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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-04-13 Board of Selectmen MinutesAPRIL 13, 1953- continued: Richard Whipple requested that the shade on the street light in front of his home be adjusted so that the light will no~ shine in his win~ows, which is very annoying. lbo board voted unanimously to request the Lawrence Gas & Electric Company to adJus: this shade. Mr. Thomson was not presen~ a~ this time, having left a~ 8:30. PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS: At the,request of Chief McKee, the board vo~ed to requss% the approval of the p~ovisional appointments of John Donovan, and Myron B. Lewis, Jr. bo~n veterans, for six months. Their previous appointments expired on March 22, 1953. Mr. Thomson was not presort:. ~EPAIR RECORD BOOK: Mrs. McQuesten requested that she be given p. ermissiun to have an old. record book, containing records of nmmes of voters, age, place of birth and dates bf naturaliza- tion, which dates 1884 ~o 1901, repaired in order ~o preserve the book. Mr. Buchanan Charles has offered to have the pages typed, replace some of them and thus save this record book, at no cos~ to the town. lhe board voted unanimously to grant permission ~o Mrs. McQuesten to 'have this work done. Mr. Thomson no: present. CENTER 'SCHOOL CONTENTS: The board was notified that the Girl Scou~s had removed all the d&sks,'~. '6h~irs, e~c. from the Center School which they needed. The board voted ~o discuss the other reques:s at~a later date. REVOLVER PERMIT APPLICATION: Edga~ Hasetton, 771 Salem Street, made application for a license to carry a pistol or revolver; The application was approved by Chief McKee and the board voted unanimously ~o gran~ this license..Mr. ~homson no: present. LIC~SE TO' PEDdlE: The Board'approved a license for Richard Francis Brown, 20 Hodges Street, for certification of character only, and returned it to the Hathaway Bak~ries~ Mr. ~omson not present. REVOLVER PERMIT RENEWALS: The board approved the following revolver permits to be issued within the next. few weeks: Frank Howard, Stephen A. LoveJoy, Jr. William E. Dolan, Albert 'Schofield Carl~ton B. VanBuskirk, Jr., David .F. Roches' John C. 'Oantli$, Joseph ~. Lawlor, WilltamC. Smith, Sr. Edward Saul and Lawrence S. Crowe. ~ANNING BOARD: A communication was received from the Planning Board informing the Selectmen that they are~in the process of. organizing the-Industrial Planning Board. ~They feel that they would like to have one member of the Board of'Selectmen as an associate member and asked that they be advised as soon as possible ~nich member is to serve. The next meeting is to he.held on May 4, 1953 at 8:00 P,M. in the Town R~:tlding and Mr. A.T. Schmidt has been.invited to attend. Mr. Willis made a .motion that Mr. Arthur A. Thomson be appointed to serve as the associate member of the Industrial Planning Board. Mr. Kirk seconded 'the m6tiun on the provision that Mr. Thomson will be willing ~o serve in this 'capacity. The Planning Board will .be advised after Mr. Thomson has been notified and if he agrees to agcep~ this appointment. SCHOOE COMMITTEE: ~ I letter ~as received from the School Committee advising the board that the School Committee on April ~9, voted ~o reques~ the Board of Selectmen to arrange a Joint meeting or'the Selectmen, Board of Public'Works and the School Committee to discuss the care and maintenance of school grounds in .North Andover. No actiunw~s ~taken and the board will take action on AprLl 17, 1953. LAWRENCE GAS & ~w~CTRIC COMPANY: A petition'was received from the New England Tel. & T~i. Co. for per~ission~ ~o abandon and'-remove poles and fixtures on Andover Street, southerly from Peters Street, 8 poles. No hearing was required and the board voted unanimously ~o grant this permission. Mr. Thomson w~s no~ present. A petition for permission to abandon and remove poles and fixtures located along Sutton Street, approximately 157 feet northeast of Main Street, 1 pole .was approved bE the board. No hearing required. Mr. Thomson not present. APRIL 13, 1953-continued: NE~ ENGEAND TEL. &TEL. CO: A petition received for permission ~o lay and maintain underground conduits and manholes, wires, cables to be placed therein, under the surface of the following public~waysr~$utten Street, 22 feet of underground conduit from end of present conduit ~o pole #212. A hearing was set for April 27, 1953 at 7:15 P.M. A petition for permission to locate a line of wires, cables, poles, and fixtures including the necessary sustaining and protecting f~xtures on and across, Chickering Road, apprcximateiy 225 feet north of Dufton Court, 1 pole. Chickering _~oad, approximately 505 feet. north of Dufton Court, 1 pole. Chicke.ring .Road, northerly from a point approximately 785 feet north of Dufton Court, 2 poles. Oxford Street, approximately 100 feet northwes~ of Russell Street, 1 ~pole. Russell