USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1961-1964 > Part 21
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Absentees from Military Service investigated
1
Anonymous and threatening telephone calls
36
Animals lost or found
334
Assist out of town ambulances
8
Assist to sick, injured and distressed by patrol car
119
Automobile registration plates found
29
Beach Stickers issued (Scituate)
3853
Beach Stickers issued (Humarock)
501
Bicycle registrations issued .
114
Boating accidents investigated
1
Boating violations investigated
11
Boys shooting an air rifle or so called BB gun recklessly and guns impounded
19
Buildings found open
386
Complaints investigated
7387
Dangerous road conditions reported
87
Dead animals reported on the street
62
Dog bites reported
7
Escort of Funerals, etc: .
9
Fire Alarms answered
58
Hit and Run accidents investigated
26
Investigations for other departments
426
Insane Committments
5
Letters written to owners of vacant property, regarding conditions found by inspecting officers 196
Letters written to parents of minors found with alcoholic beverages in their possession
32
Licenses issued to sell, rent or lease firearms, shotguns and rifles
3
Licenses issued to carry pistol or revolver
39
Lights found on in public or private buildings
47
Lost children and elderly persons taken home
83
Messages delivered for other departments .
127
Missing persons reported to department .
16
Missing persons located .
16
Motor Vehicle accidents investigated
194
Motor Vehicle licenses suspended
Motor Vehicle operators booked for violations
288
Motor Vehicle operators stopped for check during periodic
154
"Operation Road Watch" 340
Persons detained for other departments
7
91
TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
Property inspection requested by vacationing
permanent residents
266
Rubbish dumping complaints investigated
11
Shooting complaints investigated
16
Solicitors investigated .
11
Stolen motor vehicles recovered
15
Street lights reported out
254
Sudden deaths
9
Summons served for other departments
582
Suspicious motor vehicles investigated
34
Suspicious person complaints investigated .
32
Vacant summer homes investigated .
8232
Witness summons served
17
AMBULANCE
Number of trips made by ambulance
312
We wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, all the Town Officials and the various Town Departments for their fine cooperation during the year.
To all the citizens of the Town of Scituate our thanks for their support and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM F. KANE Chief of Police
REPORT OF THE CLAM WARDEN
To the Board of Selectmen, Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The clam flats at Minot have provided most of the clamming throughout the year. These flats have now been dug over for three years and there is still a good set.
Humarock was open November 1, and all areas are open for digging. The fences were put up around the seed clams again this year. The North River is also open and has some good clams back in the creek areas. Mussels were cleared from seed beds in the North River and Humarock sections.
This year there is more clam seed than ever before; it is set in on just about every flat. Two boats are dragging for marketable mussels.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER O'NEIL Clam Warden
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' SERVICES AND VETERANS AGENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Scituate:
This year has reflected higher case loads and increased administrative duties. Every advantage of Federal and State Benefits have been applied in the approval and expenditure of Veterans' Aid. Although these expenditures were about 10% over 1961 costs, each case was predicated on direct investigation of the need and qualifications of the applicant. This investigation is of continuous nature if the case is of lengthy duration.
I am grateful for the splendid cooperation of each member of our Board of Selectmen and to all other personnel of Town Departments, and to Chief William Kane of the Police Department and his staff in providing ambulance services for nineteen disabled veterans to Veteran Administration Hospitals.
My sincere gratitude to the members and auxillary of Veterans of Foreign War Post #3169 and to members and auxillary of American Legion Post 144 for their many acts of kindness and charity, hospital parties, blood programs, scholarships, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day gifts to deserving families, and to many private citizens who have contributed special gifts without solicita- tion - thanks a lot.
To these veteran families who have received these gifts, I hope that with patience and understanding, the year of 1963 will bring to each and every one a better year. Scituate is very proud of our Veterans. If you care to give Blood Donations just visit Veterans' Hospital, Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain, any week day, 9 to 4 P.M., and just say "I am from Scituate."
Respectfully submitted,
KEVIN B. DWYER Veterans' Agent Director Veterans Services
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
In keeping with the desire for brevity, the Board of Health presents its Annual Report for 1962 as follows:
DENTAL CLINIC Donald W. Parsons, D.M.D.
