Town annual report of Andover 1963-1969, Part 59

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 59

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Five years have produced a substantial in- crease in the flow of money in the Treasurer's of- fice as the following indicates :

1968

1969

Balance January 1

$5,605,206.10

$1,087,722.48

Receipts (Includes loans )

13,74,631.28

6,804,652.33

$18,879,837.38 $7,892,374.81

Disbursments

14,934,293.16 6,568,502.84

(Includes repayment of loans)

Balance December 31

$ 3,945,544.22

1968

$1,323,871.97 1969

Investment of surplus funds including those of

Accelerated Public Works Program $ 170,050.45 $ 24,886.62

Margaret Grindell Towle Trust

The Margaret Grindell Towle Trust, est- ablished in 1964 by the acceptance of a generous bequest from Mrs. Towle amounting to $343,843.29, the income therefrom to be used as stipulated by her Will for the benefit of the aged, disabled and unemployed residents of the Town, is the most active of all trust funds in the custo- dy of the Treasurer. The funds are invested and disbursed under warrants of a board of three trustees. Last year the income amounted to $18,127.75 of which $13,339.38 was paid to or for beneficiaries.

Tax Titles

Two ( 2) Land Court decrees of fore- closures received-one (1) pending.

Ten (10) parcels redeemed.

One ( 1) application to Commissioner of Taxation to foreclose titles on ten (10) parcels prepared for filing.

Planning Board

The continued growth of An- dover was demonstrated by the fact that 12 subdivisions were submitted to the Board.

The beginning of 1968 found the Andover Planning Board involved in working up a six year Capital Improvement Expenditure forecast which was to point up the not inconsiderable sums that would be required to meet the growing needs of the Town for schools, water, sewers and other public facilities.

The continued growth of Andover was demonstrated by the fact that twelve (12) sub- divisions were submitted to the Board for ap- proval during the year, comprising a total of three hundred and ninety three (393) lots. This is very close to the average for the last five years of thirteen (13) subdivisions with three hundred and sixty (360) lots. The number of individual lots developed was sixty nine (69), slightly be- low the five year average of ninety two (92).

During the year the Board recommended to the Town Meeting, zoning by law changes which :

a) Revised soil removal regulations to improve town control over these mat- ters ;

b) Added a Garden Apartment District in the southern part of town;

c) Permitted a developer to provide the Town with restrictive covenants, run- ning with the land ;

d) Expanded, slightly, the Industrial "G" District in Ballardvale;

e) Set up a new Industrial District west of Route 93, between Route 13 3and Osgood Street ;

f) Set up an Office Park District cate- gory, which provides tight controls for the establishment of such dis- tricts.

All the above recommendations were approved by Town Meeting.

During the year, the Planning Board has worked with the Industrial Development Com- mission and the joint consultants of the two boards to update the industrial zone requirements as to frontage, set-backs, permissible uses and other factors, in an effort to reduce the impact of industrial development on the residential aspects of the Town as well as to create a proper environ- ment to attract desirable industry. This work was still in process at the close of the year.

With the agreement of the Selectmen and the Finance Committee, the Planning Board in 1968 instituted, with the assistance of the Town Man- ager and some interested citizens, a study of re- creation and open space needs for the Town. This study, still underway at the end of the year, should, when completed, provide a basis for judging the size and number of recreational faci- lities required, their disposition in town, and re- commendations as to their organization. In addi- tion, a specific capital expenditure program for recreation and open space will be developed, based upon the policies worked out in the earlier phases of the study.

The members of the Planning Board who are, year by year, being faced with more and more complex questions with relation to planning for the Town of Andover, are convinced that the time is very close when the Board will require a professionally trained planner on its staff to provide planning with continuity and depth which is not at present possible but which is al- ready needed.

CMVRPD

The District is charged by Law to create and maintain a com- prehensive regional plan for its area of jurisdiction

The Central Merrimack Valley Regional Planning District is a voluntary organization of cities and towns created under the laws of the Commonwealth. In 1968, the area of jurisdiction

of the District was expanded for the second time to include the City of Newburyport and the Towns of Amesbury, Newbury, Rowley and Salis- bury. The District is now responsible for region- al planning activities in 15 cities and towns with a total population (1965) of 232,788 persons in a 279 square mile area. With the acceptance of Groveland, Amesbury and Newburyport as mem- bers during the year, only Boxford, Georgetown, Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury remain as non- participating communities.

