USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1945 > Part 1
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.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
AT 974.48 A88a 1945
Annual City Report
. . . OF . . .
ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE YEAR 1945
PARK HOTEL
PARK STREET
Attichore Publi Lin. -Ch & Sweet 21 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/reportsoftownoff1945attl
ATTLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY a31654001302535b
ANNUAL REPORTS
-
OF THE
Officers and Departments
OF THE
CITY OF ATTLEBORO
Stylebirim, MESS
63/47 914,48
AXA
C.1
11/2 .1694
IS
FOR THE YEAR
1945
ATTLEBORO PRINT, INC., ATTLEBORO, MASS.
Attichore Publi Seph L. Sweet M. ... Atieboro, Mess.
-
3
58 1477
ANNUAL REPORT
City Officers
Small numbers after office indicate how chosen
1. Appointed by Mayor 2. Elected by Council 3. Elected by Voters
Office Inspector of Animals-1 City Almoner-1 (Welfare Agent) Assessors-1
City Auditor-2 Building Inspector-1 City Clerk-3 City Collector-3 Constables-1
Municipal Council-3 Members at Large
James A. Freeman, Pres.
January, 1947
William A. Brennan
January, 1947
Dr. Arthur Gehrung
January, 1947
John J. Johnson
January, 1947
Gordon M. Mackinnon
January, 1947
Members by Wards
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Leon F. Pierce
January, 1947
Ward 4
Bertrand O. Lambert
January, 1947
Ward 5
Herbert C. Lavigueur
January, 1947
Ward 6
Charles A. Smith
January, 1947
Henry Rotenberg
Indefinite
Antone Dias
June, 1946
William S. King
Felix A. Desmarais
Permanent Indefinite
Hartwell H. Crossman
February, 1946
Fred A. Clark, Chief
Indefinite
February, 1946
Charles G. Thomae
February, 1947
William E. Sweeney, Chair.
February, 1948
Hayward H. Sweet
February, 1949
William S. King Fred A. Clark
Permanent February, 1946
Supt. of Fire Alarm-1 Forest Warden-1 City Forester, Moth Supt .- 1 Health Officer-1
Health Nurse (Appointed by Health Officer)
Incumbent Dr. Frederick L. Briggs
Term Expires March 31, 1946
Frederick J. Franz
Permanent
Isaac H. Bruce
Patrick J. Byrnes, Chair.
February, 1947
John J. Hodge
Edward H. Brown
January, 1948
Fred A. Clark
Kenneth F. Blandin
February, 1946 January, 1947 January, 1947
Doris L. Austin
Hormidas Allard
February, 1946
Merle L. Clark
February, 1946
Howard H. Caswell
February, 1946
Eli Franklin
February, 1946
Willis A. Newton
January, 1947
Arthur Hinds
January, 1947
Custodian of Foreclosed Property-1
Dog Officer-1
Electrical Inspector-1
Federal Relief Agent-1
Fence Viewer-Field Driver-1 Fire Deparmtent
Board of Fire Engineers-1
William E. S. Smith Dr. Fernand L. Girouard
February, 1946
February, 1946
Lois E. Wilmarth
Permanent
Fred A. Clark
February, 1946
February, 1948 .
4
ANNUAL REPORT
Office Dental Hygienist (Ap- pointed by Health Of- ficer) Sturdy Hospital, City Representatives on Board of Managers
Board of Licenses-1
Public Library, Trustees of-1
Incumbent Term Expires
Frances L. Macartney
Indefinite
Francis J. O'Neil, Mayor
February, 1946
William Marshall, ex-off.
February, 1946
James A. Freeman-2
February, 1946
Zelotis Wetherell June, 1947
E. Raymond Truell
June, 1949
Francis P. Cronan, Chair.
June, 1951
Mrs. Caroline S. Holden
February, 1946
Dr. Frederick V. Murphy Frank Licher
February, 1946
Mrs. Margaret W. Conro
February, 1947
Lydia J. Gregory
February, 1947
Edwin F. Leach, Chair.
February, 1947
Raymond M. Horton, Treas. Mrs. Winthrop Barden, Sec.
