USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1956-1960 > Part 26
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A Police Station, your Chief repeats, would certainly greatly improve the efficiency of your local department. An appropriation for a Police Station will probably be put before the townspeople by 1961. The reason for designating 1961 for the year is because another fire house is scheduled to be built in South Acton in 1960; therefore, the load would be too great on the taxpayers to build both in one year.
Before presenting the annual statistics your Chief of Police would like to express his appreciation to the people of the Town of Acton who, at the Annual Town Meeting of 1958, voted the appropriation that enabled our police force to go on a 40-hour week and which brought the pay scale up to a level comparable to that of surrounding towns.
For the year ending December 31, 1958 I submit a report concern- ing activities relative to the operation of the Police Department.
Arrests and prosecutions for the following offenses :
Allowing improper person to operate a motor vehicle
1
Assault and Battery
3
Attaching plates
3
Attempted Breaking and Entering with intent to commit misdemeanor
3
Breaking and Entering and Larceny
1
Begetting
1
Collecting junk without permission
2
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
1
Cruelty to animals
2
Dangerous weapon in Motor Vehicle
1
Defective brakes
1
Drunk
24
Excessive weight
1
Failing to slow down
1
Failing to slow at an intersection
1
Failure to comply with order of Selectmen
1
Failure to use care at Railroad crossing
1
Failure to use care in starting
1
Flashing red light violation
1
THE TOWN OF ACTON
13
Following too closely
1
Fraudulent check
11
Giving wrong name to officer.
2
Going away after property damage
4
Going away after personal injury
1
Hunting too close to a dwelling
2
Impersonating a Police Officer
1
Indecent exposure
2
Larceny
Law of the road
6
License not in possession
1
Malicious injury to property
1
No inspection sticker
1
No license
11
No registration in possession
2
Non-support
2
Not displaying number plates
1
One-Way
1
Operating after revocation of License
2
Operating after suspension of License
2
Operating an uninsured Motor Vehicle
11
Operating an uninspected Motor Vehicle
3
Operating an unregistered Motor Vehicle
14
Operating so as to endanger
22
Operating under the influence of intoxicating liquor
12
Obscuring number plate
1
Receiving stolen property
1
Red light violation
5
Refusing to stop
4
School bus violation
24
Speeding
108
Stop sign violation
40
Transporting fireworks
1
Using Motor Vehicle without authority
7
Vagrancy
1
Delinquent Child - Breaking and Entering to commit a misdemeanor
1
Delinquent Child - Malicious injury to property
1
Delinquent Child - Operating so as to endanger
1
Delinquent Child - Operating uninsured motor vehicle
1
Delinquent Child - Operating unregistered motor vehicle
1
Delinquent Child - Using motor vehicle without authority
1
Delinquent Child - Truancy
2
377
Delinquent Child - Breaking and Entering and Larceny, daytime
1
Delinquent Child - No license
2
8
14
223rd ANNUAL REPORT OF
Motor Vehicle Accident Report:
1957
1958
Total number of accidents reported
115
112
Number of occupants injured
57
54
Number of occupants killed
0
1
Number of pedestrians injured
1
2
Bicyclists injured
0
2
Bicyclists killed
2
0
Motorcyclists injured
1
1
Horseback rider injured
1
0
Miscellaneous Statistics:
Bicycles registered
182
Complaints received and investigated
230
Cruiser ambulance trips to Acton Medical Center
8
Cruiser ambulance trips to Concord Medical Center
2
Cruiser ambulance trips to Emerson Hospital
37
Cruiser trips to Metropolitan State Hospital
3
Doors found unlocked in buildings and places of business
79
Electric Wires down and reported to Edison
19
Fire Alarms answered
75
Houses checked
154
Defective equipment tickets given
64
Motorists assisted by patrol
32
Motor vehicles checked by night patrol
620
Total number of arrests made
32
Nighttime parking tickets given
62
Parking tickets given
38
Property check, slips left at request of owners
2,473
Prowlers reported
9
Street lights out, reported to Edison Company
126
Summonses sent out for service
132
Summonses served
163
Telephone wires down and reported to New England Tele- phone Co. 2
Times Resuscitator was used
11
Traffic lights out and reported to Dept. of Public Works 15
There were 1,236 motor vehicles checked by this department for traffic or motor vehicle violations for which operators received verbal warnings, summonses to appear in court or had the violation reported to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for action.
