USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1948 > Part 9
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On Hand 12-31-48
Forefather's
$ 9,757.12
133
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
To the citizens of the Town of Chelmsford:
We submit herewith our Annual Report for the year ending De- cember 31, 1948.
TAX RATE $52.00 per $1,000.00
VALUE OF ASSESSED PROPERTY EXCLUDING DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS
Value of Land, excluding Buildings $1,627,820.00 Value of Buildings, excluding Land 5,922,575.00
Total value of Real Estate
$7,550,395.00
Value of Tangible Personal Estate
$ 868,525.00
Total Value of Real and Personal Estate $8,418,920.00
VALUE OF ASSESSED PROPERTY, DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS
Real Estate $ 4,650.00
Personal Estate
7,650.00
VALUE OF ALL ASSESSED PROPERTY EXCEPTING AUTOMOBILES IN THE YEAR 1948
Value of Land excluding Buildings $1,628,745.00
Value of Buildings, excluding Land 5,926,300.00
Total Value of Real Estate $7,555,045.00
Value of Tangible Personal Estate $ 876,175.00 Total value of all assessed property, excepting automobiles $8,431,220.00
TAXES COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR EXCLUDING DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS LEVY OF 1948
Tax on Real Estate $ 392,620.54
Tax on Personal Estate 45,163.30
Tax on Polls, 2981 @ $2.00 5,962.00 $ 443,745.84
Total
134
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
TAXES COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS-LEVY OF 1948
Tax on Real Estate $ 241.80
Tax on Personal Estate
397.80
Tax on Polls, 42 @ $2.00
84.00
Total
$ 723.60
ALL TAXES EXCEPTING AUTOMOBILE EXCISE COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR-LEVY OF 1948
Tax on Real Estate $ 392,862.34
Tax on Personal Estate
45,561.10
Tax on Polls, 3023 @ $2.00
6,046.00
Total of all Real Estate, Personal, and Poll Taxes Committed to
Collector in 1948 $ 444,469.44
1948 RECAPITULATION
Town Appropriations
(a) To be raised by taxation $ 587,787.76
(b) To be taken from available funds 62,672.79
Debt and Interest Matured and Maturing 11,314.24
Overlay Deficits of Previous Years 44.75
State Tax and Assessments 1,552.21
County Tax and Assessments 17,091.86
Overlay of Current Year
19,114.06
Gross Amount to be raised $ 699,577.67
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
Income Tax
$ ยท 13,435.21
Corporation Taxes
11,493.90
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
22,730.00
Licenses
8,586.00
Fines
198.00
Grants and Gifts
565.00
General Government $ 1,841.00
Protection of Persons and Property
170.00
135
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Health and Sanitation
394.00
Highways
359.00
Charities
8,419.00
Old Age Assistance
54,342.00
Old Age Tax (Meals)
4,020.98
Veterans' Benefits
883.00
Schools
1,066.00
Interest on Taxes, Assessments and Deposits
604.00
Personal Income Tax
32,340.10
Business Corporation Tax
20,768.06
Gas & Electric Franchise Tax
1,011.69
Chapter 498 Acts of 1948
7,740.00
Total Estimated Receipts $ 190,966.94
Overestimates of previous year to be used
as available funds
$ 2,192.10
Amounts from available funds
62,672.79
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
$ 255,831.83
Net amount to be raised by taxation on Polls and Property $ 443,745.84
Number of Polls, 2981 @ $2.00
$
5,962.00
Total Valuation:
Personal Property $ 868,525.00
At Tax Rate of
52.00
45,163.30
Total Valuation:
Real Estate $7,550,395.00
At Tax Rate of
52.00
392,620.54
Total Taxes Levied on Polls & Property $ 443,745.84
ABATEMENTS OF POLL, PERSONAL AND REAL ESTATE TAXES IN 1948 LEVY OF 1947
Poll, None Personal, None
Real Estate
$ 38.26 $ 38.26 Total
LEVY OF 1948
Poll $ 638.00
Personal
271.70
Real Estate
Total
6,001.45 $ 6,911.15
136
