USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1936 > Part 7
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Most of the objection was to noise that might come from such an establishment. This hearing brings out the advisability of changing our zoning laws so that situations where possible public nuisances can be constructed in residential districts will be eliminated.
Following a hearing of another nature, permits were granted for billboards to be erected advertising new dwellings in the town. Al- though there was some opposition to these, the Board felt that inas- much as they were only temporary fixtures, and because the town should encourage the building of new homes, the signs might be erect- ed.
Publicity
The Board sponsored an attractive booklet entitled "An Invitation to Reading-An Ideal Home Town," which was originated and effected by the Publicity Committee of Logan R. Dickie, H. Raymond John- son and W. Fletcher Twombly.
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Letters from all parts of the country were received requesting copies. The excellent sketches, along with brief but enticing descrip- tions made this original undertaking an unquestionable success.
Following up the booklet, the Board at the request of local Real Estate Men allowed signs to be posted about the town, directing tour- ists to the various new developments.
Dumps
The annual town meeting accepted the State law preventing rub- bish of any kind to be transported on the public way without a permit.
Through this means, the Board was able to better control the growing public nuisance of private dumps.
Several dumps were cleaned up, but it requires the co-operation of every citizen to make this law truly effective.
It being the first year the law was in operation, the Board was very lenient in granting permits for dumping in lands other than the town dump.
However, with the purchase of all the land on the east side of the Willow Rd. this side of the Wakefield line making dumping facilities more accessible, it will probably be expedient to use more discrimina- tion in granting special permits this year.
Odors
Another nuisance which has come up again this year are objec- tionable odors purported to come from manufacturing plants in the area of North Woburn.
The matter has been taken up with both the local and State Boards of Health, and the State Board made a report on the action they had taken. As long as the odors have not been taken care of, your Board intends to keep after the matter until a satisfactory solution has been attained.
W. P. A.
This year saw the responsibility of the Works Progress Adminis- tration shifting back to the local administrators again and the Board of Public Welfare set up as a certifying agency for those applying for work.
The Board again had charge of the Special Fund of $25,000 appro- priated at town meeting late last year for materials on projects, and through the splendid co-operation of the other town Boards, the money was able to last until late this year, when another like sum was raised at a special town meeting.
The Board again maintained the office of Sponsors' Agent, with a secretary to keep a closer touch with the Federal office.
Special supervisors on projects have been maintained to insure the proper fulfillment of the projects.
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Buildings
The W. P. A. office was again maintained at the Town Farm Building on Pearl Street, which was also used for the sewing and can- ning projects. The Board of Welfare also maintains its administrative office there. Hence at a minimum of expense this old building was overhauled, and now houses all our relief agencies.
The Board also rented two stores on Haven Street, one for the recreation project, and the other to store and distribute commodities manufactured or sold through the W. P. A. The latter is due to the overcrowded conditions at the Town Farm Building, and any doubt about the former can be dispelled by the number of children that can be seen there daily intensely interested in some game or craft work.
As can be observed, the town is cramped for space and it is prob- able that in the not too far distant future, a new building or an annex to our present municipal building will have to be constructed.
The Board wishes to express their appreciation for the co-opera- tion of other Boards, and of the various officers during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Selectmen.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Reading, Mass., January 2, 1937 Gentlemen :
I hereby submit the annual report of the Police Department of Town of Reading for the year ending December 31, 1936.
Arrests for the year 1936-315.
Males 309, females 6; residents 132; non residents 185; adults 278; minors 39; American born 272; foreign 45.
Causes of Arrests
Assault and Battery, 7; Larceny, 2; Warrants for out-of-town of- ficers, 3; Insane, 3; Drunkenness, 159; Operating under the influence of liquor, 15; Breaking and entering, 3; Illegitimacy, 1; Violating the auto laws, 85; Non-support, 4; Vagrancy, 1; Capias, 5; Non-payment, of wages, 1; Carnal abuse, 1; Stubborn child, 1; Habitual truant, 2; Violating parole, 1; Runaway, 1; Driving so as to endanger, 5; Hit- and-run, 4; False name, 1; Manslaughter, 1; Failure to restrain dog, 1; No license to sell cattle, 1.
