USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1940 > Part 17
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Wynot Road-580' - 10" pipe; 6 Catch Basins; 1 Manhole
Arthur Street-235' - 12" pipe; 2 Catch Basins; 1 Manhole Arbutus Avenue-205' - 10" pipe; 2 Catch Basins Bradley Road-42' - 12" pipe; 2 Catch Basins
Cedar Street-545' - 12" pipe; 4 Catch Basins Cleveland Avenue-175' - 10" pipe; 2 Catch Basins; 1 Manhole Dewey Avenue-50' - 10" pipe
Ellsworth Street-630' - 10" pipe; 6 Catch Basins; 1 Manhole
Faulkner Place-265' - 10" pipe; 3 Catch Basins
Glenrose Avenue-335' - 12" pipe; 2 Catch Basins
Hawthorn Road-600' - 12" pipe; 625' - 10" pipe; 3 Manholes; 6 Catch Basins
W.P.A .- SIDEWALKS
President Road-690' x 6'
Allen Street-1400' x 6' River Street-750' x 7' Ash Street-1100' x 6'
W.P.A. CURBING
River-Street-740' x 7'
Our work for 1941 will include the streets voted by action of the Town Meeting in March of 1940, namely :-
PRIMROSE AVENUE AUDUBON ROAD SAGAMORE STREET BERWICK STREET
HAYWARD STREET from Howard to Shaw Street together with whatever streets may be allocated under a vote of the 1941 Town Meeting.
RUBBISH COLLECTION
Collections were made on the first Monday of each month excepting those Mondays which fell on a holiday; in which event, the collection started on the following day.
The public seems to realize the benefit of the collection service; which. I believe has been one of the outstanding services rendered the publi - in recent years. Because of the fact that approximately 150 additional new
232
homes have either been built, or are in the process of being built in 1940. we are forced to ask an appropriation of $3,500, to cover the costs of collections for the year 1941.
Rules and regulations governing Rubbish Collections :
Collection will be made in all Precincts of the Town of Braintree, starting at 8:00 A.M., on the first Monday of each month. In the event that the first Monday should fall on a holiday, the usual collection will start on the following day.
COLLECTION RULES
All rubbish must be placed in suitable standard ash or rubbish barrels. Rubbish must be placed on the curb line or property line or the public way or private way.
The Department cannot, and will not, enter upon private property to make collections.
Rubbish must be set out for collection before the time designated for the collection.
No collection will be made out of order, or on a special call.
Please refer to the Town Accountant's report for expenditures in the Highway Department.
In closing, I would like to extend ml appreciation to the Selectmen. members of the Finance Committee, and to my able staff for their co-op- eration in helping me carry on my work for the Highway Department during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN Q. WENTWORTH
Supt. of Highways
233
ANNUAL REPORT OF MOTH DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :-
Gentlemen :-
I hereby submit my report of the MOTH DEPARTMENT for the past year.
All public shade trees along our highways were sprayed during the months of May, June and July. Last year the elm beetle was in greater force than ever and if they continue to increase. I am afraid we will lose a great many beautiful elms. The tree warden should be given an appropriation substantial enough to remove not only all dead elm trees, but also to trim the dead limbs and fill any cavities that might be found. in order to eliminate all possible hibernating places for the winter months. Owing to the fact that the elm beetle only eats the foliage for about two or three weeks, there is a very limited opportunity for the suppression of the beetle. However, next year we are anticipating an extensive drive on the elm trees during the eating period of the beetle.
The gypsy moth is an easy foe to deal with, because its eggs are usually exposed on the side of the trees and the underneath part of the branches. It is, however, impossible to cover all the woodland and paint every nest with creosote, thus eliminating the eggs from hatching. The gypsy moth can also be very readily destroyed by the use of arsenic of lead, but the department can only accomplish this work along the edge:, of our roadway. Therefore, the painting of the gypsy moth nests is our first line of defense; the spraying with arsenic of lead, our secondary de- fense.
The department also does private spraying, providing the owner makes application and deposits the cost of same with our Town Trea's- urer. The town was reimbursed $332.55 for private spraying, during the year 1940.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN Q. WENTWORTH, Moth Superintendent.
