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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF THE
TOWN OF BERKLEY
B
NM INCORPORATED + 1735.
EY
M
TS
For the Year Ending December 31, 1944
HOLMES PRINT SHOP MYRICKS, MASS. 1945
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF BERKLEY
B
F
INCORPORATED
EY
1735.
TS
MAS
SAC
For the Year Ending December 31, 1944
HOLMES PRINT SHOP MYRICKS, MASS. 1945
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1944
Ervine A. Chace
Nels Arthur Nelson
Warren L. Ide
Silas E. Brailey Eino H. Silvan
Francis F. G. Andrews
Elected 1944 Term Expires 1945
Assessors
Norman E. Whittaker
Elected 1942 Term Expires 1945
Milton A. Babbitt
Elected 1944 Term Expires 1946
Elected 1944 Term Expires 1947
School Committee
Mildred A. Carr Babbitt Elected 1942 Term Expires 1945
William A. Cox Elected 1943 Term Expires 1946
Arthur E. Robbins Elected 1944 Term Expires 1947
Collector of Taxes
Francis F. G. Andrews Elected 1944 Term Expires 1945
Auditor
Harold G. Ashley Elected 1944 Term Expires 1945
Tree Warden
Linneus C. Whitaker Elected 1944 Term Expires 1945
Highway Surveyor Linneus C. Whitaker Elected 1944 Term Expires 1945
Burial Ground Commissioners
Vernon D. Adams Elected 1942 Term Expires 1945
Charles E. Harrison Elected 1943 Term Expires 1946
Harold G. Ashley
Elected 1944 Term Expires 1947
Trustees of Public Library
Lizzie J. Howland
Myra D. Anthony
Florence A. Macomber
Town Clerk
Elected 1942 Term Expires 1945
Moderator
Elected 1944 Term Expires 1945
Selectmen
Elected 1942 Term Expires 1945
Elected 1943 Term Expires 1946
Elected 1944 Term Expires 1947
Treasurer
Anthony Sylvia
Elected 1942 Term Expires 1945 Elected 1943 Term Expires 1946 Elected 1944 Term Expires 1947
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ANNUAL REPORT
Constables All Elected 1944 Terms Expire 1945
Harold G. Ashley Ernest H. Brailey William A. Cox
Eino H. Silvan Frederick A. Reed Linneus C. Whitaker
William B. Mitchell
Fish Wardens
George W. Stetson Elected 1944 Term Expires 1945
George W. Stetson
Oyster Wardens Elected 1944 Term Expires 1945
Finance Committee
Herbert M. Ashley Laurence B. Swift John B. Brightman Alfred T. Townley, Jr. Arnold W. Silvan Meredith C. Wilson John Q. Dillingham, Chairman
Appointed by the committee consisting of the Moderator, the Chairman of Selectmen, and the Chairman of the 1943 Finance Committee.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Appointments by the Board of Selectmen
Forest Warden George R. Babbitt
Inspector of Animals and Inspector of Slaughtering Joseph O. Freeman
Moth Inspector Alvin E. Briggs
Fence Viewers and Field Drivers
Lawrence Barrow
Wojciech Pysz
Measurers of Wood and Lumber
Benjamin O. Jones Stephen A. Dow
Pound Keeper Francis E. Fournier
Sealer of Weights and Measures Wojciech Pysz
Dog Officer Charles E. Harrison
Special Agent of the Board of Health (Only for the purpose of issuing burial permits) Julia C. Andrews
Agent of the Board of Public Welfare George L. Tormey
Clerk of the Board of Public Welfare Bernice M. Andrews
Silas E. Brailey
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5
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN OF BERKLEY
for 1944
It was with deep regret that we learned early in January of this year, of the passing away of our brother Selectman, Silas E. Brailey.
Silas E. Brailey was a man of high character and in- tegrity and had a sincere interest in the management of the town affairs. He was a man of sound judgment and was re- markably well informed in regard to matters of town govern- ment.
Mr. Brailey was a friendly man and always had a kindly feeling for all who were in trouble. He always stood for what he felt to be right and just.
Mr. Brailey had served the town as Selectman for nearly fourteen years. We shall miss his friendly smile and wise counsel. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family.
The town of Berkley has continued in a strong financial position during 1944.
The town has no funded debt.
The Town Treasurer's report as of December 31, 1944, shows nearly $31,000 cash on hand and about $10,000 due on taxes with relatively few current debts owed by the town. The town probably was never in as strong a financial condition as it is at present.
