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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
LE
HINORATA
COUNTY
INCORPORATED
WAD./669
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1921
VW WWW
THE NAMASKOTT PRESS, INC., MIDDLEBORO
A
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
LE
OR
COUNT
OU
PLYMOUTH
MASS
W
H
PINCORPORATE
1669
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1921
3
TOWN OFFICERS 1921
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR ALBERT A. THOMAS
Term expires 1922
TOWN CLERK ALBERT A. THOMAS.
SELECTMEN
WILLIAM G. BOYNTON
Term expires 1924
CHESTER E. WESTON
Term expires 1924
LYMAN P. THOMAS
Term expires 1923
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term expires 1923
WILLIAM M. HASKINS
Term expires 1922
TOWN MANAGER HARRY J. GOODALE.
ASSESSORS
BENJAMIN C. SHAW
Term expires 1924
JAMES F. GARDNER
Term expires 1923
ERNEST S. PRATT Term expires 1922
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
WILLIAM M. HASKINS
Term expires 1924
ELMER E. PHINNEY
Term expires 1923
GILBERT H. SIMMONS
Term expires 1922
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
LORENZO WOOD
Term expires 1924
GEORGE W. STETSON
Term expires 1924
JOHN V. SULLIVAN
Term expires 1923
ALLAN R. THATCHER
Term expires 1923
MRS. ADELIA C. RICHARDS
Term expires 1922
KENDRICK H. WASHBURN
Term expires 1922
4
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS CHARLES H. BATES. HEALTH OFFICER JOHN H. WHEELER.
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS ICHABOD B. THOMAS.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
MICHAEL J. CRONAN
Term expires 1924
WALTER M. CHIPMAN
Term expires 1923
WILLIAM J. COUGHLIN
l'erm expires 1922
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
HENRY W. SEARS
Term expires 1924
THOMAS H. KELLY
Term expires 1924
H. JANE BENNETT
Term expires 1924
WALTER L. BEALS
Term expires 1923
WALTER SAMPSON
Term expires 1923
NATHAN WASHBURN
Term expires 1923
ALLAN R. THATCHER
Term expires 1922
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term expires 1922
MARION K. PRATT
Term expires 1922
CONSTABLES FRED C. SPARROW E. KIMBALL HARRISON ALDEN C. SISSON TREE WARDEN HARRY J. GOODALE.
FOREST WARDEN HARRY J. GOODALE.
MOTH SUPERINTENDENT JOHN J. FOWLER, JR.
5
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
At the close of this, the first year under a new form of town government, the selectmen take occasion to pre- face the reports of town departments with a brief state- ment in retrospect. The early activities of the board con- sisted mainly of the preparation of a budget for the year, for consideration at the adjournment of the annual meeting. With careful paring at all possible points, the total, in view of largely increased costs of labor and materials in all lines, was necessarily the largest in the history of the town,-a condition which of course has been reflected in the tax rate. Even so, it is interesting to note that the Middleboro rate is lower than that of many cities and towns in the state. With the full ap- proval of the selectmen, the newly appointed board of assessors undertook a careful revision of the valuations, with the result that the total valuation of taxable pro- perty was considerably increased. The combination of higher rate and increased valuations has of course made the tax bills of many persons higher than ever before. It is worthy of comment ,however, that very few direct complaints have been received, indicating the practically universal recognition of the essential justice of the changes made, and of the fact that the revision has been a matter of equalization rather than indiscriminate in- crease. It is understood too by all thinking people that the higher taxes of 1921 have nothing whatever to do with the change in the form of town government.
The appointment of a Town Manager gave the select- men much concern, but the board feels that the narrow-
6
ing-down process which they adopted with the large field of candidates resulted favorably to the town in the choice of Mr. Harry J. Goodale, who has proved an able and efficient executive.
Various town departments have been subjected to careful scrutiny during the year, notably the water de- partment, which has been thoroughly re-organized. A considerable saving in salaries has been effected by Mr. Goodale's assuming the work of the superintendent, thereby cutting off an annual charge of $1600, and by further reductions in the force. With the installation of the new pumps a further large economy in operation will be effected. Necessary renewal of the coke in the rieseler and of the sand in the filter beds has been carried out, at much temporary inconvenience to users, but with re- sults which will obviate similar future difficulty. The office work of this department has been removed from the inconveniently located building on Forest Street., the erection of which in the first place was a project of doubtful wisdom, and is combined in a collection office with the gas and electric department, an arrangement which lends itself to the convenience of the public as well as to economical and efficient operation of the office itself.
