USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1960-1962 > Part 21
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The road sweeper purchased in 1961 has made it possi- ble to do an efficient job of street cleaning. The end of the coming year should find most of the major roads free of the sand which has been accumulating for years.
The improvement in equipment and its' upkeep is making it possible to do a better and better job of proper maintenance of the towns' roads.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
John Quincy Adams
Paul Brooks
Frederic J. Eppling
John B. French, Chairman
While there have been no new developments during the year in the Town's conservation program, actions taken at the 1961 Town Meeting by the Town have been implemented during the year. A notable start was made in dedicating land to conservation purposes through rezoning into the Open Space Conservation District. Additional proposals for further such rezoning will be presented at the 1962 Town Meeting. Also, the documents reflecting the acquisi- tion of, and option on, the Garland property voted at last year's Town Meeting have been worked out during the year, and the initial land purchase has been completed. Pre-
liminary approval for state reimbursement for 50% of this purchase was received this past summer and processing for final payment is now in progress. Approval of the second installment of this land acquisition will be requested of the Town at this year's Town Meeting.
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PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
LINCOLN LAND CONSERVATION TRUST
Trustees
Term Expires
William M. Preston
1962
Constantin A. Pertzoff
1962
Warren F. Flint
1963
Donald P. Donaldson
1964
Bradford Cannon
1964
William N. Swift
1964
The immediate stimulus for the original formation of the Land Trust was the danger of development of the 52 acre Wheeler property on the west shore of Sandy Pond; this land was bought by the Trust in 1958 as a first step in the protection of this important area. Last June, after
lengthy negotiations, we finally succeeded in purchasing from Mrs. Haley the 10 acres adjoining on the north. At the same time, plans have been made for the Town, through its' Conservation Commission, to acquire in stages Dr. Garland's 14 acres on the northwest corner of the Pond. The Town is, therefore, assured of an "open space" of near- ly 30 acres of forest and of the protection of this portion of the shore line of the Pond.
The Haley lot was appraised for $22,000 and this was the final purchase price. Of this sum, $17,000 was raised by a mortgage on property owned by the Trust, and $5,000 was paid from funds on hand.
A conservation map of Lincoln is being prepared for distribution. It will show lands held by the Trust, by the Conservation Commission, and by the Town.
A drive for additional membership is planned for the near future.
Financial Statement
On hand, June 1, 1961 Received: Sale of stock gift
$5,799.40 520.68
$6,320.08
Paid Out:
Haley land, down payment $ 500.00
Haley land, balance
4,350.00
Haley land, legal services 106.00
Haley land, taxes
305.00
Haley land, mortgage interest to 12/20/61
467.50
$5,728.50 $ 591.58
Balance, December 31, 1961
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LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE
LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE
Albert S. Brooks
Elizabeth H. Doherty
Richard J. Eaton
David L. Garrison Max M. Mason Mabel H. Todd, Chairman
During the year some planting was accomplished, some clean-up, and a good deal of planning for 1962.
With the tree warden putting in full time for the Town, our man-power problem was eased considerably. We hope that even more of his time in the future can be de- voted to "park department" affairs. One of his incon- spicuous but important activities has been thinning and clearing certain road edges. In many places, sturdy handsome trees can be greatly enhanced by a little trim- ming around them.
In planning cautiously, we have tried to think out what the characteristics are that give Lincoln its oft- mentioned rural quality. Perhaps the most significant feature is farmland - open stretches of "working" hay- field, pasture and crops. Space of this kind, productive and real, is a major contributing element. There are some beautiful, unbroken woodlands, too, many of them ad- joining ponds or swamps.
Another important element is the absence of artifi- ciality. The Town is picked up but, we feel, is not pre- tentious. The beauty of our Town that comes to every - body's mind is the tree-lined roads - Baker Bridge Road, for instance, with its stone walls, double row of maples and farm fields beyond.
