USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1952 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
Outstanding as per list January 1st, 1952 $ 24.00
$ 24.00
Paid to the Town Treasurer $ 8.00
Abated by the Board of Assessors
16.00
$ 24.00
PERSONAL TAXES-1951
Outstanding as per list January 1st, 1952 $ 380.40
$ 380.40
Paid to the Town Treasurer $ 225.60
Abated by the Board of Assessors
154.80
$ 380.40
REAL ESTATE TAXES-1951
Outstanding as per list Jan. 1st. 1952 $ 9,082.80
Refunded after payment
104.40
Abatement cancelled
12.00
$ 9,199.20
Paid to the Town Treasurer $ 9,134.40
Abated by the Board of Assessors
64.80
$ 9,199.20
POLL TAXES-1952
Committed by Board of Assessors Jan. 28, '52 $ 5,702.00
Committed by Board of Assessors Jan. 28, '52 910.00
Committed by Board of Assessors Dec. 12, '52 44.00
Payments to be refunded
8.00
$ 6,664.00
120
REPORT OF THE TAX COLLECTOR
Paid to the Town Treasurer $ 5,450.00
Abated by the Board of Assessors 1,208.00
Outstanding as per list December 31st, 1952 6.00
$ 6,664.00
PERSONAL TAXES-1952
Committed by Board of Assessors July 22, '52 $ 52,779.59
Committed by Board of Assessors Dec. 22, '52 79.05
Taxes refunded after payment 3.83
Taxes overpaid to be refunded
1.00
$ 52,863.47
Paid to the Town Treasurer $ 52,199.16
Taxes abated by the Board of Assessors 365.94
Outstanding as per list December 31st, 1952 298.37
$ 52,863.47
REAL ESTATE TAXES-1952
Committed by Board of Assessors July 25, '52 $520,719.17
Committed by Board of Assessors Dec. 20, '52 40.80
Taxes refunded after payment 3,440.96
Taxes overpaid to be refunded
16.10
$524,217.03
Paid to the Town Treasurer
$500,090.15
Taxes abated by the Board of Assessors 14,920.76
Outstanding as per list December 31st, 1952 9,206.12
$524,217.03
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES-1951
Outstanding as per list December 31st, 1951 ....
$ 2,136.30
Committed by Board of Assessors Jan. 23, '52 3,169.08
Committed by Board of Assessors Feb. 8, '52 3.12 Taxes refunded after payment 253.29
Abatement cancelled
5.46
$ 5,567.25
Paid to the Town Treasurer $ 4,886.57
Abated by the Board of Assessors 680.68
$ 5,567.25
121
REPORT OF THE TAX COLLECTOR
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES-1952
Committed #
Feb. 12, 1952
$ 3,514.10
Committed # 2 Feb. 21, 1952
3,471.05
Committed # Mar. 17, 1952
1,732.01
Committed # 4 Apr. 8, 1952
1,393.10
Committed # 5 June 2, 1952
34,233.80
Committed # 6 Aug. 20, 1952
16,956.31
Committed # 7 Sept. 25, 1952
3,977.58
Committed # 8 .Oct. 16, 1952
4,997.18
Committed # 9 Nov. 13, 1952
2,258.70
Committed #10 .Dec. 9, 1952
1,458.36
Committed #11 Dec. 18, 1952
1,686.13
Committed #12 Dec. 29, 1952
1,624.98
Taxes refunded after payment
4,285.58
Abatement cancelled
60.31
$ 81,649.19
Paid to the Town Treasurer $ 72,203.02
Abated by the Board of Assessors
5,094.14
Tax adjustment
17.25
Outstanding as per list December 31st, 1952
4,334.78
$ 81,649.19
HAROLD C. PETTERSON
Jan. 3, 1953
Collector of Taxes
122
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 December 31, 1952.
