USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1957 > Part 19
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Roanoke Road
24 Colonial Drive to Spy Pond Parkway 1019 Mass. Ave. to 16 Hawthorne Ave. .. 372 Mystic St. to Lake Shore Drive .
40 40&45
1370
1200
Robin Hood Road
40
1000
Rockland Avenue .
43 Millet St., north and south
40
551
Rockmont Road
99 Richfield Road to 11 Oak Hill Drive . 15 Overlook Road to Pheasant Avenue . .
40
1270
Roslin Road
17 Aberdeen Road to Kilsythe Road · 149 Hibbert Street, westerly
40
500
Rublee Street .
142 Hibbert Street to Williams Street ..
40
273
Rublee Street
Williams Street to Appleton Street ... ·
40
870
Russell Street ·
14 Mystic Street to Water Street . .
40
791
March 4, 1871 March 14, 1892
Sachem Avenue
127 Mystic Street, easterly
40
. .
100
Sagamore Road
40
811
Saratoga Road
40
201
Sawin Street ..
215
200
School Street
Schouler Court .
31 Brewster Rd. to east of Standish Rd. 57 Richfield Road to 55 Oak Hill Drive .. 46 Henderson St. to Teel St., westerly .. 1060 Massachusetts Avenue to Gray St. .. 887 Massachusetts Avenue, northerly 30
40&30 40
1363
340
March 16, 1908 April 8, 1931 March 31, 1927
226
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
March 20, 1953 May 6, 1924
Ronald Road
40
150
Rublee Street .
Russell Terrace
28 Russell Street to Winslow Street 430 Summer Street to B.&M. R. R.
40
364
Ryder Street ..
40
390
180
Robbins Road
April 14, 1896
40
795
.
.
March 31, 1927 March 6, 1893
April 15, 1926
40
Regis Road
March 13, 1946; March 22, 1950; March 23, 1955 Formerly Nourse Road April 3, 1929
Scituate Street Scituate Street
.
23 Gloucester Street to Longfellow Road 154 Longfellow Rd. to 743 Concord Turn- pike
40
1923
.
March 28, 1934; March 13, 1946 Formerly Yale St., March 19, 1941
Selkirk Road
3 Aberdeen Road to Perth Road
40
.....
230
10
557
March 24, 1952
Sheraton Park
Spy Pond Parkway, northerly
40
460
40
732
735
40
201
Silk Street
35 Broadway to Fremont Street
40
1000
.
Sky Line Drive
19 Philemon Street to Winchester Line . .
40
343
Smith Street
44 Arnold Street to Lancaster Road
40
600
Sorensen Court .
260 Mystic St. to west of Stowecroft Rd. 133 Highland Avenue to Buena Vista Road 20 Sutherland Road, southerly
40
. .
. .
300
Spring Street
591 Concord Turnpike to 244 Highland Avenue
. . 25
520
590
Spy Pond Lane
119 Lake Street to Princeton Road
40
.
. .
600
Spy Pond Parkway
201 Lake Street to East of Pioneer Road
60
2006
2 Pilgrim Road to Belmont Line
40
785
Standish Road ... tSteep Rock Road .
Philemon Street to Winchester Line .
40
300
Stevens Terrace .
89 Spring Avenue, northeasterly
40
400
¡Stone Road
44 Hillsdale Road, easterly
40
650
21 Ridge Street to Sorensen Court .
40
108
1082
Stowecroft Road . . ¡Stowecroft Road .
10 College Avenue to Sorensen Court
40
800
131 Mystic Street to Brattle Street
50
3920
. .
April 7, 1873; Old Town Way, Nov- ember 9, 1846; March 16, 1908; Laid out by County Comm., 1918 September 18, 1914; State Highway
Summer Street . . Summer St. Place
214 Summer Street, southwesterly
20
170
Summit Street .... Summit Street
600 Summer Street, northeasterly .
40
118
Sunapee Road
15 Massachusetts Avenue, northeasterly .
40
483
Sunnyside Avenue
17 Broadway to near Decatur Street ....
40
2012
Sunset Road
75 Bow Street to 537 Summer Street
40
1357
Sunset Road
537 Summer Street to 176 Forest Street 40
40
520
April 2, 1925
Surry Road
16 Daniels Street to Davis Road
Sutherland Road .. 106 Paul Revere Rd. to Aberdeen Rd. ...
