USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1948 > Part 9
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Highland Avenue Hobart Avenue Holmes Street Independence Ave.
Arnold Street, Cedarcliff Road, Edgemont Road, Ellery Street, Jefferson Street, Oak Street, School Street and Storrs Avenue.
ASSESSMENTS:
The 75% increase in assessment rate, approved at the An- nual Town, Meeting, was applied to all the new construction. 387 sewer assessments, amounting to $99,832.51 were levied.
HOUSE CONNECTIONS:
There were 223 sewer connections, totalling 11,096 feet, made to the system during the year at a cost of $37,140.06. The total number of connections is now 1,600. This year's new con- struction made the sewer available to 282 more houses and applications for connection were received from 92 of them. There were 41 applications on file at the end of the year that will have to wait until' spring before work can be started.
MAINTENANCE:
During the winter months all of the main and lateral sew- ers were inspected and cleaned and repaired where necessary. There was a stoppage in the Tremont Street sewer due to root growths but it was discovered before any damage occurred. There was also a stoppage in the Shaw Street siphon due to sand and gravel accumulation from the break in the main the year previous.
Ten sewer connections became blocked during the year, six of which were caused by root growths. All connections where trouble with roots had been experienced in the past were inspected and cleaned out where necessary.
The new Cesspool Waste Disposal Station on Union Street has been in use now for a full year. It provides a satisfactory and sanitary means of disposal of cesspool pumpings.
Several complaints from the M. D. C. were received re- garding thè discharge of oil into the sewers. The John L. Ray Oil Company was required to separate their industrial waste and install new oil traps. To further comply with the M. D .. C. regulations the Sewer Department installed a tell-tale oil trap in the street at a cost of $914.95.
While the contractor was installing the new gasoline stor- age tank for the Highway Department the sewer main from Union Village was ripped up. This was repaired at a cost of $69.26.
A new check valve had to be installed on the intake to one of the pumps at the Common Street Pumping Station.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
A complete financial analysis of all expenditures during the past year is on file in the Sewer Department office and has been summarized in the Town Accountant's report.
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Highway Department
JOHN Q. WENTWORTH, Superintendent 1
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
The near record snowfall that started our 1948 activities is accountable for much of the work involved maintaining our entire highway system this year. Patching and surface treat- ments were unusually greater due to excessive wear on the center of the roadway. Traffic was confined to a narrow lane on the banks of snow along both sides of the highways through- out the winter.
Street cleaning, drains and catch basins, repairs to side- walks and all other items of highway maintenance were at- tended to as required.
Rubbish collections were made monthly and the dump was maintained throughout the year.
CONSTRUCTION
Sidewalks were constructed on Pond Street as authorized and laid out.
Streets-Constructed under Betterment Act:
Sheraton Avenue - Vernon Street - Lincoln Street (started in 1947)
Liberty Street - Widened, vicinity of Lincoln Street.
Storrs Avenue - Constructed from dead end to Walnut Street.
DRAINS
3906' of pipe laid. 10" min. dia. 42" max. dia.
31 catch basins. 16 man holes.
Roberts Street - Vinedale Road - Pleasant View Avenue Bellevue Avenue - Hancock Street - Commercial Street Lisle Street - Quincy Avenue - Hall Avenue.
Easements-Off Allen Street - Off Vinedale Road - Off Pleasant- view Avenue.
Chapter 90 Projects County Layouts
Liberty Street - 2 contracts completed.
Elm Street - First contract completed.
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New Highway Garage
We are very well pleased with our new building and are grateful to the citizens of the town. We welcome a visit from our fellow-citizens so that they may inspect our new garage equipment adequately housed and the reasonable facilities for the personnel.
LIBERTY STREET-CHAPTER 90
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120
LIBERTY STREET WIDENING (BEFORE)
LIBERTY STREET WIDENING (AFTER)
121
SYCAMORE ROAD (BEFORE)
SYCAMORE ROAD (AFTER)
Highway Garage Building Committee
RAYMOND P. PALMER, Selectman JOHN W. MAHAR, Selectman, JOHN Q. WENTWORTH, Highway Superintendent.
