Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1948, Part 1

Author: Middleboro (Mass.)
Publication date: 1948
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 146

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Annual Report

OF THE

TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH

MASSACHUSETTS

ORO

UTH

OUN

ATY, MAS

INCORPORATED

For the Year Ending December 31 1948

ORGANIZATION CHART

TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH

ELECTORATE

Planning Board

Finance Committee

Treas. and Collector

SELECTMEN

Assessors

Moderator

School Com.

TOWN MANAGER

Town Counsel

Town Clerk and Acct.

Park Comm.

Tree Warden

Forest Warden

Insp. Wires

Dog Officer

Fire Dept.

Police Dept.

Registrars of Voters

Library Trustees

Sealer Wts and Meas.

Water Dept.

Gas and Elec. Dept.

Welfare Dept.

Highway Dept.

Health Dept.

Sewer

Insp. Plumbing

Rubbish and Garbage

Clinics

Insp. Animals Slaughtering Milk

Annual Report OF THE

TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO

MASSACHUSETTS

LEE

ORO

OUTH AN

COUNTY,

MI1

PLYMOU

TY, MASS

INCORPORATED

SAD./669

For the Year Ending December 31 1948

MIDDLEBOROUGH MASSACHUSETTS

GENERAL INFORMATION AND FIGURES ABOUT THE TOWN

Elevation-100 feet above sea level Settled-1660

Incorporated as a Town-1669 Population 1945 Census-9,596 Valuation-$10,032,900 (exclusive of automobiles) Tax Rate -- $58.00 per thousand

Area-68.1 square miles Number of Dwellings-2,494 Number of Manufacturers-15 Miles of Street-148 Municipally Owned-Water, gas, electric light plants Motorized Police and Fire Departments Schools in Class A Municipally Owned-Swimming pool, tennis courts,

playgrounds

PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES

Fire Apparatus Varnishes Shoes Drug Sundries Brass Goods Grain Elevator

and Thirty Other Products The Center of the Cranberry Industry

LOCATED

35 Miles from Boston 22 Miles from New Bedford 30 Miles from Providence, R. I.

RAILROAD CENTER Direct Rail Connections with

Provincetown Boston

New York

Brockton

Direct Bus Connections with

Providence New Bedford Taunton

Boston Brockton Bridgewater Plymouth

Carver

TOWN OFFICERS, 1948 Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare

Ralph E. Nourse

Term expires 1949

Ralph W. Maddigan, Jr.

Term expires 1950

George E. Wheeler William J. MacDougall

Term expires 1951

Manuel J. Silvia, Chairman

Term expires 1951

Town Managers

Edward C. Peterson Roger W. Macdonald

Moderator

Fletcher Clark, Jr. Term expires 1949

Town Clerk and Town Accountant

Waldo S. Thomas

Term expires 1951

Treasurer and Collector

Chester L. Shaw Term expires 1950

Welfare Agent George C. Mckay

Town Counsel

L. Francis Callan Term expires 1949

School Committee

George A. Shurtleff, Jr.

