USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1956 > Part 7
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ARTICLE 9. Appropriation for expenses of Committee to in- vestigate Group Insurance Plan for Town Employees.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That there be appropriated by trans- fer from available funds in the Treasury, the sum of $500.00, for necessary expenses of Committee appointed at 1956 Annual Meeting to investigate Group Insurance Plan for Town Employees.
ARTICLE 10. Transfer from Noah Torrey Loss Reserve Account to Maintenance Account of School Department.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That there be appropriated by trans- fer from the Noah Torrey Fire Loss Reserve account, the sum of $1,000.00 to the Maintenance Account of the School Department.
72
ARTICLE 11. Proposed sale of land under control of School Fund Committee.
To authorize the Selectmen, subject to the approval of the Brain- tree School Fund Committee, to sell at private sale to Russell Gammell two (2) lots of land, bounded and described as follows:
A. A certain parcel of land shown as Plot 1 on Braintree As- sessors' Plan 1042 and bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point in the easterly side line of Granite Street at land of Ateilio Bregoli; thence running in a general southerly direction by Granite Street and Town Street by three courses, 1187 feet, 10 feet and 542 feet, more or less; thence turning and running in a general easterly direction by other land of said School Fund Committee 445 feet more or less; thence running in a general northerly direction by land of Rose M. Sullivan, Trustee, by two courses 1245 feet and 325 feet more or less to said land of Bregoli; thence turning and running in a gen- eral westerly direction by said land of Bregoli 120 feet more or less to the point of beginning. Said parcel contains approximately 13.03 acres.
B. A certain parcel of land together with the buildings thereon shown as Plot 1 on Braintree Assessors' Plan 1043 and bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point in the easterly side of Town Street at Parcel A above described, thence running in a southerly direction by said Town Street 769 feet more or less to land of Jennie Melrose; thence turning and running in an easterly direction by said land of Melrose and land of Lawson B. Twitchell 590 feet, more or less; thence turning and running in a general northerly direction by lanud of Rose M. Sullivan, Trustee, by two courses, 143 feet and 720 feet more or less to said Parcel A; thence turning and running in a westerly direction by said Parcel A 455 feet more or less, to the point of beginning. Said parcel contains approximately 8.92 acres.
The sale of the above lots is to be for a price not less than Forty- two thousand five hundred Dollars ($42,500.), less any expenses necessarily incident to perfecting the title and consummating the sale.
The net proceeds of said sale to be held by said School Fund Committee to be used in carrying out the charitable intent of the testator, Nathaniel Thayer, in accordance with the Decree of the Supreme Judicial Court-June 6, 1956, Equity No. 68594.
The Moderator ordered a teller count. Vote and count were taken and the tellers reported 83 votes in the affirmative, 83 votes in che negative. There not being the necessary two-thirds vote in the affirma- tive, the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. Foster LOST.
ARTICLE 12. Appropriation for plans for addition to Watson School.
That the sum of $15,000.00 be raised and appropriated from avail- able funds in the treasury for the preparation of plans, specifications, drawings and reports, and the securing of bids for the construction of an addition and alterations to the Watson School; and that the Moderator appoint a building committee of five (5), one of whom shall be a member of the School Committee, with full power to employ architects, consultants, secure bids in the name of the town, and to do any and all acts necessary toward securing the above mentioned plans, specifications, drawings reports and bids within the aforesaid appro-
,73
priation and to report to the Town at a subsequent Annual or Special, Town Meeting, and that the above mentioned Committee be called the Watson School Building Committee.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 13. Appropriation for uniforms for Special Women Police Officers.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That there be appropriated by trans- fer from available funds in the treasury, the sum of $1,569.40 for the purchase of uniforms for Special Women Police Officers on School Duty.
ARTICLE 14. Appropriation for equipment for Auxiliary Police.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That there be appropriated from available funds in the treasury, the sum of $4,500.00 for the purchase of equipment for the Auxiliary Police.