At the 1948 Annual Town Meeting the town voted to ap- propriate $75,000 for a new garage for the Highway Depart- ment and appointed the Board of Selectmen and the Highway Superintendent as the building committee.
We had on hand a set of plans and specifications prepared by the late Lawrence Joslin for which the town had paid $1,500. We advertised for bids on the basis of these plans and specifica- tions and received three bids, the lowest of which was $84,960 and the highest $114,100.
One member of the committee recommended that we dis- card the plans the town had paid for and start over again by
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT GARAGE
122
hiring a new architect to prepare a new set of plans to be paid for out of our building appropriation. This would have thrown away the $1,500 already spent for plans and would have re- duced by the amount of the new architect's fee the sum available for building. It would have delayed construction by several months at a time when the costs of building materials were in- creasing. The majority of the committee ruled against this proposal whereupon the minority member refused to have any- thing more to do with the project and the committee proceeded with three members.
· After consultation with Mr. Ernest Smith, of Clark and Smith, and the late Mr. Eugene Nolte, a Braintree architect of long experience who offered his services in an advisory capac- ity without charge, it was decided to readvertise for bids on the basis of the original plans and specifications with the addi- tion of alternatives which might eliminate some of the more expensive construction originally contemplated. Again we re- ceived three bids from the same contractors and this time they ranged from $73,960 to $121,500. The low bid was accepted and the contract awarded to Clark and Smith. Certain extras were later awarded to the amount of $940, making the total cost $74,900.
The building is now completed and very satisfactory. It contains ample space for the department's vehicles and equip- ment, storage rooms, office, locker room with showers for the men, a repair shop, and a blacksmith shop. The Cities Service Co. kindly furnished and installed, without charge, a 3,000 gallon underground storage tank for gasoline. Exterior paint- ing and grading the grounds were not included in the original contract and should be done this year.
The services of Mr. Nolte, particularly in the early stage of the construction, were of great value to the town. He was on the project daily until a few days before his death. He wanted to do this for his town and it was his last professional work. We shall remember him with sincere gratitude.
The committee also wishes to express its appreciation for the cooperation of the contractors, Clark and Smith. Mr. Smith, a Braintree resident, has given his personal attention to this work from its very inception and has done far more than the con- tract required to give the town this excellent building.
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Electric Light Commissioners
Commissioners
NORTON P. POTTER, Chairman FRANK P. LORD, Secretary SHELLEY A. NEAL, Third Member
The Kilowatt hours generated and purchased during 1948 increased 5,346,008 over the amount of the previous year. The contributing factors to the output were due to a greater demand of our consumers and surplus energy supply to Weymouth Light and Power Company during their shortage of hydro- capacity. The maximum peak demand for the Town was 8200 Kw., an increase of 3700 Kw. over the 10-year period since 1938. The high price of fuel oil and the ever-increasing cost of supplies and equipment were reflected in a new high in our mainte- nance and operating expenses, an increase over 1947 of $158,989.13. The Department also had the unusual expense of rebuilding the entire line from Plain Street to the Holbrook line. This was necessitated by the improvement to Route 37 over Hancock and Washington Streets, South Braintree.
PRODUCTION COSTS
1948 $434,020.50
1947 $302,978.37
Increase or decrease
Increase $131,042.13
KWHRS. GENERATED AND PURCHASED
1948
1947
Kw.Hrs. Generated
41,917,000
34,850,000
Increase
7,067,000
Kw.Hrs. Purchased
177,966
1,898,958
Decrease
1.720,992
Total
42,094,966
36,748,958
Increase
5,346,008
FUEL AND ENERGY COSTS
1948
1947
Fuel Oil
$361,072.82
$223,385.98
Increase
$137,686.84
Purchased Power
11,130.83
28,075.65
Decrease
$ 16,944.82
Total
$372,203.65
$251,461.63
Increase
$120,742.02
KWHR. SALES 1948
1947
Total Sales
37,144,021
31,349,785
Increase
5,194,236
The expansion program to improve the transmission and distribution system is progressing satisfactorily. The new build- ing which will be used as a garage, stockroom, meter and repair shop and switch house, is nearing completion and should be ready for occupancy by March 1, 1949. The con- struction of this building was delayed two months on account of the slow delivery of the fabricated steel.
