USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1962-1964 > Part 20
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Equipment and Furnishings 12,676.64
TOTAL $111,299.34
The Architect's fee of $10,000.00 was appropriated from surplus revenue and $8,382.93 was actually spent.
2. Elementary School
Architects Collaborative revised the drawings and estimated the cost to complete the Elementary School at around $900,000.00. At a special Town Meeting on March 12, 1963, the Town approved this sum.
The State Board of Health informed this Committee that the Arlington Street Site was not suitable for the proposed Elementary School.
" Since there has been no land made available the Committee has not been able to work on this project.
The expenditures on this project to date have been $19,973.36.
3. Acton Police Station
The Committee submitted four articles at the annual Town Meeting of March 11, 1963. On October 28, 1963, the Town approved the sum of $8,000.00 for land and preliminary drawing for a Police Station.
The State Board of Health informed this Committee that their percola- tion tests. indicated that the Site was suitable for the proposed Police Station.
The Committee interviewed several Architectural Firms and awarded the firm of Underwood and Shannon the contract.
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228th ANNUAL REPORT OF
4. Library Addition
The sum of $5,000.00 was appropriated for preliminary drawings by the Town of Acton on October 28, 1963, for the Library addition. The Firm of Joseph Schiffer of Concord was awarded the architects contract.
Respectfully Submitted,
ARNOLD H. MERCIER, Chairman WARREN W. WHEELER FLOYD W. PRIEST JOSEPH S. COBB EDWARD J. COLLINS, Police Chief
FRANK GARBARINO, Library Committee EDWIN RICHTER, School Committee
REPORT OF THE BUILDING INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith respectfully submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1963.
Permits Issued
Areas
No. of Permits
Estimated Cost
Residential
Single Dwellings
115
$2,019,700.00
Duplex
14
245,500.00
Additions, Repairs and Residential Garages
98
184,335.00
Municipal Nature
1
200,000.00
Water Reservoir Church
1
1 40,000.00
Business
New and Additions
12
142,500.00
Industrial
New and Additions
4
132,500.00
Swimming Pools
7
12,650.00
Total
252
$3,076,685.00
Expenses
Wages and Travel
97.50
Total
$
6,018.51
Fees Returned
$ 5,921.01
Supplies
$ 10.50
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
Receipts
Fees For Permits
$ 4,957.25
Violations of Zoning Laws
No. of Violations
Action
Earth Removal
1
Sign Licenses
13
Stopped 4 Removed 9 Licensed
Apartments under adverse conditions 2
1 Semi-corrected
1 Pending
Swimming Pool without permit 1
1 Pending
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH E. JEWELL, Building Inspector
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS.
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
We hereby submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1963.
The amount of money collected by this department and turned into the Treasury can be found itemized in the Treasurer's report, also the Col- lector's report will show the amount collected for the annual care of lots not under perpetual care. We wish to point out to all lot owners who do not have perpetual care on their lots, that bills will be sent out this year for the annual care of their lots.
There were 69 interments made during the year, this is an increase of 17 more than in 1962. There were sold 10 new lots and 21 single grave spaces sold during the year 1963.
In Woodlawn Cemetery the stumps from a cleared area were removed and this section rough graded this fall. In the spring it is intended to grade, seed and to lay out this section into new lots. A drainage project was started in this cemetery, to take care of the surface water in the winter and spring time. Some new trees and shrubs have been set out, also some improve- ments have been made near the Veteran's Lot.
In Mt. Hope Cemetery it is planned to remove the stumps from a cleared area and to lay out a new road, also to grade, seed and to lay out new lots. Some of the trees in this cemetery have been trimmed, removing dead branches and removing several large trees which had become infected with the Dutch Elm.
An article has been inserted in the annual warrant, asking for money to oil the roads in this cemetery, as the last time any work was done on them was in 1954. These roads are starting to break up and if they are not fixed
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228th ANNUAL REPORT OF
soon it will cost a great more than what we are asking to put them back in proper shape.
Respectfully submitted,
HARLAN E. TUTTLE HARRY E. HOLT HOWARD F. JONES
Cemetery Commissioners
REPORT OF THE ACTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Commission met regularly on the first Thursday of each month.
