USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1950 > Part 5
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State Parks and Reservations
1,221.29
County Tax '
29,609.86
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment
11,252.06
Overlay of Current Year
19,490.22
Gross Amount to be Raised Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
$1,079,857.93
562,272.43
Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation
$517,585.50
Value of Personal Estate
$853,195.00
Tax
$42,659.75
Value of Real Estate
$9,369,355.00
Tax
468,467.75
Total Value of Assessed Prop- erty January 1, 1950
$10,222,550.00
Tax
$511,127.50
Value of Omitted Property
37,420.00
Tax
1,871.00
Total Value of All Assessed Property December 31, 1950 $10,259,970.00 Rate per Thousand, $50
Tax
$512,998.50
Number of Polls Assessed
2,998
Tax
$5,996.00
59
ANNUAL REPORT
Taxes Committed in 1950
Commitments on Polls
$5,996.00
Commitments on Personal Estate
44,346.75
Commitments on Real Estate
468,651.75
Commitments on Motor Vehicles and Trailers
61,681.11
Total Taxes Committed
$580,675.61
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
Number of Motor Vehicles and Trailers Assessed
4,893
Value of Motor Vehicles and Trailers Assessed
$1,766,110.00
Tax on Motor Vehicles and Trailers Assessed
61,681.11
Rate Per Thousand
$44.16
Abatements and Exemptions
Taxes Abated in 1950
Poll
Personal
Real Estate
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
Levy of 1948
$211.22
$53.65
Levy of 1949
$22.00
10.80
291.60
$259.76
Levy of 1950
934.00
1,067.50
11,759.03
3,562.37
Number of Live Stock Assessed
Horses
78
Neat Cattle
1,022
Swine
15
Fowl
54,050
Sheep
17
All Other
373
Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed
2,606
Number of Acres of Land Assessed
37,573.12
Exempt Property
Property of the Commonwealth
$31,500.00
Property of the United States
105,000.00
Literary, Benevolent, and Charitable Institutions
381,920.00
War Veterans
3,860.00
Churches
340,140.00
Parsonages
28,025.00
Cemeteries
54,035.00
Schools
450,450.00
All Other
2,221,180.00
Total
$3,616,110.00
Respectfully submitted, FRED F. CHURBUCK JAMES E. HOULIHAN W. LLOYD STURGIS
Board of Assessors
60
ANNUAL REPORT
REGISTRAR'S REPORT For the Year Ending December 31, 1950 After adding the new registrations and deducting for removals, the present registration is as follows:
Men
Women
Totals
Precinct 1
229
187
416
Precinct 2
2178
2068
4246
Precinct 3
291
304
595
2698
2559
5257
Conforming with new legislation, the voting list is being arranged by streets and will soon be ready for the printer.
WALDO S. THOMAS,
Clerk of the Board.
REPORT OF THE TOWN TREASURER OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS December 31, 1950
WATER EXTENSION BONDS PAID BY TAXATION
Note Nos.
Amount
Date
Due Date
Interest
142-188
$47,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1951
11/2 %
189-235
47,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1952
11/2 %
236-282
47,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1953
1 1/2 %
283-329
47,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1954
1 1/2 %
330-376
47,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1955
11/2 %
377-423
47,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1956
11/2 %
424-470
47,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1957
1 1/2 %
471-516
46,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1958
1 1/2 %
517-562
46,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1959
11/2 %
563-608
46,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1960
1 1/2 %
609-654
46,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1961
11/2 %
655-700
46,000
July 1, 1947
July 1, 1962
1 1/2 %
SEWERAGE BONDS PAID BY TAXATION
18-34
$17,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1951
1 3/4 %
35-51
17,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1952
1 3/4 %
52-68
17,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1953
1 3/4 %
69-85
17,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1954
1 3/4 %
86-102
17,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1955
1 3/4 %
103-119
17,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1956
13/4%
120-135
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1957
13/4 %
136-151
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1958
134 %
152-167
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1959
13/4 %
168-183
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1960
13/4 %
184-199
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1961
1 3/4 %
200-215
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1962
1 3/4 %
216-231
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1963
1 3/4 %
232-247
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1964
134 %
61
ANNUAL REPORT
248-263
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1965
1 3/4 %
264-279
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1966
1 3/4 %
280-295
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1967
1 3/4 %
296-311
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1968
1 3/4 %
312-327
16,000
December 1, 1949
December 1, 1969 . 1 3/4 %
TRUST FUNDS IN CUSTODY OF TOWN TREASURER
December 31, 1950
Maria L. H. Peirce Fund:
Middleboro Trust Company, Savings Accounts
$3,798.74
Enoch Pratt Library Fund: Middleboro Savings Bank, Savings Account
$418.75
United States Savings Bond, Series G., 21/2 %, due February, 1956 5,000.00
United States Savings Bond, Series G., 21/2 %, due December, 1956 5,500.00
10,918.75 3,000.00
Mary Hullahan Library Fund:
15 shares Middleborough Co-operative Bank, Income to be used for purchase of books for children, to be placed in Middleborough Pub- lic Library, and to be known as the "Mary Hullahan Collection."
