USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1963 > Part 19
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196
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
increases the most obvious answer might be an addition to the building as it was constructed with this thought in mind. If the population decreases, the Stratton School as presently constructed could house the pupil population. However, in long range planning one must take all known factors into con- sideration before a decisionisreached. Itis therefore necessary to examine the situation in other areas of the Town.
The Peirce and the Locke Schools are two of our older buildings. They are located in areas which, until recently, had little population growth. Within the past two years their school population have shown gradual but consistent growth. The Locke School, by reason of its large classrooms, can accomodate some further growth. The Peirce School, on the other hand, is operating at full capacity now and can absorb additional students only by increasing class sizes beyond satisfactory standards.
The Dallin School is a relatively new school which was built specifically so that an addition might be easily added. At present, this school is not crowded but it does not have any unused classrooms. The Dallin School is located in an area of possible potential population increase. Within this school district lies the largest number of building lots left in the Town. The relocation of Route 2 has tended to slow down building activity in this section. Assuming that the Route 2 problem will someday be ironed out, it is not unreasonable to assume that the population will grow, and therefore, might necessitate an addition to the Dallin School.
When the Stratton School opened it took many students from the Bishop, the Cutter and the Peirce Schools. The Dallin School drew the majority of its pupils from the Locke and the Brackett Schools. All of these schools are now having gradual pupil increases despite the number they lost to the Stratton and the Dallin Schools. Therefore, it appears likely that if any solution to overcrowding is to be found, it will be found in either an addition to the Dallin or the Stratton Schools or smaller additions to both, plus re- districting. Bussing pupils will not offer any long-range solution as the number of empty classrooms in the Town is limited and they are scattered among several schools in the east end of the Town. It may well be that additional bussing of pupils will be necessary until more classrooms be- come available.
The problem of overcrowding at the high school has already been dis- cussed earlier in this report. The high school problem will be particularly acute from September, 1964 until the addition is completed sometime that school year. The present set of buildings simply will not hold all of the youngsters at one time next fall. Therefore, some type of double session must be worked out in order to accomodate the student body.
In the field of curriculum revision significant beginnings have been made in several fields that must be finished within the next several years. At least two new areas must be explored within the next year. The high school must be prepared to offer Advanced Placement Courses in the basic disciplines. It is suggested that the field of Mathematics and the Classics take our initial steps in this direction. Reliable information, from the officials of the College Entrance Examination Boards, indicate that very soon we must plan on Advanced Placement Courses in English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Foreign Languages and Science. The second area of curricular change should commence next fall with additional classes in the STEP Program and possibly a STEP Program for girls provided our experi- ment in this area is successful this year. The time is here when every pupil must have a high school diploma and for the pupil who is not going on to further education this diploma must be evidence of a marketable skill.
Any change in curriculum naturally has an effect on the faculty. In order to prepare our present staff to effectively teach Advanced Placement
197
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Courses we must institute a vigorous in-service training program. Some of this, as has been done in the past, can be accomplished after school during the regular school year. However, it is more likely and certainly prefer- able that this training take place during the summer when the demands on the teacher's time is at a minimum. This suggestion assumes that teachers will be paid for this professional work as is the custom in other professions and industry.
Teachers for the STEP Program are in scarce supply. As teachers they are generalists in regard to the subject matter disciplines, but they are specialists in understanding the problems of youth. We must, there- fore, exert every effort to recruit capable people in this field.
In general, our faculty is a mature one. This speaks well for us and our children for it indicates some degree of stability. Unfortunately, within the next few years, we will lose many of our good teachers through retirement. We wish to replace them with equally good teachers. Furthermore, a balance between inexperienced and experienced teachers must be maintained. This will not be easy as the competition for good teachers is becoming increasingly great. It therefore behooves us to remember that good educa- tion is not cheap; our school budgets will continue to climb for the foresee- able future. However, cheap education is expensive because it is expensive in wasted human lives.
CONCLUSION
May I take this opportunity to publicly express my thanks to the School Committee for the privilege and pleasure of working with such a dedicated group of individuals. It is gratifying to be able to work with a School Com- mittee who is imbued with but a single purpose -- to make our schools "Better." As an Administrator it is most satisfying to work with a Com- mittee that concerns itself with policy decisions alone and permits me, without interference, to administer the schools within their rules and regula- tions.
