USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1943 > Part 5
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ARTICLE 1. To see if the Town will vote to purchase War Bonds with all surplus cash and any other funds that are legally available for the purchase.
ARTICLE 2. To see if the Town will vote to grant the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. an easement to construct, reconstruct, operate, maintain and remove lines of the telephone and telegraph, including the necessary underground cables, pipes, conduits, manholes, and appurtenances, . across, over, and under the land on the southerly side of Bridge Street, at the Weymouth Back River.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will vote to amend Sec. 303 of Article 111 of Town By-Laws.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Moderator will appoint a Post-War Planning Committee and see what sum of money the Town will appropriate for their use.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to reinstate the Board of Registrars back to their original salary and that the sum of $250. be appro- priated for same.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to accept Rucille Avenue, Raycroft Avenue, and extension of Edgeworth Road as accepted streets and appropriate necessary money for same.
(At the Request of the State Dept. of Public Works and Weymouth Electric Light Committee)
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to approve street lighting layout at the Back River Bridge and the approach thereto, the Town to be responsible for joint maintenance and operation of lights with the Town of Hingham.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the purchase of easement, which was accepted at last Annual Town Meeting March 1, 1943, for Mrs. Alice G. Jones, 266 West Street, South Weymouth.
You are hereby required to notify and warn said inhabitants of Wey- mouth qualified to vote in Town Affairs, in case all the articles in the fore- going warrant shall not be acted upon at the meeting called for the twenty-fourth day of May, to meet in adjourned session at the hall of the
47
Weymouth High School on
WEDNESDAY, THE TWENTY-SIXTH DAY OF MAY, 1943
at seven o'clock and forty-five minutes in the evening, then and there to act upon such of the foregoing articles as shall not have been acted upon on May twenty-fourth or acted upon which may at said meeting of May twenty-fourth have been deferred until said adjourned session.
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, and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk of said Town on or before the Seventeenth Day of May, 1943.
Given under our hands at Weymouth this twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty-three.
HARRY CHRISTENSEN, Chairman
RALPH P. BURRELL
JOSEPH A. FERN
SANDY ROULSTON BASIL S. WARREN
Selectmen of Weymouth
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING May 24, 1943
Pursuant to the within Warrant a special meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Weymouth, represented by its duly elected and qualified Town Meeting Members was held in the Hall of the Weymouth High School this twenty-fourth day of May, 1943.
The meeting was called to order at 7:59 o'clock in the evening by William J. Holbrook, Annual Moderator, who then requested the Town Clerk to read the Warrant for the meeting.
Mr. Stein moved: That the reading of the remaining articles in the warrant be dispensed with.
Motion duly seconded and so voted.
The Moderator then requested the Rev. Sillers, Pastor of the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church of South Weymouth, to invoke the blessings of the Ruler of the Universe upon the deliberations of the meeting.
Twenty-one Town Meeting Members not previously sworn were then sworn to the duties of their office by the Moderator.
One hundred and twenty Town meeting members were checked by the police as being present at the meeting.
The Moderator then called for the articles to be acted upon.
ARTICLE 1. Mr. Lane, for the Appropriation Committee, moved: That there be appropriated from surplus revenue of the Town the sum of $250,000 for the purchase of United States Treasury Bonds in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 of the Acts of 1943. Of this sum, $125,000 shall be invested in 2% Bonds and $125,000 in 21% Bonds. That there ยท also be invested in 22% United States Treasury Bonds $67,000 of the Laban Pratt Hospital Trust Fund. And that all 2% Bonds shall mature in ten
48
years or less and all 22% Bonds in thirty years or less. That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized and instructed to purchase these Bonds at a value not exceeding par.
At this time Mr. Buchan spoke on the question and through the Modera- tor, asked for an opinion from the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee and the Town Accountant as to whether or not it would be well under present conditions with Federal Taxes as they are, to tie up this large amount of money or apply it to current expenses of 1944 where it might be a "God Send".
Mr. Stein and Mr. Dizer spoke briefly outlining the reasons for the action as submitted by the Appropriation Committee for Post-war purposes.
Motion of the Appropriation Committee as offered by Mr. Lane was unanimously voted.
ARTICLE 2. Mr. Lane, for the Appropriation Committee, moved: That the Town instruct the Board of Selectmen to grant the New Eng- land Telephone & Telegraph Company an easement to construct, recon- struct, operate, maintain and remove lines of the telephone and telegraph, including the necessary underground cables, pipes, conduits, manholes and appurtenances, across, over and' under the land on the southerly side of Bridge Street, at the Weymouth Back River, in accordance with plan 2|42-12, dated November 5, 1942, now on file with the Board of Selectmen.
