USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1940-1942 > Part 6
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Vital Statistics
These records are kept by the Town Clerk and all information regarding Bur- ials, Deaths and Births will be found under the Town Clerk's Report.
Roadside Cleaning
Roadside cleaning has been carried on from time to time during Spring, Summer and Fall, and although a slight improvement has been made, there are still people who continue to disregard rules and signs and persist in disposing of their rubbish on our roadsides instead of taking same to the Dump. We again make a strong appeal to our townspeople and summer visitors to report any vio- lations so that we may know the parties responsible.
Care of Beaches
During the summer months we have cleaned Town Beaches of such waste that is brought in by tides or after a severe storm; by so doing our beaches have been free of any health menace and have been safe at all times for bathing pur- poses. The cost for this work is comparatively small considering the results ob- tained and we shall continue the practice during the coming year.
Town Free Parking Spaces
The Town maintained Comfort Stations at most of its free parking areas with the exception of Humarock. If the article now in the Town Warrant for a Police and Fire Dept. Building at Humarock passes, there will also be a Comfort Station here and the serious situation at this point will be taken care of; we urge the passing of this article because a building of that type is greatly needed at this, point.
Development Area at Fourth Cliff
Special regulations governing sewage disposal at this point were put into effect to conform strictly to the State Department of Health and Sanitation. No cesspool, septic tank, or plumbing, can be installed unless permit be obtained from our Plumbing Inspectors and locations for tanks, cesspool and drainage must meet the approval of the Inspectors.
Mushquashcut Pond
The complaints from this area were greatly reduced during the past year. We continued the work as outlined by the State Department and although the nuisance is not entirely abated we feel that the methods used were in a great measure responsible for reducing the health nuisance at this point. By the ex- penditure of a very small amount of money from our annual appropriation this year, we can easily care for the work and therefore we are not asking for any special appropriation.
Cleanup Week
The annual Clean-up that has been held in former years by special article in the Town Warrant has been placed under the direction of the Health Depart- ment, instead of special committee. Your Board will hold this Annual Clean-up Week sometime during the month of May; due notice will be given in the Scituate Herald about two weeks in advance.
Complaints properly brought before your Board were given serious considera- tion, the proper investigations made and satisfactory settlements made in all cases.
72
BOARD OF HEALTH
No serious epidemics of any nature have occurred in the Town during the past ycal; what few contagious diseases that were reported were of a very mild nature. COOPERATION IN HEALTH MEASURES CANNOT BE TOO STRONGLY IMPRESSED UPON THE MINDS OF OUR TOWNSPEOPLE. Our School Doctor, our Health Nurse, and other agencies have been greatly re- sponsible for the check of many cases, that if neglected, might have caused a spread of contagious disease. We most earnestly request that your support be given in all cases, and that advice given by School Doctor or Health Nurse be followed very closely. Call upon your family doctor frequently in times of epi- demics, do not delay at any time; delays are sometimes fatal, many times an illness can be checked before it becomes serious. Report violations of quarantines, and by so doing you will greatly assist in checking the spread of disease.
All Inspectors under the jurisdiction of your Health Department have carried on their work and the Board again takes this opportunity to thank them for the satisfactory manner in which they have performed their duties and to commend them for the success they have had.
Our Town ranks high in the Commonwealth as a health resort and we know the citizens of Scituate are proud of the fact. Therefore we again seek your co- operation in maintaining the health standing we now enjoy.
Many times during the year we have called upon different Departments and Town Officials for assistance and in every case advice and counsel has been given freely. We take this opportunity to thank them for the assistance given.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER L. ENOS, Chairman GEORGE H. OTIS DR. WILLIAM P. GROVESTEIN
REPORT OF THE PLUMBING INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health:
During the year 1940 there were 111 permits issued and inspections made of the installation of Plumbing.
New health problems arise each year and they have been met and handled after careful thought thus protecting the health of our constantly growing com- munity.
The development of Fourth Cliff and Humarock Beach with the constant increase in the number of houses presented a particular problem in the matter of the disposal of sewage. This was met by your board through the establishment of Rules and Regulations calling for purification by Septic tanks, leaching drains and cesspools, specified to give the best results in accordance with the location in which the particular disposal was to be made.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP S. BAILEY, WILLIAM F. HARNEY,
Plumbing Inspectors.