40
766
March 27, 1935; April 1, 1940
227
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Seminole Avenue .
52 Tomahawk Rd. westerley 41 Bonad Road to High Haith Road .. .
Shawnee Road ... tShelley Road
Browning Road to Wadsworth Road .. ..
40
. .....
978
Sherborn Street . ¡Shore Road .. ¿Short Street . . Ely Road, easterly
106 Medford Street to Webcowet Road .. Chapman Street, southerly
40
.
April 2, 1956
Old Town Way named Spring Place, November 9, 1846 April 7, 1851; November 20, 1911
Spring Valley
144 Pleasant Street to Spy Pond
+Spy Pond Pkwy.
42 Alfred Road, south and north
60
.
.
....
Morningside Drive to Dickson Avenue 40
...
.
October 17, 1949
*Summer Street ..
90 Brattle Street to Lexington Line
50
6750
. .
40 Alpine Street, northeasterly .
40
900
...
....
....
March 23, 1955 March 28, 1934; March 31, 1937
40
433
631
500
40
March 31, 1927; March 31, 1937
20&40
490
Spring Avenue .
2450
Spring Road
40
2830
.
1405
Stony Brook Road
627
Width
Public Private
Sutherland Terrace
19 Sutherland Road, northwesterly
40
100
Swan Place
480 Massachusetts Avenue, southerly
30
600
Swan Street
40 Pleasant Street to Swan Place
40
250
.
Sylvia Street
Lexington Line to Rublee Street
40
800
Sylvia Street
115 Rublee Street to south of Lublin St. 40
40
1150
...
..
40
970
206
Temple Street
60 Highland Ave. to Lockeland Ave.
10
336
Temple Street
50 Lockeland Ave. to Endicott Road
40
606
Thesda Street
100 Wright Street to Reed Street
40
1620
Third Street
19 Peck Avenue to Perth Road
40
100
Thomas Street
200 Forest Street to Wright Street
40
. .
. .
425
+Thorn Road
146 Forest Street, southwesterly 86 Massachusetts Ave. to Margaret St.
40
1707
Thorndike Street . Tomahawk Road
295 Washington St. to north of Seminole Ave.
40
1653
45
1050
330
Trowbridge Street Tufts Street
147 Massachusetts Ave. to 21 Waldo Road 287 Massachusetts Ave. to 26 Warren St. 413 Appleton Street to Rublee Street
45
1300
Udine Street
37 River Street to Everett Street
40
465
129 Sylvia Street, westerly
40
170
1422 Mass. Ave. to Paul Revere Road
40
400
38 Kensington Park, southeasterly
40
280
Park Place, southerly
40
340
Upland Road
20 Falmouth Road to 162 Crosby Street .
40
525
190
Upland Road West Valentine Road ...
162 Crosby Street to west of Hodge Road 206 Appleton Street to Virginia Road ....
50&40
1831
Valley Road Varnum Street
114 Gray Street to Churchill Avenue .
50
783
120 Massachusetts Ave. to B. & L. R. R.
40
1625
92
March 26, 1914; March 28, 1928;
April 8, 1931
· Venner Road
267 Pleasant Street to 76 Hillsdale Road
40
777
Victoria Road
37 Summer Street to 174 Mystic Street ..
50
746
Village Lane
285 Lake Street to 279 Lake Street
40
.
344 Appleton Street to Dow Avenue ...
40
827
450
Wachusett Avenue
62 Wollaston Avenue to 207 Appleton St.
40
650
. ..
...
November 13, 1894 March 23, 1955
Wachusett Avenue Wachusett Avenue Wadsworth Road .
206 Appleton Street to Florence Avenue 146 Florence Avenue to Park Avenue
50
1725
March 23, 1938
228
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
March 20, 1916; March 27, 1935 March 26, 1914 April 2, 1866
March 20, 1916
40
467
501
March 22, 1950
March 26, 1930; March 22, 1950; April 2, 1956
March 19, 1941
March 31, 1937
April 2, 1956
Virginia Road Vista Circle
50 Woodside Lane, southerly
40
.
50
744
Appleton St. to east of Wollaston Avenue 50
2146
March 14, 1877
November 22, 1906 March 9, 1881; March 10, 1884
Tanager Street . . Teel Street
35 Wollaston Ave. to Wollaston Ave. 77 Massachusetts Ave. to 15 Cross Street 60 Teel Street, westerly .
30
.
