USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1939 > Part 13
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100.00
E. Blake 5.00
Total for Petty Cash
105.00
State Tax-1939
44,100.00
County Tax-1939
24,528.47
Auditing Municipal Accounts
2,452.67
State Parks and Reservations
746.73
Dog Licenses
1,867.80
Total for Unclassified
252,332.02
Cemeteries
North Purchase Cemetery : Labor 75.50
Vernon Grove Cemetery :
Secretary
275.00
Labor
1,626.00
Office Supplies and Postage 18.00
Loam
115.00
Repairs 80.99
91.41
Tools and Equipment Harrowing and Sowing
96.00
Rent Equipment
30.00
Flowers
5.70
Cement Foundation
17.90
Care of Lots-Pine Grove Cemetery 9.63
Total for Vernon Grove Cemetery
2,365.63
Total for Cemeteries 2,441.13
Interest and Maturing Debt
Interest :
Anticipation of Revenue
2,042.55
258
High School Loan 4,522.50
Municipal Relief Loan 1,760.00
Sewers 2,317.50
Tax Title Loan
351.92
Cedar Swamp Development 748.96
Total for Interest 11,743.43
Maturing Debt :
Anticipation of Revenue 447,000.00 Anticipation of Grant Payment 16,000.00
High School Addition 11,000.00
Municipal Relief Loan
2,000.00
Tax Title Loan
8,867.81
Sewer Bonds 5,000.00
Cedar Swamp Bond 10,000.00
Chapter 58 Acts of 1938 6,000.00
Total for Maturing Debt 505,867.81
Total for Interest and Matur- ing Debt 517,611.24
Trust Funds
Cemetery Perpetual Care 300.00
Refunds and Transfers
Refunds :
Taxes 2,243.36
M. V. Excise Tax 1937
4.08
M. V. Excise Tax 1938 58.09
M. V. Excise Tax 1939
870.78
Treasurer's Tailings Taxi Badges
10.05
10.00
Interest 2.55
Total Refunds 3,198.91
Transfers :
Reserve Fund to :
Selectmen 86.00
259
Accountant
208.85
Treasurer
50.00
Tax Collector
135.00
Assessors
228.30
Election and Registrations 305.77
Town Hall
150.00
Memorial Hall
20.00
Maintenance of Traffic
Signals
119.53
Brush Fires
168.98
Dog Officer
77.50
Inspector of Animals
140.00
Sewer Maintenance
314.17
Soldiers' Relief
2,000.00
Damage to Persons and
Property 650.00
Construction of War Memorial 300.00
Overlay Reserve To :
Overlay 1931
184.97
Overlay 1932
470.28
Overlay 1934 1,400.74
Purchase of Tools, Materials
Etc. to : Sewer Construction P. W. A. 1023 R 233.75
Sewer Construction-Cedar St. To : Cedar St. Sewer for Tools, Materials 810.00
Chapter 500 Acts of 1938 to
Revenue
5,508.42
Excess and Deficiency to Revenue 35,000.00
Old Age Assistance to Pub-
lic Welfare
5,000.00
Old Age Administration to
Public Welfare
1,000.00
Aid to Dependent Children- Assistance to Public Welfare 1,000.00
Aid to Dependent Children-
260
Administration to Public Welfare 500.00
Excess and Deficiency to Health-Gen. 1,500.00
Excess and Deficiency to Repairs to Town Clock 250.00
Schools-Salaries and Wages to School-General 1,200.00
Excess and Deficiency to School 2,000.00
Total Transfers 61,012.26
Total for Refunds and Transfers
64,211.17
Total for Expenditures 1,562,362.88
Cash in Treasury December 31, 1939 43,686.20
Grand Total
1,606,049.08
RECAPITULATION AND ESTIMATES General Government
1938 Balance
1939 Appro- priations
Receipts and Transfers
Total
Account
1939 Expend- itures
1939 Balance
1940 Estimates
100.00
100.00
Moderator
100.00
100.00
1,450.00
86.00
1,536.00
Selectmen
1,535.93
07
1,500.00
85.00
85.00
Finance Commission-Secretary
85.00
100.00
2,000.00
2,000.00
Finance Commission-Departmental Studies
2,000.00
2,800.00
208.85
3,008.85
Accountant
3,004.63
4.22
3,136.00
1,950.00
50.00
2,000.00
1,991.96
8.04
2,183.00
231.50
231.50
Treasurer's Bond
231.50
221.00
4,400.00
135.00
4,535.00
Tax Collector
4,528.42
6.58
4,650.00
463.00
463.00
Tax Collector's Bond
463.00
434.00
4,250.00
228.30
4,478.30
Assessors
4,465.44
12.86
4,560.00
250.00
250.00
Assessors-Tax Appeal Board Costs
250.00
100.00
100.00
Certification of Notes
86.00
14.00
75.00
1,100.00
1,100.00
Town Solicitor
1,100.00
1,200.00
1,600.00
1,600.00
Town Clerk
1,599.93
.07
1,700.00
Town Clerk-New Files
325.00
4,200.00
305.77
4,505.77
Election, Registration & Town Meetings
4,505.13
64.
