USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 42
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5. Committee decided to submit revised proposal for approval of voters of both towns at Town Meetings to be called in the fall.
6. Littleton on October 4, for second time, voted to disapprove the Bond Issue presented for $1,236,000.
The work of the committee for the balance of the year has consisted of winding up its affairs preparatory to the eventual submission of an appropriate withdrawal amend- ment by the Town of Littleton.
The committee wishes to take this opportunity to thank all town officials and members of the School Boards and Fi- nance Committees of both towns for their help and support in this effort to provide a better High School jointly for our towns.
It is hoped that the decisions which have been made in regard to this problem will prove to be in the best common interest of all concerned.
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Herewith is a copy of the Treasurer's Report.
AARON MARCUS, Chairman WARREN HANSON DANA HARDY ELIZABETH BOARDMAN ROGER CRAFTS DANA HINCKLEY
NAGOG REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Treasurer's Report
Balance January 1, 1954 $39,588.10
Receipts January 1 to December 31, 1954 : Inçome on investment in United
States Treasury Bills
206.50
$39,794.60
Payments January 1 to December 31, 1954 : $16,921.03
Balance December 31, 1954:
The National Shawmut Bank of
Boston
22,873.57
$39.794.60
Schedule of Payments
Payments :
January 1 to December 31, 1954 :
Architect
$12,054.00
Contour survey
425.00
Educational consultants
1,200.00
Legal
1,390.00
Office equipment and supplies 444.18
Office rent.
229.00
198
1
Salaries
235.40
Telephone
113.65
Treasurer's bond
30.00
Miscellaneous
799.80
$16,921.03
PRISCILLA FELT
District Treasurer
Auditor's Report
Nagog Regional District School Committee
Acton
Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the Nagog Regional School District for the period from April 3, 1953 to October 6, 1954, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. William Schwartz, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours,
HERMAN B. DINE
Director of Accounts
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PROTECTIVE ZONING BY-LAW OF THE TOWN OF ACTON
Special Town Meeting December 16, 1953 at 7:30 o'clock P.M.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to adopt, amend and adopt or reject the proposed Zoning By-Laws of the Town of Acton as filed in the office of the Town Clerk and printed in pamphlet form and distributed to the residents of Acton, or act anything thereon.
Motion: That the proposed Protective Zoning By-Laws of the Town of Acton, dated November 3, 1953, prepared by the Acton Zoning Committee appointed in accordance with the vote of the annual Town Meeting of March, 1951, presented to a legally advertised public hearing on Monday, April 13, 1953, approved unanimously, after minor amendments, on May 21, 1953, by the Acton Zoning Committee, submitted to the Selectmen, acting as the Town Planning Board on May 25, 1953, filed with the Town Clerk, and distributed to the resi- dents of Acton with the Warrant calling for this Town Meet- ing, December 16, 1953, be adopted.
Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton
Preamble
For the purpose of promoting in the Town of Acton the health, safety, convenience and welfare of its inhabitants, to lessen the dangers from fire, congestion and confusion and to encourage the most appropriate use of land in the Town, this protective By-Law is enacted.
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SECTION I Continued Non-Conforming Use of Land and Buildings and Temporary Uses
Nothing in this By-Law shall prohibit the continued law- ful use of land or buildings in the same or similar manner in which they were used at the time of the adoption of this By- Law, but if any non-conforming use shall be discontinued for a period of more than five years, it may not be resumed except by permit or variance granted by the Board of Appeals.
Necessary repairs and rebuilding of non-conforming structure after damage by fire, storm, or similar disaster are hereby permitted provided they are accomplished without un- due delay and do not substantially change the character or size of the buildings nor the use to which they were put prior to such damage.
Temporary Uses. The Board of Appeals may permit a temporary building or use incidental to the development of a neighborhood, such permit to be issued for an initial period of not more than two years and for renewal periods of not more than one year each.
SECTION II - DISTRICTS
1. Classes of Districts. For the purposes of this By- Law the Town of Acton is hereby divided into the following three classes of districts :
a. Residential and Agricultural.
b. Business.
c. Industrial.
Said districts are defined and bounded on the map which accompanies this By-Law, entitled "Zoning Map of the Town . of Acton". Map No. 1 dated and filed in the office of the Town Clerk, which map, with the notations thereon, is hereby made a part of this By-Law. In the event of any difference between scaled distance upon said map and distance as indicated by figures, said figures shall govern.
