Report of the city of Somerville 1960, Part 9

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1960
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 356


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1960 > Part 9


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14) WOODSTOCK STREET PLAYGROUND :-


Reduce the size of the opening at the Playground by the erection of a Gate. (Present large opening, because of Playground slope, presents a safety hazard.) Repair of Fence bordering private property on Waterhouse Street.


15) CUMMINGS PLAYGROUND :- Extension of Fence on both sides of Playground adjacent to houses. Resurfacing of play area.


16) CUTLER PLAYGROUND :-


Resurfacing of lower level of play area.


17) DURELL PLAYGROUND :- -


Replacing or tightening of Screens in School Building. Heightening of Fence between the School Building and adjoining Yards on Harrison Street side.


18) MORSE PLAYGROUND :- Repair of Swing Frame.


19) PERRY PLAYGROUND :-


Provision of some type of Screen on all Windows. Wire on top of Fences bordering the Playground should be bent down to prevent injury.


20) Installation of Horseshoe Boxes at all athletic areas, similar to the ones in the recently completed new Dilboy Field recreation area.


21) Planting of Trees on all Parks and Playgrounds, with priority given to the following: - Lincoln, Hoyt-Sullivan, Woodstock, Florence, and Albion Playgrounds.


22) Repair and painting of all Benches and Fences on Parks and Play- grounds.


150


ANNUAL REPORTS


23) Immediate development for play purposes of the area located on Lexington Avenue, opposite the end of Hancock Street, formerly the site of the Highland Railroad Station.


24) Establishment of a Summer schedule by the Highway or Engineering Divisions that would result in a periodic clean-up of the larger playgrounds. In recent years there has been a great deal of broken glass on these areas, especially after week ends.


25) Distribution of stationary Barrels for refuse at all play areas through- out the City, especially during the Summer season.


26) TRADE HIGH SCHOOL :-


As of this writing, installation of the Suspended Basketball Backstop has not been made in the Auditorium - Gymnasium. Before the Backstop can be installed, the City is expected to furnish and in- stall an "overhead pipe cradle."


27) WESTERN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL :-


Cages for Locker Room Lights. Padding on Walls behind both Baskets in Gymnasium.


Although both Dilboy Field and Foss Park are now the responsibility of the Metropolitan District Commission, in view of their Somerville location, continued efforts should be made to bring them up to desirable standards. Hence the following recommendations :-


1) DILBOY FIELD :-


To bring to completion certain recommendations made by residents and groups in West Somerville, via their State Legislature, per- taining to the Baseball Diamonds (grading, planting of grass, re- moval of stones, etc.).


Trees should be planted in the picnic area.


Sweeper should clean parking areas, weekly or bi-weekly.


Accelerate construction of overpass (appropriation of $100,000 has already been made for this purposes). In the event of prolonged delay, consideration should be given to the construction of a set of pedestrian lights on Alewife Brook Parkway at the foot of High Street.


2) FOSS PARK :-


Effort should be made by all parties concerned with the proper de- velopment of this area (Public Works, Schools, Recreation, private groups, etc.) to accelerate its redevolpment in a manner most suit- able to its maximum use for athletic purposes.


In closing, the Commission gratefully acknowledges the co-operation during 1960 of His Honor The Mayor; the Board of Aldermen; the Public Works Commissioner and the Depart- ment of Public Works, including the Engineering, Public Buildings, Highway, Sanitary, and Electrical Divisions; the Fire and Police Departments; and the Metropolitan District Com- mission; and acknowledges especially the co-operation of the Chief of Police, the Superintendent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent, the Principals of the Senior High and Junior High Schools, the Supervising Principals and Teachers of the


151


RECREATION COMMISSION


Elementary Schools, and the Director and Teachers of the Trade High School.


