USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1932 > Part 8
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This entire unit known as Scheme A contains more than one million (1,000,000) cubic feet and was con- structed at the remarkably low cost of approximately twenty-seven (27) cents per cubic foot. The following is a financial statement showing the cost of construction and furnishings :
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TOWN RECORDS
General Contract
$215,000.00
Heating Contract
17,595.00
Plumbing Contract
9,725.00
Electric Contract
7,560.00
Architect Commission
15,560.51
Fire Escapes
1,575.00
Hardware
1,547.00
Bonds covering contracts
3,676.08
Fire Insurance
371.34
Furnishings
3,121.86
Engineering
34.72
Borings
146.25
Electric Service
604.45
Water Service Extension
273.35
Cleaning and miscellaneous
159.74
$276,950.30
Unexpended Balance
49.70
Appropriation
$277,000.00
The Committee was faced with a difficult task due to the amount of the appropriation placed at its disposal, and now after a careful survey of the building con- structed within the appropriation is satisfied that the Town has procured a well constructed fire-proof building of pleasing design adapted to the requirements of the School Department, and so designed as to permit of future additions, without detracting from the beauty of its design.
Your Committee held numerous conferences with the School Committee and adopted many of its sugges- tions as far as it was possible to do so, within the appropriation. We also take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the earnest, whole hearted co-opera- tion of the members of the School Committee, whose
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
helpfulness made possible the solution of many difficult problems.
Respectfully submitted,
HOLLIS M. GOTT, WILLIAM O. HAUSER, ARTHUR P. WYMAN, Selectmen of Arlington Building Committee.
On motion of Ernest W. Davis it was
Voted (unanimously) : That the foregoing report be accepted, placed on file, and the Committee discharged.
Jacob Bitzer of the Committee on the Erection of the School House on Eastern Avenue made an informal report. He stated that they could not make their final report as there was a bill which would not become due until April 15, 1932. He did, however, state that the building was completed and eleven of the fourteen rooms were in use.
This report was received as a report of progress.
Earl A. Ryder of the Committee on Additional School Accommodations offered the following report of progress.
January 27, 1932
Appreciating the fact that there should be extreme economy everywhere, your Committee on School Accom- modations has no recommendations to present at this time.
The School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools agree that it is advisable to postpone the con- struction of the Pheasant Avenue School until 1933.
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TOWN RECORDS
The completion of the Brackett School will improve conditions in the Locke and Cutter Schools; and we are advised by the Superintendent of Schools that changes are to be made in the classes of the Hardy School that will relieve the crowding there until 1933.
We do suggest you keep in mind that the Hardy School conditions will require improvement in 1933, and that it is important we do not lose the opportunity to se- cure the necessary land for a new building at the west- erly end of Lake Street; and we must not lose sight of the fact that the Crosby School conditions will need attention also perhaps in 1933.
CHARLES H. HIGGINS M. ERNEST MOORE G. BERTRAM WASHBURN M. NORCROSS STRATTON EARL A. RYDER
On motion of Ernest W. Davis:
Voted (unanimously) : That the foregoing report be received and placed on file.
Jacob Bitzer of the Committee on Town Government presented the following report in printed form :
Your Committee appointed to study the form of town government in Arlington submits the following report :
Pursuant to the vote passed under Article 58 of the Warrant at the adjourned Annual Town Meeting held April 1, 1931, your Committee was appointed "to investi- gate and study our present form of government, make recommendations for any improvements therein, and re- port not later than the annual Town Meeting in 1932."
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
In the performance of their duties the Committee held many meetings and invited various Town officials past and present and other representative citizens to appear before them and make such recommendations as occurred to them whereby the present system of our town government could be improved and greater effici- ency attained in the administration of our municipal affairs.
The response to these invitations was most generous, and your Committee wish to make public acknowledge- ment at this time of their appreciation of the valuable assistance thus rendered.
