USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1955 > Part 6
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Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was
SO VOTED: That the Moderator be so authorized.
The Chair called the attention of the Town Meeting members to the fact that it might be necessary for the Moderator to confine his appoint- ments under the motion to the Senator and Representatives from Wey- mouth.
ARTICLE 37. (At Request of the School Committee). To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise by taxation, or otherwise, and appropriate, for the purpose of preparing complete drawings and de- tailed specifications for the construction of a new elementary school in East Weymouth, or take any other action in relation thereto.
MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:
That the sum of $28,000.00 be appropriated from the Excess and De- ficiency Account for the purpose of preparing complete plans and speci- fications in order that bids may be secured for the construction of a two story 12 classroom elementary school on the land described in Article 35 of this warrent. The sum appropriated shall be expended by a committee of seven to be appointed by the Moderator. $28,000.00
MOVED the following amendment by Mr. Mason of the Park Com- missioners :
Said committee to include at least one member of the Park Commis- sioners.
MOVED the following amendment by Mr. Lane:
That not more than $33,000.00 of all sums to be appropriated for the construction of this school shall be used for architectural fees.
Discussion on the motion and amendments ensued between Mr. Car- rison, Mr. Mapes, Superintendent of Schools; Mr. Mason of the Park Commissioners, Mr. Thompson, Chairman of the School Committee; and Mr. Lane.
Comes now the question on the mendment by Mr. Lane. SO VOTED
Comes now the question on the amendment by Mr. Mason.
SO VOTED
Comes now the question on the motion of the Appropriation Com- mittee as amended.
SO VOTED
Upon motion duly made, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Annual Town Meeting adjourn at 12:16 A.M. until 7:45 P.M. Wednesday, March 9, 1955.
A True Coppy Attest:
HARRY CHRISTENSEN
Town Clerk
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ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Wednesday, March 9, 1955
The Adjourned Annual Town Meeting was called to order at 7:45 in the evening of Wednesday, March 9, 1955 by the Annual Moderator, Mr. Daniel L. O'Donnell.
There were 190 Town Meeting Members present.
Prayer for Divine Guidance was offered by Rev. Fr. John J. Donegan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church of East Wey- mouth.
There were no Town Meeting Members to be sworn in.
The Moderator announced that a group of Camp Fire Girls from Weymouth Heights were present under the leadership of Mrs. Garrison as part of their study of government.
The Moderator declared a quorum present.
We now continue with consideration of the Articles in the Warrant.
As previously noted, Item 23 of Article 1 was reconsidered at this time.
ARTICLE 26.( At Request of Committee on Re-Zoning). To see if the Town will vote to accept a report and amendments to its Zoning By- Laws, Article X of the Town By-Laws, or take any other action in rela- tion thereto.
The Appropriation Committee presented no motion stating that the Zoning Committee will make a report and recommendations.
Mr. Sheehy of the Zoning Committee presented the report of the committee as follows:
The Committee appointed by the 1950 Annual Town Meeting to study the advisability of changes in Article X, of the By-Laws, known as the "Zoning By-Law for the Town of Weymouth", after meetings, study and conferences, hereby submits the following recommendations:
Your Zoning Committee has met to consider the proposed changes in the Zoning Act and to make such recommendations as seem advisable for consideration at the Town Meeting for March, 1955.
The principle changes requested are two in number, as follows:
(1) The change of an industrial zone to a residential zone which would affect a section in the vicinity of the Weymouth Heights Station and in the rear of Abigail Adams Circle, of relatively low land, and in part salt marsh, but having a frontage of about seven hundred fifty (750) feet on the New Haven Railroad and abutting the Weymouth Fore River on the opposite side. When our industrial zones were set up in 1939 this parcel seemed wholly unsuitable for residential building, and with avail- able spur track facilities and the possible dredging to make light draft shipping facilities available, and not at that time in close proximity to any residential section, it was set apart for an Industrial Section, and was so designated substantially before the recent residential growth in the area which has resulted in the present request for a change. It is still the unanimous opinion of your committee that this area is suitable only for industrial development, and entirely unsatisfactory for residen-
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tial growth. However, since this question has now arisen, we call atten- tion to the fact that Weymouth has created an Industrial Commission whose responsibility it becomes to seek more commerce and industry, and in whose premises the question of such a change in zoning should have a substantial bearing. It is our unanimous recommendation that this matter be referred to that commission for its consideration and advice before any change is voted.
