USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1955 > Part 18
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Two of our library staff, Mrs. Grace Baldwin and Miss Alice Mulready have taken and passed the State examination for professional librarian- ship and are now certified professional librarians. This is no small achieve- ment, for certification by examination is considered the equivalent of a degree from an approved library school and an applicant could not hope to pass the examination without several years of study as well as experience in public library work. We congratulate our successful candidates.
The hurricane floods of last August brought maintenance problems. A sewer pipe gave way and had to be replaced, the basement of the library had to be scraped out and disinfected, and a new combustion chamber had to be installed in the heater. Other maintenance items include the re- finishing of the front doors and surrounding woodwork at the Main Li- brary, repairs to the roof where the copper valleys and the gutter pipes are so worn that they frequently break; some needed re-wiring of the building and the installation of a little additional fluorescent lighting.
At North Weymouth we are grateful to the town for the replacement of trees lost in the hurricanes of 1954, and for a new sidewalk on North Street.
We are grateful to many for gifts of books, acknowledged in the ap- pendix of this report. We would make especial mention of a gift from Sister Margaret Loretto, of the Sacred Heart Convent, made when she was transferred from Weymouth. She gave, as an expression of apprecia- tion of the library's services, $25.00 worth of books. A number of books have been given by friends or organizations in memory of some one who has gone from among us. The library welcomes such gifts and has a spe- cial memorial bookplate for them.
In closing this report I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Leighton S. Voor- hees, trustee of the Tufts Library from 1936 to his death in August 1955; friend and counselor, a man of fine spirit and high ideals. His kindness and courtesy, and his interest in the welfare and progress of the library are and will be greatly missed.
Respectfully submitted, CHRISTINE E. EVARTS Town Librarian
247
GIFT OF BOOKS TO THE TUFTS LIBRARY - 1955
The Trustees acknowledge gratefully gifts of books from the following persons:
Mr. Robert W. Bowker, Mr. James Canavan, Mr. A. M. Chase, Mr Sidney Cook, Mrs. Russell Cowing, Mr. Hubert Dean, Dr. Wallace H. Drake, Miss Christine E. Evarts, Mr. Edward I. Farrington, Mrs. Ethel Fleming, Miss Alice Fulton, Miss Mary Gloster, Mr. Charles M. Goethe, Mr. & Mrs. Marcel Kistin, Mrs. Cora La Montagne Mr. John J. Leonard, Mr. Russell Lucid, Miss Elizabeth Metcalf, Mrs. Bertha Metcalf, Mr. Herbert T. Mac- Fawn, Mrs. William Murray, Mr. Eugene Perrault, Miss Mary Pottle, Mrs. Gladys Reed, Mr. B. A. Royce, Mrs. George Shofield, Mr. Buren Schryock, Mrs. Raymond Scott, Mrs. E. A. Smith, Mrs. Chester Swanson, Mr. Gordon Teague, Mrs. Gail Travers, Miss Helen Varnum, Mr. Everett W. Wallster, Mrs. Weigel, Mrs. Philip West, Mr. Edmund H. Wright, and Mrs. W. M. Rand, in memory of Frank L. Rand.
The Trustees also wish to take this opportunity to thank other public libraries and the various government departments for their publications. and the following organizations and schools:
Diamond Match Company
Ford Motor Company
Gardner Company
Prentice, Hall, Publishers
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
Charles Scribner's Sons
Smithsonian Institute
Standard Oil Company
Trustees for Dogs for Defence, Inc.
