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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951-09-17 Board of Selectmen MinutesS e re&m ar wee. y meeting£PTE;~ER17, 195!: of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 P.N. with all members present. Weekly bills and payrolls were approved. .~EQUEST-CN~TER SCHOOL YARD: Ira D. Carty requested permission to use the Center Schoolyard, on September 22, 1951 when the annual fair will be held. The board voted unanimously to g rant this request, AUCTIOi~EER: Ira D. Catty requested that he be given a license for Auctioneer for one day, September 22, 1951 at the annual fair. The board voted unanimously to grant this license for one day, the fee of $5.00 to be waived at this time. OPEN C~LLARS Mr. William Ba.~ord, Beacon Hill Boulevard came before the board and represented the neighbors in this vicinity. He wanted to mention that there are two cellar holes on this. street which are realy bad and dangerous from every angle. They are nearly aTways filled with water and since there are 15 small children in this area~ it is even more dangerous. ~r. Catty has erected snow fences but they are brcken down and are not much good. Mr. Bamford felt that something should be done about these cellars. He said ane'~s started in,1935 and ~here is a stone ~oundatinn and brush has gronw up all around this one but the'second one, near Chickering Road was started in Jul~ ~950 but it has evidently been abandoned and nothing has been done. Mr. Carty said the snow fences were all smashed up. and broken and wanted to know who we uld pay for replacing them. Mr. Thomson stated that insofar as present conditions are concerned, this board has wrestled wit'h this for some time. The late Mr. ~ahonoy had checked'the laws and as he understands it now, there is nothing the Selectmen can do. They have no right to go in on private land and even Mr. Carty should not go in to put up the snow fence but we did get permission from the owners for this. He said this couldn't be called a public nuisance since they effect only the immediate neighborh, ood. The board had the police check with the owners and they had agreed to do what they'.scald. The Lmmediate abutters could take action in court and we could probably stop future holes by amending our building laws. Mr. Thomson said thatif a person applied for a permit and circumstances prevented his going ahead with his plans, there is nothing this board can do at this tine. He said this board realizes the seriousness of these open cellars and they will be glad to' contac, t the owners and see if they ~rlll cooperate and fill in these holes. TREE D~SCUSSION: Mr. Conners came before the board to discuss the tree which had been petitioned for removal by Peter Kurgin, 281 Sutton St. Mr. Conners stated that the largest portion of the ~tree is on private land although the roots have caused the side- walk to raise up a little but is not dangerous at this time.He went on to say that they had used copper sulphate crystals to remove any obstruction there but Mr. Kurgin said this did not work and the Board of Public ¥~orks had to 2o up there again. Mr. Dully informed Mr. Oonnc~s that he felt that the trouble was inside the house during one of the occasions when they had to clean the sewer pipes. He also said he didn't think the roots would grow as quickly ss that. Miss Ella Taylor was presentand asked i£ it couldn't be some obstruction in the pipes in the house, since the bathroom upstairs backed up and came in downstairs. Mr. Thomson said he vms not a plumber and wouldn'~ be qualified to say. He asked Mr. Conners if he felt that the trouble was not caused from the tree and that the tree should not be removed. Mr. Conners said this could be the case. The board voted to take the matter under advisement and see if anything happens again and if the tree interferes with the sewerage, then it should be t~ken down but they will wait and see how long it goes before anything happens. · Mr. Kurgin will be so notified. TREE DEPART~2~T: Mr. Conners informed the board that while taking an elm tree down on private land the men in his department broke a clothesreel and the cost to replace same was $10.00. He didn't have am~ money available and suggested that it be paid from Contingent since this~as something unforeseen. ~e board agreed that the claimant should send a bill to the board and a release would be obtained and then the bill paid from Contingent. DUMPR~G SITUATION: Mr. T. W. Farrell, 500 Boxford St. came before the board to discuss dumping on his property. He said he had offered 'the land to the tow~ for dumping @urposes but they did not want it and so he has ~lowsd different people to come in and dump there. He has about § acres to Till in and the Fire Dept. informed him that he must get a permit from the Board of Health and a permit from the ~Selectmen. Mr. Farrell stated that the land is his amd h~ doesn't see ~y he can't have dumping there if he wishes. SEPTE~BER 17,19~!