USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1945-1949 > Part 40
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99,873.43
Annuity Reserve Fund
14,716.88
Pension Accumulation Fund
54,016.34
Expense Fund
200.27
Special Military Service Fund
1,813.78
Total
$1,357,269.91 Total
$1,357,269.91
97
Town Debt
DETAIL OF PAYMENT BY YEARS
Year
Sewer Rate 414%
Junior High School 2 & 214%
Water Extension 34%
Totals Av. 2.34%
1950
5,000.
19,000.
15,000.
39,000.
1951
5,000.
19,000.
24,000.
1952
5,000.
19,000.
24,000.
1953
5,000.
19,000.
24,000.
1954
4,000.
4,000.
1955
4,000.
4,000.
$20,000.
$84,000.
$15,000.
$119,000.
98
Board of Retirement Report
-
To the Board of Selectmen,
Andover, Mass.
GENTLEMEN :
The Town of Andover Board of Retirement herewith submits the following report for the year 1949:
Balance, January 1, 1949 $ 4,391.52
Receipts, January 1-December 31, 1949:
Deductions, Group I and II $16085.02
Interest on Bonds and
Savings Banks 4,985.35
Appropriation 20,242.00
$45,703.89
Expenditures:
Pensions paid, Group I and II $20,643.05
Investments 18,801.00
Refunds, Deductions and Interest 4,103.40
Office Expenses 1,088.04
$44,635.49
Balance, December 31, 1949
$ 1,068.40
The Total Active Members:
January 1, 1949
115
December 31, 1949
122
January 1, 1949
December 31, 1949
Active Members 115
122
Pensioners 25
24
Total Membership-December 31, 1949 146
99
During the year $18,000 worth of Bonds were purchased. The Securities held at the close of the year cost $172,700.62. $21,653.00 is the amount recommended to be added to the fund by town appropriation for 1950.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE C. NAPIER, Chairman GEORGE H. WINSLOW, Secretary EDMOND E. HAMMOND Board of Retirement
100
Treasurer's Report
Receipts and payments for the year were as follows:
Balance, January 1, 1949 $ 356,974.75
Receipts
1,377,979. 14
Payments
$1,734,953.89 1,259,739.31
Balance, December 31, 1949
$ 475,214.58
Disbursements were in accordance with 114 selectmen's war- rants, 15,084 checks having been issued. The balance is by far the largest in the Town's history. Included in the totals is $47,- 300.35 withheld from the pay of 302 full and part-time employees for federal taxes. Pay deductions for the purchase of U. S. Savings Bonds amounted to $3,819.80 and $5,213.27 for Blue Cross & Shield dues.
A report of the cemetery perpetual care funds, and other trust funds in the treasurer's custody, is to be found on other pages of the town report, as is that of the Retirement Board which shows an average monthly pension of $71.00 being paid to 24 former town employees.
Tax titles amount to $491.57 and number 10, 5 having been redeemed or sold at public auction.
With the approval of the selectmen, the treasurer employed John E. Gilcreast as assistant treasurer and, during the summer, he satisfactorily performed most of the functions of the treasurer's office. Two competent clerks were employed, as formerly, one spending a day a week recording employees' earnings and pay deductions, and the other counting and packaging parking meter receipts two mornings a week. These amounted to $10,570.24 for the year or an average of about $35.00 a day. The meters have now been fully paid for, the final payments having been antici- pated somewhat.