Upon motion duly made it was
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: That the Special Town Meeting stand adjourned.
Transfer from Available Funds in the Treasury $41,569.40 Transfer from Fire Loss Reserve Account 1,000.00
$42,569.40
A true Record, ATTEST:
CARL R. JOHNSON, JR., Town Clerk.
74
Braintree Housing Authority
ERNEST J. JANSSEN, Chairman
WILLIAM GUSTAFSON
PAUL FOLEY Treasurer
Vice Chairman JOHN E. MALONEY JOSEPH CONNOLLY Member
Assistant Treasurer
IRVING E. STODDARD, Executive Director
The annual inspections of all units were made by members of the Authority and it was found that the vast majority of the tenants are continuing to take pride in the care of the property.
Our program of interior painting with tenants re- decorating the interiors the Authority providing the paint is continuing.
The Authority the same as any property owner in the Town of Braintree has its water and sewerage problems. During the past year extensive work was done at several locations to correct this trouble.
During the past year the Authority was successful in securing legislation which will allow the selling of the houses as individual units at such time as the State Hous- ing Board gives the permission to do so.
At the preent time your Authority has no definite idea as to when this will be as much work must be done before the State Housing Board will be in a position to determine whether or not the houses may be offered to the tenanats at a price attractive to them and at the same time realize enough money to fulfill our outstanding in- debtedness.
The financial status of the tenants is continuing to improve and as a tenant becomes overincome he is asked to appear before the Authority and is told he must find other accommodations within a reasonable time so that it will not become necessary for the Authority to exercise eviction proceedings.
The policy of being firm in insisting on payment of rent when due must and will continue.
The Authority wishes to express their thanks to all of the Town Depts. who have given us assistance when asked to do so.
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Tax Collector Year Ending December 31, 1956
1955 and Previous Years Balances and Commitments .. Refunds
$ 141,801.12 8,590.87
1956 Commitments Refunds
3,568,978.12
48,798.22
Total Accounts for Collection
$3,768,168.33
Credit By :
Collections
3,362,627.87
Exemptions
73,892.45
Abatements
44,540.73
Tax Takings, Judgments, etc.
12,037.61
Returned for Apportionment
57,134.07
3,550,232.73
Outstanding Balance December 31, 1956
$ 217,935.60
Itemized Outstanding Balances :
1956 Real Estate
$ 81,649.44
Sewer Betterment Apportionments
1,151.11
Sewer Connection Apportionments
326.08
Street Betterment Apportionments
152.00
Sidewalk Betterment Apportionments Water Liens
11.00
809.04
Committed Interest
396,84
76
Poll Personal Excise 1955 Personal 1954 and 1955 Misc. Accts. for Future Adjustment. Unapportioned Betterment Accounts
78.00 3,900.06 42,746.24
102.98
(Credit)
101.32
86,714.13
Total. .
$ 217,935.60
GEORGE H. GERRIOR, JR. Tax Collector
77
Braintree Light Department
Your Commissioners submit the annual report of the Braintree Electric Light Department for the year ending December 31, 1956.
CARL W. R. JOHNSON JAMES H. DIGNAN SHELLEY A. NEAL Commissioners
REPORT OF THE MANAGER
To the Municipal Light Board
Gentlemen:
Submitted herewith is the annual report of the Braintree Electric Light Department for the year ended December 31, 1956.
Total sales of power during 1956 reached a new. high of 58,395,087 kwh compared with 53,865,003 kwh for 1955, an increase of 8%. This is the normal rate of in- crease for the utility industry nation wide and a continued growth of this amount each year means doubling our output every ten years.
Loads during the peak season were as follows:
1955
1956
Peak Load
15,800
15,400 kw.
Highest output day 252,000
239,000 kwh.
Most notable during the Christmas or peakload season was the low peak. This is partly accounted for by the exceptionally mild weather during this period and the drop in our industrial load.