The reading of all kinds of meters and the collection of bills in arrears has been combined with the work of the sealer of weights and measures and various other minor functions, in the hands of a single employe, thereby avoiding needless travel and duplication of work. Inci- dently it may be stated that gratifying headway is being made in the collection of a large amount of water, gas and electric bills which were found to be in arrears; and regulations have been adopted which should prevent a re- currence of such conditions.
After considerable investigation of other possibilities the selectmen, as authorized by a previous town meeting,
7
renewed the contract with the Plymouth Electric Light Co. for the furnishing of current, the new contract being indeterminate as to duration and containing sev- eral other modifications which it is expected will work out to the advantage of the town.
The police department has been benefitted by sev- eral changes in personnel, and the board feels especially gratified at the conduct of this department under Chief Alden C| Sisson, who was one of the board's early ap- pointees.
The foregoing is a fragmentary resume of some of the principal activities of the selectmen during the year just closed. Town government is essentially a long- haul affair, in which definite results are seldom im- mediately visible. The board however feels justified in claiming that a fair start has been made under the new system, and trusts that the ultimate results of its opera- tion will prove satisfactory to successive generations of voters.
One word in closing, as to the basic principle of the Town Manager form of government. Arising more or less naturally, and carefully fostered by opponents of the change, the idea had some prevalence a year ago that the management of town affairs was to be turned over to an autocrat in the person of a so-called Town Manager, and that democratic, popular government was to be abandoned. Nothing could be further from the truth. The town government is really closer to the people than ever before. The town manager is not an autocrat nor a boss; he is merely the executive charged with the duty of putting into operation the policies laid down by the selectmen, and as the responsible head of various town departments he becomes the person to whom the town looks for results. He is the appointee of the select- men, and the selectmen are directly answerable to the voters. No arrangement could be simpler, more demo-
8
cratic, or better calculated to produce good government.
The present board of selectmen appreciates the atti- tude of the town during the past year. It bespeaks for the future the hearty co-operaton of every citizen; it courts every honest criticism. Its operations are open to every scrutiny, it welcomes advice, counsel and com- plaint, and pledges to all citizens its best efforts for a business administration and for every activity which will make Middleboro a better town in which to live.
WILLIAM G. BOYNTON, Chairman.
CHESTER E. WESTON, LYMAN P. THOMAS, WILLIAM M. HASKINS, THEODORE N. WOOD, Clerk.
REPORT OF TOWN MANAGER.
Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
In making the first annual report of the Town Manager Form of Government, of the Town of Middle- boro, I will eliminate details regarding the different de- partments, as these will be found in separate and com- plete reports of the same.
To organize this form of government, it was found necessary, in the lines of business efficiency, to consoli- date the forces of the various departments into one office, and establish a uniform system of bookkeeping for all. This has been done, with the result that at present the clerks of the Town Manager, Water, Gas, Electric Light, Highway, and other departments are in one office at the Town House, thus enabling the Town Manager to keep in close touch with the financial con- ditions of all branches. The fact that this office is di- rectly across the hall from the Town Clerk, Treasurer and Collectors office, makes it much more convenient for citizens to transact business with the Town. While these quarters are rather small, considering the amount of work to be done, we hope to get along for another year or two.
Your Manager has endeavored to get in touch with details of all departments, and improvements have been made in some of them. Special attention has been paid
10
to the Water and Highway Departments, and a full ac- count of the changes made will appear in the detail re- ports.
From a financial standpoint, this form of Govern- ment has been a great help to the Water Department, as the duties of the Superintendent have been taken over by your Manager, thereby saving a salary of $1,- 600.00 per year, and by your assuming the duties of Water Commissioners and eliminating the services of a consulting engineer on the care of the filter beds, an additional saving of $600.00 has been made. These sums have been put into the plant, details of which will ap- pear in a separate report.
As the School Committee and Overseers of the Poor receive no salary under this form of Government, and as the duties of the Auditor, Board of Health, and Gas and Electric Commissioners are now performed by the Selectmen, who are also an unpaid Board, an additional saving of $2,400.00 has been made, making a total saving to the Town in salaries alone of $4,600.00.
