USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1934 > Part 10
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Total Expenditure
$115,490.51
FAMILIES AND PERSONS BENEFITTED
At the present time, February 1. 1935, there is a total of 154 per- sons on the E. R. A. payrolls consisting of 133 men and 21 women. For the past year the number has varied from 82 to 200 according to the Federal money alloted to Chelmsford each month.
Since the beginning of the C. W. A. in November. 1933, up to the present. 286 families have been benefitted by work relief wages, and the total number of persons in these families totals 1671. Forty-two families were taken directly from the Town Welfare rolls and put to work on the E. R. A. The wages earned have been at the average rate of $12.00 a week per family, and in addition the larger families have been aided through the distribution to them of large quantities of clothing and surplus food commodities received from Federal sources. The following food products have been received to date, and most of it has been distributed : 8.500 pounds potatoes, 150 pounds cheese. 1.776 pounds rice, 2.600 pounds veal. 1.368 pounds canned roast beef. 576 pounds canned hamburg. 27 bar- rels cabbage. 120 pounds butter and 300 pounds sugar.
FUTURE PROJECTS
The citizens of South Chelmsford have formed a water district. and when they receive their charter and have become incorporated as such, a project will be submitted to the E. R. A. project department, and the labor will be paid for through E. R. A. funds, and the people within the district will pay for all material, trucking, etc.
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The Centre water district is contemplating extending their water mains up the North Road, and also in roads leading off the North Road, and we expect that work will also be done under the E. R. A., and financed as above mentioned. The North Chelmsford water district is also planning to extend their mains up the Groton Road, Main Street to West Chelms- ford, and other roads, and we expect this work also can be done under the E. R. A.
The above projects will be big undertakings, and being done in the above manner will save the Town districts several thousands of dollars besides furnishing water and fire protection in the above named sections of the Town.
I wish at this time to publicly thank the Board of Selectmen and all other town officers who were called upon many times to do extra work that the E. R. A. organization might function smoothly.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK J. LUPIEN, Local Administrator E. R. A.
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Warrant for Annual Town Meeting March 4th and 11th, 1935
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss.
To John Buchanan, Constable of the Town of Chelmsford.
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid you are hereby requested to notify and warn the legal voters of said Chelmsford to meet in their several Polling Places, viz. :
Precinct 1, Town Hall, Chelmsford Centre.
Precinct 2, Town Hall, North Chelmsford.
Precinct 3, Fire House, West Chelmsford.
Precinct 4. School House, East Chelmsford.
Precinct 5, Liberty Hall, South Chelmsford.
Precinct 6, Golden Cove School, Westlands.
on Monday, the Fourth day of March, 1935, being the first Mon- day in said month, at 12 o'clock noon, for the following purposes :
To bring in their votes for the following officers :
Moderator for one year. One Selectman for three years.
One Member of the Board of Public Welfare for three years. Treasurer and Tax Collector for one year.
One Assessor for three years.
Tree Warden for one year.
One Member of the Board of Health for three years.
One Park Commissioner for three years.
One School Committeeman for three years.
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
Two Trustees for Adams Library for three years.
One Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years. One Constable for one year.
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And to vote on the following question, namely :
"Shall the operation of Section one hundred and five B of Chapter one hundred and thirty-one of the General Laws, requiring for the taking of fur-bearing animals the use of traps that kill at once or take such animals alive unharmed, be suspendid within this town?"
All on one ballot.
The polls will be open from 12 o'clock noon to 8 P. M., and to meet in the Town Hall at Chelmsford Centre on the following Monday, the Eleventh day of March, at 10 o'clock in the fore- noon, then and there to act upon the following articles, viz. :
ARTICLE 1. To hear reports of Town Officers and Committees ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 2. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required to defray charges for the current year ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to act as its agent in any suit or suits which may arise during the current year ; also in such other matters as may arise requiring in their judgment the action of such agent, and to employ counsel therefor ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to authorize 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, 1935, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any such note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, of the General Laws ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of $7,000.00, or some other sum, to be used as a reserve fund at the discretion of the Finance Committee, as provided in General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 6; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the following sums to balance overdrafts :
The sum of $1,634.61 for the purpose of balancing over- draft in Outside Aid and Old Age Assistance account.
The sum of $22.14 for the purpose of balancing overdraft in Soldiers' Relief Account.
