Town of Arlington annual report 1904-1906, Part 38

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1904-1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1904-1906 > Part 38

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Article 17 taken up.

Voted, by unanimous consent: - That the consideration of this ar- ticle be postponed.

Article 21 taken up.

"To see if the Town will vote to pay James H. Colprit, damages growing out of the change of grade and improvement of Crescent Hill Ave., and make an appropriation therefor, or take any action in relation to the same."

Voted: - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon, that the subject matter of Article 21 be referred to the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works with authority to settle the claim for a sum not exceed- ing twelve (12) dollars, which sum is hereby appropriated therefor, to be paid from the overlayings of the tax of 1905.

Article 22 taken up.

"To see what action the Town will take with relation to the low- ering of the bed of Sucker Brook, so called, where it passes under Park Avenue, and make an appropriation for same."

Voted: - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon, that the sum of two hun- dred and fifty (250) dollars be appropriated to be expended under the direction and control of the Board of Public Works in lowering the bed of Sucker Brook where it passes under Park Ave., provided, however, that no expenditure shall be made until the owners of the property to

TOWN RECORDS.

be drained above and below the avenues shall have made an agreement, satisfactory to the Board of Public Works. that they will lower the bed of the brook through their lands to a corresponding depth. Said ap- propriation to be taken from the Treasury account.

Article 23 taken up.

Voted: - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon, that the consideration of this article be postponed until the next town meeting.

Article 24 taken up.

"To see if the Town will make an appropriation sufficient to meet the charges of filling deposited on the park lands adjoining Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in accordance with the vote passed by the Town, May 5, 1902."

Voted: - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon, that the sum of thirty- eight dollars and forty cents (38.40), to be taken from the overlayings of the tax of 1905, be appropriated to reimburse the Board of Public Works for filling deposited in Meadow Brook Park, in accordance with a vote of the Town passed May 5, 1902.

Voted: - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon, that the Selectmen be directed to apply to the next General Court for the enactment of a Statute substantially in accordance with draft of an act relative to Town Meetings in the Town of Arlington recommended by the Com- mittee of Twenty-one.

Article 11 taken up.

"To see if the Town will authorize the Town Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money for any necessary purpose, in anticipation of the collection of taxes for the year. 1906, the same to be repaid directly from the proceeds of said taxes."

Voted: - On motion of William A. Muller, that for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan to and for the Town of Arlington in an- ticipation of the taxes of the municipal year 1906, the Town Treas- urer, is hereby authorized and directed to borrow on and after Jan. 1, 1906, from time to time, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, a sum or sums in the aggregate not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) dollars and to execute and deliver therefor the note or notes of the Town, payable within one year from the time the loan is made. Any debt or debts incurred by a loan or loans to the Town under this vote shall be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.

Article 16 taken up.

Voted: - On motion of Samuel E. Kimball, that action upon this article be indefinitely postponed.

Article 15 taken up.

"To see if the Town will vote to authorize and direct the Col- .lector of Taxes to collect all water rates and all other monies due the Town and to send out all necessary notices in relation thereto."

Voted: - On motion of Peter Schwamb, that the Collector of Taxes be, and hereby is authorized, to collect all water rates which are now

TOWN RECORDS.

due or which hereafter may become due the Town, to give all proper receipts therefor and to send out all necessary notices in relation there- to.

Voted: - On motion of James A. Bailey, Jr., that the Collector of Taxes be, and hereby is authorized, to collect all miscellaneous bills which are now due or which hereafter may become due the Town or the various departments or committees thereof and to give all proper receipts therefor.

Article 3 taken up.

"To hear and act on the reports of committees heretofore ap- pointed."

Frank W. Hodgdon presented the reports of the Committee of Twen- ty-one on the question of modification of the form of Town government. The report was made in print. File number 434.

Voted: - That the report of the committee be accepted.

Article 3 was then laid on the table.

Voted: - That when this meeting adjourns it adjourn to meet in the Town Hall, Wednesday evening, November 22, at thirty minutes after seven o'clock.

Meeting adjourned at 10.05 o'clock, P. M.

