USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1940 > Part 10
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137
PLANNING BOARD
Public hearings were held and recommendations made on four proposed changes in the Zoning By-law. Action taken will be found in the Town Clerk's Report.
The proposed reorganization of the Planning Board and the Board of Survey under Chapter 211 of the General Laws was rejected by the town meeting. The wide acceptance of this provision for reorganization, by the towns of the state, indicates that the advantages are considered real and worthwhile. This matter should again be presented to the voters and it is hoped that, when it is better understood, it will be adopted.
As to the Zoning By-law, in general; it would seem advisable that a major re-study be made in the near future. Our by-law was written about fifteen years ago when the science of zoning was relatively new. Many minds have since then developed the theory and appli- cation of zoning and many court decisions have clarified it in detail. To make this advance effective in Wakefield is a work of some scope, will take time and will require expert assistance. It will soon be brought forward for action by the town.
The official zoning map has been revised to date, in- corporating the changes in the by-law which have been made during the past six years.
In every case before the Board of Survey, during the year, the Planning Board has been consulted, has in- vestigated the site and the relation of the proposed lay- out of streets with the public interest and has made recommendation. Recent rulings by the town counsel and cooperation by the departments in charge of public services, have strengthened the Board of Survey in its control of the developing street system of the town.
As matters now stand the town has no control over the size of building lots. This is a weakness in the proper growth of the town. The Planning Board has made a study of this matter and will present, in the next annual Town Meeting, a proposed amendment to the Zoning By-law to establish minimum lot sizes and frontages.
The survey project, set up under the Works Progress Administration, under the sponsorship of the Planning Board, has been going on during the year under the able leadership of Mr. Frank T. Eskrigge. The Board keeps in touch with the work by means of frequent conferences. It is a long project but when completed, the town will have, for the first time, an accurate street map with exact locations and grades. It is hoped that this can be extended to include all town property and a survey of underground services.
138
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
The proposed By-pass Highway around the business centers of Stoneham and Reading, has been under con- sideration of the Planning Boards of those towns and of Wakefield. Their committee has consulted the State Planning Board, the Metropolitan Planning Division and the State Department of Public Works. The Project is considered by these groups as sound and urgent and is definitely included in the state highway program. The increasing congestion of traffic in the main business dis- trict in Wakefield is accentuated by the heavy trucking to the north. Until the By-pass is built and provides a clear route to the north around Reading Square, it is not likely that this traffic can be diverted.
The control of the Water level in Lake Quannapowitt and in the northern marshes has continued to exercise the minds of both the Reading and Wakefield officials during the year. The Planning Board has had its part in the matter and has met with the Reading Planning Board to discuss it and has attended hearings before the State Department of Public Works. We are convinced that the system of marsh drainage, conditionally author- ized, which would divert the water from the northern drainage area from the lake, would be detrimental to the lake and be an unwise use of public funds. The two new culverts under Quannapowitt Boulevard and the enlarged lake outlet recently built by the Water and Sewage Board, are helping effectively to prevent excessive water in the marshes. The eventual building of Route 128 across the marshes as well as the By-pass Highway, will have a direct effect on this marsh drainage and lake level problem. The wise solution is not likely to appear until these uncertain matters are made definite and these as well as all other factors given full consideration.
The building of Route 128 is likely also to have an effect upon the character of the "Head of the Lake" district. A re-study of the zoning of the area will then be in order. It may then be advisable to fill part of the outlet cove and reduce the sharp curve in Main Street, build a long spillway dam and a large and permanent outlet and to build a large park-like traffic circle at the junction of Main and Lowell Streets.
The widening of Center Street by the Town this year was a constructive step of interest to the Board because of its frequent recommendation since 1926.
The Board believes there should be a short connecting street between the ends of Davidson Road, Western Ave-
139
PLANNING BOARD
nue and Pine Hill Circle to eliminate dead-end water mains, to facilitate snow plowing and fire fighting and for general accessibility.
A study of our whole system of road construction and sidewalk building and their betterment assessments is contemplated by the Board. The present system has re- sulted in a surprising number of troublesome private ways and in sporadic sidewalks. Recommendations will be made.
The Board recommends that the Town establish a con- trolled dumping area off upper North Avenue to fill and make useful really low land instead of extending rela- tively high areas as is now being done off Melvin Street.
The Board recommends that, due to the indication of residential development in the northern part of the North Ward, steps be taken now before land costs increase, to determine and acquire a site for a future grade school with adequate playground space.
