USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Longmeadow > Town annual reports of the officers of Longmeadow Massachusetts for the year ending 1958 > Part 9
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With the Park Board it continues to urge that as nuch as possible of the presently undeveloped dingle hrough which the Longmeadow Brook winds be acquired y the Town. Believing that the surrounding area as well s the entire Town would benefit from such a development, he Committee feels that the present owners should make his land available to the Town on an attractive basis.
The Committee favors changing a portion of the zoning y-laws, to upgrade much of the undeveloped area in the astern end of the Town. It has noted that developers have een building substantial homes on lots in A1 areas con- iderably larger than those required in the by-laws.
The Committee has consistently opposed proposals to nlarge the business zone in the Williams Street-Bliss Road rea. That area contains already 9.8 acres compared with .34 acres in Springfield's Sixteen Acre business area. It eels that the present area provides ample space for small ervice stores including adequate offstreet parking to serve ongmeadow residents. A larger business area could prove profitable only if it catered to a broader clientele and actual- y the major part of its patrons came from other towns. uch a situation would definitely change the character of a arge section of Longmeadow by causing traffic problems nd adversely affecting residential values.
The Committee has noted that the construction of side- valks in Longmeadow has not begun to keep pace with the creased traffic and child population growth. Believing his situation should be corrected, but realizing such cor- ection involves heavy expense, the Committee has sug- ested to the Selectmen that sums be appropriated annually or sidewalk construction calculated to reduce consistently ne sidewalk deficiencies so that ultimately children in all ctions will enjoy the protection of sidewalks.
The Committee recognizes the need for a thorough sur- ey to determine the capital needs and expenditures of the 'own as it expands over the coming years. This survey, he conclusions drawn and the recommendations should be hade by qualified personnel with adequate time to devote to e problem. We are studying this problem. In 1959 we ill have conferences with appropriate town officials and ommittees so as to arrive at specific recommendations.
This Committee has been serving the Town in an ad- isory capacity, stimulating Town Committees to take ction in matters affecting the future of the Town, rather an confining themselves to immediate problems only. We ave helped individual Town Committees to co-ordinate heir activities with those of other committees which has
Report of the Trustees of the GOLDTHWAIT FUND
PRINCIPAL OF FUND
12/31/57 12/31/58
Cash on Hand, Hampden Savings Bank $4,971.57 $5,675.00
Mortgage, 94 Oak St., Springfield 1,525.00 1,325.00
Total 6,496.57
7,000.00
ACCRUED INCOME OF FUND
Balance - Hampden Savings Bank .... 3,124.23 2,940.89
1958
Income-included in Balance:
Mortgage interest $ 72.50
Savings account interest 247.59
Total Income
$320.09
Total Assets of Fund, December 31 .... $9,620.80
9,940.89
-
Consistent with the action of the Trustees last year, in transferring Income to Principal, as a partial restoration of the original Principal of the Fund, the Trustees have this year transferred an additional $503.43 to Principal. This restores the Principal to its original balance and at the same time leaves unexpended Income in an amount which would appear to be entirely adequate for the puposes of the Fund, which, as al- ways, is available to needs of the people of Longmeadow in accordance with the Will of William Goldthwait its founder.
Respectfully submitted, JANE B. SWETT EUGENE M. BUSHONG RICHARD A. BOOTH Trustees of the William Goldthwait Fund
resulted in better teamwork in carrying on Town affairs. In accomplishing this, we have enjoyed excellent cooperation from Town officials and all committees.
DONALD A. BENJAMIN, Chairman ETHAN BASSETT SHELDON BROOKS MRS. HOLLIS CARLISLE RUSSELL P. DALE HERBERT M. GOLDSTEIN QUENTIN REYNOLDS ELMER E. SILVER, JR. MRS. RUSSELL SWETT MACK F. WALLACE GEORGE A. YARSLEY, JR.
57
Report of the Water and Sewer Commissioners
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1958 TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF LONGMEADOW:
Additions to the Water, Sewer and Drainage System of the Town during the year 1958 have been as follows:
WATER SERVICES
One hundred and twenty-eight new services to houses were installed this year and two services discontinued, mak- ing a total of 3009 services in Town. Four water service renewals have been made: 134 new water meters have been installed and two removed, making a total of 2938 meters in use as of December 31, 1958. Twenty-eight new meters have also been installed to replace meters found economically unservicable. Meters over twenty years of age which are found unservicable are ordered replaced at the cost of the property owner.
WATER MAINS
Extensions by private developers at no cost to the Town except inspection, 11,882 feet.
Extensions by the Town partially paid for by abutting owners and others, 3,105 feet.