(2) Change in Lot Size: The two articles in the warrent bearing on the lot size have some features in common. Both call for a 15,000 foot minimum lot size, and both make provision for smaller lots where, after division, there remains a piece of land slightly under the required area, and both provide for further use of lots recorded at the time of the pas- sage of the Zoning By-Law not adjoining other land of the owner which could be applied to increasing the area to the required size.
The petitioner's article would require a frontage of one hundred twenty-five feet at the building line. It provides no exception to apply to the many available small tracts of land existing in Weymouth which are surrounded by or adjacent to land where dwellings have already been built on smaller lots and where there would be no market for dwellings constructed on lots of the proposed 15,000 square foot size.
The revised article, proposed by this committee, would provide for a frontage of one hundred twenty feet (120) at the building line, and would realize the existence of areas so surrounded by or adjacent to those where dwellings have already been built on smaller lots, and would pro- vide for relief administered by the Board of Appeals to cover such a tract where the standards of the neighborhood, so established, does not reason- ably require division into lots as large as the act describes. This revision would permit such exceptions to be granted by the Board of Appeals subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the revised by-law where such relief is desirable and might be granted without substantial detriment to the pub- lic good and without derogating from the intent and purpose of this by-law.
We recommend passage of this revised section.
With regard to a more complete revision, considerable study has been made. The need still exists for additional areas where light industry could be carried on, which industry would have a beneficial effect on our growing tax rate. The Town has recently recognized this need by the es- tablishment of a new Industrial Commission. The success of this com- mission will be, to a great extent, dependent upon the amount of indus- trial area provided for them to work with.
However, when consideration of this problem comes before us, we run up against the major change which the Town will encounter through the construction of the Southeast Expressway. The Expressway will so divide our town that approximately six tenths of it will be north of the highway and four tenths of it south of its minimum three hundred foot width, with access as presently proposed limited to one interchange at Main Street. Overpasses or underpasses will be provided at Summer Street, Front Street, Middle Street and near the junction of Pine and Pleasant Streets, with no access to the main Expressway at those areas. The mat- ter of providing any such access through service roads on either side of the highway has not been made fully clear, but will have a great effect on the use of land adjacent to the expressway and may provide the open- ing of extensive areas not presently developed where either light indus- trial areas or more residential areas could be provided. It seems that close watch and much study of developments concerning this highway should
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be given, and that such changes as are suggested when final plans are available, should be promptly brought before the Town for action.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN F. NEWTON ANDREW A. CHIHOLM
LESTER R. FULTON
MARTIN P. DAVIS
ALFRED C. SHEEHY Zoning Committee
MOVED by Mr. Sheehy at the suggestion of the Chair:
To consider Item (1) of the report of the Zoning Committee under Article 26 in conjunction with Article 28.
SO VOTED
We now identify Article 28 which is to be considered in conjunction with Item (1) of the report of the Zoning Committee under Article 26.
ARTICLE 28. (At Request of Abigail Adams Improvement Associa- tion). To see if the Town will vote to amend its Zoning By-Laws and Zoning Map, Article X of the Town By-Laws, by making the following changes: Change of Districts. From Industrial to Residential, Lot 16, Block 130, Sheet 13 now or formerly the property of Alfred W. Cadman et al, as shown in the Town Atlas, or take any other action in relation thereto.
MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:
No Action.
