Town annual report of Chelmsford 1956, Part 10

Author:
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Town of Chelmsford
Number of Pages: 340


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1956 > Part 10


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 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21


Garbage Collection Contract - 1957-1959


In December 1956 the Board of Health awarded the garbage collection contract for 1957 through 1959 to McKennedy Brothers, 63 Riverneck Road, East Chelmsford. The contract bid for the next three years will be $8700/year. This increase of the $800 per year over the 1954 contract bid, is caused by the enlargement of the number of collections. The Board of Health is certain that the superior work done in the past by the McKennedy Bros., will be continued.


Health Program for 1956


The need for a second school nurse.


See Letter Following.


Mosquito Control Program


The Board of Health approves of the Mosquito Control Pro- gram, set up under the Moth Department budget. This Mosquito Control Program will eliminate the nuisance of the mosquito and the possibility of encephalitis cases this summer.


Estimated Income for 1957:


The following is the estimated income for 1957:


Plumbing Inspection Fees


$2700


Wood Alcohol Licenses


25


Milk Licenses 60


Bottling Plant Licenses 10


Sewage System Permits 450


Laboratory and Lab. Equip. Rental 200


State Subsity for T. B. Patients 700


Miscellaneous Permits


30


In Conclusion


The Board of Health hopes to have served well the citizens of


121


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


Chelmsford in 1956. The success of any present, or future health program is due in part, to the cooperation and support of the towns- people.


Respectfully submitted,


Edmund J. Welch, Chairman


Oliver A. Reeves William R. Greenwood


THE NEED FOR A SECOND SCHOOL NURSE


To the Board of Health Gentlemen:


January 1, 1957


When I was appointed School Nurse in September 1950, there were under 1400 pupils in school. With this number, it was fairly easy to do a good job of nursing. By school nursing, I do not mean first aid and emergencies but rather personal contacts with pupils, visits in the classrooms and short health and diet talks. Listening to the many problems, however trivial serves a dual purpose, in that it establishes good pupil-nurse rapport and also furnishes the nurse with information which is often invaluable to the teachers and principals in dealing with the children in the classroom situa- tions. Hpme visits, concerning vision and hearing failures, help the parents realize the need for treatment. If a heart murmur is detected during the physical examination, the nurse must visit the home and explain the situation. Children with physical disabilities must be contacted continuously. Principals and teachers must be kept informed concerning the pupils who need to be restricted in the physical education program. A child who is undergoing special treatment needs constant observation because sometimes his school progress is affected while being treated.


The above are a few of the services the School Nurse performs: In addition she carries out the following duties :


1. Visits the schools daily


2. Inspects pupils


3. Helps with physical examinations


4. Checks on vision and hearing failures


5. Sets up and helps with immunization, polio, and vaccination clinics


6. Conducts High School Health Program


7. Aids in registrations


8. Consults with teachers, principals and parents


9. Distributes Health bulletins


10. Prepares a health record for each pupil


11. Sends reports to State Department of Health


12. Makes appointments at heart, speech, and other special clinics


13. Sends out and checks parental permission slips


With almost 2600 pupils in school to-day, it is impossible for one nurse to carry out an adequate school nursing program - and next year the enrollment will be increased again. For the past three


122


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


years, it has been very disturbing to realize that little by little some of these services have been curtailed and others eliminated entirely.


Two school nurses could provide thes eservices, devoting about 90% of their time to the school problems and the remainder of their time in Board of Health work such as Tuberculosis follow-up, but I am convinced that the school work is more important.


It is my firm belief that two nurses are essential if we are to continue to provide Chelmsford with a first class school nursing program.


Respectfully submitted. Helen M. Jewett School Nurse.


To The Honorable Board of Selectmen Town of Chelmsford.


Gentlemen:


I hereby respectfully submit my report of the Police Department and Roster for the year ending December 31, 1956.


Chief of Police


Ralph J. Hulslander


Sergeants


Raymond E. Harmon Basil J. Larkin


Patrolmen


Allan H. Adams Richard F. Campbell


Winslow P. George Edward F. Miner


Arthur F. Smith Leslie H. Adams, Jr.


Intermittent Patrolmen


Leo A. Boucher


Robert F. McAndrew


James W. Birtwell


Alan E. Greenhalgh


Walter W. Edwards, Jr.