In addition to expressing appreciation in general to the various Municipal officials and others mentioned above, the Recreation Commission wishes to give special recognition to Mr. John F. McMahon, Principal of the Southern Junior High School, for his many acts of co-operation and his understanding of the Commission's problems as to indoor facilities. From September to June, on afternoons and evenings throughout the week, the Commission uses the facilities at the Southern Junior High School for its indoor programs more than any other public building in the City. On several afternoons each week, the Commission conducts three different activities simultane- ously at the Southern Junior High School. Yet Mr. McMahon has been co-operative to the extreme.


Appreciation is expressed also to the various Churches and members of the clergy, and to Veteran, Service, and Social organizations of the City for their co-operation during the past year.


Deserved recognition is also given to the "SOMERVILLE JOURNAL-PRESS" and to the Somerville Edition of the "BOSTON AMERICAN" for the excellent coverage given the Commission's program and activities throughout the year. Without the continuous and accurate presentation to the pub- lic of the recreational opportunities available to them via these two excellent media, the response to, and recognition of, the Commission's program would be substantially reduced.


Appended to this Report is the Financial Summary for the year 1960 and a list of Activities Under The Recreation Com- mission.


Respectfully submitted,


THE RECREATION COMMISSION, by CHARLES S. KELLEY, Secretary.


152


ANNUAL REPORTS


City of Somerville, Recreation Commission


FINANCIAL SUMMARY, 1960


ANNUAL APPROPRIATION (March 5) ..


$110,702.70


TRANSFERS:


To Fire Department, Ordinary Maintenance


Account (Nov. 2)


$1,478.50


To Law Dept., Damage to Persons & Prop- erty Account (Dec. 13)


2,000.00


$3,478.50


3,478.50


$107,224.20


EXPENDITURES:


Salaries and Wages


$94,920.20


Athletic Supplies


2,669.38


Playground Supplies, Paraphernalia, Etc.


2,191.61


Other Recreation Supplies


2,929.47


Printing, Planographing, Etc.


332.00


Rental of Equipment, Trucks, Buses, Etc.


342.00


Music Scores, Records, Etc.


52.76


Office Supplies


803.55


Telephone


471.78


Postage, Parcel Post, and Express


211.97


Repairs


64.30


Photographic Services and Supplies


287.59 50.00


Maintenance of Vehicles


701.79


Automobile Allowance


485.00


Books and Pamphlets for Workers' Profes-


sional Improvement


32.55


Carfares and Other Personal Disbursements


54.59


Convention Expenses


109.96


Insurance


107.13


Special Items:


Photo Enlarger


176.95


Folding Chairs


121.60


All Other


102.40


TOTAL EXPENDITURES


$107,218.58


107,218.58


UNEXPENDED BALANCE


$ 5.62


Special Services


ACTIVITIES UNDER THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE RECREATION COMMISSION


Recreation Activity


No. of Units


Location


Under 16 Plgds. & School Grounds


Summer Playgrounds


29


Saturday Playgrounds


15


Under 12


School Grounds & Plgds.


Saturday Indoor Centers ..


9


Under 12


School Bldgs. & Housing Project


Boys' Clubs


8


11-18


School Bldgs.


Girls' Clubs


3


11-18


School Bldgs.


Sept. - June


June


Baseball "Clinic" for Boys


5


Adult


Public Bldg.


Oct. - June


Ceramics Clubs


4


8-12


School Bldgs.


Oct. - June


Arts & Crafts Clubs (Boy-Girl) ..


1


11-18


Public Bldg.


Oct. - June


Teen-Craft Club for Girls


1


Adult


Public Bldg.


Camera Club


2


8-12


School Bldgs.


Children's Theatre ..


1


Under 11


Public Library


Story-Telling Program


1


Adult


School Bldg.


Oct. - May Oct. - May


Junior Recreation Chorus


1


12-18


School Bldg.


Oct. - March


"Fisical" Fitness Program (Boys)


4


12-16


School Bldgs.


Oct. - March


"Fisical" Fitness Program (Girls) Model Aircraft Clubs


3


10-16


School Bldgs.


