USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1940 > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
2 Caterpillar type tractors, with Conver- sion or Type "V" plows @ $6,940.00 each 13,880.00
$ 26,900.00
Voted : To adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 10:50 P. M.
A True Record: Attest.
EARL A. RYDER,
Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING
April 1, 1940
Pursuant to the vote of Adjournment March 27, 1940, the Town Meeting Members met in the Town Hall on Mon- day evening April 1, 1940, notices having been sent to the Town Meeting Members, and also posted in each of the pre- cinct boxes in the Town.
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.
252
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The check lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that one hundred and eighty-six at- tended the meeting.
The Moderator called the meeting to order at 8:05 P.M.
Town Meeting Members not previously sworn were sworn by the Moderator.
On motion of Mr. Estabrook, 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, April 3, 1940 at 8:00 o'clock.
The Moderator declared Item 30 of Article 4 before the meeting.
Voted :
30. Street Lighting (Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works. $ 50,235.50
Voted (Unanimously) :
31. Traffic Signals (Board of Selectmen) Material and Expenses $ 1,975.00
Mr. Harris offered the following motion, which the Mod- erator ruled out of order :
9a. Town Clerk (Town Clerk)
Personal Services :
Additional Appropriation, other clerks .. ..... $208.00 Whereupon, Mr. Harris gave notice that he would ask for
253
TOWN RECORDS
reconsideration before the final adjournment of the Town Meeting and the Moderator stated that such notice would be recorded.
CHARITIES AND SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
32. Public Welfare (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services:
Agent
$ 1,692.00
Clerks
5,914.00
Town Physician
600.00
Expenses
1,555.00
Aid
110,000.00
$119,761.00
Mr. Hennessey moved, and it was duly seconded, to amend by striking out "Clerks $5,914.00", and substituting therefor "Clerks $6,318" and changing the total from $119,- 761.00 to $120,165.00. The Moderator called for a vote and being in doubt as to the result called for another vote and again being in doubt called for a rising vote which resulted in 72 voting in the affirmative and 78 in the negative and the Moderator declared the motion lost. Thereupon, it was unanimously
Voted:
Personal Services :
Agent
$ 1,692.00
Clerks
5,914.00
Town Physician
600.00
Expenses
1,555.00
Aid
110,000.00
$119,761.00
254
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Voted (Unanimously) :
Aid to Dependent Children (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services :
Agent
$ 282.00
Clerks
1,015.00
Expenses
172.00
Aid
30,000.00
$31,469.00
33. Old Age Assistance (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services:
Agent
$ 846.00
Clerks and Others
2,921.00
Expenses
598.00
Assistance
65,000.00
$69,365.00
Mr. Hennessy offered a motion, which was duly second- ed, to amend by striking out "Clerks and Others" $2,921.00" and substituting therefor, "Clerks and Others $3,325." and changing the total from $69,365.00 to $69,769.00; and on being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion lost. Thereupon, it was unanimously
Voted :
Personal Services :
Agent
$ 846.00
Clerks and Others
2,921.00
Expenses
598.00
Assistance
65,000.00
$69,365.00
255
TOWN RECORDS
Voted (Unanimously) :
State and Military Aid (Board of Selectmen) $2,800.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
Soldiers' Relief and Burials (Board of Select-
men)
$25,000.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
District or Other Nurses (Board of Select- men) $2,000.00
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
34. School Department (School Committee)
I. General Control
Personal Services
$ 16,720.00
Expenses 1,115.00
$17,835.00
II. Instructional Service
Personal Services
$488,642.00
Expenses
1,050.00
Supplies
24,750.00
$514,442.00
III. Operation of School Plant
Personal Services :
Janitors and Helpers
$ 46,950.00
Material and Expenses 32,900.00
$79,850.00
256
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
IV. Maintenance of School Plant
Personal Services :
Repairmen $ 13,200.00
Repairs and Replacements
12,125.00
Expenses
1,345.00
$26,670.00
V. Auxiliary and Other Activities
Personal Services
$ 13,935.00
Expenses 1,345.00
$15,280.00
VI. Capital Outlay
(IV. Main of Plant)
