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ANNUAL
REPORTS OF THE
TOWN OF OAKHAM
MASSACHUSETTS
2.
Alexander Crawford House
1961
ALEXANDER CRAWFORD HOUSE
(Sketch courtesy of William A. Sampson)
The subject of this year's cover sketch is the home of the Alexan- der B. Crawfords on Crawford Road, one of the oldest houses in Oakham.
The present house was built in 1790 and was the third house on the property, the first being a log cabin built by Alexander Craw- ford, one of the ten original settlers of Oakham. It was known as the Rufus Crawford house and has remained in the Crawford family from the time it was built up to the present time.
The house retains much of its original appearance and still has the original front entrance with the wide door and double cross paneling. It was only recently that the old hand split clapboards were replaced.
This house together with the maple trees in the yard and along the road and the sugar house nearby is typical of Oakham in the early days and will be among the interesting places that may be seen during the Bicentennial Anniversary in 1962.
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE
TOWN OFFICIALS
OF THE TOWN OF OAKHAM Massachusetts
OAKHA
M
>
MASSACI
1762
SETTS
Year Ending December 31, 1961
Barre Gazette Barre, Mass.
To the Citizens of Oakham:
It is our privilege to present to you the reports of your town officials for the year ending December 31, 1961.
We are pleased to announce that our 1960 annual report was awarded second place in our population group in the Massachusetts Selectmen's Annual report contest, marking the third time in the past five years that our reports have won an award.
This is a tribute to the fine reports submitted by your town officials and to the excellent manner in which the reports have been published by the Barre Gazette.
We feel that the officials, organizations and people of the town are to be commended for the manner in which they have carried out their duties and cooperated in the affairs of the town throughout the year.
Respectfully,
ROGER H. LONERGAN WALTER W. NELSON JOHN P. O'DONNELL
Board of Selectmen
3
ANNUAL REPORTS
Town Officers for 1961
THREE YEAR TERMS
Town Clerk
DOROTHY P. DAY
Term expires 1964
Selectmen
ROGER H. LONERGAN, Chairman
Term expires 1962
WALTER W. NELSON
Term expires 1963
JOHN P. O'DONNELL
Term expires 1964
Assessors
W. FRANCIS BRENNAN
Term expires 1962
CHESTER M. ROOD, Chairman
LUDWICK SZCZUKA
Term expires 1963 Term expires 1964
Board of Public Welfare and Board of Health
ROGER H. LONERGAN, Chairman Board of Public Welfare
WALTER W. NELSON, Chairman Board of Health
JOHN P. O'DONNELL
School Committee
FREDERICK G. STONE
Term expires 1962 WILLARD C. RUTHERFORD, Chairman Term expires 1963 MARY H. PARSONS, Clerk Term expires 1964
Library Trustees
FANNIE B. M. TUCKER
NORMAN L. DROLET, Chairman
DOROTHY V. LUPA, Clerk
Term expires 1962 Term expires 1963 Term expires 1964
Cemetery Committee
FREDERICK G. STONE, Chairman THEODORE F. MURPHY
Term expires 1962 Term expires 1963 Term expires 1964
NELSON E. MAYO
Term expires 1962
Term expires 1963 Term expires 1964
4
ANNUAL REPORTS FIVE YEAR TERMS
Planning Board
ROBERT P. WILE, Chairman RICHARD G. RILEY, Clerk RUSSELL E. CROMBIE W. FRANCIS BRENNAN ELOISE A. KUHNER
Term expires 1962
Term expires 1963 Term expires 1964
Term expires 1965
Term expires 1966
ONE YEAR TERMS
Moderator FREDERICK H. LANE
Tax Collector MAUDE M. STONE
Treasurer MAX H. KUHNER
Auditor CHANNING M. BILLINGS Tree Warden H. ROSCOE CRAWFORD Fence Viewers DONALD C. AGAR
WALTER W. NELSON VERNO S. TUCKER
Constables
WALTER E. COLE ROGER H. LONERGAN
O. HAROLD ERICKSON GEORGE H. PARKMAN
LEONARD A. HARDY FREDERICK G. STONE
Measurers of Wood and Bark ALFRED B. MORSE
CHARLES R. DEAN
WALTER A. WOODIS
Measurers of Lumber ALFRED B. MORSE
CHARLES R. DEAN WALTER A. WOODIS
Field Drivers NORMAN L. DROLET GORDON W. LOWELL WILLIAM A. SAMPSON
5
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
5.4
4.8
4.3
'59
'60
'61
Reports of the
Town Clerk
Board of Selectmen Tax Collector
Town Treasurer
Accounting Officer Planning Board
Bicentennial Celebration Committee
Regional School District Planning Committee
Note: Graphs on this and the following pages represent total expenses in thousands of dollars.
