USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1960-1963 > Part 38
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Respectfully submitted, JOHN E. LEVREAULT, P. E. Town Engineer
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN AND MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
I herewith submit my report as Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent for the year 1962. The regular program of repairing storm damage, trimming and removal of dead and dangerous trees was carried on during the year. As this work is spread over eighty-five miles of road, it limits the amount of work to any one tree.
1. TREE PLANTING IN THE YEAR OF 1962
The restoration of the beauty of our town of Randolph by planting trees, both shade and ornamental, is an important function of our town. The rapid development of our town has created a great need for more tree planting. A total of 85 trees were planted in the year 1962.
2. TREE TRIMMING
During 1962 extensive tree trimming was carried out on many streets throughout the town. Trees were trimmed around street lights as much as possible. Low hanging limbs and dead branches were removed where necessary.
3. TREES REMOVED IN THE YEAR OF 1962
During the year, 70 trees were removed. Also 16 trees were removed for Highway Department in connection with street and sidewalk construction.
4. EDUCATION
The educational side of our work is an important field as the public knows so little about trees and related problems. In the course of a year many hundreds of requests for information relative to trees and tree care, conservation, insect problems, etc. , are answered or advice given where assistance may be had to guide them.
5. POISON IVY AND BRUSH ELIMINATION
Seven miles of roadside were sprayed with weed killer as an experiment, and found to be very effective on Poison Ivy, weed and brush. I recommend a more extensive program to be carried on next year.
6. MOTH DEPARTMENT
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts through its Insect Pest Control Department has notified this department that our liability for Gypsy Moth work for the coming year is $3, 300. 00.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH J. HART Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent
74
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Conservation Commission is newly established. With the change in the type in Town Government, the Commission was reorganized.
The work of the Commission is necessarily of long term. It will take time to de - velop. But the Commission meets regularly the third Monday of each month at 7:30 P. M. to further a program of benefit to the residents of Randolph. It also has special meetings when necessary.
Through our request the Turner Free Library set aside a shelf on Conservation. Unfortunately the fire at the library destroyed the collection. It is anticipated that a Conservation shelf will be re-established.
The Commission has studied areas of land in town suitable to preserve for Con- servation and Recreational purposes. It is now in the process of investigating tracts of land.
The Commission has divided itself into sub-committees as follows: Mr. Hart - Forestry, Mr. Adams - Soil, Water, Mr. Good - Wildlife, Finance, Mr. Strickland - land acquisition, Mr. Hawes - Recreation, Reports, and Mr. Taylor - Education. We are a member of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions.
The Conservation Commission may accept gifts of land, funds, or buildings for the community and manage these properties accordingly. Individuals, organizations and businesses may aid the town in financing.
Randolph must save lands for Conservation and Recreational purposes. It is not too late. Cooperation of all residents in such undertakings would speed programs.
ALAN TAYLOR, Chairman PATRICK HAWES, Secretary PHILIP GOOD WILBERT ADAMS WILLIAM STRICKLAND JOSEPH HART
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RECREATION COMMITTEE
Board of Selectmen Randolph Massachusetts
Randolph has grown so rapidly in the last ten years that many facets pertaining to the growth of the town have remained still. The greatest outlet for young and old during their leisure time is recreation. Randolph needs more recreation fields - parks - ice skating sites - swimming facilities, and all gymnasiums should be open evenings for recreational purposes. All activities should be supervised, and a program should be put into operation for various activities for young and old.
Through the generosity of the M. D. C. and the Town of Canton, the Randolph people have the opportunity to use Fisherman Beach for bathing. Approximately 12,000 people took advantage of the facilities this past summer. Some work will be done in the spring to make it better.
Between the Little League in both sections of town and the Babe Ruth League, monies have been spent wisely to make improvements to the playing fields. Hundreds of games are played, and close to 1, 000 boys participate in the Babe Ruth, Little League, and Minor League baseball program that is conducted by men and women interested in helping the youth of the town.
75
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
These are a few projects that are in being at the present time. In the near future the Recreation Committee will meet with the selectmen and talk over plans for recrea- tion in the town that will be beneficial for the community.
JOSEPH J. ZAPUSTAS Chairman
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PLANNING & BUILDING COMMITTEE
A total of $961, 000. 00 was appropriated for the construction of a 24-classroom elementary school to be constructed on Reed Street. The name of the school will be the Margaret Donovan School. This school will have been opened (approximately the first of February) at the reading of this report. Of the total appropriation, $766, 013. 20 has been expended as of December 31, 1962.
The two six-classroom additions on the Tower Hill and McNeil Elementary Schools have been accepted and turned over to the School Committee. The entire appropriation has been expended.
The new North Junior High School is complete except for some equipment still to be purchased. Of the total appropriation of $1, 184, 000. 00, $1, 176, 726. 72 has been ex- pended as of December 31, 1962.
Out of an appropriation of $10, 000. 00 for preliminary plans and specifications for the North Junior High School, $1, 545. 00 has not been expended and will be returned to the E & D Account.
As of December 31, 1962, the Committee retained a balance of $1, 756. 52 in its working fund.
The need for an additional Junior High School has been brought to the attention of this Committee by the School Committee. The State of Massachusetts School Assistance Commission concurs with this need. This committee is in the process of investigating possible sites.
Respectfully submitted,
Randolph School Building & Planning Committee
GEORGE C. BEATTY, Chairman
EDWARD I. MANN, Asst. Chairman
JAMES J. TANTILLO, Secretary
JOHN F. BRACK
JAMES C. CLIFFORD JOHN A. DELLEA WILLIAM J. DOHERTY
CHARLES A. FOLEY A. LOUIS SARNO EUGENE SOLON
76
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
REPORT OF THE DOG OFFICER FOR 1962
Again I report a tremendous increase in the amount of dogs in the Town of Ran- dolph; this together with the fact that a decided lack of cooperation has been manifest by many dog owners.
I intend in the year 1963 to notify all owners of dogs three months of age and older that licenses are due and payable April 1, 1963.
To use a time honored saying, "A long threatening comes at last", It is now manda - tory and for the good of the people of Randolph and Ifully intend to relyon the provisions of the General Laws to prosecute wherever necessary, after due notification, all owners of dogs unlicensed within the year 1963.
More dogs were licensed in 1962 than in any prior year and I am striving to make the mark of 100% coverage in 1963.
A tremendous amount of complaints were received during the year; these were in- dividually investigated and disposed of. Many lost dogs were returned to their rightful owners.
Again I urge all dog owners for the protection of their pets to obtain the proper licenses for them.
I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Town Clerk, the Board of Registrars, the Selectmen, the Police Department and the Inspector of Animals for all the help and assistance afforded me during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
ROGER L. NILES Dog Officer
77
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
To the Citizens of Randolph:
1962 was the year that Randolph saw the Selectman-Town Manager Act end with the drop of the Moderator's gavel at the end of the Annual Town Meeting and the return of the Selectman Form of Government. For some appointive personnel it was a new ex- perience as they now had to seek the office through election. Some of the residents of Randolph were not familiar with the Selectman form, having moved to Randolph since 1954 when the Selectman-Manager Plan came into being.
Many people do not realize that an elected Department Head, Board or Committee is answerable only to the citizens and to no other Board, and some residents continued to bring their problems to the Board of Selectmen, who have always listened to any problem presented and have tried to effect an equitable solution. The Board of Select- men wishes to express its thanks to all departments, boards and committees of the Town for their complete cooperation during the past year, for without this cooperation many of the problems presented to us would not have been solved.
The number one problem in Randolph for most people is the tax rate. It has been increasing for a number of years. This is due primarily to the services demanded of the Town by its citizens. Services cost money and the Town can only obtain this money through taxation, which is determined by Town Meeting action alone. Some of the services that have been demanded are more schools, including land acquisition costs, new teachers, and furnishings for our increasing school population; increased water pipes for domestic consumption and for fire protection; weekly rubbish and garbage pickups; and for sewer installations. The latter is still in the beginning stage and will have to be supported by the Town for a few more years before it becomes self sufficient when the betterments paid into the revolving account will be large enough to maintain the operation and increase the house connections. A fairly good start has been made on house connections in 1962.
