USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1937 > Part 14
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Hixon, Frank Roy, 139 So. Main St.
Absent
Present
Present Present
Absent Absent
Absent Absent
267
Logan, Arthur J., 51 Grove St. Moloney, John J., 10 Orchard St.
Absent
Absent
Present Present
Moore, William J., 251/2 Grove St.
Present Present
Morey, Myron, 34 Fruit St.
Present Present
Absent
Reynolds, Sumner C., 4 Poplar St. Ritz, Hans O., 6 So. Main St.
Present
Present
Williams, Chester F., 12 Claflin St.
Present
Present
Williams, Wendell, 32 Claflin St.
Present Absent
Wilson, John C., 21 Forest St.
Present
Present
Wood, Fred E., 54 Claflin St.
Present
Present
Young, William, 18 So. Main St.
Present
Present
PRECINCT 4
Barnes, J. Edward, 18 West St.
Present
Absent
Baxter, William N., 42 West St.
Present . Present
Present Present
Present Present
Present Present
Present
Present
Broderick, Edward S., 24 High St.
Present Present
Burns, Eva L., 297 Main St.
Absent
Absent :
Cahill, James Burke, 293 Main St.
Present
Absent₥
Carney, Daniel J., 10 Cherry St.
Present
Absent
Casey, Fred V., 28 Chapin St.
Present
Present
Condon, Albert L., 18 Parker Hill Ave.
Absent
Present.
Crandall, Kenneth J., 3 Otis St. Curtin, Charles F., 16 Parker Hill Ave. .
Present
Absent
Cuttell, George W., 76 West St.
Absent Absent
Daigle, Alfred E., 11 Parker Hill Ave.
Present
Present
Dillon, Robert L., 15 Draper Park
Present
Absent
Doheny, Edward F., 357 Main St.
Present
Present
Doherty. Daniel F., 35 West St.
Present
Present
Doyle, Joseph H., 68 Congress St.
Present Present
Dugan, William A., 1 Otis St.
Absent
Absent
Duggan, Paul C., 1 West St.
Present
Present
Fahey, John J., 6 Huntoon Slip Fitzpatrick, Rita K., 312 Main St.
Absent
Absent
Fitzpatrick, William F., 22 West St.
Present
Present
Introini, Rudolph J., 290 Main St.
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Absent
Present
Absent
Beiersdorff, Otto W., 44 Bancroft Ave. Berardi, Francesco, 33 Prospect St. Berry, Frank C., 56 Bancroft Ave. Broughey, Joseph E., 59 Bancroft Ave. Burke, J. Edward, 140 West St.
Present
Present
Absent
Absent
Present Absent
Keenan, Bernard V., 24 Prospect St. Lilley, Edwin C. Jr., 3 Draper Park Lynch, John C. Jr., 305 Main St.
Present
268
Luby, Fred J., 92 West St.
Present
Present
Manion, Bernard M., 82 West St.
Present Present
Present Present
Present Present
Present
Present
Ripley, John C., 19 High St.
Present
Present
Roberti, Leonardo, 70 West St.
Present
Present
Rose, Marcus W., 57 Bancroft Ave.
Absent
Absent
Ryan, Marion Aylward, 298 Main St. Visconti, Joseph A., 20 West St.
Absent
Absent
Ward, Frank I., 36 Church St.
Absent
Absent
PRECINCT 5
Adams, James L., 151 Purchase St.
Present
Present
Allen, Aubrey M., 14 Emmons St.
Present
Present
Anderson, George, 23 Emmons St.
Present Absent
Bane, Alfred J., 45 Pleasant St.
Present Absent
Barlow, Alice B., 66 High St.
Present
Absent
Barlow, Raymond E., 235 Purchase St.
Present
Present
Barns, Thomas E., 129 Congress St.
Present
Present
Best, Michael R., 46 Emmons St.
Present
Present
Bickford, John W., 254 Purchase St.
Present Present
Burns, Edward V., 30 Pleasant St.
