USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1957 > Part 23
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Upon completion of the contracts now in process our schedule for 1957 will be finished according to plan except that no extensions of con- tracts were possible because of additional expense due to unusual amounts of sheeting, ledge removal and culvert replacement.
Our budget for 1958 has been prepared along regular lines and for- warded to the Appropriation Committee. The program provides for sewers in streets according to petitions for same as filed in our office (in the order of their receipt) and the second section of the Mill River Trunk line. The Selectmen have been furnished with a list of streets in which we will work.
Because the Sewer Commission will cease to exist upon the election and qualification of the new Board of Public Works in 1958, we give a brief resume of our stewardship from the Commission's inception in March 1947 to date.
Commissioners: J. Herbert Libbey, Chairman, John W. Field, Clerk, Charles Y. Berry, deceased and succeeded by Charles J. Maasterson. Messrs. Libbey and Field have each served 11 years, Mr. Masterson 10 years, 8 months.
Principal Objectives of the Commission
Build a good sewerage system for the Town.
Construct Trunk Line sewers to the Town's several centers.
Expand the system of means of lateral sewers extending from the trunk lines.
Build in areas where service is wanted as indicated by applications or petitions filed in our office.
Honor applications in the order of their receipt, so far as is prac- ticable.
Breakdown of Expenditures - 1947 Through 1957
Expenditures
Percent
*Common Sewer Construction (by Private Contract)
and New Development Streets, pipe supplied
3,002,269.60
71.86
House Connections (Includes labor, pipe and equipment)
427,710.41
10.24
All Engineering, engineering supplies and equip- ment and transportation
315,877.42
7.56
Administration (Including office equipment ex- penses and supplies)
105,095.21
2.52
Legal Fees, Land Takings, etc.
42,861.24
1.03
Vacations, Holidays, and Sickness Costs
39,103.87
.94
New Equipment (Includes supplies for their main- tenance and operation)
83,642.47
2.00
243
Police Control of Traffic Costs
20,204.50
48
Renovate and Maintain Office and Service Buildings including labor
39,563.05
.95
Labor and Supplies for the Maintenance of Sewer System, Labor equipment maintenance and all other accounts
101,270.98
2.42
Totals
4,177,598.75
100%
*Includes construction of 2 Pumping Stations and 1 Sewage Disposal Chamber.
Contracts awarded: 34 of which 31 were to low bidders.
Contracts defaulted and completed by another contractor: 1.
The East Weymouth Trunk is ready to serve the Jackson Square area and applications invited in 1956, but, except for a few scattered ones, none have been received.
It was the intention of the Commission to build the 3rd section of the Mill River Trunk sewer in 1959. This would serve the Pond Plain and Independence Square areas where applications have been on file for nearly 3 years.
Respectfully submitted, J. HERBERT LIBBEY, Chairman JOHN W. FIELD, Clerk CHARLES J. MASTERSON Board of Sewer Commissioners
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWER DEPARTMENT
December 31, 1957
To the Board of Sewer Commissioners Town of Weymouth
I submit herewith the tenth annual report of the Sewer Department.
During 1957 approximately three and eight-tenths miles of trunk and lateral sewers were installed: Construction also included under last year's contracts, the installation of two-thirds of a mile of house connections to the side line of streets.
May 1, 1957 Contract 32 was awarded to Civitarese-Piatelli Construc- tion Company of Hyde Park, the low bidder, who submitted a bid of $124,135.00 Work involved the construction of the first section of the Mill River Trunk Sewer that will eventually serve Independent Square and areas south. This 21-inch trunk sewer extends from the Southeast Ex- pressway Interchange at Main Street along a portion of Front and Mill Street to Mill River, thence along Mill River, crossing West Street and continuing approximately 600 feet beyond.
