USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1961 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
87
Name
Paul R. Raymond John R. Eurkus Edward Smola Stanley J. Strycharz
Clarence E. Lague
Address
11 Prospect St. 81 Springfield St. 77 North St. 300 Main St. 120 Palmer St.
Precinct D
William D. Donovan
Stanley F. Karczmarczyk, Jr.
Bernard J. Griffin
Helen Pisarski
Arthur Gaudette, Jr.
John J. Shea
Stanley J. Jajuga
Lawrence J. Koslik
Charles J. Kos Wallace B. Wile
Stanley P. Wadas
Edward T. Pollack
James Odell
71 State St. 8 Main St. 27 Pleasant St. 163 Main St. 9 Crest St. 6 State St. 145 Main St. 134 So. Main St. 9 Spring St. 6 Spring St. 131 Main St. 10 State St. 13 South High St.
88
Report of the Board of Health
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Palmer, Massachusetts
The Palmer Board of Health herewith submits its Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1961.
Reportable Diseases :
Chicken Pox
56
Dog Bite
31
German Measles
1
Mumps
50
Scarlet Fever
5
Tuberculosis
2
Deaths reported during year
Male
Female
Total
Stillborn
Under 1 year
3
6
9
5 to 10 years
2
0
2
10 to 20 years
2
0
2
20 to 30 years
1
0
1
30 to 40 years
2
2
4
40 to 50 years
4
3
7
50 to 60 years
10
5
15
60 to 70 years
25
11
36
70 to 80 years
18
17
35
80 to 90 years
14
9
23
90 to 100 years
1
3
4
87
59
146
RECEIPTS
Licenses Issued :
Ice Cream
$35.00
Funeral Directors
7.00
Pasteurization
10.00
Milk & Oleo
45.00
Kindergarten
2.00
Trailer Coach Park
.50
Alcohol
1.00
Tourist Cabin
.50
Nursery
1.00
3
2
5
1 to 5 years
2
1
3
89
Bottling Collecting Refuse
40.00 22.00
164.00
FINANCIAL REPORT
Appropriation
$7,000.00
Expended
5,393.89
Balance
1,606.11
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. KRZEPKA
MAURICE R. LePAGE, D.S.C.
HARRY J. ANTON, M.D.
Report of Inspector of Animals
Palmer, Mass. Dec. 31, 1961
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Town of Palmer
Gentlemen:
All inspections ordered by the Division of Livestock Disease Control have been completed and requirements of Section 19, Chapter 129, of the General Laws of Mass. have been complied with, and reports filed with the Division at 41 Tremont St., Boston.
There were 2 shipments of cattle received in town from other states. These animals were identified and released per order of the Division.
There were 105 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
90
Veteran's Service Center
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Palmer, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
Only 14 servicemen were reported separated or discharged from active duty with the armed forces during the past year. Death claimed nineteen war veterans residing in the town.
In October, a number of local Reservists and National Guards- men were recalled to active duty under Presidential orders and legislation, on the national and state level is being proposed to alleviate many cases of hardship to the families of these service- men who were affected by this interruption of their civil status.
Most G.I. Benefits for war veterans have about expired. Only the loan provision has been extended by Congress. Policy- holders of World War I and II insurance were paid an extra divi- dend and Korean veterans who have converted their term insur- ance policies, also received a special one-time dividend from ac- cumulated surplus funds during 1961. Those who have not as yet converted their "RS" type policies may still get this dividend, if they take steps to convert prior to Sept. 13, 1963.
As a result of the announced closing of 161 contact offices by the VA on Dec. 29th - eight of them in this state - offices like the local Veterans' Service Center will have to absorb the extra workload in providing advice, counsel and assistance to the vet- erans and their dependents in connection with claims for bene- fits from the Veterans Administration.
