HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-11-13-BOS-min 4
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SELECTMEN' S MEETING •
November 13, 1961
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on
Monday,. November 13, 1961 . Chairman Morey, Messrs .
Adams, Ferguson and Richards were present. Mr. Cole
arrived at 9:05 P.M. Mr . Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr .
Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works, Mr. Staples ,
Executive Assistant, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk,
were also present.
Mr. Carroll reported that a 1958 dump truck, owned
by the Town, caught on fire June 12 as it was working
on Waltham Street . The truck was insured and settle-
ment of the claim has been made in the amount of $507.82
Transfer and a check received. He asked the Board to consider
transferring this amount to the Road Machinery Account
inasmuch as it is now apparent that the account will
probably be depleted before the end of the year. If
this procedure is not approved, a transfer from the
Reserve Fund will undoubtedly be needed and a request
for additional funds will have to be submitted at the
end of the year.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to request the Appropriation Committee to consider a
transfer of $507.82 from the Reserve Fund to the Road
Machinery Account .
Letter from the Manhattan Builders, Inc . relative
to parking in the area to the rear of the building at
45 Waltham Street was held over.
Manhattan Mr. Carroll presented a plan, which he explained
Restaurant was the proposed restaurant, and called the Board' s
parking and attention to a note on the plan to the effect that
fence the Town was to remove the fence . He said he asked
the individual who brought the plan in this afternoon
who ordered removal of the fence and who was going to
move it . The man told him his employer instructed
him to take it down. Mr . Carroll told him not to do
anything further and the man claimed that the posts are
still there .
Mr . Carroll stated that this subject came up about
a year ago, and at that time, the question was asked if
the fence could be removed so the contractor would have
access to the rear of the building. He said at that
time , the Board was opposed to losing any parking spaces
and instructed him to contact the owner. However, the
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plans were dropped and nothing was ever done . He said
he thought the fence would have to be removed because it
is on the property line . The contractor wants permission
to work on the building from the parking lot rather than
from Waltham Street which will mean that some of the park-
ing spaces will have to be eliminated temporarily. He
said, as he recalled the subject, he thought the Board
suggested making an opening to service the building.
Mr. Richards felt that there would have to be some
type of temporary construction to define the area where
the contractor is to work and asked if the fence was on
Town property.
Mr . Carroll replied in the affirmative .
Mr . Richards said it would appear that Manhattan
owes the Town a fence .
Mr. Adams suggested that the Board leave the matter
with Mr . Carroll for him to work out.
Mr. Ferguson said that to him it made more sense to
do the workthere than it did to interfere with the flow
of traffic on Waltham Street, and suggested that Mr .
Carroll indicate the area that can be used. He also
suggested that Manhattan Builders replace the fence before
any permission is granted to work on the building from
the parking lot.
Mr. Carroll asked what the Board wanted in the
final analysis . He said he could have the fence re-
placed.
Mr. Ferguson said there was no reason why the Board
could not make the same arrangement made when the Savings
Bank was in the process of construction.
It was agreed to authorize Mr . Carroll to give
Manhattan Builders Inc . as much space as he deemed advis-
able , still maintaining two-way traffic and to arrange
for some type of marker so the contractor will know where
his material will have to be kept .
Mr. Stevens presented Agreement No. 1214 relating
to certain pipes to be installed at the request of the
Selectmen under Route 128 by the contractor working for
the Department of Public Works in connection with the
reconstruction of a portion of the state highway.
Authority to enter into an agreement was voted by the
Special Town Meeting held on November 6, 1961. Agreement
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to execute Agreement No. 1214 between the Department
of Public Works and the Town of Lexington.
Mr. Stevens referred to the Arlington Relief Sewer
and reported that hr. Buckley had advised him that ha.
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had contacted all of the Representatives and Senators
Arlington and set up a sewer meeting with the M.D.C . and invited
Relief Sewer him to attend, which he did . He reported that it was
left that Mr. Stevens would draft the bill.
The Chairman reported that she and Mr . Staples had
been down to see Mr . Luongo and he advised that he had
received an offer of $5,000 for each lot and does not
want to sell them. She explained to Mr. Luongo that
the vote of the Town was and what the Board could do.
He does not have an attorney and does not want to engage
one, and does not want to go to court .
Luongo lots The Chairman said what would mean the most to Mr .
(Buckman Dr. ) Luongo would be a letter from the Board and asked what
should be done .
Mr . Stevens explained that if negotiating was un-
successful, the lots would have to be taken by eminent
domain.
Mr . Richards recommended payment of $6,000 for
two lots, 11 and 12, leaving Mr. Luongo with lot 10
which does not have an easement. He asked if the Town
would need slope easements, and Mr. Carroll replied in
the negative .
Mr. Ferguson was also in favor of taking both lots .
It was agreed to have Mr. Staples approach Mr .
Luongo once more before taking a vote .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to charge Mr. T. H. Reenstierna' s bills for apprais-
ing property on Westview Street, having been suggested
for acquisition by the Town for Cemetery purposes, to
the Selectmen' s Expenses Account .
Mr. Stevens retired at 8:15 P.M.
