USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1950 > Part 4
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February
4.02
26.25
3.47
11. 25
0.99
9.00
1.95
14.50
2.73 12.00
3.61
16.25
March
2.47
0.25
1.84
1.00
2.87
2.75
3.87
10.50
1.45
8.00
3.01
5.00
April
2.83
2.71
4.92
0.50
3.68
5.24
2.71
May
4.62
4.58
3.83
9.62
3.67
2.43
June
5.81
3.43
5.12
4.36
0.10
2.40
July;
2.86
1 45
4.55
4.74
3.1.3
1.15
August
3.04
11. 66
1.75
3.11
2.27
5.37
September
3.21
2.19
3.24
2.55
3.28
1.52
October
2.70
0.34
1.88
4.94
1. 83
2.41
November
8.21
5.00
0.95
5.12
0.75
5.54
3.69
2.50
7.62
December
6.67
32.00
1.52
1.97
3.18
22.25
1.54
11.00
1.87
2.50
4.06
3.00
Total
49.86"
81.50°*
37.779
21.97"
40.05"
41.50"
51.03" 71.00" 32.93" 34.00" 39.67" 27.25"
49
PUMPING RECORDS - 1950 WATER CONSUMPTION
MONTH
WEST STREET Gals
WADING RIVER Gals.
TOTAL Gals.
PER DAY MAXIMUM Gals.
PER DAY MINIMUM Gals.
PER DAY AVERAGE Gals.
January
54,600,000
10,943,000
65,543,000 2,701,000
1,240,000 *
2,114,300
February
59,645,000
1,642,000
61,287,000
2,815,000
1,566,000
2,188,800
March
72,835,000
72,835,000 2,700,000
1,648,000
2,349,500
April
69,554,000
69,554,000
2,900,000
1,557,000
2,318,500
May
76,439,000
76,439,000
2,955,000
1,7 02,000
2,465,800
June
84,630 000
84,630,000
3,440,000
1,802,000
2,821,000
July
83,705,000
83,705,000
3,802,000*
1,376,000
2,700,200
August
86,035,000
86,035,000
3,557,000
1,456,000
2,775,300
September
77,099,000
77,099,000
3,198,000
1,571,000
2,570,000
October
68,757,000
9,914,000
78,671,000
3,055,000
1,348,000
2,537,800
November
58,579,000
16,611,000
75,190,000
3,214,000
1,436,000
2,506,300
December
73,198,000
73,198,000
2,900,000
1,450,000
2,361,200
Total
865,076,000
39,110,000
904,186,000
* Min. per year
Total for Year
* Max. for year 904,186,000 gallons
Average for year
2,477,200 gallons per day
Max. week of year
July 23-29 inc., 23,249,000 gals.
66 day for year
July 27, 1950 - 3,802,000 gals.
Min. day for year - January 29, 1950 - 1,240,000 gals.
50
1
-
Annual Report
REPORT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT - 1950 -
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council City of Attleboro, Massachusetts:
The Health Department herewith respectfully submits its 36th annual report for the year ending December 31, 1950.
Health conditions in our community during 1950 continued very favorable.
Our compilation of vital statistics for 1950 showed an increase in both resident deaths and resident births. The total number of Attleboro deaths from all causes during the year was 279, including 7 still- births and 56 residents who died out of the city. Of the 279 total, 165 were males and 114 females. These figures represent an increase of 39 over the preceding year's total of 240 deaths.
Almost 73% of all these deaths occurred among the over 60 age group, while 45% were persons 70 years of age and older. Major causes of deaths remained the same as in the recent years, namely: Heart Disease, Arteriosclerosis, Cancer and Cerebral Hemorrhage. These four leading causes totalled 194 deaths (119 males, 75 females) or over 69% of all deaths in our city.
Local births numbered 474, 223 males and 251 females, a slight increase over the previous year's 466 total. Of this number, 391 were born at Sturdy Hospital, 3 were home deliveries and 80 were born in hospitals outside this city. Six hundred and 48 more babies (358 males and 290 females) were born in this city to parents residing in other communities.
