USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1911-1914 > Part 43
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1,000.00
1,200.00
2,400.00
2,385.00
15.00
Main Drain, Washington St.,
248.99|
248.99
248.99
108
750.00
725.60
24.40
Police Department,
6,300.00
1,050.00
775.85
274.15
Town Offices,
600.00
26.00
26.00
Alterations of,
600.00
9,561.96
25,511.60
19,553.44
Appropriations
Highways and Bridges, Watering and Treating Streets, Highview St. and Upton Ave.,
13,000.00
2,400.00(
4,885.63
737.45
21,023.08
20,783.24
239.84
2,000.00
500.00
2,500.00
2,429.84
70.16
800.00
800.00
800.00
Sidewalk, Hoyle St.,
300.00
300.00
300.00
250.00
250.00
250.00
400.00
400.00
400.00
300.00
300.00
35.00
345.40
345.35
. 05
Sidewalk, Washington St.,
83.33
7.50
90.83
90.83
700.00
700.00
697.46
2.54
Sturtevant Ave.,
500.00
500.00
489.31
10.69
Pond Ave.,
400.00
400.00
399.38
.62
Oak Road,
700.00
700.00
652.67
47.33
Chapel St.,
1,200.00
1,200.00
1,198.47
1.53
Charities,
7,000.00
1,888.74
8,888.74
8,268.75
619.99
Town Physician,
100.00
100.00
100.00
State Aid,
161.00
839.00
1,000.00
728.00
272.00
Military Aid,
270.00
230.00
500.00
242.80
257.20
Soldiers' Relief,
700.00
37.00
737.00
449.05
287.95
Sehools,
39,350.00
25,300.00
447.59
65,097.59
65,097.49
.10
Transportation,
1,200.00
73.38
1,273.38
1,049.75
223.63
Evening Sehool,
3,000.00
13.75
3,013.75
2,892.43
121.32
Morrill Memorial Library,
4,000.00
695.79
236.65
4,932.44
4,912.02
20.42
Memorial Day Celebration,
250.00
250.00
250.00
Insurance,
4,265.00
265.95
4,530.95
4,057.50
473.45
Printing and Distributing Reports,
1,000.00
1,000.00
988.10
11.90
New Balch Sehool,
57,000.00
57,000.00
56,891.75
108.25
Town Office and Park Lot,
38,000.00
38,000.00
38,000.00
-
18,195.33
37,539.49
55,734.82
51,326.21
4,408.61
Cemetery Dept.,
2,213.42
1,911.08
4,124.50
3,666.54
457.96
Old Cemetery,
76.86
100.00
42.56
219.42
136.25
83.17
Town Debt,
26,655.00
339.77
26,994.77
26,655.00
339.77
Interest,
6,144.68
6,144.68
6,000.23
144.45
Bond Premiums,
2,472.00
2,472.00
2,472.00
$42,170.43
$149,429.40
$165,935.00| $45,002.56
$107,609.66
$510,147.05 $491,378.03
$18,769.02
109
2,504.12
2,500.00
49,238.01
54,242.13
51,734.40
2,507.73
Municipal Light Dept.,
Water Works,
300.00
Sidewalk, Bond St.,
310.40
Sidewalk, Dean and Washington Sts., Sidewalk, Hill St.
Town Planning Committee,
Heaton Avenue,
1
.
