USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1951 > Part 8
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MOVED:
ARTICLE 64. That the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000.00 for the acquisition by gift or purchase or take by right of eminent domain in fee, part of Lot 16, Block 243, approximately 93,000 square feet of land as shown on Town of Weymouth Atlas of the year 1949, all in accordance with a Plan of Town Engineer, Russell H. Whiting, dated February 1, 1951. $3,000.00
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 65. No action.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 66. That the matter be referred back to the Tufts Library Trustees and that they be instructed to study and report to the next Town Meeting on the use of a section of the Bicknell School land for a site of the proposed branch library.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
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MOVED :
ARTICLE 67. That the Town vote to instruct the Town Counsel to take necessary legal action to secure court approval for the sale of the Tufts Library Building and property on which it is located on or near the corner of Commercial and Washington Streets.
Mr. Franklin Pratt presented a Report of the Trustees of Tufts Library relative to library facilities as requested in the Special Town Meeting of October 2, 1950, as follows :-
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY RELATIVE TO THE LIBRARY FACILITIES OF THE TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
By vote of the Special Town Meeting, Monday, October 2, 1950, the trustees of the Tufts Library were requested to prepare a complete report of recommnedations on a capital out-lay plan for the Tufts Library and Branches, including the disposal of the Tufts Library building and property and a proposed site for a new library building.
This report follows:
A. THE TUFTS LIBRARY BUILDING. In reporting on the Tufts Library building it seemed best to compare the present building with the facilities standard today for a community the size of Weymouth. The following comparison is made:
To give library service that meets the standards of the American Li- brary Association for a community the size of Weymouth, a modern main library building should pro- vide the following:
Our present building compares with these standards as follows:
For today's population 18,000 sq. ft. of floor space. (A new library should allow for at least 20 years' popula- tion growth and the floor area be estimated accordingly.)
Adequate lighting everywhere.
Entrance and main library services on the street level.
Periodical and Reading Room, at- tractively and comfortably fur- nished, and accommodating approx- imately 50 persons.
Reference Room apart from the Reading Room.
We have 7,566 sq. ft. of usable floor space. The attic, if finished off and made available for use, would give a total of 11,349 sq. ft. We would still lack 6,651 sq. ft. of needed space to meet today's needs.
Poor lighting almost everywhere. The wiring is obsolete and is a fire hazard.
Our main library is up one flight.
Our Periodical and Reading Room seats 27. We have 3 long tables and 1 small one. Crowded conditions prevent re-designing.
We have no separate reference room. Shelves on one side of the Reading Room hold our reference books. This is very inadequate.
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To give library service that meets the standards of the American Li- brary Association for a community the size of Weymouth, a modern main library building should pro- vide the following:
Our present building compares with these standards as follows:
Children's Library and Story Hour Room.
We have a good Children's Library, but the adjacent room is over- crowded and put to many uses be- sides the group needs of children. It is not a room, only a portion of the Children's Room, screened off by book shelves.
Young People's Library. Teen-agers have special interests and needs.
We have no room for young people's library services; only a few book shelves back of our main desk.
Music and Art Room.
We have no Music or Art Room. Music is in a corner of the Periodi- cal and Reading Room. No good place for art books or pictures.
Local History and Genealogical col- lection.
We have no room for such a collec- tion. A few genealogical books are shelved with our reference books. Catalog cards bring out Weymouth analytics so that some day these books may be brought together.
Space for the 1879 Library and rare books.
1
Family Room: Books on child care, education, etc. (Some libraries call this the Parent's and Teacher's Room.)
Auditorium equipped for audio-vis- ual use for cultural and educational group meetings, film forums, etc.
We have no auditorium. This great- ly restricts the service of the library as a community center.
Cataloguing Room.
We have no room for this essential service. Our cataloguing is done in a crowded space back of book cases.
Receiving and shipping room.
We have no receiving and shipping room. Books must be brought over the stairs and piled in the Trustees' room or in front of the main desk.
Adequate work room for book pro- cessing, book mending and prepara- tion for binding, branch exchange, school deposit exchanges, etc.
