USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1960-1962 > Part 31
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Under the provisions of Chapter 591, Acts of 1959, as amended, use of stabilization funds was amplified to include special provision for use in connection with state school con- struction grants. Bulletin F further states, "If cities, towns, or member towns of regional school districts appropriate from their stabilization funds $75,000. or more toward the cost of an approved school construction project, the grant will be paid as follows : The first annual payment will be paid in the year in which construction commences and will be equal to the said $75,000. or more (recent legislation has set a maximum of $100,000. ) ( provided that the total grant is equal to or greater than the said amount, if not, then the amount of the grant will be paid in said year); the balance of the grant, if any, will be paid in equal annual installments over the life of the bond issue. "
Amendments to this law now require that monies to be appro- priated out of the fund for school purposes must be in the fund on December 31 of the preceding year. Funds may now be voted out of the stabilization fund for school purposes only at any town meeting (by two-thirds vote) but are now restricted to the minimum amount of $75,000. and maximum of $100,000.
Lincoln has used its stabilization fund in the past three years for two purposes, accumulation of monies for school con- struction projects, and for conservation land purchases. A1 - though monies cannot be legally segregated within the fund, it is generally understood that a moral commitment exists for the future use of them as originally intended.
For school purposes, $25,000 was appropriated into the fund at each of the Annual Town Meetings in 1960 and 1961 with an additional $50,000 appropriated at the Special Town Meeting in December of 1961. Part or all of this $100,000 is expected to be asked for in 1962 to offset the costs of the school con- struction and to take advantage of the accelerated school con- struction grant payments.
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For conservation land purchases, $7,000 was appropriated at each of the Annual Town Meetings in 1959 and 1960 with $5,500 appropriated out of the fund for purchase of the Hall property in 1960. With an additional $3,000 appropriated into the fund in 1961, $11,500 remains in the fund at present for these pur- poses.
In 1962, no funds will be appropriated into the fund for school construction purposes but the practice will be resumed in 1963. The Conservation Commissioners will request $3,800 (Item 4) and the Finance Committee will ask for $8,000. (Item 2).
In conclusion, the stabilization fund can be a very effect- ive weapon in reducing the swings of capital outlays. It can help reduce the amounts to be borrowed, eliminate borrowing for smaller projects, and in effect soften the impact on the tax rate. We support the use of the stabilization fund for these purposes.
In the following sections, Tables 1 through 5 will be found as well as the individual sections (1 through 15) dealing with the various departments and major projects.
Respectfully submitted,
LONG-TERM CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS COMMITTEE
Russell L. Haden, Jr. 1962
Douglas M. Burckett 1963
Richard C. B. Clark, Secretary 1964
Charles K. Fitts (Selectmen) . 1962
Leonard C. Larrabee (Finance
Committee) 1962
George H. Kidder (Planning Board) 1962
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TABLE 2
Long-Term Capital Requirements Committee - 1961 Report
TOWN OF LINCOLN ACTUAL AND PROPOSED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR 1961
Department or Capital Project
Proposed
Actual
Unexpended Accrued Balance
1. Lincoln Cemetery.
$ 5,000.00 £
$ 466.99
$ 5,052.46
2. Finance Committee: Stabilization Fund (Non-school and non-conservation purposes )
3.
Lincoln Library
None 3,000.00
None 1,140.00
None 1,860.00
4. Planning Board :
Land Options ...
1,000.00
None
1,000.00
Stabilization Fund
(Conservation pur- poses )
3,000.00
3,000.00
In Stabili- zation Fund
Land Purchase (Gar-
land property). Conservation Fund.
1,000.00
1,000.00
None
4,000.00
4,000.00
None
5.
Recreation
None
None
None
6. Civil Defense (Pur- chase of generator) 7. Town Dump Relocation.
2,500.00
1,460.96
1,039.04
None
None
None
8. Fire Department
None
None
None
9. Highway Department: Road construction &
51,280.00
52,210.84
- 830.84
11,000.00
10,448.98
551.02
Ch. 90 Construction. 10. Legion Land Purchase.
