USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1963-1969 > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
The Department operates from three stations - Central, Ballardvale and West Andover. Its
99
fifty-one men use six pieces of firefighting equip- ment.
Quarterly inspections of nursing homes, hos- pitals and inns, as required by State statutes, were conducted and the necessary reports filed with the proper authorities. Public and private school fire drills and inspections required by the law were conducted. Mercantile, industrial, church, garage and service stations were inspected and reports filed. Findings and recommendations
were sent to owners and/or occupants of dwelling houses of three or more apartments.
In-service inspections were conducted from all stations using a radio-controlled fire truck and full complement of firefighters.
As in past years, the major cause of fires was carelessness, the use of smoking materials, chil- dren and matches, and faulty electrical appliances and wiring.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES
YEAR
1967
1966
1965
1964
1963
Service Calls
1,919
1,806
1,916
1,879
1,868
Fires
382
420
448
466
464
False Alarms
21
21
17
6
8
Mutual Aid Calls
19
7
18
8
9
Approximate Assessed
Value of Buildings
Where Fire Occurred
$5,000,000
$2,008, 815
$2,208,931
$2,902,075
$2,332,695
Approximate Loss From Fire
$196,500
$91,344
$155,800
$180,650
$160,240
Ambulance Calls
786
740
725
725
797
Non-residents Billed
for Ambulance Service
131
99
85
80
81
Open Air Fire Permits Issued
2,278
2,775
2,506
2,800
4,700
Open Air Burining Violations
46
40
66
33
68
Fuel Oil Heat
Installation Permits
84
153
144
146
257
Explosive Use Permits
31
19
40
38
44
Building Inspections
955
1,257
1,183
714
476
Fire Drills
95
118
120
92
88
Fatalities from Fire
1
0
2
0
0
30
What if there were no fireman? Our town would be burned dow, if there were a fire.
The Fireman took me in the amubince to the Hospital when 1 burt. was
The fierman helped get my 1. Brother and Cat Out of a tree.
I am going to be a fire man like my Father.
The fireman helps us if our house is on
fire. If your brother is in the house the
fireman goes in and get's the boy out.
31
Civil D etense
The usual monthly State meetings were held at the Lawrence Court House and Area One head- quarters in Tewksbury.
The R.A.C.E.S. (Communications Group) met, as in the past, on Monday night at eight o'clock, much to the displeasure of some channel two viewers. Apologies are in order for this prob- lem. However, until channel 2 puts out more pow- er or C.D. assigned a different frequency, this will continue to be a problem.
The Axuiliary Police, as in the past, had their monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month. Also, this year it was possible to replace foul weather gear which is over ten years old.
The above groups, as in the past, were avail- able for different details such as halloween, churches, etc.
The whole volunteer group put in some 3000 hours in training and use in the past year. Cer- tainly, Civil Defense volunteers deserve a "Well Done" and a vote of thanks from all of us.
The emphasis on the state and federal level is still on shelter. The town is well stocked as far as the present population. However, a plan for the use of the available shelters is not complete. A group from the state has been assigned to help each community form a plan sometime in the future.
Each year it is necessary to make out a pro- gram paper which in turn has to be accepted by the state and federal government. Once this is done, the town becomes eligible for surplus prop- erty and some types of matching funds. The paper was sent in July and was accepted shortly there- after. Andover has had ten (10) surplus dates at Taunton this year. The pickings were rather thin.
Volunteers are still needed in the following areas: Medical Self-help, Radiological Monitor- ing, Shelter Management and Rescue. If any one is interested, please contact the C.D. Director.
Incidentally, the Director was able to spend forty-eight hours in a simulated shelter condition. It was quite an experience. There were four peo- ple from Andover along with him in this exercise.
Animal Control
DOG OFFICER'S REPORT
(April through December)
Lost Dogs 140
Dogs picked up 108
Dogs returned to owners 57
Dogs diposed of
8
Dogs ordered restrained
13
Dog complaints
100
Dogs sold
17
Dogs sent to Harvard
27
Dead dogs removed
9
Money turned in to Town Treasurer for
dogs sold $51.00
Owners contacted for having unlicensed dogs 247
AnAnimalcontrol putanimals asleep and gets them spayed so they don't get bab les.
