USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1913 > Part 3
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Art. 11. Voted to take from table.
It was moved by Henry R. Johnson that the Town Treas- urer be and hereby is authorized to issue bonds of the Town for the aggregate principal sum of one hundred and twenty- five thousand ($125,000) dollars, to pay the cost of a system of sewerage : said bonds shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 314, Acts of 1909, shall be of the denomination of one thousand ($1000) dollars each, shall bear on the face the words "Reading Sewerage Loan, Act of 1909," shall be numbered consecutively from one to one hun- dred and twenty-five inclusive, and shall be dated October 1, 1913. Payment of this loan of one hundred and twenty- five thousand ($125,000) dollars is hereby provided for by such annual payments, beginning five years from the date of the loan, as will extinguish the loan within the time pre- scribed by the act and the amount required, less the amount that may be appropriated therefor, as provided under Sec- tion S of said Act shall be assessed without further vote as provided by Section 7 of said Act. The bonds shall bear interest at the rate of four per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually upon presentation of the proper coupons thereto attached.
Both principal and interest shall be paid at some bank or trust company in Boston, named in the bonds. Said bonds shall be signed by the Town Treasurer and counter- signed by a majority of the Selectmen, and shall be sold by the Treasurer from time to time upon the request and with the approval of the Sewer Commissioners.
The motion was not carried. Forty-six voted in favor and fifty-two against said motion.
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It was voted to adjourn, to meet in Lyceum Hall on Monday, April 21, 1913, at 7.45 P. M.
MILLARD F. CHARLES, Town Clerk.
LYCEUM HALL, READING, MASS., April 21, 1913.
Pursuant to adjournment, a town meeting was held at time and place specified and was called to order by the Mod- erator, George L. Flint.
Art. 4. Voted to take from the table.
On motion of Jesse W. Morton, it was voted that a Special Committee be appointed, consisting of the Sewer Commissioners, the Board of Selectmen, and three members of the Appropriation Committee, F. W. B. Pratt, Fred. L. Springford and John Connelly, to further consider the ques- tion of Sewerage and report in print at a special town meet- ing, to be called the latter part of September or early in October, 1913. Said report to be in the hands of the voters at least seven days prior to the date of said special meeting. The aforesaid committee to be empowered to employ an engineer and to fill all vacancies that may occur in its mem- bership.
Art. 4. Voted to lay on the table.
Art. 6. Voted to take from the table.
On motion of John H. Sheldon it was voted to raise and appropriate seven hundred and fifty ($750) dollars in addi- tion to amount already raised and appropriated for Miscel- laneous Expenses for use of Committee on Sewers.
Art. 6. Voted to lay on the table.
Art. 18. Voted to take up.
It was moved by Henry R. Johnson to reconsider action taken at a former meeting. The motion was lost.
Art. 4. Voted to take from table.
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On motion of Henry R. Johnson it was voted to act on Building Laws as reported by Building Laws Committee one section at a time.
BY-LAWS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS
Section 1. An Inspector of Buildings shall be appoint- ed annually by the Selectmen during the month of March, for a term of one year or until his successor has been ap- pointed and qualified. He shall be familiar with building construction and shall not be interested in any contract or engagement for furnishing labor or materials or plans for the construction or alteration of any building in the town.
Sect. 1. On motion of Harry P. Bosson it was voted to accept Section 1 as printed in report of committee.
Sect. 2. The Inspector shall examine all buildings in the course of construction, alteration and repair and see that all By-Laws of the Town in relation thereto are complied with and. when necessary, shall take proper measures to secure such compliance. He shall keep a record of the business of his office, make all returns required by law and shall make an annual report of his work to the Selectmen, with such re- commendations as he may deem best. He shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by these By-Laws.
None of the provisions of these By-Laws shall be con- strued so as to conflict with the requirements made by the District Police under the authority of Chapter 104, Revised Laws.
Sect. 3. This section was not adopted.
