Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962, Part 14

Author: Westford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Westford (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 1048

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Voted unanimously that (5) Section 7 (first sentence) of ARTICLE I shall be amended to read as follows: "Committees and vacancies on such Committees shall be appointed by the Moderator unless otherwise especially directed by the Meeting, and all Committees so appointed shall be directed to report within a definite time."

Voted unanimously that (6) Section 8 of ARTICLE I shall be a- mended to read as follows: "All motions concerned with the appropri- ation of money shall be presented by the Finance Committee. Not more than two amendments to any motion shall be pending at any one time. A motion and amendments to a motion shall be voted upon in inverse or- der; provided, that in any case in which two or more amounts of money have been presented for appropriation by motion and amendments thereto, the largest amount shall be voted upon first. All motions and amend- ments to motions shall be presented in writing, if the Moderator so requests."

Voted unanimously that (7) A new Section 9 shall be added to ARTI- CLE I and shall read as follows: "Upon any Motion or amendment to a Motion, the Moderator, at the request of any twenty voters attending the Meeting, shall direct that the vote be by secret written ballot. Such ballots may be collected by hand by tellers and ballot boxes need not be used."

Voted unanimously that (8) A new Section 10 shall be added to AR- TICLE I and shall read as follows: "The Selectmen shall not be re- quired to accept any article for inclusion in the warrant for the An- nual Meeting unless received by them on or before the second Tuesday after the first Monday of January."

Voted unanimously that (9) Section 1 (first sentence) of ARTICLE II shall be amended to read as follows: "There shall be a Finance Com- mittee of nine (9) voters of the Town, no one of whom shall hold an e- lective or appointive Town office having to do with the expenditure of Town money."

Voted unanimously that (10) Section 2 of ARTICLE II shall be amend- ed to read as follows: "The Finance Committee shall be appointed by the Moderator. After the Annual Meeting in 1957 the Moderator shall forth- with appoint one additional member to serve for one year, one addition- al member to serve for two years and one additional member to serve for three years. At the Annual Meeting in each year thereafter the Moder- ator shall appoint three members to said Committee to serve for the term of three years. The term of office of all members shall commence as of March 31st of the year of their appointment. Said Committee shall meet at the call of the Town Clerk and choose its Chairman and shall choose a Clerk, who need not be a member of the Committee. The Moderator shall forthwith fill by appointment any vacancies which oc-

cur in the membership of the Committee and any such appointee shall serve for the remainder of his predecessors's term of office."

Voted unanimously that (11) A new ARTICLE, numbered IV, shall be added and shall read as follows: "Duties of the Assessors The Asses-

sors, in addition to such other duties as are required by law, shall annually beginning in 1960, cause to be printed and made available to the tax payers, a complete list of real property subject to assessment, together with the owners thereof and the amount for which such property is assessed."

Voted unanimously that (12) The By-Laws relating to the Water De- partment shall be under a new ARTICLE V, entitled "Water Department."

Voted unanimously that (13) The Traffic Regulations of the Police Department shall be under a new ARTICLE VI, entitled "Police Department - Traffic Rules and Regulations."

Voted unanimously that (14) A new ARTICLE, numbered VII, shall be added and shall read as follows: "Meetings of Elected Town Boards and Committees No meeting of an elected Town Board or Committee shall be held or cancelled unless each member thereof has received reasonable notice of such meeting or cancellation."

Voted unanimously that (15) The present ARTICLE IV shall be num- bered VIII.

Voted almost unanimously that (16) Section 1 of ARTICLE VIII shall be amended to read as follows: "The Selectmen may license suitable persons to engage regularly in the business of being a dealer in and keeper of shops for the purchase, sale, or barter of junk, old metals, or secondhand articles; they may also license suitable persons to en- gage regularly in the business of acting as junk collectors, to collect by purchase, or otherwise, junk, old metals and second-hand articles from place to place in said Town; and they may provide that such col- lectors shall display badges upon their persons or upon their vehicles, or upon both when engaged in collecting, transporting or dealing in junk, old metals or second-hand articles and may prescribe the design thereof. The annual fee for such license shall be $50.00.

