USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1911-1914 > Part 14
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4,945.36
$42,244.74
$2,500.00
To be appropriated and to be used with earnings of department to meet all expenses of Department for ensuing year, including notes, interest, depreciation, maintenance and new construction.
The sums appropriated for the past four years for similar accounts have been,
1908 total appropriated, $17,250.00
1909 total appropriated, 12,950.00
1910 total appropriated, 8,900.00
1911 total appropriated,
5,000.00
F. S. BARTON, Manager.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN COUNSEL
NORWOOD, MASS.
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL.
February 15th, 1912.
Board of Selectmen, Norwood, Mass.
Dear Sirs :-
I submit the following report as counsel for the town during the year ending January 31, 1912.
Advice has been sought and given to the various boards and officers of the town on a great variety of matters which required attention in the conduct of the town's business and to a greater extent than in former years. This service as well as that which called for attendance at town meetings, board meetings, hearings and court proceedings necessitated over one hundred fifty con- ferences of varying lengths with the town officials and other persons who were concerned with the business to which I gave attention.
It also called for nearly a hundred telephone conferences and the preparation of about 125 letters.
As has been the case in former years, there have been certain matters which have engaged my attention that were of more importance to the town than what might be termed routine work and which on that account deserve special mention as well as some detailed explanation. They are in the order of importance as follows:
(a)· Alterations in First High Bridge and Ellis Station
Bridge and New Highway alternative proposition.
In my report of last year it was set forth that there was pending before the County Commissioners and receiving at- tention two petitions, one being a substitute, filed by the Board
4
of Selectmen seeking an improvement in the condition of Wash- ington street where the railroad crosses the same near Prospect street by changes in the wing walls and abutments of the First High bridge so-called, and that in view of the probable expense involved and the attitude of the railroad company with respect to its participation in such expense, the Selectmen had been ad- vised to take counsel with the town in the matter.
In January of 1911, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, through its division engineer, notified the Selectmen that it proposed to rebuild the bridge over the high- way at Ellis station substituting therefor a new and stronger bridge. In the correspondence between the Selectmen and the railroad officials which followed, it developed that there was to be no material change in the conditions at that point, and that it was not proposed to remove the centre support of the present bridge as it now exists, as to do this would involve a very large increase in expense which would constitute an alteration in the crossing, the expense of which would have to be apportioned as the statutes provide; the change proposed by the railroad would not involve the town in any expense whatever.
The Town of Westwood was given similar notice because the dividing line between the two towns crosses Washington street at this point in such a way as to place a portion of the northerly abutment and about one-quarter of the centre support in the latter town.
On the 5th of April, 1911, the Selectmen of Westwood filed a petition with the County Commissioners which while broadly worded had for its real purpose the removal of the centre sup- port of the bridge so that the travelled way would be unob- structed for its entire width under this bridge. With the pend- ency of these petitions seeking alterations in both bridges, the Town of Norwood was confronted with a situation which was likely to involve it in a very large expense. The petition of the Selectmen of Westwood as to the Ellis station bridge was brought to a hearing and Norwood was called in as an interested
5
party. The Selectmen decided to deny the jurisdiction of the County Commissioners over that portion of the Ellis station bridge within the limits of the town and therefore refused to join in the petition and thereafter they appeared in opposition as did the railroad company.
It was felt that there was one problem presented by both petitions and that the best solution could be had by the con- struction of a new highway on the westerly side of the railroad location beginning at a point on Washington street southerly from Prospect street and extending northerly to a point on Washington street in Westwood beyond the Ellis station bridge. This plan was submitted to the County Commissioners and discussed with the various parties interested at the adjourned hearings on the Ellis station bridge petition with the result that it was definitely decided by the Selectmen to offer it as a sub- stitute for the changes in the bridges petitioned for by both towns. The railroad company took kindly to the plan, but the Town of Westwood opposed.
The Board of Selectmen in an exhaustive report made at the special town meeting on September 28, 1911, set forth in detail all of the facts which have been briefly referred to above and made its recommendations as to the action to be taken by the town. These recommendations were adopted and the Select- men were authorized to file with the County Commissioners a. petition looking to the laying out and construction of a new highway as planned and to arrange with the railroad company . for a division of the expense involved. The petition was drafted and signed by the Selectmen together with a number of other citizens who were interested and was recently filed. A number of conferences were held with the railroad officials as a result of which a satisfactory agreement was reached as to the division of the expense. The hearing is set down for the 19th of March, 1912, and it is hoped that with the co-operation of the railrsad the matter will be brought to a successful issue, and that with favorable action upon the petition for the new highway, the
6
necessity for the alteration of the bridges will be avoided. Whatever may be the solution of the problem presented by these petitions, Norwood will be vitally affected, not only in a finan- cial way, but also with respect to its future development, and it has been sought to safeguard the interests of the town as well as to carry out its wishes in every step which has been taken. A substantial portion of the services rendered by me to the town during the past year has been devoted to this matter.