February, 1948
Mrs. Gertrude F. Chilson
February, 1948
Librarian (appointed by Library Trustees)
Lockup Keeper-1 Measurer of Lumber-1 City Messenger-2 Milk Inspector (ap- pointed by Health Of- ficer) Park Commissioners-1
Mrs. Lucile Palmer Cavender
Indefinite
Peter J. Marron
February, 1946
George F. Lincoln
February, 1946
John B. Bowen
February, 1946
Robert C. Perriello
Permanent
Thomas G. Sadler
February, 1946
Samuel M. Stone, Chair
February, 1947
Harry C. Wolfenden, Sec.
February, 1948
Park Superintendent (ap- pointed by Park Com- missioners) Planning Board-1
John E. Anderson J. Burleigh Moulton
Permanent February, 1946
Rev. Frank L. Briggs, Chair. Joseph M. Finberg-(died August, 1945) William O. Sweet-to fill unexpired term Robert W. Mawney
February, 1948
February, 1949
Walter A. Cunningham
February, 1949
Clifford A. Swanson
February, 1950
C. Wallace Cederberg
February, 1950
Plumbing Inspector (ap- pointed by Health Of- ficer) Police Commissioners-1
James F. Forrest
February, 1946
John E. Turner Thomas H. Brennan
February, 1946
February, 1947
Everett H. Lundsten Frank J. Nerney
February, 1948 February, 1949
February, 1946
February, 1948
February, 1947
5
ANNUAL REPORT
Office Police Department-1
Public Works Depart- ment-2 Recreation Commission-
ers-1
Louis J. Guillette
February, 1946
Thomas H. Moore
February, 1946
Manuel Castro
February, 1947
William Liddell
February, 1947
Steve Halko
February, 1948
John W. Redding
February, 1948
Mrs. Lillia Conant
February, 1946
Mrs. Eva L. Kent
February, 1947
Clayton A. MacDonald
February, 1948
Thomas F. Nolan
February, 1949
Rehabilitation and Re- employment Director-1
School Committee-3
Supt. of School (Ap- pointed by School Com- mittee) School Nurse (Appointed by School Committee) School Physician (Ap- pointed by School Committee) Sealer of Weights and Measures-1
Soldiers' Relief and Burial Agent-2 City Solicitor-1 City Stenographer-2 City Treasurer-3 Trustees of the Capron and Deborah Starkey Funds
Dr. Herbert G. Vaughan Permanent
Daniel O'Connell February, 1946
Arthur B. Cummings
February, 1946
Daniel A. J. Doyle
February, 1946
Gladys Hinds February, 1946
William Marshall
January, 1947
All ex-officio Francis J. O'Neil, Mayor William Marshall, Treasurer Lida M. Holbrook, Chair- man of School Com- mittee
Trust Fund Commis- sioners-1
Peter J. Marron, Act. Chief
Incumbent Term Expires Indefinite
Robert W. Mawney, Supt.
February, 1948
Edward H. Brown, Ex-Off Doris L. Austin, Elected by members of system) Earl P. Cooper-1
Indefinite
March, 1948 July, 1946
Mrs. Lida H. Holbrook
Mrs. Rena G. Rounseville
Mrs. Alice Stobbs
January, 1947 January, 1947 January, 1947 January, 1947
Fred L. Wetherell
Victor G. Vaughan
January, 1949
Mrs. Pearl Briggs
January, 1949
William A. Nerney
January, 1949
Henry M. Crowther
January, 1949
Ernest F. Forbes Permanent
Dorothy B. Wendell, R.N. Permanent
Thomas E. McCaffrey,Ch. James McBrien Kenneth Crook, Secretary
February, 1946 February, 1947 February, 1948
Board of Registrars-1
6
ANNUAL REPORT
Office Board of Public Welfare-1
Zoning Board of Appeals-1
Incumbent
John J. Maynard John K. Henderson, Ch. G. William Goddard
Term Expires
February, 1946
February, 1947
February, 1948
Clarence D. Roberts
February, 1946
William F. Walton
February, 1947
Elmer E. Tufts, Ch.
