Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1950-05-01 Board of Selectmen MinutesAPRIL 2~ 1950- continued BO2RD APPROVED: CONTINUATION CERTIFICATE The Board of Selectmen approved a bond issued by the Phoenix indemnity Company in the amount of $1,000 on behalf of James J. Maker, in favor of North Andover and Boxford District Dept. of Veteran's Services and is continued in force from April 8, 1950 to April 8, 1951. Filed with policy. ADVISORY BOARD-ELWYN KING-BOARD OF SELECTMEN: A discnssionwas held a~ the request of Elwyn King to discuss the various articles in the annual tewn warrantand the possibility of'a special town meeting ~o rescind the actual vo~e and Mr. King suggested a vote to be used. Mr. King presented tha~articles as he would like them to be inserted in the town warrant and a copy given to the Selectmen. Noaction.zast~ken at-~his time. Copy is on'file'for future use. ~'~-~'-g-g~weekly meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at' 8:00 P.M. with member Coffin absent. .Weeklykhlls and payrolls were approved. VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: Four citizens from the Center district came before the board and discussed the possibility of having a Volunteer Fire Department in the town. Mr. Trombly told the board that he had been a member of such a department in New York and. it had worked very successfully. H~ said there were.many men who would beverywilling ~o serve without pay. Harold W. Trombly, Philip A. Busby, John~ Wilcox and Lyman H. Eilton, Jr. were the men who came before the board. Mr. Thomson stated that he felt this was a very laudible thought and the fire. protection element is now quite a problem. He informed these present that this board~had recently held a conference with Abbott Stevens and althoughther~ling is a definite one but the company will give us plenty of timeto makesome change. ,Mr. Busbysaidhe would like %o make it clear that~hew~s talking for himself and not as a member of the Fire Committee. He said that the~fires in the center are no% reached early enough and if they had this volunteer group they would work under the chief of ~he center until the regular chief came to the fire. There are many things to be worked ou~but he felt that M.T. Stevens wouldbe glad to know thatthe town was trying %0 do something ~o clear the situration. It has been suggested that thw town raise the money for equipment.but-if this canno% be done they would try to raise the money from citizens. Mr. Busbysaid there are about fifty~men now available and willing to serve on this company. Almost all the men in the con%er are willing to-Join the company. Throughout the country there are about 80% ......... fire-companieswhich~are volunteer.. .............................. 'Mr. Trombly told a~out the company in Mamoronec~ in New York with a population of 18,OOOpeople~aad the men were trained off and on and it~as very effective. The Center SchooL was mentioned as a possible location, when it is vacated. Mr. Trombly said he would offer a stall in his service station forthe equip~nt if necessary. Mr. Wilcox mentioned a fire which happened quite a fowyears back at which the fire apparatus went right past the fire to pickupthe men andwhen it returned the building had burned down. He mentioned this to show that if .the men and equipment could arrive a~the fire in less time tham it now takes, that the danger of burning, down would not be sc ~reat. Mr..Thomson said thiswas a f~ne thing to offer services and that the Board of Engineers have'full s tatutoryauthority. He said he wm not familiar with allangles but this matter should be discussedwiththe Fire Engineers and the Fire Committee on Tuesday, May 2, when a meeting is to be held in theCourt Room at 7:305P.M. Mr. Busby said they had no actual lis~ of names as yet but they could easily have some available for the meeting on Tuesday. He said 'many people are interested even to thepoint of putting up money for the equipment. If this were advertised, the people would come forward and offer their services but this is new and not too.many people know about it. He said they would have some names ready and if it went through they would try %o ge% people who were in straSegic points but until theequipment is there nothing could be done by the volunteers. Mr. Wilcox mentioned that it would take a% leas~ one half hour toreach his placebut if volunteers were available they could go ahead of the apparatus and start ~o put the fire out with brooms. The group will meet on Tuesday with the Selectmen, Engineers, Fire Committee andmemberof .the Advisory Board. MAY 1, 195~ continued BOARD OF TRADE-CHICKER!NGROAD: . Mrs. Robina. Bullock and Thomas McGrail, Jr. came before the board to '- represent the Board of Trade, to discuss conditions on Chickering Road. Mrs. Bullock stated that the Boardof Trade is requesting the Selectmen to take whatever steps necessary to make Chickering Road a ~wo lane road from Parker Street to Pleasant Street instead of a three-lane way. Mr. Thomson stated that the Selectmen had recently met with a 'state engineer at this location and at that time be informed them that a two lane way would be ap~ to increase the speeding and the same applies to the speed limit of thirty instead of thirty-five miles per hour. If it were 30 miles, nobody would live up to this speed but if 35 mi~ then people are more apt to keep in line with this ~peed. Mrs. Bullock inquired as tohow much authority the Selectmen had and asked if the tow~would have to wait until someone else was killed before the state would do something to alleviate the condition. She said that every time she comes down Chickering Aoad, there seems to be some confusion. Thomas McGrail inquired if the board felt that the State Departmen~ was co- operating and he 'thought that the Board of Trade could do something through the Essex County Board of Trade. Mr. Thomson stated that the Selectmen are doing all possible to straighten out this condition. They have gone over the whole location and have had discussions with various engineers. They hope to have sidewalks, billboard signs and-the markings have been discussed. The engineer stated that these markings a~e not successful but if desired, would be tried. Mrs. Bnllock suggested that in markings, it migh~ help if NO PASSING wns . painted clearlyull along this section, shs"'ha~ seen it in various places.. and it was effective. Mr. Thomson thought this was an excellent mdea. Mr. McGrail questioned the local enforcement of the ,law and said that if speed ~raps were located, the people would be educated to the rules. There are not too many strangers. He also asked if'~e were getting State Police protection. He also mentioned the possibility of three lights at Main, Park and Pleasant Streets in block form and there would be complete control of traffic. By block control, children and buses could,be taken care of. It was. finally agreed that an appointment would be made with Mr. Curry to meet with the Selectmen and the Board of Trade members to go over this area andsee Just what can be done. LAWRENCE GAS& ~2CTRIC COMPANY: ~ ReqUest for permission to excavate to insta]l gas services at Linden Avenue, 13 'feet on street and Chadwick Street - 17 feet on street was received~ and the Board voted ..unanimously to grant this request. Mr. Carty will be notified of this excavation. POPPY DAY: Mrs. Virginia Olms requested that the Selectmen set aside May 27, 1950 as Poppy Day as requested by the American Legion Auxiliary. Board voted unanimously togrant this request. TO'NEE CLOCK-JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL: Mr. Callahan reported that the clock in the High School was not ringing and hadn't been working for the past two weeks.. The Board voted to refer this matter tothe Howard Clock Products, Inc. and request that they check this further. TREE REmOVAL'REQUEST: John Roche of 90 Second Street requested that a ~ree be removed from in fron~ of his property as it makes the'house dark and'damp. There are three maple trees very clmse together and the tree warden agrees that one should be removed. A hearing was set for May lS, 1950 at 7:20 P.M. REMOVAL REQUEST: Gaston Desmulier, 27 Belmont St. also requested the removal of a tree in front of his property and a hearingwas set for May 1~, 1950 a= 7:25 P.M. SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER: John J. Lyons was appointed unanimously as a special police officer on this day. Mr. Lyons is the town clerk. REVOL~ERPERMIT: The' board voted unanimously to grant a. license ~o carry a revolver to R' Jack Howard of 203 Middlesex Street. WIRING INSPECTOR: Notice received that our letter of April 25, for ins has been authority to.set Harrison C. Witherell.