USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1954-1956 > Part 11
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Personnel
Some of the older residents of the town will realize that we have had during the past ten years four librarians. Miss Abbott, whose life had been spent largely in the State of Maine, was enticed away from us by a more challenging and remunerative offer in that State. Both Mrs. Curry and Mrs. Busser, whose services and loyalties were extremely fine, left because of situations within their families which required their time and presence. Miss Scannell, a lady of charm and educational background, but without public library experience, was with us for approximately one year and a half and resigned as of the first of December. We feel the town has reached a stage in its growth where it will be better served by a librarian who has had the training that goes with a degree in Library Science. This involves the problem of adequate salary to acquire and retain a person with those qualifications.
Up until 1953 we were paying our librarian slightly over $2000 a vear. We are informed that last June every graduate of library training schools had their choice of positions paying salaries between $3,500.00 and $4,000.00. In order to obtain a trained person we have been obliged to face up to this challenge. We have been fortunate to be able to secure Miss Marjorie Ferris, a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in Library Science, who has had years of professional library training and comes to us with most splendid references. We sincerely hope that Miss Ferris will be with us for many years.
Because the librarian must, of necessity now-a-days, devote the greater part of her time and effort to administrative and organizational duties and because we are trying the experiment of having the library open six days a week, we have added a regular assistant librarian. Miss Dorothy Brewer, a resident of Wayland who comes to us with approxi- mately eleven years of library and bookstore experience.
One of the onerous tasks that faces this new personnel and requires expert librarian skill is the great need for modernizing and keeping up
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to date the catalogue system which has fallen behind sadly. There is also much work needed in rearranging the books on the shelves.
We wish once more to extend our sincere thanks to Mrs. Frank Bentley who has continued to be of invaluable assistance during this difficult period. It is our hope that she will be willing to work with us in similar capacities for many years to come. Also to Mrs. Richard Lincoln for her untiring efforts in processing our new books and gen- erally assisting, until her resignation on December 1st. Mrs. John Howard is also entitled to thanks for the time she has given to the library in a volunteer capacity, to our great advantage.
Report of the Assistant Librarian - Cochituate
Most rewarding to any librarian is to see a healthy increase in cir- culation, and to note the townspeople enjoying their library and making more use of it than ever before, and this has been the happy case in Cochituate during the past year.
Not only is this end of town increasing rapidly, and many new residents patronizing the library, but the "old" residents are coming oftener and finding more books to please them, thanks to a substantial increase in the number of books purchased for the Cochituate branch. Very nearly 500 persons, young and old, have registered as new borrow- ers during the past two years. The number of Cochituate library patrons now stands at 1,072.
The sizeable increase in the juvenile circulation is largely due to the fact that the Cochituate School began to make the library a definite part of the school activities early in the school year. At the request of the principal, Mr. Elmer Kane, and with the consent of the library trustees, Friday morning was set aside each week during which the library would be open from 9 to 12 to receive visits from the teachers accompanied by their classes. The response from the teachers and pupils has been heartwarming, and even with a limited amount of material, supplemented by books from the main library at Wayland, we have been able to help them in subjects they were studying through the year.
Fourth, fifth, and sixth-graders have received instruction in the use of a library catalog, but mostly children have borrowed books for pleasure in reading, and for making book reports, thereby laying the foundation for reading for pleasure and profit when they are adults.
During the first half of the year the library was used a great deal, also, by the new Happy Hollow School, which had classes in the afternoon in the Cochituate School building. Sometimes the teachers came with their classes, but more often the older children came by themselves to borrow books, many times voluntarily giving up their "snack" period in the middle of the afternoon in order to come to the library and choose a new book.
The art teacher, Mrs. Kingsbury, kept the library display case filled with attractive displays of the work of the pupils at both schools, and in both the reading room and the hall paintings done by the children were hung and much admired.
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A total of 88 books has been presented to the Cochituate Branch Library during the past year, and one Cochituate resident presented the main library at Wayland with a fine new electric clock. A great many of the youngsters have again given their time helping the librarian and without their help much less would have been accomplished.
It all adds up to a happy and profitable year, with the promise of many more in the increasing growth of a fine community.
