USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1961-1970 > Part 37
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Clinics
The annual spring clinics were held in February, March, and April for the immunization of pre- school children against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus. Smallpox vaccinations were also given. Immunization against anterior poliomyelitis, or infantile paralysis, was given through the use of Sabin polio vaccine to the pre-school children whose parents requested it.
These clinics will be given again in 1965, beginning at the end of February, and will be carried into April. The dates of this program will be announced in the newspapers. Oral Sabin vaccine will be given again this year in conjunction with these clinics. Mrs. Lucy Lindquist, R. N., will be the nurse in charge of the pre-school clinics. She serves on a part-time basis on the Board of Health, and also does tuberculosis follow-up work in the town.
Diseases
In connection with communicable diseases, the State law requires that they must be reported to the local Board of Health either by a physician in charge or by the family concerned.
Communicable diseases reported in 1964 are as follows :
Diseases
No. of Cases 17
Diseases
Chickenpox
Salmonella
No. of Cases 2
German Measles
137
Scarlet Fever
2
Measles
3
Ringworm 2
Mononucleosis
2
Infectious Hepatitis 1
Mumps
2
Eighteen dog bites were reported.
Sanitarian Activity
Once again I have had the unreserved support of our Sanitarian, Mr. Robert Rimbach. He has in- spected our restaurants, drug stores, school cafeterias, and all other places where food may be served to the public. He has also regularly checked for purity and quality the milk and milk products sold in Lynn- field, and he has sent to us regular monthly reports on the results of these inspections.
Growth Problem
We are now confronted, and particularly concerned, with the problems of a growing town in which most of the best land has already been utilized. This situation creates the problem of attempting to reach proper and satisfactory agreements with builders who, in order to do further building in the Town, must in some cases utilize less desirable acreage. Because some of this land is poorly drained, it must be filled and graded to be usable. A town of this type, with no proper sewerage, is dependent upon individual sew- erage disposal, such as septic tanks or cesspools. Consequently, suitable drainage must be planned for to prevent a difficult situation from occuring in the future. The State Engineering Department has been most cooperative in assisting us toward equitable solutions in these situations.
The problems concerning rubbish and garbage collections have been minimal this year, and we of the Board of Health are well satisfied with the work being done in both areas.
As in the past years the cooperation of the Planning Board and Building Inspector, as well as our Selectmen and other town officials, has helped your Board of Health to carry on efficiently the health work of this Town.
GEORGE S. ROBINSON, M.D.,D.O. Health Officer
25
Sanitarian Inspector
Milk and cream samples were taken at random from delivery trucks and stores. They were ex- amined for butterfat, coliform, total solids, bacterial count and phosphatase. Results of these examin- ations indicate that these products were all well within the state standards.
Inspections were made of those establishments preparing, serving, or handling food or drink. Bacterial swabs were taken of eating and drinking utensils bi-monthly.
Samples of water were taken from various swimming areas and private wells and examined for conformance to standards. Dye tests were made to determine faulty septic systems.
In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation to the Board of Health and other Town officials for their cooperation in the administration of my duties.
ROBERT W. RIMBACH, R.S. Sanitarian
Dog Officer
On October 1, 1963, I assumed the duties of Dog Officer for the Town. This report covers a period of fifteen months.
I have received one hundred and thirty-seven telephone calls, and fifteen major complaints, which were investigated. During that period, I have picked up and returned 45 dogs to their owners, humanely destroyed and buried four dogs, and picked up twenty-one dead dogs from the Town and state highways. Five out-of-town dogs were returned to their owners.
For the period of March 31, 1964 to March 31, 1965, nine hundred and fifty-nine dog licenses were issued. All dogs three months, or older must be licensed on or before April 1st of each year.
We hold rabies clinics each year at the Center Fire Station. The date of the clinic is announced in the local papers.
I would like to thank the Police Department for help and assistance during the past year.
Sanborn Caldwell
SANBORN CALDWELL Dog Officer
Forrest W. Howard
Plumbing and Cesspool Inspector
One hundred (100) plumbing permits were issued, and after installa- tions, inspections were made.
Ninety-five (95) cesspool permits were issued, and upon completion, inspections were made.
Thirty-five (35) cesspool complaints were investigated and corrective measures were instituted.
