Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-02-13-BOS-min 351 111 SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 13, 1961 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Building , on Monday, February 13, 1961, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Morey, Messrs . Adams, Ferguson, dnd Cole were present . Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, Mr. Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works , and the Executive Clerk were also present . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held on February 6, 1961. Mr. Stevens reminded the Board that at the Special Town Meeting held in September, the Board was authorized under Article 5, to acquire a parcel of land on Mi&dleby Road, the Crandall land. He stated that he had drawn a deed and submitted it to Mr. Lynch, attorney for Mr. Crandall. He indicated the parcel on a plan and explained that the article in the warrant was to release an easement and he traced the easement on the plan. He stated that the Town would retain a sewer easement for a distance of twenty-five feet. He said the Town is paying $3,000.00 for Lot B and in addition, Lot A will be released. Crandall Upon motion duly made anki seconded, it was voted land to pay $3,000.00 for Lot B situated on Middleby Road as shown on plan entitled "Plan of Land Lexington, Mass .", dated June 25, 1960, Albert A. Miller and Wilbur C . Nylander, Civil Engineers and Surveyors; the acquisition of said parcel having been authorized„by vote of Town Meeting on September 26, 1960 under Article 5. Mr. Ferguson asked if the Board had voted to release the easement or if this was something new. Mr. Stevens replied that it was discussed but he did not think it was voted. He said the only vote now is to pay $3,000.00 for Lot B as the article will release it. He said he discussed this some time ago with Mr. Lynch and reported to the Board. Mr. Adams said it was mentioned at the time the article was discussed. Mr. Stevens stated that now the easement is not needed except for the sewer. He explained that the easement was for all public purposes, including sewer, water and drain. Mr. Stevens discussed informally the Hagerty pro- Hagerty perty at 6 Lincoln Street relative to smoke damage, rent, House and an appraisal. 35 0-3 Mr. Stevens reported that the bill on the use of Bill re the Scott land went through the House and was read Scott land in the Senate today. He said it should be on for a second reading tomorrow and should be in the Governor' s Office Thursday or Friday. Mr. Stevens reported that the bill on the sale of water to the Air Force was sent to Ways and Means. He Bill re sale said he has been trying to get it out because it should of water not be there . He thought it would be cleared up this week and should reach the Governor' s desk some time next week. The Chairman referred to a letter, dated February 6, 1961, received from Mr. Richard F. Herzog, with reference to land on Whipple Hill and stated that she Herzog land wanted to find out how the Planning Board felt about Whipple Hill it . She read a letter from the Planning Board stating that the Board is unanimously in favor of accepting Mr. Herzog' s proposal as contained in his letter . Mr. Stevens pointed out that Mr. Herzog should understand that if his proposal is accepted, the Board will accept on behalf of the Town a deed from him. He said he assumed, without trying to bind the Town forever, that the seventy-foot strip will remain there and if future Boards feel they must have additional land, they should not be blocked by any condition Mr . Herzog may make . The Chairman asked if the Board could accept a deed from him of a certain portion of the land exclusive of the seventy feet. Mr. Stevens said according to the letter, Mr. Herzog wants to keep this strip permanently. He said the Town should not foreclose itself from ever acquiring that seventy-foot strip. The Chairman reported that Mr . Mabee , of the Plan- ning Board, thinks this is what the Board wants but he feels that Mr. Herzog should be recompensed for it . He thinks the Town should accept a deed for everything but the seventy-foot strip and pay for it . Mr. Stevens asked how the Selectmen felt about pay- ing Mr. Herzog. Mr. Ferguson said that he has offered to donate it and the Board should accept it by paying $1.00. Mr. Stevens stated that it should be explained to Mr. Herzog that the Board would be willing to take the deed to the land exclusive of the seventy-foot strip, but without in any way binding the Town, and that if some time in the future, the Town might want to acquire 353 it, it could do so . He stated that thepresent Board of Selectmen should not bind future Town Meetings. It was agreed to have Mr. Stevens contact Mr. Herzog to make certain that he understands the situ- ation. Mr. Stevens and Mr. Carroll agreed to attend a meeting at the County Commissioners ' Office on Friday, February 17, at 10: 30 A.M. , relative to laying out of a public way the way from Edison Way to land of the Hearing Town recently purchased from the Boston and Maine Railroad, to be used for a municipal off-street parking area, crossing the tracks of the Boston and Maine Rail- road at grade . Mr. Stevens explained to the Board that if there is going to be crossing protection, it will have to be paid for by the Town. He said he phought the Board might want protection anyway. Mr. Stevens stated that he thought this was the proper time to extend the time of the termination of the Water Service Contract with the Air Force until May 1, 1961. Air Force Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted Contract to extend the time of termination of the Water Service Contract No. AF 19 (604.) - 781 with the Air Force until May 1, 1961. Mr.Stevens reported that he had discussed the garbage contract with Mr. William Potter who thinks the price will be really up and does not think there will be very many people bid on it. ERK,said he talked to the individuals who had the bonds when Roketenetz Garbage and Collins had the contract, in an effort to determine Contract whether or not a three-year bond would be written. He explained the advantage to the Town on a three-year contract is it does not have to go out for bid each year . He read proposed changes as recommended by Mr . Carroll and the Board had no objection. It was agreed to open bids on Friday, March 3, 1961 in the Selectmen's Room, at 4:00 P.M. The Board went over every article in the Warrant with Mr. Stevens, and upon motion duly made and seconded, Warrant it was voted to sign the Warrant for the Annual Election March 6, 1961 and the Town Meeting on March 20, 1961. Mr. Carroll brought up the proposed layout of Oxford Oxford Street, and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was Street voted to lay the street out the entire length. 