USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1953 > Part 5
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Respectfully submitted,
SANDY ROULSTON, Chairman FRANCIS X. KELLY, Secretary CHARLES W. BURGESS GEORGE E. LANE - . STANLEY T. TORREY
MOVED
To amend the motion as follows, by Mr. Lane:
By striking out the words "raise and appropriate" and substituting the words "appropriate from the Excess and Deficiency Fund."
The amendment was assented to by Mr. Kelly for the Committee.
There was considerable discussion regarding the subject matter of the motion, with the following participating: Mr. Lane of the School Com- mittee, Mr. Newton of the Planning Board, Mr. Cain. Mr. Roulston of the Appropriation Committee, making the report, Mr. Chisholm, the Building Inspector, Mr. Almquist, Mr. Cicchese, the Town Counsel, and Mr. Nolan.
Upon motion by Mr. Parks, the Chair ruled that the amendment would be voted on separately.
Comes now the question on the amendment by Mr Lane.
Vote was taken and, the Chair being in doubt, a teller count was made. The tellers reported 117 in favor and 47 opposed. The Chair then declared the amendment by Mr Lane.
SO VOTED
Comes now the question on the report of the Committee as thus amended.
Vote was taken, and the tellers reported 166 in favor and none opposed. The Chair then declared the motion as amended. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
At the Adjourned Town Meeting on March 6, 1953, the Chair ruled that that part of the above section so far as an appropriation was con- cerned was, in the opinion of the Chair, improper, and suggested that it would be in order to refer it to the next Special Town Meeting by means of an Article placed in the Warrant.
Mr. Call presented a report for the Committee on Street Acceptance as follows:
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Your Committee on Street Acceptance has had several meetings dur- ing the year, and wish to make the following report:
Recommended that all developers deed land to property line and not center of street, so that at time of acceptance release of said land can be secured in one deed from developer. 1
Also recommended that some office in Town Hall have proper infor- mation for petitioners for street acceptance. This has been put into prac- tice.
Also as a result of a meeting with the Planning Board, Article 63 was inserted in the Town Warrant to revise Sec. 511.
Through general discussion it was decided that with present regula- tions of the Planning Board and gradual decrease in the number of older streets, that the street acceptance will be greatly facilitated.
We wish to thank the members of the Planning Board for their co- peration and positive action as a long step in the right direction.
Ronald McDonald, Chairman Harry N. Call, Secretary Andrew Chisholm Joseph Nover Ernest Hanian
MOVED to accept the report of the committee. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
Mr. Coffey presented the report of the committee appointed under Article 38 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1952, as follows:
Report of Committee appointed by the Moderator to study and make recommendations for the disposal of rubbish and trash in accordance with Article 38 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1952.
The present dump located at the extreme end of Wharf Street in East Weymouth Takes care of the entire rubbish collection program for the Town of Weymouth.
In 1950 the Board of Health was advised by the Massachusetts State Department of Public Works that plans were on the drawing table in said department for a new highway, a section of which would pass through the Town Dump at the junction of Routes 3 and 18 in Weymouth Land- ing.
The Board met with the Selectmen to discuss the need of another location for a dumping site and it was agreed that an emergency would develop unless a new site was discovered within a reasonable length of time.
In the meantime, the Board of Health contacted Mr. Bryan Leonard owner of the tract of land now used for rubbish dumping and he con- sented to allow the Town his land with a provision that a Security Fence be erected at the entrance to the dump and that a custodian be in at- tendance while the dump was open to the public six days a week.
We are only dumping on the land at present through the goodness of the owner; we are not even tenants.
The committee appointed by the Moderator has had several meetings to discuss the matter regarding the disposal of rubbish. The committee met with the Assessors and reviewed the Town Atlas with the thought
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of locating Tax Title property or land owned by the Town. The greatest surplus of land owned by the Town surrounds the Great Pond in the vicinity of Randolph Street, Thicket Street and the Weymouth-Holbrook Line. Public Health authorities would reject this idea since the land bor- dering our Great Pond forms a water shed to our supply of drinking water.
