USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1951 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
A record of reference questions since July shows over 2000 questions have been answered, about half of which required detailed research. It is interesting to note that although a great deal of this is due to student assignments there were many other inquiries from housewives, collectors, gardeners, historians, householders, and church workers. To assist in this active field of service many new and up-to-date reference books have been purchased. The very large picture collection of 24,391 mounted pic- tures shows an increased use with 16,622 pictures loaned.
Service at the branches continues along the same tempo. Increased housing in Montrose has meant an increase in borrowers, now totaling 469. Due to the enlarging book collection at this branch it was necessary to purchase a new and more permanent card catalogue. The Montrose librar- ian has worked with the school pupils in this district by giving them in- struction and introduction to the Library methods.
The Greenwood Branch has developed its work with the school chil- dren as 46 classes have visited the Library for instruction, book talks, or recordings. This branch has been open 151 days during the year with an average daily circulation of about 300, and with 172 new borrowers reg- istered.
The Children's Department of the Library has been the scene of much activity during the year. An outstanding Summer reading program was built around an Indian theme. Four hundred and ninety-one children participated in this program which has brought favorable comment from parents and teachers. Thirty-one pre-school age story hours have been held with an average attendance of forty children. Twenty-eight story hours have been held for school children with an average attendance of forty-one. Thirty mothers attended a movie on child psychology. Three Brownie troops as well as many classes have attended the Library for instruction and stories. Closer relationships and work have been developed
134
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
by the Children's Librarian's continued visits to the schools. Book de- posits in the school rooms were changed three times this year which has meant a greatly increased circulation of 5,060 books.
The catalogue department has prepared 2,965 new books this year, making the total number of volumes in the Library 82,045. This continued steady increase in volumes has developed an over-crowded condition in the Library. It is the hope of the Trustees to be able to partially relieve this situation by the microfilming of magazines and newspapers which consume considerable space but which are necessary to preserve for records and reference.
While there have been some changes in the personnel this past year, it has been possible to maintain an adequate staff of workers. This situa- tion was facilitated by the fact that the Trustees were able to adjust sal- aries and initiate a long-desired minimum-maximum wage scale. Al- though recommended standards have not yet been attained, the Trustees feel a step has been taken in the right direction.
The whole-hearted co-operation of the Library Staff has enabled the Trustees to provide for the people of Wakefield efficient library service to meet the needs of the community.
Respectfully submitted, HERVEY J. SKINNER, Chairman MIRIAM G. NEEDHAM, Secretary PHILLIPS C. DAVIS
WALTER C. HICKEY
WILLIAM J. LEE EDWARD E. LYNCH
ALBERT W. ROCKWOOD
JOHN J. ROUND, JR. GLADYS WATKINS
DONORS
Lucius M. Beebe
Harold A. Bierck, Jr. Mrs. Alice C. Braxton Lawrence J. Clarke Mrs. Mabel E. Coleman Nellie Edith Cunningham Miss Geneva A. Daland Mrs. Richard Dutton
Senator George J. Evans
Faneuil Hall Chapter, D. A. R.
First Church of Christ Scientist, Reading
Franklin Parent-Teacher Association
Mrs. Frances W. Gauss
Hon. Angier L. Goodwin Mrs. Ferdinand Gianfranchi
Arthur T. Gregorian
Mrs. Paul K. Guillow Mrs. H. A. Haskell David Hodgdon Mrs. D. A. Houghton Channing Howard Miss Ethel Jackson J. Elmer Johnson Robert Keohan Miss Susanne Knight Vincent Lecuna Miss Roberta G. Little
Mrs. Maria E. Lopez George H. Mohla Mrs. Hubbard B. Mansfield
Mrs. Michael M. Manzella Mrs. Herbert T. Mitchell
135
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Middlesex East Medical Auxiliary Murray Printing Company
Mrs. Elizabeth G. Stern
Mrs. Sigmund J. Szydlowski John Vandenberg
Peter Nash
Bryant Noble
Wakefield Catholic Club
John O'Brien
Wakefield Daily Item
Mrs. Hilda Oster
Wakefield Garden Club
George T. Pederson
Wakefield Rotary Club
William E. Reineck
Mrs. Bartlett Walton
Mrs. Albert W. Rockwood
Frederick C. Warner
Miss Antoinette Scudder
Frank T. Woodbury Family
Mrs. Orville W. Smith
Edwin O. Wyatt
FINANCIAL STATISTICS - 1951 INCOME
Library Funds held by Wakefield Trust Company:
Original Fund
Book Value
Income
Junius Beebe Trust Fund
$ 23,030.00
: 29,893.42
$ 1,406.36
Decius Beebe Trust Fund
14,000.00
15,003.80
894.36
Marcus Beebe Trust Fund
15,000.00
18,398.80
862.82
Frederic Beebe Trust Fund
5,000.00
6,084.02
237.77
Eleanor H. Beebe Trust Fund
5,000.00
5,605.68
170.00
Katherine E. Beebe Trust Fund
5,000.00
5,452.95
114.37
Charles S. Beebe Trust Fund
1,000.00
1,155.35
24.02
John H. Beebe Trust Fund
2,500.00
2,740.83
56.19
J. Oliver Beebe Trust Fund
5,000.00
5,385.29
121.17
Alice Beebe Carpenter Trust Fund
5,000.00
5,477.82
114.43
George O. Carpenter Trust Fund
1,000.00
1,104.25
23.04
Sylenda B. Stearns Trust Fund
2,000.00
2,168.69
47.21
$ 83,530.00
$ 98,470.90 $ 4,071.74
Note: 25% of the net income of the Junius Beebe Fund and 10% of the other funds listed above are added to the principal each year.
