USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1957-1959 > Part 35
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Examinations given by Family Physician 416
Trained technicians conducted the vision and hearing tests in the schools.
Of the 2,079 students who received vision tests, 136 failed and were referred for further follow-up. Only 50% of these completed the referral.
114
2,097 students received a hearing test. Of the 50 who failed only 36% completed the referral to further medical attention.
124 Home visits were made by the nurses on behalf of school health problems which were referred by school personnel or detected in screening tests in the school.
A diphtheria-tetanus booster immunization program was offered in the elementary schools. The Medical Advisory Committee recommends that in order to be adequately protected a booster dose should be given every three years.
Children who needed a diphtheria-tetanus booster .... 790
Children who received a diphtheria-tetanus booster
by the school physician 167
Public Health Nurses' Assistant
A nurses' assistant was employed by the Board of Health for the junior and senior high school in order to be available in the health room during hours when school is in session. She is directly responsible to the nurse in the performance of her functions which include first aid, maintenance of records, and supervision of sick students while in the health room.
During October, November, and December 1959 the visits to the health room were as follows:
Total student visits to Health Room: 609
Number of students returned to class
233
Number of students dismissed from school 144
Number of students requiring first aid 232
Respectfully submitted,
LOUISE M. McMANUS, R.N.
The Board of Health holds office hours in The Parmenter Health Center on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:00 P. M. to 8:00 P. M. Licenses and permits are issued at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN G. FREYMANN, M.D., Chairman DAVID R. COREY, M.D. NORMAN G. FAIR
115
REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT 1959
The Highway appropriation was used for general maintenance, street cleaning, resurfacing Town Roads, and painting and repairing fences and guard rails.
The Miscellaneous Drainage appropriation was used to relocate the drainage outlet through the land of Mr. Dimone on Concord Road, Wayland.
Under Betterment Construction, Maiden Lane and Wallace Road were excavated, drainage installed, the gravel base and one course of Hot Top applied. The final course of Hot Top and side grading remain to be completed.
The construction of Winter Street has been completed, except for the final application of Hot Top.
On Moore Road, the excavating, drainage and the major portion of the gravel base have been installed. Surfacing and side grading remain to be completed.
A Type I surface was applied to the entire length of West Plain Street.
Roadside Brush Control and Cleanup consisted of cutting brush and removing the debris.
Ledge was removed on Rice Road and a new gravel base and pene- tration surface installed.
Drainage has been installed in Charles and Maguire Roads and in Lincoln and Waltham Roads.
Under Chapter 90 Maintenance, a Type I surface was applied to approximately 2,300 ft. of Cochituate Road, southerly from the inter- section of Route 20.
On Route 30, under the Chapter 90 Construction appropriation, work is being carried on through the Winter months.
Additional sidewalk with Hot Top surface has been constructed at the Town Office Building site. A Type I surface was applied to sections of sidewalk on Concord Road and Cochituate Road.
ALBERT E. POTVIN, Highway Superintendent.
116
REPORT OF THE ROAD COMMISSIONERS
The basic construction of Moore Road will be completed from funds remaining in the appropriation for this work. This will allow the start of a new project during 1960. After considerable study and consultation with the other town boards and officials involved we have concluded and would recommend that School Street be the next project started under reconstruction of existing town roads. The present traveled way is com- pletely inadequate for the traffic using the road and maintenance costs of this road are becoming prohibitively expensive. Surveys necessary for this work are presently under way.
The renovation of The Highway Department's office was basically completed this past year. The next project to be carried out at the garage is the establishment and equipping of a motor vehicle mainte- nance shop.
Our budget for new equipment for 1960 includes funds for the pur- chase of a new grader and sand spreader. The present grader is 20 years old and can no longer be safely used for many of its intended and necessary tasks. This machine is the backbone of many of the Highway Department's operations.
The Road Commissioners feel that it is essential that a thorough study of all roads in town be made, in order to carefully evaluate the present condition of roads in town and to help establish a long range program of necessary improvements to insure the continued adequacy and safety of roads and to prevent the condition of the roads from deteriorating to the point where maintenance costs would become excessive.
