USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1942-1944 > Part 29
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Norwood vs. Gross: Suit for damage - resetting pole corner of Dean and Washington Streets. Pending - District Court of Northern Norfolk.
Norwood vs. Boston: Claim for loss of ambulance stretcher bed. Peti- tion to City Council.
Benjamin G. Sykes and Estelle A. Sykes: Petitions for abatement of sewer assessments on Nichols and Bond Streets. Petitions dismissed by agree- ment on payment of assessments.
Vincent J. Zalesky: Petition for abatement of sewer assessment on Pleasant Street. Petition dismissed by agreement on payment of assess- ment.
Waldo C. Hodgdon vs. Board of Assessors: Appeal from refusal of appellee to abate tax. Concluded with assistance of Assessors by dismissal of appeal on motion of appellant.
108
TOWN OF NORWOOD
Norwood vs. Quincy: Suit for aid furnished. Pending - Norfolk Supe- rior Court.
Norwood vs. Wrentham: Suit for aid furnished. Pending - Norfolk Superior Court.
I sincerely appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to me by the Selectmen and the other officials and employees of the Town.
Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS C. FOLEY, Town Counsel.
REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER
The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
My second annual report as General Manager officially transmits to you the detail reports of those departments for which it is my pleasure to be responsible as administrative head. These reports reflect credit on those who are striving to keep the services, for which the taxpayers provide the money, at a high level.
It is our hope that the changes which have been made in the Annual Town Report will make it easier to read and that more of the citizens will become familiar with the activities of the various Boards and Departments.
Since my comments on the future, in the last report, there have been notable steps taken in Post-War Planning. We can foresee, between delayed maintenance work, for which we lack materials and labor today, and future needs in improvements and capital expenditure at least $1,000.00 in what may for lack of a better term be called Public Works expenditures. To spend this money wisely it would seem prudent to schedule these projects so that the most urgent are done first and so that the tax load or the bor- rowing be kept within the limits of fair taxes. The 1942 report of the Needham, Massachusetts, Planning Board on Long-Range Planning is an example of what is being done along these lines.
The preceding comments emphasize the point I made last year that in these times of plenty, we should keep our tax rate at an average level so that we may go through the next period without placing the entire burden on those who are protecting us now.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS W. SMITH, General Manager.
REPORT OF PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
109
REPORT OF PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
Mr. Francis W. Smith,
General Manager.
Following is a brief summary of the activities of the Purchasing Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1943:
Requisitions Received
1,327
Orders Issued 1,253
Total Amount of Invoices
$410,531.26
Total Cash Discounts
1,652.35
Very truly yours,
JOHN C. BARKER, Clerk of Purchases.
-
110
TOWN OF NORWOOD
REPORT OF TOWN ENGINEER
Mr. Francis W. Smith,
General Manager.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report as Town Engineer for the year 1943.
The Engineering Department work is so varied that it is impossible to list everything done by the department. These requests come from the various departments and while some are small and numerous, they are all a very essential part of municipal activities. At various times, due to the shortage of help, it was necessary for this department to help out other departments. While this extra work has slowed up some of our post-war program plans, I believe that it is necessary to continue this arrangement until after the war when additional experienced help will be available.
The more important items of work done by the department are listed as follows:
Construction plans, estimated costs, lines and grades during construc- tion, final measurements and record plans were furnished, complete or in part, for the following jobs:
Sewer Construction
Rockhill Street Section
Pleasant Street at the Ink Mill
Bendix Sewer Connection
Baker Street
Field Line Rock Street to Cross Street
Drains
Neponset Street to Washington Street
Vicinity of Senior High School
Vicinity of Washington Street and Day Street
Carpenter Street
Earle Street
Morse Street
Streets
Margaret Street
Hill Street Extension
Water Street at River
Irving Street
Ellis Avenue at Washington Street
Carpenter Street Earle Street
Sidewalks
Washington Street at Chapel Street Broadway
Junior High School Peabody Road
Prospect Street Curbing Cross Street at Monroe
111
REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Various plans and studies were made for the following miscellaneous work:
Plans and Surveys for the proposed Town Yard.
Swimming Pool at the Civic.
Ash hoist and pit at Junior High School.
Municipal Airport surveys and triangulation work.
Municipal Airport drainage and easement plans.
Peabody School grading.
Printing names for the Honor Roll.
Baptist Church driveway changes.
Victory garden plans.
Blackout plans for the various schools.
Tree removal postings.
Everett Street bound locations.
Beacon School lot survey.
Heating plans at Westwood Pumping Station.
