USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1951-1955 > Part 39
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If the Selectmen's administrative assistant undertook the planning and management, it would presumably be as an added duty and not in place of any part of his present duties. Further, he would then have responsi- bility to two masters, deriving their authority from different sources. The Commissioners of a Mosquito Control District derive their authority to spend the town's money from the State Reclamation Board to which the town's appropriation is paid.
It must be noted that the Reclamation Board has neither funds nor manpower to provide a town with anything beyond very general advice as to
65
HEALTH AND WELFARE
planning. Further, the average cost per town in the East Middlesex Dis- trict for year 'round superintendence is $650.
A more significant disadvantage is the increased cost of aircraft ser- vice even if we worked closely with other towns or the East Middlesex Dis- trict. A major item here is the cost of a separate ground crew. We hay one estimate involving cooperative air spraying by Concord, Wayland and Lincoln at a cost of $2,000 per town. East Middlesex averages about $350 per town.
Minimum cost of A. would appear to be $4,000 to $5,000, excluding over- head.
B. If we should decide to go it alone we would face the same advan- tages and disadvantages as under A. We would forego any claim to even th small amount of advice that the State Reclamation Board would be able to give us. A district under the Board does not involve any payment to the Board for its services. The cost would be the same as under Alternative
c. Before discussing adherence to the East Middlesex District we must note certain facts.
The district now contains 11 cities and towns, including the bordering - towns of Lexington, Waltham and Weston. Its Commission includes a repre- sentative from each town. This is normally a member or agent of the Boar of Health.
The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission on May 11, 1954, voted, subject to approval by the Reclamation Board, to admit Lincoln to the dis- trict.
Approval by the Board requires the following:
1. A petition to the Board (from the town or the selectmen) either to fo a one-town district or for admission to East Middlesex. The petition wou show that the necessary Commissioners had been appointed and the necessary money appropriated.
2. The Board holds a public hearing and thereafter approves or disapprov the petition.
The East Middlesex District has asked an initial appropriation of $7000 The Board holds a balance for us of $284.77. The net appropriation would be $6715.23. It is probable that a petition to join East Middlesex would not be approved unless we appropriated the above net sum. We are told th no further appropriation would be asked until the annual town meeting in March, 1956.
We have already hinted, under A and B, at the advantages of joining Eas
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MOSQUITO CONTROL COMMITTEE
Middlesex. First, we would have the planning and other services of an experienced professional superintendent. £ Also, the finding and super- vision of labor, including temporary labor, would be done for us. Finally, we would secure special services, such as airplane work, at the best rates. (The estimate for the first year for airplane service of $550.) It is quite probable that the real proportion of each dol- lar going into overhead would be less than under Alternatives A or B.
The major disadvantage is that we would have a moral commitment, even if not a legal one, to appropriate the amount of money requested annually by the District.
The initial $7000 asked by East Middlesex would be divided as $1000 for our share of the capital investment and $6000 for operation. Superintendent Armstrong has proposed the following breakdown under operations:
Dec. 1954 to Feb. 1955 -- Dusting and brush cutting $ 450 April 1955 -- Spring air spraying (actual aircraft hire, $250) 550
May to Oct. 1955 -- Spraying and ditch cleaning
1100
Autumn 1955 -- Ditching 1000
Dec. 1955 to Feb. 1956 -- Dusting and brush cutting 500
April 1956 -- Spring air spraying 500
Unassigned, including overhead
1900
When the program is well under way it is possible that the annual cost may drop below $6000. Further, the amount of work done in a town is limited by the amount appropriated in each year by the town. No town pays anything toward operations in any other town. Only certain overhead items are charged equally to all towns.
Recommendation
Your committee recommends that the town join the East Middlesex Mosquito Control District under conditions mutually agreed upon by the town and the State Reclamation Board.
Respectfully submitted,
John B. Tew Barbara K. Warner Charles H. Blake, Chairman
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HEALTH AND WELFARE
REPORT OF BEDFORD AIRPORT COMMITTEE
Your Committee was appointed by the Moderator, pursuant to vote of the Town at its March meeting. Its first job was to get the facts about expansion of Bedford Airport. During the Spring and Summer, committee members visited Hanscom Field, interviewed informed persons and learned as much about the future plans for Bedford as security permits. An initial report was made to the Selectmen in September, and copies were mailed to all residents.
