USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1925 > Part 6
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It is noted that while in the last four year period the total number of consumers increased 72%, and that both the gas and electric rates have been substantially decreased the profit from operations has increased 78%.
General
In the first four year period the bonded debt of the town,.
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which had to be met by general taxation, was reduced $11,600.00 while in the last four year period the bonded debt was reduced $20,100.00. These amounts do not include reduc- tions made in the bonded debts of the Water Department, or the Gas and Electric Department as these debts are paid from the earnings of these departments.
The State and County taxes which have to be met by general taxation were increased during the last four year period by about $28,000.00 or 40%.
We do not present comparisons on the other depart- ments, because we find that the statistics were not kept in a uniform manner and would require exhaustive research in order to get figures that would be comparable.
We have made no attempt to draw conclusions in the foregoing statements, but have rather tried to collect the facts as shown by the town records.
Respectfully submitted, MORGAN & MORGAN.
This report seems somewhat brief, but upon careful analysis, it will be found to be full of pertinent facts.
The former government in operation in this town dur- ing the years 1917 to 1920, both inclusive, consisted of a board of three selectmen and many other independent officials elected by popular vote. In our comments which follow we shall refer to this period as Group I.
The present of government, from 1921 to 1924, both inclusive, is the so-called town manager form, and was au- thorized by Chapter 592 of the Acts of 1920. It consists of a board of five selectmen, a school committee, and a town treasurer and collector, all elected by popular vote. We shall refer to this period as Group II.
We have drawn our conclusions from consultations with officials and employees working under both Group I and Group II. We have observed the records kept and the meth- ods employed in the transaction of town business. We have compared the reports rendered and the results obtained, and
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while the separate incidents are not such as should be incor- porated in this report, we give below the conclusions drawn.
Under Group I, the affairs of the town were in the hands of a board of three selectmen who were paid for their services. Through them, authority for the actual business management of the town was delegated to various heads. The depart- ments included in the fire district and later incorporated with the town were separate organizations under the control of other officials elected by popular vote, until the incorpora- tion with the town as mentioned, when they, too, came under the control of the selectmen.
It is thus apparent from this brief summary, that we had one corporate body which made up our town, separated into and operated by several distinct units which were en- tirely independent of each other. Under this system there was, nor could be, no uniformity in purchasing or accounting. Heads of departments were subject to appointment by politi- cal preference, and their various duties were carried out with- out proper control. From the very fact, that under this form, the selectmen must be paid officials of the town, an inducement arises which operates against efficiency, economy and the proper, careful guarding of the trust imposed upon them. Illustrating this latter point, we quote from the re- port to the Selectmen from the Department of Corporations and Taxation, dated February 5th, 1923, and signed by Theo- dore N. Waddell, Director of Accounts, and which says in part: "Previous to April 1, 1921, at which time the town manager assumed his duties, many orders were issued for the payment of bills and pay rolls which were not signed by a majority of the members of the board of selectmen. In fact, no uniformity seemed to exist in the matter of approving these orders. Sometimes they were not signed at all, while at other times they were signed by one, two or three mem- bers." From the same report, we quote again "At the be- ginning of the year 1921, in contrast, the attention and care given to the avoidance of overdrafts was open to grave criti- cism, as a careful examination of bills paid early in that year
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revealed the fact that bills amounting to $14,405.13 had been contracted in 1920, (practically every department having contracted some such bills) but were not paid until in 1921."
The records under this group were kept by many differ- ent departments, many different methods were employed, and we regret that we were unable to secure detailed statistics which could be used for purposes of comparison.
Under Group II the affairs of the town are placed in the hands of a board of five selectmen elected by popular vote. These men are not paid for their services. They are author. ized by the enabling act to appoint one man who has been designated as town manager, and who is the administrative officer of the selectmen. These five selectmen act as an ad- visory board and in them is reposed the trust of carrying out the affairs of the town, with the exception of those of the school department and of the town treasurer and collector. The town manager is responsible for the efficient administra- tion of all departments under the supervision and direction of the selectmen. It is his duty to submit recommendations to the selectmen and to carry out those recommendations only by the authority and direction of the selectmen. In other words, the town manager is the agent of the board of select- men, in which board rests the whole duty of carrying out the business of the town with the exception of those departments named.
Under this form of government one man, the town man- ager, is the administrative head of all business departments. He is responsible for the conduct of these departments to the selectmen, who in turn are responsible to the voters. Through this centralization purchases are made for all departments with the opportunity for a saving in prices naturally result- ing from quantity purchasing, as distinct from the separate purchasing of the various units under Group I.