John B. Wrigley Richard J. Wiggins


Francis R. Foster


George W. Marinel Henry F. Mullen


Edward J. Giers (Jan. through Sept. 1956)


Albert M. Gongloff (May through Dec. 31, 1956)


123


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


Intermittent Policewoman Christina N. Park Special Police for other activities. William F. Connor Edward Whalen Joseph H. Dunigan John H. Dixon John W. Carruthers Mark N. Norton Robert M. Hood


Homer B. Bacon


George R. Dixon


Gerald P. Chandler Joseph L. Larocque Thomas L. Mackey (May through Dec. 31, 1956) Omer Mainville (Jan. 1 to July 25, 1956)


Crmies Against Person


Robbery by putting in fear


1


Assault & Battery


2


Warrant - Assault & Battery


3


Warrant - Exposing of person


1


Warrant - Threatening to do bodily harm


3


Total


10


Crimes Against Property


Braeaking & Entering in Night Time


3


Malicious damage to property


2


Larceny by check


1


Total


6


Crimes Against Public Order


Warrants


5


Warrant _ for Larceny


3


Warrant for Robbery


1


Warrant for Non Support


3


Motor Vehicle Violations


13


Disturbing the peace


7


Drunkenness


25


Safe Keeping


1


Insane


1


Delinquents


2


Capais


2


Driving while Intoxicated


1


Driving so as to endanger


1


Total


Grand Total 81


65


124


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


Dispositions


Turned over to Lowell Police


17


Turned over to Fitchburg Police


2


Turned over to Cambridge Police


2


Turned over to Westford Police


1


Turned over to State Police


1


Held for Superior Court (Probation)


1


Held for Superior Court (1 year House of Correction


2


Fined


14


Released


17


House of Correction


3


Mass. Reformatory (Indefinite Period)


1


Mass. Reformatory for one year


1


Probation


4


Filed


4


Worcester State Hospital


1


Continued for one year


8


Not Guilty


2


Total Dispositions


81


Statistics of the Police Department for the Year 1956.


Number of Accidents and Persons claiming injuries in 1956.


Month


Accidents


Claimed injuries


Fatals


January


30


8


0


February


30


22


0


March


38


41


1


April


26


23


1


May


17


17


0


June


17


23


0


July


20


19


1


August


22


11


0


September


22


11


1


October


20


27


0


November


22


14


0


December


41


29


0


Totals


305


245


4


Police answered 2,507 calls in 1956 which is 561 more than in 1955.


Cruiser mileage for three cruisers 190,302 miles which is 23,774 more miles patroled than in 1955.


Business places found unlocked by patrolmen 138.


Summons served for out of town Police Departments 295, which is 84 more than in 1955.


Stolen cars recovered 14.


Number of Arrests 81.


125


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


-


The year 1956 has been a very busy year for your Police Depart- ment as you can see by the statistics preceding this report. A greater and greater demand is being placed on the Police Depart- ment for various services. In addition to answering calls and in- vestigating accidents the list of property to be checked while resi- dents are on vacation is mounting every year. This is a very im- portant phase of police work and I urge all residents to notify the Police Department when they are leaving on a vacation so that we may better serve you.


This year I am asking for an additional permanent patrolman to work on the late night shift, which is now being covered by special officers.


We had the first bank hold up in the history of Chelmsford in April of this year and as you know the hold up man was speedily captured and subsequently convicted and is now serving time for this daring deed.


Again this year your Police Department assisted at the various Halloween parties which were very successful and vandalism was kept at a minimum.


The Auxiliary Police Band under the direction of Sergeant Basil J. Larkin conducted many concerts during the past year which were enjoyed by young and old, it is planned to continue these musical events in the year 1957 for your enjoyment.


The Police Department is ever alert to the safety of Your Chil- dren when going to and from school. We have met with Supt. Rivard of the School Department and Supt. Greenwood of the Highway Department and submitted a plan to erect proper side walks in school areas to safe guard your children walking to and from school.


The Auxiliary Police was organized and at present has sixty members. They meet every two weeks and are at present being instructed on the Blue Book by Sergeant Basil J. Larkin, who is in charge of the Auxiliary Police Unit. It is hoped that there will be more men volunteer for service with this unit, as in time of disaster many men would be needed to take care of the emergency needs of a town the size of Chelmsford.


At this time I wish to express my thanks to the Selectmen of the Town and to all Town Officials and Employees and to the general public for the excellent cooperation given to the Police Department during the past year.


Respectfully submitted, Ralph J. Hulslander Chief of Police


126


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT


Board of Selectmen


Town Hall


Chlemsford, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


The increase in the number of new homes, and the fact that we can expect a great deal of future development in Chelmsford, to- gether with the increase in Automobile fires and accidents, has shown very clearly this past year that we definitely need both new equipment, and more men to provide the Town with adequate fire protection.