·
·
.
..
+Thompson Place
49 Lowell Street to Mill Lane
40
.
40
185
40
960
University Road .. +Unnamed Street . Unnamed Street .. +Unnamed Street tUnnamed Street .
.
. .
.
.
.
2001
Teel Street Place
April 3, 1929 March 31, 1937
350
.
363
Waldo Road
57 Cleveland Street to 71 Amsden Street
45
940
Waldo Road
71 Amsden Street to 70 Teel Street ·
40
.
593
Wall Street
202 Spring St. to 723 Concord Turnpike . 20 Walnut Street, easterly 25 998 Massachusetts Ave. to 252 Gray Street 33
40
275
Walnut Court
Walnut Street
Walnut Terrace .
55 Walnut Street to 269 Gray Street ..
40
613
. . .
*Warren Street
59 Medford Street to 133 Broadway .
50
2680
.
March 7, 1870 April 1, 1940; March 19, 1954 May 27, 1873; Old Town Way, November 9, 1846; Laid out by County Comm., 1874
A' ril 8, 1931 April 15, 1936 March 15, 1894
Water Street
675 Massachusetts Ave. to Russell Street Summer Street to Russell Street . .
40
680
1300
Waverley Street
158 Florence Avenue to Cedar Avenue .. 128 Medford Street to Orchard Terrace
40
473
Webcowet Road
22 Orchard Terrace northerly to Mystic Lake Drive
40
608
Webster Street
267 Broadway to Mystic Valley Parkway 63 River Street to Everett Street ..
40
2390
402
Wellington Street
86 Pleasant Street, easterly
40
737
191
West Court Terr.
167 Lowell Street, 200 feet northwesterly 118 Lowell Street to Orient Avenue .
50
2310
Westminster Ave. Westmoreland Ave.
221 Lowell Street to Orient Avenue .
40
555
340
West Street
82 Wollaston Avenue to Appleton Street
50
450
Wheaton Road
118 North Union Street to Everett Street 165 Mountain Avenue to north of Dickson Avenue
40
400
White Street
29 Margaret Street to 16 Burch Street ..
40
375
April 1, 1940 November 23, 1909
Whittemore Street
406 Massachusetts Ave. to B. & L. R. R.
40
466
Wigwam Circle ..
302 Washington St. westerly
40
256
Wilbur Avenue
58 Williams Street to Ely Road
40
1082
April 3. 1929
17 Lockeland Avenue to 14 Highland Ave.
40
370
......
April 3, 1929; formerly Trent St.
Williams Street
14 Highland Avenue to 14 Coleman Road 12 Arnold Street to 43 Piedmont Street .. 801 Massachusetts Avenue, northerly ...
40
1509
....
·
585
Wilson Avenue
170 Lake Street to Concord Turnpike
40
40
896
2159
March 29, 1939
Winchester Road
74 Old Mystic Street to 2 Greenwood Road
.
Washington Street
334 Summer Street to Ronald Road .
40
1442
2205
Washington Street
19 Ronald Road to Clyde Terr.
40
306
tWater St. Ext.
40
2133
790
March 22, 1950; March 22, 1957 March 31, 1937
April 15, 1926 March 25, 1861, and April 15, 1926
Wellesley Road ...
40
November 8, 1897; March 6, 1911
+Wellington St. Ex.
38 Wellington Street to Addison Street ..
40
'żii
...
August 4, 1884; March 17, 1881
March 19, 1954; March 23, 1955
40
401
Wheeler Lane
27 Marathon Street to Trowbridge Street
45
200
Warwick Street . . Washington Ave. .
55 Madison Avenue to Orient Avenue ...
40
250
Washington Street
46 Brattle Street to Summer Street
40
.
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
229
March 28, 1951
Willow Court .
30
170
Wildwood Avenue . Wildwood Avenue Wildwood Avenue
31 Bartlett Avenue to Lockeland Avenue
40
1110
March 29, 1939; formerly Trent St.
40
365
March 23, 1955
.
April 15, 1898; April 15, 1926; March 26, 1930; formerly Laurel Street
341
1360
700
Webcowet Road
March 13, 1946
40
Width
Public
Private
· Windermere Ave. Windermere Park . Windmill Lane ...
48 Bartlett Avenue to Churchill Avenue 12 Windermere Avenue, southerly ... 2 Old Middlesex Path to 21 Morningside Drive .
