USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1912 > Part 3
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Voted: That the sum of $81,600 be appropriated for the Public Schools for the year 1912, $1,000 to be expended for the general repairs on school buildings, $750 to be expended for the main- tenance of the Spy Pond Athletic Field, and the balance to be expended for the maintenance of said schools and the payment of unpaid bills, the same to be expended under the direction of the School Committee.
Article 10 taken up. (Memorial Day.)
Voted: That the sum of $275 be appropriated for the proper observance of Memorial Day, the same to be paid to the Quarter- Master of Francis Gould Post 36, and to be expended under the direction of officers of Francis Gould Post 36, G. A. R.
Article 11 taken up. (Water for hydrants, etc.)
Voted: That the sum of $7,000 be appropriated and paid to - the Water Works Department for water used for fire-hydrants, street watering and public buildings during the year 1912.
Article 12 taken up. (Extension of Water Mains.)
Voted (by a two-thirds vote): That the sum of $14,902.34 be appropriated for the extension and renewals of water mains, and that the unexpended balance of $4,902.34 of the appropria- tion made March 22, 1909, for the renewal of main pipes, be hereby appropriated towards the payment thereof; and for the purpose of raising the balance of $10,000, there be issued ten notes, each for the sum of $1,000, one payable in the year 1913, and one in each of the nine succeeding years; said notes to be issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 616 of the
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TOWN RECORDS
Acts of 1910, and to be designated on the face thereof "Water Loan of 1912," and to bear interest at a rate not exceeding four percent per annum, payable semi-annually.
Article 13 taken up. (Permanent Sidewalks.)
Voted: That the sum of $1,000 be appropriated for the purpose of extending a permanent sidewalk on the north side of Massa- chusetts Avenue from the end of the present permanent sidewalk opposite Mount Vernon Street, towards Arlington Heights; such extension to be carried out under the Sidewalk Act, Section 43 of Chapter 49 of the Revised Laws, and that the sum of $2,500 be appropriated for the renewal and extension of other permanent sidewalks, not less than $1,000 of the latter amount to be used for extensions carried out under the Sidewalk Act, Section 43 of Chapter 49 of the Revised Laws.
Article 14 taken up. (Maintenance of Sewerage System.)
Voted: That the sum of $1500 be appropriated for the main- tenance of the Sewerage System for the ensuing year; said sum to be taken from Sewer Assessment Collections.
Article 15 taken up. (Extension of Sewerage System.)
Voted: That the sum of $7000 be appropriated for the extension of the Sewerage System; said sum to be taken from the Sewer Assessment Collections.
Article 16 taken up. (Highway Division.)
Voted: That the sum of $43,000 be appropriated for the mainte- nance and construction of highways during the ensuing year, and for payment of unpaid bills, and that the street railway tax now in the Treasury amounting to $20,060.47 be hereby ap- propriated towards the payment thereof, and that the balance of $22,939.53 be raised by general tax.
Article 17 taken up. (Street watering or other treatment.)
Voted (by a two-thirds vote): That an appropriation of $5000 be made for street sprinkling or treatment for the prevention of dust on streets; that $2000 of said sum be raised by general tax: and the balance of $3000 be raised by note of the Town for a time not exceeding one year, said note to be issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 616 of the Acts of 1910, and the receipts from assessments levied in 1912 for street sprinkling or treatment for the prevention of dust be hereby appropriated toward the payment of said note.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Article 18 taken up. (Street Lighting.)
Voted: That the sum of $10,500 be appropriated for street lighting for the ensuing year.
Article 20 taken up. (Block System.)
Voted: That the sum of $300 in addition to the unexpended balance of $113.28 be appropriated to continue the work of es- tablishing the block system for the use of the Board of Assessors, the same to be expended under the direction of the Assessors.
Article 21 taken up. (Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths.)
Voted: That in addition to the sum already appropriated, the sum of $4000 be appropriated to be expended during the year ending November 30, 1912, 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.
Article 22 taken up. (Acceptance of Norfolk Road Extension.) Voted: That the Town accept and establish as a Town way, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of better ments, the private way known as Norfolk Road, extending from Pleasant Street to that part of Norfolk Road accepted by the Town March 20, 1911 (said way is more particularly described in Article 22 of the Warrant); and that the sum of $1450 be ap- propriated for the construction of said way, said sum to be raised by general tax the current year and to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
Article 23 taken up. (Rebuilding part of Mystic Street.)