Randolph's solution to the increasing tax rate lies in future industry. The Town is centrally located near excellent super highways, has rail service, sewer and water to offer these industrial firms as well as the land to relocate but more important is the friendly climate of the citizens toward industry.
Your Board has worked closely with Mr. Pacella, the developer of our 100 acres in the North end of Town. Progress is being made but like an iceberg, 9/10ths of it can- not be seen. It was pointed out when this venture first started not to expect to see buildings over night on the property. It is not as easy as that.
The 100 acres in question was acquired by the Town over the years for nonpayment of taxes and is called "Tax Title Land". Before any industry will lease, buy or build upon the land, the title problems to the land have to be removed. This is done through Land Court which requires considerable time and expense on the part of the individual. It is necessary to search the title to all the pieces in the 100-acre tract back to the original owners; in addition, the area has to be completely surveyed and engineered to determine the actual bounds of the property. Both the engineering and the title search- ing have been completed by Mr. Pacella and the matter is now in the hands of the Land Court. Once the area clears the Land Court, the way is open for the property to be developed. We are informed the property should clear the Land Court this year; the developer is optimistic, and has already started the clearing of trees in the Park for the new roads.
This year has seen the start of construction of the A. E. Ogan, Inc., Building on North Street. We have been advised that a new shopping center is proposed on Memorial Drive opposite the High School, and, also, the Randolph Mfg. Co. is planning an addi- tion to their complex of buildings. A new apartment house grouping is presently under construction. All these are signs of progress.
78
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
The Town of Randolph suffered a tragic loss when the Turner Free Library was totally destroyed by fire. The Trustees of the Library took prompt action and set up temporary quarters in the Congregational Church and are moving to more permanent temporary quarters in the Corking Building on North Main Street at the bridge. Plans are presently being made for the rebuilding and refurnishing of the Library by the Trustees. The response of the Citizens to the Library has been gratifying. Donations of books and money are still being made to the Trustees.
Along with many local problems, two major drainage problems were corrected this year. The first was in the Lewis Drive area and the second, in the Terraces off Mill Street. The Board has also signed the necessary papers for the Waterways Division of the D. P. W. for the Mary Lee Brook. The bids for the same have been received by the State and it appears that work will finally start on the Brook this Spring. Correction of other drainage problems have been presented to the Town Meeting by the Board of Selectmen.
Your Board has also recommended the continuing of sidewalk construction projects this year. We are also suggesting the widening of some streets in the Town. Although these items cost money, your Board considers the safety of the pedestrian of paramount importance. In the safety vein, we have also instituted steps to increase the lighting of Chestnut Street and Oak Street, both of which are heavily travelled streets. In the future, Reed Street will probably have to have increased lighting.
Your Board has met with the D.P.W. and the Count y Commissioners Office regarding the construction of Reed Street. We have been assured that work will start this Spring on the construction of Reed Street from High Street to Canton Street. In conjunction with this operation, your Board has recommended to the Town Meeting the raising of $2, 000 to install a sidewalk on Reed Street to be constructed along with the road, in conjunction with the opening of the Margaret L. Donovan School. We have also been assured by the Traffic Division of the D. P. W. that our request for proper traffic lights at Reed-Old-Pond and No. Main Streets will be honored and work will start this Spring.
Your Board has attended various meetings throughout the year in order to repre- sent Randolph and also to be abreast of new developments taking place that concern our Town. Some of these meetings included the Monorail Study Group, Gov. Volpe's meet- ing re Civil Defense, the C. D. Meetings in Bridgewater, the D. P. W. meetings re the Jaywalking Law, the General Court Seminar, as well as County and State Selectmen's Association meetings.
