HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-06-29 Board of Selectmen MinutesJUNE 29, 19%3:
~akly meeting of the Board of Selectmsn.~as held at 7:00 P.M.
with all members present. Weekly bills and payrolls were approved.
RECREATIONAL COUNCIL:
Domenic Bonnano and philip Sutcliffe came before the beard to discuss a
transfer of funds from the ~eserve Fund in order to secure more mags for
the bathers at the North Andover bathing beach. They have purchased 500
a~ s cos~ of $75~00 and these are all used up. Taey charge $.15 for ~ach
~ag and the money is then turned over to the treasurer. Mr. Bonnano feels
that they should have at least 1000 more tags and this wo~ld cost $1%0, but
they would collect this amount as they disposed of the .trigs and it would be
turned over to thee treasurer.
There was a discussion as to where this money could be taken from and Mr.
~homson suggested that the money be taken from the Rsserve Fund.and suggested
that the chairman contact that board to 'see what their feeling in the'~matter
is. Mr. ,Willis was unable to get the chairman but Mr. Lebew informed him
thdt th~s procedure must go through t he regular channels and he wo~ld not
give any opinion over the phone.
It~as f%nally agreed that no tags would be ordered until Mr. Willis had an
opport,m~ty to contact the Advisory Board members, and he will inform Mrs.
De'arden who will order the tags if the reply is favorable.
Mr. Sutcliffe brought up another matter and 'asked the Selectmen for 1their
recommendatiun. He said that Rolling Ridge has requested 60 tags but if the
wording of the article is ~o be considered, then he felt that these ~eople
are not. North Andover bathers.
Mr. Bonnano ssLid his thought'was to keep this place for North Andove~i~people
only and he ~understands that there are now 100 to 120 People at Rolli. ng p~.dge.
He said even sixty would,be too many.
Mr. Thomson said he would go .along with the recommendation of the Rec~a~ional
COUnCil.-
lO0 t~gs and these students change over every two w~eks...He said there would
be tbs ame problem with Campion Hall, Brooks School and Merrimack Cdlleg~e¢
Mr, willis said that perso~s!ly, he would be in .favor of a~owing th~se grdups
~o use the beach, that they do not contribute to the town financially but they:~
certainly give cultural value. He Suggested'that the' Council~ limit the number
of tags which would bJ given out and he felt that only Rolling Riegel would
ap~ly for them.
Mr. Bonnano said he would like ~o suggest that only'50 tags~ be' given: '$ut and
if ~the 'Selectmen feel that these people,should be -~owed to~use,~th'eJbeach
h4 thought the're s~ould be such a limit to the .number 'of tags issued.'
Mr. Kirk suggested that the committee meet and discuss this' matter and 'he
would go along with Mr. 'Thomson and allow any Of these people 'in and'limit
the number, if they felt it neces'sary. , . ''
i Mr..Suttdliffe felt that the selectmsn,'shovld ~make the decis'ion. '
Mr. Thomson said that' this council .makes recommendation on the persons to be
appointed to work on the ,playgrounds and then they are presented'to this board
for final' decision so that he felt .~hey, should do the same in ~this matter.
Mr.-Willis S'aid the board ~vould wait ~or a' recommendation ;fr0m the .Recreational
¢6~ncil. ~ - ~ ,: ·
',~PERRY STREET DUMP: ' ~: '
A_ gr0up of. citiz'ens dame be'fore 't~e Selectmen to discuss this 'dump and to see
~-what' could' be done~'aboht closing it. ' ~ ' "'
.Hen~y. Hayman was spokesman for the group and he said he thought it was time this
dump si.tuation was settled. · The last' ~wo weeks the condition has been terrible
· and is almost unliveable. ~he people want action in the near',future.
Mr.' George Stewart asked the. board ~to' tell ,them Just 'what had been done to date.
'Mr. ,Willis explained that there had 'been a meeting, every two weeks tryingto
decide,where to have this dump and fill method disposal site. He explained that
the article called .for $5,000 · which is for the purchase of, the, land.'~ If this
amount ,is spent for .land only there would be no money, to operate the..dump.-Mr.