73
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Board of Health Scituate, Massachusetts
I wish to report inspection of all cattle, goats and swine. All found in good condition. Have quarantined all dogs that have bitten people.
CHARLES O. CHASE, Inspector of Animals.
REPORT OF THE MILK INSPECTOR
Board of Health Scituate, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I have issued fifty-four milk licenses, five oleomargarine licenses, one license for milk pasteurization and two licenses for the manufacture of ice-cream.
Samples of milk have been obtained from milk dealers and taken to the City Laboratory in Brockton for tests. In all cases the reports were very favorable.
Respectfully, GEORGE H. OTIS, Milk Inspector.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Scituate Board of Health
In accordance with the laws of the State of Massachusetts as Slaughtering Inspector I have been present at the slaughtering of all cattle during the year 1940.
I have inspected all slaughtered animals during 1940 and found the same in good condition and suitable for eating and have stamped the same.
Respectfully, EDWIN L. MERRITT.
74
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DENTIST
To the Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Health.
Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I take pleasure in presenting the following report of the dental clinic in the Hatherly and Jenkins Schools for the year 1940:
Fillings in Permanent Teeth
345
Fillings in Temporary Teeth 207 Permanent Teeth Extracted 9
Temporary Teeth Extracted 74
Teeth Treated 69
Cleansings
171
Completed Cases
170
For the last few years I have been concentrating on filling the permanent teeth of the children from the second through the sixth grades.
The filling of all small crevices and pits at the proper time prevents many serious disturbances in the oral cavity. This work shows in the report with the insertion of three hundred forty-five fillings in the permanent teeth.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIS B. PARSONS, D.M.D., School Dentist.
REPORT OF THE PRE-SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC
Scituate Board of Health Scituate, Massachusetts
Dear Sirs:
The examination of the Pre-School child is most important in that frequently mouths and arches are ruined before the school age.
Dentistry's greatest service can be rendered at this age level, in that the child has before it a long life span with great potentialities, while the adult in many cases has passed his or her productive years.
75
PUBLIC WELFARE REPORT
During the nine mornings of Pre-School Clinic, thirty-four children were examined this year, with two hundred twenty-one defects within the oral cavity, stressing again as I did last year, the advantage an earlier approach would have.
Twenty-one of those examined were treated at the clinic; in proportion, a twenty percent increase over last year's number. Of this group, nine were com- pleted, with fifty-nine deciduous teeth, and thirteen permanent teeth filled. Four treatments, four extractions, six radiodontic examinations, and seven prophylaxis were included in the work covered.
This year's clinic gave a general knowledge of dietary faults. The 1941 Clinic will include a check-up on such habits and corrective diets will be recommended for every individual child.
Active tooth decay is but one evidence of a disturbance of general health, and the child with active caries should receive nutritional advise, not directed only toward the correction of tooth decay, but toward the enhancement of his nutrition in all regards. Such an approach results in the arrest of decay already present ; and used in its entirety, without seasonal lapse, has been adequate to prevent dental caries.
The sponsorship of such a clinic as this speaks well indeed for your board, for it places it in the foreground as a pioneer in health, and establishes its pro- gressiveness in the field of public health service.
Yours respectfully, JOHN F. CRIMMINS D. M. D.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
This department made approximately the same expenditures for the year 1940 as for 1939. During the winter the W.P.A. case load increased to 84 from the summer figure of 36. There is no doubt that this has helped the Welfare expendi- tures in this town to a large degree. The department has received cooperation from the Highway, Water and Tree Departments and this has also aided in keeping expenses at a lower level. The Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children case load has not advanced during the year. The number of cases on Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children at the close of the year was respectively 90 and 8.
The following tables show the appropriations, the unexpended balances, and reimbursements to the town from the Commonwealth and other cities and towns.
