USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1932-1935 > Part 31
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system with the South Metropolitan District Sewer System, and thereby provide a gravity flow for the entire system and eliminate over-flow con- ditions at Highland Avenue, and it was voted to seek necessary town meet- ing action for the purpose, and that appropriate action be taken to secure a grant of funds from the Federal government in aid of the project.
On July 25, consideration was given to the matter of the authority of the town to borrow money under conditions allowed by recent State legislation, and with respect to expenditures for projects which would be approved for the grant of Federal funds and various projects discussed and a conference with the Planning Board was held.
Consideration was also given to the request of the East Side Improve- inent Association for improvements at the Callahan School Playground.
On August 1, a committee was appointed to seek approval of the ex- penditure of funds for sewer and drain construction, distributable under the National Industrial Recovery Act.
On October 17, a stagger system with respect to public works employees was given consideration in connection with conferences held with the Acting General Manager and the Superintendent of Public Works on the employment situation and the application of labor to projects under re- spective appropriations.
It was also voted, after a hearing held, with respect to complaints made by employees, that the Selectmen had confidence in Superintendent of Public Works Conley and in his execution of the work of his department.
On October 24, action was taken to secure funds to the extent of $2000 by transfer from the reserve fund for the maintenance and improvement of Highlandview Cemetery in aid of relief in the unemployment situation, and with respect also to employment in the Public Works Department in the use of a stagger system of persons not listed in that department, and it was voted as to the Cemetery situation that, with the work in December limited to actual need of labor in connection with interments, the available balance, with appropriate reserve for such December work, be expended within the next five weeks with regular employees on a five and one-half day week basis and additional employees on a stagger system with four days a week. Thereafter, namely on November 14, approval was given by the Finance Commission to the transfer from the reserve fund of the ainount requested for the maintenance and improvement of Highlandview Cemetery on the understanding that the same was to be used to relicve the unemployment situation.
On November 16, it was voted that the project of a proposed extension of Pleasant Strcet from Neponset Street to the State highway be submitted as one for the allotment of funds to the extent of $5000 to be financed entirely by Federal funds, based upon a verbal notice from the State De- partment of Public Works that it had been requested by the Federal authorities to function and to request certain municipalities to name public works projects which would furnish employment and as to which
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work would be put into execution on the following Monday, viz .: Novem- ber 20, and that $5000 had been reserved for Norwood for the purpose. It was further voted that Leonard C. Fisher, owner of the land involved in the project be interviewed to secure his cooperation and that, if he agreed to cooperate, the County Commissioners be petitioned to lay out the proposed extension as a County way. On the last mentioned date, viz .: November 20, notice was received that a new application must be filed with the Civil Works Administration with respeet to the Federal funds sought, based upon new procedure as to Federal works projects. A new applica- tion was made and approval secured from the Civil Works Administrator of the State for expending $13,371.26 of funds of the United States made available by the order of President Roosevelt and thus provide eleven weeks' labor for forty-three men also labor for operators of six trucks and meet the cost of all material. No expense to the town was involved. As a result of objections presented and representations made, approval of the project was withdrawn on November 25 pending a conference. The conference was held as soon as possible and on November 28 the projeet was approved upon the filing of the unanimous vote of the Planning Board as required by the State Board, as one on which men could be put to work immediately. Thereafter the project was started and is now under way.
On November 27 and 29, attention was given to projects where funds might be secured under the Civil Works Administration with a provision for unemployed teachers, and as to the repairs of buildings involving the use of skilled labor, and as to which matters conferences were held with the Sehool Committee.
On December 5, the Finance Commission agreed at a conference with the Selectmen to provide from the reserve fund from $1500 to $1800 for repairs to the existing Civic Playground Building with a view to the sub- mission by the Selectmen to the Civil Works Administration of such repair work as a project for the expenditure of Federal funds.
On December 5, Miss Nora Walsh was appointed to aet as Director of Employment for needy women in Norwood for the purpose of eooperating, as a volunteer, as requested by the Civil Works Administration Women's Division on November 29.
On December 12, it was voted to submit to the Civil Works Adminis- tration a plan, after complete estimates had been obtained, for the erection of an administration building at Highlandview Cemetery, as a proposed civil works project for a grant of Federal funds, with a request to the Finance Commission to give consideration to a contribution. Similar, aetion was taken with respect to the following proposed projeets, namely: 1. A subway foot passage, where formerly a cattle pass existed, at the inter- section of Cedar Street with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company property through which property the subway foot passage would lead, and as to which the Railroad Company had given the necessary written permission.
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2. An alteration of Upland Road by widening at the intersection of Clap- boardtree Street, as to which necessary releases were given by Honorable W. Cameron Forbes, owner of the land involved, and as to both of which projects assurance was given by the County Commissioners, that they would take favorable aetion to make lay outs, provided Federal funds were made available.
