USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1935-1940 > Part 26
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7,000
178 50
Woodhull, Charles E.
340
7,000
187 17
Woodward, Arthur
75
3,000
78 41
Woodworth, Lewis M.
3,500
89 25
Worcester, Alice E. et al
2,000
51 00
Wruck, Wilhelmina G.
700
17 85
Young, Charlotte Wales
6,000
153 00
62
TOWN OF LINCOLN
OVERLAY RESERVE
Transferred from 1930 Overlay Account $235 38
Transferred from 1931 Overlay Account
2,108 31
Transferred from 1932 Overlay Account
Transferred from 1933 Overlay Account 2,060 42
Transferred from 1934 Overlay Account
1,618 71
Transferred from 1935 Overlay Account
1935 Deficit of $13.50 to be raised in 1939 Assessment-
January 1, 1939, Balance in Overlay Reserve $6,022 82
1936 Overlay Account
1936 Overlay Deficit January 1, 1938
$342 38
1936 Overlay Deficit raised in 1939 Commitment 342 38
Balance in 1936 Overlay Account
Additional 1936 Abatements made in 1938 243 93
1936 Overlay Deficit to be raised in 1939 Commitment .... 243 93
1937 Overlay Account
1937 Overlay Balance January 1, 1938 $959 85
1937 Abatements made in 1938 502 20
Balance in 1937 Overlay Account January 1, 1939 $457 65
1938 Overlay Account
1938 Overlay Assessment $3,694 73
1938 Abatements made in 1938 2,504 87
1938 Overlay Balance January 1, 1939 $1,189 86
63
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board organized with Sumner Smith, Chairman and Robert D. Donaldson, Jr., Secretary. Appointments nude by the Selectmen are printed with the list of Town Officers.
The report of the Selectmen embodies the important activities of the Board this past year and reflects the growing complexity of our Town government which has been brought about by our new Zoning and Building By- laws and the regulations of the various State and Federal agencies under which the Town operates.
Town Office Clerk-During 1934 the Federal Govern- ment was sponsoring alphabetical activities and welfare contributions, requiring monthly detailed reports, and frequent applications and conferences, to such an extent that no one of the Selec'men of that year could devote the necessary and punctual time to properly look after the Town's share of cash allotments under these ever- changing schemes. Consequently, a clerk was employed at first to help the Selectmen with the then E. R. A., and quite rapidly, as additional routine duties were imposed on the Town by the State and Federal Governments, the clerk became more and more useful until, with the Water Works renewals and extensions, he had more than a full- time job. The Selectmen feel that this custom was not only necessary from a time standpoint, but that the Town is better off by having a representative accessible in the Town Hall daily, working in a place where records, data, and letters can be kept and properly filed in one place and answered promptly.
This method has worked so well that the Selectmen in- tend to survey the increased duties of some of the other Town officers and determine, with the cooperation of the Boards and the Finance Committee, whether another clerk will not be more efficient for the Town than burden- ing officers with more than they can reasonably be ex- pected to do, at the same time keeping the records in the safest place the Town has.
64
TOWN OF LINCOLN
Relocation of Roads-A large part of our highway system has never been permanently relocated by the County. These roads should be relocated to aid in en- forcing our Zoning and Building By-laws. Part of Lin- coln Road was relocated approximately ten years ago and Lexington Road was relocated this past year. Trapelo Road is now in process of being relocated. The Select- men plan to petition the County Commissioners for the relocation of the rest of our roads as soon as the work can be conveniently done.
Local Traffic Regulations-The increase in traffic on our highways and the growing nuisance of night parking along public ways and in wooded sections makes it neces- sary for the Selectmen to adopt some form of traffic regu- lations to enable our local police to handle the situation better. The Selectmen are taking the matter up with the Department of Public Works and plan to publish a set of local traffic regulations this spring.
Baker Bridge-The Selectmen for the past three years have been trying to have Baker Bridge relocated and rebuilt to aid traffic and eliminate danger as far as pos- sible. The Board was advised a year ago that this work might be commenced during 1938, and upon further in- quiry this year are advised that the Bridge may be improved during 1939, provided the Town votes to as- sume the real estate damage. An Article is included in the Warrant for this purpose.
Street Lighting-Following the vote under Article 15 of 1938 Warrant, the Selectmen caused the Edison Elec- tric Illuminating Company to install 42 lights on North Great Road and Virginia Road, which will necessarily increase the annual street lighting appropriation by about $630.00.
