USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1958 > Part 4
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ARTICLE 32. On motion of Edward W. Batten it was voted that the sum of Four Thousand Two Hundred Fifty ($4,250.00) Dollars be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for the purpose of contracting with the Massachusetts Department of Commerce for the preparation of Master Plan studies of the Town, such sum to be ex- pended only if the like sum is provided by the Federal Government under Section 701 of Title VII of the Housing Act of 1954, as amended, and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
On motion of Frank M. Stevens it was voted to take Article 2 from the table.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Frank M. Stevens.
The Park and Recreation Department Study Committee
Mr. Moderator and Town Meeting Members:
This is a report of progress.
To date the Park and Recreation Department Study Committee has accumulated about all the data needed for our final report. We do want some added information from Wakefield, Stoneham and possibly one other town. This we should have within the next two weeks. The committee should then be ready to complete our work and make a final report early in May.
No decision has yet been reached as to whether we will ask for some changes in the present set up now used by the Board of Public Works or recommend to you Town Meeting Members a department wholly separate from the present Board of Public Works. Should we recommend a separate Department and should you thereafter act fa- vorably on this proposal it would be necessary to petition the General Court of Massachusetts for a special act to have a separate Park and Recreation Department. This takes time so we will have a motion under Article 3 to expedite this part of our work. The motion will be fully explained under Article 3.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that report be accepted as a report of progress.
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On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that Article 2 be laid on the table.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted to take Article 3 fromn the table.
ARTICLE 3. On motion of Frank M. Stevens it was voted that the Board of Selectmen be and they hereby are instructed to petition the General Court of Massachusetts for a special Act enabling the Town of Reading to establish a separate department to be known as the "Park and Recreation Department", said department to have jurisdiction over (1) all park and recreation areas within the Town, (2) all park, play- ground and recreation areas adjacent to school buildings, and (3) the recreation program of the Town; and providing further for the election by the voters of the Town of five commissioners of said department, and providing further that all jurisdiction over parks and recreation previously conferred upon the Board of Public Works and the Recreation Committee by either Special Acts or General Statutes of the General Court be transferred to said Park and Recreation Department.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that Article 3 be laid on the table.
On motion of Robert M. Graham it was voted that Article 33 be in- definitely postponed.
ARTICLE 34. On motion of Barbara E. Winkler it was voted that the School Committee be and they hereby are authorized and empow- ered to sell or exchange upon such terms or conditions as they may determine, the 1954 Chevrolet Station Wagon used by the School De- partment, and that the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-five Dollars and Ten Cents ($1,565.10) together with the proceeds of such sale or exchange be raised and appropriated for the purchase of a new Station Wagon for the School Department.
ARTICLE 35. On motion of Barbara E. Winkler it was voted that the sum of Fifteen Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars be raised and appro- priated for the purchase of a new one-half ton pick-up truck for the School Department.
ARTICLE 36. On motion of Philip R. White it was voted that the sum of Twenty Thousand ($20,000.00) Dollars be transferred from Sur- plus Revenue and appropriated for the purpose of repairing and reno- vating the Lowell Street School, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
On motion of Robert E. Turner it was voted that Article 2 be taken from the table.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by William E. Burpee. The School Committee in this report to the Town presents its reasons for including in the Warrant Article 37 which would provide for a base- ball field for the High School in Birch Meadow. In line with the Finance Committee report we have agreed to move for indefinite postponement of this very necessary facility.
On February 14th of last year the School Committee submitted a report to the Finance Committee to schedule development in Birch
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Meadow to bring facilities for the existing athletic program to the high school area in the shortest possible time. In summary this report stated:
"The Birch Meadow Study Committee, in its report of 1955, out- lined a program for development of the area which, when completed, will give Reading the outstanding recreational area in this vicinity. It is an excellent report which this committee hopes eventually will be carried out in its entirety. It lists expenditures of $191,000.00 as being required to complete grading of the various fields and to install perma- nent football stands and parking facilities.
"The School Committee feels compelled at this time to submit a revised program for expenditures for development of the Birch Meadow area. This revised program is designed to provide minimum facilities necessary to the existing high school program and is consistent with the Birch Meadow Report, and can be accomplished at a cost of $80,000. The proposed program is recommended as follows:
"For the year 1957 the School Committee proposes that $9,000.00 be transferred from the balance of $22,523.00 in the Birch Meadow Develop- ment Account for the construction of a fence around the areas shown as Areas 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D on the plan for development of Birch Meadow; that the rest of said balance, together with the additional sum of $10,000.00 be appropriated for the finish grading and developing of a certain portion of the area adjacent to the High School, shown as Area 3 on said plan. For the year 1958, that the sum of $26,000.00 be appro- priated for the grading of the baseball field listed as Area 4 on said plan, and that for the year 1959 the sum of $4,000.00 be appropriated for baseball backstop and benches, and a further sum for the comple- tion of the finish grading of said Area 3.
