USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1930 > Part 2
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$29,419.96
Outstanding January 1, 1930 $3,296.13
Commitments, January 1 to March 26, 1930 610.18
Abatements after payment, re- funded 23.45
Payments after abatement, to be refunded 5.84
Overpayments to collector, to be refunded 6.46
Overpayments to treasurer
3.66
$3,945.72
25
...
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $1,141.80
Abatements, January 1 to March 26, 1930 34.51
Outstanding March 26, 1930, per list 2,759.33
Cash on hand March 26, 1930 (verified) 10.08
$3,945.72
UNAPPORTIONED SEWER ASSESSMENTS Outstanding January 1, 1929, per ledger $10,675.27
Adjustment of outstanding ac- counts, 1927 1.20
$10,676.47
Payments to treasurer
$2,087.19
Adjustment of outstanding ac- counts, 1928 .67
Outstanding December 31, 1929
8,588.61
$10,676.47
Outstanding January 1, 1930 $8,588.61
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $333.31
Outstanding March 26, 1930, per list 8,255.30
$8,588.61
APPORTIONED SEWER ASSESSMENTS, 1910-1929 Outstanding January 1, 1929, per ledger $843.09
Adjustment of outstanding ac- counts :
Apportioned sewer 1922 $10.00
Apportioned sewer 1927 19.08
29.08
$872.17
26
Payments to treasurer. $290.22 Adjustment of outstanding ac- 1
counts :
Apportioned sewer 1928 $20.76
Apportioned sewer
1929
10.11
30.87
Outstanding December 31, 1929
551.08
$872.17
Outstanding January 1, 1930 $551.08
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $102.24 .
Outstanding March 26, 1930, per list 448.84
$551.08
INTEREST-TAXES 1926
Due treasurer June 27, 1927
$132.87
Collections :
June 27 to Decem-
ber 31, 1927 $3,670.00
1928 6,248.43
1929 923.18
10,841.61
$10,974.48
Payments to treasurer :
June 27 to Decem- ber 31, 1927.
$3,812.96
1928 6,141.30
1929
919.81
$10,874.07
Interest taxes 1926 reported as taxes 1926 100.17
Cash on hand December 31, 1929 ... .24
$10,974.48
27
Cash on hand January 1, 1930 $0.24 Collections, January 1 to March 26, 1930 .36
$0.60
Payments to treasurer :
January 1 to March 26, 1930. $0.36
Cash on hand March 26, 1930
(verified) .24
$0.60
INTEREST-TAXES 1927
Collections :
1927
$258.86
1928
4,168.14
1929
7,538.27
Overpayments to treasurer to be
refunded 9.73
Interest taxes 1928 reported as in-
terest taxes 1927 .75
$11,975.75
Payments to treasurer :
1927
$258.86
1928
4,175.46
1929
7,538.27
Interest taxes 1927 reported as in-
terest taxes 1929 1.30
Interest taxes 1927 reported as
taxes 1927 1.86
$11,975.75
Collections :
January 1 to March 26, 1930 $413.31
Payments to treasurer :
January 1 to March 26, 1930 $406.63
Cash on hand March 26, 1930
(verified) 6.68
$413.31
28
INTEREST-TAXES 1928
Collections :
1928 $235.40
1929 3,661.90
Duplicate interest collections, to be refunded .30
Taxes 1928 reported as interest
taxes 1928 .23
Interest taxes 1929 reported as in-
terest taxes 1928 .45
$3,898.28
Payments to treasurer :
1928 $235.40
1929
3,661.96
Interest taxes 1928 reported as interest taxes 1929 .17
Interest taxes 1928 reported as
interest taxes 1927 .75
$3,898.28
Collections, January 1 to March 26,1930 $666.24
Taxes 1928 reported as interest 1928 18.24
$684.48
Payments to treasurer :
January 1 to March 26, 1930 $642.90
Cash on hand March 26, 1930 (verified) 41.58
$684.48
INTEREST-TAXES 1929
Collections 1929
$258.20
Interest taxes 1927 reported as in- terest taxes 1929 1.30
Interest 1928 reported as interest 1929 .17
$259.67
29
Payments to treasurer, 1929 $249.04
Interest 1929 reported as interest 1928 .45
Cash on hand December 31, 1929. 10.18
$259.67
Cash on hand January 1, 1930
$10.18
Collections, January 1 to March
26,1930 479.05
$489.23
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $461.15
Cash on hand March 26, 1930
(verified) 28.08
