USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1946-1950 > Part 20
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These many changes not only make the work of the re- spective Boards of Public Welfare in the various towns constantly more difficult but has also greatly increased the cost. It would seem appropriate to point out that your Board has very definite responsibilities in administrating the welfare program to make sure that the investigating process should include an investigation of the ability of any member of the recipients family to contribute in whole or in part to his (her) support, the responsibility of receiving aid from other relatives, the possibility of compelling contributions from any person under obli- gation to do so.
Your Board accepts those responsibilities and has dili- gently pursued its investigation to see that all recipients are worthy cases entitled to relief under the laws of the Commonwealth. Your Board would like to point out, that its authority is limited in scope as to amounts paid under certain relief categories and that in this respect it must follow the regulations laid down by the Depart- ment of Public Welfare of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts. A recent example of this is an increase of 8.3 % in family budgets as required by the laws of the Common- wealth.
There was voted at the March 1948 Town Meeting $27,000.00 for Old Age Assistance; $9,200.00 for Aid to Dependent Children and $11,000.00 for General Relief. The amounts approved for Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children were insufficient to meet the needs and your Board was forced to ask the July 1948 Town
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Meeting to approve additional amounts of $10,388.75 for Old Age Assistance and $4,763.31 for Aid to Dependent Children. These amounts were approved by the Town Meeting.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Old Age Assistance is a type of aid that is granted to citizens, 65 years of age or over, in need of public assis- tance. It is not a pension although erroneously referred to as such by many.
The funds available and expenses of Old Age Assis- tance for 1948 are as follows :
AVAILABLE FUNDS
Town Appropriation
$37,388.75
1947 Balance Federal Grants
Aid
241.51
Adm.
78.14
1948 Federal Grants, Aid
20,685.32
1948 Federal Grants, Adm.
610.79
Cancelled checks
710.28
$59,714.79
EXPENSES
Administration
$1,632.17
Cash Aid
51,834.75
Payments, Other Towns
2,470.40
Balances :
Town Appropriation
627.13
Federal Grants
3,150.34
$59,714.79
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** Note. These funds are not available to the Board of Public Welfare for 1949 but are credited to the Town's general funds.
Active cases January 1, 1948 73
Cases closed during the year 19
Cases opened during the year 16
Active cases December 31, 1948 70
Average monthly number of persons 72
Average monthly cost $4,259.54
Average monthly cost per person 59.16
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Aid to Dependent Children is a type of public assistance granted for the care of a dependent child under the age of sixteen, or under the age of eighteen if found to be regu- larly attending school, who has been deprived of parental support or care by reason of death, continued absence from home or physical or mental incapacity of parent, and who is living with his father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle or aunt in a place of resi- dence maintained by one or more of such relatives as his or their own home whether or not they or any of them have a settlement within the Comonwealth. Each case aid- ed must be visited in the home at least once every three months, and the individuals resources and needs are re- viewed and adjusted by the Board as necessary.
The funds available and expenses of Aid to Dependent Children for 1948 are as follows :
AVAILABLE FUNDS
Town Appropriation
$13,963.31
1947 Balance Federal Grants
Aid
757.53
Adm.
17.21
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1948 Federal Grants, Aid
3,239.70
1948 Federal Grants, Adm.
277.30
$18,255.05
EXPENSES
Administration
$781.08
Cash Aid
13,493.65
Balances :
Town Appropriation
3,421.99
Federal Grants
558.33
$18,255.05
** Note. These funds are not available to the Board of Public Welfare for 1949 but are credited to the Town's general funds.
Active cases January 1, 1948 9
Cases closed during the year 3
Cases opened during the year 1
Active cases December 31, 1948
7
Average monthly number of families 8
Average monthly number of individuals 36
Average monthly cost $1,124.47
Average monthly cost per family 139.11
Average monthly cost per individual 30.95
GENERAL RELIEF
General Relief is a type of public assistance that would not fall under either Old Age Assistance or Aid to De- pendent Children, it is almost always of a temporary nature. There is no reimbursement from the federal government in this category, however, the Commonwealth does reimburse the Town 100% on all cases having no
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settlement within the Commonwealth (a "settlement" refers to legal residence as defined by Chapter 116 of the General Laws.)
The sum of $11,000.00 voted at the March 1948 Town Meeting to carry on the work in this category was not sufficient so your Board had to request the Finance Committee to transfer $321.07 from the Reserve Fund to meet the emergency needs for the balance of December. This amount was still insufficient to cover all outstanding expenses and $147.07 is still needed to fulfill our 1948 obligations.