Gymnasium Program for Men .. Leagues for Boys:


1


Adult


School Bldg.


Basketball


24 teams


12-19


School Bldgs.


Twilight Basketball (Outdoor) .. Leagues for Men:


16 teams


13-20


Plgd. & School Grounds


Nov. - March


Basketball


8 teams


Adult


School Bldg.


Sept. - April


Bowling


16 teams


Adult


Public Alleys


May - August


Horseshoe


5 teams


Adult


Playground


April - Sept.


Softball


12 teams


Adult


Parks & Plgds.


May - July


Senior Citizens Program


1


Over 60


Y.M.C.A.


Year - round


Program for "Shut-ins"


1


Under 14


Somerville Hospital


Year - round


..


.


153


RECREATION COMMISSION


Season


July - Aug. Sept. - Dec. - Mar. June


I: Jan. - March Sept. - June


1


9-16


Parks & Plgds.


Year - round


Oct. - May


Jan. - Apr. - Oct. - Dec.


Community Recreation Chorus


1


12-18


School Bldg.


Oct. - May


Oct. - March


Dec. - April May - July


Twilight Basketball (Outdoor)


10 teams


Adult Playground


154


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS


January 1, 1961


Honorable Harold W. Wells City Hall


Somerville, Massachusetts


Dear Mayor Wells:


I am pleased to submit the following report on the activities of the Somerville Department of Public Works for the period from January 1, 1960 through December 31, 1960.


BUILDING DIVISION


The Building Division has complete care of and mainte- nance of all public schools, and public buildings, the granting of permits, the condemnation of hazardous property and the inspection of new construction. This includes the maintaining of boilers, heating and ventilating systems, plumbing and elec- trical installations. Also replacing sash, glazing, painting, locksmithing and carpentry work. In addition, they handle the setting up of polling places, erection of band stands, furnish folding chairs for all types of activities, set up special class- rooms and prepare buildings for many school and civic func- tions.


Following are tabulations for the year 1960:


550 Building permits issued


1,220 Building Inspections performed


1,208 Gas permits issued


688 Plumbing permits issued


48 Elevator permits issued


2,034 Plumbing and Gas Inspections performed


646 Elevator Inspections performed


153 Builders licenses - New and renewals


24 Gasfitters licenses renewed


418 Elevator licenses - New and renewals


$8,214.29 Cash receipts for Licenses, Permits & Inspections


155


PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT


ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS DIVISION


This Division has 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. It operates twenty-four hours a day and is located in a build- ing adjacent to the Central Fire Station on Medford Street. Traffic signals are repaired here and parking meter collections processed.


The following is a list of accomplishments for the year 1960:


As the parking meters were over ten years old and mainten- ance calls were on the increase, and meters plus the coin boxes, were a source of trouble we replaced 850 parking meters with new meters that take pennies, nickels, and dimes.


Painted all parking meter stalls throughout the City.


The equipment at twenty-five (25) traffic intersections was painted, traffic counts were taken, and "stop" signs in- stalled at six intersections.


Cable pulled in and spliced for the new installation of a Fire Box in front of the administration Building at the Housing project and a combination Fire Box and Police Box installed on Memorial Road to insure the residents of better Fire and Police protection.


Removed 2000 feet of various size cable damaged by con- struction throughout the City. This was replaced with rubber-covered Anhydrous cable.


Painted 100 Fire Boxes and 50 Police Boxes.


The same policy of strict inspections of electrical wiring has been carried on as in past years. The use of unapproved materials and appliances has been constantly condemned by our re-inspection system. The number of permits issued for work and inspections thereto are as follows:


Permits (new work)


1405


Inspections (new work)


649


Re-Inspections (new work) 119


Re-Inspections (old work)


1159


Defective installations (old work)


207


Defective installations remedied 180


Permits to New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. to open streets 33


Permits to Boston Edison Company to open streets .. Permission given to Boston Edison Company


106


to set meters 1440


156


ANNUAL REPORTS


We started a new program in 1960 whereas it was recom- mended that Rest Homes be connected directly to our Fire Alarm Headquarters. The Clarendon Hill Rest Home is now connected in this manner. The Rest Home stands the expense of the complete installation from the building to our Fire Box on the street, and the City gains one (1) Master Fire Box. The Rest Home maintains all the equipment on the property.