Carry has agreed to operate for the balance of the year,by supplying~one man
using his present appropriation.
ibere' is'a question as to whether,:the equipment.is heavy enough to do the required
work. ~ Thbre was a. demonstration' las~ week and it has been. suggested that the
present equipment is not, sufficient to do~ ali the work. Mrg Willis said' We
don't want the sams situation in.~other location. He said the board is in
sympathy with. this group as he went through that area during the fire last week
and the situation is "tough". '~here is to be a meeting tonight with reference
to negotiating with Mr. ]~ogers as to the steps to take to procure the land and
this presents quite a problem.
Mr. J.Lane inquired if the town wasn't operating in violation since the dump has
been condemned by the Board of Health. It has been condemned since last September.
Mr..Delia of Union Street said they wanted some action and he said that Mr. Willis
wouldn't like the condition ~_f he lived there. Mr. Willis stated that where he lived
for the past 31 years, they hsd to put up with the smoEe from the Lawrence dump and
he was in sympathy with these people and knew what they were going through.
JUNE. 29 ~ 1953 :, icontinuec~
Mr. ~homson saf~ that %his was an old~ old problem ~d he was a~zed ~hat the~e
people bad.no% been up before. M~y areas have been checked for a location
~d'when %hey decided on one site an article was ~erted in the ~o~ wa~a~t
askinE for ~,000. ~e to~ voted ~o appropriate $5,000 a~d now we ~e
where ~e s~r~d from. ~. Ro~ers had a~reed ~11 the ~d for $5,000 ~d
~. C~ty a~reed ~o ~tain .the dump for the bal~ce of the ye~. He said
%hab if i% is deter~ned that we ~eed a new b~dozer, It ~1 be necess~y
~ve a speci~ to~ meeting. _.
~ere ~ere ~rious suggestio~ as ~o ho~ the money co~d be s~nt or if~ the
land co~d be %~en by e~nent demon ~d whether or no% it ~o~d be:ad, sable
to go ~o the open d~p method ~il ~e ~e able %o get ~he other one in operation.
~. ~o~on made a mo%ion that ~e Bo~d of Selec~en c~l a S~ci~.To~n mee~
lng at the e~l~es% oppor~e time containing ~ ~ticIe asking 'fdr authority
to ~rchase a Cletrac ~actor ~d ~ article to tra~fer the money.,
~. ~o~on s~d tha~ ~gers had offered.to sell ~e l~d. to~the ~o~ buthe
mayhave cha~ed his ~d'and t~t' sho~d be de~r~ed f~s~.
~. :~gers w~ then con~ac~d and asked if he would come zo the meeting.and .
~scuss ~is matter ~th, the board. He. c~e %o.~he mee%~g ~d the Selec~en
held an executive session ~ith ~. ~gers.
~ Rogers was not ~ ~o sell ~e a~ition~ 14 acres of land ~th ~e
option of bu~ng at ~00 ~r acre. He felt tha%.~he ma~ter had. been ~held~ over
~oo ,long ~d n~~ he had ch~ged his ,~d.. ~ere was a len~hy dis~ssion,on
v~ious offers made~-by ~. ,~germbut, he :wo~d not a~ree to a~ of ~em at
t~e. He ~n~ly.a~eed to sell 14 acres~ of land for $5,000 ~. the t~,to'
pay for ~e S~ng of same.. · .
~. *~rk ua~e a motion that we accept' the offer, of. ~. ~gers of, 14;acres
for ~'$5~0 ~th .North ~dover %o pay for ~s~e~ng. }~.~ ~o~on sec
motion and the vo~e was ~Imous. . .
