USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1953 > Part 19
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City of Worcester vs. Town of Weymouth, Worcester Superior Court, Case No. 104,361.
Stella Stawnuk vs. Inhabitants of the Town of Weymouth, District Court of East Norfolk, Case No. 86,310.
John W. Power, Jr., Administrator of the Estate of John W. Power, 3rd, vs. Town of Weymouth and Albert E. Ahlstedt, Jr., Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 49,662.
Louis Wilkin et al vs. Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court in Equity, Case No. 57,861.
Harold J. Field, Administrator of the Estate of Esther K. Voigt, vs. Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 48,853.
Harold J. Field, Administrator of the Estate of Carl C. J. Voigt, vs. . Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 48,854. Harold J. Field, Administrator of the Estate of Lorraine J. Voigt, vs. Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 48,855. Harold J. Field, Administrator of the Estate of Elva C. Voigt, vs. Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 48,856. Harold J. Field, Administrator of the Estate of Ethel M. Voigt, vs. Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 48,857. Mildred Maglioni, ppa, vs. Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 50,024.
Mary T. Dwyer vs. Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 53,933.
Town of Weymouth vs. Louis T. Caldarone, Norfolk Superior Court in Equity, Case No. 51,344.
Town of Weymouth vs. John D. Harris, Norfolk Superior Court in Equity, Case No. 51,401.
Town of Weymouth vs. Sebastiana DiMaura et als, Norfolk Superior Court in Equity, Case No. 50,949.
Town of Weymouth (Board of Public Welfare) vs. Harold Stevens, Plymouth Superior Court in Equity, Case No. 34,188.
There are still several cases pending in the Courts.
Several matters have been satisfactorily concluded without resorting to legal proceedings, naturally resulting in a financial saving to all parties concerned.
Many conferences have been held with the members of various Town boards and officials concerning the conduct of the business of the Town. Deeds, easements, contracts and other legal documents have been prepared or reviewed as necessary.
I wish to xpress my appreciation to the members of your Board, to the various officers and employees of the Town for their willing co-opera- tion, support and assistance which they have shown me.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR A. CICCHESE Town Counsel
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REPORT OF THE TOWN ENGINEER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Weymouth
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my forty-seventh annual report as Town Engineer of Weymouth:
As in past years, the preparation of the Assessors' maps, with the attendant work at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds, at the Norfolk Probate Registry, and at the Land Court; the examination of plans of land in Weymouth made by other surveyors; the location and plotting of all new buildings and changes in existing buildings; obtaining information from private parties; and the collecting of any information that would indicate a change in ownership of Real Property, remains the major items.
During the last few years, Weymouth has obtained from the Norfolk Registry of Deeds, including the Land Court division, photostat copies of all documents showing changes in ownership of land or other data of use to the Assessors in determining the legal owner to be assessed.
These are copied on cards (typewritten) and are on file at the Wey- mouth Town Hall.
About 2.200 cards were copied from the photostats from the Norfolk Registry of Deeds, and 116 cards were received from the Norfolk Registry of Probate and all filed with the Assessors for 1953.
In many cases surveys are needed to locate boundaries referred to in the deeds of transfer or to determine the location of the property in ques- tion so that it may be plotted correctly on the Town maps or Assessors sheets.
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Many of these surveys are made, for private parties or developers, by my office and are available and used on the Town maps.
The Assessors' maps, corrected to January first of each year, should show the owner of record of each parcel of land, the buildings thereon, and the approximate area of the land.
Complete sets of the 65 sheets covering the Town from 1915 to date are on file at the office of the Assessors, and partial sets before 1915.
The block system referred to in previous reports, while increasing the work of preparing the sheets, has proved its value and is now firmly estab- lished.
As in the past, individual sheets are sold by the Town, or an entire set can be purchased if desired.
This is done by various departments of the Town.
I would again stress the importance of promptly recording all legal papers affecting the ownership of land, so that all property may be prop- erly assessed and so that no one may suffer loss otherwise.
During the past year, the street map of the Town was revised and 1,000 small maps printed, and can be purchased from the Town.
