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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-04-16 Board of Selectmen MinutesAPRIZ 16, 1951-continued. ':~---~ '~ &-". :' '~I' -ONPANY: Notification received that this company plans ~o bring natural gas to its territory in the near future', and it will be necess.ary for the company to,Just every gas applisace on its lines. The hosts will be borne by the company. The men will carry proper identification cards and attached photographs and any cooperation given by the board in supplying information required at this time. No action taken. PERMISSION TO EXCAVATE: '_e oar. grante permmssion to the Lawrence Gas & Electric Co. to excavate to inspect valves and install test pipes a~' ~he following locations:Andover Street at Wood Lane. DEPART~ENT OF PUBLIC WORXS: -. '~-ce receive t at ~ e Department of Public "or!cs, after due notice and hearing on a petition of certain in,habitants of the Town of Sorth~Andove~ protesting against the action taken by the Selectmen of North Andover changing the name of Railroad Avenue to Waverly ~(oad, has voted to approve Of this change under the provisions of Section 3, Chapter 85, of the General Laws, (Ter. Ed.)Signed by Mary E. McMorrow, Secretary.. INSURANCE RATES: A letter received from Thomas Bevington & Sons, Inc. s~ating that they had recently been informed of a sube~antial reduction in rates affecting Town prcper~y. They are investigating the method of applying this reduction for the Town's benefit and are going over the values of the building On the Town schedules and as soon as this' survey has beem completed, they will communicate further with this board. They-suggested that an inventory be made of the Town's contents and suggested meeting with the board to discuss this ma~er then~there would be no guess work. ~heBoard voted to request Mr. Whipple and ~an insurance representative to meet with them on April- 23, 1951 at §:15 P.M.'witH'-respect tb the .inventory of the Town contents and also appraisal of buildings. UNITED STATES SENATE: Mr. Coffin discussed the first senate investigation commission and stated that they had pu~ out a voluminous book when they had first started and had said that a club on May Street was operating and giveing~ out racing information. The Selectmen checked on thia bu~ after it had been investigated, it bad'moved out and the District Attorney, and state police as well~ as local police had investigated the .matter. The Kefauver Committee were recently con~ac~ed and their reply sugge~sted that the Selectmen check with the loca~ paper and see where the item originated from. ~he Tribune has been contacted and no reply has been received to date~ . . CENTER SCHOOL LAND: Walter Stamp, Jr. requested permission ~o use. the Drummond Memorial Playground and the land at the Center School for the annual Fourth of July Celebration 'tS be held from July 3 to 7, 19~1. The board granted, permission for the use of the Center School land and the De~t. of Public '~o~ks will haVe to grant ' permission on the Playground. SPECIAL T0¥E~ MEETING: Mrs. Coffin stated ~hat he had been mulling over the matDer of' the. Special Town Meeting and was wmudering how to manipulate this thing. ' He felt that the act of rescinding the vote or par~ 'of it was not sufficient andthe article should call for Chapter 80 tobe tied in. It would be necessary to get Mr. Cmrty,s estimate .on the cost for each article and then after w arrice at a fi&~Are we would get a bond issue rather then raise, and appropriate themoney. · Mr. Coffin Suggested that the special town meeting be .postponed until May 7, and follow the town plan to use Chapmer 80. He said we would first get the estimate, then secondly contact the banks and third contact town counsel if we need legal advibe. . , There was further discussion about th~ p~ocedure to follow and Mr. Coffin then'made a motion to postpone the special town meeting called*for April. 30, 1951 by Dean Ross and others until May 7, 1951 at. 8:00 P.M. to be held at the Town Hall. Vote was unanimous. Mr. Coffin then suggested that we talk with Mr. Carty about the estimates and also with Mr. Mnkewon the borrowing. POLZCE DEPARTMENT: Mr. Coffin stated that he had a complaint from Principal Alvah Hayes who stated that he had sked Chief McKee for an officer for the High School on ~¥iday evening, April 13, 1951 and the chief said the price would be $5.00. ¥~en the Principal offered to pay the officer he refused the $5.00 and said the cos~ Was 57.00. He said when he puts on his uniform it is $~.00 and that's that. Mr. Hayes was upset about this and he tried to con~act Mr. Coffin but finally talked with Mr. Thomson. APRIL 16, 1951-continued POL!C~ DEPARTMENT-continued. Mr. Hayes said that almost everytime there is an affair ~ the High School there is dispute of some kind. Mr. Coffin felt that the chief should set the pay rate and that it should apply ~o all officers. The board vo~ed to refer this to the chief and have him check the matter