stated that the Board would take the matter under advisement but is not committing itself in any way as being either in favor or against the 84, 70 or 56 hour week. He said that the suggestion has been made that the Fire Engineers submit the original budget with the only change being a 10% increase. The Engineers retired at 9:13 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Paul Bowser relative to the water betterment assessment levied against pro- perty owned by him on Colony Road. Mr. Bowser stated in his letter that his three houses are serviced from Grant Street and he does not know of any benefit he would receive from the Colony Road water main. Mr. DeFoe presented a sketch showing Mr. Bowser's lot #99 on Colony Road and although there is no house on this parcel of land at the present time a house can be erected CC 1 1 39. at which time Mr. Bowser would receive the benefit of the water main installed. The Selectmen are of the opinion that the land has benefited and the assessment is justified. Mr. DeFoe informed the Board that he had received re- quests to repair the streets in the Ledgelawn Avenue section and also Laconia Street. He stated very definitely that the conditions of the streets in the Ledgelawn area have not been caused by sewer construction. The Chairman asked him if he was confident that the condition of the streets had not been caused by sewer construction and Mr. DeFoe said in his opinion he would not say they had. The Chairman explained that if the condition has not No work been caused by the town and the town then does maintenance to be work it is liable for future maintenance. Mr. DeFoe done on said that last year Laconia Street was scraped but Ledge - immediately after they had completed the scraping Mrs. lawn - Samourian telephoned his office and stated that the street Laconia was in a worse condition than it was before the town entered. St. Upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it was voted not to authorize any repairs on unaccepted streets in the Ledgelawn Avenue section nor on Laconia Street. The Chairman read a letter from Joseph D. Sullivan, Abatements 6 Bowman Street, requesting an abatement of a portion of a water betterment assessment levied against his pro- perty. Mr. DeFoe presented a plan entitled "Plan of pro- posed water main on Bowman Street" and explained that in his opinion this particular property owner should be assess- ed for only,100 feet. Mr. Driscoll moved that the Supt. of Public Works be authorized to prepare the necessary forms to abate 284 feet of water betterment assessment levied against Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Nickerson seconded the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman read a letter from Greenough Bros., Inc. requesting permission to sublet the furnishing and driving of wooden piles on Contract "A" Vine Brook sewer. Mr. DeFoe explained that Mr. Greenough according to the contract entered into with the town has the right to sublet. Mr. Gay moved that the request be granted. Mr. Nickerson sec- onddd the motion, and it was so voted. Mr. DeFoe reported that the Sachem Council of Boy Scouts would like permission to erect a large sign on the wing of the Barnes property. The sign they have is one that they used in Arlington and is 8 1/21. They also want permission to erect a sign 21 x 31 on a post 8' high at the driveway entrance. After discussing the requests it was suggested that Mr. DeFoe advise the Council that Signs 40 Rent` Permit Tax Title Property Appoint- ment Abatement they may erect the large sign temporarily and the town is not to be committed one way or the other. He was further instructed to obtain a small sketch showing the sign which they propose to erect at the driveway entrance. Mr. DeFoe asked the Board about the rent to be charged to the Sachem Council. Hewas advised that the amount of $ 32.50 should be charged until February first, inasmuch as they will not actually move into the build- ing, until January 15th. From then on the rent is. to be $ 65.00 per month. Mr. DeFoe retired at 10:00 P.M. The Chairman read a letter from Mrs. Geraldine Snelson, 582 Massachusetts Avenue, asking for a permit for the use of an air rifle on her property con- sisting of 8 3/4 acres of land. The Board had no object- ion providtng the request was approved and the permit granted by the Chief of Polibe. The Board gave further consideration to Mr. Joseph A. Moretti's offer of 4 75.00 for Lots 189-101 Ledge - lawn Avenue. A proposal to sell was advertised in the December 27th issue of the Lexington Minute -Man. No persons contacted the Selectmen's Office as the result of the advertisement. Mr. Emery moved that the offer be accepted and the lots sold and conveyed to Mr. Moretti. Mr. Gay seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A letter was received'fromthe State Department of Forestry requesting the appointment of a forest warden for the year 1949. Mr. Emery moved that Roy A. Cook be reappointed Forest Warden in the Town of Lexington for the year 1949. Mr. Driscoll seconded the motion, and it was so voted. A letter was received from the State Department. of Forestry requesting the appointment of a Moth Super- intendent for the year 1949. Mr. Finery moved that John U. Garrity be reappointed Moth Superintendent in the Town of Lexington for the year 1949. Mr. Gay secoridbI:'the motion, and it was so voted. The Chairman explained to the Board that Arthur G. Damery, 76 Baker Avenue, had received bills amount- ing to $20.00 for the use of the ambulance. Mrs. D'amery telephoned the Selectmen's Office and explained that she is financially unable to pay these bills. 1 41 Mrs. Roberts, a social worker for the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, also advised the Clerk of the Board that Mr. Denary has been unemployed for three years, making it necessary for Mrs. Damery to go out doing housework. She further stated that the family should be receiving aid from the town but refused to apply. Mr. Nickerson moved that the bills be abated. Mr. Driscoll seconded the motion, and it was so voted. An application was received from the Lexington Use of V. F. W. requesting permission for the use of Estabrook Hall Hall and a Conference Room on the evenings of January 5 and 19, from 8 to 11:00 P.M. Mr. Emery moved that the request be -granted free of charge. Mr. ltckerson seconded the motion, and it was so voted. Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr. Emery, Licenses it was voted to grant the following licenses: Warren E. Russell Pine Meadows Ctry. Geo. R. Reed & Son Anna E. Phillips Hardy?s Garage Howard Sawyer William DeFelice Anthony Ferreira William Viano 1505 Mass. Ave. C1. 232 Cedar St. 1721 Mass. Ave. 1800 Mass. Ave. 915 Waltham St. 1722 Mass. Ave. 80 Westview St. 249 Marrett Road 1794 Mass. Ave. Common n • n n 2nd Class Agent Additional cab, Peddler rr Sunday Movies Victualler Renewal n n n n now has 3 renewal n n Mr. Emery informed the Board that the V. F. W. were having a Board of Appeals hearing on Thursday evening relative to using the old fire station and asked if the Board of Selectmen wanted to be represented at the meeting. It was decided to write a letter instead and upon motion of Mr. Emery, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it was voted to advise the Board of Appeals that the Selectmen are in favor of granting the petition at the V. F. W. for permission to use the upper wooden portion of the old fire station presently located on Meriam Street, to complete the erection -of a building at 2 Hayes Lane, to be used as headquarters of the Lexington Post V. F. W. It was decided to meet on Saturday to work on the 1949 budgets. The meeting ajourned at 10:35 P.M. A true record, Attest: