USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1962 > Part 9
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Mr. Ralph Drew moved that the Town raise and appro- priate $407,800.00 for the purpose of defraying such part of the development, acquisition and operating costs of the Sum- mer Street-High Street Urban Renewal Project, No. Mass. R-26 in the Town as will not be met by definitive loans, con- tributions or grants from the Federal Government, and that to meet such appropriation $7,800 be raised from available funds in the Treasury and the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen and Emergency Finance Board, be authorized to borrow $400,000 under Section 26 CC of Chapter 121 of the General Laws, as amended, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor.
Mr. Howard Barnes moved that Article 2 be voted on by ballot vote, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Clifford Sampson moved that Article 2 be voted on by a show of hands and the motion was carried.
Voting by a show of hands, 170 in the affirmative, 1 in the negative, it was so voted.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate from available funds, the sum of $2,175.00 for the purchase of a tree-stumping machine for the Tree Warden's Department.
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate from avail- able funds, the sum of $2,175 for the purchase of a tree- stumping machine for the Tree Warden's Department, this purchase to be put out to bid.
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Article 4. To see if the Town will vote, in order to clar. ify the intent of the 1950 amendment, to amend the first sen- tence of paragraph ten of the Advisory and Finance Com- mittee By-Laws, by adding, after the words "personal services," the words "other than labor payrolls," and by adding after the words "other expenses," the words "includ- ing labor payrolls," so that the whole sentence shall read: "The report of the Committee to the annual Town Meeting shall be in print and shall contain a list of the regular annual departmental budget recommendations, subdivided to what- ever extent seems advisable to the Committee for vote by the Town, provided that salaries and personal services, other than labor payrolls, shall be segregated from other expenses includ- ing labor payrolls, that any contemplated outlay for depart- mental equipment in the amount of $400 to $1,000 shall be set forth in the list of appropriations and subject to a separate vote, and that any contemplated outlay for new equipment in the excess of $1,000 shall be voted upon under a separate article."
Mr. Charles Sanderson moved that the Town take no action under Article 4.
Mr. James Frazier moved to amend Mr. Sanderson's mo- tion by substituting the following: That the Town amend the first sentence of paragraph ten of the Advisory and Finance Committee By-Laws, by adding, after the words "personal services," the words "other than labor payrolls." and by add- ing, after the words "other expenses," the words "including labor payrolls," so that the whole sentence shall read:
"The report of the Committee to the annual Town Meeting shall be in print and shall contain a list of the regular annual departmental budget recommendations, subdivided to what- ever extent seems advisable to the Committee for vote by the Town, provided that Salaries and personal services, other than labor payrolls, shall be segregated from other expenses including labor payrolls, that any contemplated outlay for departmental equipment in the amount of $400 to $1,000 shall be set forth in the list of appropriations and subject to a separate vote, and that any contemplated outlay for new equipment in excess of $1,000 shall be voted upon under a separate article." The motion was lost.
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The original motion was put before the Meeting and was carried.
Article 5. To see what amount the Town will vote to raise and appropriate from available funds to purchase and equip one vehicle for the Health Department and trade in one 1958 Plymouth Station Wagon.
Mr. Charles Sanderson moved that the Town raise and appropriate from available funds the sum of $2,500 to pur- chase and equip one 4-wheel drive vehicle for the Health Department and trade in one 1958 Plymouth Station Wagon.
Mr. Paul Withington moved to amend Mr. Sanderson's motion by substituting the following: That the Town raise and appropriate from available funds the sum of $2,000 to purchase and equip one vehicle for the Health Department and trade in one 1958 Plymouth Station Wagon, it was so voted.
The original motion, as amended, was carried.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate from available funds the sum of $300.00 to be added to the Truck Allowance item in the General Adminis- tration Account of the budget of the Plymouth Park Depart- ment.
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 6.
Mr. John Ryan moved that the Meeting be adjourned at 10: 45 p.m., and it was so voted.
Total Appropriations $411,975.00 Less Article 2 - Redevelopment Bond Issue 400,000.00
Excess and Deficiency $11,975.00
M. HERBERT CRAIG Town Clerk
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Special Town Meeting, September 6, 1962 8:30 p.m. Meeting
The Special Town Meeting was called to order by the Moderator, George A. White at 10:46 o'clock p.m., and de- clared a quorum present.
