USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1947 > Part 3
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
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to sell the land known as "Lot 893, Reservoir Avenue, Revere, Massachusetts" which is owned by the James W. Colbert Library Construction Fund .- So voted.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Trustees of the School Funds or any other appropriate agency of the Town to sell at private sale the land on each side of Granite Avenue and on Town Street or any and all parts thereof, which land was acquired by devise under the will of the late Nathaniel Thayer.
25
Voted: To authorize the Trustees of the School Funds to sell at private sale the land on each side of Granite Street and on Town Street and any and all parts thereof, which land was acquired by devise under the will of the late Nathaniel Thayer and to authorize said trustees to petition the Courts for any further authority so to do in addition to the authority vested in them as a corporation and the authority given them by virtue of this vote.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to accept as and for a Town Way, Vernon Street, so-called; as laid out by the Selectmen and to appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of same, or take any action relative thereto.
Voted: That Vernon Street, so-called, as laid out by the Select- men, be accepted as and for a Town Way, that the sum of $752.00 be appropriated for the improvement of the same, said sum to be raised by transfer from available funds in the Treasury; and that betterments be assessed to the extent of 6673% of the cost of said improvement.
Article 8. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the purchase or taking by eminent domain for highway purposes of the land necessary for the construction of a road to be an extension of Storrs Avenue in a Westerly direction to Walnut Street or take any action relative thereto.
Voted: That the sum of $100,00 be appropriated for the taking by eminent domain of the following described land necessary for the con- struction of a road to be an extension of Storrs Avenue in a Westerly direction to Storrs Avenue Extension, so-called: Easterly by Storrs Avenue, forty feet; Northerly by land of John Naples, about one hun- dred feet; Westerly by Storrs 'Avenue Extension, so-called, forty feet; Southerly by land of John Naples, about one hundred feet. Containing about 4,000 square feet of land, owned by John Naples.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the fund appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting of 1947 for Old Age Aszist- ance the sum of $3500.00 to Aid to Dependent Children and the rum of $1500.00 to the temporary aid in the Welfare Department, or take any action relative to transfer of Public Welfare or Old Age Assistance funds within said department .- So voted.
Special Town Meeting
December 29, 1947
Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of constructing an addition to the high school, and for the purpose of constructing an annex to said school at the present location thereof and for originally equipping and furnishing said addition and annex, or for any one or more of the above purposes; determine whether the money shall be provided for by borrowing, by appropriation from available funds in the treasury, by appropriation from the Post-War Rehabilitation Fund, and/or from the Stabilization Fund; or take any action in relation thereto.
Voted: That the sum of $770,000.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of constructing an addition to the High School and for the purpose of constructing an annex to said school at the present location thereof and for the originally equipping and furnishing said addition and annex, and to meet the said appropriation that the sum of $10,000.00 be appropriated from available funds in the Treasury and
26
the sum of $100,000.00 be appropriated from the Post-War Rehabilita- tion Fund, and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the sum of $660,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor, payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than 20 years from the date of issue of the first bond or note or at such earlier time as the Treasurer and Se- lectmen may determine, and that the Committee, appointed pursuant to vote under Article 28 of the Warrant for the 1946 Annual Town Meet- ing, be and hereby is authorized to act for and in behalf of the Town with full power to employ architects, secure bids and let contracts in the name of the Town and to do all and any acts necessary to construct and equip said addition and said annex within the aforesaid appropria- tion.
Article 1A. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of remodelling or reconstructing the high school building; determine how the money shall be provided for, by borrowing, by appropriation from available funds in the treasury, by appropriation from the Post-War Rehabilitation Fund, and/or from the Stabilization Fund; or take any action in relation thereto.
Voted: That the sum of $200,000.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of remodelling or reconstructing the High School Build- ing, and to meet the said appropriation that the sum of $30,000.00 be appropriated from available funds in the Treasury, that the sum of $10,000.00 by appropriated from Post-War Rehabilitation Funds and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the sum of $160,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor, payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than 10 years from date of issue of the first bond or note or at such earlier time as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine. and that the Committee, appointed pursuant to vote under Article 28 of the Warrant for the 1946 Annual Town Meeting, be and hereby is authorized to act for and in behalf of the Town with full power to em- ploy architects, secure bids, and let contracts in the name of the Town and to do all and any acts necessary to remodel or reconstruct said building within the aforesaid appropriation.
Article 2. To see if the Town will authorize the School Committee to establish and maintain State-aided vocational education in accord- ance with the provisions of Chapter 74, General Laws, and Acts amendatory thereto, or dependent thereon, and further raise and appro- priate the sum of $2000 therefor, for expenditure during 1948.
