USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1948-1950 > Part 8
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Insurance Account
Appropriation
$3,500.00
Transfer from Reserve Account
996.18
Refund
20.14
Payments :
Town Buildings
$2,932.77
Automobile Liability
802.38
Automobile Fire and Theft
230.75
Honor Rolls
50.00
Workmen Compensation
405.28
Money and Securities
12.35
Pumping Station Burglary
37.50
Fire Station Burglary
37.50
$4,508.53
Balance
7.79
$4,516.32
$4,516.32
Surety Bonds
Appropriation
$450.00
Payments : Tax Collector
$241.50
139
Deputy Tax Collector Town Clerk Water Department Collector Treasurer
5.00
7.50
10.00
166.50
$430.50
Balance
19.50
$450.00
$450.00
Treasurer's Expense
Appropriation
$450.00
Refund Postage Welfare Department
11.84
Payments :
Postage
$162.86
Equipment and Supplies
54.15
Safe Deposit Boxes
30.00
Clerical and Typing
185.83
Miscellaneous
15.36
Certificate of Note
2.00
$450.20
Balance
11.64
$461.84
$461.84
Tax Title Expense
Appropriation
Payments :
Postage and Forms
$17.02
Legal Services
11.43
$ 28.45
Balance
221.55
$250.00
$250.00
Trust Funds-Investments CHARITY FUNDS
Loker Fund :
1 U. S. Series G 21/2% Reg. 6/56
$1,000.00
1,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2% Reg. 8/60 Allen Fund : 1 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 4s 1958
1,000.00
140
$250.00
Donation Fund :
U. S. Series G 212% Reg. 6/53 Provident Institution for Savings Russell Fund :
1,100.00
200.00
2 Southern Pacific 27/8 1986
2,000.00
U. S. Series G 212% Reg. 3/54
1,000.00
U. S. Series G 212% Reg. 6/56
1,000.00
U. S. Series G 21/2% Reg. 8/60
1,000.00
Provident Institution for Savings
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. Series G 21/2% 6/58
1,000.00
U. S. Series G 212% Reg. 6/53
1,200.00
U. S. Treas. 212% 1964-69
1,800.00
$5,000.00
Other Funds :
1 Southern California Edison 3s 1965
$1,000.00
1 Southern Pacific Oregon Line 41/2s 1977 U. S. Treas. 21/2s 1964-69
200.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 6/53
700.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 3/54
2,000.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 2/56
4,000.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/56
1,000.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 5/57
2,000.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 12/57
2,500.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 6/58
1,300.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/58
1,600.00
2 Southern Pacific 27/gs 1986
2,000.00
10 Paid up Shares Marlborough Cooperative Bank Provident Institution for Savings
2,725.00
$24,025.00
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds Received in 1948 and included above
Taunton Fund
$100.00
William T. Dudley Fund
200.00
Wallace B. Smith Fund
150.00
Ralph Bent Sr. Fund
150.00
141
2,000.00
1,000.00
Cannon Fund
150.00
$750.00
LIBRARY FUNDS
J. M. Parmenter Fund :
2 Pennsylvania Ry. 41/2s of 6/1/65
$2,000.00
U. S. Treasury Bond 212s 1964/69 1,000.00
2 U. S. Series G 21/2s 6/1/53 2,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/1/56
1,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 5/1/57
1,000.00
10 Paid up Shares South Middlesex Cooperative Bank 2,000.00
5 Matured Shares South Middlesex Cooperative Bank 1,000.00
Grace Campbell Draper Fund :
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/1/56
1,000.00
Ada H. Wellington Fund : U. S. Series G 212s 11/58
300.00
U. S. Series G 21/2s 6/58
200.00
Cynthia G. Roby Fund :
1 Kansas City Southern 4s of 1975
1,000.00
1 Northern Pacific 5s of 7/1/2047 1,000.00
1,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 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. Series G 21/2s 8/60
2,000.00
James Draper Fund : $500.00
