USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1931 > Part 12
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Article 59 taken up. (Revision of By-Laws; re Metal Ceilings.)
A substitute motion was offered by Augustus J. Power.
John A. Cadario explained his reasons for supporting the substitute motion as offered by Mr. Power.
The substitute motion being put before the Meeting was lost.
Voted (unanimously): That the Town do not amend, alter or revise or take any action relating to the last clause of Section 4-4 of Division 4 of Article XV of the By-Laws of the Town of Arlington regarding "metal ceilings" set forth in Article 59 of the Warrant.
Article 60 taken up. (Zoning By-Laws-Forest Street.)
Walton H. Sears, Chairman of the Planning Board, submitted the report of the Board. Mr. Sears made a motion that the Zoning By-Law be not changed as de- scribed in Article 60 of the Town Warrant.
Augustus J. Power offered a substitute motion which being put before the meeting was lost.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
On motion of Walton H. Sears
Voted (unanimously): That the Town's Zoning By-Law be not amended by altering the Zoning map therein referred to so as to include in a Business District all or any portion of the area bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at a point on the westerly side line of Forest Street one hundred feet south of the southerly corner of Sunset Road Extension, thence southerly on said westerly side line of Forest Street a distance of one hundred and twenty-four and seventy-four hundredths feet to a point or curve on said westerly side line of Forest Street, thence southerly and westerly on a curve to the right with a radius of fifty feet a distance of one hundred and twenty-seven and eighty hundredths feet to the point of tangent on the westerly side line of Summer Street, thence northwesterly on said northerly side line of Sum- mer Street on a curve to the left with a radius of seven hundred and ninety and thirty-six hundredths feet a distance of one hundred and thirty-one and sixty-three hundredths feet to a point, thence northerly on a line dividing lots thirty-two and thirty-three, a distance of eighty-seven and six tenths feet, thence easterly on the dividing line between lots thirty-eight and thirty-nine a distance of one hundred feet to the point of beginning.
Article 61 taken up. (Acceptance of Gift: for Library Books.)
William A. Muller said in regard to Article 61
I regret that I am not permitted at this time to give the name of the donor of this very generous gift. I am sure we would all be delighted to pass a vote of appre- ciation here. I want to say, however, that this same donor has given other gifts in the past to the Library,
181
TOWN RECORDS
and they have been of great assistance in carrying on our work there among the children.
You will all be interested, I know, because most of you do not know the fact, that our Library was founded by a gift. Back in 1835, when this was West Cambridge, we received a gift of $100 from Dr. Learned, of Hopkin- ton, New Hampshire, with which our Library here was established. In 1837 this town made an appropriation of $30 and continued to do so for a number of years, for the use of the Library And so our Library became the first free library in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Voted (unanimously): That the Town accept five one thousand ($1000) dollar bonds to be invested and reinvested and the income only to be used for the purpose of the purchase of children's books for the Robbins Library, all under the direction of the Trustees of the said Library.
William H. Taylor made a motion that Article 18 be reconsidered which when being put to vote was lost.
Article 62 taken up. (Addition of Class Rooms to New High School Building.)
Earl A. Ryder offered a substitute motion of Article 62.
On request of Hollis M. Gott, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Mr. George Ernest Robinson, Architect, showed slides on the screen and explained them.
The substitute motion of Earl A. Ryder being put to vote was lost.
The motion as put forth in the recommendation of the Finance Committee being put to vote:
Voted: (By rising vote one hundred and thirty-one
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voting in favor and forty-six in opposition-more than the necessary two-thirds).
That the sum of one hundred thirty thousand ($130,- 000) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the construc- tion of an addition to the new High School building, increasing the floor space thereof, consisting of class rooms, including the cost of original equipment and furnishings thereof, substantially in accordance with sketches and data filed with the Finance Committee of Twenty-one, January 30, 1931, marked: "Scheme B, Proposed Addition to High School, Arlington, Mass.," Situated on land of the Town on Massachusetts Avenue; that for said purpose the sum of eighty thousand ($80,- 000) dollars be raised by general tax and for the balance fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars the Treasurer, with the approval of Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow said sum of fifty thousand ($50,000) 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 fifteen (15) 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 Arthur P. Wyman, Hollis M. Gott and William O. Hauser, who are hereby appointed a committee to have full charge of said construction, which said committee shall have full authority so to construct such addition within the sum herein appro- priated and power to fill any vacancy in its membership.
On motion of Roger W. Homer:
Voted: That this Meeting adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 11.55 P.M.
A True Record, Attest:
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TOWN RECORDS
ADJOURNED MEETING
Arlington, April 8, 1931.