Dr. T. Fulton Parks resigned from the Planning Board on June 26, 1940. He had been a member of the Board for fourteen years, since 1926, part of the time as its secretary. His faithful attention to the problems of town improvement and the exercise of his sound and con- servative judgment have been a substantial contribution to the public good. The Planning Board on its own be- half and on behalf of the town, wishes to express deep appreciation to him for his public-spirited service.
Charles W. Morrill was appointed, by joint action of the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen, on August 20, 1940, to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Parks.
Respectfully yours,
EDWARD M. BRIDGE, Chairman CHARLES W. MORRILL, Secretary DR. FRANK T. WOODBURY EDWARD G. LEE FITZROY WILLARD
Town Planning Board of Wakefield
140
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
HUBBARD BREED MANSFIELD
Chairman of the Town Planning Board, 1915 to 1926 Born July 17, 1874 - Died August 12, 1939
He was faithful and conscientious in every task he undertook; quiet and unassuming in his nature; friendly to all with whom he came in contact; keenly interested
141
BOARD OF HEALTH
in all matters of public interest in the community in which he lived; successful in his work; highly respected, dearly loved by those who knew him best, he will be greatly missed in the Town of Wakefield where he resided so many years, and in the City of Boston where he established many close business, personal and social friendships. We regret his passing. We rejoice that we knew him. He was the type of man this country will ever need.
Report of Board of Health
To the Citizens of Wakefield:
The Board of Health herewith presents a brief summary of the work and activities of the Health Department for the year 1940.
The Board believes that the passing of the milk regula- tion which became effective January 1, 1940, which re- quired that all milk to be sold in Wakefield should be either pasteurized or certified according to the General Laws, which regulation has resulted in the sale of prac- tically one hundred percent pasteurized milk, has been for the best interest of the health condition of Wakefield.
While at first one or two small distributors felt the passage of the regulation something of a hardship, we believe all now agree that the passing of the regulation was for the best.
The Board of Health requests the continued co-opera- tion of all residents of Wakefield to see that refuse matter other than garbage be deposited on one of the two regularly attended dumps. The dumping of this refuse matter at other places is sure to constitute a nuisance and eyesore in the neighborhood where such dumps are made. For information of all those needing it, the two town dumps at present are-one in the rear of the Heywood-Wakefield property off New Salem Street and the other on Green Street.
The Board of Health during 1940 has defended and won two cases. The first was brought against the Hey- wood-Wakefield Company to enjoin them from dumping or permitting others (the townspeople) to dump on the property, then and now being used for dumping. The case was decided in favor of the Heywood-Wakefield Company with the provision that the Board of Health have a caretaker there during the entire day.
142
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
The second case brought against the Board of Health to enjoin the Board from employing and paying its present garbage collector was decided in favor of the town.
While in actual practice no Inspector of Slaughtering is needed in Wakefield, the General Laws call for such an appointment and the Board appointed Dr. Cornelius Thibeault as Inspector. This appointment, however, has been of no expense to the town.
The Board of Health would again stress the early licensing of all dogs for the proper protection of our citizens and to assure the payment of any necessary anti-rabic treatment for humans by the County Com- missioner from the dog fund.
The Board of Health has issued the following permits for plumbing: Total number, 237.
Divided as follows:
Number of
Fixtures installed
1075
Closets
228
Lavatories
199
Bathtubs
170
Sinks
180
Sink and Tray combination
40
Two-part Trays
32
Boilers
50
Tankless heaters
63
Bath Showers
81
Stall Showers
12
Urinals
4
Soda Fountains
4
Refrigerator Chests
10
Drinking Fountains
2
The sum of $338 was collected for the foregoing permits and the same deposited at the Wakefield Trust Company to the credit of the town.
The Board continues its four-year comparison of re- portable diseases; also the cost of these diseases over the same period.
1937
1938
1939
1940
Tuberculosis
16
11
9
11
Diphtheria
0
0
2
0
Pneumonia
18
15
18
21
Poliomyelitis
1
0
1
0
Measles
434
11
37
37
Chicken Pox
10
42
16
9
Septic Sore Throat
3
1
0
1
143
BOARD OF HEALTH
Scarlet Fever
45 (para) 65
6
12
Typhoid Fever
8
0
0
1
Conjunctivitis
0
1
1
1
Whooping Cough
27
11
4
6
Dog Bites
42
49
74
50
Tuberculosis
$6,598.93
$7,268.75
$6,092.00
$6,203.76
Scarlet Fever
1,039.00
1,732.29
584.00
255.25
Other Contagion
668.70
234.79
444.55
505.33
Miss Russell made the following visits to homes in con- nection with infectious and reportable diseases:
Tuberculosis-including contacts
598
Scarlet Fever
30
Whooping Cough
4
Chicken Pox
7
Measles
47
Venereal
3
Para Typhoid
3
Dog Bites
9
During the year Miss Russell made the following hos- pital visits in connection with patients being X-rayed and examined or for treatment or admittance :
32 trips to Middlesex County Sanatorium, Waltham, Mass. 37 trips to North Reading State Sanatorium, North Wilmington, Mass.
