Town annual report of Andover 1963-1969, Part 57

Author: Andover (Mass.)
Publication date: 1963
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 902


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1963-1969 > Part 57


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MANAGER, TOWN


The Town Manager is the chief administrative officer of the Town of Andover. His powers and duties are Spelled out in detail in the Town Charter adopted by the voters of the Town of Andover in 1957. He appoints and supervises all town employees, boards and committees, except those officials who are elected or appointed by the Finance Committee, Mod- erator, Board of Selectmen and School Committee. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Board of Selectmen. He is the Purchasing Agent for the Town. He is also the Town's chief fiscal officer which position includes responsibilities for the preparation of the Town's Annual Budget . The


198


MANAGER, TOWN - Cont.


Town Manager is also responsible for the maintenance and repair of all Town property except schools. He is also responsible for the preparation of plans and the supervision of all construction, reconstruction, alterations and improvements of all public buildings, including schools.


PARKS . . . A division of the Department of Public Works main- tains several play areas in the Town of Andover. These include the playstead and the several Little League fields throughout the Town including South School and Sanborn School. The division also main- tains the Park which is located in front of the East Junior High School. During the winter months, the personnel of the division is transferred to Highways and performs normal maintenance duties including snow removal and ice control. Park personnel do not maintain recreation areas which are under the super- vision of the Recreation Department.


PLANNING BOARD


The Planning Board, consisting of five unpaid members, appointed for five=year terms, was established under the General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 81A to 81J, which outlines its authority and duties, by requiring that the Board (1) make studies and plans and submit them to the Board of Selectmen, (2) make an annual report, (3) make a master plan and, (4) pass on sub- division plans.


The preparation of a master plan or study plan is a primary function which includes studies of popula- tion, circulation, land use, community facilities, open space, recreational, highways and streets, school land, residential, commercial and industrial development and inventory of existing municipal facilities. Using the Master Plan as a guide, sub- sequent actions of the Board in relation to subdivi- sion, street layout, or any other type development are judged and compared according to its recommenda- tions.


The Board is required to consider and advise on municipal improvements, and report two weeks prior to Selectmen's action on plans for laying out, ex- tending, discontinuing or changing the limits of any way, street, public park or square, any purchase of land for the site of public building, plans for the location, erection or alteration of public buildings. TheBoard projects land use changes, under the pro- visions of Chapter 40A, Section 6. It shall report fully to the annual town meeting, giving information regarding the condition of the town and any plans or proposals for its development and estimates of the cost thereof, and shall at the same time furnish a copy of its report to the division of planning of the Department of Commerce. The Board shall elect annually a chairman and clerk from among its own number, and may employ experts and clerical and other assistants.


Police services are provided by a twenty-eight member uniformed police force including the Chief. Two civilians perform maintenance and clerical tasks and ten school crossing guards protect school children


POLICE DEPARTMENT


139


POLICE DEPARTMENT - Cont. ... at various crossings within the town. The depart- ment operates four patrol cars, three of which are equipped for use as ambulances, carrying stretch- ers, first aid equipment, and respirators. An un- marked sedan and a compact vehicle used by the Sergeant Inspector make up the balance of the de- partment's vehicles. Police headquarters are lo- cated in the rear of the Town Hall with the en- trance located on Barnard Street.


PUNCHARD FREE SCHOOL, TRUSTEES .. According to the terms of the will of Benjamin Punchard, chief benefactor, the Punchard Free School was to be under the direction of eight Trustees, the rector of Christ Church to be one, the ministers of the South Parish and West Parish Churches and the remaining five to be chosen by the inhabitants of the Town of Andover, two of whom were to be from Christ Church Parish, two from the South Parish Society and one from the West Parish Society.


RECREATION


The Recreation Department was established in 1962 by employing the first full time Director. Pre- viously recreation programming had been a part- time and seasonable activity administered by a Recreation Board. The Director is responsible to the Manager. He is responsible for a year-round program of activities, maintenance and development with emphasis on playgrounds and a swimming program in the Summer and ice rink maintenance in the Winter. In addition to five playgrounds and the swimming area, the Town acquired a 43 acre tract of land adjacent to Pomps Pond in 1963 for park devel- opment. In September of 1963 a second full-time employee was hired to maintain buildings, grounds and equipment used by the Department. TheDirector and Maintenance Man depend on assistance from over 50 part-time and seasonal employees, contractors, employees of other municipal departments and vol- unteers.


