USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1963 > Part 5
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the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized and instructed to transfer such amount to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 48. On motion of Edouard N. Dube it was voted that the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) be transferred from the Cemetery Reserve and appropriated for the permanent development of Laurel Hill and Forest Glen Cemeteries, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 49. On motion of Edouard N. Dube it was voted that the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) be raised and appropria- ted for the purpose of the continued development of Forest Glen and Charles Street Cemeteries, including site clearing, the construction of drainage, the extension of the road system, the water system and the preparation of lots for sale.
ARTICLE 50. On motion of Winfred F. Spurr it was voted that the subject matter of Article 50 be referred to the Municipal Light Board, and that the said Board be, and it hereby is, authorized to install such additional 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 in- come of the plant.
RESOLUTION
A. Lloyd David moved that the memory of our late friend and valued fellow citizen, C. Nelson Bishop, be honored by a resolution to be prepared by the Moderator and made a part of the Town records and that the members indicate their approval by a standing vote.
ARTICLE 51. On motion of James S. Perry it was voted that the Selectmen be, and they hereby are, authorized for and on behalf of the Town to acquire by purchase, right of eminent domain, deed of gift, or otherwise, for Town Forest purposes the following described parcel of land, and that the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) be raised and appropriated for that purpose:
A certain parcel of swamp land in the northerly part of said Reading, in that part called "Hundred Acre," and being bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at the Southeasterly corner of the granted premises at the old road leading to the Hundred Acre Meadow and Great Island, so-called, at an Iron Pipe and Stones by land formerly of Orville O. Ordway, now owned by the Town, and from thence running S. 71°-45' W., a distance of 89 feet to an Iron Pipe at an angle;
Thence N. 79º-40' W., a distance of 101 feet to an angle;
Thence S. 81°-24' W., a distance of 75.38 feet to an Iron Pipe & Stones, the last three courses all by the North Side of an old road;
Thence N. 48°-05' W., still by land formerly of said Ordway, a distance of 114.25 feet to an Iron Pipe & Stones at land formerly of Efford E. Taylor et al, now owned by the Town;
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Thence N. 70°-40'-10" W., by land formerly of said Taylor a dis- tance of 168.09 feet to an Iron Pipe & Stones at an angle;
Thence N. 78°-37' W., by land formerly of said Taylor a distance of 154.40 feet to an Iron Pipe & Stones at a corner at land formerly of Kernan & Ball, now owned by the Town;
Thence N. 8°-15' E., by said Town's land, a distance of 429.65 feet to the Northwesterly corner of these premises at land formerly of Delia Sweetser, now owned by the Town;
Thence S. 68°-49'-30" E., by land formerly of said Sweetser, a dis- tance of 517.62 feet to an Iron Pipe & Stones off the East side of the old road and land formerly of the Otis P. Symonds Estate, now owned by the Town;
Thence S. 15°-58'-20" E., by said old road and land formerly of said Symonds Estate, a distance of 396.38 feet to point of beginning.
Containing 5.548 acres, more or less, and being the same premises conveyed by William Tibbetts et al to Moses E. Nichols dated Feb. 3, 1881, recorded Middlesex So. Dist. Deeds Book 1559 Page 453. Said lot is also shown substantially as Lot 20 on a Plan made for the Town of Reading, Town Forest and Water Supply Development, by Davis & Abbott, Civil Engineers, under date of November, 1930.
131 voted in the affirmative
0 voted in the negative
On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr., it was voted to take Article 2 from the table.
ARTICLE 2. The following report was read by James J. Sullivan, Jr., Chairman, for the Reading Planning Board:
Planning Board Report and Recommendations of Public Hearing
On February 13, 1963, the Planning Board under authority of Section 6 of Chapter 40A of the General Laws, held a hearing on a proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Laws and Zoning Map that would change the area described in Article 52 of this Warrant from Resident A-1 District to Business A District.
This hearing was well attended by citizens of Reading, ten of whom have gone on record as being opposed and seven in favor of the proposed re-zoning.
South Main Street is one of the main commercial arteries of the Town with over 80 per cent of the area currently zoned for Business A use. The Master Plan points out that the most practical use of the land opposite the proposed area lies in commercial development. It further recommends leaving the area from Cross Street to Summer Avenue as a residential buffer zone.
A southerly extension of the present Business A zone on the west- erly side of South Main Street from Pinevale Avenue with the retention of a similar residential buffer zone lying opposite the area outlined in the Master Plan, would in the opinion of this Board be consistent
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with good planning and be in complete accord with the general char- acteristics of the area. It should be noted that Business A Districts allow the continuance of residential use.
It is therefore the recommendation of this board that the best land use for this area will be served by amending Article 52, to exclude the area on South Main Street from a point 260' south of the intersections of Knollwood Road and South Main Street, to the center line of Summer Avenue.
