USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1954 > Part 4
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ARTICLE 3. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds for the purpose of preparing working plans, employing architects and se- curing bids for the construction of a new junior high school building in the south district, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: That there be appropriated the sum of $49,000.00, of which $16,471.84 shall be transferred from the Hollis School Re- pairing Accounts, $51.58 from the Braintree High School addition account, $30,000.00 from the Lakeside School account, $1,996.73 from the Penniman Annex account, $270.84 from the 1953 School Budget Judgment Account, $209.01 from new plans Lakeside account, for the preparation of plans, specifications, drawings and reports, and
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securing bids for the construction of a new junior high school build- ing in the South District under the direction of a committe of five to be appointed by the Moderator, one of whom to be a member of the Finance Committee, and to be known as The South District School Development Committee with full power to employ architects, consultants, secure bids in the name of the Town and to do all and any acts necessary towards securing the above mentioned plans, specifications, drawings, reports and bids within the aforesaid appro- priation, and report to the Town not later than the 1955 Annual Town Meeting .- Unanimous vote.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to rescind the au- thority voted under Article 23 of the 1954 Annual Meeting to acquire certain property for Park Purposes and to transfer appropriation made therefor to any other similar purpose and then to see if the Town will vote to authorize the purchase or taking by eminent do- main for Park Purposes of a parcel of land off Washington Street, being a portion of Plot 49, Lot D on Assessors' Plan 1045 as shown on plan prepared by the Town Engineer and to raise and appro- priate or transfer from available funds a sum of money therefor, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To rescind the action taken under Article 23 of the An- nual Meeting to acquire Plot 49 on Assessors' Plan 1045 for Park purposes, and that the sum of $1,500.00 be appropriated and trans- ferred from the appropriation under Article 23 at the Annual Town Meeting for the purchase or taking by eminent domain, which pur- chase or taking is hereby authorized, of a parcel of land off Wash- ington Street, being a portion of Lot D on Assessors' Plan 1045 and being shown on a plan of land for Park Purposes, Owner Wolcott Griffiths, June 22, 1954, on file in the Town Engineer's Office, to- gether with a right of way 30 feet in width from Washington Street to said parcel.
ARTICLE 5. To see what sum or sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds for uniforms or equipment for the Auxiliary Police, or take any other ac- tion relative thereto.
Voted: To appropriate and transfer from available funds in the treasury the sum of $1,650.00 for the purchase of 75 uniform jackets for the auxiliary police department.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provi- sions of Sec. 1 of Chapter 297 and Chatper 511 both of the Acts of 1954 relating to an Industrial Development Commission.
Voted: That the Town accept the provisions of Sec. 1 of Chapter 297 and Chapter 511 both of the Acts of 1954 relating to an In- dustrial Development Commission and that said Commission con- sist of not more than five members .- Unanimous vote.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to abandon that portion of a 1949 Town Layout of Common Street between Sunny- side Avenue as laid out and the northerly side line of the existing traveled way on said Common Street, or take any other action rela- tive thereto.
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Voted: To authorize the Selectmen to abandon that portion of a 1949 layout and taking of Common Street laying between the easterly end of Sunnyside Avenue, so-called, and the northerly boundary of Common Street as it exists as a traveled way. Unanimous vote.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purpose of constructing an addition to the Central Fire and Police Station to increase garage facilities for the Police Department, or take any other action relative thereto .- No action.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to sell to the abutting owners a small piece of land, not in use for Highway purposes, on the easterly side of Azel Road, or take any other action relative thereto .- No action.
Committee Reports SALARY SURVEY COMMITTEE
At the annual Town Meeting 1952 two resolutions were offered relative to wages for the employees of the Town of Braintree. A single committee was appointed to consider these subjects. At the 1953 Annual Town Meeting this committee reported that, in its opinion, a job classification and salary program was feasible. It was recommended that $6,000.00 be appropriated to have the work done by a professional firm, which advice you ac- cepted and approved.