Welcome Wagon Alumni
Weymouth High School Library
Town of Weymouth
STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY - 1955
Date of founding
Population served (Federal Census, 1950)
32,695
(State Census, 1955)
42,747
Assessed valuation of the Town
$107,788,030.00
Total number of agcencies consisting of:
Main Library
1
Branches
2
Deposit Stations
5
Schools
19
School collections
90
Number of days open during the year
289
Number of hours per week open for lending and reading
64
INCREASE
Juve- Young
Adult
nile
Adult
Total
Number of volumes at beginning of year
50,721
21,935
3,589
76,245
Number of volumes added in 1955
2,868
3,185
743
6,796
Number of volumes withdrawn
1,723
761
58
2,542
Total number of volumes December 31, 1955 51,866
24,359
4,274
80,499
Record Collection, December 31, 1955
467
245
712
Number of newspapers currently received
9
Number of periodicals currently received
(Titles)
111
(Copies)
221
1879
248
USE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of volumes of non-fiction loaned for home use
42,661
75,625
118,286
Number of volumes of fiction loaned for home use
79,588
132,581
212,169
Number of records loaned for home use
2,252
2,252
Total number of Loans
124,501
208,206
332,707
Number of volumes loaned through school collections
81,839
REGISTRATION REPORT FOR 1955
Number of borrowers to December 31, 1954
11,740
Number of new borrowers registered in 1955
2,874
14,614
Total
Tufts Library (Main)
Adult
724
Juvenile
300
1,024
North Weymouth
Adult
398
Juvenile
344
742
East Weymouth
Adult
187
Juvenile
236
423
Weymouth Heights
Adult
9
Juvenile
91
100
Lovell's Corner
Adult
29
Juvenile
209
238
Nash's Corner
Adult
15
Juvenile
89
104
Pond Plain
Adult
40
Juvenile
107
147
Homestead
Adult
7
Juvenile
89
96
Total
2,874
11,740
2,874
Number of registrations expired in 1955
1,294
Number of registrations void through death or removal from Town
659
1,953
Total number of borrowers to December 31, 1955
12,661
-
Number of borrowers to December 31, 1954 Number of new borrowers registered in 1955
14,614
249
CIRCULATION REPORT FOR 1955
Grand Total
Tufts Library (Main)
Adult Juvenile
33,761
27,059
60,820
96,651
18,804
115,455
130,412
45,863
176,275
176,275
North Weymouth
Adult
23,648
10,511
34,159
Juvenile
11,902
17,848
29,750
35,550
28,359
63,909
63,909
East Weymouth
Adult
13,501
4,476
17,977
Juvenile
5,791
8,797
14,588
19,292
13,273
32,565
32,565
Weymouth Heights
Adult
2,040
681
2,721
Juvenile
3,349
5,957
9,306
5,389
6,638
12,027
12,027
Lovell's Corner
Adult
1,904
591
2,495
Juvenile
3,559
6,123
9,682
5,463
6,714
12,177
12,177
Nash's Corner
Adult
1,556
532
2,088
Juvenile
1,493
3,239
4,732
3,049
3,771
6,820
6,820
Pond Plain
Adult
2,211
815
3,026
Juvenile
5,014
7,901
12,915
7,225
8,716
15,941
15,941
Homestead
Adult
967
248
1,215
Juvenile
4,822
6,956
11,778
5,789
7,204
12,993
12,993
332,707
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1955
Tufts Library:
Salaries
$45,523.06
Janitor Service
5,162.09
Books, Periodicals, etc.
9,192.80
Service to Stations
909.76
Insurance
21.22
Fiction
Non-fiction
Total
250
Bindery
2,143.34
Fuel
907.28
Light
718.52
Maintenance
1,723.76
Miscellaneous
2,602.00
Convention Expenses
99.57
$69,003.40
North Weymouth Branch:
Salaries
11,095.55
Janitor Service
3,043.50
Books, Periodicals, etc.
3,490.19
Fuel
406.51
Maintenance
395.74
Light
549.84
Transportation of Books
52.00
Sundries
687.77
Insurance
148.78
19,869.88
East Weymouth Branch:
Salaries
5,222.82
Janitor Service
551.00
Books, periodicals, etc.
