USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1956 > Part 17
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The outside demand for experienced engineering personnel re- sulted in a constant turn-over of employees, who were attracted by the higher wages paid by competing engineering services. It is hoped that a more realistic wage scale may be obtained for the Engineering Divi- sion in 1957.
As of December 15, 1956, a total of sixteen petitions has been re- ceived for street acceptance in 1957. Without outside engineering as- sistance, it will not be possible to process all of these streets for accept- ance at the March 1957 Town Meeting.
During 1956, a total of twelve new housing developments were sub- mitted to the Board of Survey for approval. These were all carefully checked for proper layout and design under the rules and regulations of the Board of Survey and Subdivision Control Act.
Board of Survey Division
A total of 25 duly advertised public hearings were held by the Board of Survey in 1956 on petition of contractors, developers and/or home owners for approval of lines and grades of proposed street layouts. Esti- mates were prepared and surety or performance bonds received for con- struction of 18 such streets. Grade changes were effected on several streets after due notice was given and public hearings held as required by law.
A number of individual lots and/or small subdivision plans abut- ting public town ways were examined and endorsed as not requiring Board of Survey Approval under the subdivision Control Law, Chapter 41, General Laws, for filing in the Registry of Deeds and/or Land Court.
Recommendations
The continued trend of building in the outlying districts of Read- ing has resulted in unprecedented demands for the extension of all public utilities. In many of these locations, water mains are the only existing utility, and no outlets are available for sewerage or storm drains. Where sewerage and drainage outlets are available, it is com- com practice to bond the developer for installation of these utilities, thus saving the Town the cost of installation in the future. Increased annual appropriations for sewers and drains would ultimately result in a substantial saving to the Town.
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In 1957, two developments totaling 102 house lots will be con- structed. Both developers have expressed their willingness to install sewerage in the developments, but the Town sewerage system is not available.
It is again urgently recommended that a long-range study be made of future sewer extensions, such as was last made over 40 years ago by F. A. Barbour in September 1916. This also has been strongly recom- mended to the Special Sewer Study Committee, for inclusion in their report at the March 1957 Annual Town Meeting. This study should be made by competent consulting engineers.
The increased work-load being placed on the Engineering Division is such that much of the location surveys necessary in the field for estimates and constructive design will have to be done by private sur- veyors. Several local reputable surveyors are available for this type of work, and it is recommended that a special appropriation be made for engaging surveyors for this work.
The continued rapid population increase with resultant added water demand is of utmost importance. It had been anticipated that the report of the State Department of Public Works Waterways Division would be available for inclusion in this report, but the report date has now been set for early 1957. It is recommended that a survey be made to determine the continued adequacy of the water collection and treat- ment facilities.
It is also recommended that an appropriation be made to construct an adequate culvert under Lowell Street to further advance the Birch Meadow Drainage Project. In the event of flood rains, such as have occurred in recent past years, serious damage could be sustained through flooding of the Birch Meadow area.
At least two additional sidewalk snow plow tractors should be purchased to augment the two now available. Many demands have been made for plowing sidewalks which have been impossible to satisfy for lack of equipment. With the erection of elementary schools in outlying sections of Reading, school children should not be forced, through lack of sidewalks, to walk in the roadway.
In closing this report, the Superintendent wishes to express his appreciation to the Members of the Board for their many helpful suggestions and kindnesses extended to him during the year; and to assure all those in anyway 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.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES T. PUTNAM, Superintendent
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SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
for the year ended
December 31, 1956
MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board
Gentlemen:
The year 1956 will go down as unprecedented in the history of the Reading Municipal Light Department. Completed in the year was the department's largest construction and operation program, a complete rate revision and a most successful campaign to cut the cost of pur- chased power.
The installation of underground cable feeders to North Reading, Wilmington and Lynnfield Center, with the addition of 3750/4687 KVA transformer and allied switchgear at the North Reading and Wilming- ton substations, respectively, and the installation of two additional 15,000 volt switches at the Ash Street Plant, as well as four new 15,000 volt underground cables in Reading made up the construction pro- gram. This undertaking is as large as any utility in the country on a per capita basis.
The above construction was completed on schedule and in time for the system's heaviest load period, i.e., Christmas season. The un- usual stability of the system during this period proved its value. The service was maintained to a higher degree even though we witnesed some very unusual storms.
The unusual expansion and growth experienced in preceding years and a careful study of the projected demands on the system pointed very clearly to the fact that a complete study of the department's future finances and operations was needed.
