Report of the city of Somerville 1954, Part 9

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1954
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 366


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1954 > Part 9


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21


During the year, Supervisor Lawrence J. Crowley and his associate, Police Inspector John Courtney arranged for the is- suance of some 85 warrants for non-support and an additional 15 for begetting. A constant flow of referrals from both the A. D. C. and General Relief Divisions, resulted in the filing of almost 500 individual reports of action taken and case de- velopments.


Periodically during the year at the Agent's request, the Bureau submitted detailed reports on cases processed, for the consideration of the Board.


The records of current employment now made available through the Baltimore headquarters of the Social Security Ad- ministration, by the tracing of Social Security numbers, have proven of immense help to the Division in the location of ab- sconders and in their apprehension. Court action resulting in the assessment of weekly contributions by deserting fathers has brought about the reduction or discontinuance of public assistance in an appreciable number of cases.


A new systematic method of case reporting initiated this year, has greatly improved the case histories insofar as the activity of the Domestic Relations Division is concerned.


143


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


The Bureau has not found Chapter 273A, the so-called Uniform Support Law, a very effective instrument. Experience demonstrates that the Courts generally are unwilling to take drastic steps to force support by estranged husbands.


This particular area of social work is in many ways, frus- trating and unrewarding. It is fraught with problems which in the ultimate analysis, are primarily moral. Unfortunately, the only criteria recognized today in professional case work circles are merely legal canons and social norms. There is however, a vast difference between legality and morality. The solidarity and cohesion of the family, which is the basic unit of society, must be established and constructed upon foundations stronger than merely legal or conventionally acceptable stand- ards. The worst and most costly (both financially and in terms of human misery) blight upon the landscape of contemporary social work is the widespread breakdown of family life. The entire fabric of our civilization will putrefy unless the corrosive forces now at work are arrested. Any such achievement ap- pears utterly impossible unless and until we return officially and professionally to the recognition of traditional principles of morality.


PERSONNEL


There were relatively few Staff changes during the year 1954. In addition to those already mentioned in the course of this narrative, we may mention the following.


Two new members to fill existing vacancies, were recruited. Mr. Joseph M. Navoy, a Social Worker, was appointed February 14, and assigned to the Disability Assistance Division. Mrs. Helen G. Leahy, a Junior Clerk Typist was hired on March 21, and placed on the A. D. C. payroll. Mrs. Marilyn P. Curry was promoted from the clerical force to Social Worker effective as of January 24, 1954. Miss Margaret M. Corcoran, Junior Clerk Typist, was transferred from the Welfare Miscellaneous to the A. D. C. Division on May 2.


Three temporary clerks were employed for short periods, during the year in the Old Age Assistance Bureau. They were: Miss Carol Malcolm for a thirty day period starting June 25, Mrs. Ann F. Crowley for a similar period beginning July 19. Miss Malcolm's work was terminated August 7 and Mrs. Crowley's assignment on August 28. Mrs. Mary T. Maguire was given a six months provisional appointment as a Junior Clerk and Stenographer, effective as of September 7, 1954.


144


ANNUAL REPORTS


The regular Staff of the Bureau was depleted by a six months leave of absence granted to Miss Carolyn F. May, Junior Clerk Typist, effective as of September 14, 1954. Miss May who served as secretary to Mr. Griffin, in his capacity as Supervisor of Old Age Assistance and later in the Office of the Agent, requested the leave of absence in order to complete her education at Boston State Teachers College where she matricu- lated in September.


A few changes also occurred in the personnel at the Wel- fare Clinic. The services of Mrs. Ethel Wessick, Medical and Dental Assistant, whose appointment expired on April 30, were terminated as of that date. Dr. T. Elmer Burns, Dentist was replaced as of February 1, by Dr. Robert V. DiMatteo who was succeeded as of July 1, 1954 by Dr. Maurice W. Blumsack.


The personnel at the City Home ended their services as follows: Edward V. and Leona F. Colbert as of October 25, 1954; Elizabeth Brown, Lena Decatur, Elizabeth McCarthy, Doris McKechnie, Jeanette Simmons, Louise Sampson and Annie G. Cotter as of September 30, 1954. Elizabeth Smith resigned effective February 19, 1954, Lucille York resigned as of July 31, and Charles Barrows retired as of April 1, 1954.


