USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1954 > Part 16
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The regular maintenance work was carried on as usual in these cemeteries. The Hurricane Carol caused considerable damage in the cemeteries of the Town, both to the trees and the monuments. Approximately thirty trees were destroyed in Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries. There is much work necessary this Spring in trimming the remaining trees.
The project of painting the chain link fence is nearly completed, this fence is approximately 4680 feet long.
The new water main was installed in the northerly part of Vine Hills Cemetery and is giving good service. This is greatly appreciated by the lot owners in that section.
BURIAL HILL
On Burial Hill two of the largest elm trees were destroyed by Hurricane Carol, and considerable work was done in having them removed.
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The brick steps at the south end of the cemetery were relaid and put in a safe condition. The walks were repaired and several fences painted and repaired.
The work of recutting and capping more of the historical stones on Burial Hill was an important project of the year.
OUTLYING CEMETERIES
The approaches and roads in the Outlying Ceme- teries were repaired this year.
A new plan of the Manomet Cemetery was completed by the Town Engineer, Edward Chase. We hope to install a new water main at the Manomet Cemetery which will supply water for the new section of that cemetery.
The fence at the Cedarville Cemetery was repaired and put in a safer condition.
The following appropriations are recommended for 1955:
Salaries
$11,575.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries 14,895.00
Burial Hill 4,685.00
Outlying Cemeteries
3,500.00
Special Appropriations:
Fill for Vine Hills Cemetery Addition 2,000.00
Water Pipes for Manomet Cemetery 1,000.00
From Sale of Lots and Graves:
Oak Grove and Vine
Hills Cemeteries $1,500.00
Outlying Cemeteries
300.00
1,800.00
JOHN B. FINNEY, Chairman. RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE, F. WILLARD DITTMAR, Board of Cemetery Commissioners. HOWARD L. PRIESTLEY,
Superintendent.
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ASSESSORS' REPORT
Official Valuation of
Real Estate
$36,025,600.00
Official Valuation of Personal Property 4,982,725.00
Aggregate Value
$41,008,325.00
Exempted Under Chapter 59:
Real
$6,570,750.00
Personal
2,187,100.00
8,757,850.00
Assessed Value Available for Revenue
$32,250,475.00
To Be Raised by Taxation:
State Tax
$7,894.77
County Tax 90,684.46
Tuberculosis Hospital 47,448.15
Town Appropriations 2,389,856.51
Overlay
32,195.95
Underestimates 1949-1950-1951-1952
623.82
Total Amount to be Raised by Taxation $2,568,703.66 Estimated Receipts including Dog Tax voted by the Town to be used by the Assessors $821,267.86
Over-Estimates for the Year 1953
to be used as Available Funds 3,807.33
Out of Available Funds Under
Approval by Commissioners
of Corporations and Taxation 276,825.00
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds $1,101,900.19 Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation on Polls and Property $1,466,803.47
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Division of Taxes:
Personal Property, January 1
$126,362.25
Real Estate, January 1 1,331,359.22
Polls, March 1 9,082.00
Total Taxes to be Raised on
Polls and Property
$1,466,803.47
Rate of Taxation $45.20 on $1000.
Warrants to Collector:
Real Estate
$1,331,359.22
Personal Property
126,362.25
Polls
9,082.00
Water Liens
841.79
Additional Real
1,595.56
Additional Personal Property
164.98
Additional Polls
72.00
Total Warrants to Collector $1,469,477.80
Exempted under Section 5, Chapter 59, General Laws, as Amended:
Houses of Religious Worship $428,850.00
Charitable, Benevolent, Literary, Educational 1,558,375.00
Parsonages Exempted 63,225.00
United States of America
172,700.00
Town of Plymouth
2,720,900.00
Commonwealth of Mass. 442,200.00
County of Plymouth 1,184,500.00
Total Exempted under Sec. 5, Chapter 59,
General Laws as Amended $6,570,750.00
TABLE OF AGGREGATES Number of Persons, Firms and Corporations Assessed on Property 14,399
Polls Assessed 4,541
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Polls Exempted under Clauses 17A and 18 Chapter 59, or Section 8, Chapter 58 657 Polls Exempted under Section 71, Chapter 59 121
Polls Exempted under Acts 1950, Chapter 796 (Men in Armed Forces)
141
Horses
40
Cows
76
Swine
202
Sheep
16
Fowl
25,512
All Other
45
Dwelling Houses
9,500
Acres of Land
70,000
Motor Vehicles and Trailers Assessed under Motor Excise and Trailer Law:
Value of Motor Vehicles and Trailers
Registered (1953)
$721,800.00
(1954) 2,754,620.00
Number of Motor Vehicles and Trailers
Assessed (1953)
1,263
(1954) 6,336
Warrants to Collector (Motor Excise and Trailers)
(1953) $18,270.67
(1954)
117,564.23
State Rate on Motor Vehicles and Trailers $51.86 on $1000.