Article 1. To see what amount the Town will vote to raise and appropriate from available funds to install a drain- age system in Nook Road from South Street to Sandwich Street.
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate from avail- able funds the sum of $35,115.00 to install a drainage system in Nook Road from South Street to Sandwich Street and this work to be put out to bid, by the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. John Ryan moved to adjourn at 10:55 o'clock p.m., and it was so voted.
Excess and Deficiency $35,115.00 M. HERBERT CRAIG Town Clerk
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STATE ELECTION, November 6, 1962 QUESTION NO. 3
A. Shall licenses be granted in this town for the sale therein of all alcoholic beverages (whisky, rum, gin, and malt beverages, wines and all other alcoholic beverages) ?
B. Shall licenses be granted in this town for the sale therein of wines and malt beverages (wines and beer, ale and all other malt beverages) ?
C. Shall licenses be granted in this town for the sale therein of all alcoholic beverages in packages, so-called, not to be drunk on the premises?
PRECINCT
Question
No. 3
1
2
3
4
5
Total 4563
A. YES
1162
703
825
1304
569
NO
112
111
195
353
192
963
BLANKS
B. YES
1037
634
723
1176
515
4085
NO
95
95
184
311
165
850
C. YES
1016
625
733
1178
522
4074
NO
87
95
172
291
150
795
BLANKS
1048
593
804
1081
590
4116
Total Vote
6482
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Special Town Meeting, December 18, 1962
The Special Town Meeting was called to order by the Moderator, George A. White, at 7:45 o'clock p.m.
The number of Town Meeting Members present, as re- ported by records of the checkers, was 145. The Moderator declared a quorum present.
Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sum of money for the purpose of constructing and equipping a six-room addition with auxiliary facilities to the Manomet Elementary School, Point Road, and to determine whether the money shall be provided for by taxation, by borrowing, by appropriation from the Post-War Rehabilitation Fund, by Sale of Real Estate Fund, by Stabilization Fund, and take any action relative thereto.
Voted: (Unanimously) That the sum of $268,000 be ap- propriated for the purpose of constructing and equipping a six classroom addition with auxiliary facilities to the Mano- met Elementary School in accordance with the plans sub- mitted by the Manomet Building Committee, that to meet said appropriation, the sum of $1,555.29 be appropriated from the Post War Rehabilitation Fund, the sum of $2,600.00 from the Sale of Real Estate Fund and the sum of $263,844.71 be appropriated from the balance contained in the Stabilization Fund on December 31, 1961. The Manomet Building Commit- tee, appointed under Article 31 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1962, is hereby constituted the Building Committee for this project. Said Committee is hereby authorized to expend funds appropriated for the aforesaid purposes.
Article 2. To see what action the Town will take on the report and recommendations of the Sewage Disposal Com- mittee which was authorized by Article 54 of the March, 1959 Annual Town Meeting and make an appropriation therefor; also will the Town authorize an application for Federal and State Funds therefor.
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Dr. John E. Gilmore, Chairman of the Sewage Disposal Committee, read the report of the Committee and explained certain details of the report.
Mr. William J. Harrington submitted Article two in a breakdown of six separate items, each item voted on separ- ately.
Item 1. Voted: That the Town accept the final report of the Sewage Disposal Committee of December 18, 1962 and include it in the proceedings of the Special Town Meeting of December 18, 1962.
Item 2. Voted: By ballot vote, 73 voting in the affirma- tive, 63 voting in the negative, that the Town accept the loca- tion of the sewage disposal plant at the so-called Lothrop Street site, at the northerly end of the Town-owned "Town Wharf Lot."
Item 3. Mr. William Harrington moved that the Town adopt a method of sewage disposal based on the so-called "extended aeration activated sludge" process and recommend that the necessary interceptors, force mains and pumping stations be designed to enable the closing of the present sew- er outfalls at Robbins Road, Town Wharf, State Pier, Winter Street and Holmes Point.
Mr. James T. Frazier moved to amend the motion of Mr. Harrington by including the two outfalls opposite The Cor- dage Company and the one at Hedge Road to those recom- mended by the Sewage Disposal Committee, and it was so voted.
Mr. William Harrington's original motion, as amended, was put before the meeting and carried.
