USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1945-1947 > Part 28
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It is therefore recommended that the Town appropriate and assess a sum of money in addition to that raised in 1947 to be devoted to the expense of outside assistance and that an addi- tional sum be appropriated and assessed for assessors' expenses to justify the additional time and additional transportation ex- pense of the assessors themselves in making a complete examin- ation of all the assessable real estate and buildings after the 1948 tax levy has been completed.
It is also recommended that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of seven citizens to con- sider the question of revaluation of all taxable real estate and buildings and to confer with the assessors and to assist the assessors in their efforts to make a complete check-up of all the valuations in the Town for the express purpose of equalizing all such inequalities in assessments as are found to exist.
CHARLES M. MATHEWS, WILLARD C. HUNTING, J. SIDNEY STONE,
Board of Assessors.
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Statistics for the year ending December 31, 1947
Real Estate Assessed January 1, 1946
$5,356,980.00
Personal Property Assessed January 1, 1946 515,730.00
Real Estate Owned by Commonwealth 45,588.50
$5,918,298.50
Real Estate Assessed January 1, 1947
Land Exclusive of Buildings $1,661,740.00
Buildings Exclusive of Land 3,884,350.00 45,588.50
State Owned Land
$5,591,678.50
Personal Estate Assessed January 1, 1947
Stock in Trade
$ 30,900.00
Machinery
295,788.00
Live Stock 64,005.00
All Other Tangible Personal Property 127,112.00
517,805.00
Total Property Assessed January 1, 1947
$6,109,483.50
Total Property Assessed January 1, 1946 5,918,298.50
Increase
$
191,185.00
Number of Polls Assessed
1,284
Number of Live Stock Assessed :
Horses
59
Number of Neat Cattle :
Cows
396
Young Stock
79
Bulls
10
Swine
400
Fowl
6,120
All Other :
Mules 2
Turkeys
20
Mink
150
Ponies
5
Colts
1
Goats
14
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Number of Acres of Land Assessed
8,187
Number of Dwellings Assessed 1,332
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December Assessment : Real Estate Personal Estate Additional Polls
none none $6.00
..
Motor Vehicles :
Number
1947
1,780
Value $406,630.00
Tax $11,215.08
1946
1,540
228,170.00
5,865.47
Increase
240
$178,460.00
$ 5,349.61
Valuation
Exempt from Taxes :
United States Government
Post Office-Equipment
$ 400.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Weston & Pressure Aqueducts
15,000.00
Widows
9,200.00
Veterans, World War II
37,325.00
Veterans, Previous Wars
8,325.00
$70,250.00
Town-Personal and Real :
Schools
$194,500.00
Parks
29,415.00
Fire Department
22,400.00
Police Department
300.00
Water Department
369,100.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
500.00
Moth Department
2,000.00
Town Hall and Equipment
43,500.00
Highway Department
41,955.00
Library and Books
57,000.00
Cemeteries
3,500.00
Cochituate Civic Center
Building-Land 2,500.00
766,670.00
Churches and Parsonages
Church Property
$145,300.00
Parsonages
15,225.00
160,525.00
Fraternal Societies
1
Pequod Lodge, I.O.O.F .- Equipment 200.00
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Corporations
Hannah Williams Playground, Inc. $ 2,200.00
Wayland and Cochituate Legion Building Association, Inc. 15,500.00
Wayland Junior Town House, Inc. 3,900.00
Dorchester House, Inc .- Land 600.00
The Grey Nuns Charities, Inc. 20,000.00
42,200.00
$1,039,845.00
Tax Levy of 1947
Appropriation for Town Purposes
$363,817.09 4,863.42
Overlay for 1947
$368,680.51
State Tax
$4,550.00
State Park Tax
286.46
State Audit
830.95
Under-estimate-1946
107.42
$5,774.83
County Tax
$10,896.37
Tuberculosis
1,749.76
Under-estimate-1946
120.29
12,766.42
18,541.25
To be Raised
$387,221.76
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds:
Income Tax
$18,128.11
Corporation Tax
8,282.43
Gasoline Tax
5,944.31
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
6,200.00
Licenses
6,500.00
Fines
85.00
Grants and Gifts
8,000.00
Special Assessments-Moth &
Betterments
1,000.00
General Government
230.00
Health and School Nurse
180.00
Old Age Assistance
22,000.00
Old Age Tax (Meals)
1,412.50
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School
1,800.00
Libraries
225.00
Cemeteries
1,025.00
Interest on Taxes and Assessments
600.00
In Lieu of Taxes
1,641.19
Available Funds
83,100.00
166,353.54
To be Levied on Polls and Property
$220,868.22
Assessed on Polls
$ 2,568.00
Assessed on Personal Property
18,640.98
Assessed on Real Etate
199,659.24
$220,868.22
Betterments :
Tax
Interest
Total
Nob Hill
$ 74.31
$ 5.95
$ 80.26
Lake Road
71.00
10.96
81.96
Pine Ridge Road
100.45
21.51
121.96
Lakeview Road
55.80
13.34
69.14
353.32
Moth Tax
484.00
Total Amount Committed to Collector
$221,705.54
Rate on Property :
$36.00
Rate on Motor Vehicles :
36.23
For Abatements see Collector's Report.
