Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1956-1960, Part 4

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1150


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1956-1960 > Part 4


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960.00


47


Board of Health Agent and As- sistant Agent, Salaries and Wages


1,885.00


4.8 Expenses


665.00


49


Inspector, Milk and Food


150.00


50


Custodian Town Dump, Salaries


3,760.00


51 Expenses


800.00


38


52 State Sanitorium


700.00


53 Medical Supplies 150.00


54 School Clinic


2,900.00


55 Garbage Collection


7,900.00


56 Inspector of Animals


150.00


57 Expenses


25.00


58 Plumbing Inspector


1,000.00


59 Total Health and Sanitation


$28,510.00


Highways


60 Village Highways


$5,500.00


61 Chapter 81 Highways 8,550.00


62 Chapter 90 Highways 2,000.00


63 Snow Removal


15,000.00


64 Traffic Signs - Lines


500.00


65 Highway Vacations


925.00


66 Street Lighting


7,000.00


67 Total Highways


$39,475.00


Charities


68 Welfare District Administration and Welfare Board Salaries


$2,275.00


69 General Relief and Disability As- sistance


5,000.00


70 Old Age Assistance


41,000.00


71 Aid to Dependent Children 5,500.00


72 Total Charities $53,775.00


Veterans' Aid


73 Veterans' Benefits, Salary and Wages $200.00


74 Expenses 250.00


75 Veterans' Benefits Expenditures


8,000.00


76 Veterans' Services, Salary and Wages 800.00


77 Expenses


25.00


78 Total Veterans' Aid


$9,275.00


39


Education


79 Instruction, Local 80 81 82 Regional 83 Plant Operation, Local 84 Regional 85 86 Maintenance, Local 87 Regional 88 89 Regional 90 General Control, Local 91 Regional 92 Outlay, Local 93 Regional 94 Contingency Fund, Local


$156,760.00


Regional 42,531.33


Textbooks and Supplies, Local 6,775.00


5,298.96


28,450.00


11,186.40


Blanchard Auditorium 12,620.00


2,350.00


398.25


Auxiliary Agencies, Local


16,775.00


5,354.26


9,235.00


4,183.41


2,400.00


88.50


700.00


95 Regional


132.75


96 Total Education


$305,238.86


Libraries


97


Libraries, Salaries and Wages .. $3,700.00


98 Expenses


1,100.00


99 Books


660.00


100 Total Libraries


$5,460.00


Recreation


101


Playgrounds, both fields


$1,500.00


102 Expenses


150.00


103 Total Recreation


$1,650.00


Cemeteries


104 Cemeteries, Salaries and Wages $11,200.00


105 Expenses


2,500.00


106 Total Cemeteries ... $13,700.00


Planning Board


107 Planning Board, Expenses $650.00


108 Service Fees


1,150.00


109 Total Planning Board


$1,800.00


40


Other Classified Expenses


110


Town Reports


$2,222.57


111 Workmen's Compensation


2,000.00


112 Surety Bonds


675.00


113 Legal Services, Board of Select- men


500.00


114 Fire Insurance, Town Buildings


1,100.00


115 Memorial Day


600.00


116 Pension Fund


3,792.00


117


Pension Fund Expense


205.50


118 Military Service Fund


19.32


119 Board of Appeals, Expenses


50.00


120 Miscellaneous


1,500.00


121 Total Other Classified Expenses


$12,664.39


Amortization and Interest Requirements for the Bonded Indebtedness of the Town and the Regional School District


122


Elementary and High School


Maturing Debt


$16,000.00


123


Interest


4,930.00


124


Blanchard Auditorium Maturing Debt


20,000.00


125


Interest


1,200.00


126


Regional School Maturing Debt


24,700.00


127


Interest


33,345.00


128


Surface Drainage Mohawk Drive


and Seneca Road, Maturing Debt


5,000.00


129 Interest


262.50


130


Anticipation of Revenue Notes, Interest


500.00


131 Total Amortization and Interest


Requirements


$105,937.50


Total Budget


$674,758.75


Special Articles


Art. 5 Vocational Tuition and Trans. $2,000.00


Art. 6 Physical Education 1,000.00


Art. 7 Water Safety Account 500.00


Art. 16 Brook at Homestead Street 9,500.00


41


Art. 22 Eradication of Poison Ivy


1,000.00


Art. 23 Stabilization Fund 5,000.00


Art. 24 New Construction (Mass. Ave.) 7,000.00 Art. 30 Officer and Employee Insur- ance 1,200.00


Art. 31 Boiler and Machinery Insur- ance policy 778.24


Art. 32 West and South Water Supply District - Hosmer Street .. 123.50


Art. 35 Fire Alarm System 1,500.00


Total to be raised and appro- priated under Special Ar- ticles


$29,601.74


Transfers


Art. 4 Item 63 - Snow Removal


$5,000.00


Art. 16 Brook at Homestead Street ..