INSPECTORS OF PLUMBING Edward B. McCarthy Merrill A. Merritt
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE Alice M. Dowd, R. N.
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS Richard E. Cugnasca, D. V. M.
INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTER William J. McAuliffe
The number of communicable diseases reported were 280
Sewage Disposal Installations, Restaurant Investigations, Nuisance Complaint Investigations and Miscellaneous Inspections made . 812
Visits made by Public health Nurse . 2862
During the year 1962, the Plumbing Inspectors have inspected all plumbing installed in accordance with permits on file andfor which returns have been made to the Town Treasurer.
Total number of permits issued. .253 Amount received and returned to the Treasurer $4,156.00
During 1962, all dogs involved in biting have been quarantined, stray animals have been boarded and disposed of properly, and inspections have been made of cattle, horses, goats and swine as required by the statutes.
Inspections have been made of meat sold and all animals slaughtered in Scituate during 1962, in accordance with the Laws of this Commonwealth.
The sponsoring of clinics will be continued and increased, and each program as scheduled will be advertised in local papers, schools and churches.
Respectfully submitted,
MURRAY SNOW, Chairman MILTON J. BERLAD, M. D. ERNEST A. RICHARDSON
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT SCITUATE HEALTH SERVICE, INC.
The Scituate Health Service, Inc., is a non-profit volunteer group which offers its services and limited financial help to the community.
In 1962 the following activities were conducted in cooperation with the Board of Health:
A Well Baby Conference (11 clinics), under the guidance of Dr. Olga Allers, at which 95 babies were examined and the mothers advised on the care and health of their children;
Volunteer services at the Immunization or Triple Vaccine Clinic;
Two successful Glaucoma Detection Programs April and December, 1962, at which 151 adults were examined;
Purchased and turned over to the Board of Health a Sterneedle Gun for use in Tuberculin testing;
Members assisted the school authorities in the Tuberculin testing program conducted in the schools, also the follow-up Mobile Chest X-ray program;
Adult Sabin Oral Vaccine Program at which 2,139 oral doses were administered of Type I & III. Type II scheduled for April, 1963;
Members assisted the school personnel in the administration of the Sabin Oral Vaccine in the schools.
Awarded two $200 scholarships to seniors who were accepted at an accredited school of nursing, one to Miss Livia Walsh who entered Peter Bent Brigham Hos- pital School of Nursing and another to Miss Caroline Kennedy who entered St. Vincents Hospital School of Nursing;
Limited financial assistance were needed, in the purchase of glasses, payment of dental work and etc. among the school children;
Our organization is supported by voluntary contributions from the citizens of Scituate. Our fund drive is held during the month of July.
We look forward to continued and greater service to the community.
Respectfully submitted,
HELENE R. HARPER, R. N.
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
SCITUATE HEALTH SERVICE, INC.
Statement
1962
Receipts
Cash on hand January 1, 1962
$ 1,201.71
Membership Drive
697.50
Ella Gardner Trust DividentElla Gardner Trust Dividend
18.75
Cohasset Savings Bank Interest
20.63
Emeline Jacobs Trust Dividend
33.06
Well Baby Clinic
31.00
Polio Clinic (including $50.00 change)
1,863.25
Donation from Cohasset Motors, Inc.
250.00
Randolph V.N.A.
131.32
$ 4,247.22
Payments
Medical Supplies
$ 884.07
Doctors' Fees
435.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
33.00
Stationery and Supplies
326.48
Scholarships
400.00
Cash (change for Polio Clinic)
50.00
$ 2,128.55
Cash on hand January 1, 1963
2,118.67
$ 4,247.22
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SEWERAGE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Committee has continued its investigations of the sewerage problems for a second year. At the 1962 Town Meeting, additional funds were appropriated for the purpose of exploring and testing problem areas of sewage disposal in the Town and carrying out a further engineering survey on feasibility and costs of a modi- fied, rather than comprehensive, sewage plan to serve localized areas of the Town.
