USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1950 > Part 19
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TRAINING OF FIREMEN
The Department Drill School was conducted April 3 - 15. It was a training program of sixty hours of drill with instruction and practice of fire department evolutions and fire fighting methods.
RECOMMENDATIONS
For the year 1951 recommend that $351,155.32 be appropriated in- cluding the appointment of three new men from May 1, and the re- placement of Engine 4.
In May received the Report of the Town of Arlington from the National Board of Fire Underwriters, a summary of its survey conducted in 1949 by request of the Board of Selectmen.
In this Report, the National Board of Fire Underwriters recom- mends:
That additional company officers be provided,
That sufficient men be added to the department at once,
That a program be adopted for the replacement of older apparatus and hose,
That the Training Program be expanded and that ample room be provided at the Drill Tower, and
That a code of modern regulations for fire prevention be adopted.
Regarding the Training Program and Code of Regulations, I ask that a committee be appointed to consider plans for a new Drill Tower and Drill Yard; also that a Fire Prevention Bureau be established as a Division of the Fire Department with the Deputy Fire Chief in charge, and that Chapter 20 be adopted.
CONCLUSION
I am grateful to the Honorable Board of Selectmen for its kind consideration and interest shown in the affairs of the Department; and also to its capable and efficient Secretary, Frank K. Nicksay.
256
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
I am thankful to the Town Engineer, James M. Keane, and his staff for valuable assistance; and also to the Police Department for splendid cooperation.
To my own Officers and Men for continued earnest effort and loyal support under all conditions, I extend sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted, RICHARD J. TIERNEY, Chief, Fire Department.
257
REPORT OF THE FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
Report of the Fire and Police Signal System
Honorable Board of Selectmen Town Hall Arlington, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I have the honor as Superintendent of the Fire and Police Signal System to present my Second Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1950.
The System is maintained by Assistant Superintendent, Lester W. Cameron, and one Signal Maintainer, together with temporary labor.
April 23, Kenneth B. Colbert was appointed Signal Maintainer to replace John J. Frasell who resigned April 1.
FIRE ALARM AND POLICE SIGNALS
Seven open circuits occurred when pedestals were struck by auto- mobiles, by aerial lines breaking during storms and when lines crossed with high tension wires.
February 3, replaced rattler door on Fire Alarm Box 15 and Box 2631.
March 15, relocated 6-inch tapper from Garage to Water Shop at Public Works Building, 1083 Massachusetts Avenue.
May 13, replaced the 12-circuit Teletalk System in Watch Room at Fire Department Headquarters.
July 26, installed 6-inch tapper in the home of Deputy Chief Bartholomew J. McGreevy.
August 1, provided for four telephone trunk lines to Fire Department Headquarters to conform with the recommendations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters that telephone facilities be improved.
September 16, Box 53, Massachusetts Avenue-Schouler Court, burned out by high voltage and temporarily replaced with spare Box 99; Box 99 renumbered Box 53, November 7.
October 4, repaired the whistle in tower at Fire Department Head- quarters.
October 8. Box 712 Brattle Street-Brattle Place, damaged when struck by automobile.
November 24, replaced 14-inch gongs with 10-inch gongs at Head- quarters and at Highland Stations.
November 25, the severe storm caused high voltage lines to drop on fire and police signal wires, burning wires and 25-c cable splice in the manhole at Park Avenue-Prospect Avenue.
December 16 and 29, Box 572, Massachusetts Avenue-Lexington Line, damaged twice when struck by automobile.
258
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Installed the following new fire alarm boxes:
Box 19 Broadway-Everett Street
193 Fremont Street-Fremont Court
197 Gardner Street-Opposite #168
1721 Mystic Valley Parkway- Palmer Street
1761 Ernest Road-Everett Street
2891 Spy Pond Parkway-Roanoke Road
2892 Spy Pond Parkway-Pioneer Road
3551 Columbia Road-Bishop School
3561 Beverley Road
683 Hawthorne Avenue-Coolidge Road
7131 Pine Street-Charles Street
8632 Brewster Road-Sagamore Road
8633 Standish Road-Mayflower Road
Peerless 3-fold boxes replaced following Gardner-type boxes:
Box 13 Massachusetts Avenue-Palmer Street
Box
158 Massachusetts Avenue-Cambridge Line
Box
683 Hawthorne Avenue-Kenilworth Road, relocated to Hawthorne Avenue-Grand View Road
CABLE CONSTRUCTION
April 27, replaced six sections of cable on River Street from under- ground pole at Warren Street east; 6-c aerial cable replaced 6-aerial wire. Changed lines because poles were reset.