Respectfully submitted,
SHIRLEY M. WILLARD.
Circulation Statistics
Wayland
1953
1954
Cochituate
1953
1954
Circulation
Circulation
Adult
13,732
15,589
Adult
5,933
7,627
Juvenile
7,436
8,379
Juvenile
4,309
6,670
Total
21,168
23,968
Total
10,242
14,297
Registrations
299
Registrations
216
Additions
640
1,224
Additions
421
Gifts, ap- proximately
90
Gifts (in- cluded in above)
88
J. SIDNEY STONE, Chairman, GEORGE G. BOGREN,
HUGH F. COLLITON, Jr.,
ELLEN M. EARLY,
HELEN C. MORGAN,
THEONE H. MORGAN, Trustees Wayland Free Library.
169
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
Your Cemetery Commissioners offer the following report for 1954.
This year's weather brought an uncommonly long and busy mowing season; and this coupled with a twenty-five per cent increase in the number of burials made it difficult to keep up with the other phases of cemetery work.
We have, however, made new areas at Lakeview and North Ceme- teries ready for construction of roads, which are now being put in; and we expect to open new areas of lots this year.
The two hurricanes caused very heavy damage in wrecked trees, and washed-out roads, and especially in the last one, the deluge of water caused scores of graves to sink. Of these we have, so far, been able to fill up and regrade about one fourth. We have made temporary repairs to the washed out roads, and the tree wreckage has been cleared away, to avoid a fire menace, at a cost well over $1,200.00.
We are asking, this year, for $1,250.00 to make a start on a three year program of protecting the most vulnerable roads at Lakeview by paving, to avoid recurring washouts and repeated expensive repairs. This year we hope to "hot top" Lakeview Avenue from the entrance road to the top of the slope, 570 feet.
Next year, the entrance road should be excavated, filled and "topped" from Commonwealth Road to the tomb. The estimate is $1,500.00.
The cemetery truck is five years old this spring and should be replaced now to forestall mounting repair bills.
Four Perpetual Care Gifts have been received, as follows :-
May 5th, the "Neale Fund" gift of Alvin B. Neale, for the perpetual care of Lot 57, Sec. G Lakeview $150.00
June 15, the "Gertrude L. Parmenter Fund" for the perpetual care of Lot 144, Ext. North Cemetery 100.00
June 15, the "William T. Sweeney Fund" given by Mrs. William T. Sweeney for the perpetual care of Lot 10, Sec. K Lakeview 100.00
September 14, the "Harry A. Stevens Fund" given by Mrs. Harry A. Stevens for the perpetual care of Lot 91, Ext. North Cemetery 150.00
Sixty-one burials have been made this year, as against 49 last year. Of these 46 were in Lakeview, 14 in the North Cemetery, and one in the South. For these we received the sum of 2,116.00
Six foundations for stones were built for which we col- lected
63.00
Twenty-two lots have been sold this year, 19 in Lakeview and 3 in the North Cemetery, for which we have collected 905.00
One hundred twenty-three lot owners paid for the yearly care of their lots, in the aggregate
535.00
WARREN D. VALENTINE, Clerk Cemetery Commissioners.
170
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF TRUST FUNDS
In 1954, other than investment of proceeds of United States Series "G" bonds, no sales of securities were made except that one bond was sold from the Allen Fund to the Russell Charity Fund. This was done in order to make it possible for the Trustees of the Allen Fund to acquire a high interest bearing mortgage, to the advantage of the Town, the beneficiaries of that Fund and to the mortgagor. This was done with the generous cooperation of the mortgagee. Income from savings banks continues to increase and that on high grade bonds to be so little in excess thereof as to discourage change from savings banks.
During the year J. Warren Olmsted left Wayland, so that a vacancy automatically resulted in the Board. This vacancy was filled by the appointment of Thomas B. Gannett.
The condition of the Funds in charge of the Board is believed to be satisfactory in view of the restricted authority of the Commissioners.
THOMAS B. GANNETT J. REED MORSS, Chairman J. SIDNEY STONE, Secretary
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES
This department operates under the provisions of Chapter 115 as amended, of the General Laws of Massachusetts. During the 1954 fiscal year more veterans and their dependents received temporary aid than in the immediate previous years.
