USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1945 > Part 1
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1820.
SSACHU
S
Page 104
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
TOWN OFFICERS
of the
Town of Plymouth
1020
For the Year Ending December 31,
1945
R
974.48
PRINTING AND BINDING BY THE MEMORIAL PRESS PLYMOUTH, MASS.
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TOWN OFFICERS, 1945
Selectmen: John A. Armstrong, Howard M. Douglas, James T. Frazier, Hugh R. Maraghy and Herbert H. Lan- man.
Clerk of Selectmen: Norman W. Gray.
Town Clerk: Herbert K. Bartlett.
Town Treasurer: Herbert K. Bartlett.
Collector of Taxes: Harold W. Baker.
Town Accountant: Mrs. Cora B. Grady.
Assessors: Thomas L. Cassidy, chosen 1943 for three years; George E. Blackmer, chosen 1944 for three years; Robert A. Carr, chosen 1945 for three years.
Overseers of Public Welfare: Gordon S. McCosh, chos- en 1944 for three years; A. Rodman Hussey, Jr., chosen 1945 for three years; Harold G. Roberts, chosen 1945 for one year.
Water Commissioners: Edward R. Belcher, chosen 1943 for three years; Richard T. Eldridge and Daniel F. Mul- cahy, chosen 1944 for three years; Arthur Addyman and C. Brooks Hudson, chosen 1945 for three years.
School Committee: David A. Cappannari and William E. Curtin, chosen 1943 for three years; Francis E. LeBar- on, chosen 1944 for three years; Francis E. LeBaron, re- signed 1945. Ralph C. Weaver, appointed to fill vacancy; E. Harold Donovan and Fannie T. Rowell, chosen 1945 for three years; William H. Armstrong, chosen 1945 for two years.
Cemetery Commissioners: Richard T. Eldridge, chosen 1943 for three years; Edward R. Belcher, chosen 1944 for three years; Edward R. Belcher, resigned in 1945. John
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B. Finney, appointed to fill vacancy; Arthur E. Blackmer, chosen 1945 for three years.
Burial Hill Committee: Cemetery Commissioners.
Agawam and Halfway Pond Herring Fishery Commit- tee: Emil C. Birnstein, Elmer P. Boutin and Fred E. Morton.
Park Commissioners: Edward J. E. Hand, chosen 1943 for three years; John A. Siever, chosen 1944 for three years; Arthur Sirrico, chosen 1945 for three years.
Board of Health: Medora V. Eastwood, chosen 1943 for three years; Herbert S. Maxwell, chosen 1944 for three years; Paul W. Bittinger, chosen 1945 for three years.
Planning Board: Arthur E. Blackmer, George L. Good- ing, Francis C. Holmes, Allen D. Russell and Amedeo V. Sgarzi.
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers: William LaRocque, Chester Torrance, and Seth Wall.
Surveyor of Wood and Bark: Harold E. Giles.
Committee on Inland Fisheries: Frank L. Bailey, George L. Gooding and Howard M. Morton.
Committee on Town Forest: James A. White, John A. Kennedy and George L. Gooding.
Board of Registration: Walter R. Roberts, appointed 1943 for three years; Enrico Ferrari, appointed 1944 for three years; Joseph R. Stefani, appointed 1945 for three years.
Committee on Sewers. Selectmen.
Sexton: Paul H. Ziegengeist.
Pound Keeper: Russell L. Dickson.
Sealer of Weights and Measures: Harold E. Giles.
Superintendant of Streets: Elmer C. Chandler.
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Superintendant of Water Works: Theodore Brink.
Beach Committee: Selectmen.
Collector of Water Rates: Addie H. Burgess.
Harbor Master: Elmer P. Boutin.
Members of Retirement Board: Russell P. Dearborn, Herbert K. Bartlett, Cora B. Grady.
Superintendant of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeter- ies and Burial Hill: Alexander H. P. Besse.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery: Charles B. Howland.
Superintendant of Manomet Cemetery: Gordon S.
McCosh.
