USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1936-1938 > Part 12
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Of the comparable towns, having more than one station, on which the Finance Committee has data, there are none which have interstation connection and in one case it is necessary for a call to be handled through three telephone exchanges. The Finance Com- mittee feels that there is in our situation nothing fundamentally different in this respect from that exist- ing in many other towns and that the added protection which might be afforded does not justify the expendi- tures of from $1,200 to $1,500 to extend the circuit from Cochituate to Wayland Village.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends
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that there be appropriated and assessed $2,400 to be expended for the installation of the following equip- ment in Cochituate :
Air whistle, compressor and compressor
tank $1,400
Battery set of 48 cells, rectifier and panel 600
Transmitter 200
Register 150
Alarm keys with necessary connections
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The Finance Committee does not recommend the extension of a circuit to Wayland.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess the sum of $150 for the planting of trees, shrubs and other nursery stock in connection with improving the grounds of the new high school, the driveway and park land adjacent thereto, or do or act.
The Finance Committee recommends that the sum of $150 be appropriated and assessed for this purpose and that this matter be left with a committee composed of one member of the School Committee, one member of the Planning Board and one member of the Park Board, each board to designate its representative.
Article 26. To see if the Town will authorize the Town Counsel to effect a settlement of all claims by and between the Town of Wayland and the City of Boston for the year 1937 and all prior years and to appropriate and assess the sum of $3,500 for the purpose.
Suit and countersuit were brought last year for the collection of various Welfare claims between Bos- ton and Wayland. The Town Counsel advises that he expects to be able to effect a settlement and that although the claims are about equal it will be necessary to give and receive checks in the full amount. Con- sequently there will probably be no actual cost to the Town and no additions to the tax rate as the payment received will be credited to Estimated Receipts and offset the payment made. This is a matter which should be cleared up if possible.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the approval of this article with the further recom- mendation that should the amount here provided be
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insufficient, the balance be taken from the Welfare Department's general appropriation.
Article 27. To see if the Town will permit the sale of the Canning machinery located in the Grange Hall basement by the Board of Public Welfare, or do or act.
The sale of this equipment which is not being used at the present time is a matter which should prop- erly be left with the Selectmen as administrators of the W.P.A.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends that the Selectmen be empowered to dispose of the equipment at their discretion.
Article 28. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Public Welfare to form an Old Age Bureau consisting of members of the Board and an outside party having no public office in the Town-this is to conform to the "State" laws and rule where there is more than 50 persons receiving Old Age Assistance, or do or act.
The Finance Committee has investigated the mat- ter and finds that the most recent state laws and regu- lations have no such requirement as suggested in this article and the Committee is of the opinion that such a bureau is unnecessary.
The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article.
Article 29. To see if the Town will permit the Board of Public Welfare to elect one of its members to act as investi- gator for Old Age, Mothers' Aid, and Public Welfare.
Under the present arrangement the Welfare De- partment as such and as administrators of Mothers' Aid and Old Age Assistance already have funds pro- vided for the hire of clerical and other assistance.
The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article.
Article 30. To see if the Town will appropriate and assess a sum of money for the expenses of the Board of Public Wel- fare, said sum of money to be expended for the employment of an agent and for clerical assistance, or take any other action in regard thereto.
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For the ame reasons as those given in connection with the preceding article, the Finance Committee does not recommend the approval of this article.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess a sum of money to construct a new well or wells on Town property at Baldwin's Pond, and to authorize the Water Commissioners to cause such well or wells to be constructed, or do or act.
At present there are 27 of the original 21/2 inch driven pipe wells and one 6-inch gravel packed well built in 1933. These wells have a maximum capacity about sufficient to supply the present two pumps. In the summer time it is necessary to operate the pumps at capacity for twenty-four hours a day and even then it is impossible to maintain a proper level in the stand- pipe for fire protection purposes. The present equip- ment provides no margin of safety. Additional well and pump capacity is, therefore, needed. It is the recommendation of the Water Board with which the Finance Committee concurs that a new 16 or 18-inch well with a capacity of 700 to 900 gallons per minute be constructed this year to act at present as a reserve and to be ready to supply an additional pump which must be added in the immediate future. Competitive figures are being obtained for this well and at the Town Meeting the Finance Committee will make its recommendation which will include that such money as is to be spent shall be borrowed on a basis of liquidation of the debt within five years from Water Department receipts.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to appoint two additional full time Policemen, appropriate the sum of $3,240 to pay for the same, or otherwise act thereon.
