USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1957 > Part 5
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There were 68 visits made to examine and quarantine dogs known to have bitten persons. None showed symptoms of Rabies and were released after 14 days.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE S. GAY
Inspector of Animals
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Veteran's Service Center
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Palmer, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
As a result of legislation passed by Congress last year, ser- vicemen, their dependents and veterans were affected in several ways. The Survivors Benefits Act, which became law on January 1, 1957, provides for a revised system of benefits payments to the survivors of servicemen when death of such persons occured in service after the above mentioned date. Under provisions of Public Law 168, all veterans with service connected disabilities re- ceived an increase in their compensation benefits ranging from 10% to 24% for the totally disabled effective as of October 1, 1957. The G. I. Loan provision was also extended for an additional year for WW II veterans, who have until July 25, 1958 in which to apply for low interest home loans.
The veteran population of the town increased somewhat and now numbers approximately 2175 veterans of all wars. Of this number, 38 were separated from active duty during the year. Death claimed seven of these residing in Palmer; four with WW I service and three with WW II service.
A total of 22 persons were assisted with the filing of claims for pension or compensation and 12 awards were made during the year representing an annual income to the recipients of ap- proximately $10,600. Eight claims are still in process of deter- mination by the Veterans Administration and two of the claims have been denied. Personal contacts totaled 1106 for the year with some of the more essential services listed as follows:
605 Photostats
45 Insurance
35 Bonus applications
42 Loan Certificate applications
43 Disability verifications
41 Discharges recorded
42 Hospital & Out Patient requests
19 Education applications
101 Referrals to other agencies
92 Letters for veterans
516 Miscellaneous services
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Under provisions of Chapter 115 of the General Laws of Mass., as amended, 45 cases of needy veterans and their de- pendents were aided during the year directly involving 144 per- sons.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Appropriation State reimbursements
$22,000.00
Town's share of cost
Balance
$7,856.89 14,067.18 75.93
22,000.00
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD J. SALAMON
Veterans' Agent
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Report of Forest Fire Warden
Report of the Forest Fire Warden for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1957.
To the Board of Selectmen,
Palmer, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Forest Fire Warden of the town of Palmer for the year ending December 31, 1957.
This Department responded to a total of 22 calls for brush, grass, and forest fires. Close to 750 burning permits were issued. We were very fortunate that this being one of the driest years on record, that the total number of fires was kept down, and those that we did respond to were managed to be put out before they got too big.
I wish at this time to thank the Board of Selectmen for ap- pointing me as warden, and tell them, and the people of Palmer that I will fulfill my duties to the best of my ability.
Respectfully submitted, GUS THEODORE
Forest Warden
.
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Report of Young Men's Library Association
The Library has shown a gain in every department this year. Our new registrations, our attendance at the reading rooms, our total circulation have all increased substantially. Twenty- eight thousand three hundred and twenty-two people borrowed books or magazines from our main library and its three branches this year, a gain of 2228 over 1956. We gained 489 new regis- trants, bringing our total to 3531, and we had an attendance of 2271 at the reading rooms, a gain of 18 over last year's figure.
During the year 586 new books were added to the library's shelves while a large number of old and obsolete volumes were dis- carded to provide space for new issues and to keep our Library up to date. Minor repairs were made to 1047 and 203 were com- pletely rebound and returned to circulation. At the close of the year we had a total of 17,820 books in service.
A branch of the Registry of Motor Vehicles was again estab- lished at the Library, this time for the months of November and December, and handled nearly 8500 automobile registrations for the people of Palmer and vicinity. This of course resulted in ad- ditional expense for lights, heating and personnel, but we feel that it has been well worth while and a distinct service to the community. The Registry staff deserve our sincere compliments for their cooperation. It is hoped that Palmer may soon have a permanent Registry office, but until then we expect to continue with them on the same temporary basis.
It is our intention to continue to supply up-to-date reference works and the best in current reading.
Treasurer's Report for the year ending December 31, 1957.
RECEIPTS
Balance, January 1, 1957
$32.49
Income from Invested Funds
2,541.54
Town of Palmer, appropriation and transfer
7,400.00
Fines collected
275.81
Books sold and miscellaneous
249.16
$10,499.00
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DISBURSEMENTS
Books and Magazines
$1,353.61
Salaries, services and rentals
7,598.18
Fuel
702.43
Light and telephone
230.69
Supplies and printing
100.82
Insurance premiums
88.69
Repairs and maintenance
238.43
Social Security taxes
148.20
Miscellaneous
21.50
Balance, December 31, 1957
16.45
$10,499.00
Respectfully submitted,
ALLEN F. DAVIS, Treasurer
Examined and approved January 18, 1958
STANLEY W. WISNEWSKI, Auditor
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Report of the Tree Warden for 1957
Amount Appropriated $3,350.00
Amount Spent 3,334.39
During the year 1957 there were four bad wind and rain storms, that caused considerable damage by causing, broken branches and uprooting small trees.