Suit Against the Town-In connection with the death of Martin J. Rooney, mentioned in the report of the Superintendent of Streets, a lawsuit has been entered against the Town by his estate, and in accordance with Article IV, Section 3 of the Town By-Laws the Select-
65
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
men have retained counsel for the protection of the inter- ests and rights of the Town. It is unlikely that the case will come to trial this year.
W. P. A .- A W. P. A. quota of eight men has been assigned to Lincoln. These men have worked on local projects part of the time and part of the time on state projects. At present we have one project in operation for the removal of the fire hazard resulting from the hurricane. We have two additional projects approved for operation, (1) Gypsy Moth Control, and (2), Clearing new section of new cemetery on Lexington Road.
Fire Hazard Control-A serious fire hazard was cre- ated in our woodlands by the hurricane of September 21, 1938.
in this emergency, the Federal Government, under the direction of the U. S. Forest Service, made available to cities and towns in the hurricane area, the services of the W. P. A. and the C. C. C. to aid in the clearing of devastated areas. Because of former experiences with out of town W. P. A. workers, the Board declined to accept any help from the W. P. A. except that which could be accomplished with local W. P. A. workers. The Select- men were in favor of accepting the assistance of the C. C. C. workers since these men are under strict super- vision and are qualified to perform the type of work to be done.
A representative of the U. S. Forest Service made a tour of the Town to ascertain the extent of the damage and as a result the Town was very fortunate to obtain the services of between sixty and eighty-five C. C. C. boys from the Breakheart Reservation in Saugus. Much valu- able and necessary clearing of woodroads and along road- sides has been done, materially reducing the fire hazard. Local W. P. A. workers have performed in a like manner. The work is performed according to a priority rating so that the most important work is done first. Releases are required before any work can be done on private property and in all but one instance property owners cooperated to the fullest extent.
66
TOWN OF LINCOLN
Relations with the U. S. Forest Service and the C. C. C. have been very satisfactory and the Board desires to express its appreciation for the spirit of cooperation with which the work was entered into and accomplished.
Welfare-During 1938, fourteen resident cases con- sisting of a total of forty-nine persons were given as- sistance under the provisions of Chapter 118 of the General Laws. Payments were also made to the state, cities and towns where Lincoln cases had been aided. The welfare problem was quite a serious one at the start of the year when eleven families were receiving assist- ance. This situation was relieved in February when a W. P. A. project was put into operation. During the summer months, because of suspension of a W. P. A. project, four cases were re-opened for a short period of time until the workers could be assigned to another project.
The policy of granting food, fuel and provisions in preference to cash was continued during the year and worked very satisfactorily.
Aid To Dependent Children-On January 1, 1938, two cases of four children were being aided under provisions of Chapter 118, General Laws, as amended. Two cases of three children each were added during the year, and one child reached the age of sixteen and became ineligible for aid, so that at the close of the year four cases, con- sisting of nine children were receiving aid.
The Town spent $1,997.50 and received $314.67 from the Federal Government, making the net expenditure $1,682.83.
SUMNER SMITH, HERBERT G. FARRAR, ROBERT D. DONALDSON, JR.
67
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEALS
Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen:
The Board organized with Harland B. Newton, Chair- man, and Anthony J. Doherty, Clerk. The following petitions were received and acted upon :
March 28, 1938.
On petition of Mrs. Mildred E. Bowles a permit was granted for the term of one year from March 29, 1938, to rent ponies on her property at the corner of South Great Road and Tower Road upon the following con- ditions :
1. That no more than seven ponies be kept for such purpose at any time.
2. That the rental of said ponies be confined to the limits of the applicant's property.
3. That the ponies must not be used on the public highways.
December 5, 1938.
On petition of Miss Caroline E. Ehlert a permit was granted to erect two porches and an extra toilet and to use her home on Farrar Road, South Lincoln, for a rest home or sanatorium.
On petition of John and Lena Primak a permit was granted to permit the conversion of a one-family house into a two-family house located on their property at the corner of Brooks Road and the new by-pass from North Great Road to the new Concord Turnpike.
It was found by the Board that the house was erected, laid out and planned for a two-family house prior to the adoption of the zoning by-laws but the second story was not completed at the time. The permit was granted on the condition that any stairs running to the second story of the house should be enclosed.
68
TOWN OF LINCOLN
On petition of Harold S. Cousins a permit was granted to move a two-car garage on his property on the south- erly side of Lincoln Road ten feet southwesterly and the same distance as now located from said Lincoln Road.
On petition of Harold S. Cousins a permit was granted to erect a one-car garage on part of his property front- ing on Tower Road with a slight variation of the side yard requirement.
