Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955, Part 10

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1951
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1262


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 10


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3,007.70


4 Expenses


200.00


560.32


Item


5


5 Town Accountant Salary-


Wages Expenses


1,100.00


1,000.00


6


100.00


174.88


7 8 9 10


Treasurer Salary-Wages Expenses


350.00


733.39


Tax Collector Salary-Wages Expenses


300.00


332.75


11 12 Expenses


300.00


197.72


13


Town Clerk Salary-Fees Expenses


200.00


241.00


15


Elections & Registrations, Salaries-Wages


780.00


1,466.95


16


Expenses


540.00


688.15


17 Total General Government ... $14,884.00


$14,615.36


Buildings and Grounds 2.2% of Total


18 Bldgs. & Grounds Salaries-


Wages


3,100.00


2,499.35


19 Expenses


5,525.00


4,087.11


20 Total Buildings and Grounds . $ 8,625.00 $ 6,586.46


Protection of Persons and Property 11.0% of Total


21


Police Salaries and Wages .... Expenses, including Cruiser operation and uniforms


13,418.00


11,174.90


23


.


6,180.00


5,458.45


24


Fire Dept. Salaries-Wages Expenses Fire Alarm System Salaries- Wages


3,820.00


1,285.48


26 Expenses


1,050.00


423.56


27


Fire Hydrant Rental


4,775.00


4,505.00


28


Sealer Wgts. & Measures Sala- ries-Wages


250.00


250.00


29


Expenses


50.00


33.73


1,100.00


1,000.00


1,800.00


1,800.00


Assessors' Salaries-Wages


3,750.00


2,772.25


550.00


550.00


14


22


2,550.00


2,313.36


25


4,343.00


3,590.01


6


30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Dog Officer


Moth Dept. Salaries-Wages .. Expenses


1,500.00


1,499.85


1,200.00


1,198.84


1,500.00


1,748.93


1,000.00


899.83


650.00


550.00


50.00


50.00


450.00


450.00


37 Total Protection $42,786.00


$35,431.94


Health and Sanitation 3.3% of Total


38 Board of Health Salaries-


Wages


$


50.00


$ 6,746.08


Expenses


225.00


4,060.72


Town and School Nurse Expenses


700.00


Board of Health Agent-Salary Expenses


450.00


Inspector, Milk & Food-Salary Expenses


150.00


250.00


-


Custodian-Town Dump-


Salary


1,850.00


Expenses


600.00


State Sanitorium


2,500.00


50 School Clinic


300.00


51 Substitute Nurse


200.00


52


Garbage Collection


2,250.00


2,200.00


53


Inspector of Animals


150.00


150.00


54 Expenses


25.00


12.20


55 Total Health and Sanitation .. $12,915.00


$13,169.00


Highways 8.6% of Total


56 Village Highways $ 3,000.00


$ 2,994.88


57 Chapt. 81 Highways


8,550.00


8,550.00


58 Chapt. 90 Highways


2,000.00


4,000.00


-


-


48 49 Medical Supplies


150.00


-


-


7


39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47


Tree Warden Salary-Wages Expenses Wire Inspector, Salary & Travel Expenses


2,865.00


200.00


59 Snow Removal


12,000.00


13,854.17


60 Traffic Signs-Lines


500.00


498.81


61 Granite Marker Restoration . .


500.00


62 Highway Vacations


700.00


63 Street Lighting


6,160.00


5,722.48


-


64 Total Highways $33,410.00


$35,620.34


Charities 13.7% of Total


65 Welfare District Administration Welfare Board Salaries $


950.00


$ 600.00


66


General Relief


3,000.00


3,640.17


67 Old-Age Assistance


41,000.00


41,000.00


68 Aid to Dependent Children


5,000.00


6,000.00


69 Disability Assistance


3,500.00


2,922.40


70 Total Charities $53,450.00


$54,162.57


Veterans' Aid 1.6% of Total


71 Veterans' Benefits Salary-


Wages


$ 150.00


$ 150.00


72


Expenses


150.00


112.00


73


Veterans' Benefits Expendi-


tures


5,000.00


4,892.00


74


Veterans' Services Salary


1,050.00


810.75


75 Expenses


50.00


42.12


76 Total Veterans' Aid


$6,400.00


$6,006.87


Education 43.2% of Total


77 Instruction


$115,170.00


-


78 Textbooks and Supplies 6,780.00


$ 5,986.24


79 Plant Operation $22,550.00


-


80 Maintenance 1,000.00


-


81 Auxiliary Agencies 11,520.00


-


8


-


Wages


-


82 General Control


8,700.00


83 Outlay


1,750.00


1,197.90


84 Contingency Fund Balance


500.00


-


131,815.86


85 £ Total Education $167,970.00


$139,000.00 (Appropriated)


Libraries .8% of Total


86


Libraries Salaries and Wages .


