USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1963-1969 > Part 20
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Senior High School Building Committee Benjamin O. Chase Mrs. Dudley Fitts, Secretary C. Lincoln Giles Frederick A. Higgins Robert McIntyre, Chairman Wm. E. Moriarty Walter N. Webster Committee to Make Preliminary Investigation of Feas- ibility of Automating Town's Accounting and Clerical Operations:
Jack Berberian - School Dept. Richard J. Bowen - Town Manager Robert J. Jordan Winthrop Newcomb E. Stephen Prendergast Harold Coleman Planning Advisory Committee
(To assist Central Merrimack Valley Planning District) Paul Herbert - Resigned Dec. 1964 James G. Poor Timothy J. Scanlon - Appointed Dec. 1964 Henry M. Wolfson Towle Fund Trust Mrs. Louis Anderson Robert M. Henderson - Resigned Dec. 1, 1964 George F. James School Building Committee (Sanborn School) Warren Lewis, Chairman Benjamin O. Chase, Secretary William R. Hill C. Lincoln Giles Arthur Peatman Ernest N. Hall
William A. Doherty, Ex Officio Edward I. Erickson, Ex Officio Town Manager, Ex Officio
OF AND O
PORATLO MAY VER
TOW
INCORPO
6. 1014
MASSACHUSETTS
TOWN OF ANDOVER Population 1960 Census - 17,134 Registered Voters 1964 - 10,576 POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS INCLUDING ANDOVER SENATORS Leverett Saltonstall Dover Edward M. Kennedy Boston FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT F. Bradford Morse, 466 Beacon Street, Lowell FIFTH COUNCILLOR DISTRICT
Thomas J. Lane, 92 Abbott Street, Lawrence FOURTH ESSEX SENATORIAL DISTRICT James P. Rurak, 34 Margin Street, Haverhill TWELFTH ESSEX REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
William Longworth, 25 Stevens Street, Methuen Albert P. Pettoruto, 41 Bartlet Street, Andover Arthur Williams, 149 Haverhill Street, Andover COUNTY COMMISSIONERS C. F. Nelson Pratt Daniel J. Burke Edward H. Cahill SELECTIVE SERVICE BOARD Joseph A. Horan, Chairman Thomas E. Cargill, Sr., Secretary Martin J. Lawlor, Jr. Thomas W. Fallon James Deyermond Salvatore Basile, Govt. Appeal Agent 200 Chandler Road, Andover Boxford Village, Boxford 39 Highland View Ave., No. Andover 58 Maple Avenue, Andover 64 Andover Street, Andover 15 Chandler Road, Andover
85
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUNCHARD FREE SCHOOL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1964 PRINCIPAL FUND
Cash in Banks Real Estate Mortgages Bonds at Book Value
$29,604.72
7,445.10
39,950.18
$30,588.64 6,461.18 39,950.18
Total
$77,000.00
$77,000.00
RESERVE FUND
January 1, 1964 Balance
Interest Received
Cash in Banks
$10,515.22
$451.61
December 31, 1964 Balance $10,966.83
INCOME ACCOUNT
Payments made during year
Balance on hand-
$ 1,406.16
January 1, 1964
2,915.49
Safe Deposit Box
$ 11.00
Interest and Dividends Received
$ 4,321.65
Salary-Clerk and Treasurer
250.00
Supplies and Equipment
1,031.41
Less Expenditures for 1964
1,317.41
for High School Depts.
