USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1957 > Part 11
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CHESTER L. SHAW, Town Treasurer.
REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR OF TAXES
Year Ending December 31, 1957
Outstanding Taxes December 31, 1957:
Tax Levy, 1956 Real Estate
$14,920.61
Tax Levy, 1957 Real Estate
87,624.65
Tax Levy, 1956 Personal
1,219.14
Tax Levy, 1957 Personal
6,709.46
Tax Levy, 1956 Excise
260.36
Tax Levy, 1957 Excise
16,226.02
Tax Levy, 1956 Poll
18.00
Tax Levy, 1857 Poll
66.00
Tax Levy, 1957 Farm Excise
166.61
Tax Possession (Town Owned Property)
3,443.49
Tax Title Account (In charge of Treasurer)
2,108.40
$132,762.74
CHESTER L. SHAW, Collector of Taxes.
133
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES Under the Will of Thomas S. Peirce
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
We respectfully submit herewith, the Annual Financial Report of the Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce for the year ending December 31, 1957.
The schedules as listed present the current book values of the sev- eral items making up the two funds entrusted to our care, together with a report of Income and Disbursements of the two accounts, with state- ment of payments for the Use and Benefit of the Town of Middleborough and the amount paid to the Treasurer of Middleborough Public Library.
Fund Held in Trust for the Use and Benefit of Town of Middleborough
Stocks - Inventory value or cost
$204,088.30
Bonds - Inventory value or cost
121,188.41
Mortgages and Notes
77,872.34
Real Estate
47,927.30
Cabinet at Library
100.00
Office Equipment
155.50
Savings Bank Deposits
16,000.00
Cash on hand in checking account
9,364.66
$476,696.51
INCOME ACCOUNT Receipts
Rentals
$ 9,971.30
Dividends
12,655.71
Coupons
1,833.34
Interest
4,135.86
Insurance Payment
28.52
Refund of Taxes
37.80
Sale of Material
50.00
$28,712.53
Disbursements
Salaries, Trustees
$ 2,499.84
Janitor
1,200.00
Clerical Hire
266.25
Insurance
323.16
Repairs
2,436.33
Light and Heat
1,423.89
Water
577.86
Taxes, Real Estate
5,080.51
Taxes, Social Security
25.50
Sundries
319.33
$14,152.67
Net Income for the year Balance on hand, January 1, 1957
$14,559.86
$22,555.90
$37,115.76
134
ANNUAL REPORT
Paid for Use and Benefit of the Town
Superintendent Schools Department
$ 413.00
High School, Commercial Course
955.50
High School, Music Department Equipment, Piano
597.00
Equipment, Chairs
128.00
Roundsville Unit
1,037.08
Junior High School Manual Training Piano
219.55
Playground
56.25
Playground Drainage
614.10
Playground Operation
5,326.00
Playground Repairs
291.81
Town Improvements
Tree Replacement
1,608.50
$11,729.98
Balance on hand, January 1, 1958
$25,385.78
Fund Held in Trust for the Middleborough Public Library
Stocks - Inventory value or cost
Bonds - Inventory value or cost
Savings Bank Deposits
$25,469.85 24,609.52 9,316.03
$59,395.40
INCOME ACCOUNT
Receipts
Dividends
Coupons
$ 2,442.62 820.25
$ 3,262.87
Disbursements
Paid to the Treasurer of the Middleborough Public Library
$ 3,262.87
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR D. BENSON FREDERICK S. WESTON FLETCHER CLARK, JR. Trustees under the will of Thomas S. Peirce.
483.19
135
ANNUAL REPORT
Board of Public Welfare
REPORT OF THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT
The following is the annual report of the Department of Public Welfare for the year ending December 31, 1957.
The cost of General Relief during the year was increased consider- ably because of several recipients requiring prolonged hospitalization and the placement of seven children under the care of the Division of Child Guardianship at the expense of the Town. Our caseload averaged only 13 cases but included several large families.
Although our caseload in this category at the end of 1957 was the same as it was at the end of 1956, ten cases, the outlook for the coming year is not too bright. Lay-offs are occurring in our local industries and persons applying for Unemployment Compensation are on the increase.
Total payments made for Medical Care in the four categories com- bined increased during 1957. The rate of $5.75 per day was established by the Division of Hospital Costs and Finances for licensed nursing homes for all care given to public assistance recipients.
