USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1934 > Part 3
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2. Shall licenses be granted in this Town for the sale therein of wines and malt beverages (wines, and beer, ale and all other malt bever- ages) ?
THE POLLS WILL BE CLOSED AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING
You are directed to serve this Warrant by posting a copy thereof, attested by you in writing, in each of two public places in each voting precinct in said Town, seven days at least before the time for holding the first meeting called for in this Warrant.
Hereof fail not, make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk of said Town on or before the twenty-sev- enth day of February, 1934.
Given under our hands at Weymouth this twenty-ninth day of January in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-four.
JOSEPH CREHAN, Chairman JOSEPH A. FERN, Clerk, EVERETT E. CALLAHAN, WILLIAM A. CONNELL, Selectmen of Weymouth.
A true copy, Attest:
Garold E. Kelso Constable of Weymouth.
RETURN OF SERVICE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Weymouth, February 20, 1934
Norfolk, ss.
I have this day served the within warrant by posting a true copy thereof attested by me in writing in each of two public places in each voting precinct in said Town of Weymouth seven days before the time for holding said meeting.
GAROLD E. KELSO, Constable of Weymouth.
TOWN CLERK'S CERTIFICATE
I hereby certify that a copy of the warrant for the annual town meeting was mailed to each Town Meeting Member with a notice of said meeting, seven days before the time for holding said meeting. CLAYTON B. MERCHANT, Town Clerk
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING March 5-7, 1934
Pursuant to the within warrant, the annual meeting of the inhab- itants of the Town of Weymouth, was held at the hall of the "Wey- mouth High School this Monday evening, March 5, 1934.
The meeting was called to order at 8:50 o'clock by George L. Barnes, Annual Moderator, who requested the Town Clerk to read the warrant, after reading the call for the first meeting, it was voted that
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the reading of the articles in the warrant be omitted, the Town Clerk then read the last three paragraphs of each warrant and the attesta- tion of the constable who served the warrants. 229 Town Meeting Mem- bers present.
The Moderator requested Rev. Francis A. Poole, Pastor of the Old South Congregational Church of South Weymouth, to invoke the Div- ine Blessing upon the deliberations of this meeting.
Mr. Norman T. Craig was sworn as a Town Meeting Member.
Mr. Francis A. Gunn moved that the Town Meeting Members of each precinct and. all ex-officio members sit together. Not a vote.
ARTICLE 1
Mr. John W. Heffernan, Sec'y. of the Appropriation Committee moved: To provide for the salaries, operation and expenses during the fiscal year of the several Town's departments and activities, for cer- tain improvements and to meet certain requirements of the law, the several sums hereinafter set forth are hereby appropriated for the sev- eral purposes and subject to the conditions hereinafter specified, all such sums to be raised by taxation in the levy of the current year un- less some other source of revenue is expressed.
Item 1. For all expenses of the Appropriation Committee Tentatively adopted. $600.00
Item 2. For salaries and expenses of the Selectmen's department 6,563.90
Of this sum $4,563.90 is for the salaries of the Selectmen.
Item 3. For the salary and all expenses of the Town Accountant's department. 6,400.00 Tentatively adopted.
Item 4. For the salary of the Town Treasurer and all expenses of the Treasurer's department. Tentatively adopted.
2,814.00
Item 5. For the compensation of the Tax Collecting de- partment Of this sum a sufficient is alloted for the payment of the premium on the Deputy Collector's bond. Tentatively adopted.
9,009.00
Mr. William D. Parker moved: That the Tax Col- lector be paid five mills on the dollar of all taxes collected. Not a vote.
More than seven members doubting the vote a recount was ordered.
The Moderator appointed John L. Bastey, Irving E. Johnson and J. Edward Mulligan as tellers, and they were sworn to the faithful performance of that duty. The recount being taken they reported 63 voting in the affirmative and 104 in the nega- tive, the motion was declared lost.
The motion of the Appropriation Committee was tentatively adopted.
Item 6. For the salaries and all expenses of the Assessors' Department Of this sum 5,195. for salaries of the Board, 655. is for services incidental to the equalization of property valuations and the remainder is for mis- cellaneous expenses. Tentatively adopted.
Item 7. For all expenses of the Legal department Tentatively adopted.
10,250.00
3,000.00
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Item 8. For payment of Damages. Tentatively adopted.
3,000.00
Item 9. For the salary of the Town Clerk and all expenses of the Clerk's department. 3,350.00 Of this sum 500. is for clerical assistance. Tentatively adopted.
