Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959, Part 34

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 34


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$ 5,495.89


Farm Animal Excise Water


105.93


2,577.12


Aid to Highways Departmental revenue


13,500.00


1,217.32


$ 22,896.26


Surplus Revenue General Water


131,622.93


24,433.65


156,056.58


$ 255,558.74


DEBT ACCOUNTS


Funded or Fixed Debt


Serial Loans


Inside Debt Limit


General:


School


$162,000.00


Library


60,000.00


Police and Fire Building


Outside Debt Limit


General :


School


639,000.00


Water:


90,000.00


729,000.00


Mains


95,000.00


$317,000.00


$1,046,000.00


68


REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR OF TAXES


Balance 1/1/58


Committed


Refunds


Abated


Paid


Outstanding 12/31/58


1956


Personal


$ 163.00


$


$


$ 49.90


$ 113.10


$


-


Real Estate


1,015.50


69.60


945.90


-


1957


Polls


2.00


2.00


-


Personal


122.40


3.40


119.00


Real Estate 1958


7,461.60


701.76


749.36


5,485.60


1,928.40


Polls


2,112.00


32.00


200.00


1,928.00


16.00


Personal


45,051.75


225.00


225.00


44,819.25


232.50


Real Estate


533,875.87


1,781.25


8,452.25


515,441.76


11,763.11


1956


Motor Vehicle 1957


523.66


416.16


107.50


Motor Vehicle


9,210.35


9,379.29


443.79


2,888.77


15,469.75


674.91


1958


Motor Vehicle


79,371.72


2,312.00


4,441.83


72,420.91


4,820.98


1957


Farm Excise


23.75


23.75


1958


Farm Excise


150.97


68.79


82.18


Discounted & Abated


1956


49.60


49.60


1


1957


1,928.36


16.20


1.42


1,800.88


142.26


1958


40,185.51


42.24


3,094.48


34,809.87


2,323.40


Interest


Taxes


Motor Vehicle Excise


Total


1956


$74.16


$82.92


1957


38.93 37.78


$ 8.76 30.12 40.95


109.95 78.73


-


1


1


COLLECTOR OF TAXES


69


-


-


Water


Water


Water


-


1958


FINANCE


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


Elmer H. Ziegler William M. Rand, Jr. Frederick H. Greene, Jr., Chairman


The Board of Assessors submits the following report for the year 1958:


According to law, all real estate and personal property tax abatement requests must be filed with the Board on or before October 1 of the year in question.


All automobile excise tax abatement requests must be filed with the Board within six months of the date of issuance of the notice of the assess- ment or of the date of sale or transfer of the vehicle, but in any event not later than January 31 of the succeeding year. However, if the bill or notice is first sent after January 1 of the succeeding year, the abatement request must be filed on or before the thirtieth day after the date on which the bill or notice is sent. No abatement may reduce the excise collected to less than $2.00.


1958 Recapitulation


Total appropriations to be raised from taxation Appropriations to be taken from available funds


$799,090.99 83,244.18


State Tax and Assessments:


State Parks & Reservations


$ 1,964.89


Underestimate for 1957


54.12


State Audit


2,697.28


4,716.29


County Tax and Assessments :


County Tax


$16,993.39


Underestimate of County Tax for 1957


1,400.87


T. B. Hospital Assessment


2,975.85


21,370.11


Overlay of current year


8,699.84


Gross Amount to be raised


$917,121.41


Estimated Receipts and Available Funds :


Income Tax


$52,126.24


Corporation Taxes


16,095.60


Reimbursement a/c public land


680.82


Old Age Tax (Meals)


715.28


Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise


71,955.62


Old Age Assistance


11,200.00


Schools


19,431.00


Water Department


44,702.50


State Assistance for School Construction


17,294.00


Interest on Taxes & Assessments


6,729.38


All Others


11,007.94


$251,938.38


1957 Overestimate, T. B. Hospital


906.73


Appropriations voted to be taken from available funds


83,244.18


$336,089.29


70


ASSESSORS


Net amount to be raised by taxation on polls and property


$581,032.12


$917,121.41


Number of polls


1056 at $2.00 $ 2,112.00


Total Valuation:


Personal Property


$600,690 at $75.00


45,051.75


Real Estate


$7,118,245 at $75.00


533,868.37


$7,718,935


$581,032.12


Number of acres of land assessed:


8030.37


Number of dwelling houses assessed:


992


Tax Rate per $1,000.00


$ 75.00


71


Protection of Lives and Property


POLICE DEPARTMENT


Leo J. Algeo, Chief


I hereby submit my report for the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1958.


