USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1963-1969 > Part 44
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Article 3 was not acted upon on advice of Town Counsel, Fredric S. O'Brien. Sec- tion 7 of Article II of the Town By-Laws prohibits consideration in any special town meeting of the appropriation of funds if not approved by the Finance Committee. This article was disapproved by the Finance Committee.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to acquire by purchase, by gift or by seizure by right of eminent domain, the fee in a piece of land comprising 23.5 acres, more or less, shown as lot number 11 on page 62 of the Assessors' maps, said land supposed to be owned by Cottage Farm Incorporated, said land also to be combined with adjacent land already owned by the Town and the total combination to be used as a school site for the construction of a public school; and the sum of $25,000 be transferred from presently available, previously appropri- ated, land acquisition funds, or other available funds. On petition of R. Wayne Long and others.
Article 4 was not acted upon on advice of Town Counsel Fredric S. O'Brien. Sec- tion 7 of Article II of the Town By-Laws prohibits consideration in any special town meeting of the appropriation of funds if not approved by the Finance Committee. This article was disapproved by the Finance Committee.
ARTICLE 5. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meet- ing.
Upon motion duly seconded, it was VOTED to adjourn at 10:15 P. M.
The foregoing is a true record of the doings of the meeting:
ATTEST:
IRVING O. PIPER Town Clerk
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Andover Annual Report 1967
YMOJ
PORATED MAY VER
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ASSACHUSETTO
Office Of The Town Manager
Town Hall, 20 Main Street
March 1, 1968
To the Citizens of Andover:
The preparation and presentation of an annual report are frequently taxing chores. To try with success to present the report in an attractive, inviting or readable form and one that, hopefully, changes from one year to the next, tends to become increasingly difficult to do. There is the temptation in doing so to be more concerned with the winning of a prize than perhaps the winning of the attention of those who are really interested in the conduct of the affairs of town government.
This year, the Town Report, in a very superficial way, is an attempt at presenting to you the Town and its government "AS CHILDREN SEE US". There is a simplicity of truth in the eyes of children. After each of us has had time to see and to reflect upon the pictures, drawings and comments of children in the elementary grades of the Andover school system, perhaps we will have a better understanding and keener appreciation of our community and how it is run.
It has been a pleasure to prepare the 1967 report because of the involvement of these children. Many of us will undoubtedly enjoy their efforts. You are invited to look beyond them, however, and to examine your Town government and to comment on its conduct since, as public officials, each of us must be con- cerned in the final analysis of how you, the citizens and taxpayers of Andover, see us.
Respectfully submitted, Anhand 8. Bowen
Richard J. Bowen Town Manager
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as Children See Us
annual Report of the Town of andover, Massachusetts 1967
Table Contents
Letter of Transmittal, Public Welfare -. - 45 Town manager -- - Tour Veterana Services) - 46 Review of the year __ 2 Schools. -47 Letter of Transmittal, Library- 53 Board of Selectmen- 4 Recreation) 58 General Government-5 Water 62 Staff agencies. -11 Spring Grove Cemetery-65 Public Safety Financial Statements 105 26 Public Works -36 Jury List. -67
Sanitation and Town Meeting Minutes? Waste Disposal. - -40 Directory of
Public Health -43 Town Officials_ -29 a Dictionary of Town Hovernment 133
Credito
Photographs - Richard Araber, albert Cole, John Murray art Work - andover Elementary School Children Printing-Town Printing, andover
Composition)-Graphics of andover
Review of The Year
TOWN MEETING :
* CONVENED for one (1) regular and two (2) special sessions.
* FAILED to attract a quorum at one meeting which necessitated adjournment to one week later at which a quorum (350 or more voters) was present.
* APPROVED total spending of $11,300,866 with more than $6.5 Million to be raised by taxation.
* VOTED to use $650,547 in Free Cash to reduce the 1967 tax rate.
* AUTHORIZED the combining of the central fire station and police station projects into a single public safety center.
* INVESTED $1 Million in the Lowell Junction Industrial Area by approving roadway, water and sewer extensions to benefit initially the Gillette Safety Razor Company's new $5 Mil- lion manufacturing facility.
* APPROPRIATED funds in the amount of $1.8 Million for the construction of new Bancroft Elementary School and $80,000 for architec- tural services for the planning of the addition to the West Elementary School.
