USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1929 > Part 15
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Front Street Drain: At the special town meeting in September $2,500.00 was appropriated to relay the drain from Front Street that runs through the Hunt school, to Weston Park. An 18 inch pipe was laid and the course changed to make a more direct line and to avoid passing under the school buildings. This work was not com- pleted at the close of the fiscal year but has since been finished. $6,000.00 was expended under the direction of the street department to resurface the drives and parking spaces adjacent to the Town Hall and High School. Bituminous macadam pavement was laid and we do not mind saying that we are proud of this job. This ap- propriation was made for the School Department. so does not ap- pear under the Street Department expenditures.
SUMMARY OF STREET APPROPRIATIONS
Regular Highway Appropriation 1929
Superintendent
$3,500.00
General repairs
41,692.62
Maintenance of trucks
-
2,998.65
Operation of crusher
3,097.00
Fences and signs
1,878.49
Street cleaning
10,062.80
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Equipment and supplies
7,175.75
Bridges
1,300:00
Gravel sidewalks
3,623.41
Department building
210.73
Drains and catch-basins
8,620.66
Snow
11,975.36
Sundries
485 28
Oiling
36,661.15
Sanding Machine (new)
6,250.00
New Mack Truck
5,751.50
New Sidewalk tractor and plow
1,950.00
Total
$147,233.40
Appropriation March Meeting
$130.000.00
Appropriation Special Meeting, September 16, 1929
9,000.00
Crushed stone
564.20
Use of trucks
2,818.93
Use of rollers
864.00
Use of Bear Cat Shovel
993.00
Pipe
66.00
Gravel
402.04
Gas refund
30.88
Balance from New Streets
428.72
From reserve fund
2,250.00
Total
$147,417.77
Balance to treasury
$184.37
HIGHWAY SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
Appropriation
Expended $16,444.76
Permanent Construction
$16,520.92
Relocating St. Corners (Bridge St.)
1,274.01
Bridge St. Awards
1,301.00
195.00
Grass Plots (1928 appropriation)
147.09
147.09
Land Damage Broad and Commercial
1,000.00
3,963.17
Permanent Sidewalks
10,000.00
10,000.00
Widening Middle and Washington Sts
478.88
372.40
Land taking Washington Sq.
101.00
101.00
WORKING NEW STREETS
Beal
5,000.00
5,082.60
Hibiscus
1,400.00
1,309.06
Lochmere
2.200.00
1,828.23
Manatee
1,690.00
1.192.39
Seminole
1,400.00
1,777.08
Oakcrest
3.300.00
3,476.25
Randall
1,580.00
1,476.67
Middle & Commercial Streets
3.930.00
3,930.00
Rosemont Road
700.00
700.00
Middle St. Relocation
2,000.00
1,602.25
Washington St. sidewalk
2,600.00
2.515.16
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Drain Vine Street
200.00
199.24
Bridge St. Award (Egan)
1,000.00
1,000.00
Summer Street Relocation
9,000.00
9,000.00
Front Street Drain
2,500.00
934.80
Total Appropriations
69,322.90
Amount expended
$67,674.87
Balance unexpended
$1,648.03
On December 8, 1929 while sanding icy roads to make them safe for others James E. Sheehy lost his life in line of duty.
Mr. Sheehy was a conscientious and faithful worker, always ready and willing to do any task assigned to him. His passing on is a loss to the Street Department and Town.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I thoroughly believe that more money should be expended for permanent sidewalks. Weymouth is not spending as much for sidewalks as most towns of a like size. Broad Street from Lincoln Square to Clapp's Field should be resurfaced this coming year so as to include the area where the car tracks were removed. With the prospects of but few new major projects to be met this coming year and the great amount of unemployment it would seem wise to do as much as possible .in the way of street im- provements.
In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation to the Board of Selectmen and to the Department employees who by their cooperation and assistance have made it possible to accomplish the many projects confronted.
Respectfully submitted, IRVING E. JOHNSON Superintendent of Streets,
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Town of Weymouth
On October 1, 1928 the Town adopted Building Laws govern- ing the erection and alterations of buildings; were approved by the Attorney General of the Commonwealth Feb. 15, 1929, and after three local publications were made effective March 8, 1929.
