USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959 > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
There has been some discussion on the value of the Well Child Conference, since attendance has diminished this year. Mrs. Garrison has given it newspaper publicity, and has spoken to many people, in hopes that more parents will avail themselves of this excellent service. We are again indebted to Dr. John A. V. Davies of the Children's Hospital for his continued loyal service to our conference.
The Nursing Committee again obtained the help of several volunteers to staff the Well Child Conference. Three volunteers helped Mrs. Ober with the Massachusetts Vision and Hearing Tests in the schools. It is planned
101
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
to enlarge this corp of volunteers, so that some of the routine paper work can be done by them, as well as the ever increasing number of school screening tests.
Mrs. Henry Woods again served as Town Nurse during the month of August.
1959 Summary
Medical
181
Surgical
23
Pre-Natal
11
Post-Natal
5
Social Welfare
61
Child Welfare
170
Clinic
15
Board of Health
30
Out of town, Hospital,
or to doctor's office
43
Total number of calls
539
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
George U. Browning, Jr.
The following animals have been inspected and premises observed as directed by the Division of Livestock Disease Control :
Cows, 2 years and over 72
Heifers, 1-2 years
33
Heifer calves, under 1 year
8
Bulls
5
Steers
4
Horses and donkeys
45
Goats
4
Sheep
62
Swine
629
These animals are all under the rules and regulations of the Division of Livestock Disease Control and I have sent them a list of the owners and the number and kind of
102
HEALTH AND WELFARE
animals in Lincoln.
Nine dog bites were reported from May to December. These dogs were quarantined for two weeks and released when no signs of rabies appeared. One cat bite was re- ported also.
MOSQUITO CONTROL IN LINCOLN
Robert L. Armstrong, Superintendent
Mosquito control work began with mid-winter DDT dusting of frozen swamps to prevent hatching of the spring brood of mosquito larvae. About 467 acres were dusted by hand and 450 acres by helicopter. The swamps which were not dusted in the winter were sprayed in the springtime. As a result of the work the April hatch of larvae was very light in Lincoln. The migration into the Town from outside mosquito sources was unusually heavy in late May and June. Spraying was done by helicopter in a few areas to reduce these mosquitoes. Only 350 acres were treated. In July the Beaver Pond swamps and some additional areas were sprayed by helicopter for the Mansonia mosquito and other species.
The regular Culex (House Mosquito) spraying program began in June and was continued through September. Oil was used for this spraying except in catch basins where Dieldrin was sprayed. Abundant rainfall and high humidity in July and in the early part of August caused a tremendous amount of Culex mosquito breeding. There were more breed- ing sources in swamps and upland low places than the spray crews could contend with. The Project bought a large in- secticide aerosol generator and used it to "fog" residen- tial areas at night in an effort to reduce the mosquito population. The one machine was used almost continuously for six weeks, but more than that was needed to do effect- ive work in the fourteen cities and towns of the district.
Drainage work was done in the area north of the schools and off Conant Road between the Dr. Hall and Paul Brooks properties. Spring cleaning was done in most of the places previously ditched.
103
MOSQUITO CONTROL
The emergency spraying caused by the wet season ex- ceeded the budget program and the Mosquito Control Com- mission had to ask for additional funds to finance opera- tions until the 1960 appropriations are available.
Financial Statement
Balance on hand on Dec. 31, 1958
$2,265.19
1959 appropriation, received May 8th
6,000.00
$8,265.19
Expenditures :
Labor
$2,917.26
Insurance, retirement
472.26
Office operation,
supervision
570.86
Barn rent
174.60
Field equip., opera- tion, supervision
1,085.78
Vehicle replacement
Insecticide
740.38
Aircraft service
564.00
Other services
--
6,525.14
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1959
$1,740.05
The Mosquito Control Commission has requested $7,000 for 1960.
*
The above report concludes with a request for $7,000 for 1960 (in addition to the supplementary appropriation of $700 voted by the Town on December 14, 1959. I do not concur with the other commissioners in recommending this large expenditure. I am convinced that the increasing use of pesticides does harm, and I do not believe that the elimination of mosquitoes by draining major wet-land areas is the right answer either.
