USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Berkley > Town annual report of Berkley 1920-1929 > Part 14
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ANNUAL REPORT
advantages of the towns children, 51 towns or one seventh the entire list, above the point attained by local support.
In a place where the support of education is so largely a State expense rather than a local one. State authorities have not only a right but a positive duty to insist that the town itself shall do all in its own power to care properly for its children. The purpose of State reimbursement is to equal- ize educational opportunity. It is to provide the amount more required to give children average opportunity after a town that can not itself provide the average has fully met its own obligations in the matter. It is not intended to in any way relieve a town of its own educational obligations. The aim is entirely to make possible better schools for the benefit of the children and not to make indifferent schools cheaper for the benefit of the local taxpayers at the expense of all the other tax payers of the State.
As a matter of fact, State money is always a great relief to the local tax payer which is intended and proper under conditions of full meeting of obligations by the aided town. If Berkley should not receive State Aid the present school expenditures alone would call for a tax rate of about $23.00 per $1,000.00 of valuation and, other things remaining equal, that would mean a total tax rate for the town of about $37.00. Clearly State School money is of vital importance to Berkley.
To return to the intended working out of State Aid. The average cost of support in the State is $84.72 per pupil. Whether Berkley needs to spend as much as this per pupil or not, present State money as a matter of fact produces 37% of this amount-and the town could buy this amount of education for 63 cents on the dollar. As a further matter of fact since state aid is directly proportional to the amount paid by the town, if the town did spend $84.72 per pupil
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ANNUAL REPORT
State Aid would be proportionally larger and the net cost to the town would be even less than 63 cents on the dollar. In the case of Berkley increases of teachers salary, in all instances but one, and any money spent for transportation. should the town centralize its schools, would all be directly chargeable to the figure upon which reimbursement is based. Clearly with the amount of aid given by the State. the town can properly be expected to raise enough to equal the difference between State aid per pupil and the cost per pupil of average educational advantages. This would not necessarily equal the State Average cost per pupil. Against the low amount per pupil raised by local taxation there will undoubtedly be placed the admittedly poor financial condi- tion of the town. The real test of ability to support its schools is the amount of valuation that a town has for each pupil in its schools. Berkley has but $3,848 of valuation per pupil. In this respect-there are but 30 localities worse off in the State. Berkley has for School purposes a tax rate of $10.06 per thousand.
In regard to this condition of financial ability certain facts stand out. The rank of the town in the amount raised per pupil is lower than its rank in valuation per pupil. State Aid, as just pointed out, offsets the financial weakness of the town and makes average educational advantages within the reach of the town. Lastly of the thirty towns in the State less able to support schools than Berkley, 23 actually have a higher tax rate for education than Berkley. Of these 23 towns, 3 tax themselves more than Berkley but less than $11.00 per thousand, 5 have a school tax rate of between $11.00 and $12.00, 6 a rate between $12.00 and $14.00. 7 a rate between $14.00 and $16.00, and two tax themselves for schools over $16.00 per thousand. In view of the fact that all but seven of the towns poorer than Berkley actually;
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ANNUAL REPORT
do tax themselves more for schools than does this town it can hardly be said that Berkley is now paying all that it possibly can. The town should frankly face reality in this matter and avoid confusion of willingness with ability.
At this point it might be well to state what there is in Berkley to be commended. There are several things of this sort. Considering conditions the progress of the children is remarkable. Teachers have shown great re- sourcefulness in overcoming a lack of adequate materials of instruction. Efforts towards professional growth made by some teachers through summer courses, extension courses and other means is worthy of distinct commendation. Progress made in care for the health of the individual pupil is most gratifying. The report of the School Physician covering the work done by him and the school nurse, and the progress that has resulted therefrom should be read and considered by all. (In this respect it seems to me, however, that constantly to locate and seek to remedy individual physical defects and not to remedy those housing conditions in the schools that are an unfailing and never ending source of just these individual defects would not be a particularly intelligent way of meeting the situation as a whole. The people of the town have a duty to perform in regard to these causes.) The interest in the schools shown by the School Committee and their invariable willingness to do all within their power to improve conditions, is distinctly a cause for satisfaction. There are many ways in which instruction can be improved in Berkley but there is no need for me to discuss them here because the regular school appropriation will care for these items and the School Committee is fully alive to the situation. In regard to these things there is nothing to be said therefore except that the town is fortunate in having a committee that will insure a steady improvement
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ANNUAL REPORT
in conditions so far as they are able to do so. There are therefore many things to commend in the Berkley School Situation.