2. Lots in Two Districts. When a district boundary line
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divides a lot of single or joint ownership of record at the time this By-Law is adopted, the regulations for the less restricted portion of such lot shall extend not more than thirty feet into the more restricted portion, provided the lot has frontage on a street in the less restricted district.
SECTION III - RESIDENTIAL AND AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
1. In a Residential and Agricultural district a building or premise may be erected, altered or used for the following purposes :
a. Dwellings for one or two families including garaging for not more than four private motor vehicles. Housing for farm equipment shall not be limited.
b. Multiple dwelling units for three or more families upon approval of the Board of Appeals.
c. Agricultural use including the sale of farm products, the major portion of which is grown on the premises.
d. Municipal, recreational, educational or religious use.
e. Accessory use on the same lot if not detrimental to the neighborhood, including the use of a room or rooms in a dwelling for not more than four paying guests, as a tea room, an office or studio by a physician, dentist, lawyer, music teach- er, hairdresser, worker in handicrafts or a person of a similar vocation resident in the dwelling, employing not more than two permanent employees.
f. The following and similar uses may be permitted by the Board of Appeals if adjudged non-detrimental to the neigh- borhood : Sawmill, Stone Quarry, Kennel, Undertaking Estab- lishment, Rest Home, Guest or Lodging House for more than four persons, Sand or Gravel Pit.
2. Area Regulations. A building may be erected only upon a lot having 150 feet or more frontage and containing 20,000 or more square feet, except that on an irregularly shaped lot having less than 150 foot frontage but containing the requisite area a building may be erected provided the set back and side line distances are maintained. A building and its buildings of accessory use may be erected on any lot which, at the time this By-Law is adopted, is in ownership of record.
202
3. Set Back. No building or other structure shall be erected nearer than 30 feet to the side line of the street, ox- cept that where two or more adjacent buildings have estab- lished a set-back line less than permitted above, the Board of Appeals may permit a new structure to be erected in conform- ity with the line so established.
4. Side and Rear Lines. No building shall be erected nearer than 10 feet to a lot line without permission of the Board of Appeals.
SECTION IV - BUSINESS DISTRICT
1. In a Business District, a building or structure may be erected or altered and a building, structure or premises may be used for any of the following purposes if not injurious, noxious or harmful to the health of the neighborhood by reason of odor, fumes, dust, smoke, vibration, noise or other cause.
a. Any use as permitted in a residential and agricultural district.
b. Retail business, service or public utility. Manufactur- ing on the premises of products the major portion of which is to be sold on the premises to the ultimate consumers thereof.
c. Bank or office.
d. Apartment, Hotel, or Lodging House. Not to include Trailer Camp.
e. Place of amusement or Assembly.
f. Restaurant.
g. The following and similar uses may be permitted by the Board of Appeals if adjudged non-detrimental to the neigh- borhood: Sawmill, Stone Quarry, Kennel, Undertaking Estab- lishment, Wholesale business not involving manufacture, Ware- house, Sand or Gravel Pit.
2. Set-Back. No building or other structure shall be erected nearer than 30 feet to the side line of the street. Where two or more adjacent buildings have established a set-back line less than that permitted above, the Board of Appeals may per- mit a new structure to be erected in conformity with the line so established.
203
SECTION V - INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT
1. In an Industrial District, a building or structure may be erected or altered and a building, structure or premises may be used for manufacturing not injurious, noxious or offensive to a neighborhood by reason of the emission of odor, fumes, dust, smoke, vibration, industrial waste (including the deposit in inland waters of silt, sand or stone, resulting from manu- facturing processes), noise or other cause, and for all uses as permitted in Sections III and IV hereof.
2. Trailer Camps shall not be permitted.
3. Set Back. No building or other structure shall extend nearer than 30 feet to the side line of the street. Where two or more adjacent buildings have established a set-back line less than that permitted above, the Board of Appeals may permit a new structure to be erected in conformity with the line so established.
4. No building shall be erected nearer than 30 feet to a lot, side or rear line without permission of the Board of Ap- peals.
5. Parking Area. A parking area off the public ways must be provided for all automobiles used by persons employed in or about the premises.
6. Off-Street Loading Facilities. Off-Street loading fa- cilities must be provided and be of sufficient area to keep the public way clear.
