USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1928 > Part 5
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Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, on or before said day and hour of meeting.
Given under our hands, at said Arlington, this fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight.
NELSON B. CROSBY, HOLLIS M. GOTT, LUKE A. MANNING, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
CONSTABLE'S RETURN
Arlington, Mass., Feb. 28, 1928.
Middlesex County :
By virtue of this Warrant I have notified and warned the legal voters of the Town of Arlington to meet at the times and places and for the purposes herein named by causing a printed attested copy of the same to be left at every dwelling house in the Town, and by posting an attested copy at the doors of the Town Hall seven days at least before said day of meeting and by posting attested copies in two or more conspicuous places in each voting precinct in the Town. A notice of the times, places and objects of the meeting was published in the local papers.
(Signed) DANIEL M. HOOLEY, Constable, Town of Arlington, Mass.
53
TOWN RECORDS
Arlington, March 5, 1928.
In pursuance of the foregoing Warrant the legal voters of the Town of Arlington met in their respective voting places in said Town on Monday, the fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight, at seven o'clock in the forenoon.
The following places were designated as the voting places for the various precincts: Precinct 1, Crosby School Building, Winter Street; Precinct 2, Hardy School Building, Lake Street; Precincts 3, 4, 5 and 6, Robbins Memorial Town Hall; Precinct 7, Locke School Building, Park Avenue.
The following election officers, having been duly appointed by the Selectmen, were assigned for duty at the various pre- cincts as follows:
Precinct 1, Herbert B. Kellogg, Warden, 34 Cleveland Street; Harold F. Baumeister, Clerk, 29 Cleveland Street; John S. Kelley, 27 Cleveland Street; Chester E. Smith, 57 Cleveland Street; Jack Donaldson, 29 Cleveland Street; Edward A. Sullivan, 52 Hilton Street; Claire L. Pavey, 45 Hilton Street; R. F. Elie, 9 Cleveland Street; Ruth M. Kelley, 30 Cleveland Street; Alice L. Hamall, 57 Cleveland Street; Amy A. Watkins, 27 Cleveland Street; Percy Morine, 63 Cleve- land Street.
Precinct 2, Edward A. Smith, Warden, 4 Belknap Street; Walter J. Buckley, Clerk, 166 Brooks Avenue; Elizabeth Cain, 39 Orvis Road; Mary F. Lyons, 170 Lake Street; Gladys Hartwig, 156 Brooks Avenue; Florence M. Orton, 157 Brooks Avenue; Robert K. Wallace, 55 Randolph Street; Jeremiah Murphy, 25A Fairmont Street; Clarence E. Biathrow, 13 Belknap Street; Claud J. C. Hamilton, 14 Lakehill Avenue; Daniel F. Coughlin, 154 Brooks Avenue.
Precinct 3, David T. Dale, Warden, 280 Broadway; Walter T. Chamberlain, Clerk, 11 Howard Street; William E. Robin-
54
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
son, 5 Webster Street; Anna E. Duffy, 93 Medford Street; Carrie M. Fowle, 11 Wyman Street; Thomas J. Flatley, 105 Medford Street; Robert P. Cusack, 66 Webster Street; Calvin R. Lynch, 44 Mystic Street; William D. Israel, 57 Wyman Street; Edward D. McCarthy, 75 Warren Street; Joseph J. Duffey, 93 Medford Street; David T. Dale, Jr., 280 Broadway; Harry W. Marden, 11 Wyman Street.
Precinct 4, Edward J. Dineen, Warden, 15 Avon Place; Stanwood H. Cook, Clerk, 23 Addison Street; Robert P. Cook, 21 Addison Street; Joseph F. Ochs, 16 Swan Place; Mildred M. Hargrove, 105 Pleasant Street; Edith M. Marsh, 61 Norfolk Road; Therese N. Turner, 130 Jason Street; W. Hoyt Marsden, 6 Lakeview; Francis J. Gallagher, 140 Pleasant Street; Ken- neth C. Reed, 11 Wellington Street; Frank B. Hargrove, 105 Pleasant Street; Helen F. Gallagher, 140 Pleasant Street.
