Report of the city of Somerville 1944, Part 28

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1944
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 492


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1944 > Part 28


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De Vellis, Cosmo


Dewar, Robert D.


Dillaway, John E.


Donovan, Jeremiah F.


Donovan, John F.


Donovan, Thomas A.


Donovan, William H.


Doolin, Patrick J. Dowd, Michael J. Downey, William J.


Dunleavey, John M.


Dwyer, William E. Ellis, Charles W.


Estee, George R., Jr. Estee, Joseph R.


443


POLICE DEPARTMENT


Faulkner, Ernest C. Fedele, Joseph F. Fitzgerald, William J.


Fitzpatrick, Augustine W. Flanagan, Thomas J. Fleming, Thomas J. Forristall, Edward G.


Gallagher, John J. Gleason, Raymond J. Gormley, Leo J. Griffin, William H. Gullage, George, Jr.


Hall, Thomas L. Hallion, Howard F. Heafey, John F.


Higgins, Francis E. Holmes, James F. Hughes, James E. Hughes, John E. Johnson, William E.


Kearney, Dennis F. Kelley, Arthur W. Kelley, Edward W. Kelley, William J. Keniry, Jeremiah Kent, Leo A. Kiley, Edward J. Kilmartin, James A.


Landry, Frederick A. Lord, Henry A. Lyons, Patrick J.


MacRae, Walter J. Mahoney, John J. Mahoney, Thomas F. Mahood, John T. Meade, John J. McAuliffe, Daniel F. McAvoy, Charles H. McCauley, George W. McFadden, Alfred J. McGahan, Thomas L. McGovern, Frederick W. Mckenzie, John H. McQuilken, Clifford A.


Mehigan, Garrett F. J. Murphy, Daniel F. No. 1 Murphy, Daniel F. No. 2 Murphy, John W.


Nelson, Ludwig Nicholas, Glen B.


O'Brien, John H. O'Brien, Patrick F. O'Brien, Thomas J. O'Connell, Daniel J. O'Connor, Jeremiah O'Keefe, John P. L. O'Loughlin, Michael J. Oesting, Walter C.


Quinlan, William J.


Reid, Garnet L. Robitaille, Alfred E. Rogers, Francis L. Rossi, Ricco J. Ryan, James F.


Scotti, James V.


Shay, John J. Sheehan, Jeremiah G.


Shepherd, Charles W.


Silva, Frank A., Jr.


Skeffington, Richard H.


Smith, James L. Smith, John J.


Souza, James


Spiers, George


Stokes, Herbert H.


Tanner, John J.


Warner, Chester F Wills, William F.


Young, Harry C.


Matron Helen F. Kammerer


Assistant Matron Susannah F. Bolt


444.


ANNUAL REPORTS


The following named members of the Department are in the armed forces.


Patrolman Preston C. Davis, on March 20, 1942, United States Army Patrolman Leo J. Gormley, on May 1, 1942, United States Army Patrolman Henry A. Lord, on June 11, 1942, United States Navy *Patrolman John J. Meade, on June 19, 1942, United States Army *Patrolman Fred A. Cammon, on June 19, 1942, United States Coast Guard


*Patrolman Robert J. Brady, on June 25, 1942, United States Army *Patrolman James J. Ryan, on June 30, 1942, United States Army Patrolman Ulick M. Burke, on July 28, 1942, United States Army Patrolman Thomas J. Fleming, on September 2, 1942, United States Navy


Patrolman Dennis F. Kearney, on September 3, 1942, United States Coast Guard


Patrolman John E. Dillaway, on September 14, 1942, United States Navy Patrolman John F. Donovan, on September 20, 1942, United States Navy Patro'man William J. Fitzgerald, on October 22, 1942, United States Navy