The Inspector of Buildings was appointed on March 12, 1929 to hold office until the following May, and on May 1, 1929 was again appointed for the ensuing year.
169
A new department was to be established in the Town, and plans were inaugurated to carry on its business with economy and efficiency.
The required applications, permits, appeal blanks, building laws, the proper set of records and other necessary details were expedit ously handled through the assistance of Town Officials, making possible the issuance of the first permit on March 20, 1929 to Susan Worthen for a garage at 28 Front Street.
The applications, requiring information of location, owner- ship and other statistics of vital importance to Town Officials, and departments having common interest in new developments and construction, as well as for the information of the public abutting new developments, were intended to secure important preliminary information before work should begin on any project. Securing. data regarding size of lot, offset from adjoining property lines. and distance from street lines was difficult to accurately obtain,. and in many cases it was necessary to secure from the Town Engineer definite lines abounding the property. This together with the field work required persistence and energy for several months: until the applicants became acquainted with and accustomed to the requirements of the laws.
Much emphasis should be given the splendid cooperation of Town Officials, the Board of Appeal, the owners and builders in securing rapid action to make the Laws, which the Town had ac- cepted as of the utmost importance, effective in their many details. The co-ordination of effort on the part of all concerned and the difficulties which were encountered, and in most cases amicably settled by immediate response to the import and the interpretation of the Laws, was most gratifying to the Inspec- tor. In only a few instances was it apparent that the Laws as adopted as a necessity for good construction, and protection from encroachment of present property, could be amended without materially changing the intent of purpose and the safety of con- struction.
Careful consideration was given certain sections of the Laws both from a legal and construction standpoint, and on September 16, 1929, the Town voted to adopt amendments as set forth in the Town Warrant. These were approved by the Attorney General Oct. 15, 1929, and made effective November 1, 1929,
In the acceptance by the Town of Building regulations the Inspector is automatically delegated to enforce certain provisions of the Laws of the Commonwealth relating to new construction, apartment or tenement houses, the inspection of dangerous build- ings, lodging houses and elevators; most important of which are the provisions relative to the inspection and testing of elevators.
This part of the work has been accomplished through the courteous cooperation of the several manufacturing officials, and in every case where defects have been found in safety devices, cables. governors, enclosures, gates and doors or other parts, it has been
170
the desire of the officials to immediately repair these defects and carry out the recommendations of the Inspector.
The Building Laws and their application, the effect of which will become more apparent as development progresses, have regu- lated the alignment of buildings and distances from adjoining property; strengthened foundations, floors and ceilings; eliminated the use of wood shingles on roofs; safeguarded the owners and occupants from fire hazard by use of fire stops in walls and stairs; eliminated flimsy construction, and required other details of ex- ceptional value to residential and business communities.
Herewith is summary of the records of the Department. Building permits issued 370
Alteration permits issued 258
Estimated valuation of Buildings $925,390.00
Estimated valuation of Alterations 261,104.50
1
Total valuation Receipts $1385.00
$1,186,494.50
Rebates
20.00
Total $1365.00 Appropriation $1,500 Expenditures $1,500
It is with grateful appreciation that I thank your Honorable Board for the splendid assistance and cooperation exemplified while performing the arduous duties that has been my privilege to have undertaken for the progress of the Town.
.Respectfully submitted T. J. KELLY Inspector of Buildings
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
Weymouth, December 31, 1929. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
On March 8, 1929, when the Building Laws became effective, a Board of Appeal, consisting of one selectman, the town counsel and the town engineer, was created to receive and act upon applications for relief of certain provisions of the laws.
Diversified appeals have been made to the Board, but each has been given careful consideration, and have been decided for the safety of owner and the protection of adjacent property owners.
At the outset it was necessary to approve many applications on account of the condition or location of buildings in process of erection.
Herewith is summary of the records of the Board. 47 applications approved.
5 aplications conditionally approved.
7 applications partially approved.
14 applications disapproved. Resectfully submitted
RUSSELL H. WHITING
Secretary of Board of Appeals
171
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
In this, our fourth annual report of the Planning Board of the town of Weymouth, we would say, that, at the beginning of the year, we organized, with Frank A. Pray chairman, and Ralph H. Haskins clerk and treasurer. At the annual March meeting, Russell H. Whiting, Josiah B. Reed, and Ralph'H. Haskins, were elected members of the Planning Board, for three years.