Item 4. Voted: That the Selectmen be authorized to apply for such Federal and State funds as may now be avail- able, or may become available, as loans or grants-in-aid for detailed surveys, design engineering and the preparation of
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final drawings for a sewage disposal system in Plymouth Harbor as recommended to the Town and to assist the Town in the cost of construction of the recommended system.
Item 5. Voted: That the present Sewage Disposal Study Committee be discharged following the payment of their in- curred liabilities.
Item 6. Voted: That the Selectmen be directed to ap- point a Sewage Disposal Planning Committee, consisting of seven members, to proceed with the planning phase of this project and that the sum of $1,500.00 be appropriated for their use.
Article 3. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to purchase for public purposes, including off-street parking, the land and/or building thereon of the First Na- tional Stores, so-called, on North and Brewster Streets shown as Lots 2, 3, 13A, 17, 18 and 19 of Plat 20 of the Assessors' Plans and to determine whether the Town will appropriate money therefor from available funds in the Treasury, includ- ing parking meter receipts; or by borrowing under Chapter 44 of the General Laws, as amended, or take any action relative thereto.
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 3.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate or transfer from available funds, the sum of $685 for election expenses; said appropriation to be expended by the Board of Registrars.
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 4.
Total Appropriations $269,500.00
Less Article 1 - Post War Rehabilitation 1,555.29
Sale of Real Estate Fund 2,600.00
Stabilization Fund 263,844.71
$1,500.00 M. HERBERT CRAIG Town Clerk
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FINAL REPORT OF THE 1959 COMMITTEE TO STUDY SEWAGE DISPOSAL
December 18, 1962
To the Voters of the Town of Plymouth:
On December 30th of the year 1958 our Selectmen re- ceived a letter from the Massachusetts State Department of Public Health which was quite out of tune with the usual line of Season's Greetings. It contained a warning against further postponement by the Town in eliminating the dis- charge of raw sewage into the harbor. This question had been studied by Special Committees in 1930 and again in 1950 but it has never been referred to the voters of the Town for a decision.
The pertinent passages from the letter were as follows:
"The Department is of the opinion that the time has come for the Town of Plymouth to take positive action to alleviate the pollution of Plymouth Harbor. To this end the Department recommends that appropriate articles be inserted in the warrant of the forthcoming annual town meeting to retain consulting engineering services to review existing plans and bring the same up to date
"Considerations should be given to the need for special legislative authority to finance and construct the needed facil- ities. The department would call your attention to the pres- ent availability of Federal grants-in-aid to the extent of 30% or $250,000, whichever is the lesser, for construction purposes."
"Unless positive action is taken by the Town of Plymouth in these directions the Department of Public Health will consider referring the matter to the Director of the Divisions of Accounts and the Attorney General for appropriate action."
Under Public Law 660, the grants-in-aid referred to in the above quotation have now been increased to 30% of the
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costs or $600,000, whichever is the lesser. It is important to note that such Federal funds are available only if treatment facilities are planned which remove substantially all settle- able solids.
VOTE - BY THE TOWN
Accordingly, the Selectmen included Article 54 in the warrant of the March 1959 Annual Town Meeting. The meeting voted "That the Town authorize the moderator to appoint a commitete of seven to review the 1950 Report of Metcalf & Eddy on sewage disposal problem, said committee to report to the Town with their recommendations at the next annual or special Town meeting, and to appropriate the sum of $1,500 to defray the engineering expenses relative to the review." (Page 65 - 1959 Town Report)
COMMITTEE
This sewage disposal study committee was appointed by the Moderator, Honorable Amedeo V. Sgarzi, on July 24, 1959. It held its first meeting on September 17, 1959 and organized at its fourth meeting on November 19, 1959 with Dr. John E. Gilmore as Chairman and Raymond E. Miskelly as Secretary. Three of the seven members (Howard P. Barnes, Anthony V. Caramello, and Everett Malaguti) had served on the similar study committee of 1950. The two officers and William J. Harrington and John A. Thom were new to the subject.
