USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1950 > Part 3
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Article ninety:
Mr. William S. Brewster moved: That the Town amend its by-laws relating to the Advisory and Finance Com- mittee by striking out paragraph ten, which reads: "The report of the Committee to the annual Town Meeting shall be in print, but reports on all other Town Meetings shall be in such form as the Committee shall deem advis- able."; and inserting in place thereof the following para- graph: "The report of the Committee to the annual Town Meeting shall be in print and shall contain a list of the regular annual departmental budget recommenda- tions, subdivided to whatever extent seems advisable to the Committee for vote by the Town, provided that salaries and personal services shall be segregated from other expenses, that any contemplated outlay for depart- mental equipment in the amount of $400 to $1,000 shall be set forth in the list of appropriations and subject to a separate vote, and that any contemplated outlay for new equipment in excess of $1,000 shall be voted upon under a separate article. Reports of the Committee on all other Town Meetings shall be in such form as the Committee shall deem advisable.
Mr. Reubin Winokur moved to amend: That the Town amend its by-laws relating to the Advisory and Finance Committee by striking out that portion of the by-law which was voted by the Town as Article 60 at the Town Meeting on March 23, 1940, and substituting therefor the following: That the Advisory and Finance Committee shall prepare and submit to the Town, in its printed
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reports for the 1951 and all subsequent Town Meetings, a list of the regular annual appropriations, so arranged that there shall be four separate appropriations for each department or office, the first to be the total of all salaries, the second to be the total of all labor payrolls, the third to be the total of all new equipment, and the fourth to be the total of all other expenses. No transfers are to be allowed from one of the appropriations to the other, unless in the event of emergencies only, said transfers are allowed with the written approval of the Advisory and Finance Committee. Any contemplated outlay for departmental equipment in the amount of four hundred dollars to one thousand dollars shall be set forth in the list of appropriations and shall be subject to a separate vote. Any contemplated outlay for new equipment in excess of one thousand dollars shall be voted upon in a separate article. The report shall contain a list of the names of all persons or groups of persons employed by the Town for whom a salary or wage increase is recom- mended by the Committee, which increase is included in the departmental appropriation recommended by it. It shall be the duty of the Committee to also include a list of new positions, created or to be created by any depart- ment or office and to make available for the voters at the Town House and other public places, not later than ten days prior to the Annual Meeting, copies of the Com- mittee's reports. The Moderator shall have the right to reappoint retiring members of the Committee. The report of the Committee for any Special Town Meeting shall also be printed or mimeographed and shall be available to the voters at the Special Town Meeting. The motion was lost.
The original motion was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article ninety-one:
Voted: That the Committee appointed under Article 90 at the Town Meeting held March 26, 1949, be instructed to
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prepare and submit necessary legislation to the General Court for the creation of a Commission of Public Works as outlined in the accompanying report, and that said legislation appear on the ballot for final vote by the Town. Said Committee shall hold two public hearings, one prior to the submission to the Legislature and the second prior to a vote by the Town.
Voted: That the Committee appointed under Article 90 at the Town Meeting held March 26, 1949, be instructed to prepare and submit necessary legislation to the General Court for the creation of a Commission of Public Safety as outlined in the accompanying report, and that said legislation appear on the ballot for final vote by the Town. Said Committee shall hold two public hearings, one prior to the submission to the Legislature and the second prior to a vote by the Town.
Article ninety-two:
Voted: That the Town authorize the Moderator to ap- point a committee of three members, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Health, to study Chapter 111, Section 128, of the General Laws, as amended, and make recommendations to the Town not later than the next an- nual Town Meeting regarding the acceptance of this sec- tion and the adoption of the minimum standards of fitness for human habitation promulgated by the Department of Public Health.