The report outlined the facts of the proposed expansion at Hanscom Field and the danger to lives and property in Lincoln. It concluded that the location of a defense squadron at Bedford and its use as the only reserve training base in New England were open to serious ques- tion, and that the matter should be presented to a special town meet- ing. On October 18, 1954, the Town unanimously passed a Resolution addressed to our Senators and our Representative requesting reconsid- eration of the decision to locate a defense squadron at Bedford, and curtailment of reserve training there. This Resolution was acknow- ledged personally by Congresswoman Rogers and Senator Saltonstall, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Senator Kennedy's office acknowledged for him, as the Senator was temporarily in the hospital.
In November, an open forum was arranged where members of the Air Force Command at Bedford could discuss the whole problem face to face
with the Town. In December, the Lincoln Committee, plus representa- tives from several surrounding towns, met with Senator Saltonstall
in Boston. At this meeting three main points were stressed:
1. Lincoln recognizes the necessity of the complete development of Bedford as a research base.
2. Lincoln would like a further explanation of the decision to station a fighter interceptor squadron at Bedford in view of the official statement of the Air Space Committee that such action "is at best a compromise in respect to the freedom of operation desirable for the successful execution of their mission."
3. Lincoln would like to know why it is necessary for so much reserve flying to be concentrated at Bedford, with reservists coming from other states as well as the full length and width of Massachusetts.
The Senator was most co-operative and expressed his intention of discussing these matters with the authorities in Washington. Just before this report went to press, he notified your Committee that "The Commander of Lawrence G. Hanscom Air Force Base has been request- ed to arrange flying activities on Sundays whereby aircraft noise will not interfere with church services." The Senator said further, "I send this along as evidence of some progress that is being made and
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BEDFORD AIRPORT COMMITTEE
add my assurance that I will continue to work hard on this problem in your behalf."
Your Committee believes that the Bedford Airport problem deserves the continuing attention of the Town. It is a long range one, affecting the entire area. At the end of 1953 the whole value of the Bedford Airport installations was estimated at about 28 millions. An additional 60 million dollars of Federal money is now being spent there. Large training and fighter installations are being added to the research activities of the base. By the end of 1956 the Airport will cover not less than 32 square miles, and be serviced by personnel numbering not less than 8,000.
Although it has been impossible to obtain an authoritative estimate of the amount of increase in the number of take-offs and landings, it is definitely established that there will be more than at present. During 1954 there were 142, 891, or an average of about 400 per day. No one in authority has been willing to state that the airport will not be expanded further when present appropriations are exhausted. Therefore, we recommend that a committee be continued, at least for another year, for the following reasons:
1. £
To continue to press for answers to the basic questions whether it is really in the National interest to expand Hanscom Field for operational flying, and whether reserve training should be concentrated at Bedford.
2. To maintain constant vigilance concerning possible land takings for extension of runways or for public housing, etc.
3. To report individual infractions of safe flying procedures.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas B. Adams, Chairman Calvin P. Bartlett, Secretary Richard J. Eaton Walter E. Belanger Katharine S. White
69
Planning and Public Works
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The Planning Board, in accordance with custom, reorganized at its first meeting following the 1954; Annual Town Meeting, electing Richard J. Eaton, Chairman, and Arthur T. Howard, Clerk. Regular meetings were held, as usual, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, except in July and August when one regular meeting per month was held. There were several additional meetings and four advertised public hearings.
Sub-division Control
Under the Sub-division Control Law, lots of adequate size and frontage on existing public ways may be built upon without Planning Board approval. Plans of such lots may not be recorded at the Regis- try of Deeds. without the endorsement, "Approval under Sub-division Control Law not required", and duly signed by a majority of the Board. Our records show that we executed forty-six such endorsements during the year.