The effort to preserve the Isaac Davis Trail has continued this past year
Early in the year, the Commission focused its attention on Nashoba Brook with the long range plan to acquire land along the brook within the borders of the town to insure that this multiple asset (water supply, drainage facility, flood and drought protection, and recreational source) be maintained in its present state for this generation and generations to follow. A similar approach to Fort Pond Brook will be initiated soon. The recently formed Acton Land Trust figures to play a prominent part in these projects. Nasho- ba Brook and Fort Pond Brook constitute a resource heritage of vast im- portance to all of us in Acton.
Mr. Henry Erikson deserves credit for making the first step forward in this project by leasing to the Commission a portion of land on Nashoba Brook. In addition, he made a gift of land with frontage on the brook to the Acton Boy Scouts.
The Soil Maps voted last year have proven to be a valuable aid to the Commission.
We sincerely hope that any person in the town who is interested in these two streams or any matter pertaining to conservation in Acton will not hesi- tate to contact the Commission. To attain our conservation goal we will need cooperation and assistance from many of our townspeople.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT J. ELLIS JOHN A. JEFFRIES, JR. WILLIAM L. KINGMAN MRS. DAVID L. MAY JAMES M. SHEPARD DAVID P. TINKER THOMAS E. WETHERBEE, Chairman
REPORT OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The year 1963 has passed without any significant international crisis and public interest in Civil Defense has been minimal. At the same time, the renewed financial support which the legislature has given to the State Civil Defense organization has brought about the assignment of new personnel at
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
various State levels and the implementation of additional training courses and the formation of an efficient State organization.
The most significant of these improvements was the reopening of Section 1C Civil Defense Headquarters at Bedford which is the next highest echelon of command to the Acton Civil Defense Agency. The reopening of this head- quarters provides a local point for our communications operation and for training courses, it reduces travel time for monthly meetings and it provides a grouping of fifteen adjacent towns into a mutual aid group.
Typical of the training courses available at the Sector level was a Radio- logical course attended by six members of Acton's Civil Defense Agency who received training in the actual use of radioactive fallout detection instru- ments. It is planned that members of other municipal departments in Acton will attend similar courses in the coming year.
Contrary to last year's report wherein it stated that no buildings in Acton, suitable for fallout shelters, were found in the survey conducted by the Corps of Engineers, a re-evaluation made by them in 1963 has estab- lished that a basement area in the Blanchard Auditorium is suitable and has a capacity of 56 persons. This location has been stocked with emergency food rations and will be marked with signs early in 1964. A survey of new buildings has been requested for 1964 to increase Acton's shelter capacity.
A comprehensive Operations Plan for all Civil Defense actions in Acton under various emergencies has been completed and submitted to the Massa- chusetts Civil Defense Agency for approval. This report contains 76 text pages and two maps and its preparation and submission is a requirement for Acton's participation in Federal matching funds programs. A copy is on file in the Selectmen's Office. This Operations Plan was prepared by Acton's Director from a basic plan prepared by the State and contains a letter of authorization for the Director's action in emergencies signed by the Select- men.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. MCLAUGHLIN, Director
REPORT OF THE DOG OFFICER
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen: Acton, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report for the year ending 1963.
Calls & complaints handled
189
Notices to owners of unlicensed dogs
221
Stray dogs picked up 41
Dogs disposed of 7
Dogs returned to owners
34
Respectfully submitted, CARL W. FLINT
Dog Officer - Town of Acton, Mass.
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228th ANNUAL REPORT OF
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ELIZABETH WHITE FUND
For Year Ending December 31, 1963
The trustees of this fund have signed orders to the Town Treasurer totaling $791.85 (Seven hundred ninety-one dollars and eighty-five cents).
Respectfully submitted,
HAZEL P. VOSE ELEANOR P. WILSON HELEN B. WOOD
Trustees of the Elizabeth White Fund
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby respectfully submit my Annual Report for the Engineering De- partment for 1963.