Arrests by Lincoln Police 57


Arrests by State Police 37


Warning notices issued for violations


of motor vehicle law 116


Violations of motor vehicle law


reported to Registry of Motor Vehicles 34


Motor vehicle accident report :


accidents reported 156


occupants injured 108


occupants killed 1


pedestrians injured 3


Ten of the above arrests made by Lincoln police involved juven- iles, most of them being non-residents.


On March 28, the department moved to its new quarters at Lincoln and Codman Road. We are very pleased with these quarters and want to thank the people of the town for providing them for us. We shall endeavor to show our appreciation through our service to you. I wish to thank Bob Booth, who, as chairman of the Building Committee, sacrificed much of his time and did a tremendous job of directing the whole building program.


We have, in the basement of the new station, one of the finest target ranges in this area due to the volunteer work of members of the Police Department, the Fire Department, and others. There are too many individuals involved to name all who contributed to this project, but I think I would be remiss if I did not mention Al Crockett and Bill Dean. This range has been built and equipped at practically no cost to the Town of Lincoln. Sgt. MacInnis, with the assistance of Patrolman McHugh, now has two teen age groups firing on alternate Fridays. The Police Department has two teams firing in the New England Police Revolver League. A group of military men in


72


POLICE DEPARTMENT


the area are firing every Tuesday afternoon and the range is open every Tuesday night for any resident of Lincoln who would like to use it. All these activities are carried on under the supervision of this department.


In September, Mrs. Jeanette Bradley and Mrs. Elaine Courtney were appointed school traffic supervisors. They have been very ef - fective in guarding our school children at the Lincoln Road crossings and assisting the school bus drivers at the Center School. They have relieved the department of the responsibility of trying to cover these posts, which were not always able to do, because of other duties and a lack of manpower.


The department photography work has been assigned to Patrolman Gordon and, thanks to the guidance of George Heck, he is developing and printing our pictures at the De Cordova Museum dark room.


I have been attending a State University Extension course on Criminal Law at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Monday even- ings.


Chet Wood, custodian and communications operator, and the night operators of our communications system, have done an excellent job, and I want to thank them for it.


73


PROTECTION


FIRE DEPARTMENT


Andrew J. Dougherty, Chief William M. Dean, Clerk Frank Gordon, Engineer


The Board organized electing Andrew J. Dougherty Chief and William Dean Clerk. The Department answered 147 alarms during the year, as listed below:


Grass and Woods Fires


37


House and Accessories


26


Cars and Accidents


18


Miscellaneous


24


Edison Wires in Trees


23


Stand By


11


Aid to Concord


2


Aid to Wayland


2


False Alarms


5


The Fire Department has moved into its new quarters and is very much pleased with our surroundings. We are hoping to have the North Lincoln Fire Station rebuilt, so that it will have sleeping accomodations, so that we may have more protection in that area in case of need. If any one has any dishes or silver ware they would like to donate to the Fire Department, they would receive a good home.


74


TREE WARDEN


TREE WARDEN


Albert S. Brooks


Much of the time of the Tree Department was spent during the winter months in removal of dead, dying and dangerous trees along the streets of the town, and also removal and disposal of as many as possible of the elm trees infected with Dutch Elm Disease. Eighty- one elm samples were sent to Shade Tree Laboratories at Amherst, and seventy-six of them were confirmed as having Dutch Elm Disease. Under this program, one hundred seventy-eight elm trees were con- demned and most of them have been removed and disposed of.


The Edison Company, in conjunction with the New England Telephone Company, has contracted with Eastern Tree and Landscape Corporation to trim along every telephone and electric line in the town under the supervision of the tree warden. Your tree warden, being dissatisfied with so many of the small trees under the wires being topped and left standing, has been able to get the Edison and Telephone Companies to agree to remove most of these valueless and unsightly trees at their own expense. It is hoped by both the Edison Company and the tree department that this program will improve conditions along the wires, so that we will not have the trouble and interruption of service we have had in the past at almost every storm.


In 1959 I hope to resume our program of trimming out the dead and dangerous limbs as we did in 1957 and early 1958.


75


PROTECTION


CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY


Eveleth R. Todd, Director


Two major projects have occupied the Lincoln Civil Defense Agency during the past year. Project number one, with the assist- ance of the Federal and State Agencies, has been the preparation of an' Operations Plan. This plan, which is required of all municipal- ities, not only forms a basis for Civil Defense planning, organization and training, but also spells out the action to be taken by the Civil Defense forces and the general public at the time of impending or actual enemy attack. Although many of the details included in the plan as it pertains to Lincoln must still be worked out, it serves as a valuable guide and should do much toward coordinating the efforts of all communities throughout the Commonwealth.


