USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1954 > Part 17
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Upon completion of the work of revising the voting list for the year 1954, in accordance with the true list information that had been presented, a total of 3,709 notices were sent by first-class mail, as required by law, to persons whose names were either not returned in the lists submitted by the Assistant Registrars or who failed of identification. More than 1,600 proved residence and were reinstated, and some 2,300 names were dropped from the list, for varying reasons, to wit: death, removal from town, changes of name by marriage or court decree, and/or failure to comply with the request for information with respect thereto.
During the year, twenty-eight evening sessions were held in various public buildings throughout the Town for the registration of voters, at which 1,355 persons were qualified to vote in elec- tions. An additional 1,402 persons were so qualified during regular business hours at the Office of the Town Clerk. A total of 2,757 names were, therefore, added to the voting list.
The total number of registered voters at the close of regis- tration for the State Election on October 1, 1954, was 25,484, di- vided into voting precincts, as follows:
Precinct 1 - 1,516
Precinct 9 1,740 836
2 2,035
10A
3 - 1,261
10B
959
4 1,786
11 2,109
5 - 1,957
12A 1,445
6 - 1,547
12B 647
7 1,563
13 1,829
8 1,763
14A 1,170
Precinct 14B - 1,321
211
REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR'S OF VOTERS
In the past year, our Board certified the signatures of 10,702 voters appearing in the 17 petitions for articles to be inserted in the Warrants for the Annual and Special Town Meetings and the 407 nomination papers of candidates for various Town and State offices.
For the Town Election on March 1, the State Primary on September 14, and the State Election on November 2, the Regis- trars were in session throughout the entire period during which the polls were open, after which they assisted in the tabulation of the returns of votes from each of the precincts until 11:50 P.M. on March 1; 1:15 A.M. on September 15, and 2:45 A.M. on November 3.
Recounts of the ballots cast in the Town Election for the office of School Committee and in the State Election for the two offices of Representative to the General Court in the 28th Middlesex District were made on March 13 and November 13, re- spectively. The details of these recounts are included in the Record of Elections and Town Meetings, which appears elsewhere in the printed Town Report.
Mr. James B. Wilcox became a member of this Board on June 28, 1954, by virtue of your appointment of him to fill the vacancy created by the removal from town of Mr. Ernest Hesseltine, who had served the Town faithfully and well as a Registrar since 1949.
Again, as in other years, Mr. Dennis I. Donahue, by appoint- ment of your Board, served temporarily as a Registrar of Voters at the Town Election in the absence of a regular Board member. It is with a deep sense of loss that we record his passing on May 31. Mr. Donahue had served as a member of this Board from 1933 to 1949 and intermittently thereafter whenever the occasion war- ranted. Conscientious and faithful to the performance of his duties, Mr. Donahue never gave less than his best to the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
TIMOTHY J. BUCKLEY, Chairman ARTHUR P. WYMAN JAMES B. WILCOX JAMES J. GOLDEN, Clerk Registrars of Voters
212
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Town Treasurer 1954
Cash Balance, January 1, 1954 $1,680,476.78
Receipts, 1954
8,221,396.85
$9,901,873.63
Expended, 1954 8,086,532.96
Cash Balance, December 31, 1954
$1,815,340.67
Contingent Funds, December 31, 1954
1,102.00
Total Cash and Contingent Funds, December 31, 1954 $1,816,442.67
J. WILBERT ANDERSON
Town Treasurer
PARKING METER COLLECTIONS
1954
January 1, 1954 - December 31, 1954 $16,866.16
J. WILBERT ANDERSON
Town Treasurer
213
REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL BOARD
Annual Report of the Personnel Board
January 24, 1955
Honorable Board of Selectmen Robbins Memorial Town Hall Arlington, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Personnel Board herewith presents to the citizens of Arlington its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1954.
The membership of the Board remains the same as in 1953 with the exception of Patrick F. Reddan who was nominated by the Town employees to succeed William F. Canty, for a term of three years. Arthur J. Mansfield was re-elected Chairman for an- other year.
The Board attended the Second Annual Conference of Com- munity Personnel Boards at Boston University on Saturday, October 30, 1954. Arthur J. Mansfield was a member of a panel and dis- cussed the methods, procedure and criteria followed in determin- ing proper salaries and wages. It was evident that all communities are faced with similar problems which necessitate revision of the Classification Plans annually.
