USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1951-1955 > Part 19
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During the Christmas vacation the grass on the baseball diamond and outfield was fertilized. Due to the unexpected rebuilding of the softball diamond this year, the fertilizing of the remaining part of Train Field will be done in the spring.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Superintendent, Parks and Playgrounds.
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Report of Recreation Committee
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Activities in the Town Hall during the past year have been many and varied, as the hall was in use practically every night and many afternoons especially during the winter season.
Improvements in the hall include new flooring in the kitchen and new shelves. The kitchen is now fully equipped with stove, sink, and refrigerator for the convenience of any units using the hall.
The ladies' room has also been repainted.
The Bonhomme Club (children aged 12-15) got off to a delayed start due to the difficulty of obtaining a suitable director in place of Mr. Vaughan who has left Duxbury. Mr. Richard Beveridge now has the situation well in hand with between 40 and 50 children partici- pating in the program.
There seems to be some difficulty in creating en- thusiasm for the re-establishment of the Myles Standish Club, also in obtaining a suitable director, but the committee is applying itself to the problem.
Other groups using the hall are much the same as last year, namely:
Boy Scouts of America
Cub Scouts
St. John's Sunday School
Congregational Sunday School
Various dancing classes (including adult)
Other church groups etc.
The 1953 appropriation of $1616.00 was expended as budgeted except for the fact that maintenance was more than anticipated and directors' salaries less.
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Our budget this year calls for $1181.00 as against $1616.00 for 1953 due to reduction in director's salaries. Should the committee be successful in re-activating the Myles Standish Club every effort will be made to accomplish this financially this year without further assistance from the town.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN HUTCHEON, Chairman, Duxbury Recreation Committee.
Report of Tarkiln Youth Center
During the past year our Teen-age group was disbanded due to seeming lack of interest on the part of the young people.
It has now become a community building and some youth activity on a more limited scale has once again been commenced under the supervision of residents of the area.
A great deal of use has been made of the hall by young people's (below teen age) groups and neighbor- hood adult groups.
Construction of the new kitchen has been completed and the interior has been redecorated.
The Selectmen completed the painting of the build- ing exterior.
This year we will not need to ask the Town for any public appropriation, and the committee, at this time, wants to thank the Town for its splendid interest and generous support.
Respectfully submitted,
EMILY P. LORING, Secretary PAUL APRIL, Treasurer CLARA BENEVIDES, President
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Insect Pest Control
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report on Insect Pest Control for the year ending December 31, 1953.
The destruction and unsightliness in the past, caused by the Tent Caterpillar, Elm Leaf Beetle, Gypsy and Brown Tail moths and Fall Web Worm, was conspicuous by its absence. Preventive spraying was done for each insect group.
The Gypsy Moth trapping program was followed again this year. A total of 30 male moths were caught in the traps. This is a little more than four times as many as caught last year. In the final analysis, this increase may have been due to the tornado winds of June 9th.
The Plymouth County trapping program showed an increase in catches in all towns located in the outer edge of the course taken by the Worcester tornado.
A heavy infestation of Army Worms appeared in a hay-field and it was necessary to lay down a barrier of DDT to protect a cornfield and two cranberry bogs.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Superintendent, Insect Pest Control.
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Report of the Holdover Committee on the Control of Elm Tree Disease
The record of our Tree Department in the control of Dutch Elm Tree Disease during the year 1953 has been outstanding in the whole state.
Eleven trees out of some 1800 were lost. This is 6/10th of one percent. This compares with 33 lost here in 1952. We feel that this record is due to the spray program introduced this year whereby all private trees were sprayed as well as the public trees.
It is of the utmost importance in the continuance of this program that all landowners locate all elms that cannot be serviced by the town sprayer. Small wild- lings should be taken out and larger trees watched constantly.
At this time all dead or broken branches should be trimmed out ruthlessly.
We are very fortunate to have the best Tree Depart- ment in the State.
MALCOLM C. BROCK, Chairman. ROY E. PARKS, ROBERT S. CROCKER, KENNETH G. GARSIDE, HECTOR M. HOLMES.
Jan., 1954.
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Control of Dutch Elm Disease
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report on the Control of Dutch Elm Disease for the year ending December 31, 1953.
