USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1936 > Part 8
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Our accepted streets are now 38.3% more in mileage. Our surface treated roads of which there were 40 miles in 1922 are now thirteen years older. These streets re- quire more repair than the more heavily constructed streets. The heavy trucks, and busses combine with the effects of frost and general deterioration make increasing amount of repairs. This heavy increase in repairs of the older streets, apparently justifies the change in practice which now prevails in the use of heavy stone streets, either of the concrete or penetration constructions. These new streets require little attention.
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TOWN RECORDS
This general item of maintenance should cover dam- age by storm and flood. This is not a serious item under ordinary conditions. But today we have a very unusual condition confronting us. We must now partially re- construct several streets. We have several storm drains, completely plugged up which cannot be cleared by usual methods. These must be practically reconstructed. Tem- porary repairs have been made where possible, for imme- diate public safety, but certain reconstruction must follow.
No extended reconstruction is contemplated for par- ticipation by the County and State under so-called Chap- ter 90 authority, but should opportunity to avail ourselves of help from this source be presented, we shall with the authority of the Joint Board accept such help, within the limits of storm damaged streets only.
EXTENSION OF SERVICES, (Water, Sewer, and Storm Drain).
These extension items vary with the growth of the town in population and with the attendant growth in dwellings and new construction, and also in some rela- tion to the length of accepted streets.
These items vary with the demand and are not con- stant nor can they be definitely forecast. As may be easily surmised, our extension expense has dropped to levels comparable with twenty years ago.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
The replacement of inadequate water mains with larger sized pipe is considered an extension and not a maintenance expense. These extensions are largely pro- portional to development. The opening up of new tracts of land come upon us without warning. For several years
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there has been almost no new development. Yet, during the year 1935 there were actual applications for $37,742.50 worth of extensions which could not be granted. Of course, the total amount of applications need never be entirely covered by appropriation because the tracts are never fully developed in one year's time. There is, how- ever, at this time a very decided improvement in the development field. Since the above figures were given to the Finance Committee, we have had presented to us four additional developments, one of about twenty acres in extent for the Niles Estate on Mystic Street, another for several acres off Hutchinson Road, one for several acres off Lake Street, and one off Eastern Ave. of smaller extent. Some appropriations for these developments may be required during the year.
Accurate requirements for this extension can not be compiled at this time. Upon the basis of Actual Applica- tions in hand at the first of the year, amounting to $37,742.50, a tentative request of $30,000 was made.
The Finance Committee recommendation is $19,300. In view of the total applications and additional projects under consideration at this time the Board feels that a minimum of $30,000 should be available for the coming year.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM EXTENSION.
This extension work follows closely with the exten- sion of Water Services. The pipes are all run in one trench wherever possible. The projects mentioned for Water extensions will also require Sewer at some time: It may not be possible to extend all these services because of existing system layouts.
At the first of the year we had applications for Sewer
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TOWN RECORDS
Extensions amounting to $29,552.00. A tentative request of $20,000 was considered advisable at that time. The Fi- nance Committee recommended only $13,000. In view of the developments now in hand we believe that there should be at the very least $20,000 available for this work.
Study of Betterment Assessments and Debt Payments.
So far as we are able to learn, there has never been a complete understanding or report of the relation of Re- ceipts from Betterments for Highway Construction and Sewer Assessments. We have known in a general way Highway Costs were divided between the Town and the abutting property owners. Certain sums have been taken out of the General Tax when the authorizations have been made. Other sums have been borrowed and serial notes have been issued extending over a period of years pre- scribed by law. It has been generally accepted that a large part of the cost of these borrowings consisted of interest payments. Inasmuch as the Water department is subject to entirely different conditions it does not sub- mit of inclusion in this analysis.
The Sidewalk costs and assessments are somewhat different and are purposely omitted from the comparison.
The Highway Construction including storm drains in connection therewith make up the total cost of the High- way, but the cost of the storm drains has never been included in the Betterment Assessments against the abut- ters. So the comparison must take this fact into considera- tion.
