USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1928 > Part 8
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the Report of the Finance Committee be received.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That Article 1 be laid on the table.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the remaining articles in the Warrant be now taken up separately in the order in which they appear in said Warrant, and that the recommendations of the Finance Com- mittee as presented in their printed report be considered as now before the meeting.
Article 2 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, 1928, 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 3 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 1928 which a Town Treasurer may use when ap- pointed a Collector of Taxes.
Article 4 taken up. (Repairing Town Ways.)
Voted: That the town ways, highways and bridges be repaired under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
Article 5 taken up. (Addition to Junior High West.)
On the substitute motion of Charles B. Devereaux:
Voted (unanimously): That there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of one hundred and thirty thousand
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($130,000) dollars for the purpose of constructing a twelve class room unit addition to the schoolhouse called the "Junior High West" building, situated on land of the Town adjacent to Fessenden Road and to Acton Street, increasing the floor space thereof; that for this purpose the sum of forty-five thousand ($45,000) dollars be raised by general tax, and for the balance, eighty-five thousand ($85,000) dollars, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the said sum of eighty-five thousand ($85,000) 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 ten 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 that said appropriation be expended under the direction of the committee appointed under vote passed November 29, 1927, to procure plans and specifica- tions for such addition; said committee to have the power to fill any vacancy in its membership; and that also there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of fifteen thousand dollars for the purpose of providing the original equipment and furnishings of the addition to the Junior High School West Building and that the said sum be raised by general tax, and expended under the direction of the building committee of the Junior High School West.
· Article 6 taken up. (Investigation Junior High School System.)
Voted: That a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to make an investigation of the Junior High School System, said committee to have the power to fill vacancies and to report to the Town not later than the Annual Meeting of 1929, and further that the sum of $500 be appropriated for use of said committee; said sum to be raised by general tax.
Committee appointed: Roger W. Homer, John W. Downs, Othilie J. Lawson, William H. Keefe, M. Norcross Stratton.
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Article 7 taken up. (Investigation of Sucker Brook.)
Voted (unanimously): That the sum of five hundred dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the purpose of making a preliminary investigation of the condition and possible improvement of Mill or Sucker Brook, so called, between the Reservoir at the Arlington-Lexington line at the lower Mystic Lake; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Planning Board.
Article 8 taken up. (Rescinding of Vote on Building By-Laws.)
Voted (unanimously): That the vote of the Town passed on January 20, 1927, under Article 2 of the Warrant for the special meeting called for that date, whereby the Town amended Article 15 of its building by-laws by striking out Section 1 of said Article and substituting therefor a new section relating to an Inspector of Buildings, be and hereby is re- scinded.
Voted (unanimously): That Article 1 of Section 15 of the Town's building by-laws, as it existed prior to January 20, 1927, reading as follows: "A Building Inspector shall be appointed annually by the Selectmen, and he shall continue to hold office until his successor has been appointed and quali- fied," be and hereby is readopted.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That Article 1 be 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 meeting was declared adjourned at 9.25 P.M.
A True Record, Attest : E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
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TOWN RECORDS
ADJOURNED MEETING
Arlington, April 4, 1928.
Pursuant to the vote of recess, the adjourned annual Town Meeting was called to order at 9.30 o'clock in the evening by the Moderator, Curtis H. Waterman.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Article 40 taken up. (Laying Out Howard Street.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Robbins Road to Bowen Street, substantially in the location of the private way known as Howard Street, as more particularly described in Article 40 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.
Article 41 taken up. (Laying Out Lafayette Street.)
On substitute motion of Eugene F. Freeman:
Standing vote, Messrs. Boyd, Bixby, and Hendrick, acting as tellers.
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Massa- chusetts Avenue to Park Boulevard substantially in the location of the private way known as Lafayette Street and more par- ticularly described in Article 41 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 42 taken up. (Laying Out Maynard Street.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Hayes Street to Mystic Valley Parkway, substantially in the location of the private way known as Maynard Street, as more par-
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ticularly described in Article 42 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 43 taken up. (Laying Out Melrose Street.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from the present end of acceptance to Herbert Road, substantially in the location of the private way known as Melrose Street, as more particularly described in Article 43 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 44 taken up. (Laying Out Menotomy Road, Massachusetts Avenue to Lot Line.)
