USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1956 > Part 4
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
Tentative conclusions reached by your committee on these matters indicate that the Electric Light Department should take steps to:
(1) make available directly to town meeting members more informa- tion regarding comparative rates and other values of our town-owned plant to the Town of Braintree and its citizens.
(2) voluntarily give to the annual town meeting a regular and full disclosure of expansion plans, costs and financing needs.
(3) voluntarily seek at each annual town meeting a discussion of the reasons for and against a payment to the town in lieu of taxes with full reference to expansion plans and unusual expenses, such as hurricane costs.
Two surveys were purchased by the Electric Light Department from Charles T. Main, Inc., and Gilbert Associates. Your committee feels that it would be helpful, in its study, to have an opportunity to discuss adequately these reports and recommendations with the com- missioners.
Your committee, therefore, would like the Town Meeting to accept this as a report of progress, and to accept our recommendation that the committee's activity be continued for another year, and that a further report be submitted to the annual town meeting in March 1957, and that, if necessary, an article be inserted in the 1957 Town Warrant.
MOVED by Mr. Canavan under Article 2:
That the report be accepted as a progress report, that the com- mittee be continued for another year, and that a further report be submitted to the annual town meeting in March 1957, and that, if nec- essary, an article be inserted in the 1957 Town Warrant.
SO VOTED
Upon motion duly made by Mr. Delorey, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Annual Town Meeting be adjourned until 7:45 p.m. April 2, 1956.
43
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1956
The Adjourned Annual Town Meeting was called to order at 7:57 in the evening of Monday, April 2, 1956, by the Moderator, Mr. E. Curtiss Mower.
There were 170 Town Meeting Members present.
Prayer for Divine Guidance was offered by Rev. Thomas O'Toole, Pastor of St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church.
The following tellers were appointed by the Moderator to serve during the course of the evening.
William H. Gustafson Matthew W. Hanscom
Stanley H. Richards H. Irving Charnock
Seward Taber E. Theodore Nokes Ramon A. Nagle Walter Delorey
ARTICLE 8. Salary Administration by-law, Part II, Section 1. MOVED by Mr. Belcher of the Personnel Board:
To amend the Salary Administration Plan by striking out the first sentence of Part II, Section 1, and substituting therefor the following sentence :
There shall be a Personnel Board appointed by the Moderator consisting of five (5) members, one of whom shall be a Town employee and four (4) others none of whom shall be an employee or official of the Town, but for this purpose Town Meeting Members shall not be deemed to be elected officials.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
ARTICLE 9. Betterments for laying Water Mains.
MOVED by Mr. McCue :
No Action. SO VOTED
ARTICLE 2.
Upon motion duly made by Mr. Moffat under Article 2, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: Resolved under Article 2 that there be published in the local newspaper each year, one week prior to the Town Election, a list of Town Meeting Members during the previous regular Town Meeting, showing for each Town Meeting Member the number of adjourned sessions which such member attended. To carry out the intent of this resolve it is requested that a committee of three be appointed to be composed of: the Town Clerk, a member of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Election Board.
ARTICLE 10. Water Mains for Lakeside Drive.
MOVED by Mr. McCue :
No Action.
44
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 11. Drainage and Flood Control in Water Sheds.
MOVED by Mr. McCue:
That the subject matter of this Article be referred to a committee of three members to be known as the Flood Control Study Committee to be appointed by the Moderator to determine and advinse the town at a future meeting as to the methods and costs of making a complete survey and study of the problem of Flood Control on all water sheds.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 2. Mr. Chiesa submitted the following report of the Hollis School Development Committee:
HOLLIS SCHOOL ADDITION
Under Article 35 of the Annual Town Warrant of 1953, $40,000.00 was appropriated for preparation of Plans and Specifications for an addition to the Hollis School. The Hollis School Development Com- mittee, which had been previously appointed to supervise the alterations in the old Hollis building, was also appointed for the new project.
The Committee selected Rick and Tucker for architects and secured plans and bids for construction, which were approved at a Special Town Meeting November 23, 1953 (Article 1) with an appropriation of $685,000.00.
The Committee awarded the construction contract to A. J. Martini, Inc. and have been entirely satisfied with the work which progressed so that the addition could be opened January 3, 1955.
