USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1949-1950 > Part 16
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We suggest that the Common is the logical location for a proper Veterans' Memorial and we are joining with the Committee appointed during the past year in making certain recommendations to be carried out as soon as the times permit.
We also suggest that action must be started to provide properly for the play and athletic needs of the school pupils housed on both sides of the Common. We are joining with the School Committee and School Building Committee in certain recommendations designed ul- timately to solve these related problms.
Regular maintainance of Memorial Park baseball field has been continued. We have never been able to say for years that any main- tainance of the remainder of the Park has been attempted. We do not plan to do any work of this kind either this year, but may we call your attention to the sad neglect of certain matters pertaining to this property.
First, there is serious need for cleaning the brook that forms the boundary of the property at the location of the aqueduct which in the 18th and 19th centuries carried across Maplemeadow Brook the Mid- dlesex Canal. Selfish duck hunters and malicious juveniles annually add to a collection of boulders (torn from the aqueduct walls), brush, and rubbish which increasingly clogs the stream. Town and Federal funds were once used to eliminate this condition, but because of lack of interest and money to do the necessary work matters are almost as bad as before that time. One result of this partial damming of the stream is to cause water to back up on lands bordering the marsh behind the park. Trees have been killed in great numbers on some of
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the properties so affected. The second result is to reduce the amount and quality of the flow of water in the latter reaches of the brook. Obviously this tends to reduce the Town's resources for water.
Secondly, it is depressing to realize that the citizens of the Town so little appreciate their heritage in history which is strikingly repre- sented in the features of Memorial Park. Through the Park runs the only large segment still preserved of the Old Middlesex Canal. This water-course was built in 1793, the First Canal in America, and ran from the Merrimack River to Boston. There are partially restored remnants of the aqueduct over the brook. There are rocks on the side of the hill which still retain rope marks made as the barges were towed around the old Ox-Bow Curve, as it is called on the old plans of the Canal. All this rich historical material is left for the obser- vation of bluejays and squirrels, roaming boys and nocturnal lovers from Wilmington and surrounding towns.
The Park Commission knows from past experience that it would be useless to ask for a town appropriation to take care of these matters. We would like to suggest, however, that here is a rich field for the efforts of the numerous "improvement" and "betterment" societies with which the Town is endowed and, above all, for the energies of those who are interested in establishing a Wilmington Historical So- ciety. A few dollars and a large amount of labor under supervision would clean up the whole Park in a few weekends. Certainly, in hardly any other community would there be such neglect of historical riches which could be used to make the Town a more attractive place in which to live.
Because of savings made even within our reduced appropriation we have been able to start on an improvement at the ball field that has for some years come under the head of a necessity. The dug well at the Park has for several years failed to last through the summer and the quality of water has been deteriorating. We have begun the work of installing a washed well. We were able to go as far as $100.00 would take us and estimate that $50.00 will finish the job. An ade- quate supply of good water is expected to be the result.
Maintanance of the Town Beach has been continued with no new work done by means of Town funds during the past year. We have, however, been able to expand our facilities with help from individuals and organizations. Volley ball and horseshoe courts were constructed with the labor of the members of the Commission and the Superin- tendent without compensation. Materials and equipment were pur- chased through donations of over $100.00 from the Rotary Club, the
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Silver Lake Betterment Club, the Baldwin Civic Association, and the Community Fund. These features were well received by the persons attending the beach.
A highly successful Field Day for boys and girls was held on Labor Day. This was planned by the Superintendent, Mr. George Cushing, and full credit must go to him for the arduous work of carrying out the numerous details attendant on such an undertaking. Awards to those who had completed life-saving and swimming classes were pre- sented and a series of special races and events were held. Mr. John Ritchie of the Park Commission and Mr. Arthur Lynch helped the life guard in staging events. Mr. Stephen Ashton of the Lowell Red Cross office awarded life-saving certificates and with Dr. Miriam Hosmer and Mr. Elmer Woller of the Park Commission judged the races and other events such as a "best baby" contest and a bathing beauty contest.
