USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1960 > Part 33
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LEGAL DEPARTMENT -- Various bills in equity resulted in favorable decrees in favor of the Town. Substantial monies for aid by the Board of Health and by the Welfare Department were recovered. Miscellaneous claims were processed and settled with the approval of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager. Legal opinions were given to practically all Town Departments and agencies. Several important damage suits face the Town in the ensuing year with particular emphasis on Mystic Street re-location and Massachusetts Avenue widening.
LIBRARY -- The Robbins Library continues to be an outstanding example of a good Public Library. During the year just closed, concrete plans were developed for the renovation of the Main Library to meet the needs of the community for improved and expanded library service. During the year, the final phases of the Elementary School Library Program came into being. Personnel problems continue a major concern. In September, 1960 the position of Supervisor of Technical Services was established. In September, 1960 the bid of Michael Racioppi was accepted and a contract for $34, 700 awarded for the construction of the long-needed elevator to the gallery. We have one of the finest libraries in the Commonwealth, and it is my sincere hope that the changes contemplated to be made in the physical plant will further enhance the ability of Library and Library Personnel to improve efficiency and render additional constructive and cooperative services to the residents of the Town.
373
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT -- All required maintenance and repairs to schools and other buildings were done. For details of the tremendous work accom- plished, reference is made to the Departmental report itself appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. Thanks to the work of the Maintenance men and of the custodians, the schools on opening day were a credit to the Townspeople. Outside school people who visit the Town rather frequently are rather amazed at the well-kept condition of our school facilities.
PARK AND RECREATION -- General maintenance of the eighteen fields and recreation areas continued, with emphasis on seasonal activities. A retaining wall was constructed to the rear of the grandstand on the north side of the Warren A. Peirce Field. The Robbins Barn was demolished by authorization of the 1960 Annual Town Meeting. Approximately 5,000 square feet of area at the Meadowbrook Park was graded for larger and better skating. Fifteen hundred tons of sand were dumped on the Reservoir Beach area to improve further the swimming area. With the co- operation of personnel of the Public Works, Cemetery, and the Tree Departments, skating areas were well maintained to assure pleasure to the residents in the fifty two days of safe skating during the year. Increasing demands for flower beds through- out the Town are straining the personnel and equipment of the Park Department.
Among the recreational activities supervised directly or indirectly by the Park Department were Skating, Golf, Boating, Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Archery, Ballroom Dancing, Arts and Crafts, Tennis, Swimming, Summer Playground, attend- ance at Boston Red Sox Games, attendance at a stage play at Tufts University, Magic Circle Theatre, Annual Weenie Roast, Annual Field Day, Pee Wee Hockey, and the Golden Age Club. Participated in the discussions of the newly-formed Arlington Youth Council, one of whose objectives is the physical fitness of youth. The position of a qualified professional female recreation supervisor on a full-time basis remains unfilled. It is to be sincerely hoped that during 1961 we will find a qualified profes- sional person for this very important supervisory position. Although the Superinten- dent has recreational personnel for the various seasonal activities, he is burdened with the double responsibility of maintaining facilities and programming activities. Gen- erally speaking, parents of the Town's youngsters are well pleased with the variety of recreational programs offered by the Park and Recreation Department, which operates on the premise that a healthy body assures a healthy mind.
PLANNING BOARD -- During the year the Planning Board was able to extend its program in a most important area by securing funds for the preparation of a master or comprehensive plan. For this purpose a Federal Planning Grant of $10,000 to be matched by Town funds was approved. It is estimated that preparation of this plan will consume about 24 months before final completion. The Planning and Renewal Associates of Cambridge were engaged as consultants in this project which began in September. The Relocation of Mystic Street, from Chestnut Street to Massachusetts Avenue opposite Pleasant Street, was completed during the year. The Planning Board continued to keep abreast of all developments in the various plans that have been advanced for metropolitan or regional planning as it affects the Boston Metropolitan District. Many meetings and hearings were held during the year for the purpose of coordinating public thinking in connection with the future of the Town.
