Official reports of the town of Wayland 1954-1956, Part 44

Author: Wayland (Mass.)
Publication date: 1954
Publisher: Printed at the Middlesex Freeman Office
Number of Pages: 702


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1954-1956 > Part 44


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During the year the board was represented at the First Annual Massachusetts Assessors' School which was held at the University of Massachusetts. The clerk of the board has attended all of the meetings sponsored by the Department of Corporations and Taxation for Assessors' clerks, for the exchange of information and instruction of the General Laws.


Since there has been some citizen interest on the subject of a further revaluation by outside consultants, the board has investigated representative systems of property assessment used by such firms. As a result of this investigation, we believe that the present method of comparative value and the large number of property transfers has allowed the board to keep closely attuned to the fair market value of real property, and is therefore not prepared to propose outside assistance at this time.


GEORGE C. LEWIS, Chairman B. ALLEN BENJAMIN WILLIAM S. LEWIS Board of Assessors of Wayland.


1946


1951


1956


Real Estate


$5,356,980.00


$7,466,660.00


$15,106,925.00


Personal Property ....


515,730.00


560,418.00


1,037,964.00


$5,872,710.00


$8,027,078.00


$16,144,889.00


Statistics for the Year ending December 31, 1956


Real Estate Assessed January 1, 1955


$12,574,450.00


Personal Property Assessed January 1, 1955 ..


1,017,215.00


Real Estate Owned by Metropolitan District Commission


38,692.56


$13,630,357.56


Real Estate Assessed January 1, 1956


Land Exclusive of Buildings $2,451,425.00


Buildings Exclusive of Land 12,655,500.00


Real Estate owned by Met. Dist. Com. 38,692.56


$15,145,617.56


214


Personal Estate Assessed January 1, 1956


Stock in Trade


$47,900.00


Machinery Live Stock


861,979.00


43,785.00


All Other Tangible Personal Property


84,300.00


$1,037,964.00


Total Property Assessed January 1, 1956


$16,183,581.56


Total Property Assessed January 1, 1955


13,630,357.56


Increase


$2,553,224.00


Number of Polls Assessed


2,340


Number of Live Stock Assessed: -


Farm Horses


2


Saddle Horses


27


Ponies


4


Colts


1


Number of Neat Cattle :-


Cows


276


Heifers


110


Bulls


6


Swine


150


Fowl


1,870


All Other :


Mules


1


Goats


0


Sheep


0


Number of Acres of


Land


Assessed


8,184


Number of Dwellings Assessed


2,324


Additional Polls


14


$28.00


Motor Vehicles


Number


Value


Tax


1956 (Incomplete)


3,196


$2,231,030.00


$107,587.18


1955


4,365


2,642,690.00


110,112.24


Exempt from Taxes :-


Valuation


U. S. Government Post Office


$500.00


Com. of Mass. Three Gate Houses


15,000.00


Widows (Real Estate)


10,000.00


Veterans (Real Estate)


297,650.00


Blind (Real Estate)


2,000.00


....


$325,150.00


215


Town - Personal and Real :-


Schools


$1,706,800.00


Parks


52,700.00


Fire Department


20,100.00


Police Department


300.00


Water Department


352,400.00


Sealer of Weights and Measures


500.00


Town Hall - Equipment


48,500.00


Highway Department


46,955.00


Library and Books


57,100.00


Cemeteries


12,450.00


Cochituate Civic Centre


52,500.00


Tax Title Possessions


17,600.00


2,367,905.00


Churches and Parsonages :-


Church Property


$144,300.00


Parsonages


19,725.00


164,025.00


Church Cemetery


2,000.00


Fraternal Societies :-


Newton Y. M. C. A.


$7,200.00


Pequod Lodge, I. O. O. F.


200.00


Natick Girl Scouts Association


3,500.00


10,900.00


Corporations :-


Hannah Williams Playground


$5,400.00


Wayland and Cochituate Legion Building Association Inc.


15,500.00


Vokes Players Inc.