FORREST W. HOWARD Plumbing & Cesspool Inspector
26
Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent
As we review the operations of the Tree and Moth Department for 1964 several questions of major importance arise. First is the future of our maples. Serious drought conditions have caused "die back" in the older trees. This is very serious and is nationwide in maple habitat. Much re- search has been done in the various states looking for evidence of disease but nothing new has been discovered, so we must live in hope of a normal pattern of rainfall. Dutch elm disease had a very marked drop in incidence, both locally and state-wide, and again we must wait to fully evaluate results.
I, with others from Essex County, have been working with the State Pesticide Board to set up regulations for this Board. We are now in the six- th draft and anticipate the law will be effective in 1965. We feel that until the controls are extended to other than "tree men" and a positive educa- tional program developed, little will be accomplished by this law.
Gustav H. Koch
Tree planting and maintenance is a continuing program and is reflected in the improvement and beauty of our road sides.
The mosquito control program was enlarged this past season, by the use of our own equipment and at no cost increase overall. Much more could be done but State Department of Health regulations control our coverage of certain breeding areas.
No new equipment of a major category was added in 1964. A chain saw should be replaced in 1965. We hope to replace a 1941 truck to keep all equipment up to date. Cooperation with all Town De- partments has been excellent. My thanks to my staff and to the townspeople for full cooperation.
GUSTAV H. KOCH Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Progress has been made by this department in the past year. With the completion of the new Town Office Building, space has been provided for valuable equipment and all is now under lock and key. Our standard weights have been checked and corrected to State Standards for the first time in many years, and working weights have been check-compared to these. Few errors in equipment were noted throughout the year and were corrected as discovered. Cooperation by all has been excellent and is greatly appreciated.
GUSTAV H. KOCH Sealer of Weights and Measures
Inspector of Animals
The ever changing character of Lynnfield as a Town is reflected dynamically in the duties of the Animal Inspector. Within a decade the dairy herd and the pigs and hens raised to supplement the family larder have all disappeared. The pastures and meadows feel the bite of the bulldozer and soon a house replaces the grazing livestock. With the new home comes a dog and problems ; most are friendly but some are over-protective and have a "nip" for themselves. These are quarantined as a precautionary measure for observation. A rabies booster shot clinic is maintained by the Board of Health, generally in October, and all dog owners are urged to avail themselves of this service.
GUSTAV H. KOCH Inspector of Animals
27
Building Inspector
Building permits for new dwellings "starts" remained steady at sixty- five for the third consecutive year. Increased land values, development and building costs, and high construction standards continue to contribute to the higher costs of home ownership.
Dwelling improvements, additions and remodeling, a natural sequence to the large number of dwelling units erected over the previous ten-year period, account for another eighty-two permits.
The more noteworthy commercial type projects started this year were: The remodeling of "Kimballs' Starlight" into an attractive office building, the erection of a bank and retail store in Lynnfield Center, the start of a new market (Renda's) on Main Street, the start of a cleaning establishment, and the remodeling of storage space to a retail store and office in South Lynnfield.
Roger Harris This year marked the completion of the new Town Municipal Office Building and the demolition of the old Town Hall. The Messiah Lutheran Church at the Chestnut and Lowell Street intersection was also started in early summer.
A few more minor interior improvements were made to the Old Meeting House, namely the place- ment of new hand hewn structural girders and posts.
Construction of the new Senior High School continued steadily throughout the year. An early com- pletion of the interior is now assured, with the building completely under roof and enclosed against ad- verse weather conditions.
Permits issued for 1964 were as follows :
New Dwellings
65
Re-Issue
5
Demolish (dwellings)
5
Demolish (municipal)
1
Demolish (sheds, garages, etc.)
7
Swimming Pools
2
Fallout Shelters
0
Garages
3
Dwelling additions, alterations, repairs
82
Signs
4
Sheds
7
Porches
14
Commercial additions, alterations, repairs
9
Retail stores, Office buildings
3
Church
1
Unclassified structures
5
213
Eight site plan approval applications, and thirteen permit applications were referred to the Board of Appeals for further disposition.
One Zoning By-Law violation required court action. One structure permit was revoked. The con- troversial "use of night golf" at the Colonial Country Club remains controversial and will possibly re- sult in litigation.