The Landscape Committee particularly is occupied with these good things and other aspects of the Town's simple attractiveness - but they must be every citizen's concern, if Lincoln is to be handed down, rural and natural, to future generations.
90
PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
ECONOMIC STUDY COMMITTEE
Charlotte B. Barnaby Morton B. Braun John E. Kennedy William A. Halsey
William G. Langton
Howard L. Rich, Jr. Arthur E. Thiessen
Annette E. Gras, Secretary
Donald W. Connolly, Chairman
The Economic Study Committee, originally formed by executive action in June of 1960 and continued by vote of the Town at the 1961 Annual Town Meeting, has met frequent- ly and with what it considers substantial progress. This committee first had to face the problem of just what might, could, and should be done to carry out the desire of the Town to continue the "study of the impact of light indus- itry on the character and economic health of Lincoln and other communities". Many avenues have been explored. A good part of the technical literature has been searched and many documents have been collected, copies of which have been maintained in the Lincoln Library for the reference f all interested citizens as well as the committee it- self. The documents range from a collection of strictly statistical material through specific amateur and profes- sional studies of related (though not identical) intent done by and for several other communities in Massachusetts and other states.
In addition to this extensive study of the available literature, committee members have attended a number of meetings and seminars of direct and indirect interest to the matters at hand. Close liaison has been maintained with the Lincoln League of Women Voters, which this year is undertaking a survey of a number of towns in the Eastern Massachusetts area. The purpose of the League study has been to collect factual data on tax costs, land uses, popu- lation, industrialization, government, education, trans- portation and municipal services in these towns. This committee and the working group of the League (together and separately) have devoted many hours to listing, edit- ing, evaluating and refining the "questions" to be asked. All concerned have been increasingly impressed with the immensity of the task.
The Committee has been working in several general areas of interest. Some have appeared easier to come to grips with than others, but all are felt to be important. Indeed, it has seemed frequently that the greater the long- range importance of factual and interpretable data, the
91
ECONOMIC STUDY COMMITTEE
more difficult they are to collect. The subjects which committee members have been studying are:
(1) The strictly economic relationships between actual tax costs to the taxpayer and the distribution of taxpaying property over various taxable categories in other communities whose natures range from "very similar to Lincoln" to "very dissimilar to Lincoln" (with due regard for how and when they "got that way" as far as possible).
(2) Economic factors quite specific to Lincoln - municipal expenditures, growth functions, careful extra- polations of these and the implications for them of various tax "bases".
(3) Aesthetic and cultural factors specific to Lincoln and how these might be affected by varying patterns of future development and change in the Town.
(4) The general and specific questions of logical and rational land uses within the Town and the facts and possibilities of land uses and zoning in abutting towns. In this connection the contingencies of highway develop- ment, land usability, regional planning and other factors beyond the direct control of the Town itself are being con- sidered.
(5) The potential effects, if any, of industrial development on the administrative and governmental (other than town service) structure of Lincoln.
At this point the committee can report only that, while it feels it is moving in a constructive direction, it has not completed the tasks it has set for itself and which it believes that the Town would expect it to accom- plish. It has not yet reached any conclusions. This committee, however, has every reason to hope that it will be able to provide the Town with as careful and thoughtful a study of the "impact of light industry" as it is capable of doing - this within a few more months and, it is hoped, long before it might seem either desperately needed or too late.
The committee is requesting a continuation of its appointment with substantially the same membership. While much of the basic data have been collected, there is more to be done than could be accomplished before the 1962 Annua Town Meeting. It is fully expected that a final report will be completed before the Fall of 1962.
92
PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
QUORUM STUDY COMMITTEE
Annette E. Gras, Secretary
Harland B. Newton
James W. Mar, Chairman
The Annual Town Meeting of 1961, under Article 16, voted unanimously to amend the Town By-Laws by adding a special quorum requirement: 400 voters for voting on the issue of zoning for light industry. Subsequently ap- proved by the Attorney General, this amendment now stands as law.
