USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1938 > Part 7
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Our investigation during the operation of the furnace failed to detect any objectionable features in the operation of the plant, or in the existence of any nuisance from smoke or cinders or odors.
Newton, Mass .:
Much favorable comment has been received by your com- mittee of the system of sanitary department operation in the city of Newton. Several calls have been made at the city hall and at the yard in Newton Highlands. All the officials with whom we have come in contact have been most courteous
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TOWN RECORDS
and have given us complete information regarding their set-up. Briefly their plan is as follows:
The collection of offal is made by a private contractor, who contracts with the city for the complete coverage of the city. The contractor furnishes his own sanitary truck equip- ment, hires his own labor and disposes of the offal by feeding to hogs upon his own farm in Lincoln. He keeps at all times a reserve cart and crew available at the Crafts Street yard (City) to follow any report of delinquency in collections. The City officials say that they have a minimum of complaints, but that all complaints are immediately corrected and adjusted.
Ashes are collected by the city and are carried to several available dumps, none of which permits the burning of refuse upon open dumps.
Combustible refuse is carted to the new disposal plant in Newton Highlands. No salvaging operation is carried on.
The following notes were taken during our inspection trip to the plant, November 7, 1936.
Disposal plant consists of a large brick building, three stories in height, containing two separate combustion units from which rises a brick chimney approximately 157 feet in height.
Circular ramps lead to and from the upper floor, where all materials are weighed before disposal. Refuse may be dumped directly into large hoppers, which at the bottom dis- charge directly into the furnaces. The residue or ashes drop from the grates to a continuous conveyor which passes under a water jet and is then carted to a discharge hopper where it is taken by truck to a dumping area. All the residue is inert material and good for filling upon any low area. No further treatment is required.
This plant was built in March, 1935.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Built by the Hiler Engineering and Construction Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. Cost reported to be approximately $170,000. The rated capacity for burning of rubbish, 75 tons per day (8 hours).
Equipped with two combustion units. Temperature of furnace 1600° F.
One unit, operating eight hours per day consumes all rub- bish and combustible refuse collected in Newton, at present with an estimated population of 70,000.
Ashes and garbage are not sent to this plant.
The plant was designed for the complete disposal of gar- bage and all types of combustible refuse, but on account of the favorable contract which they now have for the collection of garbage, they do not burn any garbage at this time.
The plant was once tested for garbage combustion, and satisfactorily consumed a mixture of 26 tons of garbage and 14 tons of rubbish in six and one-half hours.
The regular working crew operating this plant consists of a superintendent and five men. The crew must have two men capable of handling all mechanical equipment, including pumps, motors, fans and crane equipped with grab bucket for removal of materials from discharge floor to hoppers. The elec- tric power bill is about $90.00 per month.
About 20 per cent of the feed to the plant is not consumed. This consists largely of tin cans and other metallic and in- combustible refuse. This is not objectionable material upon dumps.
During two trips to the plant, only a faint smoke or fume could be observed issuing from the stack, and the superintend- ent stated that this is the regular condition, and that there was absolutely no smoke or fume trouble.
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TOWN RECORDS
The plant operation has been very satisfactory. At the start of operation the discharge gates for the loading of the in- cumbustible residues gave some trouble. This was readily corrected, but it caused some criticism entirely out of propor- tion to its importance.
At the present time, the plant is handling about thirty tons of combustible materials per day, using only one furnace, thus running at less than 50 per cent of capacity. It is esti- mated that this plant will take care of a city of 125,000 popu- lation.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Without attempting to explain all phases of the problem of collection and destruction of combustible wastes, we feel that some of the apparent inconsistencies noted in the several towns visited, may be of interest.
In general, we found that the percentage of ashes offered for collection in Arlington is less than in Cambridge, Somer- ville and Fitchburg. A corresponding increase in combustible materials in Arlington is evidenced by the six-day test above noted. Much larger percentage of ashes was noted in Fitch- burg than in any of the other towns visited.
This apparently indicates that the use of coal for fuel still exists in the more thickly settled districts and that the use of oil fuel is not as general in other towns as it is in Ar- lington. This fact has some bearing upon the necessity for suitable provision for the destruction of combustible refuse, which can not be consumed in house furnaces under oil fuel.
The percentage of wastes in the city of Newton more nearly approaches the percentgaes of Arlington, both towns showing higher amounts of combustible materials than Cam- bridge, Somerville or Fitchburg. The private collection methods in the smaller towns of Winchester and Wellesley are not comparable with Arlington.
192446
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
By careful study of method of private collections obtain- ing in Winchester and Wellesley, we believe that the cost is almost identical to the community where public works collec- tions are in use.