Under Group II all political preference has been re- moved. The selectmen are an unpaid board and if they fail in their duty they are easily removable by the ballot of the voter. But in spite of any such removal, if necessary, the fact
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of centralization of responsibility still exists, as was not the case under Group I. The town manager is not selected for political reasons, but for efficiency and ability, and can be easily removed by the selectmen. This makes for efficient conduct of the town's business. It has caused the correction of many practices existing under Group I. As an illustra- ton of this point, we have found that at the present time all electric services are metered and charged at the proper rates and classifications, whereas under Group I this practice was not followed. We have found that all water installations. are metered and charged at the proper rate and classifica- tion with the exception of two or three unimportant installa- tions which are paid for at the proper rate, but no meter is installed because of the excessive cost of installation. Under Group I many installations in both departments were un- metered and unpaid for. We have used illustrations from these two departments as they are the business departments of the town. and a competent and proper administration of these departments is, in our opinion, a proper basis for com- parison.
Foremost in the minds of many citizens is the question of the tax rate and the valuations. It will be plainly appar- ent to the thinking person that the only part of the tax rate which can be used in a comparison of the two groups is that part which is used for town purposes. The balance of the assessment is a levy either by state or county over which we have no control. A large part of our appropriation is for school purposes. The remainder, which is the part actually used for town purposes and which may be expended by the selectmen, or through their administrative agent, the town manager, is determined by the vote of the citizens of the town. It therefore does not enter into a comparison of either the new or old forms of government. The thing to be con- sidered is the efficient expenditure of the amount appropri- ated by the citizens, and our observations have all led to but one conclusion.
Under the old form of government which we have desig-
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nated as Group I, there was every opportunity for a careless spending of the town's money. Under the old system there were cases where one man was empowered with the authority to requisition materials in one capacity, order them in an- other and pay for them in a third.
Under the new form, designated as Group II, requisi- tions are presented to the town manager, he in turn orders the materials. Bills rendered are then approved by the town manager, checked and charged against the proper account by the town accountant, and paid by the treasurer. There thus exists under the new form or Group II a series of checks against all expenditures which will not permit of the condi- tion referred to by the state auditor in his report showing an overdraft of $14,405.13 and which we have quoted above. To simplify and explain this last statement, it means that it was the common practice of the old government to purchase during one year supplies and materials in excess of the money available for payment, and to trust to luck that the appropria- tions of the following year would be large enough to take care of the unpaid bills held over from the previous year.
In conclusion, we would present the following summary :
Under the new form of government, the form now in operation, in every department we have studied
1. The conditions are markedly superior to those which could exist under the old form of government.
2. The freedom from political influence,
3. The definite placing of responsibility,
4. The absolute control of all receipts and disburse- ments,
5. The proper auditing of accounts,
6. The conduct of municipal operations in a modern, business-like manner,
are all available under the present form of government, but were not under the old. Again quoting from the report of the state auditor, dated March 17, 1925, "An analysis of the bal- ance sheet indicates that the town may be regarded as being in a healthy financial condition at the close of the year (1924).
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The present financial condition of the town is due, in a great measure, to the town manager's watchfulness in keeping de- partmental expenditures which come under his immediate charge within the sums appropriated."
We wish to extend our thanks to all who have endeavored to assist us in our work.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS F. HARDING HOWARD C. HOLDEN CHARLES R. CHASE
Moved that report be accepted, committee be discharged and that report be placed on file.
Moved to adjourn at 8.35 P. M.
Attest. WALDO S. THOMAS, Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, MAY 23rd, 1925
Meeting called to order at 11 o'clock A. M. by Moderator Fletcher Clark, Jr.
The one article in this warrant was as follows: Article 1 -To vote in answer to the following question which shall be printed on the official ballot. "Shall the acceptance by the Town of Middleborough of an act passed by the General Court in the year 1920 entitled, 'An Act to Establish a Town Manager form of government for the Town of Middlebor- ough' be revoked ?"
The following election officers were sworn in:
Henry W. Sears Sylvanus Brett
Francis Callan
Thomas McCormick
Marian Drake Mabel Sears Richard Cobb E. K. Harrison
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The polls were opened at 11 o'clock and closed at S o'clock P. M., to vote on Article 1.
The result of the vote was Yes 630, No 1186, Blank 1, Total 1817.