Motion of the Appropriation Committee as offered by Mr. Lane was unanimously voted.
At this time Mr. John Field moved that Article 4 of the Warrant be taken up. So voted.
ARTICLE 4. Mr. Lane for the Appropriation Committee moved : That the Moderator appoint a Post War Planning Committee of nine to study the needs of all town departments and report to the Board of Selectmen on or before January 1, 1944. This committee shall consist of the Superintendent of Schools; Superintendent of Streets; Superintendent of Water Department; Supervisor of Welfare; Town Engineer; Chairman of the Board of Selectmen; Planning Board, Park Department and Appro- priation Committee. That the sum of $300 be appropriated from surplus for expenses of this committee.
Motion of the Appropriation Committee as offered by Mr. Lane was so voted.
Mr. John Field moved: That Article 7 be now taken up.
Mr. Robert Buchan moved a substitute motion to that of Mr. Field : That Article 3 be now considered and that Section 303 of Article 111 be read to the Town Meeting members assembled so as to enable them to act and vote intelligently on the subject matter.
Moderator then called for action on the substitute motion of Mr. Buch- an and upon vote, declared the substitute motion lost.
Moderator then called for action on the motion of Mr. Field and upon vote, declared the motion so voted.
ARTICLE 7. Mr. Lane, for the Appropriation Committee, moved : That the Town approve street lighting layout at the Back River Bridge and the approach thereto in accordance with State of Massachusetts plan dated February 8, 1943 now on file with the Board of. Selectmen, and that the Town accept, jointly with the Town of Hingham, 50% each of the cost of maintenance and operation.
49
Motion of the Appropriation Committee as offered by Mr. Lane was unanimously voted.
Mr. Charles Y. Berry moved : That Article 5 be considered at this time.
Mr. Field moved: Adjournment without date.
Mr. Thomas Kelley, Mr. John Knox and Mrs. Amy Hill Duncan spoke briefly, asking the indulgence of the assembly to consider all articles of the Warrant and to postpone adjournment until all articles had been dispensed with
The Moderator then called for action on the motion of adjournment as offered by Mr. Field and upon vote declared the motion as lost.
The Moderator then called for action on the motion of Mr. Berry for Consideration of Article 5 and upon vote, declared that the motion prevailed.
ARTICLE 5. Mr. Lane, for the Appropriation Committee, moved: That the sum of $150 .. be appropriated from surplus for personal services of the Board of Registrars.
Mr. Merchant, Clerk of the Board of Registrars, offered a substitute motion to that of the Appropriation Committee as follows: That the sum of $250.00 be appropriated from surplus for personal services of all members of the Board of Registrars thereby re-establishing salaries of all the mem- bers of the Board as of their base pay prior to the Annual Town Meeting as of March 1, 1943.
Mr. Merchant spoke on the subject asking that fairness to all members in the restoration of salaries as of their base pay prior to the Annual Town Meeting, be dealt with.
. Mr. Lane and Mr. Stein, of the Appropriation Committee, spoke on the subject.
Mr. Robert Buchan seconded the substitute motion as offered by Mr. Merchant and asked for action on the question.
The Moderator then called for action on the substitute motion as offered by Mr. Merchant.
The substitute motion was unanimously voted.
ARTICLE 3. Mr. Lane, for the Appropriation Committee, moved: That the subject matter be referred to next Annual Town Meeting.
Mr. Frank G. Hale, Jr. Chairman of the Planning Board, moved a substitute motion to that of the Appropriation Committee as follows: To see if the Town will vote to re-establish the Planning Board under Chap. 41, Gen. Laws - Sec. 81A - 81J inclusive. The Board to consist of seven members, 2 elected for five years, 2 for four years, 1 for three-two-one years - then at each annual meeting thereafter the terms expiring shall be for 5 years each.
The Moderator then declared that the motion of the Appropriation Committee, in accordance with the By-Laws, had precedence over the substitute motion as offered by Mr. Hale and then called for action on the motion as' offered by Mr. Lane for the Appropriation Committee and upon vote, declared that the motion prevailed.
ARTICLE 6. Mr. Lane, for the Appropriation Committee, moved: That the subject matter to be referred to the next Annual Town Meeting.