No man could effectively run an undertaking as large and as complex as the Arlington Public Schools successfully without the whole-hearted support of many individuals. I am deeply grateful to the Assistant Super - intendent of Schools for his effective support in areas too numerous to mention and for taking the responsibility of preparing this report so ably. To the professional staff I express my appreciation for their dedicated service, to the clerical staff and to the custodial staff I wish to express my thanks for their splendid efforts.
We of the school staff are most appreciative of the gracious assistance afforded us whenever we have called upon the Town Manager, the Superin- tendent of Public Works, the Fire Chief, the Chief of Police, the Supervisor of Maintenance, and the Supervisor of Custodians.
To all concerned, I extend my appreciation and gratitude.
Respectfully submitted,
Bert A. Roens Superintendent of Schools
198
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Planning Board
January 4, 1964
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Monahan:
In accordance with Section 49 of Chapter 90 and Section 71 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, the Planning Board submits its report for the year ending December 31, 1963.
There was no change in the membership of the Board during the year. David A. Leone and Richard L. Mullin were reappointed for three-year terms which will expire in 1966. The Board held a reorganization meeting on August 14, electing George M. Herlihy chairman and Murdena A. Campbell secretary.
In January copies of the Summary Report of the Comprehensive Plan for Arlington prepared for the Board by the Planning Services Group of Cambridge were distributed to town officials, members of town boards, and all Town Meeting members. Copies are available in the Robbins Library and are on sale for a nominal fee in the Town Clerk's office. This Plan, authorized by the 1960 Town Meeting and financed in part through an urban planning assistance grant from the U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency, is intended as a general guide for the continuing development and improve- ment of the Town. It summarizes the findings of studies made over a two- year period. Within the framework of this Plan the Board has adopted a series of closely interrelated policies and proposals dealing with land use, traffic circulation, and community facilities. While some of the specific recommendations may be modified during the continual review and updating of the Plan by the Board, the general objectives will undoubtedly remain constant. It is hoped that the Comprehensive Plan will become increasingly useful to town officials and citizens in making decisions that will determine the future of Arlington.
Two additional planning projects were undertaken by the Board in 1963 with two-thirds of the cost being financed by urban planning assistance grants totaling $9,330 from the U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency. The Board again engaged the Planning Services Group of Cambridge as consultants to prepare these programs.
The first of these, a Capital Improvements Program for Arlington, was completed in August and copies were distributed to town officials and town boards. Copies are available to the public at the Robbins Library. The Program presents a series of integrated budgets prepared with the assistance of town officials and department heads and is designed to establish priorities, realistic timing, and methods of financing selected recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan over a six-year period. The Board believes that the value of developing and publishing such a program each year lies in its usefulness to those people who are responsible for the choice and timing of future capital improvements: the Town Manger, Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, town boards, Town Meeting members, and the public at large. The need to submit requests for money on an orderly schedule over a six- year period can also provide a stimulus to the various departments to organize their spending according to their internal needs and protect legiti- mate projects against temporary political interference. Furthermore, re- curring budgeting permits continuity of decision making by the constantly changing membership of elected or appointed town officials, boards, and
199
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
Town Meeting members. Such a program should help to stabilize the Ar- lington tax rate and smooth out its inevitable rise, avoid waste, and foster public support of necessary projects.
The second planning program is a detailed development plan for an 82- acre of Arlington Center. In preparing the Comprehensive Plan it became obvious that in the Center relationships of land use, traffic, and regional economic pressures were so complex that more detailed analysis was needed. The study was completed in December and the report will be dis- tributed early in 1964. It will identify and analyze the specific problems of Arlington Center and set up objectives for the Town to pursue in realizing the area's full potential. Problems studied include maldistribution of park- ing, mixed land use, geographic factors such as difficult topography and the railroad grade crossing, and the general undistinguished appearance of the Center. In spite of these problems, an excellent potential market exists in Arlington's 50,000 residents and the Board believes that for the good of the Town, more of this market demand should be served locally. Improvement of Arlington Center as a town-serving shopping area through new construc- tion can have beneficial direct effects on the local tax base. Retail trade improvements are also important in maintaining the desirability of most residential properties in Arlington, especially since these properties repre- sent approximately 80 per cent of the town tax base itself.