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The 13.8 K.V. underground cable from the plant to Cleve- land Avenue and South Braintree was installed this year and energized last June. This has eliminated the over-head high tension lines to South Braintree. The new sub-station for Cleve- land Avenue is scheduled for June, 1949, delivery and should be operating this Fall.
There has been the usual yearly increase in new serv- ices, as of December 31, 1948, there were 6601, an increase of 213 over the year ending December 31, 1947.
Following is presented the essential details showing the physical and operating conditions as prepared in accordance with the annual report to the Department of Public Utilities.
Manager's Report
ERNEST T. FULTON, Manager
REPORT OF YEAR, 1948 ANALYSIS OF SALES
Kwhrs.
Domestic and Commercial
12,392,090
Revenue $313,248.02
Industrial
16,174,196
305,385.46
Municipal
1,044,375
15,125.02
Street Lights
712,360
11,683.05
Weymouth Light and Power Co.
6,821,000
104,738.48
TOTAL
37,144,021
*$750,180.90
OPERATING EXPENSES
PRODUCTION
Superintendence and Labor
$37,560.86
Boiler Fuel
361,072.82
Water for Steam
964.86
Lubricants
70.78
Station Supplies and Expenses
438.91
Maintenance of Station Structures
1,688.40
Maintenance of Boiler Equipment
10,593.72
Maintenance of Turbo-Generator Units
6,933.93
Maintenance of Accessory Electric Equipment
3,565.39
Electric Energy Purchased
11,130.83
$434,020.50
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
Operation of Transmission & Distribution of Lines $ 15,085.68
Transmission and Distribution Supplies 2,283.76
125
Inspecting and Testing Meters
1,140.08
Removing and Resetting Motors 1,296.30
Removing and Resetting Transformers 3,043.54
Maintenance of Transformer Station & Sub-Station Equipment
984.40
Maintenance of Transmission and Distribution of Lines
28,232.85
Maintenance of Meters
1,088.59
Maintenance of Transformers
2,479.07
$55,634.27
UTILIZATION
Operating of Street Lamps
$4,083.52
Replacements of Street Lamps.
1,053.56
Supplies and Maintenance
1,748.51
$6,885.59
GENERAL EXPENSE
Maintenance of Consumers Installations
$4,669.96
Commercial Salaries
20,746.02
Advertising
8.60
Salaries of Manager and Municipal Light Board.
7,300.00
Office Salaries
6,433.64
General Office Expense
5,231.55
Insurance
6,498.71
Accidents and Damages
90.15
Maintenance of General Structures
1,754.72
Miscellaneous General Expense
220.72
$52,954.07
DEPRECIATION
65,141.75
GRAND TOTAL OF OPERATING EXPENSES $614,636.18*
BOOK VALUE OF ALL PROPERTY $1,777,224.70*
PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT
JANUARY 1, 1948, Balance $1,777,248.42
Transferred from Income 85,715.78
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1948
$1,862,964.20*
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INCOME STATEMENT
OPERATING REVENUE
$750,180.03
OPERATING EXPENSES
614,636.18
Manufacturing Surplus
$135,543.85
Miscellaneous Additions
171.93
$135,715.78
Paid to Town of Braintree
50,000.00
Transferred to Profit and Loss
$85,715.78*
BALANCE SHEET
Assets
Plant Investment
$1,777,224.70
Petty Cash
200.00
Special Cash for Construction
42,953.69
Special Fund for Enlargement of Plant
5,510.00
Special Deposits
7,882.38
Accounts Receivable
55,557.24
Materials and Supplies
23,498.34
Depreciation Fund
130,917.56
Prepaid Insurance
11,771.41
TOTAL ASSETS
$2,055,515.32'
LIABILITIES
Accounts Payable
.00
Consumers Deposits
$7,882.38
Loans Repayments
$46,168.74
Appropriations for Construction Re- payment
133,000.00
179,168.74
Unadjusted Credits
5,500.00
Profit and Loss
1,862,964.20
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$2,055,515.32'
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
BRAINTREE
$4,689.71
EAST BRAINTREE
4,269.49
SOUTH BRAINTREE
12,589.05
CONTRACTS AND SPECIAL RATES
31,410.66
MUNICIPAL
1,415.28
STREET LIGHTING
1,183,05
-
$55,557.24*