235
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Planning Board
OF THE
Town of Braintree
YEAR 1940
236
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Citizens of Braintree:
COLBERT PUBLIC LIBRARY BEQUEST
Shortly after the death of James W. Colbert, long a public spirited citizen of Braintree, on May 15, 1940, the Planning Board of Braintree was officially notified by the trustee of Mr. Colbert's estate, Daniel L. O'Donnell of Weymouth, that the Town of Braintree had been named as the recipient of the principal of a trust fund, amounting to approximately $35,000, for the erecting and equipping of a free public library in the Town of Braintree, to be forever known as the "Colbert Public Library." Said library to be governed by a board of trustees of not more than six men- bers elected by the citizens of Braintree, none of whom shall be an officer or trustee of any other library in the town.
This particular gift of Mr. Colbert, to the Town of Braintree does not take effect until May 15, 1946, six years from the date of Mr. Col- bert's death; and during this six year period certain individuals receive the income from the rest and residue amount.
A second and important provision of Mr. Colbert's will makes it imperative that the citizens of Braintree take immediate action at the 1941 annual town meeting regarding the disposition of the trust fund. Should the Town of Braintree reject this bequest, or fail to take action by May 15, 1941, one year from the death of Mr. Colbert, the trustee has been informed under the terms of the will that he must offer the said fund to the neighboring town of Holbrook.
After a study of the present library situation, the Planning Board recognizes the desirability of a public library as provided for in the Colbert Trust Fund; and the Braintree Planning Board recommends that the Town of Braintree accept the bequest at the 1941 annual town meeting. The Planning Board further recommends that a careful study be made over the next five years to determine where the "Colbert Li- brary" could best be located to provide a maximum increase in service to the citizens of Braintree.
Factors determining the Planning Board's decision to advance the above recommendations are found in the present public library situation where branches are now maintained in the North, East, and Highlands sections of Braintree. All of these branches have shown a sharp in- crease in circulation during the last few years and all three will soon need enlarged quarters. One of these branches could be wisely replaced by an independent unit, "The Colbert Public Library." This would re- lieve the load now being carried by the Thayer Public Library and would offer greater service without necessarily increasing the cost to the citizens.
Braintree would not be unique in setting up a second public library. for the towns of Northampton, Falmouth, Hadley, Cohasset, Deerfield and Shelburne have provided greater library facilities for their citizens by two or more independent libraries governed by separate boards of trustees.
The establishment of the "Colbert Public Library" under an inde- pendent board of trustees would not necessarily require additional ap- propriations for the purchase of duplicate books already provided; for under Chapter 78, Section 8 of the General Laws Relating To Libraries: "Any free town public library may loan its books or other library material to any other such library or to citizens of other towns or non-residents, under such written conditions and regulations as may be made by the board of trustees or other authority having control of the library so
.
237
loaning. Any town may raise money to pay the expenses of so borrow- ing books and other library material from the library of any other town." Thus a mutual exchange of books between the "Thayer Public Library" and the "Colbert Public Library," upon approval of the respective boards of trustees, could be effected.
The provision of Mr. Colbert's will calling for the election of a board of trustees independent of any other existing library board, and composed of not more than six members, conforms with section 10 of Chapter 78, General Laws Relating to Libraries; which states that Li- brary boards shall be divisable by three (3). When such a board is created for the first time one-third shall be elected for one year; another third for two years; and the last one-third for a period of three years. Thereafter one third shall be elected annually for a term of three years.
The principal of the Colbert Fund would be adequate to construct and equip an independent library, for library units have been erected and equipped for less than $35,000 during recent years in Agawan, Arling- ton, Berlin, Beverly Farms, Dracut, Lynn, Paxton, Springfield, West Newbury, West Concord, Grafton and Lincoln, Maine. The town owns land enough in each of the districts now served by branches that there should not be additional expenditures for a suitable site.
The Planning Board has made a study of circulation increases in the different branches and feels that there is without doubt an urgent need for larger and better facilities in Braintree, and that the carrying out of Mr. Colbert's wishes would further perpetuate his desire to serve the best interests of Braintree.
In order that all citizens may be more familiar with the exact wording of the 16th Clause, from the will of the late James W .Colbert, the Planning Board has quoted below those sections of the 16th clause which refer to Mr. Colbert's bequest to the Town of Braintree for the establishment of a "Colbert Public Library."