One day my cat got bit by a dog. We brought him to the animal control
Animal Control It meanstome If I had. hurt animal they would fixmyanimal.
Room 9 South School
92
١
Electrical
Inspection
During the year 1967 there were 475 elec- trical permits issued and categorized as follows :
130 New Structures
140 Oil Burners
122 Temporary Services
83 Remodeling
475
Total fees turned over to the Town Treasurer were $2,335.00. The Electrical Inspector's posi- tion is part-time
Weights and Measures
During 1967 your Sealer was asked many appropriate questions dealing with consumer Weights and Measures problems. The questions presented were very timely and unquestionably the result of publication of news and facts con- cerning the enactment of a "Truth in Packaging" bill. Little has been changed since the packaging bill was approved almost unanimously by Con- gress. The bill, as passed, was meant to encourage self-regulation by the packaging industry.
A common complaint deals with the admis- sion by the consumer of being unable to make in- telligent price comparisons without a computer. The complaint is well founded. A recent local Super Market survey disclosed that laundry de- tergent is being offered in twenty different quan- tities. In reviewing a similar survey made in 1965, figures reveal that the number of laundry deter- gent packages being offered today has declined from a total number of twenty-nine of three years ago. Progress is evident, but it can honestly be
said that undue "proliferation" still exists in laundry detergent and many other packaged con- sumer items.
Disappearance of the glass milk bottle and appearance of the fibre milk carton is responsible for a new consumer concern. Since fibre milk cartons are never filled to the top, or so-called "slack-filled", how can the consumer be assured of receiving full measure? All milk cartons are filled at the various dairies in terms of gross weight, with various carton weights determined from the basis of one gallon of fluid milk weigh- ing an exact eight and six-tenths (8.6) pounds. A one quart carton properly filled weighs two pounds and three ounces. A one-half gallon carton weighs four pounds and seven ounces, while a gal- lon carton must weight a minimum of eight pounds and fourteen ounces. Scales are accessible in most Andover markets permitting the consum- er to checks the carton weight for compliance. A one-half pint carton of cream (light or heavy) must weigh nine (9) ounces.
Much confusion has been expressed in regard to the form of weight declaration placed upon packages of prepacked meats, poultry and fish. The new hundredth system has replaced the orig- nal ounce and fractions of an ounce system for increased accurcy and elimination of both "over and undercharging". While the hundredth system initially appears to be confusing to the ounce ori- entated mind, once explained, all fears, confusion and misunderstanding disappear. Use of the ounce system permits the pound to be divided into a maximum of sixty-four parts by dividing each ounce into quarters. Conversely, the re- placement system divides the pound into one hundred parts. The new system should be com- pared with our coinage currency system for im- mediate comprehension. Fifty cents (50¢) equals one-half dollar, while .50 pound equals one-half pound. Seventy-five cents (75¢) equals three- quarters (3/4) of a dollar while .75 pound equals three-quarters of a pound. A weight marking of 1.33 pounds is the equivalent of one and one-third pounds. The most valuable "plus" factor of the hundredth system is immediately realized by the consumer when an attempt is made to check the accuracy of the printed package price. It is un- necessary to obtain the cost per ounce of product as is necessary in the ounce system, if the total price quotation is to be verified. All packages of meats, poultry and fish are required to display clearly : weight quantity, price per pound, total price of package.
33
A package weighing 1.33 pounds, priced at $1.00 per pound, has a sales price of marking of $1.33. Price may be readily checked by multiply- ing weight amount figure of 1.33 by the price per pound figure of $1.00. 1.33 x $1.00 equals $1.33. The same package with a price per pound of fifty cents (50¢) would be priced properly in accord- ance with result obtained by multiplying 1.33 x (50¢) for a figure of 661% cents. A 20.91 pound turkey priced at (47¢) per pound should carry a sales price of 20.91 multiplied by $.47 for a total price of $9.83. In the interest of rapid and ap- proximate calculation, a consumer should "round- off" the 20.91 pound turkey weight to an even 21 pounds and replace the 47¢ per pound price with a 50¢ figure enabling the shopper to mentally multiply 21 x 50. The "rough" estimate of $10.50 quickly proves that the $9.83 sales price is not an inflated figure. A rapid calculation should be made of each purchase. Tourists can be easily victimized by seasonally operated markets throughout the country. It is also possible for the electronic computer to malfunction in either di- rection.