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DEPRECIATION ACCOUNT
JANUARY 1, 1948, BALANCE
$287,983.05
Net transfer from income
65,141.75
Interest Transfers from sale of barge
490.13
2,100.00
Expenditures
224,797.37
DEPRECIATION BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1948
$130,917.56*
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT
JANUARY 1, 1948, BALANCE
$81,943.88
Paid to Town of Braintree
50,000.00
Expended for Construction
31,446.17
BALANCE
$397.71
Transferred from Operating Cash, December 31, 1948
42,555.98
CONSTRUCTION BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1948
$42,953.69*
CASH RECEIVED AS PER CASHBOOK
783,329.64
PAID TO TOWN TREASURER
783,329.64
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE BALANCE
.00
Operating Cash Balance, December 31, 1948
42,555.98
(transferred to Construction Account)
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
Debit
Balance, January 1, 1948
.00
Ernest T. Fulton, Manager
$783,329.64
$783,329.64*
Credit
Paid by Order of Commissioners
$740,773.66
Cash Balance, December 31, 1948
42,555.98
$873,329.64*
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$355,714.93
Water Department
Commissioners THOMAS E. SEARS, Chairman JOSEPH LANDERS WILLIAM P. SHEPPARD
GEORGE N. WATSON, Superintendent
Water is the lowest-priced item in the family budget, yet so indispensable that it would be cheap. at any price. You can still have delivered to your home, one ton of safe, palatable, filtered water (240 gallons) for the small sum of 10 cents. You can have this water all at one time or in small amounts regard- less of the hour.
The low cost of water is the more remarkable when you consider that it is collected, stored, processed, distributed, and made available at the turn of a faucet.
During the past 10 years the average daily pumpage in- creased from 1,317,240 gallons in 1938 to 1,715,000 gallons in 1948.
BRAINTREE WATER DEPARTMENT FLEET
129
This year $19,000 of the Water Department Debt was paid off, leaving $204,000 still outstanding on a system which could not be replaced for $3,000,000.
This year 4,540 feet of 6-inch, 675 feet of 8-inch, and 102 feet of 12-inch pipe have been added to the distribution system which now consists of a total of 97.0 miles of mains.
A program of cleaning and relining some of the older pipe lines was initiated this year. The 8-inch pipe lines east of the railroad tracks between Pearl Street and Union Street have been completed with gratifying results.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Charges Made:
Water Rates
$147,105.76
Hydrant Rental
13,025.00
Services and Jobbing
12,228.01
:
All other
7,774.06
$180,132.83
Income:
Water Rates
$149,149.84
Hydrant Rental
13,025.00
Services and Jobbing
11,660.85
All other
5,902.21
$179,737.90
Expenditures:
Adm. Maint. and Operation
$143,223.36
Amortization
19,000.00
Interest
2,707.50
$164,930.86
Accounts Receivable:
Water Rates
$18,535.69
Liens to Assessors
158.66
All other
4,010.87
$22,705.22
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Engineering Department
JOHN J. DRINKWATER, Town Engineer
No. of Employees
Budget
1947 4 $10,051.00 1948 4 10,667.00
Expenditures $10,050.33 10,665.09
Lines and grades were furnished to the Highway Depart- ment for the following: Road Construction-Storrs Avenue Ex- tension, Beech Street Extension, Sheraton Avenue, Vernon Street, Magnolia Street Extension, Liberty Street Widening and Elliot Street Widening from Stetson Street to Walnut Avenue. Drains --- Vinedale Road from Inglewood Street to Pleasant View Avenue, Pleasant View Avenue from Vinedale Road to Ferncroft Road, Robert Street from Conrad Street to Elmlawn Road, Nickerson Road, Quincy Avenue to Smelt Brook through Parking Area and Commercial Street from Elm Street 350' north. Sidewalks --- Pond Street from Farm River to Johnson Lane and South Congre- gational Church.
