USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1955 > Part 2
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
17
permit and also commensurate with the value of the service performed or privilege granted by the town.
We have three recommendations to make. First, we feel the town should amend the by-laws to increase the fees of the building in- spector. On petition Article 28 in this year's warrant for the annual town meeting has been inserted covering this matter. We recommend favorable action on this article.
The law places the matter of fees for liquor licenses in the hands of the Selectmen. In studying these fees we find a great variance in different towns. For instance an all alcoholic package store license in Braintree costs $200.00, in Weymouth $175.00 and in Milton $1200.00 a year. We recommend that the Selectmen review all of the alcoholic licenses with a view to increasing particularly the package store and one day wine and beer license fees.
The law allows a fee of not more than 50c for permits issued by the fire department. At present this department makes no charges for over 400 permits issued for the storage of idei on, liquified petrol- eum gas and for the use of dynamite. We recommend that this de- partment charge the authorized 50c fee for these permits.
To get an expression from the town meeting on these matters we offer the two accompanying resolutions and ask that the committee be discharged from further consideration of the matter.
Respectfully submitted,
RAYMOND P. PALMER, Chairman JOHN ALDEN HUGH B. SNOW
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: £ That the report of the Committee on Licenses and Permits be accepted with thanks.
Upon motion duly made by Mr. Palmer the adoption of the fol- lowing resolution was
SO VOTED: Be it resolved that the Selectmen are hereby re- quested to review the matter of fees chargd for liquor licenses in the Town of Braintree with a view to increasing particularly the fees charged for package stores and one day wine and beer permits.
Upon motion duly made by Mr. Palmer the adoption of the fol- lowing resolution was
SO VOTED: Be it resolved that the Fire Department of Brain- tree is requested to charge the 50c fee authorized by law for permits issued by them.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorized 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 beginning January 1, 1955, and to issue a note or notes therefor pay- able 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 pro- visions of Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Town Treasurer, with. the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to bor-
18
row money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1955, 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, wtih the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year begininng January 1, 1956, and to issue a note or notes therefor pay- able 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.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the finan- cial year beginning January 1, 1956, 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 provisions of Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
ARTICLE 5. To see what action the Town will take to establish the salaries of the elective Town Officers.
SO VOTED: That Article 5 be considered in conjunction with Article 6.
MOVED by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board:
That Article 7 be considered at this time.
SO VOTED.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to amend Schedule A & B of the Salary Administration Plan, as provided under Part I, Section 8 and Part II, Section 2d of said Plan.
MOVED by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board:
That Schedules A & B be amended so as to read as on the last two pages of the 1955 report of the Personnel Board, copies of which are on file in the Town Clerk's office.
UANIMOUSLY VOTED.
Under Article 2 Mr. Belcher, as Chairman of the Salary Survey. Committee, submitted the report of that committee as follows:
You all have a copy of the report of the Personnel Board. In large measure that is also the report of the Salary Survey Committee.
At last year's town meeting we asked that the Salary Survey Committee be continued for another year to complete its work. The work to be done was the preparation of some additions to the Salary Administration Plan (Article 8 of this Warrant) and the classifica- tion of all miscellaneous positions (Part V of Schedules A & B) .
As is indicated in the printed report the work of classifying the miscellaneous positions is not completed. Therefore the committee requests that this report be accepted as a report of progress and that
19
the Salary Survey Committee be continued for one year.
WILLIAM B. BELCHER CARL W. R. JOHNSON WILBERT J. KEMMER GEORGE C. WANZER, JR. ALBERT E. WYNOT
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the report of the Salary Survey Committee be accepted as a report of progress and that the committee- be continued in office for one year.
MOVED by Mr. Benson, Chairman of the Finance Committee,. the adoption of the following resolution:
RESOLVED that it is the sense of this meeting that step rate increases in pay granted under the Salary Administration Plan,. Fast 3-Sec. 2, shall be granted only in eight equal steps between minimum and maximum over a total period of seven and one-half years, providing for the first increase after the six months proba- tionary period and annually thereafter.
MOVED by Mr. Moffatt:
That the vote on the resolution by Mr. Benson be by secret ballot.
The Moderator ruled that action on the motion by Mr. Moffatt. would be postponed until action came on Mr. Benson's resolution.
MOVED by Mr. J. Libertine:
That the subject matter of Mr. Benson's resolution be tabled until the Adjourned Annual Town Meting, March 28.
Vote was taken and the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. J. Libertine LOST.
Vote was taken and the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. Moffatt LOST.
Vote was taken and the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. Benson LOST.