Through this project the Town has secured an 800 capacity Junior High School with satisfactory modern facilities at a very moderate cost.
FINANCIAL REPORT
From 1954 From 1955 Appro- priation
Appro- priation Total $607,744.00 $607,744.00
A. J. Martini Co.
Tests
587.97
102.75
690.72
Clerk of Works
4,640.00
4,640.00
Rich & Tucker
39,345.03
3,800.43
43,145.45
McCarron & Sullivan
266.00
266.00
Friedman Electric
2,643.00
2,643.00
Grounds
611.00
611.00
Miscellaneous
213.75
213.75
Barile Plumbing
33.76
33.76
Lettering (Martini)
20.00
20.00
Advertising
67.00
23.50
90.50
Equipment
58,799.82
58,799.82
$40,000.00 $678,898.01 $718,898.01
45
6,101.99
Balance
Total Appropriations
$725,000.00 Hollis School Development Committee RONALD W. SCOTT JACK R. AINSLEIGH ALMEDA W. CAIN EDWARD J. ROSE OVIDIO D .CHIESA, Chairman
SO VOTED: That the report of the Hollis School Development Committee be accepted.
ARTICLE 2. Mr. Chiesa submitted the report of the School Study Committee as follows:
REPORT OF SCHOOL STUDY COMMITTEE
PART 1 ENROLLMENT FIGURES 1952-1956
Enrollment Figures Reflect Growing School Population
The enrollment figures of the Braintree Public Schools compiled on October 1st each year offer evidence of the steady growth of our school population. As of this date in 1955 the number of pupils was 6189 compared with 5774 in September 1954; 3449 in October 1946. Following is the tabulation by schools.
Est.
1952 1953 1954 1955 1956
High (Grades 9-12)
937
965 1027 1139
860
Hollis (Grades 7-8)
489
363
806
858
760
North Grammar
247
134
X
X 498
600
(5 rm.)
Foster
X
218
196
204
270
(-3)
Torrey
492
473
472
461
490 (-1)
Colbert
48
53
52
55
60
Pond
57
29
X
X 402
X 440
(inc. W. St.) (1 free)
Penniman
409
438
470
454
460
Ross
462
492
451
449
(2 free)
Eldridge
X
X
X
155
400 16
Perkins
317
320
274
223
210
Watson
331
321
323
311
250
Lincoln
313
277
271
356
340
Total
4978 5353 5774 6189 6645
Increase
374 375
421
415
456
In spite of 80 additional classrooms provided since 1946 at a cost of $4,240,000, every room in the system is now in full use. To meet. the needs of the South District this year one fourth grade meets in the Auditorium of the Foster School, one sixth grade from Foster is transported to Lakeside, two sixth grades from Highlands are trans- ported to Perkins and Ross Schools.
Next year, in addition to the South Junior High School, seven to
. ten elementary classrooms will be needed to meet normal growth.
46
725
Highland
533
405
485
521
624
620
Lakeside
X
452
426
Monatiquot
343
413
PART II FUTURE ESTIMATES
Projection of present enrollments with reasonable allowances for increased (not, however, including large subdivisions not now known) growth indicate that the:
Maximum elementary enrollment should be 4300 in 1957 Maximum junior high (grades 7-9 should be 1800 in 1960 Maximum senior high (grades 10-12) should be 1800 in 1963
The total estimated maximum 7900
Present enrollment (approx.) 6200
*Add: pupils 1955-1963
1700
*This figure requires the provision of 60 additional classrooms.
The secondary enrollment figures (grades 7-12) show a total of 3600 pupils.
The present high school, plus Hollis Junior High, and So. Junior, High can handle 2800, leaving a balance of 800 pupils to be provided for in this area.
PART III The requirements of 60 additional rooms given above, should be provided on areas as follows:
Min. Cost
Needed Sept. 1956 13 classrooms on Liberty St.
$ 450,000
Sept. 1956 2 classrooms at Colbert School 60,000
Sept. 1956 7 classrooms at Five Corners 300,000
Sept. 1957 7 classrooms on Plain St. 300,000
Sept. 1958 3 Study Halls at B.H.S. 100,000
Sept. 1958 4 classrooms at Watson) for classes trans 120,000
Sept. 1959 6 classrooms at Ross ) from Lin. 180,000
Sept. 1959 21+ classrooms at Lincoln (to make into J.H.S.) 790,000
$2,300,000
It will be noted that no further classroom additions are contem- plated at Braintree High School. An enrollment of 1200 is the limit that the site or the general rooms (gym, lunchroom, etc.) will carry there. At 1200 pupils, the study hall facilities are non-existent and should be provided by a three story addition over the shops at rear of building.
