USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1947 > Part 6
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"We Are Low In Effort"
"The relative effort that a state makes to support education may be measured by the proportion of the in- come of its people that is expended for the support of schools. For 1944 in Massachusetts the current expen- diture for the support of public elementary and high schools was only 1.55% of the total income of its people. In that respect Massachusetts stood twenty-seventh from the top of the forty-eight states. It is one of the wealth- iest states, but the effort it has put forth to give ade- quate support to its public schools is far below the aver- age.
"The statute providing the present $6,000,000 pro- gram of state aid was adopted in 1919. It is complicated and outmoded. The formula for calculating the quota
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for any town is about one page of fine print. Since 1919 study and research have developed simpler and much better methods for prorating state aid among the towns and cities. These methods result in towns and cities se- curing aid much more in proportion to their respective needs. In Massachusetts now there is too little correlation between the amount of state aid that a town receives and the amount the town needs to receive. Some wealthy towns receive more aid per pupil than some poor towns. For instance, in 1945 Springfield, a relatively wealthy city, received about $12 per pupil state aid while Revere, a relatively poor city, received about $9 per pupil."
"$28,500,000 Our Goal"
"Our own Committee on State Aid this fall prepared a legislative bill to increase state aid for the support of schools from the present amount of about $6,000,000 to about $28,500,000. This bill has been filed for the 1948 session of legislature by Senator Ralph C. Mahar, chair- man of the Committee on Education in the Senate.
"This bill proposes a simple method of calculating the aid that each town and city receives. The amount of such grant for each town and city will be the amount by which $125 per pupil (net average membership) ex- ceeds $6 per $1,000 of the equalized valuation. The equal- ized valuation for each town and city was determined by the legislature in 1945 for a five-year period. It averages about 10% more than the assessed valuation, but is even less in some cases and 25% more in some cases."
"Using the Formula"
"Using the fiscally poor town of Bridgewater, the quota of state aid under this bill would be calculated as follows :
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1,022 pupils x $125
$127,750 $6 per $1,000 on $7,349,734
= 44,098
Grant of state aid
$ 83,652
"The following is for the wealthier town of Concord:
1,172 pupils x $125 = $146,500
$6 per $1,000 on $13,803,606 = 82,822
Grant of state aid $ 63,678
The following is for the town of Palmer:
1,213 pupils x $125 = $151,625
$6 per $1,000 on $9,500,00
= 57,000
Grant of state aid $ 94,625
"The educational need or load of a town is measured by the number of pupils. The ability of a town to meet that need or to carry that load is measured by the equal- ized valuation of the town. Bridgewater's load is 1,022 pupils. The equalized valuation of $7,349,734 represents the town's ability to finance the education of those pu- pils. Hence, the formula, by using the number of pupils and the equalized valuation, is based on the need and fis- cal ability of the respective towns and cities.
"If a town has a tax of $6 per $1,000, that represents a certain amount of fiscal effort on the part of its tax- payers. A $10-per-$1,000 tax would be a greater effort and a $4-per-$1,000 tax would be a lesser efforts. A $6-per-$1,000 tax in all towns would mean an approxi- mately cqual effort in those towns to raise money. The formula therefore provides that after all towns and cities have made the equal effort of raising $6 per $1,000, they will each have at least $125 per pupil for the support of their schools."
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"Equalizes Burden and Opportunity"
"As indicated above, the effect of the bill would really be to guarantee to rich and poor towns alike that after locally raising $6 per $1,000 of the equalized val- uation for schools, the state would grant enough aid to provide a minimum total of $125 per pupil in every town and city. This would tend to equalize the burden of sup- porting the schools and the educational opportunities of the children in the poorer towns with those of the richer towns. The formula is therefore called an equalizing for- mula. However, most towns will continue to raise more than $6 per $1,000 for schools so as to spend much more than this minimum $125 per pupil.
"For the average town or city, this bill would in- crease the state aid for schools by about $1,000 per class- room. Each school committee would then have to decide how much, if any, of this aid it would recommend be used for reducing the local school taxes and how much of it would be used to improve salaries and schools. This state aid could not be used for new buildings and equip- ment. This increased aid would enable school committees to adopt quite satisfactory salary schedules and to re- duce class sizes."
