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Annual reports, Town of Acton, Massachusetts PDF

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Preview Annual reports, Town of Acton, Massachusetts

TOWN OF ACTON ANNUAL m ';..- OF GENERAL INTEREST Incorporated as a Town: July 3, 1735 Type of Government: Town Meeting-Selectmen-Town Manager. Location: Eastern Massachusetts, MiddlesexCounty, bordered on! the east by Carlisle and Concord, on the west by Box- borough, on the north by Westford and Littleton, on the, south by Sudbury, and on the southwest by Stow an Maynard. Name: Acton as the name of our Town has several possible derivations: the old Saxon word Ac-tun meaning oak settlement or hamlet in the oaks, the Town of Acton, England, the Acton family of England, a member of which supposedly offered a bell for the first meeting house in 1735. Elevation at Town Hall: 268' above mean sea level. Land Area: Approximately 20 square miles. Population: Year Persons Density 1910 2136 106 per sq. mi. 1950 3510 175 1955 4681 233 1960 7238 361 1965 10188 507 1970 14578 Climate: Normal January temperature 27.7° F. Normal July temperature 72.0° F. Normal annual precipitation 43.02 inches. Public Education: Pupil enrollment (October 1970): Grades 1-6, ,2415; Grades 7-12, 2157 (Regional) Number of teachers and administrative staff: 264 Pupil-teacher ratio: 1 to 30 (avg. elementary grades) 1 to 20 (avg. Jr. and Sr. High) Tax Picture: Year Tax Rate Assessed Valuation 1965 $92 $18,408,058 1966 29 70, 309,795 1967 31 74, 262, 745 1968 34 79,513, 915 1969 38.50 88, 979, 095 1970 43 97,088, 304 United States Senators in Congress: Edward W. Brooke (R), Newton, Massachusetts Edward M. Kennedy (D), Boston, Massachusetts Representative in Congress, 3rd Congressional Dist: Philip J. Philbin (D), Clinton, Massachusetts State Senator, Middlesex and Worcester District: . . William I. Randall, Framingham, Massachusetts Representative, General Court, 33rd Middlesex Dist: John A. S. McGlennon, Concord, Massachusetts Governor's Council, 3rd District: George F. Cronin, Jr., Boston, Massachusetts . . . . OFFICE HOURS Town Office (Selectmen, TreTaoswunreMraannadgeCro,lleCclteorrk) 88--44::3300 ((TTuueess.. 77::3300-p8.:3m0. p). m. ) TToowwnn HHaallll 226633--27706118 AScshsoeoslsoSrusperintendent 88--44::3300 (Tues. 7:30-8:30 p. m. ) AT-oBwnReHgalilonal H. S. 226633--55703172 Asst. School Superintendent 8-4:30 A-B Regional H. S. 263-3558 Board of Health 8-4:30 Office at 69 Hayward Rd. 263-4736 Veterans' Agent No Regular Hours At Home 263-4757 Library Hours: Memorial Library Mon. -Fri., 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. 263-2232 Saturday, 9-5 p. m. Citizens, W. Acton Mon., 7-9 p.m. Tues. -Fri. 10-5 p.m. StiS-\s£&- ANNUAL REPORTS Co\\ , q-7f,44 /Si /) TOWN OF ACTON MASSACHUSETTS FOR ITS TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH MUNICIPAL YEAR FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST 1970 /REFERENCE BOOK ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY ACTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01720 Digitized by the Internet Archive 2013 in http://archive.org/details/annualreportstow19701974acto TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SELECTMEN-TOWN MANAGER 1 POLICE 3 FIRE 4 CIVIL DEFENSE 8 INSPECTOR OF WIRES 8 STREET LIGHT 9 BOARD OF APPEALS 9 SEALER OF WEIGHTS 9 ENGINEERING 10 PLANNING BOARD 11 HIGHWAY 12 BUILDING C.O- MMITTEE 14 BUILDING INSPECTOR 15 ELIZABETH WHITE FUND 15 HEALTH 16 CONCORD AREA COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER 19 DOG OFFICER 19 INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS 20 DOG LICENSES 20 BIRTHS 21 SCHOOL REPORT 26 Report of the Acting Superintendent of Schools 27 Report of the High School Principal 28 Report of the Junior High School Principal 35 Pupil Personnel Services 38 Report of School Nurses 40 Report of the School Committee 41 Acton Adult Education 1970 41 School Finances 42 VOCATIONAL REGIONAL SCHOOL 46 LIBRARIES 47 RECREATION 50 1975 CELEBRATION 51 HISTORICAL COMMISSION 51 ARCHIVES 52 PUBLIC CEREMONIES 53 TOWN FOREST 54 TREE WARDEN 54 INSECT PEST CONTROL 54 HOUSING AUTHORITY 54 CEMETERIES 55 WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION 56 GOODNOW FUND 56 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 57 SEWERAGE STUDY 57 VETERANS' GRAVES 58 VETERANS' AGENT 58 TOWN ELECTION 59 STATE ELECTION „ 60 STREET DIRECTORY AND MAP (See Center fold) TOWN MEETINGS 62 March 9, 1970 62 March 16, 1970 104 June 29, 1970 104 September 28, 1970 106 TOWN OFFICERS & APPOINTMENTS 107 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Ill TOWN ACCOUNTANT 112 TOWN TREASURER 128 COLLECTOR 140 ASSESSORS 143 JURY LIST 144 INDEX 147 SELECTMEN—TOWN MANAGER On March 31, 1970, the Board of Selectmen reorganized, welcoming Paul R, Nyquist as its newest member; the Board elected Vincent M. Russo, Chairman, Paul H. Lesure, Vice-Chairman, and