USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1956-1960 > Part 41
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Motion: To authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint an executive secretary in accordance with Section 23A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, as amended, or as the same may be amended, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,500.00 for the payment of salary for such executive secretary.
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Same tellers. Ballot vote.
Total-179. Yes-86. No-91. Blanks-2.
Motion did not prevail.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $500.00, or any other sum, for the purchase of a mud pump for the Highway Department, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the pur- chase of a mud pump for the Highway Department.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $600.00, or any other sum, for the purchase of a two-way radio for Highway Department truck, or take any other action relative thereto.
Motion: To raise and appropriate the sum of $600.00 for the purchase of a two-way radio for Highway Department truck.
Motion: Did not prevail.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $700.00, or any other sum, for the purchase of a snow plow for the Highway Department, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To appropriate from Surplus Revenue the sum of $700.00, for the purchase of a snow plow for the Highway Department.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate from available funds the sum of $605.00, or any other sum, for the purchase and installation of twelve (12) speed limit signs and additional street name signs, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of $605.00 for the purchase and installation of twelve (12) speed limit signs and 40 additional street signs on 20 posts.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $6,300.00, or any other sum, for the purpose of repairing and hot topping the Town Hall driveways, elimination of front circular drive and installation of septic tank and leaching field, or take any other action relative thereto.
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224th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Voted Unanmously : To raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for curbing the circular drive and installation of a septic tank and leaching field at the Town Hall.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the balance of Chapter 718 money to eliminate the dangerous condition caused by ledge in Taylor Road approximately 500 feet southerly of Main Street, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To appropriate $3,031.40, the balance of Chapter 718 money, to eliminate the dangerous condition caused by ledge in Taylor Road approximately 500 feet southerly of Main Street.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or appropriate from available funds the sum of $200.00 as its contribu- tion 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 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 Massachusetts Avenue.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following By-Law:
"All owners of land whereon is located an abandoned well or a well in use, must either provide a covering for such well capable of sustaining a weight of three hundred pounds or fill the same to the level of the ground. The penalty for the violation of this By-Law shall be a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or take any other action relative thereto. (Inserted by Board of Health) .
Motion: To adopt the following By-Law:
"All owners of land whereon is located an abandoned well or a well in use, must either provide a covering for such well capable of sustaining a weight of three hundred pounds or fill the same to the level of the ground. The penalty for the violation of this By-Law shall be a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
Motion: To amend by striking out "three hundred pounds" and inserting in place thereof "one hundred fifty pounds."
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Motion on amendment lost.
Voted Unanimously: To adoptd the following By-Law:
"All owners of land whereon is located an abandoned well or a well in use, must either provide a covering for such well capable of sustaining a weight of three hundred pounds or fill the same to the level of the ground. The penalty for the violation of this By-Law shall be a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
Article 37. To see if the Town will authorize the Moderator to appoint a Committee, to be known as the Town Sewerage Committee; said Committee to be composed of five members with two members to be appointed from the Board of Health, one member to be appointed from the Board of Selectmen, one member to be appointed from the Planning Board and one member to be appointed from the Town at large; if vacancies should occur, then such vacancies are to be filled by the Moderator in conformity with the aforementioned provisions; said Committee to study the general overall sewerage situation in the Town and the need or feasibility of a municipal sewerage system; said Com- mittee to report its findings and recommendations to the next Special Town Meeting or to the next Annual Town Meeting or take any other action relative thereto. (Inserted by Board of Health) .
Motion: To authorize the Moderator to appoint a Committee, to be known as the Town Sewerage Committee; said Committee to be com- posed of five members with two members to be appointed from the Board of Health, one member to be appointed from the Board of Selectmen, one member to be appointed from the Planning Board and one member to be appointed from the Town at large; if vacancies should occur, then such vacancies are to be filled by the Moderator in conformity with the aforementioned provisions; said Committee to study the general overall sewerage situation in the Town and the need or feasibility of a municipal sewerage system; said Committee to report its findings and recommendations to the next Special Town Meeting or to the next Annual Town Meeting.
Motion did not prevail.
Motion : To reconsider Article 29.
Motion withdrawn.
10:20 P. M. Voted to adjourn.
A true copy. Attest:
CHARLES M. MACRAE, Town Clerk.