Pursuant to the vote of adjournment on April 1, 1931, the Town Meeting Members met in the Town Hall on Wednesday, April 8, 1931, 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 Albert K. Peirce and James E. Sweeney.
The Check Lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that two hundred and twelve attended the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at eight o'clock by the Moderator, William P. Barry.
Town Meeting Members not already sworn were sworn by the Moderator.
By consent of the meeting G. Bertram Washburn was allowed to sit with the Town Meeting Members.
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 15, 1931, at eight o'clock.
Angus P. McDonald made a motion that the vote taken up at a previous meeting to lay Articles 19 to 27 inclusive on the table be reconsidered.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
J. Howard Hayes of the committee appointed to con- sider library accommodations at Arlington Heights made a motion that Article 3 be taken from the table in order that Mrs. Vittoria C. Dallin be given an opportunity to make her report.
Article 3 taken up. (Report of Committee.)
Mrs. Dallin made the following report.
The Committee on Library Accommodations at Arlington Heights submits the following report :
The need of more adequate Library accommodations at the Heights is fully realized by the Trustees of the Library, the Librarian and the members of the community.
The following statistics may help to an understanding of the necessity for ameliorating present conditions:
Of the total population of Arlington, a very con- servative estimate would place from eight to ten thousand inhabitants west of the Junior High West.
In the Locke School there are 493 pupils.
In the Peirce School there are 508 pupils.
In the Junior High West there are 706 pupils.
In the Senior High West there are 250 pupils living at the Heights.
Every month 2,400 books are given out from the Arlington Heights Branch. These books are distributed three times a week. Thus on an average two hundred books are given out each day the Branch is open.
The room in which books are given out and received is about eight feet by twelve feet. Only six people can be accommodated at a time for research work at the one table.
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TOWN RECORDS
After school there is a long line of pupils waiting to return and receive books, but very few of these can enter the room at a time.
It is generally conceded that it is inadvisable to have a branch library in a schoolhouse for various reasons.
Opposite the Locke School, on the corner of Park Avenue and Paul Revere Road, where the residents daily pass to and from the cars and trains, there stands the old fire house, the property of the town. The building is very unsightly, and the forlorn untidy grass plot is un- worthy of the neighborhood.
As this building is the property of the Town, and as it is in a desirable location, the committee is studying the advisability of reconstructing or replacing the building, that the site may be used for library purposes. We hereby submit this report which under the circumstances can only be a report of progress.
Respectfully submitted,
SARAH VAUGHN. J. HOWARD HAYES. VITTORIA C. DALLIN. (Signed) VITTORIA C. DALLIN, Chairman.
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald:
Voted (unanimously): That the report on Library Accommodations at Arlington Heights, as presented by Mrs. Dallin, be received.
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald:
Voted: That Article 3 be laid on the table.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
On motion of Jacob Bitzer:
Voted: That Article 19 be taken up.
Article 19 taken up. (Laying out Quincy Street.) On the substitute motion of J. Frederick Wood.
Voted (unanimously) :
That the laying out of a town way from Massachu- setts Avenue to the southerly side of Benjamin Road, substantially in the location of the private way known as Quincy Street, as more particularly described in Article 19 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 20 taken up. (Laying out School Street.)
On the substitute motion of Harry E. Baker: Voted (unanimously) :
That the laying out of a town way from Massachu- setts Avenue to Gray Street, substantially in the location of the private way known as School Street, as more par- ticularly described in Article 20 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 21 taken up. (Laying out Scituate Street.)
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted (unanimously) :
That the laying out of a town way from Gray Street to Spring Avenue, substantially in the location of the private way known as Scituate Street, as more par- ticularly described in Article 21 of the Warrant, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of better- ments, as made and reported by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, be not accepted.
Article 22 taken up. (Laying out Sutherland Road.)
Voted (unanimously) :
That the laying out of a town way from Paul Revere Road to Aberdeen Road, substantially in the location of the private way known as Sutherland Road, as more particularly described in Article 22 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 23 taken up. (Laying out Varnum Street.)
On the substitute motion of Chester E. Hoyt:
Voted (unanimously) :
That the laying out of a town way from the easterly side line of Herbert Road to Brooks Avenue, substantially in the location of the private way known as Varnum Street, as more particularly described in Article 23 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.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Article 24 taken up. (Laying out Washington Street.)
Voted (unanimously) :
That the laying out of a town way from Summer Street to Ronald Road, substantially in the location of the private way known as Washington Street, as more particularly described in Article 24 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 25 taken up. (Laying out Sherborn Street and Webcowet Road.)