ROBERT A. CARR, Chairman, WILLIAM H. BARRETT, CARL W. RAYMOND, Board of Assessors.
NANNIE A. PRATT, Clerk
KATHRYN M. TASSINARI, Clerk
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ABATEMENT ACCOUNT
Levy of 1949: January 1, 1954 Deficit
$4.65
1954 Appropriation
4.65
Levy of 1950:
January 1, 1954 Deficit
8.16
1954 Appropriation
8.16
Levy of 1951:
January 1, 1954 Deficit
128.80
1954 Appropriation
128.80
Levy of 1952:
January 1, 1954 Deficit
$482.21
Abatements:
Personal
29.52
Real Estate
111.96
Real Estate (Tax Titles)
137.76
761.45
1954 Appropriation
482.21
Overdrawn (To be appropriated in 1955)
$279.24
Levy of 1953:
January 1, 1954 Balance
$15,905.65
Abatements:
Personal
$257.60
Real Estate
98.56
Real Estate (Tax Titles)
125.44
To Reserve Overlay
9,643.62
10,125.22
December 31, 1954 Balance
$5,780.43
Levy of 1954: 1954 Overlay $32,195.95
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Abatements:
Poll
$1,838.00
Personal
1,774.10
Real Estate
24,237.37
Real Estate (Tax Titles)
81.36
27,930.83
December 31, 1954 Balance
$4,265.12
Reserve Overlay:
January 1, 1954 Balance
$11,634.44
From Overlay of 1953
9,643.62
December 31, 1954 Balance
$21,278.06
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The Board has had a very active year holding many public hearings and meeting with practically every department of the Town at some time during 1954.
Fifty-two plans for recording were signed as not requiring the approval of the Planning Board and three subdivision plans were approved by the Board as required by law.
We have spent a great deal of time on the parking problem and have prepared a report which will be presented to the Town at the annual meeting, and an article has been inserted in the Warrant asking your approval of our recommendation to provide an up-to- date parking lot at the rear of the Memorial Building, and another article in which we recommend the continuation of the study of the whole problem.
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Much thought was given to the matter of the disposition of the old Town House, and we have discussed the problem with various committees, private organizations, and individuals, and a full report of our findings has been prepared and this will be made to the Town at the annual meeting.
The engineer who is preparing the master plan of the Town has again presented it to us for our inspection and the Board is entirely satisfied with its progress and we are asking for an appropriation for its completion.
Articles also will be found in the Warrant asking some revisions in the Town Zoning By-Laws. We are glad to recommend them as we believe they are for the best interest of the Town.
JAMES A. WHITE, ELLIS W. BREWSTER, AMEDEO V. SGARZI, A. LINWOOD ELLIS, JR., WALTER H. NEAVES,
Plymouth Planning Board.
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PLYMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Plymouth Housing Authority maintained full oc- cupancy of the 40 housing units in the Plymouth Housing Project throughout the year 1954, except for short periods for interior decoration after tenants had vacated and be- fore new tenants moved in. The Authority planned the exterior painting of 13 buildings which had not been painted since the erection of the project, but it was de- termined to reject all of the bids in view of the fact that the low bid was made by an out-of-state firm for a figure which seemed to the Authority absurd, and not sufficient to assure a satisfactory job. By the time the legal form- alities were completed it was too late to paint in 1954 and exterior painting will be the first major project of 1955.
The Authority attempted to gauge the public demand for Housing For the Aged during the summer of 1954, with a view to the possible erection of a new project for elderly Plymouth citizens, but the response was so slight that no further action was taken.
Income limits and rental charges may be summarized as follows:
Minor
Admission Limits
Continued Occupancy Limit
Rent
Dependents
One or less
$3,650.00
$3,900.00
18% of Income
Two
3,775.00
4,025.00
16% of Income
Three or More* 3,900.00
4,150.00
14% of Income
*$100 deduction from total income for each minor de- pendent child in excess of three.
