USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1929 > Part 4
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The easterly line of said extension commences at the northerly terminus of High Street as defined in Town Records, Vol. 5, Page 113, under date of Nov. 5, 1872.
From thence the said easterly line of said extension is parallel with and forty feet distant from the above described westerly line, running as follows: N. 15 degrees W. a distance of 918.99 feet to a point of curve, by lands of Sarah L. Babine, Alice M. Stacy, John H. Robinson, Isabel B. Robinson and Benjamin M. and Helen B. Hart- shorn :
Thence with a curve to the left with a radius of 1757.34 feet a length of 291.38 feet to a point of tangent, across a private way known as Gould Avenue and by lands of Martin B. Hartshorn and Howard J. and Mary R. Murphy.
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Thence N. 24 degrees and 30' W., a distance of 255.14 feet to a point of curve by land of Howard J. and Mary R. Murphy :
Thence with a curve to the right with a radius of 9.61 feet a length of 26.54 feet to a point on the southerly side of Lowell Street, said point being S. 46 degrees and 16' E., a distance of 207.42 feet from the northerly terminus of the aforesaid westerly line.
We determine that no damages will be sustained by any person or persons in their property by reason of the taking to be made for this improvement.
No betterments are to be assessed for this improvement. This laying out, relocation or alteration so made by us we hereby report to the Town for acceptance and recommend that said way shall there- after be known as a public town way and named, "High Street," and that the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) be raised and appropriated for the payment of any damages in connection therewith.
SAMUEL H. DAVIS,
MILES C. HIGGINS,
WILLIAM T. FAIRCLOUGH,
MARTIN B. HARTSHORN,
HAROLD W. PUTNAM, Board of Public Works.
On motion of Samuel H. Davis, it was voted that the report of the Board of Public Works be accepted and adopted and that fifty dollars be appropriated from an unexpended balance of a similar appropria- tion to pay for any damages in connection with the said relaying or relocation of High Street.
Article 2. On motion of Leon F. Quimby, it was voted to take this article from the table.
On motion of Leland W. Kingman, it was voted to accept the re- port of the Planning Board and Special Committee on the subject of "Changes in the Zoning Law."
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
In respect to Article 27 in the Town Warrant of March, 1928, reading as follows: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning By-Law, whether by the establishment of new zones or by altering the restrictions with respect to existing zones, or both, so as to permit the erection of apartment houses in suitable districts outside of the existing business zones or what it will do in relation thereto, and referred to the Planning Board, the said Board submit herewith the result of its deliberations.
The Planning Board recommends that with the single exception noted herein, no material changes or alterations should be made in the present Zoning Law.
The law itself provides the property owner and other interested parties with a means of relief from the restrictions of zoning. The
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procedure may appear at first glance to be somewhat complicated but if a proposed change is sufficiently meritorius, there should be no diffi- culty in convincing the Town of the advantages and benefits of said change and thus procuring the authority necessary to complete the transaction.
In respect to an article in the town warrant referred to the former Planning Board to change certain section of South Main Street from the business zone to the multiple residence zone it is the recommendation of the present Planning Board that that section of South Main Street on both sides of the street from Percy Avenue to Summer Avenue should be so changed.
WINTHROP D. PARKER, HARRIET P. LEUTCHMAN, FREDERICK E. BOYERS, LELAND W. KINGMAN, Planning Board.
Also the Planning Board made the following Report together with an added Special Committee.
In compliance with the vote of the Town Meeting of July 2, 1928, the undersigned members respectively of the Planning Board and Special Citizens Committee, have given careful consideration to the matter referred to them namely to determine the advisability of changing Part 2, Sec. 5, Paragraph 2 of the zoning law to read "Two- family house", instead of as at present "Two-family, semi-detached house".
This change in the zoning law would permit the erection of any type of a two-family house in the multiple residence district which district includes about 70% or two-thirds of the entire area of the Town of Reading.