The Road Commissioners wish to thank the Highway Superintendent and all the department employees for their high degree of loyalty and diligence during the past years and also all the various Town Board Officials and citizens for their kind cooperation on matters of mutual interest and concern.
ROBERT M. CARSON, Chairman ROBERT N. ELWELL CHARLES H. PETERS, Clerk
PLUMBING INSPECTOR
The following is the Plumbing Inspector's Report to the Town of Wayland for the year 1959 :
There were 161 Permits issued and the amount of $1,725.00 was collected and turned over to the Town Collector.
All violations of the Plumbing Code have been corrected.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL C. HOOPER, Temporary Plumbing Inspector ..
1.17
WAY-CO RECREATION PROGRAM
The Way-Co Recreation Program is a spring and summer activity sponsored by the Wayland Park Department and supervised by Way-Co Recreation Committee which is a group of volunteer citizens contributing their time and talents in directing, managing, and coaching a town wide baseball program for both boys and girls.
In the past season some fifty-five adults supervised a program on the school playgrounds for four hundred boys and one hundred girls with equipment supplied through the Park Department supplemented with uniforms and hats supplied by the Committee through publicly sub- scribed funds. The Committee also sponsored the New England Softball Championship Tournament for Girls at the Cochituate Playground in a three day series in August.
Through cooperative planning with the Park Department, the Way- land Recreation Advisory Committee and other interested groups wider use of available fields without confliction provided a real improvement in the operation of the program this past season. Because of this kind of planning groups from Raytheon, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Congregational Church, Kiwanis, Cochituate Motors as well as the twenty-four different teams in the Way-Co program were able to pro- vide recreational activity for both adults and children. A great deal of the success of effective use of the playing areas was due to the efforts of Norman Taylor, Town Executive Secretary who acted as clearing agency for assignment and maintenance of the several fields.
Way-Co has broadened its activities into a winter-time basketball program for boys on Saturdays from December until April as well as a Volley Ball group for Men during the same period. Both of these activities take place at the Loker School and are open to all who are interested to participate.
The introduction of the Girls' program in the past summer is the start toward providing activities for all of our children and it is hoped that this phase can be expanded. We found, for example that all girls do not like to play softball and that perhaps tennis, archery, volley ball and other similar games would be more appealing to more girls. How- ever, softball was the one activity we could start and service the greatest number for the first season. It is hoped that more women will volunteer to assist in the girls' program in the next season for success or failure depends greatly on the degree of adult participation.
The Way-Co Recreation Committee expresses its thanks and grati- tude to the following for helping to make its ninth year of operation very successful, both from the point of view of the boys and girls and from that of the adults who participated :-
The Wayland Park Department, the Wayland Advisory Committee, the Wayland Police Department, the Wayland Fire Department, the Wayland Highway Department, the Wayland School Department, the many fathers and mothers who participated in the program, the busi- ness men and merchants of the Town, the Town Office staff and the Superintendent of the Park Department and his men.
The above list emphasizes the extent of the cooperative efforts which contribute to the operation of and the success of this kind of a
118
program. It is hoped that the citizens of the Town will continue to sup- port our efforts toward a well rounded recreational program.
The Director wishes to personally acknowledge the very special contribution of Harold Barnett, Wallace Jones, George Pearce, William Morris and Jerry Joyce. These were the men most directly responsible for what ever success we enjoyed this past season.
JACK ARNOLD, Director.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1959.
Chapter #115 and its amendments of the General Laws of Massa- chusetts provide that each application for veterans' benefits, AFTER THOROUGH INVESTIGATION BY THIS OFFICE must be for- warded for approval to the office of the Commissioner of Veterans' Services in Boston. The reason for this law is that under this same Chatper #115, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts agrees to reim- burse the Town for one-half of all approved expenditures granted under the Veterans' Benefits. This reimbursement is made every four (4) months. I have carried out these duties.
Your Veterans' Service Agent has had monthly conferences with an Investigator from the Massachusetts Commissioner's office whose duty it is to make sure this office has been complying with all the Rules, Regulations, and Restrictions of the department in the interest of Veterans' Rights and in order that the Town may reap the benefit of reimbursements.
