Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1945, Part 4

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1945
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 298


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Thence N. 9º - 54' - 10" E., through lands of Robert E. Miles and Katherine G. Miles, Edward E. Meekins and Olga Meekins, Ernest S. Hickman and Mildred E. Hickman, a distance of 159.31 feet to a point of curve;


Thence by a curved line to the Right, running in a general North- Easterly direction, and having a radius of 1015.72 feet, through and/or by said lands of Hickman et ux, and lands of John T. White and Harriet B. White, Charles R. Kinney and Isabelle W. Kinney, a Private Way known as Bunker Avenue, lands of Clifford E. Reynolds and Ethel A. Reynolds, and lands of the Inhabitants of the Town of Reading, a length of 495.14 feet to a point ;


Thence N. 37° - 50' - 00" E., still through lands of said Inhabitants of the Town of Reading, a distance of 192.00 feet to a point of curve ;


Thence by a curved line to the Left, running in a general Northerly direction and having a radius of 380.00 feet, still through lands of said Inhabitants of the Town of Reading, lands of Grace E. Whitehouse, and lands of Winifred Meyer Dow, a length of 373.62 feet to a point ;


Thence N. 18° - 30' W., still through lands of said Dow, a distance of 52.50 feet to a point, said point being the North-Westerly terminus of this layout ;


Thence N. 71° - 30' E., still through lands of said Dow, across the public town way known as Pearl Street, and through lands of Charles C. Wakefield et al, a distance of 40.0 feet to a point, said point being the North-Easterly terminus of this layout ;


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Thence S. 18° -- 30' E., still through lands of said Wakefield et al, a distance of 52.50 feet to a point of curve ;


Thence by a curved line to the Right, running in a general Southerly direction and having a radius of 420.0 feet, still through lands of said Wakefield et al, through and/or by lands of Edith M. Putnam, lands of Clayton A. Nash and Ruth S. Nash, and lands of said Inhabitants of the Town of Reading, a length of 412.94 feet to a point ;


Thence S. 37° - 50' - 00" W., still through land of said Inhabitants of the Town of Reading, a distance of 192.00 feet to a point of curve ;


Thence by a curved line to the Left, running in a general South- Westerly direction, and having a radius of 975.72 feet, still through land of said Inhabitants of the Town of Reading, a length of 475.64 feet to a Stone Bound, said Stone Bound being situated at the intersection of the Easterly side line of Pearl Street and said North-Westerly side line of Charles Street ;


Thence S. 23° - 58' - 35" W., by said North-Westerly side of said Charles Street, a distance of 164.26 feet to the Stone Bound at the point of beginning.


The above described lines being more fully shown on a Plan entitled "Relocation, Alteration and Change of Grade on Portion of Pearl Street, Reading, Mass.", dated December, 1944, Board of Public Works, Philip Welch, Supt., said Plan being a part of this description.


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, alteration and change of grade so made by us, we hereby report to the Town for acceptance and recommend that when this report is accepted and adopted by the Town, that said public highway shall thereafter be laid out, relocated, altered and grade changed in accordance with said plan.


WENDELL P. DAVIS, Chairman ALEX LINDSAY, Secretary HAROLD W. PUTNAM EDWARD TEER


Members of the Board of Public Works Town of Reading


Article 25. On motion of A. Lloyd David it was voted to lay Article 25 on the table.


On motion of A. Lloyd David it was voted to take Article 25 from the table. It was moved that the provisions of Section 27A of Chapter 40 of the General Laws relating to reconsideration of proposed change in Zoning By-law after unfavorable action be and the same hereby is accepted.


This motion was not carried.


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Article 26. On motion of A. Lloyd David it was voted to lay Article 26 on the table.


On motion of A. Lloyd David it was voted to take Article 26 from the table.


On motion of A. Lloyd David it was voted that Article 26 be indef- initely postponed.


Article 27. On motion of Otis B. Ruggles it was voted that Article 27 be indefinitely postponed.


Article 28. On motion of Arthur W. Coolidge it was moved that the Zoning By-laws and Zoning Map be and the same hereby are amended by extending the industrial district so as to include therein the area hereinafter described, and as so amended such area shall be re-zoned and changed to and become part of the industrial district.


"Beginning at a point five hundred (500) feet more or less easterly from the junction of Bolton and Ash Street at the present industrial dis- trict; thence running north-westerly 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 Joseph J. Robbins et al, and thence turning and running Northeasterly in part by said boundary line of Robbins' land 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."


This motion required a two-thirds vote. 71 voted "Yes" and 66 voted "No." The motion was lost.


Article 29. On motion of Philip R. White it was voted that the sum of three hundred and fifty ($350.00) dollars be raised and appropriated for the general expenses of the Capital Expenditures Planning Com- mittee.


