USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1935 > Part 4
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Number of non-residents in Middleboro Court
350
Nuisances
1
Summons served
150
Street obstructions removed
1
Sale of second hand automobile reported
450
Value of stolen property recovered and restored
$800
Warning tags on autos
100
AMBULANCE REPORT
Operated during the year 956 miles.
Number of calls during the year. 115
Number of accidents covered. 50 Number of calls for a patrol. 51 State Hospital at Taunton. 3
72
Carrying prisoners to Court. 10 The ambulance has been a great help to the department, carrying injured people from accidents to the hospital.
CONCLUSION
I wish to thank the Superintendent of Schools for the system he has installed into the schools for the education of the children in regards to traffic.
I wish to thank the operators of the local telephone exchange for the good service given the department, which has been a great assistance in our work.
I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for the assistance and co-operation given me by the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Fourth District Court, the people of the Town of Middleborough, and the officers of the De- partment, who have helped to make the administration of this department a success.
Respectfully submitted, 1 ALDEN C. SISSON, Chief of Police.
73
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Selectmen and the Town of Middleboro :-
We are happy to report that through a revision of policy under the ERA, it has been possible to prepare plans for projects under the WPA which should insure a large pro- portion of worthwhile projects for the utilization of Federal funds. Of course winter work is seldom profitable, and the rulings of the higher authorities may at times seem to inter- fere with our hopes, but we are much better situated with respect to intelligent planning.
The ERA saw fit to employ the chairman of the Planning Board to prepare plans for the WPA work, and a large part of our activities have been in the direction of cooperating in this matter. There have been few other Town projects requiring any amount of advance planning.
The WPA is now under way. The machinery creaks at times, such as pay days, but it is still too early to pass judgment on the program as a whole. We anticipated from advance announcements that it would be a great improve- ment over the ERA, but at the present any comparison would seem to favor the older system.
We would remind you that Federal money will not al- ways be available; that before long the Town will have to plan and pay for whatever improvements it desires; and that some provision should be made for financing advance planning of Town work.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL A. TRUFANT ENIS D. CROZIER JESSE CARPENTER, JR. ABNER H. SMITH EVERETT M. WILLIS
74
WATER DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Selectmen, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
The work in this department has been mainly in main- taining the existing plant in good condition.
The most important improvement was replacing an inch and one-half line in Myrtle Avenue with a six inch line connecting thru from North Main Street to Myrtle Street.
As has been our custom for several years past we have tested all the main gates and curb gates and repaired all needing attention. This work is necessary in order that we may be prepared for any emergency that might arise.
All hydrants have been tested and flushed twice during the year and necessary repairs have been made. We feel that this inspection is particularly necessary just before the winter sets in, in order that the possibility of frozen hydrants may be eliminated as far as possible.
The extension of the water mains into the sparcely set- tled districts the past few years years has been a source of considerable expense and trouble to the maintenance department. On all these lines it was anticipated that more property owners would take advantage of town water than have done so, so that those who have connected with these new lines are constantly complaining of the bad taste of the water, caused by the installation of new mains. This requires frequent flushing of the hydrants, which places an added burden on the Pumping Station and filteration plant, as well as the time of the men in doing the flushing.
We have continued this year the practice established ten years ago of checking all meters which have been in use for five years. This policy has more than repaid the expense in the additional revenue which has come to the department by reason of correct registering meters.
75
PUMPING STATION
The conditions at the pumping station are anything but ideal, but they are serving their purpose for the present.
The steam turbine has given out but is now undergoing repairs which will cost about $500.00, and will be in fairly good usable condition when it is put into service again.
It has been necessary to renew the coke in the reisler this year and next year it will be necessary to renew the sand in the sand filter.
I must renew my recommendations of last year, and those were; additions to the filter plant, additional filtered water storage and a new gas-electric pump to replace the present steam turbine unit.