40
441
... . ·
30
400
Windsor Street ..
127 Mass. Ave., 577 ft. northeasterly
40
577
Windsor Street ...
38 Waldo Road, 423 feet southwesterly .. 126 Medford Street to Sherborn Street . .
20
111
Winslow Street
30 Mystic Street to Russell Terrace .
40
528
Winter Street
201 Massachusetts Ave. to 79 Broadway
40
1540
.
March 14, 1892 April 13, 1874; also Old Town Way, November 9, 1864
Winthrop Road Wollaston Avenue
103 Park Avenue to West Street .
60
1340
September 23, 1878; November 13, 1894; March 16, 1908
+Wollaston Avenue
3 West Street to Nicod Street
50
600
Wollaston Avenue
344 Appleton Street to Concord Turnpike
60
1332
Wollaston
Avenue
347 Appleton Street to Nicod Street
60
298
602
March 22, 1957
Woodbury Street .
35 Dundee Road to Hibbert Street
40
750
Woodland Street . .
120 Jason Street to Bartlett Avenue
40
282
March 22, 1909
Woodland Street . .
109 Bartlett Avenue to 18 Lincoln Street 40
240
March 25, 1915
Woodside Lane
28 Oak Hill Drive to north of Brattle St. 10
1225
819
Portion formerly Brattle Avenue; March 22, 1957
Wright Street
607 Summer Street to Winchester Line .
10
1596
966
March 22, 1957
Wyman Street
347 Massachusetts Ave. to 84 Warren St.
40
1050
Wyman Terrace
341 Massachusetts Ave. to 352 Mass. Ave.
March 20, 1916
Yale Road
75 River Street to Everett Street
40
454
Yerxa Road
95 Hemlock Street to Ridge Street 40
. . ....
*Streets laid out by the County Commissioners.
+Proposed Street not built.
Length of Public Streets and Town Ways
77.87 miles T ength of Private Streets open for travel 36.90 miles
Length of Proposed Private Streets
5.68 miles
230
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
....
....
40
423
Winnick Place
97 Summer Street, northerly
40
265
Portion formerly Sawyer Road March 25, 1915 May 6, 1924
40
1580
March 27, 1906; April 3, 1929
March 19, 1888; November 22, 1906
751
... .
1269
·
231
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
GENERAL STATISTICS
Arlington is situated six miles northeast of Boston, in latitude 42 deg., 25 min. north; longitude 71 deg., 09 min. west, at an eleva- tion above mean tide of from 4 to 377 feet.
Massachusetts Avenue at Cambridge line, elevation 10 feet. Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street, elevation 48 feet. Massachusetts Avenue at Park Avenue, elevation 155 feet.
Park Circle at Eastern Avenue (base of standpipe), elevation 377 feet.
Cresent Hill Avenue at Park Place, elevation 281 feet.
The Town and a part of what is now Belmont were set off from Cambridge and incorporated as West Cambridge in 1807. The name was changed from West Cambridge to Arlington in 1867.
Area of Town, including that covered by water, 3,51712 acres, 5 1/2 square miles; area covered by water, 286.2 acres.
Parks: Town 147.51 acres; Metropolitan 52.25 acres.
Total cemetery areas, 51.20 acres.
Public streets and Town ways; Macadam, 21.40 miles, Mac- asphalt, 0.27 miles; Colprovia, 0.29 miles; Kyrock, 0.47 miles; oiled gravel, 23.22 miles; concrete, 0.24 miles; bituminous concrete, 31.98 miles; total 77.87 miles.
State Highways and parkways, 5.87 miles. Private streets open for travel, 36.90 miles.
Length of proposed private street, 5.09 miles.
Permanent sidewalks; Tar concrete, 24.84 miles; brick, 3.08
miles; cement, 58.28 miles. Edgestones, 57.39 miles. Sewer system, 106.71 miles. Water system, 117.51 miles. Storm drain system, 61.54 miles Catch basins, 2,484.
232
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Town Counsel
December 31, 1957.
Honorable Board of Selectmen Robbins Memorial Town Hall Arlington 74, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1957 in compliance with Section 3 of Article 3 of the By-Laws of the Town of Arlington.
