USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1951-1955 > Part 2
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Of the petitions for a variance, seven were denied and six were granted, and of the latter, two were granted sub- ject to conditions noted in the decisions.
The three petitions for exceptions were granted.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM B. COFFIN, Chairman H. RUSSELL CHANDLER KENNETH O. MACOMBER
T.
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REPORT OF THE HARBOR MASTER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report as Assistant Harbor Master for the year 1951.
During the year 1950 the number of registered boats moored in the Basin was 65. This year we had an addi- tional 8 registered boats moored in the Basin, plus a number of outboard motor boats. At the Town Landing on Standish Shore, Howland's Lane, 6 more boats were moored.
We continued Mr. Victor Nickerson's plan to install permanent channel markers.
Fourteen, 25-foot second-hand telephone poles were installed at a cost of $190.00 for poles and trucking- $120.00 to pump in (14) piling and attach pointers-use of yard boat and operator. $33.50 to make up and paint pointers, labor and material.
In the 1952 budget I have asked for the sum of $150.00 for the purpose of adding two more permanent markers, and to paint and number all markers from the Govern- ment Bouy's in to the basin. I have also asked for the sum of $400.00 to be used in the building of a Raft ap- proximately 30 feet long and 4 feet wide, to which small tenders may be tied to on both sides, with a ladder lead- ing down from the Town pier. This will relieve the con- gestion of boat tenders on the floats and give us more facilities for docking.
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At this time I wish to thank the two boat yards and all ndividuals who gave me their cooperation in the year 1951.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. McNEIL
Assistant Harbor Master
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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, 1951.
LIST OF OFFENCES
Assault and Battery
1
Delinquency
1
Deserter from Army
1
Drunkenness
5
Larceny
6
Manslaughter
1
Operating to endanger life
6
Operating while intoxicated
3
Operating without a license
3
Non-Support of child
6
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DISPOSITIONS
Filed
4
Fined
10
Dismissed
3
House of Correction
3
Not Guilty
3
Probation
8
Turned over to other Authorities
2
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MISCELLANEOUS
Complaints investigated
901 ·
Emergency messages delivered 65
Emergency trips with cruiser to Hospitals
18
Motor violation recorded
86
Cars tagged for parking violations
96
Beach stickers issued
1724
Shellfish permits issued
715
Pistol permits issued
31
Motor vehicle accidents investigated
60
Animals destroyed for owners
101
Animals returned to owners
40
Automobile transfers filed
317
Amount of fines
$365.00
Miles traveled by patrol car
55241
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES T. O'NEIL Chief of Police
Date: January 17, 1952.
he
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INSECT PEST CONTROL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report of the Insect Pest Control department for the year ending December 31, 1951.
The beneficial effect of the Aerial Spray program of last year is reflected in the decrease of insects this year.
The Tent Caterpillars were exceptionally few this year except for one area. This area was the last to be sprayed in the Aerial Spray program of a year ago and it is be- lieved that the caterpillars had finished feeding and gone into pupation at the time the spray was applied.
A Gypsy Moth trapping program was followed again this year with 45 traps within the area and not a single moth caught.
The area formerly occupied by the Brown Tail Moth has been scouted and none found.
The Fall Web-Worms were very few with less than a half dozen nests being found in Town.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS,
Superintendent Insect Pest Control
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37
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Duxbury.
Greetings :
It is with regret that your Board of Public Welfare advises that the cost of welfare in the Town of Duxbury will be some 20% higher in 1952 than it was in 1951. This increased cost is mostly because of a number of changes in the welfare laws of the Commonwealth, each change one step nearer to "the womb to tomb welfare state" that does not seem to be too far in the distant future. These changes are :
(1) A change in the minimum payments under Old Age Assistance from an average of $69.50 per month to an average of $73.95 per month.
(2) An increase in the exemptions that may be claimed, by employed sons or daughters, before they become eligible for the support of their parents, either in whole or in part.
(3) A further cost of living adjustment. At the time this report was written the State Department of Public Welfare told us this adjustment would be 5% or better. This is the third cost of living adjustment welfare recipients have received in the last four years, a total of about 20%.