TAX RATE $51.00 per $1,000.00
VALUE OF ASSESSED PROPERTY EXCLUDING . DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS
Value of Land, excluding Buildings $1,951,415.00
Value of Buildings, excluding Land 8,258,675.00
Total value of Real Estate $10,210,090.00
Value of Tangible Personal Estate
$1,034,875.00
Total value of Real and Personal Estate
$11,244,965.00
VALUE OF ASSESSED PROPERTY, DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS Real Estate $ 800.00
Personal Estate 1,550.00
VALUE OF ALL ASSESSED PROPERTY EXCEPTING AUTOMOBILES IN THE YEAR 1952
Value of Land, excluding Buildings $1,952,215.00
Value of Buildings, excluding Land 8,258,675.00
Total value of Real Estate $10,210,890.00 Value of Tangible Personal Estate $1,036,425.00
Total value of all assessed property excepting automobiles
$11,247,315.00
TAXES COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR, EXCLUDING DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS LEVY OF 1952 $ 520,714.59
Tax on Real Estate
Tax on Personal Estate
52,778.625
Poll Taxes, 3306 @ $2.00 6,612.00
Gained by Taxation
5.545
Total
$ 580,110.76
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
123
TAXES COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS-LEVY 1952
Tax on Real Estate $ 40.80
Tax on Personal Estate
79.05
Tax on Polls, 22 @ $2.00
44.00
Total
$ 163.85
ALL TAXES EXCEPTING AUTOMOBILE EXCISE COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR LEVY 1952
Tax on Real Estate
$
520,755.39
Tax on Personal Estate
52,857.675
Tax on Polls, 3328 @ $2.00
6,656.00
Gain by fractions
5.545
Total of all Real Estate, Personal and Poll Taxes committed to Collector in 1952 $ 580,274.61
1952 RECAPITULATION
Town Appropriations
(a) To be raised by taxation ......... $ 909,939.82
(b) To be taken from available funds 79,836.94
Deficits due to abatements in excess of
overlay of prior years 288.87
State Tax and Assessments
2,319.00
County Tax and Assessments
32,862.21
Overlay of Current Year
15,811.86
Gross Amount to be raised
$1,041,058.70
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
Income Tax
$ 67,038.20
Corporation Taxes
37,421.96
Old Age Tax (Meals). Chapter 64B, S 10
3,712.83
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
69,841.00
Licenses
7,231.00
Fines
125.00
Special Assessments
25,489.00
General Government
1,987.00
Protection of Persons and Property
537.00
Health and Sanitation
1,810.00 673.00
Highways
Charities
16,185.00
Old Age Assistance
91,665.00
-
124
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Veterans' Benefits
6,068.00
Schools
3,192.00
Libraries
207.00
Cemeteries
3,517.00
Interest-Taxes and Assessments-Deposits
2,639.46
Park Department
15.00
On PC to Treasurer-1950-1951
1,564.75
Total Estimated Receipts $ 340,919.20
Overestimates-State Parks and Reservations $ 191.80
Amount from Available Funds
119,836.94
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds $ 460,947.94
Net Amount to be raised by taxation on Polls and Property $ 580,110.76
Number of Polls, 3306 @ $2.00
$
6,612.00
Total Valuations:
Personal Property $1,034,875.00
Ät Tax Rate of
51.00 52,778.625
Total Valuations:
Real Estate 10,210,090.00
At Tax Rate of
51.00 520,714.59
Gained by fractions
5.545
December Assessments
Total Valuations:
Personal Property
1,550.00
At Tax Rate of
51.00
79.05
Total Valuations:
Real Estate
800.00
At Tax Rate of
51.00
40.80
Number of Polls, 22 @ $2.00. ...
44.00
Total Taxes Levied on Polls and Property $ 580,274.61
ABATEMENTS OF POLL, PERSONAL AND REAL ESTATE TAXES IN 1952 LEVY OF 1941
Poll, none Personal Property $ 240.08
Real Estate, none
Total
$
240.08
..
125
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
LEVY OF 1942
Poll, none
Personal Property
..... $ 165.00
Real Estate, none
Total
$ 165.00
LEVY OF 1951
Polls
$ 16.00
Personal Property
154.80
Real Estate
64.80
Total
$ 235.60
LEVY OF 1952
Polls
$ 1,208.00
Personal Property
365.94
Real Estate
14,920.76
Total
$ 16,494.70
Number of Persons Assessed on Personal
Estate only 145
Number of Persons Assessed on Real
Estate only
2,717
Number of Persons Assessed on Both
Personal and Real
374
Total number of Persons Assessed
3,236
Number of Horses
.....
......... .... 61
Neat Cattle:
Cows
492
Yearling, Bulls, Heifers, etc.
