USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1908-1909 > Part 38
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The Moderator appointed the following citizens to serve on this Committee: Howard W. Spurr, Harry G. Porter, Rodney T. Hardy, Edward N. Lacey and William E. Lloyd.
Article 2 was then taken from the table, and under this article George A. Kimball, Chairman of the Committee of Twenty-One, pre-
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TOWN RECORDS
sented the report of said committee in printed form. File No. 656. Voted : That the report of the committee be received and that all articles in the Warrant, calling for an appropriation, be now taken up in the order in which they appear in the report of said committee.
Article 14 taken up. (Acceptance of Whittemore Street and Foot- way.)
Voted: That the Town accept and establish as a town way the private way known as Whittemore Street and Footway, extending from Massachusetts Avenue to the southerly side of the location of the Boston & Lowell R. R., as laid out by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments; said way being more particularly de- scribed in Article 14 of the Warrant.
Article 15 taken up. (Henderson Street Extension.) -
Voted: That no action be taken on this article at this time.
Article 8 taken up. (Repairing cupola on Town Hall Building.)
Voted: That the sum of two hundred fifty (250) dollars be appro- priated for repairing the cupola on Town Hall Building, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen and to be taken from any available funds in the Town Treasury not already provided for.
Article 4 taken up. (Appropriation for Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths.)
Voted: That the sum of $4,592 be appropriated, to be expended from Nov. 30, 1909 to Nov. 30, 1910, under the direction and control of the Selectmen, in suppressing the gypsy and brown-tail moths in the Town of Arlington, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 381 of the Acts of 1905, and amendments thereto; said sum to be raised by general tax in 1910.
Article 5 taken up. (Enlargement of Fire Station No. 1.)
Voted: That a Committee of Five be appointed by the Moderator to consider the enlargement of Fire Station No. 1 at Arlington Heights, and acquisition of land for that purpose, and report to the next March meeting.
The Moderator appointed the following citizens to serve on this committee: Frank A. Noyes, Walter H. Peirce, Reuben W. LeBaron, John L. Axtman and William H. Mclellan.
Article 6 taken up. (Construction of Roadway to Town Yard.) Voted: 'That the sum of $200 be appropriated for the construction of a roadway on the Town Yard, the same to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works; said sum to be taken from any available funds in the Town Treasury not already provided for.
Article 7 taken up. (Accommodations for Police Department.)
Voted: That the sum of $373, in addition to the $800 already ap- propriated to provide more adequate cell and office facilities for the Police Department, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen; said sum to be taken from any available funds in the Town Treasury not already provided for.
Article 10 taken up. (Additional appropriation for Public
Library.)
Voted : That the additional sum of $200 be appropriated for the Public Library, for furniture and fittings for the new reading room in the Locke School building; said sum to be expended under the direc- tion of its Trustees, and to be taken from any available funds in the Town Treasury not already provided for.
Article 11 taken up. (Storm drain on Appleton Street.)
Voted: That the sum of $600 be appropriated for the construction
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TOWN RECORDS
of a storm drain on Appleton Street; said sum to be taken from any available funds in the Town treasury not already provided for.
Article 12 taken up. (Purchase of cast-iron water pipe.)
Voted: That no action be taken under this article at this time. Article 17 taken up. (Charges for filling on park lands.)
Voted: That the sum of $695.40 be appropriated to meet the charges for filling deposited on the park lands adjoining Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in accordance with the.vote of the Town, May 5, 1902; said sum to be taken from any available funds in the Town Treasury not already provided for.
Article 16 taken up. (Treasurer to borrow money.)
Voted: That for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan to and for the Town of Arlington in anticipation of the taxes of the municipal year 1910, the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow on and after January 1, 1910, from time to time with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, a sum or sums in the aggregate not exceeding one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) dollars, and to execute and deliver therefor the note or notes of the Town bearing the authenticating certificate of such financially responsible institution or corporation doing business in the Commonwealth, a's the Board of Selectmen may designate, 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 18. No action being necessary under this article it was Voted: That this meeting be now dissolved.