The funds available and expenses of General Relief for 1948 are as follows :
AVAILABLE FUNDS
Town Appropriation
$11,000.00
December transfer from Reserve
321.07
Unpaid 1948 expenses
147.07
Cancelled check
16.75
$11,484.89
EXPENSES
Administration
$1,888.24
Family maintenance
1,631.21
Medical
1,353.91
Cash allowance
5,556.25
Burial
50.00
Other Towns
551.05
Institutions
290.21
Unpaid bills
147.07
Unexpended
16.95
$11,484.89
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Total number of cases handled 162
Average number of cases per month 13.5
Average monthly cost $712.55
Average monthly cost per case 52.77
Last year there were many requests from the citizens for the actual net cost to the Town. Your Board has pre- pared the following table showing the net cost for the year 1948 in all three categories.
Total Expense
O.A.A.
$55,937.32
A.D.C.
14,274.73
G.R.
11,467.94
$81,679.99
F.G. Aid
Reimbursements
O.A.A.
$21,394.06
A.D.C.
3,250.40
G.R.
$24,644.46
F.G. Administration
Reimbursements
O.A.A.
$1,163.98
A.D.C.
403.65
G.R.
$1,567.63
State
Reimbursements
O.A.A.
$21,764.47
A.D.C.
4,497.54
G.R.
1,961.21
$28,223.22
Other
Reimbursements
O.A.A.
$923.26
A.D.C.
2,206.12
$3,129.38
Cost to Duxbury
O.A.A.
$10,691.55
A.D.C.
6,123.14
G.R.
7,300.61
G.R.
$24,115.30
From the above figures it is pointed out that the net cost to the Town is only 29.5% of the total expenditure.
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FORECAST FOR 1949
After a very diligent study of conditions, your Board cannot find any reasonable indices to anticipate that the number of relief cases to be handled in 1949 will be less than in 1948. Due to the aforementioned increase of 8.3 % in family relief budgets, your Board anticipates that the amounts to be expended on relief in 1949 will be some- what higher than in 1948. However, due to an increase in the amount of Federal Grants, the Board is asking the Town Meeting to vote an appropriation of $58,500.00 which is $3,852.06 less than was voted and approved for 1948.
Your Board desires to point out that there are a great many Bills pending at both the Federal and State levels pertaining to Public Assistance. If passed they will in- crease the cost of public welfare by unestimated thousands of dollars in so far as Duxbury alone is concerned. Your Board is in no position to forecast the final action of the United States Congress or the State Legislature and has made no provisions in its estimate of 1949 costs for the passage of any of these Bills.
The 1949 budgets are made up as follows :
Old Age Assistance
Aid to Dependent Children
General Relief
Administrative
Expense
$2,772.97
$961.64
$1,353.39
Cash Aid
55,356.48
14,614.02
8,163.20
Other Towns
2,000.00
1,150.00
Food
1,249.25
Clothing
86.25
Medical
1,599.53
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Burial
115.00
Institutions
805.00
Total $60,129.45 $15,575.66 $14,521.62
Less Federal Grants
27,306.49
4,493.32
Balance $32,822.96 $11,082.34 $14,521.62
Appropriation Needed $32,850.00 $11,100.00 $14,550.00
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts reimburses the Town on standard formulas in all three categories, but as the monies are credited to the Town's general funds and are not available to the Board of Public Welfare, they are not deducted from the budgets shown in this report. However, assuming that there will not be any material changes in the classifications, it is probable that the net cost to the Town will not be over approximately $26,616.88 equal to 29.5% of the estimated total expenditures in all three categories.
The undersigned wish to again express their apprecia- tion to the citizens of Duxbury for their continued co- operation. If you have any questions, your Board will gladly furnish you with any information, provided it is not pertinent to any individual being aided.
Respectfully submitted,
BARBARA S. MULLOWNEY, Chairman STANLEY H. MERRY SARAH A. STANNARD
CARL J. SANTHESON, Jr. ROBERT SEYMOUR
Board of Public Welfare
Bureau of Old Age Assistance
61
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CEMETERIES
To the Cemetery Trustees :
I submit my report for the year 1948. Again the gen- eral work was done. The dead wood was pruned from the trees and several dead trees were removed.
The leaves were raked, the Avenues and walks edged and cleaned.
Ashdod and Dingley Cemeteries were cared for and the fence at Dingley repaired and painted, so were the guns and fence at Standish Cemetery.
At all the Cemeteries the signs were repaired, painted and relettered.
Perpetual and Annual care lots were cared for. There were forty-eight interments this year.