Respectfully submitted,
THAXTER EATON, Treasurer
101
Report of Tax Collector
POLL TAXES
Year
Collected 1949
Abared
Outstanding
1948
$ 8.00
None
Jan. 1, 1950 None
1949
$7,380.00
$754.00* $ 28.00
*Abatements to Men over 70 years $552.00
PERSONAL TAXES
Year
Collected
Abated in 1949
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1950 None
1947
$ 201.30
None
1948
3,030.30
None
$ 487.08
1949
94,459.16
$320.40
4,142.70
REAL ESTATE TAXES
Year
Collected
Abated in 1949
Jan. 1, 1950
1947
$ 321.28
None
None
1948
26,357. 75
$1,304.85
$ 459.29
1949
580,415.54
4,613.10
33,848.26
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES
Year
Collected
Abated
Outstanding
1949 in 1949
Jan. 1, 1950 None
1948
$ 1,745.18 $ 194.93
1949
70,131.38
3,284.99
$3,951.33
MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS
Water Liens
$ 592.57
Moth Assessments
1,772.21
Sewer Assessments (apportioned) Paid in Advance
626.31
Sewer Assessments (apportioned)
751.30
Sewer Assessments (unapportioned)
6,697.96
Committed Interest on Sewer Assessments
249.61
Classified Forest Land Tax
7.40
Interest on Delinquent Taxes
956.86
Costs on Delinquent Taxes
1.05
102
Outstanding
1949
1949
in 1949
103
Summary of Collector's Cash Account
1949
1948
1947
Totals
Taxes
$682,254.70
$29,396.05
$522.58
$712,173.33
Moth
1,724.67
47.54
None
1,772.21
Excise
70,131.38
1,745.18
None
71,876.56
Sewer (Apportioned)
740.62
10.68
None
751.30
Sewer (Apportioned) Paid in Advance
626.31
None
None
626.31
Com. Int. on Apportioned Sewer
175.19
3.84
None
179.03
Sewer (Unapportioned)
6,098.68
599.28
None
6,697.96
Com. Int. on Unapportioned Sewer
53.50
17.08
None
70.58
Water Liens
518.36
74.21
None
592.57
Classified Forest Land Tax
4.68
2.72
None
7.40
Costs on Delinquent Taxes
None
1.05
None
1.05
Interest on Delinquent Taxes
137.00
786.65
33.21
956.86
Totals
$762,465.09
$32,684.28
$555.79
$795,705.16
JAMES P. CHRISTIE, Collector of Taxes
Assessors' Report
We herewith submit our annual report:
Number of polls assessed 4045
Number of persons assessed 3405 (real and personal)
Valuation-personal property $ 2,744,064.00
Valuation-real estate
17,155,070.00
$19,899,134.00
Tax on polls
$ 8,090.00
Tax on personal property
98,786.31
Tax on real estate
617,582.52
724,458.83
Moth Assessments
$
1,786.64
Apportioned sewer
876.49
Committed interest
196.01
Unapportioned sewer-added to
16,666.37
1949 taxes
Committed interest
383.34
Water liens added to taxes
1,948.01
Abatements:
Poll taxes
754.00
Personal property
320.40
Real estate
5,917.95
Rate of taxation per $1,000-$36.00
Number of assessed
Horses
80
Cows
454
Yearlings, bulls and heifers
131
Swine
256
Fowl
39,005
Sheep
43
All other
284
Number of acres land assessed
16,808++
Dwellings assessed
2,980
104
MOTOR VEHICLE AND TRAILER EXCISE
Number of vehicles assessed 5,287
Assessed valuation
Excise
$2,433,210.00 76,506.75
Abatements
3,479.92
Rate-$41.32 per thousand
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS
Number of polls assessed 32
Number of persons assessed (real and personal) 57
Valuation - personal property
$ 3,575.00
Valuation - real estate
2,735.00
Tax on polls
64.00
Tax on personal property
121.55
Tax on real estate
98.46
Number of acres assessed 38.76+
Number horses assessed 20
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. HARDY, Chairman EVERETT COLLINS
SIDNEY P. WHITE
105
Municipal Properties and Public Improvements
Land and Buildings
Equip. and other property
Total
Town Hall
$ 109,650
$ 15,150
$ 124,800
Shaw Property
12,000
12,000
Fire Department
84,400
48,000
132,400
Police Department
700
2,700
3,400
Schools
1,765,250
52,000
1,817,250
Library
182,000
40,000
222,000
Water Department
140,550
924,500
1,065,050
Sewer Department
2,600
520,260
522,860
Highway Department
23,225
43,000
66,225
Parks and Playgrounds
62,175
1,500
63,675
Tree Warden and Moth Departments
3,600
3,600
Infirmary
72,375
2,500
74,875
Spring Grove Cemetery
35,800
1,125
36,925
Weights and Measures
350
350
Town Scales
500
500
Old Schoolhouse, Ballardvale
24,250
82,297
82,297
Memorial Hall Investment Funds
92,607
92,607
Burnham Road-Land
1,000
1,000
Pomps Pond Bathing Beach
6,625
300
6,925
Indian Ridge-Land
1,000
1,000
