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1963
ANNUAL REPORT
Town of
WILLIAMSBURG MASSACHUSETTS
INDEX
Assessors
47
Board of Health
53
Budget Recommendations 153
Fire Department
55
Haydenville Library
57
Highway Department 38
Jury List
78
Industrial Development Commission
82
Police Department
44
Public Welfare
80
Recreation Committee 58
School Department
64
Sealer of Weights and Measures 81
Selectmen
7
Tax Collector 150
Town Accountant 85
Town Clerk
23
Town Garage Committee
51
Town Hall Committee
61
Town Officers
5
Treasurer
29
Tree Warden
41
Veterans' Agent
59
Visiting Nurse 79
Warrant
11
Water Commissioners 63
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
Town of Williamsburg
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1963
Printed by Metcalf Printing & Publishing Co., Inc. Northampton, Mass,
Town of Williamsburg
Incorporated 1771
SELECTMEN 1963 Frederick L. Smith, Chairman Stanley C. Ross, Clerk Martin J. Dunphy
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 1963 Raymond A. Lyman, Chairman Hiram H. Brownell Edwin M. Podolak
REPRESENTATIVE, MASS. GENERAL COURT John D. Barrus, Goshen
SENATOR, MASSACHUSETTS STATE SENATE Charles A. Bisbee, Jr., Chesterfield
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL, EIGHTH DISTRICT Raymond F. Sullivan, Springfield
REPRESENTATIVE, UNITED STATES CONGRESS Silvio O. Conte, Pittsfield
SENATORS, UNITED STATES SENATE Leverett Saltonstall Edward M. Kennedy
GOVERNOR, COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Endicott Peabody
Town meeting date, March 2, 1964
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
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Town Officers
Selectmen :
Frederick L. Smith, Chairman
1965
Stanley C. Ross, Clerk
1964
Martin J. Dunphy
1966
Town Clerk : 1964
Charles W. Wells
Town Treasurer :
Harry S. Williston, Jr.
1964
Assessors :
Charles M. Damon, Sr., Chairman
1964
Bertram W. Clarke
1965
Robert A. Christenson
1966
Tax Collector :
Barbara W. Swanda
1964
Elector, Oliver Smith Will :
Merton Bickford
1964
School Committee :
Kenneth Sherk, Chairman
1965
Mary M. Kellogg
1964
Richard B. Warren
1964
George M. Childs
1965
Robert C. Mccutcheon
1966
Regional School Committee :
Norman F. Graves
1964
Olive I. Gagnon
1965
Mary W. Walsh
1966
5
Board of Health : Joseph R. Hobbs, M. D. Marcia H. Graves Edgar Hutchins
1964
1965
1966
Constables :
Charles H. Cross
1965
Royce Martin
1965
Water Commissioners :
Robert G. Davidson
1964
Robert C .. Mccutcheon
1965
Gabriel E. Mongeau
1966
Tree Warden :
Harry W. Warner, Jr.
1964
Trustees of Haydenville Library :
Sally R. O'Brien
1964
Lula B. Smith
1965
Viola J. Fraser
1966
Trust Fund Commissioners :
R. Richard Graves
1964
Frederick L. Smith
1965
Donald S. Outhuse
1966
Recreation Commissioners :
Richard L. Childs
1964
Peter Shumway
1965
Edward Lloyd
1966
Moderator :
John H. Breguet
1964
6
Selectmen's Report
During the year 1963 the Selectmen held fifty-two meetings, and two special meetings. As usual, some of them were long, and some were short - but most of them were long.
The Selectmen once again point out to their fellow townsmen that all meetings are open to the public, and that the minutes of the meetings are open for inspection at all times. The Selectmen know that it is difficult to get pertinent information to their fellow citizens, and wish that more of them would avail themselves of the oppor- tunities that are before them to inform themselves about town business. The Selectmen have in the Warrant an article which, if adopted by the Annual Meeting, will re- sult in a better communication between the Town govern- ment and the citizens.