63
Number of Swine Assessed
157
Number of Sheep Assessed
5
Number of Fowl Assessed
33,264
All Other Animals Assessed
104
Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed
2,823
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
13,450
126
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX OF 1952 COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR IN 1952
Number of Vehicles Assessed 4,263
Total Valuation of Vehicles Assessed
$1,863,760.00
Tax Committed to Collector
77,303.30
Excise Rate in year 1952-$48.25
LEVY OF 1951 COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR IN 1952
Number of Vehicles Assessed
375
$
202,650.00
Total Valuation of Vehicles Assessed
...
Tax Committed to Collector
3,172.20
Excise Rate in year 1951-$46.85
ABATEMENTS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES
Levy of 1951
$
680.68
Levy of 1952 5,111.39
EXEMPT PROPERTY 1952
Value of Laud
$ 146,025.00
Value of Buildings
1,226,250.00
Total
$1,372,275.00
Area of Exempt Property
529.67 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
JOHN J. DUNIGAN
CLAUDE A. HARVEY
,
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
127
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
To the Members of the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance and Citizens of the Town of Chelmsford, the following report of the Welfare Department is respectfully submitted:
The present staff of the Welfare Department is comprised of following named persons:
Carl A. E. Peterson, Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance.
Quincy B. Park, Agent
Phyllis R. Brown, R. N., Social Worker
Esther D. Woodward, Senior Clerk
M. Virginia Dailey, Junior Clerk
During the past year this office received 63 applications for aid. Each request for aid was thoroughly investigated by the Agent or the Social Worker to determine the need for aid, also eligibility in accordance with Welfare laws. Fifty seven applications were ap- proved and 6 were either voluntarily withdrawn or denied.
Twenty-five applications were made for aid from General Relief funds. Twenty-three were approved and one withdrawn and one denied.
Three applications were made for assistance from Disability Assistance funds, two of which were approved and one withdrawn.
There were seven applications for aid from Aid to Dependent Children funds with four applications being approved and three denied.
There were 28 applications for Old Age Assistance all of which were approved.
WELFARE
Case Load 1951-39 for 66 persons . Case Load 1952-32 for 75 persons
Expended
1951
1952
Cash Grants
$ 14,266.24 $
4,903.70
Material Grants
9,361.21
1,443.02
State Institutions
934.91
419.44
Other Cities and Towns
4,585.54
3,722.13
Totals
$ 29,147.90 $ 10,488.29
128
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
Comparisons of expenditures during past year and year previous shows a decrease which is largely attributable to the fact that a nuni- ber of persons formerly aided with General Relief funds were eligible for aid from Disability Assistance funds.
From a financial standpoint this is a saving of town finances as 75% of monies expended is refunded to the town from State and Federal funds. Assistance given on General Relief is usually of emer- gency nature or for short periods of time and generally is caused by temporary unemployment.
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
Case Load
16
20
Cash Grants
$ 1,253.45 $ 7,512.78
Material Grants
522.25
4,153.73
State Institutions
1,477.01
Totals
$ 1,775.70 $ 13,143.52
This category of assistance was authorized by Legislative action effective Nov. 1, 1951 and as stated previously 75% of monies ex- pended are reimbursed to the town from State and Federal funds. Cases aided for past fourteen months were all formerly aided with funds from General Relief account and no reimbursement was pos- sible.
To be eligible for Disability Assistance payments, applicant must be adjudged to be temporarily or permanently disabled by State Medical Review Team. Many of the cases on our rolls require con- siderable medical care and medication due to the nature of their disability. This fact accounts to a large degree for a higher payment per case, however, the State and Federal reimbursement feature results in a substantial saving to the town.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Case Load for 1951-27 for 73 persons Case - Load for 1952-28 for 88 persons 1951 1952
Expended $ 23,699.43 $ 36,259.00
Case load in this category of assistance remains quite constant from year to year. Primary reason for only minor changes is due to the fact that cases aided consist of families and the primary ob- jective of Aid to Dependent Children program is for the purpose of assuring that families are kept intact. Three cases were closed during the year and four new applications were approved for payment.