Prizes for the contest were contributed by the Rotary Club and by some individual merchants. The Chairman of the Commission contri- buted a loving cup as a permanent trophy for the boy or girl who excells annually in swimming prowess, cooperation in beach activities and sportsmanship. This award is known as the A. Chandler Manning Trophy in memory of the Chairman's father who established the Plan- ning Board in Wilmington. Permanent possession is gained by the boy or girl who gets three legs on the trophy whether or not the individual wins three years in succession. Each year the winner's name is engraved on the trophy, and the cup is displayed in the High School along with High School and Swimming Club trophies. The Booster's Club has undertaken to support this award by adding to it a smaller cup to be given to the winner each year with the same designation inscribed on it.
During the coming year we hope to be able to enclose a section of the beach for the exclusive use of small children. To do this we will need to install a section of snow fence in shallow water, erect two signs, clean the bottom in this area and add a small amount of sand. The total cost will be less than $100.00. The values to both younger and older children will be significant.
We would like also to erect a flag pole and surround it with suitable base. We have not asked for money for this purpose but in- dicate it as an appropriate object for the attention of patriotic or civic organizations. There is a location within the beach area which would lend itself admirably to this purpose and there are some materials available on the ground that could be used to make a base.
Each year the State Department of Public Health has advised us that we should provide toilets for the use of persons at the beach.
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Last year this department stated that no further testing of water would be done for the Town until such toilet provisions were made. We feel that the construction of a building for this purpose would be out of the question, but we are endeavoring to work out an arrangement with the School Committee for summer use of the toilet sections of the portable school adjacent to the beach. At this time no report can be made of the outcome of these negotiations.
Use of the beach continued to be intensive. Approximately 2500 citizens, young and old, now hold tags which admit them to the beach area. We were assisted again in hiring a life guard by a contribution of $175.00 towards salary from the Lowell Chapter of the Red Cross. Edward Forest of Wilmington was engaged this year and did a splendid job. Thanks are due to George Boylan, lifeguard the previous year, who volunteered his services to teach swimming classes in the evening. Several young people qualified as life savers and have been able to assist the guard in maintaining a beach patrol. Valuable professional advice has been given to us last year as in earlier years by Mr. Ashton of the Red Cross and by Mr. Irving Appleby of Wilmington. There were few minor injuries and no drowning accidents. We maintained a telephone during the summer for the first time which was restricted for use by the guard in the event of emergency. Throughout the sun- mer we received excellent cooperation from the Police.
May we take this opportunity to suggest that there is room in Wilmington for a Swimming Club which could do for youngsters what the Skating Club has done for those interested in that Sport. The Commission would be happy to cooperate with any persons qualified to develop such an activity.
PLANNING DEVELOPMENTS
Turning to the Planning Board phase of our work we can report to you a year of intensive and novel activity. Perhaps more has been accomplished in the past year in planning than at any time since the passage of the oning law in the late twenties. Our work has been ably assisted by advice from the Town Counsel, the Building Inspector, the Highway Superintendent, and by your Board. We have laid the basis for protecting the future growth of the Town and for saving very large sums of money annually.
You will recall that in a Special Town Meeting in December 1949 the Planning Board sponsored two articles. One to provide for the appointment by the Moderator of a Committee to revise the general town by-laws, revise the building by-laws, and draft plumbing and
73
wiring regulations resulted in the work now under way by the com- mittee that was designated. The Planning Board is represented on this Committee by Mr. Lawler, our Secretary. If their work is done well and the Town votes acceptance some of our worst weaknesses in the development of good taxable property can be remedied.
The second article concerned the acceptance of certain statutes providing for better control of subdivisions in towns and cities and for transferring the powers of the Board of Survey, formerly exer- cised by the Board of Selectmen in Wilmington, to the Planning Board so that the desired controls may be applied in conjunction with general town planning. The previous Board of Selectmen supported this move, and both articles were voted approval almost unanimously by the Meeting. This statute also requires the Planning Board to develop a Master Plan of the Town which can be adopted by the Town Meeting as an Official Map. We have made progress toward carrying out all of the aims of the statute.
