USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1937 > Part 17
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Birch Meadow Playground
A wading pool of more permanent construction than the former dirt pool was installed early in the Spring. The new wading pool is 40 by 36 feet square, the bottom and walls are sloped and rip-rapped with flat- surfaced stones grouted in cement. Sprinkler heads for spraying pur-
Park Department
237
poses and to keep the pool filled with clear clean water from the Town water supply were built in the walls and center of the pool. Fine sand was spread surrounding and adjacent to the pool, in an effort to keep the children from tracking earth and loam into the pool. The pool was in constant use by the children during the hot summer months, and as a precautionary measure a Reading young lady was employed by the Board to act as supervisor at specified hours each week-day.
The tennis courts were repaired, as were also the wire fences around the courts. The courts are in constant use and more are needed to adequately supply the present demand.
Shrubs were obtained and set out in the Playground, adding much to its appearance. More shrubs and trees are needed for landscaping purposes at the Playground.
An "Ocean Wave" playground device was installed during the year, primarily for the use of the smaller children, but was also quite popular with larger children. The swings were repaired and in constant demand. More equipment of this nature is needed at the Playground, which from observation has a larger regular attendance during the Summer season than any other of our Parks.
The hockey rink was set up in the fall and lights installed for night time games. The cold weather in November and December furnished excellent ice conditions. An area in the meadow was cleared of grass and flooded to supply the smaller children with a skating area.
Due to the large attendance of older children at this Park, and the great amount of damage which is done to equipment, it is strongly urged that a caretaker be constantly employed during the spring, summer and fall months.
Washington Street Ball Park
The entire grounds were renovated early in the season, low spots filled with loam and seeded, walks and shrub beds edged and raked, shrubs and trees trimmed and pruned, fertilizer and horticultural peat moss placed on field, and the entire surface raked and rolled.
The baseball diamond was remarked and the runners lanes excavated and filled with a mixture of clay and loam. Tennis court surfaces were cleaned and patched.
School, Community League and W. P. A. baseball teams used the field continuously throughout the season. In the early fall a Junior size football playing field was laid out for use of the W. P. A. Junior Football League. Also a soccer field was laid out for use by the High School soccer team.
The baseball diamond at this Park is in constant use during the baseball season as it is the only baseball diamond in Town. To keep the diamond in good condition it should be constantly raked, watered
Park Department
238
and rolled. The number of people who enjoy this sport warrants this attention. The Park Dept. does not have, at present, the necessary finances to do this work. It is therefore, strongly urged that sufficient funds be appropriated each year to allow this attention to be given.
Reading Common
The four grassed plots comprising the Common received extensive repairs and renewal. Loam was spread liberally over bare spots, de- pressions were filled, rolled and graded, fertilized and seeded. Walks, footpaths, and shrub beds were edged; walks and footpaths graveled, shrubs and bushes pruned and trimmed, loam in shrub beds turned over, etc.
A sprinkler outlet was installed on the East Common for spraying purposes. Ornamental field stones were placed on corners and inter- sections of footpaths to prevent the encrouchment of foot traffic on the grassed areas.
A fine spruce tree was planted south of the flagpole for ornamental purposes. A temporary flower garden was planted around the stone marker.
The Common is so located as to be seen by all visitors to Reading. While the present finances of the Town do not permit of a complete landscaping of the Commons, nevertheless, some money should be spent each year to keep the Common in good condition with clear walks, flower beds and green grass.
Dickie's Pond
The hockey rink was relocated to a more favorable position, and through the co-operation of the Municipal Light Department, electric flood lights were installed for night hockey games and skating. The rink and surrounding area has several times been cleared of snow, swept and flooded to insure better skating. The entire area is excep- tionally well located for skating purposes. Both the rink and surround- area have been very popular during the winter months. The thanks of the Town are due Mr. Logan Dickie for his generosity in allowing this area to be used for skating purposes.
Leach Park
Leach Park received its usual care and maintenance, and presents its usual attractive appearance. Trees, shrubs and lawns were trimmed and cut, walks edged and graveled, low spots loamed, graded and seeded, etc.
As soon as the Town's finances permit, this Park should be entirely resurfaced and care taken thereafter to preserve its condition.
Park Department
239
Intersection Grass Plots
On several street intersections, where the point of intersection was unusually wide, raised grass plots were constructed, triangular in shape, with two purposes in view, first, to compel traffic to stay in the proper traffic lanes, and second, to beautify the intersections.