Balance on hand- December 31,1964
SPECIAL FUNDS
Balance-January 1, 1964
Receipts
Total
Scholarship and Prize Awards
Balance- Dec. 31, 1964
Goldsmith Fund
$ 351.36
$14.18
$ 365.54
$10.00
$ 355.54
Draper Fund
1,518.41
59.72
1,578.13
80.00
1,498.13
J. W. Barnard Fund
34.61
40.98
75.59
40.00
35.59
Chapin Fund
2,316.97
91.78
2,408.75
90.00
2,318.75
H. W. & M. P. Barnard Fund
1,020.90
41.22
1,062.12
1,062.12
Eliz. T. Gutterson Fund
1,023.38
40.52
1,063.90
40.00
1,023.90
M. E. Gutterson Fund
336.47
13.38
349.85
10.00
339.85
Alice M. Bell Fund
1,023.08
40.52
1,063.60
40.00
1,023.60
SUMMARY OF COLLECTOR'S CASH ACCOUNT
1964
Previous Years
Totals
Farm Animal Excise
$ 360.34
$ 54.50
$ 414.84
Poll
151,224.23
2,868.85
154.093.08
98%
Real Estate
3,063,069.69
101,030.17
3,164,099.86
96.3%
Motor Vehicle Excise
434,919,24
106,185.18
541,104.42
Miscellaneous:
Sewer Betterments
5,324.71
424.46
5,749.17
Apportioned Sewer Paid in Advance
5,247.50
5,247.50
Sewer-Deferred Lien
592.79
592.79
Weter Betterments
1,242.34
225.47
1,467.81
Unapportioned Water
6,527.91
6,527.91
Apportioned Water Paid in Advance
2,405.78
2,405.78
Water Liens
8,863.49
9,485.24
Water Service
469.95
23.00
492.95
Committed Interest
2,816.63
324.83
3,141.46
Interest on Delinquent Taxes
1,129.53
4,664.29
5,793.82
$3,684,194.13
$ 216,696.50
$3,900,890.63
Treasurer's Bond
25.00
$ 3,004.24
Total
$ 1,317.41
Collected
274.00
274.00
Personal Property
621.75
86
ENSE PETIT
QVIETEM
PLACIDA
LIBERTATE
GUY J. RIZZOTTO COMMISSIONER ARTHUR H. MACKINNON DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTS
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation Bureau of Accounts 80 Mason Street, Boston
MAIL ADDRESS; P. O. BOX 2017 BOSTON 6, MASS.
February 26, 1965
Board of Selectmen
Andover
Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
This is to certify that the books and accounts of the town of Andover were audited by the Bureau of Accounts, Department of Corporations and Taxation, as of December 31, 1964, at which time they were found to be correct with all funds properly accounted for.
A detailed report of the audit will be forwarded as soon as possible.
The detailed audit report will contain recommend- ations that the tax collector obtain a prompt settlement of the delinquent tax and excise accounts.
Very truly yours,
Assistant Chief of Bureau
WS :mdg cc: Town Clerk
87
INDEX
ACCOUNTANT
(1964 Financial Statements) . 28
ANIMAL CONTROL 11
ANIMAL INSPECTION 17
ASSESSORS
7
AUDITOR'S REPORT
88
BOARD OF APPEALS
5
BUILDING INSPECTION
12
CIVIL DEFENSE
11
COLLECTOR'S CASH ACCOUNT
6
DIRECTORY OF TOWN OFFICIALS
83
ELECTRICAL INSPECTION
11
ENGINEERING
14
FINANCE COMMITTEE
6
FIRE DEPARTMENT
11
HEALTH
16
HIGHWAYS
13
HOUSING AUTHORITY
25
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION
9
JURY LIST
(How Selected)
78
LANDFILL
15
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
1
LIBRARY
20
PARKS
13
PLANNING BOARD
8
POLICE DEPARTMENT
9
PUNCHARD FREE SCHOOL
86
RECREATION
22
RETIREMENT
27
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
2
SCHOOLS
·
18
SELECTMEN
5
SEWERS
14
SPRING GROVE CEMETERY
25
STREET LIGHTING
14
TAX COLLECTOR
7
TOWLE TRUST FUND
27
TOWN CLERK .
7
TOWN MANAGER
6
TOWN MEETING MINUTES
(How To Become a Voter)
47
TOWN TREASURER
8
TREES
13
VETERAN'S SERVICES .
18
WATER
24
WEIGHTS and MEASURES
11
WELFARE
17
88
4
3
5
2
1
11
10
9
-
6
IN GOD
8
7
f
WHERE THE MONEY WENT
1 GENERAL GOVERNMENT $ 160,997.10
2 PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
562,215.92
3 HEALTH AND SANITATION 55,079.26
4 HIGHWAYS 331,206.97
5 CHARITIES AND VETERANS SERVICES
157,200.40
6 SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
2,193,216.73
7 RECREATION AND UNCLASSIFIED
269,866.41
8 ENTERPRISE AND CEMETERIES
191,069.08
9 DEBT SERVICE
449,385.40
10 PAYMENTS TO STATE AND COUNTY
143,748.00
11 ALL OTHER 67,258.21
STATES S GELINA .MERICA HALF DOLLAR
0
a
THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE Town of Andover Annual Report 1965
WATCO NAY
O
IRCO.