Twice a year your Agent must attend all-day panel sessions with the Commissioner, his staff, and specialists in different phases of Veterans' Affairs. Also, it is necessary, occasionally, to visit the Com- missioner's office in Boston to resolve issues and procedure relating to documents and reports concerning individual cases.
As of 31 December, 1959 there were eight (8) active cases which involve twenty-three (23) veterans and dependents.
Throughout the year, some of the functions of this department are consultation with veterans or veterans' widows concerning medical requests, hospitalization, supplemental aid, veterans' pensions, obtain- ing photostatic copies, insurance, social security, marital problems, unemployment compensation and Veterans' Administration contact, with the result that approximately only 20% of the applicants qualify for Veterans' Benefits.
For detailed report of expenditures and reimbursements, please refer to the Report of the Town Accountant.
WILLIAM J. HALL, Veterans' Agent.
119
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT For the Year Ending December 31, 1959
As in 1958 the year 1959 brought a near record amount of pre- cipitation. The wet conditions helped to hold the number of alarms for outdoor fires to a minimum. However, alarms for other types of fires and emergencies increased and brought our total to the average number for recent years.
All residential fires were confined to partial damage with the exception of the Alphonse Lupien property on Rice Road which was completely gutted by fire following an oil space heater explosion in December.
Alarms Answered - 1959
Number of Alarms for Fires:
Residential Building's
35
Non-Residential Buildings 8
Grass or Brush
77
All Other Fires ( Motor Vehicles, Machinery, Rubbish, etc.) 50
Mutual Aid
6
Number of Alarms for Non-Fires:
Rescue, First Aid, Emergency Calls and Investigation 104
Mischievous and Malicious False Alarms 19
Smoke Scares, Honest Mistakes, Accidental Alarms 1
Total 300
Permits Issued - 1959
Fires in the open air 1,255
Installation or alteration of oil burning equipment 104
Installation of liquified petroleum gas 32
Blasting
21
Remove and transport gasoline storage tanks
1
In January of this past year the Town received a complete report from the New England Fire Rating Association on the survey of our fire protection facilities conducted here in September of 1958. As a result of improvements made since the last survey in 1951 the Town has been reclassified and has received an improved fire insurance rating effective January 21, 1959. Many of the recommendations made by the N. E. F. R. A. for the continued improvement of Wayland's Fire defenses have been already put into effect or are incorporated in some measure in a long range Fire Protection Improvement Plan submitted this year to the Board of Selectmen, the Committee to Study Town Government and the Finance Committee.
Included in the N. E. F. R. A. report were the following recom- mendations :
(1) That an improved ladder rescue truck of modern design carrying at least 250 feet of ladders of suitable lengths and types be pro- vided.
(2) That Engine #1 now 34 years old be discarded and early con- sideration be given to replacing Engine #2 now 25 years old, with
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a new pumping engine having a capacity of 750 gallons per minute.
(3) That additional full paid firefighters be appointed to provide a minimum total of ten (10) men on duty at all times.
(4) That succession of command be provided so that at least one officer will be on duty at all times.
In regard to the above recommendations, #1 and #2 have been taken into consideration in the planned program for the purchase and replacement of major apparatus submitted to the Town in 1958 and for which funds were voted in 1958 and 1959.
As to the third recommendation there is no question as to the desirability of having this minimum standard of full time protection. However, mindful that the Town faces increasing financial burdens due to its extremely rapid growth the department is submitting instead an alternative personnel plan which would gradually provide three (3) men in Station #1 and two (2) men in Station #2, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
In relation to the alternative personnel plan the department's budget includes a request for an amount to compensate members of the depart- ment at the rate of $400.00 per year for manning the stations one night per week through the year and also to expand the coverage to Station #2. Different men work each night according to a fixed schedule.
The fourth recommendation, succession of command was discussed with the Board of Selectmen, the Personnel Board and the Committee to Study Town Government. The department has requested that an officer with the rank of Fire Captain be provided. This officer would be appointed from among present full time personnel.
The department training program was conducted with ten (10) 2 hr. sessions in the Spring and ten (10) 2 hr. sessions in the Fall. In addition full time personnel attended schools and demonstrations at the Boston Fire Department Training School and Bedford Air Force Base. Also permanent men and call men attended a Fire Drill School sponsored by the State of New Hampshire Fire Chiefs at Fitzwilliam, N. H.
