USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1923-1927 > Part 41
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1924
1925
Population
12,700
13,000
13,500
14,000
14,000 $20,621,060
14,350 $21,920,540 26.70
14,151 $24,089,870
Valuation .
$16,005,607 14.80
16.00
18.00
24.70
25.00
25.30
26.50
State Tax.
38,940.00
44,657.80
56,147.80
56,147.00
41,400.00
11,400.00
34,500.00
46,200.00
County Tax.
15,733.33
21,316.09
24,450.81
33,216.33
30,913.00
31,688.30
33,332.00
36,485.97
Amt. Raised by Taxation
233,681.00
254.827.00
354,235.00
377,605.00
417,502.00
541,414.51
585,281.00
638,389.68
HIGHWAY DATA
Miles of Paving
Miles of Streets Oiled .
5.4 18.4 15,662 $29,026.93
7.69 28.6 17,328 $70,570.05
8.44 17.6 17,883
9.47 26.01 20,040
10.86 14.91 21,527
11.64 14.05 22,801 $78,193.71
12.36 35.54 24,.975 $129.548.54
$90,299.32
WATER DEPARTMENT DATA
Number of Services .
2,034 30.57 4 290
2,064 30.61 290
2,112 31.03
2,149 31.29 296
2,220 31.70 296
2,301 31.90
32.76
*2.412 33.86 311
Number of Hydrants
292
297
304
Gallons Pumped .
446,981,000
396,400,000 $37,196.94
436,004,991 $40,758.82
450,000,000 $13,932.57
430,438,000 $50,142.56
397,247,136 $56,898.75
400,515,000 $56,835.47
$55,404.42
Operating Expenses .
28,584.00
31,005.95
37,940.91
36,184.78
29,813.94
36,680.17
34,752.80
32,273.21
Bonded Debt
72,000.00
62,000.00
57.000.00
66,000.00
93,500.00
80,600.00
70,300.00
101,000.00
Plant Investment
376,400 00
378,200.00
386,200.00
432,731.00
452,118.00
462,742.00
475,137.00
549,823.00
*Error in report of previous years.
SEWER DEPARTMENT DATA
Bonded Debt.
$184,000.00 5,331.64
$177,000.00 4,106.55 17.81
$175,050.00 1,277.21
$192,950.00
$214,950.00 6,566.00
$227,950.00 5,301.03
$227,050.00 6,431.19 21.24
$206,950.00 10,656.17
Miles of Mains
17.60
18.18
18.79
20.49
Sewer Connections
10441
1091
1154
1225
1410
1507
22.64 1640
ELECTRIC LIGHT DATA
Income. .
$ 71,224.00
$111,047.00
$142,030.95
$159,765.59
$169,362.49
$182,446.95
$188,209.71
$195,946.51
Operating Expenses
55,689.00
82,116.00
104,245.20
126,149.83
126,446.41
131,951.68
120,885.54
134,549.94
Bonded Debt.
30,500.00
79,050.00
82,000.00
79,500.00
67,000.00
54,500.00
31,000.00
24,000.00
Plant Investment
160,858.00
204,471.00
259,506.09
280,679.19
295,855.29
296,138.08
307,915.53
323,070.48
Street Lamps.
709
709
714
718
718
719
730
763
Number of Meters
1,976
2,321
2,586
2,777
3,003
3,222
3,454
3,816
Number of Lamps
19,917
55,372
61,228
77,828
83,568
87,452
79,672
85,008
H. P. Motors. .
1,955
2,452
3,025
3.919
3,946
3,628
3,705
3,790
K. W. H. Bought
2,511,200
3,805,648
4,776,000
5,442,000
5,935,000
5,774,000
5,758,000
5,999,000
$15,926.689
13,500 $18,647,488
$18,876,410
$19,859,865
Tax Rate.
13.04 17.58
Sq. Yds. Gran. Walks
25,800
Annual Expenditures
$68,951.06
$77,638.48
$77,144.40
2,410
Miles of Mains.
428,564,157
Income from Water Rates
$37,128.96
Annual Maintenance
6,461.77
20.00 1315
155
156
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN FOR THE YEAR 1925
January 13, 1926.
The Seleetmen submit the following Annual Report for the year 1925.
There were held forty-nine regular and ten special meetings.
At the Annual Town Meeting held January 19, Thomas B. Mulvehill was re-elected Selectman.
The organization for the year was perfected on January 20, by the re-election of Thomas B. Mulvehill as Chairman and James E. Pendergast as Clerk. Mr. Pendergast was also reappointed State Aid and Soldiers' Benefit Agent.