The Finance Committee considers that the Town has adequate police protection at the present time with its present police set-up. The additional expense would probably be considerably in excess of the salary item of $3,240 here asked, and in view of the protection which the Town has at present the Finance Committee i^of the opinion that any improvement in protection which could possibly come through this increase could in no way justify the added expense.
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The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public town way under the Betterment Act the way known as Lake Road situated in Lakewood Development, so called, in that part of the Town known as Cochituate, as laid out by order of the Board of Selectmen, and shown on a plan or plans on file with the Town Clerk : to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire any necessary land by eminent domain, purchase, or otherwise : and to appropriate and assess a sum of money to cover the acquisition of such land and the construction of said public town way, or do or act.
On this road which leads south toward Lake Cochituate off West Plain Street there has been a desirable development in the past few years. There are at present sixteen houses and the assessed value on the road is $21,550. The road has never been sur- faced and suffers from overflow of surface drainage from West Plain Street. The road work involved is approximately 1,350 feet, no takings or land damages are involved, the necessary hearings have been held, the required legal requirements have been met and the abutters have agreed in writing to the work's being done under the Betterment Act under which they will assume a share of the cost. A 24-foot roadway with corrected levels and oiled top will cost a total of $3,200, per estimate of the Highway Surveyor. In the opinion of the Finance Committee this project has sufficient merit to warrant its undertaking at the first possible opportunity, but the unavoidable increase in the budget appropriation and the more imperative undertakings recommended in other articles in the warrant, make it impossible for this work and that contemplated in the following two articles to be undertaken this year unless a tax rate likely to be in excess of $35 is acceptable to the Town.
The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article at this time.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the purchase of pipe, necessary valves, hydrants and appurtenances in connection with the
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installation of a 6-inch water main in Lake Road for a distance of 1,300 feet, labor to be supplied under a W.P.A. or similar Federal or State project, or do or act.
At the present time there is an inadequate 2-inch line which will soon have to be replaced in any event and this work should be done in advance of the road work mentioned in the previous article. There are twenty takers on the line, and the earnings of the line warrant the installation. The Water Department estimates the cost of materials at $1,391, labor to be provided as a W.P.A. project, but this article falls in the same category as the previous article.
The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article at this time.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the purchase of materials for the installation of a drainage system starting at West Plain Street and extending down Lake Road and an extension thereof for a distance of approximately 1,550 feet, or do or act.
At the present time there exists a bad surface drainage condition on West Plain Street in the general location of Lake Road, as a result of which there is a bad overflow condition onto Lake Road itself. By the installation of proper catch basins and drainage system the whole area can be relieved, and it is appropriate that this work be done before Lake Road is perman- ently constructed. It is estimated that the cost of materials for this project would be about $1,400 to $1,500. But again this article falls in the same cate- gory as the two previous articles.
The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article at this time.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to accept as public town ways under the Betterment Act, Pine Ridge Road, Pine Ridge Road Extension and Lake Path from the latter way to its intersection of Hemlock Road, or any portion thereof, all said ways being situated within or adjacent to Woodland Park Development, so called, in that part of the Town known as Cochituate, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, and shown on a plan or plans on file with the Town Clerk; to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire any necessary land by eminent
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domain, purchase, or otherwise; and to appropriate a sum of money to cover the acquisition of such land and the construction of said public town ways or any part thereof, or do or act.
This article contemplates the construction of a new piece of road to start a short distance south of Stonebridge Road on the easterly side of Old Con- necticut Path and to cross the land of Percy Steele for a distance of 375 feet to connect directly with the westerly end of Pine Ridge Road. In addition, there is proposed 925 feet of reconstruction of present road- way and rectifying of grades. Under Article 37 there is proposed as a W.P.A. project the installation of about 1,100 feet of new pipe. The only taking involved is for a 40-foot right of way over the Steele property, all other abutters with a total assessed value of $16,500 having agreed in writing to the work's being done under the Betterment Act under which they will assume a share of the cost. The necessary hearings and legal requirements have been met. This roadway would provide a direct outlet and be of benefit to a substantially larger area than that owned by the abut- ters covered under the betterment, and together with the water line would constitute a necessary link in the general development in the area west of Dudley Pond. The expense to the Town for the road construction, not including land damages over the Steele property, is estimated by the Highway Surveyor to be $4,600. In the opinion of the Finance Committee this article has sufficient merit to warrant its undertaking as soon as the Town's financial condition will permit, which is not this year for the reasons stated in earlier articles.
The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article at this time.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the purchase of pipe, necessary valves, hydrants and appurtenances in connection with the installation of a 6-inch water main in Pine Ridge Road, Pine Ridge Road Extension, and Lake Path, for a total distance of 1,100 feet, labor to be supplied under a W.P.A. or similar Federal or State project, or do or act.