Note: It is to be noted that the tax on State owned land is reflected in estimated receipts-"In Lieu of Taxes."
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REPORT OF THE WAYLAND PLANNING BOARD FOR THE YEAR 1947
The most striking feature of the Planning Board's report for 1947 is the swift growth of the town. Over fifty new water connections, we are informed, have been entered, mostly in connection with new residences. This growth seems destined to continue with equal rapidity in 1948. "The desirability of Wayland as a community of lovely homes becomes increasingly evident day by day," writes a bank in a neighboring city in a circular letter to its customers. "Wayland is a good town. We like to loan there," says the treasurer of another bank. Such growth brings many problems and puts a premium on adequate planning and foresight ; but to these problems the town has been giving thought through the war years and your Planning Board has continued working at them without ceasing during 1947.
New Real Estate Subdivisions
Several new real estate developments have been approved by the Board during the year. At Cochituate, a new tract being opened up by John Simone, off Oak Street, is well designed. An extension of Leary Street was approved. In the sightly wooded ground between Cochituate and Wayland, formerly the Shaw Estate, the first two units of "Woodridge" were voted approval. "Woodridge" is planned as a high grade subdivision with lots from 112 acres to 2 acres and some of larger size. At Wayland Center a further extension of Rich Valley Road was approved with rights for the town reserved on the banks of Hayward Brook. Nearby, Lundy Lane and an extension of Hayward Road, both leading east from Rich Valley Road were likewise approved. These will eventually intersect White Road. On the Wheelock property, approval of which plan had been previously voted, after laying of the water pipe and the building of 500 ft. of road, ten lots were released for sale and we understand that building on these will start early in the spring.
What the Board Requires of the Developer
The first step in any new development is approval of the
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street layout. This has to meet specifications laid down in the Board's regulations. Before new house lots may be sold, the regulations require that a water pipe, satisfactory to the water department, and a 22-foot road for travel shall be built, cen- tered in a 50-foot roadway. These requirements safeguard purchasers against buying lots on unbuilt streets without water. At the same time they guard the town against being asked to bear the expense of water and street extensions after houses have been erected. That these precautions bring good results is evident from the excellent type of building going on in all the new developments. A number of requests have come to the Board to set off one or two house lots at the rear of long nar- row existing lots which have only the minimum frontage re- quired by the zoning law. The Board feels in general that the rear of such lots should be developed only in connection with the general development of the whole neighborhood. This ap- pears to be the only method by which satisfactory access to the street for present and future owners can be obtained, and, in any case the Board is unable to approve such requests under the law.
Guarding Danger Spots
For a long time, the town has been troubled at the severe accidents which have taken place from time to time at a few dangerous locations. The Board secured the advice of Mr. Edgar F. Copell, Safety Engineer for the State Department of Public Works and head of the Massachusetts Safety Council. The most dangerous spots in town, according to his report, are the River bridge on Old Sudbury Road, northwest of Wayland Center; the intersection of Main Street and Commonwealth Road in Cochituate; and the corner of Old Connecticut Path and West Plain Street. With the cooperation of the Board of Selectmen and Chief of Police, the recommendations of Mr. Copell as to the Sudbury River crossing have already been car- ried out. Highly visible warning signs and "cats' eyes" have been set up, and townspeople can now feel that all reasonable precautions short of relocating the highway have been taken to prevent further drownings at this point. The recommendations on the other two corners are still under consideration. The Board is happy to have brought about the greatly improved con- dition at the River Bridge.