1 trip to the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.
1 trip to Peter Bent Brigham, Boston, Mass.
2 trips to Melrose Hospital, Melrose, Mass.
The total receipts of the Health Department for the year 1940 were $651.50, as follows:
Milk and Food Inspector $129.50
Plumbing Permits 338.00
Reimbursement and Licenses 184.00
The Tuberculosis subsidy from the State for 1940 and payable in 1941 amounts to $2060.
During the year 1940 we have had twenty-four hospital- ized cases-fifteen at Middlesex County Sanatorium, four at Melrose Hospital, two at Malden Contagious-two at the Eye and Ear Infirmary-one at Haynes Memorial Hospital.
Respectfully submitted,
WESLEY S. GOODWIN, Chairman ROBERT DUTTON, M. D., Secretary NED C. LOUD
144
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Tuberculosis Dispensary Report
To the Wakefield Board of Health:
Gentlemen :
The annual report of the Tuberculosis Dispensary is herewith respectfully submitted.
The Tuberculosis Dispensary is open the first and third Friday evening in the month from 8 to 9 and the second and fourth Tuesday afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30.
The number of examinations made at the Dispensary have been fewer this year, than any year since the Clinic was started. This is due to the patients being educated to the value of X-rays in the diagnosing and treatment of tuberculosis. Another reason is that the majority of ex-sanatorium patients return regularly to the sanatorium for chest examination and X-ray, and also for treatment when necessary. Fifty-three examinations were made at the Dispensary this year.
The nurse's work, however, has increased. This is due to the amount of follow-up work on contacts and ex- sanatorium patients. The contacts are all visited, and advised to have a chest examination and an X-ray, and the children to have an intradermal test. This entails a great deal of visiting and transporting. The skin test must be read the third day and reported back to the sanatorium where most of the tests are made. The nurse has transported one hundred and two patients to the different hospitals and sanatoriums. A great many of these examinations and X-rays were made at the request of the various doctors, others were just the routine exam- inations of the ex-sanatorium patients.
We have ten patients at the Middlesex County Sana- torium at the present time, one at the Essex Sanatorium. We urge people who have reason to believe they have tuberculosis to avail themselves of the necessary diag- nosis and advice from their physician, so if sanatorium treatment is necessary it can be instigated as soon as possible.
Twelve new cases of tuberculosis have been reported to the Health Department this year and three deaths.
Respectfully submitted, IRA W. RICHARDSON, M. D., Dispensary Physician.
NELLIE B. RUSSELL, R. N. Dispensary Nurse.
145
HEALTH OFFICER
Report of Health Officer
Board of Health:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Agent for the year 1940.
The work of this department continues much the same from year to year. Many complaints are registered with this office some of which are without foundation, but all must be investigated.
Early in the year the Board deemed it advisable to erect a fence along the old railway off Salem Street, to prevent the blowing of loose papers onto adjacent prop- erty. This fence has proven its worth by the improved appearance of the dump, besides eliminating in a great degree a fire hazard which has always existed.
The caretaker, John Joyce, is now on full time basis at the New Salem Street dump. The making of Mr. Joyce a full-time caretaker at New Salem Street left the Green Street dump, so called, uncared for, and in July, George Welford was hired for half time as caretaker of the Green Street dump.
As Agent I respectfully request our townspeople to see that all refuse other than garbage is deposited on one or the other of these dumps, thereby eliminating unsightly conditions in other sections of the town.
Six hundred and eighty complaints have been investi- gated and adjusted.
Respectfully submitted, DAVID MARTIN, Agent.
Report of Milk and Food Inspector
January 15, 1941
To the Wakefield Board of Health:
Gentlemen:
Herewith is submitted the annual report of the In- spector of Milk and Food for the year ending December 31, 1940.
The work of this office during the year just passed has been largely along routine lines, with nothing of an unusual nature to report.
146
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
The milk and food supplies of the Town have had frequent inspections at their source, and in all instances have maintained standards in keeping with state and local law requirements.
Compulsory pasteurization of all milk and cream sold in Wakefield has proven its worth, as no disease of a strictly milk-born nature has come under my observa- tion during the year 1940.
The following details sum up the work performed in field, office and laboratory:
Retail Milk Licenses issued 63
Dealers' Milk Licenses issued 39
Pasteurization Licenses issued 5
Ice Cream Mfgrs. Licenses issued 4
Oleomargarine Permits granted 17
Dairies under direct supervision
24
Dairy Inspections made in Mass.
