USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1927 > Part 2
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Little imagination is necessary to visualize what we may be called upon to furnish in the near future to properly accom- modate the ever-increasing number of pupils. Arlington is eagerly sought as a place in which to live, not only because it is adjacent to Boston, but because it is well-organized, well- managed and a healthy and delightful Town. If we ever reach
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the point where we can persuade (I use the word advisedly, because they must know the business is here) the street and steam railroads to give us the transportation service we need and should have, it is not difficult to figure that our growth in the next five years will far exceed what has really happened during the past five years.
Even with these facts before you, we again emphasize the necessity for a Junior High School East, and urge you to follow our recommendation and approve the Article in the Warrant.
Respectfully submitted,
M. ERNEST MOORE, CHARLES H. HIGGINS, ALEXANDER H. RICE, G. BERTRAM WASHBURN, EARL A. RYDER, Chairman.
Arlington, Mass., January 20, 1927.
On motion of Elliott R. Barker:
Voted: That the following final report of the Committee on the Construction of the Hardy School Building on Lake Street be accepted and the committee discharged.
Arlington, Mass., January 15, 1927.
Mr. Moderator, and Town Meeting Members:
Your committee on the construction of the Hardy School on Lake Street begs leave to submit the following final report:
The Town Meeting of October 22, 1924, instructed the Committee on Additional School Accommodations to bring in plans and specifications for the building of a schoolhouse on the so-called "True Site" on Lake Street.
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TOWN RECORDS
This committee conducted a contest among the architects, Brainerd and Leeds, Howard B. S. Prescott, Gay and Proctor, Haven and Hopkins, and Charles G. Loring, for the best de- signed building for the needs of the Town. The plans submitted were unusually good both from the architectural and utility standpoints. Those submitted by Brainerd and Leeds won the contest and the appropriation asked for was based on them.
At the Town Meeting of February 13, 1925, the Town appropriated $185,000 for construction of the building, $5,000 for walks and grading, and instructed the Moderator to name · a building committee.
The committee named consisted of Charles B. Devereaux, Elliott R. Barker, M. Ernest Moore, Walter F. Robinson and William A. Corcoran.
When the building committee opened bids for the proposed sixteen-room building, they found that the additional cost of fireproofing the floors throughout was little more than the cost of second-class construction used in previous school buildings. We therefore asked for an additional appropriation of $5,000 for this purpose, which was voted at the Town Meeting of April 2, 1925.
The Town Meeting of March 26, 1925, appropriated $15,000 for the original equipment and furnishings.
The Town Meeting of April 5, 1926, made an additional appropriation of $1,700 for walks and grading.
The following financial statement shows the appropriations, expenditures and balances:
Construction . .
Appropriations $190,000.00
Expended $189,933.95 6,676.06
Balances $66.05
Grading and walks
6,700.00
23.94
Furnishings
15,000.00
14,948.61
51.39
$211,700.00
$211,558.62
$141.38
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
This building has now been in use for about 13 months and has proved satisfactory in every way. Architecturally it is very attractive, the arrangement of rooms, offices, auditorium and playrooms are convenient, and the fire-resisting construc- tion marks a distinct advance in schoolhouse construction in Arlington. We believe that the small additional cost was a profitable investment for the Town.
We wish to publicly thank the architects and contractors for their faithful work on this project. We deeply appreciate the co-operation and support of the Town Meeting for their favorable actions on all our requests.
Our duties are now completed and we ask to be discharged.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM A. CORCORAN, Secretary, CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX, M. ERNEST MOORE, WALTER F. ROBINSON, ELLIOTT R. BARKER, Chairman.
On motion of J. Howard Hayes:
Voted: That the following report of the Committee under vote passed April 5, 1926, to investigate and consider the securing of land adjacent to the Reservoir for playground pur- poses be accepted and the committee discharged.
Arlington, Mass., January 17, 1927.