"Where to Get $28,500,00"
"Most of the present $6,000,000 state aid for schools comes from the receipts of the state income tax. This bill proposes to continue using that $6,000,000 from in- come taxes. No new taxes are included in the bill. The remaining $22,500,000 would be paid out of the general revenue of the state. Michigan grants $44,500,000 state aid for schools from its general revenue. Missouri $28,000,000, Iowa $13,000,000, New York, $138,000,000 and Pennsylvania $60,000,000. Fourteen other states pro- vide state aid for schools from the general revenue. Mass-
158
achusetts itself is now distributing annually about $2,000,000 state aid for vocational schools from the gen- eral revenue of the state. Hence, we have a precedent right here in our own state.
"Of course, the state will have to increase its gen- eral revenue according with whatever new taxes the leg- islature would choose. These new taxes would not be de- finitely linked with or earmarked for state aid for schools. They would go into the state treasury and become part of the general revenues of the state."
CONCLUSION
This report is not lengthy. I have presented a few matters which I thought you should know, especially the type of effort that is being made to secure additional State Aid. This eventually will come in spite of any op- position.
I wish to express my appreciation for the aid and forbearance of the School Committee, citizens, parents, teachers, pupils, and Parent-Teacher Associations. All have been most understanding, patient, and helpful.
We assure you that the schools are doing a reason- ably good and efficient job.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFTON H. HOBSON
Superintendent of Schools
. Palmer, Massachusetts, January 16, 1948
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TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
County of Hampden, Town of Palmer,
To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer, in said County, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabitants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of town officers, to meet at the several poll- ing places in said Palmer, designated by the selectmen, to wit: In Precinct A, in the High School Gymnasium on Converse Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at the Thorndike Grammar School in Thorndike; in Pre- cinct C, at the Three Rivers Grammar School in Three Rivers, and in Precinct D, at the Bondsville Grammar School in Bondsville, on Monday, the second day of February, A. D. 1948, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the precinct officers of the several voting precincts of said town, for the following officers, to wit: 3 Selectmen, 5 Constables, 3 License Commissioners, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, 3 Auditors, Tree Warden, and 2 Mem- bers of the Planning Board, all for the term of one year; 1 Member of the Planning Board, for the term of two years: Town Clerk, 1 Member of the Board of Health, 1 Member of the Board of Public Welfare, 1
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Assessor, 1 Cemetery Commissioner, 1 Member of the Planning Board and 2 Members of the School Commit- tee, all for the term of three years; 1 Member of the Planning Board, for the term of four years; and 1 Mem- ber of the Planning Board, for the term of five years.
The polls will be open at ten o'clock in the forenoon and will be closed at eight o'clock in the evening.
And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town House at Four Corners in said Palmer, on Monday, the ninth day of February, A. D. 1948, at seven o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To choose all other usual town officers.
Article 3. To act on the reports of the town offi- cers.
Article 4. To see if the town will vote to authorize the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1948 and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable with- in one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to authorize
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the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money as permitted by law to meet any appro- priations made or expenses incurred under any of the articles of this warrant.
Article 6. To raise money and make appropria- tions to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elective officers of the town as provided by Section. 108 of Chapter 41, General Laws, as amended, viz: Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, 3 Selectmen, 3 Assessors, 3 Members of the Board of Public Welfare, 3 Auditors, 3 Members of the Board of Health and Tree Warden and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor.
Article 8. To hear and act on reports of commit- tees.
Article 9. To choose committees and give them instructions.
Article 10. To determine the manner and state the terms and conditions of collecting taxes for the ensuing year, and fix the compensation of the collector of taxes.
Article 11. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money to convey pupils to and from public schools and instruct the school committee as to the manner of letting the contract for such conveyance.
Article 12. To see if the town will raise and appro-
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priate money for the Young Men's Library Association, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article 14. To see what action the town will take in respect to lighting the streets and whether it will authorize the selectmen to make contract therefor, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Article 15. To see what action the town will take relative to suits and claims now pending against the town.
Article 16. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the care and improvement of cemete- ries.
Article 17. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the suppression of the gypsy, brown- tail and satin moths and elm tree beetles, and other in- sect pests.
Article 18. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate such sums of money as may be necessary to de- fray the cost of rent, janitor service and maintenance of the town offices in the Holbrook Building.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 or any other sum to help defray the cost of maintaining the District Nurse.
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Article 20. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money under the authority of Section 22 of Chap- ter 115 of the General Laws for the care of graves of persons who served in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States in time of war or insurrection and were honorably discharged from such service.
Article 21. To see what action the town will take in relation to sewers.
Article 22. To see what action the town will take in regard to sidewalks and curbing.