110
NORWOOD TOWN REPORT
REMARKS OF THE TOWN ACCOUNTANT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith present the foregoing as the third annual report of the Town Accountant for the year ending January 31, 1914. The general form is somewhat different from any formerly made and is in the form prescribed in Chapter 624 of the Acts of 1910. It will be seen from the statement of payments in different departments that the expenditures as shown are in excess of the amounts appropriated; this, in all cases but one is due to the fact that transfers have been made of the expenditures classifying them under the department to which these expenditures are properly chargeable. The most evident of these transfers is the charge of insurance which, as will be seen from the table of expenditures and appropriations, an appro- priation was made at the annual meeting of March, 1913, to meet insurance due under the schedule which appears in the accountant's report, also additional amounts were later appropriated for other purposes, as the divis- ion of this charge must be in a way arbitrarily determined, for under Div. 2 of the schedule an amount is declared covering contents of all buildings the value of which to each department has never been estimated, the amount of $99.80 has been left as a charge covering unclassified items and the balance of the amount expended divided pro rata on various depart- ments as shown. Departments having available balance or income suffi- cient to meet a charge for insurance were requested to approve a transfer charge to their department, other accounts were credited from the Insur- ance appropriation with the amount necessary to meet the charge as deter- mined.
Transfers have also been made in the case of the appropriation for alterations at the Town Office Building, Police Headquarters, and Lockup.
Town Treasurer. During the past year the payments and receipts of Harold W. Gay as Treasurer of the Town of Norwood have been examined and compared with the accountant's books each month, the bonds and notes paid by him in the past year I have had in hand and find them prop- erly cancelled, the Investments and transactions of Harold W. Gay as Treasurer of the Sinking Fund have been examined and found to be as shown in the report of the Sinking Fund and the investments are on hand and safely kept by him.
I hereby certify that the Cash balance of the treasurer January 31, 1914 is $34,249.88 and that the same agrees with the accountant's books, and that the securities of the Sinking Fund are $39,246.08.
Collector of Taxes. I have examined the receipts and payments of George O. Capen as Collector for the Town of Norwood and find and certify that he has deposited with the treasurer and accounted for all the collections as shown by his books for the year ending Jan. 31, 1914, and
111
ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
that all uncollected accounts have been listed. Two credits have been given the Collector on the Accountant's books as corrections of the amounts charged as uncollected Apportioned Sewer Assessments, and Sewer Appor- tionments of the year 1910, the first being in the sum of $826.16 and is in correction of error in the charge of $30,713.22 which was charged as the amount established as the total of Sewer Assessments apportioned and not committed for collection February 1, 1911, this amount included the sum of $752.27 being the amount of apportionments for 1910 and was charged as a separate account at that time, also the sum of $73.89 apportionments which were paid as advance apportionments and were not allowed for.
Municipal Light Department. During the year I have examined each month the accounts of sales, collections and deposits of F. S. Barton as Manager of the Municipal Light Dept., and find and report that he has deposited with the Town Treasurer all collections as shown in the sales account of the department.
Cemetery Department. In my report of last year mention was made of a recommendation to the effect that some change should be made in the form of keeping and the collection of the accounts. At the present time a revision of these accounts is in progress and further recommendation is made at this time for a change in the method of collections for this depart- ment.
Sewer Department. I desire to call attention to the need of an appro- priation by the town to enable the department to carry on the work of installing house connections. In view of the amount of territory covered by new sewer lines the past year it was necessary that a considerable amount of material be purchased for house connecting purposes. This was done and as a consequence of there not being sufficient receipts to meet charge of bill already paid, the year closed with an overdraft which was met from the receipts of the department from sewer assessments and which overdraft must be replaced as receipts from assessments cannot be used for purposes other than those specified in the act authorizing the loan.
Appropriations and Expenditures. Chapter 719 of the Acts of 1913 has made very wide changes in the matter of purposes for which money may be borrowed. In view of this legislation a more careful consideration of appropriations for and expenditures of money for various purposes will be necessary in the future. This chapter also requires that no department shall contract liabilities in excess of appropriations except in certain defined cases.
In view of this I would recommend that first, a contingent fund be raised; second, provision be made in the appropriations for certain departments setting apart a portion of the amount appropriated, for bills which are contracted only after November 1 of the current year, thereby insuring that these departments have sufficient balance at that time to meet expense for the balance of the year without further appropriation by the town.