$1,600.00


$1,471.50


87


Expense


980.00


945.93


88 Books


600.00


400.00


89 Total Libraries


$3,180.00


$2,817.43


Recreation .5% of Total


90 Playgrounds-both fields


$1,500.00


$ 995.98


91 Skating Rink


500.00


-


92 Total Recreation


$2,000.00


$ 995.98


Cemeteries 2.8% of Total


93 Cemeteries Salaries - Wages


(inc. vacations)


$8,500.00


$7,300.00


94 Expenses


2,300.00


2,097.03


95 Total Cemeteries $10,800.00


$9,397.03


Unclassified 2.9% of Total


96 Town Reports


$1,100.00


$ 905.80


97 Workmen's Compensation


2,300.00


1,935.58


98 Surety Bonds


600.00


478.00


99 Town Counsel (Legal Services)


500.00


-


100 Fire Insurance-Town Bldgs. .


2,700.00


2,830.77


101 Memorial Day


500.00


499.75


102 Pension Fund


1,859.00


1,689.00


103 Pension Fund Expense


130.00


153.00


9


104 Military Service Fund


41.00


32.16


105 Miscellaneous


1,500.00


482.81


106 Total Unclassified $11,230.00 $9,006.87


Maturing Debt and Interest 5.6% of Total


107 Maturing Debt (Elem. and


High Schools)


$16,000.00


$1,000.00


108 Interest (Elem. and High


Schools)


5,875.00


90.00


109 Total Debt and Interest


$21,875.00


$1,090.00


110 Total Budget $399,655.00


$327,899.85


Article 5. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 for the payment of voca- tional tuition and transportation according to the provisions of Chapter 74 of the General Laws, or take any action thereon.


Approval is recommended.


Article 6. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the conduct of physical education and athletics by the School Department accord- ing to the provisions of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, or take any action thereon.


This is the same amount approved by the Town for 1952.


Article 7. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 to continue the Special School Lunch Account, according to the provisions of Chapter 417 of the Acts of 1950, or take any action thereon.


The amount requested is the same as appropriated in 1952.


Article 8. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for the installation of new


10


lighting fixtures in two rooms at the West School, or act anything thereon.


It is recommended that $1,000 be appropriated and trans- ferred from the Surplus Revenue account for the purpose indicated.


Article 9. To see if the town will vote to transfer the sum of $2,500.00 from the Machinery Fund to the Ma- chinery Account, or act anything thereon.


This is a routine bookkeeping transfer and should be approved.


Article 10. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $250.00 for the Tree Department for the replacement of shade trees, or act anything thereon.


Approval is recommended.


Article 11. To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the Surplus Revenue Account, the sum of $2,400.00 for the purchase of a Mist Blower for the Moth Department, or act anything thereon.


The Finance Committee favors this article in the expec- tation that acquisition of a Mist Blower would permit more efficient utilization of materials for dormant spray applica- tions, result in more effective spray coverage, reduce labor cost, and eliminate the necessity of purchasing an Hydraulic Sprayer which would otherwise be needed.


Article 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00, or any other sum, for the Tree Department for the eradication of poison ivy on the highways, streets and school grounds, or act anything thereon.


Approval is recommended. Appropriations for similar purposes in recent years have already resulted in effective


11


control of ivy and reduced highway brush ordinarily cut by hand.


Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00, or any other sum, for the control of Dutch Elm Disease in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 761 of the Acts of 1949, or act any- thing thereon.


Appropriation of such control purposes is mandatory by the State.


Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for thinning out of hard- wood trees in the Town Forest, or act anything thereon.


Approval is recommended. The State Forester considers that such work will reduce hazard of fire and also improve the quality of the present stand.


Article 15. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 to establish a special Water Safety Account for the support of the summer Water Safety Program which is jointly sponsored by the Red Cross and the School Department, or take any action thereon.