Library Funds held by Trustees:
Harris Mason Dolbeare Memorial Fund
$ 1,121.06
Edwin McDuffie Fund
1,000.00
James H. Keough Fund
2,631.82
Wakefield Savings Bank, Income Account
121.08
Mrs. Carl J. Stephan
136
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Library Funds held by Town Treasurer:
Principal
Income
John Gould Aborn Fund
$ 1,689.00
$ 42.49
Cyrus G. Beebe Fund
2,000.00
47.78
Frederic Beebe Fund
1,000.00
25.15
Annie L. Cox Fund
2,000.00
50.31
Robert Parker Dolbeare Fund
500.00
12.58
Willard Donnell Fund
500.00
12.58
Hiram Eaton Library Fund
1,000.00
25.15
Milledge Elliott Fund
1,000.00
25.15
Rev. Thomas A. Emerson Fund
500.00
11.94
Flint Memorial Fund
1,000.00
25.15
Merrill W. Gove Fund
500.00
11.94
Melvin J. Hill Fund
500.00
12.58
Francis P. Hurd Fund
2,500.00
59.73
Franklin Poole Fund
500.00
12.58
Mary H. Pratt Fund
200.00
5.03
Ashton H. Thayer Fund
500.00
12.58
Cyrus Wakefield Fund
500.00
12.58
$ 16,389.00
$ 405.30
SUMMARY
Town Appropriation, 1951
$ 40,993.00
Dog Tax, for 1951
1,822.61
Income from Trust Funds, for 1951
4,477.04
$ 47,292.65
EXPENDITURES, 1951
Books
$ 5,620.52
Periodicals and Binding
1,784.01
Salaries, Library Service
25,943.81
Heat, light, telephone
2,496.61
Printing and supplies, maintenance
6,411.99
Salaries, Janitor service and pension
3,905.07
Miscellaneous
391.43
Special appropriation
500.00
$ 47,053.44
Unexpended Balance
239.21
$ 47,292.65
Money returned to Town, 1951: Fines, payments for lost books, etc. Massachusetts Refund :
$ 1,262.13
New England Telephone and Telegraph 11.96
CLASSIFIED TABLE OF CIRCULATION IN 1951
Main Library
Adult
Juvenile
Greenwood Branch Adult Juvenile
Montrose Branch
Adult
Juvenile
Schools Camps Stations
General Works
103
51
11
25
1
4
Philosophy
932
3
159
2
25
Religion
836
202
101
104
8
11
28
Social Sciences
1,789
1,921
282
804
88
182
310
Language
209
54
7
27
2
34
Science
904
1,306
244
711
26
140
291
Useful Arts
3,776
1,255
764
574
150
139
325
Fine Arts
3,738
839
688
528
150
76
151
Literature
3,393
480
886
559
142
61
107
History
2,205
609
361
438
60
75
127
Travel
2,389
1,065
674
584
97
108
310
Biography
2,878
1,201
924
1,172
154
248
402
Current Periodicals
5,517
1,107
1,988
996
1,428
507
Pamphlets
438
38
318
46
Fiction
37,235
12,183
15,801
8,716
3,175
1,813
6,949
37
62
Practise Readers
11,776
6,051
2,056
7,711
Totals
66.342
34,090
23,208
21,291
5,550
5,422
16,745
37
62
Books Borrowed, 172,747
Records Borrowed 221 Total loans for the year, 1951: 189,590 Registered borrowers: 9,594
Pictures Borrowed, 16,622
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
137
138
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
LIBRARY RESOURCES
Volumes belonging to the library, January 1, 1951
80,283
Volumes purchased
2,819
Bound volumes of magazines
39
Gifts
134
Volumes added
2,992
Volumes withdrawn, 1951
1,227
Volumes belonging to library, December 31, 1951
82,045
Magazines currently received at library, 1951
268
Unmounted pictures belonging to library, December 31, 1951
*65,201
Mounted pictures 24,391
Pamphlets belonging to library, December 31, 1951 *3,908
*Approximate number
139
REPORT OF VETERANS' BENEFITS AND SERVICES
Report to Town of Wakefield Veterans' Benefits and Services
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Veterans' Benefits and Services Department submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1951. Mr. John J. Findlay, Agent for 26 years, retired on April 30, 1951 and Mr. Richard J. McGrail was appointed on May 1, 1951.
