USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1963 > Part 21
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At Highland Station, Fire Fighters carried on with general repairs and maintenance including various painting projects inside the building.
At Park Circle Station, an emergency condition arose. The wooden basement floor became deteriorated by termites. Immediate action was undertaken. Members of Maintenance Division of School Department, Public Works Department and Fire Fighters removed flooring and portions of wooden wall panelling. During alterations, correction was made to the heating system. A concrete floor was poured when carpentry work was done and a vinyl asbestos floor was installed. Because of that situation at Park Circle Station, weatherproofing of tower at Headquarters was postponed.
Complying with recommendations of the New England Fire Insurance Rating Bureau, installed a 1000-gallon gasoline tank with pump at Park Circle Station to supply fire apparatus, and also to operate emergency generator which provides power to run our emergency base radio station.
November 23, 1963, for a 30-day period, the three Fire Stations were draped in mourning because of the death of President John F. Kennedy.
RECOMMENDATIONS
For the year 1964 recommend that $715,163 be appropriated.
CONCLUSION
To the members of the Board of Selectmen, to Town Manager, Edward C. Monahan, for close cooperation with the Fire Department, my sincerest thanks.
To other Departments for assistance, my gratitude.
To my own officers and men for faithful and loyal performance of duty, my deepest appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
John E. Canniff Chief of Fire Department
218
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Fire and Police Signal System
January 1, 1964
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
As Superintendent of the Fire and Police Signal System, I submit the Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1963.
This system is maintained by Assistant Superintendent Lester W. Cameron together with two Signal Maintainers.
FIRE ALARM AND POLICE SIGNALS
Many difficulties were experienced as the result of temporary break- downs in aerial and underground lines. Storms, high winds, rain, snow and lightning inflicted severe damage and circuits were grounded. When found out of order, circuits were restored to immediate service.
Made routine repairs, wound and tested fire alarm boxes and police signal boxes. Checked police signal desk, signal registers, air whistles and master clocks. Maintained and painted 318 fire alarm boxes and 89 police signal boxes throughout the Town. Installed decal "Fire" on fire pedestals. Conducted water-flow tests on signal boxes connected to sprinkler systems.
During 1963, held quarterly testing of fire alarm signal boxes as recom- mended by the New England Insurance Rating Association. Tests were under the direction of Deputy Chief Charles J. Doherty and the Assistant Super- intendent of the Fire and Police Signal System, Lester W. Cameron. Faulty and defective boxes were rectified immediately upon discovery.
Installed new Police Signal Box:
Box 232 Ridge Street-Sleepy Hollow Lane
Installed new Fire Alarm Boxes:
Box 3913 Ridge Street-Sleepy Hollow Lane 3552 Ridge Street-Crosby Street 3553 Ridge Street-Pamela Drive
7713 Colonial Village Drive 8213 Nursing Home-146 Park Avenue
Because of street construction, reset police signal Box 8612 Dow Ave- nue-Rhinecliff Street.
The following signal boxes were damaged when struck by automobiles:
Box 554 Massachusetts Avenue-Clark Street 64 School Street-No. 76 8451 Appleton Street-Udine Street
Replaced damaged overhead wires on Park Avenue Extension-Morris Street when pole was struck by automobile.
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REPORT OF THE FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
The doors on the following fire alarm boxes were changed from the rattler-type to quick-action style door:
Box 136 Everett Street-Raleigh Street 48 Massachusetts Avenue-Bartlett Avenue
489 Highland Avenue-Arlmont Street
732 Forest Street-Adams Square
Replaced outmoded-type police boxes with 5-call standard type:
Box 21 Medford Street-Parallel Street 25 River Street-Mystic Valley Parkway
32 Massachusetts Avenue-Schouler Court
Relocated Police Box 132 from Massachusetts Avenue-Magnolia Street to Massachusetts Avenue-Teel Street.
CABLE CONSTRUCTION
Pulled in 6-conductor underground cable replacing old cable, cutting over to signal boxes and rebuilding terminal boxes on:
Broadway-Sunnyside Avenue to North Street, Somerville
Massachusetts Avenue-Park Avenue to Lexington Line
Mill Street-Massachusetts Avenue to Summer Street
Replaced, reran and pulled up 6-conductor aerial cable on the follow- ing streets, removing old cross-arms:
Milton Street-Massachusetts Avenue to Herbert Road
Lake Street-Wilson Avenue to Concord Turnpike
Sherborn Street to Fire Box 3141
Webster Street-Warren Street to Philips Street
Bradley Road-Winchester Road to Columbia Road, Falmouth Road West to Langley Road
College Avenue-Crosby Street to Ridge Street
Ridge Street-College Avenue to Sleepy Hollow Lane
Park Avenue Extension-Lowell Street to Forest Street-Dodge Street
Reran 2-conductor aerial cable on the following streets:
Amherst Street-River Street to Rawson Road
Newcomb Street-Orvis Road to Elmhurst Road
Pole #6 to Symmes Hospital Loop
Mystic Street at Beverly Road
Hayes Street to Fire Box 317 Colonial Village Drive to Box 7713
Ridge Street-College Avenue to Pamela Drive
Joyce Road-Oak Hill Drive to Ivy Circle
Woodside Lane-Oak Hill Drive to Hazel Terrace
Brattle Street-Woodside Lane to Millett Street
Cheswick Road-Colonial Drive to Bay State Road-Pioneer Road-Spy Pond Parkway
Because of street construction, repaired 3-inch conduit on Lake Street and on Massachusetts Avenue-Grove Street.
Made transfers of cables to new poles, rebuilding lines and pulling up slack on aerial conductors.
Throughout the Town, removed and trimmed trees and branches away from aerial lines of the Signal System, and installed wood mold where wires came in contact with trees.
.
220
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
RADIO SYSTEM
Since November 23, 1962, the new "Local Government Radio System" for use by the Town of Arlington has been operating in compliance with directive of the Federal Communications Commission.
November 14, 1963, a "Quick-Call" Radio System was further installed at Fire Department Headquarters, in the Fire Alarm Division, for the Fire Department, the Police Department and the Public Works Department.
RELOCATING FIRE ALARM SIGNALLING EQUIPMENT
In 1963 began moving the Watch-Room from the first floor to the second floor of Fire Headquarters Building as recommended by the National Board of Fire Underwriters and for which Article #82 was voted.
Preparatory to the relocating of Fire Alarm signalling equipment, it was necessary to modernize electric meter board and to install 200-ampere capacity electric service in the building.
As of December 31, 1963, the work of relocating the Watch-Room is delayed pending delivery of signal desk and signalling equipment.
AIR RAID SIGNALS
Tested sirens on first and third Fridays of each month.
Routine inspection was made of the Air Raid Sirens throughout the Town:
Massachusetts Avenue-Teel Street Massachusetts Avenue-Winter Street Massachusetts Avenue-Tufts Street Massachusetts Avenue-Mill Street Massachusetts Avenue-Brattle Street Massachusetts Avenue-Forest Street Massachusetts Avenue-Park Avenue Florence Avenue-George Street Summer Street-Mill Street
Summer Street-Park Avenue Extension Broadway-Everett Street Broadway-Silk Street Lake Street-Margaret Street Highland Avenue-Ottawa Road Mystic Street-College Avenue Medford Street-Sherborn Street Pleasant Street-Gould Road Lowell Street-Park Avenue Extension
DETAILS
Set up Public Address System on many occasions for various Town Departments.
April 19th, Patriot's Day, sounded 1-7-7-5 on air whistle at Fire De- partment Headquarters.
The Town Clock in church steeple, Massachusetts Avenue-Pleasant Street, wound weekly on Fridays.
Arranged Christmas lighting and decorations at the Town Hall, Library, Police Headquarters, on Tree and Crib at Monument Park and at the three
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REPORT OF THE FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
fire stations. Set up Public Address System for the playing of Carols from tower of Fire Headquarters Building.
APPROPRIATION
1963 Appropriation $24,963.
Expended.
23,149.
Balance
$ 1,814.
RECOMMENDATIONS
For the year 1964 recommend that $26,682 be appropriated.
CONCLUSION
To the members of the Board of Selectmen, and to Town Manager, Edward C. Monahan, for active interest in matters pertaining to this Signal System, my sincerest thanks.
To the Assistant Superintendent of the Fire and Police Signal System, and to the Signal Maintainers, for ever-ready performance of duty to ef- ficiently operate the Signal System, my deepest gratitude.
Respectfully submitted,
John E. Canniff, Superintendent Fire and Police Signal System
222
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Board of Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen herewith submits its Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1963.
At the Annual Town Election in March, Messrs. Joseph P. Greeley and Horace H. Homer were re-elected to office for respective three year terms. Shortly thereafter the Board organized for the year with Mr. Philibert L. Pellegrini as Chairman, and Mr. John W. Bullock as Vice-Chairman, both being unanimously elected by acclamation.
The Board met weekly throughout the year except during the summer months when we met for the most part on a biweekly basis. However, there were several occasions when special meetings were called on matters of immediate importance.
Much of the business of the Board is relatively routine and although time consuming is repetitious. We shall, therefore, omit this subject mat- ter from this report, since it has appeared in prior reports and is of doubt- ful interest to the average citizen.
Perhaps one of the most important topics that we had to contend with came early in the year and concerned legislation passed by the General Court in 1962 entitled, "Conduct of Public Officials and Employees", which became effective on May 1, 1963. This act, commonly called the "Conflict of Interest Law", was highly technical, extremely complicated, exceptionally controversial and received wide publicity throughout the Commonwealth. Basically it was designed to prevent any Public Official or Employee from deriving financial or other gain by reason of any power or information that he would obtain from his affiliation with the State or any of its political subdivisions. The law did, however, provide that under certain circum- stances Officials and Employees could be classified as "Special Employees" by the Selectmen upon disclosing their financial interest in any particular matter and thereby would be permitted to engage in limited transactions with the Town outside their particular department.
In an effort to evaluate and explore every phase of this legislation we attended lectures given by prominent members of the Committee that was appointed to draft this legislation prior to its enactment. We had an op- portunity to question these authorities relative to the procedure to be followed which would be of the greatest benefit to the Town. We also re- quested our Town Counsel to submit a written opinion outling what action could be taken with respect to elected and appointed Town personnel which would afford them the protection to which they were entitled without detri- ment to the Town's interests. This document was very thoroughly discussed item by item and paragraph by paragraph until we were certain that our decision would be impartial and fair both to the citizens of the Town as well as Town personnel. Letters were sent out to every person who was in any way connected with Town functions apprising them of this law and giving every one an opportunity to make application for classification as a "Special Employee", providing such request could be justified. Intense study and debate was given to every classification and on the basis of the testimony we had before us we were of the opinion that the Town's best interests would be served if every part time appointed Board, Commission and Of- ficer of the Town was classified as a "Special Employee", and took appro- priate action to effect these classifications. Since making this decision eight months ago we have had a firsthand opportunity to observe its effects in the Town and we certainly can report that at this writing it is operating with unqualified success.
223
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Another piece of legislation that required our earnest attention was entitled, "Pedestrian Control Law and Uniform Traffic Control". This was passed at the insistence of the Federal Government, which was basing the money it was granting for the construction of the Interstate Highway Pro- gram on the premise that all traffic controls throughout the country would be uniform and threatened to withhold these funds unless the states involved complied with their regulations. Unless this legislation was accepted by cities and towns such municipalities could not enforce pedestrian obedience to either the familiar red and yellow combination on traffic signals or the newer "Walk - Don't Walk" signal. We were warned that refusal to accept the provisions of this legislation could result in the revocation of the per- mits granted for the installation and maintenance of existing traffic signals, as well as the possible withholding of the so-called Chapter 90 funds for road construction. Acceptance of these provisions seemed to make good sense and an article was consequently inserted in the Warrant for the 1963 Annual Town Meeting to determine the Town's feelings in this respect. The Town Meeting voted unanimously in favor and we, thereafter, adopted suit- able regulations for the enforcement of this law which was approved by the State Department of Public Works and is now in force.