7,122.18
3,200.00
150.00
3,350.00
Town Hall
3,341.98
8.02
3,200.00
153.00
153.00
Town Hall-Unpaid Bills 1938
153.00
Town Hall-New Piano
350.00
Treasurer
1938 Balance
1939 Appro- priations
Receipts and Transfers
Total
Account
1939 Expend- itures
1939 Balance
1940 Estimates
250.00 1,100.00
20.00
1,120.00
Memorial Hall
1,118.51
1.49
1,335.00
Care of Town Clock
100.00
Protection to Persons & Property
24,800.00
24,800.00
Police Dept .- Salaries & Wages
24,430.58
369.42
24,800.00
75.00
75.00
Court Fees
15.69
59.31
75.00
450.00
119.53
569.53
Maintenance of Light and Traffic Signals 569.53
550.00
Police Dept .-- New Equipment
1,200.00
19,200.00
19,200.00
Fire-Pay of Members
18,798.72
401.28
21,910.00
3,400.00
3,400.00
Fire-Incidentals
3,400.00
3,400.00
550.00
550.00
Fire-Repairs to Alarm System
549.64
.36
800.00
250.00
250.00
Fire Alarm Upper Purchase Street
250.00
800.00
800.00
Fire-New Hose
799.27
.73
1,200.00
350.00
168.98
518.98
Fire-Brush Fires
518.98
350.00
12,300.00
12,300.00
Hydrant Service
12,180.00
120.00
12,300.00
Fire-New Equipment
500.00
350.00
350.00
Rifle Practice
350.00
350.00
375.00
375.00
Inspector of Wires
375.00
375.00
650.00
650.00
Sealer of Weights & Measures
601.61
48.39
650.00
100.00
100.00
Gypsy Moth Suppression
99.82
18
100.00
650.00
650.00
Care of Trees
650.00
700.00
425.00
77.50
502.50
Dog Officer
502.37
.13
475.00
250.00
Repairs to Town Clock
250.00
Health & Sanitation
16,000.00
1,500.00
17,500.00
Health-General
17,500.00
17,500.00
656.25
656.25
Health-Unpaid Bills-1938
656.25
12.50
12.50
Health-Unpaid Bills-1933
12.50
325.00
140.00
465.00
Inspector of Animals
462.25
2.75
375.00
1,400.00
7.64
1,407.64
Dental Clinic
1,406.19
1.45
1,500.00
9,046.01
9,046.01
Wor. County T. B. Hosp. Assess.
9,046.01
8,704.09
8,864.46
8,864.46
Wor. County T. B. Hosp. Constr.
8,864.46
8,591.01
7,000.00
314.17
7,314.17
Sewer Maintenance
7,294.85
19.32
8,000.00
102.71
102.71
Sewer-Installing New Pump
102.25
.46
810.00
810.00
Sewer Constr .- Cedar Street
808.80
1.20
Highways
20,000.00
20,000.00
Highway-General
19,906.98
93.02
20,000.00
1,000.000
1,000.00
Highway-New Equipment-Repairs
999.24
.76
1,000.00
4,500.00
4,500.00
Highway-Resurfacing Streets
4,500.00
4,500.00
2,267.78
14,726.95
16,994.73
Highway-Purchase St.