Progressive legislation was enacted in Mas- sachusetts during 1967 further regulating the is- suance of certificates in connection with the de- livery of fuel oil. Such certificate shall include the names and addresses of the seller and of the pur- chaser, which shall be recorded on the certificate prior to delivery of the fuel oil, and a statement of the quantity of oil delivered in terms of gallons and fractions, if any, and the price per gallon. Such certificate shall be serially numbered for the purpose of identification. The certificate must be issued and delivered to the purchaser or his agent at the time of delivery of such oil. Any Andover resident failing to receive a delivery slip per above regulation at the time of delivery should contact this Department.
The seemingly unimportant subject covering the personal clinical thermometer must be ex- plained and discussed in this report. All Andover pharmacies were inspected for compliance prior to the flu epidemic of the first of this year. Mass- achusetts laws require that all clinical thermome- ters sold or offered for sale must be submitted to the Director of Weights and Measures for tests unless they have been sealed by the manufacturer under authority of Massachusetts Weights and Measures Director. Co-operation between phar- macies and your Sealer is necessary for the en- forcement of this requirement and the resultant
protection against erroneous diagnoses of disease through the use of inaccurate instruments for de- termining temperature. While many approved type clinical thermometers are offered for sale at sharply reduced and inexpensive prices, numerous "bootleg" thermometers find their way into the nation's marketplace each year at all price levels. Cost is no assurance of quality or accuracy. Your local Sealer maintains a continuing inspection of all clinical thermometers offered for sale in Andover.
Many questions were received regarding vari- ous phases of motor fuel purchases made through- out the country. When purchasing gasoline, al- ways observe gallon and price computer indica- tors. All numbers should be returned to zero prior to delivery of product to vehicle. If either quantity or price numerals fail to return to a clear and definite zero, make the fact known immediately to the attendant or station manager. Malfunction of a meter computer is extremely possible, while failure of indicators to return to a true zero can also be attributed to deliberate tampering of meter for fradulent purposes. Motor fuel should never be purchased from a dispenser if it is ob- served that the hose nozzle is lying beside the pump on the ground or draped over the top of the pump. Nozzle must be removed from the side of the pump from designed storage space, im- mediately prior to purchase.
Close observance to details discussed in this report will assure the consumer of fair value re- ceived for every dollar spent.
Your Sealer assures the residents that "equity will continue to prevail".
A total of 13,487 packages of prepacked food items were checked for proper weight content and package pricing in an effort to safeguard both the consumer and the businessman at the market place.
A total of 188 weighing and measuring de- vices were tested for compliance and accuracy. Sealing fees amounted to $312.90 Receipts a- mounting to $318.90 were turned over to the Town Treasurer.
35 R
20%
94
Building Inspection
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our de- scendants will thank us for; and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, 'See! This our fathers did for us!' "
-John Ruskin
The purpose and scope of the Andover Build- ing Code is to provide for safety, health and pub- lic welfare through structural strength and sta- bility, adequate egress, proper light and ventil- ation, and protection of life and property from fire hazards incident to design.
Enforcement of the Town Building Code is the responsibility of the Building Inspector. He is also the enforcing officer for the Town zoning by- laws, with his rulings subject to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Increased building permit fees effective for the full year of 1967 have enabled this department to show a substantial profit.
All Board of Appeals applications are re- viewed and processed through this office, and in addition copies of its definitive action on all pe- titions are kept for the convenience of the general public.
Electrical permits are also issued by this de- partment with approval of the Electrical Inspec- tor. Related records, fees and reports are also maintained by the Building Department.
Thirteen (13) gravel pits were carefully supervised and detailed reports provided to the Board of Selectmen.
Numerous building and zoning violations were investigated and corrected without incident.
A total of 512 building permits were issued during the year 1967.
Number .. Type Valuation .. Fee
154 New Structures
$11,288,700.
$26,044.
273 Additions and
Alterations
666,429.
2,361.
26 Signs
8,430.
162.
26 Raze
48,750.
84.
28 Swimming Pool
70,695.
234.
4 Renewal
none
15.
1 Re-inspection
none
3.
$12,023,044. $28,903.
