USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1932 > Part 6
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Respectfully submitted, JOHN E. HIGGISTON, Inspector of Plumbing.
129
REPORT OF MEAT, PROVISION AND SLAUGHTER- ING INSPECTORS.
Milford, Mass , Jan. 5, 1933.
TO THE MILFORD BOARD OF HEALTH:
Gentlemen:
Following you will find a report on Animals Slaugh- tered at local slaughter houses and inspected by me.
Cattle
Calves
Hogs
Sheep
Totals.
January
146
150
153
0
449
February
138
155
185
0
478
March
148
203
160
22
533
April
203
278
208
0
679
May
174
215
205
0
594
June
197
212
228
0
637
July
163
211
189
0
563
August
157
220
245
0
622
September
172
262
302
0
736
October.
192
225
289
1
706
November
168
182
.403
0
753
December
165
191
265
0
621
Of this number 41 were condemned in accordance with Mass. Health Laws.
Sincerely Yours, JEREMIAH MACCHI, Slaughtering Meat Inspector,
THE HONORABLE BOARD OF HEALTH :
During the year 1932, I have inspected 11 cows and 25 calves.
DR. B. F. HARTMAN.
Report of the Board of Public Welfare.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
AND THE VOTERS OF MILFORD:
The Board of Public Welfare respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1932.
The year of 1982 will be remembered in the history of the Public Welfare Department. Never has this Board been so overwhelmed with calls for assistance as during the last twelve months.
Therefore, with the large increase in number of people finding it necessary to call for public relief, it must follow that the expenditures of this department would show a large percentage of increase.
The relief system here has developed to an extent that it takes care of everyone in distress who makes an applica- tion. The pity of it is that those who need help and are too proud to ask for it cannot be reached by any system. Noth- ing will ever take the place of neighborliness and a helping hand.
We cannot emphasize too strongly that the voters of Mil- ford must not expect public aid to solve all the problems. Other obligations rest upon our town and its citizens in this crisis. Relief alone is not enough. Work is better. Every self-respecting man wants work, not aid. Job finding offices should be set up. The share-the-work movement offers great possibilities. Every possible method of preserving morale is necessary, and the unemployment problem should be taken care of entirely distinct and apart from the Public Welfare Department. Many people have been out of employment for a long while. For many months they have lived either on something they had accumulated or on the charity of their friends. They are now at the end of the rope, and naturally
131
they must go to the Public Welfare Department, because there in no other alternative.
This Board repeats without contradiction that a problem is facing us that is not going to be cared for merely by appro- priating more money to the Public Welfare Department, but rather that is going to be solved by the co operation of its cit- izens.
We ask the voters of Milford to co-operate, not simply by providing money through taxes or charity, for Public Wel- fare activities, but by performing their duty in handling the unemployment situation, and setting up something definite and distinct.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriations $133,000 00
Sundry accounts refunded . 556 50
$133,556 50
EXPENDITURES.
Support of Inmates, Town Infirmary $11,836 72
Relief in Families, General Aid cases 79,618 53 Relief in Families, Mothers' Aid
cases 21,014 40
Relief of Persons, Old Age Assist-
ance cases
21,086 50
$133,556 15
Unexpended balance, Dec. 81, 1932 35
-- $133,556 50
OUTSIDE RELIEF.
The total expenditure for outside relief was $79,618.53, an increase over 1981, of $20,879.05, and an increase of $12,- .884 82 since 1930.
It is under this division of the Department that the great- est increase in expenditures will be noted as it is under this heading that the unemployment situation has been met.
Throughout the year we have assigned unemployed men
132
to work two days per week at the local Infirmary, and with the Highway Department in return for aid rendered, and the other four days they were expected to look for steady employment.
Hundreds of men have been assigned to work at the local Infirmary and Highway Department each week, mainly in fill- ing and grading lawns, building roads, laying walks, cutting wood, cleaning off snow from the highways, cleaning of God- frey brook, and it is estimated that the value of the work done by these men is $15,000 00
On November 9, 1932, the town took over the Guy M. Walker property containing 62 85 acres, and on this date the Department of Public Welfare started the needy cutting their own wood for fuel.