Meeting adjourned at 8.45 P. M.
Attest. WALDO S. THOMAS, Town Clerk.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Plymouth, S.S.
We the undersigned selectment of the town of Middle- borough, in the county of Plymouth, first being duly sworn, depose and say that we have caused a census to be made of the inhabitants of Middleborough, residing therein on March 31st, A. D. 1925, on forms provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and in accordance with his instructions and we herewith return the said forms under oath as required by section 7 of chapter 453 of the Acts of 1924 and further depose and say that the total of said census is as follows :
Males 4530 Females 4606
Total
9136
LYMAN P. THOMAS
CHESTER E. WESTON T. N. WOOD ERNEST L. MAXIM ALTON G. PRATT
Selectmen of Middleboro.
Plymouth S.S. June 26th, 1925
Subscribed and sworn to this 26th day of June 1925. Before me,
WALDO S. THOMAS,
Notary Public.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING JUNE 29th, 1925
The following five articles made up the warrant for this meeting :
Article 1-To hear the report of any committees or offi- cers of the town, to appoint any committee, and act thereon.
Artcle 2-To see if the town will vote to accept the offer of the Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce, to con- tribute toward the cost of acquiring land for and the con- struction of a building for the Fire Department and for the original equipment and furnishing of said building, or to take any action relative thereto.
Article 3-To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate money for the purpose of constructing a building for the Fire Department on land on North Main Street allotted by the Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce and for the original equipment and furnishing of said build- ing, to determine how the appropration shall be raised, or to take any action relative thereto.
Article 4-To see if the town will vote to assent to the appointment of Arthur D. Benson as Trustee under the will of Thomas S. Peirce for the benefit of the Public Library of the town of Middleborough and as Trustee under the will of Thomas S. Peirce for the benefit of the town of Middlebor- ough, without furnishing a surety or sureties on his official bond as Trustee under either of said trusts, and act anything thereon.
Article 5-To see if the town will appropriate a sum not to exceed twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) for the repair of school buldings, and act thereon.
Meeting called to order at 7.30 P. M. by Moderator Fletcher Clark, Jr.
Warrant was read by Town Clerk.
Article 1-Moved that a committee of fifty be appointed to consider school needs, with authority to fill vacancies in its membership and to draw on the Town Treasurer for expenses not to exceed fifty dollars ($50) this committee to consist of the following members :
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Walter E. Alger L. O. Atwood Fred B. Alger B. J. Allen S. L. Brett Charles H. Bates J. H. Burkhead Wm. G. Boynton Arthur D. Benson
Jane Bennett C. S. Cummings
Albert Deane
George N. Dupont
Alvin C. Howes
I. R. Hardy Alexander Heath D. H. Holmes
Mrs. Ruth Holmes
Mrs. Sarah Howes
Lewis F. Harding
Mrs. Wendall Holloway
Mrs. Louis Hathaway
Mrs. Wilson Harlow James H. Kennedy E. J. Kelley Thomas H. Kelley Ernest L. Maxim Jesse F. Morse
L. F. McDonald Frederick H. Noble
A. G. Newkirk Ernest M. O'Toole Elmer E. Phinney Mrs. Alton G. Pratt J. Emil Robinson Morrill S. Ryder Mrs. Geo. Richards
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Elin Rosen Walter Sampson H. S. Sylvester D. D. Sullivan Geo. W. Stetson Joseph N. Shaw Mrs. J. A. Sparrow Lyman P. Thomas Granville E. Tillson Allan R. Thatcher Fred S. Weston T. N. Wood David R. Walker
Vote was Yes 68, No 7.
Article 4-Unanimously voted that the town of Middle- borough assent to the appointment of Arthur D. Benson as trustee under the will of the late Thomas S. Peirce of the fund left for the use and benefit of the Town of Middlebor- ough without giving a surety or sureties on his official bond as such trustee and that the Selectmen be authorized in the name and behalf of said Town to sign a formal assent to any petition asking that he be appointed trustee of said fund un- der said will without furnishing any surety or sureties upon his official bond.
Unanimously voted that the Town of Middleborough assent to the appointment of Arthur D. Benson as trustee under the will of the late Thomas S. Peirce of the fund left for the benefit of the Public Library of the Town of Middle- borough without giving any surety or sureties on his official bond as such trustee and that the Selectmen be authorized to sign in the name and behalf of said Town a formal assent to any petition asking that he be appointed trustee of said fund under said will without furnishing any surety or sure- ties on his official bond.
