USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1922 > Part 4
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After payment has been made Weymouth becomes a member of the District on equal terms with the other towns and is assessed each year a proportional part of the operating expenses of the District, one-third of which is based on the town's valuation and two-thirds on th consumption of water. For 1920 this assessment would have been about $23,000. This is not a fair estimate as the year 1920 was a year of exceptionally high consumption, and as even the normal consumption at the present time will be greatly reduced by the further installation of meters.
Under present conditions this charge, while it might fluctuate from year to year should not increase materially in the aggregate, and I have assumed for the purpose of comparative estimates an average annual charge of $20,000. Extensive expenditures by the District for new supply would tend to increase charge, but Wey- mouth's share in the increase would be so small that it would not become a determining factor in our present comparison.
The initial cost then for entering the Metropolitan System would be: assuming that Braintree enters also, as follows:
Entrance Fee
Booster Pumping Equipment
370,000 7,000
Annual Charges would be as follows:
First Year
Average
Interest and Bond Payments on
$370,000 (30 yr. Serial Bonds)
$30,833
$21,583
Interest and Bond Payments on
$7,000 (15yr. Serial Bonds)
817
642
Operation of Booster Station at
4,550
4,550
Annual Payment for Water
20,000
20,000
56,200
46,775
If Braintree does not elect to enter the District, the charges would be :
annual
300,000 gallons per day
Table 5 Total Costs of Local and Metropolitan Supplies
Annual Charges
Probable Necessary Rate Increase
Project
Investment
1st Year
Average
1st Year
Average
1
Local System with all Improvements ex- cept Filter Plant (New Pumps, Suction Main and Storage Tank, as per Plan 3, New Force Main to E. Weymouth)
$129,630
$19,485
$16,245
15 p.c.
19 p.c.
2
Local System with Improvements as above, and 2,000,000 gal. Mechanical Filt- ration Plant
199,630
33,685
28,695
39 p.c.
31 p.c.
3 Metropolitan Supply in Conjunction with Braintree
377,000
56,200
46,775
78 p.c.
63 p.c.
4 Metropolitan Supply for Weymouth alone
507,000
67,034
54,359
97 p.c.
75 p.c.
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First Year
Average
Interest and Bond Payment on
$500,000
$41,667
$29,167
Interest and Bond Payment on
$7,000
817
642
Operation of Booster Station
4,550
4,550
Annual Payment for Water
20,000
20,000
$67,034
$54,359
Comparative Costs and Advantages of Local and Metropolitan Supplies
Table 5 presents the final comparison of the cost of developing the local supply, both with and without filtration, with that of en- tering the Metropolitan District.
It is apparent from these figures that the Metropolitan scheme is an impossible one from a financial standpoint, involving under the most favorable conditions, an annual charge of over $18,000 more than would be required to furnish the same amount of clear, almost colorless, filtered water from Great Pond and over $30,000 more than would be needed if filtration was dispensed with.
Perhaps the clearest view of the proposition is from the stand- point of necessary increases in water rates to meet the costs of the various plans proposed.
The water department under its present rates, which were not raised to offset increase in price of labor and materials, is able to meet operating costs, bond payments and interest and may possibly with more favorable prices in the future, have a small balance each year for necessary replacements. It cannot, with these costs, carry an additional burden of investment or operating costs.
Under this condition, then, to make necessary improvements to the local system, without filtration, would mean an increase in water rates of about 15 per cent. based on the first year charges and about 9 per cent. based on the average charges during the life of the bonds.
Likewise to improve and filter the local supply would mean an increase of 39 per cent to meet the first year charges and an average of 31 per cent for the entire period.
For Metropolitan supply, the increase would amount to 80 per cent for the first year and 63 per cent for the period if taken in conjunction with Braintree and 97 per cent and 75 per cent if taken by Weymouth alone.
In connection with these figures it should always be borne in mind that Great Pond water filtered would be clearer and of much lower color than the Metropolitan supply, in fact, it would, to the consumer appear colorless. Moreover with the local supply, as planned in either Project 1 or Project 2, with duplicate pumps, duplicate mains and ample storage, interruption to service would be almost impossible, while with the Metropolitan supply, depend- ent upon a single pipe line about 12 miles in length, there would be a considerable chance of interruption.