2,024.84
Rent
1,500.00
Maintenance
200.62
Light
61.80
Transportation of Books
67.00
Sundries
11.85
9,639.93
Total Expended
$98,513.2]
Balance to Treasury
926.32
Total
$99,439.53
Appropriation Account :
Appropriation March 7, 1955
$98,404.00
Income from Trust Funds:
Joseph E. Trask Fund
363.54
Augustus J. Richards Fund
135.63
Arthur E. Pratt Fund
71.25
Susannah Hunt Stetson Fund
59.38
William H. Pratt Fund
83.94
Tufts Fund - Books
98.45
Tufts Fund - Reading Room
98.46
Tirrell Donation
23.75
Walter G. Forsythe Fund
23.75
Alida M. Denton Fund
21.00
Charles Henry Pratt Fund
15.00
Mary Fifield King Fund
41.38
1,035.53
Total
$99,439.53
EMERSON R. DIZER Town Accountant
251
REPORT OF THE WEYMOUTH CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT SYSTEM
January 25, 1956
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and
The Citizens of Weymouth
Members of the System January 1, 1955 418
Enrolled in 1955
54
Withdrawals 27
Retirements
10
Membership December 31, 1955
435
Pensioners January 1, 1955
58
Retired in 1955
10
Deaths in 1955
7
Pensioners December 31, 1955
61
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1955
INCOME
From Members:
Regular Contributions - Group A
Additional Contributions - Group A
Regular Contributions - Group B
$51,734.61 885.28 24,090.47
From Municipality :
Pension Fund
64,339.00
Expense Fund
3,156.50
From Weymouth Housing Authority:
Pension Fund
795.00
South Weymouth Savings Bank, Interest
1,811.61
North Weymouth Co-operative Bank, Dividend
60.00
Coupons on Bonds
8,652.77
U. S. Treasury, Interest
6,250.00
Bank Stocks, Dividends
3,994.48
$165,769.72
DISBURSEMENTS
Annuity Payments
$ 7,216.42
Pension Payments
79,989.65
Refunds:
To Members in Group A
5,956.28
To Members in Group B
566.77
Annuity Refund - Option b
1,041.49
Expenses:
Supervision
$ 500.00
Clerical Services
1,500.00
Adding Machine
255.00
252
Printing
34.25
Postage, Office Supplies, etc.
49.33
Conferences, Hearings, etc.
256.62
Medical Panels
210.00
Rent Safe Deposit Box
16.50
Association Dues
10.00
$2,831.70
97,602.31
$68,167.41
BALANCE SHEET - DECEMBER 31, 1955
ASSETS
Treasurer's Cash:
Granite Trust Company
$ 49.48
South Weymouth Savings Bank
77,961.80
Investments:
Bonds - General
325,421.74
Bonds - U. S. Government
230,000.00
North Weymouth Co-operative Bank Shares
2,000.00
Bank Stocks
64,588.78
Accrued Interest on Bonds
3,887.33
$703,909.13
LIABILITIES
Annuity Savings Fund
$500,888.20
Pension Fund
121,463.46
Annuity Reserve Fund
77,298.09
Military Leave Reserve Fund
3,697.62
Expense Fund
561.76
$703,909.13
SCHEDULE OF BANK STOCK OWNED December 31, 1955
Chemical Corn Exchange Bank N. Y.
302 shares
$10,881.50
First National Bank of Boston
252 shares
11,745.59
Guaranty Trust Co., N. Y.
175 shares
10,307.50
Chase Manhattan Bank, N. Y.
643 shares
19,068.13
The First National City Bank of N. Y.
279 shares
12,586.06
$64,588.78
253
SCHEDULE OF BONDS OWNED
December 31, 1955
Coupon Rate
Maturity
Par Value
Purchase Price
N. Y. C. & H. R. R. Co.
31/2%
July
1, 1997
$10,000
$8.519.38
Northern Pacific R. R.
4 %
Jan.
1, 1997
10,000
7,002.79
Pacific Gas & Elec. Co.
3
Dec.
1, 1979
10,000
10,628.91
Southern Pacific R. R.
27/8%
Jan. 1, 1986
10,000
9,926.73
Amer. Tel & Tel. Co.
2 3/4 %
April
., 1982
10,000
10,075.00
Public Service Co. of Ind.
31/8%
Nov.