Ella E. Draper Fund $500.00
1 N. Y. Central Ry. 41/2s of 10/1/2013
1,000.00
Sarah Webster Heard Fund :
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/1/56 1,000.00
2,000.00
2 U. S. Series G 212s 8/60 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 21/2s 1/1/58 200.00
Boston Five Cents Savings Bank
1,000.00
Natick Five Cents Savings Bank
1,300.00
142
Lydia Maria Child Fund : Provident Institution for Savings 100.00
Isaac C. Damon Fund : U. S. Series G 21/2s 11/1/56 Francis Shaw Fund :
1,000.00
1 Texas & New Orleans 314s 1970 1,000.00
3 U. S. Series G 21/2s 8/69 3,000.00
1 U. S. Series G 21/2s 6/1/56
1,000.00
$32,900.00
Trust Funds-Reinvestments
$9,000. U. S. Treasury 21/2s 1972/67 sold @ 100 8/52-$9,022.50 less commission $22.50 $9,000.00
Reinvestment :
$9,000. U. S. Treasury Series G 21/2s 8/1/60 Reg. For Following Fund :
9,000.00
Loker Charity Fund $1,000.00
Russell Charity Fund 1,000.00
Shaw Library Fund 3,000.00
H. C. Damon Library Fund 2,000.00
S. W. Heard Library Fund
2,000.00
C. G. Roby Library Fund : 1M Northern Pacific 5s of 7/1/2047 sold @ 951/2 $955.00 less tax $.50, commission $5.00, fees $.38-$5.88 Transfer from Reserve for Investment
$949.12
50.88
$1,000.00
Reinvestment : $1,000 Kansas City Southern Ry. Co. 4s 1975 @ 1031/8 $1,031.25
Plus commission $5.00, postage $.50
5.50
$1,036.75
Transfer from Reserve for Investment 36.75
$1,000.00
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.
143
Funds Income
1948
Charity Funds Income
Jan. 1 Balance Income Distributed
$245.10
Dec. 31 Balance
240.93
$486.03
$486.03
Library Funds Income
Jan. 1 Balance
$110.97 957.72
Payments
$954.37
Accrued Interest Charge
15.00
Dec. 31 Balance
99.32
$1,068.69
$1,068.69
Cemetery Funds Income
Jan. 1 Balance
$967.06
Income
611.27
Payments
$720.00
Dec. 31 Balance
858.33
$1,578.33
$1,578.33
Parmenter Cemetery Funds Income
Jan. 1 Balance
$223.23
Income
135.00
Payments
$156.25
Dec. 31 Balance
201.98
$358.23
$358.23
RESERVE FUND FOR INVESTMENTS
Jan. 1 Balance Interest Credited Transfer to Library Funds Roby
$ 87.63
Dec. 31 Balance
2,897.22
$2,984.85
$2,984.85
Income
$245.10 240.93
$2,927.40 57.45
144
Tax Titles
1948
TAKEN IN 1944 FOR 1942 TAXES
Jan. 1 Balance 1948 Taxes
$133.71 25.80
Dec. 31 Balance
$159.51
$159.51
$159.51
TAKEN IN 1945 FOR 1943 TAXES
Jan. 1 Balance 1948 Taxes
$97.31
19.35
Dec. 31 Balance $116.66
$116.66
$116.66
TAKEN IN 1946 FOR 1944 TAXES
Jan. 1 Balance 1948 Taxes
$146.36
Dec. 31
Balance
$178.61
$178.61
$178.61
TAKEN IN 1947 FOR 1945 TAXES
Jan. 1 Balance 1948 Taxes
118.25
Dec. 31 Balance
$445.10
$445.10
$445.10
TAKEN IN 1948 FOR 1946 TAXES
1946 Taxes
$ 977.22
1947 Taxes
1,279.80
1948 Taxes
1,528.65
Interest to date of taking
126.32
Costs 8 Tax Titles
42.80
Recording
8.00
Dec. 31
Balance
$3,962.79
$3,962.79
$3,962.79
32.25
$326.85
145
Number of Tax Titles and Amount Outstanding Dec. 31, 1948
No.
Taxes
Valuation
1944
3
$ 159.51
$ 600.00
1945
4
116.66
550.00
1946
7
178.61
750.00
1947
7
445.10
2,800.00
1948
8
3,962.79
5,225.00
29
$4,862.67
$9,925.00
The Town now holds through foreclosure of Tax Titles 29 pieces of property, the assessed value $6,300.00
Report of Borrowing for School Department and Water Department
Authorization:
At the annual meeting March 3, 1948 under Article 10 the Town authorized borrowing for School Buildings $400,000 under the provisions of Chapter 474, Acts of 1947, and $150,000 under Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
At a special meeting March 28, 1948 the Town authorized borrowing for Water Department under Article I $37,000 Pumping Stations, under Article II $41,500 Winter Street, etc., under Article III $23,700 Rice Road, under Article IV $26,400 Stonebridge Road, under Article VI $20,000 accepted streets.