Mr. Guy Colella, applicant for the position of
Assistant Superintendent of Public Works, met with
the Board.
Mr. Carroll explained that Mr . Colella does not
have a background in municipal work but he has done
engineering, design and construction. Mr. Colella
graduated from Indiana Tech with a B.S . technical
engineering . He is thirty-two years old and lives
in Malden.
Mr. Carroll said, with his background, he felt
he could train him in municipal experience he needs,
and would spend four or five months doing that before
he would be of any value to him or the department .
He stated that Mr . Colella would take the Public Works
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Administration course and by next spring, it is hoped
that he would be able to take over .
In reply to Mr. Richards ' questioning, Mr . Colella
stated that he had been a construction engineer and
chief of party, Land Mark Surveying Company since spring.
Before that , he was assistant construction Superintendent
for the Gil Wyner Construction Co. of Malden for about a
year . His B. S . degree was in Civil engineering. He
attended Malden schools and has done office work, esti-
mating, payroll work, procuring men and equipment. His
father is a contractor and he has handled as few as ten
and as many as 105 men at one time during his work as
Superintendent.
Mr . Colella retired at 8:24 P.M .
Mr. Adams asked when he would begin working for the
Town, and Mr . Carroll replied that he would give two week ' s
notice .
The Chairman asked at what salary he would be hired,
and Mr. Carroll replied $6500 .
Mr. Carroll said he wants Mr . Colella to take over
the working crews in the Public Works and Park Depart-
ments, which he, himself, has not had the time to do.
He also wants to have someone keep a closer control on
costs of the various projects .
Letter was received from John Cuccinello, 72 Valley-
field Street, offering $700 for lots 94 and 95 Valleyfield
Street . Tax Title
Mr . Carroll presented a plan showing the lots and
pointed out a 42" drain running through the lots and also
showed a right-of-way. He recommended retaining the
lots until after the constructiLn of the Woodhaven trunk
sewer .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to advise Mr. Cuccinelo that it is the Board' s opinion
that it is not in the best interest of the Tom to dis-
pose of these lots at this time .
Mr. Carroll retired at 8:35 P.M.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to adopt Orders of Taking on the following streets ac-
cepted by votes of the Special Town Meeting held on
November 6, 1961:
Station Way
Worthen Road from Waltham Street
Buckman Drive
(See Selectmen' s Files under Highways 1961) .
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Letter was received from the Town Celebrations Com-
Thanksgiving mittee relative to a Thanksgiving Community Service at
services the High School on Sunday, November 19, at 8:00 P.M.
The Chairman reported that the Lexington Minute
Men had sent her a letter inviting the Board to attend
Historic installation ceremonies on Thursday night, November 16,
Tour Train which is the night the hearing is scheduled relative
hearing to the Lexington Historic Tour Train Inc .
It was agreed that the Board should attend the
hearing.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
License to grant a Taxi Driver' s license to Charles L. Sturdevant,
40 Wachusett Drive , stisfactory character reference
having been received from Chief Rycroft .
Further consideration was given to Mrs . Woodward' s
request for a "Stop" sign at the intersection of Turning
Mill Road. and. Robinson Road.
"Stop" sign Mr. Ferguson agreed with Mr. Carroll and Chief
Rycroft that this particular intersection is not unlike
numerous others throughout the Town, and it was voted
to deny the request .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meetings
held on November 6 and 9.
Messrs . Burrell, Enders, and Roeder of the Civil
Defense , Messrs . Blaisdell, Clarke , Bevin, Viano and
White of the Appropriation Committee , met with the
Board to discuss Civil Defense .
The Chairman explained that the Selectmen felt
it essential to discuss the subject, most of the members
of the Board feeling that the vote last Monday did not
mean that Civil Defense was out of mind, but more that
Civil Defense it was rejecting something. She asked Mr . Richards to
read the vote passed October 30, 1950 by Town Meeting
establishing a Civil Defense Department, and Mr . Adams
said he thought the Department would have to be held
together until it comes up again at the March Town Meeting.
The Chairman said that there was a balance in the
appropriation of $4800, and according to the wording
of the By-Law, the department was entitled to hire such
assistance as the Director feels he needs .
Mr. Burrell explained that there is something
less than $700 that has not been committed and said
that there is about $1,000 in outstanding bills . He
said possibly only $200 remains uncommitted.
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Mr . Burrell said the real heart of the problem
is what is done with the Town government structure and
it is the Town government structure that makes orbreaks
the organization.
Mr . Blaisdell suggested building an emergency corps
aroundHHH;the existing personnel and said there should be
a complete understanding of what the Civil Defense organ-
ization wants to do. He said he thought a solid policy
was needed.
Mr. Richards said he thought it was up to the Select-
men to decide what they are going to have for a Civil
Defense Department . He said there is a Department and
it should be told that it is the Board' s policy that the
Civil Defense should
1 . Be a clearing house for information.
2. Establish an adequate communications network.
3 . establish an adequate program for dissemi-
nation of information from higher head-
quarters .
L . Prepare to staff and have available an
emergency control center to act in case
of an emergency.
He said t a subsequent time in order to accomplish
these goals, the Civil Defense group would determine they
need so much money for a communication system, and part
of the communication system would be a warning system.