1, 1977
5,000
5,081.25
The Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co.
2 3/4 %
Dec.
1, 1985
5,000
4,650.00
The Montana Power Co.
2.78%
Oct.
1, 1975
5,000
4,825.00
Reading Company
31/8%
May
1, 1995
3,000
2,565.00
Public Service Co. of N. H.
3 %
June
1, 1979
5,000
5,087.50
Fall River Electric Light Co
334%
Jan.
1, 1983
10,000
10,227.00
Chicago & E. Illinois R. R. Co. 35/8%
July 15, 1963
10,000
10,000.00
Southern California Edison
35/5%
Aug. 15, 1978
10,000
10,000.00
New Jersey Bel. Tel. Co.
3
May
1, 1989
10,000
10,100.00
Essex County Electric Co.
31/4 0%
Feb.
1, 1984
10,000
10,250.00
Mass. Turnpike Authority
3.30℃
May
1, 1994
5,000
5,000.00
Boston Edison Company
3
%
Aug
1, 1984
10,000
10,119.00
Illinois Central R. R. Co.
31/4 %
Aug.
1, 1980
10,000
9,962.50
The Moun. States Tel & Tel.
3 %
Aug.
1, 1989
10,000
10,108.60
Cent. Vt. Pub. Service Corp.
33/4%
June
1, 1984
10,000
10,095.90
American Tel. & Tel. Co.
3 1/4 %
Sept. 15, 1984
10,000
10,252.00
Savannah Elec. & Power Co.
31/4 %
Oct.
1 1984
10,000
10,252.00
Louisville & Nashville R. R. Co. 33/8 %
April 1, 2003
10,000
9,917.00
The Chesa. & Patom. Tel. Co.
31/4 %
Feb.
1, 1995
10,000
10,284.00
Cen. of Georgia Equip. Trust
35/8%
Sept.
1, 1962
10,000
10,135.68
Arkansas Power & Light Co.
31/2 ℃
Sept.
1, 1982
10,000
10,325.00
St. Louis-San Fran. Ry. Co.
4
Sept.
1, 1980
10,000
9,921.00
Central Maine Power Co.
33/8%
April
1, 1985
10,000
10,025.00
Western Maryland Rail. Co.
31/2 %
Oct.
1, 1979
5,000
5,075.00
Utah Power & Light Co.
31/2 %
Oct.
1, 1982
10,000
10,225.00
Southwestern Bell. Telephone 23/4 %
Oct.
1, 1985
10,000
9,250.00
Asso. Telephone Co., Ltd.
35/8%
Oct.
1, 1981
5,000
5,137.50
Guf, Mobile & Ohio R. R. Co 33% %
May
1, 1980
10,000
9,958.00
Georgia Power Co.
316 0℃
June
1, 1981
10,000
10,375.00
U. S. Savings Bonds
21/4%
June
1, 1956
50,000
50,000.00
U. S. Savings Bonds
Dec.
1, 1957
10,000
10,000.00
U. S. Savings Bonds
21/2 0%
June
1, 1958
25,000
25,000.00
U. S. Savings Bonds
216%
June
1, 1960
25,000
25,000.00
U. S. Savings Bonds
21/2%
June
, 1961
30,000
30,000.00
U. S. Savings Bonds
21%%
April . 1, 1962
50,000
50,000.00
U. S. Victory Bonds
21/2 %
Dec.
1, 1963
15,000
15,000.00
$558,000
$555,421.74
Sept.
1, 1960
10,000
10,000.00
N. Y., Chic. & St. Louis R. R. 33/4 %
Cons. Gas Elec. Lt. & Pr. Balt. 3
%
July
15, 1989
10,000
10,065.00
The Detroit Edison Company_31/4%
May
15, 1980
10,000
10,000.00
U. S. Savings Bonds
21/6%
June
1, 1957
25,000
25,000.00
Description of Bonds
Respectfully submitted, ERLE R. STARRAT, Chairman EMERSON R. DIZER, Secretary THOMAS M. WELCH
254
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
January 3, 1956
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
and Citizens of Weymouth:
During the year 1955, your Planning Board has held not only the regu - lar monthly meetings, but many joint meetings with other town boards.