Furniture and Furnishings $ 1,800.00
Instructional Apparatus 1,200.00
Other and General Equipment 500.00
Remodeling 900.00
General Construction 442.00
Playground Equipment
500.00
$5,342.00
VII. Vocational School Tuition.
$9,000.00
$668,419.00
On behalf of the School Committee Mr. Bevins moved, and it was duly seconded, that the following be substituted for the motion of the Finance Committee:
That the sum appropriated to defray expenses of the School Department of the Town for the year 1940, to be
257
TOWN RECORDS
expended under the direction of the School Committee of Arlington, be as follows:
I. General Control $ 17,835.00
II. Instructional Service 514,442.00
III. Operation of School Plant 79,850.00
IV. Maintenance of School Plant. 26,670.00
V. Auxiliary Agencies and Other Activities .. 15,280.00
VI. Capital Outlay 5,342.00
VII. Vocational School Tuition 9,000.00
$668,419.00
Mr. Bevins stated that his motion did not ask for any change in the amounts recommended by the Finance Com- mittee but did seek a change in the form of the budget so as to provide a method whereby the committee might when necessary handle its expenditures without the necessity of asking for transfers which is impossible under the present form of budget; in other words the School Committee be- lieves its budget should be so constructed that if it hasn't funds in one pocket it may, in its wisdom, take it from a pocket that has.
The Moderator called for a vote on the motion of Mr. Bevins and being in doubt as to the result asked for a rising vote: 55 voted in the affirmative and 101 in the negative and the Moderator declared the motion lost.
Thereupon, the Moderator called for action on the vari- ous recommendations of the Finance Committee for "School and Libraries" as follows :
Voted (Unanimously) :-
School Department (School Committee)
258
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
I. General Control
Personal Services
$ 16,720.00
Expenses 1,115.00
$17,835.00
II. Instructional Service.
Mr. Bevins moved, and it was duly seconded :
That the amounts appropriated to defray the expenses of Instructional Service of the School Department for the year 1940, to be expended under the direction of the School Committee, be as follows :
Personal Services $488,642.00
Expenses
1,050.00
Supplies 25,250.00
$514,942.00
There was much discussion.
Mr. Homer moved the Previous Question, which was duly seconded, and being put to a vote the Moderator de- clared it carried.
The Moderator called for a vote on the Substitute Mo- tion and declared it carried, but the vote was doubted, and a rising vote being taken resulted in 83 voting in the affirma- tive and 79 in the negative, and the Moderator declared the motion carried. Thereupon, it was
Voted :
Personal Services $488,642.00
Expenses 1,050.00
Supplies 25,250.00
$514,942.00
259
TOWN RECORDS
III. Operation of School Plant
Voted (Unanimously) :
Personal Services :
Janitors and Helpers
$ 46,950.00
Material and Expenses 32,900.00
$79,850.00
IV. Maintenance of School Plant
Mr. Bevins offered the following:
That the amounts appropriated to defray the expenses of Maintenance of School Plant of the School Department for the year 1940, to be expended under the direction of the School Committee, be as follows :
Personal Services :
Repairmen
$ 13,200.00
Repairs and Replacements
13,775.00
Expenses
1,345.00
$28,320.00
The Moderator called for a vote, and being in doubt, called for a new vote and declared the motion lost.
Thereupon, it was unanimously
Voted :
Personal Services :
Repairmen
$ 13,200.00
Repairs and Replacements
12,125.00
Expenses
1,345.00
$26,670.00
260
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
V. Auxiliary and Other Activities Mr. Cousins offered the following :
That the motion be amended by substituting for the words
Personal Services $ 13,935.00
Expenses
1,345.00
the following :
Personal Services $ 13,485.00
Expenses 1,795.00
the total remaining the same as in the original motion. On being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion car- ried. Thereupon it was
Voted :
Personal Services
$ 13,485.00
Expenses 1,795.00
$15,280.00
VI. Capital Outlay
(IV. Maint. of Plant)
Voted :
Furniture and Furnishings $ 1,800.00
Instructional Apparatus 1,200.00
Other and General Equipment. 500.00
Remodeling 900.00
General Construction 442.00
Playground Equipment
500.00
$5,342.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
VII. Vocational School Tuition $ 9,000.00
261
TOWN RECORDS
35. Robbins Library and Branches
(Trustees of the Robbins Library)
Voted (Unanimously) :
Personal Services
$ 19,870.00
Expenses
12,750.00
$32,620.00
RECREATIONS AND UNCLASSIFIED
36. Public Parks Department (Board of Park Commissioners)
Personal Services:
Superintendent
$ 2,007.50
Clerk
208.00
Wages
3,000.00
Police Duty
260.00
Life Guards
1,500.00
Material and Expense
1,825.00
Capital Outlay
747.50
$9,548.00
Mr. Hooley moved, and it was seconded, that the follow- ing be substituted for the recommendation of the Finance Committee.
