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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-06-18 Board of Selectmen Minutesand see how it ~vorked out. JUNE 18, 1951- continued; Harold T~ombly came before the Board to invite them to participate in the parade mtO be held on June 20, 1951 when the "Sports Night, will be held for the benefit of the Boy Scouts in the town. The board accepted the invitation with thanks and will endeavor to be present. RECREATIC~AL COUNCIL: Mrs..J. Elliott came before the board to ask for their approval on the appoint- ment of George Schofield as am instru6tor for the Playground to take the place of Fred Marland who has secured another job for the summer. The board voted unanimously to approve this appointment. MASS. AVE. PLAYGRO[U~D: Mrs. Elliott brought up the ,matter of a name for this playground and suggested either .~;averley Park or Just %¥ave~ey Playground. ~here was a discussion about this and Mr. Thomson felt that we should move with caution and have a hearing and receive Suggestions for this change. Mr. Coffin said he would like ~o have the playground named for some person who has done some grea~ thing and it would be well named. Mrs. Elliott said the main part of the playground is on Marblehead Street. lA-. Thomson informed Mrs. Elliott that we would keep this in mind and have it published and accept any suggestions and then have a hearing. Mr. Thomas Lebel Suggested that a Mr. Miller had lost ~wo legs in the firs~ war · ~ad it might well be named after him. Mr. Coffin thought this was an excellen~ idea but the board then discussed that other boys had also died in the service and it would cause hard fee£ing among other families. -' Mr. Thomson then asked Mrs. Elliott to have the $ouncil send in a letter with their recommendation for such a name so that we may have it on record. CML AIR PATROL: Lieutenants Alvert Mazo and Richard Potter came be for the board and discussed with the board, the possibility of Using the Center School building for conduc~- lng .their classes. The lieutenants told of the origin of the Civil Air Patrol in 1941 and how they - have grow~. They are organized under the Air Force Reserve and the Cadets are between the ages of 15-18. They receive Military Training, Discipline, courses in navigation, radio communication, etc. The opportunity is remarkable when these Cadets are g6ing into actual service. Lt. Potter explained that the patrol star,ed one year ago ~rith four Cadets and now they have about 150. He explained that they have two rooms at the Municipal Airport and have not enough room for training. They have a Link trainor there and when they were forced to take ou~ this equipmen~ the Cadets Were well on their ~?ay and had to cut classes. He said that Lawrence, Andover, mcthuen and North Andover s~and to profit by the Civil Air Patrol. He said they locate missing person, fly plasma, etc. Lt. Mazo told the board that these boys won ~he State Championship~and theywill go to New York but they would like to get the Center School ~o continue to train these boys. He stated that they had been told to coopera~e with Civil Defense and help ou~ in any ~ay possible. They .will pay any expense necessary to make the school suitable for training purposes. They are paying $2.00 a hight at the Airport. Lt. Mazo stated tha~ they are responsible ~o ·~ings. Mr. Thomaon s~ated that he is concerned about the responsibility if the School were given, in case of accident ~o any of.the Cadets. Lt. Mazo stated that they carry insurance and have a doctor there a~ all times. Dr. Freedman, who is the medicai officer. ~hey would set up a First Aid room there. He felt that this trains the Cadets for mervice and also keeps the ~boys off the street. Mr. Thomson felt that he would like to take thi4 into consideration and also take it up with Civil Defense Committee. Lt. Potter stated that the local organization is called the' Squadron, the State is called the Group and they are all answerable to ~ings.. He added that all expenses will be borne by the Civil Air Patrol. Mr. Coffin made a motion that the request of the Civil Air Patrol be taken under advisemen~ and that ~ve notify