"SIXTEENTH: All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate of every nature, whether real or personal and wherever situated, including all property to which I may in any manner be entitled or over which I may have any power of appointment or disposition at the time of my death, I give, bequeath and devise and appoint, and direct my executor to transfer and deliver to the trustee hereinafter named, but in trust, nevertheless, to hold, manage and dispose of the same upon the trusts and for the purposes hereinafter set forth:
(1) I direct my trustee to pay the entire net income of the trust semi-annually, or oftener at its discretion ,to Mrs. Mary M. Savage of 350 Center Street, Brockton, Massachusetts, Mrs. Josie D. Wagner of 109 East Avenue 30, Los Angeles, California and Miss Bessie A. May- walt of 24 Walnut Street, Auburn, New York, in equal shares, for and during the term of six years from the date of my death. Upon the de- cease of any of these three beneficiaries within the said six years, I direct my said trustee to thereafter pay over the entire net income during said term, in equal shares, to the survivors or survivor of them.
(2) Upon the appointment of my trustee, said trustee shall offer the entire principal of the trust fund held by the trustee or to which it shall be entitled, subject to the trust established in Clause 16, (1), above, to the Town of Braintree, situated in the County of Norfolk, Massa- chusetts, within sixty (60) days after the appointment of said trustee, upon the following terms and conditions, to be attached to and made part of said offer.
238
(a) That the fund shall be used for a building, books and other equipment of a public library to be located in said Town of Braintree.
(b) That the said library shall be known as the COLBERT PUBLIC LIBRARY and that that name shall never be changed.
(c) That the said library shall never be a branch or subsidiary of any other library in the Town.
(d) That the said library shall be a separate unit with a sepa- rate board of trustees consisting of no more than six members and no member shall be chosen who is a trustee or officer of any other library in the town.
(e) That the said town shall vote to accept or reject said offer and the conditions attached thereto at a regular or special town meeting within one year from the date of the offer. If no action is taken by the town as to the acceptance of this gift within the one year period, such failure on the part of the town to act shall be considered by my trustee as an irrevocable rejection on the part of said town.
(f) It is my intention to provide income from the rest and residue of my estate for a period of six years for the benefit of the people mentioned in Clause 16, (1), of my will and the said trustee is to have full charge of all of the rest and residue of my estate during that six-year period if the people mentioned or any of them are living during that period. However, I order my trustee to submit the offer of the prin- cipal of this fund to the Town of Braintree within sixty (60) days after its appointment as trustee and if the town accepts within the year peroid, the town is to have the principal of the trust at the expiration of the six- year period or before, if all of the people mentioned in Clause 16, (1), should be deceased within that time.
In other words, I feel that within the six-year period my trustee should know to whom the principal of the trust is to be paid upon the termination of the six-year income trust created in Clause 16, (1).
Upon the acceptance by the town of the trustee's offer and the conditions attached thereto, the principal of the trust fund shall be transferred, conveyed and paid over by my trustee to the said Town of Braintree at the expiration of the six-year period mentioned in Clause 16, (1), or before that time if all of the beneficiaries mentioned in Clause 16, (1), should be deceased, and the Town of Braintree shall then carry out the terms of the gift.
If the Town of Braintree rejects said offer or the conditions attached thereto or fails to accept the offer and conditions within the one year acceptance period, then my trustee shall, within thirty (30) days after such rejection or after the one-year period, offer the entire trust fund to th Town of Holbrook, situated in said County of Norfolk, Massachu- setts, upon the following conditions to be attached to and made part of said offer."
The Planning Board is greatly indebted to Miss E. Louise Jones of the Massachusetts State Library Commission and to the trustees and library staff of the Thayer Public Library for important data relating to the study of the Thayer Public Library and the Colbert bequest.
TRAFFIC
The Planning Board has long been interested in trying to alleviate the congestion in Weymouth Landing. It is not uncommon for it to take twenty minutes or more for one to drive through this congested business district. Due to the two traffic officers about 100 yards apart,
239
(one in Braintree, the other in Weymouth) and the forty-five degree parking on both sides of the street, there is almost continual interruption to the flow of traffic. Attempts have been made to remedy this but it seems that these conditions are necessary where there is such a large volume of business together with such a heavy flow of traffic. The obvious thing to do is to attempt to by-pass some of this traffic. The Planning Board has therefore drawn up proposed routes and submitted them to the Division of Metropolitan Planning for further study. An attempt will be made in 1941 to have suitable legislative action taken to remedy this situation.
ZONING
The Zoning Committee, appointed in 1939, reported progress at the 1940 Annual Town Meeting and was authorized to continue and to act in conjunction with the Planning Board in the drawing up of a Proposed Zoning By-Law for submission at a subsequent Town Meet- ing. The sum of $600.00 was appropriated for this purpose.
