USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1958 > Part 12
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a. General
Electrical repairs were made in the Central and East Somer- ville branch library, police station, City Hall, and Engine 1, where new lights were installed. Considerable work was done on the heating and ventilation systems in the Central, East and West branch libraries, police station, Bow St. municipal build- ings, City Hall, public works building, and all seven fire houses, in which stokers were repaired in all. Masonry work was done in Engine 7, Engine 2, and Engine 1, where partitions were also installed.
Overhead doors were repaired in Engine 7, Engine 3, En- gine 1, police station, and DPW building, where 14 overhead doors were also painted. Doors and locks were also repaired in Dilboy and Glen St. fieldhouses, the Central and East branch libraries, Bow St., DPW, Engine 2, and Engine 7. Plumbing repairs were made at the East branch, police station, Bow St., City Hall, DPW, Engine 5, and Glen St. fieldhouse.
b. Clinic and City Hall
In addition the clinic in Bow St. municipal building was painted, and gutters of the building repaired and cleaned; in Engine 7 gutters were cleaned and the roof repaired; and the Glen St. fieldhouse roof was repaired. In the City Hall, new fluorescent lights were installed in the license and pension office at City Hall, a new clock installed in the aldermanic chambers, and four new shades and clock in the City Clerk's office.
c. Central Heating Plant
Work in the Central Hill heating plant, which services all the public buildings on the hill, included replacement of eight tubes in No. 6 boiler, brickwork in five boilers, installation of Chromolex heater, overhauling of steam pump and oil burners, and general repairs and maintenance of lines, valves, thermo- stats, and the entire plant.
189
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
d. Libraries
Union Square-Long sought improvements to the quarters provided for the branch library in Union Sq. were completed last year.
The project started on July 10 with public advertisement for bids for the new quarters for at least 2,500 sq. ft. all on the street floor.
Following opening of bids the contract was awarded to John Quincy, 73 Tremont St., Boston for a site at 20-22 Bow St., which has a floor area of 2,750 sq. ft. The bids also in- cluded the adjacent vacant parcel of land at 325-327 Somer- ville Ave., an area of 3,817 sq. ft., giving the library a second entrance and parking facilities for the staff. Total area is 6,567 sq. ft., plus use of the basement. Area of the old site at 307 Somerville Ave., had been 680 sq. ft.
Contract was for $375 per month on a five-year lease with the City granted option to renew on the same terms for another five years.
After the reopening of school, when our building crews could no longer work full time in the school buildings, work started in the preparation of the Library for occupancy.
While the engineering division regraded and surfaced the parking area with a binder course of bituminous concrete, the building division men and local tradesmen painted the interior and exterior; partitioned off a workroom in the rear for the library personnel; constructed bookcases and display shelves; installed new toilets, gas heating system and battleship lino- leum floor covering; removed skylights and covered this area with tar and gravel to eliminate leaks; installed new doors and hardware; furnished eight large reading tables and chairs, window drapes and shades; and lowered the fluorescent lights already lining the ceiling.
The new branch library opened Nov. 29 and an open house was held on Dec. 8. The librarian reported that circulation doubled in the first week of operations, since the branch is now able to meet the demands of both adults and children in the area. Increased reading space has also proved a boon to young- sters of the area.
190
ANNUAL REPORT
East Somerville - Considerable work was also done in the East Somerville branch library, where besides repairs to locks, doors, windows, heating system, ventilation, and plumbing, the entire interior was painted, the woodwork varnished, tables sanded, electrical capacity increased, and a new oil burner in- stalled. It is our intention to continue the renovation of this attractive branch library with painting of the exterior trim.
B. Permits and Inspections
General supervision of construction and new installation also takes up a great part of the division's time. One phase of this operation is described in the following excerpt from the report of the National Board of Fire Underwriters Committee on Fire Prevention and Engineering standards.
"Procedures - All building operations regardless of size require a permit and, where a structural change is involved, plans. Application for a permit is made in duplicate by the owner or contractor, one copy going to the City Assessors and the other retained by the division. Where plans are required, two sets must be submitted; plans need not bear the seal of a licensed architect or engineer. After review and approval both sets of plans are stamped and one is returned to the contractor along with the permit and a large card that is required to be posted at the site; space is provided on the card for noting plumbing, gas-piping, lathing, concrete and wiring inspections. On small jobs, con- tractors call for inspection; larger jobs are visited periodically. Dwellings are inspected at the foundation, framing and final stages. After each inspection, nota- tion is made on the permit but no office record is kept unless substandard work is evident, in which case a correction notice is left on the job. The correction notice is followed by a letter, if necessary, and then by police enforcement. Upon satisfactory completion of a building the division issues a certificate of occupancy; structures undergoing a change of occupancy are re- quired to be so approved by the building division which may consult with the fire chief before issuing a certifi- cate of occupancy."