Sect. 4. It was voted to pass over.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Sect. 5. The Inspector shall examine all buildings re- ported dangerous, or damaged by accident or fire, and make a record of such examination, including the nature and amount of such damage, with the location of the building, the name of the owner and lessee, and for what purpose
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occupied, and report the facts to the Board of Selectmen, and for that purpose shall have the right of entry thereto.
Sect. 5. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept Section 5 as printed in report of committee.
BOARD OF APPEAL
Sect. 6. The Board of Selectmen shall annually appoint a committee of three citizens of Reading for the term of one year, or until their successors are appointed and qualified, to be called the Board of Appeal. In case of doubt as to the true meaning, intent or application of these building laws, either the Inspector or any one aggrieved by the rul- ing of the Inspector thereon may by petition bring the mat- ter before said Board for determination. The Board shall thereupon give a hearing on such petition and determine the true intent, meaning and application of these By-Laws. A decision of a majority of said Board shall be binding on all parties affected thereby.
Sect. 6. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept Section 6 as printed in report of committee.
BUILDING LIMITATIONS
Sect. 7. No buildings, except a manufactory, railway station, stable, church, schoolhouse, hotel, garage or hall for public assemblies shall hereafter be erected, and no existing building shall be altered or added to, thereby giv- ing it a frontage of more than fifty feet, without one or more partition walls of brick or some fire-resisting material, approved by the Inspector, extending from the bottom of the cellar, or from a foundation wall through the roof and projecting at least one foot. Such walls shall not be more than fifty feet apart throughout the length of the building. No existing building having a frontage of more than fifty feet shall be converted to a use not excepted by this sec- tion, without at least one partition wall, constructed as de- scribed in this section. Provided, however, that any single dwelling house intended for one family may be extended
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more than fifty feet in one direction without such partition wall.
Sect. 7. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept Section 7 as in report of committee.
Sect. 8. All buildings hereafter erected of more than one story which are to be used in whole, or in part for busi- ness or manufacturing purposes, or as places for public meetings, including all the area within one hundred feet of the following described lines : on Haven street: on Main street, between Washington and Federal streets; on Salem, Pleasant and Union streets, as far as John street: on Wo- burn street east of the railroad: shall be constructed of brick, stone or concrete, and have slate metal or composi- tion roof-covering and metal gutters, unless permission is otherwise given by the Board of Selectmen. And no such building shall be built in any part of the town without a permit from the Selectmen having been first obtained after a written notice of the application for such a permit having been given to all owners of land within three hundred feet of the proposed location for such building, giving such owners an opportunity to attend a hearing on the matter before the Selectmen: such hearing shall be held by said Board and shall be held not less than seven days after the giving of the notice aforesaid.
Seet. 8. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to adopt this section after amending by inserting the follow- ing: "this section shall apply only to buildings of more than one story."
Sect. 9. No wooden building, to be used for a dwelling . house, shall exceed forty-five feet in height, and no wooden building shall be built the walls of which to the main cor- nice exceed thirty feet in height; and no portion of any wooden building shall be placed at a less distance than ten feet from the line of the lot upon which the building is to be located, or within twenty feet of another wooden build- ing, except where a masonry external wall is substituted for
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a wooden wall, and carried to under side of roof covering, and of a thickness and in a manner prescribed for external walls of brick buildings ; openings in same to be provided with fire-proof shutters. A wall with coating of cement on wood frame shall not be considered a masonry wall.
Sect. 9. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept this section as reported by committee.
Sect. 10. Voted to lay on the table.
Sect. 11. Voted to lay on the table.
Sect. 12. Voted to lay on the table.
ROOF TIMBERS
Sect. 13. In buildings which are eighteen feet or more in width rafters for pitched roofs shall measure not less than two by six inches, and larger where deemed necessary by Inspector, and spaced not more than twenty inches on cen- tres ; in buildings which are less than eighteen feet in width the size of rafters may be determined by the Inspector. Valley rafters shall be of such sizes as the Inspector shall prescribe, having due regard to the length and the area of the roof to be supported, but in no case shall be less than two by eight inches; all timbers herein mentioned to be solid sticks excepting the plates, which may be in two pieces, each two by four inches, thoroughly spiked together.
Flat roofs shall be timbered the same as floors.
