USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1961 > Part 13
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The present Braintree Airport site is located in an area far from the residential section of the town. The pat- tern of approach for planes is away from the town and the site has been declared by State and Federal authori- ties as one of the best in the Commonwealth.
At the present time a study is being made by the Braintree Water Commission for the possible extension of Great Pond for an expansion of Braintree's water supply. If decision is made to enlarge the water storage area, the major portion of the present airport runway will be in- cluded in the new water basin. With the growing popu- larity of the present airport runway, water department officials desire to have the Airport Commission relocate the airstrip to take the aviation activities on land adja- cent to the present airstrip, away from water department property.
During the past few months members of the Brain- tree Airport Commission and Town Officials have made a survey of property in the area and laid out a proposed airstrip to meet the requirements of the Town of Brain- tree. The major part of the land considered for the new airport is tax title land, owned by the Town of Braintree. with a very small acreage of unoccupied swamp and wooded land, now privately owned. Articles have been in- serted in the Warrant for the coming Annual Town Meet- ing to have this land placed under the jurisdiction of the
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Braintree Airport Commission for the construction of a 3,000 ft. runway. It is not the intention of the Airport Commission to build the new airstrip with town funds but to have private parties contribute to a fund that can possi- bly be matched with State and Federal funds available for airport construction.
The Airport Commission has conferred with indus- trial interests in the area and agreement has been reached with this group that the airstrip will not conflict with future plans for industrial buildings that may be erected.
The officers of the Braintree Airport Association, the active group interested in aviation for the coming year is as follows: President William G. Brooks, Vice-President Malcolm Warnoff; Secretary, Mrs. Evelyn Billings; Treasurer, Arnold R. Stimest: Airport Superintendents, Arthur P. Phillips, John Mullen and Rio Albonetti Jr., Directors, William B. Webber, Arthur A. Fiorini, Peter Bottazzi, Gerald E. Blackburn. George W. Condon, Her- man Gatchell, Fred Russo and John Hobbs.
Members of the Braintree Airport Commission ap- preciate the interest of the many members of the Brain- tree Airport Association who have contributed money and labor to make the airport a success. The sincere coopera- tion of members of the Braintree Water Commission and interest and assistance given by Water Dept. Supt. Donato T. Richardi has been most helpful during the year. A suc- cessful airport in Braintree will be a great assistance to members of the Braintree Industrial & Business Develop- ment Commission in attracting new industry to build in Braintree.
WILLIAM G. BROOKS
Braintree Industrial & Business Development Commission
William G. Brooks, Chairman; Charles R. Furlong, Secretary ; Secretary, John O. Holden, Dr. Alton A. Rock, William B. Webber, Frederick J. Klay (Planning Board), Calvin E. Young (Assessors), Paul H. Young (Select- men) .
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Braintree has experienced one of the greatest econ- omic growths in its history during the year 1961. The completion of the Southeast Expressway and New Route 128 has exposed new industrial and business property that in past years has been waste land. The town, located in a most strategic area, ten miles from the cities of Bos- ton and Brockton, is undergoing an intensive building program in business and industrial structures with 25 new projects under construction or completed in recent months.
The 100 acre "South Shore Plaza" shopping center, in the northwest part of the town, sponsored by Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, now has in addition to the above pro- gram, 35 major stores in full operation with parking for 3,000 cars without meters. The goal set by the sponsors of this program is 90 stores and possibly other buiness units to fill the large area. The R. H. Stearns Co. of Boston, is erecting one of the largest units in the shopping center and the "Rib Room" restaurant by the Hotel Corporation of America will soon be completed as the latest addition to the Plaza.
Four major enterprises, to be located on the north lane side of Route 128, with land ownership at the head of Wood Road, have requested entrance to the Braintree Sewer System and state that their buildings will be under construction in early spring as follows: 1. The Wollaston Brass & Aluminum Foundry Inc. now of North Quincy, will build a 40,000 sq. ft. building with employment for 100 people, the plant to be ready for occupancy in Au- gust 1962. Announcement has been made of the sale of their present plant in North Quincy upon completion of the new manufacturing unit.