We were extremely pleased when our negotiations finally culminated in successfully effecting the sale of the former Public Works Department property at 1083 Massachusetts Avenue. This property became available after the 1960 Annual Town Meeting had authorized us to dispose of it with implied, if not specific, instructions to make certain that whoever obtained this land would develop it in a manner that would best serve the interests of the Town. During the interim between the authorization and the sale we frequently entertained offers for its purchase, consulted with various Town boards in this respect and held hearings for businessmen of the Town who opposed the use of this property for business purposes, despite the fact that it was, for the most part, industrially zoned. For one reason or another offers were received and found unacceptable until this past summer when bona fide offers were presented that showed promise and could be seriously considered. In this instance three developers were competing for the ac- quisition of the property with the intention of erecting apartment houses on the site. Meetings were held with these developers, both collectively and individually, to discuss their written proposals which, in each case, were supported by artist's drawings depicting the completed site. All three of the developers were then given an opportunity of submitting a firm offer in accordance with certain terms and conditions under which the property was to be developed. These offers were formally submitted on August 5, 1963 and during the next thirty days given careful scrutiny and evaluation. Ulti- mately, after extensive discussion, the offer of the Wilfert Bros. Realty Trust, for the sum of $128,400.00, was accepted and an agreement signed on September 16, 1963. Immediately thereafter we proceeded with the legal formalities to convey this property to the abovementioned purchaser. Dur- ing the next two years the property will be fully developed and it is esti- mated that the Town will then derive in excess of $62,000.00 annually in real estate taxes. Although the disposition of this property took longer than we first expected, we feel that the results that have been achieved were eminently worth the wait, and that we have thereby carried out the implied mandate of the Town Meeting successfully.
As a Board of Survey we again initiated a street acceptance and con- struction program in an effort to reduce the number of private unimproved ways, as well as a Chapter 90 program where a State and County allotment of funds defrays 75% of the cost of improving existing public ways.
The State Legislature in 1962 and again in 1963 included a stipulation in authorizing a road construction bond issue that $10,000,000.00 be dis- tributed to Cities and Town to be used in local street improvements. Under this statutory edict the Town will receive a total of $153,639.92. Of this
224
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
sum the 1963 Annual Town Meeting authorized the use of $55,000.00 during the current year which was used to repair and improve the streets listed under Article 36 of the Warrant. It is our intention to institute a similar program in 1964 with the remaining funds.
During the year the State Department of Public Works in anticipation of the widening of the Concord Highway, Route 2, has acquired some 28 pieces of property in the Arlmont Village, Arlmont Ridge section of the Town. This resulted in a moderate amount of anxiety on the part of persons who were being dispossessed, but by and large the moving of dwellings where this action was desired, as well as the relocation of families into new homes, was accomplished with reasonable efficiency. We can make no prediction at this time as to how soon this widening will take place but can only assume that the taking of private property by the State would indicate that this re- construction is not in the too distant future.
In concluding this report we must point out that the population of the Town is steadily increasing and that within the next decade, we will, in all probability, have reached our peak in this respect. Although we attempt to maintain our suburban atmosphere our proximity to larger metropolitan cities makes this increasingly difficult. It is axiomatic that as population density increases it brings with it problems that are new to us but which are inherently prevalent in urban communities. Since it is virtually impossible to impede this type of progress we must perforce accept it, but in accept- ing it, we do not have to accept the decadence and the depreciation of property which will work to the Town's general disadvantage. We must instead adopt policies that will not only adapt themselves to this continuing change, but will set as a goal the continuance of Arlington as an eminently desirable residential community. We pledge our collective efforts to the attainment of this goal.
For the advice and assistance we have received during the year on many and varied matters that claimed our attention, we should like to ex- press our appreciation to the Town Manager and to the Boards and Com- missions who cooperated so ably with us. We also extend our thanks to our Executive Secretary and to the office staff for the efficient manner in which they carried out their respective tasks and in the many ways in which they assisted us in carrying out the duties of our office throughout the year.
Philibert L. Pellegrini John W. Bullock Arthur D. Saul, Jr. Joseph P. Greeley Horace H. Homer
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
225
REPORT OF THE REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
Honorable Board of Selectmen Arlington, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Registrars of Voters herewith submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1963, in accordance with Section 3 of Article 3 of the By-Laws.
Temporary Assistance Registrars of Voters designated by our Board made a complete canvass of the Town for the purpose of taking the annual listing of persons twenty years of age and older residing in the Town of Arlington on January 1, 1963, and in conjunction therewith a listing of owners or keepers of dogs, both as required under the law.