All of the above petitions were granted by unanimous vote of the full membership of the Board.
Members of Board :
Harland B. Newton, term expires 1943. George G. Tarbell, term expires 1942. Fritz Cunnert, term expires 1941. -
James DeNormandie, term expires 1940. Anthony J. Doherty, term expires 1939.
Respectfully submitted, -
ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, Clerk.
REPORT OF ABBIE J. STEARNS HEARSE FUND
Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen,
As the purchase of a Town Hearse has not been desir- able since 1906 when Abbie J. Stearns, by her will, gave the Town $500 for that purpose, proceedings were brought which resulted in a decree of the Probate Court, dated December 1, 1938, directing that the gift be added to the Library Fund, to which fund the testatrix also gave $1000, the income on the gift to be used for the purchase of new books.
JOHN H. ROGERS.
69
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee has considered in detail the requests of each department for funds for the year 1939. The Finance Committee has been mindful of the proba- ble increase in the tax rate if all requests of all depart- ments were granted, in addition to the probable large in- crease in the state assessment. The result, apparently, would amount to an increase of $6.50 to $7.50 in the town tax rate.
Included in this computation were two items from the School Committee, which were presented as desirable features rather than as requests: - the establishment of a kindergarten and the hiring of a remedial teacher. The Finance Committee did not consider these expenditures under the present circumstances.
The Highway Department requests a grader to cost $4,000. This equipment would undoubtedly benefit the town, but is not recommended in the face of a sharply rising tax rate.
It is recommended that the following appropriations be made :-
Dep: rtment
Appropriation 1938
Requested 1939
Recommended by Finance Committee 1939
Schools
$39,700 00
$44,317 42
$44,325 00
Vocational Training
1,020 00
1,645 76
1,650 00
Highways and Bridges
17,900 00
19,285 00
17,900 00
Highway Machinery
2,500 00
6,535 00
2 500 00
Highways Chapter 90
3,000 00
2,500 00
2,500 00
Cemeteries
700 00
1,000 00
1,000 00*
Library and Dog Tax
1,200 00
1,200 00
1,200 00
Board of Health
2,678 00
2,420 00
2,095 00
Tree and Moth
2,000 00
2,000 00
2,000 00
Miscellaneous
1,465 00
1,750 00
1,750 00
Street Lights
3,450 00
4,000 00
4,000 00
Fire Department
1,925 00
2,529 00
2,200 00
Interest on Town Loans
100 00
725 00
725 00
Veterans' Aid
800 00
1,800 00
1,800 00
Police Department
2,325 00
2,000 00
2,000 00
Town Hall
1,660 00
2,060 00
2,060 00
Salaries
4,575 00
4,385 00
4,385 00
Insurance
1,100 00
1,100 00
1,100 00
Election Expenses
175 00
75 00
75 00
70
TOWN OF LINCOLN
Reserve Fund
1,000 00
1,000 00
1,000 00
Public Welfare
4,100 00
2,700 00
2,700 00
Old Age Assistance
6,000 00
5,880 00
5,880 00
Aid to Dependent Children
1,100 00
3,000 00
3,000 00
Planning Board
25 00
50 00
50 00
Recreational Building Com- mittee
0
50 00
50 00
Payment of Town Bonds ..
0
5,000 00
5,000 00
Total
$100,498 00
$119,007 18
$112,945 00 .
Water Works
$14,625 00
$12,672 20
$12,672 00
*It is recommended that $400 be taken from the General Cemetery Fund.
The Finance Committee recommends the total appro- priation of $112,945.00, excluding Water Works, which exceeds by $12,447.00 the appropriation of 1938. In- creases of over $500.00 are accounted for as follows :-
Department
Schools
Increase $4,625 00
Reason for Increase
(1) The necessity of adequate fire escapes to comply with an order from the state authorities.
(2) Additional high school tui- tion anđ transportation charges.
(3) Yearly increment in teach- ers' salaries.
Vocational Train-
ing
630 00
Additional pupils
Street Lights
550 00
Increased lighting voted in 1938.
Interest on Town
Loans
625 00
To pay interest on Water De- partment bonds plus anticipated increase in tax anticipation note interest.
Veterans' Aid
1,000 00
To care for existing cases.
Aid to Dependent Children
1,900 00
To care for existing cases.
If the recommendations of the Finance Committee are accepted by the town, it is estimated that the tax rate will increase approximately $4.40. This includes the ad- vance in state taxes which it is expected will amount to
71
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
$3.60 per thousand.
