Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1943, Part 6

Author: Milford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1943
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 394


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To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:


There has been little activity in this department due to the fact that the gasoline shortage caused the Livestock Disease Control Board to suspend the annual inspection of cattle and their quarters.


Checking the arrival of interstate beef cattle has created an unusual amount of activity as they have been shipped into Milford in much larger quantities than ever before.


But most of the work of this department has been with the examining, quarantining of dogs which have bitten citizens. No case of rabies has been discovered however.


Cattle, sheep and hogs are free from infections and contagious disease as far as can be determined.


Respectfully,


DR. B. F. HARTMAN, Inspector of Animals.


144


Report of the Inspector of Wires


January 13, 1944.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


The work of the Wire Inspection Department for 1943 has been much of its advisory and supervision of remodeling work.


General improvement in the condition of wiring es- pecially amateur wiring has been corrected and few per- sons have been notified by me and State Inspector about doing work without having a license. Owners have been notified to be sure whoever they hire have a license to do same.


There have been quite an amount of stokers installed and I am glad to state that all have been installed as to state requirements and safety to the community.


Very truly yours,


MATTHEW N. NIRO,


Inspector of Wires.


1


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145


Report of the Tree Warden and Gypsy Moth Superintendent


To the Voters of the Town of Milford:


I hereby submit my annual report on the care and removal of trees and brush.


I have removed in the past year fourteen trees and topped six. I was unable to take these six trees down as my appropriation was insufficient to do so.


In two years I have removed forty-one trees. None of these have been replaced as I have not received an ap- propriation to buy new trees. This is an unfortunate situation as I believe every tree that is removed should be replaced. There are also many parts of the town that could be improved if a few trees were planted to beautify the localities.


Three hundred forty-seven trees have been trimmed and repaired this summer also.


Brush has been removed off Central Street; Mt. Pleas- ant Street; Eben Street; Congress Street; Silver Hill Road; Howard Street; Reservoir Street and Woodland Avenue; also parts of Beaver Street, Highland Street and Camp Street. I have established the policy to burn this brush on rainy days in order to leave a good appearance.


I have received and investigated one hundred thirty- eight complaints this past year. Most of them on the dif- ferent insects.


I sincerely hope that some of these people that made these complaints will be at the Town Meeting to try to get a larger appropriation so that some work can be done to control these pests. The Town is getting infested with the different insects, such as the Gypsy, Satin and Leopard Moths, Tent Caterpillar, Fall Webb Worm and Maple Borer, and some effort should be made to control them.


Respectfully submitted,


MATTHEW P. ANDREANO, Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent.


146


CARE OF TREES Salaries - Wages


Appropriation


$1,150.00


Expenditures:


Labor


542.00


M. Andreano, Supt.


608.00


Total Expenditures


$1,150.00


CARE OF TREES


Expenses


Appropriation


$50.00


Expenditures:


Andreano, M. P. Book


3.50


Andreano, P. M. Meetings


2.25


Cahill's News Agency


.30


Fino & Co.


4.00


Gould F. A.


.40


Huff Machine Works


2.25


New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.


29.65


Zocchi, Leon & Co.


5.75


Morse T. E. Co.


1.15


Rose, E. O. & Son


.75


Total Expenditures


50.00


REMOVING BRUSH


Appropriation


$1,000.00


Expenditures:


Labor


315.80


Andreano, M. P. Supt.


679.20


Gould, F. A.


1.75


Jacques, Leonard N. & Sons


.15


Rose, E. O.


3.10


Total Expenditures 1,000.00


147


GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION


Salaries - Wages


Appropriation


85.00


Expenditures:


Labor


22.00


Andreano, M. P. Supt.


63.00


Total Expenditures 85.00


GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION Expenses


Appropriation


$15.00


Expenditures:


New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.


2.50


Zocchi, Leon Co.