Term expires 1949

Virginia C. Smith

Term expires 1949

Joseph F. Riley

Term expires 1950

Ronald G. Thatcher

Term expires 1950

Lorenzo Wood, Chairman

Term expires 1951

Horace K. Atkins

Term expires 1951

Superintendent of Schools J. Stearns Cushing Assessors

Fred F. Churbuck Harrison F. Shurtleff, Chairman

James E. Houlihan

Term expires 1949 Term expires 1950 Term expires 1951

Finance Committee

Alexander M. Barta

Term expires 1949

Frederick W. daCosta

Term expires 1949

James J. Mahoney, Chairman

Term expires 1949

David W. Burgess

Term expires 1950

Charles P. Washburn

Term expires 1950

Charles W. Giberti

Term expires 1951

Arnold Thomas

Term expires 1951

Registrars of Voters

Sarah A. Sheehy George E. Gove William P. Scanlon, Chairman

Term expires 1949 Term expires 1950 Term expires 1951

Trustees of the Public Library

Helen N. Whitcomb

Term expires 1949

Theodore N. Wood, President

Term expires 1949

Thomas Weston

Term expires 1949

Myra A. Shaw

Term expires 1950

Ernest E. Thomas

Term expires 1950

William J. MacDougall

Term expires 1950

Joseph Riley

Term expires 1951

Thomas H. Kelly

Term expires 1951

M. Ethel Washburn

Term expires 1951

Park Commissioners

Ralph B. Mendall

Bartlett H. Harrison

Roger W. Macdonald

Chief of the Fire Department Bertram Tripp

Managers Gas and Electric Department Roger W. Macdonald Hermon R. Dyke

Health Officer Dr. Bertram N. Cameron

Superintendent of Streets Louis H. Forney

Chief of the Police Department Alden C. Sisson

Veterans' Service Agent Louis A. Cole

Constables

Alden C. Sisson

Clarence L. Shaw

Tree Warden Louis Forney

Forest Warden Bertram Tripp

Fish Warden George Barney

Moth Suerintendent Louis Forney Sealer of Weights and Measures Fred F. Churbuck

Inspector of Animals, Milk, Slaughtering John Rebell

Inspector of Wires Emilio N. Niro

Inspector of Plumbing Harry Rowe

Dog Officer Arthur F. Benson

Burial Agent Louis A. Cole

Keeper of Lock-up Alden C. Sisson

Trustee M.L.H.P. Luxury Fund George C. Mckay

Agent for Care of Veterans' Graves Ernest E. Thomas

Field Driver and Pound Keeper Alden C. Sisson

Police Matron

Laura Norris

Town Physician Dr. Sterling McLean

Health Dentist Dr. Louis D. Fuller

Agent of Liquor Establishments to Represent the Board Alden C. Sisson

Fence Viewers

Sheldon L. Phinney

Leo A. Quindley

Romeo Millette

Public Weighers

Ernest S. Pratt

Annie C. Place Nellie Kelley Garrett Whitty

Winifred S. Carver Henry P. Smith Howard Lincoln Bettina Eaton

Charles S. Carver

John Dutra John G. Farmer Lester Briggs

Chester Camandona

Francis Nicholls

Wilfred J. Bois

Robert J. Greenwood

Measurers of Wood, Bark and Lumber

Ernest S. Pratt Ernest Standish

Gilbert M. Simmons Charles S. Bassett, Jr. Alfred DesRosiers

REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK For the Year Ending December 31, 1948

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

January 19, 1948, with its Adjournments

Article 1: To choose all necessary town officers, the following officers to be voted on one ballot, viz: A Moderator for one year; two Selectmen for three years; two members of the School Committee for three years; one Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for two years; one member of the Board of Assessors for three years; two members of the Finance Com- mittee for three years; one member of the Planning Board for one year; one member of the Planning Board for two years; one member of the Planning Board for three years; one member of the Planning Board for four years; one member of the Planning Board for five years.

Meeting was called to order at 11:45 A.M. in Precinct 1 by Bert J. Allan, in Precinct 2 by Moderator Fletcher Clark, and Precinct 3 by Harlas L. Cushman.

The polls were declared open at 12 noon.

The following election officers were sworn in:

Pct. 1-Bert J. Allan, Robert C. West, Leila M. Allan, Inez M. Chandler, Maurice J. Guerin, Georgianna M. Townsend, Ruth C. Caswell and Ernest T. N. Morgan was the Police Officer.

Pct. 2 -- Elisha H. Shaw, Laura Norris, Gertrude B. Martin, Esther Robi- doux, Annie Healey, Mary E. Kelly, John Touhy, Jacob Swift, Doris A. Heath, Esther E. McKay, Elizabeth Devlin, Mary H. Casey, Agnes Murdoch, Louise Cashon, and Chief Sisson was the Police Officer.

Pct. 3-Harlas L. Cushman, Chester Thomas, Ellen C. Gallagher, Viola Cushman, Frank Jefferson, Susan Brackett, Alice MacAllister, Bessie Sweeney, and Richmond Matthews was the Police Officer.

The result of the vote was as follows:

Pct. 1

Pct. 2

Pct. 3

Totals

Moderator

Fletcher Clark, Jr.

1,007

128

1,196

Joseph Mackiewicz

Blanks

335

391

1,343

161

1,588

Selectmen

Otto P. Becker, Jr.