We find that the amount received from Highway Betterment Assessments plus the amount received from Sewer Assessments amounts to 8712% of the total Debt and Interest payments for Highway Debt and Sewer Debt requirements, over the period of twelve years from 1923
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to 1934 inclusive. This does not include the amounts taken from General Tax.
During this period the total cost of New Streets and Sewer Extensions amounted to $1,860,953. With the Total Betterment Receipts must be included the total amount of apportioned betterments, not yet received in order to arrive at the percentage of cost borne by the abutting owners. We find that for the streets built from 1923 to 1934 inc. that the Town will receive from the assessments 43.7% of the total cost of the streets, plus the Sewer costs.
And, extended over the entire period of liquidation of the Debt incurred during this period, the assessments will return 90.1% of the Debt and interest requirements.
Thus it will be seen that a very considerable burden of Highway and Sewer Extensions are borne by abutting property owners.
The figures above submitted for Budget Requests have been requested by the full Board of Public Works. The chairman personally submits the figures of analysis.
In arriving at Budget requests, we do not assert that the amounts asked for are sufficient to cover our working needs. We feel that our Sewers and Storm Drains and Highway surfaces are not receiving adequate attention in upkeep. Only the present depression and its many de- mands upon all branches of the Town Government, induce us to take the risks attendant upon lack of maintenance which we think has been conclusively proven.
Board of Public Works (Signed) by LOREN W. MARSH, Chairman. RALPH ADAMS, JAMES R. SMITH.
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TOWN RECORDS
Mr. Marsh offered a substitute motion, which was seconded, that the sum of $103,300 be and hereby is ap- propriated for the Division of Highways and Bridges, said appropria tion to be raised by a general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works as fol- lows:
Personal Services: General Inspector. .. $2,000.00
Maintenance of Highways and Bridges . . 88,200.00
Reconstruction of streets, including storm drains . 8,000.00
Capital outlay: Automotive equipment
which may be turned in or sold. 5,100.00
$103,300.00
which being put to a voice vote failed to carry and the Moderator declared the motion lost.
On the recommendation of the Finance Committee it was:
Voted: (Unanimously)
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS
28. Division of Highways and Bridges (Board of Public Works)
Personal Services: General Inspector .. . . $2,000.00
Maintenance of Highways and Bridges .. 83,200.00
Capital Outlay; Trucks and Autos. 5,100.00
$90,300.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
29. Removal of Snow and Ice (Board of Public Works) $50,000.00
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Equipment and Maintenance 5,400.00
$55,400.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
30. Street Lighting (Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works) $45,889.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
31. Traffic Signals (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services: Mechanician $1,716.00
Material and Expenses 1,989.41
$3,705.41
CHARITIES AND SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
Voted: (Unanimously)
32. Public Welfare (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services . . . $4,460.00
(Agent, $2,820; Clerk, $1,040; Physician, $600)
Material and Expenses . 1,785.00
Aid . 120,000.00
$126,245.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
Old Age Assistance (Board of Selectmen)
$30,000.00
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted: (Unanimously)
33. District or other nurses (Board of Select- men) . $1,500.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
State and Military Aid (Board of Select- men) . $1,800.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
Soldiers' Relief, Burials and Exemptions
(Board of Selectmen). $20,000.00
Chairman Dadmun, of the School Committee, offered the following substitute motion:
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
34. School Department (School Committee)
1. General Control. $16,750.00
II. Instructional Service . 518,850.00
III. Operation of School Plant. 75,100.00
IV. Maintenance of School Plant 30,000.00
V. Auxiliary Agencies and Other Ac- tivities . 14,720.00
VI. Capital Outlay. 1,550.00
VII. Vocational School Tuition.
4,000.00
$660,970.00
Considerable discussion ensued. The Moderator called for a voice vote, the result of which was in doubt. Messrs. McManus, Washburn, and Donovan acting as
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
tellers, ninety-nine voted in the affirmative and one hun- dred and nine in the negative the Moderator declared the motion lost. Thereupon, Rose Collins questioned the vote and asked for a roll call. Twenty Town Meeting Mem- bers seconded the motion and the roll call was ordered. A roll call was taken by the Town Clerk and 107 voting yes and 102 voting no the motion carried.