Precinct 5, Maurice L. Hatch, Warden, 23 Farrington Street; Mary M. Donahue, Clerk, 923 Mass. Avenue; T. J. Donnelly, Jr., 65 Brattle Street; John Hurley, 14 Schouler Court; John J. Kelley, 8 Farrington Street; Therese B. Thomas, 45 Fairview Avenue; Dennis I. Donahue, 923 Mass. Avenue; Harold A. Cahalin, 38 Fairview Avenue; William B. Barry, 169 Mystic Street; Albert K. Peirce, 12 Court Street; Alice E. Younie, 210 Mountain Avenue.
Precinct 6, John M. Dunn, Warden, 56 Appleton Street; John A. Hendrick, Clerk, 15 Trent Street; James G. Moir, 15 Jason Street; Eliza G. Kirsch, 48 Walnut Street; Roger S. Dunbar, 56 Jason Street; Florie A. Kelly, 83 Highland Avenue; Conrad Mellin, 29 Fessenden Road; Charles E. Dockrill, 1138 Mass. Avenue; Harold E. Hodgdon, 42 Bartlett Avenue; Madeline F. Kelley, 83 Highland Avenue; W. M. Hoyt, 206 Highland Avenue; J. A. Smith, 14 Highland Avenue.
Precinct 7, Floyd R. Battis, Warden, 12 West Street; Ernest Cavicchi, Clerk, 1257 Mass. Avenue; Carlton J. Meade, 137 Florence Avenue; Frederick B. Fallon, 1281 Mass. Avenue; George C. Tewksbury, 45 Claremont Avenue; C. Frederic
55
TOWN RECORDS
Evans, 109 Claremont Avenue; Sarah R. Vaughn, 164 Park Avenue; Edward A. Curley, 1271 Mass. Avenue; Laura M. Barry, 23 Lowell Street Place; Ruth Evers Corey, 36 Surry Road; James F. Colgan, 17 Bow Street; May F. Currier, 82 Claremont Avenue.
The foregoing officers were sworn to the faithful perform- ance of their duties. The necessary ballots prepared for each precinct and all other paraphernalia for the proper conduct of the election was supplied by the Town Clerk and turned over to the officers of the various precincts.
The polls were declared open in each precinct at seven o'clock in the morning and remained open until eight o'clock in the evening, at which time after due notice they were de- clared closed.
The ballots were counted by the election officers in each precinct, the tally sheets and total tally sheets prepared by the Town Clerk being used.
The ballots cast, after being counted, were enclosed in envelopes, sealed, signed by the election officers, and encased in wooden boxes, which were locked, and the same were delivered to the Registrars of Voters in the Town Clerk's Office.
These boxes should not only be locked but also sealed when they are returned. The Registrars of Voters noticed when the boxes were returned that those from Precincts 2, 5, and 6 were not sealed.
The Town Clerk and Registrars of Voters upon receipt of the returns from the several precincts forthwith canvassed the same and announced the result.
Precinct . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total Ballots Cast 940 1030 1571 826 1030 1562 1166 8125
1
-
56
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Moderator for One Year
Precinct 1 2 3 4
5
6 7 Total
*Curtis H. Waterman. 534 610
739 655 646 1116 802 5102 Blanks .
