USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1955-1959 > Part 6
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Faced with a protracted period of depreciating values of money, the ever increasing demand for more and more municipal services, the need for additional school facilities, the correction of many drainage prob- lems throughout the town, the construction of new roads, re-surfacing of existing roads and the implementation of the initial phase of the sewerage program, it is clear that a tremendous effort must be exerted toward a broaden- ing of the tax base otherwise a crushing burden will be placed on the small home-owner. I have channeled my entire personal strength to sell Randolph to industry no matter where I happen to be. It is of paramount impor- tance that we procure industry and business to locate here so that our municipal life will be brought in balance. No matter how residential a town is, it needs industry and business within its borders so as to increase the pro- ductivity, earning capacity and provide diversified job opportunities for its citizens as well as secure an equitable
100
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
assessment to defray and spread out the cost of munici- pal government.
The municipal budget reflects, in a broad sense, the standard of living of the community. It is a formu. lated plan of financial operation embodying an estimate of proposed expenditures for a given period of time and the means of financing them. The budget represents the process by which municipal policy is made, by which the program is put into operation, and by which the legis- lative and administrative controls are setup. Planning is the very heart of budgeting. In conformance with im- proved techniques in industry and government is the per- formance budget which makes it possible more specifi- cally to identify and relate costs to actual work perform- ed. In short, the budget is based upon functions, activi- ties and projects thus focussing attention upon the ser- vice to be rendered, rather than upon things to be ac- quired. The service to be accomplished and what the service will cost is, therefore, most important. The bud- get process is always affected by political, economic and social forces and pressures originating in the town itself rather than in the municipal offices. Therefore, it is a fact that government is responsive to many of these forces and pressures in keeping with our democratic in- stitutions.
In the year 1955, the municipal budget amounted to approximately $1,640,000. To service this sum, a tax rate of $55.00 was set of which $24.75 was for schools and $30.25 for general government operations. In the year ahead we are faced with heavier commitments, growing requirements for services plus the implementation of activities that have not kept pace with the growth of the town. It is no wild stretch of imagination to add that when the new elementary school is in operation that the School Budget alone will reach $1,000,000 annually. At the present level, the school system is taking almost 50 %
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
of the tax rate and with the additional costs that will beset us in 1957, it is apparent that a challenge of tre- mendously awkward proportions is upon us now. Rather than bring this crushing financial blow on the home- owner, the immediate task is to bring new industry with- in our corporate limits.
Unquestionably, the lack of planning due to the lack of full-time administrative and management responsibil- ties has served to intensify the difficulties that confront us today. This is not to imply criticism on those who exercised responsibility in other years. Rather it is to point out the growing complexities of government on all levels.
In the year 1956, the official program is incorpora- ted in the budget and warrant recommendations. I wish to point out that a great deal of hard-work remains to be done so that the tax dollar can be stretched out without impairment to our health, safety, spiritual and economic values. However, we must recognize that certain depart- ments must be built up to sufficient strength, personne! recruited and equipment provided to render the services that are most urgent to our well-being. It is the intention of my office, if approved by the Town Meeting, that the following be provided :
1. a full-time Town Engineer
2. a full-time Assessor
3. additional personnel for the Highway Depart- ment
4. the beginnings of a complete Public Works De- partment
5. a clerk for the Town Accountant
6. an additional clerk for the Tax Collector's Office
7. a clerk for the Highway Department
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
8. equipment for the Highway and Fire Depart- ments
9. additional office space in Town Hall
10. additional social worker in Welfare Department
Activities of the Town Manager shall be increased and accelerated to the extent that human endeavor will permit and will encompass the following:
1. centralized purchasing
2. centralized personnel office
3. long-term budget program
4. encumbrance accounting in the Town Accoun- tant's Office
5. impetus to an effective industrial development program
6. financial stabilization
7. planning and zoning. Anticipation and plan for future needs in school sites, parks, water supply, and other public facilities.
