USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1958 > Part 2
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Lloyd S. Glidden, Jr., 21 Dana Rd.
324
Philip E. Mason, 127 Prospect St.
Paul Mich, 17 Glen Rd.
619
John F. Enos, 21 Grant St.
18
C. Dewey Smith, 110 Grove St.
Lloyd W. Harrison, 31 Ridge Rd.
549
George V. Hermann, 73 Longfellow Rd. 271
William D. Jaques, 6 Robert Rd. 259
Mary Kurchian, 284 Franklin St.
378
Gilbert M. Lothrop, 13 Longfellow Rd.
777
Harold F. Parker, 22 Whittier Rd. 527
Leonard J. Peterson, 14 Hillside Rd. 330
Richmond W. Woodward, Jr., 24 Weston Rd. 601
Blanks
3251
Total
17760
One Town Meeting Member for two years
Stewart P. Crowell, 11 Mt. Vernon St.
347
Paul A. Franklin, 13 Winthrop Ave. 370
Edward W. Roewer, 75 Linden St.
232
Blanks
235
Total
1184
The polls were closed at 8:00 P. M. with the following result:
Whole number of votes cast 3809.
The votes were declared in Open Town Meeting, sealed in ballot envelopes and transmitted to the Town Clerk to be placed in the vault for safe keeping.
Voted to adjourn, 3:30 A. M. March 4, 1958.
A true record
Attest
BOYD H. STEWART
Town Clerk
19
1
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Memorial High School Auditorium
March 17, 1958
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, at 8:00 P. M.
Rev. Herbert A. Jerauld delivered an invocation.
The new and re-elected Town Meeting Members were requested to stand and be sworn in by the Moderator.
The warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk when on mo- tion of Lawrence Drew it was voted to dispense with the further read- ing of the warrant except the Constable's Return which was then read by the Town Clerk.
ARTICLE 2. It was moved by William H. Dolben, Chairman of the Finance Committee, that its Report be amended by making the fol- lowing corrections on Page 7:
Total Appropriations for 1958 have been recommended in the amount of - should read $3,338,778.35
Reserve for Abatements - should read 68,633.78
The Sub-total - should read 223,054.93
The Total - should read 3,561,833.28
Transfer from Various Accounts - should read 73,785.74
The Total - should read 1,378,287.96
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that this amendment be accepted and placed on file.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by George C. Ricker
Report of the Incinerator Study Committee
The Incinerator Study Committee, created by Article 70 of the ad- journed annual Town meeting, March 28, 1957, submits the following report of their findings concerning the advisability of the construction of an incinerator by the Town of Reading.
It is the opinion of this committee that an investment in an incin- erator at this time is unnecessary. It is recommended, however, that the ultimate need for an incinerator be recognized and that the Board of Public Works continuously monitor the actions taken by surround- ing towns in relation to incineration. Also, that the remaining life expectancy of the existing dump be considered on a yearly basis, and that the Board of Public Works be instructed to request the re-establish- ment of the Incinerator Study Committee should any of the foregoing factors become so modified as to make the consideration of an incinera- tor more desirable.
The Committee's opinion that the incinerator not be contemplated at this time is based on two principal reasons:
1. The present dumping methods should insure a dump life of some twenty-five years at the John Street Dump.
2. The cost of an incinerator being built by the Town of Reading alone, or in conjunction with an adjoining town would increase the cost of refuse disposal considerably over the present costs of operating the Municipal Dump.
20
An incinerator for a town the size of Reading would cost a minimum of $300,000 and operating costs would be approximately twice that of the present Municipal dump. In addition to these operating costs are the maintenance costs, which are difficult to forecast. Comments from towns and cities consulted ranged from "nominal expense for mainten- ance" to "maintenance was so excessive as to cause us to dispense with the continued operation of the incinerator and return to sanitary land fill". In addition to the cost of operating, financing, and maintaining an incinerator, there arises the problem of probable need for refuse collection which will produce a controlled flow of combustible ma- terials in order to permit satisfactory operation of the incinerator. It might be added that the cost of collection greatly exceeds the cost of in- cinerator operation.
