USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1923-1927 > Part 42
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On August 21, 1925, the General Manager reported a proposal by Bird & Son, inc., with respect to connecting with the town sewerage system, to finance the cost of a trunk line from Morse Street to Pleasant Street and to secure from the Old Colony Railroad Co. the necessary right of way through its property, subject to the condition that Bird & Son, inc. be reimbursed for the expense of such construction and easement. The Selectmen voted to accept the offer of the trunk line sewer to be installed in accordance with specifications approved by the General Manager and to recommend that the Town at a future Town Meeting by appropriate action should reimburse Bird & Son, ine. for the expense of the construc- tion of said trunk line sewer and the cost of such easement. They further voted that a charge of 3.7 mills per square foot be imposed on the traet of land owned by Bird & Son, inc. and situated southerly from Morse Street and northerly from Water Street, said area comprising twenty-eight acres approximately, said charge covering the permanent privilege for that part of the property of the corporation which will be benefited. The grant of the easement desired from the Old Colony Railroad Co. and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co. was seeured in a form satisfactory to the General Manager and Town Counsel, and ineident to such grant the Railroad Company waived their elaim that Morse Street in that vicin- ity was a private way and not a public street.
Electric Wiring Inspection
The recommendation of Fred S. Barton, Superintendent of the Munici- pal Light Plant, with respect to wire inspection to the effect that the
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Town adopt a by-law along the lines of the ordinance of the City of Lynn relative to electric wiring was approved.
A by-law amending the existing building by-law was drafted providing for the incorporation by reference of the standard code as to electric wiring requirements, being the 1925 National Electrical Code so-called, and was presented to the Town and adopted at the Special Town Meeting held December 28, 1925, and on December 31 was approved by the Depart- ment of the Attorney General. At the same Town Meeting favorable action was taken to permit of the appointment of an inspector of wires.
Highland Cemetery Charges
On May 5, 1925, it was voted to establish the following charges with respect to Highland Cemetery, effective June 1, 1925, namely: price of single graves $15.00, price of burial lots sixty (60) cents per square foot.
Interments-infants $4.00, children $8.00 and adults $10.00.
The foregoing charges to be maintained during the period of the year from April 1 to December 1.
During the period of December 1 to April 1, an additional charge to be made of $2.00 for cach class of interments.
With respect to burial on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and holidays, a further additional charge of $2.00 to be made.
As to second burials, an additional charge of $10.00 to be made as to any grave when, in order to execute the second burial, it is necessary to remove the first burial.
As to charges for annual care during the ycar 1925, bills to be rendered in the month of May for care during the year 1924. On November 1, 1925, bills to be rendered for care for the year 1925. Care bills for the year 1926 to be rendered October 1, 1926.
Charges for care for the ycar 1926 are established on the following basis: burial plots of one to two hundred square feet in area, $2.00; burial plots with an area between two hundred onc square feet and three hundred square feet, $3.00; and burial plots with an area between three hundred one square feet and four hundred square feet, $4.00.
Perpetual care charges: on all lots under two hundred square feet, a deposit of $100.00; on all lots having an area between two hundred and three hundred square feet, a deposit of $125.00; and on all lots having an area between three hundred square feet and four hundred square feet, a deposit of $150.00.
Parking Regulations
On May 26, 1925, the General Manager was authorized with respect to automobile parking on Winter Street to change the traffic signs so that the parking of automobiles would be permissible on said street east from the entrance to the Norwood Civic Association.
At a meeting held June 23, 1925, the following parking regulation was adopted:
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"No person shall allow a vehicle to stand on Cottage Street nearer than fifty feet to the intersection of the curb lines of Washington Street and Cottage Street; nor on Vernon Street nearer than fifty feet of the inter- section of the curb lines of Washington Street and Vernon Street; nor on Railroad Avenue easterly from Washington Street within fifty feet of the intersection of the easterly curb lines of Washington Street and Railroad Avenue; nor on Railroad Avenue westerly from Washington Street within fifty feet of the intersection of the westerly curb lines of Washington Street and Railroad Avenue; nor on Day Street westerly from Washington Street within fifty feet of the intersection of the eurb lines of the westerly line of Washington Street and Day Street; nor on Day Street easterly from Washington Street within fifty feet of the intersection of the eurb lines of the casterly side of Washington Street and Day Street; and that notice of the adoption of this regulation be published in the Norwood Messenger of Saturday, June 27, 1925."