Cemetery Trust Funds in Middleborough Trust Company and Middleborough Savings Bank, including principal and interest at time of last State Audit, Nov. 1, 1950 95,948.96
$113,666.45
Anyone wishing a detailed list of Cemetery Trust Fund Accounts may apply at the Town Treasurer's Office.
CASH RECONCILIATION
December 31, 1950
Middleborough Trust Company $149,282.76
Day Trust Company, Boston 101,000.00
Day Trust Company, Boston, Sewerage Acct. 50,000.00
First National Bank, Boston, Sewerage Acct. 13,851.21
First National Bank, Boston, Water Acct.
1,697.91
Merchants National Bank, Boston 1,000.00
Cash in office 320.00
$317,151.88
United States Savings Bonds, Series F, 2.53%, due July 1956 Cost $74,000.00 - Maturity Value $100,000.00
CHESTER L. SHAW, Town Treasurer.
62
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR OF TAXES Year Ended December 31, 1950
Outstanding Taxes December 31, 1950:
Tax Levy, 1949 Real Estate
$11,718.00
Tax Levy, 1950 Real Estate
50,402.73
Tax Levy, 1949 Personal
1,648.80
Tax Levy, 1950 Personal
8,762.75
Tax Levy, 1949 Excise
52.43
Tax Levy, 1950 Excise
4,406.81
Tax Levy, 1949 Poll
10.00
Tax Levy, 1950 Poll
28.00
Tax Possession (Town Owned Property)
1,123.42
Tax Title Account (in charge of Treasurer)
1,046.67
$79,199.61
CHESTER L. SHAW, Collector of Taxes.
Protection of Persons and Property
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit the forty-second annual report and detailed state- ment of duties performed by the Police Department of the Town of Middleborough for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1950.
Chief of Police Charles H. Rogers
Deputy Chief of Police William C. Elliott
Sergeant William E. Gardiner
William W. Briggs Joseph S. D'Elia William E. Gardiner
Patrolmen Robert C. Germaine Irving I. Jefferson Louis W. Hammond
Raymond J. Moffett
63
ANNUAL REPORT
William Hayward
Ellis Bell
Honorary Chief of Police Alden C. Sisson
Honorary Patrolman Alton R. Rogers
Special Police Officers
Lloyd Banks
Richmond Matthews
Lloyd Bazinet Francis Bell
LeRoy Mawhinney
Arthur Benson
James McDonald
Norman Belrose
George Mckay
Alfred Benoit
John F. Mello
Ernest Crowell
Patrick McMahon
Francis Crowley
George Neilson
James DeMoranville
Lawrence Olson, Sr.
John Dutra
Roy Pendleton
Joseph Dutra
John Rebell
Leonard Ditano
John Rinehart
Charles Guertin, Jr.