At a special meeting November 29, 1948 under Article II the Town authorized borrowing $140,000 additional for School Buildings.
The Second National Bank of Boston was selected by the Selectmen and Treasurer as issuing agent.
First Borrowing:
May 27, 1948 $37,000 Water Department 15 year coupon notes were sold to Robert Hawkins & Co. Rate 2% at 101.09. Notes dated June 1, 1948, for delivery June 18th.
Principal $37,000.00
Premium 403.30 Accrued Interest 34.94
146
There were five other bids, ranging from $100.633 for 21/4s to $101.00 for 2s. Costs were
Certification of Notes $37.00
American Bank Note Co. Coupons 32.50
Second National Bank 9.80
Charged to Premium $79.30
Balance of Premium to be used June 1, 1948 on payment of Notes due $324.00. Accrued Interest used on payment of interest December 1, 1948 $34.94.
Second Borrowing:
October 5, 1948 sale was made to Estabrook Co., syndicate of Estabrook & Co., Whiting, Weeks & Stubbs, R. L. Day & Co., and Lee, Higginson Corp., Rate 214% at 101.4125, Bonds dated October 1, 1948, for delivery October 21, 1948, of fol- lowing :
Principal $90,000.00
Premium $1,271.25
Accrued Interest $112.50
Water Bonds
School Bonds (outside
Debt Limit
400,000.00
5,650.00
500.00
School Bonds
150,000
2,118.75
187.50
There were eight other bids ranging from 101.10 for 212s to 101.25 for 214s.
Water Department borrowing covered Article II $41,500, Article III $23,700, Article IV $26,400, a total of $91,600. Our issuing agent, The Second National Bank, took a registered note for the fraction $1,600 due October 1, 1949, at the sale rate and we received :
Principal
Premium
$1,600.00
$22.60
Accrued Interest $2.10
Legal Opinion and Services Paid Second Naional Bank as $1,481.00 covering printing bonds and coupons, legal opinion and services. This was charged against Premium on Bonds and the balances to be used in 1949 for payment on Principal and Interest due are as follows :
On $400,000 School Bonds
Principal $4,750.58
Interest $500.00
150,000 66
1,781.49
187.50
90,000 Water Bonds
1,026.93
112.50
1,600 Water Notes
22.60
2.10
147
Maturity Table:
$37,000 Water Dept. Coupon Notes mature $3,000 annually 1949/1955; $2,000 annually 1956/1963
$90,000 Water Bonds mature $6,000 annually 1949/63 $1,600 Water Note maturing October 1, 1949
$400,000 School Bonds mature $20,000 annually 1949/68 $150,000 School Bonds mature $9,000 annually 1949/63; $5,000 annually 1964/66
Total Interest Table:
$90,000 Water Bonds total interest payment $16,200.00
$37,000 Water Dept. Coupon Notes interest payment 5,360.00
$1,600 Water Note total interest payment 36.00
$400,000 School Bonds total interest payment 94,500.00
$150,000 School Bonds total interest payment 30,037.50
Loans Authorized but not issued:
Water Department, Article VI, Special Town Meeting, April 28, 1948 for 6-in. water mains in accepted streets $20,000.00
School Buildings, Special Town Meeting, Nov- ember 29, 1948 140,000.00
FRANK G. MacKENNA, Town Treasurer.
148
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF TRUST FUNDS
A list of the present holdings and of all expenditures and receipts during the year will be found in the reports of the Town Treasurer and the Town Accountant. No new funds have been received except payments for Perpetual Care in the Cemeteries, which payments have been deposited in approved savings banks.
As we are satisfied that our Reserve Fund for Investments, for use in case of purchases above par or sales below par, is now of satisfactory size for all reasonable contingencies, we have ceased to order deductions from income to Reserve for Investments.
Almost all, if not all, the investments in Government Bonds are in Series "G" Bonds.
JOHN W. LEAVITT, Chairman, J. REED MORSS, J. SIDNEY STONE.