7,500.00
None
7,500.00
11. Police Department.
None
None
None
12. Town Hall Repairs
2,500.00
None
2,500.00
13. Schools:
Lincoln (K-8):
Completion of Hart- well Addition ...
29,544.75
23,369.57
6,200.18
School Needs and
Bldg. Committee.
5,000.00
None
5,000.00
Stabilization Fund
75,000.00
75,000.00
In Stabili-
zation Fund
Annual Capital Outlay
9,000.00
8,758.73
241.27
major maintenance. Highway Equipment ...
14,000.00
13,789.55
210.45
(School Purposes).
(cont.)
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TABLE 2 (Cont.)
Department or Capital Project
Proposed Actual
Unexpended Accrued Balance
15. Water Department:
Virginia Road. ..
.
$ 12,000.00
$ 11,674.00
$ 326.00
A
Pipe Storage Area.
1,500.00
None
1,500.00
Miscellaneous
Projects
1,000.00
928.00
72.00
Test Drilling for New Source.
5,000.00
775.00
4,225.00
Totals (1 through 13 & 15) $243,824.75
$208,022.62
$36,446.58
14. Lincoln Sudbury
Regional School Dis-
trict: Lincoln's Share of Addition.
Totals (1 through 15)
$458,824.75
$391,472.62
$67,996.58
A - These balances are carried forward in capital accounts and will be expended in 1962 for the original purposes intended. The total of these capital account balances is $67,426.68. The other balances revert back to the various revenue accounts.
TABLE 3
Long-Term Capital Requirements Committee - 1961 Report
TOWN OF LINCOLN - TOTAL EXPENDITURES AND RECEIPTS FOR 1961
Current Expenditures
1. Total Town Expenditures (Not including payment on Tax Anticipation Notes and town employee deductions ) $1,579, 448.02 63,683.88
2. Water Department Expenditures
3. Total Town & Water Department Expenditures
$1,643,131.90
4. 1961 Capital Expenditures (See Table 2) 208,022.62
5. 1961 Current Expenditures (3 minus 4)
$1,435,109.28
Current Receipts
6. 1961 Taxes on polls & property collected in 1961
$ 862,192.26
7. Taxes on polls & property levied in previous years and collected in 1961
11,826.38
8. Excise taxes collected in 1961 (chiefly motor vehicle)
91,343.40
9. Receipts from Commonwealth (other than Items 10 and 11) 133,686.87
10. Chapter 90 Highway Construction Assistance (State and County) 10,225.49
(cont.)
20
A
$215,000.00
$183,450.00
$31,550.00
A
TABLE 5
LONG-TERM CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS COMMITTEE - 1962 REPORT
GENERAL STATISTICS - 1948 THROUGH 1961
Year
Real & Pers. Prop. Ass. Valuation
Town Tax Rate
Town Debt (At Year End)
Town Tax Levy
1948
$3,926,350.00
$ 38.00
$330,000.00
$150,545.00
1949
4,172,008.00
40.00
311,000.00
168,234.00
1950
4,564,673.00
40.00
292,000.00
183,968.00
1951
5,059,518.00
44.00
608,000.00
224,107.00
1952
5,217,165.00
45.00
571,000.00
235,065.00
1953
5,498,547.00
48.00
543,000.00
263,930.00
1954
5,867,201.00
48.00
503,000.00
281,625.00
1955
6,253,315.00
54.00
463,000.00
337,679.00
1956
6,617,270.00
58.00
473,500.00
354,494.00
1957
7,248,630.00
68.00
1,007,000.00
492,906.00
1958
7,718,935.00
75.00
1,046,000.00
578,920.00
1959
8,253,962.00
83.00
1,210,000.00
685,079.00
1960
8,437,218.00
94.00
1,119,000.00
784,772.00
1961
8,830,496.00
100.00
1,028,000.00
885,249.00
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1. LINCOLN CEMETERY
1961 - The planned project of laying out and developing the southwest area of Lincoln Cemetery on Lexington Road was started as planned in 1961 and will be completed in the spring of 1962. Funds totalling approximately $5,000 will have come entirely from the Cemetery Investment Fund.
