USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1962-1964 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
It speaks very well for the general atmosphere and understanding in the Town that the Engineering Department had a free hand in the selection of equipment, materials and books so that in no instance work could not be executed for lack of proper tools.
And last, but not least, in the summer 1962, the Police Department turned over to the Engineers their old cruiser which was ready for trade-in, in accordance with the vote of the Annual Town Meeting.
For all those who do not know the present hide-out of the Engineer- ing Department: It is presently housed in the upper floor of the Center Fire Station, and everyone is cordially invited to come and see the work being done there.
3
107
THE TOWN OF ACTON
- The first job of the Engineering Department was to set up policies
and to delineate its scope, eliminating both overlap with the juris- diction of other agencies and areas of "no man's land" between municipal bodies of similar jurisdiction. It also meant the establishment of full- time inspection. This first phase was the most difficult one, since it trespassed upon the sacred territory of habit, pattern and tradition. However, as the Engineering Department became more and more a "fait accompli" these' barriers vanished and gave way to a fruitful co-operation in the best interest of the general public.
The next step consisted of exhaustive search through existing records and plans to establish a skeleton of maps which could form the basis of a modern town and tax map. Many a day was spent in the Concord Town Hall, where the originals of historic documents are preserved, in the pursuit of this research. As a result of these findings it can be said that we all can take great pride in the part our Town has played in History. It certainly is a long way from the "First Division of Concord", as the general distribution of the land was called that was bought in 1660 from the "Ingenes of Mashoba" - for the sum of 15 pounds at 6 a peny" - The Town now possesses a complete set of geological maps, U. S. Coastal and Geodetic Survey Plans, all Railroad maps, Co-ordinates, aerial photos, County Engineers road layout plans, plans of the gas and water distribution systems, Fire Alarm grid maps and up-to-date Town and zoning maps.
After this preparatory research work was completed the Town authorized the Engineering Department to proceed with the preparation of a Town Atlas (or Assessor's Map, as it often is called). Since the summer months, logically, are reserved for field work, this work presently proceeds during the winter months and it should be completed in its rough draft by the end of this winter, reserving the next winter 1963/64 for the final completion and publication of the Atlas. This Atlas will show every piece of land in the Town in relation to the neighbor's land, and it will be of great value to every property owner in Town. It is hoped that everybody whose help is requested in this program will kindly offer any assistance he can give.
The second major task confronting the Engineering Department was the surveying and engineering work in connection with the laying-out of public roads. Most of our roads in Town are "ancient way." That means that they owe their existence to a voluntary surren- der and setting-aside of privately-owned land for travel purposes for the general public. In most instances the land so reserved was marked by stone walls, which were a useful way of getting rid of all the stones in the area. Unfortunately, most of these roads were not designed with today's traffic needs in mind. Therefore, we find that, sooner or later, all of these ways must be improved, widened and re-constructed. For this
108
227th ANNUAL REPORT OF
purpose the Engineering Department, during summer months, has surveyed, and will continue to do so, the physical location of those roads that presently are traversing sparsely settled areas to preclude the construction of buildings so close to the side line that future street widening will conflict with these new houses. This work will enable the Engineering Department to design streets with a minimum of damage to existing property and still meeting the standards and criteria of modern roads.
These two projects just described are long-range projects. They will be filled into the daily routine work. They are the glamour jobs that can be polished up and exhibited and they show a clearly visible result at the end of the project. However, the bread and butter jobs are the ones that keep the Engineering Department busy. They consist, to a large degree, of subdivision work beginning with the preliminary subdivision plans as they are submitted to the Planning Board. The Town Engineer, at this early stage of the game, walks the area with the land owner and his engineer to determine the suitability of the land and the necessity for possible basic changes. He does the same with the Definitive Plan, advising the Planning Board in engineering matters before approval is given. After such approval, it is the duty of the Engineering Department to ascertain that all utilities construction in the roads and easements is done in conformity with the Planning Board's Rules and Regulations, or that any deviation from them is according to sound engineering practices. This phase of the work has already produced a marked improvement in the quality of roads and it will continue to ensure uniformity of standards throughout the Town.
