USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1942 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
When the Old Age Law was revised in November, 1941, the re- sponsibility of children for parental support was definitely indicated.
An unmarried son or daughter living outside the home of parents was considered exempt from contributing to their support if earning $1,000 or less per year.
A married son with no dependent minor children, exempt to $1500.
A married son with one dependent minor child, exempt 'to $2000.
A married son with two dependent minor children, exempt to $2500.
A married son with three dependent minor children, exempt to $3000.
Of the first $500 in earnings over the above amounts these sons and daughters are expected to contribute one-fourth, or $125 a year. On all amounts over this first $500 they are expected to contribute one- half to the support of parents, if necessary.
In all cases where the wages or earnings of sons or daughters are sufficient under the law to provide support of parents the local bureau of Old Age Assistance has no recourse but to discontinue assistance unless there are heavy or unusual expenses to be considered in connec- tion with the case. Otherwise the State will not approve the granting of assistance and the Town will not receive Federal or State reimburse- ments.
We feel that the above information should appear in this Annual Report. The Town, State, and Federal Governments should not be under obligation to spend the money of our tax-paying citizens to sup- port parents whose children are amply able to provide for them. Old Age Assistance is a godsend to many, who through no fault of their own are without means of support or have children whose limited re-
[ 199 ]
sources are not sufficient to provide support. It is not a handout to enable children who are prosperous to escape their responsibility under the law.
During the year 1943 there is another factor that may materially reduce the cost of Old Age Assistance. Many sons of men and women over 65 years of age have been inducted into the armed forces of the United States. Some of these men were the sole or partial support of parents. Such men, on entering Army or Navy, can sign a paper mak- ing an allotment of a portion of their pay to support a parent, and the U. S. Government will add a substantial amount to this monthly allot- ment. For instance, a private in the Army may allot $22 a month of his pay for the support of a mother and the Government will contribute an additional $15.00-a total of $37.00 a month. In many cases this plan makes it unnecessary for a parent to apply for Old Age Assist- ance and it is the procedure advised. The parent cannot receive such an allotment and the full measure of Old Age Assistance in addition.
This department is endeavoring at all times to administer assist- ance for the best interests of recipients and to do so without favoritism,' but it also has in mind the interest of our citizens who eventually pay the whole cost of such assistance.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE-1938-1942
Year
Cases Jan. 1 .
Appropriated
Expended
Savings
1938
262
$72,500
$67,193
$ 5,307 unexpended
1939
302
83,306
71,153
12,153 unexpended
1940
321
78,079
69,753
8,326 unexpended
1941
348
77,000
67,432
9,568 unexpended
1942
324
80,000
71,395
8,605 unexpended
1943
286
In concluding this report we wish to express our appreciation of the many letters we have received from those who have benefited by the assistance and by our efforts to do more for them than is required of us in administering the law. We also wish to thank the members of the Bureau of Old Age Assistance and our Town Counsel for their support and cooperation to the end that those who are entitled to the benefits of this wise law may receive the maximum assistance to which they are entitled under its provisions. No other State in the Union is as liberal as Massachusetts in the matter of aid given to its citizens of advanced years.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT L. RICE, Supervisor, 1 Bureau of Old Age Assistance
[ 200 ]
REPORT OF AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
December 31, 1942.
To the Honorable Board of Public Welfare,
Town Hall, South Braintree, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
There has been a substantial reduction in the Case Load from 38 cases as of January 1, 1942, to 22 cases at the close of the year.
This reduction was caused by many of the children reaching the age of ineligibility; leaving school to work in Defense plants; five cases remarried; and three moving out of the Town.
Expenditures (total)
$21,116.05
Received from Federal Grants and Refunds 6,268.65
Net Expenditures
$14,847.40
Unexpended from Appropriation $ 8,152.60
Payments from State.
$ 4,263.54
A. D. C. Administration Federal Grants.
$ 542.66
Expenditures
540.11
Balance Forward to 1943
$ 2.55
A. D. C. Administration Town Funds.
$ 471.96
Expenditures
119.68
Unexpended Balance from Appropriation $ 352.28
My sincere thanks to the officials of the State Department for their kind cooperation.
Very truly yours,
FREDERICK D. LAWLEY,
Agent.
[ 201 ]
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
December 31, 1942.
To the Honorable Board of Public Welfare,
Town Hall,
South Braintree, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
In submitting the report on General Relief for the year of 1942 it shows a marked reduction in Case Load, from 106 cases as of January 1, 1942, to 53 cases at the close of the year. This is accounted for in persons obtaining employment in Defense plants and private industries, where high wages were the attraction. There is no one on the rolls, as of this date, that is able to work and not working.
Included in our Case Load are 15 children boarding in Institutions or Foster Homes through the Division of Child Guardianship. These children are either of low mentality, or orphans, and their expense must be carried indefinitely.