It appears that an incinerator will eventually be required due to the growth of the Town and the consequent demands for improved sani- tation. It is possible that burning could be prohibited on the present site, which would reduce the remaining life of the dump to approxi- mately eight to twelve years with sanitary land fill. It is believed, how- ever that the principal difficulty occasioned over the last year or two in respect to burning in the neighborhood of the John Street dump was due to unfortunate difficulties the Town of Wakefield had with their burning problem on a peat bog adjacent to our dump. It must be recog- nized that public dumps can become public nuisances and health haz- ards and with this in mind this committee can not stress too strongly the need for continued close supervision by the Board of Public Works. During those hours when there is no attendant on duty it is felt that the police cruisers should when possible inspect the dump area periodi- cally so as to detect any fires which might break out and be otherwise undetected. It is hoped that with adequate precautions no unpleasant conditions will be produced. Another factor which may increase the desirability of refuse disposal by incineration is the probability that the present method of handling garbage may have to be discontinued in the foreseeable future due to the disappearance of pig farms from this area.
It appears there is adequate time for the study and erection of an incinerator in the future if the situation changes so as to make the con- struction a necessary or desirable endeavor. If adjoining towns serious- ly consider the establishment of a regional incinerator, we should study the conditions that exist at that time in relation to Reading's dumping problem. Although there has been an indication that Lynn- field, Stoneham, and Wakefield are investigating a regional incinerator, there is no indication that Lynnfield and Stoneham have a sufficiently serious problem as to force them to undertake such an investment at this time, any more than it appears practical for Reading.
It became apparent as the Study Committee reviewed the problems of incinerator operations, that an incinerator has a disposal problem of the order of magnitude encountered with burning at our present dump site. Our present dump with an incinerator might last thirty to forty years, instead of the twenty-five years predicted with the burning methods presently used. It becomes obvious, therefore, that for genera-
21
tions to come there exists a problem of disposal of ash even from an in- cinerator.
It might be considered practical to consider the appointment of a committee to study the possibility of "land-taking" for future require- ments of rubbish disposal, before the town is so well built up that no land remains available for such use.
Therefore. it is recommended, that this Committee be dissolved and that the Town Meeting be presented with an annual report from the Board of Public Works covering:
1. Actions taken by surrounding towns in relation to their dump- ing and incineration problems.
2. Figures concerning the present rate of use of the dump, upon which the remaining life prediction is based.
3. Any other facts known to the Board of Public Works which might have some bearing on the need for incineration in the Town of Reading.
It is further recommended that should data presented by the Board of Public Works require the establishment of a Committee to study the need for an incinerator in the future, that the Committee be given some nominal sum of money to permit the hiring of a consultant to assist in the preparation of a proposal for construction of the needed incineration. It must be assumed that a positive report will be an- ticipated and as such the Committee will be required to conduct a more extensive investigation than has been required in this negative report. A positive report will require investigation into:
1. The many varieties of available incineration.
2. The experiences of other cities and towns in great detail.
3. The need for rubbish and garbage collection for good incinerator operation.
4. The pros and cons of regional incineration.
5. The terms of contracts.
6. The terms of agreements to establish an authority for the op- eration of regional incineration.
7. The taking of land.
A Committee faced with these problems will require the aid of consultants.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that Report be accepted and placed on file.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Lawrence A. Parte- low:
A Preliminary Report of the Junior High School Building Committee
This committee, established under Article 39 of the warrant for the Adjourned Annual Town Meeting of March 25, 1957, submits the following preliminary report.
"On motion of Paul R. Bergholtz it was voted that there be and hereby is established a Special Committee to be known as 'Junior High
22
School Building Committee', for the purpose of the construction of ad- ditional Junior High School facilities and for originally equipping said additional facilities; said committee to consist of one member of the School Committee chosen by it, one member of the Board of Public Works chosen by it, one member of the Finance Committee chosen by it, and four citizens of the Town to be appointed by the Moderator, one member from each of the precincts of the Town".
This committee, as established under Article 39, is composed of the following:
Philip White
School Committee
Walter Hopkins
Alfred Johnson
Board of Public Works Finance Committee
R. Tracy Eddinger Lawrence Partelow
Precinct 1
Precinct 2
Oliver Brown Roy Haskell
Precinct 3 Precinct 4
On February 19th, the resignation of Mr. Eddinger was accepted with regret, and with thanks for his assistance to date. As the term of Mr. Hopkins as a member of the Board of Public Works expired, and as he was not a candidate for re-election, he is no longer a mem- ber of this committee. Grateful acknowledgement is made of his con- tribution. The committee welcomes Mr. Lloyd Harrison of the Board of Public Works and Mr. Robert DeMasellis of Precinct 1.