4,200.00


Wayland Post #6260 VFW


6,500.00


Parmenter Health Center, Inc.


139,777.00


Sudbury Valley Trustees Inc.


200.00


171,577.00


Tax Levy of 1956


Appropriation for 1956


$1,572,430.18


Overlay for 1956


28,576.78


Hurricanes (Carol and Edna)


0.


1,601,006.96


State Parks Tax


$916.76


State Audit


2,325.64


3,242.40


County Tax


$19,101.96


T. B. Hospital Tax


4,400.81


Retirement System


6,770.07


30,272.84


AMOUNT TO BE RAISED ...


$1,634,522.20


216


Estimated Receipts and Available Funds :-


Income Tax


$86,901.24


Corporation Tax


21,477.43


Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise


95,000.00


Licenses


14,000.00


Fines


500.00


Health and Sanitation


500.00


Highways


100.00


Special Assessments


5,000.00


General Government


50.00


Old Age Assistance


43,000.00


Old Age (Meals)


1,990.64


Veterans' Benefits


1,500.00


Schools


21,500.00


Libraries


500.00


Cemeteries


2,800.00


Interest on Taxes and Assessments


1,200.00


In Lieu of Taxes


2,321.55


Charities


18,000.00


Chapter 645, Acts of 1948


35,885.00


Available Funds and Over-Estimate


306,367.72


Hurricanes (Carol and Edna)


1,555.28


Recreation


1,000.00


$661,148.86


To be levied on Polls and Property


$973,373.34


Assessed on Polls


$4,680.00


Assessed on Personal Property


62,277.84


Assessed on Real Estate


906,415.50


$973,373.34


Tax


Interest


Total


Street Betterments


$2,867.20


$1,151.62


$4,018.82


Water Betterment


369.50


59.41


428.91


Total Betterments


$4,447.73


TOTAL AMOUNT COMMITTED TO COL-


LECTOR - June 8, 1956


$977,821.07


Overlay - 1956


$28,576.78


Abatements and Exemptions 1956 Levy


23,295.60


Overlay - Balance


$5,281.18


1956 - Tax Rate on Property $60.00


1956 - Tax Rate on Motor Vehicles .. 54.43


217


For detail of 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."


GEORGE C. LEWIS, Chairman B. ALLEN BENJAMIN WILLIAM S. LEWIS Board of Assessors of Wayland.


REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR


January 15, 1957


Gentlemen :


The following is the Plumbing Inspector's report to the Town of Wayland for the year 1956.


There were 190 permits issued, for which the sum of $1,573.00 was collected, and turned over to the Town Treasurer.


There were 14 violations of the present plumbing code. These were corrected.


Respectfully yours, T. JOHN DALY, Plumbing Inspector.


REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF TRUST FUNDS


This year we have been fortunate in having no changes in member- ship and also in experiencing an unusual opportunity, because of rising interest rates, to improve the yield both of new funds received and funds arising from availability of proceeds occurring from maturities, and otherwise. Once again, it is a pleasure to record that we have had the utmost cooperation from the Town Treasurer together with a great deal of helpful information. To her, our sincere thanks.


The amount and present investment of all the Trust Funds will be found in the Report of the Town Treasurer, as well as the income received.


Respectfully submitted, ALLAN R. FINLAY THOMAS B. GANNETT, Chairman J. SIDNEY STONE, Secretary


218


REPORT OF THE ROAD COMMISSIONERS


The major highway accomplishment during 1956 in the Town was the completion and opening of the new bridge and causeway across the Sudbury River on Old Sudbury Road. The rebuilding of Old Sudbury Road from the railroad station to the Old North Cemetery was completed as a Chapter 90 project during the year and there now remains only the section between the cemetery and the new causway to be reconstructed. The elimination of the narrow old bridges with their sharp turns is a major safety step for the town.


Major equipment purchases of 1956 have been as follows:


Two 41/2 ton Diamond-T trucks, one replacing a 1950 Ford 2 ton truck and the other giving the Department a much needed additional truck.