Patrolman Clifford A. McQuilken, on November 20, 1942, United States Coast Guard


Patrolman Ludwig Neison, on November 30, 1942, United States Coast Guard


Patrolman Garnet L. Reid, on January 4, 1943, United States Coast Guard


Patrolman Jeremiah G. Brennan, on March 23, 1943, United States Navy Patrolman, Jeremiah C. Cullinan, on April 11, 1943, United States Army *Patrolman Leo A. Kent, on July 9, 1943, United States Navy


Patrolman John E. Hughes, on January 23, 1944, United States Marines Patrolman Aug. W. Fitzpatrick, on January 23, 1944, United States Marines


Patrolman John F. Heafey, on May 3, 1944, United States Navy


Patrolman Joseph R. Estee, on June 8, 1944, United States Navy


* In the service at time of appointment and have not vet reported for duty In this Department.


IN GENERAL


The efficiency of the Department has been greatly increased in the past year due to the installation of an F. M. two-way radio which was put into operation on January 5, 1944. This system affords a greater degree of safety to the public because of the speediness in which our radio equipped cruising cars may be dispatched to a particular area.


While the demands of the Civilian Defense Committee have been somewhat curtailed I wish at this time to thank those members of the Auxiliary Police who gave their time and effort during the past year.


445


POLICE DEPARTMENT


RECOMMENDATIONS


Due to the present unsettled conditions caused by the global war, I do not feel that this is a proper time to make recom- mendations in so far as the equipment of our department is concerned.


IN CONCLUSION


I wish to thank the Honorable Mayor and Board of Alder- men and various heads of Departments for their assistance and co-operation to me and to our department throughout the past year.


I also wish to thank the members of the Department for their loyalty to me in our efforts to serve the community.


Respectfully submitted,


THOMAS DAMERY Chief of Police


446


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT


March 21, 1945


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen


Gentlemen :


Herewith respectfully submitted for your information and consideration is the Annual Report of the activities of the Law Department for the year ending December 31, 1944.


A noteworthy court decision involving the City of Somer- ville was handed down during the year. On May 14, 1938 six married women in the classified civil service employed by the city were discharged from their city positions by former Mayor John M. Lynch. After taking the matter of their discharges to the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, the women were ordered to be restored to their former positions in October 9, 1944 on order of the court that they were "wrongfully discharged." They have since returned to work for the city and have filed suits against the city for back pay amounting to $90,000, and also they are seeking to compel the city to restore them to their former status in the retirement and pension fund system, as though they had never lost their positions in the employ of the city. These actions are still pend- ing in the Middlesex Superior Court.


Suits that were entered against the city involving claims arising out of defective sidewalks and streets were settled at a reasonable cost whenever liability was obvious. Other cases were tried in court with favorable results for the city. There are still many of these cases pending, but in comparison to other years a slight decline in the number of them has been noted.


447


LAW DEPARTMENT


During the year 1944 this department has made notable progress in the disposition of most of the petitions to fore- close tax liens which were still pending in the Land Court. The results were very favorable. Final foreclosure decrees were entered in most of the cases and titles to the properties involved were vested in the city, so that they could be sold at auction and the money received turned over to the city treasury. In this connection I must acknowledge the work done by our in- spector of claims, Charles Shepherd, who is responsible for the investigations which were necessary to determine the military and marital status of the parties interested in the parcels which were foreclosed. Due to Federal regulations occasioned by the present war emergency, no final decrees can be entered unless a military affidavit can be filed in the Land Court in each case.


There were pending during the year many cases before the State Board of Tax Appeals. These cases were brought by tax- payers who appealed from the decision of the Board of Assessors refusing abatements of certain taxes levied on their properties during the years 1942 and 1943. Many of these appeals were settled after conferences between the petitioners and the city assessors, and actual trials were had on those which could not be compromised. This type of case is becoming an increas- ingly serious part of the work of the Law Department and is taking up an increasingly large part of the time of the City Solicitor. One of the cases now pending before said board of Tax Appeals, notably the Ford Motor Co. case, involves re- quested abatements of hundreds of thousands of dollars.