7. The industrial area marked A and shown on the map as located in Acton Centre lies southeasterly of Main Street between Nagog Hill Road and Brook Street and includes only the land described in the following deeds :
Mary A Packard to Technology Instrument Corporation, recorded in Middlesex South District Deeds Bock 7632 Page 383.
Mary A. Packard to Lucius E. Packard and Raymond W. Searle, recorded in Middlesex South District Deeds Book 7840 Page 375.
Norman E. Livermore to Paul M. and Margaret McPher-
204
son, recorded in Middlesex South District Deeds Book 7716 Page 558.
SECTION VI - ADMINISTRATION
1. Enforcement. This By-Law shall be enforced by the Board of Selectmen in the manner provided for by the General Laws and the By-Laws of the Town. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Board of Selectmen hereunder may appeal to the Board of Appeals.
2. In accordance with Section 30 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, a Board of Appeals consisting of three members shall be appointed by the Selectmen for terms of such length and so arranged that the term of one member shall expire each year. Two associates shall be appointed in like manner. Such Board shall have all the powers set forth in said Section, to- gether with the powers and authority set forth in these Protec- tive Zoning By-Laws.
3. No member of the Board of Appeals shall act in any matter in which he is personally interested, in such event an associate shall act.
4. In accordance with the Genaral Laws this By-Law may be amended by a two-thirds vote of a Town Meeting.
5. Nothing in this By-Law shall be construed as repeal- ing or modifying any existing Town By-Law, rule, regulation or permit, but shall be in addition thereto.
6. The invalidity of any section or provision of this By-Law shall not invalidate any other section or provision thereof not manifestly inseperable therefrom.
7. These By-Laws shall take effect upon compliance of the provisions of Section 32, Chapter 40 of the General Laws.
Amendment by Richard F. Deane.
That the Zoning By-Laws be amended, lots 1, A and B as described in the following legal description and shown on plan dated October 29, 1953 drawn by Horace F. Tuttle, C.E., be converted from residential to business. Description of Lot 1 and Lot A, shown on a plan of Land in Acton, owned by George
205
A. Morse, Sr., dated October 29, 1953; Beginning at the North- easterly corner thereof at Lot B, shown on said plan and Main Street; thence S. 21° 44' W. 230 feet and S. 41° 12' W. 77.5 feet to a point of curve ; thence turning to the North by a curve of 14.85 feet radius, 30.70 feet to Prospect Street; thence N. 21° 48' W. along Prospect Street 282 feet to said Lot B; thence N. 88° 45' E. by Lot B 266.7 feet to the point of beginning ; containing about 41,758 square feet.
Description of Lot B shown on a plan of Land in Acton, owned by George A. Morse, Sr., dated October 29, 1953: Be- ginning at the Northeasterly corner thereof at land now or formerly of George A. Morse, Sr., shown as Lot 3 on a plan of land owned by Timothy J. Hennessey, dated December 15, 1950 and Main Street; thence along Main Street S. 22° 04' W. 100.37 feet S. 20° 35' W. 100 feet, and S. 21° 44' W. 255.8 feet to Lot A shown on a plan dated October 29, 1953; thence S. 88° 45' W. by Lot A 266.7 feet to Prospect Street ; thence N. 21° 48' W. by said Prospect Street 212.10 feet to a pipe at land of David and Eleanor Tuttle; thence on land of said Tuttles, N. 69° 51' E. 325 feet, N. 21° 21' E. 205.41 feet to a corner at land now or formerly of George A. Morse, Sr., thence S. 66° 20' E. by said Morse land 150 feet to the point of begin- ning ; containing 2.80/100 acres.
Amendment carried.
Amendment by Louis A. Flerra.
That the following described parcel of land, the property of Louis A. Flerra, presently shown on the Zoning Map of the Town of Acton, Mass., as within a District defined as Resi- dential and Agricultural be redistricted as Business. The par- cel is bounded and described as follows: From a point of be- ginning presently known as the Hapgood Crossing ; thence run- ning Northwesterly by Central Street 80.40/100 feet; North- erly and Northeasterly by Elm Street about 750 feet; South- easterly about 690 feet; Southerly about 175 feet and South- westerly about 490 feet by land of the Boston and Maine Rail- road to point of beginning.
Amendment carried.
Amendment by Louis A. Flerra.
