USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 53
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Sec. 7. This building bylaw becomes effective when adopted by the Town, approved by the Attorney General of Massachusetts and published as pro- vided by Statute.
Sec. 8. Board of Appeal. If a person is dissatisfied with the decision of the Building Inspector he may appeal from said decision within ten days of the time of said decision to the Board of Appeals. No member of the Board of Appeals shall act in any case where he is interested. In cases involving engineering problems the Board of Appeals may secure profes- sional or expert assistance. Each decision shall be by majority of the Board and shall be in writing. Any expenses incurred shall be borne by the side against which the decision is made.
Sec. 9. All buildings hereafter erected shall have masonry footings and foundations. Footing for masonry walls shall be not less than 8 inches deep and not less than 20 inches wide unless otherwise authorized or directed by the Inspector. All footings shall be below frost action.
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A. Foundations : All dwellings hereafter erected shall have masonry foundations with a minimum thick- ness of 10 inches for poured concrete foundations. Block foundation shall be 12 inches below grade and may be 8 inches above grade. Any portion of a foundation above grade to be laid in and pointed with mortar.
B. Foundations for buildings other than dwellings may be of masonry piers of sufficient size to carry the loads to be imposed on them and to extend below frost action.
C. Concrete Slab construction shall be in conformity with the specifications of the Inspector of Build- ings.
Sec. 10. Chimneys: All chimneys hereafter to be erected to be of brick or other fireproof and non-conducting material laid in mortar. Walls of chimney to be lined with terra cotta flue lining, with joints laid in mortar.
A. All chimneys to be plastered on the outside with cement mortar except where brickwork is exposed. All areas of chimneys not lined to be not less than two coarses of brickwork.
B. Fireplace smoke chambers shall be two coarses of brickwork on all sides. All combustible surfaces in connection with fireplaces or ash dumps to be protected with masonry. Fireplace flues shall be not less than 8 x 12 inches or an area equal to one tenth (1/10) the face area of the fireplace opening or which ever area is greater.
C. All chimneys hereafter constructed shall be topped out not less than 18 inches above the roof at point of contact and not less than 12 inches above ridge. Chimneys shall be capped with stone, iron, or con- crete.
D. No earthenware pipe shall be used for horizontal flues. No woodwork shall be placed at a less dis-
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tance than 6 inches from any smoke pipe or metal flue unless protected with approved fire proofing material.
E. No smoke pipe shall pass through a stud or wooden partition whether plastered or not unless pro- tected by a suitable metal collar with holes for ventilation.
F. A space of at least 1 inch shall be left between all woodwork and the chimneys and all heating flues, and where they pass through floors, such spaces shall be stopped with metal or other approved fire resistive material.
Sec. 11. Frame: All framing materials shall be of sound merchantable stock of sizes sufficient to carry the loads imposed on them. The minimum size of wood framing members for a dwelling shall be as follows, sills not less than four by six inches laid flatwise unless otherwise approved by the Building Inspec- tor, girders not less than six by eight inches, sup- ported on piers or columns not over eight feet on centers. Larger girders with span support over 8 feet may be approved by the Inspector. Girders may be of laminated timbers well spiked together. Corner posts four by six inches or may be of three two by four inch pieces, continuous the height of the corner and well spiked together. Corner braces shall be installed as near as possible to all corners. Stud- ding for outside walls and bearing partitions to be not less than two by four inches spaced not over sixteen inches on centers. Non bearing partitions may be two by three inches. All bearing partition studs shall rest on partition caps or shoes of the same size as the studs and capped with double joist of the same size. Floor timbers for spans not over twelve feet shall be not less than two by eight inches sixteen inches on center. All spans of over eight feet shall be bridged every eight feet for their total length. For spans over twelve feet larger size timbers shall be used. All openings in floors or
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walls that exceed two feet six inches shall be sur- rounded by double or triple headers and trimmers as directed by the building inspector. Rafters shall not be smaller than 2 inches by 6 inches spaced not more than twenty inches on centers, except rafters not over seven feet long which may be 2 inches by 4 inches. Rafter sizes shall be increased or braced or both according to the length of rafter. Exterior studded walls shall be sheathed with boards 3/s inches thick, 1/2 inch plywood or other approved material, laid tight with staggered joints and nailed to studs with eight penny nails in a manner satis- factory to the Inspector. Roof sheathing shall be not less than 3/4 inch boards or 1/2 inch plywood applied with staggered joints so there will be no breaks over thirty inches long at one place. Win- dow headers and sills shall be double the size of the studs except where space exceeds four feet. The Inspector will approve joist size on window headers and sill on spans over four feet. Ceiling joists to be not less than two by eight inches. On spans less than 12 feet or where expansion is not possible above ceiling, 2 x 6 inch joist may be approved.