Article 23. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to be paid to the Wing Memo- rial Hospital Association for the charitable purposes of said association in this town, or for the care and sup- port in said hospital of persons wholly or in part unable to support or care for themselves, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the granting of adequate assistance to deserving citizens of the town in need of relief and support sixty-five years of age or over under the provisions of Chapter 118A of the General Laws, and for expenses to be incurred in connection with the granting of such assistance, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the granting of assistance under the provisions of the Massachusetts Aid to Dependent Children Law, Chapter 118 General Laws, and for expenses to be incurred in connection with
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the granting of such assistance, or take any action rela- tive thereto.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to pay a salary to members of the Board of Public Welfare chosen to serve in the Division of Old Age Assistance, in addi- tion to the salary received by them as members of said Board of Public Welfare, fix the amount thereof, and raise and appropriate any money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 27. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money, to be expended under the di- rection of the Board of Health, for the purpose of giving to the school children attending parochial or private schools in the town substantially the same medical examinations and tests now afforded to the children at- tending the public schools.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to sell at public auction, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under tax title procedure, provided that the selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 29. To see what action the town will take relative to the care and preservation of the Memorial Approach to the High School, the plot of land at Shearer's Corner upon which the General Knox Marker is located, and the memorial plots in the several villages of the town.
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Article 30. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the operation and maintenance of Burleigh Park, Legion Field and the Eager Playground in the Depot Village, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 31. (a) To see what action the town will take with reference to the planting and preservation of shade trees; (b) To see if the town will vote to deter- mine and fix the salary of the tree warden and raise and appropriate money for the same; (c) To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for labor and materials and tools for use in connection with the Department of the Tree Warden.
Article 32. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 High- way Maintenance, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money to be expended for the burial of soldiers or sailors, their wives and depen- dent children, or other members of the Armed Forces of the United States under the provisions of Chapter 115 of the General Laws.
Article 34. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the maintenance of the Veterans' Service Center.
Article 35. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to provide and maintain quar- ters for Edward T. Goodreau Post #1813, Veterans of
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Foreign Wars of the United States for the year 1948, authorize the selectmen to negotiate and execute, in the name of the town, a lease for the same, and raise and appropriate money for repairs to said quarters and for the rental thereof.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to accept the following perpetual care funds which have been given to it during the year: Henrietta Wallace $200.00; Annie B. Barker $150.00; Lester W. Calkins $200.00; Fred and Ethel Potter $200.00; John J. Therrien $200.00; Jane H. Coulter $100.00; James Sumers $200.00; Lucy E. Nay- lor $150.00; Charles Johnson $100.00; Harry L. Ryther $300.00; Lois E. Carsley $200.00; William N. Potter $200.00 ; Ernest W. Fenton $200.00 ; Harriet Paine $50.00; Colin L. Roberts $125.00; Neils Christiansen $100.00.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2472.90 to be paid to the Treasurer-Custodian of the Hampden County Retire- ment System to be credited to the town's share of the funds thereof.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the purpose of installing toilets and making internal repairs in the Town Hall, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the purchase of 2 highway trucks, 1 tractor, 1 power grader, 1 sweeper, and 2 sanding machines for the Highway Department, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 40. To see if the town will vote to raise
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and appropriate any sum of money for the purchase of 1 tank truck and 1 two-way radio for the Forest Fires Department, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 41. To see if the town will vote to appro- priate and raise by taxation, or otherwise, any sum for the construction of a combination field house and grand- stand and portable bleachers on Legion Field in the Depot Village, said field house to contain properly in- scribed tablets with the names of all veterans of the Town of Palmer of World Wars I and II, locker rooms, showers, public toilets and other suitable facilities as a memorial to the veterans of World Wars I and II, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to rescind the vote passed under Article 5 of the Warrant calling the Special Town Meeting of October 27, 1947, whereby it was voted that the town donate as a gift to the Amer- ican Veterans Committee, Inc., Romuald Renaud Chapter No. 468 of Three Rivers, Mass., the Wenimesset School Building, land and deed of such at a sum of one dollar ($1.00) situated on Main Street, Three Rivers, Mass., (Precinct C) and that in the event the American Vete- rans Commitee, Inc., Romuald Renaud Chapter No. 468 of Three Rivers, Mass., discontinue use of the building, title will revert to the town.