The Committee recommended that no special appropriation be made for the work to be done under this Article, but that it be paid for out of the general appropriation made for the mainte- nance and construction of the highways and it was so voted.
Article 24 taken up. (Summer Street Extension.)
Under this Article George A. Kimball made the following report.
The Committee, appointed at the Town Meeting held January 22, 1912, under Article 6 of the Warrant, to investigate the ad- visability of petitioning the Highway Commission to lay out and take charge of as a state highway, Summer Street, also Summer Street Extension from Brattle Street to Forest Street and Bow Street, submits the following report.
The Committee conferred with the Chairman of the Massa-
-
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TOWN RECORDS
chusetts Highway Commission, and was informed that a petition for the laying out of Summer Street as a state highway would not receive favorable action by the Commission; therefore the Committee recommends that it is not advisable to present such. a petition.
The Committee has carefully examined the plans showing the proposed widening of Summer Street and its extension westerly, and found that such an improvement would provide another thoroughfare east and west, nearly parallel to Massachusetts Avenue, which in the future would be a great advantage to the Town. Therefore the Committee recommends the following vote :-
Voted: That the Board of Survey consider the advisability of widening any portion of Summer Street and its extension westerly; the Board to report to the Town from time to time such action as it deems necessary.
No appropriation was made under this article ..
Article 25 taken up. (Addition to High School.)
Voted: That the consideration of Article 25 be deferred to Tuesday evening, April 9, 1912 at 7.30 o'clock and that the sub- ject matter of Article 9 (Appointment of a Committee of Twenty- one) be also taken up at that time.
Article 26 taken up. (Building at Heights for Fire purposes.)
Professor Peter Schwamb presented the following report of the Committee appointed January 22, 1912 to consider this matter and report at this meeting:
The Committee appointed at the Town Meeting held January 22, 1912, under Articles 4 and 5 of the Warrant, submits the following report:
This Committee was appointed to investigate the advisability of the erection of a building at Arlington Heights for fire purposes and the purchase and installation therein of an Auto Hose and Chemical Truck "and to investigate the advisability of the purchase and installation of an Auto Fire Pump at the Broadway fire station." Several meetings were held and the present fire station at the Heights was visited and examined in detail. The present-day development of the automobile pumping engine was also carefully studied and demonstrations were witnessed.
As a result of its study of the questions submitted to it, this
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Committee believes that it is inadvisable for the Town to under- take to do all the things proposed, on account of the excessive cost, amounting in all to about $24,000. It is recommended first that the present station at the Heights be put in a safe and sanitary condition for the present apparatus, and that the use of this apparatus be continued for the present and that an appropriation of a sum not exceeding eleven hundred dollars ($1100) be made to do this work. Second, that the Town appropriate a sum not exceeding eight thousand dollars ($8000) for the purchase of an Auto Triple Combination Fire Pump, Chemical and Hose Truck and accessories, and to make such changes in the William Penn House as may be necessary for installing this apparatus.
These recommendations are consistent with the policy of development of the Fire Department laid out by the Committee on Fire Department, appointed March 28, 1910.
(Signed)
Respectfully submitted, PETER SCHWAMB, GEORGE A. KIMBALL, DANIEL WYMAN, WILLIAM O. PARTRIDGE, WALTON H. SEARS. Committee on Fire Department.
It was then Voted: That the sum of $1100 be appropriated for the purpose of making repairs on the Hose House at Arlington Heights, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Committee appointed January 22, 1912, to report on said House, and the Fire Engineers.
Article 27 taken up. (Auto Fire Apparatus.)
Voted: That the sum of $8000 be appropriated for the purchase of an Auto Triple Combination Fire Pump, Chemical and Hose Truck, and to make such changes and improvements at the William Penn Hose House as may be necessary for housing and installing said apparatus; said sum to be expended under the direction of the Committee on Fire Apparatus appointed January 22, 1912, and the Fire Engineers; $4000 of said sum to be raised by general tax, and the balance of $4000 to be raised by note of the Town for a term not exceeding one year, and to be issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 616 of the Acts of 1910. ,
35
TOWN RECORDS
Article 7 taken up. (Town Expenses, Debts, etc.)