Dr. Ciro M. Giobbe was retained as the Medical Care Con- sultant of the Department (in accordance with the require- ments of the new State Medical Plan), effective as of July 1, 1954.


MEDICAL COSTS


The costs of medical and nursing care and the proportion of such costs to aggregate expenditures, continues to mount. Neither the statutes, nor the policies promulgated by the State Welfare Department, provide adequate or satisfactory controls. For the year being reported, disbursements for medical and nursing care represented approximately one quarter of the total outlay for public assistance.


Of the $2,582,456.05 cash spent for assistance in the four categories, during 1954, the sum of $642,110.15 or more than 24.8 per cent went for medical and nursing home care. Of this amount, $376,408.10 was for medical and $265,702.65 for nursing home care. If we add to the medical costs, the figure for maintaining the Welfare Clinic (which includes the salaries of the City Physicians) and the stipends paid to the Medical Care Consultant, we reach a total of $397,066.46 for medical care exclusive of the $1,005.21 paid for medical care for the


145


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


residents of the City Infirmary. On the other hand, if we aug- ment the sum spent for nursing home care by the total cost of operating the City Infirmary during the nine months of its existence, namely, $27,385.91, we find that the full disburse- ment for domiciliary care equalled $293,087.96. Taken to- gether, therefore, the combined costs of medical and domi- ciliary care amounted to $690, 154.42.


It should be mentioned in passing, that our figures for nursing home care include care given in licensed Boarding Homes for the Aged. While the State Health and Welfare Departments insist on distinguishing between these two types of institutions, our experience indicates that for all practical purposes, the difference is more theoretical than real. The surest proof of this is the ease with which the licensed Boarding Homes become eligible for Nursing Home licenses. In fact, a number of the former in Somerville became Nursing Homes during the year 1954 without effecting any radical transforma- tion of character but simply by modifying to some slight ex- tent, personnel standards.


It should also be noted that it is almost impossible in our complicated system of categorical assistance, to obtain uniform and absolutely accurate statistics. Thus during the first half of the year 1954, we were paying licensed nursing home resi- dents directly so that they could pay the Homes (as we must still do in the case of licensed Boarding Homes for the Aged) but in the latter half of the calendar period, we were paying the Nursing Homes directly for "board, room and care" and sending separate checks to the clients to cover their personal needs. Hence, our Nursing Home cost figures for the first half included the money granted for personal needs, while the figures for the second semester excluded the personal grants. Moreover, in order to have the proper perspective, it is impor- tant to remark that in addition to the incapacitated persons residing in proprietary homes, there are a number of assistance recipients who remain in their own abodes and for whom spe- cial provisions must be made in the way of subsidizing special nursing care or the wages of housekeepers. These latter costs do not show in the figures cited above. The basic conclusion to be drawn from the evidence presented, very simply, is that illness, especially chronic illness attributable to the progressive degenerative diseases, is a major cause of dependency.


The greatest single item of medical care is that of hospital- ization. During 1954 the Department paid $183,384.82 for hospital care. Of this amount $10,538.25 was for Out-Patient and $172,846.57 for In-Patient treatment. The bill in its


146


ANNUAL REPORTS


entirety represented almost half, or to be exact, 48.7 per cent of the $376,408. 10 expended by the four Divisions of Assist- ance for medical care.


What the public assistance medical care program means financially to the physicians (that is, the Doctors of Medicine), and to the pharmacists of the community, may be inferred from the fact that during this one year, $46,080.50 went to the former (exclusive of the salaries of the City Physicians) and $86,016.09 to the latter. While it is true that a few recipients exercising their choice, request the services of physicians and druggists located outside of Somerville, the incidence of this practice is relatively insignificant. That the City is paying enough for drugs to justify the operation of its own distributing center appears quite obvious. It is equally apparent that the costs for physicians' services and medication are imposing an unwarrantably high burden on the tax-paying public. Coura- geous steps to remedy the situation should be taken by the Legislature and the State Welfare Department conjointly.


Among the other more expensive factors are the so-called ancillary services. For example, $19,091.75 was spent for dental services (exclusive of those provided at the Municipal Clinic); some $17,993.09 was expended for prosthetic devices and the services connected with them - by far the largest portion went for glasses and optometric care; $7,584.11 repre- sented the cost of Visiting Nursing services; and Chiropodists received $2,347.


