USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1932 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
There are, however, we believe, many heroic citizens in our town, who at great personal sarcifice are aiding friends or relatives who are in need. There are other noble souls, we have no doubt, who suffer with a smile and will not ask for aid when they really should have help.
This brings us face to face with the problem: How can the money that is being raised from the tax payers be expended with the least waste, serving the people that need to be served and giving aid on proportion to the greatest need? This is a task of the first magnitude. It is a challenge to every citizen. The Board of Public Welfare needs your support and your counsel as they seek to administer this task which the citizens of the town have entrusted to them.
The Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare expressed himself as feeling as does your committee that our town has established a reputation of being very liberal in dealing with welfare cases and there was no question but that a considerable sum could and should be saved by a more careful checking up of various cases and a revision of the amounts to be allowed the several people who are receiving help from the town; it being clearly understood that no one be allowed to suffer for want of the actual necessaries of life.
The Board of Public Welfare has put forth new recommendations for the economical handling of public welfare which will tend to equalize relief, standardize its application as far as is deemed advisable and largely eliminate the cash payments which have in some cases resulted in abuse. These recommendations represent the combined efforts of the Board and all members of the Board appeared before this Commttee and approved them. A system of reports and check-ups enables the welfare worker to ascertain that work has been performed as required. This plan carries sufficient elasticity to care for unusual cases.
By putting the Board's recommendations into operation, it is estimated that. a saving in the cost of relief would be affected without any material loss to the deserving poor and needy.
We, therefore, recommend that the sum of $70,000. be appropriated for public welfare instead of the recommendation of the Appropriation Committee of $77,000., this appropriation to be apportioned in ac- cordance with the plan of the Board of Public Welfare.
Your Committee is assured by the Town Accountant according to his best knowledge and belief that without any reductions or transfers of the appropriations already made or any immediate reductions of salaries of Town Officials or employees, that, based on last lear's valuations even with the apropriation as recommended there will be no increase in the tax rate of $24.25 that prevailed in 1931 and the committee be- lieves that the sum recommended is sufficient to carry the Board of Public Welfare through the balance of the year without further Town Meetings, provided an overlay fund of approximately $21,000. is made available. It should be stated that the cost of the South Merto- politan Sewer of which assessment is pending before the court will not be included in the 1932 levy by the Board of Assessors, by recom- mendation of the Town Counsel.
We believe it will prove helpful to the Town of Weymouth that Mr. Gunn and his associates have re-emphasized the need of pro-
89
tecting the tax payers. We must not "kill the goose that laid the golden egg". The tax payers are the chief source of revenue, and if the source of that ever flowing stream becomes dry the Town of Weymouth will have run its course.
ALLAN C. EMERY, Chairman
WILLIAM A. HODGES, Secretary
ROBERT H. BUCHAN,
ARTHUR J. HASSETT, ALFRED C. SHEEHY, CHARLES H. PUTNAM, J. FREDERICK PRICE.
Mr. Francis A. Gunn in behalf of his committee of himself and four of the Petitioners, made a report in writing.
Voted: That the report be accepted and the thanks of the town be extended to the members of his committee.
REPORT
To the Town Meeting Committee of the Town of Weymouth :
Report and observation of the Committee of Five, designated by the vote of the Special Town Meeting, held July 20, 1932, to take part in a special inquiry into the Town Budget for the purpose of effecting economies.
Three sessions were attended by this committee, and we believe the Town Meeting Committee and the people of Weymouth should be advised of what occurred there and accordingly, we report the im- portant details below.
1st. Session. Judge Nash, ruled that the group pressing for im- mediate economies, as represented by this Committee of Five, was not a part of the official committee which he limited to the Committee of Seven appointed by the Moderator.
Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare stated that they had a lot of money and had spent it too freely, and estimated that the Welfare expenditures could be materially reduced, presumably about one-half.
Supt. Pearson of the School Department agreed that the economies could be made and consented to bring to the next session, the figures of necessary economies to allow transfer of $28,000.
Town Counsel ruled that transfers in budget now, might involve the Town in litigation.
2nd Session. Chairman Emery opened the meeting with a strong declaration that transfers should not be made.
Town Accountant Dizer made a statement estimating the tax rate for 1932 as $24.03 and practically guaranteed that the rate would not exceed the 1931 rate of $24.25. He based his figures on last year's valuation. .