Ralph Sampson
Clarence Hayward
Clarence Shaw
H. John Hayward
Louis Tessier
Harold Jackson
William Watson
Douglas MacAuley
Ralph Wilber
OFFENSES
Female
Juvenile
Total
Assault and Battery
Male 29
6
0
35
Breaking and Entering in Night-
time and Larceny
14
0
0
14
Breaking and Entering in Daytime and Larceny
4
0
0
4
Capias
19
0
0
19
Drunk
135
5
0
140
Insane
3
5
0
8
Larceny
39
4
0
43
Motor Vehicle Violations
128
3
0
131
Non-Support
29
2
0
31
Operating Motor Vehicle Under In- fluence of Liquor
64
0
0
64
Operating Motor Vehicle So That Lives and Safety Might Be En- dangered
106
2
0
108
Neglect of Children
3
4
0
7
Adultery
2
2
0
4
Assault on Police Officer
1
0
0
1
AWOL Army
1
0
0
1
Carrying Revolver Without Permit
1
0
0
1
Contempt of Court
6
0
0
6
Criminal Trespass
2
0
0
2
Destruction of Property
1
0
0
1
Disturbing the Peace
7
0
0
7
Custodians
Benjamin Mackiewicz
64
ANNUAL REPORT
Escapee from State Farm
1
0
0
1
Failure to Work on Order
1
0
0
1
Fish and Game Law Violations
9
1
0
10
Hunting Deer in Closed Season
3
0
0
3
Idle and Disorderly
1
0
0
1
Illegitimate Child Act
10.
0
0
10
Illegitimate Child Support
1
0
0
1
Illegal Possession of Firearms
6
0
0
6
Lewd and Lascivious Speech and Behaviour
4
2
0
6
Malicious Destruction of Property
1
0
0
1
Neglected Child
0
0
9
9
Non-payment of Wages
4
0
0
4
Resist Arrest
1
0
0
1
Statutory Rape
2
0
0
2
Stubborn Child
0
0
2
2
Trespass
5
0
0
5
Violation Board Health Laws
1
0
0
1
Violation Road Laws
1
0
0
1
Vagrancy
2
0
0
2
Violation Airplane Regulations
1
0
0
1
Unnatural, Lascivious Act with An- other
2
0
0
2
Arrests for Other Departments
7
0
0
7
Lodgers
46
0
0
46
STATISTICAL REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
Cost of Court Assessments
$14.00
Amount of Fines Imposed in Middleboro Court
$5,258.00
Buildings Found Open
136
Cases Investigated
669
Disturbances Quelled Without Arrest
127
Defective Street Lights Reported by Police
119
Arrests for Year, Total
712
Males
636
Females
40
Juveniles
46
Non-residents
332
Local
380
Summons served
191
Sales or Transfers of Autos
3,497
Traffic and Parking Violation Warning Tags
118
Defective Lights on Motor Vehicles, tagged
19
Bicycles Registered in 1950
126
Value of Stolen and Lost Property Recovered
$2,370.50
5
0
0
5
Suspicious Person
ยท
CONCLUSION
We are equipped with two cruisers, one of which can be converted to use in ambulance service. A combination patrol wagon and ambulance. Our three-way radio is now set up so that we have direct communication available with Plymouth, Carver, Kingston, Duxbury, Pembroke and Marshfield.
65
ANNUAL REPORT
The ambulance has covered 461 miles for the year; of this 45 calls were for accidents, total mileage 370. Fifteen calls for patrol, total mileage 91. Sixty-three persons were taken to the hospital in the ambu- lance.
Cruiser Car No. 1 travelled 13,043 miles in patrols and investigations. Cruiser Car No. 2 travelled 13,738 miles in patrols and investigations, a total distance for both cars 26,781 miles.
There were five fatal accidents in 1950. Three of these were on Route 28, one on Route 44 and the other on Archers Court.
I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for the assistance and co-operation given by the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Finance Board, the Fourth District Court, the Superintendent of Schools and the teachers, the telephone operators, the staff of St. Luke's Hospital, the people of Middleboro and the officers of this Department who have helped to make the administration of this department a success during my first full year of office.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES H. ROGERS,
Chief of Police.
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit for your consideration and approval the twenty- ninth annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1950.
Apparatus
2 -500-gallon pumpers
1-750-gallon pump
1 - Dodge patrol truck
1 - Forest Fire tank truck
1 - Quadruple 750-gallon double bank ladder 1-1,000-gallon pump
Organization
1 - Chief
43 - Call members
1-Deputy Chief 10 - Substitute members
11 - Permanent men 66 - Total members
South Middleboro unit - 13 members.