On December 12, the Selectmen also approved, as projeets for applica- tion for a grant of Federal funds, an extension of Fisher Street, of the drainage of Nichols Street and of repairs in the Central Fire Station build- ing.
Motor Bus Transportation
On May 23 the New England Transportation Company was heard through officials of the Company on its application that restrictions im- posed in its existing license with respect to transportation of passengers in and out of Norwood be removed, and on July 25 and thereafter the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company, through its Vice- President, and others, were heard in opposition. The request has not been granted.
On September 5, after hearing held, the existing license, issued on July 24, 1932, to the New England Transportation Company, was modified in accordance with its request to permit of the transportation of passengers for hire in its operation of motor coaches on public ways in Norwood to the extent of an additional round trip of bus service between North Attle- boro and Norwood Central Station with schedule of arrival at Norwood Central Station about 7:00 A. M. (E. S. T.), and return trip to North Attleboro leaving Station about 5:04 P. M. (E. S. T.) and subject to the same terms and conditions as set forth in the existing lieense, such modi- fication to be effective as of September 24, and based upon a proposed discontinuanee of certain trains between Norwood Central Station and North Attleboro.
An informal application made by the New England Transportation Company, seeking the approval of the Selectmen with respect to the transportation through the operation of busses between Norwood and Boston of passengers from and to Norwood, to and from points out of the State north of Boston, was given consideration. Officials of the Company were heard in the matter and the Selectmen indicated that a formal ap- plication would be required, but on September 16 the Selectmen received notice from the Company through Counsel that no formal action by the Selectmen was either necessary or desired in the matter, and accordingly no further action was taken.
Lay Outs and Orders of Taking
On February 21, appropriate action was taken to lay out an extension of Granite Street from George Street easterly to Washington Street; Myrtle Street from existing end to Prospect Street; Curran Avenue from
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existing end to Nahatan Street; Franklin Street extending easterly from Willow Street to Hillside Avenue; all under the betterment act, also to alter by widening Prospect Avenue and Nichols Street at the northwesterly intersection of the same, and to report the same for action by the voters in town meeting. The lay outs were thereafter accepted by the town and orders of taking were'later adopted.
Orders of taking of eascments in land for drainage purposes were adopted on October 3, following appropriate preliminary lay out action, namely : A. Main drain extending from Lenox Street through property of New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, assumed owner, across Dean Street to Neponset Street.
B. Main drain extending southeasterly from land of M. R. Perry, assumed owner, through property of Town of Norwood to and through Washington Street to East Hoyle Street and thence southerly through property of Agnes D. Slattery, assumed owner, to property of Norwood Lumber Company, assumed owner.
Nahatan Street Extension
On August 1 a conference was held with the Finance Commission, Planning Board and Board of Appeal under Zoning By-Law with a view to definite action to be taken with respect to the lay out and construction of an extension of Nahatan Street, in the event that it appeared that funds could be secured under the National Industrial Recovery Act for such lay out and construction and at which conference the location of such ex- tension was discussed.
A committee was appointed to confer with Public Works Commissioner Lyman and the State Commission in charge of administration under the National Industrial Recovery Act to ascertain and report as to whether such a project would receive favorable consideration and the extent of financial cooperation by the State. The committee reported later to the effect that the Public Works Department advised that all funds available for State Public Works projects for 1933 had been appropriated and there was no possibility of including other projects in the 1933 program.
Thereafter, namely on October 3, a new conference was held with the Planning Board as to the extension of Nahatan Street to a point on the State highway near Dean Strcet. Thercafter the Selectmen voted to petition the County Commissioners of the County of Norfolk to lay out an extension of Nahatan Street beginning at property of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company on the easterly side of its location and thence across Lenox, Monroe, Pleasant and East Rock Streets to the State highway (Boston-Providence Turnpike) at a point between Neponset Street and East Cross Street and thence to Neponset Street at or near the intersection of Neponset Street and East Cross Street and such petition was accordingly filed and hcarings on the same with an appropriate plan submitted werc held by the County Commissioners on October 31
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and by adjournments at later dates at which the Selectmen and others interested attended.
On November 27, Mr. A. L. Atwood, representing a committee of the Taxpayers' Association, was heard by the Selectmen at his request as to the merits of the proposed location of the extension and as to alternative plans, following which the Selectmen prepared and caused to be published their reasons for petitioning for the lay out, presented to the County Com- missioners as follows:
We believe that the lay out petitioned for will provide the most direct service highway to and from Canton and points easterly of Norwood as well as communities to the west; that it will be the safest travel way to points east of the new highway, and that it will also furnish access to the state highway for travel to and from the north and south; we believe that the state and county are more interested from the standpoint of financial cooperation in the shortest traveled route giving service and safe travel for traffic than in a development project.