The following list is of changes made in street lighting throughout the City by the Boston Edison Company:


Changed 17 - 800 lumen to a larger size


Installed 24-1000 lumen


Installed 9-2500 lumen


Installed 11 - 6000 lumen


All lights are installed on a new 6 foot arm and raised to a standard height of 20 feet.


ENGINEERING DIVISION


This Division's duties consist of cleaning catch basins and storm drains, repairing and rebuilding storm drains and sewer mains, general maintenance and repair of parks, playgrounds, cemeteries and recreational facilities, including ice skating areas. The office prepares detailed drawings and specifications for bids, surveys, layouts, grades, lines, inspections and plans for all types of City activities.


A walk and stairs were constructed at the Conwell School enabling the children to enter and leave the school without walking on Capen Street.


The walk across Lincoln Park between the ballfields was raised to permit passage during heavy storms.


HIGHWAY DIVISION


The Highway Division has performed its regular duties of snow plowing and removal, sanding, scraping, street sweeping and cleaning, tree removal, tree trimming and spraying, street and sidewalk repairs, edgestone repairs, construction of new driveways and sidewalks both concrete and bituminous con- crete, street painting and striping including crosswalks, sil- houettes and warning signs. During January, February and March Highway Division trucks and crews worked with the


157


PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT


Sanitary Division on the rubbish collection and performed many other duties such as Christmas tree removal, placing and maintaining sand boxes throughout the city and clearance of debris following storms.


A partial tally of accomplishments this year includes:


Installation of 383 new Street Signs Installation of 198 Traffic Regulatory Signs


Construction of 71 New Driveways


Construction of 4979 linear feet Concrete Side- walks


Construction of 350 linear feet Bituminous Con- crete Sidewalks


Trimmed and topped 208 trees


Removed 49 trees, 11 of which was the result of Hurricane Donna


Issued 94 permits to occupy sidewalks


Issued 289 street opening permits to Public Util- ities


Cash receipts for sidewalk and driveway construction $3,879.70


Cash reimbursements from Public Utilities for permanent repairs to their openings $10,032.73


CHAPTER 90


The State approved and supervised the construction of streets for 1960 Chapter 90 work, for which the State and County contributed $64,464.35.


The following streets were resurfaced under this combined program:


Morrison Avenue


Preston Road


Bonner Avenue


Grove Street


Crocker Street


Newton Street


South Street


Merriam Street


Otis Street


Tower Street


The eleventh street, Willow Avenue, was held over to be constructed in 1961.


Somerville is one of the cities transferred from District Office #4 to a new District Office #8 of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works. The cities and towns near Boston comprise the new district.


158


ANNUAL REPORTS


SANITARY


The ashes, refuse, paper and cartons collected are now be- ing hauled to the new Municipal Incinerator. Unusually large articles such as divans, springs, mattresses, heavy furniture, metal, etc. are brought to the dump in Medford.


The total estimated collections of garbage amounted to 6,500 tons. The work is being done by a private contractor who furnishes trucks and chauffeurs. The city supplies the laborers. Collections are made according to terms of the garbage contract.


Following are tabulations compiled during the year 1960, ashes, refuse and paper:


LOADS


TONS


January


1251


2425


February


1184


2356


March


1018


2409


April


1009


1963


May


1048


2340


June


1230


1909


July


1009


1938


August


1019


2298


September


1000


2341


October


1009


2174


November


1230


2228


December


1240


2307


The above figures are approximate and are based on the general average of amounts carried by trucks.