191
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Following are a few tabulations for the year 1958:
Permits
Valuation
New Commercial Construction
14
$315,700.
New Residential
5
870,350.
(Includes new Tufts Dormitory and Capen St. Housing)
Alteration of Residential
309
303,826.
Alteration of Commercial
39
85,600.
Demolition:
Commercial or Non-Dwelling
14
Dwelling
7
Installation of Signs
27
10,925.
Installation of Sprinklers
1
2,000. (plumbing)
New Elevator
1
12,000.
Certificates of Occupancy
10
427
$1,600,401. valuation
C. Code Enforcement
1. NURSING HOMES
Started in 1955, with the passage by the Board of Aldermen of an ordinance requiring sprinklers, among other things, en- forcement of the building code applying to nursing homes was successfully completed this year and all private nursing homes now in use are so equipped.
For several years State inspections and licenses, granted only after approvel by local building inspectors, had been held in abeyance pending the upgrading of the local ordinance.
With accomplishment of this in 1955, this department set out immediately to obtain 100 per cent compliance with the ordinance, keeping in mind both that the sick are entitled to utmost protection and that little good would come to anyone concerned by the forcing of such an immediate outlay of money on improvements that the nursing home owner would be forced out of business. I am happy to say that, in complying with the ordinance, the nursing home owners also often made improve- ments to the amenities of their establishments.
2. DEMOLITION
Demolition, as always, was carried out during the year only after every effort to find the owner of a deteriorating, unsafe house failed, or when the owner refused to take action on fixing it up or razing it. Final legal notices were sent out on
192
ANNUAL REPORTS
eight structures during the year with the result that five were repaired or razed by the owners and three were razed by the City with a lien placed on the property to cover costs.
Often results were obtained from the owner before it reached the point of official legal notices.
Those razed by the city were as follows: 8 Oak Street Place, abandoned after a fire; 5 Washington Avenue, empty two years; and 36-38 Franklin Street, a vacant six-apartment dwelling. On the latter the court refused to issue an injunction sought by the owner against the city's action.
3. GENERAL ENFORCEMENT
All re-inspection or checking of existing structures follows a request or complaint with equal respect given to the right of private property owners and the health and safety of nearby residents.
a. Webster Street Case
In response to complaints from residents an inspection was made of the premises at 33 Webster Street and the law depart- ment was asked to take action on the charge that commercial vehicles were being parked in a residential zone over the size and number allowed by the zoning code. The case was sent to Middlesex Superior Court and the grand jury returned an indictment in December. Trial is now awaited.
b. Buried Ceilings
Because of the danger of fire inherent in so-called buried ceilings (proven by recent events) we have instructed the build- ing division to refuse a permit for any alterations including such ceiling construction when plans are submitted for approval.
c. Certificates of Occupancy
The extent to which the department can act in zoning nui- sances is rigidly controlled by laws and the provisions of the zoning codes; and often many such items are more a matter for consideration of the police and law departments, which co- operate fully on all such matters. Unauthorized construction is also reported by the police.
193
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
The building division is charged with the responsibility of issuing "certificates of occupancy" which are merely state- ments of fact as to the type of business permissable in a given location and cannot be used as a license or permit to operate a specific business requiring any special licenses or permits. It states that the business would comply with the zoning ordi- nances or is of the same type of non-conforming use that has continuously existed on the site since before the establishment of the zoning codes of 1925. Such non-conforming "contin- uous occupancy" rights are lost to a property if it isn't so used for a year.
Every action is taken to encourage good construction and desirable business to overcome vacancies in commercial estab- lishments, in business areas around the city, and to aid the tax base.
Following are a few tabulations for the year 1958:
Building Inspections Performed 690
Building Complaints Investigated
215
Plumbing Permits Issued
662
Gas Permits Issued
2,088
Plumbing and Gas Fitting Inspections 2,430
Plumbing Complaints Investigated 130
Cash receipts for licenses, permits, elevator inspections, Board of Appeal services, $6,944.
194
ANNUAL REPORT
II. ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS DIVISION
The division of Electric Lines and Lights adds considerable diversification to the activities of the Department of Public: Works, since it is in charge of electrical inspections, street lighting, playground and field lighting, traffic signals, fire and police alarms, fire and police radio systems, and the mainte- nance of, as well as collection from, parking meters.
