USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1958 > Part 29
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HEALTH, BOARD OF- All public health functions of the de- partment performed in usual way, such as Communicable Diseases, licensing, tuberculosis, clinics, milk inspections, physical examina- tions of puplis at parochial and other private schools, dog vaccina- tions, etc. A study is being made of the need of Board of Health doctors in parochial and private schools.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT - During the year, there were no ver -. dicts against the Town. A Superior Court decree ruled in favor of
390
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
the Town in the case of policemen and firemen versus the Town pursuant to action by the 1957 Annual Town Meeting on Article 27 of the Warrant for said meeting. The petitioners appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court where the case was argued in December; a decision is anticipated in the near future. Various Bills in Equity resulted in favorable decrees in favor of the Town by the Superior Court. Substantial amounts of money for aid by the Board of Health and by the Welfare Department were recovered. Legal opinions were given to practically all Town departments and agencies.
LIBRARY -1958 was the busiest, most active year in the his- tory of the Robbins Library. According to expert consultants en- gaged during the year - "The Robbins Library is an outstanding example" of good public libraries. These library experts recommend that certain changes be made in the physical plant to improve efficiency with fewer personnel. ,
MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT - All required maintenance and repairs to school and other buildings were done. For details of the tremendous work accomplished reference is made to the depart- mental report appearing elsewhere in this Annual Town Report. Thanks to the work of the maintenance men and of the custodians, the schools on opening day were a credit to the townspeople.
PARK AND RECREATION - All play areas maintained and several improvements made. There was a fine recreation program for all ages, including skating, golf, bowling, basketball, softball, baseball, archery, arts and crafts. dancing, tennis, swimming, first aid, Golden Age Club, etc. It is important to mention the tremendous success of the Friday evening dances at the Town Hall for the Junior Teen-agers. These dances have been very well attended and youngsters themselves have conducted themselves in a praise-worthy manner. The mothers and fathers of these youngsters are cordially invited to come to the Town Hall on Friday evening and observe these happy youngsters expending their energies and otherwise hav- ing a very fine time under very careful supervision.
PLANNING BOARD- Busy year. Studies were made of land use, zoning, etc. Many meetings were held with Selectmen, Develop- nient Commission, and various interested groups. Made many rec- ommendations to the 1958 Annual Town Meeting, which were ap- proved by the Town Meeting Members. Studying ways and means to encourage the building of apartment houses. Studies made of urban renewal, conferences with Federal Officials. Studies made also of regional planning. Recommend a permanent planning staff for best results in future.
POLICE DEPARTMENT - Based on belief that as crime is on wheels if you control the wheels you will keep serious crime to a minimum, continuous enforcement of motor vehicle violations was continued. Through the voluntary cooperation of storekeepers, the campaign to reduce the number of indecent books, pamphlets, etc. was reduced considerably. Juvenile situations, although higher than previous year, were still relatively low in number.
391
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - This department continued to render public service of the highest degree to the residents. Only by reading the detailed report of this department elsewhere in this Annual Report can it possibly be appreciated how varied and mul- tiple are the work assignments of this very busy town department. The Public Works Department appears to have the full confidence of the citizens and justifiably so, in my opinion, because over and above its stated responsibilities. it has willingly and energetically tackled every emergency situation within its physical and personal capacities and stayed with it until fully restored.
PURCHASING DEPARTMENT - The spirit as well as the letter of the town by-law has been complied with, in that competitive bid- ding has been enforced in practically all town purchases whether or not it is required by said by-law. Obtaining bids on our annual re- quirements for materials to be delivered as needed throughout the entire year has resulted in substantial savings in view of the rising price tendency throughout the year in practically all materials need- ed by the Town. The policy of soliciting in the interest of local vendors in the Town's purchase requirements continues where price and quality are comparable, local merchants are favored.
SEWER AND WATER INSTALLATIONS - Policy continues of having house developers assume major part of such costs. The rela- tively small costs in both types of installations which the Town occasionally assumes, are passed on to the benefited properties by Betterment Assessments.