Respectfully submitted,
FINANCE COMMITTEE, TOWN OF LINCOLN, GEORGE G. TARBELL, Chairman GUILBERT WINCHELL WILLIAM M. RAND, Secretary
BUILDING INSPECTOR
January 1st, 1939.
To the Board of Selectmen:
Town of Lincoln.
I herewith submit the annual report of the Building Inspection Department of the Town of Lincoln for the year ending December 31, 1938.
Permits
Classification
Issued
of Work
Estimated Value of Work
8 New Residential
$56,800
11 Residential alterations and additions
19,950
8 New garages
3,080
1 Farm building
replacement
1 State Public Works shelter
2 Removal of existing buildings
100 6,500 *
2 Miscellaneous
33 Total building
79,930
35 Total plumbing, includes some heating
12,083
52 Total electrical
3,171
120 Total building, plumbing and electrical
$95,184
Refused applications for permits
4
Total fees collected for permits issued
$144.50
HAYWARD PEIRCE, Building Inspector.
IN MEMORIAM Martin J. Rooney
accidently killed on June 23, 1938 while in the employ of the town. He served the town faithfully for many years as an em- ployee of the Highway Department.
73
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen:
Starting the year 1938 we had very little snow, but to offset this advantage many of our roads suffered due to the open winter.
In the spring bad frost heaves occurred in four of our roads, the heaved sections varying in length from two hundred to six hundred feet. These we scarified, grav- elled and treated.
Because the winter was so hard on the roads, a great many were badly in need of surface treatments. Fortu- nately the price of asphalt was low and we were able to apply approximately 60,000 gallons of bituminous ma- terial, giving a light treatment to nearly seventeen miles of road.
On our drainage work, we replaced or repaired five culverts and side drains, put in one new culvert, one new cross sub-drain and three new catch basins.
Page Road was completely gravelled, shaped and sur- face treated, giving an eighteen foot roadway through- out.
On September 21st, the hurricane struck and we left all other work to open the roads for traffic. We spent six weeks at this work, two weeks of which were spent with a power shovel removing stumps.
At a special Town Meeting on September 28th, $2200.00 was appropriated for a new truck to replace the old White which was eleven years old and definitely out of service at that time. A 21/2-ton Mack was selected and is giving excellent service.
On Chapter 90 Maintenance we cleaned brush and treated a section of South Great Road towards Nine Acre Corner, and widened and banked the curve near Rooney's Crossing.
On Chapter 90 Construction we continued our work on Old Bedford Road carrying work as far as Virginia
74
TOWN OF LINCOLN
Road. This work was not completed however as the hur- ricane work delayed us so long. The work finally stopped on December 20 and will start again in the spring when the weather is suitable.
Lexington Road has been relocated by the county and Trapelo is in process of being relocated. In our road im- provement program some work will be done on these two roads. Also we hope to start rebuilding Mill Street.
To build any road costs considerable money. Further- more, to do high grade work certain equipment is nec- essary. I am recommending the purchase of a power grader for the Highway department. Not only is it cap- able of doing a better grade of work on new construction, but also there are many uses for it at all seasons of the year. Some of its uses would be plowing snow, scraping roads, widening curves and narrow places, use as a trac- tor for dragging the road hone or wherever a tractor would otherwise be used. I feel that this piece of equip- ment, because of its many uses, would be a great benefit and wise economic investment for the town.
For 1939 I recommend the following appropriations :
Highways
$19,300.00
Machinery Account
2,550.00
Power Grader
4,000.00
Chapter 90
$2,500.00
Respectfully submitted,
EDMUND W. GILES, Superintendent of Streets.
REPORT OF BOARD OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen:
On January 1, 1938, twenty-three cases were receiving aid under provisions of Chapter 118A of the General Laws as amended. During the year seven new cases were opened and four cases were closed, making a total
75
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
of thirty cases aided during 1938. Of the cases closed, three were closed because of death and one because the recipient moved to another city.
On December 31, 1938, twenty-six cases were being aided, five having other than Lincoln settlements. A total of $4,246.75 was received from the Federal Government during 1938 of which $3894.55 was expended.
Respectfully submitted, ANTHONY DOHERTY, Chairman JOHN J. KELLIHER OTTO HAGMANN, Clerk
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen:
As Inspector of Animals, I submit the following re- port : The cattle in Town have been treated by tuberculin test, and found none reacted. I found one small herd not tested and reported to Division of Livestock Disease Control which they will take care of.
I found 281 cows, 101 young cattle, 18 bulls, 14 sheep, 8 goats, 2378 swine. Five people were bitten by dogs. The dogs were quarantined, and as they showed no sign of rabies, were released after fourteen days.