During the installation of the sewer in Mill Street it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the Town to construct a new culvert of ample capacity rather than spend money in an attempt to repair the old, undersized, dilapidated culvert at Mill River. To this end the Appro- priation Committee transferred to the Sewer Department construction
244
account $4,500.00 Under the co-operative effort of the Sewer Department, Town Engineer, Metcalf & Eddy and the Street Department, the new Mill Street culvert was completed.
Construction under contract 32 should be completed very early in the Spring of 1958.
May 6, 1957 Contract 33 was awarded to J. Andreassi & Son, Inc. of Roslindale, the low bidder, who submitted a bid of $183,663.00. Work in- volved the installation of up to 11,160 linear feet of 8, 10 and 15 inch sewers and 3,600 linear feet of house connections. During 1957, under this contract, sewers were installed in a portion of North Street, Neck Street, Broad Street, Commercial Street, Evans street, Saunders Street, Wachu- sett Road, East Street, Green Street and Bridge Street. Construction un- der Contract 33 should be completed in the early summer of 1958.
June 14, 1957 Contract 31 was completed by J. D'Amico, Inc. of Dor- chester at a cost, including house connections, of $200,774.33. This work involved the installation of sewers in portions of Summer Street, Kingman Street, Walnut Avenue, Thayer Avenue, Garfield Avenue, Roseen Avenue, Adams Place, Main Street, Front Street, Harland Road, Judson Road, Lone Pine Path and Apple Tree Lane.
June 24, 1957 Contract 34 was awarded to R. A. Buccella & Sons, Inc. of Roslindale, the low bidder, who submitted a bid of $86,693.50. Work involved the installation of approximately 4,820 linear feet of 8 and 10 inch sewers. During 1957 sewers were installed, under this contract, in Judson Road, Byron Road, a portion of Apple Tree Lane, a portion of Brook Terrace, Ledge Hill Road, Ledge Hill Terrace, Broad Street from Washington Street to Front Street, Franklin Street and Spring Street. The balance of this contract will be completed in 1958 along with exten- sions in Broad Street, King Avenue and Healy Road, providing funds are appropriated.
The Department took advantage of an opportunity to install a 10 inch sewer through the main drain tunnel being constructed under the Railroad crossing at Wharf Street under the supervision of the Town Engineer.
Under Department supervision sewers were installed in the following New Developments: off Bridge Street by the Drive-In Development Cor- poration, Sandra Lane by Klasson & Ericson Construction Company, Inc. and the Weymouth Skating Club, Inc.
During 1957 approximately 900 feet of 27 inch sewers were relocated in the area of the Main Street Interchange and 275 linear feet of 8 inch sewer was installed across the expressway at Ingrid Road. This work is being done by J. F. White Contracting Company who, under Contract 6 with the State Department of Public Works, is constructing the first sec- tion of the Southeast Expressway in Weymouth.
The entire cost of relocating existing sewers within the expressway limits will be incurred by the State. Both the Town and State will share the cost of installing sewers across the expressway at the several locations. The Town supplies the pipe and engineering, the State makes the installa- tions. Making the pipe crossings at this time represents a considerable saving by eliminating the need of costly construction under the express - way in the future, as our system expands.
This year 337 Particular Sewer Connections were installed.
245
The department added to its equipment with the purchase of the fol- lowing units:
New Welding & Cutting Outfit
New LeRoi 125 Compressor, trade-in 1951 LeRoi 105 Compressor
Survey, design, contract letting and inspection of our 1957 construc- tion was under the supervision of the department engineering staff with the exception of the Mill River Trunk Sewer. This work was designed by Metcalf & Eddy, our consulting engineers, who also furnished the in- spection.
Our 1958 construction program will be completely designed and super- vised by the department engineering staff. Preparation of this work is well under way.
At this time I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my fellow workers and all town departments who so courteously assisted us the past year.
