USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1914 > Part 20
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In order to get as much light as possible on the nature of its duties and how to perform them, more than a third of the mem- bers accepted the invitation of the Governor to attend a state conference on city and town development held in Boston in April and also attended a convention of city and town planning boards held at the State House in October.
In the course of its deliberations it became apparent that the scope or field of the work of the board was too broad and the important features to be considered presented too many phases for each member to attempt to investigate and personally inform himself upon every matter that was properly a subject for con- sideration and that it would not be a conservation of energy to do so. Consequently the membership was divided into commit- tees, regard being taken that all parts of the town were proportion- ally represented upon each committee. It was arranged that each chairman should be held responsible for the work of his commit- tee and that he might require any service, in the line of the work under consideration, of any other member.
While the general purposes of a planning board are as above stated, it is obvious that each community has its own problems, some of which are not common to others, and that its planning board is confronted with differing objects for consideration. For instance, at the convention of planning boards above referred to great emphasis was laid on the importance of town plotting. Fortunately this work is practically accomplished in Weymouth.
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It was also found that a comparison of many of the existing conditions in Weymouth with corresponding features in some of the other up-to-date municipalities produces satisfaction. On the other hand there is opportunity in Weymouth for suggested im- provements.
The town engineer and the superintendent of the water department met at different times with the board or some of its committees and gave valuable information.
The board is inclined to the opinion that Mr. Stevens' proposi- tion to remedy the unsatisfactory conditions in the water supply at North Weymouth by constructing some form of reservoir in the vicinity of King Oak Hill is practicable. Suggestion is made that if this plan is adopted regard should be had that the reser- voir or tower should be as ornamental as possible, within reason- able limits of expense, rather than the usual unsightly structure.
The board has recommended to the Selectmen that streets hereafter laid out should be not less than forty feet wide and that when new streets are petitioned for on property being devel- oped the Selectmen should require such streets to be constructed and worked or improved to a certain degree before being laid out and accepted by the town.
The committee on recreation has under consideration plans for the development and adaptation of the parks belonging to the town for the enjoyment of its people and also the advisability of recommending the establishment of other parks and playgrounds conveniently located before land values make their acquisition less expedient. Too much cannot be said in favor of reserving arcas for this purpose at as early a date as possible, even if sub- sequent development must proceed more slowly.
The committee on housing is formulating regulations for the inspection and construction of buildings. It is not probable that this board will have them sufficiently considered to make a recom- mendation during its term of office, but in this as in many other cases such progress as is made will be available to the next planning board.
The board suggests that its successor devise some plan of cooperation between the street and moth departments whereby, in places at least, our outlying roadsides may be made more attractive, as we believe this can be done with little or no additional expense to either.
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The board has called the attention of the lighting committee of the town to the presence of certain poles which are deemed dan- gerous to public travel and has recommended the relocation of same, also the advisability of placing lights on Main Street from the junction of said street with Washington Street to Nash's Corner.
It has seemed to the Commitee on Taxation impracticable to make any extended study of the method of taxation or the assess- ment of taxes within the town of Weymouth, in view of the prob- ability of the adoption of an amendment to the State Constitution and subsequent legislation, entirely altering and changing the present system of taxation.
The Legislature of 1914 passed a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State which would remove many of the pres- ent constitutional restrictions that now surround the imposition of taxes upon estates. If this amendment receives the approval of the present Legislature, it will then be submitted to the voters of the state at the state election next fall, and we may reasonably expect that if the amendment is adopted, the Legislature next year will entirely revise the present system of taxation.
The changes contemplated have been recommended by the Tax Commissioner of the Commonwealth, by the Chamber of Com- merce, and by many of the leading manufacturers of the Com- monwealth and various civic bodies. Until, therefore, it is de- termined upon what system taxes are to be assessed and levied it seems inexpedient to make any extended examination or study of our local method of taxation.
The board is of the opinion that one of the important matters that ought to engage the attention of the citizens is that of a new town house. Action in the matter ought not to be hasty or under- taken without due consideration. To that end the board recom- mends the fullest discussion of the project by the various civic organizations and by the citizens generally, and that some action looking toward ultimately securing such a building be taken at the next annual town meeting.
Everyone realizes that there is no hall in town, centrally lo- cated at least, sufficiently commodious to hold the number of voters desiring to attend town meeting and who quite properly expect accommodation for the purpose to be provided.