3023
Selectman for Three Years
Precinct . 1 2 3 4
5
6 7 Total Thomas F. Good. 542 529 1156 181 437 488 369 3702
*Arthur P. Wyman. 382 487 394 640 574 1012 763 4252 Blanks 171
Board of Public Works for Three Years
Precinct . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
Michael J. Canniff 471 486 1078 172 333
347 326 3213
M. Francis Mead . 50 122 58 56 162 96 98 642
*James R. Smith. 383 384 377 567 507 1066 690 3974 Blanks 296
Assessor for Three Years
Precinct . 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 Total
Charles H. Gannett . . 342 380 394 629 502
931 660 3838
*Augustus J. Power . . . 562 604 1092 180 482 566 452 3938 Blanks 349
School Committee for Three Years
Precinct 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
*Elliott R. Barker 451 536 575 629 607 1068 752 4618 *John A. Bishop 664 685 1149 653 749 1162 805 5867
A. Joseph Chisholm 526 546 1072 233 492 581 421 3871 *Ethel S. Downs. 442 552 524 615 553 1037 789 4512 Blanks . 5507
Trustees Robbins Library for Three Years
Precinct 1 2 3 4 .5 6 7 Total *Mary Helen Teele. . . 581 653 805 639 681 1146 812 5317 *Arthur J. Wellington . 590 678 907 692 739 1187 860
5653 Blanks 5280
*Declared elected by the Chairman of the Registrars of Voters.
57
TOWN RECORDS
Board of Health for Three Years
Precinct . 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 Total *Alfred W. Lombard .. 624 725 873 683 693 1216 879 5693 Blanks
2432
Park Commissioner for Three Years
Precinct 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
Robert M. Boyd. 328 396 329 521 482 753 570 3379
*Richard L. Powers 485 515 985 208 457 676 465 3791 Blanks
955
Park Commissioner for One Year
Precinct 1 2 3 4 5
946 131 359
509 373 3360
*Frank W. Wunderlich. 345 388
437 644 551 888 664 3917 Blanks
848
Planning Board for Three Years
Precinct 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 Total
Edmund W. Hayes. . . 499 517 1001 161 416
527 426 3547 *Charles M. MacMillin 453 505 571 607 557 1032 695 4420 *Walton H. Sears 389 489 461 617 561 959 678 4154 Blanks 4129
Planning Board for One Year
Precinct . 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 Total *Carolyn B. Reed. 607 699 862 668 694 1166 844 5540 Blanks 2585
Commissioner of Sinking Fund for Three Years Precinct . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total *Joseph C. Holmes. 600 684 825 658 677 1151 893 5488 Blanks 2637
Trustee of Pratt Fund for Five Years
Precinct . 1 2 3 6 4 5 7 Total *Charles W. Allen. 588 687 821 662 691 1158 857 5464 Blanks . 2661
*Declared elected by the Chairman of the Registrars of Voters.
6 7 Total Frederick O. White .... 510 532
58
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Trustee Edwin S. Farmer Poor Widows Fund and Edwin S. Farmer Fund for Needy Persons for Five Years
Precinct . 1
2 3
4 5 6 7 Total
Daniel W. Flynn. 460 462 1001 144 358
389 297 3111
*George Hill 367 430 414 624 560
982 712 4089 925
Blanks
Cemetery Commissioner for Three Years
Precinct . 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 Total
*George G. Allen. 607 687 873 669 681 1156 849 5522 Blanks . 2603
Tree Warden for One Year
Precinct . 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 Total
*Daniel M. Daley. 685 770 1170 703 772 1188 863 6151
Blanks 1974
The vote on the Town Meeting Members in the various precincts resulted as follows, the persons elected being indicated by a star:
Precinct One-Three Years
*Howard N. Atwood, 70 Harlow Street 546
*Edwin A. Barnard, 61 Cleveland Street. 554
*Warren N. Bixby, 38 Marathon Street 562
*Alexander Campbell, 35 Trowbridge Street 519
*Dennis Connolly, 72 Grafton Street 442
*Arthur O. Davidson, 60 Winter Street
503
William J. Gearin, 28 Gardner Street.
409
Fred J. Grisim, 91 Harlow Street
405
*Frederick W. Hill, 15 Oxford Street
542
*Harold L. Kinsman, 36 Cleveland Street.