Constr. Chap. 90
16,994.73
800.00
1,598.06
2,398.06
Highway-Chapter 90 Maintenance
2,397.08
.98
1,200.00
500.00
500.00
Maint. & Care of Town Improve.
499.56
.44
2,500.00
500.00
500.00
Repairs to Sidewalks
498.46
1.54
500.00
15,000.00
15,000.00
Snow Removal
15,000.00
15,000.00
17,400.00
17,400.00
Street Lights
17,305.10
94.90
17,700.00
2,694.42
2,694.42
Snow Removal-Unpaid Bills -- 1938
2,694.42
9,863.48
9,863.48
Chap. 500-Acts of 1938
9.863.48
1,200.00
1,200.00
New Bridge-Howard Street
923.14
276.86
500.00
500.00
Road Machinery Account
500.00
233.75
233.75
Sewer-P. W. A .- 1023
233.75
1938 Balance
1939 Appro- priations
Receipts and Transfers
Total
Account
1939 Expend- itures
1939 Balance
1940 Estimates
Charities & Soldiers' Benefits
80,000.00
8,882.93
88,882.93
Public Welfare-Temporary Aid
88,537.31
345.62 1,257.00
90,000.00
25,000.00
212.91
25,212.91
Aid to Dep. Children-Town Assist.
23,955.91
1,200.00
7.50
1,207.50
Aid to Dep. Children-Town Admin.
1,196.39
11.11
2,500.00
2,322.72
4,894.43
7,217.15
Aid to Dep. Children-Federal Assist.
6,184.70
1,032.45
814.22
814.22
Aid to Dep. Children-Federal
.Administration
659.10
155.12
65,000.00
362.85
65,362.85
Old Age Assist .- Town Assist.
64,070.63
1,292.22
65,000.00
2,250.00
2,250.00
Old Age Assist .- Town Adminis.
1,732.81
517.19
3,500.00
6,788.55
48,420.86
55,209.41
Old Age Assist .- Fed. Assist.
48,622.83
6,586.58
206.62
1,605.31
1,811.93
Old Age Assist .- Fed. Adminis.
1,311.44
500.49
18,370.70
18,370.70
Rebuilding Town Farm
17,908.15
462.55
500.00
500.00
State Aid
390.00
110.00
500.00
300.00
300.00
Military Aid
25.00
275.00
300.00
12,500.00
2,243.05
14,743.05
Soldiers' Relief
14,741.13
1.92
15,000.00
Schools & Libraries
187,147.62
2,495.79
189,643.41
School-Salaries & Wages
189,312.99
330.42
186,449.54
34,875.00
3,573.92
38,448.92
School-General Expenses
38,338.74
110.18
42,000.00
720.00
720.00
School-Repairs to High School Building
596.21
123.79
378.79
378.79
School-Furnishings High School
366.61
12.18
25,000.00
500.00
500.00 School-Vocational School-Machinery and Equipment Town Library
359.94 5,524.37
140.06 2.83
5,775.00
Recreation & Unclassified
2,100.00
.72
2,100.72
Town Parks
2,100.71
.01
2,400.00
Reconstruction of Bleachers
1,000.00
800.00
1.34
801.34
Playgrounds
801.34
1,750.00
300.00
300.00
Playground-Rental
230.00
70.00
300.00
Piping Brook-Town Park
500.00
200.00
200.00
Repairs to Tennis Courts
200.00
650.00
1,804.50
1,804.50
Printing Town Reports
1,804.50
3,300.00
3,300.00
Workmen's Compensation & Public Liability
3,246.64
53.36
3,300.00
1,000.00
650.00
1,650.00
Damage to Persons & Property
1,641.10
8.90
1,000.00
Taxi Badge Reserve
10.00
10.00
30,000.00
48,565.36
Purchase of Tools, Materials
46,082.52
2,482.84
35,000.00
69.00
69.00
Flowage Rights-Clark Heirs
69.00
69.00
200.00
200.00
Memorial Day-G. A. R.
