USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962 > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
81
building which had to be corrected. From then on the work of the Contractor dragged badly and we found that sub-contractors were not being paid on time and therefore delayed on their work.
When the building was practically completed, A. Cefalo & Sons, Inc., was petitioned in bankruptcy. For some eight months your Commit- tee tried to get the Bonding Company to complete the building. As we were getting nowhere with said Company, the Architect, our Counsel, Edward L. Monahan and your Committee agreed that we should notify the Bonding Company that we would complete the building and grading and charge the cost up to the Bonding Company. We had held back approxi- mately $50,000.00 from the contractor which was available to pay for this work.
When the building was designed for 500 pupils, the Westford School Committee estimated at the rate the Town was then growing that it would be 1964 or 1965 before additional classrooms would be needed. The Architect provided for an additional four or six rooms to be added at the northeastern end of the building.
Approximately $50,000.00 has been given as Memorial Gifts for the construction, equipment and grounds. These include the Paul Revere Weather Vane, the gift of Mrs. Lowell M. Chapin, in memory of her son, Hasbrouck Fletcher; the Bell, also wrought by Paul Revere, the gift of Allister F. MacDougall - both of which came from the original West- ford Academy.
Your Committee feels that the Town has an exceptionally good building built at a very reasonable cost and which, if built today, would probably cost between $400,000.00 and $500,000.00 more.
The building and grounds have now been completed, accepted by the Architect and your Committee and we wish to turn these over to the Town and the School Committee. As the final settlement with the Bond- ing Company has not been made, we suggest that the Committee be con- tinued until this has been completed.
The Committee deeply regrets the deaths of Frederick W. Gatenby and Edward G. Spinner, who died before completion of the building and whose advice and assistance were of greatest value.
Westford School Building Committee
Edward M. Abbot, Chairman Edward N. Lamson, Secretary Edward F. Harrington James L. Healy
82
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 6, 1958
Board of Selectmen Westford Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
At this time we are engaged in our annual study of the Budgets of the several Town Departments and of the Articles in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting to be held March 8, 1958. In view of the fact that our detailed recommendations can not be prepared in time for in- sertion in the Town Report now going to press, we will submit them to you later to be printed as a supplement to the Town Report. It is our expectation that the supplement will be mailed to each household in Westford.
In accordance with the amended Town By-Laws our Committee was in- creased to nine members in April 1957. This has helped greatly to lighten the burden on each individual member and has made for more ef- ficient operation. We can report that our Committee has functioned harmoniously with all members taking a deep interest in Town affairs. Leslie N. Athorn, a member for several years, resigned in December be- cause he moved from Westford.
Once again we express our appreciation to your Board and to the various other Departments and Committees for the cooperation extended to us during the year. We should like to point out, however, that there are a few instances of lack of cooperation or of understanding between certain Departments. We will comment further on these in our detailed Report.
The schedule of transfers from our Reserve Fund appears below. In connection with the overdraft of the Fire Department, which has been almost a yearly occurrence, we have suggested to the Fire Engi- neers that their 1958 Budget be increased to avoid such overdrafts in the future.
Respectfully submitted, WESTFORD FINANCE COMMITTEE Lawrence S. Johnston, Chairman John J. Barretto Helen S. Chace Herbert C. Decato
Albert G. Forty
Arthur L. Healy
Viateur A. Ricard
F. Stanley Smith
TRANSFERS FROM RESERVE FUND DURING 1957
Fire Department
$ 1,552.36
Tax Collector
386.10
Town Accountant
341.63
Registration and Election
278.30
83
Dog Officer Veterans' Benefits Tree Department Street Marking Planning Board Assessors Numbering Houses Forestry Pump Land Damage
$ 292.25 147.62
112.07
53.00
12.59
6.33
2.64
2.16
.53
$ 3,187.58
Unexpended Balance
1,812.42
Fund Appropriated at Annual Meeting
$ 5,000.00
84
TOWN OF WESTFORD
WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss.