Respectfully submitted, D. E. SHERMAN, Inspector of Animals.
76
TOWN OF LINCOLN
FIRE ENGINEERS
South Lincoln, Mass. January 1, 1939.
Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen:
The Board of Fire Engineers herewith submit their Annual Report ending December 31, 1938.
Force
The Department consists of the following : Chief, seven engineers, thirty call men.
Apparatus
The apparatus belonging to the Department is as fol- lows:
One 600 gallon pump, one combination 500 gallon pump and forest fire truck, and one combination 350 gallon pump and forest fire truck, two foam extinguishers, nine ladders, 2200 feet 21/2 inch hose, 600 feet 11/2 inch hose, 1200 feet 1 inch hose. 560 gallons of water are carried in the booster tanks.
Location of Apparatus
Pump No. 1 and Combination pump and forest fire truck No. 3 are at Doherty's Garage, South Lincoln. Combination pump and forest fire truck at Tracy's Gaso- line Station, North Lincoln.
Fires
Sixty-two alarms have been answered, 34 grass and wood, 12 building, 4 automobile, 8 chimney and one out of town call, 1 oil burner. Fire loss $7,600.
We are appreciative of the Fire Hazard Clearance Program being carried on in the town by the C. C. C. boys from the Breakheart Reservation, Saugus, 1149th Company under the National Park Service, Dept. of the Interior and hope by Spring to have all wood-roads and fire-lanes open.
M. H. DOHERTY, Chief
H. S. COUSINS
JOHN J. KELLIHER
H. G. FARRAR
A. J. DOUGHERTY JOHN SMITH
S. G. MACRAE
J. R. TRACY
77
REPORT OF RECREATION COMMITTEE
REPORT OF RECREATION COMMITTEE
The Committee appointed by the Moderator to deliber- ate on the location, size and cost of a recreation building present the following report of progress. Meetings have been held with representatives of the different active groups in the town for the purpose of learning the needs of the townspeople and the uses they might make of the building. As a result of these meetings it has been ten- tatively decided that the building should be located near the Center School, as the school children would make the chief use of it. Two locations conveniently near the school have been considered, but no final choice has been made.
Many discussions of the size of the proposed building have led to the preliminary conclusion that it should con- tain a general court area large enough for a small bas- ketball court, which would also afford space for other indoor court games. It has been suggested that an ade- quate stage at one end, with the usual appurtenant ac- commodations, would add to the usefulness of the struc- ture. A space such as suggested above would provide seating accommodations for more than the present up- per Town Hall auditorium affords. Small conference rooms and conveniences for the storage of the special equipment of the different groups are considered to be desirable.
The Committee requests the appropriation of fifty dol- lars ($50) for the investigation required for the comple- tion of its work.
CYRUS MURPHY, Chairman, LUCY RAND,
THOMAS J. ROUNER, RAYMOND HAGGERTY, CHARLES V. BRIGGS, Secretary.
78
TOWN OF LINCOLN
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
In accordance with a vote passed at the 1937 Annual Town Meeting, the Board was elected and duly organized on April 18, 1938 with W. N. Page, Chairman, and Hay- ward Peirce, Clerk.
The following petitions for subdivision were acted upon :
DR. E. W. HERMAN AND PAUL BROOKS-Petition for subdivision on Silver Hill Road. After a study of a pre- liminary plot and subsequent public hearing, final ap- proval granted.
W. R. BROWN, et al .- Petition for subdivision on prop- erty between Weston and Conant Roads. Preliminary and public hearings held. Final approval has been granted pending the completion of certain improvements as regards roads, drainage and water pipes.
An informal discussion was held with the Committee appointed for studying the advisability of a recreational house. Plans at the time were in a formulative stage and no definite decision was reached.
The Board, being newly organized, has felt that dur- ing the past year it should devote its efforts entirely to the statutory problems as presented by those desiring subdivisions of their property. It is entirely mindful of the fact that, as the Town grows, there will be many oroader subjects on which the Board might well devote its energies, such as the planning for the future develop- ment of public parks and buildings, schools, highways, fire protection, water supply, etc. However, in order for this to be done intelligently, it will be necessary to have a master plan made up, from which to work. This would entail a great amount of detailed work in its formulation
79
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
and a consequent expense. This will be a matter for the Town's consideration in the near future.
Respectfully submitted, W. N. PAGE, Chairman, E. R. TODD, R. D. DONALDSON, A. C. COMEY, HAYWARD PEIRCE.
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