"We believe that beginning in 1959 some money should be appro- priated annually until the entire Birch Meadow area is graded.
"We have included no recommendation for appropriation for perma- nent football stands or parking areas. We feel that the required park- ing space for football games will be available on streets and school parking areas. The need for additional parking area should be proved before an appropriation for that purpose is made.
"We earnestly recommend to the Town the adoption of this revised program of expenditures to provide at the high school site the mini- mum facilities necessary for the existing physical education and athletic program".
Very recently we created a committee consisting of members of the Physical Education Department and the High School Administra- tion to submit a report covering a coordinated physical education pro- gram to start in the lower grades and run progressively through the 12th grade. This report, in discussing High School athletic facilities, states "the immediate need is for two baseball diamonds and an ice hockey rink".
Your School Committee does not intend in the forseeable future to request funds for two baseball fields but it feels very sincerely that there is a great need for the field it requested in Article 37.
Because of the great interest in baseball created by Little League
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and Pony League, this facility would be used outside the school pro- gram more than any other school athletic unit. We intend to again include this Article in the Warrant at the earliest possible time.
On motion of Robert E. Turner it was voted that Article 2 be laid on the table.
ARTICLE 37. On motion of William E. Burpee it was voted that Article 37 be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Paul R. Bergholtz it was voted that Article 2 be taken from the table.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by Woodbury C. Titcomb.
Report III on the Problem of School and Recreation Sites Town of Reading, Massachusetts Prepared for the Town Meeting, March 17, 1958
By The Special Committee on School and Recreation Sites (in sheet form with map)
On motion of Robert E. Turner it was voted that report be accepted as a report of progress.
On motion of Robert E. Turner it was voted that Article 2 be laid on the table.
ARTICLE 38. On motion of Paul R. Bergholtz it was voted that the Board of Selectmen be and they are hereby authorized for and on behalf of the Town to acquire by purchase, right of eminent domain or otherwise, for school purposes the following described parcel of land:
A certain parcel of land in Reading, Massachusetts, being a part of land believed to be owned by Amy E. Batchelder and Bernice A. Batch- elder and situated on the northerly side of Franklin Street, bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at the southeasterly corner of the premises on the north- erly side of Franklin Street and at land of William J. and Doris H. Staniewicz;
Thence running N. 47º 16' 40" W. by said Franklin Street, a dis- tance of one hundred fifty-one and 62/100 (151.62) feet to a drill hole in the wall;
Thence N. 53° 21' 55" W., still by said Franklin Street, a distance of three hundred fourteen and 67/100 (314.67) feet to a drill hole in the wall at the corner of the wall at other land of said Amy E. and Bernice A. Batchelder;
Thence running N. 20° 33' 50" E. by other land of said Amy E. and Bernice A. Batchelder, a distance of one thousand and ten and 57/100 (1010.57) feet;
Thence running S. 69° 26' 10" E. still by said Batchelder land a distance of twenty (20) feet;
Thence running S. 20° 33' 50" W. still by said Batchelder land a distance of one hundred twenty-one and 31/100 (121.31) feet;
Thence running S. 65° 42' 05" E. still by said Batchelder land a distance of five hundred seventy-seven and 86/100 (577.86) feet, more or less, to an iron pipe at land of Alban G. and Mary C. Sheehan:
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Thence running S. 12° 24' 50" W. by land of said Sheehan, land of Robert E. and Louise Marchand and land of Melvin C. and Violet L. Sverker, a distance of three hundred thirty-eight and 05/100 (388.05) feet to a drill hole in the corner of the wall at land of one MacNeil;
Thence running N. 63º 53' 10" W., by land of said William J. and Doris H. Staniewicz a distance of one hundred fifty-seven and 11/100 (157.11) feet;
Thence running S. 24° 24' 00" W., still by land of said Staniewicz, a distance of six hundred and seventy-eight (678.00) feet to the point of beginning.
Containing 11.3291 acres, more or less.
And that Sixteen Thousand Two Hundred Fifty ($16,250.00) Dollars be transferred from Surplus Revenue and be appropriated for the ac- quisition of such land and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is au- thorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
In addition to all other authority given to the Board of Selectmen by this vote, and without limitation to the foregoing, the Board of Se- lectmen are hereby authorized to enter into all contracts and agree- ments for the purpose of acquiring title to the aforesaid land.
151 voted in the affirmative.
0 voted in the negative.
