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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1948-12-06DECEMBER 6, 1948: continued BONDS- TREASURER- TAX OOLLECTOR: The Board approved the bond for the treasurer in the amount of $44,300 and for the tax collector for the amoun~ of $44,000 and forms were returned Henry Fl Long~ Commissioner of Corporation and Taxation. STREET LIGHT REQUEST: A request for s street light at 55 Marblehead Street on pole 186 was received from Mr. McCarthy of that address. This is a dark section of the town and the board agreed that a 1000 lumen light sh' ~!d be installed. VINCENT LACOLLA of Pembrook Road came before the board with respect to his request for a .street light and was informed that Mr. Frost had stated that they were unable to get the type of fixture required and there would be~mme delay. BUILDING,INSPECTOR: M~rtin Lawlor reported to~r. Thomson that Joseph Sambataro had sold his house on Putnam Road and that it was now being used as a two family dwelling which is a' violation of the law. This matter was discussed at length and the board voted to send a letter to Mr. & Mrs. John Olds of 16 Putnam Road and inform them of thee violation and se~ a date when they should have reduced c~¢upancy ~o a one family dwelling. The time set by Mr. Coffin was thirty days f~om date of the letter. If this suggestion is not complied with, this board will be forced to take some action. PETITION FOR RETURN OF BUS STOP: A .petition si~ned by 24 residents of Sutton Street was received by the Bosrd protesting the removal of a bus stop between Marblehead Street and the North Andover Depot. These residents feel thatthis removal of the stop causes much inconvenience especially the women who have to carry heavy bundles and who find it very hard during the winter. The board voted to refer this matter to Mr. Chase at the Eastern. Mass. Co. and Mr. Coffin agreed to take Care of this matter personally. -REQUESTTOERECT CHRISTMAS TREE: A committee headed by Santo D1Mauro and Rev. Ralph York have asked for permission to~rect a Christmas tree ih Jerrerson square. The board voted unanimously to'gran= this request. Mr. York, also requested'pe~ission to erect a signboard in front of.the Methodist ~Chur~h~for~the Ohristmas season. This comes under billvoard signs and must be approved by the Selectmen. The board %otedun~nimously to grant this request for a.,~perind of .sixty days, sign to be erected on ~he premises of the church. SAFETY SIGN: Mr2!'Coffin called attention of the board to the reflection sign on Sutton Street nes~3High Street which has evidently been damaged.' He said that many motorists are'lconfused as 'to where the road is. The board voted to refer this matter to .'th~ 0hief. of Police and have the reflector ins:ailed. A motion was then'made to refer matter toChief McKee and instruct ~im to install or have installed the proper>sign on Sutton,Street. REQUEST~.TOHAVELIGHT SHADED: Mar~ Sparks'of 179 Main Street, has complained about the light from the street light in front of her home and asked that the board arrange to have it shaded so that lt..will not shine directly into her bedroom. The board agreed to check.this with the Lawrence Gas & Electric Company. TRANSFER FROMRESERVEFUND: JohaLyons came before the board and asked for $100 to be transferred from the Reserve Fund to the Election expenses to take care of ~tnpaid bills. The board ~voted to refer bhis matter to the Advisory Board for~approval. PLANNING BOARD: Peter Ritchie came before the board and asked for permission to have the use of the Old Age Assistance office for their meetings and asked that the map in the court room be moved up to the 01d Age Office which can then be used by the Planning Board and the Board of Appeals. This permission was granted provided that no changebeI planned in the &ayou~ of the office. POLICE DEPARTMENT: The Board held an executive session with ~hief McKee at the adjournment of the regular meeting of the Selectmen. Chief Mcgee came before the board and informed the Board that Sergeant Hilton had been drinking last Saturday night and he received a'csll from the station at 7:30 P.