HIGHWAYS.
Special attention has been given to this department, also, and although Mr. Baker did very good work in this department in 1920, it could not be expected that the results of their neglect for a few years previous could be overcome in one year. A large proportion of the appropriation for the maintenance of the highways had to be spent in tar patching and oiling. This work had to be done in order to save the macadam roads. The re- mainder of the appropriation was spent on the outside roads.
We expect that a smaller amount of oiling will be necessary this year, thus leaving more to be spent on the outside roads.
11
MUNICIPAL LIGHT & POWER DEPT.
Few changes have been made in this department, although we have established a sales room for electric and gas appliances in the old Water Works office on For- est Street. It has not appeared as yet that we could keep this open every day, but we have made many sales to consumers, thereby enabling them to save considera- ble money.
Studies are being made of the Muttock Dam site with the hope that a Hydro Electric Plant at that point will be feasible.
On April 1st, Louis C. Littlejohn was appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures, and to his duties was added the reading of the water, gas and electric light meters, thus making a saving in the reading of the meters, as well as making the office of Sealer of Weights and Measures much more efficient.
Other changes are contemplated, details of which are not as yet completed.
The purchasing of supplies for all departments ot the Town is done through this office, and a great deal of time and thought has been put into this matter.
As Municipal accounts are very much desired by all business houses, we are able to secure very low figures on all articles. The wholesalers well know that "ef- ficiency" is the watchword of every Town Manager, that his record depends on his ability to purchase the best materials at the lowest possible price, and they must "deliver the goods." Quotations have been asked for and received from several sources in almost every in- stance before an order was placed. In the matter of School Supplies we found quite a difference in prices on similar articles. The same thing is true in Electric Light, Highway and other departments. Discounts on
12
bills presented have been promptly taken advantage of, and that, together with savings made by competitive quotations have resulted in a saving to the Town of many hundrds of dollars, which offsets to a large extent the salary paid the Town Manager.
In the spring the fuel requirements of the Town were ascertained and contracts were let for the furnish- ing and delivering of all fuel during the summer months, when the best material at the lowest prices could be ob- tained. Therefore every department has on hand a suf- ficient supply to satisfy its needs until next summer.
The Legisative Act establishing the Town Manager Form of Government for this Town made no provision for the establishing of the office of Town Accountant. The books of the Town, therefore, must be kept by this department in such detail that the Selectmen, who are the Auditors, can at all times ascertain the financial con- dition of any department. A system of bookkeeping has therefore been established in the office, where all details are kept. All bills are approved by the Town Manager and charged to the various items of each department, then listed on a warrant signed by the Town Manager, and turned over to the Town Treasurer for payment. The approved and paid bills are numbered and filed un- der the heading of each department, thus making it easy to trace or find any bills desired.
The Town Treasurer simply keeps the totals of each department as they appear on the budget.
Owing to the fact that your Manager did not as- sume his duties until April 1st, the detail costs in some of the departments are not as complete as we could wish, but the system is now well established and there is no reason why any information desired can not be ob- tained during the coming year.
The financial condition of this Town is among the best, and. while our tax rate was raised last year, even
13
this amount did not offset the increased cost of labor and materials as compared with pre-war prices. We have, however, reached what seems to me the limit of the rate of taxation, and every effort must be made to reduce this burden as far as possible.
I wish to thank the Selectmen for the many cour- tesies extended to me, and for their valuable advice and assistance during the past year.
The Town of Middleboro is indeed fortunate in hav- ing the services of such men.
I also wish to thank the department heads and all others who have worked so earnestly to make this year a success.
The detail reports of the various departments are submitted herewith.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE,
Town Manager. .
-
14
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ORGANIZATION, 1921
GEORGE W. STETSON, Chairman
CHARLES H. BATES, Secretary
MEMBERS
Term Expires
George W. Stetson, 118 So. Main St. Tel. 10-W
1924
Lorenzo Wood, Plymouth St. Tel. 311-W
1924
John V. Sullivan, 114 So. Main St. Tel. 131-R
1923
Allan R. Thatcher, 1 Webster St. Tel. 105-M 1923
Adelia C. Richards, 86 Pearl St. Tel. 213-M 1922
Kendrick H. Washburn, 70 So. Main St. Tel. 72-R
1922
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS CHARLES H. BATES, 14 Reland Street Telephone 81-W Office, Room 7, Town Hall Telephone 81-R
Office Hours, School Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 4 to 5 P. M., Tuesdays and Thursdays 8 to 2 A. M.