RETIREMENT


The Andover Retirement System is organized in accordance with State Statutes and Regulations. It is administered by a three-member Board with the Town Accountant serving as an ex-officio member. Andover member is appointed by the Selectmen with the third member elected by the employees covered under the Retirement System. The benefits paid to retired employees are established by State regula- tion. The Town's annual contribution to the sys- tem is mandated also by the State.


SCHOOLS


Elected for three year terms of office, the five- member School Committee is responsible for admin- istering the educational system of the Town of Andover. It appoints a Superintendent and such other Assistants as may be required from time to time. At the present time, there is an Assistant Superintendent for elementary education and a Supervisor of General Services and Business Mana- ger for the school system in addition to the Superintendent. There are six elementary, one junior high and one senior high school in Andover. The School Department is autonomous as far as


140


SCHOOLS - Cont.


financial matters are concerned and as they relate to operation of the school system. The Town Meeting, though asked to approve the annual school budget, has the legal authority to approve or reject new build- ings and the funds necessary for their construction only. The School Committee members serve without compensation. A new elementary school is under con- struction and another in the design stage.


SELECTMEN, BOARD OF


The five-member Board of Selectmen is the Town's licensing authority and a supervising agency in terms of overseeing the implementation of policies adopted by the Town Meeting. It appoints the Town Accountant, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board of Appeals, officers and registrars of voters and the Town Manager. The Board is responsible for supervising the Town Manager in the faithful discharge of his duties and responsibilities. All appointments by the Town Mana- ger are subject to approval by the Board. Its most significant role is that of recommending policy to the Town Meeting, especially on matters relating to community development. Selectmen are elected to three-year terms of office.


SEWERS


. The Town of Andover maintains a sanitary sewer system with approximately 2,400 connections to residences and other uses. The system consists of approximately 78 miles of sewer mains. Approximately 30% of the Town's area is covered by the system and approximately 50% of the population of the Town is served. With the ex- ception of a small treatment facility in Ballardvale, all sewage is dumped untreated into the Merrimack River .


SPRING GROVE CEMETERY


.Spring Grove Cemetery was established by a vote of the Annual Town Meeting of 1871. It contains approximate- ly fifty-seven acres of land of which some ten acres remain undeveloped. The cemetery has been planned and developed to retain its great natural beauty. There are 1,773 lots in the cemetery. There are an average of eighty interments per year.


Care and custody of cemetery funds earmarked for per- petual care of grave sites is the responsibility of a five-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Town Manager for three-year terms of office. The Trustees are unpaid.


TAX COLLECTOR


In actuality, the so-called "Tax" Collector is the Town Collector and has the legal authority to receive all town monies including taxes, departmental service charges, water bills, and other similar town receipts. He is appointed by the Town Manager for an indefinite term of office. The Collector prepares certificates of municipal liens and betterment discharges.


TAXES - STATE AND COUNTY


The Town of Andover's taxpayers are required by law to meet tax assessments levied by the County of Essex and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County ser- vices are principally the maintenance of a court system and Registry of Deeds. The annual County Bud- get is enacted by the General Court of the Common- wealth. In effect, the taxpayers of Essex County have no direct choice in the preparation, adoption or exe- cution of the budget. The Commonwealth levies a tax


141


TAXES - STATE AND COUNTY - Cont. against property owners principally for the sup- port of State recreation areas. This also is a tax levied without direct control by the State's tax- payers.


TOWLE FUND


Margaret Grindell Towle, a resident of Andover for many years, bequeathed to the Town the rest and resi- due of her estate to be held as a permanent trust fund, the income thereof to be devoted to the assist- ance or procurement of assistance for worthy persons residing within the Town who "may be in need of aid, comfort or support on account of old age, disability or unemployment. No person receiving such aid shall be subject to any obligation to reimburse said Town for any moneys or benefits received." This generous gift was formally accepted by the Town at an Ad- journed Town Meeting held March 13, 1961.


The fund is administered by a board of three trustees appointed by the Town Manager. The Town Treasurer is the custodian of the fund. As of December 31, 1967, the principal of the fund amounted to $343,843.99 and the available income $22,953.88.


TOWN CLERK


The Town Clerk is the custodian of all official Town records. He keeps the minutes of the several Town Meetings. He maintains all vital statistics records. He functions as clerk to the Board of Selectmen, especially in its role as the Town Licensing Authori- ty. He is also the supervisor of all elections. He registers voters and maintains the voting lists. He issues marriage, hunting and fishing, and dog licen- ses .


