Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1952, Part 1

Author: Wilmington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1952
Publisher: Town of Wilmington
Number of Pages: 154


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1952 > Part 1


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Wilmington Memorial Library Wilmington, Mass.


GREER


ANNUAL REPORT of the


TOWN OF WILMINGTON


For the Financial Year Ending December 31 1952


TOWN OF WILMINGTON ORGANIZATION CHART Selectmen-Manager Government


VOTERS


Housing Authority


Town Moderator


Selectmen


School Committee


Boards and Commissions


Officers


Board of Appeals


Finance Committee


Board of Registrars


Town Manager


Election Officers and Constables


Town Counsel


Town Accountant


Trustees of Trust Funds


Cemetery Commissioners


Water Commissioners


Board of Health


Board of Welfare


Police Department


Fire Department


Highway Department


Tree Warden


Veterans Agent


School Maintenance


Nursa


Agent


Specials


Dog off.


Supt.


Sup't.


Agent


Forest Fire Wardens


snow Removal


Town Dump


Insect Control


Inspector


Inspectora Slaughteron


S. D. Carter Lecture Comm.


Library Committee


Board of Assessors


Planning Board


Collector


Clerk


Treasurer


Building Inspector


Sealer of Weights and Measures


Police Women


MESSAGE FROM THE TOWN MANAGER


Although the Town of Wilmington's report for 1951 was awarded second prize in its population class, several Wilmington officials and interested citizens desired the retention of the bookkeeping details for easy reference. Word descriptions of the various departments, activities, and functions of the town have been reduced while finan- cial data has been expanded. It is hoped that reader interest will be retained by the use of appropriate pictures and concise captions. As an economy measure this year, the town report was composed at the town hall using an IBM electric composition typewriter rather than including this operation in the printing process. Net savings to the taxpayers under this new system will be just under $500. 00 each year.


Due to the growth of Wilmington and the complexity of handling its municipal functions correctly, a full-time accountant, sanitarian, building inspector, two firefighters, and three police patrolmen are budgeted for 1953 based upon the experience of the past year. Capi- tal expenditures are being planned over the years with a new elemen- tary school and police-fire station approved in 1952 with construction in 1953. Planning for the necessary addition at the high school will begin in 1953 and be presented to the voters in 1954, with construc- tion in 1955. Equipment replacements are scheduled each year. With the heavy expenditures of a power grader, fire equipment, and front-end loader nearly behind us, the overburdened Wilmington tax- payer can look forward to regular small capital outlays for equipment paid from the Excess and Deficiency Account, or the Road Machinery Fund, rather than from direct taxation.


The industrial growth of Wilmington and the advancements in methods of operation within the framework of the town government itself, already point out the improved financial standing of the town at the end of the fiscal year 1952, with uncollected taxes reduced by over $25, 000. 00, and our surplus revenue increased by over $75,000. 00. If the 1953 budget recommended by the town manager and approved by the board of selectmen is substantially followed at the coming town meeting, Wilmington's taxpayers can look forward to a substantial reduction in their tax-rate, possibly as much as a $6. 00 DECREASE.


It must be realized that the recommendations of the town manager are made only after due consideration for the work projects which must be undertaken in 1953. Any further reduction can only result in fewer progressive accomplishments during the year.


Dean C. Cushing Town Manager


1


YOUR TOWN


If you want to live in the kind of. a town, Like the kind of a town you like, You needn't slip your clothes in a grip, And go on a long, long hike.


You'll only find what you left behind, For there's nothing that's really new


It's a knock at yourself when you know your town, It isn't the town, it's you.


Real towns are not made by men afraid Lest somebody else gets ahead; When everyone works and nobody shirks You can raise a town from the dead.


And if you make your personal stake, Your neighbor can make one too, Your town will be what you want it to be; It isn't your town. . . . it's YOU.


2


TABLE OF CONTENTS


132


Page


Message from Town Manager


1


Your Town 2


Directory of Officials 4


Unsung Heroes 7


In Memoriam .


8


1952 Accomplishments


10


Recommendations for the future Plans


for 1953 11


Town Collector. 12


Town Clerk 13


Board of Registrars


15


Town Treasurer


Board of Assessors


15 16 20


Town Counsel.


