USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1930-1932 > Part 9
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On April 22 licenses were granted to the following as taxicab drivers, namely: Anthony B. Sansone, Patrick J. Curran, Adam Krusas, William Stowers, James J. Donahue, Thomas B. Mulvehill, Herbert L. Singleton, John Francis Murphy, Walter P. Hayes and Mary T. Singleton.
On May 6th further taxicab drivers licenses were granted to the follow- ing, namely: Frederick W. Slaney, Mary E. Butters, Joseph P. Folan, Edward J. Cassidy, Francis J. Brennan, Albert John Hohmann, John J. McGarry, Fred L. Schaier, Harry Meinket, Harry B. Butters, and on May 20th to Raymond L. Spear of Westwood and on the same date taxicab licenses were granted to the following owners, namely: John J. McGarry, Patrick J. Curran, Anthony B. Sansone, Herbert L. Singleton and Harry B. Butters.
On February 4 a license was granted to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company to operate motor coaches for the transportation of passengers for hire over Washington Street from the Norwood-West- wood line to Guild Street, also on Upland Road and on that section of Walpole Street extending to a point about two hundred feet south of Washington Street under schedules and rates of fare and with such stops as would be later approved by the Selectmen.
On June 18th William C. Donovan and Alice Donovan were licensed
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as taxicab drivers and a taxicab license was granted to William C. Donovan as owner.
On July 1, the maintenance of stands for two taxicabs on Washington Street by John J. McGarry and Herbert L. Singleton, respectively, was approved.
Licenses or permits as the particular matter in each instance required were granted from time to time, after due consideration and in the manner provided by law, to various persons for the conduct of specified lines of business as follows; viz .:
Common victuallers; inn-holders; lodging house; employment agency; second-hand furniture; pool room; public auctioneer; public amusement; collection of junk; keeping, storing and selling gasoline, motor oils and kerosene; sale of fruit and vegetables in Norwood; Sunday entertainment (moving pictures); Class I license to purchase, sell, and exchange second hand motor vehicles; Sales of ice cream, confectionery, fruit and soda water on the Lord's Day; bowling alleys; conduct of miniature golf course; sale of fire-works; motor vehicle garage (public and private); sale of pop-corn at band concerts by American Legion Auxiliary to Post No. 70; Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company, to operate motor vehicles for carriage of passengers for hire over public ways; motor vehicle repair shops; and Class 3 license to purchase, sell, and exchange second hand motor vehicles and parts. Third class liquor licenses were granted to Gerard L. Hawkins of Clark's Pharmacy, Inc., and to Jeremiah M. Nash of A. F. Brown Company Pharmacy, respectively, for sales to be made in ยท accordance with the requirements of law.
On June 10 the Riley Hardware Company was licensed to sell, rent or lease firearms at 502 Washington Street under the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 140 as amended.
On July 29 Post No. 70 American Legion was granted a permit to con- duct a public amusement from August 18 to 23 inclusive on the public playground premises formerly of the Norwood Civic Association, the proceeds to be devoted to the Post Band purposes.
On September 30 the location was approved for the out-door advertising sign placed on the roof of the Baker Building on Central Street, on the application of A. H. Gove, through the Department of Public Works.
On July 15 on recommendation of the General Manager and in view of complaints made by business men, the permission to maintain stands for two motor vehicles on Washington Street given to taxi owners was rc- voked, and permission was given for stands for one taxicab only.
On August 12 Fred W. Pierce for the Pierce Bus Lines was granted a license to operate motor coaches in Norwood for the transportation of passengers for hire between Norwood and Boston over route named in application and at rates of fare and with schedule of service as proposed.
Action by way of recommendation to the State Director of Standards was taken with respect to certain applications for licenses to peddle in
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the State which were referred to the Selectmen by the Director for con- sideration and report.