* DISAPPROVED funds for the renovating and remodeling of the East Junior High School estimated to cost upwards of $2 Million.
* DIRECTED that a study be made by the Board of Selectmen on the advisability of having twice- yearly town meetings.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
* HELD twenty-four (24) regular and twelve (12) special meetings.
* VOTED to remove all on-street parking meters as an improvement in the downtown business area.
* SUPPORTED continuation of efforts to organize a regional pollution abatement district with its neighboring municipalities.
* ACQUIRED the so-called "electronic" voting machines for Town elections.
* SOUGHT additional school sites at the special town meetings but failed to obtain necessary Finance Committee approvals.
* APPOINTED school construction cost study committee at request of School Committee.
* RECEIVED report of above committee which showed Bancroft Elementary School costs to be in keeping with comparable recent construc- tion cost experience in other Massachusetts communities.
* REQUESTED that the Greater Lawrence YMCA study the feasibility of establishing a a family "Y" in the Town of Andover.
* DESIGNATED Ruth T. Hitchings as Employee-of-the-year and recipient of William H. Rhoads. Memorial Award.
TOWN DEPARTMENTS REPORT:
* REMOVAL of water use restriction originally imposed in 1965.
* RECEIPT of awards from Massachusetts Selectmen's Association and New England Council and New England Municipal Finance Association for 1966 Town Report.
* INITIATION of collective bargaining negotia- tions with unions representing Public Works and Fire Department employees.
* SIGNING of first collective bargaining agree- ment with public works union.
* TRANSFERS of $25,000 from the Reserve Fund to cover unanticipated town expenses during the course of the year of which $16,250 was actually expended.
* COLLECTIONS of $4,811,239 in real and per- sonal property taxes.
** SALE of $4,130,000 in general obligation bonds at 4.10% interest.
* COMPLETION of property equalization pro- gram for tax assessment purposes.
* ESTABLISHMENT of $25.00 per $1,000 as- sessed valuation tax rate, a reduction of $8.00 over 1966.
* TAX EXEMPT property valued at more than $45 Million and comprising 3,288.10 acres of land.
* SETTLEMENT of twenty-seven (27) of a total of fifty (50) court cases against the Town of Andover.
* RECORDING of 270 births, 160 deaths and 202 marriages by the Town Clerk.
* REGISTRATION of 10,594 voters.
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* APPROVAL of nine (9) residential subdivi- sion plans containing 192 house lots.
* AWARDING of Bancroft Elementary School construction contract of $1,612,662.00.
* NEAR completion of new Andover Senior High School, project having started in 1963.
* IMMINENT ACQUISITION of so-called Foster and Essex Sand and Gravel Company properties at Pomps Pond for conservation purposes.
* ACQUISITION of 140 acres of land by Gillette Safety Razor Company in Lowell Junction for :
* CONSTRUCTION or start of construction of $5 Million Gillette manufacturing facility.
* HEARING of thirty-seven (37) zoning by- law appeals cases.
* ADDITION of six (6) police patrolmen.
* POLICE COMPLAINTS totaling 3,655 with
* 288 LARCENIES and 94 BREAKING AND ENTERINGS.
531 persons prosecuted for law violations.
* 3,496 PARKING VIOLATIONS.
* 4 MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES, 251 PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENTS.
* FIRE SERVICE CALLS totalling 1,919.
* FIRE LOSSES approximating $196,500 of property valued at $5 Million.
* 786 AMBULANCE CALLS and ONE (1) FIRE FATALITY.
* MORE THAN 3,000 Civil Defense volunteer hours.
*
57 DOGS returned to owners of 108 picked up.
* ISSUANCE of 475 electrical permits.
* INSPECTION of 188 weighing and measuring devices.
* VALUE of building permits issued -
$12,023,044 comprising 154 new sturctures and 273 additions or alterations.
* TARRING of some forty-seven (47) miles of town roadways and installation of 1,680 feet of drainage pipes.
* CLEARING of 64.5 inches of snow during the winter months.
* REMOVAL of 164 diseased trees.
* PLANTING of 202 shade and ornamental trees including 32 in the downtown business area with financial participation of private individ- uals and businesses.
* ACCEPTANCE of 5,200 feet in new sewer lines from subdividers.