Operating 24 hours a day, the division is located in a build- ing adjacent to fire department headquarters in Medford St., where it not only maintains and operates the fire alarm system, but also repairs traffic signals and processes parking meter collections.
It maintains a continuous and vigorous testing schedule at all times and is one of the divisions to be credited with the drop in insurance rates.
A. Alarm and Signal Systems
Fire alarm operators work an average of 40 hours a week. with two on duty at all times. Current, voltage, ground and rectifier output tests are made six times daily. Three test blows are transmitted over the secondary alarm (public) circuit at noon, and one blow over the primary circuit at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Specific gravity floats in the batteries are checked daily. Boxes are tested once a month, the test including a check of the succession feature, and any trouble in between is immedi- ately recorded on meters at headquarters. The emergency gen- erator, one of three sources of power available to the system, is run one hour each week. A test signal is transmitted over the ADT circuit twice daily.
Records are kept by the operators of all alarms, tests, radio transmission, and troubles to the system. A list of boxes tested the previous day is sent to the maintenance section daily. Records of boxes, and maps of circuits and headquarters wiring. are also kept.
In their survey the Fire Underwriters concluded that
"The fire alarm system is of proper type, under good supervision, and well maintained. Headquarters is fairly well housed and headquarters equipment is in generally good condition. Current supply is adequate. All circuits are underground which greatly increases the reliability of the system."
195
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
1. FIRE AND POLICE ALARMS
In 1958 fire and police alarm combination boxes were in- stalled on Holland St., near Winter St., so that there would be one on both sides of the tracks.
A fire alarm box opposite Laurel St., on Somerville Avenue was relocated in front of St. Anthony's church and a school station connected to the street box so that when the school box is rung it also rings automatically in fire alarm headquarters. All our public schools also have at least one box tied in to a street box and the alarm is received in headquarters even if the school loses its power.
We are in the process of installing five new fire alarm boxes, two new police boxes, and relocating two of each within the Brickbottom redevelopment project area. Wherever pos- sible all new cable is being laid through telephone company duct lines. Completion of this work will bring the total of fire alarm boxes in the city to 214.
The reliability of the system, despite the fact that it was basically installed in 1917, and excellence of its maintenance is further testified to by the fact that despite hurricane, floods, snow storms, etc., in recent years, when the powerful public utility services have broken down, our fire and police alarm system has been in normal operating condition at all times. Value of the system is estimated at $10,000,000.
Laying of new cable in 1958 totalled 1,985 feet with 700 feet of 8-conductor cable on the Holland St. box; 760 feet of 8-conductor cable for relocation of fire and police signal com- bination on Middlesex Ave., at the Ford plant; and 525 feet of 12-conductor cable on Broadway between Paulina and Westminster Sts., where 525 feet of 12-conductor cable was replaced.
Also installed during 1958 was a recorder which automat- ically records conversations coming over the four emergency fire alarm telephone lines, improving the interpretat.on of voices of excited individuals reporting fires.
The telephone company installed at fire alarm headquarters a telephone line, unconnected with the switchboard, which is a direct connection to the chief operator, for emergency use in the event something should go wrong with the eight I.nes on the board. This was provided at no charge to the city.
196
ANNUAL REPORTS
2. RADIO SYSTEM
A new system has been installed which sends a beep signal giving the box number rung for a fire out over the police and fire three-way radio system at the same time it is being re- ceived in fire alarm headquarters. This beep signal sounds simultaneously with any message being broadcast, thus allow- ing the cars and engines to head toward the fire immediately. A broadcast with fuller information follows.
The total number of police and fire vehicles equipped with radios was brought up to 28 with the installation of radios in the police chief's car and in Engine 2, the new hose wagon in East Somerville.
Radios were transferred from the old to the new ambulance, the Civil Defense director's car; and three police cruisers, a change which involved in most instances a switch from 6 to 12 volts.
3. TRAFFIC SIGNALS
Pedestrian period buttons were added when new control units were installed at the intersections of Summer and Cedar Sts., Highland Ave. and Central St. and Highland Ave. and Willow Ave.
New cable totalled 515 feet with 385 feet of 12-conductor cable installed at Broadway, Marshall and Temple Sts., and 130 at Medford and School Sts.
B. Electrical Matters
1. INSPECTIONS
Electrical inspections in 1958 totalled 2,295, ranging from new construction to inspection of systems following the report of a water leak in a house.