A great deal of time has been spent on subdivision control during the year, however, there has been a sharp decline in new developments. They will decline more rapidly in the coming year because of the enforcement of class A regulations, larger lot sizes, and the scarcity of good land for building purposes. Many problems have arisen, however, from the older developments, and they have occupied a great deal of the Board's time. The problems are decreasing also with the Town acceptance of private streets and the elimination of drainage problems as they arise in and adjacent to new developments.
A great deal of time has been spent during the year in considering the effect of the proposed new expressway through Weymouth, which will disect Weymouth into two parts. Although funds have not been appro- priated as yet by the General Court, they are contemplated in the year 1956, and the problems that will arise from such construction must of necessity be considered. Important consideration must be given to the effect of heavy traffic leaving the proposed clover leaf near the junction cf Route 3 and Route 18 in Weymouth Landing with the heavy traffic leaving the clover leaf at that point and proceeding up Main Street, past, the South Shore Hospital and through Independence Square and Colum- bian Square to reach the proposed new developments in bordering towns. Any recommendation relative to the necessity of having or not having access ramps in the vicinity of Pleasant Street will be held in abeyance pending the appropriation of the necessary funds for the expressway, and the holding of a public hearing by either this Board or jointly with the Board of Selectmen.
The basic layout plan for the master plan has been completed during the year and further steps towards the completion of a master plan will be undertaken in conjunction with the newly formed Town Engineering Department in the near future.
Various other matters have been considered by the Board during the past year, including zoning by-law changes, town incinerator, drainage, parking, business and industrial areas, and others, some of which will be reported on by committees at the Town Meeting.
In conclusion we wish to thank the various town departments, officials. and employees, who have co-operated in rendering their assistance.
Very truly yours
WEYMOUTH PLANNING BOARD
John F. Newton, Chairman Walter B. Heffernan, Secretary Frank G. Hale Frank J. Homeyer Merle Averill Joseph M. Nover, Jr. William White
255
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF TAXES
January 18, 1956
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Town of Weymouth
I am pleased to submit to you and, through you, to the citizens of Weymouth, my Annual Report of the taxes, interest and charges collected by me as Collector of Taxes during the year 1955. These collections, as made and paid over to the Town Treasurer, apply to the several lists committed to me by the Board of Assessors for the years 1953, 1954 and 1955, and include assessments of Real and Personal Property, Polls, Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise, Common and Particular Sewer and Water Liens.
1953 TAXES
Balance Outstanding January 1, 1955 (Includes all kinds of 1953 taxes)
$7,906.80
Add 1953 Poll Paid After Abatement
2.00
Add Interest and Charges Collected in 1955:
Personal
$ 2.10
Real Estate
271.06
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
7.94
Polls
5.40
286.50;
Cash Refunds on 1953 Taxes:
Water Liens
$24.70
24.70
Total
$8,220.00
Less Collections of 1953 Taxes:
Personal
$ 15.68
Real Estate
3,081.29
Water Liens
238.20
Common Sewer-Apportioned
65.00
Interest-Apportioned Sewer
20.80
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
48.83
Polls
12.00
Interest and Charges on Above
286.50
Total
$3,768.30
Less Abatements and Tax Title Credit on 1953 Taxes:
Personal
$ 57.82
Real Estate
148.73
Real Estate Tax Title Credits
2,564.66
Water Liens Tax Title Credits
127.52
Common Sewer-Apportioned- Tax Title Credits
5.00
Interest-Apportioned Sewer Tax Title Credit
.20
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
1,543.77
Polls
4.00
Total
$4,451.70
256