To protect the Town's investment in the above planning programs and to assist in carrying out the recommendations they contain, the Board recommended to the 1963 Town Meeting that a full-time professional planner be appointed. This recommendation was approved and on September 1 Harry J. Miller was appointed to this position. Mr. Miller holds the degree of Master of City Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and has had several years of planning experience in New Jersey and Pennsyl- vania.
The Board is presently at work on Warrant articles for the 1964 Town Meeting to implement certain proposals of the Comprehensive Plan. These include regulations for a new zoning district for three-story, walk-up apart- ments in areas where elevator apartments are not welcome. These will include recommendations for tight controls of density, parking, landscaping and recreation areas, buffer strips and screening to insure that such new construction would be acceptable and beneficial to the neighborhood.
More effective controls for signs, billboards, and similar advertising structures are presently under study by the Board. At the present time signs are controlled in Arlington by several unintegrated sets of regulations. It is hoped that with the cooperation of other boards a separate by-law for the regulation of signs can be submitted to the 1964 Town Meeting in order that increased protection may be afforded the public from structural and traffic hazards and that signs may be prohibited in locations where their presence would adversely affect property values.
During the year the Board held eighteen meetings and participated in joint meetings with the Board of Selectmen and the Arlington Housing Authority. Nine public hearings were held for revisions in the Zoning By- Law and changes in the Zoning Map. The Board's recommendations regard- ing these changes were upheld by the Town Meeting with one exception.
In May members of the Board attended the annual spring meeting of the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards held in Cambridge.
The Board met in June with Donald M. Graham, director of the Greater Boston Regional Planning Project, members of his staff, and members of the Board of Selectmen to be briefed on the preliminary comprehensive plan and development program for the Greater Boston Region being carried out
200
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
by the Project with the assistance of federal funds over a three-year period. Such a plan will be a prerequisite for federal aid to highways and mass transportation and the importance of local participation was stressed at this meeting.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation for the willing assistance and advice which has been given to us and to our consultants in the prepara- tion of the above planning programs by the Town Manager and other town officials, town boards, and department heads.
Respectfully submitted,
George M. Herlihy, Chairman Murdena A. Campbell, Secretary John A. Cataldo David A. Leone Richard Leo Mullin
Report of the Public Welfare Department
January 24, 1964
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager
Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I have the honor of submitting the report of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Public Welfare for the year ending December 31, 1963.
House Calls
Office Calls
Total
Old Age Assistance
124
93
217
Medical Assistance to the Aged
174
16
210
Aid to Dependent Children
7
40
47
Disability Assistance
9
17
26
General Relief
12
25
37
Veterans Services
5
28
33
In addition, several conferences were held with the Town Manager in regard to Welfare business.
Respectfully submitted,
Edward W. Feeley, M.D. Medical Inspector Department of Public Welfare
201
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT
January 15, 1964
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Town Hall Arlington, Massachusetts
Re: Report of the Public Welfare Department
Dear Mr. Monahan:
Herewith is the annual report for the Department of Public Assistance for the year ending December 31, 1963.
Monthly Case Load
Month
O.A.A.
M.A. A.
A.D.C.
D.A.
G.R.
January
305
160
43
39
9
February
301
164
41
36
9
March
303
163
43
39
12
April
304
160
50
41
12
May
308
164
47
41
17
June
309
169
47
41
21
July
306
173
51
40
22
August
305
184
53
36
24
September
304
186
50
37
16
October
305
182
53
40
17
November
305
183
53
41
16
December
310
170
48
40
7
Total Case Load 3,665
2,058
579
471
181
WELFARE AID
Total Expenditures
$23,249.44
Welfare Aid was granted to a monthly average case load of 15 persons. 36 cases closed and transferred. Reasons for closing:
21 - Transferred to A.D.C. 1 - Transferred to O.A.A. 4 - Transferred to D.A. . 1 - Division of Blind
6 - Ret'd to Employment 3 - moved
36
WELFARE AID
Total Expenditures
$23,249.44
Less: Reimbursements and Grants
Other Cities and Towns
$ 1,583.33
Recovery
352.80
1,936.13
Net Cost to Town
$21,313.31
202
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
SETTELEMENT STATUS
Arlington 10 State 2
Other Cities and Towns . . . . . 3
15
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE (Not including Medical Aid Assistance)
Total Expenditures
$298,555.98
Less: Reimbursements and Grants
Federal Grants $200,227.94
State 62,120.88
Other Cities and Towns
6,971.99
Recoveries
460.48 269,781.29
Net Cost to Town
$ 28,774.69
Case Load Summary
Cases - January 1963 305
Cases Closed.