Voted unanimously that (17) A new Section 4 shall be added to AR- TICLE VIII and shall read as follows: "Every such shopkeeper who deals in junk or old metals shall store all such merchandise in a building or behind a solid fence of sufficient height to screen such merchandise from any public way. The fence shall be set back not less than thirty- five (35) feet from such public way."

Voted unanimously that (18) The present ARTICLE V shall be num- bered IX.

Voted unanimously that (19) A new Section 10 shall be added to such ARTICLE IX and shall read as follows: "No person shall affix a commer- cial or political sign, sign board, or advertising device, to a tree, post, board or other object within the limits of any sidewalk, street, highway, or other Town property, without first obtaining written per- mission therefor from the Selectmen which may be revoked at any time."

Voted unanimously that (20) The present ARTICLE VI shall be num- bered X.

Voted unanimously that (21) The present ARTICLE VII shall be numbered XIV.

Voted unanimously that (22) A new ARTICLE XI shall be added which shall be entitled "Public Safety" and shall read as follows:

"Section 1 Any owner of land, which has been excavated, except for

quarries more than 150 feet from a public way, shall, at the request of the Selectmen, erect barriers or take other suitable measures to pro- tect persons from damages incident thereto. The penalty for violation of this Section shall be as follows: - for the first offense, fifty dollars; for the second offense, one hundred dollars, and for each subsequent offense, two hundred dollars.

Section 2 Any owner of land, whereon is located an abandoned well or cesspool or a well or cesspool in use, shall, at the request of the Se- lectmen, either provide a covering for such well or cesspool capable of sustaining a weight of three hundred pounds or fill the same to the level of the ground. The penalty for violation of this Section shall be a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hun- dred dollars.

Section 3 No owner of land shall keep or store on such land, outside of a dwelling, a refrigerator or ice box not in use unless the doors of such refrigerator or ice box have been removed."

(23) A motion to add a new ARTICLE XII entitled "Use of Town Equipment on Private Property" was lost by a Vote of 46 NO to 41 YES counted by four Tellers appointed by the Moderator Pro Tem.

(24) Voted unanimously that the Zoning By-Law, as amended, shall be numbered ARTICLE XII.

(25) Voted unanimously that the Earth Removal By-Law, as amended, shall be numbered ARTICLE XIII.

(26) Voted unanimously that the present ARTICLE VIII shall be numbered XV and shall be amended to read as follows:

"Section 1 These By-Laws may be amended at any Town Meeting, an Arti- cle or Articles for such purpose having been inserted in the Warrant for such Meeting. For purposes of these By-Laws the repeal of a By-Law or the adoption of a new By-Law shall be deemed an amendment of the By- Laws."

"Section 2 Any amendments to the By-Laws shall go into effect upon their acceptance by the Town and their approval in the manner required by law, and upon their publication in a Town bulletin or pamphlet, cop- Les of which shall be posted in at least five public places in the Town, including at least one public place in each precinct of the Town, and all By-Laws or Votes of the Town inconsistent therewith shall thereup- on be repealed."

(27) Voted unanimously that the present ARTICLE IX shall be repealed. ARTICLE 33 Voted unanimously that the sum of $500.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of printing the Town By-Laws, and distribut- ing the same to the residents of the Town prior to the Annual Town feeting to be held in 1958.

Voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the meeting. Voted to dissolve the meeting.

True Record, Attest :

Charles L. Hildreth Town Clerk

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - MARCH 9, 1957

At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Westford Academy, Saturday, March 9, 1957 at 1:30 P. M., the following business was transacted :

The Town Moderator, Ben W. Drew, being absent, Charles L. Hildreth, Town Clerk, called the meeting to order and asked for nominations from the floor of a Moderator Pro Tem.

Roger H. Hildreth was nominated, elected by hand vote and sworn in by the Town Clerk.

Roger H. Hildreth, Moderator Pro Tem, then called the meeting to order.

Voted unanimously to dispense with the reading of the Warrant.

Reginald Blowey, Herbert E. Farrier, Gertrude A. McGrath and Freda V. Prescott, Election Officers using Voting Lists, acted as Tellers at the door. The attendance was 204.

ARTICLE 1 Voted unanimously that the sum of $400.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of purchasing a Floor Waxer, with all neces- sary incidental attachments, for use in the Town Hall, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.