There have been thirty-four accident claims against the Town this year. Ten of them have been settled as authorized by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen. Eight have brought suit and sixteen are in abeyance. Of the previous year's claims and suits: eleven were abandoned by the claimants without suit, two were abandoned at the time they were reached for trial, and twelve were settled as authorized by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen. There were no verdicts against the Town.
Petition for land damages resulting from eminent domain taking for the Thompson School was settled as authorized by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen. This was the last of the larger land damage claims against the Town in recent years. Several other land damage petitions arising fromn storm drain installations and involving smaller claims were compromised also as authorized by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen.
At the Adjourned Session of the 1957 Annual Town Meeting held on March 20, 1957, a quorum being present, the Town Meeting mem- bers, under Article 27 of the Warrant for said Town Meeting, voted 106 in the affirmative and 91 in the negative on a motion to amend the Classification Plan - Schedule A and the Pay Plan - Schedule B by increasing the figures contained therein relating to Grades PF-2. PF-3, PF-4, PF-5, and PF-6. The aforesaid grades relate to and include all the ranks of the uniformed personnel of the Police and Fire Departments. The motion was declared lost because it was lacking a majority of the entire membership of the Representative Town Meeting ruled necessary to amend a Town By-Law under Robert's Rule's of Order. At the time of said Adjourned Session on March 20, 1957, there were 251 duly qualified Town Meeting Members.
Nine members of the uniformed personnel of the Police and Fire Departments acting in their individual capacities have brought a Petition for a Declaratory Judgment or Decree in the Middlesex Superior Court under the provisions of Chapter 231A of the General Laws of Massachusetts (Ter. Ed.) as a test case to determine whether the aforesaid vote under said Article 27 was legally effective to amend the Classification and Pay Plans and further to determine if they, as members of the Police and Fire Departments, are legally entitled to be compensated at the maximum salaries for their respective grades which they contend were increased by the aforesaid vote.
This case has been tried before a Master appointed by the Court to find the facts and report such findings, together with questions of law arising, to the Court. After extensive conferences between the Master, Counsel for the petitioners and the Town Counsel, the Master's Report has been filed in Court and a decision is anticipated in the near future.
233
REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL
A Bill in Equity brought by the Building Inspector of the Town to enforce the zoning By-Laws and to obtain an injunction against their violation by reason of the conduct of a business in a certain residential area of the Town has also been tried before a Master and an early decision is anticipated in this matter also.
Substantial amounts of money for aid rendered by the Board of Health and by the Symmes Arlington Hospital have been collected and turned over to the Town Collector.
Substantial amounts of money for aid rendered by the Bureau of Old Age Assistance have been recovered and turned over to the Town Collector also.
The Town Counsel has been available at regular and special meetings of the Board of Selectmen, has worked in close co-operation with the Town Manager, has rendered opinions as requested by the Town Manager, various Boards, Departments, Committees and Offi- cers, 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 co-operation 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
234
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Public Welfare Department
January 3, 1958
Edward C. Monahan, Town Manager Town Hall Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I have the honor to submit the report of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Public Welfare for the year ending December 31, 1957.
House Calls
Clinic Calls
Total
Old Age Assistance
380
193
573
Aid to Dependent Children
27
151
178
Disability Assistance
73
32
105
General Relief
34
140
174
Veterans' Services
8
76
84
The total number of visits to the Clinic for dental care was 182.
From the above figures, it is evident that the Old Age Assistance group formed the largest group of recipients of public relief. There are 499 individual recipients of Old Age Assistance in the Town of Arlington as of January 1, 1958. To correct a popular misunderstand- ing let me state the Old Age Assistance is not a "pension". Old Age Assistance is public welfare for persons over 65 years of age, who are in need. The recipients do not receive Old Age Assistance because they are 65 years of age; they must be 65 years of age and in financial distress. Therefore they are in the lowest possible income group; and it is for this group, that the Arlington Housing Authority has been striving, for the past few years, to provide adequate housing facilities.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD W. FEELEY, M. D.
Medical Inspector, Department of Public Welfare
235
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS
REPORT OF THE BOARDS OF APPEALS
January 31. 1958
Honorable Board of Selectmen ,
Town Hall
Arlington 74, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
Submitted herewith is the Annual Report of the Boards of Appeal for the calendar year ending December 31, 1957.