VII Conclusions
As a result of the foregoing studies, it is possible to sum up the
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question of water supply for the Town of Weymouth briefly and accurately as follows :
1 Recourse to the Metropolitan System should be had, only as a last resort, when the growth of the town has exhausted all possible local resources of supply.
2 The Great Pond supply is ample in quantity to meet the need of the town for the next ten n years at least and possibly for fifteen. In quality, it can be made satisfactory to the most fasti- dious bycoagulation and rapid sand filtration.
3 It is probable that a ground water supply can be developed to supplement the Great Pond supply at such a time as that be- comes insufficient. If 500,000 gallons per day or more can be ob- tained in this way, an ample supply for the next thirty years will be insured, and it will be in order to proceed with all of the im- provements ,outlined in this report, including the filtration plant if the water takers feel that they can afford the extra cost in- volved in their obtaining a water of more pleasing appearance.
4 Every effort should be made to develop a supplementary supply through driven wells or otherwise, but if it should prove impossible to find any further supply within the town, it would seem to be good policy not to make any extensive expenditures on the local works, but rather to get along at the least possible expense, and to accumulate a fund in anticipation of the day when recourse must be had to the highly expensive Metropolitan supply.
In closing this report, I wish to express, and place on record, my deep convictions, that with the increasing demand for water for domestic use, and with the increasing demand for water developement of the water resources of the Metropolitan System, it is not for the best interests of the Commonwealth as a whole, or of its towns as individuals, to give up these local supplies to pollution, and increase by so much, the load on the Metropolitan.
Not only is there an economic waste involved (as shown quite clearly in the case of Weymouth) in transporting water long dis- tances, when it may be had close at hand, but it is not difficult to foresee the day when a supply of portable water, at any point in the state, will be of priceless value.
APPENDIX I.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION 18 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON
James O. Bailey Commissioner
January 15, 1921
Messrs. Russell H. Whiting. Fred O. Stevens, George W. Perry, and Prince H. Tirrell, East Weymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen :
In reply to your request of November 12, 1920, for terms of admission of the Town of Weymouth to the Metropolitan Water
45
District, the Commission has caused investigations to be made of the water supply requirements of Weymouth and of the probable cost of the works that would be required for furnishing a supply from the Metropolitan Water Works.
As a result of these investigations it appears that water can be supplied to the town by extending the southern extra high service mains of the Metropolitan Water Works from Hyde Park through Milton, Quincy and Braintree for a distance of about 12 miles, to the Weymouth boundary line. From this proposed main water could be supplied into the main pipe of the town under sufficient pressure for delivery at an elevation of 250 feet above mean low water in Boston Harbor.
On account of the high cost of constructing works of this nature under prevailing conditions, the Commission would not undertake the construction of a duplicate main at present, and would expect the town to maintain such local standpipes, storage reservoirs, or reserve supply as might be required in case of emergency due to accidental interruption of flow through the pro- posed pipe line.
The Metropolitan Water Act as amended, provides that the Commission shall, on application, admit any city or town any part of which is with 10 miles of the State House into the Metropolitan Water District on such payment of money as the Commission may determine, and furnish water thereto on the terms prescribed by the Act for the other cities and towns in the District.
On account of the geographical location of the towns of Weymouth and Braintree, they can be admitted to the Metropolitan Water District on more favorable terms if both towns are ad- mitted at the same time, than if either town is admitted alone.
The Commission has determined that in case the town of Weymouth should be admitted to the Metropolitan Water District under the provisions of the Water Act at the same time as the Town of Braintree, and should be supplied in the manner outlined above, a payment of $370,000 would be required; and that if the proposed construction work should be done at a lower cost than is now estimated any saving in the actual cost from the estimated amount would be deducted from the sum charged for admission to the District.
In case the Town of Weymouth should desire to enter the Metropolitan Water District alone a payment of $500,000 would be required. It seems to the Commission however, that this would be an unfortunate arrangement for both the town and for the Metropolitan Water District.