- Voted: That the sum of $12,000 be appropriated for the Sinking Fund; $4000 to be taken from the income of the Water Works, and $8000 to be raised by general tax the current year; said amounts to be paid to the Sinking Fund Commissioners, Decem- ber 1.
That $5000 from the income of the Water Department and $13,510.64 taken from the unexpended balances and amounts in the Treasury otherwise unappropriated, and the balance of $4,439.36 to be raised by tax, be appropriated for the payment of notes or bonds maturing in 1912.
That the sum of $12,860, from the income of the Water Depart- ment, and $17,140, to be raised by general tax, be appropriated for the payment of interest during the year 1912.
That the sum of $6000 be appropriated for the care of outside poor, in addition to such sums as the Town may receive from individuals reimbursing it for such care.
That the sum of $970.19 be appropriated to pay the following overdrafts during the year 1912:
Abatements.
$875.03
Board of Survey
12.67
Interest .
74.49
Soldiers' Relief
8.00
$970.19
Voted: That the following appropriations be made for the pur- poses indicated.
Abatements.
$2000
Board of Health
2500
Board of Survey
500
Cemeteries .
1800
Fire Department.
11800
New Hose
740
Health Department
10000
Storm Drains .
3000
Incidentals, Selectmen.
3300
Incidentals, Assessors
750
Incidentals, Auditor
100
Incidentals, Collector
400
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Incidentals, Town Clerk.
400
Incidentals, Treasurer .'
175
Insect Pest Extermination
1000
Insurance.
1250
Military Aid.
100
Outside Poor-Receipts
6000
Park Commission
300
Police .
11000
Premiums for Bonding
150
Soldiers' Relief .
350
State Aid.
100
Town House
1600
Town House Site, Care of Lot.
100
Tree Warden
1000
Wire Department .
800
Town Grant, November 1912
7500
Moths
$2500
Cemetery : Special
5000
Salaries for the year - beginning with the March election for elective officers, and April 1 for appointive officers.
Selectmen
$650
Town Clerk, Fees
1200
Treasurer
700
Treasurer, for clerk hire
200
Collector.
1400
Collector, for clerk hire
300
Auditor
1000
Board of Public Works.
650
Assessors .
2000
Board of Health .
400
Tree Warden
100
Clerk of Selectmen .
300
Inspector of Buildings
400
Stenographer .
624
Town Physician .
150
Registrars of Voters. :
225
Superintendent of Wires
1000
Inspector of Animals
150
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TOWN RECORDS
Sealer of Weights and Measures
200
Town Counsel .
250
Ballot Clerks and Tellers.
250
Secretary, Committee of Twenty-One
50
Town Engineer
1500
Inspector of Plumbing.
500
Medical Inspector of Schools
300
Clerk, Board of Health
150
Consulting Engineer (3 months)
125
Article 6 taken up. (Repairs of Highways, Bridges etc.)
Voted: That the Town ways, highways and bridges be repaired during the ensuing year under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
Article 8 taken up. (Selectmen Agents, etc.)
Voted: That the Selectmen be appointed agents of the Town, to institute and prosecute actions in favor of the Town, to appear and defend suits and legal proceedings against or involving the interests of the Town, with power to employ counsel therein, and when necessary in all other legal matters and business ap- pertaining to Town affairs during the year commencing March 1, 1912.
Article 19 taken up. (Authority of Collector.)
Voted: That the Collector of Taxes be authorized to use all means of collecting taxes for the year 1912, which a Town Treasurer may use when appointed a Collector of Taxes.
Article 29 taken up. (Town Grant.)
Voted: That the several amounts appropriated at this meeting, for the purposes indicated by the various votes, and not otherwise provided for, amounting to $249,203.08, together with the sum of $7500 appropriated at the November Meeting of 1911, making a total of $256,703.08, be raised by general tax the present year and that all notes issued under the authority of any vote passed at this meeting shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 616, Acts of 1910.
Article 3 taken from table.
Voted: That the reports of the various Town officers, as pre- sented in their annual reports, together with the addition of tables of statistics of the assessors, be accepted.
Article 28 taken up. (Modification of Building Laws.)