A total of 992 contacts were made at the office and following list shows some of the more essential services rendered:
353 Photostats
106 Letters for veterans
74 Referrals to other agencies
30 Hospital & Out-Patient
28 Insurance
27 Burial Benefits
27 Civil Service matters
26 Loan Certificate requests
24 Discharges recorded
18 Pension & Compensation claims
517 Misc. other services
91
Under the provisions of Chapter 115 of the General Laws as amended, 40 cases involving 170 persons were aided during the past year.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Appropriation
$31,000.00
Reimbursements from State
$15,717.83
Recovery from Liens and Refunds
1,211.09
Town's share of cost
10,930.57
Balance
3,140.51
$31,000.00
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD J. SALAMON
Veterans' Agent
Dutch Elm Disease
Amount Appropriated
$6,000.00
Expenditures
5,978.00
Balance
$22.00
The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
In 1961 the Dutch Elm Disease claimed 84 trees an increase of 12 trees from the previous year. It has been found that where our spray equipment could get at the trees, the mortality of the disease seems reduced. This is evidenced by the loss of only 24 trees located in the public tree belt, whereas the other trees removed were in inaccessible areas.
In cooperation with recent research in the state, several hund- red Elm trees were treated with Zinc-Chloride nails as a pre- ventative measure against this disease. However, a complete report of the effectiveness of this treatment cannot be made until summer when samples shall be submitted for tests of Zinc Ions in the tree cells. If the results prove encouraging, the remaining trees in the township will also be treated.
For the present, the existing methods of spraying, sanitation, and removal shall be continued in fighting this disease.
Respectfully submitted,
STANLEY J. STRZEMIENSKI
Moth Superintendent
92
Report of Young Men's Library Association
The past year has seen substantial changes at our Library and more are in process. Mrs. Ruth Sanderson who has served faithfully and well for many years retired at the end of the summer, and the position is now being capably filled by Mrs. Gordon Dean. During the year a large number of obsolete books have been discarded and a detailed inventory is now being taken, both at the main library and at the branches, to bring our records up to date.
More than 550 new books were purchased during 1961 and it is expected that we shall add a still larger number this year. In addition we have increased our stock of reference works, as well as that of magazines and recordings. We have also segregated the books on the school reading list in order to make it easier for students to make their selections. At the end of the year we had 19,168 volumes on hand.
The circulation as well as the attendance at the reading rooms has increased and all indications are that this trend will continue. Our branches in Thorndike, Three Rivers and Bondsville also have shown a definite gain.
Treasurer's report for the year ending December 31, 1961 : RECEIPTS:
Balance January 1, 1961
$398.68
Income from Investment
3,635.57
Appropriation, Town of Palmer
8,500.00
Fines, books sold and miscellaneous
388.06
$12,922.31
DISBURSEMENTS:
Salaries, services and rentals
9,086.05
Books, magazines and records
1,663.46
Supplies and repairs
345.30
Lighting and telephone
431.96
Insurance premiums
257.54
Fuel (entire building)
890.63
93
Social security taxes, etc.
200.69
Miscellaneous
28.00
Balance December 31, 1961
18.68
$12,922.31
Respectfully submitted,
ALLEN F. DAVIS, Treasurer
Examined and approved, January 15, 1962
WILLIAM R. FAULKNER, Auditor
Report of Moth Department
Amount Appropriated
$1,800.00
Expenditures
1,759.48
Balance
$40.52
The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
During the year, four minor infestations were sprayed as were many oak trees for Gypsy Moth egg clusters which were de- tected. Continual scouting in the township shows the Gypsy Moth problem is being contained.
Requests for mosquito spraying increased considerably dur- ing the past summer. Spraying of residential, marshy, and wood- ed areas took place where the mosquito problem was especially bad.
All requests for eradication of Poison Ivy and Dogwood Poi- son not over 100 feet from any dwelling were handled with ef- fective results.
In order to avoid the importation of the Japanese Beetles into unaffected areas, extensive sprayings were made at the Metro- politan Airport and immediate areas under the sanction of the United States Department of Agriculure.
Respectfully Submitted,
STANLEY J. STRZEMIENSKI
Moth Superintendent
94
Report of the Planning Board
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1961
Palmer, Massachusetts
January 11, 1962
To the The Honorable Board of Selectmen
and The Citizens of Palmer:
Immediately after the Town Election and Annual Town Meet- ing, the members of the Planning Board held their organizational meeting and elected A. Ellis Sullivan, Chairman and Neil M. Mc- Donald, Secretary.
