USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1927 > Part 6
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Earl A. Ryder reported that there was no formal report to make from the committee under vote of the Town passed April 5, 1926, to investigate and consider the matter of addi- tional school accommodations.
Voted: That the report as presented by William S. Fair- child of the permanent committee under vote of the Town passed March 24, 1919, on Town Yard be received.
The report is as follows:
Arlington, Mass., February 17, 1927.
To whom it may concern :-
March 24, 1919, it was voted:
That the Moderator appoint a permanent Committee con- sisting of three members, two members of which shall be respectively a Civil Engineer and a Contractor, and the third shall be the Chairman of the Board of Public Works ex-officio.
This permanent Committee shall report to the Town, not later than the annual meeting of March, 1920, its recommenda- tion for a permanent Town Yard. Following the selection of a location, the said Committee shall report from time to time, as may be necessary, its recommendation as to any construction required.
All construction authorized for this purpose by the Town shall be under the charge of said Committee until the plant is completed, unless they may be relieved of their duties by vote of the Town.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Any vacancies in the Committee shall be filled by appoint- ment by the Moderator.
And further, that the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) shall be appropriated by the Town to defray any expenses necessary to the Committee.
The Moderator appointed W. S. Fairchild, W. F. Robinson, and T. D. Kennedy to serve on this Committee.
In 1920 your Committee made a report of progress only since it did not seem advisable at that time to ask for a suf- ficient appropriation to accomplish the desired results; and also because of the fact that no definite policy of handling the Town's requirements could be laid out at that time.
Since then the Town has grown rapidly and it has become necessary to hire more and more outside teams and trucks to properly care for the Town's needs.
The Town has recently purchased considerable motor equipment and is rapidly changing from horse-drawn to motor vehicles. The only reason for the retention of horses is for the purpose of plowing snow; and since it is expected that motor plows will soon replace the horse-drawn plows it becomes necessary to erect a suitable building to properly house the equipment.
Inasmuch as it is evident that the Town Yard should be moved from its present site on Summer Street to other Town property on Hobbs Court at some very early date, it would be folly to erect the necessary buildings on the present Town Yard site.
Your Committee therefore recommends the construction of a Garage and a General Public Works Building at this time on the Hobbs Court property; and it further recommends the sale of the present Town Yard property on Summer Street when and if the buildings above recommended are constructed.
Respectfully submitted, W. S. FAIRCHILD, W. F. ROBINSON, JAMES R. SMITH, Committee on Town Yard.
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted: That the report as presented by Walter H. Peirce of the committee under vote of the Town passed April 16, 1923, to investigate the matter of additional fire protection in the western part of the Town be received.
The report is as follows:
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PARK CIRCLE FIRE STATION AT ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
At the Town meeting held June 4, 1924, the Selectmen were authorized to purchase a lot of land on Park Circle, already recommended by Committee appointed at Town Meeting held April 16, 1923.
The same Committee were appointed to procure plans and specifications for a Fire Station to be located on this lot.
At adjourned Town Meeting held April 2, 1925-under article No. 28, the sum of $18,000.00 was unanimously appro- priated for the purpose of constructing a building to be used as a Fire Station upon land situated on Park Avenue at Arlington Heights, and described in vote of the Town passed on June 4, 1924, under article No. 7 of Warrant for the meeting on that date, that for this purpose $10,000.00 be raised by general tax; and for the balance $8,000.00 the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the said sum of $8,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor, said bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 of Chapter 44 of General Laws and all acts in addition thereto, or amendments thereof, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than four years from date of issue of first bond or note, or at such earlier date as Treasurer or Selectmen may determine, and further that the committee appointed under vote of the Town passed June 4, 1924, to procure plans and estimates for the construction of a building to be used as an engine house or fire station be a committee with full authority to construct said building to be used for a fire station within the sum herein appropriated;
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
said Committee to have power to fill any vacancy in said Com- mittee.
Under this article, the plans submitted by George Ernest Robinson of Boston were accepted on May 22, 1925. On June 15th bids from the contractors were opened and all bids re- jected, all being above appropriation. After a readjustment of plans, new figures were received, and on July 10, 1925, the contract was awarded to Dacey & Tibbetts of Lexington, the lowest bidder, at $15,081.00.
