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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1948-03-15354 ~ARCH 15, 1948- continued RECREATIONAL COMMITTEE'~POINTMENT: The Board discussed the appointment of the Recreational Committee for the coming year and Mr. Coffin suggested tSet each previous member be contacted to see if they are willing mo serve again. He stated that he understood that the Rev. Ralph DJ York may no% care ~o serve this year. He suggested letting the appointments stand for one week Until we hear from each member. The board voted to contact the members before making any appointments. SPECIAL POLICE'OErlCER: APPLICATION was made for appointment as special police officers by John Farnum Z26, Farnham St. and Donald E. Hilton 165 Mass. Ave. and the board voted ananimously ~o appoint these two men along with the other special officers. BOARD OF APPEAL HEARING: Notice received that the Emergency Housing Commission will hold a hearing on March 19, 1948 at 10:00 A.M. at 20 Somerset Street, Boston on an appeal by Louis Sambatarm from the refusal of the Board of Appeals to grant a variance from the Zoning By-Law of said twon, to grant permission for the alteration and conversion of the premises located at 16 Putnam Road froma single-family residence to a two-family residence. Mr. C. J. Mahoney was also notified and will appear as counsel for the Appeal Board. HILLSIDE ROAD: MR. CLARK: A letter was received from Harry W. Clark with respect to widening Hiliside Road at a point in front of Mr. Clarks proper~y where thereis a dangerous '~ curve. Mr. Clark stated that he is still willing to give sufficient land for this purpose but under three specific conditions which are as follows: 1. He wants the stonewall put back in good condition etc. 2. an'entrance to the field which is already there, ~o be wellgraded a£ter this work is done. 3. The land to be t~,ken is part of a field that was ploughed, harrowed and sowed, and he would prefer that the work should not be don until the grassis:nut after haying time. The board voted to refer this matter to Mr. Carty to check these conditions and have Mr. Brasseur check them also ~o see if they feel that these conditions are reasonable, and repor~ ~o this board a~ a later date. COmmISSIONER OF :7~rERANS SERVICES: Request for information as to the appointment, name and address of the Veterans's Agent and the Burial Agenm for the ensuing year and form for' t~is purpose was enclosed. This matter will be taken up with Mr. Cole of Boxford, Chairman of the ' Selectmen in that town and Mr. Thomson has made it known tha~ he is is~favor of re-appointing Bernard Bingham for this position for the coming year. Harold Barring~on was appointed as Burial Agent an~ this information will be sent in as soon as a reply is received from Mr. Harz7 Cole of Boxford..: REPORT ONSKI*TOW: A report was received from Chief Alfred H. Mcgee on the conditions at th~ Ski Tow on Johnson Street. He reported that severalsuggestions had been ~ode by the police.to Mr. Henshaw and he had accepted the suggestion and done all he could ~o straighten the matter out. He also employed two officers to do traffic duty at this point4 The police department "No Parking" Signs on the left side of Johnson Street on Saturdays and Sundays and there has been one way traffic on this s~ree~, The Chief stated that he believed that this condition would be straightened out next winter when Mr. Henshaw would have a large parking space for these cars~ The repor~ was filed as thi~ matter was to come a little later in the meeting. ~ see page 353-354 for further minutes of 3/15/48 TheBoard of Selectmen held their regular weekly meeting at 7:00 P.M. with all members present. Weekly payrolls and bills were approved. PUBLIC UTILITIES:. Notice received that a public hearing will be held as to the propriety of the rames and charges stated in said schedules on Mar~hh31, 1948 at 10:00 P.M. in the State House, Boston. The Lawrence Gas & Electric Company have filed with the Department on March 3, 1948, to become e~fective April 1, 1948, the follow- ing schedules of rates and charges for gas: M.D.P.U. No. 100, Domestic Gas Rate K, mo. 102 Limited Building heating ra~e 0 and No..lO1, General Gas Rate M. Mr.'Coffin inquired if this hearing is ~o inquire into the Justification of such rates. Mr. Thomson said he personally had no intimate knowledge of this but felt that the board should have one representative, at least and if all , members are able to go, that would be ~11 the