ROGER HARRIS Building Inspector, Zoning Officer
28
Planning Board
1
Left to right: Russell E. Franck, Calvin J. Osberg, Mrs. Edith Anderson, Ass't. Clerk, Richard R. Wolsey, George S. Burnett, Howard Bouve, Jr., not present.
The rate of growth of Lynnfield, as reflected by the establishment of new subdivisions approved by the Planning Board, has increased significantly during 1964. As the following table indicates, this ex- perience reverses the downward trend of the past two years.
Year
No. of Subdiv. Approved
No. of House Lots Approved 61
Aggregate Length of New Sts. Approved
1959
3
6679 ft.
1960
7
74
8687 ft.
1961
6
120
12165 ft.
1962
1
19
1240 ft.
1963
1
3
190 ft.
1964
7
72
8204 ft.
Under the sponsorship of the Planning Board, Charles E. Downe, planning consultant, has con- ducted a study of possible Flood Plain Zoning for the Town. If adopted, such zoning would define spe- cific areas of low elevation which are subject to seasonal or periodic flooding, and would restrict the use of this land to purposes consistent with the protection of the health and safety of people who might use the area. The Planning Board intends to submit an Article on Flood Plain Zoning for considera- tion by the Town at the 1965 Annual Town Meeting.
Members of the Planning Board attended all Board of Appeals hearings held during the year, and expressed the opinion of the Board on matters under consideration.
The Board has continued to be represented on various special committees of the town. George Burnett served on the Conservation Commission, Calvin Osberg represented the Board on the School Site Acquisition Committee, and Russell Franck served with the School Plant Needs Committee.
Mr. Franck was re-elected to the Board for a second five-year term at the 1964 annual election, and continues to serve as its Vice Chairman.
CALVIN J. OSBERG, Chairman RUSSELL E. FRANCK, Vice Chairman RICHARD R. WOLSEY, Clerk HOWARD A. BOUVE, Jr. GEORGE S. BURNETT
29
Conservation Commission
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Pyburn have given to the Town, in trust for conservation purposes, ap- proximately three acres of woodland off Timberhill Lane, which we gratefully accept.
The Commission, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, has acquired, by purchase, land of the Lynn Rifle and Revolver Club of the General Electric Company, and woodland including granite quarries from Gordon L. Kallenberg, located on Robin Hill in the Bow Ridge area and abutting Lynn Woods. We are pleased with these acquisitions and hope that the townspeople will find time to enjoy these wooded areas.
Application has been filed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the "Self-Help" program for reimbursement of fifty percent of the cost of above land.
Two boys again attended the Conservation Camp operated by the Department of Natural Resour- ces of Massachusetts. The sponsors for the boys were the Lions and Rotary Clubs.
Mr. Richard L. Pratt resigned from the Commission due to a conflict of interest existing because of his employment with the Federal government. Mr. Clifton E. Hodgdon, at a joint meeting of the Commis- sion and the Board of Selectmen, was chosen unanimously as a member of the Commission to serve the unexpired term of Mr. Pratt.
Messrs. Gordon H. Millar and Donald G. Harriss were reappointed to the Commission by the Select- men for a period of three years.
Consideration was given to acquiring, for conservation purposes, the land known as the "Town Forest" off Pillings Pond Road, but it was found that the title would revert to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts when said land ceased to be used for park and recreational purposes.
Members of the Commission have attended meetings of the Massachusetts Association of Conserva- tion Commissions, the Essex County Conservation District, and the Essex County Greenbelt Association.
At the invitation of the Lynnfield Commission, Mr. Gerry Mansfield, chairman of the Conservation Commission of the City of Peabody, met with the commission to consider the advisability of acquiring for conservation purposes Humphrey Island in Suntaug Lake. It is hoped that favorable action will be taken by the City of Peabody in 1965.
The Commission gratefully acknowledges the cooperation that it has received from the Selectmen and other officials of the Town.
ROBERT C. ROURKE Chairman
---
Two views of Robin Hill in the Bow Ridge area.
30
Wage Study Committee
This Committee is completing its first full year as a unit of Town Government. Early in 1964 we organized and met on an average of twice each month. In July and August each member ac- cepted a research assignment. After Labor Day the Committee met weekly, when possible, in order to prepare for a joint meeting with the Finance Committee.
In 1963 we outlined a program that represented a goal for 1964. The results of our efforts follow :
1. A grade chart was developed covering the salary range of all regular Town employees. This chart is divided into 10% graduations, and each grade is divided into steps between its min- imum and maximum rate.