Voted: That the laying out of town way from Massa- chusetts Avenue to Lot Line No. 78 (approximately center line of Revere Street), substantially in the location of the private way known as Menotomy Road, as more particularly described in Article 44 of the Warrant, under the provisions of law author- izing the assessment of betterments, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, be not accepted.
Article 45 taken up. (Laying Out Menotomy Road, Lot Line to Gray Street.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Lot Line No. 78 (approximately center line of Revere Street) to Gray Street, substantially in the location of the private way known as Menotomy Road, as more particularly described in Article 45 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.
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TOWN RECORDS
Article 46 taken up. (Laying Out Milton Street.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from the present end of acceptance to the easterly side line of Herbert Road, substantially in the location of the private way known as Milton Street, as more particularly described in Article 46 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 47 taken up. (Laying Out Mount Vernon Street.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Gray Street to Hawthorne Avenue, substantially in the location of the private way known as Mount Vernon Street, as more par- ticularly described in Article 47 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.
Article 48 taken up. (Laying Out Mystic Lake Drive.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Hayes Street to Mystic Valley Parkway, substantially in the location of the private way known as Mystic Lake Drive, as more par- ticularly described in Article 48 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.
Article 49 taken up. (Laying Out Newland Road.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Bow Street to Blossom Street, substantially in the location of the private way known as Newland Road, as more particularly described in Article 49 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
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Works, be accepted, said way established and said Joint Board authorized to take land for the purpose of said way.
Article 50 taken up. (Laying Out Newport Street.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Spring Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue, substantially in the location of the private way known as Newport Street, as more particularly described in Article 50 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 Work, be not accepted.
Article 51 taken up. (Laying Out Overlook Road.)
On substitute motion of James F. Younie :
Standing vote, Messrs. Boyd, Bixby, and Hendrick acting as tellers.
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from the present end of acceptance to the southerly line of Pheasant Avenue, substantially in the location of the private way known as Overlook Road, and more particularly described in Article 51 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.
The motion to reconsider Article 40 was lost.
On motion of Jacob Bitzer:
Voted: That this meeting adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 10.45 P.M.
A True Record, Attest:
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
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TOWN RECORDS
ADJOURNED MEETING
Arlington, April 11, 1928.
Pursuant to the vote of adjournment on April 4, 1928, the Town Meeting Members met in the Town Hall on Wednesday, April 11, 1928, 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 one hundred and sixty-seven members attended the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at eight o'clock by the Moderator, Curtis H. Waterman.
On motion of Hollis M. Gott:
Voted: That if the business calling this meeting is not disposed of on this date the meeting adjourn to Wednesday evening, April 18, 1928, at eight o'clock.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That Article 3 be taken from the table. (Reports of Committees.)
Charles A. Hardy, of the Committee on the New Parmenter School, presented the final report of the committee. File No. 415.
April 10, 1928.
Mr. Moderator and Town Meeting Members:
Your Committee on the New Parmenter School begs leave to submit the following final report:
The need of additional school accommodations in the Parmenter district became evident several years ago when
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children from this district had to go to the Russell School for their last years' instruction. The original Parmenter School was a four-room wooden building, built for primary grades only, and was never planned for additions.
On March 26, 1925, the Town voted $10,500 to pur- chase the Foster lot on Irving Street, and on April 2, 1925, they voted to accept the gift of a small additional triangular piece of land fronting on Irving Street, so that the easterly line of the land purchased from the Foster estate would continue straight through to the street line.
On January 14, 1926, the Town voted for the moderator to appoint a committee of five to bring in plans and estimates for a New Parmenter School and appropriated $750 for their use. The moderator appointed the following committee : Elliott R. Barker, Chairman, Charles B. Devereaux, Walter F. Robinson, Charles A. Hardy, M. Ernest Moore.
This committee reported on March 26, 1926, and the Town appropriated $122,000 for the committee to build and furnish an eight-room school building according to plans shown at the meeting.
At the adjourned Town Meeting of April 5, 1926, an addi- tional appropriation of $2,500 for walks and grading was made.