The District Commission, consisting of one member and one alternate from each member community maintains an office and staff located at 477 Essex Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts. Regular meetings are held at the District Office on the third Thursday of each month and are open to the public. The Officers of the District elected in April were: Chairman, John R. Leone, Methuen ; Vice-Chairman, James N. Bannan, No. Andover; Treasurer, Jean B. Ippolito; Assistant Treasurer, Herbert H. Cornell, West Newbury; Secretary, Kenneth Hamilton, Groveland.

The District is charged by law to create and maintain a comprehensive regional plan for its area of jurisdiction. All major elements of a com- prehensive plan have been adopted for the Law- rence Subregion and work is in progress on ex- panding the plan to include the Haverhill Subre- gion. Beginning in 1969, the District will also be- gin expanding the plan to include the Newbury- port Subregion.

During the year the District prepared and published a Population Report for the entire Dis- trict. The report shows that the Region and each of the Subregions has reversed the trend of out- migration. Only the City of Havrehill shows a continued rise in the rate of out-migration. The population forecast contained in the report indi- cates a 25 year population growth of 82% be- tween 1965 and 1990 when the population of the region is expected to be 467,500 persons.

The District's continued interest in the field of water pollution abatement was crowned by the creation of the Greater Lawrence Sanitary Dis- trict when the Legislature and the Governor ap- proved Chapter 750 of the Laws of 1968. This action will enable the four member communities to realize a savings of more than 12 million dol- lars in the cost of constructing pollution abate- ment facilities. Needless to say, the District is proud to have been a part of this intercommuniy effort.

Along the same lines, the District took an in- terest in developing the framework to enable the City of Haverhill and the Town of Groveland to realize the greater economics that would result from joint use of a single facility.

With the employment of Mr. William McAl- lister and Mrs. Doris Graves, the District increased its full-time staff to three employees during the year. At the end of the year a fourth position was authorized.

The District continued to process Federal Aid applications under the terms of the Federal Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Develop- ment Act. The act requires that applications made by state and local agencies for financial assist- ance under most Federal community development programs must be reviewed by the regional plan- ning agency for consistency with the regional plan. During the year, the District processed 12 such applications for projects within the district as follows :

Applicant Andover Bon Secours Hospital

Project

Total Cost Aid Requested

Plans for Water Plant

$ 124,100 $ 124,100 loan

$ 1,198,200 $ 400,000 grant

DPW (Mass.)

Not Avail. Not Avail.

DPW (Mass.)

Lowell St. & Riverside Drive, Methuen Route I-95, Widening

Not Avail. Not Avail.

DPW (Mass.)

Route 133 & I-93, Interchange Andover Route 97, Widening, Groveland

Not Avail. Not Avail.

Lawrence General Hospital

Expansion

$ 5,360,000

$ 450,000 grant Not Avail.

Lawrence

$ 462,244 $ 214,688 grant

MBTA

Purchase of Bus Company

$ 5,270,000 $3,513,333 grant Not Avail.

Merrimac

Plans for Sewage Treatment Plant

Not Avail.

Newburyport

Improvements to Water System

$ 2,601,568

$1,155.00 grant

Protectory of Mary Im- maculate Nursing Home, Lawrence

Construction of New Home

$ 2,800,000 $ 350,000 grant

Total in District $17,816,112 $6,207,121

The District was financed primarily by an- nual payments from the member communities based on a per capita assessment rate of 8.7545 cents. These payments produced $16,570.75 of the Districts revenue for the year. State and Federal

grants totaling $10,617.35 together with miscel- laneous revenues of $2,695.11 brought total reve- nues for the year to $29,884.21. Expenditures for the year totaled $29,134.85 leaving a surplus of $749.36 which will be used to meet 1969 expenses.

Municipal Buildings

In an effort to make the outside somewhat more presentable

Certain offices were relocated in the build- ing, principally the Tax Collector, Water and Sewer Departments, Recreation, the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager. For the first time in many years both the Selectmen and Town Manager have both pleasant and very functional offices. In addition, all Town Hall offices were marked with clearly legible signs.

Improved Outpatient Facilities and Modernization

Not Avail. Not Avail.