There was a revision of Modification for Clothing and Personal Care for recipients in licensed Boarding Homes, licensed Nursing Homes and Chronic Hospitals (Lakeville State Sanatorium). A male was allowed $9 monthly and a female $10.90 monthly for these needs.
On September 1, 1957, payments made for Old Age Assistance, Dis- ability Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children were increased 5.7%. This requirement was brought about by an increase in the cost of living index as reported by the Division on the Necessities of Life to the Department.
There was also an adjustment of the item of fuel because of the exhorbitant increase in fuel prices. It was mandatory that fuel allow- ance be given on a seasonal basis for September through May for the winter figure and June through August for the summer figure because it was felt that the relief recipients would not be able to save for their winter fuel.
Because of an act increasing the exemption from the income of em- ployed children in computing the resources of an aged parent under the Old Age Asistance law, twenty-six children became exempt from con- tributing toward the support of his parent and eighteen children had a decrease in his legal liability.
Of the twenty-eight applications for Old Age Assistance during 1957, twenty-one were approved and seven denied. Forty-six cases were closed because of deaths, transfers to another city or town, moved out of state or admitted to an institution or charitably incorporated home. One legally liable relative agreed to assume the full support of his parent.
136
ANNUAL REPORT
Our Old Age Assistance caseload at the end of 1957 was 23 less than it was at the end of 1956. Total expenditures for this type of assistance was somewhat higher than it was in 1956, due largely to the number of recipients requiring nursing home care.
A total of $14,441.44 was recovered in 1957 under the Old Age Assist- ance Lien Law (Section 4 Chapter 118A GL amended).
The caseload in the category of Disability Assistance was fairly constant and the expenditures remained about the same. At the end of 1957, we had 26 cases, one less than at the end of 1956. Sixteen applica- tions were taken for this type of assistance but only ten were approved. Our reason for closing ten cases was because of the death of four, medical data did not substantiate eligibility for one, resources in the families of three were in excess of their budgetary needs, one was admitted to a public institution and one attained the technical eligibility for Old Age Assistance.
In 1957, the greatest increase in expenditures occurred in the Aid to Dependent Children program because of increased costs of medical care for the eligible recipients and the discontinuance or irregularity of sup- port payments from deserted parents. Eighteen applications were taken for this type of assistance in 1957 but only one was denied. Twenty cases on this roll were closed because of various reasons.
Although our caseload was less than it was in 1956, the average payment in 1957 was greater in all categories.
Respectfully submitted, BARBARA D. NORVISH, Welfare Agent.
REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
For the year 1957 I received 245 applications for new and re- modelling work on plumbing. Twenty-three applications for cesspools and septic tanks.
Four hundred and sixty-five inspections were made of plumbing and thirty-four inspections on cesspools and septic tanks.
We have had considerable larger construction in 1957 such as new schools and new stores in the center of town. This and considerable remodelling work kept the plumbing work slightly ahead of 1956, even though new home construction decreased.
All written complaints during the year have been investigated and properly disposed of.
I have received wonderful co-operation from Mr. Stephen Horbal, manager of the Electric Department, Mr. Joseph Brown of the Gas Department, Mr. Albert Sears of the Water Department for which I would like to express my gratitude.
I wish to thank Mr. Wilson, Town Manager, members of the Board of Health and Mr. Robert Cartmell, Health Officer, for their co-operation.
HARRY ROWE, Plumbing Inspector.
137
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY
January 20, 1958.
Board of Selectmen, Middleborough, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The year 1957 was the eighth successive year of successful operation of the Veterans' Housing Project at Archer Court. The 28 apartments at the Project were fully tenanted throughout the year; while the turn- over of tenants was rather large, with six families moving during the year, the vacancies were filled immediately without loss of revenue.
The general physical condition of the property has been maintained at a very high level during the year. The seven buildings were painted two coats.
The Middleborough Veterans' Housing Project was constructed and is operated under Chapter 200 of the General Laws of Massachusetts to provide low cost housing to veterans of limited income. Low rents are made possible by a State subsidy, a maximum of $7,000.00 for Middle- borough. Admission to the Project is restricted to veterans whose family income ranges between $2,000.00 and $4,000.00 although if once admitted the veteran may remain until his family income reaches a maximum of $4,500.00 and is allowed a $200.00 deduction from his total income for more than three dependents.
