USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1927 > Part 9
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Voted: (Unanimously) That a committee of five citizens be appointed by the Moderator to procure plans and specifica- tions for the construction of a twelve-room addition to the present Junior High School West building, and also estimates of the cost of such addition, of the original equipment and furnishings thereof, and of the grading of the grounds of said school, said committee to have the power to fill vacancies and to report to the Town not later than the annual meeting of 1928, and that the sum of one thousand dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the use of said committee, said sum to be taken from available funds now in the treasury.
The Moderator appointed the following committee under Article 5: Charles B. Devereaux, Thomas J. Donnelly, Sr., Frederick W. Hill, Philip Eberhardt, Clinton W. Schwamb.
Article 6 taken up. (Appropriation for Engineering Work.)
On the substitute motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: (Unanimously) That the additional sum of nineteen hundred dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the engineering work of the Town, said sum to be taken from avail- able funds now in the treasury and expended under the direction of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
Article 7 taken up. (Soldiers' Relief, Burials and Ex- emptions.)
Voted: (Unanimously) That the additional sum of fifteen hundred dollars be and hereby is appropriated for
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TOWN RECORDS
Soldiers' Relief, Burials and Exemptions, said sum to be taken from available funds now in the treasury and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 8 taken up. (Workmen's Compensation.)
Voted: (Unanimously) That the additional sum of one thousand dollars be and hereby is appropriated for Workmen's Compensation, said sum to be taken from available funds now in the treasury, and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 9 taken up. (Amending of Town's By-Laws.)
Voted: (Unanimously) That Section 5 of Article 4 of the Town's By-Laws be and hereby is amended by striking out the word "auditor" and inserting in place thereof the words "Town Accountant."
Voted: (Unanimously) That Article 6 of the Town's By-Laws be and hereby is amended by striking out said Article and inserting in place thereof the following:
Article 6. TREASURER
Section 1. The Town Treasurer shall have the custody of all funds belonging to the Town, except funds for which other provision is made by law; all private funds deposited with the Town; and all certified checks filed by any person, firm or corporation in connection with bids of any nature.
Section 2. The Treasurer shall have custody of all paid matured notes and bonds issued by the Town and all paid checks issued by him.
Section 3. The Town Treasurer shall hold no other elective Town office.
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Elliott R. Barker offered the following amendment to Section 5 of Article 7:
Section 5. No head of a department, board or committee authorized to spend money shall make purchases of supplies or materials or contract for any supplies or materials, or engage any individual, firm or corporation to render services to the Town, without issuing a written purchase order on prescribed forms for all such supplies or materials or services to be rendered; provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the salaries or wages of part-time or regularly-employed officers, clerks and wage earners of any department of the Town. All purchase orders shall be made in triplicate: one to be designated for the Vendor; one to be designated for and delivered to the Town Accountant; and one to be designated for the files of the department issuing the order. All verbal orders shall be confirmed in writing on the prescribed purchase order forms on the day the orders are given, and transmitted immediately to the Town Accountant.
Frederic F. Low, Chairman of the By-Law Committee, explained the attitude of the committee in making the recom- mendation.
Clarence Needham, Town Accountant, gave the meeting the reasons why he felt that the recommendation as made by the Finance Committee should be accepted.
On the amendment of Elliott R. Barker being brought before the meeting:
On rising vote, sixty-five voting in favor, ninety-five in opposition, Messrs. Hortter, Elliett, and Higgins acting as tellers, the motion was lost.
The recommendation as made by the Finance Committee being now before the meeting, it was
Voted: That Article 7 of the Town's By-Laws be and hereby is amended by striking out said Article and inserting in place thereof the following:
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TOWN RECORDS
Article 7. ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
Section 1. The Town Accountant may, with the approval of the Selectmen, in a writing deposited with the Town Treas- urer, appoint an assistant who shall, for such time not exceeding four weeks from the date of such appointment as shall be speci- fied in the writing, perform the duties by law required of the Accountant, and for his acts the Accountant shall be responsible.
Section 2. The Town Accountant shall furnish such financial statements as the Selectmen may, from time to time, require.
