Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1952, Part 2

Author: Quincy (Mass.)
Publication date: 1952
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 96


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1952 > Part 2


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COMMUNICATIONS


The Quiney civil defense department has available for communications the existing telephone facilities at city hall, including the switchboard; the two-way radio systems of the police and fire departments; and the privately owned facilities of about 40 amateur radio "hams" in the city. A radio in the city man- ager's office is in direct communications with the re- gional control centers, and the control centers of other sectors.


The aircraft warning observation post located in the city is manned seven days a week by volunteers. There remains a lack of adult volunteer observers and a surplus of teen-age volunteers. The post was placed on an active duty basis in July. Training courses for observers have been arranged.


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


Valuation of buildings


Valuation of land


Total valuation land and buildings


Value of personal property


$104,667,700.00 38,817,600.00 143,485,300.00 9,502,250.00


Total valuation as determined Jan.


1, 1952 $152,987,550.00


Tax rate, 1952-$53.80


Amount to be raised by taxation $ 8,230,730.57


Amount to be raised by poll taxes 53,632.00


Net valuation motor vehicles, Dec. 31, 1952


$ 10,361,813.00


Total valuation, including motor ve-


hieles, 1952


$163,349,363.00


Total valuation, including motor ve-


hieles, 1951


$161,609,383.00


TREASURER and TAX COLLECTOR


OFFICE OF THE TREASURER


Cash on hand, Jan. 1, 1952 $ 1,654,337.47


Cash receipts, 1952 21,666,287.57 Cash payments, 1952 20,841,737.56


Cash on hand, Dec. 31, 1952 2,478,887.48


TAX COLLECTIONS-1952


Personal property tax :


Connnitted by assessors $ 511,221.43


Amount collected during 1952 483,029.52 Amount uncollected Jan. 1, 1953 26,612.89


Real estate tax:


Committed by assessors $7,719,509.14


Amount collected during 1952 7,293,282.63


Amount uncollected Jan. 1, 1953 331,591.81


Poll tax :


Committed by assessors $ 54,980.00


Abatements 8,684.00


Amount collected during 1952 42,352.00 Amount uncollected Jan. 1, 1953 4,034.00


Motor Excise tax :


Amount committed by assessors $ 499,957.45


Amount collected in 1952 343,534.31 Amount uncollected Jan. 1, 1953 150,675.48


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


For the first time since the great depression of the Thirties the General Relief load is lower than any other division of the Welfare department. One of the prin- cipal problems confronting the department is the grow- ing cost for medical care.


Old Age Assistance


Two important changes in old age assistance took place in 1952. New legislation providing for higher minimum grants to recipients became effective on the first of the year, materially increasing monthly figures. In October an increase in Federal Social Se- curity benefits provided for by Congress enabled the department to reduce old age assistance grants by ap- proximately $5,000 a month. The same legislation pro- vided for increased financial participation by the Fed- eral government in the local old age assistance program.


The total case load in this category showed a net decrease during the year from 1411 cases to 1372 cases, while total expenditures increased approximately $120,- 000. The cost for O. A. A. to the city was $166,971.68.


Aid to Dependent Children


During the year the A. D. C. law was again liber- alized so that practically any child who is dependent, regardless of whether or not he has parents, is eligible for assistance. Federal reimbursements were increased urder amendments to the Social Security Act. The vost to the eity of Quincy was $78,593.20. The case load remained almost constant, varying only from 170 on January 1, 1952. to 169 on Jan. 1, 1953.


Disability Assistance


The Disability Assistance program, effective as of Nov. 1, 1951, operated a full year for the first time in 1952. Under this act any person over 18 who has lived in the state one year and has less than $300 may apply for this form of assistance. At the close of the year the case load was 114. The cost to the city was $40,859.81.