Telephone Rates
Consideration was given to the situation arising out of the proposed increase in rates in accordance with schedules filed by the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. with the Dept. of Public Utilities of the Com- monwealth with particular reference to the effect of the proposed new rates on Norwood patrons.
The Town Counsel reported that arrangements had been made by a special committee representing the City Solicitors and Town Counsel Club of Massachusetts with the Dept. of Public Utilities whereby competent counsel approved by the Attorney General and paid out of funds of the Commonwealth should represent the Department and protect the publie interest in the matter.
The Committee on Telephone of the Norwood Board of Trade and other interested persons were notified that no action should be taken by the officials of Norwood at the present time with respect to an independent or joint representation at the hearings before the Public Utilities Commission inasmuch as in the opinion of the Selectmen the interests of the Norwood people would be protected by the special counsel appointed as above indicated.
General Manager Hammersley
On January 13, 1925, the Selectmen were informed by General Manager Hammersley that he had accepted a position of Supt. of the Dept. of Public Works in New Bedford and requesting the Selectmen to aecept his resignation as General Manager, Engineer of the Fire Dept. and local Moth Supt., effective as of February 1, 1925.
It was voted to accept his resignation with regret.
By letter dated February 5, 1925, Mr. Hammersley offered his assist- ance in dealing with items in the budget for 1925, expressing his sincere thanks to the Town Officials for the support and consideration given to him during his term of office as General Manager.
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Thereafter the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
"Whereas Mr. William P. Hammersley has served us for the past seven years as Town Manager and whereas he has now left us to go to New Bedford, We, the Selectmen of Norwood, desire to express our very great appreciation of the faithful and efficient service which he has given the Town of Norwood.
He has proved the value of his knowledge and experience in the build- ing of our roads, has developed and improved our water supply and has helped in carrying forward plans for the development and beautifying the Town."
General Manager Thorpe
Following the acceptance of the resignation of William P. Hammersley as General Manager, consideration was given to the appointment of his successor.
From the list of applicants the selection was made in the person of Lewis D. Thorpe, whose appointment followed by unanimous vote on April 9, 1925.
Mr. Thorpe is a civil engineer of long experience and was acting at the time as expert advisor to the Town with reference to its water supply. He had served the Town in the past in an advisory capacity with respect to its water problems and had supervised the installation of the sewerage system, and had, therefore, much more than a passing acquaintance with municipal activities of the Town and was favorably known as well to many of the officials.
His high standing, experience and general temperament seem to fit him for the position and we feel the choice was an excellent one under all the circumstances, and that Mr. Thorpe is proving and will continue to prove a worthy successor to General Manager Hammersley.
Superintendent of Public Works Conley
On July 28, 1925, the General Manager reported that he had received the resignation of Joseph Enright Conley as Supt. of Public Works, effec- tive as of September 1, 1925. Although efforts were made to induce Mr. Conley to withdraw his resignation and to remain with the Department, they were not successful.
On Sept. 15, 1925, the following action was taken with respect to his retirement as Supt. of Public Works, namely:
"We, the Selectmen of Norwood, do on this occasion express our regrets as Officials of the Town and as the representatives of the Citizens, that Joseph Enright Conley, who has served so faithfully the Town during the past seventeen years, has vacated the position of Supt. of Public Works which he has so ably and capably filled.
We desire to further express for ourselves and for the Citizens earnest appreciation of the sincere efforts and the efficient and thorough work done
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and for the definite results accomplished by him in the departments in his control and under his direction.
State Armory Site
This important matter required and received careful and prompt at- tention. When on June 23 it was evident that action should be taken, it was voted to create a special committee composed of Chairman Prescott of the Finance Commission, Chairman Upham of the Planning Board and Selectmen Mulvehill, Dalton and Endicott, to consider and recommend one or more possible sites for the location of an Armory.
