USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > West Hartford > Connecticut, town of West Hartford reports of the town officials, fiscal period 1927-1928 > Part 4
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The fees collected for building permits, oil burner permits, electrical permits and licenses, heating permits and licenses and affidavits have been turned over to the Town Manager monthly with my reports.
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW G. LARSON,
Building Inspector.
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Report of the Plumbing Inspector
The following is the report of the Plumbing Inspector for the year beginning February 1, 1927, and ending January 31, 1928:
During the above period, there were five hundred sixty-nine (569) applications for plumbing permits received, all of which were granted. There were one thousand, two hundred seventy (1,270) inspections made during the year in new and old buildings. We have on record the names of one hundred nineteen (119) master plumbers who are entitled to do work in this Town.
The permit fees amounted to fifty-six dollars ($56.00), and the license fees to six hundred sixty-five dollars ($665.00), making a total of seven hundred twenty-one dollars ($721.00) turned over to your office monthly with my reports.
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW G. LARSON, Plumbing Inspector.
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Report of the Police and Fire Commission
This Commission, consisting of five commissioners and a clerk, was appointed by the Town Council and sworn in by Town Manager B. I. Miller.
The Police Department consists of a chief, captain, three sergeants, seventeen regulars and sixteen supernumeraries.
The number of accidents during the year shows a slight increase over the previous year, which is probably due to the fact that speeding is taking place particularly during the hours when motorists know that the motor- cycle officers are off duty.
During the past year the Commissioners have felt that they should have the proper officers to investigate cases as well as check up on the patrolmen while they are on duty. They, therefore, promoted two officers to the rank of sergeant - Officer Murphy and Officer Sullivan. It is probable that the Department will have to follow along during the coming year with the appointment of an additional sergeant.
The West Hartford Police Department now has one of the best pho- tography departments in the State. This will no doubt pay for itself. Officer Paulsen is in charge. His duties are to take pictures of automo- bile accidents which are used as evidence in court and he is also called upon to take pictures for other departments of the Town. Officer Paulsen in addition to the above duties does regular patrol work.
The Commissioners, for sometime, have felt the need of a training school for policemen. The Commission, therefore, appointed Commis- sioners Roberts and Hoffman as a committee to organize such a school. Permission was obtained from the school board for the use of the Alfred Plant School on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. This is re- sulting in giving the officers proper training in police duties as well as keeping them in proper physical condition during the winter months.
During the year 1927 the Police Department answered 2,800 com- plaints. Eighteen automobiles were recovered by the Police Department, the total value of which was $25,000.00. Silverware valued at $800.00 and clothing and jewelry valued at $1,200.00 were recovered. Only one automobile was stolen in the Town of West Hartford during the year 1927. Motorcycle policemen covered 74,000 miles.
During the past year both the Police Commissioners and the Chief have been called upon by many citizens to take care of school traffic. It has developed into one of the biggest problems of the Department because of so many dangerous corners which children have to cross. It has been necessary for the Department to ask regular officers who are on night duty to work additional time during the days to help take care of this condition.
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This Commission voted $100.00 each to the Quaker Hose Company and the Fountain Hose Company to be used in the purchase of equipment
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES E. LORD, President, RALPH H. MORROW, A. R. ROBERTS, KENNETH HOFFMAN, ANDREW OSTERLING,
Commissioners.
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School Board Report
The present School Board composed of George E. Jones, Bert S. Tule, Henry A. Wolcott, Edward E. Dissell and Roger W. Grant was elected by the Town Council on April 5, 1927, and on April 6, 1927, was called for organization by the Town Manager. On nomination by Mr. Tule, Mr. Jones was unanimously elected chairman. Mr. Dissell was elected vice- chairman. Mr. Grant was elected secretary. Mr. Tule and Mr. Wolcott were elected auditors. Mr. Wolcott was elected treasurer of the library fund and Mr. Hubert E. Johnson was elected clerk.
One of the first matters to which the Board gave its attention was the disposal of the Fern Street portable building, since the new Fern Street building was occupied on April 25, 1927. The local post of the American Legion asked for first choice of the building and the Board voted to grant their request, but on investigation of cost of moving, ownership and future development, it was decided to discontinue the negotiations. The School Board then offered the building for sale through the Town Manager. On June 23 the Town Manager presented an offer which he had received for the building and it was voted to accept this offer with the understanding that the building be moved by August 1, 1927. The building was paid for and moved off the property in due time.
