USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1957 > Part 6
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That the sum of $2,500.00 be appropriated for the observance of Mem- orial Day.
Discussion ensued between Mr. Amabile and Mr. Newton, Secretary of the Appropriation Committee.
Comes now the question on the amendment by Mr. Amabile.
Vote was taken and the Chair declared the amendment by Mr. Ama- bile LOST.
Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee.
SO VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 33. For Parks and Playgrounds $77,153.00
Of this sum, not exceeding $53,293.00 shall be for all personal services of the department.
Of the sum appropriated $500.00 shall be appropriated from available funds (Excess and Deficiency Fund) for the purchase of tractor acces- sories.
Authority is hereby granted to the Park Commissioners to purchase new and dispose of old automotive equipment.
The salary of the Park Commissioners is hereby fixed at $300.00 each.
MOVED by Mr. Mason of the Park Commissioners to amend the mo- tion by the Appropriation Committee as follows:
That the sum of $1,500.00 be added to the Park Department Budget, said sum to be used for recreation program and supervised play.
Discussion ensued between Mr. Mason and Mr. Newton, Secretary of the Appropriation Committee.
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Comes now the question on the amendment by Mr. Mason.
Vote was taken and the Chair declared the amendment by Mr. Mason LOST.
MOVED by Mr. Lane to amend the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee as follows:
That a committee of eleven (11) members be appointed by the Moder- ator to study and submit a proposed plan for the development of the Wessagussett Beach area into a Recreational Basin to include a public boat landing for a junior sailing program, breakwaters or sea walls, en- larged bathing beach from the Wessagussett Yacht Club to the present Town Bath House, roads, walks, parking and other facilities; and that the committee determine what portion of the costs will be paid by the Federal and State government; that the committee report to the next Annual or Special Town Meeting their findings; and that the sum of $500.00 be appropriated from the available funds (Excess and Deficiency Account) for plans and report and other expenses of the committee. $500.00
Lengthy discussion ensued involving several of the Town Meeting Members.
Comes now the question on the amendment by Mr. Lane.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee as thus amended.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 34. For Miscellaneous Expenses and of this sum $3.53 shall be reappropriated from the Dog Pound Account. $36,776.00 3.53
$36,772.47
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 35. For Unpaid Bills
$4,217.70
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
ITEM 36. For Overdrafts $ .00
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 37. For necessary charges and administration of the Con- tributory Retirement System $79,221.00
Of this amount, $3,921.50 is appropriated to the expense fund, of which not exceeding $2,500.00 shall be for personal services.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 38. For the Water Department
$453,147.00
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Of this sum, $356,147.00 is to be provided from current revenue and $97,000.00 from surplus revenue of the department, $20,000.00 for private work, payment for such work to revert to the General Fund of the Water Department and $35,000.00 for the construction of pipe lines; $18,000.00 for the purchase of new backhoe, $14,000.00 for improvements at the pump- ing station as recommended by Weston & Sampson's Report and $10,000.00 for addition to the Stock Purchase Account.
Of the sums appropriated, not exceeding $173,938.00 shall be for per- sonal services of the department and no sums shall be transferred to the Accountant's or Treasurer's Offices for expenses or services rendered to the Water Department.
The salaries of the Water Commissioners are hereby fixed at $225.00 for the Chairman and $200.00 for four other members and $25.00 addi- tional for the clerk who may be a member thereof;
Of the total appropriation, not more than $200.00 may be used for expense incurred in travel outside the Commonwealth in accordance with Section 5, Chapter 40, Clause 34 of the General Laws.
The Water Commissioners are hereby authorized to purchase, dispose of, or replace automotive or other equipment provided for in funds herein appropriated.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 39. For the maintenance and operation of the Sewer Depart- ment, to be expended under the direction of the Sewer Commissioners $76,939.00
Not exceeding $61,939.00 shall be for personal services of the depart- ment.
Of this sum $4,000.00 shall be appropriated from available funds (Ex- cess and Deficiency Fund) for the purchase of new automotive equipment and accessories.
The salaries of the Sewer Commissioners are hereby fixed at $500.00 each for three (3) members.
