USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1945-1947 > Part 6
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$338,934.85
$338,934.85
MABEL T. S. SMALL, Town Accountant
109
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER
Cash Balance
1945
Jan. 1 Cash Balance Total Receipts
$168,207.15 347,740.81
$515,947.96
Total Payments
314,020.61
Dec. 31 Cash Balance $201.927.35
Serial Notes and Bonds Outstanding
20 High School Notes-31/4%
due Annually 1946-1950 $4,000.00 $20,000.00
12 High School Notes-31/4% due 1951 to 1954 12,000.00
1 Water Main Extension Note of 1931- 1931-4%-due 1946 2,000.00
2,000.00
Due in 1946
$6,000.00
Total Outstanding
$34,000.00
Interest Account
Appropriation
$1,220.00
Water Notes Interest by Vote
120.00
Payments :
Water Main Extension Notes of 1931 $ 120.00
High School Notes
1,170.00
To Trust Funds 25.00
High School Notes, Paying Charge 25.00
$1,340.00 $1,340.00
Insurance Account
Appropriation
$2,850.00
Transfer from Reserve Fund 104.63
Refund 100.00
110
Payments :
Town Buildings
$2,292.60
Automobile Liability
433.51
Automobile Fire and Theft
144.12
Honor Rolls
50.00
Burglary Insurance
84.40
Town Property
10.34
$3,014.97
Balance
39.66
$3,054.63
$3,054.63
Surety Bonds
Appropriation
$400.00
Payments :
Tax Collector
$186.00
Deputy Tax Collector
5.00
Town Clerk
7.50
Water Department Collector
10.00
Assistant Water Department Collector
10.00
Treasurer
128.50
$347.00
Balance
53.00
$400.00
$400.00
Tax Title Expense
Appropriation
$550.00
Payments :
Recordings and Postage
$
2.47
Forms
8.45
Typing and Clerical
8.50
Legal Services
278.46
$297.88
Balance
252.12
$550.00
$550.00
111
Trust Funds-Investments CHARITY FUNDS
Loker Fund :
1 U. S. Series G 212% Reg. 6/56
$1,000.00
1 U. S. Treas. 212% 1967/72
1,000.00
Allen Fund :
1 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 4s 1958
1,000.00
Donation Fund :
U. S. Series G 21/2% Reg. 6/53
1,100.00
Provident Institution for Savings
200.00
Russell Fund :
U. S. Series G 21/2% Reg. 3/54
1,000.00
U. S. Series G 212% Reg. 6/56
1,000.00
U. S. Treas. 212% 1967/72
1,000.00
Provident Institution for Savings
2,251.67
$9,551.67
CEMETERY FUNDS
J. M. Parmenter Fund :
1 N. Y. Central & Hudson River RR. 312 1998
$1.000.00
U. S. Treasury 3s 1946/48
1,000.00
U. S. Series G 212% Reg. 6/53
1,200.00
U. S. Treas. 21/2% 1964-69
1,800.00
$5,000.00
Other Funds :
1 Southern California Edison 3s 1965
$1,000.00
2 Jersey Central Power & Light Co. 31/2s 1965
2,000.00
1 Southern Pacific Oregon Line 41/2s 1977 U. S. Treasury 21/2s 1964-69
1,000.00
200.00
U. S. Treasury 234s 1947
300.00
U. S. Treasury 27gs 1960
1,600.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s Reg. 6/53
700.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s Reg. 3/54
2,000.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s Reg. 2/56
4,000.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s Reg. 11/56
1,000.00
U. S. Series G 212s Reg. 6/57
2,000.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s Reg. 12/57
2,500.00
Provident Institution for Savings
2,125.00
$25,425.00
112
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds Received in 1945 and included above
Charles M. and George F. Clark Fund
$ 125.00 100.00
LIBRARY FUNDS
J. M. Parmenter Fund
2 Pennsylvania Ry. 41/2s of 6/1/65
$2,000.00
3 Jersey Central Pr. & Lt. Co. 31/2s of 1965 U. S. Treasury Bond 21/2s 1964/69
3,000.00
1,000.00
2 U. S. Series G 212s 6/1/53