During the year 1957 the tree dept. took down twenty four hazardous trees, and removed eight more as requested by pro- perty owners, for driveway construction or because of uprooting sidewalks or cellar walls.
We cut brush and small trees on several roads where they were hanging into the road after snow or rain storms.
We raised low branches on many streets where they were obstructing traffic or interfering with people on sidewalks.
We planted twenty trees, distributing them throughout the villages as requests warranted.
The trees of the town are in normally good condition with the exception of the elm trees which are still being badly infected by the Dutch Elm Disease. As no definite cure has yet been found, the prompt removal of the infected trees is of the utmost im- portance. The Maple blight that was causing serious trouble in 1956 was practically gone in 1957.
A new method of cutting down on brush control cost was tried out with the cooperation of the highway dept., with very good results. Roadside brush areas and curves were sprayed with a strong weed killer which stopped further growth for the year.
The normal appropriation is adequate to take care of the tree dept. work for 1958 if some unforseen emergency does not occur.
WALTER H. CAMBO
Tree Warden
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School Committee 1958-1959
DAVITT M. ROONEY, Chairman
DONALD F. McCAFFREY, Secretary
DAVITT M. ROONEY
Term expires 1958
STANLEY J. GILL
Term expires 1959
HENRY R. TRESPAS
Term expires 1959
EDMUND J. FRYDRYK Term expires 1960
EDWARD R. PROSPERI
Term expires 1960
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 7 p.m. on the Monday before the last Friday of each school month.
All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent on Monday before the above-mentioned date.
Superintendent of Schools, Donald F. McCaffrey
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 12m .; 1 to 4 p.m.
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CALENDAR
1957-1958
Opening, September 4, 1957
Teachers' Convention, October 25, 1957
Veterans' Day, November 11, 1957 Thanksgiving Recess, November 21-22, 1957 Fall Recess, Weeks of 22 and 29, 1957
Winter Recess, Week of February 23, 1958 Good Friday, April 4, 1958 Spring Recess, Week of April 27, 1958 Memorial Day, May 30, 1958 Closing-Grades, June 13, 1958 High, June 27, 1958
1958-1959
Opening, September 3, 1958 Columbus Day Observance, October 13, 1958 Teachers' Convention, October 24, 1958 Veterans' Day, November 11, 1958 Thanksgiving Recess, November 27-28, 1958 Fall Recess, Week of December 21, 1958 New Year's Day, January 1, 1959 Winter Recess, Week of February 22, 1959 Good Friday, March 27, 1959 Patriots' Day Observance, April 20, 1959 Spring Recess, Week of April 26, 1959 Closing-Grades, June 12, 1959 High, June 26, 1959
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Annual School Report
To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer:
I submit herewith my seventh annual report, the sixty-fifth report of the town.
Repairs
New toilet installations were completed at Thorndike and Bondsville. The boys' and girls' toilets at these schools and at Three Rivers are now finished.
A new oil burner was installed at the Three Rivers Grammar
School.
It is hoped that the girls' toilet at the Park Street School, a new oil burner for Thorndike, and new lighting for the high school will be among the major projects approved by the School Committee for this next year.
Guidance
Mr. Stanley Kolbusz was appointed director of guidance in the high school. This appointment will provide counselling serv- ices to students on a full-time basis. This fall a battery of ests was administered to the freshmen and juniors. These tests will serve as a basis to assist the guidance department in deter- mining pupil aptitudes and interests. They will help the staff to assist the pupil in making better curriculum choices and, ultimately, wiser vocational choices. Other duties of the guidance department will include means of assisting pupils to make college selections, vocational employment assistance, scheduling for college entrance examinations, acting as liason between school and colleges, conferring with parents, and serving as coordinator of a general guidance plan for the staff. Salary Schedule
Recently the School Committee voted to establish the follow- ing salary schedule, effective September 1, 1958:
Bachelor's
Master's
Degree
Degree
Minimum
$3,600
$3,800
Maximum
$5.300
$5,500
Annual Increment
$ 200
$ 200
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This schedule compares favorably with other communities our size, and it is imperative that this be so in order to maintain a competitive position with these communities to obtain needed teachers in the future. The teacher market has not improved. Paimer faces some serious years ahead, since many of its older teachers will retire. Palmer has not been able to replace its needs the last few years from local sources entirely. Indeed, many of the younger teachers from college have ventured to other com- munities at higher salaries, and it appears that this will continue to be the case. The "hometown girl teaching at home" is no more. These "hometown teachers" have given the Palmer Schools a stability these past years that many communities have not enjoyed and, too often, Palmer citizens have not appreciated. Salary schedules must be realistic to meet replacement needs ahead.