-¢ontinued. DUMPI~: Mr. Thomson informed Mr. Farrell that this board could not give him a permit but also that he could not create a public nuisance there. Mr. Finneran stated that he felt that Mr. Farrell could dump there as a private dumping place. Mr. Thomson said this board couldn,t restrict him but he probably would not be in good standing with his neighbors who ~would probably be opposed to this, and if he advertised as he s~sid he wanted to, then he would be getting 'to the stage where he had a public dumping place. Mr. Coffin asked why he didn't fill it in ~ith fill, if and When he can get it. He said this was only a suggestion and advice and that tho board was' not telling him what to dc. Mr. Finneran suggested that he see- his lawyer to find out just what his rights Mr. Farrell said he would do this and he didn't wan~ the fire department dc~n there everyttme there is a little fire. Mr. Coffin thought it ~r~s commendable of the fire department to go down there and protect his proper~y. Mr. Farrell then left the meeting. REVOLV~R PERMIT APPLIC~TION: &u application for permission ~o carry a revolver was received from Bernard L. McCann, 17 Cabot Rd.No. Andover, which was approved by the Chief of Police. Mr. Coffin stated that he would like to know the pedigree of this .man. He feels that this board should use extreme care in approving such applications. He said one common meshed is to get references and see if the person is reliable enough to be granted a license. He ulso felt that there should be a requirement'that guns be registered. He said he didn't like to create red tape but firear~ are causing considerable trouble and he would like to know more about the persons who apply for them. He felt tha~ if we got a statement of general qualifications, three references ~ more detailed information, the board would feel better about issuing these licenses. Mr. Thomson said.he thought the board.a&~eed that if the person was not known to ~any of the members they would question them.further: He also agreed'that we should have the pistol numbers and he would like to see this application. The board voted to take no action until they talk with Mr. 'McCann who will be requested to come before the board. OFFICZ~ POPULATION: Town Clerk John. Lyons csme before the board and said he had received the official figures on the population of the town which is given as 8485. He said th~ popu- lation in the town has increased 1524 over a period of twenty years. CIVIL SERVICE:' Notification received from Civil Service Division that the continued orovisional appointmehts of John Donovah, Timothy McCarthy and Myron B. Lewis, Jr~ has been approved from six more months from September 22, 1951, these~ men to be used only when the R, serVes are not available. The continded appointments of Ralph j. Bolderson, Alexander Ness, Augustine ~alsh' and Frank Howard cannot be approved ~nt.il the p~ovisions of Uaapter 31,Section 25, General Laws, have been complied with. The letter states that their office has no list of veteran applicants. The pr&per complianc9 will be made before the form is returned back requesting continued provisional appointment§ for the above four men for a six months period. RESERVE 0~-~ICER: Notice received from Division of Civi~ Service that Russell F. Donnelly, Preserve Patrolman v~ois ~equesting reinstatemen-~$-~t send a certificate ~f a registered physici~an statin.g ~that he is physically~ able t~o~form the duties required and a copy(photostatmc~ or his discharge papers must be~x~i~bited. Mr. Donnelly has been n6tified of this requirement and as soon as he receives the doctor's certificate the information will be forwarded to Civil Service. R~D FEATHER DAY: Notice received that October 14, 1951 is to be known around Greater Lawrenceas "Red Feather DaY~ and extended an invitation to the board to participate in the huge parade to beheld'on this day in Lawrenc6. STREET LIGHT REQUESTS: A request for a street light was received from Alice ~. Moody and other residents of Moody Street and ~'hrber Ave. Mr. Thomson had viewed this location recently and felt that a light was needed there as there are a bout twelve small children in this immediate vicinity and it is very dard. The light would be on the con,er of Furber A~enue and Moody St. The board voted unanLmously to request the Lawrence G & E Co. to install a 1000 lumen light at this