12.50


Total Expenditures $15.00


CAR RENTAL


Appropriation


$150.00


Expenditures:


Andreano, M. P. Supt. 150.00


Total Expenditures $150.00


148


Report of the Sewerage Commission


January 13, 1943


Board of Sewer Commissioners, Milford, Mass.


Dear Sirs:


In accordance with your request, we are herewith forwarding suggested draft of your annual report.


Yours very truly,


F. A. BARBOUR.


To the Citizens of Milford:


The following report of the operations of the Sewer- age Department during the year ending December 31, 1943 is respectfully submitted:


Construction of lateral sewers was limited to work done on Fountain Street as a W.P.A. Project which closed about March 1st.


Record plans and assessment schedules were fur- nished by our engineer covering sewers constructed in 1942 in Central, Alden, West and Freedom Streets.


Plans and estimate of cost of intercepting sewer from East Street to the pumping station were obtained but no funds were made available for the work.


Fifteen (15) house connections were laid during the year making a present total number of 1986 premises con- nected to the sewer system. Total mileage 26.8.


149


The treatment works have continued to operate satis- factorily, the efficiency-based on the bio-chemical ox- ygen demand, as reported by the State Department of Health, having been 89 per cent in the older plant, and 95 per cent in the new plant.


Respectfully submitted,


ALFRED F. MARTIN, GEORGE F. C. COOPER, FRED L. ROBERTI,


Sewerage Commission.


Sewer-Salaries and Wages Appropriation


$5,988.40


Commissioners salaries


650.00


Salary of Supt.


1,760.00


Payroll


3,351.27


Clerk's Salary


220.00


Total 5,981.27


Sewer-General Expense Appropriation


$1,683.00


Milford Elec. Light & Power Co. $830.76


New England Tel. Co.


114.40


Ray's Auto Service


88.25


So. Main St. Garage


106.25


Rosenfelds Garage


58.17


Milford Water Co.


49.04


L. N. Jacques & Sons


33.70


F. A. Gould 27.50


H. M. Curtiss Coal Co.


41.74


Pacific Flush Tank Co.


27.00


Waldo Bros.


50.00


150


B. J. Clancey 28.30


Foxboro Co.


27.40


Robert Costa Co.


96.45


E. O. Rose & Son


4.38


Baldwin Welding Co.


7.50


Huff Machine Co.


8.50


Wm. H. Casey Co.


18.40


James B. Lester


.90


Clarke Printing Co.


3.25


Bill Power


3.95


Milford Daily News


18.00


G. A. Philips


10.00


T. E. Morse


6.15


Rubenstein Bros.


10.50


J. Moschilli 6.00


Fuller & Wilson Express Co.


.53


J. Begian Tax


5.10


Total


$1,682.62


ALFRED F. MARTIN,


GEORGE F. C. COOPER,


FRED L. ROBERTI,


Board of Sewer Commissioners.


151


Report of the Milford Town Library


REPORT OF THE LIBRARY TRUSTEES


The Trustees of the Milford Town Library submit the following report for the year 1943:


Another year has passed and we regret to report a decrease in circulation and that our Reading Room was not as well patronized as in other years. This down- ward trend may be explained by the fact that many of our borrowers are in the Armed Services and War Ac- tivities and do not have the opportunity and time to avail themselves of the use of our books or Reading Room facilities.


Mr. Robert McGinnis, Librarian, has been commis- sioned a Captain in the Army and the Trustees and Staff feel justly proud and congratulate him.


Mr. Frederick Cahill, Jr., a Trustee, has joined the Navy. The Trustees and the Library Staff thank him for his many kindnesses, wish him luck, and a quick and speedy return. To Mr. Robert Cenedella, a Trustee, who resigned, the Trustees and the Library Staff likewise, desire to express their gratitude, and to wish him suc- cess in his new, endeavor.


To our new Trustees, Mr. Emilio Pighetti and Mr. Walter Burns, the Trustees and Library Staff welcome them and trust that they will enjoy serving on this Board.


At this time thanks is given to all who have made donations of books to the Library and the Victory Book Campaign.