1962 - No major projects are planned.
Future - Land purchase for the enlargement of the present cemetery costing approximately $25,000 is contemplated for 1963. The funds for this are to come from the Cemetery Investment Fund and from taxation. No additional long-range projects are currently planned by the Cemetery Commissioners.
2. FINANCE COMMITTEE
1961 - Starting in 1962, the Finance Committee will recom- mend to the Town that the sum of $8,000 be appropriated to the Stabilization Fund for non-school uses in the future. The accumulation of and use of these funds would help reduce amounts to be borrowed or raised by taxation. This program would fur- ther serve to level out the peaks of capital costs and thus is heartily endorsed by the Long-Range Capital Requirements Com- mittee. This sum of $8,000 is distinct from sums recommended for appropriation to the Stabilization Fund by the Planning Board and Conservation Commissioners for land acquisition and conservation purposes as discussed in Item 4 of this report or by the Finance Committee for school purposes as discussed in Item 13.
3. LINCOLN LIBRARY
1961 - The Library Commissioners continued their sound program of gradual improvements to the existing facility in- volving very modest outlays. Completed in 1961 were the con- struction of a safety wall around the old furnace and the in- stallation of a new septic tank and field totalling approximately $1,140.
1962 - Continued improvement of the old basement area to make it more useable will be continued with an outlay of approx- imately $2,000. This will include extension of heating ducts, waterproofing and painting of basement walls, plus the erection of partitions and book stacks.
Future - Continued annual outlays of $2,000 are planned for the 1963/1967 period to further develop the unused basement space. The development of the basement room under the new addition ($20,000) and the repair and improvement of the clock tower ($3,000) have not been earmarked for the immediate five year period.
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4. PLANNING BOARD AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION
1961 - Town meeting action in 1961 approved the purchase of approximately 14 acres of Garland property on Sandy Pond for the sum of $20,000 with payments to be spread over a period of five years. In 1961 $1,000 appropriated from taxation and $4,000 from the Conservation Fund were used to make the initial payment.
1962 - The Town will again be asked to appropriate funds into the Conservation Fund ($4,200) and the Stabilization Fund ($3,800) totalling $8,000. Conservation Fund monies will be used largely to pay the second installment on the Garland proper - ty purchase and Stabilization Fund monies will be further accumu- lated for future land purchases. As of December 31, 1961, $11, 500 existed in the Stabilization Fund tentatively earmarked for future land purchases. No balance existed in the Conserva- tion Fund.
Future - The Planning Board will continue to ask the Town to appropriate annually a sum equal to approximately $1.00 on the Tax Rate for conservation purposes. Of this a sum equal to one-twentieth of one per cent (1/20%) of the current assessed valuation will be asked for the Conservation Fund and the balance for the Stabilization Fund. Recommendations will be made from time to time for specific land purchases.
5. RECREATION
1961 - No major projects scheduled.
1962 - No major projects scheduled.
Future - Two needs are presently under study by the Recrea- tion Committee. £ The first of these is the need for additional playgrounds, playfields, and/or parks. This could well involve a future capital outlay. No specific projects are presently contemplated which would allow for the inclusion of a cost figure at this time. The need for town swimming facilities is also under study. It is expected that a survey will be conducted by the League of Women Voters to determine the town's needs and opinions concerning this type of facility. The results of this survey should aid the Recreation Committee and the Town to formulate plans, if any, for future action.
