USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1936 > Part 2
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Under the present rules for new W. P. A. projects the U. S. Government asks in most cases that the town agrees to contribute 20% of the total cost of the project. This does not apply to projects approved prior to June 30, 1936. As the Selectmen caused to be written prior to June 30, 1936 a sufficient number of projects for an extended period based on seasonal activities, there will be available for most of the coming year projects in which the costs to the Town will not be excessive.
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TOWN REPORT
The Selectmen take this opportunity to especially acknowledge the thorough, accurate and faithful work of the Town Accountant, W. Harold Whiting. Few people realize how exacting are the duties of that office. The extra financial returns and reports required of the Town Accountant made necessary by the W. P. A. agencies, social security act, and old age assistance federal grants, in addition to the regular work should be given careful consideration by the town in determining the compensation of this position.
The revenues received by the Police Department from court fines and forfeits of $926.60 through the District Court, creditably reflects the efficiency of Chief James P. Donahue and officers as to the manner in which the cases were handled.
We also express our appreciation to all citizens and residents of this Town, Officers, Boards, Departments or employees who have cooperated with us in the year 1936 to make the creditable showing that appears on the Balance Sheet of the Annual Report. We also express our gratitude to all those connected with the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, District Engineers Office, W. P. A. State and Regional Office, and all Federal, State or County officials or employees who have aided us to give Merrimac a continued ad- ministration of affairs worthy of its credit.
Once a year the Selectmen are required by law to make a report to the citizens of the Town as to what has been done in the preceding year. Town business is public business. The citizens are entitled to know how the money is being spent, where it comes from, if full re- imbursements are being received and the affairs of the Town prop- erly safeguarded.
A few years from now the record as found in the Annual Town Report will probably be the only printed condensed account of what occurred in Merrimac town affairs in the year 1936.
The Town of Merrimac has come through the depression much better than many towns of the Commonwealth, because the burden in Merrimac has been borne by not allowing the accumulation of increased debt. A sound financial policy has been steadily main-
19
TOWN REPORT
tained. The outlook for the coming year appears much brighter than at any time in seven years, and Merrimac as a Town can still face the future undaunted and unafraid.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT P. WADLEIGH, HAZEN M. EMERY, HAROLD C. LORD,
Selectmen of Merrimac.
ANNUAL REPORT OF MERRIMAC BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of the Town of Merrimac:
The Merrimac Board of Public Welfare organized March 4, 1936, with Mrs. Ellen M. Wallace, Chairman; Albert P. Wadleigh, Clerk and Fred T. Hopkinson as third member.
The number of persons unemployed in Merrimac during the year has not decreased to any large extent although there seem to be indications of business improvement.
We have made special endeavor to induce all those receiving public welfare who were able to work to accept such positions as the W. P. A. office might assign them.
It has constantly been the purpose of the Merrimac Board of Public Welfare to render adequate relief to all needy persons and at the same time safeguard the funds of the Town.
No worthy case has been denied assistance upon a full presenta- tion and investigation of the actual facts.
The number of persons in Merrimac in 1936 who received pub- lic welfare in some form was 271, as against 415 in the same period in 1935 and 428 in 1934. This looks like a big reduction in persons
20
TOWN REPORT
aided but it is not wholly a true comparison as 14 men supporting 71 persons previously receiving public welfare were able to work on W. P. A. projects the whole year without being obliged to obtain any local public welfare.
The results of the year are we believe pleasing to the taxpayers of Merrimac who have carried the load of expense arising from the results of the depression.
We are pleased to report that the Merrimac Board of Public Welfare in 1936 has been able to return to the Town $4605.98 as an unexpended balance of its appropriation.
By showing such a saving in this Department it was possible for the Town at a special Town meeting to transfer $1000.00 of this bal- ance to the Water Department for emergency repairs, etc., without incurring additional taxation, and also to transfer $2000.00 more of this balance to the Old Age Assistance Bureau pending receipt of the reimbursements due from the Federal Government.
The Public Welfare costs in Merrimac were $28,115.90 in 1934; $24,157.22 in 1935 and $19,416.32 in 1936.
The duties of the Board of Public Welfare still continue to in- crease by particular reference of this department to the several agencies of the United States Government providing Federal relief.
All the legal settlements relative to temporary aid, mothers aid, care of the sick poor, old age assistance cases, changes in law and departmental regulations with reference to reimbursements have been carefully studied and checked and the records kept up to date. The item of welfare reimbursements from the Commonwealth, and other cities and towns involves thousands of dollars and is easily the most vital spot in the system that requires constant attention.
The benefits of the town in 1936 from the Works Progress Ad- ministration are outlined in detail in the Selectmen's report.
