Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959, Part 21

Author: Lincoln (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Lincoln (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 1026


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959 > Part 21


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With a late start and very limited help during the sum- mer months, we have endeavored to improve the condition of the trees of the town by trimming, removal of dead and dying trees, and thinning as necessary. Most of our time was spent on Lincoln Road, from the Depot to Tower Road, Baker Bridge Road, and Route 117 from Route 126 to the Concord line. Although none of these roads are wholly completed, we feel a very great improvement has been made.


Fifty elm trees that were condemned during the year with Dutch Elm Disease were removed and burned.


For 1958 I hope to continue the program of trimming and removal along the same lines as we have started. The town now has equipment in good condition for this work and has help available for the winter months, which we feel is the most advantageous time to do it.


As many of our trees along the streets are in poor con- dition and may soon have to be removed, I feel we should look forward to a program of replanting and replacing of shade trees in this town, as many other towns in the state have done and are doing.


Respectfully submitted : Albert S. Brooks Tree Warden


67


PROTECTION


CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY


The continued advancement in the power and scope of atomic weapons, long range missiles and science generally presents a clouded picture of just what are the best pro- tective measures to take in the event of an enemy attack. Although Lincoln is still a so-called "Evacuation Town", the concept of underground shelters as being the most practical means of protection against nuclear warfare is rapidly gaining favor. The Massachusetts Operational Survival Plan Project is now entering its final stages. From this study we hope to gain a better understanding of the best course to follow when and if the occasion arises. In spite of the fact that your agency has drawn up evacua- tion plans, it seems advisable to withhold distribution until more concrete plans have been formulated.


Close contact is maintained with the Town officers, fire and police departments, to ascertain our needs in the event of a natural disaster. Under consideration is the possi- bility of acquiring the present small fire truck which is about to be retired and can be manned and equipped by Civil Defense. Thus, at very little expense a combination rescue and fire truck can continue in operation to supple- ment equipment of other departments. .


We hope to deliver with the Town report this year a booklet entitled "Home Protection Exercises". Because in a serious emergency each family may necessarily have to become a self sufficient unit until help can be given, this booklet should be of invaluable help in making preparation for such an eventuality.


Respectfully submitted :


Eveleth R. Todd


Local Civil Defense Director


68


Health and Welfare


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH


The Board of Health was organized in 1957 as it was in 1956 with Dr. Gordon Donaldson, Chairman; Mrs. Bradford Cannon, Secretary; Mrs. Marian Ober, Agent; Mr. William Davis, Burial Agent; Mr. Andrew Dougherty, Inspector of Animals; and Dr. Alden Russell, Inspector of Slaughtering. Mrs. Cannon resigned from the Board in December in order to accept an appointment on the Regional High School Committee. Mrs. Robert Bygrave was appointed to fill the vacancy on the Board of Health.


The following licenses were issued during 1957 : Over- night Cabins, 1; Slaughtering of Poultry, 1; Piggeries, 2; Sale of Alcohol, 7; Garbage transportation, 3. The fol- lowing communicable diseases were reported as required by law: German measles, 3; Chicken pox, 19; Mumps, 47; Dog bites, 17; Scarlet fever, 5; Salmonellosis, 4; Racoon bite, 1; Rat bite, l. Routine inspections were made of piggeries restaurants, and overnight cabins.


Two hundred thirty dogs were innoculated for rabies at the Annual Dog Clinic held at the Town Barn in May. Dr. Alden Russell served as Veterinarian as usual.


The Well Child Conference continues to be held on the third Thursday of every month under the direction of Dr. John Davies assisted by Mrs. Ober. The Board would like to express its appreciation to the group of faithful volun- teers who help to make this conference run so smoothly. Examined by Dr. Davies were: 22 babies; 79 repeaters, and 79 kindergarten children. Free polio vaccine has been administered to the children and will continue to be avail- able for any child becoming eligible.


Dr. David Farrell resigned from the Dental Clinic in April to devote full time to private practice and has been succeeded by Dr. James Howard Oaks who comes to Lincoln weekly.


All town employees were innoculated by Dr. John Sisson for Asian Flu. Three Polio Clinics were held this year, the last of which was held on May 25th and brought to an end the Polio Program in Lincoln. All children between the ages of 6 months and 19 years and pregnant women were


69


HEALTH AND WELFARE


given the opportunity to receive the vaccine; and with a very few exceptions, all the persons in this group have availed themselves of this opportunity or have received shots from their own physicians. Since July 1, 1957, free vaccine has been available for infants and pregnant women only.