Section 3. The Town Accountant shall have the custody of all vouchers which have been entered on Warrants for pay- ment and approved by the Selectmen and Accountant.
Section 4. Every officer or board of the Town, at the time of rendering or transmitting any bill of demand for any money due or payable to the Town, shall, at the time of rendering or transmitting any such bill, file a copy thereof with the Town Accountant; provided, however, that the provisions of this. section shall not apply to bills or demands for taxes or other municipal assessments, and water rates or bills.
Section 5. No head of a department, board or committee authorized to spend money shall make purchases of supplies or materials or contract for any supplies or materials, or engage any individual, firm or corporation to render services to the Town, without issuing a written purchase order on prescribed forms for all such supplies or materials or services to be rendered; provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the salaries or wages of part-time or regularly-employed officers, clerks and wage earners of any department of the Town. All purchase orders shall be made in triplicate: one to be desig- nated for the Vendor; one to be designated for and delivered to the Town Accountant; and one to be designated for the files of the department issuing the order. The order designated for the Vendor, before being transmitted to the Vendor, shall
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be submitted to the Town Accountant to be certified by him that there is a sufficient unencumbered balance of the appropria- tion to be charged to liquidate the amount of the order; provided, however, that verbal orders for supplies or materials or services to be rendered may be issued for an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars. All verbal orders shall be confirmed in writing on the prescribed purchase order forms on the day the orders are given, and transmitted immediately to the Town Accountant for certification.
Section 6. The Town Accountant shall prescribe the methods of accounting and forms to be used by the several departments of the Town wherein the collection or disburse- ment of money is concerned, so that such methods and forms shall conform to the requirements of the State system of ac- counting.
Voted: (Unanimously) That Article 8 of the Town's By-Laws relating to the Finance Committee of Twenty-one be not amended, altered, repealed or revised at this time and that consideration of said Article be referred to the Committee on revision of the Town's By-Laws.
Voted: (Unanimously) That the sum of one hundred dollars be and hereby is appropriated for publishing amend- ments of the Town's By-Laws, said sum to be taken from avail- able funds now in the treasury and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 10 taken up. (Amending Zoning By-Law).
Charles M. MacMillin as Chairman of the Planning Board made an adverse report on this article.
Voted: (Unanimously) That the Town do not amend its Zoning By-Law by altering the Zoning Map therein referred to so as to include in a single residence district all or any portion of the area bounded easterly by Mystic Street, southeasterly by the present business district as shown on said Zoning Map; southerly and southwesterly by the business district on the northerly side of Summer Street as shown on said Map; north-
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TOWN RECORDS
westerly by the single residence district as shown on said Map; and northerly by the single residence district as shown on said Map.
On motion of Hollis M. Gott:
Article 1 taken from the table.
There being no further business under Article 1, the Moderator declared Article 1 disposed of.
All business in the Warrant calling this meeting having been disposed of, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned at 9.45 o'clock in the evening.
A True Record, Attest:
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen submits the following report for the year ended December 31, 1927.
At the Annual Meeting of March, 1927, Mr. Luke A. Manning was elected a member of the Board for a term of three years and was sworn to the faithful performance of his duty.
The Board organized with the election of Mr. Nelson B. Crosby as Chairman and Mr. John A. Easton as Clerk of the Board and Agent of the Overseers of the Poor.
TOWN DEBT AND TAX RATE
The Town Debt on December 31, 1927, was $1,407,500.00. This is an increase of $160,600.00 over the figure as of December 31, 1926.
For the year 1927
Total appropriations amounted to $2,217,562.50
Total amount raised by taxes . 1,647,244.29
Total amount raised by borrowing 304,500.00
Total amount raised by transfer 265,818.21
Property valuation.
52,623,650.00
Tax rate-$30.60 per $1,000.
