HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-01-30-BOS-min 325
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
January 30, 1961
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on
Monday evening, January 30, 1961, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman
Morey, Messrs . Adams, Ferguson, Cole , and Richards were
present . Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr . John J. Carroll,
Superintendent of Public Works, and the Executive Clerk
were also present.
Letter was received from the Planning Board with
reference to the vote adopted under Article 46 of the
Adjourned Town Meeting held March 28, 1960, which
authorized acquisition of property from Messrs. Herzog
and Benkley. The Planning Board now recommends that
the Selectmen proceed to take the land by eminent domain,
because a mutual agreement to purchase cannot be arranged
with both individuals involved.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Order of
to instruct Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, to prepare a Taking for
Taking Order for the acquisition of the Herzog and Herzog land
Benkley properties as authorized by the above-mentioned
Town Meeting vote .
Letter was received from Mr . Snow, Planning
Director, advising that Mrs . Hagerty had telephoned Hagerty
hkm and scheduled Friday afternoon, February 10, as property
a time at which it would be convenient for Mr . T. H.
Reenstierna to make an appraisal of the inside of her
residence .
Mr. Stevens referred to the land to be acquired
from the Towers Trust, located on Follen Hill, and ex-
plained that a further extension of time for passing Extension
papers is necessary. of time
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to sign an instrument extending the time for passing
papers to March 31, 1961 .
Mr. Stevens asked for authorization to bring a
suit on behalf of the Town for property damage against
Joseph P. Shannon, 32 Fairlawn Lane , explaining that
the statute of limitations will run out unless suit is
brought before February 9. This was an accident in-
volving Mr . Shannon and Officer Casey. Suit
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to authorize Mr. Stevens to bring suit on behalf of
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the town for property damage against Joseph P. Shannon,
32 Fairlawn Lane .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to sign a contract between the Town of Lexington and
Contract Louise, Tropeano in the amount of $5,342.00 for the con-
struction of the Civil Defense Room in Cary Memorial
Building .
Mr. Converse Hill met with the Board, at the
Board' s request, to discuss insurance .
The Chairman explained that about ten years ago
the Board of Selectmen suggested a change in the set-up
of the Town insurance and it was then that the present
program was established. In December, 1960, when Mr.
Hill wrote about distribution of the commission, Mr.
Cole and Mr. Ferguson raised the question as to why
these individuals should receive the percentages allot-
ted to them. The subject caused so much discussion that
Mr. Cole and Mr. Ferguson worked as a committee with
Mr. Robert Cave and the result was a plan which the
Insurance Board would like to discuss with Mr. Hill.
Mr. Hill stated that in 1911 when his father first
took over the Town's insurance, the agents had certain
policies and at that time, it was put on a percentage
basis instead of on a specific policy basis .
Mr. Ferguson explained that the plan the committee
devolved provides for one agent and an insurance com-
mittee of five agents who do business in Town. The
premiums would be divided 40% or 50% to the agent and
5o% to be divided among the five on the committee . The
committee would be expected to meet, review policies, do
some investigating, and the expectation would be that the
committee would change from year to year. He said that
eventually it should revolve around the fact that every-
one interested in insurance in the Town, actually engaged
in it, would have an opportunity to serve on the committee .
He asked if Mr. Hill thought this was something he could
work under or if it would have pitfalls.
Mr. Hill replied that it would be difficult for
him to answer without giving the impression that he was
criticizing.
Mr. Ferguson explained that he was opposed to dis-
cussing the subject with Mr. Hill because of the position
in which it placed him.
rr. Hill said it would not be possible to get five
qualified insurance menin the Town all the time . He
said there just aren' t that many who really know. They
sell insurance but when confronted with a problem, they
go elsewhere . He said also that he thought a comuittee
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of five was too large . He stated that the Town of
Weymouth is the only Town he knows of that has an
insurance committee such as the one suggested. The
only towns Brewer and Lord have at the present time
are Newton, Lexington, and Rockland. He said he was
always being asked questions by someone and wanted to
know if questions were to be taken up by the committee .
Mr. Ferguson replied that the question would go
to the agent and the agent would be the one the Board
would look to. He explained that the committee would
work as the agent assigned the work to it .