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Number of Persons Assessed on Personal Estate Only 129 Number of Persons Assessed on Real Estate Only 2,394 Number of Persons Assessed on both Personal & Real 346 Total Number of Persons Assessed 2,869
Number of Horses Assessed 68
Neat Cattle:
Cows 587
Yearling Bulls, Heifers, etc. 7
Number of Swine Assessed 181
Number of Sheep Assessed 10
Number of Fowl Assessed
37,840
All other Animals Assessed 51
Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed 2,345
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
13,264.93
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX OF 1948 COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR IN 1948
Number of Vehicles Assessed 3,333
Total Valuation of Vehicles Assessed
$1,081,120.00
Tax Committed to Collector
33,572.59
Excise Rate in Year 1948-$38.07
TAX OF 1947 COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR IN 1948
Number of Vehicles Assessed
48
Total Value of Vehicles Assessed
$
46,380.00
Tax Committed to Collector
170.52
Excise Rate in Year 1947-$36.20
ABATEMENTS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES
Levy of 1947
$
82.60
Levy of 1948
1,858.69
WATER DISTRICT TAXES CHELMSFORD WATER DISTRICT Tax Rate $1.60 per $1,000
Value of Real Estate
$3,921,580.00
Value of Personal Estate
320,500.00
Total Value of Assessed Estate
$4,242,080.00
137
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Tax on Real Estate $ 6,274.53
Tax on Personal Estate
512.80
Total Tax Committed to Collector Levy of 1948 $ 6,787.33
Amount to be raised as notified by Clerk of the Chelmsford Water District $ 5,000.00
Overlay of Current Year
1,787.33
Total
$ 6,787.33
ABATEMENTS-LEVY OF 1948
Personal, None
Real Estate $ 24.84
Total
$ 24.84
EAST CHELMSFORD WATER DISTRICT Tax Rate $3.80 per $1,000
Value of Real Estate $ 631,750.00
Value of Personal Estate 53,150.00
Total Value of Assessed Estate $ 684,900.00
Tax on Real Estate $ 2,401.27
Tax on Personal Estate
202.08
Total Tax Committed to Collector
Levy of 1948 $ 2,603.35
Amount to be raised as notified by Clerk of the East Chelmsford Water District $ 2,300.00
Overlay of Current Year 303.35
Total $ 2,603.35
ABATEMENTS-LEVY OF 1948
Personal Estate $ 9.12
Real Estate
6.37
Total
$ 15.49
138
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
SOUTH CHELMSFORD WATER DISTRICT Tax Rate $2.00 per $1,000
Value of Real Estate
$
199,750.00
Value of Personal Estate
26,825.00
Total Value of Assessed Estate
$ 226,575.00
Tax on Real Estate $ 399.50
Tax on Personal Estate
53.65
Total Tax Committed to Collector
Levy of 1948 $ 453.15
Amount to be raised as notified by the Clerk of South Chelmsford Water District $ 350.00
Overlay of Current Year
103.15
Total
$ 453.15
ABATEMENTS-LEVY 1948
Personal, None
Real Estate $ .80
Total
$ .80
EXEMPT PROPERTY 1948
Value of Land
$ 141,925.00
Value of Buildings 1,151,675.00
Total
$1,293,600.00
Area of Exempt Property 468.12 Acres
The regular meeting time of the Board of Assessors is on the first Tuesday afternoon of each month from 3:00 P. M. to 5:00 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN WRIGHT WALTER JEWETT
RICHARD L. MONAHAN
Board of Assessors, Chelmsford
139
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
The following is a report of the work done under Article 17 of the Special Town Meeting held May 17, 1948 :-
The work was started at the intersection of North and Davis Roads, and a transit and tape survey made of the following area:
Bounded on the East by North Road; on the North by Old West- ford Road; on the West by Westford Street and on the South by Locke and Davis Roads.
Auxiliary lines were run east and west on Davis Road and Grand- view Road, thus giving us three complete polygons with which to com- pute the accuracy of our survey. Tape surveys were then made of all the parcels within these areas.