149
REPORT OF THE TAX COLLECTOR
1946
Balance 1/1/48
Balance 12/31/48
Poll Taxes
26.00
Refunds $ 2.00
Receipts $ 12.00
Abatements
Tax Titles
$ 16.00
Personal Taxes
233.48
212.03
21.45
Real Estate Taxes
6,455.05
30.58
5,363.21
145.20
977.22
Motor Excise Taxes
174.71
82.08
92.63
Moth Assessment
21.00
21.00
Street Betterments- Assessments
12.20
12.20
Street Betterments-
Committed Interest
2.98
2.98
1947
Poll Taxes
178.00
12.00
92.00
14.00
84.00
Personal Taxes
649.90
459.64
18.00
172.26
Real Estate Taxes
17,629.67
72.00
14,005.64
1,279.80
2,416.23
Motor Excise Taxes
1,428.83)
11.17
1,374.57
11.17
238.58
Moth Assessments
40.00
34.00
6.00
Street Betterments-
Assessments
51.50
44.30
7.20
Street Betterments-
Committed Interest
11.60
9.87
1.73
" Commitments
184.32)
150
1948
Commitments
Refunds
Abatements
Tax Titles
Balance 12/31/48
Poll Taxes
2,698.00
4.00
166.00
118.00
Personal Taxes
22,374.20
34.40
791.86
Real Estate Taxes
255,846.57 )
Omitted
8.60)
779.77
225,650.97
4,417.94
1,724.30
24,841.73
Motor Excise Taxes
18,994.57
427.14
17,137.03
865.73
1,418.95
Moth Assessments
536.00
494.00
42.00
Street Betterments- Assessments
286.29
247.59
38.70
Street Betterments-
Committed Interest
39.66
32.47
7.19
12/31/48 Total Taxes Outstanding
$30,277.06
Receipts 2,418.00 21,547.94
Respectfully submitted, THEODORE H. HARRINGTON, Tax Collector.
151
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Statistics for the year ending December 31, 1948
Real Estate Assessed January 1, 1947 $5,546,090.00
Personal Property Assessed January 1, 1947
517,805.00
Real Estate Owned by Commonwealth 45,588.50
$6,109,483.50
Real Estate Assessed January 1, 1948
Land Exclusive of Buildings
$1,701,220.00
Buildings Exclusive of Land
4,248,700.00
State Owned Land 45,588.50
$5,995,508.50
Personal Estate Assessed January 1, 1948
Stock in Trade
$31,750.00
Machinery 299,188.00
Live Stock 62,595.00
All Other Tangible Personal Property 126,797.00
520,330.00
Total Property Assessed January 1, 1948
$6,515,838.50
Total Property Assessed January 1, 1947 6,109,483.50
Increase
$
406,355.00
Number of Polls Assessed :
1,344
Number of Live Stock Assessed :
Farm Horses 18
Saddle Horses
26
Ponies 6
50
Number of Neat Cattle :
Cows
420
Yearlings
54
Heifers 9
-
63
Bulls
12
Swine
283
152
Fowl All Other :
3,700
Mules
2
Turkeys
20
Mink
150
Goats
11
183
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
8,185
Number of Dwellings Assessed
Omitted Assessment
Real Estate
$200.00
Personal Estate
none
Additional Polls 5
10.00
Motor Vehicles :
Number
Value
1948
1,934
$637,400.00
Tax $18,994.57
1947
1,818
440,830.00
11,399.40
Increase
116
$196,570.00
$ 7,595.17
Exempt from Taxes :
Valuation
United States Government
Post Office-Equipment
$ 400.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Weston & Pressure Aqueducts
15,000.00
Widows (Real Estate)
15,655.00
Veterans (Real Estate)
63,500.00
$94,555.00
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
153
1,387
Churches and Parsonages Church Property Parsonages
$143,300.00 15,255.00
Church Cemetery
Fraternal Societies
Pequod Lodge, I.O.O.F .- Equipment
200.00
Corporations
Hannah Williams Playground, Inc. $ 2,950.00 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
Vokes Players, Inc. 1,200.00
44,150.00
$1,068,100.00
Tax Levy of 1948
Appropriation for Town Purposes
Overlay for 1948
$510,017.87 6,266.89
$516,284.76
State Tax
none
State Park Tax
$ 286.46
State Audit
1,034.61
$1,321.07
County Tax
$9,917.77
Tuberculosis Hospital Tax
2,817.97
Retirement System
2,200.00
14,935.74
16,256.81
To be raised
$532,541.57
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds:
Income Tax
$28,681.73
Corporation Tax
11,012.44
Gasoline Tax
none
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
12,000.00
Licenses
6,730.00
Fines
300.00
Grants and Gifts
8,000.00
Special Assessments-Moth & Betterments 850.00
160,525.00 2,000.00
154
General Government
330.00
Health & School Nurse
300.00
Old Age Assistance
25,150.00
Old Age Tax (Meals)
1,692.92
School
2,500.00
Libraries
250.00
Cemeteries
1,000.00
Interest on Taxes and Assessments
600.00
In Lieu of Taxes
1,960.31
Available Funds
148,737.27
Over-estimates :
County Tax
$1,448.93
Tuberculosis Hosp.