The Commissioners are hereby authorized to purchase, dispose of, or replace automotive equipment provided for in the funds herein appro- priated.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 40. For the operation of the Alewife Fishery
$200.00
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 41. For care of Soldiers' Graves under General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 115, Section 22, including the placing of new markers and replacing old markers $2,160.00 UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 42. For care of old cemeteries under General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 44, Section 16 and 18 $475.00
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Provided the Town instruct the Board of Selectmen to contract with the Wessagusset Post No. 1399 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for the care and maintenance of the old cemetery opposite Fairmount Cemetery on Pleasant Street; old cemetery off Park Avenue; one off Randolph Street; one off Pleasant Street near Pine and the Ashwood Cemetery off Front Street.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 43. For interest and discount $149,925.00
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 44. For retirement of Bonds and Notes due in 1957 $498,000.00 UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 45. For the Municipal Buildings Fire Insurance Fund $1.00
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 46. For fire and other insurance $29,860.00
That the Board of Selectmen be directed to place such fire and other insurance except Group Life Insurance as meet the requirements of the Town through the licensed members of the Weymouth Association of In- surance Agents.
Discussion ensued between Mr. Garrison, Mr. Handrahan and Mr. Record.
MOVED by Mr. Garrison the following amendment to the motion by the Appropriation Committee.
That the Board of Selectmen be directed to place through the licensed members of the Weymouth Association of Insurance Agents such fire and other insurance except Group Life Insurance, Group Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance and Group Hospital Surgical and Medical Insurance as meets the requirements of the Town which are to be deter- mined by the Board of Selectmen.
Further lengthy discussion ensued involving several of the Town Meet- ing Members and Mr. Handrahan.
Comes now the question on the amendment by Mr. Garrison to the motion by the Appropriation Committee.
Vote was taken and the Chair declared the amendment by Mr. Gar- rison LOST.
Comes now the question on the motion by the Appropriation Com- mittee.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
MOVED
ITEM 47. For a Reserve Fund $30,000.00
Of said sum, $20,000.00 shall be appropriated from the Reserve Fund- Overlay Surplus.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
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MOVED
Provided that no monies hereinbefore appropriated shall be expended for telephone service in private homes of any Town official except those of the Chiefs of Police and Fire Department.
Provided further, no monies hereinbefore appropriated shall be used for the purchase of motor vehicles except as otherwise specified in this article.
Provided further, that no monies appropriated, excepting the amounts supplied under Article 1, Item 2, of this warrant, shall be paid directly or indirectly as remuneration, compensation, or otherwise to any currently elected members of the Board of Selectmen for expenses or services ren- dered the Town in any capacity.
(The rider ending Article 1 applies in toto to Article 1.)
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
The Moderator then made the following statement: The question now comes on the acceptance of Article 1 in toto as amended and voted Item by Item.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
(Recess from 9:45 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.)
MOVED by Mr. Cahalan:
That Article 101 be considered at this time.
Comes now the question on the motion by Mr. Cahalan.
Vote was taken and the Chair declared the motion by Mr. Cahalan LOST.
MOVED by Mr. Waitz:
That Item 19-20 of Article 1 be reconsidered at this time.
Comes now the question on the motion by Mr. Waitz.
Vote was taken and the Chair declared the motion by Mr. Waitz LOST.
ARTICLE 2. (By Direction of Selectmen). To take any action the Town may desire upon the reports of the several Town Boards and Com- mittees and to appoint or change any Committee that the Town may think proper.
MOVED by the Appropriation Committee:
That all committees which have not rendered a final report be con- tinued until the work under their charge is completed.
Mr. Heffernan, having been granted permission, submitted the fol- lowing report.
Pursuant to the vote taken under Article 7 of the 1956 Annual Town Meeting, to wit: "That the Moderator appoint a committee of seven (7) to study, report and submit recommendations on all Unaccepted Streets in the Town at the next Annual Town Meeting" (the following is respect- fully submitted:
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The committee was organized by the Town Moderator May 7, 1956. Between May 7, 1956 and this date of submittal said Committee held eleven formal meetings.
The Town of Weymouth map showing all streets, accepted, paper or otherwise, was divided into 7 sections. Each member of the committee was assigned a section. All unaccepted streets were marked out for physi- cal observation.
A chart breaking down various data was used in analyzing the un- accepted streets, i.e. name of street, if any, location on Town Atlas, length, width, type of existing road surface, drainage condition, utilities, number of houses, and committee recommendations.
