USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1958 > Part 14
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In the new sidewalk and driveway programs the property owners are required to pay the cost of the materials involved. Receipts for driveways in 1958 totalled $1,855. and for side- walks, $1,187.15 or a total of $3,042.15.
F. It supervises the use of public streets and sidewalks. This year 106 permits were issued to occupy the sidewalk for various reasons and 244 permits were issued to public utility companies for street and sidewalk openings.
Largest of these was the installation of a 12-inch main on Cameron Avenue to Holland Street, and Broadway to North Street, and 16-inch cast iron main in North Street to Powder House Boulevard, by the Cambridge Gas Co. Proper restora-
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tion of the walks by the firm in the spring will result in new sidewalks in the locality.
G. It paints signs and crosswalks at schools, squares, and main intersections and center lines on main streets annually. During 1958, 420 new street signs were completed and erected and 226 traffic regulatory signs were painted and put up. These latter range from "no parking", "one way" and "stop" signs to "Go Slow, Children," and parking lot placards.
H. It cares for equipment of all divisions, running the re- pair and service shop, the gasoline pumps, and paint shop.
In 1958 the use of blue and white decals bearing the City seal and words "City of Somerville D P W" was adopted in two sizes, one for rolling stock and the other for barrels, sandboxes, and smaller equipment in order to provide a ready identifica- tion of D P W equipment more economical than hand lettering.
In the Spring all sandboxes were painted and the decals put on; doors of the 12 sanitary trucks were painted and the decals applied; eight highway trucks and the paint striping machines received decals; and they were applied to other vehi- cles and equipment gradually during the year.
I. It helps watch over health conditions by removing dead animals (77 during March) and helps the sanitary division in the difficult winter months, clears squares of Christmas trees and the streets of debris following storms.
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ANNUAL REPORT
V. SANITARY DIVISION
The sanitary division completed its first full year as an integrated part of the department in 1958.
A. Equipment
1. LOADPACKER
During the year bids were publicly advertised for an addi- tional loadpacker which was bought with a balance remaining from the purchase in 1957 of our modern fleet of 12 auto- matic loading, closed body rubbish trucks.
The additional loadpacker makes it possible to rotate the trucks to insure proper maintenance and operation of the divi- sion at peak efficiency. The new trucks are proving highly satisfactory in performance and maintenance; are cleaner; and are easier on the men since the barrel lift is lower.
2. STATION WAGON
A 1954 Ford sedan station wagon in good condition was obtained for $600. for use in carrying out the new business rubbish collection fee ordinance.
B. Collections
1. FEE SYSTEM
On September 11, 1958, the Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance setting up a fee system of rubbish collections for business and commercial establishments, which went into ef- fect January 5, 1959.
Work began immediately on the tremendous operation of setting the program up and putting it into effect on the ap- pointed time.
The ordinance established the following fees:
Group
Weekly Collection
Annual Fee
A Up to 2 barrels or 8 cu. ft.
$15.00
B Up to 5 barrels or 20 cu. ft. 37.50
C Up to 10 barrels or 40 cu. ft.
75.00
D Up to 15 barrels or 60 cu. ft.
112.50
E
Up to 20 barrels or 80 cu. ft.
150.00
F
Up to 30 barrels or 120 cu. ft.
225.00
Applications were made available to all concerns and upon receipt of the fee, the department had a decal, designating the
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
collection group paid for, placed on the window of the firm or in a special case on the wall of the establishment near the location of the collection.
Besides offsetting rising costs of disposal, establishment of the system will eliminate the problem the division has been facing in drawing the line on what business the City trucks should service, since the City charter makes provision for free collection from residences only.
2. CLEAN UP WEEK
Clean up week, at which time residents are invited to put anything at all out for collection and provision is made for help from the other divisions for the extra loads, was held June 9 to 14 in 1958.
3. VOLUME
The sanitary division is assisted from time to time by high- way and sewer crews and men, especially on the collection of Christmas trees.