This year we were confronted with an unusual number of re- quests concerning reclassification and reallocation of salary grades. A questionnaire on salaries, hours of work and overtime practices was sent to nineteen communities. All salaries were compiled and an average and median were set for comparison. The result is the Articles presented to the Annual Town Meeting in March of 1955. All Articles of concern were discussed with the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager, and the Finance Committee, before our final conclusions were reached and then entered in the Warrant.
The Board has held sixteen meetings during the year and has considered thirty-five personnel problems of individuals, committees and boards. In addition, the Chairman has had frequent contacts with the Executive Secretary on various personnel matters that have arisen between meetings. The Executive Secretary has had num- erous conferences with the Town Manager, department heads, em- ployees and the Division of Civil Service pertaining to Civil Service procedure and on the operation of the Pay Plan.
It is again suggested that employees and department heads try to anticipate any requests for reclassification or reallocation and bring their problems to the Board before November of each
214
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
year. It is impossible to give proper consideration to the many re- quests for hearings and other matters brought to the attention of: the Board just prior to the closing of the Warrant.
There are at present 508 full-time, 39 part-time, 20 temporary, and 16 seasonal part-time employees in the service of the Town. These figures do not include personnel under the direction of the School Committee.
The Board appreciates the cooperation and assistance given by the Town Manager, Finance Committee, Officials, Boards, the Town Counsel and employees in our effort to fairly administer the duties and responsibilities involved.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL R. CARLISLE WARREN E. O'LEARY HUGH R. FARRINGTON PATRICK F. REDDAN ARTHUR J. MANSFIELD, Chairman
215
REPORT OF PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
Report of Purchasing Department
January 20, 1955
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Mass.
Dear Mr. Monahan:
I herewith submit my report as Assistant Purchasing Agent for the year ending December 31, 1954.
The following table will convey to some extent the volume of the service performed by this Department:
Purchase Requisitions Received 6409
Purchase Orders Processed 7386 Total amount of Invoices
$1,286,417.70
Throughout this period there was a distinct increase in the number of Vendors bidding on materials and services needed by the various Departments of the Town. This competition produced in every instance considerable savings. Local bidders were given preference in all cases where materials or services to be supplied were comparable.
Much time was expended in the proper preparation of speci- fications; the ultimate opening of all Bids and the preparation of Contracts involved. Adequate Performance Bonds and Insurance Coverage have accompanied the Contracts in all instances where necessary.
Through the co-operation of many Department Heads it has been possible to bulk the needs of the entire year and bids were sought on the basis of materials being taken as needed throughout the year. This has resulted in low prices without the necessity of storage space or a central storehouse.
I have received excellent co-operation from the Departments not under your direction and feel that with this continued co-oper- ation the year 1955 will show even better results.
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Manager, the Board of Selectmen, various Boards, Commissioners, Trustees, Town Officials, Department Heads and my Staff for their co-operation during the year.
Respectfully submitted, WARREN E. O'LEARY Assistant Purchasing Agent
216
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Town Counsel
December 31, 1954
Honorable Board of Selectmen Robbins Memorial Town Hall Arlington 74, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report of the year 1954 from June 1st, the date of my appointment, to December 31, 1954 in compliance with Section 3 of Article 3 of the By-Laws of the Town of Arlington.
During the year the activities of the Town Counsel have been of the same general character as in previous years. There have been numerous tort claims against the Town this year. Seven have brought suit and several more are in abeyance. Four suits pending against the Town were settled as authorized by the Board of Se- lectmen and Town Manager. Several small claims were abandoned or compromised. There are also several land damage claims pending.
Substantial amounts of money for aid rendered by the Board of Health and by Symmes Arlington Hospital have been collected and turned over to the Town Collector.
The Town Counsel has been available at regular and special meetings of the Board of Selectmen, has worked in close co-oper- ation with the Town Manager, has rendered opinions as requested by the Town Manager, various Boards, Departments, Committees and Officers, has attended meetings at State Boards and Commissions, and has been vigilant in all matters affecting the interest of the Town.
For the kind consideration and cooperation extended to me by all the officials of the Town during the past year, and especially to the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager, I desire to record my sincere appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. PURCELL Town Counsel
217
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MAINTENANCE
Report of the Supervisor of Maintenance and Operation of Arlington Public Buildings
FOR THE YEAR OF 1954
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Town Hall Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I respectfully submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1954. The following are various projects completed by the Maintenance Department and contractors during the past year.
Senior High School
Installed 110 fluorescent light fixtures in 11 classrooms. Installed an acoustical tile ceiling in classroom #3. Refinished 533 pupils' desks and 8 teachers' desks. Installed awnings on the Guidance office windows.
Replaced a 200 gallon hot water tank and installed a new gas hot water heater in the boiler room of the old section of the building.