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(4) A new catagory of relief known as Disability Assistance.
There was a fifth change in the welfare laws of the Commonwealth that was most welcome to the Board. Effective January 1, 1952 if any recipient owns any real estate, your Board is required to obtain a Mortgage Bond on that property. This will make it possible in some cases for the Town of Duxbury to recover part or all of the relief granted in those particular cases.
By the most stringent application of the relief laws and the practice of the greatest economy possible, the Board has been able to save substantial sums received from the Federal Government. As these funds are available for operations in 1952, it was possible to request the Town to vote some $3,300.00 less for 1952 than was voted in 1951. This is shown as follows:
Voted for 1951
Requested for 1952
Old Age Assistance
$44,400.00
$46,200.00
Aid to Dependent Children
6,900.00
7,400.00
General Relief
19,100.00
10,800.00
Disability Assistance
2,400.00
Out of State Travel
300.00
$70,400.00
$67,100.00
We urge the citizens to remember that there is no cause for felicitations on this lower budget for 1952. It does not change the fact that welfare disbursements will be some 20% higher in 1952 than in 1951, and that the savings accumulated in Federal Funds will be used up in the coming year. In 1951 welfare cost amounted to the second
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highest item in the Town budget. If the Commonwealth continues to liberalize its welfare policy, the cost can become the top expense in the Town budget.
This report does not include an account of expenses in 1951 as it would merely be a repetition of the figures in the Town Accountant's report.
Until the latter part of 1951 the Federal Government withheld welfare funds from states that permitted pub- licity as to the names of welfare recipients. Congress has now changed the law and has left the final decision re- garding such publicity in the hands of the respective states. Some states have modified their welfare laws, per- mitting some publicity to Town Officials and others, of names on the welfare rolls, and those states claim sub- stantial reductions in welfare costs. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has not as yet passed such a law. Your Board, however, desires to go on record as being unani- mously in favor of such a change.
Once again it is the desire of the undersigned to ex- press their appreciation to the Selectmen for their unfail- ing co-operation, and to the citizens for their continued confidence throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
Philip G. Chandler
Alice H. Garside
Herbert R. Nelson
Benjamin F. Tyler
Robert Seymour, Chairman
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REPORT BY THE DUXBURY BEACH COMMITTEE
I.
At the Town Meeting held March 10, 1951, the follow- ing Resolution was passed: To authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee of five to study the future control and public ownership of Duxbury Beach. As a result, the undersigned were appointed by the Moderator to study the problems of Duxbury Beach.
Your Committee has conducted a series of meetings with the Selectmen, with Senator Stone of the Cape and Plymouth District, with representatives of the Duxbury Beach Association, with the members of the Duxbury Kiwanis Club and finally, with citizens of the town who wished to be heard at a public meeting at the grammar school. We have also held a number of meetings of the Committee to discuss the questions raised by persons who met with the Committee. At these meetings, we also reviewed the report of the Special Beach and Bridge Committee, issued on March 7, 1931. We had the oppor- tunity also to study the Trust Agreement under which the Duxbury Beach Association operates and we had the benefit of a history of the Beach written by Mr. F. T. Pratt.
II.
A number of important questions have come to our attention, the major ones of which are as follows :-
Should the Duxbury Beach be owned by the Town, the State or by private individuals ?
Should there be more facilities on Duxbury Beach for the use of the general public?
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If the Town owned Duxbury Beach, could it be oper- ated as a paying proposition?
Is it practical or desirable to build a road extending to the north end of the Beach from the parking space at the Beach end of the Powder Point Bridge?
In what respect can the Town restrict automobile park- ing in any certain areas to Duxbury residents ?
Will erosion eventually cut a waterway through Dux- bury Beach so that the Bay would no longer be landlocked ? III.
As a result of our meeting with many citizens of the Town, we have found the following :
1. There is substantial agreement that the Town does not want State ownership of the Beach, although there is some disagreement in the Town as to how State owner- ship can be prevented.
