USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1955-1959 > Part 60
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No. of Acres Assessed 18,113.65 No. of Dwellings Assessed 4,193
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MOTOR VEHICLE & TRAILER EXCISE
Number of Vehicles Assessed
Assessed Valuation
Excise
Abatements Rate per $1,000 - $64.13
8,007 $ 5,331,930.00 298,037.92 22,262.78
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS
Number of Polls
25
Number of Persons Assessed
14
(Real & Personal)
Valuation - Personal Property
$ 4,500
Valuation - Real Estate
50,800
Tax on Polls
$ 50.00
Tax on Personal Property
117.00
Tax on Real Estate
1,320.80
Number of Acres Assessed 147
REAL ESTATE EXEMPT FROM TAXATION - CHAP. 59-SEC. 5 Clause 1 - Property of United States 178,850
Clause 2 - Property of Commonwealth of Massachusetts 337,725
Clause 3 - Property of Education Corp.16,892,800 Property of Charitable Corp. 83,825
Property of Benovelent Corp. 94,525 Clause 11- Houses of Religious Worship 1,337,375 Parsonages 80,000
Clause 12- Cemeteries 229,100
Andover Housing Authority
570,145 1
Number of Acres Exempt - 2,330.94
Respectfully Submitted,
Archibald D. Maclaren, Chairman Selby B. Groff Bernard F. Magane
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MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
Land and Buildings
Equip. and Other Prop.
Total
Town Hall
177,575
$ 45,450
$ 223,025
Shaw Property Fire Department
62,250
180,000
242,250
Police Department Schools
6,179,800
756,000
6,935,800
Library
200,925
120,000
320,925
Water Department
331,525
4,685,100
5,016,625
Sewer Department
14,975
2,478,300
2,493,275
Highway Department
23,175
270,000
293,175
Parks & Playgrounds
81,000
18,600
99,600
Infirmary
71,675
7,500
79,175
Spring Grove Cemetery
71,650
3,375
75,025
Weights & Measures
1,000
1,000
Town Scales
600
600
Old School Houses
93,875
93,875
Punchard School Fund
85,516
85,516
Memorial Hall Invest. Fd.
95,655
95,655
Pomps Pond Bathing Beach
17,400
900
18,300
Community Hall, B'Vale
20,275
20,275
Essex St. Parking Lot
3,850
3,850
Public Dump
3,600
3,600
Other Town Property
128,875
128,875
TOTALS
$7,529,000
$ 8,798,596
$16,327,596
45,750
45,750
825
12,000
12,825
Tree & Moth Department
38,600
38,600
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
The Board of Public Welfare submits the following report for the year 1959:
Following the appointment of a Town Manager, a Board of Public Welfare was chosen on May 21, 1959, consisting of Mrs. Robert Mayo of Dascomb Road, Mr. Joseph Serio of Lowell Junction Road, and Mr. Thayer Warshaw of 16 Caris- brooke Street. At the first meeting of this board, which was held on June 1, 1959, Mr. Serio was elected Chairman and Mr. Cole, Secretary. The board members declined to accept any salary for their work, and refunded the first checks sent them. At the annual town meeting, $600 had been voted for the yearly salaries of a Board of Public Welfare. We understand that this is the first time in the history of the Town of Andover that a Board of Public Welfare has consisted of members other than the Selectmen.
Under Chapter 141 of the Acts of 1959, the title of Welfare Agent was changed to Director of Public Assis- tance.
In July, Miss Brainerd, Senior Clerk in the depart- ment, was granted a three-months' leave of absence, due to illness in her family. During part of the period, it was necessary to employ Mrs. Marjorie Melanson, a former clerk in the Georgetown Welfare Department, to help out.
Our Old Age Assistance rolls have declined so that at the end of 1959, we have only 109 cases receiving assistance, as against 119 at the start of 1959. At the time of our peak load in 1951, before the Lien Law went into effect, we had 185 cases. While the case load has been reduced considerably in the past eight years, it costs as much today to aid 110 cases as it did to aid 185 cases in 1951. During 1959, we collected $16,127.08 from estates of deceased recipients, under the Lien Law.
Our Aid to Dependent Children program has increased during this year, and we are aiding seven cases at the end of the year, as compared to five at the beginning. In the course of the year we were forced to take on three cases which came to Andover from other cities.
There is little change in the Disability Assistance program, and we are aiding three cases at the end of the year.
Our General Relief has been very light, and our expenditures for 1959 are the lowest in any of the past
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twenty-five years.
We are reducing our total appropriation for 1960 from $99,230 to $89,100.
We would like to point out that the figure appropri- ated is not the cost to the town, for the following rea- son. Of the $99,230 appropriated last year, only $84,715 was paid out, and out of this expenditure $52,661 will be returned to the town's free cash account by the state.
At this time, we wish to thank all citizens and pri- vate organizations who have assisted our department, and contributed to the welfare of our citizens.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph Serio, Chairman, Pauline A. Mayo, Thayer S. Warshaw.
Arthur W. Cole, Director.
Report of Animal Inspector
Town Manager
Andover, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I hereby submit my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1959 :
Number of Cattle Inspected:
Registered -- 176
Grade -- 244
420
Number of Sheep Inspected
67
Number of Horses Inspected
33
Number of Goats Inspected
4
Number of Swine Inspected
868
Number of Barns Inspected
42
Number of Dogs Quarantined
60
Number of Dogs affected with Rabies
None
Respectfully submitted,
Richard D. Lindsay, D.V.M. Animal Inspector
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Report of Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery
The Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery submit their Annual Report for the year of 1959.
The measuring stick for the size of a cemetery operation is in the lots sold and interments made. This year the Cemetery sold 32 new lots, compared with 21 last year, and had 87 interments against 72 made in 1958. We received and turned over to the Town Treasurer $6184 to be added to the Perpetual Care Funds. There is now $133,513 deposited in the Trust funds we hold and income amounting to $3,916 was received this year from them.
We received $5,005 from the sale of lots, inter- ments, annual care of lots and the other services pro- vided our lot owners. The general receipts and our in- vestment income totalled $8,921, all of this being re- turned to the Town. Although our appropriation this year was $23,370 the actual cost of operating the Cemetery was $14,449. Wages accounted for $19,732 or 82% of our total appropriation with other expenses only $3,586. The total of our wages has increased $6,192 since 1949 although there has been no change in our personnel and this 70% change represents adjust- ments in pay scales during this ten year period.
The connecting road between the flat section and the older part of the Cemetery was completed and an additional 510 feet of tarvia road installed during the year. The garage addition has been completed and is now being used. These changes complete the major improvement program started by us in 1954.
Fred E. Cheever, Chairman Albert E. Curtis, Secretary Malcolm E. Lundgren William D. McIntyre Irving J. Whitcomb
Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery
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Office of Veterans' Service
The Office of Veterans' Services submits to the Town Manager the following report for the year 1959.
The case load covering only interviews and conferences which required paper work was :-
Allowances and allotments-104; photostatic copies of discharges, records, service papers and vital statistics-1328; employment-23; evictions-6; housing applications-71; social security cases-45; burials-29; compensations-25; hospitalizations-66; insurance-28; home loans-25; medical and dental
cases-40; education and job training-18;
pensions-93; vital statistics-192; miscellaneous categories-880 for a total of-2973.
Deaths of veterans during the year were 23 :-
World War One-17; World War Two-5; Spanish War-1.
Number of cases for Veterans Benefits Applications-57. Aid was granted to 49 of which 25 are permanent cases.
President Eisenhower signed H.R. 7650 on August 29, 1959, at Chequers, England, at the country home of British Prime Minister MacMillan, near London, where MacMillan and Eisenhower were in conference, discussing historical events of our time. The new law is designated as Public Law 86-211, and provides a new type of pension for veterans, widows and children of World Wars One and Two and the Korean Conflict. It also provides protec- tion for veterans, widows and children drawing pensions under present law. This law will become effective on July 1, 1960. After this date widows and minor children of deceased World War Two and the Korean Conflict will become eligible to apply for pensions. Heretofore these cases were eligible for pension only if the veteran died from a service connected disability or was receiving a 10% service disability compensation. The new legisla- tion should eliminate many cases in the future for aid under Chapter 115, General Laws of Massachusetts.
Public Law 86-211 gives all veterans now on the pension rolls the option of remaining as they are now or changing to the new provisions of the law after July 1, 1960. However, if those now on the rolls change their present
77
status, they cannot go back under the old law again.
Employment has been steady during the year, and we have had few calls for aid due to lack of work. Our medical, doctor and hospital bills are steadily increasing and will continue to do so.
We wish to thank all local veteran organizations, the American Red Cross, all church and other charitable or- ganizations, the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager for their ever ready cooperation and assistance to this office in our Veterans' Rehabilitation Program, and aid to the indigent and needy.
Respectfully submitted,
Francis P. Markey, Agent Veterans' Service Office
78
Annual Report of the Andover Housing Authority
The year Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-nine began with the con- tinued construction of the Elderly Housing Project 667-1, which was completed for occupancy August 31. On September 15 all 40 units were occupied, and all work was completed under the contract on December 15. Contracts for chain link fence and landscaping have been awarded and will be completed in the spring of 1960.
The Veterans Project 200-1 had a number of maintenance items completed on contract, such as: painting all exterior trim and handrails at a cost of $3,300.00; new burner controls and rewiring of burners at a cost of $1,370.00; repairs to concrete steps and foundations, $180.40; relining boiler No. 1 and repairs to boiler No. 2 at a cost of $500.00.
Maintenance problems that will be corrected this next year will be: continued repairs to steps and foundations, replacement of over 200 window shades, replacement of at least one-half of the kitchen counter tops, and some corrective measures taken to reduce the heat in the boiler room.
There are 56 apartments in the 200-1 Project, with 32 two- bedroom units, 21 three-bedroom units, and 2 four-bedroom units. The Elderly Housing Project 667-1 has 40 units, with a Recreation Hall which is used by all tenants. Each of these units has one bedroom.
Eight families have moved from the 200-1 Project and three families have moved into larger apartments within the Project. One occupant of the Elderly Project moved, and this unit has been occupied again. All apartments of both projects are occupied, and there is a substantial waiting list for each project.
The payment to the Town of Andover in lieu of taxes for the year 1959 was $1,876.00.
The Urban Renewal Committee appointed by the Authority have been waiting for an approval from the Federal Government on the Application for Planning Funds. This application had been sub- mitted and funds were not available and it was returned to the Authority. The proposed renewal was then greatly reduced and re- submitted to the Housing and Home Finance Agency in June. This application is again being revised to comply with new Urban Renewal program and laws. A Certification of Workable Program for the pre- vention and elimination of slums and blight under terms of the
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Housing Act was issued to the Town of Andover by the Housing and Home Finance Agency, which is the first step in the approval of the Application for Planning Funds.
The members of the Andover Housing Authority as of December 31, 1959, are as follows:
Thomas P. Eldred, Chairman
Roy A. Russell, Vice Chairman
Thomas R. Wallace, Treasurer
George A. Noury, Assistant Treasurer
Harold E. Coleman, Assistant Secretary
Ernest N. Hall, Executive Director and Secretary James E. Manning, Manager
A balance sheet and statement of operations for the period ending December 31 is attached.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST N. HALL Executive Director
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BALANCE SHEET December 31, 1959
Assets
Cash - Andover Savings Bank - 32%
$ 5,214.58
Cash - Essex Savings Bank - 34%
2,165.38
Cash - Administration Fund
17,475.54
Cash - Security Deposit Fund 910.00
Cash - Petty Cash 25.00
$ 25,790.50
Investments
Accounts Receivable - Tenants
15,000.00 111.50
Debt Service Fund - 2nd Bank - State Street Trust Company 9,867.17 Debt Service Trust Fund - 2nd Bank - State Street Trust Company 590.00
Investment - Debt Service Trust Fund - 2nd Bank - State Street Trust Company
1,000.00
Development Costs
626,000.00
Less: Development Cost Liquidation 75,000.00
551,000.00
Total Assets
$603,359.17
Liabilities, Reserves, & Surplus
Liabilities
Income Tax Withholdings (Federal)
$ 97.17
Income Tax Withholdings (State)
12.60
Pension Fund Deductions
49.00
Accrued Insurance - Fire
1,924.91
Matured Interest & Principal
11,924.62
$ 14,008.30 910.00
Tenants' Security Deposits
Bonds Authorized
626,000.00
Les8: Bonds Retired
75,000.00
551,000.00
Reserves
Debt Service Reserve
15,430.01
Unamortized Bond Premium
1,590.00
Operating Reserve
11,925.95
Surplus
28,945.96 8,494.91
Total Liabilities, Reserves, & Surplus
$603,359.17
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REPORT ON GRAVEL REMOVAL HEARINGS
The Board of Selectmen, acting as the governing body, sat in on seventeen hearings during 1959 relative to the removal of earth materials and following is the result of those hearings :
Petition of ANDOVER ASSOCIATES, INC. approved pending the meeting of necessary requirements by petitioners, for per- mission to remove gravel and fill from their property op- posite the Andover Country Clubhouse in a northerly and easterly direction. GRANTED
Petition of MICHAEL S. BENEVENTO, to remove gravel for sale from land owned by him off South Main St., Andover, and bordering the North Reading line. DENIED
Petition of COTTAGE FARMS INC. to remove excess loam from land owned by them on Suncrest Road, decided on October 20, 1959. GRANTED
Petition of J. J. CRONIN COMPANY, decided on September 8, 1959, for permission to remove sand and gravel from land owned by them bordering River Street and the Shawsheen River. GRANTED
