USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1946 > Part 12
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ASSETS
Cash:
General $113,328.77
Petty Cash :
Treasurer
50.00
Deputy Collector
50.00
.
Accounts Receivable :
.. Taxes:
Levy of 1942:
Real Estate
.$
9.90
Levy of 1945:
Poll .$ 22.00
Personal 68.27
Real Estate 5,665.69
$ 5,755.96
Timber Salvage:
Levy of 1941 $240.08 Levy of 1942 165.00
$ 405.08
$ 6,170.94
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Payroll Deductions for Purchase of Defense Bonds $ 326.30
Withholding Tax-due Federal Government ..
2,061.15
Dog Licenses-due County
1.80
Tailings 166.94
Taxes to be Refunded 221.08
East Chelmsford Water District Tax Receipts 117.55
South Chelmsford Water District Tax Receipts 401.06
Cemetery Perpetual Care Bequests 400.00
Emma Gay Varney Playground Bequest
1,000.00
Sale of Town Property Fund
8,604.12
Cemetery Sale of Lots and Graves Fund
2,406.50
Vocational School 1,336.37
Premium on Loans 261.49
Road Machinery Fund
1,459.45
Estimated Receipts Collected
10,083.64
State Assessments 1945 (Overestimate) : State Parks and Reservations 79.15
Federal Grants: Old Age Assistance:
Assistance
.S
77.61
Administration
427.02
Aid to Dependent Children:
$113,428.77
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes: Levy of 1945
78.33
$ 9,068.45
Departmental:
ยท Selectmen
$
146.63
Town Hall
5.20
Police :
5.00
Forest Fire
2.50
Health
700.14
Highway
25.70
Temporary Aid
516.31
Old Age Assistance : Cities and Towns
879.31
Aid to Dependent Children
999.39
Military Aid
440.00
State Aid
130.00
World War II Allowance
236.50
$ 4,086.68
Payments in Advance of Appropriations
53,072.35
County Assessment 1945 Underestimate: County Tax 29.55
Overlay Deficit to be Raised by Assessors Levy of 1944
57.75
Overdrawn Appropriation:
Interest 1945
241.98
$186,234.80
Aid
249.00
Administration 117.45
Tax Titles $ 4,416.53
Tax Possessions
4,651.92
871.08
Unexpended Appropriation Balances 1945
9,291.49
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus 10,844.74 Overlays Reserved for Abatement of Taxes :- Levy of 1945 5,755.96
Revenue Reserved Until Collected: $ Motor Vehicle Excise Tax ..... 78.33
Tax Title
9,068.45
Departmental 4,086.68
13,233.46
Surplus Revenue
117,311.47
$186,234.80
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt $ 36,000.00 High School Addition Loan
$ 16,000.00
Westland School Loan ..
.. 20,000.00
$ 36,000.00
$ 36,000.00
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Trust and Investment Funds,
Cash and Securities:
In Custody of Town Treasurer .$ 36,231.50
In Custody of Library Trustees 16,279.86
In Custody of Insurance Fund Commissioner 46,426.03
$ 36,231.50
Amos F. Adams Library Fund ........ $ 10,732.15
Albert H. Davis Library Fund 307.18
Adams Emerson Library Fund
211.80
George Library Fund
2,385.54
Selina G. Richardson Library Fund
567.64
Joseph Warren Library Fund
1,014.97
Aaron George Cemetery Fund
1,060.58
16,279.86
Insurance Investment Fund
46,426.03
$ 98,937.39
$ 98,937.39
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds .$ 35.041.41 Adams Emerson Cemetery Improvement Fund 190.09
Emma Gay Varney Playground Fund .. 1,000.00
209
TOWN WARRANT
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MARCH 3, 1947 AND MARCH 10, 1947
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss.
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 requested 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. Westlands School House.
On Monday, the third day of March, 1947, being the first Monday in said month, at 12 o'clock noon, for the fol- lowing 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 Assessor to fill vacancy (one year) .
One Member of the Board of Health for three years.
One School Committee Member for three years.
One Park Commissioner for three years.
One Park Commissioner to fill vacancy (one year). One Park Commissioner to fill vacancy (two years) .
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years. Two Trustees of Adams Library for three years. One Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years. One Constable for one year.
Three members of the Planning Board for five years All on one ballot.