6
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
Vital Records of 1961 Birth 1960 - Late Return
November
2-Donna Jane Bechan, daughter of Howard P. and Helen C. (Taylor) Bechan.
Births - 1961
January
24-Doreen June Bealand, daughter of Arthur F. Jr. and June D. (White) Bealand.
February
17-Robert Lee Lajoie, son of Lionel A. Jr., and Earlene L. (Ferren) Lajoie.
May
3-Tony Joseph Zelnia, son of Joseph P. and Anna M. (Savoie) Zelnia.
June
12-Martin Julio Ventura, son of Carmelo M. and Beverly A. (Stone) Ventura.
19-Darcy Ann Dod, daughter of John A. Jr. and Jackie E. (Narrow) Dod.
July
25-Kimberly Beth Wells, daughter of George F. and Patricia E. (Bucci) Wells.
August
15-Thomas Richard Mucha, son of Frank and Mary (White) Mucha.
October
4-Arthur Michael Crawford, son of H. Roscoe and Cecile A. (Courteau) Crawford.
13-Christopher John Hardy, son of Donald R. and Tamara S. (Maxwell) Hardy.
NOVEMBER
14-James Eric Bechan, son of Howard P. and Helen C. (Tay- lor) Bechan.
Marriages - 1961
June
24-Robert C. Longvall, Oakham, and Donna M. Chestna, Oakham.
7
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
October
14-Harry G. Lane, Oakham, and Jacqueline Malmstrom, Needham Heights.
Deaths 1961
March
9-Marion Bright
18
May
31-Margaret C. (Mellen) McCord
90
6
22
June
14-Robert S. Edwards
75
2
0
July
1-Orton O. Butler
59
7
14
1-Merritt A. Peck
83
10
3
Non-Residents Buried in Town
Date of Death
January
3-Edson E. Hardy, Holden, Mass.
58
7 10
16-Bertha A. (Taylor) Mullet, Worcester, Massachusetts
80
April
1-Frances E. Robinson, Simsbury, Connecticut 82
10
6
May
9-Susan Knight, Barre, Mass.
78
9
12
September
4-John Wilder, Worcester, Mass.
57
0
15
November
13-Barbara Shedd, Roxbury, Mass.
12
9 13
Dog Licenses
57 Males at $2.00
$114.00
16 Females at $5.00
80.00
41 Spayed Females at $2.00
82.00
114
$276.00
Fees retained, $.25 each
28.50
Net Return
247.50
Y 88
M
D
-
The dog licensing year begins on April 1. Licenses may be obtained after March 20 from the town clerk by applying in person or by mail. Checks should be made out to the Town of Oakham.
8
ANNUAL REPORTS
The clerk can obtain the necessary information for writ- ing the license from the carbon of the previous year's license. For a dog which has never been licensed in Oakham, the information needed is name of owner, and name, age, color, sex, and breed of dog. Dogs require a license when they become three months old.
When a dog, which has been licensed elsewhere in Massa- chusetts, comes into the possession of an Oakham resident, the new owner should, within thirty days, present the original license to the town clerk, who will, for 25c, issue a transfer license and Oakham tag. For transferring a license from one owner to another within the town, there is no charge.