The Board respectfully calls your attention to the Librarian's report which follows, describing in detail the activities of the year 1943 and facilities the Library offers.


Respectfully submitted, FREDERICK H. GOULD, Chairman, Board of Trustees.


152


TRUSTEES


Frederick H. Gould


Term expires 1946


David I. Davoren


Term expires 1944


Robert Lloyd Dillon


Term expires 1944


Frederick T. Cahill, Jr.


Term expires 1946 Resigned 1943 Term expires 1945


Robert Cenedella


Term expires 1945


Resigned 1943


Emilio Pighetti


Term expires 1945


Walter Burns


Term expires 1946


ORGANIZATION


Frederick H. Gould


Chairman


Robert Lloyd Dillon


Secretary Librarian


Robert E. McGinnis


May A. Comba


Temporary Librarian


Harriett J. Carter


Assistant


Harriet A. Hunter


Assistant


Cecilia M. Wallace


Assistant


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN


To the Trustees of the Milford Town Library


Gentlemen:


I submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1943.


CIRCULATION


The Library was open 293 days during which time 37,341 books were loaned. This figure shows a loss of 8,698, in circulation. The highest daily circulation was 369 and the lowest 26. The average daily circulation was 127.4.


There were 754 notices sent to delinquents. This ap- plies only to first notices.


The total registration as of December 31, 1943 was 4320.


Paul Raftery


153


CIRCULATION TABLE


A


B


C


D


E


F


G


H


I


J 622


2829


Feb.


7


29


0


43


84


1712


454


2


22


859


3212


Mar.


15


65


1


58


77


1796


640


3


44


1492


4191


April


6


63


2


32


80


1781


551


6


48


1169


1 3739


May


15


92


3


20


89


1768


538


3


40


1082


3650


June


16


44


2


27


49


1408


466


1


32


637


2682


July


3


39


1


29


51


1549


443


0


25


408


3 2551


August


1


50


0


11


48


1620


378


2


9


379


2498


Sept.


4


54


0


21


48


1565


388


7


20


491


1


2599


Oct.


0


48


1


21


47


1609


458


2


22


570


0


2778


Nov.


3


67


0


36


69


1669


462


1


39


1416


3


3765


Dec.


7


39


0


23


42


1044


527


5


20


1137


3


2847


Totals


87


631


10


365


794


19076


5731


37


337


10262


11


37341


PERIODICAL AND REFERENCE DEPARTMENT REPORT


There were 5089 persons served by this department during 1943 and 4440 magazines circulated. They were as follows:


America


75


Ladies Home Journal 105


American


119


Look


67


American Girl


99


Mademoiselle


67


American Home


59


McCall's


109


Atlantic


92


Nat. Geographic 149


Better Homes and


Newsweek


67


Gardens


81


Open Road


3


Boy's Life


33


Parents


52


Catholic Digest


89 Popular Mechanics


125


Catholic World


90


Popular Photography


57


Cosmopolitan


153


Popular Science


94


Etude


16 Reader's Digest


112


Sat. Evening Post


227


Popular Flying and Aviation


130


Time


132


Fortune


163 Travel


15


Goodhousekeeping


156 Vital Speeches


26


Grade Teacher


54 Vogue


187


Harpers


154 Wee Wisdom


119


Hygeia


27 Current History


39


Instructor


68 Radio News


8


0


44


110


1555


426


5


16


K Totals


Jan.


10


41


154


The Library subscribed to the above magazines and in addition to the following :- Journal of Health and Phys- ical Education, Child Life, and Advanced McCall's Styles.


Approximately fifty magazines and pamphlets are donated to the Library yearly.


BOOKS


The Library contains per catalogue 27,987. The num- ber of books added to the Library during the year-209 by purchase, 17 as gifts and 1 by binding the Milford Daily News.


There were 90 books rebound and placed back in cir- culation.