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The sum of $30.00 for the purpose of balancing overdraft in the Old Westford Road account ; or act in relation there- to.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate a sum sufficient to pay the County of Middlesex, as re- quired by law, the Town's share of the net cost of the care, maintenance, and repair of the Middlesex County Tubercu- losis Hospital, as assessed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 111 of the General Laws and amendments thereof ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $52.50, or some other sum, with which to defray the cost of hospitalization; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of $750.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing an automobile for use of the Police Department ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to accept Cart Road as laid out by the Selectmen as shown by their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $4,000.00, or some other sum, for the pur- pose of reconstructing Middlesex Street, a similar sum to be contributed by the Commonwealth and Middlesex County re- spectively ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $4,000.00, or some other sum, for the pur- pose of reconstructing the North Road ; a similar sum to be contributed by the Commonwealth and County of Middlesex ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $800.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing a certain parcel of land containing a gravel bank thereon, from Clarence Nickles ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $114.00, or some other sum, with which to pay the executor of the will of Mary Supple, salary due the deceased ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $7,500.00, or some other sum, for the pur-
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pose of purchasing tools, material and equipment to continue the Emergency Relief Administration projects, or other fed- eral and state projects ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to request the De- partment of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts to submit to the Secretary of Agriculture a project for the improvement of Billerica Street from the Billerica line to Riverneck Road for the construction with funds appropri- ated to the Commonwealth under Section 204 of the National Industrial Recovery Act, and will agree with the said Depart- ment that if such project is approved and constructed by the Department and the Secretary of Agriculture, if the Town will thereafter, at its own cost and expense, maintain the project in a manner satisfactory to said Department and Secretary of Agriculture, or their authorized representatives, and will make ample provision each year for such maintenance, and will au- thorize the Board of Selectmen to sign such a request and agreement in behalf of the Town, or take any other action re- lating thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will grant and convey to the County of Middlesex a certain parcel of land owned by the Town and used for cemetery purposes. Said parcel of land to be conveyed to said county in order that Billerica Road may be reconstructed and widened ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $500, or some other sum, for hydrant service to be paid to the South Chelmsford Water District, if and when said District is duly organized by law and has completed the installation of the water system ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 19. To sse if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $8,000.00, or whatever sum. for the purchase of a 500-gallon Pumper, together with equipment and 1,000 feet of hose (21/2") for the Fire Department ; or act in rela- tion thereto.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $552.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the cost of claims made by owners of land ad- jacent to the North Road ; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $3,500.00, or some other sum, for the pur- pose of purchasing equipment suitable for snow removal; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $300.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of complying with Chapter 320 of the Acts of 1934; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $200.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing new seats to be used in Centre Town Hall; or act in relation thereto.
.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $850.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing a power sprayer for the use of the Moth De- partment ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $1,500.00, or some other sum, for the pur- pose of repairing highways in East Chelmsford ; or act in rela- tion thereto.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $75.00, or some other sum, to reimburse W. H. Bartlett for the expense of operating a truck from Decem- ber 1, 1933, to April 12, 1934, on the moth project under the C. W. A and E. R. A. ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $778.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of purchasing an automobile truck for the Forest Fire Depart- ment ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $300.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of defraying the cost of leasing quarters for Post 212, Ameri- can Legion, located in the station of the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R .; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $300.00, or some other sum, for the purpose of caring for the Varney Playground; or act in relation there- to.
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ADDENDA
ARTICLE 34. To see if the Town will vote to accept Sherman Street as laid out by the selectmen as shown by their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk. The re- construction of this street to be accomplished as an E. R. A. project or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 35. To see if the Town will vote to accept Albina Street as laid out by the selectmen as shown by their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk. The re- construction of this street to be accomplished as an E. R. A. project or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 30. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to make and execute in behalf of the Town an agreement with the Boston & Maine Railroad with reference to land adjacent to Riverside Cemetery; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 31. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the As- sessors to use a certain amount of free cash to be applied in computing the 1935 tax rate, with the permission of the State Tax Commissioner ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 32. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to appoint from each precinct of the Town three persons to serve as a committee to make plans and recommen- dations as to the advisability of creating zoning ordinances, and to report at some future Town Meeting ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sufficient sum with which to meet unpaid bills of 1934; or act in relation thereto.
AND YOU ARE DIRECTED to serve this Warant, by post- ing attested copies thereof at the Post Offices in the Centre of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford and West Chelms- ford, and at the School House, East Chelmsford, and the Golden Cove School House, Westlands, seven days at least before the time appointed for holding the first meeting aforesaid.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of holding this meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and thirty-five.
JAMES A. GRANT, FRANK J. LUPIEN, STEWART MACKAY, .
Selectmen of Chelmsford.
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ANNUAL REPORT FINANCE COMMITTEE Town of Chelmsford, March 11, 1935
To the Voters of the Town of Chelmsford :
The Finance Committee submits herewith its recommendations for the ycar 1935.