Mr. Harry Christensen, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, offered
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a substitute motion for that of the Appropriation Committee as follows: That Rucille Avenue, Edgeworth Street, and Raycroft Avenue be accepted and the sum of $700. be appropriated for the working of same from surplus funds.
The Moderator at this time called for action on the motion as offered by Mr. Lane, for the Appropriation Committee, and upon vote, declared the motion as so voted.
ARTICLE 8. Mr. Lane, for the Appropriation Committee, moved : That the Town appropriate from surplus the sum of $100. for the acqui- sition of an easement in fee for drainage purposes from Mrs. Alice G. Jones, 266 West Street, South Weymouth, as voted by the Annual Town Meeting 1943.
The Moderator called for action on the motion of Mr. Lane.
Motion unanimously voted.
Mr. Lane moved adjournment.
Mr. Buchan then asked for re-consideration of Article 6. The Moderator declared the motion of Mr. Buchan as lost.
Mr. Lane then moved to adjourn.
Motion of Mr. Lane was unanimously adopted.
Adjourned without date at 8:40 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
Julian R. Merchant Town Clerk
A true copy attest :
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS SPECIAL TOWN MEETING May 24, 1943
Article Appropriations from Surplus Reserve
1. Purchase of U. S. Treasury Bonds, provision of Chapter
$250,000.00
5 Acts of 1943 Purchase of Bonds from Laban Pratt Trust Funds 67,000.00
.4. Post War Planning Committee 300.00
5. Re-establishing salaries of Board of Registrars 250.00
8. Easement from Alice G. Jones, 266 West St. (as vote 100.00
by Annual Town Meeting 1943)
$317,650.00
A true copy attest
Julian R. Merchant, Town Clerk
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TOWN CLERK'S FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1943 DOG LICENSES ISSUED DURING THE YEAR 1943
1276 Males @ $2.00
$ 2,552.00
219 Females @ $5.00
1,095.00
547 Sp Females @ $2.00
1,094.00
8 Kennel @ $25.00
200.00
Kennel @ $50.00
6 Kennel @ $10.00
60.00
2056
$ 5,001.00
Less fee retained under Prov. Of General
Laws, Chapter 140 and amend. thereto 411.20
Paid to Town Treasurer
$ 4,589.80
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES FOR THE YEAR 1943
363 Res. citz. fishing @ $2.00
$ 726.00
272 Res. Citz. Hunting @ $2.00
544.00
177 Res. Citz. Sporting @ $3.25 575.25
107 Res. Women & Minor Fishing @ $1.25
133.75
3
Res. Minor Trapping @ $2.25
6.75
6 Res. Citz. Trapping @ $5.25
31.50
30 Res. Citz. Free
6 - Duplicates @ $.50
3.00
Non-Res. Hunting
Non-Res. Fishing @ $1.50
20 Res. Military or Naval Service Sporting-Free
3 Non-Res. Military or Naval Serv. Sporting $2.00 6.00
987
$ 2,026.25
Less fees retained under Chapter 131,
Section 3 of General Laws 232.75
Paid to Division of Fisheries and Game
$ 1,793.50
TOWN LICENSES ISSUED FOR THE YEAR 1943
1 Bowling Lic. @ $5.00
$ 5.00
10 Auctioneers Lic. @ $2.00
20.00
2 Hawkers Lic. @ $10.00 20.00
2 Hawkers Lic. @ 5.00
10.00
2 Pool Lic. $5.00
10.00
6 Junk Lic. @ $25.00
150.00
88 Gasoline Lic. @ $1.00
88.00
111
$ 303.00 $303.00
Paid to Town Treasurer
Julian R. Merchant
Town Clerk.
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VITAL STATISTICS BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS, ETC. FOR 1943 SUMMARY OF TOWN CLERK'S STATISTICAL REPORT
BIRTHS
The total number of births received and recorded during the year 1943, at time of going to press, were 1107. Of this number 551 were males and 556 were females. Of this total number 524 were children born to Wey- mouth residents.
MARRIAGES
The total number of Marriage Certificates received and recorded during the year of 1943, at time of going to press, were 318.
DEATHS
The total number of Death Certificates received and recorded during the year of 1943, at the time of going to press, were 399. Of this number .211 were males and 178 were females.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF REGISTRARS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
We respectfully submit the annual report of the Board of Registrars of Voters for the year of 1943.
The Board of Registrars during the year 1943 held 9 evening sessions and 9 daily sessions for the registrations of voters.
