USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1935-1940 > Part 33
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131 Tower Road, near Calkins
5 South Fire Station
51 Corner Lincoln Road and South Great Road
52 South Great Road at Railroad Crossing
53 Corner South Great Road and Tower Road
51 Corner South Great Road and Weston Line
56 Weston Road, Weston Line
57 Conant Road, Weston Line
512 Codman Road, near Hathaway's
513 Tower Road, Weston Line
Sudbury Road, near Boyce's
521 61 Lincoln Road, near Wayland Line
62 Concord Road, Wayland Line
63 Corner Concord Road and South Great Road
61 Corner Concord Road and Codman Road
65 Baker's Bridge
67 Near C. F. Adams
612 South Great Road, Concord Line
621 Ox Bow Road, Wayland Line 1-1-1-1 Police Department
1-1 Test Blow, 12 noon. Two blows after an alarm, all out.
2 rounds of box number, Forest Fire.
3 rounds of box number, Building Fire.
No School Signal at 7.30 3-3-3 7.35 3-3-3
5-5-5-5 Out of Town 7-7-7 Boy Scout call.
21
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE DRIVING OF VEHICLES OVER MUNICIPAL FIRE HOSE 1926, Chapter 278
Section 7.1. Upon the approach of any fire apparatus which is going to a fire or responding to an alarm, every person driving a vehicle on a way shall immediately drive sud vehicle as far as possible toward the night hand cuib or side of said way and shall keep the same at a standstill until such fire apparatus has posted. No person shall drive a vehicle over a hose of a fire department without the consent of a member of such department_ No perami shall drive a vehicle within three hundred feet of any fire- apparatus going to a fire or responding to an alarm, hor dine said vehicle, or park or leave the same unattended withus six hundred feet of a fire or within the fire-lines establishal 'hereat by the fire department." Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-for dollars. (Approved April 28, 1926.)
Remain at box until apparatus arrives. Investigate your chimneys and keep them clean. Do not throw lighted cigarettes. Traffic siren means pull out and stop.
Oil stoves need to be inspected and cleaned frequenth. Drive 300 feet from fire apparatus.
Remain 600 teet from fire.
A permit is required for all open fires.
False alarms are punishable by fine or imprisonment.
When calling headquarters by telephone for hire speak calowy and distinctly, giving street, location on street, and nanic of por .. son calling ; this will insure more prompt response by the firemen.
Do not allow rubbish, paper, or any - inflammable material to Accumulate in or about your property.
Always call the Department before attempting to extingunk hre yourself.
The Fire Department will be enabled to render better so x.com t these instructions are followed.
.
59
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
and eight miles of woodroads opened in 9066 man days. An additional seven acres were cleared by local W. P. A. workers in 174 man days.
M. H. DOHERTY, Chief
A. J. DOUGHERTY
H. S. COUSINS
JOHN SMITH
JOHN J. KELLEHER
S. G. MACRAE
H. G. FARRAR
J. R. TRACY
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
The work of this Department has been carried on as in former years removing dangerous and broken limbs from the trees along the roadsides. This year quite a number of trees that had been damaged by the hurricane and were becoming dangerous had to be taken down. Where necessary, brush was cut along the roadside.
The Gypsy Moth work consisted of the creosoting of egg nests on the roadside trees and in woodlands bor- dering the roads where infestation was bad. It is very necessary that this creosoting be done if the trees are to be saved from being stripped of foliage. If the cater- pillars are numerous the trees are defoliated even though they have been sprayed with arsenate of lead, since each insect must eat a certain amount of the leaf containing the poison before it is killed. Spraying operations started the last of May and continued through June. It was found necessary to spray most of the roadsides with very good results being obtained. The elm trees were sprayed again this year for the elm leaf beetle.