Article ninety-three:
Voted: That the Town accept from Charles R. and Annie L. Cross a parcel of land on the northerly side of Alden Street, described as follows: "Beginning at the northwesterly corner of the premises granted by Colling- wood Camp No. 4, S.U.V. to Charles R. Cross (Book 1916, Page 265) ; thence S 46° 30' W by land of McNamara about 140 feet to a point of curvature; thence by a curve to the left of radius 100 feet about 60 feet to land of McNamara;
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thence S 44° 13' E by land of McNamara about 58 feet to Alden Street; thence northerly by a curve to the right of radius 60 feet about 70 feet to a point of tangency; thence N 46° 30' E about 140 feet to a corner; thence N 43º 33' W 40 feet to the point of beginning," to be used for highway purposes.
Article ninety-four:
Voted: That the Selectmen be authorized and directed to appoint a Committee of five members who, with the Planning Board, shall be designated as a Zoning Board and authorized to draw up zoning by-laws under Section 27, Chapter 40, to report back not later than the next annual Town Meeting and that the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for expenses of said Board.
Article ninety-five:
That the Town direct the Selectmen to prepare a divi- sion of the Town into convenient voting precincts, not to exceed three in number, in accordance with Chapter 54, Section 6, of the General Laws.
Article ninety-six:
Voted: That the Town authorize the Moderator to ap- point a committee of five members to study representa- tive town government, to hold hearings and, if advisable, draft a tentative special act and report to the Town not later than the next annual Town Meeting and to raise and appropriate the sum of $100 for expenses of said com- mittee.
Article ninety-seven:
Mr. William S. Brewster moved: That the Town take no action under Article 97.
Mr. Reubin Winokur moved to amend: That the Town instruct the Board of Public Welfare to require and com- pel able-bodied recipients of general relief to work to the
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extent of the relief provided for them for any Town De- partment which requires them for such work, but the motion was lost.
The original motion was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article ninety-eight:
Mr. William S. Brewster moved: That the Town take no action under Article 98.
Mr. Leroy S. Williams moved to amend: That the Town direct the Moderator to appoint a committee of five mem- bers to study the need for organizing a town recreation commission, said committee to report to the Town not later than Jan. 1, 1951. The motion was lost.
The original motion was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article ninety-nine:
Mr. William S. Brewster moved: That the Town take no action under Article 99.
Mr. Arthur Estes moved to amend: That the Town au- thorize the use of the town property bordering on the southerly side of Mayflower Place and formerly used by the Town Infirmary but now unused, for a playground for small children at no expense to the Town. The motion was carried.
The motion as amended was put before the meeting and carried.
Article one hundred:
Mr. William S. Brewster moved: That the Town take no action under Article 100.
Mr. George C. Peterson moved to amend: That the Town authorize and direct the Board of Selectmen to sell and convey to Valentine J. Peterson and Rose A.
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Peterson a parcel of land belonging to the Town and situ- ated on the southerly side of Mayflower Place, the size of said parcel to be conveyed and the price to be paid therefor to be determined by the said Board of Select- men, provided the Welfare Board of the Town has released or will release any rights and jurisdiction that it may have over said parcel. The motion was lost.
The original motion was put before the meeting and carried.
Article one hundred one:
Mr. William S. Brewster moved: That the Beach Park Committee, appointed under authority of Article 53 of the March, 1949, Town Meeting, be continued for further study and report of their recommendations to the Town at the next annual Town Meeting.
Mr. Walter B. Haskell moved to amend: That the Town appropriate or transfer from available funds, the sum of eight thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars ($8,850) for the purpose of moving the bathhouse, laying water pipes, re-surfacing and grading and other necessary work at Beach Park, so-called, this money to be expended under the direction of the Plymouth Park Commission with the approval of the Beach Park Committee. The motion was lost.
The original motion was put before the meeting and carried.
Article one hundred two:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 102.
Article one hundred three:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 103.
Article one hundred four:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 104.
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Article one hundred five:
Mr. William S. Brewster moved: That the Town take no action under Article 105.
Mr. Lionel J. Moreau moved to amend: That the Board of Water Commissioners shall charge for annual use, identical rates and prices for the same amount of water wherever service is maintained regardless of geographical location within the Town. The vote was taken by a show of hands, 151 voting in the affirmative and 199 voting in the negative, the motion was lost.