The Moderator re-appointed practically the same people to carry out this program. Then illness struck and other problems arose, leading to several resignations, and it was late summer before the committee could organize. This delay placed this committee, and later the Finance Committee, under great pressure.
About eight firms were interviewed and five pos- sible plans discussed, three plans receiving serious con- sideration. The plan finally adopted-job evaluation- is what might be called one of four standard approaches to this task. Prices for the work ranged from $3,775.00 to something over $14,000.00. A contract was finally signed with Sumner D. Charm and Associates. While this firm was the low bidder the decision to employ it, rather than one of the other low bidders, was based upon the feeling that this firm would do as good a technical job as
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any firm, and probably would inspire more co-operation among the town's employees.
We wish to express our thanks, at this time, to the firms we interviewed. They were most helpful to us, even when they sensed that they were probably out of the run- ning. This was a small job for most of them, yet we re- ceived courteous consideration from every one of them.
The first step in a project such as this is to secure a description of each job. This was done by means of ques- tionaires, interviews of the employees, and interviews with the department heads. After a rough description had been prepared it was reviewed by the appropriation department head. This corrected copy constitutes our official job description.
The next step is to evaluate, or measure, each job. To do this the yardsticks, called factors, must be estab- lished. On page four of the booklet you will see a list of the factors used. It is here that experience and judgment count the most. Yet even this need is reduced to a mini- mum such that almost anyone could be trained to do it.
Having determined the score for each job it is now possible to arrange them in order of importance.
We are now ready to price these jobs. To do this the going rate for certain key jobs is determined. The going rates were found by a survey of 17 communities. By plotting the rates of these key jobs on a chart we get a picture such as you see on page eight of the booklet. The heavy line connects the positions of the various key jobs. With a curve established for each category, and with the point-score of each job known, it is then very simple to pick out the correct rate of pay for each job.
As the committee sees it there are three areas of possible controversy. The first is-is the job properly described? This was done by the employee and by his department head and by on-the-job audits by Mr. Charm's employees. Before being used the description was once again reviewed by the department head, and by some employees. Thus it would seem that this area of dispute has been reduced to almost, but not quite, nothingness.
The second area of argument is the application of the yardsticks. This must be done by an impartial party -in this case Charm and Associates. How well was this
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done? On this committee there are three men who are experienced in this work-in fact, one makes his living at it. These three men have independently evaluated a limited number of jobs. Then they compared their results with one another, and finally with the work of Charm and Associates. From this we are well satisfied that the jobs in town are properly evaluated.
If there are any errors up to this point, and it is probable that a few mistakes do exist, it seems most likely that the errors are in the first step-the job descriptions, which were done largely by the employees themselves.
The third possible area of dispute is the setting of the wage curve or chart. It might be argued that we took towns that were too small, or towns that were in financial difficulties. The three smallest communities used are neighbors of ours-Holbrook, Randolph and Hingham. The three largest communities used are Brookline, Ar- lington and Weymouth. Of all the towns in the state these three rank first, second and fourth in size. Our wage schedule is based on the average wage rate-of the key jobs-paid in these seventeen towns.
From this curve we established a lower line that was the minimum, or starting rate. This line is 10% below the average line. The line for the maximum rate is 10%, above the average line. This means that in just a few years the rate of pay of Braintree employees will be above average-not the highest paid people, but above average.
Unfortunately some groups or individuals are already close to, at, or above this maximum line. Rather natur- ally these employees are somewhat disappointed. For example, in the case of the privates in the Police and Fire Departments, out of the 220 cities and towns in the state of 2500 population and up we find only 4 cities and 13 towns with higher wage rates than those we propose for Braintree privates. And three of these towns are in our survey group. Under these circumstances we fail to see how we could honestly urge higher rates.
This brings us rather naturally to the subject of the By-Laws. Part I, Section 3 and Section 8, and Part II, Section C, and Part III, Section 2, suggest steps to be taken to protect employees from errors and discrimina-
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tion. We would like to stress these sections in view of the previous problems we have mentioned. Every effort is made to assure the employees of fair treatment.