Location plans of wells at Ellis Pumping Station.
Installation of chlorinator at Westwood.
Plotting sewer location record plans.
Sewer assessment plans.
Setting (12) stone bounds on various streets.
Plotting 1943 cemetery burials.
Laying out new lots at the cemetery.
Measuring, figuring and plotting 1943 building construction.
Plotting 1943 land transfers on assessors' maps. 1
Measurements for various town reports.
Taking Neponset River water samples.
Water level records at Ellis and Buckmaster Pond.
Various zoning plans.
High School parking area plans.
Electric Light Department pole location plans.
Placing underground all wires in center of town.
Various accident surveys.
Information for various private engineers and contractors on street lines, sewer and water connections.
A compilation and estimate of post-war projects has been made and it is hoped that complete plans and specifications on many of these will be completed during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT W. THOMPSON, Town Engineer.
112
TOWN OF NORWOOD
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Mr. Francis W. Smith, General Manager.
Dear Sir :
I herewith submit my report as Acting Superintendent of Public Works for the year ending December 31, 1943.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT Maintenance
Under Chapter 90 Maintenance, Pleasant Street was given a treatment of T 5 Tar and covered with sand from the East Walpole line to Morse Street. The cutting of brush and cleaning of catch basins along Pleasant Street was also done.
The cutting of brush and cleaning of catch basins along the following streets was also carried on with Chapter 90 money:
Neponset Street from Route No. 1 to the Canton Line.
East Cross Street from Route No. 1 to Neponset Street.
Nichols Street from entrance to Westover to Rotary at Willet Pond. Winter Street from Prospect Street to Westwood Line.
Washington Street - Neponset Street to Margaret Street.
PERMANENT SIDEWALKS (Granolithic)
A Granolithic sidewalk was laid in front of the Peabody School property from Nichols Street to the driveway on Peabody Road. The length was 395' 8" Concrete Walk - 351 Sq. Yds. A 15' 8" thick Concrete Step - 5 Sq. Yds.
Two sections of Granolithic Sidewalk were laid in front of the Sansone Motors on Broadway.
150' 5" Concrete Sidewalk.
2 - 27' Aprons.
36' 7" Granite Curbing was set.
2 Granite Curb Blocks were set.
Curbing was set at the Northeast, Southeast and Northeast corners of Vernon and Prospect Streets totaling 103' of 7" Curbing and after this was done Granolithic Sidewalk was laid to fill in the gap between old sidewalk on each corner. A 50' section of Granolithic walk 4' wide was laid in front of Mr. Davis' property on Wheelock Avenue.
PERMANENT SIDEWALKS (Bituminous)
· A Bituminous walk was laid on Cottage Street between Lewis' Restaurant and the Folan Block. Also a Bituminous walk was laid on Douglas Avenue in front of Mr. Martin's property.
113
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
The sidewalk on the west side of Old Washington Street from Fairview Road to Chapel Street also had a Bituminous surface placed over the old gravel base.
On the west side of Summit Avenue from Nahatan Street to Prospect Avenue a Bituminous walk was constructed. Also on the north side of Rock Street from Monroe Street to Pleasant Street a Bituminous walk was constructed.
STREET OILING
Considerable street oiling was done in 1944. The following streets were given a treatment of MC2 oil and sand:
Street
From
To
Myrtle Street
Fulton Street
Prospect Street
Curran Avenue
Nahatan Street
Prospect Avenue
North Avenue
Nahatan Street End
Silver Street
Nahatan Street End
Belmont Street
Bellevue Avenue
Peabody Road
Peabody Road
Belmont Street
Nichols Street
Pond Avenue
Dean Street
St. George Avenue
Sturtevant Avenue
Washington Street
End
St. James Avenue
Washington Street
Pond Avenue
St. George Avenue
Washington Street
End
Atwood Avenue
Washington Street
End
Tremont Street
Washington Street
End
Concord Avenue
Washington Street End
St. Joseph Avenue
Washington Street
End
Cross Street
Lenox Street
Pleasant Street
The following streets were given a treatment of RC5 oil with quarter inch trap rock:
Street
From
To
Granite Street
Washington Street
Warren Street
Warren Street
Granite Street
Philbrick Street
Philbrick Street
Warren Street
Washington Street
Fulton Street
Railroad Avenue Prospect Avenue
Florence Avenue
Prospect Street
Nichols Street
Charles Street
Florence Avenue Charles Street
Marion Avenue
Marion Avenue
Bright Street
Saunders Road
Walpole Street
Winslow Avenue
Harding Road
Walpole Street
Winslow Avenue
Endicott Street
Walpole Street
End
Monroe Street Ext.