MOTHERS' AID.
The total expenditure for Mothers' Aid was $21,014.40, an increase over 1981 of $1,847.27, and an increase of $5,2€4.86 since 1930.
In carrying on Mothers' Aid work we are very grateful for the help and co-operation of the State Department of Pub- lic Welfare, which has general supervision, the Milford Dis- trict Nursing Association, and the different church societies, who have assisted us in this department.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE.
The total expenditure for Old Age Assistance was $21,- 086.50, an increase over 1931 of $14,339.40.
The Old Age Assistance Law which became operative on July 1, 1981, has already proven itself to give assistance to more people than any other piece of new legislation with which this Department has been concerned since the enact- ment of Mothers' Aid Law in 1913.
The Bureau of Old Age Assistance is growing rapidly, and it will be for the Voters of Milford a grave problem to fi- nance it.
INDOOR RELIEF.
The whole number of persons having legal settlement in
1
1.33
town who received Indoor Relief for whole or part of the year, comprising those in the Town Infirmary and State In- firmary, was 49.
We had 10 boarders with other Cities and Towns Settle- ments at our Infirmary. There were five cases from Black- stone, three cases from Bellingham, two cases from Hopedale, two cases at Mt. St. Vincent, Holyoke, Massachusetts, and one child from the Child Guardianship Department. Ten people were cared for at the Pondville Hospital at Norfolk, Massachusetts. Board was paid for nine children in private families at an average weekly rate of $2.00.
SUMMARY OF RELIEF.
The total expenditures during the fiscal year of 1932 for Town Relief were $121,719 43, and reimbursements were $27,- 008.45, making the net expense of $94,710.98.
The total expenditures for Town Infirmary were $11,- 836.12, and the revenue was $3,180 40, making the net expen- ses $8,656.32.
The net expenditures for all Poor Relief were $103,367. 30
RELIEF IN FAMILIES.
The Whole Number of Families Aided: Temporary Aid.
Having settlements in Milford 308
Having settlements in Other Cities and Towns · 31
Having State Settlements 40
Having Milford Settlements and residing in other
Cities and Towns 44 423
The Whole Number of Persons aided: Tempora- ry Aid.
Having Settlements in Milford . 1213
Having Settlements in other Cities and Towns 134
Having State Settlements . 173
Having Milford Settlements and residing in other Cities and Towns · 163
1,683
134
The Whole Number of Families aided: Mothers' Aid.
Having Settlements in Milford 31
Having Settlements in other Cities and Town 1
Having State Settlements 3
The Whole Number of Persons aided: Mothers' Aid.
Having Settlements in Milford 69
Having Settlements in other Cities and Towns .
5
Having State Settlements . . 16
The Whole Number of Families aided: Old Age Assistance.
Having Settlements in Milford 87
Having Settlements in other Cities and Towns ·
9
Having State Settlements . 4
Having Milford Settlements and residing in other Cities and Towns 6
106
The Whole Number of Persons aided: Old Age Assistance.
Having Settlements in Milford 87
Having Settlements in other Cities and Towns .
9
Having State Settlements . 4
Having Milford Settlements and residing in other Cities and Towns 6 .
106
Eight persons who were receiving the Old Age Assist- ance passed away during the past year.
During the fiscal year of 1932, 564 families comprising 1,879 persons were aided, also 39 persons at our local Infirm- ary.
Comparative report showing the amounts of relief grant- ed during the past twenty-one years including Outdoor Relief,
35
90
7
135
Town Infirmary, Mothers' Aid which was enacted in 1913, and Old Age Assistance enacted on July 1, 1931.
1910
$12,999 75
1911
13,995 78
1912
17,744 66 .
1913
12,994 94 .
1914
22,501 99 .
