USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1962-1964 > Part 33
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Several special events were added to the regular program - a visit to Acton by the M.D.C. Zoo, a Gala Family Night at Jones Field, and the Playground Olympics to wind up the summer season. These proved very successful and more are planned for next year.
The swimming classes were continued at Walden Pond under the joint sponsorship of the Concord Chapter, American Red Cross and the Walden District Water Safety Council. Beginning in 1965 the Council will administer the entire program and each member town will be charged according to the number of children participating in the program.
During the past year the Acton Recreation Commission has continued to utilize and improve areas now under the ownership of the Town of Acton. Since early spring we have been working with the United States
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, and various Boards and Committees in Acton doing preliminary work toward the future es- tablishment of a swimming facility. With the background information now available we have inserted an article in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant requesting a sum of money that will allow the Recreation Commission to thoroughly complete the tests necessary for this project.
A well qualified Director, enthusiastic staff, new program ideas but mostly YOU the Acton taxpayer, have all contributed toward making 1964 a banner year in the field of Recreation for the town. Again our thanks to the Board of Selectmen and all the people who so generously gave their time to our program.
Respectfully submitted, GLADYS K. MASON, Chairman HELEN MOLAND, Secretary WILLIAM J. PHILLIPS CHARLES W. PAPPAS MARTIN SCANLAN
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1964:
Total number of devices inspected and sealed, 180. Sealing fees collected and paid to Treasurer, $140.20.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE K. HAYWARD Sealer of Weights and Measures
REPORT OF THE STREET LIGHT COMMITTEE
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
On December 31, 1964, there were 458 street lights in the Town as against 364 when this committee was formed in 1960.
Throughout the year, new lights have been installed in needed loca - tions and in several cases existing lights have been replaced by higher lumen lamps.
We subscribe to the policy adopted with the formation of the com- mittee that new street lights will be installed only at street intersections, dangerous curves and locations designated as hazardous by the Fire Chief, Police Chief or this committee.
Our suggested budget for 1965 includes a 3% increase of the 1964 street light bill. This 3% figure should not be exceeded unless there is unexpected industrial development in the Town.
We extend to the Board of Selectmen our sincere appreciation for their cooperation during the year 1964.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH F. BUSHELL, Chairman BYRD D. GOSS LESLIE F. PARKE
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229th ANNUAL REPORT OF
REPORT OF THE SEWERAGE STUDY COMMITTEE
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Sewerage Study Committee was authorized and assigned certain tasks by articles 30 and 31 of the last Annual Town Meeting. This first partial year has been consumed in organization and orientation. The latter element consisted of meetings and conferences with technical personnel in the field of sanitary engineering. As a preliminary step to selection of a consulting engineer to conduct the detailed sewerage report, eleven (11) engineering firms were interviewed. Out of these interviews, four (4) Boston organizations were selected as warranting a detailed plant or office survey. The firm of Metcalf and Eddy was finally selected. However, a contract will not be consumated until allocation of federal funds under Public Law 560, 83rd Congress, as amended by P.L. 345, 84th Congress. The application for federal funds is being completed.
A comprehensive work statement has been prepared and acknowledged by the consultant detailing the accomplishments to be performed under his contract.
Mr. R. S. Greeley of the State Health Office has attended meetings and responded to all questions of procedure and technical background. Meetings were convened with other Town Board Committees, and indi- viduals wherein coordination or inputs were advisable. Sewage disposal plants were investigated at Derry, New Hampshire; Clinton, Massachusetts and Omaha, Nebraska (at no cost to the town).
The present overall cost estimate is approximately 8 million dollars to provide optimal sewerage collection and disposal to the town. Under the normal planning, design, and funds appropriation procedures, the earliest possible date construction could be started will be 1967. The completed study effort will provide an orderly phasing to this entire construction program within certain economic restraints.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL R. NYQUIST, Chairman ALTON B. AVERY H. RAYMOND DURLING, Jr. ROBERT J. ELLIS BRUCE D. SMITH
PROGRESS REPORT OF SIDEWALK COMMITTEE
The Sidewalk Study Committee has met six times, and has (1) reviewed the existing sidewalks in the town (2) analysed the simplest and least expensive means of inter-connecting the major existing segments along major arteries, and (3) considered additional sidewalks to make more complete the cross town sidewalks along the major way of the town (Rte. 27 and Rte. 111). It was the consensus of the Com- mittee that a minimum inter-connection of the main parts of the town has become necessary for the convenience of the people of the town, both those who walk and those who drive. This represents a modest objective in the light of the substantial portion already existing.
(1) The enclosed map is marked to show the existing sidewalks.