Total Collections, Abatements and Tax Title Credits
$8,220.00
Balance of 1953 Taxes Outstanding December 31, 1955
None
1954 TAXES
Balance Outstanding January 1, 1955 (Includes all kinds of 1954 Taxes)
$278,089.78
Add December 31, 1954 Commitment B Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
6,837.09
Add December 31, 1954 Commitment C Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
486.64
Add Interest and Charges Collected in 1955:
Personal
$ 99.02
Real Estate
2,053.30
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
1,599.67
Polls
112.90
Sewer-Unapportioned
6.93
$3,871.82
Cash Refunds on 1954 Taxes:
Real Estate
$2,439.36
2,439.36
Total
$291,724.69
Less Collections of 1954 Taxes:
Personal
$ 3,612.91
Real Estate
85,694.13
Water Liens
1,973.49
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
64,281.58
Polls
260.00
Common Sewer-Unapportioned
10,287.98
Particular Sewer-Unapportioned
25,995.70
Common Sewer-Apportioned
831.43
Particular Sewer-Apportioned
272.49
Interest-Apportioned Sewer
303.65
Interest and Charges on Above
3,871.82
Total
$197,385.18
Less Abatements and Tax Title Credits on 1954 Taxes:
Personal
$ 270.86
Real Estate
3,955.26
Water Liens
32.25
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
9,484.55
Polls
202.00
Particular Sewer-Unapportioned
45.00
Real Estate Tax Title Credit
2,675.97
Water Lien Tax Title Credit
8.20
Common Sewer-Apportioned-Tax Title Credit
17.71
Interest-Apportioned Sewer-Tax Title Credit
5.12
Re-Committed Common Sewer
24,860.34
Re-Committed Particular Sewer
46,280.87
Total
$87,838.13
257
Total Collections, Abatements and Tax Title Credits
$285,223.31
Balance of 1954 Taxes Outstanding December 31, 1955 Summary of Outsanding 1954 Taxes:
$6,501.38
Personal
$ 146.52
Real Estate
4,291.60
Water Liens
332.80
Common Sewer-Apportioned
30.00
Interest-Apportioned Sewer
7.00
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
1,623.46
Polls
70.00
Total
$6,501.38
1955 TAXES
Commitments to Collector by Board of Assessors:
Personal
$1,237,052.00
Real Estate
3,027,882.00
Water Liens
12,066.25
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
422,082.97
Polls
22,242.00
Common Sewer-Unapportioned
23,693.92
Particular Sewer-Unapportioned
60,658.00
Common Sewer-Apportioned
14,429.33
Particular Sewer-Apportioned
10,015.87
Interest-Apportioned Sewer
7,237.71
Common Sewer-Paid in Advance
6,512.73
Particular Sewer-Paid in Advance
7,205.00
Interest-Sewer-Paid in Advance
76.36
Total
$4,851,154.14
Add Interest and Charges Collected in 1955:
Personal
$ 1.22
Real Estate
344.15
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Exercise
1,216.37
Polls
538.45
$2,100.19
Cash Refunds on 1955 Taxes:
Real Estate
$36,470.58
Common Sewer-Apportioned
36.00
Particular Sewer-Apportioned
81.70
Interest-Apportioned Sewer
29.27
Water Liens
135.65
Polls
4.00
36,757.20
Total
$4,890,011.53
258
Less Collections of 1955 Taxes :
Personal
Real Estate
$1.233,218.00 2,894,269.71
Water Liens
9,885.60
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
346,896.10
Polls
20,254.00
Common Sewer-Apportioned
13,603.92
Particular Sewer-Apportioned
9,570.72
Committed Interest-Sewer
6,746.34
Common Sewer-Paid in Advance
6,512.73
Particular Sewer-Paid in Advance
7,205.00
Committed Interest-Sewer-Paid in Advance
76.36
Interest and Charges on Above
2,100.19
Total
$4,550,338.67
Less Abatements and Tax Title Credits on 1955 Taxes:
Personal
$ 405.00
Real Estate
73,390.87
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Exercise
26,253.34
Polls
1,410.00
Common Sewer-Apportioned
11.00
Interest-Common Sewer-Apportioned
51.89
Real Estate Tax Title Credit
3,940.00
Common Sewer-Apportioned-Tax Title Credit
43.00
Interest-Apportioned Sewer-Tax Title Credit
14.92
Water Liens Tax Title Credit
193.90
Total
$105,713.92
Total Collections, Abatements and Tax Title Credits
$4,656,052.59
Balance of 1955 Taxes Outstanding December 31, 1955
$233,958.94
Summary of Outstanding 1955 Taxes:
Personal
$ 3,429.00
Real Estate
92,752.00
Water Liens
2,122.40
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
48,933.53
Polls
582.00
Common Sewer-Apportioned
807.4]
Particular Sewer-Apportioned
526.85
Interest-Apportioned Sewer
453.83