The following have given books to the Library during the year 1943 :-


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


Reider Sherwin


Harold Faulkner


Westinghouse Electric Corporation


Federal Works Agency


U. S. Government Printing Office


Milford High School


Florence Ryerson


Colin Clements


Town of Milford


DONORS 1943 VICTORY BOOK CAMPAIGN


Mrs. Gordon Shaw


Mrs. Frank Worthen


Troop No. 3 Girl Scouts Miss Bessie Johnson


Percy Walker Clarence Jones


Mrs. James Sails


Mrs. Hartwell B. Spaulding


Miss Nellie Fletcher


Mrs. Lena Moore


Miss Elieen Gonzales


William Goudy


Miss Mary Hardiman


Junior Commandos


155


Miss Marie Cenedella B'nai B'rith Aux. Miss Maude Frost Harold Faulkner


Mrs. Josephine Kearnan Thomas Riley


Mrs. Harriet Hunter


Mrs. J. Roy Kerr


Miss Dorothy Bracci


Miss Elaine Rosen


Miss Helen Bowen


Milford-Mendon Chapter American Red Cross


Miss Lucy Gulino


Mrs. F. H. Lally Dr. Frank Geoffroy Mr. and Mrs. William P. Brown


Mrs. Beatrice Stouppe


Mrs. Ross E. Fuller


Mrs. Cecil Ashley


Keven Geoffroy


Wallace Lawrence Miss Wiggin


Miss Mary McDermott


Miss Minnie Rokas


Mrs. Alice Bernardi


Mrs. Sumner C. Reynolds


May 17, 1943-179 volumes sent to New England Deposit Center.


December 24, 1943-154 volumes sent to New England Deposit Center.


NOTES


Our Branch Library in the Stacy School continues to meet the demands of the students of the school. Miss Harriett Carter is in charge and the Librarian wishes to thank Miss Carter for the interest, work and success she has made of this special undertaking. To her other as- sistants, Mrs. Harriet Hunter, and Miss Cecelia Wallace, the Librarian also expresses her gratitude.


The average daily circulation at this Branch Library is 96 volumes per day.


National Book Week was observed in November.


Posters, pamphlets and literature pertaining to War and Defense are exhibited and may be obtained at the Library. We are happy to serve the public in War and Defense Information.


156


RESUME OF STATISTICS


Number of days open


293


Circulation for 1942


46,039


Circulation for 1943


37,341


Loss in 1943


8,698


Highest daily circulation


369


Lowest daily circulation


26


Average circulation


127.4


Average circulation per capita


2.48


Average income per capita


$ .39


Notices sent to delinquents


754


New patrons registered


.210


Total registration


4,320


Patrons of Periodical and Reference Department, 1943


5,089


Patrons of Periodical and Reference Department, 1942


9,844


Loss


4,730


Collections Fines, Paid Town Treasurer


$174.87


Number of Books per catalogue, 1942


27,760


Number of Books per catalogue, 1943


27,987


Books added during year


217


Respectfully submitted,


MAY A. COMBA,


Librarian.


MILFORD TOWN LIBRARY


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


Receipts-Salary Account:


Appropriation


$2,908.15


Dog Tax


1,636.61


E. & D. account


31.24


Transfer from General Acc.


185.26


$4,761.26


157


Expenditures


May A. Comba


$1,526.79


Harriet J. Carter


1,067.75


Harriet A. Hunter


1,067.75


Cecelia M. Wallace


1,067.75


Unexpended balance


31.22


Receipts General Account


$1,317.33


Books and Magazines:


Cahill's News Agency $257.63


Tilden's Lending Library


39.53


Americania Corp'n. 7.50


H. W. Wilson


10.40


Boston Post


6.00


Junior Literary Guild


55.50


News Map of The Week Inc. 21.00


O. T. Toothaker 19.57


Atlas Products Co.