Lt. Mamo,. at 137 Howe St. Methuen or at the Administration Building, Airport, of the decision of the board. Board voted unanimously on this motion. OIL BURNER PERMITS: Chief Hargreaves and Wiring ~nspecthr Thomas Lebel me: with the board :o discuss the matter of oil burner permits. There appears to be unnecessary duplication under the pres6nt setup. Mr. Lebel inspects t he wiring and Mr. Hargreaves has one of his men inspect the oil burners for which he receives $.50 for each one. Mr. Lebel was concerned about ~he amount of bookeeping required and he did not f eel that he could ~ ake on too much of tha~ as his time is pretty well taken up with wiring inspecting and his private business. Afte~ further discussion during which time Mr. Har~eaves explained that the fire departmen~ would continue to issue the permits and tha~ the amount of bookkeeping would be very little, the mwo men~ agssed that Mr.. Lebel would t~ke ca~e of the 'oil burner inspections along with his wirin~ inspections The board was agreeable ~o this arrangmmnt. JUNE "8, 1951-continued COMPLAINT: Mrs. Daniel Dennis, 38 Ashland St. talked with the members of the board about Mrs. Serdowski who lives on the other side of 'her house and ~ho had been a patient at Danvers State Hospital for one year but was released and has been out of Danvers Hospital for over one and one half years. Mrs. Dennis told the board that she had thepolice down on several occasions but that they were unable to do anything as the noise stopped as soon as they a..~peared. She had . Dr. Carroll and had to have a sedative and stay in bed for two days because of her nerves. Mr. Thomson explained to the board that he had talked with Chief McKee and Officer Fleming about this women and that Chief McKee told him that he had talked with Dr. Bonner about this case and that he sent three male nurses here from Danvers Hospital but they were unable' to get into the house. Chief said he knew of no law w~ich would give him the authority ~o have this owman committed and Dr. Bonner could do nothing. Application had been made %o the Clerk of Court and the facts told to him but he said he could take no action. McKee was told there was no basis for the complaint and he went to the District~ Attorney and~as also told that he knew of no action that could be taken.~ He said he could not go in and break into the home without a warrant, which must be received au a complaint signed by the complainant. M~s. Dennis said that the woman goesoutin the street and yells and screams and accuses Hrs. Dennis of killing her husband and stealing her money. She said the chief told Inspector Leafy one story and told her another~ She said they all met in the chief's Office at one time and nothing came of it. Mr. Thomson then stated that he would be willing to ~o to the Clerk of Courts with Mrs. Dennis and let her tell the story to him andsee what~ could be done. Mrs. Dennis further s~ated that two officers had stopped in her house and listened to the noise bu~ that no action had been taken and on one occasion Chief Mckee had to come down so that she could go into her own home. Inspector Leary told her that Chief McKee would have to take care of this situation. 'Mrs.- Dennis then .told of another incident when 0fficerFleming came down and he was rude to her and very boisterous. He bold her husband that he would meet him anywhere and any place when he was no~ in uniform. Mr. Coffin then said that this seems like the only logical step to take and there may,be another side to the story as to why you have been put off by the police. Mr. Thomson and Hr. Coffin will accompany Mrs. Dennis :o the office of the Clerk of Courts and see wh.~t can be done in 'this matter. OLD UNION SCHOOE: Mr. ~ffasil Muzichuk informed the board in a letter dated. June 11, that he going to demolish'the school. He had planned to make it into apartments but the oinside had beendemolished by boys in the ~own and was beyond repair so he had no other alternative but to demolish the whole building. No date was given as to when he would take this action. OFFICE OF PRICE STABLIZATION: Letter received from~the Regional' Price Executive, Azel FJ Hatch informing the board tha~ compliance with certain regulations issued by the Office of Price Stabilization had been very lax in this area. Before enforcement measures are taken he felt tha~ the Selectmen should bring this mo the attention of businessmen affected by these regulations who have not filed the required forms, should immediately communicate with their D~trict OPS Office. Penalties to which establishments and retailers who are in volattonk are: 1. Being enjoined from contLuuing to do business. 