Street, approximately 235 feet northeas% of Main Street, Union Street, at Annis Street, 1 pole. ~he board voted ~o hold a hearing on April 27, 1953 at 7:1% P.M. METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY: ~he board received a letter from this company with a list which might.help the board in preparing their questionnaire, relative to the various proposals ~for group ~inSurance. ~he board voted to accept the letter and file it with ~the proposals' until a later date. FIREMENm ~BOARDtOE~$E~C~EN¥'~: James Daw, Calvin Snell, George Martin and Stewart Wilson came before thel.board to inquire what coverage they have under the policy.now in force..The .main%obJec~ in their appearing before the board was the Bisscn case. Mr. Kirk:asked for the correspondence on this case and he read the letters to those · present. _ ~ .j.. ~ · Stewart Wilson mentioned' that if .a man want on an ambulance call .he could h~v~ a heart strain and there would be no~ coverage. He asked-the board if ~they..didn't think that the town had a moral obligation ~o Mrs. Bisson. He said~this man had been working for 2% years and never had any trouble but he~go~s'into a building ~and~lcollapses and his .death~is caused by %his fire. He asked if the :board...couldn,t do.something, like con~ac~ the insurance~commissioner and see what his thought is. i /: ~Ris .opinion is that there isn,t enough interes~ in the to~n. He said 90%of the ~cases are' going to be heart cases. He then asked if he might direct a, question to Mrs. Dearden and asked if a previous member of the board didn .t suggest ~that. the town~ check.~on this matter, the cause of:death, the/reports, etc.~ Mrs~ Dearden ~ informed Mr. Wilson that the letters previously read by Mr. Kirk were the result of such an..investigatian. : . - ~.,. Mr.~ WillisI~ stated theft th~ town replaces themselve~ by ~he insurance in?order · to protect themselves. The policy is made out ~o the North Andover Fire Dept. Mr. Willis said that as an attorney,' he wouldn't ~an~ a third ~par~y butting..in and he understands, that Mrs..Bisson has engaged counsel.-He suggested that the town save the' premium money and put it in the .bank and build up :a. fund., to be paid - ~.~ ':.i::.' ~o~the~fireman a~ such.a time.as this. ' r" Mr.: Willis said~ he' thought, the 'board. should investigate the possible elimination of,,the limitation .contained in the policy and see what can be done to cover'an instance of this kind. ,,:. Mr. Dawsaid ,the policy is 0.~.,. on an acciden~ but on dea%~ i~'.do'esn'~ look. so ,9 ,,' · , good~'This is %he flrstdeath and the company refuses to pay off. Mr., Willis informed them that he would send: a 'letter. to the commissioner and that · a copy of,~the reply will .be mailed to Stewart ~ilson. . . ~ SPEED LIMITS- NR. DELANEI: Mr. Delaney from the R~gistry came before the board to acquaint them with new speed limits in various part~ of the town. He explained that the Department of Public ~urks under Chapter 90, section 17 and l§, make .surveys, clock vehicles with radar and' count. down 1% % in order to determine a reasonable speed limit. He said that a public hearing is held. and legal notices are inserted in the paper. He said that on route il4, a three lane highway, they.really whip along.. Mr. Del~ney ~stated that the Department of Public ~orks would like a speed of 50 mi. per hr. butthe Registrar approves 45 mi. per hour. Re said the average speed is 44 mi. per hr. and speed signs are a step in the right direction. Mr. ~Ytllis said that in traveling you notice these signs~and it is much easier to check on a person going 35 mi. an hour rather than ~5-50~ but Mr. Dalaney said it is foolish to put signs up. at 35 mi. per hour. He said the highest speed in the s%a~e is from Berry Street to Middleten. On. Route 125, %he speed limit is 45 mi. per hour, at Andover Street, it starts at 35 mi. and increases %o. h5 mi. per hour. A public hearing will be. held in the near future a% 100 Nashua Street, Boston, perhaps in about one month. APRIL 13, 1953- continued LUMBERMEN.S INSURANCE CO: Mr. Dewey Dyer came before the board as a representative of this company to inform the board that the Safety Engineering Department gives service ~o the departments in the to~n and he would like to doka good Job here. He makes inspections every three mouths. He said that when a risk goes over $1200 per year, the risk is abover average. He said he would like to arrange meetings with the Highway, Tree and Board of Public ~orks departments and is asking, for the suuport of the Selectmen in his attempt to prevent these extra charges. He said up .until January 1, North Andcver was on the verge of becoming an assigned ,risk. Ne said, that the Lumberman,s company, is outs -tanding in that-.