In line with the state-wide communicable disease picture, the incidence of such diseases in our city dropped to the lowest level in a decade. The total reported for 1950 was only 359 cases compared to 753 in 1949 and 650 in 1948. One hundred and 56 cases of chicken pox and 95 cases of whooping cough made up 71% of the total, and dog bite with 58 cases pro- vided the next highest total. The incidence of scarlet fever decreased slight- ly from 17 to 15 cases in 1950, and only three cases of infantile paralysis, all of a comparatively mild nature, occurred during the year. A decrease of 4 in the number of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis was recorded and deaths from this cause declined from 6 to 5.
Again the city has been free of any case of diphtheria, 'thereby extending to 14 years the period of absence of this dread disease from our midst. At our annual free clinics held in the fall to immunize children
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Annual Report
against diphtheria, whooping-cough and tetanus, Ill school children and 50 pre- school youngsters received the three dose toxoid inoculations or booster dose protection. The number of children inoculated by their own physicians is in- creasing each year, and a survey of babies born in 1949 showed that approxim- ately 85% have already received this important protection.
· On all health fronts our health nurse has been active as usual, working with schools, in the homes and at clinics to encourage and instruct the public in methods of good health.
The pupils of St. Joseph's parochial school were routinely examined, and, in general, the health of the children was found satisfactory. Follow-up visits to the homes of children found to have remedial defects were made by the nurse, and parents have shown a favorable attitude toward prompt correction of such defects.
The dental clinic was in operation each week-day morning during the year, looking after the dental health of the school children of the first three grades who are unable to afford private dental care. Two hundred and 24 children had all dental defects corrected at the clinics the past year, and all were also given sodium fluoride applications to lessen future dental decay. In addition, a survey made of the teeth of all children through the sixth grades resulted in many students having necessary work done by their private dentists.
Our dental hygientist assisted at the morning clinic sessions and devoted her afternoons to conducting an excellent educational program in the public and parochial schools of the city.
Sanitation activities, including periodic field and laboratory examination of our city's milk and water supplies, inspection of all food hand- ling establishments and investigation of nuisance complaints have been conduc- ted by our health inspector and agent. He has found the quality of our milk and cream supply to be generally high, and our city's water supply continues to be of excellent quality. A willingness on the part of food handlers to comply with the sanitary standards prescribed by our health code has been noted, and wherever health nuisances were found to exist, they were in most cases promptly abated upon request.
As we approach a new year of public health in our commun- ity, we are cognizant of the fact that the continued threat of war is an impor- tant factor in our daily lives. The Health Department, in its role as guardian of the community's health, will endeavor to maintain a high level of civilian efficiency and morale by promoting a healthful environment and by helping . our citizens to meet the hazards to health resulting from any direct or indir- ect effects of war-time conditions.
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Annual Report
The department gratefully acknowledges the assitance of city officials and public and private welfare agencies and the continued good cooperation of our citizens, which have contributed to our past year's success- es.
A detailed account of the activities of the department staff will be found in the following reports.