Sporting Licenses
41 Fishing at $4.25
$174.25
34 Hunting at $4.25 144.50
47 Sporting at $7.25
340.75
14 Minor Fishing at $2.25
31.50
8 Women's Fishing at $3.25
26.00
7 Duplicate at $.50
3.50
7 Sporting and Trapping - free
.00
158
$720.50
Fees retained, $.25 each except duplicate and free 36.00
Net return
684.50
1962 licenses are green, and call for the date of birth rather than the age of the licensee. This change should be especially noted by persons who plan to obtain licenses for others.
The fishing season will open this year on the last rather than the third Saturday in April. A bulletin from the Divi- sion of Fisheries and Game gives the following explanation.
"The change ... is designed to improve fishing by having the opening day come during a time when better weather, lower water levels and generally improving fishing condi- tions may be anticipated. It will also facilitate the state's pro- gram of stocking trout by allowing more time and better weather conditions for pre-opening day stocking to be com- pleted and will insure that more of the stocked fish will be available to anglers rather than being washed downstream by early-spring high waters."
Bulletins from the Division and articles in "Massachu- setts Wildlife" continue to emphasize that florescent orange, also known as blaze and hunter orange, the easiest color to see and recognize, is therefore the safest color for hunters to wear.
9
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
The publication "Massachusetts Wildlife" contains articles of interest to sportsmen, many of which relate to the conserva- tion of natural resources. It is published bi-monthly and a subscription may be obtained free by writing to Information and Education Section, Fisheries and Game Field Headquar- ters, Westboro, Mass.
Filed
In accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code, 27 Financing and 6 Termination Statements.
ACTION TAKEN AT TOWN MEETINGS DURING 1961
Annual Town Meeting March 6
Votes on election of officers and on routine articles have been omitted. For appropriations not included, see depart- ment reports and the statement of accounts prepared by the accounting officer.
IT WAS VOTED:
Article 1
That the annual reports be accepted as printed.
Article 8
That the sum of $1,100 be raised and appropriated to meet the town's share of the cost of Chapter 81 maintenance, and that, in addition, the treasurer be authorized to bor- row the sum of $12,100 to meet the state's share of the cost of the work, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, these notes to be paid from reimbursements to be received from the state upon completion of the work. Article 9
That the sum of $2,000 be raised and appropriated to meet the town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 mainte- nance and that, in addition, the sum of $4,000 be appropri- ated from available funds in the treasury to meet the state's and county's share of the cost of the work, reim- bursements to be restored, upon their receipt, to surplus revenue.
Article 10
That the sum of $3,000 be raised and appropriated to meet the town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 highway con- struction, and that the treasurer be authorized to borrow the sum of $9,000 to meet the state's and the county's share of the cost of the work, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, these notes to be paid from reimbursements to be received from the state and the county upon comple- tion of the work. These funds are to be used for improve- ments to New Braintree Road.
10
ANNUAL REPORTS
Article 11
That the sum of $1,000 be appropriated from the Overlay Surplus for the purposes of a reserve fund.
Article 12
That the sum of $1,500 be transferred from the Highway Machinery Fund to the Highway Machinery Account. Article 13
That the Board of Assessors be authorized and instructed to appropriate the sum of $7,000 from available funds in the treasury for use to reduce the tax levy for the cur- rent year.
Article 14
That the following trust funds left to the town be accepted: The trust fund of $100 received from the estate of Flo- rence L. Phelan for perpetual care of Lot No. 64 in Pine Grove Cemetery.
The trust fund of $100 received from Robert and Jocelyn Wile for perpetual care of Lot No. 88 in South Cemetery. The trust fund of $100 received from Henry Crawford for perpetual care of Lots 11 and 12 in Green Hollow Cemetery.
Article 15
That the report of the Bicentennial Committee, as printed on page 36 of the 1960 Oakham Town Report, be accepted as a report of progress, and that the present committee be continued for another year.
Article 16
That the sum of $1,500 be raised and appropriated for the Oakham Bicentennial Celebration Fund.
Article 17
That the sum of $350 be raised and appropriated for pur- poses of the National Defense Education Act, Title III, reimbursements to be restored, upon their receipt, to sur- plus revenue.
Article 18
That the sum of $300 be raised and appropriated for fur- ther improvements to Wright Park.
