USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1956-1960 > Part 16
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and running South 75° 45' East along land of W. Donald and Nancy L. Leslie a distance of seventy-two (72) feet more or less to a Pipe as shown on said Plan; thence turning and running South 12º 45' West, along land formerly of William E. Feltus and now of Donald O. Feltus, a distance of eighty-one and five tenths (81.5) feet to a Pipe, as shown on said Plan; thence turning and running South 66° East along land formerly of Jennie E. Holton and now of Lillian G. Feltus Gallant and along land formerly of Clarence V. Twitchell and now of Lillian G. Feltus Gallant a distance of four hundred, thirty-seven and five hundredths (437.05) feet to the point of beginning. This tract of land contains thirty-nine thousand, three hundred and fifty (39,350) feet more or less; and that the Town appropriate the sum of seven thousand (7,000) dollars therefor and to meet said appropriation, that there be raised from the tax levy in the current year the sum of seven thousand (7,000) dollars.
Same tellers. Hand Vote. Total - 326. Yes-193; No-133.
Motion Lost. (Needed 217+)
Adjourned at 11:30 P. M.
The Moderator called the meeting to order at 7:30 P. M., Monday, March 18, 1957.
On motion of Mr. Kinsley, it was Voted: To dissolve to a committee of the whole for discussion of sites for a fire house.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Building Committee to enter into contracts on behalf of the Town for the planning, constructing and equipping of a fire station on a tract of land located in that part of Acton called West Acton on the Westerly side of Central Street and adjacent and Northerly of Laffin's Garage, and to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $75,000.00, or any other sum, therefor to be provided by taxation, by appropriation from available funds in the Treasury or by borrowings under Chapter 44 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To lay Article 13 on the table.
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Article 14. (Elementary School) To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Building Committee to enter into contracts on behalf of the Town for the planning, con- structing, equipping and furnishing of an elementary school building on land of the Town located on Charter Road; and to see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money therefor to be provided by taxation, by appropriation of available funds in the Treasury or by borrowings under Chapter 44 of the General Laws and Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1948 as amended, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted : (1) That there be and hereby is authorized the construction, original equipping and furnishing of a school building for grades 1 -6, inclusive, to be located on land of the Town on Charter Road, said school to contain approxi- mately twenty rooms and to be generally in accordance with preliminary plans prepared by the Architects' Collaborative ;
(2) That the sum of $780,000 is hereby appropriated to meet the cost of constructing, original equipping and fur- nishing said school building;
(3) That said appropriation shall be raised in the following manner: the sum of $10,000 shall be raised by taxation and the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, hereby is authorized and directed, subject to the approval of the Emergency Finance Board, to borrow the sum of $600,000 under the authority of Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1948, as amended, and the sum of $170,000 under the authority of General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 7, as amended, by the issuance and sale of bonds of the Town;
(4) That the bonds of each loan hereinbefore authorized may be issued and sold at one time or from time to time, but all of the bonds shall be issued and sold in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and each issue of said bonds shall be paid in not more than 20 years from the date thereof; and
(5) That the Town Building Committee of four members, appointed pursuant to authority granted under Article 15 of the 1956 Annual Town Meeting, is hereby empowered in the name of and in behalf of the Town of Acton in addition to authority previously granted, to enter into such contract or contracts as it may deem advisable and in accordance with the applicable provisions of law for the planning, con- struction, original equipping and furnishing of said elemen- tary school building, and all other matters connected with and
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incidental thereto, including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, the necessary architectural, engineering and other professional services.
Moderator appointed the following tellers: Wentworth Prentiss, Francis W. Seller, Theron A. Lowden, Peter Smoltees, Roger Crafts, Robert Stow, Harold W. Flood and Edmond J. McNiff.
Total Vote: 341. Yes-339. No-2.
Article 15. (Vocational Tuition and Trans.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $2,500.00, or any other sum, for the payment of vocational tuition and transportation ac- cording to the provisions of Chapter 74 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the payment of vocational tuition and transportation accord- ing to the provisions of Chapter 74 of the General Laws.
Article 16. (Water Safety Account) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from avail- able funds the sum of $500.00, or any other sum, to establish a special Water Safety Account for the support of the Water Safety Program which is jointly sponsored by the Red Cross and the School Department, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 to establish a special Water Safety Account for the support of the Water Safety Program which is jointly sponsored by the Red Cross and the School Department.
Article 17. (Insurance) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $1,200.00, or any other sum, 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 or employment, of motor or other vehicles owned by the Town as provided by the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 5, Sub-section 1, as amended, or take any other action relative thereto.
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Voted unanimously: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,200.00 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 or employ- ment, of motor or other vehicles owned by the Town as pro- vided by the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 5, Sub-section 1, as amended.