Respectfully submitted,
James J. Sullivan, Jr., Chairman John H. Crooker, Sec'y Edward Bjorkman, Paul Shepherd
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted that report be ac- cepted and placed on file.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted that Article 2 be placed on the table.
ARTICLE 52. Robert E. Turner moved that the Zoning By-Laws and the Zoning Map of the Town of Reading be amended by changing the following described parcel from Residence A-1 District to Business A District:
Land on Main Street in Reading bounded Northerly by the existing Business A District at the center line of Pinevale Avenue, Easterly by the center line of Main Street, Southerly by a line which passes through the front lot corner of Lots 27 and 28 as shown on Plat 53-A of the Reading Assessor's Map and which is at right angles to the center line of Main Street, and Westerly by a line which is 150' from and parallel to Main Street.
This motion was lost.
81 voted in the affirmative
55 voted in the negative
(A two-thirds vote is necessary, therefore, this motion failed to pass.)
ARTICLE 53. On motion of Robert M. Graham it was voted that the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) be raised and appropriated for the use of, and to be expended under the direction of, the Civil War Centennial Commission.
ARTICLE 54. On motion of John B. Harker it was voted that Article 54 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 55. On motion of Theodore M. Nigro it was voted that the sum of Three Thousand Six Hundred Fifty-one Dollars ($3,651.00) be raised from the tax levy and that the sum of Two Thousand Seventy-two and 55-100 Dollars ($2,072.55) be transferred from Mental Health Clinic Refund Reserved for Appropriation, and that such sums totaling Five Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty-three and 55-100 Dollars ($5,723.55) be appropriated for the purpose of providing co-operative or complimentary facilities to out-patient clinics established, or to be established, in ac- cordance with the provisions of Chapter 123 of the General Laws, in co-
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operation with the Department of Mental Health and other agencies collaborating with said Department, and for providing payment for services rendered, by such clinic in accordance with the provisions of General Laws Chapter 40 Section 5 Clause (40-C), the same to be ex- pended under the direction of the Board of Health, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 56. On motion of Margery E. Wood it was voted that whereas there exists in the Town of Reading a shortage of safe and sanitary dwellings available for elderly persons or elderly family units of low income, at rentals which they can afford.
Now, therefore, it is hereby determined that there exists a need for a Housing Authority within the Town, and it is hereby voted that the Reading Housing Authority shall be organized under provisions of Gen- eral Laws Chapter 121, Section 26-K as amended, and the Selectmen are hereby authorized, empowered and instructed to appoint forthwith four (4) members of such Authority to serve until the qualification of their successors, who shall be elected at the next Annual Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 57. On motion of Arnold Berger it was voted that Article 57 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 58. On motion of C. Dewey Smith it was voted that the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) be raised and appropriated, and the Selectmen appoint a Director, the Director to cooperate with the Middlesex County Trustees, for the Aid to Agriculture and work of the Middlesex County Extension Service and the 4-H Clubs, under provi- sions of Sections 40 and 45, Chapter 128, General Laws of Massachusetts.
ARTICLE 59. On motion of Robert A. Curtis it was voted that the sum of Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) 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.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted to take Article 2 from the table.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted that Article 2 be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted to take Article 3 from the table.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted that Article 3 be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted to take Article 4 from the table.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted that Article 4 be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted that this meeting be adjourned, sine die, at 10:40 P.M.
147 Town Meeting Members were present.
A true copy. Attest:
Boyd H. Stewart, Town Clerk
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Memorial High School
October 21, 1963
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, at 8:00 P.M.
The invocation was given by Rev. Dale Sanford, Assistant Minister, Old South Methodist Church.
The warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, Boyd H. Stewart, when on motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted to dispense with further reading of the warrant except the Constable's Return which was then read by the Town Clerk.
ARTICLE 1. On motion of Woodbury C. Titcomb, vice-chairman of the Finance Committee, it was voted that the report of the Finance Committee under Article 19 be amended by striking out the words "Action Pending" and inserting in place thereof "Recommend transfer of $49,378.78 from Surplus Revenue," and under Article 26 by striking out the amount of $15,000.00 and inserting in place thereof $16,000.00.
The Moderator, Kenneth C. Latham, presented a Resolution to Mrs. C. Nelson Bishop expressing commendation and appreciation for the untiring and valuable service to the Town by her husband, the late C. Nelson Bishop. (Attached)
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted to place Article 1 on the table.