Petition of ESSEX SAND & GRAVEL CO., INC. decided on April 17, 1959, for permission to remove sand and gravel for sale from the property off Woburn and Andover Streets, Ballardvale, owned by them. GRANTED
Petition of ROY R. FARR for permission to remove earth materials from property owned by him and located approxi- mately as follows: East of the intersection of Routes 125 and 28 and south of property known as the Sanborn property, the earth materials so removed to be used by Suburban Exca- vators, Inc. on their projects for the extension of Route 125. WITHDRAWN
Petition of JOHN PHILIP ENTERPRISES, INC. decided on Janu- ary 5, 1960, to remove excess loam from their development bounded by Lovejoy Road, Lowell St., and Argilla Road, arising out of the construction of the roads. This loam so removed to be for sale. GRANTED
Petition of FRED J. JONES, decided on November 16, 1959, for a renewal of his permit to remove gravel for sale from property owned by Stefan Dembkowski on Lowell Jct. Road. GRANTED
Petition of JOHN M. McCOY for permission to remove gravel
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from property owned by him off High Plain Road. PENDING
Petition of NORMAN J. SCOTT for permission to remove sand and gravel for sale from land owned by Samuel Nassar off North Main St. DENIED
Petition of ROBERT A. PARK decided on October 5, 1959, for permission to remove gravel for sale and level off land owned by him off Chandler Road. GRANTED
Petition of REALTY CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING INC. for permission to remove or sell excess loam from the area being developed by them and bounded by Lovejoy and Dascomb Roads. PENDING
Petition of ALBERT H. REED for permission to remove gravel for sale from land owned by him in the rear of 23 Argilla
Road.
PENDING
Petition of MAX AND ISAAC SIEGEL, decided on June 4, 1959, for permission to remove earth materials from property owned by them, formerly known as the Goldsmith property, located south of the new Route 125 and west of existing Route 28, earth materials so removed to be used by Subur- ban Excavators, Inc. on their projects for the Mass. Dept. of Public Works - Ext. of Route 125. GRANTED
Petition of JOSEPH W. WATSON, JR. for permission to remove surplus material from land owned by the petitioner on Lowell St., the sand and gravel so removed to be for sale. GRANTED
Petition of GEORGE B. WESTHAVER decided on October 20, 1959 for permission to remove top loam on site of "McDonald property" and replace with fill from site of 16 Railroad Street. GRANTED
Petition of SIDNEY P. WHITE, decided on August 11, 1959, for permission to level off a small hill on land bordering the Boston & Maine Railroad tracks on Andover Street, the gravel so removed to be for sale. GRANTED.
Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Eugene A. Bernardin, Jr., Chairman William Stewart, Secretary Edward P. Hall Philip K. Allen James D. Wilson
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ANNUAL REPORT of the DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
To the Town Manager Andover, Massachusetts
During the year 1959, the Development and Industrial Com- mission held eleven regular meetings. In addition to these meetings, members of the Commission met informally on several occasions to view the industrial zones and to confer with Industrial Developers and Officials of the State Departments of Commerce and Public Works.
On January 19, 1959, at a public meeting held in the meet- ing room of the Memorial Hall Library, the Commission pre- sented a Statement of Policy for the Economic and Indus- trial Development of Andover to representatives of all Town Boards and Civic Organizations. This policy recom- mended a program of sound industrial growth for Andover which will not change the residential character of the community.
The policy was endorsed by all Town Boards and by almost all the Civic Groups represented. It has been adopted by this Commission and is the basis of all discussions be- tween members of the Commission and representatives of existing and prospective industries.
Much time has been spent in trying to obtain approval for an interchange for the Lowell Junction Industrial Zone at Lowell Junction Road and the new Route 93. Both State and Federal officials indicated that there is little chance that such a project will be approved, but we are continuing our efforts because of the potential which exists in this area for attracting industries that will broaden our tax base. If access to this area is not pro- vided, it is doubtful if the Town will ever have any sub- stantial Industrial Growth in Lowell Junction.
The Industrial Zone in West Andover is attracting con- siderable attention from industrial developers. However, we believe that the ultimate development of this area de- pends upon these factors :
1. The opening of Route 93 to traffic;
2. The development of the Lawrence Industrial Park. The Lawrence Park has the necessary utilities available for immediate development and the
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schedule for this development has been accelerated by a municipally sponsored land assembly and re- development project.