The S. Gunnar Myrbeck Co. of Quincy, a national advertising organization, in their letter to the Braintree Sewer Dept. state that their plans call for a two story office building covering 25,000 to 30,000 sq. ft. on their 2 acre site and request sewer connection in the fall of 1962.
The Henry Jenkins Transportation Co. of Mattapan, in their request to the Sewer Dept. state that their plans call for a large building to house their fleet of motor vehicles carrying an excise tax to the town of $15,000. The building is to be erected on a 5 acre lot on Wood Road and they expect to be in their new building in early summer in 1962,
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In addition to these three Wood Road projects the Howard D. Johnson Co. of Wollaston, Mass. have for- mally requested sewer connections to service one of their nationally famous "Red Coach Grill" restaurants to seat. 300 people and with 50 employees on their property lo- cated on Granite St., adjacent to the Southbound Lane of Route 128. This request states that building will be com- pleted by Labor Day 1962.
These four new projects coming to Braintree will give employment to over 300 people and sizeable revenue to the town. Where so many people are involved sewers are essential. The Wood Road area on the North Lane of Route 128 has 65 acres of desirable industrial zoned land. The three new plants will occupy only 12 acres leaving 53 acres for many new factories or business operations. Taxes from the four named operations will pay for essen- tial sewer and water installations to the road line in a very few years.
The Twin Open Air Theatre and Hollywood Lanes 40 Tenpin Alleys are prospering and the new office building next to these buildings with an area of 400 feet long by 150 feet wide being built by C. Healy Co. should be com- pleted in early spring. The grading of "Grand View" hill of many acres, now zoned for industry, will in due time: be the site of one of Braintree's major projects. The Char- ter House, Hotel Corp, of America, 110 room hotel-motel is now under construction and should be completed in a few months.
Recently one of Braintree's largest undeveloped land areas under one ownership, the Prosperity Develop- ment Corp. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, property has been consolidated and is now on the market. This land is lo- cated in the extreme southeastern part of Braintree on old Route 128 bounded by Grove St., Columbian St., Liberty St., the towns of Weymouth and Holbrook. This large uninhabited section of Braintree represents 6.84% of the town's 13.7 square miles of land. Four hundred acres are zoned for industry and 200 acres for Class A housing of 25,000 sq. ft. lots. The owners of this land are now ac- tively engaged in attracting industry and large homes to be built on the property.
The Braintree Industrial & Business Development Commission reports that consistent advertising in maga- zines read by industrial leaders has brought new pros-
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pects for industrial land to Braintree. Two months ago the Braintree Commission joined the new Southeast Mas- sachusetts Business & Industrial Commission, organized as one of the 1 Regional Commission in the Common- wealth including 21 towns from Braintree to Wareham, to attract business and industry to this area. The chair- man of the Braintree Commission was elected as chairman of the S. E. Mass. Commission.
New business and industrial ventures now under con- struction or recently completed in Braintree include : 1. Armstrong Cork Co. warehouses for Armoflex pipe cover- ing; 2. Weymouth Art Leather Co., plant expansion ; 3. Ainslie Corporation, 7,000 sq. ft. Engineering & Labor- atory Wing; 4. New Charter House, Hotel-Motel; 5. Braintree Savings Bank Expansion; 6. Business Men's Plaza by C. Healy Co., Forbes Rd .; 7. Addition by Tedes- chi Realty Corp. next to Tedeschi Supermarket for Prem- ium Store ; 8. New Campanelli Bros. N. E. Building Supply Office; 10. New Braintree 84, Central Post Office next to Monatiquot School, Washington St .; 11. Joseph Barile Arcade of Offices & Shops in renovated former Braintree Theatre, Washington St .; 12. Joseph's of Braintree Res- taurant by J. A. Scavuzzo, former residence of Dr. Harold Ripley, Washington St .; 13. Professional and Norfolk Trust Co., Bldg. at former 1000 Washington St., South Braintree; 14. New A. & P. Supermarket and 3 stores at Braintree Five Corners; 15. Addition to Leo & Walts Gas Station at 218 Washington St .; 16. South Shore Plaza Li- quor Store; 17. Plaza Rib Room; 18. Gas Station at 3rd entrance to Plaza Shopping Ctr .; 19. R. H. Stearns Store at Plaza ; 20. Renovation of Golden Rule Cleanser's Build- ing at North Braintree to house new Automatic Cleaning Establishment.