INCINERATOR


The new Municipal Incinerator was put in operation March 1961, and to date operates eight hours a day, five days a week. It has three furnaces with a total capacity of 450 tons in a twenty-four hour period. All unloading is done inside the structure.


The Incinerator should reduce the city's sanitation prob- lems by its being conveniently located within the City limits and providing considerable savings on gas, oil, tires and the wear and tear of the trucks.


WATER DIVISION


The Water Division performed its usual duties of main- taining the water system. This includes repair of leaks, thawing


159


PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT


of pipes and meters, continuous maintenance of both high and low pressure systems, meter reading and water billing. The Water Division operating on a twenty-four hour basis, is vitally affected by weather conditions and major construction pro- grams of all types.


Following are some tabulations for the year 1960:


Excavated and repaired leaks at 454 locations.


Excavated and installed 31 new water services.


Performed major repairs or replacements on 34 hydrants.


Performed major repairs or replacements on 24 hydrant gate valves.


Installed 1 hydrant gate valve.


Installed 5 sets of hydrant guards.


Cleaned out 131 gate boxes.


Repaired and repacked 122 main gate valves.


Performed major repairs to main pipe lines at 4 locations.


Removed 2 abandoned water posts.


Repaired and replaced 739 meters.


Excavated and cleaned 120 poor pressure water pipes.


DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT


Portable Equipment


2 Power Rollers


2 Street Striping Machines


4 Compressors


2 Trailer Pumps


2 Trailers


1 Concrete Mixer


6 Power Mowers


1 Material Spreader


1 Flexible Sewer Cleaning Machine


1 3-5 Ton Roller


4 Generators


10 Pumps


1 Portable Saw


5 Gasoline Chain Saws


1 Pipe Threading Machine


1 Pipe Cutter


1 Band Saw


In addition to the above we have all types of Ladders, Hand Tools, Jacks, Bars, Floodlights, etc.


Rolling Equipment


16 Dump Trucks


13 Load Packers


12 Pick-up Trucks


11 Trucks with specialized service bodies


2 Catch Basin Cleaning Machines


160


ANNUAL REPORTS


2 Walter Snow Fighters


1 Walter Snow Fighter with Crane


4 Rack Body Trucks


5 Street Sweepers


2 Tractor Plows


2 Snow-go Loaders


2 Hough Payloaders


2 Power Wagons


2 Low Boy Trailers


1 Ingersall Rand Trailer


1 Tow Truck


1 Jeep


3 Station Wagons


1 Sedan


1 Stump Cutter


We advertised the sale of the following pieces of obsolete equipment and sold them to the highest bidder, The Town of Arlington, for the sum of $12,600.00:


1 Walter Snow Fighter 1936 Model


2 Walter Snow Fighters 1935 Model


1 Walter Snow Fighter 1934 Model


3 Ford Dump Trucks


1948 Model


1 Elgin Street Sweeper 1948 Model


1 Cletrac Tractor


1945 Model


5 Flink Sand Spreaders


1953 Model


Savransky Bros. Co. was the low bidder on three large bells which had been removed from fire station towers.


In conclusion, may | express my thanks to His Honor, Mayor Harold W. Wells, the members of the Honorable Board of Aldermen and City Government, and to the employees of the Public Works Department who have so kindly co-operated at all times to make the year 1960 a successful one.


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD T. BRADY, Commissioner of Public Works


161


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


May 23, 1961


To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville


Gentlemen:


The Board of Public Welfare herewith submits the Annual Report of the Director of Public Assistance for the year 1960, together with illustrative statistical tables.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN J. CONWAY, Chairman EDWARD F. LYONS, Associate Member JOSEPH J. GALVIN, Associate Member


162


ANNUAL REPORTS


May 23, 1961


To the Members of the Board of Public Welfare


Gentlemen:


The following is respectfully submitted as the Annual Re- port of the Director of Public Assistance for the year ending December 31, 1960:


On January 28, 1960 Mayor Wells appointed Mr. Edward Lyons to serve as a member of the Board to replace Mrs. J. Helen Clough, whose term had expired. At its meeting of February 23, 1960, the Board unanimously elected Mr. John Henry to serve as Chairman.


