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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941 ADVISORY REPORTPlease preserve this Report for use at tl~e Town Meeting TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER Report of the Advisory Board MARCH 15, 1941 To the Citizens of North Andover: A study of the warrant shows that North Andover will have a still higher tax rate this year unless the town meet- ing exercises the strictest economy. The budge~ of department appropriations recommended by the Finance Committee is slightly lower than that voted last year. Their recommendations,' total about $372,000, which is approximately $6,000 less than was voted last year, largely on account of much lower snow removal expense. The Advisory Board's recommendations are about $9,000 lower. SPECIAL ARTICLES CALL FOR INCREASED EXPENDITURES The special articles in the warrant, however, call for many thousands of dollars more than the $35,000 voted for special articles last year, and after the most diligent efforts of the Advisory Board to separate the less worth while from the really necessary or desirabl~e, the articles reported favorably will call for about $21,000 more than the amount voted last year for special articles. We are informed by the State Department of Corpora- tions and Taxation that receipts of the town will be about the same as last year. So-calIed "free money" is Iow, and little can be used to affect the tax rate. So the net result of the warrant, if the Advisory Board's recommendations are voted, will be about one dollar increase in the tax rate, or a new all- time high. This result leaves us with a feeling that we should have reported unfavorably in more cases. Of course local taxes are only one of the forms of taxation that citizens must pay. We have a ]owe.ring of the exemption on Federal taxes this year, and a Federal 10 % defense tax. Nuisance taxes on daily purchases are constantly increasing in number and amount. We have hardly begun to pay for this year's defense pro- gram, and the cost in ~uture years must be provided for. Under these conditions, and the high and increasing rate of our present taxes, there should be no increase in appropriations. In the meetings of the Advisory Board, we were agreed that there is no emergency in our school situation that requires an increased appropriation, School enrollment throughout the state, and attendance at North Andover's grade schools, show a falling off. The full effect of the shrink- age in enrollment will undoubtedly be felt in the high school in the next few years. The school department gets about one-third of all the taxes paid on real estate, and if we appropriate more for them, ~ve cannot consistently ask other town departments to curtail expenses. The Finance Committee recommendation for schools is $116,019 this year. The: Town Meeting voted this department an increase of more than $2,200 last year. The Advisory Board is rec- ommending $114,500, which is the same as the appropria- tion voted last year, including last year's increase. There are three W. P. A. projects requested for the schools, in addition to the school department appropriation. We are recommending that two of them be carried out under the co-sponsor's project, the necessary funds to be ear- marked, and that the other be postponed until there is need of more W. P. A. employment in North Andover. There are two special articles in the warrant which con- ce~l playgrounds. Article 9 asks authority for the select- men to accept a gift for the conversion of the "town sand bank" into a playground. We are recommending that this property be sold, so that the town will get some income from it. There is a playground at the nearby Thomson School on which a large amount of money has been spent. The gift mentioned in the article would not much more than pay for starting the work, we are informed. Article 35 asks for $2000 to $3500 for the improvement of the Center playground. We went into the plans with the engineer and found that work planned would cost the town six to ten thousand dollars, and are recommending that the project be saved until the time when there will be more need of W. P. A. work. REBUILDING MAIN STREET Two of the most important articles in the warrant call for the rebuilding of Main Street. These are No. 31 and No. 34. They are in accordance with the report of the survey of all town streets by the Massachusetts Department of Public Works. The rebuilding of Main Street from Sutton Street to Water Street is recommended in the state report as one of the first projects to be undertaken. The cost is estimated to be $20,000, to be spent over two years. We find that $6,700 has been planned for a new road construction in North Andover under Chapter 90. This would provide $20,100; including the state, county and town appro- priations, which could be spent on Main Street, if there were no other calls for Chapter 90 new road construction. This amount would cover the entire cost of rebuilding Main Street from Sutton Street to the junction with Water Street, and we feel fortunate in having it available from the state this year. Accordingly, we are recommending that the town raise and appropriate the sum of $6,700 under Special Article 31, said sum to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the state or county, or both, for this put- pose. If this recommendation is accepted by the Town Meet- lng, we will have provided for the most needed road im- provement in North Andover, in the opinion of many people. There are numerous special articles in the warrant call- ing for water and sewer installations. The number of these is unusually