~.' Hewaited around and sat ia his car and .Officer ~ilton drove in fron~ of the station and be'went to get out of the car and go home. He was stubborn and 426 DECM~BER 6, 1948: contined Police Cruiser and drove him hom~but Officer Hilton would not go in the house. He told the Chief that he could easily shoot him(the Chief) and also himself. Ne asked the chief to drive him down in the country but the chief did not know whether or not he had a gun with him so he called Woodhouse on the radio and he came and got him and took him to the station. The chief stated that he said he had drank wine and whiskey and that his wife was plannlng to leave him. Mr. Coffin inquired if be was on ~ty and in uniform when this happened and what time he finally got home. Chief McKee said he got home about one 8'c!ock and he told him that he got the liquor at home. He also made threats against his wife and son. He told .of an incident when he was.at a wedding and he drank liquor and there were.several other occasions. Chief McKee said that he has stomach trouble and he should go ~o a doctor. He believes that he is ill. In answer ~o Mr. Finneran's question as to whether he drinks while off the Job, Chief Mckee said he had never saw him drink anyplace. Mr . Thomson said he did not like anyone threatening anyone even when drunk. He asked the chief if all officers are required to have a gun on their ~person while on duty. He said he thought theSergeant had a gtmbut he wasn't sure. Mr. Coffin then asked what the procedure of suspension was. Mr. Thomson said this. comes under section 43 of Chapter 31 and he reAd, this part of the section...Ne said that first a letter must be given to the person and any hearing which is held must be public. Mr. Thomson asked the chief if he thought that there was any thought in Mr.'Hi!ton's mind of premeditation that hemight have been going to use the gun and that he deliberately left it off his person? Chief Mckee said he did not belive 'this. to he SO. ~r. Thomson.then said that the. matter seems to have'been discussed quite freely that Mr. Ni~ton had been drinking and that he had tried to shoot somebody. He asked the chief if be had any recommendatiom to make and he replied that be did not, that he felt that the matter was up to ,the board. ~.Ir. Coffin asked if we .were to offer him a chance to resign or s~spension, would that prejudice our case if he happened to choose the suspension. Mr. Finneran said he thought that we should taike with him and give him s chance to .say what he thinks about it and then go on from there. Mr. Coffin said hew~s all in favor of giving him a breakbut three times~in a row and things gettins worce, makes our responsibility more impo=tant.~,Ne ifelt that we could offer him the chance mo resign with no publicity except resignation or suspend him, if the usual~time is one week, tnen~give him twc, e~. Mr~ Fiunaran said he has a~bo~in Nigh School and if the boardcou!dJ~stfaighten him out, he would be ~erymuc~ in favor of it. The Ohief,.then told the board that, the man isn't well and he thinks.'he should.~see a doctor. .%Mr. Thomson said he agrees with the chief and he cah't.be we.ll and there'~must.~be something,at the bottom of this. Rev. Alexander Tromb!y te!e~honed toMr;~LThomson and said ~m knew the situation and he would suggest that he. be examine~by a, gcod ~ps~bhiatrist and if it is determined that there is a curable cause,~that is.one thing~but if it is a letting down of his mental condition, then that,is another. The Board then thought that it probably was in order that the board talk to him and ask him if he will voluntarily take a vacation and go to a doctor in,Soften and see What. the result is. Rev. ~rombly wi!l'take the responsibi!ityof this. Mr. Thomson feels that Mr. Hilton ought to understand the circ~mstancesand>help!himself~ This ham been brought to our attentionthat this is voluntary cohcurrence-onhis~part. Mr. Thomson ssi& he was disturbed about the threat he made. On the ether hand, if web"whack" ~him:down ~ow he ~ight go altogether. Let him see that we want to help him, have him go to Boston, take tests and take a week off. The board then voted to have Mr. Hilton come in. The chairman inquired if he had anything to say about Saturday night. He then told the board that he was sorry and terribly ashamed. Ne said he has started to take treatments for ~stoaach and nerves and he feels sure that he can get.~straightened out. He said he cannot fight when he is wrong. Ne knows what.should.