The following stores were in operation in 1961 at the South Shore Plaza Shopping Center: 1. A. S. Beck, 2. Bobbie's Hair Styling Salon, 3. Breck's Home & Garden Center, 4. Brigham's and Dorothy Muriel's, 5. Cummings, 6. Disc Shop, 7. Fanny Farmer, 8. Field Hosiery, 9. Fi- lene's, 10. Howard Clothes, 11. Hughson's Florist, 12. Jewel House, 13. Kennedy's, 14. S. S. Kresge, 15. Lau- riat's, 16. Liggett's, 17. London Harness Luggage, 18. Long's Jewelers, 19. Thayer McNeil Co., 20. Peck & Peck, 21. Chas. B. Perkins, Tobacconist, 22. Plaza Barber Shop, 23. Plaza Liquors, 24. Pond's Camera & Frame Shop, 25. Pray's, 26. Primrose Shop, 27. Radio Shack, 28. Ray-
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mond & Whitcomb Travel, 29. Sheridan's, 30. Shoe Re --- newal Shop, 31. South Shore Natl. Bank, 32. Stop & Shop, 33. Westland's, 34. Wethern's and 35. Wilbar's.
Your Industrial Commission will appreciate informa- tion of industrial or business groups who are interested in buying property in Braintree. A telephone call to any member of the Commission will receive immediate atten- tion. The Commission has a complete listing of all indus- trial land owners in Braintree. The splendid cooperation of town officials during the past year has been greatly appreciated.
WILLIAM G. BROOKS
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Harold C. Pearl, Town Engineer
Betterment plans were prepared for the following: streets :
Brewster Avenue
Forest Street
Granite Street Hillside Avenue (section of) River Street (section of)
Plans for acceptance were drawn of :
Logan Road Carolyne Avenue
Compiled plan of proposed air field was drawn for- the Airport Commission.
Street lines and grade sheets for construction work. by the Highway Department were prepared as requested. for:
Cleveland Avenue Granite Street Hawthorn Road Hayward Street Howie Road (section of) Swift Beach Town Street
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Profile of Wildwood Avenue brook was also pre- pared.
Town dump street line staked out for fence.
Requested street lines were established on the fol- lowing streets :
Brow Avenue
Common Street
Drinkwater Avenue
Elm Knoll Road
Middle Street
Myrtle Street
Spruce Street
Stetson Street
Washington Street
A distance chart of the N. E. Hollis Memorial Golf Course was prepared.
One hundred and fifty five buildings and two hun- dred and forty one additions were located and plotted for the Board of Assessors.
Former Braintree Housing Authority property was surveyed at the request of the owners:
Drake Street 10 lots
Erickson Street
4 lots
Mann Street
8 lots
Pantano Street
4 lots
Pearl Street
4 lots
Nine hundred and fifty deeds were processed and the required changes were made on plans and records.
The Braintree street and zoning maps were revised and printed.
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BRAINTREE LIGHT DEPARTMENT
Your Commissioners submit the Annual Report of the Braintree Electric Light Department for the year ending December 31, 1961.
CARL W. R. JOHNSON, Chairman WALTER J. HANSEN, Secretary ERNEST S. REYNOLDS
Gentlemen :
The Municipal Light Department respectfully sub- mits herewith its annual report of operations for the fiscal year, 1961.
A continuing rapid increase in all types of power useage has again added higher demands on our generat- ing facilities and is now seriously taxing our distribution system.