Article 19
That the report of the Oakham School Study Committee be accepted as a report of progress.
Article 20
That the report of the Oakham Regional School District Planning Committee be accepted as a report of progress.
Article 21
That a stabilization fund be established under the provi- sions of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as amended,
11
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
and that the sum of $1,500 be raised and appropriated therefor.
Except for one dissenting vote each on the appropriation for schools and education, cemetery appropriation, and the appropriation for the Oakham Bicentennial Celebration Fund, all votes were unanimous.
53 persons, 17.5% of the registered voters, cast ballots in the election of town officers; 42 voters, 13.9% of those regis- tered, were present at the business meeting, which was adjourned at 10 P.M.
Total amount to be raised and appropriated - $115,026.03, which is $13,822.25 more than was voted at the annual meeting of 1960.
Special Town Meeting December 13
IT WAS VOTED:
Article 1
That the town authorize the discontinuance of the joint in- firmary maintained by the Charlton Home Farm Associa- tion and authorize the joint Board of Directors to sell at public auction the real and personal property belonging to the Association.
Article 2
That the board of Selectmen be authorized to sell at pub- lic auction the real estate formerly owned by Leo Flo- rence and acquired by the town as tax title property, first giving fourteen (14) day's notice of the time and place of sale by publishing notice in at least two (2) public places in town.
Article 3
That the sum of $3,000 be transferred from the Highway Machinery Fund to the Highway Machinery Account.
Article 4
That the sum of $2,000 be transferred from the Public Assistance and Administration Account to the Snow Re- moval and Sanding Account.
It was voted to adjourn. All votes were unanimous. 11 voters, 3.7% of those registered, were present.
DOROTHY P. DAY, Clerk
12
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Appointments
Chief of Police
Fire Warden
Civilian Defense Director
Dog Officer
Wire Inspector
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Inspector of Animals
Inspector of Slaughtering
Veterans' Agent
Superintendent of Streets January 1 to October 31 November 1 to December 31
Burial Agent Custodian of Town Hall
Town Cousel
Accounting Officer
Walter E. Cole Elwin H. Whitman Elwin H. Whitman Waclaw Smichinski Leroy C. Spinney Frederick H. Stone Henry W. Stone, Jr. Henry W. Stone, Jr. Anthony A. Lupa
Stanley Jamara Harold Gray Frederick H. Stone
Charles Casault Ralph W. Igoe Roger F. Langley
Police Officers
Frederick H. Stone Harold E. Black, Jr.
Norman Drolet
Walter W. Nelson Howard S. Dean Ronald Wilkins
Jurors
Stephen L. Barr
Robert P. Wile
Donald C. Agar
Anthony A. Lupa Mary H. Parsons Raymond H. Field
Francis Mucha
Board of Appeals
Lewis A. Hodgkinson Stanley Jamara
Raymond H. Field
Board of Registrars
Dorothy P. Day Leone Daniels
Leroy C. Spinney Arthur F. Bealand
TAXES AND THE TAX RATE
The continued and rapid rise in our tax rate during the past few years has caused considerable concern to both the tax payers and the town officials. Not only has this increase created a heavy burden on the property owners but it has also
13
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
made it difficult to carry out necessary and important town functions.
This year because of the increasing interest in taxes and the tax rate we have decided to forego our usual report and attempt to give a reasonably detailed analysis of the factors that determine the amount of money that must be raised by property taxation and the manner in which the tax rate is determined.
The following is a condensed summary of the figures used in fixing the tax rate for 1961:
Total appropriations and transfers voted
at 1961 annual town meeting and in spe- cial town meetings in 1960 $127,626.03
Other amounts required to be raised
(Emergency snow and sand - 1960)
2,500.00
State and County assessments
4,409.52
Overlay
3,757.09
Gross amount to be raised (a)
$138,292.64
Less
Estimated receipts
$48,511.36
Amount taken from available funds
17,100.00
Total estimated receipts and
available funds (b)
$ 65,611.36
Net amount to be raised by taxation on polls and property (a-b)
$ 72,681.28
Poll taxes 286.00
Amount to be raised by personal property and real estate taxes
$ 72,395.28
Total valution of real estate and
personal property
$502,745.00
Tax Rate:
$72,395.28/$502,745=$144 per thousand dollars valuation
The amounts for the estimated receipts are determined in most cases from the actual receipts of the previous year. They consist of reimbursements such as state grants for Old Age Assistance, school transportation reimbursements etc. that can be credited to a specific account and general receipts such as returns on income taxes, corporation taxes, motor vehicle and excise taxes etc.