To meet the secondary enrollment requirements, a secondary school of 800 capacity should be provided in East Braintree. As an additional site there is not available, and also for reasons of economy, it is recom- mended that the oldest part of present Lincoln School (4 rooms) be demolished and replaced by a new addition similar to that completed at the Hollis in 1955. To do this the elementary pupils presently housed at the Lincoln would be transferred to additions provided at the Watson and Ross Schools.
The secondary enrollment of 3600 would then eventually be dis- tributed in three six-year junior-senior high schools:
47
A) the Hollis (800) and Braintree High (1200) group 2000
B) the South District High School 800
C) the East District High School 800
3600
School Study Committee OVIDIO D. CHIESA, Chairman
SO VOTED: That the report of the School Study Committee be accepted as a report of progress and the committee continued.
ARTICLE 33. Liberty Street Elementary School.
Mr. Lindblow submitted a report of progress for the South Dis- trict School Development Committee.
MOVED by Mr. McCue :
That the report by Mr. Lindblow be accepted as a report of progress and the committee continued.
SO VOTED
On recommendation of the Finance Committee that the sum of $516,000.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of constructing an elementary school building on the Old Liberty site in the South District, and for originally equipping and furnishing said building; and that to meet said appropriation, there shall be transferred from the following available accounts :
Hollis School addition $ 6,101.99 351.57
New Lakeside School site
New Flye School site 1,607.47
Torrey School Link Fence 100.00
New Library Building 26,838.97
and that the sum of $1,000.00 be raised in the tax levy, and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the sum of $480,000.00 under authority of Chapter 645 of 1948 as amended, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town there -; for 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 twenty years from the date of issue of the first bond or note; and that the South District School Development Committee appointed pur- suant to vote under Article 3 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting of June 28, 1954 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, equip, and furnish said building and grounds within the aforesaid appropriation.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
Upon motion duly made by Mr. Delorey, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Annual Town Meeting be adjourned until 7:45 p.m. April 9, 1956.
48
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1956
The Adjourned Annual Town Meeting was called to order at 7:50 in the evening of Monday, April 9, 1956, by the Moderator, Mr. E. Curtiss Mower.
There were 182 Town Meeting Members present.
Prayer for Divine Guidance was offered by Rev. Francis C. Ander- son, Pastor of All Souls Universalist-Unitarian Church.
The following tellers were appointed by the Moderator to serve during the course of the evening.
Ernest Reynolds Merton Pratt Thomas Matthews Harry E. Holt
Charles Mann Paul Young John Canavan G. Vinton Jones
The Moderator stated that due to the resignation of a Town Meet- ing Member in Precinct 6 a meeting was held of the Town Meeting; Members from Precinct 6 in accordance with the Town by-laws and a successor elected subject to the action of this meeting.
Upon motion duly made by Mr. McCue, it was
SO VOTED: That this meeting does adjudge that Thomas M. Jones has been duly elected and is qualified to act as a member of this meeting until the next Town election.
ARTICLE 2. Mr. Belcher submitted the following report of the Salary Survey Committee.
In 1952 the annual town meeting authorized a committee to deter- mine the feasibility of a formal salary plan for our employees. In 1953, upon the recommendation of that committee, the town meeting voted $6,000 to establish such a plan. In 1954 a plan was presented to the town meeting and adopted as a part of our town by-laws.
Since then the Salary Survey Committee (which is now also the Personnel Board) has continued its work, for not all positions were covered when the plan was adopted in 1954. Last year a number of positions were added to the plan. In the report of the Personnel Board for this year you have found some further additions.
While not all positions have been covered yet the end is in sight .. The few remaining jobs are part-time in character. The Committee believes, therefore, that the time has arrived to close out its account and request its discharge, leaving the Personnel Board to complete this work with its funds. To this end the Committee instructed the town accountant to close the accounts to E and D . The unexpended balance was $291.69.