Increases of 1961 over 1960 for the various classi- fications are :
Residential
5.9%
Commercial 4.8%
Large Commercial
90.0%
Industrial 3.1%
Municipal
10.6%
Street Lights
12.0%
The number of residential customers has increased by 46 from December, 1960 to December, 1961 with a. total of 8630 customers as of December 31, 1961. The average yearly use of electric energy per residential cus- tomer has increased from 4037 kwh. in 1960 to 4256 in 1961 or a total of 219 kwh. which amounts to 5.4%. If this rate of use per home continues for the next ten years, we will be required to deliver over 65,000,000 kwh. per· year to our residential customers alone.
Statistics as compiled in Federal Power Commission Publication R-60 for the year 1960 covering average use of electric power in Cities with a population of 50,000 or more show that useage varies from 12,251 kwh. per- customer per year in Chattanooga, Tenn., to 1,501 kwh. in Lawrence, Mass., with the national average for all cities in this population class at 3170 kwh. per year. The aver- age customer in Braintree is using 4037 kwh. per year. or 27.3% above the national average for the year 1960 .. Because of the very favorable rate now available to Brain- tree residents, I expect that our annual useage per cus- tomer will increase substantially.
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Large commercial users show a very marked increase for the year. This is mainly the result of the Shopping Plaza and the many fairly large establishments that have started during this year. Total customers in December, 1960 on this rate was 171 and on December, 1961, 211.
Our system peak for 1961 was 25,600 Kw. as com- pared with 22,500 for 1960. This is an increase of 13.8%.
The kwh. generated in 1961 was 103,347,750 kwh. The kwh. generated in 1960 was 91,331,710 kwh.
Increase in generation of 12,016,040 kwh this represents an increase of 13.2% in output.
The continuation of this rate of use will mean that this Department will be required to double its generating and distribution ability in seven years. According to all the information that is now available to me, this rapid increase of power use within the Town will be realized and we will be required to think, plan and act with this objective in mind.
Generating Plant
The new unit at Potter Station has lived up to all expectations during the year 1961. It has been on the line for 94.6% of the total year and delivered 78.5% of all power generated within the Town. As the Town's power requirements grow, the Allen Street Station will be available to deliver a greater percentage of the power requirements. The problem of peak loads and firm ca- pacity for peak loads will become more acute during the coming year.
Positive action to obtain generating equipment or additional power to meet peak loading will be a must during the coming year in order to meet our obligations for an adequate source of power during 1963.
Distribution System
The installation of a 15 KV line to the Shopping Plaza late in 1960 has been our last major installation of line capacity. Very little has been done in this area of operation during 1961 except the extension of an existing 15 KV line on Pearl Street and partial conversion of the Pearl Street industrial area to this higher voltage.
189
A number of large power users have been added to our system and for this type of installation we are now using a "pad mounted" transformer rather than the old open wire type with its unsightly pole installations and fences. The over-all cost of this equipment parallels very closely the old method of construction but requires less area affording far greater protection to the customer, the equipment and operating personnel.
Picture of the installation at Barile Professional Building, Braintree Square, is shown below and consists of 112.5 KVA transformer.
Other installations of this type have been made at Joseph's Restaurant, A &P at Five Corners, South Shore Metal and several other installations are now in the plan- ning state.
Distribution protective equipment now at the Allen Street Station was installed in 1932 and is approaching the end of its useful life for this Department. At the time of its installation it was more than adequate to serve and interrupt the power then required and available. With the installation of higher capacity generating equip- ment, the interruption demands now placed on this equip- ment is excessive and successful operation over any ex- tended period cannot be anticipated. Serious consider- ation should be immediately given to other methods of distribution in order to retire this unit as early as possible.
190
The effectiveness and efficiency of our Line Depart- ment has been further increased by the purchase of a hydraulic operated post hole digger and pole setting equipment. This unit replaces the old White line truck which was purchased in 1948. A new hydraulic boom, bucket type truck to replace the present outmoded ladder- type truck is now on order and delivery is anticipated early in 1962.
The meter department has been equipped with a light model service truck as has the customers' service department. These two units have added much to the overall eficiency of these two departments.