On December 16 a statement was received from the County Commis- sioners to the effect that, if the Sclectmen favored a suggestion made at one of the hearings, that a committee of three be appointed to give further study to the various plans submitted and to make such recommendations as seemed reasonable and fair to all parties interested, they were willing to designate Hartley L. White, the County Engineer, as a member of the committee, if the Selectmen would appoint another member, and they would seek to arrange to have the third member appointed from the De- partment of Public Works. This proposal was approved, and Henry C. Mildram of Boston, Consulting Engineer, was appointed as the representa- tive of the Selectmen, of which immediate notice was given to the County Commissioners. The petition was pending for action by the County Commissioners at the end of the year, and it is expected that a decision will be made by them in the early part of the year 1934.
On December 18 information was received as a result of an interview with Chairman Lyman of the State Public Works Department that the department would contribute one-half the cost of a highway job under Chapter 90, General Laws, the location of the project to be settled by the Norfolk County Commissioners.
ยท Miscellaneous
Brief reference is made in the following form to other matters which received attention during the year and as to which it seems proper to make report.
Consideration of acceptance of General Laws, Chapter 31 (Civil Service), in its application to the employees in the labor service of the town.
On January 10, regulations covering coasting on public ways were
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adopted, and thereafter amended by adding certain streets on which coasting was allowed.
Report by Chief Earle of the Fire Department of the appointment of Louis F. Parker as Deputy Chief of the Fire Department, effective Janu- ary 3, by rc-instatement in that position as authorized by the Commissioner of Civil Service following Mr. Parker's retirement from the position of Acting Fire Chief.
Appointment of Gordon D. Earle as Lieutenant in Call Department reported on January 3 by Chief Earle of Fire Department.
Warrant in the sum of $7256.28, being Norwood's assessment for its share of the care, maintenance and repair of Norfolk County Hospital, received from the County Commissioners.
On February 21, construction of drain to take care of surface water accumulating on old Washington Street near intersection of Chapel Street authorized.
Action taken in the form of request that all material, used in construction of new Federal Post Office Building, be purchased, where possible, from Norwood merchants.
The creation of a reserve police force had consideration, and articles were inserted in a special town meeting warrant to permit action to be taken on the acceptance of the Act relating to the establishment of a reserve police force, but with the number of the force limited to five members.
On February 24, action was taken to permit the town to vote appropria- tions for the construction of sewers for sanitary and surface drainage pur- poses, preference in the expenditure of which, subject to the limitations of law, to be given to the employment of real estate tax-payers under con- ditions to be determined by the Selectmen.
The rent of the residence on East Hoyle Street owned by the town in the Civic Playground premises was reduced to $25 a month as of March 1.
On March 7 the General Manager was authorized to sell the oil burner recently removed from the Municipal Building for the sum of $100, which was purchase price offered.
Appropriate action was taken to permit of the acceptance by the town of the so-called Morse Pond Swimming Pool and adjacent land for play- ground purposes, by way of gift from Charles S. Bird, Jr., and subject to conditions that a right of way be reserved by the donor as shown on a map of the property, and that the town erect a fence of substantial character, as agreed upon, along the boundary of the land and of Endean Farm, and that the donor have the right to name the playground.
On February 21, a written option was given to members of a committee representing the Norwood Post, Vetcrans of Foreign Wars, for the period of ninety days, to purchase for the sum of $1500 the property on Railroad Avenue known as the East School lot in exercise of the authority given by the town to sell the samc. This option was later extended.
On March 21, a charge of $2 per hour was established for use of equip-
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ment owned by the town in the Fire Department for pumping water from cellars.
On May 2, it was unanimously voted to accept for the year 1933 Chapter 99, Acts of 1933, permitting Collectors of Taxes to receive at any time and from time to time prior to September 1 in the current year an amount or amounts not exceeding in the aggregate ninety per cent of the amount of the tax set forth in a certificate issued by the Assessors, said payments to be subject to the provisions of said Chapter and to approve the rate of interest on such payments fixed by the Town Treasurer at five per cent.
Appropriate action was taken, whereby a special state election was held on June 13 for the purpose of electing delegates to a State convention to act upon the question of the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States through the adoption or rejection of the Twenty-First Amendment proposed to the Constitution.
On May 9 by a majority vote, Selectmen Butters, Collins and Feeney in the affirmative, Selectmen Mutch and Murphy in the negative, the right of all common laborers to join Common Laborers Union No. 138 was recognized.
On May 23, it was ordered that no more work in connection with the erection of monuments or the lettering of monuments be done on the Lord's Day at Highlandview Cemetery.
On June 20, persons qualified for jury service and liable for such service were determined and listed. The list is appended to this report.