Painted window sills on the exterior of the building.
Filled holes and treated the drive to the Lowe Auditorium with stone dust.
Wired and connected 3 new pieces of machinery in the machine shop.
Reconditioned the boiler flue breeching for boilers in the new section of the building.
Removed and replaced loose plaster on the ceiling of the Audi- torium.
Installed electric outlets for electric typewriters, etc. in room #72.
Installed new blow-off line from steam boilers to drain in the boiler room of the old section of the building.
Senior High School Cafeteria
Installed a ventilation system in the cafeteria kitchen.
Installed 2 new ranges and a bake oven.
Installed new stainless steel tables at the dishwasher.
Constructed a walk-in refrigerator at the rear of the cafeteria. Installed a new gas hot water heater in the kitchen.
Relocated several other pieces of equipment and made required connections.
Removed and replaced loose plaster in the auditorium.
218
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Locke School
Installed acoustical tile ceilings in 8 classrooms, corridors on 2d floor, principal's office and part of stairways.
Installed asphalt tile flooring in 8 classrooms, corridors on 2d floor and stairways leading from the 2d floor to the audi- torium and 2d floor to the 1st floor.
Painted 8 classrooms, 2d floor corridors, teachers' room, princi- pal's office, auditorium, boys' and girls' sanitaries on 1st and 2d floors.
Installed fluorescent light fixtures in clinic and work room on 1st floor; made other electric changes and additions throughout the building.
Installed a new four inch water service into the building. Installed new window shades in the Auditorium and entire classroom area on the 2d floor.
Brackett School
Repaired and rehung stage curtain in auditorium.
Installed new gravel roof over entire area of the building.
Extended 8 ft. chain link fence along Eastern Avenue side of the playground (118 ft.)
Installed black top over a section of the lawn on Fayette Street side of the building for parking of teachers' cars.
Parmenter School
Installed new faucets on all lavatories in the sanitaries.
Replaced 2 sinks with drinking fountains.
Replaced radiators in room #5, #7.
Hardy School
Replaced cork tile flooring in 2 kindergartens and the library in the new section of the building.
Replaced window shades in various rooms.
Connected conductors with storm drains on Chandler Street. The Black Topping of the playground area will be completed by the Public Works Department in the Spring.
Junior High School East
Replaced worn out treads of 2 stairways.
Repaired and painted all exterior doors.
Reconditioned large revolving ventilators on the roof.
Installed electric clock in the clinic room.
Replaced window shades in various rooms.
Junior High Industrial Arts - Old Building
Demolished building to one foot below grade to make way for the Parmenter School addition.
219
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MAINTENANCE
Peirce School
Installed 135 fluorescent light fixtures in 16 classrooms.
Painted teachers' room, principal's office, basement playroom, girls' sanitary in the basement, and all exterior doors and rooms #21, #22, #27, #28.
Remodeled Room #13 to be used for a kindergarten - in- stalled new floors, fluorescent lights, and painted interior rooms.
Installed window shades in various rooms.
Junior High School West
Treated a section of the gym floor for termites.
Installed fluorescent light fixtures in Room #28 and Room #9. Painted front exterior wall of gym and all exterior doors. Painted rear lobby of gym.
Remodeled boys' sanitary in basement so same can be used for a men teachers' room and an annex to the woodwork- ing room.
Crosby School
Remodeled the room between Rooms B-1 and B-2 so same may be used for a kindergarten playroom, - Installed new tile floors, new fluorescent lights, constructed cabinets, in- stalled new acoustical tile ceiling and painted the entire room.
After the fire in May the entire building was boarded up for protection and inventory was taken on all contents and equipment for insurance adjustment purposes. During the summer the entire contents and equipment were moved to the Locke, Cutter and Hardy Schools for storage and protection. It is planned that prior to the reopening of the Crosby School the Maintenance Department will re- condition the greater part of the equipment which will be a great saving to the Town.
Cutter School
A four foot chain link fence approximately 136 ft. long was installed at the rear of the building between the private property and the school property.
Bishop School
For protection all bare spots on all exterior wood work was touched up and painted.
Shelving was installed in the basement storeroom and the storeroom off the boiler room.
Robbins Town Hall
The Maintenance Department and employees from the Public Works Department were involved a great deal in the renovation of the Tax Collector's Office, Assessor's Office and the Town Accountant's Office.
220
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The masonry on the exterior of the building was repointed and caulked.
Extensive repairs were made to the roof.
A new sump pump with drain was installed in the boiler room. the pneumatic lift in the boiler room was reconditioned and put in good running order.