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PLYMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY Plymouth 200-1 Mass. BALANCE SHEET - DECEMBER 31, 1954 Assets
Administration Fund:
Plymouth National Bank $6,747.58
Plymouth Federal Savings & Loan 23,301.12
$30,048.70
Tenants' Accounts Receivable
689.71
Debt Service Fund
$4,611.87
Debt Service Trust Fund
964.77
Debt Service Trust Fund -
Investment
4,000.00
9,576.64
Development Costs
$447,000.00
Less - Dev. Cost Liquidation
24,000.00
423,000.00
Total Assets Liabilities
$463,315.05
Tenants' Prepaid Rents
$41.85
Accounts Payable-Development
$2,613.42
Accounts Payable-Administration
6.25
2,619.67
Accrued Insurance
3,248.00
Bonds Authorized
$447,000.00
Less-Bonds Retired
24,000.00
423,000.00
Operating Reserve
$11,402.75
Matured Interest and Principal
7,979.51
Working Capital
67.02
Debt Service Reserve
5,148.45
Unamortized Bond Premium
4,964.77
Reduction of Annual Contribution
2,801.36
32,363.86
Net Income (see operating statement)
2,041.67
Total Liabilities
$463.315.05
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REPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT
All parks and gardens have been kept in a present- able condition during the year. The Summer Street entrance to Morton Park was seeded in the early spring, making a presentable entrance to this park. Considerable brush mowing and tree trimming has been done here, and the roads kept in a passable condition. Hurricane damage to trees was quite extensive. The logs from up-rooted trees, we expect to take to the mill and have them turned into lumber, to be used by the department.
More of the old decayed trees are being removed by the County Farm laborers for fire wood which will greatly improve the appearance of this park. The picnic areas around the park have been well utilized especially on Sundays and Holidays.
The Kyle Lot was seeded early this spring, and has been nice and green all season. Brewster Garden suffered considerable damage caused by the hurricanes. Trees were up-rooted and had to be disposed of. Other trees lost a lot of branches, which has caused a lot of trimming to be done. The lighting facilities were destroyed, portions of the wall along the river have been relaid, and the river cleaned.
Uncle Thomas Jackson Park, The Cleft Rock Property, The Burgess Lot, and a lot off Newfield Street bordering on Town Brook, have been recently added to the Park Department and they remain to be developed. The Cleft Rock Property containing 8.70/100 acres, was placed under The Park Department by a vote of the town.
Playgrounds: All playgrounds have been well patronized and kept in a safe condition. The slides, swings, see-saws and climbing towers have been
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checked regularly for defects. The stadium and bleacher seats were inspected by The State Board of Public Safety and permits received for using them. Damage caused by the hurricanes to the buildings, has been repaired. The two dug-outs at the Little League Field were destroyed and should be replaced.
The Nook Farm Playground was placed under The Park Department by a vote of the town. The playground was in use practically every evening by The Soft Ball League. Stephens Field was the scene of much activity, as it was used practically every evening by the Little League, and during the day by the department's play- ground program. Nelson Street Playground was quite popular, especially in the evenings by the neighborhood children, and by the department's supervised program during the day.
Supervised playground activities were carried on at Veteran's Field, afternoons and evenings. At Standish Avenue, organized baseball and football games were con- ducted by the Plymouth High School. The Rockets Foot- ball Team also played their games here. The two ball diamonds were used during the day by the park depart- ment league and in the evenings by the department's twilight league.
Holmes Field, South Street and the Manomet Play- grounds were well attended, especially in the evening by the neighborhood children. For the summer, super- vised playground activities, see the report of the playground supervisor.
Bathing and Camping: The bathing beaches were well patronized during the season. Swimming classes were conducted at Stephens Field and Nelson Street. Boats and life buoys were kept in readiness and the attendants alerted to be on watch at all times in case of accidents. Rafts and diving boards were kept in good repair.
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The sea wall at Beach Park is to be extended 325 feet and when completed will provide a sizable parking space, if graded and graveled between the wall and Eel River. The bathhouse and toilet buildings have been newly painted inside at Nelson Street. The camp ground showed a slight increase this year. As these camp sites are restricted to trailers only, and all trailers are now wired for lights, radios, and many for television, it would seem advisable to wire the other half of the field with electricity.
