USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1950-1954 > Part 28
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During August and September a portion of Rogers Brook was enclosed in 60" R.C.C.P. This large diameter pipe ex- tends for a distance of 144 L.F. from the Chestnut Street culvert to the rear of Coleman's land, and eliminates the maintenance of this section of walled brook.
On Andover Street in Ballardvale new cable guard rail was installed on the north side from a point opposite High Street westerly to the foot of the hill.
At the Board of Public Works yard a reinforced concrete floor was installed in the newer vehicle storage garage.
New bituminous sidewalks have been constructed in vari- our parts of the town and some older sidewalks reconstruct- ed. Besides the new walk previously mentioned on Beacon Street to the West Center School, sidewalks improvements were made on the east side of Bartlet Street from Chestnut Street to the Stowe School, Corbett Street from Princeton Avenue Southerly; Park Street, North side from Florence Street to Whittier Street and the South side from Bartlet Street to Whittier Street; Oak Street, North side; Marland Street near E. Edward's; Flint Circle, North side; and Stevens Street, South side from Shawsheen Road; and sec- tion in front of 82 Haverhill Street.
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Cement sidewalks in certain parts of the town are in poor condition resulting from tree roots heaving many slab sec- tions particularly in Shawsheen Village. Some repair work consisting of hot-top replacements has been done on the fol- lowing streets: York, Windsor, Kensington, Poor, Wolcott Avenue and North Main Street.
All sidewalk work was done under Article 17, 1951 and Article 22, 1952 at a cost of $6,724.12 and using 473 tons of hot top material.
Article 20 covered work done with Chapter 90 Mainten- ance funds wherein the Town supplied two thirds and the State one third of the cost of $2,000.00. Sections of Lowell Street and River Road were armor-coated with RC-5 asphalt and pea stone.
Under Article 21 a rubber tired tractor and snow plow blade was purchased at a cost of $2,200.00. This unit is shared with the Tree Department in the summer and fall and turned over to this Department for use as a sidewalk plow in the Winter months.
BRIDGES
All the bridges under the control of the Board were in- spected during the late Summer and found to be safe for their posted load limits.
The open deck bridges on Central Street and Stevens Street were flushed down at the end of the sanding season to remove sand and salt from horizontal surfaces and thus better protect the paint.
Some railing and fencing was painted on these two bridges; but none of the load carrying members were paint- ed. It is recommended that all bridges be critically examined to determine their need for painting and wood preservation work. All major bridges have been at least three years with- out painting.
At the approaches of the Andover Street bridge in Bal- lardvale, new protective fencing was installed to replace old wood rail fencing. A total of 140 L.F. of 42 inch high chain link fence was installed under contract by the New England Fence Company of Reading, Mass.
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WATER SYSTEM
The major operation in the Water Department this year consisted of the installation of an extension of our 16 inch force main by town forces. As a force account job this work was noteworthy in that it was the first time that cast iron pipe of this diameter has been installed, and the total length of 4418.3 L.F. is thought to be greater than any previous job. In the past it has been the custom to let all long exten- sions and large diameter installations out to contract.
The 1952 extension of the 16 inch force main extends from Phillips Street at Main Street south along Main Street to Bancroft Road and thence east on Bancroft Road to a con- nection near the pumping station.
Pipe and materials were received in late July. Work was started on August 4th and pipe laying was completed on November 17th. Upon the completion of sterilization and leakage tests, the main was placed on the system December 8th, 1952 for regular use.
This job required a considerable time to perform due to the many existing underground pipes and cables crossing and running along with the new location; trench ledge in large quantities near Hidden Field and near Hidden Road; and the complications of heavy traffic on Route 28. All of these factors lumped together made it necessary to do much of the work with more than usual care and caution, and hence slowly. The cost of this work to date is $50,295.31.
Three short extensions of 6" C.L.C.I. pipe were also con- structed by B.P.W. forces during the year, making total new installation of mains as follows :
Virginia Road 100 L.F. 6" C.L.C.I.
High Plain Road (E. End) 412.7 L.F. 6" C.L.C.I.
Reservation Road
296.5 L.F. 6" C.L.C.I.
(Cutler Road N'ly)
Main Street & So. Main Street 3396.4 L.F. 16" C.L.C.I.