The Finance Committee believes that the costs of this program should be sustained by oustide subscription and should not become a responsibility of the taxpayers.


Article 16. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $900.00 for the purchase and erection of traffic zone speed signs on Main Street from Route 2A to the Carlisle Line; also on Concord Road from Main Street to Route 2A; and on Nagog Hill Road between Main Street and Concord Road, or act anything thereon.


The money requested is to complete the third of a four- year program and approval is recommended.


12


Article 17. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00 for Protection for Members of Volunteer Fire Companies covering loss of life, total dis- ability, weekly indemnity and medical expense coverage, or act anything thereon.


The Finance Committee considers that Fire Company personnel deserve the protection to be afforded under this article and favor its approval.


Article 18. To see if the town will vote to appropriate. from the Machinery Fund, the sum of $6,500.00 for the purchase of a truck for the Highway Department, or act. anything thereon.


Approval is recommended.


Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00, or some other sum, to be set aside as a Fire Apparatus Depreciation Fund, or act anything thereon.


Inasmuch as the Town will soon be faced with the neces- sity of replacing three major pieces of fire equipment, the Finance Committee favors the setting aside of funds which will shortly be required. It believes the amount requested should be transferred from Surplus Revenue and placed on deposit at interest until required.


Article 20. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 from the Cemetery Land Fund for the purpose of clearing, grading and laying out new sections for cemetery lots in Woodlawn Cemetery, and to authorize said Cemetery Commissioners to do anything necessary, proper and ex- pedient for carrying out the above purposes, or act anything thereon.


Approval is recommended.


13


-- ----


Article 21. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,000.00 for new construction of Main Street from Kelley's Corner to Acton Center; said money to be used in conjunction with $4,000.00 to be allotted by the County, and $8,000.00 to be allotted by the State, or act anything thereon.


This appropriation is to be utilized for further improving Route 27 and approval is recommended.


Article 22. To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the Surplus Revenue Account the amount of the State's and County's allotments for highways under Chapters 81 and 90; provided that the reimbursement be credited back to the Surplus Revenue Account, or act anything thereon.


Article 23. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,150.00, or any other sum, for the extension of the Fire Alarm System from Massachusetts Avenue up Charter Road to Hayward Road, then easterly along Hayward Road to the Rex factory; also for the pur- chase and installation of ten Fire Alarm Boxes on existing circuits, or act anything thereon.


Approval is recommended.


Article 24. To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the Surplus Revenue Account, the sum of $600.00, or any other sum, for the purchase of a new cruiser for the Police Department and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to trade-in or sell the old cruiser, or act anything thereon.


The Finance Committee favors the transfer of $600 from Surplus Revenue for this purpose which is in conformity with a sound replacement policy.


Article 25. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $600.00, or any other sum, for the painting of the exterior of the West Acton Fire House, or act anything thereon.


14


The transfer of $600 from Surplus Revenue is recom- mended.


Article 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,650.00, or any other sum, for the purchase of two or more radios and alternators for the Fire Department, or act anything thereon.


The transfer of $1,650 from Surplus Revenue for the radios and alternators is recommended.


Article 27. To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the Surplus Revenue Account, the sum of $1,000.00 for the purchase of an air compressor for the Cemetery Department and authorize the Cemetery Commissioners to trade-in or sell the old one, or act anything thereon.


Approval is recommended.


Article 28. To see if the town will vote under authority of Chapter 41, Section 81A of the General Laws, to establish a Planning Board to consist of not less than five members and not more than nine; the terms of office to be so arranged that the term of at least one member will expire each year, and their successors shall be elected for terms of five years each, or act anything thereon.


The Finance Committee considers that the establishment of a Planning Board would be advantageous to the Town.


Article 29. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to act as the Planning Board under Chapter 41, General Laws, Section 81A; until such time as an official Planning Board is elected at a subsequent annual meeting; or act anything thereon.


It is recommended that this article be approved.


15


Article 30. To see if the town will vote to amend Section two (2) of the Town By-Laws by adding the following articles, or act anything thereon.


Article 11. Every way that shall be laid out for the acceptance of the town as a town way, shall be laid out forty feet or more in width, with twenty-four feet or more of approved road building materials that shall meet the requirements of the Planning Board.