5,000.00


Art. 19 Blanchard Auditorium 4,400.00


Art. 25 Sidewalks, Mass. Ave., West Acton


4,500.00


Art. 26 Sidewalks, South Acton


1,000.00


Art. 27 Highways


46,675.00


Art. 28 Machinery Account


3,000.00


Art. 29 Tractor Loader


9,500.00


Art. 33 Traffic Timer


450.00


Art. 36 Automatic Hose Reel


500.00


Art. 37 Base Radio Station


600.00


Art. 41 Reserve Fund


6,000.00


Total Transfers


$86,625.00


Grand Total


$790,985.49


Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 for the payment of voca- tional tuition and transportation according to the provisions of Chapter 74 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted Unanimously: To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 for the payment of vocational tuition and trans- portation according to the provisions of Chapter 74 of the General Laws.


42


Article 6. (Physical Education) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for the conduct of physical education and athletics by the School Department according to the provisions of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted unanimously: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for the conduct of physical education and ath- letics by the School Department according to the provisions of Chapter 71 of the General Laws.


Article 7. (Water Safety Program) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 to establish a special Water Safety Account for the support of the summer Water Safety Program which is jointly spon- sored 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 8. (Primary School Addition) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of constructing an addition to the Julia L. McCarthy Primary School and for originally equipping and furnishing said addition, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted to pass over the article.


Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sum of money for the purpose of converting the present High School Building to accommodate elementary school pupils, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted to pass over the article.


Article 10. (Renovate High School) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to reno- vate. the present High School Building, or take any other action relative thereto.


Motion was made that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $42,500.00 for the installation in the present High School building of new heating, ventilating, and air condi-


43


tioning equipment, and for the installation of acoustical ceilings.


This motion failed to pass.


At 11:15 P. M. it was voted to adjourn and resume the Town Meeting, March 19, 1956 at 7:30 P.M. at the Blan- chard Auditorium.


The adjourned Town Meeting was called to order by the Moderator at 7:30 P. M., March 19, 1956 with 6 voters pres- ent, namely : Moderator, Albert P. Durkee; Town Clerk, Harlan B. Tuttle; Selectman, Leo C. Cunningham; Police Officer, David Scribner; Planning Board Member, Aubrey Kretschmar; Custodian of Blanchard Auditorium, Emery D. Nelson and his son Robert Nelson. Because of the bliz- zard the meeting was adjourned to Wednesday, March 21, 7:30 P. M. at the Blanchard Auditorium.


The Moderator called the meeting to order at 7:30 P. M., Wednesday, March 21, 1956.


Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to purchase, take by eminent domain or otherwise acquire for the Town for school purposes, land currently owned by Maynard Building Supply, Inc. and being shown as lots 2, 3 and 4 on a Plan by McCarthy Engineering Service, Inc., which plan is dated May 4, 1955 and recorded in the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds in Book 8483, Page 154, bounded and described as follows: Southerly by Main Street 450 feet, Westerly by land now or formerly of Kelley 249.68 feet, Northerly by land of Town of Acton 490 feet and Easterly by land now or formerly of George S. Todd, et al. 189.09 feet; and to see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted unanimously to pass over the article.


Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to purchase, take by eminent domain or otherwise acquire for the Town for school purposes, land currently owned by Maynard Building Supply, Inc. and being shown as lot 4 on a Plan by MacCarthy Engineering Service, Inc.,


44


which plan is dated May 4, 1955 and recorded in the Middle- sex South District Registry of Deeds in Book 8483, Page 154, bounded and described as follows: Southerly by Main Street 150 feet, Westerly by lot #3, 200 feet, Northerly by land of the Town of Acton 190 feet and Easterly by land now or formerly of George S. Todd, et al. 189.09 feet; and to see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted unanimously to pass over the article.


Article 13. 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 Four (4) Business District, or take any other action relative thereto.


3. Area Regulation. A structure erected for resi- dential purposes in a Business Zone shall conform to the area, setback, side and rear line restrictions as set forth in Section Three (3) of the Protective Zoning By-Law of the Town of Acton.


Voted unanimously to pass over the article.


Article 14. 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 Eight (8) of Section Six (6) Administration, or take any other action relative thereto.


8. No new construction, or alteration of an existing structure that would cause a physical change affecting the zoning regulations as applicable to the building if altered, may be started without a permit from the Board of Selectmen. The application for permit should be filed at least fifteen (15) days prior to the start of con- struction or alteration.