The average shelter rent for 1957 was $39.11 and the average charge for all utilities, electricity, heat and water was $21.06 per month. The subsidy from the Commonwealth for the year amounted to only $5,081.56 and the Project ended the year with a surplus of $2,074.45. $1,008.00 was paid to the Town of Middleborough in lieu of taxes.
In May of 1957 Alfred M. Heath was appointed the State Member of the Middleborough Housing Authority for a term which will expire on June 23, 1961.
The voters, at the last Town Meeting, authorized this Authority to establish housing for the elderly. This was approved by the State Hous- ing Board pending a location to meet the requirements of such housing. After a survey this Authority selected the old Town Barn location bor- dered by Sproat, Park and Frank Streets, containing 1.98 acres and owned by the Town of Middleborough, since this site meets all the re- quirements of central location, transportation, churches, hospital, is within walking distance of the center of town and has town water, gas and sewerage. Purchase of this site now awaits the approval of the voters at the next town meeting in March of 1958.
The appended financial statement shows the excellent financial con- dition of the Authority at the end of the year.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT H. AYOTTE,
Executive Director.
138
ANNUAL REPORT
BALANCE SHEET December 31, 1957
Assets
Cash in Banks
$ 1,526.77
Accounts Receivable - Tenants
29.10
Fiscal Agent's Fund
7,187.50
Investments
15,242.16
Debt Service Trust Fund
662.10
Prepaid Insurance
654.82.
Development Costs, Unliquidated
250,000.00
Total Assets
$275,244.25
Liabilities
Accrued and Principal
$ 7,187.50
Tenant's Security Deposits
280.00
Bonds Outstanding
250,000.00
Reserves
15,702.30
Surplus, December 31
2,074.45
Total Liabilities
$275,244.25
Financial Statement January 1, 1957 - December 31, 1957
Income:
Dwelling Rents
$20,217.00 420.62
Total Income
$20,637.62
Expenses :
Administrative Costs
$ 2,711.58
Utilities
8,018.80
Repairs and Maintenance
2,371.05
Insurance
792.81
Payment in lieu of Taxes Provision for Reserves
1,008.00
1,528.00
Debt Service Requirements
9,132.93
$25,563.17
Deficit
4,925.55
State Contribution
5,081.56
Reduction from Prior Surplus
1,918.44
Surplus, December 31
$ 2,074.45
Miscellaneous Income
139
ANNUAL REPORT
Health and Sanitation
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Here follows my first full report as Health Officer for the Town of Middleborough. The report which was submitted last year for the year 1956 was written with some second-hand information as my appointment became effective in November of that year. The report for 1957 is, how- ever, from first-hand information and every effort has been made to be accurate and concise.
The responsibility of the Board of Health, its Health Officer, and its Health Agent is to cooperate with the State Department of Public Health in its programs, to enforce rules and regulations pertaining to health imposed by State and local authorities, and to provide health services to the Town and its people.
The State Department of Public Health has sponsored programs within the Commonwealth this past year for control of Infantile Paraly- sis, the control of "Asian Flu", and continuing progress in restaurant sanitation.
The local Board of Health through the Town Manager, the Health Officer, and the Health Department personnel has provided trash and garbage pickup at the homes of most town residents, an information serv- ice about diseases, their prevention and cure, and has provided financial assistance where necessary in the over-all program.
Trash and Garbage Pickup Service
The cooperation from the townspeople during 1957 was better than that experienced in the latter part of 1956. There were fewer violations of the rules and regulations about the size of containers to be used, and there were fewer cases of littering of the roadsides with trash.
With the closing of the Town Infirmary, the receipts from the sale of the furniture, hay, hens, and pigs was just over seven thousand dollars. The piggery operated at the Town Infirmary has continued to be in operation and the garbage picked up from the residents' homes has been delivered to the piggery for consumption by the pigs.
The trash picked up from the residents' homes has been dumped at the Town Dump off Plymouth Street near the Green. There is a fire hazard there and fires did break out during the past year endangering the woods and homes nearby. From time to time a bulldozer from the High- way Department spreads gravel trucked in by the Highway Department in an attempt to control the fire hazard and also to improve the general appearance of the area.
The chassis of the trash truck was replaced during the past year as authorized by the voters at the Town Meeting last March.