During that year the following work was done:
I. All routine work of the Department such as:
1. Inspecting road and drain construction in new subdivisions.
2. Checking new plans for the following subdivisions subsequently approved by the Planning Board:
Simon Hapgood Lane; Brookview Subdivision; Flagg Hill Estates, Section IV; Faulkner Hill, Section II; Hamblin Park; Meadow Brook; Minuteman Ridge; Parker Village; Meadow Land; and Town House Acres.
3. Revising and up-dating town maps.
4. Laying out and drawing up drainage easements.
5. Metes-and-bounds description of all roads to be accepted by the Town.
6. Attendance at evening meetings as requested with the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board, the School Committee, the Fi- nance Committee, the Recreation Commission, the Conservation Commission, and the Board of Health, and attendance at daytime hearings at the Middlesex County Engineers.
II. Work on specific projects as per instruction by the Board of Selectmen:
1. Field location work, preparatory to the laying out of the following unsurveyed roads:
a) High Street
b) Martin Street
c) Elm Street
d) Summer Street
e) North, South and Cross Streets
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
2. Calculation and drawing up of plans for the street relocation of the intersection Parker Street and Independence Road.
3. Design, specifications and construction supervision of one double tennis court, near the Julia McCarthy School, for the Recreation Commission.
4. Field investigation, drawing of sketches and recommendations con- cerning actions proposed by miscellaneous Boards at various Town meetings.
5. Intermittent work on Assessors' Maps.
6. Grades and field engineering at drain installation at Central Street and Church Street in West Acton.
7. Grades and lines for new parking lot behind the West Acton Fire Station.
8. Lot line stake-out of new Police Station land.
9. Preliminary investigation concerning the relocation of High Street near Powder Mill Road.
10 Design and inspection of installation of a drainage system near the intersection of Forest Road and Whittier Drive.
11. Surveying and plotting of Library land for new extension.
During the year 1963 the Town voted to acquire a detailed Soil Study from the United States Department of Agriculture, Soils Stabilization Serv- ice. This expenditure, in my opinion, was a very foresighted one and it will prove its beneficial value to the Town in the years of growth to come as it already has at the specific cases in which it was used.
Last summer we continued with the practice of hiring seasonal survey help and found it a satisfactory solution, since it enables us to gather enough field survey data to keep us going through the winter with calculations and drawings without materially adding to the overall budget.
May I express my thanks to all citizens and citizen's groups and to the members of the Town Administration for their cooperation and help.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED K. HANACK
Town Engineer
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228th ANNUAL REPORT OF
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my thirty-first annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1963.
Total number of alarms responded to are as follows:
Residential
24
Non-Residential .
2
Mercantile
4
Manufacturing
2
Miscellaneous
4
Grass and Brush
105
Automobile, etc.
25
False Alarms .
9
Smoke scares and accidential alarms
24
Accidents and emergencies
71
Out of Town
5
275
Loss to Buildings
$ 95,633.83
Loss to Contents
24,670.01
Loss to Automobiles
8,719.00
Total Loss
$129,022.84
Permits Issued:
Oil and Power Burners
117
Bottled Gas
13
Blasting .
22
Open Air Fires
854
Inspections and investigations
1,313
2,319
Collected for Permits .
$ 75.00
Collected Rents at Station #1
75.00
Collected Rents at Station # 2
81.25
Collected Rents at Station # 3
555.00
$ 786.25
Article #37 not complete at this time.
Article #39 not complete at this time.
New alarm Boxes installed this year:
Box # 355 on Joseph Reed Lane at Capt. Furbush Lane (by developer) Box # 356 on Deacon Hunt Drive at Joseph Reed Lane (by developer) Box #127 on Great Road at Wetherbee Street Box #155 on Great Road at Esterbrook Road
Box #1233 on Main Street at Isaac Davis Way
Box #1 413 on Main Street at Brook Street
Box # 319 on Birch Ridge Road
Box # 337 on Arlington Street near Daniel Sweeney
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
1964 Program
Stabilization Fund - $10,000.00.
Fire Alarm Extension:
On Spruce Street to End. On Kinsley Road to End.
Fire Apparatus:
I have an article in to replace the Ladder Truck at South Acton. This truck is twenty-one years old and has out-lived its usefulness. I have in mind replacing this piece of apparatus with a modern aerial-type ladder which will operate more effectively with less man-power. As it is now, we have to depend on Maynard or Concord for equipment of this kind.