Operation
Box Alarms
False Alarms Squad Calls 38 Warden Calls 25 4
Inhalator
16
1
Stills Out of Town
130 1
South Middleboro unit - 19
Total calls - 233
66
ANNUAL REPORT
PROPERTY LOSS Buildings
Assessed valuation
$31,595.00
Total insurance
63,663.84
Estimated damage Insurance paid
29,648.01
Loss not covered by insurance
6,300.01
Contents
Estimated valuation
$38,700.00
Total insurance
25,000.00
Damage to contents
12,336.27
Insurance paid
6,516.27
Loss not covered by insurance
5,820.00
Inspections
Property
218
Oil Burners
208
Bottled Gas
106
Gasoline
Respectfully submitted,
BERTRAM TRIPP, Chief of Fire Department.
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1950.
Warden Calls Still alarms for grass and brush
25
28
Total
53
Estimated damage $235.00
Cost of Extinguishing
Wages
$330.60
Maintenance and operation
299.07
$629.67
For Burning Grass
Receipts $89.50
Respectfully submitted,
BERTRAM TRIPP,
Forest Warden.
14
35,948.01
ANNUAL REPORT
67
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES
Number of miles traveled
1,536
Number of inspections
400
Number of re-inspections
23
Number of change-overs
94
Number of temporary meters
22
Number of new installations
74
EMILIO N. NIRO,
Wire Inspector.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen; Middleboro, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit for your consideration and approval the report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures Department for the year 1950.
We are housed at 13 Forest Street, where the State Standards are kept under lock and key at all times. The Town equipment or working equipment have at regular intervals been compared and adjusted to these Standards.
The revenue turned in to the Town Treasurer's office for the past year is as follows:
Sealing Fees
$442.25
Adjusting Fees
6.40
$448.65
Respectfully submitted,
LLOYD E. BANKS, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Scales
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed
Platform over 10,000
1
4
100 to 5 000
82
132
Under 100
91
149
Capacity Measures
Tanks:
Liquid - 1 Gal. under Meters
1
117
1 Inch or Less
19
89
More than 1 Inch
5
19
Bulk Storage
2
3
Oil and Grease
8
21
Yardsticks
17
49
68
ANNUAL REPORT
Reweighing
Total Tested
Number Correct
Under
Over
Beans
44
22
3
19
Bread
66
5
1
60
Butter
55
53
2
Candy
44
44
Cheese
66
61
5
Fruit and Vegetables
22
11
11
Lard
22
22
Onions
22
11
11
Oleomargarine
44
44
Potatoes
99
99
Feed and Grain
22
22
Totals
506
295
6
205
Respectfully submitted, LLOYD E. BANKS, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
During the year, the following trees were removed:
1 Maple Tree
21 Elm Trees
1 Chestnut Tree
A special appropriation was made to cut out the dead wood on the elm trees to control the Dutch Elm Disease. This work was carried on, more or less, in the center of the Town in the last year. It is intended to carry on the work in the coming year. Also many dead limbs that had become a hazard to persons and property have been removed.
The following trees were planted during the year:
18 Norway Maple
6 Lindens
6 Nut Ash
LOUIS FORNEY, Tree Warden.
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
Number of dogs picked up
137
Number of dogs sold
3
Number of dogs redeemed by owners 86
Number of dogs dead on highway 54
Number of dogs destroyed for individuals
112
Number of dogs destroyed
48
Number of cats destroyed for individuals
520
Respectfully,
ARTHUR F. BENSON, Dog Officer.
69
ANNUAL REPORT
Health and Sanitation
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Contagious Diseases
This year has been very mild as to the prevalence of diseases of a contagious nature. Chicken pox, measles, and mumps have been the most outstanding. Scarlet fever has been on the increase but the cases reported have not been grouped to indicate a serious condition. Three cases of typhoid fever and only one case of poliomyelitis has been reported.
Deaths
Conditions of the heart and the circulation system is still the number one cause of death to be reported for 1950. The rate of stillborn has dropped again from that of 1949.
There was issued a total of 134 burial and removal permits of 1950, an increase of 12 over 1949.
Dental Clinic
Dr. L. H. Fuller, D.M.D., and Mrs. Mary Edgerly, R.N., conducted the weekly dental clinic held at the Union Street School during the past year.