I wish to thank all those who have assisted so faithfully in helping to keep the plant in the high state of efficiency it is now in.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE,
Town Manager & Supt. Water Dept.
76
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1935.
Population by census of 1935-8865. Date of con- struction-1885. By whom owned-Town of Middle- borough. Source of supply-well south of village near Nemasket River. Mode of supply-pumped direct over- flow to standpipe.
PUMPING STATISTICS
1. Builders of Pumping Machinery, two Goulds Electri- cally Driven Centrifugal main units; 1 Gould driven by Moore Steam Turbine, and 1 DeLaval complete turbine and pump, auxiliary units.
2. Description of fuel used:
(a) Electric power for Main Units
(b) Bituminous coal for auxiliary units
(c) Price per K.W.H .- average $.0206
(d) Average price of coal per Net ton, delivered $7.75 K.W.H. consumed for the year
(a) Main Pump 162,424
(b) Filter Pump 29,946
3. Coal consumed for the year, heat and power, lbs. 57,956
4. Total pumpage for the year, passed through meters, gal.
110,076,000
5. Average Static head against which pumps work in feet 295
6. Average dynamic head against which pump works, in feet 300
7. Number of gallons pumped per K.W.H. Main pump only 671.2
8. Duty equals gallons pumped (4) Less *x8.34 lbs. x 100 x dynamic head (6) divided by total K.W.H. Consumed by main pump 166,418,491
77
9. Cost of pumping figured on Pumping Station Expenses $9,758.09
10. Per million gallons pumped $88.71
11. Per million gallons raised one foot dynamic 0.295
*Of total amount 2,041,000 gallons were pumped by steam.
STATISTICS OF CONSUMPTION OF WATER
1. Total population 1935 Census 8865
2. Estimated population on lines of pipe 5925
3. Estimated population supplied 5470
4. Total Consumption for the year
110,076,000
5. Passed through meters, gallons
89,576,250
·6. Percentage of consumption, metered 81.4
7. Average daily consumption, gals.
301,578
8. Gallons per day to each inhabitant 51
9. Gallons per day to each consumer 55
10. Gallons per day to each tap 219
11. Cost of supplying water per million gallons figured on total maintenance $72.07
12.
Total cost of supplying water, per million gallons figured on total maintenance plus interest on bonds and bonds $96.07
STATISTICS RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Mains.
1. Kind of pipe-cast iron, wrought iron
- 2. Sizes-1 inch to 16 inches
3. Extended during year, feet
210
4. Total now in use, miles
27.46
5. Length of pipe less 4 in. in diameter, miles
.105
6. Number of hydrants in use
205
7. Number of stop gates smaller than 4 in. 1
8. Number of blow offs 10
9. Range of pressure on mains
Services. 84-120
10. Kind of pipe-wrought iron, cement lined, cast iron
78
11. Sizes-1/2 inch to 6 inches
12. Extended, feet
884
13. Total now in use, miles
15.80
14. Number of service taps added
9
15. Number of service taps discontinued
2
16. Number now in use
1388
17. Average length of service, feet
60.10
18. Number of meters added
3
19. Number of meters now in use
1324
20. Percent of services metered
98
21. Percent of receipts from metered water 99
22. Number of motors 0
TOTAL LENGTH OF MAIN PIPE
16 in. 12 in. 10 in. 8 in. 6 in. 4 in. 2 in. 112 in. 1 in.
Total 144,988
Total length of miles 27.46
Number of hydrants added, 1 205
Number of Main gates added, 4
301
Number of blow offs added, 0
10
Service connections made, 9
1388
Number of services now taking water
1349
Feet of service pipe put in during the year, feet
884
Feet of service pipe within street lines
37,785
Meters set during the year
3
Meters now in use
5/g in. 333
1 2
Trident
244
1
2
1
Lambert
206
1
Worthington
154
Hersey
242
1
4
3
1
3
1
Federal
73
4
Nash
14
4
2
Keystone
23
Empire
1
1
1
Crown
1
-
1290
2
10
14
3
4
1
Total
1324
1/2 in. 34 in. 1 in. 11/2 in. 2 in. 1324
3 in.