CONTACT WITH STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
In the meantime, Mr. Worthen H. Taylor, Chief Sanitary Engineer of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, attended a meeting on January 14, 1959 with the Selectmen at their request so as to amplify the directive as of December 30, 1958. He stated that the plan suggested in 1950 would not now be acceptable nor would it qualify for Federal grants. Mr. Taylor also came to a second meeting with the new Sewage Disposal Committee on October 29, 1959. Under dis- cussion at this meeting were the peculiar conditions at Plym-
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outh Harbor which might effect the decision as to whether the eight free flowing outfalls of untreated sewage really cause a public health hazard. A series of pertinent questions were asked by the members of the committee of Mr. Taylor. In summation these questions reduced to a question as to whether a public health hazard existed and whether the need for sewage treatment was definite. Mr. Taylor suggest- ed that the committee retain an independent consultant to give the answers to these questions.
SERVICES OF ELIASSEN ASSOCIATES
At the committee meeting of February 18, 1960 it was voted to engage the services of the Rolf Eliassen Associates of Winchester, Mass. Dr. Eliassen at that time was Professor of Sanitary Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was felt by the committee that he could give an honest independent opinion and that he would represent as outstanding an authority as the Town could engage for such an opinion.
The Eliassen Associates made an interim report to the committee in June 1960 and a final report in April 1961.
The conclusions of the Eliassen Report were as follows:
"1. Plymouth Harbor is polluted to such an extent as to constitute a potential health hazard.
2. Since the Department of Public Health has the legal authority to enforce sewage treatment in the Town of Plym- outh, cooperation would be more expedient in the long run than resistance to their orders.
3. Alternate and less expensive methods of collection and disposal of sewage than those proposed in 1950 should be investigated.
4. A consulting engineering firm should be engaged to prepare a detailed engineering and economic study of the alternative methods of treatment suggested in this report.
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5. The Town should proceed with the construction of the most economical and acceptable method of collection and disposal of sewage from the sewered areas of Plymouth in order to control the pollution of Plymoufth Harbor."
The new method of sewage treatment favored and rec- ommended by the Eliassen Associates is called the "Extended Aeration Activated Sludge System." They stated that this would be more economical to install and to operate as well as being a much more efficient method of treatment than the primary treatment plants recommended in 1950. They also advised that another advantage is that the plant is odorless, as far as sewage odor was concerned.
The Eliassen Associates also contacted the United States Army Engineers in relation to the proposed breakwater proj- ect planned by the Army in the harbor at Plymouth. The conclusion was reached that the breakwater would not alter the conditions in the harbor in respect to the discharge of raw sewage. It was felt that a treatment method would be necessary to alleviate the condition.
Dr. Eliassen, in a letter of June 27, 1961, informed the committee that he had consulted with the United States Pub- lic Health Service apropos to our problem and that they agreed that an extended aeration activated sludge method would be acceptable to that Department.
REPORT TO TOWN - 1962
The Sewage Disposal Committee submitted the findings of the Rolf Eliassen Associates to the March 1962 Town Meeting. It was voted that the Sewage Committee continue its study and that it engage the services of consulting engin- eers to review the Rolf Eliassen Report and do the detail studies necessary for the recommendation of the type and number of interceptors, pumping stations, and treatment plant. The town meeting appropriated the sum of $1500 for this purpose.
6
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METCALF & EDDY REPORT
Accordingly, our Committee engaged the services of Met- calf & Eddy, Engineers of Boston, Mass., for this purpose, and work was commenced on June 15, 1962.
The Metcalf & Eddy Report of November 23, 1962 con- tains conclusions and recommendations as to the sewage flow in the Town of Plymouth, the method of treatment of this sewage, the sites for a treatment plant and the estimated cost of construction and annual maintenance.
The important conclusions and recommendations of the Metcalf & Eddy Report are as follows:
1.) Sewage Flows
Sewage flows, not including stormwater, may be expected to average 90 gallons per capita per day at the present time and 100 gallons per capita per day in the year 2000. The present population served by the sewer systems extending from Cordage on the north to Holmes Point on the south numbers approximately 9,500 persons, of which approximate- ly 1,800 persons are served by the Cordage and Hedge Road systems. Peak flows are greatly increased by stormwater in- troduced through several catchbasins, and an unknown num- ber of roof and yard drains connected to the sanitary sewer system.