Present
Absent
Cahill, Fred T. Jr., 2 Gibbon Ave.
Absent
Absent
Cahill, William H., 16 Grant St.
Present
Present
Casey, John F., 31 Grant St.
Present
Present
Casey, Michael W., 27 Emmons St.
Present
Absent
Casey, William H., 112 Congress St.
Absent
Absent
Clarridge, Eleanor L., 270 Purchase St.
Present
Present
Connolly, William, 133 Spruce St.
Present
Absent
Corbett, Walter E., 19 Westbrook St.
Present
Present
Curtiss, Robert H., 94 Congress St.
Present
Present
Dennett, Mortimer C., 6 Westbrook St.
Present
Present
Dion, Charles H., 116 Purchase St.
Present
Present
Doane, Walter B., 124 Congress St.
Present
Present
Earl, Frank L., 49 Grant St.
Absent Absent
Ellis, George W. Jr., 88 Purchase St.
Present
Present
Glennon, Edward R., 36 Pleasant St.
Present
Present
Gould, Charles W., 18 Grant St.
Present Present
Gould, Frederick A., 3 Gibbon Ave.
Present
Present
Henderson, John H., 149 Purchase St.
Present Present
Knox, Fred L., 59 Grant St.
Present Present
Lally, Francis X., 177 Congress St.
Present
Present
Larson, Elwood H., 239 Congress St.
Present
Present
Murphy, Harold V., 12 Hollis St. Oakes, Roger C., 14 Church St. Rae, Garden W., 30 Parker Hill Ave.
Absent
Absent
269
Libbey, L. Blaine, 32 Pleasant St. Lindsey, Lester B., 43 Purchase St. Mckenzie, Angus H., 231 Purchase St. Metcalf, Alton H., 207 Congress St. Moore, Mark H., 139 Spruce St. Moran, Clement H., 16 Gibbon Ave.
Morey, Luke, 390 Purchase St.
Morey. Nelson, Haven St.
Nelson, Elmer C., 102 Congress St.
Phillips, Wendell T. Jr., 98 Congress St.
Slattey. James T., 12 Madden Ave.
Spindel, George H., 345 Purchase St.
Tredeau, Louis J., 38 Pleasant St.
Whitney, Ernest A., 138 Congress St.
Absent Absent
Present Present
Present Present
Present Present
Present
Absent
Present Present
Present Absent
Present Absent
Present Present
Present Present
Present Present
Present Absent
Present Present
Present
Absent
A true record.
Attest :
DENNIS J. SULLIVAN Town Clerk.
A true copy of the record.
Attest :
DENNIS J. SULLIVAN Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, March 15, 1937
At an adjourned Town Meeting held March 15, 1937, under Article 21 of the Warrant, it was Voted: that the Moderator appoint a Committee of five, one Town Meeting Member from each Precinct to study the matter contained in the article and report on or before May 1, 1937, with their recommendations.
That the Committee will not include any Members or Officers of the Fire Department.
The following Committee was appointed.
Precinct 1. Owen F. Croughwell Precinct 2. William P. DiVitto
Precinct 3. Chester F. Williams Precinct 4. Edward J. Burke
270
Precinct 5. Alton H. Metcalf
March 18, 1937. Received and recorded.
Attest :
DENNIS J. SULLIVAN
Town Clerk
A true copy of the records.
Attest :
DENNIS J. SULLIVAN Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, June 18, 1937 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
WORCESTER, ss.
Milford, June 18, 1937
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Milford qualified by law to vote in Town Affairs, held this eighteenth day of June A. D. 1937, the said inhabitants proceeded as follows :
The meeting was called to order by John T. McLoughlin, Moderator, at eight o'clock P. M.
The Town Clerk read the warrant and the Officer's return thereon.
The Monitors checked the names of Town Meeting Mem- bers present and reported as follows :
At large 14
Precinct 1 28
Precinct 2
29
Precinct 3
29
Precinct 4
22
Precinct 5 33
Total 155
A quorum of Town Meeting Members was present.