Committee recommendations classified the Unaccepted Streets using the following Key ratings:
(A) - Any street built by a contractor or developer (Class A or B construction) ; any old established street that is paved and fully built up and that the Town maintains. Said street may be less than 40 feet wide will have most all utilities.
(B) - 40 Foot Street - existing dirt road or better; some grading, drainage and utilities necessary; must be pretty well built up or be a connecting street; must have been in existence and in use prior to 1924; not to excessively expensive to build.
(C) - Similar to (B), but may be less than 40 feet - possible redesign and layout.
(D) - Similar to (B) and (C), however, cost to high; impractical to build; do not accept.
(E) - Discontinue - (Paper Streets) no houses, nothing in evidence on the ground.
As a result of this Analysis the Committee offers the following statis- tics:
Total No. Streets
44.54 40' or greater
Less than 40' Paper Sts.2
Feet
Miles
433 235,200 2021/2 - 122,120 23.13 2301/2 - 113,080 21.42
141-83,305 15.40
In the course of Business the Committee recommended the following By-Law additions, deletions or changes to the By-Law Committee:
Section 504 - "Not later than October first" - changed to "Not later than August first."
Section 506 - Deleted in its entirety, substitute the following: "No street or way shall be laid out or accepted by the Town of Weymouth of a width less than forty feet, unless the same shall have been actually opened and used for public travel prior to January 1, 1924 and is recom- mended and approved by the Selectmen, Superintendent of Streets, Super. intendent of Sewers, Superintendent of Water, Public Health Agent and Town Engineer."
Section 508 - In line 8 change "75 percent" to ('90 percent."
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Section 511 - Delete the first two paragraphs and substitute the following:
"A plan and profile done in ink on tracing cloth 19 inches wide by 28 inches long or 24 inches wide by 36 inches long at a scale of one inch to 40 feet of each street. The survey and plan work will be accomplished by a private Registered Engineer or Registered Land Surveyor and the cost of the work will be borne by the abuttres and/or petitioners. The Engineer or Surveyor will design a satisfactory road grade and indicate the necessary drainage. He will set the necessary bounds as indicated by the Town Engineer. He will clear his plan with the Sewer, Water, Street, Health, and Engineering Departments, who in approving the plan will sign the linen in the appropriate spaces provided.
Such plan will show all physical characteristics of the Street pre- sented for acceptance, i.e., all property lines for at least 50 feet from pro- posed Street, the names of the respective owners as of a date not earlier than September first of the year in which the petition is filed, the correct locations of all buildings, hydrants, catch basins, manholes, untility poles, all easements necesary for drainage, sewer or water mains, all stone bounds, all survey data necessary to lay out the proposed street. The linen and 8 additional prints will be delivered to the office of the Selectmen no later than October 1st of the year in which the petition is filed."
The compiled data and individual recommendations for each unac- cepted street will be filed with the Board of Selectmen at a date no later than April 1, 1957.
Respectfully submitted
Walter B. Heffernan, Chairman Arthur J. Bilodeau, Vice-Chairman Daniel E. Slattery, Clerk Sydney C. Beane Norman Smith Walter Murray Henry Godin
Mr. Heffernan further stated that the proposed By-Law revisions would be considered under Article 52 and the streets the committee is recommending for acceptance would be under Article 7.
MOVED by Mr. Cahalan:
That the recommendations of the committee be accepted as read. UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
The Chair expressed the thanks of the Town Meeting Members for the work of the committee.
Mr. Reilly, having been granted permission, presented the report of the Committee Investigating Fluoridation of the Town's Water Supply:
This is the second report of a Committee of Seven appointed under Article 44 of the March 1955 Town Meeting. Under this article, it was voted: "That the Moderator appoint a committee of seven to study the desirability of increasing the fluoridation concentration in the town water supply, including the probable cost. The committee appointed shall make a report at the next Annual Town Meeting."
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Due to the controversial aspects of this subject, your committee con- tinued its investigation in 1956 in an attempt to evaluate the advisability cf fluoridating the Weymouth Water Supply.
Our investigations included reports from the following National and State Associations: - The American Medical Association; The Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, Washington, D. C .; The American Water Works Association; The American Dental Association; The New England Water Works Association; The Massachu- setts Department of Public Health.
