USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1921 > Part 6
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In the appropriation requested is also included numerous repairs, which, in the opinion of the Board, should receive early attention. These include the refinishing of the wood- work in the Auditorium, the floor and woodwork in the Hear- ing Room, the sheathing of the east corridor and the painting and kalsomining of walls and ceilings. The constant use of the Hall makes these repairs necessary as nothing has been done since the building was erected nine years ago.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
MENOTOMY HALL
Appropriation for 1921
Transfer from Reserve Fund
$4,000.00 60.00
$4,050.00
" Amount expended
4,051.70
Balance
$8.30
During the year extensive repairs were made on the roof, gutters, and conductors of the Building. The cupola was found to be in a very unsafe condition, and this was strength- ened and repaired. All of the outside woodwork was painted, and .the inside of the Hall was kalsomined and painted Cleats for the seats, as required by Law, have been provided, so that the Hall can be used for entertainments as well as for dances. Protectors have been provided for the windows when the Hall is used for basket ball.
The total expense of these repairs was $2,623.30. The balance of the appropriation was used for light, heat and general maintenance. The store on the first floor of the building is under a three-year lease to the S. K. Ames Co.
The receipts from the building for the past year were $1,649.00.
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING FORM OF GOVERNMENT
On January 24, 1921, the Town voted to accept the pro- visions of Chapter 642 of the Special Act of 1920 creating the Representative or Limited Town Meeting Form of Govern- ment.
All meetings held during the year (five) were by the Town Meeting Members elected at the Annual March Meet- ing. The attendance at these meetings was not what had been expected. The highest average attendance of th members from any one precinct was 74%, ,while the lowest was 47%. This is not conducive to the best results, and while the Board does not desire to record itself as criticising the membership . of the Town Meeting it does feel that it is its duty to call to the attention of the citizens of the Town not only the desir-
81
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
abiliy but the necessity of selecting members to represent them who are not only qualified but who will also place civic obliga- tion above social or personal interests in the performance of the duties to which they have been elected. It is hoped that the coming year will show a marked improvement in the at- tendance at town meetings.
BUDGET SYSTEM OR CLASSIFICATION OF ACCOUNTS
In making the appropriations for the various departments the Finance Committee recommended that these appropria- tions be classified so as to more nearly create a Budget System of Appropriations and Expenditures. This Board, and we believe all other Boards and officials, has endeavored to co- operate with the Finance Committee in the establishment of this system. In the main, the plan has worked well and the Reserve Fund, except in two cases, has been sufficient to care for such overdrafts as occurred, due principally to underesti- mation of certain classifications where the whole appropria- tion was sufficient for the work of the Department. In other words, in nearly all cases the Departments have shown a bal- ance of the whole appropriation while showing an overdraft in some of the classifications. This can be remedied by a condensation of classifications and a more liberal appropria- tion for the classifications as made. This will relieve the Re- serve Fund from being used for any purpose except in cases of emergencies, or unforseen expenditures. The Board feels that a sufficient appropriation should be made to properly carry on the work of the Town in an economical and efficient manner, and that each Department should then keep strictly within the appropriation.
Under the Budget System all receipts and reimburse- ments from whatever source are turned into the Town Treas- ury, and are not available for the use of the Departments, unless specifically reappropriated by the Town.
MEDFORD STREET ESTATE
This property is occupied by the same tenants as for the past number of years. The revenue for 1921 was $360.00, all
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
of which was turned into the Town Treasury. The Board anticipates some minor repairs on the building the coming year, and the expense of these repairs is included in the amount asked for the contingent fund, as it was impossible to deetrmine just what amount would be necessary.
ALMSHOUSE PROPERTY
The Board of Public Works continue to occupy this property as a town yard and headquarters for the Highway, Water and Sewer Departments. All expenses for upkeep and repair are paid by the Board of Public Works, and while no revenue is derived the Town is saved the expense formerly påid for rental of building for the care of those departments.
LICENSES FOR GARAGES AND FILLING STATIONS
The Board is receiving numerous applications for licenses to erect and maintain garages (of over two car capacity), and for the installation of filling stations and the storage of gaso- line (capacity of over 120 gallons.)