The Chairmmn asked if, when an insurance business
was sold, the purchaser automatically received a com-
mission, and Mr. Hill replied that many times he does
as he is maintaining the office .
Mr. Adams asked how the other towns handled the
insurance, and Mr. Hill stated that his partner is on
the insurance committee in Newton and he acts about the
same way as Mr. Hill does for Lexington. He said he
also ;does the work for Rockland .
The Chairman explained that the ideawas that if
there was a committee, the insurance agents would be
doing something and therefore would be conscious of the
fact that they were working for the commission.
Mr. Hill said he would do anything the Board wanted
to, but he thought it would be a mistake to remove any
agents from the list .
Mr. Hill retired at 8:45 P.M.
Mr. Stevens reported on the notice received from
the Land Court relative to petition of Alexander Palladino
for the registration of a certain parcel of land .
Mr. Stevens reported that he had received from Mr.
Carroll, Town Clerk, a notice of a claim of Marilyn T.
Barrett and Denis Driscoll. Claim
The matter was discussed, and Mr. Stevens authorized
to represent Mr. Driscoll if he tants him to.
Mr. Carroll reported that a bearing had burned out
on the Autocar. A new White engine will cost $2700 and
by using the same block and completely rebuilding the
engine , it will cost approximately $1500. Autocar
It was agreed to authorize Mr. Carroll to have repair
the engine rebuilt at an estimated cost of $1500,
The Chairman . explained that the Selectmen have
an item in the budget for an Executive Secretary and
asked if Mr. Stevens would consider continuing to
111 serve as Town Counsel subject to the Hoardts engaging
as Executive Secretary.
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Mr. Stevens replied that the subject has been
discussed now for several years and said that there
Town Counsel is a difference in having one in the future and having
one on the job who could relieve the Town Counsel. He
said the individual would have to be found, trained,
and the Board would have to find out if he would take
over part of the work.
Mr. Ferguson asked him to clarify his reply and
he said that his answer is "no" .
Mr. Stevens retired at 9:33 P.M.
Statement was received from the State Department
chapter 90 of Public Works indicating tentative 1961 Chapter 90
allotments. The item for construction in Mr. Carroll' s
budget was revised to $47,400 and the item for main-
tenance was revised to 4SOO.
Petition was received from the Boston Edison
Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph
Company for transfer of location of a pole on Lowell
Street to the New England Telephone and Telegraph
Pole Company.
location Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to grant the petition and to authorize the Chairman to
sign the Order for the transfer of ownership of the
following pole :
Lowell Street, southwesterly side, approxi-
mately 80 feet northwest of Haskell
Street, --
One pole .
Letter was received from Robert L. Burke, 231
Marrett Road, requesting the town plow the side-
Snow walk on Marrett Road east of Stedman Road.
removal Mr. Carroll was instructed to discuss this
particular location with the School Department .
The subject of plowing private driveways was
discussed and Mr. Ferguson asked how many driveways
were now being plowed.
Mr. Carroll replied that there is only one ,
29LA Bedford Street, and explained that it is plowed
with the approval of a former Board of Selectmen.
The suggestion was made that a letter be sent
from the Board stating that the demands have become
so great for plowing and the hired equipment so ex-
pensive, that the Town can no longer continue to plow
private driveways .
Mr. Ferguson said he would like to know the back-
ground .
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Mr. Cole moved for reconsideration of the Sundry
Sewers budget toinclude 1525 feet of 8" on Marrett Sewers
Road from Wilson Road to Lincoln Street, in the amount
of $22,875.00.
The motion was not seconded and therefore lost .
The Chairman brought up the question of a change
in the rates charged for street construction. Rates
Mr. Carroll stated that he intended to write the
Board a letter on the subject.
The Chairman asked Mr . Carroll to make a memo
to discuss the abandonment of a portion of Westtiew
Street next Monday.
Mr. Carroll stated that the Board had asked him
about parking for the akatin area at Marrett Road and
said that for approximately 0500 , be can provide a park-
ing area for thirty cars and for $1500, an area for
sixty cars can be provided. Marrett Road
Mr. Ferguson made a motion to increase the budget skating area
by $2,000 and to provide a parking are a to accommodate
sixty cars .