Woodland-West District
275
275
Public Dump Site
4,150
4,150
Tax Title Possessions
3,075
3,075
Carmel Woods-Land
12,300
12,300
Totals
$2,543,400
$1,830,389
$4,373,789
24,250
Punchard School Fund
106
Board of Public Welfare
The Board of Public Welfare submits the following report for the year 1949:
Old Age Assistance has not shown the increase in cases pre- dicted last year, but during the year 1949 we added seven cases, so that our total case load at the end of the year was 170. In the past year, a generous Legislature made several changes in the law, which benefit applicants and recipients. Some of these changes are as follows:
An increase in the cash surrender value of insurance and in the amount of cashable assets permitted an applicant. Insurance up to a cash surrender value of $1000 may now be allowed, in- stead of $500 as formerly. A single bank account may amount to $500, and a joint account between husband and wife may now total $1000. Accounts were previously limited to $300 for single and $600 for joint accounts.
The Legislature also granted $4.00 extra a month to all re- cipients of Old Age Assistance, effective as of December 1, 1949, to be used for Leisure Time Activities. Although the State will reimburse the town for this allowance, we must appropriate the full amount, as all State returns are entered under Free Cash.
Old Age Assistance is still a form of relief, but most of our applicants today consider it a pension, and think of it as some- thing due them when they become sixty-five years of age.
The cost for the form of aid known as Aid to Dependent Chil- dren has also increased, and we are alarmed over the number of young husbands who are deserting their families and forcing them to accept relief. The Federal Government is also disturbed, and legislation is now pending in Congress to make desertion of family a Federal offense. This would make it harder for a man to go from state to state to evade arrest. During the past year we have had five desertions, and in only two cases have the police been able to locate the responsible parties. In one of these cases the man served a one-month sentence, and then disappeared, while in the other the man is now serving a three-month sentence. We are aiding ten cases at present under Aid to Dependent Children.
107
Although we had a slight depression in this area last year, and the mills ran on a light schedule, we did not receive the number of applicants for assistance expected, due, no doubt, to the amount of money paid out under the Unemployment Compensation Act. It is believed, however, that a great many persons have used up all their benefits, and if a slack period develops, they would have nothing on which to depend.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank all citizens and all private organizations who have assisted our board.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. HARDY, Chairman J. EVERETT COLLINS SIDNEY P. WHITE
ARTHUR W. COLE, Welfare Agent, Board of Public Welfare
108
Report of Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery
The Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery submit their annual report for the year 1949.
During the year there were sixty-seven interments.
Twenty-three new lots were sold all under perpetual care for an amount totalling $3995.25. Two old lots were placed under per- petual care at $200.00 each, making a total of $4395.25.
The income from perpetual care investments amounted to $2137.22.
Other monies received for annual care, sale of lots, foun- dations, interments, cement vaults, flower rings, etc., amounted to $3016.80.
Six hundred twenty-nine feet of new curbing was installed with the necessary grading. Several deceased trees were removed and all trees and shrubs were pruned and trimmed.
The Trustees wish to call to the attention of owners of lots under perpetual care that the cost of care for the average lot is $4.00 per year. The necessary legal restrictions on the investment of cemetery funds do not allow an adequate income on a per- petual care fund of less than $200.00.
On November 16th the Trustees voted to spread the following on their records.