On July 23, 1936 at the request of the Federal Government to designate a W. P. A. Certifying Agency in Merrimac under the re-
21
TOWN REPORT
vised Federal regulations the Board of Selectmen voted to designate the Merrimac Board of Public Welfare as the local Certifying Agency. From the first of the year until the set up of Certifying Agencies the government would not accept new registrations for W. P. A. work. On Aug. 28, 1936 Albert P. Wadleigh was authorized by Hon. Daniel W. Mahoney, Essex County W. P. A. Regional Director, to act as the Certifying Agent of the Merrimac Board. The first new registra- tions were accepted as submitted on Sept. 11, 1936 and since that time Mr. Wadleigh has certified about 50 Merrimac residents as new cases eligible for W. P. A. work. Persons working on W. P. A. projects between Oct. 16 and Nov. 15th or new certifications submitted by the agency before Oct. 16, 1936 do not have to be recertified. How- ever at the present time, if the name of a W. P. A. worker does not appear on the weekly payroll, after one week the person is dropped and it is almost impossible to secure a replacement until such time as quotas for 1937 are established.
Applications for the Civilian Conservative Corps in Merrimac were not as many in 1936 as in 1935. About ten Merrimac young men have received the benefits of this work during the year, and all matters relative to their applications and entry have been handled by the local Welfare Board.
The W. P. A. sewing unit has been sponsored by the Merrimac Welfare Board. This has given employment to many Merrimac women. While a large amount of finished sewing products are shipped to the district commissary depot at Haverhill, the large amounts of clothing, etc., given out by the Commodity Distribution office at Merrimac with food supplies as outlined in that report has been of great benefit to many needy people in town. Under the Federal rules much of this commodity distribution has been made to needy persons never on relief as well as those on relief to help ease the conditions arising from unemployment.
The savings to the Town from the Town Forest wood cut and used, as against a purchase price, has long since demonstrated the value of the Town Forest to this community.
As stated in our report a year ago the work of this department had increased nearly five times since 1929, we now call your atten-
1
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TOWN REPORT
tion to the subject of Old Age Assistance which since Sept. 1, 1936 has nearly trebled in that particular branch of necessary work.
In 1935 there were 36 persons approved by the State, receiving Old Age Assistance in Merrimac. This number of persons thus aided remained about the same from Jan. 1, to Sept. 1, 1936 at which lat- ter date the age requirement was reduced from 70 to 65 years. Since Sept. 1 to December 31, 1936 the number of persons in Merrimac approved to receive Old Age Assistance increased from 36 to 90. As of Jan. 18, 1937 there are 85 Merrimac residents receiving the benefit of this humane law.
The amendments to the Old Age Assistance law passed by the Legislature of 1936 to make the Massachusetts laws conform to the provisions of the Federal Social Security Act necessitated many changes in the law, rules and regulations relative to local administra- tion of Old Age Assistance.
In Merrimac before Sept. 1st, all old age assistance payments had been made on a weekly basis. This had to be all changed to a bi-monthly basis and notices of each individual record filed with the State. Old Age Assistance payments are now approved for payment on the first and third Monday of each month and the checks made out and mailed the following day thereafter.
Under the old law Merrimac paid two-thirds and the State one- third of the assistance in Merrimac settlements. In unsettled or State old age assistance cases, the State reimbursed the town to the full amount. In case of persons residing in Merrimac with some other city or town as the place of settlement, the State reimbursed Merri- mac one-third and the other city or town reimbursed the other two- thirds of the costs.
Under the United States Social Security Act the Federal Govern- ment agreed to reimburse in such States as had old age assistance laws in conformity to that provision to the Social Security Act an amount equal to one-half the costs. This means that upon filing of the proper notices, classifications, bills and reports with the Statis-
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TOWN REPORT
tical Department of the Social Security Division of the State De- partment of Public Welfare, that Merrimac receives U. S. Federal Old Age Assistance grants in an amount equal to one-half of the cash benefits disbursed. Hence if all the requirements of the new law are met in these cases the U. S. Government pays one-half, the State two-sixths, and the Town one-sixth. It is the intention of the Federal Government to make its payment monthly, although just at present the payments when received at Merrimac are about two months over- due. The State makes its reimbursement once a year. Hence it can be readily seen that until the new system has functioned for at least a year, plus the interval to date of State reimbursement, that it will be necessary for the Town of Merrimac to make an appropriation suf- ficient to finance the outlay until an average can be arrived at, that eventually will reduce the local percentage of costs. The Division of Accounts of the State Tax Department has recommended that the town appropriations for Old Age Assistance be not reduced until the new law has functioned to the point of reimbursement for the first year.
