USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1955 > Part 8
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FIRE DEPARTMENT IN ACTION
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Fire Department HARRY T. SEARS Chief of Fire Department
Superintendent of Fire Alarm
In 1955 out of a total of 906 calls of all descriptions, 51 fires resulted with a loss totaling $130,335.13 with a property valuation involved by fire of $1,050,300.00.
Fire prevention is considered one of the most import- ant duties of the Fire Department. A special effort has been made to increase the number of inspections of all classes of buildings. In 1955 a total of 1800 inspections were made. Fire prevention should be carried out the entire year. With your help we can still lower our fire losses and minimize the physical danger to our citizens.
The three fire stations are in very good condition and require only the usual maintenance to keep them in top condition.
The Fire Alarm System is in excellent condition with seven new fire alarm boxes added in 1955 consisting of one Master box for school protcetion and six Street Boxes in new locations.
Due to the rapid development in the Highlands Dis- trict it is necessary to recommend one additional man to the two man company now in service. We have 1200 dwel- ings, 3 schools and the Norfolk County Hospital in this district.
The apparatus and equipment are in very good condition.
Mutual Aid plays a very important part in the protec- tion of life and property. We are grateful to have auto- matic Mutual Aid with our neighboring city and towns.
Our two-way radio purchased in 1951 with one mobile unit added each year until all apparatus are radio equipp- ed, provides instantaneous and reliable communication between fire headquarters and fire apparatus and men, contributing to the efficiency of the Fire Service.
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We still have three second class school buildings not protected by automatic sprinkler systems. I have re- Guested the School Committee to continue the sprinkler program of one school building a year until all 2nd and 3rd class school buildings are protected by automatic fire alarm and sprinkler systems.
The large reduction in insurance premiums has in many cases been the prevailing reason for installing auto- matic sprinklers. Oftentimes the annual savings is suffici- ent to pay for the sprinkler system in two to four years : it seldom takes over seven or eight years. Regardless of the question of safety which should be the most important feature for the safety of our school children and school buildings, sprinkler protection is an excellent investment.
STATE LAW-Upon the approach of any fire appara- tus which is going to a fire or responding to an alarm, every person driving a vehicle on a way shall immediately drive said vehiicle as far as possible toward the right hand curb or side of said way and shall keep the same at a standstill until such fire apparatus has passed. No person shall drive a vehicle over a hose of a fire department without the consent of a member of such department. No person shall drive a vehicle within eight hundred feet of any fire apparatus going to a fire or responding to an alarm, nor drive said vehicle or park or leave the same unattended, within six hundred feet of a fire or within the fire lines established thereat by the fire department. Violations of any provisions of this section shall be pun- ished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
Fuel oil in excess of ten gallons shall not be kept in a structure without a permit having been obtained from the head of the Fire Department. In 1955 there were 572 inspections of fuel oil burner installations. These installa- tions are increasing every year. A person, firm or corpora- tion shall not install nor alter a fuel oil burner installation until a certificate of competency has been obtained from the State Fire Marshall.
A permit is required from the head of the Fire De- partment for the installation and storage of Liquified Petroleum Gas systems. Thirty two permits were issued in 1955 for such installations, 23 permits for blasting and 461 permits for fires in open air.
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Supervised drills and schooling in the Fire Depart- ment are carried on throughout the year to keep abreast of the most advanced fire fighting techniques and equipment.
We used 32,000 feet of 21/2" hose, 20,750 feet of 11/2" hose, 46,120 feet of Booster Hose and 1,551 feet of ladders. Our engines pumped water a total of 179 hours. We received calls for 144 building fires, 57 resuscitator calls, 394 grass, woods and dump fires, 2 oil refinery fires, 72 investigations, 27 automobile fires, 26 false alarms, 18 out of town calls and 148 miscellaneous calls.
In closing I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen and all others who have assisted the Fire De- partment in carrying out its duties.
