USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1957-1959 > Part 21
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November 18-Dr. J. L. Kanin-25 Buckingham Road
Variance granted to allow an Animal Hospital to operate on property located on the easterly side of Upland Rd. adjacent to the Westwood line, said Animal Hospital to be set back twenty feet (20') from the Route 1A line but may be built up to the Railroad line which runs in the rear of property.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEAL
December 16-Constance A. Constas-60 Woodland Rd., Norwood
Variance granted to construct a garage on property located at 60 Wood- land Road within six feet (6') but not closer to the southwesterly side line of said lot, provided the set back and all other provisions of law are com- plied with and provided the rear line of said building is not more than eighty feet (80') from Woodland Road.
December 16-Norwood Marine, Inc .- 866 Providence Turnpike
Variance of zoning restrictions with respect to its property located at 866 Boston Providence Turnpike unanimously denied.
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF APPEAL Francis J. Doran, Chairman James Callahan Arthur H. Gleichauf
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
The Honorable Board of Selectmen
Harry B. Butters, Chairman
Norwood, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith in summarized form the first annual report of my conduct of the Legal Department of the town.
Frequent changes in the laws applicable to municipal government bring requests for interpretation of the law which require constant study of the new legislation in its relation to our activities in order to competently advise those charged with the conduct of our own government.
Much of the service rendered was advisory in nature and was furnished in the various departments of the town through written and verbal opinions upon request therefor.
Additional service was rendered by attendance at hearings and confer- ences, court appearances, drafting of articles for town meeting warrants and motions to be offered thereunder, drafting of deeds, agreements and various other instruments.
The service rendered dealth with practically every phase of municipal activity.
A few statistics of the activity of the Law Department are as follows:
Letters written 126
Letters received 96
Phone calls made 205
Phone calls received 253
Conferences held 135
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
It should be pointed out that in connection with the above activity that many questions arose which required much research to find the proper answers and many hours were applied to this end.
Altogether, Town Counsel spend a total of 705 hours of time doing the town's legal work in 1957.
Litigation and Claims
Various claims for personal injuries and property damage were made against the town arising out of alleged defective conditions in public ways concerning which opinions as to liability on the part of the town were given and recommendations were made as to disposition of the claims.
Selectmen
Because the town does not carry public liability insurance, all such claims are referred to Town Counsel for investigation and settlement with approval of the Board of Selectmen; and, if settlement cannot be made, then the case is tried in court by Town Counsel. Twenty-five appearances were made in court in 1957 and the total time actually spent in Court was 109 hours.
A number of these cases were on behalf of the Department of Public Welfare and thousands of dollars were recovered, a large part of which came back to the town treasury.
Without listing all the cases handled, suffice it to say that cases by and against the town have been brought to a current status with little or no "backlog", so called.
Conclusion
I am grateful for the privilege of having served the town as legal counsel. During my period of service I have been constantly aware of the great re- sponsibility attendant upon the position in a growing community such as ours has been. The uniform spirit of co-operation and friendliness extended to me by town boards, committees, officials and friends throughout these years has greatly aided me in the performance of my duties and I shall be ever mindful of their loyalty and friendship.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER J. GOTOVICH Town Counsel
REPORT OF CIVIL DEFENSE
The Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
The Office of Civil Defense for Norwood herein submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1957.
The all-volunteer organization of Civil Defense for Norwood has been maintained in strength and with but few changes among the heads of the Specialized Groups, as listed below:
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REPORT OF CIVIL DEFENSE
Director George T. Mahoney
Deputy Director: John R. Russell Executive Officer: Walter A. Blasenak
Communications Service: John Dziubaniuk Coordination: Dr. William F. Lovell Education and Training Officer: John J. Corcoran Engineering Officer: William Hyland Fire Service: Chief Harry J. Butler Ground Observer Corps Supervisor: Winslow F. May
Identification Officer: Thomas R. Bowler Medical and Health Service: Charles A. Richardson Mutual Aid and Sector Coordinator: Charles L. Donahue Plant Protection Officer: Harry F. Howard
Police Service: Chief Mark Folan Police Service Auxiliary: Robert A. Baxter
Rescue Service: John E. Bamber Shelter Officer: Henry J. Cronan
Technical Service: Maurice S. Baker
Utilities Service: Albert W. Thompson Welfare Service: Leslie J. Latham
Civil Defense activities during the year were regular weekly meetings of the Auxiliary Police and Communications Service.