Residential useage has increased by a large margin. due to increased useage of new appliances within the home and the addition of 169 new homes to our system.
Water heating by electricity is steadily increasing and our off-peak or special night rate is aiding greatly in maintaining high loads during night hours.
Line construction work continued at a high rate with new construction in the following areas :
Extension of Common Street Rebuilding of Peach Street
78
Rebuilding of Middle Street from River to Elm Street Development of Briarcliff with 57 homes Development of Selwyn Road
Growing loads in the North, West and Middle Brain- tree areas made necessary the changing from 2400 v to 4160 v at Cleveland Ave. sub-station. This station now serves the area between the R.R. tracks and Quincy Line from Center Street to South Braintree Square as well as the area between the South Shore Railroad Branch and Union Street as far as Liberty Street. Main lines serving the above areas were also converted to 4160 volts. The 14 KV bus structure at Cleveland Avenue station was re-vamped during the voltage changeover period. It is now more flexible and adaptable to meet our increasing requirements from this station.
Installation of street lights at the Selectmen's request, during the past years as well as the addition of mercury type luminaires had overloaded our series street lighting system, rendering it ineffective and inefficient in many areas. This has been corrected to a large extent by the careful planning and installation of the more modern mul- tiple street lighting system. This system at present supple- ments the old series system but will eventually replace it.
Increasing use of home appliances had seriously overloaded numerous transformers and their secondary networks to the extent that serious low voltage could exist during peak load period this year. In order to meet this threat, an intensive program of transformer changes was planned and carried out this year. Total transformer changes amounted to 144 with the addition to transformer' capacity of 1375 KVA. This program will be carried to completion in 1957 bringing our distribution feeders, transformers and secondary network installations into a condition that minimum troubles should be anticipated.
Tree trimming has become one of the major problems in maintaining good service and in order to properly main- tain good clearance, trimming should be performed every third year.
A program to trim one third of the Town each year has been started and the Highlands area to Plain and: Liberty Street and including Pond Street has been trimmed this year. Section No. 2 West of the railroad tracks to the Quincy Line will be trimmed in 1957.
79
I wish to express my appreciation to Mr. John Leach, tree warden, for his co-operation and assistance in this program.
Meter equipment is a very vital part of our operation since it is through the accuracy and dependability of meters that our revenue is maintained at its correct value. For this reason many of our older 3 phase and single phase meters have been replaced with more accurate units and modern installation techniques. This program will be carried on more effectively during 1957.
Transformer oil handling has been made more ef- ficient and effective by the purchase of a Honan Crane purifier. This portable unit operating with our filter press can rapidly and effectively maintain transformer oil in good condition.
The installation of a modern stockroom at our Allen Street station will serve to maintain adequate supplies of materials for all operators placing this Department in a much better position to handle our increasing work load and to meet inevitable emergencies.
New and more modern pole yard facilities have been installed adjoining Cleveland Avenue Station replacing the old pole yard on Middle Street. This old yard was inadequate to carry the number of poles now necessary to our operation and was also considered a hazard to children in the area. The new yard is capable of handling all sizes of poles and is designed for easy accessibility and handling.
Considerable time has been spent during 1956 work- ing out details for line changes necessary during 1957 and 1958 because of the Southeast Expressway. Plans are now complete for proper and adequate lighting of the approach and cross-over areas. Provision has also been made for present and future power line crossings at Capen's Bridge, Elm Street, River Street, Union Street and Pearl Street. I wish to express my appreciation to the State Department and the construction engineers for their co-operation and consideration in solving our many problems.
In our Steam Department effective steps have been taken to maintain the present equipment in excellent oper- ating condition.
No. 1 a circulating water screen has been completely rebuilt and parts are on hand to rebuild #2 A screen.
, 80.
No. 1 Turbine is due for complete overhaul and re- placement of worn parts during the Summer of 1957. These parts have been ordered and are now on hand.