Total mileage added to system in 1958, 2.84 miles.
Total miles of mains as of December 31, 1958, 57.48 miles.
HYDRANTS
Hydrants installed by private developers 29
Hydrants installed by Town 7
Total hydrants installed in 1958 36
Hydrants removed in 1958 1
Total hydrants in Town December 31, 1958 619
All fire hydrants are inspected once each month during the winter to assure that they are in readiness for fire-fighting purposes.
SEWERS
The entire sanitary sewer system has been cleaned during the year.
Sixty-five new sewer connections to houses were installed during 1958. Eighteen new storm drain connections were installed and seven sewer connection renewals were made.
SANITARY SEWER EXTENSIONS 1958
Extensions by private developers 421 feet
Extensions for Sewage Treatment System 13,128 feet
Extensions by Town on betterment basis 3,984 feet
Total mileage added to system 3.24 miles
Total mileage of sanitary sewers,
December 31, 1958 41.45 miles
STORM DRAIN EXTENSIONS
Extensions by private developers
8,186 feet
Extensions by Town on betterment basis
1,947 feet
Total mileage added to system
1.91 miles
Total miles of storm drains, December 31, 1958 52.85 miles
There has been a marked increase in development this year. Developers have expanded easterly and southerly on Wolf Swamp Road and Williams Street has seen consider- able activity with the extension of water mains easterly from Viscount Road to Deep Woods Drive very near to the East Longmeadow Line. Frank Smith Road and Deep Woods
Report of Inspector of Milk
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN: Gentlemen :
I herewith present my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1958.
I have issued licenses for the sale of dairy products as follows:
6 Storekeepers' license to sell milk in bottles.
11 Dealers' license to sell milk.
6 Storekeepers' and Dealers' license to sell oleomar- garine.
Respectfully submitted, ALLEN B. POMEROY Inspector of Milk
Drive have been developed privately, with water mains and storm drainage. All costs in private streets, Wolf Swamp Road and Williams Street east of Frank Smith Road were borne entirely by the developers, except for inspection and engineering costs borne by the Town. We hope to bring our proposal for a trunk line sewer up the Longmeadow Brook Valley before you for acceptance and the appropriation of funds in 1959. Most areas now being developed are neces- sarily on septic tanks until such a sewer is constructed.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT AND SYSTEM
The construction of the Sewage Treatment Plant and System has shown tremendous progress during 1958. The North and South Intercepting Sewers are complete and operating. The Outfall and Trunk Intercepting Sewers includ- ing the Twin Syphon under the railroad are 83% complete. The Treatment Plant, consisting of the Control Building, Tanks and Digesters is 86% complete. The entire system will be ready for operation in April, 1959.
Much credit is due our consultants, Bowe, Albertson and Associates and the Resident Engineer, Mr. John Yale, for the efficient and cooperative manner in which the many contractors executed this work. This treatment plant will be one of the finest of its type in the country and Longmeadow is one of the first towns to receive Federal Funds under the Anti Pollution Act of 1956.
The design of the system is based on a maximum sewage flow not to be expected for twelve to fifteen years. At that time the addition of readily paralleled units will bring the design capacity up to flows not expected for thirty- five to forty years.
The construction of the south intercepting sewer to the Treatment Plant enabled us to contsruct in 1958, on a betterment basis, a sewer to service Ely Road. We are asking for your approval this year of an appropriation for sewer construction in Birnie Road as petitioned for by abutting owners.
We are endeavoring to make a more concise report to you this year than in previous years and ask you to turn to the Treasurer's Report for all financial statistics.
Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS
ALEXANDER J. GUFFANTI Chairman HERBERT N. PORTER C. ROBERT MUNN
58
Report of The Fire Department
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen: Gentlemen:
We wish to submit the thirty-sixth Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1958.
ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF ENGINEERS
ROBERT G. BRECK
STANLEY L. KING
WALTER R. CLUNE EDGAR J. LAKE
ACTING CHIEF DONALD E. KEITH
ACTING FIREMEN
LT. RICHARD J. PASSINEAU
ALYN R. REDMOND
ENGINEMEN
WILLIAM G. BAER
RAYMOND H. BEAN
LT. CHESTER P. BOND
STANLEY L. KING EDGAR J. LAKE JOHN H. MAYER ALLEN B. POMEROY WILLIAM M. RYAN
ROBERT C. BROWN
ALFRED N. CHAPMAN
CAPT. RAYMOND J. CLARK
LT. JAMES J. WARD
ALLEN M. GRACE FRED M. WARREN HARRY N. HOWE GERALD W. WIGHT
FOREST FIRE WARDEN DONALD E. KEITH
DEPUTIES
WILLIAM G. BAER
ALLEN B. POMEROY
Total number of calls for 1958 109
DISTRIBUTION
Grass and Leaf Fires 63
House Fires 31
Auto Fires 13
False Alarms
2
Total 109
We take this opportunity to express our deep apprecia- ion for the cooperation given by the members of the epartment in the line of duty and attendance at training meetings. Our sincere thanks to the Board of Selectmen and ther Departments of the Town who assisted us this past ear.