M
Office Of The Town Manager
Town Hall, 20 Main Street March 1, 1966
To the Stockholders of Town of Andover, Inc.
THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE ... Have we met it; can we meet it; but perhaps most important of all, do we want to meet it successfully?
Our annual report cover suggests and hopefully with only the slightest bit of irreverence and license, a corporate symbol which indicates our ability to answer these questions with a loud and resounding "Yes". Our "20th Century Pilgrim" endeavors to describe us as members of a corporation which takes great pride in its three-hundred year heritage and at the same time a firm which is fully aware of the need for adjusting its thinking, its physical well-being, its every- day activity to meet the ever-increasing demands and challen- ges of our ever-changing times.
The words, figures and pictures which are found in this report by the officials and employees of the Town of Andover, Inc. represent an accounting by them of their stewardship of your affairs during the past year.
Their reports show it to have been a busy year; a year of change; a year of accomplishment; and yes, a year of some failures.
In the final analysis, however, the true measure of the value of 1965 corporate affairs will be your judgment of them as you examine this document. Your dividends, of necessity, must be in such intangible terms as satisfaction, contentment, trust, confidence and so many others.
It is our hope that after having reviewed our production in 1965 that you will take the time to give us your comments, suggestions and criticisms. Above all else, however, we in- vite you to join with us once again and with enthusiasm in meeting the exciting problems of the year ahead confident that together we can meet them with success.
Respectfully submitted, Anhand J. Bowen
Richard J. Bowen Town Manager
C Town of Andover 1966
RJB:rh
THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE
Annual Report of the Town of Andover for the 1965 Fiscal Year
Prepared by the Town Manager as directed by the Board of Selectmen Pursuant to the Provisions of Chapter 40, Section 49 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Inside Front Cover
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
2
THE YEAR AHEAD
4
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
5
STAFF AGENCIES
8
PUBLIC SAFETY
15
PUBLIC WORKS
SANITATION AND WASTE DISPOSAL
21 23 24
PUBLIC WELFARE
26
VETERAN'S SERVICES
26
SCHOOLS
28
LIBRARY
29
RECREATION
32
WATER
35
UNCLASSIFIED
39
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
41
TOWN MEETING MINUTES
63
JURY LIST
86
DIRECTORY OF TOWN OFFICIALS
90
INDEX
92
HOW WELL DID YOU READ YOUR TOWN REPORT?
Inside Back Cover
CREDITS
Photographs - ANDOVER TOWNSMAN ALBERT COLE
LAWRENCE EAGLE-TRIBUNE
RICHARD GRABER
Art Work
GRAPHICS
Printing
TOWN PRINTING
C Town of Andover, 1966
PUBLIC HEALTH
REVIEW OF YEAR
BOTH SIDES THE COIN
LAST YEAR TOWN MEETING
* APPROPRIATED $6,745,390.50 for services and projects for 1965.
* APPROVED the installation of a water line on Dascomb Road to service the new Allied Chemical facility.
* APPROVED $340,000 for an addition to and alteration of the Memorial Hall Library; $125,000 for construction of a new Public Works garage; $150,000 for construction of a new police station; and $125,000 for the plan- ning and construction of a new fire station in West Andover.
* ACCEPTED the recommendation of the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee to con- struct a new Town Hall and appropriated the sum of $550,000.
* AUTHORIZED the use of $400,000 in Free Cash in order to reduce the 1965 Tax Rate.
* INSTRUCTED the Board of Selectmen to file an application with the United States Housing and Home Finance Agency for an interest-free loan to plan the construction of an enclosed reservoir.
* OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED a resolu- tion favoring the presentation of an amendment to the State constitution which would grant home rule to Massachusetts municipalities.
LAST YEAR THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :
** HELD 24 regular and 3 special meetings.
* CONDUCTED 16 gravel removal hearings.
ESTABLISHED and participated in the first annual Founder's Day celebration on May 6, 1965.
** AUTHORIZED the establishment of a system employee awards to be given to Town employees for service to the Town of Andover.
* INITIATED AND COMPLETED successful steps which resulted in the improvement of the Town's fire insurance rating.