Additional Water Supply. (b)
The committee of three appointed as the result of the action taken under Article 6 of the warrant for the town meeting held · December 29, 1910, to act with the Water Commissioners, for the purpose of investigating and reporting upon the town's water supply, early in the year advised the town to secure an additional supply and to provide the necessary plant to make such available. The town accepted the recommendations and directed the committee to continue to co-operate with the Water Commissioners.
For the Water Board and this committee which came to be known as the Additional Water Supply Committee, I prepared a petition and bill for presentation to the legislature to get the necessary legal authority to carry out the wishes of the town. This bill was passed in substantially the form in which it was presented and became chapter 559 of the Acts of the year 1911. Thereafter the act was presented to the town for acceptance and after acceptance the issue of bonds permitted by it to the extent of eighty thousand (80,000) dollars, was prepared and marketed at a good figure and the work required of the commit- tee and board has gone forward in a most satisfactory manner.
In the investigation of the committee into available sources of supply, the form and scope of the legislation required, the form and substance of the articles, the votes under same, and of the report, the action to secure additional land by a taking under the act, and the dealings with the bank which marketed the
7
bonds, the committee required and received and relied upon my department at all stages and the entire matter, so far as the legal end is concerned, has been carried to a successful issue. I re- gard this matter as one of the most interesting as well as im- portant duties which in my several years of service I have had to performn.
· Drains. (c)
The Selectmen and Sewer Commissioners for the past few years have sought from time to time to have cleared up difficult questions arising as to drains, not only as to their duties and powers but also as to what drains were main drains as distin- guished from private drains. A comprehensive study was made of the entire drain situation of the town based upon a plan and exhaustive data furnished by the Sewer Commissioners and a detailed report furnished which constituted an opinion upon all the troublesome questions which had been raised.
Settlement of Suit, Tibbetts vs. Norwood. (d)
A suit pending against the town in the Superior Court for Norfolk County brought by Charles H. Tibbetts for injuries received on July 2, 1907, as the result of the alleged defective condition of Chapel street was settled on October 16, 1911, for the sum of $300, of which amount the Employers' Liability Assurance Company, Ltd., contributed one-half. The town had called upon the Norwood Gas Company to defend the suit and the Insurance Company became interested in its behalf. The expense to the town for the first trial of the case and for such services thereafter as were rendered by Francis J. Squires, Esq., who appeared for the town and conducted the case, amounted to $150 and one-half of this sum was also paid by the Insurance Company, the total disbursement by the town thus being $225.00.
The first trial of the case had resulted in a verdict for the town which was set aside by the court, so it was felt when the time for the second trial approached that the liability of the town
8
would be established and that a compromise should be made. Negotiations were carried on by Mr. Squires together with the attorney for the Insurance Company and myself and we all agreed upon the advisability and terms of settlement subse- quently approved by your board and accepted.
Under all the circumstances the town secured a satisfactory disposition of this case.
Cooper Suit. (e)
Stillman A. Cooper brought an action of tort on December 5, 1911, against the town for $5,000 by a writ issuing out of the Superior Court for Norfolk County and returnable on the first Monday of February, 1912. The suit is for injuries al- leged to have been received in the station of the Electric Light Department on Market street on December 10, 1910. The claim is one covered by the policy of accident insurance carried by this department and the suit is defended under this policy by the Employers' Liability Assurance Company, Ltd., which issued it.
General. (f)
Other claims against the town of minor importance are pend- ing. They require no particular comment and from investiga- tion will not in all probability be litigated. The town has cer- tain claims for the recovery of moneys paid out for aid to paupers which your Board has considered and upon which it is expected proceedings to enforce collection will be taken during the present calendar year.
Matters upon which advice and other service were given, including written opinions, are summarized as follows:
To the Board of Selectmen.