The Board would also like to express its appreciation to the Lincoln nurses, volunteers, and doctors who contri- buted so generously of their time and knowledge to all the Polio Clinics.


Garbage collection continues for approximately 325 sub- scribers. The charge is $7.50 semi-annually, payable to the Town.


No land subdivisions have come before the Board this year. The Board has further investigated the question of fluoridation of the public water supply as a means of re- ducing dental cavitation; and have recently appointed a committee to study all aspects of the problem as it affects Lincoln. Their report should be available in the Fall, and its contents will be presented to the Town.


The Board has had the services of an expert sanitary engineer once a week for the past year. With the new building code now in effect, the cost to the Town of any sanitary inspection will be included in the building permit fee. In the future all plumbing and sanitary inspections are to be carried out by a single inspector.


Respectfully submitted :


Lucy E. Bygrave Walter Hill Gordon Donaldson, M.D., Chairman


Board of Health


70


NURSING COMMITTEE


REPORT OF THE LINCOLN NURSING COMMITTEE 1957


The Lincoln Nursing Committee held five regular meetings with Mrs. Ober during 1957. In addition, its members have assisted at the Well-Child Conference each month, as did other volunteer helpers in the town. Likewise, volunteer assistance was given at the Polio Clinics in January and May. The bookkeeping for the Dental Service was done by the Nursing Committee again this year. Policies pertain- ing to billing, as described in the last annual report, have worked very successfully.


Mrs. Barbara Woods served the town in July when Mrs. Ober was ill and also substituted during her vacation in August.


The Nursing Committee has assisted Mrs. Ober in the State-required eye and ear testing of school children. It has also helped the school physician with the physical ex- aminations required by the State for the 3rd and 6th grades. We have urged parents to have these examinations done by their own physicians, as recommended by the State. There has been some discussion about improving health education and services at the schools. In this connection we have worked with the Physical Education Department with regard to shower-room practices.


In an effort to be informed and plan for the nursing program in a growing community the committee has been familiarizing itself with neighboring health agencies. This included meetings with the President of the Concord Family Service Society and with the Agent of the Nashoba Welfare District serving Acton, Carlisle and Bedford.


The Committee would like to express its gratitude to those who have given generously of their time at the Well- Child Conferences, at the Polio Clinics and in the testing programs.


1957 Summary


Medical


423


38


Surgical Pre-natal


28


Post-natal


20


71


HEALTH AND WELFARE


Child Welfare


416


Social Welfare


92


Board of Health 58


Well-Child Conference and Dental Clinic 61


Trips out of town


( hospitals, conferences, etc. ) 96


Total number of calls 1232


Respectfully submitted :


Ellen DeN. Cannon, Chairman Elizabeth Donaldson


Louise H. McClennen, Secretary


72


INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS 1957


The following animals have been inspected :


Cows, 2 years and over


122


Heifers, 1 to 2 years


38


Heifers, under 1 year


39


Bulls 5


Steers


25


Horses


47


Sheep


76


Swine


629


All animals are under the rules and regulations of the Division of Livestock Disease Control.


The Division of Livestock has been given a list of the owners and the number and kind of animals in the Town.


During the year eighteen dog bites were reported. Also during the past year the cattle, horses and swine have not been threatened with any epidemic.


Respectfully submitted :


Andrew J. Dougherty


Inspector of Animals


73


HEALTH AND WELFARE


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


The local Board of Public Welfare is responsible for the ad- ministration of four categories of assistance, namely, Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, Disability Assistance and General Relief.


Aid was given to 27 recipients under the Old Age Assistance program in 1957.


Payments :


From Town Funds


$17,479.03


From Federal Funds


10,397.71


$27,876.74


Receipts :


Balance from 1956


$ 1,707.03


Recoveries


619.80


U. S. Government


9,850.37


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


9,940.31


Commonwealth of Massachusetts,


Meals Tax


715.28


Other Cities and Towns


510.92


$23,343.71


Cost to the Town of Lincoln


6,312.52


$29,656.23


Balance reserved for O.A.A.


1,779.49


$27,876.74


One family was aided under Aid to Dependent Children program in 1957.