Meeting dissolved at ten minutes after nine o'clock. The Select- men appointed Constables John Duffy and Charles F. Donahue to have charge of turnstiles at the entrance and exit of the hall, and at the close of the meeting they made a return in writing, sworn to before the Town Clerk, by which the number of citizens attending the meet- ing was determined to be 135.
A true record. Attest:
S
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen submit the following report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1909.
On March 1, 1909, the new Board of Selectmen, consisting of Frederick S. Mead, J. Howell Crosby and Philip A. Hendrick, having been duly sworn by the Town Clerk, met and organized as follows :
Chairman, J. Howell Crosby. Clerk, Horace A. Freeman.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
J. Howell Crosby, Police Department and State Aid. Frederick S. Mead, Fire Department and Public Lands.
Philip A. Hendrick, Outside Poor, Town House and Public Buildings.
The Board of Selectmen consists of three members, elected at the regular annual town meeting held on the first Monday in March, all for the term of one year.
The Board also acts as Overseer of the Poor and as Board for the Suppression of Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths.
The regular meetings of the Board are held Saturday evenings, in the Selectmen's room, Town Hall, at 7.30 o'clock.
1
TOWN DEBT AND TAX RATE.
On December 31, 1908, the fixed debt was. $704,248.64 Added during the year $14,500.00 Paid during the year. 14,450.00
Increase during the year 50.00
On December 31, 1909, the fixed debt is. $704,298.64 On Dec. 31, 1908, the sinking fund was. . $139,698.06 On Dec. 31, 1909, the sinking fund is ... . 157,713.38
Increase during the year $18,015.32
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
The amount added to the fixed debt during the year is $14,500. This is made up of $3,000 for Town Yard; $2,500 for new streets, namely, Woodland street and Bartlett avenue; $2,000 for sewer extensions; $2,000 for extension of water mains; and $5,000 for the renewal of old cement lined pipe.
All of this added indebtedness is in the form of serial notes maturing from 1910 to 1919, inclusive.
A part of that spent for new streets will be returned to the Treasury in betterment assessments.
The amount of fixed debt maturing during the year and paid is $50 less than the amount added during the year. The total fixed debt remaining is $704,298.64, or $50 more than it was a year ago.
The tax rate for 1909 is $18.50 on $1,000, which is 80 cents less than it was in 1908.
It is gratifying to see a reduction in our tax rate, which ap- pears to be owing largely to the increased valuation of property, due to the growth of the town. The total increase in personal and real estate May I, 1909, as compared with the year before, was $373,568. Indications point to an unusual number of new buildings another year and for some years to come.
STATE, COUNTY AND METROPOLITAN TAXES.
1909.
1908.
Increase.
State Tax.
$13,635.00
$16,665.00
*$3,030.00
County Tax
11,682.45
10,508.38
1,174.07
Metropolitan Sewer Tax ...
9,169.53
9,507.38
*337.85
Metropolitan Water Tax ...
17,442.46
16,552.50
889.96
Metropolitan Park Tax ....
5,253.27
5,129.49
123.78
$57,182.71
$58,362.73
*$1,180.02
*Decrease.
The total state, county and metropolitan taxes for 1909 is $57,182.71, or $1,180.02, less than was the total for 1908.
This decrease makes a difference of about II cents on the tax rate.
While the total of these taxes is less than it was the year be- fore, it is likely to be larger in 1910.
No tax has yet been assessed on the town and cities liable for the cost of the purification of the Alewife Brook area, $125,000 having been appropriated by the State for that purpose. When assessed the town's share will be 24 per cent., or $30,000.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
CORPORATION AND BANK TAXES RECEIVED BY THE TOWN.
1909.
1908.
Increase.
Corporation Tax
$6,640.06
$8,785.61
*$2,145.55
Bank Tax
3,852.63
5,711.96
*1,859.33
Street Railway Tax.
14,417.50
13,120.14
1,297.36
Boston Elevated Ry. Tax ..
2,719.10
2,668.42
50.68
Boston & North. St. Ry. Tax
329.93
323.14
6.79
Lex. & Bos. St. Ry. Tax ...
63.30
64.40
*1.IO
$28,022.52
$30,673.67
*$2,651.15
*Decrease.