Accomplishments of the Town Manager in 1955:
1. instituted an orderly complaint system
2. expedited tax billing
3. savings from purchasing procedures
4. delivery of better quality merchandise
5. cleaning of catch basins
6. recovery of town gravel pit
7. work under flood control
8. servicing of public inconveniences
9. beginning of centralized purchasing
10. radio publicity for the Town
11. substantial increase in allotment for Chapter 90, Maintenance.
The Town of Randolph today is a vibrant, growing progressive community with an illuminating future pro- vided that we, its citizens, respond readilly with vigor
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
and courage to solve the many problems that stand in the pathway. With full co-operation from all segments of our community we can leave behind an invigorated muni- cipal government that will be looked upon with respect by the rest of the Commonwealth, the nation, attractive to newcomers whether they be industrial, commercial or residential in character.
While we have made definite strides in this direction, the largest part of the job still lies ahead. It is impera- five that we develope our municiapl facilities to a high degree of efficiency so that they will serve as a willing tool for the forward advancement of the Town of Rand- olph.
May I, therefore, express my deep appreciation to my associates in the Town family for their ardent co- operation during the past 7 months. And to the people of the Town may I extend my gratitude for the many kindnesses and forebearance which has made my past number of months in the town such a pleasant experience.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES R. IOVINO Town Manager
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of The Police Department
I herewith submit report of the work done by the Police Department of the Town of Randolph, for the year ending December 31, 1955:
Calls answered and investigations made 12,728
*Summonses served
267
* Arrests
163
Arraignments in Court
141
Held for the Grand Jury
6
Pending in District Court
3
Pending in Superior Court
10
Found guilty in District Court
67
** Dismissed for want of Prosecution
40
Found guilty in Superior Court
22
Nol-prossed in Superior Court Acquitted
7
Filed
17
Probation
30
Fined
36
*Released
19
Committed to Youth Service Board
1
Committed to State Hospitals
18
Committed to State Farm
1
Committed to State Prison
1
Committed to Concord Reformatory
1
Stolen Property Recovered
$16,960.79
Put up for the night.
3
Notices Posted 126
Doors and windows found open by the Police Department 467
Net returns paid to Town Treasurer from fines over and above expenses of prosecution $363.00
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
Fines taken in by District and Superior Courts $1,625.00
Total number of warnings on Motor Violations 1,705
Total number of suspension of licenses
195
Total number of miles covered by Police cars
Total number of miles covered by motorcycles 11,947
100,615
*Some arrests and summonses were served for Out of Town Police.
Of the 40 cases dismissed for want of prosecution the police were complainant on 25
Of the 19 cases released 8 were juveniles and were turned over to their parents.
Fortunately for the past year there has been very little crime of any serious nature in the town. As you all know the traffic problem in Randolph is a serious one. In spite of constant patrol on our highways we still have had many accidents, especially on Route 28. Warn- ings and suspensions of licenses have helped to reduce the accident rate and we will continue to do our best to alleviate it.
We wish to extend our thanks and appreciation to the town officals, townspeople and all who have co- operated in the past year in maintaining the depart- ment and helping with its various activities.
Very truly yours,
PATRICK T. MCDONNELL Chief of Police
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of The Fire Department
To the Town Manager and the
Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1955.
The department responded to 438 calls classified as follows:
Number of calls
438
Building fires
111
Automobiles
24
False alarms
14
Inhalator calls
16
Miscellaneous
34
Aid calls out of town
2
Brush & Grass
237
Permits granted
458
Inspections made
1082
American Legion Ambulance calls
212
Feet of hose used-11,400-21/2-8,725-11/2- 500-11/8-39,050 Booster
Feet of ladders used
1,069
Assessed value of property damaged by fire
$118,130.00
Insurance on property damaged
528,300.00
Damage to property
26,608.17
Insurance paid on damage
26,608.17
Loss not covered
None
Value of contents involved
771,200.00
Insurance on contents 769,700.00
Damage to contents
36,206.44
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
Insurance paid on damage Loss not covered
23,581.44 12,625.06
Due to the fact that we have approximately four thousand buildings to protect from fire loss it is necessary that the department be expanded both in man- power and equipment. One of our great problems is manpower during the day time when most of the call mer. are not available. Therefore, I feel it necessary to asl: for two additional permanent firefighters in 1956. Also we are badly in need of a new forestry truck which I have
asked for. Both the radio equipment and the aerial ladder truck have proven of great value during the past year. I have asked for one more radio for Engine 1 which will complete the equipment of all the trucks with radio. The new Fire Station voted at the annual meeting of 1955 is under construction and we expect to occupy it about June of 1956.