The following appointments were made during the year:
January 6. Frank W. Talbot, Forest Fire Warden, reappointment, for one-year term beginning January 1, 1925. Approval by the State Forester reported January 13, 1925.
William P. Hammersley, Local Moth Superintendent, reappointment, for one year from January 1, 1925. Approval by the State Forester reported January 13, 1925.
Walter H. Hobson, Town Fish and Game Warden, reappointment, for one year from January 1, 1925. Approved by Department of Con- servation, Division of Fisheries and Game, January 27, 1925.
March 4. Albert Fales, Inspector of Animals, reappointment, approved by State Department of Conservation, Bureau of Animal Industry, through notification received March 14, 1925; term ends May 31, 1926.
March 31. Kenneth Mckenzie, appointed Assessor for term of three years beginning April 1, reappointment; confirmed by Department of Corporations and Taxation through notification dated March 28, 1925.
April 9. Lewis D. Thorpe appointed General Manager in place of William P. Hammersley, resigned.
April 14. Lewis D. Thorpe appointed Tree Warden, Local Moth Super- intendent and Engineer of the Fire Department, in place of William P. Hammersley, resigned.
April 28. Jennie F. Fales, John R. Parker and Mary G. Millett, Board of Relief, reappointment.
William C. Kindelan, Pound Keeper.
William C. Kindelan, Dog Officer.
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William C. Kindelan, Walter A. Readel, William J. Barrett, J. Irving Reid, Thomas C. Lydon, Peter N. Curran, Charles R. Donnell, Harry F. Snow, Partick J. Coyne, Henry F. Breen, John S. Conroy, John Nee and Nicholas P. Curran, Field Drivers. All reappointments, except Nicholas P. Curran, which was a new appointment.
J. Fred Boyden and Frank W. Talbot, Fire Engineers, reappointments. April 28. C. O. Littlefield, Austin L. Maddox and John J. Flaherty, Fence Viewers, reappointments.
Judge James A. Halloran, Town Counsel, reappointment.
Forrest M. Douglass, Inspector of Buildings, reappointment. George A. Smith, Acting Inspector of Buildings in the absence of Inspector Douglass.
The foregoing appointments made on April 28 are for terms of one year, respectively, from May 1, 1925.
Thomas H. Hayden, Public Auctioneer, reappointment.
May 19. Walter S. Bagley appointed constable for term of one year ending May 1, 1926.
June 23. John F. Lee appointed permanent patrolman on police force, eligible through list submitted by Department of Civil Service and Registration.
June 30. James E. Pendergast appointed Soldiers' Burial Agent.
A joint meeting of the Selectmen and Trustees of the Morrill Memorial Library was held for the purpose of filling the vacancy in said board of trustees caused by the death of M. Agnes Mahony. By unanimous vote, Miss Julia McCarthy was chosen as said trustee.
Licenses were granted to various persons after proper investigations and due consideration for the conduct of certain lines of business as provided by law as follows: pool room, Sunday sales, common victuallers, Sunday evening entertainment, garage licenses classes one, two and three, keeping and storing gasolene, bowling, junk collectors, private garages, second-hand motor vehicles, second-hand furniture and household furnishings, peddling (local) fruit and vegetables. Action by way of recommendation was taken as to licenses to peddle on application by various parties to the Director of Standards.
Public hearings were held on various matters as required by law in- cluding the following: Maintenance of public garages and repair shops, American Coach Company and New England Transportation Company petitions re motor bus transportation; keeping and storage of gasolene, maintenance of third-class garage licenses, extension of Mountain Avenue as proposed by property owners, Marvas situation to Mr. Hartshorn representing the merchants, and maintenance of garages of the first class.
Orders of Taking
On January 27, 1925, an order was unanimously adopted under the authority and direction of the Special Town Meeting held December 29,
153
1924, by action taken under Article II of the Warrant; taking in fee by right of eminent domain for public school purposes a parcel of land con- sisting of five acres and 26,861 square feet from Fred L. Fisher, assumed owner, to whom an award of $5000.00 damages was made; the land being that shown on a plan made by Geo. A. Smith, Town Engineer, dated December 24, 1924, and deposited in the office of the Town Engineer, and having a frontage on Pleasant street. Subsequently Mr. Fisher accepted the award and gave a release and conveyance in satisfactory form and was paid the amount of the damages so awarded.