With respect to permits to sell fireworks, action was taken on June 18 to the effect that the Selectmen were of the opinion that no permits should be granted in a location nearer to Washington Street than the easterly side of Central Street and that notice of such action be given to the Chief of the Fire Department.
Litigation and Claims Keating-Washington Street Widening Contract
The balance on hand payable to Philip J. Keating under the Washington Street widening contract was on January 1, 1930 as appears by the report for 1929, $2,701.52. Payments during the year have been made in the total sum of $2,643.83 in the manner hereinafter described. There were pending in 1929 suits by local creditors who had not established liens in which suits the Town was summoned as Trustee. Thereafter judgments were ob- tained against Keating in these suits and the Town was charged as Trustee and upon executions issuing payments under them were made out of the funds in the hands of the Town as follows, viz .:
Walter Smith & Sons, Inc., April 10, 1930 $2,378.53
James J. Drummey, April 10, 1930. 140.00
James E. Mahar, May 7, 1930 125.30
making the total payments as above stated and the executions were re- turned to Court satisfied in full. The balance remaining, viz .: $57.69 was made available to Mr. Keating through notice to his attorney that upon receipt of a general release it would be paid. As no release was tendered the balance was not paid and the matter rests in that status.
Mrs. Marion Clancy-Claim through notice under date of January 24 for personal injuries sustained on Walpole Street on January 18, 1930. On investigation and report by the Town Counsel to whom the matter was referred for attention that no defective condition existed and that no liability on the part of the Town appeared the claim was denied.
Annie E. O' Donnell-Claim for personal injuries through notice dated June 10, 1930, resulting from a defective condition of the sidewalk on the northerly side of Washington Street near Winter Street. Upon investiga- tion it was decided that the claim should be recognized for the purpose of making a compromise settlement and accordingly the General Manager was authorized to negotiate for such settlement which was made by him in the sum of $100.00 and a release was taken.
Thomas Murphy-Claim for damage to automobile made through notice dated August 16, 1930, and sustained on August 15 through an alleged defective condition of Railroad Avenue. A compromise settlement was made by the General Manager with our approval in the sum of $18.00.
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Patrick M. Curran-On August 13, 1930, a letter was received from Mr. Curran complaining of injuries received on July 15, from an alleged de- fective condition of the sidewalk on Washington Street upon which a claim for damages was based. Upon advice of the Town Counsel to whom the claim was referred for attention that no liability existed a compromise settlement which had been suggested by the claimant was refused and the claim denied.
Anna M. Sears-A claim for injuries sustained on Granite Street on September 5 was presented with notice under date of September 12 indi- cating that the injuries received were due to a defective condition of the street. After an investigation and report by the Town Counsel a com- promise settlement of the claim was authorized and thereafter, namely, on October 21 such settlement was reached in the sum of $100.00 and pay- ment made and a release taken.
Florence Moro (Framingham, Mass.)-Claim made through notice on November 10, 1930, for personal injuries sustained through an alleged defective condition of the grandstand at the Senior High School Athletic Field on October 12, 1930. On report from the Town Counsel that the matter was one as to which the School Department should deal and that no liability appeared to exist, no action was taken by the Selectmen.
William P. Nickerson-A claim was presented by Mr. Nickerson for damages to hot water boilers located in the apartment building owned by him on Chapel Street and for incidental expenses in the total sum of $946.50, due to the alleged collapse on account of blasting by the Town on Chapel Street on one occasion and to the action of the Water Depart- ment in connection with the installation of a meter on another occasion which claim was more fully set forth in a statement dated March 3, 1930. After a hearing by the Selectmen and an investigation and report by the Town Counsel and following negotiations a compromise settlement was authorized in the sum of $425.00 and thereafter such settlement was made of the claim and a release obtained.
Norwood Civic Association Property-Acquirement for Public Playground Purposes
Through action taken under an appropriate article in the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting held on Junc 30 the Selectmen werc authorized and directed to acquire by purchase for public playground purposes from its owner, the Norwood Civic Association, the tract of land with existing structures containing about 5.65 acres bounded by Washington Street, Winter Street, Broadway and East Hoyle Strect, and to pay therefor as the purchase price the sum of $63,000.