Under Chapter 115, General Laws, the town is reimbursed one-half of all money spent, provided that proper authorization as to settlement, dependency and need is shown. Therefor, although $34,519.53 was expend- ed, the Town of Wakefield was reimbursed in the amount of $15,637.05 from the State and $4,058.63 was returned from unexpended appropriation and return of checks. Through careful investigation and periodical check-ups, all cases submitted for authorization have been considered applicable for reimbursement by the State.
Appropriation
Expenditures 34,519.05
3,269.55 789.08
Checks Returned
4,058.63
Number of Recipients Aided
Cash
63 Cases
Medical
46 Cases
Fuel
28 Cases
Veterans aided on pensions, hospitalization, outpatient dental and
outpatient medical:
51 Cases
Burial Benefits
4 Cases
Headstone and Markers
6 Cases
Gold Star Pin Applications
4 cases
Applications for Service-connected pensions
13 Cases
Applications for Non-service connected pensions
21 Cases
Respectfully submitted,
R. J. McGRAIL,
Veterans' Agent
Unexpended Appropriation
Recipients and Expenses
37,000.00
140
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Town Planning Board
To the Citizens of Wakefield:
The Town Planning Board submits this report of some of its activities for the year ending December 31, 1951.
The Board held regular monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of cach month except during the months of July, August and September. In addition, three special meetings were held to deal with matters which had to be considered prior to the next monthly meeting.
A public hearing was held March 16th on four different articles in the warrant for the 1951 annual town meeting pertaining to proposed amend- ments to the zoning or building by-laws. The Board submitted a written report on each article to the town meeting. In each case the recommen- dation of the Board was adopted.
A revision of the zoning by-laws was begun during the year for the purpose of bringing them up to date. The last revision was in 1941. This revision, when completed, will be printed in booklet form when funds for printing are made available.
In January and February the Board conferred with Mr. Peter B. Nash of the Department of City Planning at Harvard University who was mak- ing a survey of the town of Wakefield. Mr. Nash made many valuable suggestions and donated to the Board a number of survey maps of the town prepared by him.
Members of town committees and various citizens conferred with the Board from time to time on matters within the jurisdiction of the Board.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR E. HARDING, Chairman KENNETH W. THOMSON, Secretary EDWARD M. BRIDGE ARTHUR L. GARDNER RUTH A. WOODBURY
141
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
Report of the Municipal Light Board
January 2, 1952
To the Citizens of the Town of Wakefield:
We submit for your consideration the fifty-eighth annual report of the Municipal Light Board for the year ending December 31, 1951.
The net profit of the Department was $33,652.14 as compared to $60,606.20 in 1950. The sales of gas increased - 9.6% and electricity - 10.2%.
The balance in the Operating Fund was $22,617.77 as compared to $50,146.27 in 1950.
The sum of $25,000.00 was paid to the Town to be used in computing the tax rate for 1951. The total amount paid to the Town is $525,611.80.
Our survey of the Substation indicates that it will be necessary to spend in excess of $250,000.00 within the next few years. It was for this reason that we recommended that the Operating balance of the Depart- ment should be tranferred to our Construction Fund for the next few years, so as to enable the Department to finance the necessary improvements.
The Manager's report, including financial statements of the year are included in this report.