"It is with deepest regret that the Trustees of Spring Grove Cemetery place upon their records a notice of the death of Miss Edith P. Sellars, who was born in Dundee, Scotland, and died November 7, 1949 at the Lawrence General Hospital. Miss Sellars served as clerk of the Board of Trustees for thirty years with exceptional ability and understanding."
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK R. PETTY, Chairman FREDERICK E. CHEEVER, Secretary ALBERT E. CURTIS MALCOLM E. LUNDGREN CLIFFORD E. MARSHALL
109
Office of Veterans' Service
The Office of Veterans' Service herewith submits the sixth annual report on Veterans' Affairs and Rehabilitation.
CASE LOAD FOR 1949
The number of calls for service, excluding telephone calls and routine business matters, was 2,879, embracing 37 main categories of Veterans' Services. The following list covers the principal classes of assistance given :
Employment
180
Housing
132
Education
171
Job Training
98
Hospitalization
120
General Medical
111
Veterans' Benefits
162 (Monetary)
All other categories
1,905
VETERANS' BENEFITS
This form of aid is granted to veterans, their families, and to their dependent parents. It includes food, shelter, medical and hospital bills, fuel and other necessities of life. It is granted to veterans, who are needy and also worthy, during periods of un- employment or sickness when the wage earner's income is in- sufficient. This benefit is granted under a prescribed budget set up by the Commissioner of Veterans' Services in Boston. It is only a temporary benefit given until such time as the veteran is able to return to work.
The calls in this field were higher than in any year since 1944, showing an increase in January, February and March; a normal trend in the Spring and Summer months; and a steady increase again starting in October. The high cost of fuel and food plus the fact that the Readjustment Allowance, commonly called the "52-20 Club", expired on August 1, 1949, are factors which contributed to the increase in assistance. As the veterans' families increase and marriages continue, we expect a gradual increase in the requests for aid.
110
During the year, 162 conferences on Veterans' Benefits were held and in 34 cases emergency assistance was granted.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Education for the G.I. has shown a drop nationally in college enrollments, principally because many veterans have already completed their courses. The trend will be steadily downward, although the demand in Andover is a little higher than last year. In 1948, the case load was 163 and in 1949 it was 171. Job training has declined due to scarcity of work opportunities and several veterans who are desirous of partaking of this benefit are unable to find work. The number of cases in this category was 110 in 1948 and 98 in 1949. For most veterans, Education and Job Training will continue until August 1, 1956. All courses must be initiated before August 1, 1951. Some veterans have exhausted their eligibility in these two phases of veteran rehabilitation.
EMPLOYMENT
The calls for assistance in finding work increased to 180 as against 116 last year. The local textile industry layoffs eliminated jobs for many and a general business lull prevented some from obtaining a new job or even a part time job. Work seems scarcer now than at any time since the war days and we anticipate a jump in the requests for aid for the next two or three months.
DEATHS
During the year, five World War I and one World War II veterans died and were buried in Andover.
LOOKING AHEAD IN 1950
As a new year begins, we eagerly await the day in early summer when 56 veterans and their families will move into the new apartments on Morton Street. We have been looking forward to this day since 1945.
During the first six months of 1950, World War II veterans will receive well over a half million dollars in the National Service Life Insurance Refund. The amounts received will range from a few dollars up to an average of $150, and in some cases much more. This will remove some names from our rolls at least for a temporary period.
111
We should like to express our thanks at this time for the co- operation received during the past year from all local veterans' organizations, The Red Cross, and other welfare organizations. This cooperation is sincerely appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. HARDY, Chairman, Board of Selectmen J. EVERETT COLLINS SIDNEY P. WHITE
FRANCIS P. MARKEY, Agent Office of Veterans' Services
112
Board of Appeals Report
To the Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Appeals under the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Andover has the following members: James S. Eastham, Chairman, term expiring May 1, 1952; Roy E. Hardy, Secretary, term expiring May 1, 1950; Edward P. Hall, term expiring May 1, 1951; and two associate members, Leon A. Field and Walter C. Tomlinson, terms expiring May 1, 1950.