Our Business Centers
Another danger is presented by the indiscriminate parking and turning of automobiles in the business centers of both
136
villages, a problem tied up closely with the growth and future business development of the town. Recognizing that the main road in each village was due for rebuilding shortly, the Board two years ago secured the services of Arthur T. Row of the Harvard School of Design to study the town's prospects for growth. Continuing these studies, Mr. Larry Reich, an archi- tect and a graduate student at the same school, in 1947 prepared a specific study and layout of possible future business expansion for each village. A special report of results of these studies has been mailed to the citizens, and models showing the pro- posed expanded business centers have been on display in the town libraries. It is the hope of the Board that after these studies have been considered by the citizens, concrete results in the form of off-street parking areas and proposals for actual development of additional retail shopping facilities may be brought about.
The Future of Lake Cochituate
The future of that most beautiful sheet of water, Lake Cochituate, has been much in the mind of your Board through the year. During 1946 the Board invited the planning boards of all the towns with waterfront on the Metropolitan system of lakes to confer on the proposal of the Metropolitan District Commission to abandon these lakes as water supplies, and to turn them over to the Department of Conservation for recrea- tional use. We felt that if the interests of these towns were to be properly guarded, protective provisions should be written into the bill. Later your Board, in cooperation with the Board of Selectmen and the Town Counsel presented these views be- fore a Legislative Commission which was studying the subject, and finally before the committees of the General Court. As a result, the law adopted specifically requires that the water level of Lake Cochituate shall not be lowered, that the land owned by the Commonwealth along its shores shall not be sold, that the Commissioner of Conservation shall consult at least once a year with the Boards of Selectmen, Planning Boards, and Park Commissioners of all the towns involved with regard to the conduct of these lakes and adjoining lands. All rules and regulations must be approved by the Governor and Council. We consider that these safeguards represent a great improve- ment over the original proposal to turn the lakes over to the Department of Conservation without reservation.
Wayland's Interest in the Lake
On January 1, 1948, the transfer took place. Meantime
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the people had not waited for the actual transfer. Use of Lake Cochituate by bathers and picnickers became a fact last summer and a parking and traffic problem in the narrow streets nearby was an immediate result, not to mention a sanitary and police problem. About 114 miles of Lake Cochituate's shore lies be- tween West Plain Street and Commonwealth Road. There is also quite an extensive shore line south of Commonwealth Road, and a small headland on the west shore is in this town. Much of this shore is covered with beautiful woods, bordering an un- usually attractive sandy beach. Adjoining the shore at the end nearest Old Connecticut Path is a considerable area of dwell- ings, but there still remains a large tract further south which so far has been kept in farm and other open land.
A Proposal for Public Ownership
After considering the matter carefully from many points of view, it is the opinion of your Board that the town should take steps to acquire a substantial tract along the Wayland shore for recreational and other town purposes. Such acquisi- tion would give the townspeople a recreation area unexcelled in Massachusetts. It would also assure to the town control of the type of recreational development that might take place there. An article looking toward acquiring a part of this area is con- tained in the warrant. It could be tied in with the development of residential property in the neighborhood which the Board has previously studied. We believe that if properly carried out. this action will enhance the value of the whole neighborhood, and benefit the entire town.
Other Waterfront Neighborhoods
Continuing our work in assisting the town's waterfront neighborhoods, and at the request of the Selectmen, the Board arranged for a report on the weed condition in Dudley Pond by a well known firm of water supply engineers. The report states definitely that the increased growth of weeds of the past few years is due to sewage seeping into the water from the adjoin- ing properties ; that as long as this condition continues, no im- provement is to be expected ; that the growth may be treated by chemical means, but at a heavy expense. The conclusion of the Board is that the only practical way to keep the town's bathing beach available is to clear the weeds each year from the area where bathing takes place.
Considerable interest has been shown by the residents of west shore of Dudley Pond in a proposal to have that part of
138
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Lake Shore Drive accepted and built by the town. It is hoped that this project can be carried further during the coming year.
Streets Recommended for Acceptance
Much thought has been given to Riverview Terrace both as to street development, laying water mains, and the area's future. The Board has had wholehearted cooperation from resi- clents through the Riverview Terrace Improvement Assn. Plans have been drawn for acceptance of the road system in this area, the property owners bearing half the cost of the engineering. Under an article in the warrant it is hoped that at least a por- tion of the road layout may be accepted and built and water pipe installed at the same time. The Board believes that if the town takes such action, this neighborhood has a promising future. On Adelaide Avenue off West Plain Street, upon peti- tion of the abuttors, the Board has also recommended accept- ance to the Board of Selectmen, and an article appears in the warrant.