Assuming that the Town of Weymouth had been in the Met- ropolitan Water District and had been supplied with water from the Metropolitan Works during the year 1920, it is estimated that its annual water assessment would have been about $23,000.
Yours truly, James A. Bailey Commissioner.
Voted : That the reports of the Town Clerk, School Com- mittee, Sup't of Schools, Town Counsel, Assessors, Tax Collectors, Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, Moth Dept., Tree Warden, Forest Warden, Burial Agent, Committee on special needs of Almshouse, Inspector of Animals, Chief of Police, Special Com-
46
mittee on Soldiers Memorial, Transportation Committee, Sealer of Weightsand Measures, Special Committee on Town History, Park Commissioners, Board of Health, Inspector of Slaughtering and Slaughter Houses, Inspector of Plumbing, Electric Light Commit- tee, Fire Engineers, Registrars of Voters, Sup't of Streets, Trustees of Tufts Library, Town Accountant, Town Treasurer, Auditors, Trustees of Fore River Bridge, Water Commissioners as printed in the 1921 town report be accepted as printed.
Article 3. Voted : That the Town Treasurer with the ap- proval of the Selectmen be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beinning January 1, 1922 and to issue note or notes therefor, payable within one year: any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
Article 4. Voted: That the Town Treasurer with the ap- proval of the Selectmen be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the financial year beginning January 1, 1923 and to issue note or notes therefor, payable within one year: any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of the financial year.
Article 5. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $14,000 for a reserve fund.
Article 6. Voted: To designate the Weymouth Trust Company of South Weymouth, Mass., the First National Bank of Boston, Mass., and the National Shawmut Bank of Boston, Mass., as legal depositories for the funds of the town, and the First National Bank of Boston, Mass., as a legal depository for the se- curities of the town.
Article 7. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $7,744.62 for the payment of the cost of repairs and maintenance of the Norfolk County Hospital in the year 1921: the payment of this sum to be made under protest as this town considers it exhorbitant.
Article 8. Voted : That no action be taken on this article.
Article 9. Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of $800 for the purpose of continuing the work of the town history: this sum to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen.
Article 10. Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,906.35 for the payment of unpaid bills for the year of 1921, as follows :
Fire Department $388.05
Health Department
1,020.87
School Department
190.55
Park Department
72.88
Police Department
58.25
Miscellaneous
175.75
Article 11. Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of $122,822.86, and to further appropriate the sum of $1,177.14 being the amount of the dog tax collected in 1921, and further to ap-
47
propriate from any money in the treasury not otherwise approp- riated the sum of $55,000, a total of $179,000 for the support of public schools and for the transportation of pupils.
Article 12. Voted : That the Moderator appoint a committee of seven which shall include the chairman of the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools, for the time being, and that $1,000, be raised and appropriated for the purpose of enabling said committee to secure plans and estimates for an addition to the High School, or an additional High School building, said committee to report at some future meeting.
Under this article the Moderator appointed the following committee :
JOHN H. TOWER WILLIAM J. FITZSIMMONS E. CLIFFORD BARKER THERON L. TIRRELL *MRS. FREEMAN PUTNEY Jr. MRS. LOUISE R. CRAWFORD
Article 13. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $300, said money to be paid to the Trustees of the James Humphrey School House Sinking Fund for the payment at maturity of the James Humphrey School House Bonds.
Article 14. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500, for new toilets at the Shaw School, said sum to be ex- pended under the direction of the School Committee.
Article 15. Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,625, for the care and maintenance of parks and play grounds, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Park Com- missioners.
Article 16. Voted : That the subject matter of this article be referred to the Tree Warden.
Article 17. Voted: No action be taken under this article.
Article 18. That the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and empowered to release to Ulysses L. Burns of Franklin, and his heirs and assigns, all the right, title and interest of the inhabitants of Weymouth in so much of the taking by the Park Commissioners of land for Lovell's Corner play ground, as lies northerly by the line on a plan made by Russell H. Whiting, Civil Engineer, dated October 24, 1921, recorder with Norfolk Deeds, Book 1505, page 161 and lies southerly of land of Ulysses L. Burns. Also, so much of said taking as lies southerly of the southerly line of parcel B, as shown on said plan dated October 24, 1921, and lies northerly of land now or formerly of Abbie G. McDonald.