There was an increase in the number of alarms this year which could be attributed to the weather and growth of the Town. However, I feel this is normal according to the size of the Town.
With the exception of Engine #4, which needs some repairs, the rest of the equipment is in good condition.
In closing, I wish to thank the fire fighters and the Auxiliary for their co-operation throughout the year. I also wish to thank the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, Personnel Board, the Clerical Staff at the Town Hall, and all others who have contributed to the support and opera- tion of the Fire Department.
Respectfully submitted,
H. S. MacGREGOR
Chief of Fire Department
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE GOODNOW FUND
For the year ending December 31, 1963
INVESTMENTS
Charlestown Savings Bank $
465.54 Concord Co-operative Bank 3,000.00
$3,465.54
RECEIPTS
Charlestown Savings Bank .
19.47
Concord Co-operative Bank
120.00
139.47
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228th ANNUAL REPORT OF
EXPENDITURES
Treasurer of the Evangelical Church in Acton .. $ 119.47 Town of Acton for the perpetual care of Goodnow Lot in Woodlawn Cemetery. 20.00
$ 139.47
THELMA L. BOATMAN, TR. CLARK C. McELVEIN JAMES N. GATES
Trustees of Goodnow Fund
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen: Acton, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Board of Health herewith submits its report for the year ending December 31, 1963, together with the reports of other departments con- nected with it.
In June of 1963 the membership of the Acton Board of Health was changed by the resignation of Dr. David L. Smith, who had been a member for two years. This change was due to the fact that Dr. Smith had moved to the Town of Littleton, Mass., thus making him no longer eligible to hold pub- lic office in Acton. The other board members and its staff would wish to thank Dr. Smith for the time and effort that he devoted to the solution to the problems that confronted the Board of Health.
The Acton Board of Selectmen and Health met in joint session to fill this vacancy, "as outlined in the General Laws of The Commonwealth". It was the sense of this meeting that the many problems that confront the Board of Health required more time than the Town had a right to expect a doctor to be able to grant to the town in view of their already busy schedule. With the knowledge that the Town is adequately covered by the appointment of a local doctor to run the clinics and to act in an advisory capacity, the group elected Mr. Jay S. Grumbling to fill the vacancy. Mr. Grumbling comes to the Board of Health with a strong background in Sanitary Engineer- ing. He is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and has a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is employed by the engineering firm of Metcalf & Eddy. With over 70% of the problems coming before the Board of Health being concerned with sewage disposal, the Town is fortunate in having a person with Mr. Grumbling's background.
A large percentage of Acton's population is in a stage of transition. They either have just arrived or are making plans to leave town due to business transfers. Because of this the Board of Health would like to take advantage of the opportunity to mention the fact that Acton does not have municipal sewerage disposal works. Each house has an individual system made up of a septic tank and leaching field. The Town of Acton can give no assurance that these systems will continue to work indefinitely without being inspected at least once a year and pumped out at least every two years or oftener as conditions warrant. Heavy equipment should be kept away from the disposal area as well as any planting of trees or nursery stock. It would be helpful for new owners to obtain from the previous owner a detailed plan
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
of the system as well as a service history which would indicate if there has been any alteration or addition to the existing system. It is the responsibil- ity of each home owner to maintain his system in proper working order, free from any conditions which would constitute a hazard to himself of his neigh- bor, or the Town.
The Board of Health sponsored an article on the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting for the year 1964 requesting that the Town authorize the form- ation of a Sewerage Study Committee. A subsequent article requested the Town to vote approval for the committee to apply for an advance of funds from the U. S. Government to be used in making surveys, cost estimates re- ports and preliminary plans for a Town Sewage Collection System and Sewage Treatment Facility.
The survey and planning work would be done by an engineer selected and employed by the Sewerage Study Committee. The information obtained would enable the Town to purchase land to be used for a treatment plant site.
The proposed plan for sewer construction would permit permanent ease- ments to be obtained in advance and enable the Town to provide for construc- tion of sewers without extra cost for property damage or expensive detours.