At the request of the Board of Aldermen during the year, I prepared many opinions in writing on various subjects to which reference may be had in the records of the Board. At the request of the department heads, written opinions or ad- vice were furnished to legal questions involving their respect- ive departments.


To the end that the legal interests of the city would be protected, various contracts entered into by the city were either drafted by me personally or examined and approved by me as to form; all bonds required to be furnished by various city officials and other bonds required by statute, ordinance and Federal regulations were submitted to me for approval.


448


ANNUAL REPORTS


Attorney Ashelen P. Senopoulos, my assistant, has shown careful and painstaking work particularly in the preparation and trials of cases before the Appellate Tax Board and the Land Court. His cooperation was of great assistance and it was a pleasure to have him associated with me in this work.


In closing I wish to express my thanks for the cooperation received from his Honor, Mayor G. Edward Bradley, the Board of Aldermen and the various department heads.


Respectfully submitted,


L.


ANTHONY W. DICECCA City Solicitor


449


WATER COMMISSIONER


WATER COMMISSIONERS SOMERVILLE WATER DEPARTMENT


Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Settled, when part of Charlestown 1630 Incorporated a Town; 1842 Established a City, 1872


Location: Somerville City Hall (Near centre of the city), 234 miles northerly from State House, in Boston. Greatest extent of the City north and south about 4.2 miles. Greatest extent of the City east and west about 2.1 miles Elevation Highland Avenue at City Hall 105 feet above mean low water. Highest building elevation in the City 145 feet. Lowest building elevation in the City 13 feet. Area of the City, including land and water, abcut 4.22 square miles Land, 2,461.50 acres; water and marsh 238.50 acres. Population, 1940 census, 102,304. Entire population on line of pipe and supplied with water.


Water Works owned by the City of Somerville Construction commenced in 1868 Source of supply: Metropolitan system. Range of Pressure on street mains: Low service 35 to 65 pounds; High Service 45 to 100 pounds.


Mayor HON. G. EDWARD BRADLEY


Water Commissioner HENRY F. O'CONNELL


450


ANNUAL REPORTS


Office of the Water Department


City Hall, Highland Avenue, corner School Street.


Department Buildings and Yard 275 Cedar Street, near Broadway.


ADMINISTRATION OF WATER WORKS VESTED AS BELOW


1861-1871 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER COMMITTEE (5) Acts 1868; Chap. 202


1872-1890 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD (5) Acts 1871; Chap. 182


1891-1897 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD (3) Acts 1890; Chap. 218


1898-1899


BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS Acts 1898; Chap. 33


1900 WATER COMMISSIONER (1) Acts 1899; Chap 240.


451


WATER COMMISSIONER


REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER


OFFICE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER


January 1, 1945


To His Honor, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :


I present herewith my report for the year ending December 31, 1944, this being the Seventieth Annual Report of the Water Department.


Water Charges committed to the City Treasurer and Col- lector of Taxes during the year 1944 :


Quarterly Accounts


Committed


$279,173.50


Less : Adjustments


1,223.00


$277,950.50


Commercial Accounts


Committed


$219,719.12


Less: Adjustments


31.58


$219,687.54


Additional Accounts


Committed


$10.00


Service Assessments


Committed


$1,066.64


Maintenance Charges


Committed


$549.50


Less: Adjustments


9.06


$540.44


TOTAL COMMITMENTS .........


$499,255.12


Note: See report of City Treasurer and of Taxes for collection


452


ANNUAL REPORTS


APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES Water Maintenance and Extension Account


Appropriations made by the Board of Alder- men


Balance from Last year


Receipts


Labor and Materials for operation, mainten- ance and renewal of the Water Works $101,640.93


Balance


5,083.98


$106,724.91


$106,724.91


CHAPTER NO. 44 WATER BONDS


Balance January 1, 1944


$1,515.73


January 1, 1945


$1,515.73


.