Various sites were considered and viewed and it was finally determined that a parcel of land fronting on Nahatan Street, easterly from Market Street, owned by the Norwood Housing Association, Inc., with an adjoin- ing parcel fronting on Lyman Place owned by Attilio Balboni, would make a lot in size and location entirely satisfactory for the purpose. The ap- proval of the site by the military authorities of the State was tentatively secured. Options to purchase both parcels on satisfactory terms were obtained. On December 15 it was voted to recommend to the Town to purchase said parcels under these options.
On December 19 a letter was received from Brig. General Jesse F. Stevens, Chairman of the State Armory Commission, advising that at a meeting of the Governor and Council held December 16, it was voted to authorize the purchase by the Armory Commission, for a sum not to ex- ceed $10,000.00, a certain parcel of land containing approximately 30,000 square feet situated on Nahatan Street easterly from Market Street and . bounded on two sides by private rights of way, as a site for the location of an Armory in Norwood. The site referred to is that recommended and comprises the parcels covered by the options above mentioned. It is to be remembered that the General Court in 1924 provided under Chapter 126, Acts of that year, a sum not to excced $10,000.00 for such purpose.
The Selectmen thereupon voted to insert an appropriate article in the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting called for and held on December 28, 1925, to purchase these parcels for the sum of $21,000.00, which was the agreed purchase price. They also voted to report and did report at said meeting their reasons for favorable action in the following form:
(1) "A State armory will provide for the use of the community an audi- torium or large meeting hall for which there is great need.
(2) The contribution which it is recommended that the Town makc towards the purchase of the site will be more than offset by the bene- fits which the Town will receive.
(3) The site recommended provides a desirable and convenient loca- tion; it aids in a fitting development of the Town Square, being adjacent to ample parking space which will be necessary in conncc- tion with the many public uscs of this building."
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In order to permit the Town to sell the property to the Commonwealth for $10,000.00, thereby making a contribution to the plan of the $11,000.00 paid for the land in excess of said sum of $10,000.00, legislation was found to be necessary. Therefore at the same meeting the Selectmen were au- thorized to petition the General Court for appropriate legislation to permit the sale and conveyance as above outlined. This petition was prepared and filed in January, 1926. On December 30, 1925, title was taken by the Town to the parcel owned by the Norwood Housing Association, Inc., under its option and it is proposed to take title to the Balboni parcel early in the year 1926.
Miscellaneous
Claims of minor character presented from time to time were considered and acted upon in the light of information secured through the General Manager or otherwise.
Attention was given to various State aid and Military aid matters.
Warrants for the Annual and Special Town Meetings containing articles appropriate to the matters to be considered were prepared and the meetings so called were duly held thercunder.
The approval and delivery of deeds for lots in Highland Cemetery had attention as occasions required.
Use and occupancy insurance for the Municipal Electric Light Plant was authorized.
Appropriate action was taken to secure the acceptance by the Town of the bequest of a Mahogany Hall Clock contained in the Will of Rosa H. Smith, late of Norwood, deceased, as notified by William T. Whedon, Executor, the clock to be placed in the Morrill Memorial Library as pro- vided by the terms of said gift.
Deeds were prepared, executed and delivered conveying to abutting owners certain small parcels in the so-called Washington Street High School land in accordance with action taken by the Town authorizing the sale of said parcels and upon the terms stated in said action.
A return was made to the Chief Quartermaster of Massachusetts of the expenses of maintenance of the Armory for 1924 showing a total of $820.19, of which sum $360.00 was for services of the janitor and $271.67 was for repairs.
On February 24 it was voted that the rate of compensation for a double team and driver be increased to $10.00 per day, and that compensation for a single team be increased by a proportionate amount.
On June 30 resolutions of sympathy were adopted with respect to the deaths of John F. Callahan, former Water Commissioner, and Aaron L. Goodwin, former member of the Board of Assessors.