The expenditure this year was $1999.72 and it is recom- mended that $2000.00 be appropriated for Moth and Tree in 1940.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN J. KELLIHER Tree Warden
60
TOWN OF LINCOLN
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee has considered the requests of each Department in the Town for funds for operation during the year 1940. The following appropriations are recommended :-
Department
Appropriation 1939
Recommended by Finance Committee 1940
Schools
$ 44,325.00
$ 39,375.00
Vocational Training
1,650.00
1,645.00
Highways and Bridges
19,050.00
19,125.00
Highway Machinery
2,500.00
3,400.00
Highways Chapter 90
2,500.00
1,500.00
Cemeteries
1,000.00
800.00*
Library and Dog Tax
1,200.00
1,050.00
Board of Health
2,095.00
2,160.00
Tree and Moth
2,000.00
2,000.00
Miscellaneous
1,800.00
2,125.00
Street Lights
4,000.00
4,050.00
Fire Department
2,200.00
2,200.00
Interes. on Town Loans
725.00
662.50
Veterans' Aid
1,800.00
1,600.00
Police Department
2,000.00
2,200.00
Town Hall
2,060.00
2,500.00
Salaries
4,435.00
4,815.00
Insurance
1,142.00
1,130.00
Election Expenses
75.00
200.00
Reserve Fund
1,000.00
1,000.00
Public Welfare
2,700.00
3,100.00
Old Age Assistance
5,880.00
5,570.00
Aid to Dependent Children
3,000.00
3,300.00
Planning Board
50.00
35.00
Recreation Building Committee
50.00
50.00
Payment of Town Bonds
5,000.00
5,000.00
Total
$114,237.00
$110,592.50
Water Works
12,672.00
14,762.50
The Finance Committee's recommendations for 1940 are $3,644.50 less than the appropriations of 1939. The decrease is accounted for as follows :-
The School Department requests $4,950 less than last year. Approximately $2,000 of this saving results from
61
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
a difference in the method of charging for tuition of High School students by Concord. The saving will be for this year only. Last year $3,000 was appropriated for a fire escape. No similar expenditure is requested for 1940.
Highway Machinery has been increased $900 because of the necessity for replacing a truck.
Town Hall expenses have been increased $500. A "full- time" janitor is felt necessary for operation and mainte- nance of the building. He will also care for the Public Library.
If the recommendations of the Finance Committee are accepted by the Town, it is estimated that the tax rate will remain approximately at the same level. In 1939 there was a large increase in the rate caused by additional levies by the State and because of increased appropria- tions for welfare and for schools. Last year's rate would have been much higher but for the fact that $4,590 of 1939 expenses was paid from the Town's sur- plus or "free cash" and not by tax levies. This year a decrease in appropriations and a decrease in State taxes is offset by a decrease of $2,550 in available State funds for highways and, secondly, Highway Machinery must be paid for this year by taxation. Last year the money was taken from the Highway Machinery fund. That fund is now nearly exhausted.
There is approximately $6,000 of "free cash" on hand which could be used in part or as a whole to reduce this year's rate. However, in view of the fact that next year we expect increased requests for operation of the schools and the possible replacement of a large truck in the Street Department, we feel it would be safer not to reduce materially the Town's surplus cash.
The Finance Committee is grateful for the cooperation shown by every department of the Town in an attempt to maintain all necessary services to the citizens of Lin-
62
TOWN OF LINCOLN
coln without unduly increasing their burden of taxation.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE G. TARBELL, Chairman GUILBERT WINCHELL WILLIAM M. RAND, Secretary
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RECREATION HOUSE
The Committee appointed by the Moderator to consider the size, location and cost of a recreation building have further studied the requirements for the building and are gradually arriving at a final design. As soon as this decision has been made, sketch plans will be prepared and preliminary estimates will be requested from several contractors. When these have been received, the com- mittee will be in a position to present a definite proposi- tion to the Town for its consideration.
Since no final conclusion has been reached, the com- mittee did not expend the appropriation of fifty dollars ($50.00) made for them last year. They therefore re- spectfully request that this amount be made available to them this year.
Respectfully submitted, CYRUS MURPHY, Chairman LUCY RAND THOMAS J. ROUNER RAYMOND E. HAGERTY CHARLES V. BRIGGS, Secretary
63
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
The Board organized with Sumner Smith, Chairman and Sidney G. MacRae, Secretary.
The major part of the work during the year was in connection with PWA project Docket No. Mass. 1557-F and consisted mainly in renewing services. The follow- ing is the list of mains laid under this project :
Lexington Road
7605 ft. of 8" pipe from Trapelo Road to Concord Turnpike.
1042 ft. of 8" pipe along Concord Turnpike.
720 ft. of 8" pipe from Concord Turnpike to Mill Street.
Trapelo Road
6610 ft. of 10" pipe from Lexington Road to Bill- ings residence near Old County Road.
Lincoln Road
4027 ft. of 8" pipe from South Great Road to Sudbury Road in Wayland.
Silver Hill Road
3720 ft. of 8" pipe from Trapelo Road to Weston Road.
Old Bedford Road
1936 ft. of 8" pipe from North Great Road to Vir- ginia Road.
North Great Road
2179 ft. of 8" pipe from Brooks Road to Old Bed- ford Road.
Tower Road
5695 ft. of 8" pipe from Peirce Hill Road to just past Cunningham residence.
Weston Road
5508 ft. of 8" pipe from Silver Hill Road to just past Weston-Lincoln Town line.