February, 1948
Joseph E. Gaynor, Assoc. Member Viola O'Hare, Clerk
February, 1948 Indefinite
7
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the City Clerk
1945 Expenditures
$5,146.08
1946 Budget Employees 1945
$5,325.17
2
Employees 1946
2
January 2, 1946
To Hon. Francis J. O'Neil, Mayor: City of Attleboro, Mass.,
Dear Sir:
I respectfully submit the annual report of the office of City Clerk, for the year that closed Dec. 31, 1945:
RECEIPTS OF 1945
For licenses, fees, etc., $2,205.83
For Dog Licenses 4,550.00
For Sport Licenses 3,491.75
Total
$10,247.58
DISBURSEMENTS OF 1945
To City Treas., for Licenses, fees
2,205.83
To City Treas., Dog License fees 373.00
To City Treas., for County-Dog Lic.
4,177.00
To City Treas., Sport Lic. fees 385.00
To State Fish and Game Dept .- Sport Lic.
3,106.75
Total
$10,247.58
There were 1790 sporting licenses issued including 306 of miscel- laneous nature such as free licenses to servicemen, to recipients of old age assistance and to those who do not have to pay for licenses, reach- ing 70 years in age. There were 636 fishing licenses issued, 340 for hunt- ing and 298 combination (fishing and hunting licenses) also 210 li- censes for females or minors (15-18 years) and some for non-resident sportsmen.
There were 1195 male dog licenses issued, 213 female and 440 for spayed females. In the 18 kennel licenses issued were many of the $10 (four dog) variety. The peak of the dog business was reached in March and April when $3285 was taken in from that source. None of the money taken in for sport or dog licenses is retained in the clerk's de- partment. The city receives .20 for each dog license issued and .25 for each sporting license. The balance goes to the county and state, re- spectively. The work of the City Clerk's office has been conducted by the City Clerk and one assistant and during the dog and fishing li- cense season (March and April) the Office was open each Wednesday night until 9 p. m., for convenience of those employed daytimes. The clerk spent one evening in South Attleboro to accommodate dog owners of that section.
Attistere Publik Turph L. Sweet Mir rior Marcbara, Mais
S
ANNUAL REPORT
The work of the department, in the statistical department has been on a constant increase. The return of service men with a demand for certified copies of records for benefits, etc., has created demands that have been cheerfully met.
Receipts for licenses and fees during 1945 were divided as follows; For motor sales licenses, $63; for hackney, hackney drivers and ex- press $80; auctioneers $10; second hand and junk $200; theaters $185; signs $87; gas and ammunition registration $64; revolver per- mits $126.50; miscel., $3.60; common victuallers and lodging houses $66.50; Recording mortgages, discharges etc., $340.68; for certified copies $166.30; Sunday licenses $210; marriages $346; amusements $137.25.
As of Jan. 2, 1946 the following returns of vital statistics for 1945, have been recorded in Attleboro; Births, 866; Marriages 223; deaths, 399.
I attach a breakdown of the year's cash business, month by month.
Respectfully yours, Kenneth F. Blandin, City Clerk
MONTH
RECEIPTS
DISBURSEMENTS
License Fees
Miscel, etc.
Dog Licenses
Sporting Licenses
Paid City Treas.
License Fees,
Dog, Sport Fees
Paid City Treas.
For Fees on
Dog Licenses
Paid City Treas.
For Fees on
Sport Licenses
Paid City Treas. Fer County-Dogs
Paid State-
Sport Licenses
January
147.45
806.50
147.45
74.00
732.50
February
63.43
5.00
71.75
63.43
.20
7.50
4.80
64.25
March
136.40
1704.00
239.25
136.40
139.80
27.50
1564.20
211.75
April
447.45
1581.00
748.00
447.45
127.00
89.25
1454.00
658.75
May
349.00
648.00
323.25
349.00
53.80
40.25
594.20
233.00
June
112.70
330.00
211.25
112.70
28.20
26.25
301 80
185.00
July
130.50
92.00
211.00
130.50
7.40
26.50
84.60
184.50
August
164.25
36.00
114.00
164.25
3.00
13.25
33.00
100.75
September
117.65
56.00
72.75
117.65
5.00
8.50
51.00
64.25
October
212.30
47.00
501.00
212.30
3.80
50.75
43.20
450.25
November
145.20
32.00
151.00
145.20
3.20
17.25
28 80
133.75
December
179.50
19.00
42.00
179.50
1.60
4.00
17.40
38.00
Totals
2,205.83
4,550.00
3,491.75
2205.83
370.00
305.00
4177.00
3106.75
ANNUAL REPORT
6
10
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OF COUNCILMEN AT 1945 MEETINGS
January 2, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
January 16, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
February 6, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
February 20, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
March 6, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
March 20, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
April 3, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Mackinnon.