205

241

Maurice S. Braga

William J. MacDougall

568

691

Romeo Millette

240

273

Henry J. Morrison

Joseph A. Picone

237

295

Manuel J. Silvia

868

113

1,027

Frederick W. Thorley

247

277

Blanks

181

206

168

2,686

322

3,176

Pct. 1

Pct. 2

Pct. 3

Totals

School Committee

Horace K. Atkins

1,057

136

1,252

Lorenzo Wood

1,018

131

1,210

Franklin G. Harlow

608

711

168

2,686

322

3,176

Finance Committee

Charles V. Giberti

1,027

124

1,210

Philip P. Marra

313

373

Arnold L. Thomas

894

104

1,042

Blanks

452

551

168

2,686

322

3,176

Assessor

James E. Houlihan

1,034

125

1,218

Blanks

309

370

1,343

161

1,588

Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes

Chester L. Shaw

1,063

136

1,264

Blanks

280

324

1,343

161

1,588

Planning Board for one year

Arthur Dunham

Otto Becker

George M. Ryder

Charles Devlin

James J. Thompson

Charles J. Waters

Blanks

1,336

161

1,579

1,343

161

1,588

Planning Board for two years

William MacDougall

George M. Ryder Blanks

1,341

161

1,586

1,343

161

1,588

Planning Board for three years

George I. Dunham John Scanlon

Joseph C. Kunces Blanks

1,340

161

1,585

1,343

161

1,588

Planning Board for four years Harold A. Atkins C. Trafton Mendall

Stewart Willis

Blanks

1,340

161

1,585

1,343

161

1,588

Edgar E. Wilbur Robert C. Long Blanks

Pct. 1 Pct. 2 Pct. 3 Totals

Planning Board for five years

Henry B. Burkland Robert F. Howes Lorenzo Wood Blanks

1,340

161

1,584

1,343

161

1,588

TABULATION OF VOTES

Men

Women

Totals

Precinct 1

Precinct 2

820

523

1,343

Precinct 3

161

The result of the vote was announced at 10 P.M.

ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING February 9, 1948

Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Moderator Clark.

Article 2: To raise such sums of money by tax or otherwise as may be necessary to defray the expense of the town for the current year, to appropriate the same and act anything in relation to the assessment and collection of taxes for the year.

Voted the following departmental appropriations:

General Government

Assessors

$9,159.67

Election and Registration

2,832.00

Finance Committee

250.00

Law Department

872.75

Moderator

50.00

Board of Selectmen

1,682.00

Town Clerk and Accountant

5,238.50

Town Hall

9,277.00

Town Manager

7,780.00

Treasurer and Collector

8,706.87

Total General Government $45,918.79

It was voted that the salaries in the Assessors, Treasurer and Collector Departments be retroactive to January 1, 1948.

Protection of Persons and Property

Dog Officer

$410.00

Fire Department

49,314.64

Forest Fires

1,655.00

Inspector of Wires

682.00

Moth Department

4,675.00

Police Department

26,560.75

Sealer of Weights and Measures

1,299.00

Tree Warden

850.00

Total Protection of Persons and Property $85,446.39

Highway Department

Highway Department $51,930.00

Total Highway $51,930.00

Health and Sanitation

Health Department

$28,559.23

Total Health and Sanitation $28,559.23

Charities and Veterans Benefits

Aid to Dependent Children $29,814.54

Old Age Assistance

55,929.81

General Welfare

24,207.51

Town Infirmary

20,795.00

Veterans Benefits

11,004.00

Total Charities and Veterans Benefits $241,750.86

Schools and Library

School Department $260,961.10

Public Library

11,673.00

Total Schools and Library $272,634.10

Unclassified

$16,557.78

Total Unclassified

$16,557.78

Pensions

Pensions $5,408.80

Total Pensions

$5,408.80

Water Department

$36,895.00

Total Water Department

$36,895.00

Interest on Municipal Indebtedness

$10,550.00

Total Interest on Municipal Indebtedness

$10,550.00

The sum of $10,500.00 is to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account and the balance of $50.00 is to be raised by taxation.

Municipal Indebtedness

$40,032.00

Total Municipal Indebtedness

$40,032.00

The sum of $40,032.00 is to be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account.

Reserve Fund

$10,000.00

Total Reserve Fund

$10,000.00

The total sum of $10,000.00 is to be transferred from the Surplus Overlay Account in the sum of $6,316.83 and the balance of $3,683.17 by taxation.