2. There is agreement in the Town that the Beach should be kept free from commercial enterprises and that it should be maintained in its present natural state.
3. There is very little evidence that the citizens of Dux- bury are dissatisfied with the manner in which the Beach is now operated by the Duxbury Beach Association.
4. We find that the general public from other parts of the State are using the northerly end of the Beach and are in the main well satisfied with the facilities that are available there. However, the public is greatly handi- capped by the narrow, winding approaches to the Beach from the North.
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5. We found that there is quite a diversity of opinion as to the effect of erosion and the shifting of the dunes on the Beach and whether or not there will at some time be a breakthrough.
6. We further found a substantial disagreement on the practicability of building roads and other facilities such as bath houses and toilets on the Beach. The areas of disagreement are as to the cost of such facilities and whether or not they would be able to withstand the win- ter storms without serious damage.
7. As to whether or not the Town could operate the Beach on a self-sustaining basis, we again found marked differences of opinion.
1V.
CONCLUSIONS
As a result of our study of the many problems called to our attention, we have come to the following con- clusions :
1. If the Town owned the Beach, it would not be able to operate it over the years on a self-sustaining basis. The reason for this is that the summer season is so short and the effect of a few rainy weekends is so great that the Town could not support a permanent organization to supervise and operate the Beach during the summer months. The present Beach Association, on the other hand, can make arrangements to employ attendants and operators as they are needed, depending on the expected patronage of the Beach at a given time.
It should also be borne in mind that historically the cost of operating Town Departments has increased over
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the years-due in part to rising prices and in part to greater facilities furnished by the Departments. It is rea- sonable to forecast increased operating costs of the Beach if it were owned by the Town for the same reasons.
2. On the matter of the erosion of the Beach, we, as laymen, are incompetent to make recommendations on this highly technical problem. We do feel, however, that this is such a major problem that the Town should appro- priate a sum of money to engage competent engineers to survey the situation and report to the Town.
3. As to the suggestion that some toilet and bathing facilities be built on the Beach near the Powder Point Bridge, we have serious doubt as to whether such facili- ties would withstand the winter storms, and we feel that there is not sufficient demand for such facilities and that the building of them would greatly impair the beauty of the Beach.
4. As to a new road from the northerly end of the Beach to the Powder Point Bridge, its construction would result in greatly increased automobile traffic through the residential areas of Duxbury and across the Powder Point Bridge. Such traffic would greatly increase the wear and tear of the Bridge and involve the Town in substantial increases in the maintenance costs of the Bridge. We are of the opinion that any improved approaches to the Beach should be made only at the Marshfield end of the Beach and not via the Powder Point Bridge.
5. It is the opinion of your Committee that the Town should continue to limit automobile parking in the park- ing space at the end of the Powder Point Bridge to Dux- bury residents by the issuance of automobile stickers,
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as in the past, although we do feel that the Selectmen might well reduce the charge for these stickers to a nomi- nal amount to cover only the cost of issuing them.
If the stickers were discontinued entirely, increased automobile traffic through the residential areas of the Town would result and lead directly to property devalu- ation.
6. Your Committee feels very strongly that the seizure of the Beach by the State will not depend on whether the Beach is owned by the Town or owned by the Beach Association, but rather on how the Beach is operated. If it is operated in a manner that is satisfactory to the residents of the Town of Duxbury and to out-of-town visitors, the likelihood of State seizure is greatly reduced. The residents of the Town of Duxbury demonstrated in 1950, when a bill came before the Legislature which, if passed, might have made the seizure of the Beach by the State an imminent matter, that they can unite to oppose legislation which might be very detrimental to the Town.
Even though the Town presented a united front at the hearings in 1950, your Committee has heard a few com- ments detrimental to the Duxbury Beach Association. We feel, however, that these comments are the result of mis- understandings rather than on the basis of any facts.