Superintendant of Infirmary: Russell L. Dickson.
Fire Commissioner: Henry Walton.
Town Engineer: Edward Chase.
Chief of Police: Russell P. Dearborn.
Tree Warden: John A. Kennedy. Forest Warden: Henry Walton.
Local Moth Superintendent: John A. Kennedy.
Town Counsel: Alfred P. Richards.
Building Inspector: Thomas A. Bodell.
Dog Officer: John P. Hanson.
Inspector of Animals: Frederick Bradley.
Inspector of Slaughtering: Hillery J. Bergman.
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MARCH 24, 1945
AMEDEO V. SGARZI, Moderator
Article Three:
A report on the Vocational School was read by Ralph H. Gilbert, Acting Chairman of the Committee, and on motion of Mr. Gilbert, it was voted: That this report be accepted and that the committee appointed under Article 72 of the annual town meeting held March 23, 1940, be continued and that the town moderator be empowered to fill vacancies in its membership.
Mr. Harold G. Roberts read the report of the committee on Recreational Commission, and on motion of Mr. Rob- erts, it was voted: That the Committee appointed under Article 22 of the Annual Town Meeting of March 1944, be permitted to continue their studies, at no expense to the Town.
On motion of Herbert K. Bartlett, Voted: That the re- ports of the several boards of Officers and Committees of the Town be accepted and placed on file. Article Four:
On motion of Herbert K. Bartlett, Voted: That the Town 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 begin- ning January 1, 1946, 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 ac- cordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
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Article Five:
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the salaries of elected town officers be as follows, together with any bonus that may be voted under another article:
Chairman of Selectmen $ 726.00
Other Selectmen (each) 363.00
Chairman of Assessors 2,371.60
Other Assessors (each) 1,936.00
Town Clerk 1,980.00
Town Treasurer
1,980.00
Collector of Taxes
2,970.00
Chairman of Board of Public Welfare 50.00
Mr. Earl C. Bailey moved to amend Mr. Engstrom's motion: To give all elected town officers of the Town of Plymouth, a 10% increase in their pay, this increase to be retroactive to January 1st, 1945, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Engstrom's motion was then put before the meet- ing and carried.
Article Six:
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the town appro- priate the sum of $975,800.87 to defray the expenses of the Town and for other purposes, of which sum $423,828.68 shall be for salaries and personal services, and $551,971.19 for other purposes including labor payrolls, all as printed in the recommendations of the Advisory and Finance Committee.
Mr. Engstrom's motion, as amended by Mr. Armstrong and Dr. Donovan, was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Seven:
. Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the Town ap- propriate the sum of $20,000.00 to be used for a "Bonus," to be paid in December, at the rate of 10% of annual com-
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pensation, in no case to exceed one hundred (100) dollars, to be paid to each permanent employee, part or full time, receiving not over $1,800.00; each temporary employee working less than a full year and who works at least two months, to receive 10% of the total amount paid, not to exceed a rate of $8.00 per month. In no case shall more than one bonus be paid to any individual.
Mr. James A. White moved to amend Mr. Engstrom's motion: That the Town appropriate the sum of $30,000.00 so that all regular employees of the Town receiving more than $1,000.00 shall be paid a $100.00 bonus. All those re- ceiving less than $1,000.00 shall receive 10% as their bonus and the motion was carried.
Mr. Engstrom's motion, as amended by Mr. White, was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Eight:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $9,800.00, including the dog tax of $1,481.40, in aid of the Plymouth Public Libray.
Article Nine:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $3,560.00 to be expended by the Plymouth Public Library for the Loring Library.
Article Ten:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 in aid of the Man- omet Public Library.
Article Eleven:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $400.00 for the Observance of Memorial Day, to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
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Article Twelve:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $600.00 for the observance of July Fourth and that $150.00 of that amount be ex- pended in said observance for the sponsoring of Child- ren's sports, the whole to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Thirteen:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $300.00 for the observance of Armistice Day, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Fourteen:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the employ- ment of one or more District Nurses. Said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Se- lectmen.