2. Fined 3. Jail sen:ence. The board voted to have this information published and forms' available for these regulations are obtainable at the Selectmen's Office. CENTER SCHOOL: Sgt. Hilton reported that he had checked the damage at this school and that some of the lower windows had not been boarded up and this should be done. He mentioned that a small organ which had previously been there was missing and he would have liked to purchase it. He would also like to buy one of thc table victrolers which is in the school. A Mr. J. Randolph Holt of 99 Main St, Batavia, New York came ~o the building and is very much interested in purchasing this organ for sentimental reasons. ~he board voted to turn this matter of the organ over to the Chief of Police and ask that he investigate and make a report to the board. No action~s taken on Sgt. Hilton's requ=s% to purchase the victroler. Chief McEee had reported that the windows were broken and that children can ge% in and he ~n~a~tteedd that it be boarded up. The board decided that Louis ~tller should be and asked ~o board up all the windows which are in need of it. Mr. Coffin made a motion that this matter be investi~,ated by Officer Farnham but the motion was not seconded and Mr. Finneran suggested that it go to Chief McKee. JUNE ~8, 1951: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATI0~ Notice received that the Department had approved the following pupils residing in North Andover to attend Andover Evening Practical Arts School: E~eanor Adams, 59 Milk St. Ceramics 3/27/51. Louis McAloon, Third St. Coramics, 4/~2/51. BOARD 0FAPPEALS: Notice received that after a public hearing on June 11, 195~, the Board.of Appeals'voted to grant a variance to 7emerina Coco, 124 Unzoh St. on the premises at 164-168 Nass. Ave. so as to permit the erection of two residences on two lots which do not mee~ the present requirements as to side yards as specified in the Zoning By-Laws. These residences are ~o be built in accordance with plans as filed with the board at the time of the hearing. BOARD OF PU~IC WORKS: Notice receiwed from William B. Dully that the float at the Bathing Beach was partially burned on Tuesday night June 4, 1951 and the board is .mskimg a claim for the damage. ANERICANAUTO~OBILE ASSOCIATION: Communication received informing the ~oard that the Boa~d of Judges of the 1950 ;-%% National Pedestrian Protection Contest unanimously Voted tha~ North Ando~er receive s~ecial recognition for its splendid record of the pedestrian de~ths during 1950 and a letter be sent to Mr. Thomson as chief executive. The letter'stated that their staff will be pleased to continue to work with 1~r. · Alfred McKee, Chief of Police, who acted so capably as the mContest Representative,, in 1950. ~:~ae~&bi~rmontkly meeting of the Board of Se/sctmen was held a~ ?:00 P.M. with all members present. Weekly bills and payrqlls were approved. LA~W~ENCE GAS & .ELECTRIC C~.: _e Wrence ~an a ~.ectr-c Co. requested permission to locate poles, wires and fixtures on the ~Sterly side of Chickering Road, from a point approximately llo feet northerly from Presco~ Street, northerly, 2 poles.. One abutter, Alice Eoody ~ Chapin, 140 Prescott Street, ~as notified. There was no objection end Mr. Finneran made the motion that the petition be granted and this was a unanimous vo~e of the board. ~ne Lawrence' Gas & ~Electric Co. requested permission to excavate to insta~ gas main made the motion that the petition s this)was a unanimous vote of the board. The Lawrence ~as & ~ectric Co. requested ~ermission to excavate to install m~ ~,~,~.o -for Clarence Walters, 16 Brightwood Ave., (15 feet in Street); £~r Harry Bod~ra~ .... 