USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > Town annual report of the officers and committees, 1940 > Part 2
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The Town Clerk's Report was amended by adding the words, "from Walnut Street" at the end of the fifth line on page 27 of the Town Report.
Voted: To authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year be- ginning January 1, 1940, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew such note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Voted: To authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to extend as much as is necessary of the revenue loans of 1939 not to exceed $100,000.00 for a period not to exceed six months under the authority of and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 68 of the Acts of 1939.
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Voted: That it be the sense of this meeting to notify the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Depart- ment of Public Utilities in Massachusetts in protest against any curtailment of the Railroad service between Boston and Plymouth, and that a copy of this vote be sent to the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Department of Public Utilities, and also recorded in the records of the meeting.
Voted, To elect a separate and unpaid Board of Pub- lic Welfare, consisting of three members, and to pro- ceed at the next Annual Town Meeting to elect one member for a term of one year, one member for a term of two years, and one member for a term of three years, and thereafter at each Annual Meeting elect one member for a term of three years.
Voted, To authorize the Selectmen and Board of Pub- lic Welfare to appoint one of their own members or any other person an Agent who shall Assist the Selectmen in the performance of their duties as such Board.
Voted: To pass over the article relating to seeing what action the Town will take with respect to approv- ing or disapproving the action of the Board of Select- men, the Water Commissioners and the Library Trus- tees in permitting to be paid salaries and compensation in excess of the amount recommended by the Finance Committee in its 1939 Budget Report as accepted by the voters by their action in voting to appropriate the amounts recommended by the Finance Committee.
Voted: To accept Section 97, Chapter 41 of the Gen- eral Laws relative to the establishment of a police de- partment under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Voted: To accept the provisions of Section 49 of Chapter 31 of the General Laws, relative to placing the position of Chief of Police under civil service laws.
Voted, To sell for the sum of One Dollar to the Girl Scouts of America, Abington Branch, the portable school building now located on the Dunbar Street School grounds. It was voted that it be the sense of the meeting that the Town sell to the Girl Scouts of America, Abing- ton Branch, certain real estate location for the same.
Voted, Provided the Town of Rockland does likewise, to fix the salaries of the members of the Joint Water Board of Abington and Rockland as follows: Chairman, $100.00; Secretary, $100.00; and other four members, $50.00 each.
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Voted, To abolish the advance payment of $4.50 which would become due July 1, 1940, under the present rules and regulations of the Water Department, and that the Water Commissioners be instructed to present a sched- ule of future reductions for all water users.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to raising and appropriating a sum of money for welfare and W. P. A. expenses and materials and authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow under authority of and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 49, Acts of 1933, as amended.
Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $8,330.43 for W. P. A. expenses and materials, and to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow the sum of $28,000.00 under the authority of and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 72 of the Acts of 1939. Of the sum voted for W. P. A. expenses and material not more than $6,000.00 is to be used in the grading of the Dunbar Street School and the Adams Street School projects, and such grading at the Dunbar Street School shall be from the Walnut Street and Thax- ter Avenue sides of the school.
At the adjourned meeting on March 14, 1940, the ques- tion of a quorum being raised and no quorum being present the meeting was adjourned sine die, without acting upon twenty-two articles.
The Moderator named as members of the Finance Committee for a term of three years, Daniel L. Rich, Winslow A. Robbins and Charles L. Thompson.
VOTE OF THE TOWN OF ABINGTON AT TOWN ELECTION
March 11, 1940
Number of Votes cast,
2,063
In Precinct 1, 1,005
In Precinct 2, 1,058
MODERATOR (for one year)
John R. Wheatley,
1,609
TOWN CLERK (for one year)
John F. Coughlan,
1,746
Scattering, 1
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TOWN TREASURER (for one year) Francis S. Murphy, 1,737
COLLECTOR OF TAXES (for one year) Ina A. Gould,
1,309
Earl F. Hanafin, 530
Malcolm F. Nash, 182
SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WEL- FARE (for three years)
John Shanahan, 1,480
Scattering, 2
SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WEL- FARE (for two years)
Howard W. Belcher, 1,056
Sidney W. Gates, 806
SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WEL- FARE (for one year)
174
George H. Rounds,
796
Ira E. Wright, 962
ASSESSOR (for three years)
Henry J. Harriss,
1,662
SCHOOL COMMITTEE (for three years)
Henry E. Claflin,
1,139
Robert J. Farley,
663
Merrill D. Haskins, 876
Patrick A. Palopoli,
775
PARK COMMISSIONERS (for one year)
Fred T. Curtis,
1,379
Willard T. Seaman,
1,174
Theodore A. White,
7,72
Walton G. Wyman,
1,308
WATER COMMISSIONER (for three years) Harrison C. Witherell,
1,592
TRUSTEE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY (for three years)
Henry E. Claflin,
1,579
Archie C. Gilman,
1,511
Burton L. Wales, 1,509
TREE WARDEN (for one year)
Charles F. Hohman,
668
William E. Mielke,
797
William J. Wright, Jr.