Article Fifteen:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $150.00 for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture and choose a Town Director.
On motion of Herbert K. Bartlett, Voted: That James S. A. Valler be chosen Town Director for County Aid to Agriculture.
Article Sixteen:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the Selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by
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the Town under tax title procedure, provided that the Selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such public auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate.
Article Seventeen:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the Selectmen to control, regulate or prohibit the taking of eels and any or all kinds of shellfish and sea worms within the borders of the Town of Plym- outh and such other authority as is provided in Section 52 of Chapter 130 of the General Laws, as inserted therein by Chapter 598 of the Acts of 1941.
Article Eighteen:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to relinquish con- trol of Holmes Field, Summer Street, and place in the hands of the Park Department for use as a playground.
Article Nineteen:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $600.00 for compensation and expenses of the Dog Officer required by Chapter 320 of the Acts of 1934.
Article Twenty:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town vote to accept thirty-five (35) cemetery perpetual care funds, amounting to six thousand nine hundred (6,900) dollars received and deposited in the Plymouth Savings Bank in the year 1944, in accordance with the usual votes of the Cemetery Commissioners and Select- men, and listed as new funds, in the town report for that year.
Article Twenty-one:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the
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Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell the build- ings and the land known as the Knapp Schoolhouse and lot, also the portable school building on same lot, at such time and in such way as they deem best for the interests of the Town.
Article Twenty-two:
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the Moderator appoint a committee of ten, to be known as the Plymouth Veterans' Advisory Committee, and that the sum of $3,500.00 be appropriated, to be used and expended by said Committee for a paid executive secretary, for nec- essary clerical assistance, for necessary office expenses or for any other expenses which may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Committee. Said Committee to organize and function as it considers in the best interests of the Town and the returning Servicemen.
Mr. John A. Armstrong moved to amend by adding the following: That the term of office of this Committee be limited to a term of one year and that no elected public official of the Town be permitted to serve on this Com- mittee, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Engstrom's motion was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Twenty-three:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 23.
Article Twenty-four:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $250.00 for the purpose of continuing the work of the Honor Roll Committee, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
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Article Twenty-five:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the Plymouth War Price and Rationing Board No. 249, said appropri- ation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article Twenty-six:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the As- sessors, in making the tax rate for the current year, are authorized to use, for reducing the rate, forty thousand (40,000) dollars from money in the town treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Article Twenty-seven:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate from money in the Town Treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of forty-eight thousand five hundred (48,500) dollars to be invested in United States War Bonds, under the provisions of Chapter 5 of the Acts of 1943.
Article Twenty-eight:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the transfer of the sum of fifteen thousand (15,000) dollars from the Reserve from Overlayings of Taxes to the Reserve Account in the hands of the Advis- ory and Finance Committee.
Article Twenty-nine:
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the Town take no action under Article 29.
Mr. John Armstrong moved to amend Mr. Engstrom's motion by making the following substitute motion: That the Moderator be instructed to appoint a committee of seven, to study the advisability of having an Inspector of
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Wires appointed for the Town of Plymouth and report at the next annual town meeting, and the motion was car- ried.
Mr. Engstrom's motion, as amended, was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Thirty:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 30.
Article Thirty-one:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 31.
Article Thirty-two:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the sum of $2,500.00 be raised and appropriated to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Mainten- ance, and that, in addition, the sum of $5,000.00 be trans- ferred from unappropriated available funds in the Town Treasury to meet the State's and County's shares of the cost of the work, all reimbursements from the State and County to be restored, upon their receipt, to unappropri- ated available funds in the Town Treasury.
Article Thirty-three:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of seven thousand (7,000) dol- lars to be used for the purchase of a new Bucket Loader and snow removal attachment for the Highway Depart- ment.
Article Thirty-four:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of nineteen hundred and fifty (1,950) dollars to be used for the purchase of a rebuilt compressor for the Highway Department.
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Article Thirty-five:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the purpose of continuing the survey and Assessors' Plans, to be ex- pended under the direction of the Assessors.