Project number two has been the conversion of the old Chevrolet fire truck into a light rescue truck. Already a portable generator and chain saw have been acquired. Other equipment such as jacks, rope, shovels, wrecking bars, etc. will be added as funds permit. We believe this vehicle, when finally manned and equipped, will prove useful in assisting the other protective departments of the Town.


The Lincoln Civil Defense Agency is handicapped in its develop- ment, like most Agencies throughout the State, because of the lack of man power. Major services are communications, engineering, medical, radiological, supply, rescue and welfare. Anybody whose interests or talents lie in any of the above categories will be warmly welcomed.


This year we are distributing with the Town report, a booklet entitled "Home Protection Exercises". This booklet outlines in a general way the preparation and the action to be taken by individuals and families in the event of an emergency. More detailed informa- tion on many of the subjects covered is available on request through your agency .


76


Health and Welfare


BOARD OF HEALTH


Dr. Gordon Donaldson, Chairman Lucy E. Bygrave William Halsey


In March, 1958, the Board of Health was organized with Dr. Gordon Donaldson, Chairman; Mrs. Lucy Bygrave, Secretary ; Mrs. Marian Ober, Agent; Mr. William Davis, Burial Agent; Mr. Anthony Dougherty, Inspector of Animals; and Dr. Alden Russell, Inspector of Slaughtering. Walter Hill resigned from the Board in early December, and Mr. William Halsey was appointed by the Selectmen to fill the vacancy.


The following licenses were issued during 1958: Overnight cabins, 1; Slaughtering of poultry, 1; Piggeries, 2; Sale of alco- hol, 6; Garbage transportation, 2. In addition routine inspections were made of piggeries, restaurants, cider presses, stores, over- night cabins, and rest homes. As required by law, the following communicable diseases were reported: Measles, 85; German Measles, 42; Chicken Pox, 59; Mumps, 6; Strep. sore throat, 33; Salmonellosis, 11; Dog Bite, 14.


One hundred seventy-nine dogs were innoculated against rabies at the annual Dog Clinic held in May in the Town Barn. This clinic provides the additional service of dog licensing, with the Town Clerk in charge. It is important that every dog in town be innocu- lated against rabies, as well as licensed; and later in the year dogs not so protected at our Clinic are checked by the police. If


the Town is to be held responsible for furnishing anti-rabic treat- ment in case of dog bite, the law requires that each instance be reported in writing by the physician, and the dog must be impounded for two weeks by the Inspector of Animals.


The Well Child Conference continues to be held on the third Thursday of every month, under the expert supervision of Dr. John Davies, Mrs. Ober, and a corps of able volunteers. This clinic is open to all infants and pre-school children; and examinations and various innoculations are given for a nominal fee. Appointments should be made through the Town Nurse. This year 21 babies, 69 pre-school children, and 51 kindergarten children were examined.


The Dental Clinic at the school continues to operate under the direction of Dr. James Oakes, with the assistance of the Town Nurse.


77


HEALTH AND WELFARE


The State-required routine survey of all school children is com- pleted each year, and the generosity of the Pierce Fund covers the expense of this diagnostic part of the clinic. If dental treat- ment is needed, a note is sent home to the parent or guardian to this effect, suggesting care either at the clinic or by a private dentist. The Pierce Fund makes treatment possible at the clinic at the rate of $4 per half hour.


Although the major drive against poliomyelitis has been com- pleted, we continue to urge vaccination of all townspeople under 40 years of age. Only when all cooperate in this program will the dangers of polio be eliminated. The vaccine is provided free of charge now only to children attendant at the Well Child Clinic.


The garbage service continues under the aegis of the Board of Health. There are approximately 325 subscribers, and the charge is $7.50 semi-annually, payable to the Town.


This year four land subdivisions have been reviewed with the Planning Board and two of these have met with approval. The sani- tation problems associated with water drainage and sewage disposal of building lots and of land subdivisions became so complex three years ago that expert engineering services were sought. The cost of this town sanitary agent is defrayed in part by the building permit fee. In June of this year the Board's building regulations


were further clarified by legal notice. It is now required that


detail plans, drawn by an approved licensed sanitary engineer, covering both drainage and sewage disposal systems of any proposed building site or increased use of existing building, be presented to the Board of Health. This preliminary survey and plan is pro- vided at the individual's expense. Prior to approval of the build- ing permit, the Board's sanitary inspector must run satisfactory percolation tests in the area of the planned sewage disposal system.