~,~.. me. on *then made,emotion that th~s ~at~r be refe~ed to }~.~ El~g
' And:ask'~at he'comple~: the ~r~sactmon,_~ ~soon as,,~possible, ~ ~i~ motipn;
· ~ ~. ~o~on i~ormed ~. ~gers that this. w~ a bin~nga~eement ~d that a
~, re~esen~tive of the ~%o~ wo~d c~l on ~. ~ge~'~o-mo~ow to* complete' the/-;:
;,:..,2 .change ,~s:~[,ag~n. ; .% made ~is .a~eement. ~and. that~ he'co~d n6t-
~e Bo~d retched:to ~e.'Co~t~om ~d.~i W~ls t~o~d t~0s'e*,present
the Selectmen ~s~ =~ for a'Speci~ To~eting ~ order.%o get'the ~b,~]ldozer
and t~t- the project c~'t be S~ted ~t~ :the ~money is available;~.* He'asked
wo~dt ~e ~at
· . , , ~. ~.--~ ~n~ ou~oozer co~ on:Yep Street
~ere~as f~ther dis~ssion~as to What co~d be done ~t ~. '"~' '~
if all :~'la~eeable, this is the~b~st,we c~rdoUand,~we %~fllis, said:that
on J~y 1], 1953a% 8:30 P.,M. to ,apprdprlate a '~fi~ent's~- ' ..... "
~F',P.M; at.the to~.h~, ~ order to ~clude ~other,article ch~g~he~classi_~
' ~d.~mp~e c~e before ,the bo~d ~ said he ' '' '
held om' J~e '30 ~th: reference -to', cheung a ce~ ~ea: (about
from ~. A~i~ to an ;~dustri~, ~ea. ~ey,:have plashed a he~:.to
'~ectmTn_.~o't(~' a s~ca~to~ meetEnk'2o'be he[d::on the s~e 'even~ "~:'8~ 0
~.' ~omon/s~d that in subst~ce, a cer~in ~g. Concern wan~. 150.i~'r;~.of
l~d on 0sgopd~S~eet, 1~0 south Of'the Haverh~l l~e t0 be Ch~ged'fro~
a~i~t~ ~to ~ ~dus~i~ ~ea, and-that' ~e Industri~ ~a~g B~rd is'
as~ng the~ S~ectmen ~o hold a speci~ %O~:~et~g once ,s~e ~ght as
he~ing.- ],~j',~o~0n.s~d.~i~ project w~d be ~of great benefit to th~.,%o~
and the ~ard ~f ~Selec~n have pledged to assist ~ ~y way possible.
~. '~i~is 's~d ~his ~is one of ,the ~ea~st ~gs ~o happen to North ~dover
~d he ~11 pledge hi, elf to this P~= ~oJect and do ~ he c~ to help
it ~ong. ~is is a wonde~ th~ng for the %~.
~. ~O~on then ~de a mo~ion to' revoke his p~ous motion =o hold a speci~
to~ me,ting on J~y 13 ~d to hold it on J~y 14, 1953 at 8:30 p.~&.
Motion ~ voted ~imously.
~. ~o~on ~de a motion to include in the w~r~t of the Sneci~ To~ ~et~
ACCIDENT REPORT:
0opy of accident report on George ~&~rtin injured when a piece of glass struck
him behind the ear while lifting a barrel of refuse onto a truck, was received
from the Highway Department. No action taken. Report filed.
REVOLVER PEP~ITAPPLICATION:
An application for a license to carry a revolver was received from John ~.
Doran, Jr. Field engineer, 201 Green Street, North Andover for use in target
practice was received~by ~he board. The application had been approved byChief
Mcgee. ~e Board voted unanimously to grant this license.
DEPAR~NT OF PUBLIC WORKS:
Copy of an order for work done under Chapter 90 of the General Laws and recommends
that the'sum of $1,599.70 be paid %o the contrac%or, Martin Mai]et, .12 Beach Road
Salisbury, Mass.
BOARD'OF TRADE: No action is to be taken on the request to app6int Thomas McEvoy
a special.police officer. Mr. Kirk took this matter up with Harold Trombly and
he will talk to Mr. Kirk at a later date.