The substitute motion being placed before the meet- ing the Moderator asked for a voice vote and the result being in doubt he asked for a rising vote. Messrs. Hen- nessy, Washburn and Donovan acting as tellers, 105 voted in the affirmative and 96 in the negative. The Moderator declared the motion carried.
At 10:55 P.M., on motion duly made and seconded it was voted to adjourn.
A True Record, Attest :
EARL A. RYDER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED MEETING
Pursuant to the vote of adjournment on April 1, 1936, the Town Meeting Members met in the Town Hall on Wednesday, April 8, 1936 notices having been sent by mail by the Town Clerk at least twelve hours before such session. A similar notice was posted in each precinct.
Lists of the duly qualified Town Meeting Members were used at the entrances of the meeting place and were in charge of Philip T. Robinson and James E. Sweeney.
The check lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close
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TOWN RECORDS
of the meeting showed that two hundred and eleven mem- bers attended the meeting.
The Moderator declaring a quorum present the meet- ing was called to order at 8:00 P.M.
Selectman Estabrook requested permission to have Mr. Golden, the Secretary of the Board of Selectmen, Mr. Marsh, Chairman of the Board of Public Works, and Mr. White, Town Counsel, seated in the front of the hall and there being no objection, permission was granted.
On motion of Selectman Estabrook :
Voted: (Unanimously) That if all the business of the meeting as set forth in the warrant is not disposed of on this date, the meeting adjourn to Wednesday evening, April 15, 1936, at 8:00 P.M.
On motion of Selectman Estabrook:
Voted: (Unanimously) That at 8:12 P.M. the Annual Meeting be recessed until the Special Meeting called for 8:15 P.M. adjourns, either to a time certain or finally, and that in no event shall the recess of the Annual Meeting extend beyond the time at which said Special Meeting so adjourns.
The Moderator declared Article 4, item 35 before the meeting.
Mr. Hennessy offered the following substitute mo- tion, which was seconded:
That the sum of $27,475.76 be and hereby is appro- priated for the Robbins Library and Branches, said appro- priation to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Trustees of the Robbins Library as follows:
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Personal Services . $17,323.41
Material and Expenses 7,897.24
Dog Tax . 2,255.11
The Moderator declared that the motion was not in order because it included the dog tax.
Mr. Hennessy stated that his intention was to add the sum of $2,255.11 to the recommendation of the Fi- nance Committee. At this point the Moderator declared that as he was about to recess the meeting, Mr. Hennessy would have further time to present his motion in proper form and thereupon at 8:15 o'clock P.M. the meeting was recessed because of the Special Town Meeting.
A True Record, Attest :
EARL A. RYDER, Town Clerk.
TOWN WARRANT
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex, ss.
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 8th day of April, 1936, at 8.15 o'clock, P.M., at which time and place the follow- ing articles are to be acted upon and determined exclu-
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TOWN RECORDS
sively by town meeting members, in accordance with, and subject to the referenda provided for by, Section 10 of Chapter 43A of the General Laws.
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 acquire by pur- chase, eminent domain or otherwise, for the enlargement of its Town Yard or for any other municipal purpose or purposes, all or any portion or portions of the parcel of land with the buildings thereon now numbered 1083 on Massachusetts Avenue, hereinafter described; will make an appropriation for such acquisition; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating to said land and buildings.