The first parcel being bounded and described as follows: Southerly by parcels A and B as shown on said plan dated Oct. 24, 1921, Westerly by land now or formerly of Ulysses L. Burns : Northerly and Northwesterly by land now or formerly of said Ulysses L. Burns.
The second parcel being bounded and described as follows:
Easterly by Pleasant Street; southwesterly by land now or for-
*Resigned
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merly of Abbie G. McDonald; northerly by parcel B, as shown up- on said plan dated Oct. 24, 1921.
Article 19. Voted: That the town accept from Clarence Bur- gin a conveyance to it of a trianular parcel of land and containing about 3800 square feet, bounded southerly by Massasoit Road, southwesterly by Pilgrim Road, and northerly by a private way, said parcel extending from Wessagussett Road or Pilgrim Road to Ford's Beach so-called upon condition that said lot be kept open and used by the inhabitants of the Town of Weymouth as a public park, that no buildings or structures shall be erected thereon, that the premises shall not be used for the storage of gravel or other material, or any use made thereof which shall render the same unsightly or unsuitable for use as a park; and further, that the thanks of the town be extended to Mr. Burgin for his gift.
Article 20. Voted : No action be taken under this article.
Article 21. Voted : No action be taken under this article.
Article 22. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 for the support of the Fire Department.
Article 23. Motion made by Edward C. Barker, sec'y of the Appropriation Committee, that no action be taken under this article.
Mr.Michael W. Coyle moved as an amendment, that the town vote to authorize the payment to call men of the Fire Department a yearly salary of $25. and seventy-five cents per hour for services at fires.
The amendment was declared lost by the Moderator.
Seven Town Meeting Members having doubted the vote by a show of hands, the Moderator appointed John P. Hunt and Joseph W. McDonald as tellers, who were sworn as such by the Moderator. The vote being retaken, 61 voted in favor and 68 against the amendment, the Moderator declared the amendment lost.
The question then came on Mr. Barker's motion, and it was voted : No action be taken under this article.
Article 24: Motion made by Edward C. Barker, sec'y of the Appropriation Committee. To raise and appropriate the sum of $18,000 for the support of the Fire Department, and that the salary of the Chief of Police Department be $5.00 per day and that of the men under him $4.00 per day.
Arthur H. Pratt, Chief of Police offered an amendment, That the sum of $20,618, be raised and appropriated for the support of the Police Department for 1922 and the wages remain the same.
The amendment was put before the Town Meeting Members and was declared a vote, The motion as amended was so voted.
Article 25. Voted: No action be taken under this article.
Article 26. Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000, for the employment of district or other nurses, said sum to be expended by the town through its Selectmen or under the dir- ection of the Board of Health, if authorized so to do by the Select- men.
Article 28. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000, for the establishment and support of a dental clinic, said
19
sum to be expended by the town through its Selectmen or under the direction of the Board of Health if authorized so to do by the Selectmen.
Motion made by Michael W. Cowle that the subject matter of article 23 be reconsidered.
The question on reconsideration of the article was put before the Town Meeting Members and was declared not a vote.
Article 29, Motion made by Edward C. Barker, sce'y of the Appropriation Committee, To raise and appropriate the sum of $15,785 for the payment of town officers as follows:
Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor
$3,000.
Town Clerk
250.
Assessors
3,500.
Treasurer
800.
Treasurer's Bond
125.
Auditors
150.
Sealers of weights and measurers
600.
Expenses of Sealer
200.
Tree Warden
100.
Registrars of Voters
450.
Town Accountant
1,800.
Town Accountant's clerical assistance
400.
Town Counsel
500.
Tax Collector
3,400.
Tax Collector, hold-up insurance
110.
Tax Collector's bond
250.
Appropriation Committee
150.
15,785.
Under this article Hon. George L. Barnes, moderator, offered the following resolution :
The Weymouth Annual Town Meeting assembled on the sixth day of March A. D. 1922 desires to hereby record its appreciation of the many years of faithful service rendered to the town of Weymouth by Bradford Hawes.