The fire alarm system was extended by the department during the year along Old Connecticut Path West in preparation for the tie in with the new high school in 1960. Fire alarm installations as made by builders under subdivision regulations were also tied into the municipal system. Addtional industrial, commercial and church properties were also tied into the municipal system this year. Four fire alarm boxes were replaced during the year under our maintenance program and where possible tappers were installed in the homes of new call men. Under a new program instituted this year all fire alarm boxes are tested quarterly and a complete record kept on each box from the time it's placed in service. As of August - 1959 the department discontinued the use of the audible signal between the hours of twelve midnight and 6 A. M.
With the provision of a department mechanic in 1959 from among present personnel an improved program of preventive maintenance was established whereby each piece of apparatus is checked periodically.
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All repairs and replacements of parts during the year have been made in the department shop. Individual records are maintained on each piece of apparatus and equipment.
In June a 1959 Station Wagon, Chief's car, was purchased, equipped and placed in service. This type of vehicle has very definite advantages over the ordinary sedan in the department's operations. It's equipped with special tools, fire extinguishers, ropes, a stretcher and other first aid equipment. The vehicle can also be utilized as an emergency ambulance when necessary.
The department inspection program has proven to be very effective in the removal of fire hazards. At this time I wish to thank all who cooperated in this program which is new to many of our citizens as well as to people who have their place of business here but live elsewhere.
During 1959 a firm of fire protection engineering consultants conducted a study to determine how safe the occupants of the Wayland public schools would be in the event of fire. The study was approved by the School Committee in advance and was done at no cost to the Town. The report contained in a substantial booklet rated our schools from "Good" through "Very Good" to "Excellent." The study covered every one of the Town's six school buildings, under such headings as structural conditions, fire exposures, water supply, fire alarm system, inspections, fire drills, maintenance, etc.
Special Signals - Audible Alarm
1- Daily Test at 5:45 P. M.
2- All Out
3-3-3 Military Call
4-4-4 Boy Scouts
5-5 No School Signal at 7:00 A. M.
7-7 All Call Firefighters Report to their Station
Emergency Numbers to Call Fire Department
EL 8-4321 OL 3-4321
Numbers For Other Business
Station #1 EL 8-7951 Station #2 OL 3-2241
At this time I wish to request that citizens calling the department for burning permits, no school information and business in general, please call on the business lines available in order that the emergency lines may be kept free for that purpose.
I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation to the men of the department, to the auxiliary department and to all persons who in any way have cooperated and assisted in the operation and development of this department.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS J. HARTIN, Chief, Wayland Fire Department.
122
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE December 31, 1960
1. CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON.
Assault
7
Assault, indecent
1
Robbery, assault to, and attempt 4
2. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY.
Breaking and entering and larceny
1
Larceny, and attempt
3
Fraud, forgery
9
3. CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER, ETC.
City ordinance or town by-laws, violating
2
Disturbing the peace
2
Driving a motor vehicle to endanger life
7
Driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated
8
Drunkenness
13
Fish and game laws, violating
2
Lewdness
3
Motor vehicle laws, violating
40
Neglect or desertion of family, non-support
5
Peddling, unlicensed
1
Tramps, vagabonds, vagrants
1
Unnatural act
2
Neglect of minor child
2
Fugitives from justice
1
Obscene literature in possession
4
The Wayland Police Department served during 1959: Four Hundred and Twenty Summons; these included all kinds.
The total number of accidents reported for the year was 227. Fatal, 1; Property damage, 83; Personal injuries, 135; Pedestrian, 2; Bicycles, 6.
The officers checked the homes of 211 people who reported that they would either be away or on vacation.
Officers on duty at night while making a routine check of business establishments closed and locked 206 windows and doors.
The Department recorded 19,105 radio calls made either to or by the dispatchers during the year for accidents, fires, inebriates, fights, stray dogs, etc.
The Board of Selectmen directed that the Police Communications be moved back into the Police Station, on August 1, 1959, and also again permitted the use of the "lock-up" cells. Presently, then, Police and Fire communications are operated separately.