The Board is looking into the possibility of using an abandoned quarry hole off Route 128 near the Weymouth-Hingham Line. This would take care of the trees that are being cut down due to the Dutch Elm dis- ease and this method of disposal would eliminate the smoke and odor nuisance at our Town Dump.
The quarry hole off Route 3 in the Fogg property used for the past two years for tree dumping is now filled and Mr. Fogg is assisting the committee to find other locations somewhere in the Town.
Our present dump is properly supervised by a full time attendant and is maintained in a sanitary manner; top fill is hauled into the dump to cover the burned debris; a fire line is available for fire protection and a bull dozer is furnished by the Street Department to spread the ashes and fill resulting in a neat and respectable dump.
The cooperation extended to the Health Department under the di- rection of Mr. O'Leary, Superintendent of Streets, to maintain this dump in an orderly manner is worthy of commendation.
The committee is not so much concerned over the life of the dump as the idea that the Town might have to vacate upon request of the owner. Closing of the dump by order of the owner would mean diverting of refuse elsewhere.
It is imperative that the Town locate two or three other pieces of land for use in case of an emergency.
The committee does not recommend any change in the dumping pro- gram at this time but we must look to the future because of the tremen- dous growth of the Town and the increase in the amount of refuse being accumulated.
The committee suggests that at least three dumps should be consid- ered to be located in the various parts of our Town since the hauling of refuse accounts for a large portion of over all costs.
Although land dumping is more economical, it is the least satisfactory of all method of refuse disposal as it is an unsanitary nuisance. The ob- jections to it are so numerous that many towns are realizing the neces- sity of finding other methods of disposal. Often dumps are not satisfac- tory to health authorities since they constitute a fire hazard and a smoke and odor nuisance.
The method which offers the most satisfactory long range solution is incineration. Modern incineration provides the most sanitary and effi- cient means of refuse disposal. A properly designed and operated incin- erator is not a nuisance.
This committee recommends that a committee be appointed by the Moderator to continue for another year to further study and survey the Town for possible suitable locations for dumping rubbish and that this report be accepted only as a progressive report.
Paul V. Coffey, Chairman Walter P. Heffernan, Clerk Joseph A. Cahalan John O'Leary Albert R. Schofield
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Mr. Callahan spoke at length regarding the collection and disposal of rubbish.
MOVED that the report of the committee be accepted as a progress re- port and the committee be continued.
SO VOTED
Mr. Connell presented a report for the committee appointed under Article 13 of the Special Town Meeting of October 27, 1952, as follows:
I have a report of the committee appointed under Article 13 of the Special Town Meeting of October 27, 1952.
Article 13. To see what action the Town will take towards the es- tablishment of a Special Women's Auxiliary Police Force for the purpose of insuring safety of children walking to and from school.
It was voted at that time that a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to study the subject matter of this Article and report at the next Annual Town Meeting.
Our committee recommends that no action be taken at this time. We respectfullyy request that the committee stay in force for the further study of the establishment of a Special Women's Auxiliary Police Force for the purpose of insuring safety of children walking to and from school.
Your committee would like the opportunity to make a further report at the next Annual Town Meeting.
MOVED that the report of the committee be accepted and the committee be continued.
SO VOTED
Mr. Hunt presented a report of the Incinerator Committee as author- ized under Article 38 of the Annual. Town Meeting of 1952.
Due to the length of the report and the fact that the committee planned to present a motion requesting continuance, the Chair requested that the reading be dispensed with at this time with the understanding that it would be published in the Town Report, and that the report be accepted.
MOVED that the report and recommendations of the Incinerator Com- mittee as presented to the Annual Town Meeting of 1953 be accepted, and that the committee be continued to report such developments on the subject as may arise, and that the unexpended sum of $79.27 continue to be available for the use of this committee. $79.27 UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED that the report of the Incinerator Committee be placed in the Town Report for the year 1953, published in 1954.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.
Herewith follows the report of the Incinerator Committee.
In accordance with Article 38 as voted at the Annual Town Meeting of 1952, the Incinerator Committee hereby submits the following report.