During the year Norwood was represented at every State and Sector meeting by the Director, and/or John A. Russell, Dr. William F. Lovell, Winslow F. May, Robert A. Baxter, John Dziubaniuk.
The Civil Defense organization in Norwood exists by virtue of the Civil Defense Act, Chapter 639, Acts of 1950, Massachusetts law. This act authorizes and directs the town to establish an organization in accordance with the state civil defense plan and program which means "the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than the functions for which military forces other than the national guard are primarily responsible, for the purpose of minimizing and repairing injury and damage resulting from disasters caused by attack, sabotage, or other hostile action or by fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural causes; said functions shall include specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing fire fighting and police services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering, and air-raid warning services, evacuation of persons from stricken areas, emergency welfare services, communications, radiological, chemical and other special weapons of defense, emergency transportation, existing of properly assigned functions of plant protection, temporary restoration of public utility services and other functions."
The Director wishes here to thank all the members of the organization, the town officials and the townspeople at large for the generous support given to Civil Defense for Norwood and, coincidental with this report, tenders his resignation to the Selectmen effective December 31, 1957.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE T. MAHONEY, Director
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Mr. Walter A. Blasenak General Manager Norwood, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit the report of the Engineering Department for the year 1957.
The Engineering Department is still confronted with the great amount of engineering work and advice requested from the various departments and committees associated with the Town and the various developments which need constant advice and supervision. The requests for engineering work and advice is so numerous and varied that it is impossible to list them all.
A brief summary of the more important requests and work done are listed as follows:
Plans, budget estimates, contract documents, lines and grades and inspection were furnished for the following work.
Sewer Construction by Town Contract
Morse Street Extension-Pleasant St. easterly-775' - 8" V.C.
Ridgewood Drive-Neponset St. end-149' - 8" V.C.
Pellana Road-Dean St. end-237' - 8" V.C.
East Cross St .- 6th St. to Rt. 1-166' - 8" V.C.
Fulton Street-Howard Street end-110' - 8" V.C.
Oxford Road-Pleasant St. end-100' - 8" V.C.
Pleasant St .- Oxford Rd. to Garfield Ave .- 110' - 8" V.C.
Dean St .- Between Rt. 1 and Neponset St .- 2026' - 8" V.C. & C.I.
Water Construction by Town Contract
Morse St. Extension-Pleasant St. to Rt. 1-2045' - 12" C.I.
Fulton St. at Howard St. End-240' - 8" C.I.
Nahatan St. at Route 1-253' - 16" C.I.
Boston-Providence Pike-2440' - 16" C.I.
Boston-Providence Pike to Morse St .- 3240' - 14" C.I.
Boston-Providence Pike to Morse St. Tie-in-47' - 8" & 12" S.I.
Everett St. Renewal-184' -8" C.I.
Ellis Ave. by P.W.D .- 30' - 20" C.I.
Rockhill Court by P.W.D .- 207' - 6" C.I.
North Ave. by P.W.D .- 137' - 6" & 8" C.I.
Approval of plans, estimates for completion bonds, inspection for sewer mains, water mains and drain mains installed by the various developers and reports to the Planning Board were furnished for the following:
Sewer Main Construction by Developers
Mayfair Road-730' - 8" V.C.
Dorset Rd .- 965' - 8" V.C.
Countryside Lane-1328' -8" V.C.
Garden Parkway-300' - 8" V.C. Ash Road-860' - 10" V.C. Northplain Ave .- 630' - 8" V.C.
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REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Springvale Rd .- 300' - 8" V.C. Bonney Lane-770' - 8" V.C.
Greenleaf Rd .- 287' - 8" V.C.
Varwood Circle-350' - 8" V.C.
Marlboro St .- 2070' - 8" V.C.
Deerfield Rd .- 836' - 8" V.C.
Eden Street-287' - 8" V.C.
Wedgewood Dr .- 290' - 8" V.C.
Robinwood Rd .- 638' - 8" V.C.
Water Main Construction by Developers
Ash Road-725' - 10" C.I. Countryside Lane-1061' - 8" C.I.
Springvale Rd .- 250' - 8" C.I.
Northplain St .- 874' - 8" C.I.
Varwood Circle-1140' - 8" C.I.
Greenleaf Rd .- 272' - 8" C.I.
Marlboro St .- 1200' - 8" C.I.
Yew Drive-305' - 8" C.I.
Mayfair Road-717' - 8" C.I.
Heather Drive-30' - 8" C.I.
Dorset Rd .- 1092' - 8" C.I.