Old Age Assistance Administration
Town Appropriation
Bal. from previous year
Public Welfare $40.06 17,000.00
Old Age Assistance Relief $7.00 22,000.00 18.00
1,200.00
Appropriation Refunds
17,040.06
22,025.00
1,200.00
Expenditures
12,289.96
18,503.77
504.34
Balance, Dec. 31, 1940
4,750.10
3,521.23
695.66
76
PUBLIC WELFARE REPORT
Aid to Dependent Children Dependent Children Administrative Commodity Office
Bal. from previous year
Appropriation
4,000.00
200.00
500.00
Refunds
4,000.00
200.00
500.00
Expenditures
3,026.25
122.51
326.51
Balance, Dec. 31, 1940
973.75
77.49
173.49
Old Age
Assistance
Relief
Old Age
Assistance
Administrative
Depend. Children
Depend. Children
Administrative
Balance from previous year
5.52
9.97
1.32
2.30
Grants Received
15,735.03
524.45
1,273.66
81.23
15,740.55
534.42
1,274.98
83.53
Expenditures
15,736.08
533.13
1,270.93
79.13
Balance, December 31, 1940 4.47
1.29
4.05
4.40
AMOUNTS RECEIVED DURING 1940.
From Commonwealth and Other Towns:
Public Welfare
$3,114.52
Old Age Assistance
11,869.40
Aid to Dependent Children
1,469.66
16,453.58
U. S. Grants:
Old Age Assistance Relief
15,735.03
Old Age Assistance Administrative
524.45
Aid to Dependent Children Relief
1,273.66
Aid to Dependent Children Administrative
81.23
17,614.37 34,067.95
The U. S. Grants are reimbursed directly into the Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children accounts. The amount received from the Common- wealth and other towns are not returned for the use of the Public Welfare Department.
Amount Appropriated
$44,400.00
Amount received from all sources 34,067.95
Net Cost
$10,332.05
Aid to
Relief
Aid to
U. S. Grants
Aid to
Federal
Relief
77
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REPORT
On December 19, 1940 the Board lost one of its oldest members, Dr. Harry F. Cleverly, who had been associated with the Welfare Department and the Board of Selectmen in the town for many years. He had acted in an advisory capacity for the past few months because of his failing health.
We wish to thank all organizations, individuals, and other town departments for their cooperation during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH S. BROWN, ANNIE M. SOMERS.
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
1
Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The purpose of this report is to describe the work done by the Engineering Department and to explain the manner in which the money appropriated for Engi- neering was expended during the past year.
The Town of Scituate employs the method of obtaining Engineering service that other towns of similar size do; i. e., such service is ordered when needed from the Town Engineer and his assistants who work on a part-time basis. This method has been found to be more economical and satisfactory than maintaining a full-time Engineering Department.
The services rendered by this department during the year ending December 31, 1940 are listed as follows:
1. Attending hearings and viewing conditions on the ground preparatory to making layouts of unaccepted streets offered for acceptance as Town Ways.
2. Making surveys and plans for layouts of said streets.
3. Setting monuments in the ground to define the lines of streets accepted during 1940.
4. Making surveys and plans for easements for public utilities crossing private property.
5. Staking street lines for various town departments, public utilities and individuals.
6. Reproducing street lines and replacing monuments where monuments were destroyed.
7. Establishing definite street lines where none existed for land court surveys and other surveys, both public and private.
8. Locating property lines of town property other than streets, i.e., gravel pits, parking spaces and playgrounds.
78
TOWN WPA AGENT REPORT
9. Appearing at the Massachusetts Land Court for protection of town in- terests.
10. Making miscellaneous plans for various town departments; making plans of W. P. A. Projects for W. P. A. Officials.
11. Engineering design and supervision of construction projects, both Town and W. P. A. throughout the town.
12. Estimating costs of various proposed improvements throughout the town.
13. Locating details not shown on the Town Plan.
14. Obtaining information at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds relative to Town interests.
It has been clearly shown to the men in the Engineering Department by com- parative observation during the past three years especially that the services re- quired of this Department are steadily increasing with the normal growth of the Town and we in Scituate believe that this fact reflects the progress that our com- munity enjoys.
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL F. APPLETON, Town Engineer.
HENRY A. LITCHFIELD, Assistant Town Engineer.
REPORT OF THE TOWN WPA AGENT
January 21, 1941
To the Board of Selectmen Town of Scituate
Gentlemen:
At the 1940 Annual Town Meeting, the Town voted $20,000 to be administered by the Board of Selectmen as a general unemployment relief fund, for the Town's share of materials, trucking and other necessary expenses in connection with Federal unemployment relief projects in Scituate.