140
ANNUAL REPORT
Permits and Licenses
The largest number of permits issued during the year was for funeral directors to remove and/or bury deceased persons. There were two hundred two deaths which occurred within the geographical limits of Middleborough in 1957, forty-three more than in 1956. It is interest- ing to note again that heart and related diseases are still causing the most deaths, with a steadily increasing number each year. Malignant growths, commonly called cancer, are still the second greatest causes of death. Many of the persons who died in Middleborough were not neces- sarily residents of the Town of Middleborough. Many of the residents of rest and nursing homes are old and infirm patients. Their death rate is higher than for those who are working daily. Middleborough has many of this type of rest and nursing homes and those persons who died while patients there were not all residents of Middleborough. Females continue to outlive the males following the national trends of mortality.
Licenses were issued to the funeral directors in Town based on the certifications received from the State Board of Registration in Funeral Directing and Embalming. Day Camps, Nursing Homes, Rest Homes, Trailer Courts, Motels, Recreation Camps, and Slaughter houses were inspected and licenses were issued as the former licenses expired.
The discovery of a state law requiring the licensing of garages and similar business enterprises for the sale of methyl alcohol has brought additional income to the Town and has made those licensees more con- scious of the poisonous effects of this chemical and the regulations which have been made to control its sale.
Restaurant and Other Food-Handling Establishments
The program of inspections set up by my predecessor, Mrs. Miriam Campbell, has continued with the outside assistance of a State-approved laboratory service. There continues to be an improvement in the bac- terial counts taken by the swab test method. There were some reports which were not the best, but in each instance the owner or manager of the establishment was contacted and the results of the test brought to his attention. Re-tests were made from time to time to make certain that corrective measures were being initiated. The general attitude of restau- rant and other food-handling personnel towards this inspection program appears to be improving. There is interest developed about the outcome of the test - Is this test better or worse than the last one, etc? There is a request in the new budget prepared by this Department for additional funds to continue this program and to expand it by having more frequent unannounced visits by the laboratory service.
The School Cafeterias operated through the School Department were checked this year and they also continue to maintain high standards of cleanliness and acceptability from the bacterial count standpoint as well as the serving of good, nutritional meals to the school children.
Inspections have been made when a Common Victualler license appli- cation is filed and the Selectmen withhold approval of licenses until the rules and regulations of the Public Health Department are followed.
141
ANNUAL REPORT
Sewerage, Sewerage Control, and Cesspools
The Sewage Treatment Plant operated by the Water Department has continued to operate throughout the year. Occasional inspections have been made of the plant and its facilities. With the continuing ex- pansion of the sewerage trunk line throughout many of the streets in Town the problem of overflowing cesspools has become somewhat mini- mized. The separation of surface drainage from the sewerage along Center Street will cut the non-essential work load of the plant more and more as the project is finished.
The Plumbing Inspector, Mr. Harry Rowe, will give a detailed report of the cesspool permits, inspections, and plumbing permits and inspec- tions at the end of my report. His help and sound advice has made my job that much easier throughout the year.
Slaughter House, Milk Production, Animal Disease Control
Inspections of the slaughter houses in the Town were made this year with a representative of the State Department of Public Health. Certain deficiencies were noted and the owners concerned were notified. Correc- tion of these deficiencies were made by the owners and the overall situa- tion of the slaughter houses seems to be greatly improved.
The Inspector of Slaughter Houses, Milk Production Facilities, and Animal Disease Control Officer, Mr. John Rebell, will give a detailed report of his operations at the end of my report.
Communicable Diseases
Man's fight against disease, especially the communicable diseases seems to be a winning battle. The most recent successful campaign was that waged against Infantile Paralysis.
One of the newer communicable diseases, Equine Encephalitis, new to this area in 1956, has not manifested itself during 1957. Middle- borough had no reported cases of this disease.
"Asian Flu" was 1957's contribution to the list of communicable diseases, or sicknesses. The program of inoculation of those persons most likely to be exposed to it was conducted in Middleborough. The police- men, firemen, postal employees, teachers, and other Town employees were inoculated against this disease. Many of the State employees were inoculated in a cooperative program between the State and the Town. With the assistance of our modern day miracle drugs, the anti-biotics, the dread after-effects of "Asian Flu" were prevented in those instances where people did catch this malady.
