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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-11-27-BOS-min 188 SELECTMEN' S ! =TING November 27, 1961 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building, on Monday, November 27, 1961, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Morey, Messrs . Adams , Ferguson, Richards and Cole were present . Mr . Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works , Mr. Staples, Executive Assistant, and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present . Letter was received from Mr. N. C . Hubley, Jr. , on behalf of The Men' s Fellowship Grace Chapel, invit- ing the Board to attend the Jerome Hines ' concert on Invitation Tuesday, December 5, at the High School Auditorium. Mr. Ferguson advised that he planned to attend. The other members of the Board declined because of the semiannual meeting of the Library Trustees to be held on the same night. Mr . Stevens advised that he had a petition for legislation to be signed by the Board, and explained that the bill will introduce the same one filed last year by the Planning Board which provides for rein- Petition for bursement to subdividers . legislation Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the petition. Mr. Stevens reported that he had received a re- quest for abatement of the sidewalk betterment assess- ment levied against the property of John J. and Josephine G . Cox, 17 Burlington Street, in the amount of $109. He Abatement recalled that some time ago, the Board authorized him to offer abatement of the betterment in release of all claim for damages, and reported that he now has the release . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to abate the sidewalk betterment assessment in the amount of 109. Mr . Stevens reported that he had. prepared the Luongo Land Taking Order for the extension of Buckman Drive . he also reported his conversation with Mr . Norman May, attorney for Mr. Pasquale Luongo. Mr. May came into the meeting at 7:50 P.M. 189 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into executive session for the purpose of deliber- ating, discussing or voting on a matter which, if made public, might adversely affect the public security, the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Following a discussion relative to Mr. Luongo' s offer, it was voted to resume the open meeting . Mr .May returned to the meeting and reported that August 15 would be acceptable to Mr. Luongo, and he retired. Mr{�5 Carroll said he had planned to construct Buckmarrq n11er the contract for betterment .streets voted at the Annual Town Meeting in 1962 and the normal course would be to start construction late in the summer . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adopt an order of taking for street purposes parcel of land believed to be owned by Luongo situated on Moreland Avenue . Messrs . Stevens and Carroll retired at 8 :25 P.M. Messrs . Donald Grant and Donald Legro, of the Historic Districts Commission, met with the Board. Mr. Grant said he would like to know how the Selectmen feel and also what policy they think should be adopted in connection with the enforcing problems . He reported that there are a number of signs for which no application has been made either by the owner or the tenant of the property. Some applicants have filed an application, had a hearing and been denied a Certificate of Appropri- ateness and there are other signs for whieh applications are pending. He suggested writing a letter to the people who have not applied or who have applied and been turned down and states'that unless the sign is removed in thirty or sixty days , the matter would be brought before the court . He suggested, where no application has been filed., a letter could be sent stating th- t unless it is filed within thirty days or so, it would be brought before the court . Historic Mr . Grant reported tMt in August, 1960, and after Districts the Town Meeting this year , the Commission sent out a Commission letter to everyone who had not filed an application for a certificate . However, only about half a dozen appli- cations were received. He said he felt the people in- volved have received ample warning . He said there are two signs in the Battle Green district, the Lexington Cleansers and Dyers and the Lexington Liquor Mart . Both of these were turned down within the last year. He re- ported that Dom Ross was turned down but he has changed h.An 190 ly his sign and came back for another certificate . Mr. Ross has tried very hard to cooperate . He reported there is one sign in the Munroe Tavern district for which no application has been filed. Mr. Grant talked to the people in that district and reminded them they had received two reminders of the Historic Districts Act and he asked them for an application either for a new sign or for the existing sign. The Theatre Pharmacy in the center is still displaying a neon sign . There are some new signs going up on the Viano property door fronts . The Carolyn Frocks in the Hunt building has not received a certificate or asked for a hearing. Mr. Richards said that where there is a small number of people left, he thought the Board could be fair enough to give them a last advisory that the time has expired and they are in violation, and that within a reasonable length of time they should seek a hearing for a Certificate of Appropriateness and, in the absence of that, action would be taken. The Chairman suggested that the letter should be sent from the Board of Selectmen advising tftt a report had been received from the Historic Districts Commission. Mr . Richards said the Commission might write a letter to the Selectmen stating that these signs are in violation and upon receipt of that letter, the Board could write _ these people stating that the Board has been notified • and necessary steps will be taken. Messrs . Grant and Legro retired at 8:40 P.M. Mr. John Carroll