On July 5, Section 7 of the Traffic Rules and Regulations then in force was amended to read as follows:
Section 7. A driver of a vehicle shall not park it within any street intersection nor nearer than 50 feet of Washington Street on any inter- secting street between and including Railroad Avenue and Guild Street. As a precautionary measure for the passage of fire apparatus and emergency vehicles no parking shall be allowed within 300 feet westerly of Washington Street on the south side of Cottage Street, nor the north side of Vernon and Day Streets nor on the south side of Railroad Avenue between Washington Street and Central Street nor shall any vehicle be parked within 10 feet of all other corners, all distances to be measured from the inside sidewalk lines nor on any cross walk nor opposite any driveway except when temporarily directed by a signal.
On August S, it was voted that in all cases, where work on monuments in Highlandview Cemetery is to be paid for from public funds, considera- tion be given to local monument manufacturers by the Superintendent in letting such work.
On September 19, after earlier conferences with the Advisory Com- mittee on Playgrounds and others, appropriate action was taken, outlining a program of improvements of public playgrounds and of acquisition of land for playground purposes.
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On September 19, after conference with the Board of Appeal under the Zoning By-Law relative to maintenance of over-night camps, particularly with respect to property situated along the new State highway (Boston- Providence Turnpike), the Selectmen expressed their opposition to the maintenance of such camps, and advised that the protective provisions of the Zoning By-Law as to the super-highway area be not waived.
On October 17, after conference with the Advisory Committee on Play- grounds, it was voted not to sponsor the proposal of the committee to secure the services of a graduate instructor on recreation, even at a nominal cost, for the period of six months in the belief that under existing conditions it was not an appropriate time to initiate a continuous recreation program, which might involve the question of a further appropriation in the im- mediate future.
On October 13, notice was received from the State Department of Public Works that it had selected Auto Route No. 1 for its entire length and Auto Route No. 2, both State highways, as the ways in Norwood from which snow would be removed at the expense of the Commonwealth from December 1, 1933 to December 1, 1934.
On November 14, it was voted, with Selectmen Butters in opposition, to continue the present policy of charging fifty cents as a fee for the storage of oil (kerosene) in accordance with law.
On December 5, General Manager Kendrick reported the appointment of Cyrus C. Church as Superintendent of the Municipal Light Department with compensation at the annual rate of $3000.
On December 12, a liability indemnity agreement, to be exccuted by Bird & Son, Inc., in connection with the crossing of Pleasant Street by electric power and steam lines under permission given, was approved.
On December 26, at the request of the Chief Warden of the State Depart- ment of Conservation the following names were submitted for considera- tion in connection with the appointment of a local Fish and Game Warden for 1934, viz .: Albert C. Murray, Henry C. McAuliffe and Frank Carducci.
On December 26, it was voted that, with respect to departments under the control of the Selectmen, and beginning January 1, 1934, all salaries and wages be paid on the basis of the gross rate for 1933 and that no con- tributions would be expected from the employees in such department.
In respect to the tannery strike situation, so-called, on November 21, on the request of the General Manager for additional police services, necessitated by the strike which started on November 16 at the Winslow Bros. & Smith Company tannery plants, it was voted, that a case of emergency involving the safety of persons and property prevailed and the General Manager was authorized to incur liability in excess of the existing appropriation in the police department to the extent necessary, in his judgment in the emergency, to furnish such police protection as would insure the safety of persons and property, and on November 24, after a
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hearing granted to a so-called Strikers' Committee of the Leather Workers' Union, with reference to the policing of the streets in the neighborhood of the Winslow Plant by private guards, a committee was appointed con- sisting of Selectmen Murphy and Butters and General Manager Kendrick to confer and did confer with a representative of the employer and with a representative of the employees on strike, and to endeavor to bring about an understanding between the employer and such employees, that, if there was no violence on the part of the strikers, the so-called private guards would remain within the premises of the Winslow plant. On December 4, on the indication of the Chief of Police, through the General Manager, that there was need of additional officers in view of the disorder, which pre- vailed on the morning of that date in connection with the strike trouble, and upon information from him that he had requisitioned from the Mayor of Boston eleven Boston police officers for duty until further notice, and that eleven such officers had been made available, it was voted to appoint the eleven police officers, so made available, as special police officers of Norwood, to serve during the pleasure of the Selectmen. It was further voted that the Selectmen support the police department, through the General Manager, in providing such protection as might be necessary to insure the safety and protection of persons and property in Norwood dur- ing the present emergency. It was also voted after hearing statements of officers and other members of the police department with respect to the disorders on the morning of said December 4, prevailing on Washington Street in South Norwood, that the Selectmen were of the opinion, and have indicated that the police department take suitable steps to institute criminal proceedings against the so-called guards who participated in the disorders and against all persons who incited, directed or caused such disorders to occur.
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