Town annual report of Weymouth 1958, Part 21

Author: Weymouth (Mass.)
Publication date: 1958
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 466


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The Department of Public Works received budgets, programs and special articles from the Annual Town Meeting as correlated by the Board of Selectmen, the former Water, Sewer and Park Commissioners. The writer would like to state at this time that he sincerely believes the Se- lectmen, Finance Committee, former Commissioners and the Town Meet- ing Members used good and wise judgment in forming the budgets, pro- grams and special articles for a department yet to be organized at that time.


Following are some interesting and important general statistics to emphasize the broad scope of services in the Town of Weymouth. In considering standard services such as rubbish collection, street sweeping, tree and brush trimming, catch basin cleaning, patching, tree planting, grass cutting in parks and on greens, sewer installations and house con-


273


nections, water service installation and/or repair and replacement, water main reinforcing, establishing street lines, placing stone bounds and many others; and in the special programs, such as the reconstruction of our principal streets under the Highway Program, and the installation of a major drain system under our Drainage Program, the statistics bring out the size of the overall picture.


TABLE OF STATISTICS AS OF 1958 - TOWN OF WEYMOUTH


Area


17.5 square miles


12.5 miles Waterfront


Population


Approx. 46,000


Miles of Streets 200.75 miles


125.06 miles


Public Streets


44.54 miles plus


Private Ways


15.40 miles paper streets


State Highways


105 acres


Parks and Playgrounds


Greens


38 miles


Sewers to be Installed


135 miles


Residences connected to Sewer 1900 (Approx.)


Sewer Pumping Stations existing


2


Sewer Pumping Stations to be Constructed


8


Night Soil Disposal Plant


1


Water Mains


160 miles


Standpipes


5


875 Hydrants


2


Pumping Stations


3


Treatment Plant


1


Beaches


2


Drainage (Total Master Plan) $7,200,000.00 (Approx.)


Drainage Installed


$800,000.00 (Approx.)


Catch Basins


3,000 (Approx.)


Number of Homes


11,352


* *


I. PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE - 1958


(a) Annual Town Meeting 1958


Personal Services


$8,075.00


Commissioners' Expenses


1,000.00


Miscellaneous Expenses


250.00


New Equipment


3,170.00


Auto Expenses


500


$12,995.00


274


15.75 miles


49


Sewers Installed


Wells


Special Town Meeting June 9, 1958


Article 5. New Equipment $37,500.00 Article 8. Out-of-State Travel (Transferred from Engr. Budget) 300.00 Article 7. Drainage 39,260.00


$77,060.00


Special Town Meeting September 15, 1958


Article 3. Standpipe (Water Division) $100,000.00 $100,000.00


Total $190,055.00


The Annual Town Meeting Budget is self-explanatory. The sum of $8,075.00 was set up for 9 month's period as salary of the Superintendent and salary of a clerk. The new equipment consisted of an automobile for the Superintendent, desk, chair, miscellaneous office supplies, etc., a con- ference table and chairs for the Board.


Article 5 of the Special Town Meeting June 9, 1958, was for equip- ment which the various divisions (Sewer, Water, Highway, Park, Tree and Engineering) had requested at the 1958 Annual Town Meeting. These requests referred to the Board to take action at a later Special Town Meeting after organization.


Requests Annual Town Meeting March 1958 for equipment


Held out by Town Meeting Highway


$31,640.00


Sewer


17,100.00 $48,740.00


Request Special Town Meeting June 1958


(As recommended by D.P.W.) Article 5


37,500.00


Reduction of $11,240.00


(b) The other articles in the Special Town Meetings were Special Articles of Drainage and Water Works that will be covered in their proper places.


The major effort of this office in its initial year was to make a be- ginning of the transition, standardization, and consolidation of its various functions that were under several different administrative agencies to the one administrative and planning agency, Public Works.


1. A complaint system was put into operation, whereby each com- plaint, upon receipt, is written down, directed by one administrative au- thority is the proper division for disposition. Upon execution of complaints, the disposition is returned and posted.