Article 12. If an existing private way shall be laid out for the acceptance of the town as a town way, such way shall not be accepted unless and until the Planning Board shall have certified in writing that such way meets the requirements of Article 11.


The Finance Committee believes it to be to the best in- terest of the Town that the by-laws be amended as requested under this article.


Article 31. To see if the town will vote to accept as a town way, the laying out by the Board of Selectmen, of the remainder of Orchard Drive extending in a northerly direc- tion a distance of approximately 675 feet by land of Mercier, Jackson, Nash, Thiebold, Lund, Benson, and others, a plan of which is filed in the office of the town clerk; said way to be named Orchard Drive, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for surfacing the same, or act anything thereon. (Inserted in warrant on petition bearing eleven (11) signatures.)


Inasmuch as there is no present provision for the pro- posed betterments being assessed against the owners, the Finance Committee does not favor acceptance of this article unless the abutting owners assume their proportionate share of the entire costs, including surfacing, of laying out the way in accordance with the requirements set forth in the proposed amendment to Section 2 of the Town By-Laws as described under Article 30 above.


16


Article 32. To see if the town will vote to accept as a town way, the laying out by the Board of Selectmen of a road in South Acton, extending in an easterly direction from Piper Road, a distance of approximately 725 feet by land of Ringland, Gale, Hickey, Pond, Stevens and others, a plan of which is filed in the office of the town clerk; said way to be named Lilac Court, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $900.00 for surfacing the same, or act anything thereon. (Inserted in warrant on petition bearing eleven (11) signatures.)


The recommendation is the same as made under the preceding article.


Article 33. To see if the town will vote to accept as a town way, the laying out by the Board of Selectmen of a rcad in West Acton, extending in an easterly and northerly direction from Central Street, a distance of approximately 1250 feet by land of Doyle, Modica, Grancey, Sinnett, Howe, Sisson, and others, a plan of which is on file in the office of the town clerk; said way to be named Mohawk Drive, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 for surfacing the same, or act anything thereon. (Inserted in warrant on petition bearing eleven (11) signatures.)


The recommendation is the same as made under Article 31


Article 34. To see if the town will vote to amend Section Two (2) cf the Town By-Laws by adding the following article thereto:


Article 13. All regular and permanent employees of the several departments of the Town shall be granted vacations without loss of pay and the Board of Select- men may grant sick leaves and additional days off to said regular and permanent employees without loss of pay, in accordance with Section 21A of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, inserted by Section 5 of Chapter 798


17


of the Acts of 1951. or act anything thereon.


This amendment, extending benefits previously granted to other employees, is recommended for approval.


Article 35. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 to pay the cost of effecting insurance providing indemnity for or protection to any officer or employee of the Town against loss by reason of his liability to pay damages to others for bodily injuries, including death at any time resulting therefrom, or for damage to property, caused by operation, within the scope of his official duties as provided by the provisions of General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 40, Section 5, Subsection 1, as amended, or act any- thing thereon.


Approval is recommended.


Article 36. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 for the purchase of a spreader body for sanding highways, or act anything thereon.


Transfer of $1,500 from Surplus Revenue for this pur- pose is recommended.


Article 37. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for survey work in con- nection with surface drainage on parts of Central Street; School Street, West Acton; and Arlington Street, or act anything thereon.


Approval is recommended.


Article 38. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the printing of the Zoning Code and maps for the Zoning Committee, or act anything thereon.


Approval is recommended.


18


Article 39. To see if the town will vote to appoint a committee of five members to be appointed by the moderator, Chairman of the Finance Board, and Chairman of the School Committee to investigate and recommend additional school facilities and report to the next special or regular town meeting, or act anything thereon.


No recommendation is considered necessary.


Article 40. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00, or any other sum, to be expended under the direction of the committee appointed under Article 39, or act anything thereon.


In view of the considerable number of recent school surveys and reports already paid for by the Town, the Finance Committee believes that further appropriations for such purposes are unwarranted at the present time.


Article 41. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of $150,000.00, the gift from the Trustees of the Blanchard Foundation, for the purpose of constructing a combined auditorium and gymnasium, said building to be known as "The Blanchard Auditorium", to be built on land already acquired by the town on the northeast corner of Mass. Avenue and Charter Road, or take any action in relation thereto.


It is recommended that this article receive favorable action.