The total expenditures for this type of assistance is shown in the report of the Town Accountant.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN W. LEAVITT, Veterans' Agent.
171
REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY SURVEYOR
The following is a summary of the work done by the Highway Department during the past year: .
The general Highway appropriation was used for regular main- tenance. Approximately 39,000 gallons of asphalt were used for resur- facing on Rice Rd., West Plain St., E. Plain St., School St., Conn. Path East, Pine Brook Rd., Plain Rd., Draper Rd., Glezen Lane East, Claypit Hill Rd., Millbrook Rd., Nob Hill, Rich Valley Rd., Shaw Drive, Fox Meadow Lane, Woodridge Rd., and Goodman Lane.
The Drainage appropriation was used to install two catch-basins and 300 feet of drainage on Sherman Bridge Road.
Safety Islands were constructed at the intersection of Main and Plain Streets in Cochituate.
Due to approximately eight weeks of hurricane work, we found it impossible to complete some of our projects, one of which was new sidewalk construction. However, curbing has been purchased under this appropriation.
Under Chapter 90 Maintenance, approximately 9,700 gallons of asphalt were used for road resurfacing on Commonwealth Road East and West and portions of Concord and Sudbury Roads.
Chapter 90 Construction on Sudbury Road, this year, consisted of constructing four catch-basins and a culvert. The balance of the work will be done in 1955.
Betterment Construction Appropriations
On Edgewood, Fairfield, Ridgefield and Parkridge Roads, construc- tion was completed during the first week in June.
On Hayward Road and Sylvan Way, the excavating, graveling, drainage and road surfacing have been completed. Some side grading, loaming and seeding remain to be done in the spring. In connection with this project, and to assure the residents in this vicinity of suitable roads for school bus service, a portion of Lundy Lane was graveled and surfaced. The amount expended was taken from the general High- way appropriation.
The drainage, excavating, graveling and surfacing have been com- pleted on Orchard Lane and Davelin Road. The loaming and seeding on both projects will be completed in the spring.
ALBERT E. POTVIN, Highway Surveyor.
172
REPORT OF THE ROAD COMMISSIONERS
During 1954, the Department purchased a new International dump truck, turning in its 1948 International. The Commissioners believe that the best interests of the Town will be served by setting up an orderly long range equipment purchase program based on the foreseeable needs of the town for highway equipment and on the expected useful life of each piece of equipment. Such a program is being developed in consulta- tion with other town bodies and may be expected to cost in the neighbor- hood of $10,000 a year.
The Highway Department Garage has become inadequate to house the vehicles and equipment of the Department and an addition to the present building is vitally needed.
The mileage of accepted roads in the town is increasing rapidly and is placing an ever growing task for maintenance and snow plowing upon the Department. To meet the increase in the work load of the Department more money, equipment and men are needed in 1955.
GUSTAF M. BLOMGREN, GEORGE I. EMERY, RONALD S. CAMPBELL, Road Commissionrs.
REPORT OF THE ANIMAL INSPECTOR
December 31, 1954
I hereby submit my report as Animal Inspector for Town of Way- land for year 1954.
Inspected
198 Swine
568 Cows
182 Young Stock
13 Bulls
21 Sheep
24 Horses
2 Mules
254 Interstate Cattle
7 Dogs Quarantined
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN F. LAWRENCE, Inspector of Animals for Wayland.
173
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Presented herewith is the report of the Board of Health for the year 1954.
The past year has been one of increased activity. The objective has been not only to keep pace with the growing needs and changing character of a rapidly growing community but to lay a proper foundation upon which tomorrow's health program is being built.
In the past year the following has been achieved:
1. Nursing Services.
A year ago there was but one nurse (Mrs. Mary McNeil) carrying the load of not only those services demanded by the public schools of the town but also the usual services required by the community at large. The minimum nursing requirements of a community call for about one nurse for every 3000 population.
Conferences with the Nursing Division of the State Department of Public Health provided background for setting up the public nursing requirements of the town. In view of the pressing need the full time services of a second well qualified nurse (Miss Marian Howes) were secured in August.