The last of several Atlases of the Town was published January 1, 1951, and in addition to its constant use by the various departments of the Town, about $1,100.00 was received from the sale to outside parties such as banks, lawyers, real estate men and private parties, thus materially reducing the cost to the Town.
Many Town departments are asking that an Atlas be published in 1954, and I have given the cost for 150 Atlases, which experience has shown to be about the proper amount that would be used or sold, as approxi- mately $1,800.00, of which the majority should be received back from sales.
It is intended that the next Atlas published shall include a Zoning map.
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Other work done by the Engineering Department during the past year is briefly listed as follows:
Street lines for abutters; staking, taking profiles, establishing and giving grades for street construction; plans of drainage easements; staking easements; taking profiles and staking and giving grades for drains; stak- ing and grades for curb and sidewalk construction; staking for widening a part of Summer Street; staking the taking at corner of Broad and Middle Streets; survey and plans of a part of Alpine Street; staking right of way from Shawmut Street to parking area; survey of Green Street; survey and plan of proposed taking for school purposes; plans and descriptions for proposed parking areas; staking for boundaries of park areas; investiga- tion of street lines shown on plans filed for registration in the Land Court; blueprints taken for Town departments; descriptions of Inad sold by the Town; plans of revised precinct maps showing a division of Precinct 1 (into 1 and 11) and Precinct 3 (into 3 and 10); revision to date of zoning map and of street map; topographical surveys and staking for the School Department; and in general the engineering work common to all muni- cipalities.
I wish herein to extend my thanks to your Board, to all other depart- ments of the Town and their employees, and to many citizens of Weymouth for their continued aid and courtesy shown me and my assistants in our work throughout the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL H. WHITING
Town Engineer
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WITH ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR 1954
Appropriation
*Year 1953 Receipts
Expendi-
Expendi- tures 1953
Estimates for 1954
cr Account
Approp. & Transfers tures 1952
*3/6 9,000.00
Town Survey
7,259.03
9,500.00
Street Surveys, etc.
740.97
1,500.00
8,000.00
11,000.00
If Atlas is printed, add
1,800.00
Total
$12,800.00
*Report only figures for the year preceding that for which the estimates are made.
REMARKS
The appropriation for the Engineering Department estimated for 1954 (excluding a new Atlas) is $11,000.00.
This amount includes between $1,500.00 and $1,700.00 expenses during the year on Town work, included in above appropriation, of which prac- tically $1,500.00 is spent for photostats, negatives, prints, and transporta- tion on the work for the Assessors, about $900.00 of which is paid to the Norfolk Registry of Deeds for photostats.
If a new Atlas, which has been requested by the various Town depart- ments, is published, the amount should be $12,800.00.
This allows $1,800.00 for 150 Atlases, of which amount about $1,735.00 goes to the printer.
If 100 Atlases were printed, there would only be a saving of $295.00, as the price for the additional 50 is that amount.
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On the last Atlas, published January 1, 1951, in addition to the copies furnished the various Town departments for their use, about $1,100.00 was received from sales.
RUSSELL H. WHITING
Town Engineer
January 12, 1954
REPORT OF REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town Hall
Weymouth, Massachusetts
Attention: Joseph. Crehan, Chairman
Gentlemen :
Submitted herewith is the Annual Report of the Board of Registrars of Voters for the year 1953.
The following sessions were held during the year: Business Meetings 6
Registrations
6
Elections 1
On March 21, 1953, the Board held a special session at the Town Hall for the purpose of recounting the ballots cast for Housing Authority at the Town election on March 9. This recount had been petitioned for by George H. Mckinley. Mr. McIntosh, Chairman at that time, called the meeting to order and after determining that all requirements had been met, the recount proceeded. The candidates included Alfred W. Cadman. Richard H. Curtin, John A. Ellis, George H. Mckinley and Charles B. Turnesa. When the recount was completed, Alfred W. Cadman was de- clared elected.
Despite the fact that there was only one election in 1953 (Annual Town Election), an attempt was made to hold several special registration ses- sions. However, due to the poor response, this procedure was discontinued during the year.
The number of new registrations for 1953 totalled 265.