A. Where stairs continue to the attic, the attic floor joists shall not be less than two by eight inches, sixteen inches on centers. All stairs shall be fire stopped of approved material.
Sec. 12. Garages: Any garage built hereafter under a dwelling shall have its walls and ceiling covered with wire lathing and cement plaster or other fire resisting material as approved by the Inspector. Doors between a garage and a dwelling area to be self closing and covered with approved fire resistant material. Any garage attached to the side of a dwell- ing directly or with a breezeway shall have the wall adjacent to the dwelling or breezeway covered with wire lathing and cement plaster or other approved fire resistant material from ridge to floor.
Sec. 13. Cellars: Provision for sump pump well to be pro- vided at the discretion of the Inspector. All cellars
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to have bulkhead or other exterior exit. Cellar stairs shall be provided with hand rail. All exposed wood- work over heating equipment shall be covered with wire lathing and cement plaster or other approved fire resistant material for an area of ten (10) feet square.
Sec. 14. Enclosed heater rooms shall be ventilated as approved by the Building Inspector. Enclosed heater rooms shall be lined with a covering of wire lathing and cement plaster or other approved fire resistant material.
Sec. 15. Every dwelling, apartment, or tenement hereafter remodeled or erected shall have a minimum of two (2) exits, one of which terminates directly to the outside of the building.
Sec. 16. Drain tile laid in stone around the perimeter of the foundation of a dwelling shall be laid when in the opinion of the inspector additional drainage is necessary.
Sec. 17. Sills shall be set no greater above or below the grade of the center line of the street than one foot for each ten feet of set back from the side line of the street. If it is the decision of the Inspector that the nature of the land makes compliance an extreme hardship, the Inspector may grant an exception.
Sec. 18. Height of Building: No dwelling hereafter erected shall exceed 20 feet in height from sill to eaves.
Sec. 19. Wall covering: Every wooden building hereafter erected shall have its exterior walls covered with a standard building material as approved by the Inspector.
Sec. 20. Roof Covering: The roof of every dwelling and garage attached thereto shall be covered with slate, asbestos, or asphalt roof covering weighing not less
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than 210 lbs. per square or wood shingles laid ac- cording to standard building practice.
Sec. 21. Fire Stopping: Where floor beams or studs rest on sills, girders, wall girts or partition caps, fill in between such beams and studs from the sills, gird- ers, girts or caps to four inches above the plaster ground with brick and mortar or other fire resistive material, or cut full size blocking between the studs above and below the floor beams and at the ceiling line of the upper story. Full size blocking means full width of studs and not less than one and one half inches thick.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO TOWN BYLAWS
"FIRE DEPARTMENT"
SECTION 5
Article 1. The Town shall maintain a Fire Department as set forth hereinafter:
A - Organization
The Department shall consist of a Chief and three Deputy Chiefs, (one from each precinct). The Chief shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The three Deputy Chiefs will be appointed annually by the Chief. There shall be three com- panies (one in each precinct) each company to consist of eighteen (18) members, or such other number of members as the Chief and Deputy Chiefs may from time to time deem advisable. The officers of each company shall consist of a Captain, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant, Treasurer, and Clerk, who shall be elected by each company at its regular meeting in May of each year. No Chief or Deputy Chief shall hold any company office.