11.92
State Park Tax
77.28
1,538.13
251,632.80
To be Levied on Polls and Property
$280,908.77
Assessed on Polls
$ 2,688.00
Assessed on Personal Property
22,374.19
Assessed on Real Estate
255,846.56
Fractional Gain
.02
$280,908.77
Betterments :
Tax
Interest
Total
Nob Hill
$ 74.44
$ 2.95
$ 77.39
Lake Road
71.00
8.12
79.12
Pine Ridge Road 92.05
17.47
109.52
Lakeview Road
48.80
11.12
59.92
325.95
Moth Tax
536.00
Total Amount Committed to Collector $281,770.72
1948 Rate on Property :
$43.00
1948 Rate on Motor Vehicles : $38.07
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."
CHARLES M. MATHEWS, WILLARD C. HUNTING, J. FRED WHEELER.
155
REPORT OF THE WAYLAND PLANNING BOARD FOR 1948
One major problem has overshadowed all others in the field of town planning in Wayland during 1948.
Power Line Battle
It is the threat to the attractiveness of large areas and to their real estate values, as well as to the character of the town's future growth, caused by the decision of the Boston Edison Company management to build an overhead high tension power line through the town. It is laid out to extend from the Sax- onville line through the Stonebridge area, East Sudbury, North Wayland, and Lincoln to Waltham. This proposal, your Plan- ning Board-working closely with the Board of Selectmen, and many aroused citizens-has been combatting by every means in its power. It appears very clear to your Board that if the Edison Company succeeds in carrying out this project, the results are bound to be extremely harmful to Wayland and to the other towns concerned.
Merely to make this plea before the Commissioners of Public Utilities, who have the decision in the matter, appeared unlikely to prevent the required permission from being given, despite all local zoning ordinances in the three towns which make stich industrial use unlawful. Therefore, your Board called the Planning Boards of Sudbury and Lincoln together for joint consideration and action. An alternative plan for an underground power line was suggested.
Engineer and Counsel Employed
With the backing of the Boards of Selectmen and Finance Committees of the three towns, a competent consulting engineer, Mr. Carl J. Sittinger, was employed. After a full study of the problem, he reported that an underground route of about eight miles-in place of the Edison's proposed sixteen mile overhead line-was perfectly feasible and in many respects more desir- able, and that the cost should be very little greater.
156
Four Hearings Before D. P. U.
Able counsel to act for three towns was then secured in the person of Mr. Carl A. Sheridan to present our case. Four hearings have been held before the examiner of the Department of Public Utilities. Petitions signed by 1,200 Wayland and Lincoln citizens were presented in opposition, and the Chairmen of the Planning Board of all three towns testified as to the harm that the Edison plan would cause. In Wayland alone, 164 acres now classified as Residential would be rezoned as Industrial, without any reference to the town's wishes. There would be no commensurate return, such as might be expected from industrial land used for factory purposes. A brief has been filed by our counsel, and also by counsel for a group of North Wayland property owners, Mr. Reuben L. Lurie. He has likewise been of material help at the hearings. It is anticipated that counsel will also have the opportunity to argue orally before the full commission which will then rule on the matter.
This is a type of case almost without precedent : a group of towns in pitched battle with a powerful utility in an effort to preserve their natural beauty against uglification, and to safe- guard their future prospects of growth. If the towns gain a favorable decision, it will mark a turning point in public admin- istration and town planning.