May 9, installed 3-inch underground conduit on Columbia Road from Mystic Street to Box 3551, Bishop School and pulled in 6-c underground cable.
June 29, replaced 2-c aerial cable on Brantwood Road from Jason Street to Box 464, Kensington Road.
August 23, replaced 6-c underground cable with 6-c anhydrex neoprene cable from Box 51, Massachusetts Avenue-Pleasant Street to Test Terminal at Old Town Hall.
September 8, Mystic Street Cut-over completed from Ridge Street to Winchester Line. Moved Fire Boxes 356, 357, 359, and Police Box 213 from Telephone pole to Edison pole on opposite side of street; Tele- phone pole discontinued.
September 16, replaced 6-c underground cable with 6-c anhydrex neoprene cable from Box 53, Massachusetts Avenue-Schouler Court to Test Terminal on Schouler Court, and from Box 53 to Terminal Box in Senior High School.
November 26, replaced 4-c aerial cable with 6-c aerial cable on Oakland Avenue from Park Avenue to Wachusett Avenue.
Installed the following new police signal boxes:
Box 215 Mystic Street-Chestnut Street
214 Hutchinson Road-Oldham Road
231 Beverley Road
241 Webster Street-Philips Street
261 Gardner Street-Opposite #168
416 Brewster Road-Sagamore Road
259
REPORT OF THE FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
SPECIAL DETAILS
April 18 and 19, installed floodlights at Town Hall and Warren Peirce Playground for Patriot's Day Observance.
May 11, completed office plans of Fire and Police Signal Circuits.
June 13, installed telephone at the Bath House, Arlington Heights Reservoir, and connected to Police Circuit 4.
December 15, arranged Christmas lighting and decorations at the Town Hall, on Tree at Monument Park, at Fire Department Headquarters and at Highland Stations.
APPROPRIATION
1950 Appropriation $20,462.54
Expended 11,523.82
Balance
$ 8,938.72
RECOMMENDATIONS
For the year 1951 recommend that $14,292.86 be appropriated to include cable construction, installation of thirteen fire alarm boxes and three police signal boxes.
In its Report on the Town of Arlington received in May, the National Board of Fire Underwriters makes the following recommendations re- garding the Fire Alarm System:
That the fire alarm telegraph system be expanded and improved,
That sufficient men properly maintain, test and operate the System, That adequate headquarters facilities be installed for necessary ad- ditional circuits; space to be provided by new construction or by rearranging present facilities,
That sufficient circuits be installed and to continue the installation of circuits underground,
That inferior type signal boxes be replaced by boxes of modern suc- cession type, and
That frequent and complete tests be made of the Signal System.
Regarding the matter of adequate headquarters facilities, I ask that a committee be appointed to make plans for this project.
CONCLUSION
My appreciation and thanks to Lester W. Cameron, Assistant Super- intendent of the Fire and Police Signal System, and to Kenneth B. Col- bert, Signal Maintainer, for their sustaining efforts in maintaining the very vital and important Signal System.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD J. TIERNEY,
Superintendent, Fire and Police Signal System
260
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Inspector of Buildings
To the Honorable
Board of Selectmen
Arlington, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report of the inspection of buildings, plumbing and gas for the year ending December 30, 1950.
Six Hundred Twenty-four (624) permits were issued, compiled as follows:
Apartment House
1
Church
1
$ 130,000. 30,000.
Dwellings, 1-Family
210
1,727,000.
Dwellings, 2-Family
9
103,000.
Dwellings, 1-Family
(Complete)
29
112,500.
Dwellings, 1-Family (Fdt'n)
2
1,000.
Garages, 1-Car
18
10,350.
Garages, 2-Car
16
16,050.
Garages, 3-Car
1
16,000.
Garages, 8-Car
1
3,000.
Reroof Dwellings
190
56,944.
Reroom Buildings
2
650.
Signs
31
5,917.
Toolshed
1
500.
Greenhouse
2
1,700.
Install Elevator
1
17,000.
Alteration-Building
13
73,070.
Alteration-Dwelling
27
27,385.
Addition-Building
7
334,150.
Addition-Dwelling
40
35,680.
Repair Fire Damage
6
20,750.
Demolish Building
7
1,095.
Demolish Garage
3
40.
Service Station
1
12,000.
Washhouse
1
1,500.
Dumb Waiter
1
000.
Construct Shed
1
2,000.
Move Building
1
20.
Move Garage
1
100.