Article 1. Report of Committee.
271
The Committee appointed at the adjourned Town Meeting March 15, 1937, to study the matter of the Acceptance of . G. L. (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 48, Section 42 relative to the establishment of the Fire Department under the control of an officer to be known as Chief of Fire Department presented their report through William P. DiVitto its Secretary.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
Your committee appointed under action taken at the adjourned town meeting held March 15, 1937, to study the matter of the acceptance of G. L. (Ter.Ed.) Chapter 48, section 42, relative to the establishment of the Fire Depart- ment under the control of an officer to be known as Chief of the Fire Department, has carefully considered the matter, and submits its findings and recommendations.
In connection with its study, the selectmen and the chief and clerk of the Fire Department were requested to appear before the committee, and investigation was carried on in the field.
From these investigations your committee has found certain facts. Some of these facts are briefly stated. There is no co-operation among the present engineers, or among the men in the department, or between the engineers and the men. Training of the men in their duties has been neglected. The department is over-manned, there being 52 members not including the engineers and the drivers. Four of its members are working in towns so far removed from Milford that their services are not available during a considerable portion of the day. A check-up of response to alarms indicates that there is an average absence of 16%.
During the period from May 5, 1936, to April 25, 1937, there were 52 alarms. Two men were absent on 21 occasions each ; one 19 times; one 18 times; one 16 times; this man being one of the lieutenants; one 15 times; two 14 times; one 13 times; four 12 times; one 11 times; four 10 times ; and all the remaining members of the department from 1 to 9 times each; and yet each member, irrespective of his attendance, drew full compensation from the treasury of the town.
Interest among the men to make the department efficient is lacking. The handling of brush fires is deplorable, and the expense connected therewith exorbitant. These facts are, or ought to be, well known to the selectmen and the
272
engineers. The committee is unanimous that something is required to remedy such a situation.
The question then presented is, does the acceptance of the statutes referred to offer any solution of the situation ? A comparison of the present set-up of our fire department with what it would be under the provisions of G.L. (Ter.Ed.) Chapter 48, Sections 42, 43, and 44, disclose the following facts.
There is no change in the appointive power. That remains in the selectmen. Under the present system the selectmen appoint 3 engineers, who elect the chief. Under the other system, the selectmen would appoint only 1, and he would be the chief. Under the present system the engineers and the chief hold their position for 1 year from May 1st and until others are appointed in their stead. Our present en- gineers are holdovers. Under the other system the chief becomes a permanent chief unless removed by the select- men. He shall appoint a deputy and such officers and firemen as he may think necessary.
Although a different method of determining the com- pensation of the officers and members of the department would come into vogue under the other system, yet in its practical application it would appear to involve no material change in the results over the present system.
Under the other system the duties and responsibilities of the engineers under the present system would be transferred to the chief.
Under the present system the selectmen may remove an engineer for cause, after 7 days' notice to him and a hear- ing; under the other system the selectmen may remove the chief at any time for cause and after a hearing.
After careful deliberation of the whole matter, your' committee recommends that you do not accept the pro- visions of G. L. (Ter.Ed.) Chapter 48, sections, 42, 43, and 44 relative to the establishment of the Fire Department under the control of an officer to be known as "Chief of the Fire Department", and states as reasons therefor :-
1. Efforts should be made to reduce the tax rate of the town.
2. It is fair to assume that the acceptance of the act would result in increased expense of the Fire Department.
3. Something more than a mere change from 3 engineers to a chief and deputy is required.
4. The present department can be brought up to an
273
efficient basis if the board of selectmen and such engineers as should be appointed by them exercise the duties, powers and privileges vested in them by the present system.
5. The change will not result in any reduction of the insurance rates.
Respectfully submitted,
-THE COMMITTEE by William P. DiVitto Its Secretary
Owen F. Croughwell
Edward J. Burke
Alton H. Metcalf
Chester F. Williams
William P. DiVitto
Voted : To receive and accept the report of the committee. The Cedar Swamp Pond Development Commissioners' report to the Selectmen was presented.