POLICE DEPARTMENT -- Enforcement of traffic violations were accelerated during the year. The campaign against indecent literature continues with reasonable success due principally to the cooperation of local storekeepers. The' workload of the Department was accelerated this year because of the opening of the Russell Common Metered Parking Lot and the Relocation of Mystic Street. Juvenile situations are given constant attention with rehabilitation the basic philosophy.
As the year ended, considerable thought is being given to the grading of personnel so as to more satisfactorily evaluate the performance record of each member of the Department. The Chief of the Department was appointed an advisor to the newly formed Arlington Youth Council and has participated in all conferences and discussions of this important independent civic agency.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT -- This Department continued to render public services of the highest possible degree. The major work performed during the year consisted as usual of highway construction, highway maintenance including cleaning,
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
sweeping, seal-coating, snow removal, etc .; rubbish collections including operation of a Sanitary Landfill for rubbish disposal; water maintenance including water serv- ices, meter installations, cleaning of water mains, hydrant installations and hydrant repairs; sewer maintenance including cleaning of mains; drain maintenance including cleaning of catch basins and storm drains; installation of water mains, sewer mains, and storm drain mains; construction of sidewalks plus maintenance of public side- walks; repairs and garaging of all Public Works equipment plus over 30 cars, trucks, equipment, etc. of other town departments; miscellaneous work for other departments inlcuding the construction of shelving for the Public Library, the scraping and cleaning off of skating areas for the Park Department, the repair and maintenance and setting up of voting equipment in all voting precincts in the Town, the installation of sand and the grading of the swimming area at Reservoir Beach for the Reservoir Beach Com- mittee, construction of new blacktop parking area at the Central Fire Station, the repair of the interior walls at the Highland Fire Station, demolition of the Old Robbins Barn, the renovation of the Old Center Railroad Station for use as headquarters for the V.F.W., the construction of bituminous concrete playground and bituminous concrete walks for the School Department, etc., etc.
The improvement of the Volumes and Pressures of our Water Distribution System, the need for which was evident at the time of the Crosby School fire several years ago, was substantially completed during the year that just ended. This very important pro- gram is expected to be completed in the ensuing year. The Department continued to maintain and service the vehicles and equipment of all other town departments except- ing Fire and Police.
There was inaugurated during the year a new system of rubbish collection whereby the rubbish collection routes were re-arranged; if a holiday fell on a particular collec- tion day or if there was a snow storm on that particular collection day, scheduled collections for that particular day would be postponed one week excepting during the Christmas and New Year's weeks. This combination of postponement of collections because of holidays and snow storms will result in direct savings of approximately $8,000.00 per year in rubbish collections and in untold savings in connection with snow and ice removal because when the rubbish trucks are not working at their regular collection program during snow storms they are used for snow plowing, which reduces the number of rented trucks that the Town needs during the plowing operation.
Only by reading the detailed report of the Public Works Department elsewhere in this book will it be understood and appreciated just how varied and many are the work assignments of this extremely busy town department. In my opinion, the Arlington Public Works Department is second to none in the Commonwealth in the efficient services rendered at the lowest possible cost to the residents.
PURCHASING DEPARTMENT -- The spirit as well as the letter of the town by- law has been complied with, in that competitive bidding has been enforced in practically all town purchases whether or not it is required by said by-law. Obtaining bids on our annual requirements 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 needed by the Town. The policy of soliciting the interest of local vendors in the Town's purchase requirements con- tinues; where price and quality are comparable, local merchants are favored. As purchase orders are issued, the funds required are automatically encumbered by the Town Accountant which fulfills the two-fold purpose of control of the appropriation, and assurance to vendors of payment when the subject of the Purchase order is delivered to the Town in accordance with the terms and conditions of the purchase commitment.
SNOW REMOVAL -- Economies that were approved by the vast majority of the taxpayers, more particularly described in the 1959 Annual Report of the Town Manager, continued to be put into effect during the year in the removal of snow. Sanding operations continue to be a major factor of cost, especially in our hilly sections where street surfaces are usually glazed almost every night during the winter. As in previous years in order to keep roadways open, plowing and re-plowing are necessary with an eye to the weather forecast. The re-plowing of snow for street
375
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
widening purposes is accompanied by some small degree of unpleasantness when residents have to reshovel their driveways pursuant to the pushing back of additional snow from the roadway onto the driveway entrances; fortunately, in this respect, the residents of the Town, generally speaking, are quite understanding.