Respectfully submitted, NORMAN M. SMITH, Superintendent Weymouth Sewer Department
SUMMARY OF SEWER CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED
Sewer District
Pipe Size In Inches
Length In Feet
Wessagussett (King Cove)
6
473
8
1,374
10
424
North Weymouth
8
16,529
10
3,553
12
2,075
(East Weymouth Main Sewer)
18
1,500
(East Weymouth Main Sewer)
24
1,498
(East Weymouth Main Sewer)
30
6,774
South Weymouth Central
8
33,818
10
8,667
12
6,397
15
4,431
18
2,678
18 (Pressure)
353
21
1,009
27
6,169
27 (Pressure)
4,291
30
10,653
Weymouth Landing
8
27,810
10
1,222
12
2,045
15
2,674
18
4,461
246
East Weymouth
8 1,169
18 (Pressure) 2,917
8
18 (Pressure) 1,363
Total miles of sewers as of January 1, 1957
29.64
Weymouth Landing Pumping Station
231 linear feet of 6" Cast Iron Force Main
457 linear feet of 8" Cast Iron Pressure Sewer
978 linear feet of 10" Cast Iron Pressure Sewer
East Weymouth Pumping Station
1,135 linear feet of 16" Cast Iron Force Main
Night Soil Disposal Chamber
CONSTRUCTION DURING 1957
Sewer District
In Feet
North Weymouth
Contract No. 33
North Street
15
614
Neck Street
15
2,410
Evans Street
8
1,372
Wachusett Road
8
98
Saunders Street
8
277
Stratford Road
8
51
Delorey Avenue
8
51
Bridge Street
8
830
New Development
Bridge Street
10
370
South Weymouth Central
Contract No. 33
North Street
8
755
Commercial Street
8
1,655
James Road
8
67
East Street
8
335
Green Street
8
353
Thompson Road
8
50
Oxford Road
8
35
Contract No. 34
Spring Street
8
200
New Development
Sandra Lane
8 482
Expressway (Mass. D.P.W. Contr. No 6)
Expressway Crossing
8
275
By Sewer Department
Front Street
8
100
Pipe Size In Inches
Length
247
South Weymouth
Contract No. 32
Front Street
21
150
Mill Street
21
710
West Street
21
40
Easement
21
2,645
Expressway (Mass. D.P.W. Contr. No 6)
Expressway Crossing
21
520
Weymouth Landing
Contract No. 31
Judson Road
8
1,165
Lone Pine Path
8
400
Summer Street
10
160
Harland Road
8
249
Contract No. 34
Brook Terrace
8
400
Ledge Hill Road
8
488
Ledge Hill Terrace
8
245
Broad Street
10
513
Broad Street
8
480
Stetson Street
8
50
Franklin Street
10
440
Apple Tree Lane
8
303
Byron Road
8
447
Judson Road
8
343
East Weymouth
Contract No. 29
Wharf Street
10
49
Total linear feet of sewers constructed during 1957
20,177
Total miles of sewers constructed during 1957
3.82
Total miles of sewers constructed to date
33.46
Estimated miles of sewers yet to be constructed
136
House Connections
Completed as of January 1, 1957
1,313
Completed during 1957
337
Total connections as of December 31, 1957
1,650
248
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE LABAN PRATT HOSPITAL
December 31, 1957
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Town of Weymouth Weymouth, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
By direction of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Laban Pratt Hospital, the undersigned is duly authorized to submit to your Board this Annual Report required by the provisions of Section 3, Chap- ter 246, an Act of the Massachusetts Legislature approved April 26, 1946, creating Laban Pratt Hospital as a corporation.
The terms of office for the Trustees are as follows: Term expires in 1962: Miss Olive Sylvester Mr. Carl Peterson Mr. Martin P. Davis
Term expires in 1961: Mr. Roy F. Kendall Mr. Laughton B. Dasha Mr. Francis A. Farr
Term expires in 1960: Mrs. Marguerite W. Shaftoe Mrs. Eleanor E. Jack Mr. George H. Thompson, Esq.