* EMPLOYMENT of part-time public health nurse.
* VISION SCREENING of 194 children as part of public health program.
* MORE THAN 2,000 veteran inquiries.
* ' SCHOOL ENROLLMENT of 5,286 pupils at- tended by 343 teachers.
* RETIREMENT of Miriam Putnam, Town Librarian for more than twenty-five (25) years and appointment of A. James Anderson as her successor.
** 12,525 REGISTERED LIBRARY BOR- ROWERS.
* COMPLETION of West Andover water loop comprising some four (4) miles of water mains.
** DELAY in construction of sorely-needed addi- tional Housing for the Elderly units.
* LOWEST water consumption since 1959.
* ADDITION to the town water system of 18,046 feet of water mains for new subdivi- sions.
3
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6. 1046
SSACHUSETTS
TOWN OF ANDOVER MASSACHUSETTS 01810
March 1, 1968
Town Hall
20 Main Street
To the Citizens of Andover:
This, the Annual Report of the Town of Andover for 1967, is an extremely important document and should be studied thoroughly by every taxpayer .
For, in it are all the sometimes unwelcome facts of life con- cerning the financial state of our Town. The tax base is a sound one, but we are growing and inevitably our expenses are rising and will continue to rise in the coming year as will our tax rate.
But, we take pride in our institutions and demand, rightfully, the kind of services we get from our departments and are willing to pay for them.
This year, 1967, however, makes the first real breakthrough in our financial plans for the future. The decision by the Gillette Company to move to Andover, without doubt, creates a substantial industrial tax revenue increase which will then tend to stabilize our tax rate.
We can all be proud that Andover is considered by one of the most prominent industries in the United States to be a prime area in which to do business.
This augurs well for Andover whose historic past is really a pro- logue for its future.
Sincerely yours, BOARD OF SELECTMEN Jeilio K. allen Philip K. Allen, Chairman
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General DE Government
Town Meeting
Andover's Town Meeting convened three times during 1967, the first time for its regular session in March and again in August and November to consider special items. Combined spending of some $11,300,866. was authorized by the voters of the Town with some $6,888,166. to be raised by taxation, the balance to come from the sale of bonds or from available funds. The following ap- proved projects were of special significance at the regular March Meeting :
1. Construction of a Six Million Gallon Dis- tribution Reservoir off Bancroft Road. This pro- ject is part of the Town's overall or Master Water Plan and on completion will serve to increase markedly fire flow for the business areas of the Town as well as the residential sections bordering them.
2. Acting upon the favorable recommenda- tions of the Conservation Commission, Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen, the sum of $250,000.00 was appropriated for the acquisition of land for conservation purposes. Included among these acquisitions was land around Pomps Pond, Fish Brook and Hussey's Pond. This action re- presented the first time in the Town's 321-year
history that a concerted effort was being made to preserve the essentially rural character of the Town.
3. Construction of a combined central Police and Fire Station was also authorized instead of two separate buildings as had been voted pre- viously. Acting upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen, approval was given to acquire the so-called Tyer Rubber property as the site for this facility. Realization of this project will represent the big- gest single step made by the Town of Andover in its modern history to provide adequate public safety facilities.
4. Approval was also given to the spending of $1,000. for the planting of trees along Main Street in downtown Andover on the condition that matching funds would be raised by private subscription.
5. "Teeth" were put into the Town Zoning By-Law in terms of providing penalties for viola- tion of the By-Law. Previously, violations could be handled only through civil action which was a laborious and often ineffective method of en- forcement.
6. By a secret ballot of 528 to 119, the voters of the Town approved the admitting of ten boys from other communities in the United States into the Andover Public School System. Known as the A.B.C. (A Better Chance Program) and support- ed by private funds, it offers to selected under- privileged boys the opportunity to obtain a better education than would otherwise be possible in their home communities. The boys live in a
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dormitory home under the supervision of a family and are, in every way, part of the community.