REPORT OF THE CEDAR SWAMP IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION
Board of Selectmen Town of Milford.
June 7, 1937
Gentlemen :
In submitting our proposal for the improvement of the Cedar Swamp Pond area your committee has studied the situation from various angles with the fixed idea of pre- senting to you what we believe to be the best possible answer to a troublesome problem. In arriving at our con- clusion, we have made use of various data, plans and previous report.
From surveys previously made it would appear that the flow of water is insufficient to maintain a clean, healthy condition in a pond of any size, therefore briefly, our proposed improvement calls for a rip-rapped channel from
274
Main Street to a point opposite the Marchigiano Club, and the filling in of land on either side of the channel. We propose that the land this reclaimed with the exception of a fifteen foot strip on either side of the channel be given to the abutters or otherwise sold by the town, so that it shall again become taxable property. We propose that a fence be erected along the property line so that the finished project will permit the town to maintain a sanitary con- dition along the banks of the stream.
Accompanying this report are pencil sketches from which part of the information for the computation was secured. It is requested that these sketches be returned to the Secre- tary of the Commission for further use. Blue prints were not considered necessary at present.
This proposal can be undertaken in a series of annual projects and in another section of this report, the project is broken down into a series, one to be undertaken each year. Your committee is of the opinion that this work should be started now and that this proposal will be of permanent benefit to the town. We believe that the interest of the town will be best served by letting these projects out to competitive bidders, rather than attempting to do the work under any department or under W. P. A.
The area to be reclaimed between Main Street and a point opposite the Marchigiano Club of about twenty-seven acres consisting of four sections is as follows :
Area A. From Main Street northerly to the Peninsula at land of one Cassasanta, and on the easterly or Plain side of the swamp. Fill required-55,000 cu. yds. rip rap 1700 sq. yds. Area reclaimed 6 acres; average width from prop- erty line to channel 160 feet.
Area B. From Main Street to point opposite Peninsula at land of Cassasanta on westerly or foundry side of swamp. Fill 51,000 cu. yds. rip-rap 1700 sq. yds. average width 200 ft. area claimed 8 acres.
Area C. From Peninsula to point opposite Marchigiano Club on easterly or Plains side. Fill required 146,000 cu. yds; rip-rap 1,200 sq. yds; average width from property line 250 ft. area reclaimed 3 acres.
Area D. From point opposite Peninsula to point opposite Marchigiano Club on westerly side of swamp at rear of Archer Rubber Company. Fill required 20,000 cu. yds. plus 25,000 yds. of fill on this tract which is now above grade and can be utilized to fill low spots. Average width 300 ft ;
275
rip-rap 1,200 sq. yds; area reclaimed 10 acres.
Total fill required is about 260,000 cu. yds. Total area for rip-rap 6000 sq. yds. less beach area if any. Estimated cost of rip-rap; based on average of five figures obtained- $12,000. Estimated cost of fill based on average of five figures obtained $78,000; total cost $1000,000. ($10,000 allowed for incidental expense). Recommended that this work be separated into four or five contracts over a period » of four or five years.
Width of channel at bottom-50 ft. Width of channel top 74 ft. from Main Street to Peninsula at Cassasanta's.
Width of channel at bottom 250 ft. width of channel at the top 300 ft. from Peninsula to Marchigiano Club. Recommended that a strip of land at least 15 ft. wide on either side of the channel be set aside to go with the channel.
This work will eliminate an unsightly and unsanitary condition and provide about 25 acres of land at the same grade as Main Street which will be suitable for business, industrial or recreational purposes as the voters of Milford may later decide. Voted that the following motions become a part of this report :
1. That any project or program which we submit or recommend to be wholly dependent upon the provisions that the Board of Selectmen and legal counsel of the town secure full and complete releases of all property involved from the parties or persons holding title thereto.