No. 3 Condenser tubes failed during the early part of the Summer and were replaced with aluminum copper tubes in the early Fall.
No. 4 Boiler air heater tubes failed after many years service and were replaced. This is our oldest boiler unit and extensive repair work will be necessary during 1957 in order to maintain it useful for continuous service.
No. 2 Stack, damaged by windstorm, was repaired and banded to guard against future storm damage.
Dredging of the Monatiqout River was completed during the early Summer and as expected the effect on our steam plant operation was much to our advantage. However, the dredging operation removed our Weymouth Tie line and we have been operating almost one year with- out any substantial tie line with an outside power supply. Plans to restore this tie are now completed and we expect to have it in service by May, 1957.
Oil prices have been increased twice during the year for a total of 14.5%. This represents an increase of $195.00 per day in operating cost between March and December.
I wish to express my appreciation to the Commis- sioners, Town Officials, Customers and Employees for their co-operation during the year.
Following is presented the details showing the physi- cal and operating conditions as reported to the Depart- ment of Public Utilities.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBAN G. SPURRELL, Manager.
ANALYSIS OF SALES
Kwhs
Revenue $824,099.64
Domestic and Commercial
33,551,508
Industrial
21,662,415
$343,717.83
Municipal
1,969,109
$ 37,950.18
Street Lights
1,212,055
$ 21,600.00
58,395,087 $1,227,367.65*
81
OPERATING EXPENSES
Production
Superintendence and Labor
$ 76,570.77 425.22
Boiler Fuel
435,310.68
Water For Steam
2,082.44
Lubricants
215.60
Station Supplies and Expenses
1,740.54
Maintenance of Station Structures
5,355.74
Maintenance of Boiler Equipment
18,250.70
Maintenance of Turbo Generator Units
29,924.11
Maintenance of Electric Equipment
2,105.60
Maintenance of Accessory Electric Equip.
655.45
Maintenance of Miscl. Power Plant Equip.
36.67
Electric Energy Purchased
4,163.52
$ 576,837.04*
Transmission and Distribution
Station and Sub-Station Superintendence and Labor $ 8,574.74
Operation of Transmission and Distribu- tion of Lines
14,798.62
Distribution of Tools
4,775.78
Inspecting and Testing Meters
3,786.76
Removing and Resetting Meters
5,170.83
Removing and Resetting Transformers
4,596.21
Maintenance of Sub-Station Structures
1,816.04
Maintenance of Sub-Station Equipment
4,676.19
Maintenance of Transmission and Distri- bution of Lines
37,018.18
Maintenance of Radio Equipment
857.20
Maintenance of Underground Conduit
351.32
Maintenance of Underground Conductors Maintenance of Meters
1,973.80
Maintenance of Transformers
4,965.86
Maintenance of Storage Batteries
72.85
Hurricane Edna (Credit)
8,560.61
85,018.64* $
Utilization
Operation of Street Lamps
$ 10,849.83
Replacement of Street Lamps
1,468.62
Supplies and Maintenance
2,213.59
14,532.04* $
General Expense
Maintenance of Consumer Installation $ 4,233.24
Office Expense
45,816.75
Advertising
1,235.38
Salaries of Municipal Light Board and Manager
9,675.02
Office Salaries
4,420.96
General Office Expense
8,690.93
Insurance
13,084.19
Accidents and Damages
242.85
Store Expenses
2,040.57
Maintenance of General Structures
4,781.80
. Miscl. General Expense
2,518.88
$ 96,740.57*
82
Electrical Labor
144.87
PENSIONS DEPRECIATION GRAND TOTAL OF OPERATING
$ 11,359.93* $ 155,352.09*
EXPENSES BOOK VALUE OF ALL PROPERTY
$ 939,840.31* $3,869,365.60*
PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT
January 1, 1956, Balance Trans. from Income, 1956 ...