American
400 13,204.9 17,919 21,873.5 74,419.2 14,615.2 2,510.7 40.9 4.6
WATER DEPT.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS-DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WATER ANALYSIS
Appearance
Residue on Evaporation
Ammonia
NitrogenAs
No.
Date of Collection
Turbidity
Sediment
Color
Total
Free
Albuminoid
Chlorine
Nitrates
Nitrites
Hardness
Iron
Mu.
Alk.
dist.
cons.
fil
261498
Dec. 31 '34
iron
4
73.0
. 144
. 038
7.6
. 400
.000
31.
4.8
.90
262829
Mar. 12 '35
dist.
cons.
3
. 092
. 038
7.0
.200
. 000
38.
3.30
. 70
261499
Dec. 31 '34
iron
20
79.0
.140
. 044
7.6
. 400
.000
29.
4.60
. 80
262830
Mar. 12 '35
sì.
cons.
6
. 110
. 020
7.0
.200
.000
34.
2.80
. 65
261500
Dec. 31 '34
vsl.
none
68.0
.000
006
7.4
.300
.000
30
42
.00
262831
Mar. 12 '35
vsl.
none
8
.002
. 012
7.0
.200
.000
33.
: 28
.00
263884
May 7 '35
dist.
cons.
73.0
.120
. 044
6.4
. 150
. 000
22.
2.20
. 60
263885
May
7 '35
dist.
sl.
15
71.0
. 044
. 020
6.6
.550
000
22.
1.30
.55
17 Outlet to coke filter
263886
May 7 '35
vsl.
none
13
68.0
.000
.008
6.2
. 600
.000
25.
. 15
. 02
266763
Sept. 3 '35
dist.
V. cons.
33
.112
. 088
6.8
.400
000
33.
3.40
.90
266764
Sept. 3 '35
dist.
cons.
13
156
.056
6.6
. 400
.000
25.
3.20
. 80
266765
Sept. 3 '35
vsl.
none
18
.000
. 026
6.6
. 600
. 000
20.
.55
.00
15 Final Effluent Inlet to coke filter Outlet to coke filter Final Effluent
79
24 Inlet to coke filter
dist.
cons.
fil.
25 Outlet of coke filter
fil
12
22 Final Effluent
6
18 Inlet to coke filter
*
Total
PUMPING STATION RECORD 1935
Total
Coal used Pounds
Filter Supply Time Pumping
Month
Hours
Minutes
Hours
Minutes
Minutes
Gallons
Pumped
Daily
Average
K.W.H. used Main Pump
Daily
Average
Power
Station
Heater
Hours
Minutes
Minutes
K.W.H. used
Filter Pump
Average
.
January
165-35
5-30
5-32
9,757,000
314,742
14,494
467
2800
6073
252-30
8- 8
2509
80.9
February
149-40
4-30
5-30
8,850,000
316,071
13,125
468
1029
4012
212-50
7-36
2231
79.6
March
156-25
5-55
5-14
9,281,000
299,387
13,709
442
3100
3855
229-10
7-23
2376
76.6
April
156-35
4-15
5-21
9,251,000
308,366
13,740
458
1597
3163
252-
8-23
2521
84.