A true record. Attest:

THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.

ARLINGTON, November 17, 1905.

Pursuant to law, the Town Clerks of Arlington and Lexington, met at Arlington, in the Town Clerk's office, on Friday, the seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and five, at twelve o'clock noon, for the purpose of canvassing the votes cast on the seventh day of November, for a Representative to the General Court of the Commonwealth to represent the Thirteenth Middlesex District.

The canvass showed the following results of the votes cast in Arling- ton and Lexington:

Arthur J. Wellington had, in Arlington, eight hundred and sixty- three (863); in Lexington four hundred and twenty-two (422), making a total of twelve hundred and eighty-five (1285).

Timothy F. Collins had, in Arlington, four hundred and nine (409) ; in Lexington, one hundred and thirty-five (135), making a total of five hundred and forty-four (544). Total votes of both towns showed that Arthur J. Wellington had a majority of all the votes cast, of seven hun- dred and forty-one (741).

'Two certificates were filled out, signed by the Clerks of both towns, and one sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the other delivered to Arthur J. Wellington of Arlington.

A true record. Attest:

THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk of Arlington.

GEORGE D. HARRINGTON, Town Clerk of Lexington.

TOWN RECORDS.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

ARLINGTON, November 18, 1905.

By virtue of my office as Constable of the Town of Arlington, I have this day served, by giving in hand the certificate of election as Repre- sentative to the General Court to be holden on the first Wednesday of January next to Arthur J. Wellington, of 25 Wellington St., Arlington. JAMES E. WHITTEN,

Constable.

A true record. Attest:

THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.

TOWN RECORDS.

ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, NOVEMBER 22, 1905.

Pursuant to adjournment the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, met in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Wednesday evening, November 22, 1905, and were called to order at thirty minutes after seven o'clock in the evening by the Moderator, Walter A. Robinson.

Article 3 was then taken from the table.

James A. Bailey, Jr., for the Selectmen, made a partial report on the matter of municipal lighting, referred to the Board at the meeting held May 2, 1905.

He also made a report of the repairing and painting of the cupola on Town Hall, and the suppression of illegal liquor selling, gambling, piggeries and other nuisances, these matters having also been referred to the Selectmen.

All of said reports were accepted.

Articles 25 and 33, inclusive, taken up.

The reading of these articles being waived it was,

Voted: - On motion of Frank W. Hodgdon, that the subject matter of Articles 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33, be referred to a Committee of Five, to be selected by the Moderator of the meeting and the Chair- man of the Selectmen, said Committee to consider the subject matter of all the articles and their bearing upon the other By-Laws of the Town, and to report thereon in print to the next annual Town meeting.

The following committee was then appointed to serve for said pur- poses: Arthur J. Wellington, J. Howell Crosby, Henry C. Long, Fred S. Mead and Francis L. Maguire.

Articles 18, 19 and 20 taken up jointly.

Voted: - On motion of Melvin L. Severy, that Articles 18, 19 and 20 in the present warrant be corrected by the addition of the word "Not" between the words "do" and "require" in the fifth line of Article 19, and that all of said articles be printed in the warrant for the next reg- ularly called Town meeting and that their discussion be postponed until that time.

Voted: - That this meeting do now adjourn.

Meeting dissolved at 8.10, P. M.

A true record. Attest:

THOMAS J. ROBINSON,

Town Clerk.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.

The Board of Selectmen submit the following report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1905.

The Board met March II, 1905, and organized by electing James A. Bailey, Jr., chairman, and Horace A. Freeman, clerk.

Standing committees were appointed as follows :-

James A. Bailey, Jr., Police and State Aid.

Warren W. Rawson, Fire Department, Public Lands, Alms- house.

S. Frederick Hicks, Outside Poor, Town House and Build- ings.

TOWN DEBT AND TAX RATE.