In connection with the By-Laws themselves the only criticism we have heard is that they specifically prohibit a town employee or elected official from serving on the Personnel Board. We concede that this is a matter of debate. Most towns having such a plan make the same restriction. However, some don't-and Weymouth even requires the appointment of one town employee. Frankly, we think our position is right, but we recognize the ar- guments of the opposite position.
The committee is not infallible, unfortunately. Nor are its proposals perfect. Some things in our proposals may be the object of legitimate debate. However, the committee had to offer a position on such things, and did its best to determine what seemed most proper in each case.
The job is not complete. Some of the things not yet covered are : vacations, holidays, pay for overtime work, hours of work, and other items-what are usually re- ferred to as fringe benefits. If the Salary Administration Plan is adopted we hope these can be studied in the coming year.
We have been asked, "What does the Town get out of this?" The Town gets the satisfaction of knowing it is doing right by its employees, and the knowledge that inequities have been eliminated so far as it is humanly possible. The Town also gets the expectation that most employees will be happier, and therefore more produc- tive employees. And finally, there is the expectation that, with the recommendations of a personnel board to help, Town Meetings will move along faster and more smoothly.
What will this program cost the Town of Braintree? If our proposals are adopted the added cost in the 1954 tax levy will be $12,000.00 more or less, or about $.30 on the tax rate. And if no changes of any sort occur, then when the Salary Administration Plan is finally in full effect the added cost is estimated at $51,000.00, or $1.27 on the tax rate.
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In conclusion we must indicate our appreciation of the attitude of the town employees. To most of them this was a strange and uncertain project. Yet Mr. Charm and his associates and employees report to us that they were received pleasantly and received splendid co-operation.
As we see it there are four general avenues you may take on our proposals, other than amendment of details. One is to discard the plan completely. Another is to adopt the plan completely. A third is to adopt the plan except deleting the Schedules A and B. This would es- tablish the plan but postpone for a year its use in the Town Budgets. And the fourth course of action could be the adoption of our proposed adjustments for 1954, but otherwise rejecting the plan.
Throughout our considerations the committee has said to itself repeatedly-if this project doesn't "shape- up" as something which is right, either as to principle or as to details, then this report to the Town Meeting must recommend no action at this time. What we recommend must be right for Braintree. And that means right for the Town employees and right for the citizens of the town- the employers.
The committee believes that its proposals are in the best interests of this community. Having done its work with care and thoughtfulness the commitee now urges that you adopt its proposals.
W. J. KEMMER R. J. STALKER J. C. WANZER, JR. C. W. R. JOHNSON W. B. BELCHER
Voted. That the report of the Salary Survey Com- mittee be accepted as a report of progress and that the committee be instructed to continue its studies and report its findings to the Personnel Board.
COMMITTEE REPORT AS TO THE DISPOSITION OF THE ORIGINAL LIBRARY BUILDING
This is a report of the committee appointed by vote of the Annual Town Meeting of 1953 to collaborate with and Trustees of Thayer Public Library in a study to deter-
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mine disposition or future use of the original Library Building.
Early investigation revealed the fact that the title to the real estate was vested in five Trustees, namely : French, Hobart, Johnson, Hunt and Hayden, long since deceased, by deed in 1874, "In strict trust to hold, man- age and control same forever for the uses of a free public library for the Town of Braintree."
The present Board of Trustees of Thayer Public Li- brary, who act under separate authority, and who have no title of ownership in the property, agreed with our committee that there is no further need of the old build- ing for library purposes.
It appeared to us that the property had been used for over three-quarters of a century for the purpose spe- cified in the original deed of trust and, in the normal course of events, had become obsolete and impractical for continuation of those purposes.
The problem therefore confronted us as to how the building could be taken for other uses. We were advised by Town Counsel that the usual legal procedure would be long and cumbersome due to the fact that no succes- sors to the original Trustees had ever been appointed. He agreed that a taking by eminent domain for municipal purposes would be the most satisfactory method. This can be accomplished with a nominal award of one dollar.