39
Dairy Inspections made out of state
8
Dairy Permits approvals
24
Food Inspections made 42
Laboratory Examinations made 168
Total cash received from all sources $129.50
I take this opportunity of thanking your Board, as well as your Office Assistants, for the co-operation extended this department during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
LAWRENCE E. DOUCETT,
Inspector of Milk and Food.
Report of Board of Public Welfare
FOR THE YEAR 1940
To the Citizens of Wakefield:
The Board of Public Welfare respectfully submits its Annual Report for the fiscal year 1940.
Public Assistance programs have developed rapidly during the last few years of the present extended depres- sion period.
Public Assistance is based upon need and need is always individual, varying with different persons and changing with the same persons.
This Department administers assistance on a budgetary basis, which takes into consideration the actual needs of
147
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
the individual family in relation to the number of de- pendents in that family. It is the responsibility of the staff to review constantly the family situation and revise the budget in conformity with any change. This leads to the mutual benefit of the relief recipient and the tax payer, whether it means that the budget deficits, and hence the relief allowance, will have to be increased or decreased in the light of the changes.
With the improvement in industrial conditions, as also the Defense Program, our general relief case load was decreased at the end of the year. Meanwhile, case loads in Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children cases were increasing.
Salaries of Board
Appropriation
$500.00
Expended
500.00
Balance
none
GENERAL RELIEF Administration - Salaries
Appropriation
$ 3,379.20
Transferred from Reserve Fund
27.04
Total
$ 3,406.24
Expended
Agent
$ 1,227.44
Clerk
832.00
Accountant
1,346.80
$ 3,406.24
Balance
none
Administration - Other Expenses
Appropriation
$ 1,200.00
Expended
Office Expense
$ 474.64
Motor Expense
550.17
$ 1,024.81
Balance to Revenue
$ 175.19
Dependent Aid Expense
Appropriation
$42,000.00
Refunds
142.10
$42,142.10
148
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Expended
Groceries
$18,496.76
Rents
6,242.83
Board
2,675.35
Cash aid
4,858.88
Fuel
1,819.72
Truck Expense
2.36
Medical Attendance
1,571.71
Hospital care
2,733.71
Burials
500.00
Relief by other towns
1,506.03
Shoes and Clothing
1,294.51
All other
427.52
$42,119.38
Balance to Revenue
$ 22.72
Unpaid bills (est)
$ 8,754.25
Case Load
Persons Unem-
No. of
Repre- ploy- Employ-
Total
Avg. per
Year
Cases
sented
able
ables
Expense
Case
1938
1617
5709
478
1139
$69,028.96
$42.69
1939
1267
4400
536
731
48,062.01
38.00
1940
1220
3892
653
567
42,119.38
34.42
The Department has continued the practice of former years in assigning all able-bodied recipients to work out their orders in the various Town Departments as follows:
Department
Man days
Value
Welfare
426
$ 1,278.00
Infirmary
794
2,382.00
Park and Cemetery
242
726.00
Moth
173
519.00
Commodity-W. P. A.
491
1,473.00
W. P. A.
26
78.00
High School
174
522.00
Board of Health
24
72.00
Total
2,350
$ 7,050.00
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
In Aid to Dependent Children cases, the federal govern- ment has made a grant in each case of 50% of the assistance rendered for each child under sixteen years of age, or eighteen years of age if regularly attending school, with the maximum amount shared in being $18.00 for the first child and $12.00 for each subsequent child under
149
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
sixteen years of age. The State reimburses to the amount of one-third of the expenses. The question of legal settle- ment does not apply in this form of aid.