Term expires in 1959: Hon. Kenneth L. Nash Mrs. Harriett S. Berry Mr. George E. Pruden
Term expires in 1958: Mr. Roland T. Seabury Mr. James F. Reilly Mrs. Lucy P. Mahoney
There were seven meetings of the Board this year. The Trustees have received an appropriation of $5,000.00 from the Town of Weymouth for the purpose of having a survey of the health and hospital needs in the Town of Weymouth as applicable to the Laban Pratt Hospital Fund. Charles F. Wilinsky, M.D., of Boston has been retained by the Trustees to make the survey. He will start the survey in January, 1958.
Respectfully submitted for the Board of Trustees.
LUCY P. MAHONEY
Clerk
249
TREASURER'S REPORT FOR 1957
To the Trustees of Laban Pratt Hospital, Inc. the following report on the finances of the Hospital is submitted by the Treasurer for the year ending December 31, 1957.
Balance on hand January 1, 1957
$773,937.85
Income Received:
East Weymouth Savings Bank
$1,730.36
South Weymouth Savings Bank
4,541.55
Weymouth Savings Bank
3,503.23
Government Bonds
12,075.00
Total Income
21,850.14
$795,787.99
Deduct expenses for 1957
6.00
Total Funds, December 31, 1957
$795,781.99
INVESTMENT OF ABOVE FUNDS
East Weymouth Savings Bank
$ 56,673.47
South Weymouth Savings Bank
143,085.03
Weymouth Savings Bank
112,926.30
South Shore National Checking Account
97.19
U. S. Government Bonds
483,000.00
$795,781.99
REPORT OF THE SHELL FISH WARDEN
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Weymouth, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The following is a report of Shell Fish Warden for 1957.
21 Clam Permits 40 Bait Permits
Due to good working conditions, many diggers are working elsewhere, which enables the clam flats to re-seed themselves. This department has been working with the State to open an area to residents for home con- sumption.
The co-operation of your Board, the Police Department and the Harbor Master, is deeply appreciated.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES W. MacMURRAY Shell Fish Warden, Town of Weymouth
250
HARBOR MASTERS REPORT
Honorable Board of Selectmen Town of Weymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit my report of activities for the year 1957:
A two-way communications radio, also a fire pump were replaced dur- ing the year on the Harbor Master's boat with new ones.
The following services were rendered by my department during the year 1957:
Lost Boats recovered
25
Lost Outboard hulls recovered
4
15' to 40' Sail and Power boats assisted
30
Capsized boats and outboards assisted
3
Investigations made
15
Launchings patrolled and attended
3
Sail Boat races patrolled
20
Outboard races patrolled
1
Island fires fought (small
1
Outboard motor fires fought
1
Interclub boat races patrolled
3
Marine parade patrols
1
Police radio calls answered
17
The Harbor Master's boat patrolled at least 10 miles daily from May 1 to December 1 covering the entire Weymouth waterfront at least once daily, a total distance of approximately 2200 miles.
Sincerest thanks are extended to all who were kind enough to assist and cooperate with me in the pursuit of my duties.
Respectfully submitted,
CECIL EVANS
Harbor Master
251
TREE AND MOTH DEPARTMENT 1957 ANNUAL REPORT
December 31, 1957
To the Board of Selectmen Town of Weymouth
Gentlemen :
Twenty years ago I stood before a Special Town Meeting and warned those assembled there that "if we continue to disregard our heritage of beautiful shade trees by neglecting their care, something terrible will hap- pen to them. They will be taken away from us in large numbers and our Town will become almost barren of trees."
That time is now at hand. Continued disregard of the needs of trees has caused large numbers of them to succumb to the ravages of Nature - hurricanes, insect pests, and disease.
No doubt the greatest tragedy has been the Dutch Elm Disease.
In the ten year period that this disease has been with us, thousands of trees have died, been removed, buried or burned at a cost of many thousands of dollars.
