HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-07-27 Board of Selectmen MinutesJULY 27,1953 '
The re&mlar by-monthly meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 P.N. with
members Willis and Thomson present. Mr. Kirk was on vacation. ~geekly bills and
payrolls were approved,
CLAIM:
~atherine F. P~ardon, 208 Middlesex Street cane before the board to discuss the
accident she had last March when she fell in the Thomson School stairs. She stated
that she has a permanent injury to he~ arm and the bone Specialist said ~the bone was
fractured. She has been at home three months and had to have help to do her work
and she had to have her heating system, changed as she couldn't shhovel coal.
~'. Willis said that because of the size of the claim the board had referred the
matter to town counsel who stated in his letter that the claim is out of line with
what the town could pay. He said we have no insurance of this sort and it would
have to come by an article in the warrant. He told Mrs. P~ardon that if she doesn't
feel that she can reduce 'her claim there is nothing the board can do.
Mrs. Reardon said she would be willing to settle for $500.
Mr. Willis then said they would like to have a chance to talk this over before the
full board and they will notify Mrs. Reardon as to the outcome of that meeting.
HIG~i~AY DEPAR~EN T-
Ira D. Carty and Pmlph Brasseur cane before the board and article 68 of the last
town warrant was discussed. Mr. Brasseur said he had ~ive the figure of $1285 to
the Advisory board and should cover shaking up and taking loam off the street. He
said that drainage could not be put in. He felt that it was intended that the same
restriction would~ be on this article as was put on the others in the,~zrrant and
that no drainage would be put in until~mter and sewer were put in.
There was furthcr discussion about t~he articles and Mr. Willis said he did not
think there was good planning on these article and Suggested that a meeting be
held with the Advisory Board, Highway Surveyor, Mr. Brasseur, Charles Fritz from
the Dept. of Public Works and William B. Duffy and discuss this matter of drainage
in the }~fflin Park area and see if it could be resolved.
Mr. Thomson. suggested that Mr. Brasseur give the Selectmen a memo on the various
streets involved and they Would have this before them for future discussions. He,
, Mr. Brasseur, agreed ~o get this memo ready for the board at their nextmeening.
The meeting date will be set later on in the year.
LAWRENCE ELECTRIC CO. N~ ~GLAND T~L. & ~Er.. CO.
A hearing was held o~ the petition of the above companies for permission to locate
poles, wires, cables, and fixtures on the westerly and easterly sides of High Street,
from a point approximately 100 feet northerly from Prescott Street, ' northerly, p
poles.
On the westerly side of High Street, froma~'point approximately 50 feet southerly
from Sutton Street,-s.outherly, 4 poles.
These are existing poles. No new poles to be set.
All abutters were notified and no opposition was presented. On motion of Mr. Thomso~
seconded by Mr. Fillis the board voted unanimously to grant this petition.
STREET LIGHT REQUEST:
The board received a request to put a larger light on Merrimac directly in front of
the convent. The present one is a 1000 lumen light, and it is very dark at this point.
The board viewed the location and voted to request that a 2500 lumen light be in-
.stalled on this pole, replacing the presen~ 1000 lumen light.
STREET LIGHT SHZELDS:
The Board voted unanimously to request the Lawrence G & E Co. to place shields on
street lights in front of the Rennie property, Chickering Road~ pole ~i/,18 and
at 51 Brightwood Ave. Cataudello.s property. ~hese light shine in the windows and
are very annoying.
TELEGRAM- RE: HR 5894-RESTRICTING OIL IMPORTS:
The Board received a telegram from Empire State Petroleum Asso. 122 East 42nd. St.
New York City urging them to contact their Congressman ~o oppose passage of this
bill which limits residual fuel oil imports ~o five percent of'demand supply.
Shortage and higher prices would result. The board took no action on this telegram.