It was pleasing to see the accident rate and amount of injuries slightly lower than 1957.
We were again unfortunate to have a fatal on Route #2 near the Arlington Street Bridge. It seems that Route #2 spoils our record each year in relation to fatals.
This year I am recommending that Willow Street, West Acton be posted with Speed Signs. I am also recommending that six (6) addi-
15
THE TOWN OF ACTON
tional signs be posted on School Street, South Acton.
Cruisers:
At present we have two 1958 station wagons which we use for patrol and are equipped with stretchers for emergency purposes. We also have one resuscitator which is kept in a cruiser at all times. I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the Acton Grange for their generosity in donating same to the department.
I am recommending that both cruisers be traded for 1959 Station
Wagons, as we have found it is cheaper to trade each year than to keep cars two years and find the expenses run higher than the cost of new cars.
It is good to report that the department is finally straightened out in relation to all regular officers being on a Civil Service basis.
In closing, I would like to thank all the members of the depart- ment who worked with me in carrying out the duties of the Police Department during the year and to all others who assisted us in any way, I am grateful.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD J. COLLINS, JR., Chief of Police.
16
223rd ANNUAL REPORT OF
SPECIAL REPORT OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION
THREE MEMBERS OF THE RECREATION COMMITTEE (Left to Right) Dr. Nicholas Albanese Fredrick T. Heyliger Mrs. Craig Lundberg
Acton's first Recreation Commission was appointed by the Selectmen in August, 1957. It was given no specific directions or tasks, but was asked to look over the town carefully from the point of view of recrea- tional facilities and needs and to make recommendations for improvement. This was one of several actions taken by the Selectmen as a result of the town's "growing pains," primarily to provide special attention for a com- munity problem of ever-increasing importance and complexity, and secondarily to relieve the overburdened Selectmen of the responsibility for developing an adequate program in a specialized field.
At its first meeting the Commission compiled a list of those various types of recreation available in town and realized what ample accom- plishments had been made by private organizations in the absence of town leadership. Most of the activities carried on in other towns by official agencies are provided in Acton by our private organizations - a fact for which they should be publicly congratulated.
There are many forms of recreation, all sponsored by local groups and organizations. Among these are: arts and crafts, kindergarten, dramatics, teens' activities, dancing classes, square dancing, bridge, ball- room dancing for youngsters, Little League Baseball, 4-H activities, cul- tural meetings, riflery, game conservation, scouting for boys and girls, and swimming lessons. The Recreation Commission would be pleased to furnish any available information concerning these activities.
Looking at this impressive and diversified list, the Commission could not help feeling that the townsfolk had done pretty well for themselves, and that it was not our job to duplicate or compete with these activities
17
THE TOWN OF ACTON
in any way. Rather we should concentrate on those areas which are by nature difficult for private organizations to enter. In line with this thinking, it was unanimously agreed that providing a public swimming facility for the town should be our primary objective. This, of course, involved finding a suitable land and water area, and then asking the Town for money to purchase and develop it.
Viewing with some alarm Acton's rapid rate of growth, we decided that our secondary objective should be the acquiring of additional properties wherever possible with an eye to future development of play- ground and general recreational areas. At the same time, the two Town properties under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Commission, Jones Field in South Acton and Goward Field behind Town Hall, should be maintained and improved to the best of our abilities.
It was obvious that long range planning was needed. We all felt it would be a mistake to rush hastily into expensive programs involving paid personnel while new construction was filling up all the old vacant lots in town where youngsters of past generations had organized their own programs of recreation. A summer playground program will eventually be considered by the Commission, but probably not until it can be integrated with a swimming program, as has been very suc- cessfully done in Concord. The experience of those who ran the summer playground program for the School Department a few years ago was not encouraging. Attendance averaged only about twenty-five children per day, due to lack of transportation and interruptions caused by other activities. Irregular attendance and lack of equipment hampered the playground workers. The difficulties of running a program for children from such a spread-out area as all the Actons are not hard to under- stand. But the question arises whether the expense is justified if only a handful of children participate. No doubt this situation can be solved in the future if the townspeople desire to spend enough money on it, but the Recreation Commission was disinclined to tackle it in the fall of 1957 and feels much the same way at this writing.