We face during the coming year several unusual expenses. The severe snow storm in January cost approximately $8,000. We must make appro- priations for the continuance of E. R. A. work. A new fire truck should be purchased at a cost of $8,000. To add to these amounts, we must raise in this year's tax levy the amounts appropriated at the special town meeting held December 4, 1934, after the tax rate was established.
We call attention to the following letter from the Commissioner of Cor- poration and Taxation, which is of importance to every voter and which makes necessary an unusual appropriation under Article 5.
"January 7, 1935.
"To the Board of Selectmen. To the Town Finance or Appropriation Committee.
"In 1935 the local tax bills must be in the hands of the taxpayers on or before June 14, 1935. One-half of the tax is due on July 1st and the re- maining half is due on November first. The Assessors will be required to determine the tax rate some time in April in order to allow the necessary time for commitment of taxes and to permit the collector to prepare the tax bills for transmission to the taxpayers that they may have the bills before them on or before June 14, 1935.
"The early requirement for the payment of the 1935 local tax necessi- tates each appropriating body determining with accuracy early in the year the amount that will be required in order to pay for the full twelve months' period running in 1935 with the calendar year. After the 1935 tax rate is set it will be impossible to raise additional revenue, and because of this there will be an inability on the part of municipalities to spend money in the ah- sence of available funds. In respect to most cities and towns there will be no available funds after the 1935 tax rate has been set in April by the As- sessors.
"The thought back of this communication is to encourage full appropri- ation activities in the months of January, February, March and April to an amount sufficient to provide for the entire calendar year of 1935, which will mark the fiscal year of every city and town in Massachusetts. Towns can set up a Reserve Fund from which transfers can be made to meet extraor- dinary or unforeseen expenses.
"In order that every community be sufficiently apprised of this new re- quirement and to impress upon them the necessity of accurately forecasting appropriation needs for the entire twelve months some time during the first four months of the year, I am prompted to write this letter and distribute copies of it rather freely to all whom I think should be aware of the 1935 requirements.
"The practice which has prevailed in some communities to purposely make the first appropriation less than is required and then to add subse-
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quently through special meetings must be abandoned, because after the tax rate is set there can be no appropriations which can be included in it, and if there are no funds available, the city or town is likely to face serious dis- comfiture.
"The responsibility of the financial bodies in the cities and towns in 1935 is perhaps greater than ever before in the requirement of a very careful and complete survey of departmental needs. It is highly desirable that the amount to be taken from the taxpayers as shown in the tax bill received by them on or before June 14, 1935, represents the total amount needed to pay for required activities for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 1935, and that no necessary functions will have to be abandoned because of lack of money not provided through the tax levy.
"If I can be of any assistance to you please let me know.
"Cordially yours,
(Signed) HENRY F. LONG, "Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation."
Our estimate of the tax rate for 1935 is as follows :
Total amount recommended in Warrant.
$264,536 00
Estimated amount required for State and County Tax, Interest and Principal Payments, etc.
40,000.00
Carried forward from 1934
9,548.00
$314,084.00
Estimated Receipts, based on year 1934.
$ 68,000.00
Free Cash if allowed by Commissioner. 20,000.00
88,000.00
Total amount necessary to raise by direct tax-
ation
$226,084.00
Valuation, $6,689,000.00.
Probable Tax Rate, $33.80 per 1000.
These figures are based on information available at this time which is neces- sarily incomplete. The amount raised by taxation in 1934 was $205,274 60. If the amount of $20,000 free cash is not allowed to be used, the tax rate will be approximately $37.00.
Article 2. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required to defray Town charges for the current year.
The Finance Committee recommends that the following sums be raised and appropriated for the purposes of Article 2:
GENERAL GOVERNMENT $ 10.00
Moderator's Salary
Selectmen's Salaries as follows :
Chairman
252.00
Members
423.00
Administration Expense
250.00
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Town Clerk Salary
180.00
Town Clerk Expense
100.00
Town Accountant's Salary
1,800.00
Town Accountant's Expense
200.00
Collector and Treasurer :
Salary
2,000.00
Bond
480.00
Expense
1,487.00
Assessors :
Salaries
2,200.00
Expense
800.00
Town Counsel's Salary
280.00
Finance Committee Expense
20.00
Registrars' Salaries and Expense
200.00
Election, Salaries and Expense
300.00
Public Buildings :
Janitors' Salaries
855.00
Fuel, Light and Water
1,250.00
Other Expense
400.00
-
$ 13,487.00
PROTECTION, PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Police Department
$ 8,800.00
Fire Department :
Administration
4,300.00
Maintenance
3,700.00
Labor and Expense at Fires
600.00
Hydrant Service :
Center
500.00
North
500.00
East
1.500.00
West
20.00
Sealer Weights and Measures
175.00
Moth Department
1,200.00
Tree Warden
150.00
Forest Fire Department
900.00
Fish and Game Warden
100.00
-
-
$ 22.445.00
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Board of Health :
Salaries
$ 630.00
Agent's Salary
315.00
Aid
1,500.00
Maintenance
200.00
Meat Inspector
607.00
Milk Inspector
315.00
Physicians' Salaries
90.00
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Care of Dumps
100.00
Plumbing Inspector
200.00
Vaccine Treatment
300.00
$ 42,570.00
HIGHWAYS
Highway Supt. Salary
$ 1,800.00
General Highway
12,000.00
Truck Maintenance
2,300.00
Road Binder
7,000.00
Snow Removal
9,000.00
Chapter 90 Work
2,500.00
Street Lighting
11,000.00
$ 45,600.00
PUBLIC WELFARE
Overseers Salaries as follows :
Chairman
$ 113.00
Members
180.00
Overseers Maintenance
300.00
Investigator, Salary
1,300.00
Old Age Assistance and Outside Poor
28,000.00
.
