USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 46
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It is recommended that $200. be transferred from Surplus Revenue for the purpose indicated.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $6,000.00 as a Reserve Fund, or take any other action relative thereto.
It is recommended that $6,000. be transferred from Overlay Surplus to be used as a Reserve Fund. This is the same amount as last year.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof seven days at least before the time of said meeting in not less than six public places in the town to be designated by the Board of Selectmen.
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 thirty-first day of Jan- uary, 1956.
LEO C. CUNNINGHAM, FREDERICK W. ABBT, CHARLES D. MacPHERSON, Selectmen of Acton.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
BOARD OF SELECTMEN: Frederick Abbt - Leo Cunningham, Chairman - Charles MacPherson.
To the Citizens of the Town of Acton:
The Board of Selectmen herewith submit their report for the year ending December 31, 1955.
On March 8, 1955 your Board re-organized as follows: Leo C. Cunningham, Chairman, Carl A. Christofferson, Clerk, and Frederick W. Abbt, third member.
On March 17, 1955, Benjamin F. Rice of West Acton was appointed Superintendent of Streets to replace Russell C. Berry who had resigned.
The resignation of Carl A. Christofferson as a member of the Board of Selectmen was received to become effective July 29, 1955. This resignation was accepted with regret. The Board worked as a two-member team until it was re-organized on September 20, 1955, as follows: Leo C. Cunningham, Chair- man, Frederick W. Abbt, Clerk, and Charles D. MacPherson, the newly elected third member.
The year 1955 brought many and various problems to the several departments of the Town. The flood conditions of August, 1955, taxed the facilities of all departments concerned with the washing out of a section of High Street at the Powder Mills, South Acton. The work of these various depart- ments in this emergency was highly commendable.
At long last the year 1955 saw the start of the construction of sorely needed new school facilities, another much needed
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step forward in partially solving our pressing school housing problem.
The rapid population growth of our Town now and in the near future has brought about and will bring about ever increasing problems to which your Board feels that a certain amount of sound thinking should be given, in order that as near perfect form of Town government may be enjoyed by the present and future citizenry. For your consideration we offer the following suggestions :
1. The consolidation of as many of the Town Offices as possible within the confines of the existing Town Hall. With this suggestion it would be necessary to have a master plan for the efficient renovation of the Town Hall to more perfectly accommodate these various offices.
2. In the renovation of our Town Hall, serious considera- tion should be given to the problem of adequate stor- age facilities for Town records. Because of the histori- cal value of many of these records, the Board feels that a Committee on Archives should be appointed.
EXECUTIVE CLERK: Virginia Milbery
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3. The eventual establishment of a Department of Public Works.
4. The appointment of a Permanent Fire Chief, whose duties could include other responsibilities to the Town and thereby afford a tax savings.
5. The immediate appointment of a Building Inspector. No further comment is necessary. The need for this is obvious.
6. During this inflationary period the task of setting proper wages and salaries has been a difficult one. Considerable effort has been made to bring about co-operative action but this is difficult to accomplish. The Board of Selectmen has made a concerted effort to alter some of the inequities in wages and salaries in various departments but this is only the beginning. Chapter 41, Section 108A, of the General Laws authorizes the Town to establish by bylaw a plan classifying Town positions and to vote minimum and maximum salaries. The appointment of a committee to study Town wages and salaries would seem to be the answer to this problem.
In addition to meeting every Tuesday throughout the year to transact routine matters on town business and sign the treasury warrants, conferences were held with many depart- ment heads and boards of the town. These meetings are important and the benefits derived from the same by the open discussion of mutual problems relating to the conduct of town business are most beneficial. Special meetings of the Board were held on several occasions when circumstances required these meetings.
Late in 1955, we began checking into the various insurance policies and found that many items of great value were not covered by insurance. We immediately requested five gentle- men of the town, who are experienced in the field, to serve as an insurance committee and discussed the problem with them. We appointed them as an unofficial committee to bring in a report to the Selectmen. This report is printed in the town report for your information. We recommend a favorable vote
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- -..
on an article inserted in the warrant for proper insurance coverage.
The Selectmen have enjoyed the prompt and active co-opera- tion of the various town boards and employees, and we wish to express our thanks and appreciation to all of them. The citizens as well have been most co-operative in our relations with them and we express our sincere appreciation for their assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
LEO C. CUNNINGHAM, FREDERICK W. ABBT, CHARLES D. MacPHERSON,
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REPORT OF THE TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Town Forest Committee submits the following report for the year 1955.