On March 10, 1925, an order was adopted for the taking in fee by right of eminent domain for the purposes of a public park of certain lands, being a portion of the high school lot fronting on Washington Street, so-called and owned by the Town, as shown on a plan entitled "A plan of land be- tween Bond and Hoyle streets for a proposed parkway," inade by Geo. A. Smith, Town Engineer, dated June 30, 1924, no damages being awarded, and the assessable area benefited being determined and described as shown on a plan entitled "Town of Norwood, Mass. Plan of Area Expected to Receive Benefits from Park Improvement under order of taking March 31, 1925" Geo. A. Smith, Town Engineer, dated March 31, 1925; the layout and location of the park having been duly accepted and allowed as reported by the Selectmen to the Town at a meeting legally called for the purpose on March 10 and held March 24.
On March 31, 1925, three orders were adopted for the taking by right of eminent domain of a public assessment for all purposes of Town ways under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments in certain lands as follows:
(1) Alteration by widening of a portion of Nichols Street, said portion being shown on a plan made by Geo. A. Smith, Town Engineer, dated February 28, 1925.
(2) Lay-out of a new way shown as an extension of Nichols Street on the above mentioned plan, being entitled "Plan of a Widening of a portion of Nichols Street and Plan of Extension of Nichols and Elliot Streets."
(3) Lay-out shown as an extension of Elliot Street on the above plan referred to.
Said lay-outs and alterations were accepted and said takings were authorized by the Town at a meeting held March 24, 1925.
With respect to the alteration of Nichols Street, $690.00 was awarded to the Norwood Housing Association, assumed owner of fce, as damages. Selectmen adjudged no betterments were to be assessed for this improve- ment.
With respect to the extension of Nichols Street, damages were awarded to assumed owners as follows: George H. Morrill, $115.00; Emma L. Shattuck et al, Trustees under the will of Edmund J. Shattuck, and Emma L. Shattuck, Trustee under the will of Louise Shattuck Adams
159
Wallace, $1074.00; Frank G. Allen, $250.00; Charles E. Houghton et al, Trustees, no damages.
The area subject to assessment for betterments is shown on a plan and listed, and the betterment assessment is estimated at $15,342.50.
As to Elliot Street extension, no damages were awarded to the assumed owners of the fee, namely, Charles E. Houghton ct al, Trustees. The area benefited was determined and listed and the estimated betterment assessment is shown and totals $1,000.00.
The several awards of damages were accepted and paid and releases obtained.
On April 21, 1925, the General Manager was directed to make entry on lands taken under these three orders of taking for the purpose of con- structing said street improvements.
On May 5, 1925, an order was adopted taking by right of eminent do- main for public school purposes, pursuant to the vote of the Town at a Special Town Meeting held April 29, under Article I of the Warrant, a parcel of land containing 25,374 square feet as shown on a plan of land made by Geo. A. Smith, Town Engineer, dated April 16, 1925, and the sum of $1,500.00 as damages was awarded to Alfred L. Atwood as the assumed owner of said land.
Additional Water Supply
The Selectmen were informed on January 13, 1925, through letter re- ceived by General Manager Hammersley from the Supt. of the Water Dept. of Walpole, that Walpole had a surplus supply of water and could furnish Norwood with approximately 2,000,000 gals. of water per day without further additions to its plant equipment.
With respect to water supply situation, conferences were held with the Finance Commission and with Engineer Lewis D. Thorpe as expert ad- visor. A committee of three consisting of two Selectmen and one member of the Finance Commission was formed to act as a joint committee to consider the situation and make recommendations. Thomas B. Mulve- hill and Eugene Endicott of the Selectmen and Charles J. Prescott repre- senting the Finance Commission constituted this committee, which was also given the duty of considering the sewerage situation.
On March 4 this joint committee reported recommending that Engineer Thorpe be requested to investigate conditions at the Buckmaster Pump- ing Station and make recommendations and report an estimate of the cost of one new filter bed and the installation of new pumping machinery.
Subsequently the joint committee recommended that the General Manager be authorized to expend not more than $500.00 in driving new test wells for the purpose of locating a new possible source of supply in the Purgatory Brook district and the Selectmen approved this recommend- ation.
On May 26 the General Manager reported as to test wells located in the
160
Purgatory Valley section and suggested a test at certain locations in Westwood in the Germany Brook section.
On June 9 a report was received from the special committee on water supply to the effect that there appeared to be a sufficient quantity of water in Buckmaster Pond to meet the immediate needs of the Town and that this water could be supplied at a price lower than that submitted by the Dept. of Public Works of Walpole. Therefore, the committee recommended that steps be taken by the Selectmen to install pumping machinery and new filters at the pond as soon as the State Dept. of Health approved of such installation. This approval was subsequently ob- tained.