Being an agent of the Planning Board, the Town Engineer naturally is charged with the implementation of the Master Plan and other recommendations. He is also likely to be the first one to advise the Board of any changes in patterns and recommend counter actions, because as the Master Plan motivates changes in patterns so do reverses in trends change the base of the Master Plan.
Another large segment of the work load consists of the design of public works projects done by the Town forces, such as drainage in- stallation, culverts, sidewalks, and all similar projects. The Engineer- ing Department does all basic survey work, prepares the plans and estimates, writes the specifications and supervises the construction, if so requested. It can also handle the design for additions and alterations to existing Town structures and buildings, if so needed.
During the past year it has given advice and aid to several munici- pal agencies and, since, out of necessity, most of the elected and ap- pointed officials are available only during the evenings a great deal of such work took place in evening meetings with boards such as: The
109
THE TOWN OF ACTON
Field Surveying
Computation of Field Data
Stereo ploting for Assessor's maps
110
227th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Recreation Commission on the question of recreation land; the Con- servation Commission on its task to provide access to Fort Pond, as well as for the setting aside of lands suitable for future preservation use; the Board of Health in its determination of high water marks; the Board of Selectmen on the laying out of easements, and on phases of Chapter 90 Construction; also by assigning street numbers to new buildings and by certifying compliance with zoning and subdivision By-Laws on Building Permit Applications; the Industrial Development Commission on questions concerning the re-zoning of residential land to industrial uses; the Building Committee by supervising the four classroom addition to the Julia McCarthy Elementary School (this work resulted in a $1,500.00 savings to the Town bl eliminating the clerk-of-the-works allowed for in the construction budget); the School Committee by making a topographic survey of a 28-acre lot owned by the Town for School Construction purposes (also saving the Town ap- proximately $1,500.00 in surveying fees to outside engineers). Even though these two last-mentioned functions are only by-products of the day-to-day work schedule and not indicative of any intention on the Town's part to exclude any outside engineering consultations, they in- dicate that the Engineering Department under its present set-up is versa- tile enough to cope with a wide variety of tasks. It, therefore, is not sur- prising to learn that the Planning Board, for instance, has requested the Board of Selectmen to assign the job of determining a wetland zone along Fort Pond Brook to the Engineering Department for 1963 as part of the implementation to the Fort Pond Brook drainage recom- mendation. The establishment of such a wetland area will help to prevent health problems resulting from failures of septic tank systems in lowlands. Some preliminary work to this had already been done by the Engineering Department by marking high flood and melt water elevations on every culvert and bridge in Town. Any person interested in building or farming in this Town, who is in doubt about high-water problems, soil conditions and other pertinent questions is invited to discuss his problems with the Town Engineer who is only too glad to help. Just bear in mind that the Engineering Department, like all other departments, is part of your Town and that our aim is the same: To promote a well-balanced and orderly growth of our Town of Acton.
THE TOWN OF ACTON
111
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
I herewith submit my thirtieth annual report of the Fire Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1962.
Total number of alarms responded to are as follows:
Residential 11
Non-Residential
1
Mercantile
1
Manufacturing 2
Storage
1
Public Utilities
1
Miscellaneous
7
Grass and Brush
74
Automobile, etc.
17
False Alarms
5
Smoke scares and accidental alarms
32
Accidents and Emergencies 42
Out of Town
11
205
Loss to buildings
$10,885.47
Loss to contents
10,948.29
Loss to automobiles
1,825.00
$23,658.76
Permits Issued:
Oil and Power Burners 161
Bottled Gas
29
Blasting 30
Open Air Fires 997
Inspections and investigations 1,338
2,555
Collected for permits
$109.50
Collected Rents at Station No. 1
70.00
Collected Rents at Station No. 2 35.00
Collected Rents at Sation No. 3
325.00
$539.50
112
227th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Under Article 58, the fire alarm has been extended in South Acton along Martin, Stow, Robbins and Liberty Streets. Also street fire alarm boxes have been installed at the following locations:
Box 23 on Stow Street at Martin Street
Box 233 on Stow Street at Robbins Street
Box 234 on Stow Street near Stow Line
Box 235 on Robbins Street at Billings Street
Box 237 on Liberty Street at Robbins Street
Box 238 on Liberty Street near Stow Line
Box 2315 on Martin Street near end
Under Article 59, a new emergency generator has been installed and put into service at the West Acton Fire Station.