Sect. 13. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept this section as reported by committee.
DOUBLE HOUSES
Sect. 14. Every double house shall have a separating partition plastered on metal lath on both sides or wholly filled between the studs with brick and mortar or concrete up to the ceiling of the upper finished story and resting on an eight inch brick wall in the cellar.
Sect. 15. Every block of three or more dwelling houses
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shall have a brick division wall at least eight inches thick between each two dwellings, said wall to extend up to the under side of the roof covering.
Sects. 14, 15. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept these sections as reported by committee.
PROJECTIONS
Sect. 16. No bay window or other structure, except a cornice, shall be placed upon any building so as to project over any public way or square without the permission of the Board of Selectmen, given after due notice and hearing, and then only in such manner as shall be approved by the Inspector.
Sect. 16. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept this section as reported by committee.
LEADERS AND SNOW BARRIERS
Sect. 17. Water from the roof of a building shall not be allowed to flow upon or across the surface of a sidewalk. No person shall permit a leader or conductor from the roof of a building owned by him to be so placed or maintained as to direct a volume of water upon or across the surface of a sidewalk.
Sect. 18. Every building erected upon the line or within eight feet of the line of any street or travelled way having a slated pitch roof, sloping toward said street or way, shall be provided with suitable snow barriers or guards to prevent the snow sliding therefrom.
Sects. 17, 18. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept these sections as reported by committee.
BRICK BUILDINGS
Sect. 19. In all two story buildings the brick external and division walls above ground, and in first story above basement, shall be at least twelve inches thick, and at least eight inches thick in the second story, but no eight inch
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wall shall be more than twenty feet long without adequate lateral support.
Sect. 19. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept this section as reported by committee.
Sect. 20. Provided, however, that dwelling houses of not over two and one-half stories may have ten inches hol- low walls bonded every two feet in length and every five courses in height with metal or brick ties. Wherever joists are built into the wall it shall be solidly bonded with brick for three courses below the joist.
Sect. 20. On motion of Jesse W. Morton it was voted to accept this section as reported by committee.
Sect. 21. In all buildings of more than two stories the brick external and division walls shall not be less than twelve inches thick throughout the three upper stories and throughout every two stories below shall be four inches thicker than the wall directly above. Not more than twelve feet shall be counted as a story.
Sect. 22. Vaulted walls shall contain, exclusive of widths, the same amount of material required for solid walls and be tied together with ties not more than two feet apart every five courses.
Sect. 23. The walls of brick buildings, except dwelling houses, shall be anchored to each other at all corners every ten feet in their height by tie anchors made of at least one and one-quarter inch by three-eighths of an inch wrought iron.
Sect. 24. Each floor and also the roof of all masonry buildings, except dwelling houses, shall have its beams so tied to the walls and to each other with wrought iron straps or anchors, at least one and one-quarter inches by three- eights of an inch in section, as to form continuous ties across the building not more than eight feet apart. The walls run- ning parallel with the floor joist shall be properly tied to the floor beams once in eight feet by iron straps or anchors of the size above specified.
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Sect. 25. No opening or doorway shall be cut through or formed in a party or partition wall of any building with- out a permit from the Inspector of Buildings, and every such doorway shall have its top, bottom and sides of stone, brick or iron, and shall be closed by two doors or sets of doors or wood, covered with metal, with an air space between them of at least four inches, and said doors shall be hung to slide or swing in wooden frames entirely covered with metal, or to iron hinges or track in brick or stone rabbets.
PIERS AND COLUMNS
Sect. 26. All brick piers shall be built of the best quality of good well-burnt hard brick, laid in cement and sand mortar and well wet when laid in warm weather. Brick piers under lintels, girders or columns of brick build- ings shall have a properly proportioned cap of stone, cast iron or steel, the full size of the pier; said cap to be ap- proved by the Inspector. Brick piers and buttresses shall be bonded witn through courses, levelled and bedded each course.