With the same vote, the moderator was asked to ap- point a committee to make a general study of that section of the By-Laws, including the amendment.
This committee, appointed pursuant to that vote, has met three times. Quorum requirements and related pro- visions of eighteen other towns, some having special re- quirements for special issues, were reviewed. Attendance and voting records from Lincoln Town Meetings of the past five years were studied. Individually, committee members have discussed the subject of quorum with many Lincoln citizens, including members and chairmen of several town boards and committees, to obtain a cross section of public opinion.
A suggestion was considered, that quorum requirements be expressed by percentage rather than number. The con- clusion was that this would entail a new translation into round numbers for each town meeting, leaving room for error and confusion.
The committee also considered suggestions that other issues, such as taking by eminent domain and appropriating large sums, be classed with industrial zoning as meriting special assurance of wide representation in their decision. These issues proved very hard to define, and the committee feels that special requirements attached to them could un- duly hamper necessary town actions.
As for the quorum of 400 for industrial zoning, the committee interprets the 1961 vote as meaning that the people of Lincoln attach special importance to industrial zoning. The committee recognizes that the question of relative importance of town matters is largely subjective; also, that an informed electorate is a better safeguard
93
SCHOOL BUILDING NEEDS COMMITTEE
than a large quorum, to assure the wishes of the town being fairly represented. Nevertheless, the town did vote as it did, and the committee finds no evidence that the town wishes to reverse that decision. There is seen neither a general sentiment in favor of such reversal, nor any new information that might influence opinion in that di- rection.
Regarding the present quorum requirement of 100 voters for transaction of general business, the committee con- cludes that this is still a reasonable and workable number.
In summation, the committee does not recommend any revisions of Article II, Section 5 of the By-Laws at this time, but does note that the quorum numbers might eventual - ly be made obsolete by further growth in population.
SCHOOL BUILDING NEEDS COMMITTEE
Secor D. Browne
Andrew J. Dougherty
Donald J. Natoli
Sally Brown, Secretary
Thomas W. Wiley, Vice Chairman
Winthrop B. Walker, Chairman
The Lincoln School Building Needs Committee submits herewith its first interim report.
The Committee was appointed by the Moderator pursuant to the vote of the town under Article 27 at the annual Town Meeting held on March 20, 1961. It was authorized to study further the building needs of Lincoln schools.
In early meetings, the School Committee urged this Committee to be guided by the survey report of Dr. E. Gil Boyer, which was submitted on October 10, 1961. On Novem- ber 23, 1961, the School Committee conveyed to this Com- mittee a report dated October 23, 1961, made by the Long Range Planning Committee, which is an advisory committee to the Lincoln School Committee. From meetings held with the School Committee, it became apparent that a long range program should be evolved so that any future building would be consistent with such a plan. Later discussions held with the State School Building Assistance Commission
94
PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS
and the Long Range Planning Committee confirmed the neces- sity for a long range plan at this time, and the Committee is proceeding on this basis.
According to the School Committee's census tabulation and educational programming, by the fall of 1963 there will be a shortage of classroom spaces and special purpose faci- lities. At this time this Committee is unable to be specific as to the nature or cost of the new facilities it will propose and will not be in a position to make any presentation at the 1962 annual Town Meeting. It is the intention of this Committee, at a special Town Meeting to be held late in May, to present plans and request an appro- priation for construction which will be consistent with the long range plan developed.
This Committee intends to develop plans which will be discussed at public hearings in the early part of May, at which time cost estimates will also be presented.
95
Schools, Library and Recreation
TRUSTEES OF THE LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Alice G. Meriam
(Life Member)
Roland C. Mackenzie
(Life Member)
Edwin M. Cole
(Life Member)
Morley M. John
(School Committee appointee)
A. Bradlee Emmons (Selectmen appointee)
John A. Carley, Chairman (Elected by the Town)
As noted in the report of the Librarian, which fol- lows, the Library's book circulation has nearly doubled in four years, thus far outpacing even the Town's population. This growth is but one measure of the Town's active support and use of its Library.