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On May 19 a license was granted to H. Warren Butler, manager in the store of A. F. Brown & Co., a Massachusetts corporation, as retaild ruggist, to sell intoxicating liquors for medicinal, mechanical and chemical pur- poses only under the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 138.
On March 31 letters of appreciation were sent the fire departments of the town of Dedham and Walpole respectively for the assistance and co- operation furnished on the occasion of the fire in the building on Washington Street occupied by the Norwood Furniture Company which occurred on March 23. Thanks were also extended to the employees of the local tele- phone exchange for their excellent service.
A fire occurred on March 24, 1925, in the High School Building located on the school land fronting on Washington Strect. An agreement was reached with the insurers whereby the necessary repairs were to be made by the Insurance Company in accordance with the report of the appraiser representing the Town, and that the expense of such repairs approximating $3,000.00 should be paid direct by the insurers. The repairs were made as agreed and the payment being made for such repairs by the insurers, there is no record in the Town accounts of the receipt of any insurance or of any expenditure for such repairs.
A suit was brought against the Town in the Superior Court for Norfolk County by Miss Mary E. Oldham by a writ dated August 21, 1925, and entered in that court on October 5, 1925. The damages claimed in the writ are stated to be $2,000.00 and the papers filed in the case indicate that her claim is based upon the alleged discontinuance of electricity service to her dwelling house on August 23, 1923, and her deprivation of such service since that time. The matter was referred for proper attention to the Town Counsel, whose report will furnish further information about the case from the legal standpoint. The service of the writ was the first knowledge given the Selectmen that money damages were claimed.
Shortly after the writ was served a letter addressed to the Selectmen and signed by Miss Oldham and dated September 2, 1925 was received, as a result of which there was correspondence between the Selectmen and herself relative to the subject matter of the claim.
While an extended statement has no place in this report, yet it seems proper to point out as Miss Oldham was informed that the Town is and has been ready and willing to furnish electric light service by delivery of electricity at the street line, and that the Selectmen are ready to cooperate to give service in this manner or in any other way they can do so without entering into a land dispute with private interests in which the Town is not concerned. The dispute referred to relates to the ownership and rights in a private way adjoining the premises upon which the dwelling house of Miss Oldham is located.
The response made by Miss Oldham to this proposal by the Selectmen was an insistence on receiving electric light service by delivery of electricity
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through wires attached to a trec located on the private way. . The refusal to accept other methods for the delivery of electric light service proposed by the Selectmen at hearings held in the past has led the Selectmen to conclude that no other method than the one demanded by Miss Oldham will be accepted by her.
We know of no duty imposed upon us to furnish service in any other way than that which we have offered and are confident that upon all the facts it will appear that we have acted fairly in our past efforts to deal with the situation.
Consideration was given and action taken with respect to the following matters, viz .:
(a) A definite program each year as to permanent sidewalks as recom- mended by the General Manager.
(b) Cemetery improvement on suggestion of Mr. George F. Willett.
(c) Approval of an additional arrangement with the New England Tele- phone & Telegraph Co. as to joint ownership with the Town of poles.
(d) Adoption of recommendation of Finance Commission that bonds of Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes be in the form of a single bond covering his liability in both capacities, thereby saving the Town from $200.00 to $300.00 yearly.
(e) Extension of water main in Rock Street, in Berwick Road and Chapel Street.
(;) Equipment for Inspector of Standards.
(g) New option for purchase of a portion of the Eaton pasture so-called obtained from Emily E. Fisher and other co-owners upon satis- factory terms following a conference with said parties. This option includes not only the parcel covered by the original option, but also additional land found to be desired for school purposes. Action by the Town as to the exercise of this option was sought through an article in the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting hekl Decem- ber 28, 1925, at which the purchase of the land under the terms of the option was authorized.
(h) Alteration of street lines at junction of Washington Street and Walnut Avenuc.
(i) Fire Department, including additional fire hose, new ladders for hook and ladder truck, correcting existing condition as to defective ladders, rebuilding ladder truck racks to permit installation of new type ladder, additional fire alarm boxes, additional full-time driver and call men. fire alarm boxes in school buildings.
