USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1943 > Part 4
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So that the above described area shall be re-zoned and changed to and become part of the industrial district.
Leone F. Quimby, and others
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least ten public places in the Town not less than seven days prior to December 13, 1943 the date set for the meeting in said warrant, and to publish this warrant in the Reading Chronicle one day at least prior to said date.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your do-
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ings thereon, to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting
Given under our hands this third day of December, 1943.
HERBERT K. MILLER KENNETH C. LATHAM CHAS. E. WILKINSON
Selectmen of Reading
Officer's Return
Middlesex ss :
Reading, Mass., Dec. 13, 1943
By virtue of this warrant, I on December 6, 1943, notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs to meet in the place and at the time specified by post- ing an attested copy thereof in the following public places within the said town; Municipal Building, Central Fire Station, Police Headquar- ters, Austin's Lunch Room, Odd Fellows Building, M. F. Charles & Sons Store, Masonic Temple Building, Lyceum Hall Building, Rockport Fish Market, Haven Street Spa, D. M. Ainsworth's Store, Haven St., Boston & Maine R. R. Depot, Waterhouse Neighborhood Store, Mineral St; Engine No. 2 House, Woburn Street, the date of posting being seven days prior to the date of the meeting in said warrant, and I caused a copy of this warrant to be published in the Reading Chronicle in the issue of December 10, 1943, the date being not more than one day prior to said meeting.
L. G. BENT,
Constable of Reading
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Security Hall December 13, 1943
The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk, the Moderator, Charles P. Howard, being absent.
On motion of Leon G. Bent it was voted that Samuel H. Davis be nominated for Temporary Moderator.
On motion of Leon G. Bent it was voted that the nominations be closed.
On motion of Leon G. Bent it was voted that the Town Clerk be in- structed to cast one ballot for Samuel H. Davis as Temporary Moder- ator.
As instructed the Town Clerk cast one ballot for Samuel H. Davis as Temporary Moderator, and declared him elected.
Article 1. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted to lay Article 1 on the table.
Article 2. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that Arti- cle 1 of the By-Laws of the Town be and the same hereby is amended by
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striking out Section 2 and inserting in place thereof the following Sec- tion :
Section 2. Notice of every Town Meeting shall be given by posting an attested copy of the warrant calling the same, in at least three public places in each precinct of the Town not less than seven days prior to each meeting, and by causing such attested copy to be published in some newspaper in the Town one day, at least, prior to the time of holding such meeting. The officer serving the warrant shall in his turn desig- nate the places where copies were posted, the name of the paper, and the date of publication in which the same was published. Notice of ev- ery adjourned town meeting before which any proposed reconsideration is to come shall be posted by the Town Clerk in two conspicuous public places in each precinct of the Town as soon as possible after adjourn- ment, and he shall, if practicable publish such notice in some newspaper published in the Town at least one day before the time of said ad- journed meeting.
Said notice shall include a notice of any proposed reconsideration to come before the meeting.
A sufficient number of the warrants shall be printed for distribution at each meeting.
Section 2A. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that Article 1 of the By-laws of the Town be and the same hereby is further amended by inserting after Section 2, as previously amended at this meeting, the following new Section :
Section 2A. Any representative Town Meeting held under the pro- visions of Chapter 7 of the Acts of 1943, shall be limited to the voters elected under Section 3 thereof, together with the following designated as Town Meeting members at large, namely, any member of the General Court of the Commonwealth from the Town, the Moderator, the Town Clerk, the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, the Chairman of the School Committee, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, the Chair- man of the Board of Public Works, the Chairman of the Municipal Light Board, the Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare, the Chair- man of Trustees of the Public Library, the Chairman of Board of As- sessors, the Chairman of the Planning Board, the Chairman of Board of Cemetery Trustees, the Chairman of the Board of Health, the Town Accountant and the Town Counsel.