To the Constable of the Town of Westford, in said County, GREETINGS:
You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth, afore- said, to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in elections, and also in Town affairs, to meet at their several polling places, viz:
PRECINCT 1 Town Hall, Westford Center
PRECINCT 2 Legion Hall, Graniteville
PRECINCT 3 Nabnasset School, Brookside
PRECINCT 4 Abbot Hall, Forge Village
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1958
being the first Monday in said month, at 12:00 o'clock noon for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes for the following officers:
FOR FIVE YEARS
One Member of the Planning Board FOR THREE YEARS
One Selectman
One Assessor
One. Member of the Board of Public Welfare
Two Members of the School Committee
One Trustee of the J. V. Fletcher Library
One Member of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners
One Member of the Board of Public Health
One Member of the Board of Water Commissioners FOR ONE YEAR
One Tree Warden One Member of the Planning Board (to fill vacancy) One Tax Collector (to fill vacancy)
and also to act upon the following matter:
QUESTION NO. 1
Shall the town vote. to accept the provisions of section six C of chapter forty of the General Laws, which authorize cities and towns to appropriate money for the removal of snow and ice from private YES ways therein open to public use? NO All on one ballot.
The polls will be open from 12:00 o'clock noon to 8:00 P. M., and to meet in the Town Hall in Westford Center on the following SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1958
at 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon, then and there to act upon the follow- ing Articles, viz:
ARTICLE 1 To hear the reports of Town Officers and Committees; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 2 To determine the salary and compensation of elected officers and officials as provided by law.
85
ARTICLE 3 To appropriate money to meet the costs and expenses of the following departments, officers and purposes :
1 General Government
2 Town Hall
3 Police Department
4 Fire Department
5 Water Department
6 Hydrants
7 Sealer of Weights and Measures
8 Forest Fires
9 Town Forest
10 Tree Warden
1.1 Moth Department
12 Health Department
13 Cattle Inspector
Highway Purposes
15 Department of Public Welfare
16 Soldiers' Benefits
17 School Department
18 Vocational Tuition
19 Public Library
20 Care of Common
21 Commemoration of Memorial Day
22 Publishing of Town Reports
23 Fire and other Insurance
24 Interest on Revenue Loans
25 Cemeteries
26 Street Lights
27 Finance Committee Reserve Fund
28 Board of Appeals
29 Enforcement of Zoning-Building Permits
30 Unpaid Bills of Previous Years
ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the Gen- eral Laws; or act in relation thereto.
.ARTICLE 5 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars, or some other sum, to defray the expenses of the Planning Board; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seventeen Hundred Twenty-Five ($1,725.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Athletic Program in the Westford Schools; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 7 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 81 Highways; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 8 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9 To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of Seven Thousand Forty-Eight and 75/100 ($7,048.75) Dollars from the
86
Highway Machinery Fund to the Highway Equipment Account; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 10 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds, the sum of Seventy-Five Hundred ($7500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of recon- structing Dunstable Road and continuing the reconstruction of Granite- ville and/or Groton Roads, contingent upon the State and County contrib- uting towards the cost thereof; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 11 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen, in the name and behalf of the Town, to sell and transfer at public auction or private sale, and on such terms as said Board shall deem for the best interests of the Town, various and sundry articles of personal property now or formerly used by the Highway Department; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee, in the name and behalf of the Town, to sell and transfer at public auction or private sale, and on such terms as said Committee shall deem for the best interests of the Town, various and sundry arti- cles of personal property, including junk metals, scrap iron, anti- quated furniture, obsolete books, etc; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13 To see if the Town will vote to authorize a Committee, to be comprised of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Cemetery Commissioners, to investigate and determine the location of available land suitable for an addition to Fairview Cemetery, to negotiate with the owners thereof for a satisfactory purchase price of the same, and to report its findings, recommendations and advice to the Town at the next Annual Town Meeting or any Special Meeting held prior thereto; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 14 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Thirteen Thousand ($13,000.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing from Mill Properties, Inc. a certain par- cel of land situated on the easterly side of River Street in Granite- ville, supposed to contain thirty-two (32) acres, more or less, as and for the location or site of a new public school; if the Town by its vote at a subsequent Town Meeting shall determine that said property, or any portion thereof, is unsuitable or not required for school pur- poses, then the care, custody, management and control of said property, or any portion thereof, may be transferred to another Board or Officer of the Town for another specific municipal purpose or purposes; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen, in the name and behalf of the Town, to do and perform all acts and accept delivery of all deeds or other instruments necessary or incidental to the acquisition of title there- to; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen, in the name and behalf of the Town, and for such sum and upon such terms and conditions as they deem for the best interests of the Town, to sell and convey to Albert L. Nardone et al a certain parcel of land situated on the southerly side of, but not adjoining, Littleton Road (Route #110), supposed to contain thirty-five (35) acres, more or less, being a portion of the property devised to the Town under the will of Martina A. Gage, and commonly known as the "Leighton Lot" or "Gold- smith Lot"; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select- men to appoint a Committee of three voters to investigate and study