The other communication system would be being able to
communicate with the nearby towns . He said the shelter
program has merit but he was confused and , thought that
portion of the program could be deferred for the moment .
Mr. Burrell said he had not heard anyone in the
organization who wanted to resign. However, he said
that the Selectmen must realize it will receive nothing
more than a holding action.
The Chairman said that Mr. Burrell and his echelon
should think what is to be done and the Selectmen will
think what is to be done and meet again.
Mr. Burrell said the Selectmen should provide some
direction on the 1962 budget and he did not think he
wanted to project it into 1962.
Mr. Burrell said that he thought in the next two
weeks there should be a meeting.
The group retired at 10:05 P.M.
Mr. John Carroll returned to the meeting .
Mr. Carroll reported that he had discussed with
Cabot, Cabot & Forbes the construction of the new
Systems Development Corporation bui -ding at the corner
of Hartwell Avenue and the Boston and Maine Railroad.
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It was the proposal of Cabot, Cabot & Forbes to service
the Systems Development Corporation budding with water
through a six-inch water main from Westview Street and
to tie into the existing Itek trunk sewer for sanitary
sewage .
Mr. Carroll felt that since the Town needed to
build a twelve-inch water main from Westview Street to
the site of the proposed sanitary land fill in 1962,
that it would be beneficial to the Town to have Cabot, Cabot
& Forbes construct a section of the twelve-inch main
parallel to the Boston & Maine Railroad from Westview
Street to Hartwell Avenue . The easement within which
this main would be looted would be-/responsible for the
maintenance of the twelve-inch line . In return for this
construction, Cabot, Cabot & Forbes would not be re-
quired to pay a sewer connection charge in lieu of Bet-
terments for the Systems Development Corporation build-
ing amounting to 62,336.13 and a water connection charge
in lieu of betterments amounting to 6765. Since the
construction of this twelve-inch main would mean that
Cabot, Cabot & Forbes would be paying approximately
65, 000 more to service this building (including the
sewer and water betterments previously referred to)
Cabot, Cabot & Forbes requested that the Town construct
in 1962 in Hartwell Avenue approximately 1100 feet of
ten-inch water main and approximately 1100 feet of
eight=inch sanitary sewer so that the rest of their
complex of buildings on Hartwell Avenue could be ser-
viced. Both these utilities would be put in under
betterments .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to authorize Mr. Carroll to proceed with the solation
as recommended by him.
Mr . Carroll reported that he had talked with the
State Traffic Engineer regarding lights at the Lowell-
Maple Street intersection, and he is going to try and
help to have them installed by the State at no cost
Traffic to the Town . He submitted a draft of a letter he
lights recommended the Board to send .
It was agreed to authorize the Chairman to sign
the letter as drafted by Mr . Carroll.
Mr. Carroll retired at 10:25 P.M.
The Chairman referred to Chester Duval ' s letter
objecting to Mr. Byrne ' s statement that gas permits
Gas permits will be issued to Master Plumbers only. She read a
letter from Mr. Stanley W. Ellis, Chairman of the Gas
Regulatory Board, Department of Public Utilities.
granted to the Town and the Town would be I
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hah
She reported that Mr . Ellis feels someone who has
been a satisfactory installer for a number of years
could be given a permit and she suggested that Mr .
Staples and Mr . Byrne go over the matter.
Mr. Staples stated that Mr. Byrne has to inspect
the work regardless of who holds a permit and he did
not see that it made too much difference . If he finds
upon inspection that the work is not right , he can re-
voke the permit.
Mr . Richards asked if Mr. Byrne was to have the
power to determine to whom permits are to be given,
and asked what the standard was going to be .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to amend the schedule established September 5, 1961 so as
to enable issuance of Gas Permits to applicants not Master
Plumbers, by adding the following:
Anyone desiring a Gas Permit who is not a
Master Plumber must submit a resume of ex-
perience to the Board, together with a re-
commendation from the Gas Inspector, and a
letter frars the gas company for whom the
applicant has done work. The Selectmen will
consider the application and if approved,
authorize an exception to the established
rule .
The Chairman called the Board' s attention to a
statement in the amount of $30 for membership service
fee for the year ending October 31, 1962 sent to Mr.
Palmer by the Municipal Finance Officers Association
of Illinois .
No approval was voted and payment was held in
abeyance .
The Chairman reported thatthe balance in the
Accounting Department-Personal Services Account as
of today is >747.86.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to request the Appropriation Committee to transfer
from the Reserve Fund to the Accounting Department - Transfer
Personal Services Account an amount to meet the pay-
rolls until December 31 .
The Chairman reported that she received a tele-
phone call relative to transportation for the Refresh-
ment Booth from the football field to the Public Works
Department and the question asked was if thebooth could
remain where it is because the group in charge was having
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trouble transporting it.
The Board was opposed to the stand remaining at
Refreshment the football field and it was suggested that some
booth of the funds r-Aized from the sale of refreshments
could be allocated for transportation.
The meeting adjourned at 11 :05 P.M.
A true record, Attest :
Execeftive.,Clerk, Selectmen