Barberry Lane-37' - 8" C.I.
Bonney Lane 918' - 8" C.I.
Healthland-300' - 6" C.I.
Garden Parkway-638' - 12" C.I.
Industrial Way-176' - 8" C.I.
Miscellaneous Work
1. Plans, surveys and descriptions of zoning changes and zoning violations.
2. Topo. maps for Nichols St. and Prescott Road school sites
3. Locating and posting tree removal notices.
4. House locations, measurements and calculations on 320 buildings for the Assessors.
5. Plotting 200 land transfers on Assessors Maps.
6. Plans and staking out new burial sections at Cemetery.
7. Plotting 200 burials on individual lot plans.
8. Plan fo 14.5 acres for additional cemetery land.
9. Estimating 160 sewer and water connections to new houses.
10. Installing master meter for checking water use complaints.
11. Various reports for State Agencies.
12. Attendance at various appropriation meetings relative to construction work.
13. Conferences and plans relative to work at Norwood Airport.
14. Investigations and reports on various drainage conditions.
15. Plans and lines for Mastercraft drainage area.
16. Gas main locations on various streets.
17. Plotting water, sewer, and drain extensions on record maps.
18. Traffic plans at various intersections.
19. Plans and amounts for sewer assesments.
20. Parking studies and estimates.
21. Plans for parking meter locations.
22. Planning Board: Various reports on estimates of cost, progress reports on various streets in new developments.
23. Lines and grades for bituminous concrete sidewalks on Morrill Road and Bond St.
24. Lines and grades on parking areas at Callahan School and Balch School.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
25. Filing of sewer construction orders.
26. Plans and conferences on dredging the Neponset River.
27. House numbering for all new houses.
28. Information for various court cases in which the Town was involved.
29. Reviewing and signing all land transfer plans made in the Town not requiring Planning Board approval.
30. Locating underground structures for the Public Works and Light De- partment.
The Engineering Department work load is such that it was necessary to have outside engineering firms do some of our construction plans and survey work and this condition will exist as long as we have a large construction program and as long as we have difficulty in securing qualified engineers for our engineering department.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT W. THOMPSON Town Engineer
REPORT OF CEMETERY DEPARTMENT
Mr. Walter A. Blasenak General Manager Norwood, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
The following is a report of the Cemetery Department for 1957:
Funerals prepared and cared for 198 Foundations for new monuments 77
In addition to the above numerous repairs were made to sunken graves and reseeding various lots.
Repairs were made to several black top walks and roads throughout the Cemetery.
Very truly yours, PATRICK J. CONNOLLY
Acting Superintendent
In Retirement
LOUIS D'ESPINOSA
Louis D'Espinosa retired June 1, 1957, after serving the Town of Norwood for twenty years as Superintendent of the Cemetery Department.
During Mr. D'Espinosa's term of office the Highland Cemetery was fully developed and under his care and guidance has become one of the finest cemeteries in this area.
We wish to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Mr. D'Espinosa for his many years of faithful and conscientious service.
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NORWOOD AIRPORT COMMISSION-Left to Right: John A. Abdallah, Daniel E. Callahan, Harold E. Shaw, Boston Metropolitan Airport, Jean M. Connolly, Secretary, James J. Drummey, William C. Kendrick, Chairman, Clement A. Riley, Walter A. Blasenak. Harry B. Butters, Albert W. Thompson, Clerk, Charles L. Rich.
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REPORT ON AIRPORT COMMISSION
REPORT OF NORWOOD AIRPORT COMMISSION
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Norwood Airport Commission hereby submits its report for the year 1957.
The Norwood Airport Commission meets the first Monday of each month to discuss the various matters pertaining to the Airport.
A brief review of matters discussed during the year were:
1. Appropriation discussions with Board of Selectmen and Finance Com- mission.
2. Engineering problems with Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, Consulting Engineers.
3. Awarding and problems relating to contracts with State and Federal Agencies.
4. Applications and discussion with State and Federal Agencies relative to future work.
5. Grant agreements and lease agreements with the various agencies.
6. Parking problems at and near the Airport.
7. Discussion on proposed car rental business.
8. Discussion on future air shows at the Airport.
9. Checking and inspection of work done at the Airport.
10. Approval of all bills in connection with Airport work.
11. Discussion of the new various laws and regulations pertaining to Airports.
12. Discussion with Town Counsel relative to legal requirements pertain- ing to the Airport.
13. Airport zoning regulations.
14. Increased rental assessments from the Boston Metropolitan Airport, Inc.
As in all cases involving construction funds contributed by State and Federal Agencies, there is a considerable amount of work involved in the preparation of the necessary documents to comply with the various and numerous regulations set up by these agencies.