DPW (Mass.)

Lawrence

Airport Safety Improvements Improved Water Treatment

Not Avail.

TOWN HALL

As a consequence of the 1968 Town Meeting appropriation of $10,000. for repairs to the Town Hall, it was possible to undertake long delayed but very essential repairs to the interior of the Town Hall building. Virtually all offices were painted and the original wooden floors on the second floor were sanded and finished. Extensive improve- ments to the lighting, paritcularly on the second floor were also completed.

The Selectmen's and Town Manager's offices were air-conditioned. It is planned that all other town offices will also be air-conditioned within the next year.

In an effort to make the outside of the build- ing somewhat more presentable, the parking area in front of the Town Hall building was converted to a grassed and sidewalk plaza. No parking spa- ces were lost as a result of this action since they were replaced by spaces along the side of the building.

In recognition of the intensive use of the Town Hall building and, as a result, the need for more intensive care, a custodial service has been used to supplement the work of the single full- time janitor. The net effect of this extra service and the above improvements to the Town Hall has been a cleaner, more useable and certainly more presentable building than has been the case in the past ten or more years. Approximately $1,000 remains of the $10,000 appropriation which will be used in 1969 for additional improvements. In view of the likelihood of the Town Hall being used for the next several years, the funds expended repre- sent a sound investment - if not a long delayed necessity.

With regard to the new Town Hall project, this was delayed again in 1968 until completion of the Public Safety Center and the demolition of the Central Fire Station to the rear of the Town Hall building. When the Town Hall project will begin remains a very unclear matter and one subject to conjecture.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

After many delays, the Andover Senior High School was occupied in February of 1968 and has been in full use since its opening. There have been problems, particularly in the area of the window glass breakage, the heating system, gymnasium partitions and certain gymnasium apparatus. The

Building Committee, Architect, Town Manager and Town Counsel worked diligently to resolve these problems and, although unresolved at the end of 1966, it would appear that they will be taken care of in 1969.

The fencing of all play areas including the football field and track was completed during the year. An intensive effort was made also to improve the general condition of the play fields. An impartial observer would undoubtedly agree that the high school grounds playfields are in good condition, particularly the football playing field. The football fieldhouse was also com- pleted in 1968.

EAST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

With funds made available by Special Town Meeting in 1968, an intensive program for im- proving the interior of the East Junior High School was started during the past year. In an ef- fort to holding down administrative costs in un- dertaking the improvement program, an effort was made to use local talent, particularly crafts- men in the preparation of specifications for work required. Supervision of the work was the respon- sibility of the East Junior High School principal, the School Department Supervisor of General Services and the Town Manager. Of the $400,00. appropriated, $80,000. was expended in 1968 for the following :

1. New floors in the West Wing including carpeting in the corridors, library, teachers' room, principal's office and the guidance offices ;

2. The installation of inlaid linoleum in the cafeteria ;

3. The installation of vinyl asbetos tile in the downstairs corridors in the West Wing;

4. An entire updating including new and improved service to the school's electrical system ;

5. Completion of an expanded and modern library through the conversion of classroom space;

6. Improvements to the teachers' room and the faculty dining area ;

7. The installation of new aluminum wire glass exterior doors in the West wing;

8. The erection of aluminum letters identi- fying the building ;

9. Painting and decorating of classroom areas and Memorial Auditorium ;

10. Installation of a public address system in Memorial Auditorium.

A contract was signed for the improvement of the school's heating system which will be com- pleted for the opening of school in September 1969. It is anticipated also that work similar to that undertaken in the West Wing will be done in the East Wing by the same date.

By all outward appearances, it would appear that by the opening of school in 1969, the work to be done in the East Junior High School will be completed for considerably less than

the $400,000. appropriation. It is anticipated that the work done, as well as that to be done, will extend the useful life of the East Junior High School by from ten to twenty years. Certainly, pupil and teacher reaction to the work already accom- plished bears out the wisdom of the decision of the Town Meeting.

Building Committies

The school has already attracted a great many visitors.