B- Duties of the Chief and Deputy Chiefs
The Chief and Deputy Chiefs shall hold meetings, when called by the Chief, to transact business of the Department;
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and they shall annually, in April, appoint all firemen, Superin- tendent of Fire Alarm System, Assistant Superintendent of Fire Alarm System, Fire Department Physician, and Janitors. New company members may be appointed at any time, and shall be appointed from the lists of nominations submitted by the respective companies. Upon complaint to the Chief and Deputy Chiefs by any member of the Department against another member thereof, the Chief and Deputy Chiefs shall act; and may, after giving seven (7) days notice to the mem- ber against whom such complaint is lodged, suspend or dis- charge said member. Upon application for a hearing by any member aggrieved by such action of the Chief and Deputy Chiefs, the Chief and Deputy Chiefs shall arrange for, and conduct, such hearing. It shall be the duty of each Deputy Chief to assist the Chief in the discharge of his duties, and serve in his place, in case of his absence, in his respective precinct. It shall be the duty of each Deputy Chief under the Chief, to have charge of the Fire Station and all equipment in his precinct, and he shall be held responsible for the condi- tion thereof. It shall be the duty of each Deputy Chief to order sundry supplies needed for his fire station and to approve all bills for supplies and equipment required and purchased for his precinct; and to transmit such approved bills to the Chief for presentation to the Selectmen for approval and pay- ment thereof. It shall be the duty of each Deputy Chief to hold at least one company practice each month during the months of May, June, July, and August. The Chief and Deputy Chiefs may be empowered to choose one of their mem- bers as a Clerk.
C-Duties of the Chief
It shall be the duty of the Chief to call meetings of the Chief and Deputy Chiefs, and all combined meetings of the Department and to have general charge of all property and apparatus of the Department. He shall have general charge at all fires and of all companies. He shall file all reports and issue permits required by law. The Chief shall inspect each Fire Station twice each year in company with the Deputy Chief of each respective precinct, and note the condition and any need of change in station or equipment. He shall hold a com- bined practice of all companies at least once each year. The
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Chief shall annually in December, in conjunction with the Deputy Chiefs submit to the Board of Selectmen a budget for the maintenance of the Department for the ensuing year.
D- Duties of the Captains and Lieutenants
The Captain of each company shall have charge of his respective company at fires and receive all orders from his commanding officers, and shall give all orders for the proper operation of his company. He shall see that all apparatus is left in perfect condition at all times, and shall notify his superior officer of any defective or missing equipment. The Captain shall conduct all company meetings and see that all voting and business is properly conducted; and it shall be his duty, so far as possible, to carry out the desires of his com- pany, and create and maintain harmony therein. The Lieuten- ants shall assist the Captain and act for him in his absence.
E-Duties of the Treasurer and the Clerk
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to have charge of all company funds, pay all company bills, and keep a record of the same.
It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep an accurate account of all company meetings and the business transacted thereat.
F - Qualifications for Membership
Any person of good character, over twenty-one years of age who is an American citizen or who has filed his intention of becoming such, may be nominated for membership. The com- pany shall judge an applicant for membership as to his qualifi- cations as a fireman, his occupation, and his availability to attend fires and meetings. The company shall submit two or more names to the Chief and Deputy Chiefs for each vacancy to be filled.
G-Duties of the Janitor
A janitor for each Fire Station shall be appointed annually. He shall keep the Fire Station and grounds in a clean, sanitary, and orderly condition. He shall, also, keep the building at a proper temperature at all times and attend to the disposal of all ashes and refuse. He shall notify his Deputy Chief of all
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needed supplies, and report any need of change in or about the station building, or anything which he may find out of order. He shall see that tire chains are put on when needed, also take care of apparatus, batteries, and tires ; and see that all appara- tus is kept clean.
H -Duties of Members
It shall be the duties of the members to answer all company alarms and to obey all orders of their officers while on duty. It shall be the duty of the members to attend all meetings and practices of their respective companies ; and they shall attend at least eight (8) meetings each year. Upon the request of his Deputy Chief any member missing a fire, practice, or meet- ing, or neglecting his duty, shall give an acceptable excuse therefor.
I-Meetings
Each company shall hold one regular meeting each month. Any company may make any rules for use in its own engine house and meetings, provided that they do not conflict with these bylaws.
