Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959, Part 50

Author: Lincoln (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Lincoln (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 1026


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959 > Part 50


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Total Available for Exp.


Amount Expend. in '59


Balance Accruing to Surpl.


Balance Carried Forward to '60


Chap. 874


2,813.21


9,242.80


12,056.01


6,632.31


5,423.70


Air Force School


195,375.00


195,375.00


60,626.39


134,748.61


TOTALS FOR SCHOOLS


15,434.54 204,950.53


780,818.00


-


1,001,203.07


647,001.29


17,512.85


336,688.93


LIBRARY


Salaries


9,225.00


9,225.00


8,907.55


317.45


Books


Ref.


62.45


2,000.00


2,062.45


2,062.45


Expense


Ref. 15.00


700.00


715.00


567.37


147.63


Custodian


1,250.00


1,250.00


921.00


329.00


Bldg. Exp.


3,050.00


3,050.00


2,648.77


401.23


Library


Addition


25,279.90


415.00


25,694.90


24,168.16


1,526.74


Library


Repairs


5,500.00


5,500.00


5,500.00


TOTALS FOR


LIBRARIES


25,279.90


492.45


21,725.00


-


47,497.35


39,275.30


1,195.31


7,026.74


RECREATION


Playground salaries


1,975.00


1,975.00


1,900.00


75.00


Playground


expense


720.00


89.40


809.40


809.40


PARKS


Mowing


1,300.00


1,300.00


1,100.00


200.00


ACCOUNTING OFFICER


82


from '58


special Purposes


in 1959


DETAIL OF 1959 DISBURSEMENTS


Carr'd For'd from '58


'59 Inc. Res. for special Purposes


Appropr'd in 1959


Transfer from Reserve


Total Available for Exp.


Amount Expend. in '59


Balance Accruing to Surplo


Balance Carried Forward to '60


Labor


500.00


500.00


287.25


212.75


Swimming


750.00


750.00


492.11


257.89


Tennis Courts


135.10


135.10


56.80


78.30


TOTALS FOR


RECREATION


135.10


5,245.00


89.40


5,469.50


4,645.56


823.94


-


UNCLASSIFIED


Midd. Co. Ret.


3,804.00


3,804.00


3,803.63


. 37


Emp. Ins. & Hosp. Fund


18.15


3,900.00


3,918.15


3,792.60


125.55


Property Ins.


Ref. 1,102.48


10,888.00


11,990.48


10,708.44


1,282.04


Dump rent


4,500.00


4,500.00


4,052.50


447.50


Town reports


2,000.00


2,000.00


1,961.03


38.97


Honor Roll


960.00


960.00


28.13


931.87


Preser. Town


Records


139.94


139.94


139.94


Cap. Require.


Committee


127.55


127.55


9.60


117.95


Unpaid 1958 bills


682.79


682.79


682.79


Memorial Day


200.00


200.00


198.50


1.50


July 4th


500.00


500.00


498.20


1.80


Purchase of


Freight Hse.


1,000.00


1,000,00


1.000.00


TOTALS FOR UNCLASSIFIED


1,227.49


1,120.63


27,474.79


-


29,822.91


25,735.42


2,037.67


2,049.82


-


FINANCE


83


DETAIL OF 1959 DISBURSEMENTS


Carr'd


For'd from '58


'59 Inc. Res. for special Purposes


Appropr'd in 1959


Transfer from Reserve


Total Available for Exp.


Amount Expend. in '59


Balance Accruing to Surpl.


Balance Carried Forward to '60


CEMETERIES


Salaries & wages


225.00


225.00


210.20


14.80


Interments


600.00


600.00


317.79


282.21


Maint. & Exp.


2,770.00


2,770.00


2,770.00


Cemetery


Improvements


1,000.00


1,000.00


480.55


519.45


TOTALS FOR


CEMETERIES


1,000.00


3,595.00


4,595.00


3,778.54


297.01


519.45


84


DEBT SERVICE


Fire & Pol.


Bldg. Bonds


5,000.00


5,000.00


5,000.00


Int. on Fire


& Pol. Bldg. Bonds


3,420.00


3,420.00


3,420.00


Sch. Bldg. Bds.


56,000.00


56,000.00


56,000.00


Int. on Sch.


