USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1954-1956 > Part 30
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The Finance Committee, therefore, does not recommend the approval of this article.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,800 for a survey of the Town's recreational facilities and needs; or take any action relative thereto.
This article was inserted by the Committee which was appointed to look into the Town's recreational facilities. It contemplates the employment of an independent outside firm of consultants specializing in the field of recreational study. The Planning Board is embarking on an overall planning study of the Town and it has suggested to the Finance Committee that their overall study will come to about $13,000 over a 3-year period. They are in the process of applying to the federal government for matching funds. The study, among other things, is to include community recreational facilities, needs and use, and while it is quite probable that the recreational part of the work should be carried out by a firm of the type which the special committee recommends, nevertheless, it is the feeling of the Finance Committee
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that there is no need for a special appropriation and that the funds should be expended in connection with the Planning Board overall study, particularly inasmuch as we will thereby get substantial reimbursement from the federal government.
The Finance Committee therefore feels that the subject matter of the article should be referred to the Planning Board.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the purpose of hiring a company specializing in town real estate appraising, to re-appraise all real estate in the Town; or do or act.
This article is the same as appeared in the Warrant at the annual Town Meeting in 1956. The Finance Committee recognizes that there are a substantial number of people in the Town who feel that the assessment procedure could be materially improved if the Town were to embark on a full revaluation program, hiring an outside appraisal firm to set up a system and to carry out the revaluations.
The present Board of Assessors has taken aggressive steps over the period of the past three years, not only to improve their office records, but to revalue existing property on what they consider to be a fair basis. They have placed a valuation of about 40-45% of what . they think might be the reasonable fair cash value. They are satisfied that their approach to the problem of valuation in a country town such as ours is superior and more satisfactory than the more technical type of valuation system which an outside appraisal firm might use.
The Finance Committee, while not attempting to make any exhaustive study of the assessments, is fairly satisfied that the assessors are following sales as recorded, building permits as issued and repairs as made, and that they are reviewing annually their value of property on the basis of the information which flows through their office.
Under the circumstances, the majority of the Finance Committee does not feel that complete revaluation is necessary and therefore does not recommend the approval of the article.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to direct the appointment of a Moderator's Committee to make a study of present and probable future community health needs in relation to services, facilities, and organization and report back to the Town at the next Annual Meeting with recommendations for providing the appropriate community health resources for Wayland, based on an analysis of its own specific require- ments, the committee to be appointed by the Moderator would consist of: one member of the Board of Selectmen, one member of the Finance Committee, one member of the School Committee, one member of the Personnel Board and three members-at-large.
This article calls for the appointment of a committee to make an over-all study of the health needs of the community with relation to existing services, facilities and organization. At the Special Town Meeting last year, a Committee was set up to look into the burden
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of work placed on elected boards, of which the Board of Health is one. That Committee, in an earlier article, is asking for an extension of time for the completion of its work. It seems entirely appropriate that the matter here involved be referred to that Committee for study, rather than that another separate committee be set up.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends that the subject matter involved in this article be referred to the Committee appointed under Article 3 of the Special Town Meeting of March 5, 1956.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee to revise and bring up to date the Traffic Rules and Regulations of the Town issued in 1939; or do or act.
The Town is now operating under traffic rules and regulations adopted in 1939. On a number of counts, it seems desirable to strengthen the powers of the Police Department, particularly with respect to parked vehicles. Under the circumstances, it appears to be an appropriate time to review the entire matter.
The Finance Committee therefore, recommends the approval of the article.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town By-Laws by striking out Section 1 of Article 8 and inserting in place thereof the following:
No person, other than an inhabitant of the Town, shall use any Public Dump established by the Town unless authorized by the Board of Selectmen, or take any action relative thereto.
The Selectmen have been negotiating with the Town of Sudbury for a possible joint use of the Town's Public Dump on State Road West. If the financial arrangements can be worked out, it will be necessary for the Town to amend its By-Laws in order to permit the Selectmen to authorize the inhabitants of Sudbury to use the dump.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of the article.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to investigate and to study the feasibility of extending the way known as Hill Street to Commonwealth Road.
Hill Street is a short street located east of Main Street and north of Commonwealth Road East. From many points of view it might be desirable to have the road cut through to Commonwealth Road East. This would involve acquiring land for a right-of-way, installation of a short extension of water line and the building of a connecting piece of road. In any case, it is a matter that ought to get some study.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of the article.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to accept and construct as a public town way, the relocation of the road known as "Clay Pit Hill Road" or a portion or portions thereof, as laid out by the board of
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Selectmen and as shown on plans on file with the Town Clerk; to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire the necessary land - including easements for drainage - by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise; to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the acquisi- tion of such land or any portion thereof, the construction of such way; and for other costs in connection therewith; or take any action relative thereto.