~ney do provide a service. ~-He 'believes~'that-t2e proper approach would be through the .department heads. Mr. Willis said .the board is highly in agreement with these suggestions and sugges~ that Mr. Dyer meet with the three department heads. Mr.'Dyer said he has already started a plan with the tree department and that his recommendations are sent to the Selectmen,and they~ distribute them. '~ PC~ICE CHIEF-BOARD OF $ELECTMEN~ Chief McKee:met'with the Selectmen at their request at 7:35 P.M. this evening. :~ ' Mrs' Nillis stated that there was.a discussion las~ week on the use of the .chief's · ,auto for police work. He was unaware of the previous action of the previous ,board. ~., ., He-jfound that further use of the chief's car was not conditioned on any actual use · . of. the car andit was.only for,the chief's use. He said he was opposed~to any ',~ '. ~.such ratelfor~the chief's car but .he was particularly interested i£'anyone was 1 to be~'reimbursed for use of ,their car for police work. ,~ -, · Mr. Willis then stated that hhere was considerable question in his mind~'as to, the' expense a~count, particularly.with reference to repairs and gas for one .crul'ser. " .... Mr. Willis· said that it would see to him that $300 was for all uses of the ~chief's~: ..... car. ',He wenm on tosay that in last year,s expense, account thstotal expenses listed' ~.'. '.was $770.48. · He said ha Was a member of the pelice'department for.four, years and ~, ,' ,that such expenses are high for.one =ar. He,said that there were,bills which do not .apply strictly to the cruiser. ~r.~ Willis' said he ~did not like to get ~strict · and believe that some of the items were fo= the :chief,s car and not the cruiser. He:~inquired' as to. lthe number.~of 'times :the chief, used his .~car, to'go ,t8 court mentioned that recently there were four occasions when: the chief,'had'to go'~$o · and...that only~.on one~occasion :did ~ he: use his own car. He, suggested that~when he '. : has~.,to go to .court,, he should arrange to meet at, the s ration:and go 0ver,in~, the cruiser .and have the ~cmuiser bring him back. _ .Mr. l~illis inquired.as tothe size of tubes purchased for~ the. cruiser and,~ a.'voucHer,~ for a .Specific tube, the. bill having been app~roved by,,the, chief, but he didO'not' remember buying this. particula~ size. of ,a tube. Mr. ,Willis mentioned Various dates' when: spark plugs ,were~ pu~chaned~ and; on two occasions, ,two,.different.~es of spark, plugs '~ were purchased. ~ Mr. Willis mentioned about the.:tires':purcha'sed during the year as:wall as~ tubes~ ,. He' mentioned, a Ford battery and the chief said they had changed'the battery amd~bought.a new:one. " Mr. Willms~ then samd tha~ there ~Was one: specific ~instant,. the :,member and. that, was 'the 760,, tube~- Mr. Willis asked~ if some .o~ ~these' items, of equipment had been- put: in the chief's car:and, the: chief ,'~eplied~ '~No sir, Mr. Willis~,", ~ ;:~_ ,1 Mr~ Thomson:inquired how many miles the car. went each year and how many men.drove lt:~The chief~replied that ~the car goes between 56,000 and 60,000 miles and that hine different men, drive the car. The chief said that some of the tires ,purchased were snow"tires and were put on at the proper season. . Mr.:~Willis ~mentioned abill for Donovan,s Service Station for oil and stated he ' had misgivings about,this bill., He did.not think~it good,business for, the town ';~j,'" to:do :business with an.unreputable firm. He said. this station was nc ,longer in bu~lness ~ . · ..... Mr. Thomson questioned if it was material ~lf~the chief bought:the oil cheaper. Mr. Kirk asked~at,this point .if any one person took care of the police ,car,and .... Chief~'McKee 'stated that all the men;look at the car and no particular one ..takes care of it. .. Mr.-~lillis again~stated that he was particularly disturbed aboub the bill .from Donovan's Service m~ation and said hedidn,tlthink ii,good business for the town to bu~ from annon-existent firm. Chief~McKee said that the previous owner of the business had some oil and.he Was able: ~o buy. it cheap from the personwho was a police officer in Lawrence. J~Mr. Thomson asked,Mr. Willis if it were his idea that if a. person,not in business trios to'sell goods to, the town.that this is not correct? "Whether~ or not the oil was bought and delivered, the main thing i~ question of non-existant business. He said he can,t~ see ,any particular point~ in this if the town can lm~rchase oil cheaper this way. Mr. Willis said it leaves the way open for poor buxsiness transactions. He further stated that this station hasn't been in business for two years and the place has been vacant for two years. He said he has a letter from the Board of Assessors showing that they have no~ been in business for two years. AI~ 13, 1953- continued. ~r. Thomson said it was a service station under the name of Donovan,s Service 5ration and because of using a bill head (perhaps he had a supply of them on hand) you think it ~rong to have a check issued ~o the Donovan's Service Station. He then asked Mr. Willis if thought the