Several acres of overtopping hardwood growth were girdled to allow the pines to grow better.
New marker signs have been put up on the boundaries to replace signs weathered or destroyed.
The Acton Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts now use the Town Forest for camping and nature study. This feature of a town owned forest will probably be exploited more fully as the town becomes more urban and the forest areas become home develop- ments.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANKLIN H. CHARTER, EMERY NELSON, ARNO H. PERKINS, Town Forest Committee.
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. .
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report of Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1955.
In the past year, I have sealed 223 weighing and measuring devices.
There are at the present time 36 gas pumps, 15 Vehicle Gas and Oil Trucks, 67 sets of Scales, the rest being weights and small measures.
Sealing fees collected $149.10. The same was turned over to the Town Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted, A. PERRY MARBLE, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Wires for the year ending December 31, 1955.
Three hundred and twelve (312) permits were issued. The sum of four hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($422.50) was collected in fees for these permits.
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH L. DUFFY, Inspector of Wires.
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REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
CHIEF OF POLICE: Michael Foley.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Acton, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my twenty-ninth annual report for the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1955. This report includes all arrests made within the town during the past year. It also includes reports on Motor Vehicle acci- dents, bicycle registrations and an explanation on the condi- tion of our cruisers, in addition to other items.
Arrests and prosecutions for the following offenses :
Manslaughter
1
School Bus Law violations
31
Operating under the influence of liquor
20
Operating so as to endanger 26
Violation of Speed Regulations
127
Speeding 192
Operating a motor vehicle without a license 14
Operating without license in possession 4
Operating after suspension of license 4
1
38
Operating after right to operate revoked 5
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle 12
Operating an uninsured motor vehicle
7
Red Light violations
13
Stop Sign violations
21
Operating without registration in possession
10
Violation of law of the road
10
Attaching plates
4
Refusing to stop for Police Officer
1
Crossing grass plot
1
Defective brakes
1
Allowing an improper person to operate motor vehicle
2
Not displaying inspection sticker
5
Operating motor vehicle without lights
2
Not displaying registration plates
2
Loaning operators license
1
Giving false name to Police Officer
1
Refusing to show operators license
1
Failing to use care in turning
3
Racing motor vehicles
2
Violation of one way traffic
1
Allowing truck to be operated over registered weight
1
Not displaying Carrier Plates
1
Operating truck exceeding gross weight
1
Drunkenness
20
Assault and battery
1
Setting fire in open without permit
1
Vagrants
2
Lord's Day violation
1
Non-Support
1
Juvenile
3
556
Motor Vehicle accident report :
1954
1955
Total number of accidents reported
76
95
Number of occupants injured
52
58
Number of occupants killed
0
1
Number of pedestrians injured
1
1
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ACTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: Back Rou: Patrolmen Edward Collins, Jr. - Warren Birch. Front Row : Chief Michael Foley - Patrolmen C. R. Fenton, Jr. - David Scribner.
POLICE DEPARTMENT: Ford Ambulance Cruiser and Dodge Cruiser. Twenty-four hour patrol - radio connection with Concord, Lincoln and Maynard.
Number of pedestrians killed
0
1
Bicyclists injured
3
2
Motorcyclists injured
3 1
Our motor vehicle record this year showed an increase in the number of accidents and two deaths resulting therefrom.
There were 798 motor vehicles checked by this department for traffic or motor vehicle violations for which the operators received verbal warnings, summonses to appear at court or had the violation reported to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for action.
Bicycle Registration :
All bicycles in the town must be registered with the Police Department. There are now 717 bicycles registered. All regis- trations expire on April 30th. and must be renewed at the Police Station between April 15th and April 30th. No charge is made if the plate issued is still in good condition. If a new plate is issued, the fee is twenty-five cents.
Cruisers :
We were very unfortunate this year in having both of our cruisers involved in accidents which resulted in the trading of one and extensive repairs to the other. The first of the acci- dents occurred on Hallowe'en night on Charter Road. Five boys, ranging in age from 12 to 14 years, placed rocks in the street as a prank, planning to hide in the bushes along side of the street to watch motorists stop and roll the rocks out of the way. However, their plans did not work out. Patrolmen Fenton and Scribner were on patrol in that section of the town investigating previous complaints of that nature. As they entered Charter Road from Massachusetts Avenue, they saw the pile of rocks in the street. They also observed a car some distance away travelling north on Charter Road and believing that this car might hold the persons responsible for placing the rocks in the street, put on speed to overtake the car for a check of the occupants. They drove around the pile of rocks as they started in pursuit but as the cruiser went over the brow of the hill, the headlights failed to pick up another large rock. When the cruiser hit this rock, the front
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The following pictures show some of the many duties performed by your Police Department.
