USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1961 > Part 6
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After careful consideration, based on the present yearly Dump expense of approximately $6,000 to the Town, location, and potential future value of the property after filling, we recommend that the Town Dump remain at its present site and that the following recommendations be adopted to improve facilities, appearance, convenience, and safety.
It is also recommended that permission be secured from Weymouth Art Leather to use their land for dump- ing. This would be mutually beneficial, filling their low area and giving additional Dump space. Dump, if prop- erly maintained, will last at least ten years.
≥1. Install additional chain link fence with two gates from the existing fence to the end of the Town property line.
#2. Dump to remain open seven days a week 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and during Daylight Saving Time 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
#3. Hire an additional attendant to keep Dump open new recommended hours.
4. Signs to be erected giving rules and regulations with penalty for violation-police to enforce said regulations.
#5. Dump to be restricted to town rubbish-no dump- ing of garbage be allowed.
#6. That so called "finger dumping" be instituted and that no area over 250' wide be in use at any one time
#7. That all rubbish be dumped together with the exception of brush or like material that can be readily "clean burned.'
=8. That one designated Town Official shall be in control and responsible for the condition of the Dump.
$9. Installation of fire alarm for use of attendant. DONE.
$10. No storage of "dump pickings" be allowed on Dump.
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#11. That all suitable fill in any quantity, surplus fill material from all Town Departments, and all surplus fill from any contracts entered into by the Town for road construction be designated to be placed on the Town Dump as cover or stock-piled for future cover use.
#12. Health Department to continue regular spray- ing control of insects and pests.
#13. Fix access from Union Street to permit trucks to turn more easily.
It is recommended that necessary Town Meeting ac- tion provide 554' of fencing with gates, authorize hiring of second Dumpkeeper at $30 per week to be included in Highway Department Budget and dumping signs to be posted under Board of Health jurisdiction.
It is respectfully requested that this Committee be discharged.
Joseph M. Magaldi George R. Allen David B. Flockhart Gordon E. Trask Laurie P. Cotton, Chairman
SO VOTED That the report be accepted, placed on file, and the Committee discharged.
ARTICLE 47. Fencing and Posting of Town Dump.
SO VOTED That the town raise and appropriate the sum of $3,200.00 to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen and the Superintendent of the Highway of which $1,971.00 shall be used for fencing in a portion of the West side of the town dump and posting proper signs and the sum of $1,229.00 shall be expended for the hire of another dump attendant.
3,200.00
ARTICLE 48. Site for Branch Library Building. SO VOTED No action.
ARTICLE 2.
Mr. Belcher presented the report of the Insurance Study Committee as follows:
At the annual town meeting of 1960 there was in- cluded in the warrant an item of $600 for an appraisal of town buildings for insurance purposes. This provoked considerable discussion. Finally a committee was auth- orized, to study insurance "coverage, premiums, commis- sions and any other pertinent matters", to report to this year's town meeting.
This proved a large order. Presumably to avoid sug- gestions of bias, the committee contained no experienced insurance men. This made it necessary to enlarge our limited, laymen's knowledge while at the same time gath- ering data that might be of value to the town.
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The committee held meetings with:
a. The Selectmen.
b. The insurance broker-of-record.
c. The Boston agency which handles much of our business.
d. A representative of a direct selling mutual insur- ance company.
e. The former chairman of the Better Government committee.
There were also telephone or personal calls with several department heads and two general brokers, one of whom handles some of the town's insurance business.
It should be made quite clear at this point that the committee does not have a complete, detailed knowledge of the town's insurance. Much more information was of- fered, which the committee just didn't have time to study. And the committee is not at all sure how o present enough of it's findings to assist you in your decision making and yet avoid being so lengthy as to discourage your atten- tion. While the committee desires to be brief, this report must be longer than the usual reports. Please, we ask of you, stick with us and read along with me.
I Insurance programs may be considered in three principal ways. First let us look at the manner in which we place our insurance. One method is to have a broker or an agency handle the insurance for us. If this is done the insurance will be placed either with a mutual com- pany which depends upon brokers for its business or with an insurance company owned by stockholders. Com- missions on insurance placed in this manner will be paid to the broker by the companies that get our business.