27 BrightwoodAve., (25 feet in street); and James Noone, 272 Sutton Street, (44 feet in streem). Mr. Ooffimmade the motion that this petition be granted.and it was a unanimous vo:e'of the Board. RiISE FOR RESERVE POLICE OFFICK~S: ~cCubbin ca~ before the board relative to a raise for Reserve Police Officers. Mr. Willis stated that he was here as a representative of the Police Relief kssociation and he had two ~opies of the proposed by-laws and stated tha: they mean mo ac.cep~ them at the next meeting. They would like any Sugges- tions or recommendations, which woul~ be brought up at the next meeting be.fore they are submitted to the printer. Mr. McCubbin is on the Board of Directors and Mr. Macklin is the treasurer. Mr. Willis s~a~ed they were here pertaining to an adjust- ment of the salary of the Reserve Police Officers. They are now paid $1.00 per hour under a plan establishe~ three years ago when the reserve force first went into.effect. Mr. Willis said it would not cost the town any more money ~s the money is already appropriated. Mr. Willis further stated that it the consensus of opinion that it wa~ not fair tha: we (regulars) could take a night off and hire a man to work and still make almost $5.00 for .not wor~ing. Mr- McCubbin said that since the organization was formed, the ~own employees have obtained ~wo pay raises, but the reserves have remained the same. He said, "When we work for' them (regulars), we are required to do the same duties and they feel they should receive $1.h6 per hour, or $.h6 more pgr hour than we are getting now.', , ~$E~VE POLICE OFFICEHS'[continued) Mr. Willis said this was the situation, ,,NcCubbtn works for the highway depar%ment at $1.20 per hour and if he takes off to work for the police department, he has to work for 205 per hour less. A raise will not affect the appropriation at all." Mr. Willis spoke about the se~-up in Andover, stating that the regulars get $62 and the reserves, SS? or, a basis of $5.00 difference. Mr. NcCubbin stated, "I don't wish to smart an argument but I have been told that while I am on annual leave from the highway dept., that I emmet draw two pays from the town. Mr. Thomson asked, "You get vacation pay from the highway 'and you propose to work .for the police?" NcCubbin, "I don't know." Mr. Thomson stated that he did not know of ar~ law that prohibits e person from working for ~wo departments and Mr. Coffin said, ,,Itcertainly don't think there is any town by- law." NcCubbtn, ,,The town will still have to pay someone regardless of whether it is myself or.another man.' Mr. Coffin, "I can't see any obJectio~n to it myself.''' Mr. Coffin then asked if these 'by~!awe were p~tent~d 'after some Greater Lawrence Association and and Mr. Willis said they were almost the same as Methuen. Mr. Coffin asked if the money were to be raised by dues ~and Mr. Willis said yes and theyare also p~anning to have some kind of entertainment and possibly a Ball in the Fall. Mr. Finneran asked the men if they had any idea how much they worked last year and Mr. k~eOubbin said his earnings from the Police Dept. were approximately $200. Mr. 'Nil]As said that these men can't sacrifice their regular work to work around here. These men want .the work when they are available to work. Mr. NcCubbin said, "The annual vacations etar~ this week and we would like it decided so vm will know what we are working for." Mr. Coffin then wanted to know ~bout benefits and Mr. WiLlis explained that if a man received sick benefits at his place of business, then he would not receive benefits from the Associar~-~ tibn. Mr. Thomson a~ked Mr. Macklin if he were working at the Navy Yard and Mr. Macklin state~ he was but is available faturday~ Smuday and ni~h~s. Mr. Thomson then read the. communication from Chief NcKee in' which he stated that he had talked with Civil Service relative to Reserve Police Officers and he was. advised by Civil Service that if a.man ·/ is frequently called and'is, not available for duty, then the matter should be reported ~ to the felectm~n, who c~n d~rop that man from the list. Mr. Willin then said,'"He (chief)- has difficulty gg.tting reserves, particularly because it is the last mxnUte when'they are called; ~t' the last meeting of the Association, the. y discussed this problem. If a man is .supposed to go to work at S and is called at 4.30, it is dif~i6ult to make ' arrangements. We felt that if' the' Chief could talk to these men and each man could · m~ske a provision t6 be available at a certain time, then he would get all the work during that particular time in which he is available. These. men don't, refuse work, but under ~=- -=~ ....... ces th~ can't~be available on'short notice." Mr.. Thomson then ask.ed,~ · ' Isn't the burden off' tH~m..