Town annual report of Andover 1955-1959, Part 18

Author: Andover (Mass.)
Publication date: 1955
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1266

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1955-1959 > Part 18

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Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to adopt the following by-law: "At any Town Meeting, other than that

part of the annual meeting held on the first Monday in March, the Moderator shall set apart a space of reasonable size within the place of assembly and shall admit thereto accredited representatives of the press whether or not they be registered voters of the town."

ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following by-law: "At any Town Meeting, other than that part of the annual meeting held on the first Monday of March, the Moderator shall set apart a space of reasonable size within the place of assembly to which space he may admit persons who are not registered voters of the town provided a majority of voters present and voting approve of the admission of such persons."

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to adopt the following by-law: "At any Town Meeting, other than that part of the annual meeting held on the first Monday of March, the Moderator shall set apart a space of reasonable size within the place of assembly to which space he may admit persons who are not registered voters of the town provided a majority of voters present and voting approve of the admission of such persons."

ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $1,150.00 for additional clerical assistance in the office of the Town Treasurer.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate by taxation the sum of $1,150.00 for additional clerical assistance in the office of the Town Treasurer.

ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of $15,000.00 for the purpose of further remodeling of the Town Offices and to include the purchase of furniture and equipment for said offices.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 for the purpose of fur-

ther remodeling of the Town Offices and to include the pur- chase of furniture and equipment for said offices.

ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000.00 for the purpose of map- ing the Town; said maps to be used in conjunction with the work of the Assessors.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000.00 for the purpose of map- ing the Town; said maps to be used in conjunction with the work of the Assessors.

ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to accept Ge- neral Laws Chapter 136, sections 21-25 inclusive, relative to Sunday Sports and their regulation.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to accept Ar- ticle 10 as read.

ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 489, Acts of 1956, relative to Payroll Deductions for the United Fund from the salary of any town employee or any amount which such employee may specify in writing.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to accept Ar- ticle 11 as read.

ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to acquire land by release, by purchase, or by seizure by right of emi- nent domain on the easterly side of Spring Grove Road for the purpose of improving this road alignment at the proper- ty of Prendergast and Litchthenberger and raise and appro- priate by taxation the sum of $1,000.00 to make such ne- cessary road improvements and to include purchase price of said land, on petition of the Board of Public Works.

Article 12 was defeated. The vote Yes 317, No 247, less than 2/3 as required. A quorum was present.

ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will authorize the ac- quiring of approximately 2 acres of land on Prospect Hill now under the control of the Trustees of Reservations for the purpose of constructing a reservoir voted under Ar- ticle 38 of the 1956 Annual Town Meeting, by release, pur- chase or by seizure by the right of eminent domain upon the recommendation of the Board of Public Works and with the approval of the Finance Committee and to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 therefor, on Petition of the Board of Public Works.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 under Article 13. A quorum was present.

ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will authorize the Se- lectmen and the Welfare Agent to make a study of the ad- visability of closing the Town Infirmary and report at the next regular Town Meeting.

Article 14 was defeated.

ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Public Works to purchase a sidewalk snow plow and raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 therefor, and any value allowed for one old Cletrac sidewalk plow be used as part payment for the new sidewalk plow, on peti- tion of the Board of Public Works.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 under Article 15.

A move to reconsider Article 14 was defeated.

ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 for snow Removal and Sanding to include $2,500.00 for the purpose of equipment if necessary, at the discretion and, on petition of the Board of Public Works.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 for snow Removal and

Sanding to include $2,500.00 for the purchase of equipment, if necessary, at the discretion of the Board of Public Works.

ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate by taxation the sum of $12,000.00 for con- structing a way, installing a culvert and other necessary work involved in constructing parking accomodations in the "Playstead" area adjacent to the present High School, on petition of the Board of Public Works.

Article 17 was withdrawn.

ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate by taxation and/or transfer from unappro- priated available funds in the Treasury and by bond issue the amount of $352,176.83 to be used in conjunction with any funds available under Chapter 91, for the purpose of constructing storm drainage in connection with Rogers Brook and its tributaries, to be provided for as follows: raise and appropriate by taxation $52,176.83 and instruct the Selectmen to raise $300,000.00 by a 10 year bond issue, and authorize the Town to acquire easements by release, by purchase, or by seizure by right of eminent domain as ne- cessary for the control of storm water on private land, said easements to be as recommended by the Board of Pub- lic Works and approved by the Town Counsel, on petition of the Board of Public Works.

$317,922.27 - Amount asked for at 1956 Annual Town Meeting. 12,000.00 - Added for relocation of McArdle's new building (Central St.) 22,254.56 - Represents 7% increase construct- ion costs since last March.