MOVED by Mr. Sheehy the following substitute motion:
To refer the subject matter under Article 28 and Item (1) of the re- port of the Zoning Committee under Article 26 to the Industrial Com- mission for its consideration and advice before any change is voted.
MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Garrison:
That the area described in Article 28 namely: Lot 16, Block 130, Sheet 13 now or formerly the property of Alfred W. Cadman et al, as shown in the Town Atlas, be changed from Industrial to Residential.
MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Newton, Chairman of the Planning Board:
That the subject matter as contained under Article 28 and Item (1) of the report of the Zoning Committee under Article 26 be referred to the Zoning Committee; they to report and make a further recommendation at the next Town Meeting after receiving a report and recommendations from the Industrial Commission.
Discussion ensued between Mr. Newton, Chairman of the Planning Board; Mr. Roulston, Secretary of the Appropriation Committee; Mr. Sheehy of the Zoning Committee, Mr. Garrison and Mr. Lane.
Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Newton.
Vote was taken and the Chair declared the substitute motion by Mr. Newton LOST.
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Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Garrison. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
The Chair ruled that the remainder of the report of the Zoning Com- mittee, including Item (2), under Article 26, would be considered in con- junction with Article 27.
We now identify Article 27, which is to be considered in conjunction with the remainder of the report of the Zoning Comittee, including Item (2), under Article 26.
ARTICLE 27. (On Petition of George E. Lane and Others.) To see if the Town will amend its by-laws by striking out Item 4 of Section VI of Article X of the Zoning By-Laws and inserting in place thereof the fol- lowing: "Article X, Section VI, Item 4; Lot Size. In a residence district no dwelling shall be erected or maintained except on lots containing 15,000 square feet each and having a frontage of not less than one hundred twenty-five feet at the building line and not more than one dwelling shall be erected on each such lot except (a) a lot less than 25,000 square feet and more than 20,000 square feet may be divided into lots containing not less than 10,000 square feet and having a frontage of not less than 100 feet at the building line and (b) if a lot contains more than 25,000 square feet and if after division into as many 15,000 square foot lots as practicable, there remains a lot of 10,000 square feet or more and one dwelling may be erected on such remaining lot provided the same has a frontage of not less than 100 feet. One dwelling may be erected on a lot containing less than 15,000 square feet or having a frontage of less than 100 feet if such lot was recorded at the time of this By-Law either if separately owned and contains 3,200 square feet and did not at the time of such adoption adjoin other land of the same owner available for use in connection with said lot. Any recorded lot size may be increased subject to the approval of the Board of Appeals, or take any other action in relation thereto.
MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:
That the Town Meeting accept the amendment to the By-Laws as stated in the Article.
MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Newton, Chairman of the Planning Board.
That the recommendation of the Zoning Committee, as contained in Item (2) of the report of the Zoning Committee under Article 26, be fol- lowed and that the Town amend its By-Laws by striking out Item 4 of Section VI of Article X of the Zoning By-Law and insert in place thereof the following:
In a residence district no dwelling shall be erected or maintained except on lots containing 15,000 square feet each and having a frontage of not less than 120 feet at the building line, and not more than one dwelling shall be erected on each such lot except that (a) a lot of less than 30,000 square feet and more than 20,000 square feet may be divided into lots containing not less than 10,000 square feet each and having a frontage of not less than 100 feet at the building line and (b) if a lot contains more than 30,000 square feet and if after division into as many 15,000 square foot lots as practicable, there remains a lot of 10,000 square feet or more, one dwelling may be erected on such remaining lot providing the same has a frontage of not less than 100 feet. One dwelling may be erected on a lot containing less than 15,000 square feet or having a frontage of less than
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120 feet, if such lot was recorded at the time of the adoption of this By- Law if separately owned and did not at the time of such adoption adjoin other land of the same owner available for use in connection with said lot, or if adjoining areas have been, prior to that time, developed to a substantial extent by the construction of houses on lots generally smaller than is prescribed by this section and the standard of the neighborhood so established does not reasonably require a subdivision of the applicant's land into lots as large as is hereby prescribed, then the owner of these lots may apply to the Board of Appeals for relief from the terms of this section as applying to any of these lots, and the Board of Appeals may grant such relief by making special exceptions to the terms of this section, subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this By-Law, where desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially derogating from the intent or purpose of this By-Law. Any recorded lot size may be increased subject to approval of the Board of Appeals.
MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Connell:
No Action under Article 27 and the remainder of the report of the Zoning Committee, including Item (2), under Article 26.
Discussion ensued between Mr. Sheehy of the Zoning Committee, Mr. Connell, Mr. Lovell, Mr. Lane, Mr. Leary, Mr. Curtin and Mr. Newton, Chairman of the Planning Board.
Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Connell.
Vote was taken and the Chair declared the substitute motion by Mr. Connell LOST.
More than seven having doubted the vote, the Chair ordered a teller count.
A count was taken and the tellers reported 47 in favor, 100 opposed. The Chair then declared the substitute motion by Mr. Connell LOST.
Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Newton.
A count was taken and the tellers reported 116 votes in favor, 38 op- posed. There being more than a two-thirds vote in favor, the Chair de- clared the substitute motion by Mr. Newton
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 31. (On Petition of George E. Lane and Others.) To see if the Town will amend its By-Laws and vote to adopt a new By-Law requiring that all new employees, temporary or otherwise, be required to undergo a complete medical examination prior to entrance into the Town's service, or take any other action in relation thereto.
MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:
That the Town Meeting accept the amendment to the By-Laws as outlined in the Article.
MOVED the following substitute motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee:
That the subject matter of this Article be referred to the Personnel Board for a report at a future Town Meeting.
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Mr. Roulston, Secretary of the Appropriation Committee, and Mr. Lane discussed the reasons for the substitute motion.
Comes now the question on the substitute motion by the Appropriation Committee.
SO VOTED
MOVER by Mr. Pompeo:
That Article 40 be considered at this time.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 40. (By Direction of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will vote to provide an additional sum over and above the regular Sewer De- partment appropriation to construct a sewer to the proposed Ralph Talbot Street School, said sum to be spent under the direction of the Sewer De- partment, or take any other action in relation thereto.
MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:
No Action.
The explanation of the Appropriation Committee for the motion of No Action is that filter beds have been approved for the sum of $10,000.00 and the sewer main could not be installed for the school use for the opening of the building.
MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Curtin:
For the Sewer Department to be expended under the direction of the Sewer Commissioners for trunk line sewer Swamp River to the Ralph Talbot Street School site, $142,000.00. Of this sum, $2,000.00 shall be ap- propriated from the Excess and Deficiency Fund and the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is hereby authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed $140,000.00 for new construction and to issue bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with the General Laws (Ter. Ed.), Chap -- ter 44, so that the entire sum shall be payable in not more than 20 years from date of issue of first bond or note. The above sum shall be over and above the regular Sewer Department appropriation.
This was a very controversial Article and lengthy discussion ensued involving several Town Meeting Members, representatives of the School Committee and Sewer Commissioners, and residents of the area.
Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Curtin.
Vote was taken and, the Chair being in doubt, a teller count was ordered.
A count was taken and the tellers reported 35 votes in favor, 116 op- posed. The Chair then declared the substitute motion by Mr. Curtin LOST.
Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Coin- mittee.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 38. (At Request of the Ralph Talbot Street School Building Committee.) To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise by taxation, or otherwise, and appropriate, for the purpose of raising the sewage disposal field and installing a pump for same, at the Ralph Talbot Street School site, or take any other action in relation thereto.