Bldg. Bonds


22,343.00


22,343.00


22,342.50


.50


Library Bldg. Bonds


5,000.00


5,000.00


5,000.00


Int. on Libr'y


Bldg. Bonds


1,500.00


1,500.00


1,500.00


Int. on Tax Notes


3,000.00


3,000.00


2,392.81


607.19


TOTALS FOR DEBT SERVICE


-


-


96,263.00


-


96,263.00


95,655.31


607.69


-


-


ACCOUNTING OFFICER


DETAIL OF 1959 DISBURSEMENTS


'59 Inc. Res. for


Carr'd


For'd from '58


special


Appropr'd


Transfer from Reserve


Total Available for Exp


Amount Expend. in '59


Balance Accruing to Surpl


to '60


REFUNDS


Motor Vehicle Excise


2,192.26


2,192.26


2,192.26


Real Estate


Tax Ref.


1,859.28


1,859.28


1,859.28


Poll Tax


2.00


2.00


2.00


Personal Tax


8.30


8.30


8.30


TOTAL REFUNDS


-


1


-


-


-


FINANCE


85


EXPENDITURES


OTHER THAN


APPROPRIATIONS


ACCOUNTS


Dog Licenses,


due County


20.00


1,205.75


1,225.75


1,184.75


41.00


Milk Fund


402.20


6,849.25


7,251.45


6,073.79


1,177.66


Repayment,


Temp. Loan


300,000.00


300,000.00


300,000.00


State Parks


& Reserv.


2,050.91


2,050.91


1,868.33


182.58


State Audit Tax


1,454.47


1,454.47


1,454.47


County Tax


17,711.42


17,711.42


18,133.02


(- 421.60)


County Hosp.


Assessment


3,009.03


3,009.03


3,009.03


Prem. on Sch.


Loan


523.20


423.89


947,09


947.09


TOTALS


422.20


332,804.03


423.89


333,650.12


332,670.48


-


979.64


4,061.84


4,061.84


4,061.84


Balance Carried Forward


Purposes


in 1959


-


DETAIL OF 1959 DISBURSEMENTS


'59 Inc.


Carr'd


Res. for


For'd


special


from '58


Purposes


Appropr'd in 1959


Transfer from Reserve


Total Available for Exp.


Amount Expend. in '59


Balance Accruing to Surpl


Balance Carried Forward to '60


EMPLOYEE DEDUCTIONS


Fed. tax


60,247.63


60,247.63


60,247.63


County


Retire.


6,898.21


6,898.21


6,898.21


Teachers '


Retire.


13,357.94


13,357.94


13,357.94


Insurance


812.95


812.95


810.55


2.40


Blue Cross


& Blue


Shield


3,900.71


3,900.71


3,891.24


9.47


State Tax


4,911.05


4,911.05


4,870.50


40.55


Washington


Nat'l Ins.


Co.


436.16


436.16


436.16


TOTALS


-


90,564.65


-


-


90,564.65


90,512.23


40.55


11.87


GRAND TOTALS GENERAL FUNDS


49,587.83 647,536.29


1,200,219.99


4,175.15 1,901,519.26 1,509,285.49 34,087.89


358,145.88


-


ACCOUNTING OFFICER


86


DETAIL OF 1959 DISBURSEMENTS


Carr'd


'59 Inc. Res. for special


Appropr'd


Transfer from Reserve


Total Available for Exp


Amount Expend. in '59


Balance Accruing to Surpl.


Balance Carried Forward


For'd


from '58


Purposes


in 1959


WATER DEPT.


Salaries, Comm.


225.00


225.00


225.00


Wages


11,500.00


366.06


11,866.06


11,866.06


Expense


20,000.00


20,000.00


13,702.44


6,297.56


Pumping Sta.


5,000.00


5,000.00


2,894.30


2,105.70


Water Mains,


Old Sudbury


Road


4,775.80


4,775.80


4,775.80


Water Mains,


Tower Rd.


13,000.00


13,000.00


13,000.00


Water Mains,


Concord Rd.


2,500.00


2,500.00


1,678.23


821.77


Water Mains,


Brooks Rd .


1,401.92


1,401.92


1,401.92


Bonds


10,000.00


10,000.00


10,000.00


Int. on Bds.


