HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-03-06-BOS-min 372
C
SELECTMEN'S MEETII
March 6, 1961
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was
held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building,
on Monday, March 6, 1961, at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Morey,
Messrs. Adams, Ferguson, Richards and Cole were present .
The Executive Clerk was also present.
Mr. James J. Carroll met with the Board for the
drawing of three jurors . The following individuals
Jurors were drawn for jury duty: John G. Evans, 6 Blodgett
Road; Philip H . Slade , 6 Nowers Road; Thomas H. Flanders,
11 Lantern Lane .
Mr. Carroll retired.
Upon motionduly made and seconded, it was voted
Minutes to approve the minutes of the Selectmen' s Meeting held
on February 27, 1961.
Hearing was declared open upon petition ofthe New
England Telephone andTelegraph Company for a conduit
location opposite Curve Street . ,
Notice of the hearing was mailed to the applicant
Conduit and to the owners of property, listed on the petitioner' s
location blueprint.
Mr. Consilvio, representing the petitioner, was
the only person present at the hearing . He explained
that the company is looking to place this cable for
service into the general area of Curve Street and
Massachusetts Avenue .
The hearing was declared closed.
Hearing was declared open upon the petition of the
Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and
Telegraph Company for permission to locate a hip guy
and anchor on Grant Street.
Hip guy Notice of the hearing was mailed to the petitioners
and anchor and to the owners of property as listed on the petitioner' s
blueprint .
Mr. Consilvio, representing the telephone company,
Mr. Mahon, representing the Boston Edison Company, and
Mr. Thomas J. Colbert, 40 Court Street, Boston, repre-
senting the Estate of Paul Bowser wee present .
Mr. Mahon explained that the company desires to
set the poles, an existing line and not an extension of
the system, and to make a crossover it desires to put a
hip guy on the existing pole .
The hearing was declared closed. •
373
Hearing was declared open upon petition of the
Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone
and Telegraph Company for permission to locate two Poles, hip
poles , hip guy and anchor on the second pole . guy and
Notice of the hearing was mailed to the peti- anchor
tioners and to the owners of property as listed on
the petitioner' s blueprint .
Mr. Consilvio, Mr. Mahon and Mr. Colbert were
present .
Mr. Colbert stated that he was interested to
know what is proposed to be done and that he had no
objection.
The hearing was declared closed.
Messrs . Mahon, Consilvio and Colbert retired at
7: 50 P.M.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to approve the petitions and sign the orders for the
following poles, hip guy and anchor locations :
Massachusetts Avenue - From manhole 5 ./27
opposite Curve Street southwesterly and
southeasterly approximately 52 feet of
conduit.
Grant Street, easterly side , southerly
from a point approximately 360 feet
south of East Street, --
Twe poles - hip guy and anchor on the
second pole .
Grant Street, westerly side , from a pole
located approximately 595 feet north of
Colony Road, --
One hip guy and anchor.
The Chairman called Chief Rycroft in and explained
that the Board -;wanted to discuss speeding on the State
highway over the weekend.
Following the discussion, Chief Rycroft retired
at 8:05 P.M.
Mr. John Carroll, Superintendent of Public Works ,
met with the Board.
The Chairman referred to the Selectmen' s Minutes
of December 19, 1960, relative to the Traffic Study
Committee ' s report that included "No Parking" signs
Ito be placed by the First Church of Christ Scientist
374 1,04
raD
in front of the church on Forest Street.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to advise Mrs . Maxine Gedritis, Clerk of the Church,
Na that the church may erect "No Parking" signs along
Parking Forest Sreet in front of the church property during
services .
The Chairman asked who would supply the signs
and Mr. Ferguson replied that the church would .
Mr. Ferguson asked if bumpers would be put in
at Reed and Bedford Streets .
Mr. Carroll stated that bumpers had been put
in and were taken out and trees planted. He said
Traffic the new shopping area would also have trees. He
explained that the bumpers were removed because of
complaints by MacKay and others . He told Mr. MacKay
that the bumpers would be taken out but if the trees
did not accomplish the same purpose the bumpers would
be put back.
Mr. Ferguson said he thought the bumpers should
be put back .
Mr. Ferguson asked about the curbing at Dr. Mooney' s
property on Massachusetts Avenue, and Mr. Carroll said
that if the Bow d thinks it is a problem, he would have
it taken out.
Traffic The Chairman said the same situation exists on
Worthen Road at St . Brigid' s church.
It was agreed to have the Traffic Study Committee
look at these areas and meet next Monday at 7:00 P.M.
The Chairman read a letter from John Bellizia,
in reference to his letter of February 7 requesting
the Town to petition the State to drain Tophet Swamp
by dredging Kiln Brook.
Mr. Carroll said, in his opinion, he thought it
should be done because of the low land on the easterly
side of Route 128 and this is an opportunity to get the
State to widen it. He said the State would have to
Drain lower the culvert because it is too high now . He said
it should be dredged for a long way, almost to the
Shawsheen River .
The Chairman reported that Mr. Olson is going to
be out here on Wednesday and it might be a good time
to ask him about this .