ARTICLE 39. On motion of William H. Willson, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Six Hundred ($600.00) Dollars be raised and appropri- ated for the purchase and installation of equipment for the playground areas.
ARTICLE 40. On motion of William H. Willson, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Three Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($3,200.00) be raised and appropriated for the construction of play areas on the land owned by the Town and situated adjacent to Edgemont Avenue, Stewart Road, and Shelby Road, and for originally equipping the same, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Recreation Committee.
79 voted in the affirmative.
75 voted in the negative.
ARTICLE 41. William H. Willson, Jr. moved that the sum of Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500.00) be raised and appropriated for the construction of a wading pool at Memorial Park and for the purchase and installation of a fence around said wading pool, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Recreation Committee.
This motion was lost.
On motion of William H. Dolben, Jr. it was voted to take up Article 43.
ARTICLE 43. On motion of William H. Dolben, Jr. it was voted that Article 43 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 42. Gilbert M. Lothrop moved that the sum of Six Hun- dred Sixty ($660.00) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of providing by lease, or otherwise, suitable headquarters for Reading Post 685, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
This motion was lost.
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ARTICLE 44. On motion of Coleman J. Donahue it was voted that Article 44 be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of William H. Diamond it was voted to take Article 3 from the table.
ARTICLE 3. On motion of William H. Diamond it was voted that the Board of Public Works be and hereby is instructed to present to the Town Meeting not later than the next regular Town Meeting an article and motion for the acceptance as a public way of the unaccepted por- tion of County Road which lies between West and Lewis Streets; such acceptance to be carried out according to plans as approved by the Board of Survey and as projected, said plans being those that were pre- sented at the public hearings held on January 27, 1958 and February 17, 1958 concerning such acceptance, in order to afford town meeting representatives an opportunity either to accept or reject the same.
On motion of Lawrence Drew it was voted that Article 3 be laid on the table.
Report of the Board of Public Works on the Laying Out of Baker Road
The Board of Public Works of the Town of Reading having deter- mined and adjudged that common convenience and necessity require the laying out of a town way under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, substantially in the location herein- after described, having complied with all requirements of law relating to notice to the owners of land thereof and of a hearing thereon, and having met at the time and place appointed for such hearing and then and there heard all persons present who desired to be heard, have laid out as a town way for the use of the town running Easterly from a town way know as Pearl Street, substantially as and in the location of a pri- vate way known as BAKER ROAD.
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. All acts in connection with said laying out are done under the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, and betterments are to be assessed therefor.
This laying out so made by us we hereby report to the Town for ac- ceptance and recommend that said way shall thereafter be known as a public town way and named BAKER ROAD, and that the sum of Six Hundred Sixty-six ($666.00) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the construction of said way.
Signed COLEMAN J. DONAHUE, Chairman Secretary
WALTER S. HOPKINS, JR. KENNTH R. JOHNSON HAROLD D. KILGORE, JR.
Members of the Board of Public Works, Reading
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ARTICLE 45. On motion of Coleman J. Donahue it was voted that the Town accept the report of the Board of Public Works on the laying out of a Private Way known as BAKER ROAD and adopt the recommen- dations contained therein, and that the sum of Six Hundred Sixty-six ($666.00) Dollars be transferred from surplus revenue and appropriated for the laying out and construction of said way, and that the Town Ac- countant be, and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
Report of the Board of Public Works on the Laying Out of Dana Road
The Board of Public Works of the Town of Reading having deter- mined and adjudged that common convenience and necessity require the laying out of a town way under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, substantially in the location hereinafter described, having complied with all requirements of law relating to notice to the owners of land thereof and of a hearing thereon, and hav- ing met at the time and place appointed for such hearing and then and there heard all persons present who desired to be heard, have laid out as a town way for the use of the town running Easterly from a Town way known as Charles Street, substantially as and in the location of a private way known as DANA ROAD.
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. All acts in connection with said laying out are done under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, and betterments are to be assessed therefor.
This laying out so made by us we hereby report to the Town for ac- ceptance and recommend that said way shall thereafter be known as a public town way and named DANA ROAD, and that the sum of Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($15,300.00) be raised and appropri- ated for the construction of said way.
Signed COLEMAN J. DONAHUE, Chairman Secretary
WALTER S. HOPKINS, JR. HAROLD D. KILGORE, JR. KENNTH R. JOHNSON Members of the Board of Public Works, Town of Reading
ARTICLE 46. On motion of Harold D. Kilgore. Jr, it was voted that the Town accept the report of the Board of Public Works on the laying out of a Private Way known as DANA ROAD and adopt the recommen- dations contained therein, and that the sum of Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Dollars ($15,300.00) be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for the laying out and construction of said way, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized and instruct- ed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
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Report of the Board of Public Works on the Laying Out of Knollwood Road
The Board of Public Works of the Town of Reading having deter- mined and adjudged that common convenience and necessity require the laying out of a town way under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, substantially in the location hereinafter described, having complied with all requirements of law relating to notice to the owners of land thereof and of a hearing thereon, and hav- ing met at the time and place appointed for such hearing and then and there heard all persons present who desired to be heard, have laid out as a town way for the use of the town running Westerly from a town way known as Main street, to a town way known as Summer Avenue, sub- stantially as and in the location of a private way known as Knollwood Road.