Public Library .


22


Police Department


24


Fire Department.


Highways


Water Commissioners


Tree Warden


Sealer of weights and measures


Board of Health


Public Health Nurse


Inspector of Animals


Inspector of Slaughtering


Middlesex County Extension Service.


Building Inspector.


Veterans Agent. .


Board of Public Welfare.


Cemetery Commissioners


Planning Board. .


Housing Authority .


Jury List


S. D. J. Carter Committee .


School Committee 57


Town Meeting Record 97


Warrant for Annual Town Meeting 123


Town Accountant. 130


26 28 33 37


39 40 43 45


45 46 48 49 50 50 51 52 54 56


DIRECTORY OF OFFICIALS Officers and Department Heads


Telephone


Accountant


Robert H. Peters 2526


Animal Inspector


Ralph B. Odiorne 524


Building Inspector


Ernest B. Rice, Sr. 2947


Ernest W. Eames 639


Clerk


Mary E. Gilligan 3014


Miriam H. Ware 3014


Constable


Harry J. Ainsworth 468


Counsel


Philip B. Buzzell 2026


Dog Officer


Leo E. LeBlanc 3374


David Brabant 2863


Extension Service Director


John R. Evans 474


Fire Chief


Fire 421


Forest Fire Warden


Health Agent


Dr. Gerald A. Fagan 444


James H. White 481


Librarian


Esther Hall


Dean C. Cushing 3311


David I. Elfman 520


Esther Nichols, R. N. 744


Ann E. Butters, R. N. 2211


Paul J. Lynch 3331


Clifford J. Good


2052


Sealer Weights and Measures


Samuel Pike


Herbert Thrush 2264


Grace Tilley 3081


John William Babine 3321


Frederick Horton 2994


Water Superintendent


Edmund H. Sargent 711


Welfare Agent


Walter G. Buckle


2211


4


Other 3346


Highway Superintendent


Manager


Moderator, Town


Nurse, School


Nurse, Town


Police Chief


School Superintendent


Slaughtering Inspector


Treasurer


Tree Warden


Veterans' Agent


Cemetery Superintendent


Collector


Dump Custodian


Arthur J. Boudreau


2839


AND COMMISSIONS


BOARDS


Appeal, Board of


Winston S. Chamberlin, Secy. Carl Heldman Joseph A. Maynard Samuel Tucker (resigned) Howard Woolaver, Chairman


Assessors, Board of 3081


Louis T. Doucette Olive M. Sheldon Frank F. Walters, Prin. Assessor


Carter Lecture Fund Com. 677


Alice M. Allen


Anna R. Barry Helen Hayward Mildred E. Neilson


Guy E. Nichols, Chairman


Cemetery Commissioners 744


William S. Cavanaugh Joseph B. McMahon Guy E. Nichols, Chairman


Finance Committee 496


Charles Allgrove Minot J. Anderson


Herbert C. Barrows, Chmn.


William P. Curtin, Secy.


Alden S. Eames (resigned)


Frank J. Hadley


John G. Hayward


Alvin W. Richardson


Hobart W. Spring


Frank P. Stevens


Health, Board of 2545


Charles A. Baldwin (resigned) Gaius E. Harmon, M.D. , Chmn. (resigned)


Albert Marfleet Ralph B. Odiorne (resigned)


John E. O'Neil, Chmn.


Housing Authority 3323


William A. Anderson E. Hayward Bliss (resigned) Ralph R. Currier, Secy. Joseph M. Grimes, Chmn. (resigned)


Joseph F. McManus Gardiner Ritchie


5


Library Trustees


3817


Frankline E. Allen, Secy. Philip B. Buzzell, Chmn. Mervin J. Curl May Hadley


Planning Board


3839


Claude Helwig Edward C. Manning, Chmn. (resigned)


Norman W. Perry, Chmn. John A. Ritchie Elmer H. Woller, Secy.


Registrars, Board of


3014


William I Coffin F. Talbot Emery Mary E. Gilligan, ex officio Joseph P. Ring


School Committee


2052


Ernest M. Crispo


Eleanor F. Grimes, Chmn.