Article 43. To see if the town will lease the Weni- messet School Building in Three Rivers to the American Veterans Committee, Inc., Romuald Renaud Chapter No. 468, for a term of five years, at a rental of $1.00 per year, for use as quarters and for recreational facilities, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 44. To see if the will authorize the select-
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men to rent or lease any land available on Bourne Street in the village of Three Rivers, for a public dump, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the collection of garbage and refuse in the several villages of the town and to authorize the selectmen to have said garbage and refuse collected by a department of the town or to ad- vertise, accept bids and to execute a contract with any party for the collection of said garbage and refuse, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 46. To see if the town will vote to accept Section 16B of Chapter 147 of the General Laws which provides that members of the Police Department shall be excused from duty for one day out of every six without loss of pay, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 47. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, any sum of money for the improvement of Main Street in the Depot Village from the westerly line of Thorndike Street to the easterly line of Church Street, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to install and maintain additional street lights as follows: (a) 1 light on Conant Street in the Depot Village; (b) 1 light on Main Street, village of Three Rivers, between the residence of one Anton and the residence of one Grzyw- na; (c) 1 light on Flynt Road near St. John Street, Lake Thompson area; (d) 1 light near the vicinity of 99 State Street in the village of Bondsville; (e) 1 light on Pleasant Street, village of Thorndike, near property of one Topor; (f) 1 light in the vicinity of 15 Orchard Street, in the Depot Village; (g) 1 light at corner of
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Cross and Pine Streets in the village of Three Rivers; (h) 1 light on East Street in the village of Three Rivers.
Article 49. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the construction of new sidewalks as follows: (a) Sidewalk with curbing, on Brown Street in the Depot Village, in front of property of Frank La- buz; (b) Curbing on Bourne Street, village of Three Rivers in front of residence of one Nowak; (c) Side- walk on Church and Pleasant Streets, village of Thorn- dike from the corner of Main and Church Streets to the present walk near the property of one St. Amand; (d) Sidewalk and curbing on High Street, village of Thorn- dike, from Old Center Road to the residence of one Gula ; (e) Sidewalk on Ford Street, village of Three Rivers, starting at residence of Wozniakowski and running east- erly about 1800 feet to residence of one Korzek.
Article 50. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the construction of new sewers and catch basins as follows: (a) Sewer in Arnold Street, Depot Village, starting at a manhole in North Main Street and running westerly about 600 feet; (b) Sewer in Calkins Road, village of Three Rivers, from the end of the present sewer and running southerly about 1000 feet; (c) Sewer in Oak Street, village of Three Rivers, from a manhole in Charles Street and running easterly about 440 feet; (d) Sewer in River Street, village of Thorndike, from the existing lines near Lake Junction and running about 3000 feet to the property of one Wilk; (e) Sewer in Conant Street, Depot Village, from a man- hole in South Main Street and running southerly about 360 feet to Riverview Parkway; (f) Sewer in the north- erly side of Park Street, Depot Village, near the resi- dence of one Carey and running about 150 feet easterly to Pinney Street; (g) Sewer relocation and extension in North Street, village of Three Rivers, a distance to
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be determined by survey ; (h) Sewer in Wilson Avenue, Depot Village, starting at a manhole in North Main Street and running southeasterly about 300 feet.
Article 51. To see if the town will vote to improve and widen the roadway in Breckenridge Street from the intersection with the Ware Road at Palmer Center to a point about 50 feet beyond the land of Everett E. and Pearl B. Marshall and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by posting up attested copies thereof in some one pub- lic place in each of the four villages of the town, known as the Depot Village, Thorndike, Three Rivers and Bonds- ville, seven days at least before the holding of said meet- ing and by publishing an attested copy thereof in at least two issues of the Journal-Register, a newspaper published in said Palmer, the first publication to be not less than seven days before the holding of said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the holding of said meeting.
Given under our hands this ninth day of January, A. D. 1948.
PETER F. WARAKOMSKI JAMES H. FITZGERALD HERBERT W. BISHOP
Selectmen of Palmer
A true copy : Attest: JAMES H. CARTER Constable of the Town of Palmer
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Index
Animal Inspection 40
Assessor's Report 29
Auditor's Report 131
Balance Sheet for 1947 106
Board of Health 63
Board of Public Welfare
49
Board of Public Welfare for Aid to
Dependent Children 57
Cemetery Commissioner's Report
71
Chief of Police
37
Forest Fire Warden
125
Jury List
33
Inspector of Slaughtering
69
License Commission
119
Milk Inspector
68
Moth Department
70
Old Age Assistance
59
Park Commissioners' Report
120
School Committee
137
Sealer of Weights and Measures Report
41
Selectmen
73
Tax Collector's Report
26
Town Bookkeeper's Report
75
Town Clerk's Report
6
Town Officers - Expiration Date
3
Town Planning Board
129
Town Warrant
159
Tree Warden
117
Treasurer's Report
28
Trial Balance
111
Veteran's Service Center
45
. Young Men's Library Association
114
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