2,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 212s 11/1/56
1,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 212s 5/1/57
1,000.00
Grace Campbell Draper Fund
1 U. S. Series G 212s 11/1/56
1,000.00
Ada H. Wellington Fund
U. S. Treasury 27/gs of 1955/60
300.00
U. S. Treasury 234s of 1947
200.00
Cynthia G. Roby Fund
2 Northern Pacific 5s of 7/1/2047
2,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 212s 5/1/57 Provident Institution for Savings
200.00
Harriet Coburn Damon Fund
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 6/1/56
1,000.00
2 U. S. Treasury 212s 1967 /72 James Draper Fund $500.00
2,000.00
Ella E. Draper Fund $500.00
1 N. Y. Central Ry. 412s of 10/1/2013 Sarah Webster Heard Fund
1,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/1/56 1,000.00
2,000.00
2 U. S. Treasury 212s 1967/72 Provident Institution for Savings
100.00
James Sumner Draper Fund
1 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR. 4s 3/1/1958 1,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/1/55 1,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 12/1/57 500.00
1 U. S. Series G 212s 1/1/58 200.00
Boston Five Cents Savings Bank
1,000.00
Natick Five Cents Savings Bank
1,300.00
Lydia Maria Child Fund
Provident Institution for Savings
100.00
113
1,000.00
Grace Parmenter Fund
$225.00
Isaac C. Damon Fund U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/1/56 1,000.00
Francis Shaw Fund
1 Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co. 5s 9/1/47 1,000.00
3 U. S. Treasury 21/2s 1967/72 3,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 6/1/56 1,000.00
$32,900.00
Trust Funds-Reinvestments CHARITY FUNDS
Loker Fund :
$1,000 from Natick Five Cents Savings Bank Reinvestment
1,000 U. S. Treasury 21/2s 1967/72
Russell Fund :
$1,000 Lousville & Nashville 31/2s of 1950 called Reinvestment
1,000 U. S. Treasury 21/2s 1967/72
CEMETERY FUNDS
$2,000 par Chicago & Northwestern Securities Sold $1,392.46 Transfer from Investment Reserve Fund 607.54
Reinvestment
2,000 U. S. Series G 21/2s 5/1/57
$2,000 New York Central 41/2s of 2013 Sold $1,964.43
500 New York Central 41/2s of 2013 Sold 488.75
Transfer from Investment Reserve Fund 46.82
Reinvestment 2,500 U. S. Series G 212s 12/1/57
LIBRARY FUNDS
Roby Fund :
$1,000 New York Central 5s of 2013 Sold $921.24
Transfer from Investment Reserve Fund 78.76
Reinvestment 1,000 U. S. Series G 212s 5/1/57
J. M. Parmenter Fund :
$1,000 New York Central 5s of 2013 Sold $921.25
Transfer from Investment Reserve Fund 78.75
Reinvestment 1,000 U. S. Series G 212s 5/1/57
114
Francis Shaw Fund :
$3,000 Pennsylvania Power & Light Bonds called Reinvestment 3,000 U. S. Treasury 21/2s 1967/72
Harriet C. Damon Fund :
$2,000 from Natick Five Cents Savings Bank Reinvestment 2,000 U. S. Treasury 21/2s 1967/72
Sarah Webster Heard Fund :
$2,000 from Boston Five Cents Savings Bank Reinvestment 2,000 U. S. Treasury 21/2s 1967/72 J. S. Draper Fund :
$200 Boston & Maine 4s 1960 Sold $197.00
500 Boston & Maine 41/2s 1970 Sold 364.38
Transfer from Investment Reserve Fund 138.62
Reinvestment 500 U. S. Series G 21/2s 12/1/57 200 U. S. Series G 21/2s 1/1/58
All Trust Funds are under control of the Trust Funds' Commissioners, with the exception of the Sarah Webster Heard, Lydia Maria Child and James Sumner Draper Library Funds ; these three, by terms of bequests, being under the control of the Library Trustees.