Another transit and tape survey was made of the following area :-
Bounded on the East by Westford Street; on the North by Old Westford Road; on the West by the Chelmsford-Westford Town Line; and on the South by Pine Hill Road. Auxiliary lines have been run East and West, subdividing this area into several polygons. These polygons have been computed and found to be within our limits of closure. The tape survey, however, has not been completed.
The field work was done and the plans drawn by Mr. Lester W. Ball under the supervision of the undersigned.
It is hoped that the voters will allow us to continue this work.
The following is a list of the expenditures:
Money voted under the Article $1,000.00
For Labor
$964.10
For Mileage
23.75
Field Equipment & Office Supplies.
2.10
$999.95
Money returned to the Treasurer
.05
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
Respectfully Submitted,
WARREN WRIGHT WALTER JEWETT RICHARD L. MONAHAN Board of Assessors
140
REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
To the Board of Public Welfare:
I respectfully submit the annual report of the Welfare Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1948.
The organization of the Department was changed somewhat in January of this year due to the death of the Agent, George C. Hood.
The Board of Welfare organized with Raymond Greenwood as chairman and the Bureau of Old Age Assistance, comprising the three members of the Board of Welfare and Attorney John C. Dono- hoe, organized with Theodore Emerson as chairman:
Following the death of Mr. Hood in January, Miss Marguerite E. Hoar received a temporary appointment as Agent and in March received her permanent appointment.
In January a case review was undertaken by the State Depart- ment of Welfare, the results of which showed that the office was very much undermanned. With few exceptions the case review was satis- factory, but many recommendations for the best interests of the department were made by the State.
As far as is known, during this year all recommendations made were complied with and the department is functioning in a proper manner.
In February Mr. Quincy B. Park was appointed as Social Worker. 90% of Mr. Park's time is spent on re-visiting all cases. Following the home visit a complete case recording is maintained for every case. Each re-visit is a complete up-to-date history of the entire case and at the time of the visit the budget is thoroughly gone over and revised according to the present situation. In addition to this all cases are thoroughly reviewed by the Agent.' We are required to make two visits a year on Old Age Assistance, four visits on Aid to Dependent Children, but more often it is necessary to make five or six calls a year. All new cases require an initial visit and our new cases are steadily increasing. Mr. Park has done a most satisfactory job of re-visiting and his employment has enabled the Agent to devote time elsewhere where it was badly needed.
It was recommended that a clerk be employed to handle the tremendous volume of typing, bookkeeping, preparation of payrolls, mailing of children's reports and all general correspondence. In March Miss C. Joan Reeves joined the staff and she is now employed on a permanent basis.
This year a new plan was formulated, whereby the office remains open continuously, during the working day, so that anyone may contact us at any time. I trust this has been beneficial to the towns- people whom we serve.
141
REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT
Tables showing all appropriations, receipts, and expenditures are given elsewhere by the Report of the Town Accountant, but I would like to point out a few figures as a means of comparision with the year 1947.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Case Load Dec. 1947 229
Case Load Dec. 1948 238
(This constitutes a net gain for the year and does not mean that only 11 cases were added. Approximately 50 new cases were handled but with transfers and deaths, the net gain was 11.)
Expenditures 1947 $140,267.01
Expenditures 1948 152,482.05
Paid Other Cities and Towns 1947
851.31
Paid Other Cities and Towns 1948
1,425.07
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Case Load Dec. 1947
15
Case Load Dec. 1948 17
Expenditure 1947
$13,223.17
Expenditure 1948
22,132.15
GENERAL RELIEF
Case Load Dec. 1947 25
Case Load Dec. 1948
25
Expenditure 1947
$11,180.89
Expenditure 1948
15,040.00
In addition to the above $2,233.23 was paid to State Institutions for Chelmsford settled cases and $3,917.66 to Other Cities and Towns, including Westford Infirmary, for Chelmsford cases.
It is apparent from these figures that the cost of Welfare, Aid to Dependent Children and Old Age Assistance is steadily increasing. Legislation in the past year granted an 8.3 increase to most cases, but not all types of cases were eligible.