Considering the rapidly rising costs of labor, materials and supplies the past two or three years, we feel that the expenditures of the town of Berkley have been kept well in hand.
There has been excellent cooperation between the various departments of the town and the affairs of the town have, we believe, been very efficiently and harmoniously conducted.
We wish at this time to express our appreciation for the assistance and cooperation given us by the other town officials and all others who have assisted with the conduct of the town's business.
WARREN L. IDE, EINO SILVAN,
Selectmen
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ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN WARRANT
Article 1. To hear the report of the Finance Committee and act thereon.
Article 2. To act on reports of town officers.
Article 3. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for the Public Library including the dog fund.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to accept Section 120A. Chapter 94, General Laws, as amended by Section 4, Chapter 332, Acts of 1943.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from Surplus Revenue such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the various charges for the current year, for General Government, for the Protection of Persons and Property, for Health and Sanitation, for High- ways, Charities and Soldiers' Benefits, Schools, and Unclas- sified, viz .- Memorial Day, Honor Roll, Town Reports, for Incidentals, Cemeteries, and Interest.
Article 6. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to petition the Director of Accounts of the Department of Corporations and Taxation for such an audit of the Town's accounts as may be necessary to install an accounting system, and to install an accounting system in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for compensation insurance for Town employees or act thereon.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year, and to issue a note or notes therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws as amended.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to sell at such time or times as may be deemed to be of benefit to the town,
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ANNUAL REPORT
certain parcels of land of low value taken by the town at a sale held under the provisions of Sections 79 and 80 of Chapter 60 of the General Laws.
Article 10. To raise and appropriate a sum of money for certain unpaid bills of 1944 or act thereon.
Article 11. To see what action the town will vote to take in regard to raising and appropriating a sum of money for expenses of the Rationing Board, or act thereon.
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the Reserve Account.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to accept Mill Street from its intersection with Myricks Street southerly to the land of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Rail- road, for a width of two rods, no damages to be awarded and no betterments to be assessed and provided that all abutting owners or other parties interested release any and all claims to the town on account of said acceptance.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money with which to purchase fire equipment and provide for housing of same or act thereon.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to choose a Post War Planning Committee.
Article 16. To see what action the Town will vote to take in regard to raising and appropriating a sum of money for painting and repairing of the Town Hall and buildings attached thereto or act thereon.
Article 17. To act on any other business that may legally come before the meeting.
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ANNUAL REPORT
ESTIMATES FOR 1945
Moderator's Salary,
$ 20.00
Selectmen's Salaries,
325.00
Selectmen's Expenses.
75.00
Auditor's Salary,
55.00
Auditor's Expenses,
20.00
Treasurer's Salary,
500.00
Treasurer's Expenses,
180.00
Tax Title,
100.00
Collector's Salary,
500.00
Collector's Expenses,
275.00
Assessors' Salaries.
550.00
Assessors' Expenses,
140.00
Town Clerk's Salary.
100.00
Town Clerk's Fees,
65.00
Town Clerk's Expenses,
20.00
Town Hall Expenses,
300.00
Myricks School Expense
50.00
Election Expenses and Expense of Registrars
125.00
Police Expenses.
200.00
Sealer's Salary,
40.00
Sealer's Expenses,
5.00
Moth Work,
575.00
Tree Warden,
300.00
Forest Fire Warden,
350.00
Fire Department,
150.00
Dog Officer,
90.00
Tuberculosis Hospital,
491.33
Board of Health Expenses,
375.00
Mosquito Control,
25.00
Chapter 81, Highways,
7,875.00
Chapter 90, Highways,
3,000.00
Bridge Drawtender, 360.00
Road Machinery Account,
125.00
Snow Removal and Sanding.
2,000.00
Public Welfare,
2,500.00
Public Welfare Administration,
400.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
A. D. C. Administration,
35.00
O. A. A. Administration,
200.00
Aid to Dependent Children,
2,000.00
Old Age Assistance,
10,000.00
Soldiers' Relief,
100.00
School Committee Salaries,
160.00
Schools,
$24,806.40
Library, including repairs,
700.00
Memorial Day,
35.00
Workmen's Compensation,
400.00
Incidentals,
200.00
Cemetery and Care of Soldiers' and
Sailors' Graves,
150.00
Civilian Defense,
25.00
Interest,
25.00
State Tax,
County Tax,
Unpaid Bills,
100.00
Rationing Board,
650.00
Reserve Account,
1,000.00
Town Reports
300.00
Honor Roll
100.00
Military Allowance
100.00
State Aid
100.00
10
ANNUAL REPORT
JURY LISTS OF THE TOWN OF BERKLEY
Names added to the 1943 list as published in the 1943 town report :
Percy L. Baldwin, Myricks St.