Reducing the tonnage of combustible materials and ashes to barrels of refuse, we estimate that the Town of Arlington collects approximately 600,000 barrels of materials. At the rate of $.15 per barrel, which is the amount paid in Winchester for private collections, this would make a total yearly cost of $90,000 which is about the present cost for the entire Sanitary Department of Arlington, covering both offal and ashes. It appears that a rather wide allowance for error in these esti- mates would still show costs to the community about the same, for private or public collections. Upon the face of it, it ap- pears that the public collection is most economical for the community.
With the elimination of burning of papers in oil heaters by home owners, it appears probable that the salvage materials in the collections might improve in value, thus operating to the benefit of the community.
While all the preceding argument has been based upon savings in costs of disposal systems, we feel that consideration should be given to the advantages to health, comfort and con- venience of the community.
We believe that our community enjoys a reputation for high grade living conditions, for healthful surroundings upon our beautiful hills, and for educational facilities second to none in the metropolitan district. As such we believe that our citizens have a right to expect freedom from obnoxious odors and unhealthful conditions arising from an antiquated system of refuse disposal.
Numerous complaints have been received of sickness caused by and aggravated by conditions attendant upon the unhealthful conditions surrounding the open burning dumps.
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TOWN RECORDS
Dumps where refuse has been burned in the past have been one by one abandoned, only after pressure has been ex- erted by nearby residents. It is unnecessary to dwell exten- sively upon the evils of the burning dump. We all appreciate them. Decaying vegetable matter, disagreeable fumes from burning rubber and stale food, old tin cans and other unholy receptacles produce inviting conditions for vermin which always infest these areas.
The abandonment of one dump on account of these con- ditions only to produce similar conditions in another part of the town must lead to but one ultimate conclusion. The open burning dump must be eliminated.
This leads to the further conclusion and recommendation.
CONCLUSION
We recommend the further study of a plan for a central disposal plant, where materials of value may be salvaged by outside contract, after competitive bidding for the privilege. This plant shall provide suitable furnaces in which refuse may be destroyed, without objectionable odors or other sani- tary conditions arising.
In our opinion such a plant can be so constructed and erected upon Town Yard property at a reasonable cost, with present railroad siding as an adjunct thereto. Various rough estimates have been received by us for disposal plants as out- lined, varying from thirty to fifty thousand dollars, depending upon the completeness of the design and operations to be ac- commodated. Such a plant can be constructed, which will be free from all objectionable features.
There will always be a place for the indestructible resid- ues from such a plant. Low lands always will be calling for filling.
There are no dumps available for permissible burning of refuse within the limits of the Town today and we do not
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
know where any such nuisance can be maintained by the Town in the future.
The cost of hauling refuse from the Cambridge line to the Lexington line is prohibitive. It costs several thousand dor- lars each year. That is, just the extra haul amounts to about seven to eight thousand dollars per year.
The saving of this extra haul charge will build the dis- posal plant within the ordinary period allowed by law for the borrowing of money to build such a plant. This would mean practically no capital outlay from general tax except for the first year. And part of this amount for the first year may be deducted from the Sanitary appropriation.
We therefore submit the following motion :
That the report of this committee be received and filed with the Town records; that the said committee be continued and report again at a later Town meeting; that any vacancies in said committee be filled by the Moderator; and that the additional sum of seventy-five (75) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the expenses of said committee and expended under its direction, said sum to be raised by general tax.
This report is recpectfully submitted by your committee.
WALTER F. ROBINSON F. H. BARNHILL LOREN W. MARSH WILLIAM S. BLACK, Secretary ALFRED W. LOMBARD, Chairman.
Technical reference is made to waste disposal systems ap- pearing in Engineering News-Record, February 18, 1937, in which further reference is made to previous articles describing plants at Newton, Mass., Columbus, Ohio, Seattle, Wash., and Manchester, N. H.
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TOWN RECORDS
On motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously Voted : That the report of the Committee be received.
On motion of Mr. Higgins, duly seconded, it was unani- mously
Voted : That Article 3 be laid on the table.
On motion of Mr. Higgins, duly seconded, it was unani- mously
Voted: 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 recommendations of the Finance committee under said articles as presented in their printed re- port be considered as now before the meeting.
Article 4 taken up: (Town outlay and expenses).
The Finance Committee recommended the passage of the following :
"Voted: That the following amounts be appropriated to defray Town outlays and expenses for the year 1938, to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the respective department heads for the purposes and classifica- tions specified in the Budget Estimate sheets filed with the Town Accountant, and substantially in the amounts recom- mended by the Finance Committee for each classification listed in said Budget Estimate sheets."
Thereupon Mr. Lowe offered a substitute motion, which was duly seconded ; and upon being put to a vote, the Modera- tor declared the motion lost.