Disposition of Cases in Court
Fined, 74; Filed, 32; Released, 122; Continued, 13; Turned over to out-of-town officers, 13; Discharged, 19; Held for Grand Jury, 6; Pro- bation, 2; Appealed, 4; House of Correction, 7; House of Correction suspended, 13; State Hospital, Danvers, 3; State Prison, 1; Shirley School suspended, 1; Lyman School suspended, 2; Dismissed for lack
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of prosecution, 1; State Hospital at Tewksbury, 1; Children's Aid Society, 1.
Amount of Fines Imposed by Court
47 at $5.00 each, $235.00 ; 16 at $10.00 each, $160.00; 3 at $15.00 each, $45.00; 1 at $20.00 each, $20.00; 1 at $25.00 each, $25.00; 3 at $30.00 each, $90.00; 2 at $35.00 each, $70.00; 1 at $50.00 each, $50.00.
Miscellaneous
Cases investigated, 585; automobile accidents, 129; guarding pay- rolls, 61; put ups, 103; buildings found open and secured, 72; dogs shot by officers, 7; cats shot by officers, 2; special messages delivered after hours, 21; children lost and found and turned over to parents, 26; win- dows found open and secured, 10; wires found and reported, 8; street lights out and reported, 84; old people found straying away from home picked up and returned to their homes, 3; fires reported by officers, 6; defective street and sidewalks, 9; summons delivered, 93; dead bodies taken care of, 4; water main leaks found and reported, 4; property reported stolen, $4,632.50; property recovered, $3,775.00; persons injured in accidents taken to doctors, 80; persons injured in accidents taken to hospitals, 29; fatal accidents, 6; ambulance made the following runs to hospitals : New England Sanatarium, 6; Winchester, 38; Mass. General, 28; Mass. Memorial, 6; Choate Memorial, 47; Haymarket Relief, 1; Private Hospital Reading, 13; Private Hospital Boston, 1; Malden City, 2; Melrose Hospital, 9; Carney Hospital, 11; Danvers State Hos- pital, 2; Saint Elizabeth Hospital, 2; Tewksbury State, 7; Osteopathic Hospital, 4; Baker Memorial, 6; Deaconess Hospital, 1; Boston City Hospital, 1; Peter Bent Brigham, 2; U. S. Naval, 1; Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Memorial Hospital, Fall River, Mass., 1; Salem Hospital 1; Faulkner Hospital 1, covering 5,420 miles. Cruiser car starts out at 8 p. m., puts up at 5 a. m. going all night to all parts of the town with a radio in car. Teletype at station so that desk man can get the car in two minutes.
Conclusion
At this time I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Judges of our District Court, the Clerks of our Court, our local Press and all others who assisted in promoting the welfare of this de- partment, also the members of the force for what they have done.
Recommendation
I wish to recommend the installation of a Two-Way System of Radio Communication in this department.
This system will allow the Cruiser and the Station to contact each `other at all times. It will allow the Cruiser to call the Station for in- structions or additional help while at an accident or while on other police duties.
Total cost of this system for the first year will be $1,500.00 and thereafter will cost $600.00 per year.
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Private line to Arlington-per year $ 257.40
Arlington Broadcasting Service-per year 300.00
Receiving and Sending Sets for Car 645.00 Receiving Set at Station 250.00
Estimate for repairs first year
47.60
Total
$1500.00
Respectfully submitted, JEREMIAH CULLINANE, Chief of Police, Reading, Mass.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The 1936 report of the Chief of the Fire Department is herewith submitted.
Manual Force
The manual force of the department consists of 9 permanent men, including the chief, and 21 call men.
Changes During Year
Due to a retirement law which was passed Chief Orville O. Ordway was retired and placed on pension October first and the undersigned was appointed chief of the department October second.
I have made the following appointments: Deputy Chief John J. O'Brien; Captain, William H. VanHorn; Lieutenant, Frank L. Mc- Kenney; and Elmer A. Dykens, permanent man.