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224th ANNUAL REPORT OF
ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SPECIAL TOWN MEETING NOVEMBER 23, 1959
Article 1. To hear and act upon the reports of any Boards or Committees wishing to submit reports at this time.
Final Report of Committee to Compile Trust Fund Data.
Voted Unanimously: That report be accepted with thanks and Committee be discharged.
FINAL REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO COMPILE TRUST FUND DATA.
A 48-page report with pertinent details on trust funds has been compiled by this committee and turned over to the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
The following recommendations were made in the report:
1. All original information establishing trust funds be filed in a safe place under the jurisdiction of the Town Clerk and that appropriate copies be distributed to town officials or others who are authorized to administer the funds.
2. That the Treasurer of the Town of Acton or other authorized officials having custody of trust funds in the Town, comply strictly with the provisions of each trust and with Chapter 44, Section 54 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relating to invest- ments for trust and cemetery perpetual care funds and any amend- ments or changes thereto.
3. That the Town of Acton exercise due diligence in accepting small trust funds which would prove to be more costly to administer than the income therefrom would warrant, in view of the constantly increasing costs of operating town business.
4. That the small Cemetery Surplus Fund be discontinued as a separate fund and returned to the Perpetual Cemetery Fund or spent.
5. That this report be retained in the office of the Town Clerk and made available for inspection by the residents of Acton, and that a master copy be kept in a safe place and changes and additions recorded as they occur.
The committee wishes to thank all of the town officials and others we have contacted from whom we have received full co-operation, and to the School Department of Acton for their assistance in typing certain
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of the reports. There have been no expenses incurred to the Town, by this committee.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD F. NORDBERG DAVID L. MAY HARRISON D. FOOTE
Report on Street Numbering.
Voted Unanimously: To accept as a Report of Progress.
REPORT OF STREET NUMBERING
In accordance with the article passed at the Annual Town Meeting, March 1959, existing street numbering in the Town has been inventoried, a new numbering system prepared and a summary made of street number- ing changes. The work was done under contract with Economic Development Associates, the same consultants who are doing compre- hensive planning for the Town.
As part of the survey, a base map of the Town was prepared from existing U. S. Geological Survey sheets on a 1 inch to 1,000 feet scale. This map was subdivided into 27 sections and each section blown up to produce a black and white print on a 1 inch to 200 feet scale. These prints which are 25" by 36", were used to record street numbers, new buildings and structure, names of families and other pertinent information which will be of value to the Assessors and for town planning purposes.
A field survey was made to determine whether there was evidence of any pattern or trend in the existing house numbering. No consistent system was found, but in order to avoid number changes for at least 80 per cent of the home owners, it was recommended by the Planning Board to keep present numbers where practicable. By adopting this policy, not over 20 per cent of existing numbers will have to be changed.
Three by five cards were made out for all existing dwellings, the name of the resident (or residents in case of a multiple family dwelling) and street number assigned were placed on the card. Notification will be sent to all residents whose numbers are changed, so that they can notify the Post Office, and their regular correspondents.
According to the Town By-Laws, all residences must be marked with street numbers at least three inches high and clearly visible from the road. If in doubt as to your proper number, contact the Selectmen's Office at the Town Hall.
By-products of the street numbering study and survey are many and are certain to prove useful to the Town in many ways.
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224th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Progress Report of the Planning Board on the Comprehensive Town Study.
Voted: To accept the Report.
PROGRESS REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD ON THE COMPREHENSIVE TOWN STUDY
At the annual town meeting held in March 1959, the town voted to appropriate the sum of $8000 for the purpose of hiring consultants to make a comprehensive study of the town to help guide the various boards and committees in planning for the future growth of the town. At the time it was hoped that half the money spent on comprehensive planning would be made available by the federal government under the Title VII Urban Renewal Program. At the time of the town meeting, there were no funds available and there was some question as to whether congress would appropriate additional funds. The planning board applied immediately through the Mass. Dept. 'of Commerce for matching funds under the Title VII Program. The consultants were hired but were instructed not to begin the program until we could ascertain the availability of federal funds. The program was held up until September. Congress has not as yet appropriated new funds. Therefore, the program is set up so that only money spent after approval can be reimbursed by the federal government. The money now being spent will, therefore, not be included in a Title VII Program. Rather than commit the town to the full program we have phased the work so that new proposals will be submitted by the consultant at intervals thereby allowing us to take advantage of federal aid at any time it may become available.