The total number of voters at the close of registrations as of February 24, 1943, were as follows:
Male 1081
Female
Total
Precinct 1
1042
2123
Precinct 2
718
697
1415
Precinct 3
1102
1111
2213
Precinct 4
421
405
826
Precinct 5
518
505
1023
Precinct 6
929
838
1767
Precinct 7
479
460
939
Precinct 8
492
500
992
Precinct 9
681
683
1364
6421
6241
12,662
Respectfully submitted,
. JOHN F. REARDON, Chairman LAWRENCE CORRIDAN EDWARD McINTOSH JULIAN R. MERCHANT, Clerk
PRICE AND RATIONING BOARD
January 1, 1944
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town of Weymouth
Weymouth, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
1943 ANNUAL REPORT
'The Weymouth War Price and Rationing Board, appointed in 1941 by Governor Leverett Saltonstall on a directive from Washington, has just com- pleted a two year term of successful operation on December 29, 1943.
Of the original members appointed in 1941, only Chairman George E. Lane still remains. Many changes have taken place during 1943 in both Board membership and office personnel. The passing of N. Perry Sipprelle in January and resignations of Frederick Boyle in July and Wallace Whittle in September reduced the Board and placed a further burden on seven mem- bers. The most recent resignation of Edward I. Loud results in the loss of a most valuable worker, but was necessitated by ill health. "Ed" was an out- standing and loyal worker and such a man is difficult to replace.
The ever increasing demands of Price Control brought the appointment of Neal Benson, former executive of the Price Division of the Regional
54
1
Office of Price Administration. He has since been appointed as Chairman of the Price Panel of this Board.
The faithful and patient work of the members of this Board during 1942 and 1943 will remain an outstanding voluntary contribution to the Second World War. During the past twelve months these members have held more than 135 Meetings and discussed, personally, rationing problems with over 23,000 individuals, an average of almost 200 each evening meeting. Everett Gardner, James Ferguson, Daniel Reidy, Jr., Mary Lonergan, Marjorie May- nard and Neal Benson, present members and those who have left this Board may take honest pride that Weymouth citizens have been treated in a man- ner that was and will be exceedingly courteous, just and decidedly human.
Due to present shortages of equipment, materials and supplies resulting from many factors including disastrous strikes, work stoppages and mis- management by certain officials, we can anticipate serious problems during the present season which may possibly lead to the discontinuance of many functions of the Office of Price Administration provided the War continues favorably - or if OPA budgets are pruned further.
The most serious situation before us this winter results from the coal shortage and the many hundreds of conversions from oil to coal during the past year adds to the difficulty. While coal is not rationed and has not as yet become an activity of this Board, yet through the co-operation of the Board of Selectmen, Thomas Kelly, Superintendent of Streets, T. Philip Delahunt, Supervisor of Welfare and this office, an emergency coal depot has already been established and will serve to handle emergency needs arising primarily from sickness.
Despite many warnings that the seriousness of the oil situation has not been eliminated, a milder winter, a larger supply and a more thorough knowledge and experience in handling the 1942 - 1943 oil emergency, we are confident that this will not present a too difficult problem provided all Weymouth citizens co-operate to the utmost in the use and conservation of oil.
The loss of fourteen tankers in a convoy off the Coast of Africa caused a more serious shortage of gasoline this past summer and resulted in a pleasure ban and is the actual reason for a still close control on the use of this fuel for essential purposes and little pleasure driving.
It is apparant, however, as proven by more than 23,000 gas applications we have processed, that 99% of our citizens are definitely following a patriotic path in the use of their automobile and gasoline and doing their utmost to conserve.
Vacation permits granted late this summer caused a rather short dis- temper for all of us and finally was considered a "fool's errand" and finally discontinued.
The shortage of tires and tubes will undoubtedly cause worry to many during this winter. Reduction in quotas has caused a delay in the allotment of certificates, particularly in new tires. However, we do find that with the co-operation of the Regional Office we are far in advance of the action of other boards in this area in handling tire and tube applications. We do ask, however, that all auto owners make every possible effort to conserve present tires and tubes and thereby decrease demands being made at this time.
The rationing of foods, meats and fats apparently has resulted in a hard- ship on families, small in number, and lack of points has had a definite
55
effect on their manner of living. While this program has added new duties to this office, yet we have had little difficulty in handling applications for - 500 Servicemen monthly in addition to many hundreds for requirements of the sick in Weymouth.
The rationing of shoes provided no problem despite the fact that we have handled over 2400 applications during the past eleven months. Con- sidering that we have almost 30,000 persons in Weymouth today, figures show that less than eight percent have requested or needed additional shoes beyond rations already allowed.