$352,176.83 - Total

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate by taxation and by bond issue the sum of One Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00) for

the purpose of constructing storm drainage in connection with Rogers Brook and its tributaries to be provided for as follows: Raise and appropriate by taxation Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) and instruct the Selectmen to raise One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00) by a ten year bond issue; to be used ONLY if matching funds are available under General Laws, Chapter 91, and only with the approval of the Board of Selectmen and the Fi- nance Committee, and authorize the Town to acquire ease- ments by release, by purchase or by seizure by right of emi- nent domain as necessary for the control of storm water on private land, said easements to be as recommended by the Board of Public Works and approved by Town Counsel, and if the Betterment Act, General Laws, Chapter 80 be applic- able, said expenditure by the Town may be assessed as a betterment against all persons benefiting directly or indi- rectly as may be determined by the Board of Public Works. The vote Yes 576, No 142, voted by more than 2/3 as re- quired. A quorum was present.

ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate by taxation the sum of $5,000.00 for the pur- pose of cleaning Rogers Brook by the removal of sand, de- bris, and other incidental cleaning, on petition of the Board of Public Works.

Article 19 was defeated.

ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate by taxation and/or by transfer from unappro- priated available funds in the Treasury the sum of $5,000.00 for sewer maintenance for the balance of the year 1956, on petition of the Board of Public Works.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 for sewer maintenance for the balance of the year 1956.

ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, the sum of $15,000.00 to engineer and construct a sewer line for a dis-

tance of 1500 feet more or less from the main sewer line that runs through Golden's Gardens extending across North Main Street to include the entire Castle Heights Develop- ment; that said expenditure be assessed as a betterment against all persons benefitting directly or indirectly as de- termined by the Board of Public Works under the G. L., Chapter 80 and authorize the Selectmen to secure land and rights of way or easements for this purpose by purchase or by right of eminent domain. No work to be started until approved by the Board of Health, Board of Public Works, Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and Town Counsel, on petition of the Board of Health.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 to engineer and construct a sewer line for a distance of 1500 feet more or less from the main sewer line that runs through Golden's Gardens extending across North Main Street to include the entire Castle Heights Development; that said expenditure be assessed as a betterment against all persons benefitting directly or indirectly as determined by the Board of Public Works under the G. L., Chapter 80 and authorize the Select- men to secure land and rights of way or easements for this purpose by purchase or by right of eminent domain. No work to be started until approved by the Board of Health, Board of Public Works, Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and Town Counsel. A quorum was present.

ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Moderator to appoint a committee of five persons to study the possibility of establishing a garbage collection service in the Town, said committee to report to and make any recomendation to the Annual Town Meeting in March 1957, on petition of the Board of Health.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to accept Ar- ticle 22 as read.

ARTICLE 23. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Committee on Recreation to expend the sum of $2,900.00

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for improving the bathing and recreational facilities at Pomp's Pond in lieu of resurfacing and improving the Cen- tral Playground as voted under Article 29 in 1951 and un- der Article 44 in 1954, said sum having been previously ap- proriated but not expended. All work to be done under the supervision of the Committee on Recreation and the Board of Public Works, on petition of the Committee on Recreation.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to accept Ar- ticle 23 as read.

ARTICLE 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,500.00 to grant to each regular employee of the Police and Fire Departments a weekly pay raise of $7.00 to commence with the second day period following the vote hereof, on petition of Alton Porter and others.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 to grant to each regular employee of the Police and Fire Departments a weekly pay raise of $7.00 to commence the day following the vote here- of.

ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 to grant to each regular employee, employed by the Board of Public Works on an hourly basis, an increase in salary of $5.00 per week, start- ing October 29, 1956, on petition of George E. Douty and others.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 under Article 25.

ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town of Andover will vote to install a street light on Highland Avenue, a private way, in said Town, on petition of Duncan M. Cairnie, Jr. and others.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to accept Ar- ticle 26 as read.

A move to consider Article 30 at this point was lost.

ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to change from single residence B to single residence A a portion of the Town in Shawsheen Village bounded northeasterly by the center line of North Main Street to a point 600 feet northerly from the Shawsheen River, east by the westerly line of the Castle Heights Development (so called) to a line of the Industrial District, extended from the Stevens Mills property and by the north and westerly lines of the Beech Circle Development (so-called) and across Shaw- sheen Road to an intersection with the northeasterly line of the present "B" district, in the area and bounded south- erly by the northerly line of the present "B" district, which line is 170 feet from and parallel with the center line of Shawsheen Road and the center line of Lincoln Street to a point which is 1100 feet southwesterly from the intersection of Lincoln Street with Lowell Street, northwesterly by a line which is the southeasterly limit of the present develop- ments in this area and by the northerly line of the present developments in this area and by a line which is 170 feet southeasterly from the center line of Lowell Street, north- westerly by a line which is the southeasterly limit of the present developments in this area and by the northerly line of the present developments in this area and by a line which is 170 feet southeasterly from the center line of Lowell Street to the Southwesterly limits of the Marwood Drive De- velopment, and by the Southeasterly limits of this develop- ment extended to North Main Street aforesaid, on petition of Herbert F. Rines and others.