SNOW REMOVAL- Economies approved by the vast majority of taxpayers continued to be put into effect in the removal of snow; for example, the traditional practice of removing snow from the side- walks of business areas has been abandoned; also, snow removal was accomplished during regular working hours instead of the former practice of continuing the operation on an overtime basis until the entire removal job was achieved. Sanding operations con- tinue to be a major factor of cost, especially in our hilly sections where street surfaces are usually glazed alomst every night during the winter. Because of the necessity of keeping roadways open, plowing and re-plowing must be done with an eye to the weather forecast. If, for example, a current snow storm is to be followed by another snow storm or freeze, the roadways must be plowed almost meticulously. On the other hand, if warmer weather is in prospect after a snow storm, it is not necessary, for obvious reasons, to fol- low the same procedure in plowing. Unfortunately, when re-plowing operations are engaged in, some unpleasantness arises because drive- way openings that have been cleared by thrifty householders be- come filled in again by the plow necessitating additional work on their driveways by householders. The great patience of householders, previously extended to the Public Works Department in connection with such necessary personal inconveniences caused by such re-plow- ing operations to assure safe roadway conditions, is again solicited.
STREET LIGHTING - Better lighting program was continued and is proposed for the future. It is recommended that in the en- suing year, the street lighting system along Mass. Avenue, from
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Arlington Center to the Canıb. Line, be modernized so as to become a more improved device for pedestrian safety. As every authority on the subject will testify, where street lighting throws a reasonable amount of foot candles on road surfaces, there are few serious acci- dents on such roadways.
TREE DEPARTMENT - Number of trees affected by Dutch Elm Disease is on the increase. Regular spraying schedule was con- tinued including 931 private estates who reimburse Town for costs of same. Grounds of Town Hall and Robbins House were maintained as is customary.
VETERANS' SERVICES-Increased costs of medical and hospi- tal care reflected in increased Town costs. Every possible service was rendered to veterans and their families.
WATER SYSTEM- Improvements continued. Within the next two years, all of the improvements originally planned subsequent to the Crosby School fire in May, 1954, should be accomplished, after which it will no longer be necessary to spend $25,000. to $40,000. a year on the improvements of our volumes and pressures. Regular maintenance, however, in the future will include periodical cleaning of the water mains and the continued introduction into the system of calgon so as to prevent the building up of bacteriological growth inside of the water pipes thus assuring that the water mains of the Town will have a real capacity consistent with their theoretical capacity.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT -- Machine accounting was installed during the year. It is too soon yet to appraise the results. Courteous alld sympathetic consideration was extended to all persons requesting aid. As so many outside factors affect the various kinds of aid, such as Federal Grants, State Reimbursements, aid rendered by other cities and towns to Arlington "settled" cases, and aid rendered by Arlington to "settled" cases of other cities and towns, all involving claims and counter claims, it is my recommendation that the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts take over all functions of the Welfare Departments of the cities and towns of the State. When it is con- sidered that practically all rules and regulations are established by the State and/or Federal Government, also, that the State Legisla- ture controls niany of the benefits extended to welfare recipients, there is even more reason why the Commonwealth should take over the entire welfare program. From an administrative standpoint, tre- mendous duplication would be eliminated with corresponding reduc- tion in administrative costs. The total number of cases have declined but the case-load cost has increased due principally to increased costs of general hospitals, chronic hospitals, public medical institu- tions and nursing homes. Please refer to the Annual Report of the Welfare Department, elsewhere in this Town Report for detailed in- formation.
CONCLUSION - In concluding this, my sixth annual report, may I respectfully point out that the attainment of all of the objec- tives of businesslike management under the Town Manager form
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REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
of local government will be accomplished only by continuing efforts. In my opinion, businesslike municipal government reflects arduous efforts rather than genius-the Town Manager must apply himself constantly to the task and in this respect he must elicit the full co- operation of the employees who work under his supervision and direction as well as all other associated employees and officials of the Town. It is my humble observation that the Town Manager form of government has already shown satisfactory results. I feel very strongly that a maximum of value has been furnished the citi- zens for every tax dollar spent; I sincerely believe that the records will substantiate my conclusions in this respect.