This enlarged committee then secured the services of Mr. Arthur C. Comey, noted city planner, as a consultant. A tentative zoning by-law was drawn up on May 2, 1940. Hearings were then held at the following places: Jonas Perkins School, East Braintree, Noah Torrey School, South Braintree, and at the High School in Braintree. These hearings were ad- vertised in the Braintree newspapers and were for the purpose of re- ceiving suggestions from the townspeople.
A special Town Meeting was held on June 18, 1940 for the purpose of considering among other matters the proposed Zoning By-law. The Zoning By-law was adopted by a vote of 131 to 16.
The By-Law was approved by the Attorney General on July 22, 1940.
It was then published in the Braintree Observer on July 26, August 2 and August 9. It therefore, according to statute, was in full affect as a town by-law on August 9, 1940.
The large housing developments started during the latter half of 1940 in East Braintree and Braintree have complied with the provisions of this by-law, and with all indications pointing toward rapid expansion in 1941, the Zoning By-Law was enacted none too soon to afford the town much needed protection.
The Planning Board wishes to thank all those who co-operated in the preparation and enactment, especially Mrs. Edith L. French, Mrs. Cynthia. B. Hurst and Mr. Morrill R. Allen who served as non-Planning Board members of the Zoning Committee and our consultant, Mr .Arthur C. Comey.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
During the past year the Planning Board accepted with regret the resignation of Mr. James F. Brittain. Mr. Brittain, who is now a resident of Weymouth, had served on the Board since 1936 both as member and secretary.
The Planning Board wishes to take this opportunity to thank its ex-officio member, Mr. John J. Drinkwater, Jr., Town Engineer, for the splendid co-operation which he has extended at all times. He has very kindly permitted the board to enjoy the facilities of his office in the Town Hall and has been helpful in other ways.
240
INVITATION
As in former years the Board desires to extend an invitation to all interested citizens to offer suggestions concerning desirable and needed improvements in our town to any of its members.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD J. ROSE, Chairman
FRANK L. HEANEY, Secretary JOHN F. CLINTON HOWARD J. WILLIAMS
FRANCIS LONG JOHN J. DRINKWATER, JR.,
Town Enginer
241
REPORT OF TOWN ENGINEER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith the eleventh annual report of the Engineering Department for the year ending December 31, 1940.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Lines and grades have been furnished for the following:
Road Construction-W.P.A.
Argyle Road-from Pleasant View Avenue to Glenrose Avenue Arthur Street-from Edgehill Road to Gordon Road
Arthur Street-from Arborway Drive to Audubon Avenue Bradley Road-from Cleveland Avenue 450 feet east Ellsworth Street-from West Street to Mt. Vernon Street Faulkner Place-from Washington Street 740 feet west Glenrose Avenue-from Quincy Avenue 410 feet east Oregon Avenue-from Cedar Avenue 750 feet south Putnam Avenue-from Cleveland Avenue 300 feet east South Street-from Washington Street to Holbroook Line Wayne Avenue-from Pond Street 680 feet south
Wynot Road-from Washington Street to Hollis Field
Drains-W.P.A.
Arbutus Avenue-205 feet
Arthur Street-235 feet
Bradley Road-42 feet
Cleveland Avenue-175 feet
Dewey Avenue-50 feet
Faulkner Place-265 feet
Glenrose Avenue-335 feet
Hawthorn Road-1225 feet
May Street-230 feet North Bowditch Street-345 feet
Oregon Avenue-50 feet
Putnam Avenue-120 feet South Street-2310 feet
Wayne Avenue-115 feet Wynot Road-580 feet
Sidewalks-W.P.A.
River Street-from Middle Street to Arnold Street-north side
Curbing-W.P.A.
Ash Street-from West Street to Monatiquot Avenue-east side River Street-from Middle Street to Arnold Street-north side Plans for all W.P.A. Projects.
Drains-General
Bower Road to Elmlawn Road-310 feet Liberty Street-50 feet Town Yard-210 feet Union Street-1000 feet
Sidewalks-General
Commercial Street-west side-from opp. Wilkins Road to Elm St. Elm Street-from Commercial Street to Fore River Railroad Liberty Street-west side from House No. 135-1150 feet south
242
Curbing-General
Hollis Avenue-from Ash Street 350 feet west
Quincy Avenue-from R.R. Crossing 410 feet north
Gutter Grades-General
Adams Street-opp. No. 120
Central Avenue-Tremont Stre to Franklin Street
Harrison Avenue-500 feet
Hollis Avenue-150 feet
Pleasant Street-150 feet
Commercial Street-Penn's Hill-200 feet
Taylor Street-150 feet
Waldron Road-120 feet
Survey and Plans for Drain Easements
May Street-North Bowditch Street-Grove St .- Hawthorn Rd.