The original motion was put before the meeting and carried.
Article one hundred six:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 106.
Article one hundred seven:
Mr. William S. Brewster moved: That the Town take no action under Article 107.
Mr. Howard P. Barnes moved to amend: That the Town authorize the Water Commissioners to undertake an en- gineering survey of the extension of water services along the so-called Carver Road and that the sum of $1,000 be raised and appropriated, or transferred from available funds, for such purpose. The motion was carried.
The motion as amended was put before the meeting and carried.
Article one hundred eight:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 108.
Article one hundred nine:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 109.
Article one hundred ten:
Voted: That the Town place under the supervision of the Park Department the so-called Morton Grain Mill
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Property, purchased for park purposes by the Town un- der Article 81 of the Town Meeting warrant of March, 1949.
Article one hundred eleven:
Voted: That the Town take no action under Article 111. Total Appropriations $2,267,552.40
Less:
From Excess and Deficiency:
Art. 19
$3,000.00
Art. 20
39,000.00
Art. 21 2,500.00
Art. 26
25,000.00
Art. 30
16,450.00
Art. 34
600.00
Art. 36
950.00
Art.
38
9,440.00
Art. 39
495.00
Art. 41
2,125.00
Art. 44
2,400.00
Art. 46
1,200.00
Art. 47
6,283.00
Art.
50
3,500.00
Art.
54
2,112.30
Art.
61
1,800.00
Art.
71
700.00
Art. 72
900.00
Art. 74
6,500.00
Art. 76
2,400.00
Art. 77
5,400.00
Art. 78
3,000.00
Art. 79
2,500.00
Art. 80
3,000.00
Art. 81
7,500.00
Art. 82
11,000.00
Art. 107
1,000.00
$160,755.30
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Art. 19 Reserve Overlay
7,000.00
Art. 62 Sale of Cem. Lots
2,000.00
Art. 63 Post-War Rehab. Fund 25,000.00
Art. 63 Stabilization Fund
55,000.00
Art. 73 Post-War Rehab. Fund
20,000.00
Art. 35 Parking Meter Receipts 425.00
Art. 63 Bond Issue - School 319,000.00
$589,180.30
$1,678,372.10
On motion of Herbert K. Bartlett, Voted: To adjourn.
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REPORT OF ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE on the Articles in the Town Warrants March 25, 1950
This year the Town is faced with the largest requests ever for departmental budgets, totalling over $1,720,000 or 14% more than was requested last year. We are also asked to take action on the longest warrant in the Town's his- tory-one hundred and twelve articles. You will be in- terested to know that your Finance Committee's consid- erations have been on a corresponding scale, in order to present to you our recommendations as to what action we believe should be taken. Our recommended expendi- tures for the Town's current needs and a healthy expan- sion of town facilities, industry, and tourist trade we feel are consistent with our financial ability to meet these requirements without incurring a tax rate which will discourage business, summer residents, and new building, or place an undue burden on all taxpayers. The following general comments may be helpful in understanding the basis for our recommendations, and may save time in discussions at the Town Meeting.
SALARIES
We invite your attention to the excellent report of the Salary and Wage Classification Committee, which is printed as an appendix to this report, and we urge your support of Article 85, which calls for the adoption of a by-law to put these recommendations into effect. Guided by this report and a corresponding one prepared by our Committee on the salaries of elected officials, and noting the tendency of wages to level off or decline slightly, we have adopted a policy of no wage increases for full-time
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employees. You will understand that this does not apply to the regular step-raises for the Fire and Police Depart- ments, where Civil Service regulations govern, or for school teachers. In fact, the only increase we are recom- mending is a raise of $200 (from $600 to $800) for the part-time Building Inspector to compensate him for a substantially increased amount of work.
The Personnel Board contemplated by the Salary and Wage Committee will, if established, provide a means whereby all recommended wage and salary increases for full-time town employees (exclusive of elected officials and School Department employees) can be given careful and proper consideration.