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
There are a few "spot sidewalks" which are off the main roads and do not constitute portions of a through walk-way. This Committee has not given consideration to the improvement nor additions to such "spot sidewalks". The main bulk of the existing sidewalks i's along Routes 111 and 27 which inter-connect the principal parts of Acton. While not com- plete along either Routes 111 or 27, only minor additions are necessary to complete a section from South Acton to. Acton Center along Route 27, and from West Acton to Kelley's Corner along Route 111.
(2) The sections which are needed to complete the sidewalks along Route 27 include from Kelley's Corner to the Route 2 overpass, a short section, with right of way existing. The section across the overpass to Taylor Road is lacking in sidewalks, a heavy traffic area, and is one of the longest sections, being roughly 3/4 of a mile in length, with difficult topography.
Route 111 represents less length of addition, but has a unique problem The gap in the sidewalks is across Fort Pond Brook, and since Route 111 is a state highway, the cooperation of acquiescence of the state will be required to provide a foot bridge. On both sides of the bridge there are short sections which need paving. A section from Kelley's Corner towards the Route 2 entry would connect into an existing section which would tie in the Brucewood area.
(3) In addition to these inter-connections above, a few extensions will tie a large additional area, with substantial population, into this trunk system. At the South Acton end, a 2/3 mile extension beyond the railroad bridge area would tie in the densely housed areas along Main Street.
A very short addition of a few hundred feet to Route 111 at the West Acton end, from Wright Terrace to Juniper Ridge Road would add an access to a substantial area of recent housing.
If, in the future, road construction such as widening, or straighten- ing, of Central Street is contemplated, sidewalks to tie in Indian Village should be programmed in the road planning.
The total additions considered by this Committee represent a very minor addition to the sidewalk mileage in the town, less than 15%. Thus existing practices are not threatened, nor are new issues raised in the fields of maintenance or liability.
The preceding schedule of sidewalk additions is based on the con- venience of all the townspeople. It is suggested that the town consider a phased program, whereby a fixed sum (for example $5,000 per year) would be appropriated to spread the cost of the improvements over a period of years. In this way no single year will have a disturbingly large cost to raise the tax rate, and the small yearly investment will carry the trunk program to completion in a reasonably short time.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGARET M. COUGHLAN JOHN E. DUNPHY, Jr. FRANCIS J. SCHELL IRENE M. RHODES
Sidewalk Study Committee
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229th ANNUAL REPORT OF
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit a report of the activities and progress of the High- way Department for the year 1964.
Chapter 90 Construction
Construction of the new way on High Street could not be started be- cause no funds had yet been made available for the land takings involved.
Chapter 90 Maintenance
Mix-in-place, using crushed gravel and asphalt, was applied to 3300 feet of Central Street. This was followed by an asphalt and sand seal.
Chapter 81
Numerous streets were resurfaced with asphalt and then sanded. These streets were scraped, patched, and swept before resurfacing. These streets included:
Alcott Street
Minuteman Road
Barker Road Billings Street
* Nashoba Road North Street
* Charter Road (2600 feet) Country Club Road Cross Street
* Pearl Street River Street (2100 feet)
** Robbins Street (2200 feet) South Street Strawberry Hill Road
* * Duggan Road (750 feet) Esterbrook Road
Fairway Road Laurel Court Littlefield Road
* Marian Road (600 feet)
** Sudbury Road Wetherbee Street Wood Lane Woodbury Lane
* Indicates streets which were mixed-in-place.
** Indicates streets which were mixed-in-place, then oiled and sanded.
Drainage
The Central and Pearl Street project was finished in the late spring. Five hundred and fifty feet of pipe was installed with two catch basins and two manholes. This completed the drainage in that section of town .
On Arlington Street at the intersection of Birch Ridge Road 825 feet of pipe was laid with three catch basins and two manholes. The culvert at Arlington and Homestead Streets was lowered. Two catch basins were installed at the intersection of Arlington and Spruce Streets.
Two dry well type catch basins were installed at the intersection of Elm Street and Quaboag Road; Also, two catch basins were installed on Forest Road in the vicinity of Whittier Drive. One culvert and a catch basin were installed on Harris Street, one catch basin was installed on Railroad Street, and two new culverts were placed on Hammond Street. Three catch basins and 150 feet of pipe were installed on Central Street and Nash Road. The drainage project near 433 Main Street consisted of 350 feet of pipe being laid along with two catch basins and two manholes.
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
This year 875 catch basins and drop inlets were cleaned.
Signs and Lines
Speed limit signs were installed on High Street, Wetherbee Street, Piper Road, and Nagog Hill Road. "Go Slow Children" signs were in- stalled in various parts of town. The usual repairs and painting of signs was done.
In the past few years there has been considerable damage done to signs either by painting, bending or even to the extent that sign posts have been pulled out of the ground. I am in hopes that next year we will have our own sign machine which would enable us to make all the street and speed signs.
The usual white and yellow center lines were repainted.