The rising rental costs of contractors equipment were alleviated somewhat during the year by the utilization of rubbish collection trucks for plowing. Operating economies put into effect do not reduce in any essential way the high-caliber of services rendered to the Town residents following the snow storms. It may be said, however, that the "plush" has been taken out of the plowing and snow removal opera- tions in business areas of the Town. The month of December witnessed the worst snow storm for that time of year in the history of the weather bureau.
STREET LIGHTING -- Based upon the sound principle that good street lighting is a crime deterrent, there was a continuance of improvements in our street lighting throughout the Town especially on our primary and secondary streets during the year of 1960.
TREE DEPARTMENT -- Three hundred and seventy five trees were planted on new streets constructed by the Public Works Department and private contractors throughout the year. Seventeen trees were blown down by Hurricane Donna on September 12, 1960. Broken and split limbs were found on trees on practically every street in the Town. The Department was assisted in this disaster with trucks and personnel from the Public Works and Park Departments. The regular spraying schedule of the Moth Department was carried as usual. Nine hundred and sixty seven private estates were sprayed at the request of property owners, who in turn made remittances to the Town for the cost of the work. The grounds bordering the Town Hall and the Robbins House were maintained in the usual manner. The parking area in the rear of the Robbins House as well as all gravel walks were blacktopped during the year. As usual, personnel in this department removed the snow from the front platform of the Town Hall, the walks through the grounds, the parking areas in the rear of the building and at the rear of the Robbins House. These areas were also sanded when needed.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT -- Case loads in practically all categories continue to decline. Medical and hospital costs continue to increase, which offset in great part the normal reduced expenditures which might be expected from a declining case load. A new category called "Medical Assistance for the Aged" (MAA) was created during the latter part of the year by Federal and State authorities. This new program is designed to render additional assistance to elderly citizens during periods of sickness, illness, and hospitalization. In theory, this program is designed also to reduce ex- penditures by cities and towns; but so little is presently known about the program that we shall have to await some experience with it to determine whether or not the theoretical gains to cities and towns will work out in actual practice. In connection with Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, and Disability Assistance, there is growing concern to cities and towns because of the slowness of State reimburse- ments. The Commonwealth is months and months behind in reimbursements to cities and towns, and as a consequence the actual receipts are substantially below the estimated receipts which were used originally as a basis for determining the tax rate. It is to be sincerely hoped that during the coming year the State Department of Welfare will improve its methods and efficiency in reimbursing cities and towns which will be a great advantage to such communities, including, of course, the Town of Arlington.
WIRE DEPARTMENT -- On the very sound philosophy that good street lighting is the greatest deterrent to juvenile delinquency, the past year has witnessed consider- able improvement in street lighting throughout the entire Town. Reference is made to the report of the Wire Inspector for particular details in connection with this much improved lighting which has, as aforesaid, been installed for the very desirable purpose of adhering closely to the philosophy that good street lighting is the greatest crime deterrent.
VETERANS' SERVICES -- Considerate and sympathetic service to Veterans and their families continues. During the year, a total of 9,047 various types and kinds of
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
services was rendered to Veterans and their families. Whereas in 1959 there was an unexplained drop in applications for aid, the year of 1960 witnessed a return to normalcy. New Federal laws affecting Veterans caused more Veterans, particularly the older ones, and widows of Veterans to become eligible for pensions; consequently, the disbursements in 1960 exceeded those of any previous year. State reimbursements are very slow, none having been received for any month subsequent to September 1959. These delayed payments to the Town total approximately $36,000 at year end.