Having in mind the wealth of his knowledge of the affairs of the town and its necessities, as well also as his ability to give ex- pert advise upon the laws relating to town government and muni- cipal affairs, we hereby record ourselves as viewing with approval the employment of Mr. Hawes by the Selectmen in the capacity of advisor and assistant to the Board of Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor at a salary of Five Hundred dollars per annum.
The question on the adoption of this resolution was put before the Town Meeting Members by the Town Clerk acting as Moder- ator for the time being, and it was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the Members.
Mr. Walter L. Bates asked permission of the chair that the citizens of the town who were present be given a chance to signify their approval of the above resolution, the Town Clerk acting as Moderator then asked all citizens present that were in favor of the resolution to signify by a rising vote and it was unanimously ap- proved by the citizens present. Mr. George L. Barnes moved as an amendment to the motion offered by Mr. Barker that the sum for the payment of town officers be $16,285 which includes the amount voted upon by the above resolution.
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This amendment being accepted by the Appropriation commit- tee was put before the Town Meeting Members and it was unani- mously adopted.
Article 30. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500 for Election Expenses.
Article 31. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000 for rent and expenses of Town Offices.
Article 32. Motion made by Edward C. Barker, secretary of the Appropriation committee: To raise and appropriate the sum of $55,425 for repairs of highways, townways, bridges, street oil- ing and for the removal of snow; and further to appropriate from any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of $3,000 for private work which the street department may do and for which the town is to be reimbursed.
Mr. Frank A. Pray offered an amendment that laborers on the street department be paid $4.50 per day, and the Superintendent of Streets be authorized to commence work on the streets as soon as possible.
The amendment was lost, 38 voted in favor and 68 against.
Mr. William B. Dasha moved as an amendment that the sum be increased by adding $3,000.
This amendment was lost, 56 voted in favor and 62 against.
The original motion as offered by the secretary of the Ap- propriation committee was put before the Town Meeting Members and it was so voted.
Article 33. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 for the building of permanent sidewalks, the same to be expended under the provisions of the Betterment Act.
Article 34. Voted : No action be taken under this article.
Article 35. Motion made by Edward C. Barker, secretary of the Appropriation committee: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500 for the grading, surfacing and oiling of East Street, be- ginning at the juncture of East and Wharf Streets.
Mr. Preston Lewis offered an amendment by adding the words "continuing to Green Street."
The amendment was put before the Town Meeting Members and it was so voted.
The motion as amended was put before the Town Meeting Members and it was so voted.
Voted : That the privilege of the floor be given any citizen of the town to speak upon any question before the meeting.
Article 36. Voted : That the sum of $20,000 be raised and appropriated for macadam pavement or other material, under the specifications approved by the Massachusetts Highway Commis- sion, to be used for the reconstruction of existing ways in the town, and the Treasurer be and hereby is authorized with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow said sum of $20,000 for that purpose and issue notes of the town therefor, payable in equal installments for five years from the date of issue, to bear interest at a rate not to exceed six per cent per annum.
142 Town Meeting Members voted in favor, 0 against.
160 Town Meeting Members present out of 184 eligible.
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Article 37. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for the purchase of gravel and other material and the right to remove the same for a period of (10) years, in a hill off Green Street belonging to Joseph Thompson.
Article 37. Voted: To accept the report of the Selectmen upon laying out and alterations of Commercial Street where stood the "Arnold Tavern."
(See Records of Roads, page 208 Vol. 1.)
Voted: To take up Article 57.
Article 57. Voted: That the town appropriate from the rev- enue of the Water Works for the current year the sum of $51,610 to be expended for the following purposes:
Sup't. Maintenance and Pumping Station $26,480
Commissioner's, office and current expenses
4,500
Replacements 2,000
New services, minor extensions and meter installations
7,200
Principal on serial bonds due 1922
7,500
Interest on 4 per cent. bonds due 1922
2,835
Interest on 4 per cent. bonds due 1922 370
Interest on 5 per cent. bonds due 1922 725
$51,610
The committee appointed to prepare a list of minor officers not elected by ballot reported as follows:
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