15
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, excepting July and August, at 7:30 P. M.
REGULAR MEETINGS, 1922
January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, June 29, September 7, October 5, November 2, Decem- ber 7.
SUB-COMMITTEES, 1921
High, Thomastown and Wappanucket Schools.
GEORGE W. STETSON.
School Street, Fall Brook and Purchade Schools.
LORENZO WOOD.
Forest Street and Thompsonville and Soule Schools, JOHN V. SULLIVAN.
West Side, Plymouth Street and Pleasant Street Schools,
ADELIA C. RICHARDS.
Town House, Rock and So. Middleboro Schools. ALLAN R. THATCHER.
Union Street, Green and Waterville Schools. KENDRICK H. WASHBURN.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. James H. Burkhead, 11 Peirce Street Telephone Residence 536-R Office 536-W
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER
John H. Wheeler
60 Everett Street
Telephone 407-W
16
JANITORS OF CENTRAL BUILDINGS
High School,
Charles H. Goodwin, Forest Street Extension Union Street and Town House Schools
Luther S. Bailey, 23 Forest Street
School Street School Thomas S. Phinney, 24 Pearl Street
Forest Street School Martin Hanley, 85 Oak Street
West Side School Samuel S. Lovell, 210 Centre Street
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1922 HIGH SCHOOL
Winter Term
Spring Term Fall Term
Winter Term
January 3-March 24, 12 weeks. April 3-June 30, 13 weeks. September 11-December 22, 15 weeks 1923-January 2
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
First Term January 3-February 24, 8 weeks. Second Term March 6-April 28, 8 weeks Third Term May 8-June 23, 7 weeks Fourth Term September 11-December 22, 15 weeks Winter Term 1923-January 2
17
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
For the year ending December 31, 1921.
APPROPRIATIONS
Salary of Supt. of Schools
$ 3,100.00
Salary of Teachers
64,050.00
Salary of Janitors
4,000.00
Salary of School Physician
400.00
Tuition
500.00
Books
1,500.00
Deficit 1920
1,707.18
$75,257.18
Less estimated income
7,000.00
$68,257.18
Less deficit appropriation
1,707.18
Net appropriation
$66,550.00
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Middleboro, Mass., January 5, 1922.
To the School Board :
I respectfully submit my annual report as Super- intendent of the Middleboro Public Schools for the year ending December 31, 1921.
The attendance for the school year ending June 23, 1921, was 1640 pupils, an increase of 112 over the pre- vious year, while the average membership for the year was 1505 and the average daily attendance 1399. The increase last year over the year ending in June, 1919, was 203. The increase for 1922 promises to be still larger as the October enrollment of 1921 showed a gain of 119 pupils over the enrollment of October, 1920. Of this October increase, there was a gain of 51 in the High School, 26 in the Central Elementary Schools and 42 in the Suburban Schools.
As the number of non-resident pupils was only 74 as compared with 64 for 1920, the gain in membership was nearly all from pupils living in Middleboro.
The High School enrollment last year was 233. This year there has been enrolled 282-59 non-resident pupils and 223 living in Middleboro. Last year there were 49 non-resident pupils in the High School. These 59 non-resident pupils are from the neighboring towns, 29 coming from Lakeville, 23 from Plympton, and 7 from Rochester.
A conservative estimate will place the membership in the High School next September at 325, as a class of over 100 will be eligible for admission in June. A still larger class, based on the present eighth grade mem- bership, will be ready for admission in June, 1923.
The increase in the enrollment at the West Side will call for a new grading next September. Although
19
a two-room portable building was added to the equip- ment two years ago the six rooms will not accommo- date the membership next year and it will be necessary to transfer the ninth grade to the School Street building.
The work of teaching so many large groups of pupils as are enrolled in many of the Central Schools has been aided the present year by the assignment of student teachers from the Bridgewater Normal School to the Union Street, Forest Street and West Side build .. ings.
These student teachers assist the regular teachers in carrying on some of the recitation work and in coach- ing of backward pupils and are a decided factor in keep- ing these schools up to a standard which would be im- possible without such assistance.
