Town of Arlington annual report 1960, Part 33

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1960
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 394


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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,


374


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


376


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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