In regard to other larger phases of the situation which are neither happy nor comforting the remedy is beyond the limits to which a School committee can very well go without distinct authorization and a specific appropriation by the town. Possibly the committee could attend to these affairs and the town would have to pay the bill but no committee would take any such action unless forced to do so by the absolute refusal of the voters to do their own duty in the matter.
The situation, bluntly put, is that-present conditions can not further continue. Something must be done by someone and that too at once. There is absolutely no room for any argument over something versus nothing in the situation. The only possible question is about which particular something shall be done.
In general two courses are open. One is to bring all the present buildings up to standard. This would be a costly process that would have to be met entirely out of the reven- ues of the year in what it is done, and when it is done, it leaves the town with the same type of organization 991/2% extinct because of its manifest inferiority and also with educational progress about a's far away as it was in the first place.
The other alternative is centralization. This gives the tax payer and his children something worth while for his money, a chance to spread the cost over several years so that the burden in any single year is not excessive, the benefit of a school system far more economical to run, an organization that can return full value received upon its operating costs which the present one absolutely can not
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ANNUAL REPORT
do, and a town asset that will tend to promote growth and raise land values in the town rather than a liability that will forever keep out of town the type of people that are most needed and desired if Berkley is to attain its possibilities. Berkley is too. near Taunton not to grow as a residential community when once a perfectly good and sufficient reason for not living here has been removed. The tax payer should sharply distinguish between taxes that represent expense and taxes that are an investment in certain future prosperity.
I shall not enter into a detailed exposition of any scheme of centralization because I understand that a meeting of the citizens is to be called before this report will be in the hands of the voters and by the time this is read the details will already be familiar.
In order to act intelligently upon any proposition involv- ing centralization the people must know the number of scholars in the town and where they are.
I add therefore the following statement of School member- ship by school and grade.
School
Grade
1
2
3 4 5 6 7 8 total
Burt's Corner
3
6
5
6
1
5
8
34
Common
5
2
5
5
5
3
2
2 27
Bridge
5
2
12
Neck
4
4
2
2
4
1
2
22
No. 5
3
3
5
3
0
3
1
18
No. 6
2
5
4
4 5
4 8
3
22
Myricks
13
4
7
6
7
50
35
26
28
25
22
16
24
9
185
1
4 3
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ANNUAL REPORT
In closing I wish to say that I have enjoyed my relations with the town so far and expect to continue to do so. I wish to thank all for the kind consideration that has been shown me and I request the same consideration for this report, I have no intention to find fault, complain or criti- cise harshly or unduly. It is my duty to report conditions as I find them. If they are not what they should be it is the right of the citizens to know it, and it is my business to tell them and to point out, so far as I am able, the way to better and more satisfactory conditions.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD L. HILL,
Supt. of Schools.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the School Committee.
During the early part of the year the schools at Myricks, Common and Burts Corner were much disturbed by two epidemics, one of whooping cough and one of mumps. At Myricks there were 24 cases of whooping cough and 15 cases of mumps, at Common 7 cases of mumps and at Burts Cor- ner 23 cases of mumps.
Two examinations of the pupils were made with the assistance of the school nurse during the year. At these times 346 pupils were examined. 28 cases of enlarged tonsils were found, which ought to be removed, 6 of these have been operated upon. 71 cases of decayed teeth were found and only 12 cases have been corrected. A dental clinic is to be provided by the town during the ensuing year and we hope the parents will accept the opportunity to have the pupils' teeth treated. There were 17 cases of enlarged lymphatic glands of which 7 were suspicious of tuberculosis, 3 children needed glasses and obtained them.