MOVED by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board, the adoption of the following resolution :
RESOLVED that it is the sense of this meeting that step rate increases in pay granted under the Salary Administration Plan, Part 3-Sec. 2, shall be granted only in four equal steps between minimum and maximum over a total period of three and one-half years, providing for the first increase after the six months proba- tionary period and annually thereafter; and further providing that persons in service in the same capacity for a peiord of twenty-five years shall be advanced immediately to the maximum for the classi- fication, subject to the approval of the Personnel Board.
SO VOTED.
ARTICLE 6. To see what sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds to pay interest and maturing debt, and for charges, expenses and outlays of the several
20
Town Departments and for a Reserve Fund for the ensuing year. (For amounts appropriated, see Town Accountant's Report, Recapitu- lation.)
ARTICLE 2.
MOVED by Mr. Laing the adoption of the following resolution:
Be it resolved by the Town Meeting here assembled to urge the Sewer Commissioners to give serious consideration to the urgent need for adequate sewerage in the Highlands Area to the west of Washington Street when next they meet to determine what new con- struction will be undertaken this year.
SO VOTED.
ARTICLE 7. (As previously noted Article 7 was considered following Article 5.)
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to amend its by-laws by adding to the Salary Administration Plan any or all of the fol- lowing sections:
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That Article 13B of the Town By- Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by adding to Part I a new Section 10 entitled Severability to read as follows :
Part I, Section 10. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this by-law are hereby declared to be severable, and if any such provision or the application of any such provision to any person or circum- stances shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unconstitutional, such in- validity, illegality, or unconstitutionality shall not be construed to af- fect the validity, legality, or constitutionality of any of the remaining provisions or the application of said by-law to persons or circum- stances other than those as to which it is held invalid, illegal or un- constitutional.
UNANIMOULY VOTED: That Article 13B of the Town By- Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by add- ing to Part III a new Section 6 entitled Hours of Work to read as follows :
Part III, Section 6. HOURS OF WORK. All full time em- ployees with the exception of Fire Fighters shall have hours of duty re- stricted to eight hours in any one day, except in the cases of extraordi- nary emergency, and the basic work week shall be five 8-hour days totalling 40 hours in all.
Hours of duty of the full time members of the Fire Department shall be established on a 56-hour system basis.
MOVED by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board:
That Article 13B of the Town By-Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by adding to Part III a new Sec- tion 7 entitled Overtime to read as follows:
Part III, Sectoin 7. OVERTIME.
(a) Overtime shall be paid at the rate of time and one-half, or equivalent time off.
21
(b) No overtime shall be paid to Department Heads, Assistant or Deputy Department Heads, Professional Employees, and others by agreement when hired.
(c) For all other employees, except Fire Fighters, time and one-half for all hours over 8 in one day or over 40 in one week shall be paid, or at the discretion of the Department Head the employee may be given equivalent time off.
(d) For Fire Fighters, time and one-half for all hours over those scheduled for any one day, or over 56 in the work system shall be paid, or at the discretion of the Chief the employee may be given equivalent time off. Call in pay will be at the time and one-half, for a minimum of 1 hour.
(e) Police who perform work for a fee will not have that time counted in either the 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.
(f) Any employee holding two or more jobs in Town service will have his overtime pay charged to the Department responsible for ihe overtime.
(g) Voluntary overtime for the benefit of, and at the request of, a fellow employee will excuse the Town from overtime payment.
(h) There shall be no pyramiding of overtime.
Vote was taken and the Moderator being in doubt a teller count was ordered. Count was taken and the tellers reported 125 votes in the affirmative and 28 votes in the negative. There being more than the necessary two-thirds majority in the affirmative the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. Belcher
SO VOTED.
MOVED by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board:
That Article 13B of the Town By-Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by adding to Part III a new Sec- tion 3 entitled Holidays to read as follows :
Part III, Section 8. HOLIDAYS. The following holidays if ob- served on a work day will be paid for:
New Year's Day Memorial Day Columbus Day
Washington's Birthday
Independence Day Veterans' Day
Patriot's Day
Labor Day Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Employees normally entitled to overtime pay, who are required to work on a holiday that would be a day off with pay, shall receive double pay for such work, or equivalent time off with regular pay, at the discretion of Department Head.
If a holiday falls on Sunday but is observed on the following Mon- day, it will be paid for.
The Moderator ordered a teller count and the tellers reported 83 votes in the affirmative and 54 votes in the negative. The affirmative' vote lacking the necessary two-thirds majority the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board, LOST.
22
(In compliance with Article II, Section 7, of the by-laws notice of intention to move reconsideration of Article 8, Part III, Section 8, Hol- idays, was filed with the Town Clerk. Refer to Adjourned Annual Town Meeting of April 4, 1955.)