Dr. Dwyer, Clerk of the Assessors, refused to make any estimate of
-
90
1932 tax rate, and stated definitely that none could be accurately made now.
The Department Heads, who were all present, were given an op- portunity to make suggestions to effect economies but failed to offer any.
The Appropriation Committee, through their spokesman, Mr. Howard M. Dowd, expressed their opposition to any economies at this time, giving as the reason, the drastic reductions that they had made in the operating expenses of the various departments, aggregating $143,000. reduction from the budget of 1931.
This Committee, representing the Economy Group, at this time agreed not to press for the transfers, in the light of the position taken by the Town Authorities. This agreement based on the facts brought out above, namely: the guaranty of no increase in the tax-rate above the 1931 rate of $24.25, and the concession of Chairman Hannaford of the Board of Public Welfare that the new appropriations requested at this time would be materially reduced.
Earlier in this 2nd Session, the Chairman of the Welfare Board had advised the meeting that their report would not be ready until the following Monday night, but at this point in the session, Mr. Hef- fernan, of the Appropriation Committee, expressed the thought that if Mr. Dowd could confer with the Welfare Board, who were in session in another part of the building, that he could prevail upon them to submit a preliminary report covering the total they would need to finish the year. It was so voted, and Mr. Dowd brought back the Board of Public Welfare into our meeting, and Chairman Hannaford announced that despite the promised economies, they would need the whole amount requested, namely $92,000.
3rd. Session. Devoted almost wholly to a discussion of Welfare. The most important development was another ruling by the Town Counsel that the Welfare Board could spend anything they deemed necessary and the Town would have to pay the bills despite any limitation voted upon the Department.
Therefore: With the Committee of Seven, appointed by the Moder- ator, favoring no transfers, and the Department Heads showing no in- clination to reduce department expenditures, this group, pledged to economy, was left powerless to accomplish anything at this time, and asks unanimous consent to withdraw the motion to transfer funds to meet the Welfare appropriations.
We would point out however, that if the Town authorities carry out the year as they have agreed to do, namely: restrict the 1932 tax-rate to $24.25 and live within the appropriations made at this time, this movement has resulted in a saving of approximately $2.50 in the rate because Chairman Hannaford has conceded that the appropriations now asked for, would have lasted only three months on the old method of distribution and will last the rest of the year on the new method.
We would further point out that the 1932 tax-rate is being figured 3
at $24.25 by including $83,000. in the Accounts Receivable, but which has been deducted by the State for the Sewer, and by using an Overlay Reserving fund of $21,000. which would have been used next March to apply on the 1933 taxes.
91
It is further to be observed, that the guaranty of no increase over last year's tax-rate is based on last year's valuations, whereas present actual values are lower, and if this difference is taken into consideration in assessing property, the total valuation of the Town will be considerable lower, thus causing a higher tax-rate for the year over last year.
FRANCIS A. GUNN JOHN W. FILED MELVILLE F. CATE JOHN F. PIERCE
Mr. Ralph H. Haskins, Chairman of the Appropriation Committee moved and it was so voted: That all existing motions, substitute motions and amendments be laid on the table (motions made July 20, 1932).
Mr. John W. Heffernan, Secretary of the Appropriation Committee moved as follows:
To provide for salaries, operations and expenses during the remainder of the current year, of the following Town departments and activities, for certain improvements and to meet certain requirements of law, the several sums hereinafter set forth are hereby appropriated and subject to the conditions and limitations hereinafter set forth, all such sums to be raised by taxation in the levy of the current year, and to be in addition to such sums as have heretofore been appropriated for said purpose, to wit:
Item 1. For Charities
(a) $22,000. for relief to be given by the Town of Weymouth to persons having a legal settlement in said Town.
(b) $15,000. for relief to be given by the Town of Weymouth to persons not having a legal settlement in said Town.
(c) $40,000. for work in lieu of Charity, of which sum approximately $30,000. shall be used for labor and approximately for materials and equipment, all of which sum shall be expended through the Board of Public Welfare under the direction and suvervision of the following committee: Thomas J. Kelly, Parker T. Pearson, Fred O. Stevens, Arthur I. Negus, Charles W. Burgess and Thomas F. Leary, such com- mittee shall expend all of said sum applicable to labor at a rate not greater than $4.00 per day for citizens of the Town having a lawful settlement therein, who at the time of employment are actually in receipt of aid from the Town, no person to receive more work than enough to give him 1/2 day's pay in excess of the amount of aid which he was previously receiving per week.