ARTICLE 2. On motion of C. Dewey Smith it was voted that the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) be transferred from Board of Registrars' Salaries Account and appropriated to Board of Registrars' Expense Account, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 3. On motion of Robert A. Curtis it was voted that the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) be transferred from Board of Registrars' Salaries Account and appropriated to Election and Regis- tration Expense Account, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 4. On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted that Article 4 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 5. On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted that Article 5 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 6. On motion of C. Dewey Smith it was voted that a fund to be known as the Reading High School Scholarship Fund be established, under the control and direction of the Commissioners of Trust Funds, for the purpose of receiving gifts and bequests and making distributions to worthy students.
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ARTICLE 7. On motion of C. Dewey Smith it was voted that the bequest under the will of the late Frank J. Torre, as follows, be accepted: "Article Eleven (f) Four per cent (4 )to the Town of Reading, to be applied to the Reading High School Scholarship Fund."
ARTICLE 8. On motion of James J. Sullivan, Jr., it was voted that the sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) be transferred from Sur- plus Revenue and appropriated for the purpose of Municipal planning under the direction of the Planning Board, to analyze and study the central business district and the surrounding areas, and to accomplish a physical plan for its long range development, provided federal match- ing funds are available, under the provisions of Section 701 of the Housing Act of 1954, as amended, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 9. It was moved by Woodbury C. Titcomb, as amended by Winfred F. Spurr, that the General By-Laws of the Town be amended by adding to Article IV at the end thereof a section to be known as Section 11 as follows:
DISPOSAL OF PERSONAL PROPERTY. Whenever an item or amount of personal property within the control of a Town Officer, Town Board, excluding the Municipal Light Department, or Town Committee shall be determined by that Officer, Board or Committee to be surplus, obsolete or beyond repair, it may be disposed of by such Officer, Board or Committee by sale or otherwise at his or their discretion, provided, however, that such disposal shall be with the prior approval of the Finance Committee.
This motion was lost.
59 voted in the affirmative 72 voted in the negative
ARTICLE 10. On motion of William F. Murphy it was voted that the General By-Laws of the Town be amended by inserting the follow- ing job classification under Article XVIII-A Schedule A Municipal Light Department:
CABLE SPLICER: Performs work related to the installation, re- moval, maintenance repair, operation and inspection of cables, trans- formers, switches, controls and other electrical apparatus. Installs, splices and terminates underground and aerial cables of all types for operation at voltages up to and including 15,000 volts. Instructs em- ployees of lower grade.
ARTICLE 11. On motion of William F. Murphy it was voted that the General By-Laws of the Town be amended by inserting the follow- ing salary classification under Article XVIII-A, Salary and Wage Schedule, Section 5, Municipal Light Department:
Hourly
Weekly
Salary Grade
Min.
Max
Min.
Max.
Cable Splicer
18
$2.88
$3.63
$115.80
$145.00
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ARTICLE 12. On motion of William F. Murphy it was voted that the General By-Laws of the Town be amended by striking out the classification as appearing under Article XVIII-A, Municipal Light De- partment, for Groundman and substituting therefor the following:
GROUNDMAN: Works on ground fulfilling requirements of Line- man for tools and materials; digs pole holes, occasionally drives truck and operates air tools. Must qualify for progression into higher Line Crew classifications.
ARTICLE 13. On motion of William F. Murphy it was voted that the General By-Laws of the Town be amended by inserting the follow- ing job description under Article XVIII-A Schedule A Municipal Light Department:
DRIVER GROUNDMAN: Regularly drives truck for Line Depart- ment, licensed to operate hoisting machinery, using winch, boom, block and sheave, gin, hydraulic equipment and air tools, in addition to Groundman's duties on permanent basis.
ARTICLE 14. On motion of William F. Murphy it was voted that the General By-Laws of the Town be amended by inserting the follow- ing salary classification under Article XVIII-A, Salary and Wage Schedule, Section 5, Municipal Light Department:
Hourly
Salary Grade
Min.
Max.