Bancroft Road
1021.9 L.F. 16" C.L.C.I.
Materials have been purchased and delivered to the site of a proposed under water crossing of the Shawsheen River at
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the rear of the Watson-Park buildings. This line is to be of 6-inch ball and socket type pipe and will replace the present 6 inch main which crosses the river on a dilapidated timber pipe bridge. Work on this crossing will be done at a time of low river level.
Several water mains of 6 inch C.L.C.I. pipe have been con- structed during the year by private interests in the course of developing real estate subdivisions. These mains have been inspected and tested under the supervision of this office in- sofar as possible, and location measurements have taken for record purposes. Work of this nature is somewhat difficult to control since it is done privately, and much depends on the willingness of the owners and contractors involved to cooperate with the office. It is to the interest of the town to have such inspections and measurements made since nearly all private ways ultimately become public highways.
At the main pumping station on Haggetts Pond a new power line has been constructed from Lowell Street. This line as constructed in February was for 2300 Volt power, but suitable for 4160 Volt usuage when the Lawrence Gas and Electric Co. decides to change over to the higher voltage. In December this company constructed a 4160 Volt transformer structure at the rear of the building and installed suitable transformers, so that when power is increased to 4160 V. the station will continue to be served by 2300 Volts.
The Venturi-meter at this station was service checked on June 20th and on this same date the Venturi-nozzle at Ban- croft Road station was service checked.
A lightning storm on August 5th damaged the 200 H.P. General Electric slip ring motor which drives the DeLaval pump at Haggetts Pond station. The motor was in use at the time. After conferring with representatives of the insurance company it was decided to have this motor removed to the shop of the Roland B. Glines Co. in Lawrenc for a complete damage survey. This was done on August 22nd and Mr. Glines' examination showed that the stator only was dam- aged and would require complete rewinding. This work was authorized ; but due to excessive delay in procuring the nec- essary copper products the job has not been completed as
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yet. Upon the reinstallation of the motor and when all bills are in a settlement will be reached with the insurance com- pany.
Since the smaller DeLaval pump was not available for use it has been necessary to operate the larger Peerless pump from time to time. Some trouble developed on this pump and on August 26th the manufacturer replaced the outboard or thrust bearing at no cost to the town. No trouble has been experienced with this unit since making this repair.
Subsequent to the above mentioned lightning storm, the Board has had a survey made of the old lightning protection equipment with a view toward replacing it with more mod- ern equipment. Recommendations of the General Electric Company are now under consideration by the Board.
Under Article 17 of the 1952 warrant the town was autho- rized to and did purchase 3.49 acres of land adjacent to the present Low Service Reservoir off Bancroft Road. This land was purchased from George J. Flathers and wife for $4,000 .- 00 and is to be used for reservoir expansion in the future.
The survey of two parcels of land at the northerly end of Haggetts Pond was completed in February, and these two parcels were permanently bounded by thirty-two concrete markers in November. All town land around Haggetts Pond is now definitely marked on the ground either by natural or artificial bounds. Some survey work was done to determine additional land desirable for town ownership in the event that it should become necessary to raise the pond level.
The condition of Haggetts Pond this year has not been as good from a storage viewpoint as it was last year, there be- ing a net loss in storage for the year. Precipitation amount- ed to 41.61 inches for the year as measured by the Essex Company in Lawrence. The 68 year average including 1952 is 40.68. This excess of nearly one inch of rain over normal is not enough to hold our supply even with the demand.
On the first day of the year the pond was at elevation 116 .- 92 which is about as full as is presently possible due to the condition of the outlet dikes. Full pond is considered to be at elevation 117.65. The water level gradually lowered
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during the Spring and early Summer, dropping rapidly dur- ing June and July which were dry months, recovering some- what in August because of heavy rains and then reaching its extreme low for the year on November 17 at elevation 113.48. On the last day of the year the pond level was eleva- tion 113.82, or 37 inches lower than it was at the start of the year.
This drop in water level represents a net loss in storage of about 211 million gallons for the year, or 0.577 M.G.D. The total pumpage for the year was 577.800 million gallons, or 1.580 M.G.D. The difference between these average fig- ures gives an approximation of the normal yield of the water shed, 1.0 M.G.D., which is obviously less than the average daily demand.
The total recorded pumpage at Bancroft Road Station for the first complete year of metering was 105.209 million gal- lons which represents an average of 287,500 gallons per day. This is 18.2% of the total quantity pumped at Haggetts Pond. This shows a slight drop in volume from last year; but since the 1951 records covered a period of only six months their relative accuracy is less.