Item 2. $15,000. for Old Age Assistance under Chapter 118A of the General Laws.
Item 3. $650. for maintenance of the Town Hall and War Me- morial.
Item 4. $75. for the purpose of a row boat for the Fire De- partment.
Item 5. For Highway Department
92
(a) $15,000. for General Maintenance.
(b) No action.
(c) No action.
(d) $4,450. for the purchase of a steam shovel.
And further provided in relation to subdivision (b) of Item 1 that the Town rescind its action taken at the Annual Town Meeting wherein it "provided that no part of this money shall be available for the sup- port for a longer period than three months of any person having a lawful settlement in other city or town of the Commonwealth, which settlement has been established in any of the ways proved by law".
And further provided that the Town rescind that part of its vote taken under Item 28 of Article 28 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1932 wherein it "appropriated not more than $8,000. shall be available for materials, and the hiring of trucks and machinery".
Mr. Allan C. Emery moved as an amendment: That $7,000. less than the amount recommended by the Appropriation Committee, or a total of $70,000. be appropriated for welfare.
Mr. Everett E. Callahan moved as a substitute motion : Under Article 1, Item 1 (a) $17,000. for relief to be given by the Town of Weymouth to persons having a legal setlement in said Town.
(b) $12,000. for relief to be given by the Town of Weymouth to persons not having a legal settlement in said town.
(c) That the sum of $60,000. be raised and appropriated for work in lieu of charity, to be expended under the supervision of one person chosen by the Moderator's Committee, Allan C. Emery, Chairman; said person to receive recompense at the rate of eight dollars per day, all of the above sum of $60,000. to be expensed under the follow- ing provisions :
1. No more than $10,000. for materials and truck hire.
2. The sum remaining to be expended at the rate of four dollars per day for citizens of Weymouth having a lawful settlement therein, such work to be allotted under provisions of the following table:
Single man one day per week;
Man and one dependent two days per week;
Man and two or three dependents three days per week;
Man and four to six dependents inc. four days per week;
Man and more than six dependents five days per week.
The maximum amount to be five days per week.
3. All departments using unemployed to furnish proper supervision, such supervision to receive their salary from the department assigning them.
Mr. William B. Chalke, Jr., moved as an amendment: To the appropriation Committee's motion to strike out the word "through" and substitute the word "by" and to strike out the words "under the direction and supervision of the following committee: Thomas J. Kelly, Parker T. Pearson, Fred O. Stevens, Arthur I. Negus, Charles W. Burgess and Thomas F. Leary.
93
Mr. George S. Peterson moved the following amendment:
All investigations of applications for charity be made by two Sar- geants of the Police Department and a third investigator to be ap- pointed by the Moderator to act in conjunction with the above. The three investigators will act under the full direction of the Chief of Police.
Mr. Ronald A. MacDonald moved that investigations be made by the police when requested by the Welfare Department. This question was put before the meting and was declared not a vote.
The amendment of Mr. Peterson was put before the meeting and was declared not a vote.
Mr. Allan C. Emery moved as a subsidiary motion, as follows, Article 1, Item 1 (a): That the sum of $40,000. be appropriated for relief to be given by the Town of Weymouth to persons having a legal settlement therein, $18,000. to be raised in the levy of the current year and $22,000. to be transferred from the Overlay Reserve Fund, said sums to be expended in accordance with the plan outlined by the Board of Public Welfare to the Committee appointed at the Special Town Meeting of July 20, 1932.
Item 1 (b): That the sum of $20,000. be raised in the levy of the current year and appropriated for relief to be given by the Town of Weymouth to persons not having a legal settlement in said Town.
Item 1 (c): That the sum of $10.000 be raised in the levy of the current year and appropriated for relief to be given by the Town of in the program for work contemplated by the Board of Public Welfare. .
The motion as offered by Mr. Callahan, being the largest sum, was put before the meeting and the tellers reported 17 voting in favor and 102 voting in the negative and the motion was declared lost.
The subsidiary motion as offered by Mr. Emery was then put before the meeting and the tellers reported 106 voting in the affirmative and 8 in the negative, the motion was declared carried.
The motion as offered by the Appropriation Committee as amended by the subsidiary motion of Mr. Emery was then put before the meet- ing and was declared a vote.
No action was taken upon the amendment offered by Mr. Chalke.