64
TOWN OF LINCOLN
The entire cost of this project was $102,548.57. Prior to December 31, 1939 $36,750.00 had been received from the Federal Government by way of grant, and requisition for $9396.86 will be filed for final grant after the final audit has been made. Work was started in December 1938 and completed on November 3, 1939. Under Con- tract No. 1 with the National Engineering and Contract- ing Co., 66 Park St., Dorchester $64,121.60 was paid and under Contract No. 2 with Baker & Co., 1335 Hyde Park Ave., Boston $35,130.81, making a total of $99,252.41 expended for construction.
During the progress of the work under Contract No. 1, many complaints were received by the Board about the length of time the roads were torn up and the poor con- dition in which they were left after the pipe was laid. During the month of June it became necessary to hire an additional inspector to remedy the situation which the Board had represented to the Contractor was caused by poor organization, workmanship and equipment, although frost and a wet spring were contributing factors.
The contract price received under the first contract was considerably less than the estimated cost and PWA au- thorities were requested to approve an extension of the project so as to permit the laying of an additional 10,400 ft. of 8" pipe and the replacing of the Rumsey pump in the pumping station. PWA approval was received. Bids for the laying of the pipe were received June 17, 1939 and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, Baker & Co. Progress of work under the second contract was very satisfactory. Trench was promptly backfilled and the roads properly cleaned up. The pipe that was to have been laid by Contractor No. 1 on North Great Road from Old Bedford Road to Brooks Road was taken from his contract and given to Baker & Co. PWA authorities were consulted and approved this change.
The extension of work asked for from PWA authorities included the replacing of the present Rumsey pump in the Pumping Station, but since insufficient funds were
65
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
available to accomplish this, a change was permitted, so that the renewing of the 8" pipe on Weston Road could be continued to the Weston-Lincoln Town line, increasing from 4466 ft. to 5508 ft. the pipe laid on this road. How- ever, on account of the recent increase in water consump- tion, due partly to a dry season and partly to new in- habitants, the Board recommends that the old triplex pump, installed in 1916, be replaced by a modern centrif- ugal pump of at least one million gallon capacity per 24 hours. The sum of $3000.00 has been provided for in the budget for this purpose.
The water level in Sandy Pond is considerably lower than it has been for some years, and unless we have heavy precipitation, it is probable that a restricted amount of water consumption will be necessary during the summer months in 1940. The banks near the pumping station and along Sandy Pond Road have become undermined, and with the water at low level, this is an opportune time to riprap the shore. It is planned to do this work this summer.
The Board desires to call to the attention of all the residents of the Town the fact that Sandy Pond is a public water supply and as such is under the complete control of the Water Commissioners and the State Board of Public Health, as provided in the Statutes of the Com- monwealth. It is desired that the townspeople enjoy the benefits of this beautiful pond, and the public is cautioned that nothing which may be a detriment to public health should be allowed to exist. It is hoped that all will cooperate to prevent misuse. The Concord water supply, Lake Nagog in Littleton, has recently been closed to all persons.
Considerable work still remains for the Water Depart- ment to complete the project done under PWA contracts. All the services on Lincoln Road have yet to be tapped into the new 8" main, and the work of the discontinuing of the 4" mains on Tower Road and Lincoln Road, as well as making new connections to the 4" main on Page
66
TOWN OF LINCOLN
Road, remains to be done. The hydrants on discontinued lines also need to be removed.
A leak occurred in the 8" supply line from the Reser- voir, and considerable water was lost before the leak could be repaired. This 8" line is the old cement pipe and may need to be renewed in the near future.
A new State law requires that water bills be now sent out twice a year. This entails double the work for the collector, whose salary is recommended be increased from $200.00 to $400.00 per year.
The Board itemizes the following budget which is recommended be appropriated for 1940 :