The entire question of Incineration as a means of disposal of rubbish and garbage is a difficult one to discuss in the limited time allowed, as a complete report covering all phases of the subject would cover about fifty pages.
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Your Incinerator Committee has held many meetings, including meetings with the Special Committee appointed to study the Town Dump situation, as it seemed logical that the two committees work together as much as possible because of the similarity of their subjects, and because two members of the Dump Committee were also on the Incinerator Com- mittee.
It was mutually agreed by the two Committees that Weymouth is fast outgrowing its present method of rubbish disposal due to the fact that available land for dump purposes is rapidly becoming non-existant because of home development, undesirability of location, or use of land for commercial purposes.
It is not, however, the intent of this report to discuss the activity of the special Dump Committee, rather it is to bring out all the factors which are pertinent to the subject of incineration as a means of rubbish and garbage disposal.
The Incinerator Committee was materially assisted in its work by having available the original report to the Post War Planning Committee made in 1947 by the engineering firm of Metcalf and Eddy relative to the construction of a municipal incinerator. This report alone contains 43 pages and covers all methods of disposal, plus recommendations and es- timates for an incinerator for Weymouth.
Your Committee gained valuable information on the operation of modern incinerator plants by visiting the new incinerators at Brookline and at Lawrence. Both of these plants are new and of modern construc- tion, having been in operation approximately one year.
A brief description of PLANT OPERATION is as follows:
Trucks with rubbish or garbage are first weighed and their load dumped into a receiving pit. If the load contains only garbage, it is dumped at one end of the pit. If the load contains combustible material, it is dumped at the other end of the pit. This is the method used in the Town of Brookline. These pits are about 50 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 30 feet deep. A traveling overhead crane mixes the two types of refuse to insure better combustion of the the moist material. It is then lifted by crane to the charging floor, and dumped into hoppers, which feed gravity di- rectly to the furnaces below, which operate at a temperature of about 1500° F. They are mechanically stoked with openings on the furnace floor for the manual breaking up of clinkers. After combustion is com- plete, the residual ash drops into the ash pits where it is cooled by water.
These pits are so designed that dump trucks may back underneath them to receive the ash without manual loading. This ash is entirely free of any harmful or disease carrying bacteria as all vegetable and animal matter has been destroyed in combustion and it may be used for land fill if so desired. The cubic volume of reduction by incineration varies slightly dependng on the material being burned, but will average about 92%.
CONSTRUCTION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COST
A 120 ton capacity plant as recommended by Metcalf and Eddy in their survey of 1947 is estimated to cost about $350,000 based on present construction rates. This capacity seems to be adequate for the needs of the town of a population of 50,000 which figures indicate could be reached about 1970. Operating expenses would be approximately as follows:
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Wages for 6 personnel:
Superintendent-weigher Crane Operator 4 Laborers at $3,000.00
4,200.00 3,800.00
12,000.00
or a total expense for personnel of $20,000.00 per year. These figures are based on an eight-hour, five-day, week and in all probability would be subject to approval by the Personnel Board. Power, heat, maintenance, and removal of ashes from the plant would amount to $5,500 per year. The yearly charge for amortization and interest on bonds is estimated to be, for a 20 year period, $20,700.00. This makes a yearly expense to the town for the plant of $46.000.00
THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION INCINERATOR ACT
It is well to include in this report a brief summary of the Metropolitan District Commission incinerator plans so that the town be informed of all phases of the problem.
Under Chapter 559 Acts and Resolutions of 1952, which was approved July 2, 1952, the Metropolitan District Commission is authorized to con- struct 5 incinerators to serve the North and Central sections of the Met- ropolitan District. This is Incinerator Plan I. The act further provides $7,000,000 for this construction to be raised by bond issue, with each muni- cipality served paying its proportionate share toward the amortization of the bonds over a 20 year period, and of annual cost of plant operation based on tonnage disposed of by the city or town.