The committee held its first meeting June 5th, 1957, electing Law- rence Partelow as chairman. The first problem was an attempt to de- termine the extent of the additional facilities required. These require- ments are dependent upon the plan of school organization and the type of program to be offered. The Superintendent of Schools main- tains that the 6-3-3 plan of organization is preferable to an 8-4 or 6-2-4 plan. Assuming that we are to have a three grade Junior High, the School Committee has officially stated that their need is for additional facilities to house six hundred pupils.
The next problem was to determine the cost of enlarging the ex- isting structure. It was considered desirable, however, to compare the cost of enlarging with the cost of building a new school with facilities equal to the present Junior High School. If it appeared that a new building were to be recommended, we were faced with deciding the most desirable location for it. This involved the examniation of va- rious possible sites. Using as a guide the specifications of the Massa- chusetts School Building Assistance Commission we chose the Birch Meadow area as most desirable.
It was felt that the architects who built the present Junior High were eminently qualified to discuss alterations to it. Therefore, the firm of Adden, Parker, Clinch and Crimp have been retained to provide the committee with preliminary sketches and cost estimates of enlarg- ing the existing structure and of a new building in the Birch Meadow Area.
Upon receipt of the estimates, and after adequate study, we shall report our recommendations.
23
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that report be accepted as a report of progress and placed on file.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by John H. Fullerton.
Progress Report of the Building Code Study Committee
Since this committee was appointed in April 1957, numerous meet- ings have been held. In addition, State and local public officials have been consulted in connection with the work of the committee.
On December 18, 1957, a written report was submitted to the Town, as requested in the vote of the Annual Town Meeting Adjourned of March 18, 1957, under Article 3.
This committee is presently in the process of drafting recommended changes to the Town Building Code.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that report be accepted as a report of progress and placed on file.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by John H. Austin.
Forest Street School Building Committee Report of Progress
The Forest Street School Building Committee report that construc- tion of the Birch Meadow Elementary School (Forest Street School) was substantially completed on September 23, 1957, the date the school was opened for classes. An inspection of the school by the general public was held on November 3, 1957.
Aside from a few items that, of necessity, must wait until this spring, the project is essentially completed and, it appears, will be closed out within its appropriation during the calendar year 1958.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that report be accepted as a report of progress and placed on file.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by John H. Austin.
The Highland School Re-Building Committee Report of Progress
The Highland School Re-Building Committee report that recon- struction of the Highland School had progressed to the point where classes could be resumed on January 2, 1958. By January 26, 1958, the project was essentially complete and on that date the school opened for inspection by the general public. The Committee expect that this project will be closed out within its appropriation during the calendar year 1958.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that report be accepted as a report of progress and placed on file.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Harold D. Kilgore, Jr.
Report on request for authority to petition the General Court of the Commonwealth for enabling legislation, by amendment of Chapter 314 of the Acts of 1909 or otherwise, conferring power upon the town to require owners of buildings or structures abutting on a public or pri- vate way in which there is a common sewer, to pay sewer rental charges within two (2) years after installation of the common sewer by their particular building or structure whether connected thereto or not.
24
The Board of Public Works present this report on request for au- thority for the purpose of further enforcing the full use of common sewers by owners of buildings or structures on sewered streets.
Chapter 280, Acts of 1937, effective July 15, 1958 requires that "In streets in which a common sewer is subsequently constructed and available for connection, owners of any building or structure then ex- isting upon land abutting thereon, shall within ten (10) years from the date of completion and availability for connection of said common sew- er, connect such building or structure with said common sewer". This Act also specifically excluded all buildings or structures which had no water service or supply of water therein.
When this Act was incorporated in the Rules and Regulations of the Sewer Department on July 15, 1938 there were 900 possible connec- tions in the Sewerage System, of which but 590 were connected. Through the intervening years the 310 locations not connected, subject to the 1938 regulation, have been reduced to 50 as of January 1, 1958.
However, due to the normal growth of the sewerage system, there are at present 1,907 possible connections in the sewerage system, of which 1,552 or 81% are connected, leaving 355, or 19% not connected.