Under Article 60, this was for a hydrant on Pope Road but because of other activities we were unable to get it finished this year.
1963 Program
Stabilization Fund - $10,000.00.
Emergency Power Generator:
A Generator to be installed in the South Acton Fire Station to take care of that building in case of power failure.
Fire Alarm Extension:
This extension would be known as the southeasterly circuit and would split the present circuit which is now overloaded. By splitting the circuit, half would cover High Street, Parker Street, Indepen- dence Road and River Street. The other half would cover School Street, Piper Road, Hosmer Street and Laws Brook Road.
I have inserted an article in the warrant for a few full time fire fighters.
I feel that if my plan is adopted it will be the most economical arrangement and still get the necessary coverage in fire protection. Also I feel this plan will forestall getting into a permanent department for at least another five years.
The plan is to have two fire fighters working in each station from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. six days a week with one fire fighter working two days a week in each station to cover days off. The stations should be covered seven days a week daytime only, because this is the time we are short of men.
In closing, I wish to thank the fire fighters and auxiliary for their co-operation throughout the year. I, also, wish to thank the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, the Clerical Staff at the Town
113
THE TOWN OF ACTON
Hall, and all others who have contributed to the support and operation 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, 1962
INVESTMENTS
Charlestown Savings Bank $ 465.54
Concord Co-operative Bank 3,000.00
$3,465.54
RECEIPTS
Charlestown Savings Bank
18.60
Concord Co-operative Bank
120.00
138.60
EXPENDITURES
Treasurer of the Evangelical Church in Acton ....
118.60
Town of Acton for the perpetual care of Goodnow Lot in Woodlawn Cemetery 20.00
138.60
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 end- ing December 31, 1962, together with the reports of other departments connected with it.
During the past year the Massachusetts Department of Public Health adopted minimum requirements for the disposal of Sanitary
114
227th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Sewerage in unsewered areas. The Town of Acton falls into this category. The new sanitary code requires that all preliminary work re- lating to sewerage disposal on new systems be done by a qualified engineer and that plans for sewerage disposal works be submitted before a permit is issued for such work.
The Board now requires that all permits for sewerage disposal works on a new construction be accompanied by a detailed drawing showing the location of the system, size of the system, house and lot lines, along with the results of the percolation test and soil analysis. All of the work to be done by a Registered Sanitary Engineer, at the builder's expense.
The Town of Acton has unique problems involved in sewerage disposal due to ground water, ledge, clay and surface water so that each individual system needs to be studied with these problems in mind. Each system is designed on an individual basis, taking into con- sideration all of the factors that each lot presents to arrive at a solution.
According to the rules and regulations of the State Health Depart- ment and the local Board of Health, it is possible to build on sub- marginal land by filling in the land to bring it up to required height, so that the bottom of the distribution line be four feet above high water. This allows land along brooks and streams and on the edge of wet lands to be used for home building.
The Town Boards sense that it is the feeling of the townspeople that such land not be used for building purposes. To accomplish this objective, the Board of Health recommends that the town adopt flood plain zoning, to take the marginal land out of circulation until such time as the town has municipal sewerage.
During the past year the Board of Health has cooperated with the League of Women Voters in conducting a survey of the Town of Acton. The Board wishes to thank the League of Women Voters for their great effort and feels that the information acquired will be of great importance to the town in planning for the future. On the basis of answers to the question on the survey which asked "should the town take steps to acquire land for a municipal sewerage disposal works, said land to be held until such time as the town decides to have a treatment plant for sewerage of its own?" over 85% of the people an- swered "YES" to this question. As there are only two or three such sites that might be used for such a purpose, the Acton Board of Health recommends that the Board of Selectmen initiate action that would acquire a suitable amount of land for such purposes, while it is still available.