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South Shore Plaza
All equipment at the South Shore Plaza is now in operation and additional transformation will be required about the middle of next year to supply one of the new and larger units to be placed in service at that time.
The original installation required one cable from Allen Street Station to the Plaza and was connected to a switching station in Vault 2 similar to the switching unit in Vault 4 shown below
h
Loads during the Summer reached slightly over the 3000 Kw. mark and should reach near the 4000 Kw. mark during 1962.
Total power delivered to the South Shore Plaza amounted to over 7,000,000 Kwh. and should reach 12,- 000,000 Kwh. during 1962.
During the later part of the year, this Department was contacted by a large power user for additional capa- city which will add from 1000 to 2500 Kw. load to our system. A new heavy power user has requested service in an area adjacent to the South Shore Plaza and in order to supply dependable service for this area, a new 15 KV feeder and switching equipment will be required the carly part of 1962.
192
I wish to thank the Board of Commissioners for their counsel and guidance during the year. I also wish to express my appreciation to all employees of the Depart- ment for their loyalty and co-operation.
To the Selectmen and all Town Officials and Em- ployees who have aided in so many ways during the year. I express my sincerest thanks for your co-operation and assistance.
Respectfully submitted, ALBAN G. SPURRELL, Manager
SALES OF ELECTRICITY
Kilowatt hours
Revenue
Residential
A rate
36,732,335
$ 916,197.02
Small Power
B rate
16,870,058
393,467.61
Commercial
C rate
3,615,893
106,187.51
Industrial
P rate
35,324,580
543,549.38
Municipal
2,790,853
57,536.48
Street Lights
2,070,675
39,529.19
97,404,394
$2,056,467.19
OPERATING EXPENSE
FUEL
$ 532,954.21
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
434,744.95
MAINTENANCE EXPENSES
139,373.43
DEPRECIATION
319,509.10
EMPLOYEES BLUE CROSS & INSURANCE
6,952.66
TOWN OF BRAINTREE RETIREMENT FUND
24,091.19
TOTAL EXPENSES
$1,457,625.54
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INCOME STATEMENT
OPERATING REVENUE OPERATING EXPENSES
$2,056,467.19 1,457,625.54
MANUFACTURING SURPLUS INTEREST INCOME MISCL. ADDITIONS |
$ 598,841.65
8,146.50
458.40
LESS PAYMENT ON BONDS LESS INTEREST ON BONDS
121,018.65
$ 216,427.90
PAID TO TOWN OF BRAINTREE IN LIEU OF TAXES
40,000.00
TRANSFERRED TO PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
$ 176,427.90
PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT
JANUARY 1, 1961, BALANCE
$3,526,881.49
TRANSFERRED FROM INCOME, 1961
176,427.90
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1961
$3,703,309.39
OPERATING CASH STATEMENT
Balance, January 1, 1961
$ .00
Cash received as per Cashbook
2,148,766.90
Paid on Accounts Payable
1,332,372.03
Paid for Legal Fees 4,100.00
Paid to Depreciation
319,509.10
Paid on Bonds & Interest
224,388.18
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1961
$ 268,397.59
Paid to Town of Braintree in lieu of taxes
40,000.00
$ 228,397.59
Transferred to Sptcial Cash Account for Payment of Bonds & Interest
220,689.46
Transferred to Construction Account 7,708.13
OPERATING CASH BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1962
.00
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$ 607,446.55
270,000.00
LAND TAKING CASH ACCOUNT
Balance, January 1, 1961 Paid to Cities Service (partial payment on $280,000.00 settlement for land taken for Potter Station) Transferred to Depreciation Account 1.00
$ 90.001.00
90,000.00
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1961 * $ .00
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FUND FOR NORTON P. POTTER STATION
Balance, January 1, 1961 $ 25,510.05
Expended during 1961 on N. P. Potter Station
25,510.05
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31. 1961
*$
.00
SPECIAL CASH FOR PAYMENT OF BONDS & INTEREST
Balance, January 1, 1961
168,136.82
Paid on Bonds (2-1-61) (5-1-61)
$ 70,000.00 75,000.00
(5-1-61)
15,786.82
Paid on Interest (2-1-61) 7,350.00