1915
. 19,271 96
1916
18,359 53
1917
20,018 51 .
1918
30,777 57
1919
38,833 22 , .
1920
.
42,718 51
1921
45,260 60 .
1922
.
53,826 65
1923
.
48,111 24
1924
42,602 42 .
1925
·
45,560 38
1926
.
48,852 26
1927
52,761 73 .
1928
52,121 54 .
1929
52,867 23 .
1930
. 69,126 35
1931
.
. 97,832 67
1932
. 133,556 15
TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE:
GENTLEMEN:
In making this, our second report to vou and the citizens of Milford, the year 1932 has been one of progress and satis- faction. The farm has yielded abundantly and is constantly growing in fertility and production. Our store house is filled with an abundance for our own consumption. Much of the work outlined in our program a year ago has been carried out.
Two painters have been kept busy the entire year and much pamting has been done both inside and out.
Some of the outstanding improvements were the renova-
·
.
.
136
ting and entire isolating of the women's department from the men's; the building of a turkey brooding house out of lumber taken from the old piggery; the razing of the obsolete ice house and rebuilding into a new hen house 40 by 14; the building of a cement fire wall around boiler and oil burner to comply with insurance laws; the building of a cement hot bed for early planting.
Our live stock is in splendid condition. We raised 17 tur- keys and a few geese for foundation stock for the coming year. We purchased 300 chickens, a brood sow with a litter of five pigs and a thoroughbred bull in the spring. We continue to raise our young cows to replace those having to be disposed of on account of old age and other causes.
Since January 1, 1932, over 350 cords of wood have been cut and distributed among the needy for fuel purposes. This has taken the place of coal which the town has been unable to furnish, because of the growth of other expenditures.
We wish to express our commendation to all assistants and employees for their splendid co- operation and the faithful performance of their duties.
In closing this report we would like to say that we were thoroughly investigated by a Committee from the Finance Board and the Matron and I wish to thank them for their courteous treatment. We also wish to thank the Board for their hearty and courteous co-operation during the past year.
SUMMARY OF TOWN INFIRMARY.
Total Expenditures $11,836 72 .
Income 3,180 40 . .
Net cost 8,656 32 .
Appraisal Town Farm Real Estate ·
20,000 00
Appraisal Town Farm Personal Property .
7,836 42
Number Registered during year . .
66
Largest Number of Inmates at one time . .
43
Smallest Number of Inmates at one time
Present Number of Inmates, 33 men, 4 women . 37
Deaths at Town Infirmary during year . 1
137
Average Daily Number
39 Average Weekly Cost per Inmate
$4 27
The Board of Public Welfare and the Almoner wish to extend their appreciation to the manufacturers and contrac- tors for their co-operation in the employment of needy per- sons: the Treasurers of the local banks, benefit associations, and insurance companies for information given us upon re- quest.
In October the Finance Committee supervised an investi- gation of the Welfare Department and we wish to thank them for all courtesies extended.
Again this Board heartily and sincerely thank the Ameri- can Red Cross for their courtesy and kindness in its contribu- tion of flour and clothing to this Department, and to Mr. Lyndhurst A. MacGregor, Chairman of the local Red Cross, and his assistants who are always ready and willing to foster and promote any worthy project for the betterment and ad- vancement of Milford and its citizens.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES A. HUMES, Chairman, FRANK J. HYNES, FRED J. COLEMAN, Board of Public Welfare.
JOHN T. O'BRIEN, Almoner.
Milford Fire Department.
ROSTER OF MEMBERS.
Joseph J. Fahey, Chief.
Thomas Manguso, Deputy Chief. William L. Power, Assistant. Arthur E. Vesperi, Clerk.
ENGINE No. 1.
Captain, William Young; Lieutenant, Mark O'Brien; Charles Negus, Clifford Ray, Aubrey Allen, Elmer Rose, An- drew Sonne, William J. Hynes, George Sullivan, Mathew Cel- lozzi, John O'Connor, Batista Tomasini, Edward O'Rourke.