At the present time there is a 6-inch line in part of Pine Ridge Road fed by a 4-inch line from Wood-
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land Road. Under this article it is proposed to com- plete with 753 feet of pipe the line in Pine Ridge Road and Pine Ridge Road Extension to connect with the main line in Old Connecticut Path. It is also proposed to install 348 feet of pipe in Lake Path to connect with existing line to the south. Practically all the houses on this road are now served with water from existing lines, so that no additional load on our water system is contemplated. The Water Department estimates the cost for materials at $1,189, labor to be provided as a W.P.A. project. This is a case where the water line work should be done at the same time as the road con- struction. The work should, therefore, be postponed in line with the recommendation on the previous article.
The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article.
Article 38. To see if the Town will extend a six-inch water main with four hydrants, gates and fittings along Rice Road, beginning at Commonwealth Road for a distance of 3,000 feet at an estimated cost of $4,000 to the Town, labor to be supplied by the Federal Government under a Federal Project.
It is estimated by the Highway Department and the Water Department that for a distance of from one- half to two-thirds of the 3,000 feet involved it would be necessary to blast ledge for the five-foot trench necessary for the water line. The best estimate which can be obtained without going to a very considerable expense for tests is that such blasting would call for an expenditure of approximately $5,000 in addition to which there would be an expense for the removal of the stone blasted and for gravel fill. All this is in addi- tion to the appropriation of $4,000 asked for in the article for materials. There are thirteen houses on this piece of road and provided they all took water at an average annual rate of $9 each, there would be a total income of $117 per year. This would represent an income of but approximately 1% on the Town's invest- ment. From its general study of the water ystem as a whole the Finance Committee is of the opinion that no new water lines to provide for additional services should be installed until the capacity of our wells and pumps is increased.
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The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article.
Article 39. To see if the Town will purchase from The New England Trust Company, guardian of Francis Shaw, Jr., the water main now laid in Loker Street (main extending from a point opposite the residence of Sidney Loker to the Francis Shaw Jr. property-approximately 9621/2 feet) for $906, being the cost of the materials used in laying said main, together with hydrant installed at the same time, and appropriate money there- fore, or transfer the necessary amount from available funds, or do or act.
This article came before the Town at the Special Town Meeting of July 21, 1937, at which the article was voted down. Prior to this meeting and on the floor at the meeting, the Chairman of the Water Board stated that the arrangement at the time the water main was installed was that labor would be provided under a Federal Works Project, if material were provided by the Shaw Estate, and that there was no understanding for reimbursement.
The Shaw Estate is the only taker on the line and the extension would not have been justified on the basis of water revenue had the Town had to pay for the material.
The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article.
Article 40. To see if the Town will appropriate and assess a sum of money to be used for the purpose of restoring to the Public School teachers of Wayland the amount of salary which was deducted in accordance with Article 19 of the Annual Town Warrant, March 9, 1932; restoration of said amount to begin with the school year commencing September, 1938.
Apparently this article was primarily prompted by the feeling that there has been unequal treatment in the restoration of the salary cut to the Superin- tendent of Schools, but not to the teachers. The Finance Committee is of the opinion that general busi- ness conditions, the Town's finances, and the circum- stances of the citizens and taxpayers of the Town do not warrant restoration of any pay cuts at this time.
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The Finance Committee, therefore, does not rec- ommend the approval of this article.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess the sum of $4,895.78 for the following purposes :
(1) $2,237.79 to meet the assessment made on it for the purpose of paying its share of the cost of making alterations and constructive additions in and to the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital under Chapter 417 of the Acts of 1935 as amended by Chapter 205 of the Acts of 1937.
(2) $1,000.00 to meet the assessment made on it for the purpose of paying its share of the principal of the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital Funding Loan, Act of 1932 bonds maturing in 1938, issued in compliance with Chapter 10, Acts of 1932.
(3) $191.25 to meet the assessment made on it for the pur- pose of paying its share of the cost and interest of the Middle- sex County Tuberculosis Hospital Funding Loan, Act of 1932 bonds maturing in 1938, issued in compliance with Chapter 10, Acts of 1932.
(4) $1,466.74 to meet the assessment made on it for the purpose of paying its share of the net cost of care, maintenance, and repairs of the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital including interest on temporary notes issued therefor, in accordance with sections of Chapter 111 of the General Laws applicable thereto, including Chapter 400, Section 25 G (6) (a) of the Acts of 1936, or do or act.
