USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1921 > Part 5
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Article 2 taken up. ( Additional appropriation for schools.)
Voted that the sum of forty-six hundred (4,600) dollars be appropriated for the public schools of the Town for the
64
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
year 1921, and for this purpose the sum of forty-six hundred (4,600) dollars be taken and transferred from the Municipal Building Insurance Fund, said sum to be expended under the direction of the School' Committee for the repair and replace- ment of furniture, supplies and equipment damaged or des- troyed by fire or otherwise.
Article 3 taken up. (Modification of appropriation for Highway Division.)
Voted, That the vote passed at the adjourned Annual Town Meeting held March 31, 1921, apropriating the sum of $91,000.00 for the maintenance and construction of highways during the year 1921 is hereby modified ; that said sum be ex- pended in the following manner :
Care and repair of streets $21,500.00
Tools and equipment 4,000.00
Care and repair of sidewalks 8,000.00
Care and repair of catch basins and storm drains 5,500.00
Prevention of dust 18,000.00
Teaming
1,000.00
Street signs
500.00
Repairs and maintenance of buildings at Town
Yard
2,000.00
Construction of Massachusetts Avenue 15,000.00
Stock account 500.00
General expense account 15,000.00 and that all necessary transfers be made to carry out the foregoing.
Article 4 taken up. (Appropriation asked for Hgihway Division.)
Voted, That no additional appropriation be made for the use of the Highway Division.
All business calling the meeting having been disposed of, it was
Voted, That this meeting do now adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 9.15 P. M.
A true record. Attest :
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
65
TOWN RECORDS
TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. MIDDLESEX, SS. To Daniel M. Hooley, Constable of the Town of Arlington, in said County:
GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the legal voters of the Town of Arlington, to meet in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Wednesday, the 14th day of December, 1921, at 8 o'clock p.m., to act on the following Articles, viz :--
ARTICLE I. To hear and act on the reports of committees heretofore appointed.
ART. 2. To see if the Town will make an additional ap- propriation for Town Insurance, determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended, or take any action relating thereto.
ART. 3. To see if the Town will authorize the sale, con- veyance or other disposition of all or any part of a parcel of land located at the corner of Mount Vernon and Albermarle Streets, or take any action relating thereto. Said parcel is bounded and described as follows :
Beginning at a stone bound on the northerly side line of Mount Vernon Street and the westerly side line of Albermarle Street ; thence, running northwesterly on the westerly side line of Albermarle Street 112.46 feet to land now or formerly of Agnes S. Macleod; thence, running southwesterly by said land now or formerly of Agnes S. Macleod 36.70 feet to land of owners unknown; thence, running southwesterly by said land of owners unknown 114.36 feet to the northerly side line of Mount Vernon Street; thence, running northeasterly by said northerly side line of Mount Vernon Street 37.70 feet to the point of beginning, containing 4,325 square feet, more or less, as shown on a plan entitled, "Acceptance Plan and Profile of Albermarle Street, Arlington, Mass., showing land taken, scales, Hor. I inch equals 10 feet, Vert. I inch equals 6 feet, April 1, 19:16, George E. Ahern, Town Engineer."
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ART. 4. To see if the Town will make an additional appropriation for the use of the Highway Division, determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended, or take any action thereon.
ART. 5. To see if the Town will make an additional ap- propriation for the removal of snow and ice from the high- ways, determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended, or take any action thereon.
ART. 6 .. To see if the Town will make an additional ap- propriation for the use of the Health Department, determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended, or take any action thereon.
ART. 7. To see if the Town will make an additional ap- propriation for the public schools of the Town, determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended, or take any action relating thereto.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the installation of additional means of fire protection in the public school buildings of the Town, determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended, or take any action relating thereto.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will make an additional ap- propriation for the Tree Warden's Department, determine in what manner the money shall be raised, or take any action relating thereto.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen, on or before said day and hour of meeting.
Given under our hands, at said Arlington, this twenty- eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one.
OLVIN H. LUFKIN, CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX, CHARLES H. HIGGINS,
Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
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TOWN RECORDS
CONSTABLE'S RETURN
Arlington, December 14, 1921.
By virtue of the foregoing warrant I have notified and warned the legal voters of the Town of Arlington to meet at the time and place therein mentioned, by leaving at every dwelling house in the Town a printed attested copy of the Warrant, by posting an attested copy at the doors of the Town Hall and in five conspicuous places in the Town seven days at least before said meeting. A notice of the meeting was also published in the Arlington Advocate.