Vaccination has been very much neglected during pre- vious years, but it was very gratifying to have the parents so willing to fulfill the law when it was brought to their attention. 90 children were vaccinated.
On June 26 a health test for children who were to enter school in September and those who were so much under- weight as to be suspicious of tuberculosis, was held at the Myricks school house. 31 pupils were examined 6 were
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ANNUAL REFORT
recommended for X-ray, several for re-examination in the fall and a number for removal of adenoids and tonsils. There were present besides the school physicians and school nurse Drs. Chas. W. Milliken and R. P. McKnight.
During the year Miss McIntosh, the school nurse, has made 130 calls at the school houses and 152 calls at the homes of the pupils. She has weighed and measured the children several times. At the beginning of the year she found 48 that were 10% to 21% below the average weight for their age and height. She has been very persevering in follow- ing up these cases, instructing and encouraging them in methods of caring for their health, so that at the end of the year only 20 are 10% or more below the average and only 1 has lost weight. Through her persistent efforts a few persons have availed themselves of the opportunities she has been able to offer for treating the children. We hope many more will consult this department and have their childrens' health put in better condition.
CHAS. A. BRIGGS, M. D.
School Physician.
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ANNUAL REPORT
December 1, 1924.
To the Board of Selectmen,
Mr. Charles H. Macomber, Chairman, Berkley, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the accounts of the town of Berkley for the period from January 1, 1923 to September 30, 1924, made in accordance with the pro- visions of Section 40, Chapter 44 of the General Laws. This report is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Edward H. Fenton, Chief Examiner of this Division, who was placed in charge of the work.
Very truly yours,
:
THEODORE N. WADDELL,
Director of Accounts
TOWN OF BERKLEY Balance Sheet-September 30, 1924 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
Cash : In Bank and office, Accounts Receivable : Taxes:
$2,196.49
Temporary Loans: In anticipation of revenue, Appropriation Balances:
$12,000.00
Library,
$229.68
Levy of 1921,
$6.64
Care of Soldiers' Graves,
40.70
Levy of 1922,
662.11
School House Building Comm.
250.00
Levy of 1923,
2,236.32
Memorial Day,
.80
Levy of 1924,
16,387.95
Incidentals,
1,083.94
Poor,
1,175.30
Town Officers,
1,031.38
Moth Assessments:
Schools,
7,240.60
State Tax,
1,300.00
Levy of 1923,
7.00
Levy of 1924,
114.00
$127.00
Tax titles held by town,
8.14
Overlays-reserved for abatement of taxes:
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ANNUAL REPORT
State Highway Tax,
62.00
County Tax,
740.00
$13,151.40
1
$6.00
Levy of 1922,
$19,293.02
.