City of Quincy


20


MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE OF QUINCY


WJDA


City Manager William J. Deegan, Jr., left being questioned by Reporter George Sweeney, keeps the public informed about administrative affairs of the city through the media of news- papers, radio and talks before civic groups. Each morning he holds a press conference with report- ers from the Quincy Patriot Ledger and other newspapers; each Sunday he speaks on municipal affairs over Quincy radio station WJDA. Legis- lative business is conducted in open council meet- ings to which the public is welcome.


Assessors William J. Callahan and Arnold O. Eastman and N. Gorham Niekserson, chair- man, left to right, who hear many requests from prop- erty owners for abatements, talk over general tax prob- lems with Mrs. Clifford J. MacLaughlin, representing Mrs. Emma S. Tousant. pres- ident of the Quincy Taxpay- ers association.


r


-


Noted for their civic spirit, Quincy people often under- take community projects such as this municipal bonfire. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and a citizens committee, 300 youngsters and 35 volunteer trucks col- lected 11,000 descarded Christmas trees and burned them in a post-lioliday blaze. Everybody had a gala time; and the city was saved many hundred dollars and the city laborers much hard work.


Annual Report .


. . 21 .


General Relief


General Relief, now the smallest division of wel- fare in case load and money spent, dropped in 1952 to a load of less than 100 cases from an all time high in 1933 of 1887 cases. The reduction in cases is due jointly to high employment and transfer of cases to the new division of disability assistance. Cost to the city in disbursements was $41,035.75.


City Home


During 1952 the city home was not filled to capacity throughout the year. Because of many Social Security changes it is planned to cease operating the city home as such and to convert it to a so-called Public Medical Institution, or a convalescent home.


During the year, 69 persons were admitted and 77 were discharged, leaving 11 residents at the end of the year. The net deficit cost to the city was $11,258.88.


During the year full scale representation of the department at the Quincy city hospital resulted in re- imbursements amounting to $97,837.90, materially re- ducing the hospital deficit. In 1952 the city physician made 256 calls for general relief cases.


VETERAN'S SERVICES


The Department of Veterans service has the re- sponsibility of assisting, financially or otherwise, Quincy's 22,000 veterans and their dependents. About 80 percent of the city's population has a veterans-con- nected status. This includes veterans of all wars from the Spanish-American war through the Korean war.


During 1952, a total of 11,616 persons sought some type of assistance from the department. Requests for financial assistance involving 5,469 persons were ap- proved.


The total expenditure of $217,759.81 in 1952 compared with a total expenditure of aproximately $43,000 in 1945 illustrates the growing responsibilities of the department.


Expenditures for 1952 included: cash, $103,078.32; rent, $51,937.65; fuel, $12,210.71; rest homes, $10,- 573.62; housekeepers, $224; medicine, $5,653.92; doe- tors, $8,704.14; hospitals, $21,879.58; burials, $1,224; ambulances, $142; miscellaneous, $1,056.87. Veterans benefits are reimbursed by the Commonwealth at 50 percent.


The department's program in removing veterans to veterans' hospitals produced an estimated saving of about $150,000 during the year.


POLICE DEPARTMENT


Arrests by Months for 1952


Month


Arrests


Males


Females


January


144


131


13


February


173


164


9


March


153


139


14


April


198


179


19


May


230


218


12


June


207


196


11


July


237


206


31


August


274


253


21


September


136


125


11


October


287


270


17


November


134


131


3


December


150


144


6


2323


2156


167


Nativity of persons arrested: U. S., 2122; foreign born, 201.