Article 2. Voted: That the Town rescind the vote on Article 2 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting held July 1931, whereby it voted to raise by loan and appropriate $33,000. for the construction of a water storage tank at North Weymouth in so far as it relates to $6,000. of the loan authorized and unissued, said sum not being necessary for the completion of the work involved.
On motion of Mr. Everett E. Callahan, it was voted to reconsider Article 1 of the Warrant.
Mr. Montague Bettencourt moved: That no action be taken on Item 5, Section (d).
Mr. Everett E. Callahan read a petition pertaining to Article 1, Item 5, Section (a) as follows:
94
To the Board of Selectmen, the Appropriation Committee, and the Town Meeting Members: 1
We, the undersigned, abutters on Iron Hill Street, an accepted high- way respectfully petition you for concerted action on the widening of said street. We are cognizant of the fact that many unaccepted streets are being used to relieve the present unemployment situation and beg to call to your attention that the accepted street named above is badly in need of repairs. It is our earnest wish that some action be taken to relieve the situation now existing.
G. Valicenti, 122 Iron Hill St.
Anthony Petrone, 112 Iron Hill St.
George Francomano, 95 Iron Hill St.
John Francomano, 117 Iron Hill St.
Joseph Achille, 111 Iron Hill St.
Joseph Cirigliano, 100 Iron Hill St.
Angelo Pomarico, 85 Iron Hill St.
Ralph Antoinette, 112 Iron Hill St.
Jeremiah S. Connell, 44 Iron Hill St.
Robert Banta, 119 Iron Hill St.
Frank Lopez, 111 Iron Hill St.
Arthur Valicenti, 104 Iron Hill St.
Amidio P. Valicenti, 122 Iron Hill St.
Mr. Arthur I. Negus moved as an amendment that $4,450. be appropriated for a Gasoline Shovel.
The motion offered by Mr. Bettencourt was put before the meeting and was declared not a vote.
The amendment offered by Mr. Negus was then put before the meeting and it was so voted. The motion as offered by the Appropri- ation Committee as amended by the amendment of Mr. Negus was then put before the meeting and it was so voted.
Mr. Everett E. Callahan moved: To strike the last paragraph of the motion of the Appropriation Committee, as follows: (And further provided that the Town rescind that part of its vote taken under Article 1, Item 28 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1932 wherein it "appropriated not more than $8,000. shall be available for materials, and the hiring of trucks and machinery".)
The motion offered by Mr. Callahan was put before the meeting and was declared not a vote.
Article 2. Already acted upon.
Mr. Melville F. Cate moved : That the action taken at the March meeting in appropriating $500. for street lights on private ways be rescinded.
This motion was put before the meeting and was declared not a vote.
Mr. Montague Bettencourt moved: That we rescind the action taken at this meeting under Article 1 of the Warrant. Item 5, sub- division 5 (d).
The question was put before the meeting and was declared not a vote.
95
Article 3. Mr. John W. Heffernan for the Appropriation Com- mittee moved: To raise and appropriate the sum of $451. for the pur- pose of maintaining during the ensuing year the Mosquito Control Works as established and certified to by the State Reclamation Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 112, Acts of 1931. This question was put before the meeting and was declared voted.
Article 4. Mr. John W. Heffernan of the Appropriation Com- mittee moved and it was so voted: That the Town designate as Town Forests all land taken for the protection of Water Supply, under authorization of the vote on Article 35 of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of 1928.
Mr. Stuart H. Briggs offered the following resolution: That it is the opinion of the Town Meeting Members here assembled that the vote of the State Legislature in awarding its members remuneration for the past special session of the Legislature was unjust and not for the best interests of the state and that the senator from this district can best serve his constituents by doing all he can to defeat any act to enable the legislatures to vote themselves any salary for special sessions in the future. And it is our expressed desire that the senator from this district vote against any such act as shall come up in the future. That the Town Clerk shall send a copy of this resolution to the Senator and Representative from this district.
This resolution was put before the meeting and was declared not a vote.
Mr. Melville F. Cate at 10:40 P. M. moved: That this meeting do now adjourn. So voted.