On December 31, 1904, the fixed debt was . $663,948 64

On December 31, 1905, the fixed debt was. 653,598 64

Decrease during the year 10,350 00

On December 31, 1904, the sinking fund was $64,826 82 On December 31, 1905, the sinking fund was. 82,706 59

Increase during the year. $17,879 77

By this decrease in the fixed debt of $10,350.00 and increase in the sinking fund applicable to the payment of debt of $17,879.77, the net gain in the Town's financial condition for the year is $28,229.77. This is a gratifying condition, and the Board feels that the Town should adhere to the policy of making liberal ap- propriations for the sinking fund and meeting its obligations as they mature. The amount of town debt payable in the year 1906 is $11,450.00, and if the Medford Street loan of $3,000.00, which has been renewed from year to year is also paid this year, it will increase the amount to be paid during the year to $14,450.00.

The policy of borrowing in anticipation of sewer assessments has been abandoned on the advice of the Town counsel that such borrowing was not authorized by law.

The tax rate for 1905 was $20.00 on $1,000.00, which is $1.30 higher than for the year 1904 and $1.00 lower than for the year 1903. The State tax for 1905 was the largest in the history of

SELECTMEN'S REPORT.

the Commonwealth, and there was also an increase in Metro- politan taxes over the preceding year. It is clear that the Town appropriations necessary to furnish the service required by the people in all departments, together with the amounts required for interest and sinking fund, for our large water debt and other debt, added to the State, County, and Metropolitan requirements make imperative a permanent tax rate in the vicinity of $20.00 per thousand. Many of the towns and cities adjoining us, although they are free from a burdensome water debt, have about the same rate of taxation as our own. In several of the neigh- boring communities, property is also considerably overvalued by the local assessors. The Board feels that it is better to have a high rate of taxation than to postpone payment of town obligations or increase the valuations of property beyond a fair market price. On the other hand it believes in economy and a prudent conduct of all the town's affairs, and is glad to be able to state that the Police Department, Fire Department, Outside Poor and Alms- house Departments have been maintained during the past year at a somewhat smaller cost than in the preceding year.

Fire Department .- The losses by fire have been less during the past year than for many years, which fact is evidence of the gen- eral efficiency and discipline in the department.

During the year Eagle Hose Company located near the Cam- bridge line was disbanded by the selectmen with the approval of the fire engineers. It appeared that the part of the town, which this company was intended to serve, was better protected by the other fire apparatus than many other sections of the town, and it was shown that the discipline in this company was lax. More- over it seemed to be unwise to maintain a branch of the fire de- partment within a few hundred feet of the town line.

On account of the policy adopted in the past of postponing proper repairs to fire apparatus it is now necessary to make exten- sive repairs on several pieces of apparatus. In the future an appropriation should be made each year for such repairs, so that the wagons and trucks may be kept in fair condition, and a large appropriation in any one year rendered unnecessary.

Some repairs on the Heights hose house ought to be made this year.

Police Department .- On January 1, 1905, Thomas O. D. Urqu- hart assumed the duties of Chief of Police. Early in the year the three principal places in which there have been in the past viola- tions of the liquor and other laws closed their doors and they

SELECTMEN'S REPORT.

have remained closed. Several kitchen bar rooms have been raided, and in general the proprietors of this class of places have ceased to do business. Several successful raids upon gamblers have been made and the number of arrests for all offences was the largest in the history of the town. This condition of affairs was a necessary and wholesale incident in the general cleaning up pro- cess which has been in progress during the year.

The department has been maintained at a smaller cost than in any year since 1898. This has been due to an arrangement by which one of the patrolmen, without extra compensation, has performed the duties of house officer or janitor of the town hall and also the duties of sealer of weights and measures in addition to certain regular police duty.

The Board believes that a modern police signal system will greatly increase the efficiency of police work. If an adequate system of high quality can be obtained for three or four thousand dollars it seems a wise expenditure, and its installation would probably prevent the necessity of enlarging the police force for a considerable number of years. It seems proper to pay for such a system by making an annual appropriation of $1000.00 to be raised by taxes in each of the next five years.

The police station has been so rearranged and improved that it is much better adapted for the purposes for which it is used and presents a much more business-like appearance than formerly.

The importance of the office of Chief of Police, the satisfactory manner in which the present incumbent has performed his duty, and the fact that he has declined a similar position elsewhere at an increased salary lead the Board to favor a slight increase in the salary of the Chief.