The report of William Gratto, Inspector of Buildings, for the year ending December 31, 1927, shows a decrease in the amount of permits granted for the past year and also a decrease in the cost of work done under these building permits over the previous year, amounting to $955,910.00. The estimated cost of work done under permits for the year beginning 1927 was $3,770,620.00. During the past year there were 414 dwelling houses erected, of which 245 were one-family dwellings and 169 two-family dwell- ings. This tends to show that Arlington is still rapidly de- veloping as a residential district.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
During the year, in the center of the Town, there has been considerable building of commercial type business blocks and alterations of old constructions which have greatly improved this commercial center of our Town. These new buildings are of first-class construction and attractive in appearance and will furnish much needed store and office space for the com- mercial business of the Town.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
This is the fifth year under which our Fire Department has been under the direction of a permanent Fire Chief and under such direction the department has developed in efficiency and size and the Town may well be proud of the protection afforded them by this department.
The department now consists of thirty-five permanent men, viz: Chief; five Captains; one Lieutenant (Mechanician) ; twenty-eight Privates, four of whom were appointed during the year, and thirteen Callmen, including the Department Physician.
The department responded to a total of 383 alarms during the past year, which is the largest in the history of the depart- ment.
The losses by fire in the Town for the past year amounted to $52,582.92, which is the lowest figure of losses for the past three years.
The department during the past year have made 13,870 inspections of mercantile buildings and 5,559 inspections on dwellings. This certainly is an important branch of the service rendered by the department and surely lessens the fire hazard of our Town.
The men of the department are instructed in fire fighting at their drill tower, which is located at the rear of the Highland Station. This method of instruction certainly increases the efficiency of the department and keeps the men physically fit ..
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
On April 7th the Town appropriated the sum of $12,000.00 for the purchase of pumping engine. A Seagrave pumping unit of 750 gallons capacity was received May 10th, and placed in service at Park Circle Station July 1st, and is known as Engine 3. The Town also purchased a new car for the Chief of department, which was badly needed.
The Board has installed a fire alarm bell for "No School" signals, in accordance with the vote of the Town, on the premises of the Boston Elevated R. R. Co., Arlington Heights, Mass.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
On the date of June 17th, 1927, the Police Department were established in their new headquarters on Central Street. This building is a modern up-to-date building and is one of the finest buildings of its kind in New England. The committee in charge of construction of this building was certainly far- sighted enough in its construction, as the same was built to accommodate the needs of at least 60 patrolmen, which will meet the needs of our Town for some time to come. This building has not officially been accepted by the Town from the Building Committee.
The Police Department at the present time consists of a Chief, one Inspector with rank of Lieutenant, four Sergeants, thirty Patrolmen, 3 of whom have been permanently appointed this year, and four Reserve Police Officers.
The Department in new headquarters have all the facilities to work with in making their work more efficient, and the men of the department make good use of the advantages presented to them. In the basement of the headquarters there is a target practice gallery where the men, under the supervision of Sergeant Jacobs, practice in the art of handling their firearms.
During the past year the Town has purchased a combination police and patrol ambulance, in accordance with the appropria- tion submitted in the police budget of 1927, the cost of which was $3,225.00. This purchase was made from the General Motors Corporation.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
The efficiency of the Police Department is best demon- strated by the efficient manner in which the traffic of the much travelled highways of the Town is handled. We have had a smaller number of breaks and larcenies in our Town than in previous years and no "holdups" or robberies.
During the year 795 persons appeared in court on violation of auto laws and 310 on violation of the traffic rules. This is due to the strict enforcement of traffic rules and automobile laws in our Town. Restricted parking signs have been placed by the Police Department on all restricted areas in the past year, and if the automobilists will co-operate with the police department in maintaining the regulations, serious trouble and expense can be avoided.
SEALERS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
The resignation of Mr. Louis Von Witherell as Sealer of Weights and Measures was accepted by the Board on the date of May 16th, 1927. The Board unanimously appointed to the office of Sealer of Weights and Measures, Mr. Allan E. Cowie, whose appointment has been certified by the Civil Service Commission. His work since taking over this office has been highly satisfactory.