Respectfully submitted EDGAR J. LAKE - Chairman ROBERT G. BRECK STANLEY L. KING WALTER R. CLUNE Board of Engineers
Civil Defense
January 14, 1959
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Longmeadow Massachusetts
The Civil Defense activity during the year of 1958 has consisted of a training program, including weekly meetings of the members of the Auxiliary Police for pistol practice and discussion of any pertinent topics. Teams were entered in Regional matches of Civil Defense Auxil- iary Police.
Communication equipment has been requested to pro- vide emergency radio facilities for communication with the Sector Civil Defense Headquarters, and to provide police communication in the Connecticut Valley network.
The Civil Defense force consists of a group of seventy- five volunteers, who are assigned to the Auxiliary Police force, and are available at all times to aid in the protection of persons and property at the request of either the Chief of Police of the Town of Longmeadow or the Director of Civil Defense of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM O. HENSCHKE Director of Civil Defense
Report of Inspector of Animals
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
I submit the following report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1958.
69 Dogs quarantined
69 Dogs released from quarantine
11 Sheep inspected
3 Horses inspected
Respectfully submitted JOHN LAUER Inspector of Animals
Report of Inspector of Weights and Measures
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
Gentlemen:
I submit the following report as Sealer of Weights and Measurers for the year ending December 31, 1958. Inspected and Sealed
Scales Pumps Weights Measures Greasers
17 21
29
3 5
Packaged commodities re-weighed and examined Total Correct 111 Short 6
117
Respectfully submitted JOHN LAUER Sealer of Weights and Measure's
59
Report of the Superintendent of Streets
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
The Superintendent of Streets submits the following re- port covering the activities of the Street and Engineering De- partment for the year ending December 31, 1958.
This has been a very active year for the Department. Contract work on the new expressway, Route 91, by Lane Construction and the Sewage Treatment Plant program have changed the topography of Longmeadow and have added re- sponsibilities to our department. Birnie Road and Meadow Road no longer are access roads to the Meadows. Bark Haul Road and Emerson Road have been relocated but will con- tinue to be through routes to the Meadows. Heavy trucking was confined to Williams Street, Longmeadow Street, Bark Haul Road and Emerson Road. Our Department widened and resurfaced Pondside Road with Chapter 718 funds from Emerson Road southerly to Birnie Road. These funds were also used to relocate and pave the intersection of Williams and Bliss according to State recommendations. Considerable fill was placed in Emerson Road west of the railroad in the Sewage Treatment Plant area to raise this road to the level of the railroad. We have petitioned the railroad for a wider crossing at this point and are asking for funds in 1959 to pave Emer- son Road from the tracks westerly to the West Road in the Meadows.
Chapter 90 New Construction funds of 1957 and 1958 were combined and a contract awarded to widen and resurface Laurel Street from Shaker Road northerly to Bliss Road. This contract is now complete. Final payments to the contractor will be made in 1959, after acceptance of the work by State and County officials.
Chapter 90 Maintenance funds were used on Shaker Road east of Hazardville Road and for berm work on Long- meadow Street.
Highway Maintenance funds were used for repairing earth and gravel roads, street cleaning, repairing fences, re- moval of leaves, mowing and shaping back roads, culvert maintenance and general repairs. The largest expenditures here are for leaf removal.
Snow and Ice Removal expenditures were high this year because of extended storms early in the year and increased mileage added to our routes. Over 60 miles of streets receive attention and over 15 miles of sidewalk school routes are now plowed when necessary. Route 5 and the main arteries to the east receive attention first followed by public residential streets and then private streets. Hilly sections and school crossings receive salt and sand treatment, when icy, on an emergency basis. Automobile traffic to and from our schools during inclement weather is very heavy and we endeavor to have the roads open for such traffic as quickly as possible.
New sidewalks were built on the south side of Williams Street between Ridge Road and Viscount Road to accommodate school traffic in that area. Walks were also built on Laurel Street and various other streets where requested.
All bituminous surfaced streets have been kept in good repair throughout the year with funds expended from the Tar Roads account.