Paul R. Nyquist, CLerk, the two additional members: William C. Sawyer and Charles D. MacPherson, In September, Selectman MacPherson, for health reasons, submitted his resignation to the Board to be effective on October 15, 1970. Mr. MacPherson's civic and public service to the Town of Acton over the past twenty years has been outstanding. His involvement in Acton's municipal affairs has steadily con- tributed to bettering the Town's government. A special election was called for December 7, 1970, to fill the vacancy on the Board; William L. Chipman was elected and took office on December 8, 1970. The first year of the 1970's provided dramatic evidence of Acton's rapid growth during the past decade. Official census reports tell us that the Town's population has doubled over the past ten years, and now stands at 14, 578. The ever increasing demands for more municipal services, the constant growth in our school population, and the requirements being placed on the Town through legislation, lead us to be- lieve that a stabilized tax rate will not become a reality for several years to come. While the foregoing facts have had a progressive effect and changed the character of the Town, the economic conditions prevailing in 1970 effected many of its citizens and the Town's operations. The spiral- ling cost of living, and increasing unemployment rate, particularly in the electronics and related fields, resulted in a high mobility rate for Acton residents; many excellent appointed board and committee members resigned due to job relocation in other states. The Planning Board, Finance Committee, and Permanent Building Committee underwent a great many changes due to resignations. Needless to say these changes put a strain on the Town's ability to maintain continuity through orderly change in board or committee membership. As authorized by the Annual Town Meeting in 1970, Mr. Ralph E. Dodge was appointed Acton's first full time assessor. Mr. Dodge's position as Assistant Assessor to the three man part-time Board of Assessors provides for the maintenance of records on a current basis. Assessment work done by the Assistant Assessor is subject to the review and approval of the three man Board. As a part of the Board's overall effort to improve control of expenditures, the Highway Department was placed under the administrative control of the Town Engineer this year. The organization of the full-time members of Acton's Fire Department as the Acton Permanent Firefighters Local 1904, International Association of Firefighters AFL-CIO and of the full-time members of the Acton Police Department as the Acton Branch of the Massachusetts Police Association, called for collective bargaining. By statute the Town Manager, or his designated representatives, are responsible for bargaining with employee organizations; the Manager chose to designate a three member committee which, at this time is currently negotiating contracts for 1971. Still pending before the Supreme Judicial Court is a suit against the Town relative to the issuance of a building permit for the construction of the proposed Minuteman Shopping Center at the intersection of Route 2 and Piper Road. The case is scheduled to be heard in March, 1971. Another suit brought against the Town in 1969 which questioned municipal exemption from the zoning bylaw was resolved with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Town. The decision permitted the Perma- nent Building Committee to proceed on the construction of a facility to house the Town's Highway and En- gineering departments, and the Board of Health. In October the committee received seventeen bids for construction of the facility, and immediately after the award to the lowest bidder, work commenced on the structure. At this time construction is in full progress, and, weather permitting, the building will be ready for occupancy by May 1, 1971. After many years of discussion and debate, the Town authorized funds for the demolition and removal of the old buildings at the rear of the Town Hall which were formerly occupied by the Acton Agricultural Holding Company and later by the Town's Highway Department. The buildings, abandoned for several years, had become an eyesore for the Town Common and for the modern library addition which overlooked them. The demolition of the buildings not only beautified the area and removed the potential dangers inherent to abandoned buildings, but also provided the Town Hall and the Memorial Library with increased parking area. Early in 1970 the Metropolitan Boston Air Pollution Control District was established and the Town of Acton was included in the District. On July 1, 1970, the District adopted rules and regulations effec- tively prohibiting open burning. Although the rules and regulations provide for exceptions and exemptions to the prohibition against open burning, the effect on many communities required overnight changeover