The Fluorine Committee appointed by the Board, consisting of Mrs. J. Barnaby, Dr. H. Hardy, Dr. W. Calkins, Mr. R. Pearmain, and Mr. S. Avery, Chairman, have returned their report relative to add- ing fluorine to the town water supply as a means of reducing dental cavitation. Plans are underway to promote discussion of this issue among the townspeople; and at a later date, in conjunction with the Board of Water Commissioners, to present the matter for public vote.


78


NURSING COMMITTEE


NURSING COMMITTEE


Lucy E. Bygrave, Chairman Elizabeth C. Donaldson Louise H. McClennen, Secretary


The Nursing Committee held five meetings with Mrs. Ober during 1958. Mrs. Robert Bygrave was appointed chairman to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs. Bradford Cannon. The committee has assisted Mrs. Ober with the Well-Child Conference, the bookkeeping of the Dental Service, the eye and ear testing programs and the follow-up of the school physical examination program.


The reduction of the Smith School Health Unit, by one room, for school purposes received considerable thought by this committee. After the change was completed, the committee and Mrs. Ober con- sidered moving the Well-Child Conference to the more spacious rooms at the Hartwell School. When the situation was viewed with Dr. Davies, he preferred to remain in the health unit at the Smith School. At this time, a review of clinic procedures was made and suggestions for increased efficiency were adopted.


The value of the required school physical exams has been questioned because of incomplete returns. Methods of raising the standards and the encouragement of using the family physician have been continually recommended.


Accurate and complete reporting of contagious diseases has been such that this committee has recommended that the school and the town health requirements be, in some form, made known to all the citizens.


In anticipation of Mrs. Ober's retirement in June the committee has attempted to familiarize itself more with her schedule of work. In this connection the committee members have visited .the towns of Weston, Wayland, Sudbury and Concord to learn more of nursing pro- grams and problems. As a result, recommendations were presented to the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Health and the School Com- mittee for consideration and possible adoption at such time as a new nurse assumes duties in the town.


Mrs. Barbara Woods served as town nurse during Mrs. Ober's vacation in August.


The Committee would like to express its gratitude to all volun- teers who have assisted and given generously of their time during the year.


79


HEALTH AND WELFARE


1958 Summary


Medical


369


Surgical


9


Pre-Natal


15


Post-Natal


6


Child-Welfare


452


Social-Welfare


31


Well-Child Conference and Dental Service 69


Board of Health


39


Trips to hospital or to


doctor's office


69


Total number of calls


1059


Number of patients died


7


Number of patients moved away


3


Number of patients moved to hospital or nursing home


4


Number of new patients


5


Number of patients December 31


13


Fees Collected


Nursing


$ 209.00


Dental


1,636.15


Well-Child Conference


32.50


Dog Clinic


89.50


80


PUBLIC WELFARE


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


M. Elizabeth Causer, Agent


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


Aid was given to 28 recipients under the Old Age Assistance pro- gram in 1958.


Payments:


From Town Funds


$17,806.85


From Federal Funds


10,176.81


$27,983.66


Receipts :


Balance from 1957


$ 1,779.49


Refunds


123.10


U. S. Government


11,608.05


Commonwealth of Mass.


13,758.75


Commonwealth of Mass. Meals Tax


515.46


Other Cities and Towns


497.10


$28,281.95


Cost to Town of Lincoln


2,913.86


$31,195.81


Balance Reserved for O.A.A.


3,212.15


$27,983.66


Aid to Dependent Children: No aid given in 1958.


Balance from 1957


$ 384.88


Payment to Commonwealth of Mass.


10.00


Balance Reserved for A. D. C.


$ 374.88


Disability Assistance: No aid given in 1958.


Balance Reserved for Disability Assistance $ 236.92


General Relief aid given $ 657.50


81


HEALTH AND WELFARE


MOSQUITO CONTROL IN LINCOLN


David L. Garrison, Commissioner


Robert L. Armstrong, Superintendent


There was a lot of wet weather in 1958 and more spraying was re- quired. There was also more migration of mosquitoes into the terri- tory in the westerly part of the town.


The greater part of the swamplands were dusted with DDT by hand or by helicopter during the winter. The remaining swamps, except the Sudbury River meadows, were sprayed after larvae hatched in the early spring. The results against the spring brood were good except in the Beaver Pond swamp areas.