Funds Income
1945
Charity Funds Income
Jan. 1 Balance
$234.13
Income
243.98
Distributed
$212.13
Accrued Interest Charge
6.90
To Reserve for Investments
12.20
Dec. 31 Balance
246.88
$478.11
$478.11
Library Funds Income
Jan. 1 Balance
$ 208.83
Income
1,089.62
Payments
$1,198.88
115
1945
To Reserve for Investments 54.48
Dec. 31 Balance
45.09
$1,298.45
$1,298.45
Cemetery Funds Income
Jan.
1 Balance
$869.93
Income
690.30
Payments
$371.50
To Reserve for Investments
34.51
Dec. 31 Balance
1,154.22
$1,560.23
$1,560.23
Parmenter Cemetery Fund Income
Jan.
1 Balance
$258.88
Income
140.00
Payments
$ 5.00
To Reserve for Investments
7.00
Dec. 31 Balance
386.88
$398.88
$398.88
RESERVE FUND FOR INVESTMENTS
1945
Jan. 1
Balance
$2,846.35
Interest Credited
36.03
5% of yearly income from
Charity Funds
12.20
Library Funds
54.48
Cemetery Funds
34.51
Parmenter Cemetery Funds
7.00
Premiums Credited
Russell Charity Fund
20.00
Shaw Library Fund
195.00
Transfers to
Cemetery Funds
$654.36
Library Funds-Roby
78.76
Library Funds-Parmenter 78.75
Library Funds-J. S. Draper
138.62
Charity Funds-Russell
8.75
Dec. 31 Balance-Warren Institution
for Savngs 2,246.33
$3,205.57
$3,205.57
116
Tax Titles TAKEN IN 1941 FOR 1939 TAXES
1945
Jan. 1 Balance 1945 Taxes Added Paid in 1945
$120.69 6.14
$79.26
Dec. 31 Balance
47.57
$126.83
$126.83
TAKEN IN 1942 FOR 1940 TAXES
Jan. 1 Balance
$606.10
1945 Taxes Added
110.52
T. T. Charged back to Collector $ 3.65
Interest and Costs on above charged off 6.18
Paid in 1945 184.73
Charged to Excess and Defi-
ciency Acct. Foreclosure of four properties ; bidder failed to pay 131.78
Foreclosure of five properties received at sale 85.95
Charged Excess and Deficiency 211.08
Dec. 31 Balance 93.25
$716.62 $716.62
TAKEN IN 1943 FOR 1941 TAXES
Jan. 1 Balance
1945 Taxes Added
Partial Payments 1945 Paid in 1945
$138.39
287.70
Dec. 31 Balance
491.64
$917.73
$917.73
TAKEN IN 1944 FOR 1942 TAXES
Jan. 1 Balance 1945 Taxes Added Partial Payments 1945
$301.63
104.38
$ 47.38
Dec. 31 Balance
358.63
$406.01
$406.01
117
$753.49 164.24
TAKEN IN 1945 FOR 1943 TAXES
1943 Taxes
$ 39.88
1944 Taxes
42.05
1945 Taxes
44.52
Interest to Date of Taking
5.24
26.75
Costs-5 Tax Titles Recording
5.00
Dec. 31 Balance
$163.44
$163.44
$163.44
Number of Tax Titles and Amount Outstanding 12/31/45
Number
Taxes
Valuation
1941
1
$ 47.57
$ 200.00
1942
2
93.25
450.00
1943
7
491.64
4,250.00
1944
7
358.63
3,400.00
1945
5
163.44
1,450.00
22
$1,154.53
$9,750.00
The Town now holds through foreclosure of Tax Titles, 48 pieces of property; the assessed value being $9,035.00.
FRANK G. MacKENNA,
Town Treasurer.