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Voted: That Messrs. Frank W. Hodgdon, Henry S. Adams, S. Fred Hicks, William' Proctor and Peter Schwamb be appointed a Committee to consider the advisability of amending our building laws in reference to fire-proof roof requirements, and the establish- ment of rules making the minimum distance between buildings and the minimum distance of buildings from the lot lines, bear some fixed relation to height; also to consider such other matters as they may deem prudent, bearing on improved fire hazard. Said Committee to report at the next Town meeting if they deem best.
The number of voters attending the meeting, as determined by the Constables in charge of the turnstiles, was two hundred forty-two (242).
Voted: That when this meeting adjourns it adjourn to meet Tuesday evening, April 9, 1912, at 8 o'clock.
Voted: That this meeting do now adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 10.30 o'clock.
A true record. Attest:
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING OF APRIL 9, 1912.
Pursuant to adjournment the citizens of the Town of Arlington. qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs, met in the Town Hall in said Arlington, on Tuesday, the ninth day of April, 1912, and were called to order at eight o'clock by Moderator John G. Brackett.
Article 25 taken up.
Professor Peter Schwamb presented the following report of the Committee appointed to procure plans for an addition to, and alteration of, the present High School building.
At the Town meeting held November 20, 1911, this Committee was appointed to procure plans and estimates from a responsible architect for an addition to, and alteration of, the present High School building, substantially as outlined by scheme 3, as reported by the Committee previously appointed, the Committee to report at the next Annual Town Meeting.
The sum of $250 was appropriated to cover any attendant expenses.
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TOWN RECORDS
Scheme 3 was as follows:
SCHEME No. 3.
This scheme contemplates building an addition, approximately 75 by 75 feet, at the north side of the present building, between the two wings. Owing to the slope of the ground, there would be ample space for a Hall on the basement level, with eight class rooms, 28 by 32 feet, four on each floor, on a level with the floors in the present building. Additional space for sanitaries and increased heating apparatus will also be provided. This addition would be compact, and easily connected with the present building. The additional seating capacity would be between 300 and 350 pupils, making the accommodation of the school approximately 750 pupils. Estimated cost, $55,000 to $65,000.
After beginning work on the plans it was found that the au- thorized scheme would not harmonize with the proposed new Town Hall, and at a special Town meeting, held January 8, 1912, your Committee asked for and was given authority to so modify Scheme 3 as to make it harmonize with the new Town Hall ac- cepted at the same meeting.
Preliminary plans were made and these were submitted by the architect of the High School building to Mr. R. Clipston Sturgis who expressed himself as satisfied with the new plans. Working drawings and specifications were then made on the new scheme and reliable bids were obtained from six responsible contractors.
The proposed structure will increase the number of seating rooms which determine the capacity of the building from 10 to 21. The building in its present crowded condition accommodates 426 pupils, and the proposed building will easily accommodate 894 pupils. To be conservative and allow ample room these figures might be taken as 400 and 850 respectively.
The proposed building is arranged on its several floors as follows:
Basement. Boiler room, fan room, two manual training rooms, toilets, wardrobes and lunch rooms for girls and boys, and a gymnasium 44 by 58 feet by 172 feet high provided with a large balcony and dressing rooms and shower baths for both girls and boys.
First Floor. Principal's room, room for Superintendent of Schools, emergency toilets for girls and boys, eight class rooms seating 380 pupils.
.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Second Floor. Teacher's room, chemical and physical labora- tories, emergency toilets for girls and boys and nine class rooms seating forty-four pupils.
Third Floor. Assembly Hall unchanged, two rooms for the Commercial Department, two rooms for Domestic Science, a large drawing room, a large lecture room with raised floor and four class rooms seating one hundred pupils.
The available rooms in the building, not counting toilets, locker and dressing rooms, have been increased from 19 to 36.
The following costs of existing High School buildings are sub- mitted from data which have been carefully obtained, due allow- ance being made for gifts and special conditions under which the buildings were constructed. The seating capacity in each case has been taken from special reports and the expense per pupil has been determined, both excluding and including the cost of the site.
Table "A"
Cost per Pupil
Place
Date Built
Cost Bldg. & Equip.
Cost Site
Pupils
Site Ex.
Site In.
Type of Construction.