The Highway Department and the Planning Board are in the process of gradually rebuilding certain roads in Town. As a first step in connection therewith, they are having the roads surveyed and relocated, almost entirely along the existing travelling way. But to establish proper sidelines, the Town Counsel advises that the Town should accept the roads in the entire new widths as Public Town Ways.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the approval of this Article.
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Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate and assess, or transfer from Available Funds, a sum of money to install a water main in Clay Pit Hill Road; or take any action relative thereto.
The existing water line in Clay Pit Hill Road is of an 8-inch size, except for two lengths, one of which is 6-inch for a distance of 575 feet and one of 4-inch for a distance of 625 feet. With the construction of the new Clay Pit Hill School and the extensive building of private residences on Adams Road, it will be necessary for the Town to furnish the area with adequate fire protection.
The Finance Committee has reviewed the matter with the Water Department and the School Building Committee, as a result of which, it concurs with the recommendation of the Water Department that a new 8-inch line be laid parallel to the existing 4- and 6-inch lines. The area, including the school hydrant, will thereby be served by an 8-inch line and the capacity will be sufficient to take care of the extensive development which is taking place west and north of the school.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends the appropriation of $7,200 for the installation of about 1,325 feet of 8-inch line in Clay Pit Hill Road and further recommends that the necessary funds be trans- ferred from "Water Available Surplus," the work to be done under the supervision of the Water Department.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to accept and construct as a public Town way, the relocation of the road known as "Loker Street," or a portion or portions thereof, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and as shown on plans on file with the Town Clerk; to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire the necessary land, including easements for drainage, by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise; to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the acquisition of such land or any portion thereof, the construction of such way; and for other costs in connection thereto; or take any action relative thereto.
As outlined in the previous article, Loker Street is one of the streets being resurveyed and relocated. It is contemplated that this
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road will be rebuilt in the coming year in preparation for use in the building of the new Loker Street School. For the same reasons as outlined in the previous article, it seems advisable for the Town to accept the road in its new width as a public Town way.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the approval of this article.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to accept as a public Town way, and to construct and relocate the road known as "Thompson Street," or a portion or portions thereof, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and as shown on plans on file with the Town Clerk; to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire the necessary land - including easements for drainage - by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise; to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the acquisi- tion of such land or any portion thereof, the construction of such way; and for other costs in connection thereto; or take any action relative thereto.
Thompson Street connects Loker Street with Rice Road and although it is not now contemplated that Thompson Street will be immediately rebuilt, because of its intersection with Loker Street, it seems desirable that the boundaries be established at this time, for the same reasons as indicated in the previous two Articles.
The Finance Committee, therefore, recommends the approval of this Article.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 332 of the Mass. General Laws enacted in 1955 by the General Court of Massa- chusetts; or take any action relative thereto.
Through 1956 water betterments have been assessed under the same procedures and based on the same authority as have road better- ments. In 1955 a new act was passed by legislature which provides that water betterments may be handled on a completely independent basis. To clarify the procedure by which the Town handles water betterments, the Town Counsel thinks it would be advisable for the Town to accept the new act.
The Finance Committee concurs in the recommendations of the Town Counsel and recommends the approval of this Article.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Water Department to enter into contracts with abutters by which water lines could be extended in existing Town roads at the expense of abutters on the condition that partial reimbursement would be made under terms arranged by a majority of the Water Department, approved by a majority of the Finance Committee and a majority of the Selectmen; or do or act.
There are three basic arrangements under which water main extensions are now installed :
1. In new developments all work is paid for in full by the developer.
2. In unaccepted streets, the work is done under the Betterment Act, the full cost of the water extension is paid for by the Town and
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one-half of the cost is reimbursed to the Town by the abutters, either in a single-payment or over a period of up to 20 years.
3. In existing Town roads where there are small stretches with no water line which the Water Board wants to fill in, in order to improve the circulation and pressure, the full cost of the work is done by and paid for by the Town. If done primarily on the petition of the abutters, they deposit with the Town as a bond a sum of money equal to the cost of the job. Under this plan, the deposit by the original abutters is refunded at a given amount per taker, as new takers come on to the water line so extended. Such portion of the deposit as is not refunded in 5 years is forfeited to the town.
Under this article, a fourth method of providing for water exten- sions is proposed and it is set up primarily to take care of the very expensive extensions which will ultimately be requested on such relatively unbuilt upon roads such as Rice Road, Draper Road and Oxbow Road. The owners of abutting property wishing to develop their land would be required to pay the full costs of any extensions, under an arrangement by which, as houses were built and came on to the water line, refund would be made at a given amount per house, until up to 50% of the cost of the job had been refunded. Application for the extensions and for refunds would be on recommendation of the Water Board with further approval of the Selectmen and the Finance Committee and would be carried out through disbursement from a standing refund account, appropriated and replenished by the Town from year to year.