During the period of the last 15 years improvements to the Norwood Airport with Federal, State and Municipal funds total $64,517 of which amount the total cost of the participation by the Town of Norwood is $15,481. In addition to these amounts, improvements are constantly being made with private funds donated by the Airport Corporation and by Wiggins Airways to the extent of several thousand dollars per year. Such improvements include various items of airport equipment and landing aids, also clearing, filling, grading and surfacing of ramp, storage and taxi areas.
The improvement projects in process during 1956 and early 1957 have now been completed including modern lighting for the North-South runway, new
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
wide taxi strip and parking ramp for heavy aircraft and clearing of approach areas. Money has already been appropriated for enlarging the airplane parking ramp and efforts are being made to secure funds for filling the cracks and seal coating the East-West runway which is badly in need of repair. This run- way was never properly finished when first constructed and has suffered from the damage resulting from the floods following hurricane Carol.
The income to the Town from taxable property on the airport has in- creased over the preceding year from $3,500 to $4,900 with additional building construction now in progress.
Wiggins Airways is contemplating the erection of another large hangar as a service facility which will also provide badly needed additional inside storage space for aircraft.
Currently more than 75 aircraft are permanently based at Norwood Air- port. The Wiggins fleet accounts for 30 of these aircraft including 4 twin- engine Apaches, 4 helicopters and 8 new Piper trainers which are used pri- marily for flight training by GI and ROTC students. It is estimated that more than 150 people are engaged in flight training at the airport, 34 of whom are veterans taking flight training under Public Law #550 and 14 are North- eastern University Army ROTC students. A new program is expected to increase this number from 14 to 30 by early summer.
A further indication of the activity at the airport, the number of flying hours has increased from approximately 5,000 in 1956 to more than 7,000 in 1957.
During the year 1957 approximately 20 overseas flights originated at the Norwood Airport where necessary equipment is installed on aircraft being prepared for overseas delivery. Destinations of such flights make interesting reading. For instance, safe delivery of two new aircraft was made to Prince Hassan in Algiers.
The Norwood Airport furnishes employment of between 50 and 75 people, brings in new industries, gives the Town a head start on future air business and when planes are taxed similar to automobiles we will be in a good posi- tion to receive a good part of this taxation.
We feel that the future of the Norwood Airport is good and it will con- tinue to be a great asset to the Town of Norwood.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM C. KENDRICK, Chm.
CLEMENT A. RILEY
DANIEL E. CALLAHAN HARRY B. BUTTERS JAMES J. DRUMMEY CHARLES L. RICH JOHN A. ABDALLAH
WALTER A. BLASENAK ALBERT W. THOMPSON, Clerk
255
REPORT OF SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
REPORT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BUILDING COMMITTEE - 1957
On December 5, 1956, the Norwood Town Meeting voted to create a Committee of Seven to obtain preliminary plans and estimates of costs for two elementary schools to be constructed on land now owned by the Town of Norwood on Nichols Street, and just off Neponset Street.
The Committee, appointed by Acting Town Moderator Daniel Callahan is made up of the following: Arthur B. Rodgers, 342 Prospect Street; Walter E. Dolan, 109 Fisher Street; Mary H. Hemman, 11 Westview Drive; Channing W. Souther, Jr., 71 Berwick Place; Henry W. Diggs, 439 Washington Street; Ernest G. Paciorkowski, 816 Neponset Street; J. Herbert Lindbloom, 115 Berwick Place.
At the initial meeting Arthur B. Rodgers was the unanimous choice for Chairman; Mary H. Hemman, Secretary; and Elizabeth Syverson, Clerk. Immediately following, the entire committee met with the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commission. At that time the necessary steps in school planning were outlined so that the Committee could proceed with a thorough knowledge of the requirements of state aid, thus producing a saving of both time and money. The first requirement of the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commission is a set of educational specifications prepared in conjunction with the School Department. In preparation of these specifications the School Department conducted a forum with the ele- mentary school teachers. A joint conference was held with the School Com- mittee to discuss the educational specifications. Many architectural firms which specialize in school construction were interviewed. In the final analy- sis, the Norwood firm of Korslund, LeNormand & Quann, Inc., was ultimately chosen on the basis of its outstanding reputation for constructing economical and functional schools. The proximity and availability of this local firm for consultation and supervision was felt to be of additional advantage.