Winchester
May 1904
$110,000
$24,400
400
275
336
Yellow Brick
Reading
Sept. 1906
93,000
8,000
500
186
205
Red Brick
Malden
Oct. 1909
. 300,000
50,000
1,200
250
292
Brick and Stone
Revere
Sept. 1908
120,000
20,000
500
240
280
Red Brick
Salem
Mar. 1909
300,000
10,000
865
347
358
Brick
Lynn
Sept. 1911
293,763
34,482
804
369
408
Yellow Bk. & Stone
Newton
1898 & 1909
455,000
Gift
1,000
455
Buff Brick
Watertown
1912
170,655
Gift
600
284
Brick and Sd. St.
From the prepared plans, specifications and contractors' bids, the alterations of the present building and the construction of the addition, can be completed for one hundred ten thousand ($110,000) dollars, including equipment and grading. Assuming four hundred pupils in the old, and four hundred and fifty pupils in the new section, the cost of the addition per pupil will be $244 which compares favorably with the cost of equally good structures given in the above table.
It is believed that if the work is started at once, the bids having been made, that the building can be sufficiently completed at the opening of the school term to accommodate the increased numbers.
It is also believed that the new section will be far enough along to avoid any serious interference with the successful conduct of the school.
Should this building be built at once it is believed that it will
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TOWN RECORDS
take care of all overflow from the grammar schools for from two to four years, dependent on the rate of increase in the Town population. When the grammar schools are full a new grammar school of twelve rooms may be built at an approximate cost of from $50,000 to $60,000 that will doubtless care for the grammar grades for twelve years longer.
The total school building expense to the Town will thus be about $170,000.
If the building of this addition is postponed one year, the lowest bidder informs us that the additional cost will be at least twenty per cent.
This enlarged High School will, it is believed, be ample to accommodate the classical high school work indefinitely. Voca- tional schools will doubtless soon be constructed in the Metro- politan District and these will relieve the Classical High School.
Should a new High School accommodating 850 pupils be built at the present time similar to the Watertown High School it will cost at least $250,000 and probably $275,000, exclusive of land. Such a building would be fire-proof as is now, we understand, required for new buildings.
In view of the necessity of increased room at once, and in view of the relatively low cost of materials now obtaining, the Committee unanimously recommend the appropriation of $110,000 at this time for the alteration and enlargement of the High School.
The Committee desires to thank the architects, Messrs. Hart- well, Richardson and Driver, for pushing the work on the plans and specifications so that bids could be obtained in the short time available.
Respectfully submitted, PETER SCHWAMB, EDWARD W. GOODWIN, JACOB R. ESTABROOK, FREDERICK F. LOW.
Francis L. Maguire, Chairman of the Committee of Twenty- one, presented the following report on the matter of this article:
The Committee of Twenty-one have carefully considered the matter contained in Article 25 of the Warrant, and after due consideration do not deem it expedient to advise action by the
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Town at this meeting, and submit the following reasons therefor:
The Committee has had several interviews with the special Committee appointed by the Town at the November meeting of last year to report on a plan for an alteration or extension of the High School building, and this special committee has exhibited to the Committee of Twenty-one the plans secured by them for this extension, and has informed the Committee of Twenty-one, that for the sum of one hundred ten thousand ($110,000) dollars an addition can be erected, which, with the present High School building, will have a seating capacity for eight hundred and fifty (850) to nine hundred (900) pupils, as well as providing the other appurtenances which go with a modern High School.
The special Committee has given the matter great thought, care and attention, for which they are entitled to the thanks of every citizen of this Town.
The Committee of Twenty-one, however, is of the opinion that before definitely passing upon the plans of the special Com- mittee, the subject of the erection of an entirely new High School should be considered by the Town.
It is evident that if a new building is erected the methods of construction must be according to modern methods, and be more or less fire-proof, and would be more expensive than an addition to the present building.
Figures have been submitted to this Committee which show that a modern school building, to accommodate 850 to 900 pupils, would cost from $200,000 to $300,000, exclusive of site.
There is such a wide variation in the estimates that the Com- mittee of Twenty-one feels that the entire question needs further consideration, both by the Committee and by the Town.
It is apparent from the financial condition of the Town that no new building could be erected, unless the Town first obtained authority from the Legislature to borrow for this purpose outside of its now borrowing capacity, this capacity being now limited to about $119,000.
Therefore the Committee of Twenty-one recommends, that the matter be left with the present Committee on High School Extension to report at the November Town meeting or at a special meeting, if they so deem wise, and that added power be given that Committee to consider not only the matter now entrusted
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