After holding a public hearing and giving full deliberation to this important subject, it was the unanimous opinion of your joint committee that the Town of Reading should not change Part 2, Sec. 5, Paragraph 2 of the Zoning By-Law by striking out the words, "Semi-detached".
At first thought there seems to be a certain amount of merit to the arguments advanced by the proponents of the article asking for said change but any benefit which might be derived in the form of an increased taxable property value is more than offset by the objectional features resultant from lifting the ban to two-family dwell- ings.
Briefly summarized the arguments which have been presented both for and against the proposed change are as follows :
A: Reasons for permitting the erection of any type of a two-family dwelling in the multiple residence district.
1: To increase the value of taxable property, it being argued
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that it costs more to build a two-family house than it does the average single residence the Town thereby being the gainer in assessable values.
2: Because a two-family house is far more preferable to a cheap and unattractive single residence.
3: Because a two-family, one upper and lower apartment house is easier to rent than a semi-detached or duplex house, the argument being that in the two-family, upper and lower tenements, both families have sunshine, whereas in the semi-detached, one-family, that on the sunny side gets more sunshine under certain conditions.
B: Reasons why only semi-detached two-family dwellings should be allowed in the multiple residence district.
1: To prevent the speculative growth of the undesirable type of two-family upper and lower apartment house and the exploiting of the Town by the cheap speculative builder to his own advantage and to the detriment of the Town.
2: To prevent the cost of the two-family population upon the school, fire and police departments, exceeding the revenue from the gain in taxable values of the two-family house, the argument being that although there would be a gain in assessed value by reason of the two-family house, the cost of providing schools, fire and police protec- tion for its inhabitants would be greater than the revenue received from the said increased assessable value of such house over that of a single residence house or semi-detached house which might occupy the same space.
3: Because a two-family upper and lower apartment house would tend to decrease the value of adjacent single-residence property.
4: Because the erection of two-family upper and lower apart- ment houses tends toward congestion.
5: The New England Insurance Exchange puts a flat increase of 5c per $100.00 of insurance per year on the fire insurance rate of any section or sections of a city or town where apartment houses two families or otherwise are either too numerous or too close together.
Furthermore for Reading to continue to enjoy the benefits of a B classification of fire insurance rating we must put no extra burden upon its fire department.
Congestion of wooden buildings is a fire hazard. It means more fire-fighting equipment or C classification and higher insurance rates. One or the other must inevitably result.
6: Because the multiple residence district is too large an area to grant such unrestricted liberties.
The joint Committee gave some thought to the possibility of setting aside a small area in the multiple residence district in which any type of two-family dwelling might be erected. If it is the wish of the citizens of the Town that such changes be made the Planning Board will be glad to give further consideration to this matter.
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In conclusion we restate the unanimous opinion and recommen- dation of this joint committee, namely: that no change be made in Paragraph 2 of Sec. 5, Part 2 of the Zoning Law.
Respectfully submitted, WINTHROP D. PARKER,
HARRIET P. LEUCHTMAN, FREDERICK E. BOYERS, LELAND W. KINGMAN, Planning Board. HENRY R. JOHNSON, WILLARD P. ADDEN, JAMES B. BROWN, Special Citizens Committee.
Article 3. On motion of Carl M. Spencer, it was voted to take this article from the table.
On motion of Carl M. Spencer, it was voted that the subject matter of Article 18 be referred back to the Finance Committee with instructions to report at the next Town Meeting.
Article 2. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted to accept reports of town officers, finance committee as printed.
Voted to adjourn sine die.
MILLARD F. CHARLES, Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Security Hall, Woburn St., June 19, 1929.
Pursuant to the warrant duly issued and posted according to law, a town meeting was held at the time and place therein specified. The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Charles P. Howard. The Town Clerk partially read the warrant when on motion of Charles F. Trevor it was voted to dispense with further reading of said warrant excepting the Constable's return. The Constable's return was then read and the meeting proceeded to act on the following articles.