Indian Reservation: This camping ground has had a busy season, there being many more camp sites let this year than ever before. The property has been surveyed, giving a total of 12 7/10 acres. Avenues have been made and scrub growth removed, making it possible to sub-divide the property into equal lots 30' x 20'. This project has more than doubled the number of lots available. With the extra lots and a substantial increase in rentals, and weather permitting, it would seem as if the fifteen hundred dollars voted for the improvements of this camp ground, was well invested.
There was no damage to the buildings by the hurricanes. Many of the campers lost their camps and furnishings. Electric and telephone lines were down, and many trees were uprooted.
Total receipts:
Beach Park Concession $750.00
Beach Park Bathhouse 750.00
Beach Park-parking 1,736.50
Indian Reservation Camp 2,908.60
Nelson Street Camp and Bath House 1,182.35 944.00
Morton Park-parking
Morton Park-Bathhouse 81.00
Stephens Field 31.15
Weighing Machines 3.98
$8,387.58
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LIST OF PROPERTY
Parks:
Training Green
Brewster Garden
Park Avenue Park Avenue, east of R R
Bates Park
Bangs Park
Morton Park
Spooner Park
Morton Mill Site
Lot of easterly side of Market Street
Kyle Lot
Burgess Lot
Uncle Thomas Jackson Park
Carver Square
Circle in front of Bluebird Cafe
Lot in front of Mabbett's Mill
Burton Park
Cleft Rock
Lot on easterly side of Newfield Street
Playgrounds:
Stephens Field Nelson Street Nelson Street land beyond Two Bank Lots
Holmes Field Manomet (not public property owned by Briggs) Veterans Field Standish Avenue Borsari Lot South Street Nook Farm
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Bathing Beaches:
Indian Reservation
Beach Park Stephens Field Nelson Street Morton Park
Camping Sites: Indian Reservation Nelson Street
We, The Park Commissioners wish to thank Mrs. Grady and all department personnel, who have cooper- ated with us during the year. We also wish to thank The Town Brook Committee and The Morton Park Committee for the interest they have shown.
JOHN E. SIEVER, Chairman, ARTHUR SIRRICO, EDWARD J. E. HAND, JOHN W. SEARLES, JOFFREY T. NUNEZ. The Board of Park Commissioners.
REPORT OF PLAYGROUND SUPERVISOR
The Plymouth Playgrounds were open for an eight week period and were very well attended with a weekly average of twelve hundred boys and girls taking part in the summer program. The major portion of the summer program was made up of the following activities.
Baseball League-Two leagues, a junior consisting of ten teams and a senior consisting of four teams. One hundred and sixty boys participating.
Arts and Crafts-Instructions were given at three
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playgrounds, three days a week, with seventy-five boys and girls participating. The projects were displayed at the M & M Sporting Goods Store.
Swimming-The swimming program was conducted by qualified Red Cross Instructors at Nelson Street and Stephens Field. Eighty boys and girls participating.
Tennis and Croquet-Instructions were given and tournaments held throughout the summer at the three playgrounds.
Trip To Fenway Park-The trip to see a baseball game was sponsored again for interested boys and girls who paid for bus transportation, admission to the game being free. Approximately one hundred and fifty attended.
Playground Field Day-Held at Stephens Field. This included a junior baseball championship game, swimming and playground races. Prizes were awarded.
Band Concerts-Two band concerts were held at Veterans Field under the supervision of Mrs. Ella Donovan.
Routine Activities-Include active and quiet games, croquet, checkers, cards, horseshoes, badminton, soft- ball, archery, basketball, volleyball, touch football, see- saws, jungle gym, swings and slides.
ANTONE SPATH,
Supervisor.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF RETIREMENT
To the Citizens of the Town of Plymouth:
The Board of Retirement presents herewith its eight- eenth report covering the activities and condition of the Contributory Retirement System for the year 1954.
No legislation has as yet been enacted as a result of the study of the special recess commission. The fol- lowing chapters of the Acts of 1954, amending Chapter 32 of the General Laws, may be cited as of some importance to our members.
Chapter 549. Allows a pensioner, appointed by and serving under the Board of Selectmen, to receive com- pensation for his services, provided he waives his pension.
Chapter 642. Changes the form of annual statement to members.