This arrangement would, in effect, provide for the owners of the property on this type of road, the same treatment with respect to water extensions, as those on roads accepted under the Betterment Act, except that the petitioners would have to initially provide all the funds for the extensions.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of the article and the appropriation of $5,000 to set up the fund.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the purchase of any, or all, of the following parcels of land and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor; or take any action relative thereto:
(a) Land located on Lakeshore Drive, now or formerly of Joseph L. Crowley, being Lot 55B.
( b) Land located on Sycamore Road, now or formerly of Elizabeth MI Welham, being lots No. 122 and No. 156.
(c) Land located on Lakeshore Drive. now or formerly of Dominic G. Schivone, being Lot 77.
For something over fifteen years, the Town has been gradually acquiring dilapidated old summer cottages which had either (1) been located on low, flooded areas; (2) were structurally unsuited for living quarters; (3) lacked adequate plumbing; or (4) did not have sewage disposal areas. It has been considered in the long-term interest of the Town that buildings of this type be eliminated as rapidly as pos- sible and the land resold to abutters, with restrictions on building, to enlarge their holdings, or, in some cases, retained by the Town. Three such pieces are involved in this article.
The first, the Crowley property, is located on Dudley Pond. It has been condemned by the Board of Health for lack of possible suitable sewage arrangements. Although the building is in fair condition, the site is unusual and it is contemplated that the Town acquire the property for not more than $2,000, which would be somewhat less than the owners originally paid.
The second property consists of two lots and two small cottages. The Board of Health has condemned the buildings as being physically unsuited for habitation and the Town has been offered the properties at about $1,500 apiece.
The third piece is located on the side of Dudley Pond. The build- ing is the only one of those covered in the article which is currently occupied. The site has been condemned by the Board of Health as being unsuited for use from the point of view of sewage disposal. It is contemplated that the property can be acquired for about $2,000.
The Finance Committee concurs with the Board of Health in its recommendations and recommends that the Town appropriate the sum of $7,000 to be used for the purchase of the properties enumerated in the article.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the purchase, taking by eminent domain, and/or acquisition by other means, on behalf of the Town the land bounded and described as follows:
SOUTHEASTERLY: by land of Town of Wayland, three hundred ninety-seven and 95/100 (397.95) feet
SOUTHWESTERLY: by Maiden Lane one hundred ninety-two and 01/100 (192.01) feet by
NORTHWESTERLY: by land of Max H. and Caroline M. Thomas three hundred eight and 62/100 (308.62) feet
and to raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any action relative thereto.
This property consisting of a single lot of about 20,000 square feet fronts on Maiden Lane and lies directly west of the Happy Hollow School Site. It is all low lying land, much of it in the bed of the brook. The owners started to excavate for a foundation but were stopped by the Town for lack of a cesspool permit. The site is one on which no building should be permitted and since the Town is desirous of obtain- ing an easement through it in order to clean out the brook, it would appear desirable to purchase the property rather than take the ease- ment. No price has been established with the owners. The Finance Committee feels that a fair figure with the lot in its present condition would not be in excess of $500.00.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of the Article.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the purchase, taking by eminent domain and/or acquisition by other means, on behalf of the Town for school purposes the following parcel of land:
A certain parcel of land situated in Wayland, shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Land in Wayland, Massachusetts," dated December 10,
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1956, by Everett M. Brooks Co., Civil Engineers, bounded and described as follows:
SOUTHWESTERLY by land of Paul M. Hamlen One Hundred Seventy- three and 41/100 (173.41) feet and by Rice Road Three Hundred Fourteen and 46/100 (314.46) feet;
NORTHWESTERLY by Mainstone Farm Trust Four Hundred Fifty-five and 87/100 (455.87) feet;
NORTHERLY, WESTERLY and WESTERLY by land of Louis W. Dean by three courses measuring Four Hundred Seventy and 46/100 (470.46) feet and Three Hundred Eighteen and 66/100 (318.66) feet respectively ;
NORTHERLY by other land of said Dean by three courses One Hundred Fifty-nine and 28/100 (159.28) feet, Thirty-eight and 58/100 (38.58) feet and Forty-seven and 1/100 (47.01) feet respectively.