better. SELECTMEN'SASSOCIATION- BILL BOARD HF~ING: NotiCe received that House Bill 590 filed by this association ~o place the select~on of sites for bi!l!boards and outdoor advertising devices in the hands of the Selectmen in Towns, will be heard before the Committee on Mercantile. A~fairs a~ the State House, Boston, March lB, 1948 at 10:30 E.M The Board voted to be present at the hearing, if possible. (Selectmen's DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS & TAXATION: Letter received from Mr. Long, Commissioner acknowledging our letter and copy of the amoun~ of uncollected ~axes as recommitted to FrenkE. Wal!work, Jr. ACCEPTANCE OF CHAPTER 425~ Section 54: A~letter was received from the Surface Battalion No 1-5, U.S. Naval Reserve Armoryrequested that the Town of North ~ndover accept Section 54 of Chapter 425 of the Acts of Mass. Legislature for the year 1939. This Act provides for Na~41 Reservists employed by municipalities to receive their pay while they are on training d~ty for a period not to exceed 15 days. Employees of the Federal Government and the State, and of most cities and towns in this c'ommonwealth/ receive full compensation whil on training duty. The board voted to take care of this matter at the nex~ Special Town Meeting. POLICE AND FIREDEPARTMENT SCHEDULES: Reports were received from the Fire and Police Department Chiefs giving the hours and ~alaries of each man in the Department as requested by the Board of Se!ec~men previously, on motion of Mr. Coffin. TELEPHONES: Mr. Coffin asked the ~oard'members if they would consider it proper to have the Department Heads give us more information on toll telephone cal~s made in ~he various departments. Mr. Thomson inquired if Mr. Coffin had any suspicions as to any calls not made in connection with the department. Mr.' Coffin replied that he did not, but he asked these questions because he wanted.to know. He stated that he does this in his own business and he considers 'it~ 'good procedure. He stated that it would simply~e a matter of enclosing the l list which is sent by the telephone company. Mr. Coffin then made amotion that the Selectmen request each department head'to attachthe list of toll calls made, with each bill as submitted for approval and payment. Mr. Coffin stated that the Police, Fire and Welfare Depar~men~ would do it anyway since they come under the board of Selectmen and the ~ther departments would do so if they so desired. Mr; Coffin stated that he hadread in the Sunday papers that a number of towns in. New Hampshire have ad~pted the Town Manager and that it has also been suggest ed here also. He felt that in view of this, the matter'should be so supervised that the Selectmen will.know what is going on and how the money is being spent. ~r.-Finneran~stated that he.did .not think~there was any harm in asking for th~se lists but he did no~ feel that he should second this motion at this time and asked that action be deferred until nex~ we~k. Mr. Thomson stated that he had not expressed his sentiments as yet but if Mr. Coffin felt the same as Mr. Finneran.he would be glad towait until next week. A.motionwas made and seconded that the request to receive telephone tollcalls from all departments, be postponed until the next meeting. BOSTON & MAINE RAILROAD: ERECTION OF GATES: A letter was received from the Boston and Maine Railroad relative to a proposed fence and gate around the portion of Sutton's Mill pond, as outlined in our letter of December 23, 1947. The letter further states that ~heRailroad doest. not ~is% to assume any expense in connection, with such an installation. 3'56 MARCH 15, 1948: see page 353-354 for further minutes af 3/15/48 They stated however, that there would be no objection to the To~m of the Smttons Mills installipg such a fence, including suitable gates over the track, prbvidsd agreement is executed stipulating that eitherthe Town or Suttons Mills will assume all expense of construction and future maintenance. Mr. Thomson stated that he did not think the Board should let this matterdrop at this time. He sai~ we have excellent cooperation from Stevens Mill and Suttons Mill and He feels that the least the B. & M. can do is to go along with us. He felt that the whole purpose of the project would be lost if we did not complete the fence and gates. Mr.. Thomson explained this ~hols matter to Mr. Coffin as he is the new member, and stated that he feels that ~e should again re-appoint Mr. Wi!l'ia~ Daffy to ascertain the owners of the land where their is no fence erected