Item 10. For Elections and Registrations of Voters. Tentatively adopted.
5,235.00
Item 11. For all expenses of the Engineering department, including the Town Survey and placing of bound stones on existing town ways, the making of street surveys and such other engineering work as may be authorized by the Selectmen. Tentatively adopted.
5,475.00
Item 12. For all expenses of the Planning Board. Tentatively adopted.
300.00
Item 13. For the maintenance of the Town Hall and War Memorials at the Civic Center, including the grounds to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen. Tentatively adopted.
7,889.00
Item 14. For the maintenance of the Civil War Soldiers' Monument and the King Phillips War Memorial, including the grounds, to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen. Tentatively adopted.
100.00
Item 15. For the salaries and all other expenses of the Police Department. Authority is hereby given for replacing one auto- mobile and two motor cycles with similar equip- ment and for purchasing an additional auto- mobile. Authority is also given for the installation of a teletype and the purchase of riot guns, ammunition and bullet proof vests. Tentatively adopted.
Item 16. For the salaries and all other expenses of the Fire Department 64,786.48
Item 17. For the compensation of the Building Inspector and all other expenses of the Building Inspector's Department. 1,463.00
Of this sum 1,200. is for the salary of the Building Inspector and 180 for the Board of Appeal meet- ings. Tentatively adopted.
Item 18. For the compensation of the Sealer of Weights and Measures, and all other expenses. 1,435.00
Tentatively adopted.
Item 19. For Gypsy Moth and all other Insect Pest exter- mination 6,326.00
Tentatively adopted.
Item 20. For care of Shade Trees. Tentatively adopted. 2,140.00
Item 21. For Street Lighting
Tentatively adopted. 37,721.32
Item 22. For Harbor Master and all other expenses of Tentatively adopted.
Harbor Master's Department. 275.00
74,546.00
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Item 23. For the salaries and all other expenses of the Board of Health. Which sum shall include the payment of compen- sation for investigation of a member of the
13,542.00
Board and the payment of the established rate of compensation to a member of the Board as an Inspector should the Board appoint one of its own members to such a position. One thousand dollars ($1,000.) of this sum is appropriated for the pur- pose of establishing a laboratory for the testing of milk. Tentatively adopted.
Item 24. For the employment of nurses under the direction of the Board of Selectmen who are hereby auth- orized to contract with the Weymouth Visiting Nurse Association to furnish the services of one or more nurses in cases where such services are a proper charge against the town. Tentatively adopted.
2,000.00
Item 25. For the maintenance of the Norfolk County Tuberculosis Hospital. Tentatively adopted.
9,960.39
Item 26. For Garbage Removal 7,000.00
This authorizes the Selectmen to enter into a contract for the disposal of garbage from April 1, 1934 to April 1, 1935, at a sum not to exceed the amount appropriated.
Mr. William D. Parker moved as an amendment: That the bids for the removal of garbage be published and the choice of the Selectmen be so published, So Voted. Tentatively adopted.
Item. 27. Public Welfare 212,630.00
Provided that $120,000. shall be for the relief of persons having a legal setlement in the town; $60,000. for the relief of persons not having a settlement in the town; $10,000. for reimburse- ment to other cities and towns for relief provid- ed to persons having a legal settlement in the town; $9,155 shall be for materials, equipment and easements under Articles 12 and 13 of the warrant; $6,350. for all expenses of the Town Infirmary; $2,000. for the salary of the Welfare Worker; $1,000. is for Public Welfare inves-
tigations; $525. is for miscellaneous expenses and $3,600. as compensation for the supervision of workers on welfare projects. Tentatively adopted.
Under this article Mr. Charles Griffin of the Committee of six appointed March 27, 1933 was read, as follows:
PUBLIC WELFARE IN WEYMOUTH THROUGH 1933
The committee on Charities was appointed by the Town Modera- tor on March 27, 1933, pursuant to a vote of the Town Meeting Mem- bers, on Item 27, Article 1 at the Annual Town Meeting.