While it is the policy of the Board of Public Works to poll abut- tors at sewer hearings as to their intention regarding connection to the sewer, there are still instances where abuttors take the full ten years allowed by law in which to connect.
By proper legislation, the Board believes that, if owners are com- pelled to pay sewer rental rates, based on water meter readings, within two years of availability of the common sewer, whether connected or not, the practice of delaying connection will be eliminated, and needed revenue made available to the Sewer Division.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that report be accepted and placed on file.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted to place Article 2 on the table.
ARTICLE 3. On motion of Harold D. Kilgore, Jr. it was voted that the Board of Public Works be and they hereby are authorized and em- powered to petition the General Court for enabling legislation by amendment of Chapter 314 of the Acts of 1909 or otherwise, conferring power and authority upon the said Board of Public Works to establish suitable regulations requiring all owners of buildings or structures abutting on a Public or Private way in which there is a common sewer, to pay sewer rental charges within two (2) years after installation of the common sewer by their particular building or structure whether con- nected thereto or not.
ARTICLE 3. The following report was read by Coleman J. Dona- hue.
Request for instructions regarding installation of an eight inch water main to the industrial zoned area in Reading located between the Reading-Stoneham town line and Route 128.
25
At the Southerly border of Reading there exists a strip of land bounded:
Southerly by the Reading.Stoneham Town Line - 20.72 plus or minus feet
Westerly by land of Commonwealth of Mass - 190 plus or minus feet
Northerly by Route 128 - 2100 plus or minus feet
Easterly by a line 200 feet Westerly of Route 28 - 120 plus or minus feet and containing approximately 11.5 acres of land.
This land was rezoned at former Town Meetings to Industrial Zone; it borders Route 128 opposite the Addison-Wesley Publishing Company plant; and is extremely valuable land for industrial building sites. For further identification. it is the land formerly occupied by the Lar- son farm. and by land owned by Stanley C. Brown.
Wang Laboratories. owner of the former Larson property, are in the process of conveying a portion of their property to Brodie Industrial Trucks, Inc. This firm assembles industrial equipment, will erect a garden-type building of the Fruehauf type, and employ 60 personnel.
In this Industrial Zoned Area it is thought that there will be eventu- ally erected from three to five plants, including both the Wang and Brown properties.
No municipal water mains now exist in this area, which has as a means of access a right-of-way taken by the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts called Robin Crest Road. twenty-five feet in width.
Wang Laboratories, Inc. have offered to contribute the sum of S7500.00 to the Town for the purpose of installing an 8 inch water main, 1200 feet in length, from Route 28 Westerly to the Wang Laboratory property line. Under normal construction conditions, this sum would be adequate for complete installation; however, with visible ledge outcroppings along the line of work. it is believed that some $1,500.00 more may be needed.
The Board of Public Works believe that industrial plants of the type contemplated in this area will be a valuable asset to the Town.
To quote from the 1958 Report of the Finance Committee on the An- nual Warrant, in discussing the Master Plan studies of the town re- garding the desirability of industrial and business development, "It is evident that if the citizens of Reading wish to keep the tax rate from constant spiralling. a broader tax base must be explored". The Board of Public Works are in accord with this comment.
The Board of Public Works, therefore, respectfully submit this Re- port and request for instructions relative to same to the Town Meeting.
Gilbert M. Lothrop moved that the Board of Public Works be in- structed that this meeting desires the Board of Public Works to pro- ceed as per Mr. Donahue's Report.
Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham ruled this motion involving Mr. Donahue's report to be out of order under Article 3 as the report called for a sum of $1500.00 which in essence was raising and appropriating money. This was out of order under Article 3.
26
ARTICLE 3. On motion of Rudolf Sussmann it was voted that the following persons be chosen to serve as Measurers of Lumber for the en- suing year:
Harold B. Currell Fred F. Smith Maurice H. Donegan: and
That the following persons be chosen to serve as Measurers oî Wood and Bark for the ensuing year: Harold B. Currell Maurice H. Donegan Thomas E. Brogan
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted to place Article 3 on the table.
On motion of William F. Murphy it was voted to take up Article 25.