RECEIPTS
Water Rates
$72,972.04
Water Services and Miscellaneous
525.02
Paid to Town Treasurer
$73,497.06
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WATER SYSTEM SUMMARY, for year ending December 31st
Year
Received from Water Rates
Net Cost of Maint. incl. pumping
Direct Cost of Pumping
Cost per Mil. Gals.
by total mainten.
by direct pumping
Received per Million Gals.
Annual Pumpage Haggetts Station (Million Gals.)
No. of service pipes in use
No. of Meters in use
No. of Hydrants
Miles of Main Pipe
1940*
$52,241.14
$27,799.18
$15,256.13
$67.04
$36.79
$125.99
414.653
2653
2587
728
79.89
1941
57,702.22
27,796.08
17,494.91
56.81
35.76
117.93
489.287
2729
2663
739
80.63
1942
55,259.54
30,859.93
18,211.08
74.13
43.75
132.74
416.314
2743
2677
741
80.77
180
1943
55,831.00
33,418.32
19,387.57
85.53
49.62
142.90
390.688
2747
2681
741
80.77
1944
62,039.75
38,043.35
20,658.91
89.48
48.59
145.92
425.152
2709
2688
742
80.77
1945
54,622.93
43,148.15
21,916.43
106.30
53.99
134.58
405.883
2735
2705
765
84.90
1946
60,169.98
47,857.73
22,638.40
107.86
51.02
135.61
443.692
2797
2767
785
88.64
1947
59,170.09
47,200.50
19,587.05
100.56
41.73
126.07
469.364
2862
2832
788
88.87
1948
62,472.54
49,967.87
26,340.63
98.94
52.15
123.70
505.306
2969
2939
796
89.69
1949
64,013.87
48,659.18
26,453.23
91.49
49.74
120.36
531.844
3066
3036
810
90.82
1950
67,871.62
49,417.39
26,516.09
90.46
48.02
124.24
546.313
3202
3172
815
91.73
1951
63,239.86
51,237.40
25,175.79
97.74
48.54
120.64
524.204
3311
3272
820
92.35
1952
72,972.04
53,356.72
28,583.58
93.34
49.47
126.29
577.800
3432
3393
822
93.34
*See Annual Report of 1939 for years 1889 through 1939.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM
The town constructed one new sewer extension this year. This was on Magnolia Avenue from the end of the existing sewer in Ferndale Avenue northerly to the limit of accept- ance on Magnolia Avenue. Total length of this 6 inch sewer is 564 L.F. Construction was performed by B.P.W. forces in April, at a cost of $2,044.41.
Private sewers were constructed in Judson Road and in Inwood Street. These sewers will become part of the town system ultimately.
A sewerage study has been made of the area above the present sewer in Summer street, and estimates of cost for various extensions in Summer Street have been made at the request of the Board of Health and residents of upper Sum- mer Street.
Some preliminary work has been done in the nature of studies for sewers to and in Ballardvale at the request of the Special Committee on Water and Sewerage. It is ex- pected that 1953 will bring definite study and planning on this problem.
From time to time sewer assessments have been re-investi- gated, checked, and special explanations furnished, at the insistance of certain abuttors. Sometimes these complaints reach back to sewers constructed and assessed as much as six years ago. However, no complaints have been sufficient to justify abatements this year.
There were 42 new service connections made in 1952.
SEWER MAINS COST OF CONSTRUCTION
Sewer Mains - 110,323 Ft. Cost to Abuttors Cost to Town
$222,946.00
407,408.00
Total
$630,354.00
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PARKS
Under the supervision of this office a rustic fence was de- signed and installed along the walled portion of Rogers Brook in the Park from Whittier Street westerly. This fencing, installed by the New England Fence Co. of Reading, extends for a distance of 196' along the brook on each bank and should serve to deter persons from falling into the brook at its deepest part.
An area at the northwest corner of the playstead was provided for the use of the Little League. Funds from the regular Park appropriation were used for the laying out of a small sized diamond.
STREET LIGHTING
Date
Installed
Location
Installed
Annual Cost
1/10/52
Shawsheen Road
1-1000 L.
$ 18.00
1/10/52
Brown Street
2-1000 L.