A specific proposal for a sewerage system suited to the particular and imme- diate needs of Scituate will be presented to the Town at the 1963 Town Meeting. The plan proposed will call for the construction of sewerage lines which will serve what is apparently the most critical area in Scituate, located in the Sand Hills- Shore Acres section. Recommendation will be made for the planning and construc- tion of a sewerage treatment plant, located at the previously proposed site off the Driftway, near the Boston Sand & Gravel Company. The treatment plant building, insofar as size is concerned, would be designed to serve the ultimate plant capacity, but only sufficient equipment (tanks, etc.) would be installed to serve the initial sewered area. A main connector line through the harbor area to the Sand Hills- Shore Acres section will permit later planning for sewerage service to that area, if this seems desirable.
Proposals have been worked out for appropriate financing, with estimated approximate annual cost to the Town to be reflected in the tax rate, and an assess- ment method which would provide for the appropriate betterment charges to the individual property owner benefiting from the installation of the sewerage lines.
In the Town Meeting Warrant for 1963, the voters will be asked to consider five Articles which will affect the sound and orderly development of a sewerage system for Scituate. These are as follows:
1. Acceptance by the Town of an Enabling Act.
2. Authorization for the Selectmen, or their appropriate representatives, to act as a temporary board of sewer commissioners.
3. Election by the Town of a Board of Sewer Commissioners at a subsequent Town election.
4. Appropriation of funds for land-taking and necessary easements for the sewerage treatment plant site.
5. Approval to make application for a Federal loan covering necessary con- struction plans and specifications, said loan to be interest-free and repaid to the Federal agency only when the Town votes to start construction.
Details of the proposed plans, sections to be sewered initially and specific financing mechanisms are covered in the drafted material prepared by the Com- mittee and made available for distribution at the public hearings and at the Town Meeting.
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
Other than funds for the purchasing of a treatment plant site, no further ap- propriations are required toward the project this year. When the Town is asked to consider financing for construction in the future, a two-third vote will be necessary.
The Committee has worked intensively on the whole problem of sewerage in Scituate and the several alternatives available in both comprehensive and modified sewerage plans. It has had the benefit of advice from federal and state authorities and from one of the most respected engineering firms in the East. Realizing that the matter of sewerage for Scituate has now been under consideration for nearly 15 years, and that specific and detailed proposals have been submitted in each year except one since 1956, the Committee believes that more than adequate con- sideration has been given to all facets of the subject and ample opportunity has been provided for the expression of all points of view. The Committee, therefore, urges the Selectmen and the citizens of Scituate to accept the proposed Articles and adopt the recommended plan of construction and financing in order that Scituate may make a sound beginning on a sewerage system which the Town badly needs and which will contribute directly to the health and comfort of its citizens in the years ahead.
JOHN P. DESMOND, Chairman W. SCOTT ALLAN, Secretary DREW G. DOTY ROBERT G. ESTERBERG
REPORT OF THE SOUTH SHORE MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECT
To the Citizens of Scituate:
Submitted herewith is the report of the South Shore Mosquito Control Project of its activities in the Town for the year ending October 31, 1962.
The Town of Scituate appropriated $4,900.00 for mosquito control in 1962. Along with this $4,000.00 was appropriated for salt marsh maintenance. This money was used for mosquito control in the Town by the South Shore Mosquito Control Project, a cooperative effort embracing the Towns of Scituate, Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, and Weymouth, and the City of Quincy. In addition. the project worked under contract for the U. S. Naval Ammunition Depot for a period up to June 30th, ending our final contract before its deactivation.
TYPE OF CONTROL PROGRAM
The basic program of control continued to be based on drainage in the off- season and larvaciding of all areas found to be breeding during the mosquito season. This program was supplemented by application of D.D.T. dust to selected areas during the period when the swamps were frozen. Fog generators and mist blowers were used to combat flying mosquitoes.
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
ENCEPHALITIS
As a result of the dry weather and/or other factors not yet recognized, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis did not appear in humans in Massachusetts this past summer. However, since there is always a definite threat present during late summer and early fall, the period when Encephalitis is most likely to appear, the project was in contact with the U.S. Public Health Service, Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other mosquito control agencies in a cooperative effort to recognize the danger signs so that work could be directed against the suspected species of mosquitoes.