Respectfully submitted,
Fernand L. Girouard, M. D. Health Officer
HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES 1950
RECEIPTS: -
Licenses and Permits were issued as follows for the year:
Milk Store 110
Oleomargarine
36
Milk Dealer 43
Pasteurization
10
Funeral Directors 7
Methyl Alcohol
53
Cabins & Trailer Camps 7
Ice Cream Manufacture
2
Massage 4
Rendering 4
Bottling 2
Sale of Ice Cream
88
Total fees collected for these licenses $ 407.00
Health Department Reimbursements, 1950:
State subsidy on patients at Bristol County Tuberculosis Hospital and Rutland Training Center for cases having a settlement in Attleboro $ 2745.70
State reimbursements on State cases, cases not settled in Attleboro nor in any city or town in Massachusetts $ 810.00
1
Insurance reimbursement on case hos- pitalized at, Bristol County Hospital $ 111. 00
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Annual Report
Reimbursement by Town of North Attleboro for patient having a legal settlemt in that community $ 8.00
TOTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECEIPTS, 1950 $ 4081.70
EXPENDITURES :-
Salaries Sanatoria
$ 11,710.00
7,737.87
Other Expenses
14,940.78
TOTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES, 1950 $ 34,388. 65
ATTLEBORO'S VITAL STATISTICS-BY MONTHS
Births
Stillbirths
Deaths
January
44
0
27
February
30
1
18
March
45
0
32
April
33
2
23
May
36
0
37
June
55
1
19
July
41
1
22
August
47
0
20
September
42
1
14
October
41
1
19
November
35
0
20
December
24
0
21
474
7
272
(223 Male,
(5 Male,
(160 Male,
251 Female)
2 Female)
112 Female)
CAUSES OF ATTLEBORO DEATHS
Accident, auto, 1; Accident, drowning, 1; Accident, falls, 3; Acute Peritonitis, 2; Acute Respiratory Infection, 2; Arteriosclerosis, 50: Arthritis, 1; Cancer, 49; Cardiac Failure, 3; Cerebral Anamia, 1; Cerebral Hemorrhage, 27; Cerebral Palsy, 1; Cerebral Thrombosis, 11; Chronic Cholecystitis, 1; Chronic Endocarditis, 1; Cirrhosis of Liver, 1; Coronary Embolism, 1; Coronary Heart Disease, 16; Coronary Occlusion, 7; Coronary Pulmonale, 1; Coronary Spasm, 1; Coronary Thrombosis, 25; 1 Diabetes Mellitus, 1; Edema of Brain, 1; Epilepsy, 1; Erythroblastosis, 1; Gastro Intestinal Bleeding, 1; Hydrocephalus, 1; Infectious Hepatitis, 1; Leukemia; 1; Myocarditis, 11; Nephritis, 3; Pneumonia, Broncho, 7;
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Annual Report
Pneumonia, Hypostatic, 1, Pneumonia, Lobar, 1; Prematurity, 3; Pulmonary Edema, 3; Pulmonary Embolism, 3; Pulmonary Tuberculosis, 5; Rheumatic Heart Disease, 2; Septicaemia, 2; Stillborn, 7; Suicide by asphyziation, 1; Suicide by drowning, 1; Suicide by shooting, 1; Suicide by hanging, 1; Suicide by poisoning, 1; Suicide by slashing of throst, 2; Syphilis, 1; Toxic Adenoma of Thyroid, 1; Ulcer, duodenal, 1; Ulcer, gastric, 2; Ulcer, peptic, 2, Urae- . mia, 2; Valvular Heart Disease, 1. TOTAL DEATHS, 279. Males, 165. Females, 114.
DEATHS BY AGES
Stillborn, 7; Under 1 year, 7; 1-2 years, 1; 5-10 years, 3; 15-20 years, 3; 20-30 years, 4; 30-40 years, 4; 40-50 years, 18; 50-60 years, 29; 60-70 years, 77; 70-80 years, 71; over 80 years, 55. TOTALS, 165 Males, 114 Females.
DEATHS UNDER ONE YEAR
Months, 1.
Under one day, 4; One Day, 1; Two months, 1; Three TOTALS, 7 - 4 Males, 3 Females.
Causes of These Deaths
Acute Respiratory Infection, one male, Broncho Pneumonia, one female; Erythroblastosis, one male, Hydrocephalus, one female, Pre- maturity, two males, one female. TOTALS, 7.
CASES OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES and DEATHS FROM COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Chicken Pox, 156 cases, 0 deaths, Cat Bite 1 case, 0 deaths; Dog Bite, 58 cases, 0 deaths; German Measles, 6 cases, 0 deaths; Measles, 7 cases, 0 deaths, Meningococcal Meningitis, 1 case, 0 deaths, Mumps, 7 cases, 0 deaths, Poliomyelitis, 3 cases, 0 deaths; Scarlet Fever, 15 cases, 0 deaths, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, 10 cases, 5 deaths; Whooping Cough, 95 cases, 0 deaths.
TOTAL CASES, 359. TOTAL DEATHS, 5.