Sect. 27. Every pier, column, pillar or post resting on on the earth shall have a base course of stone or concrete and, if supporting walls of masonry, shall have for a footing course a broad leveller of granite or ledge stone not less than twelve inches wider on all sides than the bottom area of said piers, columns, pillars or posts and not less than twelve inches thick; and every column carrying superim- posed columns or girders shall have suitable caps and base plates and connections of iron or steel, with proper lugs, sockets, etc. Where foundations rest upon piles a sufficient number shall be driven to insure a proper support.
FLOOR LOADS
Sect. 28. All new or renewed floors shall be so con- structed as to carry safely the weight to which the proposed use of the building will subject them, but the least capacity
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per superficial square foot exclusive of materials, shall be for floors of
Dwellings 40 lbs.
Schoolhouses and offices 60 1bs.
Stores and buildings for light me- chanical purposes 120 lbs.
Public and school assembly rooms 120 lbs.
Storehouses, manufactories, ma- chine shops . 120 to 250 lbs.
as may be required by the Inspector For flat roofs . 40 lbs.
For fire escapes
70 lbs.
The loads not included in this classification shall be determined by the Inspector.
The full floor load specified in this section shall be in- cluded in proportioning all parts of buildings designed for warehouses or for heavy mercantile and manufacturing pur- poses. In other buildings, however, reductions may be allowed as follows : for girders carrying more than one hun- dred square feet of floor, the live load may be reduced ten per cent. For columns, piers, walls and other parts carrying two floors, a reduction of fifteen per cent. of the total live load may be made. Where three floors are carried, the total live load may be reduced by twenty per cent. ; four floors, twenty-five per cent. ; five floors, thirty per cent. ; six floors, thirty-five per cent.
The Inspector may prescribe the maximum loads which may be imposed upon the floors of the existing buildings.
Sect. 29. The ends of all floor beams of a brick build- ing shall enter the wall at least four inches and shall be cut with a splay of three inches in their width, or shall be car- ried by some approved form of joist hanger.
Sect. 30. Roof or floor timbers entering a division wall from opposite sides shall have at least four inches of solid brick work between them.
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FIRE GUARDS
Sect. 31. The six following sections shall apply to every tenement or apartment house, and to every building to be used as an hotel, lodging or boarding house with accommo- dations for more than ten lodgers, above the first floor, and to every buildingof more than one story within the building limits.
Sect. 32. The inside of all furred brick walls shall have a fire stop at least six inches wide of some incombustible material, thoroughly set up between furrings at the top and bottom of each floor.
Sect. 33. All stud walls and partitions shall have the space between the floor joists immediately under said walls and partitions, and between studs from the under side of said floor joist to a line four inches above the top of said joist, filled solidly with brick and mortar, or some other incombustible material. If such stud wall and partitions shall rest on a solid timber or joist, said filling shall be placed from the top of said timber or joist to the same height as above described. Where there is no wall or partition below, a strap of metal two inches wider than the said stud- ding may be substituted for the filling above described.
Sect. 34. All air spaces around chimneys, pipes, shafts, etc., and all other spaces which form concealed air passages from one story to another shall have similar fire stops at each story.
Sect. 35. All ducts, chutes and shafts for ventilation or other purposes, shall be of, or lined with, incombustible material.
Sect. 36. The spaces between stringers of all wooden staircases, unless said stringers are left exposed, shall be closed at intervals not exceeding four feet by substantial stops of incombustible material. The soffits of wooden stairs, if plastered, and the ceilings in and under staircase halls shall be plastered on metal lath.
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Voted to adopt the above sections, 21 to 36 inclusive. Sect. 37. Voted to pass over.
CHIMNEYS AND HEATING APPARATUS
Sect. 38. All chimneys hereafter erected shall be built from the ground of brick, stone or other fire-proof, non-heat- conducting materials, and shall be built plumb, or nearly so, so as to be self-sustaining; provided, however, that brick flues may be securely built into the brick work of the walls of the building to which they are hung, when the walls are not less than twelve inches thick and provided also, that upon special permission, first obtained from the Inspector, other forms of support may be used with such special safe- guard as he may require, and provided, also, that the mat- ter of construction of chimneys in small wooden buildings, other than dwelling houses, not more than one story and one- half in height, shall be left to the decision of the Inspector of Buildings, but must be constructed in accordance with his instructions and to his satisfaction.