We have no work rooms at all. We have to use the Trustees' Room and one end of the Children's Room. This is a desperate need.
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We have no good place for this and are using needed shelves in our Story Hour Room.
We have a few books of this nature in the Story Hour Room.
To give library service that meets the standards of the American Li- brary Association for a community the size of Weymouth, a modern main library building should pro- vide the following:
Our present building compares with these standards as follows:
Steel book stacks to accommodate up to 72,000 volumes.
We have twelve old wooden cases taking precious space on our main floor. It is doubtful if the present structure will bear the weight of additional stacks, either in the attic or on the main floor. The basement is damp and not adequate for stor- age. This, too, is a desperate need.
Librarian's office large enough to have a section for an assistant li- brarian's desk (or with an adjacent office for the assistant librarian.)
The present office is too small for a second desk and not well located for supervision.
Trustees' Room.
We have one, but it has to double as a work room.
We have a dark corner under the stairs, screened off by bookcases. There are no facilities.
Safe large enough to hold especially valuable books as well as records.
We have a cumbersome but not very roomy old safe. It is overcrowded.
Electric book lift or elevator.
We have none. Carrying books over the stairs is arduous and sometimes dangerous.
Janitor's workshop and room, with lavatory.
We have a janitor's room in the basement. The lavatory is inside. without ventilation, unsanitary and inadequate.
Boiler room and an adequate space for fuel storage.
Our boiler is in a pit and the oil tanks are on a higher level. This constitutes a fire hazard.
Adequate lavatories for staff and public.
We have three for the staff (two are inside, without ventilation, the third has poor ventilation; none for the public.
We have one large closet. This is not adequate.
We have one small closet.
Closets on each floor for janitor's supplies.
Garage and parking area.
There is no parking area and no space available. No garage.
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Stock lockers for library supplies.
Staff Room equipped with rest room, kitchenette, lavatory and lockers.
At present the Town has set aside for the renovation of the Tufts Library building the sum of $18,400. The repairs that are essential if the library is to continue in the present building are estimated to cost $21,870. This includes only necessary wiring, plumbing, and repairs on roof and walls.
If storage stacks are to be built in the attic (an undertaking which the Trustees believe to be too risky), and if the second floor is to be re-designed, as recommended by Griffenhagen and Associates, additional sums would be required.
After spending all this money, we still would not have provided for good library service, as indicated in the items listed in column one above.
Possible Alternatives: The Trustees feel that the Town has the follow- ing alternatives:
1. To renovate the present library building and continue to utilize it as a main library, which at best would be wholly inadequate for good library service.
Complete renovation of the present building, utilizing all available space for library purposes, has been considered by the Trustees. Plans were made and estimates procured four years ago. This renovation would include:
1. Basic repairs to the structure.
2. Finishing the top floor for library use, and putting in the second stairway required by law if the top floor is used. The esti- mate in 1946 was $70,000. Price increases since 1946 would carry this well over $100,000. This does not include book-cases and mov- able furniture; it does not include the repairs, redesigning and refinishing of the first two floors which would be made necessary by putting a second stairway from the top floor to the street.
The Trustees estimate the total cost of complete renovation to be more than $150.000.
Completed, the building would still be inadequate for standard library service for a town the size of Weymouth. It would be on three floors, inconvenient for the public, difficult and expensive to administer. It could not provide for adequate book storage, and that problem would quickly become acute again.
For these reasons the Trustees feel that renovation of the pres- ent structure for continued use as the Tufts Liibrary would be un- wise, expensive and economically unsound.
2. To use the present building, or a part of the building, as a branch library and erect a new main library in another location.
3. To authorize the Town Counsel to clear the title preparatory to selling the present building and site, and erect a new library on a site where there is adequate room for modern library facilities. This alternative is the recommendation of the Board of Trustees.
Site for a new library building :
In determining the site for a new Tufts Library building, the Trustees believe that the following considerations should have weight:
1. It is the clear intent of the wills of both Quincy Tufts and Susan Tufts that the library should be located in Weymouth Landing.
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2. It has become an accepted tradition in the Town and people are accustomed to having the Tufts Library in Weymouth Landing.