The principal items included in the 1961 estimated gene- ral receipts were:
Income Tax Corporation tax
$2,226.42 2,639.50
14
ANNUAL REPORTS
Reimbursement on publicly owned land 1,244.22
Metropolitan District Commission in lieu of taxes 5,519.87
All general receipts are distributed among the various classifications in proportion to the gross amounts raised.
A general analysis of the amounts raised, the estimated receipts and the effect on the tax rate of the various classifica- tions is given on the following pages.
In this analysis the term "total amount raised" represents the sum of the amount raised at the 1961 annual town meeting plus any amounts raised after the tax rate was set in 1960.
"Tax dollars" indicates the amount that the net amount raised for any particular classification effects the tax rate.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
3.6% of total amount raised
Amount raised $4,520.00
Estimated receipts 653.00
Net amount raised
3,867.00
Tax dollars $ 7.69
This classification covers the salaries and expenses of the various town officers and also includes appropriations for elec- tions and registrations and maintenance of the town hall.
Estimated receipts are made up almost entirely from general receipts.
PUBLIC SAFETY
5.8% of total amount raised
Amount raised
$7,170.00
Estimated receipts 1,084.00
Net amount raised
6,085.00
Tax dollars $ 12.10
Appropriations for Public Safety cover wages and ex- penses of the police and fire departments, sealer of weights and measures, inspector of wires, tree warden, dog officer, civilian defense department and charges for insect pest control, dutch elm disease control and compensation insurance.
Estimated receipts in this classification are also made up almost entirely from the distribution of general receipts.
HEALTH AND SANITATION
0.3% of total amount raised
Amount raised $ 310.00 Estimated receipts 71.00
15
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Net amount raised 239.00 Tax dollars $ 0.47
Included under the appropriation for Health and Sanita- tion are expenses of the Board of Health, inspector of animals and slaughtering and expenses for care of the town dump.
Estimated receipts are made up of a reimbursement from the state for one half of the expenses of the inspector of animals and a share of the general receipts.
STREETS and HIGHWAYS
13.6% of total amount raised
Amounts raised
Chapter 81 Maint. (Town's share)
$ 1,100.00
Chapter 90 Maint.
2,000.00
Chapter 90 Const.
"
3,000.00
Snow Removal and Sanding
10,500.00
Street Lights
350.00
Total
$16,950.00
Estimated receipts
2,530.95
Net amount raised
Tax dollars
$14,420.00 $ 28.68
Under the provisions of Chapters 81 and 90 of the General Laws the town is reimbursed by the state and the county for a portion of the cost of highway maintenance and construction provided that the work is done in "strict conformity" with the provisions of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works. Under the provisions of these chapters it is permissable for the town to raise and appropriate only its own share of the cost of the work and to take from available funds or borrow the state's and county's shares in anticipation of reimbursement.
The anticipated contributions by the town, county and state in 1961 under this arrangement were as follows:
Account
Town
County
State
Total
Chapter 81 Maint.
$ 1,100
$12,100
$13,200
Chapter 90 Maint.
$ 2,000
$ 2,000
$ 2,000
$ 6,000
Chapter 90 Const.
$ 3,000
$ 3,000
$ 6,000
$12,000
Totals
$ 6,100
$ 5,000
$20,100
$31,200
There are no reimbursements for snow removal and sand- ing except that under the provisions of Chapter 81 Maint. the town may use up to $75 for each mile of road in town for this purpose if necessary.