With the high cost of living we can be sure to expect further increases and not decreases in all categories of relief for 1949. Your Welfare Department does its best to administer public funds in the best interests of the Town and its people, but actual costs of welfare are unpredictable. Appropriations are set at minimums and for this reason it is necessary to have special town meetings to transfer additional money. Unless appropriations are set much higher in the future, this same situation will arise, and if so, the Department head should not be subjected to criticism.
It is hoped that the taxpayers will continue to cooperate as they have in the past in approving our increased budget for 1949.
Respectfully submitted,
Mrs. MARGUERITE (HOAR) PERHAM, Agent.
142
REPORT OF THE SLAUGHTERING INSPECTOR
REPORT OF THE SLAUGHTERING INSPECTOR
4
To The Honorable Board of Health:
Gentlemen:
The following report is submitted for the Inspector of Slaughter- ing for the year ending December 31, 1948.
NUMBER INSPECTED
Cattle 100
Calves
95
Hogs 679
Sheep
20
Goats
26
Horses
46
Total Inspected
966
NUMBER CONFISCATED
Calves
1
Hogs
3
Total Confiscated
4
Respectfully submitted,
Signed: PATRICK H. HALEY, Inspector
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SLAUGHTERING INSPECTOR
To The Honorable Board of Health
Gentlemen:
The following report is submitted for the Assistant Inspector of Slaughtering for the year ending December 31, 1948:
NUMBER INSPECTED
Horses
17
NUMBER CONFISCATED
Horses
None
Respectfully submitted,
Signed: SPENCER W. CHAMBERLIN, Assistant Slaughtering Inspector.
143
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby respectfully submit my report of the police department for the year of 1948. A list of the police department personnel follows:
CHIEF OF POLICE Ralph J. Hulslander
PATROLMEN
Basil F. Larkin Allan H. Adams Winslow P. George
INTERMITTENT POLICE
Leo A. Boucher
Raymond Harmon Edward F. Miner
Lawrence Chute Arthur Smith Fritz Pearson
INTERMITTENT SCHOOL POLICE
John Wrigley George Marinel
INTERMITTENT POLICEWOMAN Christina N. Park
SPECIAL POLICE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT Ancel Taylor
SPECIAL POLICE NORTH CHELMSFORD FIRE DISTRICT John A. Andrews
SPECIAL POLICE VARNEY PLAYGROUND Leslie Adams William Warley
CRIMES AGAINST PERSON
Assault and Battery
3
Armed Robbery
2
Robbery
1
Homicide
4
CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY
Larceny
2
CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER
Driving Under the Influence of Liquor
11
Drunkenness
25
Escaped
1
Motor Vehicle Laws Prosecuted
13
Non-Support
3
Safe Keeping
7
Violation of Labor Laws
1
Total
73
144
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Court Dispositions
Committed to Concord Reformatory
3
Committed to House of Correction
1
Committed to State Prison
1
Committed to Worcester State Hospital 7
Fined
21
Filed
3
Not Guilty
10
Pending Grand Jury
4
Returned to Wrentham State School
1
Released
12
Probation
10
-
Total
73
Hallowe'en parties were again sponsored by the various public- minded organizations for the children and these parties were, as usual, very successful. I wish at this time to express my sincere appreciation for the efforts made by these organizations to cooperate with my department in handling this situation.
As in the past year, the townspeople are receiving twenty-four hour protection, a man being on duty constantly. I am sure the towns- people can realize and appreciate the increased benefits gained from this protection.
I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen, my entire roster and all townspeople for their splendid cooperation during the past year.
Respectfully Submitted
RALPH J. HULSLANDER Chief of Police.
REPORT OF THE POLICEWOMAN
The Police Department Attention: Mr. Ralph J. Huslander Police Chief
Town of Chelmsford
I hereby submit a report of my duties as policewoman for the year 1948.