The plots were outlined with field-stones rip-rapped in loam banks, sod was placed around the stones, the center filled with a gravel base and a loam surface, and seeded. Although the exceptionally dry sum- mer retarded the growth of the grass, by fall the plots presented a pleasing appearance.
Plots of this type were constructed at the following intersections : Willow, West Streets and Summer Avenue; Longview Road and Lane- ton Way; West Street and County Road; Walnut and Hopkins Streets; Oak Street and Summer Avenue.
The plot at West Street and County Road is especially attractive, as it contains a number of well shaped white pine trees, and certain public spirited citizens in that neighborhood donated flowering shrubs which were planted in strategic locations in the plot.
Greater appropriations are urged for the Park Department for the following necessities :
A. Regular caretakers on all Parks and Playgrounds.
B. For the purchase of loam, seed, flowers, fertilizer, etc.
C. Resurfacing tennis courts with asphaltic concrete.
Any person who has tried to maintain a lawn and flower beds at his property realizes the amount of care and attention that must be given them to obtain good results. Consider then how much more care and attention must be given to Parks and Playgrounds because of the number of people that use them. Without this care and attention it is impossible to keep them in good condition. Without the necessary funds it has been impossible for the Department to hire caretakers, to purchase materials and to give the necessary care and attention. This lack of care and attention due to a lack of necessary funds has produced a condition in our Parks and Playgrounds which is deplorable and which is apparent to any interested person.
A start was made to resurfacing tennis courts with asphaltic con- crete. This work should be continued each year and funds made avail- able each year until such time as all courts have been resurfaced. Ten- nis is a very popular sport and the courts receive enough play to warrant having good courts.
Park Department
240
SEWER DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Sewer Department :
Construction and Maintenance Account
Appropriation $ 11,200.00
Construction Expenditures :
Pay Roll
$
1,234.21
Supplies for Construction ..
1,170.54
$ 2,404.75
Maintenance Expenditures :
Pay Roll $ 3,575.45
Interest on Bonds
3,410.00
Insurance 270.00
Equipment Maintenance . .
318.34
Gas & Oil
169.28
New Equipment
160.00
Misc. Supplies & Tools
560.73
$ 8,463.80
Total Expended
$ 10,868.55
Balance Unexpended
$
331.45
House Connection Account
Appropriation $ 1,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$
655.26
Pipe & Fittings
230.03
Total Expended
. .
$ 885.29
Balance Unexpended .. $ 114.71
Sewer Department
241
One main trunk sewer extension was made during the year, on Pleasant Street, between Eaton and Manning Streets, on the applica- tion of property owners in that vicinity. Nine houses are listed as pos- sible connections on this extension, although to date but two of the nine have been connected. A total of 374.16 ft. of 12" vitrified sewer pipe was laid, eleven Y connections were installed for possible future use, and one manhole built. As this section of Pleasant Street is low and much ground water present, it was necessary to install 374.0 feet of 6" underdrain beneath the sewer main. The average depth at which the sewer main was laid was seven feet, and the underdrain at an aver- age depth of eight and one-quarter feet. The prevalence of ground water necessitated cribbing or sheathing the trench for practically its entire length, and on the Manning Street sector ledge was encountered, requiring drilling and blasting. The main was laid on a .50% grade
On Woburn Street, preliminary to the construction of a permanent road surface under Chapter 90, an 8" sewer main 29.0 feet in length was laid from the man hole at the intersection of Woburn and Washington Streets northerly to beyond the street line of Woburn Street, for possible future use. All sewer man holes on the reconstructed section of Woburn Street were raised to grade and new man hole covers in- stalled where necessary.
Late in the fall of 1937 the Sewer Department acquired a new Tur- bine sewer cleaning unit, which was badly needed. Since the sewer sys- tem was installed, in 1921, no equipment has been owned by the De- partment to efficiently clean the sewer mains. As a result of this lack of equipment, and also due to the contributing factor that, on many sewered streets, main trunk sewers, which were designed to flow two- thirds full when carrying a maximum capacity, and the lateral and sub- mains, which were designed to flow one-half full, the number of houses that are connected thereto do not discharge enough material therein to keep the mains thoroughly flushed, much sewerage matter has been deposited and left in the mains, which, on certain sewers having but a slight pitch, tend to clog the sewer mains. The eight-inch main trunk sewer on Woburn Street, between Bancroft Avenue and Chute Street, became clogged and stopped in February for this reason, and was clear- ed only after much effort.