Article 42. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of constructing a combined auditorium and gymnasium and for originally equipping and furnishing said auditorium, said building to be known as "The Blanchard Auditorium"; determine whether the money shall be provided for by transfer from available funds and by borrowing under authority of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1948, as amended, and by appropriation of a gift of $150,000.00


19


from the Trustees of the Blanchard Foundation, or take any action in relation thereto.


The Finance Committee does not favor this article and believes that its recommendation under the preceding article is sufficient at the present time.


Article 43. To see if the town will authorize the audi- torium and gymnasium building committee to exercise full power to bind the town in all manner of contracts and agree- ments necessary for the construction, equipment and furn- ishing of The Blanchard Auditorium, or take any action thereto.


It is recommended that the Auditorium and Gymnasium Building Committee be authorized as requested within the appropriation of $150,000 provided for in Article 41 above.


Article 44. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the following sums of money for unpaid bills as follows:


$455.60 for Old Age Assistance for the year 1951 58.90 for General Relief for the year 1951


144.50 for Fees for the Town Clerk for the year 1952


44.23 for Expenses of the Town Clerk for the year 1952


50.00 for Town Clerk as Clerk of Registrars for the year 1952


$753.23


or act anything thereon.


Payment of these bills from the 1953 tax levy is recommended.


Article 45. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000.00 as a Reserve Fund, or act anything thereon.


20


It is recommended that $3,000 be raised and appropriated and $3,000 be transfered from Surplus Revenue to be used as a Reserve Fund.


And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof seven days at least before the time of said meeting as directed by vote of the town.


Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the town clerk at or before the time of meeting as aforesaid.


Given under our hands at Acton this ninth day of February, 1953.


LAWRENCE DONNELLY GEORGE S. BRAMAN ARTHUR W. LEE


Selectmen of Acton


A true copy.


Attest : MICHAEL E. FOLEY,


Constable of Acton.


21


ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF A SPECIAL TOWN MEETING HELD JANUARY 21, 1952


Article 1. To hear and accept the report of the Special School Building Committee, or act anything thereon.


Report of the Special School Building Committee


SUBMITTED JANUARY 21, 1952


This report is submitted to the Town of Acton in the belief that it provides a reasonable solution to our school housing problems at a minimum cost to the town.


In accordance with Article 48 of the annual town meet- ing of March 12, 1951, this committee retained Educational Service Associates of Medford to make a school population survey of Acton. It was hoped that this study would substan- tiate the population estimates made by this committee in the autumn of 1950, thereby enabling the town to secure state assistance in the construction of a local high school.


The results, however, indicated that the probable popu- lation of a four year high school would average 294 or 39 less than the average 333, estimated by this committee for the 4 year period, September 1960 to June 1964, inclusive.


Representatives of the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commission have stated that Acton can expect no state aid for a local High School on the basis of these figures.


The survey report came to a number of conclusions dealing with the relation of their population study and the development of the regional school system. One of which is quoted herewith as in it your committee sees real common sense. "#7 Acton should not take any action which will commit the Town to a policy contrary to regionalization." To this conclusion your committee, for the present, subscribes.


22


The Educational Service Associates made two recom- mendations which are pertinent to the present stage of development of the Acton School system.


They recommend that Acton participate in the develop- ment of a regional high school district with neighboring communities. In their report they admitted that for the present this plan could not be carried out, so they put greater priority on a recommendation for "Acton to build an eight room unit adjacent to or integrated with the present high school building and use it to house elementary grades."


Your committee feels that this latter recommendation made the basis of real progress in that it would alleviate pressure where it has been felt first, in the elementary grades; yet it does not commit the town to a policy contrary to regionalization. An eight room unit would relieve the situ- ation only until September of 1953 which is the earliest date upon which you could expect the building to be ready for occupancy.


In a recent meeting with the Massachusetts School Build- ing Assistance Commission this fact was pointed out, and the administrator for the Commission stated that if justifica- tion could be shown for additional classrooms, he would recommend to the commissioners that state aid be granted for the new unit if it were to house only elementary grades.


Acton's long range school plans should comprise two major steps; (1) the construction of an elementary school of sufficient size to relieve present over-crowded conditions; and (2) the construction of a new High School, either Regional or Local. Simultaneously the town should convert the present High School into a grade school and close the village schools.




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