April 17, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
May 1, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
May 15, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Mackinnon.
June 5, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
June 19, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
July 2, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
July 13, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Johnson, Pierce, Lam- bert, Lavigueur, Brennan.
August 7, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Lam- bert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
September 4, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
September 18, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Mackinnon.
October 2, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
October 16, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
11
ANNUAL REPORT
November 6, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Mackinnon.
November 20, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
December 4, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Johnson, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
December 18, 1945-Freeman, Newton, Smith, Hinds, Pierce, Lambert, Lavigueur, Brennan, Gehrung, Mackinnon.
Johnson,
TOTAL
Present
Absent
Total
President Freeman
23
0
23
Mr. Newton
23
0
23
Mr. Smith
23
0
23
Mr. Hinds
22
1
23
Mr. Johnson
23
0
23
Mr. Pierce
20
3
23
Mr. Lambert
23
0
23
Mr. Lavigueur
23
0
23
Mr. Brennan
21
2
23
Dr. Gehrung
18
5
23
Mr. Mackinnon
22
1
23
12
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the City Treasurer
1945 Expenditures
$6,842.28
1946 Budget $7,054.50
Employees 1945 3
Employees 1946 3
The City of Attleboro did a $1,633,510 cash business in 1945, and had $292,914 cash on hand on Jan. 1, 1946, the annual report of City Treasurer William Marshall indicated.
Receipts came from many sources, with taxes leading. There was $285,015 in cash on hand when the year opened. Taxes yielded $1,131,555, including $802,600 from property; $10,696 from polls; $21,866 from motor vehicles; $136,410 from the state corporations tax and $105,239 from state income tax; $50,434 paid on property taxes of previous years and $3,792 from tax title property.
Licenses yielded $15,510 with the liquor grants totaling $9,055 and dog licenses $4,175. Revenue from court actions totalled $2,013. The state paid $30,818 from highway funds and provided $8,313 as an aid to the industrial school. Federal money received totalled $79,368, which came through the state for old age and aid to dependent children ac- counts.
Money from individuals included $500 for Hayward field mainte- nance (H. E. Sweet). There was income of $700 for Capron park from the Capron fund and $75 from the Margaret Spangler Trust fund be- cause a horse by that name, owned by the late Oscar Wolfenden won the $25,000 American Pacing Derby 20 years ago. Mr. Wolfenden gave $5,000 of the winnings to establish the fund.
Special assessments, sidewalk installations, yielded $6,033 and sewer installations, $511.
Individuals who had received public aid from the city turned back a total of $1,009 during the year. The state sent $8,126 to aid de- pendent children and $83,473 for the Old Age pension accounts. Other cities and towns paid the city $1,317 for taking care of people who live here but had come from other places.
The state paid $1,299 for tuition of children who are wards of the state here. The public library took in $781.79 in fines and rentals costs. The state meals tax yielded $5,210 to the city. Rents of public prop- erties brought the city $1,328 and sale of city property netted $4,015.
The revenue from sale of water by the city was the highest ever, yielding $139,009.76 which included $2,188.74 for pipes and labor of in- stalling them in service connections.
As of Jan. 1 the city had a borrowing capacity of $598,249, mean- ing that the state would approve of the city issuing bonds for that amount, if need be, to finance public improvements.
The gross city debt on Jan. 1, 1946, was $204,500, the city having paid off $39,000 of its debt last year. The city owes $16,000 on the He- bronville schoolhouse (Finberg school). It owes $18,000 on money bor- rowed in 1938 to ease the depression load on the welfare department. Largest debt is the $125,000 owed on the Willett school. Next largest is $43,500 owed on the high school addition. And there's $2,000 owed on money raised to buy surplus commodity stamps in 1941.
Under the schedule the city will pay $35,000 on its debt principal and $2,951 in interest this year.
As a nest egg the city has $300,000 in war bonds purchased during the past few years and it received $5,434 in interest on them last year.