Voted unanimously to pass over the article.


Article 15. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a permanent building committee to be known as the Town Building Committee; said Committee to be composed of five members and of the members first ap- pointed, one is to serve for one year, one is to serve for two years, two are to serve for three years and one is to serve for four years and thereafter appointments are to be for four year terms; with one member of said Committee to be


45


appointed upon the recommendation of the board or com- mittee within the scope of whose supervision and management the then contemplated building or structure will fall; vacan- cies during any term to be filled as provided in Section 11 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws; said Committee to have general supervision over the design and construction of pub- lic buildings, including the authority to employ professional assistance and, subject to specific authorization by the Town, to enter into contracts on behalf of the Town for the pre- paration of construction plans and specifications and for the construction of buildings and other structures, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To authorize the Selectmen to appoint a Perman- ent Building Committee of four members, one member for one year, one for two years, one for three years and one for four years; these four appointed members to be aug- mented by one additional member; with this additional mem- ber to be appointed upon the recommendation of the board or committee within the scope of whose supervision and man- agement the then contemplated building or structure will fall; vacancies during any term to be filled as provided in Section 11 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws; said Commit- tee to have general supervision over the design and construc- tion of public buildings, including the authority to employ professional assistance and, subject to specific authorization by the Town to enter into contracts on behalf of the Town for the preparation of construction plans and specifications and for the construction of buildings and other structures.


Article 16. (Brook Improvement) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $14,500.00 to define and improve 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, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $5,000.00 and raise and appropriate the sum of $9,500.00 to define and improve 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.


Article 17. (Building By-Law) To see if the Town will vote to adopt, amend and adopt, or reject the Proposed Build-


46


ing By-Law of the Town of Acton as printed in the 1955 Town Report, under authority of Chapter 40, Section 25 of the General Laws, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To adopt the Proposed Building By-Law of the Town of Acton as printed in the 1955 Town Report, under authority of Chapter 40, Section 25 of the General Laws. Moderator called for a hand vote and appointed the follow- ing tellers :


Raymond Gallant Malcolm Fullonton David Tinker


Robert Stow Frederick Harris Hayward Houghton


Vote


Yes 144


No


46


Article 18. (Unused Public Ways) To see if the Town will vote to discontinue as public ways fourteen currently unused and unsafe public ways of record, as shown on a Plan filed with the Town Clerk, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To change twelve (12) currently unused and un- safe public ways of record to private ways, as shown on a Plan filed with the Town Clerk.


Article 19. (Blanchard Auditorium) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to complete the grading and seeding on the front and west end of the Blanchard Auditorium, to install additional ventilation in the gymnasium, and to pay expenses incidental to the over- hauling and relaying of the gymnasium floor; said money to be spent by the Auditorium-Gymnasium Committee, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $3,000.00 to complete the grading and seeding on the front and west end of the Blanchard Auditorium; to transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $1,000.00 to install additional ventilation in the gymnasium and also transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $400.00 to pay expenses incidental to the overhauling and relaying of the gymnasium floor; said sums of money to be spent by the Auditorium Gymnasium Building Committee.


47


Article 20. (Town Dump) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00, or any other sum, for the extension of water to a place conveniently lo- cated in the center of the town dump and in conjunction therewith to erect a structure which will be used to store and protect equipment used on combustible material brought to the town dump, or take any other action relative thereto.


Motion made on this article failed to pass.


Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,500.00, or any other sum, to pay the cost of insurance against the various hazards described in an insurance report submitted to the Selectmen dated January 27, 1956. This sum, or any part thereof, to be ex- pended at the discretion of the Selectmen after consultation with the Finance Committee and the remainder, if any, to revert to the Surplus Revenue Account, or take any other action relative thereto.


Motion made on this article failed to pass.


Article 22. (Poison Ivy) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00, or any other sum, for the Tree Department for the eradication of poison ivy on the highways, streets and school grounds, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for the Tree Department for the eradication of poison ivy on the highways, streets and school grounds.


Article 23. (Stabilization Fund) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000.00, 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 as a Stabilization Fund.


Article 24. (Highways - Mass. Ave.) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,500.00 for new construction of Massachusetts Avenue, West Acton from Central Street easterly to the State Highway Bound, a distance of approximately 1,000 feet; said money to be used in conjunction with $7,500.00 to be allotted by the County, and $15,000.00 to be allotted by the State, or take any other action relative thereto.


48


Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000 for new construction of Massachusetts Avenue, West Acton from Central Street easterly to the State Highway Bound, a dis- tance of approximately 1,000 feet; said money to be used in conjunction with $7,000 to be allotted by the County, and $21,000.00 to be allotted by the State.