In Weymouth, questionaires from the dentists, physicians, and clergy were solicited also.
In nearly every case favorable endorsement of the principle of fluori- dation was indicated along with certain qualifying conditions. These con- ditions were:
(a) Fluoridation is a safe, effective and economical procedure for the partial prevention of tooth decay.
(b) Water utilities may proceed with this additional service, pro- vided all State and local health authorizations necessary to protect the utility in its practice of fluoridation are available, and also assurance that the utility will be compensated for the additional cost.
(c) Approval for a water utility to fluoridate must be obtained from the Massachusetts State Department of Public Health to properly estab- lish, viz:
1. The type of equipment, the point of application, the fluoride compounds and the dosages to be used.
2. The State sampling program must be followed by the water utility officials.
3. Adequate facilities must be provided and records kept on ap- proved forms.
Of the Associations questioned, The New England Water Works Assc- ciation is the only association reporting that, "It is the majority opinion of the Executive Committee of the New England Water Works Association that the Association should take no stand in the approval or disapproval of fluoridation of water supplies."
Of the local groups, one group of the clergy felt that fluoridation was strictly a medical question, still unsolved, and another group that fluori- dation interferes with their freedom.
In reviewing the pros and cons on this controversial subject, your Com- mittee finds a preponderance of evidence in favor of fluoridation. While the vote of this committee is not unanimous. the majority of this commit- tee is in favor of increasing the fluoride content of the Weymouth Water Supplies. It is, therefore, the recommendation of the majority of your Committee that the authority to fluoridate the Town's Three Water Sup- plies be established by submitting the question of adopting fluoridation in Weymouth to a referendum vote by the people of the town.
If voted in the affirmative, it is further recommended that the Town appropriate a sufficient sum of money for engineering the necessary plans for approved equipment layout in the three pumping stations in Weymouth,
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and that approval of the layout, proceedures, and dosages be obtained from the State Department of Public Health before equipment is pur- chased, and further that the installation and operation of fluoridation equipment be under the jurisdiction of the Water Department of the Town.
The cost of installing equipment for fluoridation in the three pump- ing stations in Weymouth is estimated to be $18,500.00 and one year's supply of fluoride chemical will cost $1,500.00, making an initial total cost of $20,000.00.
Respectfully submitted, Clarence W. Taylor, Chairman
Russell A. Carroll
Wilfred B. Mathewson Henry F. Godin William B. Chalke, Jr. Norman W. Reillly Sydney C. Beane, Clerk
MOVED by Mr. Reilly :
That the Town Meeting accept the recommendations in the report and the Board of Selectmen be authorized to submit the question of adopting fluoridation in Weymouth to a referendum vote by the people of the Town.
MOVED the following substitute motion by Mr. Cahalan:
That the subject matter of the report by the Fluoridation Committee be laid on the table until the next Annual Town Meeting.
Mr. Chalke, having been granted permission, presented the following minority report of the Committee Investigating Fluoridation of the Town's Water Supply.
Having served two years on the Committee appointed by the Moderator to study the advisability of recommending whether or not fluorides should be added to the drinking water of the Town of Weymouth, I wish to take the stand that after considerable reading on the subject I cannot con- scientiously go along with the recommendations of the Committee.
The organizations mentioned in their report are proponents of fluori- dation, except that the Executive Committee of the New England Water Works Association voted to take no stand in the approval or disapproval of fluoridation of water supplies.
I am not an engineer, a dentist, a doctor nor a chemist but just an ordinary layman or citizen of the Town of Weymouth. My knowledge of chemicals and of the human body is limited, yet I feel that I am one of the great majority. I may be rather conservative in my views but feel it is better to be cautious now than sorry later.
I have read the book "Fluoridation of Water" containing 491 pages, covering "Hearings before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Com- merce, House of Representatives, 83rd Congress, 2nd session H.R. 2341, a bill to protect the Public Health from the dangers of fluoridation of water May 25, 26, and 27, 1954." I have information and statements from the "National Committee Against Fluoridation, Inc." Washington, D. C. Also the magazine "Prevention" published at Emmaus, Penna.