DOG OFFICER WARRANT:
A copy of the warrant of the dog. officer, datedJuae 5, 1953 has been received by
the board signed by Stanley Buturlia, Dog Officer, for~ our files.
BOARD OF TRADE:
Pamphlets recently assembled by this board were received for distribution to each
Selectmen.
DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS & TAXATIONS- DZVISIONOF ACCOUNTS:
A letter in.reply to our letter of June.16,' with respect to Section 14 of Chapter
40 of the G. L. advising the board that.this section applies to cities only amd
the 2o~n of North Andover may pay $5000 for the land for a dumpsite, which was
appropriated for this purpose. Mr. Willis wanted to have an opinion on' this section
before the $5,000 was spent for the purchase of land.which is more than 25%inexcess
of its average assessed valuation during the previous three years. Upon receipt
of this letter, Mr. Willis felt that the to~n could, go ahead with thepurchase of
the land.
LAWRENCE GAS CO:
2he Board voted.%manimously to gran~ nermission to excavate to instull~gas service
for G.~Minnlcucci, Chickaring Road, 2~ feet in street. Mr. Carry will be notified.
~he Board ~oted unanimously to grant permission to excavate to install gasservice
on 267 Osgood.S~reet,~9 feet in street and on Trinity Court, 26 feet. in street.
NEW ENGLAND~EL. &~. CO. -I~WRENCEELECTRIC CO:
The Board voted unanimously to grant permission to relocate poles, wires, cables
and fixtures on Sutton Street, approximately 385' southwest of TaorndikeEoad,
1 pole (remove 1 pole). . _ : . · ~
ESSEX C6UNTYS~CT}~E~,S ASSOCIATION:
Acommunicationwas received relative to a State-wide drive for funds for the
relief of those who suffered as a result of the tornado which occurred recently
in ~rcester. Fmrther information will be received £rom the Zt. ~overno~'s
committee as~ell as publicity in the~press and local radio stations.
Mr. Thomson made a motion that the Selectmen endorse the drive and take such
s~eps as are necessary upon receipt of further information. Vote was unanimous.
MEMORANDUM- GO~RNORHER~E,S CENTRAL MASS. DISASTER CO~ITTEE. INC.
A copy oft he ~rgclamation of the Governor,plus a release from the Governor's
office and sample ~.adio copy which is going to all radio ~stations was received
by the board. No plans have been made relative to this drive and the board
will wait for further information from the Lt. Governor's office.
SCHOOL DEPARtmENT:
A letter was received by the board relative to the work "inte&~ation,,. The
letter farther states that Mr. O'Brien feels that the Board of Selectmen~d
the Board of P~blic ~orks should know what the school committee is doing~ and
a copy of the minutes of the last meeting of the School Committee was enclosed
for each member and for the files. No action required.
345
JUNE ~, 1953: continued
POLICE D~PARTMENT R.~ORT:
Chief McKee presented a report on various matters which the board had referred
to him for ihvestigation and report.
1. T~o signs ha~e been placed at the Drummond Playground, one on Milk Street
and one on Johnson Street.
2. The chief recommended ',Slow Signs" rather than "Stop Signs" at the following
intersections; Foster, Forest and Summer Streets and ~arbleridge Road. On motion
of Mr. Thomson the board voted unanimously to'adopn the Chief's recommendation.
3. The white painted sign on the road a~ Water and Elm Streets has been blacked
out and moved up to the' line at Elm Street.
5..Mr. Curry from the Beverly Office will check the intersection at Osgood Street
and Mass. Ave. to determine if a "Stop" ~ign is warranted at this'location.
6. ~hs chief reported that an Approach Warning Sign Disc had been plzced~ at the
North Main Streetcrossing and the other mentioned as missing were not missing
at the locations mentioned.
7. Chief McKee recommended that "Stop Signs" be placed at Suttons Corner at
Main Street, both sides rather then the slow signs no~ located there. He also
inf6rmed the board that the work of painting the broken white line on. Sutton
Street has been completed from Marblehead ~o the Thatched Roof.