Fluorescent light fixtures were installed in the Town Clerk's Office and the Selectmen's Office.
Robbins Library
All windows were caulked on the exterior of the building and mouldings added to same.
The stone steps and cement landing at the front entrance were reset by employees of the Public Works Department.
Police Headquarters Building
Extensive work was done to the exterior of the Building, such as repointing and waterproofing the masonry, replacing steel sash with wood double hung windows, repairing and replacing flashings, and painting of the exterior windows and trim.
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
All of the exterior woodwork including windows and doors were painted on the Chapel.
The exterior of the caretaker's house was painted.
Various Buildings
In addition to the above work all boilers, hot water tanks and air compressors were inspected this summer by the Insurance In- spectors. All repairs and replacements were made according to their requests and certificates of approval were issued for each building.
During the two Hurricanes this year considerable damage was done to various buildings in the Town. A greater part of this damage has been repaired and the balance of this work will be done very shortly.
Also, in addition to the above work about 2600 work orders were completed by the Maintenance Department and contractors on jobs costing from $3.00 to $150.00 each.
In closing I want to recommend that immediate consideration be given to the condition of the Russell School on Medford Street. During this past summer one of the three steam boilers was con- demned by the boiler inspector and we are now operating on two boilers that may be condemned next summer. Furthermore, this school has been in the patching stage for the last twenty years, always with the thought in mind to abandon it when a new school
221
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL INSPECTOR
would be built to take care of that particular area. In most cases now the building is beyond the patching stage and large expen- ditures will be required to put it in shape.
Henry J. Frederick, Junior Building Custodian at 23 Maple Street, retired November 30, 1954, after 25 years of faithful service to the Department.
I wish to express my appreciation to the officials and employees of this Department and all other Town Departments and Town Officials for their cooperation during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE H. GREIM Supervisor of Custodians & Maintenance
Report of the Medical Inspector
January 12, 1954
Honorable Edward C. Monahan, Town Manager, Town Hall,
Arlington, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I have the honor to submit herewith the report of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Public Welfare for the year ending December 31, 1954.
House Calls
Clinic Calls
Total
Old Age Assistance
540
371
911
Aid to Dependent Children
43
119
162
Disability Assistance
30
25
55
Temporary Aid
99
143
242
Veteran's Service
8
95
103
The total number of calls for the year 1953 showed an increase of 30 % over 1952. In 1954 there were 1473 calls which was an increase of 15 % over 1953.
The total number of visits made to the Clinic for Dental care was 338.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD W. FEELEY, M.D. ' Town Physician.
222
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Engineering Department
January 13, 1955
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Town Hall Arlington, Mass.
Dear Sir:
The following is the annual report of the operation of the Engineering Department for the year ending December 31, 1954:
Twelve streets were built by the Town in 1954 together with a large amount of sewer, water and storm-drain installations, the work being done both by contract and Public Works forces.
The preparation of preliminary plans, specifications, staking, inspection and final surveys, plans and assessments for these pro- jects required the major portion of the Department's time, and as was the case last year some of the record plans of these and other projects are not up to date.
Considerable overtime was put in by the employees of the Department to produce the necessary plans, calculations, etc.
wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the cooperation of the Board members, Town officials and em- ployees of the Department.
Annexed to this report is a table of general statistics pertaining to the Town and a list of public and private streets as of January 1,1955.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES M. KEANE Town Engineer
TABLE SHOWING LOCATION, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STREETS
Name
Location
Width
Public
Private
Aberdeen Road
..
45 Tanager Street to 71 Dundee Road .
40
416
359
March 24, 1919; March 26, 1930; April 1, 1940; March 19, 1941 Abandoned March 22, 1944 April 2, 1866; September 20, 1875
Academy Street
734 Massachusetts Ave. to 40 Irving St.
40
1520
Acorn Park
30 Concord Turnpike, southwesterly . .
40
100
Acton Street
21 Appleton Street to Junior High West ..
50
510
November 2, 1866
Adamian Park
20 Upland Road to Stowecroft Road
40
·
911
Adams Street
319 Massachusetts Ave. to 216 Broadway 106 Pleasant Street to Spy Pond
10
800
March 9, 1891
Aerial Street
169 Forest Street to 288 Washington St. 38 Walnut Street to 35 Mt. Vernon Street
40
375
March 25, 1931
Albermarle Street
10
392
March 20, 1916
Alfred Road
97 Lake Street to Spy Pond Parkway
10
568
March 24, 1927
Allen Street
339 Massachusetts Ave. to 70 Warren St. 26 Park Ave. Ext. to 49 Huntington Rd. 295 Broadway to 158 Warren Street .
40
731
April 3, 1929
Amherst Street
14 River Street to Rawson Road
40
530
April 15, 1926
Amsden Street
107 Massachusetts Ave. to Waldo Road ..
45
950
... .