Respectfully submitted,
LAUREL B. FREEMAN, Superintendent of Cemeteries.
62
REPORT OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
and the Citizens of Duxbury :
We submit the following report for the year 1948.
The report of the Superintendent of Cemeteries has been received and is made a part of this report.
A careful study of the various parts of the cemetery work has been made and some increase in charges appear necessary. These have been made and the Annual Care charge has been increased to $5.00.
We continue to urge that all lots be placed in Perpetual Care. Where this is not possible at once, a clause in each one's Will should provide for this. It is hoped in this way to have all lots possible cared for and maintain a good appearing cemetery at a nominal cost to the Tax-payers.
We ask that $9,699.00 be appropriated for the use of the Cemetery Department.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY A. TAMMETT, Chairman J. NEWTON SHIRLEY, Secretary ERNEST H. BAILEY EDWARD P. HOBART STANLEY W. JOHNSON
63
REPORT OF PARKS AND PLAYGROUND
COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
We submit herewith a report of the Parks and Play- ground Committee for the year 1948.
During the season we have maintained the playground at Train Field and built up the ball diamond by adding considerable loam.
The two tennis courts were repaired and resurfaced with clay. These courts are now used by the school chil- dren and residents of the town.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Chairman ANNIE E. DUNHAM CHARLES R. CROCKER
64
REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith the report of the Public Health Nurse for the year 1948, for services rendered under the town appropriation which pays the salary of the nurse for this purpose.
Classification
Cases
Visits
Bedside visits
Old Age Assistance
7
196
Aid to the Blind
1
1
General Relief
1
1
Instructive visits
Contagious Disease
5
9
Crippled Children
6
22
Tuberculosis (cases and contacts)
8
16
Totals
28
246
Other Activities
Well-Child Conference - 3 meetings, 34 attended (P.T.A. sponsored)
Diphtheria Clinics - 3 meetings, 119 immunized (Preventive)
Transportation
Massachusetts General Hospital 2 trips
Brockton Orthopedic Clinic 5 trips
Plymouth County Hospital 5 trips
Respectfully submitted,
SUSAN E. CARTER, R. N. Duxbury Public Health Nurse.
65
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Attendance at the Duxbury Free Library for the year 1948 reached the figure of 9,153. The system of checking at the desk, though quite accurate, unavoidably fails to record every visitor, so that the total is always somewhat greater than our official list.
Books acquired through purchase and gift came to 775. This is less than usual, due to the inflation of the book market which shows no signs of dropping its prices. The Library's book budget was exhausted before the end of the year and no books were bought during Nov. and Dec. Until prices do return to a more reasonable level acquisi- -tions will not approach the figures of previous years.
The Library building is greatly in need of certain re- pairs, especially in relation to its roofing, and walls dam- aged by leaks. The lighting system was improved by the addition of new fixtures in the basement, the Biography room and the rear of the Rotunda. The old and too heavy sign, broken by several falls, was replaced by a new one stating the hours of service. It hangs at the entrance to the grounds.
For the information of new patrons all fiction is shelved on the first floor. The basement, open to the public like the rest of the Library, has several thousand volumes of non-fiction; music, art, history, travel, philosophy, re- ligion, psychology, genealogy, political economy, etc., etc.
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New patrons to the number of 144 were given users' cards during the year, an important fact and a record I believe.
At the regular Annual Meeting Mr. Bartlett B. Bradley was unanimously elected Treasurer of the Library Cor- poration to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. William H. Young, who has so efficiently served the Board for many years.
Respectfully submitted,
FISHER AMES, Secretary and Librarian.
67
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC.
For the Year 1948
Income Account
Receipts :
Cash on hand January 1, 1948
$242.25
From various trust funds :
Wright
$2,950.74
Winsor
250.98
Harding
61.71
Hathaway
58.00
Duxbury Hall
279.75
Lucy Hathaway
335.44
$3,936.62
From Town of Duxbury
$1,750.00
$5,928.87
Expenditures :
Wages (Including adjustments to bring this item in line with cal- endar year·)
$3,296.40
Books
1,235.44
Insurance
323.10
Repairs and Improvements
174.77
Fuel Oil
533.29
Electricity
195.04
Other operating Expense
91.95
$5,849.99
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Cash on hand January 1, 1949
78.88
$5,928.87
Principal Account
Uninvested Principal January 1, 1948
$340.37
Rights Sold
39.54
$379.91
Uninvested Principal January 1, 1949
$379.91
Respectfully submitted,
BARTLETT B. BRADLEY,
Treasurer.