Detail of Cost of Construction
Appropriation
$18,000.00
Expenditures $15,081.00 Dacey & Tibbetts Gen. Contract. 505.00 66 66 Extras.
$15,586.00
984.60 G. E. Robinson, Architect. 338.21 Insurance.
538.33 Electric Work.
*461.99 Furnishings and Incidentals.
90.87 Unexpended Balance.
$18,000.00
*Furnishings and Incidentals.
$105.76 Screens.
67.00 Grading.
24.00 Shades. 29.93 Crushed Stone.
162.45 Grading. 26.35 Gas Piping. 28.75 Lumber. 17.75 Engineering.
$461.99
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TOWN RECORDS
Station was accepted from Dacey & Tibbetts, January 4, 1926. Accepted and occupied by Fire Department, February 10, 1926.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER H. PEIRCE, Chairman, WALTER F. ROBINSON, DANIEL B. TIERNEY, Sec'y, CHARLES H. HIGGINS, (REUBEN W. LEBARON, Deceased).
No report was received from 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.
Mr. Walter H. Peirce of the committee under vote of the Town passed March 28, 1923, for the construction of a fire department building reported that a formal report would be presented at an adjourned meeting.
No report was received from the committee under vote of the Town passed March 26, 1925, to procure plans and estimates for the construction of a building for the use of the Police Department.
Voted: That the following report of progress of the com- mittee under vote of the Town passed January 14, 1926, to consider the condition of Spy Pond be received.
The report is as follows:
March 1, 1927.
To the Moderator and Town Meeting of the Town of Arlington:
The following is the report of progress submitted by the committee to consider the condition of Spy Pond.
When the fund appropriated by the March, 1926, Meeting became available, the committee proceeded with its work along
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
lines that had been previously outlined and which are contained in report submitted March, 1926, Meeting.
The following formal permits have been secured and are on file :
1. From the Water Board of the City of Cambridge, lease of the pipe line and right of way forming the only available outlet of the pond.
2. From the Department of Public Works, division of Water Ways and Public Lands, right to reconstruct the dam forming the outlet of the pond and maintain the water at definite level.
3. From the Metropolitan Ice Company, right to enter their property bordering on Lake Street for the purpose of repairing and maintaining the dam.
It was necessary to acquire full authority to use the only outlet from the pond. This outlet consists of 36" cast iron pipe laid about 1878 by the City of Cambridge, and which the Water Board of the City of Cambridge claim full ownership, and also to the right of way along the pipe. Arrangements were made and the Town of Arlington now has a lease of this pipe line and right of way from the Water Board of Cambridge for $1.00 per year.
It was found that the problem required the services of a technical engineer of a special character. The town was fortunate in securing the services of the firm of Weston & Sampson, who are the leading water chemists of the country, and who have already done some work on the pond for the Metropolitan Ice Company.
Mr. Weston approved the recommendation of the State Board of Health that the pond be restored to its former eleva- tion of about 10.71. This work was done and has resulted in decreasing the area of the pond less than six feet deep from 35% of its total area of 21%. The obnoxious weeds do not grow in water more than six feet deep. The estimate of the
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TOWN RECORDS
cost of this work submitted by the State Board of Health was about $1,000.00. Through the cooperation of the ice company the reconstruction of the dam was accomplished for $295.55; a very substantial saving.
In order to obtain necessary authority for the reconstruc- tion of the dam, it was necessary to appear before the Depart- ment of Public Works, Division of Water Ways and Public Lands, at the State House. This hearing was attended by several members of the board. Mr. Lombard presented the case and permission was received for the work.
The engineers made a very thorough examination of the whole problem, and stated the condition of the pond had resulted almost entirely from the diversion of its natural inflow. There were at one time at least three brooks running into the Pond, which caused a general circulation, and consequently kept the water in good condition. For various reasons these brooks were diverted into sewers and into Sucker Brook; doubtless without considering the effect on the pond. The only source of supply for the pond is now from rainfall and run off from the surrounding land.