2
POLICE DEPARTMENT
1. Checking license. 2. Investigating accident.
3. Taking care of injured.
end was lifted up causing the cruiser to ride on the rock for some distance and only the skillful handling of the cruiser by the officer at the wheel prevented possible serious injury to the officers. The boys responsible for the prank were appre- hended the following day and their parents made restitution of $350.00 to the town. Due to the excessive damage to the cruiser and the fact that we had planned to trade this 1954 Dodge in March, it was thought advisable to trade at this time rather than spend a large sum of money on repairs. Bids were requested and John Coughlin of the Great Road Garage was the low bidder. When told of the circumstances under which the cruiser was damaged, Mr. Coughlin allowed the town the full book value for the wrecked cruiser in trade for a 1956 Dodge sedan which was delivered to us on November 15th. We wish to express our thanks to Mr. Coughlin for his interest in replacing our cruiser and allowing full value for the wrecked car.
The second accident took place on River Street, South Acton on December 2nd. The street was damp and a dog ran in front of the 1955 Ford Ranch Wagon Cruiser. Patrolman Collins, who was alone in the cruiser, pulled to the left of the street to avoid the dog. The left wheels of the cruiser went up on the low wall on the left side of the street causing it to turn over onto its roof. Luckily, Patrolman Collins was not seriously injured although the cruiser was badly damaged. Extensive repairs were made and the cruiser was back in service again in a little over two weeks. This cruiser is now in pretty good condition and should give us good service for another year.
I would like to call to your attention at this time, the pride that all the officers take in keeping their equipment in good condition. Although these cruisers are on the road twenty-four hours a day, every day of the week in all sorts of weather and under perilous road conditions, they are involved in very few accidents, which points to a very good driving record.
Lock-up:
Under the Statutes all towns with a population of 3,000 or more must maintain a lockup under penalty of a fine. The town is well over that figure now and I would recommend that a committee be appointed to look into this matter or that some definite action be taken to comply with the law.
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Personnel Records :
The department now has a Chief and only four regular patrolmen with one of the patrolmen filling in on days off, as this town of vast territory and more than 75 miles of roads is about to pass the 5,000 population mark.
With the growth of the town, many more complaints are being received and more demands made for service from this department. We endeavor to give as adequate service as pos- sible with the help available. During the past year the town has been kept free of any major crime with the exception of two safe breaks at the Concord Auto Auction, off Hosmer Street.
Following these breaks the officer, who did clerical work during some of the night hours, was detailed to patrol the whole shift and a part time secretary was put in the station during the day to do the clerical work and catch up on essen- tial records.
I realize that the department is undermanned and also the expense that the town is under, due to necessary school build- ing and therefore am not requesting additional officers at this time, but do recommend that an increase be made in the bud- get to take care of special officers to work when needed.
In closing I would like to thank all departments, boards and committees for their co-operation. I believe the co-opera- tion between all departments was the best this year in all my twenty-nine years as Chief of Police. I wish to express special thanks to the Board of Selectmen and members of the Finance Committee for their co-operation and to the patrolmen who have all co-operated to do a good job. To all others who assisted in any way, we are deeply grateful.
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL FOLEY, Chief of Police.
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year 1955.
Premises inspected
69
Cows
199
Young Cattle
87
Bulls
2
Steers
6
Swine
20
Sheep
39
Goats
18
Horses
41
Dog Bites
23
Dogs Quarantined
23
Rabies
0
Farmers should read very carefully the card that is sent by the veterinarian notifying him of the date of his coming tuber- culin test because it means just what it says. If there are some who do not cooperate with the veterinarian, it may result in a quarantine being placed on the premises and the owner having his herd tested at his own expense or losing his market for milk.
The state is now doing all calfhood vaccination work. All calves, both beef and dairy, must be vaccinated between the ages of 4 through 8 months! Call the state veterinarian assigned to your town or drop a card to 41 Tremont Street, Boston and ask to have your calves vaccinated. If you prefer, you can pay your own veterinarian to do it for you. Over-age calves will not be vaccinated.
Respectfully submitted,
ARNO H. PERKINS, Inspector of Animals.