The Moderator ruled that, due to the elimination of Section 8 Holidays, the remainder of the proposed Sections under Article 8 would be renumbered in order to preserve numerical sequence when printed in the By-Laws.
MOVED by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board:
That Article 13B of the Town By-Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by adding to Part III a new Section 8 entitled Vacations to read as follows :
Part III, Section 8. VACATIONS. The following annual vaca- tions with pay will be granted to fulltime employees after the follow- ing periods of continuous employment:
Time Employed 6 months up to 1 year
Length of Vacation.
1 week
1 year to 14 years
15 years and over
2 weeks 3-weeks
Regular part-time employees shall be entitled to an amount of vacation in the ratio that their part-time employment bears to the fulltime employment. Vacations with pay shall not be granted tem- porary employees.
Vacation shall not be cumulative from year to year. Should a holiday fall during the vacation period on a regularly scheduled work day, an additional day of vacation will be allowed.
MOVED the following amendment by Mr. Southworth, Chairman Trustees of Thayer Public Library, to the motion of Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board:
That Section 8 of Part III be amended by adding the following paragraph: "This Section shall not apply to any person employed or to be employed under the Classification of Head Librarian and Librarian."
SO VOTED.
The Moderator ordered a teller count and the tellers reported 108 votes in the affirmative and 28 votes in the negative. There being more than the necessary two-thirds majority in the affirmative the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. Belcher as thus amended.
SO VOTED.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That Article 13B of the Town By- Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by adding to Part III a new Section 9 entitled Leave of Absence to read as follows:
Part III, Section 9. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Except as other- wise provided in the Salary Administration Plan all leaves of absence shall be without compensation.
23
MOVED by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board:
That Article 13B of the Town By-Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by adding to Part III a new Section 10 entitled Leave Of Absence With Pay to read as follows:
Part 111, Section 10. LEAVE OF ABSENCE WITH PAY. No sick leave shall be granted during the first three months of employment.
After three months of continuous employment an employee shall be entitled to sick leave with pay for the following reasons:
Personal illness or injury. Exposure to contagious diseases.
PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT SICK LEAVE ALLOWANCE 3 months up to 1 year After 1 year Up to six work days 12 work days each year, cumulative to 36 work days.
Loss of time directly attributable to injury incurred while performing assigned duties shall not be charged to sick leave.
Up to three days leave with pay may be allowed for making ar- rangements and attending the funeral upon the death of an immediate member of the family.
Vote was taken and the Moderator being in doubt a teller count was ordered. Count was taken and the teller reported 109 votes in the affirmative and 31 votes in the negative. There being more than the necessary two-thirds majority in the affirmative the Moderator de- clared the motion by Mr. Belcher. SO VOTED.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED That Article 13B of the Town By- Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by adding to Part III a new Section II entitled Jury Duty to read as follows :
Part iII, Section II. JURY DUTY. An employee called for jury duty shall be paid by the Town an amount equal to the difference between the compensation paid for a normal working period and the amount paid by the Court, excluding the allowance for travel.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED That Article 13B of the Town By- Laws, known as the Salary Administration Plan, be amended by add- ing to Part III a new Section 12 entitled Military Training to read as follows :
Employees with more than one year continuous employment by the Town (next prior to the time of performing the service herein referred to) who are required to report for temporary summer or like periods of training in the military forces of the National or Commonwealth, shall be paid an amount equal to the difference be- tween compensation for a normal working period of two weeks and the amount paid for military training. An employee, on request, may combine his military leave with his regular vacation period.
24
Adjourned Annual and Special Town Meeting
APRIL 4, 1955
The Adjourned Annual and Special Town Meeting was called to order at 7:53 o'clock in the evening of Monday, April 4, 1955 by the Annual Moderator, Mr. E. Curtiss Mower.
There were 170 Town Meeting Members present.
Prayer for Divine Guidance was offered by Rev. Paul E. Barnes, Pastor, South Congregational Church, South Braintree.
The following Tellers were appointed by the Moderator to serve during the course of the evening:
Harold J. Clancy Vinton G. Jones
Wallace B. Strathdee
Harold W. Cairns
Leo J. Hart Otis B. Oakman, Jr.
Ernest S. Reynolds Joseph F. Connolly
We now continue with consideration of the Articles in the War- rant; the first order of business being the consideration of the Resolu- tion under Article 2 by Mr. T. Matthews as follows:
ARTICLE 2.
MOVED the adoption of the following resolution by Mr. T. Matthews.
Be it Resolved, That the Personnel Board be requested to study the salaries of the elected officers of the Town and report their recom- mendation at the next Annual Town Meeting, and that their findings be submitted to the Finance Committee by February 1, 1956.