· ~. Willis said he agreed with the chief about Sutton's Corner being a bad one
but he felt that the ~tep Sign should be on Main Street and have through traffic
on Sutton Street. He will check with the chief further on this before any action
is taken.
ELW~N KING'S REPORT: GR~AT POI{D ROAD:
Mr. King presented· a report on ~he matter of a slope easement in connection w~th
Grea~~ Pond Road improvement work and he recommends that nothing be' done at"this
time. The report referred to the facts involved in the slope easement and ~it is
filed under Elwyn ~g.. ..
DAMAGE CLAIM REPORT:
Mr. King reported on the' claim of Mrs. Catherine ~eardon of 208 MtddIeseX,'
against the town for injuries sustained from a fall on the stairaay inside the
Thomson School on last election day. Mr- King stated ~hat Mrs. 'lReardon's injuries
are not negligible and rom that reason he 'believes she will bring a law sdit if
a settlement is 'not made. But he feels that her proposal is' out of line where
there is no negligence on the town's part. He suggested that the Board suggest
to Mrs. Reardon :hat an article will be placed in a warran~ for vote at a special
town. meeting to pay $94.90 for her actual expenses incurred as it is'believed
that the town is not. liable. He further stated that Mrs. Reardon .cannot =aise
her-arm and she is handicapped and it is doubtful if she will ever be able to
raise it very far. T~is is the basis for her wanting'$5OO ,over. and above her
actual costs o
.Mr. Kirk made .a motion that we accept Mr. King's report and the chairman will
write a letter to Mrs. 4~eardon ex~31aining that the board feels that the t~wn
has no liability in this case. Motion seconded and vote was unanimous.
~ ·
BIDS FOR PURCHASE OF C~NTER SCHOOL:
TWo bids were. received for razing~the Center School building, as follows:
Sorenson'Building ~r~cking, 2 Burnham Road, Andover submitted a bid to take down
the old Center School for the sum of ~1800 ahd that the job.will be done according
to agreement. .
/~wrence Building 7~recklng Co.:'submitted a bid 'in the amount, of $2900 .to raze
.the Center School building and D~qq fill the agreements ~specified.
Ir'was not clear to the board as to whether these two companies axpected the town
to pay them the amounts listed to remove the building or i£ they: would pay the
town for the building and remove it. ..... ·
~r. ~homson suggested that the ~.awrence Building .~recking Company be contacted
and find out just what they hayecin Mind. Mr. Willis agreed to con:ac: this
company and ask them to pu~ in writing their clarification.
Mr. Thomson made a motion %hat the so-called bids be received and held in abeyance
for decision. .Vote was unanimous
H~ARING-DISPOSAL SITE CO}~ITTEE- RE: ROGER'S P,~PERTY:
· ~he Board ~ voted unanimously t'o notify.all abutters of the petition, opposing the
Steinberg property as a dump site that a hearing would be held on July 14, 1953
at 7:15 P.M. in.the Selectmen's Office. The Board had promised this group that
they would have another hearing when they decided on a site for a dump location.
MASS. S~r. ECTMEN,S ASSO.
Memorandum received on House .Bill 2820 re: Outdoor. Advertising. No action taken.
P~PORT OF DEMONS]3~ATTON OF CLETRAC #30 CAPABILITIES:
Dewey Dyer reported that on June 15, Mrs. Edward Murphy, sales rep. for the H. F.
Davis Tractor Company with Ira Carry and Mr. Dyer saw a demonstration of the same
zype owned by the ~o~n and equipped with a blade as intended for the ~own unit.
~he repor:, in substance, states that this equipmsn~ is not of ~ufficie~t siza
to ta~e care of the work and he recommends a unit of the nex~ ~arger s~ze,ana
suggests that the present unit be turned in for trade. Tae board has alreacy
taken action by calling a special town meeting.
JUNE 29,1953:
THAILORS:
Mr. Lawlor, building inspector, reported that the t~o trailors on t~e property
of Mr. & }~rs. McMurray will be removed in the very near future.
