USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1956 > Part 18
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$3,947.00, and the expenditures amounted to $3,915.41. The balance of $31.59 was transferred to the revenue account.
The overall expenses for the year 1956 totaled $12,- 127.60. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, other com- munities and individuals, reimbursed the Town of Plym- outh $6,030.15, leaving the cost to the Town of Plymouth $6,097.45.
The all-inclusive cost per resident day was $4.56. The "resident day" cost to the Town of Plymouth was $2.30.
The salary expenditures for General Relief Adminis- tration were $5,564.00 and the Town of Plymouth, at the Annual Town Meeting, made an appropriation for that amount.
The salary and administration expenditures for the "Other Public Assistance" categories were $30,772.03.
The Federal and State participation amounted to $15,381.02 and $1,498.32 Federal funds were available from 1955, making a total of $16,879.34 Federal funds available for 1956 administration. The Town of Plymouth appro- priated $14,100.00, making a total of available funds $30,979.34. An administration balance of $16.02 was trans- ferred to revenue and $191.29 remains available for 1957.
During 1956, $20,949.70 was collected from the estates of Old Age Assistance persons after death, as provided by the Old Age Assistance Real Estate Lien Laws.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. MAGEE, Chairman, MARGARET E. McLEAN, DEXTER M. BROOKS, JOSEPH H. NOGUEIRA, FRANCIS H. MURPHY,
Board of Public Welfare and Directors of the Town Infirmary.
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REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Cemetery Commissioners herewith present their report for the year 1956:
OAK GROVE AND VINE HILLS CEMETERIES
The maintenance work was carried on as usual in the various cemeteries.
Considerable work has been done on the Vine Hills Cemetery Addition, and part of this land has been graded to the approximate level needed to slope the area to Samoset Street. We plan to begin a tree planting pro- gram in this new section, many of the trees to be taken from Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries.
In these cemeteries there is a large variety of shade, flowering and evergreen trees, which in part consist of walnut, beech, pine, spruce, hemlock, magnolia, tulip, hawthorne, catalpa, sassafras, dogwood, larch, ash, willow, oak, linden, elm, maple and locust.
BURIAL HILL
The railing joints along the entrances to Burial Hill were welded in 1956 to prevent them from rusting and breaking. New doors were installed on the old hearse house, replacing the old ones which were in a very poor condition.
It is anticipated that there will be a decided increase in the number of visitors in 1957, due to the expected arrival of the Mayflower II from England.
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OUTLYING CEMETERIES
At the Manomet Cemetery ten faucets were installed and connected to the new water line. We plan to grade and seed a section in the eastern part of this cemetery, thus making available for use twenty whole or forty half lots.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN B. FINNEY, Chairman, F. WILLARD DITTMAR, RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE, Board of Cemetery Commissioners.
HOWARD L. PRIESTLEY, Superintendent.
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ASSESSORS' REPORT
Official Valuation of Real Estate
$38,411,975.00
Official Valuation of Personal Property 7,910,075.00
Aggregate Value
$46,322,050.00
Exempted Under Chapter 59:
Real $7,020.025.00
Personal 4,859,075.00
11,879,100.00
Assessed Value Available for Revenue
$34,442,950.00
To Be Raised By Taxation:
State Tax
$11,501.03
County Tax
103,117.54
Tuberculosis Hospital 54,051.54
Town Appropriations
2,796,708.20
Overlay
40,772.14
Underestimates - 1952
24.60
Total Amount To Be Raised by Taxation $3,006,175.05
Estimated Receipts Including Dog Tax Voted by the Town to
be used by the Assessors $844,555.70
Over-Estimates for Year 1955 to be used as Available Funds 395.08
Out of Available Funds under
Approval by Commissioners
of Corporations and Taxation 223,187.07
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds $1,068,137.85
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Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation on Polls and Property $1,938,037.20
Division of Taxes:
Personal Property, January 1 $170,856.00
Real Estate, January 1 1,757,949.20
Polls, March 1 9,232.00
Total Taxes to be Raised on Polls and Property $1,938,037.20
Rate of Taxation: $56.00 on $1000 (General Rate: $38.68) (School Rate: 17.32)
Warrants to Collector:
Real Estate
$1,757,949.20
Personal Property
170,856.00
Polls
9,232.00
Water Liens
3,803.71
Additional Real
1,223.60
Additional Personal Property 333.20
Additional Polls
22.00
Total Warrants to Collector $1,943,419.71
Exempted Under Section 5, Chapter 59, General Laws as Amended: Houses of Religious Worship
Real $429,075.00
Personal
42,450.00
Charitable, Benevolent, Literary, Educational
Real
1,733,775.00
Personal
211,425.00
Parsonages Exempted Real 61,725.00
United States of America Real 193,700.00 ;
Personal 20,000.00
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Town of Plymouth
Real
2,867,200.00
Personal
4,410,200.00
Commonwealth of Mass.