* PARTICIPATED in discussions with the City of Lawrence and the Towns of North Andover and Methuen on the abatement of pollution in the Merrimack River.
* SPONSORED in the 1965 Annual Town Meet- ing the Capital Expenditure proposals sub- sequently approved by the voters.
* CALLED two Special Town Meetings during the year, the most significant one having dealt with approval of the Fish Brook water project.
* AUTHORIZED after close consultation with and earmarking of funds by the Finance Com- mittee geological surveys to determine the availability of additional ground water supply.
* ADOPTED new regulations which forbid the opening of any Town street within two years of its having been improved.
* APPOINTED itself as the Town Rationing Board which would function in the event of a disaster.
* SUPPORTED the application of the City of Haverhill for the soon-to-be-selected site of a multi-million dollar atomic accelerator.
* APPROVED the creation of a Community Ac- tion Council to become elegible for programs under the Federal Anti-Poverty Program.
* PRESSED FOR property tax relief by the Great and General Court by letters to the Town's elected state representatives.
** ACCEPTED on behalf of the Town a Federal Advanced Public Works Planning Loan of $28,209 paid for the preparation of plans and specifications for the Bancroft Reservoir pro- ject.
** AUTHORIZED the Town Manager to execute a new three-year garbage collection contract.
2
* APPLIED FOR an interest-free Federal loan of $58,000 for the planning of a new twenty-four classroom elementary school in South Andover.
LAST YEAR TOWN DEPARTMENTS REPORT :
* PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION of new purchasing procedures including a de- tailed manual of purchasing requirements.
ADOPTION of new and more comprehensive personnel rules and regulations for Town em- ployees.
* RECEIPT OF First Prize in the 1964 Annual Report Contest sponsored by the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association.
* REGISTRATION of a total of 10,050 voters as of July 1.
* BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES total- ing 302, 179 and 178 respectively.
* PROPERTY ASSESSMENT for tax purposes of $107,328,200.
* TWENTY-FIVE court appearance on behalf of the Town by Town Counsel.
* COMPLETION by consultants of a revision of the Town's Comprehensive Plan paid for in part with the Federal "701" grant.
* SUBMISSION of 14 subdivisions containing 409 house lots of which 11 were approved con- taining 151 such lots.
* PLANTING of 115 shade and ornamental trees ; removal because of dutch elm disease of 76 trees.
* ISSUANCE of 572 building permits; 536 electrical permits.
* INSTALLATION of an electronic data pro- cessing system in the Accounting Department.
* INSPECTION by the Sealer of Weights and Measures of 6,418 pre-packaged items and 173 weighing devices.
** PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASE LOAD averag- ing 226 persons each month.
* WELFARE EXPENSES of $249,147.90.
** ASSISTANCE to 30 permanent and 81 vet- eran's cases.
* COMPLETION of the accelerated sewer project which resulted in the construction of approxim- ately 13 miles in sewer mains.
* ESTABLISHMENT by the School Committee of the position of Assistant Superintendent in charge of elementary education in place of the Curriculum Coordinator who resigned.
* INAUGURATION of an educational enrich- ment program for 5th and 6th graders in the public school system.
* TAX COLLECTIONS totaling $4,252,743.26.
* TOWN POPULATION as determined by the State Census of 20, 551.
* INSTALLATION of 65 new street lights.
* REACTIVATION of the Town Conservation Commission.
FIRE LOSSES of an estimated $155,800 with 1,916 service calls made by the Andover Fire Department.
** DELIVERY of a new 1,000 gallon-per-minute Class A diesel-powered fire pumper.
* MORE THAN 3,000 man-hours of volunteers time by Civil Defense personnel.
* POLICE COMPLAINTS totaling 3,143; 274 arrests; 389 motor vehicle accidents; 2 MV fatalities.
* START OF CONTRUCTION on the Memorial Hall Library Addition, Public Works Garage; Senior High School and the Fish Brook Water Project.
* HAGGETT'S POND dropping to 76.5 inches below full.
* LOCATION of a warehouse, laboratory and office by Allied Chemical Co.
* MORE THAN 850 million gallons of water pumped.
* PARKING METER revenue of $6,357.77.
* COMPLETION AND DEDICATION of the Sanborn Elementary School on Lovejoy Road.