WELFARE
As you will see under Article 6, the total Charities' requests continued their alarming upward trend and ex- ceed by over $160,000 or 40% that actually expended last year. As our investigation of the operation of these de- partments is, so far as we can determine, forbidden to the Finance Committee by law, we have been forced to de- velop our own basis for our recommendations for this year's appropriations. We appreciate that our local welfare administrators are bound by an ever-increasing number of bureaucratic state and federal laws, but we feel that more careful investigation of cases and stricter application of existing laws is possible and will aid in stemming this increasing drain. In view of the many ramifications of this subject, and while we are in sympathy with the intent of Articles 86 and 97, we feel a special committee should be appointed under Article 87 to study this problem and make recommendations for improved efficiency and econ- omy in the operation of these departments.
SCHOOLS
The budget for the School Department shows requests of over $32,000 additional or 71/2% more than last year's expenditures, largely as the result of step-rate increases, which are felt necessary to keep our teachers' salaries in
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proper relation to those in other corresponding towns. We recommend that some of the increases be trimmed to the extent indicated in Article 6.
The special articles designated to meet the increased number of students in the Town have received consider- able attention from the Joint Building Committee, but unfortunately a specific cost figure and a location for the new elementary school in the Cold Spring area were not agreed upon by that committee at the time this report went to press. Recognizing the necessity for immediate action on this pressing matter, we have made a definite proposal under Article 63.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL
In spite of the diligent work of the Sewage Disposal Committee, it has not been possible to arrive at specific recommendations by the time this report went to press and we feel that a continuation of the existing committee will be necessary.
Following last year's practice, we are showing herewith a summary of departmental expenditures for 1949, as itemized in Schedule B of the Town Accountant's report included in the Town Report.
General Government
$73,000
4.1%
Protection of Persons & Property
185,000
10.1
Health and Sanitation
60,000
3.3
Highways
152,000
8.3
Charities
592,000
32.5
Veterans' Benefits
31,000
1.7
Schools
456,500
25.1
Libraries
21,000
1.1
Recreation
32,500
1.8
Unclassified
42,500
2.3
Water
117,500
6.5
Other Enterprises
1,500
.1
Cemeteries
27,500
1.5
Town Debt and Interest
30,000
1.6
$1,822,000
100.0%
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We also feel that the Town should know the disposition the Finance Committee has made of the $15,000 placed in their Reserve Account by the 1949 Town Meeting, the breakdown being as follows:
$15,000.00
Transfer from Reserve Overlay Transfers to:
Tax Collector's Dept., Other Expenses
$115.00
Assessors' Dept., Salaries
90.00
Assessors' Dept., Other Expenses
175.00
Election and Registration, Salaries
330.00
Town House Maintenance, Other Expenses
146.25
O. H. S. Maintenance, Salaries
30.00
Police Dept., Other Expenses
1,189.47
Fire Dept., Salaries
485.00
Fire Dept., Other Expenses
1,422.00
Forest Fire Payrolls
709.02
Forest Warden's Dept., Other Expenses
66.50
Health Dept., Salaries
200.00
Health Dept., Other Expenses
800.00
Collection of Garbage
425.00
Street Cleaning
1,000.00
Public Sanitaries, Salaries
360.00
Public Sanitaries, Other Expenses
152.25
Parking Meter Expenses, Treasury Dept.
40.00
Harbor Master, Other Expenses
20.37
School Dept., Other Expenses
1,500.00
Insurance on Town Property
23.23
Town Wharf Maintenance
300.00
Sewage Disposal Committee Expenses
2,500.00
Plumbing Committee Expenses
8.00
Total Transfers 12,087.09
Balance to Reserve Overlay
$2,912.91
The following summary of the expenditures recom- mended by your Committee for 1950 is presented to indi- cate what approximate tax rate will result if our recom- mendations are followed, and if the funds from other sources than the tax levy are as estimated. It is interesting to note that approximately each $26,000 of appropriations from the tax levy affects the tax rate by $1.00.