There were 1,480 examinations of pupils in the grade schools. There were 188 pupils treated from the 1st and 2nd grades. Sodium fluoride was used on 24 pupils.
During the year there were 208 fillings done, 55 extractions made and seven cleanings.
There were 17 special cases in which each child had considerable dental defects and these were treated, thus enabling the child to have better health.
From the survey of the 24 children that were treated with sodium fluoride in 1949, the following is the result of one year difference: Ten of these children had between ten to twenty cavities and 14 had less than 10 cavities before December 1949. When these were examined in Decem- ber 1950, only nine had developed new cavities and 15 had no new cavities. The result shows a great decrease in cavities by the use of such treatment.
Diphtheria Clinic
This year's clinic was held in the spring under the direction of Dr. S. A. Silliker, M.D., and Mrs. Mary Edgerly, R.N., assisted by the Middle- boro Nursing Association.
Again there have been no cases of diphtheria reported in the town for the past year. It should be kept in the minds of the parents that a child that has not been immunized or given a booster dose against diph- theria will be the one to suffer from the disease.
70
ANNUAL REPORT
Garbage Collection
Although there have been several changes in this department's per- sonnel, the Board has tried to prevent complaints from householders because of garbage not being collected. All complaints were taken care of at the earliest possible time.
The garbage truck has been kept in as good condition as possible in order to keep it on the schedule of collection, and only the necessary repairs were made. Due to the age of the truck with the extensive need of repair and overhauling of the motor, the amount of welding that has been done to prevent leaking of the body, which has been a monthly process, it would be advisable to purchase a new unit rather than expend a large sum to repair.
Inspections
All restaurants are complying with the rules and regulations con- cerning sanitary conditions. Cafes and roadside stands are complying also.
Overnight cabins and recreational camps have all been inspected and are complying with the State and Town laws. There have been several new overnight cabins and recreational camps opened this year.
All complaints were investigated and conditions of nuisances, unsani- tary places, and sources of filth were abated or official orders were issued to close such places. One court case was necessary to have the order complied with.
The hospital, convalescent homes, homes for aged were inspected and all are very satisfactory.
Licenses Issued
Alcohol license
3 Hospital 1
Bottling plant
1 Ice cream manufacturer 2
Convalescent home
1 Overnight cabins 8
Funeral director
4 Pasteurization 3
Home for aged
2 Recreational camp 4
Rubbish Collection
The amount of rubbish that has to be collected still continues to increase. However, the rubbish collection is done with hardly any com- plaints.
All householders should be advised that the placing of rubbish in paper bags is not proper. This type of container gets wet, tipped over and allowed to spill over the sidewalk and street before the collection is made. Conditions like this should be stopped and proper containers used, if the householders expect to have their rubbish collected. Branches, limbs and trees that are not properly cut in lengths easily handled will not be collected. Large oil drums filled with rubbish will not be collected.
Town Dump
Although this is under the supervision of the board, it is necessary to expend money to keep this place from becoming a nuisance in itself. Persons using the town dump other than the health department should
71
ANNUAL REPORT
place their rubbish where they are asked to dump it by the dump custodian and not in the roads and fire breaks, or set fire to the dump after they have deposited their rubbish.
Tuberculosis
There are only two persons in the Plymouth County Hospital, a decrease of three from the past year.
Monthly X-ray clinic is still held at the St. Luke's Hospital for all persons in need of chest X-ray by their physician.
An X-ray survey was made of all students of the Bates and the High Schools.
Conclusion
I wish to thank all the employees of the Department for their co-operation, Dr. L. H. Fuller, Dr. S. A. Silliker, Mrs. Mary Edgerly, Middleboro Nursing Association, and all others that assisted the board in the proper functioning of the health matters in the town.
B. N. CAMERON, D.V.M.,
Health Officer.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK, ANIMALS AND SLAUGHTERING
Milk
All producers of milk have a certificate of registration issued by the division of dairying.
All milk dealers have a license issued by the milk control board and one also issued by the Town of Middleboro to sell milk and cream.
Fifty samples of milk were taken to Brockton for analysis - two cases of mastitis were found during these tests.