Pursuant to such action and following an examination of title and report by the Town Counsel that a good merchantable title existed in the Nor- wood Civic Association, title was taken through a warranty deed to the Town and the purchase price paid and possession taken on August 1.
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This result was brought about through extensive negotiations carried on prior to the Town Meeting with the Trustees of the Norwood Civic Association in which the Finance Commission actively participated and to the members of which Commission due credit is hereby extended. It should be recorded also that it was early recognized by the Finance Com- inission and the Selectmen and stated to the Trustees that it was their opinion that it was desirable that the Town acquire the property for municipal purposes. The Trustees also participated in the negotiations in an entirely friendly and cooperative spirit and carried through the sale for the sum offered under the vote passed as the highest amount which the Town on the advice of the Finance Commission and the Selectmen felt it was justified in paying for the property.
Action to improve the property in the way of repairs to existing struct- ures or by way of new construction was postponed and will receive con- sideration in the coming year.
The Unemployment Situation
The unemployment situation consequent upon the protracted business depression from which not only our own country but the world at large has suffered affected Norwood in common with other municipalities throughout the State, but fortunately less severely it is believed than many other communities.
However, Norwood's situation and problems have been serious enough and it was early recognized that there was need of cooperative effort and such an arrangement and extension of municipal expenditure as would provide the largest amount of work within the appropriation limits. As the depression progressed and the need of relief from conditions causing increased unemployment became more imperative steps were taken to enlarge and advance necessary or desirable town work that as many men as possible who sought and deserved recognition could be thus profitably engaged to their own advantage as well as that of the Town.
On November 4 Selectman Dalton was appointed to represent the Selectmen at the conference called by Governor Allen and held at the State House on November 6.
In response to the request made by the Massachusetts Emergency Committee on Unemployment appointed by the Governor that a local Advisory Committee be appointed, the following citizens were named and consented to act, viz .: Frank B. Coughlin, Edmund G. Dalton, Henry Crosby, Oliver J. Barr, Jr., Spencer B. Montgomery, Francis W. Smith, Joseph F. Coughlin, Danicl Collins, Nicholas Abdallah, Hollis W. Plimpton, Mrs. Evelyn M. Prescott, Miss Mary E. Murphy, Miss Nora A. Walsh, Mrs. Annie M. Jones and Mrs. Clarissa G. Maier.
The Committee organized with Frank B. Coughlin as Chairman and William E. Chandler as Secretary and have been and are continuing to perform valuable and efficient service in aid of an improvement in con-
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ditions, particularly those which called for early attention, in addition to making a survey of the employment situation. This Advisory Com- mittee conferred through its Executive Committee from time to time with the Selectmen and problems before it were dealt with in such manner as appeared to be wise. With respect to funds received by this Committee by contribution or from benefit social events a Committee on Disburse- ments was created consisting of Mrs. Evelyn M. Prescott, Miss Katherine E. Kingman, Miss Mary E. Murphy, Mr. William E. Chandler and Mr. J. Victor Carlson. With the approval of the Finance Commission at a special town meeting called by the Selectmen and.held on December 5 for the purpose, the voters gave favorable consideration to requests for substantial appropriations for the extension of water and sewer mains and for other proper purposes permitting the employment of a considerable number of men who were available and desired work.
Prompt action was taken to utilize these funds as they became available for the desired purposes.
Railroad Avenue Grade Crossing Abolition and Nahatan Street Underpass
The Planning Board acting principally through its Chairman, Charles E. Houghton, Esquire, held several conferences with the Selectmen be- ginning on April 15 and continuing on April 22, May 27, June 24 and Juy 15 at which it reported upon its study and conclusions and recom- mendations for action and presented plans and estimates involving the abolition of the existing railroad grade crossing at Railroad Avenue and in substitution a proposed Philbrick Street overhead bridge and a Nahatan Street underpass.