474
490
*Edward A. Morton, 36 Everett Street John L. Pichette, 48 Broadway
401
*Francis W. Porter, 90 Everett Street 484
*Walter E. Rice, 16 Everett Street. 493
446
*Arthur N. Tappan, 269 Massachusetts Avenue Blanks 4010
*Declared elected by the Chairman of the Registrars of Voters.
59
TOWN RECORDS
Precinct Two-Three Years
*John M. Carney, 26 Randolph Street . 508
*Frank E. Cassidy, 146 Brooks Avenue. 474
*Daniel F. Chaisson, 61 Freeman Street 463
*Arthur F. Duffey, 74 Orvis Road .. 538
*Eugene F. Freeman, 52 Egerton Road 554
*John V. Geary, 14 Randolph Street 496
*William Haliburton, 9 Egerton Road 575
*Maude E. Hathaway, 9 Freeman Street 513
*Guy E. Jones, 100 Massachusetts Ave. 510
Henry J. Moreau, 6 Cottage Avenue 365 414
Harold A. Moxon, 42 Varnum Street
Denis J. O'Leary, 29 Egerton Road 437
*Peter Pearson, 49 Lake Street 489
*John W. Power, 88 Orvis Road 574
*George Ed. Rogers, 48 Newcomb Street 492
Daisy M. Snelling, 56 Melrose Street 442
Frank L. Snelling, 56 Melrose Street
447
Carl Nelson, 10 Marion Road 1
Sam Hunter, 18 Randolph Street 1
Blanks 4069
Precinct Two-Two Years
*E. Percy Olive, 18 Marion Road 600
Dr. Lawley, 222 Massachusetts Avenue 1
B. W. Brown, 12 Marion Road 1
H. Hackett, 23 Varnum Street 1
Blanks 1460
Precinct Two-One Year
*Earle C. Hopkins, 7 Randolph Street. 476
Ralph H. Kindred, 159 Brooks Avenue 204
Blanks 350
Precinct Three-Three Years
*Frances Ahern, 21 Webster Street . 1002
*Michael A. Broderick, 115 Medford Street 875
*Frank E. Callahan, 83 Medford Street 913
60
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
*George T. Daly, 180 Palmer Street 881
*Michael J. Donovan, 379 Massachusetts Avenue. 859
*Daniel W. Flynn, 84 Warren Street 992
*Michael A. Fredo, 9 Webster Street . 832
*Thomas F. Good, 50 Sherborn Street 1024
*Daniel M. Hooley, Jr., 268 Broadway 948
*John M. Murray, 120 Palmer Street . 895
*Peter F. O'Neill, 209 Broadway . 916
*John J. Sullivan, 49 Webster Street 920
Blanks . 7795
Precinct Three-One Year
*Chester L. Stevens, 28 Exeter Street 688
Blanks 883
Precinct Four-Three Years
*Frank A. Benham, 2 Oak Knoll . 630
*Rufus W. Blake, 32 Lombard Terrace . 638
*John W. Downs, 100 Brantwood Road 628
*Howard I. Durgin, 41 Wyman Terrace 635
*Rodney T. Hardy, 38 Gray Street 646
*Roger W. Homer, 25 Addison Street 648
*Carolyn B. Reed, 11 Wellington Street 635
*Earl A. Ryder, 31 Norfolk Road 632
*Grace D. Sawyer, 22 Kensington Park 630
*Edith M. Storke, 45 Hopkins Road . 625
*Frank A. Woodhead, 40 Irving Street 637
*Arthur O. Yeames, 24 Kensington Road 641
Blanks . 2287
Precinct Four-Two Years
*Leonard B. Saville, 418 Massachusetts Avenue 563
Blanks 263
Precinct Five-Three Years
*Emily G. Alden, 61 Rangeley Road 591
*Thomas S. Bonney, 21 Fairview Avenue 626
*David Buttrick, 115 Summer Street 654
*Louis S. Chick, 69 Falmouth Road. 566
61
TOWN RECORDS
Dennis J. Collins, 12 Schouler Court 504
*Lester W. Collins, 24 Kimball Road. 559
