HomeMy WebLinkAbout1948-09-13405
SEPTN~BER 13, 19&8-continued
Andrew Coffin stated that he heartily agrees with suggestion of a wiring inspector
and suggested that this matter he checked with the committee now revising the
by-laws.Re said he was reluctant to create a new Job in the town hut felt that
the by-law committee should be informed that the position of electrical inspector
is very important.
Mr. Thomson then informed Mr. Coffin that both he and Mr. Finneran were members of
the h~-law committee and would take this matter up at their next meeting.
A~ERICANLEGION AUXILIARY:
The Board accepted with thanks an invitation to attend the installation of officers
of the American Legion Auxiliary to be held on September 27, at 8:00 P.M. and will
so notify the Installation chairman, Mrs. Yvonne Lewis.
USE 0FwCOURTR00M:
Miss Lucia Kathan, Board of Realth nurse, requested the use of the Court Room for
some e~ening in the near future when.tbs State Board of Health is planning to
a series of pictures with reference to the management and operation of restaurants
and she has planned to invite all licensees in the town to be prese~. It will also
be open to the public. The date is uncertain at this time. The Board unanimously
agreed that this was a very good thing'for the town and agreed that.she should be
allowed to use the court room on the night which is convenient for the State Dept.
~0REST FIRES
r. John Wilcox and several of the residents of the Kihball district came before
bogrd to discuss the dry conditions in their section of the town. Mr. Wilcox
told about a fire which started two weeks agoand could have developed into a bad
firs'if it had not been detected by one of the neighbors. The Fire Dept. was called
andhe put'the fire out. Mr. Wilcox felt that a pstro2 was needed in the
fr6m 10:00 A.M. until five or six at night. Re said the. fog at nightwould
any fires from starting. The woods are supposed to be closed at this time but
there are dogs running Just the same. The brooks are d~,y and the water holes on
forest street have 'only three inchesof water in them. If there were a fire, the
men couldn't get ~o the water. The nearest water is the hydrants.
Chief Hargreaves stated that this condition would continue forsome time and that
the condition is extremily dangerous, and .will continne~until we get some rain.
In answer to Mr. Coffin's ~uestion as to being comparable to las~ year's condition,
Mr. ·Wilcox sta~ed 'that iwas worse and the vegetables are all burned up and they
cannot get any corn at all this year. The drinking water .is poor he said and he
feels that the hydrants should be used for drinking wa~er. He mentioned having a
gate valve put on at this time.
Mr. Hargreaves ststedothat the oil tru~ks ars willing ~o coopera~e in case 'of a
fire.'He'feels that ~atrols'are no good unless enough,men are avail~bie to cover
the area. He 'feels that'the Tower in Andovar would spot a fire quicker than any-.
body.. ·
Mr. hargreaves said he would he willing to {fy and find somone who ~ould he willing
=o patrol this section but that he would have ~o pay them $1.00 an hour plus the
cost of their car, per mile. He said if the .patrollingcould be done satisfactorilly
he would agree that it would he of some.use.
Mr. Wilcox felt that if a. patrol.were available to'patrol the section where there
iano water, it would be a great help. If only one fire were s%oppod, -it would be
worth all the. money spent~ 'said Mr. Wilcox. Re stated that everybody in that section
has 'a great deal to lose and they are all worried abou~ this dry condition.
Mr. Hargreaves suggeSted that if any of the residents spot some.person down ~n the
woods while they are supposed to be closed, if.they would contact the Fire Department
~ or the Police Department they would take immediate'action.
Mr. Coffin mentioned that the woodlands have been. closed by the state and inquired
if there was'a fine for going in the woods at this time. Re said there are two
classes of people, dog runners and parkers.
· Mr. Wilcox stated that he does not believe that .the parkers would cause any trouble
as the fog is so hesyy inthat section that there would be little danger of a fire
from a cigarette. Mr. ~ilcox told ~r. Coffin that he,had seen a man in the woods
last Satt=dayand that'he told him to leave.
Mr. Coffin felt that if the publicity was greatly-~ncreasedand if only one person
were caught and fined, then that would be a lesson %o others and perhaps this could
be stopped.
Mr. Hargreaves mentioned that he would pay $1.00 an hour to have someone put the
posters up that are available but he has been unable to get anybo~$-.
Mr. Coffin mentioned that a fire prevention committee is being formed in the town
and perhaps someone could be found who would be willing mo do this posting free.
Mr. Fiunaran suggested that we could ask the police to check in that section occs
ally and that would help, until some patrols were formed. He also mentioned ~
. patrols which might~b~of assistance.