Voted: That the Town authorize the School Committee to estab- lish and maintain State-aided vocational education in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 74, General Laws, and Acts amendatory thereto, or dependent thereon, and raise and appropriate the sum of $2,000.00 therefor for expenditure during 1948, the same to be raised from available funds in the Treasury.
Article 3. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for an elementary school lunch program; such sums to be expended during 1948 and under the jurisdiction of the School Com- mittee.
Voted: That there be appropriated for an elementary school lunch program the sum of $50,000.00, said sum to be expended during 1948 and under the jurisdiction of the School Committee.
27
-
Article 4. To see if the Town will transfer within the School De- partment from the funds heretofore appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting of, this year under Article 7, Item 37, for Salaries the follow- ing sums to the following items:
$15,000.00 To a Special Appropriation for School Lighting.
3,500.00 To books and supplies.
7,000.00 To other expenses
or take any other action relative to the transfer of funds within said department.
Voted: To transfer from the amount appropriated for School Department Salaries at the Annual Town Meeting of 1947 the sum of $15,000.00 to the School Department-Special appropriation for School Lighting Account, $3,500.00 to School Department-Books and Supplies Account, and $7,000.00 to School Department-Other Expenses Account.
28
Report of Board of Selectmen
ALBERT E. ROBERTS, Chairman
JOHN W. MAHAR, Clerk
RAYMOND P. PALMER
1947
1947
No. of employees : 1 Appropriation Expenditures Expenses 1,000.00 981.82 Salaries $3,902.00
$3,902.00
. The year 1947 brought us problems which were the result of the social and economic conditions caused by the readjustment of the country from a war to a peace basis and necessitated the calling of two special town meet- ings.
Special Town Meetings
One of the most critical problems was the shortage of homes. In spite of our Union Village project housing 96 veterans' families, many veterans are still unable to find suitable homes. They requested the selectmen to call a special town meeting in June to see what action the town would take to assist in housing veterans under provisions of recent acts of the Legislature. As a result of the special town meeting in June a committee was appointed to study the matter and report its findings to the town.
Another special town meeting was called the last of December to take action on the report of the Committee for the High School Addition. This was a problem that had become acute after being with us for many years. With some assurance that materials could now be obtained and that money could be borrowed at a low rate of interest, the town voted to proceed with the construction of a million dollar addition to the High School. The cost of this pro- ject will be reflected in our tax rate for the next twenty years.
Increased costs for the School Department supplies and expenses and for certain categories of public welfare
29
caused by mandatory increases in budgets would have made it most difficult to have kept these expenditures with- in the limits of the appropriations had it not been possible to transfer unexpended balances from one account to an- other in both School and Welfare Departments. The spe- cial town meeting gave us this opportunty.
New Voting Place
In accordance with the vote of the 1947 Annual Town Meeting, the selectmen have created an additional voting place in Precinct I. This will be in the branch library in the Highlands and should be a great convenience to the people of that district.
Safety
We have been glad to cooperate with the Braintree Chamber of Commerce in a continual drive for safety on our highways. Both the Police and Highways Depart- ments have contributed much to this project. We have" had warning signs erected at the main entrances to the town, many street crossings painted, maintained parallel parking in the three business districts and continued the excellent work of the safety patrols and safety education at the schools. It is a matter of considerable satisfaction to note that all of these efforts together with the careful driving of our citizens has brought about a decrease in our compulsory automobile liability insurance rates at a time when all but two other communities in the state had their rates increased.
Highways
The report of the Superintendent of Streets will give further details about highway work during the year. We want to mention here the completion of the widening of the intersection of Common Street and Washington Street, and the improvement of North Bowditch St. Also, at our request, the County Commissioners have made a new lay- out for the improvement of Middle Street from Union to Liberty and Liberty Street from Middle to Wildwood.
30
Owing to the strenuous objection by the abuttors to the proposed betterment assessment for the construction of the sidewalk on Pond Street, we did not proceed with this work this year but have carried forward the appro- priation pending further instructions from the town or agreement with the abuttors.
Billboards
We have successfully opposed the erection of two pro- posed large billboards near Capen's Bridge.
Town Hall
Minor repairs have been made on the Town Hall and a much needed rest room for women employees has been established. Additional repairs to the Town Hall are urgently needed and should be provided for during 1948.
American Legion Building
The American Legion Building has been painted out- side.
Sale Of Tax Title Property
We have sold at public auction tax title property for $2,925.00. This cost the town $1,117.10 thus producing a profit of $1,807.90 and placing this property back on a tax paying basis. We welcome inquiries from those seek- ing to buy this type of property.