Article 18. (Boiler and Machinery Insurance) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $778.24, or any other sum, to pay the cost of obtaining coverage of various objects suitable for insurance under a boiler and machinery policy, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $778.24 to pay the cost of obtaining coverage of various objects suit- able for insurance under a boiler and machinery policy.
Article 19. (Water District) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds, the sum of $200.00, as its contribution to the West and South Water Supply District of Acton toward the cost of extending a six-inch water main from Hosmer Street to the Acton town dump on Massachusetts Avenue, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 as the Town's contribution to the West and South Water Supply District of Acton toward the cost of extending a six-inch water main from Hosmer Street to the Acton town dump on Massachusetts Avenue.
Article 20. (Stabilization Acct.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $5,000.00, or any other sum, to be set aside as a Stabilization Fund, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 to be set aside in the Stabilization Fund.
Article 21. (Truck-Tree and Moth) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $3,500.00, or any other sum, for
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the purchase of a new truck for the Tree and Moth Depart- ments, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To appropriate the sum of $3,500.00 from the Surplus Revenue Account for the purchase of a new truck for the Tree and Moth Departments.
Article 22. (Lighting - Library) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from avail- able funds the sum of $2,000.00, or any other sum, for the installation of lighting fixtures in the Memorial Library, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 for the installation of lighting fixtures in the Memorial Library.
Article 23. (Chairs, etc. - Library) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from avail- able funds the sum of $250.00, or any other sum, for the purchase of new chairs and magazine rack for the Memorial Library, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $250.00 for the purchase of new chairs and magazine rack for the Memorial Library.
Article 24. (Mosquito Spraying) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from avail- able funds the sum of $2,700.00, or any other sum, for mosquito control spraying, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,700.00 for mosquito control spraying.
Article 25. (Welfare) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $2,304.69, or any other sum, to defray the necessary expenses incurred by the Board of Public Welfare for the installation of health and sanitation improvements in the home of a welfare recipient, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted : To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,304.69 to defray the necessary expenses incurred by the Board of Public Welfare for the installation of health and sanitation improvements in the home of a welfare recipient.
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Same tellers. Total hand vote - 253. Yes -245; No-8.
Article 26. (Civil Defense) To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 401 of the Acts of 1956 entitled "An Act Extending To Certain Civil Defense Volunteers, the Provi- sions of Law Applicable to Municipal Employees for Indem- nification of Damages Sustained Through the Operation of Publicly Owned Vehicles," or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To accept Chapter 401 of the Acts of 1956 entitled "An Act Extending To Certain Civil Defense Volunteers, the Provisions of Law Applicable to Municipal Employees for Indemnification of Damages Sustained Through the Opera- tion of Publicly Owned Vehicles."
Article 27. (Highway Buildings) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from avail- able funds the sum of $3,500.00, or any other sum, for altera- tions to Highway Department buildings, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $800.00 for alterations to the Highway Department Buildings, and the Town Building Committee be instructed to undertake an immediate study of Highway Department Building problems.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to amend the By-Laws of the Town of Acton by striking out Article 1 of Section 1 and inserting the following :
Article 1. The annual town meeting for the election of town officers shall be held on the last Monday of March in each year.
or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To pass over the article.
Article 29. (Zoning) To see if the Town will vote to amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by rezoning an area on the Southerly side of Route #2 between Hosmer Street and Piper Road in South Acton to industrial for a depth of 850 feet, such land now being zoned partially business and partially residential, or take any other action relative thereto.
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Voted: To amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by rezoning an area on the Southerly side of Route #2 between Hosmer Street and Piper Road in South Acton to industrial for a depth of 850 feet, such land now being zoned partially business and partially residential.
Same tellers except Roger Crafts. Harold Y. Banquer appointed by Moderator to take Crafts place.
Hand Vote. Total- 336. Yes-274; No-62.
Voted: That this meeting adjourn at 11:00 P. M., to com- plete the article then being acted upon, and reconvene at the Blanchard Auditorium at 7:30 P. M., Wednesday, March 20, 1957.