Real
464,800.00
Personal
50,000.00
County of Plymouth
Real
1,262,750.00
Personal
125,000.00
Cemeteries
Real
7,000.00
Total Exempted Under Section 5,
Chapter 59, General Laws as Amended:
Real
$7,020,025.00
Personal
4,859,075.00
$11,879,100.00
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Number of Persons, Firms and Corporations Assessed on Property
16,193
Polls Assessed
4,616
Polls Exempted Under Clauses 17A and 18,
Chapter 59 or Section 8, Chapter 58
692
Polls Exempted Under Acts 1950, Chapter
796 (Men in Armed Forces)
122
Polls Exempted Under Section 71, Chapter 59
139
Horses
50
Cows
200
Swine
215
Sheep
61
Fowl
37,472
All Other
6
Dwelling Houses
10,100
Acres of Land
70,000
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Motor Vehicles and Trailers Assessed Under Motor Excise and Trailer Law:
Value of Motor Vehicles and Trailers
Registered (1955) (1956)
$426,360.00
2,777,310.00
Number of Motor Vehicles and Trailers
Assessed (1955)
745
(1956) 5,296
Warrants to Collector (Motor Excise
and Trailers) (1955) $6,716.37
(1956) 126,078.47
State Rate on Motor Vehicles and Trailers: $54.43 on $1000
ABATEMENT ACCOUNT
Levy of 1952:
January 1, 1956, Deficit
$24.60
1956 Appropriation
$24.60
Levy of 1954:
January 1, 1956, Balance
$2,339.55
Abatements:
Personal
$698.54
Real Estate
345.78
To Reserve Overlay
828.54
1,872.86
December 31, 1956, Balance
$466.69
Levy of 1955:
January 1, 1956, Balance
$4,469.05
Abatements:
Poll
$58.00
Personal
203.75
Real Estate
1,190.00
1,451.75
December 31, 1956, Balance
$3,017.30
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Levy of 1956: 1956 Overlay
.1
1
$40,772.14
Abatements:
Poll
Personal
$1,906.00 893.20
Real Estate
41,523.40
44,322.60
Overdrawn (To be appropriated in 1957)
$3,550.46
Reserve Overlay: .
January 1, 1956, Balance
$17,006.97 828.54
From Overlay of 1954
$17,835.51
To Reserve Account'
10,000.00
$7,835.51
From Reserve Account
7,306.58
$15,142.09
ROBERT A. CARR, Chairman, WILLIAM H. BARRETT,
CARL W. RAYMOND, Board of Assessors
NANNIE A. PRATT, Senior Clerk
KATHRYN M. TASSINARI, Junior Clerk
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REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
Operation and Organization:
During the year of 1956 your duly elected members of the Planning Board have had continued interest in an orderly development of the area of the Town, and the general welfare and prosperity of the people of the Town.
At the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1956, Mr. David M. Crawley was elected a member of the Planning Board for a period of five years, replacing Judge Amedeo V. Sgarzi whose term expired in 1956, and who did not run for re-election after serving the Town as a member of the Planning Board from 1939 to 1956. During the sev- enteen years that Judge Sgarzi was on the Planning Board he contributed a great deal to Town planning for general welfare.
The Planning Board during the year of 1956 held a total of 28 meetings and with 85.7% attendance of members.
The public hearings on both subdivisions and amend- ments to Zoning By-Laws that were held were well at- tended, and the views of the interested parties were a help in enabling the Planning Board to determine just what was most important to the public good.