(a) 824 individual complaints were checked and recorded in 1959. (9 months)


2. Payrolls of the Street, Engineering, Park, Tree and Public Works Office are consolidated into the one operation. This alleviates part time work paid for in the Tree and Park Departments under the previous sys- tem. Eventually all payrolls will be consolidated.


275


3. A workable system for the removal of Dutch Elm diseased trees by private contract was accomplished in the latter part of the year.


4. All contract bids and letting of contracts were consolidated.


5. All purchase of equipment was consolidated.


6. Schedules of bills payable for all divisions were systematized so that the proper authorities could efficiently check all divisions' expendi- tures and properly execute the schedules for the town warrant.


7. Special forms have been designed for cost control of labor and equipment and are being put into use.


8. Gasoline usage has been centralized for all divisions, eliminating various individual charges and credit cards.


9. A beginning of central purchasing has been established and put into use. Bids for tires, gasoline, building materials, etc., are taken and all divisions draw from the one successful bidder.


10. Departmental insignia was designed and installed on all equip- ment. Color and standardized features will continue as equipment is replaced.


11. A conference system with all division superintendents was or- ganized and is proving invaluable.


12. Long range Sewer, Highway and Drainage Programs have been established.


13. Many problems have been solved more economically by central use of equipment among the divisions.


14. Money previously expended on small private construction prob- lems has been saved by utilizing various division equipment and forces.


15. Efforts previously spent on difficult projects by the town forces have been more economically executed by private contract, freeing town forces for other work.


16. Public Works has requested certain upgrading in classifications; however, in the total of division forces there will be shown a substantial savings in payroll due to consolidation of forces and adjustments to re- quired duties.


17. Public Works has initiated a policy for removal of curbing and sidewalks for new driveway purposes. Previously this was an expense to the town. Now, the individual must bear the cost.


18. Public Works has inaugurated a stern policy pertaining to emer- gency openings by public utilities or town utilities on newly constructed or reconstructed streets.


(a) The co-operative efforts of all divisions are pressed hard by one administrative authority to plan in combination on new street construction in order to safeguard against future dig- ging up and patching.


(c) BUDGET


As shown previously, the Public Works Budget, 1958, was set up for the transition. The 1959 proposed budget will include all clerical person- nel, with the exception of the Water Division, and new equipment for all divisions.


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1959 PROPOSED PUBLIC WORK OFFICE BUDGET


1 Personnel


$25,400.50


II Operation Expense and Supplies 1,518.00


III Gasoline and Diesel Oil 12,200.00


IV Misc. Professional Society Dues 200.00


V Equipment 77,200.00


Total II, III, IV, V


$116,518.50


VI Out-of-State Travel


500.00


TOTAL BUDGET


$117,018.50


II ENGINEERING DIVISION


(a) In the year 1958, the Engineering Division completed its 2 year project in revising the Town of Weymouth Atlas to a condition whereby all transfers of property titles are automatic and the information is al- ways current. This new system eliminates approximately 2,000 man hours a year that were required under the previous system.


All planning, design, layout, and suprevision of construction of the Highway and Drainage Program was accomplished by the forces in the Engineering Division. Using conservative figures: Broad Street $81,000; Evans Street $170,000; Culverts $52,000; East Street Drain $15,000; Total $318,000. Taking prevailing consultants' fees for design, plans and super- vision of construction of about 9% - savings $28,620.


The standard duties of the Engineering Division have not been changed appreciably by the institution of Public Works, other than bringing it under the one administrative authority and effecting a closer co-ordina- tion in dealing with layout of streets, drainage and water main locations.


(b) REPORT OF TOWN ENGINEER TO PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT


To: Arthur J. Bolodeau, Superintendent of Department of Public Works Dear Mr. Bilodeau:


I herewith respectfully submit the First Annual Report of the En- gineering Division of the Department of Public Works for the year ending December 13, 1958.