210
TOWN WARRANT
The polls will be open from 12 noon to 8 p. m. and to meet in the H gh School Auditorium at Chelmsford on the following Monday, the 10th day of March, 1947 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 nec- essary; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation 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 1946; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6. ' To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Thousand Thirty-two and 59/100 ($3032.59) Dollars to pay the County of Mid- dlesex, as required by law, the Town's share of the Middle- sex County Tuberculosis Hospital as assessed in accord- ance with the provisions of Chapter 111 of the General Laws; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 7. In the event that an appropriation is made for Chapter 90 work for the Highway Department, to see if the Town will vote to transfer a sufficient sum of money from the Excess and Deficiency account to balance the amount of money to be contributed by the Common- wealth of Massachusetts and the County of Middlesex, until such time as the said Commonwealth and County have paid into the Town of Chelmsford treasury their respective grants; or act in relation thereto.
211
TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twelve Hundred ($1200) Dollars for the purpose of foreclosing tax titles held by the Town of Chelmsford; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to trans- fer from Overlay reserve Account Two Thousand ($2000) Dollars 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 10. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in ant.cipation of revenue of the current financial year; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote taken under Article 31 at the Annual Town Meeting held on March 10, 1941 in the Town of Chelms- ford, as follows :-
"On a motion made by Royce M. Parker it was voted to adopt the following By-Law: "The annual Town Meeting of the Town of Chelmsford shall be held on the second Monday in March at 7:30 p. m. This By-Law having been approved on April 8, 1941 by Robert T. Bush- nell, Attorney-General.
ARTICLE 11-A. In the event that Article 11 is acted on in the affirmative to see if the Town will vote to hold the Annual Business Meeting in the Town of Chelmsford at 10 o'clock in the forenoon on the second Monday of March.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Sixty-five Hundred ($6500) Dollars or some other sum for the purpose of purchasing a fire truck for the Fire Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Fre En- gineers; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13. In the event of an affirmative vote under Article 12, to see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to transfer by good and sufficient Bill of Sale title to the Fre Truck now owned by the Fire De- partment and located in West Chelmsford; or act in rela- t'on thereto.
212
TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to accept the layout by the Selectmen of a relocation of a portion of Manning Road as shown by their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of reconstructing Manning Road ; or act in relation there- to.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand ($5000) Dollars for the reconstruction of Boston Road; contingent upon the State and County to contribute to the costs of said re- construction; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the town will vote to accept a portion of the westerly part of Hornbeam Hill Road as laid out by the Selectmen as shown on their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to accept a portion of the easterly part of Hornbeam Hill Road as laid out by the Selectmen as shown on their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred ($500) Dollars for the purpose of reconstructing Hornbeam Hill Road; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to accept Clinton 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.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of reconstructing Clinton Avenue; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will vote to accept Yale Street as laid out by the Selectmen as shown on their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk ; or act in relation thereto.
213
TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of reconstructing Yale Street; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the Town will vote to change the name of Yale Street to Walter G. Wiede Street, in memory of Walter G. Wiede; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to accept Douglas Road as laid out by the Selectmen as shown on their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of reconstructing Douglas Road ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 27 .. To see if the Town will vote to accept Old Stage Road as laid out by the Selectmen as shown on their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of reconstructing Old Stage Road; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 29. To see if the Town will vote to accept Randall Street as laid out by the Selectmen as shown on their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 30. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of reconstructing Randall Street; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 31. To see if the Town will vote to accept Section 4B of Chapter 136 of the General Laws to permit the granting of licenses for the operation of bowling alleys on the Lord's day; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 32. To see if the Town will vote to name the common in South Chelmsford the "Walter Belleville, Jr. Common" in memory of Walter Belleville, Jr .; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 33. To see if the Town will vote to change the name of Aspen Street to "Robert Smith Street" in memory of Robert Smith; or act in relation thereto.
214
TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 34. To see if the Town will vote to sell for the sum of $1.00 the South Row School House and the land appert nent thereto to the South Row Improvement Association ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 35. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand ($1000) Dol- lars, or some other sum, for the purpose of continuing the survey and maps of the Town under the supervision of the Board of Assessors; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 36. To see if the Town will vote to ap- point three voters of the Town to act with the School Com- mittee and Superintendent of Schools as a committee to investigate school bu lding needs; or act in relation there- to.
ARTICLE 37. To see if the Town will vote to ac- cept the provisions of Title V of the War Mobilization and Reconversion Act of 1944 which authorizes the Federal Works Admin stration to make advances of funds to non- federal public agenc.es to assist in the plan preparation of the'r public works, and officially authorize the School Committee to act for the Town in this matter; or act in relation thereo.