Article 1. To hear and act on the reports of town officers and special committeees and determine what instructions will be given town officers and special committees.
Article 1 On motion of George W. Davis, it was voted to lay this article on the table.
Article 2. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars, ($750.00), for the purchase of a port- able garage, to be placed on the land of the Town adjacent to the fire and police headquarters on Pleasant St., or what it will do in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen.
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Article 2. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted that seven hundred and fifty dollars, ($750.00), be raised and appropriated for the purchase of a portable garage to be placed on land of the Town adjacent to the fire and police headquarters on Pleasant St.
($750.00).
Article 3. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of six hundred and fifty dollars ($650.00) for the installation of a system of signal lights to regulate motor traffic at the intersection of Summer Ave. and Prescott St. or what it will do in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen.
Article 3. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted that five hundred and sixty-five dollars, ($565.00), be raised and appropriated for the installation of a system of signal lights at the intersection of Summer Ave. and Prescott St. ($565.00).
Article 4. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of six hundred dollars, ($600.00), for the removal of the Richardson House, so-called, property of the Town adjacent to the Municipal Build- ing on Lowell St., and for the necessary filling and grading, or what it will do in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen.
Article 4. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted that six hundred dollars, ($600.00), be raised and appropriated for the removal of the Richardson House and for the necessary filling and grading.
($600.00).
Article 5. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred forty-five dollars and seventy-eight cents, ($345.78), to reimburse Howard E. Bussell, for expenses incurred by reason of in- juries received in the line of duty as a fireman at a fire on March 2, 1929, or what it will do in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen.
Article 5. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted that three hundred forty-five dollars and seventy-eight cents, ($345.78) be raised and appropriated to reimburse Howard E. Bussell for expenses incurred for injuries received in the line of duty as a fireman at a fire on March 2, 1929. ($345.78).
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to accept a gift of land on the northwesterly corner of Franklin and Haverhill Sts., offered to the Town by William R. Scharton for the purpose of rounding and widening the corner to eliminate traffic hazard, or what it will in rela- tion thereto.
Board of Selectmen.
Article 6. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted that the Town accept the gift of land on the northwesterly corner of Frank- lin and Haverhill Sts., offered to the Town by William R. Scharton, the same to be placed when received, under the jurisdiction of the
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Board of Public Works in the same manner as other land used for public streets.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee to study into and report upon the question of establishing a hospital, separately or in conjunction with some other Town, pursuant to the provisions of and utilizing the fund given under the will of the late Gilman L. Parker, or what it will do in relation thereto.
E. D. Richmond et al.
Article 7. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted that the Moderator appoint a committee of five to study into and report to the next annual town meeting upon the question of establishing a hospital, separately or in conjunction with some other Town, pursuant to the provisions of and utilizing the fund given under the will of the late Gilman L. Parker.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee to consider the revision of the building laws of the Town and to report not later than the next annual town meeting, or what it will do in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen.
Article 8. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted that a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to consider the re- vision of the building laws of the Town to report not later than the next annual town meeting.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell the town home property, so-called, on Pearl St., or what it will do in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen.
Article 9. On motion of Charles F. Trevor that the Board of Selectmen be and hereby is authorized to sell the town home property on Pearl St. The motion failed to be carried and was declared by the Moderator not a vote.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee to consider the matter of acquiring land for a landing field, to report not later than the next annual town meeting, or what it will do in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen.
Article 10. On motion of Charles F. Trevor that a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to consider the matter of ac- quiring land for a landing field, to report not later than the next annual town meeting. The motion failed to be carried and was declared by the Moderator not a vote.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a committee to consider the matter of the collection and disposal of ashes and rubbish and report not later than the next annual town meeting or what it will do in relation thereto.
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Board of Selectmen.