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Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the sum of $4,996.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of raising the sewage disposal field and in- stalling a pump for same at the Ralph Talbot Street School site, said sum to be expended by the Building Committee for said school. $4,996.00
ARTICLE 39. (By Direction of Selectmen.) To see if the Town will vote to rescind the action of the Special Town Meeting of October 4, 1954, Article 1, by which it purported to provide an additional sum over and above the regular Sewer Department appropriation to construct a sewer to the proposed Ralph Talbot Street School, or take any other action :n relation thereto.
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Town rescind the action taken under Article 1 of the Special Town Meeting of October 4, 1954.
As previously noted, Article 40 was considered prior to Article 38.
ARTICLE 41. (At Request of Sewer Commissioners.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the construc- tion of particular sewers and determine whether the money shall be pro- vided for by taxation, by appropriation from available funds, including sewer assessment funds, and by borrowing under authority of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the sum of $72,500.00 be raised and appropriated for the construction of particular sewers under the direction of the Sewer Commissioners. Of this sum, $60.000.00 shall be appropriated from the Common and Particular Accounts and $3,242.58 shall be approp- riated from the unexpended balance in the Commercial Street Sewer Con- struction Account. $72.500.00 ($60,000.00) ($ 3,242.58)
ARTICLE 42. (At Request of Sewer Commissioners.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the construc- tion of common sewers and determine whether the money shall be pro- vided by taxation, by appropriation from available funds, including sewer assessment funds, and by borrowing under authority of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, or take any other action in relation thereto.
MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:
That the sum of $355,300 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of constructing common sewers, to be expended under the direction of the Sewer Commissioners. Of this sum, $55,300.00 shall be appropriated from the Excess and Deficiency Account; and the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is hereby authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed $300,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with the General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 44, so that the entire sum shall be payable in not more than 30 years from the date of issue of the first
$ 55,300.00 bond or note. $300,000.00
Discussion ensued between Mr. Neary; Mr. Roulston, Secretary of the Appropriation Committee; Mr. Lane, and Mr. Granger, Town Treasurer.
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Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
ARTICLE 43. (At Request of Tree Warden.) To see if the Town will vote to raise or appropriate the sum of $11,000.00 under Chapter 761, Gen- eral Laws. for the control of Dutch Elm Disease, or take any other action in relation thereto.
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the sum of $11.000.00 be raised and appropriated for Dutch Elm Disease control work, and the Board of Select- men are instructed to enter into all contracts pertaining to removal of trees. $11.000.00
ARTICLE 44. (On Petition of Robert Ricker and Others.) To see if the Town will appoint a Committee to be comprised of seven members who shall study the desirability of increasing the fluoridation concentration in the Town water supply, including the probable expenses which might be involved, and who shall report their findings and make whatever recom - mendations they deem appropriate at the next Annual Town Meeting or at any Special Town Meeting prior thereto, or to take any other action at this meeting relating thereto.
Upon motion duly made by the Appropriation Committee, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Moderator appoint a committee of seven to study the desirability of increasing the fluoridation concentra- tion in the Town water supply, including the probable cost. The committee appointed shall make a report at the next Annual Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 45. (At Request of Weymouth Housing Authority.) To see if the Town will vote to adopt the recommendations of the Weymouth Housing Authority favoring Chapter 667, Acts of 1954 (an act to provide for the housing of elderly persons of low income), or take any other action in realtion thereto.
MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:
No Action.
Mr. Lovell requested unanimous consent for Mr. McCarthy of the State Housing Authority to address the meeting. There being no objection, the Chair granted permission for Mr. McCarthy to address the meeting.
Mr. McCarthy of the State Housing Authority spoke in explanation of the subject matter of the Article.
Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee.
SO VOTED
The Chair took this opportunity to publicly thank the various com- mittees whose members so generously donate their time and efforts and who are accomplishing such fine work, particularly Mr. Newton, Chairman of the Planning Board, and Mr. Sandy Roulston, the retiring member of that Board; Mr. Sheehy and the members of the Re-Zoning Committee, and the School Committee. The statement by the Chair was responded to by generous applause by the Town Meeting Members.
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