In absence of natural supply of oxygen coming from the inflowing good water from the brooks, the pond has become stagnant, and at its lower depths is devoid of oxygen. The growth of weeds is nature's way of attempting to supply this deficiency, and results, when these weeds decay, in the presence of another organism, or blue green algæ. This circle continues with ever increasing virulence. Chemical examination shows that the water 10 feet or more deep is without any oxygen whatever, and is entirely devoid of life.
The problem therefore is to supply oxygen to the water in some way. Chemical examination of all the natural water available showed them to be no better, or even worse, than that of the Pond. This included the possibility of utilizing the water in the reservoir at the Heights. This water is worse than that of Spy Pond, however. There being no natural water available, consideration of using Metropolitan water was
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
made, but found too expensive for the benefits derived. It was finally decided to try treating the pond with Sodium Nitrate. One dose of 6,000 pounds was given to the pond, and apparently has been of such benefit that a similar amount will be placed in the pond just as soon as the ice season is over.
Attempts were made in various parts of the pond to take out large patches of the weeds. Various methods of doing this work were tried, but the most effective way was for men to work from scows with forks. Most of this work was done by labor furnished at cost by the ice company.
During all this time strict chemical account was kept of the pond in order that definite data might be available of the time of weed growth, their character and action under treat- ment.
It should be realized that the work of the Committee during this year has been to get very definite facts before them, so that they may know just what is causing the trouble, and then finding the remedy.
We have found the reasons for the trouble; and have also, we believe, taken the first steps toward restoring the pond to its proper conditions. We must wait this coming Summer, however, to know what we have really accomplished.
The blue green algæ can, and always have been killed off at the beginning of the ice season by the use of Copper Sulphate. This treatment has been given the pond by the ice company each year under the supervision of the same engineers who are now advising the committee.
The financial statement of our work as of December 31, 1926, is attached, and shows a balance of $4,805.73 available for our work during the coming year. We believe this will be sufficient for our needs.
The Committee wishes to publicly express their apprecia- tion of the hearty cooperation and helpfulness of the Metro- politan Ice Company. Through their Treasurer, Mr. J. Edwin Kimball, they have furnished labor, horses, teams and boats at
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TOWN RECORDS
barest cost to themselves, and have enabled the Committee to keep their expenses at a point which would otherwise have been greatly exceeded.
ALFRED A. LOMBARD, Chairman, WARREN A. PEIRCE, ROGER W. HOMER, J. HOWARD HAYES, Secretary.
SPY POND
Expenditures during 1927:
Weston & Sampson, Services
$366.34
Merrimac Chemical Company
585.00
Recording Plan, etc.
3.37
Total
$954.71
Appropriation
$6,000.00
Total expenditure to date
2,148.98
Balance
$3,851.02
Mr. Elliott R. Barker 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 reported no formal report from the committee.
On motion of Nelson B. Crosby :
Voted: That the reports of the Selectmen and the various Town Officers, as presented in the Town Report, together with the additions of the Table of Statistics of Assessors and Com- mittees heretofore appointed, be accepted.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the committee under vote of the town passed April 16, 1923, to investigate the matter of additional fire protection in the western part of the town be discharged.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the Report of the Finance Committee as presented in printed form be received.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That Article 3 be laid on the table.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the remaining articles in the Warrant calling the Annual Meeting be now taken up separately in the order in which they appear in said Warrant and that the recommenda- tions of the Finance Committee as presented in their printed report be considered as now before the meeting.
Article 4 taken up. (Libraries.)
Voted: That the Dog Tax and the sum of $13,425 be and hereby is appropriated for the Robbins Library and branches for the year 1927, the same to be expended under the direction of the Trustees of the Library.
Article 5 taken up. (Public Schools.)
On substitute motion of Alexander H. Rice:
Voted: That the sum of $548,732 be and hereby is appropriated for the Public Schools for the year 1927, the same to be expended under the direction of the School Committee as follows:
Salaries and Wages
$419,782
Fuel.
16,000
Repairs, Remodeling and Outlay
40,000
Text Books, Supplies and General Expense . 69,950
Spy Pond Field 3,000
$548,732
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TOWN RECORDS
Article 6 taken up. (Memorial Day.)