BANCROFT SCHOOL

As this report is written, the construction of the Bancroft School nears completion with pro- jected occupancy by school children after the February vacation, five months behind the con- tractual completion date. Reasons given for the delay include late delivery of certain key materi- als-structural timbers and skylights, among others. A more likely, if less satisfactory explana- tion may be the state of the building industry in general which is jammed with work making it difficult to get mechanics, slowing down delivery of materials and, in general lowering the effi- ciency of an industry which, at its best, is not known to work without a hitch. At any rate, despite a summer of perfect building weather, the building is late and the burden to townspeople whose children have been involved in double ses- sisons at South School has been great. Their pat- ience is greatly appreciated.

Subsequent, to the approval of funds at the March 1968 Town Meeting, furnishings and equip- ment for the school were ordered and have begun

to arrive in substantial quantities. Installation of carpeting has begun, a new departure for the Town of Andover. Since the carpet will require the development of new maintenance techniques, arrangements are being made for the custodians to attend a special carpet school and receive the training necessary to protect the Town's invest- ment.

The school has already attracted a great many visitors not only from within town but edu- cators and other interested parties from out of town and out of state. As the project nears com- pletion, morale seems high, both that of the men working on the job who are eager to move out and that of the staff of the Bancroft School who are eager to move in. Plans are being made for an open house to allow those who are interested to see the building.

The following describes the current finan- cial status :

Budgeted

Completed

Balance

Building contract

$1,612,000

$1,358,155

$253,845

Architect's fees

100,000

91,649

8,351

Furnishings and equipment

175,000

27,337

147,663

Contingencies

88,000

52,209

35,791

$1,975.000

$1,529,350

$445.650

With the selection of an archi- tect in the Spring.

PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER

With the Public Safety Center project brought to a standstill in March of 1968, the Board of Selectmen agreed to proceed with a new design at the suggestion of Selectman Sidney P. White. On the strength of Selectman White's strong as- surances to the March Town Meeting as well as to the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager that

a complete facility could be constructed within the appropriation, a Building Committee of his selec- tion was appointed by the Town Manager and con- firmed by the Board of Selectmen. With the selec- tion of an architect in the Spring, design began in earnest with bids finally taken on the project in December and a contract signed in January. The taking of bids in December evidenced the inability of Selectman White to produce a building within the $513,000 budget available for the project. It was necessary for the Building Committee and the Town Manager to effect reductions in the project to bring it within the budget. As a consequence of this action, the Board of Selectmen agreed unanimously to support an appropriation request of $85,000 to $120,000 at the 1969 Town Meeting to complete the project. It is anticipated that the Center will be completed and occupied by the Po- lice, Fire and Civil Defense Departments by the end of 1969 or the early part of 1970.

The construction on the addi- tion to West School is now underway.

WEST SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE

The West School Building Committee is pleased to report that construction on the addition to the West School is now underway.

The building committee held its first meet- ing on November 30, 1967. An architect was en- gaged on January 22, 1968 and the voters gave approval to the $2,330,000 project at a special town meeting held on October 7, 1968. Bids were received in the middle of September and con- struction began on October 31, 1968.

The addition will contain twenty-four (24) classrooms with ten (10) classrooms grouped into two (2) clusters. The four (4) remaining class- rooms will be reserved for the kindergarten and for special purposes.

Separate facilities for a gymnasium, audi- torium and cafeteria are provided.

The building committee hopes to complete the structure before September 1970.

Conservation Commission

During 1968 four parcels were acquired with a total of 130 acres.

The Conservation Commission has expended $111,000. from the amount of bond issue ($250,000.) voted by the Town under Article 10 of the March 1967 Annual Town Meeting for the acquisition of open space. During 1968, four (4) parcels were acquired with a total of 130 acres :

60 acres between Pomps Pond and the Shawsheen River (Foster - negotiated purchase) ;

57 acres between Route 495 and Haggetts Pond (Davidson - negotiated purchase) ; 7 acres abutting Hussey's Brook in Shawsheen (Brox - eminent domain taking) ;

6 acres abutting Mud Brook off High Plain Road (Chongris - gift).

With the addition of the forty-five (45) acres acquired in 1967, the open space acreage under the control of the Conservation Commission to- tals 173. As of this writing, the Commission has agreed to purchase two (2) more parcels totaling forty-five (45) acres, and continues to investi- gate numerous other possibilities.

During 1968, Andover received a refund of $6,500. from the State Self-Help Fund for the Foster acquisition. Final approval of the David- son acquisition is to be expected shortly with subsequent refund of one-half the purchase price.