We read articles informing us that Dutch Elm Disease can be con- trolled, with proof of the successes of communities where sufficient funds are granted so that control measures can be followed. In such commu- nities the Moth Superintendent has been free to use the money to the greatest possible advantage. Whereas, clauses written into the appro- priation by the Finance Committee making certain restrictions on the use of our funds by the Moth Superintendent has critically disrupted any effective control measures.
Weymouth need not have lost so many of its elm trees if the advice which I have been expounding to suppress Dutch Elm Disease had been heeded.
Since 1934 I have been studying the progress of Dutch Elm Disease. Many references and warnings have been made regarding this disease in my Town Reports to you over the years - even to forecasting its arrival.
While I have kept the public well informed, it has been an annual knock down, drag out fight to procure funds for this work and always it has been too little, too late.
A tree sanitation program, calling for prompt, not delayed, removal and disposal of all known sickly, dying and diseased elm trees, pruning and spraying of otherwise healthy trees is the program which I have ad- vocated. Diseased, dying and sickly elm trees quickly harbor millions of disease carrying beetles. In the spring time the beetles emerge from these trees, attack healthier trees and innoculate them with the disease spores. It takes only one of these spore laden beetles to infect a tree.
These dead trees standing through a winter become a serious hazard to life and property. Dutch Elm Diseased wood deteriorates rapidly and these trees become a hazard.
The Town Meeting, under the repeated misguidance of the Appropria- tion Committee, has come to regard the Dutch Elm Disease situation as a "pet project of the Tree Warden."
252
The Statutes regarding Dutch Elm trees have been violated and the public has been compelled to suffer not only the loss of these trees, but also to suffer the anxieties of continued worry over the safety of their property, their children and their neighbors. Aged people tremble in fear, when the winter winds blow, from the dangers presented by a dis- eased and rotten elm tree over their homes.
Such is the burden placed upon your Tree Warden with no power to act in their behalf. I, too, suffer the same anxieties for my townspeople since I know too well the dangers they are compelled to endure.
Another disturbing factor is the continual underground effort to up- set the Area Mosquito Control project by withdrawing our financial sup- port and thrust the duties and responsibilities on the present Tree and Moth Department.
It would appear to me that inasmuch as necessary funds are not properly provided to perform our statutory duties and that adequate man- power is not provided, that it would be next to impossible to procure funds and labor for this added responsibility.
A serious conservation measure which I have endeavored to bring to your attention in my 1955 Annual Town Report was the matter of water conservation.
While we are ultimately planning to drain all of our swamps and low lands into the ocean, our water supply is running out. It is these scat- tered swamps throughout our country-side which, through seepage, feed our underground rivers and springs to provide our life-sustaining water.
The same engineering brains engaged by the Town to drain our land, no doubt, could show us how to retain much of this vast reserve of water by creating resrvoirs for storage, provide recreation areas for boating. fishing, skating as well as water for industry.
Could not Weymouth lead the way in beginning such a forward step?
Already legislation is before our State House group to create a com- mittee to study the feasibility of reclaiming the ocean water for human consumption.
In this my final report to you as your Tree Warden and Moth Super- intendent, I believe that a review of my accomplishments in your behalf might be in order.
The Town has:
A fine nursery established of somewhat over an acre in size, stocked with a variety of shade and flowering trees.
An off-street tree planting program. This up-to-date planting program has gained wide interest throughout the country.
A mosquito control program which has now developed into an area Mosquito Control Program of eleven towns.
An aerie spray program for insect pest control.
A Japanese beetle control program for public areas.
An organized Tree and Moth Department, well equipped with the most up-to-date tools. (The rapid recovery of our Town from the many disasters and epidemics which we have faced has earned for the men of our department a great deal of well earned praise
253
from the townspeople for the conduct, efficiency and orderliness of their work. I, too, am proud of them.)