You may remember that in 1953 we were warned this task would cost several times the $6,000 to accomplish. The Committee feels par- ticularly pleased that not all the money had to be spent. It is our belief that the town has a sound plan for administering salaries and wages. While there have been painful moments for the Committee, the Com- mittee has enjoyed its task on the whole. The cooperation received
49
from most employees, department heads, and governing boards has been splendid.
The Committee now requests its discharge.
WILLIAM B. BELCHER ALBERT E. WYNOT ROBERT E. THOMPSON WILBURT J. KEMMER CHARLES P. ROLFE
Upon motion duly made by Mr. McCue, it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the report of the Salary Survey Committee be accepted with thanks.
ARTICLE 2. Mr. Southworth submitted the following report of the Thayer Library Building Committee.
The Building Committee appointed by you, Mr. Moderator, at the Annual Town Meeting of 1949 begs leave at long last to present its final report.
For more than six years this Building Committee has worked faithfully within the appropriations granted them by successive Town Meetings, to bring to pass a library constructed in the light of Library experience and technique. The Chairman is proud to report that the American Library Association rates it as one of the finest functional libraries in the East.
The Auditorium, which the Committee included in plans for the. building, is being used by at least twenty civic organizations. The Thayer Public Library is becoming a community center.
You appointed this committee in 1949 and the Town Meeting that year appropriated five hundred dollars for preliminary plans. In 1950 this committee recommended the purchase of the Lovey Wetherbee. house and lot, adjacent to the three lots south of Washington Park Road, which had been purchased by the Town in 1948. The purchase price of the Wetherbee house and lot was $10,500. These three lots and the Wetherbee property provided sufficient land for the erection. of the Library.
The Town Meeting of 1950 appropriated $50,000 toward the con- struction of the Library. This Committee was continued in power and given authority to employ an architect. Your Committee employed. William Roger Greeley, a Boston architect of long experience and high professional standing. In working out the interior plans for the Library Mr. Greeley was assisted by our librarian and her professional staff; he also drew on the experience of some of the most progressive libra- rians of New England.
In 1951 the Town Meeting appropriated $20,000 transferred from a special account for furnishings and equipment.
In 1952 an all out effort was made to obtain the rest of the money needed. $210,000 was voted at that Town Meeting, and the Committee was authorized to proceed with construction.
The contract was awarded to E. J. Rose and Son on a competitive bid of $204,600. Father and son are Braintree citizens, and they have. taken pride in the construction of the Library.
50
There have been many problems involved in the construction but the Committee has met them one by one. Work was immediately halted because of the Committee's inability to secure an allotment of con- trolled steel material necessary for the construction of the Library. The Committee worked hard to break this road block. Thanks to the Massachusetts Library Commission, the Director of the American Library Association in Washington, and the efforts of Senator Salton- stall and Congressman Wigglesworth in our behalf, authorization for the controlled materials was given on March 12, 1952 and the work of construction immediately began.
The Thayer Public Library was dedicated November 3, 1953. Con- gressman - Wigglesworth, Governor Herter, and a number of persons distinguished in the field of library service, participated. It was a memorable dedication.
The work of your Committee did not end with this dedication. Several problems of unsolved building construction had to be overcome before the building could be accepted. Last summer the floods that bore down on Braintree devastated the basement floor of the Library. It forced the Committee to have two rooms retiled, a drain constructed to carry off the surface water, and a regrading job done so that the surface water could flow toward the street and not into the building. The Town owes a deep debt of gratitude to Ernest Smith of our Com- mittee, a highly competent builder and contractor, and public spirited citizen. He has saved the Town of Braintree hundreds of dollars by his practical suggestions and long range planning.
Your Committee was allowed $260,000 for its construction account and $20,000 for the furnishings account. All bills are paid and there remains a balance of $26,838.97 on the Construction Account, and $2,226.42 on the Furnishings Account. The total balance of $29,065.39 your Committee has turned back to the Town.
The Committee has finished its work and requests that it be honorably discharged.
Respectfully submitted, WILFRED W. BARROWS WILL R. MINCHIN. ERNEST G. SMITH RALPH W. WOODSUM STACY B. SOUTHWORTH, Chairman
Upon motion duly made by Mr. McCue, it was
SO VOTED: That the report of the Thayer Library Building Committee be accepted with thanks and the committee released.