A. Construction Program


1. Drainage


The Special Town Meeting of June 9, 1958, appropriated $39,260.00 for installation of drainage on East Street and for the construc- tion of a culvert with channel improvements on Front Street. Two other culverts on Broad and Middle Streets were necessary for the future Road Reconstruction Program. Money from Chapter 718 funds and from the Highway Construction Program Fund was used for the two culverts, and the three culverts were consolidated into one contract for the purpose of gaining better bid prices.


(a) Drainage Contract No. 4-Broad, Middle and Front Street Culverts.


277


Bids-There were 13 bids ranging from $51,914.00 to $94,000.00.


*1st Bidder-E. T. Dwyer Con. Co. $51,914.00


2nd Bidder-So. Shore Sand & Gravel 52,870.00 3rd Bidder-Constructors, Inc. 57,000.00


Engineering Division Estimate 69,700.00


*Low Bidder-E. T. Dwyer-Awarded the contract.


(b) Drainage Contract No. 5-East Street Drain Bids-There were 13 bids ranging from $13,411.50 to $24,645.00.


*1st Bidder-DiMascio Bros. $13,411.50


2nd Bidder-Weymouth Trucking 14,544.50


3rd Bidder-Celco Construction 14,987.50


Engineering Division Estimate 19,135.00


*Low Bidder-DiMascio Bros .- Awarded the contract.


(c) The Annual Town Meeting under Article 22 voted for drainage improvements from Weymouth Back River to Whitman's Pond. Plans and descriptions were prepared for the taking by the Town of land owned by Weymouth Light and Power Company in the Special Town Meeting of September 15, 1958, for the possible con- struction of said drainage improvements in 1959.


2. Roadbuilding


The Annual Town Meeting voted an article to support the continu- ance of the Road Construction Program. In 1958, several contracts were let out for bids.


(a) Road Contract No. 4-Evans Street


There were five bidders ranging from $171,073.00 to $187,571.85.


*1st Bidder-A. Singarella & Sons $171,073.00


2nd Bidder-J. A. Susi & Sons 172,647.00


3rd Bidder-Weymouth Trucking Corp. 177,514.40


Engineering Division Estimate 179,154.50


*Low Bidder-A. Singarella & Sons-Awarded the Contract.


(b) Road Contract No. 5-Broad Street


There were six bidders ranging from $77,561.05 to $95,320.50.


*1st Bidder-E. T. Dwyer Con. Co. $77,561.25


2nd Bidder-DelPrete Const. Co. 79,678.35


3rd Bidder-Old Colony Const. Co. 83,347.75 Engineering Division Estimate 90,524.75


*Low Bidder-E. T. Dwyer-Awarded the contract.


3. Miscellaneous


(a) Wessagussett Road Retaining Wall


There were five bidders ranging from $4,480.00 to $9,749.00


*1st Bidder-DelPrete Const. Co. $4,480.00


2nd Bidder-Ablondi & Boynton 5,200.00


3rd Bidder-D Construction Co. 5,627.00


Engineering Division Estimate 4.770.00


*Low Bidder-DelPrete Const. Co .- Awarded the contract.


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B. Board of Public Works Functions by Engineering Division


1. Sidewalks-line, grade and survey for layout in the following loca- tions: North Street, Shaw Street, Essex Street, Lake Street, Pearl Street, Middle Street, Washington Street and Columbian Street.


2. Drainage problems at the following locations studied for analysis, report and for corrective measures: 675 Commercial St., 41 Ad- dington Circle, Pierce Court, and 60 Greenvale Avenue.


3. Survey and plan for traffic study of Thicket St. at Pond St. In- tersection and at the Central St. and Pleasant St. Intersection.


4. Survey and plan for the widening and relocation of a portion of Broad Street and East Street.


5. Survey and establish grades for resurfacing of Neck Street.


6. Individual street lines and stone bounds set - 32 individual street lines were surveyed and 96 stone bounds were set throughout the Town of Weymouth.