PARK DEPARTMENT
Hollis Field Layout of football field
Watson Park
Lines and grades for baseball field
Layout of baseball diamond
Estimate of fill west of baseball field
ASSESSORS
All deeds and subdivisions have been checked and plotted on plans accordingly.
Two hundred twenty new buildings and additions have been located and plotted on plans.
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT
One hundred twenty-three pole locations have been staked out to be set.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Lines for walls-Weston Avenue Lot
PLAIN STREET CEMETERY
Staked lots and lines for drive-south drive
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Bickford Road-Survey and plan of accident
Hayward Street and Hillcrest Road-Surver and plan of accident
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Survey and plans for proposed fire station sites : Corner Commercial Street and Allen Street
Corner Commercial Street and Adams Street Corner Commercial Street and Hayward Street
I wish at this time to extend my appreciation for the co-operation I have received from the Selectmen and all Town Departments.
Rspectfully submitted,
JOHN J. DRINKWATER, Town Engineer
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Electric Light Department
OF THE
Town of Braintree
FROM
DECEMBER 31, 1939 to DECEMBER 31, 1940
244
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF BRAINTREE
YOUR COMMISSIONERS SUBMIT THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BRAINTREE ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1940.
NORTON P. POTTER
FRANK P. LORD SHELLEY A. NEAL
Commissioners
To the Municipal Light Board
Norton P. Potter, Chairman
Frank P. Lord, Secretary
Shelley A. Neal, Third Member
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report of the operation of the Municipal Light Department for the year ending December 31, 1940.
Kwhrs. Generated increased 3,285.200
Kwhrs. Purchased increased 374,616 Sales of Kwhrs. increased 3,541,297
Net Operating Revenue increased over 1939 $ 26,534.00
The new turbo-generator and auxiliary equipment which we have installed this year is nearing completion and will be in operation early in February, 1941. Some of the new auxiliaries have been in operation since November. This expansion has been taken care of out of earnings.
The maximum load on the system was 6100 Kw., an increase of 700 Kw. over 1939; the maximum day's output was 90,000 Kw.
There was an increase of 127 services in 1940, and due to the con- struction of several new housing developments this year in Braintree, we anticipate a larger increase in 1941.
I briefly present the essential points showing the physical and oper- ating conditions as prepared in accordance with the Departmentof Public Utilities Accounting System, in the following report.
I desire at this time to express my appreciation for the assistance and co-operation of the employees of the Depart. I also wish to thank the members of the Municipal Light Board and other Town officials for their co-operation during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
E. T. FULTON Manager
245
BRAINTREE ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPT. ERNEST T. FULTON, Manager
REPORT OF YEAR 1940
ANALYSIS OF SALES, 1940
Kwhrs. Sold Revenues
Domestice and Commercial
7,042,660 $194,662.78
Industrial
13,362,768 $178,952.85
Municipal
772,687 $ 9,034.79
Street Lighting
603,795 $ 7,236.00
TOTAL
21,781,910 $389,886.42
OPERATING EXPENSES
PRODUCTION
Superintendent
19,373.13
Boiler Fuel
89,057.42
Water for Steam
408.72
Lubricants
27.70
Station Supplies and Expenses
460.79
Maintenance of Station Structures
1,173.12
Maintenance of Boilers
1,969.89
Maintenance of Turbine
6,106.65
Maintenance of General Equipment.
220.41
Maintenance of Accessory Equipment
913.43
Electric Energy Purchased
14,525.82
Total
$134,237.08
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
Operation of Transmission and Distribution
of Lines
$ 9,259.96
Transmission and Distribution Supplies.
831.86
Testing Meters
952.96
Removing and Resetting Meters
933.48
Removing and Resetting Transformers
289.82
Maintenance of Transformer Station & Sub Station
18.80
Maintenance of Transmission and Distribution of Lines
21,778.95
Maintenance of Consumers Meters.
866.88
Maintenance of Transformers
605.53
Total
$ 35,538.24
UTILIZATION
Operation of Street Lamps
695.34
Replacement of St. Lamps 804.13
Supplies and Maintenance
1,198.83
Total
$ 2,698.30
246
GENERAL EXPENSE
Maintenance of Consumers Installations
3,062.00
Commercial Salaries
14,487.35
Advertising
124.00
Salaries of Light Board and Manager
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