I wish at this opportunity to thank the Town Officials, the Finance Committee and the citizens of the Town for their co-operaiton during the past year, also the other members of this department.
Yours sincerely,
CARLTON P. HARRIS, Chief of Randolph Fire Department.
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of Board of Health
The Board of Health respectively submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1955.
POLIO EPIDEMIC OF 1955 RANDOLPH
The people of Randolph during the months of July through October of 1955 have experienced the most severe epidemic of Infantile Paralysis which has ever occurred in this Community. Records of the Board of Health reveal that in no year in the past have more than iwo cases of Polio been reported. For about one half of the years since 1916 there have been no reported cases. This year 32 cases occured (rate of 2.4 cases per 1000 of population) 22 of which were paralytic in nature and 10 were of the non-paralytic variety. There were four deaths. In the entire State of Massachusetts during this epidemic year there were approximately 160 deaths. Thus 25% of all Massachusetts polio deaths occured in the cases among our 14,000 population. Much more than our share.
This outbreak occured concomitantly with and was a part of the epidemic which has involved a major portion of the eastern part of the State of Massachusetts. During July the disease gained a foothold in the Boston area and thereafter seemed to spread radially to other parts of the State. Indeed several of our first cases in Randolph give history of contact with children of the earlier involved areas of Dorchester and South Boston and Boston. They and others probably were exposed to the virus during such visits or contracts and unintentionally brought the disease into Randolph. By mid-August it became ap-
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
parent that Massachusetts was experiencing an epidemic second only in severity to that which occured in the year 1916. Some of the older Randolph residents may recall that outbreak, although our town was mysteriously spared and there was only one reported case that year.
Geographical Distribution of Cases
The accompanying spottings (see figure 1) shows the distribution of cases throughout the town during this outbreak. Cases were widely distributed over the town. There were, however, two main epidemic foci:
(1) Highland Ave., and Warren Street areas;
(2) Canton Street and Old Street triangle -
The first two cases reported in the middle of July resided one each in these locations. Throughout the months of July, August, September and October cases occured in these areas and during these months spread from these to other regions of the town except for two or three heavily populated areas which escaped with either no cases at all or with only one or two cases.
Reason for Absence of Cases in Certain Parts of Randolph
Two heavily populated areas of Randolph were fortunate to completely escape without any recognized cases during this years' epidemic. One other area had far Jess cases than could have been expected for the size of the population invoked.
These areas which were spared during this epidemic are: (see figure 1)
(1) The triangle area bounded by North Main Street, Oak Street, Pleasant Street and North Street.
110
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
---
---
- --
- --- -
--------
QUINCY
----
--
METROPOLITAN
DISTRICT
ORAINTAEL
COMMISSION
CANTON
MILTON
O
STOUGHTON
...
COMMISSION
..
-
TOU
-
OFFICIAL MAP
TOWN
OF
RANDOLPH
MASSACHUSETTS
AVO%
Figure No. 1 .
111
BE SERVONO
BRAINTREE
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
(2) The area including streets along South Main Street south of Woodlawn and Maple Streets and including Cole and Fitch Terrace and Stoughton Street.
(3) The area east of North Main Street, bounded on the north by Oliver and Morse Streets and on the easterly by Great Pond and on the south by Pond Street and adjacent street.