Personal Service:
Superintendent
$ 2,007.50
Clerk
208.00
Wages
3,312.00
Police Duty
260.00
Life Guards
1,860.00
262
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Materials and Expenses
1,825.00
Capital Outlay
747.50
$10,220.00
On being put to a vote the Moderator declared the mo- tion lost.
Mr. Harris moved, and it was duly seconded, to amend the recommendation of the Finance Committee by striking out "Wages $3,000" and substituting therefor "Wages $3,312"; and change the total accordingly.
On being put to a vote the Moderator declared the mo- tion lost. Thereupon, it was unanimously
Voted:
Personal Services :
Superintendent
$ 2,007.50
Clerk
208.00
Wages
3,000.00
Police Duty
260.00
Life Guards
1,500.00
Material and Expenses
1,825.00
Capital Outlay
747.50
$9,548.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
36a. Warren A. Peirce Playground (School Com- mittee and Board of Park Commissioners)
Expenses $ 597.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
37. Pensions (Board of Selectmen) $ 16,570.04
263
TOWN RECORDS
Voted (Unanimously) :
38. Memorial Day (Board of Selectmen)
To be expended as follows:
Local Tent of the Daughters of Union Vet- erans and Local Camp of the Sons of Union Veterans $ 125.00
Local Post of the United Spanish War Veterans 175.00
Arlington Post No. 39 American Legion. ...
300.00
Post No. 1775, Veterans of Foreign Wars ....
225.00
Francis Gould Woman's Relief Corps, No. 43 Arlington Chapter No. 49 Disabled Ameri-
15.00
can Veterans of the World War 55.00
$895.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
Patriots Day (Board of Selectmen) $ 125.00
39. Printing Town Reports (Board of Select- men) $ 1,000.00
Mr. Cousins offered the following substitute motion :
That the sum of $910 instead of $1,000 be appropriated for the printing of the Town Reports.
On being put to a vote the Moderator declared it car- ried, thereupon, it was
Voted :
Printing Town Reports (Board of Select-
men) $ 910.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
1
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
264
40. Insurance (Board of Selectmen)
Including among other purposes, the protection of the Town's interest in real estate held by it under purchases and takings for non-payment of taxes, as provided in Gen- eral Laws, Chapter 40, Section 5, Clause (38) .. $ 13,235.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
Workman's Compensation Insurance Fund
(Board of Selectmen) $ 7,000.00
Municipal Insurance Fund (Board of Selectmen)
Voted: That no appropriation be made.
Voted (Unanimously) :
41. Maintenance of Menotomy Hall and Houses owned by the Town (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services $ 1,515.00
Expenses 2,015.80
Capital Outlay-New Heating System
Robbins Cottage 475.00
$4,005.80
ENTERPRISES AND CEMETERIES
Voted (Unanimously) :
42. Water Department Maintenance
(Board of Public Works)
Personal Services :
Water Registrar $ 2,600.00
265
TOWN RECORDS
Clerks 2,574.00
Office Supplies and Expenses
1,600.00
Maintenance of Water System
43,110.00
Extension of services for House Connections
7,500.00
Emergency Valve Insertions
2,500.00
Capital Outlay-Meters for
New Services
2,150.00
Replacement of Meters
2,000.00
$64,034.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
43. Cemeteries (Board of Cemetery Commissioners)
Personal Services :
Superintendent
$ 3,120.00
Clerks
1,196.00
Wages
16,700.00
Expenses
1,570.00
Capital Outlay
675.00
$23,261.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
44. Interest
$ 24,000.00
Voted (Unanimously) :
Maturing Town Debt
$105,000.00
Sinking Fund
Voted: That no appropriation be made.