*William P. Dale, 1089 Massachusetts Avenue 603
*Walter S. Elliett, 107 Ronald Road. 529
*James McD. French, 30 Old Mystic Street 543
*Wathen B. Henderson, 23 Court Street 562
*Thomas F. Kenney, 90 Brattle Street
559
*Marion K. Peirce, 12 Court Street . 633
Ralph E. Perkins, 28 Crawford Street 50€
*Frank W. Tucker, 33 Fairview Avenue 547
John R. Foster, 362 Mystic Street 1
Blanks 4377
Precinct Five-Two Years
*Robert M. Boyd, 25 Ronald Road 666
*Nelson B. Crosby, 10 Davis Avenue 671
*Chester R. Whitman, 59 Ronald Road 646
Blanks 1107
Precinct Five-One Year
*Andrew E. Hammarbeck, 167 Summer Street 636
*Richard M. Healy, 127 Brattle Street 685
*John T. Mellen, 115 Overlook Road 620
Blanks 1149
Precinct Six-Three Years
*Harriet C. D. Atwood, 30 Highland Avenue 694
*Peter S. Baker, 82 Mt. Vernon Street 608
*Jacob Bitzer, 22 Fessenden Road 600
*David H. Buttrick, 90 Gray Street. 909
*Fred Sterling Douglas, 14 Plymouth Street 634
Walter C. Flavin, 77 Highland Avenue 297
Wilhelmina F. Friery, 88 Highland Avenue . 233
*Charles H. Gannett, 7 Academy Street Gladys M. Hayes, 100 Highland Avenue. 420
834
*Frederic A. Hortter, 16 Newman Way 607
Rose E. Hurley, 26 Highland Avenue 331
Henry M. King, 44 Menotomy Road . 351
1
62
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
*Katharine W. Lacey, 32 Jason Street. 565
Horatio W. Lamson, 72 Oakland Avenue 517
Edward Lang, 94 Menotomy Road . 246
Charles P. Lowell, 168 Highland Avenue 424
Luke A. Manning, 139 Trent Street . 449
Mildred E. McCann, 51 Academy Street 404
*Herbert C. Moseley, 76 Gray Street. 477
653 .
Herbert J. Munroe, 14 Windemere Park 438
Augustus J. Power, 56 Menotomy Road 305
May M. Power, 95 Eastern Avenue . 568
*William G. Rice, 25 Woodland Street .
*Walter C. Sargent, 67 Churchill Avenue 587
*Charles M. Sawyer, 39 Highland Avenue 634
John A. Sullivan, 15 Highland Avenue . 324
Robert J. Tully, 108 Highland Avenue 283
Blanks 5352
Precinct Six - One Year
*Alma W. Allen, 16 Woodland Street . 792
Augustine D. Doyle, 14 Temple Street 323
Blanks 447
Precinct Seven-Three Years
*Bertram D. Bent, 20 Linden Street . 747
*Frederick L. Corcoran, 19 Wollaston Avenue 758
*Charles M. Evans, 288 Appleton Street. 761
*Marion F. Farrington, 46 Westminster Avenue 746
*Lester N. Hayden, 1 Gilboa Road . 736
*J. Howard Hayes, 27 Ashland Street . 760
*William J. Henderson, 344 Appleton Street 758
*Allan MacIver, 45 Tanager Street
743
*Edward W. Nicoll, 10 Montague Street. 747
*Alice Maysie Patterson, 60 Claremont Avenue 752
*Adrian H. Robinson, 91 Westminster Avenue 752
*Harry I. Tinkham, 14 West Street 753
Blanks 4979
63
TOWN RECORDS
Precinct Seven-Two Years
*William C. Drouet, 56 Florence Avenue. 677
Blanks 489
All ballots, used and unused tally sheets, total tally sheets, copy of Precinct Records of Election, and all other records per- taining to the election, were delivered to the Town Clerk to be preserved by her during the time required by law.