At the special meeting of August 21st, the Town voted the sum of $1,000,000. for roadway, water and sewer improvements to the Lowell Junction Industrial Areas. This sum was approved with the understanding that the Gillette Safety Razor Company would construct a $5 Million manufacturing facility. It can be said with justi- fication that this represents an investment in the future of economical development of the Town of Andover. It is expected that Gillette will provide approximately $125,000. a year in taxes to the Town with the Town's investment to cost ap- proximately $75,000. a year or a net annual re- turn to the Town of some $50,000. It is also safe to assume that, with the improvements under- taken for Gillette, the remaining five to six hundred acres of land in this industrial area will develop also and, presumably, at no cost to the Town. Construction of the Bancroft Elementary School at a cost of $1.8 Million Dollars was also voted. An additional $200,000.00 was provided for the completion of the Andover Senior High School and some $80,000.00 appropriated to ob- tain the services of an architect for the prepara- tion of plans and specifications for an addition to the West Elementary School.
For the first time in many years, a quorum (350 or more voters) failed at the November 13th Special Town Meeting. Because of this, the meet- ing was adjourned to one week later, when a quorum was present. Significant decisions made at this meeting included the rejection of an ex- tensive remodelling of the Andover Junior High School estimated to cost some $2 Million. Instead,
the Town Meeting voted to have a study com- mittee look into the matter of the condition of the Junior High School and to report its findings to the Board of Selectmen in Janury of 1968. Funds were also voted to undertake the second stage of Rogers Brook. The Town Meeting also gave its stamp of approval to the submission of an application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for a loan to prepare plans and specifications for a water filtration plant to be constructed at Haggetts Pond. The acquisition of some 17 acres of land adjacent to the West Elementary School was also authorized.
The most interesting and provocative thing approved by any of the three meetings was that which instructed the Board of Selectmen to look into the matter of having two Town Meetings annually - the regular meeting in March and a regular special meeting in the early Fall. The reason behind this action was to minimize the need for the calling of special meetings which have occurred with increasing frequency over the last several years. It also tends to recognize that the business of the Town has become complex and varied and, therefore, requiring more frequent Town Meeting approval.
It should be noted that the Town Meeting is the Town's legislative body and is equivalent in every way excepting size to a city council, state legislature or the United States Congress. It has become difficult, if at all possible, to anticipate all matters for a single regular Town Meeting. The Selectmen will report to the 1968 annual Town Meeting on their findings and recommen- dations.
The Town Meeting is accepting our road. I am glad. It has to be swept and tarred. We payed a hundred dollars for it. Others payed a million .
When my father got home from the town meeting he said that they decided to build aroad beside our house.
My Father goes to lots of town meetings.
The Town meeting is when people talk together.
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Daniel Koch
Debbie Westaway
Finance Committee
The financial "watchdog" of the Town of Andover continued in 1967 to subject Town spending to careful and close scrutiny. Its recom- mendations on the 1967 Budget were followed by the Annual Town Meeting with only one excep- tion. This was the addition of five (5) patrolmen to the Police Department as sought by the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager rather than three (3) as recommended by the FinCom.
Its batting average was equally as good at the two(2) special meetings with the Town re- jecting only a single one of its recommendations- the $2 Million remodeling of the Junior High School. Even this was not a loss since the Com- mittee has agreed to permit the article to come before the Town Meeting upon request of the Andover School Committee.
Since a Town by-law prohibits consideration of a "money" article at a special town meeting unless approved by the Finance Committee, the efforts of the Selectmen to obtain two (2) school sites were thwarted. Acquisition of the Andover Playhouse property also suffered the same fate.
The Finance Committee's counsel was sought by the Town Manager on the Bancroft Elementary School as well as the Junior High proposal. The Selectmen also conferred with the Committee on no less than two (2) occasions on industrial development matters including the Gillette Safety Razor Company.
Approval was given by the Fin/Com to Re- serve Fund transfers totaling $25,000.00 to meet unanticipated town expenses during the year. These included snow removal ($2,800.00), elec- tions ($900), Sewer Department emergency re- pairs ($3,480), library loan ($4,000) legal expenses ($1,000.00), land damage settlements ($1,833.00) and for other items which were not
foreseen at the time of budget preparation in March. Some $8,750.00 was returned to the Town treasury since it was not actually used by the several Town departments.
Finance Committee members were appointed for the first time in 1967 to staggered three-year terms of office to conform to a new Town by-law which became effective in 1967.
Board of
Selectman
The Board of Selectmen met during 1967 some thirty-six (36) times averaging some three meetings a month at which business was trans- acted. In addition, the Board met on innumerable occasions in informal session to discuss pressing town problems including the 1967 budget and the Articles presented at the three Town Meetings.