The Commission's Plan II, for which no legislation is pending at this time, would provide for the construction of 5 additional incinerators to serve the South Metropolitan District. This plan would locate an incin- erator in Weymouth, off Middle Street near the Whortleberry Pond area, and would serve Weymouth, Braintree, a small section of Quincy, Hing- ham, Hull, and Cohasset.
This unit would be of 150 ton capacity and serve a population of about 82,000. Financing of Plan II would be the same as for Plan I. In both plans, before any construction is started approval must be obtained, and the city or town must accept the provisions of the Act as proposed by the General Court.
COLLECTION OF REFUSE OR GARBAGE
Collection of refuse and garbage under the incinerator method of dis- posal would closely parallel present practice, that is, two separate col- lections. Combustable refuse, tin cans, paper, food containers, and garbage would be collected at one time in the same truck. However, it would be necessary to educate the housewife to wrap the garbage in paper and store in a separate container if this plan were to follow. Ashes and non- combustable material such as old stoves, refrigerators, etc., would be col- lected at another time, although the same trucks could be usd. These details would have to be worked out carefully to insure regular collections and to maintain as near an even load on the incinerator as possible.
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. It is the opinion of the Committee that Weymouth will be faced with- in the next 5 to 8 years wiwth the necessity of using the Incinerator Method of rubbish and garbage disposal. This problem could occur before this
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time if the town was forced to abandon the present dump area and could find no other suitable site. It is also conceivable that state regulations could prohibit the use of raw garbage as hog feed, thus creating a serious disposal problem.
2. Due to the heavy expense for new schools and other construction and because present methods of disposal seem to be adequate for the imme- diate future, the Committee is not recommending construction of an in- cinerator at this time.
3. The town should, however, seriously consider within the next 5 to 8 years the incinerator method of rubbish disposal for reasons as stated in the preceeding paragraphs.
4. As it is possible that the Metropolitan District Commission may seek legislation to carry out their plan II, it is recommended that the present Incinerator Committee be continued so that the town meeting in the fu- ture may be informed of developments in the problem, and be ready to make recommendations for participation in either the Metropolitan Dis- trict Commission program, or for the construction of a Municipal Incin- erator for Weymouth, whichever seems to be most advantageous to the Town. It is further recommended that should the Town in the future vote construction of a Municipal Plant 'that it be operated by the Street De- partment under the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health.
5. Of the $100 appropriated for the use of this Committee there is an unexpended balance of $79.27 and it is recommended that this amount continue to be available for the use of this Committee.
In conclusion, the Committee wishes to thank Superintendent of Streets, Walter Devine, and Foreman McManus of Brookline, and Super- intendent Frank Lynch of the City of Lawrence for their splendid co- operation in permitting inspection of their plants. We also wish to extend our appreciation to our own Superintendent of Streets John O'Leary, and to our Accountant, Emerson Dizer, for their assistance in providing in- formation for this report.
Respectfully submitted, Edward P. Hunt, Jr., Chairman Paul V. Coffey Walter Heffernan
Mr. Mosher presented the report of the committee appointed under Article 19 of the Special Town Meeting of October 27, 1952. This report was previously considered as a part of Item 25 under Article 1.
Report of the Committee on the subject, Sanitary Department, under Article 19 of the Special Town Meeting of October 27, 1952.
ARTICLE 19. (By Direction of Selectmen). To see if the Town will establish a sanitary department under the jurisdiction of the Street De- partment for the collection of garbage and further to see if the town will vote a sum of money sufficient for the purchase of proper equipment and employment of men for this purpose or take any other action in re- lation thereto.
1. We recommend that the town does not establish a Sanitary Depart- ment within the jurisdiction of the Street Department.
2. We recommend that the jurisdiction of the garbage disposal in its en- tirety be transferred from the Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth to the Weymouth Board of Health. Our reasons are listed below.
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A. Garbage disposal is a health condition.
B. The Board of Health has a full-time agent available for investiga- tion of complaints and to insure compliance of the contract.
C. All garbage transportation in or through the Town of Weymouth must be licensed by the Board of Health to insure adherence to proper sanitary methods.