January 7 Drawn for Traverse Jury duty were: Bar- bara R. Hathaway and Richard L. Williams; for Grand Jury, Albert R. Adams.
January 24 Contract for culvert pipes for Town for 1963 awarded to Northeastern Culvert Corpor- ation, after consideration of the several bids sub- mitted.
January 29 Selectmen accepted from Housing and Home Finance Agency a loan for $3,250.00 to cover preliminary survey for a sewer project for the Town. This loan is payable if, and only if, the Town proceeds with the installation of the sewer.
February 25 Howard Sanderson appointed as Gas In- spector for the Town.
7
March 4 First consideration given to a proposal to put all Town buildings under one insurance policy. (Matter ultimately approved at a special Town meeting).
March 11 Organization of the New Board of Selectmen as follows :
Chairman-Frederick L. Smith Clerk-Stanley C. Ross
Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare- Martin L. Dunphy
Appointment of minor officers for the Town.
New Board reaffirmed policy of granting no Sun- day dance licenses to commercial establishments in the Town.
March 25 Board appointed the following members to the Development and Industrial Commission for the term set after their names : Mrs. Erol Bowie-5 years Mr. Richard Graves-4 years Mr. Martin Dunphy-3 years Mr. Robert Christenson-3 years Mr. Ray Besner-2 years Mr. John Breguet-2 years Mr. Frank Smith-1 year
April 1 Williamsburg Historical Society given use of upstairs front room in Town Office Building at times at which its use is not required by Town organizations.
Fire Hose contract given to Charles H. Claugherty Co., of Medfield, Massachusetts.
April 29 Traverse jurors drawn: Mabel B. Marston, and Helen C. McAllister.
May 13 Road Superintendent Harry Warner, Jr., was authorized to sell the old snow plow and front end
8
connection which is no longer used by the Town to the highest bidder.
May 27 Date of June 10 was set for the special Town Meeting. (This was later changed to June 17).
June 8 (Special) Drawing for Special Traverse Jury : Elizabeth Nichols and Esther A. Munson.
July 8 Names for the Jury List were drawn. List will appear on another page of this report.
Contract for pick-up truck for use of the Highway Department was awarded to F. N. Graves & Son, after review of the four bids received.
August 12 Special meeting of the Town was ordered for Monday, September 30 to consider matters dealing with transfer of funds.
Preliminary discussion of the plan for sewage system for the Town. Plans were presented by the engineer involved.
August 26 Insurance for liability insurance for the town police force was placed (after a review of the bids), with the Vernon West Agency.
September 9 For Traverse Jury duty : John Mathers, Jr., and David F. Ross.
September 16 Board asked Tax Collector for a list of delinquent taxes for the Town of Williamsburg (all categories) through the year 1962, the list to be as of October 1, 1963.
October 7 Lengthy discussion of permits for chicken barbecues held on the main highway of the village. A bit of heat developed during this meeting. A workable compromise finally arrived at.
November 4 Information requested of the Committee on Town Caucus.
Board voted to proceed in the matter of further
9
preliminaries for a sewer system for the Town, and to ask for a further loan from Housing and Home Finance in the amount of $19,250.00. This loan is like the first one, repayable if, and only if, the Town ultimately proceeds with the project. This amount will assure the Town a definite survey, and a set of blue prints which the Town may, if it so votes, use in calling for bids.
November 12 Traverse jurors drawn : Esther A. Golash and Harold Madison.
December 23 Liquor licenses for the Town were re- ceived from the State Liquor Commission, and signed by the Selectmen, acting as Licensing Board. Assessors met with the Selectmen to discuss the matter of delinquent taxes and what may be done about them.
December 30 Claim for loss of sheep destroyed by roving dogs was presented in the amount of $72.50 and was allowed.