Due to the fact that more and more homeowners have been converting from coal to oil and gas heat, and therefore no longer burning papers and general trash in their boilers, there has been a general increase in the amount of rubbish being collected. Ashes and refuse decreased in weight and collec- tions of paper have increased in volume.
Following are collection tabulations compiled during the year 1958:
a. Collections of Ashes and Refuse
Loads
Yards
Tons
January
1341
20,281
2990
February
1040
16,540
2600
March
1144
18,304
2860
April
1248
20,068
3120
May
1056
12,672
2640
June
882
14,112
2205
July
966
15,456
2415
August
756
12,096
1890
September
924
14,784
2310
October
966
15,456
2415
November
910
14,560
2275
December
1341
20,281
2990
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ANNUAL REPORTS
b. Collections of Paper
Yards
Tons
January
6072
425
February
5280
370
March
5544
389
April
5808
407
May
5808
407
June
4032
263
July
4416
268
August
4032
263
September
5808
407
October
5872
426
November
5280
370
December
6072
425
A total of 6500 tons of garbage was collected during the year.
The above figures are approximate and are based on the general average of amounts carried by the trucks and their capacity.
C. DISPOSAL
1. DUMPING
Rubbish and refuse is trucked in City-owned vehicles to a dump in Medford operated by the Mystic Disposal Corporation. With our contract scheduled to expire on December 31, 1958, and notification received that it wouldn't be renewed, negotia- tions were begun during the year for carrying the loads to the nearest available dump, the one in Saugus.
However, following receipt by the Medford firm of an ex- tension of its operation of an open dump there, to March 15, 1960, the firm agreed to renew our contract for the same period. Considerable saving was thus effected to the City in avoidance of the long run to Saugus at this time.
Garbage is collected by a private contractor who furnished trucks and drivers with the City furnishing collectors.
2. INCINERATOR
The question of construction of a City incinerator has been one that has troubled administrations for many years and, as the open dumps around us have been gradually closing, the need for an answer has grown imperative. For many years now the City has been entirely dependent on the whims of out of
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
town dump owners and other City councils and boards of health. It has also borne high maintenance costs growing out of running trucks into open dumps.
Upon receipt of notification that our dump contract wouldn't be renewed when it expired December 31, 1958, (an example of the above-mentioned situation) it became more necessary than ever that some definite policy be determined and action taken toward either a permanent or at least a long term solution to this problem, which was coupled with rising costs even in continuation of its present policy.
It is of interest here to note that although the Board of Aldermen had ratified an MDC plan for construction of an area incinerator some time previously, necessary ratification hadn't been forthcoming from other communities and no further ac- tion had been taken by the MDC.
First step taken during the year was the application by the Mayor and approved by the Board of Aldermen on May 28 for an interest-free Federal loan of $75,000. for incinerator plans and a comparative price study on the various solutions possible.
Shortly after the application, however, notification was re- ceived of the dump contract's final expiration, and it became necessary for action to be started in some direction as soon as possible. Accordingly I directed such a study myself within the department.
Sanitary division men were dispatched and instructed to tally the collections from business and commercial establish- ments in order to determine the feasibility of proposals for a fee collection system for businesses. I personally visited in- cinerators in operation in many cities; discussions were held with the only firm submitting concrete proposals for construc- tion of an incinerator and leasing its services to us; and test runs were made to the Saugus dump for a week to determine the costs in gasoline and other items, probable time schedules and additional equipment which would be necessary.
Our studies were completed in August and submitted to Your Honor and the Honorable Board of Aldermen on August 14. Copies were distributed to each alderman and made public in the newspapers. They are also available at the Department Office.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Upon receipt of the proposal the Board of Aldermen signi- fied their preference for the implementation of Proposal C, the construction of a City-owned incinerator. A 20-year bond issue of $1,400,000. was accordingly requested by you, Mr. Mayor, and approved by the Board of Aldermen on August 21.
All parties had been discussing all procedures for some time, since the discussions had started with the Mayor's in- augural address and continued on May 12, when the Board of Aldermen voted to include in the tax levy $35,000 as collateral against a possible bond issue in the event it was decided during the year to construct an incinerator.