The Police Department consists of eleven full time men and a Chief. Four of these men are assigned to communications and the other seven officers perform patrol duty. The Chief is responsible for the overall efficiency and operation of the various facets of the Department.
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Once again may I offer two suggestions which appeared in my report last year. Traffic booths should be installed in Wayland and Cochituate squares. It is imperative that traffic lights be installed at Memorial Square in Cochituate and at the junction of route 27 and 126.
As in the past, I wish to thank everyone who has helped the Police Department to function in an efficient, understanding, and mature manner. Constructive criticism is always accepted and invited. Credit and appreciation are due my patrolmen, the special police, and the auxiliary police for a job well done. The safety brochure issued jointly by the Police Department and the Wayland School Department to all the school children has been most useful. The various boards, department heads and their staffs have been most helpful. To you all my sincere appreciation and thank-you are extended.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST H. DAMON, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
Trimming was done this past year on Glezen Lane, Concord Road, and Old Connecticut Path. Several trees were removed because of their danger to the highways.
The usual program of setting out new Maple Trees was continued.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES L. FULLICK, Tree Warden.
REPORT OF THE MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
In the year 1959 the trees of the Town of Wayland were sprayed for the control of Gypsy Moth and Elm Disease.
The Elm trees received one extra spray early in the Spring in an added attempt to halt the spread of Dutch Elm Disease. This year 1960, an early spray will be used, as well as a pruning and feeding program, in an attempt to save any prominent elms that could possibly have a chance to be saved.
One hundred and one samples were taken in July and September, of trees suspected of disease and one hundred trees were found to be positive and have to be removed and destroyed.
The roadsides of the Town were sprayed for Poison Ivy control and will be sprayed again in 1960.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. NELSON, Superintendent.
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Welfare Statistics
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
1957
1958
1959
Case Load January 1
78
74
65
Case Load December 31
73
65
63
Average Monthly Case Load
75.7
68.7
63.1
$94,781.08
$85,089.35
$80,964.68
Total Gross Expenditures Average Monthly Cost per Case
$104.23
$103.21
$106.93
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Case Load January 1
12 Cases, 39
Persons 11 Cases, 38
Persons 10 Cases, 33
Persons
Case Load December 31
10 Cases, 33
Persons 10 Cases, 33
Persons
9 Cases, 26
Persons
Average Monthly Case Load
11.3 Cases, 37.0 Persons
11.7 Cases, 39.9 Persons
11.2 Cases, 33.3 Persons $16,806.18
Average Monthly Cost per Case
$140.79
$163.72
$125.05
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
Case Load January 1
4
3
3
Case Load December 31
3
3
4
Average Monthly Case Load
3.8
2.7
4.0
Total Gross Expenditures
$5,278.99
$2,911.24
$6,124.23
Average Monthly Cost per Case
$115.77
$90.00
$127.59
GENERAL RELIEF
Case Load January 1
9 Cases, 18
Persons 8 Cases, 19 Persons
7 Cases, 19
Persons
Case Load December 31
5 Cases, 10 Persons
5 Cases, 9 Persons
6 Cases, 20
Persons
Average Monthly Case Load
6.3 Cases, 12.8 Persons $7,294.27 $96.50
5.9 Cases, 12.8 Persons $9,475.75
5.3 Cases, 13.8 Persons $8,257.51
Total Gross Expenditures
Average Monthly Cost per Case
$92.87
$129.83
Total Gross Expenditures
$19,091.05
$22,985.71
125
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS 1959
The year 1959 was the busiest in the history of the Park Depart- ment. The greatest expenditure of all time was also made. The amount spent was in the vicinity of $37,000.00.
The Town Beach on Lake Cochituate was perhaps the most used facility in the Town. An extensive study was made during the past year, and the following recommendations will be made in the very near future:
1. Request, through Legislature, permission to extend the present shore line in an easterly dirction, so that many more of our residents may use and enjoy the bathing and recreational facilities.
2. Prepare necessary documents for official permission to build a modern bath house.
3. Study the possibility of fencing in the recreation area. (This would not include the parking area.)
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