To the Moderator, and Town Meeting Members of Arlington, Mass. :
The following is the report of the Special Committee to consider the purchase of land at Arlington Heights adjacent to the Reservoir for playground purposes.
The Committee has looked over the land designated, and found that the plat of ground east of the Reservoir on Lowell
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TOWN RECORDS
Street owned by the Bolles Estate would make a very desirable playground, as it is capable of development almost indefinitely for such purpose.
However, when the owners were interviewed, the Com- mittee was very definitely informed that the land, or any portion of it, was not for sale, and no offer which the Town might make would be considered; the Owners also refused to consider leasing the land to the Town.
These statements precluded further negotiations, and left no way to acquire the land except by a taking which the Com- mittee does not care to recommend.
The scope of the article in warrant limits the Committee to consideration of this particular area, and we have, therefore, no authority to make other recommendations. We take the liberty of stating; however, that it seems evident there is no other land at the Heights suitable for playground purposes, except in the very outskirts, with the possible exception of the land owned by the Town about the Junior High School, West, extending back to Gray Street. It seems that by careful planning suitable accommodations could be had here, and we suggest that the Planning Board, or the Park Commission, whichever has such authority, give consideration to such possibilities.
The Committee having performed the' duties for which it was appointed asks that it be discharged.
J. HOWARD HAYES, Chairman, THOMAS J. DONNELLY, JR., Secretary, EDWARD W. GOODWIN, PHILIP EBERHARDT.
On motion of J. William Fellows:
Voted: That the report of the Finance Committee be received.
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On motion of J. William Fellows:
Voted: That the remaining articles in the warrant be now taken up and that the recommendations of the Finance Committee as presented in their printed report be considered as now before the meeting, to be voted upon separately and in the order in which they appear in said report.
On motion of J. William Fellows:
Voted: That Article 1 be laid upon the table.
Article 2 taken up. (By-Law Relating to Building In- spector.)
On amendment of Alexander H. Rice, as amended by William A. Muller :
Voted: That Article 15 of the Building Laws of the Town of Arlington be and hereby is amended by striking out Section 1 thereof and substituting therefor the following:
Section 1. The Board of Selectmen shall annually in March appoint an Inspector of Buildings for the term of one year from the first day of April following and until his suc- cessor is appointed. He shall be competent in their opinion and shall not be interested in any contract or the furnishing of any labor or material or plan for the construction, or altera- tion, or repair of any building in the Town. In addition to any and all other powers and duties, he shall, so far as permitted by law, have charge of the alteration, repair and maintenance of all buildings now or hereafter owned by the Town other than schoolhouses, including Menotomy Hall, Robbins Memorial Hall, and the buildings of the Town situated on Paul Revere Road, Medford Street and Summer Street, and also, under the direction of the School Committee, of all schoolhouses, and shall unless otherwise provided by the vote of the Town making appropriation therefor have charge of the construction of all such buildings and authority in the name and on behalf of the Town to enter into contracts for such construction, pro- vided, always, that no contract for such construction, altera-
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TOWN RECORDS
tion, repair and or maintenance, involving the expenditure of more than one thousand (1,000) dollars, shall be valid unless first approved by the Selectmen. He shall execute the pro- visions of this article of the by-laws and all amendments or additions thereto and the statutes of the Commonwealth relating to buildings, except as otherwise provided. The word "Inspector" and the words "Building Inspector" in the fol- lowing sections of this article shall mean the Inspector of Buildings or, when permitted by law, his duly authorized representative.
The provisions of this section relating to the appointment of an Inspector of Buildings shall take effect when approved by the Attorney-General and published, or notice thereof given according to law, and the remaining provisions shall take effect on the first day of April next.
Article 3 taken up. (Committee of Three to Consider Sewers and Sewer Assessments.)
Voted: That a committee of three be appointed by the Moderator to consider the matter of sewers and sewer assess- ments, such committee to have the power to fill vacancies, and to report to the Town not later than the annual meeting of nineteen hundred and twenty-seven, such committee also to cause to be inserted in the warrant for said annual meeting an article to provide for the carrying out of such recommenda- tions as it may make; and that the sum of one hundred (100) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the use of said com- mittee.