For example, it is felt in some quarters that the Dux- bury Beach Association is making big profits on its ven- ture. We have had access to the books of the Association and find that this is by no means true. In fact, over a 10-year period, their profits have been inconsequential and no dividends have been paid to the stockholders. It is further true that the improvements at the northerly
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end of the Beach that have been undertaken by the Beach Association have been paid for out of capital as the money for these improvements has been forthcoming from the sale of houselots at the northerly end of the Beach and by the sale of additional shares of the Duxbury Beach Association. Thus this enterprise is conducted not for the benefit of the private owners, but for the benefit of the public.
Your Committee is of the firm conviction that the Trus- tees of the Beach Association are guided in their oper- ations only by what they consider to be the best interests of the Town of Duxbury. Your Committee feels that any misunderstandings that may have arisen in the past or might arise in the future would be cleared up if the pres- ent Trustees could amend their Trust Agreement either to provide a Board of Trustees of seven with three mem- bers of the Board to be year-round residents of Duxbury, or to provide for two such residents if the Board member- ship remains at five.
It is felt that either of these arrangements would give the Duxbury Beach Association the wholehearted sup- port of the Town and we understand that representatives of the Trustees are favorable to these suggestions.
We would also like to point out that in the discussion of the problems of Duxbury Beach, the term "private ownership" has been used in some quarters as though it were an evil thing. Private ownership by individuals who are working for the best interests of the Town of Dux- bury and who are parties to a Trust Agreement which limits the exercise of their power for the benefit of the Town of Duxbury, is something to be desired, not con- demned.
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In conclusion, your Committee has pointed out in this Report that the access to the northerly end of the Beach is inadequate and we recommend that the Town obtain estimates of either widening the present road to the Beach, or building a new road across the marshland to the Beach. At the same time, it should be determined whether the cost of any new construction would qualify under Chap- ter 90 of the Massachusetts Laws.
Respectfully submitted,
Francis C. Rogerson, Chairman
Arthur W. Bennett
H. Gilbert Francke J. Newton Shirley Clarence W. Walker
47
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
Our circulation for the year reached almost 22,000, with attendance of slightly over 10,000. Books added by purchase, 500. One hundred fifty-six volumes were re- ceived as gifts from various donors among whom were the following: Mr. and Mrs. Hector M. Holmes, Mrs. Harry Burns, Mr. William H. Young, Mrs. George Whea- ton, Mrs. F. K. Hoyt, Mrs. Lyle Bush, Mrs. Winslow, and Miss Helen White.
The Duxbury Clipper and the official organs of the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs have been sent us regularly. In this connection we would like to call attention to the large number and wide range of the periodicals and pam- phlets offered to the public in the reading room. The list has never been so large before, thanks to many generous donors.
A new and important Department has been established under the heading "What To Do and How To Do It." This has been advertised in the "Clipper." It offers many suggestions to members of both sexes who wish to engage in some form of profitable and interesting home work. The Department will be added to as occasion requires in order to preserve its permanent value.
Certain Department shifts are under way or being planned, mainly for the purpose of making certain sub- jects more accessible to our patrons. Space restrictions make such changes necessary from time to time.
Respectfully submitted,
Fisher Ames, Librarian
48
REPORT OF THE
MEMORIAL OFFICE BUILDING COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The Memorial Office Building Committee, appointed in 1950 and continued in 1951 by vote of the Town Meeting of March 1951, has held several meetings and reviewed not only the plans outlined in its reports as presented in the 1950 Town Report, but also the apathy of the gen- eral public toward any building project. It is apparent that the Town is not ready to face any project that in- volves the erection of a dual-purpose building.
Because this committee was limited to the considera- tion of one building to house "the various town offices and an auditorium in a central building to be known as a War Memorial Building," it has been prevented from making other suggestions. Early in its study, however, the Committee found that a single building designed to house town offices and an auditorium, the latter to be in frequent use by the schools, is impractical. At least this is the experience of towns where such an arrange- ment exists. Either the town offices and auditorium should be in different buildings or the building housing both should be sufficiently removed from the schools to pre- clude frequent use of the auditorium by the schools. What- ever arrangement or location is finally decided upon for
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a Memorial Building, the Committee believes that the auditorium should be under one, not joint, management.