Article 1-Voted that the following report presented by Lyman P. Thomas, chairman of the committee to consider and report as to the advisability of building a new Engine House, be accepted :
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The Committee appointed by the town to consider and report as to the, advisability of building a new Engine House beg leave to report the following recommendations :
First : That the town proceed at once to build a two story, brick engine house, approximately 59x72 feet, upon the site on North Main St., as mentioned in the recent tender of the Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce, i. e., opposite the Public Library.
Second: That the town accept said tender of said Trustees.
Third: That the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be authorized to issue to said Trustees, on behalf of the town, notes in such amounts as will safeguard the prin- cipal of the Peirce Funds, during the financing of the con- struction, said notes to be later redeemed by said Trustees at stated intervals.
Fourth: That the materials entering into the construc. tion of the building be bought by the Building Committee, to be chosen, and the work be done by the day, employing citi- zens of the town so far as they are available for such work.
Fifth : That the Building Committee consist of the Board of Selectmen, with the addition of Carlton W. Maxim and Wilson G. Harlow.
LYMAN P. THOMAS CARLTON W. MAXIM LORENZO WOOD HERBERT S. SYLVESTER ERNEST S. PRATT
Article 2-Unanimously moved that this offer of the Peirce Trustees to finance Fire Station, be accepted.
Article 3-Moved that for the purpose of constructing a building for the Fire Department on land on North Main Street allotted by the Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce and for the original equipment and furnishing of said building, there be appropriated the sum of $55,000.00, $5,000.00 of which shall be taken from money allotted by the Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce, $15,000.00 to
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be appropriated from the Excess and Efficiency account of the town, and the Treasurer with the approval of the Select- men, be and hereby is authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed $35,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes of the town therefor, said bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with the provisions of section 19, chapter 44 of the General Laws, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than five years from the date of issue of the first bond or note, or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine.
Article 5-Moved that the town appropriate the sum of $2,500.00 for the repairs of school buildings, this sum to be included in this year's tax assessment and collected in accord- ance with the Statutes and By-Laws of the Town.
Article 1-Moved that the committee on school needs appointed earlier in this meeting report at a special town meeting which shall be called at their request.
Article 1-Moved that the Board of Selectmen, C. W. Maxim and Wilson G. Harlow compose the building commit- tee for the Fire Station.
Moved to adjourn at 8.30 P. M.
WALDO S. THOMAS, Town Clerk.
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MARRIAGES RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF MIDDLE- BOROUGH DURING THE YEAR 1925
Date 1925 Name of Bride and Groom
Jan. 1 Joseph Ruda Eliza Patience Tripp
1 Alton Maurice Wood Madeline P. Burgess
21 James M. Millen Helen L. Small
26 Leo Quigley Gladys Irma Eaton
Feb.
1 John Alorie Emma Jane Thomas
Carver Carver
Middleborough
Methuen
Middleborough
5 Horace Elliot Baker Catherine Elizabeth McConnell
Orleans
11 Ezra Francis Shaw Gertrude Amelia Ball
Medford
Lakeville
Lakeville
14 Augustus Joseph Heath Elsie Sears Lewis
18 Francis J. Diotte Lioza A. Benjamin
23 Hugh Martin Matheson Sara Emma Thurston
Middleborough
Raynham
Lakeville
Mar.
7 Henry Donald Gray Irene Katherine Gay
Dennis Middleborough
17 Percy Calvin Hutchins Alice V. Grant
Taunton
29 George Sapatjian Rosie Tarzian
Middleborough Middleborough Brockton
Apr.