Miscellaneous projects consist of the following: Layout of High School Addition and new gymnasium; topographical sur- vey and plan of land on Hayward Street; drain easement through land of Armstrong Cork Company from railroad main line to Plymouth Division; location survey and plans for Police De- partment at the intersections of Commercial Street and Brook- side Road, Tremont Street and Taylor Street, Tremont and Sum- mer Street; layout of Town Barn, together with lines and grades for driveway.
All deeds and subdivisions were checked and plotted ac- cordingly on Assessors Plans, together with three hundred and forty new buildings and additions.
Twenty-eight pole locations were staked for the Electric Light Company.
131
Braintree Housing Authority
FRANK L. HEANEY, Chairman
WILLIAM H. GUSTAFSON,
ERNEST J. JANSSEN, Vice Chairman
Treasurer WILLIAM M. GUSTIN, GEORGE A. HITCHOCK, Ass't. Treasurer Temporary Secretary
Appointment of the Authority was authorized at a Special Town Meeting June 7, 1948; on August 9, 1948, all legal for- malities had been fulfilled and we were able to organize. Then, months were devoted to collecting a mass of statistics about Braintree for State Housing Board records.
A difference of opinion arose about relative merits of single family versus row houses; the Braintree Authority plans to erect single family homes; the State Housing Board is of the opinion that such houses cannot be built at a cost that will permit of their being rented to veterans of low income. We believe it can be done; indeed under our zoning and building laws, it must be done.
While this matter is not yet at the point of a meeting of views, it will be ironed out and we expect to start construction next Spring.
The Authority plans to erect ninety single family, four- and five-room homes in several localities of the town under the terms of State Housing law known as Chapter 200 of the Acts of 1948.
The intent of the above is that houses built under its pro- vision shall be rented to veterans with low incomes and be held for rental for twenty-five years and then sold; unless the hous- ing emergency is sooner declared to have ended.
We have inspected 240 house lot sites. Of these, 90 sites . were shown on maps submitted to State Housing Board for approval. That Board's representative viewed the sites and reported that they were, in part, not acceptable and we were asked to select now locations. This has been done and we are now awaiting decision on new locations.
If, and when, we have approval on 90 sites, we can then select the necessary technical assistance and make financial arrangements.
Chapter 200, referred to above,. provides that we can, after having met requirements of State laws and having received ap- proval of the State Housing Board, issue bonds to the amount of 3 percent of the town's assessed valuation; namely to an ap-
132
proximate amount of $921,000. Bonds so issued will be wholly guaranteed by the state.
We plan to construct dwellings on accepted streets in which all utilities are available, thus eliminating excessive develop- ment costs.
UNION VILLAGE PROJECT
The Authority was directed on September 15, 1948, to as- sume the responsibility for the operation of the Union Village Project, formerly a responsibility of the Selectmen. The Project was set up in October, 1946, under a five-year contract with the Federal Public Housing Administration at a cost of $240,000 to the Federal Government and $12,872.00 to the Town of Brain- tree.
Some site improvements were provided by the Town of Braintree; such as a playground with equipment and a summer attendant.