The Law requires that hearings be given on these appli- cations and that notices be sent of these hearings to persons interested within a "reasonable distance."
· Each application is carefully considered, the policy of the Board being to refuse applications for garages of a pub- lic nature in residential districts, and for filling stations when the measure of danger to the travelling public is liable to be lincreased. With the increasing use of the automobile the number of these applications has increased, and the Board hopes that the Committee on By-Laws will embody in its recommendations rules and regulations covering the issuance of these licenses.
JURORS
The Law imposes on the Board the duty to each year revise the list of jurors.
In compliance with this Law the Board, in selecting the names of citizens to serve as jurors, is influenced only by a desire to select those citizens who are fully qualified to act in that position.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
The Board has no desire to work a hardship on any citi- zen by placing his name on this list, but it should be borne in mind that our jury system of trial is a requirement of the Constitution and requires the services of men of character and judgment.
If, for any good reason, a citizen cannot serve without injury to his business he should notify the Board during the month of January in order that his name may not appear on the list.
For List of Jurors see that heading.
OLVIN H. LUFKIN, CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX, CHARLES H. HIGGINS, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
Arlington, Mass., January 1, 1922.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen: I have the honor of submitting to you a report of the doings of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1921.
Complaint has been made to the Court and warrants or summons have been served in the following named cases : Abduction, 1. Adultery, 2. Assault with intent to kill, 1. Assault with a dangerous weapon, 1. Assault in- decent, 1. Assault and battery, 15. Attempt to commit larceny, 5. Bastardy, 1. Breaking and entering and lar- ceny, 11. Breaking and entering and attempt larceny, 11. Capias, 9. Carrying a loaded revolver, 5. Common railer and brawler, 1. Common drunkard, 2. Disorderly con- duct, 1. Disturbance of the peace, 29. Drunkenness, 92. Escaped prisoners, 3. Giving a false alarm of fire, 5. Gaming, 7. Gaming, being present, 2. Idle and disorder- ly persons, 1. Keeping a disorderly house, 1. Keeping an unlicensed dog, 1. Larceny, 69. Lewdness, 6. Lewd and lacivious cohabitation, 5. Manslaughter, 1. Non-sup- port, 17. Obstructing a street railway, 5. Peddling with- out a license, 1. Profanity, 2. Receiving stolen property, 5. Selling leased property, 1. Safe keeping, 3. Suspicion, 12. Stubborn child, 2. Threats, 4. Throwing glass into streets, 3. Tramp, 4. Trespass, 13. Violation of the au- tomobile laws, 540. Violation of the traffic rules, 112. Violation of the park rules, 2. Violation of the board of health rules, 4. Violation of the State board of health rules, 2. Violation of the by-laws, 39. Violation of the liquor laws, 9. Violation of the milk laws, 2. Vagrants. 2. Wilfull injury to building, 2.
The Court has disposed of the above cases as follows : Sentenced to State Prison, 1. Sentenced and appealed, 46.
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
Sentence suspended, 14. Sentenced to State Farm, 3. Sentenced to House of Correction, 2. Sentenced to the Lancaster School, 1. Sentenced to the Shirley School, 1. Held for the Grand Jury, 12. Committed to Insane Hos- pitals, 3. Delivered to other police departments, 195. Dis- missed at request of complainant, 38. Released, 67. Dis- charged, 45. Defaulted, 21. Placed on file, 416. Contin- ued, 30. Fined, 137. Placed on probation, 42.
Of the above number, 1021 were males and 55 were females and 74 were juveniles or persons under the age of 17 years; 425 were residents and 651 were non-residents.
Fines and costs have been imposed by the Court to the amount of $2,852.00.