Committee appointed: Clarence A. Moore, Timothy F. Collins, William A. Muller.
Article 4 taken up. (Committee of Five to Procure Plans and Estimates for Junior High School Building on Tufts Street.)
Voted: That a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to procure plans and estimates for the construction of a Junior High School building on land of the Town situated
·
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
on Tufts Street, or on any other land within the area bounded by Foster Street, Massachusetts Avenue, Harlow Street and Broadway, such committee to have the power to fill vacancies, and to report to the Town not later than the annual meeting of 1927; and that the sum of $1,000 be and hereby is appro- priated for the use of said committee.
Committee appointed: Elliott R. Barker, Walter F. Robinson, Charles B. Devereaux, Charles H. Higgins, William A. Corcoran.
Article 5 taken up. (By-Law-Removal of Snow and Ice from Sidewalks-Business Property.)
On amendment of M. Ernest Moore:
Voted: That Article 9 of the By-Laws of the Town of Arlington be and hereby is amended by inserting after Section 20 thereof the following:
Section 21. The owner or occupant of any land abutting upon a sidewalk of a public way in this Town, which said property is used for business purposes, other than farm business, shall cause all snow and ice to be removed from such sidewalk. Such snow and ice shall be so removed by ploughing, shoveling, scraping or otherwise so as not to damage such sidewalk, and within the first three hours between sunrise and sunset after such snow and ice has come upon such sidewalk. The penalty for each violation of this by-law shall be ten dollars.
Article 6 taken up. (Collection of Ashes, Refuse and Rubbish from Business Places.)
Voted: That the Board of Public Works be and hereby is authorized to make a charge for the collection of ashes, refuse and rubbish from places of business in the Town; such charges as may be made to be paid to the Town through its Collector of Taxes.
Article 7 taken up. (Rent on Water Meters Discontinued.)
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted: That the Board of Public Works be and hereby is authorized to discontinue the practice of charging rent on water meters.
Article 8 taken up. (Town Clerk's Term of Office-Three Years.)
Voted: That the Town, beginning at its annual meeting, in this year nineteen hundred and twenty-seven, elect its Town Clerk for the term of three (3) years.
Article 9 taken up. (Town Treasurer's Term of Office- Three Years.)
Voted: That the Town, beginning at its annual meeting in this year nineteen hundred and twenty-seven, elect its Town Treasurer for the term of three (3) years.
Article 10 taken up. (Collector of Taxes' Term of Office- Three Years.)
Voted: That the Town, beginning at its annual meeting in this year nineteen hundred and twenty-seven, elect its Collector of Taxes for the term of three (3) years.
Article 1 taken from the table.
There being no further business to come up under Article 1, the Moderator declared Article 1 disposed of.
The meeting adjourned at 10.15 o'clock in the evening.
A True Record, Attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
TOWN WARRANT
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex ss.
To any of the Constables 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 inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, qualified as the Constitution requires, to vote in elections, to meet at the polling places designated for the several precincts in the said Town on Monday, the seventh day of March, 1927, at seven o'clock in the forenoon, to act on the following Articles, namely :
Article 1. To elect by ballot the following town officers: a Moderator for one year; a Selectman for three years; a Town Clerk for three years; a Town Treasurer for three years; a Collector of Taxes for three years; a member of the Board of Public Works for three years; one Assessor for three years; three members of the School Committee for three years; one member of the School Committee for one year; two Trustees of the Robbins Library for three years; one member of the Board of Health for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years; one member of the Planning Board for three years; one Commissioner of the Sinking Fund for three years; one Trustee of the Pratt Fund for five years; one Trustee of the Edwin S. Farmer Poor Widows' Fund and of the Edwin S. Farmer Fund for Needy Persons for five years; one Cemetery Commissioner for three years; a Tree Warden for one year; also, in each precinct twelve Town Meeting Members for three years; two Town Meeting Members in Precinct 1 for one year; two Town Meeting Members in Precinct 2 for one year; three Town Meeting Members in Precinct 2 for two years; one Town Meeting Member in Precinct 3 for one year; three Town Meeting Mem- bers in Precinct 4 for two years; one Town Meeting Member in
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TOWN RECORDS
Precinct 5 for one year; one Town Meeting Member in Precinct 5 for two years; one Town Meeting Member in Precinct 6 for one year; two Town Meeting Members in Precinct 6 for two years.