Mr. Harris offered the following motion:
That a committee of seven be appointed by the Moder- ator, to investigate and study the advisability of the Town
266
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
creating a central purchasing department, or a purchasing agent to be added to the town's personnel with the intention of economizing by bulk purchasing or other means; that no member of the committee be a town official (other than a town meeting member) or a town employee; and that said committee be instructed to report their findings to the town at each succeeding meeting, special or otherwise, until the full investigations are completed ; that the sum of three hun- dred ($300.00) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for their use in obtaining such information; said sum to be raised by general tax.
The Moderator told Mr. Harris that he could not enter- tain the motion because it carried an appropriation of $300.00; he did however call upon the Town Counsel for his opinion in the matter, and being upheld in his view he ruled the motion out of order. He suggested to Mr. Harris that if he would strike out "That the sum of three hundred ($300.00) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for their use in obtaining such information said sum to be raised by general tax", he would entertain the motion. This was agree- able to Mr. Harris and thereupon it was
Voted: That a committee of seven be appointed by the Moderator to investigate and study the advisability of the town creating a central purchasing department, or a pur- chasing agent to be added to the town's personnel with the intention of economizing by bulk purchasing or other means; that no member of the committee be a town official (other than a town meeting member) or a town employee; and that said committee be instructed to report their find- ings to the town at each succeeding meeting, special or otherwise, until the full investigations are completed.
Mr. Hennessy offered the following :
Be it resolved :
That a committee of fifteen (15) be appointed by the Moderator to study the functional and administrative organ-
267
TOWN RECORDS
ization of the Town Government, said committee to report not later than the annual meeting of 1941.
After considerable discussion the Previous Question was moved and seconded, and being put to a vote the Mod- erator declared it carried. Thereupon, a vote was taken on the Resolve of Mr. Hennessy and the Moderator declared it lost.
Mr. Donovan gave notice of his intention to ask for re- consideration of the motion that a Committee be appointed to investigate and study the advisability of the Town creat- ing a Central Purchasing Department before the final ad- journment of the Town Meeting. The Moderator directed the Clerk to take notice thereof.
There being no further business to come up under Art- icle 4, the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Mr. McManus moved, and it was duly seconded, that a recess of ten minutes be taken ; and being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion lost.
Article 5 taken up. (Treasurer : Power to Borrow).
On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimously
Voted: That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money on and after January 1, 1941, in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1941, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew such note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and any amendments thereof; any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1941.
There being no further business under Article 5 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
268
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Article 6 taken up. (Collector of Taxes; Means of Col- lecting)
On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimously
Voted: That the Collector of Taxes be and hereby is authorized to use all means of collecting taxes for the year 1940, which a Town Treasurer may use when appointed a Collector of Taxes.
There being no further business under Article 6 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Article 7 taken up. (Extension of Sewerage System)
On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimously
Voted: That the sum of ten thousand three hundred ($10,300) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the ex- tension of the Sewerage System; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works substantially as follows:
Extension of Sewers $10,000.00
Tools and Equipment 300.00
$10,300.00
There being no further business under Article 7 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Mr. Estabrook requested that the reading of the Art- icles in the warrant be dispensed with and there being no objection thereto the Moderator granted the request.
Article 8 taken up. (Extension of Water Mains)
On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimously
269
TOWN RECORDS
Voted: That the sum of twenty-four thousand six hun- dred ($24,600) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the extension of water mains; said appropriation to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works substantially as follows:
Laying and relaying water mains of not less
than six inches in diameter $24,000.00
Tools and Equipment 600.00
$24,600.00
There being no further business under Article 8 the Moder- ator declared it disposed of.