Case Load
Year
Families
Children
Expenses
Avg. Cost per Case
1938
255
773
$16,239.56
$63.35
1939
295
826
15,704.50
53.24
1940
321
897
16,215.15
50.51
The resources of Aid to Dependent Children have been as follows:
Administration - Salaries Town Funds
Appropriation
$ 350.00
Expended
Agent
$ 121.17
Clerk
92.75
Accountant
136.08
$ 350.00
Balance
none
Administration - Other Expense
Town Funds
Appropriation
$ 200.00
Expended
Office Expense
$ 70.19
Motor Vehicles
55.20
$ 125.39
Balance to Revenue $ 74.61
Administration - U. S. Grants
Jan. 1, 1940-Cash on hand
$ 245.44
Federal Funds received 528.19
$ 773.63
Expended
Agent-Salary $ 161.21
Clerk-Salary 121.92
Accountant-Salary 211.67
Office Expense 41.54
150
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Motor Vehicles
81.03
$ 617.37
Dec. 31, 1940-Cash on hand
$ 156.26
Recipients' Expense
Town Appropriation
$11,000.00
Federal Funds on hand 1/1/40
$ 2,865.78
Federal Funds received 1940
5,452.37
$ 8,318.15
$19,318.15
Expended
Recipients payroll-Town
$ 7,974.50
Recipients payroll-Federal 8,240.65
$16,215.15
Balance Federal Funds available for use 77.50
Balance Town Funds to Revenue
3,025.50
$19,318.15
INFIRMARY
The conduct and cost of the Town Infirmary is one of the incumbent affairs imposed upon the Board of Public Welfare. Here are gathered dependents not otherwise provided for. Of these the last two years the average number have been approximately the same. It is the pur- pose and effort of the Board, and those in charge, to make it as nearly a real home as practical. We do not claim to have an ideal home. However, we do believe it is a good home where the inmates are well and properly cared for at a reasonable cost.
Following the death of Mr. Melvin W. Brown, on February 17, 1940, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah J. Peck were appointed Superintendent and Matron and assumed these positions on May 1, 1940.
During the year 1940 the horses used at the Town Infirmary were loaned to the Board of Public Welfare by the Whiting Milk Company, gratis, other than their keep.
Fresh vegetables were raised at the Infirmary and were used primarily at the Infirmary. The sale of perishable vegetables raised on the Infirmary property resulted in
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
151
$154.60 being turned over to the Town Treasurer. In addi- tion $86.75 worth of perishable vegetables were distributed to general relief recipients.
Administration - Salaries
Appropriation
$ 2,200.00
Expended
Superintendent
$ 718.50
Other Employees
1,221.33
$ 1,939.83
Balance to Revenue
$ 260.17
Other Expenses
Appropriation
$ 6,100.00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
490.00
$ 6,590.00
Expended
Groceries
$ 2,321.96
Shoes and Clothing
442.53
Fuel
681.71
Gas and Light
295.54
Care of Buildings
390.24
Refrig. Unit
359.00
Inmates lockers
66.00
House supplies
329.42
Gasoline
119.91
Truck expense
69.33
Medical attendance
365.62
Tobacco
211.23
Water
221.80
Oil burner service
15.00
Telephone
94.94
Horse hire
155.72
Barbering
73.65
Burials
200.00
Seeds and Fertilizer
80.16
Sundries
172.34
$ 6,585.94
Balance to Revenue
$
4.06
-
152
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Number of Inmates Monthly for 1940
January
20
May 21
September
22
February
23
June 21
October
22
March
22 July
20
November 18
April 24 August 24
December
19
Total inmates for year 256
Average inmates per month 21.33
Average gross cost per inmate per week for 1940 $7.68
Average net cost per inmate per week for 1940 $6.13
Operating Cost for 1940
Superintendent salary
$ 718.50
Other employees salary
1,221.33
Other expenses
6,585.94
Total Expenditures
$ 8,525.77
Less Receipts
Vegetables
$ 43.45
Strawberries
111.15
Junk
11.46
Old rags
4.33
Town of Wilmington
59.15
Board
347.40
Refund-Disc. on Groceries
2.56
$ 599.50
Add-Accounts Receivable
Town of North Reading
$ 68.20
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
458.35
City of Boston
380.25
City of Springfield
241.88
$ 1,148.68
Total Receipts and Accounts Receivable
$ 1,728.18
Net cost to Town
$ 6,797.59
Comparative Operating Cost Since 1935
Gross
Net Expense
No. of Gross cost Net cost Inmates per week per week
1935
$8,512.41
$6,963.11
268
$7.33
$6.00
1936
7,961.16
6,478.22
262
7.01
5.70
1937
8,395.25
6,778.01
249
7.69
6.30
1938
8,818.38
7,369.75
293
6.94
5.80
1939
9,098.86
7,884.24
249
8.99
7.31
1940
8,525.77
6,797.59
256
7.68
6.13
Year
Expense
153
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
IN MEMORIAM Melvin W. Brown 1878 - 1940
On April 1, 1919, Mr. Brown was appointed Superin- tendent at the Town Infirmary. His sudden passing away on February 17, 1940 was a great shock to his many friends. His kind co-operation will be sorely missed among the wide circle of his friends and associates. His fine spirit and genial personality will long remain a refreshing memory. "Brownie" is gone.
WILLARD DONNELL TRUST FUND
The late Willard Donnell established a Trust, the income of which is paid to the Town, to be expended by the Board of Public Welfare for such hospital and medical treatment as they may deem advisable.
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