Subdivision Control:
Presented to the Planning Board for approval under the Subdivision Control Law, during the year of 1956, were 9 plans of subdivisions for a total of 212 lots. Three of these plans with 32 lots were approved, two with 109 lots were disapproved, and four with 71 lots were pend- ing at the end of the year.
In addition the Planning Board passed on a total of
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77 plans which were presented and claimed as not con- stituting subdivisions within the meaning of the sub- division control law, and not requiring approval of the Planning Board under the subdivision control law. These were so determined and endorsed.
This activity would appear to indicate continued in- terest in subdivisions of varying sizes, from 2 lots to 59 lots, for both all year homes and for summer homes in the Town.
Zoning By-Laws and Zoning Map:
A Special Committee appointed in accordance with the vote of the Town under Article 98 of the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1956, are studying the advis- ability of revising, modifying, or changing our Zoning By-Laws where experience has shown the By-Laws re- quire changing.
It is expected that this Committee's recommenda- tions will suggest any needed changes in the Zoning Map, which could pretty well answer the constant requests for changes from Residential Districts to Commercial Districts.
The Manomet area in the vicinity of the junction of the State Highway and Point Road, an area which the Planning Board indicated last year required further study, can better be considered after the Special Com- mittee make their report and recommendations.
In the warrant for the 1957 Annual Town Meeting are several articles for both recommended and petitioned articles for additional Commercial Districts, and on each of these the Planning Board will have indicated their recommendations.
Master Plan Map:
The year 1956 brought completion of "Map of Town
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of Plymouth, Massachusetts, prepared by the Planning Board, scale 1" = 800 feet, Delano & Keith, Engrs., dated · May 10, 1956." It is felt that it will be helpful in con- nection with future Town Planning and Development.
Special Projects:
Events during the year brought special consideration of the following subjects which are current:
(1) Traffic and Parking.
(2) Site for New School.
(3) Plimoth Plantation.
(4) Summer, High, and Church St. areas.
(5) Town Brook area improvement.
JAMES A. WHITE, ELLIS W. BREWSTER, EDWARD CHASE, A. LINWOOD ELLIS, DAVID M. CRAWLEY, Plymouth Planning Board.
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PLYMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY
Full occupancy of the Olmsted Terrace-Standish Court Housing Project, the only one operated by this authority, continued through 1956. No major work was undertaken during the year other than painting of clap- board houses. The interiors of the forty apartments are for the most part in excellent condition.
The forty families now in the project include 74 adults and 113 children. Income limits and rental charges may be summarized as follows:
Minor
Admission
·"; Continued
Dependents
Limits
Occupancy Limit
Rent
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.
A summary balance sheet as of December 31, 1956, follows:
Assets
Administration Fund:
Plymouth National Bank
$209.64
Plymouth Federal Savings & Loan 23,103.85
$23,313.49 543.35
Tenants' Accounts Receivable
Debt Service Fund $5,328.15
Debt Service Trust Fund
681.58
Debt Service Trust Fund-Investment 4,000.00
10,009.73
Prepaid Insurance
3,100.40
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Development Costs Less-Dev. Cost Liquidation
$447,000.00 40,000.00
407,000.00
Total Assets
$443,966.97
Liabilities ..
Bonds Authorized
Less-Bonds Retired
$447,000.00 40,000.00
$407,000.00
Matured Interest and Principal
$7,906.59
Operating Reserve
11,610.21
Reduction of Annual Contribution
2,364.79
Debt Service Reserve
7,894.50
Unamortized Bond Premium
4,681.58
34,457.67
Net Income
2,509.30
Total Liabilities
$443,966.97
Respectfully submitted,
1
THOMAS F. QUINN, Chairman,
CLIFFORD C. AGNEW,
M. HERBERT CRAIG,
LOUIS G. GIOVANETTI,
LAWRENCE W. STILES, LESTER W. THURBER, Executive Director,
Plymouth Housing Authority.
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REPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT
Personnel (Administrative):
March 3 - John W. Searles (re-elected) and Walter B. Haskell (newly elected) to Board of Park Commission.
March 7 - Arthur Sirrico re-appointed chairman of Commission; Clyfton C. Wood re-appointed superinten- dent; Mrs. Mildred Dennehy re-appointed clerk.