For these purposes, the polls will be opened at seven o'clock A.M., and remain open until eight o'clock P.M., at each of the polling places designated, viz .: Precinct One in the Crosby School Building, Winter Street; Precinct Two in the Hardy School Building, Lake Street; Precincts Three, Four, Five and Six in the Town Hall; Precinct Seven in the Locke School Building, Park Avenue, Heights.
You are also required to notify and warn the said inhabit- ants to meet at the Town Hall in said Town on Thursday, the twenty-fourth day of March, 1927, at eight o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles :
Article 2. To choose and appoint all other usual Town officers not hereinbefore mentioned in such manner as the Town may determine.
Article 3. To hear and act on the reports of the com- mittees under vote of the Town passed May 28, 1925, to consider the amendment, alteration, repeal or revision of, or additions to the Town's by-laws; of the committee under vote of the · Town passed April 5, 1926, to investigate and consider the matter of a memorial or memorials commemorating the services and sacrifices of persons who served in the World War; of the committee under vote of the Town passed January 20, 1927, to procure plans and estimates for the construction of a Junior High School Building on land of the Town situated on Tufts Street, or on any other land within the area bounded by Foster Street, Massachusetts Avenue, Harlow Street and Broadway; of the committee under vote of the Town passed April 5, 1926, to investigate and consider the matter of additional school accommodations; of the permanent committee under vote of the Town passed March 24, 1919, on Town Yard; of the committee under vote of the Town passed April 16, 1923, to investigate the matter of additional fire protection in the
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
western part of the Town; of the committee under vote of the Town passed April 16, 1923, to draw up regulations relating to land acquired by the Town in connection with unpaid taxes and assessments; of the committee under vote of the Town passed March 28, 1923, for the construction of a fire depart- ment building; of the committee under vote of the Town passed March 26, 1925, to procure plans and estimates for the con- struction of a building for the use of the Police Department; of the committee under vote of the Town passed January 14, 1926, to consider the condition of Spy Pond; of the committee under vote of the Town passed January 14, 1926, to procure plans and estimates for the construction of a school building on land of the Town on Irving Street; and of other Town boards and officers and of the Finance and other committees heretofore appointed.
Article 4. To make an appropriation for the Robbins Library.
Article 5. To make an appropriation for the public schools of the Town; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating thereto.
Article 6. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the proper observance of Memorial Day; determine in what manner the money shall be expended; or take any action thereon.
Article 7. To see if the Town will appropriate $7,000 in accordance with the vote passed December 6, 1904, for water used for public purposes.
Article S. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the construction of permanent sidewalks and for the in- stalling of curbstone; determine in what manner the money shall be raised; or take any action thereon.
Article 9. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the use of the Highway Division; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action thereon.
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TOWN RECORDS
Article 10. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the maintenance of the sewerage system; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action thereon.
Article 11. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the extension of the sewerage system; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action thereon.
Article 12. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the extension of water mains; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action thereon.
Article 13. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the extension of storm drains; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action thereon.
Article 14. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the removal of snow and ice from the highways; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action thereon.
Article 15. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the collection and disposal of ashes, offal and rubbish; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and ex- pended; or take any action thereon.
Article 16. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for street lighting; or take any action thereon.
Article 17. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the engineering work of the Town; or take any action thereon.
Article 18. To see if the Town will make an appropriation to be expended for suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths under Chapter 132 of the General Laws and Amendments thereof; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action thereon.