Silas E. Brailey, Mill St.
L. Clyde Cummings, Elm St.
Harry J. Gaffney, Grinnell St.
James A. Garrity, Myricks St. Anthony S. Gracia, Point St.
Edwin D. Jones, Bay View Avec. Percy S. Poole, Berkley St.
William V. Reed, Porter St.
Arthur E. Robbins, No. Main St.
George W. Stetson, Mill St.
Norman E. Whittaker, Berkley St.
Retired Selectman Carpenter Farmer
Textile worker Farmer Farmer Clerk Welder Machine operator Machinist Carpenter
Names drawn from the 1943 list :
Ralph H. Anthony
Percival L. Ashley
John Q. Dillingham
George L. Wilson
John A. Longton
Herbert M. Ashley L. Clyde Cummings James A. Garrity Edwin D. Jones Arthur E. Robbins
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ANNUAL REPORT
A new list drawn up by the selectmen went into effect on July 1, 1944, as required by law. This list, with additions when necessary, continues in effect until June 30, 1945 ; and on Dec. 31, 1944, stood as follows :
1944 JURY LIST
Elijah Ames, Myricks St.
Richard W. Babbitt, Bay View Ave.
*Percy L. Baldwin, Myricks St.
Mill worker Farmer Retired
*Roger H. Conant, So. Main St.
S'las E. Brailey, Mill St. Selectman William A. Burt, Myricks St. Retired Florist Melvin DeCosta, Elm St. Frank Furtado, Plain St. Textile worker Crane operator Farmer
*Harry J. Gaffney, Grinnell St.
Omer R. Gagnon, Mill St.
*Anthony S. Gracia, Point St.
William F. Haskins, Mill St.
*Joseph M. Kaye, Jerome St. Cornelius F. Murphy, Myricks St. Nels A. Nelson, Grove St. . Richard A. Perry, Berkley St.
Operator Farmer Sawyer Mason
* Benjamin A. Phillips, Berkley St. John P. Pilling, Berkley St. William G. Ratcliffe, Myricks St.
Crane operator Office worker Trout farmer Machinist Mill worker Textile worker Truck driver Freight agent
William V. Reed, Porter St. Alfred W. Sherman, Berkley St. Arnold W. Silvan, Myricks St.
*George W. Stetson, Mill St. Chester F. White, Locust St.
Norman E. Whittaker, Berkley St.
Foreman Machinist Janitor Carpenter
*Drawn, July 1 to Dec. 31, 1944.
12
ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN OF BERKLEY, MASSACHUSETTS
BY-LAWS
Article I
Section 1. Every Town Meeting shall be called by a warrant directed to a constable, or other duly appointed per- son, by posting attested copies of the said warrant in not less than three public places in the Town, at least seven days be- fore the day fixed for said meeting.
Section 2. There shall be elected annually on the second Monday after the first Saturday, in March, a Moderator for one year, one Selectman for three years, a Treasurer for one year, one Assessor for three years, a Highway Surveyor for one year, one member of the School Committee for three years, a Collector of Taxes for one year. an Auditor for one year, one Trustee of the Library for three years, one Burial Ground Commissioner for three years, and a Tree Warden for one year, seven constables for one year ; and every three years, at such annual election, a Town Clerk to serve for three years. For such purpose the polls shall be open from twelve o'clock noon to eight o'clock P. M.
Section 3. The annual Business Town Meeting shall be held on the first Saturday of March at two o'clock P. M.
Section 4. Every article intended for insertion in the warrant for annual or special Business Town Meetings must be presented in writing to the Selectmen, in accordance with law, not less than three weeks prior to the annual meeting and not less than two weeks before a special Town Meeting. Each of the Articles, unless inserted by the Selectmen, shall be signed personally by not less than ten registered voters.
Section 5. The constable or other person duly appointed to serve the warrant for a Town Meeting shall, immediately after making the service thereof, deliver to the Town Clerk the original warrant, with his return endorsed thereon stating fully the manner in which he served the same.
Article II Procedure at Town Meetings
Section 1. Each annual or special business Town Meet- ing shall be called to order by the Moderator promptly at the
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ANNUAL REPORT
appointed hour. In the absence of the Moderator such meet- ing shall be called to order by the Town Clerk, who shall preside until a temporary Moderator is chosen to act during the absence of the Moderator.