The total receipts, as shown above, for 1909 amount to $28,- 022.52, which is $2,651.15 less than it was in 1908.
This unfavorable difference is due to the falling off in receipts from corporation and bank taxes.
Chapter 614 of the Acts of 1908 provided that one-half of the proportion of taxes collected on shares in the capital stock of do- mestic corporations should be paid to the cities and towns where the shareholders resided and the other half should be paid to the cities and towns where the business of the corporation was car- ried on. Previous to this Act the whole of these taxes was paid to the cities and towns where the stockholders resided. The Act went into effect in 1909, and made a difference of about $2,145.55 corporation receipts coming to Arlington. Our town being residential rather than manufacturing, loses by the amended law.
DEBT MATURING.
In the next five years the fixed debt maturing, as it stands Dec. 31, 1909, amounts to $235,548.64, divided as follows :
1910
$18,648.64
19II
16,950.00
1912
105,950.00
1913
80,550.00
1914
13,450.00
$235,548.64
Of this amount $91,000 water bonds mature in 1912, and $64,- 600 high school bonds mature in 1913. Both of these amounts will be taken from the sinking fund ; the other amounts are to be met by taxation.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
While a large portion of our present fixed debt will be paid in the next five years, no doubt considerable new indebtedness will be added during the same time because of the demand for public buildings, new streets, water and sewer extension.
OVERDRAFTS.
The practice of making special effort to keep expenditures within the appropriation is now followed among all depart- ments. This is very praiseworthy and the Town as a whole reaps the advantage. During the year just closed all of the departments, except three, report a balance. These three are (I) the Incidental Account, which reports an overdraft of $457.68 because of extraordinary expenses not anticipated growing out of suits, claims, and railroad hearings; (2) Police Department, reporting an overdraft of $91.52, caused by extra expenses growing out of the Mullens murder case; (3) the Board of Health Account, which reports the large overdraft of $873.02. This is because of expenses in the care and treat- ment of contagious diseases, for which the Town was liable, and which could not be well provided for in March.
Perhaps it is well to say here, that under the law as it reads today, the cost to the Town for the care and treatment of con- tagious diseases is likely to be considerable of an item annu- ally. By reference to the report of the Board of Health may be seen the law in full on this matter as it now reads, and what that Board says relative to the same.
BONDS OF COLLECTOR, TREASURER, AND TOWN CLERK.
The bond of the Collector of Taxes of Arlington is given by the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Baltimore, Md., to the amount of $10,000 for the municipal year 1909 and 1910, and until his successor in said office is elected and quali- fied.
The bond of the Town Treasurer of Arlington is given by the American Surety Company of New York to the amount of $20,000 for the municipal year 1909-1910, and until his suc- cessor in said office is elected and qualified. This bond also covers him as Treasurer of Sinking Fund of said Town, and until his successor in the office of Treasurer of said Sinking Fund is chosen and qualified.
The bond of the Town Clerk, Clerk of Departments and Clerk of the Cemetery Commissioners is given by the Ameri- can Surety Company of New York to the amount of $1500 for
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
the municipal year 1909-1910, and until his successor in said office is elected and qualified.
The bonds are in the care of the Board of Selectmen.
REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF MUNICIPAL LOANS.
The recent occurrences in connection with the finances of the Town of Framingham have forcibly brought to the atten- tion of the people the necessity of reform in issuing municipal loans. As authorized by the Town in Town Meeting held November 23, 1909, the Selectmen have arranged by which loans issued in the name of the Town of Arlington shall be authenticated by registration and certification in the First National Bank of the City of Boston, a financially responsible institution. It is believed that this additional safeguard will be of such material advantage to investors as to cause the loans to sell at a higher price, thus offsetting the extra expense necessary.
The Governor has suggested that some plan be adopted requiring registration and certification in the office of the Bureau of Statistics of all town and city loans. Probably early action will be taken on the matter by the next Legislature.
THE EXCHANGE OF BONDS.