ARTICLE 2 Voted unanimously that the sum of $524.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of purchasing one Check Writing Machine to be used in the office of the Town Treasurer, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.

ARTICLE 3 Voted unanimously that the Board of Selectmen be and here- by are authorized to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale, title to two old machines now used by the Treasurer, and apply the sum received therefor against the purchase price of the Check Writing Ma- chine.

ARTICLE 4 Voted unanimously that the Board of Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized, in the name and behalf of the Town, to settle and compromise two suits against the Town for damages on account of land taken for the relocation of Beaver Brook Road by order of the County Commissioners dated October 24, 1952, and the sum of $775.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of paying such settlements. ARTICLE 5 Voted unanimously that the sum of $900.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of purchasing new Fire Hose for the Forest Fire Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Forest Fire Warden.

ARTICLE 6 Voted unanimously that the sum of $600.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of procuring an expert opinion, cost-esti- mate and/or survey and all other necessary data, specifications and in- formation in connection with the proposed acceptance of Hawthorne and Laurel Avenues in Nabnasset and the proposed improvement and drainage thereof, under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of bet- terments therefor, said survey or project to be under the supervision of the Planning Board.

ARTICLE 7 Voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the meeting.

ARTICLE 8 Voted to dissolve the meeting.

A True Record, Attest:

Charles L. Hildreth Town Clerk

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - JULY 19, 1957

At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Town Hall, Fri- day, July 19, 1957 at 7:30 P. M., the following business was transacted: Ben W. Drew, Town Moderator, called the meeting to order.

Freda V. Prescott and Herbert E. Farrier, using Voting Lists, act- ed as Tellers at the doors. The attendance was 72.

Voted to dispense with the reading of the Warrant.

ARTICLE 1 Voted that the sum of $2,600.00 be transferred from the ac- count entitled "Overlay Reserve" for the purpose of purchasing a New Automobile and Necessary Equipment therefor, for use by the Police De- partment, said purchases to be made under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.

ARTICLE 2 Voted unanimously that the Town accept, as and for a Town Way, Hawthorne Avenue so called, as laid out by the Selectmen as shown by their Report and Plan duly filed at the Office of the Town Clerk, said Way to be known as Hawthorne Avenue;

That the sum of $12,000.00 be raised and appropriated for the im- provement of said Avenue;

That Betterments to the extent of 75% of the cost of said Improve- ment be assessed against the owners of abutting estates and to meet said appropriation and for the purpose of complying with the Provisions of Section 7 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws as amended,

That the sum of $1, 500.00 be transferred from Unappropriated Avail- able Funds and

That the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the additional sum of $10,500.00, repre- senting the balance of said appropriation, and issue Bonds or Notes of the Town therefor under and pursuant to Section 7, Clause 5 of said Chapter 44 and other applicable Provisions of said Chapter, to be pay- able over a period not to exceed 10 years from the date of issue of the first Bond or Note, to be in such form and to be sold in such man- ner as shall be determined by the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen.

ARTICLE 3 Voted unanimously that the Town accept, as and for a Town Way, Connell Drive so called, as laid out by the Selectmen as shown by their Report and Plan duly filed at the Office of the Town Clerk, said Way to be known as Connell Drive.

ARTICLE 4 Voted unanimously that the Town extend its Water Mains and Water Supply System by laying approximately 1,000 Feet of 6" Pipe in and along a Private Way known as Lake Shore Drive South in Nabnasset, the cost of said extension to be paid by the Takers to be served there- by pursuant to the Provisions of Section 5, Clause 1 of the By-Laws governing the operation of the Water Department and as more particular- ly set forth in an Agreement dated June 1, 1957 executed by and with said Takers and the Board of Water Commissioners and for the purpose aforesaid that it raise and appropriate the sum of $3,600.00 and issue Bonds or Notes of the Town therefor under and pursuant to Section 8, Clause 5 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws as amended and other appli- cable Provisions of said Chapter, to be payable over a period not to exceed 10 years from the date of issue of the first Bond or Note, to be in such form and to be sold in such manner as shall be determined by the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen.