Balance Sheet-Continued
Overdrawn Accounts:
Moth Extermination,
$28.62
Highways,
32,31.83
State Aid,
48.00
Military Aid,
270.00
Health,
85.24
Snow,
345.15
Enforcing the Laws,
116.00
Fire,
123.24
ยท
$3,338.08
Estimated Receipts-used for reduction of tax levy,
$8,868.00
Less receipts to date,
3,541.47
5.326.53
$30,289.26
$30,289.26
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Trust Funds:
Cash and Securities,
$3,506.98
Giles Leach Improvement Fund, Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds, 2,648.75
$858.23
$3,506.98
$3,506.98
Levy of 1923, Levy of 1924,
$123.15 179.36
$602.51 --
Surplus Revenue : Reserve for overdrawn accts. $3,338.08 Excess and Deficiency, 1,194.27
$4,532.35
ANNUAL REPORT
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Berkley
ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1925
Town Clerk
Ervine A. Chace
Term expires Mar. 1927
Moderator
Edwin H. Allen
Selectmen and Overseers of Poor
Charles H. Macomber James McCall Frans H. Silvan
Term expires Mar. 1926 Term expires Mar. 1927 Term expires Mar. 1928
Assessors for Three Years
Ervine A. Chace Frederick L. Williams Edwin H. Allen
Term expires Mar. 1926 Term expires Mar. 1927 Term expires Mar. 1928
School Committee for Three Years
Stephen A. Dow Noah H. Strange Myra H. Dean
Term expires Mar. 1926 Term expires Mar. 1927 Term expires Mar. 1928
Collector of Taxes
Lester B. Makepeace
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ANNUAL REPORT
Treasurer
Edwin H. Allen
Auditor
Ruth C. Soule
Constables
Stephen A. Dow
Willard H. Hathaway
William V. Reed
Albert F. Bassett John C. Murphy Edward L. Smith
Linneus C. Whittaker
Fish Wardens
Gideon H. Babbitt Linneus C. Whittaker
Oyster Wardens
Gideon H. Babbitt Linneus C. Whittaker
Tree Warden
Linneus C. Whittaker
Trustees of Public Library for Three Years
Florence A. Macomber Lizzie J. Howland Myra H. Dean
Term expires Mar. 1926 Term expires Mar. 1927 Term expires Mar. 1928
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ANNUAL REPORT
Burial Ground Commissioners for Three Years
George S. Cummings Linneus C. Whittaker Edward L. Smith
Term expires Mar. 1926 Term expires Mar. 1927 Term expires Mar. 1928
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ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN OFFICERS APPOINTED BY THE
SELECTMEN FOR 1925
Animal Inspector
Allen A. Haskell
Inspector of Slaughtering
Albert B. Cummings
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Linneus C. Whittaker
Moth Inspector
Adelbert A. Briggs
Forest Warden
Gideon H. Babbitt
Fence Viewers and Field Drivers
Edward E. Whittaker Edward L. Smith
Measurers of Wood and Lumber
Benjamin O. Jones Sumner N. Staples
Gideon H. Babbitt
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ANNUAL REPORT
Weigher
Benjamin O. Jones
Milk Inspector
Allen A. Haskell
Pound Keeper
Ervine A. Chace
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ANNUAL REPORT
APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1925
Memorial Day
$40.00
Library
200.00
Care of Graves of Soldiers and Sailors of the Civil and Spanish Wars
100.00
Poor
1,000.00
Town Officers
1,700.00
Incidental
2,500.00
Roads
2,150.00
Oiling Roads
1,500.00
Graveling Road (Locust St.)
500.00
Graveling Grinnell St.
300.00
Widening Benjpoull Hill
1,000.00
Schools
15,200.00
Berkley St.
1,000.00
Padelford St.
1,000.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
The state department of taxation has increased the valuation of the town from $757,287.00 to $993,568.00, which is an increase of $236,273.00; this big increase in our valuation is bound to work to our disadvantage in several ways. It will make our State and County taxes more and it will make quite a difference in obtaining money for road purposes under the "Small Town Act". Our road valua- tion will change from $18,030.00 to $23,656.00 per mile, there are forty-two miles of highway in the town that comes under this Act. This does not include about a mile of State road on County Street. Under the old valua- tion we have been getting $75.00 a mile from the Division of Highways, providing of course, that the town appro- priated $2,100.00, which is $50.00 a mile. With this change in valuation it will be necessary for the town to appropriate $3,150.00, which is $75.00 a mile, in order to get help from the State. If the town will do this the Division of Highways can give us an equal amount.
There is a bill now pending in the legislature, if enacted, that will allow the State to give to small towns an amount double their own appropriation, if the towns meet with the requirements of the act.
In 1914 the town got het first allotment of road money from the State. Since then and up to the present time we have received from the State the sum of $33,868.54 and from the County $3,500.00, making a total of $37,368.54; to this amount we can add the sum of $1,000.00 presented to the town by Mr. Thomas P. Paull and expended on
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ANNUAL REPORT
Padelford Street. This generous and public spirited gift merits and receives the thanks of the entire inhabitants of the town.