CONCLUSION -- In concluding this, my eighth annual report, may I again respect- fully point out that the attainment of all of the objectives of business-like management under the Town Manager form of local government will be accomplished only by con- tinuing efforts. Businesslike municipal government reflects arduous efforts rather than any particular genius; the Town Manager must apply himself constantly to the task and in this respect he must elicit the full cooperation of the employees who work under his supervision and direction as well as all other associated employees and officials of the Town. In the early part of 1960, a committee was appointed by an independent civic agency to survey Town Management's First Six Years in Arlington from 1953 - 1959, inclusive. This civic agency reviewed the accomplishments of the Town Manager Plan in Arlington from the standpoint of the reasons advocated by it in 1951 and 1952 in its support of the proposed, at that time, Town Manager Plan for Arlington. In a twelve page report supplemented by two charts, this civic agency made a comprehensive study of the affairs of the Town during the period of 1953 to 1959, inclusive, at the conclusion of which the following determinations were made (Page 12 of said report):
"The review of Town Management for the particular period points up that the system is dependent upon the caliber and performance of the Board of Selectmen, who must determine, examine, and re-evaluate policy; and the professional competence of the Manager who must be dedicated to carry out the full intent of the Town Management Charter; and Arlington scores high on both points at this time."
It is my humble observation and opinion that the Town Manager Form of Govern- ment in Arlington has already shown most satisfactory results. I feel very strongly that a maximum of value has been furnished the citizens for every tax dollar spent. I sincerely believe that the records of the Town will substantiate my conclusions in this respect. It would appear that my personal opinions given here are substantially confirmed by the report referred to above.
For their cooperation during the year, I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, the Personal Board, the School Committee, the Board of Assessors, the Office of Town Collector and Treasurer, and all other town departments, Boards and Commissions.
My thanks are extended to the employees of all departments under my super- vision 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 are 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 make 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, 1960.
Respectfully submitted, Edward C. Monahan
Town Manager
INDEX
A
General Index
Index to Accts. Report 337
Accountant, Town Report . .
328
Animals, Inspector of, Report.
165
Appeals, Board of, Report .
174
343
Appropriations, Town Meeting
62
Assessors, Board of, Report
144
337
Assets and Liabilities, Statement of.
329
B
Balance Sheet, December 31, 1960.
329
Betterment Assessment Collections.
334
Births Registered for the year
138
Buildings, Inspector of, Report .
169
343
Buildings, Insurance Fund .
318
Budget Statement, Town Accountant .
364
C
Cemeteries, Commissioners of, Report
177
358-359
Charities
348-349
Civil Defense, Department of, Report.
167
345
Clerk, Town, Report . .
136
339
Collector of Taxes, Statement of
324
337
Committees, Town, Appointed.
11
Constables
9
Contributory Retirement System
325
D
Deaths by Months
140
Debt, Municipal
358-359
Development Commission, Report of
166
Dog Officer, Report
175
Dogs Registered.
136
E
Election, Annual Town, March 7, 1960
39
341
Engineer, Town, Report of ..
178
339
Excise Tax, Motor Receipts
334
F
Fees, Town Clerk.
338
Finance Committee, Report
150
337
Fines and Forfeits
334
Fire Department, Report .
232
342-343
Fire and Police Signal System
240
343
Forestry.
Fund, Annie L. Hill Poor Widows 317
Fund, Maria L. Hill Poor Widows 317
Fund, Children's Book. . 311
Fund, Dexter Rawson Fay Library
311
Fund, Trustees of Elbridge Farmer.
306
Fund, Henry E. Dodge Library
311
Fund, Louise S. Gruber Library
312
Fund, Ellen W. Hodgdon Library
310
Fund, Emma L. Sprague Library.
308
Fund, Emma L. Sprague Poor Widows'
321
Fund, E. Nelson Blake Library .
308
Fund, E. Nelson Blake, Jr., Memorial
315
345
Elections and Town Meetings, Payments.
INDEX - CONTINUED
Index to Accts. Report
Fund, E. S. Farmer Poor Widows'.
316
Fund, E. S. Farmer Relief
316
Fund, Henry Mott Library
308
Fund, Julia Fillebrown
317
Fund, M. Helen Teele Library
310
Fund, M. M. W. Russell School .
321
Fund, Martha M. W. Russell Poor Widows
320
Fund, Mary Cutter Poor Widows'
315
Fund, Municipal Buildings Insurance
318
Fund, Nathan Pratt High School.