13
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the City Collector
1945 Expenditures
$6,514.47
1946 Budget Employees 1945
$7,027.00
3
Employees 1946
3
January 9, 1946
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Municipal Council:
I herewith submit the annual report of the City Collector for the year 1945.
The total amount collected and paid to William Marshall, City Treasurer, is $1,142,518.56 divided as follows:
Real Estate Taxes
$773,250.09
Personal Property Taxes
79,784.77
Poll Taxes
10,724.00
Motor Vehicle Excise
22,047.21
Betterments
6,544.84
Committed Interest
415.49
Water Rates
136,821.02
Pipe & Labor Charges
2,188.74
Highway
25.00
Welfare
101,447.64
School
2,982.59
Health
2,409.27
Public Property
1,328.00
Estates of Deceased Persons
300.00
Interest on Taxes and Water
1,369.81
Costs on Taxes and Water
880.09
Following is a list of outstanding accounts as of December 31, 1945:
1945 Real Estate Taxes
$ 37,792.53
1945 Personal Property Taxes
2,354.15
1945 Poll Taxes
34.00
1945 Motor Vehicle Excise
250.29
1945 Betterments
531.45
1945 Committed Interest
46.20
Water Rates
2,187.91
Pipe & Labor Charges
259.44
Highway
22.43
Public Property
71.00
School
151.45
Welfare
3,393.75
Estate of Deceased Person
214.10
Recording Water Lien
1.00
Total $47,309.70
Respectfully submitted,
Doris L. Austin, City Collector
-
ANNUAL REPORT
14
Report of the Board of Assessors
1945 Expenditures
$9,910.94
1946 Budget $10,172.00
Employees 1945 5
Employees 1946 5
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council:
Gentlemen:
The Board of Assessors respectfully submit the report of the As- sessing Department for the year 1945:
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Number of Persons Assessed on Property 7,883
Number of Polls assessed 8,004
Valuation of assessed Real Estate
. $26,513,555
Valuation of assessed Personal Property $2,677,600
Total Tax assessed on Polls and Property
$862,551.50
Number of Dwellings assessed
4,237
Number of Acres assessed
15,000
Betterment Taxes and Interest
$2,139.51
MOTOR EXCISE TAX
Motor Excise Tax
$22,246.83
Number of Cars assessed
5,925
Average Value
$112
Average Tax
$3.75
TOTAL VALUES
Value of assessed Real Estate $26,513,555
Value of assessed Personal Property 2,677,600
Value of non-taxable Real Estate
4,063,705
Value of non-taxable Personal Property
1,848,465
Treasurer's Deeds to City
84,770
Land of Low Value
495
City's Total Valuation (Taxable and Non-Taxable) $35,188,590
1944 Assessed Valuation
$28,895,680
1945 Assessed Valuation
29,191,155
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES
1945 Budget and Appropriations $1,284,941.00
In anticipation of 1945 State Tax
38,000.00
1945 County Tax
56,056.73
1945 County Hospital Tax
22,200.03
State Parks
981.33
State Examination of Retirement System
141.36
State Audit of Accounts
269.22
Hospital and Home Care for Veterans
300.00
1945 Overlay Account
12,911.37
Total
$1,415,801.04
.
15
ANNUAL REPORT
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Income Tax
$ 90,181.69
Corporation Tax
124,279.94
State Owned Land, reimbursement
7.12
Gasoline Tax
30,818.52
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
20,000.00
Licenses
16,500.00
Fines
3,400,00
Special Assessments
9,700.00
General Government
2,100.00
Health and Sanitation
2,600.00
Charities
94,000.00
Old Age Tax (Meals)
3,602.27
Soldiers' Benefits
3,900.00
Schools
13,000.00
Water Revenue
135,000.00
Interest on Tax Titles
400.00
Costs on Water and Taxes
900.00
Interest on Soldiers' Bonus
160.00
Rent of City Property
1,100.00
Interest on Taxes and Assessments
1,600.00
Total Estimated Receipts
$553,249.54
City, State and County Appropriations
$1,415,801.04
Less Total Estimated Receipts
553,249.54
$862,551.50
Less Polls
16,008.00
Net amount to be raised on Property
846,543.50
Tax Rate per thousand
$29.00
Taxable Property value $29,191,155 x 29.00
$846,543.50
Valuation of Personal Property assessed in December which was not figured in the above tax rate $59,700
Respectfully submitted
Board of Assessors
Patrick J. Byrnes John J. Hodge
Isaac H. Bruce
January 4, 1945,
16
ANNUAL REPORT
1870 JOSEPH FINBERG 1945
AXA
11
).1
An Appreciation
Joseph Finberg was elected Chairman of the Planning Board when it was organized under the City Charter, and he continued to serve in that capacity until his passing on August 18, 1945.