Mr. Higgins explained that the purpose of the Finance Committee's recommendation was to prevent the crossing of apropriations, etc.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Town Counsel White explained that unless all the Budget estimates, with changes voted by the Finance Committee, were filed with the Town Clerk, or elsewhere, the vote recom- mended by the committee was in his opinion of doubtful legality.
After further lengthy discussion, Mr. Lowe offered the following substitute motion, which was duly seconded :
"That sums be appropriated to defray Town outlays and expenses for the year 1938, to be raised by general tax except as otherwise specifically voted, and expended under the direc- tion of the respective department heads, as follows":
And upon being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion carried; and on motion duly made and seconded, it was
Voted: That sums be appropriated to defray Town outlays and expenses for the year 1938, to be raised by general tax except as otherwise specifically voted, and expended under the direction of the respective department heads, as follows:
The time having arrived and passed for the Special Town Meeting the Moderator declared the Annual Meeting suspended at 8:55 P. M., until the conclusion of the Special Town Meet- ing.
A True Record, Attest :
EARL A. RYDER,
Town Clerk.
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TOWN RECORDS
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
TUESDAY, THE 15TH DAY OF MARCH, 1938 at 8.30 o'clock P. M., at which time and place the following articles are to be acted upon and determined exclusively by town meeting members, in accordance with, and subject to, the referenda provided for by Chapter 43A of the General Laws.
Article 1. To hear and act upon the reports of the Fi- nance and other committees heretofore appointed.
Article 2. To see if the Town will make an appropriation or appropriations for the payment to the County of Middlesex of amounts assessed upon or otherwise payable by the Town for: (a) the Town's share of the principal of the bonds issued under the provisions of chapter 10 of the Acts of 1932 for the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital Funding Loan, Acts of 1932, maturing in the current year; (b) any other indebted- ness incurred and outstanding under said Chapter 10; (c) the Town's share of the interest and other charges on said bonds
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
due in the current year; (d) the care, maintenance and repair of said hospital during the last preceding calendar year, in- cluding interest on temporary notes issued therefor in accord- ance with sections of chapter 111 of the General Laws applic- able thereto; (e) any and all other expenses in connection with said hospital or said loan including expenses under sec- tion 25G (6) (a) of chapter 32 of the General Laws inserted by chapter 400 of the Acts of 1936; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or will take any action in any way relating to said hospital, loan or any other thing herein mentioned.
Article 3. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twenty-two thousand nine hundred sixty-nine and 47/100 (22,969.47) dollars or any other sum to pay the assessment by the County Commissioners of the County of Middlesex for its share of the cost of alterations and additions in and to the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital in accordance with chapter 417 of the Acts of 1935, as amended by chapter 205 of the Acts of 1937, will elect and determine whether all or any portion of said assessment shall be funded as authorized by said chapter 417, as amended, and for what period not exceeding fifteen (15) years; will specify the period for the payment of any such apportionment or assessment; will file such election with the County Commissioners, all as provided in said chapter 417, as amended, or otherwise; will determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or will take any action in any way relating to all or any of the foregoing or to anything hereinbefore mentioned.
Article 4. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of fifteen hundred (1500) dollars or any other sum for the proper celebration of the nineteenth day of April; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating thereto.
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
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TOWN RECORDS
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 Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, on or before said day and hour of meeting.
Given under our hands, at said Arlington, this fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight.
HAROLD M. ESTABROOK GEORGE H. LOWE, JR. ERNEST W. DAVIS
Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
CONSTABLE'S RETURN
Arlington, Mass., Feb. 28, 1938.
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 purpose 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 object of the meeting was published in the local papers.
(Signed) JAMES J. GOLDEN, JR.
Constable, Town of Arlington, Mass.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
SPECIAL MEETING
Arlington, Mass., March 15, 1938.
Pursuant to the Warrant of the Selectmen served accord- ing to law upon the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, by a constable of said Town and 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 Arlington, and advertised in two local papers, the Town Meeting Members met in the Robbins Memorial Town Hall in said Town on Tuesday, March 15, 1938, at 8:30 o'clock in the evening.
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 one hundred and ninety-nine mem- bers attended the meeting.
The Moderator called the meeting to order at 8:55 P. M.
Town Meeting Members not previously sworn were sworn by the Moderator.
The Town Clerk read the call and the Constable's Return of the Warrant; the reading of the remainder of the Warrant being waived by consent of the meeting.
On motion of Mr. Lowe, duly seconded, it was unanimously
Voted: That if all the business of the meeting as set forth in the Warrant is not disposed of at this session, when the meeting adjourns, it adjourn to Wednesday evening, March 23, 1938, at 8:30 oclock.
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TOWN RECORDS
On motion of Mr. Lowe, duly seconded, it was unanimously
Voted: That Article 1- be taken up.
Article 1 taken up. (Reports of committees.)