from burning dumps to sanitary landfill operations or approved incineration. Acton was one of the more fortunate towns in the District having voluntarily implemented a sanitary landfill operation in the latter part of 1968. Although abatement of open burning in order to prevent increased air pollution is definitely a step in the right direction, we are concerned over the increased dumping of materials at the landfill. With the continuing development of the Town we are faced with enormous quantities of brush and tree materials which were formerly burned. The Town Manager, Town Engineer and the Regional Refuse Disposal Committee are presently investigating all feasible methods of solving this problem. This year there was a decrease in the number of building permits issued for new construction, however, much of construction begun in late 1969 was completed during 1970. We are extremely concerned about the numerous apartment houses which have been constructed along Route 2A. The Board is making every attempt to insure that these buildings are properly constructed and safe; we are presently reviewing all of the Town's Bylaws in order to maintain the highest standards for construction of multiple family and single family dwellings. The Finance Committee and the Planning Board are engaged in similar reviews in order to better assess the economic and land use implications of the apartment explosion. increased growth continued during the year with several approvals for new businesses and industrial buildings; the first large department store in the Town was constructed by the W. T. Grant Company on Main Street at the intersection of Route 111; a small development of modular housing units was constructed on Arlington Street in West Acton; we have been informed that the Banking Commission has approved the establishment of three new banks in Acton and construction is anticipated during 1971, and presently under discussion is a proposed business and industrial park including several hundred condominium units on Route 2A in North Acton. In August, William L. O'Connell, Superintendent of Schools retired after twenty-five years of service to the Town. Mr. O'Connell's dedicated hard work and the efforts which he expended for the school system were invaluable in placing our local and regional schools among the finest in the commonwealth. His effec- tiveness as an outstanding administrator has been reflected over the years in the proper and orderly develop- ment of our school facilities. We extend to him our most sincere gratitude for a job well done. After extensive dialogue between the Board of Selectmen and the Commissioners of the Water Supply District it was determined that no action should be taken at this time to consolidate the District with the Town's operations. The Water Commissioners have developed and are implementing a program that calls for closer coordination with the boards, committees, and departments of the town. This same program provides for sounder fiscal control, and more aggressive search for water supplies to meet future needs. This has been an effort to acquaint you with some of the nonroutine matters that transpired within the past year. The routine load of administrative activity increases each year as the Town grows; however, we have managed to maintain the number of Town administrative employees at a stable figure through the efficient use of newly developed office machinery and equipment. In closing, the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager wish to thank the numerous members of boards and committees, the department heads and the Town employees for the excellent job done in 1970. We also note with sorrow the passing of Clinton Curtis, past member of Acton's Board of Public Welfare. Vincent M. Russo, Chairman Paul H. Lesure, Vice-Chairman Paul R. Nyquist, Clerk William L. Chipman William C. Sawyer Board of Selectmen Robert W. Dotson Town Manager Charles D. MacPherson, recipient of the "Distinguished Citizen" award for 1970 presented by the Massachusetts Select- men's Association. POLICE This report reflects an increase in the overall crime picture. This is especially noted under Breaking and Enterings. It should be noted that approximately 5% of Breaking and Enterings are solved. This leaves an awesome 95% unsolved. I feel this is partially due to lack of personnel. Our population has increased from 7,238 in 1960 to 14,578 in 1970. In this period we have added only four men to the Department. The Director of the F.B.I, has indicated that a police department should have one patrolman per five hundred population. Arrests and Prosecutions for the Following Offenses Assault and Battery 7 No License in Possession 1 Being Present Where a Narcotic Drug is Found 5 No Inspection Sticker 6 Breaking and Entering and Larceny in the Non-support 3 Nighttime 4 Obstructing Registration Plate 1 Carrying Passenger Without Headgear 1 Obstructed