2. That a copy of this report be handed to a representative of the local press.
3. That the Commission continue the study of this project and submit additional data from time to time.
4. It was unanimously agreed to submit this report of articles to date, to the Board of Selectmen on June 8 and request that an article be inserted in the warrant of the Town Meeting to be held June 18 calling for an application of $20,000 to carry out the first part of this project; namely the reclaimation of Area A.
Signed,
J. E. Lenares M. D. Elmer C. Nelson Attilio Guerriere R. D. Stone, Sec.
276
Voted : To receive and accept the report.
The report of the Finance Committee was presented by Myron Morey its Secretary.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE ARTICLES IN THE WARRANT FOR THE TOWN MEETING June 18, 1937
Mr. Moderator :
Your committee recommend.
Article 2. That ($500.00) Five hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for maturing debt.
Article 3. We recommend the acceptance of the report of the committee appointed under article 21 of the annual town meeting 1937 and recommend the said Committee be empowered to consider and investigate articles 3 and 8 of this warrant and any other matters pertaining to the Fire Department, a re-organization thereof and all other matters under the jurisdiction of the Fire Department and report their recommendations to the annual town meeting, of 1938.
Article 4. We recommend : A committee of 5, one from each Precinct be appointed to investigate the matter and report at a later town meeting.
Article 5. Your committee recommend that the article be passed over.
Article 6. No action taken on this article.
Article 7. We recommend that the Town By-Laws be amended to include section 3 of article 7.
Article 8. Covered by article 3.
Article 9. No action taken on this article.
Article 10. As this expenditure is matched with federal funds we take favorable action.
Article 11. Is covered by Article 10.
Articles 12 and 13. We recommend that favorable action be taken.
Article 14 and 15. We recommend that they be passed over.
Article 16 and 17. No action taken.
Article 18. We recommend that the town establish a planning board under the provisions of the article.
277
Article 19. We recommend that the Committees report be accepted as a report of progress and before any work be commenced on the project the Town Council be instructed to proceed to perfect the title of the town to the property.
. W. L. Adams, Chairman
Voted : To receive and accept the report.
A· motion was made to take up Articles 12-13-14 and 15. The motion was carried and it was voted :
To take up articles 12, 13, 14, 15. Yes 88, No 27.
Article 12. Voted : That the Town vote to authorize the Selectmen to accept such offer as the United States of America may make to aid the Town in financing the re- construction, repairing, and furnishing of the Milford High School and to authorize a Building Committee of fifteen (15) consisting of the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Town Counsel and five Town Meeting Mem- bers, one from each Precinct to carry out said project and contract with respect thereto.
The vote was unanimous.
Voted: That each Precinct select its Member of the Committee.
The following were selected :
Precinct 1. Michael H. DeCoste, Precinct 2. Attilio Guerriere, Precinct 3. Ferdinand S. Adams, Precinct 4. Joseph A. Visconti, Precinct 5. Elmer C. Nelson.
Voted : To pass over the remainder of the article.
Article 13. Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of Ninety Thousand ($90,000.00) Dollars, including the amount of Sixty-four thousand one hundred sixty and 36-100ths ($64,160.36) Dollars accruing to the Town on account of the adjustment of the fire loss at the High School and all money received from the Federal Govern- ment on account of this Project, to meet the cost of the reconstruction and furnishings of said school and of archi- tect's fees and all other incidental expenses connected with the fire loss thereon, the same to be expended under the supervision of a building Committee of fifteen (15) con- sisting of the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Town Counsel and five Town Meeting Members, one from each Precinct.
The vote was unanimous.
Voted : To pass over the remainder of the article.
278
Article 14. Voted : To pass over the article.
Article 15. Voted : To pass over the article.
Article 2. Voted: To raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for maturing debt.
Article 3. A motion to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen hundred and sixty dollars for the purpose of adding permanent men to the Milford Fire Department was defeated.