As the result of the many excellent suggestions offered by persons attending these meetings and such study as we have been able to give the subject, your Committee feels that its report, in order to meet the requirements of the citizens, should contain :
(a) A brief statement of the present form of town government.
(b) Suggested changes therein, the reasons there- for, and the results thereby sought to be accomplished.
(c) A reference to the means and methods required for putting these changes into effective operation.
A
PRESENT FORM OF TOWN GOVERNMENT
Our town government, as now constituted, consists of two branches, executive and deliberative.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The executive branch functions through various boards and officers, in part elective and in part appoint-
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TOWN RECORDS
ive. The elective officers are as follows: A Board of three Selectmen who also act as the Board of Public Welfare, a Board of Public Works which, acting with the Selectmen, are commonly known as the Joint Board, a Town Clerk, Treasurer, Tax Collector, a Board of three Assessors, School Committee, Planning Board, Park Com- missioners, Tree Warden, Board of Health, Cemetery Commissioners, Trustees of the Robbins Library, Com- missioners of the Sinking Fund, Trustees of special funds, and a number of minor officials not necessary to enumerate in detail.
Among the leading appointive officers are the fol- lowing :
APPOINTEES OF THE SELECTMEN POLICE DEPARTMENT
Consisting of a chief of police and numerous ser- geants, patrolmen, active and reserve, special police and constables, and police doctor and surgeon.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The roster of which includes a chief, deputy-chief, captains, lieutenants and crews in charge of various engines and divisions of the service and department surgeon.
Registrars of Voters. Clerk of the Selectmen Town Accountant Town Physician Inspector of Buildings
Inspector of Plumbing
Inspector of Animals Weighers of Hay and Coal
Sealer of Weights and Measures Agent of Public Welfare
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
APPOINTEES OF THE JOINT BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Clerk of the Joint Board Town Counsel Town Engineer Superintendent of Wires
APPOINTEES OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Clerk of the Board and Water Registrar. Superintendent of Highway Division Superintendent of Sewer and Water Division General Inspector
The duties of these boards and officials are all defined by law, and need no specific enumeration excepting in con- nection with such suggested changes in the form of the town government as are hereinafter set forth in detail.
DELIBERATIVE BRANCH
The deliberative branch is the representative town meeting created under Chapter 642 of the Acts of 1920, and approved by vote of the Town, January 24, 1921, to whose members, acting in their fiduciary capacity, are referred for consideration and action all articles in the warrant not required by law to be voted on by ballot. The members are chosen from, and elected by, the voters of the respective precincts in which they reside.
The meeting is in charge of a moderator, chosen by the voters at large to preside over its deliberations, and is assisted in the performance of its functions by a finance committee, appointed by the moderator at each annual meeting, to whom are referred all articles in the warrant for preliminary study and report; a planning board, which, amongst other matters, considers in ad-
123
TOWN RECORDS
vance for the purpose of making its recommendations at the meeting, all proposed amendments of our' zoning by-law; officials who are members ex-officio under the provisions of the town meeting act; and various commit- tees appointed from time to time for the consideration of matters of special public importance.
B
SUGGESTED CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS I EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The committee recommends in place of the present Board of three Selectmen, Board of Public Works, and Board of Survey, commonly known as the Joint Board, the substitution of a Board of five Selectmen to consist of the two members of the board whose terms shall not have expired at the first annual meeting after the ac- ceptance by the town of such legislation as may be neces- sary to put these recommendations, if adopted, into effect, the remainder to be elected at said meeting as follows :- one selectman for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, their successor or successors to be elected at each annual meeting thereafter, for the term of three years.