Cooperation With Weymouth
The selectmen have met with the Weymouth select- men on the problems of parking in the East Braintree- Weymouth business district and in connection with the problem of bus transportation between the two towns.
Massachusetts Selectmen's Association
We have attended meetings of the Massachusetts Se- lectmen's Association and through them have sponsored legislation of interest to the town. This association has honored Braintree by apponting our town counsel, Jona- than W. French, as their Legislative Counsel.
31
Reports of the following departments under the juris- diction of the selectmen may be considered as extensions of this report : Highway, Fire, Police, Veterans' Services, Union Village, Town Accountant, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Engineering, Building Inspector, Moth Depart- ment.
Recommendations
Highway Department Garage should be built from plans and specifications already prepared and paid for.
New equipment for the Highway Department should be purchased each year to maintain efficiency and avoid expensive rental costs.
Unaccepted streets should be built and accepted under the Betterment Act as fast as possible.
No builder should develop property in the town until his layout has been approved by the Board of Survey and until he has filed a satisfactory bond covering the con- struction of any streets.
The town should purchase land now being used for the town dump.
The town should appropriate some money for side- walk construction each year.
Additional funds should be appropriated to enable us to go ahead with an earlier vote and appropriation to con- struct toilet facilities at Sunset Lake.
Hayward Street should be widened and resurfaced from North Bowditch Street to Quincy Avenue and Elm Street from St. Thomas More Church to the Fire Station.
The position of Building Inspector should be made a full time job.
32
Report of Board of Public Welfare
JOHN W. MAHAR, Chairman
ALBERT E. ROBERTS, Clerk RAYMOND P. PALMER H. J. GAFFNEY, Agent
Number of Employees
Town Infirmary 2 Welfare Office 6
Total Expenditures
For Assistance $261,334.63-For Expenses $16,768.76
Three categories of relief are administered by this department as follows: Old Age Assistance, Aid to De- pendent Children and General Relief including the Town Infirmary. Our social workers visit Old Age Assistance and General Relief cases every six months and Aid to Dependent Children cases every three months.
AMOUNT
EXPENDED
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE 1938- 1947
$200,000
AVERAGE NO CASES MONTHLY
$160,000
320
280
$/20,000
240
AMOUNT EXPENDED
200
$80,000
160
120
$40,000
80
40
0
0
38
39 40
'41
42
00$3
'44
'45
46
41
YEAR"
AVERAGE NO. OF CASES MONTHLY
33
1
AMOUNT
EXPENDED
WELFARE - TEMPORARY AID 1938- 1947
180
₹,00,000
150
$80,000
AVERAGE NO CASES MONTHLY
120
$60,000
90
AMOUNT EXPENDED
$ 40,000
60
$20,000
30
0
10
38
39
'40
'41
42
43
44
45
46
YEAR
AVERAGE NO OF CASES MONTHLY
The town is assisted by the State and the Federal Government in meeting the cost of Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children and we have to comply with their requirements. General relief is given on a temporary basis in accordance with need, the entire cost of Braintree settled cases being borne by the town.
Effective September 1, 1947, the State Department of Public Welfare ordered a mandatory increase in Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children to meet the increased costs of living. This budget is also used as the basis of our General Relief budget. Therefore a consider. able increase in the cost of all categories of relief has taken place this year. The average cost per case on Old Age Assistance is now $54.40 per month as compared with $50.00 a year ago. Hospital rates and medical bills have also been increased.
During the year 1947 our case load did not increase as much as we expected. This enabled us to avoid request- ing more money to meet the mandatory budget increases.
34
A small transfer was made from the Reserve Fund to the Infirmary Account to meet the increased cost of food. Detailed reports of expenditures and receipts by this de- partment will be found in the report of the Town Account- ant. The adjoining charts will show the trends in case load and expenditures since 1938.
Number of Cases
Dec., 1946 294
Dec., 1947 304
Old Age Assistance
Aid to Dependent Children
20
26
General Relief (not including Braintree settled cases aided in other cities and towns)
45
50
Inmates in Town Infirmary
10
10
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN 1938 - 1947
AMOUNT EXPENDED
50
40
AVERAGE NO CASES MONTHLY
$ 30,000
30
$20,000
20
AMOUNT EXPENDED
₹10,000
10
OL
0
38
39
'40
£
41
42
'43
44
'45
46
47
YEAR
35
AVERAGE NO. OF CASES MONTHLY
-
Report of Union Village Veterans' Housing Project GEORGE A. SHORTLE, Manager
The Union Village Housing Project was completed and ready for occupancy in October, 1946 under a 5 year plan for temporary veterans housing. The project is lo- cated on town property at the Infirmary site and consti- tutes: 12 frame buildings with 8 apartments of 4 rooms in each building. A total of 96 families occupy these apartments. While the construction of these temporary quarters has alleviated to some extent the housing short- age, it is still inadequate and we have a substantial wait- ing list with only an occasional vacancy.