To return to the problem of a swimming facility, the Recreation Commission felt this would be a justifiable undertaking because it would serve a greater number of townspeople, and because the Concord Chapter of the Red Cross, of which Acton is a Branch, is in the process of decentralizing its Water Safety Program. About two years ago the Concord Recreation Commission took over full responsibility for its own program, using playground personnel for its swimming instructors. Lincoln and Bedford have almost reached the same stage of independence.
But quite aside from this consideration is the factor of crowding. Walden Pond is a State Reservation, and as such is open to any group which requests admittance. Last summer a Scout camp from Lexington was added to the roster. Each year each town enters more children in the Program. It is inevitable that the Instruction Beach will grow more crowded as time goes on. Add to this the administrative problems of getting 450 children to Walden at the rate of 60 children per hour over
18
223rd ANNUAL REPORT OF
two four-week sessions, plus the collecting and recording of $1,700 for bus transportation (not including the $500 paid through a special item in the School Department's budget), and the magnitude of Acton's part in the Water Safety Program can be seen. The Recreation Commission feels that this project has outgrown the voluntary organization stage and voted in August, 1958, to take over the responsibility for the Program, in cooperation with the School Department. To this end, our Repre- sentative in the General Court has been asked to submit a bill on behalf of the Recreation Commission enabling us to set up a revolving fund in the Town treasury, so that the bus fares can be kept separate from the general funds of the Town.
Only three possible sites for a swimming facility appeared promising enough to warrant investigation, and Nagog Pond was NOT one of them. The Recreation Commission has been repeatedly asked why we cannot take it away from Concord by legislation plus suitable recompense. The explanation is this. By virtue of its size, Nagog Pond is legally classified under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a "great pond." As such, it is under the jurisdiction of the State and may be allocated to Towns as a water supply. This was done in the case of Nagog by an Act of the General Court under Chapter 201, in 1884, giving Concord the right to draw water. Under the terms of the Act, subject to certain conditions Littleton and Acton may also draw water for domestic use and fire protection, and the Commonwealth reserves the right to take water for its buildings at the Reformatory. Even if Acton somehow managed to have this Act rescinded, it would still cost in the neighborhood of $200,000 to reimburse Concord for its pumping station.
By November, 1957, one possible site for a swimming area had been eliminated and contact made with the owners of the other two. In March, 1958, the second site was eliminated, when the owner informed us he had other plans for the land. The Recreation Com- mission was left with the third and in many way the most desirable property, the land owned by David F. Morrison along Nashoba Brook in North Acton. As soon as Mr. Morrison indicated that his land was for sale, the Soil Conservation Department was contacted. It had pre- viously been determined that their engineers would inspect the condition of the dam, estimate cost of repairs, survey and describe the proposed pond area, test bore, and estimate the amount of water - all free of charge. If this help had not been available, any plans for the swimming area would have been held up indefinitely, because the Recreation Com- mission had no funds for such proposes and without a thorough investi- gation would have been in no position to make recommendations to the Town. Contacts with the State Department of Natural Resources and the State University Specialist in Recreation resulted in additional offers of help in landscaping, pool specification, and general recreational planning for the area.
When word was received that the Selectmen would permit an article for the Morrison property to be inserted in the special Town
THE TOWN OF ACTON
19
BẠN HOUSE
---
----
SANIN BEACH
A
ARTIST'S CONCEPTION OF THE PROPOSED
SUGGESTED RECREATIONAL AREA
Meeting of November, 1958, the Recreation Commission redoubled its efforts to have everything ready. A survey and plot plan were made by Harlan Tuttle and the deeds put in the hands of the Town Counsel. Chief of Police Collins, an avid photographer, generously consented to take pictures of the area, and Carroll Spinney, a talented young artist from South Acton, agreed to make a sketch of how the area might look when completed. Everyone rose to the occasion and worked against a close deadline. Everything seemed to have been accomplished satisfactorily.