200.00
200.00
150.00
150.00
Memorial Day-American Legion
150.00
150.00
50.00
50.00
Memorial Day-Spanish War Veterans
50.00
50.00
150.00
150.00
Armistice Day-V. F. W.
150.00
150.00
300.00
28.00
328.00
Property Foreclosure-Tax Titles
130.10
197.90
150.00
50.00
50.00
Worcester County-Extension Service
50.00
50.00
110.73
300.00
410.73
Construction of War Memorial
410.00
.73
5,500.00
5,500.00
Blanket Insurance
5,493.67
6.33
5,500.00
630.61
630.61
Land Damages-Purchase Street
630.61
12.00
8.00
20.00
18,565.36
4,150.00
1,377.20
5,527.20
1938 Balance
1939 Appro- priations
Receipts and Transfers
Total
Account
1939 Expend- itures
1939 Balance
1940 Estimates
Recreation & Unclassified-Continued
160.27
160.27
Zoning Board
160.27
250.00
250.00
Installing Street Signs
237.55
12.45
200.00
200.00
200.00
Installing Christmas Lights
200.00
200.00
8,637.46
8,637.46
Contributory Ret. System
8,637.46
9,052.20
54,337.57
75,382.01
129,719.58
Cedar Swamp Develop .- P. W. A.
126,212.56
3,507.02
Cemeteries
2,000.00
365.63
2,365.63
Vernon Grove Cemetery
2,365.63
2,000.00
Vernon Grove Cemetery-Repairs to Wells & Pumps & Completing New Lots
189.45
17.74
537.13
554.87
Vernon Grove Cemetery-Income of Trust Funds
576.88
177.99
50.00
25.50
75.50
North Purchase Cemetery
75.50
50.00
46.75
11.25
58.00
'North Purchase Cemetery-Income of Trust Funds
25.50
32.50
Interest & Maturing Debt
12,500.00
1.25
12,501.25 34,000.00
Interest
11,743.43
757.82
12,500.00
34,000.00
34,000.00
35,350.00
Other Appropriations
5,000.00
5,000.00 Reserve Fund
4,954.10
45.90
5,000.00
Maturing Debt
Net Funded Or Fixed Debt Of The Town Of Milford Decmber 31, 1939
Year
Sewer Bonds
Tax Title Loan
High School Bonds
Municipal Relief Loans
Cedar Swamp Chap. 58
State Tax Total Matur- Develop. Acts of 1938 Funding Loan ing by Yrs.
1940
5,000.00
26,599.28
11,000.00
2,000.00
6,350.00
6,000.00
5,000.00
61,949.28
1941
5,000.00
11.000.00
2,000.00
6,000.00
6,000.00
5,000.00
35,000.00
1942
5,000.00
11,000.00
2,000.00
6,000.00
6,000.00
4,000.00
34,000.00
943
5,000.00
11,000.00
2,000.00
6,000.00
6,000.00
4,000.00
34,000.00
1944
5,000.00
11,000.00
2,000.00
6,000.00
6,000.00
4,000.00
34,000.00
1945
5,000.00
11,000.00
2,000.00
6.000.00
6,000.00
30,000.00
1946
4,000.00
9,000.00
2,000.00
6,000.00
6,000.00
27,000.00
1947
4,000.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
6,000.00
24,000.00
1948
4,000.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
2,000.00
20,000.00
1949-1952.