Immediately upon receiving the sewer cleaning equipment, a pro- gram was begun which will, in time, include the cleaning of all sewer mains in the entire system that show a tendency to clog. Already many of the sewers on flat-graded streets have been cleaned, the work con- tinuing through the winter months when weather permits.
Eighteen new sewer house connections were installed during 1937, totaling 926.90 feet, at an average cost to the owners of $24.21 per con-
Sewer Department
242
nection. On Woburn Street two sewer services were laid to the curb only for possible future use, one at a vacant lot adjacent to St. Agues' R. C. Church, the other to a vacant lot adjacent to 201 Woburn Street. On Pleasant Street, preliminary to the reconstruction of the street sur- face, two sewer services also were laid to the curb, which will eventually service houses numbered 64 and 75 Pleasant Street.
Twenty-two sewer house connections became clogged during the year, and were rodded and cleared. Roots and poor joints were respon- sible for four of the stoppages, insoluble foreign matter for the re- maining eighteen.
During the past year numerous complaints have been received from various citizens in regard to cesspools on neighboring properties over- flowing on their land. This, of course, creates an extremely unsanitary condition, and is a distinct menace to the health of the surrounding neighborhood. Many of these conditions could be eliminated by con- necting the offending estates to the sanitary sewer. At present, the Board of Public Works, successors to the Sewer Commissioners, have no power to compel the owners of properties situated on streets con- taining a sanitary sewer to connect with said sewer. With a view to eliminating such conditions, the Board at the Annual Town Meeting in March, under Article 34, petitioned the Town to authorize the Board of Public Works to petition the General Court for enabling legislation conferring power upon the Town to require owners of land abutting on a public or private way in which there is a common sewer to connect with such common sewer. The vote of the town meeting being favor- able to this article, the General Court was so petitioned, and on May 6, 1937, the General Court approved Chapter 280, Acts of 1937, entitled "An Act Authorizing the Town of Reading to Establish Regulations Requiring Owners to Connect with the Common Sewer therein", the Act to take full effect upon its acceptance by vote of the Town at a Town Meeting. The Board intends to submit the final acceptance of this Act to the Town at the annual Town Meeting in March, 1938, and urges the Town to accept the provisions of the Act.
As of December 31, 1937, on streets containing common sewers, but 64% of the abutting properties are connected with the sewer. The other 36% still use cesspools for sewerage purposes.
In view of the fact that the prevailing sewer rental rates were such that the larger users of the sanitary sewers such as laundries, in- dustrial businesses, etc., found the rates burdensome; a new schedule reducing the sewer rental rates was adopted by the Board and were put into effect as of April 1, 1937. These new reduced rates, while aiding the larger users, also lowers the rental rates for the average user, and are as follows :
Sewer Department
243
First Next
3,000 Cu. Ft. 3,000 " 4,000
"
@ @ @ @ @
.02 .20
"
"
"
„
"
"
"
"
10,000
"
"
"
"
"
276,000
"
@ @
.16 .12 .08 .04
With the reducing of the sewer rental rates in 1937 and the reducing of the sewer entrance charges in 1929, substantial savings are possible to owners of estates wishing to connect with the common sewer. It is significant that in 1937 all new houses erected on streets containing a common sewer were connected thereto. In most instances, the yearly cost of maintaining a private cesspool is greater than the annual sewer rental charges.
The Department strongly recommends the acceptance, by the Town, of the above- mentioned Chapter 280, of the General Statutes. Persons having available to them, a common sewer, should, as a matter of con- venience and community health, connect with the said sewer.
Property owners who do not have available to them, a common sewer, are strongly urged to petition the Board of Public Works to install a common sewer for them.
It is well to remember that the sewer rates will be constantly re- duced in direct ratio to the increase in the number of users.
The following tables illustrate the present status of the Reading Sewerage System, showing the streets containing common sewers, the number of connections, possible connections and revenue charges for 1937, the lengths of services, trunk sewers and underdrains.
Sewer 'Department
244
"
"
"
10,000
All in excess
.23c per 100 Cu. Ft.