118
REPORT OF THE TAX COLLECTOR
Outstanding
TAXES OF 1942
Personal
1/1/45
Balance
$100.44
Collections
$100.44
$100.44
Real Estate
1/1/45
Balance
$384.86
Collections
$384.86
$384.86
Water Liens
1/1/45
Balance
$72.50
Adjustment
2.00
$74.50
Collections
$74.50
$74.50
Excise
1/1/45
Balance
$21.69
Collections
$21.69
$21.69
TAXES OF 1943
Personal
1/1/45
Balance
$209.70
Collections
$115.50
Abatement
1.38
116.88
$ 92.82
Real Estate
1/1/45
Balance
$4,090.67
Tax Titles disclaimed Refund
.68
5.50
$4,096.85
119
Outstanding
Collections
$3,790.22
Tax Title credits 39.88
Abatements 266.75
$4,096.85
Moth
1/1/45
Balance
$12.00
Collections
$12.00
$12.00
Street Betterment Pineridge Road
1/1/45
Balance
$6.67
Collections
$6.67
$6.67
Street Betterment Castle Gate South
1/1/45
Balance
$5.20
Collections
$5.20
$5.20
Excise
1/1/45
Balance
$30.90
Collections
$30.90
$30.90
TAXES OF 1944
Personal
1/1/45
Balance
$842.69
Collections
$535.74
Abatement
5.80
541.54
301.15
Real Estate
1/1/45
Balance
$19,727.08
Refunds
48.00
Tax Title disclaimed
.73
$19,775.81
Collections
$17,537.84
Abatements 121.80
Tax Title Credits 42.05
17,701.69
2,074.12
Moth 1/1/45 Balance
$12.00
120
Outstanding
Collections
$6.00 6.00
Abatement
$12.00
Poll 1/1/45 Balance Adjustment
$34.00
4.00
$38.00
Collections
$24.00
Abatements
8.00
32.00
6.00
Street Betterment Pineridge Road
1/1/45
Balance
$56.61
Collections
$56.61
$56.61
Street Betterment Lake Road
1/1/45
Balance
$21.20
Collections
$21.20
$21.20
Street Betterment Lakeview Road
1/1/45
Balance
$46.65
Special Warrant
63.00
$109.65
Collections
$100.76
100.76
8.89
Water Liens
1/1/45
Balance
$68.00
Collections
$68.00
$68.00
Excise
1/1/45
Balance
$191.41
Adjusting Commitment
.06
Commitment 1/19/45
4.00
$195.47
Collections
$142.98
142.98
52.49
121
Outstanding
TAXES OF 1945
Personal
5/18/45 Commitment Refunds
$15,647.96 46.05
$15,694.01
Collections
$14,768.97
Abatements
142.00
14,910.97
783.04
Real Estate
5/18/45 Commitment
$162.209.48
12/17/45 .6
73.68
Refunds
791.43
$163,074.59
Collections
$141,522.98
Abatements
1,742.24
Tax Title Credits 429.80
143,695.02
19,379.57
Moth
5/18/45
Commitment
$457.00
Collections
$429.00
Abatements
10.00
439.00
18.00
Poll
2/19/45
Commitment
$2,332.00
4/9/45
150.00
6/25/45
8.00
12/10/45
..
2.00
12/17/45
66
2.00
$2,940.00
Collections
$1,672.00
Abatements
748.00
2,420.00
74.00
Street Betterment Lakeview Road 5/18/45 Commitment
$103.34
122
Refund
Outstanding 27.18
$130.52
Collections
$100.06
100.06
30.46
Street Betterment Pineridge Road 5/18/45 Commitment Collections $47.19
$131.60
47.19
84.41
Street Betterment Nob Hill 5/18/45 Commitment Collections $86.21
$86.21
$86.21
Street Betterment Lake Road
5/18/45 Commitment Collections $96.53
$114.13
96.53
17.60
Excise
2/23/45
Commitment
$1,226.05
2/28/45
456.27
4/9/45
1,037.04
8/13/45
1,142.64
9/10/45
121.68
10/15/45 ..
90.73
12/3/45
63.74
12/31/45
45.61
Refunds
2.15
$4,185.01
Collections
$3,865.92
Abatements 25.05
3,890.97
294.94
12/31/45 Total Taxes Outstanding $23,217.49
Respectfully submitted, THEODORE H. HARRINGTON, Tax Collector.