The comparative figures for 1941 and 1942 are as follows:
1941
1942
Food
$14,337.87
$10,062.39
Rent
11,212.94
7,052.46
Fuel
3,395.76
2,076.70
Light
756.01
480.48
Doctors
2,732.30
1,596.81
Hospital
2,469.38
2,278.47
Pharmacies
1,181.17
571.76
Shoes
739.94
263.74
-
Clothing
258.20
140.71
All Others
1,684.13
262.61
Cash
6,680.00
2,982.00
Board and Care
2,600.50
1,361.50
Institutions
2,218.55
2,409.27
Cities and Towns
6,620.24
9,935.42
Total
$56,886.99
$41,474.32
Discounts
$ 288.59
$ 122.05
Refunds
$ 240.37
$ 223.50
-
Collections from the State and Outside Cities and Towns amounted to $8,483.69, same being turned in to estimated receipts, as well as, $11,760.22 from appropriations in this Department.
Respectfully yours,
FREDERICK D. LAWLEY,
Agent
[ 202 ]
REPORT OF THE SOLDIERS' RELIEF DEPARTMENT
Amount Appropriated $24,000.00
Amount Expended $18,192.90
Amount Unexpended $5,804.10
1
Soldiers Benefits
Military Aid
800.00
432.00
368.00
State Aid
800.00
585.00
215.00
Burials
500.00
000.00
500.00
Office Expense
200.00
169.65
30.35
$26,300.00
$19,382.55
$6,917.45
The Town of Braintree appropriated $24,000 for Soldiers' Relief for the year 1942. Of this amount $5,804.10 remains unexpended. The reason for this increased appropriation of last year was the fact that due to the drafting and enlisting of men who had dependents it was recommended by the Commissioner of State Aid and Pensions that sufficient money be appropriated to care for this increased burden. However, we have been fortunate in the fact that this department has expended in Soldiers' benefits approximately $550 less than in 1941. Of the $800 appropriated for Military Aid $432 was expended, leaving $368 unexpended. Of the $800 appropriated for State Aid, $585 was expended, leaving a balance of $215. $500 was also appropriated for burials which, however, remains unexpended, and we are very glad to state that there have been no veterans die for whom it was necessary for the town to expend money for their funeral. $200 was appropriated for Office Expense, of which $169.65 was spent, leaving a balance of $30.35. The Town of Braintree will be reimbursed on or before No- vember 1, 1943, by the State the following amounts which have been expended by the town:
$216-which constitutes one-half of the Military Aid which has been expended.
$585 of State Aid which is the full amount expended.
$955 War Allowance which will be reimbursed in full by the State, making a total of $1,756.00.
In total, $6,917.45 has been left unexpended of the money appro- priated for the above expenses.
In the year 1942 the State Legislature passed the War Allowance Bill so that money could be available for those who were dependent upon the men who have entered the armed services in World War II, which War Allowance is available up to the amount of $50 per month, the Department of State Aid and Pensions setting the amount which they feel is necessary for each individual case.
[ 203 ]
The average Case Load per month for the year 1942 was 38.4. This does not include the average of 11/2 cases of Military Aid and the average of 6.1 of State Aid. Our cases on War Allowance for World War II started with one case in May, rising to 11 cases, which has now dropped to five cases during the month of December. This Case Load, however, increases and decreases as people receive their allotments and as others go into the service.
As married men are expected to be inducted into the service some- time this year it is expected that this will greatly increase the cases of War Allowance, which is one reason for asking for approximately the same amount of money as was appropriated last year. Whether this will be more than sufficient or not enough is something which the devel- opment of the war will itself determine.
It is the recommendation of the Commissioner of State Aid and Pensions in conjunction with the office of the Commissioner of Taxation that Soldiers' Benefits, Military Aid, State Aid, Burials and War Allowance, all be listed under Soldiers' Benefits, thereby forestalling the necessity of calling a special Town Meeting and asking for a trans- fer of funds if any of the above appropriations need to be enlarged.
The Adjutant-General of the State of Massachusetts has requested through the Commissioner of State Aid and Pensions that all agents or commissioners of Soldiers' Relief get the following data on all en- listed or inducted men in the various towns where they serve. This is being done so that the records of the men in the service from the State of Massachusetts will be complete in full.
Date of enlistment or call to active duty; date of birth; place of birth; branch of service; rank; and nearest of kin. This request from the Adjutant-General's office means added work for this department as there have been approximately 1000 men go from this town and more to follow.
I wish to convey my thanks to the various department heads for their help and cooperation at all times, especially the Police Depart- ment. In conclusion, I wish to state that this department has, in the past five years, not been interfered with through outside political inter- ference and also to thank the Selectmen for their cooperation at all times.