In the Moderator's letter to the various individuals, notifying them of the appointment to the Committee, he gave the following as his interpretation of the warrant noted:
"It is not my understanding that the vote of the town contem- plates that this committee investigate and act upon each individual case of public welfare relief. It seems to me that it could be hardly assumed that your committee should be expected to devote that
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amount of time and effort. I should assume, however, that the pur- pose of the vote under which you have been appointed is to provide for the supervision and systematic handling of public charity to the end that all worthy cases of necessity may be suitably relieved and that the money of the taxpayers of Weymouth may be expended effi- ciently and economically. The vote does not define the exact duty or duties of your committee, but in view of the fact that the Town em- ploys a "Welfare Worker", it would seem fair to assume that your committee not be charged with the duty of the investigation work of administrating relief in individual cases, except of course, so far as you may desire to investigate such cases in order to determine that in general the principles and rules of administration of public charity that your committee may adopt are or are not being observed."
Accepting the above interpretation of the Moderator, the committee proceeded to function and during the year have held a considerable number of meetings, both independently and with the Board of Fub- lic Welfare, in an endeavor to find out facts relative to Welfare mat- ters, as these affected the citizens of Weymouth, whether taxpayers or recipients of welfare, or both.
The committee is about to conclude its duties and it appears only fair to the citizens of Weymouth that some public statement should be forthcoming at this time from the Committee.
At the outset there was unanimity of opinion that it was the de- sire of the majority of the citizens to extend aid to such extent that no physical suffering should occur to anyone through lack of food, shelter and medical aid.
It was obvious that the impression was of greater magnitude than has been previously encountered. Consequently, demands for help from unexpected quarters and on a scale of such proportions that the ordi- nary channels provided for the administration of welfare failed.
Like most towns, Weymouth has dispensed welfare chiefly through each individual Selectman who also is a member of the Board of Pub- lic Welfare, but in recent years, as the depression came along, it was recognized that the -limited time available for investigation and other welfare matters by the Selectmen was insufficient for economical handling of this department, and it was voted by the representatives of the town to authorize the Selectmen to appoint a Director of Pub- lic Welfare at an excellent salary to assist them in carrying on this burdensome work.
This committee readily understood that emergency conditions existed and appeared before the Selectmen with the determination to find out facts and then endeavor to assist the Board of Public Wel- fare and employees in a reorganization of the Department, and chang- ing in some degree the system of keeping records, issuing grocery or- ders, paying rents, and investigating recipients of Welfare.
Definitely, the following are the recommendations of your com- mittee and the action of the Selectmen took on such:
1. That the recipients of welfare aid have the right to choose where he will trade with his food orders, Favorably acted upon by the Board.
2. That the food orders be printed on a standard form, issued in triplicate for office control purposes, and issued by one party only- this party to be appointed by the Selectmen. Favorably acted on by the Board.
3. That the companies be held strictly to the list as printed. fav- orably acted on by the Board but no report as to any investigation has been made.
4. That a weekly report be made to the Board every week by the Welfare Supervisor on certain statistical data. Favorably acted on but casually acted on by the Board.
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5. That a certain procedure be followed with new applicants. Fav- orably acted on by the Board.
6. That another assistant be given to the Director to assist her in this work. Favorably acted on by the Board.
7. That the police Department be used in the investigation of wel- fare recipients. Favorably acted on by the Board.
8. That all recipients of aid be made to work out all forms of aid received. Favorably acted on by the Board.
9. That the system of paying rents be revised. Favorably acted on by the Board.
10. That cash be substituted for the grocery orders only. Favorably acted on by the Board.
Several other recommendations of a minor character were also made and favorably acted on by the Board. In addition many collat- eral matters were considered but there were influences that prevented further action by this committee.
An administrative change that seemed to be of assistance was that the Welfare department have its own records and not be dependent on other departments of the town.
In some matters the Committee found the Selectmen willing to accept suggestions and after considerable persuasion instructions were issued for adoption of the ideas.
It was generally the opinion of the Committee that there were numerous cases on the welfare roll that either should not be there at all, or where too many from one family received aid, such as parents and grown children in the same family or where a father owned a house, received aid and also rent from a member of his family through the town. It also seemed that quite a few cases appeared for investi- gation before joint meetings of the Board and the Committee were disposed of by the Selectmen by granting the applicants what was re- quested.
It appeared to the Committee that there were either extreme generosity with, or a wilful disregard at times for the taxpayers' mon- ey. While granting that great caution should be taken that no injus- tice should occur, in the handling of cases, it was believed that the Director of Public Welfare should be the agent for determining the need for aid ,and should aid be extended it must be the minimum and not the maximum.
It must be recognized that the funds available were limited and the demand very great; that many citizens, while in very straightened circumstances, were endeavoring to struggle through without asking aid, that self-seeking, dishonest persons preyed on the town, that the generosity of the Town fathers was common gossip; and affected the citizens of the town to the extent that it was more inviting to seek aid than work.