Power
$ 2,500.00
Salaries
1,025.00
Repairs
675.00
Service renewals
500.00
Miscellaneous
1,500.00
Bond payment
5,000.00
Interest
562.50
Pump
3,000.00
Total
$14,762.50
Respectfully submitted, SUMNER SMITH JOHN J. KELLIHER -
SIDNEY G. MacRAE
STATISTICS
Mains
1. Replaced 3460 ft. of 6 inch and 380 ft. of 4 inch pipe on Trapelo Road with 10 inch pipe.
2. Laid 2770 ft. of 10 inch pipe on Trapelo Road.
3. Replaced 1640 ft. of 4 inch pipe with 8 inch pipe on Silver Hill Road.
4. Laid 2080 ft. of 8 inch pipe on Silver Hill Road.
67
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
5. Replaced 879 ft. of 4 inch pipe and 465 ft. of 6 inch pipe with 8 inch pipe on North Great Road.
6. Laid 835 ft. of 8 inch pipe on North Great Road.
7. Laid 1936 ft. of 8 inch pipe on Old Bedford Road.
8. Replaced 9367 ft. of 4 inch pipe with 8 inch pipe on Lexington Road and Concord Turnpike.
9. Replaced 4027 ft. of 4 inch pipe with 8 inch pipe on Lincoln Road.
10. Replaced 5695 ft. of 4 inch pipe with 8 inch pipe on Tower Road.
11. Replaced 5508 ft. of 4 inch pipe with 8 inch pipe on Weston Road.
12. Discontinued, none.
13. Total now in use 29.19 miles.
14. No. hydrants replaced, 31.
15. No. hydrants added, 20.
16. No. hydrants now in use, 168.
17. No. stop gates renewed, 24.
18. No. stop gates added, 75.
19. No. stop gates now in use, 254.
20. No. blow-offs discontinued, 4.
21. No. blow-offs now in use, 27.
22. Range of pressure on mains, 40-100 lbs.
23. Total gallons pumped, 167,196,000.
24. Renewed 74, discontinued 3.
25. No. service taps added during year, 15.
26. Total now in use, 480.
27. Meters now in use, 15.
68
TOWN OF LINCOLN
WATER DEPARTMENT REPORT Receipts and Expenses for Year Ending December 31, 1939 Receipts
Balance on hand January 1, 1939
$3,060 78
From Collector
7,758 05
From Service Bond Cash
225 00
Water Lien Costs, etc.
884 10
General Fund, Loan
4,500 00
$16,427 93
Expenditures
Selectmen's Orders
$12,355 10
Transfer from Service Bond Cash
50 00
Balance on hand December 31, 1939
1,061 22
Payment a/c Loan
2,961 61
$16,427 93
Operating Account for Year Ending December 31, 1939 Receipts
Rates
$6,899 36
Meter
858 69
Lien Costs, etc.
884 10
Service Bond Cash
225 00
Loan (Net balance)
1,538 39
From Surplus
1,949 56
$12,355 10
Expenditures
Expense
$706 56
Power
1,836 04
Salaries
875 00
Repairs and Renewals
3,759 30
Construction
0
Bond and Interest Charges
5,178 20
$12,355 10
Capital Account Assets
*Construction
$231,357 62
Bills uncollected
1,116 66
Cash on hand
1,061 22
1
$233,535 50
69
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
Liabilities
Net Loan due $1,538 39
Surplus 231,997 11
$233,535 50
Tax Titles acct. Water Liens, interest and costs to be added $83 00 *There has been added to total construction account $19,250 from P. W. A. funds. WARWICK V. HARRIS, Treasurer.
70
TOWN OF LINCOLN
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
At the meeting of the Planning Board held April 18, 1939, it was organized for the year with W. N. Page as Chairman, Hayward Peirce as Clerk.
Platting Control
The following petitions for sub-division were acted upon :
MRS. JAMES J. STORROW-Petition for subdivision of land on south side of Baker Bridge Road. Preliminary and public hearings were held and final approval granted.
MRS. BEATRICE W. EMERSON-Petition for subdivision of land off north side of Trapelo Road. Preliminary hearing was held on entire subdivision but public hearing and final approval given only to that part owned by Glenn Gilboy.
D. E. WILBUR AND M. E. WILLIAMS-Petition for sub- division on southeast side of Concord Road. Preliminary and public hearings were held and final approval granted.
In addition to the above, there were a number of meet- ings held during the year for informal discussion with property owners considering future development. The Board would like to call to the attention of citizens con- sidering building, that property being divided into two or more parcels not abutting on an approved street must have approval of the Planning Board for the subdivision before seeking a building permit. There apparently has been some confusion regarding the law and the above statement is put in to overcome any unnecessary delays.
Official Map
Much time has been spent during the past year in an endeavor to have an official map of the Town made by the W. P. A. The present proposal is that it be made by the W. P. A. under the sponsorship of the Middlesex County Commissioners, in order to eliminate difficulties that might arise where Lincoln borders on surrounding
71
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
towns and in order to insure proper supervision. The Commissioners are willing to consider the matter favor- ably, provided certain regulations of the W. P. A. involv- ing the employment of engineers can be agreed upon. We feel that there is a good prospect of the project going through to a conclusion.