129
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
1951
1952
Cash Grants
$174,656.26 $180,087.69
Material Grants
35,090.84
38,075.71
Other Cities and Towns
2,501.09
2,417.87
Totals
$212,248.19 $220,581.27
Several Changes in the Old Age Assistance laws were made during the past year. The most important legislation which became effective January 1, 1952 was the law requiring a lien be placed on real estate of recipients of this category of assistance. Eight recipients of Old Age Assistance voluntarily requested that their cases be closed rather than accept a lien on their property.
Real Estate liens were registeerd with Middlesex Registry of Deeds on property in names of 72 recipients of Old Age Assistance. Recovery to the town has been made on three cases and one case is pending settlement at the close of the year.
Social Security payments were slightly increased to those eligible which resulted in a decrease from Old Age Assistance amount.
Medical expenses and hospitalization charges have increased and number of recipients requiring convalescent home care is larger than the year previous. These factors account for a larger expenditure of funds from this category of assistance. Twenty six cases are either in convalescent homes or receiving equivalent care in their own homes.
RECEIPTS TO TOWN TREASURER DURING PAST YEAR
Many of the citizens of the town have expressed an interest in amount of funds returned to the Town Treasurer from State and Fed- eral reimbursement and from other cities and towns as reimburse- ment for aid given to recipients with settlements other than this town. For the information of all citizens the following figures are submitted regarding funds returned to this town.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
State
$ 98,191.31
Other Cities and Towns
5,142.42
.
Total Reimbursement
$103,333.73 credited to E. & D. account
Federal Reimbursement
85,584.71 credited to O. A. A. account
Total Reimbursement
$188,918.44
130
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
State Reimbursement $ 13,019.04 credited to E. & D. account
Federal Reimbursement 14,628.13 credited to A. D. C. account
Total Reimbursement .$ 27,647.17
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
Due to the fact that this program has only been in operation since November 1951 a complete report of annual reimbursement figures are impossible since reimbursement has only been received from Nov. 1951 to June 1952. The following amounts have been reimbursed to the town:
State reimbursement $ 6,172.11 credited to E. & D. account
Federal reimbursement 5,046.90 credited to D. A. account
Total reimbursement $ 11,219.01
GENERAL RELIEF
No Federal or State reimbursement provisions are provided in this category of relief. The town is reimbursed for total expenses of relief whenever aid is given to recipients who have State Settlement; also reimbursement in case relief is given where recipient has a settlement in other city or town in the Commonwealth.
During the past year a total of $6,563.44 has been returned from other Cities and Towns and the Commonwealth and has been credited to Excess and Deficiency account.
SUMMARY
Total reimbursement from above accounts credited to
Excess and Deficiency Account $122,524.88 Total reimbursement from above accounts returned to
Aid program 105,259.74
Total reimbursement to town from State and Federal funds $227,784.62
In addition to previous figures quoted, reimbursement is given for Administration expenses of the Welfare Department. These funds are credited to and used for administration expenses and during the past year were as follows:
O. A. A. Administration $ 3,949.83
A. D. C. Administration 1,067.12
D. A. Administration 443.38
Total $ 5,460.33
131
REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
We are requesting that salaries of the Senior and Junior clerks, also salaries of members of the Bureau of Old Age Assistance be ap- proved to be paid from this fund, thereby making a saving to tax- payers of these expenses which will total $4,480.00.
Respectfully submitted,
QUINCY B. PARK
Agent, Department Public Welfare
1
132
REPORT OF THE CHELMSFORD LIBRARY TRUSTEES
REPORT OF THE CHELMSFORD LIBRARY TRUSTEES
To the Board of Seelctmen:
During the year 1952 the Chelmsford Library Trustees held eleven meetings, with the meeting place alternating between the Adams Library and the Anna C. Mackay Memorial Library. In March, the following officers and staff were elected:
Chairman Mr. E. Wayne Jenkins
Secretary Miss Marjorie B. Scoboria
Treasurer Mr. Eustace B. Fiske
Purchasing Committee (Chm.) Mr. Howard Smith Miss Ethel Booth
Miss Bertha Whitworth
Mrs. Lester Ball
Mrs. Fred Laton
Librarians:
Adams Library Mrs. Lester Ball
Anna C. MacKay Memorial Library Miss Bertha Whitworth
Assistants:
Adams Library Mrs. Fred Laton
Mrs. William Pickles
Anna C. MacKay Memorial Library Miss Janet McEvoy
Janitors:
Adams Library Mr. Joseph Geary
Anna C. MacKay Memorial Library Mr. Thomas Roach
In June, the Trustees accepted with regret the resignation of Mrs. Frederick Burne, For several years Mrs. Burne has accommodated the people of West Chelmsford by having a book deposit at her home. This service will be missed.