May
150-55
8-
5- 7
9,029,000
291,258
13,250
427
3100
1596
232-
7-29
2353
75.9
June
146-25
8-40
5- 7
8,668,000
288,933
12,818
427
2295
267
225-25
7-31
2283
76.1
July
164-50
5-
5-29
9,637,000
310,871
14,346
462
2800
256-20
8-16
2585
83.3
August
172-37
3- 5
5-40
10,053,000
324,290
15,043
485
834
282-25
9- 6
2840
91.6
September
144-20
7-30
5-36
8,587,000
286,203
12,602
420
3640
591
238-30
7-57
2396
79.9
October
152-10
7-30
5- 9
9,075,000
292,742
13,341
430
1985
1789
294-10
9-29
2772
89.4
November
144-10
6-45
5- 2
8,612,000
287,066
!12,330
411
3100
2939
248-15
8-16
2434
81.1
December
158-37
5-
9,276,000
299,225
13,626
439
2989
4400
269-17
8-41
2646
85.3
Totals
1902-19
64-40
110,076,000
162,424
29,269
28,685
2992-52
29,946
Daily Averages
5-23
301,578
445
8-12
82.
Greatest number of gallons pumped in one day, 462,000 gallons, August 4 Least number of gallons pumped in one day, 188,000 gallons, July 21 Of total pumpage, 2,041,000 gallons were pumped by steam pump.
RALPH SAMPSON, Engineer.
80
1
Main Pumps Time Pumping Electric, Steam
Hours
Daily Average
Daily
Hours
Daily Average
7
81
RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE RECORD 1935
Temperature Degrees
Precipitation Inches
Rain and
Month
· Highest Lowest
Mean
Snow- Melted Snow fall
January
57
-18
22.77
5.88
1914
February
50
-13
28.6
3.08
81/2
March
67
4
38.32
1.96
April
81
18
44.45
5.22
1/4
May
83
28
54 .
1.79
June
87
42
64.13
3.87
July
90
44
71.64
4.75
August
90
44
67.7
1.60
September
81
31
60.
3.74
October
77
22
50.82
1.59
November
68
21
45.56
6.72
114
December
52
0
27.05
1.50
314
Totals
41.70
321/2
Mean for the year
48.02
- Below Zero
RALPH SAMPSON, Observer.
82
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
For the Year Ending December 31, 1935
Record of the annual town meeting January 21st, 1935 with its adjournments.
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers, the following officers to be voted on one ballot, viz: A Moderator for one year, a Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for one year, two members of the School Board for Three years, one member of the Planning Board for five years, and two Selectmen for Three years.
Meeting called to order at eleven o'clock A. M. by Moder- ator Clark, and the warrant was read by the Clerk.
Voted that the polls be opened at 11:30 A. M. and re- main open until 8 P. M.
The following Election Officers were sworn in :- Luke F. Kelley, John F. Perry, Luke F. Callan, Ralph W. Maddi- gan, Harold S. Thomas, Frank S. Thomas, John J. Mahoney, Stephen F. O'Hara, August St. Armand, Sarah A. Connor, Mary S. Cromwell, Lucy H. Harlow.
The result of the vote was as follows:
Moderator
Fletcher Clark, Jr.
1876
Blanks
536
-2412:
Town Treasurer & Collector of Taxes
Elmer G. Allan
873
Samuel Breck
1439
Blanks
100
-2412.
83
Selectmen
John S. Cobb
497
George A. Donner
457
Alexander Heath
671
Frederick Lobl
1808
Romeo Millette
803
163
Harold S. Wood Blanks
425
--- 4824
School Committee
Olive L. Wood
1
Robert G. Butler
1454
L. Francis Callan, Jr.
1404
Allan R. Thatcher
1074
Blanks
891
4824
Planning Board for Five Years
Abner H. Smith
1596
Blanks
816
2412
To vote on the following question mark a cross
Question: Shall the operation of Section 105B of Chap- ter 131 of the General Laws, requiring for the taking of fur- bearing animals the use of traps that kill at once or take such animals alive unharmed, be suspended within this town?
Question No. 1
Yes
734
No
574
Blanks
1104
2412
Total Vote 2412. Precinct 1 :- Women 30 Men 64
Precinct 2 :- Women 934 Men 1384
84
Article 2: To raise such sums of money by tax or other- wise, as may be necessary to defray the expense of the Town for the current year, appropriate the same and to act on anything in relation to the assessment and collection of taxes for the year.