Laurie Richmond
DOG CATCHER
Animal Inspection
Number of Cattle Inspected
2
Registered Grade
77
Number of Sheep inspected
25
Number of Horses inspected
72
Number of Goats inspected
0
Number of Swine inspected
1,275
Number of Barns inspected (dairy)
6
Number of Dogs quarantined 87
Number of Dogs with Rabies
0
35
Public Works
Highways
During the year forty-seven (47) miles of roads were treated with MC-3 asphalt and sand as well as being honed. Some 107,000 gallons of asphalt were used. All the bridges under depart- mental supervision were inspected periodically and repaired. For drainage this year the D. P. W. installed 1,680 lineal feet of pipe on the following streets :
Greenwood Road Lowell Street Bancroft Road Sherry Drive
The following streets were resurfaced with a
layer of bituminous concrete :
Washington Avenue - entire length Barrington Drive - entire length
Windsor Street - entire length Kennsington Street - entire length Poor Street - From Shawsheen Square to Williams Street
High Street - From Longwood Drive - 3,100 feet south
Where drainage pipe was installed new catch basins were built as follows : Greenwood Road, 7 new basins; Bancroft Road, 4 new basins; and Sherry Drive, 4 new basins. In addition general repairs were made on basins around Town.
New sidewalks were installed in the following places :
School Street - From Locke Street to Cen- tral Street
36
Central Street - From Torr Street to Lupine Road
Locke Street - West side - entire length
Chestnut Street - From Park Street to Avon Street
Haverhill Street - From Argyle Street to Private Way - both sides
During the year the D.P.W. conducted two clean up periods in addition to its other work. Within a twenty year span, the Highway Depart- ment has doubled its roadway maintenance; in 1940, services were provided for approximately 107 miles of roadway, in 1967, the total mileage runs approximately 205 miles.
Sweepings from the street are taken to the dump for the land fill program. This has been very helpful by making it possible to do away with all the fires at the dump.
This past year snow accumulation was as follows :
Nov. - 3.5 Jan. - 1.4
March - 20.0
Dec. - 14.0 Feb. - 21.6 April 4.0
Total snow fall for the year was 64.5 inches.
Concrete posts were bought to replace many broken ones on the following streets: Vine Street, River Road, Lowell Street, Salem Street, Dascomb Road.
All steel guard rails were painted.
The Highway Department reconstructed and supervised the paving of more than a mile of Spring Grove Cemetery roadway. The parking area at the West School was also built.
The Highway Department works with the Engineering Department on the inspection of the condition of streets before they are accepted as public ways by the Board of Selectmen. The Highway Department also provides men and e- quipment for all other Departments when in need.
The Highway Department filled in and re- surfaced the area where the Shaw Building once stood and also made a new exit going out of the Town Municipal Parking Area.
r
Jon DeRienzo
Kevin Carney 5
if they need it.
Highway Dept. I think they will fix roads highways are
nice
Streets are very important. We drive on streets to go places.
highway
When snow falls they clear the road for us sowe will not slip
97
Parks
The Park Department during the early Spring made repairs on all the backstops on all the baseball diamonds, both on regular and Little League fields. During the season the Park De- partment maintained seven Little League and re- gular fields which are rolled, raked and marked for each game.
In addition, the Department prepares the track for all meets. Repairs were made on foot- ball stands with a paint job to go with it. The grassed areas in the Park and Playstead had seed and fertilizer applied in the Spring. Portable bleachers were put up for the football season in- cluding some borrowed from North Andover for the Thanksgiving Day game. The Department added duties involve the care and maintenance of some fifteen grass plot areas within the Town.
Margaret Harrion
Parks help to keep children Safe, During the day children can play in them Safely.
Trees
Responsibility for planting, maintaining, preserving and removing public shade trees which lend character and beauty to the town rests with the Tree Bureau. Other assigned duties include roadside brush and grass cutting, poison ivy con- trol and insect pest suppression, Dutch Elm disease work and supervision of utility wire clearance through trees. Routine duties include budget preparation, work scheduling and super- vision, supply and equipment purchasing and maintaining and submitting accurate records and reports.