Said parcel is bounded and described substantially as follows: Beginning at the southerly corner of said parcel on the northeasterly side of Massachusetts Avenue, thence running north 40° 30' east on land formerly of Cyrus B. Harrington and on land formerly of Walter Fletcher three hundred forty-one and 14/100 (341.14) feet to the center of Mill Brook or the Raceway; thence running north- westerly by the center of said brook one hundred three (103) feet, more or less, to land formerly of Theodore Schwamb; thence running southwesterly by said land formerly of Theodore Schwamb two hundred four (204) feet, more or less, to a canal; thence running southeasterly by said canal two (2) feet ten (10) inches; thence running southwesterly crossing said canal and by land now or formerly of Rebecca M. Fessenden et al thirty-four (34) feet, more or less; thence running southeasterly by land formerly of John Lloyd one hundred and 38/100 (100.38) feet; thence running southwesterly by said land formerly of Lloyd eighty and 55/100 (80.55) feet to Massachusetts Avenue; thence running southeasterly by said Avenue fifty-one and 84/100 (51.84) feet to the point of beginning;
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
containing 33,000 square feet more or less, and being shown upon a plan marked "Plan of Land in Arlington, Mass., owned by Henry Siskind, October 15, 1918, S. L. Leftovith, Surveyor," recorded with Middlesex So. Dist. Deeds Plan Book 269, Plan 18, subject to any rights of drainage, flowage or otherwise.
(Inserted at the request of more than one hundred (100) registered voters)
Article 3. To see if the Town will make any altera- tions and repairs of a building or buildings now numbered 1083 on Massachusetts Avenue, to be used in connection with the enlargement of its Town Yard, or for any other municipal purpose or purposes; make an appropriation or appropriations therefor; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating thereto.
(Inserted at the request of more than one hundred (100) registered voters)
Article 4. To see if the Town will make an appro- priation to be expended under direction of the School Com- mittee for the purpose of replacing the decayed gymnasium floor in the high school building on Massachusetts Avenue, grading, draining and ventilating the space beneath said floor, and for performing any necessary work in connec- tion therewith; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating thereto.
(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)
Article 5. To see if the Town will make an appro- priation to be expended under direction of the School Committee for the purpose of changing the sewer con- nections of the old high school building from the trunk sewer under Massachusetts Avenue to the trunk sewer in the rear of the high school building; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating thereto.
(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)
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TOWN RECORDS
Article 6. To see if the Town will make an appro- priation or appropriations for the reconstruction, altera- tion and repair of the "Weir Bridge" known as the Med- ford Street Bridge and of the bridge known as the River Street and Harvard Avenue Bridge, crossing the Mystic River at the boundary line between the Town of Arlington and the City of Medford; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action in any way relating to said two bridges or either of them.
And you will notify and warn the voters of the Town of Arlington to meet at the time and place herein specified by leaving at every dwelling house in the Town a printed copy of this Warrant, and also by posting a copy of the same at the doors of the Town Hall, and in a conspicuous place in each of the fourteen precincts of the Town, seven days at least prior to the time of said meeting.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this War- rant, 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 thir- tieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six.
ERNEST W. DAVIS, HAROLD M. ESTABROOK, GEORGE H. LOWE, JR.,
Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
CONSTABLE'S RETURN
Arlington, Mass., April 1, 1936.
Middlesex County :
By virtue of this warrant I have notified and warned the legal voters of the Town of Arlington to meet at the time and place 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 time, place and objects of the meeting was published in the local papers.
(Signed) J. HERBERT GUNNERSON, Constable, Town of Arlington, Mass.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Arlington, Mass., April 8, 1936.
Pursuant to the Warrant of the Selectmen served according to law upon the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, by a constable of the said Town and notices sent by mail by the Town Clerk seven days before the day of meeting to the Town Meeting Members duly elected and qualified to act in Town Meetings in Arling- ton, the Town Meeting Members met at the Robbins Memorial Town Hall in said Town on Wednesday, April 8, 1936, at 8:15 P.M.
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TOWN RECORDS
Lists of the duly qualified Town Meeting Members were used at the entrances of the meeting place and were in charge of Philip T. Robinson and James E. Sweeney.
The check lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that two hundred and eleven members attended the meeting.
The Moderator called the meeting to order at 8:15 o'clock P.M. declaring a quorum present.