Work on the dormant spraying of our elm trees was started a week earlier than last year, but due to so much rain and foggy weather in April, it was not completed until the first week of May. All elm trees (public and private) that could be reached without too much damage to lawns, were sprayed with a 12% DDT solution before the trees came out in leaf. All elm trees received the 6% DDT leaf spray for the control of Elm Leaf Beetle. All elm trees in the vicinity of a diseased elm received a third application of 6% DDT.
Scouting for this disease starts the middle of June and continues through September. All elms are checked for the disease at least three times during the summer.
We have two cases where we have cut a branch thirty feet below the top - where the first symptoms of the disease appears in the leaves-in order to get below the infection and trying to save the remainder of the tree, but up to the present time this has been unsuccessful.
This year there have been eleven Dutch Elm dis- eased trees out of 1,800 trees that we have sprayed, with exception of one diseased tree in a swamp that was not sprayed. All diseased trees including this tree have been removed.
Last year there were thirty-two diseased trees out of 1,800, but all trees were not sprayed. It looks as though the spraying of all elm trees will pay off.
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Out of the eleven diseased trees this year, six of them are a result of natural root grafts underground.
The five new diseased trees, or top infections, occurred in the group of trees sprayed on the last day of the spray program in daytime spraying. Un- questionably night spraying has the advantage in many ways over daytime spraying.
We have had Dutch Elm Disease in Duxbury for over seven years and our percentage of control has been better than 99% each year for the seven year period on the trees that we have cared for.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Tree Warden.
Report of the Tree Warden
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
and the Citizens of Duxbury:
I submit herewith the report of the Tree Depart- ment for the year 1953.
The 1,000 young White Pine seedlings that we carried over in the nursery from last year (because of unfavorable planting conditions) were transplanted in the Town Forest in the spring. The fall checkup on these trees showed better than a 95% catch.
The trees in our nursery were taken up and moved to a new location. Additional stock in several varieties has been added. There have been 27 trees planted along streets the past season.
Spraying, pruning, cabling and removing dead and dangerous trees was done where necessary.
ROY E. PARKS,
Tree Warden.
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Report of Chief of Police
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
Following is the report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1953.
LIST OF OFFENCES
Assault and Battery
3
Delinquency
5
Driving a Motor Vehicle to endanger life
1
Driving a Motor Vehicle while intoxicated
4
Disturbing the Peace
1
Drunkenness
14
Larceny of Auto
1
Malicious destruction of property
1
Illegitimate Child Act
1
Motor Vehicle laws violated
2
Non Support
1
Violation of Town Ordinance
2
36
DISPOSITIONS
Fined
9
Dismissed
4
Released
5
Filed
4
House of Correction
1
Not Guilty
2
Probation
6
Continued
5
36
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MISCELLANEOUS
Complaints investigated 1342
Emergency messages delivered 50
Emergency trips with cruiser
10
Motor violations recorded
122
Cars tagged for parking violations
144
Beach stickers issued
2031
Shellfish permits issued
818
Pistol permits issued
42
Motor vehicle accidents investigated
54
Summons served for outside police
58
Arrests made for outside police
3
Committed insane
4
Children reported lost and returned to parents 37
Animals returned to owners
58
Animals destroyed for owners
50
Accidental deaths investigated
3
Air defense warning tests recorded
301
Miles traveled by patrol car
64,298
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES T. O'NEIL, Chief of Police.
Date: January 9, 1954
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Report of Shellfish Constable
To The Honorable Board Of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report as Shellfish Con- stable for the year 1953.
This year we have been able to gather large quantities of Bay Scallops in the area between Clark's Island and the main channel, and also from areas on the Powder Point shore and vicinity. Besides being welcomed as a most delicious seafood I feel it will mean additional income for the residents of Duxbury.
The Biologists from The Division of Marine Fish- eries feel that the arrival of the scallops is due to New England's climate warming up and the warming of the waters North of Cape Cod Bay. Since a major part of the scallops are found where the eel grass is heaviest it seems that the increased growth of eel grass might influence the propagation of scallops.
During the summer months one man worked part time in the areas where we have small clam seed, picking and destroying horseshoe crabs and cockles. 1,555 crabs and 41/2 pails of cockles were picked and destroyed. We paid $41.80 for this work, a small cost for the benefit derived thereby.