Acton does not have municipal sewerage. All sewerage disposed
115
THE TOWN OF ACTON
in Acton depends on the proper working of individual systems, com- posed of a septic tank to digest the solids to liquid and a leaching field to distribute the liquid offluent for ground absorption.
To assure proper function of each system, the. Board of Health recommends the following:
1. Know where your septic tank and leaching field are located.
2. Do not plant trees near the leaching area or allow heavy equipment to be brought onto it.
3. Have your septic tank checked by a qualified person at least once a year. When the solid portion in the top and bottom of the tank exceed 1/3 of the total capacity, it is time to have it pumped out.
4. Spread the water use in the house out over the week so that it is even. That is, don't do all the wash on Mondays or take all your baths on Saturdays. By spreading out the demand, it will allow a proper amount of time for ground absorption, particularly during rainy periods.
During the month of July, 1962 Mrs. Dorothy Turner, who had faithfully served the Board for seven years, resigned from her position as Clerk in the office of the Board of Health.
The Board has held regular meetings every second and fourth Monday of each month. Whenever necessary special meetings were held. Visitors are always welcome to attend these meetings.
During the year regular inspections of schools, food handling .. establishments, milk dealers, kindergartens, nursery schools. rest homes, etc., have been made.
Water samples have been tested whenever it was considered necessary.
Mosquito control spray was provided during the spring and sum- mer.
The Board of Health has worked constantly for health standards throughout the community.
The Board sponsored the usual clinics, namely, Diptheria and Tetanus immunizations, Dental clinic, Tuberculin clinic and Dog rabies immunization. A Sabin Oral Polio Vaccine Clinic, was also held in May.
We have no cases of TB in hospitals at present. The Middlesex County Sanatorium at Waltham provides a clinic for free chest X-Ray. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 4:45 p. m. and
116
227th ANNUAL REPORT OF
on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. It is suggested that people take advantage of this free clinic.
The Town provides a garbage collection. No rubbish collection is provided; however, the Town maintains a Dump for the convenience of the residents of Acton.
We would appreciate all communicable diseases be reported either by an attending physician or the householder. (Chapter 111, General Laws of Massachusetts).
There were 299 cases of contagious diseases reported during the year 1962.
Cases Reported:
Scarlet fever and strepto throat 5
Chicken Pox 18
Measles 253
German Measles 0
Dog Bites
6
Mumps 14
Tuberculosis
1
Infectious Hepatitis 2
Syphilis 2
There were 10 premature births reported during 1962.
The services of the Town Nurse are available for those who cannot pay for emergency nursing care. Those who are financially able are required to pay a small fee for each visit. These services are offered only under guidance of a physician. She may be reached by calling the Board of Health Office CO 3-4736.
The following permits and licenses were issued:
Sewage disposal permits
171
Total amount collected for these Offal transport permits
3
Catering permits
1
Overnight cabins and camps
3
Methyl alcohol permits
10
Kindergarten and Nursery school
9
Store milk license
21
Milk Dealers License 12
Massage license 1
Amount collected for these permits $63.00
Nursing and Rest Homes inspected 3
Eating and Food dispensing
establishments inspected 10
$2,150.00
117
THE TOWN OF ACTON
Burial permits issued 24 Plumbing permits issued 179
Amount collected $1,990.00
Amount collected from Town Nurse $ 940.00
Total amount received and deposited with the Town Treasurer for year ending December 31, 1962 $5,143.00
The Board of Health wishes to thank all those who contributed to its progress for the year 1962.
Respectfully submitted, MARTIN J. DUGGAN, R.N., Chairman ROBERT C. HEUSTIS, R.S. DAVID L. SMITH, M.D.
REPORT OF THE TOWN NURSE
TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH:
I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1962.
Total number of visits made include paid and unpaid calls, Old Age Persons, persons receiving general relief; or, aid to Dependent children; or Veterans on Aid and their Dependents, are not charged the usual fee of $1.00 (one dollar) per Visit.