27.98


$445.11


Binding:


F. J. Barnard Co.


54.25


H. W. Wesby Co. 85.76


140.01


Supplies:


University of Scranton, Pa. 2.00


F. A. Gould 9.24


H. W. Wilson Co. 9.00


Charlescraft Press 12.60


Curran Express Co. 2.39


Milford Electric Light & Power Co. 22.25


158


Smith Sales Co. 1.75


Clark Printing Co. 4.50


Cahill's News Agency


13.76


Jordan Marsh Co. 23.90


Demco Library Supplies


6.60


$107.99


Repairs:


Stone Furniture Co. 21.42


E. J. Dillon 123.07


E. B. Hall


5.85


Earle F. Johnson


78.90


Chas. F. Kunz


8.25


$237.49


Milford Electric Light & Power Co. 160.14


Petty Cash Account 25.00


Milford Daily News Co. 15.75


Transfer to Salary Account 185.26


Unexpended Balance .58


$386.73


$1,317.33


R. LLOYD DILLON, Secretary.


159


Report of the Chief of Police


To the Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen: I have the honor to report the following duties performed by the Police Department for the year 1943:


Total arrests


122


Males


114


Females


8


Guilty


88


Not guilty


26


Discharged -ยท


17


State Farm


9


House of Correction


24


Grand Jury


4


Probation


1


Suspended Sentence


17


Assault and Battery


17


Auto Violations


22


Breaking and Entering


1


Bastardy


5


Drunkenness


48


Disturbing the Peace


1


Larceny


8


Non-Support


19


Sodomy .


1


Operating to Endanger


6


Operating under the influence


4


Aiding out of Town Officers


61


Insane Commitments


7


Fires discovered


2


Accidents investigated


58


Injured in accidents


79


Killed in accidents


1


160


Released without arraignment 2


Red lights answered 604


Calls for ambulance 19


Maintaining a nuisance 1


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN J. MOLONEY,


Chief.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Voters of Milford:


The Police Department respectfully submits the fol- lowing report for the year ending December 31, 1943.


POLICE DEPT .- SALARIES AND WAGES


Appropriation


$27,225.00


Chief


$ 2,832.00


Patrolmen


23,861.20


Special Work


46.30


Total


26,739.50


Balance


$486.50


MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS


Appropriation


500.00


Expenditures


336.01


Balance


163.99


POLICE DEPT .- GENERAL EXPENSES


Appropriation $2,000.00


American Oil Co.


$237.91


Bradbury Locke Co.


.45


Cahill's News Agency


5.25


Carpenter Mfg. Co.


15.96


Chiccetti, John


3.00


161


Clarke, Chester


10.00


Clarke Printing Co.


26.50


Clancy, B. J.


80.60


Cohen, Sidney S.


4.77


Coleman, Walter


7.00


Costello Auto Access


.20


Dept. of Public Safety


.45


Eastman Kodak


39.04


Fohner Grafllex Corp.


3.55


Gulf Service Station


2.90


Hannaford, F. A.


294.87


Hancock Paint & Varnish Co.


25.42


Joe's Auto Body Co.


15.00


Knowles Chev. Co.


29.65


McArdle, H. B.


41.75


McLellan Brothers


22.25


Milford Locksmith


.25 .


Milford Post Office


6.00


Nash-Milford Co.


115.10


Nelson Motor Co.


97.25


New Eng. Tel. & Tel.


282.57


New Eng. Revolver League


10.00


Niro & Niro


1.20


Pantano, A. M.


225.10


Railway Express Co.


1.10


Rental of Garage


60.00


Rosenfeld Garage


1.75


State Prison


18.33


Stetson, M. D.


29.13


Ted's Diner


14.06


Western Auto


21.76


Zocchi, Leon


95.00


Total Expenditures


$1,845.12


Unexpended Balance


$154.88


162


Report of Vernon Grove Cemetery Trustees


INCOME


Balance on January 1, 1943


$478.86


Appropriation


2,250.00


Interest from Perpetual Care


500.00


Sale of Lots


370.00


Care of Lots


354.00


Interments


555.48


Perpetual Care


900.00


Special Services


1


64.00


Markers


30.00


Sale of old Equipment


4.00


Transfer


345.00


Total


$5,851.34


EXPENDITURES


Paid to Town Treasurer


$2,277.48


Labor


2,099.22


J. F. Leonard


2.50


Postage and Telephone


4.92


Varney Bros.