Section 2. Immediately after calling of the meeting to order by the Moderator the warrant for the Town Meeting and the return by the person who served the same shall first be read by the Town Clerk, unless the meeting votes that the reading of the articles in the warrant be omitted.
Section 3. Unless otherwise provided by law or by-law, all motions shall require only a majority vote. Every article in the warrant shall be taken up in its order upon the warrant unless otherwise voted by the meeting, and no motion or resolution, the subject matter of which is not set forth in some article in the warrant, shall be entertained excepting only for the purpose of obtaining the sense of the meeting ; but no such motion or resolution shall be entertained if ten voters object thereto.
Section 4. The vote on any motion, provided the meet- ing so orders, shall be taken by a "Yes" and "No" ballot with the use of the check list.
Section 5. Deleted by Attorney General.
Article III Conveyances of Town Property
Section 1. The Town Clerk shall have the custody of the Town Seal.
Section 2. All conveyances under seal, which may here- after be executed by the Town, pursuant to a vote of the Town or otherwise, shall be sealed with such seal and subscribed by a majority of the Board of Selectmen.
Section 3. The Town Clerk shall keep a true copy (in a book kept for such purposes alone) of all deeds or other in- struments executed by the Selectmen in accordance with the provisions of this by-law.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Town Clerk to see that every conveyance to the Town of any interest in land is properly recorded in the registry of deeds.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Article IV Board of Selectmen
Section 1. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint an- nually such officers as they deem necessary, each to serve for one year.
Article V Board of Public Welfare
Section 1. The Board of Public Welfare shall be com- prised of the duly elected and qualified members of the Board of Selectmen.
Article VI Finance Committee
Section 1. There shall be a Committee, called the Fi- nance Committee, which shall consider any and all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommenda- tions thereon to the voters of the Town. Such committee shall consist of seven voters who shall serve without pay (none of whom during their service on such committee shall hold any regular, elective, or appointive town office, having to do with the expenditure of town money).
Such committee shall be chosen by an appointing com- mittee consisting of the Moderator, the chairman of the Board of Selectmen and the chairman of the last Finance Committee
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Finance Commit- tee to inform themselves concerning those affairs and interests of the Town, the subject-matter of which is included in the warrant for its town meetings, and the Selectmen, the School Committee, and departments not under their supervision, and all other town officers be required to furnish to said Commit- tee, in writing, not later than January 15 of each year, in as much detail as possible, their report of the previous year with their estimates and recommendations of the amounts neces- sary to be appropriated for the support of their several de- partments for the ensuing year. The Finance Committee shall then investigate the estimates and recommendations so pre- sented and give opportunity to said various boards and officers to be heard and explain such estimates and recommendations.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Section 3. The Committee shall at each Town Meeting present and explain' such budget with its advice and recom- mendations : at each special Town Meeting give its advice and recommendations with reference to any appropriation of the town funds or other municipal matter coming before such special meeting.
Article VII Care of Burial Grounds and Lots
Section 1. The Town will accept and forever hold in trust any money or securities which may hereafter be de- posited with the Town Treasurer for the perpetual care, preservation, improvement or embellishment of any public or private place, or any lots or graves therein, agreeably to the provisions of the statutes of the Commonwealth.
Section 2. The Town Treasurer is authorized to enter into agreement in behalf of the Town with the holders of burial rights in any lot in the cemeteries of the Town to keep forever such lot and the structures and grass thereon, in good and neat condition, so far as the same can be done by an expenditure not exceeding the income from any sum of money or not exceeding the income from any securities, which such holder may have deposited with the Town Treasurer for such purpose.
Section 3. Money and securities received under the pro- visions of the preceding section shall not be mingled with cther money or securities of the Town, but shall be kept and invested separately as a cemetery fund and unless otherwise specially provided for in the terms of the gift, the income only shall be used.
Article VIII
Use of Street, Sidewalks, and Public Places
Section 1. No person shall deface, injure or destroy any tree, fence, sign, guide-post, or electric light, telegraph or telephone pole in any street or public way in this town.
Section 2. No person shall accost or address another person with profane, obscene, indecent or insulting language, on any street or public place, or in any public building, and
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ANNUAL REPORT
no person shall be rude, boisterous. indecent, or disorderly on any street, or in any public place or building, annoy or disturb any person peacably thereon or therein.
Section 3. No person shall habitually or otherwise gather or congregate or loaf about, on any street or public place, after being directed by a police officer to cease such gathering or loafing.
Section 4. No person shall coast or skate on any street or public place except such as are designated by the Select- men.
Section 5. No person shall willfully permit any horse or other grazing animal to pasture, graze or go at large on any street or public place.