Section 5. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that Sec- tion 5 of Article IV of the By-Laws of the Town be and the same here- by is amended by striking out the sum of "$200" and inserting in place thereof the sum of-five hundred dollars-so to read as follows :
Section 5. When any suit at law or in equity or other legal proceed- ing is instituted against the Town and there is not sufficient time be- fore action must be taken in the same to bring the matter before
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the Town, the Law Committee shall have authority to appear in, and an- swer to such suit, through the Town Counsel, and shall have authority to settle all suits involving the payment of not more than five hundred dollars; but in all other cases before the trial or final disposition of the same, a town meeting shall be called to act on the matter.
. Kenneth C. Latham moved that Article VI of the By-Laws of the Town be and the same hereby is amended by striking out the second paragraph of Section 1 and inserting in place thereof the following para- graph :
The Finance Committee shall be appointed by the Selectmen within thirty days after the final adjournment of the annual Town Meeting; three members to be appointed from each of the four voting precincts, and three members to be appointed at large; one member in each pre- cinct and one member at large shall be appointed annually to serve for three years, one member for two years, and one member for one year. Thereafter in any year when the term of any member expires, his suc- cessor shall be appointed for a term of three years. Any vacancy in the Committee shall be filled by the Selectmen. The Town Accountant shall ex-officio be clerk of the Committee; eight members shall con- stitute a quorum. All the present members of the Finance Committee shall continue to act as such until the said first committee of fifteen is appointed as herein provided. The first committee appointed under this by-law shall be appointed promptly by the Board of Selectmen within twenty days after this by-law shall take effect.
40 voted in the affirmative and 59 in the negative. The motion was lost.
Article 2. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that Article VIII of the By-laws of the Town be and the same hereby is amended by striking out the entire Article and inserting in place thereof the following article :
Article VIII
Section 1. The Treasurer shall be the Collector of all sums of money payable to the Town not otherwise specially provided for by the statutes or by these by-laws.
Article 3. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of fifteen hundred (1500) dollars be appropriated by transferring said sum from the Public Welfare General Aid Account to the Snow and Ice Account, and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and 'empowered to transfer said sum to said account.
Article 4. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of two thousand (2000) dollars be appropriated by transferring said sum from the Interest Account to Special Drainage Construction Account, such sum to be expended under the direction of the Special Drainage Committee for any and all expenses in connection with the
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construction of the Quannapowitt Drainage System and that the Town Accountant be and he is authorized to make the transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.
Article 5. On motion of Lloyd G. David it was voted that a com- mittee consisting of George B. Pease, Ralph G. Babcock, Irving C. Aus- tin, Wendell P. Davis, William G. Long, Henry W. Powers and Frank D. Tanner be and hereby is established for the purpose of planning, de- veloping and carrying into effect forthwith a post-war program to meet the needs and welfare of Veterans, their families and others with re- spect to re-employment, rehabilitation, re-adjustment or otherwise and that said committee report at the annual town meeting to be held in March, 1944 or at any special town meeting held prior thereto, the pro- gram outlined and developed and the progress made thereunder by such committee.
Article 1. On motion of Lloyd G. David it was voted to take Article 1 from the table.
Report with Recommendations of the Reading Planning Board with Respect to Proposed Amendment of the Zoning By-Law.
General Laws (Ter. Ed) Chapter 40, Section 27 provides that no amendment to the Zoning by-law shall be adopted until after the Plan- ning Board has held a public hearing thereon after due notice has been given and it has submitted a final report with recommendations to the Town Meeting, or until twenty days shall have elapsed after such hear- ing without the submission of such report.
A petition for a public hearing was filed with the Planning Board by Leone F. Quimby, Norman P. Charles, Edward F. Parker, Harold F. Parker, Arthur G. Sias, George E. Merrill, Wendell B. Newell, Henry R. Johnson, Andrew Christiansen, James H. Fleming and Earle G. Steele relative to a proposed amendment to the zoning by-law and zoning map changing the same by extending the industrial district so as to include therein the area hereinafter described :
Beginning at the junction of Bolton Street and Ash Street at the present industrial district ;
Thence running Northwesterly to Main Street at the Southerly side of the right of way of the Boston and Maine Railroad;
Thence turning and running Southerly by Main Street 817 feet more or less to the Southerly boundary line of the premises owned by the Wakefield Trust Company; and
Thence turning and running Northeasterly in part by the said bound- ary line of the Wakefield Trust Co. and the Southerly boundary line of land of John and Christine E. Watson approximately 484.6 feet to Ash Street and the present industrial district.