FINAL REMARKS


We are not infrequently asked: "What are the ultimate causes of dependency?" It is not unusual to confuse the immediate and more tangible causes with the ultimate causes which are more elusive and less readily definable.


To our way of thinking, using our experience as the guide, we may summarize the immediate reasons for economic de- pendency under a formula of seven capital causes: death, divorce, desertion, dipsomania (that is, alcoholism), dissolution (personal and family disintegration), depravity (crime) and disease. If an eighth (impersonal) "d" is to be added, it prob- ably should be "depression."


The emendations wrought in the program of the Welfare Department during the past year, are unquestionably but antic- ipations of further changes in the future. There remain vast areas of concern clamoring for constructive planning and positive action.


147


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


During the year 1954, the Members of the Board of Public Welfare under the wise and judicious Chairmanship of Mr. Charles J. Sullivan, constituted a sustained source of support without which it would have been completely impossible to carry out the unprecedented series of projects which were literally, thrust upon us. To the Board we wish to express our deep and most sincere appreciation. Not only we, personally, but the entire Staff of the Department, and indeed, the com- munity at large, owe a real debt of gratitude to these three distinguished citizens who were absolutely unsparing in the time, energy, patience and thought which they devoted to the interests of the Department and of the City of Somerville.


JOHN J. GRIFFIN, General Agent


March 7, 1955.


148


ANNUAL REPORTS


DETAILED BREAKDOWN SHOWING EXPENDITURES, RECEIPTS AND NET COST TO THE CITY - 1954


Table No. 1 OLD AGE ASSISTANCE


Ordinary Maintenance


Personal Services


$1,841,478.33 87,852.44 274.50


Equipment


Gross Expenditures


$1,929,605.27


Refunds


$13,441.52


Recoveries


24,506.71


Federal Grants (Assistance)


766,421.76


Federal Grants (Administrative)


49,459.26


Revenue from Meal Tax


49,552.36


Cities and Towns


26,503.13


State Reimbursements


710,112.64


Total Reimbursements


1,639,997.38


Net Expenditures


$289,607.89


Net Expenditures equal 15% of Gross Expenditures


Table No. 2 AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN


Ordinary Maintenance


$457,970.47


Personal Services


43,529.74


Equipment


Gross Expenditures


$501,500.21


Refunds


$26,883.41


Recoveries


250.00


Federal Grants (Assistance)


194,400.40


Federal Grants (Administrative)


21,016.41


State Reimbursements


136,280.05


Total Reimbursements


$378,830.27


Net Expenditures


$122,669.94


Net Expenditures Equal 24.46% of Gross Expenditures


Table No. 3 DISABILITY ASSISTANCE


Ordinary Maintenance


$239,648.37


Personal Services


21,111.19


Equipment


274.50


Gross Expenditures $261,034.06


149


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


Refunds $2,110.62


Recoveries


1,394.72


Federal Grants (Assistance)


81,116.15


Federal Grants (Administrative)


12,490.61


State Reimbursements (Assistance)


81,852.45


State Reimbursements (Administrative)


6,245.30


Total Reimbursements


$185,209.85


Net Expenditures


$75,824.21


Net Expenditures Equal 29.04% of Gross Expenditures


Table No. 4 MISCELLANEOUS WELFARE


Ordinary Maintenance


$173,812.87 42,854.78


Personal Services


Equipment


235.05


Gross Expenditures


$216,902.70


Refunds


$5,928.91


Transfers from Veterans Services


32,65


Cities and Towns


8,168.94


Commonwealth (Unsettled Cases)


18,418.38


Total Reimbursements


$32,548.88


Net Expenditures


$184,353.82


Net Expenditures Equal 84.99% of Gross Expenditures


Table No. 5 CITY HOME


Ordinary Maintenance


$10,408.02


Personal Service


4,000.44


Equipment


...........