High School Building Needs
Architects were interviewed by the School Building Commit- tee, and the firm of Alderman & MacNeish of West Springfield was selected to do preliminary drawings for a new high school and for an addition to the present building. Costs for both will be estimated and presented to the town for consideration, pro- bably at a special town meeting in the spring. Sufficient funds are not available for this preliminary planning at the moment. An article will be placed in the annual warrant for funds for this architectural work. If this project is to proceed, it is my hope that the good citizens of Palmer will approve this expenditure at the annual town meeting.
High School Evaluation
Palmer High School enjoys an "A" rating with the State Department of Education and is an accredited high school in the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. It is a policy of this association and its members to undergo an evaluation every ten years to determine whether the "A" rating can be continued. This rating is done by the local high school staff and a visiting staff assigned by the association from other communities. Mr. Fontaine, the high school principal, is about to name the local steering committee to begin this task. The work will take two years to complete. The local staff will go over a long checklist in all areas, such as curriculum, adequacy of staff, physical plant, and other factors, in order to determine how well the school is able to meet the needs of pupils today. A visiting committee will recheck the work of the local staff and will issue a written report. This report will determine whether Palmer will retain its standing in the association. A loss of standing will jeopardize the entrance of Palmer High School graduates to accredited colleges.
This check-up is a community problem, not just that of the principal and his staff. The welfare of children will be affected. There is no doubt that the local staff or the visiting committee
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can hardly miss the deficiencies of our high school in physical plant - inadequate science laboratories; inadequate shop and home economics facilities; and inadequate cafeteria, library, and gymnasium facilities. These inadequacies are community respon- sibilities. These are the facilities that are being planned in a new school or an addition. Will you, the people, help solve this problem and enable Palmer High School to retain its coveted membership in the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools? It is your responsibility to safeguard your child's educational future.
Textbooks and New Equipment
New texts in spelling were added to grades five and six. Grades seven and eight will be added for 1958.
New textbooks in the high school were provided in English, English literature, general mathematics, and commercial arith- metic. Heavy expenditures will be needed here this next year just to provide textbooks for additional pupils, not to count normal replacements.
It will be necessary to replace textbooks in social studies, English, and reading in the elementary schools during this com- ing year.
New auditorium chairs and cafeteria tables were purchased for the expanding high school enrollment.
The typewriting department was moved to a larger room this past year to permit more space for standard typewriters, business machines, and, also, for the addition of electric type- writers in the future. The commercial room now has three elec- tric typewriters, and it is planned to expand this to include one complete row.
Enrollments
The total school enrollment continues to grow by about fifty pupils a year. At the moment, the heavy distribution is at the upper elementary and high school levels. The birth rate leveled off for two years but has begun to increase slightly again. This year all rooms at Thorndike Street are being used -- four rooms downstairs for grades six, seven, and eight, and all rooms at Quabaug are now being used. In the future. the School Committee must consider a redistribution of pupils to the Thorn- dike Grammar School. Preparations have been in the process for this since toilet renovations were completed, thereby freeing a room that can be painted for cafeteria use, if needed To com- plete a redistribution of pupils in order to utilize this school to the maximum, will require the hiring of four new teachers, new furnishings for four rooms, lighting, and repainting. This will not need to be done all at once, since enrollment pressures pro- bably will not necessitate opening more than one room per year.
101
Budget
The School Department budget was approved by the School Committee for 1958 at $469,231, an increase of $25,033 over last year. In the main, increases in salary for personnel and trade school tuition account for the increases. Paper supplies and books continue to increase in price; and as enrollments continue to increase, these department costs will rise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, may I take the opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Highway Department, the Police Department, all other town officers, a loyal and helpful staff. parent-teacher organizations, and all others who have given the School Department their whole-hearted support in its objective to provide a successful school program for your children.
Respectfully submitted,
DONALD F. McCAFFREY
Superintendent of Schools
January 2, 1958
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TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
County of Hampden, ss
Town of Palmer
To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer, in said County, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabitants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of towr officers, to meet at the several polling places in said Palmer, designated by the selectmen, to wit: In Precinct A, at the High School Gymnasium on Converse Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at the Thorndike Grammar School in Thorndike; in Precinct C, at the Three Rivers Grammar School in Three Rivers, and in Precinct D, at the Bondsville Grammar School in Bondsville, on Monday, the third day of February, A. D. 1958, at ten o'clock in the fore- noon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the town, for the following officers: 3 Selectmen, 5 Constables, 3 License Commissioners, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Tree Warden, 1 Member of the Board of Health (to fill vacancy), all for the term of one year: 1 Assessor, 1 Member of the Board of Public Welfare, 1 Cemetery Commissioner, 1 Member of the School Committee, 1 Member of the Board of Health, all for the term of three years; and 1 Member of the Planning Board for the term of five years.