Chapter 684. Extends the deadline for membership application, make-up payments, etc. from 1/1/53 to 1/1/56.
I. MEMBERSHIP
1. Active Membership Dec. 31, 1953 204
Enrolled during 1954 32
Transfers from inactive membership 1
237
Withdrawals 18
Retirements 2
Transfers to inactive membership 5
25
Total Active Membership Dec. 31, 1954 212
2. Inactive Membership Dec. 31, 1953 40
Retirements 2
Transfers from active membership 5
Deaths 2
Withdrawals 8
47
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Transfers to active membership 1
11
Total Inactive Membership Dec. 31, 1954 36* *This total includes 26 pensioners and 10 inactive members 3. Beneficiaries from Accidental Deaths 3
II. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES Balance, Dec. 31, 1953 $222,246.61
1. Receipts:
Appropriation, March, 1954 $27,457.95
Due from town for military service credit 179.40
Deductions from members'
salaries and wages 27,377.52
Income from interest
7,173.10
Accrued interest on bonds, Dec. 31, 1954 1,617.88
Increase by adjustment in securities
3,173.22
Profit on sale of securities
54.67
67,033.74
$289,280.35
2. Expenditures:
Annuity payments
$2,135.82
Pension payments
25,371.01
Disability pension payments 2,006.76
Accidental death benefits 4,218.40
Reimbursements to other systems 327.04
Refunds to former members
5,414.34
Transfers to other systems
1,499.50
Clerical services
672.00
Other administrative expenses
88.31
Accrued interest on bonds, Dec. 31, 1953 1,445.23
Decrease by adjustment
in securities 679.47
43,857.88
Balance, Dec. 31, 1954
$245,422.47
:
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III. BALANCE SHEET
1. Assets:
Plymouth National Bank
$2,704.65
Beverly Savings Bank 5,702.80
Danvers Savings Bank
5,651.40
Plymouth Federal Savings & Loan Association 15,938.42
Brockton National Bank stock
3,840.00
Cont. Illinois National Bank stock
3,193.00
First National Bank of Boston stock
3,339.00
Manufacturers Trust stock
2,000.00
National Shawmut Bank stock
4,600.00
Rockland-Atlas National Bank stock
3,600.00
U. S. Treasury bonds, 27/8's of 55/60
1,001.01
U. S. Treasury bonds, Series G
31,000.00
U. S. Treasury bonds, 31/4's of '83 3,000.00
City of Chelsea Housing Authority bonds,
25/8's of '78 969.68
25/8's of '82 2,898.97
25/8's of '84 1,929.24
25/8's of '88 1,923.74
City of New Bedford Housing Authority bonds, 25/8's of '80
967.95
City of Taunton Housing Authority bonds, 25/8's of '86 3,000.00
Mass. Turnpike Authority bonds, 3.3's of '94 5,075.00
Chesapeake & Ohio Rwy. bonds, 31/2's of '96 2,064.91
Great Northern Rwy. bonds, 23/4's of '82
3,028.56
Illinois Central Rwy. bonds, 31/4's of '80
1,993.09
Illinois Central Rwy. bonds, 33/8's of '89 2,000.00
Louisville & Nashville Rwy. bonds, 33/8's of '03 2,191.45
Louisville & Nashville Rwy. bonds, 33/4's of '03 2,000.00
N. Y. Central & Hudson River Rwy. bonds, 31/2's of '97 3,186.64
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N. Y., Chicago & St. Louis Rwy. bonds, 3's of '86 5,102.13
27/8's of '61 1,960.76
Northern Pacific Rwy. bonds, 4's of '97
5,994.19
Pere Marquette Rwy. bonds, 33/8's of '80
2,977.27
Reading Co. Rwy. bonds, 31/8's of '95 5,086.65
Seaboard Air Line Rwy. bonds, 3's of '80 2,984.14
Virginian Rwy. bonds, 3's of '95 4,063.20
Western Maryland Rwy. bonds, 3's of '60 994.98
Western Maryland Rwy. bonds, 3's of '61 1,000.00
Wheeling & Lake Erie Rwy. bonds, 23/4's of '74 1,984.98
Amer. Tel. and Tel. Co. bonds, 25/8's of '86 2,015.05
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 23/4's of '82 2,011.49
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 23/4's of '80 2,022.07
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 33/8's of '73 2,026.60
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/4's of '84 4,100.09
Associated Tel. Co. bonds, 35/8's of '81 2,043.11
Illinois Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 3's of '78
2,047.48
Illinois Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 31/8's of '84
2,028.83
Mountain States Tel. Co. bonds, 31/8's of '78
2,041.57
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 3's of '82
2,053.35
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 3's of '74 2,011.61