As bearing upon the situation consideration was also given to the effect of the existing law and to the new legislation, operative on September 1, governing railroad grade crossing abolition as reported by the Town Counsel. It was then determined that the citizens should be informed of the proposals and situation before any action should be taken and that their views should be obtained. Accordingly a public hearing was called at which the report and recommendations of the Planning Board were made known by its Chairman followed by a free discussion. Thereafter another public hearing was held and interested citizens were heard upon other plans proposed in opposition to those presented by the Planning Board. As a result of these activities a petition was presented by many of these interested citizens requesting action by way of abolition of the railroad grade crossing by raising Railroad Avenue and carrying it over the tracks of the railroad in the form of a bridge and on September 2 these petitioners were heard through a committee representing them.
It was decided after the Planning Board was, on September 9, again heard with respect to the matter, to call a special town meeting to be held on September 26 to permit the citizens generally to decide on the course of action, if any, to be taken. The meeting was held and under an ap-
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propriate article affirmative action was taken based upon the petition filed with the Selectmen and above referred to in the following form, viz .:
Voted, "that the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and directed to file a petition in the Department of Public Works under Chapter 159 and amendments thereto stating that the petitioners deem it necessary for the security and convenience of the public that an alteration should be made in the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company crossing at Railroad Avenue in the Town of Norwood and County of Norfolk, in the approaches thereto, in the location of the railroad and public and private ways and in the grades thereof, as to avoid a crossing at grade by raising said Railroad Avenue and carrying it over the tracks of said railroad."
Before this action was taken Chairman Mulvehill in behalf of the Select- men explained at some length for the information and guidance of the voters the important provisions of the new law and its application to the proposed changes and the course which must be followed and further stated what the developments had been up to that time.
He also indicated that the Selectmen were desirous of taking such steps in the matter by way of petition or otherwise as the voters might direct, but urged that if anything was to be done in the near future with reference to the alteration of the crossing immediate steps be taken to lay the matter before the Department of Public Works that it might be placed on the original or supplemental list filed with the Department of Public Utilities in the hope that it might obtain a place on the initial program of grade crossings to be abolished.
Immediately following the special town meeting, viz .: on September 27, the Selectmen filed with the State Department of Public Works a petition for the alteration of the grade crossing pursuant to the vote above set forth. However, advice was received later from this Department that the petition was filed too late to include this crossing in the list submitted to the Department of Public Utilities in 1930, but that it would be held and included in the list which would be submitted in 1931.
This important matter has the status at this time which the above report indicates. It will have such attention in the future so far as the Selectmen are concerned as developments appear to warrant and as the voters may direct.
Passenger Transportation Motor Bus-Railroad
As was stated in the 1929 report the importance of good passenger transportation facilities between Norwood and other points particularly Boston has been fully appreciated. The facilities should be safe and adequate and the rates of fare should be reasonable.
Much attention has been given to this subject during the year and such
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action as has been taken was the result of careful consideration of all factors involved and with a desire to promote the best interests of the Town and to deal fairly with existing and proposed facilities.
Conferences were held from time to time with the Transportation Com- mittee of the Norwood Chamber of Commerce, the Planning Board, other interested citizens and officials of other towns also interested in the same street railway and motor bus problems and their views were obtained. Representatives of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company, and the New England Transportation Company were heard from time to time with respect to motor bus service.
On January 28 application was made by the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company for a license to operate motor vehicles for the carriage of passengers for hire in the Town and thereafter, namely, on February 4, such license was granted in the manner which appears else- where in this report.