~happenbut he prayed all day that it wouldn't, l have broken my work and ~ am sorry. Mr. Thomson said the board had discussed the situation and no member of theboarff wants to hurt you but the matter is more public than ~ had hoped. T am ~conv~ced that you do not drink because you want to and we have discussed this p~opesition. You need medical attention and I think the. situation can taken-care of. We want to help you but you must help-us. We wondered ~f you felt that you need a few days off to get some medical attention. ~Th~a~k~d~itbpRe~i~r~hbly, be~Ause I' felt that he would be greatly interested in this problem and I made tbs suggestion that he take you to some medical man outside Lawrence and see if this situation can be corrected. If this is a spasmodic burst, then ~ th~nk we can help you but if the episodes were voluntary on your part and were without any real reason, that is your problem and you must take the consequences. Mr. Ooffinthen said that if there are indications that medical assistance will get you on your feet, we would overlook the violations. If this happsns again, we couldn't do otherwise than to take action, 427 DEC~,~BER 6, 1948-continued. Mr. Thomson i~lformed Sergeant Hilton that he has rights here. Sergeant Hilton said he hated to have to take time off at this moment. Re said Dr. Dearborn is treating him and wants me to come.back. I realize the consequences and I have to do something. I would like to work with Rev. Trembly but I would like not to take the week off at this particular time. I feel that I can lick the situation if I can have this chance. Mr. Coffin then asked if he would be wit!ingto follow Dr. Dearborns advice if he suggested going to a higher medical authority. We belive that Mr. Trombly can make con%act with a doctor who is more skilled than Dr. Dearborn. Mr, Hilton said he realized ,that he must help himself but he never thought be would find himself ina situation like this after all he had done for others. Mr. Coffin then said he wa~ very willing to accep~ Mr. Hiltons agreement that he continue medical care and talk with Mr. Trombly and do what he can to get at the root of the trouble. Hr. Finneran suggested that Mr. Hilton drop in to see the board on next Monday and let them know how things are progressing. Mr. Thomson said he would call :~. ~bombly about ~h$S?:And tell him we have talked with Dick and have them discuss the matter between them. THE Sergeant then left the meeting and the board adjourned the meeting. C.J.~AAHONEY: Mr. Thomson con%acted Mr. ~ahoney with respect to the purchasing of the Bathing ~each, a claim of Mrs. Ellen Baldwin and also the sidewalk situation. He stated that he would definitely have a report for next week. DEPART~,~NT OF EDUCATION: NotiCe received that Frank Bloo~, 206 Osgood St. SamUe~Eaurenza and James F. 'Stewart are attending the Lawrence Evening Industrial School. DEPART~IENT OF CORPORATION AND TAXATIONS: A communication relating to Charter 643 of the Acts of 1948 which becomes law on January 1, 1948 relative to the distributing of a portion of the income tax 'on a basis of Chapter 70 relating to schools is abandoned and anew formula comes into effect which cannot be accurate or fully determined until reports are made on or about July 31, 1949. Material is filed under the above captionl CI~IL SERVICE Instructions received relative to the procedures unde~ the provisions of civil service laws and rules covering practically every form of persohnel transaction. Information filed under Civil Service(Selectmen's fi~e and Welfare file). DECEMBER 13, 1948: The regular weekly meeting of bbc Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 PXM. with all members present. Weekly bills and payrolls we~ approved. VETERANS'S BODY: John J. Lyons reported that the body of John O. Fleming will arrive at the North Andover station at 4237 P.M. on Wednesday and the funeral will be held at Caron Undertakingpar!or on Friday at 2:00 P.M. The Board voted'to attend the arrival of~the body at the North Andover Station. ADVISORY BOARD APPROVAL: Approval for the transfer ~f $100 from the Reserve Fund to the Election expenses · account was received. Mr. Curry, Representative of the Board of Public Works, Boston, will be available at the Police Station at nine o'clock to check the locations recently mentioned with respect to speeding and it was requested that the Selectman meet with him if possible. Mr. Coffin will be available and Mr. Finneran will try to meet with them. "NEW ENGLAND TEL. & TEL. CO: -LAWRENCE GAS &ELECTRIC CO: Petitioa received covering three proposed Joint poles on State Highway By-Pass southeasterly from a point 1127 feet southeast of Hillside Road, 3 poles. Hearing will be bold on December .27, 1948 at 7:15 P.M. Petition covering the 8 proposed telephones poles on Hillside Road~ 200 feet southeast of Chestnut St., 4 poles (abandon8 poles) ; nortbwester!y from e point 206feet northwest of Innis St. 2 poles (abandon 4 poles); northwesterly from a point 806 feet northwest of.Innis Street, 2 poles(Abandon 4 poles). A hearing will be held on December 27, 1948 at 7:20 P.~. in the Selectmen's Office.