Change of the Financial Year. Through a misunderstanding of the legislation enacted in the year 1913 requiring that the financial year of all towns should end on December 31, the act taking effect January 1, 1914, it was assumed that the financial year for the town would close December 31 instead of January 31 as required by the by-laws of the Town, and as many of the departments were advised to this effect expenditures were made for purposes which though necessary, would not have been made without calling a town meeting and obtaining an appropriation for these purposes.
112
NORWOOD TOWN REPORT
I was advised by the Town Counsel and the Bureau of Statistics that this law did not affect the year already in progress and that we must continue until January 31 as required in the by-laws. Closing at this date makes it impossible to comply with the by-law requiring that the reports be in the hands of the voters before the first Monday in March, while in the past two years this office has succeeded in complying with the requirements of this by-law, this year the time being shorter and the volume of business tran- sacted so much more than in previous years it was impossible to compile reports, verify all accounts and have reports printed and distributed within the time set.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES E. PENDERGAST, Town Accountant.
1
113
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
SELECTMEN'S ESTIMATES. For the Current Year, together with Expenditures for the Year ending January 31, 1914.
Department
Expended
Esti- mates
Abatement of Taxes,
$2,147.92
$2,000.00
Appropriation Committee,
76.72
100.00
Selectmen,
1,511.03
1,800.00
Accountant,
1,587.42
1,950.00
Assessors,
1,538.81
1,450.00
Assessors' Plans,
985.00
1,00.000
Certification of Notes,
191.35
150.00
Collector of Taxes,
1,245.75
1,200.00
Election and Registration,
872.35
800.00
Law,
899.23
1,000.00
Town Clerk,
775.85
800.00
Town Offices,
900.33
900.00
Treasurer,
725.60
750.00
Police Department (Maintenance),
7,034.98
6,700.00
Fire Department,
5,092.35
5,560.00
Fire Alarm,
499.32
535.00
Inspector of Buildings,
569.40
510.00
Inspector of Animals,
100.00
91.50
Sealer of Weights and Measures,
263.03
250.00
Moth Extermination,
3,493.02
3,000.00
Tree Warden,
246.85
250.00
Board of Health,
2,579.71
3,650.00
Sewer Department, Maintenance,
3,481.66
3,500.00
Construction,
71,007.44
500.00
Main Drains, Maintenance,
300.00
150.00
Highways,
20,770.87
20,000.00
Watering and Treating Streets,
2,429.84
3,000.00
Support of Poor,
7,210.19
7,000.00
Town Physician,
100.00
91.50
Soldiers' Benefits,
State Aid,
728.00
Military Aid,
242.80
1,200.00
Soldiers' Relief,
449.05
Education,
66,147.24
69,080.00
Evening Schools,
2,892.43
Morrill Memorial Library,
4,912.02
*3,500.00
114
Department
Expended
Esti- mates
Recreation,
400.00
Memorial Day Celebration,
250.00
250.00
Insurance,
4,530.95
800.00
Printing of Town Reports,
988.10
1,000.00
Municipal Light Department,
2,500.00
2,500.00
Cemetery Department,
3,802.79
7,307.00
Town Debt,
40,855.00
39,335.00
Interest,
21,247.23
21,138.65
Water Department,
Maintenance,
12,841.29
14,000.00
Construction,
26,020.94
13,500.00
Municipal Light Dept.,
+$2,500.00
+$2,500.00
*And Dog Tax returns.
+From Tax Levy,
JAMES A. HARTSHORN,
JAMES W. CONGER,
DANIEL F. SLATTERY,
Selectmen of Norwood.
Remarks.
Financial.
$327,044.56
$242,690.65
As will be seen from the annual report for the year 1913 there are outstanding loans in anticipation of the taxes of the present year amounting to $35,000.00. This borrowing became necessary to the amount of $25,000.00 in the month of December, 1913, and with the expectation that collections for the month of December and January would provide revenue for the town for the remainder of the year, on December 31, it became evident that a further borrowing must be made, and in reviewing the situation at that time our board was advised by the Town Accountant that there was outstanding in uncollected taxes for the year 1913, the sum of $47,000.00 and that the average collections for the month of January in the three previous years amounted to $8,000.00; it became necessary to issue note No. 104 in the sum of $10,000.00. This note was sold to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the Town of Norwood and becomes due June 3, 1914 The receipts for the month of
115
January, 1914, were however in excess of all previous years, and amounted to over $20,000.00; could our Board have had posi- tive knowledge that this amount would be received there would have been no necessity for the additional borrowing on Note No. 104.