2. A point rating system was established that permits us to place any job in its proper grade as it relates to any other job on the chart.
3. A manual was developed containing job factors, appropriately weighted with point values, to implement the point rating system.
4. A file cabinet was purchased which will contain job descriptions and other data needed to com- plete the system. This portion of the work is still in progress and will take several weeks of consultation with Town officials and department heads.
The committee received requests for changes in the current hourly rates from several depart- ment heads and presented them to the Finance Committee when we began our joint meetings. The Fi- nance Committee took the reasonable position that, since there were possible inequities in the present wage structure, a general increase, however small, would only serve to aggravate the condition. They preferred to wait until our job evaluation is completed.
By general consent we have placed priority on the wage problems of the following Town depart- ments: the Moth and Tree Department, the Cemetery and Park Department, the Highway Depart- ment, the Library Department, and the Clerks and Custodians in general government.
Appointed and elective positions are special problems because many of them are part time. The Fire, Police and School Departments are under other jurisdiction, but this does not preclude coopera- tion, if mutually desirable, in completing the system.
When the work is complete the Town should have ample opportunity to acquaint itself with any pro- posed changes in rate structure before being asked to act upon them. This informative period could extend over several months.
To Committee Members James Fletcher, Quentin Carpenter, James Bagley, William Vose, and Committee Clerk, Shirley Nelson, hearty thanks for loyal effort. Thanks also are due the Selectmen, the Finance Committee for their understanding attitude, and the Town Counsel for his invaluable assistance.
OWEN E. APPLIN Chairman
Insurance Advisory Committee
The Insurance Advisory Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Selectmen. Its purpose is to provide a source of impartial advice on the Town's Insurance Program.
As of January 1, 1964, all property and liability insurance was consolidated in a comprehensive policy. This change resulted in a substantial improvement in the scope of insurance coverage and a sizeable reduction in cost. The entire insurance program is now handled by Thos. B. Knight & Co. Working exclusively with the Knight agency has contributed to the reduction in cost realized during the year.
An offer by Savings Bank Life Insurance to renew group life insurance coverage on town em- ployees for a five-year term at favorable rates was accepted. This will have the effect of assuring both the Town and its employees that the cost of life insurance will remain uniform through July 1, 1969.
Mr. Robert Skelley and Mr. William Montgomery resigned from the Committee during the year.
31
n
f a
n
Capital Outlay Committee
In this, its sixth year since organization, the Capital Outlay Committee has attempted to continue its growth as a "watchdog" over Lynnfield's capital investments. The Committee's responsibility is to review the year-to-year needs of all town departments and committees for the addition or removal of equipment having long life, and to recommend for or against these changes.
The Capital Outlay Committee consists of seven members appointed by the Board of Selectmen, usually for three years, one member being selected from the Finance Committee.
The Outlay Committee tries to be represented on other committees responsible for large capital outlays. Mr. Hahn serves on the Future Plant Needs Committee and Mr. McCoy is a member of the Library Building Committee. This year, members of the Capital Outlay Committee were asked to meet with representatives of North Reading to assist them with the formation of a similar committee.
Each fall the Capital Outlay Committee requests an estimate from each department and committee for its capital outlay needs over the next five years. With this information and a complete physical in- ventory, the Committee meets with the various department and committee heads to review their re- quests. As a result of the review, recommendations are made to the Finance Committee and to the Town Meeting.
Your Capital Outlay Committee feels that Lynnfield's capital investments must be measured in re- lation to several criteria which serve as aids in evaluating these investments, both to the Committee and to the Town Meeting. One of the criteria is the relationship between the Town's outstanding debt and the Town's assessed value. This is important because Lynnfield's major capital expenditures re- quire bond issues that are reflected immediately in the outstanding debt figure. Table I and Figure I show these data for the last five years, and an estimate for 1965 which assumes the new library will be added that year. The assessment figures for the earlier years are all based on the new assessment, using the ratio of $66,000,000 to $26,000,000 for 1964. Schools are very properly Lynnfield's biggest investment and every "bump" in the curve can be attributed to the financing of a new school building.