Article 30. On motion of Philip R. White it was voted that the sum of fifty thousand ($50,000.00) dollars be appropriated under authority of Chapter 5 of the Acts of 1943 by transferring said sum from Surplus Revenue, for the purchase of United States War Bonds to be added to the Post War Rehabilitation Fund and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and empowered to make the transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.


Article 31. On motion of Herbert K. Miller it was voted that the membership of the Recreation Committee established by vote of the Town at a Special Town Meeting held June 1, 1943 be and the same here- by is increased from four to seven members, and that Carl Pinkham, Charles Sweetser and C. Sumner Teel are hereby chosen to serve as members of such committee.


Article 32. On motion of Herbert K. Miller it was voted that the sum of forty-five hundred ($4,500.00) dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of conducting and promoting recreation, play, sport,


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physical education and other social educational and recreational activi- ties upon such land and buildings as defined in Section 14 of Chapter 45 of the General Laws, with authority to exercise all the powers conferred therein including the purchase of the necessary equipment and the em- ployment of teachers, supervisors and other officers and employees nd the fixing of their compensation.


Article 33. On motion of Clarence C. White it was voted that the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) be appropriated from the Ceme- tery Reserve Fund receipts from the sale of lots and graves in Laurel Hill Cemetery and Forest Glen Cemetery, for the maintenance, care, im- provement and embellishment of said cemeteries, under the provisions of Section 15 of Chapter 114 of the General Laws.


Article 34. On motion of Henry R. Johnson it was voted that the subject matter of Article 34 be referred to the Municipal Light Board, and that said Board be and it hereby is authorized to install such addi- tional street lights, as in its judgment are required, and to make such changes in the size, type and location of existing street lights, as it may deem advisable, the expense of same to be paid from the income of the Plant.


Article 35. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that the sum of four hundred and seventeen dollars and fifty cents ($417.50) be raised and appropriated to pay into the Contributory Retirement System for Municipal Employees, excluding school teachers, for the benefit of municipal employees on military leave of absence during the year 1944 as provided for and under the authority of Chapter 419 of the Acts of 1943.


Article 36. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the sum of one thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700.00) be raised and appropriated for the further development of the Town Forest.


Article 37. On motion of Frank M. Stevens it was voted that the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) be raised and appropriated for the purpose of providing suitable headquarters for Reading Post 62 of the American Legion, for the year 1945.


Article 38. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) be raised and appropriated for the purpose of providing suitable headquarters for Reading Post Veterans of Foreign Wars for the year 1945.


Article 39. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the sum of four hundred dollars ($400.00) be raised and appropriated for Child Welfare Work, to be expended under the direction of the Reading Visiting Nurse Association and the Board of Health.


Article 2. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to take Article 2 from the table.


On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that Article 2 be in- definitely postponed.


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Article 4. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to take Article 4 from the table


On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that Article 4 be in- definitely postponed.


Article 13. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to take Article 13 from the table.


On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that Article 13 be indefinitely postponed.


On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to adjourn, Sine Die. Attest :


WILLIAM E. MORRISON,


Town Clerk


TOWN WARRANT (Seal) Commonwealth of Massachusetts


Middlesex ss.


To either of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greeting :


In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading qualified to vote in elections and town affairs to meet in Security Hall, Woburn Street, in said Reading on


Thursday, the Twenty-seventh Day of December, 1945


at seven forty-five o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles :


Article 1. To hear and act on the reports of Town officers and spe- cial committees and determine what instructions will be given Town of- ficers and special committees.


Article 2. To see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate and transfer from Overlay Surplus Reserve Fund for Overlay Deficits of the levies of 1941 and 1942 or what it will do in relation thereto.


Town Accountant


Article 3. To see what sum the Town will appropriate from avail- able funds and transfer for the payment of an unpaid bill of 1944 in the Veterans Benefits Department, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 179 of the Acts of 1941, or what it will do in relation thereto.


Board of Selectmen


Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 723 of the Acts of 1945, being an act authorizing the establish- ment and maintenance of a Municipal Department for furnishing infor- mation, advice and assistance to Veterans of World War II and other Veterans or what it will do in relation thereto. Board of Selectmen


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Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to hereafter elect the Tax Collector for a term of three years under authority of Section 1 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws or what it will do in relation thereto.


Board of Selectmen


Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to further amend Article X of the By-laws of the Town by inserting after Section 5A thereof, the following new section :


Section 5B. Every owner and occupant of land abutting upon the sidewalks within the area of the town hereinafter defined, shall remove or cause to be removed, all snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting their estates within twenty-four hours after the cessation of any snow storm: Westerly side of Main Street between Woburn Street and Green Street, Easterly side of Main Street between Pleasant Street and Green Street, Both sides of Haven Street be- tween Main Street, and High Street, Both sides of Haven Street ex- tending one hundred and twenty feet easterly from Main Street, Southeasterly side of Harnden Street from Pleasant Street to Union Street, Easterly side of High Street from Haven Street to Green Street.