The number of cases in Court for the past five years : 1916, 544; 1917, 696; 1918, 633; 1919, 574; 1920, 709; 1921, 1076.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Accidents reported, 198. Ambulance calls, 30. Build- ings reported vacant, special attention given, 234. Cases investigated, 712. Dead bodies cared for, 8. Defects in hydrants reported, 2. Defective electric lights reported, Arc, 57; Inc., 76; total, 133. Defective wires reported, 110. Defective water pipes reported, 11. Details for public as- semblies, 6. Dogs killed, 19. Disturbances suppressed, 124. Fires extinguished without alarm, 9. Fire alarms given, 17. Injured assisted home, 5. Injured persons assisted to hospital, 26. Lanterns placed in dangerous places, 85. Lost children returned to parents, 40. Messages delivered for other police and hospitals, 88. Notices served for Selectmen, 6. Notices to dog owners for unlicensed dogs, 14. Officers at fires, 125. Obstructions in highways re- ported, 160. Runaway teams secured, 7. Sick persons assisted home, 6. Sick persons assisted to hospitals, 11. Stores found unlocked at night and secured, owners noti- fied, 368. Stray teams secured, 8. Wagon calls, and pa- trol wagon sent, 70. Search Warrants for liquors served, 5 Search warrants for stolen property served, 2.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Stolen property to the value of $2,890.00 was reported as stolen, and we have recovered property to the value of $1,251.54 and returned it to owners.
Automobiles valued at $17,300.00 were reported as stolen in Arlington, and we have recovered all of them.
We have also recovered autos reported as stolen from other places valued at $21,370.00.
We have found property valued at $598.17 and re- turned it to owners.
REGARDING AUTOMOBILES AND TRAFFIC
To begin with I wish to state that this feature of police work is causing no little concern in every police de- partment throughout the State.
I have during the year personally attended every con- ference held by the Massachusetts Chief's of Police Asso- ciation and the Safe Roads Federation on the subject of traffic, and on one occasion (and the only one that pre- sented itself) detailed the Sergeant and 12 Patrolmen to attend a meeting in Malden, where instructions were given under the auspices of the Safe Roads Federation, assisted by the heads of other police departments having in mind the standardization of traffic signals and the handing of traffic problems.
In Arlington, the time has arrived when it is a neces- sity to have traffic officers stationed in the middle of the street continuously to direct the movement of motor vehicles and to protect the lives of those who have occasion to cross our streets on foot.
Instructions have been given the Patrolmen to give all the time possible to traffic work, especially at such points as where children have to cross the streets going to and from school and this has been done in so far as they were able.
The particular points of danger that will appeal to you are at the junction of Park Avenue and Massachu- setts Avenue, at the junction of Mystic Street and Massa- chusetts Avenue, at the junction of Medford Street and
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
Massachusetts Avenue and at the junction of Lake Street and Massachusetts Avenue; there should be officers sta- tioned at these points continuously.
This cannot be done with the present number of Pa- trolmen doing day duty without neglecting other police work of equal importance and I cannot but help feeling that our citizens want to see at least once in a while a Patrolman going through the various streets of the town, regardless of the conditions of traffic on Massachusetts Avenue and its tributaries.
What we need is four new men that we may establish a traffic squad of Patrolmen that will be detailed to give their whole time and attention to just traffic, and I most respectfully URGE that four men be appointed with this particular purpose in mind.
The fact that we have five Patrolmen assigned to day duty at the present time does not mean that these five men are on duty every day, because it must be borne in mind that every officer of this department by law has every eighth day off and also has 14 days' vacation with- out loss of pay and that means that not including sickness the five-day Patrolmen were lawfully absent during the year 263 days out of the 365 days; so that out of every eight days there are only three days when all the day Pa- trolmen are on duty. The same applies to the night platoon of 13 officers who have to have their one day in eight, only in their cases on five nights two officers are relieved each night and the remaining three days one officers each night.
During the whole year 978 days have been given in days off and vacations outside of sickness, and I have em- ployed special police officers to fill in during these absences only 219 days.
So it will be seen that instead of having a full force of 19 men we have in truth only 16 men working each day.
The day men have had many cases in Court and on many occasions every one of them have had to be in Court on the same day and on some occasions the night
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
patrol have been called in to do duty while they were in Court.
During the year, 11 automobiles were stolen in· Ar- lington : 2 Hudsons, 2 Fords, 1 Cole, 1 Buick, 1 Overland, 1 Patterson, 1 National, 1 Peerless and 1 Lexington ; these have all been recovered and returned to their various owners. During the year we have received reports of 1146 automobiles having been stolen in the Metropolitan Dis- trict. It may be of interest to know that we have made 410 complaints in Court for the violations of the Automo- bile Laws and that for the violation of our Traffic Rules, 90 persons were summoned to Court and found Guilty after trial, and that 356 persons were requested to call and did call at the station and were warned for infractions of the Traffic Rules and were each given a copy of the Traffic Rules and Regulations ; these facts are a matter of record.