However, as I feel that it is out of the question to request both new equipment and more men at this time, and as the more im- portant of the two right now is for the Town to purchase a mini- mum of two new 750 G. P. M. Pumpers, I have recommended again this year, as I have for the past three years, that an Article be in- serted in the Annual Town Warrant for the purchase of these trucks.


I cannot stress too strongly the need of both of these Pumpers at this time, rather than purchasing just one of them. One truck will replace a pumper which is now 26 years old, and broken down to the extent that both the Board of Selectmen and I agree that it would be a waste of money to repair such an old truck, plus the fact that we would have no assurance that we could depend on this truck to continue in service. The other truck which we would re- place is an even older one, 31 years old, which we certainly cannot depend upon, and which is no longer suitable for modern day fire protection.


With two new Pumpers in service, we will then have a depend- able truck in each section of the Town, although even then we will not be up to the recommendations of the New England Fire In- surance Rating Association, as printed in their report of August 11, 1954 at the completion of their survey, which was requested by the Board of Selectmen.


With the purchase of only new Pumper, we would have to use an obsolete and undependable truck (31 years old) in some section of the Town, and I feel that all sections are entitled to equal protection. Each taxpayer has the right to the same amount of protection for his home and family as any other.


The past year, as in other years, has shown a great increase in the number of calls answered by your Fire Department, and with the additional duties assumed by the firefighters besides actual fire- fighting such as a Fire Station and Apparatus maintenance, Alarm maintenance, oil burner inspections, office work, drills, fire pre- vention, and so on, your Fire Department is now having trouble keeping up with the demands for its service, and it is certain that the demands will continue to increase in the future.


On or about August 15, 1956, I attended a meeting of the Board of Selectmen together with two members of the Finance Commit-


127


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


tee. At that meeting it was unanimously agreed that no money should be spent on the apparatus that was out of service because of a major breakdown. I informed the Selectmen that a piece of apparatus could be borrowed, at no cost to the Town, for a reas- onable length of time, and it was accepted.


Realizing that something concrete had to be inaugurated in re- gard to purchasing new equipment, I offered a plan to all present.


It being a fact that for many years taxpayers have not been called upon to make any effort to carry their share of the burden to purchase fire apparatus, I recommended the following:


That a sum of money be borrowed immediately to cover the cost of apparatus broken down, plus apparatus which is of an age and condition that it cannot be depended upon. This sum to be paid off in equal payments over a period of five years. That also at the same time a fund be started, (known as Apparatus Depreciation Account), into which a given amount shall be placed each year, through taxation.


This plan would accomplish three things; first, it would furnish the Town at once, with the apparatus that is so greatly needed, and I believe, carry us for the next five years in a safe condition. Second, at the end of the five year period, when our apparatus debt would have been paid off, we would have a fund available to start a replacement program of apparatus, which will then be at best twenty-seven years old. Finally, the plan would accomplish the important fact of all taxpayers, every year, carrying the burden equally for proper fire protection.


At a subsequent date I was requested to meet with the Board of Selectmen and members of the Finance Committee, and two evenings were required to accomplish all that was desired. I was finally asked to pass judgement as to how few pieces of apparatus I felt we could buy at this time, and still be assured of proper fire protection. My answer was as follows: If we only have one fire at a time, we would dispatch two companies to each building fire, as is recommended by all standards, are able to be returned from a call and made ready before we have another call, then the least num- ber of pieces of apparatus we should purchase at once would be two 750 G. P. M. pumpers. That, of course, would be eliminating one piece of apparatus, (a forest fire truck), from my original plan. If that course were to be followed, money would have to be made available to recondition our present forest fire truck.


In conclusion I feel that to furnish fire protection to all sections of the Town equally, it is imperative that the taxpayers purchase at least two pumpers at once.


I shall also be more than pleased to discuss the Fire Department problem with any taxpayer, should more facts be desired.


128


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


The following is the Fire Department records for 1956:


Auto Accidents


8


Auto Fires


11


Building Fires


65


Dump calls


32


False Alarms-Malicious


3


False Alarms-Accidental


6


Grass & Brush Fires


152


Investigations


25


Out-of-Town Aid Given


10


Out-of-Town Aid Received


1


Resuscitator Calls


9


Miscellaneous Calls 29


Permits for fires in the open issued 4490.


Fees collected and deposited with the Town Treasurer for oil storage, L. P. gas and blasting permits totaled $83.50.


The following amounts of explosives of all classes, stored in magazines in the Town of Chelmsford are: Magazine No. 1, 41,850 lbs .; Magazine No. 2, 47,350; Magazine No. 3, 4,400 lbs.