A true record of the election. Attest:
· E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
Arlington, March 6, 1928.
I hereby certify that on this day I have appointed Eliza- beth V. Trask Assistant Town Clerk of the Town of Arlington, in accordance with the provisions of Section 19, Chapter 41 of the General Laws, and that she has taken the necessary oath of office.
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
Arlington, March 6, 1928.
I hereby certify that on this day I have appointed Marion F. Robbins Assistant Town Clerk of the Town of Arlington, in accordance with the provisions of Section 19, Chapter 41 of the General Laws, and that she has taken the necessary oath of office.
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
64
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
RECOUNT
Arlington, March 12, 1928.
A petition for a recount of the votes cast on March 5, 1928, for the office of Assessor for the term of three years was filed in accordance with law in the office of the Town Clerk on Thurs- day, March 8, 1928.
Accordingly a recount of the above-mentioned office was held on Monday, March 12, 1928, at 9.30 o'clock in the forenoon, in the Hearing Room, Robbins Memorial Town Hall. Messrs. Eben F. Dewing, John W. Dacey, William H. Keefe, and Miss E. Caroline Pierce, Registrars of Voters, made the recount. Candidate Charles H. Gannett and Candidate Augustus J. Power, both accompanied by counsel, were present.
The unsealed boxes of Precincts 2, 5, and 6, as noted by the Registrars of Voters when they were returned on March 5, 1928, were called to the attention of those present on March 12, 1928.
The result of the recount was as follows:
Charles H. Augustus J.
Gannett
Power
Blanks
Total
Precinct 1
342
562
36
940
Precinct 2
378
603
49
1030
Precinct 3
390
1090
91
1571
Precinct 4.
628
180
18
826
Precinct 5
501
482
47
1030
Precinct 6
929
569
64
1562
Precinct 7.
661
453
52
1166
Total
3829
3939
357
8125
The vote as recorded
March 5, 1928,
was .
3838
3938
349
8125
In accordance with law the ballots were returned to the Town Clerk.
A true record, Attest:
E. CAROLINE PIERCE,
Town Clerk.
65
TOWN RECORDS
ANNUAL MEETING
Arlington, March 21, 1928.
Pursuant to the Warrant of the Selectmen served according to law upon the inhabitants of the Town by a Constable of said Town, notices having been sent by mail by the Town Clerk seven days before the day of meeting to the Town Meeting Members elected and qualified to act in Town Meetings in Arlington, and posted at two places in each precinct, the Town Meeting Members met in the Robbins Memorial Town Hall in said Town on Wednesday, March 21, 1928, at eight o'clock in the evening. The warrant calling the meeting was the notice sent by mail by the Town Clerk.
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 lists contained the names of two hundred and sixty-seven Town Meeting Members.
The Check Lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that two hundred and three members attended the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at eight o'clock P.M. by the Moderator, Curtis H. Waterman.
The Town Meeting Members were sworn by the Moder- ator.
Copies of the Warrant having been supplied to the Town Meeting Members, the Town Clerk read only the Call and the Constable's Return of the Warrant, the meeting voting on Hollis M. Gott's motion to dispense with the reading of the remainder of the Warrant.
On motion of Hollis M. Gott:
Voted: That if the business calling this meeting has not been disposed of on this date, the meeting adjourn to March 28, 1928, at eight o'clock P.M.
66
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
On motion of Hollis M. Gott:
Voted: That Article 2 be taken up.
Article 2 taken up. (Choice of other Town Officers.)
Voted: That the Town Clerk cast one ballot for each of the officers for the term of one year, designated as follows:
Fish Preserver Everett S. Chapman
Measurers of Wood and Bark Patrick F. Brosnahan Edmund L. Curtis Eugene W. Cole
On motion of Hollis M. Gott:
Voted: That Article 3 be taken up.