thoroughly and males a report to this board. ANOTHER INCIDENT: Mr. Coffin then told of another inciden~ Whinh~happened on April 14, on ~utton Street. Alexander Windward Jr. 250 Sutton St. called ~r. Coffin and said he was moving to Maine and he ha~ a moving van at the house but because of a limb on the tree in his yard, the van couldn,~ back in and it would be necessary to carry the furniture quite s distance. Mr. Windward go~ up into the ~ree ~o 'chop the limb down and the police cndiser came along and sounded the siren2 It attracte~ the neighbors and wcke up his baby and someone in ~the car said he couldn't cut the limb o~ff and told him %o get down. The uniformed officer told him he had no right to cut down this limb and also told him to' get down. Mr. Windwurd said he go~ down and told the officer he could cut the limb off as thetr~e was on his proper~y but the officer said he c~uldn't. Mr. Windward then called Mr. Connors, tree warden who told him if the ~ree was on his property then he cbuld cu~ off the limb. ~ Mr. Coffin said' there were discourteous remarks form the officer. He felt that an inquiry should be made by the chief as to~ who the officers were and an apology made ~o Mr. Windward. A motion was then made by Mr. Coffin that these two mat~ers be refered ~o the Chief and tha~ he be requested ~o inquire ~%ul~y into th~s ma~er and settle them ~udiciously and make a full report to this board. Mr. Finneran seconded the motion which was unanimous. Mm. Coffin further s~ated that the chief has Jurisdiction over the offi'cers and he feels that he should set the pay to be given to these officers for this part- icular kind of work. SURVEYORS OF WOOD, BARK AND L~BER: The board appointed John Wilcox, Lacy Street as a surveyor of .wood, bark and lumber by unanimous vote. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UZILITIES Notice received that a public hearing will be held in Boston a~ 166 Sta~e Ho~se, on Wednesday, May 2, 1951 a~ 2:15 o'clock in the afternoon with reference ~o the petition of'the Dump Truck Owner,s ~ssociation, Inc. inthe matter of increase in the hourly rates for vehicles transporting certain dump Zruck commoditi es as set forth in D.P.U. 8906 and the prescription of minimum ra~es and charges f~r hot-top and cold-patch to~ether with a mandatory rule governing waiting time as follows: "Hourly rates(for vehicles and driver". APRIL 23, 1951: . ~kl~r meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at ?:O0~P.M. with all members present. Neekly bills and 'payrolls were approved. CENTER SCHOOLGROUNDS PF~RMIT: %¥alter Stamp, Jr. came before the board and asked for permission to use the Center School land to hold a caruivsl from April 30 through Nay 5, 1951. Mr. Coffin made a motion that the ~ommunity Canter' be given a permit ~o use the Center School ~rounds for the purpose of conducting a carnival from April 30 ~through May 5, 1951. Motion seconded and vote was unanimous. HOLY SEPULCHRE CEMETERY BOARD: Commander Charles W~rd of the American 'Legion came before the board and asked the Selectmen mo appoint a three man board or give the Commander permission ~o appoint such a board for this cemetery. Mr. ~ard said the board would take care of checking discharge papers when a body is to be buried and that would be their only function except when the burial agen~ was no~ available he would take .over his duties only after permission is granted for burial by the Board of Selectmen. He suggested that the Commander of the Legion, the burial a_g.ent and the ~own clerk would be ~ good threeman committee, since all would be interested in this ma~er. ~he purpose is to bring back an active board. Mr. Coffin made a motion tha~ the previous vote with respect to eligibility for burial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery owned .by the thereof, authorize,in response to the requesl~ of the American ~egion, st 219, a committee to be incharge of burials ~o be had in such lot, the· Commander of American =egion, Post 219, the Town Clerk, 2~ officio and the burial agent. Vote was unanimous and.a copy will be san~ to Father Daly, St. ~atricks Church, American Legion and the V. F. W. POLICE DEPART~.~.NT: Officer John Willis came before the board ko discuss extra work for policemen and he was appointed to appear before this board and discuss their side of the case. He toUnderst°°dofficersthatwho dothereex~ra'WaSwork.t° be a discussion tomigh't withrespect ~o the selaries paid Mr. Thomson said he knew of no planned discussion' but that he had heard~ a complaint and he discussed the ma~%sr with the Chief and it was his(fir, Tnomson,s suggestion) tha~ the officers receive the s~me hourly rate as they rebeive for each regular pay. He could see no reason for haying more than the reg~ula~ per hour pay to do ex:fa work for scho~ls or organization~. - . Mr. Willis said that his particular reason was tha~ he felt that it was about time there was some dignity in the police department. He mentioned an instance whish happened some time ago when the Police Station was picketed and their were signs abou~ Polish Hams and the place was the laughing stock of the town. He said not one of the officers weretown. involved in this but they had to take all the ridicule which went on about the He mentioned that the officer who went to the high school wanmed ~o receive $7.00 as a~ fee had been s et by him when the football games Ware being played.