During the year 1949, the fourteenth year of the Zoning By- Law, the Board heard and decided fourteen cases as follows:
Petition of George Hird, decided on January 10, 1949, for per- mission to enlarge the tearoom owned and operated by him on the south side of Lowell Street, near Lincoln Street, in said Ando- ver. Denied
Petition of Sam Samel, decided on January 10, 1949, for per- mission to convert the house owned by him at 39-3912 Summer Street in said Andover into a four-apartment house. Denied
Petition of Edith C. O'Connell, decided on January 24, 1949, for permission to subdivide property owned by her on the south- east corner of Main Street and Punchard Avenue in said Andover, there being an apartment house and a residence on the property numbered respectively 98-102 Main Street and 1 Punchard Avenue. Granted
Petition of Peter Dantos and Irene Dantos, decided on March 14, 1949, for permission to subdivide property owned by them at the corner of Pine Street and Elm Street in said Andover and to build a house on one of the two resulting lots with a rear yard of less than thirty feet in depth. Granted
Petition of Theodore D. Grasso, decided on June 8, 1949, for permission to erect four four-apartment houses upon property to be purchased by him in Shawsheen Village, bounded by York Street, Haverhill Street, Balmoral Street, and by property of Ellsworth H. Lewis. Denied
Petition of Richard W. Abbott and Nancy M. Abbott, decided on July 1, 1949, for permission to erect a house on property owned by them on Upland Road in said Andover, with a side yard on the northwest boundary of less than fifteen feet. Granted
113
Petition of Harry F. Schofield, decided on July 21, 1949, for permission to convert the two-family house on the property at 48 Elm Street into an eight-apartment house, and to convert the barn upon the property into a four-apartment house. Granted (For eight-apartment house only)
Petition of Scott H. Black and Frederick S. Black, decided on July 21, 1949, for permission to enlarge the service station oper- ated by them on property owned by The Cyr Trust at 13 Union Street in said Andover. Denied
Petition of Kenneth Hird, decided on July 21, 1949, for per- mission to erect a house on property at 27 Topping Road in said Andover, to be purchased by him from the Felix Picard estate, with side yards of less than fifteen feet. Granted
Petition of Hilda Nartiff, decided on August 29, 1949, for per- mission to convert the northern half of a two-family house to be purchased by her at 94 Maple Avenue in said Andover from a single-family house into two apartments. Granted
Petition of William H. Jowett Heirs, decided September 7, 1949, for permission to subdivide the property owned by them on the southeast corner of Walnut Avenue and High Street in said Andover, there being three houses located on said property num- bered 1 and 3 Walnut Avenue and 75 High Street. Granted
Petition of Henry E. Drolet, decided September 7, 1949, for permission to operate a roadside stand on property owned by him, known as "Lakeside" on Lowell Street in said Andover. Denied
Petition of Willis P. Chick and Gladys L. Chick, decided on October 24, 1949, for permission to store lumber for commercial purposes on land owned by them on the southerly side of Rattle- snake Hill Road in said Andover. Denied
Petition of N. Louis Demara, Mary A. Demara, James J. Turner, and Mary C. Turner, decided December 27, 1949, for permission to subdivide property owned by them on the north- east corner of Burnham Road and Arundel Street in said Andover, there being one house located on said property, numbered 89 Burnham Road and 1 Arundel Street. Granted
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES'S. EASTHAM, Chairman ROY E. HARDY, Secretary EDWARD P. HALL
114
Report of Planning Board and Board of Survey
The following Public Hearings were held by the Planning Board during the year 1949:
January 21-Dwight Street Acceptance Plan was approved and recommendation made for acceptance. Dwight Street con- nects South Main Street with Highland Road.
February 11-A plan showing a proposed way to be known as Cornell Avenue was approved.
A proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Law extending the Business District on Bartlet Street petitioned by Mr. Irving Clark was approved and recommended for acceptance.