OUTSIDE POOR
During the year 1927 $29,938.57 was expended under direction of the Board of Selectmen in the capacity as Overseers of the Poor. This is an increase over the previous year, but owing to the unusual conditions of time and unemployment more demands for worthy cases were made. All cases for aid and assistance were thoroughly investigated and no worthy case was denied aid. The Town has been reimbursed to the extent of $7,223.37 received from other towns and cities for money spent by Arlington for the benefit of people having legal settlements in other towns and cities. For Soldiers' Relief the Town spent $4,540.33, for which they were reimbursed $81.00.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ROBBINS MEMORIAL HALL
This building is in excellent condition and the Board during the past year has purchased a new canvas flooring, covering the main hall, and also has repainted the wall, ceilings and corridors of the main stairways and the corridor on the second floor, and the ceilings and floors of the hearing room. Special appropria- tion of $1,850.00 was voted at the special Town Meeting of November 29th to change and alter the east wing of the Robbins Memorial Town Hall in order to give the Board of Assessors, Treasurer and Tax Collector suitable working space for their departments. This work is now under construction and will be a big improvement to the building. This building is under the supervision of Mr .. James Carmody, and the Board feel that the Town is fortunate in having such an efficient and conscien- tious employee in charge of this building.
MENOTOMY HALL
The Police Department vacated this building in June, 1927, which they occupied for a great many years as their head- quarters. The building now is being occupied by one tenant. S. K. Ames Company occupy the street floor and are tenants at will. The hall is used by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Junior High School students for physical education, and various other organizations from which no rentals are received. The Board in the past year has spent very little money on the maintenance of this building. The only repairs being made was that of new grates in the boiler. There is a special com- mittee, appointed by the Moderator, now working on the dis- position of this building and no doubt will bring their report in at the next annual March meeting. Until this report is made the Board does not feel that any additional money should be spent on the repair or upkeep of this building, although the same is in bad need of repair.
ZONING BY-LAW RESTRICTIONS
Numerous hearings have been held during the past on appeals from zoning By-Law restrictions. In some cases where the requirements seem to work an unnecessary hardship on the petitioners the Board has waived the restrictions.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
The Board has also had numerous hearings on applications for gas stations during the past year and issued a license for but one.
The Board has adopted new rules and regulations for taxi- cabs and public hackney carriages operating in the Town of Arlington. All taxicabs running from public stands are required to have a taximeter. The Board feels that the new rules and regulations concerning taxicabs will be for the best interest of the citizens of the Town.
ARLINGTON SAFETY COUNCIL
In the interest of safety on the public highways and streets of the Commonwealth, Governor Alvan T. Fuller offered a silver trophy to be awarded to the city or town making the best record for the reduction of automobile accidents for the six months ending November 30, 1927.
The cities and towns of the Commonwealth were divided into three groups, being classified according to population and accident experience.
Arlington was assigned to Group No. 2. The Selectmen deemed it advisable to enter the contest for the Governor's trophy, for the main purpose of promoting safety on our public ways, and incidentally to win the trophy.
To this end a Safety Council was organized, composed of the following members:
NELSON B. CROSBY, Chairman of Selectmen.
HOLLIS M. GOTT, Selectman.
LUKE A. MANNING, Selectman.
THOMAS O. D. URQUHART, Chief of Police Department.
DANIEL B. TIERNEY, Chief of Fire Department.
OTHILIE J. LAWSON, Pres. Arlington Woman's Club. FRANK A. WOODHEAD, Pres. Rotary Club. JOHN N. LOUD, Pres. Kiwanis Club .-
CHARLES M. EVANS, Pres. Arlington Board of Trade.
A. H. RICE, Chairman Arlington School Committee.
RICHARD W. MELLEN, Scout Executive, Arlington Boy Scouts.
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Five meetings were held by the Council, and various measures were taken to awaken public interest in safety.
Large signs were procured and placed on the main highways at the entrances to the Town, warning auto drivers to exercise due care and vigilance for the safety of elderly persons and children.
Slides were exhibited in the local moving picture houses; circulars were delivered to automobile drivers by members of the Police Department; special programs were carried out in the public schools; circular letters were prepared and read in all the churches and before the members of the many organizations of the Town. A publicity campaign was also carried on in our local newspapers.