This appropriation made it possible for the Selectmen to have eleven relief projects, described later in this report, operated in Scituate, under which the WPA contributed $42,208.59 for Scituate labor, and $3,025.52 for non-labor items. These amounts were further increased by the distribution of surplus commodities and clothing valued at $11,330.59, making a total of $56,564.70 in Federal Funds granted to Scituate for the year.
At the beginning of the year 1940, there were 114 persons on local pay rolls, including 18 men at the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot. The usual seasonal reduction in quotas and increase in opportunities to secure private employment reduced the number on all projects to 36 on June 30. From that date there was a steady increase until the number reached 84 at the close of the year, 76 of this
79
TOWN WPA AGENT REPORT
number being on Scituate projects, 4 at Hingham, and 4 on State-wide projects. The weekly average for the year was 73 as compared with 95 for the previous year, showing a decrease of 22 over the year 1939.
This decrease was not the result of insufficient projects to provide work for all applicants, but was caused by the usual reduction of WPA quotas prior to June 30, the close of the Government's fiscal year, improving industrial conditions making it possible for more workers to secure private employment, increased enlistments in the Military and Naval Service, and the opportunities for men to work on National Defense projects. The percentage of labor turnover indicated that WPA workers cooperated to the fullest extent in their efforts to secure private employ- ment.
It is also a significant fact that of the 35 men who voluntarily left WPA for private employment last spring and summer, and have not requested reinstate- ment up to the close of the year, that their average age was 371/2 years, indicating that the younger men have the advantage in the matter of employment over their older fellow-workers.
The following work projects in Scituate were operated, completed, or held in abeyance during the year 1940, as indicated below:
WP 16,559 Develop a Recreational Area at North Scituate. Operating from April 30 to May 13. Closed.
WP 17,264 Highway Department General Road Construction and Repairs, Drainage, etc. Blanket project. Operating from January 2 throughout the year. Continued operation January 1941.
WP 17,686 Install New Filing System for Police Department. Operating January 2 to March 22. Completed.
Supplementary project to Complete Installation of Police Records File System. Not operated in 1940 on account of contemplated project changes.
WP 17,899 Conserve Shade Trees Throughout the Town. Operating from January 2 to June 10. Seasonal. Operation in 1941 uncertain account of National Defense program.
WP 18,097 Indexing and Classifying Old Town Records. Operating Janu- ary 2 to April 12. Closed.
WP 18,380 Control and Eliminate Leaf Feeding Pests. Operating January 2 to May 6. Completed.
WP 18,431 Construct Fire Trails Through Woodlands. Not operated in 1940. Operation in 1941 uncertain account of National Defense program.
WP 18,974 Prepare Record of Graves of Veterans Buried in Scituate. Oper- ating January 2 to February 13. Completed.
WP 20,978 Improve Water Supply System. Cedar St., Front St., Tilden Rd., Hawley Rd. and Brockton Ave. Operating from January 9 throughout the year. Continued operation January 1941.
WP 21,432 Control and Suppress Leaf-Feeding Insect Pests. Not started in 1940. Operation in 1941 uncertain account of National Defense program.
WP 21,490 Index School Committee Meeting Records, etc. Operating from July 22 for remainder of year. Continued operation January 1941.
WP 21,689 Distribution of Surplus Commodities. Operating from January 2 throughout year. Continued operation January 1941.
80
TOWN WPA AGENT REPORT
WP 21,771 Indexing and Classifying Old Town Records. Supplementary. Operating from September 30 for remainder of year. Continued operation Janu- ary 1941.
WP 22,361 Construct Water Mains in Jericho Road. Approved for opera- tion December 14. Operating January 1941.
Construction Work at Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot. Employs Scituate citizens. Operating throughout the year. Continued operation January 1941.
In the non-manual projects, employment is provided for 3 ladies as Sr. Clerks and 2 ladies as Sr. Typists.
There were no changes in the WPA wage or work schedules during the year.
The regulation that all persons having 18 months continuous employment, be removed from the pay rolls for at least 30 days, is still in effect.
The rules regulating the referral by the Board of Public Welfare of persons for certification for WPA employment remain unchanged.