TOTAL
624
$2,739.401.
Eight Hundred Four (804) plumbing and Seven Hundred Ten (710)
gas permits were issued.
Fees for the year 1950 are as follows:
624 Building Permits
$1,849.00
804 Plumbing Permits
1,271.00
710 Gas Permits
355.00
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
. .
...
. .
$3,475.00
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL H. MOSSMAN Inspector of Buildings
261
REPORT OF BOARDS OF APPEALS
Report of the Board of Appeals
December 31, 1950
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
The Boards of Appeals report herewith on their activities for the calendar year ended December 31, 1950.
The Board of Appeal, under the Building Code, heard eighteen (18) appeals from rulings of the Inspector of Buildings. Permission was given for the withdrawal of one (1) case. Favorable action was taken with respect to seventeen (17) cases, restrictions or conditions being imposed upon ten (10) of the allowances. In addition to hearing appeal cases the Board took action upon several recommendations of the Inspector of Buildings.
There were sixty-two (62) cases heard by the Zoning Board of Ap- peals. Of the cases heard fourteen (14) were brought before the Board by way of petition. One (1) petition was denied. Six (6) petitions were granted, limitations being imposed upon three (3). Permission was given for the withdrawal of one (1) petition and the Board dismissed six (6) others for the reason that approval of the Board was deemed to be unnecessary in the particular situations presented. There were forty-eight (48) appeals heard. Permission was given for the withdrawal of one (1) appeal. Six (6) appeals were unqualifiedly denied. Of the remaining cases heard the Board allowed forty (40) appeals, imposing restrictions upon ten (10) and allowed one (1) in part.
As of the close of the year there were matters pending on the dockets of both Boards. There had been entered two (2) zoning appeals and two (2) building appeals. Hearings on all four matters were scheduled for a date certain in the month of January, 1951.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN R. SALMON CLIFFORD E. LANSIL ROBERT W. BLAISDELL.
262
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Wire Department
To the Honorable Joint
Board of Selectmen and
Board of Public Works
Town Hall, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit my eleventh Annual Report as Inspector of Wires for the year ending December 31, 1950:
STREET LIGHTING
Summary of street lighting in service December 31, 1950, lights burning on the 4000 hour schedule:
800 Lumen Incandescent Lamps
1556
2,500 Lumen Incandescent Lamps
33
4,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 4
6,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps
352
10,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps 130
15,000 Lumen Incandescent Lamps
10
INSPECTION OF WIRES IN BUILDINGS
Nineteen hundred and sixty-one (1961) permits for electrical instal- lations were issued during the year at fifty cents for each permit. This is an increase of three hundred and eighteen (318) permits over last year.
There were eight hundred and twenty seven (827) inspections made and five hundred and eighty-six installations approved.
POLES AND WIRES ON STREETS
The Boston Edison Company and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company replaced one hundred and thirty-four (134) poles during the year.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I again recommend that an Assistant Inspector be appointed so that all electrical installations may be inspected, it being impossible for one person to inspect all the electrical installations and perform the other duties of the Inspector of Wires.
I wish to thank your Board, the various departments and others for their cooperation during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
R. L. REID,
Inspector of Wires.
263
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEAURES
Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit my second annual report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1950:
Scales
Adjusted
Sealed
Condemned
Platform, 100-5,000 lbs.
2
8
3
Counter, 100 lbs. or over
1
3
Counter, under 100 lbs.
4
70
-
Beam, 100 ibs. or over
3
6
-
Spring, 100 lbs. or over
4
-
Spring, under 100 lbs.
55
-
Computing, under 100 lbs.
147
11
Personal Weighing
40
2
Prescription
20
Weights
Avoirdupois
-
86
Apothecary
-
200
12
Capacity Measures
Liquid, 1 gallon and under
-
59
-
Automatic Measuring Devices
Gasoline Meters
22
132
3
Tank Truck Meters
-
27
Bulk Storage System
-
2
,
Grease Measuring Meters
-
66
-
Miscellaneous
Yard Sticks
-
17
-
39
942
31
This Department has turned into the Town Treasurer the sum of $516.90, which was collected as sealing fees. The Town Treasurer also received $275.00 in payment for Hawker's and Pedler's licenses.
I wish to express my appreciation to your Honorable Board and to to the Secretary of the Board and his Assistants, for the cooperation extended to me during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES J. DOLAN, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
2 125.1 5
264
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Annual Report of Department of Veterans' Services
The Honorable Board of Selectmen
Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Submitted herewith is the sixth annual report of the Department of Veterans' Services covering the calendar year 1950.