2,350.00


2,350.00


2,350.00


TOTALS FOR WATER


6,177.72


-


64,575.00


366.06


71,118.78


47,491.83


8,403.26


15,723.69


FINANCE


87


to '60


ACCOUNTING OFFICER


TOWN OF LINCOLN BALANCE SHEET - DECEMBER 31, 1959 GENERAL ACCOUNTS ASSETS


Cash :


General


Water


$496,105.82 25,962.75


$522,068.57


Accounts Receivable :


Taxes


Levy of 1957


Personal


85.00


Levy of 1958


Personal


112.50


Real


2,283.75


2,396.25


Levy of 1959


Poll


12.00


Personal


107.90


Real


13,211.52


13,331.42


Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise


Levy of 1958


625.43


Levy of 1959


7,304.81


7,930.24


Farm Animal Excise


Levy of 1959


10.00


Water


Rates of 1959


4,633.19


Miscellaneous


111.46


4,744.65


Aid to Highways


State


6,800.00


County


4,050.00


10,850.00


Revenue 1960


Appropriations voted


6,700.00


Loan Authorized, Water


5,000.00


Underestimates 1959 County Tax


421.60


Overlay Deficit Levy of 1958


37.50


$573,575.23


88


FINANCE


LIABILITIES AND RESERVES


Proceeds of Dog Licenses,


Due County


$ 41.00 440.20


Tailings, unclaimed checks


Trust Fund Income


Julian DeCordova School Equip. $ 880.13


40.34


920.47


Old Age Assistance Recovery


3,476.39


Federal Grants:


Disability Assistance


117.87


Disability Assistance Adm.


58.56


176.43


Aid to Dependent Children


369.55


Aid to Dependent Children Adm.


46.99


416.54


Old Age Assistance


2,939.89


Old Age Assistance Adm.


32.32


2,972.21


School, P. L. 874


5,423.70


Nat'l Defense Education


52.50


Air Force School


134,748.61


School Milk Fund


1,177.66


Appropriation Balances : Revenue


General


15,385.39


Water


13,000.00


Non-Revenue (Loan Balances)


School Construction


196,516.62


Water Mains


2,223.69


Library Construction


1,526.74


228,652.44


Loan Authorized and Unissued (Water)


5,000.00


Overestimate of 1959


State Parks


182.58


Reserve Fund, Overlay Surplus


5,757.87


Overlays Reserved for Abatements: Levy of 1957


85.00


Levy of 1959


8,172.43


8,257.43


Revenue Reserved until Collected


Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise


7,930.24


Farm Animal Excise


10.00


Water


4,744.65


Aid to Highways


10,850.00


23,534.89


Surplus Revenue General Water


141,605.25


10,739.06


$573,575.23


89


Grammar School Fund


ACCOUNTING OFFICER


DEBT ACCOUNTS


Funded or Fixed Debt


Inside Debt Limit


General :


School


$149,000.00


Library


55,000.00


Police & Fire Building


90,000.00


$294,000.00


Outside Debt Limit


General :


School


$836,000.00


Water:


Mains


80,000.00


916,000.00


$1,210,000.00


90


REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR OF TAXES


Balance 1/1/59


Committed Refunds


Abated


Paid


Outstanding 12/31/59


1957


Personal


$ 119.00


$


$


$ 34.00


$ 85.00


Real Estate


1,928.40


34.00


1,894.40


1958


Polls


16.00


16.00


Personal


232.50


120.00


112.50


Real Estate


11,763.11


37.50


9,441.86


2,283.75


1959


Poll


2,190.00


2.00


194.00


1,986.00


12.00


Personal


66,650.81


8.30


12.45


66.538.76


107.90


Real Estate


619,892.95


1,859.28


9,518.37


599,022.34


13,211.52


1957


Motor


Vehicle


674.91


483.40


191.51


1958


Motor Vehicle


4,820.98


4,928.99


282.70


2,430.72


6,976.52


625.43


1959


Motor


Vehicle


84,081.95


1,909.56


5,228.94


73,457.78


7,304.79


1957


Farm Animal


23.75


23.75


1958


Farm Animal


82.18


82.18


1959


Farm Animal


108.73


98.73


10.00


1957


Water


142.26


7.50


134.76


1958


2,323.40


25.77


2,297.63


1959


13.58


35,950.02


Interest


Motor Vehicle


Total


1957


$124.84


$17.64


$142.48


1958


150.55


17.79


168.34


1959


145.62


23.37


168.99


91


FINANCE


4,633.19


Water


40,596.79 Taxes


Water


ASSESSORS


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


Elmer H. Ziegler William M. Rand, Jr. Frederick H. Greene, Jr., Chairman


The Board of Assessors submits the following report for the year 1959 :


During the year the Board completed a two-year study of land valuations prompted by the large changes that are taking place in market values. A result of this land re-appraisal and accompanying re-assessment was to increase the total assessed valuation of the Town by approximately $200,000, equivalent to a reduction of about $2.00 on the tax rate.