Respectfully submitted,
SYDNEY WEST, Soldiers' Relief Agent.
[ 204 ]
REPORT OF THE TOWN INFIRMARY
To the Honorable Board of Public Welfare
Town Hall
So. Braintree
Gentlemen :
During the year ending December 31, 1942, there was a monthly average of 13 persons housed and cared for at the Town Infirmary.
1942 Appropriation $4,000.00 Additional Grant to Inmates from Welfare Dept. 616.00
Total
$4,616.00
Expenses
4,606.39
Unexpended Balance
$ 9.61
1
1
Reimbursement from State
$ 406.00
Weekly Cost per Person (Includes Medical & Clothing)
$ 6.81
The Town is very fortunate in having such a capable and interested Superintendent and Matron in charge of the institution.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK D. LAWLEY, Agent.
[ 205 ]
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT
Braintree, Mass., 1942.
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree, Mass .:
I hereby submit my report as Tree Warden for the year 1942.
Of the $750.00 1942 appropriation, 749.76 was expended in re- moving dead trees, dead and broken branches and limbs on the following streets: Liberty, Walnut, Hollis, School, Allen, Pond, Maple, Monatiquot, West, Middle, Elm, Commercial, Robinson, Arborway Drive, Front, Hall, Washington, Edgehill and Shaw. August, September and October brought further damage to our trees after the budget had been ex- hausted. These trees were on Common, Cherry, Shaw, Hollis, Wash- ington, River, Wyman, Union and Central and involved a cost of $118.50 for said emergency work. This amount is carried into 1943 as an unpaid bill.
There remains a tremendous amount of work to be done on Brain- tree shade trees to preserve their health and beauty. There are many dead and dangerous trees that should be removed. New trees should be set out to replace the many that have died due to storms and other natural causes. I have included in my 1943 budget amounts to properly care for this work.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE R. BESTICK, Tree Warden.
[ 206]
Warrant for ANNUAL TOWN MEETING 1
.1640
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
NORFOLK, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Braintree.
Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, qualified to vote in elections therein, to meet at the polling places in their respective Precincts, to wit :-
Polling Place in Precinct 1-Noah Torrey School.
Polling Place in Precinct 2-Town Hall.
Polling Place in Precinct 3-Legion Building, Hollis Avenue. Polling Place in Precinct 4-Penniman School.
Polling Place in Precinct 5-Jonas Perkins School.
Polling Place in Precinct 6-Thomas Watson School.
On Monday, the first day of March, 1943, at five forty-five o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to bring in to the Wardens of their respec- tive Precincts, their votes on the official ballot for a Moderator; Town Clerk; a Town Treasurer; one Selectman for a term of three years; one member of the Board of Public Welfare for a term of three years; one member of the Board of Assessors for a term of three years; one Water Commissioner and Commissioner of Sinking Fund for a term of three years; two members of the School Committee for a term of three years; one member of the Municipal Lighting Board for a term of three years; one member of the Board of Health for a term of three years; one Sewer Commissioner for a term of three years; one Park Commissioner for a term of three years; a Tax Collector; a Tree Warden; two mem- bers of the Planning Board for a term of three years; and eighty-four Town Meeting Members as follows:
[ 207 ]
Thirteen Town Meeting Members in Precinct 1 for a term of three years;
Fourteen Town Meeting Members in Precinct 2 for a term of three years;
Fourteen Town Meeting Members in Precinct 3 for a term of three years;
Fourteen Town Meeting Members in Precinct 4 for a term of three . years;
One Town Meeting Member in Precinct 4 for a term of two years to fill vacancy;
Three Town Meeting Members in Precinct 4 for a term of one year to fill vacancy;
Thirteen Town Meeting Members in Precinct 5 for a term of three years;
Twelve Town Meeting Members in Precinct 6 for a term of three years.
The polls will be opened at five forty-five o'clock in the forenoon and will close at eight o'clock in the evening.
You are further directed to notify and warn the said inhabitants qualified to vote as Town Meeting Members, to meet at the Town Hall in said Braintree on Monday, the fifteenth day of March, 1943, at seven forty-five o'clock in the evening, then and there to act upon the follow- ing articles, namely :
Article 1. To choose all Town Officers, except those elected by ballot.
Article 2. To hear and act upon the report of the several boards of Town Officers, and committees, and choose any committee the Town may think proper.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year begin- ning January 1, 1943, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with the provisions of Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year begin- ning January 1, 1944, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with the provisions of Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money for general municipal purposes under the authority of and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 49 of the Acts of 1933, as amended, or take any action relative thereto.
[ 208 ]
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise or borrow and appropriate a sum of money for a Reserve Fund for extraordinary and unforeseen expenditures during the current year.