Following is the total number of registered voters as of December 31, 1953 :
Male
Female
Total
Precinct
1
768
789
1557
Precinct
2
873
911
1784
Precinct
3
730
868
1598
Precinct
4
663
674
1337
Precinct
5
674
711
1385
Precinct
6
1155
1158
2313
Precinct
7
738
709
1447
Precinct
8
943
938
1881
Precinct
9
861
955
1816
Precinct 10
626
624
1250
Precinct 11
889
910
1799
8920
9247
18167
We wish to extend our thanks to your Board and all departments for courtesies and assistance during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. SANTRY, Chairman HELEN R. CORRIDAN EDWARD C. McINTOSH HARRY CHRISTENSEN, Clerk
235
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL DEFENSE
Honorable Board of Selectmen Weymouth, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith a report covering the activities of Civil Defense for the year 1953.
Progress during the year has been encouraging from both the stand- point of organization and personnel. Much of our activity has been along the educational line by presenting to the public the fundamental prin- ciples necessary for survival during disaster or attack. This has been accomplished by qualified speakers and for a small part by direct mail.
The Report Center, which is the heart of our communications system, is nearing completion. Necessary equipment has been provided and auxil- iary power is being installed. This will allow messages and reports to be transmitted and received through our emergency communications unit. This unit conducts monthly drills in conjunction with State headquarters, and continues to be recognized for its high standard of efficiency.
Two large sirens have been purchased and are being installed. It is believed that these, when used in conjunction with the facilities at the South Weymouth Air Base and the Hingham Depot, will have sufficient volume to alert all areas.
There has been a reasonable growth in the number of Auxiliary Fire- men. The number of men, however, continues to be far less than would be required even with mutual aid from surrounding towns should an emergency arise.
The Auxiliary Police are nearing the completion of their training period and during the year have shown themselves to be efficient whenever called upon to aid the regular police force.
Our Medical Division has acquired 150 stretcher cots. These were supplied by the Federal Government and are stored at our three first aid stations. In conjunction with this division, a blood typing program was conducted and was highly successful. Approximately 2,500 persons volun- teered for this most important work.
Another important function which has been completed is the estab- lishment of Mass Feeding Centers. This was accomplished through the co-operation of churches, fraternal veterans and social groups having halls equipped with cooking and serving facilities.
There has been some increase in the number of Wardens. Our needs, however, in this important division continues to be inadequate. During the coming year, it is the intention of the committee to call on many of our citizens to serve in this capacity. We feel sure the response will be encouraging.
In conclusion, I wish to convey my thanks to all those connected with Civil Defense. It is due to their efforts that we have an efficient organ- ization. Considerable more help is required, however, before this organiza- tion will be adequate to fulfill all its requirements.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT W. CAUSER Director, Civil Defense
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SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO STUDY ESTABLISHMENT OF TOWN ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
December 24, 1953
Appropriation Committee
Town of Weymouth Weymouth, Massachusetts
Attention: Mr. Warren F. Roulston, Secretary
Dear Sirs:
In accordance with the vote on Article 74 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1953, we transmit the attached report on the subject of "Establishment of an Engineering Department for Town of Weymouth."
The estimated cost of initial equipment is $10,000 and the proposed budget for the first year's operation is $32,400, exclusive of cost of quarters with necessary utilities.
We wish to stress the urgency of :
(1) Establishing such a department in order that services required by the various Town departments may be rendered expeditiously.
(2) Acquiring records and data vital to the proper functioning of such a department.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES F. BRITTAIN, Chairman
REPORT
In accordance with the vote of the Weymouth Annual Town Meeting of 1953:
ARTICLE 74. (By Direction of the Board of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to establish an Engineering Department for the Town of Weymouth, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was unanimously
VOTED: That a committee of three be appointed by the Moder- ator to study the subject matter of this Article and report the esti- mated cost of establishing an Engineering Department to the Approp- riation Committee by January 1, 1954.