(Signed) DANIEL M. HOOLEY, Constable of Arlington.
Arlington, December 14, 1921.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant the Town Meeting members of the Town of Arlington, qualified as the law re- quires to vote in town affairs, met and were called to order at eight o'clock in the evening by the Moderator, John A. Colbert.
One hundred and fifty four members attended the meet- ing. The Town Clerk read the warrant calling the meeting and the return thereon' of the Constable who served the same upon the legal voters of the Town.
Art. I taken up (Reports of Committees). Nelson B. Crosby, Chairman of the Finance Committee, presented the report of that Committee in printed form, and it was voted,
That the various articles in the warrant be now taken up and that the recommendations of the Finance Committee under the articles in their report be considered as now before the meeting be voted upon without further motion, separately, and in the order in which they appear in the said report.
Article I was then laid on the table.
Article 2 taken up (Additional Appropriation of Insura- nce.
Voted, That the additional sum of $4,650 be appropriated for Town Insurance, the same to be taken from available funds
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
now in the treasury, and expended under the direction of the Selectmen.
Article 3 taken up (Sale of land at Mt. Vernon and Al- bemarle Sts.)
Voted (by a two-thirds vote), That the present and each future Board of Selectmen be and hereby are authorized and empowered in the name and in behalf of the Town, to sell, at public auction or private sale, the parcel of land located at the corner of Mount Vernon and Albemarle Streets, and more particularly described in Article 3 of the Warrant ; to convey said parcel ; and to execute, acknowledge and deliver a proper deed or deeds for that purpose, all for the minimum amount of $500 for such conveyance, and upon such other terms as the Selectmen shall consider proper.
Article 4 taken up (Additional appropriation for High- way Division).
Voted, That the additional sum of $3000 be appropriated for the repair and maintenance of the public ways during the year 1921 ; that for this purpose the said sum be taken from available receipts from the street railway tax now in the trea- sury ; said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works as follows: for the repair and maintenance of streets, $1500, and for the repair and mainten- ance of sidewalks, $1500.
Article 5 taken up (Additional appropriation for removal of snow and ice).
The Committee recommended and the Town so voted that no additional appropriation be made for the removal of snow and ice in the highways.
Article 6 taken up (Additional appropriation for Health Department ).
Voted, That the additional sum of $1,000.00 be appro- priated for the use of the Health Department, the same to be taken from available funds now in the Treasury, and expended under the direction of the Board of Health.
Article 7 taken up (Additional appropriation for schools).
Voted, That the additional sum of $12,305.82 be approp- riated for the public schools for the year 1921; that for this
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TOWN RECORDS
purpose said sum be taken from available funds now in the Treasury, the same to be expended, as itemized, under the direction of the School Committee :
Salaries
$7,864.90
Bills
1,744.94
Fuel
2,695.98
Article 8 taken up (Fire protection in public school build- ings ).
Voted, That the sum of $1,400 be appropriated for the installation of fire alarm boxes on the public school houses in the Town, that said sum be taken from available funds now in the Treasury and expended under the direction of the School Committee.
Article 9 taken up (Additional appropriation for Tree Warden's Department ).
Voted, That the sum of $2000 be appropriated as a spe- cial fund for the removal of dead and dangerous trees, and for the trimming and general care of existing trees on or over the public ways of the Town; that said sum be taken from available funds now in the Treasury and expended under the direction of Tree Warden.
Article I taken from the table. No other reports of com- mittees being received this article was declared disposed of.
All business calling the meeting having been transacted the meeting was dissolved at nine o'clock p. m.
A true record. Attest : THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen herewith submit a summary of the work of the various departments coming under its super- vision for the year ending December 31, 1921.
ORGANIZATION
Mr. Charles H. Higgins was elected a member of the Board at the Annual March Meeting of 1921 for the term of three years, and was sworn to the faithful performance of his duties by the Town Clerk.
The Board met on March 8th, 1921, and organized as follows :
Olvin H. Lufkin, Chairman
Thomas J. Robinson, Clerk.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
Olvin H. Lufkin, Chairman
Thomas J. Robinson, Agent.