House mosquito sources were inspected and sprayed with oil from June through September . Catch basins were sprayed six times with oil.


The frequent summer rains produced a lot of Culex salinarius in swamps during July and August. Limited helicopter spraying was done against the adult mosquitoes on June 12th and September 4th. This mosquito usually delays biting until well after dark.


Ditches were reclaimed in late winter south of Rando off Winter Street and off Browning Lane. A little more ditching was done in the fall at the Edgell property off Conant Road and also north of the school area in the center of town.


Financial Statement:


Balance on hand December 31, 1957


$3,102.29


1958 appropriation, received July 18th 6,000.00


Expenditures :


Labor


$3,643.13


Workmen's Compensation, claims


233.92


County retirement


129.20


Office operation, supervision


516.79


Office rent


46.16


Barn rent


138.60


Vehicle replacement


313.30


Insecticide


789.12


Aircraft service


374.00


Other services


15.00


Field operation, equip., Supervision


637.88


$6,837.10


Balance on December 31, 1958


$2,265.19


82


INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS


The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission has requested an appropriation of $6,000.00 for 1959.


INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS


Andrew J. Dougherty


The following animals have been inspected:


Cows and heifers, 2 years and over 118


Heifers, 1 - 2 years


44


Heifers, under 1 year


24


Number of bulls


4


Number of steers


6


Number of horses


48


Number of goats


3


Number of sheep


47


Number of swine


625


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 numbers and kind of the animals in the town. During the past year the animals have not been threatened with an epidemic.


During the year fourteen dog bites were reported.


83


Planning and Public Works


PLANNING BOARD


Walter Bogner Paul Brooks Katharine S. White, Chairman


George Kidder Alan McClennen


The Planning Board, in accordance with custom, organized at its first meeting following the 1958 Annual Town Meeting, electing Katharine S. White, chairman, Walter Bogner, clerk, and appointing Alan McClennen to the Long-Term Capital Requirements Committee, Mrs. White to the Selectmen's Steering Committee and George Kidder as the Planning Board's representative to Board of Appeals hearings. Paul Brooks was welcomed as the Board's new member, and a resolution was sent to the Board's retiring member, Everett A. Black, expressing its appreciation of his five years of service.


It has been a busy year. Always two, often three, meetings were held per month, with the exception of July and August when the Board met only on its regular meeting day, the second Wednesday of the month. Four public hearings were held on subdivisions, plus other conferences with the Selectmen, Board of Appeals, Massachusetts Department of Public Works and the Boston National Historic Sites Commission.


For the first time, the Board has a paid secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Snelling, and she has already become indispensable. With her help, work has begun on a filing system for maps and correspondence that should be complete in 1959.


I. SUBDIVISION CONTROL


Under the Subdivision Control Law, lots of adequate size and frontage on existing public ways may be built upon without Planning Board approval; however, plans of such lots may not be recorded at the Registry of Deeds without the endorsement, "Approval under Sub- Division Control Law Not Required", signed by a majority of the Board. Our records show that we executed eighteen such endorsements during the year.


Four subdivisions are currently under preliminary discussion. Three subdivisions are conditionally approved :


Harold B. Demone, off Old Cambridge Turnpike -- 57 acres into 24 lots


84


PLANNING BOARD


Elizabeth F. Howard, off Concord Road -- 10 acres into 5 lots Olga Pertzoff, off Tower Road -- 76 acres into 14 lots


The Board wishes to emphasize that conditional or even final approval of a subdivision 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 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 satisfaction.


To handle the processing of subdivisions more efficiently, the Board created a Subdivision Review Committee, with Alan McClennen as chairman and composed of one member each from the Water Board, Board of Health and Selectmen. This enables the Town Boards involved in subdivision processing to handle mutual problems together.


The Board feels that its Rules and Regulations governing sub- divisions should be more detailed. £ Work has begun on this revision, and the Board hopes to complete it in 1959.


II. COMMERCIAL AREAS


The Planning Board's concern with commercial areas is legally limited to approving the parking area which must be three times the ground floor area of the building or buildings on the proposed lot. The Board feels that that part of the zoning by-law which deals with the commercial areas is inadequate and at present is working on an improved version.


A. South Lincoln


There has been a lot of activity in this area this year -- an addition of 3000 square feet to Joseph Hurd's Community Store, the erection of a new and larger commercial building on approximately the same site as the old railroad station and various conferences with the Lincoln Post of the American Legion on its building in this area. Parking designs for both these buildings were approved.




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