Ruth Gratcyk John F. Hartnett


Arthur V. Lynch


Warren Willis, Secy.


Selectmen, Board of


3081


Charles H. Black


Henry James Lawler Kenneth M. Lyons, Chairman


Frederic P. Melzar


Joseph H. Woods


Trustees of Trust Funds


2026


Philip B. Buzzell, Chmn. Caleb S. Harriman Edward M. Neilson


Water Commissioners


711


Alden N. Eames Caleb S. Harriman, Chmn. Harold E. Melzar William M. Shaughnessey (resigned)


Welfare, Board of 2211


Florence Balkus Maurice D. O'Neil (resigned) Andrew P. Ring


6


THE UNSUNG HEROES


With nearly a dozen town meetings scheduled for the next two weeks in Greater-Lowell, including several of the largest in the en- tire area, there could be no more appropriate time than today to pay tribute to the unheralded, unhonored and often maligned heroes of the town governments - - the members of the finance committees.


Of all the thankless tasks that fall upon the shoulders of civic- minded citizens, there is none more thankless than that of member- ship on this committee. On them is the responsibility of taking the budget estimates of all departments and striving to pare them down to a level where the tax-rate can be held below the confiscation level -- and if anyone questions the difficulty which that imposes upon these men this year, they need only take a look at some of the estimates and compare them with the total valuation of the town in- volved.


These men receive no pay, yet they meet night after night during January and February hearing the pleas of department heads for more money, more jobs, higher pays, and then spend the remain- der of their spare time trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff. They know that department heads, in many instances at least, pad their figures with the knowledge that cuts will be made, and they realize at the same time that other department heads, not as "smart" as the previous group, submit honest figures -- so they must try and decide who padded and who didn't; and cut accordingly.


They have to try and keep their minds clear of prejudice, even though they know that at town meeting some of these depart- ment heads and their friends are going to get up and verbally "whale the living daylights" out of them for cutting "such an essen- tial department, " even though nothing essential is involved.


Their only recompense is the knowledge that they have done their jobs trying to steer their town through a trying financial morass, and the knowledge that while they may be assailed, blasted and cursed by a few voluble town meeting pressure groups, the ordinary guy who has no axe to grind and who goes to meeting to do his best by voting right realizes that the finance committee members are doing their best to guide him and to make his town a better place in which to live.


(Reprinted by permission from Lowell Sun, March 4, 1951. )


7


IN MEMORIAM


Caleb S. Harriman December 26, 1952


Mr. Harriman was born in the State of Kansas, Nov. 15, 1873, and moved to Massachusetts when very young. He graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1895 and shortly afterwards entered the leather business in Wilmington.


Mr. Harriman was the first Chief of the Wilmington Fire Department, a former School Committeeman, Chairman of the Board of Water Commissioners, as well as, Trustee of Trust Funds for many years.


It would be impossible to describe all the many services and benefactions of Mr. Harriman to the community in which he lived. Only his friends and business associates are acquainted with all he has done to promote the growth of Wilmington. Mr. Harriman, with his retiring modesty, would not want us to praise him for them.


The advantages which we enjoy today, as citizens of our com- munity, did not come easily. They came, to a great degree, through the self-sacrificing and financially-unrewarded labor which he put into them.


Mr. Harriman was a faithful and considerate public official - his loyalty to the Town of Wilmington brings the consciousness of overwhelming loss - we shall miss him.


9


1952 ACCOMPLISHMENTS


.... strengthened our financial structure through more militant collection of taxes and water bills, cleared major amount of our old large tax-title accounts, reduced unit costs in all departments by the adoption of newer methods of operation.


... induced four more first-class diversified industries to locate and build in our town, including National Polychemicals on Eames Street, and Mytron, Inc. on Middlesex Avenue in North Wilmington -- already in production.


. voted a new combined police-fire station, elementary school, combination high pressure fog and volume pumper fire truck, two Walters snow fighters, a front-end loader, two-way radio for all major departments, and obtained the use of a new Austin- Western power grader without capital outlay to the town.