Town-wide nursing service is now going forward on a sound basis. This includes both school and bedside nursing as well as follow-up visits to the homes of newly arrived infants. Other services are also carried on.
Continual thought is given to better integration of the nursing services with the particular needs of this community. To this end both nurses meet with the Board of Health at the first regular meeting of each month to discuss the subject of Town nursing.
The following is the annual report of the Board of Health Nurse:
REPORT OF THE DISTRICT NURSE
To the Wayland Board of Health:
While my activities are similar to those of previous years, the volume of work has increased due to the expanded school population. Appointing an additional nurse has helped me considerably. We are able to work together in the schools and on the district with greater efficiency.
Although the Board has made a ruling concerning the five day week, we have found it necessary to make calls on Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays.
I wish to thank the former local telephone operators who have in the past been most helpful in locating me in emergencies. With the present dial system I fear that a few calls have been missed, due to the lack of personal contact.
During the year the State Nursing Consultant has made several visits and my conferences with her have been very helpful.
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No medication has ever been administered without an order from a physician. This policy has always been in force.
The following is a summary of my activities during the year.
Nursing visits, bedside and other care
1,065
Prenatal visits 39
Postnatal visits 36
Infant visits 51
Pre-School
12
Tuberculosis (follow up)
26
Advisory visits
44
Follow up visits
36
Middlesex sanitorium visits (with patients)
5
I wish to thank the members of the Board for their cooperation and interest during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY E. McNEIL, District Nurse.
2. Sanitation.
The Town of Wayland is already beset with those increased financial burdens which attend assimilation of the rapidly growing population. It is obvious that the Town cannot in the foreseeable future contemplate assuming the extremely heavy burden of a town sewer sys- tem. It is therefore of utmost importance that every reasonable effort be made by the Board of Health to so control the number, location and quality of permitted private sanitary installations that the need for a town sewer system does not become a reality (at least in the foreseeable future).
As is well known, the subsurface ground conditions vary widely in a non-regular fashion and hence competent professional assistance in the evaluation of each application is a necessity. This also explains the need of setting up proper procedural methods for processing ail applications including means of control and inspection to ensure that the people of this community are not faced with the severe problems brought on by improperly engineered or impossible sanitation systems.
The Town is therefore fortunate in having been able to secure, on a regular part-time basis, the services of an extremely well qualified sanitary engineer who, in addition, is also a qualified sanitarian and maintains the only registered sanitation laboratory between Boston and Worcester.
Besides the importance of problems of environmental sanitation (cesspools, pollution, etc.) there comes a time in the development of any community when other areas properly demand attention. Two of these were attended to this last year; namely, the setting up of regular inspection of the eating and drinking establishments and regular exami- nation of milk and cream.
The report of the sanitary engineer-sanitarian follows:
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THOMAS J. RINALDO Sanitary Engineer 465 Concord Street Framingham, Massachusetts Phone: TRinity 3-8812
31 December 1954
Board of Health Wayland, Massachusetts
Attention: Mr. John C. Quinn, Chairman
Dear Sir:
The following is a report on my activities for your Board for the calendar year 1954 . ..
Sewage Disposal
During the early part of the year, a system of processing applica- tions for sewage disposal permits was instituted. Information sheets for the guidance of developers and individual builders were prepared and printed, and distributed with the permit application forms by the Clerk of your Board, Mr. Norman Fair. Since early March, when this system was started, over one hundred and thirty-three (133) applications have been processed, with pertinent recommendations made to your Board in each case, after an inspection of the properties were made. Most of these properties were re-inspected at least once before the sewage dis- posal systems were covered in order to determine whether they had been properly installed. In several instances, it was necessary for the builder to make changes to comply with the approved plans.
Restaurant Sanitation
After some preliminary work during the fall of 1953, conferences were held during early 1954 with your Board and with the Food and Drugs Division of the State Department of Public Health, in preparation for the adoption of a set of Rules and Regulations pertaining to Eating and Drinking Establishments. A set of Rules and Regulations was finally assembled, and submitted to the State Department of Public Health for approval. After their approval on March 9, the Rules and Regulations were formally adopted by your Board on April 6, 1954.