50
Cases - December 31, 1963
310
SETTLEMENT STATUS
Arlington 192
State
65
Other Cities and Towns
53
310
REASONS FOR CLOSINGS
Died. . 11
Transferred to M.A.A. 31
Ineligible
1
Moved
6
At Own Request
1
50
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO AGED
Total Expenditures
$333,863.29
Less: Reimbursements and Grants:
Federal Grants
$161,956.15
State Payments 114,295.30
Other Cities and Towns.
None
276,251.45
Net Cost to the Town.
$ 57,611.84
203
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT
Case Load Summary
Average Case Load Per Month 172 95 Cases Closed during the year
Died. 66
Transferred to O.A.A .. 13
Transferred to Veterans Benefits 1
Committed to Westboro 5
Excess Resources
2
Remarried 1
1
Returned to home .
3
Moved
3
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Total Expenditures
$ 98,503.83
Less: Reimbursements and Grants:
Federal Grants $ 44,957.00
State
29,605.02
Recoveries (5) .
1,295.00
$ 75,857.02 75,857.02
Net Cost to the Town.
$ 22,646.81
61 Families were aidedunder this type of assistance including 64 adults and 163 children.
A.D.C. cases closed 1963. 14
Returned to employment 7
Married
1
Moved 3
Transferred to G.R.
1
Transferred to Vet. Services
1
Trans. to Youth Service Board
1
14
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
Total Expenditures
$ 70,110.65
Less: Reimbursements and Grants
Federal Grants
$ 21,926.00
State's Share on D.A. 27,560.49
Recoveries (2) .
910.50 50,396.99
Net Cost to the Town.
$ 19,713.66
Cases Closed. 16
Moved
4
Died.
4
Ret. to Employment
4
Trans. to O.A.A.
1
Trans. to G.R. .
1
Excess Resources
2
16
Family will support
.
95
204
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
CUBAN REFUGEE PROGRAM
This program is paid for entirely by the Federal Government although it is administered by the local agency. This past year we aided two families. Total expenditures were $558.94 and all of this has been reimbursed to the town.
REPEAL OF SETTLEMENT
Effective January 1, 1964. Settlement in O.A.A. and G.R. is abolished. Henceforth there will be no chargeback between communities. A community will aid all residents in need and will be reimbursed by the State 20% on all expenditures for persons without residence in the Commonwealth. In O.A.A. the State share has been increased to 70% of the balance after Federal share. This change will eliminate a great deal of paper work and seemingly nugatory activities.
NEW EQUIPMENT
Through the courtesy of the Town Manager and co-operation of the Pur- chasing Department, we were fortunate to be able to up-date much of the office equipment. These purchases were paid out of Federal Administrative grants in the usual proportionate part of the total costs with the remainder being paid out of Town funds representing accummulated and undistributed Federal Administrative grants in prior years. Total amount spent for equip- ment this past year $9,644.91. Of this amount $239.00 came from capital outlay.
Equipment purchases included:
6 Typewriters 2 File
3 Cars
4 Stenorettes
15 Chairs
1 Comptometer
Much remains to be done in replacing obsolete equipment and it is my belief we can do this more advantageously by following the same purchase procedures used in the current year. Hopefully in the coming year, reno- vations and alterations to our quarters will be possible in accordance with the plan submitted with the annual budget.
WELFARE ADMINISTRATION
Total Expenditures
$ 99,822.47
Personal Services
$ 92,635.41
Expenses
7,187.06
$ 99,822.47
Less Federal.