. co-ordinated all public works departments into one team to eliminate duplication of work.


. established new by-laws and building code based on modern standards.


.... began an intensive program of preventative maintenance and repairs in our public buildings, especially schools.


.1


I


-


144


10


PLANS FOR 1953


. continue our industrial expansion program which has been so beneficial to the town.


... . completion of stronger sub-division requirements to eliminate the burden of water main extensions, road surfacing, and drainage construction on the general property tax.


.... completion of the rezoning of the entire town to fit present day economic conditions.


.... completion of health regulations and expand control of drain- age with the establishment of the position of town sanitarian.


.... expand our recreational program both at Silver Lake, and other sections of the town without any recreational facilities now.


.... obtain a new and larger water supply, and determine sound methods for financing its expansion.


.... employ a full time town accountant, and expand our public safety departments to meet the growing needs of a larger community.


.... complete a tax equalization survey based on the unit system of assessment.


.... begin a major five-year program of street construction; road widening and straightening; culvert relocation, enlargement, and lowering; and land reclamation through ditching and drain- age.


ARCH TECTS


DOSTON,


NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL


Wildwood Street


TOWN COLLECTOR


Planned at the same time as the consolidation of all town offices 1952 saw the solidification of Wilmington's financial situa - tion with the greatest percentage of tax collections in recent years. In addition, tax takings are now current and will remain so with the taking for 1952 scheduled for May 1, 1953.


Due to the inability of the state departments concerned to transmit to the local assessors excise tax information on time, our excise tax situation cannot be improved greatly without a change in the State tax law.


All in all, a review of the town's collections in the past two years shows such a marked improvement that our free cash situation for the 1953 Annual Town Meeting can be attributed in no small way to the decision of town officials that, taxes and bills due the Town of Wilmington will now be paid and not allowed to run indefinitely as in recent years.


IOAVELIRK


TREASURER


YOUR CENTRAL TOWN OFFICES


12


TOWN CLERK


Chapter 46: Vital Statistics:


Since 1939 nothing had been done about listing of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in the card index file and the special books which list the births, deaths, and marriages alphabetically by years.


At the present time the births have been listed on the card index alphabetically from 1940 to 1951 inclusive. They have also been listed in a special book alphabetically by years up to and in- cluding 1951.


Deaths have been listed on the card index file from 1940 to 1951 inclusive and listed in a special book with enough information for reference, so that the cards may be filed. These records are expected to be completed in 1953.


Marriages have been listed on a card index file from the regular record book, but still have to be listed in a book alphabeti- cally by years before these figures can be put in the card index file. These also will be completed in 1953.


When all these records are in files, it will be comparative - ly easy to locate any record of vital statistics, for the first time in twelve years.


Chapter 114, Section 45.


The Town Clerk has been appointed Special Agent of the Board of Health and now issues burial permits.


Street Records:


Blue prints have been collected from various places in the Town Hall and from the Highway Department, and they have been filed with the Town Clerk so that it is now possible to locate a plan with reasonable ease. Due to lack of files, a good many plans are still at the Water Department; but the files have been ordered, and it is expected that all blue prints will be filed at the Town Hall by 1953.


Streets Accepted:


Streets accepted have been listed on a card index, with the date of acceptance and the distance accepted, for easy, quick, and accurate reference.


13


Chapter 148, Section 13.


Licenses and Permits


Renewal permits for the storage of gasoline in underground tanks are now issued from the office of the Town Clerk.


A list of all licenses authorized by the Board of Selectmen will be on file in this office shortly, under the name of the licensee and the type of license, to co-ordinate and control necessary en- forcement under these licenses.


Town Reports for the years 1910 to 1950 have been bound in volumes of five years each for ready reference. Quite a few of the earlier years are missing so that the files cannot be completed. Reports for the years 1897 to 1903 inclusive, and for 1906 and 1909 are on file. If there are any persons who have reports for the years before 1897 and the other years which are missing, the Town would be very glad to have them so that those old reports may be bound and put on file in the Town Clerk's office. A report for the year 1925 is also needed.