I think the Town should take a fresh look this year at its position on mosquito abatement, and I trust both the pros and cons will present their sides of the argument.
David L. Garrison Commissioner from Lincoln East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project
104
HEALTH AND WELFARE
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
M. Elizabeth Causer, Director
The local Board of Public Welfare is responsible for ad- ministration of four categories of assistance, namely: Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, Disability Assistance and General Relief.
Aid was given to 26 recipients under the Old Age Assistance program in 1959 .
Payments :
From Town Funds
$17,113.19 11,712.61
From Federal Funds
$28,825.80
Receipts :
Balance from 1958
$ 3,212.15
Refunds
31.35
U. S. Government
11,409.00
Comm . of Mass.
12,209.31
Comm. of Mass., Meals Tax
831.47
Other cities and towns
422.70
$28,115.98
Cost to Town of Lincoln
3,649.71
$31,765.69
Balance reserved for O. A. A.
2,939.89
$28,825.80
Aid to Dependent Children: No aid was given in 1959. Balance reserved for A. D. C. $ 369.55
Disability Assistance: One case was aided in 1959 :
Payments :
$ 182.35
Receipts :
Balance from 1958
$ 236.92
U. S. Government
63.30
Commonwealth of Mass.
182.35
$ 482.57
Cost to Town of Lincoln
Balance reserved for D. A.
117.87
General Relief : No aid was given in 1959.
105
Planning and Public Works
PLANNING BOARD
Katharine S. White
George H. Kidder
Walter F. Bogner, Chairman
Paul Brooks Constantin A. Pertzoff
The Planning Board re-organized at the time of the annual town meeting in March. A letter of appreciation was sent to Alan McClennen, the retiring member, thanking him for his ten years of devoted service to the Board and his valuable contributions to the planning for Lincoln during his long term of office. Constantin Pertzoff was welcomed to the Board as the newly elected member.
In keeping with the custom of rotating its officers, the Board elected Walter Bogner as chairman and George Kidder as clerk. The new chairman was also appointed to represent the board on the Selectmen's Steering Committee and the Long Term Capital Requirements Committee. During the year, either the clerk or the chairman appeared for the Board at the various Board of Appeals hearings.
The Planning Board held regular monthly meetings ex- cept in August. During many months additional meetings and field trips were required for the transaction of busi- ness. The practice for the Board to meet with the Board of Selectmen once a month was established.
The services of Mrs. Snelling as part time secretary proved to be of the greatest help, not only for her ass- istance to the Board at meetings and in the keeping of records, but also because of her regular availability to the citizens during week day afternoons at the Town Hall.
I. Subdivision Control
Several subdivision proposals were presented to the Board and a number of preliminary plans were reviewed. From the latter, a few were developed into final record plats and the following public hearings were held on them:
April 8 G. Brooks and Arlene Thompson - subdivision of approximately 7 acres of land on Oxbow Road into two lots. Application approved.
106
PLANNING BOARD
May 13 Jacques R. Maroni and the Stratford Realty Company - subdivision of land off Winter Street into eight lots. Request for approval was withdrawn ultimately.
May 27 Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Hall - subdivision of 37.2 acres of land off Conant Road into five lots. Of these only two were designated as house lots and the remainder set aside for con- servation purposes. Application approved.
July 8 George G. Tarbell - subdivision of approxi- mately 60 acres off Sandy Pond Road into 26 lots. Application approved.
The Board has shown an increased concern in proposed State legislation that would affect Lincoln's subdivision regulations and zoning by-laws. By working with the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards various bills that would lower the standards for residential develop- ments or break through local controls were opposed, while others in keeping with the town's interests were supported.
II. Commercial areas
The Planning Board report of last year referred to activity in the South Lincoln commercial area. While a new store and office building along the railroad tracks has since been completed and the parking areas of this new building and the older Community Store have been paved, the commercial area between has remained so far unimproved. The Legion building stands vacant and in poor condition. Several meetings of the Planning Board concerned themselves with proposals for the development of this property. The
Board has had to deal with the provision of access to Ridge Road which serves the properties to the southeast, that is, behind the commercial area. These properties lie in a general residence district and, therefore, allow for a density of residential development greater than that required for the single residence districts which prevail in the rest of the town. The Board has attempted to achieve an adequate connection of Ridge Road with Lincoln Road, but so far it has not been possible to work out suitable plans. It is hoped that ultimately an orderly arrangement of the access roads and parking areas along with a good placement of future buildings in the South Lincoln commercial zone can be achieved.