WATER ASSESSMENTS


The assessment paid to the Commonwealth by this City as its proportionate part of the cost and operation of the Metro- politan Water Works for the year 1944 was as follows :


Maintenance


$87,592.87


Interest


77,899.51


Maturing Bond


103,966.20


Brookline Credit


8,237.18


Total payment for 1944


$277,695.76


The amount paid by the City since the beginning in 1898 is as follows:


Sinking Fund


557,983.25


Maintenance


1,957,480.90


Interest


3,779,432.58


Maturing Bonds


1,124,654.49


Brookline Credit


132,753.46


Total Payments to date


$7.552,304.68


Hydrants, Gates, Etc.


Number of fire hydrants in City, January 1. 1944


1,360


Number set during the year


3


Number removed during the year


2


Nct increase in number of hydrants


1


Total number of fire hydrants


1,361


$103,284.65 3,138.16 302.10


WATER COMMISSIONER


453


Number of private fire hydrants December


31, 1944


89


Number of gates in the City, January 1,


1944


3,023


Number set during the year for streets 0


Number set on hydrant branches


2


Number set on blow-off branches


0


Number of gates removed


0


Net increase in number of gates


2


Total number of gates in City,


3,025


Number of check-valves in City. January 1,


1944


9


Number added during the year


0


Total number of check valves


9


Number of blow-offs in City, January 1, 1944 .. 237


0


Total number of blow-offs


237


Number of Waterposts in City, January 1, 1944


59


Number removed during the year


0


Total number of waterposts 59


Note: These waterposts are not in use.


Number of drinking fountains in City, Jan- uary 1, 1944


9


Number added during the year


2


Number now in City


11


Number of car-sprinkler connections in City, January 1, 1944


10


Number discontinued during the year


0


Total number of car-sprinkler connec- tions


10


Note: These are not in use.


Operating Meters, December 31, 1944.


Size 5 / 8 " 3/4 " " 11/2" 2" 3" 4" 6" 10" 12" Total


13,300 263 115 39 56 18 9


3


1


1 13805


Motor and elevator register Total


13,806


Totai


Per cent of services metered 100%


Number of Services Supplying Public Property


Number of services supplying Public Property ...


86


1


Number added during the year


-


454


ANNUAL REPORTS


Water is furnished without charge to all City Departments and Municipal buildings.


Size number and length of services installed in 1944:


1


6"


Services


25'


2


4" Services


30'


1


11/2"


Services


10


1


1" Services


20


1


2"


Services


12


2


3/4"


Services


30


1


8'


Fire Service


35'


162'


Summary of Pipes and Fixtures of the Water System December 31, 1944.


Feet of main pipe (approximately)


602,557


Miles of main pipe (approximately)


114.12


Service in use (approximately)


13,892


Services supplying public property


86


Private Fire Supplies (sprinkler system)


118


Fire Supplies to Public Buildings


26


Public Fire Hydrants


1,361


Private Fire Hydrants


89


Sprinkler Systems installed in Public Buildings ..


0


Gates


3,025


Check Valves


9


Meters (including 1 motor register)


13,806


Waterposts (Not in use)


59


Car-sprinkler connections (Not in use)


10


Blow-offs


237


Drinking Fountains and troughs


11


Total number of services required to be metered in actual use


13,806


Services supplying public property Total number of services


86


13,892


In addition to the above there are fire supplies private sprinkler systems, which are not re- quired to be metered


118


The Average Daily Consumption of Water for the year 1944 was 10,744,300 gallons or 104 gallons per capita.


455


WATER COMMISSIONER


SUMMARY OF STATISTICS For the Year Ending December 31, 1944. In form recommended by the New England Water Works Association.


SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASS.


General Statistics


Population, Federal Census, 1940, 102,304


Date of Construction: Commenced in 1868.


By whom owned: City of Somerville.


Source of Supply: Metropolitan Water System.