MEMORIAM
ALBERT E. MERRILL
Joined Fire Department August 27, 1906
Died August 29, 1936
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Apparatus
At the Central Fire Station are located a 1929 Hudson sedan for the use of the chief; Engine 1 a 1000-gallon per min. Seagrave pump- ing engine with a 100-gallon booster tank which was purchased in 1934; Engine 3 a 600-gallon per min. Seagrave pumping engine purchased in 1929 with an 80-gallon booster tank; Engine 4 which is used for brush fires and has a 85-gallon booster tank, a 100-gallon per min. portable' pump and carries 2700 feet of 11/2 inch hose; Ladder 1 which was pur- chased in 1916. This truck is equipped with a 40-gallon chemical tank and carries 342 feet of ladder. The original motor was replaced with a second-hand White motor after 1000 miles and the longest ladders were taken from the old horse-drawn truck, one is 30 years old and two are 25. These ladders are unreliable and the apparatus is not de- pendable.
Instruction
Regular department drills have been held during the summer months and six men have graduated from the Arlington Fire School which is conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Education, Division of Vocational Training. Here they are instructed in standard fire methods by the best instructors obtainable.
Inspections and Permits
Permits have been issued for the storage of 46,140 gallons of fuel oil in connection with 172 range and 124 heater burners. There are now recorded a total of 2,039 oil burners of which 1367 are range burners and 672 heater burners.
11 blasting and 4 alcohol permits have been issued; also 6 for the sale of fireworks.
The business and manufacturing establishments, public halls and schools have been inspected and any fire or life hazards ordered re- moved.
Flood Duty
Aid was rendered to Lawrence and Andover during the March floods. Engine 3 was on this duty 86 hours.
Fire Record
The department has responded to 71 bell and 246 still alarms, a total of 317.
Value of property endangered
$104,800.00
Insurance on same
47,800.00
Loss
7,652.00
Insurance Paid
5,947.25
Uninsured Loss
1,704.75
Miles apparatus traveled
4,515.4
Feet of 21/2 inch hose laid
9,800
Feet of 11/2 inch hose laid
18,900
Feet of 1 inch hose laid
3,350
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Feet of 34 inch hose laid
1,800
Feet of ladder raised
370
Booster tanks used 29
3-gallon "Pony" extinguishers used 13
3-gallon Foam extinguishers used 2
1 quart Carbon-Tetrachloride extinguishers used
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Recommendations
I recommend an increase in the permanent force and the replace- ment of Ladder one this year.
Conclusion
In conclusion I wish to thank your Honorable Board for the co- operation received, the members of the department for the able manner in which they have performed their duties, to other town departments for services rendered and to the employees of the New England Tele- phone and Telegraph Company for the prompt and efficient transmission of emergency calls to this department.
Respectfully submitted, HUGH L. EAMES, Chief of the Fire Department.
REPORT OF THE FOREST FIRE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen :
The annual report of the Forest Fire Warden is herewith submitted.
The department has responded to 152 grass and brush fires the greater number of which have been of careless or malicious origin.
I have appointed the following deputy wardens: Henry M. Done- gan, Deputy Chief John J. O'Brien, and Captain William H. VanHorn.
Respectfully submitted, HUGH L. EAMES, Forest Fire Warden.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year of 1936:
Five boxes were added to the system this year, one of which was presented to the town by one of our public spirited citizens.
It was necessary to extend the underground cables on Main Street from Charles to Locust and the necessary changes were made to new poles.
The 4-circuit Stevens fire alarm repeater which was installed in
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1898 was replaced with a Bills repeater with 10 box circuits and 6 alarm circuits and is a great improvement to the reliability of the sys- tem. This was installed in the fire-proof vault on the second floor of the Central Fire Station and is reasonably secure from the danger of fire.
A one-half ton panel truck was purchased for this department to replace the 1928 coupe which had passed its usefulness.
I recommend that a new switchboard be placed in the fire-proof vault with the repeater as the present board is inadequate and is lo- cated in the attic of the central station where the danger of a fire which would cripple the system is very great.
Also there is the need of more fire alarm boxes as there are many sections of the town a long distance from a box.
I wish to thank your board for their co-operation and to all who have assisted this department.