(i) Cost of water main extension on Sumner Street.
(k) Change in rate of assessment for sewer construction.
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(!) Warrant received from County Commissioners for the County of Norfolk apportioning to Norwood the sum of $5,621.51 as its as- sessable share for the care and maintenance of the Norfolk County Hospital.
(m) Reimbursement of Dr. F A. Cleveland for part of expenses in- curred by himself and others in imhroving the park lands in the vicinity of Washington Street High School. On recommendatio of a special committee composed of Finance Commissioner Ellis and Selectmen Rice and Baker and appointed on Merch 4, a suit- able article was inserted in the Warrant for one of the Special Town Meetings providing for such reimbusement and at said meering such reimbursement was authorized
(n) Pursuant to action taken on August 4, representative of such or- ganizations as intended to conduct public amusements in the way of carnivals in the near future met with the Selectmen on noticb at the next meeting and took up the question of existing regulations relative to the display of fireworks and the observance of same.
(o) On recommendation of the Finance Commission and following a request from the School Committee as to grading Charles W. Eliot Park for use as a playground for children in that section, an informal committee was organized composed of Mr. Ellis of the Finance Commission, Selectmen Baker, Mr. Upham of the Town Planning Board and General Manager Thorpe to report on a definite plan of development of this Park.
(p) On recommendation of Superintendent of Public Works Conley, 150 house meters of the Lambert type were purchased for the Water Department. On his recommendation a rock drill and an air com- pressor were also purchased.
(g) Sewer extension work in Walpole Street, made necessary by reason of the construction of a permanent new surface for said way be- tween Saunders Road and the end of the old state highway, was authorized.
(r) Approval of various note issues and the sales of notes was given from time to time as required.
(s) On March 31 the bond of Harold W. Gay as Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, with the American Surety Company of New York as surety, covering the term of one year from January 1, 1925, was approved.
Later, as the result of inquiries made by Chairman Wliedon of the Board of Trustees of the Morrill Memorial Library, a rider was secured whereby the liability under this bond attached to property which the Town had received and might receive by way of gift or bequest for the Morrill Memorial Library and with respect to the income thereof received and accepted.
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(t) On recommendation of the Special Committee on Necessaries of Life through the Emergency Fuel Administrator, a local Fuel Ad- ministrator to act during the coal emergency period was appointed in the person of Joseph F. McManus.
(u) Grand and Traverse jurors were drawn upon notiee as required by ław.
(v) On September 15 additional insurance on the new Senior High School building and the material for same in the sum of $60,000.00 was authorized, the same to be placed through the various agents doing business with the Town in the proportion of the insurance written by them for the Town.
(w) On September 15 a plan prepared by Geo. A. Smith, Town Engineer, and dated August 21, 1924, entitled "Norwood Square Development Street Profile" and showing the profiles for the respective streets in said development as shown on said plan, was approved, and action taken to establish profiles for said streets in aceordance with said płan.
In eonneetion with the construction of the streets involved in the Town Square Development, aetion was taken on June 23 to make Cottage Street east seventy-five feet in width between Washington Street and Central Street as relocated, and Nahatan Street seventy- five feet in width between Broadway and Market Street, and the work of widening Market Street between Nahatan Street and Lyman Place was ordered.
(x) Being advised that the structure on the Hayden land on Washington Street and occupied by Nieholas Marvas was maintained thereon in violation of the fire limit by-law, action was taken through the General Manager and with the eooperation of Mr. Hayden whereby said strueture was vaeated following court proceedings by Mr. Hayden and the structure was removed.
(y) Upon it appearing that the wages paid in the Municipal Light De- partment were less than those prevailing in other plants as reported by the General Manager and upon his recommendation, such wages were inereased.
On May 5 a joint committee consisting of Charles J. Prescott, Chairman of the Finance Commission, Thomas B. Mulvehill, Chair- man of the Selectmen, and Lewis D. Thorpe, General Manager, was ereated to procure the services of a consulting engineer to in- vestigate and report with respect to the operating eost of the Municipal Light plant; also with respect to rates for electrical serviee in the metropolitan district.
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