An International #300 tractor with loader for loading sand and gravel, snow removal, and mowing roadsides.


Two new snow plough blades for one of the new trucks and for the tractor.


A new Chevrolet pickup in accordance with the Town's regular automobile renewal program.


The Commissioners feel that the chief efforts of the Department during the next few years should be devoted to a program of recon- struction and improvement of the main old town roads many of which have become inadequate to handle the greatly increased traffic of the growing town. A start on the program has been made with the reconstruction and draining of Winter Street and the beginning of work on Moore Road. The next projects to be undertaken are Claypit Hill Road and Loker Street. Both of these are major access roads to new schools.


GUSTAF M. BLOMGREN, RONALD S. CAMPBELL, GEORGE I. EMERY, Road Commissioners.


REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY SURVEYOR


The general Highway appropriation was used for regular mainte- nance work and for the application of approximately 45,000 gallons of asphalt to Town Roads.


Two applications of spray were applied to 30 miles of roads to control brush, poison-ivy, ragweed, etc.


At the Wayland Dump, 250 ft. of chain link fence with gates has been erected.


The Drainage appropriation was used to install 300 ft. of 18 inch Concrete Pipe on Pequot Road to the Dudley Pond Outlet Brook.


219


Under Chapter 90 Maintenance, 12 inch peastone armour coat was applied on Route 27 from Legion Square, Cochituate to Wayland Center.


The Chapter 90 Construction appropriation was used to complete 3,500 ft. of Old Sudbury Road.


Betterment Construction consisted of excavating, gravelling and first treatment of asphalt on Leary Street and Rich Valley Roads. On Wheelock, Lee and Glover Roads, drainage and gravelling have been completed, the surfacing and side grading are to be done in the Spring.


A section of new sidewalk, with Type I surface, has been com- pleted on Old Connecticut Path.


Respectfully submitted,


ALBERT E. POTVIN, Highway Surveyor.


PARK DEPARTMENT 1956


A quick review of our 1956 spending, revealed the popularity of the Town Beach at Lake Cochituate. Almost one-half of the families of the Town registered and enjoyed the facilities at the beach.


Because of the many requests received by the Park Commissioners, picnic benches and tables were provided and also, a basket-ball court was installed.


The season of eleven weeks came to a close by conducting a swimming meet, the winners of which were awarded suitable trophies and medals.


The life-guards and police gave an exceptional performance as a result of which vandalism was kept at a minimum.


All other Park Properties were maintained as usual. It appears that the personnel of the Park Department may have to be increased because by the middle of the 1957 season, the Happy Hollow, Claypit Hill and Loker Schools will be turned over to this department for maintenance and also the New Town Hall. We wish to thank all departments and personnel that helped us make the 1956 season such a grand success.


FRANK S. TARR, NATHANIEL HAMLEN, THOMAS F. MURRAY, Board of Park Commissioners.


220


ANNUAL REPORT OF CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTOR FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1956


The principal effort of the Town Office of Civil Defense during the year was directed towards securing Federal Matching Funds for the construction of a portion of the new Town Police and Fire Station and Office Building. The Federal Government approved the grant of $19,500 toward the construction of the basement of the building which is being constructed to comply with Federal requirements for an emergency Control Center for the Town. Also during the year Federal Matching Funds were secured for the purchase of two mobile two-way radios for the Police cruisers, base station transmitters and receivers for both the Fire and Police Departments and remote controls for the base stations. During the coming year Civil Defense will attempt to secure Federal money for equipping the Control Center, building a five-position pistol and rifle range in the basement of the new building, purchasing and installing emergency generators to supply power to the building, additional radio equipment both for the Office of Civil Defense and for the Fire and Police Departments, and other projects.


During the year the communications section acquired an additional two-way portable radio to supplement the emergency radio network within the Town. The communications group has been having regular practice sessions and the group has been officially approved under the Federal RACES plan permitting operation for Civil Defense purposes during a military emergency.