Respectfully submitted, HUGH L. EAMES, Superintendent of Fire Alarm.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit the report of the Inspector of Wires for the year of 1936 :
Number of inspections, 331. Complaints received and investigated, 3. Wiring condemned, 1. Complaints against electricians to State Ex- aminers of Electricians, 4. New buildings wired, 39. Old buildings, 3. Additional wiring, 58. Oil burners, 88. Gasoline pumps, 11. Ranges, 43. Signs, 13. Transformers, 20. Air compressors, 3. Air conditioning, 3. Motors, 12. Blowers, 2. Heat regulators, 7.
I wish to thank the Honorable Board for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, HUGH L. EAMES, Inspector of Wires.
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
Regular meetings of the Board have been held throughout the year on Friday evenings at the Municipal Building. Special meetings have been held at various times and the Board has been represented by one or more of its members at various local and metropolitan hear- ings.
As in the years immediately past, the Map Project has been one of the first concerns of the Board and is now nearing completion.
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Early in the year it had reached the stage where it could be used as a basis for studies for an orderly development of the Town. To aid in correlating and applying the data accumulated in the development of the Map, the Board considered it necessary to continue to employ Professor Frederick Adams of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, as a consultant. With Professor Adams' aid, studies have been made showing in graphic form, land use throughout the town, assessed values, locations of public buildings, public lands and parks. In con- junction with these, tentative studies have been made of the street system in its relation to traffic, parking and future development.
As these studies developed, the Board felt that advantages could be obtained by making somewhat extensive changes in the existing zoning by-law, by relocation of the zoning lines and by changes in the permitted uses within the respective zones. Consequently, the Board, after considerable study and numerous consultations with Professor Adams, prepared a tentative amendment to the zoning by-law. This proposed amendment makes no fundamental changes in the present law except as to the location of zoning lines and the permitted uses within the respective zones. The tentative amendment and accompany- ing zoning map were published in the Reading Chronicle early in Janu- ary. Since that time the Board has conferred with members of a number of organizations in town for the purpose of discussing the proposed amendment. Criticisms and suggestions expressed at these meetings have been recorded and are being considered by the Board and will be either incorporated in the final recommendations of the Board with respect to the law or rejected as undesirable.
In the main, the scheme of the proposed by-law is to zone the northern end of the town into acre lots, to zone the intermediate area between the acre lots and the center of the town into one-half acre lots and to zone the more densely populated area in the center of the town into lots of 7,000 square feet as in the present law.
The Board feels that a number of advantages will result from this type of zoning. It will tend to promote an orderly development of the town, radiating from the center. The various public services such as streets, water mains, police and fire protection and school facilities will develop gradually from the center of the town and the cost of these services will be much less to the town than if there are sporadic de- velopments scattered over the undeveloped areas of the town. This type of zoning will also tend to prevent the building of undesirable dwellings either alone or in groups. Even though such building is not completely eliminated, the number of such dwellings will be greatly reduced in a given area because of the lot size required. The Board also believes that this type of zoning will establish Reading as an at- tractive community in which to live and thus attract to the town a substantial number of desirable citizens, with the result that in a com-
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paratively short period, persons owning undeveloped land in the town will profit materially because of the enhanced value of their land.
As the town develops, if a well considered plan of development of an area zoned for half acre or acre lots is presented, the Board be- lieves that the lot restrictions may need to be modified.
Respectfully submitted, PHILIP R. WHITE WINTHROP D. PARKER CLARK S. ROBINSON SHERBURNE J. WATTS McPHERSON DANIEL
Planning Board.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Gentlemen :
Seven petitions for variations of the application of the Zoning By-Law were presented to this Board during 1936, all of which were granted.
Full reports of all cases were filed with the Town Clerk, as pro- vided by law, which reports are open to public inspection.
Respectfully submitted, HENRY Q. MILLETT, Chairman FRED L. NUTTER, Secretary BENJAMIN B. PIPER
Board of Appeal.
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1936.
The building construction for the past year was as follows : 56 new one family dwellings at an estimated cost of 257,400
27 alterations and additions to dwellings at an estimated cost of 24,855
23 new private garages at an estimated cost of 6,260
2 new storage buildings
1 new office
4 new hen houses
1 new auto paint shop
10 alterations and additions to various buildings
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Estimated cost of above buildings
17,530 Total estimated cost of all new and remodelled buildings for
the past year $ 306,045 Total number of permits granted 124.
Fees received for building permits $358.50.