General Highway
The parking lot in the rear of the South Acton Fire Station was ex- tended. This was graveled, graded, and rolled. The parking lot in the rear of the Acton Center Fire Station was enlarged. Drainage was installed, and it was then graveled and graded.
Crushed gravel was hauled and graded on Forest Road, Hammond Street, and portions of Minot Avenue and Robbins Street.
Some of the streets were swept, but there are far too many to be taken care of by hired equipment. It is hoped that there will be an arti- cle in the Annual Warrant for our own sweeper. Then it would be avail- able at all times.
Disposal Area
Our disposal area is becoming busier each year. There are now five disposal contractors serving the town as well as increased numbers of people using the area.
There is a more controled burning at the area. During the summer burning was done in the early morning hours to minimize the smoke nuisance. A fire road has been constructed at the rear of the area to make easier accessibility for the fire apparatus.
Under the capable supervision of Arthur Conquest the area has been well maintained. The townspeople have been very cooperative in dump- ing the rubbish. It is hoped that the area will be adequate for another ten years.
Care of Grounds
During the summer 170 yards of loam were added to the old Center School site, and it was then seeded. One hundred and twenty yards of loam was hauled to the area around the tennis court where it was spread and seeded. The Town Common, Gardiner Field, and Goward Field were fertilized and rolled. The town grounds were maintained.
Articles
Articles VIII and IX of the June 8th Town Meeting provided for the finishing of Brucewood Road (223 feet), Redwood Road (228 feet), and
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229th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Oakwood Road (1,227 feet). Three hundred and ninety yards of poor road material were excavated from these roads, and 150 feet of pipe was laid. Four hundred yards of bank gravel were spread, graded, and rolled, following which 513 yards of crushed gravel was applied. Mix-in-place, using 5,358 gallons of asphalt and 600 yards of gravel, was applied to the above roads. All the structures were then raised to grade, and all new street signs were installed in the development.
Under Article V of the June 8th Town Meeting, mix-in-place two to three inches thick was applied to 3,300 feet of Concord Road, 3,000 feet of Willow Street with an asphalt and sand seal, and 3,500 feet of Arlington Street. A portion of Arlington Street is unsatisfactory and will be redone in the spring.
Sidewalks
A hot-top walk was installed on School Street between the Exchange Hall and a point opposite the Congregational Church. The curbing was reset and backfilled. The usual patching was done to sidewalks.
Equipment
We received our new five ton Model 260-1 Brockway dump truck late this fall, and it is operating very well.
A new five foot rotary mower was purchased for the Farmall Cub tractor.
In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the cooperation I have received from the Board of Selectmen, the entire Highway Department, all Departments, and the Water District.
Respectfully submitted, ALLEN H. NELSON Superintendent of Streets
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TOWN ADMINISTRATION
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
This committee was appointed by the Moderator as directed by the Town Meeting of March, 1963. The vote under Article 44 of the Annual Warrant was as follows: That the Town vote to authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee of five members to be known as the Committee on Town Administration. Said committee to be chosen in the following manner: One from the Finance Committee, one member from the Plan- ning Board, one member from the Personnel Board and two members at large. The Committee is charged with studying the fiscal and admin- istrative structure of the Town and to make specific recommendations which in the judgement of the Committee will tend to improve the admin- istration of Town Government, said Committee to report to the Select - men and the Town Meeting on or before March, 1965.
The Moderator appointed the following members: From the Finance Committee, Mr. William Chipman, from the Planning Board, Mr. C. Judd Farley, from the Personnel Board, Mr. Clyde Horne and the two members at large, Mr. Phillip Harris and Mr. Charles MacPherson.
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
The Committee was saddened by the untimely passing of Charles Judd Farley. Mr. Farley had served as the Planning Board representative until his resignation in November. Mr. Farley brought a great know- ledge of the community and the experience of service on town boards. He played a great part in compiling this report and his counsel will be missed. Mr. Richard C. Janson has been appointed by the Moderator to fill the vacancy.
Because of other commitments, Mr. Phillip Harris resigned from the Committee and the Moderator appointed Mr. Chester H. Moody.
On April 6th, the Committee held its organizational meeting and Mr. MacPherson was chosen as Chairman. The Committee immediately set about the task of evaluating administrative techniques that in their judgement would be beneficial to the town. Additional meetings were held including two open forums, the first on the Selectmen-Manager Plan and the second on the executive-Secretary Plan. All town officials and the public were invited. The Town Managers of Wilmington and Concord have been visited as well as the Executive Secretaries of Wake- field and the Town of Burlington.
In the first week of November the Committee sent a questionnaire to the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, the Planning Board and the Personnel Board, asking their views on the subject of adminis- trative assistance in town government. The results of this questionnaire will appear later in this report.