A revised Elm Court plan showing a change in location of line along the property of F. Teichert was approved.
April 22-Plan of subdivision of land off Morton Street pre- sented by the Town Housing Authority approved and recom- mended for acceptance.
May 12-Three hearings were held on this date.
The following were approved and recommended for acceptance :
Plan of land extending westerly from Walker Avenue and owned by Ann McDonald and Thomas Kenney for the purpose of subdivision and opening for public use, a private way shown thereon.
Plan of land situated on Holt Road near Vine Street and owned by Gaetano Torrisi, for the purpose of subdivision and opening for public use, a private way shown thereon.
Plan of land located in the vicinity of Morton Street on petition of the Town Housing Authority for the purpose of opening for public use a private way as shown thereon.
Respectfully submitted,
SIDNEY P. WHITE, Chairman WALTER C. TOMLINSON, Secretary LEON A. FIELD FREDERICK E. CHEEVER KIRK R. BATCHELLER
EDWARD R. LAWSON, Clerk
115
Report of the Committee on Capital Expenditures
This Committee was created by the 1949 Town Meeting for the purpose of coordinating the future capital expenditures of the Town. In its work the Committee has not attempted to determine the required expenditures beyond 1954.
Our committee has carefully reviewed the plans for expansion in the sewer, water, and school departments, as their problems seem most pressing. The considered opinion of the committee is that no major expansion of the sewer system will be required be- fore 1955, but that the water and school departments present im- mediate problems.
This year's warrant includes special articles calling for the expenditure of $254,000 to avoid an extreme increase in the tax rate. We think that this figure should be kept under $200,000. The enlargement of our reservoir capacity off Bancroft Road, better and more efficient means of supplying the high pressure reservoir at Prospect Hill and the installation of a new boiler at the Haggetts Pond Pumping Station are included in the warrant and call for an appropriation of $130,000. We feel that this work should be done in 1950. This appropriation will make demands on all available resources of the town and will increase this year's tax rate.
We also favor a sum of money for a yearly extension of the water system eliminating individual special articles in the war- rant. This procedure was started in 1949 and should be continued. In view of the very large expenditure for other parts of our water system we feel that the 1950 figure should be limited to $10,000. We face further capital improvements in our water system that will cost approximately $150,000 in the next five years. Our com- mittee intends to study these improvements and make recom- mendations for a solution that will spread the burden equitably over the period.
The largest immediate capital outlay that we face is for the ex- pansion and modernization of our elementary school system. We favor the $10,000 appropriation for an architectural study and sketches as presented by the school committee. The study will
116
probably result in a request for approximately $700,000 for new school buildings, nearly as much as we raise in one year by all our real estate taxes. Some state help is available, but a further study is required to determine the proper use of taxes and short term borrowing.
We have studied other capital expenditures that will not be needed before 1955. Our town is growing and the demands are many. We request your presence at the Town Meeting on March 13 to help solve these problems.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. HARDY
SIDNEY P. WHITE
HOWELL M. STILLMAN
GORDON L. COLQUHOUN
FREDRIC S. O'BRIEN
WALLACE E. BRIMER
JOSEPH A. MCCARTHY
Committee on Capital Expenditures
117
Report of Recreation Committee
The Andover Committee on Recreation submits its report for the year 1949.
PLAYGROUNDS
The playground activities for the year past were conducted under the supervision of our newly appointed Supervisor, James D. Doherty, and a staff composed of an Assistant Supervisor, two male and eight female Instructors.
Attendance Records
Ballardvale
8,575
Central
13,500
Indian Ridge
5,275
Shawsheen
2,975
West Center
2,650
Total
32,975
The customary playground activities were carried on at each playground, and special contests and exhibitions were held as usual.
For the first time in several years considerable time and at- tention was devoted to handwork projects. This phase of the recreational work was extremely well received by the young people and some exceptionally fine work was turned out. Ex- amples of the work were exhibited in one of the local stores at the close of the season and favorably impressed many of our adult population.
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