$489.23
INTEREST
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES, 1929
Collections 1929
$17.01
Payments to treasurer, 1929 $17.00
Interest reported as motor vehicle excise tax, 1929 .01
$17.01
Collections, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $15.66
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $15.42
Cash on hand, March 26, 1930 (verified) .24
$15.66
RECONCILIATION OF COLLECTOR'S CASH Cash on hand March 26, 1930 :
Taxes 1926 $3.89
Taxes 1927
143.29
Taxes 1928
592.51
Taxes 1929
941.87
$1,681.56
30
Motor vehicle excise taxes .... 10 08 Interest :
Taxes 1926
$0.24
Taxes 1927
6.68
Taxes 1928
41.58
Taxes 1929
28.08
Motor vehicle ex-
cise taxes
.24
$76.82
Interest on deposits :
June, 1927, to March 26, 1930
484.33
Excess cash 45.42
$2,298.21
Home National Bank $1,711.96
Cash in office March 26, 1930 (verified) 544.24
Overpayment to treasurer, taxes
1927 42.00
$2,298.21
Home National Bank
Balance March 26, 1930
$3,994.35
Balance March 26, 1930, per check book
$1,711.96
Outstanding
checks March
26,
1930
· 2,282.39
$3,994.35
DOG LICENSES
Cash on hand January 1, 1929
$12.00
Licenses issued 1929 :
Male, 686 @ $2.00 ... $1,372.00
Female, 93 @ $5.00 465.00
1,837.00
$1,849.00
Payments to county treasurer $1,689.60
Fees retained, 779 @ 20c 155.80
Cash on hand December 31, 1929. 3.60
$1,849.00
31
Cash on hand January 1, 1930 $3.60
Licenses issued, January 1 to
April 22, 1930 :
Male, 268 @ $2.00 .. $536.00
Female, 37 @ $5.00 185.00
721.00
$724.60
Fees retained, 305 @ 20c. $61.00
Cash on hand April 22, 1930
663.60
(verified)
$724.60
SPORTING LICENSES
Licenses issued 1929
$1,117.25
Payments to Division of Fisheries and Game
$992.50
Fees retained
124.75
$1,117.25
Licenses ssued January 1 to April 22, 1930 $622.00
Payments to Division of Fisheries and Game, January 1 to April 22, 1930 $475.50
Fees retained January 1 to April 22, 1930
67.50
Cash on hand April 22, 1930
79.00
$622.00
RECONCILIATION OF TOWN CLERK'S CASH Cash on hand April 22, 1930 :
Dog licenses
$663.60
Sporting licenses
79.00
Interest on deposits
.36
Fees not withdrawn
36.00
$788.96
Home National Bank :
April 22, 1930, per statements .. $727.96
32
Cash on hand April 22, 1930, per count 51.00
$788.96
SELECTMEN'S LICENSES
Licenses issued 1929
$1,281.50
Payments to treasurer
$1,136.00
Licenses cancelled
12.00
Outstanding December 31, 1929 133.50
$1,281.50
Outstanding January 1, 1930
$133.50
Licenses issued January 1 to Mar. 26, 1930 338.25
$471.75
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930
$253.50
Outstanding March 26, 1930, per list 218.25
$471.75
TOWN HALL RENTALS Accounts Receivable
Charges 1929
$774.50
Charges not previously committed
55.00
$829.50
Payments to treasurer $734.50
Outstanding December 31, 1929
95.00
$829.50
Outstanding January 1, 1930
$95.00
Charges, January 1 to April 22, 1930 250.00
$345.00
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to April 22, 1930 $265.00
Outstanding April 22, 1930, per list 80.00
$345.00
33
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Charges :
1929
$197.05
January 1 to April 22, 1930
16.72
$213.77
Payments to treasurer : 1929 $197.00
-
Outstanding April 22, 1930, per list 2.00
Cash on hand April 22, 1930
(verified) 14.77
$213.77
HEALTH DEPARTMENT Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1929
$1,420.00
Charges 1929 79.28
Charges not previously committed 22.85
$1,522.13
Outstanding December 31, 1929
$1,522.13
Outstanding January 1, 1930 $1,522.13
Charges January 1 to March 26, 1930 212.87
$1,735.00
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $80.00
Outstanding March 26, 1930, per list
1,655.00
$1,735.00
BOARD OF HEALTH LICENSES
Licenses issued 1929 :
Alcohol
$26.00
Garbage
4.00
Ice cream
3.00
Manicurist
14.00
Massage
1.00
Soda manufacturer.