Eighty-four thousand dollars ($84,000) of coupon bonds issued by Arlington, dated Jan. 1, 1892, and June I, Nov. I, and Oct. 1, 1896, due in 1912, 1922, 1926, 1936 and 1946, appear to be held in the sinking funds of the Commonwealth. The State desires to have these exchanged for registered bonds.
Section 4, chapter 73, of the Revised Laws, together with chapter 136 of the Acts of 1909, authorizes the Treasurer to make this exchange without vote of the Town.
Registered certificate blanks made payable to the Common- wealth for eighty-four thousand dollars, the same to cover the coupon bonds referred to above, have been received by Treas- urer Taylor, but the exchange will not be made until after Jan. 1, 1910. In the process of this transfer the coupon bonds with the coupons attached will, of course, be properly can- celled.
These coupon bonds appear to be water, sewer and park bonds.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
The Act referred to above is as follows :
Chap. 136. An act to provide for the Registration of Bonds and other Securities held by the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows:
Section 1. A county, city or town o or any corporation organized under the laws of this Commonwealth which has issued any bond, promissory note or certificate of indebted- ness payable to the bearer, which is held by the Common- wealth, shall, at the request of the Treasurer and Receiver- General, issue in exchange therefor a bond, note or certifi- cate of the same effect, payable to the Commonwealth by name. Provided, that the Commonwealth shall pay all ex- pense necessarily incurred in making such exchange.
Section 2. A county, city, town or corporation which neglects on refuses to issue a bond, note or certificate in accordance with the provisions of this act, when requested so to do by the Treasurer and Receiver-General, shall be sub- ject to a penalty of not more than fifty dollars.
Approved March 3, 1909.
THE HORNBLOWER GIFT.
In a letter from Henry Hornblower and Hattie F. Horn- blower, dated October 18, 1909, the Selectmen were informed that it was their intention to give to the Town of Arlington the Athletic Field near the shores of Spy Pond, as soon as the necessary legal formalities could be arranged.
The Field was to be for the use of the children of the citi- zens of Arlington in the schools of Arlington, and the School Committee was suggested as the proper Board to have the direction and control of the Field:
The matter was referred to the Town Counsel, who was to confer with Mr. James A. Bailey, Jr., Mr. Hornblower's attor- ney, relative to the legal details necessary to complete the gift.
The Board also acknowledged the receipt of the letter and expressed their appreciation of the kind and generous act of Mr. and Mrs. Hornblower.
At a Town Meeting held Nov. 23, 1909, the matter was to have been brought before the Town for acceptance, an article having been inserted in the warrant for that purpose. It was found, however, that the conditions in the deed of gift were such that special legislative authority was necessary before the Town could appropriate money for the maintenance of the Field. As this authority could not be obtained until the next session of the General Court, action under the article was indefinitely postponed.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
A petition and bill for this authority will be drawn and pre- sented forthwith to the Legislature, and upon its enactment the deed of gift will be submitted to the Town at the earliest possible moment.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Nothing unusual has transpired in this department during the year just closed. The high standard of efficiency hereto- fore existing has been sustained and the condition of the apparatus kept up to standard. The Town has been quite free from fires. No material change has been made in the roster of membership and good feeling and co-operation existed.
At the Town Meeting held Nov. 23, 1909, a special commit- tee of five was appointed to investigate the advisability of en- larging Hose House No. I, at Arlington Heights, for better fire protection. This committee is expected to report at the March meeting.
The prospective growth in the eastern part of the town will before long call for additional fire protection, and when that takes place the question of a central fire station and more up-to-date fire apparatus, including the automobile combina- tion, may have to be considered.
For further detail your attention is directed to the report of Chief Peirce.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The demands on this department appear to have been greater than ever before, especially with reference to cases of a serious character. Notwithstanding this, the efficiency of the department has been well sustained without any material changes in the force.
The work of the department has necessitated a slight over- draft in expenditures growing out largely from the Mullens murder case.
For further details of the year's work attention is called to the report of Chief Urquhart.
POLICE OFFICE AND CELL ROOM IMPROVEMENTS.
The changes and repairs in the cell room and office of the police department are now under way and will soon be com- pleted. Eleven hundred and seventy-three dollars were appro- priated for this work.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
When completed three additional cells will be installed, the plumbing improved, the sanitary conveniences replaced by new and the general construction such as to render the cells and cell room easily washed down and kept clean.