Town Insurance .- The Board is of the opinion that all town fire insurance should be discontinued. The actual experience of this and other towns and the general experience of fire insurance companies in other similar risks prove that fire insurance costs the town about double its real value. Our public buildings are so scattered that the risk of damage to more than one building by one fire is small. They are mainly of good construction, easily reached by an efficient fire department, and well guarded by a high-class fire alarm system. The installation of a complete police signal system would still further decrease the risk to which our public buildings are exposed. Brookline and other progres- sive towns have ceased to insure public buildings against fire. The Legislature of 1905 passed an act to authorize cities and

SELECTMEN'S REPORT.

towns to establish municipal building insurance funds and it seems to be wise for Arlington to accept this act, accumulate its own insurance fund, and discontinue the present system.

Boiler insurance should probably be continued because as an in- cident of such insurance frequent and careful inspections of the boilers are made by competent men, and the safety of school chil- dren and others is promoted.

All liability insurance was discontinued last year ; but the work of attempting to suppress the gypsy and brown-tail moth is so dangerous to employees and the public that it was deemed wise to take out liability insurance covering this work.

The amount of insurance carried by the town December 31. 1905, was $313,598.94 on buildings and $81,000.00 on contents, making a total of $394,598.94. The demolishing of buildings on Town House site reduced the previous amount by about $6,400.00.

Town House Site .- In accordance with a vote of the Town, the buildings on the new Town House site have been demolished and the materials removed. The cellars have been partly filled, and - some rough grading has been done. $480.48 of the appro- priation remain unexpended. This sum with a small additional appropriation will complete the work of putting the grounds in a presentable condition, and when this work is finished a consider- able improvement in the appearance of the town will have been effected.

Public Buildings .- The cupola on the Town Hall has been re- paired by putting in new bracing and by thoroughly painting the entire surface at a cost of about $116.96, so that $383.04 of the appropriation remain unexpended. The condition of the cupola was not so bad as it was believed to be at the time the appropriation was made: The fire appliances in the Town Hall have been overhauled and put in good repair and renewals and extensions have been made.

The Medford Street house has been put in thorough outside re- pair by shingling the roof and giving it two coats of paint.

The Town Hall ought to be painted on the outside and new sash with clear glass put in above the first floor during the coming year. The windows should also be suitably curtained.

Almshouse .- Mr. and Mrs. John B. Tay have continued in charge of the almshouse. During the year, seven inmates have been cared for, one has died, one has been removed to Tewksbury, one boarded out, and the number of inmates is now four, the low- est number for many years.

SELECTMEN'S REPORT.

The number of tramps lodged and fed during the year was 62, which is 153 less than last year and the smallest number in many years.

The present inmates are :-

Mary Scanlon, 49 years old, admitted May 10, 1892. Timothy Linehan, 69 years old, admitted Nov. 21, 1896. Winslow Sullivan, 77 years old, admitted Feb. 2, 1900. James Farrell, 59 years old, admitted Oct. 29, 1904.

A supplementary heating plant has been put in at a cost of $400.00, and paid for out of a special appropriation for the pur- pose. About fifty cords of wood have been hauled to the Alms- house and paid for out of the regular appropriation.

The Board has given consideration to the question, whether it is wise for the Town to maintain an almshouse. The cost per in- mate based on the annual appropriation for maintenance and mak- ing no allowance for the value of the plant, was about $6.00 per week. If there is added to this an amount equal to a fair annual rate of interest on the plant, the cost per inmate per week is about $8.00. Obviously the cost per inmate in whichever way it is figured is far greater than the sum which the Town would be obliged to pay for boarding the inmates outside the almshouse. On the other hand the experience of a number of towns tends to show that if an almshouse is discontinued, the inevitable result is a large in- crease in the number of applications for outside assistance. If an almshouse is maintained some persons will exert themselves to earn their own living who would be inclined, if there were no almshouse, to apply to the Town for aid. The Board desires to call to the attention of the Town the general subject of the alms- house, rather than to make a specific recommendation, because the existing condition of affairs is in some respects unsatisfactory.