10.00
34
Slaughtering
2.00
Undertaker 6.00
$66.00
Licenses issued January 1 to Mar.
26, 1930 :
Alcohol .... 1.00
.
$67.00
Payments to treasurer :
1929
$66.00
January. 1 to March 26, 1930 1.00
$67.00
DENTAL CLINIC
Cash on hand Jan. 1,
1929
$1.80
Receipts 1929
208.14
$209.94
Receipts January 1 to April 29,
1930 97.60
$307.54
Payments to treasurer :
1929
$193.66
January 1 to April 29, 1930
87.83
Cash on hand April 29, 1930 (verified)
26.05
$307.54
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1929 $61.75
Charges 1929
134.73
Charges not previously committed
120.60
$317.08
Payments to treasurer $79.28
Collections reported as miscellane- ous receipts 168.40
Outstanding December 31, 1929 69.40
$317.08
35
Outstanding January 1, 1930
$69.40
Charges January 1 to March 26,
1930 48.00
$117.40
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $13.00
Outstanding March 26, 1930, per list 104.40
$117.40
PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT Accounts Receivable GENERAL AID
Outstanding January 1, 1929, per ledger $3,068.32
Charges 1929 3,970.55
Mothers' aid collections reported as general aid 1,101.09
School collections reported as gen- eral aid 17.92
Infirmary collections reported as
general aid 109.62
$8,267.50
Payments to treasurer $3,330.90
Adjustment of charges
5.46
Adjustment of outstanding ac- counts 1,069.59
Outstanding December 31, 1929 3,861.55
$8,267.50
Outstanding January 1, 1930 $3,861.55
Charges, January 1 to March 26, 1930 246.00
$4,107.55
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to March 26, 1930 $1,790.90
Outstanding March 26, 1930, per list 2,316.65
$4,107.55
36
PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT Accounts Receivable MOTHERS' AID
Outstanding January 1, 1929, per ledger
$8,344.09
Charges 1929
8,315.23
$16,659.32
Payments to treasurer $7,357.71
Adjustment of outstanding ac- counts 421.63
Mothers' aid collections reported as general aid 1,101.09
Outstanding December 31, 1929,
and March 26, 1930, per list.
7,778.89
$16,659.32
TOWN INFIRMARY Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1929, per ledger $849.63
Charges 1929 :
Board
$3,809.53
Miscellaneous sales.
260.80
4,070.33
Charges not previously committed
306.59
$5,226.55
Payments to treasurer $3,830.42
Infirmary collections reported as general aid 109.62
Outstanding December 31, 1929 1,286.51
$5,226.55
Outstanding January 1, 1930 $1,286.51
Charges, January 1 to April 17,
1930 :
Board
$1,021.99
Miscellaneous sales.
109.50
1,131.49
$2,418.00
-
37
.
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to April 17, 1930 $1,111.63
Outstanding April 17, 1930, per list 1,297.97
Cash on hand April 17, 1930 (verified) 8.40
$2,418.00
TOWN INFIRMARY Petty Cash
Advanced by town treasurer $50.00
Miscellaneous expenditures, per vouchers $18.82
Cash on hand April 17, 1930, per
count 31.18
$50.00
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1929, per ledger $544.59
Charges 1929
4,623.55
Adjustment of outstanding ac- counts 39.73
Miscellaneous collections reported
as accounts receivable 68.93
$5,276.80
Payments to treasurer. $4,529.19
Abatements
35.47
Adjustment of charges.