Mr. Ferguson said originally, as he recalled, the
situation was aggravated by Route 128. Then apparently
there was some disagreement and the State agreed to do
it if the Town obtained the release of easements but
nothing was done because the Town was unable to get
375
' the easements . He asked the reason for doing it now .
Mr . Carroll said there is just as much reason to
do it now as there was then.
Mr. Ferguson said the State won' t do it and the
State put in 128.
Mr. Carroll explained that Mr. Armstrong, Super- Kiln Brook
intendent of the Mosquito Control Project, was the
first person who brought this to his attention and
said it was definitely a mosquito problem.
Mr. Carroll suggested that a letter be sent to the
State asking what the cost , in terms of dollars and cents,
would be .
The Chairman said that more information could be
obtained from Mr. Olson when he is in Lexington next
Wednesday.
Mr. Carroll reported on the garbage bids opened
Friday and said that he wrote Harold H. Shaw, North
Great Road, Lincoln and asked for an equipment record,
experience record, and a financial statement but has Garbage bids
not received a reply. He also wrote Roketenetz and
asked for the same information, and was referred to
one of the brothers, a lawyer, who said he did not
know if they wanted to give the requested information .
IThe Chairman said the Board would have a more
complete report next week, and Mr. Carroll said the
contract could not be signed until after Town Meeting.
Mr. Frank Heaney, Fay, Spofford & Thorndike , Inc . ,
met with the Board at 8:35 P.M. to discuss th9 Interim
Report on the Refuse Collection and Disposal Study.
Mr. Ferguson said he did not find any reason that
he could detect as to why the Town should have rubbish
collection when it is operating a sanitary fill dump. Refuse &
Mr. Heaney stated the only reason he gave was, in Disposal
running any disposal facilities, it is difficult to
handle the great number of cars at the disposal point .
If the Town has collection, only a few cars would be
going in.
Mr. Ferguson asked if the individual dumping his
own rubbish would complicate the operation to the extent
of $45,000.
Mr. Heaney replied that it would not and said individuals
taking rubbish to the dump have no collection charge . If
they have a collector take it for $2.00 a month, it would
be cheaper to pay for it on the tax bill .
Mr. Ferguson said that at the moment if people want
to pay, they pay and if not , they don't .
Mr. Heaney said that sanitary land fill makes for
I
larger enclosure and it means an extra man at the lo-
cation, fencing and extra solid gravel fill .
376
Mr. Ferguson said the reason for collection is
to insure a steady flow of refuse to the fill site
and also an orderly procedure in covering so that at
the close of business at the end of each working day,
there will be nothing but clean fill visible to the
naked eye .
Mr. Heaney said the dumping would be on a platform,
the operator cleans the receiving area off and at the
end of the day it is clean.
Mr. Ferguson asked what would happen if too many
cars went to the dump for the operator to clean it up.
Mr. Heaney replied that he has figured on over 200
feet of dumping line .
Mr. Ferguson asked if more equipment would be
necessary for burying the material and Mr. Heaney replied •
in the negative . He said the machine is ample to carry
the material down and pack it .
Mr. Ferguson said he wa. not sure that it had been
decided that the best method for Lexington was sanitary
land fill .
Mr. Heaney stated that he is recommending sanitary
land fill.
Mr. Ferguson said he assumed the Town would eventually
have to go to incineration.
Mr. Heaney said if the Town could use the areas listed
in the report, incineration would be twenty years away.
Mr. Ferguson said that with incineration, there still
has to be a place todump and he asked why Mr. Heaney did
not recommend an incinerator now on one of these areas .
Mr. Heaney replied that there will be no trouble
getting rid of the ashes from the incinerator when the
time comes . He said there would always be unburnable
material that has to be buried or disposed of at remote
locations . Sanitary land fill is recommended because of
the reclamation value . He said the Town would have land
that can be released for industrial purposes .
Mr. Richards said he disagreed on the eventual in-
cineration because he understands that most sabitary
engineers contend that the disposal of waste materials
can be put to an advantage . He. said it is not neces-
sarily true that twenty years from now the Town will
have to go to incineration. He stated that it is an
expensive and wasteful type of disposal.
Mr. Heaney pointed out that the State and the U.S.
Public Health service will approve of both rubbish and
garbage in the sanitary land fill so that there is com-
plete disposal. In operating an incinerator, some of
the material will have to buried. However, the major
difference is the reclamation value . He said if a town
has land it can use for a long period of time and by
377
I
doing so get some real value he could not see going to
incineration.
The Chairman said that by going to land fill, the
collection of rubbish could be put off, but by going
to incineration, it would seem that rubbish collection
would be a must .
Mr. Ferguson said he could not see the need for
collection and could not see spending the additional
money for collection.
The Chairman asked if the Board desired to dis-
cuss the subject any further . No one had any further
questions or comments .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to direct Mr. Heaney to continue the study in accordance
with his proposition on the proposal that the Town embark
on a system of sanitary lard fill, without municipal
collection, located in. area #10.
Mr. Heaney retired at 9:20 P.M.