Voted: Departmental appropriations amounting to $407,463.59
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1935, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Voted: that the town of Middleboro authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, or a majority thereof, to borrow during the municipal year beginning January 1st. 1935, in anticipation of the revenue of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the cur- rent expenses of the town, but not exceeding the total tax levy of the preceding financial year, as provided in Section 3, Chapter 719, General Acts 1913, and amendments thereto, giving the notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the date thereof, all debts incurred under authority of this vote, to be paid from the revenue of the present municipal year.
Article 4: To hear the report of any committees or officers of the town; to appoint any committee, and act thereon.
Voted: unanimously to accept report of Chief Sisson.
85
The following report was read by the Police Station Com- mittee :-
The Committee after several meetings were ready to present plans at this town meeting for a new police station but since the town meeting warrant was prepared certain conditions have arisen which make it impossible to serve the best interest of the Town under the article in the present warrant. Your Committee therefor recommends that the Selectmen be instructed to call another town meeting as soon as possible and prepare an article for the warrant calling said meeting that will be broad enough to meet present conditions; the Committee to continue in office and make a full report at that meeting.
Signed,
ALDEN C. SISSON, Chairman FREDERICK S. WESTON, Clerk WILFRED J. CROMWELL ANTHONY C. COOMBS Police Station Committee.
Voted :- to request a report from minority of committee appointed to revise Town Charter.
Mr. Albert A. Thomas read the following report :--- Preliminary Report to Town of Middleborough by Albert A. Thomas and Hiram J. Archer, as members of committee of seven appointed under authority of vote of Middleborough Town Meeting of 1933 "To examine the so-called charter or statute under which the town is now operating and to report at a future meeting such recommendations for changes in its provisions as may seem to them desirable."
The committee so appointed having now had nearly two years in which to perform the duty so enjoined, we feel that
86
further delay in making its report is not warranted and that we are justified in offering to this meeting a statement of the changes we personally think desirable, therefore we as individual members submit the following preliminary report for consideration of the voters:
Examination of the charter and discussion with many who have had ample experience in the operation of the machinery of our government impress us with the following weaknesses of our present plan and difficulties in its operation.
First: Our present plan was designed to be a manager form of government consolidating all departments under authority of the board of Selectmen with active adminis- tration of our government by the manager. This object our present charter accomplishes only in part, because two very important departments, the public welfare and the fire department, are not included in the plan, but left in- dependent as under the old form. We recommend that if the present plan is to be continued these two departments be included with the others to effect the object intended.
Second: As the selectmen are over burdened by pressing duties of their office, we are of the opinion that the prepara- tion of our town budget should be under the direction of a finance committee. We therefor recommend that a finance committee be provided for and constituted as in the town of Norwood, of three members elected by the people and ineligible to hold any other office under authority of the town while members of such committee. A finance com- mittee so constituted would at once prove an invaluable aid in checking extravagance and irregularity in operation of town affairs and at the same time render an indispensable service to the voters by giving them full and timely in- formation and advise concerning proposed expenditures and actual operation of the departments. Such a com- mittee, endowed with somewhat more authority, than the
87
ordinary, last-minute-functioning, budget committee, has served the town of Norwood effectively for more than thirty years.
Third: The selectmen are hampered in their work and subjected to criticism and ill-feeling by the necessity of making appointments of non-elective offices of various de- partments, since the necessary choice of one from a number of candidates entails disappointment of others and their friends and supporters. This embarrassment could be relieved by election of officers now appointed by the select- men, or perhaps the whole evil could be much minimized by creating a permanent unpaid board invested with power to appoint and remove all appointive officers, leaving to the selectmen the appointment and removal of the town manager only. This board of appointment might well consist of five members composed of the moderator of the town and the member oldest in point of service of each of the following boards and committees; board of selectmen, board of trustees of public library, school committee, and finance committee. A board of appointment so constituted would surely be as wise in its selection and as unbiased by political or other favoritism as we could expect an appoint- ing body to be. Such a board might relieve us to a large extent from the evils inherent in either appointment by an elective body like the selectmen or election by popular vote in a large community where the qualifications of individual candidates is often not well known. Such a board, more- over, might prove a salutary check on any tendency to over-manning of offices. We suggest that such appointing board be created with appropriate powers unless officers now appointed by the selectmen are to be elected.