The result of our considerations, at our several meetings, are already manifest, in various parts of the town. During the past year, the traffic lights at Central Square, and at the junction of Washington and Middle Strets, have been replaced by much better equipment, and are now giving satisfactory service.
The traffic light at Lovell's Corner has been installed during the past year, and we hear most favorable reports, regarding the moving of traffic at that point.
The Planning Board recommends, the installing of the follow- ing traffic lights.
1, at Bridge and North Sts.
2, Main and Middle Sis.
3, Washington Square.
4, Lincoln Square
5, at Independence Square.
6, at Main and Park Ave.
7, at Pleasant and Park Ave.
Several of the squares and street corners have been greatly improved by grading, and placing cement curbing around the plots, and reseeding. Our efforts in improving conditions, at the junction of Commercial and Middle Streets, have been most gratifying, as a new street, with even grade connecting both streets, has been built, and the triangle graded and a curbing built around the same.
We would suggest that the new street, be named-"Legion Way" and that two suitable poles with lights be placed on the Southerly side of said "Way."
The conditions at the Rail Road . Crossing, at South Wey- mouth Station, have been extensively considered, in connection with the corner of Pond and Derby Streets, as we feel this is a very dangerous corner, and a committee of our Board inter- viewed the Officials of the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R., who after viewing the premises, were won over to the idea, that gates could be installed, which would solve the problm of better safeguard- ing the public. We are pleased to report that the gates are now ready to be installed.
At the corner of Pond and Derby Streets, a curvature of. about (40) forty feet, has been laid out, by our town engineer, and. the poles and wires have been moved, and we feel in the near future, conditions at that point will be much improved.
172
The advantage of a street, connecting Pond and Randolph Streets, parallel with and approximately 60 or 80 feet, from the Railroad tracks, was favorably considered, by us as we feel, that in the near future the officials of the R. R. can be induced to build a new station, in South Weymouth, and if they do, it will undoubtedly be located several feet farther North than the present one, and it would open land, for building purposes, and can be laid out, and built for a moderate sum.
A street connecting Lovell and Bridge Streets, would be a great asset, in that part of the town, as it would allow travel the entire length of the beach front, from Neck Street, through to Birchbrow Avenue, without the necessity of entering Bridge street with its heavy traffic. We encourage, continuing the taking of land at Great Pond as fast as conditions warrant.
We recommend:
The widening of Broad street from Jackson Square to Central Square and the removal of the tracks from Madison street to Jackson Square. The widening of Middle street adjoining Legion Field. The straightening of Pleasant street, between the Police Station and Water streets.
The building of permanent sidewalks, in each section of the town. A representative of our Board attended the State Planning Board meeting, at Fitchburg Mass. Oct. 1st and 2nd 1929.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK A. PRAY Chairman
RALPH H. HASKINS Clerk RUSSELL H. WHITING ARTHUR I. NEGUS
ALLAN C. EMERY JOSIAH B. REED
THOMAS J. KELLY.
REPORT ON THE DEATH OF CHIEF JOHN Q. HUNT
The death of our Chief, John Q. Hunt, occurred on October 8, 1929 while answering an alarm for a fire from Box 23. He died like a man, fighting fire in performance of his duty. The Town has lost a model citizen, the Board of Selectmen an obedient servant and the men of his Department a great friend.
During the period of 38 years of which he served as Callman, Engineer and Permanent Chief he saw the Department grow from horse drawn apparatus to the present up-to-date motor equip- ment and a Department of which the Town should be proud.
He lived to complete a new station at Ward 3 and his one great desire was to have a new home for his Ward 2 men, and we hope his good work will not be in vain.
Chief Hunt's death will be greatly felt not only by the De- partment and friends which he was connected with, but also in the civic duties pertaining to all Town affairs.
J. RALPH BACON. Chief of Weymouth Fire Department
173
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen:
The following is a report of the activities of the Weymouth Fire Department during the year of 1929.
On being called upon to render this report it brings further to my mind the great loss which the Town has been called upon to bear.