and see Just how much more fence is required to be constructed and ge~ the cost and erection of such amount of fence and gates. Mr. Thomson said he ha~ talked with the Engineer from the B & M and. he h~ outlined a plan which seemed to be much more favorable. Mr. Thomson said he would also like toknow the details as to the ownership of the B & M. The board voted ~o refer this matter to Mr. Duffy and ask him to carry,on and ~o find the cost, the names of the abutters and ownership of the B~&M. and to carry on from there. - , EASTERN MASS. ~IL~0AD COMPANY:. Mr. Chase was contacted at the Eastern Mass. to see what could be done about having the 4:30 P.M. bus wait for about thirty passengers who get out of The 0sgood Mill at 4:30 P.M. and Just miss this bus ~nd have ~o wait unt~ five o'clock. Mr. Chase said he would have this matter checked. AIRPORT- TREES: Mr. Conners reported to say that he had discussed the matter of planting'~rbes at the Airpo~tqOn~S~ttbn Street with Manager Mahoney and he also had a'm4n' from the Kelsey Nurseyy go up the~e with him and they suggested planting ~ Carolina Hemlock ~ree's on the north side near the a£rport and linden trees'( which are small slow-growing trees) on the south side. Mr. Conners further stated that if. carol'ina hemlock trees are planted on vorth sides, the co~ner will eMentually be blocked and this is what they want to avoid. ~.'~' The Board voted to contact Mr. Kerrigan and as~ that he con~ac~ Mr. Conno~r~s 'and that some agreement.be.reached with reference to the~rees along the' highway. VETERANS' AGENT: Mr. Thomson requested that Mr. Cole of Boxford.be notified that Mr. Tho~~' has suggested the re-appointment of Bernard Bingham ~as ~eterans Agent~ f6r~' the coming year and reques~ that Mr. Cole designate his preference as to his choice for a Veteran's Agen~ for the coming year. . Mr. Thomson also wished to.notify Mr. Cole that .the appointment of Mr. An'drew, newly elected member of the Boarder Selectmen be suggested as a member of the Advisory Board of Veterans S~r~.ices and to acce~t the resignation of Arnold H. Salisbury, former member. APPOINTMENTS: Tho"Selectmen ~ade the following appointments as of this day~ ~EALER 0FWEIGHTS AND~bEASURES: :. Mr. Thomson nominated John Donovon, 9 Williams Rd. Mr. Finneran nominatedthe · present incumbent, Arthur Jenkins and Mr. Coffin nominated James D.'Lewis.lof 13 May Street. Mr. Thomson asked for seconds on the nominations of Arthur Jenkins-and~ D. Lewis and none were forthcoming and then asked for a second onthe, nomination of John Donovan. Mr. Finneran seconded this~ nomination and the vote for~the. appointment~ John Donovan as Sealer of Weights andMeasures was unanimous. BOARD REGISTRARS- Fred McCormack, 32 Saunders St. for~three years-unanimous vote. PUBLIC WEIGHERS: Edward J. Ellsey, 15 Brentwood Rd. Methuen, Unanimous voSe Albert E. Houle, 154Water St. North Andover, Unanimous. vote. The above appointments were made at the request of Mr. Forbes Rockwell, D. & SPECZALPOLICE OFFICERS: '~The following w~re appointed as special police.officers by unanimous vote;. George F. Cunningham, Walter Stamp Sr. Harry Binns, John. Donovan, Malcolm Hamilton, Frank Howard, Gustave Nussbaum, Albert Schofield, William E. T0rrey, Everett Woodhouse, Hugh Stewart, Joseph Walsh Sylvester Murphy, Darrell Britten, Roland Ambiehl, Archie Hourley, Philip Mid~ley, Alexander Ness, CahrlesZuill, Frederick Salois, Walter Stamp, Jr., Edward E. Towns, John A. Sullivan, John T. Dolan, Gilbert Calvert, Thomas J. M~Grail, John Harrington, William Lafond, Raymond Broadhead, John J. Wilcox, George H. Galley, Francis Driscoll, Paul DeTerea~, ~ohn C. Farnham. ~o. application is required for the appointments above, as per ruling of C. J. Mahoney under date of 3/24/1947. 35'7: ~~8: continued ~I~h~FJ~CcD~S~USSION~sSK-i~.~TOw Chief McKee, Special Officers Frank Howard and George Everson came before the Board at the request of Mr. Coffin who had received a complaint from John C. Farnham who was detoured from Johnson Street on Saturday when he was told it was a one-way street. Mr. Thomson addressed the men and informed them that they had received a complaint from Mr. Farnham who stated that Johnson Street had been designated as a one way street. Mr. Thomson said he had no knowledge of the designation of this street as one way. He stated that Mrs. Autumn Ryan had been in last week and complained about the traffic in this section. Mr. Thomson then went on to read the report from Chief McKee in regard to this situation