All of the seventeen (17) eating and drinking establishments were inspected at least once during the past year, and pertinent recommenda- tions for improvements were made to the restaurant owners. Section 2 of these Rules and Regulations requires that all eating and drinking establishments obtain permits for operation from the Board of Health prior to April 6, 1955 if they are to continue in operation after that date. An inspection of each restaurant during the first quarter of 1955 will be made prior to the issuance of permits to insure that the Rules and Regulations are complied with before the permit is issued.
Milk Inspections
Beginning in April, a regular monthly collection and laboratory examination of samples of milk and cream taken from sixteen (16)
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dairies and other outlets selling milk and cream in Wayland, was instituted. During the summer months, a monthly laboratory check-up was made of samples of ice cream taken from one plant where ice cream is manufactured and sold within the town.
In all, a total of four hundred and eight (408) samples of milk, cream, and ice cream were collected, and examined in the laboratory. Tests for bacterial count, total solids, and milk fat were made on all milk samples. Bacterial counts and fat determinations were made on all cream samples, and bacterial counts were made on all ice cream samples. In accordance with the provisions of State law, the results of the examinations were reported by letter to the dairies concerned each month.
General Sanitation
From time to time during the past year, special investigations of sanitary problems were made at the request of your Board. The prin- cipal investigations made during the year were (1) a sanitary survey and census of properties abutting Dudley Pond, and (2) an investiga- tion of the contamination of the open drainage ditch in the Cochituate area above Commonwealth Road and Stanton Street.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS J. RINALDO
3. Dog Clinic.
As in the preceding year, a dog clinic was held on two successive Saturdays at the Wayland and Cochituate fire stations for the purpose of providing protection against rabies. Post card notices were sent to all owners of registered dogs and special notices were posted in con- spicuous places in town.
The shots, good for two years, were administered by a qualified veterinarian for a nominal fee of fifty cents each. (The vaccine is pro- vided by the Board of Health.)
Date
Number of Dogs
May 8 67
May 15
106
The clinic will be held again in 1955. Statistics
(a) Board of Health
Regular meetings
20
Special meetings 20
1
Hearings
Field trips 12
(b) Permits issued for sanitation systems
126
(c) Cases of communicable diseases reported
Chick Pox
5
Measles
78
Mumps 16
177
C.
Scarlet Fever Polio (3 not paralytic)
3 4
(d) Other
Dog bites Cat bite
14
1
(e) Number of premature births 15
Submitted by, NORMAN FAIR, Clerk JOYCE BERTELSEN JOHN C. QUINN
PARK DEPARTMENT 1954
The Board of Park Commissioners sets forth below its report for the year 1954.
Insofar as the various Park Department properties are concerned, the Board wishes to report that there have been no substantial changes in the properties or the policy of maintaining them. It has been the effort of the Commissioners to keep the Park Areas and Heater Pieces in good condition; they have been rewarded by the number of citizens who have made note of the improvement over the years preceding and who have so advised. In keeping with their idea of beautifying the center of Wayland and Cochituate, this year in addition to what has been done in the general cleaning-up of these areas the Commissioners have had many hundreds of Crocus, Jonquil and Tulip Bulbs planted to add color and beauty in the Spring.
With the support and cooperation of the residents of the town, the Beach will continue, we hope, to provide pleasant recreational facilities to the citizens of the Town. The year 1954 at the Recreation Area was enjoyed by a great many of the residents and it is the intention of the Park Department to improve constantly the Beach Area for the benefit of the Townspeople and sincerely hope that additional progress can be made in 1955.
The Park Commissioners wish to thank the Officials and the People of the Town who aided them in the discharge of their duties.
NATHANIEL HAMLEN, THOMAS F. MURRAY, FRANK S. TARR, Wayland Park Commissioners.
178
CIVIL DEFENSE ANNUAL REPORT Annual Report for the Year 1954
Since the inception of the Civil Defense Program in the town, 255 persons have been duly enrolled and sworn in as members of our organization. In addition, more than another 250 residents have volun- teered to perform civil defense duties in time of emergency by returning questionnaires, which have been classified and filed, or by indicating to the Chief Warden that they would serve as civil defense wardens when needed. This is a good record, and probably places Wayland in the top five per cent of all towns in the Commonwealth.
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