Fourth: The town manager under our present charter is given the extraordinary power of approval of all bills of all departments under his supervision. The manager in Mansfield and Norwood has no such power, and such author-
88
ity is manifestly not consistent with good business practice. No officer should have authority to do practically all the buying for every department of the town and also have authority to approve all the bills he and the department under his supervision incur. The power of approval of bills should be transferred to the selectmen where it nor- mally abides and belongs; and the selectmen in performing this duty should have the aid of a vigilant finance committee to investigate and report to them when required.
Fifth: It would seem desirable that the selectmen who are given all the powers and charged with all duties of administration through their appointee, the town man- ager, should be trusted to retain a good manager and should not be practically forced to retain a bad one, which our charter effectively insures by requiring the selectmen to show cause at a public hearing in the face of political clamor why they should be allowed to remove a manager whose removal they deem advisable. The provision of the charter requiring them to justify by written accusation and public hearing the officer through whom they are responsible for administering the business of the town gives that officer an effective political veto on his own dismissal and would enable a politically minded manager once appointed to retain office indefinitely, though his administration were not in harmony with the policies the board of selectmen deem in the best interest of the town. We therefor recommend that removal as well as appointment of the town manager be given into the sound discretion of the board of selectmen.
Sixth: It also seems desirable that we should be able to make changes in our plan of government consistent with the General Laws of the Commonwealth without the delay and expense incident to procuring special legislation by the General Court. We recommend that our charter be amended to provide for making such changes by procedure substantially in accordance with Section 23 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
89
In conclusion of this preliminary report, let us say that we shall be glad to offer to consideration of the voters a fur- ther report embodying a redraft of the charter incorporating any of the changes herein suggested that meet with their approval.
Respectfully submitted, ALBERT A. THOMAS HIRAM J. ARCHER
Voted: to lay report on table for one week and that re- port be published in Middleboro Gazette.
Voted: to hear letter written to Mr. Clark by Kendrick H. Washburn, chairman of committee to revise town charter.
Hon. Fletcher Clerk, Jr. Town Moderator Middleboro, Mass.
February 18, 1935.
Dear Sir:
In view of the fact that the illness which prevented me from attending the Town Meeting held on February 11th and has confined me to my home since that time, still con- tinues to require me to remain at home under medical care, I believe that I should place this communication in your hands before to-night's meeting to correct whatever im- pressions those who attended last week's meeting may have received by reason of the submission of a so-called pre- liminary report of two members of the Committee appointed to examine the town charter and make such recommenda- tions as may seem reasonable. This may be read into the record as a comment on the report now on file or as a separ- ate report which should be placed before the voters of the
90
town out of fairness to the remaining members of the Com- mittee who have worked faithfully on the subject matter referred to them.
It is well known that the functioning of this committee was delayed for some time by reason of the illness and death of the former chairman which necessitated a replacement and reorganization of the Committee. Since that time however, I take distinct exception to the insinuation that the Committee has not functioned or has been guilty of any undue delay. The Committee is composed of business and professional men who have many interests to attend to so that it has been almost impossible to set a time for meetings which was satisfactory to all, and in view of the fact that all the members were conscientious and anxious to make a full and complete report on the subject matter which was of a technical nature and all had valuable ideas to submit, an effort was made to make the time and place of the meetings as convenient as possible to all. As a matter of fact, the Committee was holding meetings up to within a very few days before Christmas, which were interrupted by the ensuing holiday season and then by the campaigning for the Town elections.
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