This amounts to $3,300 for the entire town and while the use of these funds would reduce the cost to the town of snow removal and sanding the practice is avoided if possible as it
16
ANNUAL REPORTS
cuts down the already insufficient funds for ordinary road maintenance.
It will be noted from these figures that out of a total of $42,050 available for highway use the town is required to raise $14,420 or about 34%.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
8.6% of total amount raised
Amount raised
$10,700.00
Estimated receipts
9,571.00
Net amount raised
1,129.00
Tax dollars $ 2.25
Funds raised for Public Assistance are to cover charges for Old Age Assistance, Medical Aid to the Aged, Aid to De- pendent Children, Disability Assistance, Veterans' Services and the town's share of the cost of the operation of the Qua- boag Welfare District.
The town receives reimbursement from both the State and the Federal Government for a considerable portion of its Public Assistance expenses. Federal reimbursements go di- rectly into a revolving fund under the control of the Board of Public Welfare acting through the Welfare District while state reimbursements go into the town treasury and are included in the estimated receipts in the computation of the tax rate.
The net amount raised by the town for Public Assistance amounts to slightly over 10% of the total.
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
56.7% of total amount raised
Amount raised
Estimated receipts
$70,556.00 32,411
Net amount raised
38,144.00
Tax dollars $ 75.87
Included in the amount raised for schools and libraries are the general school appropriation, an appropriation for vocational education and the library appropriation, the major item being the general school appropriation which amounts to $67,522.76.
The principal items in the school appropriation are teach- er's salaries ($18,466), tuition ($22,025) and transportation ($18,256). These three items total to $58,747 or about 85 per- cent of the school appropriation.
Principal items included in estimated receipts that can be credited to schools and libraries are $16,183 for school transportation, $5,485 from income tax distribution under
17
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Chapter 70 and $10,193 from the distribution of general receipts.
The state reimburses the town for all expenditures for school transportation in excess of $5.00 per pupil per year for all pupils transported once daily to and from school (pro- vided they live over 11/2 miles from the nearest school or over one mile from a public bus line).
School aid received under chapter 70 amounts to sixty- five dollars for each pupil between the ages of 7 and 16 less three dollars for every thousand dollars valuation of the town as determined by the state valuation of 1945.
There is no reimbursement for high school tuition but there is a 50% reimbursement for vocational education.
The net cost to the town for the education of its pupils from the first grade through high school is about $240 per pupil per year.
Approximately 54% of the total amount raised for schools and libraries is provided by the town as compared to 34% for streets and highways and only slightly over 10% for public assistance. This would seem to indicate that one of the major factors in our high tax rate is the fact that school aid has not kept pace with the rapid and unavoidable increase in school cists.
RECREATION AND UNCLASSIFIED
4.4% of total amount raised
Amount raised
$5,425.00
Estimated receipts
792.00
Net amount raised
4,633.00
Tax dollars $ 9.22
Among the principal accounts in this group are the stabi- lization fund, bicentennial celebration, annual reports and Worcester County retirement assesment.
Estimated receipts credited to this classiication come en- tirely from general receipts.
CEMETERIES
0.9% of total amount raised
Amount raised
$1,145.00
Estimated receipts
207.00
Net amount raised
938.00
Tax dollars $ 1.87
Appropriations for cemeteries cover the maintenance of all of the cemeteries plus improvements to the Center ceme- tery. The improvements to the Center cemetery have now been completed.
18
ANNUAL REPORTS
Estimated receipts include deposits for care of lots and a share of general receipts.
INTEREST AND MATURING DEBT
2.6% of total amount raised
Amount raised $3,250.00
Estimated receipts
467.00
Net amount raised
2,783.00
Tax dollars $ 5.53
Interest and maturing debt apppropriations are charge- able to the following accounts:
Schools
$
700.00
Fire Station
2,300.00
Temporary loans
250.00
These would increase the school tax dollars to approxim- ately $77.05 and the public safety to $15.98.
STATE AND COUNTY ASSESSMENTS
3.5% of total amount raised
State and county assessments include state assessments for state parks and reservations and for the state audit of the accounts of the town, the county tubercular hospital assess- ment and the county tax.
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