The case for a more centralized town administration and a stronger office of selectmen is sound. The problems of growth can no longer be handled in a part time quasi-independent manner. Experiences in other towns have proved the value of centralized authority and coordination. We have arrived at a critical point in the development of our town. Over the past decade we have embarked on an ambitious school building program. We must remember, however, that other town services have, out of necessity, suffered during this period. The adequacy of our water supply for the projected growth of the community is in question. The Water District becoming a part of the town services is near at hand, and in the not too distant future we will have to face the problem of town sewerage. The fiscal plight of the Commonwealth, with no immediate relief in sight, can only add to the great problems facing the Town of Acton over the next five years.
The cost of town government will increase as the years go by, but we must be sure to receive a dollar's worth of value for every tax dollar spent.
The town government of Acton remains a congeries of separate enterprises with diffused authority and divided responsibility. The pre- sent form is today finding difficulty in coping with its day to day problems effectively and within two years will be inadequate to cope with the future problems. Change is always difficult, but the Town of Acton has, . over the years after deliberating the facts, risen to the occasion.
In its study of administrative techniques the Committee considered the two plans commonly used in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, namely; the Executive-Secretary Plan and the Selectmen-Manager Plan.
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229th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Executive-Secretary Plan
The Executive Secretary form of local government is unique to Massachusetts, although its counterpart has experienced rapid growth elsewhere. The very important difference between an Executive Sec- retary and a Town Manager is that the former does not have independent authority established by a special act. His authority is best described by sentence in the enabling act, Section 23 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws: "He shall act by and for the selectmen in any manner which they may assign to him relating to the administration of the affairs of the town or any town office under their supervision and control, or, with the approval of the selectmen, may perform such other duties as may be requested by him or any other town officer, board, committee or commission."
The Executive Secretary, therefore, has only that authority delegated to him by the selectmen or any other officer or board. The selectmen, however, must be willing to delegate such authority. As the Executive Secretary demonstrates administrative competence, as he wins the respect and cooperation of departments independent of the selectmen, and as he gains popular support, he would undoubtedly be granted more responsibilities.
In most communities the Executive Secretary is the Town Accountant, providing him with the day to day financial workings of municipal government. In most of the towns now using the Executive Secretary Plan, the progress has been one of evolution. He is called upon at one time or another to assist every independent board and officer in the community.
Although the position may be attractive to a town desirous of some form of professional administrative assistance, it does, however, have some serious limitations. It requires support from not only the town officials, but the whole town. The administrator relies strictly on his ability to persuade and be diplomatic even though his ability may be grudgingly admitted after several years, the recruitment of a replace- ment and his acceptance by town officers, departments, boards and commissions may prove to be a greater than usual problem.
Selectmen-Manager Plan
In recent years there has been a definite and increasing trend toward the manager form, both in the state and the nation. There are now over 2,000 communities who have adopted this plan, plus many more in Western Europe.
The Committee has studied the available reports of committees in other towns who have adopted the Selectmen-Manager form and in almost every case the municipal problems were similar. As the func- tions of town governments become more numerous, technical, and com- plex, the problems of daily supervision and coordination become too intricate and exacting for part time boards, commissions and committees to deal with successfully. Confusion and inefficiencies began to creep in, costs became more difficult to control, and tax rates increased so that every dollar of unnecessary expense became a concern of the citizens. These conditions prevailed generally, although with varying degrees of seriousness, among all towns and cities, and were the cause of wide- spread interest in the possibilities of municipal reorganization.
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THE TOWN OF ACTON
Town Manager plans vary according to the degree in which authority and responsibility are focussed in the manager. Authorities urge that the best practice in devising a manager form of charter, is to provide for the election of policy making officials, such as the selectmen and the School Committee, and to put all administrative powers in the hands of the manager. There is always the tendency arising from personal con- sideration or simply from inertia, to reserve this office or that board from the scope of the manager's authority, but experience has shown this to be unwise.
Under the typical Selectmen-Manager charter the voters elect the Moderator, School Committee and Selectmen. The Selectmen appoint the Manager, Planning Board, Board of Appeals, Town Accountant, Personnel Board, Election Officers and Registrars of Voters. Safe guarding the traditional system of checks and balances, the Moderator appoints the Finance Committee. The Manager makes all other appointments. However, in the sensitive positions such as Town Clerk, Treasurer, Collector and Assessors, it is subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen. This is the basic difference between the so-called "weak" form and the "strong" form of charter.
(a) There would be no change in town meeting. Control of town policies would be as democratic as it is now. And perhaps more so, for with a better administrative organization the policies determined upon by the voters would be more effectively carried out.
(b) Elections would be held as heretofore, but instead of voting for numerous officers and boards, the voters would choose only their Moderator, Selectmen, School Committee and Library Trustees. This would concentrate interest in the important offices, and tend to bring out candidates of the highest qualifications.
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