Sept. 13 - Arthur Sirrico resigned as chairman. Wal- ter Haskell elected chairman.
Sept. 19 - Notification received of retirement of Clyfton C. Wood as superintendent.
Oct: 3 - Arthur Sirrico appointed superintendent. Russell W. Anderson of Manomet appointed fifth mem- ber of Commission at a joint meeting with Board of Selectmen.
Oct. 31 - Clyfton C. Wood retired. Inactive as of September 18.
Clyfton C. Wood:
The retirement of Mr. Clyfton C. Wood as superin- tendent of the Park Department brings to end 22 years of faithful service to the Town and the Department. Mr. Wood held the love and respect of his townspeople and his co-operation and willing service to his department, to other town departments and to many organizations in the Town makes his retirement one of regret. His achieve- ments have been spread over the records of the Park Department and in his retirement he remains an advisory Honor Life Member of the Commission.
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Receipts:
Revenue received by the Town from public use of Park Department facilities, assessed only upon non-resi- dents and non-taxpayers of Plymouth is steadily on the incline.
Totals for 1953 $8,201.85
Totals for 1954 8,383.60
Totals for 1955
10,553.45
Totals for 1956
13,087.54
Total (4-year period) $40,225.44
Responsibilities:
Maintenance, care and repairs of sixteen (16) parks, eight (8) playgrounds, five (5) bathing beaches, and two (2) camp areas. Total of 291 acres.
Other Work (1956):
Heavy storm damage (March 1956) repaired at Plym- outh Beach, Nelson Street bath house and other park department areas.
Increased parking area at Stephens field and closing roadway to through traffic.
Brushing, building new road and park area and hard surfacing of entrance at Cleft Rock.
Caretaker's cottage constructed at Indian Reserva- tion.
Erection and dedication of John A. Siever Memorial marker.
Addition to garage at Stephens field to house equip- ment.
Construction of a 14' x 14' dry well, installation of new urinal, laying a cement floor in toilet building, brush- ing area, and installing playground equipment at Indian Reservation.
Brush and trees cleared for road widening and de- velopment and new stone wall entrance with landscaping at Morton Park.
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Considerable transplanting and pruning at Brewster Park.
Painting of bandstand at Veteran's field, portable bleachers at John A. Siever Memorial Playground and several park department buildings.
Operation of summer playground program (eight weeks). Attendance of 8,140 boys and girls with super- vision in baseball, arts and crafts, softball, tennis, outdoor basketball, croquet, archery and horseshoes. Increased use of slides, swings and see-saws. Annual junket of more than 200 boys and girls to Boston as guest of the Boston Red Sox.
Conclusion:
The Commission and the Department is of the opin- ion that increased revenue to the Town through the Park Department is made possible only with proper facilities and equipment. The Commission believes that it is their duty to propose the needs of its department to the Town, and that such year activities will be guided by the appro- priation and other requests granted by the voters at a town meeting.
The Commission and the Department is appreciative of the many considerations and courtesies that has been extended to it in the past by Town Officials and other Town Department Heads.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER B. HASKELL, Chairman,
EDWARD J. E. HAND,
ARRIGO GUIDOBONI, JOHN W. SEARLES, RUSSELL W. ANDERSON, Board of Commissioners.
CLYFTON C. WOOD, ARTHUR SIRRICO,
Superintendents.
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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 twen- tieth report covering the activities and condition of the Contributory Retirement System for the year 1956.
Although there were many amendments to Chapter 32 of the General Laws during 1956, we note the follow- ing as the most important to our members:
Chapter 411. Amends Section 94 - "The Heart Act."
Chapter 414. Amends Section 3 (6) (f) relative to creditable service for employees re-entering active service in the System.
Chapter 418. Amends 3 (6) (d) and 8 (b) relative to make-up payments.
Chapter 505. Adds Section 12A relative to benefici- aries entitled to accidental death benefits.
Chapter 525. Amends Section 25 (5) relative to con- tractural rights and benefits of members.
Chapter 541. Adds Section 58B, giving employees retiring under the Veterans' Act the right to elect an option at retirement.
Chapter 605. Amends Chapter 670 of the Acts of 1955, relative to increased pensions, striking out the clause which made the increases effective only to. em- ployees retiring prior to April 1, 1951.