The most demanding and perplexing problem considered by the Board in 1967 was that of developing a pollution abatement program for the Town of Andover as directed by the Com- monwealth's Department of Natural Resources. In accordance with "clean waters" legislation enacted by both the State and Federal govern- ments, the Town is required to stop the dumping of sewerage into the Merrimack River. The Board supported consistently and vigorously the form- ation of a regional district to include Andover,
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1967 William Rhoads Memorial Award To Ruth T. Hitchings By Philip K. Allen, Chairman, Board Of Selectmen
North Andover, Methuen and the City of Law- rence. More than $1 Million in capital costs stand to be saved by Andover alone by attacking this problem on a regional basis. Although 1967 did not see a resolving of a problem which has been under consideration since 1965, it appeared that the communities were close to agreement at the end of 1967. In the meantime, the Board gave assurances to the State that a positive program to treat Town sewerage would begin in 1968 even to the point, if necessary, of "going it alone."
Another significant action of the Board in 1967 was its decision to remove all on-street parking meters. It began as an experiment in 1966 to determine its effect on the downtown business area. In the knowledge, based upon this experi- ence, that parking did, in fact, improve to the benefit of shoppers and shopkeepers alike, all meters were removed in the Spring of 1967.
Considerable time was given by the Board to the matter of combining the Police and Fire Sta- tions into a single Public Safety Center. After extensive negotiations, the Board voted to acquire the Tyer Rubber Property on North Main Street from C. Lincoln Giles at a cost of $177,000.00 Demolition of the building on the site was com- pleted at a cost of $16,400.00 As this project pro- gressed, it became increasingly apparent that, in view of the site and the space requirements of the Police, Fire and Civil Defense Departments and the quality of construction desired, the $500,000.00 available for the construction of the building would not be sufficient to promise delivery of an appropriate building includ- ing furnishings and equipment. The Board au- thorized work to proceed on the preparation of plans and specifications in order that bids could be taken on the project prior to the 1968 Town Meeting. Should these bids show the need for additional funds, the request will be made in March of 1968.
Recreation, particularly in terms of a recreation center, was also a significant concern of the Board during the past year. After receipt of a study report by a citizens' committee ap- pointed by the Town Manager to determine the extent of need for a Recreation Center and whe- ther it should be public or privately operated and funded, the Board voted unanimously to request the Greater Lawrence Y.M.C.A. to study the feas- ibility of establishing a family "Y" in Andover. The Board is much concerned over the problems created by the absence of such a facility. It is expected that the Y.M.C.A. will complete its study within a year or so in order that some facility may be made available within two or three years.
With the droughts of 1964, 1965 and 1966 fresh in mind, the Board supported the filing of an application with the United States Depart- ment of Housing and Urban Development for a planning loan to design a water filtration plant. This is a project which is included in the Town's Master Water Plan. It had been thought that such a plant was some time off. However, with the loss of two of the Ballardvale wells, the continued sediment and discoloration in the Town's water system, and probable increases in water demand a filtration plant may be needed within the next five years. The cost of this facility which is to be constructed at Haggetts Pond would exceed $2 Million.
Ricky A. CLendaniel
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One hearing was conducted by the Board during 1967 under the so-called "Hatch Act." The Board recommended approval of the granting of a permit by the Department of Natural Resources to the J. C. Ryan Construction Company for a subdivision planned between Greenwood Road and Lowell Street. The Board's approval was con- ditioned upon the applicant not disturbing any of the ground along Fish Brook. The developer agreed, as did the State.
The several members of the Board took an active interest in the Merrimack Valley Select- men's Association. This organization was found- ed during the past year in order to provide Selectmen in the several towns in the Merrimack Valley Region the opportunity to sit down and discuss common problems.
Active support was given by the Board to the adoption of so-called "electronic" voting which was ultimately approved by the State Legislature. It is anticipated that the voting de- vices will be used in Andover in 1968. Support was also given to legislation before the General Court to return the control of billboards to the local level rather than keeping it in the hands of the State where considerably more pressure may be exerted on behalf of the billboard industry. Unfortunately, the legislation was lost, although it appears quite likely that 1968 will see it being reintroduced.
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