AERIAL DUSTING AND/OR SPRAYING
The spring dusting or spraying of all fresh water swamps known to be breeders and too large to be treated by hand was done. D.D.T. was used at the rate of a half to one pound per acre, keeping well within the realm of safety to humans and wildlife. Twenty-eight hundred acres were treated in the Town of Scituate.
GROUND SPRAYING
The ground crews circulated on a schedule throughout their section. They varied from this circuit to treat in the vicinity of complaints or to treat places found to be breeding by the superintendent or foreman's inspection. They then returned to their rounds.
CATCHBASIN SPRAYING
Catchbasin spraying was done with a motorcycle servicar, a compressed air sprayer mounted on the rear. Due to reduction of summer personnel only one unit was operating this year. A dry summer enabled regular crews to treat basins in their assigned towns, thus enabling us to keep ahead of this type of breeding.
DITCHING
Drainage, always considered the keystone of mosquito control, is more than ever important as a result of a growing concern by certain groups over the use and buildup of insecticides and other chemicals in our wildlife areas.
Over the years the ditching done by this project has greatly reduced the areas that need spraying or dusting of insecticides. On fresh water only areas capable of mosquito breeding are drained, shallow stagnant pools. On salt marshes we attempt to keep all ditches clear of grass and mud to allow tidal water a free flow in and out, also to eliminate all brackish sheet water at upper ends of marsh where salt marsh mosquitoes will breed.
The largest amount of mosquito control can be reached with a good drainage program. With this idea in mind, we have proceeded in all areas possible to ditch. In the Town of Scituate 215 feet of ditches have been cleaned, 27,375 feet reclaimed and 1,200 feet of new ditch have been dug.
FOGGING
This past season the project has had in operation Curtis Dyna Fog Insecti- cidal Fog Applicator. This machine emits a smoke containing small particles of
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
insecticide. This smoke or fog drifts with air currents over the area, wiping out all mosquitoes and other flying insects present. This machine makes it possible to cover a large area and with insecticide particles being so small there is very little residue to build up in any one area.
PLANS FOR WINTER
Throughout the months between the past and coming mosquito breeding season, much attention will be given to ditching. Work on the salt marsh will be done in the fall and early spring, and the colder winter months will be spent in the more protected areas.
In addition, when snow and ice conditions are right prehatch dusting by ground crews, as was done in the past year, will be applied. The success of the past work along these lines makes it feasible to continue the program. All areas that were hand dusted were free of mosquito breeding in most cases until mid-July.
PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR
All phases of the work carried out in the past will continue, placing emphasis on drainage for permanent control and then, in this order: dusting for prehatch control, spraying for larval control, mist blowing and fogging for adult control.
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
N. A. D.
Since 1957 the project has been under contract to the U. S. Navy to do all phases of mosquito control in their Ammunition Depot, Hingham and Cohasset Annex. In June of this year, the Navy decommissioned this reservation, leaving a large area in the center of the project with no control. At present it is uncertain as to what will be done with this area. If the land involved should revert back to their former towns, Cohasset, Hingham, Norwell, Scituate and Weymouth, it will be necessary to up the assessments of these towns for mosquito control as with our present budget we would be unable to handle it.
NEED FOR NEW DITCHING TRACTOR
The project operates two pieces of tractor equipment on its drainage opera- tion, an OC-6 scavel plow used for cleaning out existing ditches and an OC-4 backhoe trencher for making new drainage work. They have both been in constant use, one since 1955, the other 1957.
On ordinary dry trenching operations these machines might last a few more years. However, on mosquito control ditching, the machine is constantly in water, mainly salt water, year round. Consequently, rust corrosion, along with wear, have reached a point where they must be replaced in order to maintain what has been accomplished and to continue the phase of machine ditching.
It would not be necessary to replace both tractors as one tractor so con- structed could receive and operate both a scavel and backhoe trencher. This would necessitate the need for just one tractor as both these are usually being used on the same job.
Respectfully submitted, RALPH L. ROBERTS Commissioner for Scituate South Shore Mosquito Control Project
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
To the Citizens of Scituate:
We can report another year of development, progress, and work growth in your Park Department during 1962. The administrative policies set and the de- cisions made by the Commissioners were effectively carried out by the Depart- ment's working personnel during the year.