484
John W. Buchawski,
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MEMORIAL TRUSTEE (for three years) Warren B. White, 1,502
CONSTABLES (for one year)
Francis H. Conroy,
1,650
Lawrence J. Griffin, 1,600
-
John A. Litchfield, 1,642
Thomas F. Lynch,
1,614
John H. Manley,
1,569
Henry W. Nickerson,
1,571
SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION
May 18, 1940
Total Vote, 1,976
SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WEL- FARE (To fill vacancy for unexpired term) (Three years)
Francis H. Conroy, 540
Sidney W. Gates, 441
Patrick A. Palopoli, 378
George H. Rounds, 431
Albert E. Trainor,
172
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
October 24, 1940
Pursuant to a warrant a meeting of the INHABI- TANTS OF THE TOWN OF ABINGTON was called in the High School Auditorium, in Precinct 2 of said Abing- ton, on Monday, October 21, 1940, at eight o'clock in the afternoon; there being no quorum present the meeting was adjourned until eight-thirty o'clock in the after- noon; the meeting was again adjourned until Thursday, October 24, 1940, at which time the following articles were acted upon.
Voted, To accept the report and recommendations of the Selectmen of 1938 to lay out as a public street Sum- mit Road, so-called, and to refer to the W. P. A. Co-ordi- nator for construction either under 1940 or 1941 appro- priation,
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Voted, To accept the report and recommendations of the Selectmen of 1938 to lay out as a public street Bradford Street, so-called, and to refer to the W. P. A. Co-ordinator for construction either under 1940 or 1941 appropriation.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to the install- ing of a street light on Wilbur Street.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the cele- bration of the Tri-Town Armistice Celebration to be held in Abington on November 11, 1940, and that the Moderator appoint a committee of ten to make plans for the conduct of said Celebration. The Moderator appointed the following committee: George H. Cook, William H. Garfield, Charles F. Whitman, Jr., Edwin Wright, Mrs. Karl Lipsohn, Clarence Lombard, Mrs. Bessie Saley, Mrs. Helen Gleason, Francis H. Conroy and Patrick Palopoli.
Voted, To place the custody of the former Dunbar Street School properties in the hands of the Board of Selectmen with the authorization to lease or sell said properties and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the preservation and protection of the buildings.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to appropriat- ing $100.00 for the School Committee to pay the expense of heating and lighting the Elementary and High Schools when the buildings are used by individuals for educational and recreational and like purposes.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to appropri- ating the sum of $5,000.00 for a Reserve Fund.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to the appro- priation of $200.00 and the appointment of a Director for County Aid to Agriculture.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to the transfer of $102.00 from the 1939 Military Aid Account to 1939 unpaid State Aid Account.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to the transfer of $5,118.02 from Hancock Street account to unpaid bills account.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the pur- pose of paying veterans' burial expenses in accordance with Chapter 73 of the Acts of 1937.
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Voted, To pass over the article relating to reimbursing certain town officials for the balance of salary due them on January 1, 1939 and March 6, 1939.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to the install- ing of an eight-inch water main on Linwood Street from the junction of Groveland Street to Mill Street, and in Mill Street from the junction of Linwood Street to Brockton Avenue, a total distance of 3500 feet.
Voted, To authorize the Board of Selectmen to aban- don five feet on each side of the approved layout of Greenwood Street, reducing the layout of Greenwood Street to a forty foot road.
Voted, To authorize the Board of Selectmen to aban- don ten feet on the northerly side line of the approved layout of Everett Street, reducing the layout of Everett Street to a forty foot road.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of $150.00 to be ex- pended by the Zoning Committee to employ such tech- nical assistance and other necessary expenses in con- nection with the preparation of a zoning by-law and map.