James C. Carr was sworn by the Town Clerk to impartially and correctly report the proceedings of the meeting to the best of his ability.
The Clerk read the call and the Constable's Return of the warrant, the reading of the remainder of the war- rant being waived by the unanimous consent of the meet- ing.
On motion of Selectman Estabrook:
Voted: (Unanimously) That if all the articles of the warrant for this meeting are not finally disposed of and so declared by the Moderator on this date, the meeting adjourn to Wednesday evening, April 15, 1936, at 8:30 o'clock P.M.
On motion of Selectman Estabrook:
Voted: (Unanimously) That Article 1 be taken up. (Reports of Committees.)
The Moderator declared Article 1 before the meeting.
On motion of Selectman Estabrook:
Voted: (Unanimously) That the report of the Finance Committee as printed be received.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
On motion of Committee Chairman Davidson:
Voted: (Unanimously) That Article 1 be laid on the table.
On motion of Committee Chairman Davidson:
Voted: (Unanimously) That the remaining articles in the warrant be now taken up, separately and in the order in which they appear in said warrant, and that the recom- mendations of the Finance Committee under said articles, as presented in their printed report, be considered as now before the meeting, to be voted upon without further mo- tion, separately and in the order in which they appear in said warrant.
The Moderator read Article 2 and declared it before the meeting.
After much discussion it was moved by Mr. C. M. Sawyer and seconded that the question now before the meeting be referred to a committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator, with power to fill vacancies occurring in said committee, said members to be not connected with the Town government, with instructions to investi- gate the matter of the purchase of land in question or any other land that may be necessary for present or future needs of the Board of Public Works, and further to in- vestigate the needs of housing or storage facilities for the present or future use of said Board, and that the com- mittee be further instructed to report a comprehensive plan for the development and equipment of Town Yard properties, said report to be returned as promptly as pos- sible to a special town meeting that will be held not later than December 31, 1936, and that the sum of $100 be and hereby is appropriated for the use of said committee, said appropriation to be raised by general tax.
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TOWN RECORDS
On being put to a vote it failed to carry and the Moderator declared the motion lost. Then followed fur- ther lengthy discussion of the main motion, the recom- mendation of the Finance Committee. Finally the Mod- erator called for a voice vote thereon and the result being in doubt he again called for a voice vote and once more the result was in doubt. Whereupon he called for a stand- ing vote, the tellers being Messrs. McManus, Donovan and Washburn which resulted in 125 voting in the affirma- tive and 77 in the negative. A two-thirds vote being required to carry the Moderator declared the motion lost. A roll call was then requested and more than twenty persons standing in favor thereof a roll call was ordered and was taken by the Town Clerk with the result that 126 voted in the affirmative and 80 in the negative. The Moderator declared the motion lost.
There being no further business under Article 2 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Article 3 taken up. (Alterations and Repairs, Build- ing; Town Yard.)
The motion was put to a voice vote and failed to carry. The Moderator declared the motion lost. There being no further business under Article 3 the Moderator declared Article 4 before the meeting.
Article 4 taken up. (Replacing Gymnasium Floor; High School Building.)
On a standing vote substantially two-thirds voted in the affirmative and none in the negative it was
Voted: That no appropriation be made under Article 4 of the warrant for the purpose of replacing the gym- nasium floor in the high school building on Massachusetts Avenue, grading, draining and ventilating the space be-
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neath said floor, or for performing work in connection therewith.
There being no further business under Article 4 the Moderator declared Article 4 disposed of.
Article 5 taken up. (Changing Sewer Connections: Old High School Building.)
Voted: (Unanimously) That the sum of one thousand (1,000) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the pur- pose of changing the sewer connections of the old high school building from the trunk sewer under Massachusetts Avenue to the trunk sewer in the rear of the high school building; said sum to be raised by general tax and ex- pended under the direction of the School Committee.
There being no further business under Article 5 the Moderator declared Article 5 disposed of.
Article 6 taken up. (Alteration and Repair of Bridges.)
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