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Annual Report
REPORT OF THE HEALTH NURSE
Dr. Fernand L. Girouard, Health Officer Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Dear Doctor Girouard:
I herewith submit the annual statistical report of the activ- ities of the Health Nurse for the year 1950:
Number of visits to and in behalf of tuberculosis cases 176
66 contacts of tuberculosis 67
66 66 4 suspicious tuberculosis cases 45 Number of visits to Bristol County Hospital with persons for X-ray
and admittance 79
Number of cases of tuberculosis reported in 1950 10
Number of deaths from tuberculosis reported in 1950
5
Number of visits to and in behalf of other infectious diseases 170
$6 66 46 66
crippled children
81
66 66
66
66 immunization, including
assistance at 4 Diphtheria, Whooping Cough and Tetanus prevention clinics 382
Number receiving inoculations at these clinics, including number given booster doses 161
Number of visits to and in behalf of school children
259
Other visits - check on biologicals at Sturdy Hospital, social service, Health Department business, meetings attended and talks given 509
TOTAL of all visits 1768
Twenty-one persons received care and treatment at Bristol County Hospital last year. Four persons received care and treatment for tuberculosis at other hospitals.
Of the babies born in 1949, 84.8% were found to have been inoculated against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus during their first year, either by their private physicians or at the Health Department clinics.
Eyes and ears of children at St. Joseph's parochial school were given the screening test, as recommended by the State Health Department with equip- ment loaned by the State.
Respectfully submitted,
Lois E. Wilmarth, R. N. Health Nurse.
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Annual Report
REPORT OF THE DENTAL CLINIC
Dr. Fernand L. Girouard Health Officer Attleboro, Mass.
Dear Doctor Girouard:
We herewith submit the annual report of the Dental Clinic for 1950:
Clinic Sessions 174
Number of Sittings 1015
Number of Fillings 1719
Number of Extractions 160
Number of Cleanings
169
Number of Sodium Fluoride Treatments 369
Work Completed 2.24
The mouths of all children of grades 1, 2, and 3 were inspected by the dentist and hygienist in September. Notification cards were sent home with each child, offering services of the Dental Clinic. Of the 1268 children inspected in this group, 349 were found to have perfect mouths and 919 were found to need corrections. Three hundred and one children applied for clinic treatment and were found eligible.
In September, also, the children of grades 4, 5 and 6 were inspected by the Dental Hygienist, and notification cards were sent home. Although it is not possible to offer clinic services to these older children, it is hoped that the notification of examination will remind parents when den- tal care is needed.
All children who have come to the Dental Clinic since
September have received sodium fluoride treatments. These treatments have been proven by dental authorities to help reduce dental decay,
The Dental Hygienist visits each first, second and third grade classroom each month. The proper method and time of toothbrushing, proper diet, and frequent visits to the dentist are stressed. During 1950, 111 school visits were made, and 365 classroom talks were given.
In January of the past year a Tooth-Magic show was enjoyed by all grammar school children in the city. With the cooperation of the Health Department the show was presented by a representative of the Good . Teeth Council for Children, Inc.
Respectfully submitted, W. E. Turner, D. D. S. Barbara Arnold, D. H.
57
Annual Report REPORT OF HEALTH AGENT
Dr. Fernand L. Girouard
Health Officer, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Dear Doctor Girouard:
I herewith submit my annual report as Milk Inspector and Health Agent for the year ending December 31, 1950:
During the first three months of 1950 I attended an in-ser- vice training course at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The State Department of Public Health and the U. S. Public Health Service furnish- ed board, room and tuition for the 12 men selected for this course. On week- ends urgent matters in the Health Department were investigated so there was partial coverage of the Health Agent's position. A certificate was received by me from the University of Massachusetts for successful completion of the in- service training course. This course has helped me in solving many sanita- tion problems within the city.
Number of dealers selling milk in Attleboro 41
Estimated number of milk sold daily in Attleboro 12,760
56 $6 number of quarts of cream sold daily in Attleboro 565
Number of producers selling milk to dealers
licensed in Attleboro 197
Number of milk plants inspected 28
Number of dairy farms inspected 17
Total number of Pasteurized milk and cream samples collected 471
Tests made on these samples:
Bacteria 467
Butter Fat 467
Total Solids 318
E. Coli 467
Phosphatase
468
Sediment 465
Micro Examinations 78
Letters were sent out on sub-standard milk and cream to the dealers concerned.