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REPORT OF MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my report as Moth Superintendent for the year 1955.
All street elms were given a dormant spray for the control of the Elm Bark Beetle. A foliage spray for Gypsy Moth was later applied by Airplane, with the State and town co-operat- ing. This came at the time the first foliage spray for Elm Leaf Beetle is usually applied, making this application unnecessary. A foliage spray for the second brood of Elm Leaf Beetle was put on by the department in July.
There were 50 cases of Dutch Elm Disease in Acton in 1955. All but 1 of these trees have been removed.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANKLIN H. CHARTER, Moth Superintendent.
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my report for the year beginning Jan- uary 1, 1955, and ending December 31, 1955.
Keeping and destroying 31 stray dogs $201.50
Expenses 47.72
$249.22
Forty-eight calls and complaints investigated.
Respectfully submitted,
CARL W. FLINT,
Dog Officer.
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REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Chief H. Stuart MacGregor
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my twenty-third annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1955.
Total number of alarms responded to are as follows:
Residential
11
Mercantile
3
Manufacturing 4
Grass and Brush
42
Automobile, etc.
10
False Alarms
1
Smoke scares and honest mistakes
10
First Aid and Accidents
11
92
Loss to buildings and contents
$60,575.25
Permits issued :
Oil 182
Bottled Gas 50
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.I
ACTON FIRE DEPT
.2
3
1. Pumper and Emergency truck garaged at West Acton Fire Station.
2. Ladder truck and Pumper garaged at South Acton Fire Station.
3. Pumper and Forestry truck garaged at Acton Center Fire Station. Fire trucks equipped with two-way radio. Emergency truck equipped to handle all types of emergencies.