All services furnished in previous years have been continued and some new ones added. Under the provisions of the law creating this department there must be furnished to veterans and their dependents such information, advice and assistance as may be necessary to enable them to procure the benefits to which they are or may be entitled relative to employment, vocational or other educational opportunities, hospitalization, medical care, pensions and other veterans' benefits. The Director must have on hand at all times copies of current booklets and other printed matter pertaining to the statutory rights of veterans provided under state and federal laws. The Director must work in close co-ordination with existing federal agencies established for the aid of veterans. All of the above is in addition to financial aid furnished needy veterans and their dependents. It is classified as Veterans' Services. Financial aid is provided under the titles of Veterans' Benefits, War Allowance and Burial Aid. A tabulation of Veterans' Services follows:
Photostatic copies made 4108
Documents notarized 155
Discharges recorded in Town Archives 35
Counsel and information :
At office 1485
By telephone 1844
Housing:
Office calls
243
Telephone calls 447
Employment:
Office calls 172
Telephone calls 356
Civil Service:
Office calls 74
Telephone calls 220
Letters and history entries 791
Veterans' Administration matters:
Office calls 459
Telephone calls 792
Home visits
35
Hospital visits
28
Other visits
471
265
REPORT OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Veterans Administration forms completed 123
Letters 214
Total for year 12,052
A tabulation of the administrative work connected with the dis- bursement of financial aid to needy veterans and their dependents, the amounts disbured under various classifications and the amounts re- captured which are returned to the General Fund of the Town, follows:
VETERANS' BENEFITS
Office visits (interviews, investigations, etc.) 580
Home visits (interviews, investigations, etc.) 405
Hospital visits (interviews, investigations, etc.) 24
Other visits (interviews, investigations, etc.) 324
Letters, history entries, applications, etc. 2001
Total for year 3334
Cases on rolls 79
Applications and re-applications received 115
Applications and re-applications accepted 50
Applications and re-applications rejected 65
Non-settled cases referred to other communities
16
Non-settled cases, emergency payments
4
Cases referred to other communities for investigation 5
Refund cases
7
Disbursements to and on behalf of Veterans and their dependents for the period January 1, 1950 to December 31, 1950 inclusive, were as follows:
Veterans' Benefits (Needy cases. State participation 50% of authorized payments) $24,082.47
War Allowance (Full reimbursement
by State) 324.25
Burial Aid:
Chapter 115, General Laws (Needy cases. State participation 50% in Arlington settled cases and 100% otherwise 0.00
Chapter 573, Acts of 1946, (Reimbursement of recognized organizations of veterans for expenses incurred in providing military honors at funerals of veterans who died overseas in World War Two. State participation 100% of authorized expenditures) 130.00
Total disbursements $24,536.72
266
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Reimbursement received by Town Treasurer from the State Treasurer in 1950:
Veterans' Benefits
10,614.27
War Allowance
0.00
Burial Aid:
Chapter 115
150.00
Chapter 573
254.95
$11,019.22
Received from other towns for aid to non-settled applicants
70.00
Refunds from beneficiaries
343.50
Total returned to Town Treasury 11,432.72
Net Expenditures
$13,104.00
During the past year there has been a general increase in costs all along the line including rents, food, hospital, medical, clothing and household effects. The budget, on which allowances of financial aid to beneficiaries is based, necessarily had to be adjusted upward. Thus, the expenditures for aid increased approximately one-fifth over the year before. As there was no unemployment problem with which to cope it can be readily seen that age, disability of breadwinners and the recall of married veterans to active duty in the armed forces has brought about the need for aid in the majority of cases. Due to a ruling of the Attorney General's office, veterans on strike are held to be eligible to receive Veterans' Benefits. There were several striking veterans aided for short periods. War Allowance was re-activated and made available to dependents of service men who might be in need, temporarily, due to the failure of monthly allotment checks to arrive on time or other causes, by the enactment of Chapter 797, Acts of 1950. During the present emergency it is expected that there will be several applicants for War Allowance each month. Much money is saved the Arlington taxpayers by the energetic prosecution of claims of our applicants at the U.S. Veterans Administration thus obtaining pensions, compensation, free hospitalization and other benefits which would otherwise be a burden on the taxpayers.