There has been a continuous waiting list of veterans in need of housing and consequently any vacancies have been filled immediately, indicating that the need is far in excess of the 96 units provided by this project. Due to the nature of construc- tion and the type of material that was available in 1946, it has been found necessary to rearrange and replace a number of the fixtures. Various alterations and adjustments have been made to meet the Local and State requirements. The Authority immediately saw the need to protect the tenants from the ele- ments as the buildings were not insulated and the type of con- struction permitted drafts, and accordingly they arranged to pro- vide storm windows, caulking and weatherstripping as re -. quired.
In accordance with the provisions of contract with the Public Housing Administration, this Authority, on October 25, 1948, turned over to the Town Treasurer $6,773.76 as payment in lieu of taxes, and in 1947, $2,271.36 was paid to Town Treasurer for same purpose, and in addition to these sums, $120.00 a month has been paid as ground rents.
It is generally recognized that projects of this type require considerable repair, particularly after the second year and the Authority is constantly reviewing the conditions, giving proper consideration toward safety, comfort, cleanliness and general appearance. With the need of low rental housing facilities for veterans as referred to above, together with the few years re- maining for this project to continue, consideration must be given now toward the housing problem in the Town of Braintree.
133
Airport Commission
WILLIAM G. BROOKS, Chairman HARLAN W. KINGSBURY, Secretary FRANK L. HEANEY
JOHN W. MURPHY GEORGE T. WOODSUM
The Braintree Airport Commission appointed by the Select- men of the Town of Braintree, following a vote of the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1947, reports that Braintree now has an Airport.
Several years ago the town voted that the Braintree Air- port Development Committee be appointed to survey all possible Airport sites in the town and make their recommendations to the 1947 Annual Town Meeting. This committee, following an ex- haustive search of all sites in the town, reported that the Civil Aeronautics Administration of Massachusetts had made a com- plete survey of the Braintree-Quincy areas and stated that Braintree had one of the "Finest Airport Sites on the South Shore". This large field is a "Natural Airport Site", containing over 20 acres of fairly level land, located on Route 128, a short distance from the "Five Corners" section, extending to
BRAINTREE AIRPORT SITE BEFORE CLEARING
134
Great Pond which supplies Braintree, Randolph and Holbrook with their water supply. There are several deposits of gravel within a short distance of this field which will tend to reduce the cost of construction when the Airport is built.
At the 1947 Annual Town Meeting a vote was passed to appoint an Airport Commission of five persons as required by the laws of the Commonwealth, to develop an Airport in the Town of Braintree for the use of the citizens of the town who are interested in aviation. The committee appointed by the Selectmen was as follows: William G. Brooks, Chairman; Harlan W. Kingsbury, Secretary; Frank L. Heaney, John W: Murphy and George T. Woodsum. This committee suggested that all persons interested in aviation, who are residents of the town, form an association and make plans for the building of a private Airport for the use of Braintree's War Vets and others who are interested in aviation.
A survey of the town showed that over 100 young men were interested in the construction of Braintree's first Airport and ready to do their part in this great project. Realizing that it would be impossible to ask the town to vote a large sum of money for an Airport, the Braintree Airport Commission told Town Meeting members in March, 1948, that if permission could be obtained to use Town-owned land which is under the juris-
PARTLY COMPLETED BRAINTREE AIRPORT, OCTOBER, 1948
135
diction of the Water Department, that the 100 young men in- terested in aviation were ready to build their own airfield.
On June 9, 1948, following several important meetings, the Water Commissioners of Braintree, consisting of Thomas E. Sears, Chairman; Joseph Landers and Willard P. Shepard, granted a license to the Airport Commission to use for air- port purposes, 87.1 acres of land to construct an air strip 2000 feet long by approximately 80 feet in width, running in an east- west direction. This land is adjacent to Great Pond bounded by King Hill Road and West Street, near Route 128. Permission was given to carry on the construction work, to cut down cer- tain trees and use gravel from pits located on the premises. George W. Watson, Superintendent of the Water Department, agreed to work with the Airport Commission in locating the airfield.
The airport is registered with the Massachusetts Aeronau- tics Commission as a private airport and acknowledgment of this registration in letter dated June 22, 1948, is signed by James F. Byrne, Chief Airport Engineer.
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