In searching for reasons why these areas were spared while other population segments were so hard hit, we observed that these areas contained the polio cases which occured during the previous years of 1953 and 1954. The presumption is that the absence of cases in these areas during the present epidemic may be the result of con- siderable residual immunity resulting from previous ex- perience with the polio virus in these population segments during 1953 and 1954. It is important to appreciate that whenever there is a recognized case of infantile paralysis there are usually many other people in the enviroment of each case who become infected with the virus (or germ of polio) without knowing it. Most people who get in- fected don't develop any sickness recognizable as polio or only slight fever for a few hours which may be almost unnoticed, or which the doctor may diagnose as "Virus" or as pharyngitis or by some other such diagnostic lan- guage. It is these carriers or "unapparent causes" or "un- recognized cases" that account for the great amount of the spread of polio. Sometimes, of course, it is possible to trace the spread of the disease from a recognized case to another person who was a close contact of the case. This is observed occasionally among family contacts of a case especially. But the occurance of most cases of polio cannot be accounted for on any such clearcut basis. Most acquire their infection directly or indirectly from people who do not know they are infected, or possibly by contact,
112
TOWN CF RANDOLPH, MASS.
with intestinal discharges of such persons. Thus there is a strong probability that during 1953 and 1954 there were many people infected within the above described areas of Randolph, and that these people became immunized as a result of this experience and were protected from polio during the present epidemic.
Distribution of Cases in Time
The first cases had their onset during the middle of July (see figure 2) and during the last two weeks of July there were reported seven cases, four of which were paralytic; and one of these cases died. Thirteen cases occured in August, nine of which were paralytic with two deaths. There were only seven cases in September, six of which were paralytic. Only four paralytic cases occured in October and one of these died. One case, a non-paraly- tic case from which virus was not recovered, had its onset in the month of November .*
*This case is not included in figures 2, 3 and 4 but is the case spotted on the map (figure 1) on Woodlawn Street.
The Distribution of Cases By Week of Onset Is Shown in Figure 2
During the last two weeks in July and again during the last two weeks of August the physicians of the town were exceptionally busy. They were seeing hundreds of cases of an illness, especially occuring in younger age groups, which was characterized by slight to moderate fever, often sore throat and malaise-but without evi- dence of stiff neck or muscle weakness. For the lack of a better diagnosis many cases were called "virus" or "pharyngitis" or "low grade tonsillitis". During the first week of October a third but smaller wave of this sort of illness occured.
113
POLIOMYELITIS, RANDOLPH, 1955
CASES BY MONTH OF ONSET
NUMBER OF CASES
13F
12
11-
10
9 T
8F
7-
6-
5-
41
3-
21
O
JULY
AUGUST SEPT. OCTOBER MONTH OF ONSET Figure No. 2
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
POLIOMYELITIS, RANDOLPH, 1955 DATE OF ONSET BY AGE AND OUTCOME
NUMBER OF CASES
NONPARALYTIC CASES
51
PARALYTIC CASES
4 -
10
DEATHS
3 -
22/
31
15/
6
25%
16
2.
8
10
15
4
30
39
-
2 7 6
6
4 : 41 2
4
2
0+
16 23 30
6 13 20 27
3 10 17 24 1
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
8 15 22 29 OCTOBER
WEEK ENDING
Figure No. 3
The occurence of this "epidemic" of illness in two major waves followed by a third smaller one which ex- actly coincide in time with the three waves of diagnosed cases of infantile paralysis (see figure 3) leads to the conclusion that most of these cases were in all probability infections with polio virus which did not cause paralysis nor other signficant central nervous system involvement. In other words these cases were un-diagnosable cases of non-paralytic poliomyelitis. By inference from what is known about the epidemiology of infantile paralysis it is estimated that there may have been between 4000 and 8000 people in Randolph infected with polio virus during the three and a half months interval after the middle of July. The people who were so infected are fortunate be- cause they escaped paralysis and are now immune or protected against the type I polio virus. A large propor- tion of people so infected had no knowledge that they were carriers of the virus and were capable of passing the virus onto others. Doubtless some of the very parents who were isolating their children at home were infected and passed the virus to these children.
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
It is only the more severe cases which are recognized and diagnosed as polio and reported to the Board of
POLIOMYELITIS, RANDOLPH, 1955
AGE OF CASES BY PARALYTIC, NONPARALYTIC AND DEATH
NUMBER OF CASES
13
12
NONPARALYTIC CASES
PARALYTIC CASES
10-
9.
DEATHS
8.
7-
6-
5-
4
3.
2.