Because the functions which are normally administered by a planning board do not exist in Palmer, this board has been inactive in recent years. However, a growing interest in zoning in recent months has revived the board's activities.
By various media we have attempted to obtain a representative opinion regarding the need for zoning. We are particularly indebted to Mr. Davitt M. Rooney of the Palmer Journal Register, and Mr. Frank J. Kitch of the Springfield Daily News for their coverage and for their assistance in interpreting public response to their several releases. Tabulated results of the survey conducted by the Palmer Journal Register indicate 95% of the response favored the adoption of a zoning ordinance. Responses through other channels have indicated similar interest.
Therefor, we have proceeded accordingly. We are presently in contact with the Planning Division of the Massachusetts De- partment of Commerce, and the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards. Also, we have conferred with planning consult- ants.
As our studies are presently in the preliminary stages, we are not prepared to offer any specific proposal at the coming Annual Town Meeting. We have proceeded with due caution for several reasons :
1. The composition of the present Planning Board represents a complete turnover of membership since any previous zoning studies were made. At the outset, our own orientation to the many facets of zoning and other planning matters was our primary mission.
2. As Zoning is only one aspect of overall municipal planning, we feel a proper zoning ordinance cannot be proposed until a com-
95
plete inventory and evaluation of the Town's composition, facilities, and resources, both existing and potential, can be accomplished.
3. This Board would regret a repetition of the fate that befell the arduous and conscientious zoning studies of the 1948 Planning Board. We feel the Town of Palmer cannot afford to postpone this issue another 14 years.
Respectfully submitted,
A. ELLIS Sullivan, Chairman GEORGE W. DuCOMB EDWARD R. LIBERA DANIEL V. FOGARTY, Jr.
JOSEPH W. DENNIS, JR. NEIL M. McDONALD, Secretary PLANNING BOARD
Report of Forest Fire Warden
Report of the Forest Fire Warden for the year ending Dec- ember 31, 1961:
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town of Palmer, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Forest Fire Warden of the Town of Palmer for the year 1961.
This department responded to a total of 16 calls during the year for brush, grass, and forest fires throughout the town.
Hundreds of permits were again issued for out-side fires.
The Forest Fire truck is in very bad condition. Due to the added cost of maintenance and uncertainty of its operation in the future, I believe that the town should purchase a new one for this Department.
A newer truck with a good water capacity would not only help us do a better job at forest fires, but would also help putting out house fires in the rural areas of the town.
I would like to thank your honorable board, and others, for the cooperation they have given me during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
GUS A. THEODORE
Forest Fire Warden
96
Report of The Tree Warden for 1961
Amount appropriated
$4,100.00
Amount spent
4,069.30
Balance
$30.70
Due to the heavy snows and cold the early months of last year there were many trees on country roads bent and broken that had to be removed and many low hanging and bent branches that had to come off.
During the summer months the oak trees in town were sprayed for oak leaf blight.
27 bad and dangerous trees were removed in the four villages.
Dead wood was trimmed out of 80 trees on the main streets of the various villages.
In cooperation with the Moth Department about 44 stumps were cut below ground, and graded over.
A number of large limbs were removed due to buildings being erected, new driveways and television antennas.
There were two storms in the summer and early fall that required the repair of a number of trees broken and damaged.
There were two storms in early winter that required taking down and repairing a number of trees.
The tree department planted 34 trees in various places of the four villages, some where trees were removed and some at new home locations on the street.
The department feels that annual planting of trees should continue.
WALTER CAMBO
Tree Warden
97
School Committee 1962-1963
HENRY R. TRESPAS, Chairman DONALD F. McCAFFREY, Secretary
LEO J. SANTUCCI Term expires 1962
HENRY R. TRESPAS
Term expires 1962
STEPHEN J. LEBIDA
Term expires 1963
EDWARD R. PROSPERI Term expires 1963
FRANK LACHOWSKI Term expires 1964
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 7 p.m. on the Monday before the fourth Friday of each school month.