RENTAL 'CONTROL:
~he Board received a letter from Philip Sutcliffe making application to be appointed
as a member of the Rent Board of the ~own, provided it passes at the special town
meeting on July ~1. Mr. Sutcliffe's letter s~ames that he understands that under
the law the Rent Board must contain at least five msmbcrs and a majority of them
must be representative of public interest. No action was taken but the application
will be held in abeyance until after the special toM~ meeting.
852
JULY 27, 1953: continued
POLICE DEPAR'I%~N T:
chief McK~e sent a letter ~o the beard advising them that he is having aL1 the old
(slow - ntereeotion) painted and he has requee= for mors "to Slow-Children"
cost $17.50. He said he did not think he would have enough money'to' t'ake
care of his expenses for the year if he purchased the stbms he required. He asked
that the Selectmen earmark $100 of the Reserve Fund for hie department, in case
he needs money a~ the end of the year. The board voted ~o refer %his matter to the
Advisory Board as they have no right to earmark any park of the Reserve .Fund.
?he Chief also re ported on the heavy traffic on Sundays and that he'has had extra men
on duty and that he has had the lights adjusted at Wilson's corner so that forty cars
can go through instead of twenty and ~his takes care of the heavy traffic at this
location during the summer months.
PLANNING BOARD:
A letter ,was received from the Planning Board requesting the Selectm~n to call a
Special Town Meeting and insert the foLlowing article in the warrant: .
Article 1. To see if t~e 'to~n will vo~e to amend the Zoning By-laws of the Town of
North Andover, by adding the following article to be known as Article 5-A.umder
General Provisions as follcw~: Any structure for living accommodations which shall
be erected, placed or maintained in any district of the Town shall have a first floor
area of at least 450 square feet.
Mr. Willis said he would rather see "trailers" defined in the article and for the
purpose of defining a trailer, they could look under Chapter 90.
The-Board voted to table this request until the public hear. ing has been.held by
.the Planning Board on Augus~ 10, 1953.
BOA/~D OF TRADE:
The Board r~ceived a communication from the Board of ~rade offering :he fullest
cooperation of the Board of Trade to the town offic~als~and/or any properl~ Constituted ~
centennial committee. It is the feeling of the Board of Trade that through unselfish
and willing, devotion to the thought of~ adequately and properly celebrating this
birth date, the celebration can be made the sort of affair of which our =own and its
people may be Justly.proud.
MEMORIAL DAY C6~TTEE:
Edward Garvey .brough~ in the bills 'for. the Memorial Day Committee and.~he informed
the'beard that all the hills were in except for John Cushing. He felt that he shcald
be paid $~.00 for his work but he hasn't presented a bill.
Mr. Thomson did no~ see how we could pay him unless he presented a bill for mser~'~oee
rendered. Mr. Garvey will contact Nr. Cushing~again about his bill.
The committee submitted a letter to the Selectmen recommending that t~e appropriation
for the Me~0~ial Day Committee be increased to $650 next year so that t.hey~may be
able to hire two bands for the parade. Mr. Garvey stressed the point.that if the
money were not used, it would be returned to the treasury. He said it is. very
difficult to ge~ a band for this particular d~y'and .it is hard to march withonly
. one band in the parade.
Mr.'Thomsbn made a'motion that t~e repor~ be ~eceived and the 6ills~accepted and
that~ the board keep this recommendation in mind in December when the budgets are
made up.' Mr. Willis seconded thismotion and vo~e was unanimous. ' - ~
DEPAR~ENT'0F FJBLIC WORKS: ~
Notice received that the ~Commissioners voted {o approve as of July 10, 1953.the
work done by thi§ board under contract No. 13700 dated June 18; 1952, the engineer
having reported that the work called for in the contract has been completed.
NOTICE .RECEIVED ;FOR i~RK DONE UNDER CHAPTER 90:
The bcar'd received a carbon order for work done under Chapter. 90 of the'Gen. Laws.
~he total ~mount to be paid at this time~ is $6,666.71. BilI for,this amount was
given to the Highway Suzveyor.
DEPAR~TENT OF PUBLIC WORKS-BEVERLY OFFICE.