78.78
School collections reported as pub- lic welfare 17.92
Outstanding December 31, 1929
615.44
$5,276.80
Outstanding January 1, 1930 $615.44
Charges, January 1 to April 22, 1930
148.89
Payment in advance
10.28
$774.61
38
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to April 22, 1930 $755.26
Outstanding April 22, 1930, per list 19.35
$774.61
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT Petty Cash
Advanced by town treasurer
$100.00
Miscellaneous expenditures, per vouchers
$20.75
Cash on hand April 22, 1930, per count
79.25
$100.00
LIBRARY
Fines collected :
1929
$191.00
January 1 to May 1, 1930
55.89
$246.89
Payments to treasurer :
1929
$191.00
January 1 to May 1, 1930
44.11
Cash on hand May 1, 1930 (veri-
fied) 11.78
$246.89
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT
Outstanding January 1, 1929, per
ledger
$363.00
Charges 1929
1,027.00
Charges reported in excess of de- tail list 84.00
Advance payments
C.CO
$1,480.00
Payments to treasurer
$1,024.50
Adjustment of outstanding ac- counts 132.50
39
Outstanding December 31, 1929 323.00
$1,480.00
Outstanding January 1, 1930
$323.00
Charges, January 1 to April 12, 1930 116.00
$439.00
Payments to treasurer, January 1 to April 12, 1930 $108.00
Outstanding April 12, 1930, per list 251.00
Cash on hand April 12, 1930 (ver- ified) 80.00
$439.00
CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS
Savings
Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1929 $20,584.17 $20,584.17 On hand at end of year 1929 $21,584.37 $21,584.37 Payments Receipts
Bequests $1,000.00
Dep. in banks
$1,000.20
Income 968.08
Trsfd. to town ..
967.88
$1,968.08
$1,968.08
-
TOWN OF MILFORD BALANCE SHEET-DECEMBER 31, 1929 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
ASSETS
LIABILITIES
Cash :
Temporary Loans: In Anticipation of Revenue
$150,000.00 3,293.99
Accounts Receivable :
Taxes:
Levy of 1925
$164.56
Levy of 1926
708.10
30.50
Levy of 1927
15,756.34
Levy of 1928
82,538.42
500.00
Levy of 1929
173,485.15
.
272,652.57 3,296.13
Police
800.00
Tax Titles
517.32
Fire, Unpaid Bills 1925
70.30
Unapportioned Sewer Assessments
Rifle Range Company I
1,000.00
1914-1928
$8,588.61
Sewer Maintenance Bills of 1927
108.80
Apportioned Sewer Assessments 1910-
Sewer Construction
410.14
1929
551.08
Sewer, Repairing Pumping Station
1,325.97
Main Street Construction
13,538.40
Removing Poles and Wires
274.49
Town Hall
$95.00
Health
1,522.13
Highway
69.40
Public Welfare
3,861.55
Mothers' Aid
7,778.89
Infirmary
1,286.51
State Aid
588.00
Military Aid
180.00
Levy of 1927
$4,083.45
Levy of 1928
3,525.59
Levy of 1929
8,073.89
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus
Revenue Reserved Until Collected :
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Revenue.
$3,296.13
Tax Title Revenue
517.32
Sewer Assessment Revenue
9,139.69
Departmental Revenue
16,319.92
29,273.06
Surplus Revenue
150,949.12
1
.
1
4
1
:
$379,158.73
$379,158.73
40
South Main Street Construction Fiowage Right .....
69.00
Land Damage, East Main Street
41.35
Celebration of 150th Anniversary
489.20
Debt
86.13
20,238.04
Overlays-Reserved for Abatements:
School
615.44
Cemetery
323.00
Overlay Deficit:
1,917.49
Levy of 1926
$75,315.61
In Banks and Office
Surplus War Bonus Fund Trust Fund Income : Vernon Grove Cemetery North Purchase Cemetery
$121.99
152.49
Sale of Pearl Street Property Appropriation Balances: Town Hall Repairs
$300.00
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes 1929
9,139.69
Departmental:
1,724.26
.
16,319.92
15,682.93 9,069.10
... ..
DEFERRED REVENUE ACCOUNTS
Apportioned Sewer Assessments Not Due
$904.28
Sewer Assessment Revenue Due 1930
$199.56
Sewer Assessment Revenue Due 1931
199.55
Sewer Assessment Revenue Due 1932
138.39
Sewer Assessment Revenue Due 1933.
83.55
Sewer Assessment Revenue Due 1934
83.55
Sewer Assessment Revenue Due 1935
83.55
Sewer Assessment Revenue Due 1936 83.62
Sewer Assessment Revenue Due 1937
32.51
$904.28
$904.28
DEBT ACCOUNTS
$200,000.00
Sewer Loans
$107,000.00
Highway Loans
70,000.00
School Loans
23,000.00
$200,000.00
$200,000.00
41
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Trust Fund Cash and Securities
$21,584.37
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds $21,584.37
-
...
-
1
7
Net Funded or Fixed Debt.
-
Annual Report of the Board of Selectmen.