Labor


12,977.45


Gross Expenditures


$27,385.91


Refunds


$25.00


Cities and Towns


2,611.96


Board


3,363.37


Commonwealth (Unsettled Cases)


5,015.41


Total Reimbursements


$11,015.74


Net Expenditures


$16,370.17


Net Expenditures Equal 59.77% of Gross Expenditures


150


ANNUAL REPORTS


Table VI RECAPITULATION


Gross Expenditures


Percentage of Aggregate Costs


Net Expenditures


Percentage of Total Net Costs


O. A. A.


$1,929,605.27


65.7%


$289,607.89


42.0%


A. D. C.


501,500.21


17.1 %


122,669.94


17.8%


D. A.


261,034.06


8.9%


75,824.21


11.0%


G. R.


216,902.70


7.4%


184,353.82


26.8%


City Home


27,385.91


0.9%


16,370.17


2.4 %


$2,936,428.15


100.0%


$688,826.03


100.0%


Net Expenditures Represent 23.4% of Gross Expenditures


Table A FEDERAL MONIES RECEIVED FOR CATEGORICAL ASSISTANCE - 1954


Category


Assistance


Administration


Aggregate


Old Age Assistance


$766,421.76


$49,459.26


$815,881.02


Aid to Dependent Children


194,400.00


21,016.41


215,416.81


Disability Assistance


81,116.15


12,490.61


93,606.76


Total


$1,041,938.31


$82,966.28 $1,124,904.59


Table B INCOME FROM THE COMMONWEALTH - 1954


Type of Assistance


Amount


Old Age Assistance


$710,112.64


Aid to Dependent Children


136,280.05


Disability Assistance


88,097.75


Old Age Assistance-Meal Tax


49,552.36


General Relief-(Non-Settled Cases)


18,418.38


City Home-(Non-Settled Cases)


5,015.41


Total


$1,007,476.59


Table C REFUNDS IN VARIOUS DIVISIONS - 1954


Old Age Assistance


$13,441.52


Aid to Dependent Children


26,883.41


Disability Assistance


2,110.62


General Relief


5,928.91


City Home


25.00


$48,389.46


Table D RECOVERIES IN DIFFERENT ASSISTANT CATEGORIES - 1954


Old Age Assistance


$24,506.71


Aid to Dependent Children


250.00


Disability Assistance


1,394.72


$26,151.43


151


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


Table E


REIMBURSEMENTS FROM OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS - 1954


Old Age Assistance General Relief


$26,503.13


8,168.94


City Home


2,611.96


$37,284.03


TRANSFERS OF MONEY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT DURING THE YEAR 1954


Disability Assistance - Ordinary Maintenance


Aug. 16-From Disability Assistance Personal Services $10,000.00


Aug. 16-From Old Age Assistance Personal Services 30,000.00


Nov. 17-To Old Assistance Ordinary Maintenance 12,000.00


Disability Assistance - Personal Services


Aug. 16-To Disability Assistance Ordinary Maintenance .... $10,000.00


Disability Assistance - Equipment


Dec. 21-From City Home Equipment Account $275.00


Aid to Dependent Children - Ordinary Maintenance


Aug. 16-From Aid to Dep. Children Personal Services $22,000.00


Aug. 16-From Old Age Assistance Personal Services 20,000.00


Nov. 17-To Old Age Assistance Ordinary Maintenance 13,000.00


Aid to Dependent Children - Personal Services


Apr. 28-Transfer from Misc. Welfare Personal Services $1,718.24 .. Aug. 16-To Aid to Dep. Children Ordinary Maintenance . ...... 22,000.00


Old Age Assistance - Ordinary Maintenance


Nov. 17-From Disability Assistance Ordinary Main. $12,000.00


11 17- "1 Aid to Dependent Child. Ordinary Main. 13,000.00


11 17-


11 Miscellaneous Welfare Ordinary Main.


15,000.00


11 17- City Home Personal Services 899.56


17- City Home Ordinary Main.


1,200.00


17- 11 City Home Labor


8,000.00


Old Age Assistance - Personal Services


Aug. 16-To Disability Assistance-Ordinary Main. $30,000.00


Aug. 16-To Aid to Dep. Children 20,000.00


Old Age Assistance - Equipment


Oct. 29-From City Home Equipment $275.00


Miscellaneous Welfare - Ordinary Maintenance


Nov. 17-To Old Age Assistance-Ordinarq Maintenance ... $15,000.00


152


ANNUAL REPORTS


Miscellaneous Welfare - Personal Services


Apr. 28-To Aid to Dependent Children Personal Services .... $1,718.24


City Home - Ordinary Maintenance


Nov. 17-To Old Age Assistance Ordinary Maintenance ...... $1,200.00


City Home - Personal Services


Nov. 17-To Old Age Assistance Ordinary Maintenance $899.56


City Home - Labor


Nov. 27-To Old Age Assistance Ordinary Maintenance ...... $8,000.00


City Home - Equipment


Oct. 29-To Old Age Assistance Equipment $275.00


Dec. 21-To Disability Assistance Equipment 275.00


153


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN


February 28, 1954


To the Board of Public Welfare Somerville, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


I submit the following as the report of the City Physician for the year ending December 31, 1954.