ARTICLE 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money 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 39. To see if the Town will vote to au- thorize the Selectmen to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale, title to a 1942 two-door Ford Coach automo- bile now used by the Police Department; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 40. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money for the purpose of defraying the costs and expenses of defending and prosecuting law suits for or against the town; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 41. To see if the Town will vote to accept Section 202 to 205 of Chapter 140 of the General Laws, these sections refer to the collection of junk; or act in relation thereto.
215
TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 42. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate and transfer the sum of Fifteen Hundred ($1500) Dollars from the Highway Machinery Fund to the High- way Machinery Account; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 43. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate and transfer the sum of Sixteen Hundred ($1600) Dollars from the Sale of Cemetery Lots fund to the fund for the care of cemeteries; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 44. To see if the Town will vote to au- thorize 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 1947; or act in re- lation thereto.
ARTICLE 45. To see if the Town will vote to accept a bequest to be used as a memorial at the Chelmsford Public Library; or act in relation thereto.
AND YOU ARE DIRECTED to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Post Offices in the Center of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelms- ford, and West Chelmsford, and at the School House in East Chelmsford, and the Westlands School House, sev- en days at least before the time appointed for holding the first meeting aforesaid.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make return of the War- rant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place of holding this meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-seven.
RAYMOND H. GREENWOOD, KARL M. PERHAM, JOHN L. DUSSEAULT, Selectmen of Chelmsford.
216
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Annual Report of the School Committee
and
The Superintendent of Schools
Year ending December 31, 1946
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Terms
Members
Expire
STEPHEN T. MANSUR, Chelmsford
1947
BRYANT C. EMERSON, Chelmsford 1948
ALBERT J. LUPIEN, Chelmsford
1949
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE
STEPHEN T. MANSUR, Chairman ALBERT J. LUPIEN, Secretary
Superintendent of Schools DR. EVERETT L. HANDY
Office: McFarlin School
Telephone Number: Lowell 7461
MRS. EVELYN HILTON, Secretary
217
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
December 31, 1946
To, the Citizens of Chelmsford:
At a regular meeting of the Chelmsford School Committee held on January 27, 1947, it was voted to accept the report of the Super- intendent of Schools. At this time the Committee wishes to pub- licly acknowledge the real job of leadership and hard work which Dr. Handy has accomplished during 1946. All citizens interested in the operation of our schools, as all citizens should be, will find the facts and figures as presented by Dr. Handy to be most enlighten- ing. We recommend your close study of his report.
Major school repairs and renovations, the development of an Athletic Plant and a complete physical education program have required a great part of your School Committee's time and effort during the year 1946. There has also been much study of school costs and planning for the future development of the Chelmsford school system.
MAJOR PROJECTS
After a Spring and Summer of careful planning and judicious spending, it was possible to complete the Chelmsford High School Memorial Field and the new McFarlin School playground with the funds available ($5,000 transferred at March, 1946 town meeting, $1,300 from Athletic Advisory Board, $500 from Chelmsford High School Athletic Association, $204.23 from George R. Knightly Me- morial Field Fund, $125 from Fence Fund, $3,000 transferred from Excess and Deficiency account at the June, 1946, Special Town Meet- ing to fence the Athletic Field and McFarlin School area, and a gift of $161.76 from the Class of 1946). As previously stated by the Committee the Memorial Athletic Field should and will be self sup- porting as far as upkeep and maintenance is concerned.
The Athletic Association of the Chelmsford Schools was organ- ized to handle gate receipts and expenditures therefrom. The As- sociation purchased portable steel bleachers ten rows high seating 1,200 spectators, and portable wooden bleachers five rows high seat- ing 500 have recently been constructed and erected in the High School Auditorium for the basketball season. These will be moved to the new baseball field in the Spring and to the football field in the Fall. The School Committee wishes to thank the Athletic Advisory Board for its interest and help during the war years, and for its financial assistance in the development of the new field.
218
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The Summer months were occupied largely with the repair of the McFarlin, Quessy, East and South Schools all of which were re- conditioned inside and out. The School Committee cooperated with the Highland Avenue Improvement Association in the expenditure of Town funds transferred for the use of the latter group in the painting and repair of the Highland Avenue School during the Fall.