Voted: That the sum of $700 be and hereby is appropriated for the proper observance of Memorial Day, to be expended as follows:
Under the direction of Francis Gould Post,
No. 36, G. A. R. $300.00
Local Post of the United Spanish War Veterans 100.00
Arlington Post, No. 39, American Legion. . 300.00
$700.00
Article 7 taken up. (Water for Public Purposes.)
Voted: That the Town do not appropriate $7,000 for water used for public purposes in 1927.
Article 8 taken up. (Sidewalks and Curbstones.)
Voted: That the sum of $12,000 be and hereby is appro- priated for the construction of permanent sidewalks, and for the installing of curbstones for the year 1927, the same to be expended under the direction of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
Article 9 taken up. (Highway Division.)
Voted: That the sum of $117,000 be and hereby is appropriated for the use of the Highway Division of the Board of Public Works for the year 1927; that for this purpose the sum of $5,251.20 be transferred from the Street Railway Tax Account now in the Treasury; $10,000 be transferred from available balances and receipts now in the Treasury, and the balance $101,748.80 be raised by general tax; said appropria- tion to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works substantially as follows:
Maintenance of Streets
$68,000
Reconstruction of Streets
30,000
General Expenses 19,000
$117,000
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Article 10 taken up. (Maintenance of Sewerage System.)
Voted: That the sum of $3,900 be and hereby is appro- priated for the maintenance of the Sewerage System for the year 1927, the same to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
Article 11 taken up. (Extension of Sewerage System.)
Voted: That the sum of $73,000 be and hereby is appro- priated for the extension of the Sewerage System, and for this purpose $11,600.74 be transferred from the Sewer Assessments Receipts Account now in Treasury; $20,000 be taken from available balances and receipts now in the Treasury, and the balance $41,399.26 be raised by general tax; said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
Article 12 taken up. (Extension of Water Mains.)
After a lengthy discussion of this article,
On motion of William A. Muller:
Voted: That Article 12 be laid on the table.
Article 13 taken up. (Storm Drains.)
The substitute motion as made by Arthur L. MacRae was lost by a standing vote of eighty-eight in favor and ninety- six in opposition.
Voted: That the sum of $35,000 be and hereby is appro- priated for the extension of Storm Drains for the year 1927; that for this purpose the sum of $15,000 be transferred from available balances and receipts now in the Treasury, and the balance $20,000 be raised by general tax; said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works as follows:
Extension of Storm Drains. $20,000
Establishment of a Service Drain System
connecting with Alewife Brook 15,000
$35,000
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TOWN RECORDS
Article 14 taken up. (Removal of Snow and Ice.)
Voted: That the sum of $20,000 be and hereby is appro- priated for the removal of snow and ice from the highways for the year 1927, the same to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
Article 15 taken up. (Ashes, Offal and Rubbish.)
Voted: That the sum of $68,600 be and hereby is appro- priated for the collection and disposal of ashes, offal and rubbish, for the year 1927, said sum to be raised by general tax and to be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
Article 16 taken up. (Street Lighting.)
Voted: That the sum of $23,850 be and hereby is appro- priated for street lighting for the year 1927, the same to be expended under the direction of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
Article 17 taken up. (Engineering Work.)
Voted: That the sum of $6,000 be and hereby is appro- priated for the engineering work of the Town, the same to be expended under the direction of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works as follows: Salary of Engineer, $2,100; Wages, $3,300; Expenses, $600.
Article 18 taken up. (Suppression of Moths.)
Voted: That the sum of $5,510 be and hereby is appro- priated for suppressing the gypsy and brown tail moths under Chapter 132 of the General Laws and Amendments thereof, the same to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, as follows: Salary of Superintendent, $1,450; General Expenses, $4,060.
Article 19 taken up. (Tree Warden.)
Voted: That the sum of $5,125 be and hereby is appro- priated for the planting of trees, removal of dead and dangerous
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
trees, and for the trimming and general care of existing trees during the year 1927, the same to be expended under the direction of the Tree Warden, as follows: Salary of Warden, $600; Wages and Expenses, $4,525.
Article 20 taken up. (Public Parks.)