In addition to educational use of school buildings the Committee was concerned with the possible community use of these future school buildings. For that purpose meetings were held with the Recreation Board, Library Boards, and the P.T.A. Council. In studying both the educational needs and the community use of school buildings, the Committee visited many ele- mentary schools and carefully evaluated the various features of each.
As soon the preliminary plans and estimates were completed, they were presented to the School Building Assistance for approval.
On the evening of May 23, 1957, the Elementary Schools Building Com- mittee presented its report to the Special Town Meeting. On that evening, it was voted to make available for the use of the Elementary Schools Build- ing Committee, the sum of $1,392,000 for the purpose of originally building and equipping two new fourteen-room elementary schools, one to be located on the Nichols Street (so-called), and the other on the Neponset Street (so-called) sites. The Town will be reimbursed by the State Building Assistance Commission in the amount of $365,817.60.
.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
The Committee continued to meet each week throughout the summer with the architects in preparation of the detail drawings and specifications. Follow- ing State Building Assistance approval the specifications were advertised for bid. On Friday, September 27, 1957, the sub-bids were opened publicly. On October 3, 1957, the Committee held a public reading of the general bids. After conference with the Norwood Town Counsel and the State Department of Labor and Industries the Committee was informed that the lowest legal bidders were Poorvu Construction Company for the Nichols Street School, and Leonard Rugo Construction Co. for the Neponset Street School.
On Tuesday, November 12, 1957, the formal ground breaking ceremonies were held at which time the Committee announced the names for the two elementary schools. The school at the Nichols Street Site was named for Dr. Frederick A. Cleveland, and the Neponset Street School for Charles J. Prescott.
Mr. Leo Tetreault who has had extensive experience in this field was engaged by the Committee to be the Clerk of Works for both schools.
Work and construction was started without delay and progress was made until winter snow and rain delayed construction. However, practically all footings and foundations are in place and considerable progress has been made in the installation of utilities Considerable materials required for fabrication and construction have been delivered on the sites
The Committee is most appreciative of the assistance given by many boards and town officials. In particular to Supt. of Schools Lincoln D. Lynch and his staff for valuable assistance at all stages of planning and equipping these elementary schools.
Elementary Schools Building Committee ARTHUR B. RODGERS, Chairman HENRY W. DIGGS WALTER E. DOLAN MARY H. HEMMAN J. HERBERT LINDBLOM ERNEST PACIORKOWSKI CHANNING W. SOUTHER, JR.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
NORWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
O.
NA
AASS.
16.72 ...
C. FEB . 23.10
TOWN OF NORWOOD MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31
1957
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-Seated: Elizabeth V. Syverson, Clerk. Mary H. Hemman, John J. Cavanaugh, Chairman, Lincoln D. Lynch, Superintendent, Frances Blanchot. Standing: John F. Kiley, Edward H. Thompson, Eugene A. Nelson, John F. Reynolds.
259
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE NORWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1957
School Committee
Term Expires 1958
John J. Cavanaugh
235 Railroad Avenue, NOrwood 7-0679-M
Edward H. Thompson
1958
9 Gardner Road, NOrwood 7-3184-R
John F. Kiley 1959
14 George Street, NOrwood 7-0198
Eugene A. Nelson 1959
37 Brookfield Road, NOrwood 7-4642
Mary H. Hemman 11 Westview Drive, NOrwood 7-5351
1959
Frances L. Blanchot 1960
226 Vernon Street, NOrwood 7-0299-W
John F. Reynolds 31 Oak Road, NOrwood 7-0851
1960
Organization John J. Cavanaugh, Chairman Elizabeth V. Syverson, Clerk
Committee Meetings
The regular meeting of the School Committee is held in the Committee room, Room 100, Junior High School Building, at eight o'clock on the third Wednesday of each month.
Superintendent of Schools
LINCOLN D. LYNCH, 21 Florence Avenue, Telephone NOrwood 7-1266
The Office of the Superintendent of Schools is at the Junior High School, and is open from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. every day, from Monday through Friday, inclusive. Telephone NOrwood 7-0133.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Secretary and Clerks
Elizabeth V. Syverson, 15 Park Street, Telephone NOrwood 7-0021, Secretary to Supt. of Schools and Clerk of School Committee.
Elvie A. Schaier, 44 Highview Street, Telephone NOrwood 7-2227-R, Senior Clerk and Stenographer.
1957-58 School Calendar
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