To report a fire ONLY - Call Colonial 3-4321
ACTON FIRE ALARM DIRECTORY
CENTER
12 Main Street at Newtown Road
13 Nagog Hill Road and Main Street
14 Technology Instrument Corp.
15 Main Street and Great Road
16 Great Road and Harris Street
17 Main and Harris Streets
18 Main Street and Carlisle Road
19 Main Street at Carlisle Line
112 Out of Town
114 Main and Brook Streets
115 Great Road at Henley Road
116 Great Road and Holland Road
119 Carlisle Road at Carlisle Line
Newtown Road and Maple Avenue Woodlawn Lane and Forest Road
121 122 123 124 125 126 Main Street and Hayward Road
127 Tenney's Machine Shop and Vicinity
128 Kelley's Corner
129 Main Street, up Route #2
Great Road at Concord Line
131 132 Great Road and Pope Road
133 Great Road and Concord Road
Great Road and Esterbrook Road
Great Road and Brook Street
Esterbrook and Strawberry Hill Roads
137 138 Pope and Strawberry Hill Roads
139 Pope Road at Carlisle Line
Nagog Hill Road at Hammond Street
141 142 Newtown Road and Hammond Street
Newtown Road at Arlington Street
143 144 Nagog Hill Road at Littleton Line
145 Wood Lane at F. Bean's
146 Fort Pond Road
147 Newtown Road at Littleton Line
151 Concord Road and Hosmer Street
152 Mass. Avenue and Taylor Road
153 Mass. Avenue and Hosmer Street
154 Mass. Avenue and Wetherbee Street
112 Out of Town 4-4 All Firemen to Stations 2-2-2-2 7 A. M. No School All Schools All Day 7-7-7-7 Military Call
8-8-8-8 Civilian Defense
10-10-10-10 Air Raid
For permits call Chief MacGregor - Colonal 3-4348 or 3-7788
134 135 136 Great Road and Davis Road
Concord Road and Nagog Hill Road Main Street and Taylor Road
Taylor Road and Woodlawn Lane
To report a fire ONLY - Call Colonial 3-4321
ACTON FIRE ALARM DIRECTORY
SOUTH
5 Quimby Square
51 South Acton Woolen Mill
52 Lothrop's Mill
53 Merriam's Mill
54 South School
56 Proctor Lumber Yard
57 Erickson's Farm Supply Store
58 Dewey & Almy
59 Air Reduction Sales Corp.
21 School Street at River Street
Out of Town
23 24 School Street at Piper Road
25 School Street at Waite's Corner
26 School Street at Parker Street
School Street at Laws Brook Road
27 28 School Street at Mass. Avenue
29 Laws Brook Road at Concord Line
211 River Street at Chadwick Street
212 River Street at Parker Street
213 Parker Street at Concord Street
Fletcher's Corner
214 215 Powder Mill Road
216 Concord Street at Maynard Line
217 High Street at Conant Street
218 High Street at Rawitser's
219 Eastern States
22 Main Street at Maynard Line
223 Main Street at Sylvia Street
224 Main Street at Holland's
225 Main Street at Cider Mill
226 Main Street at Prospect Street
227 Main Street at Mass. Avenue
231 Central Street at Prospect Street
232 Central Street at Martin Street
233 Central Street at Cullinane's
234 Martin Street at Maple Street
Hayward's Corner
235 241 Stow Street a't Robbins Street
242 Liberty Street at Robbins Street
243 Liberty Street at Stow Line
245 Laurel Court at Piper Road
251 Piper Road at Mass. Avenue
252 Hosmer Street at Mass. Avenue
23 Out of Town 4-4 All Firemen to Stations
2-2-2-2 7 A. M. No School All Schools All Day 7-7-7-7 Military Call
8-8-8-8 Civilian Defense
10-10-10-10 Air Raid
For permits call Chief MacGregor - Colonial 3-4348 or 3-7788
To report a fire ONLY - Call Colonial 3-4321
ACTON FIRE ALARM DIRECTORY
WEST
31 Mass. Avenue at Boxborough Line
32 Mass. Avenue at Wright Terrace
33 Edwards Square
34 Mass. Avenue at Fire Station
35 Mass. Avenue at School Street
36 Mass. Avenue at West School
37 Mass. Avenue at Cedar Terrace
38 Mass. Avenue at Prospect Street
39 Mass. Avenue at High School
311 Richardson's Crossing
312 Central Street at Windsor Avenue
313 Central Street at Summer Street
314 Central Street at Willow Street
315 Central Street at Church Street
316 Central Street at Jenks Storage
317 Central Street at Mohawk Drive
318 Central Street at Orchard Drive Central Street at Nashoba Road
319 321 Arlington Street at Summer Street 322 Arlington Street at Homestead Street
Arlington Street at School Street
327 Arlington Street at Agawam Road
Arlington Street at Charter Road
Willow Street at Homestead Street
328 341 342 Willow Street at Summer Street
343 Willow Street at Stow Line
Summer Street at Boxborough Line Kinsley Road
344 345 346 School Street
Nashoba Road
347 348 Central Street, Down Route # 2
Charter Road at Blanchard Auditorium
351 352 Charter Road at Hayward Road
354 Hayward Road
Rex Corporation
356 361 Mohawk Drive at Seneca Road Oneida Road 362 363 Seneca Road at Seminole Road
364 Seneca Road at Mohegan Road
365 Seminole Road at Mohegan Road
366 Mohawk Drive at Nashoba Road 367 Agawam Road at Mohegan Road 372 Nash Road
3-3-3 Emergency Call 61 Out of Town 4-4 All Firemen to Stations 2-2-2-2 7 A. M. No School All Schools All Day 7-7-7-7 Military Call 8-8-8-8 Civilian Defense 10-10-10-10 Air Raid
For permits call Chief MacGregor - Colonial 3-4348 or 3-7788
323 Arlington Street at Crescent Street
Arlington Street at Reed's Mill
324 325 326 Arlington Street at Elm Street
Blasting Open air fires
45 322
Collected for Oil, Gas, Blasting Permits
$136.00
Under Article 18, we purchased a new pumping engine con- sisting of an International Chassis, 750 gallon American Marsh Portable Pump, Radio, 2 Emerson resuscitators and otherwise fully equipped, with the exception of hose, for the sum of $15,000.00, which we are very pleased with and feel that the town made a worthwhile investment.
Under Article 19, the fire alarm system was extended from the South Acton Fire Station to the corner of Main and Pros- pect Streets, where a box was installed.
I would like to make the following recommendations for the coming year: (1) Our Permit for the mobile radio used at fire alarm headquarters is temporary and should be replaced with a base station. At this time, the Federal Government will pay half of what the town spends on communications. In other words, we will be buying this unit at half price. Also, the town will receive a refund from the Government of approxi- mately $1,285.00, which represents half the money spent on radios in the past two years. I feel that now is the time to buy, while this money is available.
(2) To extend the fire alarm system in Acton Center from Main Street along Newtown Road, up Maple Avenue and back, thence along Newtown Road and across to Woodbury Lane and thence along Woodbury Lane to Main Street.
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