Article 7. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise or borrow and appropriate for Interest and Maturing Debt the present year, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 8. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise or borrow and appropriate for Liability Insurance, Insurance on Town property and Workmen's Compensation, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 9. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise or borrow and appropriate for the Norfolk County Hospital Assessment, for maintenance and repairs.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Article 10. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for General Government for salaries and ex- penses for the following departments and other purposes, or take any action relative thereto.
Moderator.
2. Finance Committee.
3. Selectmen.
4. General Government Incidentals.
5. Accountant.
6. Town Engineer.
7. Assessors.
8. Treasurer.
9. Tax Collector.
10. Town Clerk.
11. Election.
12. Local Defense.
13. Registration.
14. Law.
15. Maintenance of Public Buildings.
16. Contributory Retirement System.
17. Rationing Board.
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Article 11. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the protection of persons and property, or take any action relative thereto.
1. Life Guard at Sunset Lake.
2. Building Inspector.
3. 'Board of Appeal under the Zoning By-Law.
4. Sealer of Weights and Measures!
5. Tree Warden's Department.
[209 ] :
6. Moth Department.
7. Fire Department.
8. Police Department.
9. Military Protection.
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Article 12. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Health and Sanitation, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 13. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise or borrow and appropriate for the maintenance and operation of the Water Department, the same to be taken from the revenue of the Department, and the unexpended balance of 1942, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 14. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate from the income of the Water Department for the salaries of the Water Commissioners.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the income of the Electric Light Department, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00), for the salaries of the Electric Light Commissioners.
Article 16. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Street Lighting.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to include in the Tax Levy for electricity used for Street Lighting, the sum of Eighty-five Hundred ($8,500.00) Dollars as appropriated under Article 16 of the Warrant for the 1943 Annual Town Meeting, and that said sum to- gether with the income from sales of electricity to private consumers, or for current supplied to Municipal Buildings or for Municipal Power, and from the sales of appliances and jobbing during the current fiscal year, to be appropriated for the use of the Municipal Light Plant, the whole to be expended under the direction and control of the Municipal Light Board for repairs, renewals, new construction and operating expenses of the plant for the fiscal year, as defined in Section 57 of Chapter 164 of the General Laws, and that, if said income shall exceed the expense for the fiscal year, such excess shall be transferred to the construction fund of said plant and appropriated and shall be used for such additions to the Plant as may thereafter be authorized by the Municipal Light Board.
Article 18. To see what sum or sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the purposes of the Sewer Department, to be expended by the Board of Sewer Commissioners, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300.00 for salaries of the Board of Sewer Commissioners.
HIGHWAYS
Article 20. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the support of the Highway Department, including
[ 210 ]
labor, repairs, and building sidewalks, stone roads and removal of snow, repairs to highways, Town Ways and Bridges; Oiling and Tarring of Streets; purchase of equipment for said department; and collection of rubbish; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 21. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote.to accept as and for a Town Way, VERNON STREET, so-called, approximately 250 feet in a southerly direction from Bellevue Avenue, Braintree Highlands, as laid out by the Selectmen, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 22. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, SHERATON AVENUE, so-called, from Brewster Avenue, to Wildwood Avenue, Braintree Highlands, as laid out by the Selectmen, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of said way; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 23. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to ac- cept as and for a Town Way, PARKSIDE AVENUE, so-called, from the present point of acceptance to Abbott Street, as laid out by the Select- men, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of the same under a W. P. A. Project or otherwise; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 24. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, ABBOTT STREET, so-called, from the present point of acceptance to Parkside Avenue; and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of the said way under a W. P. A. Project, or otherwise; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 25. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, RIVER STREET EXTENSION, as laid out by the Selectmen, a distance of 600 feet from the intersection of River Street and Arnold Road; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 26. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, "HONEYMOON LANE", so-called, from Acorn Street to Howie Road, as laid out by the Selectmen, and raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the improvement of the same under a W. P. A. project or otherwise; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 27. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, "HOWIE ROAD", so-called, from Acorn Street to Honeymoon Lane, as laid out by the Selectmen, and raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the improvement of the same under a W. P. A. project or otherwise; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 28. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, ACORN STREET, so-called, to Honeymoon Lane, as laid out by the Selectmen, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of the same under a W. P. A. project or otherwise; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 29. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, STATEN ROAD, so-called, from present point of acceptance to Abbott Street, as laid out by the Selectmen, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of the same; or take any action relative thereto.
[ 211 ]
Article 30. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of the triangle in front of the South Congregational Church, at the intersection of Washington and Pond Streets, South Braintree; or take any action relative thereto.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, BERWICK STREET, so-called, as laid out by the Select- men, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of said way; or take any action relative thereto.
TOWN FOREST DEPARTMENT
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to add to the present Town Forest under the control of the Forestry Committee, certain parcels of land adjacent thereto or take any action relative thereto.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.