Work projects embracing Highway Construction and Repairs, mean ยท better traffic conditions and greater safety to the public, while the installation of new Water Mains and the replacement of old and badly corroded pipes for those of larger diameter, is of widespread benefit, because it means a better household water service, additional fire protection, and the opening up of new areas for home building which have remained idle in the past.
In these two Town departments alone the possibilities of development through WPA work projects are unlimited. Projects of this character also give the greatest measure of satisfaction, because the majority of those seeking WPA employment are unskilled workers and those whose physical condition or age would not meet present-day employment requirements, and are therefore, least likely to secure employment in regular industry or on the National Defense program, and must depend to a great extent on Federal Relief work for a livelihood.
The National Youth Administration has been particularly active in providing work for the youth of both sexes between the ages of 17 and 24 years, inclusive.
The Cohasset Resident Training Center, where a combined work and training program is in operation, now has 5 Scituate young men among its enrollees. Ap- plicants are selected on a basis of aptitude and suitability to the training offered. Young men in the above age class, who are interested and unemployed, regardless of family income, should apply at 143 Pond St., Cohasset, for enrollment in- formation.
For the employment of young ladies under NYA, the Allen and Pierce Libraries provide employment for 4, where their work under the supervision of the Librarians enables them to secure a training in library methods which fits them for future work in this field.
Another NYA project, put into operation in December, provides clerical and stenographic assistants for Town Departments when required. At the close of the year 5 young ladies were thus employed.
The later part of December, a NYA project to employ young ladies as school lunch assistants in the High School Cafeteria was approved. It is expected that assignments will be made to it during January.
These new projects of the NYA greatly benefit the youth worker who is ex- periencing much difficulty in getting suitably placed in commercial or industrial life.
81
TOWN COUNSEL REPORT
As a result of the operation of these varied activities under the WPA and NYA during the year, the Federal Relief program has unquestionably reduced unem- ployment and welfare expenditures, as well as provided the Town with desirable improvements which could not have been otherwise obtained at this time except through a substantial expenditure of money.
In closing this report I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Board of Selectmen and other Departments for the splendid cooperation given me, and to the representatives of the WPA and NYA for their helpful and timely sug- gestions which have been of great assistance during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT A. WHITING, Town WPA Agent.
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
February 7, 1941.
In addition to a variety of legal matters submitted by various departments of the town in 1940, I call special attention to the following matters:
Settlement of Estelle Powers v. Town after calling of pre-trial list for Suffolk County-suit for personal injuries and property damage.
Settlement case of Mary K. Nichols v. Town-personal injuries.
William Holden et al v. Board of Assessors, 2 Appellate Tax Board-case dis- missed.
Prouty Land Court petition, reservation of public rights in sea wall in final decree.
Cohasset v. Scituate Board of Public Welfare-case argued before the Appel- late Court. Plaintiff's appeal dismissed.
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad and Old Colony Railroad hear- ings-appearance at Washington and Boston on various phases of proceedings.
All of the above cases have come to a satisfactory conclusion except the New Haven and Old Colony proceedings now pending and in which we are awaiting the report of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The National Defense program has greatly enhanced the likelihood of our maintaining present rail passenger service on the Boston and Greenbush line.
The principal land acquisition of the town during the year is the purchase of Barker Beach with other land for recreational center and parking space.
Respectfully submitted,
VERNON W. MARR,
Town Counsel.
82
ASSESSORS' REPORT
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Detail of 1940 Assessments
Number of Polls Assessed
1474
Amount of Poll Tax Warrant
$2,948.00
Number of persons, partnerships and Corporations assessed on property
1686
Value of assessed Real Estate :
Buildings
$3,221,960.00
Land
8,621,625.00
Total Value of Real Estate
$11,843,585.00
Total Value of Personal Estate
973,205.00
Total Valuation January 1, 1940
$12,816,790.00
Total Valuation January 1, 1939
12,839,959.00
Decrease in valuation
$23,169.00
Omitted Assessment December 31, 1940
14,900.00
Assessed
Horses
47
Cows
73
Other Neat
19
Sheep
3
Fowl
6,192
All Other
305
Swine
3
Automobiles
2,194
Budget for 1940
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