Voted, That the Moderator appoint a committee of three to report on the possibility of the Town acquiring a Town Forest. The Moderator appointed Charles F. Hohman, Willard T. Seaman and Leonard Emmons.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to the Board of Selectmen printing the assessed valuation of all tax- able property in the annual Town Report for 1940.
Voted, To abandon that part of the taking of land for school purposes, made July 26, 1938, comprising the following lots: Lots No. 59 and 60 on a plan of land in Abington, Mass., by O'Brien and Brackett, both lots being situated on the northerly side of Brookside Road on said plan.
Voted, To change the day of holding the Annual Town Election to the Saturday following the Town Meeting instead of the Monday following, and the Selectmen be instructed to hold the Town Elections in the two Ele- mentary School Auditoriums.
Voted, That the additional sum of $5,000.00 be raised and appropriated for Old Age Assistance, and that to meet said appropriation the Treasurer, with the ap- proval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized
-
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to borrow the sum of $5,000.00 in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 72, of the Acts of 1939, as amended. This was a unanimous vote.
Voted, That the additional sum of $5,000.00 be raised and appropriated for Old Age Assistance, and that to meet said appropriation the Treasurer, with the ap- proval of the Selectmen, will be and hereby is author- ized to borrow the sum of $5,000.00 in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 49, of the Acts of 1933, as amended. This was a unanimous vote.
Voted, To appropriate the sum of $1,200.00 for Gen- eral Expenses of the School Department, and that the lumber in possession of the Park Department be trans- ferred to the Manual Arts Department of the schools.
Voted, To transfer from State Aid Account, $190.00, from Town Report Account, $148.00, a total of $338.00 for Election Expense.
Voted, To transfer from Special Registrars Expense, 1939, $50.00; Special Registrars Expense, 1940, $70.00; Memorial Day Expense, $31.00; Poll Book, $24.00; a total of $175.00 for the Forest Warden Department.
Voted, To amend Section 29 of the By-Laws so that it shall read as follows: "Five percent of the registered voters of the town shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at annual or special town meet- ing."
Voted, To adopt the following addition to Section 25 of the By-laws, "And no motion to reconsider a vote shall be in order after the meeting has adjourned for any period of time subsequent to the passing of the vote which is sought to be reconsidered. Said section was amended as follows : All articles in a warrant shall be taken up in numerical order.
Voted, To convey for the sum of One Dollar to the Girl Scouts, Inc., Abington Branch, the following de- scribed lot of land : A certain lot of land situated on the westerly side of Washington Street, corner of Lincoln Boulevard, bounded northerly by the boulevard, 164 feet, more or less; Easterly by Washington Street, 101.33 feet; Southerly by land of Hattie M. Beatty et al, 148 feet; and westerly by land formerly of Henry D. Roche- fort 140 feet, more or less. Being the remaining portion of the George Hunt Estate, which was deeded to the
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town for the purpose of constructing the boulevard; and to authorize the Selectmen to sign such instruments as is necessary to effect the transfer.
Voted, To pass over the article relating to installing a pipe-drain through the property of Edward Carlson, and raising and appropriating the sum of $300.00 for the same.
VOTE OF THE TOWN OF ABINGTON AT THE PRESIDENTIAL AND STATE ELECTION November 5, 1940
For President
AIKEN, Socialist Labor Party,
1
BABSON, Prohibition,
4
BROWDER, Communist Party,
4
ROOSEVELT, Democratic Party,
1162
THOMAS, Socialist Party,
4
WILLKIE, Republican Party,
1860
For Vice-President
ORANGE, Socialist Labor Party,
1
MOORMAN, Prohibition,
4
FORD, Communist Party,
4
WALLACE, Democratic Party,
1162
KREUGER, Socialist Party,
4
McNARY, Republican Party,
1860
Governor
Henning A. Blomen, Socialist Labor Party,
3
Jeffrey W. Campbell, Socialist Party,
2
Paul A. Dever, Democratic,
1143
Otis Archer Hood, Communist Party,
8
E. Tallmadge Root, Prohibition,
3
Leverett Saltonstall, Republican,
1853
Lieutenant Governor
Horace T. Cahill, Republican, 1949
Hugo DeGregory, Communist Party,
12
Owen A. Gallagher, Democratic,
973
Walter S. Hutchins, Socialist Party,
6
George L. McGlynn, Socialist Labor Party, 3
Guy S. Williams, Prohibition,
17
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Secretary
Frederick W. Cook, Republican, 2038
Katherine A. Foley, Democratic, 873
Thomas F. O'Dea, Communist Party,
13