The Chairman mentioned that it would be necessary
to take down some trees if a larger area is provided.
Mr. Adams said he would like to see a plan before
any construction is started.
Mr. Richards moved for reconsideration, Mr. Adams
seconded the motion and a majority of the Board voted
for reconsideration.
Mr. Richards moved that the sum of $500 be added
to the budget to provide a parking area for thirty cars .
Mr. Adams seconded the motion and the vote was passed
by a majority of the Board.
The Chairman referred to the account of the Board' s
discussion relative to the Boulder Road sewer in the
minutes of the January 23,meeting .
Mr. Ferguson asked if the estimate included the
cost of going through ledge , and Mr. Carroll replied in
the negative .
Mr. Ferguson .:asked how much more it would cost to
go through the ledge and Mr. Carroll replied that as a
guess it would be approximately $5,000. Sewer
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to disapprove extension of the sewer as submitted on
the plan presented by Mr. Carroll January 23, 1961.
Mr. Carroll retired at 10:12 P.M.
330
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meetings held
on January 23, 1961 and January 26, 1961.
No action was taken on the recommendation submit-
Precincts ted by the committee appointed to study and review the
precinct boundaries .
Notice was received from the Director of Accounts
advising that as of January 1, 1961 the amount of "free
cash" for the Town was $742,195.84.
Letter was received from George W. Mayo, Jr. , 3
Emerson Road, registering a complaint about a plumbing
Zoning and heating business being conducted at 101 Adams Street
complaint by William F. Gediek. The Building Inspector has been
advised and requested to make an investigation and report
to the Board.
The Chairman reported that the Lexington Minute Men
would like permission to hold meetings in the room in
Cary Memorial Building formerly used by the American
Legion.
Use of Room Previous permission had been granted to the Marine
Corps League Detachment, and it was agreed to grant per-
mission to the Lexington Minute Men if the Marine Corps
League has decided not to use the room.
Letter was received from the Addressograph-Multi-
graph C
ddressograph-Multigraph.0 ompany together with quotations for tax writing
equipment. The delivery of the equipment is approxi-
mately 90-180 days and the company has been asked to
Business schedule the delivery of a Model 6400 Graphotype and
Machines supplies for early April with the Class 1900 Addresso-
graph to be shipped later in May or June . The letter
stated that the company understands delivery cannot be
-made prior to .the Tbwn Meeting anddelivery in April is
based upon confirmation at the Town Meeting. However,
unless the equipment is scheduled at this time , they
will be unable to make delivery in time for the preparation
of the 1961 tax records.
Mr. Adams was opposed to having the delivery scheduled.
Mr. Richards said that he would like to receive bids
from IBM or comparable organization before taking any action.
Letter was received from Mr. Ralph H. Tucker, Presi-
Historic dent of the Lexington Historical Society, relative to the
landmarks recent designation of the Battle Green and Buckman Tavern
as historic sites. He would like to see them registered
as historic landmarks and suggested bronze plaques.
331
IMr. Tucker stated in his letter that there has
been no Council meeting but such a meeting is scheduled
for next Wednesday, and if there is a majority opinion
not in agreement with his expressions, he will so advise
the Board.
It was agreed to hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday
evening at 8:00 P.M. in an effort to complete some un-
finished business before Mr. Richards leaves on his trip
abroad.
At 10:32 P.M. , the Appropriation Committee met with the
Board.
The Chairman stated that the Selectmen would like
to know how the Committee feels about the salaries for
1961.
Mr. Adams stated that the committee believes its
proposal can work eventually and he and Mr. Blaisdell Appropriatia-
agreed that it could wait for an Executive Secretary. Committee
During Mr. Blaisdellts comments on salaries, he
said that he would like to see an article in the warrant
establishing the position of Executive Secretary with
the idea of setting up the position not unlike that of
the School Department .
No definite decision was arrived at on either the
salary question or the position of an Executive Secretary.
The meeting adjourned at 11:45 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
'Execitive Cler , Se]e ; men
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