In reviewing the activities of the town for the past year the Selectmen desire to preface their report by earnestly calling the attention of the voters to the ever mounting recurring expenses of practically all of the departments of the town. While the town must not stagnate, but rather be progressive, we should concern ourselves with the appro- priations that we will be called upon to make at our March meeting, scrutinize them well, with the end that our tax rate may be kept within reason and not burden the citizens unnecessarily.
This year's tax rate of thirty-four dollars per thousand we believe is too high.
Last year in our report we recommended "the pay as you go policy" as nearly as it could be followed, and we see no reason to change our mind this year.
It was the intent of your Board, in co-operation with the Finance Commission, when making up the budget last March, to keep the tax rate around thirty dollars per thou- sand, but due to unforeseen circumstances that developed later in the year the desired result was not attained.
In March last year, your Board and the Finance Board recommended to the Assessors that in making up the tax rate they consider using, from the Excess and Deficiency Fund, the sum of $30,000. The town's Excess and Defi- ciency Fund was larger by some $12,000 in 1930 than it was in 1929 when a sum of $30,000 had been used from the Excess and Deficiency Fund so as to favor the tax rate for 1929. We had every reason to believe that this could be done.
The Town Accountant had the approval of Mr. Wardell to using this sum from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
43
But along in July, Tax Commissioner H. F. Long, in a lengthy communication to the Assessors, absolutely for- bade them to take any amount whatsoever from the Excess and Deficiency Fund in making up the tax rate.
The severe business depression continuing throughout the year, making collections for all towns harder, was one of the reasons advanced by Mr. Long for his explicit instructions to the Assessors.
and the net result was that the demand for aid in the
Unemployment increased to an inconceivable degree, Welfare Department and Soldiers' Relief Department also increased proportionally, so that on August 20th, at a spe- cial town meeting called for the purpose, $12,500 for the Welfare Department, $5,000 for Soldiers' Relief, and $5,000 for Sewers was raised and appropriated, making a total of $22,500, which, added to the $30,000 that the town was unable to use from the Excess and Deficiency Fund, made a total of $52,500. This increased appropriation meant an increase of about $3.50 on the tax rate over what we had anticipated.
Adverse economic conditions are still with us. A lot of our people are out of work. While hopeful that at an early date things may change for the better, we must face. the facts as they confront us.
Aid and relief disbursements from the Welfare Depart- ment and Soldier's Relief are now at a rate that will mean seven to eight dollars on the tax rate compared with from three to four dollars four years ago. What is the best pol- icy for the town to pursue? Curtail to the bone in every department so that we may the better succor the needy or raise more money for some of the needed improvements, and thereby relieve to some extent the present unemploy- ment situation ? Would the latter policy relieve the pres- sure on those two affected departments enough to justify the larger appropriations contemplated ?
We append to our report two financial plans with the suggestion that the voters give either plan or a modifica-
44
tion of either plan their earnest consideration, so that they may vote on it in an intelligent manner at the annual town meeting when the appropriations will be made.
Financial Plan No. 1 is predicated on the assumption that the Highway Department will be in a position to bid and obtain the proposed West Street reconstruction job for which the county has already allotted $12,000, and we have the promise of the State Department of Public Works that a like amount will be allotted by the state early in the spring.
Financial Plan No. 2 is simply the adoption of a spend- ing policy with the hope that it may relieve the unemploy- ment situation and to that extent the Welfare Department and Soldiers' Relief Department may be favorably affected.
In either financial plan, consideration must be given to the fact that in all likelihood our tax rate may jump up to one dollar and a quarter more due to higher state tax and due to lower income from state and other sources.
Whatever method may be recommended and adopted by the voters, it should be so done with the explicit under- standing that in the spending of money by any of the departments of the town, these departments should em- ploy at all times men now dependent on the town, and that machinery should be eliminated so that the maximum of money may go to labor where it is most needed.
Plan No. 1 may reduce tax rate some $4.00.
Plan No. 2, reduction of tax rate cannot be predicted.
We are listing below some of the accomplishments of the past year :
Sidewalks
During the year, following an adequate appropriation for the purpose, the construction of cement sidewalks from the railroad crossing to the Hopedale town line on Main Street was undertaken and the whole job completed in time for the Sesqui-Centennial celebration. With this project, matching as it does our reinforced concrete Main
45
Street, completed, we feel the town will begin to reap the benefits derived by these permanent improvements inase much as no expenditures will be required for the upkeep of Main Street and its sidewalks for a long time to come.