Fifty-three commercial permits at $2.50 each were issued, twenty-five since the October 1 open season on scallops - total $132.50. 1,032 family permits, 29 of which were free to people seventy years of age or over, 80 at .25 each and 923 at .50 each, were issued during the year - total $481.50.
Following is the record of shellfish taken by com-
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mercial diggers, who worked intermittently during the year:
319 bushels of Razorfish @ 4.00
$1,276.00
293 bushels of Razorfish @ 4.331/3
1,269.67
1391/2 bushels of Razorfish @ 6.00
840.00
42
bushels of Razorfish @ 5.00 210.00
30
bushels of Razorfish @ 8.00
240.00
902
bushels of Quahaugs @ 2.00
1,804.00
47
bushels of Quahaugs @ 4.00
188.00
32
bushels of Quahaugs @ 3.50
112.00
66 bushels of Quahaugs @ 3.00 198.00
50 bushels of Quahaugs @ 2.50
125.00
21 bushels of Clams @ 10.00
210.00
17 bushels of Clams @ 8.00
136.00
98 bushels of Mussels @ 2.00
196.00
500
Pounds of Periwinkles @ .08 1b.
40.00
8,000
Seaworms @ 21/2 cents apiece
200.00
15,000
Seaworms @ 31/2 cents apiece
525.00
6,000
Seaworms @ 5 cents apiece
300.00
3,500
Seaworms @ 3 cents apiece
105.00
621/2 bushels of Scallops @ 3.50
218.75
$8,193.42
Holders of Commercial Permits dug an additional 2571/2 bushels of Scallops with a value of $899.50 @ 3.50 a bushel, which they put into freezers or gave away, and 11 bushels of sea clams.
Residents of the town and holders of Family Per- mits took an estimated 200 Bushels of scallops from the Powder Point area.
Seventeen notices were sent grantholders request- ing a report of work done on grants.
There were 604 bushels of quahaugs, and 10 bushels
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of Clams planted on grants this year. 200 bushels of Quahaugs were taken from grants in 1953.
During the year 1 clam grant was renewed, 1 transferred and 2 issued at a charge of $5.00 each - Total $20.00.
Seventeen annual fee forms were sent out and $24.75 was collected as annual fee assessments from grant holders.
I arrested two men for dredging of shellfish and digging of shellfish without permits. They were assessed five dollars each at Plymouth District Court.
The Regulations have been revised and the penalty for the violation of any of these regulations "shall be a fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars for each offense and the revocation of the license or permit."
The corner stakes were put out on one clam grant and all shellfish regulation signs kept in repair.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. McNEIL,
Shellfish Constable.
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Report of Veterans' Agent
January 11, 1954
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report as Agent and Director for the Department of Veterans' Services for the year 1953.
During the year this Department has had consid- erable more work because Veterans of the Korean conflict are being discharged intermittently and are eligible for many State and Federal benefits and require assistance in filing for them. We now find that World War I Veterans require more assistance and attention because they now are reaching an age where they are more susceptible to sickness and it is much harder for them to obtain steady employment.
We were successful in obtaining three Federal Pen- sions with retroactive awards for Veterans and their dependants.
We have continued to register young men for Draft Board No. 129 where it is necessary for them to register, within 5 days after they reach 18 years of age.
This year we had a total of 12 cases, representing 35 persons who received Ordinary Benefits. Our ap- propriation was $7,160.00, and due to unemployment and unforseen medical expenses it was necessary to obtain from the Finance Committee an additional sum of $310.00 to carry this Department through the last month of the year. The State Department of Veterans Services will reimburse the Town for approximately half of the amount expended.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. McNEIL,
Agent.
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Assessors' Report
This year the Board of Assessors voted to improve its facilities for road work. The need for road-work aids is best illustrated by the following comparison:
1943
1953
Number of Houses
1543
1967
Number of Polls
916
1271
Although there are more year 'round residents and more houses, the number of livestock to be assessed has dropped in the last ten year period.
1943
1953
Horses
21
13
Cows
100
80
Neat Cattle other than Cows
16
92
Swine
38
8
Sheep
7
35
Fowl
8578
6385
Goats
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14
Land in Duxbury has been cut into smaller parcels as illustrated by the fact that 1739 people owned all of the real estate in 1943, whereas in 1953 there were 2284 owners of real estate in this town.