The school house at the Common was destroyed by fire and the town at a meeting called for the purpose decided not to replace the old building, but to build a four room building instead, large enough to consolidate all the schools except Myricks.
The sum of $22,000.00 was appropriated to build and furnish the school complete, $2000 of the above amount was put into the tax levy this year and a loan for the balance of $20,000.00 has been made with the Taunton Savings Bank. The town has issued ten notes of $2000.00 each at 4%, these notes are to be paid me each year until the loan is liquidated.
Work on the new school house has progressed quite rapidly considering the weather conditions. It will be ready to occupy for the fall term of school.
Your board would recommend that some action be taken by the town to dispose of the old school buildings and lots. They can be sold and remodeled into dwelling houses and become a source of revenue to the town through taxes. The town should realize quite well from the sale of this property.
The town has a note of $3000.00 to pay March 26, 1926. There is $2715.04 in the treasury.
The unpaid taxes including the interest due December 31, 1925 amounts to $4,281.46.
CHARLES H. MACOMBER 1
FRANS H. SILVAN Selectmen
JAMES McCALL
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ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN WARRANT For March 1, 1926
Article 1. To see if the town will appropriate any part of the dog fund to the Public Library and make what other appropriations that are necessary.
Article 2. To act on report of town officers.
Article 3. To fix compensation for collector and treas- urer for ensuing year.
Article 4. To see if the town will authorize the Treasur- er with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year.
Article 5. To choose all necessary town officers, one selectman for three years, one assessor for three years, one school committee for three years, one trustee of library for three years and one burial ground commissioner for three years, town treasurer for one year, collector of taxes for one year, auditor for one year, moderator for one year, tree warden for one year, seven constables for one year, three fish wardens for one year, three oyster wardens for one year and also to bring in your ballots on the question: "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating beverages in this town?" The form of ballot shall be "Yes" or "No".
Article 6. To raise and appropriate sums of money for ways and bridges.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Article 7. To raise and appropriate a sum of money for schools, including supplies, high school tuition, salary of superintendent, transportation of scholars and repairs on public buildings.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to change the present layout of road that runs to the shore through the property formerly owned by Charles E. Carr.
Article 9. To raise and appropriate a sum of money for support of poor, salaries of town officers, state aid and in- cidentals.
Article 10. To choose a memorial committee and ap- propriate a sum of money for same.
Article 11. To raise and appropriate a sum of money to be extended in suppresssing the gypsy and brown tail moths.
Article 12. To raise and appropriate a sum of money to be used in the cemetery and care of graves of the civil and spanish war soldiers and sailors.
Article 13. To act on any other business that may come before the meeting.
Caucus Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:30 P. M.
Town meeting Monday March 1 at 10 o'clock A. M.
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ANNUAL REPORT
AUDITOR'S REPORT
Berkley, Mass., Jan. 1926
As Auditor of the Town of Berkley, I have examined the Treasurer's accounts and find on file all necessary orders of the Selectmen for money paid out.
The books show :-
Money from all sources
$64,022.41
Bills Paid
61,307.37
Cash on hand
$2,715.04
Financial Condition Jan. 1926
Cash on hand
$2,715.04
Leach Fund (July Int.)
938.08
Unpaid Taxes 1923
70.92
Interest on 1923 Taxes
8.68
Unpaid Taxes 1924
39.01
Interest on 1924 Taxes
2.43
Unpaid Taxes 1925
4,109.06
Interest on 1925 Taxes
51.36
The Town owes one note for $3,000.00 due March, 1926.
RUTH F. SOULE,
Auditor.