- He said they also had a meeting some time ago and all agreed that $?.O0 was a fair fee to charge. ~ The people like ~,~r. Hayes cell up and wont agree to pay the amount they are supposed ~e pay, Just because the Chief sets off a f~igure which is no~ in accordance with the fee set at the meeting. Normar. Fleming would no~ work for ~5.00 and Mr.O'Brfen agreed to make up' the difference and he was disturbed a~ Mr . Ha~es who said ha was ahold-up man. Mr. Willis said the officer shouldn,t have been accused of' tha~. Then he~ celled the Selectmen and said'the officers were not worth'mute than $5.00 ani. the Selectmen sent a letter ridiculing every man .... Mr. Willis then told the board that they set their pay but after hours, y6u h ave nothing. tosay about it excep~ that we be reasonable. He quoted the ~ay for other citi%s 'and towns which averag.ed $9.00 ~o $1OiO0. He mentioned that the board felt ~hat the ~hourly ~ ra~e' was enough. He said they have ~o have their uniforms cleaned and perform the duties required of an officer. He said Just because a man calls the chief and h'e s~rs $5.00 is " no reason why they should accept it. The chief goes'against what he agreed upon 'at the . meeting. He felt that the Selectmen should give the Depar~men~ some backing and the time " has come when this should be 'done. We don'~ want this to become a political football or something for you to kick around. The men don,t feel that they should be on an hourly · wage as they haVe to break up a whole evening even for two ~ours or for eight hours. · Mr. Thomson then said he didn't tklnk there was any lessening of dignity or prestige · ~ by working for the High School or any other charitable organization. He said you men want ko charge more for private functions than you do for working for th~' ~ownand you are ac~ual!y taking pennies out the pockets of the~e ~children who run these " affairs atthe High School~ He said this is purely volUnteer work and you don't have to do it,' you can take it or leave it. - ' 'Mr. Thomson said he could see no reason why these officers' should get .any more for ~special work than they do for their regular pay. He thought it was ridiculous for ~: .an officer to c~arge any more than regular pay and h.~s ~olicy is $1~59 per hour ~:; unless the person desires to pay more. ~J~e.~Wtll~.s th.eh asked if the board were going t~ l~t~ the chief se , ~oes ~nen ne sho~d s~Z' ,,,. , ~ the ,pays and if . rock ~to the amo~,,t agreed upon and not't fellow~ of himself by giving out a smaller rate, ., ry to make ~..good · MrJ :Thomson said he wondered how many times the offic6rs have offered their services ~ ~ · free to any of the charitable affairs and thought the officers were very Unfair to ~.~ bring this matter up at this time. Mr. ,Coffin said he went along with the ~hairman wholeheartedly. ~' Mr. 4~llis said that nobody kno~s when there is extra wo.rk and they v~n~ some policy in the department. He said someone culls up and whoever ms on duty gets the work and there you are. "Mr. Coffin said he would want confirmation of all the things'aid bY Mr. willi4.and - it seems, he said tha~ you are tr~ing to question the authorityof~the~Chief~ and Mr..Willis replied, that there is no set-up in there. -Mr. Coffin said if Willis was dissatisfied as to how the work is handed~t, or if he has any criticism of the .chief and his policy, then take it up with ~he'chief and we will decide whether or not we have any ~urther mariners to discuss. Mr-'"~ Coffin said he didn't Understand who gave authority to Willis to come in here and take over snis matter and he felt the chief should have nome in. l~lllis said he asked' th'e chief to come in but he refused. Mr. Coffin said he thougn~ the officers were going too far. They got a nice raise and he thought they weren,~ worth anymore than $1.59 per hour. He said they didn't do anything ars~vay. Willis then said,I can s~ill talk ~o you, You~e nora sitting on God,s throme and~you don,t do much either,,. There was further discussion and Mr. l~illts said he didn't care what policy the board set as long as ~the officers get something. Mr. Thomson then sa~d the matter wculd be taken under advisement. SPECIAL TO~N MEETING: The Board d~scussed the articles for the Special ~own meeutng ~o be held on May 7, and all petitioners present wanted ~heir aritcles insertcd in the warrant with the exception of ~lsdon Arold who has put up a bond of $1~0. There was a lengthy discussion abou~ various matter pertaining to the vo~e at the .annual ~own meeting with respec~ to water, constructio beingstarted by Junel, 1951 etc.