Town of Arlington annual report 1958, Part 29

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1958
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 414


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


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