SELECTMEN : (6 through 12 inclusive)
6. CIVIL DEFENSE
1961 - The proposal for development of the Storrow House bomb shelter into a Civil Defense Communications and Command Post was defeated by the Special Town Meeting in December. The amount recommended for this project was $8,500.
1962 - Plans have not been formulated for 1962 Civil De- fense recommendations. No figure has been included in the 1962 capital outlay schedule but it ist anticipated that some recom- mendations will be made to the town.
25
O
1 a b
7.
7. TOWN DUMP RELOCATION
1961 - Not scheduled.
1962 - Not scheduled.
Future - Under the present schedule the Town will be asked in 1963 to approve the relocation of the town dump. It is anticipated that the present site, privately owned and leased by the town, will have been purchased by the Federal Government for inclusion in the Minute Man Historical Park. The Selectmen will recommend the appropriation of approximately $30,000 in 1963 and 1964 to cover the costs of land purchase, access road, equipment and other necessary site development. The future dump would then be on town owned land not leased from a private land-
owner. Alternative possibilities such as local or regional in- cineration have been given thorough study but the operation of a local dump has been determined to be the most feasible under foreseeable conditions.
8. FIRE DEPARTMENT
1961 - No major projects scheduled.
1962 - No major projects scheduled.
Future - As indicated in the schedule, the replacement of an existing fire truck is scheduled for 1965 ($15,000) and the construction of a manned fire sub-station in the North Lincoln area for 1966 ($50,000). The accumulation of $8,000 annually in the Stabilization Fund may be applied to offset the cost of this project.
9. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
1961 - The following scheduled projects for 1961 were com- pleted as indicated :
Project
Approx. Cost
1. Road Projects (Resurfacing, widening and/or major maintenance ) :
a. South Lincoln Drainage Project, Lincoln Road $ 6,000.
b. Lexington Road (approximately one -
half in 1961) 6,000.
c. Weston Road (approximately one-
half in 1961)
7,500.
d. Sandy Pond Road (regrading, widening, and partial relocation of 1600 feet from Fleck's corner ) 14,000. e . Baker Bridge Road (Sandy Pond Road south to big rock) Not undertaken
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Project
Approx. Cost
f . Bedford Road (Rte. 2 south to bottom of hill) 7,780.
g . Annual major maintenance Total 1961 road projects financed from local taxation: $51,280.
10.000.
h . Chapter 90 Construction - State and County Funds (repairing of section of Rte. 117 west from Rte. 126) $14,000.
2. Highway Department Equipment:
a. Road Sweeper $9,000. b. Pickup truck 2,000.
Total equipment purchased : $11,000.
The only deviation from the planned schedule was the tem- porary postponement of the Baker Bridge Road project due to the higher costs encountered on the Bedford Road project. Baker Bridge Road will be done in its entirety in 1962.
1961 represented the first in the two year program of major highway projects designed to bring the 55 mile system up to sufficiently high standards where it can be maintained at a lower annual cost figure. State and County funds for Chapter 90 Construction were used for the repaving of a section of Rte. 117 west of Rte. 126.
1962 - The following highway projects are scheduled for 1962 :
1. Road Projects (resurfacing, widening, and/or major maintenance) :
a. Lexington Road (Completion in 1962 $ 4,940.
b. Baker Bridge Road (Sandy Pond Road to Rte. 126) 11,000.
c. Conant Road (approximately 6300 feet southeast from Weston Road. This includes resurfacing and spot drain- age project. ) 12,110.
d . Sandy Pond Road (Concord boundary line to project completed in 1961) 8,950.
e . Beaver Pond Road (resurfacing and spot drainage near Beaver Pond) 3,000.
f . Annual major maintenance 10,000.
Total 1962 road projects financed from local taxation: $50,000.
g . Chapter 90 Construction - State and County Funds $19,600.
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Project
Approx. Cost
2. Highway Department Equipment:
a. Two Ton Truck $4,500.
b. Sanding Apparatus 1,800. Total Equipment Purchases $ 6,300.