Our board certified the signatures of 8086 voters appearing in nomina- tion papers filed by or in behalf of candidates seeking town offices at the Annual Town Election, in petitions for articles to be inserted in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, and in referendum and initiative petitions.
Nine evening sessions for the registration of voters were held prior to the Town Election at various public buildings throughout the town. At these sessions 53 persons were qualified to vote in elections. Throughout the year, daily sessions for the registration of voters were held during regular business hours at the Registrars' Office in the Town Hall, at which an addi- tional 444 were so qualified, making a total of 497 new registered voters in 1963.
For the Annual Town Election held on Monday, March 4, 1963, the Registrars were in session throughout the entire period during which the polls were open -- 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M .-- following which they assisted in the tabulation of the returns of ballots cast until the results were announced at 3:15 A.M. on Tuesday, March 5, 1963.
Upon completion of the work of revising the voting list, in accordance with the true list information that had been presented, a total of 1,916 notices were sent by first-class mail, as required by law, to persons whose names were to be removed from the voting list for the reason that they had not been reported as residing in Arlington on January 1, 1963. Of this number 423 proved residence and were reinstated.
As a result of the notices mailed, names of voters who had moved out of Arlington were removed from the voting list. In addition, names were re- moved because of death, change of name by marriage or court decree, failure to comply with the notice, and other changes in voting status.
The total number of registered voters upon completion of the revision of the voting list was 27,221 and of this number 12,611 were enrolled Demo- crats and 7,043 were enrolled Republicans. Following is a breakdown of the voters by precincts:
PREC.
TOTAL NUMBER VOTERS
TOTAL DEMOCRATS
TOTAL REPUBLICANS
1
1464
789
289
2
1929
1067
363
3
1166
573
298
4
1821
873
411
5
2297
1479
270
6
1455
459
594
7
1393
818
226
226
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
TOTAL NUMBER VOTERS
TOTAL DEMOCRATS
TOTAL REPUBLICANS
PREC.
8
1636
524
702
9A
1252
535
337
9B
1079
410
317
10A
770
303
228
10B
949
347
342
11A
1452
644
357
11B
1395
698
294
12A
1329
547
432
12B
650
242
218
13
2032
945
513
14A
1322
565
386
14B
1830
793
466
Total
27221
12611
7043
These figures represent the usual decrease in the number of registered voters in the year following a State Election due to a lesser number of new registrants because of lack of interest on the part of eligible non-voters.
During the year the information contained in the approximately 35,000 listing slips of residents of the Town of January 1, 1963, was transferred to their individual master cards, which provide for a complete official record of residence for all persons twenty years of age or older from the time they first become residents of the Town of Arlington.
A copy of the report of the Special Commission appointed under Authority of Chapter 666 of the Acts of 1963 by the Governor relating to the apportion- ment of the representative districts of Middlesex County was filed with this Board on October 15, 1963, assigning representatives to Arlington as follows:
DISTRICT 23. Precincts 8, 10, 12, and 14 of the Town of Arlington and Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of the Town of Belmont, having 22,235 legal voters and two representatives.
DISTRICT 25. Precincts 1, 3 and 5 of the Town of Arlington, and Wards 6 and 7 of the City of Somerville, having 18,475 legal voters and two repre- sentatives.
DISTRICT 28. Precincts 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 13 of the Town of Arling- ton, having 12,627 legal voters and one representative.
An amendment to such report was also filed on October 15, 1963, as follows:
DISTRICT 25. Precincts 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the Town of Arlington and Wards 6 and 7 of the City of Somerville, having 20,032 legal voters and 2 representatives.
DISTRICT 28. Precincts 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, and 13 of the Town of Arlington having 11,070 legal voters and 1 representative.
Mr. Timothy J. Buckley was reappointed by your Board as a member of the Board of Registrars of Voters for a term of three years. It is with a deep sense of loss that we now record his passing on December 29, 1963. We, the remaining members of the Board, have lost a true and loyal assoc- iate who had served the citizens of Arlington not only as a faithful and con- scientious member of this Board, but in many other capacities in his private life.
Respectfully submitted,
Arthur P. Wyman Majority of
Joseph H. Cormier Registrars of Voters
Ann Mahon
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
227
Report of the Board of Health
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Monahan:
We herewith submit the Annual Report of the Board of Health for the year 1963.
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