large this year on account of the war prepare- tions boom in building. Eventually the town will get back in taxes its investment in these, improvements, and we have tied to each favorable recommendation for water a condi- tion requiring the starting of construction by July 1, and the guarantee to. pay 4 % of the cost per year for a period of ten years. There is a sewer assessment which takes care of part of the cost of sewers. We are glad to report that larger unexpended balances were returned to the. town treasury than in any recent year. The W. P. A.'s sponsor's agent saved the town a special meet- ing for appropriating more money by offering an unexpended balance to be transferred where more funds were needed to finish the year. We still have a difficult ambulance situation in town, and are, informed that little or no attention has been paid to our recommendation of last year. Ambulance calls increased from 274 in 1939 to 295 in 1940. We are planning to meet with the selectmen, local physicians, police and fire depart- ments, and any others who are interested, during the com- ing months, to work out a plan of voluntary contributions from ambulance users who are. in a position to pay for the service. This may reduce the number of unnecessary calls, or provide an ambulance fund which will be available for the payment of fire and police department drivers and ambu- lance attendants who may be necessary. It is customary to employ extra police and fire :department men when the reg- ular employees are busy. Each year the warrant for town meeting grows more diffiicult for the Advisory Board to handle in the few weeks available for the work, and we again call attention to Chap- ter 41, Section 59 of the General Laws referring to towns, which requires that all departmental budgets be submitted before the end of the year. This would allow the Finance Committee to close the warrant earlier and give the Advisory Board more time for hearings and consideration of the items and articles. We have held many hearings and conferred with town officers, state officials, and many individuals, and wish to extend our thanks to all who have been of assistance, par- ticularly to town officers and department heads for their co-operation and help. Respectfully submitted, WENDELL M. DILLON, Chairman ERNEST G. ABBOTT JOHN W. COSTELLO HAROLD HOLT CLARENCE HUTTON ROLAND H. SHERMAN FRED D. WHITTIER ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS Article 2. To elect ali other officers not required by law to be elected by ballot. Recommended that this be referred to the Selectmen for action. Article 2. To see if the town will vote to accept report of receipts and expenditures as presented by the Selectmen and Auditor. Recommended that the report be accepted. Article 4. To see what action the town will take as to its unexpended appropriations. Recommended that all unexpended balances be re- turned to the Treasury, with the exception of the sum of $360.00 voted last year under Article 19 for a state engi. neer's survey of North Andover roads. This amount is taken care of under Article 18. Article 5. To see what action the town will take as to the recommendations of the finance committee. Recommended that each item be considered sepa- rately. (See Next Page.) Article 6. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to bor- row money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1942, 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, Chapter 44, General Laws. Favorable action recommended. Article 7. To consider the report of all special com- mittees. Recommended that all special committees be heard. Article 8. To see what action the town will take in regard to appointing a committee to care for the public parks and triangles of the town. Petition of Board of Select- merl. Recommended that the members of the Board of Public Works act as a committee to care for the public parks and triangles. Article 9. To see if the town will vote: (1) To author- ize the Selectmen to sell, by bid or public auction, a parcel of land known as the "Town Sand Bank." Said ]and is situ- ated between Massachusetts Avenue, Beverly Street and Marblehead Street and bounded by land o~vned, now or for- merly, by John Newton, ])avis and Furber Machine Com- pany, Edward Espey, John R. and Elizabeth McEvoy, Mur- ray Dill and Robert Milne, and Hildred and Eva Sharp. In the event of a sale, that the Selectmen be authorized to execute a proper deed for the town. (2) To authorize the Selectmen to accept s gift for the conversion of the said sand bank into a playground, and appoint a committee composed of the Board of Selectmen, Chairman of the Advisory Board, and the Superintendent of the Board of Public Works to investigate the cost of work necessary to convert the sand bank into a playground. Said committee to report its findings at a special town meeting or otherwise as the town may direct. Petition o£ the Board of Selectmen. This Article is divided into two parts. The Advisory Board feels that Part 1 should be voted favorably. The so-called "Town Sand Bank" is of no further practical use to the town as a source of sand and gravel, these commodities being bought elsewhere, and the property should be sold so that the town could get the income. It is recommended that the Selectmen be authorized to sell at public auction the parcel of land known as the "Town Sand Bank" situated between Massachusetts Avenue, Beverly Street and Marblehead Street, and bounded by land owned, now or formerly, by John Newton, Davis & Furber Machine Company, Edward Espey, John R. and Elizabeth McEvoy, Murray Dill and Robert Milne, and Hildred and Eva Sharp, and that the Selectmen be fur- ther authorized to e~ecute a proper deed for the town in the event of a sale. With regard to Part 2, the town has a playground at the nearby Thomson School on which a great deal of money has been spent, and, therefore, it is recommended that this section be stricken from the warrant. Article. 10. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00), to cover the cost of making an engineering sur- vey of the above mentioned land and having' plans prepared. Petition of the Board of Selectmen. It is recommended that the town raise and appro- priate the sum of $150.00 to cover the cost of making the proposed engineering survey, to be spent for this purpose if the Selectmen find ig necessary to make this survey to deliver the deed. Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred and thirty-five dollars ($235.00), to provide for a revaluation of all buildings owned by the town, to the end that the amount of fire insurance thereon may be reduced. Petition of the Board of Selectmen. We are informed that this revaluation will save money for the town. It is recommended ghat the town raise and appropriate the sum of $235.00 for the purposes of this Article. Article 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate three hundred and fifty dollars ($350.00) to install a sewage disposal system at the Town Infirmary. Petition of Board of Public Welfare. We are informed that the Stage Department of Pub- llc Health demands the sewage disposal system. Favor- able action recommended. Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($25.00) to erect a sixty foot steel flag pole on Memorial Park. Petition of Board of Selectmen. It is recommended that the sum of $2~0.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of th~s Article. Article 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) to carry on the activities of the W. P. A. work. Petition of Board of Selectmen. Due to the fact that it is impossi&le to tell with any certainty how many people will need to be employed on W. P. A. projects, and also to the fact that last year when the W. P. A. roll decreased, a substantial amount ?f the appropriation was saved for the town, we feel safe ~n recommending the $15,000.00 reouested in this Article, believing that if the same situation should come about this year any excess money will be returned to the Treas- ury. It is recommended that the sum of $15,000.00 be raised and appropriated to carry on the activities of the W. P. A. work, and that this amount be ear-marked for the following projects: Nursery School; Commodity De- pertinent; Sewing Unit; Moth Deoartment ; Surface Drains; Sidewalk Project and Offic~ E~t~enses; and a Co-Sponsor's Project to include a chronological, alphabet- ical record of births, deaths and marriages in North Andover since 1855; the school work proposed under Articles 23 and 24, and for any other worth while projects which may be included under the Co-Sponsor's Project. Article 15. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum o£ one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($125.00) for payment of land damages to Miss Ida Atkins, said land having been taken by the town Se. ptember 6, 1923. Petition of Board of Selectmen. There is no legal liability to _oay these land damages to Miss Atkins, and Mnce the only justification in paying them would be u moral obligation, this Board does not want to create a precedent of recommending the pay- ment of such outlawed claims. Therefore, unfavorable action is recommended. Article 16. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred fifty-one dollars and five cents ($451.05) for unpaid bills of 1939 and 1940 which were received too late to be paid in the proper year. Petition of Board of Public Welfare. There is still serious doubt as to whether bills of this type can be legally collected. Since value was received by the town, and the claims are not legally barred, the best course of action seems to be for the town to pay them. Therefore, it is recommended that the sum of $451.05 be raised and appropriated for the purposes of this Article. Article 17. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for unpaid medical bills of the Soldiers' Relie~ Department, one hun- dred dollars for 1938 and one hundred dollars for 1939. Petition of Board of Selectmen. Favorable action recommended. Article 18. To see what action the town will take on the following unexpended balances: Article 19. 1940 Warrant, Highway, State Engineers' Survey, $300.00. 9 Article 28. 1940 Warrant, Water, Marblehead Street Water System Extension, $500.00. The above appropriations were voted March :[8, 1940. Petition of James W. Elliott, Town Auditor. This Article requires two specific votes. With refer- ence to Article 19 of the 1940 warrant, it is recommended that the $360.00 be turned over to the Highway Depart- ment for maintenance work on the streets, with any other money received under Chapter 90 provisions. It is fur- ther recommended that the sum of $$00.00 appropriated under Article 28 of the 1940 warrant be closed out. Article 19. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Selectmen or Town Treasurer to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale, by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the town four- teen days at least before the sale, property taken by the town under tax title procedure, provided that the Selectmen or whomsover they may authorize to hold such public auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto. Petition of Board of Selectmen. It is recommended that the Town Treasurer be authorized to sell property taken by the town under tax title procedure according to the statutes of the Common- wealth. Article 20. To see if the town will vote to accept the following addition to its by-laws: "Previous to the erection of a new building or the alteration of any existing one, notice shall be filed with the Board of Assessors by the per- son responsible for such work." Petition of Board of Asses- sors. It is recommended that the following addition to the town by.laws be accepted: "Previous to the erection of a new building or the alteration of an existing one, notice shall be filed with the Board of Assessors by the owner of the property." Article 21. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the suni of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the purchase of a new chlorinator for the Pumping Stat/on. Peti- tion of Board of Public Works. We are informed that the State Department of Pub- lic Health requires that the new chlorinator be installed. Favorable action recommended. Article 22. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) to replace the water services to the property lines, place gate valves on hydrant branches, repair valves and valve boxes and replace manhole frames and covers on Main Street from Sutton Street to Water Street before the street is reconstructed. Petition of Board of Public Works. It is recommended that the sum of $2000.00 be raised and appropriated for the purposes of this Article, pro- vided favorable action is taken on Article 31. It is further recommended that action on this Article be deferred until after Articles 31 and 34 are disposed of. Article 23. To see if the town will raise and appropri- lO ate a sum not exceeding twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) for a fence, retaining wall, surface drain with catch basins, and grading along the northwest boundary of the Bradstreet School grounds. Petition of School Committee. Since the purpose of this Article will have been ac- complished by the recommendation under Article 14, it is recommended that this Article be stricken from the war- rant. Article 24. To see if the town will raise and appropri- ate a sum not exceeding three hundred and ninety dollars ($390.00) for cement walks at the Union School. Petition of School Committee. Since the purpose of this Article will have been accomplished by the recommendation under Article 14, it is recommended that this Article be stricken from the warrunt, Article 25. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money to complete, the grading and seeding of the grounds at Johnson High School, to construct a walk along the northern boundary of the same grounds, and to construct a drain connecting the southwest rainspouts with the Main Street surface drain. Petition of School Com- mittee. It is recommended that this work be postponed until there is more need of W. P. A. work in the town. Article 26. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the sum of six hundred and thirty-five dollars ($635.00) to be used with the present one-half ton truck to purchase a new one-half ton truck. Petition of Board of Public Works. Favorable action recommended. Article 27. To see. if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars ($300.00) for a new police car. Petition of Chief McKee and others. Favorable action recommended. Article 28. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the sum of forty-three hundred and sixty dollars ($4,360.00) to purchase one 2-ton and one 21/~-3 ton truck for the use of the Highway Department. An allowance of four hundred dollars ($400.00) will be made on two Dodge trucks. Petition of the Highway Surveyor. It is recommended that the town raise and appro- priate the sum of $1800.00 to purchase a two.ton truck, and that the old Dodge now in the Department be turned in and the allowance applied on the purchase price. A~ticle 29. To see if ~he town will raise and appro- priate the sum of twenty-two hundred and forty-five dollars ($2,245.00) for the purchase of a sidewalk tractor for the Highway Department. Petition of the Highway Surveyor. Unfavorable action recommended. Artic]e 30. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the sum of fifty-eight hundred and forty-five dollars ($5,845.00) to purchase one 12-ton Buffalo-Springfield Gas Roller with attachments, to replace Buffalo-Springfield steam roller which is twenty-two years old. An allowance of three hundred and forty-five dollars ($345.00) will be made for the old roller. Petition of the Highway Surveyor. It is recommended that the town raise and appro- priate the sum of $5,845.00 to purchase a new 12-t°n Buffalo-Springfield Gas Roller with attachments to re- place the present roller, and that the allowance on the old machine be applied on the purchase price. Article 31. To see if the. town will raise and appro- priate the sum of thirty-five hundred dollars ($3,500.00) for the rebuilding of Main Street under Chapter 90 of the General Laws, said money to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County or both, for this purpose; or take any action in relation thereto. Petition of the Highway Surveyor. The Advisory Board has been informed that the Chapter 90 allotment in North Andover for road construc- tion has been tentatively set as follows: state $6700.00, county $6700.00, town $6700.00; and although no amount has been appropriated by the state legislature, we have assurance from the state chief engineer that it will prob- ably be substantially the figure mentioned above. These amounts total 820,100.00, which is $100.00 more than fhe amount estimated by state engineers to be necessary for rebuilding Muin Street from Sutton Street to the junc- tion with Water Street, and will give the town a good start on the road building program initiated by the Plan- ning Board. It is recommended that the town raise and appropriate the sum of $6,700.00 for the rebuilding of Main Street under Chapter 90 of the General Laws; said sum or any portion thereof to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the state or county, or both, for this purpose. It is further recommended that the Selectmen be authorized to do such acts as may be found necessary to receive bids and contract for the work covered by this Article, with the provision that the con- struction be done under the direction of the local highway surveyor in conjunction with the engineers of the State Department of Public Works. Article 32. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the, sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for main- tenance on any street in town under Chapter 90 of the Gen- eral Laws, said money to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both, for this purpose; or take any other action in relation thereto. Petition of the Highway Surveyor. Favorable action recommended. Article 83. To see if the ~own will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty-five hundred dollars ($3,500.00) to rebuild Boxford and Salem Streets under Chapter 90 of the General Laws, said sum to be used in con- junction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both, for this purpose; or to take any other action in relation thereto. Petition of the Planning Board. All Chapter 90 money /or rebuilding has been dis- posed of under Article 31. Therefore, unfavorable action recommended. Article 34. To see if the town will vote to raise ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) by the issue of bonds or other'- wise to reconstruct Main Street from its junction with Sut- ton Street as far as the money will allow, Petition of the Planning ]3oard. With view to the comment under Article 31, unfavor- able action recommended. Article 35. To see if the town will vo~e to instruct the Selectmen to sponsor a W. P. A. Project for the improve- ment of the Center Playground to be done with town and federal funds; the Town's proportionate cost to be $3,500; $2,000 of which to be appropriated at the 1941 Annual Town Meeting and the balance, at subsequent Annual Town Meet- ings as the need may require. Petition of the North Andover Center Playground Association. The Center Playground Association is to be com- mended for the amount of work done in providing a play- ground for the Center section. However~ according to our information from the engineer who drew up this pro j- ect, to complete the job properly under ~r. p. A. would cost the town at least $6500.00. We do not believe that W. P. A. enrollment will supply enough manpower dur- lng the coming year to complete this work properly, and we are of the opinion that if the work is only partly done the condition of the field will not be improved for actual use by the children. Therefore, it is recommended that this Article be postponed until a future date, dependent largely upon available W. P. A. labor. Article 36. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of flooding and maintaining a skating surface at Grogans Field. Petition of Charles Laurendeau and others. Unfavorable action recommended. Article 37. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for a surface drain on Camden Street and have the work done by the W. P. A.; the town to provide the material. Petition of John J. Slip- kowsky and others. The purpose of this Article is taken care of under the W. P. A. work outlined in Article 14. Therefore, it is rec- ommended that this work be done under the surface drain portion of Article 14. Article 38. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sufficient sum of money to extend the water system eight hundred feet on ]3oxford Street from Salem Street, or make some other provision for the same. Petition of James P. Rice and others. There is only one taker of town water and other prospects are remote. The cost of this job is out of pro. portion to the benefit received. Therefore, unfavorable action recommended. Article 39. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money to extend the. water system on Wood- 18 bridge Road or make some other provision for the same. Petition of Louis H. McAloon and others. There is a great deal of prospective building in this locality. It is recommended that the town raise and appro- priate the sum of $1500.00 for the purposes of this Article, provided that the property owners furnish a satisfactory guarantee to pay 4% of the cost per year for a period of ten years, and that construction of houses be started before July 1, 1941. Article 40. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money to extend the sewer from William Street, to take care of the houses on Dewey Street, without sewer connections. Petition of Mary Stead and others. This is the only way three existing houses on Dewey Street without sewers may be connected to u sewer. More- over, this work will help to develop Marblehead Street. It is recommended that the sum of $1600.00 be raised and appropriated for the purposes of this Article. Article 41. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate, or otherwise provide; a sum of money to install a sewer on Greene Street from Massachusetts Avenue to Parker Street. Petition of Thomas E. McDuffie and others. This work should be done before Greene Street is rebuilt, in accordance with the recommendation of the State Highway Department. There are four houses on this section of Greene Street at present. It is recommended that the sum of $3,700.00 be raised and appropriated for the purposes of this Article. Article 42. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money to install a sewer on Parker Street from Grebe Street to Faulkner Road, or make some other provision for the same. Petition of Louis H. McAloon and others. It is recommended that the sum of $2,900.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of this Article. Article 43. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money to install a sewer on Woodbridge Road or make some other provision for the same. Petition of Louis H. McAloon and others. It is recommended that $3,300.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the purposes of this Article. Article 44. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money to ex~end the water system on Fau]k- ncr Road, or make some other provi, sion for the same. Peti- tion of Louis II. McAloon and others. It is recommended that the town raise and appropri- ate the sum of $1,400.00 for the purposes of this Article, provided property owners furnish a satisfactory guaran- tee to pay 4% of the cost per year for a period of ten years, and that construction of houses be started by July 1, 1941. Article 45. To see if the town will raise and appro- priatb a sum of money to install a sewer on Greene Street from Parker Street to Woodbridge Road, or make some other provision for the same. Petition of Louis II. McAloon 14 and others. This sewer should be installed before Greene Street is reconstructed as recommended by the Highway Depart- ment. It is recommended that the sum of $2,300.00 be raised and appropriated for the purposes of this Article. Article 46. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money to install a sewer on Tavern Road from Bradstreet Road to Fau]kner Road or make some other provision for the same. Petition of Louis H. McAloon and others. It is recommended that the sum of $1,100.00 be raised and appropriated for the purposes of this Article. Article 47. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money to install a sewer on Faulkner Road or make some other provision for the same. Petition of Louis ti. McAloon and others. It is recommended that the sum of $1,800.00 be raised and appropriated for the purposes of this Article. Article 48. To see if the town will vote to accept an- other portion of Lyman Road from Little Road to Bucking- ham Road. Petition of James II. Twist and others. In order /or a road to be accepted by the town, a plan of it must h~ve first been a~_~roved by the Planning Board or its predecessors; the Selectmen must have lald out the way in accordance with the plan at least seven days before the town votes to accept it. The method to be followed is found in the General Laws, Chapters 41 and 82. This Board recommends that any persons seeking to have a road accepted by the town follow carefully the re. quired statutory steps. If the requirements of the statutes have been met, the vote of the town should be to auto. magically accept the road as laid out by the Selectmen, this being purely a matter of form. It is recommended that this Article be referred to the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board as to whether this portion of Lyman Road is ready for acceptance by the town, and for action. Article 49. To see if the town will vote lo accept Buck- ingham Road from Herrick Road to Lyman Road. Petition of Gladys Taylor Houghton and others. (See comment under Article 48.) It is recommended that this Article be referred to the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board as to whether this portion of Buckingham Road is ready for acceptance by the town, and for action. Article 50. To see if the town will vote to accept the remaining portion of Young Road, i.e., approximately 225 feet between Lyman Road and Herrick Road. Petition of Ralph T. Vernile and oth!rs. (See comment under Article 48.) It is recommended that this Article be referred to the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board as to whether this portion of Young Road is ready for acceptance by the town, and for action. Article 51. To see if the town will vote to accept School Street for a distance of about 346 feet from Main Street, according to the lay-out filed with the Planning Board. Peti- tion of James Farrell and others. (See comment under Article 48.) It is recommended that this Article be referred to the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board as to whether this portion of School Street is ready for acceptance by the town, and for action. Article 52. To see if the town will vote to place two street lights on Buckingham Road, from Herrick Road to Lyman Road. Pe.tition of Gladys Taylor Houghton and others. It is recommended that this Article be referred to the Selectmen for action. Article 53. To see if the town will vote to install a street light at 1210 Osgood Street, in front of the property of Antonio Forgetta. Petition of Antonio Forgetta and others. It is recommended that this Article be referred to the Selectmen for action. Article 54. To see if the. town will vote to appropriate a sufficient sum of money for two street lights on Camden Street. One light to be installed on pole No. 2119 and the other at the corner of Camden and Concord Streets. Peti- tion of John J. Slipkowsky and others. It is recommended that this Article be referred to the Selectmen for action. Article 55. To see if the town will vote to install a street light on Dana Street near Marblehead Street. Peti- tion of Anthony Lisi and ethers. It is recommended that this Article be referred to the Selectmen for action.