The Auxiliary police force has continued to be active, giving support to the regular police force at Halloween and thereby reducing to a minimum damage and annoyance due to mischief-makers. Five pistol teams have been shooting regularly in the New England Police Revolver League postal matches and two of the teams have so far won medals for first or second positions in their respective classes.


The Fire Department has actively supported its Auxiliary pro- gram with regular weekly training sessions which have been joined by some of the regular call men, thereby greatly improving the efficiency of the department.


The medical section has been further organized and has available the services of physicians and nurses who live or work in the Town for emergency duty.


A radiological monitoring team has been formed and this team is being provided with radiological monitoring equipment by the State.


The Town has qualified by reason of its efforts in developing an effective Civil Defense organization to acquire without charge surplus property of the Federal government. It is expected that many items of equipment which the Town needs and which the Town would other- wise have to purchase at commercial prices will become available only for the cost of transportation.


During the year the Federal Government again failed to deliver the rescue truck which was authorized three years ago but has per- mitted the Town to advertise for bids for the purchase of such a


221


truck locally. Acquisition of the rescue truck, which will be under the jurisdiction of the Fire Department, is expected to coincide with the completion of the new Town Office Building.


Pursuant to a new agreement between the American National Red Cross and the Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency, coordination between Civil Defense and the Red Cross has been established on a workable basis. The Wayland Chapter of the Red Cross is cooperating fully in Civil Defense. Red Cross has the primary responsibility of emergency relief and welfare in time of a natural disaster. Civil Defense, on the other hand, in a natural disaster represents the political and police authority of the Town. In case of military disaster, Red Cross becomes merely another operative unit under the direction and control of Civil Defense.


In conclusion, it is urged that more citizens take an interest in Civil Defense and apply through the Police or Fire Departments or at the Town Hall for enrollment in one of the Civil Defense activities.


Respectfully submitted,


W. R. HULBERT, Director.


REPORT OF THE DRAINAGE COMMITTEE


The Drainage Committee appointed in accordance with the vote of the Town at the 1956 Annual Town Meeting recommends that the statement of policy set forth below be adopted by the Town. It is recognized that such adoption would not require town officials and boards to comply with the policy. However, it is believed that as an expression of the opinion of the Town it would be of substantial assistance to boards and officials in carrying out their duties.


With respect to the first main heading, "New Developments," it is believed that the report does little more than set forth the existing policy of the Planning Board.


RECOMMENDED POLICY FOR THE TOWN OF WAYLAND IN HANDLING DRAINAGE MATTERS


I. New Developments


1. The developer has the responsibility for drainage of surface water from roads put in by him, and for any interference by the development with natural drainage.


2. The developer should not be permitted to drain surface water into a town drain except where the town drain is adequate to handle its existing load, and its prospective load from town roads, as well as the prospective load from the development.


3. Drainage should be into natural watercourses where possible.


222


4. Culverts, manholes, and drains should be of sufficient capacity to handle all but the most unusual floods.


5. The developer should obtain or grant and record easements covering all drains and drainage lines.


II. Town Roads


1. Existing culverts, manholes, and drains. Where these drain onto private property, the town in general has no responsibility to pipe the water to a natural watercourse, pond, or the like. The town should not spend public funds for such projects.


2. Additional culverts, manholes, and drains. On developed property, water should be piped so as to avoid substantial damage to the property. On undeveloped property, the water should not be piped unless there would otherwise be substantial damage.


3. On future construction the town should, where possible, obtain and record easements.


4. Culverts, manholes, and drains should be of sufficient capacity to handle all but the most unusual floods.


III. Drainage of Present Swamp or Wet Areas


1. Drainage of swamp or wet areas is not the responsibility of the town. Public funds should not be spent for such projects except as a part of the mosquito control program.