All Street improvements on newly accepted streets have been finished with funds properly appropriated and better- ments assessed for the work.
STREETS ACCEPTED
At the annual Town Meeting, held February 18, 1958, the Town voted to accept as public ways:
Emerson Road from the westerly line of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co., westerly about 695 feet to West Road.
Williams Court from the north line of Williams Street northerly about 350 feet to the south line of the Richard Salter Storrs Library of Longmeadow.
Robin Road from the north line of Maple Road to the southerly line of Tedford Drive, a distance of about 830 feet.
Maplewood Street from the north line of Maple Road northerly to the southerly line of Tedford Drive, a distance of about 740 feet.
Fairway Drive from the westerly line of Hazardville Road westerly to the easterly line of Fenwood Road, a dis- tance of about 670 feet.
Wenonah Road from the westerly end of the February 23, 1927 acceptance, westerly about 440 feet, to its intersection with York Drive.
York Drive from the easterly line of Longmeadow Street easterly, southerly, easterly and southerly about 1190 feet to a point about 22 feet south of the southerly line of Lot 13A.
Riverview Avenue from the southerly end of the February 17, 1942 acceptance, southerly about 340 feet to the southerly line of the Cooley Drive Tract.
CONCLUSION
Expansion to the eastern part of Town still continues at a rapid pace. A considerable portion of the fill required for Contract "A" of Route 91 was acquired from private property off Williams Street, east of Bliss Road, with the prospect of future subdivision and development planned for by the owners. Such expansion places a heavy burden of proper planning for future drainage and sewage upon our Engineering Department and the Planning Board with whom we are in constant consultation. It is very difficult to plan capacities for the future and still stay within certain necessary economic limits.
Such has always been the case. We now find a very troublesome area in the capacity of the Bliss Road Storm Drainage system east of Laurel Street. This system was installed years ago and is not large enough to carry storm flows of the areas added to it in the last ten years, namely the High School, Grassy Gutter Road, the school parking lot, part of Burbank Road, Woolworth Street, Oakwood Drive, part of Lynnwood Drive and proposed development of land between Grassy Gutter Road and Woolworth Street. A study of present storm flows and possible additions has been made and we ask the voters to provide the necessary funds in 1959 to correct this system permanently. We also ask for favorable approval of our 1959 budget as presented.
We wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to all Town Officers, Committees and Town depart- ment heads and employees for their whole hearted cooperation throughout the past year.
In the interest of giving you a more concise report we ask you to refer to the Treasurer's Report for all expenditures of the Department for the past year.
Respectfully submitted, DONALD A. ROBB Superintendent of Streets
60
Report of the Tree Warden
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
I submit the Annual Report of the Tree Warden for 1958. TEM 72-Control and Suppression of other Public Nuisances. All areas in Town have been sprayed and Mist Blown for he control of all insects by City Tree Experts Company. Only hree Gypsy Moth Egg Clusters were found. TEM 73-Planting Trees.
We had an extra large tree planting program due to all the ew streets. We will have to continue the same for 1959. 77 trees were planted in 1958 - 25 Augustine Elms, which re immune to Dutch Elm Disease, the others being Rock Maple, Norway Maple and Moraine Locust.
TEM 74-Trimming and Removal.
A very large number of trees have been trimmed, a con- iderable number contracted out to City Tree Experts and a umber of streets were gone through by our own crew, sev- ral large trees had to be taken down. Some old elms on The Green had to come down due to age and condition. TEM 75-Fertilizer.
There is always the feeding of the older trees, and the oung ones when planting, and the trees planted in the past wo or three years in order to force growth and ward off isease.
TEM 77-Dutch Elm Disease Control.
The Elms, as we all know, are a problem for as yet there is o known cure for the so-called Dutch Elm Disease. We lose Ims every year, not quite as many this year as in previous ears, due to spraying, trimming and feeding. A large amount f this work was contracted out to City Tree Experts Company.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM G. BAER, Tree Warden and Moth Supt.
Report of The Board of Health
O THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF LONGMEADOW:
The following is a list of the Communicable Diseases hat have been reported to the Board of Health during the ear 1958:
Chicken Pox
17
ยท German Measles
182
Measles
97
Scarlet Fever 12
Mumps 4
Dog Bite 69
Squirrel Bite
1
382
During the past year the Board of Health of Longmeadow dopted the regulation that percolation tests, which are neces- ary as a preliminary for the approval of septic tanks, must be hade on every lot in a subdivision where such tanks are re- uested, rather than being made at representative spots hroughout the plan. It is felt that this will guarantee greater afety to each individual dwelling.