These liabilities are secured in cash in the hands of the Treasurer, January 31, 1914 and outstanding uncollected taxes for the year 1913, which amount to somewhat in excess of $26,000.00, which means that a special effort must be made by the collector in the immediate future to collect all outstanding taxes for the year 1913. The Accountant's balance sheet shows a surplus in the Excess and Deficiency Account of $18,430.66 which sum is an accumulation of unexpended balances and re- ceipts for the current year, together with the balance left in the account after voting the transfers for the past year; of this amount the sum of $653.21 being the returns from the County, which is available only for School or Library purposes and the sum of $1,203.05 being receipts for Street Railway Tax and available only for Highway purposes, leaving a free balance in this account of $16,574.40.
Appropriations Recommended for the Year 1914.
As will be seen from the statement of recommended estimates of amounts necessary for the different departments under the control of the Board the sums recommended are to the extent of $5,000.00 less than the amounts expended in 1913 as to the amounts as set forth, as the requirements for departments which do not come within the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen. Our board felt that the reasons for increases in these various departments must be answered by the department itself, and we have listed in our statement the amounts as returned to the Town Accountant.
The forty-second annual report of the Town of Norwood, giving account of the various departments and all expenditures, for which the Selectmen are responsible, is hereby presented.
116
New Office Building.
During the past year the old Engine House has been re- modelled into a town office building and we now have com- fortable quarters under one roof for all the town's business. The offices are well adapted to the needs of the town, while the convenience for transacting business and the saving in expense have warranted the money put out.
Streets and Highways.
During the year over a mile of macadam road has been con- structed. There are, at present, many places that need imme- diate attention. Those streets that were properly constructed stood the test of the winter and are in good condition. For the next few years Norwood will be obliged to spend considerable money on its roads. The public demand better built highways and the automobile necessitates good construction to withstand its constant wear. No better advertisement of the prosperity of a town can be placed before the people, than to have its streets in first class condition. Our bridges are all in good order; but we believe that as soon as they come to repair, it would be wise to replace them by concrete construction. One new concrete bridge, near the Canton line, has been built this year. This type of construction has proved so satisfactory that, as far as possible, we believe this policy should be followed in the future. Our steam roller has been in almost constant use and is equally valuable in repair work or new construction.
Police Department.
We now have suitable quarters for our Police. On Sept. 1st the rooms in the New Fire House were completed and we can now boast of headquarters second to none in the State. Our Lockup has been remodeled; four new cells have been added and everything put in excellent shape so that we at present, have a model place with all the comforts of light, heat, and good sani- tary conditions, where we can care for our unfortunates.
.
117
On Oct. 29th, our Chief of Police resigned, and the Select- men on accepting his resignation appointed, as acting chief, Walter A. Readel, who has filled the office in a very acceptable manner. This department is doing good work and deserves the encouragement and support of all our citizens.
Fire Apparatus.
The time is near at hand when in order to have a wholly efficient department the Auto Chemical should be added. Our firemen have done excellent work but would be greatly aided by having equipment for quick response for the outlying districts and better protection to property in all parts of our town. We hope to see such an apparatus installed in the near future.
Care of the Poor.
In the proper handling of this department the Selectmen en- counter some of their most difficult problems. Many of our people have been out of work this year and in dealing with the cases the Selectmen have used their best judgment in relieving suffering and distress. The Norwood Civic Association has been of great assistance in cooperating with the Overseers of the Poor in the discharge of their duty and together we have taken care that no actual suffering existed.