A total of fifty-nine (59) cases were heard and decided during this period by the combined Boards. These cases were disposed of as follows:
Zoning Board of Appeals
Variances granted 34
Variances granted with limitations 5
Variances denied
6
Dismissed without prejudice
1
Withdrawn with permission
1
-
Total .... 47
Building Board of Appeals
Variances granted
9
Variances denied
3
Total .. 12
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIBERT L. PELLEGRINI
DANIEL A. HEALY, JR.
PHILIP D. O'NEILL
RALPH H. SEABURY
ROBERT W. BLAISDELL.
236
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Board of Selectmen
Your Selectmen after completing another busy year herewith submit the Annual report of their activities.
Early in the year there was an unusual expression of interest in the operation of Town government and a demand made by citizens that all Boards and Commissions hold their meetings publicly. The Board gave this matter considerable thought and ultimately voted to conduct open meetings. The first such meeting was held Monday, February 18, 1957 and all subsequent meetings have since been con- ducted in this manner. Reporters from the local press have been present at all sessions and have published an impartial account of the proceedings. Although to this writing no other official body of the Town has seen fit to follow the Board's example, we plan to continue this practice indefinitely.
The Board organized with Mr. Thomas R. Rawson, as Chairman and Mr. George A. Harris, as Vice Chairman. By virtue of the re- election of Mr. Greeley and Mr. Rawson at the Annual Town Election for successive three year terms, the complement of the Board remained unchanged.
With the creation of the Arlington Development Commission at the Annual Town Meeting, the business development in Arlington Center was perhaps the most important issue to claim the Board's attention. In cooperation with the members of this Commission efforts were made to adopt some of the recommendations contained in the Benjamin report. The use of Russell Common for parking purposes was considered to be a vital step in providing the necessary impetus to business in this area. The Board therefore acting in accordance with the vote passed at the 1956 Annual Town Meeting and after all possible preliminary legal steps were taken, recommended that this land be taken by eminent domain at the Special Town Meeting held last November with concurrence of the Finance Committee. The Town Meeting however acted adversely on this matter which again leaves us in a status quo. The relocation of Mystic Street from a point opposite Pleasant Street to Chestnut Street also recommended in the Benjamin report is being currently studied. The Board has filed a bill for consideration by the Legislature in 1958 requesting that an appro- priation be made available for this reconstruction by the State Department of Public Works. Continued efforts will be made to co- operate with the Arlington Development Commission in every respect to expand business facilities in the Town and thereby lessen the tax burdens now being borne by owners of residential property.
Under our functions as Selectmen, we acted on innumerable applications for licenses to sell secondhand automobiles, junk. tags. food, to hawk and peddle, to store inflammable fluids, to show motion pictures on Sundays, to auction, to conduct fairs, to perform taxi service. We settled dog complaints, perambulated the boundary line between Arlington and Medford as required by law, prepared jury lists through the examination of some 700 eligible citizens, appointed election Officers in seventeen working precincts, to count ballots in elections, selected and prepared voting polls for all pre- cincts, attended legislative hearings and other hearings held by
237
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
various State agencies to protect the Town's interests, opposed the erection of billboards and granted hearings to citizens who sought our aid in their local problems. We considered the many aspects of traffic and when required adopted regulations to ease or correct local problems. We reviewed the budgetary requirements of all Town de- partments for the ensuing year and forwarded them to the Finance Committee with our recommendations. We acted on retirement applications and censored motion pictures and performed a myriad of other duties for which we are responsible as executives of our Town government.
As a Board of Survey we held hearings and recommended the acceptance of streets as public ways, selected which county ways should be improved under the provisions of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, recommended a permanent sidewalk and edgestone program, recommended a sidewalk maintenance program, dictated policy and approved Board of Survey layouts on housing developments, levied betterment assessments, approved locations for utility poles, conduits, gas mains and recommended that another section of Mass. Ave. be serviced by electricity through underground conduits in an effort to eliminate more of the unsightly wooden poles on our main street. We attended various hearings held by the County Commissioners and the State Department of Public Works and were successful in ob- taining a crossing at grade on Swan Place to permit the completion of the construction of this street as a public way.
Although the reconstruction of route 2 and the relocation of route 3 by the State Department of Public Works has remained relatively dormant, we have periodically contacted this agency throughout the year to determine what, if any action, was proposed and thereby continued to protect the interests of the Town to the best of our ability. We shall continue to be the Town's watch dogs in this respect and will vigorously oppose any proposal which in any respect is deemed to be detrimental to our community.
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