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The board is not convinced that the time has yet arrived when a change in the form of the government of the town is necessary or to be recommended, and until such time does arrive that pro- vision should be made for maintaining the old fashioned town meeting and for conducting its proceedings in a satisfactory and efficient manner thereby preserving and promoting unity of feel- ing among all parts of the town. Moreover, whatever the form of government, a municipal building, designed and located with reference not simply for the present but also for the future will always be a satisfactory asset. That the location, size, construction, cost and general features of such a building should be thoroughly considered and, if erected, that it should be along comprehensive lines, having regard for the years to come, so that the future municipal buildings will harmonize with the then existing ones, the board is convinced.
We believe in adhering as long as possible to the form of government where the citizens have the right to determine directly and in person, even to details, the government under which they live, -to meet face to face, those whom they have set in author- ity ; to question them as to their conduct ; to pass upon their ac- counts ; to instruct them and to remove them, almost at pleasure. A form which gives the people themselves the right to determine how much they will be taxed, how the money thus raised shall be expended, and the chance to inquire personally into the manner of its expenditure. One that embodies the initiative, the refer- endum and the recall in its elementary and most effective form, and offers the inhabitants, the right of themselves and without agents, to begin and complete legislation concerning all local matters. It gives to each man the right to propose any matter for town action and to be heard upon it with his own voice and vote. When any ten voters can cause a town meeting to be called at any time it thus becomes the readily opened forum where each man's cause can be heard and passed upon by his neighbors, with- out the interposition of anyone's hand to delay him or turn him aside. The town meeting is the one place in government where all men are politically equal ; where rich and poor, powerful and weak, stand upon an equal footing. It is the remedy for unrest or agitation against authority for it can correct any just complaint without delay and no grievance, just or unjust, against town government can long remain unheard.
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We can hardly believe that sufficient exigency now exists to justify the laying aside of this time honored and wisdom shown form of government and the adoption in its stead of radical ex- periments the success of which, in other communities, has yet to be demonstrated.
The board wished to acknowledge its appreciation of the promptness and courtesy with which all its requests for informa- tion have been received and complied with by the other official departments of the town.
The board believes that each successive planning board, having the advantage of the records, data and recommendations of its predecessors, working in harmony with the different departments of the town government and with the various civic organizations, can make the town a better place in which to live and work and such a pride and inspiration to its inhabitants that enterprising citizens will be likely to remain and help build up the town and others will be drawn to it from less attractive places.
The members feel that to have been permitted to participate in such a work is a civic honor of the highest character.
The organization of the board was as follows :
PRESIDENT .- Albert P. Worthen.
VICE PRESIDENT .- George L. Barnes.
SECRETARY .- Minot P. Garey.
COMMITTEES.
STREETS. Peter K. Nisbet, George M. Keene, Wallace H. Bicknell, Burton B. Wright, Ralph W. Thomas.
WATER. Robert S. Hoffman, Robert S. Gilmore, Wallace H. Bicknell, Matthew R. Loud, Frank N. Proctor.
TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, ELECTRIC LIGHTS. Walter J. Sladen, Cornelius J. Lynch, Peter E. Sullivan, Burton B. Wright, Edward P. McGrory.
TAXATION. George L. Barnes, William T. Seabury, Minot P. Garey, Bradford Hawes, Peter E. Sullivan.
EDUCATIONAL Arthur H. Alden, Fred L. Doucette, John B. Whelan, Thomas V. Nash, George C. Torrey.
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TOWN OFFICIALS AND ADMINISTRATION. Bradford Hawes, Ar- thur H. Alden, Robert S. Hoffman, Edward W. Hunt, George C. Torrey.
RECREATION. Edward W. Hunt, Fred S. Sampson, Fred L. Doucette, Peter K. Nisbet, George L. Barnes.
HOUSING. John B. Whelan, George M. Keene, Robert S. Gil- more, Matthew R. Loud, Frank N. Proctor.
TRANSPORTATION. Fred S. Sampson, William T. Seabury, Cor- nelius J. Lynch, John B. Whelan, Ralph W. Thomas.
PUBLICITY. Peter E. Sullivan, Robert S. Hoffman, Peter K. Nisbet.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT P. WORTHEN, President, MINOT P. GAREY, Secretary.
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