According to law, all real estate and personal property tax abatement requests must be filed with the Board on or before October 1st of the year in question.


All automobile excise tax abatement requests must be filed with the Board not later than June 30th of the succeeding year. No abatement may reduce the excise collected to less than $2.00


1959 Recapitulation


Total appropriations to be raised from taxation $ 933,161.60


Appropriations to be taken from available funds 95,933.19 179.41


Deficit in 1958 Overlay


State Tax and Assessments:


State Parks and Reservations


2,050.91


State Audit


1,454.47


County Tax and Assessments:


County Tax


17,711.42


Underestimate of County Tax for 1958


35.07


T. B. Hospital Assessment


3,009.03


Overlay of current year


17,897,25


Gross Amount to be raised


$1,071,432,35


Estimated Receipts and Available Funds : Income Tax


$ 68,923.84


Corporation Taxes


15,745.60


Re-imbursement a/c public land


724.67


Old Age Tax (Meals)


747.33


Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise


80,000.00


Old Age Assistance


14,742.95


Schools


19,273.35


Water Department


48,998.26


State Assistance for School Construction Interest


19,312.38


5,937.75


All others


12,220,82


$ 286,626.95


92


FINANCE


Total, Estimated Receipts & Available Funds $ 286,626.95 1958 Overestimate T. B. Hospital 116.40 1958 Overestimate State Parks 22.05 Appropriations voted to be taken from Available Funds


95,933.19


$ 382,698.59


Net amount to be raised by taxation on polls and property


688,733.76


$1,071,432.35


Number of polls 1095 at $2.00 $ 2,190.00


Total Valuation:


Personal Property


$803,022 at $83.


66,650.81


Real Estate


$7,468,590 at $83.


619,892.95


$8,271,612


$ 688,733.76


Number of acres of land assessed


7,873.21


Number of dwelling houses assessed


1,009


Tax Rate per $1,000.


$83.00


93


Protection of Lives and Property


POLICE DEPARTMENT


Leo J. Algeo, Chief


I hereby submit my report for the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1959.


Arrests by Lincoln Police 50


Arrests by State Police 14


Warning notices issued for


violations of motor vehicle law 98


Violations of motor vehicle law reported to Registry of Motor Vehicles 45


Motor vehicle accident report :


Accidents reported 131


Occupants injured 105


Occupants killed 2


The department now consists of the Chief, a Sergeant, and three Patrolmen. During the past year the use of Special Police Officers during vacation periods and at other times was increased considerably. This policy has almost completely eliminated the undesirable situation of having one man on duty at a time. Plans for 1960 call for a greater use of Special Officers for the purpose of expanding our traffic control work and in order to in- crease the coverage of our night patrol.


The effectiveness of our policies relative to vacant house checks and night patrols is reflected in the low incidence of housebreaks and larcenies reported to us.


Our target range continues to be the center of much activity. The department fires its' matches in the New England Police Revolver League on Friday nights. On Wednesday and Friday afternoons the Lincoln Junior Rifle Club fires under the direction of Sgt. MacInnis. Wednes- day during the day the "Nike" pistol team fires, and on Monday night and Saturday morning the Sudbury Junior Rifle


94


FIRE DEPARTMENT


Club uses the range. Wednesday night the range is open to residents of Lincoln from 7:30 P. M. to 9:30 P. M.


Members of the department attended a series of lect- ures given by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Con- cord during October and November.


Plans are now underway for a course in police work to be given at the Lincoln Station in January and February. This course will be conducted by Lt. James Corr of the Lexington Police Department, a recent graduate of the F. B. I. Academy in Washington, and will be attended by Lincoln regular and special officers.


The communications operators have continued to do an excellent job and they are to be commended for it.


FIRE DEPARTMENT


William M. Dean, Chief


William R. Doherty, Deputy Chief


Thomas Coan, Captain


Frank Gordon, Captain


The Department answered 141 alarms during the year,


as listed below:


Brush 41


Building and Accessories 29


Cars and Accidents


18


Edison wires


12


Miscellaneous


33


Stand By 8


This year we had five very good and instructive les- sons which were given by Chief Thomas Tombeno of the Con- cord Fire Department, for which we are very appreciative.


To all of us who worked with Chief Andrew J. Dougherty, he seemed young enough to go on forever and we regret that he had to retire this year because of his age.


We would like to impress upon all of the townspeople that they should get a permit to burn all outdoor fires


95


PROTECTION


that are not confined to a covered incinerator.


We wish to thank Wayland, Concord and Bedford Airport Fire Departments for their aid at fires and stand bys for us in the past year.


CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY


Eveleth R. Todd, Director


Civil Defense activities generally have been curtailed over the past few months due to a cut in the State budget. Because of reduced funds, our Sector headquarters in Bed- ford has been closed, which served as a valuable source of information, and, in times of emergency, guidance and assistance. It is hoped that sufficient money will again be appropriated so that these headquarters through- out the State can be re-activated.


During the past year, many hours have been spent in building a new Civil Defense headquarters and radio control center in the basement of the Town Hall. It is now prac- tically completed and our new home will, we believe, assist greatly in relieving the pressure for space in the upstairs rooms of the Town Hall. To all those who voluntarily gave their time and effort toward this project we are indeed grateful.


We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Elizabeth Causer found time to complete a very intensive course in Welfare Service at Topsfield. This service is a very important phase of Civil Defense and provides the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter in time of disaster. As part of this program two mobile field kitchens were ac- quired through the State Surplus Property Agency.


Work continues on the old Chevrolet fire truck which has been converted into a light rescue truck. Equipment is gradually being added and in due time, we feel, it will prove useful in supplementing the other protective agencies of the Town.


Although evacuation still remains on the books for those towns located in the so-called target areas (of which Lincoln is one), more and more emphasis is being


96


TREE WARDEN


placed on the need for protective shelters and food stock piling within each home in every community in the country. It would appear that the time is not too far distant when warning time will be practically non-existent and these shelters may well become the only means of protection from fallout and other hazards of nuclear explosions. Information on family fallout shelters will gladly be supplied on request.


TREE WARDEN


Albert S. Brooks


During the year the tree department has spent much of its time removing dead, dying and dangerous trees along the streets of the town and in the wires with the excellent cooperation of the Boston Edison Company, which has engaged the New England Tree Expert Company to do their part of this work in Lincoln at no expense to the town. I wish to thank the Edison Company and the New England Tree Com- pany for a good and necessary job well done. I hope we have found and removed most of the dangerous trees so that next year we can spend more of our time trimming and re- moving the dead wood which seems to be so badly needed on many of the trees of the town.


One hundred and fifty three diseased elm trees were cut down and disposed of.


The white oak leaf miner, taking us by surprise as it did with most everybody else, was not too well con- trolled. As we know more about it and are better prepared for it now, we hope to get better control of it next year on the public trees.


Brush and poison ivy spraying seems to have worked out very well with the newer method and materials and should be continued again next year and expanded to some of the streets where it has not been done.


I want to thank the highway department for all their help, both in time and equipment. They have contributed immeasurably to the efficiency of the tree department.


97


rt or


ed t.


ol - st rs ve


Health and Welfare


BOARD OF HEALTH


Gordon A. Donaldson, M. D., Chairman Lois Natoli William Halsey


The year 1959, in retrospect, was a busy one for the Board of Health. With an expanding population and a shrinking open land area, health problems of the present and of the future have been carefully weighed. Some de. cisions have been made, and there are other issues still to be resolved.


In March the Board organized with Dr. Gordon Donald. son, Chairman; Mrs. Lucy Bygrave, Secretary; Mr. William Halsey, member. Mrs. Marion Ober was appointed agent; Mr. William Davis, Burial Agent; Dr. Alden Russell, In- spector of Slaughtering; and Mr. George Browning, Jr., Inspector of Animals.


In the summer, Mrs. Bygrave was lost to the Board by reason of her moving from town, and Mrs. Lois Natoli was appointed by the Selectmen to fill the vacancy.


The following licenses were issued during the year 1959 :


Over-night cabins 1


Slaughtering of poultry 1 Piggeries 2 Sale of alcohol 6 Garbage transportation 2


In addition, routine inspections were made of pig- geries, restaurants, cider presses, stores, over-night cabins, and rest homes. As required by law, the follow- ing communicable diseases were reported: measles, 16; German measles, 8; chicken-pox, 5; mumps, 3; strep sore throat, 5; dog-bite, 5.


Two hundred and twenty-four dogs were innoculated against rabies at the annual dog clinic held in May in the town barn. This clinic provides the additional ser. vice of dog licensing, with the Town Clerk in charge.


98


HEALTH AND WELFARE


This is an important clinic, and is a service which the Board of Health has provided for some years. Rabies con- tinues to be a serious disease, and the owner of an un- inoculated dog runs the real risk of severe punishment.