Just a few days prior to my submission of the three-part report on the rubbish disposal problem, word was received that the Community Facilities Administration of the Housing and Home Finance Administration had granted the City's request for an interest-free incinerator study and planning loan.
It was decided, however, to forego this loan since its two advantages - money for studying the problem and release from repayment if the incinerator wasn't built - were nullified by the completion of our study and the subsequent authoriza- tion for actual construction.
Several discussions were held on the entire problem with interested civic groups.
A lot consisting of 91,616 sq. ft. of land bounded by McGrath Highway, Linwood Street and Poplar Street, in the Brickbottom Redevelopment area was taken by eminent do- main; and the firm of Robert Charles Associates engaged to draw up plans and specifications.
Assurance was received from the State Department of Public Works that the site would be safe from possible road construction, a danger found in other sites considered. Since the land had already been cleared for industry, the Brickbottom site was the least expensive to procure and had the added advantage of not having any residents who might be disturbed by the convergence of dump trucks.
Initial borrowing in the amount of $250,000. on the bond issue was made in October for the purchase of the land at
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
$128,262.40, preliminary engineering and architectural work, borings and other associated work thus minimizing interest payments on the bond issue.
The incinerator will have three furnaces with a total capa- city of 450 tons in 24 hours. All unloading will be done inside the structure and the high chimney will supply the motive force for the natural draft plant whose mechanism will elimi- nate the flue gas and result in the complete elimination of smoke and odor.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
VI. WATER DIVISION
A. Maintenance and Inspection
The Water Division performed its usual duties of main- taining the water system. This includes repair of leaks, thawing of pipes and meters, continuous maintenance of both high and low pressure system, meter reading and water billing.
Operating on a 24-hour basis, the division is vitally affected by weather conditions and major construction programs of all types; and is one of the divisions credited with the reduction in mercantile fire insurance rates.
Following are some comments from the Fire Underwriters' survey:
"Emergency service - water division also works 24 hours, one man on duty at all times responds to all second alarms which are received on a tapper in the office and four working foremen rotate being on call during the off-hours and respond to all second alarms and emergencies. The Commissioner responds to most second and all third alarms
On the care of the City's 1,372 public and 92 private hy- drants the report states:
"Hydrants are inspected every fall and after the use in cold weather but are not regularly flushed. Of about 120 hydrants operated during this survey, all were in good operating condition
(All persons having business which might require the use of a hydrant, such as public utilities and the various divisions of the department are instructed annually on the procedure necessary for notifying the water division following the open- ing of a hydrant in order that it may be pumped out imme- diately to eliminate the danger of freezing and the resultant fire hazard).
The report also comments:
"Gate valves are generally well spaced valves inspected were in good condition Hydrants are of good size and are well distributed throughout
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
the city. They are regularly inspected and are in gen- erally good condition."
Following are some tabulations for the year 1958:
Excavated and repaired leaks at 425 locations. Performed major repairs or replacement of 58 hydrants. Installed 11 new hydrant gate valves. Repaired and repacked 56 main gates. Cleaned out 94 gate boxes.
Installed 45 sets of hydrant guards, a program introduced by this department.
Several hydrants were relocated and repaired and three new hydrants were installed at Joy Street, Medford Street, at Cen- tral Street and Powder House Boulevard. All lines in the Brickbottom Redevelopment project area were relaid.
B. Water Breaks
There were three breaks in water lines during the year, a six-inch line at Garfield Avenue on December 18, and opposite 7 Jasper Street on December 10, both comparatively minor leaks; and a 16-inch line on Washington Street, between Boston and Mansfield Streets on January 17, which required assistance of men from other divisions.
Approximately 515,700 gallons of water escaped from the break in the 65-year-old main in front of the Pope School. The break was reported at 4:02 P.M. on Friday afternoon, January 17, and water service was restored at 7:30 A.M. the next morning, since the men had worked through the night in locating and repairing the leak. The heavy base on Washington Street forced the water to erupt at the head of Mansfield Street, some distance from the leak and added to the initial difficulties in locating it. Five gate valves had to be closed in order to completely shut off the water which stopped flowing at 4:50 P.M.