C. Inter-Departmental Program


1. Selectmen's Department


a. Drainage problems at the following locations studied for analysis report and for corrective measures: Between Circuit Ave. and Middle St., 36 and 42 Kensington Rd., Caldwell and Parnell Streets.


b. Study and report on the relocation of Union Street.


c. Plan for widening and relocation of a portion of Broad, Front and Summer Streets.


d. Survey, plan, study and report of Pine Street and Ralph Talbot Street Intersection.


e. Plan for land taking off Iron Hill Street of land owned by Wey- mouth Light and Power Co.


f. Individual street lines - 11 individual street lines were sur- veyed throughout the Town of Weymouth.


2. Highway Division


a. All locations graded and staked out for drainage.


b. Following streets staked out line and grade for construction: Wadaga Rd., Burkhall St., Island View Rd., Woodbine Rd., Blake Rd., Georgia Rd., Ledge Hill Rd., Witawamut Rd., Rinaldo Rd. and Katherine St.


c. Survey and layout for Harland Rd. Culvert.


3. Water Division


a. Line and grade given for installation of new water mains on following streets: Wessagussett Road, Wadaga Road, Island View Road, Woodbine Road, Burkhall Street, Summer Road, Green- vale Avenue and Pasteur Street.


b. 7 Hydrant locations established.


c. Survey and location plan of new well at Woodside Path.


d. Survey and set permanent stone bounds on Water Division land off Winter St.


e. Survey and plan for Water Works easement on Greenvale Ave.


279


4. Park Division


a. Plan and description of playground area off House Rock Road.


b. Survey and layout for backstops at the following playgrounds : Julia Road Playground Idlewell Park and Clapp Memorial.


c. Boundary lines established for fencing of the following: Julia Road Playground, Lake Street Beach and Beals Park.


5. Town Counsel


a. 3 descriptions of various tax title lands sold by the Town of Weymouth.


b. Plans and descriptions of the drainage easements in 14 different locations throughout the Town of Weymouth.


c. Lands taken as gift, by purchase or eminent domain.


(1) Plans and descriptions of widening and relocation of the following streets: Broad St., Front St., East St., Essex St. and North St.


(2) Land Court Plans and descriptions of the following parcels for school purposes:


(a) Senior High School Site (Cowing Meadow)


(b) Senior High School Site (Sprague & Fleming Property)


(c) Center School Site (4 parcels of widening of Hano- ver St.)


(3) Plan and description of land off House Rock Rd. for play- ground purposes.


(4) Plan and description of land off Lake St. for playground purposes.


6. School Department


a. Center School Site


Land Court plans for taking of 4 parcels for the widening and relocation of Hanover St.


b. Senior High School Site (Cowing Meadow)


(1) Survey and plan of Cemetery taking.


(2) Survey and plan of Ross property taking.


(3) Setting of additional bounds at request of Land Court.


(c) Senior High School Site (Sprague & Fleming Property) (1) Taking Plan and survey - setting bounds.


d. Boundary lines established for fencing of following locations: Nash School, Center School and Libby Field.


7. Police Department


a. Plan and survey of Thicket St. at Pond St. and Central St. at Pleasant St. Intersection.


b. Survey and plan for court case of accident on Washington St. at Main St.


8. Fire Department


a. Revise Town Map for Fire Alarm System.


9. Assessors' Department


a. Approximately 1300 Transfer cards typed from photostats re- ceived from Registry.


280


b. Field survey and location of approximately 160 houses and ap- proximately 400 garages and/or additions to present structures.


c. New structures located on Town Maps.


d. Preparation of Assessors Maps through January 1. 1958.


10. Planning Board


a. Plans for Special Town Meeting for proposed rezoning of a por- tion of Broad Street and Vine Street.


b. Technical planning and inspection of subdivisions and plans for approval.


11. Building Inspector


a. Sill elevations and plot plans approved for approximately 160 new structures.