3. The best available land, from the standpoint of economy, is in that section of Weston park, fronting on Broad St. There are other sites in Weymouth Landing that would be desirable and perhaps more central than land on Broad Street, but they are built upon and the Town would have to purchase the property and raze the buildings.
The disadvantages of locating the library in Weston Park are :
a. that it is off the main street and does not have maximum pedes- trian traffic.
b. to put such a building on park property would require an act of the Legislature.
The advantages of locating the library in Weston Park are:
a. the economy of using land already owned by the Town.
b. that it is a safe location for children.
c. that it is convenient to a large residential area.
d that there would be ample space for parking.
e. that the park would afford a beautiful setting for a public build- ing.
4. Auxiliary library facilities are already provided for residents of North and East Weymouth, and the Fogg Memorial Library is lo- cated in South Weymouth.
5. Because Weymouth is not a compact community, but is composed of a group of villages, the problem of placing library facilities within the reach of all residents cannot be solved by the location of the Main Library alone.
B. THE NORTH WEYMOUTH BRANCH.
The present quarters are inadequate; there is too little floor space and crowded conditions hamper the service.
The building is poorly constructed and not kept in good repair in spite of urgent requests from the Trustees.
There is bad drainage and sewerage seeps into the cellar.
The rental of $1,140 per year (not including heat or janitor service) means higher maintenance costs. This is interest on a sum which might be adequate to build a branch library.
No other suitable quarters for a branch library are available for rent in the locality.
For the above reasons, the Trustees recommend building a branch library in North Weymouth.
Three alternatives as to the site.
1. Corner North and Shaw Streets; two vacant lots comprising approxi- mately 26,000 sq. ft.
Advantages :
a. there is adequate space for the building and for a parking space.
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b. it is convenient to a large residential area.
c. it would afford a setting that would make the library an asset to the community.
Disadvantages:
a. it is away from the shopping center and does not have maximum pedestrian traffic.
b. the owners appear to be unwilling to sell.
2. A Branch Library within the Bicknell School building.
This is a suggestion of the School Department which should be care- fully studied before a decision is reached. A similar arrangement has been worked out in some communities, where the school furnishes the room and physical equipment and the public library furnishes the books and the per- sonnel, and the Trustees of the Public Library have jurisdiction over the branch.
It would be important for the branch library to be located on the first floor, to have adequate floor area and its own entrance.
3. Land on the Bicknell School property facing Bicknell Square.
Advantages:
a. it would be in the heart of pedestrian traffic.
. b. parking facilities are proposed in an adjacent area.
c. there is sufficient land area to allow for a branch library with more adequate facilities than could be provided in one room in a school building.
A branch library should provide:
1. separate areas within the library for adults and children.
2. work space and rest room for the librarian.
3. an assembly hall (usually in the basement) for community gath- erings.
Disadvantages:
a. there is heavy traffic through Bicknell Square. This would be largely offset by the safe approach from the school for children.
C. THE EAST WEYMOUTH BRANCH. -
The present branch library is more adequate than is the branch at North Weymouth and the landlord is co-operative. Building in this sec- tion could be deferred until more urgent needs are met. The Trustees feel, however, that the Town should look forward to owning its branch library at East Weymouth, and suggest the desirability of acquiring a suitable site and holding it until building is feasible. Two possible sites have been considered:
1. Vacant land adjacent to the Weymouth Light & Power Company on Commercial Street, approximately 13,000 sq. ft.
2. Town-owned property at the junction of Commercial and Broad Streets.
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Either of these sites are well located, central, and would have maxi- mum pedestrian traffic. The first of the two sites would give adequate land area for future expansion and some parking space. The second is a slightly more convenient location and is already owned by the Town, but is very restricted in area.
D. SOUTH WEYMOUTH is served by the Fogg Memorial Library, which is not under our jurisdiction.
E. DEPOSIT STATIONS. The Library now operates stations at the fol- lowing locations:
1. Weymouth Heights in the Adams School. This is satisfactory for present needs.
2. Lovell's Corner in the Pratt School. This is very overcrowded.
3. Nash's Corner in the Shaw School. This is a basement room, down a steep stairway, and is damp and often cold. We have to move upstairs every summer into one of the classrooms or our books will milldew.