BOARD OF APPEALS: Otto Pasanen - Hayward Houghton, Chairman - Edward Ferry.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
BOARD OF HEALTH: Back Row: Edward Higgins - Herbert Leusher - Martin Duggan, R. N. Front Row: Eileen Hale, R. N. - Orma Clark, M. D., Chairman Dorothy Turner, Secretary.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Acton, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
The Board of Health herewith submits its report for the year ending December 31, 1955, together with the report of its Agent, Town Nurse, Inspector of Food and Milk, Inspector of Slaughtering, Inspector of Sanitation, Plumbing Inspector, and items of interest concerning the Health and Sanitation of the residents of Acton.
For your information as citizens of the Town of Acton, in directing the activities of the Board of Health, and keeping them alerted at all times to the needs of a town of this size, a number of problems necessarily of great importance to you have been listed with the high lights of what has been done during the year 1955.
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Corrective measures have been uppermost at the meetings of the Board which are held on the 3rd. Monday of each month at the Board of Health Office, plus the special meetings held whenever necessary. The Board of Health Office is open daily, Monday through Friday, 9 A. M. - 4 P. M. for your convenience to report and consult on anything pertaining to Health and Sanitation.
This year has been one of expansion as can be seen in about every section of town. This requires the constant supervision of the Agent, Assistant Agent, and the members of the Board. It is felt that 1955 and 1956 will be the two years that a record breaking building program and development of the town will gradually taper off and that a period of slower and more sub- stantial construction could take place.
The various activities that the Board of Health are directly concerned with and are closely observing include the following :
1. The water drainage, cesspools, septic tanks, and over- flow water from homes, buildings, both Public and Pri- vate, and storm drainage. About 1/3 of the efforts of the Agent and Assistant Agent's time has been devoted to this condition, and with the Planning Board working on ways of moving this waste out of Acton and into water- ways. Considerable time and work has been applied to this condition.
2. Dumping of rubbish along our main highways has been a source of annoyance to the Board for the past several years as some garbage is included. Apparently motorists passing will pull over to the side of the road and throw it out of the car window. State Laws provide a fine for this nuisance.
3. We have one patient in the Waltham Sanitorium at the present time. We do not anticipate any further cases, but it is necessary to have on hand sufficient appro- priated funds for unpredicted cases. This fund is sub- sidized by the State and returns are made to the Town of Acton each year.
4. There have been six (6) licenses issued for Kinder- gartens and child centers in town during the year 1955.
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The State Health Department requires that the Board of Health supervise these centers.
5. The Town Dump has been a very active part of the Board's consideration during the year 1955. The dump has remained open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with an annual expense of approximately $4500. which means less than $1. per person in the town for the dump, with gravel and fill to build up to maintain a solid area and solid edges for cars to back up to. Alex- ander Whiteneck, the Custodian of the dump, has utilized the fill to the best advantage possible for a wider area for dumping. The Board feels after looking into costs of various ways of dumping in other towns, that we are using the most economical system and giving the people of Acton the best service it is possible to give.
6. Several cases of Polio were reported in Acton during the year 1955, with a record number reported in the State. A Polio Clinic was held during the early part of 1955 and vaccine inoculations were given to school children under the supervision of the Board of Health. Contact cases were investigated and offered Gamma Globulin. Some took advantage of this offer, others refused. It is anticipated that further Clinics will be held in February and March.
7. The Board of Health is your agency for the continued contact with District, State and National Headquarters. It is necessary that all Communicable Diseases be reported to the Board of Health Office. If a physician knows or has cause to believe that a person whom he visits is infected with a disease declared to be dangerous to the public health, he shall give written notice thereof, signed by him (Chapter 111, General Laws) to the Board of Health. In cases where a physician does not see the patient, the householder then gives the report. This information is recorded and sent to the Health Dis- trict and the State Health Department each week and daily if necessary. The information necessary to go along with the growing conditions in this town are sent to our office daily, the necessary media which is used to transmit and put into effect, that part of the informa-
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tion which applies here is determined by the Board of Health. Many meetings are held by the members and Agents before any changes are made or new regulations are put into effect.
8. The hurricane of August 1955 caused flood waters and the pollution of wells to be considered by the Board of Health. When members of the Board found it necessary to go to all sections of Acton to investigate the condition as it was found, also as it was reported, radio and news- papers were used to warn people of Acton to boil water until such times as it could be determined that no fur- ther precautions were necessary.