Driver Groundman
11
$2.05
$2.58
ARTICLE 15. On motion of Robert E. Stewart it was voted that the sum of One Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-nine Dollars ($1,429.00) be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for Library Salaries Account, and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 16. On motion of William H. Watt it was voted that the sum of One Thousand One Hundred ($1,100.00) Dollars be trans- ferred from the Municipal Garage Repairs Account and that the sum of One Thousand Nine Hundred ($1,900.00) Dollars be transferred from the Puritan Road Street Betterment Account and that both sums totaling Three Thousand ($3,000.00) Dollars be appropriated for making emer- gency permanent repairs to the Municipal Garage at 181 John Street, said sum to be spent by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works, and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is author- ized, empowered and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 17. On motion of William H. Watt it was voted that the sum of One Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty-two and Thirty-Seven Hundredths ($1,982.37) Dollars be transferred from the Beverly Road Street Betterment Account and appropriated for the erection of a tem- porary wall at the Municipal Garage at 181 John Street, said sum to
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be spent by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 18. On motion of William H. Watt it was voted that the sum of One Thousand Four Hundred ($1,400.00) Dollars be transferred from Surplus Revenue and that the sum of One Thousand One Hun- dred ($1,100.00) Dollars be transferred from the Sandra Lane Better- ment Account and that both sums totalling Two Thousand Five Hun- dred ($2,500.00) Dollars be appropriated for the purpose of employing architects and consulting engineers to make a study of the use and development of the Municipal Garage and the surrounding land at 181 John Street, said sum to be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 19. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr., it was voted that Article 19 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 20. On motion of Fred C. Kenney, Jr., it was voted that the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars be trans- ferred from John Street Dump Salaries and appropriated to John Street Dump Expenses and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer such sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 21. On motion of William H. Watt it was voted that the sum of Twenty-five Thousand ($25,000.00) Dollars be transferred from Water Available Surplus and appropriated for the purpose of installing electronic and other devices for monitoring and automating the Water System of the Town and that said sum be expended by and under the direction of the Board of Public Works, and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer such sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 22. On motion of Lawrence W. Leonard it was voted that the sum of Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars be transferred from Water Available Surplus and appropriated to Water Maintenance and Operation Expenses and that the Town Accountant be, and he hereby is, authorized, empowered and instructed to transfer such sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 23. On motion of William H. Watt it was voted that this Article be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 24. On motion of A. Waldo Phinney it was voted that the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) be transferred from Sur- plus Revenue and appropriated for consulting engineers, architectural services, preliminary plans and surveys for the construction of addi- tional Library and Municipal Building facilities and the remodelling of the present Library and Municipal Building facilities, said sum to be
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expended under the drection of the Space Study Committee, and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized, empowered and instructed to make such transfer to carry out the purpose of this vote.
ARTICLE 25. It was moved by A. Waldo Phinney that the Board of Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized, empowered and in- structed for and on behalf of the Town to acquire by purchase, take in fee by right of eminent domain or otherwise, the following described property, for the purpose of adding said property to the present Com- munity Center property:
"A certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon, situated in Reading, Massachusetts, believed to be owned by Julian Sousa and Doris Sousa, and being known as 60-62 Sanborn Street, and bounded and described as follows:
EASTERLY by said Sanborn Street, one hundred (100) feet;
SOUTHERLY by land of the Town of Reading, one hundred thirty- four and 1-10 (134.1) feet;
WESTERLY by land now or formerly of the West Roxbury Co- operative Bank, one hundred (100) feet; and
NORTHERLY by land now or formerly of Blood, one hundred and thirty-four and 1-10 (134.1) feet.
Containing 13,410 square feet of land, more or less."
And that the sum of Twenty-two Thousand Dollars ($22,000.00) be transferred from Surplus Revenue and be appropriated for the acquisi- tion of such property and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the pur- pose 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 Selectmen are hereby authorized to enter into all contracts and agree- ments for the purpose of acquiring title to the aforesaid property.
This motion was lost.
42 voted in the affirmative
84 voted in the negative
ARTICLE 26. On motion of A. Waldo Phinney it was voted that this Article be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Ralph J. Bens, Jr., it was voted to take Article 1 from the table.
ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Kenneth C. Latham, Chairman, for the committee:
Report of Committee to Consider Increasing the Membership of the Town Meeting
By action of the annual town meeting of March 18, 1963, this com- mittee, consisting of the Moderator and the four Precinct Chairmen, was "instructed to investigate the actions which will be necessary for this meeting to change and increase the membership of the Representative
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Town Meeting of the Town of Reading from the present membership of 180 elected members to a new and increased number of Town Meeting Members which this meeting may find desirable; and that the Modera- tor and the four Precinct Chairmen report their findings to this meeting at the next Special Meeting whenever it may be convened."
The committee organized with Kenneth C. Latham as chairman, A. Lloyd David as secretary and John R. Kay, M. Russell Meikle and Edward D. Winkler the remaining members.
Several meetings were held and methods of approach to the subject considered with the result that questionnaires were submitted to the Clerks of thirty-five towns having forms of town meeting similar to that of Reading requesting pertinent statistical details.
Certain information and opinions were solicited from the citizens of the town through the medium of questionnaires distributed with the electric bills. Statistics from the town elections were tabulated to de- termine the number of candidates for town meeting membership for the twenty years since the present form of town meeting was adopted. In addition the members individually sought information and advice from various authoritative sources.
After examination of the questionnaires and assembled material and extensive deliberation the committee members found themselves to be divided in their conclusions. Four members agreed to recommend an increase of twenty-four to bring the elected membership to a total of two hundred and four with no change in the number of ex-officio members.
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