One hundred sixty-one restaurants, roadside stands and stores, 53 milk trucks, 21 dairy barns were checked for conditions of caring for milk, also 84 checks were made on dairies and producers on handling milk.
21 Oleomargarine licenses issued
$10.50
78 Stores milk and cream licenses issued
39.00
24 Dealers milk and cream licenses issued
12.00
Total
Animals
A survey of 182 premises and 135 herds was made for the State with the following report:
Cattle
1,194
Sheep
94
Calves
144
Bulls
43
Horses
95
Steers
12
Goats
86
Swine
249
$61.50
72
ANNUAL REPORT
Eleven dogs were put under quarantine during the year.
Seventy head of cattle were checked at private auctions for the State.
Three permits were received from State to ship cattle into Middle- boro and 13 head were shipped in under these permits.
All cattle in Middleboro were tested for tuberculosis during the year.
Monthly reports were sent to the Department of Public Health on any slaughtering done as required by State.
I wish to thank the Board of Health and all persons I have come in contact with doing my work for their assistance and co-operation.
JOHN REBELL, Inspector of Milk, Animals and Slaughtering
REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
For the year 1950 I received 251 applications for new and remodel- ling work on plumbing, 32 applications for cesspools and septic tanks.
Three hundred and seventy-two inspections were made of plumbing and 38 inspections of cesspools' and septic tanks.
All written complaints during the year have been investigated and properly disposed of with the exception of three cases. These cases are being investigated, and with the co-operation of the Board of Health and Dr. Cameron, will eventually be taken care of.
I wish to thank Dr. Cameron, Health Officer, Mr. Macdonald, Town Manager, and the Honorable Board of Health for their co-operation.
HARRY ROWE, Plumbing Inspector.
Board of Public Welfare
REPORT OF THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT
To the Town Manager:
The programs of public assistance continue to grow both in services available to indigent persons and the cost for providing these services.
The policies of the State and Federal Governments are continually being liberalized, thus making the expenditures by the local department
73
ANNUAL REPORT
mount into higher figures. Of course, the State and Federal Governments reimburse the local department for a considerable portion of the amounts expended for Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children and, therefore, the burden is not completely borne by the local taxes. Inasmuch as the State and Federal Government do reimburse a large portion of these expenditures, it is made mandatory by them for us to pay the amounts established by the state standard budget to recipients and fur- nish certain services which they may require.
In the General Relief division of the Department, the entire expense is borne locally without reimbursement, except for amounts chargeable to other cities and towns and an occasional unsettled case which is chargeable to the State. It is, therefore, possible to a reasonable degree to hold the General Relief appropriation under control.
During 1950, the Congress of the United States amended the Social Security Act to provide greater benefits for recipients of Old Age and Survivors Insurance. At the same time, they created a new category of relief for the totally and permanently incapacitated people over the age of 18 years. This new category has not yet been set up on the state level and so has not affected the expenditures of 1950. The liberalized Social Security amendment became effective October 1st and it did make pos- sible a reduction in our monthly expenditures from that date in Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children. Very little effect can be noticed in the yearly expenses, however, due to an increased caseload. Our caseload for Old Age Assistance as of December 31, 1950 was 345; for Aid to Dependent Children, 46 and for General Relief, 74.
It may be noted that the salary expenditures were higher in 1950. This was due in part to the fact that it was necessary to hire a Junior Clerk-Stenographer to handle the increased amount of clerical work caused by the increased caseload. Automatic step-rate increases in sal- ary to personnel working under the State Welfare Compensation Plan accounts for the remainder of the increase.
The Town Infirmary is a locally supported institution of which the Town may be proud. It provides a home for many people who would otherwise by without a decent place to stay and without proper food. It has been kept in good repair at a very reasonable expenditure. Most of the equipment is not modern but in good order and adequate. Much of the food for the people who live there is grown on the farm and the revenue from the hogs and produce sold has greatly reduced the cost of keeping the inmates in this home. Long hours and efficient management on the part of the Superintendent and Matron have kept the administra- tive expenses at a minimum. The net cost to maintain the average inmate at the Town Infirmary is $4.25 per week, compared with an average of approximately $25.00 per week which it would cost to keep the same per- son in a private boarding home.
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