For the safety of the children on account of traffic on the north and south sides of the West School, a wire fence was erected between the build- ing and the roads that pass on either side.
On account of the process of a dry rot which took place underneath the finished floors in the gymnasiums of the James Talcott School and the Alfred Plant School, it was necessary to re-lay the floors. In the course of making the repairs it was possible to utilize part of the flooring from the James Talcott gymnasium in re-laying the floor at the Alfred Plant School. In re-laying the floor at the James Talcott gymnasium, hollow tile and concrete was used, and if no indication of dampness appears it is our hope that a wood floor can be laid over the concrete.
A new Teachers' Salary Schedule was adopted and became operative September 1, 1927.
During the summer months a new heating system was installed in the Charter Oak School, the outside woodwork of the William H. Hall High School building was painted, as was the James Talcott School and the Charter Oak School buildings, and the roof was repaired at the Alfred Plant School and the West portable. At the Seymour School the roof was repaired, a concrete walk was laid around the west side of the building, the basement windows were screened, and various other small repairs were made to other buildings in the system to put them in good condition.
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The Board co-operated with the Park, Town Plan and Cemetery Commission in connection with the summer recreational program, so. far as was consistent with conditions.
On August 24, 1927, bids were received for the construction of the Elmwood building. The bids were all too high in the estimation of the Board, so they were rejected. After spending a number of hours in at- tempting to revise the specifications, it was found impossible to make a sufficient revision which would bring the price within reach, so on August 30 it was voted to have the architect revise the plans in accordance with the ideas of the Board and submit them for approval at the earliest pos- sible date. The new plans and specifications were later approved and the architect through the Town Manager was ordered to advertise the pro- posals for bids. On October 17, 1927, the new bids were received and after various alternates were decided upon, the Board voted to award the general contract to A. F. Peaslee at his net bid price of $172,083.00 (under which, at this time, the rough work is nearing completion). The contract for the plumbing and heating was awarded to Thomas G. Shaffer, Inc., at his net bid price for the two jobs of $29,200.00. The electrical work was awarded to The Curtis Electric Company at their net figure of $12,654.00. On account of the revision of the plans a saving of over $20,000.00 was made.
In the latter part of September the Board was in joint session with the Street, Sewer and Water Commission, the Prudential Committee of the Congregational Church and the Special Council Committee on Main Street Improvement in connection with the proposed new lay-out of South Main and Seyms Streets. The Board approved the proposed lay out and voted to concede the necessary property in due time for street purposes to bring about the proposed widening of South Main and Seyms Streets.
The Board hopes shortly to start plans for an addition to the Alfred Plant building to accommodate more Junior High School pupils and now has a resolution before the Finance Board and the Town Council for an appropriation to proceed with the planning of the addition.
While a considerable amount of the Board's time is spent in study of the problems which confront it in connection with future growth, the planning and construction of new buildings and the necessary repairs of our present equipment, much time is spent on the problems of manage- ment and academic methods.
Establishing the office of Business Manager has proven very satisfac- tory, not only in the Manager's method of economical handling of supplies, but in the relief it has been to our Superintendent who now has more time for duties strictly of a supervision nature.
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The Board is constantly in conference with the Superintendent and oftentimes with the Principals on matters pertinent to the operation of the school system with the one idea of keeping it at the highest possible standard.
Respectfully submitted,
ROGER W. GRANT, Secretary.
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Report of the Juvenile and Welfare Commission
The Juvenile and Welfare Commission of West Hartford is a body consisting of five resident citizens appointed by the Town Council. Its duties are to investigate such cases as are brought to the notice of the Commission and to perform any welfare work which is deemed advisable.
Since the work of the organization has become better known through- out the community, many calls for assistance have been received.
The demands made upon this Commission are continually larger than our budget allowance, and any donations of money and clothing are al- ways greatly appreciated.
Relief has been given in response to requests from the school nurses, from the probation officers and to those who have directly appealed to us for aid.