Bids for the work were received on March 31, 1930, as follows :
Luchini & Sons $30,105.00
G. Sabatinelli 27,322.50
A. Cueroni & Co. 24,817.50
Jos. Visconti 27,312.50
Costa Bros. · 24,988.50
J. C. Ripley
22,160.00
J. F. Rooney Co. 19,457.50
The contract was awarded to J. F. Rooney Co., the low- est bidder.
In constructing the sidewalks to conform as near as practicable with the established grade of Main Street many. alterations had to be made to abutting property such as filling in or cutting down front yards, resetting curbs or building walls at the property line, adjust entrances to buildings, rebuild walks to houses and innumerable other things, so that work of this nature was done to more than seventy abutters. The Selectmen deemed it best to make all these alterations and appease the abutters rather than take chances of lawsuits for damages against the town.
The unit price of the contract amounted to $20,273.88, and engineering, inspections and work done to adjacent property accounts for the rest, with a total expenditure of $25,826.68.
Round Pond
Bids for the improvement of Round Pond by building a covered conduit from Main to Pond Street and a new set of gates on the north side of Main Street were received on April 14, 1930, as follows :
Luchini & Son $4,625.00
Cueroni & Co. 5,895.00
G. Sabatinelli
6,057.40
46
Rooney & Co. 5,190.00
P. Consigli 5,975.00
R. Costa 7,356.45
The contract was awarded to Luchini & Son, the lowest bidder.
The appropriation asked for this job contemplated the building of the conduit and the new gate only. The Select- men included a clause in the contract directing the con- tractor to remove all stones and all filling from the trestle on the west side of the B. & A. R. R. on Medway Street and use the stone for the sidewalls and haul all the filling from the trestle to the Round Pond. The sidewalk contractor was also required to haul all the surplus material to the Round Pond with the result that about 80 per cent of the filling at the Round Pond was done at no extra expense to the town.
Aprons
From a balance left from the 1929 appropriation for Main Street, the Selectmen deemed it advisable to con- struct aprons at all intersecting streets that were omitted in the 1929 construction of Main Street, namely, all street intersections from Congress to the Hopedale town line in addition to the long intersection at Philip Callery Square together with the approach to the hook and ladder fire station.
Bids for this work were received on May 12, 1930, as follows :
Rooney & Co. $1,632.00
Luchini Sons
2,172.00
R. Costa
2,160.00
L. Marzetta
2,310.00
G. Sabatinelli
2,358.00
Contract was awarded to J. F. Rooney Co., the lowest bidder.
Bridge at Godfrey Brook at Main Street
From the same unexpended balance from the 1929 Main Street construction appropriation, the Selectmen deemed it advisable to complete the bridge over Godfrey Brook at
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Main Street, which was done by day labor. This bridge is now safe and its construction gives our street a finished and pleasing appearance at that point.
Traffic Lights
After a traffic count as required by the Department of Public Works and in conformance to the regulations of said department, a set of traffic lights were installed at the intersection of West, Congress, and Exchange Streets. These lights are co-ordinated as to time with the ones at Exchange, Main and Central Streets, and thus traffic can flow easily, safely and unimpeded at those intersections and the danger of accidents eliminated in so far as it is humanly possible to do so.
State Road Through Prospect Street to South Main Street -
Plans were completed by the Department of Public Works which had been over two years in the making for a state road from West Street through Prospect, Elm Streets and private land to South Main Street to the Hopedale town line and from there to Batesville through the towns of Hopedale and Mendon, involving the expenditure by the state of about $200,000. The department was ready to advertise for bids for this work early in December. To have this work go through it was necessary for the town to enter into an agreement with the state to indemnify the Commonwealth for land damages incurred in the con- struction of said highway. An article for this purpose was placed in the town warrant, and at an adjourned meeting the article was voted on favorably. The Selectmen, having received the authority from the town, therefore signed in behalf of the town the agreement indemnifying the state against any land damages that may be incurred on this project.
Regardless of the opposition that was flamed up to a high degree of heat against this project, the Selectmen want to reiterate their belief and their firm conviction that it is a good business proposition for the town to accept,
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that benefits derived from it in an economical way by the town will far outweigh any economical ill effects that the appropriation of some $13,000 for land damage may bring about.
As Associate Public Works Commissioner, Mr. Mac- Donald put it to the opponents of the project at a hearing held before the Department of Public Works at the State House, "Anytime a town can get one dollar for the spend- ing of six cents, it is a good proposition for the town to accept. I wish I could have some of this work done by the state in my district."
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