USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1943 > Part 8
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Since October 1943, your Committee has been meeting weekly with department heads and from the list of projects submitted, it soon became apparent that in- stead of a one year program a five to ten year program was being developed.This condition was true throughout the Commonwealth according to State officials.Any department head worthy of the name should have a long range program.However since the Post-War Committee was concerned principally with the year following the close of the war, it was suggested that only the most worthwhile of the long range pro- grams be brought to the top for consideration. The balance of the projects submitted could be taken from the long range program by the voters at some future time or as the immediate need became apparent.
The following is a list of the projects submitted to the Post War Public Works Committee and tabulated in the order of their importance to the community by Department heads. The projects were outlined of course in a more detailed report to the Committee but are condensed herewith for publication:
Highway Department:
Estimated cost.
A .. Elimination of curves and traffic hazards ·¥ 7,000.00
15,000.00 B .. Sidewalks.
2,980.00
D. . Drainage under Chapter 90 work. 1,000.00
E .. Beginning of permanently constructed roads
5,000.00
F .. Replacing culverts
500.00
G .. Removal of brush and poison ivy. 500.00
H. . Application of tar on all gravel roads constructed under WPA etc 1,500.00
I .. Clearance of streams and brooks at drainage outlets. 500.00
J .. Complete survey of drainage system
500.00
Total for Highway Department. .$34,480.00
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C .. Drainage
Fire Department:
A .. A new two door fire house to be located at North Chelmsford.
B. . A new three door fire house to be located at Chelmsford Centre. Estimated cost of both buildings. $30,000.00
School Department:
A .. Athletic Field at High School-
Including drainage, grading, fencing and purchase of additional land.
Estimated cost
.$16,600.00
B .. Princeton Street School-North Chelmsford:
Enlarge the new building, providing four classrooms, teachers' rooms, new toilets, and room for other community purposes. Estimated cost. .$60,000.00
C .. Provide a substantialy built, but not ornate, hall for basket ball, eeating 800 or more.
Estimated cost.
.$25,000.00
D .. Alternate form:
Get a site near or adjoining the Varney Playground, and build a sixteen room school to care for all the children of North
Chelmsford.
Estimated cost. ฿175.000.00
Estimated cost with basket-ball hall. 200,900.00
E .. East C elmsford School:
A new eight room building at Last Chelmsford, with community hall.
Estimated cost
$ 75,000.00
F .. West Chelmsford School:
Brick facing, estimated cost $ 4,500.00
G .. Highland Ave.School:
Brick facing, estimated cost. $ 4,500.00
Board of Health:
Elimination of mosquitos from certain areas.
Estimated cost.
1,000.00
Cemetery Department:
A .. Pine Ridge Cemetery .... improvements ... estimated cost .$ 1,500.00
B. . West Chelmsford Cemetery. .. improvements. Estimated cost.
..
2,600.00
C .. Riverside Cemetery. .. improvements. estimated cost .... 760.00
D. Fairview Cemetery. . improvements. estimated cost. ..
600.00 E .. Hart Fond Cemetery. .improvements.estimated cost. .. Total.
1,100.00
36,560.00
Park Department:
Walks around the common at North Chelmsford and Chelmsford Centre. . No estimate given.
Assessors Department :
Continuation of Town Survey-$3,000 to be expended each year for five years ... estimated cost. $ 15,000.00
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RECOMMENDATIONS
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT :
The Post War Committee was unanimous in placing the recommend- ations of the Highway Department at the head of the list and recommends that the sum of $34,480.00 be raised and appropriated in this years tax levy to be used as needed in the amounts and for the purposes and locations specfified by the Superintendent of Streets in his program submitted to the Committee.Much of this work would be done in the ordinary course of events. The chief advantage of its inclusion in this program is --- it is planned work. The streets and locations have been selected and the projects can be started overnight, if necessary, with no confusion, waste or lost motion.
The Committee is informed that the State and County are sett- ing aside funds to assist cities and towns on highways where such funds may be expended legally and to this extent any appropriations made by the town for these highways will be increased.
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
It is recommended that a sum sufficient to draw plans and speo- ifications for two fire houses be appropriated to be located in the Centre and the North.It is also suggested that the matter of sites for these buildings be given further study.
Other projects submitted by this department as worthwhile for Post War long range program but no appropriation recommended for this year.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT :
It is recommended that the top project submitted by the School Department namely:"An athletic field at the High School"be approved, and a sum sufficient to make a boundary survey and topographical map of the property and proposed additions be appropriated. The above appropriation should be large enough to include plans and specifications to complete the work.
Other projects submitted by the School Department recommended as worthwhile for Post War long range program but no appropriation recommended for this year.