Four proposals for sub-division are currently under preliminary dis-
cussion. The following sub-divisions were conditionally approved: Olga Pertzoff, off Bedford Road
Edward A. and Mary Danosky, off Farrar Road
Everett and Sadie Sherman, off Lincoln Road
August Schumacher, off Lincoln and Old Sudbury Roads
The following sub-divisions were finally approved and bonds dis- charged:
Allied Commonwealth Corp. (Granville Road) off Baker Bridge Road
Harold W. Demone (Oak Knoll Road) off Cambridge Turnpike
The Board wishes to emphasize that conditional, or even final ap- proval of a sub-division after all the requirements relative to con- struction of improvements have been met, does not imply approval for acceptance by the Town of such improvements at a later date. The present Board will not recommend to the Town acceptance of streets as public ways, unless street surfaces and water mains are currently in good repair and any drainage inadequacies are rectified to its satis- faction.
70
PLANNING BOARD
Advisory Opinions
The Board was again called upon by the Selectmen, and in January, 1955, by the Special Fire-Station Site Committee, to advise on the location of a site for a future fire station in the northerly half of the Town. It re-affirmed its previous opinion that the so-called Tracey lot near the southwest corner of Cambridge Turnpike and Bed- ford Road is by far the most satisfactory location for a second fire station.
New Rules and Regulations
On December 8, 1954, new Rules and Regulations of the Planning Board were published and are available at the Town House.
Long-range Planning
To avoid repetition, the Board refers to its report for 1953. Change in Zoning By-Law: Relative to re-zoning single-resident districts, the Board sponsored an informal public meeting in October to discuss the proposal to increase lot sizes to 60,000 or 80,000 square feet. Predominant sentiment favoring the latter figure en- couraged the Board to present the question formally to the special Town Meeting on October 18, 1954. At this meeting, the Board was authorized to spend $1000 for a lot-size and land-use survey of the Town, a project which was immediately started and now substantially completed (Feb. 1, 1955). Statistical analyses and compilations will be available prior to the forthcoming Annual Town Meeting. The total cost of this survey should be substantially less than the amount authorized, thanks to the supervision generously contributed by Mr. Alan McClennen.
Sandy Pond Watershed: The protection of our water supply from Sandy Pond by acquisition of a reasonable portion of its watershed is a subject of increasing urgency. Much of the land is still un- developed swamp and woodland. Acquisition under conditions agreeable to the present owners is certainly far more feasible today than it will be in the not too distant future when serious contamination may become a real threat to public health.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard J. Eaton, Chairman Arthur T. Howard, Clerk Howard Snelling Everett A. Black Alan McClennen
71
PUBLIC WORKS
REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEALS
As can be seen from the cases listed below, the Board of Appeals has conducted frequent hearings and considered numerous difficult problems.
The basic policy of the Board has been to grant individual relief where it could properly be done without presently altering in any way the neighborhood concerned, or establishing conditions which might in the future, adversely affect a neighborhood. The Board has felt it must conform to the expressed wishes of the Town and adhere close- ly to the existing Zoning By-Law. This has meant that the Board has been unwilling to take action which would change the appearance or use of any part of the Town.
Set forth below is a summary of the decisions of the Board.
Application of Lucy K. Rand for a variance for the use of Lot C as a building lot, approved.
Application of Leo Corrigan for permission to alter a barn into a dwelling, approved.
Application of Vincent Merrill for a variance to permit con- struction of a building 25 feet from property line, denied.
Application of Town of Lincoln for a variance to permit the use of a lot on Bedford Road containing less than 22,000 square feet for a fire station, approved.
Application of Nickolas Lindsay for a variance to permit a business in a residential area, denied.
Application of Dr. Angelo for a variance to permit the con- struction of a two-car garage less than 40 feet back from the line of way, denied.
Application of Norman Brisson for permission to permit storage of landscaping and construction equipment in the gravel pit off North Great Road, granted for one year only.
Application of Jean Nesto for a variance to permit the designa- tion of a lot of land for dwelling house purposes, such lot to have less than the required frontage on a right of way, denied.
Application of Roland F. Beers for a variance to permit the sub-division of land owned by him on Winter Street into two lots, approved.
Application of Mildred S. Bowles for permission to rent ponies,
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BOARD OF APPEALS
granted for one year only.
Application of Helena A. Dee for a variance to permit the use of land with an area of less than 40,000 square feet as a house lot and to permit the use of a garage less than 40 feet from the line of way as a dwelling. Use of land approved, alteration of barn to dwelling, denied.