Voted (unanimously) :
That the laying out of town ways from Winnick Place to Orchard Terrace, substantially in the location of the private ways known as Sherborn Street and Web- cowet Road, as more particularly described in Article 25 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 26 taken up. (Construction of Accepted Ways.)
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald:
Voted: That the Articles from 26 to 64 be laid on the table.
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald:
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted : That Article 11 be taken from the table. (Laying out Burton Street.)
A substitute motion had been made on this Article by Hollis M. Gott, but since the previous meeting did not vote to widen Massachusetts Avenue at Burton Street, Mr. Gott requested at this time that his substitute motion be withdrawn. The motion then as before the meeting was embodied in the recommendation of the Finance Committee.
Voted (unanimously) :
That the laying out of a town way from Massachu- setts Avenue approximately thirty-five feet southwesterly, substantially in the location of the private way known as Burton Street, as more particularly described in Article 11 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 27 taken up. (Acquisition of Easements.)
Voted (unanimously) :
That the Joint Board of Selectmen 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 lands of said locations protected by having the surface of such adjoining lands slope from the boundaries of said loca- tions; that for this purpose the sum of two thousand ($2,000) dollars be and hereby is appropriated, and that said sum be transferred from the amount unexpended of the appropriation for the acquisition of similar easements under Article 39 of the Warrant for the Annual Meeting of 1929, and further, that said sum be expended under the direction of said Joint Board.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Angus P. MacDonald made a motion that Article 26 be now taken up but withdrew his motion.
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald:
Voted: That Article 63 be now taken up. (Con- nection: Old and New High School Buildings.)
Voted (unanimously) :
That the Town do not vote to appropriate the sum of six thousand ($6,000) dollars or any other sum, to connect the classroom section "northwest" of the new High School Building with the present old High School Building.
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald:
Voted: That Article 64 be taken up. (Widening of Massachusetts Avenue.)
On substitute motion of Hollis M. Gott it was
Voted :
That the sum of ten thousand ($10,000) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the construction of and/or specific repairs upon all or any part of that portion of the way called Massachusetts Avenue extending from Central Street to Highland Avenue; that said sum be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works; and further that this appropriation be used with a sum or sums allotted by the Division of Highways in the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth or the County Commissioners, or both.
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald:
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TOWN RECORDS
That Article 26 be taken from the table. (Construc- tion of Accepted Ways.)
A substitute motion was offered by Angus P. Mac- Donald, substituting the amounts of money required to build the streets which the Town Meeting has voted for, in place of those recommended by the Finance Com- mittee.
A request was made that an amendment be made in the substitute motion providing that "The labor to be performed by men residing in Arlington."
The question of amendment being put before the meeting was voted upon and lost.
The question then before the meeting was the sub- stitute motion as offered by Angus P. MacDonald.
Voted (unanimously) :
That the sum of one hundred sixty-five thousand eighty two and 47/100 ($165,082.47) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the original construction of public ways, the laying out of which is accepted at this meeting, including land damages and the cost of pavement and sidewalks laid at the time of such construction, all under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of better- ments; that for this purpose the sum of six thousand five hundred forty-three and 20/100 ($6,543.20) dollars be taken from the unexpended balance of the 1930 street construction appropriation now available in the treasury, the sum of one hundred eight thousand five hundred thirty-nine and 27/100 ($108,539.27) dollars be raised by general tax, and for the balance fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the said sum of fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars and to issue bonds or
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
notes of the Town therefor, said bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with 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 Treas- urer and Selectmen may determine; and further, that the said sum of one hundred sixty-five thousand eighty-two and 47/100 ($165,082.47) dollars be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works, substantially as follows, except that such amounts thereof, not exceeding a total of one thousand ($1,000) dollars, as may be awarded as damages by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, shall be expended under the direction of the said Joint Board:
Field Road .
. (Article 13) . .
$5,879.95
Herbert Road .
. (Article 14) .
18,863.30
Lockeland Avenue
(Article 15) . 18,303.17
Washington Street
(Article 24) .
39,140.52
Aerial Street .
(Article 8) ....
18,395.70
Quincy Street
(Article 19) .
. .
27,665.24
School Street.
. (Article 20)
23,696.49
Varnum Street.
(Article 23)
13,138.10
$165,082.47
The Moderator called the attention of the Town Meeting Members to the fact that when the business of Article 30 was taken up Article 30 was not declared disposed of.
Article 30 declared disposed of.
On motion of Elliott R. Barker:
Voted: That Article 3 be taken from the table.
