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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-12-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes$$8 DECemBER 7, 1953- continued TREE REd,OVAL REQUEST: Howard Smyth, 360 Waverley Road, requests the removal of a ~ roe from in front of his property. This %ree is in the middle of his drive way and Mr. Connors feels that the ~ree should be removed. Mr. ~homson made a motion that the matter be referred .to the tree warden for posting. Mr. Kirk seconded the motion and vote was unanimous. A hearing will ,be held on 12/14/53 at ~7:30 P.M. TREE REMOVAL REQUEST: A written request for removal of a tree ( a large split leaf maple located on the property of Leonard Windle at ll8 High Street) was received and Mr. Connors was in favor of removing this tree also. He stated that it was one of those undesirable trees. Mr. Kirk said he would like to have Mr. Connors in .to ~alk about this tree ~nich matter had been before the board some time ago. Mr. Willis agreed that he would like ~o know why Mr. Connors had changed his mind about this tree since it is on pr.ovate proper~y. According to Mr. ~indle the roots are blocking the sewerline, damaging the foundation w~ll and heaving his private wslk. Mr. Connors will be asked ~o meet with the board on nex~ Monday a~ 7:30 P.M. REPORT FROM JA~ES ~.KER: James Maker, treasurer announced to be Board tha~ $3m318.24 was turned into the Town Treasury on $669,000.00 the treasury bills yielding 1.962% interest which matured on 12/3/53. After retaining sufficient cash to meet future monthly payments for the New High School, the treasurer purchased $500~,O00, 90 days U.S. Treasury Bills on 12/3/53 which will mature on March 4, 1954 yeilding appro~mately 1.582% interest which will represen~ $2,000 additional interested ~arned for the town. Upon maturity of the December 3, 1953 purchase, the total interest earned for the town amounts to ~11~,648.68. DEPI~EN~T OF PUBLIC. UTILITIES: D.P.U. 10730 - Petition of the Dump ~ruck Owners Association, Inc. and the ~¥es~ern Mass. Dump T~uck AsSociation in the matter of~a proposed increase.in the hourly ra~es for ~ehicles transporting certain dump truck commodities, as set forth in D.P.U. 9896 and the prescription of. minimum rates and charges for hot top and cold pa~ch were listed. A public hearing will be held at 166 State House, Boston on Taesday, December 29, 1953 at 10:00 p'clock A.M. James M. G~ushing, Sec. No action. LAWRENCE ELECTRIC CO~ANY: Notice received that plans are now under way for the installation of service to supply electric service to George Lumb and W~illiam Knowlton. This matter was first brough% %o the attention of this company by the Selectmen and they. felt that the board should know that the line is to be installed. ESSEX COUNT~ RETL~EMENT BOARD: Notice received that james Hargreaves will attain:age 65 on January 22, 1954 which is the maxLmum age for Group B in which such employee is classified.. In accordance with section 5(10 (a) of Chapter 32 of the G~neral Laws, this member must cease employmen~ as of the last day of the month in which his 65th birthday occurs and will be retired for super-annuation as o£ such day. Mr. Thomson made a motion that the Selectmen requ~s~ the Retirement Board to request this employee to continue his employment to prolong his time of retirement for six months .due~ to the~ legislation pending. The first reason is that this would allow the Chief to gain the benefits of an additional $400 per year .pension or $2300 annual pension which is a ~difference of $360, if he retires in'J~nuary. Mr. Thomson said that the Retirement Board had-givenma computation one,the retirement pay on the basis that the legislation had passed but Mr. Thomson stated that the legislation is now pending. There would be no additional cost to the town. .~Ar. Kirk inquired if the board would be bound to re-appoint Mr. Hargreaves if the su~.g~stion of Mr. Thomson's were followed and it ~was stated that they'would. Mr. Kirk stated that he would like to have further information on this-matter although he s rated he ~vas not against giving any ~own Official a chance to get the f~:11 benefit of this legislation if it passed. Mr, Willis said he would like to know if the board has the power to ta~e this action and he would like to read the Act which gives an employee the right to continue working for a six month period after retirement date. ~ .... Mr. Thomson suggested that they talk to Chief Hargreaves with respec~ to this inform- ation and he reported that Mr. Hargreaves will~get copies of the bill or the citations. from the retirement ~board so that all the members of the board will haw.