Article 3 taken up. (Reports of Selectmen-other Town Officers and Committees.)
Voted: That the report as presented by Frederic F. Low of the Committee 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 be received. File No. 1115.
"TOWN OF ARLINGTON
The committee on the revision of the Town's By-Laws, appointed under vote of the Town, May, 1925, has completed their work. In 1926 the revised tenement house law was sub- mitted, accepted, and has now been in operation for nearly two years. Your committee's recommendations on the remaining By-Laws in relation to building construction have been handed to you this evening and their other recommendations will be found in the Finance Committee's report, all of which will be acted on under Article 18. In order that the Town Meeting
67
TOWN RECORDS
Members may have time to read the new building code, we suggest that action on same be postponed to a later adjourned meeting.
Except to say that your committee has devoted a very considerable amount of time to their work, and have endeavored to make the regulations in regard to buildings as liberal as possible, consistent with safety, health, and protection from fire, it does not seem necessary to go into any detail of their work. We might, however, say that before the code took its final form over 1859 pages were typewritten, and we might also cite two matters to show how every effort was made to obtain the fullest information possible on the subject under considera- tion.
At a special town meeting in January of last year, without our committee's knowledge, an amendment to the Building By-Law was adopted, making the Inspector of Buildings also Superintendent of Public Buildings. Not having been pub- lished as yet, it has not become a law, nor does your committee believe it should be allowed to become a law, in view of the information we obtained from other towns and cities.
When we took up the section in the new code in relation to the duties of the Inspector of Buildings, in order to gain all information possible we sent a questionnaire to 45 Building Inspectors and Commissioners of as many towns and cities, and later selected 7 or 8 of the same towns and cities and sent a questionnaire to the chairmen of the School Committees.
Very enlightening answers were received, and while it was shown that, to a considerable extent, public buildings have been placed in charge of the Inspector of Buildings, we were not satisfied that this has turned out entirely satisfactory.
Your committee after considering the matter could see no advantage-and from some points of view a disadvantage-in having an Inspector of Buildings also Superintendent of all Public Buildings; that while we were aware of the opinion that it was desirable to have repair work in charge of a person familiar with building construction and that a limited size
68
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
permanent force of mechanics could be employed to advantage, we also believed that those now in charge of the maintenance of our town property can, by study and co-operation, work out this problem in a better way than by placing our Public Buildings in charge of the Inspector of Buildings.
The second matter of some importance was that in regard to the Finance Committee referred to our committee by vote of the Town at their special meeting in November. On this matter we sent out 46 questionnaires to citizens of Arlington who are or have been interested in Town affairs. From answers ob- tained, a second questionnaire to about 30 citizens was sent, and also a questionnaire was sent to the chairmen of Finance Committees in 8 outside towns.
The answers showed a fairly unanimous opinion on a few minor changes, but on the question of reduction in the number of members the opinion was about equally divided and the argument for and against were equally strong. Those, how- ever, who favored a reduction were not in accord as to what would be the best number, as the suggestions varied from 7 to 18 members.
If it was a case where the Town had no Finance Committee and was creating one, I have no doubt that from all information received your committee would have recommended a smaller committee, but as we were considering a Finance Committee that had functioned successfully for nearly 35 years, and as we had no guarantee that a smaller committee would function any better, or even as good as one of the present size, we therefore did not feel justified in recommending any reduction in number.
In closing, the committee desires to say that while they consider their work in connection with the revision of the Town's By-Laws completed, action by the Attorney General may call for later consideration of some detail, and in connection with the printing of the code, the indexing and cross reference in order that any subject matter can be quickly found can be done by those most familiar with the contents; also there will have to be considerable work added, such as the sections approved
69
TOWN RECORDS
two years ago and other matters, which will have to be inserted in their proper place in order to have all information in regard to the construction of buildings under one cover. For this reason the Town may not consider our work completed and we do not ask for our discharge at this time.
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