We further recommend the appointment by the selectmen of :-
The Police Department The Fire Department The Registrars of Voters Town Counsel Town Accountant Town Physician Superintendent of Public Works
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Inspector of Buildings Fence Viewers Field Drivers Weighers of Hay and Coal Sealer of Weights and Measures Superintendent of Wires
and all other necessary officers for the performance of their various functions; also the appointment of the fol- lowing officials whose offices are now elective, either by the voters at large or by the town meeting members:
Town Clerk Town Treasurer Collector
Board of Health
Cemetery Commissioners Trustees of the Robbins Library
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund
Trustees of special funds and Measurers of Wood and Bark.
We also recommend that the Tree Warden be appointed by the Park Commissioners.
We further recommend that all building committees file in the office of the Inspector of Buildings all reports, plans, specifications, and other records hereinafter enumerated.
II
DELIBERATIVE BRANCH
We recommend that the moderator be elected. each year by the representative town meeting from its mem- bership at the first session of the annual meeting, after the annual election.
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TOWN RECORDS
REASONS FOR ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS
I
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Such study as we have been able to give to this situa- tion has convinced us that this important branch of the town government is, as a whole, being ably and honestly administered by capable, efficient and conscientious pub- lic servants discharging their duties as they see them with an eye single to the public good, and we wish it to be clearly understood at the outset that any criticism made or improvement suggested relative to the present government of the town is in no respect levelled at any particular official or group of officials but is aimed solely at securing a form of administration of our municipal affairs which will operate with the utmost possible uni- formity, efficiency and economy of time, effort and ex- penditure of public funds. In a word, in the changes hereinbefore suggested, we seek to centralize authority and fix responsibility in the conduct of the town's busi- ness without thereby unduly increasing the burdens resting upon the shoulders of those who are to assume that responsibility and in whom such authority is to be mainly vested.
With this preamble, we proceed to take up seriatim and in detail those changes in our present form of town government, the adoption of which, after careful con- sideration we deem to be for the best interests of the town.
1
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
This board was created through an act of the Legis- lature approved by the Governor on January 28, 1904,
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
and known as Chapter 3 of the Acts of that year. This act took effect upon acceptance by the voters on February 8, 1904.
Under its provisions, a board of three members was created in whom became vested "All the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the boards of surveyors of high- ways, water commissioners and sewer commissioners," which were thereby abolished.
The selectmen of the town were elected surveyors of highways in 1843. Under Chapter 242 of the Acts of 1873, a board of three water commissioners was created to "have the general supervision and control of the water, and the care, management and custody of the water works of the town, and the property connected therewith."
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 304 of the Acts of 1893, which was accepted by the town December 29, 1894, a board of three sewer commissioners was elected to perform "all the powers and duties now vested by law in selectmen and road commissioners, concerning the laying, maintaining, altering or discontinuing of sewers." The selectmen, from the time of their election as surveyors of highways and the boards of water and sewer commissioners, from the date of their original election pursuant to the acceptance by the town of the acts respectively appertaining thereto continued to dis- charge the duties and exercise the powers respectively incident to the control of the highways, water supply and sewers of the town, until superseded in the performance of these functions by the board of public works.
Under Section 5 of the Act establishing that board, "the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the selectmen in said town now existing or hereafter created by law, relating to highways, town ways, the laying and discon-
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TOWN RECORDS
tinuance of ways, bridges, sidewalks, guide posts, monu- ments at the termini and angles of roads, public squares, playgrounds, shade trees, sewers, drains, street watering, street lighting, the assessment of damages and better- ments, water pipes, gas pipes, conduits, poles, wires, street railways, the granting of locations, rights or licenses for structures upon, under, or over highways or other ways, shall be exercised, enjoyed, performed and incurred by a board consisting of the selectmen and the board of public works created by this act, sitting jointly as the board of survey."