Payments :


From Federal Funds $ 138.60


Receipts :


Balance from 1956 $ 377.08


U. S. Government


146.40


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


138.51


$ 661.99


Cost to the Town of Lincoln


Balance reserved for Aid to


Dependent Children $ 384.88


One recipient was aided under the Disability Assistance pro- gram in 1957.


Payments :


From Town Funds $ 490.86


From Federal Funds


496.86


$ 987.72


Receipts :


Balance from 1956 $ 400.78


U. S. Government


333.00


74


0


PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AGENT


Commonwealth of Massachusetts $ 606.62


1,340.40 0


Cost to the Town of Lincoln


Balance Reserved for Disability Assistance $ 236.92


General Relief $ 30.11


Respectfully submitted :


Elizabeth Causer, Agent


75


HEALTH AND WELFARE


MOSQUITO CONTROL IN LINCOLN


Report 1957


Mosquito control followed the usual program in Lincoln. Ditch cleaning was started in the south end of the swamp between Conant Road and Winter Street but work had to halt because of too much snow and ice. Drainage work resumed here in November and is nearing completion.


Mid winter dusting was done with knapsack sprayers in most of the small swamps during February and March. Most of the remaining swamps were sprayed by helicopter in April after the mosquito larvae hatched. A few localities had to be sprayed in June to reduce adult mosquitoes where larvae escaped the April spray.


When the house mosquito season commenced in June all the catch basins were sprayed once with Dildrin emulsion. Basin spraying was not repeated. Other house mosquito sources were so few during the summer that practically no spraying was done.


No spraying or dusting was required on the Sudbury River swamplands or meadows.


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


Budget Planning


Balance on hand, Dec. 29, 1956 $3,277.00


Expenditures Jan. through


April, 1957 $2,896.09


1957 appropriation received June 22nd - 6,500.00


Expenditure May through Dec. 3,780.41


Balance at end of Dec. 1957 $3,100.50


Estimated expenditure Jan. through April, 1958 - 2,930.00


Anticipated balance at end of April, 1958 - $ 170.50


Budget estimate May 1958 to May, 1959 -


$5,900.00


76


MOSQUITO CONTROL


EXPENDITURES CLASSIFIED FOR CALENDAR YEAR 1957


Labor


$4,307.70


Insecticide


468.71


Aircraft service


588.00


Other service (trucking)


18.00


Special materials


13.60


Rent


46.15


Office operation & supervision 553.37


Field" operation, supervision, etc. 680.95


$6,676.48


The Commission has requested an appropriation of $6,000.00 in 1958.


Respectfully submitted :


Robert L. Armstrong


Superintendent


77


Planning and Public Works


REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD


The Planning Board was organized at its first meet- ing with Alan McClennen, chairman, Katharine S. White, clerk. The Board immediately resolved to write to Mr. A. T. Howard, the most recent former member, expressing their appreciation for his contributions to the town during his five years on the Planning Board.


Subdivisions


The work in this connection continued light. Three or four projects have been in the preliminary stages but thus far none have progressed to the definitive plan stage.


Route 2 Re-Location


Following the work of last year the Board has con- tinued to confer with the DPW, the Selectmen and individuals in order to resolve the confusion which now exists, because the DPW has not seen fit to notify the Town which route it will establish and when it will initiate takings. In the report of 1956 it was proposed by the Planning Board to run route 2 between routes 2 and 2A. Reappraisal of this situation in the light of new construction on Bedford Road, Sunnyside Lane and Brooks Road has led the Board to the opinion that this route is no longer feasible.


The Department of Public Works has stated that it is impossible for them to improve the present route 2 to limited access standards between Bedford Road and the Con- cord line. Also the Department is unwilling to carry the route northerly near the Bedford Airport although the Board has stated that such a route would be in the best interests of the Town. The Board has most strongly opposed the loca- to our untreated water supply is obvious. Further the


tion of the road close to Sandy Pond. . The potential hazard Department's tentative location would spoil the development potential of some excellent residential sites to the north of the pond and a little way from it. So also such a


route would preclude the construction of a road from Bed- ford Road to Sandy Pond Road as has been recommended so often by consultants to the board. On the west side of Sandy Pond Road the route would also spoil good land for either development for residence or expansion of Walden Pond Reservation as called for by the recent report to the


78


PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS


Department of Natural Resources. (The Board has not had an opportunity to review this report).