Respectfully submitted,


Allan Kidder


Fire Chief


REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS


To the Citizens of the Town:


The Park Commission organized with A. Louis Bennett, Chair- man; Bradford O. Emerson and Ralph E. House, Clerk.


A program for the improvement and maintenance of the Parks was set up. This included spreading loam, fertilizer and grass seed wherever needed. Flowers were set out on the various parks throughout the Town. Metal settees were purchased and placed on the North and Center Commons. The fence at North Road and Worthen Street was painted. The lawns were mowed, watered and raked regularly.


In co-operation with the South Chelmsford Village Improvement Association, we re-landscaped the area adjacent to the watering trough in Walter B. Belleville, Jr. Square.


It was voted at the Annual Town Meeting that the Veterans Memorial and' a parcel of land owned by the Town on Carlisle Street in the East Section, be turned over to the Park Department. This memorial was constructed by a group of civic minded citizens in the area who now feel the Park Department can best insure its perpetual care.


Through the generosity of the Kiwanis Club, twenty-five Rock Maple trees were set out on the parks where older trees had been removed by hurricanes and Dutch Elm disease.


Respectfully submitted,


A. LOUIS BENNETT BRADFORD O. EMERSON RALPH E. HOUSE


129


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEALS


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Town of Chelmsford


Gentlemen :


The Board of Appeals received sixty-seven (67) applications for variance during the year 1956. It was the largest number of applications received in the history of the department. For each application a filing fee of $10.00 is received and the Board turned over to the Treasurer $650.00 during the year. This sum assists the town a great deal in lowering the cost to the taxpayers for this service.


The disposition of the various applications follow :


Total number withdrawn 2


Total number granted 50


Total number denied 13


Total number pending as of Dec. 31st. for disposition during 1957 2


Total of applications 67


The mmebers of the Board of Appeals, Louis L. Hannaford, Jr., Chairman, Charles Egerton, Willis E. Buckingham, Richard B. Carr, Raymond J. Greenwood, and alternates Paul W. O'Neil, Frank A. Woodhead, Eliot W. Remick and James O. Robinson wish to extend their appreciation to the Board of Selectmen and other town offi- cials as well as the townspeople for their cooperation and assist- ance during the year in carrying out the duties of this important service to the residents of Chelmsford.


For the Board of Appeals, Louis L. Hannaford, Jr. Chairman.


REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT


During the past year 80 applications for assistance were made and after due investigations 74 were approved and aid granted. Three were denied, due to ineligibility, and three withdrew volun- tarily. On January 1, 1957 one Old Age Assistance case was pending.


Twenty-seven applications for Old Age Assistance, seven applic- ations for Aid to Dependent Children, and four applications for Disability Assistance were approved. Thirty-six cases were aided from the General Relief Program and of these only seven were permanent.


During the past year we were able to transfer two cases from General Relief to Disability Assistance, thereby making a saving to the town of about 75% of their aid.


Aid to Dependent Children


Case Load for 1955 21 for 63 persons


Case Load for 1956 17 for 46 persons


Expended (Cash and Medicals)


1955 $16,470.95


1956 $16,904.14


Recovered on A. D. C. from refund


$901.98


130


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


Old Age Assistance


Cash and Material Grants and


Other Cities and Towns


1955 1956


$119,387.97 $121,716.31


Twenty-five cases are being aided in Convalescent Homes or Nursing Homes or receiving equivalent care in their own homes.


The following amounts were recovered from: Liens $18,548.80 100.00


Children's Cont.


The total recoveries from Old Age Assistance and Aid to Depen- dent Children were $19,550.78.


Welfare


Case Load for 1955 29 for 56 persons


Case Load for 1956


36 for 105 persons


Expended


1955


1956


Cash Grants


$7,551.93


$5,734.69


Material Grants


3,730.56


2,356.10


State Institutions


$12,524.45


$12,172.04


State Institutions


145.28


161.50


Other Cities and Towns


765.37


1,891.99


Disability Assistance


Case Load for 1955 15


Case Load for 1956


17


Cash and Material Grants and


State Institutions


$12,524.45 $12,172.04


Total Case Load


Old Age Assistance


213


Aid to Dependent Children


17


Disability Assistance


17


General Relief


36


Only six of the General Relief are permanent cases, the rest were of temporary nature.


I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the cooperation of the Board of Public Welfare, the District Office of the State Department of Public Welfare, and the entire staff of the Welfare Office, for without the full cooperation of all con- cerned the functions of this office would be greatly impaired.