36.00
1/25/52
Essex Street
(1-2500 L. In
(1-1000 L. Out)
10.00
1/25/52
Ballardvale Road
1-1000 L.
18.00
3/20/52
Brown Street
2-1000 L.
36.00
4/16/52
Morton Street
1-1000 L.
18.00
4/21/52
Chestnut Street
Relocation
No Charge
6/16/52
Hidden Road
1-1000 L.
18.00
9/ 2/52
Henderson Avenue
1-1000 L.
18.00
9/ 3/52
Abbot Street
1-1000 L.
18.00
9/25/52
Shipman Road
1-1000 L.
18.00
9/30/52
Chandler Road
2-1000 L.
36.00
10/ 1/52
Stinson Road
2-1000 L.
36.00
11/24/52
Chesnut Street
(1-2500 L. In
(1-1000 L. Out)
10.00
Total Annual Cost for 1952 Changes
$290.00
:
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Changes Requested and Pending Installation Date
Requested
10/29/52 Lincoln Street
1-1000 L.
$ 18.00
1/ 8/53 Lowell Street
2-1000 L.
36.00
4/29/52 Osgood Street
1-1000 L.
18.00
10/ 6/52
Osgood Street
1-1000 L.
18.00
5/ 6/52
Prospect Road
2-1000 L.
36.00
Annual Cost for Lights Pending Installation $126.00
1953 STREET LIGHTING COSTS
Annual cost for lights installed as of 1/1/52
$24,062.00
Annual cost for lights installed during 1952
290.00
Annual cost for lights pending installation
126.00
Total Required for 1953 Appropriation to Cover Above $24,478.00
To provide for adequate Street Lighting for 1953, we re- commend on appropriation of $26,600.00.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD R. LAWSON, Superintendent WARREN O. PETERSEN, Engineer
January 21, 1953.
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1953 Town Warrant
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ESSEX, SS
TO EITHER OF THE CONSTABLES OF THE TOWN OF ANDOVER, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town who are qualified to vote in Elections and Town Affairs to meet and assemble at the designated polling places in Precincts One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six, viz: The Central Fire Station in Precinct One; the Square and Compass Hall in Precinct Two, the Sacred Heart School, Balmoral St. Shaw- sheen Village, in Precinct Three; the Andover Grange Hall in Precinct Four ; the Fire Station, Ballardvale, in Precinct Five; and the Peabody House, Phillips Street, in Precinct Six, in said Andover, on
MONDAY, THE SECOND DAY OF MARCH, 1953 at 7:00 o'clock A. M. to act upon the following articles :
ARTICLE 1. To elect a Moderator for one year, a Treas- urer for three years, a Selectman for three years, an Asses- sor for three years, a member of the Board of Public Works for three years, a member of the Board of Health for three years, two members of the School Committee for three years, a member of the Planning Board for five years, a Trustee of Memorial Hall library for seven years, a member of the Andover Housing Authority for five years, a member of the Andover Housing Authority for one year to fill a vacancy, a Tree Warden for three years, three Constables for one year, and any other town officers required by law to be elected by ballot.
All the above candidates to be voted for on one ballot. The polls will be open from 7:00 o'clock A. M. to 7:00 o'clock P. M.
184
After final action on the preceding Article One, the said meeting shall stand adjourned by virtue of Section 20, Chap- ter 39 of the General Laws, to Monday, March 9th at 7:00 o'clock P. M. at the Memorial Auditorium, then and there to act upon the following articles, namely :
ARTICLE 2. To elect all other officers not required by law to be elected by ballot.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the town will vote that a general wage increase, not to exceed $5.00 per week to any indivi- dual, be granted to all full-time employees except the school department and that funds to meet the increase referred to be included in the departmental budgets and be put into effect April 1, 1953.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the town will vote to increase the regular weekly wage of the full time employees of the Board of Public Works by twenty percent (20%), on petition of Oliver Pike and others.
ARTICLE 5. To establish the salary of elected TOWN OFFICERS for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 6. To determine what sums of money shall be appropriated for the following purposes :
Appropriation for the Assessors, Board of Selectmen, and all Departments under their control: Appropriation for Tree Warden: Appropriation for the Board of Health : Ap- propriation for Trustees of Memorial Hall Library : Appro- priation for Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery : Appropria- tion for School Committee: Appropriation for all Depart- ments under the control of the Board of Public Works: Appropriation for any other Town Charges and Expenses.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the town will vote to require the Board of Selectmen, when sitting as the Board of Selectmen, to hold such sittings open to the public, on petition of Ray- mond LaRosa and others.