A consultant's services were obtained augmented by our own staff, and a full report completed early in the year. After many weeks of study and analysis of the report, it was decided to recommend a rate revision with the objective, a more adequate return on the investment in plant and facilities, in order to meet the increased financial require- ments of the department which it was possible to forsee. The new rates were filed with the State of Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities which approved same effective September 1, 1956. Subsequently, how- ever, the towns of Lynnfield Center and Wilmington objected to the rate changes and brought action against the department before the De- partment of Public Utilities. Three separate hearings were held and the matter is still subject to final adjudication before that body.
The rate revision by no means obtains the entire amount of needed revenue from our customers. The department took upon its own to as- sist in raising this needed new revenue by many operational savings. These operational savings consisted of cutting our system peak, thereby automatically cutting our purchased power bill; rendering our residen- tial bills on a bi-monthly schedule and improving our internal office procedures. All of these were put into operation very successfully and substantial savings will be realized in the coming year as a result. The amount of savings in dollars is hard to estimate as the increased price of fuel oil is such a variable factor in the cost of purchased power. How- ever a bond issue of $100,000.00 which it was thought previously might have to be requested, was cancelled due to the department's above men- tioned efforts.
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The majority of industrial customers, the respective town water departments, the State M.D.C., the merchants of the Town of Reading, as well as many of our good residential customers assisted the depart- ment in its attempt to cut costs and the results were very gratifying. The peak load, adding the 12% known new business was cut down some 3000 kilowatts. The actual peak was cut from 16774 to 15754 kilowatts. This means that in the coming year cost of power will be substantially lowered, other things being equal.
The new rates are so designed to encourage the use of electricity as well as allowing the customer to make substantial savings on his own initiative, i.e., the water heater off peak feature in the residential rate, the demand and limited hours use features in the commercial and in- dustrial rates. All in all, I believe the new rate structure to be sound business-wise, and fair customer-wise.
Highlights of 1956 Operations
PEAK LOAD: 15754 kilowatts. The peak occurred Dec. 26th, at 6:00 P. M. This is a reduction from the 1955 peak of 16774 kilowatts, and can be wholly attributed to the department's successful campaign to cut the peak. This reduction will reflect in substantial savings in 1957.
CUSTOMERS: 12,087. Service was extended to 679 new customers, a slight decrease from the 771 figure of 1955. This I believe can be at- tributed to the slow down of building in the last quarter of the year. There were 223 new services installed in Reading against 548 for the outside towns, following closely the 2.5 to 1.0 ratio of last year.
ENERGY PURCHASED: 56,406,470 kilowatt hours. This is an in- crease of 7,004,057 kilowatt hours over 1955. The average cost per kilo- watt hour, however, rose to 1.621 cents as against 1.535 cents in 1955. The unprecedented increase in demand in 1955 was the principal cause of this rise. However, the average cost per kilowatt hour for January, 1957 was 1.450 cents as against the January, 1956 figure of 1.489 cents. This reflects the peak reduction savings.
ENERGY SOLD: 51,963,953 kilowatt hours. This was an increase of 7,167,231 kilowatt hours over the previous year, marking a new an- nual high in electric sales - another record high in the department's history.
OPERATING REVENUES: $1,513,017.78. The same trend of more electricity per dollar continues. The average revenue per kilowatt hour declined this year to 2.912 from 2.96 cents for year 1956, due to more energy being used in the lower steps.
ADDITIONS TO PLANT: $576,275.59. The construction require- ments to keep pace with customer's demands are reflected in the fact that our plant has increased from $1.3 million to $3.2 million since 1945. This is typical of the electric industry as a whole.
OFF-PEAK WATER HEATING for 1.3c: This new rate feature does two things. First, the customer can get hot water heating at a reduced rate resulting in a substantial savings. Secondly, it allows the de-
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partment to have some control of its load thereby netting a savings on its power bill, which is reflected in the rates. This off peak feature is accomplished by time switches installed at the customer's unit at no extra cost to the customer, except the installation costs.
Acknowledgement and appreciation is accorded to the members of the Municipal Light Board for the time, interest and efforts they have devoted to the conduct and guidance of the department's activities and to the cooperation received from other Boards and Town Departments.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 57, Chapter 164 of the General Laws, I submit herewith my estimate of income and expenses of the plant for the year ending December 31, 1957.