Administration of Sumner estate and collection of claim against estate; settlement of Tibbetts case ; assignment of special police officers; police layoff; license matters; street watering assessments; Chickering road construction and expense; owner-
9
ship of fire station lot; revocation of pool table licenses; victu- allers' licenses; A. L. Ide claim; Nichols street location and Whitney claim and opinion on same; petition for hearing on charges of Lewis vs. Chief Lavers; claim of Chief Lavers for additional salary; collection of claims against Somerville and Cambridge for aid furnished to needy party now deceased; High bridge and Ellis station bridge alterations, construction of new highway in substitution for bridge alterations; petition and report drafted; discontinuance of operation of Norwood, Canton and Sharon Railway Company cars and repairs of road- bed; assistance to certain needy persons. Title to and sale of old engine house property; deed drafted; Water street "dead- end" and jurisdiction of Board in matter-reply to F. W. Bird & Son; Snake-up drain location-opinion as to Carlson boundary line and right to occupy location; effect of failure to record plan of drain taking; Turglia claim, examination of premises and securing evidence and report; building perinits; Park street assessments and collection of same-attendance at hearing to abutters; Walpole street sidewalk-validity of action as to construction; service by constables of notices of street layouts; drafting articles and votes and advising as to annual town meetings and four special town meetings. Interest collectible on sidewalk assessments; general matters, duties and action; report as counsel for 1910 and 1911; Shattuck school lot grading.
To Sewer Commissioners.
Opinion as to obligation to extend sewer system on Prospect street with regard to conditions stated; supplementary opinion on location and width of Nichols street; settlement Drummey claim; opinion as to application of eight-hour day legislation to department employees; opinion as to main drains and duties of same, re same. Articles for town meeting warrants and votes under same prepared; opinion as to division of sewer assessments; opinion as to acceptance of statutes to give com- inissioners the right to apportion sewer assessments in their discretion.
10
To Water Commissioners and Additional Water Supply Committee.
Claims vs. water takers; opinion as to Colburn's brook taking, percolating water and damages under water act; articles and votes and report for special town meetings prepared; additional water supply legislation; drafted petition and bill to legislature; attendance at hearing; drafted articles and votes for acceptance of act and for issue of bonds; attention to matters relating to approval of bond issue and its sale; advised as to land taking for driving wells and for water shed; drafted taking and votes re same; advised as to bylaws and action under same.
To School Committee and Superintendent.
Opinion as to the 8-hour day legislation as affecting janitors; opinion as to use of town seal by committee for cards for school children re saving bank.
To Fence Viewers.
Duties generally; action and duties re O'Brien-Mahoney division line and fence.
Town Accountant and Bookkeeper.
Apportionment of sidewalk assessments; duties as to vouchers and warrants; interest on unpaid taxes; pauper settlement matters; change of by-laws as to fiscal year and articles for warrant drafted; form for sewer assessment demand; payment of bills in February and March, 1912; status of bills for sanding sidewalks and effect of exhaustion of appropriation; status of Town of Canton bill vs. Board of Health and payment of same exceeding appropriation; duties as to accounts and scope of report to town; claims for aid extended to persons having settle- ments outside Norwood; apportionment of sewer assessments and interest on apportioned parts; general matters pertaining to town affairs.
11
To Tax Collector.
Claims against Fitzgerald and Hayes; taxes assessed against heirs Conley estate; opinion as to manner of payment of sewer assessments due but not apportioned; also duties re same.
To Board of Assessors.
Re assessment of tax on omitted property.
To Municipal Light Department.
Suit of Stillman A. Cooper vs. Town of Norwood.
Miscellaneous.
Process of taking land for a park.
Chief of Police.
Complaint vs. John Lewis; examination of premises; confer- ences with officers, examination of law and records as to Wash- ington and Dean street lines.
To the Board of Health.
Advice to secretary on various matters as presented from time to time.
To the Appropriation Committee.
Attendance upon committee; advising as to form of report and work on report on articles referred at last annual town meeting.
It is again a matter for comment that the town has escaped the past year any litigation of a serious financial character and that there are not pending or in prospect any damage suits which are likely to cause large money judgments to be found against it.
Accident claims are bound to arise from time to time and it is important that where the town is in any way involved an im- mediate report should be made to my department that an in- vestigation of the facts may be had at the earliest possible oppor- tunity and the interests of the town otherwise protected.
I strongly urge that all heads of departments investigate and
12
notify the town counsel as soon as an accident occurs which concerns the town and furnish later a written report in such form as may be required.