The final recommendation of the Board which was transmitted to the Selectmen called for a road following the present alignment of Route 2 to about the location of the Northeastern Gas Transmission line easterly of Bedford Road, thence through the low point of Bedford Road south of Route 2, thence generally parallel to Route 2, merging again with Route 2 near Sandy Pond Road. The matter of access to the town from Route 2 at Lexington Road has been discussed with the DPW but no conclusion has been reached as yet.


Planning Study


Following from the report of last year the Board submitted a request for appropriation by the Town of $2,000 for consultant services for an objective study of the con- servation of the town's amenities and of the impact of changed residential zoning requirements, the introduction of non-residential land uses and other programs which would, on the one hand, retain the attractiveness of the Town as a place for living, at the same time insuring fiscal sta- bility for the Town. After the appropriation of the fund, the Board approached five consultants, of whom three were willing to undertake the work. After interviews, two of


them, Professor Charles W. Eliot and Morton B. Braun, agreed to join forces to review our situation. Simultan - eously, the Board applied to the Massachusetts Department of Commerce for Federal assistance which was forthcoming late in November. As of this time, the contracts between the Planning Board and the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Commerce and the consultants, are being readied for execution. The consultants, in the meantime,


are initiating their studies. Regrettably, the delays as a result of obtaining matching Federal funds are such that the consultants' reports and recommendations will not be available until after the 1958 town meeting.


Land Acquisition


After careful review of existing conditions, the public land study committee felt that it would be inappro- priate to make immediate decisions on the acquisition of land while some of the matters under consideration by the Planning Board were yet unresolved. The consultants noted above will have available materials proposed by the Land Study Committee and will use them in developing their recom-


79


PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS


mendations. The Board and its members, as individuals, have met with private parties interested in the establish- ment of a private Land Trust and have worked with them to the extent possible. The Board has also endorsed the establishment of a town conservation commission at the next town meeting in order that if recommendations in this area are made by the consultants, a public agency capable of adopting the recommendations will be in existence.


South Lincoln


Discussions with the DPW relative to the relocation of Lincoln Road westerly turned out to be relatively fruit- less. The costs for construction of road and establish- ment or re-establishment of grade crossing signals under the plan appeared to be too high. While believing that the idea is essentially good, the Board does not feel that in the light of present fiscal conditions this is a feasible program. Should traffic on Lincoln Road build up and should the fiscal situation of the Town improve, the Board would suggest reconsideration of the idea.


The Board, in accord with section 7K of the zoning by-law adopted at the annual town meeting in March, 1956, has been in discussion with two parties interested in the construction of shopping facilities in South Lincoln with a view to insuring the best possible parking arrangements.


Conferences with other Committees


The Board met from time to time with representatives of the Selectmen, Water Commission, Capital Requirements Committee, Roadside Beautification Committee and the Boston National Historic Sites Commission. . These meetings were fruitful in the ideas obtained from the others, and, it is hoped, from the contributions made by the Board itself.


Respectfully submitted :


Alan McClennen, Chairman Katharine S. White, Clerk Everett A. Black


Walter F. Bogner George H. Kidder


80


BOARD OF APPEALS


REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEALS


Hearings were held on twenty petitions to the Board during the year 1957. Set forth below is a summary of the decisions.


Petition filed by Henry Draper for the Massachusetts Audubon Society for permission to convert two two-family houses on South Great Road, South Lincoln, into two four- family houses. Petition denied.


Petition filed by the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Lincoln for permission to use land at the corner of Codman and Lincoln Roads for a fire station and/or Police Headquarters, said area being less than 80,000 square feet of land. Petition granted.


Petition of Charles W. Calkins, Jr. for a variance to allow a single family dwelling to be built on a lot at the northeast corner of Lincoln and Ball Field Roads. Peti- tion granted.


Petition of Nicholas Lindsey for a variance to permit the extension of a non-conforming use by installation of larger gasoline storage tanks on service station premises at the intersection of Route 2A and the Turnpike By-Pass. Petition granted.


Petition of Norman Brisson for renewal of a permit to store equipment in a gravel pit off North Great Road be- hind land now occupied by his nursery and landscape garden- ing office. Petition granted for a period of three years.


Petition of Robert Ralston for permission to erect a nursery yard sign and to sell peat moss and grass seed, along with other nursery products, at his nursery on Old Sudbury Road. Petition denied.


Petition of Thomas Pym Cope for a variance to alter a non-conforming house on Winter Street and to build a two- car garage across an existing driveway. Petition granted.