The Special Committee appointed by the Town Moderator on August 5, 1953, and organized on August 13, 1953, presents the results of its studies and recommendations in the following report:
SCOPE. The "subject matter" or scope of the report is interpreted to include a review of the present arrangements for providing engineering services, an evaluation of their functioning, the proposing of a Town En- gineering Department which would furnish the engineering services out- lined later in this report, and an estimate of the amount of money neces- sary to establish and operate such a department for one year.
URGENCY OF ESTABLISHING TOWN ENGINEERING DEPART- MENT. In the past, a very small annual budget has limited the Town Engineer, working under contract on a part-time basis, to the revision of assessors' plans, together with some other functions, outlined below. The
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annual revision of assessors' plans, in itself, is no mean task in view of the large number of transfers resulting from the rapid development of the Town in recent years.
Although the Town has been well served in this regard in the past, requirements for engineering have increased in the last decade, and be- cause the Town has grown explosively from a small outlying suburb to a large thriving community; a Town fourth in size in the Commonwealth, it requires comprehensive engineering information and service that can be provided expeditiously only by a full-time organization.
The committee feels that it is urgent to acquire all engineering in- formation and data and safeguard them in central files so that all such records that should be public property will not remain in private hands.
Public records vital to the Town are involved, and should be obtained by the Town and held in Town vaults in the custody of a responsible Town official, as is done with all other important and irreplaceable Town records.
An agent of the Town should be directed and empowered to negotiate with the present Town Engineer to obtain additional records, computa- tions, etc., which are now used by the present engineer, and which are invaluable to the Town. Such material should not be allowed, through neglect or lack of prompt action, to pass to ownership other than that of the Town, both to prevent possible destruction, through ignorance of its vital importance, and to prevent its being held in such a way as to be accessible only at continuing future expense.
The present arrangement depends on the continuation in business of a single individual, and is subject at any time to the disruption which would follow his retirement or sale of the business to another.
PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROVIDING ENGINEERING SERVICES. (a) By Contract with Private Engineer. The present method for provision of engineering service to the Town was started in 1907 when Mr. Russell H. Whiting, the present Town Engineer, was engaged as a private professional engineer and land surveyor to prepare a survey for the Town. He undertook this work for a few years while engaged in outside work in Brookline, and then in 1915 opened an office in Weymouth. Since that time, he has been retained annually by the Town on a contract basis to undertake duties summarized from his forty-sixth annual report (Weymouth Town Report, 1952, Page 169-170) as follows:
(1) Annual revision of Assessors' Maps (65 sheets), to show trans- fers in owership of real estate; surveys as necessary to locate physical marks in the field; obtaining from the Registry of Deeds and others of data as necessary for plotting land ownership transfers; preparation of Assessors' cards; and making available for sale the current Assessors' maps.
(2) Make land surveys and lay out construction work as ordered by the Board of Selectmen or by any of the several Town Departments, to include widening and rebuilding of public ways, sidewalks and curb- ing, surface drains and preparation of property plans for drainage easements, topographic surveys and preparation of plans for school property, investigation of street lines, staking of street lines for abut- ters, preparation of descriptions of land to be sold or bought by the Town, and incidental work.
(b) Engineering Work Directly by Other Departments. Engineering is carried on also by other departments of the Town operating separately under independent Boards of Commissioners, as follows:
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(1) Sewer Department. Design of sewers, including capacity and hydraulic computations, preparation of specifications, letting of con- struction contracts, resident supervision and inspection of construc- tion, all under general supervision of a consulting engineer; prepara- tion of sewer assessment plans; preliminary and detail surveys for sewer location studies, and preparation of property descriptions for easements.
Note: This department is also charged by law with the design and construction of surface storm drains.)
(2) Water Department. Design of water main extensions, prep- aration of specifications, letting of construction contracts, and super- vision and inspection of construction; preliminary and detail surveys for water main extensions, preparation of property descriptions for easements.
ENGINEERING FUNCTIONS REQUIRED BY THE TOWN. The Town needs and should be provided with engineering services as follows:
(a) Engineering Department, General Functions
1. Carry on with Town survey and keep base map and Town Atlas up to date annually.
2. Set permanent bounds for all Town property, such as streets, public buildings, water works land, park land, etc.
3. Maintain for the general public and Town officials a source of reference to contain Town plans, ties to monuments, location of water, sewer and gas pipes, electric and telephone cables, drains, established street and sidewalk grades, etc.