A composting project which will develop into greater usefulness as time goes on. The by-products of Nature - leaves, sod, grass, wood chips, etc. - are put to use by us rather than being cast aside in the public dump.
A log and brush disposal area where tree debris is periodically burned, thus relieving the Town Dump of a serious problem; the conservation of space and the continual problem of finding new areas to pile it. Our system also relieves the problem of insect and disease spreading from wood which would otherwise be lying around in the open.
An educational program which has kept the public informed. Exhibits at fairs, schools, trade shows, clubs, etc. and lectures to many groups each year.
An advisory service, wherein help in many hundreds of tree, insect and disease problems is given to our townspeople. Regretfully, time in the workday does not allow for taking care of all the many and varied requests that come in. This alone could be a full time job.
The future and perpetuation of these many services will depend on the attitude of the Public Works Commission toward them.
In my opinion and from knowledge of other former Tree Wardens who have been absorbed in this phase of government, the Tree Depart- ment services will be curtailed and the Department will be as a step-child to the engineering services of Public Works.
At this time may I pay especial tribute to a group of citizens who in 1929 sponsored my training at the Davey Institute of Tree Surgery, Kent, Ohio, thereby bringing about the realization of my boyhood ambition to some day serve my Town as its Tree Warden.
To the following friends I hereby dedicate this report:
Miss Sarah E. Brassill, who for over forty-five years served in our School System as Director of Nature Study.
Mr. Joe Taylor (now deceased) who for many years served as a Di- rector of the Weymouth Agricultural and Industrial Society and a beloved member of Weymouth Grange.
Louis H. Ells, Charter Master of Weymouth Grange, presently serving as Town Meeting member.
William B. Chalke, Jr., former Selectman of Weymouth, now serving as Town Meeting member.
To have served you for over two decades has been a trust which my Townspeople have bestowed upon me, and I have endeavored to hold it as such. It is only through the hosts of people who have placed their faith in me and my program that I have been able to carry on. If I have been successful, it is they who have enabled me to achieve it and to them I owe my grateful appreciation.
To my fellow workers and Department Heads in all of the Town serv- ices, it has been a great privilege to serve with you.
Sincerely yours, V. LESLIE HEBERT
Tree Warden and Moth Supt.
254
Annual Report
of the
Water Department
SS
-16
ANCER
MASSACHUSETTS
5
WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
1957
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
January 1, 1958
Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of the Town of Weymouth:
The Water Commissioners continued in 1957 with the same officers as in 1956, viz: Mr. Stanley T. Torrey as Chairman and Mr. Harry I. Granger as Clerk. Mr. Granger was re-appointed as Treasurer and Collector and Mr. Dizer as accountant. Sydney C. Beane was re-appointed for his 18th year as Superintendent.
During the early part of 1957, the Department completed the Stand- pipe off Park Avenue, including 16" pipe line, roadway, power line, beacon light and fence, as well as completed construction of the addition to the Hollis Street Garage.
The past summer and fall season has been extremely dry, causing the pond level to drop to the lowest level on record - 7 feet 41/2 inches be- low high water or below elevation 166.00. Because of the drought, exces- sive consumption due to lawn sprinkling had to be restricted.
The extreme drought of this past year has been considerable concern to this Board. The search for another emergency well site has been con- tinued without success in spite of 106 test wells attempted. Also, advan- tage was taken of the exposed beaches to excavate fill to provide addi- tional storage for water.
A conference was had with the Water Division of the Metropolitan District Commission to see if a connection to Weymouth was possible. It appears that a supply either in total or as a standby, is some years in the future.
With construction started on the South-east Expressway, the Water Board is still concerned with what effect this construction will have on the Main Street well.
With the low level of the pond approaching the limit of the suction of the pumps, emergency measures were taken to dike off a separate in- take bay and to provide auxiliary pumps to lift the low pond level to the station level if and when necessary.
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