Master Plan
The Planning Act of Massachusetts (Chapter 211, Statutes of 1936) gives the town planning board two main duties : First, it becomes, upon being organized, the agency to pass upon all subdivision plats before they are recorded. This the Lincoln Planning Board has done, within its limited budget. The second function and duty of the town planning board is to prepare and adopt a master plan :
A planning board established under Section eighty-one A shall make a master or study plan of such city or town or such part or parts there- of as said board may deem advisable and from time to time may extend or perfect such plan. (In Sec. 81B, Chap. 41, G. L.)
The master plan is a general guide for the future, but it is not a "final" plan in the sense that it would fix loca- tions for all time. Its greatest value is to develop and demonstrate the inter-relations of various planning pro- posals. The most effective way to do this is by assembling them in a single comprehensive plan. Thereafter all proposals can be tested against this plan to determine their fitness to the whole or the degree of modification that the master plan will require in order to embrace the new proposal. In this way nothing need be embarked upon without realizing all the consequences. There is no ad- equate substitute for this visual correlation of the com- ponent parts of the developing community in a master plan.
In order to give the master plan a certain dignity and importance it is often "adopted" by vote of the planning
72
TOWN OF LINCOLN
board, but this does not give it any legal compulsion or interfere with the continuing process of keeping the plan- ning of a community up to date. Whenever new condi- tions or a new understanding of conditions indicate to the planning board the des rability of modifying the plan for the future the board may adopt changes in the same manner as it adopted the original plan. The master plan is the planning board's most important tool for bringing about the desired outcome of its planning.
Content of the Master Plan
The law states clearly what the master plan may in- clude and how it shall be adopted. It is a comprehensive, long-term, general plan for the physical development of the town. It may include any subjects that are pertinent to civic improvement, but the following are listed as es- sential elements of a master plan :
Such plan shall show, among other things, ex- isting and desirable proposed public ways, street grades, public places, bridges ... , approaches to bridges ... , parks, parkways, playgrounds, sites for public buildings and structures ... zoning districts, . waterways, routes of railroads, buses ... , and locations of sewers, water con- duits and other public utilities, and other pertin- ent features of such a plan, including existing private ways. (In Sec. 81B, Chap. 31, G. L.)
f
"A map showing merely existing conditions would not be a master plan. The word 'plan' implies a dynamic presentation, a scheme, a program, something looking forward to the future. The master plan, therefore, is a composite, general diagram based upon estimates of growth and calculations of the probable future needs of. the town.
"Those basic needs with which the master plan is con- cerned may be designated broadly as (1) the land areas required for public purposes and (2) the improvement and efficient use of these areas. Every school or other
73
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
public building has to have a site. Parks and play- grounds require land. The flow of traffic, the routing of buses, the conduct of utilities all need rights-of-way. There must be space for sewage and rubbish disposal, for municipal storage yards and many other public purposes. The master plan is concerned first with the location, char- acter and extent of all the land units needed now or likely to be needed by a larger population, and with the relationship of these public land units one to another and to the much larger number of areas devoted to private uses.
"A second concern of the master plan is with public improvement projects, the buildings, structures and faci- lities needed from time to time and built with public funds upon the sites and land areas referred to above. The lack of adequate, properly located land units for public pur- poses is a serious handicap to a growing town. Many decisions as to public works and improvement programs depend upon the availability of property of the right size, shape and location at the time when need is urgent. The master plan, therefore, is at once a basis for timely, far-sighted action in the reservation of land for future uses and a means of developing a sound program for con- struction of various types of improvements on such lands."
Adoption of the Master Plan
The State law says plainly that
Such plan shall be made, and may be added to and changed from time to time, by a majority vote of the planning board, and shall be a pub- lic record. (In Sec. 81B, Chap. 41, G. L.)
The board is free to determine what shall be included in the master plan, and when it shall be adopted. It can adopt the plan as a whole, or part by part.
"There are two progressive stages in which the master plan may function as a guide in shaping the town's growth :
74
TOWN OF LINCOLN
1. The planning board may hold the master plan or parts of it as confidential material, deferring its formal adoption indefinitely. Many boards follow this procedure. Their files contain numerous fragment- ary plans, studies and reports, but rarely a com- prehensive, co-ordinated scheme that may properly be designated a master plan.
2. The board may complete the plan and adopt it, as described above. In this case the plan becomes a public document, the approved master plan. It may be published. The selectmen will have a copy and be familiar with its features. The people may react favorably to its logic and demand adherence to it. It becomes a frame of reference for proposed public improvements, a basis for zoning, subdivision con- trol, purchase of lands for public purposes and many other official decisions and municipal policies. How- ever, the master plan does not establish rigid control over civic development. It is merely a pattern and general guide for use by the planning board, select- men and interested citizens."
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