A copy of a letter which was sent to H. Gordon Gray, Chief Engineer at Boston
from Charles A. F~itz, was received by'.the board. ~he letter is in reference to
a letter from Mr. Gray under date of July 14, in conne6tion with drainage complaint
in vicinity of the State highway nearT%~ilson,s corner. The letter referred ~o the
measures taken to correct this'condition as reported to Mr. Gray byMr. Willis in
letter of July 9. A further check has been made on this matter in the field by
maintenance 'foreman, A. L. McElhiney. A copy of his report was sent to Mr. Gray
and it states further ~hat the matter has been corrected only to a partial extent.
When the matter has been completely taken ~are of to t~e satisfaction of Mr. Fritz,
he will again notify Mr. Gray. No action was taken.
JULY 27, 1953- continued
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ?~0RKS:
A traffic regulation permit No. 5780 has been received by the board approving
Rules and Orders made by the Selectmen on July 6, 1953 as follows:
Voted: That the Traffic Rules and Orders of the Town of North Andover, ado~oted
by the Boars of Selectmen under date of May 9, 1953 be ~ud are hereby amended
by striking cum the following description:
"NOHTU AND SOUTHBOUND DRIVERS ON ELM STREET AT WATER STREET.
RECREATIONAL COUNCI~:
~he board acted on the recommendations presented last week by this Council
s.ud they voted unanimously to refer this matter to M~.. William B. Duffy.
The board felt that items, 1.2 and 3, should be complied with but that item
4 referring to blocking off ~raffic from ~he dir~ "road', running from P~easant
Street along beside the parking area and beach was not approvod as the board
believes that this is privately owned. Mr. Duffy will be asked ~o check on
this and report to the board.
~MASS. SE~EC~EN,S ASSOCIATIOi~:
~he board recei~d notice of the annual meeting to be held in Boston a~ the
Sheratoh Plaza on October 15-17 . Oneeof the important features if the con-
sideration of articles in a State-wide to~m meeting warrant, the letter
also suggests that the Selectmen consult as soon as possible to see if there
are any problems of municipal Government which, should be considered at this
annual meeming. No action ts~en at this time.
HE~,ffNGWAY BRO~fERS:
The board received an invitation to attend the opening of the new and larger
terminal at 22i Sutton Street. The boardvoted toaccept the invitation.with
thanks and will make an effort to attend.
UNITED NATZ~,;S DAY:
Notice received that October 24, 1953 is United Nations Day and suggested
that an effective observance be held on that day and that in the. fall the
board issue a UN Day Proclamation. No'a ction taken.,
CENTER SCHOOL:
~he board postponed action on this matter un~il the full board is present.
~ENT CO-ORDINAT~Z~:
Notice received that a.special town meeting mus~ be held before July 31~
if Rent Control is to continue. ~he board has already taken action on this
matter and a special town meeting will be held on July 31, 1953 at 7:30 P.M.
at the Town Hall.
DAMAGE CLAIM: ~ ~ ~
~he board approved a damage claim in the amount of $17.50 as claLmed by
Hazel r. Barton, 110 Brookfield Street, Lawrence. The ambulance backed
into her 1939 Plymouth sedan and the estimate for repairing same was $17.50.
Ageneral release will be sen~ to Miss Barton andif returned the bi!l will
be paid from Contingent .Fund.
AUGUST 12, 1953:
?he by-monthly meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 P.M. with
all members~present. Weekly bills and payrolls were approved.
ACCIDE~U~ ~
.~he Board received copies of accident reports~ sent to the Industrial ~ccident
Board and no action is required. ~here were three from the Depart merit cf Public
Works and one from the Highway Department.
BOARD OF APPEALS~
Notice received that a hearing will be held om August 11, 1953 on the appeal
cf Charles E. Cyr, who claims to be aggrieved by a decision of the Building
Inspector of the town, resulting in the c~ncellatiun of a~ building permit
issued to him for the construction of two houses.