ESTIMATED INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR 1957
INCOME:
From Private Consumers
$1,665,112.20
From Tax Levy-
For Street Lights
17,000.00
From Municipal Buildings
19,587.80
From Miscellaneous Income
1,000.00
From Mdse. and Jobbing
5,000.00
TOTAL INCOME
$1,707,700.00
EXPENSES:
Production
990,659.30
Distribution
161,454.95
Utilization
15,073.34
Commercial
61,472.84
New Business
700.00
General and
Miscellaneous
74,623.83
Depreciation
159,455.65
Bond and Note Payments
69,000.00
Interest on Bonds and Notes
25,458.75
Uncollectible Operating Revenue
1,800.00
Taxes - Outside Towns
40,000.00
Interest on Consumers' Deposits.
357.80
TOTAL EXPENSES
1,600,056.46
Excess - Income over Expenses
$ 107,643.54
K.W.H. Purchased
65,000,000
K.W.H. Sold
59,500,000
K.W.H. for Reading Street Lights
600,000
Expense per K.W.H. Sold
2.6892c
Cost of Street Lights
$ 16,135.20
Appropriation for Street Lights
$ 17,000.00
A summary of Income and Expenses, Total Cost of Plant, together with the statement of Assets and Liabilities, the Profit and Loss Account, and the Auditor's Certificate is appended herewith.
Respectfully submitted,
GILBERT W. STANFORD, Manager
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CHARLES E. STANWOOD & COMPANY
Accountants and Auditors 16 Court Street Boston, Massachusetts
February 11, 1957
To The Municipal Light Board Town of Reading
Reading, Massachusetts
We have examined the accompanying balance sheet of the Mun- icipal Light Department of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts as at December 31, 1956 and the related statements of income and profit and loss for the year then ended. Our examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and included such tests of the accounting records and other auditing procedures as we con- sidered necessary in the circumstances.
In our opinion, the accompanying balance sheet and statements of income and profit and loss present fairly the financial position of the Municipal Light Department as at December 31, 1956 and the results of its operations for the year then ended, in conformity with the "Uniform System of Accounts for Municipal Lighting Plants" as prescribed by the Department of Public Utilities of Massachusetts.
CHARLES E. STANWOOD & COMPANY
REPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
The report of the Manager as submitted by him with certificate of the auditor is hereby approved by the Municipal Light Board and con- stitutes its report to the Town.
PHILLIP G. WILLCOX, Chairman
WINFRED F. SPURR
ALFRED H. DOLBEN
Municipal Light Board
TOTAL COST OF PLANT as of December 31, 1956
Cost of Electric Plant :-
Cost of Land - 226 Ash St.
$ 2,575.80
25 Haven St.
7,459.46
Wildwood St., Wilmington 700.00
Haverhill St., North Reading
3,219.19
Main St., Lynnfield Center 5,000.00
Cost of Structures - 226 Ash St.
36,870.84
25 Haven St.
28,093.90
Garage and Storeroom
29,983.48
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Cost of Transformer Station and Substation Equipment 460,987.48
Cost of Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Conductors 1,279,881.96
Cost of Underground Conduits 219,593.83
Cost of Underground Conductors 576,368.19
Cost of Consumers Meters
165,830.09
Cost of Consumers Meter Installations
53,964.56
Cost of Line Transformers 241,149.03
Cost of Line Transformer Installations 12,159.43
Cost of Street Lighting Equipment 84,230.18
Total Cost of Electric Plant $3,208,067.42
Cost of General Equipment 40,274.88
Total Cost of Plant and General Equipment $3,248,342.30
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES for the year ending December 31, 1956
REVENUES:
Residence Service - Schedule A $1,106,977.27
Commercial Service - Schedule B
175,550.12
Commercial and Industrial Service - Schedule C 155,298.24
Welding Service 310.41
Municipal Service
24,788.37
Sales to Private Companies and Municipal Plants 7,072.62
Street Lighting Service
43,020.75
Miscellaneous Income
7,562.94
Total Revenue
$1,520,580.72
EXPENSES:
Production Expenses $ 914,795.98
Distribution Expenses
135,307.89,
Utilization Expenses
12,144.14
Commercial Expenses
51,232.86
New Business Expenses
313.52
General Expenses
55,933.42
Depreciation Expense
130,908.08
Interest on Bonds and Notes
14,468.41
Taxes - Personal Property Outside Towns
27,149.00
Uncollectible Operating Revenues
1,772.88
Interest on Consumers Deposits
331.51
Retirement Pensions
11,801.40
Bonds and Notes Paid
39,000.00
Total Expenses
$1,395,159.09
Excess of Revenue over Expenses
125,421.63
Transfer to Town Treasurer
75,127.50
Net Increase of Profit and Loss Surplus
50,294.13
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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as of December 31, 1956
FIXED ASSETS:
Land
$ 18,954.45
Structures
45,210.75
Trans. Sta. and Substa. Equipment
268,549.68
Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Cond.