Due notice of a public hearing was given as required by the statute above referred to and such hearing was held on November 5, 1943.
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This hearing was attended by a comparatively small number of peo- ple. However, those who did attend were vitally interested in the mat- ter, and reasons both for and against the proposed change were pre- sented. It appeared that the proposed change was sought by a group of citizens of Reading, all of whom it was stated were members of the Reading Board of Trade, to enable Robbins & Burke, Inc., a corporation engaged in the manufacture of refrigerated auto bodies and trailers, to purchase the property known as the Laing Chevrolet Company on South Main Street for the purpose of engaging in the manufacture of such bodies and trailers. It also appeared at the hearing that the property is now owned by the Wakefield Trust Company and has been owned by that bank for at least ten years.
Some of the petitioners, Mr. Hovey, Treasurer of the Wakefield Trust Company, and Mr. Robbins representing the proposed purchaser, were the only persons who spoke in favor of the amendment. Argu- ments against the allowance of the amendment were presented by two citizens of the Town.
The area included in the proposed amendment is now zoned partly for business and partly for residential purposes. It is located on the Southerly side of Main Street a short distance toward Stoneham from the railroad crossing. The portion of the area occupied by the Laing Chevrolet Company has been used in the past as an automobile sales show room and as an automobile service station. No part of the area has ever been zoned for industry. The owner of the property did not appear at the public hearing which was held prior to the adoption of the present zoning law and did not make any request that the area be zoned for industry at the time of the general revision of the zoning law in the town. Mr. Hovey stated that the opportunities which the bank had had to sell the property were all for light manufacturing, and that it was getting to the point where it looked as if the Town were not willing that the bank should sell its property.
This argument was designed to show that the bank is suffering an undue hardship. In view of the fact that this property has never been zoned for industry the bank could not have been misled in any way at the time it took its loan or when it foreclosed its mortgage. In any event, only two years ago, when the town was re-zoned, the bank did not seek a change. This re-zoning was a matter of public discussion and de- bate for several years before it was adopted. One of the opponents to the amendment urged that the present plight of the garage, if there is one, and it is interesting to note that no evidence was offered as to this, is due to war conditions.
Several of the proponents of the amendment stated that they had investigated the proposed purchaser of the property and its business and had found the corporation to be run by fine men, and that the proposed
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business was not objectionable because of noise or other factors. Mr. Robbins stated that he did not intend to bring any undesirables into Town; that if he could he would hire men in Reading; and that he did not intend to sell the property.
In considering whether the amendment should be passed considera- tion should be given to the character of the Town, what its future pros- pects of development are, and what effect the proposed change will have. The present zoning law was adopted after careful consideration and deliberation and should not be altered in a material aspect except in a case in which the Town will be benefitted by the change or possibly in a case of extreme hardship to the owner where little, if any, damage will be done to the Town.
No evidence was offered to show that this change would result in increasing taxes to the Town and it is not likely that it would. Some statements were made that the local bank, the Municipal Light Com- pany and the Merchants would derive benefits from the change. In- creased business is desirable for the local bank. It is problematical if the merchants would benefit in the long run in view of the fact that only a small number of employees would be residents of Reading and certainly the merchants would not benefit if the high character of the Town were allowed to change. No evidence was offered as to the net profits which might be made by the sale of cheap rate electricity and what the ulti- mate benefits would be to the citizens of the town who in the last analy- sis are the owners of the Municipal Light plant. What has been said with respect to this particular industry is true in large measure to any industry which might locate there. If this industry, or one which might supplant it, should attract large numbers of people, to the Town, increas- ed expenditures for fire and police protection would be required. The present critical school housing problem would be further aggravated. It is doubtful if this industry or any other that might follow it would at- tract residents to the Town who would be taxed up to the average n'ec- essary to pay their way.