The second method is to place the business with a direct selling mutual insurance company. In this case no commission is paid since there is no middleman.
Regardless of which method is employed the premium rate, or charge to the town, should be the same. So what are the differences to the town? It may be argued that the business should be placed with a Braintree broker for two reasons: if there's any money to be made, a Brain- tree broker should get it; and a Braintree broker will be more available, providing better service.
While it is true that the initial cost is the same by any method, it is also a fact that the town will receive refunds from the insurance companies, no matter which method is employed. These refunds will be largest from the direct selling insurance company and smallest from the stock insurance company.
II A second way in which insurance may be exam- ined is on the basis of the types of insurance to be pur-
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chased and the extent of the coverage to be secunred. For our town the types of insurance needed are:
a. Employee compensation.
b. Fire and extended coverage for buildings and contents.
c. Automobile liability, collision, fire and theft.
d. Public liability.
€. Theft, robbery and embezzlement of money and securities.
f. Miscellaneous.
(Please note that we are not concerning ourselves with accident and health insurance ( (Blue Cross- Shield) ) or with life insurance.)
It appears that the town has most of the kinds of insurance it needs.
It is the feeling of the committee that on the ques- tion of extent of coverage, good judgment has been gen- erally displayed. The committee does feel that there is a question whether we have enough insurance in some areas,
III. Finally the third view of any insurance program must be: what kind of service will be received ? After all, as between insurance sellers, there are only two consid- erations: cost and service.
On the point of service there are some real differ- ences among the representatives of the insurance indus- try. For the town of Braintree, it is argued, the present arrangement is superior. The broker-of-record lives in town, does business in town, travels about town, knows the community as no outsider could. Just on sheer chance alone - riding by as something happens, hearing about it over mid-morning coffee at one of the squares, reading about it in the local paper-he will learn about insurance oriented problems. With his office in town he can be easily reached and be at the scene of the problem in a very few minutes.
Direct sellers of insurance would say: True. Quite true. But is that what you really want in the way of service? Or do you want service that will reduce the cost of your insurance? This can be accomplished in two general ways. One way is by aggressive work to avoid insurance claims through searching analysis of the town's fire hazards, safety hazards, burglary risks, et cetera. This leads to safer practices, better housekeep- ing, fewer accidents or fires. When new construction is planned the insurance engineers would want to check the plans for these same purposes. All of this should lead to fewer claims which means a better experience, and therefore lower premiums.
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The second way is by the manner in which claims are handled. It would seem that direct sellers of insur- ance follow their claims more closely, especially accident compensation cases. This results in more prompt settle- ment at lower costs. Or better rehabilitation where that is required, which also lowers the final cost.
IV This brings us around to a few final points be- fore making our recommendations.
One point is the question of aggressiveness in caring for the town's insurance needs. It would appear that our present arrangement for getting insurance discourages this-too many cooks with no one really and truly in charge. This is no criticism of any individual, only of the system.
Another point is that in several instances money could be saved by combining small policies of the same type into larger policies that would get them off the manual rates and onto experience rates.
Finally the committee would like to point out that it is not prepared-in fact is not qualified-to make rec- ommendations about specific insurance policies or types of coverage.
V With all of this in mind the committee makes the following recommendations:
A. That the Selectmen appoint an Insurance Committee of 5, 2 of whom shall be in the insurance business and 3 of whom shall not be in the insurance or a related business.
1. The members of the said Committee to serve at the will and pleasure of the Board of Selectmen.
B. That the Insurance Committee thoroughly examine the adequacy and need of all insurance policies carried by the town and be responsible for presenting rec- ommendations to the Finance Committee and, should the occasion arise, to the Town Meeting.
C. That, so far as is possible, the Insurance Committee place the town's insurance with direct selling com- panies.
1. But where this is not possible, that the 2 members who are in the insurance business be allowed to handle the business (if they are licensed brokers) and secure all the commissions on this business.
D. That to reassure the Town Meeting that a maximum effort is being made to place the insurance with direct selling companies, the Finance Committee report to each town meeting, when the item of insurance is reached, the division of premium dollars among direct selling companies, other mutual companies and stock companies, and the total commissions paid to each licensed broker.