BOARD OF HEALTH:
Other Communities have placed public health programs such as submitted by this Board at the top of the list. Signed petitions were presented a few years ago to clean up some of these danger spots.However it is not recomm- ended that an appropriation be made this year in view of the expenditure contem- plated in other departments. This program would provide considerable work, if, later on, the town was in need of more worth while projects.
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT :
It is recommended that the sum of $1,500.00 be appropriated this year for improvements listed by the Commissioners as being needed at the Pine Ridge Cemetery.
Other projects submitted by the Cemetery Department recommended as worthwhile for post-war long range program but no appropriation recommended this year.
PARK DEPARTMENT :
Sidewalks requested around parks in the Centre and North referred to the Highway Department, otherwise no detailed program submitted by the Board. This Committee suggests that edgestone be placed around both parks and grass walks be substituted for the present.
The project listed as a playground by the School Department, if constructed, is probably as much as the town could afford as a Post-War project.
ASSESSORS DEPARTMENT :
1
Inasmuch as the project submitted by this department would employ only engineers, it was the opinion of the Committee that there will be a
89
great demand for the services of engineers in the immediate post-war period, therefor it is recommended this project be deferred and made part of the long range program.
PLANNING BOARD:
The Planning Board made several valuable suggestions that were acted upon favorably by the Committee. These suggestions however were projects that would properly come under other departments.
SUMMARY :
If all of the recommendations of this Committee are approved by the voters $35,980.00 will be raised and appropriated by tax levy, plus approximately $2,000.00 more for plans and specifications making a grand total of $37,980.00. At the writing of this report, figures are not available from the Town Accountant's office, therefor it is impossible to determine just what effect the raising of this money will have on the tax rate, however it is our opinion that with the free cash on hand together with a certain grant from the Commonwealth that the tax rate will not be materially changed from last year.
If after plans and specifications are completed it is decided to build the fire houses and playground at the High School the sum of approximately $46,000.00 more would be needed or a grand total of $83,980.00.To finance these projects it would of course be possible to borrow money and repay the same over a period of ten years or more, and to use available money on hand, such as the fund created from the sale of real estate which contains approximately $7,000.00. Compared with reports submitted to the State Commission by other towns, this amount is small. However, it is all the Committeefelt it could recommend at this time regardless of what is being done in other communities. If the program submitted should prove inadequate, projects can be taken from those listed by department heads at anytime and moved to the top if the voters desire.In the final analysis the voters decide what projects will be acceptable and how much money shall be appropriated.
The projects selected by the Post War Committee in general, was the top project submitted by the Department heads as being the most important to the Town, but also of paramount consideration was the type of labor and the number of man-hours that the project would employ. To balance the program with skilled labor it was the opinion of the committee that the construction program sub- mitted by the Fire Department should take precedence over that submitted by the School Department at this time in the interest of public safety. It was the con- sensus of opinion that under the present system we have been very fortunate and that one disastrous fire would bring us to a full realization of that fact. The Committee does not know to what extent the Federal Government will co-operate in post-war public works but it is their considered opinion that help will be extended in the year immediately following the war, to those cities and towns which have a program sufficiently advanced to start as soon as the war ends. There is doubt, because of the cost of the war, that Federal participation will extend beyond this period. Under the best conditions a drastic curtailment is expected.
In conclusion, the Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the various Department Heads for the constructive andworthwhile programs submitted. At all times they have co-operated with this Committee to the fullest extent.
Respectfully submitted:
John J. Meagher, Chairman.
Harold C. Petterson, Secretary. Karl M. Perham.
Raymond H. Greenwood.
Charles E. Watt. Edward T. Healey.
Oscar H. Chamberlain.
William J. Powers.
George L. Waite. Edmund J. Welch.
POST WAR PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. 90
January jlst 1944.
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
March 6, 1944 and March 13, 1944 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, 88.
To Lawrence W. Chute, Constable, or any suitable person of the Town of Chelmsford.
GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, you are hereby re- quested to notify and warn the legal voters of said Chelmsford to meet in their several polling places, viz :
Precinct 1. Town Hall, Chelmsford Center
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 House, Westlands
On Monday, the sixth day of March, 1944, being the first Monday 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.
One Assessor for three years.
One Member of the Board of Health for three years.
One School Committee Member for three years.
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
One Park Commissioner for three years.
Two Trustees of Adams Library for three years. One Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years. One Member of the Planning Board for five years. One Constable for one year.
All on one ballot.
The polls will be open from 12 noon to & p.m. and to meet in the Town Hall at Chelmsford on the following Monday, the 13th day of March, 1944 at 7:30 o'clock in the evening, 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 Town 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, with authority to settle and adjust claims or demands for or against the Town; and to employ counsel whenever in their judgment it is necessary; or act in relation thereto.