* ESTABLISHMENT of a new and higher sched- ule of fees for Spring Grove Cemetery facilities.
* FIFTY MILES of Town streets treated with asphalt; construction of more than 200 feet of drainage.
* LIBRARY book collection of 50,443 volumes and 9,317 borrowers.
* ACCOMMODATION at the Andover Recrea- tion Park Lodge of more than 50 groups of people.
3
PLANS
* CONTINUED exploration for additional ground water supplies.
* COMPLETION OF the construction of the Public Works Garage and Memorial Hall Library Addition.
* INITIATION OF construction of West Andover Fire Station, Town Hall and Police Station.
* PROPERTY value equalization program upon approval of 1966 Annual Town Meeting.
* REVISION of building permit fees subject to Town Meeting approval and increase in water rates.
* PREPARATION of plans and specifications for new South Andover elementary school.
* CONTINUATION of construction of new senior high school.
* ACQUISITION of at least two school sites.
* FULL IMPLEMENTATION of electronic data processing program.
* ESTABLISHMENT of a Local Council on the Aging and a Local Council on Youth.
* DEVELOPMENT of plans for the abatement of polluting the Merrimack River with Town sewerage.
* INAUGURATION of a comprehensive equip- ment maintenance program including an equip- ment pool in order to realize full use of all Town-owned equipment.
* LAND ACQUISITION under a State matching program for conservation purposes.
* REVITALIZATION of Town parking meter program including more effective enforcement and meter maintenance.
* MORE AGGRESSIVE industrial development programs.
* FULL USE of all Federal grant-in-aid pro- grams for projects approved by the Town Meet- ing.
* TAX RELIEF by the Great and General Court.
* COMPLETION of the Fish Brook Water Pro- ject with an estimated safe daily yield of 1,000,000 gallons of water to be pumped into Haggetts Pond.
* A FULLY ACTIVE Community Action Council both locally and on a regional basis.
* BANCROFT RESERVOIR plans completed.
* ANOTHER successful Founder's Day.
*
*
*
*
*
*
These spaces reserved
for your plans . . .
4
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Board of Selectmen
Personnel
Expenditures Monthly Cost Per Person
Part-time 5 Plus Secretary $3,589.00
1 1/2 ¢
It would indeed be an understatement to sug- gest that the year was a busy and eventful one for the Board. Town business required that the Board of Selectmen in 1965 meet formally at 24 regular and 3 special sessions. As the Town's Licensing Authority, the Board granted the usual alcholic beverages licenses and because of the increase in population shown in the 1965 State Census, granted an additional license. The Board also held one disciplinary hearing as the result of a complaint by the State Alcholic Beverages Con- trol Commission of the sale of liquor to a minor which resulted in the licensee having his license suspended for three days.
The Board also held 16 hearings in connection with requests for permits to remove gravel of which 14 were granted and 2 denied.
In some respects, these constituted the rou- tine business of the Board of Selectmen. Perhaps one of the more far reaching problems faced and solved successfully in 1965 was that relating to the Town's Fire Insurance Rating. In September of 1964, it appeared that the Town was faced with a prohibitively expensive program of fire fighting defense improvements which, if .left undone, would have resulted in the Town's fire insurance rating being dropped from B-5 to C-5. On first glance, it seemed that the expense far outweighed the benefits if this new schedule was to be avoid- ed. The Board of Selectmen, however, took the position that its first responsibility was to insure the safety of the Town, its residents and property and, second, to be concerned about a perhaps somewhat arbitrary insurance rating which would cause a slight increase in home fire insurance costs.
A careful review and analysis of the rating survey report was undertaken and a program de- veloped which met many of the major recommen- dations and which resulted in the elimination of a sufficient number of penalty points so as to at least retain our previous rating. Most of these items were taken care of without substantial
dollar outlays or simply through doing things in a slightly different order of priority. They all, nevertheless, required the positive application of the Board, Town departments and the Town Meeting to the task of doing what needed to be done. Homeowners will not be penalized and spe- cifically rated properties - business and industry - will receive reduced rates. Where a year ago the Town was faced with a penalty rating because of deficiencies in our fire fighting defenses, the Town can boast today of a timely and well- earned improvement from B-5 to B-4.