107
PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
The Planning Board encourages those developments in which the rights of all property owners in the area are preserved and improvements are created that are of mutual benefit to the abutters and of value to the town. For residential developments the standards to be achieved and the drawings to be submitted are prescribed in the Sub- division Regulations adopted in 1954 and amended in 1955. For commercial properties no such well defined regulations exist and the board is keeping this in mind in the re- drafting of the Zoning By-Laws which it has initiated.
III. Zoning By-Laws
With the adoption of a zoning by-law back in 1929, Lincoln has been one of the first communities to regulate land use and residential development. Due to the far- sightedness of the citizens at that time, the town has succeeded in maintaining the open character of its natural landscape and other amenities which have enhanced the value of the properties. During the intervening three decades the zoning by-law has been refined and improved through a series of amendments. These have been printed on a number of separate leaflets that augment and revise
ceding statements in complicated wording is confusing and difficult to interpret. Now it has become time to bring
the initial zoning by-law.
This collection of super-
the zoning by-law up to date in a clear and orderly form. Simultaneously, it also appears necessary to develop some additional clauses to deal with the new conditions that have arisen in the town, especially through building acti- vity in the commercial areas and the establishment of the National Historical Park. At the special town meeting on December 14th, the Planning Board was given a small appropriation and was authorized to engage a consultant. After a review of several candidates, Professor Charles Eliot of Harvard University was selected for the drafting of the revised zoning by-laws. The revisions are now
under study and discussion by the Board. It was hoped to present the new zoning by-laws at the 1960 town meeting. Now it has become apparent that the time between the special town meeting on December 14th and the March town meeting was too short for adequate study of the problems and the necessary public hearings. Presently the work is being pushed to completion to permit the presentation of the revised zoning by-laws at a subsequent town meeting.
108
PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
IV. Long Range Planning
The report entitled "Planning for Lincoln" by Braun and Eliot was presented to the citizens prior to the 1959 town meeting. At that meeting the Board was provided with funds to take options on properties, and a stabilization fund of $7000 was established on the basis of a recommenda- tion by the Planning Board. Many of the features of "Planning for Lincoln" are finding their realization and the report is proving its value. The Preliminary General Plan of the report has been used by the National Park Service for the current planning activities of that agency, and it has been incorporated in the "Master Plan - Maximum Capability Studies" for Hanscom Field of the Air Research and Development Command, U. S. Air Force. Copies of the map are in the hands of the consulting engineers serving the Massachusetts Department of Public Works in the plan- ning of the relocation of Highway 2.
Historical Park
On September 21, 1959, President Eisenhower signed a bill establishing the Minute Man National Historical Park along the Lexington-Lincoln-Concord Battle Road of 1775. This act created in the town of Lincoln a shrine of major significance to the entire nation. For the community, the establishment of the Park provides for the restoration, development and maintenance of an area of about 342 acres in North Lincoln by the National Park Service. Two generations may be needed before the land can be acquired and fully restored to its natural beauty and conditions simulating the character of the landscape at the time the Minute Men fought over it. The Park will exert a great
future benefit to the town in that it will protect and enhance a substantial portion of the northern part of the Town. However, the development of the areas bordering the National Historical Park will have to be controlled to prevent unsightly encroachment and unfortunate commercial exploitation. To accomplish this, the Board is now in- cluding some articles in the revision of the Zoning By- Laws previously referred to.
Highway 2 Relocation
No final decision has yet been made by responsible authority on the eventual relocation of Route 2. The Board recognizes that the ultimate course to be approved must balance the relative, and not always compatible,
109
PLANNING BOARD
interests of the National Park Service, the Air Force, the Massachusetts Port Authority, the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, the Federal Bureau of Roads, and, of course, the Town of Lincoln.