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SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Article 6, less reductions as noted
$1,597,144.92
Special Articles
215,180.63
State and County Assessments
109,319.11
Overlay (estimate)
20,000.00
Total recommended expenditures
$1,941,644.66
Estimated Receipts
$743,628.92
*Excess and Deficiency
122,600.30
Reserve Overlay (Article 19)
7,000.00
Parking Meter Fees (Articles 35 & 37)
3,606.00
Post-War Rehabilitation Fund
(Article 73)
20,000.00
Sale of Cemetery Lots (Article 62)
2,000.00
Total of funds from other sources than the tax levy
898,835.22
Net amount to be raised by taxation
$1,042,809.44
Polls
9,338.00
Total to be raised by real estate and personal property taxes
$1,033,471.44
Based on a valuation of $26,000,000, this total will require a tax rate of approximately $39.80.
We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the various departments and offices of the Town for the fine cooperation and the reasonable attitude they have shown us.
In closing, we will, of course, be glad to present our reasoning in reaching our recommendations on any par- ticular points where questions may arise, in order that the voters of the Town may reach their own conclusions on each issue.
Article 5. To see what action the Town will take with regard to fixing the salaries of elected town officers.
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The Committee recommends that the salaries of elected town officers be set, as of January 1, 1950, as follows:
Chairman of Selectmen $726.00
Other Selectmen (each) 363.00
Chairman of Assessors
2,871.60
Other Assessors (each)
2,429.60
Town Clerk
2,230.00
Town Treasurer
2,230.00
Collector of Taxes
3,470.00
Article 6. To make the necessary appropriations to defray the expenses of the Town and for other purposes and to raise sums of money as the Town shall deem ex- pedient.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT - 4.5% of total
Item Expended in No. 1949
Requested in 1950
Recommended for 1950
Selectmen:
1
$6,477.81
$6,480.50
Salaries
$6,480.50
2
1,512.82
1,955.00
Other Expenses
1,770.00
Town Accountant:
3
4,645.00
4,645.00
Salaries
4,645.00
4
490.78
500.00
Other Expenses
500.00
Treasurer:
5
4,034.80
3,992.08
Salaries
3,842.00
6
1,241.90
1,305.00
Other Expenses
1,205.00
Tax Collector:
7
5,055.00
5,055.00
Salaries
5,055.00
8
1,546.50
1,753.50
Other Expenses Assessors:
1,678.50
9
10,174.14
13,330.00
Salaries
10,476.97
10
1,296.62
1,575.00
1,182.40
11
1,600.00
1,750.00
Salaries
1,750.00
12
5,000.00
Tax Appeal Cases
5,000.00
13
66.30
100.00
Other Expenses Town Clerk:
100.00
14
4,082.50
3,992.08
Salaries
3,842.00
15
313.50
262.50
Other Expenses
232.50
16
140.00
200.00
Out-of-State Travel Town Engineer:
17
1,576.00
1,700.00
Salaries
1,700.00
18
274.96
310.00
Other Expenses
310.00
Other Expenses Law:
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Item Expended in No. 1949
Requested in 1950
Recommended for 1950
19
...
1,000.00
Other Expenses 1,000.00
Election and Registration:
20
1,821.68
2,320.69
Salaries
2,320.00
21
1,270.69
1,328.40
Other Expenses 1,327.00
Town House Maintenance:
22
1,343.50
1,343.50
Salaries 1,343.50
23
1,741.25
2,053.50
Other Expenses
1,770.00
24
1,135.43
763.88
Equipment 430.38
25
263.13
702.00
Repairs
206.00
Old High School Maintenance:
26
2,080.04
2,050.04
Salaries
2,050.04
27
1,360.70
2,694.00
Other Expenses
1,734.00
Town Hall Maintenance:
28
5,195.84
5,195.84
Salaries
5,195.84
29
2,853.63
3,630.00
Other Expenses
2,780.00
30
2,635.07
2,900.00
Fuel
2,700.00
31
1,073.00
Additional Lighting
200.00
$80,960.51
Total Gen. Government $72,826.63
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY 11.4% of total
Police:
32 $65,067.83
$67,845.00
Salaries
$66,650.00
33
5,805.90
40-hour Week
34
7,739.47
6,535.00
Other Expenses
6,385.00
35
150.00
200.00
Out-of-State Travel
150.00
36
800.00
New Cable
800.00
37
71,821.07
77,904.48
Salaries
75,646.48
38
9,124.70
9,260.00
Other Expenses
8,425.00
39
53.90
300.00
Out-of-State Travel 250.00
40
977.30
1,024.08
Liability Insurance, Trucks 1,024.08 New Radio 600.00
41
600.00
Building Inspector:
42
600.00
800.00
Salaries
800.00
43
157.28
225.00
Other Expenses 200.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures:
44
1,900.00
1,900.00
Salaries
1,900.00
45
326.66
400.00
Other Expenses
300.00
PUBLIC LIBRARY
PLYMOUTH, MASS.