Mode of supply: Water is delivered to the City's mains, both high and low pressure, by the Metropolitan Water Works.


Statistics of Consumption of Water


Population supplies, December 31, 1944, Est. 102,830.


Average daily consumption 10,744,300 gallons.


Gallons per day to each inhabitant, 104.


Total consumption for the year 1944: High-Service 812,896,000 gals. Low-Service 3,119,523,000 gals. Total City 3,932,419,000 gals.


Statistics relating to Distributing System, 1944 Mains


Kind of pipe, cast iron.


Size from 4-inch and under to 20-inch.


Total now in use, 114.12 miles.


Number of hydrants added during the year; Public 1; Private, 0.


Number of hydrants (public and private) now in use, 1,450


Number of gates added during the year, net increase, 2.


Number of gates now in use, 3,025.


Number of blow-offs, 237.


Range of pressure on mains, 35 pounds to 100 pounds.


Services


Kind of Pipe; Lead, lead-lined wrought iron, cement-lined wrought iron, cast iron, brass. copper tubing, tubeloy, and galvanized. Sizes, one-half to eight inches.


Number of service connections made this year, 8. .


Services in use, approximately. 13,892.


Number of private fire supplies (sprinkler systems), 118.


Number of meters now in use, 13,806


Percentage of services metered, 100%. (Public services not metered).


Respectfully submitted,


HENRY F. O'CONNELL Water Commissioner.


456


ANNUAL REPORTS


INDEX


Address, Mayor G. Edward Bradley 5


Appeal, Board of, Report of 391


Assessors, Board of, Report of


405


Estimated Receipts and Available Funds 406


City Auditor Report of 13


Appropriations


23


Balance Sheet


16


Borrowing Capacity, Dec. 31, 1944


40


Cash Statement


21, 22, 23


Classified Debt Jan. 1, 1944


32


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


29


County of Middlesex


30


Detail of Estimated Receipts in 1944


26


Excess and Deficiency Account


46


Funded Debt 31, Insert 33


Interest · Requirements on Funded Debt 1945


37


Interest Requirements on Funded Debt (Six Years)


39


Interest Requirements on Present City Debt to Maturity .. Insert 33 Loans Increasing the Debt 33


Maturities on Funded Debt 1945


36


Maturities on Funded Debt (Six Years)


38


Net Funded or Fixed Debt


19


Overlay Accounts


42-45


Receipts and Expenditures, Classification


47-90


Refunds


52


Schedule of Public Property


91-94


Somerville Retirement System


95-98


Statement of Appropriations (Revenue) 1944


Insert 23


Statement of Revenue and Expenses 1944


30


Statement of Other Revenue Accounts 1944


24


Statement of Appropriations (Non Revenue)


Insert 23


Tailings


41


Taxes


34


Tax Titles


41


Temporary Loans 1944


31


Trust and Invested Funds


20


City Clerk, Report of


394


Births


396


Deaths


397


Licenses and Permits


394


Maturities Reducing the Debt 33


457


INDEX


Marriages


397


Payments


396


Receipts


394


City Engineer, Report of 282


General Financial Statement


283


Length of Public Streets in Each Ward


286


Length of Streets


285


Maintenance Accounts


289


Miles of Edgestones and Sidewalk in Each Ward


286


Parks and Playgrounds Division


289-292


Sewer Division


287


Table of Street Construction


286


Underground Conduits


287


City Government and Officers for 1944 398


City Solicitor, Report of 446


City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Report of 99


Bonds, Due in 1945


105


Bond Interest Due in 1945


106


Bond Maturities with Interest, Yearly


104


Cash Statement


100


Commitment by Assessors


101


Funded Debt as of December 31, 1944


103


Motor Vehicle Excise


101


Loans, All other


104


Tax Title Loans


102


Temporary Loans


102


Commissioner of Public Buildings (see Public Buildings Com- missioner ) 413


Commissioner of Streets (see Street Commissioner) 346


Commissioner of Water (see Water Commissioner) ...