2. When private land is drained, and a substantial financial benefit to the owner of the drained land results, betterments should be assessed where possible.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE BOWERS


GEORGE EMERY


JOHN R. McENROY


EDWARD VENO NORMAN G. FAIR,


Advisory Representative from the


Board of Health


ROGER P. STOKEY, Chairman


223


REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE


December 31 1956.


Drunkenness


22


Driving under the influence


9


Driving so as to endanger


10


Driving without a license


8


Operating after right suspended


4


Operating after suspension


3


Operating without insurance


Allowing improper person to operate


1


Operating without authority


1


Refusing to obey a stop sign


17


Refusing to use right lane


15


Failing to stop for isolated stop sign


5


Failing to stop for a yellow signal


2


Failing to stop for a school bus


2


Failure to obey a red light


8


Failure to obey a traffic light


7


Leaving the scene of an accident


2


Operating on a restricted license


2


Operating without license in possession


2


Attaching wrong plates Road racing


No sticker


Attaching wrong plates to motorcycle


1


Speeding


50


Refusing to obey an officer


4


Disturbing the peace


22


Larceny by fraudulent check


1 2


Larceny


Breaking and entering in the night time to commit felony


5


Non-support


4 8


Assault and battery


Malicious destruction of property


1


Murder


1


Accessory after the fact


1


Suspicious person


1


Idle and disorderly


1 2


Obscene literature


2


Indecent films


1


Incest


2


Adultery


1 1


Indecent assault


2 1


Buggery


1


Lewd and lascivious cohabitation


1


Firearms in possession of Aliens


3


Hunting without a license


3


Discharging firearms on the Lord's day


4


Violation of fish and game laws


5


224


Neglect to a minor child


Unnatural act on a child 14 years of age


Profanity


1


1 7


5


Violation of Town By-law


Railroad traffic light


1 1


267


The above compilation of data includes arrests made by the State Police but it does not include the arrest of juveniles.


The Wayland Police Department served during 1956: One Hun- dred and eighty-five Summonses, Twelve Subpoenas, Five Summonses to show cause, One Summons to the Parent, One Summons to the Child, Twenty-two Notices to appear at the station and Two Warrants.


The Total number of accidents reported for the year was 183. Fatal, one; Property Damage, one hundred and twenty-four; Personal Injuries, 52; Three Pedestrian and Three on Bicycles. There were other accidents not reported to the Police.


1636 radio calls were received in the cruiser from individuals reporting accidents, fires, inebriates, fights, stray dogs, etc. Officers on duty at night while checking business establishments closed and locked 106 doors and or windows.


During the year officers checked the homes of 118 people who reported that they would either be away or on vacation.


During the year the various officers attended either the Framing- ham District Court or the Superior Court in East Cambridge a total of 109 days.


It is my pleasure each year to again be able to thank the various department heads and their staffs for their continued efforts and cooperation. Specifically may I mention: The Honorable Board of Selectmen; the regular patrolmen and the special police; the auxiliary police; the Wayland Lumber Company for its annual purchase of safety calendars which are distributed locally; and Natick Police Chief Shea and his department for continuing to make radio coverage for our cruisers possible; and you, the residents of Wayland, for helping us all to comply with the spirit of the law thereby making Wayland a safe place in which to live, work and play.


As always, your constructive criticisms are invited and recom- mended.


Respectfully submitted,


ERNEST H. DAMON, Chief of Police.


225


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


The trend of the history of the last year has continued to be much the same as the previous year. Our case load has continued to decrease in numbers. As long as favorable business conditions con- tinue, general welfare will remain at a minimum.


Old Age Assistance is very unpredictable. We hope that the changing character of the Town will continue to indicate that the great growth in new homes is largely for the people in the middle group from an age standpoint, creating more problems for the schools than for our Board.