4,000.00 yearly
8,000.00 yearly
48,000.00
1953-1954
2,000.00 yearly
8,000.00 yearly
20,000.00
1955
2,000.00
7,000.00
9,000.00
64,000.00
26,599.28
146,000.00
14,000.00
54,350.00
50,000.00
22,000.00
376,949.28
268
SALARIES AND WAGES OF EMPLOYEES OF MILFORD General Government
Position
Salary
Moderator
100.00
Selectmen
250.00
Clerk of Selectmen
500.00
Secretary of Finance Commission
50.00
Accountant
2,000.00
Treasurer
1,500.00
Tax Collector
3,500.00
Assessors (Two Members)
1,000.00
Assessors' Clerk
1,500.00
Town Solicitor
250.00
Town Solicitor, legal fees for special work 1939
850.00
Town Clerk
500.00
Town Clerk, recording fees (Marriages, Deaths and Births-1939)
801.00
Registrars of Voters
300.00
Clerk of Registrars
350.00
Janitor of Town Hall
1,200.00
Janitor of Memorial Hall
600.00
Clerk in Accountant's Office, per week
18.00
Protection of Persons and Property
Police Department :
Chief
2,400.00
Patrolmen, per hour
.631/2
Fire Department :
Chief
1,800.00
Deputy Chiefs (2)
each 150.00
Firemen, Call Men
150.00
Tree Warden, per week while working
25.00
Dog Officer
75.00
Inspector of Wires
375.00
Health
Members
100.00
Clerk
250.00
269
Sanitary Inspector
300.00
Plumbing Inspector, union wages for actual
time taken, not to exceed
600.00
Nurse
1,200.00
Dentist
1,000.00
Inspector of Meats
1,356.00
Doctor
600.00
Inspector of Animals
300.00
Sanitation
Sewer Department :
Commissioners (Two Members)
200.00
Chairman of the Board
250.00
Superintendent
1,600.00
Clerk
200.00
Highways
Superintendent
2 000.00
Foreman, per week
35.00
Drivers, per hour
.66 2.3
Welfare
Overseers (Two members)
150.00
Chairman of the Board
250.00
Almoner
1,500.00
Superintendent of Town Farm
1,500.00
One Clerk, per week
15.00
One Clerk, per week
17.50
One Clerk, per week
20.00
School Department
Superintendent 4,000.00
For other School Department Salaries see
School Department Report
Library
Librarian 1,320.00
270
Cemetery Department
Clerk of Trustees
300.00
All Other
Common Labor in All Departments, per hour .50
TOWN ACCOUNTANT'S DEPARTMENT
Expenditures in Detail
Receipts :
Appropriation
2,800.00
From Reserve Fund
208.85
3,008.85
Expenditures :
Michael J. Hannigan
2,000.00
Phillie E. Giamarco
807.00
Burroughs Adding Machine Co.
12.25
Cahill's News Agency
7.80
Clarke Printing Co.
7.20
Columbia Ribbon & Carbon Mfg. Co.
9.25
J. H. Gardella
2.00
Greenwood Typewriter Exchange
9.75
Johnson Office Supply Co.
5.86
J. E. Higgiston, Postmaster
10.00
Keystone Envelope Co.
18.95
Mass. Municipal Auditors & Comp- trollers Association
2.00
Milford Locksmith
.25
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
76.50
Geo. T. Pascoe
1.17
Expenses to Boston
34.65
Total Expenditures 3,004.63
Balance
4.22
271
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Receipts-Town Appropriation
Assistance
Appropriation Sundry accounts refunded
$25,000.00 .
211.00
$25,211.00
Expenditures-Town Appropriation
Relief in families, Aid to
Dependent Children $22,954.00
Transfer to General Aid Funds
1,000.00
$23,954.00
Unexpended balance, December 31st, 1939
$1,257.00
Receipts-Town Appropriation
Administration
Appropriation $1,200.00 $1,200.00
Expenditures-Town Appropriation
Director and other employees' salaries $666.25
Office supplies, equipment 22.64 Transfer to General Aid Funds 500.00
$1,188.89
Unexpended balance, December 31st, 1939 $11.11
The total expenditures during the fiscal year of 1939 for Aid to Dependent Children Assistance relief from the Town Appropriation were $25,142.89. We received from the State, reimbursements totalling $13,363.89 and $211.00 in reimbursements from cancelled checks, making the total receipts $13,574.89, which makes the net expense of Aid
272
to Dependent Children Assistance to the Town of Milford $11,568.00.