4. Pond Plain in a private home, 308 Pond Street. The location is good, but it is doubtful if it will continue to be available for our use. This station may have to be relocated in the forseeable future.
F. BOOKMOBILE. The Library has none, but the Trustees have had it under consideration for several years. A travelling branch library could give valuable auxiliary service. It would reach areas not now adequately served; it would replenish the limited book stocks in the stations; it would provide transportation for books exchanged between the main library and the branches and schools, saving the present taxi transportation of books; and it would service the new housing developments as the Town grows. Such service is desirable because of its mobility.
However, the present main library building is disadvantageous for this service. There is no parking area; no place for loading and unloading; and no garage facilities.
Griffenhagen and Associates have estimated the initial cost at $10,000 and the upkeep at $7,000 a year.
Two full-time employees would be required; a driver and a bookmobile librarian.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
The Trustees of the Tufts Library recommend that the capital outlay be considered in the following order:
1. A new main library building.
2. A new branch library building at North Weymouth.
3. A bookmobile.
4. A new branch library building at East Weymouth.
5. A survey be undertaken for re-location and enlargement of station libraries as need arises.
Signed
Clarence P. Whittle
Franklin A. Pratt, Clerk Leighton S. Voorhees H. Forrest Wilson Alice E. Fulton Walter C. Gutterson Wallace H. Drake Philip T. Jones
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Comes the question on the motion of the Appropriation Committee. SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 68. That the sum of $20,000.00 be raised and appropriated and $20,000.00 be appropriated from available funds (Excess and Deficiency Fund) for the completion of the East Weymouth Playground; the above sums to be used with any existing balance of funds appropriated under Article 55 of the Annual Town Meeting, March 6, 1950; all work to be completed under the direction of the Park Commissioners. $20,000.00 SO VOTED UNANIMOUSUY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 69. That the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,000.00 to be used with existing balance of funds provided under Article 60 of the Annual Town Meeting, March 6, 1950, for completion of the Pond Plain Playground; all work to be completed under the direction of the Park Commissioners. $4,000.00
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 70. That the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for completion of work at Weston Park under the direction of the Park Commissioners. $2,500.00 SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 71. That the sum of $1,500.00 be raised and appropriated for completion of work at the Bradford Hawes Park under the direction of the Park Commissioners. $1,500.00 SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 72. That the sum of $1,200.00 be raised and appropriated for the development of Mosquito Plain Playground, for which land was secured under Article 58 of the Annual Town Meeting, 1950; all work to be done under the direction of the Park Commissioners. $1,200.00 UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 73. That the Town vote to accept as a gift, purchase, or take by right of eminent domain in fee or otherwise for park purposes, the land of Hugh F. Burgess, containing about 2,800 square feet, as shown on Block 253, Lot 8, Sheet 19-23 of the Town of Weymouth Atlas in the year 1949, all in accordance with a Plan of Russell H. Whiting, Town Engineer, dated February 1, 1951.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 74. That the Town vote to transfer to the Park Department for park purposes, subject to an easement for sewage purposes, Town- owned land, Lots 24, 25 and 26 in Block 136 as shown on Sheet 9 of the Town of Weymouth Atlas in the year 1949 and containing about 44,162 square feet.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
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MOVED:
ARTICLE 75. That the Town vote to transfer to the Park Department, subject to an easement for sewage purposes, Lot 17, Block 80, Town-owned property, as shown on Sheet 10 of the Town of Weymouth Atlas in the year 1949.
Mr. Sheehy asked if, on this Article and several preceding. it would have been possible to show location by street instead of lots and blocks. Mr. Lane explained on the Articles involved.