View 1 Drunkenness 18 Operating so as to Endanger 23 Failing to Cover Load 7 Possession of Narcotic Drugs 1 Failing to Keep Right 3 Reckless Driving 1 Failing to Use Care 10 Red Light 6 Furnishing Alcoholic Beverage to Minor 1 Receiving Stolen Property 2 Kidnapping 2 School Bus Violation 4 Larceny 12 Transporting Alcoholic Beverage Being a Minor 3 Leaving the Scene of an Accident 1 Using Motor Vehicle Without Authority 2 Malicious Destruction to Property 4 Violation Town Bylaw 4 Manslaughter 2 Violation Traffic Rules 1 Juvenile Offenses: Assault and Battery Attaching Plates 1 Operating without a License Breaking and Entering in the Nighttime 2 Perjury False Fire Alarm 1 Possession of Marijuana Failing to Use Care in Stopping 1 Stop Sign Habitual School Offender 5 Stubborn Child Larceny 2 Transporting Alcoholic Beverage Being a Minor Operating so as to Endanger 4 Using Motor Vehicle Without Authority Motor Vehicle Accident Report 1969 1970 1969 1970 Total Number of Accidents covered Total Number of Pedestrians Killed by the Department 250 320 or Injured Total Number of Fatal Accidents 5 6 Total Number of Bicyclists Injured Miscellaneous Statistics Breaking and Entering and Larceny Reported 169 Radio Calls 7,112 Bicycles Registered 129 Resuscitator Used 19 Cars Checked by Patrol 289 Summonses Served 248 Cruiser Responses to Acton Medical Center 9 Summonses Sent Out of Town for Service 189 Cruiser Responses to Emerson Hospital 253 Street Lights Reported Out 47 Firearms ID Registrations 94 Telephone Wires Down 5 House Checks for Vacationists 729 Town Radio Calls 78 Metropolitan State Hospital Trips 19 Traffic Lights Not Working 13 Motorists Assisted 113 Wires Down, Light 10 Phone Calls 8,175 Officers Time Spent in Court (hours) 925 Pistol Permits Issued 196 Personnel At present, our compliment consists of a Chief, four Sergeants and ten Patrolmen. There has been a noticeable increase in persons interested in becoming Police Officers. This is reflected in recent Civil Ser- vice lists that have come to the attention of the Town Manager. In my recommendations for 1971, I indicated the need of eleven additional men and the purchase of two additional cruisers. This would bring our total patrolmen to twenty-one, far below the F.B.I, standards. Education Officers George Robinson and John McNiff have been attending Northeastern University taking several courses that will greatly improve their knowledge of the law and the methods of enforcement and public relations, etc. Safety and Juvenile Officer At present, Officer William J. Durkin, Jr. in addition to his regular duties, is our Safety and , Juvenile Officer. Obviously, it is impossible for a working Patrolman to handle either of the above-captioned titles properly. This again reflects the need of additional people. Prosecuting Officer My special thanks to Sergeant David W. Scribner, my Prosecuting Officer, who has done a wonderful job in Court and has helped to remove some of the burdens of my office by handling special investigations, etc. Training Officer David C. Flint was graduated from the State Police Academy with high academic credits. He is doing a fine job and is a credit to the Department. I am hoping in 1971 to establish an Auxiliary Police Force. This will allow persons who are interested in police work to have training prior to being employed. General Perhaps the most critical of our problems is the ever-increasing traffic. I find our roads are incapable of handling the traffic flow in the early morning and evening hours when people are coming and going to work. If one would stand at Kelley's Corner from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. , they would have the feeling they were standing on the corner in some large city. I cannot at this time, see any means of solving the problem. I have used officers in this area to no avail. In closing, I would like to thank all the members of my Department who worked with me in carrying out the duties of the Police Department during the year, and to the Town Manager and my Secretary and all others who assisted me in any way, I am grateful. Edward J. Collins, Jr. Chief of Police FIRE Total number of alarms responded to are as follows: 1969 1970 Residential 29 32 Churches and Schools 3 2 Mercantile 2 5 Manufacturing 3 3 Storage - Garages 6 5 Grass - Brush - Woods 89 43 Miscellaneous 34 52 Vehicle 25 27 False Alarms 8 11 Accidental Alarms and Smoke Scares 18 15 Emergency 49 50 Investigation 84 87 Special Service 142 112 Mutual Aid Sent 17 11 509 455

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lieve that a stabilized tax rate will not become a reality for several years to come. While the local and neighboring town officials and boards, and the general publicof the Town of Acton as the children may present a spectrum of health measures which could be introduced in the form of anticipa-.
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