To assist the persons owning property on Winter Street the Board also surveyed and bounded the road. Through its engineer, Mr. Brooks, the Board has conferred with the County Commissioners as to the proposal for a road to extend from the easterly end of Stonebridge Road to Fiske's Corner. Much of the land for such a road is already set aside but its building is still in the future. A study for the improvement of Edgewood Road Extension, Amey Road and vicinity was also made. The necessary land to widen Winter Street was deeded to the town without expense.
Route 20 Bypass
Many townspeople are interested in the status of the pro- posal for a bypass for Route 20 to run south of Wayland Cen- ter. Soundings have been taken by the State Highway Com- missioners along the proposed route and it appears entirely practical. As mapped, the bypass would run through Pine Brook Valley beginning at Dead Man's Curve and cross Cochit- uate Road just south of the cemetery, returning to the present highway location west of the Russell farm but east of the bridge across the Sudbury River. Detailed plans have not yet been prepared, and work cannot start until after an appropriation by the legislature.
Those Dumps !
The condition of the town dumps has been a matter of heated discussion. The street department has done a good job
139
in levelling them off from time to time but there is no other supervision. The dump off State Road West is used by all of western Middlesex County instead of "by Wayland residents only," and not only for waste materials but for garbage and offal. Both dumps are being rapidly filled. They cause fre- quent calls on the fire department and their condition results in adverse comment on the town by travelers. It is time that the town took firm action and made provision to have the dumps properly fenced off, and adequately supervised and policed. The Board has adopted a report containing recommendations for improvement and has prepared an article for this purpose.
Zoning Matters
At the last annual town meeting, several petitions for re- zoning residential areas along State Road East to business were considered : one received a majority vote, but not sufficient to meet the two-thirds required by law. In view of the majority sentiment expressed, and also mindful of the criticisms voiced, the Board has given careful study during the year to possible amendment to the by-laws to provide for a restricted roadside business district. While not permitting all types found in a retail business district, such a district would permit certain busi- ness serving travellers. Such districts have been provided in Lexington and Concord. This proposal will be placed before the town meeting.
Contest for School Pupils
The planning contest for school children sponsored by the Board proved a great success. The pupils took a deep interest in the future of the town and presented many interesting sug- gestions, plans, and sketches. The grand prize was won by Miss Roberta Buckingham, a senior in the High School and now a freshman at Radcliffe, with an excellent paper which was reprinted in the newspapers. Other prize winners were as follows :
First prizes-Richard Sanderson, Richard Scotland.
Second prizes-Robert Sanderson, Francis Henuset, Gail Stiles, Irene E. Muhlberg.
Third prizes-Bernadette Houston, Judith Kelsey, Marilyn LeDrew.
Honorable mention-Natalie E. Wilson, Charlotte Turn- bull, Patricia Cook, Priscilla Buckingham, David Houston, Nathaniel Raymond, Richard Butler, Bar- bara Tarr, Dorothy Kohler, Donald Hobbs, Clara Pettigrew.
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We thank the citizens and organizations who contributed the money for the prizes. Our appreciation is also due to the School Superintendent, principals, and teachers who took such an interest in making the contest a success.
Triangles at Intersections
In the past few years, the town has given authority for acquiring the small triangles at the intersections of various roads at the suggestion of the Board. The necessary legal steps have been taken, and in most cases completed, so that most of them are now unquestionably the property of the town.
On the suggestion of the Cochituate Garden Club that they would like to assist in the improvement of the triangle at the corner of School Street and Commonwealth Road, Mr. Arthur Shurcliff, the noted landscape architect was employed to advise. It is hoped that this improvement may be carried out in 1948.
Some Acknowledgements
From this report it is evident that the Board is frequently concerned with legal and technical questions. The legal assist- ance given by the Town Counsel in such matters has been of greatest value and the Board wishes to acknowledge its debt. Of great worth to the town also have been the services of our engineer, Mr. Everett Brooks. Few citizens know of the time and thought he has given to their town's affairs ; the satisfactory results in many town projects are a monument to his imagina- tion and his unstinted service. We thank both Mr. Stone and Mr. Brooks.
Assessors' Maps
The town maps completed Dec. 31, 1946, and since copied by other towns, are in a continuous process of change due to the many real estate transactions. Under the direction of the Board of Assessors and the Planning Board, Mr. Brooks has kept them up to date with the appropriation made by the town. A similar appropriation should be made each year. The scores of other plans assembled in past years have been indexed and filed in the town vault during 1947.