Town Counsel.
James A. Halloran, Esq., was again appointed Town Counsel and has given faithful and valuable service to the town. His advice has been sound and safe; the town is indeed fortunate in having as its counsel one who is willing to devote so much time to the work. The demands in this department are constantly increasing and the office is underpaid.
Town Accountant.
Norwood can justly point with pride to the manner in which its accounting is conducted. It was with a great deal of satis-
118
faction that the Selectmen on the first day of February reap- pointed James A. Pendergast, Town Accountant, for a further period of three years. We feel, however, that he applies him- self too closely to his work and that he ought to have further assistance to relieve him of some of his duties. We hope that this matter may be taken up by the appropriation committee with a view of bettering conditions in the office.
Your Selectmen have sought to administer the affairs of the town in a businesslike manner. We have carefully considered all complaints and have sought to give courteous treatment to all. We have to report that, as yet, no new street has been con- structed between High and Ellis bridges. An extension of time to June 1st has been granted the Railroad Company by the County Commissioners and we are assured that the work will be in hand by that time. Nahatan Street has been laid out by the County Commissioners to a uniform width of 45 ft. and the work will be done this year. Thus a much needed improvement will have been made.
JAMES A. HARTSHORN, JAMES W. CONGER, DANIEL F. SLATTERY. Selectmen of Norwood.
119
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JAN. 31, 1914.
Valuations as assessed on property April 1, 1913.
Resident Bank Stock, $103,660.00
Resident Personal Property, 4,174,335.00
Non-resident Personal Property, 1,013,715.00
$5,291,710.00
Resident Real Estate,
$9,041,540.00
Non-resident Real Estate,
1,307,130.00
$10,348,670.00 $15,640,380.00
Total,
There was to be raised by tax in 1913,
Town Grant of, $149,429.40
State Tax of,
27,120.00
State Highway Tax of,
102.50
County Tax of,
11,360.59
$188,012.49
Estimated receipts deducted,
24,000.00
$164,012.49
Tax on 3168 Polls deducted,
6,336.00
Amount to be raised on property, $157,676.49 $157,676.46
The valuation of $15,640,380.00 as shown above at the rate of $10.40 per thousand equals, Overlay deducted,
$162,659.95 4,983.74
$157,676.21
Plus fractional differences,
.28
$157,676.49
120
There was committed to the Collector a warrant for the collection of
A State Tax of,
$27,120.00
County Tax of, 11,360.59
State Highway Tax of,
102.50
Tax for town purposes of,
125,429.40
Overlay of,
4,983.74
$168,996.23
A Tax on Non-resident Bank Stock of, $398.74
Tax for Street Watering and Treating, 909.02
Tax for Moth Suppression,
1,739.22
Tax of Sewer Apportionments,
4,460.25
Tax of Betterment Apportionments,
94.82
Tax of Committed Interest on Sewer Apportion, 821.19
Tax of Committed Int. on Betterment Apportion, 19.61
To which has been added
A Tax assessed Dec. 20, under Sec. 85, Acts of 1909, Chapter 490, 754.36
Tax on Polls, Sec. 19, Acts of 1913, Chapter 435,
36.00
Street Railway Commutation Tax of 1,108.45
Additional Poll Taxes of
6.00
$10,347.66
Valuation of Public Property, as on April 1st, 1913.
High School,
$25,000.00
School lot, 25,128 ft., 5,025.00 $30,025.00
Guild School, 33,000.00
School lot, 1 acre 4,700 ft., 9,650.00 42,650.00
Everett School
12,000.00
121
School lot, 1 acre, 37,187 ft.,
$27,000.00
$39,000.00
Shattuck School,
39,000.00
School lot and playground, 98,913 ft. 7,900.00
46,900.00
Winslow School,
41,000.00
School lot, 1 acre 18,617 ft.,
6,200.00
47,200.00
East School,
7,000.00
School lot, 42,115 ft.,
3,400.00
10,400.00
West School,
6,000.00
School lot, 21,627 ft.,
2,600.00
8,600.00
Balch School,
3,500.00
School lot, 27,000 ft.,
2,700.00
New Balch lot, 3 acres, 11,804 ft.