The Committee repeatedly urged the Board of Public Welfare to take cognizance of the above conditions and make more extensive investigations before authorizing aid, and by establishing stringent rules discourage the desire to remain a recipient of welfare.
It also must be recognized that the Selectmen are agents of the Town, and the money and aid they are dispensing is provided by the taxpayers.
Throughout the entire year the dissention in the Board of Select- men has been well known to the public and that cooperation and har- mony has been absent with consequent laxness in conduct of the Town's business.
The expenditures made through this department of the town will reach this year the tremendous sum of approximately $375,000. and by comparison with the expenditures made in other departments ranks
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second in volume; yet, the organization for dispensing this is not prop- erly set up for handling the situation that confronted it.
It is believed :
1. That there are unworthy cases that should be weeded out.
2. That in general recipients are receiving too much assistance.
3. That the cost of medical aid is too high.
4. That too much encouragement has been given to seek aid than discourage the practice.
If a decided reversal downward in the existent trend is not ob- tained then the citizens will have a permanent dole system on their hands.
This committee recommends a thorough reorganization of the Welfare Department and the placing of responsibility of operation of the Department solely on the Director of Public Welfare where it rightly belongs; transmit instructions from the Board of Selectmen through the Clerk of the Board instead of through individual selectmen with all attendent confusion as is now done.
The Committee also believes that a Committee of six citizens again be appointed by the moderator to make investigations and receive re- ports from the Director of Public Welfare from time to time.
The investigations by the Police Department should continue and any findings of dishonesty or unworthy aid by the police should be re- ported to the Welfare Director who should have the power to remove such cases from the roll immediately.
At the present time the building inspector devotes a great pro- portion of his time to Welfare matters as a check-up man of work in lieu of charity. We believe that a person should be employed for this purpose by the welfare-department at a moderate salary, and that if the same man were to be called to work in this department then his salary in the inspectors department should be somewhat reduced.
The Town has been not only extremely generous, in its dispensa- tion of public funds, but it also has been the recipient of large por- tions of public aid, both in cash and commodities.
The Board of Public Welfare has put in a great amount on Wel- fare matters, in fact spent too much time, because if the system were better organized under the Director of Welfare there would be less occasion for discussions on the subject.
Conditions in the handling of welfare in the Town have not been found generally satisfactory. Aid has been expended very commonly with only a moderate amount of investigation. The cost to the tax- payer is continually mounting and this year will be at least $10.00 of your total tax rate.
Let the next Board of Public Welfare indicate its loyalty and ap- preciation of the honor of serving the Town by further reorganizing the Welfare department at once and placing it upon a sound business basis. Should they do this they would quickly gain the confidence of the citizens and improve conditions throughout the community.
Respectfully submitted, BENJAMIN COWAN, Chairman CHARLES GRIFFIN, Clerk REV. DR. POOLE REV. FR. HOLLAND MRS. LYMAN GOODRICH
Committee on Charities for 1933
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William W. Wakeman moved: That the report of the Committee be accepted, their recommendation adopted and the thanks of the town be extended to the Committee. So Voted.
Mr. Stuart H. Briggs, moved that the same Committee be ap- pointed for the year 1934. Not a vote. Tentatively adopted. .
Item 28. For old age assistance under Chapter 118A'of the General Laws 60,000.00 Tentatively adopted.
Item 29. For pensions 1,575.00
Item 30. For Soldiers benefit including State and Military Soldiers' Relief and then burying of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors. 22,000.00
Item 31. For the Highway Department
(a) For salaries, general expenses and mainten- ance of existing roads 96,500.00
(b) For removal of snow 10,000.00 106,500.00
Provided that the appropriation for salaries and general expenses and for the removal of snow and ice may after December 15, of the current year be accounted for and disbursed as one fund. Mr. William A. Thurston moved to amend to in- crease the sum of $3,500. for the purpose of two sidewalk plows.
Mr. Robert H. Buchan moved to amend to raise and appropriate $1,500. for such plows and ap- propriate the balance $3,000. which sum to be taken from the Street Department appropriation. Mr. Clyne W. Bigelow moved to amend by pur- chasing 6 plows and 2 tractors for the removal of snow at an additional sum of $1,700 each.
All three amendments were put before the meet- ing in their order of precedence and were lost. The motion of the Appropriation Committee was Tentatively adopted.