$168,136.82
168,136.82
$ .00
Transferred from Operating Cash, December 31, 1961
220,689.46
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1962 $ 220,689.46
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT
Balance, January 1, 1961 $ .00
Transferred from Operating Cash, December 31, 1961
7,708.13
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1962 $ 7,708.13
DEPRECIATION ACCOUNT
Baluance, January 1, 1961
$286,951.14
Transferred from Income, 1961
Interest Income
Transferred from Land Taking Account
319,509.10 8,146.50 1.00
$614,607.74
Paid to Cities Service (Balance due on $280,000.00 settlement for land taken for Potter Station) 190,000.00
Expended on Construction 96,321.97
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1961 $328,285.77
195
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT DUE ON BONDS AND INTEREST DURING 1962
Issue of Feb. 1, 1952
Payment due on principal
2-1-62
$ 70,000.00
Payment due on intrest
2-1-62
6,737.50
Payment due on interest
8-1-62
6,125.00
$ 82,862.50
Issue of May 1, 1958
Payment due on principal
5-1-62
$ 75,000.00
Payment due on interest
5-1-62
17,850.00
Payment due on interest
11-1-62
16,800.00
$109,650.00
Issue of May 1, 1959
Payment due on principal
5-1-62
$125,000.00
Payment due on interest
5-1-62
34,875.00
Payment due on interest
11-1-62
32,937.50
$192,812.50
TOTAL DUE
ON BONDS & INTEREST IN 1962
$385,325.00
BALANCE SHEET
Assets
Plant Investment
$8,456,330.65 200.00
Petty Cash
Special Cash for Payment of Bonds and Interest
220,689.46
Construction Account
7,708.13
Depreciation Account
328,285.77
Special Deposits
13,132.48
Accounts Receivable
169,964.15
Materials and Supplies
101,131.68
Prepaid Insurance
21,357.84
TOTAL ASSETS
$9,318,800.16
Liabilities
Loans Repayment
$1,238,000.00
Appropriations for Construction Repayment
46,168.74
Bonds Payable
4,295,000.00
Customers Deposits
13,132.48
Interest Accrued
23,189.55
Profit and Loss
3,703,309.39
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$9,318,800.14
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BRAINTREE HOUSING AUTHORITY
1948-1962
The Braintree Housing Authority was organized on August 9, 1948 under provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 121, Section 26K as authorized by a Special Town Meeting held June 7, 1948 with Frank L. Heaney, Chairman, and William M. Gustin, George A. Hitchcock, William H. Gustafson and Ernest J. Janssen as members.
Housing for Veterans under the Act had up to this time been provided through multiple unit structures.
The members of the Braintree Housing Authority were of the opinion that multiple unit dwellings were not in keeping with desirable residential development of the Town and strenuously promoted the construction of indi- vidual units in which action they succeeded.
During 1949, the Authority started to acquire land and on October 20, 1949, a contract for financial assis- tance was entered into with the Commonwealth, whereby the sum of $1,076,000.00 was allocated as an amount which the Commonwealth would guarantee for the con- struction of ninety single family units and tract develop- ment.
Invitations to bid for the construction of streets and ninety houses were advertised and the first residences be- came available for occupancy on December 4, 1950, with construction on all six sites becoming available for occu- pancy during 1951.
The financial assistance law, as originally enacted, provided that in the event the need for subsidized hous- ing should not exist, that the project could be sold as one unit. On March 23, 1956, the Authority members deter- mined that the need for low rent Veteran's Housing had terminated, accordingly, William H. Gustafson offered a resolve that liquidation of the properties should proceed which resolution was unanimously adopted. During the year 1957, through the efforts of the Authority with Rep- resentative Herbert Hollis co-operating, the General Court amended Section 26K to permit the purchase of the indi- vidual properties by Braintree Veterans, preference being granted tenant occupants.
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