It is required under the new law that a separate Bureau of Old Age Assistance be set up (within the jurisdiction of the State Board of Welfare) in each town, one member whom shall not be a member of the Board of Public Welfare.
The Merrimac Bureau of Old Age Assistance as now constituted consists of Fred T. Hopkinson, Chairman; Albert P. Wadleigh, Clerk; and W. Harold Whiting. At present eighty-five active cases are on the register. The law requires that when the number of persons aided reaches a total of 100 persons, it will be necessary to maintain a separate and distinct office for Old Age Assistance with one person performing the duties of Supervisor. This point appears to be likely to be reached in Merrimac in the latter part of 1937. The United States Government recognizes the fact that faithful performance for necessary work should be paid and accordingly the United States Federal Grant to the town includes each month a small amount for administrative purposes. The amount thus received from the United States in 1936 in Merrimac was $174.24, as yet unused, as no vote has been passed by the Town authorizing any specific payments to
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TOWN REPORT
members of the Bureau of Old Age Assistance. This extra work has accordingly been performed since Sept. 1st by the Merrimac Old Age Assistance Bureau without any compensation. It is anticipated that the Federal Government will allow Merrimac in 1937 over $400.00 as its contribution to paying for a part of this extra work. Hence an article will be inserted in the Warrant at the annual town meeting for the voters to determine to what extent the services for this work shall be paid.
We express our appreciation to all those who have cooperated with us during the year, to give adequate relief to the needy, and keep welfare costs at a most reasonable amount.
To serve on a Board of Public Welfare in any town since the business crash in 1929 is no easy task. Most people realize the situa- tion and are considerate of what can be done, as the finances of a town permit. The ungrateful few, who seem never satisfied, however much they receive, cannot be allowed to prevent the vast majority of worthy persons from receiving needed aid. It has been the aim of the Merrimac Board of Public Welfare at all times to give adequate aid. In nearly every case we have a record of the individual facts, ob- tained locally, or furnished us by State or Federal agencies. Idle rumor as to what some person or family does or does not receive, in many cases has no foundation in fact. The friendly spirit of the mem- bers of a community is always based on a due regard for the welfare of each citizen. The people of Merrimac have always maintained a fine spirit of community cooperation, and in such situations as this department has to deal with, we firmly believe that it is our duty to serve to strengthen the security that builds up the morale and courage of the individual by kindly assistance through proper aid.
Respectfully submitted:
ELLEN M. WALLACE, ALBERT P. WADLEIGH, FRED T. HOPKINSON,
Merrimac Board of Public Welfare.
IN MEMORIAM
RALPH H. SARGENT 1848 - 1936
Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of the Poor 1896-'97-'98-1900-'01-'02-'03-'04-'05
Representative in the General Court 1909 and 1910
EVERETT D. GEORGE 1863 - 1936
Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of the Poor 1899-1900-1901-1902-1903
First Chairman Water and Electric Light Department
Water Commissioner, 1904-1905-1906 Electric Light Commissioner, 1904-1905-1906
FREDERICK E. SWEETSIR, M.D. 1867 - 1936
Member Finance Committee, 1933-1934-1935-1936 Member Playground Commission, 1934 -- 1935-1936 Chairman and Member of School Committee 1898-'99-1900-'01-'02-'03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08 1909-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24-'25-'26-'27-'28-'29
Merrimac Physician, 47 Years School Physician Several Years
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TOWN REPORT
APPROPRIATIONS MADE 1936
Moderator
$ 12.00
Selectmen (chairman)
450.00
Selectmen (clerk)
125.00
Selectmen (other member)
100.00
Selectmen's departmental expense
600.00
Board of Public Welfare (chairman)
200.00
Board of Public Welfare (clerk)
200.00
Board of Public Welfare (other member)
100.00
Accountant
1,000.00
Accountant's expense
125.00
Treasurer
270.00
Treasurer's expense
250.00
Tax Collector (salary)
800.00
Tax Collector's (expense)
150.00
Assessors (chairman)
275.00
Assessors (each of other two)
187.50
Assessors (each of other two)
187.50
Assessors expense
200.00
Town Clerk (salary)
225.00
Town Clerk (expense)
50.00
Registrars of Voters
112.50
Town Hall (Janitor)
120.00
Town Hall (maintenance)
1,000.00
Town Hall (repairs)
100.00
Bonding Town officers
270,00
Election Officers
220.00
Police Department
3.450.00
Fire Engineers
200.00
Fire Department
3,000.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures (salary)
90.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures (expenses)
50.00
Inspector of Wiring (salary)
90.00
Inspector of Wiring (expenses)
2.50