Item 32. For the support of the public Schools $416,553.09
And further provided that the sum of $2,229.91 received under the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 140, Section 172 relating to the Dog Fund is hereby appropriated in accordance with the Chapter for the support of the schools.
Item 33. For the maintenance of Tufts Library and its branches
21,436.00
Of this sum 1,500 is appropriated for the support of the reading room of the Fogg Library.
Mr. Alfred C. Sheehy recommended that the Lib- raries be kept open until 10:30 P. M.
Mr. Albert Silvester moved to amend by making 9:30 P. M.
Mr. John W. Knox moved that the hours of open- ing and closing of the libraries be left to the Trustees of the library and they give notice of any changes. So Voted.
The motion of the Appropriation Committee was Tentatively adopted ..
Item 34. For the observance of Memorial Day. to be expen- ded under the direction of a Committee of nine to be appointed from the several veteran and hered- itary organizations in accordance with the provis-
750.00
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ion of General Laws (Ter. Ed.) Chapter 40, Sec- tion 5, Clause 12, by the Moderator who shall des- ignate the Chairman, said amount to be available only in case evidence shall be filed with the Town Accountant that the graves of all wars have been decorated without discrimination.
Tentatively adopted.
Item 35. For parks and playgrounds to be expended under the direction of the Board of Park Commission- ers.
8,070.00
Of which sum 800. is for caring of the greens and 1,000. is for compensating tax payers in danger of becoming welfare recipients.
Mr. Everett E. Callahan moved to amend by striking out the words "and 1,000 is for compen- sating taxpayers in danger of becoming welfare recipients" and inserting in place thereof the words "and that all labor be chosen from the wel- fare rolls.
Mr. Francis A. Gunn moved to amend that the sum under this item be the same as last years' expenditures 5,781.40. This motion was declared lost.
The amendment of Mr. Callahan was so voted.
The motion of the Appropriation Committee as amended was voted.
Tentatively adopted.
Item 36. For Miscellaneous expenses to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen Tentatively adopted.
2,565.11
Item 37. Unpaid bills; presented for payment after the ap- propriation made for that purpose was expended.
9,203.14
Fire Dept. N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co.
Police Dept. Wey. Lt. & Power Co.
11.40
Health Dept. C. C. Shepherd
114.00
Mass. Mem. Hospitals
662.00
Mass. Mem. Hospitals
1,245.00
City of Quincy
183.74
Lakeville State San.
105.00
Lakeville State San.
213.50
Wakefield State San.
273.00
No. Reading State San.
72.00
Fred A. Loud & Co.
50.00
W. F. Hall
101.00
Donovan Drug Co.
7.45
Linda Richards
150.00
E. Nash Drug Co.
81.00
Town of Milton
76.70
Thomas Macdonald
98.00
F. L. Doucett M. D.
313.90
686.39
Street Dept. Thomas Delahunt
33.32
Tree Dept. Charles L. Merritt
755.00
Old Age Ass. Donovan Drug Co.
15.00
Charles C. Hearn
19.80
Henry S. Cummings
7.95
E. Nash Drug Co.
12.45
Campbell's Drug Store
4.90
Quincy Drug Co.
6.00
Lebbossiere's
2.20
. 48.10
Moth Dept. Est. of Alice A. Nash
50.00
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Mrs. Joseph W. McDonald
100.00
Albert Ahern
100.00
W. J. Dunbar & Son
100.00
C. C. Shepherd
200.00
Weymouth Hospital
72.43
L. W. Pease, M. D.
43.00
Clifford L. Danforth
18.00
K. H. Granger
130.00
Wallace H. Drake, M. D.
105.00
Kenneth T. Hutchison, M. D.
117.25
John J. Gallivan, M. D.
67.00
Philip Levine, M.D.
213.00
F. L. Doucett, M. D.
111.00
Robert R. Ryan, M. D.
565.00
Harold A. Spaulding, M. D.
5.00
1,925.51
Charities: Robert R. Ryan, M. D.
334.00
Weymouth Hospital
552.00
Robert R. Ryan, M. D.
84.00
Weymouth Hospital
27.00
Harold A. Spaulding, M. D.
369.00
Kenneth T. Hutchison, M. D.
109.00
K. H. Granger, M. D.
4.75
James M. Ward, M. D.
5.00
R. O. Gilmore, M. D.
63.00
Dr. Joseph Lelyveld
6.00
Edgar Lee Abt, D.M.D.
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