Projects scheduled for 1962 will complete the two year pro- gram of accelerated road projects. Included in the $10,000. for major maintenance will be resurfacing of the portion of Lin- coln Road affected by the 1961 drainage project and continued work on the Weston Road resurfacing. Chapter 90 Construction funds will be hopefully accumulated for the eventual widening and resurfacing of Rte. 126 from the Wayland line to Rte. 117.
Future - Town Capital outlays for road projects will drop from the 1961/1962 level of $50,000. to $35,000. for the period 1963 through 1967. A figure of $6,000. is allocated annually for equipment purchases with the expectation that no purchases may be made in any given year to allow for major purchases in other years. Chapter 90 funds for approved construction pro- jects are expected to increase with the figure of $20,000. listed on an estimated basis.
Much discussion centers around the road project to link Winter Street in Waltham to Rte. 117 at Lincoln and Merriam Streets. This project, involving a stretch of proposed road in Lincoln, is being considered by officials in Waltham, Weston and Lincoln. The road, to be constructed under the supervision of the Middlesex County Commissioners, is too indefinite at this point to specify a date or cost figure.
10. LEGION LAND PURCHASE
1961 - Funds totalling $7,500 were appropriated for the purchase, by eminent domain, of the former Legion building and land at the South Lincoln commercial center. The building has been razed and the site graded.
1962 and Future - Plans are in active preparation for pro- jecting the orderly growth of the entire South Lincoln commer- cial district including use of the former Legion property for municipal purposes. It is anticipated that these plans will be presented for consideration to the town later in 1962.
11. POLICE DEPARTMENT
1961 - No major projects scheduled.
1962 - No major projects scheduled.
Future - Aside from the replacement of police cruisers on an annual basis, no capital items are planned by the Selectmen for this department.
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12. TOWN HALL REPAIR - EXTERIOR
1961 - No work was started in 1961 under the appropriation of $2,500 for the replacement of terra cotta on the Town Hall exterior. This sum will be carried forward for expenditure in 1962.
1962 - No additional sums will be requested for 1962 for this job, estimated to total $10,000 over a four to six year period. Preliminary work in 1962 should reveal more accurately the extent of repairs necessary and thus a more accurate figure for the total cost.
Future - For scheduling purposes, the sum of $2,500 has been earmarked in alternate years until a more definite appraisal has been obtained.
13. SCHOOLS
Lincoln - Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
1961 - the balance of $29,544.75 remaining in the Hartwell School Addition capital expenditures account was largely expended in 1961 leaving a balance of $6,200.18 which will either be re- turned to the town or used for further equipment purchases.
1962 and Future - One year ago, the School Committee was faced with potential sudden expansion at Hanscom Air Base and possible further regionalization with Sudbury, as well as with their normal problems. Since that time both of these major problems have been resolved in the negative and, as a consequence we can resume grappling with our normal, though sizeable, head- aches due to growth.
In the 1959 report, we showed that the elementary school would require $350,000. in 1963 for land purchase and construc- tion, and $500,000. in the 1965-69 period. Last year, because of uncertainties mentioned above, we showed no estimates for this period.
Mr. E. G. Boyer was retained as an education consultant by the Lincoln School Committee during 1961 and his report in- dicates that a total expenditure of about $800,000. will be re- quired before 1970, by which time we should have a pupil popula- tion of 1,300. Some construction must proceed now to be in use by September, 1963, and because of the fact that this round of construction is made up of specialized and expensive building blocks, such as science labs and auditorium, we must add at this time more than half of the $800,000. total predicted by the Boyer report. More than half at this time is also indica- ted because there will be a faster growth rate in the first half of the 60's than in the second half. We have been given no specific figure to plan on at this time because the present School Building Needs Committee has not arrived at any con- clusions and do not expect to present their proposals to the
29
r
a
To th
0
Town until late in the first half of 1962. If we assume two- thirds of the $800,000. suggested by Boyer, or $550,000., this would result in a borrowing of $350,000. with the application of Stabilization Fund monies and accelerated state grant pay- ments. This borrowing would add approximately $3.00 to the tax rate annually, to which must be added a probable $10.00 to $12.00 annually for the operation and staffing of the building.