The continued expense of supplemental relief, largely expenses incurred for doctoring, nursing care and medicines, causes the Board great concern and has proved very nearly an insurmountable problem. The increased cost of the so-called miracle drugs, and the growing tendency of the aged to incur bills for medicinal requirements, often running as high as between $25. and $50. in a single month of a single case, troubles the Board. To what extent would people in a similar state of health who were paying their own bills from their own earnings consider it necessary to incur such expenses? Obviously, the Board can do little other than rely on the judgment of the physician in attendance. We believe the taxpayers would not desire any one in need to go without any necessary assistance to preserve life or happiness. However, we feel that taxpayers are entitled to some consideration and that euphemistic hope that some of the claims for new remedies may be valid and effective, should not result in the taxpayer's burden exceeding that which he would cheerfully assume for his own kin, or dear ones, when under the care of a physician.


Statistics of case load, total expenditures, and average expenditure in the various categories is appended as usual. Reimbursement to the Town of Federal and State can be readily found in the report of the Accountant.


In order, however, to bring out the problem discussed in the second last paragraph, we bring to the attention of the taxpayers the following figures. The Board would be very glad if the interest of any of the readers is communicated to the Board to help it in its inter- pretation and treatment of the problem.


Doctors and Other Medics 1955


1956


Medicines 1955


1956


Hospital and Nursing Homes 1955 1956


Old Age


$4,509.00 $4,167.00 $5,464.74 $5,928.98 $20,528.18 $24,314.16


Disability


777.00


1,072.00


1,006.98


1,467.27


661.50


3,127.99


Aid to D. C.


1,728.00


1,051.00


752.67


485.59


220.90


30.00


General


Welfare


654.00


251.00


462.95


426.36


3,679.98


3,450.32


J. SIDNEY STONE, Chairman RONALD H. WOOD CARLISLE D. SCOTLAND


226


Welfare Statistics


OLD AGE ASSISTANCE


1954


1955


1956


Case Load January 1


87


84


84


Case Load December 31


81


83


79


Average Monthly Case Load


83.3


82.7


83.1


Total Gross Expenditures


$90,466.23


$90,693.68


$95,102.22


Average Monthly Cost per Case


$90.50


$91.40


$95.48


AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN


Case Load January 1


17


Cases, 55


Persons 15


Cases, 52


Persons


13


Cases, 42


Persons


Case Load December 31


15


Cases, 52


Persons 13


Cases, 42


Persons


11 Cases, 36


Persons


Average Monthly Case Load


16.4 Cases, 55.0


Persons


13.7 Cases, 50.1 Persons


Total Gross Expenditures


$26,708.96


$24,526.50


11.6 Cases, 38.8 Persons $18,117.85


Average Monthly Cost per Case


$135.72


$149.19


$130.15


DISABILITY ASSISTANCE


Case Load January 1


8


7


6


Case Load December 31


8


6


4


Average Monthly Case Load


8.25


6.4


5.5


Total Gross Expenditures


$10,007.80


$7,807.94


$9,429.41


Average Monthly Cost per Case


$100.89


$101.66


$151.96


GENERAL RELIEF


Case Load January 1


18


Cases, 25


Persons 11 Cases, 11 Persons 9 Cases, 11


Persons


Case Load December 31


12


Cases, 12


Persons 10


Cases, 14 Persons


9


Cases, 13


Persons


Average Monthly Case Load


15.5 Cases, 19.0


Persons


10.4 Cases, 11.4 Persons


8.8 Cases, 13.8 Persons $10,332.98


Total Gross Expenditures


$11,173.38


Average Monthly Cost per Case


$60.07


$11,536.61 $92.44


$97.85


227


REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO STUDY TOWN GOVERNMENT


The special Town Meeting of March 7, 1956, voted to appoint a committee -


"to study the problem of increasing burden of work on elected Town officials; to look into the possibility of closer correlation of work of the various departments and to report to the Town at the next Annual Town Meeting . "


Three members were appointed from the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and Personnel Board. The three designated chose two members at large.


The committee held numerous meetings during the autumn of 1956. Its members surveyed developments in other towns - Concord, Weston, Ipswich and Norwood for example - and consulted experts and State officials. The committee also discussed the problems and received the suggestions of major town boards.




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