New Jersey Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 31/s's of '88
976.61
New Jersey Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 3's of '89
2,020.00
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/s's of '87 2,022.61
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/4's of '78 2,062.69
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 23/4's of '85 1,919.18
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/3's of '83 2,012.76
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/4's of '79 2,842.71
Southern Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 23/4's of '85
1,904.23
Arkansas Power & Light bonds, 31/8's of '74 2,037.75
Central Vt. Pub. Serv. bonds, 23/4's of '75
1,920.92
Central Vt. Pub. Serv. bonds, 31/2's of '81
1,020.01
Cons. Edison Co. of N. Y. bonds, 3's of '79 Cons. Gas, Elec. Light & Power Co. of
2,044.91
Baltimore bonds, 23/4's of '86 4,025.12
Fall River Elec. Lt. Co. bonds, 33/4's of '83
3,003.59
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Georgia Power Co. bonds, 33/8's of '82 3,134.91
Maine Pub. Serv. Co. bonds, 27/8's of '75 1,875.79 Milwaukee Gas & Light Co. bonds, 31/8's of '75 3,034.37 Montana Power Co. bonds, 27/8's of '75 3,030.44
New Eng. Power Co. bonds, 23/4's of '79 2,007.15
New Hampshire Elec. Co. bonds, 3's of '75 3,046.31 No. Indiana Pub. Serv. bonds, 31/8's of '73 4,169.60
Pacific Gas & Elec. Co. bonds, 3's of '70 2,020.24
Pacific Gas & Elec. Co. bonds, 3's of '71 2,076.46
Pub. Serv. Co. of N. H. bonds, 31/4's of '73
2,126.59
Rockland Light & Power bonds, 31/8's of '78
2,039.56
Seattle Gas Light Co. bonds, 35/8's of '76 1,938.79
So. California Edison bonds, 3's of '65 2,021.87
Wisconsin Michigan Power bonds, 3's of '78
1,915.66
Aluminum Co. of America bonds, 31/8's of '64
1,011.46
Amer. Tobacco Co. bonds, 3's of '69 986.97
General Motors Corp. bonds, 31/4's of '79
1,029.22
National Dairy Products bonds, 31/8's of '76
997.65
Accrued interest on bonds as of Dec. 31, 1954 1,617.88
Due from town for military service credit
179.40
$245,422.47
2. Liabilities:
Annuity Savings Fund
$191,786.50
Annuity Reserve Fund
22,220.60
Military Service Fund
2,809.34
Pension Fund
27,897.84
Expense Fund
708.19
$245,422.47
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW J. CARR, Chairman, CORA B. GRADY, Secretary, LESLIE R. GRAY, Contributory Retirement System Board of Retirement, Plymouth.
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REPORT OF ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR 1954
As noted elsewhere in this report, the appropriations re- quested by the various town departments and recommended by your Finance Committee will result in a tax rate slightly in excess of that of last year.
The budget requests on which we have recommended no action, if granted, would have resulted in a rate some $3 greater. It has required intensive effort on the part of your Committee, with the cooperation and assistance of the various town departments concerned, to pare and prune the indi- vidual items and to determine which of the requests for main- tenance and repair and for the replacement of obsolete equip- ment may be deferred to another year. We are convinced that we have reduced the requests to the minimum safe amount. We must, however, point out that the age of present installations, of buildings and equipment, together with the expansion of the town, both in population and geographically, impose heavy strains. Maintenance and repair costs are bound to mount with age. More and more equipment is required to cover an ever increasing geographic distribution of population.
At the same time personnel requirements must keep pace and in this connection we call your attention to the Personnel Board report attached hereto and to the action taken by the School Committee as reflected in their budget requirements.
If sufficient appropriations for adequate maintenance, repair, replacement and expansion are not made or are de- ferred too long, we invite catastrophe or, at best, sooner or later, years of abnormally high tax rates. This subject, ,we believe, needs extensive and intensive study.