A few tabulations for 1958 are as follows:
Number of Permits
1,543
Permits Issued Boston Edison Co. 347
Total Fees $1,848.76
The following description of this activity by the Fire Under- writers is quite explicit:
"All electrical installations require the installer to obtain a permit for which application must be made, and for large jobs, plans submitted. Plans are reviewed
197
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
by the superintendent and the inspector in whose district the building lies; they need not bear the seal of a licensed engineer. Permits are issued in dupli- cate, the original form being given to the electrician. A card is completed for each permit issued on which the inspector will record his inspections and pertinent information; the card becomes a permanent record upon completion of the installation. Dwellings usually receive two inspections; one before concealment and a final. Larger installations are inspected periodically or when requested. Heating installation and other small jobs receive one inspection. Substandard work is brought to the attention of the installer orally and in writing, a copy of the notice being kept until the con- dition is corrected, at which time the notice is dis- carded. If necessary to gain compliance the state is notified and they will make an inspection which could result in an electrician's being put on probation or having his license suspended or revoked. The power company requires approval by the inspector before it will provide permanent or temporary service or recon- nect an interrupted service.
"Reinspections of existing wiring are made upon complaint, upon notification of fire or due to an inter- ruption to service. Nursing homes are inspected bien- nially, as the state requires approval before renewing such licenses. The division responds to all multiple alarms of fire or upon request of the fire department."
2. LIGHTING
The division is charged with the operation of street lighting and maintenance and operation of field lighting for night sports activities.
Careful attention is paid to keeping track of reports on street lights out of service so that the city will receive proper credit on its electricity bill.
From time to time during the year we have received re- quests for new street lighting installations. The improvement of the lighting on many of our streets is a highly desirable pro- gram and one on which the department has been gradually working.
198
ANNUAL REPORT
C. Parking Meters
The total meters on the curbs and in parking lots increased by 48 in 1958, from 976 to 1,024. A total of 62 meters were added in Magoun Sq. parking lot, while approximately 14 were removed from Day and Herbert St. curbs in a move to improve traffic flow in that area.
There are 863 curb meters and 161 in parking lots. Col- lections are made from the Davis Sq. lots an average of twice a month and from the Magoun Sq. lot and curb meters an average of once a month.
Tables showing the complete distribution of parking meters and tallies of receipts accompany this report.
Despite the fact that there was a drop in parking meter receipts of $7,895.22 in 1958, it was the second highest in receipts since inception of the meters.
A variety of reasons may be found for this, first the diffi- culty of reaching meters during and for a while following the record snow falls of February, 1958; the drop off in shopping prevalent throughout the nation during the first part of the year; and a general lack of cooperation from businessmen on parking in the lots and leaving street meters open.
We are studying the entire picture carefully, prior to mak- ing changes in the arrangement of meters in order to maintain the program as self-supporting and continue to give our resi- dents the advantages of offstreet parking facilities.
Following are a few tabulations on the maintenance of meters for 1958:
62
Removed
14
Repaired
1,197
Accidents
365
Vandalism
146
Locks Replaced
900
New Type Coin Shutes
100
New Concrete Bases Set
95
Total Meters in Service
1,024
Installed
CHART NO. 2 MONTHLY PARKING METER RECEIPTS SINCE THEIR BEGINNING
Month
1958
1957
1956
1955
1954
1953
1952
1951
1950
1949
January
$3,274.82
$2,856.37
$2,860.92
$2,899.07
$2,448.91
$2,662.03
$2,280.06
$2,142.39
$2,503.76
$1,698.24
February
2,644.91
3,979.77
2,860.83
2,866.39
2,907.25
2,849.32
2,973.31
1,951.99
2,227.45
1,748.09
March
3,490.61
4,021.44
2,356.54
3,265.36
3,702.63
3,391.83
3,042.07
3,057.60
2,948.81
2,311.29
April
3,847.84
4,765.56
3,727.41
3,387.61
3,470.63
3,518.19
3,442.08
2,862.95
2,860.16
2,527.49
May
4,085.71
4,888.75
4,013.08
3,592.26
3,219.79
3,281.14
3,550.73
3,217.52
3,087.45
2,995.07
June
3,805.56
4,344.65
3,401.40
3,902.86
3,681.32
3,699.08
3,482.56
3.217.56
2,817.02
3,716.45
July
3,881.29
4,647.58
3,751.38
3,300.85
3,435.26
3,305.82
3,482.56
3.029.19
2,817.02
2,868.52
August
3,437.12
4,378.87
3,657.36
3,728.29
3,307.23
3,401.62
3.214.43
3,382.30
3,358.06
3.152.56
September
3,798.63
4,289.10
3,185.05
3,661.07
3,518.57
3,561.89
3,497.95
2,923.65
2,986.55
3,170.75
October
3,912.50
4,649.24
3,794.61
3,602.97
3,319.75
3,318.91
3,635.78
3,166.63
2,915.45
2,916.75
November
3,189.13
3,721.47
3,532.37
3,606.52
3,416.58
3,602.28
3,166.26
3,032.11
3,217.63
3,074.29
December
3,690.91
4,361.75
4,271.99
3,760.83
3,297.31
3,881.45
3,840.20
2,907.25
2,939.29
2,327.58
Totals
$43,059.03 $50,904.25 $41,413.44 $41,574.08 $39,725.23 $40,473.56 $39,552.69 $34,891.14 $35,993.10 $32,507.08
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
199
CHART NO. 4 GRAPH OF ANNUAL TOTALS, PARKING METER RECEIPTS, SINCE THEIR BEGINNING
200
50,000
48,000
46,000
44,000
42,000
40,000
38.000
36,000
34,000
32,000
1949
1950. 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
A
ANNUAL REPORTS
CHART NO. 3 Breakdown of 1958 PARKING METER RECEIPTS (monthly totals for Lots and Curb Meters)
Month
January
February
March
Apri!