Having reached this decision, we then considered how the building could be used to best advantage. Being deeply concerned about the financial burden which some uses would place on our taxpayers, and recognizing a need for additional space in Town Hall, it seemed after considering all suggestions made, that the building might be used for offices of the Water Department, who are thoroughly in agreement with this course of action as the result of a joint meeting between the Water Commis- sioners, the Trustees of the Library, the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and our Committee.
We particularly call to your attention the fact that none of the necessary alteration costs (which will be sub- stantial), nor any maintenance costs, will be reflected in the tax rate as they will all come from the funds of the Water Department, which is self-supporting.
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These recommendations have been reached in full agreement with the Trustees of the Library, and we have asked that an article be placed in the Warrant to take title to the original Library property by eminent domain for the use of the Board of Water Commissioners.
J. F. DINGS OTIS B. OAKMAN, JR. S. H. RIPLEY J. CLARKE SETTLES CARROLL D. WELCH
Voted : That the report be accepted with thanks.
REPORT OF THE INDUSTRIAL SURVEY COMMITTEE
The 1953 Braintree Town Meeting voted approval of the following motion :
"Moved: The appointment under Article 2 of a committee of five, one member of which is to be a member of the Planning Board, to study industrial needs in Braintree and to recommend or insert an article into the Warrant at the next Annual or Special Town Meeting whichever occurs first, such action by the Town, as in its opinion, may be necessary to promote the growth of existing industry and to encourage new industry into the Town."-Unanimously carried.
The report of the Industrial Survey Committee, thus appointed, follows :
During recent years, we have witnessed one of the greatest building booms in the history of our country. The great number of new homes which have been erected in Braintree, has resulted in the need for new school fa- cilities. Town utility systems have been expanded and work loads imposed upon our various Town departments have increased immeasurably. In the face of this growth in home building, industrial development in Braintree has increased but slightly. The property owners of the Town are now faced with a steadily rising tax rate. To alleviate this burden, our committee feels it essential that we make every effort to encourage the development of new industry and commerce.
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The industrial or non-residential taxpayer is unique in that he makes no direct use of schools, parks, libraries, and, in proportion to his tax bill, comparatively little use of police and fire protection. His taxes, therefore, repre- sent a distinct profit to his community. Moreover, the non-residential taxpayer offers his residential neighbors diversified job opportunities, wages and salaries to bol- ster the local economy and a hedge against regional busi- ness recessions.
On the other hand, our committee was anxious to find out whether Braintree offered attractions sufficient to induce the settlement of new industry. Inquiry was made into various fields suggested by a report prepared for the Filene Foundation in 1950. The results of this inquiry follow :
The labor supply, according to figures provided by the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, was found ample and skilled. A survey of labor and management in Braintree by the committee indicated, with few exceptions, a favor- able labor relations picture. At the moment, existing buildings are not available in sufficient number for in- dustrial use. Furthermore, land now zoned for industry is inadequate. What is available, does not provide satis- factory room for expansion and development. However, an article in the current Town Warrant submitted by the Zoning Survey Committee, if passed, will add several hundred additional acres of land for industrial use.
Of the local companies surveyed by the committee, none expressed concern over availability of raw ma- terials. Most felt that New England, and Braintree in particular, represented a suitable midway point between various suppliers. Moreover, since these companies ship all over the country and have adequate rail, highway and air transportation close at hand, they do not consider shipping a serious problem. The construction of the new Southeast Expressway and Route 128 through or adja- cent to the Town, as presently planned, will make Brain- tree even more attractive as an industrial location. With regard to markets for consumer goods, the committee found that 4,000,000 people live within 50 miles of Brain- tree and the Boston Chamber of Commerce presented figures showing a population of over 50,000,000, or rough- ly 1/3 the United States population, within 500 miles of Boston.