Article 30. (Zoning) To see if the Town will vote to amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by rezoning an area on the Southerly side of Route 2A, North Acton from what is now partially business and partially residential to industrial, said area starting at the boundary of Harold Buxton and Leo T. McCarthy and run- ning along Route 2A in a Southeasterly direction for approxi- mately 1,625 feet; thence in a Southwesterly direction for approximately 2,500 feet, thence running in a Northwesterly direction for approximately 500 feet to a stone wall, thence running along the wall to its end, thence in a Westerly direction for approximately 200 feet, thence in a North- westerly direction for approximately 75 feet and thence running for approximately 1,600 feet back to the point of its beginning, said area containing approximately 80 acres, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by rezoning an area on the Southerly side of Route 2A, North Acton from what is now partially busi- ness and partially residential to industrial, said area starting at the boundary of Harold Buxton and Leo T. McCarthy and running along Route 2A in a Southeasterly direction for approximately 1,625 feet; thence in a Southwesterly direction for approximately 2,500 feet, thence running in a North- westerly direction for approximately 500 feet to a stone wall, thence running along the wall to its end, thence in a Westerly direction for approximately 200 feet, thence in a Northwesterly direction for approximately 75 feet and thence running for approximately 1,600 feet back to the point of its beginning, said area containing approximately 80 acres.
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Same tellers. Total votes-268. Yes-184; No- 84. Adjourned at 11:10 P. M.
The Moderator called the meeting to order at 7:30 P. M., Wednesday, March 20, 1957.
Article 31. (Zoning) To see if the Town will vote to amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by rezoning from residential to business the property in West Acton owned by Seminole Realty Trust and bounded by the Boston and Maine Railroad, the West Acton Fire House property, Windsor Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Action by rezoning from residential to business the property in West Acton owned by Seminole Realty Trust and bounded by the Boston and Maine Railroad, the West Acton Fire House property, Windsor Avenue and Massachu- setts Avenue.
Moderator appointed the following tellers: George Ander- son, Wentworth Prentiss, Theron Lowden, Peter Smoltees, Fraser Laffin and Harold W. Flood.
Total vote: 132. Yes-107; No-25.
Article 32. (Zoning - Trailers) To see if the Town will vote to amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by adding a new paragraph, numbered Five (5) to Section III of the By-Law as follows:
5. Trailers: Hereafter no person shall use or permit to be used for dwelling purposes within the Town, any trailer or similar mobile equipment whether registered or unregistered, mobile or immobile, except that mobile trailers may be used as temporary dwelling purposes, pro- vided such use is licensed by the Selectmen, said license to be applied for by the occupant within three (3) days after the unit is located in the Town, and with no license granted hereunder to be for a period exceeding six (6) calendar months.
or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by adding a new paragraph, numbered Five
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(5) to Section III of the By-Law as follows:
5. Trailers: Hereafter no person shall use or permit to be used for dwelling purposes within the Town, any trailer or similar mobile equipment whether registered or unregistered, mobile or immobile, except that mobile trailers may be used for temporary dwelling purposes, provided such use is licensed by the Selectmen, said license to be applied for by the occupant within three (3) days after the unit is located in the Town, and with no license granted hereunder to be for a period exceeding six (6) calendar months.
Total vote: 174. Yes-134; No-40.
Same tellers.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by rezoning from residential to industrial the property at 193 Central Street, consisting of approximately seven-eighths (7/8) of an acre owned by James Kinsley, or take any other action relative thereto.
Motion: To amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by rezoning from residential to industrial the property at 193 Central Street, consisting of approxi- mately seven-eighths (7/8) of an acre owned by James Kinsley.
Total vote: 164. Yes - 85; No - 79.
Two-thirds vote required. Motion Lost.
Article 34. (Zoning) To see if the Town will vote to amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by adding the following as paragraph three (3) to Section IV - Business District, or take any other action relative thereto.
3. Area Regulation. A structure erected for residential purposes in a business zone shall conform to the area, set back, side and rear line restrictions as set forth in Section III of the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton.
Voted: To amend the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton by adding the following as paragraph three
(3) to Section IV - Business District :
3. Area Regulation. A structure erected for residential purposes in a business zone shall conform to the area, set
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back, side and rear line restrictions as set forth in Section III of the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton.
Total vote: 125. Yes-111; No-14.
Article 35. (Town Hall alterations) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from avail- able funds the sum of $1,800.00, or any other sum, for alterations and furnishings of various offices in the Town Hall, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,800.00 for alterations and furnishings of various offices in the Town Hall.
Article 36. (Cemetery) To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Cemetery Commissioners to waive a legacy of $300.00 bequeathed under the Will of Howard Beckwith Barnard for perpetual care for the graves of his parents at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Voted unanimously: To authorize the Cemetery Commis- sioners to waive a legacy of $300.00 bequeathed under the Will of Howard Beckwith Barnard for perpetual care of the graves of his parents at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Article 37. (Watson Gift) To see if the Town will vote to accept the gift to the Town of Acton by the second item of the will of Sarah A. Watson, late of Somerville, Massa- chusetts, deceased, of $2,500.00, the income therefrom to be used for the perpetual care of lots 21, 22 and 23 on Pine Avenue and Lot 41 in the rear thereof in Woodlawn Cemetery in said Town, now standing in her name, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted unanimously: To accept the gift to the Town of Acton contained in the second item of the will of Sarah A. Watson, late of Somerville, Massachusetts, deceased, of $2,500.00, the income therefrom to be used for the perpetual care of lots 21, 22 and 23 on Pine Avenue and lot 41 in the rear thereof, in Woodlawn Cemetery in said Town, now standing in her name.