TOWN MEETING


The Town Meeting is the legislative and, therefore, the policy-making body for the Town of Andover.


Its members consist of all of the qualified voters of the Town . It convenes at least annually in March to elect the Town's municipal officers - Moderator, Selectmen, School Committee members, Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee member, elected Trustees of the Punchard Free School, Andover Housing Authority, and Trustees of the Cornell Fund, as their terms expire. An extension of the regular Annual Town Meeting or an "adjourned" meeting occurring within one week of election adopts the annual budget, makes all other appropriations and enacts by-laws. It convenes in special sessions upon call of the Board of Selectmen to consider and to act upon matters which require immediate attention and presumably could not be postponed until the regular Town Meeting.


TOWN TREASURER


The Town Treasurer is the custodian of all Town funds. The position is charged with receiving for custodial purposes all of the monies due the Town and disburses them in accordance with warrants signed by the Town Accountant and Town Manager. Bid deposits and Per- formance Bonds on Town contracts are held by the Treasurer. The Treasurer is also required to execute notes and bonds for borrowed money and to receive and disburse trust funds in accordance with powers granted to said Treasurer. The office is also re- sponsible for the disbursement of Retirement funds,


142


TOWN TREASURER - Cont. . the maintenance of Tax Title Accounts and the processing of their redemption or their foreclosure. Tax Title sales also fall within the purview of the Treasurer. The investment of all revenue and non-revenue, surplus or idle funds, is one of the more important and lesser known duties of the Treasurer.


TREES


The responsibility of the maintenance and preservation of Andover's public shade trees is that of the Tree Department. Pruning, cabling, planting, spraying and removal of trees are some of the duties involved in discharging this responsibility. Tree trimming for electrical and telephone wires and the laying out of utility pole and underground services are supervised and inspected by the Department. The major task of the Department is the control of Dutch Elm Disease. In addition the Department is responsible for an annual spraying program for the suppression of certain insect pests. This program does not include mosquito spraying. This is a private responsibility.


VETERANS' SERVICES


The Veterans' Services Department is operated under Chapter 115, General Laws of the Commonwealth, for the purpose of providing financial assistance, when needed, and after full investigation, to war-time, and under legislation passed in 1966, to some peace-time veterans, their families, dependents or survivors because of sickness, hospitalization, unemployment or old age.


WATER


Andover's principal source of water supply and storage is Haggetts Pond and its watershed area. In addition, the Town draws upon one ground well, the Abbot Well located on Andover Street.


Supplementing Haggetts Pond storage are the Wood Hill Tank with a capacity of one million gallons and the Bancroft and Prospect Hill Reservoirs holding 6 and .8 million gallons respectively.


Haggetts Pond and the three wells are capable of pro- ducing a safe daily supply of approximately 2.5 to 3 million gallons. Water usage ranges from 2 to more than 4 million gallons per day.


WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


The Town of Andover employes the services of a part- time Sealer of Weights and Measures. He is responsible for the checking of all weighing and measuring devices in the Town of Andover. These include scales and gaso- line pumps . He is appointed by the Town Manager and serves an indefinite term of office.


WELFARE


The administration of the Public Assistance program in the Town of Andover is the responsibility of the Welfare Department. It is assisted in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities by a three-member Board of PublicWelfare whose members are appointed by the Town Manager for three-year terms and serve without compen- sation. All employees of the Welfare Department are Civil Service appointees. The programs offered by the department are those required by the State and fall under two general headings - General Relief, or what has been referred to in the past as "charities" and made available on a temporary basis to the Town's less for- tunate citizens who are unable to provide the necessi-


143


1


WELFARE - Cont.


ties of life, and Categorical Relief which includes Aid to Dependent Children, Medical Aid to the Aged,, Old Age Assistance, Aid to the Permanent Totally Disabled. All programs are regulated closely by the State Department of Welfare both in terms of scope and eligibility. The Town received reimbursements to the extent of approximately 50% of funds expended for the several welfare programs.


The State will take over the administration of welfare on July 1, 1968.


5109


Mark Hammar


144


TEN TOP TAXPAYERS - 1967


PERSONAL PROPERTY


REAL ESTATE


ASSESSED


TAX


ASSESSED


TAX


Raytheon Company


$5,208,700.