ARTICLE 2. Mr. Spurrell submitted the following report of the Braintree Electric Light Department.
The Town of Braintree's municipally owned generating plant and distribution system is a vital factor in the continuing growth and pros- perity of the Town. As such, it is a subject worthy of serious study and discussion.
From a meager beginning this plant has grown, in value ,to the largest single operating unit that belongs to the residents of the Town. Through foresight, which has prevailed at past Town meetings, it has
51
been solidly established in accordance with the laws of the Common- wealth and has saved many thousands of dollars for the Town and for its owners, the users of electricity within the Town.
On October 15, 1892 the first generating station was placed im service at the present site on Allen St., East Braintree. The generating apparatus consisted of two arc light machines capable of lighting 50 street lamps each, and was operated from sundown until 12:15 p.m. for 108 days during the Winter. Public buildings and home lighting was started on July 1, 1893 and the plant operated from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. Town meeting members realizing the advantage of this type of electric service voted to expand the Light Department as the Town grew. Your Light Department has, by your continuing interest, been thus enabled to keep abreast with Town development. Today 63 years after its origin the generating plant has four units with a total capability of 25,000 Kw or approximately 33,000 H.P. furnishing power to all in- dustrial and commercial enterprises within the Town as well as sup- plying all residential, municipal and street light requirements. Your newest unit as well as additions to transmission facilities was installed in 1953 at a cost of over $1,500,000.00 and for this necessary work $1,400,000.00 was borrowed to be paid for out of Light Department' revenue.
Recent surveys predict, with reasonable certainty, that the Town will grow at the rate of 14% within the next ten years and 5% within the following five years. Electrical growth based on the increasing use of power, in the home and in industry, indicate that your Com- missioners will have to build within the next ten years a plant of equal or greater capacity than that built during the past sixty years. In the past, your Light Department has always been self-sustaining, continually growing in importance. The residential, commercial and industrial users depend more and more on it for essential services. It has grown in value as these services have been expanded. At the same time substantial savings have been effected for the Town and for all users of electric power within the Town. In some instances your Light Department has been in a position to turn sums of money over to the Town treasury, thus serving to reduce the tax rate. Sums of money, however, are not always available from the Light Department, particularly at this stage of rapid development and expansion of resi- dential and industrial areas.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has statutes that govern the operation of all municipal electric plants. These statutes have been drawn up to protect the interests of the Towns, to the extent that they will be provided with electric energy at the lowest possible cost. In order to do this it is provided that no energy can be given away nor can it be sold at a rate lower than cost. Rates are also required toi provide adequate reserve capital for plant expansion. The statutes do. not provide for nor do they obligate the Light Department to return money to the Town. A municipal light department has as its first objective the delivery of power at the lowest possible cost and this has always been the policy of your Commissioners. Savings to the Town and its residents are more than double the normal tax that could be levied against such a plant. This saving to the Town has been ac- complished by your Commissioners through foresight and efficient operation. This has not always been an easy task because of rising+ costs for fuel, wages, materials and equipment. All Town department. budgets reflect this increased cost of operation as is clearly shown in. the Town Warrant for this year.
. 52
In 1954 your Commissioners realizing that the rate structure, established twenty years previous, was insufficient to support this increasing operating cost, as well as carry the yearly bond payment of $70,000.00 plus interest of $20,000.00, made necessary adjustments to meet these increasing financial burdens. The new rate, however, was not increased in an amount that would make funds available to the Town.
We do not wish to burden you with statistics but in order to demonstrate that Braintree's rate is among the lowest in the State and to indicate in part what return the Town received from the Light De- partment several pages of rate comparisons are included in this report.
The first 5 sheets show figures taken from the State reports on file in the State House, for the year 1955, showing the kilowatthours. sold, revenue received, average cost per kwh under each filed rate for the following utilities: Braintree Electric Light Department, Taunton Electric Light Department, Belmont Electric Light Department, Wey- mouth Light and Power Company, Quincy Electric Company. These figures show that in every rate class Braintree's cost per kwh on that rate is below our neighbors on a similar rate.
The next 2 charts are an indication of the amount of money saved by Braintree residents and Braintree commercial users over rates of other utilities. These charts are based on the average kwh per customer used in Braintree times the number of Braintree resi- dents and this amount calculated on the rates of the company or municipality listed.
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.