Planning Board:
Fire:
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Item Expended in No. 1949
Requested in 1950
Recommended for 1950
Insect Pest Extermination:
46
2,016.64
2,017.04
Salaries
2,016.64
47
4,814.99
5,490.00
Other Expenses
5,490.00
Tree Warden:
48
1,250.00
1,250.00
Salaries
1,250.00
49
5,550.00
5,785.00
Other Expenses Forest Warden:
5,785.00
50
477.49
400.00
Salaries
400.00
51
2,075.97
2,075.00
Other Expenses
1,850.00
52
655.93
682.72
Liability Insurance, Trucks
682.72
53
2,509.02
2,100.00
Forest Fire Payrolls
2,100.00
Inland Fisheries:
54
300.00
300.00
Other Expenses
300.00
$193,699.22
Total Protection of
Persons & Property $183,004.92
HEALTH AND SANITATION - 3.5% of total
Health:
55
$9,981.35
$10,402.96
Salaries
$10,302.35
56
12,259.04
13,350.00
Other Expenses
12,925.00
Sewers:
57
5,600.00
5,600.00
Other Expenses
5,600.00
Garbage Collection:
58
17,859.52
17,785.00
Other Expenses Street Cleaning:
17,785.00
59
4,500.00
4,500.00
Other Expenses Public Sanitaries:
4,500.00
60
4,497.61
4,560.00
Salaries
4,500.00
61
576.45
550.00
Other Expenses
400.00
$56,747.96
Total Health & Sanitation $56,012.35
HIGHWAY - 7.3% of total
Roads and Bridges:
62
$5,738.00
$5,738.00
Salaries
$5,738.00
63
38,979.93
40,150.00
Other Expenses 40,000.00
Other:
64
30,649.05
19,250.00
Highway Construction
and Reconstruction 19,250.00
65
297.29
500.00
Setting Boundary Stones
500.00
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Item Expended in
No.
1949
Requested in 1950
Recommended for 1950
66
5,375.00
5,375.00
Repairing Hard-Surfaced Streets
5,375.00
67
6,600.00
6,600.00
Sidewalks
6,600.00
68
4,342.91
2,250.00
Granolithic Sidewalks
2,250.00
69
7,215.04
7,300.00
Snow and Ice Removal
7,300.00
70
1,500.00
1,500.00
Street Sprinkling
1,500.00
71
21,749.31
22,934.12
Street Lighting
22,435.00
72
399.96
500.00
Traffic Lighting
400.00
73
3,609.98
3,700.00
Traffic Signs, Painting, etc. 3,200.00
Harbor Master:
74
2,380.04
2,380.04
Salaries
2,380.04
75
312.37
337.00
Other Expenses
337.00
$118,514.16
Total Highway
$117,265.04
CHARITIES - 30.6% of total
Public Welfare:
76
$6,956.09
$9,070.26
Salaries
$8,710.35
77
84,556.77
120,951.00
Other Expenses
100,900.00
Town Infirmary:
78
3,350.28
3,350.28
Salaries
3,350.28
79
8,629.80
11,209.27
Other Expenses
9,050.00
Aid to Dependent Children:
80
72,000.00
102,640.00
Other Expenses
81,000.00
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