To further assist in the regulation of traffic, I would and do urge the purchase of two "flashing beacons" such as are now in use at many points along the State High- way, one to be placed at the junction of Pleasant and Massachusetts Avenues and the other at the junction of Summer and Mystic Streets, near 'the boulevard; these beacons burn continuously all night, using aycetelene gas and cost about $2 per month to maintain. They are made by the American Gas Accumulator Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and cost $265 each. They are a success and are so reported by many cities and towns that are now using them.
I would further urge the liberal use of white marking street paint to be used in marking danger curves and in- tersecting streets.
Streets so marked in other places have diminished the number of auto accidents where it has been used. I have in mind in particular that it can be used to good advan- tage on such a street as Pleasant Street, where there are several very dangerous and narrow curves.
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
THE POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
During the year there has been 74,074 duty calls re- ceived at the station, made by the officers on their routes, and 2,339 telephones calls have been received from them in the course of their duty tours.
A new time clock has been installed by the Superin- tendent of Wires, but there still remains a lot of new out- side wires to be installed in place of those worn out in or- der to have the system in first class shape; this matter is receiving the attention of the Superintendent of Wires.
No new new boxes have been added during the year, but a box at the junction of Winter St. and Massachusetts Avenue would be of advantage to us in our work.
DEPARTMENT AUTOS
The police patrol and ambulance still continue to be of great service, but it should at this time receive a care- ful inspection by being taken down and re-assemblled and should be repainted. If this is done it will last many years to come.
The department needs badly a new Ford auto for gen- eral use, and I urge that a sufficient sum of money be ap - propriated to purchase one.
Having no garage, this department is handicapped in the cost of storage and maintenance of its motor vehicles, having to pay the full market price for garage space and repairs, which no doubt if the town owned and maintained its own garage would reduce the upkeep to a minimum.
I would recommend that the sum of $43,853.28 be ap- propriated for- the use of this department for the coming year and that the budget system so called as applies to this department be changed to TWO accounts, that of Salaries and Maintenance.
For Salaries of the Chief, Lieutenant, Sergeant and 16 Pa- trolmen as now is the sum of. $35,253.40 For Special Police, vacations and emergencies .... 1,000.00 For Traffic purposes, signs, oil, paint and etc ..... 705.00 For Electrical supplies. 150.00
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
For officers cash expense, investigations, car fares and etc.
200.00
For new auto, garage hire and supplies and maintenance of autos. 1,400.00
For telephone service.
275.00
For office supplies. 500.00
For four new men, having in mind a traffic squad 4,274.88
For officers equipment. 100.00
$43,853.28
The amount asked for Salaries and special police is for the present force as now is and is the same as last year with the exception that with several appointees of last year the pay increases from $4.38 per day to $4.66 per day, and in two instances from $4.66 per day to $5 per day. For Traffic, the same as last year plus the cost of two sta- tionary beacons. For Electrical supplies, $150 plus the cost of lighting the station. For officers cash expenses, $200 is asked, which is $50 more than last year. For auto upkeep, garage hire, supplies and repairs, $1,400 is asked for the cost of a new auto, which is very necessary, hav- ing been added to the amount appropriated last year. For telephones, $275 is asked for; last year we had $250. For office supplies, $500 is asked for for the reason that sup- plies for the police signal system must be replenished (we did not have to purchase any last year) and new books to carry on our police records such as Officers Time Rec- ord, the Arrest Ledger, duty call record and etc.
In closing, I am not unmindful of the co-operation given me by the Town Clerk and various departments of the Town, and to them and to your Honorable Board I ex- tend my sincere thanks for timely assistance and advice given in the arduous duties we have been called upon to perform.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS O. D. URQUHART, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
Arlington, December 31, 1921.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Ar- lington.
Gentlemen : I respectfully submit my annual report of the Arlington Fire Department for the year ending De- cember 31, 1921. The number of companies, equipment, and manual force are practically the same as last year. The equipment is in good condition. Repairs, new tires and small additions have kept the apparatus up-to-date and in good working order. Outside of an accident, no extended repairs are anticipated for the coming year.