Town Treasurer
GEORGE H. GERRIOR, JR., Temporary Town Treasurer in account with THE TOWN OF BRAINTREE
Cash Book Balance, January 1, 1955 $1,190,888.82
Receipts from all Sources - 1955 8,734,250.23
$9,925,139.05
Paid on Selectmens' Warrants
$7,888,487.45
Cash Book Balance December 31, 1955 2,936,551.50
$9,925,139.05
(Details of Receipts and Expenditures are shown in Accountant's Report)
OUTSTANDING FUNDED DEBT, DECEMBER 31, 1955
First Sewer Loan, 31/2 % due 1956-1961
$ 84,000.00
Sewer Loan, 21/4 % due 1956-1958
15,000.00
Sewer Loan, 11/2 % due 1956-1959 20,000.00
Sewer Loan, 1.40% due 1956-1961 30,000.00 Sewer Loan, 1.90% due 1956-1961
59,000.00
Sweer Loan, 2.20% due 1956-1963
80,000.00
Sewer Loan, 2.10% due 1956-1964 45,000.00
Water Main Bonds, 11/4 % due 1956-1961
72,000.00
Water
Construction Bonds, 11/4 % due 1956-1961
18,000.00
Water Standpipe Bonds, 2.10% due 1956-1969
42,000.00
High School Addition Bonds, 21/4 % due 1956-1968 523,000.00
High School Remodeling Bonds, 21/4 % due 1956-1958 48,000.00
Highway Garage Bonds, 21/4 % due 1956-1958
18,000.00
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Elementary School Bonds, 1 3/4 % due 1956-1970
495,000.00
Elementary School Bonds, 1.90% due 1956-1972
1,136,000.00
Elementary School Bonds, 2.10% due 1956-1974
635,000.00
Elementary School Bonds, 2.10% due 1956-1974 152,000.00
Electric Light Bonds, 1.75% due 1956-1972
1,190,000.00
Library Bonds, 2.10% due 1956-1972 170,000.00
South Junior High Bonds, 2.10% due 1956-1975
1,150,000.00
$5,982,000.00
TAX TITLES
Tax Titles held by Town, January 1, 1955
$ 8,907.02
1955 'Takings
1,642.54
1955 Subsequent Taxes added to Tax Titles
3,294.58
Total
$ 13,844.14
1955 Redmptions
4,688.65
Tax Title Balance December 31, 1955
$ 9,155.49
TRUST FUND TRANSACTIONS - 1955
of Fund Principal Dec. 31, '55
Balance
of Income
Jan. 1, '55
Income
Receipts
1955
Payments
from Income
Balance
of Income
Dec. 31, '55
N. H. Hunt Trust $24,436.99
$
$ 819.50
$
$
Chas E. French Tr.
2,419.50
104.65
75.51
51.20
128.96
Ann M. Penniman Tr. 500.00
7.29
15.32
22.61.
Geo. W. Kelley Tr.
200.00
18.32
6.59
24.91
Hannah R. Hollis Tr.
100.00
19.24
3.61
22.85
Chas. Thayer Tr. 20,329.06
695.89
613.95
600.00
709.81
Julia A. Minchin Tr. 100.00
27.83
3.85
31.68
Avis A. Thayer Tr.
500.00
25.75
15.88
41.63
Jos. S. Miller Tr.
123.66
34.41
4.77
39.18
Chas C. Hill Tr.
100.00
27.84
3.85
31.69
M. P. W. Martin Tr.
300.00
17.21
9.58
26.79
Colbert Sch. Trust
25,000.00
8,547.60
971.18
9,518.78
Henry H. Musick Tr. 250.00
65.98
9.53
75.51
Colbert Library Tr. 40,443.76
8,598.76
1,491.10
9,000.00
1,089.86
Stabilization Fund
1,000.00
146.14
34.64
180.78
Mary F. White Tr. 10,665.50
159.98
159.98
Trust Funds in the Name of the Trustees of Thayer Public Library, December 31, 1955
Principal-Foundation
$11,020.91
Principal-Caleb Stetson Fund
2,500.00
Principal- Rachel Thayer Fund
172.50
Unexpended Income January 1, 1955 Income-Foundation $ 316.10
$ 3,467,03
Income-Caleb Stetson Fund
75.00
1955
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Income-Rachel Thayer Fund
Income-N. H. Hunt Trust
5.16 819.50
$ 1,215.76
Expended Income, January 1, 1955
$ 1,331.20
Balance Unexpended Income December 31, 1955 $ 3,351.64
CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Cash Balance, January 1, 1955
$ 12,756.54
Cash Receipts for year of 1955 146,113.62
Total $158,870.10
Payments made on Vouchers of Retirement Board
149,982.75
Cash Balance December 31, 1955 8,887.41
$158,870.16
GEORGE H. GERRIOR, JR. Temporary Treasurer
Harbor Master
Honorable Board of Selectmne
Town Hall
South Braintree, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report as Harbor Master for the year 1955. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank all Town Officials and employees who have so kindly assisted me during the year.
All available mooring space was in use during the boating season.