D. Summary


1. 1958 Road Construction


a. Town of Weymouth Roadbuilding Program


(1) Evans Street 0.626 Miles


(2) Broad Street 0.454


b. State - Chapter 90


(1) Commercial Street 0.644


c. Southeast Expressway


(1) Summer Street


0.123


(2) Front Street


0.118


(3) Main Street 0,549


(4) Middle Street


0.189


(5) Pleasant Street


0.237


(6) Pine Street 0.095


Total


3.035 Miles


2. 1958 Drainage Program


Under the Town of Weymouth Drainage Program and the Highway Program the drainage installation consisted of 9,740 feet of pipe, 294 feet of reinforced concrete box culverts and 785 feet of channel work.


E. Planning for Future Work


During the Fall and through December of 1958 the division con- centrated on the necessary survey, layout and design for the tentative road and drainage programs for 1959.


1. Road Program


a. Front Street from Washington St. to Summer St.


b. Broad Street from Foye Ave. to Spring St.


c. East Street from Green St. to Norton St.


d. Green Street from Sunrise Drive to Shaw St.


e. Wessagussett Road from North St. to Pilgrim Rd.


2. Drainage Program


a. Trunk Line from Weymouth Back River to Lower Square.


b. Mill River from Whipple St. to Front St.


281


I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to the Board of Public Works, Board of Selectmen, members of the Engineer- ing Division and all town officials and town employees for the wonderful and helpful co-operation extended to this division during the past year.


Respectfully submitted, FRANK S. LAGROTTERIA


Town Engineer


(c) PROPOSED 1959 BUDGET ENGINEERING DIVISION


$38,544.50


I Personnel


II Consulting Fee


$2,500.00


III Supplies (Office & Field) 2,610.00


IV Assessors Plans


1,500.00


V Misc. Operating Expenses 900.00


7,510.60


TOTAL ITEMS II thru V


Total, Engineering Division Proposed Budget 1959


$46,054.50


III PARK DIVISION


(a) At the March Town Meeting 1958, a combined budget for both Park Maintenance and Recreation was voted as one. This neces- sitated a breaking down of over-lapping items and defining dutics such as purchasing of recreational equipment, recreational serv- vices, maintenance and/or construction.


In that the preparation of the recreational season commences early spring and at this time Public Works was in the process of organization, the program suffered a late start.


The full season gave this division a good insight into the two responsiblities; namely, caretaking of the town parks, playgrounds and greens, policing trash, constantly repairing vandalism, cut- ting the lawns and pruning shrubbery, and setting up the various recreational facilities at the two beaches and various playgrounds.


It is apparent through the one cycle that many facilities have been added and no additional labor considered. Since 1957. the Clapp Memorial Playground, the Idlewell Playground, the Julia Road Playground, the Birches Playground, the Pilgrim Road Playground, the two Lake Street Playgrounds have been, or will be included in the maintenance duties.


Under the direction of the Public Works, the Park Division has constructed sizeable shrubbed greens on Evans Street, Acad- emy Avenue and Broad Street and has refurbished a small green on Aster Circle. Several other locations are in the planning stage. These decorative greens tend to lend a desirable beauty to the town in general.


With the eventual expansion of the Wessagussett Beach bathing facilities planned for 1959 and the above-mentioned


282


items, it is evident that an increase is necessary in the Park Maintenance or Recreational Department.


It is the recommendation of this office that for the year 1959, the Park personnel be maintained at the present level and that the Recreational Commission employ 3 temporary semi-skilled laborers from May to October. It would also be necessary for them to rent a one-half ton pickup truck or similar vehicle for this same period. This crew and the expense of the vehicle would be on the Recreation Budget only during the operational pericd of the Summer program.


(b) Following is an informational list of Parks and Playgrounds maintained by the Park Division:


Beals Park 3.4 Acres


Birches Playground (To develop 1959) 75


Bradfofrd Hall Park. 9.9


Clapp Memorial Playground (Added 1958) .5.5


Great Hill Park 26.5


Green Street Playground (Added 1958) 6.0


Idlewell Playground (Added 1958)


4.5


Lake St. Playground (To develop 1959)


.50


'Lovell Playground 14.5 to River


Negus Park 2.3


Pilgrim Rd. Playground (Added 1958, develop 1959)


Stella L. Tirrell Park 6.4


Webb Park 5.9


Weston Park 11.8


Total


104.55 Acres


Greens


Total


49


(c) Park Foreman's Report to Superintendent of Department of Pub- lic Works.