Modestino Torra, Socialist Labor Party,
4
Peter Wartiainen, Jr., Socialist Party,
14
Treasurer
John J. Donahue, Democratic,
925
Henry Grossman, Communist Party, 8
Thomas Hamilton, Prohibition,
14
William E. Hurley, Republican,
1939
Malcolm T. Rowe, Socialist Labor Party,
8
Andrew Swenson, Socialist Party,
10
Auditor
Arthur R. Buckley, Communist Party,
27
Thomas J. Buckley, Democratic,
1041
Charles H. Daniels, Socialist Party,
8
Bernard G. Kelly, Socialist Labor Party,
1
Harry W. Kimball, Prohibition,
15
Russell A. Wood, Republican 1846
Attorney General
James Henry Brennan, Democratic,
984
Robert T. Bushnell, Republican,
1900
Joseph C. Figueiredo, Communist Party,
7
Austin H. Fittz, Prohibition,
5
Charles R. Hill, Socialist Party,
7
Fred E. Oelcher, Socialist Labor Party,
3
Senator in Congress
Philip Frankfeld, Communist Party,
12
Horace I. Hillis, Socialist Labor Party,
3
George Lyman Paine, Socialist Party,
3
Henry Parkman, Jr., Republican,
1574
George L. Thompson, Prohibition,
11
David I. Walsh, Democratic,
1314
Congressman
George F. Backus, Democratic,
1035
Charles L. Gifford, Republican, 1809
Councillor
Clayton L. Havey, Republican,
1850
Louis Shindler, Democratic, 875
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Senator
Helen L. Buckley, Democratic, 1185
Newland H. Holmes, Republican, 1738
Representative in General Court
William A. Brown, Republican, 2157
John T. Troy, Jr., Democratic, 805
Clerk of Courts
George C. P. Olsson, Republican, 2264
Register of Deeds
Edward C. Holmes, Republican, 2224
County Commissioners
Frederic T. Bailey, Republican,
1967
Elva M. Bent, Republican, 1942
Scattering, 1
Licenses
To obtain a full expression of opinion, voters should vote on all three of the following questions :
(a) If a voter desires to permit the sale in this city (or town) of any and all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on and off the premises where sold, he will vote "YES" on all three questions.
(b) If he desires to permit the sale herein of wines and malt beverages only to be drunk on and off the premises where sold, he will vote "NO" on question one, "YES" on question two and "NO" on question three.
(c) If he desires to permit the sale herein of all alco- holic beverages but only in packages, so called, not to be drunk on the premises where sold, he will vote "NO" on questions one and two and "YES" on question three.
(d) If he desires to permit the sale herein of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on and off the premises where sold and in addition other alcoholic beverages but only in packages, so called, not to be drunk on the premises where sold, he will vote "NO" on question one and "YES" on questions two and three.
(e) If he desires to prohibit the sale herein of any and, all alcoholic beverages whether to be drunk on or off. the premises where sold, he will vote "NO" on all three questions.
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1. Shall licenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of all alcoholic beverages (whisky, rum, gin, malt beverages, wines and all other alcoholic bev- erages) ?
Yes, 1436
No, 1142
2. Shall licenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of wines and malt beverages (wines and beer, ale and all other malt beverages) ?
Yes, 1402
No, 1059
3. Shall licenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of all alcoholic beverages in packages, so called, not to be drunk on the premises?
Yes, 1546
No, 946
Question of Public Policy
"Shall the Senator from this district be instructed to vote for legislation providing for ten dollar weekly pay- ments to each recipient of old age assistance?"
Yes, 1725
No, 491
Question of Public Policy
"Shall the Senator from this district be instructed to vote for the establishment of a lottery to be conducted by the Commonwealth, the net proceeds of which shall provide additional revenue for the Old Age Assistance Fund?"
Yes, 1465
No, 771
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. COUGHLAN, Town Clerk.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
We herewith submit our annual report for the year ending December 31, 1940.
The year 1940 brought several changes in the person- nel: of the official family at the March election. Mr. Wright, who had served the town as a member of the Board for 22 years with a break of one year, was re- turned to the Board for his 23rd year.
On April 13th, Mr. John Shanahan, who had served the town for 16 years most efficiently as a member of the Board of Selectmen and chairman for 15 years, due to Federal requirements was forced to resign as a mem- ber of the Board and also from the Board of Public Health and Welfare. The Board immediately reor- ganized with Mr. Howard Belcher as chairman. They immediately appointed Mr. John Shanahan as Welfare Agent for the town and Miss Dorothy Bailey as his assistant.