O
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24 25-29 30-34
35+
AGE GROUPS IN YEARS
Figure No. 4
Health. Of the probable 4000 to 8000 infections in Ran- dolph only 32 cases were severe enough to be called "polio" during this epidemic and 10 of these developed no paralysis.
116
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
These 32 cases occured in three waves of cycles (see figure 3) approximately one month each. Ten of the cases occurred in the first wave, 12 in the second and nine in the third with another non-paralytic case spotted there- after. Thus the peak of our epidemic was reached during the last of August or in early September during the peak of the second wave. This was also the intervale of time during which the local physicians were seeing the maxi- mum number of so-called "virus" cases. The epidemic was essentially completed on the tenth of October, the date of onset of the last case of the third wave, although another non-paralytic case did occur which had its orset about 12 days later.
POLIOMYELITIS, RANDOLPH, 1955
NUMBER OF CASES BY WEEK OF ONSET
NUMBER OF CASES
5
NONPARALYTIC
4
PARALYTIC
3
2
-
C
-
16
23 30
6
13 20 27
3
10
17 24
1
8
15 22 29
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
WEEK ENDING
Figure No. 5
Age Distribution of Cases
Approximately half of the cases occured in patients under the age of five years (see figure 4). Two-thirds of the cases occured in children under the age of 10 years. The youngest case was that of a 15 months old infant and the oldest was a woman of 39 years. The age distribution of cases as shown in figures 4 and 5.
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
Age Distribution of Cases in Relation to the Rate of Opening of Schools
During the current epidemic careful consideration was given to the question of whether or not the opening of schools should be postponed. At the end of the last week of August the Board of Health, after consultation with polio experts and after a careful sanitary survey of the schools, recommended opening schools on schedule. Four days later, the Randolph School Committee an- nounced a two week postponment of school opening until September 19. This action was taken because numerous of these surrounding towns had done so. Many of the announcements of these surrounding towns had stated that their action was not taken on advice of medical or health authority but because of great emotional concern on the part of parents, and to absolve town or city offi- cials from blame for any cases which might occur in chil- dren of school age. In this conncetion it is of interest to consider what percentage of cases occured in children of school age before and after the actual opening of schools: . See figure - 3).
Before schools opened on Sept. 19, there had been 22 cases of polio of which eight or nine (approximately 40 % ) had occured in children of school age. After school opened only 10 cases occured in the entire town of which only four cases (approximately 40%) were in children of school age and attending Randolph schools. Thus there was no significant difference in the percentage of school children affected after the opening of schools. In other words, the opening of schools did not cause any increase in the percentage of school children affected.
Investigation of individual cases occuring in school children after the opening of school reveal no evidence that any of these acquired their infections in the school
118
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
enviroment. As an example, one such case in a child of the first grade of the Devine School shows clearly that this child did not acquire his infection at school. This child and a younger brother who attended kindergarten in another part of the town came down with paralysis within a few hours of each other. Both of these children of the same family must have been infected with polio virus almost simultaneously a week or two before these almost simultaneous onsets of their illness. The incuba- tion period of polio averages about 12 days. The im- portant point is this :- that if they both acquired their infection from a common source as is almost obvious, neither was infected at school because each went to a different school. One of the other cases occuring in a child of school age gave history of definite exposure 12 days before onset to another known case of paralytic polio in another community. No sure explanation was uncovered by investigation for the occurance of the other cases, but there was nothing which pointed to the school environment as their sources. Suggestive evidence in these cases pointed elsewhere.
Extremely careful and frequent attention was given by the Board of Health and by the full time agent, and by the school doctors, and by the school and Public Health nurses to the sanitation of the school enviroment. Children have been carefully observed by teachers and nurses, and children with fevers have been excluded for 48 hours and returned to school by doctor's certificate. Physical exercise and athletic programs were curtailed for several weeks at school, or, when permitted, the par- ticipants were screened for presence of fever. This was done not for the purpose of preventing infection with the polio virus nor even for the purpose of preventing close physical contact; instead it was done to prevent the paralytic form of the disease from manifesting itself in a participant in athletics who might be infected with the
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