EASTERLY by the Wayland-Weston Town line by two courses Four Hundred Thirty-eight and 59/100 (438.59) feet and Nine Hundred Three and 48/100 (903.48) feet respectively: and
SOUTHERLY by said land of Paul M. Hamlen by two courses Two Hundred Seventeen and 15/100 (217.15) feet and Four Hundred (400) feet respectively :
Containing 17.884 acres according to said plan.
to raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor from available funds in the treasury, by taxation and/or by borrowing; or take any action relative thereto.
This article is inserted in the Warrant at the request of the Special School Site Committee upon whose recommendation the Town, at the Special Meeting of February 15, 1956 voted to acquire future sites. The site here recommended is located on Rice Road about half way between Whiteside Place and Old Connecticut Path. It combines into one, two of the sites recommended in the original Engleheart report. The piece consists of 18 acres of open level land located on the east side of Rice Road and having a road frontage of about 300 ft. No agreement as to price has been reached with the owners, but they have indicated that they would expect to receive about the same price as the Town paid for its previous locations, which was roughly in the range of $1,000 an acre.
The Finance Committee feels that the Town is entirely justified in completing the program undertaken last year of acquiring all the school sites that we can reasonably be expected to need in the future.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends the approval of the article.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to accept the gift of a certain parcel of land, shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Land in Way- land, Mass." dated March 6, 1953, by Everett M. Brooks Co., C. E.'s, and further being shown on said plan as area taken from T. P. and E. D. Parker, bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at a point on the Southerly sideline of Old Connecticut Path, twenty-four and 44/100 (24.44) feet;
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EASTERLY on a curve with a radius of five hundred forty-five and 06/100 (545.06) feet from the point of tangency of said curve; thence running
EASTERLY on said curve, ninety-two and 05/100 (92.05) feet; thence turning and running
WESTERLY, SOUTHWESTERLY, SOUTHERLY AND SOUTH- EASTERLY on a curve to the left with a radius of thirty (30) feet a distance of sixty-three and 43/100 (63.43) feet Southeasterly; thence
SOUTHEASTERLY twenty-four and 60/100 (24.60) feet; thence
SOUTHEASTERLY on a curve to the right with a radius of three hundred thirty-two and 24/100 (332.24) feet a distance of eighty-one and 82/100 (81.82) feet; thence turning and running
NORTH 65° 46' 07" WEST one hundred sixty-nine and 64/100 (169.64) feet by Maiden Lane to the point of beginning.
Containing 2200 square feet of land, and being shown as the Easterly rounded corner of the intersection of Maiden Lane and Old Connecticut Path, or take any action relative thereto.
Several years ago, when the Happy Hollow School was being constructed and Maiden Lane was being rebuilt in connection there- with, the entrance to the road from Old Connecticut Path was widened in order to provide better access for the school bus and traffic in gen- eral. The widening encroached on the Parker property. Under this article, the owner of the property involved is proposing to make a gift of the land to the Town.
The Finance Committee recommends the approval of the Article.
Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to accept as public ways the following roads, or either of them, or any portion thereof, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen, and as shown on plans on file with the Town Clerk; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire any necessary land or interests therein by deed of gift and/or by eminent domain; and to raise and appropriate the sum of one dollar for such acquisition by eminent domain; without any appropriation of money for further construction of any of said roads, under the Betterment Act or otherwise; or take any action relative thereto; - the roads above referred to being the following:
The portion of High Rock Road shown on the plan entitled "Subdivision of Woodridge No. 10 Plan and Profile of Part of High Rock Rd. in Wayland, Mass." dated March 14, 1955 by William J. Ford, Jr., Civil Engr., recorded with Middlesex South District Deeds.
The portion of Woodridge Road shown on the plan entitled "Subdivision Plan of Woodridge #9 in Wayland, Mass." dated May 3, 1954, by William J. Ford, Jr., Civil Engineer, recorded with Middlesex South District Deeds.
This article calls for the acceptance as public ways of the last portion of High Rock Road and a portion of Woodridge Road. The Planning Board, Highway Department and Water Department have
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indicated that all the necessary work has been done in accordance with the Town's specifications and the road is ready for acceptance.
The Finance Committee therefore recommends the approval of the article.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the abandon- ment of rights and easements in, through, and over a strip of land crossing the Southwesterly end of Lot 8-1 on a plan entitled, "Subdivision No. 8, Woodridge in Wayland, Massachusetts," dated October 6, 1952 by Everett M. Brooks Co., Civil Engineers, recorded with Middlesex South District Deeds, Book 7990, Page 233, and being adjacent to the Southwesterly boundary of said lot; or take any action relative thereto.
Several years ago it was contemplated that a drainage line to handle the drainage at the foot of Pequot Road would be installed over the land covered by this article. Upon further study, however, the line was located elsewhere and easements therefor were provided by the abutters. It is therefor now proposed to abandon the original easement which was not used and is no longer necessary.
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