It has been a pleasure to have the interested cooperation of the Selectmen, Assessors, Water Department, Street Depart- ment, Park Department, Health Department, and others. Two of our members have served on the school planning committee, and one continues to serve on the committee for a municipal building in Cochituate. The Board appreciates the many cour- tesies we have received from all the town boards and depart- ments and from the Finance Committee.
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Need for a Long View
The need for a long view in our town's affairs is constantly becoming more apparent. School additions are planned, water extensions are in process, together with increased size of pres- ent services. Cemeteries need more land. Private builders find Wayland a favorable location, and an increasing number of people look here longingly as a place for their homes. The town's expenses enlarge and the tax rate rises. The growth in population, in public buildings and services and in expenses can be dovetailed with the greater volume of taxes assessed as new buildings are erected.
New services and facilities can be taken care of without undue strain on the town if a program is properly laid out to cover at least the next ten years. We are fortunate that our town is attracting such a healthy, new growth ; let us welcome it for itself, and also as a help in sharing the capital expenses that face us.
It is our hope during the coming year to see all the town's Boards, acting with the Finance Committee, set to work with a will to lay out such a ten-year program. Wayland will grow ; let's see if by using sufficient forethought its citizens can't handle its affairs so that its growth will be economical of the taxpayers' money, while its people receive the services and sat- isfactions that they feel warranted in expecting.
HOWARD S. RUSSELL, FRANK S. TARR, ALLAN R. FINLEY, CHESTER H. HOBBS, CARL T. EMERY, B. ALLEN BENJAMIN.
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE For the Year Ending December 31, 1947
Drunkenness
37
Driving under the influence
14
Driving to endanger
9
Leaving the scene
3
Using motor vehicle without authority
1
Motor vehicle violation
30
Refusing to show license
1
Law of the road
2
Speeders
4
Larceny
3
Non-Support
5
Vagrancy
2
Disturbing the peace
2
Assault and Battery
7
Assault with a dangerous weapon
1
Carrying a dangerous weapon
1
Manslaughter
1
Stubborn child
1
Stolen property search
2
Gaming search
1
Gaming house
1
Accosting
1
Lewdness and Lascivious
2
Hindering a A.B.C. Investigator
1
Selling liquor to minors
1
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This list includes arrests made by the State Police.
The Wayland Police served, during 1947, Ninety-eight Summonses, Four Warrants, Nine Subpoenas, Two Capiases and Six Summonses to Show Cause.
The police cruiser purchased by the Town has proved to be an invaluable aid to the department. The two-way radio has afforded an opportunity to give emergencies the promptness of
143
attention they deserve. The cruiser has been used, also, to transport people to the hospital. None of the aforementioned conveniences could be possible without the kind cooperation of the Natick Police Department with which our radio is connect- ed. May I take this opportunity to thank Chief Thomas Evans.
You will notice that signs, reflectors and delineators with cat's eye buttons have been installed on Old Sudbury Road with the hope that in the future the hazard of these bridges and con- sequently-accidents, may be prevented.
ERNEST H. DAMON, Chief of Police.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
The Fire Engineers organized as follows for 1947 :
Theodore H. Harrington, Chief
Ernest H. Damon, Deputy Chief, and Clerk of the Board
Homer L. MacDonald, Electrician
F. Clifton Haynes, District Chief
Frank H. Carter, Clerk of the Wayland Company
The two companies responded to the following calls during 1947 :
Brush
3
Grass
45
Woods
30
Dump
19
Auto
6
Oil Burner
9
Chimney
6
House
8
Incinerator
1
False
5
Rubbish
2
Garage
1
Rescue Dogs
2
Drowning
2
Lost child
1
Leak in Gas Main
1
Rescue
2
Electric Stove
1
Orchard
2
Call to Weston
1
Accident
1
Assisting Police Department in finding girl
1
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The Wayland Fire Department had another busy year with a total of 149 calls which was 8 less calls than 1946-the busiest
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year on record. There were 24 building fires which included oil burners, chimneys, etc., as compared to 32 fires in 1946.
There were 19 calls to dump fires as compared to 18 calls in 1946. This has caused a large item of expense to this de- partment and again we suggest that supervision of these dumps would prevent fire hazards to adjacent property by day-time burning. It would also eliminate the heavy mantle of smoke which over-hangs the Cochituate section, causing much annoy- ance to citizens in that neighborhood and traffic hazards on Main Street.
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