The first phase of the program, to be completed on December 31, 1959, calls for the expenditure of $3000 plus $500 for contingencies. This first phase will include studies in the following areas:
1. Land use study and maps
This study will include a land use map, a compilation of land use for the entire town, recorded primarily as industrial, commercial, resi- dential, agricultural, and public service uses. This survey will also include vacant land, and tax exempt properties as far as practical. An analysis and summary of the quantity and distribution of all uses will be prepared with particular attention being given to vacant land, its characteristic and potential development.
2. Population
A study of population trends and distribution within the town will be made simultaneously with land use. Location of all dwelling units will be plotted on a base map for use in connection with subsequent studies. Coupled with the land use study a forecast of population growth and potential can be established.
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3. Sewerage and drainage study
A review of the entire sewerage and drainage problem will be made, utilizing existing town studies and supplementing them with additional data as deemed necessary. The land use study and population forecast in "1" and "2" above respectively would also be used. A sum- mary report, including a program and recommendations to meet current and future sewerage and drainage needs, will be presented.
On November 9, 1959, Economic Development Associates made a progress report to the Planning Board, the Industrial Development Com- mittee, the Board of Health and the Selectmen.
Since this report was made so early in the program no conclusions or recommendations were made, and largely, the report was concerned with presenting a summary of methods and tools with which the con- sultants will work.
The final report on this first phase is scheduled for completion on December 31, 1959.
Report Concerning the Creation of a Special Town Engineer.
Voted: To accept the Report.
REPORT CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL TOWN ENGINEER
The Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen have been con- cerned about the quantity of engineering work, of a design and an inspection nature, that is continuing to require Town attention. This is presently handled by outside consultants, by the use of part time and full time appointed town officials, and by various members of the elected Town boards working in their spare time. It should be obvious to the student of Acton Town affairs that this arrangement can be looked upon as temporary, at best.
If we consider the engineering help required by the Planning Board, by the Highway Department and by the Selectmen, it is apparent that a civil engineer, with a suitable academic and professional background, can be gainfully employed on a fulltime basis. We therefore offer the follow- ing recommendations:
1. The Town should consider the hiring of a suitably qualified civil engineer on a full time basis. Starting salary should be roughly equivalent to $7,500 per year.
2. The costs of this engineer might be split between the various jobs going to make up this new position. On the basis of past years and immediately foreseeable future needs, this might be as follows:
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224th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Per Year
Planning Board
$1,000
12
Highway Department
2,000
22
Building Inspector
4,000
44
Subdivision Inspector
2,000
22
$9,000
100%
3. This Special Town Engineer would report to the Selectmen although the work load would need to be planned on a day to day basis. The timing of inspections of buildings and subdivisions under construc- tion is largely dictated by the specific by-laws, so that this work would necessarily take precedence. Other engineering activities would be planned on a longer range basis so that they would fit the timing of the inspection work.
4. On the occasions when another man was needed to assist in survey- ing (to hold the rod, to cut brush or to set stakes), this man could be borrowed from the highway department. This man ought not be needed for over ten hours per week. We recommend that the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee examine this proposal in detail with a view of offering a specific article for the Annual Town Meeting in March 1960.