MOVED the following amendment by Mr. Belcher, Chairman of the Personnel Board:
That the last phrase of the motion be changed to read as follows: and that their findings be submitted to the Finance Committee by November 1, 1955.
SO VOTED
Comes now the question on the motion by Mr. T. Matthews as thus amended.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 8. Part III, Section 3. Holidays.
MOVED by Mr. Albert Wynot:
25
That the vote taken on Article 8, Part III, Section 8, Holidays, be reconsidered at this time.
The Moderator ordered a teller count and the tellers reoprted 69. votes in the affirmative and 94 votes in the negative. There not being the necessary two-thirds majority in the affirmative the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. Albert Wynot LOST.
ARTICLE 2.
MOVED the adoption of the following resolution by Mr. Hollis of the Board of Selectmen :
Resolved, that the Personnel Board should forthwith study and evaluate the classification of Town Counsel, and that upon the estab- lishment of value the Finance Committee should be requested to transfer from the Reserve Fund an amount necessary to provide adequate compensation; and further, that in connection with such study the Personnel Board should report such revision of the by-law relating to duties and compensation of the Town Counsel as may be necessary to provide for a proportionate contribution to such compensation from revenue departments or recoveries effected by the Town Counsel.
MOVED by Mr. MacMillan :
That the Resolution by Mr. Hollis be laid on the table.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to revoke any unused authority of the Water Commissioners to borrow for the construction of a standpipe on Hollingsworth Avenue under the original authoriza- tion under Article 24 of the warrant for the annual meeting of 1953.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That any unused authority of the Water Commissioners to borrow for the construction of a standpipe cn Hollingsworth Avenue under the original authorization under Article 24 of the warrant for the annual meeting of 1953 be revoked.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to transfer to the Water Department Surplus Account the unexpended balance of $9,292.33 from the sums actually raised for the construction of a new standpipe under Article 24 of the warrant for the annual meeting of 1953.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED That the town determine that the un- expended balance of $9, 292.23 from the 1953 appropriation for the construction of a new standpipe consists entirely of funds then voted from the Water Department Reserve, and that said unexpended bal- ance be transferred to the Water Department Surplus account.
ARTICLE II. 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.
(No action necessary. Refer to recommendation and action under Article 6, Item 50)
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to include in the tax levy for clectricity used for street lighting, the sum of Fourteen
26
Thousand, Five Hundred (14,500.00) Dollars as appropriated under Article 6 of the warrant for the year 1955 annual town meeting, and that said sum together 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, Chapter 164, General Laws and that if said income shall exceed the expense for the fiscal year such amount of excess as is deemed necessary by the Municipal Light Board 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 and any remaining amount paid into the surplus of the Town Treasury.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.
ARTICLE 2.
MOVED by Mr. Nagle:
That the Moderator appoint a committee of five from the following list of town meeting members:
Donald J. Laing
Roger W. Arnold
Ira R. Young
George W. Lunn
John F. Harkin John J. Canavan
Harrison T. Smiley Howard R. Beaver
Albert E. Wynot Frederick J. Klay
To survey and investigate the Braintree Municipal Electric Light Plant's Finances and Operation. To report their findings to the 1956 Town Meeting, or insert an Article, if deemed necessary, in the 1956 town warrant.
MOVED the following amendment by Mr. Benson, Chairman of the Finance Committee:
That the Moderator be permitted to appoint the committee from other than the ten named in the motion.
SO VOTED
Comes now the question on the motion by Mr. Nagle as thus amended.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 13, To see if the Town will appropriate a sum or sums of money from available funds in the Treasury to be used by the Assessors in determination of Tax Rate for 1955, or take any other action relative thereto.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED No Action.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to assist in de- fraying the expenses of Memorial Day, or take any other action relative thereto.
27
(No action necessary. Refer to recommendation and action under Article 6. "tem 42.)
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the Braintree Post No. 1702, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States for rent of hall to conduct meetings and other functions of the Post, or take any other action relative thereto.
(No action necessary. Refer to recommendation and action under Article 6, Item 45.)
ARTICLE 16. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to lease to Braintree Post No. 86, American Legion and/or Braintree Post No. 86 American Legion, Incorporated, the Legion Building, so- called, for a term of five years beginning January 18, 1956 at a rental of One Dollar per year, the Town reserving the right to use one room therein for polling purposes, or take any other action relative thereto.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.
ARTICLE 17. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds for Civilian Defense, or take any other action relative thereto.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That there be raised and appropri- ated, the sum of $2,350.00 for Civilian Defense, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Director of Civilian Defense.
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.