Wagon calls, 1352


Report of Traffic Bureau


Accidents


794


Persons injured


742


Persons killed


2


Prosecutions


895


Warnings to violators


2322


Tags issued 7293


Automobile sales transfers 18,503


Bicycle registrations 565


Report of Juvenile Bureau


Juvenile court cases 286


Informal hearings in probation office 38


Informal hearings at police station 41


Malicious damage to property


19


Miscellaneous investigations


254


Restitution made to owners $ 2,153.00


Value of property recovered


$ 700.00


Report of Liquor Bureau


Liquor inspections 7,865


Complaints investigated 201


Hearings before license board 5


Licenses suspended 3


6


Bureau of Investigation


Breaks investigated 237


Deaths investigated, none from criminal causes 23


Suicides 6


Larceny cases investigated 303


Robbery cases investigated


8


Miscellaneous cases investigated 1137


Value of stolen property recovered $13,287.90


Bureau of Photography


l'risoners printed and photographed 125


Accidents and street scenes photographed .. 98


Claims against the city 28


The Quincy Police department and the City of Quincy suffered a distinct loss when Chief Joseph F. Hughes died on Feb. 20, 1952, after a brief illness. . 1 member of the police department since 1926, Chief Hughes was promoted to sergeant in 1941 and to lieuten- ant in 1947. He was appointed chief on August 25, 1949. Captain William Ferrazzi was appointed acting chief fololwing Chief Hughes' death, and early in 1953 he was permanently appointed to head the department.


Shellfish Constable


During the year of 1952 fees for shellfish permits for non-residents were increased from $1 to $2; and a fee of fifty cents was established by the city council for residents, for whom there had been no fee previously.


Thirteen persons were arraigned in court on charges made by the shellfish constable; all were found guilty ; seven were placed on file; five were fined from $20 to $50, and one was sentenced to 30 days, execution sus- pnded and the defendant place on probation for a year.


Total collections for permits were $1,882.50. Per- mits issued for fees included 100 commercial at $5 each; 720 non-resident at $1; 235 non-resident at $2 and 358 resident at 50 cents.


FIRE DEPARTMENT


During 1952 the Quincy Fire department respond- ed to 2569 alarms, of which 183 were false.


Property damage to buildings was estimated at $174,615 and to contents at $136,677, with a per capita loss of $3.54. Two persons died as a result of fires during the year and eight others were injured.


During the year fire apparatus travelled 14,075 miles in response to alarms, pumped 8,539,729 gallons


.22. . . . City of Quincy


Signal System


Ambulance calls, 485


Cases prosecuted in court


PEOPLE OF QUINCY INFLUENCE CITY GOVERNMENT BY EXERCISING THEIR RIGHTS OF PETITION AND REDRESS


-----


EXIT


-


Mrs. Alfred Grazioso tel's council that mothers daily warn their chil- dren, "Don't go near the quarries."


Atty. Paul K. Duffey, standing, represents 400 Cranch Hill residents petitioning city coun- cil to eliminate danger of quarries which have claimed lives of many children.


CQUINCY 1888


Pres. Arthur J. Perette of Quiney Employees ass'n makes plea before council for salary increases for members of his organization; Mrs. Josephine Le- Bruyn, left, secretary-treasurer.


Gilbert Berry, standing, explains salary requests of Quincy Teachers ass'n to School Board members Joseph D. Parkman, Joseph E. MeDermott, Dom- inie Chiminello and Paul K. Duffey, left to right.


(Q. P. L. Fot. s)


Annual Report . .


23


of water; laid 403,265 feet of hose and raised 12,437 feet of ladders.


Company personnel made 1308 fire prevention in- spections; and the fire prevention bureau made 7232 inspections, investigated 2125 complaints; found 670 violations, 406 of which were corrected.


Twenty-two fires were investigated. Of these one was of suspicious origin, fourteen of nndetermined origin and one of incendiary origin. One person was arrested in connection with an alleged incendiary fire and acquitted. Five were arrested for false alarms.


As of January 1, 1952, the maintenance of the fire alarm system was transferred to the fire depart- ment.


During the year the department received delivery of a new hose truck, replacing Hose One; the fire alarm lines were generally extended to protect newly developed areas in the city.


HEALTH DEPARTMENT


The Quincy Health department in 1952 took ad vantage of the excellent facilities provided by the new half million dollar health center dedicated last year to expand its activities in preventive medicine aud health: ducation.