Application of Melvin S. Wilson for a variance to permit the erection of an addition to garage 17 feet from lot line, approved.
Application of Thomas Newbold for a variance to permit altera- tion to dwelling less than 30 feet from lot line, approved.
Application of Francis Umbrello for permission to continue use of trailer for farm help, approved for one year only.
Application of Robert Pearmain for permission to alter dwelling on land not conforming with zoning regulations, approved.
Application of Norman Hoar for a variance to allow temporary installation of a second kitchen, approved for one year only.
Application of Barbara Ennis for permission to maintain a private nursery school in her home on Bedford Road, approved for one year only.
Application of Warren Flint for permission to remove surplus peat from his property on Lexington Road, approved.
Application of Ralph Olson for permission to remove surplus loam from his property on South Great Road, approved.
Application of Hope Hunt to continue use of her house on Conant Road by two families, approved for three years only.
Application of Douglas Burckett for permission to use a garage as a dwelling, approved conditionally.
Application of Harry B. Knowles, III, for permission to alter garage not conforming with zoning regulations, approved.
Application of Philip Lindsey and John and Lena Primak to vary the application of the Zoning By-Laws to permit the sale of new and used cars at the junction of Route 2A and the Concord By-Pass, denied.
Respectfully submitted,
Henry B. Hoover John White
Thomas B. Adams Elmer H. Ziegler
Elliott V. Grabill, Chairman
73
PUBLIC WORKS
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
Mr. Edward S. Taylor was elected at the last annual meeting to succeed Mr. Robert W. Scott whose term had expired. The Board appre- ciates the conscientious and valuable services which Mr. Scott rendered during his seven years in office.
The Board held 24 meetings during the year. The following sub- division applications were considered and acted upon:
Mr. Norman Leger
1 lot
Service connection, Route 2
Mr. Harold Adler
8 lots
Trapelo Road
Mr. Harold Demone
7 lots Route 2
Brown's Woods, Inc.
23 lots
Between Weston and Conant Roads
Mr. E. W. Giles
11 lots
North Great and Virginia Roads
Mr. Edward Danosky
6 lots
Farrar Road
Mr. D. E. Sherman, Jr.
12 lots
Lincoln and Old Sudbury Roads
Mr. August Schumacher
16 lots
Lincoln and Old Sudbury Roads
Mr. Anthony Cassis
25 lots
Route 2
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Radar station on Hathaway Hill, South Great Road
The Water Works allowed the Government permission to connect to the Town water system subject to the right of the Town to restrict the use of water or to discontinue the service altogether if the Town so chose.
The chlorinating apparatus, which was recommended by the State Board of Health and voted on favorably by the Town, was installed in January. One-tenth part of chlorine per million parts of water is applied to the Water as it is pumped at the station. The State recommended this amount as the proper application for the present, but it is subject to varia- tion as a result of the State's analysis of future water specimens and their resulting recommendations. The Board has had no complaints on the taste of the chlorine in the water.
All hydrants were repainted and different sizes of mains were distin- guished by different colors on the hydrants for the benefit of the Fire Department.
The Board went on record with the State Department of Public Health as being unanimously opposed to the proposed legislation which would re- lax present laws protecting public water supplies.
The Board voted to discontinue to supply water to present customers who are residents of abutting towns where water from such town was avail- able for their use.
The Water Works collected damages for two hydrants damaged by auto- mobiles.
74
WATER DEPARTMENT
A modern, automatic hot air heating plant was installed in the Pumping Station at a contract cost of $1,000.00, and is working very satisfactorily. The toilet facilities have been replaced with modern equipment.
After due consideration, new water rates have been established, de- signed to conform to the use of meters. The new rates are intended to make the gross amount collected approximate the amount that would have been collected by the fixture rate basis. In addition to ordi- nary operating expenses this amount should be enough to allow for the amortization of the cost of the meters in about 10 years, and to re- fund and pay the interest charges on the bonds already issued by the Town for the Water Department, as well as to accumulate some surplus for future expenses which are herein listed and discussed briefly.
a. Obtaining a supplementary water source.