returned to the. meeting. Mr. Carroll reported that bids were received today for the 24" water main. He reported on the bids sub- mitted by files - Julian Construction Corporation and Pacella Bros . Inc. He explained that Whitman & Howard will summarize the bids and he will meet with Mr. Stevens Bids to discuss to whom the bid should be awarded. Mr. Carroll is to report further at the next meet- ing of the Board. With reference to the 24" water main, Mr. Carroll reported. that Temple Isaiah has requested the Town to consider relocating the existing easement which now runs through its property so that they can have additional 24" water room for building. He said he had planned to put the main 24" main in the present easement . He presented a plan and pointed out two proposals, one of which would cost ` 6500 and one $5400 . Mr. Richards said that, according to Mr. Carroll ' s explanation, his proposal appeared tobe reasonable . 191 The Board agreed that it would be willing to pro- pose at the Town Meeting that the •easement be abandoned and the main relocated providing the cost is paid by the Temple Isaiah and no cost to the Town. Messrs . Stevens and Carroll retired at 9:00 P.M. Chief Rycroft met with the Board relative to places of business open on Sundays . He said he has never had a person who resides in Lexington complain about Sunday business with one exception. He reported Sunday that there are about eight stores open and explained licenses what stores could be open and some of the items that can be sold. He stated that as long as a store has a Common' 1ictualler ' s license , it can remain open on Sunday. He reported that no real estate .offices were open. The Board discussed briefly Sunday Sales and road- side stands . It was agreed to discuss the subject further upon receipt of a report from Mr. Irwin on the roadside stands . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to go into executive session for the purpose of deliberat- ing, discussing or voting on a matter which, if made public, might adversely affect the public security, the financial interest of the Town, or the reputation of any person. Following a discussion relative to Officer Janusas ' activities on Sunday, November 19, upon which the Board had received a letter from the Chief, it was voted to resume the open meeting. Chief Rycroft retired at 9 :30 P.M. Mr. Carroll returned to the meeting and presented a plan of Worthen Road showing the interchanges proposed by the State . He reported that some borings had been taken and the estimated cost for building approximately 1500 feet is $138, 862, disregarding land takings . In Worthen Road another section of the road, there is eighteen feet of peat and 10 feet in another. This area would cost somewhere in the vicinity of one-half a million dollars . The subject of connecting Worthen Road to Route 2 is to be discussed again at the next meeting of the Board. The Recreation Committee and Mr . Abell met with the Board. Mr. Sparrow stated that at present the seating capacity at the center playground is about 1600, and in other towns in the Middlesex League , the average is between 5,000 and 7,000 seats . He explained that the Coimriittee would like p-C rm • to add some seats and it is proposed to do this in two parts . The first part would add on to the home side , ending up with a total of 2456 seats at a cost of about $16 , 900. There will be 1544 new seats . This figure includes reconditioning the old seats and moving them Bleachers back eight or ten feet . The second part of the pro- gram in years to come would be an additional 1788 seats , making a total of 4, 244, amounting to another x12, 000 . Here again, the old seats would be reconditioned and this would be on the visitors , side . The total program would be in the vicinity of $28,000. The Chairman explained this would require an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, Mr. Abellsaid that someone should be appointed to head up the care of the fields and have a step by step program. He stated that one field will be lost due to Worthen Road. He mentioned a soccer program, a field to the west of the present enclosed field, placing the stadium as far as possible toward Midd.leby Road, rather than on the dump, placing the elementary school in the reservoir area close to the road with a large parking area around the school which could be used five days a week for parking and on Saturdays for the stadium. He said if the stadium were moved over, it would open up the dump area for fields, and the school could use two or three fields in there every • period a day. • Mr . Adams suggested that the immediate temporary items should be included in the 1962 budget and a joint meeting with the Boards concerned. Mr. Abellsaid he thought there should be one person to act as a coordinator . Mr . Ferguson referred to the duties of the Re- creation Committee as outlined in the General By-Laws . Mr . Richards said he thought the Committee would keep abreast of thesituation first to determine what it is going to recommend to the Annual Town Meeting in 1962 for emergency replacement of what will be lost either through the actual construction of Worthen Road, plus what the school department has in mind in regard to final plans and this should be the number one project. He said once the school is settled and under construction, and once Worthen Road is finished, then the Committee could look to putting in the emergency facilities . Mr . Sparrow reported th+ t the Committee has been re- ceiving a number of complaints on the locker facilities , at the swimming pool . He said the committee would like to put on an addition to the present locker room about 20 x 30, 600 square feet . A verbal quotation 19a received for the addition was between $10,000 and $l?,000. This would include a cement block building Locker similar to the present building, five showers with in- Building dividual stalls , guards and a toilet . He said about x2,000 is needed for the old locker room and l, 000 to put the pump into condition or a total of 4x15, 000. It was agreed that the Committee wouldsubnit a list of items on which they want articles inserted in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. Mr . Sparrow said the Recreation Committee is the only one in town without a representative at the Town Offices . He statedthat he receives calls during the day at business and also at night , and the Committee would like to ask for a part-time girl in the Town Offices who would be equipped to answer questions on the recreation program and who would be able to attend the meetings . The group retired at 10:25 P.M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held Minutes on November 20, 1961 . Letter from the Planning Board relative to the sale of tax title lots on Circle Road to Mr . Antonio Busa was held over from the last meeting of the Board. Tax title Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to tentatively approve the recoirJLendations of the Planning Board, subject to Mr. Carroll ' s checking the proposal. Mr. Wesley Arens ' claim for damages to his car which he claimed was caused by a hole in Woburn Street was held over 'from the last meeting of the Board . Claim Mr Carroll reported t t the situation was sub- stantially as outlined by him last week . He said the hole , according to the foreman, was six to twelve inches wide and two feet long . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize Mr. Stevens to settle the claim by payment of $L5 .20, subject to the necessary release being ob- tained. Mr. Carroll reported that he had received an ap- praisal of the Cabot, Cabot & Forbes ' land, at the southwesterly intersecti n of Hartwell Avenue and the Boston and Maine R,ilroad, from Willard P. Grush of the R. M. Bradley & Co. , Inc . real estate firm. In his 4 t4/ sic opinion, the present value of the entire tract is 16,500, based on a value of the unencumbered land of 10X per square foot and a value of the encumbered land of 5¢ per square foot . In his summary, he quoted the present value of the entire parcel of 236, 800 square Appraisal of feet to be $16,500 and the present value of land in pp proposed Maguire Road Hxtension, 34,700 square feet C . C . & F. to be $1,872. land The Chairman suggested, and the Board agreed, that a letter be sent to Cabot, Cabot & Forbes advising that the Board is now prepared to discuss the access . Mr . Carroll reported thet he and Chief Rycroft are very much concerned about the traffic situation at Spring Street and Route 2 . He said he thought con- sideration should be given to 1) talking to the Clevite people about assigning an officer to be paid by them Spring St . and 2) talking to the State about the possibility of traffic giving cars more time to get out onto Route 2 from Spring Street and 3) considering the possibility of making Spring Street from Route 2 to the Waltham line one way at certain times during the day. He recommended contacting the State first and then contact the Clevite people to determine whether or not they would agree to go out the other way. I I Mr . Carroll retired at 10:35 P.M. Letter was received from Mr . James J. Carroll, Town Treasurer, together with a list of bids he re- ceived on a $730,000 bond. issue ($420, 000 water bonds Bids and $310, 000 street bonds ) . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted: that the sale to Salomon Bros . & Hutzler, Goodbody & Co . , Loker, Sparrow & Co. at a price of 100.138 and accrued interest of the following 2.80 per cent bonds of the town dated December 1, 1961 is hereby approved: $420,000 Water . Bonds (Nos . 1 to 420) payable December 1 $45,000 in 1962 to 1965 and $40,000 in 1966 to 1971 and reciting that they are issued pursuant to Chapter 44 of the General Laws as amended and a vote of the town duly passed, 0310,000 Street Bonds (Nos . 1 to 310) payable December 1 $35,000 in 1962 to 1963 and $30, 000 in 1964 to 1971 and reciting that they are issued pursuant to Chapter 44 of the General Laws as amended and a vote of the town duly passed . Dated November 27, 1961 . • /s/ Hazel J. Murray • Clerk of the Board of Selectmen Thm, Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to authorize the Chairman to sign an Agreement with the Massachusetts Hospital Service , Inc . and the Agreement Massachusetts Medical Service (Blue Cross and Blue Shield) , same having been checked and approved by Mr . James J. Carroll. Consideration was given to application for a public carriage license received from Lexington Historic Tour Train, Inc . Public The Chairman reported that petitions and letters Carriage had been received following the hearing, and she re- license ceived one telephone call in favor of granting the license and two calls opposing it. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny the application submitted by the Lexington Historic Tour Train, Inc . for a public carriage license . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to grant an Innholder' s license to the Lexington Motor License Inn, Inc . , 727 Marrett Road. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to renew taxi driver' s license to John A. Owans, 55 Juniper Road, Belmont, and Paul A . Buckley, Jr . , 139 Shade Street, providing they are approved by the Chief of Police . Letter was received from Mr. Nickerson, Chairman of the Board of Appeals, advising that inasmuch as that Board' s secretary is in the office only from 9: 00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. , he had instructed her to take the morning of December 22 off, having been in- formed that the Town Offices would close at 1: 00 P.M. The Board did not approve of the exception and it was agreed to call Mr . Nickerson' s attention to the vote of the Board. The /reefing adjourned at 10:55 P.M. A true record, Attest: - .i, '7,EXe utiva/Clerk,, Selector n.