The construction of a Town Sewerage System will cost money, but the amount can not be determined without a plan. This plan must be approved by both the State and Federal Government before any construction can be con- sidered. It will take a long time before any Town money can be spent, but as this time passes the Town will be able to intelligently plan its financial obli- gations.
About four years ago, the Town was told that a sewerage system would be needed in ten years. The Board of Health has requested that a study be undertaken to develop plans for Town Sewerage on previous warrants and are again sponsoring such an article. The Board is convinced that the sewerage system will be needed to serve the population centers of West Acton and South Acton before the year 1970, with or without the continued explosive growth. The time to plan is now and the provisions of Public Law 560, 83rd Congress of the United States make funds available for this purpose.
The Housing and Home Finance Administrator is authorized by the Congress to make interest-free, repayable advances of fund to States, municipalities and other local public agencies to aid in financing the cost of plan preparation for specific public works projects. The Act specifically provides that:
1. The making of an advance will not in any way commit the Federal Government to appropriate funds to assist in financing the construction of any public work so planned.
2. Advances will be repaid without interest by the applicant when con- struction is started.
3. If a public agency starts construction of only a portion of a planned public work, it will repay such proportionate amount of the advance as the Housing and Home Finance Administrator may determine to be equitable.
4. If an advance is not repaid promptly upon the start of construction, interest at the rate of four per centum per annum will be charged.
Advances will only be made for planning public works expected to be placed under construction within five years. Advances may be requested to finance preliminary, final or both types of planning. However, applicants are urged to restrict their applications to aid in preliminary planning. This
197
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228th ANNUAL REPORT OF
will permit assistance to the maximum number of communities and develop the largest number of planned projects. Preliminary plans also are less likely to become obsolete during the period between plan preparation and actual construction. Whenever fund limitations make it necessary, priority will be given to applications covering only preliminary plans.
Preliminary planning should include all investigations and surveys needed as a basis for decisions by the applicant's officials regarding type, size and scope of the public work, and for reliable estimates of construc- tion cost. These may include photogrammetric surveys, foundation explora- tion, test pits, core drilling, water source investigations, both surface and sub-surface, and preparation of topographic charts, plans, specifications, and other specific data. Final planning is based on preliminary planning and includes preparation of all detailed plans, and specifications required before construction bids can be obtained.
An advance will be approved only for a specific public work, but more than one advance may be requested by one applicant. A separate application is required for each advance requested.
The Town of Acton has maintained an orderly expansion as the population of the Town has grown from 3,510 in the year 1950 to 7,238 in 1960. The Town has continued to grow in the past three years and estimates for the year 1970 consider a population as high as 13,000 persons.
The major growth in population is occurring in the areas South and West of Mass. Highway Rt. 2, fanning out from the population centers of West Acton and South Acton. This area is otherwise defined as the Fort Pond Drainage Area and the continuing construction of houses surrounding the Fort Pond Brook is converting the area into a densely populated urban area of some 12 persons per acre.
At present, over 72 percent of the Town population is located in the Fort Pond Drainage area. About 50 percent or nearly half of the Town population is located in West Acton. These populations are located on 46 percent of the total Town land area with the larger West Acton population located on only 10 percent of the total Town land. At present nearly all new house construc- tion is being done in this same area.
The Fort Pond Drainage area is presently being developed in accordance with the zoning by-laws. The need for the construction of a sewerage system in this area was defined in the master plan but, unfortunately, the area has been largely developed before the more stringent Intensity Regulations recommended in the master plan were adopted. There are and have been problems with household sewage disposal systems in this area and every indication suggests that there will be a steady increase.
What are the sewage disposal problems in the Fort Pond Drainage area and the Town of Acton?
1. Owners of some older homes do not have sufficient land area to con- struct adequate household sewage disposal systems.
2. Owners of some newer homes on 20,000 square feet lots have ex- panded household sewage disposal systems to the extent that the total avail- able land within the property lines has been used.
3. Of the failures in household sewage disposal systems, for which re- pair permits were issured in the years 1960 to 1963 inclusive, 78% were in the Fort Pond Drainage area.
4. All failures reported, occurred in those areas not recommended for subsurface sewage disposal by the recent soils survey. According to the
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