Sect. 39. All brick chimneys shall be built of hard burned brick plastered outside below the roofing after hav- ing been examined and approved by the Inspector of Build- ings, except that exposed portions of said chimneys may be left unplastered upon the outside. Said chimneys shall be topped out with brick or stone, laid in cement, and the top- ping out shall not have more than two inches projection unless the bricks are covered by a cap of stone or other non- combustible material, in one piece, properly secured, and approved by the Inspector: and in no case shall a nail be driven into the masonry of any flue. All chimneys with exterior walls less than eight inches thick shall be lined with vitrified clay flue lining.
Sect. 40. All chimneys shall be topped out at least two feet above the highest part of the roof to which they belong or three feet above a flat roof. No structural wood work of
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any kind shall be placed at a less distance than one inch from the outside of any chimney.
Sect. 41. No smoke pipe in any building with wooden or combustible floors or ceilings shall hereafter enter any flue except at a distance not less than twelve inches from said floor or ceiling or projecting beams; and in all cases where smoke pipes pass through stud or wooden partitions of any kind, whether the same be plastered or not, they shall be guarded by a soapstone ring having a thickness radial to said pipe of not less than two inches, and extend- ing through said partition, and in cases where smoke pipes pass through woodwork of any kind in such near proximity to the brickwork of the flue that the space between said woodwork and flue is inaccessible, said pipe shall be guarded by a soapstone ring or thimble, or its equivalent, having a thickness of at least two inches, and extending from the outer face of said woodwork to a point at least two inches within the brickwork of the flue, in which it shall be firmly set.
Sect. 42. All smoke pipes passing through closets shall be enclosed in metal pipes with ventilated air space of at least two inches all around. No earthenware pipes shall be used for horizontal flues, and no earthenware pipes shall be used for vertical flues except in one story structures and then only with the permission of the Inspector. No wood- work shall be placed at a less distance than six inches from any metal flue or smoke pipe. Provided, however, that such floors, ceilings or beams may be protected by a tin shield suspended at least two inches below said floors, ceilings or beams, in which case the pipe may be placed within eight inches of ceiling, floor or beams.
Sect. 43. All hearths shall be supported upon trimmer arches of brick or stone, or upon bars of iron supporting a bed of brickwork and shall be at least twelve inches longer than the width of the fireplace openings and at least eighteen inches wide in front of the chimney breast. Wooden center-
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ing supporting a trimmer arch shall be removed before plastering.
Sect. 44. Brickwork of all grates, fireplaces and ranges shall be not less than eight inches thick, and when it adjoins a wooden or stud partition shall have at least two four-inch walls, with at least two-inch air space between. No wood- work shall be secured to the brickwork of any flue. Open fireplaces shall have fireproof foundations.
Sect. 45a. No furnace, boiler or range set in masonry shall hereafter be placed, or its location changed in any building, without a permit from the Inspector of Buildings, who shall prescribe such regulations for the setting or plac- ing thereof as in his judgment the public safety may require. No portable furnace or boiler shall be set on a floor of in- combustible material.
b. The top of every heating furnace or steam boiler shall be kept at least one foot below the lowest part of the ceiling or floor next above it, and such protective covering shall be placed on such ceiling as the Inspector may require.
c. Registers connected with hot-air furnaces shall be set in non-conducting, incombustible borders, at least two inches wide. Register boxes shall be made of metal, with a flange on the top to fit a groove in the border, and shall have a one-inch air space all around.
d. Furnace or other pipes conveying heated air shall be of tin plate or its equal, and, except those from hot water or steam radiators, in partitions or between floors, shall be double with a free air space between, and elsewhere shall be kept at least one inch away from any woodwork.
e. No wooden flue or air duct of any description can be used for heating or ventilating purposes.
f. A space of at least one inch to be left between all woodwork and the chimneys, with the exception of floor timbers, which shall be not less than two inches from chin- neys, also around all hot-air, steam and hot-water pipes;
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