Another and heartwarming highlight of 1965 was the celebration of Founder's Day on May 6th. The Board of Selectmen, with the Andover Chamber of Commerce, honored 141 town employ- ees at a dinner attended by more than 300 people. Jeweled pins were given to employees who had been with the Twon ten or more years. Total ser- vice of these dedicated public servants was in excess of 2,400 years. The "Employee of the Year," Walter Baker, was especially honored. The Chamber of Commerce gave to the Town a plaque on which will be engraved the names of the respec- tive "Employee of the Year".
In view of the untimely passing of William W. Rhoads who was the real spark plug in this first annual Founder's Day, the Board of Select- men have established the "William W. Rhoads Memorial Award" which will be given to the "Town Employee of the Year" annually. It is a fitting though perhaps very humble tribute to a very energetic and service-conscious man.
During the year, the Board was called upon by the State Department of Health to involve it- self in discussions with the City of Lawrence and the Towns of Methuen and North Andover on the matter of the abatement of pollution of the Merri- mack River. Each of these municipalities, along with Andover, uses the river as the dumping ground for sewerage. A sub-committee was ap- pointed consisting of the Town Manager and Sel- ectman Robert A. Watters to meet with represen- tatives of these other communities to consider the possibility of a regional abatement program. In- itial estimates indicate that the total cost of such a project would exceed Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.) with the Town of Andover's share of capital costs approximately Two Million ($2,000,000.) The Town's annual obligation for
5
operating expenses would approximate $80,000.00 The Board recognizes this matter of pollution to be a serious one and one which demands the full force of energy and imagination of the Town in arriving at a satisfactory solution. It is not a prob- lem, however, which can be solved in haste. It is expected that consultations with the Town's neighbors will continue for some months and, upon their completion, a full report will be ren- dered to the Town for such action as may be ap- propriate.
Two significant projects were sponsored by the Board in order to alleviate the serious water shortage brought to a peak in 1965. The Board called a Special Town Meeting to consider and subsequently approve the so-called Fish Brook project. In addition and in consultation with the Finance Committee, funds were allocated for geographical surveys in the hope of finding addi- tional and suitable ground water supply. Both of these projects are in progress and should be completed by Spring of 1966. With any mea- sure of success, they promise to help solve our water problems both immediately and in the future.
The Board also in 1965 conducted a hearing under the so-called Hatch Act on the application of a subdivider to fill a portion of the Fish Brook flood plain area. In the knowledge that such work could affect adversely a major source of water for the Town, the Board voted to disapprove the application.
In an effort to avoid the costly problems from utility companies opening recently improved town streets, the Board also adopted regulations which would prevent street openings for a period of two years after the improvement of a given town roadway.
Perhaps one of the most perplexing problems faced by the Board of Selectmen during the past year was the selection of a site for the construc- tion of the Town Hall approved at the 1965 an- nual Town Meeting. The Board is, was and re- mains acutely conscious of its critical responsi- bility in deciding on the location of this impor- tant Town facility. It is safe to say that there is no one site in the Town which does not raise problems of one sort or another and it is equally safe to conclude that all points of view will not be satisfied. However, with the selection of an ar- chitect, it appears quite likely that a firm deci- sion will be made by the Selectmen in order that work may go forward on this much needed im- provement during 1966.
Other significant actions of the Board dur-
USET
Walter Baker, Employee-of-the-year.
ing the past year included the perambulation of the bounds of the Town with officials from Law- rence, Methuen, North Andover, Tewksbury and Wilmington; the establishment of a Rationing Board to function in the event of a local or na- tional emergency; the supporting of the applica- tion of the City of Haverhill for an atomic accel- erator facility to be established by the United States Atomic Energy Commission; approval of the creation of a Community Action Council in or- der to take advantage of the Federal Anti-Poverty Program; and a continuous effort at keeping the Town's State Representatives appraised of the lleed by Andover and other Massachusetts mun- icipalities for property tax relief.
Two additional significant actions were taken by the Board which involved the meeting of some of the long range requirements of the Town. The Board approved the filing of an ap- plication with the United States Housing and Home Finance Agency for an interest free loan of $58,000.00 in order to plan the construction of a 24-classroom elementary school in South An- dover. The Board also accepted a Federal loan un- der the same program of $28,209.00 which is being used for the preparation of engineering plans to construct an enclosed reservoir which would replace the present open Bancroft Reser- voir.
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