Mr. Stevens, Town Counsel, met with the Board.
Mr. Stevens reported that he had an accident claim
involving a police cruiser, driven by Officer Knute . Claim
On February 15, 1961, at 2:15 A.M. , he backed the cruiser
I out of police headquarters into the parked car of Officer
Stanley Janusas . An estimate of the damage , received
from the Colonial Garage, was $93.90.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted
to authorize Mr. Stevens to settle the claim for $93 .90.
Mr. Stevens reported that the Metropolitan District
Commission is going ahead with the Route 2 water project Water
down to Waltham Street and it calls for a completion date
of December, 1961.
Mr. Stevens reported that he now has a plan, prepared
by Mr . Carroll, on the Herzog property which has been Herzog
shown to the Planning Board.
Mr. Stevens will send the plan to Herzog and ask
that he let him know if it is in accord with the Board' s
understanding so that a deed can be prepared.
Mr. Stevens referred to Station Way and said that
an order had been received from the County Commissioners
determining that convenience and necessity require the
layout of that way across the tracks at grade . The next
step is to obtain the written consent of the Department
of Public Utilities, and he read a letter he had drafted
to send to the Department .
378
Mr. Stevens said that when he talked iithPMr. Pryor,
who represented the railroad at the hearing, it was his
Station Way impression that the railroad wanted lights there for its
own protection and he is to check with the Engineering
Department tomorrow and then call Mr. Stevens .
The Board approved of the proposed letter and agreed
th t it was all right for Mr. Stevens to send it along .
Notification was received from the Metropolitan
Hearing District Commission advising that it is considering the
advisability of transferring the dare and control of
Long Pond and Whitehall Pond, Rutland, to the Department
of Natural Resources . A Hearing for all interested
officials of the towns of the District will be held
March 9, 20 Somerset Street, at 11:00 A.M.
No action was taken.
Statement was received from the Metropolitan District
Water Commission indicating the amount of water sold to all
municipalities and revenue received during the previous
calendar year .
No action was taken.
Notice was received of a hearing to be held at the
Department of Public Utilities upon- investigation by the
Hearing department as to rates and charges of the Boston and
Maine Railroad.
Mr. Stevens stated that ordinarily the Town is not
represented.
No action was taken.
Mr. Carroll presented a plan entitled "Taking of
,128 Taking Land for Route 128 Widening", prepared by the engine-
Plan ering department showing land taken by the State, dates
of taking and the awards .
Mr. Richards agreed to check into the matter
further, and no action was taken.
Mr. Carroll retired at 9:58 P.M.
The Board went over the motions to be presented at
the Annual Town Meeting with Mr. Stevens, after which
Mr. Stevens retired at 11:03 P.M.
The Chairman read a letter from Peter Salmon, Field
Secretary, Fellowship of Reconciliation for the "Walk for
Peace" advising that a walk to promote world peace will
go through Lexington on April 1. The organization intends
to contact Chief Rycroft and work with him.
1 .
379
The Chairman reported that the Lexington Chamber
of Commerce would like a letter from the Board re-
questing or suggesting that the stores remain closed
on April 19, a holiday on which the Sunday Blue Laws April 19
do not apply.
It was agreed to send a letter suggesting that
the stores remain closed at least during the hours of
parade .
It was agreed to send a letter suggesting that
the stores vote voluntarily to remain closed for the
day, rather than to do so after an official request.
Letter was received from Dr. Howard A. Smith,
Chairman of the Minuteman Freedom Committee , advising
that a committee of townspeople are planning to invite
to Lexington and Concord the United Nations delegates April 19
from the seventeen new States admitted to the United
Nations in 1960 to be entertained in private homes
April 19 and participate in commemorative exercises in
each town.
It was suggested that the details be worked out with
the Town Celebrations Committee.
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. Nickerson asking
what progress has been made in regard to the enforcement
of regulations.
The Chairman reported that the Bo rd of Appeals would
like to meet with the Selectmen to discuss the subject Enforcement
and it was agreed to arrange a meeting some time after of
the final adjournment of the Annual Town Meeting. regulations
Memo was received from Mr. Irwin, Building Inspector,
listing complaints received and action taken during the
month of February.
Letter was received from Mr . Edwin F. Small, Minute
Man National Historical Park Project, advising that Mr.
Stout, a landscape architect, will visit Lexington on Route 126
Thursday, March 9, with Mr. Olson of the Department of bridge
Pulbic Works, to make a field investigation of the pro-
posed relocation of the Massachusetts Avenue bridge at
Route 128.
Application for the position of Gas Inspector was
received from Mr. Edmund A . Webb, 43 Hayes Avenue , Lex- Application
ington.
No action was taken on the matter.
Request was received from the League of Women Voters
(Mrs. Leon B. Groisser, Treasurer) requesting permission
380 -
to place a table in the lobby of Cary Memorial Build- ,
ing on the night of Town Meeting for the purpose of
selling pamphlets entitled "Town Government in Lexington"
and "Look at Lexington Schools1P . The Board had no ob-
jection .
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
ec tiv le rkc Select n
i