318
Fund, Nathan Pratt Library
312
Fund, Nathan Pratt Poor Widows
319
Fund, Perpetual Care, Cemeteries
313
Fund, Cemetery
313
Fund, Robbins Cemetery
314
Fund, Robbins House Maintenance .
319
Fund, Robbins Library Art.
307
Fund, Robbins Scholarship
320
Fund, Samuel C. Bucknam Cemetery
314
Fund, Sarah Ross Vaughan Library
309
Fund, Soldiers Monument.
321
Fund, Francis E. Thompson Library
309
Fund, Francis E. Thompson Scholarship.
322
Fund, Timothy Wellington Library.
310
Fund, William Cutter School. . 315
Fund, Workmen's Compensation
323
G
General Government Receipts & Expenses
329
336
Grants and Gifts.
334
H
Health, Board of, Report .
245
344-345
Highway Division, Board of Public Works
265
346-347
Housing Authority. 176
I
Income and Corporation Taxes, State .
332
Indebtedness, Municipal.
358-359
Interest
358-359
J
Jurors, List of. 287
L
Legal Department.
250
339
Librarian, Report.
255
352-353
Library, Robbins, Report of Trustees
251
332
M
Maintenance, Supervisor of, Report
160
339
Manager, Report of.
369
337
Marriages, Registered for the Year.
139
Meeting, Annual Town .
15
Libraries, Receipts and Payments.
Licenses and Permits,
General Index
INDEX - CONTINUED
Moth Department, Report.
Motor Excise Tax Receipts
334
O
Officers, Town Appointive 9
Officers, Town Elective.
3
Officials Appointed by Town Manager. 7
P
Park Commission, Report
155
352-353
Parking Meters Receipts
334
Payments, Departmental
337
Pensions and Annuities
355
Personnel Board, Report .
228
337
Physician, Town, Report
227
Planning Board, Report .
225
339
Police, Chief of, Report.
200
342-343
Police, Department, Officers and Men
200
Presidential Primary
94
Public Service Enterprises
356-357
Public Welfare, Dept. of, Report
303
348-349
Public Works, Dept. of, Report
261
339
Purchasing Dept., Report of
230
339
R
Receipts, General Revenue. .
332
Records of Elections and Town Meetings
14
352-353
Registrars of Voters, Report
141
Retirement System, Contributory
325
Robbins Library, Report of Trustees
S
Sanitary Division, Dept. of Public Works
272
344-345
School Committee, Report .
215
Schools, Receipts and Payments
350-351
Schools, Superintendent of, Report.
217
Sealer of Weights and Measures, Report.
143
343
Selectmen, Board of, Report. .
243
337
Sewer Division, Dept. of Public Works
273
Special Agencies and Funds
360-361
Special Assessments.
334
Statistics, General
2, 199
Streets, Public and Private
180
Survey, Board of
339
T
Tax Rate, Recapitulation
146
Tax Receipts .
332
Tax Refunds
333
Tax Revenues, How Spent.
148
Town Accountant
328
337
Town Clerk, Report
136
339
Town Counsel, Report .
250
339
Town House Grounds, Report
153
Town Hall .
341
Town Manager, Report of.
369
337
Recreation, Receipts and Payments .
251
General Index 153
Index to Accts. Report
INDEX - CONTINUED
Town Meeting, Annual, March 21, 1960 .
General Index 15
Index to Accts. Report
Town Meeting, Members, List of . .
4
Town Officers, Appointive
9
Town Officers, Appointed by Manager
7
Town Officers, Elective .
3
Town Records .
15
Treasurer, Town Report
327
337
Tree Warden, Report.
152
342
U
Unclassified Receipts and Payments. .
354-355
Unexpended Balances, Appropriation Accounts . .
362
V
Veterans' Services, Report of .
172
348-349
W
Water. Division, Dept. of Public Works
276
356-357
Welfare, Public, Dept. of, Report.
303
348-349
Wire Department, Report .
171
343
Workmen's Compensation Insurance Fund .
323
227246 c2
974.44 Arlington
Arlington, Mass. Annual Reports, 1960
ROBBINS LIBRARY ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PRINTED IN U. S.A.
23-263-002
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