Total Amount Appropriated under the Budget $845,612.95

Amount to be transferred from E. and D. $50,532.00 Amount to be transferred from Surplus Overlay 6,316.83

Amount to be raised by taxation $788,764.12

Article 3: To see if the town will vote to authorize the Town Treas- urer, 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, 1948, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accord with Section 17, Chapter 44 of the General Laws.

Voted to adopt.

Article 4: To hear the report of any committees or officers of the town, to appoint any committee or take any action relative thereto.

The following motion was made: That articles 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 30 be referred back to the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager for further study and that they be instructed to insert in the war- rant for the next special or annual town meeting, whichever is called first, an article that will provide for the raising of funds for these water exten- sions by bond issue or otherwise. This motion was withdrawn.

Voted that the subject matter of Articles 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 30 be referred back to the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager for further study and that they be instructed to insert in the warrant for the next special or annual town meeting, whichever is called first, articles that will provide for raising of funds for the proposed water extensions.

Mr. MacDougall presented the following report for the School Build- ing Committee :--

REPORT OF SCHOOLHOUSE BUILDING COMMITTEE

Middleboro, Massachusetts February 9, 1948

At the annual town meeting in 1946, the Schoolhouse Building Com- mittee presented a report of progress toward the preparation of plans and specifications for a new high school to help solve the school housing prob- lem of the immediate future.

During the past two years, your committee has held many meetings and conferences with the architects, the educational consultant, and the school department heads. The plans have been continually revised and improved, and on April 29, 1947 the plans were accepted as complete and the architect authorized to file a set, with required specifications, at the Federal Works Agency.

The working drawings, specifications, and large scale detail drawings were approved by the Federal Works Agency and the third payment made. Your committee now has all detail necessary to obtain estimates and bids when building costs appear to justify construction.

In order to save valuable time when construction is possible, your committee has requested under Article 22 on the warrant for this meeting that the town seek permission from the Legislature to borrow above the debt limit when the construction of the new building is authorized by the voters. This request from the general court carries no obligation in any way but, by receiving approval now, one future delay may be avoided and time will be an important element.

Your committee submits this as a report of continued progress. We realize the pressing need for added school housing and will come before the voters with definite proposals as soon as prices warrant action.

Respectfully submitted,

HARRY J. GOODALE, Chairman MANUEL J. SILVIA WILLIAM J. MacDOUGALL DR. EDWARD L. PERRY

Article 5: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture a sum not exceeding two hundred ($200.) dollars, and choose a Town Direc- tor for one (1) year, as provided in Sections 41 and 45 of revised Chapter 128 of the General Laws, or take any action relative thereto.

Voted to raise and appropriate for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture the sum of $200.00 and choose H. Arthur Standish as Town Director for one year as provided in Sections 41 and 45 of revised Chapter 128 of the General Laws.

Article 6: To see if the town will vote that the income from sales of gas and electricity to private consumers or for gas and electricity supplied to municipal buildings or for municipal power and street lights, be appro- priated for the Municipal Lighting Plant, the whole to be expended by the Manager of the Municipal Lighting under the direction and control of the Board of Selectmen for the expense of the plant for said fiscal year, as defined in Section 57 of Chapter 164 of General Laws, and act thereon.

Voted to adopt.

Article 7: To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of twenty thousand ($20,000.00) dollars by transfer from the available funds in the Middleboro Gas and Electric Department for the use of the Assessors in fixing the tax rate for the year 1948, or act anything thereon.

Voted to adopt.

Article 8: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of two thousand ($2,000.) dollars to meet the town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, and that in addition the sum of four thousand ($4,000.) dollars be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State's and County's shares of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and County to be restored, upon their receipt, to unappropriated available funds in the treasury, and act thereon.

Voted to adopt.

Article 9: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of five thousand ($5,000.) dollars to meet the town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Construction, and that, in addition, the sum of fifteen thousand ($15,000.) dollars be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State's and County's shares of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and County to be restored, upon their receipt, to unappropriated available funds in the treas- ury, and act thereon.

Voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,500.00 to meet the town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Construction, and that, in addition ,the sum of $13,500.00 be transferred from unappropriated available funds in the treasury to meet the State's and County's shares of the cost of the work, the reimbursements from the State and County to be restored, upon their re- ceipt, to unappropriated available funds in the Treasury.