READING SEWERAGE SYSTEM
1921-1937
TABLES SHOWING
Length of Sewer Connections
Streets containing Sewers
Main Sewers in Streets
Underdrains in Streets
245
STREETS
Streets
Possible Con- nections
Completed Per Cent Con- Con- nected nections
No Con- struction Started
Connected to Street Line
Partially Installed to House
Revenue Charges 1937
Arlington
12
3
25
5
3
1
$ 25.65
Ash. .
17
9
53
7
. .
1
62.62
Bancroft ..
22
12
55
10
136.94
Berkeley
27
16
59
11
204.76
Brook
2
1
50
1
.
6.44
Center .
10
7
70
3
68.65
Chute.
7
7
100
178.68
Dudley
10
4
40
6
57.44
Eaton
2
2
100
12.00
Elliott.
8
4
50
4
58.66
Fremont
4
4
100
60.44
Fulton.
1
1
100
.
7
5
71
2
39.56
Gould.
3
3
100
10
2
5
475.98
Harnden
8
89
1
102.38
Haven.
45
30
67
6
2
541.62
High.
16
7
7
2
51.74
Hillcrest
10
9
90
1
92.32
Howard.
18
16
89
1
1
209.24
Ide.
2
1
50
1
18.17
John.
18
10
56
8
King.
6
6
100
Kingston
15
13
87
2
. .
140.87
Lincoln
7
4
57
3
52.56
Linden.
11
7
69
3
1
137.08
Lowell .
4
3
75
1
47.01
Main.
50
40
80
8
2
1,151.31
Maple.
2
1
50
.
1
9.89
Middle ..
2
1
50
1
12.19
Middlesex
24
14
58
6
2 2 22.
2
86.37
Mt. Vernon. Parker
7
6
86
1
. .
48.81
Perkins
7
7
100
132.48
Pine.
1
1
100
18
2
172.70
Pratt.
4
3
75
1
34.68
Prescott.
52
44
8.5
1
5
2
494.34
Prospect .
17
8
47
8
1
155.06
Salem.
21
12
57
1
8
2
282.57
School.
10
6
60
4
.
. .
6.27
Smith. .
12
12
100
.
. .
.
164.90
Summer.
18
8
44
9
1
99.57
Sweetser
5
1
20
3
1
8.97
Temple
32
10
31
16
6
261.50
Union.
5
3
60
1
1
45.71
Village.
22
13
59
8
2
1
185.13
Washington.
29
18
62
O̧
2
. .
42.48
Wilson.
11
9
82
2
25
4
680.97
Totals
878
564
64
180
98
36
$8,387.82
. .
1
178.12
Warren .
17
14
82
.
174.58
Wenda.
4
4
100
. .
.
78.58
Woburn.
85
49
58
7
.
.
225.72
Minot.
12
8
67
23
11
48
12
68.09
Park.
7
6
86
1
6.00
Pleasant.
37
17
46
Sanborn.
15
9
60
4
61.64
Scotland .
1
1
100
.
23.23
Green.
53
36
68
..
38.85
Copeland
14.23
Gardner.
44
7
219.25
111.97
117.68
.
Sewer Department
246
.
213.17
LENGTH OF SEWER CONNECTIONS RUN TO EITHER CURB, HOUSES, OR CONNECTED
Streets
Curb
Houses
Connected
Total Length
Arlington.
€6.50
46.00
175.00
287.50
Ash. . .
401.10
401.10
Bancroft .
501.90
561.90
Berkeley
925.70
925.70
Brook.
45.60
45.60
Center .
52.00
317.00
369.00
Copeland
450.00
450.00
Dudley
284.00
284.00
Eaton
106.00
106.00
Elliott .
217.00
217.00
Fremont
209.00
209.00
Fulton.
44.00
44.00
Gardner
225.50
225.50
Gould.
236.50
236.50
Green. .
54.00
173.00
1,568.01
1,795.01
Harnden .
32.00
257.80
289.80
Haven
186.00
79.00
1,304.80
1,569.80
High
22.00
252.80
274.80
Hillcrest
570.00
570.00
Howard.
25.00
967.00
992.00
Ide.
56.50
56.50
John.
37.00
340.00
377.00
King
Kingston.
70.00
186.00
256.00
Linden.
41.00
339.70
380.70
Main .
99.00
2,013.25
2,462.75
Maple.
18.00
40.00
58.00
Middle.
36.50
36.50
Middlesex
48.00
138.00
983.20
1,169.20
Minot.
42.00
77.00
331.00
450.00
Mt. Vernon.
540.00
540.00
Park.
37.00
208.00
245.00
Parker .