During the year Dr. Richard M. Ash, health com- missioner for many years who, more than anyone else, was directly responsible for the creation of the new health center, resigned to return to private practice. Dr. Brooks Ryder, who had devoted his entire profes- sional life to public health administration, was appoint- cal to succeed him in 1953.


Child welfare elinies increased in attendance from 2437 in 1951 to 3011 in 1952.


Dental clinic (pre-school) figures included: at- tendance, 1439; teeth filled, 1062; teeth extracted, 75; oral prophylaxis, 204; individual patients treated, 405. Dental clinic (school figures) included: attend- ance, 4239; teeth filled, 3616: teeth extracted, 857; oral prophylaxis, 611.


There were 12 monthly orthopedic clinics held, with an attendance of 104; resulting in the discovery of 108 abnormal conditoins.


A total of 2120 were immunized at immunization well baby and pre-school elinies.


The Public Health Nurses' figures for reportab'e Useases showed the following cases: Measles. 1862, German Measles, 468; Chickenpox, 198; Infantile Para !- ysis, 4; Meningittis, 7; Mumps, 57; Scarlet Fever, 4; Whooping Cough, 51. They also reported 280 Tuberen- losis cases on register, with 25 added cases.


Indicative of the varied range of other activities of the Health department are the following figures: Samples of milk and cream aualyzed


2510


Routine food inspections 660


1411


Pounds of fish condemued


719


Bushels of fruit and vegetables condemned 23


Units of miscellaneous food condemned 1222


1615


Tests, counts, etc., of the bacteriologist


Total X-rays 4837


Nutrition service clinics 143


Nutrition classes 80


Sewer connection permits issued


1361


VITAL STATISTICS


Population 1940


75,810


Population 1950


83,835


Population 1952, estimated 86,244


Crude Birth rate, 1952


28.2


Crude Death rate, 1952 9.8


Number of births, 1952 2,438


Number of deaths, 1952 851


HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT


The load on the facilities of the Quincey city hospi- tal increased considerably dming 1952 and remained, according to the annual report of the board of man- agers submitted by Chairman J. Brooks Keyes, "at or above the danger point."


"'We repeat, " he wrote, "that the city is not pro- viding adequate capacity for normal demand, much less for any epidemie or unusual conditoin."


The expansions of activities at the institution is dis- closed in the following patient statistics:


1952


1951


Total admissions


11,485 10,208


Operations


5,724


4,915


Daily average patients 237 229


Daily average new born


31.4 31


Daily average excluding new born 205.6


198


Total days treatment 86,499


83,733


Total days treatment, new born 11,444 11,176


Total days treatment, excluding new born 75,055 72,557 8.2


Average stay, days per patient 7.5


The financial picture at the hospital improved eonsid- erably in 1952 when the usual yearly deficit, which has been going up steadily for some time, took the first big drop in years.


The following table of comparative expenses and receipts illustrates the improvement of the financial situation :


1950


1951


1952


Salaries and


wages .$1,119,938.35 $1,308,028.34 $1,420,498.21


Expenses


463,607.34


510,023.36


469,955.31


Capital outlay . 14,208.21


12,618.66


21,254.85


Total expendi-


tures $1,597,753.90 $1,830,670.36 $1,911,708.37


Receipts 988,836.30


1,178,774.52


1,404,532.36


Excess of expen-


ditures over


receipts . 608,917.60 $ 651,895.84 $ 507,176.01


Hospital officials attributed the improvement in the financial situation to more efficient admitting, billing and collection procedure and to better buying and better control and issuance of supplies. The deficit was the lowest since 1948.


Work on a new heating plant, costing almost $500,- 600 was begun during the year and it is expected to be completed in the Fall of 1953. The parking lot was extended at a cost of $7,200, and now accommodates 60 more cars.


Two major changes in personnel were made during the year. Dr. Ensio K. F. Ronka tendered his resigna- tion on February 3, and Dr. Frederic N. Manley carried on as acting director until Dr. Joseph P. Leone, a form- el director, took office on May 27. Dr. Otakar J Pol- lak resigned as pathologist on Nov. 15, 1951, and Dr. Francis P. McCarthy was acting pathologist until Dr. Russell B. Street, Jr., was appointed to the position on July 1, 1952.