91
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in an- ticipation of revenue of the current financial year; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money with which to meet unpaid bills for the year 1943; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Four Hundred Thirty-seven and 12/100 Dollars ( $2437.12) to pay the County of Middle- sex, as required by law, the Town's share of the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital as assessed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 111 of the General Laws; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fourteen Hundred ( $1400) Dollars or some other sum to defray the expense of procuring plans and specifications for two proposed fire stations, one in the Center and one in North Chelmsford; or act in re- lation thereto.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Hundred (800) Dollars or some other sum for the purpose of purchasing an automobile for the Police department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9. In the event of an affirmative Vote under Article 8, to see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select- men to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale title to an automobile now used by the Police depart- ment; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will accept Section 48 of Chapter 31 of the General Laws, placing regular or permanent police members under the rules and regulations of the Civil Service; or act in relation thereto; Said section reads as follows:
"Section 48, Application to Police, etc. of certain Towns. A Town which has not accepted this Chapter or the corresponding provisions of earlier laws, may ac- cept this section as to its regular or permanent po- lice and fire forces, or as to either of them. Ac- ceptance to the fire force shall include regular mem- bers and may include call members, and a Town which has accepted this section or corresponding provisions of earlier laws as to regular firemen may afterward accept it as tocall firemen. In a Town which accepts this section by vote of the Town at a Town meeting, ær has accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws, as to any and all of said forces, the members of the forces to which the acceptance relates shall be subject to the chapter and the rules made hereunder, and shall hold office until their death, resignation or removal, but members in office at the time of such acceptance shall
92
continue in office without examination or reappointment.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to accept Section 49, Chapter 31 of the General Laws, placing the Chief of Police under the rules and regulation of the Civil Service; or act in relation thereto. Said Section reads as follows:
"Section 49. Application to Chiefs of Police, etc. of certain Towns and Cities. This Chapter and the rules made hereunder shall apply to Superintendents, Chiefs of Police, and Chief Marshalls in Cities which have accepted Chapter Four Hundred and Sixty-eight of the Acts of Nineteen Hundred and Eleven in the man- ner herein provided, and in Towng which have a Police force subject to this Chapter and which have accepted said Chapter Four Hundred and Sixty-eight or accept this Section, by vote at an Annual Town Meeting.'
ARTICLE 12. If it is voted to place the office of the Chief of Police within the classified Civil Service, shall the Town vote to provide for the continuance in said of- fice of Ralph J. Hulslander, the present incumbent thereof.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to accept a portion of Harding Street 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 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of reconstructing Hard- ing Street; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money to be used for Post-War Public Works Projects when the Post-War Public Works Commit- tee declares an emergency exists; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of purchasing lands near or adjacent to the High School Buildings to be used for school recreational and athletic pur- poses; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of defraying civil engineering expenses on land near or abutting the High School; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to accept a portion of Miland Avenue 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.
93
ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred $400) Dollars or some other sum for the purpose of repairing the Varney Playground by reason of the damage caused there by fire, wind, and lightning; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select- men to sell and convey by a good and sufficient deed all the lands conveyed to the Town by Roberta Sadler, Mary A. Gamage, and William H. Helleur; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred ($100) Dollars for the purpose of reimbursing the First Congregational Society (Unita- rian) for expenses incurred in priming and painting the rim and gold leafing the hands and numbers of the four clock faces on the clock located in the steeple of the church of said Society; x act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand ( $1,000) Dollars or some other sum for the purpose of defending tax abatement, cases; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Hundred( $1500) Dollars to be used as a Post-War Project for the Cemetery Commission, the money so appropriated to be used exclusively in the Pine Ridge Cemetery and under the direction of the Cemetery Commission.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money to pay bills presented by the Laycold Pavement Co .; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to request the Department of Corporations and Taxation Division of Accounts to make an audit of all the Town of Chelmsford accounts; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twelve Hundred ( $1200) Dollars for the pur- pose of foreclosing tax titles held by the Town of Chelmsford; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred ($300) Dollars for the pur- pose of paying for group insurance for the firemen; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28. Tosee if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of settling claims and suits against the Town; or act in relation thereto.
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!
ARTICLE 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of defraying the salary of the Consultant and Director of the pro- gram for the Rehabilitation of Veterans; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 31. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Overlay Reserve Account a sum not exceeding Two Thousand ( $2000) Dollars 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 32. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Assessors to use a sum of money in the amount such as the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may approve as free cash, said sum of money to be applied in determining the tax rate for the year 1944; x act in relation thereto.