To him it was a labor of love even when it seemed to be only another version of "Love's Labor Lost."
He had a vision for Attleboro as a City constantly growing into a better place in which to make a living and in which to live-better for all the people.
His love for Attleboro was expressed in these words, "Attleboro has been good to me. Why shouldn't I be good to Attleboro?"
The members of the Planning Board take this means of expressing their appreciation of his leadership, his vision, his work, his patience, his good humor, and his friendship.
He has left us, but his memory remains like a guiding light.
THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF ATTLEBORO
17
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Planning Board
1945 Expenditures $200
1946 Budget $300
To His Honor the Mayor and the Honorable Municipal Council:
Gentlemen:
We are pleased to submit our annual report for the year 1945. Fourteen meetings and twelve hearings have been held during the fiscal year, also many conferences held by a part of or the full board.
We are indeed sorry to report the death of our Chairman Joseph Finberg which occurred on August 18, 1945. Frank Briggs was elected Chairman and William O. Sweet was appointed to fill the vacancy on the Board.
Due to the increased business of this Board, we wish to recommend that a central office be established for the Planning Board and Board of Appeal with a permanent clerk appointed to take care of both boards; thereby having someone available to the public at all times for any information which may be desired.
For future consideration the Planning Board again recommends the following:
1. A new street adjacent to Hayward Field connecting North Avenue and North Main Street.
2. Building lines on Park Street; from Pleasant St. to Brook Street.
3. Building lines on Sanford Street.
4. Building lines on County Street.
5. Consideration of a new street in the rear of the Post Office.
6. Establishment of a comfort station.
The public is invited to call regarding any inquiries they may have at the headquarters of the Board in the Public Works Depart- ment Office at City Hall at any time.
In conclusion we wish to thank the Mayor, City Council, Board of Appeal and heads of departments for their fine co-operation and the press for its valuable publicity.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank L. Briggs, Chairman Robert W. Mawney, Secretary Walter A. Cunningham J. Burleigh Moulton C. W. Cederberg Clifford A. Swanson William O. Sweet
18
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Zoning Board of Appeal
1945 Expenditures
$358.93
1946 Budget $600.00
To His Honor the Mayor and the Municipal Council of the City of Attleboro:
During the calendar year 1945 the Zoning Board of Appeal held 15 regular and 14 special meetings. It considered and disposed of 40 applications and appeals, of which 32 were granted in whole or in part, 6 denied and 2 withdrawn after public hearing. Written decisions were prepared and filed in 38 cases.
The record of the Board with respect to the number of applications and appeals filed and the disposition thereof during the calendar years 1943, 1944 and 1945 is, as follows:
1943
1944
1945
Total applications and appeals filed
5
9
40
Granted (in whole or in part)
3
4
32
Denied
2
5
6
Withdrawn
0
0
2
The Board again calls attention to the laxity in the enforcement of the Building and Zoning Ordinances. Without proper enforcement the law not only will not be respected but it will fail to accomplish its intended purpose. In the opinion of the Board a full time Building Inspector is needed who will devote some portion of his time to the matter of enforcement.
Moreover, the Board has reason to believe that its work will soon increase to the point where a full-time clerk will be required. The clerk answers inquiries; assists applicants in preparing and filing their appeals; prepares the newspaper advertisements; mails notices to abuttors; makes map tracings from the assessors' records; attends all meetings of the Board; takes stenographic notes at hearings; assists in the preparation of decisions; makes required copies of decisions; and keeps the records of the Board. She also is the custodian of the rec- ords and maps of the Board but lack of adequate office space pre- vents the proper display of these important maps. The public should be entitled to see and examine them at all times. However, this con- venience is impossible under the present conditions.
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.