On Nov. 20, the board of managers approved a gen- eral increase in charges, to become effective January 1, 1953.


Following an inspection in January the hospital was notified in May that the National Accrediting Service had granted temporary accreditation to the School of Nursing for a five-year period. This is the first time in the history of the hospital that the school has received this rating.


Operating room facilities were used above normal capacity during 1952 when 5724 operations were per- formed, an increase of 809 over 1951.


City of Quincy


24 .


Founds of meat condemned


Eating and drinking utensils swabbed 5737


NEW SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS REVITALIZE ECONOMIC LIFE BLOOD OF HISTORIC QUINCY


Fabricated


STEEL PRODUCTS CO.


While Quiney is fortunate in having big industries such as the great River shipyard, it is equally fortunate in possessing a long diversifimi and steadily growing list of small commercial and industrial concerns. Through the cooperation of the city government and the energetic Chamber of Commerce supplementing the natural advantages the city has to offer new industry, the economy of the 327-year-old city was streng- thened in 1952 by the acquisition of some 16 retail stores and a con- siderable number of small industrial firms locating here. New indus- tries mean more taxable valuation, less taxes on the home owner more job opportunities for citizens.


Typical of the small industries lceating in Quiney during the year, employing from half a dozen to more than a score of employes are:


115


.. ... . ..


MACHINE WORK


1


Copper left, Fabricated Steel Products Company: left center, Martens & Stormoen Company; lower left, New England Steel Tank Company. Through wide distribution of pro- duets from Quincy plants, the city receives national publicity such as is derived from Pneumatic Scale Corp. bottom, which emphasizes the fact that, it is located in this famous city.


Lipton TEA BAGS


GLANCE PINCE ANG PONCE


:Lipton TEA


NEW ENGLAND STEEL TANK CO.


THESE FAMOUS BRANDS are packaged and bottled on machines BUILT HERE IN QUINCY


Finast MAYONNAISE


Pneumatic Scale Corp, Ltd.


Annual Report . . . 25


Total deliveries in 1952 were 1836 as against 1718 in 1951. Live births during the year were 1825 as against 1686 in 1951.


PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT


The City of Quincy had 1489 permanent employes on the payroll at the end of the year, exclusive of the school department personnel which numbers around 500. In addition to the permanent personnel there were 144 temporary employes.


The annual turnover for city employes, excluding school department employes, was 15.3 percent, considered very low.


The program of job evaluation, begun in 1951, was completed late in 1952 and the final report of the com- mittee doing the work was handled to the city manager on Dec. 4, which permitted him time to include the rec- ommendations in the 1953 budget.


Working off and on the program for about a year and a half, mostly on its own time, was a committee composed largely of city employes. It included Ger- trude M. McGill, personnel director; Walter L. Smith, business manager of the hospital; Gordon Dillon, admin- istrative assistant to the city manager; Frederick C. Smail, director of the budget; Charles R. Herbert, com- missioner of public works; Miss Bernadette Boutin, as- sistant director of the hospital; Robert Pope, represent- ing the Quincy Taxpayers association ; Captain William Curtin, fire department ; Sergt. Paul LaHive, police de- partmeut; Thomas Connolly, hospital department ; James Furey, public works; Mary McGinty, auditor's office; James McKay, forestry department; Edna Matta, wel- fare department.


This committee evaluated 200 positions, recommend- el wage schedules and drafted regulations governing the operation of the plan.


THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY


The Thomas Crane l'ublic Library and the commun- ity suffered a distinct loss in 1952 when Galen W. Hill librarian for 26 years, died suddenly in September, just eight days before his retirement was to become effec- tive. During his service extending over more than a Quarter century he had "bequeathed a splendid heri- tage to the City of Quincy in a library system of which it may well be proud."