ARTICLE 25. On motion of William F. Murphy it was voted that the Schedule of Minimum and Maximum Salaries to be paid to em- ployees in the positions included in the Employees Classifications Plan be and the same is hereby amended by striking out the hourly, weekly and the annual minimum and maximum as appearing therein and substituting in place thereof under the Job Classifications the follow- ing new hourly, weekly and annual minimum and maximum rates:
Classification
Section 7. Public Library
Old Weekly Min.
Max.
Min.
New Weekly Max.
Librarian
$ 60.00
$ 76.92
$ 82.69 57.69
82.69
Old Hourly
New Hourly
Min.
Max.
Min.
Max.
Library Clerical
.75 1.25
.75
1.733
Section 12. General Government
Old Annual Min.
Max.
Min.
Max.
Town Accountant
3,608.00
5,200.00
3,608.00
5,460.00
Old Weekly
New Weekly
Min. Max.
Min. Max.
Janitor - Town Bldgs. .... 47.00
68.00
47.00
72.00
ARTICLE 4. On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that the sum of Eighty thousand two hundred fifty-one and 40/100 dollars ($80,251.40) be raised and appropriated for General Government as follows; each item being considered as a separate appropriation:
Selectmen's Clerical
$ 1,817.00
Selectmen's Expense
2,500.00
Town Accountant's Salary
5,395.00
Town Accountant's Clerical
861.90
Town Accountant's Expense (including travel outside the
State, not to exceed Two hundred ($200) 650.00
$ 115.37
Asst. Librarian
50.00
67.31
New Annual
27
Treasurer's Salary
3,375.00
Treasurer's Clerical
1,500.00
Treasurer's Expense
1,300.00
Collector's Salary (all fees collected to be paid to the Town Treasurer)
5,350.00
Collector's Clerical
8,279.95
Collector's Expense
2,600.00
Assessors' Salaries
4,900.00
Chairman
$ 2,500.00
Secretary
1,400.00
Third Member
1,000.00
Total
$ 4,900.00
Assessors' Clerical
7,434.55
Assessors' Expense (including travel outside the State, not to exceed Two hundred (200) Dollars)
3,425.00
Town Counsel's Salary
4,375.00
Town Counsel's Expense
2,000.00
Town Clerk's Salary (all fees collected to be paid to the Town Treasurer)
2,375.00
Town Clerk's Clerical
3,741.00
Town Clerk's Expense
900.00
Registrars' Salaries
500.00
Registrars' Expense.
2,200.00
Election & Registration Expense
5,200.00
Board of Appeals Expense
500.00
Planning Board Expense
500.00
Capital Exp. Planning Com. Expense
300.00
Finance Committee Expense
100.00
Personnel Board Expense
50.00
Municipal Building Janitor
3,692.00
Municipal Building Maintenance
4,430.00
Total $ 80,251.40
ARTICLE 4. On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that the sum of Three Hundred eighty thousand six hundred forty-nine and 09/100 dollars ($380,649.09) be raised and appropriated for Protection of Persons and Property as follows, each item being considered as a sepa- rate appropriation:
Police Department Salaries
$132,603.00
Police Department Pensions
7,988.24
Police Department Maintenance (including travel outside the State, not to exceed Two hundred (200) Dollars
13,215.00
Police Station Janitor's Salary
1,380.00
Police Station Maintenance
1,900.00
Traffic Control - Schools
8,550.00
Fire Department Salaries
130,774.00
Fire Deparment Callmen Salaries
6,400.00
Fire Department Pensions
3,918.45
28
Fire Department Maintenance (including travel outside the
State, not to exceed Two hundred (200) dollars
12,825.00
Fire Stations Maintenance 4,900.00
Fire Alarm Maintenance Salaries 3,350.00
Fire Alarm Maintenance Expense
3,610.00
Fire Alarm Extension Salaries
1,000.00
Fire Alarm Extension Expense
600.00
Tree and Moth Department Salaries
26,780.40
Tree and Moth Department Expense
5,600.00
Hydrant Rentals
6,975.00
Drinking Fountains
100.00
Inspector of Buildings Salary
4,250.00
Inspector Buildings Expense
550.00
Inspector of Wires Salary
1,000.00
Inspector of Wires Expense
350.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures Salary
700.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures Expense
250.00
Dog Officer's Salary
375.00
Dog Officer's Expense
600.00
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