What Reading needs is more of the better class homes. There is 110 appreciable chance of Reading ever becoming a large industrial town. This point was made by one of the petitioners at the public hearing. That being so, it does not seem wise to hinder the Town's development as a residential community of the best type by the insertion of an in- dustrial district on its main street. This isn't a question of being "high- hat," but a question of dollars and cents for the great majority of the residents of the Town.
It isn't a question of standing in the way of progress, it is a question of seeing that the progress is made in the right direction. We cannot have big industries. Our logical development is as a residential town, and after all, residential communities are just as essential as industrial
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communities. In the long run no class of people in the town will be injured if the town follows it most obvious destiny. To say that this is a little industry and that it won't do much harm is the most fallacious of arguments. Once we deviate from the present by-law, the easier it is to do so again and again with the result tlfat in a little while the whole purpose of the zoning law will be nullified and we will find ourselves in the situation of not being able to be a big industrial city nor able to be a high class residential community.
In arriving at a conclusion care must be taken not to be swayed un- duly by the fact that the proposed purchaser of the area is a good busi- ness man or by the fact that the proposed business is not obnoxious. There can be no guarantee that this purchaser will continue to own the property for any length of time or that he will continue to use it for the same purposes which he now proposes to use it. Once the area had been Zoned to industry it is open to any industrial use and it may be put to such use at any time.
The present Zoning by-law provides in the opinion of the Planning Board adequate space for industry.
The Board recommends that the proposed amendment should not be made.
A. LLOYD DAVID, Chairman GEORGE B. PEASE
WINTHROP D. PARKER PHILIP R. WHITE WALTER D. BERRY
Reading Planning Board
Article 6. Leone F. Quimby moved that the Zoning By-Law and Zoning map of the Town be and the same hereby are amended by ex- tending the industrial district so as to include therein the area hereinaf- ter described. Beginning at the junction of the industrial district and Bolton Street, thence running by Bolton Street Northwesterly to Main Street at the southerly side of the right of way of the Boston and Maine Railroad, thence turning and running Southerly by Main Street 817 feet more or less to the Southerly boundary line of the premises owned by the Wakefield Trust Company; and thence turning and running North- easterly in part by the said boundary line of the Wakefield Trust Com- pany and the Southerly boundary line of land of John and Christine E. Watson approximately 484.6 feet to Ash Street and the present indus- trial district, so that the above described area shall be re-zoned and changed to and become part of the industrial district.
Arguments in favor were presented by Leone F. Quimby and Nor- man P. Charles.
Arguments against were presented by A. Lloyd David, Philip R. White, and Logan R. Dickie.
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This being a Zoning By-Law change, a two thirds vote was neces- sary.
Twenty-four voted in the affirmative and One Hundred voted in the negative. The motion was lost.
Article 1. On motion of Herbert K. Miller it was voted to take Article 1, from the table.
On motion of Herbert K. Miller it was voted that Article 1 be in- definitely postponed.
On motion of Herbert K. Miller it was voted to adjourn Sine die. Meeting attendance 145.
Attest : NORMAN P. CHARLES, Town Clerk
NOTICE TO PARENTS, HOUSEWIVES, PHYSICIANS AND MIDWIVES
Your attention is called to the sections below taken from the revised laws. Blank forms for return of birth can be obtained of the Town Clerk.
General Laws, Chap. 46, Sec. 3 (Tercentenary Edition) (As amended by Chapter 326, section one, Acts of 1339.)