Article 27 was defeated. The Vote Yes 46, No 162.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED at this point in the warrant to adjourn at 12:05 A. M., until the follow- ing Monday at 7:30 P. M.

Adjourned Special Town Meeting OCTOBER 29, 1956

The check lists were used at entrance and showed 423 voters admitted to the meeting.

The meeting was called to order by Roland H. Sherman, Moderator, at 7:45 P. M.

Unanimous consent was voted to admit three non-voters.

It was VOTED unanimously to refrain from reading articles.

ARTICLE 28. To see if the Town will vote to change from Single Residence B to Single Residence C as defined in paragraph one of Section IX of the Zoning By-Laws of the Town as amended in March 1955 a portion of the Town of Andover bounded as follows:

Beginning at the intersection of the center lines of Das- comb Road and Clark Road; thence proceeding northeaster- ly by the center line of Dascomb Road to a point which is 170 feet northerly from the center line of Bannister Road; thence turning and proceeding easterly by a line which is 170 northerly from and parallel to the center line of Ban- nister Road to a point which is 220 feet westerly of the center line of Andover Street; thence turning and proceed- ing northerly along a line which is 220 feet westerly from and parallel to the center line of Andover Street to a point 800 feet southerly from the intersction of the center lines of Andover Street and Dascomb Road; thence turning and proceeding westerly across Dascomb Road to a point which is 220 feet westerly of Dascomb Road; thence turning and proceeding northeasterly along a line which is 220 feet westerly from and parallel to the center lines of Dascomb Road, Andover Street beyond Dascomb Road, Red Spring Road to Cuba Street, and Cuba Street to a point 220 feet southerly from the center line of Shawsheen Road; thence

turning and proceeding westerly along a line which is 220 feet southerly from and parallel to the center line of Shaw- sheen Road to the center line of Lowell Street; thence pro- ceeding westerly along a line which is 220 feet southerly from and parallel to the center line of High Plain Road and crossing Greenwood Road to a point which is 220 feet south- westerly from Greenwood Road and 220 feet southeasterly from High Plain Road; thence turning and proceeding southerly along a line which is 220 feet westerly from and parallel to the center lines of Greenwood Road and Love- joy Road and continuing southerly across Dascomb Road to a point which is 170 feet northwesterly of Tewksbury Street and 1300 feet southwesterly from the intersection of Tewksbury Street and Chester Street; thence turning and proceeding northeasterly along a line which is 170 feet westerly from and parallel to the center lines of Tewksbury Street south of Chester Street, and Chester Street to a point which is 170 feet southwesterly from the center lines of Moody Street; thence turning and proceeding northwesterl. along a line which is 170 feet southerly from and parallel to the center line of Moody Street to a point which is 170 feet northwesterly from the extended center line of Alman Street; thence turning and proceeding northeasterly along a line which is 170 feet northwesterly from and parallel to the center line of Alman Street to a point which is 170 feet southwesterly from the center line of Clark Road; thence turning and proceeding northwesterly along a line which is 170 feet southwesterly from and parallel to the center line of Clark Road to the center of Dascomb Road; thence turn- ing and proceeding northeasterly along the center line of Dascomb Road to the point of beginning, on petition of Ma- rian D. Laaff and others.

Article 28 was defeated. The vote Yes 192,, No 230.

ARTICLE 29. To see if the Town will vote to accept as public ways, Rock Ridge Road, Brookfield Road, Fox Hill Road and Woodcliff Road, as approved by the Planning Board and laid out by the Selectmen, as shown on Subdi- vision Plan No. 18975B, filed with Certificate of Title No.

3996, recorded in Book 27, Page 185 with the records of registered land in the North Registry District of Essex County, a copy of which is on file at the Office of the Town Clerk, on petition of Braeland Associates.

Article 29 was withdrawn.

ARGICLE 30. To see if the Town will vote to transfer $5,000.00 from Overlay Reserve to the Reserve Fund, on petition of the Finance Committee.

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to accept Ar- ticle 30 as read.

ARTICLE 31. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting :

Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to adjourn at 8:37 P. M.

COMMITTEE TO STUDY GARBAGE COLLECTION SERVICE

Charles O. McCullom Robert Walsh

Winthrop K. White Donald B. Maclellan Prof. James B. Sullivan

The foregoing is a true record of the doings of the meet- ing.