Mr.' Thomson stated that thesituation is very bad and he thought i~ we sent the
polic~ down twice a day and then get the volunteers to help, it would lessen the
danger of fires. He also suggested that we communicate this problem to the newly
forming ~ire protection committee. ~
406
SEPTEMBER 1S, 19~8- continued.
Mr. Hargreaves will do all he can to help this situation and he will also
speak to Mr. Duffy about the water situation for drinking purposes until
we have rain and the wells are filled up. ..
Mr. Thomson suggested that we recommend to Mr. Duffy that he put on'a valve
so that' the residents can obtain drining water. Most of them are carrying
water from other farms at this time.
SPEEDS ON HIGHWAYS(STATE)
Mr. Thomson brought up the matter of speeding on the state highways and said
that he understands from recent legislature that this board has the right
to petition the Department of Public Works(State) to petition for signs
and rates of speed in certain places, mr. Thomson mentioned Mass. AVe.,
Turnpike Street from'the by-pass to Wilson' s Corner and Chickering Road
from Mass. A$e. to Pleasant Street.
Mr. Coffin suggested that the Board confer with the police and go up there
and decided in their own mind what speed should be se~. '.
Mr. Thomson explained that Chief McKee had made the suggestion that he would
have Mr. Curry from Beverly come ~o one of the meetings and discuss this
matter and the board agreed that he should be invited ~o attend nex~ week's
meeting and also the chief of police.
Mr. Thomson also mentioned that he had been informed of anincident where
one of the local officers had s~opped a person on Turnpike Street who was
going 45 miles pe~ hour and the person was grateful to the officer as he
did not realize what the rame of speed was in that section. He commended
the Police.Department.
Mr. Peter Ritchie suggested to~ the boar~ t~t if the smop and go lights
waze 'in working order instead of a ~lashing signal, it would be more
advantageous to the mown, and would reduce the speeding on Chickering Rd.
The board agreed ~t~, take this matter up with Mr. Curry on Monday'evening.~
'FENCE AT B & M RIGHT OF NAY; ASHLAND STREET
Letter received from the Department of Public Utilities informing this board
that the .reilroad is required by law ~o fence 'its right of way only as a
safeguard against cattle.
Mr. Thomson felt that a human life was 'much more important than any number
of cattle and suggested that we get in touch with cur legislators and.
have them file a bill ~o 'amend this chapter 160 section 93 of the General
Laws. The board agreed that this should be done.
PRECINCT OFFICERS:
The Board voted unanimously to appoint Daniel J. Shine, 88 Pleasant Street
as Deputy Clerk in Precinct Two- (D) and Herbert S. Stillings, 57 Third St.
(R) as Deputy Warden in Precinct Two for September 14, only. Permanent
appointments will he made a~ a later date.
NEED OF SCRAP IRON AND STEEL:
A letter was received from Arthur W. Coolidge, Acting Governor with respect
to the desperate need for scrap'iron and steel and suggesting that a local
committee be appointed to work with Mr. Frank H. Townsend, who ~s state
chairman, to head this campaign in this area.. Mr. Finneran stated that the
American Legion was planning Jusm such a drive in the near future and the
· board voted to refer this ma~ter to the Legion for their consideration. _~
VETERANS LAWS PASSED IN 1948:
Copy of the veterans laws passed in 1948 was received from Frederick B. Willis,
House of Representatives at Boston. Filed under Veterans laws, 1948.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS:
Chapter 482 of the Acts cf 1948 which provides for the transfer to the ~ahove'
department for maintenance of all bridges which were eligible under Chapter 690
of-the Acts of 1945. The board discussed this matter 'and decided that we have
no,ridges in North Andover which come under this. chapter.
SGHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE: '
Copy received of letter sent to Miss Marcia K. Ingraham, Sec. Regional High
SShool, Topafield informing her that the North Andover School Committee voted
to appoint a sub-committee to confer with her or her committee at their
PLANNING BOARDAND SF%EC~EN:
The Planning Board'met with the Selectmen end Mr. Mocradkanian stated that
last week the board ~tn~& ~i~cuss the 'application cf Joseph Sambatarc to change
the grade cf two streets in the Mifflin Park area. He stated that theme~ting
~d been adjourned u~n~til to night for further considerstaion and to see if there
any practica~ solution without predSudice to the town. If change in grade is
allowed in streets which might be of some advantage(Pembrock and Sawyer Roads are
listed in app~ic~tion~ then it tha$.w~ might t~ke_~am~ilton, ~ol~rook
and Tyler tones xnto wc,,,c ce a~ded mo mne agreement.