This report will be confined to a general statement of the financial conditions of the Town, and to such recommendations as the Board deems necessary for the efficiency of the Depart- ments coming directly under its control.
The reports of all other departments will be found under proper headings and were submitted to this Board to be a part of the Annual Reports to the Town.
TOWN DEBT AND TAX RATE
On December 31, 1920, the fixed debt was Amount paid during the year
$938,000.00 68,000.00
$870,000.00
Amount' added during the year
52,000.00
On December 31,. 1921, the fixed debt is
$922,000.00
70
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
It will be noted that the Town Debt shows a decrease of $16,000.00 for the past year.
The loans authorized and issued in 1921 amounting to $52,000.00 were as follows:
Water extensions $15,000.00
New Junior High School furnshings 18,000.00
High School Fire Loss
19,000.00
$52,000.00
SINKING FUND
The amount of the Fund on Dec. 31, 1920, was
$218,756.60
Amount added during the year :
For interest on Funds $10,670.2I
By appropriation 14,550.00
25,220.2I
On Dec. 31, 1921 the amount of the Fund is $243,976.81
On January I, 1922, $92,000.00 for Water Bonds is due and payabe. As this report is of December 31, 1921, this amount is not considered in the following figures. This Fund is divided and classified as follows :
Water Loans $182,677.83 Sewer Loans 47,690.08 Town House Site Loan 11,447.85
Park Loans 2,161.05
$243,976.81
After the payment on January I, 1922, of $92,000.00 for Water Bonds there will be no payments from this Fund until 1924 when another $92,000.00 becomes due and payable.
TAXABLE PROPERTY, STATE AND COUNTY TAXES AND TAX RATES
The real and personal property, in the Town, as assessed and reported by the Assessors for the year 1921 was as fol- lows :
Personal Property
Real Estate
1920
192I
1920
1921 :
$2,358,443.00 $2,680,853.00
$21,759,675.00 $22,388,778.00
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The above figures show an increase in personal property of $322,410.00 and an increase in real property of $629,103.00 over the values of 1920, or a total increase in both personal and real property of $951,513.00.
The State, Metropolitan and County Taxes were as follows :
1920
1921 $56,700.00
Increase
State Tax
$56,700.00
County Tax
24,843.50
30,229.42
5,386.92
Metropolitan Sewer Tax 18,945.58
24,406.13
5,460.55
Metropolitan Park Tax
12,968.23
14,208.63
1,240.40
Metropolitan Water Tax 23,603.88
24,635.28
1,031.40
Charles River Basin Tax
2,299.90
2,381.50
81.60
Alewife Brook Tax
2,281.31
2,224.03
57.28*
Fire Prevention Tax
251.49
196.05
55.44*
Soldiers' Exemption Tax
56.96
39.17
16.79*
State Highway Tax
150.37
299.26
148.87
Special State Tax
2,673.00
2,673.00
Eastern Street Railway Deficit Tax
523.47
555-49
32.02
Dorchester Rapid Transit Tax
III.49
III.49
County Hospital Tax
2,167.64
2,167.64
$145,382.69 $160,727.09
$15,660.89
*Decrease ..
CORPORATION AND BANK TAX RECEIVED BY THE TOWN
1920
192I $33,968.51
$747.33
Street Railway Tax
3,731.36
3,637.36
94.00
Income Tax
49,675.96
39,594.28
10,081.68
School Appropriations
Income Tax
24,825.50
26,582.80
1,757.30
$III,454.00 $103,782.95
$7,671.01*
* Decrease.
Increase
Corp'n and Bank Tax
$33,221.18
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
ANALYSIS OF 1921 TAX RATE
Highways®
$3.6665
Sewers and drains
.9780
Water
.4030
Street Lighting
.4920
Engineering
.15IO
Fire Department
.9790
Police Department
I.2330
Wire Department
.0938
Trees and Parks
.3260
Board of Health
.3292
Collection of Ashes and Offal
I.1256
Cemeteries
.2290
Library
.3360
Schools
8.7150
Charities
.7995
Municipal Buildings
.3830
Salaries
.7525
Insurance
+3490
Incidental and specials
1.0740
Pensions
.0670
Debt and Interest
2.7005
State, ,County and Metropolitan Taxes
4.5754
Overlayings
.1420
$29.9000
Total Appropriations
$889,889.42
Less credits
140,360.58
To be raised by taxes
$749,528.84
Property valuation
$25,067,631.00
FACTS SHOWN BY THE FOREGOING ANALYSIS
I Decrease in town debt of
$16,000.00
2. Increase in taxable property 951,513.00
Increase in appropriations raised by taxation 53,001.14
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
4. Increase in State, Metropolitan and County Taxes
15,660.89
5. Increase in Tax Rate over 1920 1.00
6. Decrease received from Corporation and Bank Tax 7,671.01
7. $7.27 of the $29.90 Tax Rate is for debt, interest and State and Metropolitan Taxes
8. $8.71 is for schools.