Poor Outside of Almshouse .- The cost of furnishing supplies in this department has been somewhat less than last year. The system adopted last year of furnishing articles from a carefully prepared list, rather than furnishing articles indiscriminately, has been adhered to, and has worked well. Careful attention has been paid to each case and the many details connected with this work by the clerk of the Board. A better system and more satisfactory results than formerly were obtained have resulted.

Twenty-four families, containing fifty-six children, have been on the regular list. Last year there were twenty-two families containing fifty-one children.

SELECTMEN'S REPORT.

Nine families, containing twenty-five children, have been on the occasional list. Last year there were sixteen families containing thirty-five children.

Six persons, including sick, feeble-minded, epileptic, and dipso- maniac, have been on the hospital list. Last year there were thir- teen.

Three burials have been made. Last year there were six.

Of the above the town is reimbursed to the extent of one family on the regular list, one family on the occasional list, three persons on the hospital list and one burial.

One hundred and nineteen persons, not including reimburse- ments, have been partially or wholly supported all or part of the year. Last year there were one hundred and thirty-two.

The town has received $300 from the guardian of Anna Gard- ner, an insane inmate for many years in the State Hospital, as part , payment for aid rendered by the town. This was money recently inherited by her and the reimbursement is to be commended. This example could well be followed in other cases.

Street Car Service .- The service of the Boston Elevated Rail- way Company has been unsatisfactory in a number of respects and frequent complaints have been made to the Board by citizens of lack of proper accommodations. The Company has been urged by the Board in several letters to remedy the conditions of which complaint was made. Some improvements resulted, and it is be- lieved that with the completion of the Washington Street subway Arlington will get better service, and that later when the subways to Cambridge are constructed our town will receive added accom- modation. The matter of a transfer station at North Cambridge, the proper terminus of the West Medford line, and the over- crowding of cars are among the subjects discussed by the Board in its communications to the Company.

Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths .- During the past year the town has expended in the attempt to suppress the gypsy and brown-tail moths the large sum of $15,424.52. Of this amount $5,495.86 was expended under the direction of a committee appointed by the town which committee had charge of the work until June 23. Chapter 381 of the Acts of 1905, which took effect May 8, 1905, changed the policy of the State in relation to these pests. By vote of the town the Selectmen were designated under the advice and general direction of the State superintendent to destroy the

SELECTMEN'S REPORT.

eggs, pupæ, and nests of the gypsy and brown-tail moths under the conditions and limitations contained in this act. The Board undertook the work with reluctance and with grave doubt as to a successful outcome. In November the Board asked the town to relieve it of this work and appoint some committee or other officer or board to undertake it. The town voted against placing the work in other hands. The Board repeats its request and recom- mendation that this work be not further imposed on the Select- men. It believes that present methods of work are crude, im- perfect, and of little permanent advantage; and that much money is wasted by pursuing the methods prescribed. If the state au- thorities fifteen years ago had met the problem in a scientific and reasonable manner, had learned from the experience of foreign countries, and had devoted most of their efforts to importing and establishing parasites, the present intolerable condition would not obtain. Until nature's system of checks and balances is given a fair chance to work, all the people of the infested district must exert themselves all the time and then only partial success will attend their efforts. By constant work and considerable expendi- ture our most valuable trees can be saved, but the trees in ordinary woodlands and neglected places seem doomed to destruction. Many street trees ought to be cut down where they are unshapely and crowded. The money required to clean such trees could be used to better and more permanent advantage in removing them. The remaining trees would be given a better chance for develop- ment and the serious problem of saving street trees would be simplified.

When the Board undertook the work in June, the street trees were in good condition and by continuing the work and the methods of the committee previously in charge these trees were kept reasonably free from caterpillars and there was no consider- able defoliation. The trees on many private estates were also in good condition, and by constant exertion on the part of their owners were kept fairly free from the ravages of the pest.

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Town of Arlington annual report 1904-1906, Part 38

Author: Arlington (Mass.) Publication date: 1904-1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1358

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1904-1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1358