I. MEMBERSHIP
1. Active Membership Dec. 31, 1955 218
Enrolled during 1956 26
Transfers from inactive membership 5
249
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Withdrawals 11
Retirements
3
Transfers to inactive membership
3
17
Total Active Membership, Dec. 31, 1956 232
2. Inactive Membership Dec. 31, 1955
37
Retirements
3
Transfers from active membership 3
43
Deaths
3
Withdrawals 2
Transfers to active membership
5
10
Total Inactive Membership, Dec. 31, 1956 33*
*This total includes 27 pensioners and 6 inactive members.
3. Beneficiaries from Accidental Deaths 3
II. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
Balance, Dec. 31, 1955
$276,777.83
1. Receipts:
Deductions from members' salaries and wages $30,887.90
Appropriation, March 1956
41,806.00
Due from town for military service credit 195.20
Income from interest
9,405.07
Accrued interest on bonds, Dec. 31, 1956 2,204.18
Gross profit on sale of securities
167.43
Increase by adjustment in
securities 943.46
85,609.24
$362,387.07
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2. Expenditures:
Annuity payments $3,378.90
Pension payments 29,707.80
Disability pension payments 2,006.76
Accidental death benefits 4,293.37
Reimbursements to other systems 404.26
Refunds to former members 2,302.05
Clerical services 672.00
Other administrative expenses
94.80
Accrued interest on bonds Dec. 31, 1955 1,753.96
Decrease by adjustment
in securities 474.65
45,088.55
Balance, Dec. 31, 1956
$317,298.52
III. BALANCE SHEET
1. Assets:
Plymouth National Bank $6,706.67
Plymouth Federal Savings and Loan Ass'n 13,653.55
Beverly Savings Bank 10,937.65
Danvers Savings Bank 9,922.21
American Trust Company-San Francisco
2,050.00
California Bank of Los Angeles
2,600.00
Cont. Illinois National Bank and Trust
3,330.00
First National Bank of Boston
3,657.00
Manufacturers Trust
2,300.00
National Shawmut Bank
4,800.00
Newton Waltham Bank and Trust
2,275.00
Rockland-Atlas National Bank of Boston
3,978.00
U. S. Treasury bonds, Series G
23,000.00
U. S. Treasury bonds, 31/4's of '83 3,000.00 City of Taunton Housing Authority bonds, 2%'s of '86 3,000.00
Mass. Turnpike Authority bonds, 3.3's of '94 5,075.00
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Town of Dracut bonds, 3's of '76 3,000.00
Chesapeake & Ohio Rwy. bonds, 31/2's of '96 1,043.97 Chesapeake & Ohio Rwy. bonds, 31/2's of '96 1,019.42
Chesapeake & Ohio bonds, 35/8's of '66 1,022.20
Great Northern Rwy. bonds, 23/4's of '82 3,027.08
Gulf Mobile & Ohio Railroad bonds,
33%'s of '80 1
1,991.93
Illinois Central Rwy. bonds, 31/4's of '80
1,993.45
Illinois Central Rwy. bonds, 33/8's of '89
2,000.00
Louisville & Nashville Rwy. bonds, 33%'s of '03 2,187.86
Louisville & Nashville Rwy. bonds, 33/4's of '03 2,000.00
N. Y. Central & Hudson River Rwy. bonds, 31/2's of '97 3,182.39
N. Y., Chicago & St. Louis Rwy. bonds, 3's of '86 5,097.97
N. Y., Chicago & St. Louis Rwy. bonds, 27/8's of '61 1,971.50
Northern Pacific Rwy. bonds, 4's of '97 5,994.94
Pere Marquette Rwy, bonds, 33%'s of '80
2,978.43
Reading Co. bonds, 31/8's of '95
5,084.36
Seaboard Air Line Rwy. bonds, 3's of '80 2,985.00
Southern Pacific Rwy. bonds, 23/4's of '96 1,678.45
St. Louis-San Francisco Rwy. bonds, 4's of '80 1,984.78
. : Virginian Rwy, bonds, 3's of '95
4,063.20
· Western Maryland Rwy. bonds, 3's of '61 1,000.00 Western Maryland Rwy. bonds, 3's of '60 996.71
:. Wheeling & Lake Erie Rwy, bonds, 23/4's of '74 1,986.15 Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 25/8's of '86 2,014.44
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 23/4's of '82 2,010.90
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 234's of '80 2,020.83
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 33/8's of '73 2,024.50
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/4's of '84 4,095.84