Cases investigated at request of Police 10
Lectures in regard to behavior 25
Cases investigated upon complaint to Policewoman 15
Assisting officers taking women to Worcester 5
Visits to homes regarding various police cases 10
Consultations with the Chief of Police 27
12
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Chief and members of the force for their fine cooperation and assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
Signed: CHRISTINA S. PARK, R. N. Policewoman
145
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
REPORT OF BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS JANUARY 1, 1949
Board of Selectmen, Chelmsford, Mass.
Gentlemen:
In accordance with the regulations of the town, we submit here- with our annual report.
During the year just ended, the town has been fortunate in that it has suffered no severe losses by fire, and we must attribute this, in part at least, to the exercise of greater care by the residents of this community.
The fire department now numbers seven permanent employees working 48 hours a week, supplemented by volunteer companies in each of the Center, North, East, West and South districts. The West- lands now has a skeleton force of five volunteers to provide additional man-power in the event of a fire in that heavily-built residential section, but it is dependent upon the Center for fire apparatus.
Among the improvements accomplished during the year was the installation of a central telephone switchboard, which replaced the individually-listed telephones in the various districts and which pro- vided for a central control of firefighting activities. At the same time, it gave the town residents only one telephone number to remember in the event of an emergency.
The alarm whistle at the Center was improved by the installation of a modern air compressor. Fire apparatus has been repaired and kept in as good condition as possible. However, with the exception of Engine 3, in West Chelmsford, which was delivered early this year, all of the apparatus is old, and some, is antiquated. The town cannot much longer defer the replacement of the present apparatus at the Center and North stations, using these two trucks to replace those in the East and South stations. The truck in East has outlived its usefulness and repair charges are mounting annually.
The Center, Westlands and North sections have far outgrown the existing fire alarm circuits and steps will have to be taken during 1949 to extend and enlarge the circuits; to install at least 10 new fire alarm boxes and, if housing development continues at the present rate, much more elaborate systems will have to be installed to provide adequate protection. The engineers are planning to gradually bring the various alarm systems into one unit to increase protection of property in all sections.
146
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
The major extensions in the various water districts this year have increased the protection greatly, for the districts have co-operated by placing hydrants along all new mains.
Further improvements in the department are being planned, but many of these cannot be completed until the town can see its way clear to provide moderately-priced and efficiently planned fire stations in the Center and North districts to house the type of apparatus and equipment needed to combat fires in these days when highly-inflam- mable oils and gasses are being generally used in dwellings for heating and cooking.
In conclusion, we wish to express our appreciation for the whole- hearted co-operation given us during the year by the Board of Select- men, other town departments, the men of our own department and for the support accorded us by the general public.
The membership of the board during 1948 was as follows: Chief Engineer, Walter W. Edwards; Deputy, Gilbert H. Perham; Clerk, C. D. Harrington; Samuel Parks, Ralph Knight, George Nold and William Colmer.
Very truly yours,
Board of Fire Engineers.
REPORT OF VETERANS' BENEFITS AGENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
The Veterans' Benefits department expended in 1948 the sum of $6,979.73 an increase of $1,609.13 over the year 1947. This increase was due principly to a heavy increase in Medical Expenses, which by the way, accounted for over 20% of the total amount paid out. Another reason was that there was an increase of about 10% in the monthly benefit rates paid to veterans' and their dependents.
We have six permanent cases as of December 31, 1948, a decrease of one for the year. We have fourteen temporary cases where benefits are paid for from one to ten months and two cases where medical and fuel benefits were paid.
There were five cases where it was found that they were not eligible for benefits after an investigation by the local agent and the State Department of Veterans Services.
Respectfully submitted,
GORDON P. DeWOLF
Veterans' Agent
147
REPORT OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY LIBRARIAN
REPORT OF ADAMS LIBRARY LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Selectmen:
The statistics for the year 1948 are as follows:
Fiction
13,148
Non-fiction
2,605
Magazines
800
16,553
New books
563
New borrowers
102
Deposits of 100 books have been made monthly at West Chelms. ford where Mrs. Frederick Burne acted as librarian. Each month that the schools have been in session a deposit of 100 books has been sent to the Westlands School. The service to East Chelmsford has been discontinued because Mrs. Jessie Brown's health no longer permitted her to transport the books.