609,907.77
Underground Conduits
157,990.07
Underground Conductors
468,657.03
Consumers Meters
88,949.17
Consumers Meter Installations
27,710.60
Line Transformers
174,072.63
Line Transformer Installations
6,052.19
Street Lighting Equipment
11,051.64
General Equipment
40,274.88
Unfinished Construction
129,561.04
Total Fixed Assets
$2,046,941.90
CURRENT ASSETS:
Construction Fund
$ 15,308.98
Depreciation Fund
35,558.33
Special Construction Fund - 1955
540.69
Special Construction Fund - 1956
218,081.05
Petty Cash
400.00
Consumers Deposit Fund
8,945.00
Accounts Receivable
280,243.66
Materials and Supplies
111,486.82
Total Current Assets
$ 670,564.53
Prepaid Insurance
1,448.95
Totals
$2,718,955.38
LIABILITIES:
Notes Payable
48,000.00
Bonds Payable
930,000.00
Accounts Payable
172,153.68
Consumers Deposits
8,945.00
Interest Accrued
7,771.77
Loans Repayment
778,578.26
Total Liabilities
$1,945,448.71
Profit and Loss
773,506.67
Totals
$2,718,955.38
NOTE: A contingent liability in the amount of $6,238.70 existed as of December 31, 1956 on account of leases received from installment sales of electrical appliances and which were discounted with the Middlesex County National Bank of Reading.
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PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT as of December 31, 1956
Balance January 1, 1956 $ 723,616.01
Net Income - before Bond Payments 164,421.63 Total Credits $ 164,421.63 Bonds and Notes Paid 39,000.00
Transferred to General Funds of the Town 75,127.50
Excess of Expense over Premium rec'd on Bond Issue 403.47
Total Debits 114,530.97
Balance December 31, 1956 $ 773,506.67
REPORT OF THE MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I submit my report as Moth Superintendent for 1956.
At the present time there are very few Gypsy Moths in the town. The increased spraying on private property is of great assistance in controlling this and other pests.
Due to trouble with the spray equipment on the helicopter and the extremely bad weather this spring only about one third of the roadside elms were given a dormant spray. This spray is very im- portant in the control of the Dutch Elm disease. More than three hundred trees were checked for this disease. Cuttings from two hundred and four trees were sent to the University of Massachusetts Shade Tree Laboratory to be cultured. One hundred and thirty-nine trees were certified as having the Dutch Elm Disease. With the exception of three trees these infected trees have been removed and burned. One hundred and five trees were on private property, twenty-four on the roadside, six on other town property - parks, etc., and four on the State highway. We also have removed twelve trees that were left from 1955.
The Japanese Beetle continues to increase. These beetles are diffi- cult to control as spraying is only effective a few days.
The repair work on the Moth Department garage has been com- pleted. Most of this work was paid for by the insurance collected from last year's fire.
Respectfully submitted,
MAURICE H. DONEGAN,
Moth Superintendent
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REPORT OF THE FIRE CHIEF REPORT OF THE FOREST WARDEN AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
January 31, 1957
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The 1956 report of the Fire Chief, Forest Warden and Superintendent of Fire Alarm is hereby submitted.
Manual Force. The permanent force consists of twenty-three men including the Chief, Deputy Chief and 3 Captains. There are twelve full time and four half time call firemen and a Dispatcher on call. There are 30 members of the Auxiliary Fire Service. Four permanent men were appointed during the year, one being a replacement.