One volume of the Persons Listed by the Board of Registrars of Voters has been bound. This is for the years 1929 to 1938 in- clusive. The Town has the books for the years 1914, 1915, 1919 to 1923 inclusive, and 1944 to 1952 inclusive and would be very glad to receive any of the listings of the missing years.


In addition to the Annual Town Meeting this year, Wilmington has had four Special Town Meetings. After the regular Annual Town Election, the following meetings were held: Presidential Primary, Primary Election, and the State Election. At the Presidential Elec - tion a new system of counting the ballots was tried without using the counting board. It seemed to be very successful in speeding up the counting and checking errors.


Births recorded in 1952


153


Deaths recorded in 1952


85


Marriages recorded in 1952


81


Chattel Mortgages recorded


298


Chattel Mortgages discharged


59


Dogs licensed


703


Kennels licensed


18


Licenses - Fish & Game


370


14


1


Chapter 46, Section 15.


The Town Clerk will furnish to parents, householders, mid- wives, and physicians applying therefor, blanks for return of births as required by law.


Two of the compiled records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages from 1730 to 1898 have been sold, leaving a balance on hand Jan. 1, 1953 of 75. By a vote of the Selectmen these records are on sale at $1. 00 each. Bookstores are allowed to purchase these copies at 60ยข each from the Town Clerk.


BOARD OF REGISTRARS FOR THE YEAR 1952


In addition to the regular meetings of the Board of Registrars, there have been four all-day sessions before the elections as is re- quired by law.


In 1952 there were seven hundred and sixty-six (766) new voters registered, three hundred and seventy-three (373) men and three hundred and ninety-three (393) women. A total of eighteen have been taken off, as they have moved permanently out of town, making a total of registered voters, as of January 1, 1953, three thousand five hundred and seventy-eight (3578). This number will be reduced, of course, after the listing is completed, and checked with the voting lists for others who have moved out of town since January 1, 1952.


On January 1, 1952 there were listed by the Board of Registrars four thousand three hundred and eighty-one (4381) persons, twenty years and over - - two thousand two hundred and fifteen (2215) men, and two thousand one hundred and sixty-six (2166) women.


TREASURER'S REPORT


Cash in Treasury, January 1, 1952


Receipts Sundries Receipts Collector


$ 297, 054. 24 705,048. 76 562,207. 29


1,564,310.29


Less Treasury Warrants


1,360,288.62


Cash In Treasury, January 1, 1953 $ 204,021.67


15


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


Valuation of Taxable Property as of January 1, 1952


Real Estate Personal Property


$8,579,560. 00 622,138.00


RECAPITULATION


Real Estate Tax


480, 455. 36


Personal Property Tax


34,839. 72


Poll Tax


4,572.00


Excise Tax (Estimated)


32,000.00


Total Appropriation


790,565. 81


Middlesex County Pension Fund


5,178. 88


State Audit


4,196. 68


State Parks and Reservations


869. 46


County Tax


13,119.68


Tuberculosis Hospital


5,910. 44


Amount of Overlay


20,088.52


Gross amount to be raised


871,634. 67


Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds


351, 767. 59


Total Amount Levied on Polls and Property and commited to the Collector in 1952 519,867. 08


Tax Rate per $1,000 for 1952 - $56.00


TABLE OF AGGREGATES FOR WILMINGTON OF POLLS, PROPERTY, AND TAXES, AS ASSESSED January 1, 1952


Compiled from the figures entered in the Valuation List not including figures relating to Exempted Property or to the Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise.


Number of Persons Assessed


Individuals All Others


Total


On Personal Estate Only


21


14


35


On Real Estate Only


3277


37


3314


On Both Personal and Real Estate


122


4


126


Total number of Persons assessed


3475


Total number of Polls assessed


2286


Value of Assessed Personal Estate


Stock in Trade


86,875.00


Machinery


81,820.00


Live Stock


69,748.00


All Other Tangible Personal Property


383,695.00


Total Value of Assessed Personal Estate


$622,138.00


Value of Assessed Real Estate


Land exclusive of Buildings


1,605,350.00


Buildings exclusive of Land


6,961,160.00


Northeastern Gas Transmission


13,050.00


Total Value of Assessed Real Estate Total Valuation of Assessed Estate


8,579,560.00 $9,201,698. 00


16


Taxes for State, County, and City or Town Purposes, including Overlay: On Personal Estate On Real Estate On Polls