Article 19. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the planting of trees, removal of dead and dangerous trees,
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
and for the trimming and general care of existing trees; the same to be expended under the direction of the Tree Warden; or take any action thereon.
Article 20. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the maintenance and improvement of the public parks of the Town; determine in what manner the money shall be raised; or take any action thereon.
Article 21. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the payment of pensions to persons entitled to such pensions under the provisions of law accepted by the Town; or take any action thereon.
Article 22. To see if the Town will authorize the Town Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue for the year 1927, the same to be repaid directly from the proceeds of said revenue; or take any action relating thereto.
Article 23. To see if the Town will authorize its Collector of Taxes to use all means of collecting taxes for the year 1927, which a Town Treasurer may use when appointed a Collector of Taxes.
Article 24. To determine in what manner the Town ways, highways, and bridges shall be repaired during the ensuing year.
Article 25. To see if the Town will make an appropriation of the sum of one thousand (1000) dollars or any other sum for the employment of district or other nurses; determine in what manner the money shall be raised or expended; or take any action relating thereto.
(Inserted at the request of more than ten registered voters)
Article 26. To see if the Town will make an appropriation of two hundred (200) dollars, or any other sum, for the ob- servance of Patriots' Day, April 19; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating thereto.
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TOWN RECORDS
Article 27. To see if the Town will accept the laying out of a town way from Lake Street to Spy Pond Parkway, sub- stantially in the location of the private way known as Alfred Road, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, under the provisions of law author- izing the assessment of betterments; establish said way; make an appropriation for said laying out and the construction of said way; determine in what manner the money shall be raised; or take any action relating thereto.
Said way as so laid out is bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at the point of intersection of the northerly side line of Lake St. and the easterly side line of Alfred Rd., said point being 108.05 feet westerly from a stone bound at an angle point in said northerly side line of Lake St., thence south- westerly and westerly on said easterly side line of Alfred Rd. on a curve to the right with a radius of 25.0 feet, a distance of 40.52 feet to a point of tangency on said easterly side line of Alfred Rd., thence continuing northerly on said easterly side line of Alfred Rd. a distance of 519.19 feet to a point of curve on said easterly side line of Alfred Rd., thence northeasterly and easterly on said easterly side line of Alfred Rd. on a curve to the right with a radius of 25.0 feet, a distance of 35.98 feet to the southerly side line of Spy Pond Parkway, thence westerly on said southerly side line of Spy Pond Parkway on a curve to the right with a radius of 346.00 feet, a distance of 26.18 feet to a point of tangency on said southerly side line of Spy Pond Parkway, thence continuing westerly on said southerly side line of Spy Pond Parkway, a distance of 61.49 feet to the westerly side line of Alfred Rd., thence southeasterly and southerly on said westerly side line of Alfred Rd. on a curve to the right with a radius of 25.0 feet, a distance of 40.67 feet to a point of tangency on said westerly side line of Alfred Rd., thence continuing southerly on said westerly side line of Alfred Rd. a distance of 517.68 feet to a point of curve on said westerly side line of Alfred Rd., thence southwesterly and westerly on said westerly side line of Alfred Rd. on a curve to the right with a radius of 25.0 feet, a distance of 37.91 feet to the northerly
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
side line of Lake St., thence easterly on said northerly side line of Lake St. a distance of 90.11 feet to the point of beginning as shown on a plan approved by the Board of Survey, Arlington, Mass., and on file at the office of the Town Clerk, Arlington, Mass., entitled "Plan and Profile of Alfred Road as Petitioned for by Belmont Realty Trust and Bacon & Dunn, Scale 1" =40' and 6', May 14, 1923, J. M. Keane, C. E."
Article 28. To see if the Town will accept the laying out of a town way from Massachusetts Avenue to Gray Street, substantially in the location of the private way known as Churchill Avenue, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments; establish said way; make an appropriation for said laying out and the construction of said way; determine in what manner the money shall be raised; or take any action relating thereto.
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