The Price Control Program required new methods of operation and one that necessitated a policy that would meet the approval and co-operation of over 300 retail outfits in this town. While the program has been in opera- tion only a few months a personal check with retail grocery stores and markets has found it acceptable to our merchants. The control of prices has a very definite effect on every family in Weymouth and the success of such a program depends upon the co-operation of our people. Price Panel Volunteers recruited from various Weymouth organizations have done ex- cellent work and are making a real contribution toward price control.
Once again we offer our thanks to the members of the Board of Select- men who have been most co-operative in the maintenance of this Office. Weymouth has been cited as having an outstanding office in the State, both in arrangement and operation. Truly this antique, colonial chamber is a proper setting for modernistic control over property and person and can readily carry back to days when early settlers rationed their all with one another.
Charles Thibodeau, Superintendent of Schools and Wallace Whittle, Principal of Weymouth High School, with their school staffs have become a most valuable part of the OPA with the issuance of over 50,000 books, 2 and 4, during the past year. The assistance which they have offered us is deeply appreciated.
Mary A Curley, as Secretary to this Board and Office Administrator has done exceedingly fine work in this position and is certainly entitled to commendation. Assisting her in the important and detailed work is at pres- ent a staff of nine clerical workers who have been most loyal and efficient in their positions covering the various rationed commodities. When one re- calls this office as having only one clerk in January, 1942 and ten in 1944, one can appreciate the mountainous detail that must be handled each day and week. A review of the partial activities of this office shows over 65,000 applications processed and issued as follows:
Received
Issued
4502 Tire Application
3642 Tires
1367 Tubes
31887 Gas Applications
646 Recaps - Trucks 31884 Books - (A-B-C, etc)
(2588000 gallons) (708000 bulk)
12242 Oil Applications
8260000 Gallons
5493 Sugar Applications
120635 Pounds
715 Sugar (Canning)
19613 Pounds
5214 Meat and Food Applications
3086000 Points
(Including Industrial and In- stitutiona1)
1609 No. 1 Book Applications
1609 Books
1195 No. 2 Book Applications
1195 Books
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.
403 No. 3 Book Applications 403 Books 102 Stoves
124 Stove Applications 711 Coffee Applications (Disc.)
14206 Pounds
427 Bicycle Applications
277 Bicycles
2484 Shoe Applications
2416 Pairs
73 Boot (Rubber)
69 Pairs
As Chairman of the Weymouth War Price and Rationing Board I again take this opportunity to express our thanks to the people of Weymouth who have been so sincere in their appreciation of our efforts and at the same time have displayed immeasurable patience and faith. Your sincere co- operation has made this great task a pleasure rather than a burden.
To the faithful workers of this Board is extended hope that an early end of the War will bring a much earlier finish to the Offfice of Price Admini- stration and the Weymouth War Price and Rationing Board.
Sincerely, GEORGE E. LANE, Chairman
POST WAR PLANNING COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
of the Town of Weymouth :
By action taken on Article 4 of the Town Meeting Warrant of March, 1943, a Postwar Planning Committee was appointed "to study the needs of all town departments and report to the Board of Selectmen on or before January 1, 1944." This Committee herewith submits its report.
It appears to have been the intent of the Town Meeting to confine the scope of study of the Committee to the consideration of departmental needs which could be translated into employment situations during the interim between the cessation of military endeavor and peacetime pur- suits. The Committee, therefore, has concerned itself specifically with this problem and has assembled a list of departmental projects which, because of their nature, would seem to hold potential worth for the community as a whole and the specific department in particular. In doing this, it was necessary to do some speculating in areas outside the specific task; for example, speculating as to the probability and extent of Federal government participation. The projects which are herein enumerated are presented on the assumption that postwar planning on the Federal level will result in plans and policies which will make such contemplated projects desirable and financially possible on the local level.
The Committee members, as a result of their study and deliberation, are unanimously agreed that the one greatest need in Weymouth is a system of sewage disposal. It is possible that this need can be met and at the same time provide postwar employment. The Committee, therefore, recom- mends the start of construction of a sewerage system as Number One project.
The Committee further recommends that the engineers' report on sewerage submitted by the Committee on Sewerage in 1929 be brought up to date in plans and details. This task, although requiring probably six months to complete, is not tremendous in financial outlay. It has been professional- ly estimated that $5,000.00 will provide for the necessary expenditure.
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