185
ARTICLE 8. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell, all or part of town owned land in the triangle bounded southerly by Greenwood Road, northerly by Chandler Road and westerly by Ledge Road, either by public auction or by private sale, for such price and upon such terms as they deem proper and to authorize the said Board of Selectmen to execute and deliver a deed or deeds of said property in pursuance of this vote.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the town will vote to make the fol- owing changes in our building code :
1. To eliminate Section 7, paragraph 3, of our build- ing laws and substitute therefor the following: "All new materials, methods of construction, devices, and equipment for use in buildings that are not covered by other provisions of this law may be approved by the Building Inspector after receiving approval of a committee of three members to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen."
2. To add the following sentence to Section 9 of the building code: "This section shall not apply to cases covered by Article 7."
ARTICLE 10. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 624, acts of 1952 increasing the re- tirement allowances and annuities payable to certain former town employees retired prior to April 1, 1951.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 419 of the Acts of 1952 which amends Chapter 41 of the General Laws by inserting after Section 111-E the following Section :
"Section 111-F. Whenever a police officer or fire fight- er of a city, town, or fire district or water district is incapa- citated for duty because of injury sustained in the perform- ance of his duty without fault of his own, he shall be granted leave without loss of pay for the period of such incapacity ; provided, that no such leave shall be granted for any period after such police officer or fire fighter has been retired or
186
pensioned in accordance with law or for any period after a physician designated by the board or officer authorized to appoint police officers or fire fighters in such city or town, or district determines that such incapacity no longer exists. All amounts payable under this section shall be paid at the same times and in the same manner as, and for all purposes shall be deemed to be, the regular compensation of such police officer or fire fighter."
ARTICLE 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $1000.00 for the purpose of purchasing and erecting 270 lineal feet of seven foot high chain link fence at the dump off Chandler Road.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $1000.00 to make an engineering study of the playground area north and east of the present baseball and football fields at the central playstead.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $750.00 for the purchase of a new auto- mobile for the Police Department, and use the trade in value of a 1952 Ford Sedan as part of the purchase price.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to purchase and develop land near the center of town for the purpose of constructing public parking areas, and transfer from parking meter funds the amount of $10,- 000.00 for this purpose, no amount to be expended unless approved by the Finance Committee.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $4000.00 for the purpose of erecting a traffic booth in Elm Square that will include the installation of the necessary traffic lights to govern all travel at that location.
187
ARTICLE 17. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $1300.00 to be used with the turn in value of the old utility truck for the purchase of a new utility truck for use in the Fire Department.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $207.00 for the purpose set forth in Chapter 166 of the Acts of 1952 as follows :
"Section 1. For the purpose of discharging a moral obligation, the Town of Andover is hereby authorized to ap- propriate the sum of $207.00 and to pay the same to Albert Cole, Jr., Deputy Chief of the Fire Department of said town, which sum of money is due him under the provisions of Sec- tion 24 of Chapter 708 of the acts of 1941, as most recently amended by Chapter 203 of the Acts of 1947." on petition of Albert Cole, Jr. and others.
ARTICLE 19. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Public Works to repair and build sidewalks, and raise and appropriate the amount of $7500.00 therefor.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the amount of $16300.00 for the purpose of ex- tending and improving the water system of the Town of Andover, all work to be done under the supervision of the Board of Public Works, and no work to be started until ap- proved by the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Public Works.
.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, or take any action in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22 To see if the town will authorize the Board of Public Works to purchase three sand spreaders, and raise and appropriate the amount of $1595.00 therefor.
188
ARTICLE 23. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Public Works to purchase one snow loader, and raise and appropriate the amount of $12000.00 therefor.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Public Works to purchase a street sweeping machine, and turn in the present 1946 machine as partial payment, and raise and appropriate the amount of $9700.00 for the balance of payment.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Public Works to purchase a pickup truck for Water De- partment use, and turn in present 1946 Dodge truck as par- tial payment, and raise and appropriate the amount of $1300.00 for the balance of payment.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the town will authorize the Board of Public Works to purchase a rubber tired tractor with Frame and bucket, and turn in the present tractor as partial payment, and raise and appropriate the amount of $925.00 for the balance of payment.
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