Article Thirty-six:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $150.00 under Article 36. This to be used, under the direction of the Board of Health, for driving test wells and the making of a general survey of the project set forth in this article. Article Thirty-seven:
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the Town take no action under Article 37.
Mr. Henry Walton moved a substitute motion: That the sum of $1,750.00 be appropriated for the purpose of repairing the building at the rear of the Central Fire Station, and the motion was carried.
Mr. Engstrom's motion, as amended, was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Thirty-eight:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $1,800.00 for the purchase and equipping of two (2) U. S. Army vehicles for the Forest Fire Department.
Article Thirty-nine:
Mr. Walter Haskell moved: That a comprehensive plan of the layout and improvement of the Standish Avenue Playground be made and the sum of $200.00 appropriated therefor, to be expended under the direction of the Park Commissioners.
Mr. James T. Frazier moved to amend the motion by
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adding the $5,000.00 requested in Article 39, but the motion was lost.
Mr. Haskell's motion was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Forty:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 to replace the sea- wall at the Nelson Street Playground, said money to be expended by the Board of Park Commissioners. Article Forty-one:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commissioners to employ con- sulting engineers to make a survey of the water system and that an appropriation of the sum of three thousand (3,000) dollars be made therefor.
Article Forty-two:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commissioners to purchase from John J. McCarthy a parcel of land at Little South Pond as described in Article 42 and that an appropriation of the sum of fifteen hundred (1,500) dollars be made therefor. Said McCarthy to remove the buildings stand- ing on said premises and to retain the title thereto. This was a unanimous vote.
Article Forty-three:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, it was unanimously voted: That the Town authorize the Water Commission- ers to purchase from George T. Paraschos and Lillian F. Paraschos parcels of land at Little South Pond as des- cribed in Article 43 and that an appropriation of the sum of twenty-six hundred (2,600) dollars be made therefor. Article Forty-four:
Mr. Walder J. Engstrom moved: That the Town take no action under Article 44.
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Dr. E. Harold Donovan moved to amend by substitut- ing: That the Town authorize the School Committee to purchase from Luigi P. Cortelli a certain parcel of vacant land lying southwesterly from Standish Avenue and northwesterly from Cherry Street, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the westerly corner of land of the Town of Plymouth; thence running by land formerly of Pederzani, now of the Town of Plymouth, south 68° 59' 30" west, 323.22 feet to land of Harold Anti; thence turning and running by said Anti land south 32° 28' east, 158.37 feet to land of Guy Lodi et al; thence turning and running by land of said Guy Lodi et al and by land of others, north 58° 02' 10" east 317.17 feet to said other land of the Town of Plymouth; thence turning and running by said land of the Town of Plymouth north 32° 08' west, 98.96 feet to the point of beginning; containing .94 acres; and appropriate therefor the sum of $700.00, and the mo- tion was carried unanimously.
Mr. Engstrom's motion, as amended, was put before the meeting and carried.
Article Forty-five:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 45.
Article Forty-six:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom; Voted: That the Town authorize the Committee appointed under Article 72 of the warrant for the annual town meeting of March 23, 1940, to employ an architect and heating engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the use of the Com- mittee in its study of the need of and value to the Town of a vocational school and appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dollars therefor.
Article Forty-seven:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town authorize the School Committee to replace the
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boilers in the Mt. Pleasant School and install heating equipment in connection therewith, and that an appro- priation of the sum of nine thousand (9,000) dollars be made therefor.
Article Forty-eight:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town vote to discontinue that portion of South Meadow Road which lies between the Carver line and a point 4776.10 feet easterly thereof if and when the Navy De- partment of the United States Government advises the Town that it has acquired for the enlargement of its airport all the land on either side of that portion of said road to be discontinued.
Article Forty-nine:
On motion of Walder J. Engstrom, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dol- lars, from the proceeds from the sale of cemetery lots and graves, to be expended by the Cemetery Commis- sioners for the improvement and embellishment of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemetery and the addition to Vine Hills Cemetery.