21.00


F. A. Gould


2.06


W. W. Watson & Son


35.00


Huff Machine Works


22.45


Salary of Secretary


300.00


O. M. Scotts & Son


90.00


Bouck Funeral Home


7.00


163


Harold Peterson


14.00


Kerr Monument Co.


35.00


W. H. Casey, Inc. 2.29


Cahill's News Agency


1,14


Lake Side Green House


9.60


Milford Daily News


2.00


Town of Milford (Highway Dept.)


48.75


Milford Hardware Co.


1.89


Robert Costa Co.


435.00


Eldredge Flower Shop


2.00


Total


$5,413.30


Balance


438.04


$5,851.34


Special Appropriation for Power Mower (Unexpended) $110.00


IMPROVEMENTS TO AVENUES AND NEW AVENUES


Balance January 1, 1943 $293.05


Balance on hand December 31, 1943 293.05


TRUSTEES


A. L. Maynard 44


F. R. Hixon


45


E. Robinson


46


H. S. Eldredge 44 R. L. Roy


45


Fred Cook


44


164 Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures


Milford, January 1, 1944.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen,


I hereby submit my report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1943.


All places of business in the Town of Milford were visited by me after notifying by public notice, as the Law requires, that all scales, measures, pumps, etc., would be sealed without fees, if brought to my office.


SCALES, MEASURES, ETC., SEALED


Adj. Sealed Condemned


Platform, 10,000 lbs. and over


4


Platform, 5,001-10,000 lbs.


9


Platform, 100-5,000 lbs.


14


60


Counter, 100 lbs. or over


8


22


2


Counter, under 100 lbs.


29


105


4


Beam, under 100 lbs.


2


3


Spring, under 100 lbs.


14


27


Personal Weighing


2


10


Prescription


9


Avoidupois Weights


10


130


Apothecary Weights


74


Vehicle Tanks


13


Liquid, 1 Gal. and less


14


Gasoline Measuring Pumps


71


Oil Measuring Pumps


6


34


165


Grease Measuring Devices


35


Yard Sticks 7


Cloth Measuring Devices


2


Office calls for Sealing


64


Outside calls for Sealing


291


Sealing Fees


$148.51


Paid Town Treasurer B. J. Clancy


$148.51


EXPENDITURES


Sealer's Salary


$840.00


Transportation, Telephone, Office


Supplies


165.00


Jacques Hardware


10.06


Cahill's News Agency


5.00


Balance $19.94


Thanking the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Public for the assistance given me during my term as Sealer of Weights and Measures.


Respectfully submitted,


DANIEL J. O'BRIEN,


Sealer of Weights and Measures.


166


Town Hall Department, 1943


Salary Appropriation:


$1,890.00


John O'Connor


$1,820.00


James Morrison


70.00


1,890.00


Balance


None


Expense Appropriation:


2,100.00


Boston Janitors Supply Co.


10.30


Cahill's News Agency


7.50


Casey, William H.


7.19


Cattani Oil Co.


597.24


Clancy, B. J.


8.06


Curtiss, H. M. Coal Co.


710.72


Dewing, C. B.


3.00


Dillon, Edward


5.95


Fino, Henry


1.00


Friesurck, Oliver


8.45


Holcomb, J. I. Co.


12.00


Jacques, Leonard & Sons


1.30


Knowlet Chev. Co.


.35


Milford Elec. Light Co.


277.39


Milford Gas Co.


28.55


Milford Locksmith Co.


.25


Milford Water Co.


197.04


Niro & Niro Co.


20.56


167


Pitts, Albert


5.00


Power, William


20.85


Reformatory for Women


14.54


Standard Auto Gear Co.


1.20


State Prison Colony


20.00


Stetson, M. D.