10
Articles from the Town Warrant
Article 1. To elect a Moderator for one year. To elect one Selectman for a term of three years, who shall be an Overseer of Public Welfare. To elect one Town Clerk, one Treasurer, one Elector under the will of Oliver Smith, Esq., one Tree Warden, all for the term of one year each. To elect two School Committee Members, one Assessor, one Tax Collector, one Regional School Committee Mem- ber, one Member of the Board of Health, one Water Com- missioner, one Trust Fund Commissioner, one Recreation Commissioner, and one Trustee of the Haydenville Lib- rary, all for a term of three years each.
Article 2. To choose all necessary minor Town officers for the ensuing year.
Article 3. To choose a committee to expend the in- come from the Whiting Street Fund.
Article 4. To hear the reports of the Selectmen, Treasurer, Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Assessors, School Committee, Water Commissioners, and other Committees and act thereon.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to empower the Board of Selectmen, Board of Water Commissioners and Board of Assessors to appoint their own members to Town Departments, or take any other action thereon.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elected officers of the Town for the calendar year 1964 as provided in Section 108, Chapter 41, General Laws, as amended, and to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as shall
11
be deemed necessary to defray the expenses of the current year.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1964, and to issue a note or notes therefore, 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 of the General Laws.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen together with the Chairman of the Board of Assessors and the Board of Water Commissioners, to appoint a Town Secretary to serve from March 1, 1964 to February 28, 1965, who shall be provided with an office, open to the public, in such place and during such hours as may be judged most convenient for a minimum of twenty hours per week throughout the year, that the duties of such Secretary shall be those set by the Chairman of the Departments of government for which service is performed, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to cooperate with the State under the provi- sions of Chapter 81 of the General Laws, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,150.00, the Town's share and to appropriate the sum of $11,550.00, the State's share, in anticipation of reimbursement from the state, and to determine whether these funds shall be raised by taxation, by borrowing in anticipation of the receipt of state funds, or by taking the amounts from available funds, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended Town's share from taxes; $11,500.00 borrowed.
12
Article 10 To see if the Town will vote to accept and spend the sum of $5,991.64 for the purpose of Chapter 81 road construction, this being the amount allocated to the Town by the Commonwealth under the provisions of Chapter 822 of the Acts of 1963, and to determine whether this sum shall be raised by borrowing in anticipation of the receipt of the funds from the commonwealth, or taken from this grant in the treasury, or take any other action thereon.
Acceptance recommended
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a contract with the Depart- ment of Public Works and the County Commissioners for construction under Chapter 90, and to raise and appro- priate the sum of $4,875.00, the town's share, for new construction and to appropriate the sum of $14,625, the state and County share, in anticipation of reimbursement from the state and county, and to determine whether these funds shall be raised by taxation, by borrowing in antici- pation of the receipt of state and county funds, or by taking the amounts from available funds, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend $4,875.00 by taxation, state and county share borrowed.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a contract with the Depart- ment of Public Works and the County Commissioners for maintenance under Chapter 90, and to raise and appro- priate the sum of $1,500.00 for the maintenance of Chap- ter 90 highways, the town's share, and to appropriate the sum of $3,000.00, the State and County share, in antici- pation of reimbursement from State and County, and to determine whether these funds shall be raised by taxation, by borrowing in anticipation of the receipt of the State and County funds, or by taking the amounts from avail- able funds.
Recommend $1,500 by taxation; $3,000.00 borrowed.