Associated Telephone Co. bonds, 35%'s of '81 2,041.08
General Tel. Co. of California bonds, 41/2's . of '86 5,073.83
00
00
0 0
0 0 0
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Illinois Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 3's of '78 2,044.53
Illinois Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 31/8's of '84 2,027.56
Mountain States Tel. Co. bonds, 31/8's of '78 2,038.99 Mountain States Tel. Co. bonds, 31/2's of '90 5,049.25 New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 3's of '82 2,050.73
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 3's of '74 2,010.68
New Jersey Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 31/8's of '88
977.30
New Jersey Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 3's of '89
2,020.00
New York Telephone Co. bonds, 338's of '96 4,930.18 Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/8's of '87 2,021.78
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/4's of '78 2,058.84
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 23/4's of '85 1,922.48
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/8's of '83 2,012.13
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds, 31/4's of '79 2,850.89
Southern Bell Tel. Co. bonds, 23/4's of '85 1,908.17
Arkansas Power & Light bonds, 31/8's of '74
2,034.53
Cal. Oregon Power Co. bonds, 37/8's of '86
5,065.77
Central Maine Power Co. bonds, 33/8's of '85
2,016.36
Central Vermont Public Service bonds, 234's of '75 1,926.68
Central Vermont Public Service bonds, 31/2's of '81 1,018.73
Cons. Edison Co. of N. Y. bonds, 3's of '79
2,042.23
Cons. Gas, Electric Light & Power Co. of Baltimore bonds, 23/4's of '86 4,024.60
Consumers Power Co. bonds, 4's of '86
5,050.00
Duquesne Light Co. bonds, 35/8's of '83
2,089.22
Fall River Elec. Light Co. bonds, 33/4's of '83
3,003.25
Georgia Power Co. bonds, 33/8's of '82
3,128.46
Kentucky Utilities Co. bonds, 33/4's of '86 5,071.22
Maine Public Service Co. bonds, 27/8's of '75 1,884.04
Milwaukee Gas Light Co. bonds, 31/8's of '75 3,031.89
Montana Power Co. bonds, 27/8's of '75 5,884.46
New England Power Co. bonds, 234's of '79 2,006.73
New Hampshire Elec. Co. bonds, 3's of "75 3,042.92
No. Indiana Pub. Serv. Co. bonds, 31/8's of '73 4,155.30
North Shore Gas Co. bonds, 4's of '75 4,053.06
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Pacific Gas & Elec. Co. bonds, 3's of '70 2,018.18
Pacific Gas & Elec. Co. bonds, 3's of '71 2,068.86
Pub. Serv. Co. of N. H. bonds, 31/4's of '73 2,115.45 Rockland Light & Power Co. bonds, 31/8's of '78 2,037.30 Savannah Elec. & Power Co. bonds, 378's of '86 5,110.42 Seattle Gas Light Co. bonds, 35/8's of '76 1,940.75
So. Cal. Edison Co. bonds, 3's of '65 2,018.24
So. Nevada Power Co. bonds, 51/2's of '86 5,050.00
Utah Power & Light Co. bonds, 35/8's of '81 3,120.00
Virginia Elec. & Power Co. bonds, 338's of '81 3,089.62 Wisconsin Elec. Power Co. bonds, 37/8's of '86 5,092.56 Wisconsin Michigan Power Co. bonds,
3's of '78 1,920.70
Aluminum Co. of America bonds, 31/8's of '64
1,009.17
American Tobacco Co. bonds, 3's of '69
988.29
General Motors Corp. bonds, 31/4's of '79
2,012.57
National Dairy Products Corp. bonds, 31/8's of '76 997.78
Accrued interest on bonds as of Dec. 31, 1956
2,204.18
Due from town for military service credit 195.20
$317,298.52
2. Liabilities:
Annuity Savings Fund
$246,195.90
Annuity Reserve Fund
27,081.50
Military Service Fund
3,365.23
Pension Fund
39,951.72
Expense Fund
704.17
$317,298.52
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 0 FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR 1956
Your Advisory and Finance Committee has spent many hours studying the affairs of the Town and, after careful de- liberation, respectfully submits the enclosed recommendations on the budgets and special articles in the Town Warrant for your consideration.