We wish to submit to you the following statistics which may be of interest. Your Board held 55 regular and special meetings at an average meeting time of 3-1/2 hours. This does not include other joint meetings with Department Heads, the School Commit- tee, Joint Water Board, Finance Committee, Personnel Board meetings, the setting up of Town Elections, the Town Meeting Warrant, as well as Town Meetings. In addition, we have held meetings with the Insurance representatives re the Library fire and the Building Inspector and contractors re work on the Library building. We have also represented the Town at various civic, religious and fraternal meetings throughout the year, as well as ground-breaking ceremonies. We would also like to advise that your Board collected in license fees over $11, 300 which was turned over to the Town Trea- Surer. This more than pays the entire operating costs of the Board of Selectmen.
Your Board is now holding monthly meetings with Department Heads on a Saturday morning. In this manner, information can be disseminated to all concerned; problems can be discussed, so that all departments concerned will be aware of them and future plans made so that any possible conflict or duplication of work by the various depart- ments can be eliminated.
At the request of the Board, Belcher Park was flooded and is being used for ice skating by the residents of the Town. We are now requesting that the area be lighted at night so as to allow longer hours.
Chief Carl Macauley was rewarded for his many years of service in the Police Department by being appointed Police Chief.
79
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Once more, we wish to thank all of the Department Heads and their staffs, Boards and Committees, full and part-time, elected and appointive, paid and unpaid, and the townspeople who so freely helped and aided us in making Randolph a better place to live. Through the conscientious efforts of your Town Government, we are continually making progress for a better Randolph.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TURNER FREE LIBRARY
Hours of Service
Monday and Thursday
10:00
a. m.
to
8:30
p. m.
Tuesday and Wednesday
1:00
p. m.
to
8:30
p. m.
Friday
1:00
p. m.
to
6:00
p. m.
Saturday
10:00
a. m.
to
1:00
p. m.
(The Library is closed on Sunday and on all legal holidays.)
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
To the Citizens of Randolph:
In accordance with the provisions of Article III of the By-laws for the government of the Trustees of the Turner Library, this eighty-seventh annual report is submitted to show the condition of the Trust - the library, the building and the funds - for the calendar year 1962 and to mention such other matters concerning the Library as may be of general interest.
Statistically, 1962 was an outstanding year at Turner Library. Never have so many books and periodicals been acquired by the library in one year - by gift and purchase (3590). Never have so many borrowers (5616 registrations in effect) taken home so many books and periodicals (82, 699). Although figures are not readily available to show the total number of reference questions received by the staff, and the total number of towns people who personally consulted the Library's reference material on the premises, it is probably true here, also, it was a record year.
From a personnel standpoint, it has been a year of further growth and development. The continuing general shortage of people professionally trained for library work has made it impossible to obtain the services of a qualified First Assistant Librarian. How- ever, Mrs. Lucia S. Faulkner, Librarian, and all of her regular and temporary em- ployees on the Library's staff have been doing an excellent job under the necessarily crowded and expedient arrangements that have existed. On behalf of the Trustees it is a pleasure to be able to acknowledge this good work and express appreciation for it in this way at this time. In this connection, it is gratifying indeed to the Trustees, as it must be to all Library-minded residents, to know that the Old Colony Club - the pro- fessional association of library people in the Old Colony area - recently elected Mrs. Faulkner as its President for a two-year term. We extend our best wishes to her for a most successful administration. Mrs. Faulkner's annual report to the Trustees is appended as a portion of this report, as is the year-end report of the Treasurer of the Turner Free Library, Mr. John L. Porter.
During the past year the Trustees were pleased that the "Great Books" discussion group, continued to hold its meetings in the library building. As time goes on it is hoped that more readers will discover the pleasure, knowledge, and inspiration to be derived from participation in such a nationally organized group.
With respect to our Library building, it was a year of great expectations and preparations. Occupancy of first floor space for library purposes, long awaited, could be a reality as soon as the Board of Public Welfare moved into its new building. As the year drew to its close, bids on the necessary rearrangements and repairs had been
80
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
submitted and reviewed by the Trustees. New lighting arrangements had been ordered for the Children's Room and for the Reference Room - on the second floor. Other re- lated expenses were scheduled. Then, in the early morning of Thursday, December 6th, the library building and its contents were almost totally destroyed by the fire that has since been regarded as of incendiary origin.