Petition of Katrina C. Jenney for a variance to permit alteration of a non-conforming dwelling on Bedford Road. Petition granted.


Petition of Ruth Barbarow for a variance to permit the alteration of a non-conforming dwelling on Old Sudbury Road. Petition granted.


81


PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS


Petition of Louise Damico for a variance to allow a trailer on her property on Mill Street. Petition denied.


Petition of Abigail D. Avery for a variance to permit the addition of a bedroom and bathroom to a non-conforming dwelling at the corner of Sandy Pond Road and Lincoln Road. Petition granted.


Petition of Clark C. Rodimon of Tower Road to secure a variance with respect to a parcel of land owned by the petitioner so as to permit the use of said property for residential building purposes, although the frontage of said lot on Tower Road is somewhat less than required by the Zoning By-Law. Variance granted.


Petition of Erik J. Nelson for a variance to allow the erection of an attached garage 20 feet from the side lot line on Virginia Road. Petition granted.


Petition of Richard E. Powers of Old Bedford Road for permission to build a garage and breezeway less than 30 feet from the side lot line. Petition granted.


Petition of John W. Fisher for a variance to allow the existing dwelling on Lot #12, containing 57,800 square feet, on Beaver Pond Road, to be extended so that the distance to side lot lines will be 36 and 46 feet respectively. Peti- tion granted.


Petition of Henry B. and Charlotte T. Phillips for a license to allow the Motorola Company to install a two-way radio transmitter-receiver in, and a six foot antenna on, the garage of the petitioners"' . Tabor Hill Road property. Petition granted.


Petition of Manley B. Boyce for renewal of a license to receive, sort, store and send out boxes, baskets and vege- table crates at his farm on Old Sudbury Road. Applicant granted license until November 21, 1960, subject to certain conditions.


Petition of Mildred M. Rodimon for permission to operate a private nursery school in part of her home on Tower Road. Permission granted, such permission to expire at the close of normal school year in 1959.


Petition of the Estate of Ogden Codman for permission to allow two-family occupancy of the farm house on said estate located on Codman Road, and, in connection with such


82


BOARD OF APPEALS


occupancy, to place a temporary partition at the stairway and install a second kitchen on the second floor, all in accordance with a sketch accompanying the petition. Peti - tion denied.


Petition of Edward Boyer for renewal of license to sell new and used automobiles at his garage on South Great Road. License granted until November 21, 1960.


Respectfully submitted :


Thomas B. Adams Henry B. Hoover Hans Van Leer William N. Swift John White, Chairman


83


PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS


BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS


Since the provisions of the new Town Building Code pro- vided for the establishment of a Board of Appeals under the Code, such a Board was appointed by the Selectmen in 1957. Mr. Lawrence Anderson was appointed chairman, with Mr. William Halsey and Mr. Stephen Herthel the other regular members of the Board. Mr. Donald Loveys, Mr. Walter Belanger and Mr. Robert Bygrave were appointed as associate members.


Two cases were heard by the Board in 1957, as follows :


Petition of William deK. Burton for permission to install a gas incinerator in his home on Concord Road in a manner contrary to the provisions of the Building Code. The petition was denied.


Petition of Merrill J. Henley for George G. Tarbell, Jr. for a variance under the building code. The variance


was granted.


Respectfully submitted :


Lawrence Anderson, Chairman William Halsey Stephen Herthel Donald Loveys Walter Belanger Robert Bygrave


84


INSPECTORS


INSPECTORS OF BUILDING, PLUMBING AND WIRING


Building permits issued during 1957 :


New residential buildings 34


New non-residential buildings 24


Alterations and additions


26


Buildings demolished


2


Fees collected $1,244.50


Plumbing permits issued during 1957 : 61


Fees collected $ 647.00


Wiring permits issued during 1957 : 102


Fees collected $ 451.00


Respectfully submitted :


William M. Dean, Building & Wiring Inspector Daniel J. Murphy, Plumbing Inspector


85


PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS


REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS


Fourteen meetings were held during the year. One was held with the Planning Board concerning possible change of use of land in certain parts of the Town, more especially a change in zoning from single family to industrial dis- tricts. A meeting was held with the officers and directors of the De Cordova & Dana Museum and Park relative to pro- tection of the shore and waters of Sandy Pond from trespass by guests which resulted in a decision to use warning signs instead of erecting a fence. So far the results are satis- factory.




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