Dog Officer (to cover fees)
100.00
Moth Department
900.00
Forest Warden
150.00
Tree Warden
200.00
Town Forest
200.00
Board of Health
2 300 m
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TOWN REPORT
Public Health Nurse
1,150.00
Inspector of Animals
115.00
Inspector of Slaughtering
20.00
Inspector of Milk
20.00
Essex County T. B. Hospital
588.74
Highway Department
5,000.00
Snow and washouts
3,000.00
Sidewalks, railings and bridges
100.00
Rocks Bridge
1,200.00
Street lights
2,468.72
State Aid
400.00
Public Welfare
24,000.00
Soldiers Relief
4,000.00
Mothers Aid
1,560.00
Old Age Assistance
12,000.00
School Committee (chairman)
50.00
School Committee (clerk)
75.00
School Committee (other)
50.00
School Department
28,000.00
Public Library
900.00
Memorial Day (American Legion)
150.00
Vocational education
200.00
Town Counsel fees
75.00
Lighting Town buildings
675.95
Insurance
2,300.00
Reserve fund
500.00
Water extension note
2,000.00
Interest
1,000.00
Cemeteries
1,000.00
Municipal loan note
3,600.00
Vital statistics
150.00
Water in Town buildings
317.88
Printing Town Reports 274.72
For Chapter No. 90 General Laws, maintenance work* 1.500.00
W. P. A. or other Federal or State relief projects3 3,000.00
Fire Department, for purchase of hose and Fire Alarm system 1.375.00
Playground Commission 50.00
Surveying and plotting of lots and drives Locust Ceme- tery 200.00
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TOWN REPORT
Extension of lighting service on Emery Street' * 600.00
Total $121,728.01
*State Emergency Board reduced $ 1,000.00
** State Emergency Board reduced 500.00
** State Emergency Board reduced 600.00
-
Total reduced $ 2,100.00 ...
$119,628.01
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen,
As Chief of the Police Department of the Town of Merrimac, I hereby submit the annual report of the Department for the year 1936.
The Department consists of a Chief and one patrolman on reg- ular duty, with five special officers for duty as occasion requires.
In the year 1936 there were 44 automobile accidents reported, 13 being of a serious nature in which 28 persons were injured, and 31 not serious, involving mostly property damage. The records show that the hours between 11 P. M. and 1 A. M. are when the most ac- cidents occurred, with the period from 4 P. M. to 6 P. M. as next. In the accidents reported only 3 are classed as pedestrian accidents, which involve pedestrians and automobiles.
The sum of $926.60 in fines, was returned to the Town through this Department from the District Court.
All bills have been paid and the Department ended the year with a small balance.
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TOWN REPORT
Miscellaneous Business
Auto accidents reported
44
Autos stolen and recovered here 1
Assistance to other Police Departments 12
Assistance to Medical Examiner
2
Assistance to Fire Marshal
2
Doors and windows found open and secured
36
Dead bodies found
1
Days attendance at District Court (Chief)
88
Davs attendance at Superior Court (Chief)
14
Days attendance at Probate Court (Chief)
2
Days attendance at District Court (Night Officer)
11
Days attendance at District Court (Special Officers)
8
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
22
Escorts furnished processions
3
Defect in sidewalks and streets reported
4
Headlights and brake inspections held
6
Injured and sick persons assisted
26
Lights furnished dangerous places
7
Lights found burning in buildings and owners notified
21
Fires discovered and alarm rang
2
Fires discovered and extinguished without alarm
1
Lost and runaway children returned to parents
4
Leaks in water pipes discovered and reported
1
Messages delivered
29
Number of animals disposed of
27
Number of assignments of Officers
191
Number of assignments of Officers for Hospital cases
5
Report of gas leak
1
Street lights reported out
32
Stray animals returned to owners
4
Value of property stolen $121.00
Value of property recovered
$ 81.00
Value of property reported lost $ 16.00
Value of property, damaged $ 22.00
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TOWN REPORT
Wires down, reported 4
Witness summons served 16
Number of Arrests for the Year
Male (adults) 115
Female (adults)
2
Male (juvenile) 2
Total 119
Resident
21
Non-resident
98
Charged as follows:
Assault
1
Drunk 17
Escaped prisoner 1
Insane 4
Larceny
6
Non support
1
Safekeeping 4
Violation of Probation 3
Violation of School Laws 1
Violation of automobile laws 81
Disposed of as follows:
3 Continued.
76 Fined a total of $1025.00.
2 Fined a total of $40.00 committed to Jail for non-payment.
5 For other Department.
7 Found guilty. Filed.
8 Received suspended sentences totaling 28 months.
12 Released.
5 Committed to institutions for indefinite periods.
1 Returned to institutions.
I desire to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, His Honor, Judge Pettingell, the Associate Justices, Clerk of the District Court, the Probation Officer, the Officers of the Department and the citizens of the Town for their kindly co-operation during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES P. DONAHUE,
Chief of Police.