These items are in the nature of an assessment by the County. The appropriation is thus compulsory.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the approval of this article.
Article 42. To see whether the Town will vote that the powers conferred by Section 14 of Chapter 45 of the General Laws be generally vested in the Board of Park Commissioners, or do or act.
The purpose of this article is to make possible the turning over to the Park Board by the proper authori- ties the administrative control of Town-owned land.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of this article.
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Article 43. To see if the Town will accept the report of the Selectmen recommending the taking by eminent domain of an easement in the land of George B. Howe to use for sanitary and surface drainage purposes over a strip of said land fifteen feet wide and running between Shawmut Avenue and Harrison Street, substantially as shown on a plan on file in the Town Clerk's Office entitled "Plan Showing Drainage Easements in the Village of Cochituate-Wayland, Mass." July, 1934, Barnes & Beal, C. E.'s, and authorize the Selectmen to take by eminent domain, purchase, or otherwise acquire, such easement, or do or act.
The use of this land is necessary for the com- pletion of the drainage system for the section of the center of Cochituate, lying south of West Plain Street and west of Main Street. Owners of all land affected, other than this piece, have given proper releases. The Finance Committee does not feel that the completion of the drainage system, which it considers essential to this section, should be further delayed by a single owner whose property affected is of relatively small value and not suitable for building purposes.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the approval of this article.
Article 44. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the purpose of installing a new sewerage disposal system at the Cochituate School, or do or act.
An unsanitary and deplorable condition has exist- ed for some time in the sewerage system at the Cochit- uate School. The Planning Board at the request of the School Committee and the Selectmen has had a thorough survey made by competent engineers, and has received a complete report and specifications on the construction necessary to remedy the situation. In addition, bids for the work have been obtained and the Finance Committee is advised that the work can be let out at contract at a price of $3500. The Finance Committee feels that this is work which should be done at once in the most expeditious manner.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends that a contract for the work be let on the basis of the plans and specifications submitted, and that the sum of $3500 be appropriated and assessed for this purpose.
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Article 45. To see if the Town will appropriate and assess a sum of money for sanitary and surface drainage purposes, including the expense of land damages, if any, and authorize the Selectmen to take by eminent domain, or otherwise acquire, any such land or easements as may be necessary or proper in connection therewith, or do or act.
This article is to provide for a surface water drainage system for that portion of Cochituate located south of West Plain Street in the vicinity of the School. Unless provision is made for the drainage of the surface water in this area, such water will serious- ly interfere with the proper operation of the sewerage system provided for in the preceding article. A survey has been made, plans prepared and the matter sub- mitted as a W.P.A. project. The Finance Committee is strongly of the opinion that this work should be done this summer as a W.P.A. project, if possible, other- wise by the Highway Department. The cost to the Town as a W.P.A. project has been estimated as $1,500 and if done under private contract, including both labor and materials, as $2,500.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends that the sum of $1,500 be allocated for this purpose from the general W.P.A. funds provided in Article 15. In order to insure the completion of the work during the summer months, the Finance Committee recom- mends that, in the event that actual work has not been started on the project by August 1, 1938, or if for any reason the work has been suspended by September 15, 1938, the Highway Surveyor, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to let the work out at contract at an expense not exceeding $2,500.
Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to amend the By-laws by adding at the end of Article 4 a new section to be numbered Section 7, as hereinafter set forth, or do or act:
"Section 7. (a) The Collector of Taxes shall collect, under the title "Town Collector," all accounts due the Town, except income or principal of trust funds.
(b) If the Collector deems it advisable that suit should be brought on behalf of the Town for the establishment or col- lection of any account due the Town, he shall so notify the
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Selectmen, and he shall report to them semi-annually, and at such other times as they may direct, upon all uncollected accounts in his hands. The Selectmen shall take such action with respect to all such accounts as they deem expedient and consistent with the best interests of the Town."
A committee was named at the last Town Meet- ing to investigate and report on the advisability of changing the by-laws so as to provide for a Town Col- lector. The Finance Committee has been advised by this committee of its findings. The establishment of a position of Town Collector would centralize the Col- lection of all monies due from all sources except in- come from trust funds and a few fees otherwise cov- ered by statue. This is a step toward more efficient Town government and the special committee reports that all towns investigated by them using this system have found the results satisfactory. The Finance Committee is in accord with the principle of this sug- gested change and recommends that the present per- sonnel of the Special Committee with the addition to its membership of the Town Treasurer, Tax Collector, and Town Counsel be authorized to proceed with its study, draft an amendment to the by-laws, and work out the details of the set-up, and transfer from the present system and report at the next annual Town Meeting.
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