Patients treated at Clinic, January 1, thru December 31, 1954 (Includes Old Age Assistance, Veterans' Services, Aid to Dependent Children, Vaccinations and Emergencies) 3132


Patients treated at home, January 1, thru December 31, 1954 (Includes all of the above types of cases, plus City Infirmary and Police and Fire Departments 1521


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN M. TAVARES, M.D. City Physician


154


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CITY HOME


October 31, 1954


To the Board of Public Welfare Somerville, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


I submit the following as the report of the Superintendent of the City Home as of October 1, 1954, the closing date of the City Home.


TABLE NO. 1


Number of Weeks' Board of Inmates


1159


Number of Males Admitted During 1954


21


Number of Females Admitted During 1954


7


Number of Males Discharged During 1954


52


Number of Females Discharged During 1954


23


Number of Males Supported During 1954


55


Number of Females Supported During 1954


25


Number of Males Died During 1954


3


Number of Females Died During 1954


2


Number of Children Cared for During 1954


2


Number of Weeks' Board of Inmates-City Home Hospital


369


TABLE NO. 2


Gross Expenditures, City Home, 1954 .....


.... $27,385.91


Reimbursements


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


$5,015.41


Cities and Towns


2,611.96


Individuals


3,363.37


Refunds


25.00


$11,015.74


Net Cost to City ..


$16,370.17


POPULATION AND GROSS EXPENDITURES, 1944 THRU 1954


Year


Population


Welfare


City Home


A. D. C.


O. A. A.


D. A.


Totals $964,590.22


1944


105,000


$149,427.33


$20,757.56


$135,464.96


$658,940.37


1945


105,882


153,897.81


21,673.44


168,787.17


719,709.88


1,064,068.30


1946


105,882


184,142.24


23,759.40


222,460.87


914,699.75


1,450,944.26


1947


105,882


211,415.73


24,960.46


276,903.91


1,128,792.45


1,642,072.55


1948


105,882


252,167.58


28,297.62


348,429.52 1,341,752.67


1,970,647.39


1949


105,882


359,466.38


30,577.42


467,787.67 1,567,412.50


2,425,243.97


1950


105,882


427,568.68


31,043.35


533,904.44


1,852,724.61


2,845,241.08


1951


105,882


346,393.60


37,314.84


471,820.45


1,831,562.43


$10,220.82 2,697,312.14


1952


105,882


245,870.75


42,008.75


480,288.45


1,974,867.49


194,839.28 2,937,874.72


1953


105,882


208,292.35


43,303.16


456,887.68


1,911,660.44


257,156.34 2,877,299.97


1954


* 102,254


216,902.70


27,385.91


501,500.21


1,929,605.27


261,034.06 2,936,428.15


* Federal Census 1950; previous figures taken from State Census of 1945.


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


155


BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE ANNALED CHART OF AGGREGATE EXPENDITURES SINCE DATE OF ORIGIN Somerville, Massachusetts


YEAR


- No. of Cases


January 1st


No. of Cases


December 31st


Gross Cost for the Year


%


1931 - (8/17)