449


Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights, Report of 408


Fire Alarm System


409


Inspection of Wiring in Buildings


408


Police Signal System


410


Street Lighting


412


Traffic Signals


411


Dental Hygiene, Report of 314


Election Commissioners, Board of, Report of 237


Expenses


240


Jurors


239


List Registred Voters


243


Listing Board, Report of 241


Nomination Papers Initiative Petitions


238


458


ANNUAL REPORTS


Presidential Primary, Democratic, April 25, 1944 Insert 245


. Presidential Primary, Republican, April 25, 1944 Insert 249


Questions on Ballots 265


Recounts 239


Registration


237


State Election, November 7, 1944 Insert 261


State Primary, Democratic, July 11, 1944 Insert 253


State Primary, Republican, July 11, 1944 Insert 257


Fire Department, Chief of, Report of 350


Alarms of Fire


350


Apparatus 351


Classification of Alarm


352


In Memoriam


354


Recommendations


363


Health, Board of, Report of 293


Dental Hygiene, Report of Insert 314


Diseases Dangerous to Public Health


302


Funeral Directors


305


Health Nurses, Report of


307, 308


Infant Hygiene Clinics


306


Inspection of Animals and Provisions, Report of


312


Inspector of Animals and Veterinarian, Report of


313


Inspection of Milk and Vinegar, Report of


315


Medical Inspection of Schools


302


Medical Inspection, Report of


309


Mortality Statistics


295


Nuisances


293


Permits and Licenses 293


Specimens and Supplies


302


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar, Report of 315


Law Department, Report of 446


Licensing Commission, Report of 386


List of Streets 365


Medical Inspection, Report of


309


Diphtheria Immunization


310


Laboratory Examinations


309


Tuberculosis


310


Visits


309


Planning Board 393


Police, Chief of, Report of


440


Arrests


440


Changes in Department


440


Roster of Department


442


Recommendations


445


459


INDEX


Public Buildings, Commissioner, Report of


413


Building Permits Issued


425


Distribution of Expenditures


427


Estimated Cost New Buildings and Alterations


426


Fees Collected


425


Maintenance of Municipal Buildings


417, 425


Public Library


270


Board of Trustees and Officers


271


Report of Librarian


274


Report of Trustees



270


Organization of Library and Staff Personnel


272


Statistics


279


Public Welfare, Department of 429


Aid to Dependent Children


432


City Home, Reports of Warden


435


City Physician, Report of


436


Full Support


431


Members of Board, Committee, Officers, etc.


429


Old Age Assistance


433


Partial Support


431


Population and Gross Expenditures


434


Report of General Agent


431


Reimbursements


433


Recreation Commission, Report of


318


Retirement System


95


Sanitary Department, Report of


389


Collection of Ashes and Paper 389


School Department


111


Appendix, Contents of


154


Graduates-High School


203


Junior High Schools


209


Evening High School


219


Vocational School


220


School Committees and Office Force


112, 113


Somerville Teachers' Club


201


Somerville High School


198


Somerville High School Athletic Association


200


Superintendent of Schools, Report of


115


Teachers in Service


221


Statement of Work of School Nurses Insert 154


Sealer of Weights and Measures 107


Sewers (see City Engineer) 282


460


ANNUAL REPORTS


Street Commissioner, Report of


346


List of Streets


365


Miscellaneous


348


Sidewalks and Highway Maintenance


347


Snow and Ice


346


Street Cleaning


347


Suppression of Moths


347


Traffic Control


348


Recommendations


349


Veterans' Aid and Pensions, Report of


236


Water Commissioner, Report of


449


Chapter 44 Water Bonds


452


Hydrants, Gates, etc.


452


Appropriations and Expenditures


452


Summary Pipes and Fixtures


454


Summary and Statistics


455


Water Assessments


452


Water Consumption


455


-. .




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