The following statistics will give some idea of the trend of our work:
Groceries sent to 6 families
Rent sent to 3 families
Milk (1,080 qts.) sent to 4 families (one of these families having 8 children)
Milk (119 qts.) sent to 6 school children
Coal sent to 1 family
Tonsil operation for 1 child
Optical treatment for 1 child
Institutional care (8 mos.) for 1 child
Respectfully submitted,
JUVENILE AND WELFARE COMMISSION.
Pauline H. Church, Clerk.
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Report of the Zoning Commission For the Year Ending February 29, 1928
The Zoning Commission submits the following report for the fiscal year ending February 29, 1928.
Eleven public hearings and twelve meetings were held during the year, taking action upon twelve petitions asking for the rezoning of areas and the drafting of several amendments to the Zoning Regulations.
The following petitions for the reclassification of areas were favorably recommended by this Commission to the Honorable Town Council, which body approved the recommendations and voted the changes to be made on the Zoning Map.
Rezoning of the southwest corner of South Street and New Britain Avenue from a Business Zone to an Industrial Zone; rezoning the area bounded by Mountain Road, Flagg Road, North Main Street and Albany Avenue from a "B" area to an "A" area; rezoning the rear part of lots fronting Thomson Road from an "A" area to a "B" area so that all lots fronting Thomson Road are in "B" area only; changing the boundary of the Business Zone on the northwest corner of Park Road and Whiting Lane so that the said boundary will follow the south lot line of the first lot on the north side of Whiting Lane; rezoning the area on and about the Boulevard, from Whiting Lane to Quaker Lane, South, from a "B" and "C" area to an "A" area; elimination of the Business Zone at the junction of Albany Avenue and Mountain Road and placing this property in an "A" area Residence Zone only; elimination of the Business Zone on both sides of Asylum Avenue, between Quaker Lane, North, and Auburn Road, and placing this property in an "A" area Residence Zone only; elimination of the Business Zone on both sides of South Main Street, near West Point Terrace, and placing this property in an "A" Residence Zone only.
The Commission recommended that the southwest corner of Pros- pect Avenue and the Boulevard be rezoned from "E" Residence to Busi- ness but the Honorable Town Council voted not to make the change.
The Commission recommended its disapproval in rezoning the north- west corner of Oakwood Avenue and Richard Street from "D" Residence to a Business Zone, to the Honorable Town Council, which Body accepted the recommendation and denied the change. A petition asking to rezone a lot on the north side of the Boulevard, just east of the Trout Brook, from a "B" Residence to a Business Zone, also received the same action.
Several times during the year this Commission was called upon to clarify various sections and applications of the Zoning Regulations.
The following Amendments to the Zoning Regulations were approved
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by the Honorable Town Council upon the recommendation of the Zoning Commission :
An amendment which prohibits the erection of houses for more than one family in an "A" or "B" Area District.
An amendment which controls the locating of gasoline or other motor fuel filling stations as well as locating garages.
At present, the Commission has before it a proposed draft of an amendment to the Zoning Regulations, relating to the use of soft coal or any other fuel which causes a density of smoke and final action on this matter will be taken in the near future.
During the year it was necessary for this Commission to authorize the Corporation Counsel to proceed to New York in order that he might consult Mr. Bassett, an expert attorney on zoning, in regards to the drafting of the Amendments.
On April 12, 1927, the Honorable Town Council elected the following as members of the Zoning Commission: Messrs. Josiah B. Woods, for a term of three years; C. H. Abbott and H. H. Marshall, for a term of two years; Max L. Goldenthal and William H. Bulkley, for a term of one year. On January 17, 1928, the Honorable Town Council accepted the resignation of Mr. H. H. Marshall, owing to his leaving West Hartford, and elected Dr. William F. Reardon to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Marshall.
The Zoning Commission wishes to extend their thanks and apprecia- tion to the Town Officials for their hearty co-operation given them during the year, especially the Corporation Counsel, who attended ninety-five per cent of the meetings.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSIAH B. WOODS, Chairman, C. H. ABBOTT, Vice-Chairman, MAX L. GOLDENTHAL, WILLIAM H. BULKELEY, *H. H. MARSHALL, +WILLIAM F. REARDON, M. D., Zoning Commission.
William A. Rothammer, Clerk.