There is listed below the number of reported cases of various com- municable diseases. No doubt there were many additional cases of cer- tain diseases which were not reported and therefore, they are not shown here.
Chicken Pox 107
Influenza 1 **
Mumps 44 German Measles 2
Scarlet Fever 10 Measles 1
Tuberculosis 2 Talaremia 1
Dog Bite 12*
There were no reported cases of smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough, or meningitis.
* Dog bite is most often the cause of Rabies
** Only one case reported, however, other cases are known to have devel- oped, but no doctor was called in.
142
ANNUAL REPORT
County Tuberculosis Control Program
The Plymouth County Tuberculosis Association has continued to help the cause of Tuberculosis control. In May of 1957, 1728 persons were X-rayed in a Mobile X-ray unit for signs of Tuberculosis. Special emphasis was placed on those persons over age sixty-five, for food handlers, and for industrial workers.
Two persons were hospitalized with Tuberculosis this past year, one in a State institution, one in the Plymouth County Hospital. Both patients have now been discharged. There is a State subsidy program to assist the local Boards of Health for those persons confined to a non-State operated institution for cure of tuberculosis.
Dental Clinic
Many of the school children were helped again this year in a coopera- tive dental program operated by the Health Department, School Depart- ment, and the local well-known service club, Kiwanis. Dr. Cannucci and Dr. Fuller, both Middleboro dentists, were the cooperating dentists.
Premature Birth Assistance Program
In 1957 there were six fewer premature births than the fifteen which occurred in 1956. The Public Health Nurse visited the homes of all nine prematurely born children to give nursing assistance, encouragement, and advice to the mothers. The Health Office gave financial aid in cases where parents could not afford to keep a child in the hospital until a weight of five and one-half pounds was reached.
Diphtheria, Smallpox , and Tetanus Control
There was no three-in-one diptheria, smallpox, and tetanus control program this past year. It has been the trend in recent years for parents to have their children immunized shortly after birth and the necessity for immunization before school age is no longer such a necessity.
It is planned to hold a series of clinics in the Summer of 1958 to make certain that all pre-school children have this necessary immunization.
Infantile Paralysis and Its Control
As mentioned above, the Infantile Paralysis control program which has been set up with the use of the Salk vaccine has combated this crip- pling disease to a large extent. The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis is continuing its gigantic program for assistance to those crippled by the disease through the annual March of Dimes Campaign. The Foundation has recently warned that the programs of inoculation must be continued in order to prevent future epidemics of this dread disease.
Over three thousand shots were administered to persons in Middle- borough during the different phases of the program conducted coopera- tively by the State and local Health Departments.
143
ANNUAL REPORT
In response to a letter from the State Department of Public Health, the Health Office contacted many of the industrial plants in an attempt to protect those employees at a minimum cost through a joint program between the State, Town, and Employers. However, there was little or no response to this program by the employers, so the Health Office tempo- rarily shelved this project.
The Public Health and School Nurses
A continuing program of cooperation with the School Department and its nurse, Miss Ila Jackson, and the Middleboro Nursing Association and its nurse, Mrs. Mary Edgerly was successfully conducted throughout the year.
The School Department and its Superintendent and the District Nursing Association and its Board of Directors deserve a vote of thanks from all of the townspeople for their genuine interest in the health of the townspeople and the school children.
After eleven years of service as Public School Nurse, Miss Ila Jackson retired on December 31, 1957. Her interest and faithful perform- ance of duties was evident at all itmes during my association with her. In her place Mrs. Mary Edgerly, former Public Health Nurse, will con- tinue the fine program Miss Jackson has maintained.
Mrs. Mary Edgerly resigned her position as District Nursing Asso- ciation Nurse in order to accept the appointment made by Miss Jack- son's retirement. Mrs. Edgerly has conducted herself at all times in a manner most becoming to her profession and to the organization which she represented, the Middleboro District Nursing Association. Her inter- est and cooperation manifested itself throughout the year.
Mrs. Marguerite McLaughlin has been appointed by the District Nursing Association to fill the vacancy created by Mrs. Edgerly's resignation.
For the Future
As all growing communities do, Middleborough needs some additional services for its townspeople. Mosquito control is one of those. A coop- erative program in the past by State, County, and Towns did a great deal to control these annoying pests. When the program comes to a vote again I urge that all townspeople support the program to its fullest extent.
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