Not as many books as desired were purchased this past year because of rising costs. Forty-four of the new books were gifts. One in memory of Mrs. Walter Perham was presented to the Adams Library by Dr. and Mrs. Simon Williams and Mr. and Mrs. James Kimbrough. Books on science, mathematics and the languages were donated by members of the High School Faculty, Mr. Lucian Burns, Miss Marjorie B. Scoboria, Miss Daisy MacBrayne, Miss F. Christine Booth, Mrs. Helen R. Poland, Miss Ernestine Maynard and Miss Edith McCarthy. Other donors were Mrs. Alan Greenhalgh Jr., Mr. Josiah E. Marshall and Mrs. Lester W. Ball.
I thank the Trustees for their cooperation throughout the past year.
Respectfully submitted
ADELAIDE W. BALL
Librarian
148
REPORT OF THE ADAMS LILBRARY TREASURER
REPORT OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY TREASURER
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my report as treasurer of the Adams Library for the year ending December 31st, 1948.
All bills incurred for the operation of the Adams Library have been approved by the trustees of the library and paid by the Treasurer of the Town.
The treasurer of the Library has the following permanent trust funds, the interest only on which can be used.
Joseph Warren Library Fund $ 1,045.76 $ 15.74
$ 1,061.50
Selina G. Richardson Li- brary Fund
456.84
6.87
463.71
Adams Emerson Li-
brary Fund
218.21
3.28
221.49
Aaron George Ceme-
tery Care Fund
1,082.40
16.30
14.10
1,084.60
George Library Fund
2,457.90
37.00
2,494.90
Amos F. Adams Library Fund
10,381.09
167.69
10,548.78
Albert H. Davis Library
Fund
319.64
6.41
326.05
Thomas P. Proctor Li-
brary Fund
10,040.00
230.40
155.40
10,115.00
$26,001.84
$483.69
$169.50
$26,316.03
Two withdrawals have been made from the above funds and both amounts have been turned over to the town treasurer to be used by him in paying bills incurred in operating the library.
Respectfully submitted,
EUSTACE B. FISKE,
Treasurer.
REPORT OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY TRUSTEES
149
REPORT OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY TRUSTEES
To the Board of Selectmen:
During the year 1948, the Board of Trustees of the Adams Library held ten meetings. In March the following officers and staff were elected :
Chairman
Mr. E. Wayne Jenkins
Secretary
Miss Marjorie B. Scoboria
Treasurer
Mr. Eustace Fiske
Prudential Committee and
Committee to Approve Bills
Mr. E. Wayne Jenkins Mr. George Hood Mr. Eustace Fiske Mr. Howard Smith
Purchasing Committee
Mrs. Lewis Johnson Mr. E. Wayne Jenkins Miss Ethel Wright
Librarian
Miss Ethel Wright
Assistant Librarians
Mrs. George Peterson Mrs. Lester Ball
Janitor
Mr. Thadde Ducharme
The town lost a valued Librarian when Miss Ethel Wright died in April. Her friendly manner was a great asset to the library, and both Trustees and staff alike felt that it would be hard to fill her place. The Trustees were very fortunate, indeed, to secure the services of Mrs. Lester Ball as Librarian, at the same time adding Mrs. Fred Laton to the staff as Assistant Librarian. Mr. Robert Robey was chosen as Janitor, the position having been left vacant by the resignation of Mr. Ducharme. In December, once again, a change of Janitors was made when Mr. Richard Hoyle took the position.
The library building has been repaired and improved during the year. Slates have been replaced on the roof and fluorescent lights have been installed in the stacks. Plastic book jackets have been put on some of the books in hope of extending their period of usefulness. A show case has been installed in the reading room so that exhibits of interesting articles may be displayed from month to month. Arrange- ments for these exhibits are being made with various museums and private individuals.
A few changes in the library regulations have been announced. Readers may now renew books by postcard. In former years consider- able time elapsed between the purchase of books and their circulation. Due to a new system, the books are now getting onto the shelves faster. The maximum fine for overdue books has been increased.
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