USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1958 > Part 27
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We have obtained and compiled drawings and sketches showing the entire Plymouth Water System, Street System, Distribution of Housing, Land Contours, and relative locations of the several sites which have been offered and considered.
Fortified with this information, we have met and solicited advice from the members of the New England Fire Insurance Rating Association. Such advice was given rapidly, courte- ously and in no uncertain terms.
All except three of our twenty-three locations were definitely discarded as a possible Central Fire Station location. The balance of their advice was substantially as noted earlier
We have made quite comprehensive surveys of the exist- ing Central Fire and Police Station buildings, noting present and future needs in terms of floor and land areas.
We have prepared and caused to be inserted in this town warrant an article covering what we believe to be the further needs of the town as requested in Article 42 of last year's town meeting.
We would further explain and evaluate the results of our findings as follows:
We are faced with the immediate need to acquire land and structures suitable to house the personnel, vehicles, and activities of our entire Police Department.
It would appear in the best interest of the town to aban- don and dispose of the existing Central Fire Station and to acquire land and structures suitable to house the personnel, vehicles and activities that are carried on in the present structure.
Police Department housing and facilities may be re-estab- lished anywhere within reasonable limits of the concentration of population of the town.
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Central Fire Station facilities must remain within definite in-town limits which have been established by National Board of Fire Underwriters and the New England Fire Insurance Rating Association of 89 Broad St., Boston, Mass.
Moving the facilities beyond their limits would affect existing fire insurance rates to a degree which would dis- courage consideration of such a move.
Some economy would result from combining Fire and Police facilities in the same building or at least on the same plot of land.
The possibility of purchase and alteration of any existing structure for either or both Fire and Police needs does not appear to be an expedient or economical solution.
A rather careful survey of such structures as they are or could be available for consideration would indicate that costs to purchase and alter would equal or exceed those of new construction.
The limits defined within which the Central Fire Station should be located are as follows:
1. Northern limit, Murray Street
2. Southern limit, Water Street
3. Easterly limit, The Harbor
4. Westerly limit, Oak Street
Within these limits, it is difficult to find a plot of land suitable in size, contour, ease of access, or with soil condi- tions suitable to accommodate structures for either or both Department needs.
In view of these considerations, it seems advisable to abandon the hope of being able to combine both facilities within the limits required.
We therefore conclude and recommend as follows:
A - That the town acquire for present Police Department needs and future needs of other Town Departments the parcel of land located near the intersection of Route 44 (Samoset Street) and Route 3 (By-Pass).
It might be well to state our reasons for selecting this site. The area selected does offer these advantages:
1. Rapid and easy access to points north, south, east, and west over direct established truck highways.
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2. Proper street frontage on Route 44 which will undoubt- edly be rebuilt and improved in the near future.
3. Soil conditions are stable and excellent to accommodate new construction, paving, etc.
It seems probable and logical that the area immediately adjacent to that selected will continue to develop into a con- trolled business and industrial concentration, in which case a branch fire station might then be advisable and possible on the site selected for the Police Station.
Improvement of Route 44 and westerly extension of water mains will unquestionably cause normal expansion of the town in a westerly direction.
At the time, we are unable to make definite recommenda- tion to the Town relative to a proper location for a new Central Fire Station. The need for such a building seems evident and the reason for such well founded and conclusive.
At this time, it does not seem physically or economically possible within the required limits to be able to combine both Fire and Police Department buildings and facilities. The physical needs for both Departments have been quite well studied and determined.
The needs of the Police Department can and should be resolved and presented as rapidly as possible.
The needs of the Fire Department, due to the previously mentioned restrictions, cannot be resolved as rapidly as those of the Police Department. The location and planning for a new Central Fire Station is a matter of considerable impor- tance and expense and should not be resolved in haste nor without considerable intelligent thought and study.
Actual attempts and negotiations are in progress by the Committee to obtain definite offers of sale to the Town of two plots of land for Police Department needs. Both are located at or near the recommended area of the intersection of Route 44 and the By-Pass.
We further recommend that the moderator of the meeting be instructed to take such action as is necessary to continue to a definite conclusion the studies which have been started by this Committee as they may relate to the location, plans, and costs of a new Central Fire Station and Police Station and report to the town at the next regular Town Meeting.
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We have had inserted in the Town Warrant an article requesting that the Town appropriate a sum of $1,000 to be combined with the substantially intact residue of the $1,000 which was appropriated for the needs of the Committee at the Town Meeting of last year.
We propose that the combined sums be applied by this Committee or a new Committee to defray the cost of studies, drawings, and cost estimates sufficient in scope and accuracy to allow this, or a new Committee, to present the town with a definite proposal for their consideration at the next regular town meeting.