Respectfully submitted,
C. Harvey Moore, Chairman Alton S. Cavicchi Leo J. Ceccarelli Stanley Cheney Paul J. Whipple
Earle F. Burgess Fernando Collari O. Arrigo Guidoboni
Eugene S. Holton Manuel L. Valente.
Attested: Cora B. Grady, Secretary
Frank D. Bent John M. Parsons John R. Pascoe Norman P. Reinhardt Harold S. Volta
-327-
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Article 7
$2,094,172.71
Total of special articles 433,077.80
State and County assessments (net)
142,220.05
Overlay deficits
623.82
Overlay for 1954 (estimate)
35,000.00
Total recommended expenditures $2,705,094.38
Estimated Receipts
$821,267.86
Excess and Deficiency
225,000.00
Sale of Cemetery Lots and Graves
2,000.00
Parking Meter Receipts
200.00
Bond issues
190,000.00
Post-War Rehabilitation Fund 12,000.00
From Individual for Water Construction 3,000.00
Total of funds from other sources than the tax levy 1,253,467.86
Net amount to be raised by taxation
$1,451,626.52
Poll Tax 1954 (estimate)
9,500.00
Total to be raised by real estate and personal property taxes $1,442,126.52
Based on the 1953 valuation of $31,084,350, this total will require a tax rate of approximately $46.60.
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REPORT OF PERSONNEL BOARD FOR 1954
In Article 4 of this year's warrant the Personnel Board rec- ommends certain revisions in Schedule A and Exhibit B of the Salary Classification By-Law. Part of these revisions are recommended as a result of a survey which the Board made of salaries and wages paid by other towns. The balance of the revisions are the result of an act of the Legislature, approved on May 14, 1953, which states that "notwithstanding the pro- visions of Section 108A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, the Town of Plymouth shall provide for the attainment of maxi- mum salaries within a grade to be paid employees under any salary plan established under the aforesaid section by period- ical step-rate increases based solely on length of service."
Previous to the enactment of this new act, step-rate increases in salary were granted primarily on the basis of merit. This merit feature was recommended to the Town by the Wage and Salary Classification Committee on March 25, 1950, and adopted by the Town at that time. This new law eliminates merit as a basis for step-rate increases in salary.
With respect to the salary and wage survey made by this Board, it should be stated that Section 5 of the Salary Classi- fication By-Law provided that at least once every three years a review of all salaries and wages shall be made and any recommendations as may be warranted shall be submitted to the annual town meeting. Therefore the salaries and wages paid by 29 other towns for various common classifications were obtained. These towns ranged in population from 10,122 to 24,411. The rates of pay in Plymouth for similar classi- fications were then compared with the average of these other towns. In the case of supervisory, police, fire and cus- todial classifications, Plymouth's existing rates of pay com- pared favorably with the average of these other towns. Therefore, the Personnel Board recommends no change in the maximum salary for these various classifications. In the case of the clerical and laboring classifications, Plymouth's existing salaries and wages compared unfavorably with the average of these other towns. The Personnel Board recom- mends that the clerical classification maximum salaries be increased 10% and the laboring classification maximum rates be increased approximately 15 cents per hour.
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With respect to the new law mentioned earlier in this report, the Personnel Board had to establish minimum and maxi- mum salaries which they felt were correct for administering the pay plan on a length of service basis. Under the prior merit rating plan, each classification was divided into five salary steps consisting of a minimum, a maximum and three intermediate steps. The maximum salary was 25% higher than the minimum salary. An employee usually started in salary step one and advanced to the higher steps primarily because the advance was merited by good work as attested to by his department head. The Board felt that the range between the minimum and maximum salaries should be less than 25% for a length of service plan. Therefore, the sched- ule of rates recommended by the Board has a range of about 11%. Incidentally, the range for the 29 towns surveyed varied from about 10% to 15%. Since our maximum salaries compare favorably with other towns, providing the recom- mended revisions mentioned above are accepted, the new salary schedule was arrived at by simply eliminating old steps 1 and 2. The old step 3 becomes the new step 1 (min- imum salary). The old step 5 becomes the new step 4 (max- imum salary). New steps 2 and 3 were established between new steps 1 and 4 so that the difference in pay between each step is the same.
The Personnel Board has recommended that the salaries of present employees be adjusted to the new pay schedule by moving employees in old steps 1 and 2 to new step 1, those in old step 3 to new step 2, those in old step 4 to new step 3 and those in old step 5 to new step 4. An employee's salary in no instance will be lower under the new schedule.