Samples of raw milk were taken from 27 Producers and the following tests made:
Bacteria. (Raw) 26
Bacteria (Lab. Past.)
26
Microscopics 38
Butterfat
14
Total Solids 3
Flavor
6
58
22
Number of restaurants, kitchens, bars, taverns, lunchrooms and clubs under inspection in Attleboro
61
Number of inspections made 181
Number of swab tests made to determine cleanliness of
restaurant, bar and fountain eating and drinking utensils 600
Number of public and private water samples analyzed 54
Tests made on these;
pH - re, Bacteria - 54; E. Coli - 57;
Residual Chlorine - 26,
Number of samples taker at Playground Swimming Pools 24
Tesis made on these: pH 24; Residual Chlorine-24; Bacteria - 24; E. Coli - 24.
Number of bakeries 5
Number of bakeries inspected 17
Number of Trailer Camps and Overnight Cabins inspected
7
Inspections of two soft drink bottling plants 3
Total nuisance complaints investigated, i. e., overflowing cesspools and septic tanks, water shut-offs, keeping of animals and fowl without permits, insanitary conditions, improper rubbish and garbage disposals 102
One court case resulted in a conviction on a charge of maintaining a rat harborage and keeping swine without a permit,
Respectfully submitted, Frank L. Cushman .
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
Dr F. L. Girouard Health Officer Attleboro, Mass.
Dear Dr. Girouard
I herewith submit my annual report as Inspector of Animals and Inspector of Slaughtering for the year ending December 31, 1950.
Number of animals examined and quarantined to 1 determine whether or not they had rabies 57
59
1
Annual Report
Total number of ice cream samples taken
Tests made on these samples: Bacteria 22
E. Coli 22
Butterfat. 22
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Annual Report
Number of premises inspected
The majority were found to be clean and sanitary.
Number of animals inspected at these premises:
Cows 444
Horses
36
Ponies
2
Steer
4
Bulls
18
Heifers under one year
31
Heifers, 1 to 2 years
48
Sheep
51
Swine
904
Goats
17
Twenty-nine interstate cattle shipment permits were received and 146 animals shipped into the city were checked.
Respectfully yours, James C. DeWitt, D. V. M. Inspector of Animals Inspector of Slaughtering.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
Dr. Fernand L. Girouard, Health officer Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Dear Doctor Girouard:
During the year I issued 208 applications, including 51 which were inspected by the Assistant Inspector, Wilfred Perra. 134 of these were for new construction. 44 of these were for replacing old work. 8 of these were for replacing sink traps. 12 of these were for replacing lead work.
6 of these were for connecting old houses to city sewer.
2 of these were for hooking up dishwashers.
2 Health Inspections.
208 TOTAL.
Respectfully submitted Allan A. Gross Plumbing Inspector.
60
Annual Report REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD 1950
The Planning Board held seventeen regular meetings with an average attendance of five
PLATS
Hillcrest Oaks Replat No. 2 was approved November 13, 1950. Lincoln Home Development Replat No. 2 was approved
December 18, 1950
Pitas Acres Replat and Pitas Acres Addition No. 1 Plat were under consideration at the close of the year.
HEARINGS ON AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE
Two public hearings were held on proposed Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, one of which was for the changing of the boundary lines of a Zoning District and the other for a change in the wording of the Ordinance, as follows:
1. The extension of the Industrial District on the easterly side of Purchase Street between Dunham and Pearl Streets by changing from General Residence to Industrial "Use" Lots No. 150, 151, 152, 158 and 159, as shown on Assessors New Plat No. 42.
This proposed Amendment was approved and so recomm- ended to the Municipal Council.