ARTICLE 5 Voted unanimously that the Town further amend its By-Laws governing the operation of the Water Department:

1 By inserting at the end of Subdivision (3), Section 5, the fol- lowing: or (4) to pay each year the difference between an amount equal to 7% of the cost of such extension and the revenue received from sup- plying water to Takers served by such extension, such agreements to re- main in effect until the aggregate revenues from supplying water to such Takers plus the aggregate amounts paid by such Takers under such agreements shall have equalled the cost of such extension;

2 By inserting after the number (1) in the last paragraph of Sec- tion 5 the following: or (4) - so as to read as follows: Any Taker who elects to request an extension under the provisions of Subdivision (1) or (4) hereof, may, either prior or subsequent to the making of such extension pay his pro-rata share of the entire cost, or the then remaining unpaid cost, as the case may be, of such extension; and, by virtue of such payment, shall not thereafter be held to answer or be accountable in any manner to or for any claim, demand or assessment for any deficiency in the aggregate revenue received for supplying water to the Takers served by such extension.

ARTICLE 6 Voted unanimously that the Town further amend its Protective By-Law: 1 By inserting at the end of paragraph 1 of Section III, aft- er the words, "Detached one family dwelling," the following: Such term shall not be construed to include trailer, mobile or immobile except (a) When such Trailer not occupied or used for dwelling purposes is stored on the rear portion of any lot and is 30 Feet at least from the rear lot line and 15 Feet at least from the side lot lines. (b) When such trailer is used for temporary dwelling purposes during the con- struction, reconstruction, alteration or repair of a permanent dwell- ing (not including trailer) for a period not to exceed six months or additional period or periods in hardship cases, but no such period of use of such trailer shall be commenced, continued or extended without the approval of the Board of Appeals after public hearing nor without the approval of the Board of Health.

2 By striking out the 7th paragraph of Section IV and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph : 7 Motels or overnight cabins if authorized by the Board of Health and Board of Appeals.

3 By inserting, after paragraph 11 of Section IV, the following para- graph: 12 The boarding, renting and sale of horses, subject however, to the approval of the Board of Appeals.

ARTICLE 7 Voted, on recommendation of the Finance Committee, that the sum of $252.00 be transferred, for the use of the Planning Board, from the unexpended balance of the amount appropriated under Article 6 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting held on March 9, 1957, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of said Board for the balance of the current year.

ARTICLE 8 Voted that the sum of $50.00 be transferred from Unappro- priated Available Funds to defray the preliminary costs for legal ser- vices and expenses incidental to various suits or actions to be insti- tuted by the Town.

ARTICLE 9 Voted that the sum of $2,000.00 be transferred from Unappro- priated Available Funds for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Health Department for the balance of the current year.

ARTICLE 10 Voted that the sum of $50.00 be transferred from Unappro- priated Available Funds for the purpose of defraying the expenses of

the Committee for the Numbering of Houses, appointed by the Moderator under Article 11 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting held on December 8, 1955.

ARTICLE 11 Voted that the Trustees of the J. V. Fletcher Library be and they hereby are authorized to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale title to various and sundry articles of personal property, including books and magazines.

ARTICLE 12 Voted that the sum of $2,000.00 be transferred from the ac- count entitled "Overlay Reserve" to defray the cost of Fire and other Insurance.

All Motions as herein voted were verbally approved by the Finance Committee.

ARTICLE 13 Voted to disperse with the reading of the minutes of the meeting.

ARTICLE 14 Voted to dissolve the meeting.

A True Record, Attest :

Charles L. Hildreth Town Clerk

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - OCTOBER 28, 1957

At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Town Hall, Mon- day, October 28, 1957 at 7:30 P. M., the following business was trans- acted :

Ben W. Drew, Town Moderator, called the meeting to order.

Robert V. Cassidy and Frank P. Shugrue, Election Officers using Voting Lists, acted as Tellers at the doors. The attendance was 125. Voted to dispense with the reading of the Warrant.

ARTICLE 1 (On recommendation and approval of the Finance Committee) Voted that the sum of $500.00 be transferred to the Tree Department from the amount appropriated for the Moth Department under Article 3, Paragraph 11 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting held March 9, 1957, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of said Tree Depart- ment for the balance of the current year.