Article 38. (Varnum Tuttle Fund) To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of the fifty-third item of the will of Sarah A. Watson, late of Somerville, Massachu- setts, deceased, for the benefit of the Chapel on the lot
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adjoining Woodlawn Cemetery, to approve of the appointment of Frederick S. Kennedy and A. Leavitt Taylor as trustees of the fund to be known as the "Varnum Tuttle Fund," the income to be used for the care, preservation and upkeep, both interior and exterior, of the Chapel which was erected on the lot adjoining Woodlawn Cemetery in said Town, in- cluding the organ and other equipment therein, and for the care of the grounds surrounding the Chapel, shrubbery, ornamentation, walks and openspaces; and co-operate with the said trustees in the expenditure of said income and car- rying out the provisions of said trust fund, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted unanimously: To accept the provisions of the fifty- third item of the will of Sarah A. Watson, late of Somer- ville, Massachusetts, deceased, for the benefit of the chapel on the lot adjoining Woodlawn Cemetery; approve the ap- pointment of Frederick S. Kennedy and A. Leavitt Taylor, as trustees of the fund thereunder to be known as the "Varnum Tuttle Fund," the income to be used for the care, preservation and upkeep, both interior and exterior, of the Chapel which was erected on the lot adjoining Woodlawn Cemetery in said Town, including the organ and other equip- ment therein, and for the care of the grounds surrounding the Chapel, shrubbery, ornamentation, walks and open spaces; and that the Town officers be and hereby are in- structed to co-operate with the said Trustees in the expendi- ture of said income and the carrying out of the said provi- sions of said trust fund.
Article 39. (Brook Improvement) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from avail- able funds the sum of $14,000.00, or any other sum, to com- plete the work of defining and improving the brook in the West part of Town that drains the areas between Massachu- setts Avenue on the North, Homestead Street on the South, Arlington Street on the West and Central Street on the East, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $14,000.00 to complete the work of defining and improving the brook in the West part of Town that drains the areas between Massachusetts Avenue on the North, Homestead Street on the South, Arlington Street on the West and Central Street on the East.
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Article 40. (Street Names Changed) To see if the Town will vote to change the names of certain streets, listed below and to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $100.00, or any other sum, to purchase and install street signs to properly designate these streets, or take any other action relative thereto.
1. School Street, West Acton to be changed to Farm Street.
2. Maple Avenue, Acton Center to be changed to Min- uteman Road.
3. Davis Terrace, West Acton to be changed to Mead Terrace.
4. Woodlawn Lane, Acton Center to be changed to Minot Avenue.
5. Section of Nashoba Road running Southerly off New- town Road in West Acton to be changed to Bulette Road.
6. Section of Concord Street, South Acton running from Howard's corner Northerly into Dewey and Almy Company property to be changed to Vallee Road.
7. Section of Concord Street, South Acton running from Howard's corner Southerly to the Maynard line to be changed to a continuation of Parker Street.
Voted: To change the names of the following streets and raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 to purchase and install street signs to properly designate these streets.
1. School Street, West Acton be changed to Spruce Street.
2. Maple Avenue, Acton Center be changed to Minute- man Road.
3. Davis Terrace, West Acton be changed to Mead Terrace.
4. Woodlawn Lane, Acton Center be changed to Minot Avenue.
5. The section of Nashoba Road running Southerly off Newtown Road in West Acton be changed to Bulette Road.
6. The section of Concord Street, South Acton running from Howard's Corner Northerly into Dewey and Almy Company property be changed to Independence Road.
7. The section of Concord Street, South Acton running from Howard's Corner Southerly to the Maynard line
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be changed and considered a continuation of Parker Street and so named.
Article 41. (Mohegan Road) To see if the Town will vote to accept as a Town Way the road, the Plan of which has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk, said Plan showing a road forty (40) feet in width and a twenty-four (24) foot or more travelled way extending in a Northerly direction from the previously accepted section of Mohegan Road, a distance of approximately five hundred eighty-four (584) feet terminating in a turnaround, to the land of Crimens Pacy, and said road to be maintained by the developer for a period of one year after acceptance, said road to be known as Mohegan Road, or take any other action relative thereto.
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