123
ASSESSORS' REPORT For the Year Ending December 31, 1945
Real Estate Assessed January 1, 1944
$5,246,970.00
Personal Property Assessed January 1, 1944
500,130.00
Real Estate Owned by Commonwealth 45,588.50
$5,792,688.50
Real Estate Assessed January 1, 1945
Land Exclusive of Buildings $1,637,620.00
Buildings Exclusive of Land
3,646,075.00 45,588.50
State Owned Land
$5,329,283.50
Personal Estate Assessed January 1, 1945
Stock in Trade
$ 24,950.00
Machinery
294,588.00
Live Stock 57,230.00
All Other Tangible Personal Property 132,937.00
509,705.00
Total Property Assessed January 1, 1945
$5,838,988.50
Total Property Assessed January 1, 1944 5,792,688.50
Increase
$ 46,300.00
Number of Polls Assessed 1,241
Number of Live Stock Asessed : Horses 48
Number of Neat Cattle :
Cows
329
Young Stock
84
Bulls 8
Swine
636
Fowl
6,255
124
All Other :
Mules
1
Turkeys
50
Mink
200
Ponies
6
Goats
29
286
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
8,214
Number of Dwellings Assessed
1,318
December Assessment
Real Estate
Personal Estate Additional Polls
$2,400.00 None 6
Motor Vehicles :
Number
Value $124,900.00
Tax $4,213.76
1944
1,212
135,280.00
4,692.07
Increase
70
Decrease
$10,380.00
$478.31
Exempt from Taxes :
United States Government
Post Office-Equipment
$ 400.00
Commonwealth
15,000.00
Widows
15,900.00
Veterans-Previous Wars
7,000.00
Veterans-World War II
(Temporary Exemption)
23,500.00
$61,800.00
Town-Personal and Real :
Schools
$194,500.00
Parks
25,800.00
Fire Department
21,300.00
Police Department
300.00
Water Department
365,000.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
500.00
Moth Department
2,000.00
Town Hall and Equipment
43,500.00
Highway Department
39,045.00
Library and Books
57,000.00
Cemeteries
3,500.00
125
1945 1,282
Church Property
145,300.00
Parsonages 11,025.00
Hannah Williams Playground
2,200.00
Wayland and Cochituate Legion Building Association, Inc. 15,500.00
Cochituate Civic Center Building- Land 2,500.00
Pequod Lodge, I.O.O.F .- Equipment 200.00
Wayland Junior Town House, Inc. 3,900.00
Dorchester House, Inc .- Land 600.00
$933,670.00
Tax Levy of 1945
Appropriation for Town Purposes $285,110.00 6.00
Deficit on Overlay of Previous Years
Overlay for 1945
4,652.23
$289,768.23
State Tax
$6,256.00
State Park Tax
179.40
$6,435.40
County Tax
$7,773.10
Tuberculosis
1,330.68
9,103.78
15,539.18
To be Raised
$305,307.41
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds:
Income Tax
$18,282.48
Corporaton Tax
8,372.37
Gasoline Tax
7,639.26
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
4,000.00
Licenses
4,100.00 20.00
Fines
Grants and Gifts
5,000.00
Special Assessments-Moth and Betterments
1,500.00
General Government
230.00
Highways
70.00
Old Age Assistance
18,050.00
Old Age Tax ( Meals)
839.68
Soldiers' Benefits
790.00
School.
1,100.00
126
Libraries Cemeteries
200.00
710.00
Interest on Taxes and Assessments
1,700.00
1,399.56
In Lieu of Taxes Available Funds
50,964.62
124,967.97
To be Levied on Polls and Property
$180,339.44
Assessed on Polls
$ 2,482.00
Assessed on Personal Property
15,647.94
Assessed on Real Estate
162,209.44
Gain on Fractional Divisions
.06
$180,339.44
Betterments :
Tax
Interest
Total
Nob Hill
$ 74.31
$ 11.90
$ 86.21
Lake Road
96.47
17.66
114.13
Pine Ridge Road
100.45
31.15
131.60
Lakeview Road
78.90
24.44
103.34
435.28
Moth Tax
457.00
Committed to Collector
$181,231.72
Rate on Property :
$30.70
Rate on Motor Vehicles :
35.60
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."