About $10,000 has been spent on geological, seismographic and test well reports, and although a 1,000,000 gallon per day well could be developed at the Fairhaven Bay site and connected to the mains at a cost of $250,000, the Commissioners are not satisfied that the Town should undertake the project. The location is such that impure water might, in the future, enter the system. Further- more, there seem to be other less expensive possibilities. For $5,000 a report can be made on the only remaining possible adequate ground water supply in Town. This site, between Lake Walden and Route 126, might supply sufficient water from a series of wells around 30 feet deep. It would probably be less costly to develop this source than the Fairhaven Bay source. £ Hobbs Brook Reservoir is another possible source, but that has always been nearly dry when Sandy Pond is low. Cost for installing pump, pipes, fixtures and filter bed for this site has not been estimated. (See Blake P. 122, 1952 Report) .
b. Renewing the present 12" pipe from the Pumping Station to the reservoir.
The present pipe is partly filled with tubercles and should eventually be replaced with a 16" pipe. The estimate for this work is $60,000.
c. Extending the suction into the pond.
The present suction pipe should be extended far enough to draw the pond down four more feet, resulting in a possible draw down of about 13 feet from the present pond level. (See Blake P. 123, 1952 Report.) No estimate has been obtained for this work.
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PUBLIC WORKS
d. New Venturi meter (complete).
The tube in the present meter is so filled with deposits after over 50 years of use that the recorded gallonage must be reduced by about 30% to arrive at an estimated number of gallons passing through it. An accurate figure of the number of gallons pumped is important in estimating the potential of the pond, in comparing the amount of water pumped with the total amount as recorded by meters, and in checking the efficiency of the pumps. Cost of material $1600.00, plus installation.
The new rates are as follows, not necessarily considered permanent: For all services upon which meters are installed there shall be a semi-annual meter charge based upon the size of the meter, as follows:
Size of Meter
Semi-Annual Charge
5/8"
$1.00
3/4"
1.50
2.00
그를
5.00
2"
7.00
3ª
14.00
For each water service, in addition to the meter charge, a mini- mum charge of $9.00 semi-annually payable in advance January 1 and July 1 of each year, for an amount not exceeding 15,000 gallons of water in each six month period; charges for water in excess of 15,000 gallons within six consecutive months shall be as follows:
15,000 - 50,000 gal. @ $ .40 per 1,000 gal.
50,000 - 500,000 11 @ .30 per 1,000 gal.
over 500,000
@ .20 per 1,000 gal.
All bills for water services to be subject to a discount of 10% if paid within 60 days of dated bill, provided all prior charges are paid in full to date.
Sandy Pond at elevation 222.62 is full. The Commissioners believe it is better to let it spill through the balance of this wet period, rather than build up the shores to raise the level, which would result in the pond damaging banks and backing into swamps (where there is accumulated vegetation). Later the spill may be stopped by sand bags at the overflow.
However, this wet cycle will undoubtedly be followed by a dry one, and Sandy Pond, even if Concord discontinues drawing from it, will in
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WATER DEPARTMENT
the near future be insufficient to supply the Town if its present rate of growth continues.
About four miles of road contain no water main, being Conant Road, Mill Street, Sandy Pond Road and Route 126 from the corner of Walden Road to the Concord line. The warrant for the last special Town Meet- ing contained an article asking the Town to vote on an extension of main on Route 126. The petitioner did not offer the article for con- sideration on the understanding the Board would review the regulation requiring the petitioners to pay the full cost of extending mains. The Board feels that this regulation is for the best interest of the Water Works and the Town and should be consistently enforced. Further- more, sub-division plans are not approved unless the sub-division is served by adequate mains installed at the petitioner's expense.
WATER DEPARTMENT STATISTICS - January 1, 1955
Pipe in use
29.254 M.
Number of hydrants in use
215
Number of stop-gates in use
273
Number of blow-offs in use 27
Range of pressure on mains
40 - 100 lbs.
Total gallons pumped
93,347,250
Number of services added
52
Number of services renewed
12
Number of services in use
791
Number of meters in use
824
Number of meters installed
209
Respectfully submitted,
Henry Warner, Secretary
Edward S. Taylor
Sumner Smith, Chairman
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