On February 7, 1955 a meeting was held at the Metropolitan Yacht Club, East Braintree, at which Mr. Rodolphe Bessette, Director of Waterways, and Mr. Robert B. Mackinnon, Chief Engineer of the Common- wealth of Mass. Dept. of Public Works, explained the position of the Department in regards to the dredging of the Weymouth Fore River. This meeting was conducted by Honorable Herbert B. Hollis, State Representative, in his capacity of Chairman of the Braintree-Weymouth
102
Harbor Dredging Committee. At this meeting it was agreed that if the Braintree Electric Light Dept. would pay $8250.00, the Town of Weymouth appropriate $10,- 000.00 and the Town of Braintree appropriate the sum of $20,000.00, the Commonwealth of Mass. would appropri- ate the balance of $121,750.00 making a total of $160,- 000.00 for the job.
On October 18, 1955 bids were opened on this dredg- ing job by the Commonwealth of Mass. and the contract was awarded to the Bay State Dredging and Contracting Co. of Boston and work was started shortly after Novem- ber 1, 1955.
All boat owners and interested parties were notified by me to remove all moorings before November 1, 1955 or they would be picked up and dumped out to sea.
When this job is completed the channel in the river will be not less than 80 feet wide, have a depth of 6 feet at mean low water and will be straightened out to provide better navigation and will allow us to moor twice as many boats as at present.
During the year one sunken boat was ordered re- moved and this boat was given to the Sea Scouts by the owner and they removed it. Several boats that went adrift were retrieved and secured.
Respectfully submitted,
SEWARD W. TABER,, Harbor Master EARL F. CONNORS, Asst. Harbor Master
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Water Commissioners
To the Citizens of Braintree :
The year 1955 was an unusual year for the Braintree water supply due to excessive rainfall and also to exces- sive drought during the month of June and July. This produced in the water supply of not only Braintree but
our neighboring towns disagreeable odors and tastes in their water supply. Our average daily pumping through- cut the year was 2,050,000 gallons while the maximum daily pumpage during the periods of drought was 3,300,- 000 gallons. The capacity of our Filtration Plant is approximately 2,800,000 gallons, thus a considerable strain has been placed on our Filtration Plant during these periods of maximum pumping. Normally, the Filtra- tion Plant is able to take out these disagreeable odors and tastes, as evidenced by the fact that this disagreeable situation passed as soon as our pumpage dropped to norm- al in August and September.
We are continually studying the possibiities of aug- menting our water supply for the future. At the present it appears that we have sufficient water to carry us until about 1960. If we are to continue to draw water from Great Pond our Filtration Plant should be expanded. For over ten years we have been exploring the possibility of driven wells, but all of our many attempts have thus far failed until the present time. We have only recently found a site that may produce water in sufficient volume and quality for our needs. If we can produce a well with a capacity of 500,000 gallons daily this will relieve the strain on our Great Pond Filtration Plant and enable us to postpone expansion of this element of our water system for the present.
We always have before us the possibility of entering the Metropolitan Water System, but to date such a course has been almost prohibited in the expense involved. The Legislature has had a Committee investigating the pos- sibility of supplying the South Shore towns with Metropol- itan water and we understand there have been several hearings and the committee is now seeking a continuation of their studies to determine the best course of action. They have estimated, I believe, that it will cost between $4,500,000.00 and $5,000,000.00 to build a main necessary
104
to supply these South Shore towns. In addition to our share of this expense we would be under necessity of building a special pumping station as they are unable to deliver us water at a pressure adequate to fill our standpipes.
If the citizens of the Town will be patient we will hope that during the coming year we will be able to improve the quality of our water and propose plans that will take care of our future requirements.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS E. SEARS, Chairman JOSEPH LANDERS WILLARD P. SHEPPARD Board of Water Commissioners
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To the Board of Water Commissioners :
I hereby submit for your consideration the Sixty- Fifth Annual Report of the Water Supply System in- cluding a Financial Report and a list of work performed.
This year was extremely busy for this Department because of the volume of work and the continued diffi- culty in obtaining sufficient labor at the price of $1.28 per hour as established by the Personnel Board ..
We had planned to lay a 10 inch water main in Peach Street but as the Sewer Department were installing a sewer in the street this work has been postponed until next year. We did purchase the material for this project before prices advanced thereby saving about $500.00.
In connection with the widening of Hancock Street this Department had to reset three Fire Hydrants move twenty-seven service connection shut-offs and reset twelve main gate boxes.
A total of 20,308 feet of main pipe was laid, 33 Fire Hydrants were set and 397 house connections were laid during the year.