For work on the Town Maps, see the joint report of the Planning Board and the Board of Assessors.
DANIEL BRACKETT, WILLARD C. HUNTING, CHARLES M. MATHEWS,
Board of Assessors.
127
JOINT REPORT OF ASSESSORS and PLANNING BOARD ON ASSESSORS' MAPS
Nineteen forty-five has brought within sight of completion the map of the town which has been for several years in prepar- ation under the direction of the Assessors and the Planning Board. All the areas in the central and west part of the town not previously mapped, have been surveyed.
The only area still remaining unfinished is the thickly settled portion in Cochituate. This has been purposely left to the last because of the detailed and difficult work connected with plotting the many individual lots and buildings in this vicinity. It has already been found that there are numerous cases where the supposed existing lines are not correct and it is clear that completion of the work here is going to take the most careful attention. Our engineer is confident, however, that it can be completed during the year 1946, though the expense here will be very much greater in proportion to the size of the territory than has been the case in the more thinly settled portions of the town.
Our Boards believe that the town should make sufficient money available to complete the job this year, before building gets into full swing and also before the town's income is needed for such projects as the new municipal building in Cochituate, for school enlargements, and for other capital expenditures that may be just ahead. This map is an investment that will be of continuing value for half a century at least.
The work has now been carried far enough so that the first map of the town ever prepared, showing accurately all bounda- ries, roads, and natural features, will be offered to the Annual Meeting for acceptance by the citizens as the official map of the town. Certain changes in road names are proposed. Most of them are intended to do away with the duplication of identical or similar names on more than one road. For instance, several roads contain the word "lake", and this fact might be very con- fusing in case of reporting a fire by telephone.
128
The two boards wish to express their continued apprecia- tion of the work of Mr. Brooks, our engineer, and his helpers. Their job has been so well done as to attract the attention of Weston and several other towns, which are copying Wayland's methods in preparing similar maps for themselves.
To put on record the actual work accomplished, it should be stated that the following sections have been completed during 1945: Nos. 13, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 41.
DANIEL BRACKETT, HOWARD S. RUSSELL,
CHARLES M. MATHEWS, ALLAN R. FINLAY, WILLARD C. HUNTING. CHESTER H. HOBBS, FRANK S. TARR, FREDERICK S. WHITESIDE, CARL EMERY.
129
REPORT OF THE WAYLAND PLANNING BOARD For the Year 1945
Unprecedented Developments Ahead
With the end of the war and the release of materials for construction, the Planning Board believes that the Town of Wayland is facing an era of unprecedented development. Our people have been accustomed to think of Wayland as a country town, with the pleasing features of small numbers, neighborli- ness, natural beauty, and plenty of space. Yet as a result of the westward march of population in the Boston area, these very features that we enjoy have caused many people, looking for just such an environment, to cast longing eyes at Wayland. Hence, continuing growth of the town is inevitable. What the townspeople can do is to try to guide this growth so as to retain the village atmosphere and the charm of the ponds, river, woods, farms, and natural features, while fitting into the environment the new neighbors who hope to join us.
Preparation Through the War Years
All through the years of the War, your Planning Board has been looking ahead and actively preparing for the period that the town is now entering. One important advance has been the preparation of the Assessors' Maps under the joint care of the Assessors and of this Board. The adoption by the town of the new sections of the Planning Law has helped.
Another step has been careful study by the Board of regu- lations to govern the subdivision of property. After several years' consideration, a body of rules has recently been adopted under which a developer can know precisely what stipulation he must conform to in preparing his plans. These rules are de- signed to protect the town and also people who may buy lots against poorly designed layouts and streets lacking proper width, or not adapted to the ground level. At the same time they are intended to give encouragement to a developer who has the real interest of prospective buyers at heart.