9. $3.67 is for highways.
IO.
From the balance, amounting to $10.35 are paid all other expenses of the Town, namely, Police Department, Fire De- partment, Salaries of Officials, Outside Poor, Library, Street Lighting, Health Department, Cemeteries, Sidewalks, Sewers, Water, Wire Department, En- gineering, Elections, Reports, Pensions, Insurance, Trees and Parks, and the general maintenance of all departments.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
In submitting the reports of the various departments the Board deems it desirable to preface these reports with a Fin- ancial Statement of the appropriations and expenditures, thus enabling the citizens to ascertain quickly and accurately how much a department costs and how the money is expended.
To this statement the Board adds such suggestions and recommendations as it deems necessary.
OUTSIDE POOR ACCOUNT
Amount of appropriation in 1921
Balance available
$21,000.00 928.10
$21,928.10
Amount expended in 1921
20,527.35
Unexpended balance $1,400.75
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
In making the estimate for this account the Board did not consider the balance of $928.10 of the 1920 account available for the use of the department in 1921.
The actual balance, therefore, unexpended from the ap- propriation is $472.65.
The Law at the present time requires all receipts and reimbursements to be turned into the Treasury and they are not available for the use of the Department unless specifically reappropriated by the Town. This Law very materially affects this accont from a statistical standpoint, as the receipts do not show to the credit of the account, and the impression given by the amount expended ($20,527.35) is that the cost of caring for the poor is about $1.00 per capita, when as a matter of fact the receipts and reimbursements amounting to $8,513.00 makes the net cost to the Town $12,487.00, or about 62 cents per capita.
In the appropriation of 1921 was included the $500.00 appropriated in previous years for the care of patients at the Symmes Hospital, no separate appropriation being made for this purpose.
The expenditures under the appropriation for this de- partment include the weekly and monthly allowances to the poor under the Mothers' Aid Law and to those dependent on the Town, but not eligible under that Law. It, also, includes payments to the State and Cities and Towns, for care of those having a settlement in Arlington. Also, aid rendered for rents, groceries, fuel, milk, clothing, hospital care, medical treatment, medicine, burials and general overhead charges for maintenance and supervision.
The Town is aiding at the present time 120 persons, 12 widows with children, representing 55 persons ; 8 families of 27 persons ; 9 families of II persons; 3 persons in the Som- erville City Home; 3 persons at Tewksbury ; one person at the State Hospital School; 2 families of 6 persons are in Bos- ton ; one family of 4 persons are in Watertown ; one family of three persons in Woburn, and seven persons are aided tempo- rarily. We pay at Somerville and the State Hospital $1.00 per day for care and treatment. The average expense per
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
person aided during the year is $171.00 per year, or $3.30 per week per person.
The amount necessary for the care of the poor can only be determined by the number of persons now being aided, together with a reasonable estimate of new cases as they arise. It should be kept in mind that all persons applying for aid must be cared for, whether such persons have a settlement in Arlington or not. If elsewhere, Arlington must provide the aid from the appropriation made, the reimbursement from the cities, towns, or State going directly into the Town Treasury and not available for the Department ..
The Board recommends that the salary of the Town Physician be transferred from the salary list to the Outside Poor Account, where it properly belongs. The amount of his salary is included in the appropriation requested.
PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Appropriation for 1921
Transferred from Reserve Fund
$36,700.00 345.49
$37,045.49
Amount expended in 1921 .
36,083.67
Unexpended balance
$961.82
The Department now consists of a Chief, Lieutenant, Ser- geant and sixteen patrolmen. During the year four new offi- cers were appointed, one to fill a vacancy, and three in accord- ance with the recommendations of the Board last year.
The matter of sufficient police protection, particularly re- lating to auto traffic is becoming of a serious nature. With the increasing use of the automobile the danger to pedestrians is correspondingly increased, and the Board feels that this matter should receive the careful consideration of our citizens.