ARTHUR COOKE, Agent.


131


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


VETERANS EMERGENCY FUND. COMMITTEE Report of the Secretary


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Town of Chelmsford


Gentlemen:


The Veterans' Emergency Fund Committee wish to submit their annual report to you and to the townspeople of Chelmsford.


As in recent years, the business of the committee has been rel- atively light. Due to prosperous months of business activity, there have been few inquiries and applications for aid.


The committee did receive one request but after due investiga- tion and consideration, the majority of the committee members did not approve the request.


As in the past, applications should be submitted through the of- fice of the Veterans' Agent, Mr. Gordon P. DeWolf. Mr. DeWolf has kindly offered his assistance to the committee in the screening of applications.


The year 1956 has brought added income to the fund. The treas- urer's report may be found elsewhere in this book. Total income re- ceived during the year was $9.16 and this sum has been added to the principal.


The committee by precincts is listed once again and applicants desiring information should contact their precinct representative:


Center-Precinct 1


George Archer


North-Precinct 2


Joseph Sadowski


West-Precinct 3


Perry T. Snow


East-Precinct 4


South-Precinct 5 George Waite


Westlands-Precinct 6


Alfred H. Coburn


Respectfully submitted,


ALFRED H. COBURN


Secretary


FREDERICK R GREENWOOD,


Supt. of Streets.


132


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT


Board of Selectmen:


The following is a report of the work accomplished by the Highway Department for the year 1956.


A total of 126,834 gallons of asphalt were used on various town roads (construction and maintenance) with an additional 14,903 gallons for chapter 90 maintenance. A total of 8,919 yards of gravel were used.


New streets accepted this year are as follows:


Roberts Street


Eclipse Avenue


South Row Street


Joy Street


Cove Street


Moonbeam Avenue


New Spaulding Street


Susan Avenue


New Fletcher Street


Edgelawn Avenue


Warren Avenue, Ext.


Northgate Road


Pearson Street Douglas Road


McFarlin Road Deborah Terrace


Work done on newly accepted streets are as follows:


Roberts Street-Graveled, two applications of asphalt.


South Row Street-Graveled, two applications of asphalt.


Pearson Street-Two applications of asphalt.


Joy Street-One application of asphalt.


Susan Avenue-One application of asphalt.


Edgelawn Avenue-Two applications of asphalt.


Northgate Road-Graveled, two applications of asphalt.


Deborah Terrace-Graveled, two applications of asphalt.


McFarlin Road-Graveled, Two applications of asphalt.


Considerable time was spent on graveling streets.


Hunt Road-Graveling and widening of this street was com- pleted and two applications of asphalt was used.


Garrison Road-This street was scarified, widened, grav- eled with 1001 yards of gravel and two applications of asnhalt.


Proctor Road-Widened, from Acton to Park Roads, scar- Park Road-This street was sacrificed, widened, graveled with ified, graveled, two applications of asphalt.


Park Place-Scarified, widened, graveled, two applications of asphalt.


Byam Road-Sacrificed, widened, gravelled, two applications of asphalt.


Parker Road-Widened, graveled, two applications of asphalt.


Randall Street-Widened, graveled, two applications of as- phalt.


Moore Street-Scarified, widened, graveled, two applica- tions of asphalt.


Harvey Road-Sacrificed, widened, graveled, two applica- tions of asphalt.


133


ANNUAL TOWN REPORT


Needham Street-Scarified, widened, graveled, two applica- tions of asphalt.


Turnpike Road-Scarified, widened, graveled, two applica- tions of asphalt.


Spaulding Street-Scarified, widened, graveled, two applic- ations of asphalt.


Sixth Avenue-Scarified, widened, graveled, two applic- ations of asphalt.


Glenn Avenue-Extension of street graveled, two applic- ations of asphalt.


Strawberry Hill Road-Widened, graveled, two applications of asphalt.


Greenacre Lane-Graveled, two applications of asphalt.


Linden Street-Graveled, two applications of asphalt.


Leedberg Street-Graveled, two applications of asphalt. Oak Street-Graveled.


Parking Lot, North Chelmsford-The town parking lot was oiled with one application of asphalt.


McFarlin School Grounds-These grounds were graveled and oiled.


Marshall Street-Honed.


Manning Road-Honed.


Oak Knoll Road-Honed.


Dalton Road-2800' mix-in-place.


Westford Street-2900' mix-in-place.


Carlisle Street-3000' mix-in-place.


The following roads were treated with bituminous materials:


Albina Street




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.