All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent on Mon- day before the above-mentioned date.
Superintendent of Schools, Donald F. McCaffrey Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 12 m .; 1 to 4 p.m.
CALENDAR
1961-1962
Opening, September 6, 1961 Columbus Day, October 12, 1961
Teachers' Convention, October 20, 1961 Thanksgiving Recess, November 23-24, 1961 Fall Recess, Week of December 24, 1961 New Year's Day, January 1, 1962 Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1962 Winter Recess, Week of February 25, 1962 Patriots' Day, April 19, 1962 Good Friday, April 20, 1962 Spring Recess, Week of April 29, 1962 Memorial Day, May 30, 1962 Closing-Grades, June 15, 1962 High, June 29, 1962
1962-1963
Opening, September 5, 1962 Columbus Day, October 12, 1962 Teachers' Convention, October 19,- 1962 Veterans' Day Observance, November 12, 1962
98.
Thanksgiving Recess, November 22-23, 1962 Fall Recess, Week of December 23, 1962 New Year's Day, January 1, 1963 Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1963 Winter Recess, Week of February 24, 1963 Good Friday, April 12, 1963 Patriots' Day, April 19, 1963 Spring Recess, Week of April 28, 1963 Memorial Day, May 30, 1963 Closing-Grades, June 14, 1963 High, June 28, 1963
Annual School Report
To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer:
I submit herewith my eleventh annual report, the sixty-ninth report of the town.
Repairs
The School Department continued a program of up-dating its physical plant.
New tile flooring was installed in Bondsville in the corridors and two classrooms.
Stair treads were renewed in Thorndike and Three Rivers.
The stucco wings of the Quabaug School were completely re- newed with gutters, roof, downspouts, and a new application of stucco.
Old desk tops in two classrooms in the High School were replaced with new plastic tops.
New High School Addition
Last spring the generous townspeople cast an overwhelming vote to provide new facilities to its High School. This action was a welcome one indeed to school officials, since it will provide the opportunity to meet the educational needs of our young people in a modern society. At this writing, final plans are about to go out to bid. A tentative schedule would indicate that the sub-bids will be opened on January 12, 1962, and the general contract bids will be opened on January 19. This is a later bid opening than was an- ticipated; and it would appear, at this point, that the new facil- ities will not be ready for the opening of school in September, 1962.
The School Department wishes to acknowledge the many
99
hours of work contributed by the School Building Committee, under the able leadership of Mr. Thomas Haley, which led to the successful vote on the project. Thanks are extended, also, to the many mothers and fathers who assisted in a most effective tele- phone campaign to get out the vote. We appreciate the support from the Board of Selectmen, Town Counsel, Town Treasurer, Town Clerk, and other town officers, all who, in one way or an- other, contributed in securing better educational facilities for the youth of the town.
Curriculum
English teachers in the High School studied needed changes and revised the English course of study. These changes provide for more exacting standards for College Preparatory students and are designed to meet more satisfactorily the needs of the students enolled in the General Course.
In this connection, the English department is eagerly look- ing forward to new library quarters. These facilities will greatly upgrade the English program in the High School. My strongest recommendation would include the need of providing the necess- ary volumes for a 700-pupil school but, most important of all, to have a full-time trained librarian.
Tests conducted by the guidance department have shown con- sistent and steady growth in English in the High School, notably in vocabulary, which is most desirable. The new revisions in the course of study, together with a well-equipped library manned by a trained librarian, could give us an English program second to none.
Some changes. have taken place in our high school mathe- matics program, also. College Preparatory freshmen began a program known as modern algebra. This program will be extended as they move through school and will integrate solid geometry with plane geometry. On the senior College Preparatory level, seniors, this year, will receive instruction in solid geometry and trigonometry the first half of the year and analytical geometry and calculus the second half. These revisions are aimed at pro- viding the student with the necessary background in mathematics to pass College Entrance Board examinations satisfactorily and to permit the student to make a better adjustment to mathematics requirements at the freshman level in college.