The Chief has requested the appointment of four new officers to handle this situation, but the Board feels that with the appointment of two additional officers and the placing of
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
a beacon flash light at Pleasant Street the conditions can be greatly improved for another year, at least.
The members of the Department have continued during the year to render efficient service, and the Board takes this opportunity to commend them for their services.
For detail of work of department see report of Chief, and for detail of expenditures see Auditor's report.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Appropriation for 1921 $29,140.00
Amount expended in 1921 28,491.38
Unexpended balance $648.62
During the year the members of this Department have rendered most efficient service and on two occasions the Board specially commended them for the thorough manner in which fires were handled. There have been no additions to the force during the year. The houses and equipment are in good con- dition. In the report of the Chief of the Department to this Board he recommends the erection of a new central fire sta- tion, which can be used as it should be, for the fire alarm system. This recommendation of the Chief the Board com- mends, and they urge upon the citizens the desirability of tak- ing immediate steps toward securing a location for this purpose.
TIMOTHY J. DONAHUE
On December 8th, 1921, the death of Timothy J. Dona- hue was recorded, and the Board takes this opportunity to express its appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Dona- hue while a member of the Fire Department, and to convey to the members of his family the sincere sympathy of the citi- zens of the Town. Mr. Donahue had been a member of the Department for over forty years, one-half of that period serv- ing as Assistant Chief. His loyalty and devotion to the De- partment made him a most efficient officer of the Town, and in his passing the Department loses an able and painstaking member, and the Town a worthy citizen.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
INSURANCE ON TOWN PROPERTY
During the year (July 18, 1921) a serious fire occurred in the High School Building.
The adjustment of the loss occasioned by this fire was referred by the Board to an adjuster selected by them with a request to the companies that their interests be referred to the Adjustment Bureau. Although this, the most expeditious method of settlement, was agreed to, it was several months before an adjustment was made, due to the fact that the Town was not carrying sufficient insurance to bring the schedule up to the '80 and 90 per cent clauses of the contract on replace- ment values. In other words, the present replacement value of town property was very much in excess of the amount of insurance carried. In view of this fact the Board placed an additional $500,000 insurance on the general blanket form covering all town property, and has had all town prop- erty revalued on the basis of present replacement values. The total amount of fire insurance now carried by the town is $1,708,250.00.
In addition to the fire insurance and insurance on boilers, automobiles and bonds the Board has placed insurance cover- ing holdup, burglary, and messenger service pertaining to the offices of the Treasurer and the Collector of Taxes.
Of the $5,000.00 appropriated last year for the establish- ment of a municipal insurance fund $4,650.00 was transferred to the Treasury Account to replace the damage caused by the fire to the contents of the High School.
During the year the Board has deemed it advisable and for the best interests of the Town to so place the insurance covering town property that one firm would be in a position to represent the Town in all matters pertaining to insurance or losses, and responsible to the Board for the proper conduct of this account of the Town. All forms of insurance carried by the Town are now placed through one office. All agents, however, receive a proportionate percentage of premiums on policies of all forms.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
ROBBINS MEMORIAL TOWN HALL
Appropriation for 1921 Transfer from Reserve Fund
$7,400.00
1,800.00
$9,200.00
Amount expended
9,199.22
Balance
$ .78
In submitting the estimate for the appropriation for the maintenance of the building and grounds for 1921 the Board based the estimate on the appropriation as made in previous years, viz: $5,000.00 and receipts. Had this been done the amount available would have been $8,968.50. This would have shown an overdraft of $230.72. Through a misunder- standing, however, the Finance Committee recommended and the Town voted an appropriation of $7,400.00 without receipts. Under these conditions the Board was compelled to ask for a transfer from the Reserve Fund of $1,800.00. Whle the re- ceipts for use of Hall this year were $3,968.50, all expenses of extra janitor service, checkers and police officers are paid from the appropriation and the receipts turned into the Treas- ury. The appropriation should be sufficiently larger to cover the expenses of the increasing use of the Hall.
For the past few years the Board has received complaints particularly from the women of the Town, of the heating and ventilating facilities on and about the stage. In the appropria- tion asked for the coming year the rearrangement of these systems has been included, the Board being in receipt of a proposal from a reliable firm guaranteeing satisfactory results.
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