Receipts-Federal Grants Assistance
Balance carried from 1938 $2,322.72
Sundry accounts refunded 5.50
Federal grants received in 1939 4,888.93
$7,217.15
Expenditures-Federal Grants
Relief in families, Aid to Dependent
Children $6,184.70 $6,184.70
Unexpended balance, December 31st, 1939 $1,032.45
Receipts-Federal Grants
Administration
Federal Grants received in 1939 $814.22 $814.22
Expenditures-Federal Grants
Director and other employees' salaries
$609.20
Supplies and equipment
49.90
$659.10
Unexpended balance, December 31st, 1939 $155.12
The total expenditures of Aid to Dependent Children As- sistance relief on account of Federal Grants were $6,843.80. The grant payments carried over from 1938 were $2,322.72. We received in 1939 a total of $5,703.15 in Grant payments and $5.50 in reimbursements from cancelled checks, making the total receipts $8,031.37, leaving a credit balance of $1,187.57 in the Federal Account, which will be carried over to 1940. This was strictly a Government expense.
273
Expenditures :
Administration : Director and
other employees' salaries
$1,275.45
Cash grants to individuals
29,060.95
Accounts payable 150.29
$30,486.69
Cahill's News Agency
$2.89
Clarke Printing Co.
14.65
Casey, W. H.
.57
District Nurse Association
7.50
F. H. Hannaford
2.00
Hobbs & Warren
9.56
Johnson Office Supply Co.
1.91
L. C. Smith & Corona Co.
6.00
Milford Hospital
48.25
Milford Post Office
10.00
Morcone, John
20.00
New England Tel. & Tel. Co.
15.15
Ward's Stationers
11.81
Relief in Families
January :
Total number of new applications received 2
50 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 223 persons
Expenditures for the month of January amounted to $2,781.36.
February :
Total number of new applications received 1 50 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 230 persons
Expenditures for the month of February amounted to $2,818.43.
March :
Total number of new applications received 1 51 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 233 persons
1
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Expenditures for the month of March amounted to $2,415.85.
April :
Total number of new applications received 0 50 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 228 persons
Expenditures for the month of April amounted to $2,357.81.
May :
Total number of new applications received 3 53 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 242 persons
Expenditures for the month of May amounted to $2,305.12.
June :
Total number of new applications received 2 55 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 252 persons
Expenditures for the month of June amounted to $2,230.80.
July :
Total number of new applications received : 2 56 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 259 persons
Expenditures for the month of July amounted to $2,268.72.
August :
Total number of new applications received 0
56 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 259 persons
Expenditures for the month of August amounted to $2,469.01.
September :
Total number of new applications received
3 59 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 270 persons
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Expenditures for the month of September amounted to $2,447.55.
October :
Total number of new applications received 3 61 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 282 persons
Expenditures for the month of October amounted to $2,903.90.
November :
Total number of new applications received 0 61 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 282 persons
Expenditures for the month of November amounted to $2,748.44.
December :
Total number of new applications received 0
61 Families-Aid to Dependent Children 282 persons
Expenditures for the month of December amounted to $2,739.70.
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Report of the Board of Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen organized March 7, 1939, with Patrick Carroll, the newly elected member, present, and John H. Gardella was unanimously chosen Chairman.
Although the Town, upon our recommendation, appro- priated $9,000.00 to reconstruct under Chapter 90 the final section of Purchase Street with State and County contribu- tions, subsequent legislation suspended this type of work for the year. Accordingly, the appropriation, with the con- sent of the Tax Commissioner, was excluded from the tax levy. In the event that the State and County may resume its contributions this year, we have recommended an appro- priation therefor.
The Cedar Swamp Pond Development was completed during the year on schedule. The work was done well with- in the appropriation and the Federal grant, and a balance of $1824.78 remains unexpended. Upon our recommendation, By-Laws have been legally adopted governing the adminis- tration of this property and it is planned to officially dedi- cate the same with the advent of favorable weather.
As was pointed out in our report last year, by taking advantage of the Federal Public Works program, this un- sightly swampy and infectious area has been improved, reclaimed and properly drained, transformed into recrea- tion grounds, beautiful in appearance and of which many uses may be made.
During the year, the World War Memorial was dedicated, thus bringing to fruition a project which public sentiment has favored since the end of the War. The ceremonies were held November 11, 1939 and Hon. David I. Walsh, United States Senator from this State and Chairman of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, was the speaker of the day. For future use, a brief history in connection with the construc- tion of this War Memorial and of General Draper Park on
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which it stands, is included elsewhere in the Town Report.