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ANNUAL REPORT
TREASURER'S REPORT
Cash on hand Jan. 1925
$3,505.38
State Forestry Division, 7.50
Corporation Tax, Public Service, 1.88
Bristol County Dog Fund,
273.40
Mass. School Fund,
2,192.71
First District Court,
378.96
State Vocational Education,
131.68
State Corporation Tax, Business,
158.87
State Income Tax, 1922, 1923, 1924
90.00
City of Taunton, Outside Relief,
159.26
The Machinists National Bank, 18,000.00
Four Pedlers Licenses, 12.00
State Inspector of Animals,
24.10
Old iron, 1.00
Town of Raynham, oil,
35.96
State, Supt. of School,
310.27
Thomas T. Paull, Gift for work on Padelford St.
1,000.00
N. H. Strange, old stove,
5.00
State, Transportation, T. H. School Pupils, 1,147 12
State, Division of Highways, 2,287.50
State, Division of Highways, 2,362.50
Frans H. Silvan, Taxes and Int., 1922, 1923, 1924, 843.02
State Corporation Tax, Public Service, 91.26
170000 4%.
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ANNUAL REPORT
State, Income Tax, 1925,
3,570.64
State, National Bank Tax,
16.63
State, Military Aid,
140.00
Srate, H. S. Tuition in Special Cases, 2,043.75
Frans H. Silvan, taxes, 1922, 1923, 1924,
4,321.02
Interest on money in Bank,
74.79
Lester Makepeace, taxes 1925,
19,740.90
State Aid,
72.00
Soldiers' Exemption,
22.31
Total,
$64,022.41
Expenditures
Town Officers,
$1,679.22
State Aid,
72.00
Public Library,
553.87
Poor,
1,375.28
Memorial Day,
35.00
Cemetery,
104.43
Snow Bills,
93.90
Enforcing Laws,
374.50
Gypsy & Brown Tail Moths,
490.49
Miscellaneous Bills,
5,063.48
Fires,
715.64
Library Basement,
340.50
Carl L. Sawyer, Architect,
525.60
Schools,
14,933.64
Four notes,
17,000.00
Interest on Notes and Fees,
530.28
County Tax,
751.95
State Tax,
1,680.00
State Auditor,
376.05
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ANNUAL REPORT
State Highway,
62.90
Abatement Taxes,
6.20
Highways and Bridges,
14.542.44
Total
$61,307.37
Cash on hand
2,715.04
$64,022.41
Town Officers
F. L. Williams, assessor, 42 days, $ 147.00
E. H. Allen, assessor and espenses, 15.25
E. A. Chace, assessor, 391/2 days, 138.25
E. H. Allen, assessor, 381/2 days, 134.75
E. H. Allen, horse 7 days, 14.00
E. H. Allen, telephone, express, etc.,
4.42
F. L. Williams, copying tax book for State, 24.50
E. A. Chace, Town Clerk, 1 yr. 100.00
E. A. Chace, 21 Births, 21.00
E. A. Chace, 22 deaths and 15 marriages 18.50
E. A. Chace, Oaths to Town Officers and stamps, 10.15
E. A. Chace, services, two Town meetings, 6.00
N. H. Strange, School Com. 1 yr., 40.00
Ruth F. Soule, Auditor, 70.00
Ruth F. Soule, stamps, 4.00
S. A. Dow, School Com., 1 yr., 60.00
Mrs. Laura Swift, School Com., 10.00
Frans Silvan, Tax Col., 1924, 200.00
Frans Silvan, Tax Col., 1922, 26.40
Charles H. Macomber, Selectman, 1 yr. 125.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
James McCall, Selectman, 1 yr., 100.00
Frans Silvan, Selectman, 1 yr.,
100.00
E. H. Allen, Tr. 1 yr.,
300.00
E. H. Allen, Moderator, 1 yr., 10.00
$1,679.22
Miscellaneous
The Davol Printing House, tax bills, warrants, etc., $37.75
Taunton M. L. Plants, Town hall, 3.34
N. B. Vocational School, 15.00
Independent Coal Tar Co.,
6.00
Pierce Hardware, 2.70
A. G. Williams & Co., 10.62
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