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TOWN REPORT
INSPECTOR OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
House and building inspections 118
Factory
3
Gas stations
10
Neon signs
5
Motors
10
Wiring found defective
22
Buildings rewired for safety
2
Entrances found too small and changed
6
Electric wiring damaged by flood
2
Respectfully submitted,
I. G. BURBECK,
Inspector of Wires.
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
As Town Clerk of the Town of Merrimac, I hereby submit the annual report for the year 1936:
Births
Number of Births returned 24
Males
8
Females 16
Father, native born
20
Mother, native born 20
Father and mother, both native born 18
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TOWN REPORT
Father and mother, both foreign born
Mixed parentage
2
Marriages
Number of marriages recorded 47
First marriage of groom 40
First marriage of bride 40
Grooms, native born 45
Brides, native born 47
Grooms, foreign born
2
Brides, foreign born
0
Average age of groom
29 years, 7 months, 4 days
Average age of bride
25 years, 7 months, 27 days
Deaths
Number of deaths recorded 21
Males
9
Females
12
Under 5 years
0
Males, native born
8
Females, native born
11
Males, foreign born
1
Females, foreign born
1
Of native parentage
15
Of mixed parentage
1
Average age
73 years, 7 months, 25 days
Oldest person
92 years, 0 months, 16 days
Licenses
Number of dogs licensed 134
Males 122
Females
12
Sporting licenses issued
96
Minors sporting licenses issued
6
Respectfully submitted,
C. HOWARD PHILLIPS,
Town Clerk.
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TOWN REPORT
TOWN TREASURER'S REPORT
To the Citizens of Merrimac:
During the past year interest rates paid by the Town ranged between .374 per cent and .47 per cent. These rates are the lowest ever obtained since the Town was incorporated.
The amount required for maturing debt in 1937, exclusive of tax anticipation loans, is $3,600.00. The total funded debt of the Town is now $7,200.00.
The number of tax titles has increased considerably and will continue to be a problem for some years to come.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY C. JOURNEAY,
Town Treasurer.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Citizens of Merrimac:
The Board of Assessors submit the following report for the year 1936.
Recapitulation
Town appropriations $ 119,628.01
Overlay deficit
6,713.98
State tax
2,700.00
Auditing tax
962.16
Park and reservation tax
36.86
County tax
2,589.22
Overlay
2,975.47
:
$ 135,605.70
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TOWN REPORT
Estimated Receipts
Income tax
$ 7,021.11
: Corporation tax
1,133.46
Race track distribution
108.00
Motor vehicle excise
2,800.00
Licenses
1,191.03
:
Fines
958.00
General government
728.05
Protection of persons and property
177.76
Health and sanitation
676.42
Charities
13.457.72
Old age assistance
3,822.21
Soldiers' benefits
645.02
.Schools
3,622.32
Libraries
90.00
Cemeteries (others than trust funds and sale of lots.)
450.00
Interest on taxes and assessments
1,272.97
$
38,154.07
Available funds voted $ 8,000.00
:
$ 46,154.07
Net amount raised by taxation $ 89,451.63
Tax on 735 polls $ 1,470.00
Total valuation $1,725,130. Rate $51.00
87,981.63 $
89,451.63
Abatements made in 1936
On 1934 levy $ 496.85
On 1935 levy
89.50
On 1936 levy
1,639.65
Table of Aggregates
Value of real estate
.$1,608,440.00
Value of personal property
119,690.00
Number of horses 45
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TOWN REPORT
Number of cows
238
Number of other neat cattle
46
Number of fowl
1620
Number of houses
716
Number of acres of land
4640
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD R. HOWE, GEORGE B. CROFUT, : : - WILLIAM H. WHITING.
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF TAXES
1936
Real Estate, Personal and Moth
Dr.
1 Tax Warrant $ 87,981.63
To interest received
32.30
$ 88,013.93
Cr.
By cash paid Town Treasurer $ 49,566.07
By abatements 2,914.65
By uncollected taxes 35,533.21
$ 88,013.93
1936
Polls
Dr.
Tax Warrant $ 1,470.00
To interest received
.30 $ 1,470.30
36
TOWN REPORT
Cr.
By cash to Town Treasurer $ 804.30
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