Railroad Avenue
Garfield Avenue
In addition Irving Street from Prospect Street to the end was treated with MC2 oil and sand and the sidewalk given a coat of gravel.
The extension of Silver Street was also treated with MC2 oil and sand.
114
TOWN OF NORWOOD
During the past year such work as street cleaning, patching, repairing of streets, maintenance of bridges, fences and sidewalks was carried on in the usual manner.
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
On Water Street a sheet of Bituminous Patch was placed over the old street surface where a 54" drain pipe was installed late in the year 1942.
The driveway at the Baptist Church property on Washington Street was relocated and a new Granolithic sidewalk and apron were constructed after the traffic lights were moved.
On Day Street the gutters on the south side from Washington Street to Bullard Street were resurfaced with Bituminous Patch. The shoulders of the walk were loamed and seeded.
WATER DEPARTMENT Maintenance and Operation
During the month of August the Engineering firm of Fay, Spofford and Thorndike of Boston, Massachusetts, were consulted in regards to getting additional water supply at the Ellis Station well field. . One of their men with the aid of our water men went over every section in the well field and tested every well individually. Those that they found in poor condition were cut off from the mains feeding into the Pumping Station. After a thorough check, it was decided to run a test on the gravel packed well that was installed about five years ago. The Hughes Company of Water- town, Massachusetts, (Well Drivers) were hired to try and locate new sources of water. Two wells were driven, one to a depth of 136' and another to a depth of 54' without getting any water.
At this writing the tests are still being conducted in different locations in the well field.
A new Nash Vacuum Pump has been installed in Ellis Station in place of one of the original pumps and after both the original pumps have been sent back for a thorough check-up, we will have a third pump for an auxiliary unit.
At Buckmaster Pond Station in Westwood, the two filter beds were cleaned very often during the past year. The past year was so dry and we had so very little rainfall, the pond became very low during the early fall, causing only one shift to be run at Buckmaster Pond Station and two shifts at the Ellis Station.
STANDPIPE DATA
The Electro Rust Proofing Company of Dayton, Ohio, was awarded a contract to install in both the Standpipe and the elevated storage tank a Cathodic System to prevent rusting on the inside walls. This will elimi- nate the necessity of painting the inside of the tank.
Nineteen new house services were added to the Water System.
Six water service renewals were made during the year.
One leak in the water main at the intersection of Upton Avenue and Washington Street was located and repaired.
1
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Sixty-eight leaking services were repaired. One hydrant was replaced on Gardner Road during the past year.
WATER STATISTICS 1943 Monthly Consumption in Gallons
Gallons
Ellis
Buckmaster Pond
January
34,890,000
25,700,000
9,190,000
February
32,280,000
23,860,000
8,420,000
March
38,030,000
24,540,000
13,490,000
April
36,845,000
17,220,000
19,625,000
May
33,855,000
16,020,000
17,835,000
June
36,695,000
14,140,000
22,555,000
July
37,820,000
15,050,000
22,770,000
August
35,925,000
15,460,000
20,465,000
September
35,845,000
21,700,000
14,145,000
October
35,410,000
23,510,000
11,900,000
November
35,070,000
24,120,000
10,950,000
December
37,455,000
25,540,000
11,915,000
430,120,000
246,860,000
183,260,000
Greatest Amount Pumped
Day - June 25
Gallons
1,610,000
Week - March 15 - March 21
Gallons
9,430,000
Supplied to Distributing Mains for year 430,120,000 Gallons.
Gallons passed through Meters (Service) during year
274,480,500
Number of miles of Mains at end of year 54.4.
Total number of Services at end of year 3,115.
Number of Services in use at end of year 3,004.
Operating Record at Pumping Station
Station
Days
Hours
Gallons Pumped
Ellis
364
3,906
246,860,000
Buckmaster
353
3,51912
183,260,000
717
7,42512 430,120,000
Gallons of Water Pumped in Previous Years
Year
Gallons
Year
Gallons
1934
425,378,000
1939
432,095,000
1935
446,355,000
1940
426,512,000
1936
490,576,000
1941
398,110,000
1937
403,070,000
1942
411,815,000
1938
374,733,000
1943
430,120,000
115
116
TOWN OF NORWOOD
DRAIN DEPARTMENT
Maintenance
All open drains were cleaned during the year and all drainage systems were checked for stoppages in manholes. The catch basin system was given a thorough cleaning twice during the past year.