IN MEMORIAM
Call Dispatcher Albert R. Maines Died May 31, 1956 3 Years a member of the Reading Fire Department
Ex-Call Fireman H. Harvey Quigley Died May 16, 1956 38 Years a member of the Reading Fire Department
Ex-Deputy Chief Charles H. Heselton Died May 31, 1956 48 Years a member of the Reading Fire Department
Apparatus. Located at the Central Station are: Ladder 1, a Sea- grave 65 ft. Junior Aerial Ladder Truck; Engine 1, a 1,000 gal. per min. Seagrave Pumping Engine; Engine 2, a 400 gal. per min. Seagrave Pumping Engine in reserve; Engine 4, a 500 gal. per min. Chevrolet front end pumping Engine that also has a 100 gal. per min. portable pump and is used for brush and grass fires; Engine 5, a Chevrolet with a 400 gal. per min, front end pump, manned by the Auxiliary Fire Service; Engine 6, a 750 gal. per min, Seagrave Pumping Engine;
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Engines 7 and 8 are 500 gal. per min. Auxiliary Trailer Pumps; Engine 9, a one ton Chevrolet utility truck with a 250 gal. per min. front end pump; a two wheel hose trailer; a 1956 Chevrolet Sedan for the use of the Chief, and a 1950 Chevrolet Sedan used by the Deputy Chief. As Station No. 2 has been torn down, Engine 3, a 600 gal. min. Seagrave Pumping Engine, is temporarily quartered in a commercial garage on South Main Street, to continue having apparatus available west of the railroad, and Engine 5 is temporarily quartered in the Central Station. A 1000 gal. per min, pumping engine is on order, to be delivered in 1957. New tires were placed on Ladder 1 this year and the motor on Engine 1 was overhauled as well as the pump on Engine 8 Trailer. Routine adjustments and repairs were made as necessary to the other apparatus.
Service Record. The department responded to 99 bell alarms, 7 of which were false; 3 second alarms; 29 verbal calls; 25 radio calls; 184 telephone calls; 201 service calls - a total of 538 for 1956. Mutual aid was furnished to other communities 39 times and other departments responded to Reading under Mutual Aid 16 times. Included in the total calls are 52 for building fires, 20 for dump fires, 119 grass and brush fires, 16 automobile fires, 8 calls for the resuscitator, 2 calls for oxygen, 20 calls to assist the police department, including automobile accidents. Apparatus travelled a total of 11,810 miles during the year. 16 firefighters received minor injuries and 1 civilian was injured. The fire loss for 1956 on property endangered, valued at $1,175,375.00 was $44,718.38 an increase of $2,684.29 over last year. Of the loss, $32,588.60 was covered by insurance, making the uninsured loss $12,129.78. The following equipment was used: 16 CO2; 3 Dry Powder; 198 booster tanks of water; 25,550 ft. of 34 booster hose; 24,700 ft. 11/2 inch hose; 16,400 ft. 21/2 inch hose; 3063 ft. ladders raised including the aerial ladder 37 times. 22 waterproof salvage covers were spread; smoke ejector used 41 times; engines pumped 28234 hours. During the severe blizzards in March, it was necessary to call all permanent men back to duty and six were detailed to the Woburn Street Station to provide adequate coverage of the apparatus during this serious emergency. In August, Engine 8 trailer pump was sent to Wilmington to assist the Water Department in that town during a drought period when all pumps in that town could not keep up with the demand on the water system. Engine 8 drafted from a newly driven line of wells and provided 72,000 gal. of water a day to augment the regular pumping system. The Town of Wilmington paid the pump operators and supplied fuel during this operation. Several times during the year, the trailer pumps were used by the Reading Public Works Department for a variety of water pump- ing jobs that their portable units could not handle. In all cases, the Fire Department operators and cost of fuel was paid for by the Public Works. Men were kept on guard at the Town Forest during several dry spells when the Forest was closed to the public.
Fire Prevention. Lecturing to groups was done as requested. The annual awards for the Fire Prevention Essay Contest conducted by the Auxiliary Fire Service were presented by the Chief at the Junior High School. 344 Power Oil Burner inspections were made and permits issued for storage of fuel oil, 12 inspections made and permits issued for storage
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of range oil, 23 Liquified Petroleum Gas installations were inspected and permits issued for storage of gas. 66 permits were issued for blast- ing operations. 3 permits for storage of Class A fluids and 6 miscel- laneous permits were issued. Inspections for new gasoline tank loca- tions were made as requested. 2392 permits were issued for fires in the open air and during several dry periods no permits of this nature were issued. Inspections were made of rest homes and nursing homes as requested by the State. Investigations of fires were made by the State Fire Marshal's office as required.
Fire Stations. The Woburn Street Station, erected in 1874 has been torn down, and construction of a modern 3 door, 2 story brick fire station is being carried on at present. This station should be completed in 1957 and will be manned by permanent men at all times. At the Central Station, extensive repairs were made to the roof slates and gutters, and minor repairs to the rest of the building as required.
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