Routine repairs have been made in both libraries, and the dome of the Adams Library has been insulated. In the near future a modern heating system will be installed in the Adams Library.
Exhibits in the Adams Library during the year included old books, manuscripts and documents by the Chelmsford Historical So-
133
REPORT OF THE CHELMSFORD LIBRARY TRUSTEES
ciety with Miss Gertrude Roberts and Miss Eleanor Parkhurst arrang- ing the exhibit; Shells loaned by Miss Barbarann Howard, Miss Eileen Cummings, Miss Marilyn Vaipan, and Miss Lillian Perko of Grade VIII of the McFarlin School; Girl Scout work, Mrs. Thelma Kendall, Leader; Coins by Mr. Douglas Schliebus and Mr. Bruce Clements of the High School; Knives old and new, by Mr. Bruce Clements; 4-H Club work, Mrs. Christy Pettee, leader; Synthetic yarns, staples and finished products, loaned by the Southwell Combing Company of North Chelmsford, then donated to the Anna C. Mackay Memorial Library as a permanent exhibit, this exhibit secured by Miss Ethel Booth; Marquetry by Mr. Herbert French and Mr. Jason French of West Chelmsford; Christmas exhibit by the pupils of the East Chelms- ford School under the supervision of Mrs. Jessie Brown, Principal, Mrs. Patricia Dion, Mrs. Kathleen Coles, and Miss Marion Mello.
In December, the Trustees accepted the resignation of Miss Janet McEvoy. Her position was filled by Miss Sylvia Ostman of North Chelmsford.
The Trustees and Library staff appreciate the confidence of the townspeople and are putting every effort into giving the best service possible.
Respectfully submitted,
MARJORIE B. SCOBORIA
Secretary.
134 REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE LIBRARY TRUSTEES
1
To the Board of Selectmen Town of Chelmsford
The following is a list of trust funds of the library department showing condition of each account at the beginning and ending of 1952.
ADAMS LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS
Name of Trust Fund
Principal 12-31-51
New Funds
Interest
Principal
12-31-52
Amos F. Adams Fund ..
$ 10,875.94
$
243.68 $ 11,119.62
George Fund
2,622.24
52.70
2,674.94
Adams Emerson Fund ..
232.78
4.67
237.45
Selina G. Richardson Fund
324.14
6.51
330.65
Joseph Warren Fund
1,044.94
20,99
1,065.93
Albert H. Davis Fund
350.38
10.58
360.96
Mary H. Proctor Fund. ...
10,873.19
289.93
11,163.12
George Cemetery Fund ..
1,127.52
22.65
1,150.17
$ 27,451.13
$ 651.71 $ 28,102.84
MACKAY LIBRARY
Flint Fund
$ 1,478.84 $
$ 29.71 $
1,508.55
Nathan B. Edwards
Fund
720.36
14.47
734.83
Victor E. Edwards Fund
781.78
15.70
797.48
Clement Fund
1,280.48
767.65
42.60
2,090.73
General Fund
359.51
3,083.63
104.04
3,547.18
$ 4,620.97 $
3,851.28 $
206.52 $
8,678.77
Totals of both libraries $ 32,072.10 $
3,851.28 $
858.23 $ 36,781.61
Respectfully submitted,
EUSTACE B. FISKE, Treasurer.
-
135
REPORT OF ADAMS LIBRARY LIBRARIAN
REPORT OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Selectmen:
The Adams Library has continued to function in much the same way as formerly. Each year every effort is made to improve the ser- vice to the townspeople.
A number of persons have shown a kindly interest in the Adams Library by donating books. The donors were Mrs. Fenner H. Peckham, Mr. and Mrs. Ulysses Lupien, Mr. and Mrs. George Bruyere, Mrs. Bernard F. Howland, Mrs. Methe, Mrs. Austin Cook and Mrs. Warren Lahue.