LADDER No. 1.
Captain, Edward F. McDermott; Lieutenant, William J. Carini; John Hennessy, John Spencer, Louis Tredo, Louis Fusco, Frank Calzone, William Fertitta, Cosmo Santora, Ber- nard Manion, Joseph Casey, John Adams, Michael D. Burke, George Fitzpatrick.
IIOSE No. 1.
Captain, Edward Duggan; Lieutenant, James Edwards; P. E Jeffery, Clyde Cheney, Fred Ruhan, Harry L. Cronan, Carroll Dewing, Fred Rose, Joseph Gubana, Samuel W. Mor- cone, Charles Hixon, Frank Dota, Charles DiAntonio.
HOSE NO. 2.
Captain, James L. Adams; Lieutenant, Percy L. Adams; James H. O'Brien, Henry Elliott, Garden Rae, James Casey, Francis Murphy, Louis Pilla, Emile Moore, Frank J. M. Hynes> Frank Comolli, Joseph DeLucca, Martin Aherr.
VOLUNTEER COMPANY HOSE 4. Captain, Lester Griffith. LOCATION OF THE FIRE ALARM BOXES.
14 Central street, opposite Baker Slip.
15 Central street, opposite Milford Shoe Co. factory.
139
16 Depot street, near Barney's coal yard.
17 Corner Spring street and North Bow street.
18 Central street, opposite East street.
21 Main street, near Home National Bank.
22 Corner Sumner and Mechanic streets.
23 Car Barn and East Main street. (Private )
24 Main street, opposite Town Hall.
25 Corner Main and Pine streets.
26 Main street at Supple square.
27 East Main street opposite Cedar.
28 Corner of East Main and Medway streets.
Hayward street, near Parkhurst street.
29 31 Water street, corner Bancroft avenue. 32 Water street, near Draper Co. property.
34 West street, opposite Lee street.
35 Corner of West and Cherry streets.
36 Corner of High and West Spruce streets.
41 Corner of Sumner and Granite streets.
42 At Milford Iron Foundry.
43 Corner of School and Walnut streets.
45 Purchase street, opposite G. W. Ellis residence.
46 Purchase street, corner of Fountain street.
47 Purchase street, opposite Eben street.
52 Main street, corner of Water street.
53 Main street, corner of Fruit street.
54 Main street, near Hospital.
56 Corner of Otis and Leonard streets.
62 Corner of Claflin and Franklin streets.
63 Grove street, corner of Forest street.
64 South Main street, near Fruit street.
65 South Main street, opposite Cadman farm.
72 West street, corner of Congress street.
73 Corner of Spruce and Congress streets.
75 Upper Congress street.
142 Archer Rubber Co. factory (private box.) 281 Dodds quarry.
140
TELEPHONE BOXES.
271
Beyond residence of Lyndhurst A. MacGregor, Cedar street.
282
East Main street, beyond Dodds quarry.
283
Birch street, on Medway road and Bear Hill.
341 Clancey farm, West street beyond.
751 Upper Congress street, beyond Curd's farm.
CALL SIGNALS.
One blast-Superintendent's call.
Two blasts -All out.
Three blasts-Chief's call.
Four blasts-House call.
Five blasts-Fire out of town.
Six blasts-Military call.
Seven blasts -Assembly of Boy Scouts.
EMERGENCY CALL.
Telephone 65-2 South Main Street Station. 1430 Main Street Ladder Station.
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY.
Two brick buildings, necessary equipment; one frame building, necessary equipment; one Amoskeag steam fire en- gine; one American LaFrance, type 75, Combination Pumping Engine and Hose Truck, 750 gallons per minute, all equipped; one American LaFrance, G. M. C. type, Combination Pumping Engine and Hose Truck, 500 gallons per minute, all equipped; one Maxim Combination Pumping Engine and Foamite, 600 gallons per minute, all equipped; one Maxim Ladder Truck, all equipped; one Ford Hose Truck, all equipped; one Packard Utility Truck; one H. & H. Inhalator; Grappling Hooks and all necessary equipment; one four-way Morse Deck Gun; Nine- teen Spotlights; 6000 feet of First Class Hose; 500 feet of Sec- ond-Class Hose; fourteen Reservoirs.