With the exception of Old Age Assistance, all categories of assistance showed a marked increase in the number of cases aided and consequently a marked increase in cost. The Aid to Dependent Children category moved steadily upward from 349 cases in December, 1959 to 401 cases in December, 1960. In the same period the average monthly grant in each case moved from $153.59 to $168.45. Disability Assistance in the same period increased from 180 cases to 204 cases with average monthly grants increasing from $111.50 to $127.33. General Relief, despite the wave of unemployment in the latter months of the year, was held to a minor increase.


Old Age Assistance showed a slight but steady monthly decrease in the number of cases, dropping from 1789 in De- cember, 1959 to 1709 in December, 1960. Chief credit for this can be attributed to increased Social Security benefits by persons recently retired from employment. These workers, in contrast to workers who retired some years previous, have greater coverage because of longer employment at higher wages. Also the higher wages of children make more of them liable for a higher legal contribution toward their parents' sup- port, thus making public assistance unnecessary. Ironically, even with fewer cases, the total expenditure for Old Age As- sistance decreased only an average of $2,200 a month. This would be due to higher daily rates for hospitalization, nursing home care, general medical care and allowances for leisure time activity, all increases being required by law. These same factors, together with additional cases, helped to increase the cost of the other categories.


163


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


On October 1, 1960, a new category of public assistance came into existence. This category, known as medical care for the aged, is intended to assist those persons over sixty-five years of age who have sufficient income and personal assets to provide for their daily needs in their own home, but who lack sufficient funds with which to pay medical expenses. The law also provides that those persons whose physical condition is such that they have no need to maintain a home, but rather must have care in a nursing home, chronic hospital or institu- tion, shall have their needs met through this new program. Medical care for the aged is very liberal in permitting recipi- ents to have personal assets plus monthly income. No liens on real estate are permitted and children are given higher exemp- tions of income before being liable for contributions to their parents' support than are the children of old age assistance recipients. Participation by the federal government in the cost is at the rate of fifty percent with reimbursement by the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts at the rate of fifty percent of the remainder.


Our experience to date is not sufficient to predict the fu- ture cost of this program, but it is the consensus of opinion among welfare administrators throughout the Commonwealth that it will be extremely high. Eligibility requirements are so meager that many hundreds of persons who would not other- wise be eligible for public assistance will now qualify.


It is natural that as the number of cases increase so does the work and consequently the need for personnel. During the year we found it necessary to add three additional social workers and four additional clerks. We are still below the desirable level in the number of social workers, particularly in the face of increasing case loads and especially in the category of Aid to Dependent Children. All workers in all divisions are responsible for more cases than they can efficiently handle and the more federal money that is received as reimbursement the more detail is required of the workers to comply with federal regulations. Serious thought must be given in the coming year to increasing the social service staff not only to handle detail and paper work, but more important, to render case work serv- ice. It is penny wise to spend money for public assistance without making some effort to cure the causes which created the necessity. Case work is the answer.


Serious thought must also be given to enlarging our quar- ters. Sixty-one persons are now occupying space suitable for only two-thirds that number. Such crowded conditions breed


164


ANNUAL REPORTS


inefficiency and tend to absorb the energy of the staff. The nature of the work, depressing as it is, requiring constant at- tention and deserving of careful analysis, cannot be properly handled in an atmosphere of necessary noise and unavoidable confusion. Recipients entering such an area of confusion can- not help but be effected and workers experience difficulties in obtaining the information they seek and providing the proper advice and counsel. We are no longer just a relief giving agency. Public welfare has become a business of "social serv- ice". Social service cannot properly be performed under such conditions.




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