Whoever violates any provision of this section shall forfeit and pay for each offense a fine not exceeding ten dollars. Board of Selectmen Article 7. To see what sum the Town will appropriate from avail- able funds and transfer to the Snow and Ice Account, or what it will do in relation thereto. Board of Public Works


Article 8. To see what sum the Town will appropriate from avail- able funds and transfer to the Road Machinery Fund, or what it will do in relation thereto. Board of Public Works


Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Public Works to obtain an advance from the Federal Government for the preparation of Plans and Engineering services for the addition and extension to the Municipal Garage and to further authorize and em- power the chairman of the Board of Public Works to execute for and in behalf of the Town such applications, agreements and other docu- ments with the Federal Works Agency Bureau of Community Facilities which may be necessary for the purpose of securing such advance or what it will do in relation thereto. Board of Public Works


Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to obtain an advance from the Federal Government for the preparation of plans and engineering services for the proposed construc- tion of the elementary school building on Summer Avenue and to further authorize and empower the Chairman of the School Committee to execute for and in behalf of the Town such applications, agreements and other documents with the Federal Works Agency Bureau of Com- munity Facilities which may be necessary for the purpose of securing such advance or what it will do in relation thereto.


School Committee


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And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least three public places in each Precinct of the town, not less than seven days prior to December 27, 1945, 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- ings thereon, to the Town Clerk at or before the time appointed for said meeting.


Given under our hands this fourteenth day of December, 1945.


KENNETH C. LATHAM HERBERT K. MILLER CHARLES E. WILKINSON Selectmen of Reading


Officer's Return


Middlesex, ss.


Reading, Mass., December 18, 1945


By virtue of this warrant, I this day, notified and warned the inhab- itants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs to meet in Security Hall, Woburn Street in said Reading, as the designated place for the four precincts of the Town, at the time speci- fied in the warrant, by posting attested copies in the following public places within the Town of Reading:


Precinct 1-Austin's Lunch Room, 17 Harnden Street Danforth's Drug Store, 1 Harnden Street Central Fire Station


Precinct 2-Masonic Temple Building Lyceum Hall Building M. F. Charles & Sons Store, 610 Main Street Boston & Maine Railroad Depot


Precinct 3-Waterhouse Neighborhood Store, 36 Mineral Street Benny's Neighborhood Store, 168 Lowell St. Fire Station No. 2


Precinct 4-Municipal Building


Zitzow's Neighborhood Store, 287 Lowell Street McLaughlin's Neighborhood Store, 1051 Main Street


the date of posting being more than seven days prior to December 27, 1945, the date set for the meeting in this warrant.


I also caused a copy of this warrant to be published in the Reading Chronicle in the issue of December 21, 1945, the same being more than one day prior to the date of said meeting.


LEON G. BENT, Constable of Reading


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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING


Security Hall December 27, 1945 Woburn Street


The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Samuel H. Davis. The warrant was partially read, when on motion of Kenneth C. Latham, it was voted to dispense with the further reading of the warrant, except the Constable's Return which was then duly read by the Town Clerk.


The number in attendance was checked and enough were there for a quorum and the meeting was legally open.


The Report of the Committee Appointed to Choose a Site for a


New High School


The committee had its first meeting to organize on March 12th, at which time the chairman and secretary were appointed, and the studies already made by the School Committee on the possibilities of various high school sites were thoroughly reviewed.


At our next meeting, on March 17th, the entire committee inspected the sites which had been given serious consideration, such as the old high school, the junior high school, and the land at Birch Meadow. In conjunction, maps on locations and trends of population were examined. Following this meeting, individual members of the committee made ad- ditional personal inspections.


On April 9th we met with members of the Planning Board to study additional maps that they might have and to discuss all available land which could be used for school sites. The airplane maps which they had been able to obtain were of great value. At this meeting the Washing- ton Street Playground was discussed and rejected. Contour maps and additional borings were being prepared, to be ready for our next meeting.


At the meeting on June 20th, contour maps and borings of the Birch Meadow site were thoroughly studied, and the possibilities of the junior high school site were studied, the discussion finally centering en- tirely on comparative costs and advantages between a new school on the Birch Meadow site and on the old high school site.


On June 28th, after further discussion, the committee voted that in order to settle the question of comparative costs as accurately as pos- sible, "The School Committee have Mr. Clinch of Adden, Parker, Clinch & Crimp, make architectural studies of the present high school building and site, including the necessary lands bounded by Middlesex, Sanborn, and Linden Streets, and carry the survey on the Birch Meadow site to the same extent, so that comparable figures may be had."