Again in 1961 the Library was chosen by the State Library Extension as one of two public libraries in small - er communities in Massachusetts to compete nationally for an award for all-around excellence and progress. This time the Lincoln Library won an award - one of ten in the country. The award, made by the Book-of-the-Month Club in memory of Dorothy Canfield Fisher, consists of $1,000 which is to be spent on books. A presentation ceremony is scheduled for April 8, 1962, as part of the observance of National Library Week.
It is well to re-emphasize that such recognition could not come without the zeal, skill, and effort of the Librarian and staff - including the many loyal volunteers and pages - or without the enthusiastic interest and sup- port of large numbers of townspeople ..
Further progress has been made this year toward con- verting rooms in the old basement to usable space. Con- tinued development of this space is essential to provide working space for readers and students and to house the growing book collection. Funds for this purpose will be sought in the Warrant for 1962.
In 1961 the Town for the first time received finan- cial aid for its Library from the State, amounting to $1,178. A similar amount, based on population, is ex- pected for 1962 and in each succeeding year, so long as
96
SCHOOLS, LIBRARY AND RECREATION
our Library meets certain standards set by the State. The standards for a town of Lincoln's size include being open at least 20 hours a week (ours is open over 40), being open to all residents of Massachusetts, making no charge for normal services, permitting controlled borrowing by residents of other communities, employing a trained librarian, and spending at least 18% of the total opera- ting budget for books and periodicals.
The money received from the State, like all other money except direct gifts, is paid to the Town and reaches the Library through appropriation by the Town Meeting. The Trustees are in full agreement with the Selectmen and the Finance Committee that supported in this way the Library can most truly be a public library. The budget published in the Town Report accurately shows all the operating expenses of the Library, and the voters can with- out confusion determine the total amount to be spent each year for Library services. Proposed capital expenditures
of some size may from time to time appear as separate articles in the Warrant, but the Library's published budget shows all receipts for operating expenses regardless of source, including income from trust funds (about $300), the dog tax applied toward the Library (lately about $850), the book fines collected by the Library ($1780 in 1961), and state aid funds (perhaps $1400 in 1962). Incidentally, the increase in book fines this year from 1¢ to 2¢ a day was not for the purpose of augmenting revenue, but to en- courage prompt return of books wanted by other readers.
Meanwhile, full utilization of the Tarbell Room for reference and study was made possible by the gift of a matching oak reading table and chairs - one of a very im- pressive list of generous gifts from loyal friends.
A group of friends of the Library under the leader- ship of Mrs. Henry Morgan have given invaluable assistance in many ways, too often unseen. Among countless favors was their planning of an African evening at the Library in April, in which three African students and a member of the M. I. T. Center for International Studies discussed current problems in Africa before and with a deeply interested audience.
As always, the Trustees aim to be responsive to the wishes of the Town's readers, and hope that the Lincoln Library will continue to be considered one of the best.
97
LIBRARIAN
LIBRARIAN
Maryalice Thoma
In 1957 the Lincoln Library's circulation was 25,404; in 1961 our circulation was 49,737. The Town's interest in the Library could hardly be better shown. We are becoming more and more a center for many of the Town's activities. This last year the newly formed Lincoln Historical Society held its meetings in the Tarbell Room. The Lincoln League of Women Voters has a permanent exhibit board in the stack room with books and pamphlets of current interest on display. A Great Decisions Group met for weekly meetings in the DeNormandie Room for eight weeks in February and March.
The Town was invited to an open meeting on Africa's problems and future. In connection with this meeting there was an extremely interesting exhibit of African art- work, jewelry, wood carvings and clothing loaned to the Library by Mrs. Laurence Cousins, Mrs. Robert Bradford, Mrs. Lot Page and others.
The DeCordova Museum generously keeps a painting on display in our downstairs hall and the DeNormandie Room.