Mr. Willis stated that he understood that they are to be placed on another lot
of land that is large enought to comply with tile .zoning by-laws.
BOARD OF PUblIC WORE~:
Notice sent to the Board of Public ~¥or~s on June 16, 1953 that there has been
filed with the Board of Selectmen the necessary bond in compliance with the
vote on Article 80, of the last annual town meeting.
DOG OFFICER:
Notice sent to Thomas F. Duffy, County Treasurer, informing him that John Dolan
was not re-appointcd by the Selectmen for the ensuing year. His employmeht
terminated as of April 30, 1953.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND ~EASURES:
Mr. Willis informed the board that it has been brought to his attention that
it is a requ.irement of the law that a report be made each month by the Sealer.
Mr. Roberts, the present Sealer, can,t get any information from 'Halter Hamilton
and for the henefi~ of the present Sealer, ~r. Willis felt that we sh0ul~ get
this matter straightened out.
Mr. Roberts would like to p~rchase a cabinet to keep his supplies .and equipment
in and he also hss some suggestions to make.
Mr. Willis said that Mr. Roberts would be willing ~o sit in with the board and it
agreeable we could have Mr. Hamilton ih at the same time. Mr. Willis said there
were some funds which should have been turned i~ and an inventory sh6uld' have been
made and perhaps this could bestraightsned out at the~ same time.
Mr..Thomson said he thought that Mr. Ham~] ton should be'advised as to What has been
said and we could ask him to c~e in on Jp2j~! 27, 1953 at 7:30 ~.M.
~he Board received a letter from the Director of S~andards relative to a report of
inspection of equipment of our Sealer and advising what supplie~ and equipment he
should have. It was also noted that some of his ~orking metric weights are missing
and these shsuld be checked. Mr. Willis felt that in view of this letter, we might
clear up the matter when Mr. Hamilton meete with ~he bbard.
J LY 14, 1953:
The meeting of the Board ~of ~Selectmen was hel~ this, evening at 7:00 P.M. with
all members present. Due to a special town meeting to be held on this. Tuesday
at 8:'30 P.M., the Selectmen had previously agreed to ho~d their meeting .on the
same night, rather than on their .regular Monday evening.
Weekly bills and payrolls were approved.
DISPOSAL SITE MEETING-¥~ITH PETITIONERS WHO OPPOSED THE ROGERS LOCATIONi
A group of citizens met with the board, to discuss the disposal site at the Rogers
property. Mr. Willis informed them that professional advice had been obtained and
the board had been advised that thin particular site is the most equitable for the
town. The Board of. Health will not permit am open dump ~nd they. are highly in
accord with this location. He said that the Selectmen have entered.into a purchase
agreement for the lh acres at the end of his land. --He informed those present that
there is. to be a Special 'Town meeting tonight to raise money for .a.bulldozer and
this will be used for the dump and'fill, method. He said the board asked these psople
to come back tonight to see if they had changed their minds ~t all or if they had
any further comments ~o make.
Mr. Caron said that if the land is purchased the dump will be operated properly.-
It will be fenced in and there will he,restricted dumping there'and-it v~ill be
covered every day. The entrance will ~be on Clerk Street about 100 yards from
the Rogers home. It will be professionally laid out.
Mrs. Griffin, of Osgood Stree~ said there,:had been complaints from North Andover'
people for years about the smoke from the Lawrence dum~ and now we are doing the
same thing to Lawrence. She said she 'is taking a very firm stand against this
dump and she doesn't think it is fair to the property owners in that area. She
said everything seems to be shifted down to that section of the mown.
Mr. Willis informed her that there w~11 be no smell, no smoke, etc. ·and that
it will be properly operated.
Mrs. Griffin insisted ~ that you can't control nature and they are being chased out
of their homes. She said the Forgetta family feels the'same.
Mr. Forgetta said that'all the fellows on the committee are sidestepping the most
important thing and that is that this dump ~ill only last about ten years. He feels
that ,they should find a piece.large enough to make it last at least twenty years.