87
the advisability of establishing or providing plans or by-laws, or both, for the classification of certain town positions, for establishing min- imum and maximum salaries to be paid to employees in positions so clas- sified, for the establishment of a personnel board or other agency for the purpose of administering any such plans or other provisions of its by-laws pertaining to personnel, and for the establishment of a person- nel relations review board, said committee to report its findings and recommendations to the Town at the next Annual Town Meeting, or, in the discretion of said committee, at any Special Town Meeting held prior thereto; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select- men to appoint a Committee of three voters to investigate and study the advisability of establishing a board of public works exercising the powers of certain other departments and town officers pursuant to the provisions of sections sixty-nine C to sixty-nine F, inclusive, of chapter forty-one of the General Laws as most recently amended and to report its findings and recommendations to the Town at the next Annual Town Meeting, or, in the discretion of said Committee, at any Special Town Meeting held prior thereto; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing nozzles, extinguishers, badges, rubber coats, boots, helmets and other equipment, all for use by the Fire Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 19 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seventeen Hundred ($1700.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing new fire hose for the Fire Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 20 To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board
1 of Fire Engineers to renew the lease of quarters at Nabnasset in which one of the fire trucks is stationed, and raise and appropriate the sum of Six Hundred ($600.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for rent of said quarters; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 21 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred ($400.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing new tires for the use of the Fire Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing a new two-way radio to be installed in the ambu- lance, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 23 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Thousand ($6,000.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing a new chassis to replace the present chassis on the 1941 fire truck stationed at Forge Village, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fire Engineers; and to au- thorize said Board to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale title to said present chassis and apply the sum received therefor against the purchase price of the new chassis; or act in relation thereto.
88
ARTICLE 24 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine Hundred ($900.00) Dollars, or some other sum, 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; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty ($750.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing new road signs, traffic lights, and/or signs to be used for the protection of children, said sum to be expend- ed under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 26 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Hundred Fifty ($650.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of painting traffic lines and signals on the public ways of the Town, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 27 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the care of the Whitney Playground; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Tax Possession Sale Committee; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 29 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Hundred ($700.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the School Band for public band concerts during the current year; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 30 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of constructing new public sidewalks and for the purpose of repairing and maintaining existing public sidewalks, and said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 31 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Forty-Six Hundred Fifty-Two and 52/100 ($4652.52) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of paying to the Treasurer of Middle- sex County Retirement System the amounts allocated to the Town of West- ford by the County Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 32 of the General Laws, as amended; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 32 To see if the Town will vote to accept a gift made to it during the year 1957 by the Isabel F. Hyams Fund, Inc., formerly known as the Solomon Hyams Fund, Inc; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 33 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seventy-Five ($75.00) Dollars for the purpose of promoting the work of the Westford 4-H Clubs, said amount to be expended with the approval of the Westford 4-H Advisory Council; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 34 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Forty-Six ($446.00) Dollars, or some other sum, to be expended by and under the supervision of the Recreation Commission; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 35 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the "Development and Industrial Commission"; or act in relation thereto.