2. The change in the wording of that part of the Zoning Ordinance known as Section Two Single Residence Districts, by changing sub paragraph (h) under paragraph 7, clause B, to sub paragraph (i) and
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Annual Report
inserting in its place a new sub paragraph (h) to read as follows: "(h) Dairy, including the sale of dairy products, and including the sale of ice cream, pro- vided that it is produced on the premises. "
The Board approved this proposed Amendment and so recommended to the Municipal Council.
The Board has under consideration and study six areas for the extension of the Business Districts and two areas for the extension of the Industrial Districts. These studies may appear in the future recommendations of the Board.
Principles to be observed in the Amendment of the Zoning Ordinance.
In making a recommendation for the Amendment of the Zon- ing Ordinance the Board is guided by certain decisions of the Courts. One such decision is the case of Leahy versus Inspector of Buildings, 308 Mass. 128, 31 N E. (2d) 436, where three important Zoning principles are set forth as follows:
1. Permanence is ordinarily to be attributed to the existing Ordinance and By laws. "This is emphasized by the statutory requirements which must be complied with in order to affect existing regulations."
2. When may a Zoning Ordinance be amended ?
"A City Council is empowered to amend a Zoning Ordi- nance when the character and use of a district or the surrounding territory have become so changed since the original ordinance was enacted that the public health, morals, safety and welfare would be promoted if a change was made in the boundaries or in the regulations prescribed for certain districts,
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Annual Report
but mere economic gain to the owner of a comparatively small area is not sufficient cause to invoke an exercise of this amending power for the benefit of such owner.
3. When is an amendment invalid ?
" An amendment to the Zoning Ordinance is invalid where the effect of the amendment is to single out one lot located within what is ess- entially a residential district and impose restrictions upon this lot that are less onerous than those imposed upon the remaining portions of what is really the same Zoning district. "
The following recommendations were made to the Honorable Mayor and Municipal Council by request.
1. Concerning the use being made of a lot of land on Payson Street for the storage of articles objectionable to fifteen property owners on that street.
The root of this matter lay in a violation of the Zoning Ordinance wherein the owner of the lot in question had reduced by sale the area of the lot, so that it was smaller than the area prescribed for this Area District, and the Board of Appeal had denied and dismissed the owner's peti- tion for a special exception to Section 12 of the Zoning Ordinance so as to per- mit the erection of a dwelling house on premises having an area of 6,413 square feet in a Single Residence 12,000 square foot Area, District.
The Planning Board decided that Section 12 of the Zoning Ordinance should not be amended and recommended that the objectionable use being made of said lot be dealt with through the legal department of the city.
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Annual Report
2. Concerning traffic conditions on Holman Street east of Morey Street, the Board recommended parking on one side only on Holman Street from Pleasant Street to Forest Street.
Further recommendations were made as follows:
A. Parking on the southerly side only on Emory Street from Pleasant Street to Park Street.
B. Parking on one side only on Union Street from Park Street to Carpenter Street.
C. No parking on both sides of Carpenter Street from South Main Street to Union Street.
D. Parking on the easterly side only on Hodges Street from the Ten Mile River bridge to Elizabeth Street.
The study of the street names in the City has not been completed, but to date it has been found that there are on the Assessors Plat thirty-six duplicate street names, thirteen triplicates, and three quadruplicates. There are also seventy groups of names that are similar and easily confusing, such as Carlton Street and Carlon Street, Oak Street and Oak Avenue.
The Board recommended the adoption of a plan submitted by the Committee on Streets for the relocation of a portion of Read Street where it approaches County Street.
The Board also considered a plan submitted by the Attleboro Housing Authority whereby a study of the blighted areas of the City might be made by qualified men with the aid of money available from the Federal Capitol Grant Funds under Title I of the Housing Act of 1949. The
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Annual Report
sum of $10,000.00 could be set aside for this purpose by request of the City Council.
The Board voted to recommend to the City Council that a study of our blighted areas should be made as a step toward their rehabilita- tion, and this opportunity to secure funds should be accepted, provided that the money was a free grant and not simply a loan.
The rehabilitation of blighted areas is a problem with many angles, which requires much study, sound judgment, vision and a sizeable appropriation.
The Sanborn Map .Book was brought up to date for the joint use of the Board of Assessors and the Planning Board.
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