person was a "thief". Mr. Willis assured Mr. Thomson that he did no~ suggest such a thing but he did question the chief.s buying oil from a station no~ in existance. Mr. Kirk then asked the chief what he would do a~ the police station with no car available. Mr. Willis said as a former member of the Department, he can't conceive of any tine when ~wo cars would be required. He said that wh~u and if the chief uses his car for police work, if he will submit a bill for mileage,, giving the dates, e~c., we will pay you according ~o mileage. Chief McKee said he would not use his car under these conditions. He went on to say that employees in the school, department are allowed certain amounts for the use of their cars which varies from $50 to $300 per year. Mr. Thomson stated that in the opinion of the prior board the allowance o~ $25.00 per mouth for the use of the Chief's car was for the best interests of the to~n~ and this money ~as for mileage and depreciation. It mean~ an extra/car~ available for the town at $25.00 per month. 5o far as his limited business knowledge was concerned, he felt the town would benefit from this, even if the car were used · only once during the y~ar. He feels that ,the arrangemsn~ should continue. Mr. Willis cited several instances where the cruiser was used for transpontation *.o c our~ and that ,as a reset w~ are not accomplishing a4ything. ~e coulc re- imburse the men who go to Salem in,their own cars. He said it is not for the chief to set conditions under ~which .he will be paid. Out position is ~o see that we get the value for the value spent. To carry-his ~remarks further, Mr. ~Willis~stated that a bill,' unexplanable by the chief, for a tube which the chief doesn't ~msmber buying. . . Mr..Thomson suggested to the chairm~n that he was ~calling the chief.to 'account for bills not famLliar, to him while the chairman has had a chance to' check ~these bills and has the information before him. He felt.that the chief should be given,a chance to che'dk the b~lls and report to the boa~d. He said.we pay $25.00 a: month, for the use of, the chief's car and he thinks.it is O.K. Mr. Kirk inquired if the chief.s car was available at any time for police work and the chief replied that it .Was. Mr. Willis then made a motion tha~ in the future ~hief ~cKee will not receive %25 .00, per month for the use of the car and that %he arrangement made by the previous board is not longer in existance and if the chief uses his car and - presents the proper bill, he will.be reimbursed for mileage. Mr. Kirk seconded this motion with Mr. Thomson no~ .voting.~ Mr. Thomson, s~ated .that a previous board had theroughly investigated this. matter, and agreed that the arrangement of .a ,fla~ rate monthly was in the bes~ interests of the town. The chief then informed the chairman that the radio is ,to be taken out ~f his . car and the top will have to,be fixed and that the town. should pay for this. He said it would cost about ,,$10.00. Mr. Willis said he would be willing to re- Lmburse~for the cost of putting his car back in,condition. Mr. Thomson left the meeting at this time, and did no~ return. Mr. '.Willis discussed the matter of having two men in ,the cruiser .especiallM in the late evening. He said that in his wmy of thinking it is of no value to have .one officer stand on the street on have one in the cruiser.. He brought up the matter of the guns which the chief buys and inquired if he kept them for himself. He replied that he did and.~that he had a mwo inch barrel and one 4'inch, which the town paid for. ~he chairman inquired if it isn'~t the usual practice for a new officer to buy his own gun and the chief re~lied that it was. Mr. Willis.then co~en~d on the~radio to be taken from the chief.'s chief stated that he thought the 'town should keep the radio. Mr..Willis then suggested that a l~etter be sen~ ~to the Police Depar~mant 'informing him that all bills incurred for repair on the police cruiser be signed~by ~he bfficer · in charge of the car and tha~ the chief inform the garages of this action .and 'have ~them indicate on the bill, the 'officer who makes the purchase. .. Mr. Kirk said he went along with this but he felt that it would be better for the full board to be present when this action is taken. Mr. Willis:agreed and asked 'tha~ ~ne matter be celled mo the board's attention on Friday, April' 17, 1953, their next meeting date. Mr. Jack Green, 22 Putnam Road came before the board with a petition signed by ten registered voters in this area ~o ask that a new road be made on Putnam Road for the safety of pedestrians and vehicular 'traffic. In.its present, condition, the petition states that it is dangerous for pedestrians and certainly for any vehicle driven over said road. After some discussion, Mr. Willis made it clear to Nr. Green that he would have to insert an article inthe warran~ of the next town meeting..~he petition will be filed.