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1958 Totals
1957 Totals
Total Number of Meters
976
976
976
976
976
1038
1038
1038
1038
1035
1024
1024
Parking Lot No. 1 (College 'Ave, to Grove St.) ..
23 - 1c & 5c 2-hour meters
$122.71
$34.17
$88.95
$83.64
$127.62
$80.99
$71.13
$65.21
$102.59
$101.82
$82.94
$90.57
$1,052.34
$1,147.32
15 - 25c 10-hour meters
95.50
26.76
66.70
47.34
54.99
27.74
21.95
20.76
36.69
34.29
23.04
47.16
502.92
835.17
38
$218.21
$60.93
$155.65
$130.98
$182.61
$108.73
$93.08
$85.97
$139.28
$136.11
$105.98
$137.73
$1,555.26
$1,982.49 Lot # 1
Parking Lot No. 2 (Herbert at Day Sts.) 61 - 5c and 10c 2-hour meters
135.07
168.09
135.16
180.26
180.04
159.94
2.08.54
112.95
174.54
185.72
155.21
249.85
2,045.37
2,590.82
Lot #2
Parking Lot No. 3 (Magoun Square) 62 - 5c - 10c - 25c 2-4-10-hour meters
Opened on May 16, 1958
98.03
45.96
93.98
68.53
104.67
59.77
82.79
553.73
Lot #3
City-wide curb meters 877 1c - 5c 2-hour meters
2,921.54
2,415.89
3,199.80
3,536.60
3,723.06
3,438.86
3,533.71
3,144.22
3,416.28
3,486.00
2,868.17
3,220.54
38,904.67
46,330.94 Curbs
MONTHLY TOTAL
3,274.82
2,644.91
3,490.61
3,847.84
4,085.71
3,805.56
3,881.29
3,437.12
3,798.63
3,912.50
3,189.13
3,690.91
Total receipts December 31, 1957 to date
3,274.82
5,919.73
9,410.34
13,258.18
17,343.89
143,059.03
50,904.25 All Meters
Total receipts same period 1957
2,856.37
6,836.14
10,857.28
15,622.84
20,511.59
24,856.24
29,503.82
33,882.68
38,171.79
42,821.03
46,542.52
50,904.25
21,149.45
25,030.74
28,767.86 ยท 32,266.49
36,178.99
39,368.29
43,059.03
(874 meters) (863 meters) (863 meters)
201
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
III. ENGINEERING DIVISION
The engineering division, which in many respects typifies the integration of the divisions, has direct responsibility for sewer maintenance and care and improvements of parks and playgrounds.
Charged with major details of the road reconstruction pro- gram, the division does considerable grading and hot topping work itself and draws up all plans, specifications and detailed drawings which must be prepared for the Ch. 90 program.
It is instrumental in developing and perfecting plans and drawing specifications for bids and construction projects in- cluding surveys, layouts, grades, lines, inspections, drawings and plans for all types of city activities.
It assists the sanitary division crews with collections of Christmas trees and trash removal in the winter, works with the highway division on tree removal and street and sidewalk patch- ing; assists the water division on house service leaks and water main breaks; and works with the division of electric lines and lights in preparation of offstreet parking lots and care of field lighting.
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