The details of the discovery of the fire by Mr. Anthony Berardi of Canton and the splendid efforts of the firemen of Randolph under Chief Paul Anderson to save the fine old building that had served the town as library for nearly 89 years, are already a matter of record in the newspapers at that time and will not be repeated here. The Trustees are indeed grateful to these men for all they did.
The Trustees also wish to express their appreciation to Rev. Arthur W. Bowler, pastor of the First Congregational Church - next door to the library building - and to the Standing Committee of that Church for so generously and so promptly making avail- able for emergency library quarters a recreation hall in the church building. With this space assured, the Librarian and her staff were able to obtain a few essential supplies, notify the public by radio and newspaper releases of their emergency location and be open for business by two o'clock on the very day of the fire. The Trustees are proud indeed of what these people accomplished in so short a period of time in order that library service in Randolph would be maintained without significant interruption.
All Departments of the town, of course, were ready with any needed assistance not only throughout the year but particularly, of course, during and following the fire. Directly from the townspeople themselves came a great many messages of sympathetic understanding often accompanied by offers of personal assistance, by gifts of good books, by cash donations or by some combination of these expressions of the individual's desire to help. For all of these the Trustees are most grateful. .
The Trustees also wish to record their sincère appreciation for the tremendous and completely voluntary response from Trustees and Librarians of so many nearby towns and cities: Memorial Hall Library of Andover, Robbins Library of Arlington, Avon Public Library, Boston Public Library, Thayer Public Library of Braintree, South- worth Library of Dartmouth, Duxbury Free Library, Sawyer Free Library of Glouces - ter, Paige Memorial Library of Hardwick, Holbrook Public Library, Lawrence Public Library, Milton Public Library, North Abington Public Library, Ames Free Library of Easton, Peterborough (N. H.) Public Library, Plymouth Public Library, Thomas Crane Public Library of Quincy, Rockland Memorial Library, Jacob Edwards Memorial Li- brary of Southbridge, Stoughton Public Library, Tufts Library of Weymouth, Win- chester Public Library, Quincy Historical Society, Division of Library Extension of Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and State Library of Massachusetts.
Library supplies in great variety, library services, many needed items of furni- ture and hundreds of books of many kinds were the offers so thoughtfully made by repre- sentatives of these fine libraries. In the case of the Avon Public Library, Thayer Public Library of Braintree, the Holbrook Public Library and the Milton Public Li- brary there was, in addition, the generous offer to loan books to Randolph residents, in effect without charge, throughout the emergency period. The Trustees have felt that this neighborly kindness merely reflects the capable and forward looking library ad- ministration that must exist in each of these communities.
Before the close of theyear, the Trustees had unanimously decided that library service would be re-established on the site of the original building subject, of course, to the agreement of the townspeople. The Trustees also had authorized several special committees of the Trustees whose duties would be to work with the Insurance Adjusters in arriving at a fair settlement on the loss incurred; to arrange for temporary library quarters to replace the emergency quarters in the Church Building; to develop informa- tion that will help to determine whether the new building should make use of the old walls or be of new construction throughout and to create building plans accordingly; and finally, to develop ways and means of accomplishing whatever building program seems best for the town. These committees have gone to work promptly and the Trustees are looking forward to early reports of progress.
The wonderful old building that nearly ninety years ago was the generous gift from Seth Turner, Royal W. Turner, Abby W. Turner and Anne M. Sweetser to the
81
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
"Inhabitants of the Town of Randolph" has been gutted by fire. The books, paintings, bronzes and other family gifts and loans to the library, as well as many items pre- sented to the Turner Library by others or purchased over the years by funds supplied by the town, appear to be virtually a total loss. It is clear that no amount of wishing can restore these familiar and treasured possessions of the town. But, by this great loss, not just those associated with the library in some way but all of us who by resi- dence are the current beneficiaries of the Turner family's gift have been given a challenge. That challenge is to see whether we today possess the same courage, wis- dom and vision that led the Turner family in the 1870's to bring to Randolph residents this valuable means of self-education at a time when a free public library in a town of Randolph's size was a relatively new and forward-looking development.
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