The chief's office is in process of enlargement and will be properly painted, burlaped, refloored and furnished with suit- able furniture.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
These buildings include Medford Street Estate, Summer Street Estate, Robbins House, house and barn on Town Yard, and the Town House. No unusual expenses have been made on these buildings except papering, painting and repairs on water pipe in Robbins House, and an oak floor in the Town House, laid in the room of the Superintendent of Wires. The repairs on the cupola of the Town House were authorized by special appropriation of $250, made by the Town, Nov. 23, 1909.
These repairs were much needed, as the supports of the cupola were considerably weakened by decay, rendering the cupola liable to fall in case of heavy storm.
The corner uprights have been replaced and strongly braced and bolted, the tin roof and other outside repairs made. It is believed the cupola is now safe for many years.
The first four estates mentioned above rent as follows :
Medford Street Estate, $300 per year.
Summer Street Estate, $300 per year.
Robbins House, $400 per year.
House and barn, Town Yard, $246 per year.
Making a total of $1,246.
The Town pays the water rates on all these estates and bears the expense of repair and maintenance.
If allowance is made for insurance, maintenance and loss by exemption from taxation, there is probably little or no profit to the Town. All of these estates, however, are of prospective value, and, therefore, warrant possession by the Town. The Medford Street Estate may be required later for school pur- poses, the Summer Street Estate for almshouse purposes, the Robbins House for police or other Town purposes, and thic house and barn on Town Yard for use by the Board of Public Works. In the meantime it seems advisable to derive what income can be obtained.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS.
The work in this department is now an old story and differs little from year to year. The character of the work changes only in degree, while the location changes only in extent and will continue thus until the entire town is covered. While the streets, parks and private residential portions have re- ceived due attention the woodlands have received special consider- ation for two or three years past.
Tanglefooting, burlaping, treating nests, cutting and burn- ing and spraying have been applied whenever the case de- manded. Woodlands on the north part of the town have received the attack this past year.
The two powerful sprayers purchased, one at the end of last year and one at the beginning of this year, enabled the depart- ment to cover much more ground in less time and at less expense than formerly. These sprayers are of the Frost pat- tern and have given good satisfaction. What formerly required thirty men in spraying is now done by eight men by the use of the sprayers. The additional cost in gasolene because of extra power is slight compared with the saving in cost of labor.
Notices have been sent out to all property owners, as usual, and the large number of replies received is very gratifying. These replies simplify and help in laying out the work, and save expense and duplication of work.
The extension of time allowed is for the special benefit of those citizens who just at that time are very busy, but will be at leisure a little later.
The department hopes and believes that this extension of time is appreciated by the recipients.
The work of the department has been in charge of the same local superintendent, namely, Wm. H. Bradley, and the men employed have been the same as those employed for several years.
The work has been very satisfactory to the Board and to the District Superintendent and the State Department has also expressed itself as pleased with the character of the work.
Since our last report the State Department has undergone reorganization. The work of suppressing these moths is now consolidated with the Department of the State Forester, and all material and supplies are hereafter to be furnished by the State from a general storehouse. It is believed that by so doing the department will be managed more economically.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
The Selectmen during the year have been in close touch with the State Department, conferences being held from time to time with representatives of the State for the purpose of reporting to and receiving instructions from the same. In this way the work moves along with less friction and with greater satisfaction to all.
At a recent conference, Assistant Forester Worthley author- izes continuing work on the same lines as heretofore until further notice. We shall not know until about the middle of February the full amount of money to be allotted by the State for expenditure in Arlington for next year. The sum already allotted covers the town's liability only.
The attention of the Board has been called by Superinten- dent Bradley to the ravages of the elm beetle and the leopard moths, the latter being destined to be very destructive to elm trees, because of the character of their eating. Probably the State will make special appropriations for suppressing both of these moths.
Attention is called to Superintendent Bradley's report as Tree Warden, as he in that report has gone somewhat into detail relative to the elm beetle and leopard moth. For detailed expenditure see financial statement attached.
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