Five architects competed in the plans for this building, the competition being won by Charles G. Loring. We feel that this method of selecting plans and architect resulted in a well- planned building of superior construction, architecturally beautiful, and an ornament to the Town and community. Except for the roof this building is of fire-resisting construction throughout.
The general contract was awarded to Joseph S. Greenwood, who previously had built the eight-room addition to the Cutter School.
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TOWN RECORDS
Your committee reports the following expenditures : Cost of building, including walks and
grading
$115,084.56
Furnishings
8,731.40
Total $123,815.96
Appropriations
124,500.00
Balance 684.04
We believe that the Town used excellent judgment in appropriating sufficient sums to build this type of school.
We also thank the architect and contractor for their co- operation.
Our work on this project is now completed and we beg to be discharged.
Respectfully submitted,
ELLIOTT R. BARKER, Chairman,
M. ERNEST MOORE,
WALTER F. ROBINSON,
CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX,
CHARLES A. HARDY, Secretary.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the report of the Committee on New Parmenter School as presented by Mr. Charles A. Hardy be accepted and the committee discharged.
Article 3 laid on the table.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That Article 15 be taken from the table. (Police Signals.)
On the substitute motion of Charles B. Devereaux:
Voted (unanimously): That the acts of the committee appointed under vote passed March 26, 1926, to construct a
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building to be used for police purposes and to provide original equipment and furnishing, relating to the installation and maintenance of police signal fixtures and lights upon poles of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston and the Boston Elevated Railway Company, at the corners of Massa- chusetts Avenue and Tufts Street, Massachusetts Avenue and Forest Street, and Massachusetts Avenue and Park Avenue, be and hereby are approved and ratified; and that the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works have authority, in the name of the Town, to enter into an agreement of indemnity with the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston and the Boston Elevated Railway Company or either of them in relation to the installation and removal of said fixtures and lights.
On motion of Hollis M. Gott the following Resolutions on the service of Honorable John G. Brackett were unanimously adopted by rising vote.
For sixteen years our fellow citizen, Honorable John G. Brackett, held the office of Moderator of the Arlington Town Meetings. His service during those years was characterized by parliamentary accuracy, accompanied at all times with impartiality and a fair and just recognition of the rights and privileges of the citizens in the various meetings held.
Therefore,
IT IS RESOLVED: That we, the Citizens of Arlington, in Town Meeting assembled, do cordially and gratefully express our appreciation and thanks to Honorable John G. Brackett for his long and faithful service so patiently and efficiently rendered, with the earnest hope that his activity in Town Affairs and his influence in the conduct of its civic functions may long be continued.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That Article 18 be taken from the table. (By- Laws.)
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TOWN RECORDS
Frederic M. Low, Chairman of the Committee on By- Laws, in presenting the report on By-Laws "Establishing Fire Districts and Regulating the Construction and Inspection of Buildings in the Town of Arlington," offered some slight amend- ments.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted (unanimously): That Article 15 of the Town's By- Laws, relating to buildings, be amended by striking out the whole of said Article with all amendments thereof, except the portions thereof adopted by the Town in 1926, affecting Section 8, relating to tenement houses, Section 13 relating to walls of buildings, Section 16 relating to floor loads; and substituting therefor the new Building By-Law as presented by the commit- tee under vote of the Town passed May 28, 1925, to consider the Town's By-Laws.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted (unanimously): That the "By-Laws Establish- ing Fire Districts and Regulating the Construction and Inspec- tion of Buildings in the Town of Arlington" as finally presented by Frederic M. Low of the Committee on By-Laws be adopted.
NOTE
By direction of the Board of Selectmen, under whose supervision the annual report is made up, the printing of the Building By-Laws is omitted in this book.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted (unanimously): That the sum of seven hundred fifty ($750) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for publishing in the newspaper as required by law, all By-Laws that may be adopted at this Town Meeting, and for printing in book form all the By-Laws of the Town, including the printing of the Building Code and the Plumbing Code; and that said sum be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
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Voted (unanimously): That the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized to sell copies of the Building Code for not more than fifty cents each and copies of the Plumbing Code for not more than twenty-five cents each.
Voted (unanimously): That the sum of three hundred ($300) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the expense of the Board of Appeals for 1928, as created by the amendment to Article 15 of the Town's By-Laws.