69
REPORT OF THE TOWN HISTORIAN
1948
Interest in the early history of Duxbury often leads us to forget its recent interesting places, persons and events. An informal talk to the pupils of our public schools show- ed that our children are very much alive, not only to our Pilgrim history, but to the events and persons of Duxbury in the making.
In a paper which bears the title "The Memories of An Octogenarian", Mr. Herbert Walker has preserved for us some of the names and places which fill the gap be- tween our ancient and modern days. He has kindly given me permission to quote from his paper which deals with the Millbrook Neighborhood.
"With the passing of time names once in common use have been given up. I think it probable that if I should use the names Hound's Ditch, Arnold's Brook, Peg Road, Gallows Gate Hill, The Boarding House, Windmill Hill, The Constant Southworth House, The Herring Wier, I should be asked where these places were."
"The church service at the time of my earliest recollec- tion was very simple. The music was almost wholly of hymns and there was no responsive reading. In fact the congregation had little to do but join in the hymns and listen."
"Harrison Street was named for President Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe."
70
"On the corner of Tremont and Alden Streets is the house of Major Judah Alden. The older generation al- ways spoke of Alden Street as 'The Major's Pasture'."
"At the Simmons House on West Street (Route 14 to automobilists) is a road leading to North Duxbury or Crooked Lane. This road crosses Peg Road, now Church Street, and farther on the Herring Weir."
"Near the Duxbury pumping station is Crab Island with the Constant Southworth House. Governor Bradford married for his second wife the widow of Constant South- worth."
"FORD'S STORE. The peculiar appearance of the structure was caused by adding buildings to it. A black- smith's shop which stood opposite the site of Legion Hall was the last to be added. The last sign of the Ford's bore the legend Nathaniel Ford and Sons, Eng. and W. I. Goods, which I have been told was painted by Jacob Burgess. When I was a boy I never thought of the full meaning of W. I. Goods. Recently I read that the foundation for many a snug fortune was laid in the trade of W. I. Goods."
"Among noted people whom I remember to have seen in Ford's Store was Miss Adelaide Phillips the contralto singer whose home was in Marshfield."
THE CHRISTMAS WAS WHITE.
WALTER R. HUNT, Town Historian.
71
REPORT OF SHELLFISH CONSTABLE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Duxbury, Massachusetts
I respectfully submit my report as Shellfish Constable for the year 1948.
Because of the snow and ice there was no digging of shellfish in the bay until February 3rd. On that date the razorfish digging commenced and three to five men dug razorfish throughout the year.
Twenty to twenty-two men dug quahaugs, mussels, sea- worms, and a few clams during the summer and fall months.
There is a fair amount of small razorfish and quahaugs in the bay, and there are small sets of seed clams in differ- ent closed areas. One hundred forty and a half bushels of seed clams were planted in the closed areas in the bay. This work was done in cooperation with Mr. Charles L. Wheeler of the State Department of Marine Fisheries, at a cost of $327.81 for the clams and $45.00 for labor of planting clams.
Mr. Wheeler, a graduate Biologist of Harvard Univer- sity, has worked for the National Museum in Washington, has had six years experience as a shellfish biologist for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and was recent- ly appointed Biologist for the State Department of Marine Fisheries. Mr. Wheeler has shown his willingness to coop- erate with the towns and to assist the shellfish industry in its uphill struggle for existence.
72
Twenty-nine Commercial permits at $2.50 were issued total $72.50. Nine Hundred Thirty-eight family permits, thirty of which were free to people seventy years of age and over, and the remainder at 25 cents each, were issued during the year - total $227.00.
Following is the record of shellfish and seaworms taken commercially during the year :
1400 bushels of quahaugs @ $2.25 $3,150.00
49 bushels of quahaugs @ $4.00 196.00
550 bushels of quahaugs @ $2.00
1,100.00
75 bushels of quahaugs @ $3.00
225.00
39 bushels of clams @ $6.00
234.00
30 bushels of clams @ $7.00
210.00
51 bushels of clams @ $5.00
255.00
15 bushels of mussels @ $2.00
30.00
29 bushels of seaclams @ $4.00
116.00
484 bushels of razorfish @ $4.00
1,936.00
318 bushels of razorfish @ $7.00
2,226.00
9164 seaworms @ .05 apiece 458.20
$10,136.20
Forty-three notices were sent grant holders requesting a report of the amount of work done on grants. There were 1,096 bushels of quahaugs and 59 bushels of clams planted on grants this year. Forty-three Annual Fee forms were sent out, and $64.50 collected in Annual Fees from grant holders. During the year six clam grants were cancelled.