9,000.00
15,200.00
School Equipment,
25,000.00
25,000.00
$264,975.00
Morrill Memorial Library,
$85,000.00
Library lot, 23,932 ft.,
5,000.00
Water and Sewerage Office,
4,500.00
Lot Market St., 5,942 ft.,
1,500.00
Lock-up Building,
2,000.00
Central Fire Station,
16,000.00
Lot Market St., 19,725 ft., .
4,000.00
Hose House No. 2,
1,000.00
Lot Washington St., 1,287 ft.
300.00
Fire Apparatus,
7,500.00
Horses,
1,000.00
$127,800.00
Stone Crusher Building,
$2,000.00
$2,000.00
Municipal Light Building,
5,500.00
Lot Market St., 5,420 ft.,
800.00
Elec. Plant, St. Lines and Wires,
75,000.00
$81,300.00
Pumping Station Bldg.,
$7,600.00
Land with Wells, Purgatory,
39 acres, 6,777 ft.,
20,000.00
1
122
Standpipe and Reservoir, $15,000.00
Land Bellevue, 4 acres 2,513 ft. 12,000.00
Street Mains and Pumping Machinery, 300,000.00
$354,600.00
Highland Cemetery, 29 acres, 36,899 ft.,
30,000.00
Land with Filter Beds, 79 acres, 16,632 ft., Sewerage Plant,
20,000.00
200,000.00
Land Nahatan St. (Pound Lot), 1,465 ft., 200.00
Tiot Lot (Norwood Square),
15,836 ft.,
16,000.00
A. O. H. Lot, Washington St., 10,394 ft., 8,500.00
Gravel Pit Lot, Pleasant St., 1 acre, 21,780 ft., 1,000.00
Old Parish Cemetery, 90,000 ft.,
13,500.00
Park Lot, Howard St. 5,850 ft.,
800.00
House Lot, Market St. (Savage) 4,340 ft., 1,100.00
Other Town Property,
50,000.00
$341,100.00
$1,171,775.00
February 6th, 1914.
Remarks.
By examining the above statistics you will note that there has been added to the usual data a list of all the public property of the town with the Assessors' valuation of same. This has been added because your Board felt that the information would be of interest to the citizens of the town.
In comparing this year's report with that of a year ago it
123
will be seen that the town grant was nearly $15,000 larger, the state tax $5,000 greater, and the county tax $1,500, in excess of the same items the previous year. These increases account for the increase in our tax rate from $9.50 to $10.40 per thousand, although practically a million dollars was added to the valuation of the town.
It will be noticed that practically all of the increase in valua- tion this past year was on real estate, the increase on personal property being only about $60,000: Your Board is firmly of the opinion that we cannot look for much of an increase in our total taxable value excepting such as comes about through the growth of the town.
There are, of course, inequalities still to be rectified, and these are being attended to as fast as they are brought to the Board's attention, discovered by the Board, or brought to light through the assessors' maps, which, by the way, are of great assistance to your Board in performing its duties. The Board will ask for an appropriation this year of a thousand dollars to pay for two more of these Assessors' plans, and with the com- pletion of these two plans the settled portion of the town will practically all have been covered. These plans have already been of sufficient help to the Assessors to prove that the ex- penditure for having them made has been a good one and of course they will continue to be of great service in the future.
Once more the Assessors desire to call the attention of the citizens of the town to the fact that statements of personal property must be filed with the Board within the time required by law, or else such statements are subject to a 50 per cent. doomage in accordance with the statutes. The Assessors wish that a greater number of our citizens would avail themselves of the privilege of making these statements.
Table of Aggregates of Valuation of Property will be found on the following page.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK G. ALLEN, AARON L. GOODWIN, GUIDO A. STUNTZNER.
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