267.50
267.50
Perkins.
434.80
434.80
Pine. .
46.00
46.00
Pleasant
28.00
899.10
927.10
Prescott
116.00
228.00
2,866.70
3,210.70
Salem.
219.29
98.00
611.40
709.40
Scotland .
60.00
60.00
Summer.
94.00
576.20
670.20
Smith.
64.00
45.00
43.00
152.00
Temple.
285.00
173.00
662.00
1,120.00
Union
66.00
177.00
243.00
Village
34.00
583.50
617.50
Warren .
36.00
68.00
565.00
669.00
Washington
50.00
48.00
911.30
1,009.30
Wenda.
202.50
202.50
Wilson.
43.00
380.90
423.90
Woburn.
406.80
222.50
2,987.90
3,617.20
Totals
2,171.09
1,846.50
30,128.27
34,145.86
Pratt ..
242.00
242.00
Prospect
733.00
733.00
Sanborn
School .
315.40
315.40
Lowell .
232.50
232.50
350.50
369.10
369.10
536.00
536.00
Lincoln
756.11
975.40
476.50
476.50
Sweetser.
Sewer Department
247
LENGTH OF UNDERDRAINS IN STREETS
Streets
5 Inch
6 Inch
8 Inch
10 Inch
Total Length
Total Length Sewers and Underdrains
Arlington.
399.80
Ash ..
237.00
258.80
495.80
1,577.50
Bancroft .
456.00
456.00
1,712.10
Brook
847.60
847.60
1,695.20
Center
620.60
620.60
1,241.20
Copeland.
500.00
Dudley.
380.00
527.70
907.70
1,815.40
Elliott .
456.50
456.50
913.00
Gardner.
974.10
1,811.00
4,525.20
Harnden .
588.20
588.20
2,341.00
High.
487.70
736.10
1,223.80
3,297.95
Hillcrest.
450.40
450.40
1,221.20
Howard.
1,410.00
1,410.00
2,820.00
Interceptors.
2,937.00
2,937.00
5,874.00
John.
748.10
748.10
1,762.20
King
175.00
175.00
690.00
Kingston
609.30
110.00
719.30
1,438.60
Lincoln .
290.40
444.90
735.30
1,595.60
Lowell.
1,246.10
955.50
2,436.50
4,873.00
Maple.
189.20
437.00
1,409.65
2,819.30
Park.
507.30
322.70
830.00
1,660.00
Parker
226.00
469.80
843.80
3,184.56
Pratt.
252.20
303.30
555.50
1,111.00
Prescott
1,070.60
2,091.80
3,162.40
6,601.80
Prospect
886.00
886.00
2,146.00
Salem
543.00
132.50
675.50
1,812.90
Sanborn.
200.00
200.00
916.30
School .
688.25
Smith ..
475.00
Summer
1,229.40
Sweetser
175.00
175.00
509.30
Temple
40.00
40.00
2,031.04
Union.
303.00
Village.
825.00
825.00
2,328.40
Warren .
715.00
724.00
246.80
1,163.20
2,134.00
4,692.90
Wenda
300.00
Wilson.
804.50
804.50
1,609.00
Woburn.
1,196.00
917.40
. ..
2,113.40
6,708.30
Total Lengths. .
9,781.15
16,737.00
6,224.50
1,656.90
34,399.55
93,573.12
.
Minot
254.00
254.00
1,677.40
Mt. Vernon
230.30
230.30
1,218.82
Perkins.
400.00
Pine.
226.00
452.00
Pleasant
374.00
1,111.50
1,111.50
2,223.00
Linden
813.10
Main .
189.20
378.40 313.60
Middle.
Middlesex
972.65
427.00
Eaton.
396.00
Fremont.
475.00
Green. .
836.90
559.30
Haven
1,015.00
Berkeley .
Sewer Department
248
715.00
1,430.00
Washington.
234.90
374.50
LENGTH OF MAIN SEWERS IN STREETS
Streets
6 inch
8 inch
10 inch
12 inch
15 inch 18 inch
20 inch
24 inch
Totals
Arlington.
399.80
399.80
Ash ..
822.90
258.80
1,081.70
Bancroft .
1,015.00
1,015.00
Berkeley
1,256.10
1,256.10
Brook.
847.60
847.60
Center .
620.60
620.60
Copeland.
500.00
500.00
Dudley.