ATTEST:

GEORGE H. WINSLOW, Town Clerk

Report of the Town Clerk

To the Board of Selectmen :

I hereby submit my report for the office of the Town Clerk for the year 1956.

The total number of registered voters in Andover as of October 5, 1956 was 9,124 by Precincts as follows.

2,027

1,534

1,852

1,254

710

1,747

9,124

VITAL STATISTICS

Number of births recorded

294

Males

151

Females

143

Mumber of deaths recorded

172

Males

Females

Number of marriages 117

Respectfully submitted,

GEORGE H. WINSLOW, Town Clerk

Report of the Director of Accounts

To the Board of Selectmen: MR. J. EVERETT COLLINS, Chairman Andover, Massachusetts

GENTLEMEN :

I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Andover for the year ending De- cember 31, 1955, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. William Schwartz, Assistant Director of Accounts.

Very truly yours,

HERMAN B. DINE Director of Accounts

Mr. Herman B. Dine Director of Accounts Department of Corporations and Taxation State House, Boston

SIR :

As directed by you, I have made an audit of the Books and accounts of the town of Andover for the year ending December 31, 1955, and submit the following report there- on :

The records of financial transactions of the several de- partments receiving or disbursing town funds or sending out bills for collection were examined and checked with the records of the town treasurer and the town accountant.

The books and accounts of the town accountant were ex- amined and checked in detail. The ledger accounts were ana-

lyzed, the receipts, as recorded, were checked with the trea- surer's books, while the recorded payments were compared with the treasurer's cash book and with the approved trea- sury warrants. The appropriations, transfers, and loans au- thorized were checked with the town meeting records of the town clerk, the transfers from the reserve fund were com- pared with the authorization of the finance committee, and all other accounts were checked with information in the de- partments in which the transactions originated.

A trial balance was taken off, and, after the necessary ad- justing entries were made, a balance sheet, which is append- ed to this report, was prepared showing the financial con- dition of the town on December 31, 1955.

The books and accounts of the town treasurer were ex- amined and checked. The cash book additions were verified, and the recorded receipts were compared with the account- ant's books, with the records of the several departments col- lecting money for the town, and with other sources from which money is paid into the town treasury, while the re- corded payments were checked with the selectmen's war- rants authorizing the disbursemnet of town funds and with the town account's records.

The cash balance on December 31, 1955 was proved by reconciliation of the bank balances with statements fur- nished by the banks of deposit, by examination of the certi- ficates of deposit, and by actual count of cash in the office.

The payments on account of maturing debt and interest were verified by comparison with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled bonds and coupons on file.

The savings bank books and securities representing the investment of the several trust, investment, and retirement funds in the custody of the town treasurer, as well as of the trust funds in the custody of the trustees of the John Cor- nell, the Punchard Free School, and the Memorial Hall Li- brary Funds were examined and listed. The income was proved and all transactions and balances were verified and

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checked with the books of the town accountant and, in the case of the retirement funds, with the books of the retire- ment board. The cash balances were proved by reconciling the bank balances with statements received from the banks of deposit and by actual count of the cash on hand.

The records of tax titles and tax possessions held by the town were examined and checked. The amounts added to the tax title account were compared with the collector's re- cords and the accountant's books, the reported redemptions were checked with the treasurer's cash book, and the tax titles and tax possessions on hand were listed, proved, and checked with the records at the Registry of Deeds.

It is recommended that proceedings be initiated to foreclose the rights of redemption on all tax titles held over two years as required by law.

The records of payroll deductions on account of Federal taxes, purchase of savings bonds, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield were examined and proved. The balances, as shown on the individual employees' cards, were listed and recon- ciled with the accountant's control accounts.

The books and accounts of the tax collector were examin- ed and checked. The poll, personal property and real estate taxes, motor vehicle and trailer excise, and assessments outstanding at the time of the previous audit, as well as all subsequent commitments, were audited and compared with the assessor's warrants issued for their collection. The col- lections, as recorded, were checked to the commitment books, the payments to the treasurer were verified, the abatements were checked with the assessor's records of abatements granted, the taxes transferred to the tax title accounts were proved, and the outstanding accounts were listed as reconciled with the respective controlling accounts in the accountant's ledger.

The records of departmental and water accounts receiv- able were examined and checked. The payments to the trea- surer were verified, the abatements were checked with the

departmental records of abatements granted, and the out- standing accounts were listed and reconciled with the ac- countant's ledger controls.

Further verification of the outstanding tax, motor vehicle and trailer excise, assessment, departmental, and water ac- counts was made by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the ac- counts, as listed are correct.

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Town annual report of Andover 1955-1959, Part 18

Author: Andover (Mass.) Publication date: 1955 Publisher: The Town Number of Pages: 1266

Author: Andover (Mass.)
Publication date: 1955
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1266