On May 18th a special election was held and Mr. Francis H. Conroy was elected to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Shanahan.
There have been several other changes in the per- sonnel of the departments of the town which will be recorded in the several reports.
The Board wishes to extend their thanks and appre- ciation to the heads of all departments and the citizens of the town for their fine spirit of cooperation through- out the year.
HOWARD W. BELCHER, IRA E. WRIGHT, FRANCIS H. CONROY,
Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare.
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REPORT OF THE SOLDIERS RELIEF AGENT
To the Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my first report as Soldiers Relief Agent for the year ending December 31, 1940.
Upon accepting this appointment, I made a survey of all cases then on the rolls and found there were seven cases with membership of twenty-four persons continu- ously on the rolls due to physical as well as financial condition. All of the remaining cases were being aided due to unemployment. Several of these persons worked out their assistance on town work.
Due to the large medical expense in some of our cases, we were unable to meet all bills incurred. These unpaid bills amount to $107.30 and are in the hands of the town accountant.
In view of the industrial outlook for the coming year I feel confident that we can live within the estimate of $5,500.00 and so recommend that amount.
State Aid
There were four cases being aided through this ac- count during the year, each receiving $10.00 per month. The appropriation of $700.00 was more than was needed, therefore recommend that the sum of $600.00 be raised and appropriated for the new year.
JOHN SHANAHAN,
Soldiers Relief Agent.
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REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT
- To the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance.
Gentlemen :
In compliance with the by-laws of the town, I submit to you my report as Welfare Agent.
In carrying out your instructions at the time of my appointment, I hold a meeting each Monday evening between the hours of 6 P. M. and 8 P. M. where all applicants are interviewed and then investigations are made. All applicants are informed at time of first in- terview that they have the right to appeal from my decision to your board if they care to do so.
Temporary Aid .- Because of better industrial condi- tions, there has been a 40% drop in the case load during the year. This employment betterment, together with closer supervision, has enabled us to conduct the duties of the position within the appropriation.
During the year, we have assisted several persons in securing employment with the result that a number of cases that have received some aid for the past five or more years are now definitely off the welfare rolls.
All able-bodied persons on the rolls have been warned that they must secure and retain employment and if necessary they will be given a physical examination to determine if they are able to work and support them- selves.
Seven persons were brought before the district court for desertion and non-support of their families. All but one person were convicted of the complaints entered against them.
Welfare Food Orders .- Several meetings were held with the independent grocers relative to the handling of the grocery orders given to welfare recipients. As a result of these conferences, regulations were drawn up, approved by your Board and posted in all food stores. Under these regulations, weekly bills are filed with this office enabling us to keep closer supervision
35
of the items purchased and at the same time watch our appropriation balance. This method is also followed in all other commodities purchased through this depart- ment.
Medical .- Like all other towns, we find that the medi- cal and hospital expense is increasing each year despite the fact that we are receiving a 10% discount on all prescriptions and a reduced rate on all physicians' visits. The hospital problem is the most serious. The weekly rate we must pay is, in our opinion, exorbitant in view of our yearly bill for such service. This town is not the only town where this situation is being consid- ered. Several conferences have been held and it is expected that an adjustment will be made early in the new year.
The appropriation for Temporary Aid-$35,000.00- was sufficient to meet all our expense for the year. We were also able to pay $540 of bills due other towns in 1941 from our 1940 account.
Our total expenditure was $34,983.09 from this ex- pense. There is due Abington from other towns $2,772.37 and from the state $7,299.05, making a net expense to the town of $24,911.67.
Labor at Town Dump .- Recipients of aid under this account, together with those men receiving other forms of aid, were employed at the dump during the year. The total labor employed there was 562 hours.
W. P. A. Commodities .- This department is the spon- sor of the food and clothing project. The recipients of these commodities do not have to be on our relief rolls. There are a number, because of large families and small weekly income, eligible for this type of aid. The total cost of clothing distributed was $6,594.25 and food was $11,740.32.
Industrial Improvement. - In viewing the already better industrial conditions in the district, I am confident that there will be opportunity for persons on the Relief and WPA rolls to secure private employment in the new year. This in turn should lighten the relief burden to the town. I therefore recommend that the sum of $29,000.00 be raised and appropriated for 1941.
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