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REPORT OF Advisory and Finance Committee
on the ARTICLES IN THE TOWN WARRANT
March 24, 1945
Your Committee presents herewith its report and recom- mendations on the articles in the warrant for the annual town meeting.
The departmental requests this year, for salaries and expenses combined, total $998,753.25, a net increase of $41,462.12 over the total amount requested last year.
The Committee is recommending a total appropriation of $975,800.87 as listed under Article 6, which in the opinion of the Committee is sufficient to maintain operating efficiency in the various departments, to allow for unusual cost in- creases due to hurricane damage and snow removal, and to allow for usual step rate increases in several of the depart- ments. The total recommended also allows for an increase of $2,924 in the assessment for the Plymouth County Hospital, and increases in the Old Age Assistance and Aid to De- pendent Children budgets because of higher costs per case due to various factors. We understand that the increase of $1250 in Street Lighting will restore our street lights to full power.
On the special articles, $171,947 is the total amount re- quested, an increase of $58,031 over the total requested under special articles last year. The special appropriations recom- mended by the Committee total $148,360. This amount in- cludes under Article 7, a cost of living bonus to those Town Employees receiving up to and including $1800 per year, and under Article 27, an additional purchase of U. S. War Bonds, which will bring the total amount owned by the Town to $130,000. Of the total amount of special appropria- tions recommended by the Committee, $70,981.40 would be covered by transfers from other funds than the tax levy.
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Under Article 26, the Committee feels, because of un- expended appropriation balances returned to Excess and Deficiency Account last year and because of the excess of actual receipts from all sources over estimated receipts for the same period, that an appropriation of $40,000 again this year to reduce the tax levy is justified. Even with this amount, an increase in the tax rate is expected, although figures on the state and county tax, which are necessary for an estimate, have not yet been obtained by the Committee.
The Committee recognizes, however, that a regular prac- tice of such transfers, is not a sound fiscal policy, and that the Excess and Deficiency Account should be kept at a high level during the war time years, in anticipation of future needs. As of January 1, 1945, this account had a balance of $308,745.69, a net gain of $172,857.56 over the three year period from January 1, 1942. When we consider that the only municipal indebtedness of the town is a balance of $85,000 due on the New High School loan, we feel that the town is in a favorable position to meet some of the problems of the post war years.
Article 5. To see what action the Town will take with regard to fixing the salaries of elected town officers.
Recommended that the salaries of the following elected town officers remain fixed as they now are, viz:
Chairman of Selectmen €A 726.00
Other Selectmen (each) 363.00
Chairman of Assessors 2,371.60
Other Assessors (each)
Town Clerk 1,936.00
1,980.00
Town Treasurer
1,980.00
Collector of Taxes 2,970.00
Chairman of Board of Public Welfare. . 50.00
Together with any "bonus" that may be voted under another Article.
Article 6. To make the necessary appropriations to defray the expenses of the Town, and for other purposes, and to raise such sums of money as the Town shall deem ex- pedient.
Recommended by Departments Salaries Personal Services
Other Expenses
Recommended by Committee Salaries Personal Services $4,875.60
Other Expenses
Selectmen's Dept.
$4,875.60
$ 800.00
$800.00
Accounting Dept.
3,720.00
400.00
3,720.00
400.00
Treasury Dept.
3,260.74
780.00
3,260.74
780.00
Tax Collector's Dept.
4,543.00
1,396.75
4,543.00
1,396.75
Assessors' Dept.
7,536.35
300.00
7,536.35
300.00
Law Department
1,500.00
100.00
1,500.00
100.00
Town Clerk's Dept.
3,260.74
177.50
3,260.74
177.50
Engineering Dept.
860.00
175.00
860.00
175.00
Planning Board
200.00
1,800.00
200.00
1,800.00
Election and Registration
1,738.13
1,114.56
1,638.13
1,114.56
Town House Maintenance
1,076.00
1,405.00
1,076.00
1,405.00
Old High School Maintenance (offices)
1,633.50
1,585.00
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