* Resigned January 17, 1928. ยก Elected January 17, 1928.
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Report of the Engineering Department
The Engineering Department herewith submits its annual report for the year ending February 29, 1928.
The general work of the department consisted of the making of all surveys, maps and profiles brought to the attention of the department by reference and orders from the Town Council, Street, Sewer and Water Commission and the Park, Town Plan and Cemetery Commission; the preparation of plans and specifications for work undertaken by the Street, Sewer and Water Commission; the giving of lines and grades for the con- struction of roads, sanitary and storm water sewers, sidewalks and com- bination curbs and gutters; the giving of street and building lines for the location of buildings; the locating and giving of house numbers; the giving of lines for the location of overhead and underground work of the various public utilities; the general inspection and superintendence of the work called upon to be performed in the various departments under the super- vision of the Street, Sewer and Water Commission; the making up of assessments for the Street, Sewer and Water Commission and the Bureau of Assessment and Award; the making of changes of title on the Assess- ment Commission maps and the locating and plotting of all buildings on these maps and on the sewer maps.
The Oakwood Avenue Sewer System was started during the past year and is about 95 per cent completed.
Plans for the paving and draining of South Main Street between Farmington Avenue and Park Road have been made.
With the layouts of streets approved and under consideration by the Town Plan Commission extending into the undeveloped sections of the town and the petitions for improvements made to the Street, Sewer and Water Commission following the approval of these layouts it is very evident that the personnel of the engineering department will have to be increased if the work involved is to be gotten out.
With the demands for sanitary sewers outside of the sections now drained by the present trunk sewer in Trout Brook Valley it is important that the topographic survey now being made be completed to provide the information necessary for the proper design of the sewer system that will serve this territory.
The Department wishes to take this opportunity to express its appre- ciation of the courtesy and assistance received from the various town officials and commissions.
Respectfully submitted,
J. W. HOLDEN, Town Engineer.
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Report of the Town Manager
During the past year the extremely rapid growth of West Hartford has continued, as shown by the building permits issued by the Building Inspector, to the amount of $6,246,227.00, and the population has in- creased from 8,854 in 1920 to 20,819 in 1927, as found by actual canvass made by the Registrars of Voters from October 1 to December 31, 1927.
The School Board completed the Fern Street School at a cost of approximately $240,000.00, and has the new Elmwood Elementary School erected and closed in at this time, and this school will cost, when com- pleted, approximately $225,000.00, and it will be completed, ready for use, at the commencement of school in September.
The Street, Sewer and Water Commission has constructed over $200,000.00 worth of improved streets, over $200,000.00 worth of Sanitary Sewers and over $28,000.00 worth of Storm Water Sewers, besides these there have been over nine miles of sidewalks and over ten miles of curbs and gutters constructed, and the above work with the large amount of work done by the Assessment Commission, the Park, Town Plan and Cemetery Commission, and the Bureau of Assessment and Award, has required the greatest amount of work from our Engineering Department than was ever done before in the history of the Town.
The Zoning Commission and Board of Appeals have had considerable work before them, the Public Library has accommodated more people than ever before, and the Juvenile and Welfare Commission has done an untold amount of good work and rendered relief to many families and individuals.
The Police and Fire Commission has increased the number of men in the Police Department, besides installing Traffic Signals at various street intersections.
Many new street lights have been installed and the candlepower of all street lights has been increased.
We have three separate Fire Districts, working under three separate charters and managed by three separate Commissions, and each of these Districts has an excellent fire house and equipment, manned by extremely efficient trained firemen, but I am still of the opinion, as I have stated in former reports, that the time has come when the taxpayers in each District and those outside of the Districts, should consider the advisability of consolidating these three Districts into one District, under one Com- mission.
The collection of ashes and garbage in these districts is let out by contract, and in one district one contractor collects both ashes and garbage, in another district one contractor collects the ashes and another the gar-
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bage, and in another district one contractor has both contracts and collects the ashes but sub-lets the collection of garbage to another contractor, and while all of these contractors are rendering good service, it is my opinion, if the districts would discontinue the contracts, purchase the necessary trucks and employ one man to supervise all of the collections in all of the districts, much money could be saved for the taxpayers.