Article 11. On motion of Charles F. Trevor, it was voted that a committee of five be appointed hy the Moderator to consider the matter of the collection and disposition of ashes and rubbish, to report not later than the next annual town meeting.
Article 1. On motion of George W. Davis, it was voted to take Article 1 from the table.
Leland W. Kingman made a report on changing and beautifying the Common.
Arthur A. Shurtleff explained the plan which was exhibited to the meeting.
It was voted to accept report of the Planning Board.
Article 12. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate by borrowing or otherwise the sum of thirty thousand dollars, ($30,000.00) for the purpose of the rearrangement and improvement of Reading Common in accordance with the report and plans presented by the engineer employed under the authority of the vote of the town meet- ing of March 11, 1929, including such construction, reconstruction, ex- tension and widening of streets, laying and construction of pavements and sidewalks, and other construction and works as may be called for by said plan of rearrangement and improvement, or what it will do in relation thereto.
Planning Board.
Article 12. On motion of Arthur G. Bancroft, it was voted to refer the subject matter to the next annual town meeting by a vote of 89-yes to 80-no.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to secure by lease or otherwise, suitable headquarters for Post 62 of the American Legion and to see if the Town will raise and appropriate therefor the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or what it will do in relation thereto.
Article 13. On motion of Stanley R. Gerard, it was voted that the Board of Selectmen be and they are authorized, empowered and directed to negotiate for a lease upon such terms and conditions as they may in their discretion determine, to provide suitable headquarters for Reading Post 62, American Legion, for a term of one year, and to sign and execute said lease in the name and behalf of the Town of Reading, and that the sum of one thousand dollars be and hereby is raised and appropriated therefor as rent for such premises.
Article 14. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred ninety dollars, ($390.00), for the renewal of the storage battery of the fire alarm, or what it will do in relation thereto.
Hugh L. Eames, Supt.
Article 14. On motion of Hugh L. Eames to raise and appro- priate ($390.00) for the renewal of the storage battery of the fire alarm.
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The motion failed to be carried and the Moderator declared it not a vote.
Article 15. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate a sum sufficient to reimburse William H. Killam for damage to his premises situated at the corner of Kingston and Mt. Vernon Sts., in consequence of the maintenance thereon of a trunk line sewer pipe, said pipe having been laid or constructed in said premises, while owned by the Town and sold to Killam without notice that the pipe had been so laid, and also to reimburse said Killam for the taking of a part of said premises under date of March 15, 1929, by the Board of Public Works for the purpose of maintaining a sewer pipe on said premises on and after said date, or what it will do in relation thereto.
William H. Killam et al.
Article 15. On motion of Edward G. Quinlan that the Town raise and appropriate fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00) to reimburse William H. Killam for damage to his premises situated at the corner of Kingston and Mt. Vernon Sts., in consequence of the maintenance thereon of a trunk line sewer pipe, said pipe having been laid or con- structed in said premises while owned by the Town and sold to Killam without notice that the pipe had been so laid; and also to reimburse said Killam for the taking of a part of said premises under date of March 15, 1929 by the Board of Public Works for the purpose of main- taining a sewer pipe on said premises on and after said date.
The motion failed to be carried and was declared by the Moder- ator as not a vote.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to approve the rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Cemetery Trustees on May 3, 1929, or what it will do in relation thereto.
Board of Cemetery Trustees.
Article 16. On motion of Philip H. Tirrell, it was voted that the Town approve the rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Cemetery Trustees on May 3, 1929.
Regulations of the Board of Cemetery Trustees of the Town of Reading
The following regulations are adopted by the Board of Cemetery Trustees subject to the approval of the Town for the governance of all public cemeteries in the Town of Reading, control of which is en- trusted to the said Board of Cemeteries.
Ownership of Lots
1. The right to be granted to the owner of any lot or grave is a sole and exclusive right of burial and of erecting tombs, cenotaphs, and other monuments and structures subject to terms and conditions and regulations as they may exist from time to time.