The well-child clinic again functioned under Dr. John Davies, Mrs. Garrison, and a corps of able volunteers. This clinic is open to all infants and pre-school children; and examinations and various inoculations are given for a nominal fee. Appointment should be made through the town


nurse. This year, 38 babies, 32 pre-school children, and 7 kindergarten children were examined. This represents a fall-off from previous years, and we would call the attention of the townspeople to this clinic, run by a recognized authority in pediatrics.


The dental clinic at the school was again under the direction of Dr. James Oaks, with the assistance of the town nurse. The function of this clinic is described in the report of 1958. Bills to parents are sent for treat- ment only, and these bills now emanate from the Town House, rather than from the clinic itself. The Pierce Fund de- frays the cost of the diagnostic dental survey for each child.


Also, through the generosity of the Pierce Fund, there is now available in our schools a psychiatric service. Within the limits of the school, it is a diagnostic ser- vice, and headed by Dr. Chester D'Autremont. For the present, he is conducting seminars with the teachers them- selves, in an effort to educate them in personality prob- lems, and also help them in specific instances. In


addition to this, every second Monday Miss Carney, the social worker from the Walden Clinic, spends one-half day at the school. She is a highly-trained individual, and will further assist the teacher in evaluating and advising them in specific problems. The need for any psychiatric treatment will be drawn to the attention of the parents by school authorities, and any treatment will be under the direction of the parents. The Walden Clinic in Concord may be of real service here.


The need for further action against poliomyelitis was brought to the attention of the town by individual letter in May. There is a great indifference among some regarding these inoculations. The duration of effective- ness of the three initial shots is not yet fully determined,


99


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BOARD OF HEALTH


and the Massachusetts Public Health Service now recommends a fourth booster shot. Certainly, all under the age of 40 should have had three inoculations by now.


This year four land sub-divisions have been reviewed with the Planning Board, and four of these have been ap- proved. A further note as to the details our function in this area can be found in the report of 1958. The expense of the initial survey, percolation tests, etc., is borne by the developer, builder, or owner, on any given lot; and the town inspection, at the expense of the town, must be done at the time of installing the septic system by another recognized sanitary engineer representing the Board of Health.


A great deal of time was spent on the study of the fluorine question, and the value of fluorine in the pre- vention of dental decay. In 1958 a committee had been appointed by the Board, consisting of representative local citizens, and this committee, after a number of meetings, reported that the citizens of Lincoln should be given the facts and the right to accept or reject the proposal to


fluoridate the Lincoln water supply. Accordingly, on the evening of February 9th, the Board sponsored an open meet-


ing. It was the purpose of this meeting to disseminate expert information regarding fluorine, and a panel of four experts was assembled. Two of these were national author-


ities on the subject. The role of fluorine in tooth development, the toxicity of fluorine, the methodology of administering fluorine, and the specific method of admin- istration by water supply, were in turn explained. By State law, dated April 11, 1958, any vote on this subject by the townspeople must be initiated by the Board of Water Commissioners, and be endorsed by the Board of Health. At the moment, the matter rests here. The intrinsic value and safety of fluorine given in the proper dosage in the early years of life is unquestioned by the Board. The method of administration is the subject of debate in many communities.


This report would not be complete without reiterating our appreciation and gratitude to Mrs. Marion Ober for her twenty-six years of devoted service as town nurse and Board of Health agent. The gift which was presented to her at Town Meeting is only a token of the good wishes and warmth of feeling of the children and aged alike that she takes with her into retirement.


100


HEALTH AND WELFARE


NURSING COMMITTEE


Elizabeth C. Donaldson Louise McClennen Lois Natoli


The Nursing Committee met several times during the year with Mrs. Robert Bygrave acting as chairman. Mrs. Donald Natoli succeeded Mrs. Bygrave when the latter had to resign because of moving out of town.


In June Mrs. Clyde Ober retired from her position as Town Nurse. She had served the town for twenty-six years, and it was with great regret that her resignation was accepted.


Mrs. David Garrison was employed by the Board of Health to replace Mrs.Ober. The Nursing Committee and Mrs. Ober met with her several times to help orient her before taking on the job.


Members of the Nursing Committee have attended regional meetings of representatives of Visiting Nurse Associations from Wayland, Weston, Concord and Sudbury. Miss Sophie Kasparovitch, District Nursing Supervisor, acts as advisor to this group. The objective of this group is to exchange ideas and methods, and to see if any of the health services in the represented towns can be mutually beneficial. So far this committee has derived considerable advice on small problems, but feels that our town-wide nursing problems are not similar enough to the other towns, due to our small size, for us to need much help of this kind.




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