A typical example of the foregoing might be helpful in under- standing how the changeover was made from the old to the new schedule. Let us assume we have five employees on the same job and under the merit plan each of these em- ployees was paid on a different merit step. Then the change- over for these employees would be made as follows:
Old steps
1 2400 2550
2 3
4 5
Old salary schedule
2700
2850 3000
New steps
3
4
New salary schedule
1 2700
2 2800
2900 3000
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Employee
Old Step
Old Salary
New Step
New Salary
A
1
2400
1
2700
B
2
2550
1
2700
C
3
2700
2
2800
D
4
2850
3
2900
E
5
3000
4
3000
The estimated increased cost to the Town to put into effect these recommended revisions is slightly over $34,000 or an increase of approximately 8% in present total salaries and wages coming under the Classification Plan.
The Personnel Board further recommends that under the new length of service plan employees advance from step 1 to step 2 after one year's employment in step 1, from step 2 to step 3 after two years' employment in step 2, and from step 3 to step 4 after two years' employment in step 3, so that every employee will reach the maximum salary in five years. Advancement from one step to another would take place only on the first of January.
The procedure in the case of the labor classifications differs a little from the above in detail, but not in principle. The labor classification schedule will have only three steps with one year intervals recommended between steps so an em- ployee will reach the maximum rate in two years.
The new law pertaining to mandatory length of service step rate increases does not provide that past service should be considered in adjusting the salary of present employees to the new rate schedules. If past service is recognized at this time and retroactively applied in line with the foregoing policy, the cost to the Town will be slightly over $46,000, or an increase of approximately 101/2% in present total salaries and wages coming under the Classification Plan. The Person- nel Board, in its recommendations, did not feel that the Town should have to bear the cost of this retroactivity.
JOHN D. BREWER, Chairman EDWIN T. WILLIAMS JOHN D. PACKARD
Personnel Board
INDEX
Advisory & Finance Committee Report 326
Assessors, Board of 307
Cemetery Commissioners 305
Community Nurse 293
Housing Authority 313
Library 294
Park Dept.
315
Playground Supervisor
319
Personnel Board Report
328
Planning Board
311
Public Welfare 300
Aid to Dependent Children
301
Disability Assistance
302
Old Age Assistance
300
Infirmary
303
Welfare Department
302
Retirement, Board of 321
School Report 219
Administration 221
Art Supervisor's Report
242
Attendance Supervisor's Report
249
Calendar 232
Census 249
Changes in School Staff
251
Committee 221 252
Employees
Employment of Minors 249
Enrollment 250
Financial Statement 223
High School Principal's Report 235
Junior and Senior High Art
243
Junior High School Principal's Report 238
Music Supervisor's Report 241
247
Physicians' Reports
245
School Committee Report
225
Superintendent's Report
225
Engineer, Town
262
Fisheries, Inland
261
Forest, Town
264
Harbor Master
281
Insect Pest Control
265
Jurors, List of 286
266
Public Safety, Commission of
Dog Officer
277
Fire Division
271
Forest Fire
272
Health Division 273
Inspector of Buildings 275
Mechanical Division 272
Police Division 269
Sealer of Weights and Measures 276
Selectmen's Report 259
Streets and Sewers, Supt. of
278
Town Office Building Committee 283
Veterans' Services 263
257
Selectmen's Department
Oral Hygiene and Dental Clinic
Town Clerk's Report
3
Adjourned Town Meeting
57
Annual Town Meeting
12
Births
77
Deaths
Marriages
77 77 3
Officers, 1954 Town
Receipts
77
Special Town Meeting
68
State Audit
78
Town Accountant's Report 89
Schedule A (Cash Receipts and Payments) 93
Schedule B (Appropriations) 120
Schedule C (Estimated Receipts) 185
Schedule D (Revenue Account) 186
Schedule E (Excess and Deficiency)
187
Schedule F (Balance Sheet)
188
Schedule G (Funded Indebtedness)
192
Schedule H (Funded Indebtedness)
193
Schedule I (Trust Funds) 194
Schedule J (Calculation of Credit) 209
Tree Warden 299
Water Commissioners 212
Water Superintendent 214
1
NON-CIRCULATING May 2 bu
H. R.
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