$ 49,911.24
Less State.
24,955.62
74,866.85
Net Cost to the Town.
$ 24,955.62
205
SUMMARY OF NET COST TO TOWN - ALL WELFARE CATEGORIES 1963 (cents eliminated)
Category
Total Expend.
Fed. Grants
Other Cities Re- State and COV- Reimb. Towns eries
Total Reimb. and Grants
Net Cost to Town*
Welfare Adm.
$ 99,822 $ 49,911 $ 24,955
$ 74,866 $ 24,955
Welfare
Aid
23,249
$1583
$ 352
1,936
21,313
O.A.A.
298,555
200,227
62,120
6971
460
269,781
28,774
Μ.Α.Α.
333,863
161,956
114,295
-
276,251
57,611
A.D.C.
98,503
44,957
29,605
1295
75,857
22,646
D.A.
70,110
21,926
27,560
910
50,396
19,713
-
$924,102 $478,977 $258,535 $8554 $3017 $749,087 $175,012*
* Actual direct expenditures from appropriations will substantially exceed the "Net Costs to Town" as herein stated, the reason being that all reim- bursements other than Federal Grants are credited to the Town's General Fund and may not be used for expenditures.
This first year as Director of the Arlington Public Assistance, like all periods of transition, has been a time of stress and change. To the Board of Public Welfare, members of the staff and to the town officials who were helpful to the department, we are most appreciative.
Very truly yours,
John F. M. Keane, Director Department of Public Assistance
-
--
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT
206
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Annual Report of the Department of Youth Services
January 2, 1964
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington 74, Mass.
Dear Mr. Monahan:
In accordance with Section 49 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, I am, herewith, submitting the Annual Report of the Department of Youth Services for the year ending December 31, 1963.
Two (2) new appointments were made to the Board of Directors of Youth Services this year: Mr. Kevin P. Feeley, appointed on October 7, 1963 (term expires May 2, 1965) to fill the vacancy created by the resigna- tion of Mr. Daniel J. Buckley on November 28, 1962; and Mr. George P. Faulkner, appointed on October 7, 1963 (term expires May 2, 1965) to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mrs. Kenneth C. Spengler on October 7, 1963. Both Miss Rebecca Glasmann and Mr. Anthony J. DiNatale were reappointed to the Board on August 28, 1963 for a term of three (3) years each.
At the September 12, 1963 meeting of the Board of Directors, Mr. An- thony J. DiNatale was elected Chairman to replace Dr. Lawrence H. Ander- son. The Board met fifteen (15) times during 1963.
The Department continues to maintain one (1) office on the third floor of Robbins House. The services of Mrs. Tina G. Howell as Director were made possible by a $10,000. grant from United Community Services of Boston for this year of 1963. An additional grant of $5,000. has been re- ceived from United Community Services for Mrs. Howell's services as Director through June 30, 1964. The Board of Directors is presently nego- tiating with the Permanent Charities Fund of Boston for an additional grant. The exploration of grant funds from other sources has been pursued by the Board and the Director. In all these instances, the granting agencies con- tacted felt that a special demonstration project was premature at this time and indicated that the programs initiated by this Department were basic services that should be provided before special projects are considered.
With the passage of Article 67 of the Warrant for the 1963 Town Meet- ing, the sum of $10,000. was appropriated for the Department. This amount, plus the balance of $2,452.20 from our 1962 appropriation enabled us to meet our operating expenses, to utilize the services of a part-time civil service clerk-stenographer, and to advertise for and hire a social worker. Mr. Arthur E. Johnson, joined the staff on October 22, 1963. The selection of Mr. Johnson as social worker for the Department was made after twenty- six (26) applicants for the position were interviewed and screened. Although this appointment took longer than anticipated, the Board of Directors felt that it could not make any compromises in the qualifications set forth for this position. In selecting Mr. Johnson, the Board feels that it has hired a man more than adequately meeting the requirements, and one, who in this brief period of employment, has already demonstrated his ability.
During this year of 1963, the services set forth in the policy statement for the Department have been put into operation. The Central Registration and Clearance File, set up in April 1963, contains the names of 312 Arlington
207
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES
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