AND YOU ARE DIRECTED to serve this Warrant by posting at- tested copies thereof at the Post Offices in the Center of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, andWest Chelmsford, and at the School House in 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 the Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place of holding this meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this 26th day of January, in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-four.
Karl M. Perham Stewart Mackay Raymond H. Greenwood
Selectmen of Chelmsford
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX, 88.
Chelmsford, Mass. January 27, 1944
I have served this Warrant by posting attested copies at the Post Offices in the Center of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, West Chelmsford, and the School House in East Chelms- ford and at the Golden Cove School House in the Westlands, seven days at least before the time of holding the meeting, as within directed.
Lawrence Chute Constable
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REPORT OF TOWN ACCOUNTANT
Herewith is submitted the Annual Report of the Town Accountant in ac- cordance with the provisions of Chapter 624, Section 7 of the Revised Laws.
All transfers made and shown in this report were authorized by vote of the Finance Committee or by vote in Town Meeting.
RECEIPTS
General Revenue TAXES
CURRENT YEAR:
Poll.
$4,296.00
Personal Estate
24,955.14
Real Estate
190,688.83
$219,939.97
PREVIOUS YEARS:
Poll.
* 258.00
Personal Estate
1,860.94
Real Estate.
34,771.27
$ 36,890.21
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX:
Motor Excise Tax, 1943
$12,968.74
Motor Excise Tax, Previous Years.
344.42
$ 13,313.16
TAX TITLE REDEMPTION:
Tax Title Redemption
$ 2,335.15
FROM THE STATE:
Income Tax.
$35,272.50
Corporation Tax.
28,571.84
Meal Tax.
1,480.12
Total from State
$ 65,324.46
GRANTS AND GIFTS
FROM COUNTY :
Dog Licenses
$1,585.01
Chapter 90, Highway Maintenance
3,627.52
$ 5,212.53
FROM STATE:
Chapter 90, Highway Maintenance
$3,627.52
Aid to Industrial Schools.
1,143.60
$ 4,771.12
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT :
Old Age Assistance, Administration
$1,412.49
Old Age Assistance, Relief.
42,378.62
Aid to Dependent Children, Relief.
2,420.99
Aid to Dependent Children, Administration
142.78
$ 46,354.88
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REPORT OF TOWN ACCOUNTANT
FINES AND FORFEITS
Court Fines
$ 217.27
LICENSES AND PERMITS
Oil Burner Permits
12.00
Cabin License.
1.00
Plumbing Permits.
188.00
Automobile Dealers.
45.00
Sunday Licenses.
36.00
Common Victualers' Licenses
30.00
Bottling Licenses.
30.00
Liquor Licenses for 1943.
2,467.00
Liquor Licenses for 1944.
1,800.00
Pedlars' Licen 80 8
13.00
Milk Licenses.
59.00
Garbage License.
1.00
Slaughtering License
2.00
Wood Alcohol License.
1.00
Funeral Director's License
2.00
Amusement License.
30.50
Manufacturing Ice Cream Licenso
5.00
$ 4,722.50
SELECTMEN :
Advertising
$ 23.13
All Other
.90
$ 24.03
TAX COLLECTOR:
Tax Title Redemption Costs.
# 40.90
Tax Collection Costs.
208.30
$ 249.20
TOWN CLERK :
Auctioneers' Licenses.
$ 2.00
Junk Dealers' Licenses.
7.50
Certificate of Registration.
6.00
Dog Licenses.
1,688.00
Postage
.03
$ 1,703.53
ASSESSORS' DEPARTMENT :
Telephone Tolls.
.10
$ .10
TOWN HALLS:
Rant from Chelmsford Center Town Hall ...
$ 120.13
Rent from North Chelmsford Town Hall
124.00
Sale of Flag Pole, etc.
13.00
$ 257.13
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
POLICE DEPARTMENT :
Revolver Permits.
$ 14.00
Bicycle Permit s.
66.00
Telephone Tolls ..
1.75
For Damage to Automobile
434.51
$ 516.26
.
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REPORT OF TOWN ACCOUNTANT
FIRE DEPARTMENT :
Oil Permits
10.50
$ 10.50
FOREST FIRE DEPARTMENT :
Labor at Fires
28.75
28.75
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES:
Sealing and Testing.
80.50
$ 80.50
ALL OTHER :
Damage by Dogs.
$ 205.00
$ 205.00
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
State T. B. Subsidy .
$ 95.71
Reimbursement by Individuals
40.00
135.71
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Repairs for Individuals.
25.40
Sale of Junk ..
34.68
Rental of Equipment
857.85
Snow Removal
84.00
$
1,001.93
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
INFIRMARY :
Dividend on Purchases
1.87
$ 1.87
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE:
Telephone Tolls
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