The Chelmsford Garden Club has furnished appropriate decora- tions for several months of the year, a service which is much appre- ciated.
There has been an increase in circulation over that of 1951. This was due in part to the fact that so many of the newer residents of the town have become regular borrowers. Another reason for the increase is that more pupils than in previous years have obtained books for school use.
At the end of June it became necessary to discontinue the monthly deposits at West Chelmsford. On the other hand, more books and mazagines were sent to East Chelmsford than in 1951.
The statistics for the year 1952 follow:
Fiction 19,037
Non-fiction 7,196
Total 26,233
New books 577
New borrowers
257
To the Trustees and all others who have contributed in any way toward making the past year pleasant and successful, I am very grateful.
Respectfully submitted,
ADELAIDE W. BALL,
Librarian.
136
REPORT OF ANNA C. MACKAY LIBRARY LIBRARIAN
REPORT OF ANNA C. MACKAY MEMORIAL LIBRARY LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Selectmen:
Circulation :
Fiction
5542
Non-fiction
886
Magazines
1224
7652
New books
258
New borrowers
96
Respectfully submitted,
BERTHA M. WHITWORTH,
January 7, 1953
Librarian.
137
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
January 17, 1953.
Board of Selectmen, Chelmsford, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The Board of Fire Engineers herewith submits its report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1952.
During the year, the department responded to 177 alarms for fires other than grass fires, also to 11 out-of-town calls for aid and 17 calls for the emergency truck.
The department co-operated in a regional Civil Defense test, send- ing two companies to Tewksbury.
Due to the co-operation of the townspeople in voting funds, the department was able to tie in the South district with the Center fire alarm system, and to repair and rebuild old Engine 4 for use as a reserve truck. At South Chelmsford station, toilet accommodations were provided for the first time.
A considerable amount of new equipment for the men was pur- chased during the past year and this will be continued until the supply is adequate for the entire force.
During 1952 the members of the North company staged a drive for funds and purchased a resuscitator which now is available for use wherever needed, and the members of the East company repainted the interior of their station.
In closing, the Board extends its thanks to the Board of Selectmen, to all town departments and to the townspeople for the co-operation given it during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS ALLAN KIDDER, GILBERT PERHAM, WILLIAM COLMER, LEO WILLIAMS, CHARLES HARRINGTON.
Board of Fire Engineers
138
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
During the current year this board appointed Mr. Arthur J. Kavanagh to the office of Health Agent, Sanitarian and Milk Inspector for the Town of Chelmsford. Mr. Kavanagh however, resigned in September to enter another branch of public health. On September 29, 1952 Mr. Patrick A. Thibeau assumed the duties of this office signing a contract for one year.
PERSONNEL
The board of health in it's present make-up consists of three elected members. These constitute the ruling body of the health de- partment. It is to them that the agent must consult in matters con- cerning the course he takes. They meet regularly with the agent to discuss and act upon matters that concern the health of the con- munity, various contracts, licenses and bills incurred by the depart- ment. The department also consists of an agent and sanitarian who carries out the will of the board, enforces their regulations and acts in their behalf. His chier duties concern themselves in the field of environmental sanitation, administration and the control of commu- nicable diseases in the community. Mrs. Helen Jewett as the nurse. conducts daily health inspections of the school children. In this capacity she refers those that are ill to the family physicians through the parents. In this way infection from child to child is greatly cur- tailed. Plumbing installed in the Town of Chelmsford must be ap- proved by the Plumbing Inspector, Mr. George Gagnon. It is his duty to see that household plumbing conforms to the regulations of the board of health. The reason that this function lies within the scope of the health department, is that the sewage that the plumbing sys- tem carries is potentially dangerous as it frequently carries disease producing organisms. Leakage therefore in the plumbing system is a menace to health whether it occurs in the house where infection of food is possible, or in the ground outside where well supplies or the municipal system may be contaminated. All meat whether it be from cattle, sheep, hogs or horses must be inspected and approved by the Meat Inspector, Mr. Spencer Chamberlin. Meat infected with tuber- culosis, anthrax, hog cholera, tape worms and the like are condemned. Also associated with this department are; the two physicians to the board, the Dog Officer, the garbage collectors and the contractor for the care of the North Chelmsford dump.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.