Then to our utter dismay the Town Counsel notified us that the plot plan made on the basis of the deed in the hands of the Recreation Commission did not show the same amount of land as the deed he had used in describing the property in the Article. As the Warrant had already been printed, it could not be changed legally. The Town Counsel advised us to postpone the Article until the March Town Meeting, when it could be inserted in corrected form. Reluctantly we faced the fact that this was the only thing to do. Consequently three months have been lost, and the swimming area will not be ready this year. Nevertheless the Recreation Commission is confident of the ultimate success of this project.
Many townspeople have asked how much the finished area will cost. The answer is that this depends entirely on what the voters want and are willing to pay for. The Commission feels that a period of possibly five years will be needed to complete the project, but this rough estimate may be revised after consultation with the State workers whose profes-
20
223rd ANNUAL REPORT OF
sional help is available to the Town. Once the overall plans are made and accepted by the Town, it can be decided what portion of the work will be done each year. The Recreation Commission has worked a year and a half on this project and feels it was time well spent, but the fate of the Town's swimming area is now in the hands of the voters.
As stated earlier, the Commission is interested in acquiring proper- ties, or the use of them, in all parts of town. A partial list of Town- owned properties shows eleven parcels of from three to forty acres. Not all of these are possible recreation areas, but the more desirable ones will be kept in mind. One project which has received a good deal of attention during the past year is the providing of a playground in West Acton. Three lots of land have been considered, but at this writing only one seems an immediate prospect. The Commission has discussed the feasibility of buying small pieces of land scattered here and there throughout the Actons for play areas, skating rinks, and perhaps later, tennis courts, but due to the pressure of other business, no decisions have been reached.
As the Town Report goes to press, representatives from the Recrea- tion Commission will be about to attend an organizational meeting of the proposed Middlesex Association of Town Recreation Commissions. Eleven towns were represented at the first meeting. Ideas were swapped back and forth, and it was unanimously decided that a regional asso- ciation would be helpful to all concerned, as all could learn a great deal from the experience of other towns.
The year 1958 saw the first complete year of operation of the Acton Recreation Commission. Our monthly meetings have been long and interesting, and discussion has covered a wide range of subjects: the vital question of the swimming pool, the acquiring of additional properties for recreational use, the recommendation to the Planning Board that future housing developers be required to set aside several house lots as playgrounds for young children.
The Commission plans to pursue its objectives as energetically as possible but at the same time will try to stagger the cost of the various projects so as not to increase the tax burden unduly in any one year.
Respectfully submitted, FREDERICK T. HEYLIGER, Chairman NICHOLAS ALBANESE, MARGARET J. LUNDBERG, PATIENCE H. MACPHERSON, ALLAN R. MURRAY, Acton Recreation Committee.
SECTION B
Town Clerk's Report
21
Acton School Department Report
67
Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Report 84
TOWN OF ACTON
REPORT
OF THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE
TED
1735.
"ACTON ..
INCLUDING
WARRANT ARTICLES FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING 1959
With Finance Committee's RECOMMENDATIONS AND BUDGET
3
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
During its long and careful review of the proposed budget for 1959, the Finance Committee has endeavored to hold the line against rising costs. The Departments of the Town have been very co-operative in support of this effort.
In two areas of the budget the Finance Committee is recommending substantial increases. We recommend that the Education Operating Budget be increased to $487,390, up 14.4% over the appropriation of last year, due to the increase of the school population and the addition of the new elemen- tary school. We are also recommending that the total High- way Department Operating Expenses, exclusive of equipment purchases, be increased by 10.5% to $87,231 for this year to insure a more adequate surfacing program.
The work performed by the Personnel Board during 1957 in establishing a set of recommended wage rates for the Town has continued to be of value during our review of the 1959 budget. As with all wage rate structures, however, it must be kept up-to-date if it is to have any validity. We urge that the Personnel Board review all salary and wage rates of the Town on an annual basis, so that a fair wage will be paid to all Town employees.
The matter of salaries of elected Town officials has been an especially difficult one this year. The Finance Committee has received requests for salary increases for several offices. In the absence of any comprehensive study of each position, including job content, responsibilities and required time, the Finance Committee has withheld recommendations of any substantial increases. We do recommend that a proper study be conducted this year, so that adjustments, if needed, can be made next year.