If the last one-third of the $800,000. can be postponed to 1967-69, it will phase in with the reduction of Smith School debt at that time, and, therefore, not add to the present debt service load. But in addition to this $250,000., we must also plan on the possibility that the ninth grade will be moved from Regional back to Lincoln sometime during 1967-70, since the Regional High School will reach the maximum size that the educa- tors wish in the year 1964. Because Sudbury will have enough pupils to make a good-sized junior high school of their own de- sirable, such a move of the ninth grade is a distinct possibili- ty. If this does happen, an additional total of approximately $200,000. will be required.
It should be noted that the Long Range School Building Needs Committee has indicated that we must plan on an eventual pupil population of 1,800. No timetable is indicated for such a population however. Probably the major factor that will in- fluence the speed at which we exceed the 1,300 pupils reported by Boyer would be the development of any of the several large land holdings in Town. The School Committee has indicated their intention to plan ahead for this maximum population by purchasing enough land at this time to accommodate the buildings necessary at a later date.
Regarding the Stabilization Fund, no request for an appro- priation of $25,000. will be asked for in 1962 because of the additional $50,000. appropriated at the special meeting in Decem- ber of 1961. It is expected that annual appropriations of $25,000. will be resumed in 1963.
14. LINCOLN SUDBURY REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
1961 - Practically all work was completed on the addition voted in 1960. The remaining balance will be expended in 1962.
1962 - The remaining balance of $105,165 (Lincoln's share - $31,550) along with an appropriation for additional equipment for the addition of $13,281 (Lincoln's share - $4,132) will be used in 1962. In addition an undetermined amount will be re- quested for the purchase of additional land adjacent to the present site for the final addition. This amount is expected to be raised largely by District borrowing.
Future - The third and final stage of Regional School District construction is still estimated to proceed in 1964 with Lincoln's share being roughly $450,000. As noted before, the fact that this is to be considered the final stage of construc-
30
tion may result in the movement of the ninth grade back to Lin- coln in 1967-70. No specific plans for this later period have been drawn as yet.
15. WATER DEPARTMENT
1961 - Projects totalling approximately $14,100. were undertaken by the Water Department. Included in this was the laying of 1,350 feet of 8 inch mains on Virginia Road to replace substandard main ($11,674.). Additional projects were the pur- chase of a portable gas generator ($500.) and standby chlorinator and storage barrels for the pumping station ($428.) and the con- struction of a fenced-in pipe storage area adjacent to the Town garage off Codman Road ($1,500.). During the process of recon- structing Sandy Pond Road, 1,040 feet of 8 inch main was laid at the expense of a private landowner.
Initial progress was made on the search for a supplementary water source to augment Sandy Pond. Geological surveys and soundings were made, previous reports and findings analyzed and the ground work laid for actual test borings to take place in 1962. The balance of the unexpended funds ($4,225. ) from the 1961 appropriation will be used for this purpose.
1962 - No major projects are scheduled by the Water De- partment for 1962. Funds totalling $15,000. normally expended in each year will be largely accumulated in 1962 in anticipation of 1963 major capital expenditures. Spot replacement of mains where necessary, and replacement of sub-standard hydrants will be undertaken. No equipment purchases or replacements are contemplated for 1962.
Future - The specific projects to be undertaken in 1963 will largely depend upon the results of the test drilling for new sources in 1962. Should these efforts uncover a major, useable source, it will be connected directly with the Town reservoir on Bedford Road. Cost of land purchase, well drill - ing, pumping station and chlorinator plus a large connecting main will total approximately $120,000.
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