Article 52 taken up. (Laying Out Pine Ridge Road.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Gray Street to Spring Avenue, substantially in the location of the private way known as Pine Ridge Road, as more particularly described in Article 52 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.
Article 53 taken up. (Laying Out Varnum Street.)
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from the present end of acceptance to the easterly side line of Herbert Road, substantially in the location of the private way known as Varnum Street, as more particularly described in Article 53 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 54 taken up. (Laying Out Wildwood Avenue.) .
Voted: That the laying out of a town way from Bartlett Avenue to Lockeland Avenue, substantially in the location of the private way known as Wildwood Avenue, as more particularly described in Article 54 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.
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TOWN RECORDS
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That Article 30 be taken from the table. (Ac- quisition of Easements.)
On substitute motion of Hollis M. Gott:
Voted (unanimously): That the Joint Board of Select- men and Board of Public Works be and hereby is authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Town, to purchase or take by eminent domain or otherwise acquire, easements in lands adjoining the locations of ways, the laying out of which is accepted at this meeting, consisting of the right to have the land of said locations protected by having the surface of such adjoining lands slope from the boundaries of said locations; that for this purpose the sum of two thousand ($2,000) dollars be and hereby is appropriated; and that said sum be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of said Joint Board.
Article 56 taken up. (Change of By-Laws Regarding Selectmen.)
Voted: That the Town do not vote to petition the Legis- lature to change the Town By-Laws so as to permit the election of seven Selectmen, as more particularly described in Article 56 of the Warrant.
Article 57 taken up. (Fire Department - Civil Service.)
Voted: That the Town do not accept Chapter 31, General Laws of Massachusetts, and any amendments thereto, relative to Fire Departments.
Article 58 taken up. (Referendum for City Form of Government.)
At the request of Edmund W. Hayes, permission was given Mr. P. Joseph McManus, who is not a Town Meeting Member, to address the meeting on the subject matter of this article, as Mr. McManus was one of the petitioners for the
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
insertion of this Article in the Warrant. Mr. McManus addressed the meeting.
On the motion being put before the meeting, as recom- mended by the Finance Committee, it was
Voted (unanimously): That the Town do not decide and determine, by referendum of the voters of the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts, whether or not it is advisable to change the present form of government from Town government to City government, and to petition the Legislature for such change in form of government.
Article 60 taken up. (Zoning By-Law-Crosby Farm.)
On the substitute motion of Charles M. MacMillin:
Voted (unanimously): That the Town do modify the Town Zoning By-Law by including in the single residence district the area situated northerly from Summer Street and westerly from Mystic Street and more particularly described in Article 60 of the Warrant.
Article 61 taken up. (Amendments-Zoning By-Laws.)
Voted (unanimously): That Section 21 of the Town's "Zoning By-Law" adopted under vote passed May 15, 1924, be and hereby is readopted, and that said By-Law be and hereby is modified and amended by making all the insertions mentioned in Article 61 of the Warrant, such insertions to be of the words and in the places as set forth in clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of said Article.
Article 62 taken up. · (Taking of Land-Caterino.)
Voted (unanimously): That the Town do not authorize the Selectmen to purchase or take in fee by eminent domain for the purpose of street widening and park purposes, certain parcels of land situated in Arlington and more particularly described in Article 62 of the Warrant.
Article 65 taken up. (Construction of Accepted Ways.)
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TOWN RECORDS
On the substitute motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted (unanimously): That the sum of one hundred ninety-one thousand one hundred sixty and 16/100 ($191,160.16) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the original construc- tion of public ways, the laying out of which is accepted at this meeting, including land damages, and the cost of pavements and sidewalks laid at the time of such construction, all under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments; that for this purpose the sum of eighty-one thousand eight hundred sixty and 16/100 ($81,860.16) dollars be raised by general tax, and for the balance one hundred ten thousand ($110,000) dollars the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the said sum of one hundred ten thousand ($110,000) 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 ten (10) years from the date of issue of the first bond or note or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Select- men may determine; and further that the said sum of one hundred ninety-one thousand one hundred sixty and 16/100 ($191,160.16) dollars be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works, substantially as follows:
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