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VI Conclusion.
For the most part the recommendations of this con- mittee require no action on the part of the Town Meet- ing. It is firmly believed, however, that if these recom- mendations are followed the Town will get more for its insurance dollar.
The committee is most appreciative of the assist- ance it received. It wishes to thank Mr. Arthur E. Boyn- ton, the broker-of-record and a poorly rewarded, public- spirited citizen, the Board of Selectmen, the department heads, the John C. Paige & Co., and all the other people who made our task illuminating and enjoyable.
The committee now requests that it be discharged.
William B. Belcher J. Paul Benson John J. Canavan Allan C. Emery, Jr. Stanley E. Page
SO VOTED That the report be accepted and the Committee discharged.
ARTICLE 2.
SO VOTED WHEREAS it is the desire of each Town Meeting to be as fully informed as possible before making a decision, now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the Finance Committee shall re- port to each Annual Town Meeting considering the pur- chase of insurance, the division of the premiums among direct selling companies, other mutual companies and stock companies, and the total commissions paid to each licensed broker.
ARTICLE 49. Committee to study Branch Library Building.
SO VOTED No action.
ARTICLE 50. Authorize Trustees of Braintree School Fund to sell Real Estate.
MOVED by Mr. Canavan:
That the Selectmen be authorized and directed, sub- ject to the approval of the Braintree School Fund Com- mittee, to sell at private sale to the Archbishop of Bos- ton, two (2) lots of land as follows :-
A. A certain parcel of land shown as Plot 1 on Braintree Assessors' Plan 1042, containing ap- proximately 13.03 acres.
B. A certain parcel of land shown as Plot 1 on Braintree Assessors' Plan 1043, containing ap- proximately 8.92 acres.
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The sale of the above lots is to be for a price not less than Forty-five thousand ($45,000) dollars, less any expenses necessarily incident to perfecting the title and consummating the sale.
Such sale shall be upon the express condition that said lands shall not be sold or conveyed by the Grantee unless and until the Town of Braintree shall first be given a reasonable opportunity to repurchase the same at the then fair market value to be determined by agree- ment between the Grantee and the Selectmen of the Town or failing such, by arbitration.
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 testaor, Nahaniel Thayer, in ac- cordance wih the Decree of the Supreme Judicial Court- June 6, 1956, Equity No. 68594.
Discussion ensued involving Mr. Canavan and Mr. Charnock.
ARTICLE 2.
Mr. Creehan presented the report of the Commit- tee for the Regulation and Control of Cemeteries as follows,
The Committee for the Regulation and Control of Cemeteries, hereby, respectfully wish to submit the fol- lowing report :-
An extensive study has been made to determine :-
1. The availability of lots in Pond Street, Plain Street and Dyer Hill Cemeteries.
2. If the records of said cemeteries are in proper order.
3. The method of sale of lots and graves.
4. Provisions for Perpetual Care.
5. If funds are available for the care of cemeteries.
6. Need for additional land for burial purposes.
Upon investigation the Committee found the follow- ing :-
In Plain Street Cemetery there are 300 single graves available. This Cemetery is in excellent condition and laid out so that graves could be sold in multiple units.
Pond Street Cemetery is an older Cemetery and was acquired by the Town in 1956 from the Pond Street Cem- etery Association. The grounds have been improved and available space resodded so that there are approximately 150 graves for sale.
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Dyer Hill Cemetery was taken over and is cared for by the Town as an abandoned Cemetery. The pos- sibilities of developing this cemetery are excellent. With an entrance from Jefferson Street, the possibilities of making an area of 250 graves could be accomplished with very little expense to the Town.
Prior to 1930 records of lot owners and interments are not available. It is of the utmost importance that this information be properly recorded.
There are no uniform rules for the sale of lots of graves.
There are no provisions made for Perpetual Care for any lots nor graves sold in Plain Street Cemetery. Of 150 lots sold in this Cemetery, there have been only eight (8) donations made for Perpetual Care.