The demands for water are constantly increasing; this year 87,340,000 gallons more water was pumped than
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in the previous year. Our average daily pumpage for this year was 2,052,000. This year 65,517,000 gallons passed through the Booster Station while last year we pumped 49,661,000 gallons.
With a total precipitation of 56.5 inches which was 17.5 inches above normal the reservoir remained full in spite of the heavy pumpage during May, June, and July.
Again I wish to record my appreciation to you, the Water Commissioners for your guidance and support and to the employees of the Department for their splendid cooperation.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE N. WATSON, Superintendent
Financial Statement
Outstanding January 1, 1955
Current Bills $ 28,454.83
Liens Committed to
Assessors
840.05
$ 29,294.88
Charges Made
$264,958.06
Abatements 159.15
$264,798.91
$294,093.79
Collections
Current Bills $253,553.18 Liens Committed 6,310.45
$259,863.63
Outstanding December 31, 1955
$ 34,230.16 On Current Bills $ 33,105.57
On Liens Committed to Assessors
1,124.59
$ 34,230.16
10€
Cash
Balance January 1, 1955
$ 26,352.45
Collections
259,863.63
Transferred by Standpipe Account
9,292.53
Refunds
2.32
Expenditures
$295,510.73 232,971.71
Balance December 31, 1955
$62,539.02*
*Petty Cash of $190.00 Not Included.
South Shore Mosquito Control Project COMMISSIONERS
JOHN B. CLAPP, Chairman, Hingham NANCY W. KETCHUM, Secretary, Cohasset GEORGE F. BROUSSEAU, Braintree GEORGE STARR, Jr., M. D., Duxbury PAUL C. ROSS, Hull CHARLES P. DUFFEE, Marshfield BROOKS RYDER, M. D., Quincy PAUL FINNEGAN, Scituate HENRY F. GODIN, Weymouth
The town of Braintree appropriated $5,600 for mosquito control for 1955. This money was used for msoquito control in the town of Braintree by the South Shore Mosquito Control Project, a cooperative effort embracing the city of Quincy, and towns of Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Scituate and Weymouth.
Type of Control Program
The basic program of control continued to be based on drainage in the off season and larvaciding of all areas found to be breeding during the mosquito season. This was supplemented by the use of a fog generator to com- bat flying mosquitoes.
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Aerial Spraying
The spring spraying of all fresh water swamps, too large to be treated by hand, was done in the latter part of April.
In June it became evident that migration of adult mosquitoes from uncontrolled areas outside the project was occurring. In addition, it was clear that in certain areas, swamps which had been sprayed in April had pro- duced a second batch of mosquitoes. Therefore, an addi- tional treatment was applied.
1,720 acres were sprayed by air in the town of Braintree.
Catchbasin Spraying
This important phase of urban mosquito control was attacked for the first time by the project this past year.
All catchbasins were treated twice during the season and some three times.
Next year, it is anticipated that all basins will be treated at least three times and, if found necessary, a fourth treatment will be applied.
Drainage
Drainage and elimination of mosquito breeding places has been considered the keystone of mosquito con- trol by leaders in the mosquito control field from the very beginning.
The August floods, while they produced large broods of mosquitoes at the time, had an additional and even more costly effect on the operation of the project when one considers the drainage problem.
Many of the streams and culverts previously cleaned were refilled with debris and sand and must receive further attention. Some drainage formerly considered to be in fair shape has now become critical. In addition, the floods in many cases made bad situations even worse.
The above has greatly increased the amount of work the project must do.
The matter of drainage on the salt marshes has been approached from a different viewpoint this year .. In
108
former years all such work was done by hand. This year the project purchased an Oliver OC-6, crawler type trac- tor equipped with a scavel plow.
This plow is designed specifically for cleaning standard salt marsh ditches. In addition, it is possible to cut new ditches with the machine by making several trips along the line of the desired ditch, each trip digging deeper than the last.
In the town of Braintree, 5,250 feet of ditches have been cleaned, 4,400 feet reclaimed and 1,425 feet of new ditch has been dug. This figure includes both fresh and salt marsh work.
Fogging
This past two seasons the project has had in opera- tion a Todd Insecticidal Fog Applicator, commonly called a Tifa. This machine emits a fog containing small particles of insecticide which drifts with the air currents over the area, wiping out all mosquitoes and other flying insects contacted.
The machine is of considerable value in cutting down invasions of mosquitoes from large breeding places and is our only means of control in areas where our chemicals may contaminate water supply.
The emergence of large numbers of mosquitoes fol- lowing the floods of August demanded that this machine be operated every night conditions permitted.