~them for the nex~ meeting. Tae matter ~as tabled until that time. SUTTON HT~J, CO: INC: AA copy of a letter senn to the Highway Surveyor relating to the condition of the Sutton Hill Road as outlined by Mr. Carty and Mr. Brasseur. The letter states that the road stood up in excellent condition in spite of the extremely heavy rains and no drainage problems were apparent' during, immediately after, or later. This company would appreciate having the High~ay Surveyor notify the Selectmen at his earliest convenience so that the bend may be released. The Board ~ill wait until they hear from Mr. Carty, before releasing the bond. ,380 DECEMBER 7, 1953.' continued OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: Chief McKee reported that the 'person mentioned in the application for a certificate of incorporation under the name of Fine Arus Society, Inc. were all persons of good repute and had no records of any kind. ~he board approved the form and it will be returned to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. LAWRENCE GAS COMPANY: A representative from this company came before the board and informed them that his company will be willing ~o renew road surfaces where excavations for service have been made by them. Mr. Willis had discussed this ma~ter with Mr. Bendroth and found that on Mass. Ave. and Hamilton Road, the excavations were made by the Board of Public Works. ~he representative said,he follows the Jobs as soon as he ~'can and they put on a hard surface Just as soon as the soil has settled. Mr..Thomson suggested more frequent inspection by the company and all agreed that this would help. Mr. Willis said the board would take the matter of the other locations up with the board of Public Works. Domenic Bonnano, chairman of the Rent .Control Board came before the board to ask permission to sue the town seal in an ad to publicize a new regulation. ~hey felt that when a tanement is vacam~, the owner should notify the board and if the rent is too high in the board,s opinion, they can take some action. The Selectmen felt that the Rent Control Board could not control property which had become decontrolled unless a specific finding of a substantial shortage of housing units were made. Mr. Willis stated that the law contemplates a gradual liquidation of rent control in towns or cities where the extension was voted last July. Philip Sutcliffe came in later and he also felt that his board could and did have the power to make this regulati6n and simply wanted permission to use the town se~.. Mr. Thome~n ~aid he would not permit this unless he approved of the advertisement and the other members agreed. Mr. Bonnano will 6beck furthe~~ with his' board and will report to the board later. STEVENS HALL: William E. Shann of Court Street came before the board On the request of the ~ Booster,s CLub for the use of Stevens Hall for December 31, for a New [ear,s Par~y. He stated'that the club has over 400 members but only about thirty of them. are active members. He said this is a civic organization and they.are not a fund raising organization but they hope to ~ake some .money at this party which will be used for civic purposes. Mr. Kirk said he had voiced the original objection, no~ because of the Booster,s Club but that he was opposed to the use of liqUor in a public building.- Mr. ~homson asked if there would be liquor a~ the party and Mr. Shann said that undoubtedly there would be but his thought and recommendation .~was to h.ave private cocktail parties before the party. Mr~ Kirk said this was an excellent' thought but he was of the'opinion that it wouldn't work. Nr. Thomson said he would be in favor o~ granting the request providing that no liquor was on display. 'He 'said this club is basically a community organization 'and the orimary purpose is to induce members to come tothe meetings. Mr. Thomson made a motion that permission be granted subject to having no liquor ~on display or dispensed. Mr. Kirk made amotion that .the request be denied. Mr. Willis said he had said nothing as he was opposed to" the fact that there will be l~quor. He inquired of Mr. Shann if the club would comply with the conditions stated and if .they knew they would have to have a police officer present. If we grant pemmission on these conditions, we'would expect the club to' go along with them. Mr. Shann said he could only answer for himself b~t' he would ta~e it up with the club members. Mr. K~rk said 'he would be willing to withdraw his motion:if Mr. Shann 'will go back and find' out if the club will abide by the conditions. Mr. Willis then seconded the motion of Mr. ~homson that permission be granted to the Boosters Club to use Stevens Hall on December 31, 1953 on the conditions that no liquor be on display or be dispensed on the property~ ~Ar. Kirk was opposed. No action will be ts.ken until Mr. Shann reports back ~o the board.. COM~AINT-~EMOVAL OF EOAM: John Matthews of rear of 288 Sutton Street came before the board to say that he understood there was a town regulation regarding the s tripping of loam from land He said that the land that abuts his property which was formerly the Po~re esma~e, has been subdivided into building lots and one lot has been stripped of the loam and now there is a gully there with 18 ~o 2d feet of water in it. He said there had been a natural drainage there. He would like to ~ind out if something can be done. Mr. Willis said tl~ere is a regulation on the removal of loam and he read the rule in the by-laws. The Board agreed that this should be referred to the building inspector and they will notify Mr. Lawlor in v~iting mo investigate this and report ~o the