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The first of these is a complete record of the hearings before that Committee who listened to both the pros and cons impartially, although the report of the Committee in its concluding paragraph states as follows. "It should be understood that communities that desire to add fluorides to the water should, in justice to the people, give them complete information. Where communities have had an opportunity to vote upon the question of adding fluorides to the drinking water, it is generally rejected. They should know that it is still in the experimental category, and that experi- ments now in progress have not been completed. In my opinion, there is no urgency about the matter." The other two sources are very definitely against adding sodium fluorides, an admitted poison, to the drinking water.
Calcium fluoride, which occurs naturally in many water sources, and is deceptively claimed to be identical to the manufactured chemical, is a much different chemical. The manufactured product, a by-product of the aluminum industry, is 85 times as toxic as the calcium fluoride. It is col- orless, odorless and tasteless and therefore more dangerous. It does not lend itself to ready diagnosis, and usually shows up only in autopsies.
Now as to its effect on teeth. Where there is fluorines in the water often children have what is called "Mottled Enamel." Mottled enamel is characterized by dead white teeth stained by brown or blackspots and often with a corroded appearance as if the teeth had been eaten by acid. The enamel is damaged on the permanent teeth before they emerge from the child's gums. The teeth are normal in shape, but disfigured in appear- ance for life. If it affects the teeth in this way, what is to prevent it from having the same effect on other bones of the body, and maybe the soft tissues?
Nature has a tendency to throw off poisons through the kidneys and other ways, and succeeds quite well in healthy persons. However, how will it affect older people with kidney trouble or children who may not be perfectly healthy?
How much of our water supply would be consumed by children within the desired age group? We have 44,000 people in Weymouth. Let us as- sume that each person drinks two quarts of water a day, a very liberal assumption, which totals 88,000 quarts or 22,000 gallons. What percentage is that amount to say 6,000,000 gallons of water that the Town uses each day? It is rather small, isn't it? I believe the accepted figure for con- sumption by children is three tenths of one per cent. The 99% is used for other purposes.
Proponents of fluoridation take pride in pointing out that Newburgh, N. Y., reduced tooth decay in children's teeth 57% by the use of fluorides as compared to no reduction in tooth decay in Kingston, N. Y., a control city, where no chemicals were used. There is five times as much calcium in the water of Newburgh as there is in the water of Kingston.
To refute this contention, I wish to refer to a letter written to Dr. James G. Kerwin, Dept. of Health, Passaic, N. J., by James A. Forst, M.D., Chief of the Division of Pupil Personnel Services, The University of the State of New York, The State Educational Dept., Albany, N. Y. His re- port shows that, of 5,308 children examined in fluorine free Kingston,, 41.6% had tooth defects with 20.6% then under treatment. After a decade of fluoridation, examination of 4,949 school children in Newburgh showed 63.4% with decayed teeth and 31.01% under treatment. These figures dis- prove the 57% contention in the previous paragraph.
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From these reports parents would still have to pay dental bills for the treatment of their children's teeth because of cavities.
There are now other methods of administering fluorides besides put- ting them in the water supply. Tablets are now available, also liquids for dropping into milk, as well as a tooth paste, which some of the manufac- turers recommend very highly and almost guarantee no more tooth de- cay, but also caution you against allowing children under five years of age to use it.
Tooth decay is not a contagious disease as is small pox, diptheria, scarlet fever, or polio, etc. Innoculations for polio are not compulsory but voluntary on the part of the parents. Then why not leave it to the discretion of the parents as to whether or not children should be fed fluorides?
In conclusion, I would recommend that the Town of Weymouth wait until further information and facts are available before proceedings further in this matter. Furthermore I would suggest that it not be placed on the ballot until such time as the voters can be supplied with sufficient con- clusive information to allow them to vote intelligently on the matter.
Respectfully submitted, William B. Chalke, Jr.
Comes now the question on the substitute motion by Mr. Cahalan: SO VOTED
MOVED by Mr. Christensen, Town Clerk, to amend the motion by the Appropriation Committee under Article 2 as follows:
That all committees which have not rendered a final report be con- tinued until the work under their charge is completed and, when possible, reports of these committees be submitted to the Board of Selectmen or to the Town Clerk on or before December 31st for inclusion in the Town Report in the year prior to which the report would be made to the Town Meeting.
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