Respectfully submitted, THE ACTON PLANNING BOARD By H. W. Flood
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $4,000.00 to the Snow Removal Account, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To appropriate from the Surplus Revenue Account the sum of $4,000.00 to the Snow Removal Account.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to increase the membership of the present Personnel Board from three to six members, and with the right to fill any vacancies, such appointments to be made in the following manner: two members for a term of one year, two members for a term of two years, and two members for a term of three years, thereafter the appointments shall be for a term of three years. Except as otherwise provided by law the Personnel Board shall have access to all facts, figures, records and other information relating to the personnel of town departments, other than the School Department unless requested by said department, and the same shall be furnished forthwith by any such department whenever so requested by
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
the Personnel Board and in such form as said Board may require, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To authorize the Board of Selectmen to increase the mem- bership of the present Personnel Board from three to six members, and with the right to fill any vacancies, such appointments to be made in the following manner: two members for a term of one year, two members for a term of two years, and two members for a term of three years, thereafter the appointments shall be for a term of three years. Except as otherwise provided by law the Personnel Board shall have access to all facts, figures, records and other information relating to the personnel of town departments, other than the School Department unless requested by said department, and the same shall be furnished forthwith by any such department whenever so requested by the Personnel Board and in such form as said Board may require.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of three members to be known as a Street Lighting Committee, and with the right to fill any vacancies, said committee to make studies of street lighting problems within the Town of Acton and to report to the Board of Selectmen, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a com- mittee of three members to be known as a Street Lighting Committee, and with the right to fill any vacancies, said committee to make studies of street lighting problems within the Town of Acton and to report to the Board of Selectmen.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the care, custody, management and control of the South Acton School site, located on School Street in said South Acton, from the School Committee to the Board of Selectmen, for the purpose of using said property as the site of a fire station, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted Unanimously: To transfer the care, custody, management and control of the South Acton School site, located on School Street in said South Acton, from the School Committee to the Board of Selectmen, for the purpose of using said property as the site of a fire station.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the care, custody, management and control of the West Acton School site, located on Massachusetts Avenue in said West Acton, from the School Committee to the Board of Selectmen, for the purpose of using said property as the site of a recreation area, or take any other action relative thereto.
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224th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Voted Unanimously: To transfer the care, custody, management and control of the West Acton School site, located on Massachusetts Avenue in said West Acton, from the School Committee to the Board of Selectmen, for the purpose of using said property as the site of a recreation area.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to insert a new section, numbered 14A, to the Building By-Law of the Town of Acton, or take any other action relative thereto:
Section 14A. Heating Equipment: Kerosene stoves and portable kerosene heaters, (non-flue connected heater types) shall be barred from use in a dwelling, a business or an industrial establishment in the Town of Acton, and all other oil and gas fired heaters must bear approval label as a result of tests and listing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and a permit shall have been issued by the head of the Fire Department for its use, before a permit of occu- pancy is issued. Approved non-flue connected heaters may be used temporarily during construction on approval of the head of the Fire Department.
Voted Unanimously: To insert a new section, numbered 14A, to the Building By-Law of the Town of Acton.
Section 14A. Heating Equipment: Kerosene stoves and port- able kerosene heaters, (non-flue connected heater types) shall be barred from use in a dwelling, a business or an industrial establish- ment in the Town of Acton, and all other oil or gas fired heaters must bear approval label as a result of tests and listing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and a permit shall have been issued by the head of the Fire Department for its use, before a permit of occupancy is issued. Approved non-flue connected heaters may be used temporarily during construction on approval of the head of the Fire Department.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 5 of the Building By-Law of the Town of Acton by striking out that portion of this section following the phrase, "Fees shall be paid as follows:" and substituting the following: or take any other action relative thereto:
For work estimated to cost less than $1,000, the fee shall be $1.00. Fees, for work estimated to cost more than $1,000, shall be fifteen one hundredths of one percent (0.15%) of the estimated cost of the work. ($1.50 per thousand)
Voted Unanimously: To amend Section 5 of the Building By-Law of the Town of Acton by striking out that portion of this section follow-
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ing the phrase, "Fees shall be paid as follows:" and substituting the following:
For work estimated to cost less than $1,000, the fee shall be $1.00. Fees, for work estimated to cost more than $1,000, shall be fifteen one hundredths of one percent (0.15%) of the estimated cost of the work. ($1.50 per thousand)
Article 9. 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 northeasterly direction from Paul Revere Road to a turn-around, a distance of approxi- mately four hundred twenty-two (422) feet, said road to be known as Betsy Ross Lane, and said road to be maintained by the developer for a period of one year after acceptance, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: To pass over the article.
Article 10. 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 an easterly direction from Conant Street to a turn-around directly in front of Lot # 19 and Lot # 20, a distance of approximately six hundred (600) feet, said road to be known as Country Club Road, and said road to be maintained by the developer for a period of one year after acceptance, or take any other action relative thereto.
Voted: 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 an easterly direction from Conant Street to a turn- around directly in front of Lot #19 and Lot #20 a distance of approxi- mately six hundred (600) feet, said road to be known as Country Club Road, and said road to be maintained by the developer for a period of one year after acceptance.
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