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. All acts in connection with said laying out are done under the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, and betterments are to be assessed therefor.
This laying out so made by us we hereby report to the Town for ac- ceptance and recommend that said way shall thereafter be known as a public town way and named KNOLLWOOD ROAD and that the sum of Twenty-three Thousand Nine Hundred ($23,900.00) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the construction of said way.
(Signed) COLEMAN J. DONAHUE, Chairman Secretary
WALTER S. HOPKINS, Jr. HAROLD D. KILGORE Members of the Board of Public Works, Town of Reading
ARTICLE 47. On motion of Coleman J. Donahue it was voted that the Town accept the report of the Board of Public Works on the laying public town way and named KNOLLWOOD ROAD, and that the sum recommendations contained therein and that the sum of Twenty-three Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($23,900.00) be transferred from Sur- plus Revenue and appropriated for the laying out and construction of said way, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, au- thorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
Report of the Board of Public Works on the Laying Out of Intervale Terrace
The Board of Public Works of the Town of Reading having deter- mined and adjudged that common convenience and necessity require the laying out of a town way under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, substantially in the location hereinafter described, having complied with all requirements of law relating to notice to the owners of land thereof and of a hearing thereon, and
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having met at the time and place appointed for such hearing and then and there heard all persons present who desired to be heard, have laid out as a town way for the use of the town running Westerly from a town way now known as John Carver Road, substantially as and in the loca- tion of a private way known as INTERVALE TERRACE.
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. All acts in connection with said laying out are done un- der the provision of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, and betterments are to be assessed therefor.
This laying out so made by us we hereby report to the Town for acceptance and recommend that said way shall thereafter be known as a public town way and named INTERVALE TERRACE, and that the sum of Five Thousand ($5,000.00) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the construction of said way.
(Signed) COLEMAN J. DONAHUE, Chairman Secretary
WALTER S. HOPKINS, JR. KENNETH R. JOHNSON HAROLD D. KILGORE, JR. Members of the Board of Public Works, Town of Reading
ARTICLE 48. On motion of Harold D. Kilgore, Jr. it was voted that the Town accept the report of the Board of Public Works on the laying out of a Private Way known as Intervale Terrace and adopt the recom- mendations contained therein, and that the sum of Five Thousand ($5,000.00) Dollars be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appro- priated for the laying out and construction of said way, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 49. On motion of Coleman J. Donahue it was voted that Article 49 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 50. On motion of Coleman J. Donahue it was voted that Article 50 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 51. On motion of Harold D. Kilgore, Jr. it was voted that the sum of Fifteen Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of maintaining, repairing and resurfacing streets constructed under Section 34 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws together with such sums as may be provided by the State and County.
ARTICLE 52 On motion of Coleman J. Donahue it was voted that the sum of Seventy-five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of improving and constructing a portion of West Street from Woburn Street to the Wilmington-Reading Town line, together with such sums as may be provided by the State and County under Section 34 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws.
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ARTICLE 53. On motion of Harold D. Kilgore, Jr. it was voted that the sum of One Thousand Two Hundred Eighty Dollars ($1,280.00) be raised and appropriated for the purpose of cleaning and maintaining the Town Parking Areas located westerly of Main Street and northerly of Haven Street; and northerly of Haven Street and Easterly of Chute Street; said sum to be apportioned as follows:
Nine Hundred Sixty Dollars ($960.00) for Salaries, and
Three Hundred Twenty Dollars ($320.00) for Expenses.
ARTICLE 54. On motion of Coleman J. Donahue it was voted that the sum of Seventy-five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of employing consulting engineering ser- vices, including field surveys and inspection of construction projects, and plans for the regular construction projects of the Board of Public Works including sewers, storm drains, water, and highways, such sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works.
ARTICLE 55. On motion of Harold D. Kilgore, Jr. it was voted that Article 55 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 56. On motion of Coleman J. Donahue it was voted that the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) be transferred from Sur- plus Revenue and appropriated for the purpose of consulting engineer- ing services, surveys and plans to extend the scope of the existing Town sewer plans and profiles and the Sewer Report prepared in 1916 by F. A. Barbour, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works, and the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
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