If the town so desires and directs, the present Committee is willing to accept the responsibility of continuing and carry- ing on to a reasonable conclusion and presentation the work which we have started.
In consideration of the precise wording of the article which directed the work of the Committee, we feel that we have accomplished no more and no less than was required of us under that instruction.
To conclude:
We, the members of this Committee, extend to the town our appreciation of the confidence you have entrusted in us.
It is our hope that our findings and recommendation will serve to allow the members of this, or a new committee, meet- ing to arrive at a rapid and intelligent conclusion as to the needs of the Department of Public Safety of the Town of Plymouth.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL W. ANDERSON JAMES J. CONNELL ROBERT G. LOWRY
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COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE TOWN'S NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Committee of Five was appointed by the Moderator by motion voted under Article 36 at the Annual Town Meet- ing, March 23, 1957. The Committee was given two (2) basic problems to study, namely, the need of the Town of Plymouth for additional school buildings, if any, and the advisability of entering into a regional school district. In order to arrive at intelligent recommendations it was necessary to make a com- plete study of the school system and its facilities.
We held numerous meetings both in conjunction with and separate from the School Committee. We held meetings with the Advisory and Finance Committee, State School Building Assistance Commission in Boston, and with people who have recently undertaken regional school set-ups. We have studied and profited by the report of the School Building Site and Study Committee. We have visited all schools in the Town of Plymouth, and schools in other towns, and we have kept in mind the financial situation of the Town in order to arrive at our recommendations. With regard to the school building needs, we have three (3) specific recommendations which are at the end of this report.
In answer to the second part of the question, we find it would not be advisable for the Town to enter into a "regional school district." The benefits of a regional school are more than offset by the restrictions and loss of complete control which are inherent in a regional school agreement. Plym- outh's geographical characteristics and its school population are such that it should maintain its own independent school system.
In answer to the first part of the question, we find that there is a need for additional rooms in the Junior and Senior High Schools. The need for additional rooms is the result of changes in curriculum, the adoption of more advanced teach- ing methods, and the offering of more varied courses, rather than a substantial increase in school enrollment. At the ele- mentary level, we agree with the findings of all previous school study committees that the Cornish and Burton school buildings have outlived their usefulness and should be discontinued.
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In studying the "Town's need for additional school build- ings, if any," we were faced with two distinct problems related to this question. The first and most pressing being the closing of the Cornish and Burton schools, and the second being the need for additional rooms in the secondary schools. With reference to the Cornish and Burton school buildings, these occupy a site completely inadequate for today's needs. The buildings, built from 1840 to 1905, are inefficient to oper- ate and need considerable alterations to conform to today's standards. Therefore, any plan for the building of new schools or additional facilities should include as a primary considera- tion the closing of these two buildings.
The second problem is the growing need for an expanded and improved curriculum in the secondary schools with par- ticular emphasis on the senior high school years. Additions to existing school buildings, except the Manomet school, are not advisable or feasible because they do not meet with the State requirements to be eligible for State participation. We would like to note that the schools presently in use are well situated for the areas they serve, that they are well run and maintained, however, DUE TO THEIR AGE AND SIZE OF LOTS, and other factors, they do not lend themselves to expansion.
Any new school buildings should allow for flexibility within the school system. Therefore, we are recommending the building of a Senior high school to house grades 10, 11, and 12. The school should be designed with 600 seats and provisions for additions to accommodate 300 additional seats when the need arises. The new school should be of a func- tional design, economical to build and operate. It should include the installation of heating, plumbing, electrical, and ventilating systems, and auditorium to meet the requirements of 900 seats. Then if additions are made in the future it will be necessary to add only the classrooms that future require- ments might dictate without making changes in the original building. This building should be located on a lot of sufficient size to meet the need of future expansion.
We are recommending the renovation of the Junior-Senior High School buildings to house grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, except grades 5 and 6 in the Manomet School. Under this plan the elementary schools, with the exception of the Manomet School, will house grades 1 through 4, and the Cornish and Burton schools will be taken out of service.
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The enrollment of 464 pupils in grades 10, 11, and 12 will go into the new high school with 600 seats, thereby allowing for an increase in enrollment. The enrollment of 421 pupils in grades 5 and 6, excepting Manomet, will go into the present Junior-Senior High School in place of the 464 Senior High School pupils. This will allow for increase in enrollment in grades 5 through 9. With the discontinuance of the 11 class- rooms of the Cornish and Burton schools, 330 seats will be taken out of service. Therefore, more pupils will be trans- ferred out of the elementary schools than were enrolled in the Cornish and Burton schools which will allow for increase in enrollment in grades 1 through 4. The pupils in grades 1 through 4 of the Cornish and Burton schools will be housed in the remaining elementary schools from which the 5th and 6th graders have been transferred.