$130,217.50


Massachusetts Electric Co.


$2,800,000.


$70,000.00


83,200.


2,080.00


Phillips Academy


2,237,200.


55,930.00


Washington Park Trust


1,776,400.


44,410.00


Lawrence Gas Company


1,424,200.


35,605.00


Rolling Green Motor Inn Corp.


1,396,600.


34,915.00


C. Lincoln Giles


1,287,600.


32,190.00


Merrimack Mutual Fire Ins.Co.


1,083,200.


27,080.00


New England Tel. & Tel. Co. $ 773,700. $19,342.50


283,600.


7,090.00


Tyer Rubber Company


$1,035,900.


$25,897.50


145


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St Louis Cardinals 12


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210


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Town oderator


147


Index


animal Inspection). .35 Casessara_ 11


Board of appeals 24 Building Commitees: Senior High. -


20


Bancraft-


20


Building Inspection.


35


Regional Planning Commission 17 Civil Defense -- - 32 Conservation Commission - 21 Developmement and Industrial


Commission). - - 23 Dictionary of Town Government-13 Directory of Town Oficiale- - 129 Dog Officier (animal Control) -32 Electrical Inspector - 33


Engineering- - - -


40 Finance Committee 7 Financial Statements


Balance Sheet __ - 106


Borrowing Capacity- - 126 Expenditures- - - 113 Housing authority - -- 124 Punchard Free School. - 125 Receipto_ - 110 Reserve Fund 121 11 Retirement Fund - - - 120 Revenue account - -- - 121 Back Telephone Directory- - toner Times and Places to Remember-32 Town accountant- 14 Town Clerk_ 13 Town Counsel. - Down manager 10 Town meeting- - 5 Town meeting minutes. -71 Sewer Project, APW-46G - Town Treasurer. 15 Jax Collectors Receiptà - 123 Treasurers Statements - 122 Fire Department _ - 29 Greater Laurence Regional Trees_ _ - -38 Veteran's Services) - 46 Vater, How One Becomes a -127 Water __ -62 Vocational Technical School _ _ 51 Weighter and Measures_ -33 Health - 43


Highways - - - 36 Housing authority. 66 - - Jurar, How One Becomes a . -127 Jury List_ _ - 67 Land Fill_ 41 Letter(s) of Transmittal:


Board of Selectman_ 4 Town manager. Front


Inside


Central merrimack Valley Cover Library- - 53


municipal Buildinga


19


Parko.


-38


Planning Board- 16 Police Department_ - 26 Recreation_ .59 Review of the year_ 2 Schools (andover) 47 Selectmen. 7 servera_ 40 Spring Grove Cemetery- - 65 Street Lighting- -39 Tax Collector -- .14


Saade


Welfare -


-45


148


A Handy Telephone Directory for Town and Other Services EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS


POLICE FIRE AMBULANCE


475-0390 475-1212


475-1212


Be sure to give your NAME AND ADDRESS as well as the NATURE of the emergency CLEAR- LY. DO NOT HANG UP until you are sure that YOUR MESSAGE has been UNDERSTOOD.


OFFICE


TEL. NO.


Assessors


475-2081


Accounting Department 475-2815


Treasurer 475-3206


Town Manager


475-5560


Assessments, Real Estate


Assessors


475-2081


Assessors


475-2081


Sewer Department 5


475-0567


Water Department 475-0567


Town Clerk


475-3205


Building Permits, Regulations


Building Inspector


475-2946


Spring Grove Cemetery


475-2145


Police Department


475-0390


Town Manager


475-5560


Death Certificates


Town Clerk


475-3205


Dog Officer


Police Department


475-0390


Town Clerk


475-3205


71 Main Street


475-1378


Education


Superintendent of Schools


475-2218


Electrical Permits


Wire Inspector


475-2946


Engineering


Town Engineer


475-0567


Exemptions, Real Estate


Assessors


475-2081


Fire Hazards


Fire Department


475-1281


Food Handling


Board of Health


475-0242


Garbage Collection


Board of Health


475-0242


Health Nuisances


Board of Health


475-0242


Landfill


Landfill


688-8881


Libraries


Memorial Hall Library


475-0314


Ballardvale Branch


475-0521


Marriage Licenses


Town Clerk


475-3205


Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes


475-0868


Assessor - Information


475-2081


Nursing, Public Health


Visiting Nurse Association


475-1821


Oil Burner Installation


Fire Department


475-1281


Parks and Playgrounds Park Permits


Recreation Department


475-3561


Personnel


Town Manager


475-5560


Planning


Planning Board


475-2946


Plumbing Inspection, Permits


Board of Health


475-0242


Public Welfare


Welfare Department


475-1323


Recreation


Recreation Department


475-3561


Red Cross


Red Cross Headquarters


475-1496


Punchard Ave.