Also to vote by ballot, which shall be "yes" or "no" upon the following question:
Shall an act passed by the general court in the year nineteen hundred and fifty-seven, entitled "An Act establishing in the town of Palmer representative town government by limited town meetings", be accepted by this town ?
Yes -
No
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 tenth day of February, A. D. 1958, 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.
103
Article 3. To act on the reports of the town officers.
Article 4. To hear and act on reports of committees.
Article 5. To choose committees and give them instructions.
Article 6. 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, 1958 and to issue a note or notes there- for, payable within 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 7. To see if the town will vote to authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money as permitted by law to meet any appropriations made or expenses incurred under any of the articles of the warrant.
Article 8. To raise money and make appropriations to de- fray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Article 9. 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 pro- cedure, 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 10. 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, or at private sale, any old and obsolete equipment or personal property, provided that the selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such auction or sale may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 11. To see if the town will raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 12 To see if the town will vote to appropriate or transfer from the parking meter account any sum of money for (a) police enforcement; (b) constructing, reconstructing, resur- facing, operating and maintaining off street parking areas; (c) a miscellaneous fund under the exclusive control of the selectmen to be used for purposes authorized by law; (d) contributiou to- ward cost of snow removal.
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Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of money necessary to pay overdraft on snow removal ..
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to transfer any sum of money from the Overlay Reserve account to the Reserve Fund, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to appropriate any sum of money from Free Cash to reduce the 1958 tax levy, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the collection and disposal of gar- bage and/or rubbish in the several villages of the Town of Pal- mer and authorize the selectmen to prepare specifications, ex- ecute a contract or contracts for a term not to exceed three years and do all things necessary to effect the collection of said garbage and/or rubbish, or to authorize the selectmen to have said gar- bage and/or rubbish collected by a department of the town, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to purchase a new cruiser for the Police Department, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the purchase of the following pieces of equipment for use of the Highway Department:
(a) 1 Dump Truck
(b) 1 8-10 Ton Roller, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to accept the fol- lowing Perpetual Care Funds which have been given to it during the year: Ada Tyers $100.00; Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Hayes $100.00; Mrs. Lois C. Reynolds $100.00; Ernest H. Johnson $100.00; Mr. & Mrs. Karl M. Edberg $100.00; Lina W. Tower $200.00; Edith E. Adams $150.00.
Article 20. To see if the Town will assume liability in the manner provided by Section 29 of Chapter 91 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by Chapter 5, Acts of 1955, for all damages that may be incurred by work to be performed by the Department of Public Works of Massachusetts for the improve- ment, development, maintenance and protection of tidal and non- tidal rivers and streams, harbors, tidewaters, foreshores and shores along a public beach, including the Merrimack and Conn- ecticut Rivers, in accordance with Section 11 of Chapter 91 of the General Laws, and authorize the Selectmen to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity therefor to the Commonwealth.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to sell and convey unto the New England Power Company the perpetual right and
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easement to construct, reconstruct, repair, maintain, operate and patrol, for the transmission of high and low voltage electric cur- rent and for telephone use, lines of towers or poles or both (which may be erected at different times), with wires and cables strung upon and from the same, and all necessary foundations, anchors, guys, braces, fittings, equipment and appurtenances, including a buried ground wire, over, across and upon a strip of land owned by the Town of Palmer, 160 feet in width in said Town of Palmer. Said strip to commence at land now or formerly of John H. Mur- ray and extend to land now or formerly of Wallace J. Roberts, crossing Warren Road and being showr on plan entitled: "NEW ENGLAND POWER SERVICE COMPANY PART OF NEW ENGLAND ELECTRIC SYSTEM BOSTON, MASS. PLAN SHOWING EASEMENT ACROSS LAND IN PALMER, MASS- ACHUSETTS TO BE CONVEYED TO NEW ENGLAND
POWER COMPANY BY TOWN OF PALMER SCALE 1"=400' DATE SEPT. 19, 1957 L-6114-1". Also the perpetual right and easement from time to time, without further payment therefor, to clear and keep cleared said strip of trees, underbrush and structures (the first clearing may be for less than the full width and may be widened from time to time to the full width), and to renew, replace, add to and otherwise change the lines and each and every part thereof, and the location thereof within said strip, and to pass along said strip to and from adjoining lands and to pass over land of the Town of Palmer to and from said strip as reasonably required; or take any action relative thereto.
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