In conclusion, may it be stated that the help and cooperation of the Board of Selectmen, their secretary, Mr. Nicksay, and the members of the Advisory Board of the Department of Veterans' Services and the faithful services of the employees of the Department is gratefully acknowledged.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES R. ARMOUR
Director
267
REPORT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY
Report of the Arlington Housing Authority-1950
(Incorporating Annual Report of the Executive Director, Robert Hauser)
Board of Selectmen Arlington, Massachusetts
We are pleased to submit to you this our third annual report of the activities of the Arlington Housing Authority for the year 1950.
At the annual town election held on March 6, 1950, Mr. Joseph S. Vahey was re-elected to office for a term of five years. The annual meeting of the Authority was held on March 28, 1950 and the following officers elected:
Chairman
W. Dale Barker
Vice-Chairman Joseph S. Vahey
Treasurer Myron D. Chace
Asst. Treasurer Torsten H. Reenstierna
It was stated in our report for the year 1949 that we expected first occupancy in early February 1950. We are pleased to say that the first apartments were accepted for occupancy, and veterans and their fami- lies actually moved in on February 1, 1950. We continued to accept units as they became available for occupancy, and full occupancy was at- tained on July 1, 1950. The rents charged to these low income veterans is a percentage of their income varying with the number of children in the family, namely, 14% of income for families with three or more minor dependents, and 18% of income for those families with two or less minor dependents. These percentage rates were established by the State Housing Board based upon a survey of all the applications received.
During the latter part of May 1950, the Authority moved its office from the Robbins House to the Administration Building at 2 Fremont Court, on the site of the Project. We wish at this time to express our gratitude to the Town for making. the space in the Robbins House, available to us for nearly two years.
The landscaping of the Project was started in the spring and was completed about August first, which has changed the appearance of the area so that it is now hardly recognizable as the same fields that existed less than eighteen months ago. It should be noted that first occupancy was attained within eight months of the ground-breaking, and full occupancy in less than one year of date of ground-breaking.
The tenants in the Propect have formed an association and are contemplating many neighborhood activities. Their most ambitious ef- fort to date has been the Christmas celebration whereby each family contributed voluntarily. There was a tree purchased, lights for the tree, porch lights in red and green, a Santa Claus, and a present from Santa Claus to every child in the 126 families.
On December 14, 1950, bids were accepted and opened for the pur- chase of forty year bonds, in the name of the Arlington Housing Authority, to be dated January 1, 1951. The interest rate on these bonds is to be 1.75%. However, a premium of some $22,000. was received, reduc- ing the net interest cost to 1.69%.
In June, the Authority employed Mr. John C. McGillicuddy as main- tenance man for the Project.
After the final landscaping and finished grading of this Project, there
268
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
was an excess of loam, owned by the Authority, upwards of some 7000 yards. This loam was made available to the Town for the betterment of its public places.
The Authority has paid to the Town, in lieu of taxes, $463.00 to date and, pending the completion of final accounts for the year 1950, plans a further payment more than twice that which has already been paid.
After screening of the more than 600 applications for this develop- ment, the Authority determined there was a need for further housing for the low income veteran, and an Application for Financial Assistance was filed with the State Housing Board in April 1950 for a development of fifty additional units.
The Authority has had to average better than one meeting a week in order to handle details of construction and the examining of applica- tions in addition to much time expended individually in carrying out the necessary business details connected with the Project. The Author- ity feels that the completion of this Project of 126 family units has proved to be a definite asset to the Town and has somewhat assisted in relieving the acute housing situation by giving excellent accommodations to 126 low income families.
The Arlington Housing Authority feels that credit for this Project is due in large measure to the Town as a whole because of the excellent cooperation received from all Boards and Officers of the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
Arlington Housing Authority.
W. Dale Barker, Chairman Myron D. Chace Harold E. Magunson Torsten H. Reenstierna Joseph S. Vahey
269
REPORT OF THE HONOR ROLL COMMITTEE
Report of the Arlington Honor Roll Committee
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town Hall
Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Herewith is submitted the annual report of the Honor Roll Com- mittee for the year ending December 31st, 1950.
During the Month of April a high wind storm badly damaged the board. Through the cooperation of the Board of Selectmen all necessary repairs were made before Memorial Day and new cards were made for all names on the board.
Total number of names on board 4,712
(Gold Star) 135
Following is the report of the Treasurer, Mr. Arthur W. Sampson;
Balance on hand December 31st, 1949
$112.72
Donations 3.63
Total $116.35
Expenditures :
June 12th, 1950 Supplies-Spaulding Moss. Co. $ 3.25
June 19th, 1950 Supplies-Spaulding Moss. Co. 3.90
July 31st, 1950 Supplies-Spaulding Moss. Co. 7.90
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