CONSTRUCTION
Water Street at Railroad Bridge - 2 Catch Basins were built.
Corner of Carpenter Street and Neponset Street:
42' 10" R. C. Pipe.
40' 10" Plain Concrete Pipe.
51' 8" Plain Concrete Pipe.
57 Cu. Yds. of earth excavated.
4 Catch Basins were built.
Earle Street:
501' 12" Concrete Pipe. 73' 8" Concrete Pipe.
328 Cu. Yds. of earth excavated.
3 Manholes.
8 Catch Basins.
3 Lengths of 48" R. C. Pipe were laid at ends of open drain crossing Earle Street.
SEWER DEPARTMENT
All trunk lines and lateral sewer lines were cleaned during the past year. Four times during the past year different sections were flushed out where the sewer lines have a flat grade.
Twenty-eight new services were added to the system.
During the past year only five plugged sewers were reported and these were taken care of promptly.
SEWER CONSTRUCTION
The following sewer construction work was done:
Baker Street:
110' 8" Vitrified Pipe. 54 Cu. Yds. earth excavated.
15 Cu. Yds. ledge excavated. 1 Manhole built.
First Private Way off Rockhill Street:
197' 8" Vitrified Pipe. 116 Cu. Yds. earth excavated. 1 Cu. Yd. rock excavated.
2 Manholes built.
117
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Second Private Way off Rockhill Street:
140' 8" Vitrified Pipe.
68 Cu. Yds. earth excavated. 5 Cu. Yds. ledge excavated.
1 Manhole built.
Morrill Ink Works:
222' 8" Vitrified Pipe. 204 Cu. Yds. earth excavated.
3 Manholes built.
Second Street:
54' 8" Vitrified Pipe. 2 Cu. Yds. ledge excavated.
22 Cu. Yds. earth excavated.
1 Manhole built.
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
All parks were mowed several times during the year and the shrubbery was kept trimmed.
At the playgrounds all the baseball diamonds were fixed up, rolled and the grass mowed as needed.
The skating rinks at Dunn's Field, Hartshorn's Swamp, Claypit, Fr. McAleer and Endean Swimming Pool were put in shape.
During the month of June both swimming pools at Endean were drained. The entire bottom and sides of each pool were cleaned out and scraped. After this was done several tons of pure sand were brought there and spread over the bottom and sides of each pool.
At the Civic Association the tennis courts were graded, new posts for tennis nets set and tapes laid early in the Spring of 1943.
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
During the past year the trees along Walpole Street from Washington Street to Chapel Street were trimmed. Two bad trees were removed on Walpole Street and one at the Norwood Hospital grounds. The trees on Chapel Street, Winter Street, Washington Street from Guild Street to Walnut Avenue were also trimmed.
A general inspection of condition of trees in other sections of Town was made and where bad conditions existed, were promptly remedied.
The month of May was very wet so the usual moth spraying went into the month of June. All shade trees on the streets as well as private orchards and shrubs were sprayed and the cost of the work done was billed to private owners.
MAINTENANCE AND CONTROL OF TRAFFIC
All street signs, lines, markers, also slow signs and cross-walk lines were painted during the year.
118
TOWN OF NORWOOD
The traffic signs and posts were also repaired when needed and painted. All street corners were painted white as a safety measure during the "dimout."
MISCELLANEOUS
During the past year, the Public Works Department was called on to help out other departments, such as digging a direct line trench on Day Street, for the Light Department, when they were installing underground service for the Norwood Trust Company and at the Senior High School where a direct line was being installed.
Men and trucks were also loaned the Cemetery Department to help out around Memorial Day.
The cellar of the old Beacon School has been partially filled in with street cleanings. This should be finished during the coming year.
At the Senior High School the Public Works Department assisted in the installation of two new heating units in the Chemistry Laboratories.
At the Memorial Building the Public Works Department assisted in the conversion from oil to coal in the boiler room, by building a pit where the coal stoker was installed.
Also at both Junior and Senior High Schools work was done on the grates and fire pit doors during the conversion from oil to coal.
In closing the report, I suggest that definite steps be taken to erect a new Public Works Department Headquarters as soon as possible. Also at both Pumping Stations provisions should be made to install auxiliary pumping units such as a Diesel or Gasoline operated equipment so that in event the electric current should fail we would be able to operate on the auxiliary unit.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. GAHAGEN, Acting Supt. of Public Works.
119
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
Mr. Francis W. Smith, General Manager.
Dear Sir :
I submit herewith a report of the activities and operations of the Mun- icipal Light Department for the year ending December 31, 1943.