$2,743,047.27
$ 199,024.29
$2,942,071.56*
INCOME STATEMENT
OPERATING REVENUE
OPERATING EXPENSES
$1,227,367.65 939,840.31
Manufacturing Surplus
287,527.34
Miscl. Additions
1,197.40
$ 288,724.74
Bonds and Interest
$ 89,700.45
Net Transfer to Profit and Loss
$ 199,024.29* -
BALANCE SHEET
Assets
Plant Investment
$3,869,365.60 200.00
Petty Cash
Town Treasurer, Operating Account
(transferred to Construction acct.
Dec. 31, 1956)
39,741.08
Special Cash For Bonds and Interest
72,328.00
Special Deposits
15,606.66
Accounts Receivable
102,544.59
Materials and Supplies
38,138.24
Unadjusted Debits
11,142.99
Depreciation
389,362.25
Prepaid Insurance
6,582.55
TOTAL ASSETS
$4,545,011.96*
Liabilities
Accounts Payable
$ .00
Consumers Deposits
15,606.66
Bonds Payable
1,120,000.00
Interest Accrued
8,165.00
Loans Repayments
413,000.00
Appropriations for Construction Repayment 46,168.74
Profit and Loss
2,942,071.56
TOTAL LIABILITIES $4,545,011.96*
83
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE $ 13,644.45
BRAINTREE
EAST BRAINTREE
9,623.74
SOUTH BRAINTREE
37,017.22
CONTRACTS & SPECIAL RATES MUNICIPAL
3,822.90
STREET LIGHTING
7,168.46
TOTAL
102,544.59* $
DEPRECIATION ACCOUNT
Balance, January 1, 1956
$ 348,598.01
Transferred from Income, 1956
155,352.09
Re-imbursement by State on Hurricane Edna
8,560.61
Interest Income
2,588.32
Expended on Construction
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1956
$ 389,362.25*
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT
Balance, January 1, 1956
$
.00
Transferred from Operating Balance, December 31, 1956
39,741.08
Balance, January 1, 1957 $ 39,741.08*
CASH RECEIVED AS PER CASHBOOK
$1,259,930.21*
Paid to Town Treasurer
1,259,930.21* .00*
Accounts Payable
Operating Balance, December 31, 1956
112,069.08* 39,741.08
Transferred to Construction Account
Transferred to Special Account for Payment of Bonds and Interest
72,328.00
OPERATING BALANCE, JAN. 1, 1957 $ .00*
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD Debit $ 19.46
Balance, January 1, 1956
Alban G. Spurrell, Manager
1,259,930.21
$1,259,949.67*
Credit
Paid By Order of The Commissioners
$1,147,880.59
Cash Balance, December 31, 1956
112,069.08
$1,259,949.67*
$ 515,099.03 $ 125,736.78
31,267.82
:84
Board of Public Welfare
HARRISON T. SMILEY, Chairman FRED A. TENNEY, Clerk HERBERT B. HOLLIS, Member
H. J. GAFFNEY, Agent
The categories of Old Age Assistance, Aid to Depend- ent Children, Disability Assistance, General Relief and the Town Infirmary are operated under the direction of the Board of Public Welfare. Rules and regulations are pro- mulgated by the State Department of Public Welfare. Also a budgetary system is established for use in granting assistance to the recipients. Because of an increase in the general costs of living as reported by the State Division on the Necessaries of Life, we received a directive to in- crease the budget items 5.8%, effective July 1, 1956. In- creased costs now are mainly attributable to ever-increas- ing medical and hospital costs. Exclusive of the Federal and State reimbursements received monthly, we have available in unused funds from our 1956 operations, an amount of $54,786.07 Federal Grants, which amount will be used as a credit against, and to reduce the 1957 Town Appropriation.
Periodic revisits to the homes of all recipients are made by our full-time Social Workers. From those reports continuing eligibility for the recipients is determined.