6 Arthur Warren Buckman Lillian Emily Hudson John Cayton Inez Evelyn Morris
27 Roy Wellington Taylor Alice Masury Kelly
Middleborough Middleborough New Bedford Middleborough E. Middleborough Reading
May
2 Edward Wilson Barstow Annie Belle Frances Matheson
10 Herbert Douglas Holmgren Ruth Jessie Matilda Main
18 Peter Otto Becker, Jr. Phyllis Washburn Sullivan
19 Manuel J. Viera Lila White
Residence
Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Nebraska
Middleborough
Middleborough Raynham
1 John Danielian Elizabeth Asadoorian
Middleborough
14 Wallace E. Washburn Laura Norris
Plymouth
Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough
Middleborough
25 Thomas Gordon Dill Ruth Elizabeth Peck
25
Middleborough Middleborough Cambridge Cambridge Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough
109
Date
Name of Bride and Groom
23 Mertys Weston Erwin Sarah Catherine Gomes
23 Wesley Vernon Tibbetts Emily Hazel Pratt
June 1 Thomas Sydney Theobald Elizabeth Shroeder
6 Gerard Franklin Shaw
Mildred Ada Taylor
6 Dexter H. Round
Helen A. MacDonald Frank Arthur Harris Winifred Stevens Deane
9
11 Rex Edward McDonald Arleen Agnes Callan
13 William H. Rogers Hattie Gabrey
14 Gardner Berry Tibbetts Helen Parker Bassett
14 Robert William Melville Viola Hammond Shaw
15 John Rice . Catherine Cecilia Casey 18 Mike Torosian Annie Nazarian
19 Earl Livingston Millerd Edith Harriet Clark
21 Chester Leon Poland
Edith Elizabeth Volkman
21 Dana Everett Bump Margaret Louise Faber
24 Augustus George Lattenville Irene Bertha Weightman Kenneth Maker
27 Effie May MacDonald
27 Charles Stearns Carver Winifred Saloma Berry
27 Romeo N. Trinque Mary Louise St. Onge
July
1 Alfred Martin Sousa Roberta E. Jones
2 Joseph Doucet
Germaine Deschenes
6 Herbert Elmer Godfrey
Beatrice Gertrude Staples
13 Homer Archie Letender Emma Mary Arsenault
25 Hermon Roosevelt Dyke Avis Cecelia Boehme
29 Alexander Eunes Potter Arleen Olive Lacey
Aug. 2 Prince Adelbert Thing Edith Myrtle Varney
Residence
E. Taunton
Middleborough Bridgewater Middleborough
Middleborough Brooklyn, N. Y.
Middleborough
Middleborough Norwood
Middleborough
No· Lakeville
Middleborough
Wollaston
Middleborough
Wareham
Middleborough
Bridgewater
Middleborough
Middleborough No. Carver
Taunton Middleborough
Concord, N. H. Middleborough
No. Lakeville Middleborough
Bridgewater Middleborough Middleborough Bridgewater
So. Carver
Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Hanson
Middleborough Bridgewater
Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Lakeville Middleborough Plympton
Brockton Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough
Middleborough Middleborough
110
Date
Name of Bride and Groom
4 Edgar Amos Gay Myra Pratt Simpson
8 Preston Andrew White
Orianna Jennie Thomas
9 Daniel Eldred MacNeil Gladys Mary Wambolt (Grim)
16 George Henry Jefferson Eleanor Freeman Sears
16 Elmer Thomas Dewhurst Vivian Stella Hartling
22 Robert Johnson Ruth Arenberg Jones (Arenberg) Lynn
22 James Edward Wesley Wilmot Louise Anna LeWillie
27
24 Charles Leopold Guertin Mary Elizabeth MacNeil William Jepson Elizabeth Ann Kippax
28 Lewis Webb Shaw Elsie Louise Griswold
Sept. 1 Leon R. Oldham Marie C. Mulcahy
5 Medardo Tornari Annie Cabral
7 Robert Kenneth Broadbent Alice Clara Laflamme
12 Paul Kendrick Guilford Marion Elizabeth Thomas
12 Harry Merton Stonemetz Bess Eddy
19 Nathaniel Francis Shurtleff Ruby Elvia Hayden
20 Ray Huntington Bearse Rebecca Hathaway Sears
23 Cornelius Earle Manchester Celina Joy
Oct.
3 Andrew Freeman Griffith Elsie Myriva Sawyer
3 Wesley Bernhardt
Serena R. (Coombs) Suttie
8 Emile Louis Pickard Dina Guidaboni
10 Romeo Mitchell Bazinet Elvira Manning Paty
18 Frank Zutaut Mary Ruzycki
23 Parker Henry Kennedy Thalia Stetson
24 Lawrence Kelley Catherine McMullen (Leonard)
26 Frederick John Mills Florence Mildred McGrady
Residence
Middleborough Bridgewater N. Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Wareham
Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough
Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Salem
Middleborough Attleboro
Middleborough Middleborough
Middleborough
Claremont, N. H. Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Newton Washington, D. C. Middleborough So. Carver Middleborough
Wareham Middleborough Dedham
So. Carver Middleborough Brockton
Brockton
Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Plymouth
Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Middleborough Lakeville Middleborough
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