There has been little significant change from prior years elative to the health conditions in the town.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE C. KEADY, JR., Chairman MACK F. WALLACE
COLIN O. CATHREW
Report of The Police Department
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
Gentlemen :
I take pleasure in submitting herewith the thirty-ninth annual report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1958.
ORGANIZATION
The regular force at the present consists of a Chief, three Sergeants, twelve patrolmen, one reserve officer, sixteen school traffic officers and seven special officers. In addition to the regular force, the department has an Auxiliary police force of 70 members organized under Civilian Defense for emer- gency duty.
ROSTER OF THE REGULAR DEPARTMENT
CHIEF George A. Yarsley, Jr.
SERGEANTS John Metzler
Albert G. Robitaille
Donald H. Abraham
PATROLMEN
Frederick C. Vollmar
John G. Barkman
Earl G. Warren
John S. Donaldson, Jr.
John F. Silansky
Romeo W. Huot
Frederick J. Warren
Richard H. Howe
Rene A. Desmarais Edward F. Richards
Edson R. Dorman, Jr.
Robert J. McGarry
RESERVE OFFICER Alvin G. Holmes
SCHOOL TRAFFIC OFFICERS
Morris Abraham
Joseph Bianchi
Robert J. Burgess
Nicholas Chiusane
Victor Cournoyer Frank Crosby
Clinton D. Frame
Joseph A. Greenough
Roland Houle Walter Jasinski
Howard C. Johnson
Percy F. Laming
John Lauer Nicholas Placido
Henry A. Wilson George A. Yarsley, Sr.
SPECIAL OFFICERS
William Alvord
Robert G. Breck
Everett Eastman Alfred Robitaille
Donald V. Smith
Charles F. St. Lawrence
Daniel J. Vignone
ARRESTS
Arrests with warrants
10
Arrests without warrants
198
Summonsed 608
Total
816
Male
717
Female
99
Total
816
Non-residents
764
Residents
52
Total
816
61
CRIMES AGAINST
Person 3
Property
16
Public
797
Total ......
816
DISPOSITIONS
Acquitted
2
Committed to a private institution
1
Continued
19
Discharged
1
Dismissed 31
Filed
87
Fined 576 6
House of Correction
House of Correction (suspended)
7
Pending
30
Probation
3
Released
23
Released to Parents
3
To Agawam Police Department
1
To Boston Police Department
1
To Braintree Police Department
1
To Grand Jury
2
To Hampden County Training School
1
To Pittsfield Police Department
1
To Springfield Police Department
1
To truant officer
2
To U. S. Veterans' Hospital
1
Youth Service Board
1
Youth Service Board (suspended) 4
11
Total 816
...... ....
GENERAL
Ambulance calls 116
Articles lost or stolen 107
Articles recovered 80
Automobile accidents 127
Automobiles recovered 8
Buildings open and secured 115
Complaints investigated
2045
Homes vacant and cared for
2470
Notice to clear snow from sidewalks
113
Notice of defective equipment 18
Referred to the Registry of Motor Vehicles for action 49
Street lights reported out 239
Summonses for other departments
280
Warnings for motor vehicles violations
683
Warnings for parking violations
404
Amount of fines ordered paid $5933 Amount of fines paid to the Town
ACCIDENTS
Property Damage 83
Personal Injury 44
Fatal Accidents 0
Total 127
Property Damage:
Automobile and Automobile 70
Automobile and Fixed Object 13
Automobile and others 0
Total
83
Personal Injury:
Automobile and Automobile 35
Automobile and Bicycle 2
Automobile and Fixed Object 5
Automobile and Pedestrian
2
Total 44
Persons Injured:
No Doctor 13
To Doctor 25
To Hospital 27
Total 65
Longmeadow gained the unique distinction in 1958 of completing over four calendar years without a highway fatality. In this era of ever increasing motor vehicle travel, this ac- complishment is indeed a signal honor.
An analysis of the traffic accident summary in this report reflects the high number of accidents in January and February. It also points out the unusual number of local operators in- volved in these crashes. Operators must be obedient to the basic traffic safety rule of slowing down when streets are snowy or icy. Only by the cooperation of our local operators will we be able to maintain our enviable traffic safety record.
Sergeant Albert G. Robitaille attended courses and be- came a qualified American Red Cross First Aid instructor dur- ing 1958. Members of the Auxiliary Police were retrained in advanced First Aid by him. He has also instructed other out- side groups during the year.
All members of the department have graduated from the State Police Training School at Framingham. The benefits gained from this course of instruction reflects itself in the efficiency with which the officers are better able to serve Longmeadow.
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