If the amount of electric energy consumed by the industries of Norwood has any significance as to the amount of manufactured materials for the war effort, and I believe it has, they are certainly doing their share of pro- duction for our country. Our factories used 9,222,400 K.W. Hrs. during the year 1943. This is an increase over 1942 of 3,253,770 K.W. Hrs. or 35%.
All factory meters that measure such large amounts of current must do it accurately. These meters were tested and adjusted by a factory expert. This is a practice we have followed for several years. Accurate metering and billing along with good service makes for satisfied customers.
Nearly 2,000,000 K.W. Hrs. of energy were purchased this year at $.0065. In normal times this would noticeably reduce our unit cost for the year but as shown in the graph, a part of this report, the unit cost was only slightly lower than the previous year. The reason for this being the in- creased cost of coal at the generating stations which is reflected in our rate.
We were the first town in this vicinity to remove all dimout shades after the dimout regulations were lifted for this area. These shades, of which there are about 1,100, have been carefully stored away ready for use in any future emergency.
All meetings of the Municipal Light Association were attended.
All the other activities of this department have been briefly and accur- ately written up by each division head and are submitted as part of this report.
I would at this time, however, like to stress the fact mentioned in the Deputy Wire Inspector's report that if good wire inspection is wanted, by- laws must be adopted. Safe wiring is the biggest protection any town government can give its people and property.
The department regrets the loss by death of Patrick Simons on June 26, 1943. Mr. Simons served our department in the capacity of lineman for nineteen years.
Respectfully submitted,
C. C. CHURCH, Superintendent.
120
TOWN OF NORWOOD
CLERICAL DIVISION
During the year 1943 all records of the Light Dept. were kept in perman- ent form. A change of system was made in the Account File which will enable any new help to operate it immediately.
There were 562 applications for service, 594 requests to discontinue serv- ice. There were 218 purchase requisitions issued. Eight industrial acci- dent reports were sent to Liberty Mutual and handled satisfactorily. Pre- payment meters were collected monthly and arrears were notified.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT P. HAUCK, Clerk.
INSPECTION AND METER DIVISION
Owing to the curtailment of electrical supplies by W.P.B. new construc- tion has been practically nil during the year. One hundred eighteen wiring permits were applied for during 1943. This does not mean, however, that only 118 electrical jobs were done during that time. It means that 118 jobs were done that we know of. I believe that a great many more jobs have been done by legitimate electrical contractors who have not reported to this department. I also believe that some work has been done by un- licensed electricians.
It seems to me that some simple by-law could be adopted by the Town whereby every one doing electrical work would be required by law to give notice to this department before starting any electrical project.
Factory R. I. demand meters were read and charts changed on the first of every month and on the fifteenth of the month all meters were wound.
Meetings of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Inspectors Association were attended monthly. At these meetings problems of inspectors are discussed and much valuable information is gathered.
Maintenance of electrical wiring and equipment in schools and other Town buildings has been taken care of. Plans for the installation of wood working machines at the Senior High School were worked out and with the approval of the W. P. B. the installation has been started.
Air raid sirens have been maintained and tested every day.
Daily inspections of our sub-station at Short St. have been made. A duplex K. W. demand meter has been installed and charts changed every ten days.
Statistics
1. Nine electric ranges were installed.
2. Sixteen new meters were installed.
3. Eighty meters were replaced.
4. Six meters were discontinued.
5. Thirteen meters were junked.
121
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT
6. One hundred thirty-two complaints were investigated for the billing division.
7. Five hundred ninety-four meters were cutout.
8. Five hundred sixty-two meters were cutin.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH J. O'BRIEN, Deputy Wire Inspector.
REPORT OF PLANT ENGINEER
Work was started on rearrangement of Street Light circuits and to date about 16,000 feet of wire have been removed, reducing the footage of lines to be maintained and line losses. More will be removed in 1944. When completed our street lighting equipment will be loaded so as to operate at the best efficiency.
Due to W.P.B. regulations, no new work may be done on the lines, but · necessary diagrams and work schedules covering the change from three wire, three phase to four wire, three phase distribution are being made.
Other plans for post-war projects to improve plant operating efficiency are being considered.
Respectfully submitted,
HOWARD C. BABCOCK, Plant Engineer.
REPORT OF CHIEF OPERATOR
It is a pleasure to submit this, my first report, as Acting Chief Operator.
Purchased Energy 1943
Short St. Sub-station 6,958,000 KW
Central Street Station
10,487,315 KW
Total
17,445,315 KW
Showing an increase of
2,838,315 KW
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