Our physical education program was rounded out with the ap- pointment of a physical education supervisor for girls who assumed her duties at the opening of the Fall term. This instruction and training is given to all girls, grades one through twelve. Summer playground activities would further supplement this program.
TEACHER SALARIES
It was gratifying to the School Committee to note the fact that the average salary paid to Chelmsford teachers ranked approximate- ly midway in the salaries paid by the 85 Massachusetts towns with populations over 5,000. The trend of teachers leaving the Chelmsford schools to secure better paying positions elsewhere was thereby arrested. We wish to retain our good teachers and to maintain the present good spirit and morale. The welfare of the children of our Town depends largely on the quality of the teaching in our schools. Adequate salary schedules must be maintained and have been re- quested in the 1947 budget.
OUR UNWIELDY SCHOOL PLANT
Costs of operation of our school system continue to mount and cannot be avoided with our present school plant. The school budget for 1947 is approximately 187% that of the year 1941. Since the en- tire budget is spent for goods and services and since it is generally accepted that costs have increased 100% since before the war the above fact is not surprising. We wish to point out, however, that the 1941 budget should have been higher as should the budgets of many other years past, in order to keep the school plant in proper condition. This fact was forcefully brought home at the Annual Town Meeting in 1946 when it was necessary to transfer the sum of $23,198 from the Excess and Deficiency account to properly repair four of our eight school buildings ($5,000 had been previously trans- ferred for the repair of one other school). The school budget for 1947 includes an adequate amount so that the conditions of our buildings will not deteriorate.
219
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MAJOR OBJECTIVE
The need for continuous study of our school system and for its continuous improvement and growth is very evident to your Commit- tee. We must keep pace with the times. We must offer our youth educational possibilities at least on a par with other towns of our size. The youth of Chelmsford have as many and as varied inter- ests as youths in other communities, yet the real interests and needs of only a small segment of our High School youth are now being met. Instruction in shop work for boys and household arts for girls would do much to meet these needs.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Plans for the future include consideration of the number and size of our grade schools and High School. The construction of a Junior High School next to the present High School would seem to be an important consideration. The present High School structure does not permit the setting up of courses in shop and household arts. In addition, the gymnasium-auditorium is actually only an auditorium, and is gradually being ruined by continued use as a gymnasium. Shower room facilities are hopelessly inadequate. A new Junior High School building for grades 7, 8 and 9, would provide facilities for shop work and household arts and should include a gymnasium with adequate locker room facilities and a modern cafeteria.
We trust that the people of Chelmsford will soon have a school system of which they may justifiably feel proud and which will not be an overpowering tax burden.
STEPHEN G. MANSUR, Chairman BRYANT C. EMERSON, ALBERT J. LUPIEN, Secretary. Chelmsford School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Chelmsford, Massachusetts December 31, 1946
To the Chelmsford School Committee:
The successful operation of a school system, like the manage- ment of an efficient and well run business, requires leadership, a for- ward looking point of view, understanding, planning and cooperation. In the Chelmsford school system we have been attempting to develop a cooperative leadership within individual schools and for the sys- tem as a whole. Instead of dogmatic statements of regulations by
220
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
the Superintendent, monthly conferences of all our school principals are held at which the need for regulations or new projects are dis- cussed and understood. If it is agreed that a regulation would be helpful, all principals participate with the superintendent in its for- mulation. Sometimes a project or regulation is not formulated un- til principals have discussed it with their teachers to get the teachers' point of view. Thus, understanding and acceptance are at once ac- complished facts. Principals are encouraged to carry out this prac- tice within their individual schools whenever it is feasible. Through the work of our curriculum committees, by participation in educa- tional projects, and by advanced study all members of our teaching force have opportunities to: develop forward-looking points of view, understand our common purposes, take part in planning the work of our schools, and cooperate one with another.
The excellent spirit of the faculty and the very evident desire of Chelmsford citizens for good schools and good teaching are most gratifying. I should like to thank principals, teachers and super- visors for their loyalty and cooperation during the year just closed, and I should like also to express my appreciation to the Chelmsford School Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Stephen Mansur, for making so many fine achievements possible this year. In num- ber of meetings and volume of constructive work carried out it is evident that it would be difficult to find any school committee any- where which could equal the record established by the present Chelmsford Committee. I wish to thank the Committee for its splendid cooperation and helpful guidance. With our teachers, ad- ministrators and School Committee working together we shall build solidly for the future.
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