62.30


Sherman Laundry


4.15


U. S. Sanitary Specialties


9.75


Zocchi, Leon


39.96


2,074.60


Balance


25.40


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN J. O'CONNOR,


Custodian.


168


Town Counsel's Report


In 1943, 78 notices of tax taking of properties for un- paid real estate taxes were prepared at the request of the Tax Collector's office, as compared with 275 in 1942; 15 instruments of taking were drawn during the year, as compared with 46 in 1942; and 6 tax titles, previously taken, were redeemed or disclaimed, as compared with 9 in 1942, adjustment of the tax being made by the tax- payers.


No petitions to foreclose tax titles in the Land Court were filed in 1943, as compared with four in 1942. One foreclosure case was adjusted, the approval of the As- sessors and the Tax Commissioner being first obtained. Two of the petitions were prosecuted successfully to decrees in favor of the Town. The three cases remaining on the docket of that court are in process of adjustment with the mortgagee of the taxpayers.


Two petitions for abatement of taxes were filed with the Board of Tax Appeals. One was settled, the other is still pending.


One new suit for sidewalk injuries occurring on No- vember 1, 1941, was entered in the Worcester Superior Court in 1943, the same number as in 1942. One case was settled upon being reached for trial. There were on Janu- ary 1, 1944, two superior court suits pending of this type, the same number as on January 1, 1943. There is one case pending in the district court.


Notices of 9 new claims were served on the Town Clerk for personal injuries or property damages on high- ways or sidewalks, as against five in 1942. Seven claims were settled without suit having been brought.


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The suit against the Town for alleged breach of the garbage contract is still pending in Worcester Superior Court.


The suit pending by the Town against the Town of Northbridge in the Worcester Superior Court for welfare was settled in the middle of trial, a judgment of $633.00 being made in favor of the Town of Milford.


Suit was brought against the Town of Bellingham in the District Court at Franklin, for aid and for expenses owed Milford on account of the Surplus Commodities of- fice, which was settled by Bellingham paying the bill of $87.85.


A suit of City of Boston vs Milford for welfare aid commenced December 21, 1941 in Suffolk Superior Court is still pending; the City of Worcester has commenced a similar suit November 29, 1943 in Worcester Central Dis- trict Court, still pending; and Boston has commenced another suit December 15, 1943 in Suffolk Superior Court, which is also pending


There were no mortgages nor bonds from Old Age Recipients under G. L. (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 118-A (St. 1936, Chapter 436) prepared, compared with two in 1942. Two discharges of mortgages and bonds were prepared in favor of the recipients, as compared with nine in 1942.


The supplementary proceedings in the District Court at Franklin against Ralph T. Harnden for breach of con- tract arising out of the purchase of the Milford Iron Foun- dry buildings were prosecuted to the point of a capias being issued, when Harnden filed a petition in bank- ruptcy. A proof of claim has been filed in the Bank- ruptcy Court.


By vote of the Town on October 16, 1942, a petition to amend the law relative to the continuance of liens for


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sewer assessments was filed with the 1943 Legislature. After several hearings, the requested changes were finally enacted and became law on April 5, 1943 (effective 90 days thereafter) and is Chapter 150 of the Acts of 1943.


A suit against John M. Gately who operated a truck damaging the traffic light at West and Congress Streets on March 14, 1940 was tried in Worcester Superior Court with companion cases and the Town recovered the cost of the same, $86.28.


Numerous written opinions have been given to the various Town Departments, with duplicate copies to other Departments affected; many letters have been written, deeds covering such conveyances as were made by the Town of properties held under tax lien foreclosure, con- tracts between the Town and third persons, and releases in cases of all claims against the Town were prepared and their executions attended to. Answers in suits, in which the Town was named as Trustee, have been prepared and filed.


An itemized list of the cases which have been dis- posed of, with the location and date of the same, is ap- pended hereto. An unexpended balance of $811.75 re- mains from this appropriation.


Respectfully submitted,


WILLIAM A. MURRAY, Town Counsel.




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