89
ARTICLE 36 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the dog officer; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 37 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Nine Hundred ($900.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of providing suitable quarters for the Nabnasset American Legion Post No. 437 and the Auxiliary of said Post, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6539 and the Auxiliary of said Post, and the Frederick S. Healy American Legion Post No. 159 and the Auxiliary of said Post; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 38 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred ($300.00) Dollars, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Committee appointed to inves- tigate School Building Conditions; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 39 To see if the Town will vote to amend its Protective By-Law and Protective By-Law Map by rezoning from a "Residence A Dis- trict" to a "Residence B District" that certain parcel of land on the southeasterly side of Polley Road belonging to Chester M. Whitney and containing 11.40 acres of land, more or less; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 40 To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a town way Lillian Road, 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 Lillian Road; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 41 To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a town way Lucille 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 Lucille Avenue; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 42 To see if the Town will vote to further amend its Protective By-Law and Protective By-Law Map,
1 By inserting, after the word "removal", in paragraph 8 of Section III, the following ;-- , not to include, however, the washing or crushing of gravel, and/or rock, --- so that said paragraph will read as follows: --- Soil, loam, sod, sand, or gravel removal, not to in- clude, however, the washing or crushing of gravel, and/or rock, provid- ed the use is not injurious, noxious or offensive to the neighborhood and provided that a permit is obtained from the Selectmen.
2 By striking out, in paragraph 10 of Section III, the words "Educational or", - so that the seventh authorized use set forth in said paragraph will read as follows: --- Philanthropic Institution.
3 By adding, at the end of the tenth authorized use set forth in paragraph 10 of Section III, the following: --- , provided further, that approval of such conversion is given by the Board of Health, --- so that said use as therein set forth will read as follows: --- Conver- sion of a single family dwelling, in existence at the time of the adop- tion of this By-Law, to accomodate two familes, provided further, that approval of such conversion is given by the Board of Health.
4 By adding, at the end of the eighth paragraph of Section IV, the following : -- , if authorized by the Board of Appeals and the Board of Health. --- so that said paragraph will read as follows : - Place of amusement or assembly, if authorized by the Board of Appeals and the Board of Health.
90
5 By adding, at the end of the eleventh paragraph of Section IV, the following: -- , provided that, unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Appeals, such signs shall/exceed two in number; and, provided further, that no such sign shall exceed sixteen square feet in area, nor be maintained on any lot which unreasonably obstructs or interferes with traffic visibility on a curve or at any street intersection or which unreasonably obstructs or interferes with any traffic signs or signals. --- so that said paragraph will read as follows: --- Signs ad- vertising goods or services offered by an occupant of the premises for sale, for hire, or use, provided that, unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Appeals, such signs shall not exceed two in number; and, provided further, that no such sign shall exceed sixteen square feet in area, nor be maintained on any lot which unreasonably obstructs or in- terferes with traffic visibility on a curve or at any street intersec- tion or which unreasonably obstructs or interferes with any traffic signs or signals.
6 By adding, at the end of the tenth paragraph of Section IV, the following sentence : --- As used in this paragraph, the terms "Retail business, service or public utility" shall not be construed to mean or include the business, trade or occupation of storing, selling, or other- wise dealing in junk or materials from salvage or wrecking operations when such storage, sale or dealing constitutes or comprises a principal source of income or a principal activity of any such business, trade or occupation. --- so that said paragraph will read as follows: - - Retail business, service or public utility, not involving manufacture on the premises except of products the major portion of which is to be sold on the premises to the consumer, and further provided that no more than four operatives shall be employed in such manufacture. As used in this paragraph, the terms "Retail business, service or public util- ity" shall not be construed to mean or include the business, trade or occupation of storing, selling, or otherwise dealing in junk or materi- als from salvage or wrecking operations when such storage, sale or dealing constitutes or comprises a principal source of income or a principal activity of any such business, trade or occupation.
7 By striking out that portion of paragraph 1 of Section VII which sets forth the frontage and area requirements of a Residence A District (viz., Frontage 150', Area 30,000 Sq. Ft.) and inserting in place thereof the following: --- Frontage.200', Area 40,000 Sq. Ft. . and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.