One accomplishment which Mr. Hill had hoped to see realized and which he had recommended in his final yearly report was the naming of the wing erected in 1940 in honor of the late Albert Crane, an outstanding benefactor of the library. On Nov. 15, only a few weeks after Mr. Hill's death, a bronze tablet honoring Mr. Crane was unveiled at a dedicatory exercise before a group of representative citizens.


Miss Gertrude F. Callahan, who had been a member of the library staff for 37 years, 26 of which she had been assistant librarian, was appointed librarian to suc- ceed Mr. Hill, effective October 1, 1952.


THOMAC CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY Circulation 1952


Adult Juvenile Total


Books and Periodicals


Fiction


195,316


155,792


351,108


Non-fiction


127,300


72,250


199,550


Total


322,616


228,042


550,658


Pictures


11,730


2,454 14,184 29,375


Total circulation


594,218


Borrowers Registered


Adult


Juvenile Total


Total Registered, Dec. 31, 1952


14,280


9,025


23,305


Registerel or registered dur- ing year


4,566


3,361 7,927


Non-resident cards issued .. 123


Percentage population regis- tered


28%


Books Added to Library in 1952


Adult


Juvenile


Total


Number


volumes Jan. 1,


1952


103,292


49,157


152,449


Added in 1952 by purchase


5,038


4,145


9,183


Total number volumes


108,330


53,302


161,632


Withdrawn


4,901


2,376


7,277


Total in library Dec. 31, 1952


103,429 50,926


154,355


Pictures, Dec. 31, 1952


23,085


Records, Dec. 31, 1952


4.033


Circulation per capita


6.6


Circulation per borrower


23.6


Cost per volume circulated


$ .34


Per capita cost of library service 2.24


Fine receipts during 1952


$6,222.08


DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS


(Capital Improvements)


Supervision of a construction program of major capital improvements was the significant function of the public works department in 1952. Aside from its routine duties of building and maintaining street, sewer and water facilities-functions which brings this de- partment in closer contact with the every day life of all citizens than is any other municipal department- it is the duty of this department to let contracts for, and supervise the construction of, all public projects.


During the year two new elementary schools, Beech- wood Knoll and Snug Harbor, were completed, as were the four-room addition to the Montclair school and the big 19-room Trade School addition. Early in the year the Margill Construction company was given the contact for the new power plant for the Quincy city hospital, which will cost approximately half a million dollars and which will be capable of furnishing heat and power for proposed hospital expansion. This project is expected to be completed by mid 1953.


In 1952 a new boiler and oil burner were installed in the police station; and oil burners were installed in the Atlantic and Squantum fire stations. The interior of Central Fire headquarters was repaired and redeco- rated, as were the Atlantic and West Quincy stations. Work was begun on the extensive repair of the Wollas- tou station.


FORESTRY DIVISION


The Forestry department carried on its Gypsy Moth and Dutch Elin disease control programs. Considerable spraying was done toward the elimination of poison ivy. Day spraying against mosquitos was done by departmental personnel while night spraying was done under contract.


26 . . City of Quincy


Phonograph records


NEVER A DULL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A QUINCY FIREMAN


Two-alarm fire breaking out at midday in The Hollow, Adams Street restaurant, causing heavy damages, is fought by Quincy fire fighters. Battling such a blaze exposes firemen to con- stant dangers from flames, fall- ing beams, collapsing roofs and flying glass. Often injured and repeatedly suffering smoke in- halation that undermines their health, firemen are frequently forced to retire at an age when men in less hazardous occupa- tions are at the peak of their earning powers.


The grim business of fighting flames, the chief duty of firemen, is ofteu interspersed with strange odd jobs, many of which have their humorous aspect. In this picture firemen are removing a rickety old sleigh from Quincy's 108-year-old granite city hall roof placed there by some practical jokers. Modern aerial ladder comes in handy for a job like this. Who placed the ancient sleighi on the root remains a minor municipal mystery.




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