It would be well for the citizens of the town to understand that the responsibility both as to form and substance of articles which they desire to be placed in town meeting warrants rests on them and not on the Selectmen and that they should accept such re- sponsibility by preparing and presenting such articles in the way which the statutes provide. There has been a growing tendency to call upon the Selectmen to prepare and present articles which relate to action on matters as to which they have no duty to take the initiative.
Acknowledgment is hereby made to all the town officers with whom I have had to deal for their generous assistance and un- failing courtesy and consideration and in this connection particu- lar mention should be made of your board and of the town ac- countant, Mr. Pendergast.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES A. HALLORAN,
Town Counsel.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES
OF THE
Morrill Memorial Library
NORWOOD, MASS.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
The trustees, in presenting their annual report, would state that the year has been fairly satisfactory. While some months have not shown the desired increase in circulation, December was an exception and showed an increase of 300 volumes over the corresponding month of 1910. Through the installation of Tungsten burners in April, the lighting of the reading room and at the librarian's desk has been materially improved, while our bill for electricity consumed during the year now ending shows a saving of more than $25.00 over last year and even with all the expense incidental to the change there is still a saving over the bill for electric current alone in 1910.
In May the second assistant was engaged as a regular member of the library staff at a stated salary, the increased work of the library necessitating this step. The annual stocktaking com- pleted in May showed all books accounted for with the exception of six in the Juvenile Department. In August one of the miss- ing books returned as mysteriously as it disappeared. The teacher of English in the High School has continued the custom inaugurated last year of bringing her classes to the library in the forenoon for instruction in the use of reference books. The good results are strongly in evidence. In April the reference work far exceeded that of any previous month.
Instead of publishing in the Norwood Messenger the list of new books added to the library, as has been our custom, the Trustees are now issuing a quarterly Bulletin, giving a classified list of all books purchased during the previous three months, and also containing the newly revised rules and regulations of the
4
library. The first number was issued in January and is meeting with hearty acceptance. The Trustees believe the move an exceedingly wise one, as at only a slight additional cost they are furnishing the library patrons with a list of all the new books in a convenient and preservable form. Copies of the January Bulle- tin, one to a family, may be obtained of the librarian or her assistants. Succeeding issues will appear in April, July and October.
The Trustees desire to acknowledge the following gifts :
Gifts.
Massachusetts, 16 volumes, 4 pamphlets.
United States, 7 volumes, 15 pamphlets.
George K. Bird Post 169, G.A.R., 4 volumes.
Rev. T. J. McCormack, 1 volume.
Mr. John W. Bookwalter, 1 volume. .
Mr. Nils Amneus, 7 volumes. Miss Emily C. Fisher, 1 volume.
Mr. Walter Blair, 4 volumes.
Norwood Woman's Club, 7 volumes.
Mr. F. O. Winslow, 1 volume.
Mrs. W. P. Sargent, 7 volumes.
L. C., 1 volume.
Mass. Association Opposed to the Further extension of Suffrage to Women, 1 volume.
Respectfully submitted,
IRVING S. FOGG, Chairman, MARIA E. COLBURN, Secretary, WILLIAM T. WHEDON, MARY E. NAGLE, GEORGE W. CUSHING.
5
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
To the Board of Trustees:
The following is a report of the Morrill Memorial Library. The library has been open for the delivery of books every week day, except the legal holidays, making in all 304 days.
Registration.
Names registered February 1, 1911, Names withdrawn,
3,245
98
3,147
Names added,
292
Names registered February 1, 1912,
3,439
Circulation.
For 1911,
39,349 volumes
Average daily circulation,
129 volumes
Largest circulation (Feb. 18),
249 volumes
Smallest circulation (Mar. 6),
49 volumes
Per Cent. of Circulation.
Class.
Adult. 88.4
Juvenile. 88.2
Fiction,
Philosophy,
.5
Religion,
.2
.2
Sociology,
.8
1.3
Philology,
.1
.2
Natural science,
.7
.9
Useful arts,
.6
.9
Fine arts,
1
1.7
Literature,
2.3
1
History,
1.3
2.3
Travel,
2.6
2
Biography,
1.5
1.3
6
Of Total Circulation.
Adult, Juvenile,
60 per cent. 40 per cent.
Cash.