The active land program whose tangible re- sults are briefed above required intensive indivi- dual and collective effort. A total of seventeen (17) regular meetings of the Commission was held in 1968. Negotiations with landowners and lawyers were protracted and complex. Members conferred individually and collectively with a variety of planners, technicians, appraisers, en- gineers and state and local officials. The Conserv- ation Commission was represented at state and regional conferences of the Massachusetts Asso-

ciation of Conservation Commissions, the Mass- achusetts Audubon Society and other conserva- tion organizations on numerous occasions.

The Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture transmitted the Soil Survey for a portion of the Town in 1968 to the Conservation Commission. The Soil Survey and the Resource Inventory, made by the same agency and undertaken at the request of the Commis- sion, have furnished useful data to the Planning Board and its consultants in the preparation of a new Open Space-Recreation study and plan for the Town. This plan should form the basis for programming future open land acquisition and capital expenditures for recreation. Particular at- tention is being focused on Pomps Pond and its problems as well as its potentialities.

Avis

Two new parcels of land were acquired.

Two new parcels of land were acquired, en- larging the Rocky Hill Reservation from 20 acres to 33 1/2 acres, and the Deer Jump Reservation by 5 acres. Many groups made use of the AVIS reservations for canoeing, picnicing and hiking. Guided hikes were given to the American Youth Hostel, the Essex County Open Space Walks and the Appalachian Mountain Club. In addition, talks on Indian lore, geology, bird and plant life were given to interested groups. Two hundred boy scouts took part in a weekend Jamboree at the Deer Jump Reservation.

In the Spring, AVIS sponsored a live nature program for 600 school children, by Miss Ivy Lemon of the Massachusetts Audubon Society which was throughly enjoyed by all. Future na- ture programs are being adopted for adult and children. For the first time in history, the Law- rence Quadrant of Geological Survey Map, shows all of AVIS's six reservations named and out- lined.

In November, the annual AVIS meeting and dinner was held at Phillips Academy Log Cabin. At which time honorary life memberships were given to Mr. and Mrs. William G. Hatch and Selectman Sidney P. White for their contribu- tions of land to AVIS. It was at this time that the High Plain Reservation was renamed the Harold R. Rafton Reservation. The evening was con- cluded with a slide presentation of Africa by Mr. Joshua L. Miner.

AVIS ACTIVITIES

The year 1968 has been a very busy and constructive year for the Andover Village Im- provement Society. In May, AVIS sponsored its first Conservation Day, with the support of the Town and other interested groups. Hundreds of interested citizens attended, viewing wild flower exhibits, a horse show and other displays. Nature walks were held and slide shows of AVIS pro- perties were shown. It has been decided this will be an annual Town Event. The trustees planted 500 seedlings on the various reservations. Trails were made by Scouts and the Phillip Academy boys. Approximately 350 Girl Scouts from An- dover and North Andover earned their nature badges using the Shawsheen River and Vale Reservation establishing a self guided trail. Signs and steps were made by the boys of the Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational School.

Industrial Development

Commission

Gillette Toiletries Company plant will open in 1969.

Year

Total

1967

$158,258,200

growth

5,1,65,100

1968

$163,423,300

Industrial $9,749,000 79,000 $9,828,000

6.00

% 6.15

located on an adjacent parcel.

Supported by this Commission, the Appeals Board granted variances to American Power Devices for an addition and to Andover Electrical Contracting Co. for a new building in the Indus- trial C zone on Andover Street near Argilla Road.

Raytheon Company announced its intention to purchase 165 acres of Residence C land bet- ween Route 93 and Osgood Street for a multi-mil- lion dollar plant, contingent on obtaining indus- trial zoning and utilities. The Industrial Commis- sion examined this proposal in some detail, and agreed to support it provided that adequate pro- tection was given to the residential abutters. The Company then furnished a deed restriction (covenant) which was considered satisfactory. Several articles to rezone and provide the utilities for a total of $355,500. were carried by substan- tial majorities in the August 1st Special Town Meeting. The abutters took this matter to Court. At the time of writing this report, an appeal of a Superior Court in favor of the Town is still pending before the State Supreme Court.

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Town annual report of Andover 1963-1969, Part 59

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

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