Another measure of our financial condition with respect to capital outlay is the portion of the Town's annual budget expended (a) for outright purchase of capital goods (that is, financed from the tax levy or the Stabilization fund), (b) to reduce principal on our existing debt, and (c) to pay in- terest on our remaining debt.
These figures are shown in Table II; and plotted in Figure II as a percentage of the annual bud- get. The 1965 figure is an estimate only, based on an assumed 1965 budget.
FIGURE I Town Debt Percent of Total Assessment
76543210 7 6 5
O
Percent
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965 est.
FIGURE II Cost of Capital Outlay Percent of Annual Budget
18
O Total
16
14
Principle on Debt
Percent
12
10
8
6
Interest on Debt
4 -
2 -
C
0
T
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965 est.
32
0
From Tax Levy
20
TABLE I
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965 est.
Debt
Thous. Dollars
2,440
2,240
2,040
4,170
4,000
4,000
% of Assessment
4.6
3.9
3.3
6.6
6.1
5.8
Assessment
Thous. Dollars
53,000
57,000
61,000
64,000
66,000
69,000
TABLE II
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965 est.
Cap. Outlay from Levy
Dollars
41,000
36,000
24,000
143,000
68,000
40,000
% of Budget
2.1
1.7
1.2
5.5
2.8
1.6
Principle on Debt
Thous. Dollars
205
205
200
170
295
300
% of Budget
10.6
9.9
9.8
6.6
12.2
11.8
Thous.
Interest on Debt
Dollars
69
64
59
54
121
112
% of Budget
3.6
3.1
2.9
2.1
5.0
4.4
Annual Budget
Thous.
Dollars
1,940
2,070
2,040
2,580
2,420
2,550
TABLE III
Assessed Property Value
Tax for each $10,000 Voted
$20,000
$3.00
25,000
3.80
30,000
4.50
35,000
5.30
40,000
6.00
Your Capital Outlay Committee is acutely aware that these figures can be used only as a supple- ment to good judgment in evaluating the worth of each proposed capital outlay. Nevertheless, the data are useful in determining the trend of Lynnfield's debt condition.
The change in the assessed value of the Town changes the significance of the term, "a dollar on the tax rate," and your Committee feels this should be well understood by the voters. For purposes of discussion, consider an appropriation of $25,000. Under the old assessment, this would have meant roughly $1.00 added to the tax rate; but today, with the new assessment, it means only $.38. This sounds like less, yet the dollars paid by any taxpayer to cover this appropriation remain exactly the same. Table III shows the appropriate tax that will be paid by a property owner for each $10,000 ap- propriated by the Town Meeting.
The Committee wishes to thank all department and committee heads for their cooperation this year in supplying information needed for its work.
ROBERT F. PERKINS, Chairman CLIFFORD H. HAHN, Secretary RAYMOND D. McCOY ROBERT F. GOODSPEED ROBERT G. FRASER RICHARD W. HOFFMAN PAUL B. ROBINSON
33
Senior High School Building Committee
4
-
-
To review briefly this project prior to the year 1964, it will be remembered that the year 1962 was spent making studies and preliminary plans and in general obtaining the necessary clearances from the other boards and committees concerned with approval of this undertaking. On January 29, 1963 a special Town Meeting authorized this Committee to proceed with the work and appropriated the sum of $2,505,000 for the purpose. Site clearance work was commenced in April, 1963, and was followed by grading and installation of certain utilities. Due to many delays, and the necessity of having to hold another special Town Meeting to obtain an additional appropriation of $120,000, the general con- tract with Clemenzi Construction Company, Inc. was not signed until November 12, 1963. At this late date it was possible to do only a small amount of foundation work before cold weather forced a sus- pension of all activities.
Progress During 1964
Construction resumed in mid-March, 1964, and by mid-year foundations, floor slabs and steel fab- rications were in place. As this report is written in early December, all exterior masonry work has been completed, roofs have been made tight and windows are being installed. Approximately two-thirds of the general contract has been completed with extras thus far negligible. It is hoped that with the building closed to the weather, work can continue on interior details throughout the winter with an- ticipated completion in mid-1965.
Activity Continues
Committee activities during the year have centered mostly in general supervision and the approval of expenditures. Bids were invited, received, and contracts awarded for built-in science equipment, and cabinetry, cafeteria kitchen installation and language laboratory equipment. It is planned to continue the work of arranging for movable furnishings and equipment during the early part of 1965.
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