Article 9 taken up. (Extension of Storm Drains)
On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimously
Voted: That the sum of eight thousand ($8,000.00) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the extension of storm drains in the year 1940 and expended under the di- rection of the Board of Public Works; and that for this purpose the sum of thirty-five hundred ($3,500.00) dollars be raised by general tax and the sum of forty-five hundred ($4,500.00) dollars be and hereby is transferred from the available unexpended balances of appropriations now in the treasury as follows: From the appropriation for the ac- quisition of easements in land adjoining the location of ways by vote passed under Article 24 of the Warrant for the An- nual Meeting of 1937, the sum of two thousand ($2,000.00) dollars; from the appropriation for the acquisition of ease- ments in land adjoining the location of ways by vote passed under Article 23 of the Warrant for the Annual Meeting of 1936 the sum of five hundred ($500.00) dollars; from the appropriation for the acquisition of easements in land ad- joining the location of ways by vote passed under Article 24 of the Warrant for the Annual Meeting of 1938 the sum of fifteen hundred ($1,500.00) dollars; from the appropria-
270
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
tion for the construction of ways by vote passed under Article 18 of the Warrant for the Annual Meeting of 1933 the sum of four hundred and 09/100 ($400.09) dollars; and from the appropriation for the construction of ways by vote passed under Article 22 of the Warrant of the Annual Meeting of 1936, the sum of ninety-nine and 91/100 ($99.91) dollars.
There being no further business under Article 9 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Article 10 taken up. (Repairs to Reconstruction of Mill Street)
The Finance Committee recommended
That the sum of sixty one hundred forty-five ($6,- 145.00) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the pur- pose of repairs or reconstruction of Mill Street culvert; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
On being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion lost.
There being no further business under Article 10 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Article 11 taken up. (Removal of Snow and Ice)
The Finance Committee recommended
That the sum of Forty thousand ($40,000.00) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the removal of snow and ice; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
Mr. Cousins offered the following substitute motion :
271
TOWN RECORDS
That the sum of $63,212.08 instead of $40,000.00 be appropriated for the removal of snow and ice.
On being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion lost.
Mr. Hennessy moved, and it was duly seconded, for re- consideration of the Previous Motion, and on being put to a vote the Moderator being in doubt as to the result called for another vote, and declared the motion carried.
Mr. Cousins' motion was reconsidered, and being put to a vote the Moderator declared it carried; thereupon, it was unanimously
Voted : That the sum of Sixty-three thousand two hun- dred and twelve dollars and eight cents ($63,212.08) be and hereby is appropriated for the removal of snow and ice; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended un- der the direction of the Board of Public Works.
There being no further business under Article 11 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Article 12 taken up. (Sidewalks and Edgestones)
The Finance Committee recommended
That the sum of fifteen thousand ($15,000.00) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the construction of per- manent sidewalks and for the installing of edgestones in the year 1940; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Joint Board of Select- men and Board of Public Works.
Mr. Seavey moved, and it was seconded, to amend the recommendation of the Finance Committee by adding be- tween the words "For" and "the" "materials, equipment and supervision of"; and on being put to a vote the Mod- erator declared the motion carried. Thereupon it was
272
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Voted: That the sum of fifteen thousand ($15,000.00) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for materials, equip- ment and supervision of the construction of permanent sidewalks and for the installing of edgestones in the year 1940; said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Work.
There being no further business under Article 12 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
It was moved and seconded that the Meeting now ad- journ; and being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion lost.
Article 13 taken up. (Laying Out of Aberdeen Road) On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimous- ly
Voted: That the laying out of a Town way from its present end westerly about 50 feet, substantially in the lo- cation of the private way known as Aberdeen Road, as more particularly described in Article 13 of the Warrant, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessments of betterments, as made and filed in the office of the Town Clerk by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Pub- lic Works, be accepted, said way established and said Joint Board authorized to take land for the purpose of said way.
There being no further business under Article 13 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Article 14 taken up. (Laying Out of Bates Road)
On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimous- ly
Voted : That the laying out of a Town way from Mas- sachusetts Avenue to Broadway, substantially in the loca- tion of the private way known as Bates Road, as more par- ticularly described in Article 14 of the Warrant, under the
273
TOWN RECORDS
provisions of law authorizing the assessment of better- ments, as made and filed in the office of the Town Clerk 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.
There being no further business under Article 14 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
Article 15 taken up. (Laying Out of Bellington Street)
On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimous- ly
Voted : That the laying out of a Town way from the Concord Turnpike to Eastern Avenue, substantially in the location of the private way known as Bellington Street, as more particularly described in Article 15 of the Warrant, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, as made and filed in the office of the Town Clerk 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.
There being no further business under Article 15 the Moderator declared it disposed of.
It was moved and seconded that the Meeting now ad- journ; and being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion lost.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.