Comes the question on the Appropriation Committee's motion. SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 76. That the Board of Water Commissioners, on behalf of the Town, is hereby authorized to acquire by gift, or purchase, or take by right of eminent domain in fee for the purposes of the Town's Water Supply, a certain parcel of land in Weymouth, bounded and described as follows :
Beginning at a point at the intersection of Mill River with the easterly side of Main Street, a State Highway; thence running a general north- easterly direction by said Mill River a distance of about 980 feet to land of the Town of Weymouth; thence turning and running easterly by said land of the Town of Weymouth a distance of 137.00 feet; thence turning and running in a general southerly direction by various courses a total distance of 544.36 feet to a stone bound; thence turning and running in a general easterly direction by various courses a total distance of 289.72 feet to a stone bound and land of Theron L. Tirrell; thence turning and run- ning southerly by said land of Theron L. Tirrell; a distance of about 448.00 feet to land of Kenneth L. Nash, et al; thence turning and running west- erly by said land of Kenneth L. Nash, et al, and by land of Louis H. Ells and Eva A. Ells, joint tenants, a total distance of about 792.00 feet to said side line of Main Street; thence turning and running northerly by said side line of Main Street a distance of about 420.00 feet to said Mill River and the point of beginning; containing about 626,00 square feet and all as shown on a plan entitled "Plan of Land in Weymouth, Mass.," made by Russell H. Whiting, Town Engineer, dated February 5, 1951, recorded herewith and made a part of this record, to which plan reference is hereby made for a more particular location of the above described premises, and the sum of two thousand ($2,000) dollars is hereby appropriated from the general fund of the Water Department for the necessary expenses and costs incident to the acquisition of the land. $2,000.00
UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 77. No action.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 78. That the Town vote to appropriate a balance of $36,461.37 voted under Article 1 of the Special Town Meeting, March 6, 1950, for the purpose of development of emergency well fields, including wells, pipes, pumping station and original pumping equipment under the direction of the Water Commissioners.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 79. No action. SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
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MOVED:
ARTICLE 80. That the Town vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 820 of the Acts of 1950, to be effective April 1, 1951.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 81. That the Town vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 783 of the Acts of 1950, to be effective April 1, 1951.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 82. That the matter be referred to the Board of Selectmen. SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 83. That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for mosquito control works in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 112, Acts of 1931. $500.00 SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. MOVED:
ARTICLE 84. No action.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 85. No action.
Mr. Call MOVED the substitute motion that this Article be adopted. SO VOTED.
The Chair feels it incumbent to thank committees and two gentlemen - Mr. Henry Clapp and George Lane, Secretary -who are leaving the Appropriation Committee.
Mr. Kenneth Martin at this time presented George Lane, retiring Secretary of the Appropriation Committee, with a gift expressing the ap- preciation of the Committee and Town Meeting members for his service over the past eight years. Mr. Lane responded by expressing his apprecia- tion to the Moderator, Mr. Daniel L. O'Donnell, and all others concerned, with special reference to Mrs. George Lane.
MOVED:
ARTICLE 86. That the sum of $200.00 be raised and appropriated for this purpose. $200.00 SO VOTED.
Vote at this time was taken on accepting Article 1 in toto with the two paragraphs comprising the preface .. The ayes have it and it is SO VOTED.
MOVED:
That this meeting adjourn.
Mr. McIntosh MOVED a rising vote of thanks to retiring Acting Town Clerk, Miss Nellie Greaney.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Sheehy MOVED a vote of thanks to the Radio Station for covering the Meeting.
SO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY. 1
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Mr. Calnan MOVED a vote of thanks to Harry Christensen for his years of service as Selectman and Chairman of the Board. SO VOTED.
Comes the question on the motion to adjourn.
SO VOTED.
Adjourned at 12 o'clock midnight.
A true copy. Attest :
HARRY CHRISTENSEN,
Town Clerk.
March 8, 1951.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF WEYMOUTH:
The Town Meeting will continue in the Hall of the Weymouth High School on FRIDAY, THE NINTH DAY OF MARCH, 1951 at seven o'clock and forty-five minutes in the evening.
NELLIE L. GREANEY, Temporary Town Clerk.
Attest:
NELLIE L. GREANEY.
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS ANNUAL TOWN MEETINIG March 5, 7, 9, 1951
Raise and
Appropriate Appropriate
Article
1. Temporary cost of living increase for all full time officials and employees of the Town for the year 1951 Water Department
$103,000.00
$ 7,200.00
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