Bedroom, Union Village Apartment
36
-
Living Room. Union Village Apartment
37
0817
Kitchen, Union Village Apartment
38
Report of Department of Veterans' Services
GEORGE A. SHORTLE, Director
Appropriated Amount $30,000.00
Expended Amount $22,800.00
Unexpended Amount $7,200.00
Veterans' Benefits
Expenses (Including photostat)
600.00
598.36 1.64
Estimated Refund from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$10,000.00
The year 1947 marked no appreciable change in the operation of the department. The overall cases compare favorably with 1946, there being an average of approxi- mately 50 cases each month on direct aid. Under the Veterans' Benefits Act, dependent parents may apply for benefits and during the past year the department has added to the rolls a considerable number of this class of recipient who have reached the age of 65 years. In addi- tion to aid granted the department has serviced hundreds of veterans on photostatic service, pension claims, bonus applications and insurance problems.
Every type of service including free photostating, notarizations, and sundry matters are available to the veteran.
-
39
Report of Town Accountant
R. W. MAGLATHLIN, Town Accountant
Number of Employees Budget Expenditures
1947
2 $5,247.00 $5,237.45 $4,793.09
The Town Accountant is charged with the duty of keeping the financial books of the town, in which are re- corded the Receipts and Disbursements resulting from the financial transactions of the Town.
The books at all times are available for inspection and reveal at any time the exact condition of the Town's finances.
The clerk, in addition to assisting the Accountant, has charge of all records, etc., pertaining to the Contributory Retirement System.
RECEIPTS GENERAL REVENUE
Taxes:
1946 Levy
Real Estate
$75,851.89 911.90
Personal
Poll
58.00
$76,821.79
Current Year 1947
Real Estate
1,002,868.61
Personal
37,920.09
Poll
9,204.00
1,049,992.70
Tax Title Redemptions
Tax Titles
1,392.17
From State:
Income Tax
135,225.77
Corporation Tax
89,184.44
Meal Tax
5,388.29
229,798.50
Licenses and Permits :
Sale of Property
285.00
Auto Dealers
162.50
Junk Dealers
250.00
Music Box
75.00
Common Victuallers
190.00
Auctioneers' Fees
60.00
40
1946 2 $4,843.75
Auctioneers' Licenses
4.00
Advertising Liquor Licenses
140.00
Liquor Licenses
5,758.00
Hawkers and Pedlers
35.00
Sunday
306.00
Pool and Bowling
23.00
Revolver
69.00
Pinball Machines
700.00
Draft Board Room Rent
36.00
Town Hall Rent
245.00
All Others
29.50
8,368.00
Court Fines
510.18
Grants and Gifts:
Dog Licenses
2,026.30
Federal Grants:
A. D. C. "118"
7,408.01
A. D. C. "118" Admr.
777.43
Old Age Assistance
81,620.70
Old Age Assistance Admr.
3,898.46
93,704.60
Highway Fund
21,005.26
Chapter 90 State
9,075.50
Chapter 90 County
2,000.00
From Trust Funds:
Playgrounds-Hollis Fund
500.00
Library-Thayer Fund
315.00
815.00
Electric Light Dept. to Schools.
50,000.00
Plans for High School (U. S. A.)