Article 10: To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into agreements for the acquisition or maintenance of Parking Meters as provided by Chapter 442 of the Acts of 1947, and act any- thing thereon.

No action taken.

Article 11: To see if the town will vote to transfer from free cash, the sum of Seventy-Five Hundred ($7,500.) dollars for the purpose of pur- chasing a snow loader for the Highway Department, and act anything thereon.

No action taken.

Article 12: To see if the town will vote to accept Woodlawn Street, as laid out by the Selectmen, appropriate a sum of money therefor, or take any action relative thereto. (By request.)

Voted to accept Woodlawn Street as laid out by the Board of Selectmen as follows:

"Beginning at a stake set in the southerly street line of Wareham Street at the intersection of the westerly street line of Woodlawn Street at the corner of the property now or formerly owned by Clarence and Isabelle R. Wright, thence, at an angle of 78 deg. 7 min. with the street line of Wareham Street, and in a southerly direction, by the property now or formely owned by Clarence and Isabelle R. Wright a distance of 294 feet +; thence on same course by the property now or for- merly owned by Edwin H. Norris a distance of 435 feet +; thence on the same course by the property now or formerly owned by Frank M. Raymond a distance of 325 feet +; to a stake 105.4 feet - distant from the southerly street line of Wareham Street; thence at an angle of 90 deg., with the last described line and in an easterly direction, a distance of 40.0 feet to a stake; thence at an angle of 90 deg. and parallel to the westerly street line described above, and in a northerly direction, by the land now or formerly owned by Crawford and Barbara Wright a distance of 572.0 feet -; thence on the same course as the last described line by the land now or formerly owned by Elwin H. and Doris H. Norris a distance of 167 feet ++; thence on the same course by the land now or formerly owned by Wilfred and Barbara Gerrior a distance of 162 feet ++; thence on the same course by the land now or formerly owned by Sylvania R. D'Elia a distance of 146 feet + to the southerly street line of Wareham Street; thence at an angle of 101 deg. 53 min. with last described course, and in a northwesterly direction and in the southerly street line of Wareham Street, a distance of 40.9 feet - to the point of beginning. Further reference is made to plan on file in Office of Town Clerk,"

and raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the construction thereof.

Article 13: To see if the town will vote to transfer the sum of Forty- Eight Hundred Twenty-One Dollars and Twenty-Four Cents ($4,821.24) from the Road Machinery Fund to the Road Machinery Account, and act anything thereon.

Voted to transfer the sum of $4,851.24 from the Road Machinery Fund to the Road Machinery Account.

Article 14: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate, by loan or otherwise, the sum of Three Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($330,000.) for the purpose of constructing a sewage disposal system which includes only the necessary work to collect and treat sewage now, or to be, discharged into the Nemasket River and substantially in accordance with the plans prepared by Weston & Sampson, Engineers, of Boston, Massachu- setts, and that the Selectmen be authorized to procure such lands as may be needed for the sewage disposal treatment plant site, the pumping station site, and the rights of way for the pipe lines, either by purchase or other- wise, and to meet such appropriation of $330,000, Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) of this sum shall be included in the tax levy of the year 1948, and the remainder shall be raised by the issue of bonds or notes of the town, and the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is au- thorized and empowerd to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor in the sum not to exceed Three Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand ($327,000) Dol- lars, payable in not more than thirty years in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, of the General Laws.

Voted to adopt. The vote was Yes - 334, No - 1.

Article 15: To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for water system extension beginning at the intersection of Plymouth and Bedford Streets (or just South of this intersection, according to the present plans) to be continued on Bedford Street to the intersecion of Bedford and Old Center Streets and thence down Center Street to Cross Street tc connect with pipes already provided for in the present plan (this line to be a main water main and adequate for the following connec- tions). At the corner of Bedford Street and Old Center Street, a line to be laid to connect with the present pipe already planned to reach the North Middleboro Athletic Club, and thus complete this circuit; a line to run from the intersection of Center Street and Clay Street up Clay Street to the house of Hollis Jackson, down Ash Street to house of George Ellis and Charles Lee, some 200 yards and thence through the fields to supply Leona Dairy (the residence of Abe Green). (This line could be continued to Bedford Street in the future if so desired.) Total distance of line requested in the petition approximately three miles, and act thereon. (By request.)