13
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000.00 for the purpose of con- struction or re-construction of town roads, and to deter- mine if the money shall be raised from taxation, or taken from available funds, or take any other action thereon. Recommended out of available funds.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000.00 for the truck and tractor maintenance account for 1964, and to meet such appro- priation, transfer the sum of $3,217.43 from truck and tractor earnings of 1963, and determine whether the balance of $3,782.57 shall be raised by taxation, or taken from available funds, or take any other action thereon. Recommend $6,000.00: $3,217.43 from tractor earn- ings, $2,782.57 from available funds.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,900.00 to be used to purchase a new truck for the Highway Department and to deter- mine whether the money shall be provided by taxation or appropriated from available funds in the treasury, and to empower the Selectmen to trade in the 1945 or 1956 truck or both, or take any other action thereon. Recommend by borrowing
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,800.00 to be used to purchase a new sand and grit spreader for the Highway Depart- ment and to determine whether the money shall be pro- vided by taxation or appropriated from available funds in the treasury, and determine whether to trade in the old sander or keep it in order to have two units, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend by borrowing
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,210.00 for the payment of loan
14
and interest due in 1964 for the Front End Loader and determine if the amount of $2,000.00 principal and $210. 00 interest shall be raised by taxation or taken from avail- able funds, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend out of available funds
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,507.00 for the payment of the loan and interest due in 1964 for the Fire Truck Loan and determine if the amount of $2,300.00 principal and $207. 00 interest shall be raised by taxation or taken from avail- able funds, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend out of available funds
Article 19 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $490.00 to pay the interest of $280 on the Anne T. Dunphy Elementary School Loan and $210. 00 on the Helen E. James School Remodeling Loan, and to meet such appropriation, transfer the sum of $490.00 from the Onslow G. Spelman School Fund Income, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend as Article stands.
Article 20 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $22,000.00 to pay the principal of $20,000.00 on the Anne T. Dunphy Elementary School Loan and $2,000.00 on the Helen E. James School Re- modeling Loan and to determine if said amounts shall be raised by taxation or taken from available funds, or take any other action thereon.
Recomend out of available funds.
Article 21 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,832.10 to be paid to the Treas- urer-Custodian of the Hampshire County Retirement System to be credited to the funds thereof, and to deter- mine how this sum shall be raised, whether by taxation, or
15
by appropriation from available funds in the treasury, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend by taxation
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate from Overlay Reserve the sum of $7,500.00 to the Reserve Fund under the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee to meet unexpected or emergency needs of the Town Departments, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend as Article stands.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 to help defray the ex- penses of a Public Health Nurse, and determine if this amount shall be raised by taxation, or taken from avail- able funds, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend from available funds.
Article 24. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate the sum of $13,000 for the purpose of operating and maintaining the system, including the laying of mains and debt and interest charges for the Water Department in 1964, and to meet said appropriation $13,000.00 be appropriated from Water Revenue of 1964, or take any other action thereon.
Recommend as Article stands.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the Industrial Develop- ment Commission.
Recommended from taxation.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum not to exceed $25,000.00 for the pur- pose of increasing the Town Stabilization Fund in accor- dance with the provisions of Chapter 40, Section 5B of the General Laws as amended, and to determine whether
16
this amount shall be raised by taxation, or taken from available funds, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended $10,000.00 from available funds.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000.00 for the purpose of con- tinuing the modernization of the Town Hall, and deter- mine if these funds shall be raised by taxation or borrow- ing, or taken from available funds, or take any other action thereon.
Not recommended.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate an amount not to exceed $2,500.00 to provide for land damages incurred in the construction of Route 143, and to determine whether this sum shall be taken from available funds, raised by taxation, or borrowed, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended out of available funds.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of not to exceed $600.00 for the com- plete installation of a new backstop on the Ellen Ames Ball Field in Haydenville, the installation to be under the jurisdiction of the Recreation Commission, or take any other action thereon.
Do not recommend.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $350.00 to build a new sidewalk along the southerly side of the State Highway between the Post Office and the Williams House and to determine whether the money shall be provided by taxation or appro- priated from available funds in the treasury, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended by taxation.
17
Article 31. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate the sum of $161.50 to pay for the legal services rendered the Water Department by the Town Counsel during 1962 and 1963 and to determine if this amount shall be raised by taxation or take any other action thereon.
Recommended from Water Available Surplus.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $104.80 to pay a bill against the Town Shed and Garage Account of 1963, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended from taxation.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $174.02 from Water Available Surplus for the payment of two unpaid bills of 1963, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended from Water Available Surplus.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200.00 to be used by the Board of Selectmen for direct mail communication with those on the voting and tax lists of the Town at the time of special town meetings, or as other need may arise, and to deter- mine whether this amount shall be raised by taxation, or taken from available funds in the treasury, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended from available funds.