Cars were allowed to resume on the heavily trafficked road within 24 hours of the break and road repairs were complete by the following Tuesday morning.
All precautions were taken as regards to rerouting of fire and police alarms, evacuation of residents and inspections of nearby property for possible undermining.
The erupting water undermined a 75-foot section of Wash- ington Street and Mansfield Street, 100 feet down toward
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Somerville Avenue. These were temporarily repaired and will be reconstructed under the Chapter 90 program.
C. Water Meters
Major project tackled by the water division during the year was the installation of 3500 meters purchased early in the year in order to effect a final solution to the problem of nipples and estimated bills in many sections of the City. A total of 2,174 of the meters were installed during the year, with 1,326 re- maining. In addition 60 meters were repaired and replaced.
Approval of a $125,000 ten-year bond issue for purchase of the meters was granted in February of last year by the Board of Aldermen with no collateral required since it was a revenue producing item. At the time there were 3,211 locations where no meters were in operation and many others where meters needed replacing.
Bids were publicly advertised and following testing of the sample meters submitted by bidders, the contract was awarded to the low bidder, R. H. Smith Supply Co. of Lynn, agents for Calmet meter, a meter which has been found reliable by the division.
Major portion of the installation was done during July and August with as many as 16 being installed in one day by the regular division men. Emergency calls, however, limited the rate of installation.
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
VII. PARKING AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
A. Offstreet Parking
1. MAGOUN SQUARE
Work resumed in March on the Magoun Square lot which had been opened in the latter part of 1958 on a non-metered basis in order to give the concrete retaining wall proper setting time prior to finish surfacing. In 1958 edgestones were set around the safety islands, parking meter posts were erected and meters installed, the lot paved with bituminous concrete, and traffic lights from the exit were co-ordinated with the Dexter Street traffic movement. Meters were in operation on May 16, with heads for five, ten or twenty-five cents, giving parking for two, four or ten hours in order to encourage use of the lot for all day parking.
2. UNION AND DAVIS SQUARES
We attended several meetings and hearings on the matter of off-street parking in Union Square and in September a spe- cialized engineering firm, Parking Associates of Boston, was engaged to study the problem of parking in the Square posed by the scattered area covered and the wide variance of opinion as to where the parking lot should go. By vote of the Board of Aldermen the area to the rear of the stores stretching from Stone to Warren Avenue was eliminated from consideration.
Results of this study were received in December. Its elabo- rate recommendations are being studied with a view toward making initial recommendations to implement the program and integrate it with expansion of the Davis Square lot.
Also being given careful study before further recommen- dations are the reports on parking meter receipts in order to find a cure for the slack off in receipts so that the program may be maintained as self-supporting without cost to the tax- payers.
B. Changes in Regulations
1. ON-STREET PARKING
Alternation Plan - With the number of cars registered from this City growing annually, the problem of traffic and on- street parking has been increasing with the number of cars in almost geometric progression.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
The parking problem is bad all year round, but it is par- ticularly serious during the winter months. Parked cars on any side of a narrow street hamper plowing, sweeping, general maintenance, passage of emergency, delivery and other vehi- cles. But it must be conceded that, with the number of cars registered in this City and the garages available, it would be impractical and unreasonable to attempt to ban parking entire- ly even at night, as is done in many neighboring communities.
The piling up of snow banks, shovelling out of cars and driveways and the throwing of snow into the street again, double parking next to snowed in cars, and the shovelling out of cars to move to the other side of the street in compliance with nightly alternation regulations while others remain on the same side - all these further aggravate the situation.
In order to alleviate this problem, I proposed to the Board. of Aldermen on January 10, 1957, and advocated once more in 1958, a plan of monthly alternation of parked cars with one side parking both day and night. This regulation would not only be easier for motorists to comply with, but would also allow us to operate our plowing runs so that the snow is plowed away from the cars and piled up on only one side, making the road clear, and making it easier for cars to be moved from the curb.