In arriving at its recommendations the Committee has at all times tried to base its decisions on what was in the best interest of the Town of Plymouth, its taxpayers and residents.
Your Committee is not at all happy in recommending a net amount to be raised by the tax levy of $1,841,921.40 for this year, which, based on last year's valuations, will call for a tax rate of $55, an increase over and above last year of $5. In fact, your Committee is very much perturbed that, after detailed study of every item, it is necessary to recommend such an amount to protect the investments already made by the Town and to continue the services that have been rendered the tax- payers and residents of the Town. Your Committee believes that a continually increasing tax rate is detrimental to the best interests of the Town. An increase in the tax rate from $36 in 1946 to $55 in 1956 is not, in the opinion of your Com- mittee, a healthy situation, particularly when it is noted that the increase from 1954 to 1955 was $4.80 and the anticipated increase this year is $5, showing that, not only is the tax rate increasing, but that the rate of the increase has accelerated. This situation makes the Town less and less attractive not only to prospective residents and industries but also to those already in the Town.
The Committee firmly believes that every effort must be made to reduce the expenses of the Town without any reduc- tion in the services rendered the taxpayers and residents. We believe that greater cooperation between departments and
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greater efficiency within the departments will result in con- ducting the affairs of the Town at a lesser cost and earnestly ask all the departments to work toward this end. [
We ask that you give your support, as in the past, to our recommendations and bear in mind that it is infinitely easier to give reasons to justify expenditures, particularly of public funds, than it is to justify prudence in spending such funds. We also call your attention to the fact that for every $15,000 change made in the, recommendations of your Committee, there will be'a"change of approximately 50¢ in your, the tax- payer's, tax rate.
As previously stated, we believe an increasing or high tax rate is detrimental to the best interests of the Town and may be a contributing factor in the apparent stagnation of Plymouth. Its population has not materially changed since 1920, when it had a population of 13,045, compared with a pop- ulation of 13,892 today. During this same period the towns around Plymouth have enjoyed a substantial increase in their population. Plymouth, while at the end of a railroad line, has excellent rail service for both passengers and freight. With the completion of the highways, actually under construction by the State, it will have splendid highway connections. These, under favorable tax conditions, should attract both in- dustry and residents. Your Committee has not had time to study or determine the causes of this apparent stagnation in population, but believes we must put our house in order and have the town affairs conducted in the most efficient and economical manner possible.
The Special Committee; appointed as a result of this Com- mittee's report last year, is diligently studying this problem and, we believe, will make many recommendations that will be beneficial to the Town. While we do not wish to encroach on the study by the Special Committee, we do call your attention to the expense to be borne by the Town in future years, if new streets continue to be accepted under the present rules. These simply require that a street be laid out 40 feet wide with a traveled way graveled to a depth of 6". This leaves the
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drainage, curbing, sidewalks and surfacing, together with any consequent land damage, to be borne by the Town and direct- · ly reflected in the tax rate. Many towns assess such expense upon the abutters, as a condition of acceptance. Plymouth has accepted 47,627 feet of streets in the past ten years, of which only about 1/3 have been improved. The minimum cost of surfacing was estimated, at the time of acceptance, at $63,890, a sum which, under the present policy will be borne by the taxpayers when the improvements are made. We sug- gest that you and the committee presently studying the re- organization of the Town give considerable thought to the necessity of revising this policy.
This year your Advisory and Finance Committee will consider that the amounts voted by the Town Meeting Mem- bers are the total amount to be spent this year. The Commit- tee will not transfer any funds from its Emergency Fund for normal operating expenses. We will not transfer funds to pay bills incurred prior to consultation with this Committee, except those incurred for legitimate emergencies to protect life, health and property.