During this year we have met a loss which has been greatly felt, the death of our late Chief John Q. Hunt. In his death we men of the Fire Department have lost a great friend, the Town a wonderful citizen, the Board of Selectmen an obedient servant and a gentleman loved and respected by all.
The Town also has met a financial loss by the burning of the quarters of Engine 3 which has since been rebuilt and equipped at a cost of $40,000. The department feels greatly in debt to the citizens of our Town for the beautiful building which they have given us.
We have purchased another 750 gallon Triple Combination Seagrave Pump to replace the Combination at Ward 1, and also a 1000 gallon Triple Combination Maxim Pump to replace the last of our old equipment, the old Knox Pump at Engine 5. We now have a new Engine in each station, and as Combination 3 has been equipped with a Foam Generator for oil and gasoline fires and a Deluge Deck Nozzle for large fires this, together with the new Engines place our apparatus in good condition such as any Town might rightfully feel proud of.
It is my sincere hope that the Town this year will build and furnish new quarters at Ward 2, East Weymouth, and equip it with an up-to-date Fire Alarm circuit as our old quarters and equipment has outlived its present needs.
Our Fire Department has made a great many new friends both in and out of Town which has been proven in the hour of need, as in the instances of the Towns of Rockland, Braintree and Hull. These Towns each had its large fire and upon being called I feel proud of the way the Weymouth Fire Department responded and the way the situations were handled.
The past year has proven the value of a permanent depart- ment. This is shown in the comparison with the increase of Ares, not only in numbers but also in size and the small loss which was caused. The Permanent Force stand ready to protect the property and lives of the citizens at all times regardless of conditions, and their one endeavor is to show the people of Weymouth their gratitude for the apparatus and improvement of living conditions that they have so generously provided.
I wish also to thank the Callmen of my Department for the loyalty which they have shown by the response to the alarms. The citizens should feel in debt to these men who respond 30 generously regardless of their own pleasure or business to help and protect them in time of fire.
174
The following record is a summary of the alarms answered during the year ending December 31, 1929.
Engine 1
102
Engine 2
170
Engine 3
137
Engine 5
65
Combination 3
9
Ladder 1
48
Ladder 2
103
Forest Fire Truck 3
62
Forest Fire Truck 5
69
Out of Town calls-Rockland, Braintree, Hull.
Engine 2 Alarms Answered 2
Engine 3
3
Engine 5
1
In closing I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the Board of Selectmen, and all members of all other Departments who welcomed me as a new Chief, and to the Citizens who have co- operated with my Department and helped at fires when needed.
I also wish to thank the Police Department thru their Chief for the cooperation and the assistance at all times and I hope this feeling between our Departments will continue to grow.
J. RALPH BACON,
Chief Weymouth Fire Department
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPT. FIRE ALARMS
To The Chief of the Fire Department, Weymouth, Mass .:
The following is the reports of present and future needs of the Fire Alarm System that is respectfully submitted:
The number of Bell Alarms in the past year were as follows:
Alarms in Town 273
No School
5
Lost Child 2
Out of Town Calls 3
Total of Alarms 283
I would also state that the Alarm System is in a very good condition at the present time as all the old wire has been re- placed and new wire has been installed.
Nine new Boxes were installed the past year bringing the total number of Boxes to seventy-nine.
Ground-Rods were installed in a large number of these and the rest will be installed at my earliest convenience.
The Circuit in the North part of the Town should be divided into two circuits so as to divide the extra heavy load that the present one in forced to uphold.
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A very much larger number of new poles have been installed this past year therefore this added much to the cost and upkeep of our lines.
In closing I wish to thank all those who cooperated with me, in any respect.
Respectfully submitted, C. F. COOLIDGE, Supt. Fire Alarm W. F. D.
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN AND MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth: Gentlemen.
Herein please find my report for the year 1929.
Our work of the past year has been mostly in trimming our old trees and removing many dead and otherwise objectionable ones. I am sorry to report that I have yet been unable to find any number of trees which are suitable to set out on our streets. We are doing our best to save our old ones and I hope that there may be some suitable ones on the market soon. I have some Norway maples 9 to 11 ft. but I would not advise setting them on the streets.
Yours respectfully. CHARLES L. MERRITT
Tree Warden
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen of The Town of Weymouth. Gentlemen.