~Ak~'them~elve's by virtue of being Reserve Police Of.fxce. rs.~? ~ben ~t~ey took a Res~v~ ~ol~%e' o~ficer~,s Job, they agreed to be~ available for thzs ~ob~"/ ~ill/s, "Talked to girl ab'out that a month ago andShe said itwas unreasonable to · ~ expect' a.man to give up his work' for two ~or three day~ wor~::a .month'..". Mr. Willis point d out that the same principle applies ~in Mr. Duffy's department'where a. man mske~ himself av~Llable for a. month at a time, and~theh whenever anything comes up,,. that.particular ,' man is called. Mr'. Thomsowtold Mr. Willis this was a problem ~for the 'association. ~Mr. 'l~illis said they knew' t~a'b'but ~anted to know if they could get .cooperation. Mr. Finneran ~msaid~ ,,It~may be -~easonable, but the way I read it, they are supposed to be available · at all times." Mr. Finneran ~sked if this took in intermittent as well a~ reserves :and., Mr. Willis stated that there w~re no intermittent police. Mr. Finneran' wan~ed to know ~' if ~.this meant all the' time. ~ Mr; Willis stated that according to the appropriation granted~i it provides for vacation at his weekly pay and Mr. Finneran wanted to know if it is ~anted~ ~o have money for ~acatinns, he didn't think they would have the.monkey'for the rest of the year. Mr. Thomson, "You get ~your salary whe~ you are out sick,~.and ?h? ~?.wn pays another man?" iMcCubbin~. "The Chief said he would split up the~_v~a~cat~on cut ~n.m.s ye_.ar it is going .to be different than iother years~and we~will get $1.OO per hour. mr. ~-znneran said that he can 'see where there is money enough for vacations, but ~not for work for the · rest of the year. He further stated that there may not be enoughzmoney at' $1.46 per~ hr. Mr. Coffin said, "You are' asking us to increase the hourly rato to. $1.46 per hr." Willis, "As far 'as. I know, it has always been the practice to pay the full amoun~ of vacation ~ · being done'' .' pay;" Mr/Coffin, "You are' asking us to authorize something that is already · We can only vote on money that has been appropriated. Is there such money available?? Willis, "I don!t know, I have no idea." Mr. Coffin, "What I think is that the appropria- tion weuld not stand the increase at this time. ' At least for the vacation pay, I think what you have stated is a pretty fair basis. I think I should be in favor of $1.46 per hr~ for vacation pay if there were enough money in the appropriation." Mr. Thomson, "I under- s~and that the' reserves when they work in the fmll vacation period, are paid regular officers' salary, yet other times, they are paid $1.O0 per hr. ~hat is not the arrangemsnt in Andover...which is whenever a reserve officer works, vacation or otherwise, he receives $5.00 less than the ~egula~ patrolmen...why the difference." "Why work a week at one salary and six or seven weeks at a different'salary?" Willis, "That is the minim~m... $5.00 less than the regulars." Mr. Thomson, "Taking into consideration these other men (outside of McCubbin), $1.46 per hour will not' correct the situation as far as they are concerned. Willis, "It is strange ~hat if it is up to the man onthe desk, he can always get shold of these reserve officers...and the c~ief can't." Mr. Thomson, "what is the position you now advocate?" Willis, $5.00 less than the regulars." Mr. Coffin, ,,~hether for vac4tion 'or otherwise?" McCubbin, "We decided that the pay should be thc same as the regulars for vacation but on sick leave, $~.OO ~ss." Mr. Coffin, "With respec~ to this ysar, I question whether the money is available." Willis, "Why this year." Mr. Coffin, "The salary of the Chief and Sergeant were raised considerably."