It has also been determined by this Committee that there are available funds from Perpetual Care invest- ments to help defray the cost of maintenance of Pond Street, and Plain Street Cemeteries. These funds con- solidated and properly invested would help greatly in relieving the Town of cemetery operational costs.
There is a need for additional burial space as a future asset to the Town. We find that it has been approxi- mately 100 years since the Town has made any land available for cemetery purposes.
The Committee, therefore, recommends :-
1. That a study of the records be made and brought up to date, if possible.
2. That a set of Cemetery Rules and Regulations be formulated and adopted.
3. Establishment of Perpetual Care Funds for all graves or lots in all Cemeteries under the control of the Town of Braintree.
4. The consolidation and investment of all funds donated for the perpetual care of lots.
5, The acquisition of 20 or more acres of land within the confines of the Town for future development of a Cemetery.
S. Therefore, to establish proper cemetery proced- ure, it is recommended by this Committee that a Board of Managers for Public Burial Places in the Town of Braintree, consisting of five (5) members be appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
This Board of Managers would be under the juris- diction of the Selectmen, but would have the duty of overseeing the care and maintenance of said
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cemeteries and determine the cost of lots and graves to be sold.
Respectfully submitted,
George F. Creehan, Chairman John J. Corbett George A. Brackett John F. Leetch James A. C. Smith
Mrs. Blunt spoke on the report.
SO VOTED That the report be accepted.
Discussion ensued involving Mr. Diekmeyer, Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Pinault, Mr. Canavan and Mr. Creehan.
MOVED by Mr. Albee:
That Article 50 be referred to the Trustees of the Braintree School Fund.
Vote was taken and the Moderator declared the motion by Mr. Albee LOST.
Further discussion ensued involving Mr. Paul Young, Mr. O'Keefe, Mr. Holt and Mr. Ainsleigh.
Comes now the question on the motion by Mr. Can- avan under Article 50.
The Moderator ordered a teller count. Vote and count were taken and the tellers reported 90 votes in the af- firmative and 75 votes in the negative. There not being the required two-thirds vote in the affirmative the Mod- erator declared the motion by Mr. Canavan LOST.
(Recess from 9:18 P.M. to 9:35 P.M.)
ARTICLE 51. Remodeling of Lincoln School.
That there be raised and appropriated the sum of $50.000.00 to be expended under the control of the School Committee for the purpose of remodeling, reconstruction of and repairing the Lincoln School.
Mr. Barrett spoke on the motion.
SO VOTED
ARTICLE 52. Transfer from Braintree High School Addition Account to Braintree High School Alteration and Repairs Account.
SO VOTED That the sum of $15,000 be trans- ferred from the unexpended balance of the Braintree High School Addition Account to the Braintree High School Alteration and Repairs Account.
15,000.00
ARTICLE 53. Transfer from New Junior High School Plans and Specifications Account to New Junior High School Construction Account.
50,000.00
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17,000.00
SO VOTED That the sum of $17,000 be trans- ferred fron the balance in the New Junior High School Plan and Specifications Account to the New Junior High School Construction Account.
ARTICLE 2.
Mr. Barrett presented the report of the Monatiquot School Study Committee as follows:
The Old Monatiquot School Building, 31/2 stories in height, constructed completely of wood in 1892, is the oldest in the town. The detached five classroom annex erected in 1953 is designed for expansion should the Old Building be discontinued. The "Wilson Reports" of 1948 and 1952 indicated the Old Building should be abandoned as soon as possible. Since the 1952 report, there has been further deterioration to the point where the third floor auditorium-gymnasium has been declared unfit for Phy- sica! Education activities, and its use for other meet- ings severely restricted. Unsatisfactory heat (both over heating and under heating) from the old and obsolete heating system has increasingly become a problem, only partially alleviated by temporary maintenance. The com- bination of makeshift and inadequate lunchroom in close proximity with adjacent old pull chain toilet facilities in the basement is causing increasing concern on the part of Parents and Teachers.
This combination of substandard conditions finally compelled the Monatiquot Parents through their P.T.A. to appoint a Committee in 1958 to investigate. Initial efforts of this Committee were along the lines of recom- mending a new heating system in the Old Building and a "Cafetorium' addition to the Annex. However, the esti- mated $50,000 cost of the new heating system caused the Committee to seriously doubt the wisdom of spend- ing such a sizable amount on a building previously rec- ommended for abandonment.