Dutch Elm disease appeared in 114 public trees this year. These infected trees have been cut down and disposed of at the Andover landfill site. An additional fifty (50) dead and beetle in- fested trees were removed with the assistance of men and equipment from the Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources. A number of dead and hazardous trees over utility wires were removed by joint effort of the New England Telephone Company, the Massachusetts Electric Company and the Andover Tree Bureau. A total of sixty (60) tree stumps were chipped out with Andover's chipping equipment. Routine tree work of low limb removal, cabling, pruning, bark tracing and street light clearing was carried on. Brush cutting, chemical brush control and road- side mowing was continued along streets and at playground and recreation areas.
Tree removal hearings were held, supervision and inspection of wire clearing crews preformed and new wire and pole construction work gone over in detail with utility company engineers and arborists. Wire clearance is becoming increasing- ly important due to heavier demands for tele- phone and electric service and the necessary maintenance and preservation of shade trees.
A diversified shade tree planting program was continued in 1967 with 170 shade and orna- mental trees being set out and cared for. Varie- ties used include Maples, Lindens, Sycamores, Mt. Ashes, Flowering Cherries, Flowering Crab- apples and Dogwoods. A Downtown Beautifica- tion Plan of tree planting was inaugurated this year whereby 32 trees were planted in sidewalk areas throughout the business district. Greenspire Lindens, Kwanzan Cherries and Columnar Nor- way Maples were used since they are considered hardy and resisant enough to withstand adverse
98
growing conditions imposed by roadside planting in commercial areas. Town funds were matched by money subscribed by local business men and merchants to enable this project to materialize. These young trees were sprayed, watered and fertilized several times during the growing season.
The newly purchased aerial lift was used ex- tensively in topping and pruning public trees. All men in the Tree Bureau now hold State licenses to operate this piece of equipment.
The annual spray program to protect Andover's trees from destructive insects and diseases was continued. State and Federal ap- proved application methods and pesticides were used.
The Tree Bureau worked in cooperation with other Town departments in pruning and removal of trees, brush chipping, poison ivy control, land clearing and selective forest cutting. Tree Bureau men worked during all snow storms operating trucks and sidewalk plows, also salting and sand- ing streets and sidewalks.
Trees Trees help keep the sun away from hot poeple.
My brothersod fatheris in the tree Dept.
Debby A. Dowe
Street Lighting
60, 00
Street lights in the Town of Andover are provided under contract with the Massachusetts Electric Company. Forty-seven (47) new lights were added to the Town's lighting system during the past year. In addition, ten (10) existing lights were changed to larger and improved fix- tures. Some 1,323 lights make up the system.
The procedure for obtaining a street light is a relatively simple one although of necessity be- cause of the limitations of funds, a pro- longed one. Requests must be made IN WRITING to the Town Manager. He, in turn, requests a survey of the request and recommendation by the electric company. After receipt and review of this report, appropriate action is taken. Lights may be installed only on ACCEPTED Town streets.
Lights keep us sate
Street lighting tells us when to go and stop in lots of traffic.
We need a New light on our street.
39
In an effort to make the process of develop- ing the Town's street lighting system a far more orderly and objective one, the Town Manger in- tends to appoint a permanent street lighting committee in 1968. The task of this committee will be to develop a long range lighting program for the entire Town. Presumably, it would extend over a five to ten year period in order that at some point in time, the Town would be fully lighted. New or improved lights would be install- ed only as they would conform to this overall program and in accordance with such appropria- tions as might be made by the Town Meeting. It is conceivable that upwards of $150,000.00 per year will be required to meet acceptable street lighting standards.
Engineering
Preliminary engineering studies and site plans were prepared for use by the architects in the design of the Bancroft Elementary School, Town Hall, Public Safety Building and the West Elementary School Addition.
The necessary designs and field engineering were provided for the installation, by the Town's public works crew, of 1680 feet of surface water drainage lines of varying pipe sizes principally on Greenwood Road, Lowell Street, Bancroft Road, Vine Street and Sherry Drive. Many other drainage problems were investigated and pos- sible solutions recommended.
Plans for eleven (11) new subdivisions of land with a total of 298 lots were reviewed for the Planning Board for conformance with its rules and regulations and for the adequacy of the proposed utilities. During the year the roadways and utilities under construction in some 16 sub- divisions were regularly inspected for the Plan- ning Board.
The Engineering Bureau represented the Town in engineering matters in talks with other governmental agencies, utility companies, private corporations and many individual citizens. It maintained the engineering records of the Town and worked in cooperation with Town boards and other municipal departments requiring engineer- ing services.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.