004 - r..W r w...o awl The Chairman mentioned that Mr. Adams had recom- mended, ecom mended, and the Board agreed, that an article should Article be included in the Warrant amending the General By Laws so as to prevent any person from depositing snow on any street or sidewalk which has been plowed. Mr. Stevens explained what the possible disadvantages might be, but it was voted to insert an article in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in March. Mr. Stevens and Mr . Carroll retired at 9:15 P.M. The Appropriation Committee ' s By-Law meeting with the Selectmen, Chairman of the Board of Assessors, Chairman of the School Committee , and Chairman of the Cemetery Commissioners, was held and adjourned at 10:10 P.M. Letter was received from the Stanley Hill Post, #38, Invitation American Legion, inviting a representative from the Board to attend the Post' s annual Washington's Birthday banquet on February 22 at the Post Quarters, 3 Fletcher Avenue . Mr. Adams agreed to represent the Board. Mr. J hn Carroll r turned to the meeting. He resorted on the situation relative to the slope easements on Lowell Street as follows: He talked to Mr. Legro, attorney for the Church of Christ, and told him that the Board would go along Slope with the stipulation the church made that the Town • easements should move the fill, but the Town would insist on a 2 to 1 slope . He thought the church would go along with that but he has not contacted Mr. Carroll yet. Mr. Carroll wrote Mr. Coblyn two letterseand Mrs . Coblyn called last week and advised that she had forwarded the mail to the owner of the property. She said she thought they would be in agreement. Mr. Carrell said it is his opinion that the Town should make a taking. The Byrons will grant the easement on the Town' s terms . Mr. Carroll will discuss this with Mr. Stevens during the week. The Chairman read a letter from Louis Bills re- questing deferment of a sewer betterment assessment in the amount of *450.82 levied against lot D, Hancock Street. Betterment Mr. Carroll presented a plan of the property and Assessment explained that Lot D is a buildable house lot and not farm land. I 355 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to deny Mr. Bills ' request for deferment. Mr. Carroll referred to the Land Damage Agreement, received from the State relative to a parcel 52. He Land said that he had an appraisal submitted by Mr. Berglund Damage of the Baskin playground and the parcel involved ac- agreement cording to the appraisal would be approximately $600. No action was taken and the matter was held over . Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign an order of sewer taking for the construction of Sewer Order a sewer in Winthrop Road from the existing sewer 210 feet, more or less, westerly. Letter was received from the Board of Health req:.:est- ing an additional appropriation of $500 for the Visiting Budget Nurse Association, the per patient visit having increased from $1.42 per visit to $2.50 per visit. It was agreed to increase the appropriation as requested. Notice was received from the County Commissioners that the Town' s assessment for maintenance, operation, Assessment and repair to the Middlesex County Sanatorium for the 1 year 1960 is $23,834.39. The Chairman called the Board' s attention to an editorial re House Bill 62, filed by the Department of Public Health, providing for a gradual consolidation, Bill 62 as well as for other improvements in TB care . It was agreed to write Representative Brox advising that the Board is in favor of supporting the bill if it means marked economy. Letter was received from Arthur F. Douglass, Secretary of the Lexington Science and Engineering Scholarship Fund Committee, relative to the fund-raising Fund dinner to be held in Cary Hall on February 23, 1961 at dinner 7;30 .The Chairman will represent the Board. Memo from Mr. Irwin re elevator inspections was noted and placed on file . Letter was received from Mrs . Francis J. Coyne , 294A Bedford Street, relative to the houses on the Snow right of way and snow removal . Removal Mr. Adams said he thought the street should be accepted. aao 0., n Ord Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted I to postpone taking action on the vote of the Board instructing the Superintendent of Public Works to dis- continue the practice of plowing the driveway until Snow May 1, 1961. Mrs . Coyne would then have an opportunity Removal to make arrangements to have the right of way laid out and accepted as a town way or have it plowed by a private contractor . Mr. Ferguson wished to be recorded in opposition. Mr. Adams again brought up the subject of the side- walk and traffic on Waltham Street where the building is being constructed opposite the entrance to the municipal Traffic parking area. It was agreed to call the matter to the attention of the Building Inspector in an effort to determine whether or not any violations relative to the permits issued are existing. The meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. A true record, , Attest : ec tfi iv "Cler''ff Sele c en r ., 1 1-. IT I