point. Mr. Coffin received a request for a street light to be installed at t~heDproperSy 'of Thomas Crowe, 47~ Railroad~Avenue(~averley ~d.) and it was voted to gsk the gas company ~o survey this aha make a recommendation as to where ~he light should be instailod. Unanimous vote of ~he board. SEPTE;~KR 1~;, 1951:-contined COUI~i~GREAT POIfD ROAD: Copy~of the petiti.on signed by the Board of Selectmen under date of August 27, 1951 relative to w~dening, altering, relocating or repairing Great Pond Road was received and it has been ordered that the petitioners giv. e notice ~o all persons and corporations interested therein that the said Comm/ssioners ~ill meet at the Court House in Salem on Tuesday the ninth day of October, 1951 at 11:00 o'clock P.M. This petition and order was given to Louis Silverman, Deputy Sheriff to have the necessary notices given. LA,WRENCE G & E CO: Pex'mission was granted to the Lawrence G & E Co. to excavate to install gas service for William Boutman, Camden Street, 27' in street and Vf. L.~ Hanshaw, 425 Johnson Street, 15' in street. Mr. Carty mill be notified of this excavation. PETdlI$SION TO BLOCK OFF.STREET: The board voted unanimously to grant permission to' the Mariners- to Use Milton Street from Third Street to hold a party on Friday, September 21, 1951, The board also voted to request the Highway Surveyor and Police Deoartment to give any assistance they can to this affair. RESERWE POL!CE~ OFFICER: Fran~ Dusheme informed this board in v~riting of the hours he will be avaiiable for police work and the board voted to refer this letter to the police chief. i~SURAECE: A letter was received from Thomas J. McGrail,jr. relative to~ the bath house at the:American Legion Bathing Beach. He called attention ~o the fact that 1the building is now insured for $1600 which he did not consider sufficient aL this timel He also suggested that~ the policy be written for a five year period rather than three which would save the town some money. The bo'ard voted to refer this letter to Mr. Richard G. Whipple for his recommendation and they will_then n~tify ~ Mr. McGrai. l~ L~ND COURT: ..~ otmce received by Registered mail that a p tition has been presented to said ~ Court by Otto F. Student and Charlotte. M. Student of 1 North Andover to re~ister ~and confirm their 'title in land shown and described in their petition(Hewitt Ave. 'If no objection or defense is filed on or before o,+.~,~ ~ ~o~+ - be.~orever barred from contesting samd petition or. ~ny decree .entered~ thereon. ' case No. 22905.1~mg..1 No action was taken by the .boa~d. · me regtuar .weekly meeting of. the. Board, of Selectmen..was~:~eld at 7:00 P.M. [.with all,members present.~ Ilaskly.bills and payrolls were.approved. LAWRENCE GAS & ELECTRIC. COMPAFI: A hearingwas .held at ?:30 PJM. on,the petition of~this ~0~any for permission to locate';~eles, ;wires end fixtures, on the .westerly. side ~.of Andover By-Pass at'~a p°in~ ~'appr°ximately ' 435~ feet ' southarllcfrom ,Hillside Road, 1. pole. Abutters'ha~ be~n notified and there was no opposition. .~ ,. P~IMI~SION gr?~d to this Cl~ following; :Saliratore Coco~ ,ps~,,y .~o~.excavate ~o install gas selwlce.'f~r.the be'so~.nbtified, oa mas.s..Ave. 21 feat in's treet. Mr. Carry will The'l~0ard voted unanimoasIy, t~ grant the p~rmiasian 'requested in the-petitian covering plan ~9 .covering the abandonment "of, one pole-on Main Street 'and. one on .Da%~ Street. No .hearingl wa~ necessary. : The 'Boai'd,.also-voted unanimously oh'.the petition of :this company, covering plan #5§ for the relocation of one pole on Railroad:Ave. No hearing, necessary. R~OLVER ~ APPLICATION: . , · . . Bernard L.. EcCann, 17' Cabot Road came before the bo~d as requested with respect' to his application for a revolver permit. Mr. McCarm said he had a permit in · Lawrence,for the past. three years and stated~'that he uses the revolvers for target"practice~ hunting and for protection when he carrys large sums of money, particularly on specific, days when ,:the sales ,in the's tore would be' ex%rs large. Mr. Coffin.inquired if it is common:, practice, for merchants-tm carry guns and Mr. McCann said.that' a_few of them.do. He said he had heen in the.service and had four different types of guns. He said the primary use of the guns is. the hobby of , it. In answer to. Mr., Thomson's. questions as to whether he could supply us with the serial numbers of these guns,, he stated that he would bring in the information to-morrow. On motion of Mr. Pinneran, the board voted u~imously to approve this application. The board also agreed that all renewals of revolver permits,would' be granted only if the serial numbers of their guns were listed at this office.