Voted: That the sum of $5,284 be and hereby is appro -- priated for the maintenance and improvement of the public parks of the Town, the same to be expended under the direc- tion of the Board of Park Commissioners as follows: Salary of Superintendent, $2,007.50; Wages and Expenses, $3,276.50.
Article 21 taken up. (Payment of Pensions.)
Voted: That the sum of $7,475.27 be and hereby is appropriated for the payment of pensions during the year 1927 under the provisions of law accepted by the Town, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen.
Article 22 taken up. (Town Treasurer-Borrowing.)
Voted: (Unanimously) That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1927, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year; any debt or debts so incurred to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
Article 23 taken up. (Collector of Taxes-Authority.)
Voted: (Unanimously) That the Collector of Taxes be and hereby is authorized 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 taken up. (Manner of Repairing Town Ways.)
Voted: That the town ways, highways, and bridges be repaired under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
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TOWN RECORDS
Article 25 taken up. (District Nurses.)
Voted: That the sum of $1,000 be and hereby is appro- priated for the employment of district or other nurses, said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 26 taken up. (Patriots' Day.)
Voted: That the sum of $150 be and hereby is appro- priated for the observance of Patriots' Day, April 19, 1927; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 27 taken up. (Laying Out Alfred Road.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Lake Street to Spy Pond Parkway, substantially in the location of the private way known as Alfred Road, as more particularly described in Article 27 of the Warrant, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, be accepted, said way established and said Joint Board authorized to take land for the purpose of said way.
Article 28 taken up. (Laying Out Churchill Avenue.)
The substitute motion of William A. Muller was lost by a standing vote of sixty-two in favor and one hundred and eight in opposition.
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Massa- chusetts Avenue to Gray Street, substantially in the location of the private way known as Churchill Avenue, as more par- ticularly described in Article 28 of the Warrant, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, be not accepted.
On motion of Walter S. Elliett :
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Voted: That this meeting adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 10.40 o'clock in the evening.
A True Record, Attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
Arlington, March 31, 1927.
Pursuant to the vote of adjournment on March 24, 1927, the Town Meeting Members met in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, March 31, 1927, notices having been sent by mail by the Town Clerk seven days before the meeting and posted at two places in each precinct. A notice was published in the local paper.
Lists of the duly qualified Town Meeting Members were used at the entrances of the meeting place and were in charge of James F. Higgins and Albert K. Peirce.
The Check Lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that two hundred and eight members attended the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at eight o'clock P.M. by the Moderator, John G. Brackett.
Town Meeting Members not already sworn were sworn by the Moderator.
On motion of Nelson B. Crosby :
Voted: That if this meeting adjourns, it adjourn to meet on Thursday evening, April 7, 1927, at eight o'clock.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That Article 3 be taken from the table.
The following report was read by Walter H. Peirce, Chair- man of the Committee on Central Fire Station:
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TOWN RECORDS
REPORT OF COMMITTEE CENTRAL FIRE STATION
At adjourned Town Meeting held April 22, 1924, article No. 36, not having been disposed of at previous meeting, was taken from table. Under this article a motion was made by Nelson B. Crosby:
Voted (by a two-thirds vote): That there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of one hundred and thirty-nine thousand and five hundred dollars ($139,500.00) for the purpose of con- structing a building to be used for an engine house upon the land situated in said Arlington, and particularly described in Article 36 of the warrant, including the cost of original equip- ment and furnishings; that for this purpose fifty-nine thousand five hundred dollars ($59,500.00) be raised by general tax, and for the balance eighty thousand ($80,000.00) dollars the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the said sum of eighty thousand ($80,000.00) dollars and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor, said bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and all acts in addition thereto or amendment thereof, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than eight years from the date of issue of the first bond or note, or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine; and, further, that the committee appointed under vote of the Town, passed March 8, 1923, to procure plans and estimates for the construction of a Fire Department building and the installation therein of a fire alarm apparatus, be a committee with full authority to construct said building to be used for an engine house, within the sum herein appropriated, substantially in accordance with plans presented at this meeting, and with power to fill any vacancy in said committee. On a rising vote one hundred and thirty-nine voted in favor of the above vote and thirty-one in opposition.
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