. 3. The willingness of the Town of Andover to provide minimum essential services to encourage desirable industries to locate in West Andover.
4. The availability of the usable land at a price con- sistent with the costs of necessary improvements.
During the year 1960, in conjunction with the Planning Board, we plan to study the present Industrial Zones and the provisions of the present Industrial Zone By-Laws to determine whether changes should be recommended in order to obtain the most desirable industrial growth for the Town.
Sound Industrial Growth is not an overnight development. It usually results from careful, conscientious effort.
Your Commission is optimistic for the future Industrial Growth of Andover. We have reason to expect that the patience of the Community will be rewarded.
Respectfully submitted,
DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
Wallace M. Haselton, Chairman Joseph B. Doherty, Secretary James L. Dean Charles DeBelle
Walter L. Goddard
Harold Haller
Robert D. Mayo
Carl A. Steuernagel
Harold M. Stillman
Donald G. Thompson
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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR FUTURE USE
On November 17, 1959, the Town Manager, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, reactivated this Committee. Since then, four meetings have been held.
At the request of the Recreation Committee, negotiations are now in progress for the purchase of land adjacent to Town-owned land on Pomps Pond.
At the request of the School Committee, a parcel of land on Lovejoy Road was investigated for a school site, but this was rejected after consideration by that Committee. At that Committee's further request, negotiations are now in progress on another parcel of land in that vici- nity.
No request has yet been received for the purchase of land by the Committee appointed to study the need, and site for, a new fire station in the West Andover area.
Our Committee has inserted an article in the Town Warrant requesting an appropriation of $25,000. to en- able it to continue its work.
Respectfully submitted,
Mrs. George A. L. Brown, Sec'y James D. Doherty
Henry L. Hilton Phillips B. Marsden, Jr. Harold R. Rafton, Chairman
Donald G. Thompson Robert A. Watters
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Planning Board Report
The year 1959 saw the continued steady growth and development of our town. The increase in population has brought with it the Immediate need for (1) a new elementary school, (2) extensions and improvements to our sewerage system, (3) a town-wide plan for the disposal of surface drainage water, (4) a new fire station for the West Andover area. In addition, citizen demand for improved recreational facilities for our young people is increasingly evident.
Planning for the improvement of the central business area and for a new town office building, police station and fire station has been deferred pending the outcome of the Urban Renewal Pro- gram. Application for planning funds for this prorram has been approved at the federal level, and planning should proceed during 1960. The need for a supplementary source of water has been explored; the next step in expansion of the water supply will have to be undertaken within a few years.
The Planning Board is unanimous in its recommendation that the town, through the Town Manager and the Planning Board, prepare a proposed Capital Outlay Plan, in which all needs for the ex- pansion of municipal services and facilities are forecast for at least a six year period, including recommendations for sched- uling improvements, means of financing them and predictions of their cost in terms of future tax rates.
The Planning Board also recommends the establishment of an engin- eering department to which the numerous engineering problems arising in the course of the Town's growth and development may be referred by the various other boards and departments of the town.
Two new members of the Planning Board, Mr. James Eaton, III and Mr. Harold King were appointed by the Town Manager in March, 1959, under the new charter. They replaced Mr. Walter Tomlinson whose term had expired and Mr. Archibald Maclaren, who resigned to become an assessor.
Mr. Preble continued to serve the Board as its engineering ad- visor.
Prof. Roland B. Greeley continued in his capacity as planning consultant to the Board. He rendered advice and assistance throughout the year, including the following: (1) Establishment of a new Apartment District and a new Motel District, begun in 1958 and completed by vote of Town Meeting in March, 1959. No area has been rezoned for a Motel District. Construction of the proposed Garden Apartments will probably commence during 1960. (2) Redefinition of the West Andover Industrial District, recommended in 1958, begun in 1958, and still under study. Two minor changes to the regulations were proposed for the March, 1960 Town Meeting. Work on boundary changes and area provision changes will proceed in 1960 with Mr. Greeley working with the Industrial Commission and the Planning Board. (3) Study of a Sports Center proposed for the flood plain area of Shawsheen River alon North Main Street between Andover Center and Shaw- sheen. This proposal was finally withdrawn, but only after considerable time and effort had been spent by all concerned
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exploring its implications. (4) Proposed for new special res- idential zoning districts, in which less than the usually re- quired frontages may be allowed, so that dwelling may be clustered" more closely together and more open space will re- sult between groups of houses, to be voted upon by the March, 1960 Town Meeting.
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