Article 35. To see whether the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 to help defray the ex- penses of the Commanders' Drum Corps State Meet to be held in Haydenville during the summer of 1964, and to determine whether this sum shall be taken from available funds, raised by taxation, or take any other action there- on.
Recommended from available funds.
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Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to accept Section 111 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Recommended
Article 37. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate the sum of $555.00 for Vacation Pay for the year 1964, and to determine whether this sum shall be raised from taxation or taken from available funds, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended from taxation.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Sections 6B and 6J of Chapter 40 of the General Laws as amended, or take any other action there- on.
Recommended
Article 39. To see whether the Town will vote to add the sum of fifty cents to dog taxes which are delinquent, or for the collection of which the services of the Town Constables are required, or take any other action thereon.
Recommended
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Board of Selectmen to allow the temporary use of the upstairs front room in the town office building in Hayden- ville, by the Williamsburg Historical Society, Inc. Such use to be exclusive to the Society, but under the direction of the Board of Selectmen and for the purpose of dis- playing articles and holding meetings of the society, or take any other action thereon.
Not recommended.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to authorize, empower and direct the Board of Selectmen to execute, acknowledge and deliver a release deed to Gordon J. Asher and Josephine C. Asher, husband and wife, both of Holy-
19
oke, Hampden County, Massachusetts, releasing to the said Gordon J. Asher and the said Josephine C. Asher, husband and wife, whatever right, title and interest the Inhabitants of the Town of Williamsburg may have in and to a certain tract or parcel of land situated in Hatfield, County of Hampshire, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the provisions of the will of Byron Loomis, who died testate October 29, 1918 and whose estate is pro- bated in Hampshire County Probate Court, which real estate is bounded and described as follows :
Beginning at a point in the Easterly side of the highway leading from Williamsburg to Hatfield across the head of the dam of North- ampton Water Works and thence Northerly along land of said Northampton Water Works to a stake and stones; thence Westerly to the said highway; thence Northerly and Easterly along the said highway to a stake and stones ; thence Southerly to a stake and stones to what is known as the Cleveland lot; thence Easterly in an irregular line to land now or formerly of one Parentau; thence Southerly along land now or formerly of said Parentau to the Hatfield town line; thence Westerly along the Hatfield line to the place of beginning. Containing sixty acres more or less and being the same premises des- cribed in a certain deed from Edwin F. Miller to Byron Loomis, dated April 2, 1900 and re- corded with Hampshire County Deeds in Book 534, page 20, and conveyed to Peter Aloisi by deed of Mary A. and John L. Brown dated Feb- ruary 11,1919, recorded in Hampshire County Deeds Book 748, page 423. Being the same pre- mises described in deed of Henry J. Hurteau, et ux to Gordon J. Asher et ux dated November 24, 1961, recorded in Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, Book 1367, page 135.
20
Said deed and the consideration therefor to be in such form and in such amount as the said Board of Selectmen in its discretion shall determine to be in the best interests of the Town of Williamsburg.
Recommended
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to accept the following rules for the governing of the Town Caucus, or take any other action thereon.
Section 1. The Selectmen shall call the Town Cau- cus for a date each year which shall be at least 45 days before the date of the Annual Town Meeting for that year.
Section 2. Notice of the Caucus shall be posted in at least five places in the Town. It shall be in Warrant form, and shall list the offices for which nominations are to be made, the number of nominees to be selected for each such office, as well as the time, place, and hour of the meeting.
Section 3. A quorum for the Caucus shall consist of not less than 60 persons registered and entitled to vote at the ensuing Town Meeting.
Section 4. Voting for nominees for Town Offices at the Caucus shall be entirely by and on one printed ballot.
Section 5. The Clerk of the Caucus shall transmit to the Town Clerk, at the conclusion of the business of the Caucus a certified list of those nominated for the var- ious offices, and shall transmit a copy thereof to the Selectmen.
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