The original purpose of enacting this legislation was apparently to so departmentalize the control of the pub- lic works of the town, as to make for supposedly greater efficiency and economy and a more equitable distribution of public burdens among the boards and officials thereby concerned. Our study of the situation, however, has convinced us that whatever its object, the expectations of its sponsors, through no fault of the members of the boards created thereunder, have not in practice been fully realized. Indeed, it has seemed to us that any advan- tage which might otherwise have been gained through the establishment of these boards, has been more than offset by unnecessary duplication of effort and confusion in the lines of cleavage between the duties of two sepa- rate groups of public officials, performing in part at least very similar functions, neither of which has any ultimate responsibility to the other, but both of which, except in so far as under the provisions of the act, they act jointly, are supreme and absolute in their respective fields.
We therefore are convinced that greater economy of time, effort, and public expenditure, would be attained if the powers, duties and responsibilities now vested in the board of public works and the board of selectmen, acting in part, independently, and in part conjointly, pur-
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
suant to the requirements of the act in question, were vested in a single administration group large enough so that the burdens of each individual member would not thereby be greatly augmented. To accomplish this pur- pose, we recommend the abolition of the board of public works and the board of survey, and the creation of a board of five instead of three selectmen, who in addition to their present duties, should exercise all the functions now performed by the boards thus discontinued. This change, if adopted, would place the town of Arlington in the same category with many of the most ably and successfully managed communities in the commonwealth, of which perhaps the most conspicuous example is the town of Brookline, from a former chairman of whose board of selectmen, your committee has received many helpful suggestions relative to the efficient conduct of municipal affairs.
2
CHANGE FROM ELECTIVE TO APPOINTIVE OFFICES
An as additional step in approaching the goal of cen- tralized authority and fixed responsibility as closely as is consistent with sound administration of our town gov- ernment, your committee recommends the substitution of appointment by the selectmen for election by the voters at large as the method of selection of all municipal officials, boards and trustees now holding elective office, with the exception of the tree warden who in our judg- ment for reasons hereinafter set forth, should be ap- pointed by the park commissioners, and the school com- mittee, board of assessors, planning board and park com- missioners, which offices on grounds specified in a later part of this report, should, in our judgment, remain elec- tive, as heretofore.
129
TOWN RECORDS
The reason for this proposed change will, we think, upon reflection, be readily apparent to all.
The growth in population of our town during the last thirty years is little short of phenomenal. The num- ber of our inhabitants has increased from 8,603 in 1900 to 36,089 in 1930. Old Arlington is no more. Thirty years ago, the leaders of the town were known to all, and the voters at large had little difficulty in selecting from the citizenry those best qualified to represent them in the various public offices in the town. Now all is changed. In many parts of the town, one is scarcely acquainted with his next door neighbor, and it is often utterly im- possible for the average voter to know who is best adapted to serve in an official capacity in such a way as to best promote the interests of the town, as a whole. A citizen may aspire for office and be helped to achieve his ambition by those interested in his candidacy, be- cause of personal friendship or a private end to be attained rather than from intimate knowledge of his qualifications for the post for which he is an aspirant. But appointment to office by a competent board of select- men would rest on entirely different grounds. Such a choice would be based upon merit and merit alone, be- cause only by making meritorious appointments could the selectmen justify their action to their constituents, and be sure of that degree of public confidence which would make secure their tenure of office beyond the expiration of the existing term. Furthermore, from their position at the head of the administration of the town's affairs and their consequent intimate contact with the various departments of public service, they would acquire a special knowledge not available to the voters in general of the qualities needed to fill acceptably a particular office, and thus be able to judge more fairly and impartially than the average citizen, and with an eye single to pro- mote the good of the entire town, what particular persons
.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
would be likely, if selected, to serve the community to the greatest advantage of all concerned.