14


161


$13,710.92


.07


$13,710.92


100.0


1932


161


308


86,803.88


.42


$37,528.08


49,275.80


56.8


1933


321


355


108,297.78


.53


39,897.84


68,399.94


63.3


1934


355


434


128,777.64


.64


44,255.41


84,522.23


65.6


1935


434


567


157,985.74


.78


60,633.52


97,352.22


61.6


1936


567


1009


234,129.58


1.15


144,949.77


89,179.81


38.1


1937


1025


1220


397,203.74


1.96


265,337.37


131,866.37


33.2


1938


1241


1363


464,592.63


2.30


368,441.05


96,151.58


20.7


1939


1363


1527


524,758.50


2.60


415,668.01


109,090.49


20.8


1940


1527


1569


534,405.27


2.65


444,487.63


89,917.64


16.8


1941


1569


1606


541,864.00


2.69


459,764.27


82,099.73


15.2


1942


1574


1492


578,141.50


2.85


496,734.68


81,406.82


14.0


1943


1470


1396


615,477.63


3.05


516,158.32


99,319.31


16.0


1944


1393


1344


658,540.37


3.26


551,228.53


107,711.84


16.3


1945


1314


1357


719,709.88


3.55


627,735.49


91,974.39


12.8


1946


1357


1616


914,699.75


4.53


724,080.91


190,618.84


20.8


1947


1616


1796


1,128,792.45


5.59


889,141.71


239,650.74


21.2


1948


1796


1914


1,341,752.67


6.62


1,088,921.14


252,831.53


18.1


1949


1918


2170


1,567,412.50


7.76


1,304,093.15


263,319.35


16.8


1950


2170


2256


1,852,724.61


9.16


1,612,192.84


240,531.77


12.9


1951


2240


2232


1,831,562.43


9.06


1,710,686.34


120,876.09


7.0


1952


2224


2124


1,974,867.49


9.77


1,721,304.21


253,563.28


12.9


1953


2124


2130


1,911,660.44


9.46


1,641,793.94


269,866.50


14.1


1954


2130


2083


1,929,605.27


9.55


1,639,997.38


289,607.89


15.0


TOTALS


31,903


33,999


$20,217,876.67


16,805,031.59


3,412,845.08


16.8


PERCENTAGE


100.0%


100.0%


83.1%


16.9%


%


ANNUAL REPORTS


....


....


.


....


.


·


· ·


· .


·


.


·


·


·


·


·


·


·


·


·


·


·


·


.


.


.


·


.


·


.


·


· ..


.


.


·


.


·


.


·


..


.


.


.


.


....


.


·


·


·


·


.


..


·


·


·


.


...


.... ....


...


....


.. ...


...


..


.. .


·


.


3


· ·


·


Recoveries and


Net Cost


for the Year


Percentage of Gross Costs Represented by Net Costs


Refunds,


Reimbursements


156


,


·


157


WELFARE DEPARTMENT


In Memoriam


"WHEREAS, Almighty God in His Infinite Wis- dom has summoned unto eternal repose the immortal soul of Charles J. Willwerth; and


"WHEREAS, "Charlie" Willwerth, as he was af- fectionately known was for some sixteen years the faithful and esteemed agent of this Board; and


"WHEREAS, Charles J. Willwerth had endeared himself to thousands of his fellow citizens by his genial disposition, by his constant kindness, and by his keen understanding of and sustained solicitude for the genuinely needy; and


"WHEREAS, Charles J. Willwerth's distinguished contribution to community betterment em- braced military service in the first World War, successful leadership in fraternal organiza- tions and constructive participation in our civic, professional, and social activities, be it


"RESOLVED that the Somerville Board of Public Welfare extend to his bereaved widow, his venerable mother and beloved relatives its profound sentiments of heartfelt sympathy and condolence; and be it further


"RESOLVED that a copy of these resolutions be spread on the official records of this Board, a copy suitably engraved be presented to Mrs. Helen Willwerth, and copies be transmitted to the newspapers of Boston and Somerville."


(This set of resolutions unanimously adopted by the Somerville Board of Public Welfare at its regular meeting held on March 2, 1954.)


158


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS


January 1, 1955


Honorable William J. Donovan City Hall,


Somerville, Massachusetts


Dear Sir:


I am pleased to submit the following report on the activities of the Somerville Department of Public Works during the period from January 5, 1954 through December 31, 1954.


Within this period we have supervised final construction of the new Department of Public Works Building and accepted same from the general contractor on June 7, 1954. Following acceptance of the building we have set up office installations and installed many necessary facilities that were not included in the original building contract such as: gasoline tanks and pumps - heavy expanded mesh protective screens on exterior windows - additional electric compressors - compressed air mains - compressed air meters - spray painting booth and equipment - combination fire and police box - fire extin- guishers - fire buckets - greasing equipment - steam cleaning equipment - battery charging equipment - repair shop tools - work benches - partition walls - stock rooms - office quarters for Rent Control Board - office and garage quarters for Sealer of Weights and Measures - garage quar- ters for Civilian Defense - polling place facilities - precinct board and a retaining wall with high chain link fence to protect the Administration Building.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.