Every physician, or hospital medical officer registered under sec- tion nine of chapter one hundred and twelve, in this chapter called officer, shall keep a record of the birth of every child in cases of which he was in charge, showing date and place of birth, the name, if any, of the child, its sex and color, the name, age, birthplace, occupa- tion and residence (including the street number, if any, and the ward number if in a city) of each parent, the maiden name of the mother and the name of the physician or officer, if any, personally attending the birth. If the child is illegitimate, the name of and other facts relating to the father shall not be set forth except upon written request of both the father and mother; provided that if an illegitimate child shall have become legitimate by the intermarriage of his parents and the acknowledgment of his father, as provided in section seven of chapter one hundred and ninety, prior to the mailing or delivery of any report herein required, such report shall read, in all respects, as if such child had been born to such parents in lawful wedlock. Said physician or officer shall, within fifteen days after such birth, mail
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or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the town where such birth occurred, a report stating the facts hereinabove required to be shown on said record and also the said written request, if any; provided, that if said report is not so made within forty-eight hours after such birth, said physician, or officer shall, within said forty-eight hours, mail or deliver to said clerk or registrar a notice stating the date and place of the birth, the street number, if any, the ward number, if in a city, and the family name. Upon presentation to him of a certificate of the town clerk stating that any such birth has been duly reported, the town treasurer shall pay to such physician or officer a fee of twenty- five cents for each birth so reported. Any physician or any such officer violating any provision of this section shall forfeit not more than twenty-five dollars. The said town clerk or registrar shall file daily with the local board of health a list of all births reported to him, show- ing, as to each, the date of birth, sex, color, family name, residence ; ward and physician or officer in charge.
Within sixty days after the date of the birth of any child born in the commonwealth with visible congenital deformities, or any condition apparently acquired at birth which may lead to crippling, the physician in attendance upon said births shall prepare upon a form provided by the state department of public health and file with the clerk of the town where such births occurred a report setting forth such visible congenital deformity, or any condition apparently acquired at birth which may lead to crippling.
Said clerk shall transmit forthwith to said department such supple- mentary report of such birth. The contents of such birth shall be solely for the use of said department in connection with its functions relative to crippled children, and such report shall not be open to public inspec- tion or constitute a public record.
General Laws, Chap. 46, Sec. 6
Parents within forty days after the birth of a child, and every householder, within forty days after a birth in his house, shall cause notice thereof to be given to the clerk of the town where such child is born.
General Laws, Chapter 111
Sections 110 and 111, require physicians, registered hospital medical officers, nurses or other attendants to report at once to the local board of health, every child one or both of whose eyes become inflamed, swollen and red and show an unnatural discharge within two weeks after birth.
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BIRTHS REGISTERED IN TOWN OF READING FOR YEAR 1943
Date
Name
Parent
January
: :
1 John Paul Treat
3 Ronald Clement Parker
Donald C. and Mildred M.
3 Richard Leroy Parker
Donald C. and Mildred M.
3 Sandra Laroe
Colben J. and Hildur E.
4 Daniel Edmund Merritt
Fred W. and Mary A.
6 Veronica Dee
William H. and Margaret M.
Frank E. and Helen F.
Fred B. and Marguerite
Walter L. and Marjorie A.
Graham and Lena G.
Leslie W. and Helen A.
Elmer W. and Florence V.
Howard C. and Mary D.
Arthur L. and Virginia W.
Leo F. and Catherine M.
John T. and Elsie M.
William M. and Katherine 'F.
Walter H. and Gertrude E.
February
2 Donna Jane Merryman
3 Barry Wayne Madden
3 Sandra Maureen Spillane
3 Howard Watson Hutchinson
4 Dennis John White
4 Kenneth Darrell Dole
5 Judith Frances Phillips
5 Brenda Jane Armstrong
7 Cynthia Mai Wedge
9 Ruth Anderson
9 Laurance William Sardell 9 Roger Kensington Sardell
10 Allan Scott Ritcey
10 Stanley Russell Orr
George R. and Teresa J. 9 Leonard Henry Brown Cyrus A. and Delphine P. 10 Thomas Stephens Paul T. and Lillian E. Walter G. and Dorothy G. Stanley C. and : Virginia E. 11 Barbara Jane Beecher Frank R. and Edna I. 13 Judith Carol Harvey William R. and Florence M. : .: 13
Marchetti
John B. and Eva M. Herbert R. and Myrtle I.
Timothy J. and Arlene D.
Lawrence W. and Dorothy F. Daniel J. and Elizabeth M.
Albion I. and May E. Edward A. and Wilmina B. :
Fred J. and Nancy C. Charles S. and Alice M.
Eric A. R. and Minnie M. George R. and Teresa J.
Leo and Rose A.
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6 Donald John Nicholson
7 Barbara Lee Bell
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