This year, for the first time, economics was added to the social studies program on an elective basis for juniors and sen- iors. Few high schools have offered economics in the past, but Palmer is one of a growing number of systems enriching its high school offerings in this area. It is our hope that an ever-increas- ing number of students will elect this interesting and stimulating course.
100
Elimination of Double Grades
The School Committee has been concerned with this problem for many years. The new housing development in Three Rivers and a reassignment of pupils from Lake Thompson, Forest Lake, and Palmer Center to Thorndike will enable these schools to elim- inate its double grades in a period of three years. New teachers have been added in these schools in a gradual move to eliminate double grades. Enrollments in Bondsville have not increased suf- ficiently to this point to see a solution to the problem there; how- ever, school authorities will continue to study this matter, since it is a desirable educational objective to eliminate all double grades in the town.
Salary Schedule
The School Committee has embarked on a program to place teachers at their proper step on the salary scale in line with their years of experience. A program of this kind is extremely costly to complete in a single year. Last year the committee approved a salary scale that would permit teachers with thirty or more years of teaching experience to be placed at maximum. It is the plan of the committee to make similar adjustments over a period of time that will permit all teachers to be placed at the proper level on the salary scale. It is important to maintain a salary schedule that will attract and retain competent teachers.
Recommendations
It is my sincere hope that, in the near future, the School De- partment will add to the guidance staff to assist on the elemen- tary level, will establish department heads in the High School to provide a coordination needed in the subject matter areas, pro- vide an enrichment program either on Saturday mornings or in the summer for the gifted child.
Conclusion
In conclusion, may 1 take this opportunity to express my sin- cere appreciation to the members of the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Highway Department, the Police Depart- ment, the Park Commission, the Fire 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, 1962
101
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
December 30, 1961
Appropriation
Expended
Balance
Expenses of Instruction
$370,751.00
$370,745.58
$ 5.42
General Expenses
19,119.00
19,099.67
19.33
Expenses of Operating
49,072.00
49,064.90
7.10
Repairs
15,000.00
14,998.68
1.32
Auxiliary Agencies
58,696.00
58,690.93
5.07
Furniture and Furnishings
3,125.00
3,125.00
0.00
National Defense Education
Act of 1958
6,532.00
6,532.00
0.00
Trade School Expenses
14,142.00
14,128.29
13.71
Retirement
2,177.00
2,177.00
0.00
$538,614.00
$538,562.05
$51.95
102
Progress of High School Education
Public education in Palmer officially began in 1752 when an appropriation of $75 was set aside for the purpose.
The high school program was instituted in 1851 on a rotating basis, six months in Thorndike, three months in Depot Village and three months in Three Rivers. In 1874 the high school was per- manently established in Depot Village.
PALMER'S FIRST HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING 1888
The first high school building, now known as Thorndike Street School, was erected in 1888. A number of years later, an addition was built to accommodate the growing student body.
103
NOTOK
PRESENT HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
In 1924, the present high school was opened for pupils and has continued to fulfill the secondary education needs of the town until present. The town now is in the process of preparing for the erection of an addition to the present structure, which when completed will accomodate between 700 and 800 pupils. Ground- breaking is expected to take place in the spring of this year.
FUTURE HIGH SCHOOL SHOWING NEW ADDITION
104
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 town 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 fifth day of February, AD. 1962, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the Town, for the following officers: 3 Selectmen, 5 Playground and Recreation Commissioners, 3 License Commissioners, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Tree Warden, all for the term of one year; 1 Assessor, 1 Member of Board of Public Welfare, 1 Cemetery Commissioner, 2 Members of School Committee, 1 Mem- ber of the Board of Health, all for the term of three years; 1 Member of the Board of Health for the term of one year (to fill vacancy); and 1 Member of the Planning Board for a 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 herchy required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at St. Mary's Hall on High Street, Village of Bondsville, in said Palmer, on Monday, the twelfth day of February, A.D. 1962, 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 meet- ing.
Article 2. To choose all other usual town officers.
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.
105
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, 1962, and to issue a 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.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.