3. We further recommend that garbage collection be under a private contract for a three (3) year period.
1. This appears to be the most economical manner from our knowledge and study of this subject.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR MOSHER, Chairman
MOVED by Mr. Christensen, Town Clerk: That the committee ap- pointed under Article 13 of the Special Town Meeting of June 23, 1952, report under Article 77.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was unanimously
VOTED: That all committees which have not rendered a final report be continued until the work under their charge is completed.
ARTICLE 3. (By Direction of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will vote to authorize its Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, on and after January 1, 1954, to borrow in anticipation of the revenue of the year 1954.
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was unanimously
VOTED: That the Treasurer be so authorized.
ARTICLE 4. (By Direction of Selectmen.) To see what sum of money the Town will vote from surplus for the use of the Assessors, in determining the tax rate for the year 1953, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was unanimously
VOTED: No action.
ARTICLE 5. (By Direction of Selectmen.) That the Selectmen be authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of personal property and any real estate of which the Town has possession or title,, including all property taken for non-payment of taxes, all such cases of sale to be made by public auction or private sale as the Selectmen may deem for the best interest of the Town, and that the Board or Officer in charge of any other Town Department may, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, sell at public auction or private sale, as the Board of Selectmen may approve, any personal property belonging to said Department which in the opinion of the Officer or Board in charge of the Department is no longer needed by the Town and which in the opinion of the Selectmen is no longer needed by any other Department, provided that in each case involving real estate a majority of the Planning Board and a majority of the Park and Sewer Commissioners vote to concur in the opinion that the property will not be needed for parks, playground or other public use.
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MOVED by the Appropriation Committee: That the Board of Select- men be so authorized.
MOVED by Mr. Cain, to
Amend Article 5 by changing the word "majority" to "majorities," and deleting the word "a," so that the portion reading "and a majority of the Park and Sewer Commissioners" shall be changed to read, "and majorities of the Park and Sewer Commissioners."
Comes now the question on the amendment by Mr. Cain. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED by Mr. Mason:
That, due to the length of the Warrant, the Moderator be authorized to read the Articles in their entirety only where felt necessary.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 6. (By Direction of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will vote to authorize its Board of Selectmen to accept conveyances or mort- gages of any real or personal property belonging to persons receiving relief from the Town, and to dispose of said property in the manner they may judge for the Town's best interest, and to authorize them to discharge any encumbrances on said property if they consider it for the best interest of the Town so to do, and to see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the discharging of such encumbrances.
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was unanimously
VOTED: That the Board of Selectmen be so authorized.
ARTICLE 7. (On Petition and by Direction of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will accept the several reports of the Selectmen laying out as Town ways the following designated private ways and parts of ways or any of them, to wit:
Abbott Street
Adams Place
Alpine Road
Lakecrest Path
Argyle Court
Lawson Road
Bald Eagle Road
Lindale Avenue
Belmont Street, from No. 111 to No. 146
Lyme Street
Belmont Street, from Adorn Street to Lot 113
Moreland Road
Bengal Road
Mount Vernon East, Extension Norma Avenue
Berkeley Street
Black Hawk Road
Oak Hill Road
Patterson Street
Blake Road Extension Blossom Lane Bradford Road Canacum Road Carver Street
Perry Street Red Jacket Road Rinaldo Rcad Rindge Street Ste. Anne Road
Christine Terrace Clarendon Street Constitution Avenue Cottage Lane
Sanderson Avenue Sanning Road Soper Avenue
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Holmes Avenue Julia Road
Loud Avenue
Donnellan Circle Elva Road Ernest Road Frank Road Gilbert Road Harlem Road
Stratford Road Thomas Road Verndale Road Vinson Street Wessagussett Road Worthen Avenue
or any portion of said ways, and will authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire by gift or purchase or take by right of eminent domain in fee or otherwise for all purposes of a public street and highway in and over each of said streets as laid out and accepted, and see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the working of each of the above-named streets, including the acquisition of the fee above referred to and for the building of any bridges, drains and conduits or secusing eas- ments which may be necessary in connection therewith, and to see whether the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept deeds of any reservation strips existing in connection with any of said streets, or take any other action in relation thereto.
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