We have adopted, after approval of the Town Counsel, a set of subdivision regulations which provides for strict compliance by sub- dividers with the Zoning By-Law, uniform methods of preparing and providing data on plans of subdivisions, and the provision of a finished gravel street and the installation of water at the subdividers' expense. Public hearings to which the abuttors and the general public are invited are held before a plan is approved, and a careful inspec- tion of the site is made. Approval is then given subject to restric- tions which are recorded in the Registry of Deeds. No lots so re- stricted within a subdivision may be sold until the subdivider has applied for and received a release from the Planning Board. The Registry of Deeds will not record a deed to land so restricted with- out record of the lifting of the restrictions.
We have held hearings and acted on several subdivision plans under these regulations: that of the Lyons Brothers on Woburn Street; that of A. P. Rounds, an extension of a prior subdivision; that of Stanley Delaronde on Mystic Avenue; that of John D. Cooke and Edward C. Manning on Adains Street; that of John D. Cooke on Park Street, and a revision of his Glendale Circle Plan by Earl Hamilton.
Land not suitable for development may be restricted from use and on this basis we were able to give partial relief from an obnoxious condition that existed in the Hathaway Acres development in North Wilmington. We compelled the installation of drainage ditches in a low area of the development. We were not, however, empowered to take action that would relieve those persons who live on lots which do not adequately allow for sewerage disposal but had been approved
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by a previous Board of Selectmen acting as a Board of Survey. The earlier approval was granted either in ignorance of the condition existing on the land or without due care in inspecting. This case points up the value of our new specific regulations. The cure for the remaining difficulty remains in the hands of your Board acting as Board of Health.
In compliance with the statute the Planning Board must also give approval to proposals of the Board of Selectmen for the laying out of streets before such streets are placed upon the Town Warrant for acceptance by the Town acting in Meeting. In accordance with this provision we duly passed on the several streets brought before us by you prior to the Special Town Meeting held in November 1950. We shall again pass on the streets you propose to lay out prior to the Annual Meeting in March of this year and any other streets you may plan to lay out as public ways whether they are now to be proposed for acceptance or not.
May we call your attention to the value in laying out streets even many years in advance of the probable date of acceptance of such streets. The power of the Selectmen to lay out public ways without a vote of the Town Meeting, although the acceptance of streets remains under the control of the meeting, is certainly in- tended to provide for foresighted planning and should be exercised. The public safety and convenience require that streets have reason- able extensions and intersections meet in a proper manner. Because this matter has not been attended to in the past, we have several ridiculous situations produced by persons building houses, garages, and other buildings across private ways or in locations where streets obviously should be. We propose to recommend to you from time to time locations where streets should be laid out now, so that when the time comes for acceptance of such streets expensive takings and unprofitable disputes may be avoided.
In the future the Town will not have to bear the cost of laying water mains in new land developments; our present regulations have brought this about. We all know that the expense of installing water has held back many other equally important and often more impor- tant public improvements. We suggest that the time has come to stop further expenditures from general appropriations for water in- stallation. It is probable that no water mains of six inches or better can be installed during the war emergency. It would seem wise now to consider the advisability of a betterment act to cover those installa- tions which may still be requested and do not come under the sub- division regulations we have established.
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We have had some complaints from persons, principally resident in North Wilmington, that the zoning requirements are too low in terms of lot sizes. They believe that lots of 10,000 square feet are too small and that lots of an acre should be required. We would like to point out that we are first supposed to enforce the law as it ex- ists. Such persons are always free to offer an amendment to tlie zoning law through the proper procedures. As a Planning Board, however, we feel that the character of Wilmington's growth is such that its only hope for prosperity lies in the building of many homes of average size for which lots of 10,000 square feet are ample. There is nothing to prevent a subdivider from laying out lots of larger size, in fact, many lots within subdivisions we have approved are from one-half acre to more than an acre in size, but it is always to be pre- sumed that such large lots will either contain some land unsuitable for building or be much more expensive to buy than smaller lots. Furthermore, it would be well for those who advocate larger lot sizes to be prepared to pay the heavier tax that such a policy would impose on such land. Land suitable for building in a growing community cannot be witheld indefinitely from the market and not be taxed as building land. To follow such a policy is to allow a few to live off the harder efforts of many small holders. Farms may be an excep- tion but a very careful determination of what constitutes "farming" needs to be applied. One cannot "live on his acres" in the midst of a populous town and not pay a tax equivalent to the benefit he derives from his greater privacy.
We have had prepared a map of the Town which brings up to date information that has not been shown on previous maps pre- pared privately. This constitutes a Master Plan, but we may not be prepared for some time to present it for acceptance as an Official Map. Some checking and rechecking still needs to be done. We are about to make this plan available, however, for general use. We shall appreciate any suggestions for its improvement. You have al- ready received a preliminary copy.
We have also prepared a suggested plan for the future develop- ment of the business center of the Town. We are attaching a copy of this plan to this report for your consideration. This plan pro- poses the development of a shopping center between Main Street and the Rotary Club Playground, the construction in the future of a street from Middlesex Avenue to Church Street at the lower end of the proposed playground, the acquiring of land now and the future construction of a combined fire, police, and town office building at the upper end of the playground, the removal of the Highway De- partment to a less conspicuous location better adapted to the kind of
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construction activity carried out by such a department, and. in the somewhat distant future, the abandonment of the Walker School. We attach a copy of this plan to this report. We also attach a plan showing a suggested location for the Highway Department in con- junction with a new location for the Town Dump off Federal Street in the extensive Ladderpole Swamp so as to permit the most efficient use of town equipment in connection with operation of the dump and to provide a way of reclaiming a large area of waste land in the very heart of the community.
In conclusion, we would like to express our appreciation of the cooperation we have received from your Board and from other Town officials. You may be assured of our continued efforts to carry out the duties imposed upon us to the best of our ability.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD C. MANNING.
HENRY J. LAWLER,
ELMER H. WOLLER E. HAYWARD BLISS JOHN J. RITCHIE
Planning Board and Park Commissioners.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
January 2, 1951
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Wilmington, Massachusetts Gentlemen:
No slaughtering inspected during the year of 1950.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH B. ODIONNE,
Inspector of Slaughtering
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REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year 1950.
Sealed
Adj.
Condemned
Platform Scales over 5,000 lbs.
1
1
0
Platform Scales 100 to 5,000 lbs.
12
5
0
Counter Scales under 100 lbs.
4
1
0
Spring Scales 100 or over
4
0
0
Spring Scales under 100 lbs ..
26
14
3
Beam Scales 100 1bs. or over
2
0
0
Beam Scales Under 100 lbs.
3
1
0
Computing Scales under 100 lbs.
11
0
2
Personal Weighing Scales
2
0
0
Avoidupois
57
0
0
Apothecary
7
0
0
Liquid Measures
22
0
0
Meters 1 inch inlet
30
14
0
Meters over 1 inch inlet
11
10
Oil Measuring Pump
14
0
0
Grease Measuring Pump
8
0
0
Yard Sticks
1
0
0
Leather Measuring Devices
1
0
0
Sealing fees collected and turned over to the Town Treasurer $82.45
The following are weights of Commodities for immediate delivery:
Tested
Correct
Under
Over
Beans
30
29
0
1
Bread
44
28
0
16
Butter
2
2
0
0
Coal in paper bags
12
10
0
2
Coal in transit
5
5
0
0
Confectionery
20
20
0
0
Fruits and Vegetables
24
20
0
4
Lard
1
1
0
0
Potatoes
28
22
0
6
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Number of Licenses Inspected
9
Hawkers and Peddlers Scales 0
Junk Dealers 6 S ('linical Thermometers
Expenses of Department as follows: Appropriation Total Expenses
350.00
349.66
Unexpended Balance $ .34
Very truly yours, SAMUEL P. PIKE, Sealer of Weights and Measures
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
-
January 15, 1951
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen .
I herewith submit my report for the year 1950 as Inspector of Buildings.
I have issued 151 permits as follows:
:5 New Dwellings Estimated Value $406,300.00
S Additions
Estimated Value 2.975.00
16 Alterations
Estimated Value 30,050.00
17 Garages
Estimated Value 9.550.00
9 Storage Sheds
Estimated Value 3,600.00
3 Hen Houses
Estimated Value 1.550.00
2 Assembly Halls
Estimated Value 10,500.00
Stores
Estimated Value
19,600.00
1 Greenhouse
Estimated Value 3,000.00
2 Gas Stations
Estimated Value 12,500.00
1 School
Estimated Value 485,000.00
Total Estimated Value of $984,625.00
Fees of $510.00 were collected and turned over to the Town Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST B. RICE,
Building Inspector.
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
This board, the library, and the town have sustained a great loss in the death of our chairman, Louis T. McMahon. Men of his charac- ter, ability and unselfish devotion to the public interest are a indeed. His service to the library, as well as to every department of the town with which he has been connected, has been long, faithful, and of inestimable value.
It is a source of satisfaction that he lived to see the completion of the improvements in our building which he had planned and worked for so long, and which were projected in our last annual report. The new water and heating systems and toilet facilities had been installed, the new fence enclosing the grounds erected and the new floor covering and inside painting completed, prior to the last meetings of the board which he attended. All this work has been accomplished within the limits of the appropriation granted by the town.
However, much remains to be done in order to meet the needs for replacement, renewal and expansion of the library content, which were mentioned in our last annual report, and which of course is our most important responsibility. To meet these needs we have included in our budget for the current year an increased amount for book purchases. The budget also contains items to cover outside painting of the building and grading and seeding the grounds.
We wish to express our appreciation of Mrs. Hall's devoted and capable service as our librarian.
Respecfully submitted,
STEPHANIE DELANEY
FRANKLINE ALLEN
MAY HADLEY MERVIN CURL
PHILIP B. BUZZELL
Trustees of Public Library
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In Memoriam
LOUIS T. McMAHON
ASSISTANT TOWN CLERK
1926-1927
BOARD OF APPEAL 1925-1938
CEMETERY COMMISSIONER 1926-1950
WATER COMMISSIONER 1927-1947
LIBRARY TRUSTEE 1927-1950
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Honorable Board of Trustees:
In 1950, 154 new books for adults were bought, 30 more than last year. In addition to these. 111 gifts were added. In order to help satisfy the demand for western and mystery stories, a collection of Pocket Books was started. There are now 112 books in this collection. all donated by friends of the library. 123 children's books were bought. almost three times as many as last year. A total of 500 books new io this library were added this year.
7476 books were borrowed this year and 452 magazines. 80 books and pamphlets were borrowed for Wilmington readers from the Division of Public Libraries.
In January, 1951, book corners will be set up in the five ele- mentary schools whose pupils cannot reach the library. Approximately 400 children will borrow from these books corners. In spite of the larger number of books purchased this year, we cannot spare that many books from the main library. Therefore, in January, the Division of Public Libraries will send 100 books for use in the schools. We hope that before very long we will be able to take care of this pro- ject without ontside help.
The Scout leaders have placed their collections of manuals and merit badge pamphlets in the library in order to make them more accessible to all members of the organization. These books and pamphlets are still owned by the Scouts. The librarian merely cares for them and lends them as she would any library book. Any organization wishing to borrow shelf space for its printed material may do so.
Readers are now re-registering This is being done in connection with a change in the system of borrowing and returning books. Each reader must now have a blue reader's card in order to take books from the library. Any reader who does not now have a blue card is urged to come to the library and re-register at his earliest con- venience.
Much was done to improve the library building in 1950. Oil heat and plumbing were installed, greatly improving the working conditions of the library, and a new fence was put up. Plans for next year include painting and landscaping.
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