With the building of new highways, and the changes in the ways of living, it would seem logical to assume that Plymouth will grow. However, there is no way of knowing where or when it will grow. It is evident that we must make plans to meet these changing conditions. We feel that the Town should acquire parcels of land for school purposes in those areas in which it is evident that growth of population will occur, and where new centers of population will develop. By acquiring land in an area before the need of a school is evi- dent the Town can build schools on the sites without the problems of high prices, taking land by eminent domain, or through costly and lengthy negotiations. The Planning Board should be consulted so that any lot purchased would conform to zoning and the like.
Below are our three specific recommendations:
Recommendation 1-That the Moderator appoint a Senior High School Building Committee of seven (7), one of which shall be from the School Committee. This committee to report to the Town at the next annual Town meeting with plans, specifications, and estimates of cost for the building of a 600-seat, 3-year Senior high school. The building should be functional and economical to build and operate, all installa- tions of a common nature in the building should be built to accommodate 900 seats.
Recommendation 2-That the Moderator appoint a Reno- vation Committee of seven (7), one of which shall be from the School Committee. This Committee to direct the renova-
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tion of the present Junior-Senior High School and make the necessary changes to adapt the building to house classes 5 through 9. All renovations and changes to be made in con- junction with the building of the new high school and the School Committee's schedule for transferring the 5th and 6th grades from the elementary schools into this building. The renovations to be completed not more than a year after the completion of the new Senior High School building.
Recommendation 3-That the Moderator appoint a Com- mittee of Five (5) for the purpose of recommending to the Town the purchases of future school sites. This Committee to report to the Town for a period of four years at each annual Town meeting with its recommendations.
PAUL J. WHIPPLE, Chairman PHILIP S. BARNES RONALD W. BUTTERFIELD R. DOROTHY CANUCCI EUNICE WEISZ
INDEX
Advisory & Finance Committee Report, 1958 487
Assessors, Board of 468
Cemetary Commissioners 465
Committee to Study Housing Needs of Public Safety Commission
491
Committee to Study School Building Needs
498
Community Nurse 451
Housing Authority
474
Library
456
Park Department 477
Personnel Board 489
Planning Board 473
Public Safety Committee Report 491
Public Welfare 460
Aid to Dependent Children
461
Disability Assistance
461
General Relief 461
Infirmary
462
Old Age Assistance 460
Retirement, Board of 480
School Report 359
Administration 361
Appointments to Teaching Staff 388
Attendance Supervisor's Report 386
School Report - continued
Calendar
362
Census
Committee
Elementary Schools, Report of
Employees
Employment of Minors
Enrollment
387
Financial Statement 363 High School Principal's Report 374 360
In Memoriam
Junior High School Principal's Report 378
Oral Hygiene and Dental Clinic 383
Resignations in Teaching Staff 389
School Committee Report 367
Superintendent's Report 367
Selectmen's Department 407
Aid to Agriculture 449
Airport Commission 428
Development and Industrial Commission 445
Engineer, Town
411
Fisheries, Inland
410
Forest, Town
409
Harbor Master 450
Insect Pest Control 414
435
Mosquito Control Project
447
Public Safety, Commission of
Building Inspector
Dog Officer
415 422 421 419
Fire Division
Forest Fire 420
Health Division 423
386 361 380 390 386
Jurors, List of
Selectmen's Department - Continued
Police Division 417
Sealer of Weights and Measures 421
Selectmen's Report 408
Streets and Sewers, Supt. of 430
Veterans' Services 412
Town Accountant's Report 227
Schedule A (Cash Receipts and Payments) 230
Schedule B (Appropriations) 258
Schedule C (Estimated Receipts) 331
Schedule D (Revenue Account) 332
Schedule E (Excess and Deficiency) 333
Schedule F (Balance Sheet) 334
Schedule G (Funded Indebtedness) 339
Schedule H (Funded Indebtedness) 340
Schedule I (Trust Funds) 342
Schedule J (Calculation of Credit) 358
Town Clerk's Report 3
Annual Town Meeting
13
Births (1954 through 1958)
78
Deaths (1954 through 1958)
179
Marriages (1954 through 1958) 140
Officers, 1958 Town 3
Special Town Meeting
77
State Audit 216
10
Town Meeting Members
Tree Warden 463
Water Department 395
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