Total 1,224
All paid visits are made under a Doctor's supervision. Total 944
Health supervision for adults and children is very important as it gives us (Mrs. Lydia Rhodes R.N. and myself) an opportunity to acquaint the townspeople with the facilities of the Emerson Hospital (especially the pre-natal clinic and the physical therapy department) The Concord Family Service, the Walden Clinic for Children (psychi- atric) the School for Retarded Children, the Church Groups who help the Older Citizens, and the Red Cross and Acton Center Woman's Club who obtain drivers for persons not able to drive themselves to Doctors or hospitals.
A great deal of cooperation comes from our own Welfare Depart- ment with Mrs. Coombs as Agent.
Trips to hospitals and doctors with patients ......
.. 20
118
227th ANNUAL REPORT OF
Public Health Clinics held during the year in cooperation with Mrs. Olsen R.N. and the School Department are as follows:
Sixteen (16) Dental Clinics were held at Dr. McQueen's office
Tuberculin Testing (usually in November) 373
Positive reactors (now being X-Rayed) 15
Diptheria Clinics (usually in March) - with boosters of Tetanus and Diptheria for Grades 1, 5 and 9 are given.
We assisted Mrs. Olsen at Preschool Clinic in April.
The Department of Public Health also held a general X-Ray program in May of 1962 and 695 persons attended.
8-cases of Inactive T.B. were found 4-suspect cases 4-other chest conditions
Also in Mav and June, the Board of Health conducted its first Sabin (Oral) Poliomyeletis vaccine Clinic. Children from the age of 3 months to 7 years recived Type I and Type III Vaccine with the per- mission of the parents. We were very gratified that 1,651 persons re- ceived the Oral Vaccine without any severe reactions. We plan to give the Vaccine to all other children and adults in 1963.
We were fortunate to have a Public Health student from the Burbank Hospital School of Nursing for eight weeks - Miss Mealey enjoyed the experience and I certainly think it would be a boon for Acton's Public Health Program to maintain this association and have other students to stimulate our community.
Kindergarten, playground and Scout Camp Inspections 12
Total Amount of fees received and turned over to the Town Treasurer $ 940.00
I wish to thank all those who have assisted me during the year, especially Mrs. Lvdia Rhodes, Mrs. Hazel Vose and our former Secre- tary, Mrs. D. Turner.
Respectfully submitted,
EILEEN F. HALE, Town Nurse
119
THE TOWN OF ACTON
REPORT OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
January 14, 1963
To THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
Gentlemen:
We cannot report striking progress within our sphere of activity during 1962 if progress is to be defined as the location of new industries in Acton. We can report continued effort along this line as well as a branching out into equally important though less dramatic areas. Specifically :
1.) For the second year in a row, Rep. Vernon L. Fletcher filed a bill in the State Legislature which would have directed the Com- missioner of Correction to pass a title to the Town of Acton on 125 industrially-zoned acres of Concord Reformatory Farmland lying be- tween Hosmer Street and the Concord line on the south side of Route 2. Upon passage of the bill, this acreage would have been offered for sale by the Town for industrial use with proceeds of the sale to be returned to the Commonwealth. Unhappily, the bill was reported unfavorably by the initial committe in spite of our own work and the excellent assistance of Rep. Fletcher. The presumed interest of the State Police in a section of Concord Reformatory farmland on the other side of Route 2 as a site for a training academy was our major stumbling block. A similar bill has just been refiled and we will be asking specific aid from you, the Selectmen, as well as from the citizenry of Acton in promoting the Town's case. It is incredible to us that acreage of this type can continue to be considered as proper for either farm or Academy use.
2.) Specific inquiries concerning possible industrial sites from two well-known and desirable companies in the fields of specialized textiles and light chemicals have been received and answered in detail. No decisions have as yet been made by either company.
3.) We have just begun to get our feet wet in the mediation of relatively rare complaints by residents against local industrial firms. lt is obvious that there must always be two sides to every question and we feel that our particular group can be of positive service to both parties as a sounding board and as a medium through which a mutually acceptable solution may be reached with no residue of ill will on either side.
4.) We have consulted with the Planning Board when called upon and with such companies as Air Reduction and Dewey and Almy concerning industrial performance standards and other matters affect- ing present and future industry. Here again, it is well that the several
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.