In connection with the installation of the new pumping machinery which called for the use of electrical power, the General Manager was instructed to petition the Selectmen of Westwood for permission to maintain over and above Clapboardtree Street wires for the transmission of electricity from Norwood to the Pumping Station at the pond. Thereafter the Select- men of Westwood granted the permission as petitioned for.
On July 7 the General Manager was instructed to proceed to secure by agreement the right from owners of private property to make use of their premises and to maintain a power line for the purpose of transmitting electricity to the pumping station at said Buckmaster Pond, and in con- sideration therefor the Town of Norwood would agree to furnish said owners without charge not in excess of 5,000 cubic feet of water yearly during such period as the Town should make use of their premises for said purpose. These rights were later secured.
On December 29 the following schedule of water rates was adopted effective as of January 1, 1926, namely:
Minimum charge (quarterly) $2.50
Allowance (quarterly)
1,000 cubic feet
Charges for Water Used each Quarter
First 10,000 cubic feet 25 cents per 100 cubic feet
Next 90,000 cubic feet 18 cents per 100 cubic feet
All water used in excess of 100,000 cubic feet 14 cents per 100 cubic feet
Census Return
As required by law a census was taken and on May 19 a return was made to the Department of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, certifying as the result of such census that the total number of inhabitants of the town therein on March 31, 1925, was 14,151.
Proposed Zoning By-Law
Various conferences were held with the Town Planning Board, Inspector of Buildings and other officials with respect to the proposed Zoning By-
161
Law with a view to assist the advancing of the matter to the point where action could be taken.
The proposed By-Law in the form finally determined upon was pre- sented by the Planning Board to the Town for its consideration and action at a meeting called for the purpose, but the By-Law was rejected.
The Planning Board was directed, however, to consider and report on a new draft of the Zoning By-Law at a later meeting which would not con- tain the features found objectionable in the rejected draft.
Motor Bus Transportation and Regulations
In June petitions were filed by the New England Transportation Company and by the American Coach Company, respectively, for licenses to operate lines of motor busses for the transportation of passen- gers for hire within the limits of the town under General Laws, Chap. 159, Scct. 45.
On July 7, 1925, public hearings were held on these petitions to which all interested citizens were invited and at which all who desired were heard.
After due consideration of these petitions it was voted on August 4 that they be denied without prejudice.
On September 1, 1925, an application was received from the Boston and New York Coach Company for a license to operate four motor coach busses through Norwood for the carriage of passengers for hire between Boston and New York City.
On November 10, 1925, a petition was received from the New England Transportation Company for a license to operate motor vehicles for the transportation of passengers for hire over such streets and ways of the town as may be approved, the license being requested in connection with the proposed operation of a line between Hartford, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts, passing through Bellingham, Franklin, Norfolk, Walpole, Norwood, Westwood and Dedham en route through Massachusetts.
Applications were also made by the Medfield-Dedham Street Railway Company and by the Foxborough-Mansfield Bus Company, respectively, for licenses to operate motor busses for the transportation of passengers for hire over certain designated routes. Upon consideration of these appli- cations after hearings held on December 29, action was taken to the effect and petitioners were notified that the Selectmen were prepared to take favorable action upon the respective applications at such time as said companies submitted proper security as set forth in the regulations now in effect, together with a schedule of farcs and service which the respective petitioncrs proposed to establish, the opcration as to the Medfield-Dedham Street Railway Company covering the following route, viz .: from the Westwood line along Winter Street to Prospect Street, thence through Prospect to Nahatan Street, thence through Nahatan Street to Broadway and thencc through Broadway to the Norwood Central Station; while the route as to the Foxborough-Mansfield Bus Company would be from
162
Norwood to the Canton line through the following streets, viz .: Neponset, East Cross, Pleasant, Cross, Lenox and Guild to Washington and thence to Railroad Avenue. The Selectmen reserve the right to designate on any of the streets or ways named the places where passengers may be received and discharged. As to the other applications for licenses above referred to consideration is being given.