ARTICLE 2 Voted that the Board of Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized in the name and behalf of the Town, for such sun and upon such conditions as they deem for the best interests of the Town, to sell and transfer certain merchantable timber from the Town Forests or other Town land in the general vicinity of Tadmuck Road and off, but not adjacent to Chelmsford Road (Route 110), and to execute, acknowl- edge and deliver any and all instruments of transfer in writing neces- sary or convenient to convey a good and sufficient title to the same. ARTICLE 3 (On recommendation and approval of the Finance Committee) Voted that the Board of Cemetery Commissioners be and they hereby are authorized to purchase, in the name and behalf of the Town, one Used Truck, for use by said Board and, for the purpose aforesaid, to appro- priate the sum of $175.00 from the amount voted for Cemeteries under Article 3, Paragraph 25 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting held March 9, 1957.

ARTICLE 4 Voted that the sum of $4,000.00 be transferred from the ac- .count entitled "Overlay Reserve" to the Welfare Department for the pur-

pose of defraying the additional expenses of said Department for the balance of the current year for Public Assistance.

ARTICLE 5 Voted unanimously that the Town further amend its Protec- tive By-Law and Protective By-Law Map by rezoning from a "Residence B" District to a "Business District" that certain parcel of land in Nab- nasset belonging to Mitchell F. Balas and Ruth E. Balas, situated on the northwesterly side of Brookside Road, supposed to contain 3.6 a- cres, more or less, and bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point in the southerly corner of said premises, at said Brookside Road and at the southeasterly corner of land now or formerly of George W. Morrow et ux; thence northeasterly in three courses by said road a total distance of 431.58 feet, more or less, to land now or formerly of Louisa F. Hale; thence northwesterly along said last named land 301 feet, more or less, to land of the Town of Westford; thence west- erly along said last mentioned land 90 feet, more or less, to land now or formerly of one Schlusemeyer; thence southwesterly along said last named land 290 feet, more or less, to other land of said Balas et ux; thence southeasterly in part by said other land of Balas'et ux and in part by land of said Morrow et ux 490 feet, more or less, to a point; thence southeasterly, southerly and southwesterly by an arc having a radius of 20 feet, 25.17 feet to the point of beginning.

ARTICLE 6 (On recommendation and approval of the Water Commissioners) Voted unanimously that the Town, for the purpose of making practicable an extension of the water mains and water supply system in and along the public way known as Concord Road, appropriate the sum of $7,000.00 from the Surplus Revenue of the Water Department to defray the cost of constructing, reconstructing or improving the existing water mains and system in and along the public way known as Pleasant Street (from its intersection with Palermo Street to its junction with said Concord Road) ; and

That the Town so extend its water mains and water supply system in and along said Concord Road by laying approximately 4,500 feet of 8" pipe therein, the cost of said extension to be paid by the Takers to be served thereby pursuant to the provisions of Section 5, Clause 4, of the By-Laws governing the operation of the Water Department and as more particularly set forth in 2 Agreements, both dated October 14, 1957, executed by and with said Takers and the Town, and for the pur- pose of defraying the cost of said extension

That it raise and appropriate the sum of $19,000.00; and to meet said appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the sum of $19,000.00 and to is- sue Bonds or Notes of the Town therefor under and pursuant to Section 8, Clause 5 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, as amended, and other applicable provisions of said Chapter 44, to be payable over a period not to exceed 15 years from the date of issue of the first Bond or Note, to be in such form and to be sold in such manner as shall be de- termined by the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen. ARTICLE 7 (On recommendation and approval of the Water Commissioners) Voted unanimously that the Town extend its water mains and water supply system in and along the following named public ways which are located in Westford Center, the size of said mains and the approximate length or distance in each case as hereinafter specified: Main Street 1700 feet of 8" pipe; Providence Road (North) 300 feet of 8" pipe; Provi- dence Road (South) 200 feet of 8" pipe; Leland Street 400 feet of 6"

pipe; the cost of said extension to be paid by the Takers to be served thereby pursuant to the provisions of Section 5, Clause 4 of the By-Laws governing the operation of the Water Department and as more particularly set forth in an Agreement dated September 21, 1957, executed by and with said Takers and the Town; and for the purpose aforesaid,

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Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962, Part 14

Author: Westford (Mass.) Publication date: 1956 Publisher: Westford (Mass.) Number of Pages: 1048

Author: Westford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Westford (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 1048