With the assistance of these student teachers all the pupils in the Central Elementary Schools are hav- ing a full day schooling excepting the first grade in the Union Street building, which still remains on the half- time plan.
It is evident that the most important educational problem that now confronts Middleboro is what to do with the increasing enrollment in the High and Central elementary schools. If something is not done soon such unsatisfactory plans as the half-time and double shift will have to be put in force in other grades.
At the School Street building a new policy has been adopted this year. In order to give more opportunity and time for a closer inspection of the discipline and work in the several rooms of the building an assistant teacher has been engaged to assist the principal in the work of his room so that he can at any time visit any other room. This assistant also acts as a pupil coach, being assigned at stated times for individual instruc- ยท tion of the backward pupils in the several rooms. Un-
20
der this arrangement a better co-operation between principal and teachers is resulting and it is hoped there will be fewer cases of non-promotions next June.
The enrollment in the suburban schools is larger at. the present time than for several years.
The plan of having grades 7, 8 and 9 in the Pur- chade and Green schools, grades 8 and 9 at Fall Brook and grade 9 at Rock and South Middleboro attend the central schools is still in operation, relieving these schools of these grades but increasing the correspond- ing grades at the center.
The congestion at the Rock school this year-the membership now numbering 53-has been relieved by having grade one attend afternoon session only and grade two the morning session only .. This arrangement makes a membership of 47 for each session.
There have been more than the usual number of changes n the teaching corps the past year as the fol- lowing table will show:
High School 2 withdrawals 3 appointments
Central School
5 withdrawals 6 appointments 6 transferals
Suburban School
6 withdrawals 7 appointments
Our teaching corps is composed of a body of faith- ful, painstaking and conscientious teachers, imbued with the professional spirit for doing the best work that can be done under present conditions. Many of them are takng correspondence courses and a few at- tended last Summer courses of instruction in summer schools.
It is pleasing to note that at the town meeting in February the town voted a flat increase of $200 to each teacher, retroactive to January 1. This places the sal- aries of the female teachers more on a par with those of other towns of the state the size of Middleboro.
The salaries now received by our teachers are as follows :
.
1
21
HIGH SCHOOL.
Principal
$3,100.00
Commercial Teacher
2,200.00
2,100.00
Science Teacher Female Assistants
1,500.00
CENTRAL SCHOOLS.
Principals
School Street School
1,800.00
Town House School
1,400.00
West Side School
1,400.00
Union Street School
1,300.00
Forest Street School
1,250.00
Suburban Teachers.
Minimum
$1,150.00
Maximum
1,200.00
At the present time only one teacher is receiving the minimum of $1,150.00.
Supervisor of Music (3 days a week)
$1,200.00
Supervisor of Drawing (3 days a week) 1,000.00
At a special town meeting last year an appropria- tion of $150 was made for carrying on courses of vo- cational work in dressmakng, millinery and home nurs- ing in the Middleboro Evening Practical Arts Classes for Women under the direction of the School Board. These classes have done excellent work and the mem- bers in each course have been much interested. As the interest in the work is so great and the practical value of the courses worthy of recognition and encouragement,
22
the Board has asked for an appropriation of $300 this year. Half of the amount is reimbursed the town by the State. The teachers in these courses this year are:
Dressmaking Millinery Home Nursing
Helen N. Rose
Mary McDonald Loretta E. McGuire
It is interesting to note the general increase in at- tendance in the state in these courses. During the year 1919-20, over 10,000 different women were reached through the evening practical arts classes as against 5,295 of the previous year.
In closing this report I would express my apprecia- tion of the excellent work of the different auxiliary agencies which are a valuable part of our school work.
The Mothers' Club, The Parent-Teacher Associa- tion, The Junior Red Cross Society, The Middleboro Teachers' Association, The Community Centre, The Boys' Clubs, The Girls' Clubs, The District Nursing Association, The Thrift Clubs, have all been worthy helps in the many different phases of educational train- ing.
I ask the citizens of the town to read the interest- ing reports of the School Physician, Supervisor of Music, of Drawing, and of Penmanship, that they may know how the money appropriated for such special work is being expended, and may learn how the health of their children is being safeguarded and their latent ability for intelligent expression is being brought out and encouraged in music and art.
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