Metcalf & Eddy recommend that the sewage treatment plant be designed to handle an average daily flow of 1.5 mgd. and a peak flow of 5.0 mgd .; that the intercepting system be designed to carry peak flows, including all sanitary and pres- ently connected storm flows, to a proposed pumping station northerly of Town Wharf; and that at times of storm flows greater than 5 mgd. the excess be screened and discharged to the harbor at such a pumping station and at the sewage treatment plant. Furthermore, they recommend that flows from the Cordage and Hedge Road sewers be excluded in the initial project but that allowances be made for their future connection, and that provision be made to completely exclude street and roof drainage water from the sewer system.
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2.) Method of Treatment
Of the methods of treatment reviewed, that is, disposal through a deep sea outfall, primary treatment followed by disposal to Plymouth Harbor and treatment by the extended aeration activated sludge process followed by disposal to Plymouth Harbor; the latter offers the most satisfactory solution.
Metcalf & Eddy recommend that treatment consisting of extended aeration, chlorination, and discharge to Plymouth Harbor be adopted for Plymouth sewage. The sewage treat- ment plant would consist of screens, grit removal facilities, aeration tanks, final settling tanks, a sludge re-aeration tank, chlorination facilities including a chlorine contact tank, and an outfall sewer to a natural channel within the harbor. A sludge drying bed would be included for drying the small amount of activated sludge which would need to be removed from the final settling tanks for best results. Screenings and grit would be hauled away and either buried or burned.
3.) Plant Location
The three sites investigated, namely Robbins Road, Holmes Point and Lothrop Street offer suitable locations, from an engineering evaluation, for the recommended sew- age treatment plant. Of these, the Lothrop Street site be- cause of its central location and direct accessibility would be the least expensive to construct and for this season it is the preferred location for the recommended plant.
4.) Estimated Costs
The estimated total costs and average annual costs to the Town for each of the plans are as follows:
Federal Grant
Location of
Treatment Plant
Gross Cost
30% or $600,000
Net Cost to Plymouth
Annual Costs
Robbins Road
$1,994,000
$598,000
$1,396,000
$137,600
Holmes Point
2,072,000
$600,000
1,472,000
138,200
Lothrop Street
1,949,000
585,000
1,364,000
133,600
(Land Costs are not included)
4
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The total costs consist of the estimated initial construction cost plus allowances for contingencies and engineering less anticipated Federal Aid. The annual costs consist of the debt service on the total cost plus annual operation and main- tenance allowances.
CONSIDERATIONS
a.) Treatment Method - The extended aeration activat- ed sludge method for treating sewage, suggested first by the Eliassen Associates and recommended by Metcalf & Eddy, was developed since the study made by the 1950 Committee. While relatively new, it is recognized from many successful installations to be thoroughly satisfactory and an improve- ment over former methods.
The principal advantages of the recommended method are that primary settling is not required, the waste volume of sludge is reduced to a practical minimum, a high treat- ment efficiency is obtained at an economical cost, low main- tenance, and freedom from obnoxious odors.
The extended aeration activated sludge method is ap- proved by both the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the United States Department of Public Health.
b.) Plant Site - The Committee concurs with the Met- calf & Eddy recommendation that the Lothrop Street site is the best of the three sites determined as possibilities. The advantages of this site are as follows:
1.) Town Owned Land - This site has a definite advan- tage inasmuch as the Town already owns the land. Thus, the initial cost is lowered. The need for special State legislation and public hearings is also eliminated, whereas, the other sites would require these proceedings. The use of "eminent domain" procedures is not required with this site but might be necessary with the others.
2.) Accessibility - The fact that there is no limitation of access from Water Street to the site is of major benefit since
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the other sites are not served by roadways and are definitely isolated at this time. Special rights of way would have to be obtained in order to get into those sites.
3.) Central Location - The central location of the Loth- rop Street site would eliminate the necessity of maintaining the present outfalls in order to provide for overflow condi- tions during excessive storms. These conditions arise from the fact that storm water drainage enters the sewerage sys- tem. The outfall from the treatment plant at Lothrop Street would subsitute for these existing outfalls and they could be removed. They would have to remain with any other site.
4.) Cost - The costs for construction and maintenance at the Lothrop Street site are the lowest estimated.
5.) Appearance - The required tanks at the other sites would be about twenty feet above ground. The landscaping of the recommended site would be a definite improvement of the present appearance.
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