The Fire Stations are in as good a condition as can be expected, considering the age of the buildings, and use for which they were built. A few minor repairs are neces- sary the coming year. I do not think it advisable to make extended repairs at this time, as the conditions are such that a new central fire station is badly needed-one that will take care of the Fire Alarm Apparatus, which is now in the Old Town Hall Building. This is not a fireproof building, and in case of fire the Fire Alarm would be put entirely out of commission. This is a matter which should receive attention in the near future.
The department has answered the following number of alarms the past year: Total alarms 173, bell alarms, 77, still alarm, 96, false alarms, 8. Outside help: (Medford 1), (Lexington 1), (Winchester 2), (Somerville 4).
VALUE OF PROPERTY ENDANGERED
Value of buildings Value of contents Insurance on buildings
$357,200.00
41,300.00
313,600.00
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Insurance on contents
37,750
Insurance paid on buildings 40,408.50
Insurance paid on contents 4,546.50
The large increase in loss shown above is occasioned by the fire at the High School, July 18, 1921, which was $23,000 on building and contents.
For further details of alarms and work of department see records of clerk of engineers.
The appropriation for the year was
$29,140.00
The expenditures were 28,478.09
Unexpended balance $661.91
Receipts of department
$120.60
For further details of expenditures see Auditor's Re- port.
It is my sad duty to report the death of my associate, First Assistant Chief, Timothy J. Donahue, who passed from this earth on December 8, 1921. He had been a mem- ber of the department for over forty years, serving in all positions to Assistant Chief. He had been on the Board of Engineers more than twenty years, giving the Town the best there was in him. His first and last thought was always for the department, always looking for something to help the men under him, and improve the fire service in saving life and property.
In the passing of Assistant Chief Donahue the depart- ment loses an able, efficient and loyal officer, and the Town, a citizen of sterling qualities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
-
I recommend the appropriation of $27,835 for the en- suing year.
I recommend that the matter of a new Fire Station. to include the Fire Alarm now in the Old Town Hall Building, be given due consideration by your Honorable Board.
I recommend the appointment of a Permanent Chief of the Fire Department. The Town is growing to such
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CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
size, and the duties thrust upon the Chief are such that it is impossible for a call-chief to give the service required.
I wish to thank your Honorable Board for the cour- teous manner in which you have received me in my official capacity.
I, also, wish to thank all other officials of the Town, who have so willingly given their service when called upon.
To my Assistant and members of the department I give special thanks for the able manner in which they have answered all demands made upon them, bearing out the old motto: "In union there is strength."
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER H. PEIRCE, Chief.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Arlington, Mass., January 3, 1922.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass .:
I herewith submit my report of the inspection of buildings for the year ending December 31, 1921. Four hundred twenty-one permits have been issued, classified as follows :
Dwellings, one-family
89
$425,800
Dwellings, two-family
61
515,200
Additions and alterations
31
113,475
Garages
203
136,960
Blocks of stores
10
89,000
Manufacturing building
1
1,100
Storage building
1
40,000
Filling stations
2
2,300
Henhouses
6
800
Sheds
7
1,060
Shops
6
2,450
Cellars
1
400
Piazzas
3
725
421
$1,329,270
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM GRATTO, Inspector of Buildings.
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REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
December 31, 1921. To the Citizens of Arlington :
I herewith submit my report as Tree Warden. The beauty of many of our fine old elms was all but destroyed by the storm of last November. Ordinarily an ice storm that coats trees and shrubbery with gleaming crystals is an inspiring spectacle and the damage that results is trifling, but when there are two successive nights of freezing rain, it puts a strain upon trees more severe than most people would imagine. The result of the recent storm is apparent. The sturdiest of trees have given away under the burden that was frozen upon them. Not one tree here and there, but whole rows of trees have been twisted, limbs broken, other split, and in some cases snapped off at the trunk. A well grown tree is still valuable and un- less it is hopelessly shattered, often well directed work with saw and chisel will restore its shape and nature with a little assistance will do the rest. All broken and danger- ous limbs have been removed, but all trees will need at- tention now in trimming, bolting and in many cases re- moval.
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