AMOUNT EXPENDED
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
-1940 -1956
280 000
IN DOLLARS
AMOUNT EXPENDED
200000
320
NUMBER OF CASES
240
80000
160
NUMBER OF CASES
40000
.
AT 42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
32
33 34
55 56
YEAR
.85
240000
160000
-
120000
Old Age Assistance: The budgetary system estab- lishes the grants to be paid to the recipients. For a re- cipient living in a family group, the minima is $59.00 monthly. For a recipient living alone, $79.00 monthly. In addition to the $59.00 and $79.00, effective January 1, 1956, a new item, "Transportation Allowance" of $2.50 monthly was allowed to each recipient who is not an inmate of a nursing home or institution. The cost per case averaged $87.00 monthly, including hospital, con- valescent home care and medical costs. The grants to the recipients, payments for hospital care, druggist bills and medical amounted to $266,503.85, the greater part of which is reimbursed by the Federal and State Govern- ments. The Town's share was $42,227.01. On the basis of settlement laws, we paid other cities and towns $5,034.18 and billed them $6,822.74. Recoveries under the so called lien law and other sources were made in the amount of $16,247.55, which have been proportionately re-distributed to Federal, State, and Local Governments.
AMOUNT EXPENDED
IN DOLLARS
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN 1940-1956
60000
50000
-AMOUNT EXPENDED
50
40000.
40
1
30000
30
20000
20
10000
10
O
0
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
30
51
52
53
54
55
56
YEAR
Aid to Dependent Children: This program was first established for widows and children. It has now been ex- tended to assist families where there is a divorce or legal separation, where the father has become physically in- capacitated, deserted or incarcerated. The object is to enable children to' continue living in their own home as a family unit. The grants to the families and payments for medical amounted to $52,216.39, which expenditures are participated in by Federal, State and Local Governments. The Town's share was $13,350.21.
86
NUMBER OF CASES
NUMBER OF CASES
Disability Assistance: Needy persons eighteen years of age or over, who have been determined to be per- manently and totally disabled by the Medical Review Team of the State Department of Public Welfare are eligible for assistance in this category. The physical con- dition of these recipients results in large hospital and medical bills. The grants to the families and payments for medical amounted to $24,739.90. The Commonwealth reimburses 75% of the expenditures which includes the Federal participation. The local share amounted to $6,184.99.
NAMOUNT EXPENDED
O IN DOLLARS
GENERAL RELIEF 1938 -1956
120000
180
100000
150
80000
NUMBER OF CASES
90
60000
NUMBER OF CASES
60
40000
-
-
30
20000
AMOUNT EXPENDEO
O
39
40
4T
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54 33 56
YEAR
General Relief: The period of good employment con- ditions and high wages we have been undergoing the last several years has greatly reduced the straight welfare costs. Nevertheless, we still have our "welfare cases" because each community has to take care of its indigent persons-which indigency covers medical requirements, abandonment of children by their fathers and children boarded out in foster homes. The medical covers sick, infirm or disabled, not eligible for any other category. The total expenditures amounted to $21,040.68 including assistance in the town itself and payments to the Common- wealth and other cities and towns as well as to the various hospitals on Braintree settled cases. Under the settlement laws we received $1,127.13 from the Commonwealth and billed other cities and towns $1,607.48.
Town Infirmary: The main use of this home is to house single status homeless persons and those with an infirmity or disability which prevents them from procuring employment. The inmates must be capable of caring for
87
themselves. Evicted families and other families falling into distress are admitted on a temporary basis. It has also been used to house persons in times of hurricanes and extreme inclement weather. A superintendent and matron are in charge. Total expenditures were, for oper- ating costs, $4,782.51 and for repairs and maintenance $85.50. Total income from the Commonwealth was $181.18 and $240.00 was received from one inmate, making a total of $421.18.
88
Town Treasurer THELMA C. HEDLUND, Town Treasurer in account with THE TOWN OF BRAINTREE
Cash Book Balance, January 1, 1956 $2,036,651.60
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