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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1949-08-22306 SELECTMEN'S MEETING August 22, 1949 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room on Monday evening, August 22, 1949, at 7:30 P. M. There were present: Chairman Emery, Messrs. Gay, Driscoll, Nickerson and Hoyt. Mrs. Flaherty, acting Clerk, was aleo present. The Chairman read a letter from James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, in response to a request to check the status of Howard M. Shaffer, U. S. Navy, Honor whose name does not appear on the honor roll. Accord - Roll ing to the Town Clerk's records this name does not appear as being a resident of Lexington. The Chair man agreed to advise Mr. McCormack, Commander of the Stanley Hill Post, #38, A. L. of the explanation as given by Mr. Carroll. Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Gay, Licenses it was voted to approve the following licenses: Lexington Theatre, Inc., Sunday Movies Countryside Associates Sunday Golf A letter of acknowledgment was read from Mr. and Mrs. Morris Martin concerning the abatement of a portion of their betterment assessment. Fire Dep't Transfers The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Fire Engineers requesting a transfer of funds to take care'of changes in salaries due to a change in personnel in the Department. It was decided by the Selectmen that these changes came entirley within the jurisdiction of the Fire Department and the pay- ment of salary increases due tb promotions would come out of funds already appropriated for their Personal Services. The Board of Fire Engineers further requested that a sum of approximately $330. be made available to pay for necess' y work in connecting the fire alarm system with the new Fiske School. It was thought that this sum might come under the School Contingency funds or the new Fiske School Building Account and it was decided to request the Fire Eng- ineers to contact the School Committee before taking any further action. A request was made for a transfer of $380 to cover the 'bilis for the laundry account for the bal- ance of the year. At the present time there is $17.51 Px; remaining in this account. The original appropriation was less than the amount requested by the Department but due to additional men appointed it was not possible to keep within the appopriation. Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it was voted to re- quest the Appropriation Committee to transfer $300 from the Reserve Fund to the Fire Department Laundry Account. At 8:00 P. M. Mr. Leland Emery, Chairman of the Board of Assessors, met with the Selectmen and dis- cussed certain matters relative to the Assessors and of interest to the Board. Mr. Emery retired at 8:30 P. M. At 8:35 P. M. Mr. William Burns, Acting Suit. of Public Works, met with the Board. The Chairman asked Mr. Burns when he thought the drainage work should be done on Castle Road. Mr. Burns said that it should be investigated and find out how much of it can be cleaned, and a Castle portion of it should be replaced. If the corner Road lot should be sold the town would be requested to Drainage keep the water moving and he thought that the work should be done now, and an easement obtained from Mr. Baskin, the drain going along the lot line. Mr. Burns presented a sketch and explained 'how this drainage work would affect the over-all drainage situation in this particular section. The price would be approximately $500., which is practically the cost of the pipe. The Chairman asked if Mr. Baskin would give the necessary easements and Mr. Burns replied in the affirmative. He said he would need them on Lots 9 and 7, and lots 7 and 5. Mr. Burns explained that if the lots should be sold there would be the dif- ficulty if-ficulty of obtaining easements from several people while at this time they are owned by one person, Mr. Baskin, and he is willing to grant the easement*. The Chairman asked Mr. Burns if, as Town Engineer, he would recommend this work. Mr. Burns explained that if this is not put in, the drain would, even- tually, have to run the entire length of Franklin Road and it would mean some pretty steep cuts and unnecessary pipe. The Chairman asked if the members of the Board had any questions. Mr. Nickerson said his impression had been that sum needed for this work was $3,000. Mr. Burns said that would be for the entire job. Mr. Nickerson asked Mr. Burns if for $500., with Mr. Baskin laying approximately 215' of pipe., he felt they would get about 2/3 of the benefit. Mr. 307 Assessors 308 Burns explained that the *3000 figure was given when they did not know the time the workrwuould be done or the exact cost of the matetial, or whether it would be done by an outside contractor. Since that time temporary work has been done which has reduced the cost and the entire amount will not exceed *2000. The connection in Somerset Road will run into money but that is not being included in the work at this time. Mr. Burns explained that he did not want to do this work to benefit any one individual, but felt that it was sound practice to do it now and obtain the easements. Mr. Driscoll asked if the town could justify the action of putting in this drainage when other section such as School Street were not getting relief. Mr. Burns said he held explained to the residents of School Street that the drain in the street will not givethe desired relief. Drains will have to be run across the back of the lots to prevent water from entering the houses. The mork on Castle Road will have to be done and it is his opinion that this is the time to do it. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Hoyt, it was voted that the drainage work on Castle Road he done as suggested by Mr. Burns. Cedar Street Mr. Burns brought up for discussion the letter Drainage from Max Straw requesting some help for the drainage on Cedar Street. It was decided that the members of the Board would look over this location and he ready to reach a decision at the next meeting. A letter was read from Mr. G. C. Headberg, 205 Grove Street, requesting a street light in front of his house. Mr. Burns presented a sketch .showing Street the location of the poles in this vicinity and recom- Light mended the installation of the light. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it was voted to install a street light approximately in front of 205, Grove Street. A request for a street light had also been made by Mr. Pratt, Patriot's Drive, It would be necessary to install two poles inasmuch as the service on this street is all underground. It was suggested that Mr. Burns consult with the Edison Company in an effort to obtain information as to the cost and possiblility of lights without the erection of these poles. The Chairman said it had been suggested to him that possibly the electric service on Waltham Street might be put underground new while the street is in the process of being repaired. tWM 1 309 Mr. Burns reported that he had talked with a representative of the Edison Company who had advised him that any formal request for this work would have to come from the Board of Selectmen. He did say, however, that it would take some time to make the necessary survey and obtain the necessary permits from all the abutters and it would not be feasible to do it now. Mr. Burns said it would be an expensive job not only to the town but to the abutters also. It was the opinion of the Board that Mr. Burns Underground should try to obtain some information as to the approx- Wiring on imate cost and necessary procedure which could be re- Waltham St. ferred to at some future time if the town should con- sider underground wiring in this section. Mr. Burns made a report on the various projects being done by his Department as follows; Drain on Adams Street nearing completion. Sidewalk on Pleasant Street nearing completion. Tarbell Avenue Sewer - have struck ledge. Water installation in Grandview completed. Bedford Street water one-half completed. Colony Road completed. Working on sidewalks. In process of having new contractor engaged to complete work started by Daddierio. School Street - wailing for easement. No report on Farmcrest South Branch laterals. The Chairman read a letter from the State De- partment of Public Works advising that an additional allotment had been made of $1,000 for Chapter 90 work on Grove Street, on condition that the Town and County would appropriate a like sum. The Chairman also read another letter from the State Department of Public Works advising that the Chapter 90 allotment for Waltham Street had been cnaged to read: State $8,000 Town $4,000 County $4,000. Upon motion of Mr. Hoyt, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was also voted to sign the contract already com- pleted by George Brox, Inc., and return it to the State Department of Public Works. Mr. Burns agreed to have Mr. Lynch, Town Counsel, check the contract before returning it to the State. Upon motion of Mr. Driscoll, seconded by Mr. Hoyt it was voted to sign the order for the install- ation of a water main in Fairview Avenue. (Order on file in Selectmen's File, 1949 Water Orders). Upon motion of Mr. Nickerson, seconded by Mr. Gay, it was voted to gign the order for thetnstall- Chap ter 90 Sign Water Order 310 Sign Sewer ation of a sewer lateral in Follen Road. (Order on Order file in Selectmen's File, 1949 Sewer Orders). Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nickerson it was voted to grant permission to the Boston Edison Company for the following pole location: East Street, easterly from a point approximately 105 feet easterly of Adams Street, set four (4) poles and remove four (4) poles. School Street, approximately 85 ft. south of Grandview Avenue, set one (1) pole. School Street, approximately 110 ft. south of Grandview Avenue, remove one (1) pole. Mr. Burns presented a sketch and a letter from the Arlington Gas Light Company requesting permission Co.to locate a gas main in Cedar Street and Columbus Street. This permission was unanimously approved by acclamation. Arlington Gas Light Waltham Street Hearing Liberty- Ledgelawn The Chairman read a letter from Robert L. Ryder in behalf of the trustees of the Lexington Estaes Trust in connection with the alterations and specific repairs to Waltham Street. He suggested a plan for a two lane section on Waltham Street. It was decided not to take any action on this at the present time. The Chairman reminded the other members of the Board that a hearing would be held in Estabrook Hall on August 23d by the County Commissioners on the petition of the residents of the Liberty-Ledgelawn section. He asked if the members of the Board had any comments as to the stand the Board should take on this matter. Mr. Nickerson said he thought the Chairman should state the established practice of this Board as it has been in the past. Under this practice the unassessable corners are absorbed by the town and the running frontage is figured on a linear foot basis. The figure arrived at is measured against a yardstick of whether or not the property had been benefited to the extent of that amount as figured. It was the general decision of the me*abers of the Board that the Chairman should express to these citizens that the town is willing and anxious to co-operate with them in every possible way; that the Board is giving every consideration to their prob- blem and that furhter study will be given. A letter was read from Frank W. Turnblad, 1 Dee Road, complaining about the drainage from the Manor Service Station Lubritorium. Mr. Burns agreed to r 311 check this complaint in an effort to solve the Complaint problem. Mr. Burns retired at 11:00 P. M. A letter was read from Mrs. Margaret Ivusic in which she agreed to pay $70.00 for TJnt 55 Hillside Terrace. No action was taken on the sale of this lot inasmuch as no reply had been received from her in connection with a further request to con- solidate certain lots in this area. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nick- erson, it was voted to sell and convey lots 28 and 29, Block 95, Centre Street, Lexington to Manuel A. Cunha for the sum of $100. The subject of the applications received from the M. &.B. St. Rwy.and the Lovell Bus Lines, Inc. was again considered. It was decided to write a letter to the Lovell Bus Lines advising them of the petition submitted by the M. & B. St. Rwy,. and asking them to let us know why they felt it would be to the best interest of the Town to grant the license to their company, if such a license is granted. The Chairman also agreed to write to the M. & B. St. Rwy. Co. and advise them that the Board has previously turned down a petition covering some of the streets mentioned in Item #1 and to offer as an alternate suggestion the following route for con- sideration: From the corner of Bedford Street and Simonds Road, via Sionds Road, northerly on Burling - tion Street to North Street, North Street to Adams Street, Adams Street to East Street, East Street to Grant Street, Grant Street from. East Street straight to Massachusetts Ave. It was also suggested that he ask them why they felt the license should be granted to them rather than to the Lovell Bus Lines, who had entered a previous application for a route over Watertown Street. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Garrity requesting a transfer of funds for the removal of sixteen trees infected with the Dutch Elm Disease. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Nickerson, it was voted to request the Appro- priation Committee to transfer 000 from the Re- serve Fund to the Shade Tree Account. Tax Title Tax Title M. & B. St. Rwy. and Lovell Bus Routes Transfer 312 The Chairman read a letter from the Board of Fire Engineers referring to the Committee on Fire Station the proposed new East Lexington Fire Station. Committee It was the opinion of the Board that this comm- App'ts. ittee should be revised and it was decided to hold the matter over until the next meeting. A general discussion followed as to the appointment of assessors and the nukber of members on the Board The meeting adjourned at 11:30 P. M. Acting Clerk, Selectmen. 1