Section 6. No person, withont lawful authority to do so, shall throw, sweep, place or drop and suffer to remain on any street or public place any ashes, earth, garbage, rubbish, litter, or manure or any noxious or refuse liquid or solid substance, or any glass, nails, tacks, scrap iron or similar articles.
Article IX Prosecutions and Penalties
Section 1. Except when otherwise provided by law. prosecutions for offenses under the by-laws of the Town may be made by any constable or police officer of the Town.
Section 2. Whoever violates any by-law of the Town whereby any act or thing is enjoined, required or prohibited, shall forfeit and pay for each offense a fine not exceeding twenty dollars unless some other penalty is expressly pro- vided by law, or by some by-law to the Town.
Article X Amendments
Section 1. Any by-law of the Town may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any Town Meet- ing provided the proposed amendment is included in the warrant of the Meeting.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Boston, Mass., Sept. 1, 1942
The foregoing by-laws are hereby approved, except that Sec. 5 of Art. II has been deleted.
ROBERT T. BUSHNELL, Attorney General
Certified :
ERVINE A. CHACE, Town Clerk
A true copy : Attest :
FRANCIS F. G. ANDREWS, Temporary Town Clerk
These by-laws, adopted at a legal Town Meeting held March 14, 1942, are hereby published after approval by the Attorney General, as required by Chapter 40, Section 32, General Laws. (Ter. Ed.)
FRANCIS F. G. ANDREWS, Temporary Town Clerk, Town of Berkley, Mass.
1S
ANNUAL REPORT
January 30, 1945
Board of Selectmen and Public Welfare :
Gentlemen :-
In submitting this report as Agent of the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance for the year end- ing December 31, 1944, may I, at the outset, express my sincere appreciation of the kindness, courtesy and co-operation received from you, The Selectmen, and from the Town Treasurer, particularly, and from other Town Officers, the Finance Committee and the citizens of the Town, generally whom it has been a pleasure and privilege to have served. And once again, I gratefully acknowledge the invaluable assistance of our unusually efficient clerk, Miss Bernice M. Andrews.
There have been little change in the total number of active cases in the three categories, but problems concerning the individual cases, plus added reporting and other matters of administration, have demanded more time and work.
Costs of Public Welfare have decreased slightly, but expenditures for Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children, show a small increase. Administration expense was slightly lower. In the A.D.C. Division, we had two cases most of the year as against one in 1943 (we now have three) and in the Old Age branch, higher Budgetary Standards plus medical and hospital costs accounted for the increase. We contemplate another slight increase in most Old Age cases during March.
What the future will demand from the Public Assistance Program can hardly be predicted now with any degree of certainty. With the ending of the World Conflict, which we all sincerely hope will be soon, we may be confronted with many problems. Should history repeat itself, we may be faced again, as we were after the last War, with the stern facts of unemployment or sharply decreased earnings with a resultant heavy increase in costs of Public Relief. Apart from Public Welfare, returning servicemen and women and their dependents will have the right to expect, and should certainly receive, all the consideration and help they need. They have earned and are still earning, with blood, sacrifice and valor, that right.
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ANNUAL REPORT
That these requirements will be met when needed there is no doubt. Until then we can only plan according to present needs and, therefore, I suggest that appropriations for the current year be the same as for 1944 with the exception that the appropriation for Aid to Dependent Children be increased to Two Thousand Dollars instead of One Thousand, as of last year. Reason for this is found in the fact that beginning the year 1944 we had, in our Federal Grant Account available for A.D.C., the sum of $802.21-we have practically nothing in the account beginning 1945. I also suggest that in addition to the appropriation of $100.00 for Soldiers Relief that an account of $100.00 be set up for Military Allowance (World War No. 2) and $100.00 for State Aid.
The summarized Statistical and Financial Report is as follows :-
Cases Cases Cases Active Active Added Closed 1-1-45
Jan. 1, 1944
Public Welfare 3 4
3 4
Aid to Dependent Children 2 2
1
3
Old Age Assistance 36
4
7 33
Soldier's Relief 0
1
1
0
In his report the Town Treasurer, Mr. Andrews, will show in his usual efficient and thorough manner the detailed account of our receipts and expenditures in the different cate- gories of relief or assistance ;-
Summarized they are as follows :-
ASSISTANCE
Public Welfare
Total Receipts Expenditures
$ 2,530.00 2,204.81
Balance
$ 325.19
Expenditures 1943 $2,318.58. Decrease $113.77. Old Age Assistance
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