Article 3. Voted: That the committee appointed under Article 21 of the Annual Town Meeting 1937 be empowered to consider and investigate Articles 3 and 8 of this warrant and any other matters pertaining to the Fire Department, a reorganization thereof. and all other matters under the jurisdiction of the Fire Department, and report their rec- ommendations to the Annual Town Meeting of 1938.
Article 4. A motion was made that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the rental of land for childrens recreational purposes, the same money to be expended by a committee composed of the Chief of Police, one Member of the Board of Selectmen, and one Member of the Board of Assessors.
The motion was amended as follows: That a Committee of five, one Town Meeting Member from each Precinct be appointed by the Moderator to study the matter and report at the next Town Meeting.
An amendment to the Amendment was made that the Committee report to the Selectmen.
The Amendment to the motion and Amendment was carried.
Voted : To pass over the remainder of the article.
Article 5. The Zoning Board presented recommenda- tions.
Voted : To suspend the reading of the recommendations.
Voted : That the Zoning Board prepare and send copies of the zoning laws to each Town Meeting Member.
Voted : To adjourn until Friday June 25, 1937. at eight o'clock P. M.
A true record :
Attest :
DENNIS J. SULLIVAN.
Town Clerk.
279
A true copy of the record :
Attest :
DENNIS J. SULLIVAN, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, June 25, 1937
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Worcester, ss.
Milford, June 24, 1937
In pursuance to a vote passed at a special Town Meeting, June 18, 1937, the inhabitants of the Town of Milford, qualified by law to vote in Town Affairs met in Town Hall, on the above date and proceeded as follows :
The meeting was called to order by John T. McLoughlin, Moderator at eight o'clock P. M.
The monitors checked the names of Town Meeting Mem- bers and reported 115 present, not a quorum.
A recess was taken.
The monitors again checked the names of the Town Meeting Members present and reported as follows:
At large 12
Precinct 1 22
Precinct 2
20
Precinct 3
22
Precinct 4
13
Precinct 5 32
Total 121
A quorum was present.
Article 5. Voted : To pass over the article.
Article 6. Voted : That permission be given by the Town to Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield, Thomas M. O'Leary, R. C. B. to use as a cemetery the land on the northerlv side of Medway Street, a copy of the description of which is hereto annexed.
Beginning on the northerly side of Medway Side of Medway Street at the southwesterly corner of Lot No. 240 shown on Plan hereinafter named and described; thence
280
running northerly along the westerly line on said Lot No. 240 and other lots shown on said Plan 259.34 feet to the southeasterly corner of Lot No. 190 on said Plan; thence turning and running westerly along the southerly line of said Lot No. 190 100 feet to the easterly side of Messina Street shown on said Plan; thence turning and running northerly along the easterly line of Messina Street to a stone bound shown on said Plan; thence continuing same course through said stone bound across Turrin Street and following the westerly line of Lot No. 449 shown on said Plan 719.40 feet to land, now or formerly, of the Boston Albany Railroad Company; thence turning and running N. 84.ºE 593.77 feet with said Boston Albany Railroad Company land to a corner; thence turning and running S. 7º 15' E. with said Boston Albany Railroad Company land 148.30 feet to a corner; thence N: 84° E with said Boston Albany Railroad Company land 296.60 feet to a corner ; thence N. 6° 30' W. with said Boston Albany Rail- road Company land 148.50 feet to a corner; thence N. 84° E. with said Boston Albany Railroad Company land 690.02 feet to the westerly side of Beaver Street thence southerly by the westerly line of Beaver Street 1770.13 feet to the westerly side of Medway Street; thence westerly with the northerly line of Medway Street 1791.35 feet to the point of beginning; comprising an area of 50 acres, more or less.
Said premises being shown on Plan of Medway St. Plat. which is a sub-division of Land Court Plan No. 11928A2 on file with land Registration Office, and being also a part of that land shown on Land Court Plan No. 11928A2 which has not yet been sub-divided.
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