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Joint Meetings with Other Boards
One more advance made this year has been the holding of joint meetings with several of the other town boards to outline our common problems, and to plan together for the new things that lie ahead. If our various boards work closely together, it will be possible for the town to avoid some of the costly mis- takes that were made in the careless cutting up of property here 30 or 40 years ago. Proper development makes for: less expense to the town ; greater satisfaction to the people who buy dwelling sites; and opportunity for town officials to give their attention to matters important for the future rather than having to spend time and energy correcting mistakes of the past made through lack of forethought.
Examples of Cooperation
We discussed with the Water Commissioners the service problems that will arise with the development of the Shaw Estate and other properties.
Through cooperation with the Highway Commissioners and the Highway Surveyor, the Board has prepared surveys of roads in the order of which the Highway Department has in mind to build them. We also considered with them the proper grades and drainage of prospective new roads. We were able to work with the Park Commission on the weed problem at Dudley Pond, and to secure the assistance of the State Department of Con- servation in handling it.
Dudley Pond Survey
For many years we have been carrying out a gradual pro- gram of elminating dangerous traffic hazards. One road char- acterized by extreme danger is Lake Shore Drive around the westerly and northerly ends of Dudley Pond. The road has nver been accepted by the town but is heavily used by residents and visitors in that area. It is extremely narrow with blind cor- ners. The first thing necessary in considering improvement was a survey of the territory. Beginning at the Bathing Beach, we have carried this survey along the west shore as far as funds would permit. It is our intention to continue the work, having in mind not merely grades and safety but eventual provision for a suitable highway entirely around the pond, connecting up roads previously in use where possible. Such a circuit road would make all this area more accessible to the fire department and to water supply, and would unquestionably have a helpful effect on property values in this whole development. It was a pleasure
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to have the interest of representatives of the Dudley Pond Improvement Association in this problem. Our plan is to make a careful study in the coming year of the entire section on the northerly and westerly side, out to Old Connecticut Path.
We also intend to consider what can be done at the inter- section of Commonwealth Road with Main Street in Cochituate Village, where serious accidents are too frequent.
Proposed Zone Amendment
A group of citizens appeared before the board, suggesting a change in the zoning by-law to increase lot sizes for new buildings lots from 15,000 to 20,000 feet in the medium size area, and from 20,000 to 40,000 feet in the rest of the town, with increases in lot frontage requirements also. The proposal leaves the 10,000 foot area untouched. An article in the town warrant has been presented by this group and the board will make a recommendation to the annual meeting after a hearing.
Zoning By-Laws
It is now twelve years since the town adopted its zoning by-law, and nearly seven years since the last revision which set up minimum lot sizes. Meantime the town has grown, condi- tions have changed and experience has shown the desirability of certain amendments.
Your Planning Board intends actively to review the pro- visions of the by-law during the next year in detail. It will welcome the suggestions and advice of all citizens and organ- izations in the town in the task of fitting our zoning regulations to present day conditions.
State Road Bypass
Few things are of more importance to the town than the building of the proposed State Road bypass of Wayland Center. This matter has been continuously in our thoughts during the year. Joining with the Board of Selectmen, this board has pressed upon the Highway Commission a proposal to have the bypass built so that the crossing of Cochituate Road will be just south of the South Cemetery, instead of going north of the Cemetery where residential property would be destroyed, as was the State's original proposal. We have also insisted that pro- vision be made for entrance from each road to the other with divided grades where the highways are to cross. We believe that the final plan will follow our views in both these respects, and that this action will benefit the whole town.
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Riverview Terrace Progress
The Board's program in cooperation with the Selectmen and other officials for acquiring recreational land of low value in the Riverview Terrace area has proceeded successfully. Additional lots have come into possession of the town through gifts or tax title. A sub-committee is continuously working on this project, with excellent prospects for public benefit to this whole neighborhood at small expense. No additional appropria- tion is asked for this purpose for next year. We gratefully acknowledge the gift of several lots by William J. Smith.
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