Herein please find my report for the year 1929.
Although we are finding gypsy moths scattered all through our town, we have them well under control. The fall tent worm has been increasing rapidly for some years and were very prevalent this year. We cut them quite thoroughly from the trees and bushes on our streets and a few private places. Parties wishing to have that work done next year must notify the Superintendent early.
The satin moth is another serious pest attacking Willows and poplars. As we were unable to reach those tall trees with our orchard sprayers I had one of our big sprayers motorized, buying a G. M. C. 2 ton truck for that purpose. We can now get around faster and reach our tall trees.
Yours Respectfully
CHARLES L. MERRITT
Moth Superintendent
176
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SEWERAGE
East Weymouth, January 9, 1930
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Committee on Sewerage, appointed in accordance with a vote of the annual town meeting of 1927, makes the following final report:
The Committee at its first meeting, decided, that while the time for the actual construction of sewers might be several years distant, it would be for the best interests of the town to immediately make the engineering studies and estimates necessary to insure intelligent action upon any question pertaining to sewer- age that might arise.
While we did not expect any such question to come up for several years, the action of the Town of Braintree in deciding to proceed at once with sewer construction brought the problem of outlets to the South Metropolitan Sewer to a critical point during the past few months, and it is fortunate for the town that our studies had progressed to a point where we were able to make a definite statement of our requirements. This feature wim come out clearly in the discussion of entrance into the Metro- politan district.
PRELIMINARY WORK
Before any intelligent study of sewerage could be made, it was necessary to make a topographic plan of the entire town, which involved the following surveys:
35 miles of precise level benches
63 miles of additional bench levels.
100 miles of street profiles.
This field work was completed late in 1928 and a contour plan plotted from the data thus obtained. Metcalf and Eddy Consulting Engineers of Boston were engaged to make a pre- liminary layout for a sewerage system, based on this plan, and a rough estimate of cost.
A preliminary report on this plan and estimate was made to the annual meeting of 1929, the completion of this report using up the last of the original appropriation of $5,000. The annual meeting of 1929 voted the sum of $10,000 to complete the work of the committee.
FINAL STUDIES AND REPORT
Metcalf & Eddy were retained as engineers for the detailed studies and final report; the following surveys and other field work required by them being done by local forces under the direction of the committee:
9 Wash borings at pumping station sites.
381 Soundings to determine subsurface conditions along trunk lines.
8 miles, profiles of trunk and lateral lines.
The final report of the engineers, with general plan, analysis of methods of disposal, detail cost estimate, including cost of
177
each pumping station required, and cost of pipe lines by streete, estimate of annual charges and recommendations has been printed for distribution to town officials and town meeting members and to other citizens upon application. As the report is voluminous and of a technical nature we have not thought it wise to entail the expense of printing it for general distribution or inserting it in the Town Report, but are attempting in the following paragraphs, to bring out in the fewest possible words, such features as are essential to a proper understanding of the problem and the situation arising therefrom.
METHOD OF DISPOSAL
The engineers' report takes up in detail the comparative costs and advantages of local disposal plants versus discharge into sewers of the South Metropolitan system. The significant figures are as follows:
Estimated Cost of Disposal Plant $238,000
Estimated Annual Charges (Interest, Bond Retirement
and Operation) 37,000
*Estimated Annual Payment to Metropolitan District as of 1934, including Installment on Entrance Fee 38,700
These two figures for annual charges are directly comparable, as the other costs would be practically the same in either case.
It is obvious that the method that does not involve operating, with its attending difficulties and hazards, is preferable even though the annual charges be considerably higher. In this case they are nearly equal and there can be no question as to the wisdom of the engineers' decision in favor of discharging into the Metropolitan System.
It is doubtful moreover if the state authorities would ever approve the discharge of the effluent from a disposal plant into any of the inland waters of the town or into tide water near shore.
As our studies progressed, it became more and more evident that it would be for the best interests of Weymouth and Braintree and ulitmately for the interest of other neighboring towns, as well as the Metropolitan District as a whole if Wey- mouth and Braintree could discharge through a common line, passing from East Braintree through the northern end of North Weymouth, and Germantown 'in Quincy, to the South Metro- politan sewer.
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