Selectmen. DECEMBER 7,1953- continued OPEN DITCH: John Subatch, of Bunkerhill Street talked ~o the board abou~ new drainage being installed in Colonial Gardens ~o tske care of drainage from the new High School. He said there is a gresr~r amount of wa~er coming into the area and has created hazardous conditions, as there are large holes fill~d::with wa~er and in one instance a child fell into one of the holes but fortunately was pulled out. Frank Barbecue of Concord St., john Slipskowsky of Camden Stree~ and Stephen Helbick of Pleasant Street also complained about this excess wamer coming into this area. Mr. Subatch s~a~ed that some time ago the State came in and took care of the condition but now with this new drainage they mus~ have something done. He said he would give an easement if they would put the pipes in ~o take care of the wa~er. Ralph Brasseur was called in and he explained that.drainage pipes on p~ easant Street opposite Lexington Avenue had been tied in with the open ditch which runs from Pleasant Street down through the area of Bunkerhill and Concord Streets into the swamp below. Mr'to clearBrasseUruo thissaidcondition.he would check with Mr. F~itz and see if we can get some money Mr. Willis ssid that apparently these men are looking for assurance from the Selectmen to see that Something isdone ~or them and they agreed that this was so as Mr. Brasseur had previously talke'd with them and promised ~o do what. he could to clear up this situation. Mr. Thomson looked over this location to-da~ and said it was a bad situation. TOWN HISTORY: Mrs. Carolyn McQues~en met with the board in executive session to discuss the work on the town history. She explained that she .is having Mrs. Anna-Donohue do some of the typing for her and she is receiving $1.25 per hour. She went on to inform the board that she has copies of the letters sent by the committee and she did not agree with the proposition of the committee with respect to the ~zriting of the history. Mrs. McQuesten felt tha~ she had collected all this material and that the history should start from the beginning when itwas all Andover and show how it became ~wo separate parishes, when they~:mnt ~o the' General Court. Mr. Thomson informed the board that the previous board of Selectmen had gone along. with Mrs. McQuesten,s thought on this matter and they had authorized her ~o write up the history in this manner. Mr. Willis said~he didn't think it of too much imporrmnce at the moment but Mr. Thomson said he thought it was of great importance if they expect to have the history available for April of 1955. Mrs. McQuesten said she had worked two years on this work and she felt it was too late to change the plans. Mr. Kirk agreed and said he knew how she felt. Mr. Willis mentioned that possibly the committee had overstepped their bo~uds. Mr.' Thomson felt the board should inform the committee and substantiate what Mrs. Mc~ues~en had said. Mr. Willis' said tha~ it was the ~onsensus of the Selectmen that they are willing to go along with Mrs. McQuesten,s suggestion and made one recommendation, _ that we have 300 printed copies ~and books~ and that it must be completed'in 1~54. He said it was mos~ important that we get the number of pages and the number of illdstrations and that July 1, 1954 be' the deadline. ~he cost of printing the books and binding them was also discussed and Mrs. Mc~Ques~en had samples of books and prices per page, and binding cost per copy. ~his will be discussed later so tha~ an article can' be included in the ~arrant. A letter will be sen~ to Mr. ~%~itehill and other members of the ~ommittee 'and a copy will be sen~ to Mrs. McQuesten, also. She will hire another typist and get as much typing done this year as is possible. DECemBER 14, 1953: ~ meeting of the Board of Selectmenwas held at 7:00 p.~. with members Willis and Kirk present. ~r. Thomson was .unable to be present. Weekly bills and payrolls were approved. COMPLAINT ABOUTTRUCES: ~lbur J. Harvey of 93 Prescott Street appeared before the board and each member was given a copy of his complaint. He stated tha~ the trucks using Prescott Street run all night long and they do not-opera~e quietly. They go up the hill in pairs and speed the mo~ors while in low gear, making a thundering roar. In coming down the hill they drive so fas~ that t~e rumbling and bumping of the vehicles on the roadway, with motors sometimes backfiring, make sleep impossible. Mr. Harvey said that the trend in ~own seems ~o be that the property owners get little consideration and when Stevens Mill considered running 24 hours per day they were not considered. He felt that they had no right to make so .much noise. Mr. Willis said that the Selectmen Just can't tell these companies how ~o operate and can't Just say, Don,t send the trucks over my street. ' Mr. Harvey said they can eliminate the noise. They have insufficient mufflers on the trucks. Mr. Willis said he would be ~lad to take this ms?er ,uo_with Mr~ ~cCabe~who was very cooperative when the last comDlaint was reccmvec.'.Ame ooarc vo~ed ~o nave Mr. McCabe mee~ with the bcard next Monday and°they will advise Mr. Harvey as to the outcome of this meeting.