4. Safeguard Town engineering records.
5. Deal with engineering departments of neighboring towns on common matters.
6. Prepare taking plans and deed descriptions for easements, for all Town requirements.
7. Co-operate with local Civil Defense organization.
8. Provide a public source for sale of Atlases and Atlas sheets, and for reproduction of public survey plans.
9. Provide blueprint service for other Town departments.
(b) Assessors
1. Make annual revisions to Assessors' maps to show transfers in ownership of real estate, making such investigations as necessary to insure accuracy.
2. Prepare Assessors' cards.
(c) Planning Board
1. Prepare "master plans" (a State requirement now not being met).
2. Act as ex-officio adviser to the Board on engineering matters.
3. Keep zoning map up to date.
4. Set standards for plans to be submitted by real estate devel- opers.
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5. Review all subdivision plans, upon submission to the Board, to insure compliance with established standards for contents, accuracy and the provisions of zoning ordinances, etc., and make rceommenda- tions as to approval.
6. Inspect construction of streets, etc., in new developments to insure compliance.
(d) Street Department
1. Make surveys, prepare plans and specifications and cost esti- mates for street construction.
2. Lay out construction work.
(e) School Department
1. Make surveys of property, including playgrounds, and stake out playing fields.
(f) Park Department
Make surveys and stake out playing fields.
(g) Appropriations Committee
Act as advisor in engineering matters.
(h) Water Department
Stake street lines and established grades to assist in location of water extensions.
(Note: Engineering design and supervision of construction is now accomplished by an engineering section within this Department.)
(i) Sewer Department
Stake street lines and established grades to assist in location of sewer construction.
(Note: Engineering design and supervision of construction now accomplished by an engineering section within this Department.)
ORGANIZATION OF PROPOSED TOWN ENGINEERING DEPART- MENT. (a) Personnel. To fulfill adequately the engineering and sur- veying duties set forth above, with the exception of the engineering work done by the Water and Sewer Departments for themselves, will require the establishment of a Town Engineering Department with the following personnel:
Town Engineer
Assistant Town Engineer (and Office Engineer)
*Chief-of-Party (and Computor)
*Instrument Man
*Rodman Clerk-Typist
*Organized as Field Survey Party
In addition to the above, it would be advisable to have an experienced employee of the present engineer retained on a fee basis for a limited period as a consultant to work from time to time as necessary with the proposed engineering department to sort and classify the data from the present engineer and other sources in readiness for quick reference.
The Town Engineer should be a capable administrator, able to organize
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and manage his office and office staff, and be able to meet and work with the heads of the several Town departments and the general public.
The engineer appointed as Town Engineer should be both a registered professional civil engineer and registered land surveyor experienced in the work he is to undertake.
He might well be recommended by a special Town committee having within its membership several professional engineers who would interview and examine the qualifications of candidates.
The office of Assistant Town Engineer requires an engineer capable of acting as Town Engineer in the absence of his principal. He should be selected with the approval of the Town Engineer, who must necessarily bear responsibility for the acts of his staff.
(b) Facilities and Initial Equipment. Office space of at least 1,500 square feet in a locaiton convenient to Town departments and the general public should be provided, preferably in the Town Hall or in a town- owned building, and furnished with heat, light and telephone. A fireproof vault, at least 150 square feet in area, should be included.
Furniture and surveying and office equipment according to the list in Appendix A would be required.
ESTIMATED COST OF ESTABLISHING TOWN ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. (a) Initial Equipment. The cost cf initial equipment for the proposed Town Engineering Department is estimtaed at $10,000.
(b) Operating Budget for First Year. An estimate of the cost of operation of the proposed Town Engineering Department, exclusive of cost of initially equipping the department as discussed in the preceding para- graph, is $32,400. This sum does not include any allowance for rent of office space, or expense for heat, light, and telephone, which depend on the quarters provided by the Town, whether in Town Hall or other town- owned property, or elsewhere.
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