Before definite instructions could be given to the architect, it was necessary for the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee to spend many weeks of research and study so that requirements in cur- ricula, capacity. administrative functions, and public conveniences could be planned. These were finally presented to Mr. Clinch, the gen-


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eral requirements covering a school to take care of 800 pupils, with serv- ice units, such as an auditorium for 1,000.


The sketches have now been completed and submitted, with es- timates which were made by competent engineers employed by the architects. However, these figures were not available for presentation to your committee until last Friday, December 21st.


Since it is going to take, as we all realize, a great deal of time and study before a final decision, we would ask the town meeting members to consider this a report of progress and to extend the life of this com- mittee up to the annual town meeting.


The committee wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Clinch and his associates for their efforts on behalf of the town, and also to Dr. Grover for the vast amount of work it has been necessary for him to do for these extra studies.


MELVIN A. CROSBY NORMAN L. DUNCAN W. GARDNER LONG


J. L. DEVANEY J. WARREN KILLAM, Jr.


M. W. WESCOTT MARY E. EARLEY GLADYS F. MILTON IRVING C. AUSTIN


Reading, Massachusetts December 26, 1945


Article 1. On motion of W. Gardner Long it was voted that the preliminary report of the committee appointed for the study of a proper location for the proposed high school be and the same hereby is accepted and that said committee be continued in office until such time as the Town by vote at Town meeting assembled shall otherwise determine and that said committee now be instructed to make final report at the annual Town meeting to be held in March, 1946.


On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to lay Article I on the table.


Article 2. On motion of Leon G. Bent it was voted that the sum of one hundred eighty-six and 81/100 (186.81) dollars b'e appropriated by transferring said sum from the Overlay 'Surplus Reserve Fund for Over- lay Deficits of the levies of 1941 and 1942 and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.


Article 3. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that the sum of fifty (50) dollars be appropriated by transferring said sum from the Veterans Benefits Account for the payment of an unpaid bill of 1944 in the Veterans Benefits Department, under authority of Chapter 179 of the Acts of 1941 and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is author- ized and instructed to transfer said sum to said Department.


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Article 4. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the provisions of Chapter 723 of the Acts of 1945, being an act authorizing the establishment and maintenance of a Municipal Department for fur- nishing information, advice and assistance to Veterans of World War II and other Veterans be and the same hereby is accepted.


Article 5. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the Tax Collector of the Town hereafter shall be elected for a term of three years under authority of Section 1 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.


Article 6. On motion of Herbert K. Miller that Article X of the By- laws of the Town be and the same hereby is amended by inserting after Section 5A thereof, the following new section :


Section 5B. Every owner and occupant of land abutting upon the sidewalks within the area of the town hereinafter defined, shall remove or cause' to be removed all snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting their estates within twenty-four hours after the cessation of any snow storm. Westerly side of Main Street between Woburn Street and Green Street, Easterly side of Main Street between Pleasant Street and Green Street, Both sides of Haven Street be- tween Main Street and High Street, Both sides of Haven Street extending one hundred and twenty feet easterly from Main Street, Southeasterly side of Harnden Street from Pleasant Street to Union Street, Easterly side of High Street from Haven Street to Green Street.


Whoever violates any provision of this section shall forfeit and pay for each offense a fine not exceeding ten dollars.


This motion was not carried.


Article 7. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of forty-nine hundred (4900) dollars be appropriated by transferring said sum from the Overlay Surplus Reserve Fund, to the Snow and Ice Ac- count and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and in- structed to transfer said sum to said account.


Article 8. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of one thousand (1000) dollars be appropriated by transferring said sum from the unexpended balance in the Road Machinery Account to the Road Machinery Fund and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to said account.


Article 9. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the Board of Public Works be and they hereby are authorized and empow- ered to obtain for and in behalf of the Town an advance from the Fed- eral Government for the preparation of plans and engineering services for the addition and extension to the Municipal Garage and the Chair- man of said Board of Public Works is hereby authorized and empow- ered to execute for and in behalf of the Town such applications, agree- ments and other documents with the Federal Works Agency Bureau of


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Community Facilities which may be necessary for the purpose of secur- ing such advance from the Federal Government.


Article 10. On motion of J Warren Killam, Jr., it was voted that the School Committee be and they hereby are authorized and empow- ered to obtain for and in behalf of the Town an advance from the Fed- eral Government for the preparation of plans and engineering services for the proposed construction of the elementary school building on Sum- mer Avenue and the Chairman of the School Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to execute for and in behalf of the Town such applications, agreements and other documents with the Federal Works Agency Bureau of Community Facilities which may be neces- sary for the purpose of securing such advance from the Federal Gov- ernment.


On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to take Article 1 from the table.


On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that Article 1 be in- definitely postponed.


On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to adjourn Sine Die. 132 precinct members attended this meeting.




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