9. Most people have the mistaken idea that the Town and School Nurse is exclusively for the people in town that cannot afford to pay for professional nursing care, or for the school children. This is of course not true. The services of the Town Nurse are for all people who can- not afford to pay, but those who are financially able to pay in full or in part are required to do so. This pro- gram is supported by the Board of Health, and it includes the well child program also the care of aged people that require daily or weekly calls for injections, irrigations, renewal of surgical dressings and many other types of nursing care under a Doctor's orders.
We wish to thank at this time the many other Boards in the Town for the co-operation we have received during the past year in making the efforts of our Board more efficient in its work as the Board of Health of Acton.
Respectfully submitted,
ORMA L. CLARK, M. D., Chairman, HERBERT L. LEUSHER, MARTIN J. DUGGAN,
Board of Health.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH AGENT
To the Board of Health :
There were 195 cases of contagious diseases which are dan- gerous to the public health reported during the year 1955. Cases reported :
Chicken pox
14
German measles
6
Measles
130
Mumps
10
Scarlet fever
4
Dog bite
21
Influenza
3
Scarletina
2
Infectious Hepatitis
1
Polio
4
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There were 25 deaths reported for which burial permits were issued during the year.
Died in Acton
21
Died elsewhere
4
Buried in Acton
9
Buried elsewhere
16
EDWARD J. HIGGINS,
Agent.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SANITATION
To the Board of Health
Acton, Massachusetts
There were 537 complaints and inspections acted on during the year as follows :
Inspection of septic tanks and cesspools (2 inspec-
tions are necessary for each permit issued) ........ 161
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Complaints of overflowing - running into streams
and creeks and others concerning water tests and such - On file by letter 27
Verbal complaints 209
Swimming places tested and inspected 12
Homes and surroundings inspected on complaints 118
Licenses granted for operating nursery Schools, motel and overnight camps, and transportation of offal through Acton 10
537
EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Sanitary Inspector.
REPORT OF MILK AND FOOD INSPECTOR
Board of Health
Acton, Massachusetts
Following is the report of the Milk and Food Inspector for 1955:
11 Milk plants visited
11 Eating places visited
4 Catering establishments
9 Stores where milk, etc., are sold
2 Ice Cream licenses issued
19 Milk licenses issued
17 Milk Dealers' licenses issued
1 Slaughtering of Poultry license issued
It has been a pleasure to serve the Board of Health of Acton as Milk and Food Inspector.
Respectfully submitted,
BRADFORD S. LEACH.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN NURSE
TOWN NURSE: Eileen Hale, R. N.
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1955.
Old Age
Welfare
Aid to Dependent Children
506
Veterans, Veterans' Widows or their Dependents
Communicable Diseases
Childhood Diseases of Adults
32
Tuberculosis 1
Medical and Surgical - Chronic Cases .... 845
Follow-up Visits (not charged)
150
Kindergarten Inspections 6
Maternal and Child Health Visits
Prenatal
25
Postnatal 70
206
Preschool Children 70
School Children (home visits)
176
Night, Sunday and off hours calls 34
1,915
Paid visits to persons under Dr's care
573
Trips to Waltham 8
Number of Persons X-Rayed at Monthly Clinic 112
Inactive T. B. Patients and Contacts 28
Trips to Hospital and Doctors with Pa- tients 16
737
Total amount of money received $637.50
Outstanding bills for services $31.00
I wish to express my appreciation to the Board of Health, to Mrs. Hazel Vose, R. N. and to our Secretary for all their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
EILEEN F. HALE, R. N., Town Nurse.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Board of Health
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Plumbing for the year ending December 31, 1955.
One hundred seventy-eight (178) permits were issued.
The sum of Seven hundred sixty-eight (768) dollars was collected in fees for these permits.
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J. G. Perry $444.50 W. F. Osbeck
$323.50
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH G. PERRY, Inspector of Plumbing.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health
Acton, Massachusetts
There were no cases of slaughtering reported in Acton dur- ing the year. Several inquiries were made in regard to slaughtering but when price was quoted the people decided to take their slaughtering elsewhere.
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