Respectfully submitted
A. RUSSELL BARNES Building Inspector.
REPORT OF READING TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE
December 10, 1936
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Reading, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
This is the sixth year of development of the Town Forest.
The trees have put on a wonderful growth this year, and there is a lot of work in cutting sprouts, that should be done this spring.
On May 2 a fire was started by some careless person and we lost about fifteen hundred trees which were set out five years ago.
We set in one thousand trees a few days after the fire, with the aid of the welfare, to replace the ones that were burnt.
We recommend that the Town of Reading purchase, or obtain ad- joining property of the forest for use in its further development, as it would add to the beauty of the forest.
Respectfully submitted, ORVILLE O. ORDWAY, Chairman. LELAND KINGMAN HENRY DONEGAN
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DUTCH ELM DISEASE
Reading, Mass., Dec. 31, 1936.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Dutch Elm Disease Committee which was appointed some time ago has kept in close contact with the conditions and finds that the trees in Reading show no indications of this disease thus far.
We are keeping in close contact with reports as they come in from other sections and feel quite certain that we will be able to keep our trees in the splendid condition that they have been in for a long time.
ANDREW CHRISTENSEN HENRY M. DONEGAN JOHN F. SAWYER Committee on Elm Tree Protection.
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REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
Reading, Mass., Dec. 31, 1936
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Tree Warden and Moth Superin- tendent for the year 1936.
I have planted about one hundred trees on the roadside the past year and with a great deal of care they survived the dry summer.
The tree trimming project has done very good work and should be continued.
The elm tree beetles have been very bad the past season and will need a lot of spraying the coming year. The gypsy and browntail moths require the usual attention.
Yours respectfully, HENRY M. DONEGAN, Tree Warden and Moth Supt.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
The following is a report of the work of the Middlesex County Extension Service in the town of Reading for the year 1936.
As is generally known, this is a county institution carried on by the Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, appointed by the County Commissioners for the development of agriculture and homemaking in Middlesex County. Each town is represented by a director appointed by the Trustees. These services are free to every citizen of the county. Headquarters are maintained at 19 Everett Street, Concord, where a staff of agents trained in their particular field is available upon request.
The Reading Poultry Association held five meetings at the Reading Town Hall with a full attendance of one hundred and thirty-two. A small group from this Association has held a Genetics course at the Town Hall. This course included eight weekly lessons which were given by Mr. Bennett from the Essex County Agricultural School. Fourteen farmers took up this course. For the fruit growers spray warning cards have been sent to all those interested and suggestions given for the material to use and the time of application for the control of the various insect and fungus troubles of the orchardist. Many farm visits were made in the town upon request, particularly to poultrymen.
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General information was sent out to all poultrymen in town, as well as those interested in home gardens.
Eight groups of homemakers from different parts of the town com- pleted the Extension Service course in home furnishings and five en- rolled in the nutrition course on Building Healthy Children. This course was summarized by a Food Demonstration held on the subject, Giving Your Family Their Just Desserts. At the June Festival held in Lexington, a Reading group put on a very attractive folk dance and another group sang a special number. Sixty-seven women attended this meeting, the largest representation from any town in the county. Reading has been used as a center for leader training meetings for a number of years. During the summer meetings were conducted in re- finishing and reupholstery. In addition to the regular project work, many homemakers receive timely information through the letters sent out monthly to young mothers and other homemakers.
Girls' Club Work was efficiently directed by Mrs. Herbert L. Hen- derson, 4-H Town Chairman. Members of her committee were Mrs. Charles Parks, Mrs. George Abbott, Mrs. Elmer Batchelder and Mrs. Roger Gale. A meeting of the town committee was called in the fall and again in the spring to plan for club work. The town committee was very helpful in securing local leaders. The clothing project was the major interest in 4-H work among the girls. Forty-one girls were enrolled in clothing. Six very successful clothing clubs were led by the following local leaders: Mrs. Harry U. Camp, Mrs. Stanley Bailey, Mrs. Harold White, Mrs. Leonard Nichols, Mrs. John O'Brien, Mrs. C. Stratton, Miss Alta Stewart, Miss Helen Sargent. Miss Alta Stewart's club of seven girls had a record of a banner club with every member completing 100%.
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