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That the following described parcel of land, the property of Louis A. Flerra, and presently shown on the Zoning Map of the Town of Acton, Mass., as within a District defined as resi- dential and Agricultural be redistricted as Business. The par- cel is bounded and described as follows: Easterly by Central Street 911.7/100 feet; thence Northwesterly about 550 feet; thence Southwesterly by land of the Boston and Maine Rail- road about 1000 feet to point of beginning.
Amendment carried.
Amendment by Louis A. Flerra:
That the following described parcel of land, the property of Louis A. Flerra, and presently shown on the Zoning Map of the Town of Acton, Mass., as within a District defined as Residential and Agricultural be redistricted as Industrial. The parcel is bounded and described as follows: From a point of beginning by Central Street about 120 feet Southwesterly of the Boston and Maine Railroad Crossing known as the Hapgood Crossing; thence Westerly along Easterly Bank of Fort Pond Brook; thence following the Easterly Bank of Fort Pond Brook to land of the Boston and Maine Railroad about 1100 feet to Hapgood Crossing; thence Southwesterly to point of beginning.
Amendment carried.
Amendment by James E. Kinsley:
That the Zoning Map of the Town of Acton Map No. 1, filed in the office of the Town Clerk and incorporated by ref- erence in the proposed Protective Zoning By-Laws of the Town of Acton be amended as follows: By indicating through proper lines or shading as a Business District the land bounded :-
Northerly by new State Highway known as Route 2.
Easterly by Hosmer Street 540 feet;
Southerly by land of various owners on a line parallel with the Southerly line of said State Highway ;
Westerly by Piper Road 540 feet.
Amendment carried unanimously.
Amendment by Alan Pederson.
That the following described parcel of land, the property of Ingeborg Pederson, and presently shown on the Zoning Map
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- ------
of the Town of Acton, Mass., as within a District defined as Residential and Agricultural be redistricted as Business. The parcel is bounded and described as follows :- Being situated about half a mile northerly of the center village on Newtown Road, containing about one and one half acres (116). Begin- ning at the Southwesterly corner thereof at said Newtown Road and land of Frank W. Putnam; thence Northerly along Newtown Road to land formerly of Herbert F. Robbins ; thence Easterly along said Robbins land to land of Frank W. Putnam ; thence Southerly on said Putnam land to the said Newtown Road and the point of beginning.
Amendment Carried.
Amendment by Edward H. Howard.
That the following described parcels of land, the proper- ties of Margaret C. Bogart, Harold Prentiss, Edward H. Howard and Russell A. Fitz, presently shown on the Zoning Map of the Town of Acton, Mass., as within a District defined as Industrial be redistricted as Residential and Agricultural.
Parcel 1 is bounded and described as follows :- Beginning at the Northwesterly corner of the parcel at land formerly of the City of Cambridge and Parker Street; thence Southeasterly 447.48 feet by land formerly of the City of Cambridge; thence Southeasterly by land of Frank Simeone 171.63 feet to Concord Street; thence Southwesterly by said Concord Street 699.55 feet; thence Northwesterly by Parker Strcet 527.31 feet to the point of beginning.
Parcel 2 is bounded and described as follows :- Beginning at the Southwesterly corner of the parcel at High Street; thence Northwesterly by said High Street 453.75 feet to Con- cord Street; thence Easterly by Concord Street 1915.75 feet ; thence Southwesterly by land of Frank Simeone 214.5 feet; thence Southerly by land of Frank Simeone 188.75 feet; thence Southerly by land formerly of the American Powder Mills to a corner; thence Westerly by land of Neely 1611.5 feet; thence Northerly by land of Berglind 221.5 feet; thence Westerly by land of Berglind 152.5 feet to said High Street and the point of beginning.
Amendment carried unanimously.
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Motion to vote by ballot on Zoning- Hand vote, Yes 84; No 155. Motion Lost.
Voted on the original motion as amended. Hand vote, Yes 133; No 122.
Voted to adjourn at 11:54 P.M.
Boston, Massachusetts, February 9, 1954.
The within Zoning By-Law is hereby approved as amended.
GEORGE FINGOLD, Attorney-General.
A true copy. Attest: Harlan E. Tuttle, Town Clerk. (Seal.)
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ANNUAL REPORT of the
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ACTON
For the Year Ending December 31, 1954
ATED
INC
1735
^ACTON ..
Town of Acton, Massachusetts
Printed at
Concord Press, Inc., West Concord, Mass.
ACTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT 1954
The School Board respectfully submits the following report for the year 1954.
First we would like to thank the several town depart- ments and officers for their help in carrying out requests made by the School Department. We would also like to express our appreciation to the Finance Board for its advice, coopera- tion, and backing on several matters of vital interest to the town at large and School Department in particular. We should also like to thank the Acton members of the Nagog Regional District for their untiring efforts in their attempt to alleviate Acton's school housing needs, and for so graciously sharing with our committee the facts and figures secured by their research. That the district was unable to build a school does not mean their efforts were in vain, for the data obtained has been useful to us and will doubtless be of great value to the committee engaged at the present time in planning a new high school for Acton children. Finally we wish to extend our thanks and congratulations to the Blanchard Auditorium Building Committee. With the addition of this facility to the town, the physical education program for Acton boys and girls will be vastly improved.
This year the initial steps of the first phase of the pro- gram to rehabilitate the present Acton High School were accomplished by the installation of a new oil fired boiler and the repairing and retiling of the boys' and girls' locker rooms. The final step of phase one as outlined in the Special Town Meeting June 28, 1954, was to be the installation of new light- ing fixtures throughout the school to bring the level of light intensity in all classrooms up to recognized education stand- ards. An article has been inserted in this year's town warrant requesting additional funds to accomplish this work, and the committee respectfully requests the support of the townspeople for this article, so that the work may proceed during the summer vacation.
Phase two of the rehabilitation program as outlined June 28, 1954, called for the installation of unit ventilators through-
4
out the school so that we could comply with requirements for proper ventilation as established by the Massachusetts Depart- ment of Education. Therefore, an article appears in this year's warrant calling for a sum of money to carry out this work during the summer vacation. Lighting and proper ven- tilation are essential to the well-being of our children and contribute to the overall effective classroom atmosphere, and so the committee again solicits your support for this article.
This year has seen many changes in the School Depart- ment. Mr. McNiff and Mr. Hinckley were re-elected at the annual town election in March. Two of our members, Mr. Frederick Abbt and Mr. Leo Cunningham, resigned from the board to accept new civic responsibilities as selectmen. The vacancies thus created were capably filled through the appoint- ment of Mr. Craig Lundberg and Mr. Alvin Piper.
In August the committee granted a one year leave of absence to Superintendent Whitman Pearson so that he might accept an appointment as Assistant Superintendent of the Air Force Japan Dependents Schools. Mr. William O'Connell was appointed Acting Superintendent for the school year 1954- 1955. Early in December the committee received and accepted with regret the resignation of Mr. Pearson, who for six years had worked so untiringly with and for the Acton School children. The smooth and efficient operation of our schools this year speaks well not only for Mr. Pearson's organizational ability, but also for the unselfish cooperation and esprit de corps of the entire school staff. The committee is genuinely appreciative of and thankful for the splendid way in which Acting Superintendent O'Connell, his principals, his directors, and his teachers have carried on our school program.
The ever increasing number of school children within our town and our limited school housing facilities have forced us once again to employ the room over the firehouse in Acton Center as a classroom. Next year we will need at least one additional room outside of our school buildings for housing a new third grade. The committee feels that the plans presented by the present Acton High School Building Com- mittee should be carefully studied and that positive action leading to the completion of a school building in Acton at the earliest possible time, be taken to arrest an extremely critical
5
crisis which will arise by 1956, when even our two platoon system may fail to solve our housing problems.
Your committee has endeavored to maintain the physical properties of the school department in a good state of repair. The existing frame buildings require constant maintenance to keep them in usable condition. Money spent on these build- ings is spent grudgingly, however, for despite the best efforts of all concerned the facilities remain woefully inadequate, and the early abandonment of these buildings is strongly desired.
This past year the school department inaugurated on a trial basis a two-part summer program. During the summer months remedial reading was offered to those students who were desirous of improving their reading ability. Several students participated and under the capable direction of Miss Maureen Conlon and Mrs. Doris Santamour, considerable pro- gress was made. It is our hope that this phase of the pro- gram be continued. The second part of the program was a summer playground under the direction of Mr. John Winton and Miss Phyllis Morse. This program had many participants but was severely handicapped by transportation difficulties and inadequate funds with which to operate. We sincerely hope that some civic organization will see fit to continue and expand this activity.
Your committee is increasingly aware of the aroused public interest in school affairs in Acton, in common with other communities throughout the country.
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