The citizens of the Town co-operated most heartily with the Council in its efforts to promote safety and reduce accidents and fatalities on our streets.
The figures compiled at the close of the contest show that in Arlington there was an increase in the number of accidents amounting to 50.66% over the previous year.
This record clearly shows the need of greater care and vigilance on the part of automobile driver and pedestrian alike.
The Board extend to the Town Meeting Members and the heads of the various departments in the Town their appreciation of the efforts and co-operation in the exercising of the duties of their office in behalf of the Town.
NELSON B. CROSBY, HOLLIS M. GOTT, LUKE A. MANNING, Selectmen.
REPORT OF LICENSING COMMISSION
January 9, 1928.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass .:
Gentlemen:
The Licensing Commission hereby respectfully submits its fourth annual report.
The Commission was organized with Daniel B. Tierney, Chairman, and John A. Easton, Clerk.
Beginning with the first Friday in March, two meetings were held each month for a period of ten (10) months.
Hearings before this Commission are for the consideration of one and two-car garages only.
Twenty (20) sessions were held at which hearings were given on three hundred seventy-four (374) petitions filed with the Commission.
2 Petitions were withdrawn
4 Petitions were denied 368 Petitions were granted
There were few instances of abutting property owners objecting to the granting of licenses as petitioned for and the Commissioners were able, in almost every case, to adjust matters to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.
DANIEL B. TIERNEY, WILLIAM GRATTO,. THOMAS O. D. URQUHART, Licensing Commission.
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REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-1927
January 1, 1928.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I have the honor to present my fifth annual report as Chief of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1927.
The Department now consists of thirty-five permanent men, viz .: Chief; five Captains; one Lieutenant (Mechanician) ; twenty-eight Privates, four of whom were appointed during the year, and thirteen Call-men, including the Department Physician.
An appropriation of $12,000.00 was made at a Town Meet- ing on April 7th to purchase a pumping engine. A Seagrave pumping unit of 750 gallons capacity was received May 10th and placed in service at Park Circle Station July 1st, and is known as Engine 3. Engine 2, Knox pumper, purchased in 1913, was placed in reserve in accordance with the recommenda- tion of the New England Insurance Exchange.
Two ladder trucks, three pumpers, and three combinations comprise the total equipment.
The Department responded to 100 bell alarms, 239 still alarms, and 44 mutual aid calls, a total of 383 alarms, 10 more than last year, and the largest in the history of the Department.
Only one false alarm was sounded throughout the year. The total value and the losses, together with the insurance and the insurance paid, follows:
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REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
Value
Loss
Insurance
Insurance Paid
Buildings
$425,940.00
$26,883.81
$472,457.00
$26,388.81
Contents
125,200.00
25,699.11
125,850.00
24,272.44
Total
$551,140.00
$52,582.92
$598,308.00
$50,661.25
LOSSES BY FIRE FOR FIVE YEARS
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
$31,306.50
$147,746.73
$94,832.40
$53,597.17
$52,582.92
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation, including $12,000.00 for apparatus ..
$90,245.00
Expended .
89,914.60
Unexpended balance
$330.40
CREDITS
Fees for 56 blasting permits.
$56.00
Fees for 25 fuel oil permits.
25.00
Fees for 10 fireworks permits
5.00
Fees for 6 inflam. fluid permits
6.00
Sale of junk .
9.50
101.50
Balance.
$431.90
FIRE PREVENTION
Particular attention is given to this important branch of the service. Firemen are constantly inspecting all places of business and public buildings to prevent the accumulation of waste inflammable material and to discover any other defects that might cause fire or the spread of fire. 13870 inspections were made during the year and every complaint reported to
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
the owner or occupant received immediate attention. Last year 11,844 inspections were made.
The fourth annual inspection of all dwellings began September 26th and continued until the cellars of 5,559 homes were thoroughly inspected, and all unsafe conditions were pointed out to the householder, and advice given as to their correction. Each year shows a vast improvement in the care taken to prevent the dangerous cellar fire.
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