FIRE ALARM AND TELEGRAPH.
One four-circuit Storage Battery Switchboard, complete with Battery Cells, etc .; Thirty five miles of Wire; two Turtle
141
Gongs; four Direct Tappers; three Indicators; one Repeater; one LeBaron Air Whistle and Tanks complete; one Transmit- ter Box and equipment; one Motor Generator and 38 Alarm Boxes.
From January 1, 1932 to December 31, 1932, there were 202 alarms, 50 were bells and 152 telephone calls. Value of buildings where actual fire occurred, $299,800
Loss on buildings, $44,873 .
Insurance paid on buildings, $90,186
$35,881 ·
Value of contents where actual fire occurred, .
Loss on contents, $36,810 ·
Insurance on contents,
. $125,379
Insurance paid on contents,
$31,326
Many noticeable improvements have taken place in the fire department this past year. A new rectifier system; one mile of fire alarm wire and a new heating system has been in- stalled at the South Main Street Station; hot water systems renewed in Main and South Main Street Stations. All appara- tus has been put in first class condition; one hose truck was removed from service as it was considered unsafe for fire de- partment work. Numerous other changes have taken place with a view of lowering expenses in this department.
We wish to thank the Board of Selectmen, Police Depart- ment and the Highway Department for their co-operation throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH J. FAHEY, WILLIAM L. POWER, THOMAS MANGUSO, Board of Fire Engineers,
Report of the Town Solicitor.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN, MILFORD, MASS .: -
From March 1932 to December 31, 1932, eleven cases against the Town for damages to persons and property were finally settled. The total amount paid for all eleven cases was $206.56, a sum quite less than the expense to the Town had it tried them in Court, There are twelve cases now pending against the Town for alleged personal injuries. A few have some merit, some have little merit and many have no merit at all. Each will have to be dealt with on its own, particular facts; by settlement if the parties can agree, other- wise by trial.
Litigation arising out of the construction of West Street in 1931 is still pending. John F. Nagle, the original contrac- tor, and Roger T. Fay, to whom the contract was assigned with the approval of the then Board of Selectmen, left the work owing, it is claimed, thousands of dollars to laborers and material men. Forty-five claims were filed by these un- paid creditors with the Town Clerk. Until all the claims were disposed as a whole, no single creditor, even the labor- ers to whom were owed the smallest amounts, could be paid . The Town owed the contractor approximately $9,291.90 at the date of the filing of the first claim and this amount has been since retained. The claims total $15,704.47. The Consoli- dated Bonding and Indemnity Company of New York bonded the contractor. On July 12, 1932, a Bill in Equity against the Town and the bonding company was filed in the Superior Court of Suffolk County by Mollo Brothers, creditors, in the amount of $6,628.92. Eich creditor was allowed one year from the date of filing his claim to intervene in that suit The final date for creditors to intervene was December 4, 1932. Thirty-six of those who filed the claims have intervened and have become parties in this case. On December 22, 1932, the
143
Superior Court appointed James F. Aylward, Esquire, Master to hear the facts in the case and report his findings to the Court, hearings are to commence at Boston, January 16, 1933. Whatever the result of this litigation may be, the Town will not be liable beyond the amount retained in the treasury. The bonding company will have to pay the balance, but the Town having been made a party to the suit, and a fiduciary under the bond, it is obliged to act in good faith in defending the claims.