34,839. 72 480, 455. 36 4,572.00


Total Taxes Assessed


$519,867. 08


Number of Live Stock Assessed


Horses (1 year old, or over)


37


Neat Cattle (1 year old, or over)


0


Cows (Milch)


81


Bulls 4, Oxen 0, Yearlings: Steers 1, Heifers 32


37


Swine (6 months old, or over)


1,024


Sheep (6 months old, or over)


7


Fowl


13,687


All Other


1,289


Number of Acres of Land Assessed


10,014


Number of Dwellings Assessed


2,368


TOWN OWNED PROPERTY - REAL ESTATE


Water Department - 150 acres of land and buildings


416,000.00


Schools - Approx. 29 acres of land and buildings


629,800.00


Town Park - 93 acres of land


4,500. 00


Silver Lake Beach


500.00


Town Hall - 1/4 acre of land and building


8,000.00


Cemetery - Land and Building


23,000.00


Library - 1/16 acre of land and building


2,000.00


Firehouse - 1/8 acre of land and building


2,750.00


Moth House - 6, 694 sq. ft. of land and building


700. 00


Highway Building - 15, 000 sq. ft. of land and building


5,000.00


Common & Flag Staff - 2 acres of land


2,500.00


TOWN OWNED PROPERTY


Land and Buildings


Furniture and other Property


Total


Town Hall


8,000


2,500


10,500.00


Police Department


2,675


2,675. 00


Fire Department


2,750


27,000


29,750.00


Sealer of Weights and Measures


1,300


1,300.00


Tree Warden's Department


700


1,800


2,500.00


Highway Department


5,000


18,000


23,000.00


Welfare Department


1,100


1,100.00


Schools


629,800


90,000


719, 800. 00


Library


2,000


2,000


4,000.00


Parks, Playgrounds, Gymnasium and Bath -house


7,650


850


8,500.00


Water Supply System


416,000


12,000


428,000.00


Cemetery


23,000


2,000


25,000.00


Airport


2,300


2,300.00


$1,097,200


$161,225


$1,258,425.00


17


WILMINGTON'S VALUATION GOES


New industry took ad- vantage of our potentia ities.


.J. W. Greer Co.


Raffi and Swanson


National Polychemical


r


r


New England Gas Products


18


ND UP AND UP


ndustry alone did not ncrease our valuation.


wilmington's merchants did their part.


Before and After


WEINCEROS


WEINDEM


lomes too reflected the new spirit


New Construction


Remodeling


19


TOWN COUNSEL


In accordance with the requirements of the Town by-laws, my report as Town Counsel covering the year 1952 follows:


A. On January 1, 1952, there were pending the following actions by or against the Town (exclusive of actions in which the Town was merely summoned as trustee, and in which it had no interest, and of tax lien foreclosure proceedings in the Land Court):


City of Lowell v. Town of Wilmington, District Court of Lowell. (Action of contract by City of Lowell to recover the sum of $275. 96 for special vocational training of certain pupils. )


City of Lowell v. Town of Wilmington, District Court of Lowell. (Action of contract by City of Lowell to recover $657. 77 plus interest for aid furnished in a public welfare case. )


City of Lowell v. Town of Wilmington, District Court of 1 Lowell. (Action of contract by City of Lowell to recover $721. 90 for aid furnished in a public welfare case. )


Town of Wilmington v. A Certain Defendant, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract under G. L. Chap. 117, Sec. 5. )


Jacob Levine & Sons v. Town of Wilmington, Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. (Action of contract to recover burial expense. )


Town of Wilmington v. Edward N. Gadsby et als, Com- missioners of Department of Public Utilities and Boston and Maine Railroad Company, Supreme Judicial Court, Suffolk County. (Petition to review certain rulings and orders of the Department of Public Utilities in connection with protection at the Middlesex Avenue Grade Crossing of the Boston and Maine Railroad. )




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