While your Committee does not consider itself infallible, we again call attention to the fact that every change in its recommendations, amounting to $15,000, will result in a change in the tax rate, already too high, of approximately 50¢ and we ask your support in an endeavor to hold the in- crease in the tax rate to a minimum.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul J. Whipple, Chairman' -
Frank D. Bent -
John R. Pascoe
Norman P. Reinhardt Harold S. Volta
William H. Franks A. Stanton Bubbins 1
Wesley N. Churchill Henry A. Ferrari
William F. Farley Percival W. Fowler
Everett Malaguti Russell J. Hammond
Edward N. Mayer Bernard Kusmin
Attested: Cora B. Grady, Secretary
A T S 0 0
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SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Article 7 ise th of Ost at ne g.
$2,335,763.13
Total of Special Articles
611,103.00
State and County Assessments (net) 168,275.03
Overlay Deficit (1952)
24.60
Overlay for 1956 (estimate)
40,000.00
Total Recommended Expenditures $3,155,165.76
Estimated Receipts
$844,555.70
Excess and Deficiency (Articles
11 and 12)
150,000.00
Reserve Overlay (Article 10)
10,000.00
Sale of Cemetery Lots and Graves (Article 30)
1,800.00
Post-War Rehabilitation Fund (Article 26)
1,233.66
Parking Meter Receipts (Article 20)
775.00
Bond Issues (Articles 26 and 82)
290,000.00
Other (Articles 83, 86 and 93)
14,880.00
Total from Other Sources than Tax Levy
1,313,244.36
Net to be Raised
$1,841,921.40
Poll Tax 1956 (estimate)
9,300.00
Total from Real and Personal Taxes
$1,832,621.40
Based on the 1955 valuation of $33,339,550, this total will require a tax rate of approximately $55.
An increase of $1,000,000 in the valuation would reduce this tax rate by about $1.60 to approximately $53.40. 1.
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INDEX
Advisory & Finance Committee Report
337
Assessors, Board of 318
Cemetery Commissioners 316
Community Nurse 302
Housing Authority 326
Library 303
Park Dept. 328
Planning Board 323
Public Welfare
310
Aid to Dependent Children
311
Appropriations 312
Disability Assistance
312
Old Age Assistance 310
Infirmary 314
Welfare Department 313
Retirement, Board of
331
School Report 235
Administration 237
Attendance Supervisor's Report : 256
Calendar 238
Census 256
Changes in School Staff 258
Committee 237
Employees 259
S
S
School Report - continued
Employment of Minors 256
Enrollment 257
Financial Statement 239
High School Principal's Report 250
Junior High School Principal's Report 253
Oral Hygiene and Dental Clinic
254
School Committee Report
241
Superintendent's Report
241
Selectmen's Department 265
Engineer, Town
270
Fisheries, Inland 269
Forest, Town 272
Harbor Master 301
Insect Pest Control 273
Jurors, List of 289
Public Safety, Commission of 274
Dog Officer 284
Fire Division 277
Forest Fire
278
Health Division 280
Inspector of Buildings 282
Mechanical Division 278
Police Division 275
Sealer of Weights and Measures 283
Selectmen's Report 267
Streets and Sewers, Supt. of 285
Veterans' Services 271
4 3
1
35 37
56 38 56 2,58
237 259
Town Clerk's Report 3
Adjourned Town Meeting, March 26, 1956 31
Adjourned Town Meeting, March 27, 1956 46
Adjourned Town Meeting, March 28, 1956 63
Annual Town Meeting 12
in 1958 Births 96
Building Code 72
in 1958 Deaths 96
5
1938 Marriages 96
Officers, 1956 Town 3
Plumbing By-Laws 82
Receipts 96
Special Town Meeting
95
Town Meeting Members 8
Town Accountant's Report 97
Schedule A (Cash Receipts and Payments) 100
Schedule B (Appropriations) 128
Schedule C (Estimated Receipts) 197
Schedule D (Revenue Account) 198
Schedule E (Excess and Deficiency) 199
Schedule F (Balance Sheet) 200
Schedule G (Funded Indebtedness) 204
Schedule H (Funded Indebtedness) 205
Schedule I (Trust Funds) 206
Schedule J (Calculation of Credit) 222
Tree Warden 309
Water Department 223
In Memoriam 225
Water Commissioners 226
Water Superintendent 227
4 5 6 2
1 i
31 46 63 12 96 72 96 96 3 82 96 95 8 97 00 28 97 38
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