Infirmary :
Supt.'s Salary
810.00
Expense
2,300.00
Repairs
50.00
Soldiers' Relief
1,000.00
Military Aid
250.00
State Aid
200.00
$ 34,503.00
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Administration
$ 3,950.00
Instruction
67,000.00
Operation and Maintenance
17,450.00
Auxiliary Agencies
11,350.00
New Equipment
250.00
$100,000.00
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Tuition-Dog Tax plus
$ 1,200.00
$ 1,200.00
LIBRARIES
Adams Library
$ 2,000.00
. North Chelmsford Library
1,200.00
$
3,200.00
CEMETERIES
Commissioners' Salaries
$ 105.00
Forefathers' Cemetery
400.00
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Hart Pond Cemetery
400.00
Pine Ridge Cemetery
400.00
Riverside Cemetery
400.00
West Chelmsford Cemetery
400.00
Fairview Cemetery
250.00
$ 2,355.00
RECREATION AND UNCLASSIFIED
Parks
$ 1,000.00
Memorial Day :
Center
150.00
North
150.00
Town Clock
30.00
Public Buildings Insurance
1,000.00
Bond: Treas. Ins. Sinking Fund.
40.00
Animal Inspector
200.00
Constables
80.00
Town Reports
775.00
$ 3,425.00
Total Recommended Under Article 2.
$230,472.00
Article 5 :
In accordance with a letter received from the Commissioner of Corpora- tions and Taxation, the Finance Committee recommended an unusually large amount to cover contingencies in the various departments.
Article 6:
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $1,634.61 and $22.14 to balance overdrafts in the Outside Aid and Old Age Assistance and Soldiers' Relief Accounts respectively.
Article 7:
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $840.77 for the purposes of this Article.
Article 8:
The Finance Committee recommends the sum of $52.50 for the purposes of this Article.
Article 9:
The Finance Committee recommends the purchase of a new car for the use of the Police Department.
Articles 11 and 12 :
The Finance Committee recommends that because of unusually heavy expenses necessary in other departments that work on Middlesex Street and the North Road be postponed for a year.
Article 13 :
The Finance Committee recommends the purchase of the gravel bank named at a cost not to exceed $800.00
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Article 14:
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $114.00 for the purposes of this Article.
Article 15 :
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $7,500.00 for E. R. A. work as provided in this Article.
Article 16 :
The Finance Committee recommends that the Selectmen be authorized to sign the request and agreement as provided in this Article.
Article 18 :
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $500.00 for the purposes of this Article, payment to be made after said hydrant service is installed and in operation.
Article 19:
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $8,000.00 for the purchase and equipment of a Fire Truck, and that the present East Chelmsford equipment be transferred to the custody of the Forest Fire De- partment.
Article 20 :
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $552.00 for the purposes of this Article.
Article 21 :
The Finance Committee recommends the purchase of a truck and snow removal equipment at a cost not to exceed $3,500.00.
Article 22:
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $300.00 for the purposes of this Article.
Article 23:
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $200.00 for the purposes of this Article.
Article 24 :
The Finance Committee recommends the purchase of a power sprayer at a cost not to exceed $850.00.
Article 25 :
The Finance Committee recommends the appropriation of $1,500.00 for the purposes of this Article.
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Article 26:
The Finance Committee are informed that this bill was not contracted by the Town and therefore cannot recommend its payment.
Article 27 :
In the event of the appropriation of $8,000.00 for the purchase of a new fire truck under Article 19, and the transfer of the East Chelmsford truck to the Forest Fire Department, this Article will be unnnecessary. If Article 19 is not favorably acted upon, a new truck is urgently needed for forest fire work, and the sum named herein should be appropriated.
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