Common Sewer-Unapportioned
23,693.92
Particular Sewer-Unapportioned
60,658.00
Total
$233,958.94
Fees Collected in 1955:
Trailer Park Fees
$1,312.00
Municipal Lien Certificates
2,082.00
Sewer Lien Discharges
44.00
Mortgagee's Receipt
1.00
,
Respectfully submitted, FRANK W. HOLBROOK Collector of Taxes
259
TREE AND MOTH DEPARTMENT 1956 ANNUAL REPORT
January 15, 1956
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
It is difficult to realize that twenty years have passed since I became guardian of Weymouth's public shade trees. It may be well to pause at this time for an evaluation of the past and future of our Town with re- gard to our trees and related problems.
I did not enter into my chosen field as a public tree official or Tree Warden without first preparing myself with proper training. The attain- ment of a boyhood ambition was realized when I was first elected to this office. My objective has been to benefit the town through a scientific shade tree program, by bringing professional standards and ethics of good shade tree management into a municipal shade tree program.
While I have endeavored to give my best to the service of the town, I am not completely satisfied.
From the beginning I had hopes of working our town systematically, street by street, until at the end of a five year period we would have com- pleted the entire town. To achieve this goal would require a working force at least triple our present staff. Such a proceedure would pay dividends on the investment; dividends of increased public safety, greater aesthetic valuations, lower future expenditures for tree care - in short, decreased tree problems.
Unfortunately, we are required to function on a caretaker basis, the net result being that only a few trees receive attention at all. As with other town departments which are suffering from a lack of understanding of their needs, to the Tree and Moth Department is handicapped by a false economy.
Public acceptance of my proposals are most encouraging, but public misunderstanding of the existing inability to carry them out is disheart- ening. It would seem that town departments should be expanded along with the growth of the town.
The public expects, and is entitled to, healthy shade trees, free of pes- tilences, dead wood and structural weaknesses. The public justly demands tree planting, adequate tree clearances and unrestricted vision along town highways and at intersections. The public expects and rightfully deserves freedom from flies, mosquitoes, Japanese beetles, canker worms, wood ticks, earwigs, Dutch elm disease, poison ivy, and numerous other public nuis- ances. .
These town obligations I have tried to fulfill, however, a limited bud- get allows us to give only superficial relief.
Beginning with the 1938 hurricane, repeated hurricanes, Dutch elm diseases and land clearing projects have created a tremendous log dis- posal problem that is startling to the imagination. Not only locally, but across the nation this problem has been a major one for tree offiicals. We had long since exhausted our facilities and reasoning on this matter and were considering the construction of burning pits.
One of our local contractors solved the problem by studying the man- ner in which logs burned. Mr. Gordon Robertson, bulldozer operator, vol-
260
unteered to prove a theory that he could burn up an acre of log debris within twenty-four hours' time by pushing the debris into windrows, firing it, and keeping the material pushed together. It was tried out and proved successful.
I outlined the above proceedure to the Municipal Foresters' division of the National Shade Tree Conference meeting in California recently, and it received wide acclaim.
There are some serious matters connected with the Tree Department which I have carefully considered many times over the years, and now is the time to put them into effect.
1 - Tree Ordinance.
It is important to the future of Weymouth that we set up an ordinance regulating tree practices and proceedures. This would assure a continuance of our up-to-date tree program.
2 - Assure future skilled leadership.
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