On motion of Mr. Higgins, duly seconded, it was unani- mously
Voted: That the report of the Finance Committee as pre- sented in its printed form be now received.
On motion of Mr. Higgins, duly seconded, it was unani- mously
Voted : That Article 1 be laid on the table.
On motion of Mr. Higgins, duly seconded, it was unani- mously
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 Committee under said articles as presented in their printed report be considered as now before the meeting to be voted upon without further motion, separately, under the respective articles as they appear in said report.
Article 2 taken up. (Assessment for County Hospital; Principal, interest, care, etc.)
On motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously
Voted: That the sum of ten thousand (10,000) dollars be and hereby is appropriated to pay the Town's share of the principal of the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital Fund- ing Loan, Acts of 1932 bonds maturing in 1938; that the fur- ther sum of nineteen hundred twelve and 50/100 (1,912.50) dollars be and hereby is apropriated on account of interest and
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
other charges on account thereof; that the further sum of fif- teen thousand fifty-five and 21/100 (15,055.21) dollars be and hereby is apropriated for the Town's share of the net cost of care, maintenance, and repairs of the Middlesex County Hos- pital, including interest on temporary notes issued therefor, in accordance with sections of chapter 111 of the General Laws applicable thereto, and expenses under section 25G (6) (a) of chapter 32 of the General Laws inserted by chapter 400 of the Acts of 1936; and that said sums totaling twenty-six thou- sand nine hundred sixty-seven and 71/100 (26,967.71) dollars be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
There being no further business under Article 2, the Mod- erator declared Article 2 disposed of.
Article 3 taken up. (County Hospital; Alterations and Additions.)
On motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously
Voted: That the sum of twenty-two thousand nine hun- dred sixty-nine and 47/100 (22,969.47) dollars be and hereby is appropriated to pay the assessment by the County Com- missioners of the County of Middlesex for the Town's share of the cost of alterations and additions in and to the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital in accordance with Chapter 417 of the Acts of 1935 and amendments thereof; and that said sum be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
There being no further business under Article 3, the Mod- erator declared Article 3 disposed of.
Article 4 taken up. (Celebration of the nineteenth of April.)
On motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted: That no appropriation be made under Article 4 of the Warrant.
There being no further business under Article 4 the Mod- erator declared Article 4 disposed of.
On motion of Mr. Higgins, duly seconded, it was unani- mously
Voted : That Article 1 be taken from the table.
There being no further business under Article 1 the Mod- erator declared Article 1 disposed of.
The business of the Special Meeting having been disposed of, it was unanimously
Voted: To adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P. M.
A True Record, Attest :
EARL A. RYDER,
Town Clerk.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ANNUAL MEETING
The business of the Warrant of the Special Town Meeting having been disposed of, the Moderator declared the Adjourned Annual Meeting of this same date called to order at 9:02 P. M. and the meeting proceeded with item 1 of Article 4.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
On motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously Voted :
1. Finance Committee (Finance Committee)
Personal Services :
$ 250.00
Chairman
50.00
Secretary
600.00
Clerk
500.00
Expenses
$ 1,400.00
Reserve Fund
15,000.00
Voted :
2. Board of Appeal (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services and Expenses $ 95.00
Voted :
3. Board of Selectmen (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services :
$ 800.00
Chairman of Board.
1,200.00
Other Board Members, $600.00 each
2,200.00
Secretary of Board
1,612.00
Other Clerks
Expenses 1,484.00
$ 7,296.00
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted :
4. Town Accountant (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services :
Accountant
$ 3,500.00
Clerk and Stenographer
1,196.00
Other Clerks
824.00
Expenses
390.00
$ 5,910.00
Voted :
4a. Contributory Retirement System (Retirement Board)
Pension Accumulation Fund $24,095.00
Interest deficiency on Funds 23.52
Expenses 1,225.00
Capital Outlay
175.00
$25,518.52
Voted :
5. Town Treasurer (Town Treasurer)
Personal Services:
Treasurer
$ 3,200.00
Clerk
1,560.00
Extra Clerk
50.00
Expenses
1,000.00
Caital Outlay
100.00
$ 5,910.00
Voted :
6. Collector of Taxes (Collector of Taxes)
Personal Services :
Collector $ 3,500.00
Clerks 6,000.00
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Expenses 2,050.00
Capital Outlay 110.00
$11,660.00
7. Board of Assessors (Board of Assessors)
Mr. Bowker offered a motion, duly seconded, that the capital outlay item of $103.95 be changed to $70.00, and being put to a vote the motion was declared lost.
On the recommendation of the Finance Committee it was
Voted :
Personal Services :
Members of Board, $1,200 each $ 3,600.00
Head Clerk-Secretary 3,000.00
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