To: Superintendent of Public Works


Town of Weymouth, Mass.


Dear Sir:


The year 1958 with a rainfall over 20 inches has kept the Parks and Greens in good growth and color. It made more frequent cutting neces- sary and with the number, size, farspread locations and limited crew to work with, many duties had to be passed by.


New greens were constructed at Broad Street and Academy Avenue, and Evans Street. Greens in the Homestead section were planted and reseeded and the center strips on Century Road are now being maintained by this division.


Vandalism in the parks and beaches has kept the Division constantly repairing and replacing broken doors, door frames, windows, roofs, plumb- ing fixtures, park seats, benches swings, slides, etc. This year vandalism costs ran well into several thousand dollars.


Very truly yours, FRANK CRANDALL Park Division Foreman


283


(d) PROPOSED 1959 BUDGET PARK DIVISION


$28,656.40


I PERSONNEL


II GENERAL MAINTENANCE $7,300.00


3,000.00


III BUILDING MAINTENANCE


1,000.00


IV MISCELLANEOUS


TOTAL ITEMS II through IV


11,300.00


TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET $39,956.40


Remarks


Total 1958 Park Maintenance Budget


$41,384.00


Separate Item Julia Road Fence


1,300.00


$42,684.00


The proposed 1959 Budget does not include figures for completing Julia Road Playground fence, and fencing along town property at Brad- ford Hawes Park. It is recommended that a sum of money be carried in a Special Article for fencing in various locations.


IV SEWER DIVISION


(a) The 1958 Program for Sewer installation was committed in 1957. Detailed planning, design and survey had been accomplished and the 1958 Town Meeting appropriated the necessary funds for specific work.


The previous Commission had planned the program to include areas where sewer was available and that were hard pressed as far as sanitary conditions were concerned.


The Green Street Project had threefold reasoning: an area that had requested sewer through extreme need, having petitioned back in June 1955; the construction of the Green Street Elementary School; and the proposed reconstruction of Green Street in the Highway Program.


The Broad Street and Franklin Street project was in the 1957 Program. It was designed to pick up the area from Spring Street to King Avenue. Public Works reasoned that while this work was being done, the short distance from King Avenue to Foye Avenue and Spring Street to Essex Street should also be completed. This would clear Broad Street for re- construction from Foye Avenue to Broad Street Place. An extra work order was let out to the general contractor to accomplish this.


Another policy of Public Works is to construct all house laterals on a given street, if it is a primary highway. An additional sum of $20,000 was set up in a separate contract to make a 100% effort of tying in all the sewered streets included in the proposed Highway Program. This will be completed in advance of the roadwork. There will be more concentra- tion each year on particular sewers.


Public Works intends to press the South Weymouth Trunk through to Hollis and Randolph Streets in 1959, making sewer available to this entire section of town. It will be necessary to give serious thought to the new high school site and have sewer available to the area in time. The Trunk Sewer will be pressed out of Lovell Playground into the Lower and Jackson Square areas.


Density of population, soil conditions, water table conditions, sani- tary and health conditions, and the economic feasibility of construction in all areas have to be weighed and analyzed.


284


The Sewer Program, more so than any other program, demands moral and unbiased thinking on the part of the authority planning the policy.


(b) Report of Sewer Superintendent to Superintendent of Public Works.


To the Superintendent of Public Works


Town of Weymouth


I submit herewith the eleventh annual report of the Sewer Division, the first under the Public Works organization.


As of October 31, 1958, approximately three miles of trunk and lateral sewers were installed. Also included under the contracts was the installa- tion of approximately 3,000 linear feet of house connections to the side line of streets.




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