of traffic. Mr. Everan explained that he was st one end of the street and Officer Howard was at the other end. He said the cars were going both ways until a car got stuck in the middle of the road and they could not let the traffic through. Officer Howard~explained 'that Mr. Farnham came along and he was detoured but Mr..Farnham continued along and when the officer blew his whistle Mr. Farnham backed up at about thirty miles an hour and he was in a rage. He then went up ReaStreet. On Sunday, Officer stated that he again stopped Mr. Farnham and asked if he were :going ski-ing to which he repliedthat he was not and he also added that Officer Howard couldn't do anything about yesterday. Mr. Coffin asked if he understood correctly that one car became stuck and that was the cause of the traffic tie-up. Mr. Coffin stated that this was not like the story that was relayed to the members of this board on Sunday. Mr. Coffin stated that he would like to have these gentlemen present when Mr. Farnham related his story and Officer Howard said he would be very glad to he present and if fact he would like to ~ear what Mr. Farnham had to say. Mr, ,Coffin then stated that he understood that the street had been cleared one way for Ski-Tow'traffic and if this is so, he would like to know if that is not assuming greaterspowers that.the officers have. If this is true that the street was one way, they are interfering with the legal rights of the citizens. The~board then voted to wait umtil eight o'clock when Mr. Farnham would attend ~:.the~meeting and the matter was held in abeyance until that time. Some. time later the matter was re-opened when Mr. John C- Farnham came before the · ,:~o~rd, and Mr. Thomson explained what had transpired before he came in.. Mr. Farnham stated that on Saturday ~fternoon he was driving on Johnson and there were no cars in sight as far as Mrs. Reynolds house. There was no jam whatsoever and this officer (Howard) stated that the street was one way~ he could not go through. Mr. Farnham stated that he went through and intended calling Chief McKee. He went on to say that he had used this ~treet for many ~years and it had never been a one.way street before. He stated that the officer was. performing his duties unbecoming an officer and he would like to have this officer be suspended for a time. Mr. Farnham m~ntioned also'thathis siste~ was coming home with her two daughters and the officer would not let her ~o by. · ~'-~ Mrj:Farnham said he did not see any obstruction in the highway and stated ~hat · .when he wenm through on Sunday the conditions were much better. He said Officer .Eye,son was there and was very nice 'to him. Mr. Thomson said we have no means of knowing of these conditions until they are called to our attention. Miss Deirdre Ryan appeared before the board and related that some friends of theirs were coming through from Andover and weretoldby Mr. Howard that'~hey would have to detour. The result was that they gotlost and had a difficult time finding the house. There was a general discussion and Mr. Howard stated that he had never seen Mr. ~arnham and he treated him.very well. Mr. Coffin asked a number of question as to the time the cars went through.and how:long.the car was stuck in the middle of the highway. Mr..Thomson explained that in order to close ~street the order must come from the.right party. He also said that if you assumed the street was closed for a short timeonly, that would be reasonable. Mr.-Farnham stated that he did not see any car stuck in the middle of the street and he believed that the officers are public servants and should be courteous at allLtimes. Mr. Thomson then said that if there were no more questions and since all officers came. under the chief, he believed that a report should come from the Chief as to what action he"may take in regard to this matter, and this report would be sub- Ject to the approval of the board. Mr. Thomson made this as a motion and his motion was seconded by Mr. Finneran, who' stated that he has known Mr. Howard a long time and has never known him to bedtscourteous to anyone. Mr.'~offin had previously stated in the for~ of a moZion that he believed that that the Ryan family and Mr. Farnham had suffered and it seemed that if there was any discourtesy shown the apology of the Police Department should be 'to the Ryan family and to Mr. Farnham. Mr.' Thomson stated that he appreciated the motion of Mr. Coffin and that if and when an apology is required it should come from the Police Department.