This long continued struggle has made necessary number- less meetings and conferences, and has absorbed the energies of the Planning Board so that some of its regular interests have necessarily received less attention.
Subdivision Regulation
Fortunately, only one new real estate subdivision has been presented this year for approval, although portions of previously approved plats of land have been released by the Board for sale, after streets and water had been installed by the developers. The healthy growth in substantial dwellings which was noted in our report of last year has continued. At least one new develop- ment is in preparation for the Spring.
Lake Cochituate Problems
The transfer of Lake Cochituate from the Metropolitan District Commission to the Department of Conservation raised numerous problems, which were made especially acute by the arrival of the bathing and picnicking season before the new Department was authorized to set up police control. Recently Department officials have discussed tentative plans for develop-
157
ment of the area with your Board and the Board of Selectmen. Citizens will be relieved to learn that the plans for the Wayland part of the Reservation include only areas for public picnicking, parking and boating. The public bathing area is planned for the Kansas Street neighborhood in Natick. Should Wayland decide to establish a local recreation area and bathing beach on the east shore between Commonwealth Road and West Plain Street, the Division of Parks appears disposed to cooperate cordially. The director has also promised well enforced regulations that should prevent abuses complained of last summer.
Bill for Study of Sudbury Valley
While our Board was in conference so frequently with those of Sudbury and Lincoln, a thorough canvass was made of the problems connected with the Sudbury River and Meadows. As a result, a bill has been introduced in the General Court for a study by a special commission of State officials as to water level, mosquito control, health, agriculture, and natural wild life as related to the River.
Dumps Vastly Improved
With effective action by the Board of Selectmen and Board of Health following the votes of the last annual meeting, the dump situation which this board so vigorously called attention to in previous years, has been vastly improved. We congratu- late these officials on their prompt cleaning up of this long- standing nuisance.
Business Centers
The Board regrets that it can report little substantial prog- ress toward the hoped for development of our two business centers. The proposals discussed in our last report are as sound as a year ago, and the need for carrying them out becomes clearer month by month. We hope for further progress in 1949.
Riverview Terrace Makes Progress
The Riverview Terrace improvement, so long planned, is actually well under way. The water pipe voted by the last annual meeting has been laid. Next comes the building of the portion of the road also voted. Through the initiative of the Riverview Terrace Association, and largely from funds and labor contributed by the members, a very creditable beginning has also been made toward developing a neighborhood recrea- tion ground there on land taken during the depression under tax titles. This land was turned over to the Park Department
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by vote of the town, along with considerable other land in this section. The neighborhood and the Park Department working together are putting it to excellent use. The people and their association are to be commended.
Connecting Link Proposed
A proposal made many times in past years for a connecting road between the easterly end of Stonebridge Road and School Street at Fiske's corner is now under engineering study. This is certain, if eventually built, to become a main route of travel and an important link in the water system.
Articles Referred to the Board
After consultation by the Board with all parties concerned in connection with Article 11 of the last town warrant propos- ing the closing of Bradford Street, the sponsors failed to press the matter, and the Board has taken no further action.
In cooperation with the Board of Assessors, the funds voted at the last annual meeting for keeping the Assessors' Maps up to date were spent, under the direction of the Board's engineer, Everett M. Brooks.
Printing of Town By-Laws
The appropriation voted for printing the town by-laws and regulations proved insufficient for the purpose and to carry out the vote literally appeared likely to involve substantial waste. The regulations have been collected and edited through the help of Mrs. Dorothy Harrington, Clerk of Boards, and we recom- mend that a re-appropriation be made under a somewhat differ- ent form of vote.
Maps and Plans
Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Harrington have indexed all the Board's maps and plans. These are now filed safely in the town vault so as to be available for quick consultation.
This Board has had the pleasantest and most cooperative relations with all of the town's other boards and officials, and wishes to express its thanks to them all, including the Town Counsel, who has given us helpful advice on puzzling legal questions.
HOWARD S. RUSSELL, Chairman, FRANK S. TARR, Clerk, B. ALLEN BENJAMIN, CARL T. EMERY CHESTER H. HOBBS, GERALD B. LISCOMBE.
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE For the Year Ending December 31, 1948
Drunkenness
23
Driving under the influence
10
Driving to endanger
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