Article 25. (Sidewalks - West Acton) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00, or any other sum, for the replacement and construction of sidewalks on Massachusetts Avenue in West Acton, in con- junction with the new construction on Massachusetts Avenue in West Acton, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: That the sum of $4,500.00 be transferred from the Surplus Revenue Account for the replacement and construc- tion of sidewalks on Massachusetts Avenue in West Acton, in conjunction with the new construction on Massachusetts Avenue in West Acton.


The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 P. M. to be resumed Monday, March 26, 1956 at 7:30 P.M. at the Blanchard Auditorium.


The adjourned meeting was called to order by the Moder- ator, Monday, March 26, 1956 at 7:30 P. M.


Article 4. (Snow Removal) Motion was made to recon- sider Item 63 of Article, Snow Removal.


Voted unanimously: To raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000.00 and to transfer the sum of $5,000.00 from the Surplus Revenue Account to defray expenses of snow removal caused by recent heavy snow storms.


Article 26. (Sidewalks - South Acton) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00, or any other sum, for the installation of bituminous side- walks on Main Street from the Railroad Bridge to Flints Pharmacy and on School Street from the Railroad Bridge to the southeasterly entrance to the Railroad Station, and on School Street from Main Street at the Exchange Hall to the Elementary School in South Acton, or take any other action relative thereto.


49


Voted: To transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $1,000.00 for the installation of bituminous sidewalks on Main Street from the Railroad Bridge to Flints Pharmacy and on School Street from the Railroad Bridge to the south- easterly entrance to the Railroad Station, and on School Street from Main Street at the Exchange Hall to the Ele- mentary School in South Acton.


Article 27. (Highways) To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Surplus Revenue Account the amount of the State's and County's allotments for highways under Chapters 81 and 90; provided that the reimbursement be credited back to the Surplus Revenue Account, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $46,675.00 provided that the reimbursement be credited back to the Surplus Revenue Account. This sum to be made up as follows:


Chapter 81 Maintenance State $15,675.00


Chapter 90 Maintenance State


1,500.00


Chapter 90 Maintenance County


1,500.00


New Construction State


21,000.00


New Construction County


7,000.00


$46,675.00


Article 28. (Machinery Fund) To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $3,000.00 from the Machinery Fund to the Machinery Account, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To transfer the sum of $3,000.00 from the Machin- ery Fund to the Machinery Account.


Article 29. (Tractor-loader) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $9,500.00, or any other sum, for the purchase of a tractor-loader for the use of the Highway Department, and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to trade-in or sell the currently owned tractor- loader, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: That the Town transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $9,500.00 for the purchase of a tractor- loader for the use of the Highway Department, and authorize the Board of Selectmen to trade-in or sell the currently owned tractor-loader.


50


Article 30. (Insurance) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,200.00, or any other sum, to pay the cost of effecting insurance providing in- demnity 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 re- sulting therefrom, or for damage to property caused by opera- tion, 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.


Voted unanimously: To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,200.00 to pay the cost of effecting insurance providing in- demnity 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 damages 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 31. (Boiler Insurance) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate 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 unanimously: To raise and appropriate the sum of $778.24 to pay the cost of obtaining coverage of various objects suitable for insurance under a boiler and machinery policy.


Article 32. (Water District) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 as its con- tribution 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 Massachu- setts Avenue, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $123.50 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.


51


Article 33. (Traffic Timer) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $450.00, or any other sum, for the purchase of a Traffic Timer for the Police Department, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted: To transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $450.00 for the purchase of a Traffic Timer for the Police Department.


Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of five members to study the fire house situation and bring in recommenda- tions as requested by the New England Fire Insurance Rating Association, or take any other action relative thereto.


Voted to pass over this article.


Article 35. (Fire Alarm System) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00, or any other sum, for the extension of the Fire Alarm System; said sum to be used for an extension of the fire alarm cir- cuit from Main Street along Newtown Road to Maple Avenue, southerly along Maple Avenue to end, thence westerly on Newtown Road approximately 500 feet, thence northerly to Woodbury Lane and easterly on Woodbury Lane to Main Street, and to install one box, or take any other action rela- tive thereto.


Voted unanimously to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 for the extension of the Fire Alarm System; from Main Street along Newtown Road to Maple Avenue, southerly along Maple Avenue to end, thence westerly on Newtown Road approximately 500 feet, thence northerly to Woodbury Lane and easterly on Woodbury Lane to Main Street, and to install one box.


Article 36. (Hose reel) To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00, or any other sum, for the purchase and installation of an automatic hose reel for the forest fire truck, or take any other action relative thereto.




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