The Lincoln 4-H Club set up an interesting group of exhibits in the lobby and hall. Mr. Roland Robbins ex- hibited artifacts of New England in the Historical Room in connection with his Bemis lecture.
All of these activities help the Library to do its job of keeping the townspeople interested and informed about all current problems.
Our corps of volunteers keeps on doing a yeoman job of assisting in all of the Library's many detailed jobs. Without them we would never be able to give the service which the Library now provides.
And finally the climax of the year came with the letter announcing that the Lincoln Public Library had won one of the ten awards given yearly by the Book-of-the- Month Club in memory of Dorothy Canfield Fisher. 1
98
SCHOOLS, LIBRARY AND RECREATION
LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Hours open : Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1:30 to 8:30
Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday
10:30 to 5:00
(Closed legal holidays and Saturdays in July and August)
STATISTICS, 1961
January 1 - December 31, 1961
General
New members
215
Total membership
2,115
Amount of fines collected
$1,780.23
Number of days open
266
Acquisitions
Books purchased
1,432
Books given
523
Total acquisitions, 1961
1,955
Inventory, 1960
17,480
19,435
Books discarded or lost
622
18,813
Circulation
Adult non-fiction
10,011
Adult fiction
12,162
Periodicals
1,066
Juvenile
26,498
1961 Total Circulation
49,737
1960 Total Circulation
44,746
Increase over 1960
4,991
99
LIBRARY
LIBRARY GIFTS, 1961
Mrs. Lawrence Anderson Miss Virginia Armstrong
Mrs. Ellen Arnold Mrs. Walter Belanger
Mr. and Mrs. John Bradley Mr. and Mrs. David Brown Mrs. Ruth Burke
Dr. and Mrs. Bradford Cannon
Mr. and Mrs. John Carley
Dr. and Mrs. Walter Caskey Mr. and Mrs. John Caswell Miss Gabrielle Coignet Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Cole Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cope Mrs. George Crane
Dr. and Mrs. John Crawford
Dr. and Mrs. Perry Culver Mrs. Robert M. Cunningham DeCordova Museum Mr. William DeFord, Jr. Mrs. Donald P. Donaldson
Mr. Robert D. Donaldson, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Bradlee Emmons Mrs. Sarah England Miss Olive Floyd
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Fradd
Miss Norma Fryatt
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Fullerton Mrs. Donald Gilfoy Mr. Robert D. Gordon
Mr. Frederick Greene, Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Walter Gropius Mrs. Norman Hapgood Mrs. Harry Healey Mr. Christopher Hurd Mrs. John Irwin Miss Susan Irwin
Mrs. DeWitt John
Mrs. Howard Kent Mrs. Walter Keyes Mrs. R. B. King Mrs. William King League of Women Voters
Lincoln Garden Club
Mrs. J. W. Lincoln Miss Cheryl Loesel
Mrs. James Mar
Mrs. Robert Maroni
Mrs. Robert Martin
Mass. Audubon Society
Mr. and Mrs. Russell McLure
Mrs. Richard Meriam
Dr. and Mrs, Richard Morgan Mrs. Thomas Morse
Dr. and Mrs. William Murphy
Miss Cynthia Natoli Mr. Jay Natoli
Miss Hazel Newton
Mrs. John O'Brien
Miss Mitty Parish
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Parker
Mr. Alan Phillips
Mr. and Mrs. C. Eliot Pierce
Mrs. T. P. Rathbone
Mr. and Mrs. David Ritson
Mrs. Alfred Rogers
Mrs. John Rogers
Mrs. Henry Spence
Mrs. Earle Street
Mr. and Mrs. George Tarbell
Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Taylor
Mrs. T. C. Taylor
Mrs. Stanley Tead
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Thiessen
Mrs. Maryalice Thoma
Mrs. Raymond Tunnell
Mrs. Quincy Wales
Mrs. Winthrop Walker
Mrs. Henry Warner
Mrs. J. B. Warner
Mrs. John White
Mr. William Williams
Mrs. Thomas Witherby
100
SCHOOLS, LIBRARY AND RECREATION
LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS FOR 1961
Mrs. Lawrence B. Anderson
Mrs. Stuart Avery
Mrs. A. L. Lankhorst
Mrs. Alice Barbarow
Mrs. Shih Ying Lee
Mrs. Edgar Barr
Mrs. John Lincoln
Mrs. Charles M. Bliss
Mrs. John Loud
Miss Beatrice Bolt
Mrs. Raymond E. Militzer
Mrs. Douglas M. Burckett
Mrs. Donald A. Millard
Mrs. Bradford Cannon
Mrs. Henry M. Morgan
Mrs. Philip T. Cate, Jr.