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These facts, together with favorable utility rates in Braintree, training facilities and living conditions avail- able throughout the South Shore area plus offers of cooperation from the Braintree Selectmen, Board of As- sessors, the Quincy Chamber of Commerce and the New Haven Railroad, are indicative of a generally favorable picture for future industrial expansion in Braintree.
While not the most important consideration, the state and local tax structure is often sufficient to weigh the industrial scale for or against a given community. Speak- ing of his experiences in locating a plant in New England, Gwilyn A. Price, President of Westinghouse Electric, said of taxes, ". . perhaps the thing a company fears most is instability." He continues, "Even if the tax picture is favorable at the moment, there are often straws in the wind that indicate trouble ahead." Tax concessions are neither sought nor expected by the average industrial firm, and the committee feels, along with the Board of Assessors, that such concessions, even if legal, should be made only in unusual cases.
In summary, the Industrial Survey Committee be- lieves that, in order to implement a sound program of industrial expansion, a permanent Industrial Commission as outlined in Article - in the 1954 Warrant should be established. We in Braintree have never had an officially created body capable of providing basic information re- garding available plants or suitable sites for industrial development. Such a Commission, consisting of promi- nent local citizens, would assimilate all pertinent data regarding available plants and building sites, and would process all inquiries relating to these.
Your committee, consisting of Herbert J. Albee, Wil- liam G. Dyer, Thomas H. Matthews and George W. Lunn, are of the opinion that, while action is long overdue, Braintree can still profit by the experience of such com- munities as Norwood, Needham, Westwood and Dedham in the establishment of a forward-looking industrial pro- gram. In respectfully submitting this report for your ap- proval, we strongly urge your support for the foregoing recommendations.
HERBERT ALBEE WILLIAM DYER THOMAS MATTHEWS GEORGE LUNN. Chairman
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Voted : That the report presented by Mr. Lunn be accepted with thanks.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO SURVEY ZONING BY-LAW
As a result of a vote by the March 1953 Town Meet- ing the Moderator appointed a Committee, said Commit- tee to include a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and also a member of the Planning Board. This Com- mittee, by vote of the Town Meeting was instructed to survey the Zoning By-Laws of the Town and particularly the desirability of increasing lot size area requirements and to survey industrial development and make its re- port with recommendations, if any, in January 1954.
The Committee has surveyed the Town's Zoning By-Law, it has carefully studied the desirability of in- creasing lot size area requirements and industrial devel- opment.
The Committee reports as follows:
1. The protective by-law of the Town known as the "Zoning" law has been effective since it was adopted in 1940, however, changes in conditions have to a certain extent been met with amendments to the by-law but in order that required changes be kept current and in keep- ing with the times, it is advisable that this or a similar committee be named to continue studying the Zoning By- Law so that it may be kept current and in keeping with the present day requirements. We recommend the nam- ing of such a committee.
2. Since the adoption of the original zoning by-law in 1940 (with the exception noted for lots recorded prior to 1940) no dwelling could be erected on lots in zones B, C, Business and Industrial, unless such lots had an area of 7500 square feet and the requirement in Zone A has been 15,000 square feet.
For the past several years, housing developments have increased by leaps and bounds and the peak certain- ly has not been reached in our Town as yet. While the Planning Board has diligently exercised control over sub- divisions, the power it exercises under the statutes are
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limited to layouts of ways, drainage, sewerage disposal and utility installation.
There is no control provided as to the type or cost of houses to be constructed as long as they comply with the building code. Even though a developer is made to conform strictly with the requirements of the zoning by- law, the rules and regulations of the Planning Board and the building code, the present lot size requirements are small enough to permit helter skelter and future shanty- town developments with cheap construction and low value overall costs, thereby lowering the Town standards that have been prevailing and be the means of effecting substantial increases in the tax rate far and above that which would be caused by normal development such as existed prior to the housing boom. Small size lots mean small houses of low valuation with increased costs of fire and police protection, highway, water, sewer and edu- cational requirements, and maintenance all of which can only be met with substantial property tax rate increases to be paid by the already overburdened home owners and taxpayers.
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