Respectfully submitted,
Ralph N. Blakeman
Thomas W. Herrick, Jr. Leroy Peterson
Sally F. D. Chase, Secretary
Harry B. Bradley, Chairman
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TREE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Duxbury :
I submit hereith the report of the Tree Department for the year 1951.
As the trees came into foliage this season the control of the Birch Leaf Miner was a problem. Two sprays were applied and sometimes three and four, with only fair results achieved in some cases.
The Red Mites on the Cedar trees did not cause any- where near the amount of damage this year as they did last year.
The fertilizing of certain trees by spraying the foliage showed only fair results.
We have added considerably to our Town Tree Nursery. Small seedlings and even larger trees have been taken up by the roadside and transplanted in the Nursery. Large trees were also purchased and will be ready to go out next Spring. We now have a total of 350 trees for future planting. This build-up was made in anticipation of new streets being accepted by the Town. Three trees were planted along the streets this year.
Trees and brush were cut back at bad intersections of streets. Low branches hanging over the streets have been removed and dead trees that might blow over into the streets have been taken down.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS Tree Warden
51
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
Following is the report of the Parks and Playgrounds Committee for the year 1951.
The Spring work of putting the playgrounds into shape was started the first week of April. Re-grading and seed- ing of the softball court, for which we had an extra appro- priation, was discussed with the athletic directors of the school and it was decided that this work be done in September. It was done at that time in cooperation with the Highway Department which was engaged in regrad- ing, widening and oiling the main driveway between Train and Abbott Fields.
At the Island Creek Park, loam was added within the low retaining wall around a tree in the background and grass seed planted. Also, water has been piped to the old well pit at the front of the lot for a drinking fountain to be installed. We wish to thank the Water Department for the service connection.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS,
Superintendent Parks and Playgrounds
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52 CONTROL OF DUTCH ELM DISEASE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report on the control of Dutch Elm Disease for the year 1951.
During the past year twenty-three samples of elm trees suspected of Dutch Elm Disease were sent to the State College at Amherst for culture. Fifteen were reported as having Dutch Elm Disease. These diseased trees have already been taken down and disposed of.
We are pruning and spraying around 1,180 elm trees along our streets. Out of this number cared for by the Tree Department, only four caught Dutch Elm Disease this year. The other eleven trees with Dutch Elm Disease were on private property back from the street.
It is necessary to go over all elm trees each year and prune out the dead and dying wood and particularly the broken branches.
These elm trees were sprayed just before the leaves came out, with a 12% D.D.T. solution and again in June with a 6% solution of D.D.T. Elms close to a diseased tree last year were sprayed in hopes to prevent the spread of the disease.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS,
Superintendent Control of Dutch Elm Disease
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53
REPORT OF SHELLFISH CONSTABLE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report as Shellfish Constable for the year 1951.
The natural propagation and growing of clams during 1951 was not too great. We do have a fair-sized quantity of razorfish and quahaugs.
In August, Mr. Daniel Ellis, State Shellfish Warden turned over to the Town 33 bushels of seed quahaugs that were seized on the Cape. A portion of Isacc's flat was closed and the quahaugs were planted at a cost of $18.00 for labor and truck hire.
From June to Sept. two men worked part time destroy- ing the enemies of Shellfish. The men picked and de- stroyed 7,550 horse shoe crabs and 95 pails of cockles. We paid $475.19 for this work.
An area was plowed on Standish shore to plow under and destroy some of the mussel beds at a cost of $28.00 for tractor hire.
Twenty-three commercial permits at $2.50 each were issued-total $57.50. 924 family permits, 30 of which were free to people seventy years of age or over and the remainder at .25 each were issued during the year-total $223.50.
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Following is the record of Shellfish taken by commer- cial diggers, who worked intermittently during the year.
120 bushels of razorfish @ 4.331/2 $ 520.00
68 bushels of razorfish @ 6.00 408.00
60 bushels of razorfish @ 8.00 480.00
59 bushels of razorfish @ 4.00 236.00
50 bushels of razorfish @ 7.00 350.00
480 bushels of quahaugs @ 2.50
1,200.00
150 bushels of quahaugs @ 2.00
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