For their cooperation during the year, I wish to thank the Hon- orable Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, the Personnel Board, the School Committee, the Board of Assessors, and all town departments, boards and commissions.
My thanks are extended to the employees of all departments under my supervision and control who are especially deserving of my gratitude for their fine team-work during the year. Considering the number of complaints and the enormity of the task, faults have apparently been relatively few in the rendering of public service to the citizens of the Town.
The Town of Arlington is indeed fortunate in the number of outstanding citizens, including Town Meeting members and members of school building committees, who give of their time and effort with no compensation to the various unpaid boards and commissions of the town government. Sincere thanks is expressed to them for their truly tremendous services to the town during the year just closed.
To the citizens of the town, my sincere thanks are extended for their continued cooperation, confidence and encouragement which makes worthwhile every effort expended in their behalf by their town employees, including the Town Manager.
Reference is made to other sections of this annual report for information, statistics and data of the various Town Departments for the year ending December 31, 1958.
Respectfully submitted,
Edward C. Monahan Town Manager
INDEX
A
General Index
Index to Accts. Report
Accountant, Town Report
333
343
Animals, Inspector of, Report
139
Appeals, Boards of, Report
192
349
Appropriations and Expenditures
55
Assessors, Board of, Report
129
343
Assets and Liabilities, Statement of
334
B
Balance Sheet, December 31, 1958
334
Betterment Assessment Collections
128
340
Births Registered for the year
123
Buildings, Inspector of, Report
170
349
Buildings, Insurance Fund
330
Budget Statement, Town Accountant
372
C
Cemeteries, Commissioners of, Report
156
364-365
Charities
354-355
Civil Defense, Department of, Report
136
351
Clerk, Town, Report
121
344-345
Collector of Taxes, Statement of
128
343
Committees, Town, Appointed
8
Constables
6
Contributory Retirement System
382
D
Deaths by Months
125
Debt, Municipal
364-365
Development Commission, Report of
157
Dog Officer, Report
138
Dogs Registered
121
E
Election, Annual Town, March 3, 1958
39
Elections and Town Meetings, Payments
347
Engineer, Town, Report of
171
345
Excess & Deficiency Account
334
Excise Tax, Motor Receipts
340
F
Fees, Town Clerk
334
Finance Committee, Report
196
343
Fines and Forfeits
340
Fire Department, Report
199
348-349
Fire and Police Signal System
207
349
Forestry
348-351
Fund, Annie L. Hill Poor Widows'
318
Fund, Maria L. Hill Poor Widows'
318
Fund, Children's Book 313
Fund, Dexter Rawson Fay Library
314
Fund, Trustees of Elbridge Farmer
308
INDEX - CONTINUED
General Index
Index to Accts. Report
Fund, Louise S. Gruber Library
314
Fund, Ellen W. Hodgdon Library
313
Fund, Emma L. Sprague Library 311
Fund, Emma L. Sprague Poor Widows' 319
Fund, E. Nelson Blake Library
310
Fund, E. Nelson Blake, Jr., Memorial
326
Fund, E. S. Farmer Poor Widows'
320
Fund, E. S. Farmer Relief
3/21
Fund, Henry Mott Library
310
Fund, Julia Fillebrown
319
Fund, M. Helen Teele Library
312
Fund, M. M. W. Russell School
317
Fund, Martha M. W. Russell Poor Widows' 316
Fund, Mary Cutter Poor Widows' 316
Fund, Municipal Buildings Insurance 330
Fund, Nathan Pratt High School
324
Fund, Nathan Pratt Library
325