The Board has been consistent in advocating the route southerly of the Park for the new location of Highway 2, which is shown on the General Plan of the Braun-Eliot Re- port. The Board wants to avoid at all cost an earlier plan of the State, which, if carried out, would locate the road along the shortest path where it would really do harm to the town. This would cut the community apart, encroach on the water supply and destroy the north shore of Sandy Pond. No final decision should be reached until all alternatives are explored and a conclusive determination made which achieves the greatest benefit for the greatest number.
Swamp Belt
The conservation area referred to in the Report as the Swamp Belt is beginning to become established through the joint efforts of the Land Conservation Trust and the Planning Board. The subdivision of Dr. Hall's property started the setting aside of a series of properties in the area north of Conant Road as protected open space. With similar achievements in the future, Lincoln would be assured of a Green Belt that would conserve the beauty and characteristics of its natural landscape, offer recreation, and in general benefit property values in town.
Dump Relocation
The Planning Board does not support the suggestion in the Braun-Eliot Report of locating the dump in the swamp area between Morningside and the Concord Turnpike. Various dump sites have recently been discussed by the Board and brought to the attention of the Selectmen. They are being carefully studied to arrive at a recommendation for the Town to act upon when property acquisition in the Historic Park area will drive the existing dump from its present location.
Town Roads and Trees
According to Chapter 41, Section 81-I, of the General Laws of this Commonwealth, no public way shall be laid out or altered unless the proposed change has been referred to
110
PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
the Planning Board. Comments on alterations to town roads have been rendered when requested to the extent possible with the information provided by the selectmen and the limited power of this board. The recommendation has been made that, in co-operation with the selectmen, a long range plan be prepared to blue print well in advance those changes that are necessary for safety without inviting more through traffic or needlessly harming the beauty of the town.
Existing planting and fieldstone walls make the charm- ing old roads attractive and give Lincoln its character. In this connection it is to be observed that the annual reports of the tree warden show that a very great amount of tree cutting has been done year in, year out. Without replacement 178 elm trees were cut down in 1958, 50 elms in 1957, and 90 in 1956, in addition to numerous maples, oaks, and other shade trees. The Board appreciates the action of the selectmen in establishing a Landscape Com- mittee. The interests of this town, this Board believes, would be further aided if a constructive landscape program made possible by an appropriation for the planting of trees was established to keep up and restore the beautiful plant- ing along the roads which citizens, at former times, toiled to create.
V. Advisory Opinions
Except for sub-division control, the Planning Board acts merely in an advisory capacity to the Selectmen and other boards. In its advisory opinions the Board has been guided by a policy to preserve the existing amenities and to create physical improvements that will be of long range benefit to the town and its citizens. In so doing, the Board has borne in mind the major forces that now tend to affect the character of the community, its life, and the value of its properties. They grow out of the explo- sive decentralization of metropolitan Boston and manifest themselves in the migration of the population from the central cities to the outlying towns. The population movement and growth leads to an accelerated building use of the open land. For this reason, the Board has aimed at conservation, so that Lincoln may be protected from the onslaught of destructive exploitation and rampant develop- ment, and may be saved run-away expenses for services and schools.
111
h
℮
it
PLANNING BOARD
The Board has met from time to time with the Select- men, the Selectmen's Steering Committee, the Landscape Committee, the Board of Appeals, the Finance Committee, the Long Term Capital Requirements Committee, the town and Regional School Committees, and various officials in order to co-operate on mutual problems, to explore issues, to express opinions, and to find support. In doing so, the Board has gained an appreciation for the diverse responsi- bilities of the officials in local government and has ob- tained a valuable background to its own efforts in behalf of planning for Lincoln's future.
112
PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
BOARD OF APPEALS
Henry Hoover James Jagger Alan McClennen Hans Van Leer
William N. Swift, Chairman
Hearings were held on seventeen petitions to the Board during the year 1959. Set forth below is a summary of the decisions:
Petition filed by Walter Bergquist for variance to allow location of residence on Lot #6, Huntley Lane, South Lincoln. Petition granted.
Petition filed by T. K. Worthington for variance to permit sale and purchase of approximately 7,000 square feet of land owned by Albert Fullerton, Concord Road, South Lincoln. Petition granted.
Petition filed by Elizabeth C. and Joseph R. Tracey for permission to alter non-conforming building housing Town of Lincoln fire apparatus at corner of Cambridge Turn- pike and Bedford Road. Petition granted.