On December 22 the following amendment to regulations covering the operation of motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers for hire was adopted; namely, Voted to amend by adding to Section 6 of said regulations as follows: "If the licensee shall file with the Town Treasurer an insurance policy issued by a company authorized to issue such policy in this Commonwealth, by which the company insures the licensee against loss from liability imposed by law upon the assured for damages on ac- count of bodily injuries, including death resulting therefrom, accidentally suffered by any person or persons, caused by such motor vehicles, the operation thereof, or by the loading or unloading of merchandise carried on such motor vehicle, to the extent of at least twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) total liability for injury or death in any one accident, and sub- ject to such liability in one accident to the extent of at least five thousand dollars ($5,000) for injury or death of one person and against loss from the liability imposed by law upon the assured for damages (including damages necessarily resulting from loss of use) to property of every description (property of the assured excepted) resulting from any accident occurring within the term of the policy, directly caused by or due to the ownership, maintenance or use of such motor vehicle to the extent of at least $1000, then security in the sum of $500 only shall be required to be deposited with the Treasurer; and to amend Sec. 4 by striking out the words, "or who has not demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Selectmen his ability to drive the vehicle proposed to be operated by him and his familiarity with the motor vehicle laws of the Commonwealth, with the rules and regula- tions herein prescribed and with the street traffic regulations of the Town," and adding to such section "The fee for such license shall be $1.00," and to amend Sec. 20 so as to read "A Fee of $10.00 shall be paid to the Town Clerk for each license issued under the provisions of Sec. 6."
Neponset River Expense Apportionment
The progress made in this important case during the several years in which it has been pending has been set forth in the earlier reports.
On January 27, 1925, a report was received from the Town Counsel to the effect that a compromise agreement had been reached by the inter- ested parties for the apportionment of the expense incurred under the so- called Neponset River Improvement Act.
Later and after considerable negotiation with the Dept. of the Attorney General, an understanding was reached with the Commonwealth whereby the question of whether interest should be charged, which was raised by
163
the Commonwealth, was left with the special commissioners for final decision after argument. Thereafter the commissioners decided that no interest was chargeable and the amount admitted to be due by the muni- cipalities, namely $108,907.71, was made the basis of the apportionment.
The compromise agreement was formally presented to the special commissioners and in accordance therewith, namely on June 30, 1925, they reported to the Court that they had determined and awarded that the expense incurred under Chapter 655 of the Acts of 1911 and supple- mentary acts, being the improvement act above referred to, should be apportioned among the communities as follows: Stoughton 4%, Sharon 41%, Walpole 43%, Westwood 53%, Dedham 93%, Milton 103%, Canton 133%, Norwood 18% and Boston 31%.
The amount found to be due from Norwood is $19,603.57, payable in ten annual installments by way of addition to the State Tax.
As there had been no maintenance expense and none was expected for some time to come, the commissioners did not make any finding as to a division of such expense.
On September 29, 1925, the report of the special commissioners was confirmed by the Supreme Judicial Court through the entry of a final decree which bore the assent of counsel representing all of the interested municipalities.
It is to be remembered that the total sum apportioned excluded all payments made by the Commonwealth for land damages, for bridge work and for the expense of the special commission which totaled over $10,- 000.00, and also excluded all items of interest which involved a sum ex- ceeding $35,000.00.
We are satisfied, as was the Finance Commission, that the share which Norwood bears of the expense in question is fair and reasonable under all the circumstances. We refer to the report of the Town Counsel for further information as to this matter.
Walpole Sewerage System Legislation
At a meeting held January 6, 1925, it was voted to prepare an article to be inserted in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant to see what action the Town would take relative to the bill pending before the Massachusetts Legislature on the petition of the Town of Walpole for the installation and maintenance of a sewerage system for said Town with particular reference to the disposition of the Town towards the provisions of the bill relating to the location of disposal works for said sewerage system in Norwood.
On February 18, 1925, Eng. Lewis D. Thorpe reported as to the sewer- age system situation, advising against permission being given to any other Town to dispose of its sewage in Norwood, and indicating that while he did not know at what future date the Town might have to enter the Metropolitan Sewerage System, yet he felt if the sewage was properly treated, that date was a long way off.
A joint committee consisting of Thomas B. Mulvehill and Eugene Endi-
164
cott, representing the Seleetmen and Charles J. Preseott, representing the Finance Commission was formed to consider and report on the sewer- age situation.
As to the Walpole Sewerage Bill, action by the Legislature was postponed by agreement and the bill was therefore referred to the next Annual Ses- sion as reported by the Town Counsel on April 7, 1925.
The joint committee conferred from time to time with the Walpole officials relative to the sewerage situation and reported developments to the Selectmen. On December 8 a conference was held with the Walpole Committee on sewerage, and other officials of that town and their adviser Sanitary Eng. Sampson, without definite results.
Bird & Son, inc.
Upon the application of Bird & Son, inc., and after hearing held, per- mission was granted to this corporation to erect and maintain over Water Street at the railroad bridge near Pleasant Street, an 8" steam pipe line to transmit stcam from its Walpole plant to its Norwood plant in accord- anee with a plan approved by the General Manager. Later, an agreement with indemnity provisions approved by the Town Counsel was prepared, executed and delivered in accordance with the requirements of the permis- sion so granted.
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