Fund, Nathan Pratt Poor Widows'
325
Fund, Perpetual Care, Cemeteries
327
Fund, Robbins Cemetery
329
Fund, Robbins House Maintenance
315
Fund, Robbins Library Art
309
Fund, Robbins Library Print
309
Fund, Robbins Scholarship
331
Fund, Samuel C. Bucknam Cemetery 328
Fund, Sarah Ross Vaughn Library 312
Fund, Soldiers Monument 329
Fund, Francis E. Thompson Library 311
Fund, Francis E. Thompson Scholarship 322
Fund, Timothy Wellington Library 312
Fund, William Cutter School 317
Fund, Workmen's Compensation
330
G
General Government Receipts & Expenses 334 342
Grants and Gifts
340
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth Department, Report 162
H
Health, Board of, Report
254 350-351
Highway Division, Board of Public Works 280
352-353
Housing Authority
159
I
Income and Corporation Taxes, State
338 Indebtedness, Municipal 364-365
Interest
364-365
INDEX - CONTINUED
General Index
Index to Accts. Report
J
Jurors, List of 233
L
Legal Department
214
345
Librarian, Report
264
Libraries, Receipts and Payments
358-359
Library, Robbins, Report of Trustees
261
Licenses and Permits, Receipts
338
M
Maintenance, Supervisor of, Report
148
345
Manager, Report of
387
343
Marriages, Registered for the Year
124
Meeting, Annual Town
46
Moth Department, Report
162
D
Officers, Town Appointive
6
Officers, Town Elective
3
Officials Appointed by Town Manager
4
P
Park Commission, Report
140
358-359
Parking Meters Receipts
340
Payments, Departmental
359
Pensions and Annuities
361
Personnel Board, Report
212
343
Physician, Town, Report
139
Planning Board, Report
144
345
Police, Chief of, Report
216
348-349
Police, Department, Officers and Men
216
Public Service Enterprises
362-363
Public Welfare, Dept. of, Report
165
354-355
Public Works, Dept. of, Report
280
345
Purchasing Dept., Report of
211
345
R
Receipts, General Revenue
338
Records of Elections and Town Meetings
11
Recreation, Receipts and Payments
358-359
Registrars of Voters, Report
126
Retirement System, Contributory
382
Robbins Library, Report of Trustees
261
INDEX - CONTINUED
General Index
Index to Accts. Report
S
Sanitary Division, Dept. of Public Works
293
350-351
School Committee, Report
268
Schools, Receipts and Payments
356-357
Schools, Superintendent of, Report
271
Sealer of Weights and Measures, Report
160
348-349
Selectmen, Board of, Report
384
343
Sewer Division, Dept. of Public Works
296
363
Special Agencies and Funds
366-367
Special Assessments
340
State Primary, Sept. 9, 1958
95
State Election, Nov. 4, 1958
110
Statistics, General
2.
191
Streets, Public and Private
173
Survey, Board of
345
T
Tax Rate, Recapitulation
131
Tax Receipts
338
Tax Refunds
339
Tax Revenues, How Spent
134
Town Accountant
333
343
Town Clerk, Report
121
344-345
Town Counsel, Report
214
359
Town House Grounds, Report
163
359
Town Hall
347
Town Manager, Report of
387
343
Town Meeting, Annual, March 17, 1958
46
Town Officers, Appointive
6
Town Officers, Appointed by Manager
4
Town Officers, Elective
3
Town Records
11
Treasurer, Town Report
332
343
Tree Warden, Report
161
348
U
Unclassified Receipts and Payments
360-361
Unexpended Balances, Appropriation Accounts
368
V
Veterans' Services, Report of
193 354-355
W
Water Division, Dept. of Public Works
297
362-363
Welfare, Public, Dept. of, Report
165
354-355
Wire Department, Report
164
349
Workmen's Compensation Insurance Fund
330
ARLINGTON ADVOCATE, Inc. Arlington, Mass.
6
W ELLS BINDERY INC. ALTHAM, MASS. OCT. 1959
Do NOT CIRCULATE
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