Andrew Street
40 Foster Street to Allen Street
40
400
..
Apache Trail
15 Lantern Lane to west of Country Club Drive
40
·
·
360
202
April 9, 1875
Appleton Place *Appleton Street ..
1192 Massachusetts Ave. to 11 Paul Revere Road
50
1450
Laid out by County Commissioners, 1892, Old Town Way, named Appleton St., November 9, 1846
Appleton Street ... *Appleton Street ..
11 Paul Revere Rd. to 29 Wachusett Ave.
50
1868
.
·
Laid out by County Comm. in 1915 April 15, 1936
Argyle Road
20 Dundee Rd. to Aberdeen Road
40
537
Arlmont Street
Spring Street to 761 Concord Highway ..
40
Arnold Street
41 Dundee Road to Hibbert Street ·
40
723
Arrowhead Lane .
33 Windmill Lane to Old Colony Road 641 Summer St. to 36 Berkeley St.
40
. . . .
236
Ashland Street
88 Appleton St. to Florence Ave.
50
832
Atlantic Road
Kipling Rd. to Wollaston Ave.
40
Avola Street
Ortona St. to Lexington Line
40
1158
Avon Place
390 Massachusetts Ave., westerly
30
428
Bacon Street
14 Central St. to 11 Mill St.
30
345
.
. .
Bailey Road
874 Massachusetts Ave to Gloucester St.
50-40
906.5
November 22, 1906 March 4. 1872 March 28, 1934
223
REPORT OF THE TOWN ENGINEER
..
·
May 6, 1924
Alpine Street
40
1820
Alton Street
.
March 25, 1915, and April 15, 1926 March 23, 1938
900
2 Appleton Street, southerly
29 Wachusett Ave. to Lexington Line ..
40
4522
2926
Arthur Road
40
.
..
565
Formerly Meadow Street April 7, 1898
200
March 28, 1923
Addison Street
40
928
750
40
1122
Length
Date of Acceptance
Width Public Private
Bartlett Avenue ..
818 Massachusetts Ave. to Irving St.
45 -- 40
1350
·
Bartlett Avenue . .
84 Irving St. to 16 Woodland St.
40
782
.. . .
Bates Road
285 Massachusetts Ave. to 156 Broadway
50
1220
Bay State Road
Spy Pond Pkwy. to East of Putnam Rd.
40
Beacon Street
81 Warren St. to Coral St.
40
1447
March 4, 1872
Beck Road
41 Forest St., easterly
20
375
Belknap Street
18 Linwood Street to Marion Rd.
10
600
270
Bellevue Road
131 Spring St. to 12 Morton Road
10
765
Bellington Street
821 Concord Turnpike to 84 Eastern Ave. 12 Alton Street to Compton St.
40
1090
April 1, 1940 March 26, 1930
Benjamin Road
49 Robbins Rd., 530 feet, northwesterly 18 Wright St. to 60' west of Arthur Rd. 289 Mystic St. to 305 Mystic St.
40
2063
March 24, 1952
Blossom Street
21 Bow St. to Summit St.
40
639
889
March 28, 1951; March 20, 1953
Bonad Road
90 Highland Ave. to Valley Rd.
40
554
376
April 15, 1926
Boulevard Road
20 Massachusetts Ave. to Lafayette St.
40
700
Boundary Road
63 Hibbert St. to 66 Sylvia Street
40
180
*Bow Street
36 Forest St. to 95 Lowell St.
40
1930
Bowdoin Street
24 River St. to Rawson Rd. .
40
530
Bradley Road
103 Columbia Rd. to Morningside Drive ..
40
350
716
Branch Avenue
50 Park Ave. Ext. to Alpine St.
40
340
$Brand Street
261 Forest St. to Edmund Rd. .
40
1520
Brantwood Road
22 Kensington Park to Jason St.
40
1730
.. .
Brattle Court
26 Brattle St. to Metropolitan Pumping Station
22
186
Brattle Lane
325 Summer St. to Pine St.
10
700
Brattle Place
75 Brattle St. to B. & L. R. R.
20
685
Brattle Street
1043 Massachusetts Ave. to Brattle Ave.
40
1810
1360
Brattle Terrace
49 Washington St., easterly
40
390
Brewster Road
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