The need for serious consideration of such a plan and of getting as many cars as possible into off-street sites, driveways, garages, lawns, or public lots was emphasized last February, 1958, when the City was hit with a 20-inch snow storm. Work- ing closely with the police department on all traffic and con- gestion problems, we joined with the police department in issuing public notices of the emergency powers available for towing and the police department towed away 105 cars in the February storm alone. The cars had been blocking streets, and particularly intersections, for some time.
The need for a solution - even if it be one at first un- popular until its advantages are fully realized - is constant and merely emphasized by the advent of such storms.
2. TRAFFIC COMMISSION
This department also carries on a good many of the activ- ities of the traffic commission, which consists of the Fire Chief, the head of the police traffic division; myself as Commissioner;
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
and representatives of the DPW highway, engineering, and electric lines and lights divisions.
The Commission investigates problems involved in creating one-way streets, parking limitations, and timing and changes in traffic signals and signs.
During the year many requests for studies are made by the Board of Aldermen. All requests are considered carefully, as well as other problems posed by areas where congestion or ac- cidents are found to occur; and recommendations made to the Board of Aldermen, who must determine final action or passage of a new ordinance.
The department makes few recommendations without full consultation with the persons most directly affected on such matters and the DPW handles the sending of questionnaires on proposed changes. During 1958 a total of 873 question- naires were prepared, mailed, and the returns processed and compiled prior to recommendations on five questions of one- way streets and one question of parking restrictions.
a. Spring - Laurel Streets
The establishment of a one-way street often reflects on the traffic in an entire area and requires consideration of the area as a whole in plotting one-way street patterns.
An example of the inter-relation of one-way streets may be found in Central Street which was made one-way from Summer Street toward Somerville Avenue to eliminate a hazardous traf- fic condition.
Studies of the problem, which involved traffic counts of vehicles at various intersections and in front of the Carr School, resulted in recommendation and adoption of a one-way system which covered the immediate area and included the reversal of Central Street's one-way direction. Streets included were Harvard, Laurel, Spring, Beech, and Atherton.
b. Kidder Avenue
Changes in traffic signs and signals require compilation of traffic counts by the department, gathering of accident reports from the police department, and several sketches and line
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ANNUAL REPORTS
drawings prepared by the engineering division. Following ap- proval by the Board of Aldermen of such ordinance changes, the change in traffic regulation must also meet approval with the State Department of Public Works, which requires the above-mentioned data.
Among the several changes on which approval was obtained during 1958 was the establishment of Bay State, Lowden and Liberty Avenues as full stop streets at the intersection of Kidder Avenue as an accident curative measure.
c. Teele Square
A bad situation was averted in Teele Square when the MTA agreed to our request that it drop its plan to operate a mainte- nance service line over Cameron Avenue from Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, to the Clarendon Hill car barns.
Following our appearance, with the fire chief and electric lines and lights head, at a public hearing in opposition, the MTA announced plans to accelerate its enlargement of the Bennet Street car barns in Cambridge in order to accommodate the trackless trolley on the Massachusetts Avenue run, rather than going to the Clarendon Hill barns.
d. Magoun and Davis Squares
Studies were made during the year of traffic problems in Davis and Magoun Squares in conjunction with the police de- partment. Changes in Davis Square included the making of Herbert Street two-way, thus keeping some cars out of the center of the Square.
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
VIII. EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL
A. Personnel
Men 371
Women ...
... 24
B. Equipment
During the year the department was requested to handle the disposal of three obsolete city vehicles: a Cadillac sedan belonging to the Civilian Defense Department; a Pontiac beach wagon of the water division, originally received from the Fed- eral government as surplus; and a Ford sedan of the highway division. Bids were opened October 31, and the cars sold to the only bidder, a junk car dealer, for the bid price of $40.
1. We have permanent shop equipment and machinery to operate main repair shop, lubritorium, and garage shops for the various divisions.
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