Plans for Winter
Throughout the months between the past and coming mosquito breeding seasons much attention will be given to ditching. Work on the salt marsh will be done in the Fall and early Spring and the colder Winter months will be spent in the more protected fresh water areas.
When snow and ice conditions are right, pre-hatch dusting, as was done the last two years, will be done. The success of last year's work along these lines makes it feasible to expand this program to as much as help and weather permit.
In addition to the ground dusting noted above it is planned to make small scale pre-hatch application of DDT dust and DDT granulated insecticide from the air.
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Success with either or both materials would enable us to split our application to spray breeding swamps between late winter and early spring. This would relieve the spring work load, which is now very heavy, make it possible to pick optimum weather conditions for applica- tion, and relieve the pressure on the air spray companies who are in demand everywhere at that time of the year.
Plans for Next Year
All phases of the work carried on last year will con- tine. Two phases will be intensified : catch basin work and ditching. Modifications will be applied to the fogging program.
Since weather conditions and terrain have such an effect on fogging operations certain changes in materials used in the machine and changes in method of operation will be made, based on the experience of other projects and recent research.
Catchbasin work will be speeded up by the addition of another unit and operation of the present two for a full season. In addition, in line with recent experience else- where, the concentration of the spray will be raised. In- dications are that longer residual effect will be achieved.
Ditching with the tractor will proceed throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall. This is in constrast to the' past when work was done by hand in the Spring and Fall.
In addition, the crew working with the tractor will be availabe for fresh water drainage work when tide makes it impossible to work on the salt marsh.
Problems to be Solved
The major problems of this project are three: drift in of adults from uncontrolled areas, weather conditions and availabliity of aircraft at the time of spring spraying and the condition of main water courses in the several towns.
Events are occurring which point toward the correc- tion of these problems.
In the matter of "drift-in," the formation of this project has increased interest in mosquito control in sur- rounding areas. There is now before the Legislature a bill to establish mosquito control in all towns of Norfolk
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County not now in a project. This will give us protection along approximately one-third of our perimeter. In addi- tion, interest has been intensified in other bordering towns so that in the near future we may get protection from these towns.
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Planning Board
JOSEPH M. MAGALDI, Chairman
WILLIAM G. DYER, Clerk EDWARD J. ROSE MITCHELL W. GAWLOWICZ FREDERICK J. KLAY HAROLD PEARL, Town Engineer
Residential development during the year 1955 con- tinued at a high level. As a result, the major activity of the Planning Board has been to enforce the rules and regulations of subdivision control as they apply to the layout of streets and the installation of all utilities in new housing projects. Early in January 1955 the rules and regulations governing subdivisions were amended calling for higher standards and further amendments are now being considered to keep pace with changing conditions.
Meetings are held by the board at the Town Hall the first and third Mondays of each month and public hear- ings are held on all subdivision applications. Many meet- ings have also been held to discuss problems with other departments and committees. More than 100 plans not coming within the scope of the subdivision control law have been signed in accordance with the General Laws.
The March 1956 Annual Town meeting will be asked to accept more than six miles of new streets which have been constructed by developers in accordance with the rules and regulations of this Board.
The Planning Board has worked closely with the Industrial Development Commission to promote business and industrial activity in the town. Cosiderable study was devoted to the rezoning of lands to permit business and
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industrial development. Several articels calling for zoning changes are included in the warrant for the annual town meeting.
The Planning Board has kept abreast of the many changes in plans for State Highway Route 128 and the Southeast Expressway as they affect Braintree. Members of the Board have attended hearings held by the State relative to the location of the highways and have at other times conferred with the various officials of the State Department of Public Works regarding proposed ways.
The Planning Board, in its review of the many real estate subdivisions during the past year, has cooperated with the Parks and Playgrounds Commissioners and made definite effort to provide for the increased need for new park and playground facilities. In several instances land for park and playground development has been set aside by the developers for acquisition by the Town at no cost.
The Planning Board wishes to express its grateful appreciation for the cooperation and assistance of town officials. various committee members, and especially to Mr. Harold Pearl, Town Engineer, who has been of invalu- able service to us.
Sewer Department
Commissioners BERNARD R. ANDREWS, Chairman (Resigned) WILLIAM G. DYER (Appointed) CHARLES C. TEMPLE EARL D. GILLIATT
GEORGE F. BROUSSEAU, Superintendent
New Construction :
A total of 2.4 miles of new sewers were added to the sewerage system. The following tabulation shows the extent and distribution of the year's work.
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Location
From
To Bradford
8
266
Bradford Road
Milton
8
868
Cavanagh Road Easement "
Common
Northerly
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