The average weekly number of persons employed under the Works Progress Administration in Milford dropped from 368 in 1938 to 330 in 1939. As has been pointed out by the W.P.A. Agent, $46,082.52 of the Town's money (exclusive of $2,010.00 specially appropriated for Cedar Street sewage and Howard Street bridge) were expended during the year. But the Federal Government's contribution during th same period was $245,424.49, or approximately five times as much. When it is considered that the construc- tion of the Town barn and certain other projects embraced unusually heavy material costs, and that 38 persons less were employed on an average each week than last year, it is encouraging to note that the Town's expense dropped from $69,213.37 in 1938 to $46,082.52 in 1939.
The Selectmen have continued the policy of submitting every substantial expenditure to competitive bidders, not- withstanding the fact that the Town By-Laws only require such action where the proposed contract is over $500.00.
Last year, we stated that the tax rate rose to $44.20 in 1938 because of the increased appropriation in the Public Welfare Department, old age assistance, snow removal, High School furnishings and W.P.A. materials. This year it dropped to $38.60. The contributing factors were
(1) Decrease in appropriations of about $45,000.00
(2) Co-operation of most Town Departments and Town Meeting Members with the Finance Committee in keeping appropriations within reasonable limits.
(3) Accumulation of substantial surplus through liquida- tion of back taxes.
(4) Direct grants from State from cigarette and gas taxes to apply to existing indebtedness.
(5) Increase in valuation.
We trust that similar consideration will govern the deter- mination of the rate this year, equitable alike to the Depart- ments and the taxpayers.
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The W.P.A. project codifying the Traffic Rules and By- Laws with easy reference to such legislative acts which have from time to time been accepted by the Town, is near- ing completion. It is our purpose to incorporate all of the material in bound pamphlets for use by officials and for public distribution.
Recommendations
Traffic-Milford is probably the only large town in Massa- chusetts where there is no limitation as to the time within which automobiles may use the public streets for private parking. We have recommended continuously each year that the abuse of this privilege on the business streets be corrected. To bring the matter forward for discussion, we are inserting an Article in the Town Warrant providing for the appointment of a Committee by the Selectmen to consider the situation and make a report as to the advis- ability or inadvisability of providing a time limit for the parking of vehicles on the business streets.
Town Zoning-Recently, the Chamber of Commerce di- rected our attention to the entire absence of local regula- tions governing construction and use of buildings on Main Street. As has been pointed out in previous reports, a Zon- ing Board on our recommendation, was appointed under the provisions of Statute. Their reports and maps were pub- lished in the Milford Daily News, but no action was taken by the Town Meeting Members. We are inserting an Article in the Town Warrant to bring that report forward for consideration.
Street Signs-In 1939, the program of constructing addi- tional street signs was continued and we recommend an ap- propriation again this year so that such streets as have not as yet been taken care of will be properly designated.
Excess and Deficiency Account-We recommend an ap- propriation from the Excess and Deficiency Account to be applied by the Assessors in determining the tax rate as has been done in previous years. Early attention to the liquida- tion of 1938 and prior taxes should be given by the Tax Collector, and application should be made promptly for its
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use by the Assessors to the State Director of Accounts. Un- less such action is taken in ample season before the tax rate is fixed, no benefit is obtained. No substantial hardship results to the taxpayer as he still has a series of years to make payment without loss of his property, and on the other hand, the action is of inestimable benefit to the tax- payers as a whole.
Real Estate Owned by the Town Through Foreclosure of Tax Titles-The Town of Milford now owns twenty-two parcels of real estate through foreclosure of tax titles in the Land Court. The original assessed valuation of these prop- erties was $122,550.00. A few parcels have been sold by the Selectmen under an authorized Vote given by the Town Meeting Members, but the bulk of them still remain, and al- though they have been advertised, no persons have appeared who are willing to pay any sum comparable to their value. Some of the properties are woodlots, some quarries and some have buildings, and require personal supervision, at- ten tion and care. We invite suggestions as to the best pro- cedure of dealing with this problem.
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