But while these considerations should, we think, be controlling in determining the method to be followed in choosing the great majority of our public officials, we believe it is equally important that certain exceptions be made to the general rule as advocated above, and we now proceed to deal with these exceptions in detail.
a
TREE WARDEN
The office of the tree warden carries with it the duty of planting and caring for the trees, bushes and shrubs provided for the adornment of our public ways and has been in existence for a great many years. When first created, the choice of such an official was optional with each community. Later, the office grew in importance and public favor to such an extent that the selection of a tree warden in each town became mandatory and so it has remained ever since. It has been suggested that this office be abolished and its duties taken over by the selectmen, but we do not see the wisdom of this course. We feel, however, that instead of remaining elective, as heretofore, the appointment of the incumbent should be made by the park commissioners, with whose functions the ยท duties of a tree warden are most naturally and appropriately coordinated.
b
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
From the earliest times, we might almost say, from time immemorial in the history of American Govern- ment, the selection of the school committee has rested directly with the voters themselves. This is not only true with regard to towns, but applies with equal force
1
131
TOWN RECORDS
to city governments as well. Even in the City of Bos- ton, where the position of mayor carries with it tremen- dous political power and prestige, the selection of the school committee rests with the voters. This is as it should be. The children of the present are the citizens of the future. In their hands will ultimately rest the duty and responsibility of administering the public busi- ness and guiding the town, the state and the nation along a wise, safe and judicious course. Their welfare and happiness is the dearest thing in life to their parents and all those who love them, and it is therefore eminently fitting that the fathers and mothers who have the inter- est of their children so closely at heart should continue as heretofore to choose directly that group of patriotic men and women whose duty it is to see that our youth are provided with such educational facilities and guid- ance as will best promote their mental, moral and physi- cal development.
c
ASSESSORS
Under Chapter 59, Section 21 of the General Laws it is provided that "the assessors shall assess state taxes -county taxes-town taxes-and all taxes duly voted and certified by fire, water, light and improvement dis- tricts therein." The functions of these officers being state-wide in character and of such far-reaching impor- tance, we believe that the choice of the assessors should remain with the voters at large.
d
PARK COMMISSION
Under Chapter 154 of the Acts of 1882 approved on April 13th of that year, any town in the Common- wealth which has accepted the provisions of the act may
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
elect a board of three park commissioners with the power to lay out or improve a park or parks within the munici- pal limits. This act was accepted by the town of Arling- ton on March 15, 1894, and has been in operation ever since.
With the increasing interest taken by the public in providing proper facilities for the beautification of the town and the enjoyment of healthful out-door recreation by its citizens, this board has assumed an ever widening importance in the eyes of the citizens. We therefore do not view with favor the suggestion that has been made to us that this commission be abolished, its personnel decreased, or its duties assumed by the selectmen, or even that the selection of its members be appointive. Indeed, it is doubtful whether, under the provisions of the act pursuant to which this board was created, the power of selecting its membership could be taken from the voters at large. For these reasons, we recommend that the selection of the park commission be left as at present in the hands of the town electorate.
PLANNING BOARD
This board was created under Chapter 494 of the Acts of 1913 accepted by the town on March 26, 1914, to "make careful studies of the resources, possibilities and needs of the town-and make plans for the develop- ment of the municipality, with special reference to proper housing of its inhabitants." The law further provides that in towns this board "shall be elected at the annual town meeting." Since the statute makes no provision so far as towns are concerned, for the choice of the mem- bers of this board, other than by election, we recommend no change from the present method of selecting its personnel.
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TOWN RECORDS
RELIEVING BURDENS OF SELECTMEN
One of the vital problems presented to your commit- tee for solution, is that of lightening the labors of the board of selectmen, so far as consistent with the efficient government of the town. These burdens with the rapid growth of the town in population which has nearly doubled during the last ten years, and the consequent increase in the volume of municipal business to be trans- acted, have of late become very heavy, and have involved an expenditure of time and energy on the part of the board, which has been a serious tax upon the health and strength of its members and has been disproportion- ate to the public burden which they can reasonably be called upon to bear.
This being so, it might seem at first blush, that the adoption of the recommendations hereinbefore set forth would tend to increase rather than to diminish this bur- den and thus to defeat one of the important purposes for which your committee was called into being.
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