Contrasting 1943 and 1953 values of Duxbury real estate shows how land values have increased:
1943
1953
Value of Buildings
$5,404,263
$7,522,795
Value of Land
1,764,577
2,045,225
$7,168,840
$9,568,020
Although the value of land in Duxbury has increased nearly $400,000., the number of acres of land subject to taxation has changed very little:
1943
1953
Acreage
13,690 13,423
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Personal property subject to taxation has increased also, from $357,732 in 1943 to $739,230 in 1953. This in- crease is due in part to a considerable increase in the value of poles and wires of public utilities and partly due to increased values of stock in trade owned by local merchants.
In 1953 Duxbury was required to raise the sum of $11,312.34 towards the support of the Plymouth County T. B. Hospital.
Duxbury was also assessed the sum of $30,145.79 as a county tax. This money helps support the Registry of Deeds, the Plymouth Superior Court and the district courts, county highways and other county level agencies.
In 1953 Duxbury raised $505.45 towards the State Parks and Reservation system.
The cost of this year's audit of our municipal ac- counts was $1,053.99.
Better than anything else the following comparison indicates the rapid growth of municipal costs in the Town of Duxbury:
1943
1953
Taxes on Personal Estate
$7,691.24
$31,786.89
Taxes on Real Estate
154,130.06
411,424.86
$161,821.30
$443,211.75
Assessors visited every parcel of real estate and. made every effort to equalize valuations throughout the town.
In 1953 the value of motor vehicles in Duxbury reached an all time high of $994,980. It must be kept in mind that this is an all over figure covering every car registered in Duxbury, and that by reason of the fre- quent transfer and sale of automobiles the actual value
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of the cars in town would be considerably less than this. Excise taxes of $43,201.63 were assessed. This, too, is an all over figure and many abatements were granted as the result of sales and transfers.
CHARLES R. CROCKER, Chairman PHILIP W. DELANO FRANCIS W. PERRY
Forest and Helen Partch Cemetery Flower Fund
Principal received in 1953
Interest added in 1953
$300.00 6.75
$306.75
Interest withdrawn
2.25
$304.50
General Care and Improvement Fund
Deposit in 1953
$25.00
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Report of Board of Health
I herewith submit my report as agent for the Board of Health.
There were considerably more cases of commun- icable diseases this year, but mumps was the only one which was really widespread. The figures for the year were as follows:
Chicken Pox 52
German Measles
5
Measles
3
Mumps
167
Poliomyelitis
5
Whooping Cough
2
Venereal ยท
1
Dogbite
8
Families are again urged to report all communi- cable cases to the health agent when they are so mild as not to require a doctor's services. Doctors are by law required to report all cases that they see.
In December of 1953 the Board of Health voted into being a Health Code for the Town of Duxbury which is to go into force on April 1, 1954. Local town regulations such as these are encouraged by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health because they enable the local health boards to take direct ac- tion on most problems without relying on the General Laws of the Commonwealth via the Public Health De- partment. The code as adopted for Duxbury follows, with very few exceptions, the sample code suggested by the Commonwealth.
This code is to be printed in full in the Duxbury Clipper before it goes into effect, and copies will be available at the Town Office. You are urged to
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read it so that there will be no violations and the health of the town will continue to improve.
A series of analyses of the waters of the yacht basin this past summer conducted at the request of the board by the State Sanitary Engineers office showed that there was at least one source of pollution of these waters by sewage. Further testing of indi- vidual disposal systems using fluorescein green dye showed that sewage from three systems was finding its way into the basin. Two of these have already been replaced, and the third is under way. The Board would appreciate being told of any other possible sources of pollution of Duxbury Bay. The basin was found safe for swimming after a series of tests conducted by the State Department of Public Health.
We have distributed over 250 pounds of rat bait in 1953 to people from all areas of town.
The School Dental program under the sponsorship of the Board of Health has had another successful year. Permissions for dental work were signed for 232 children who made 630 visits to the school dentists. As of this coming September, all school children will have the dental examination as usual, but because of the increases in school population and dental costs the Board has passed the following regulation:
Dental work, for other than Welfare cases, will be performed only on referral by the School Depart- ment or on approval of application made to the Board of Health.