Arising out of this West Street contract is another suit brought August 20, 1931, in the District Court of Milford, by Odilon Martin of New Bedford, against Nagle for a loan of $1250.00. The money due Nagle from the Town for work done up to August 5, 1981, was attached by Martin. On the advice of the then Town Solicitor, the Town Treasurer paid the money due Nagle to Fay, to whom Nagle assigned it, the Town first securing a bond of indemnity from the same bond- ing company in case it should be determined that the Town paid the money without right. Judgment was secured by Martin against Nagle for $1250 00 and costs, and Martin moved that the Co irt charge the Town for the amount. On Jannary 15, 1932, this case wns decided by the District Court, against the Town and on January 18, 1932, the Town claimed an appeal to the Appellate Division. The original counsel for Martin having become your Town Solicitor in March, 1932, Alfred B. Cenedella, Esquire, who, up to that time, as Town Solicitor, had acted for the Town in the case continued to represent the Town, at the request of the bond- ing company. After a hearing held in Worcester, October 7, 1932, the Appellate Division overruled the Town's appeal, The Town then claimed another appeal to the Supreme Judi- cial Court, has filed certain motions with the Appellate Di- vision; Martin has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal, all of which are still pending, and there the matter now rests.
On October 30, 1931, another Bill in Equity was filed in the Superior Court of Bristol County by George B. Watkins against Fay and Nagle and the Town seeking to reach the funds of Fay and Nagle in the hands of the Town. An in-
144
junction was issued restraining the Town from paying over any money retained by it except claims of laborers and ma- terial men until further order of the Court. It is safe to say that the Town will not be obligated to pay any money in this case, but as in the others, it having been made a party, will have to bear the expense of defending the action. This case will probably be disposed of by the determination of the Mol- lo Brothers suit.
At the request of the Town Treasurer, the tax title held by the Town of the Guy M. Walker quarry land was regis- tered through proceedings in the Land Court, that having been brought to a scucessful conclusion. The title to this property is now free and clear in the Inhabitants of the Town of Milford.
The Town Solicitor has appeared in the District Court in behalf of the Police Department, and the Board of Health, when requested to do so. Many questions have been asked and many opinions sought from the various departments from time to time, and many conferences have been bad with State officials on Town matters.
No serious litigation has arisen out of the East Main Street concrete coustruction, the work of which has recently been completed; all laborers were paid and aside from a few material men. whose accounts are in process of adjustment with the contractor, this job has been finished with no bills left unpaid.
Under the present law of the State, the Tax Collector must secure a bond or vacate the office. Unless he collects the taxes for two years preceding, no insurance company will bond him for the next year ensuing. The only method given the Collector by law to collect the taxes (aside from a taking, civil suit or arrest,) is by selling the property at tax sales. The prevailing hard times have made it impossible for many persons, who otherwise would pay, to meet their tax bil) within the two years. Accordingly, the Tax Collector has no alternative, so long as he holds the office, but to proceed to sell and as each parcel is sold, he is given credit for the col- lection. This is why so many tax sales haye been made
145
within the year just closed. While the Assessors are obliged by law to furnish accurate descriptions of the land to be sold, to the Collector, much further work had to be done by the Town Solicitor's Department. Description of each parcel has to be copied, checked in the Registry of Deeds, the index run down, assessments verified, notices of sales with the amount of the taxes due prepared for the newspaper, tax deeds drawo and when the Town become the buyer, as was the case in every instance save two, record the same in the Registry of Deeds. Since March 8, 1932, 238 descriptions have been thus prepared and 108 tax deeds have actually been recorded in the Registry, 135 having settled their taxes before the sale. It is hoped that the Legislature this year will devise some improvement from the present method of collecting unpaid taxes, eliminate expense, and spare humilia- tion to the worthy'tax payer and at the same time secure the collection of such taxes as are necessary to carry on the functions of Town government. There is a provision where- by the Collector may take land for unpaid taxes for the Town, and the Town may in a by-law direct that he do so. No such by-law exists in Milford, and Representative Nelson reports that from his investigation at the State House, no Town so far as known, has adopted this method. Every Town expenditure requires revenue, revenue means taxes and taxes in any form are painful.
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