Miss Hazel H. Newton
Mrs. Waldo E. Palmer
Mrs. Thomas P. Cope
Mrs. Edward Parish
Mrs. John Crawford
Mrs. Jackson Parker
Mrs. Bruce Daniels
Mrs. George Peterson
Mrs. Neil H. Powell
Mrs. Howard Snelling
Mrs. Jane Hardy Stewart
Mrs. Edward Flint
Mrs. Warren Flint
Mrs. Norman Fradd
Mr. Albert Fullerton
Mrs. Nathaniel Gerson
Mrs. William Grim
Mrs. Norman Hapgood
Mrs. Edward M. Healy
Mrs. John W. Irwin
Mrs. Henry B. Kane
Mrs. R. B. King, Jr.
JUNIOR VOLUNTEERS, 1961
Miss Susan Allen
Miss Mickey Avery
Miss Noelle Caskey
Mr. Brad Caswell
Miss Mittie Parish
Mr. Roy Flewelling
Miss Michele Tlumacki
Miss Margaret Weiss
Miss Mary Lou Foley Mr. Edward Garrison Miss Robin Gras
Miss Kathy Grason
Miss Sally Irwin
Miss Susan Irwin
Miss Susan Kidder
Lincoln Boy Scouts
Miss Marley Nieger
Miss Cynthia Nystrom
Mrs. Arthur Thiessen
Mrs. Langdon Wales
Mrs. Quincy Wales
Mrs. Henry Warner
Mr. David Webster
Mrs. George Wells
Mrs. Thomas K. Worthington
Mrs. James DeNormandie
Mrs. Robert Emerson
Mrs. Sarah England
Mrs. Stanley Tead
Mrs. Irving Telling
Mrs. Stanley A. Cibel
Mrs. William Langton
101
RECREATION
RECREATION COMMITTEE
Albert M. Avery, III
John B. Garrison
John M. Barnaby Ernest L. Johnson
Mary Belanger Elin Lennon
Sarah E. Brown, Secretary
Albert E. Nelson
Earle B. Street
Ruth Burk J. Bertram Kessel, Chairman
PLAYGROUND PROGRAM
The summer playground program opened on Monday, June 26, and ran for five weeks, closing July 28. It was in session Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for children ages 5 through 15.
Personnel. Albert Reed served as director assisted by Diane Herrick, Emmett Ingersoll, Judy Sherman, Frances Cibel, and Edward Macleod. Max Stackhouse, in charge of tennis instruction, was assisted by Jack Rogers.
Activities. Program offerings included arts and crafts, games and sports, dramatics, music, dancing, nature, gymnastics, campcraft, special events, tennis, and swimming. The children were divided into five groups for these activities: 5 and 6's, 7 and 8's, 9 and 10's, 11 through 13's, and 14 and 15's.
Tennis. Two hundred and sixty-four one-week lessons were given during the five-week period. Many boys and girls took lessons for two or more weeks. Three lessons were given per week to each pupil. On his own initiative and without pay, Mr. Stackhouse designated July 31 and August 1 as make-up days for children who had missed lessons because of illness or other reasons. een lessons were given on these days ..
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