374.50
374.50
Eaton
907.70
907.70
Elliott
396.00
396.00
Fremont
456.50
456.50
Gardner.
475.00
475.00
Green.
·175.20
1,717.40
821.60
2,714.20
Harnden
559.30
559.30
Haven .
1,752.80
1,752.80
High.
1338.05
736.10
2,074.15
Hillcrest
770.80
770.80
Howard.
300.00
1,110.00
1,410.00
Interceptors
205.00
2732.00
2,937.00
John.
266.00
178.50
1,014.10
King
340.00
175.00
515.00
Kingston
719.30
719.30
Lincoln
573.40
538.10
1,111.50
Linden
125.00
735.30
860.30
Lowell .
813.10
813.10
Main .
1,246.10
234.90
2,436.50
Maple.
189.20
189.20
Middle.
313.60
313.60
Middlesex
1,423.40
1,423.40
Minot.
1,409.65
1,409.65
Mt. Vernon.
828.52
160.00
988.52
Park ..
507.30
322.70
830.00
Parker
427.00
427.00
Perkins.
400.00
400.00
Pine ..
226.00
226.00
Pleasant
1,496.80
843.96
2,340.76
Pratt .
555.50
555.50
Prescott
2,265.30
1174.10
3,439.40
Prospect
1,260.00
1,260.00
Salem
1,004.90
132.50
1,137.40
Sanborn
716.30
716.30
School .
688.25
688.25
Smith
475.00
475.00
Summer.
1,229.40
1,229.40
Sweetser
334.30
334.30
Temple
896.76
432.89
661.39
1,991.04
Union ..
303.60
303.60
Village
1,015.60
487.80
1,503.40
Warren .
715.00
715.00
Washington
424.90
246.80
312.90
1574.30
2,558.90
Wenda.
300.00
300.00
Wilson.
471.40
333.10
804.50
Woburn
732.80
2,944.70
917.40
4,594.90
Total .
2869.76 37, 065. 72 3773 .44 6538.95 2870.60 487.80 1809.20 3758. 10 59, 173.57
Sewer Department
249
569.60
955.50
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the executive office:
$ 6,285.00
Appropriation Expended :
Salaries $ 5,380.24
Supplies and Miscellaneous 903.10
Total Expended 6,283.34
Balance Unexpended
$ 1.66
The following table shows the expenditures made this past year in the major departments, the payroll of each, and the entire expenditures of the Department of Public Works :
Note: Highway includes all other departmental accounts not spe- cifically mentioned below, such as, Chap. 90, Betterments, Drainage, Snow and Ice, etc.
B. P. W. Water Highway
Sewer
Park
Totals
Pay Roll $5,380.24 $17,838.41 $ 43,952.21
$ 5,464,92
$1,981.27 $ 74,617.05
Bills
903.10
39,710.23
92,119.42
6,288.92
1,476.39 140,497.96
Totals
$6,283.34 $57,548:64 $136,071.63 $11,753.84
$3,457.66 $215,115.01
In closing this report, the Superintendent wishes to express his appreciation to the members of the Board for their many helpful sug- gestions and kindnesses extended to him during the year, and assure all those in any way associated with him in carrying on the work of the Department of his gratitude for their interest and co-operation, and to acknowledge the assistance, co-operation and helpful suggestions which he has received from the other department heads of the town.
PHILIP WELCH,
Superintendent.
250
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD, 1937
The Board has held regular meetings on Friday evenings through- out the year. Special meetings have been held from time to time and the Board has been represented at several local and metropolitan hearings.
The Map Project which has been sponsored by the Board for sev- eral years has been completed and the Town now has two basic maps, one showing the locations of all streets and buildings, and the other a topographical map with five foot contours.
The Board has continued to employ Professor Frederick Adams of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as its consultant. The studies of the zoning situation have been continued and the Board has now ready for presentation to the Town, a proposed amendment to the Zoning By-law. A public hearing, as required by law, was held on this proposed amendment and numerous conferences have been had with representative groups for the purpose of obtaining suggestions and criticism of the draft. As a result of the public hearing and the in- formal conferences, much valuable criticism was obtained. The pro- posed amendment is in substance the same as outlined in the Board's report of last year. It has seemed advisable, however, to modify it in certain respects, including the changing of the size of the lots from 7,000 square feet, half-acre and acre to 10,000, 20,000 and 40,000 square feet. Also minor readjustments of the proposed zoning lines have been made.
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