Later when no results appeared to have been obtained by this Company on a similar petition to the City Council of Boston with respect to operation in that city and following the receipt of an application from Fred E. Pierce, owner of the Pierce Bus Lines, so-called, for a license to operate motor coaches in the Town en route from Norwood to Park Square, Boston via Forest Hills, and on his indication that he could secure a license from the City of Boston, and a certificate of public convenience from the State Department of Public Utilities, a license was granted to him on August 12 over the route named in the application and at the rates of fare and with the schedule of service as proposed, as elsewhere stated in this report.
However, no results appear to have been secured by him on his ap- plication for an appropriate license in the City of Boston.
By letter dated March 5 the New England Transportation Company made formal application for the removal of existing restrictions in its motor bus licenses to enable it to transport passengers between Norwood and Boston by express service. After conferences with its representatives and information by letter as to the rates of fare and the nature of the service to be furnished, if the restrictions were removed, and the effect upon the existing railroad train service, and upon learning that it was against the policy of the Company to make special rates for commuters and that it could not make any reductions in rates to match commutation rates on the railroad, it was determined that no immediate action should be taken on the application.
However, the latter part of the year, because of the lack of satisfactory progress being made by the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Com- pany and Mr. Pierce with respect to securing the necessary licenses else- where, particularly in Boston, to permit of the motor bus service being inaugurated as proposed, they were notified that unless definite results were secured within thirty days from December 2 the date when this
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action was taken the Selectmen would feel justified in giving consideration to the granting of licenses on other petitions.
The matter stands in that situation at the present time.
At the request of the Transportation Committee of the Norwood Cham- ber of Commerce, the Selectmen filed a protest with the State Department of Public Utilities in September on the refusal of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company to restore the mid-night train, so-called, from Boston to Norwood, and further protesting against the withdrawal of other trains between Boston and Norwood and changes in its services which were found to be prejudicial to Norwood citizens who made regular use of train service.
A hearing was granted by the Department on October 1 which was attended by the Selectmen and others interested and thereafter the Rail- road Company at the suggestion of the State Department restored the mid-night train and made other satisfactory changes and improvements in the train service.
The Selectmen with respect to all these transportation matters have endeavored to cooperate with not only the citizens of Norwood but also the officials and citizens of other communities who have a mutual interest in the proper solution of these important transportation problems.
Miscellaneous
The following brief reference is made to certain matters which received attention during the year.
On January 7 it was voted that with respect to all future assessment the expense of installing edge-stone curbing in connection with the con- struction of sidewalks, where such edgestones are set at corner radii, be considered as part of the cost of highway construction or alteration and that no part of the radius curb be assessed against an abutter unless a complete curb is installed within the block where the construction work is donc. It was also voted with respect to future assessments for the con- struction of permanent sidewalks such assessments be imposed on the basis of one-half the cost of sidewalks so constructed, to be determined by street frontage of property affected by the construction, and on the basis of a five foot width of walk.
On January 21 on recommendation of the General Manager because continuous parking on both sides of Vernon Street and Day Street was becoming dangerous for fire apparatus operation, it was voted to establish "no parking" restrictions on one side of each of said streets for a distance of three hundred feet from Washington Street westerly.
On January 28 action was taken to secure a remedy by the officials of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company of conditions affecting pedestrians at the railroad bridge underpass on Washington Street ncar Winslow Station by affording protection against the discharge of steam, water and hot cinders by trains passing over the bridge and also
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from rainfall. Thereafter notice was received from the Railroad officials that appropriate action was being taken to relieve against the conditions complained of.
On January 28 the attention of the Board of Health was called to com- plaints regarding the conduct of certain restaurants and it was suggested that periodical inspection be made of all restaurants in the Town.
On February 18 it was voted by way of information to interested abutters that the Selectmen would proceed with respect to the acceptance of certain new ways under the betterment act only on condition that signed agree- ments be submitted by abutters to assume such betterments as may be assessed.
On March 25 a letter of sympathy was addressed to Mrs. George K. Bird with respect to the recent death of her husband, a former Selectman of the Town and leading citizen.
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