Town Manager


475-2440


Septic Tank Permits


Board of Health


475-0242


Sewer Department


475-0567


Highway Department


475-0567


Highway Department


475-0567


Social Security


Social Security Administration


Lawrence


688-6931


Street Maintenance


Highway Department


475-0567


Street Opening Permits


Highway Department


475-0567


Subdivisions


Planning Board


475-2946


Tax Collector


475-0868


Tree Department


475-0567


Veterans' Services


Veterans' Service Office


475-1705


Voter Registration


Town Clerk 475-3205


Water Department


475-0567


Water Bills Weights and Measures


Sealer of Weights & Measures 475-2617


Zoning


Zoning Board


475-2946


SERVICE Abatements Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Administration


Personal Property Sewer Water


Birth Certificates


Cemetery - Spring Grove Civil Defense Complaints (General)


475-2440


Dog Licenses Draft Registration


Local Board No. 62


Tax Collector - Payment


of Andover, Inc.


Recreation Department


475-3561


Selectmen


Sewers, Sanitary Storm Snow Plowing and Sanding


Tax Collection Trees


DOG CATCH


R


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The Commonwealth of massachusetts Advance copy 1956 Acts and Resolves EDWARD J. CRONIN Secretary of the Commonwealth


[CHAP. 571] AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SELECTMEN-TOWN MANAGER PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF ANDOVER.


SECTION 6. Appointment of Town Manager. - The select- men shall appoint, as soon as practicable after the first town election following acceptance of this act or after the occur- rence of any vacancy, for a term of five years, a town man- ager who shall be a person especially fitted by education, training and previous full-time paid experience in a responsi- ble administrative position in municipal government, to per- form the duties of his office. The town manager shall be appointed without regard to his political beliefs. He need ·not be a resident of the town when appointed, but shall be .. a resident of the town during his term of office. He may be appointed for successive terms of office. No holder of elec- tive office in the town shall within five years of holding such office be eligible for appointment as town manager. Before entering upon the duties of his office the town manager shall be sworn to the faithful and impartial performance thereof by the town clerk, or by a justice of the peace. He shall execute a bond in favor of the town for the faithful per- formance of his duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as may be fixed or approved by the selectmen, the premium for said bond to be paid by the town.


Annual Report of the Town of Andover for the 1969 Fiscal Year


Prepared by the Town Manager


Pursuant to the Provisions of Chapter 40, Section 49 of the General Laws of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts and Article II, Section 4 of the By-Laws of the Town of Andover.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Letter of Transmittal,


Board of Selectmen


2


General Government


3


Staff Agencies


6


Public Safety


20


Public Works


25


Town Meeting Minutes


45


Sanitation and Waste Disposal


62


Jury List


42


Financial Statements


97


Directory of Town Officials


130


Index


134


A Handy Telephone Directory for Town and Other Services


Inside Back Cover


CREDITS


Composition


Printing Compiled and Edited by


Graphics, Andover


Town Printing, Andover


Richard J. Bowen


Public Health 28


Veterans' Services


29


Schools


30


Library


34


Recreation


38


Water


40


Spring Grove Cemetery


40


Andover Housing Authority


. .... ..


40


TOWN OF ANDOVER MASSACHUSETTS 01810


NDO


ORATEO NAY


ACHUSETT


26 February 1969


Town Hall 20 Main Street


To the Citizens of Andover:


The Town of Andover is just completing its first 10 years' ex- perience with the Town Manager form of government. There are those, of course, who long for the old days and there are those who have other points of view - some vivid - some irate. As one of two Selectmen who have held office during all of those ten years, from my vantage point the effective features of this form of government far outweigh the difficulties.


This message is, however, not intended to defend or to justify the method of government . It is rather a plea to the voters and hence town meeting members to bring careful judgment to bear on this our tenth town meeting. The Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, the School 'Committee as well as the Town Manager have spent long hours examining the budget in an attempt to keep the increase in the tax rate as minimal as possible.




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