In my August report to the Town Council, I suggested certain changes and additions to our office building to increase our office space, as we are greatly in need of more room, and the Council discussed this matter and appointed a Committee "to investigate and report on the recommendations of the Town Manager, relating to office building as outlined in his report."
This Committee has had tentative plans prepared and the Council voted to have the question of appropriating the sum of $195,000.00 for a Municipal Building voted on at the election to be held on April 3, 1928.
It is a well-known fact that more room must be provided in the very near future for carrying on the work of the Town, and if the voters decide to have a new Municipal Building, I respectfully suggest that the present office building, the old Town Hall and the lots that they stand on be sold, and I believe they could be sold for a sum that would nearly pay for a new Municipal Building, and then place the new building on that part of the Library lot that faces on Brace Road, and this would save the cost of purchasing a new lot.
If the above plan was followed, the present buildings could be used while the new building was being erected, and save a good deal of in- convenience to the public and those who work for the Town.
In closing I want to thank the Town Officials and the people of West Hartford for their loyal support during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, B. I. MILLER,
Town Manager.
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Report of the Street, Sewer and Water Commission
Macadam has been laid in sections of Acadia Street, Ahern Street, Ardmore Road, Argyle Avenue, Arundel Avenue, Arlington Road, Asylum Avenue, Ballard Drive, Boulevard, Brace Road, Bretton Road, Chelsea Lane, Clifton Avenue, Cortland Street, Doris Street, Fairview Street, Fern Street, Forest Road, Four Mile Road, Garfield Road, Griswold Drive, Hugh Street, Newport Avenue, North Quaker Lane, North Steele Road, Oakwood Avenue, Park Road, Plymouth Road, Princeton Street, Riggs Avenue, Rumford Road, Sellden Street, South Highland Street, Steele Road, Sunset Terrace, Van Buren Avenue, Vera Street (now Meadow- brook Road), Vincent Street, Wardwell Road, Ware Avenue, Warrenton Avenue, Westview Avenue, Whetton Road, White Avenue and Woodrow Street, a total of 8.3 miles.
A concrete road with Amiesite surface was laid on Park Road from Whiting Lane to South Quaker Lane, a distance of about .3 miles.
A stone base with Amiesite surface was laid on South Quaker Lane from Park Road to the Boulevard, a distance of .2 miles.
The State laid bituminous surface on a section of South Main Street, and on a section of Newington Road, and laid sections of concrete in New Britain Avenue, east of the railroad, a total of 1.7 miles.
Sanitary sewers have been built in sections of Asylum Avenue, Ballard Drive, Brunswick Avenue, Clifton Avenue, Fern Street, Fernwood Road, Foley Street, Griswold Drive, Hillcrest Avenue, Layton Street, Linwold Drive, Linnard Road, Melven Road, Middlefield Drive, Newport Avenue, Oakwood Avenue system, Pelham Road, Quaker Lawn interceptor, Ridge- wood Road, South Highland Street and Vincent Street, a total of 10.9 miles.
Storm sewers have been built in Arundel Avenue, Bishop Road, Boulevard, Bretton Road, Forest Road, Lanman Park section, New Britain Avenue, North Main Street, Park Road, Richard Street and Whitman Avenue, a total of 1.9 miles.
Total of all streets improved 10.5 miles
Streets graded. 4.11 miles
Streets accepted 4.75 miles
Sidewalks built. 9.27 miles
Curbs and gutters built. 10.18 miles
Sanitary sewers built 10.90 miles
Storm water sewers built. 1.93 miles
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Owing to the unusual amount of wet weather the past year, some of the macadam had to be put in late in the season, but most of it has worn well during the winter and but very little of it will have to have the surface dressed over this Spring.
The Commission has given a large amount of time and consideration to the various sewer problems in the Town, the largest one being the Oak- wood Avenue system which we are pleased to report is about 95% com- pleted.
The Oakwood Avenue system was planned in 1916, but at that time there were not enough residences in that section to warrant the construc- tion of so large a system which serves a territory north of Flatbush Avenue, east of Quaker Lane South, and south of Park Road, which was not in- cluded in the Park Street sewer system, or the Charter Oak sewer system, but during the past two years there have been so many houses built in this section that it became necessary to construct this sewer.
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