This consideration led to a more detailed investiga- tion of the cost of maintaining the Old Building in a usable and habitable condition. This investigation indicated it would be cheaper in the long run to provide an addi- tion to the Annex of sufficient size to allow the long recommended abandonment of the Old Building.
The problem was officially brought before the 1960 Town Meeting, which under Article 2, of the Warrant, created the Monatiquot School Study Committee to deter- mine the feasibility of replacing the Old Monatiquot School Building with a new addition to the Annex. The Com- mittee, duly appointed by the Moderator, held meetings with and obtained information from School Officials, and members of the Monatiquot P.T.A.
The Committee's investigations disclosed the fol- lowing major items needing attention in the next few years if the Old Building is to be kept habitable: 1
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New Heating System and Chimney Repairs to make Auditorium fully usable Renew Ceilings throughout Building Modernize Plumbing and Toilet facilities Renew window frames and sash
Recovering Roof Renew Electrical and Clock systems
In addition to these major renovation items, the present Old Building requires continuing expenses over and above what would be required in a modern building. These are:
Extra Custodian and Maintenance Service
Custodian Premium for coal burning and extra Fuel Cost
Extra painting costs
Our study of these items shows their expense over the next 20 years would indeed amortize the cost of a new addition to the Annex.
At this point, the question arose as to the future need for the present grade school facilities in the Monato- quot area. It is recognized that it is a stable, fully devel- oped area with no foreseeable significant change in its grade school population. The new St. Francis of Assisi Parochial School has been determined to have no effect on the number of classrooms required although there has been some reduction in enrollment. The housing of part of the Monatiquot enrollment in adjacent schools such as Hollis or Lakeside, or changing existing school bound- aries was found not feasible.
In the basis of this study, we conclude that there is continuing need for a 13 classroom grade school fa- cility in the Monatiquot area; and that it is entirely feas- ible to replace the Old Building with a new addition to the Annex at a cost somewhat less than that of renovat- ing and maintaining the Old Building, taking into consid- eration that State Aid is available for new construction but not maintenance.
As the precarious condition of the old heating plant could result in a complete shutdown of the Old Building during cold weather which would create major problems regarding housing and transportation of children, a solu- tion of the problem is urgent. We therefore strongly rec- ommend adoption of Article 54 of the Warrant of the 1961 Town meeting.
Respectfully submitted, Georbe Brackett Robert M. Burdett Ernest D. Frawley Gustav Rook John R. Garber, Chairman
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Upon motion duly made by Mr. Fletcher, it was
SO VOTED That the report be accepted and the Committee discharged.
ARTICLE 54. Addition and alterations to Monati- quot School Annex.
SO VOTED That the sum of $15,000.00 be raised and appropriated from available 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 Monatiquot School Annex; and that the Moderator shall appoint a Build- ing Committee of five (5), one of whom shall be a mem- ber 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 towards secur- ing the above mentioned plans, specifications, drawings, reports and bids within the aforesaid appropriations and to report to the Town at a subsequent annual or special Town Meeting and that the above mentioned Building Committee.
15,000.00
ARTICLE 55. Footway from Commercial Street over Factory Hill.
SO VOTED No action.
ARTICLE 56. Transfer of land on Marshall Street to School Department.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED That Plot No. 15 shown on Assessor's Plan No. 2011 on Marshall Street be re- moved from the list of properties to be sold under the provisions of the Town By-Laws Article 4 Section 4 and placed in the exclusive control of the School Department.
ARTICLE 57. Acceptance of River Street Exten- sion as a Town Way.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED That the Town accept as and for a Town Way River Street Extension, so called, as laid out by the Selectmen from the line of present ac- ceptance to the school lot and that there be raised and appropriated the sum of $4,010.00 for the improvement of the same and that betterments to the extent of 66 2/3 per cent of the cost assessed on abutting estates.
ARTICLE 58. Sidewalks for access to School on Arnold Farm Site.
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