5,750.00
Special Assessments:
Sewer:
Apportioned :
5,550.67
1946
824.93
6,375.61
Betterments Paid in Advance
765.00
Unapportioned
3,898.33
Sewer House Connections:
Apportioned:
1947
3,441.89
1946
287.38
3,729.27
Betterments Paid in Advance
597.00
Unapportioned :
1947
8,081.34
1946
1,114.38
9,195.72
Streets :
Apportioned
397.55
Betterments Paid in Advance
542.00
Unapportioned:
1947
1,033.07
1946
1,373.14
2,406.21
Water Liens
70.76
41
1947
Excise Tax
1947 1946
45,394.61 1,420.59
49,815.20
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Collector
$428.00
Taxes Collected, Previously Abated
4.35
$432.35
Dog Licenses
2,290.60
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Ambulance Receipts
$692.00
Police
21.00
Fire
38.83
Sealer of Weights and Measures
355.92
Inspection of Buildings
1,346.50
Moth Receipts
321.10
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Health:
Accounts Receivables
$1,657.93
Slaughtering Inspector
104.50
Dental Clinic
656.25
Permits
1,318.00
3,736.68
Sewer
210.83
HIGHWAYS
Quincy Avenue Bridge $52.54
CHARITIES AND VETERANS' SERVICES
Welfare Accounts Receivables
8,922.78
A.D.C. "118" Accounts Receivables
9,358.88
O.A.A. Accounts Receivables
81,493.63
Infirmary
487.60
Veterans' Services, State Aid &
War
Allowance
549.50
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
Schools :
Tuition
$1,522.82
All Other
2,337.79
3,860.61
Libraries Fines and Sales
1,307.19
UNCLASSIFIED
Reserve for Fire Loss
$202.80
Union Village Housing, In Lieu of Taxes
2,271.36
Land, Sand Bin & Storage Area
68.00
Agency Account
20.00
Insurance Refunds
149.19
Reserve for Withholding Taxes
98,903.32
Reserve for War Bonds
2,215.81
Sale of Tax Title Possessions
2.925.00
Sale of Town Owned Land
450.00
Miscellaneous Receipts
215 20
107,420.68
42
Union Village Housing Project:
Rentals
41,963.01
Deposits
1,170.00
Ground Rent Reserve
1,440.00
44,573.01
ENTERPRISES AND CEMETERIES
Water Department-Income
Electric Light-Income
Electric Light Depreciation :
Fund from Electric Light Dept.
$56,824.13
Income from Investments
482.46
57,306.59
Cemeteries:
Burials
194.00
Sale of Lots
70.00
Dyer Hill
50.00
314.00
INTEREST AND MATURING DEBT
Interest:
Taxes
$1,965.25
Excise
13.05
Tax Titles
154.34
2,132.64
Special Assessment:
Committed:
1947
$1,988.97
1946
244.16
2,233.13
Not Committed
16.97
From Water Department.
2,962.50
Debt:
Water Department for Payment
22,533.90
Anticipation of Revenue
300,000.00
322,533.90
TRUST FUND INCOME
Charles Thayer Fund
$106.50
George Kelley Fund
8.06
Ann Penniman Fund
15.15
Hannah Hollis Fund
4.08
N. H. Hunt Fund
491.58
Avis Thayer Fund
12.00
Charles E. French Fund
48.62
685.99
REFUNDS AND TRANSFERS
Refunds :
Collector's Expense
$1.30
Election Officials and Janitors
5.00
Police Uniforms
16.00
Diphtheria Clinic
26.21
Sewer House Connections
110.81
Sewer Construction 1946
392.20
Sewer Construction 1947
1,125.26
Highway General Maintenance
184.71
Welfare Temporary Aid
194.52
A. D. C. "118" Federal Grant
40.66
O. A. A. Federal Grant
1,536.97
$151,797.99 579,926.83
:
43
Infirmary Expenses
281.88
Veterans' Services Aid
401.56
Schools Text Books & Supplies
44.15
Schools All Other Expenses
705.40
5,066.43
Transfers from Reserve Fund:
Collector Extra Clerical
$100.00
Assessors Cities Service Appraisal ..
5,000.00
Land Damages
847.00
Fire and Police Station Maint.
312.52
Fire and Police Station Fuel
144.81
Police Expense
360.80
Police Pensions-Non-Contributory ..
231.30
Sealer of Weights & Measures Expenses.
75.00
Removing Poplar Tree-Morrison Rd.
125.00
Trimming Oak Tree-Cleveland Ave.
30.00
Health Diphtheria Clinic
50.00
Health Plumbing Inspection
400.00
Highway 1946 New Equipment
1,232.35
Dump Maintenance
250.00
Infimary Expenses
250.00
Schools Books and Supplies
3,000.00
Schools All Other Expenses
1,500.00
Park & Playground Repair Diamond.
125.00
Construction Back Stop
35.00
Chlorination Sunset Lake
200.00
14,268.78
Cash Balance December 31, 1946
General Cash
$430,641.25
Water
97,754.66
Electric Light
138,604.69
Electric Light Depreciation
391,348.68
1,058,349.28
$4,091,119.91
EXPENDITURES
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Legislative:
Moderator
$25.00
Finance Committee
Cecy. Salary
250.00
Expenses
849.90
$1,099.90
Selectmen:
Salary of Selectmen
2,100.00
Clerk
1,802.00
Expenses :
Office Supplies, Postage
321.63
Printing and Advertising
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.