We are grateful to the State Board of Public Health for their assistance and cooperation in the in- specting and licensing of eating estalishments, chicken farms, and the like.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE ROSS STARR, JR.,M.D.,
th
p
r ti
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Report of The Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The work of the Board of Public Welfare and the Bureau of Old Age Assistance has been carried out with little change during the past year.
For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the pro- gram of the Board, a brief explanation of the four categories of aid may be of interest.
Old Age Assistance is a type of aid granted to citizens 65 years of age or older, who are unable to provide for themselves.
Aid to Dependent Children is designed to provide for children under 16 if they have no parent capable of supporting them.
Disability Assistance provides for those over 18 and under 65 who are physically incapacitated and unable to support themselves.
General Relief gives assistance, usually of a tem- porary nature, to those in need who do not fall within any one of the other categories.
In all forms of assistance, the program is admin- istered according to regulations laid down by the Depart- ment of Public Welfare of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and subject to supervision by that De- partment. Since this is so, the local Board is closely restricted in scope. It is always subject to these regula- tions that your Board makes its decisions attempting to provide adequately for the needy with due regard to the money spent.
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Except for General Relief which is the expense of Town of Settlement or the Commonwealth, there is Federal and State reimbursement on an established percentage basis. The Federal grants are available to the local Department, while the money from the State paid to the Town of Duxbury goes into the E. and D. account.
In comparing the records of this past year with those of five years ago, we find, that the case load is approximately the same, while the cost per case, as would be expected, has increased considerably. In 1953 the average case load for Old Age Assistance was 74 with the average cost per case $82.87 per month. Five years ago the case load in this category was approxi- mately the same but the cost per case was $59.16. The increase over the years is due to the increased cost of living and especially to the rising expenses of hospitali- zation and nursing home care, now very prevalent in this category.
The case load for Aid to Dependent Children last year was 6 with an average cost per case of $78.68. Five years ago the average case load was 8 and the cost per case $30.95.
Disability Assistance had an average case load of 12, with a cost per case of $68.37. Since this category was new in 1951, there are no comparable figures for 1948.
The budget for 1954 has been figured on the basis of approximately the present case load with the same cost per case as 1953 except for a provision for the new increase in hospital rates. The amount to be requested is $63,400 plus $200 for Out-of-State Travel. This com- pares with the 1953 appropriation of $62,600 plus $300 for Out-of-State Travel.
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In more detail, the budget is as follows:
O.A.A.
$81,563.55
A.D.C.
6,917.30
D.A.
10,002.75
G.R.
9,948.20
108,431.80
Less Federal Grants (estimated)
45,047.41
$63,384.39
Last year for the first time, it was possible for the Town to vote one lump sum for the Department of Public Welfare, rather than a separate sum for each category. This made it possible to transfer funds within the Department as needed without asking Town ap- proval. This plan worked well in 1953 and it is the request of the Board of Public Welfare that this same procedure be followed in 1954.
Under the provisions of the Lien Law the sum of $7554 was recovered during 1953.
The members of the Board wish to express their appreciation to the Selectmen for their co-operation and also to the many citizens who have been of assistance during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE H. GARSIDE, Chairman HOWARD M. CLARK HERBERT R. NELSON
PAUL N. SWANSON PAUL C. BARBER
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Report of the Finance Committee
The first meeting of your Finance Committee was held on April 16, 1953, at which time Edward L. Butler was elected Chairman, Robert Seymour, Vice-Chair- man, and William A. Scherff, Secretary.
Several regular and special meetings were held prior to the Special Town Meeting of June 26, 1953. Periodic meetings were held after that date to discuss matters of a general nature.
Our real work has started, and is now going on, as this report is written. The various Town Departments are now preparing and submitting their 1954 Budget Requests. These budget requests are studied and dis- cussed with the individual department heads by sub- committees who then present them for final approval or disapproval by the full Finance Committee.
New Budget Request Forms, prepared by the Fi- nance Committee, are being used this year. These forms show 1953 Budgets, 1953 Actual Expenditures and 1954 Budget Requests so that a ready comparision may be made during discussion. The results of the current work being done by your Committee will be more fully discussed in our report, which will appear in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting.
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