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS
July 20 and August 10, 1932
Article 1
Raise &Appropriate Appropriate from Overlay Reserve Fund $22,000.00
Item 1 (a) Relief to persons having legal
settlement
$18,000.00
(b) Relief to persons having no legal settlement
20,000.00
(c) Materials and Equipment for work Item 2 Old Age Asisstance
10,000.00
15,000.00
Item 3 Maintenance of Town Hall and War Memorials
650.00
Item 4 Purchase of row boat, for Fire De- partment
75.00
Item 5 Highway Department
(a) General Maintenance 15,000
(d) Purchase Gasoline Shovel
4,450.00
Article 3 Maintaining Mosquito Control, Chap- ter 112, Acts of 1931 451.00
$83,626.00 $22,000.00 CLAYTON B. MERCHANT, Town Clerk
96
WARRANT FOR STATE PRIMARY COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Norfolk, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Weymouth, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town who are qualified to vote in the Primaries to meet in the polling places of their respective precincts, to wit :
In precincts 1, 3 and 5 in the Fire Engine Houses located in those precincts respectively ;
In precinct 2 at G. A. Hall on Commercial Street ;
In precinct 4 at the building of the Citizens' Associaton, Inc., on Front Street;
In precinct 6 at the new Ward 2 Fire Engine House on the northerly side of Broad Street, which place has been duly designated as the polling place of precinct 6 in accordance with Chapter 54 of the General Laws;
In precinct 7 at the Lovell's Corner Improvement Association build- ing on Washington Street;
In precinct 8 at the Weymouth Heights Club building on North Street, on
TUESDAY, THE TWENTIETH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1932
at three o'clock P. M., for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes to the Prmary Officers for the Nomination of Candidates of Political Parties for the following offices:
Governer for this Comonwealth.
Lieutenant Governor for this Commonwealth.
Secretary of the Commonwealth for this Commonwealth.
Treasurer and Receiver-General for this Commonwealth.
Auditor of the Commonwealth for this Commonwealth.
Attorney General for this Commonwealth.
Representative in Congress for the 13th Congressional District.
Councillor for 2nd Councilor District.
Senator for Norfolk and Plymouth Senatorial District.
One Representative in the General Court for Fifth Norfolk Repre- sentative District.
County Commissioners for Norfolk County.
Sheriff for Norfolk County.
County Treasurer for Norfolk County (to fill vacancy)
and for the election of the followng officers:
District Member of State Committee for each political party for the Norfolk-Plymouth Senatorial District.
97
Sixteen Members of the Republican Town Committee.
Ten Members of the Democratic Town Committee.
Twelve Delegates to State Conventions of the Republican Party. Ten Delegates to State Convention of the Democratic Party.
All the above candidates and officers are to be voted for upon one ballot.
The polls will be open from three o'clock to eight P. M.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof seven (7) days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk on or before the sixteenth day of September, 1932.
Given under our hands this sixth day of September, A. D. 1932. WILLIAM A. HANNAFORD, WILLIAM A. CONNELL, EVERETT E. CALLAHAN, JOSEPH CREHAN, HERMAN O. COLLYER, Selectmen of Weymouth
A true copy, Attest :
EDWARD F. BUTLER Constable.
September ninth, 1932
RESULT OF STATE PRIMARY September 20, 1932
Republican
Walter E. Brownell
1
5
11
2
11
9
5
1 45
Frank A. Goodwin
200
208
264
138
407
189
132
105
1643
E. Mark Sullivan
11
17
28
6
23
25
2
5
117
William S. Youngman
263
204
265
88
425
239
111
114
1709
Blanks
44
57
74
24
62
99
24
15
399
Total
519
491
642
258
928
561
274
240
3913
Lieutenant Governor
Gaspar G. Bacon
116
103
184
72
253
117
66
87
998
Chester I. Campbell
365
307
378
143
558
277
184
139
2351
Blanks
38
81
80
43
117
167
24
14
564
Total
519
491
642
258
928
561
274
240
3913
98
Secretary
Frederick W. Cook
408
319
453
182
695
318
199
198
2772
Blanks
111
172
189
76
233
243
75
42
1141
Total
519
491
642
258
928
561
274
240
3913
Treasurer
Francis Prescott
304
221
307
128
535
239
149
137
2020
Max Ulin
79
84
130
43
113
69
38
59
615
Blanks
136
186
205
87
280
253
87
44
1278
Total
519
491
642
258
928
561
274
240
3913
Auditor
Emerson J. Coldwell
334
201
298
113
377
177
110
143
1753
Alonzo B. Cook
130
157
213
85
330
167
107
70
1259
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.