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The premises where such rights are granted shall be used only for the purpose of burial of the dead.
2. Lots shall be conveyed by deed in such form as the Trustees shall from time to time prescribe.
For single graves certificates shall be issued in such form as the Trustees may from time to time prescribe.
A different form of certificate will be issued for interments in such location as shall be set apart as a' free public burial place. Such deeds and certificates shall state that the rights thereby conveyed are subject to the regulations which may be established from time to time and may contain further specific terms and conditions.
Lost deeds or certificates will not be replaced by new deeds or certificates but certified copies may be obtained upon the payment of a fee of $1.00 for each such copy.
3. Lots and graves shall be sold at such prices as the Trustees shall from time to time determine.
Single graves must be paid for in full at the time of sale. Lots may be paid for in full or in four equal quarterly installments, the first one of which shall be paid at time of sale. No purchaser shall be entitled to a deed until the lot is fully paid for, and the Trustees may refuse to permit interments or improvements upon the lot until the amount is fully paid. In any case in which interments or the making of improvements is permitted before payment in full has been made, the Trustees may in the event of default in payment remove to single graves any remains so interred, and cause any monuments or other improvements to be removed, deducting from the amounts paid by the purchaser all expense and the price of the single grave or graves and returning to the purchaser the balance if any.
4. Transfers of lots and rights of burial shall be, when permitted, by deed in common form. In no event shall a proprietor allow the interment of any remains within a lot or grave owned by him for hire.
After any interment has been made, any transfer must be made subjcet to the approval of the Cemetery Trustees and in no event will such transfer be permitted which might involve the removal of the body of a deceased lot owner or of a member of his immediate family for profit to the current owner of the lot or grave. Before any in- terment has been made, transfers may be permitted in any case and shall be permitted if within six months after notice to the Trustees of the intended transfer the Trustees shall not have disposed of the lot or grave in such wise as to cause the repayment to the owner of the amount originally paid. In each case of a permitted transfer a fee of one dollar will be required for the recording of the instrument of transfer.
5. In the event of the death of the owner of a lot or grave, title
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shall pass or descend as provided by the statutes of Massachusetts in force from time to time.
The Trustees shall require suitable proof of the rights of the person or persons thereupon entitled to the lot or grave, which proof shall be entered upon the records.
Care of Lots
6. Deposits for perpetual care of lots will be received as provided in the statutes of Massachusetts in force from time to time. In the sale of lots and graves the Trustees may require as one of the con- ditions of the sale the making of such deposits for perpetual care as shall appear to them adequate to insure proper care of the lot or grave without expense to the Town.
The term "perpetual care" as here used shall mean at least the cutting of the grass upon the lot or such other work as may be neces- sary at reasonable intervals, raking, cleaning, reseeding, to keep the same in good and neat condition. It shall not include, however, the ยท maintaining, repairing or replacing of gravestones or monuments or other structures, although further deposits may be received for such purposes.
Monuments and Other Structures
7. A tomb shall be constructed and maintained within any lot only by special permission of the Trustees, and when so permitted its plans of construction and design shall be according to plans sub- mitted to and approved by the Trustees. No tomb, monument or other structure shall be erected or maintained which in the opinion of the Trustees is by reason of construction, design, inscription or any other feature offensive and improper or injurious to the cemetery and to adjoining lots or likely to become so with passage of time, and the Trustees may condemn and cause the removal of any such tomb, monument or other structure.
8. Only one monument shall be placed upon a lot and its loca- tion and the building of foundations therefor shall be under the direc- tion of the Trustees. Only one grave marker, by which is meant a stone intended to indicate the location of a particular grave, as a head stone or foot stone, shall be placed upon any grave and no marker shall be set to embrace two or more graves. All markers shall be set flush with the ground. Wooden markers shall not be permitted except temporarily and by special permission of the Trustees.
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