Three clam grants were issued at $5.00 during the year, making a total of $30.00.
Numerous signs were made and put up along the shore and two dories were found and returned.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. McNEIL, Shellfish Constable.
73
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
December 31, 1948
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
and Citizens of Duxbury :
In accordance with the vote of the Town at its annual meeting held March 6, 1948 and adjourned to March 20, 1948, the Planning Board took steps to get the approval of the Attorney-General to the amendment to the Protective By-Law so that paragraph (a) of Section 8 shall hence- forth read as follows: "Section 8. ADMINISTRATION. (a) Enforcement. This By-Law shall be enforced by the Board of Selectmen, either directly or by an inspector appointed by them; and upon any well founded informa- tion as to a violation, the Board shall take immediate steps to enforce this By-Law in any manner provided by law. No person shall erect or externally alter a building or other structure in this town without a permit from the Selectmen granted upon application made to them upon a form prescribed by them. If the Selectmen find that the construction, location and proposed use of the building or structure to which the application relates in the place specified in the application are authorized by this By-Law, they shall grant such permit; otherwise, they shall refuse it." The Board consulted with Mr. Philip Nichols, Attor- ney, who obtained the approval of the Attorney-General's office to the amendment substantially as drawn up for the Planning Board by Mr. Nichols.
PARKING. Your Board feels that "parallel parking" on the easterly side of Standish Street at Hall's Corner has helped. We believe that if it is made more obvious to strangers that a Rotary exists at Hall's Corner, perhaps by large letters on the roadbed, the situation would be im-
74
proved still further. We have recommended that. The Board will continue to have the matter in mind and try to recommend other methods of relief.
MASTER PLAN AND BUILDING CODE. A master plan for Duxbury with the idea of preserving what we have, rather than creating the new, is considered by many people to be of value. The same may be said of a building code. While we concur in this opinion, we feel that a con- siderable amount of town planning is possible within the existing town departments at little expense. Master plans and building codes cost money and we do not at present see a benefit to Duxbury commensurate with the cost. If the Town indicates by vote that they want these, we will, of course, develop them.
PEST CONTROL. We are in sympathy with this movement. One of our members has made a study and turned over to the Selectmen data bearing on the subject. We recommend that the Selectmen be empowered to take appropriate action. - The elimination or substantial re- duction of mosquitos, gnats, ticks, etc. will make our town a much better place to live. Other towns are doing it.
Zoning in the ordinary sense of the word is, perhaps, the main consideration of your Board. The good coopera- tion of the Selectmen is greatly appreciated.
Miss Mary N. Gifford decided to retire from the Plan- ning Board and her successor was elected last March. Miss Gifford's keen interest in the welfare of Duxbury and her accurate appraisal of situations calling for good judgment have been of great help to the Planning Board and benefit to the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
OLIVER H. BARKER KENNETH G. GARSIDE ARTHUR H. MURPHY MARGARET W. ROGERSON PERCY L. WALKER
75
REPORT OF WORLD WAR MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
1948
Your War Memorial Committee came into being as a result of a vote by the Town at the Annual Meeting in 1946, directing the appointment by the Moderator of such a committee charged with proposing to the Town an idea for a "permanent and useful" War Memorial. The Committee was organized and commenced its work in May of that year.
At the Town Meeting of 1947 the Committee was pre- pared to report on the various proposed memorials which it had considered, and was prepared to submit in detail the plan of a Memorial Recreation Area at the beach end of the Gurnet Bridge as being in its opinion the most use- ful, practical, and suitable for the Town of Duxbury. A report was given in the Town Report issued at that time and committee members elaborated upon the plan on the Town Meeting floor. The suggestion of the Committee was favorably acted upon by the Town and the Committee was continued and directed to consult with the Trustees of the Duxbury Beach Association to the end that the Town might be able to acquire sufficient land at the beach for such a recreation area.
The Duxbury Beach Association, although frankly sat- isfied to leave their management of the beach undisturbed, consented to work out an agreement which might fulfill the wish of the Town. Your Committee, knowing the often demonstrated public spirit of the Trustees, felt much encouraged and willingly gave serious consideration to the proposal of the Trustees that a charitable trust might be
76
formed to control and develop the area similar to the type of trust controlling the Public Library. The Trustees of the Beach Association took the position that outright con- veyance to the Town by gift or sale without a previously established vehicle for control did not sufficiently protect the obligations imposed upon them by the trust agreement of 1919 under which that Association operates.
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