Responsibility for the care and maintenance of the grounds surrounding the new Senior High School was not transferred to the Town, and hence to the Park Department, as early as we had expected a year ago. Some attention has been given to the football field and to the grounds in front of the building. We expect that the remaining acreage will be transferred to us sometime during 1963. In our opinion, the condition of most of the athletic fields in the rear of the building will be such as to require the expenditure of additional funds by the Town as a re- sult of the inability of the original contractor to supply the Town with a completely satisfactory installation.
A second problem area facing the Department is that of the Town's beaches. We recognize full well the importance to the entire Town of beaches properly cared for and maintained. Changes in policies and attitudes brought about by in- creases in population and changes in the uses of the beaches we hope will be re- flected in a comprehensive beach program to be worked out and discussed by the Commissioners with the Selectmen and certain other Town Officials. Lessons were learned in 1962 which should better enable us to cope with similar situations in the future.
As in the past your comments about the work in the Department, both com- plimentary and critical, have been most helpful and we thank you for them.
Respectfully submitted, CARL C. CHESSIA EDWARD A. COLE PHILLIPS N. WEEKS, Chairman Park Commissioners
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
A sweeping new program of Social services to families, with emphasis on prevention of dependency and rehabilitation has been started during the year by the State Department of Public Welfare. Itis hoped that more local resources may be developed to assist in these efforts.
In-service training courses for local Welfare personnel are scheduled in 1963, through the various district offices of the State Department. Prevention and rehabilitation have long been stressed in Scituate and we welcome the fuller cooperation of the State in this respect.
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
Costs will be increased this coming year for medical services of all kinds. We are able to decrease our budget request only because of increased Federal dollar return. Federal participation in salaries for administration of the Aid to Dependent Children program has been increased to 75% with State share of 12 1/2%.
The year 1962 shows that of a total relief bill of approximately $191,100.00, approximately $93,600.00 was returned Federally and $55,565.52 received from the State for Town's general funds.
Legislation is filed this year for the purpose of preventing the wholesale hospital notices sent to Welfare departments. New wording of Sections 24 and 24a of Chapter 117 will clarify and simplify the situation, if passed.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank all other Town Departments who cooperate so fully with us, as well as all Scituate churches, private organizations and individuals who do so much for our clients, of a confidential nature.
Respectfully submitted, W. M. BROWN, Chairman FRANKLIN T. SHARP ROSE A. SMITH
REPORT OF THE TOWN ENGINEER
Honorable Board of Selectmen Scituate, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit a brief resume of the activities of the Engineering Depart- ment for 1962. We were very fortunate in obtaining the services of an assistant Town Engineer during March and unfortunate in December when he resigned for more lucretive employment elsewhere.
The more important projects processed by this department include the pre- paration of highway acceptance plans of Pheasant Hill Drive, Arborway Drive, Bonnie Briar Circle, Edith Holmes Drive, Strawberry Lane, Clover Lane, and a part of Aberdeen Drive.
The State Aid program included the placing of rip rap at North Scituate and Humarock beaches, also numerous studies of our existing foreshore protection barriers. Shore erosion is and will continue to be a more complex and expensive problem along our extensive coastline.
Considerable progress was made in bringing up to date the Assessor's Zoning and Highway maps. The routine details of the office have been processed as they arose, and engineering assistance has been given to all Town departments re- questing it. I sincerely appreciate the cooperation given us by the other Town departments.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN E. BAMBER, Town Engineer
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TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Town Hall, Scituate, Mass.
Gentlemen:
This year we planted 241 new shade trees on our roadsides. We used maples, birch, willow, oaks and the moraine locust as they have been the hardiest types for this seashore town. We have tried to plant all the spots elms have been re- moved from and newly approved streets.
We had no new insect outbreaks this year. The gypsy moth, oak leaf minor, birch leaf minor and the elm leaf beetle were about the same as in the past, but the Jap beetle and the ticks were very bad. We have had good control with Seven, the new insecticide we are using to replace DDT.
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