Petition filed by Dr. Gordon D. Winchell for per- mission to use premises (1) with associate doctor as practising physician; (2) to employ part-time nurse in addition to clerk already employed. Petition granted.
Petition filed by Mary E. Silva for permission to remove 20,000 yards of loam and gravel to enable the petitioner to construct new buildings to house pigs on her property. Petition granted to remove not in excess of 20,000 yards of fill and gravel under certain terms and conditions.
Petition filed by Francis E. and Mary H. Bellizia for variance to allow adjustment of lot boundaries by exchanging property with J. R. Maroni. Petition granted.
Petition filed by Paul Shepard for variance to allow division of a lot on Old Bedford Road containing 2.8 acres. Petition denied.
Petition filed by Anne Scott for variance to allow
113
BOARD OF APPEALS
construction of house on Weston Road within 20 feet of rear lot line. Petition granted.
Petition filed by Edgar Browning for variance to allow division of land establishing house lots for two existing houses. Petition denied.
Petition filed by August Schumacher, resident of Lexington, for permission to continue operation of road- side stand on Airport Road for the sale of vegetables grown in Lincoln. Petition granted.
Petition filed by Frank Panetta for variance to con- struct house on Cambridge Turnpike 35 feet from lot line. Petition granted.
Petition filed by Hildur Sorensen for permission to extend non-conforming use of her property on Cambridge Turnpike by adding to stand. Permission to extend non- conforming use by adding a roof or shelter to her present stand, but petition to increase the size of stand itself denied.
Petition filed by Mcknight Nursery for permission to sell Christmas trees at their nursery on South Great Road. Petition granted.
Petition filed by Kathryn Thorson for permission to rent rooms with kitchen privileges in her home off Lincoln Road. Permission granted.
Petition filed by Edith H. Derderian of Watertown, Mass., for permission to erect a building on a non-con- forming lot containing 20,265 square feet, located on Route 2, within ten feet of the northerly side lot line. Petition denied.
Petition filed by David W. Mann, Inc., for permission to conduct light manufacturing and similar activities on their premises located on North Great Road. Permission granted.
Petition filed by Manley Boyce for variance to change a lot on Old Sudbury Road from 80,000 square feet to 75,000 square feet. Petition granted.
114
PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS
Walter Belanger William Halsey Stephen Herthel
Donald Loveys Joseph Vitale Lawrence Anderson, Chairman
The Building Code Board of Appeals was organized for the year 1959 with Lawrence Anderson as Chairman, Stephen Herthel as Clerk, and William Halsey as the other regular member. Mr. Walter Belanger, Mr. Donald Loveys and Mr. Joseph Vitale serve as associate members.
Two cases were heard by the Board in 1959, as follows :
Request of Joseph R. Tracey for a variance from the provisions of paragraphs 4.2.2, 4.2.3, and 4.2.6 of the building code in connection with the alteration of a build- ing owned by Mr. Tracey and rented to the Town of Lincoln for housing fire equipment. Request for a variance was granted.
Request of William deK. Burton for a variance to allow the installation of a domestic gas-fired automatic incinerator in his home on Concord Road, South Lincoln. Request granted.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Raymond F. Maher, Superintendent
During 1958 and 1959 many of the Town's more important roads received major reconstruction and surfacing, but in spite of the work accomplished, it is doubtful whether we are keeping ahead of the need for repair throughout the Town. Two open winters in succession, one with extreme cold, have hastened road deterioration. Many of the In
Town's newer subdivisions will need resurfacing soon. addition to this regular highway work - repair, sweeping, cleaning of catch basins, snow removal, etc. -- there are also increasing demands from the School Department, Tree Department and Cemetery Department. Thus, even though the Town added a mechanic in September to help with machine maintenance, it is difficult to keep pace even with day- to-day demands with a work force of four men.
115
INSPECTORS
INSPECTORS OF BUILDING, WIRING AND PLUMBING
William Dean, Building and Wiring Inspector Daniel J. Murphy, Plumbing Inspector
Building permits issued during 1959 :
New residential buildings 16
New non-residential buildings 1
Renewals
2
Buildings demolished 2
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.