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TOWN RECORDS
Elliott R. Barker, Chairman of the Peirce School Building Addition Committee, made the following report:
Mr. Moderator and Town Meeting Members:
At the Town Meeting of March 28, 1928, it was voted : That a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to procure plans and specifications for the construction of an eight-room addition to the present Peirce School building, and also estimates of the cost of such addition, and of the original equipment and furnishings thereof, and of the grading of the grounds of said school, such committee to have the power to fill vacancies and to report to the Town in 1929; and that the sum of $500 be and hereby is appropriated for the use of said committee.
In accordance with this vote the Moderator appointed a committee as follows:
ELLIOTT R. BARKER, Chairman. CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX. WILLIAM A. CORCORAN. FOSTER P. DOANE. THOMAS J. DONNELLY, JR.
Your committee made a careful study of this building project, made a report at the Town Meeting held March 27, 1929, were named a building committee to which the inspector of buildings was added, and $120,000 appro- priated for the proposed addition and furnishings. Fur- ther sums were appropriated for walks and grading and for changes to the existing building as itemized below.
Our townsman, Mr. Howard B. S. Prescott, made the plans for this addition, and when the bids were opened we found that another Arlington man doing business under the name of J. M. Dolan Company was the low bidder, so we were glad to award the contract to him. We wish at this time to thank both of these men for their interest in and their good work on this building.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Our work is now completed and we are pleased to render the following account of our receipts and expendi- tures : 4
Building and Furnishings: Appropriation .. $120,000.00 Expenditures :
Architect . .
$6,468.95
General Construction
106,701.82
Furnishings . 6,001.09
119,171.86
Balance . $828.14
Walks, Grading, and Alterations in Existing Building: Appropriations :
April 17, 1929
$9,000.00
April 9, 1930.
6,500.00
January 14, 1931 .
4,000.00
$19,500.00
Expenditures .
15,377.29
Balance.
$4,122.71
This balance of $4,122.71 will be expended by the School Department, according to the vote of the Town Meeting of January 14, 1931, as your committee, having completed the eight-room addition for which it was originally organized, now wishes to complete its duties and be discharged.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) ELLIOTT R. BARKER, Chairman. (Signed) CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX. (Signed) WILLIAM GRATTO.
(Signed) FOSTER P. DOANE.
(Signed) THOMAS J. DONNELLY, JR. (Signed) WILLIAM A. CORCORAN.
March 31, 1931.
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TOWN RECORDS
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald :
Voted: That the report be accepted and the Com- mittee discharged.
Voted (unanimously).
The following report of the Junior High West Com- mittee was read by the Moderator:
On motion of Angus P. MacDonald :
Voted: That the report be accepted and the com- mittee discharged.
Voted (unanimously).
CHAIRMAN SCHOOL COMMITTEE, Arlington, Mass., December 15, 1930.
The Committee of Junior High West having com- pleted its work submits final report:
Amount
Appropriated $130,000.00 $129,665.12
Expended
Balance
Construction .
$334.88
Furniture and
Fixtures .
15,000.00
13,160.42
1,839.58
Showers
14,000.00
10,125.94
3,874.06
Grading
4,000.00
3,970.99
29.01
Balance unexpended . $6,077.53
Yours truly, THOMAS J. DONNELLY, Chairman. CLINTON W. SCHWAMB. PHILIP EBERHARDT.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
There being no further business under Article 3 the Moderator declared Article 3 disposed of.
The Moderator declaring that all business in the Warrant calling this meeting having been disposed of, the meeting was adjourned at 10 P.M.
A true record, Attest :
E. CAROLINE PIERCE, Town Clerk.
TOWN WARRANT
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex, s.s. To the Constables of the Town of Arlington, in said County :
Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the legal voters of the Town of Arlington to meet in the Town Hall, in said Town, on Wednesday, the 15th day of July, 1931, at eight o'clock P.M., to act on the following Articles, viz .:-
Article 1. To hear and act upon the reports of the Finance and other committees heretofore appointed.
Article 2. To see if the Town will construct a building or buildings to be used for the purposes of the Board of Public Works and/or any other Town boards or officers or for any municipal purpose or purposes, upon the land of the Town, known as the Town Yard at Hobbs Court; will alter or add to the present building on said land; pro- vide for one heating plant for such buildings with the necessary connections; make an appropriation or appro- priations for such construction, including the cost of original equipment and furnishings, and/or such altera- tion, addition and provisions; determine in what manner
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TOWN RECORDS
the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating to all or any of the foregoing.
(Inserted at the request of the Permanent Committee on Town Yard.)
Article 3. To see if the Town will make an appro- priation or appropriations for equipment, tools, materials and/or horses for the department of the Board of Public Works, and/or for the use of said Board; determine in what manner the money shall be raised or expended; or take any action in any way relating to anything herein- before mentioned.
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