This year the Town Budget exceeds one million dollars for the first time in Acton's history. This milestone emphasizes the growth of the Town and of the services required of its government. The budget for the year 1952 was $323,671, less than one-third of this year's. This comparison makes it clear that our local government is now "Big Business." We must accept the fact that long range comprehensive planning, combined with real efficiency is essential.
ROBERT T. LUND ALLEN G. MOODY H. CALVIN GAEBEL H. BRADFORD STURTEVANT, III THOMAS N. ROGERS, Clerk ARTHUR W. LEE, Chairman
4
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss.
73
"ACTON ..
To either of the Constables of the Town of Acton, in said County, Greetings :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify the legal voters of said Town of Acton, qualified to vote at Town Meetings for the transaction of Town affairs, to meet in their respective precincts, to wit:
Precinct 1 - Town Hall, Acton Center
Precinct 2- Community Universalist Church, South Acton Precinct 3 - Acton Community Center, West Acton
at 12 o'clock noon, Monday, the second day of March, 1959 by posting a copy of this warrant, by you attested, at each of the places as directed by vote of the Town, seven days at least before the second day of March.
To bring in their votes on one ballot for the following Town officers: Moderator, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Town Collector, one Selectman for three years; one Assessor for three years; one member of the Board of Public Welfare for three years; four Constables for one year; one Cemetery Commissioner for three years; two members of the School Committee for three years; one member of the Board of Health for three years; one Trustee of Memorial Library for three years; one member of the Planning Board for five years ; and a Tree Warden for one year.
The polls will be open at 12 o'clock noon, and close at 8 o'clock P. M.
You are further requested in the name of the Common- wealth to notify the legal voters of said Town of Acton as aforesaid, to meet at the BLANCHARD AUDITORIUM in said Acton on
Monday, March 9, 1959 at 7:30 o'clock P. M.
Then and there to act on the following articles :
5
Article 1. To choose all necessary Town Officers and Com- mittees and fix the salaries and compensation of all the elective officers of the Town.
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to accept the several reports of the Town Officers and Boards, or take any other action relative thereto.
Article 3. To hear and act upon the reports of any Com- mittees chosen at any previous Town Meeting that have not already reported.
Article 4. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to defray the necessary expenses of the several departments of the Town and determine how the same shall be raised.
It is recommended that the following sums of money be raised and appropriated for the several purposes hereinafter designated and that the same be expended only for the pur- poses under the direction of the respective boards, committees or officers of the Town as follows:
1959 BUDGET
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
3.45% OF TOTAL
Item
Expended 1958
Recommended 1959
1
$55.00
Moderator
$75.00
2
44.80
Finance Committee Expense 125.00
3
1,183.25
Selectmen's Salaries 1,200.00
4
499.25
Selectmen's Expenses 750.00
5
11,979.40 1,665.00
Town Office Clerical - Wages
14,900.00
6
1,475.00 200.00
Legal Services - Board of Selectmen .... 750.00 Town Accountant - Salary 1,575.00 200.00 Expenses
9
1,475.00 400.00
Treasurer - Salary Expenses
550.00
11
2,150.00 848.47
Town Collector - Salary Expenses 970.00
2,200.00
13
4,600.00
Assessors' Salaries 4,600.00 Expenses 400.00
14
382.63
15
1,075.00
Town Clerk - Salary
1,175.00
16
219.84
Expenses
520.00
7
8
1,575.00
10
12
6
Item
Expended 1958
Recommended 1959
Election and Registrations
17
2,700.33
Salaries and Wages
2,125.00
18
899.52
Expenses
715.00
19
1,467.93
Planning Board - Expenses
1,900.00
20
7.20
Board of Appeals - Expenses
50.00
21
$33,327.62
Total General Government $36,355.00
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS .77% OF TOTAL
22
$3,148.60
Buildings and Grounds - Wages ..
$3,480.00
23
3,810.59
Expenses
4,600.00
24
$6,959.19
Total Buildings and Grounds
$8,080.00
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY 9.99% OF TOTAL
Police Department
25
$36,760.05
Salaries and Wages
$40,355.00
26
6,386.14
Expenses
6,500.00
Fire Department
27
12,356.63
Salaries and Wages
14,765.00
28
8,782.57
Expenses
8,855.00
Fire Alarm System
29
4,891.30
Salaries and Wages
5,345.00
30
1,181.44
Expenses
2,320.00
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