Received :
Fines,
$181.10
Rental of hall,
7.50
Book damages,
4.43
Cash on hand, Feb. 1, 1911,
13.42
$206.45
Paid out :
Repairs,
$2.23
Removing ashes,
9.00
Janitor's supplies,
7.75
Library supplies,
18.85
Postage,
11.59
Express,
4.51
Books and magazines,
2.15
Harold W. Gay, town treasurer,
145.00
Cash on hand, Feb. 1, 1912,
5.37
Respectfully submitted, JANE A. HEWETT,
Librarian.
ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT. Morrill Memorial Library.
Appropriation, $3,976.00
Receipts, Jane A. Hewitt,
Fines, May, Aug.
$35.00
35.00
7
Nov.,
$35.00
Jan.,
40.00
$145.00
Receipts, Chickering Fund,
7.55
$4,128.55
Payments for:
Salary of Librarian,
$900.00
Salary of Assistants,
921.67
Salary of Janitors and substitutes,
623.00
Books,
681.72
Periodicals,
100.75
Binding Books,
257.69
Binding Periodicals,
14.00
Fuel,
233.75
Electricity and lamps,
200.95
12.35
Electric fixtures,
12.00
Repairs and labor on buildings and grounds, 36.15
Stationery, printing and postage,
47.16
Cartage of books,
12.10
Other incidental expenses,
56.28
$4,109.57
$18.98
Unpaid Bills: De Wolfe, Fisk & Co., for books,
$173.01
L. A. Wells, binding books,
34.55
Town of Norwood, M. L. Dept., for electric service,
$23.50
$231.06
JAMES E. PENDERGAST.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Superintendent of Streets
NORWOOD, MASS.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my annual report for the year ending January 31, 1912.
The following shows the itemized account for labor and bills expended in the highway department.
Days
Hours
Per Day
Festus Lydon,
140
4
$2.00
$280.89
Martin Curran,
124
8
2.00
249.79
Albert Clay,
13
8
2.00
27.79
James Murphy.
18
2
2.00
36.44
Michael Drummy,
46
2
2.00
32.44
Mr. Gibson,
109
5
2.00
219.11
D. J. Fitzgerald,
15
5
2.00
31.11
John Drummy,
15
2.00
30.00
M. J. Burk,
2
2.50
5.00
M. J. Burk,
72
1
2.00
144.22
Martin Lydon,
17
3
2.00
34.66
Patrick Curran,
28
3
2.00
56.66
Coleman Mogan,
80
1
2.00
160.22
Morgan Curran,
105
1
2.00
210.22
Peter King,
7
4
2.00
14.89
J. D. Espinosa,
102
5
2.00
205.11
Michael Keefe,
15
4
2.00
30.89
Patrick Feeney,
91
1
2.00
182.22
Peter Curran,
24
1
2.00
48.22
John Kennedy,
142
8
2.00
285.79
4
Days
Hours
Per Day
John Butler
9
2.00
$18.00
M. S. Alamida,
35
4
2.00
70.89
F. A. Hartshorn,
12
5
2.00
25.11
H. F. Foster,
35
1
3.50
122.90
H. J. Foster,
5
6
3.50
19.90
C. Verrocchi,
10
5
3.50
36.95
John Nugent,
46
4 1-2
2.00
93.00
John Kelleher,
2
2.00
4.00
H. Chamberlain,
4
2.00
.89
Geo. Peterson,
7
8
2.00
15.78
Fred Schell,
4
2.00
.89
F. J. Mahoney,
4
2.00
.89
Albert Clay, team,
20
7
1.80
37.40
James Murphy, team,
18
2
1.80
32.80
Michael Drummy, team,
90
8
1.80
163.60
D. J. Fitzgerald, team,
33
1
1.80
59.60
John Drummy, team,
15
1.80
27.00
Peter Curran, team,
72
1
1.80
129.80
F. J. Mahoney, team,
8
1.80
1.60
M. J. Burk, team,
57
1
1.80
102.80
M. S. Alamida, team,
70
4
1.80
126.80
F. A. Hartshorn, team,
25
1
2.80
45.20
John Nugent, team,
82
7 1-2
1.80
149.10
John Kelleher, team,
4
1.80
7.20
H. Chamberlain, team,
8
1.80
1.60
Geo. Peterson, team,
7
8
1.80
14.20
John Nugent, for labor,
.75
Geo. Cottle, for labor,
4.64
Fred L. Fisher, for labor,
12.25
J. A. Scherer, for labor,
16.31
E. W. Dean, for labor,
4.75
Geo. Hawes, for labor,
5.70
Winslow avenue sidewalk, for labor,
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