Respectfully submitted, MARCUS BEEBE, 2nd, Chairman JAMES B. WISWALL, Secretary AUBREY T. QUINLAN
To the Board of Light Commisisoners :
Gentlemen :
The following condensed Profit and Loss Statement shows the finan- cial operations of the Department for the year ending December 31, 1951 and the changes from the previous year:
Sales of Gas and Electricity
$726,621.11
Increase
$ 71,594.58
Cost of Gas and Electricity
407,416.64 Increase
49,883.00
Gross Revenue
319,204.47
Increase
21,711.58
Operating Expenses
286,611.20
Increase
48,717.88
Operating Revenue
32,593.27
Decrease
27,006.30
Other Revenues
3,166.07
Increase
174.63
Gross Income
35,759.34
Decrease
26,831.67
Other Expense
2,107.20
Increase
122.39
Net Income
33,652.14
Decrease
26,954.06
Paid to Town in lieu of Taxes
25,000.00
Decrease
10,000.00
$ 8,652.14
Decrease $ 16,954.06
Net
142
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
During the year the Electric Department installed 34,815 feet of primary wire 32,811 feet of secondary wire 195 new services 68 poles
and the Gas Department -
1,426 feet of gas mains 2,724 feet of service pipe 57 new services
The construction of the new building on North Avenue was completed in the late Spring of 1951 and has been in full use by both the Gas and Electric Departments. The new building was open to public inspection on Saturday, December 22, 1951.
At the end of the year there were 4,709 gas meters and 6,468 electric meters in use, which is a decrease of 38 gas meters and an increase of 169 electric meters.
We expect that natural gas will be available early in April. The pre- conversion work will be done late in January. At this time the contractor who was engaged for conversion will have approximately 700 men in Wake- field to perform the work necessary to prepare gas appliances for natural gas.
In April the conversion men will again be here to make the actual change-over to natural gas and will again check and adjust all appliances. The contractor has had a great deal of experience throughout the country and we expect the work to proceed with a minimum of trouble and incon- venience.
We completed installation of 13 new Mercury lights, with new stand- ards, in Wakefield Suare. The lights are of modern design, calculated to distribute the light over the entire street more effectively than was pos- sible with the old type lights.
Our electric peak load increased to 5358 kilowatts. This is a little more than 6% increase over last year and makes a total of 67% increase since 1945.
A survey of our substation has shown that it is essential to add new cuipment to take care of our increased electric load. The transformers and unit that were installed in 1948 are carrying 4 circuits very efficiently. There are 7 additional circuits out of the substation. The 3 transformers and all of the equipment in the old station are more than 25 years old.
It has become overloaded to the extent that it should be replaced. In addition, Edison has told us that it will be necessary in the next few years to install another Edison high tension line underground, and the expense of this line from Stoneham to our substation will have to be paid by this Department.
On March 1, 1951, the Department suffered the loss, by death, of its Manager, James M. Whitehead.
Mr. Whitehead was with the Department for 24 years. He was office inanager from 1927 to 1942 and succeeded Major Samuel H. Brooks as
JAMES M. WHITEHEAD Office Manager, 1927-1942 Manager, 1942-1951
MAJ. SAMUEL H. BROOKS Light Com., 1920-1922 Manager, 1922-1942
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
1.43
Manager on January 20, 1942. The Department will feel the loss keenly, as Mr. Whitehead was a conscientious and dependable worker of unusual good business judgment and fairness.
In the evening on March 1, 1951, Major Samuel H. Brooks also passed away.
Major Brooks was elected to the Municipal Light Board on March 1, 1920 and served the Town as a Light Commissioner until May 10, 1922. He became Manager of the Municipal Light Department on June 9, 1922 and held this post until his retirement on January 20, 1942.
Financial statements follow:
MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT BALANCE SHEET as of December 31, 1951 ASSETS
PLANT INVESTMENTS
Gas Department (Schedule A)
$374,676.30
Electric Department (Schedule B)
481,311.88
General Equipment (Schedule C)
32,665.72
Office Building
16,948.32
Total
$ 905,602.22
CURRENT ASSETS
Operation Fund
$ 22,617.77
Depreciation Fund
39,872.68
Office Fund
100.00
Change Fund
300.00
Special Deposits
43,875.02
Accounts Receivable
55,816.98
Materials and Supplies
45,917.12
Total
$
208,499.57
GAS CONVERSION
$
50,356.50
Prepaid Insurances
$ 834.65
Deferred Charges
274.63
Total
$ 1,109.28
Total Assets
$ 1,165,567.57
LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Consumers' Deposits
Interest on Consumers' Deposits
$ 43,875.02 1,702.86
Total
$ 45,577.88
144
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
APPROPRIATED SURPLUS Loans Repayment Appropriation for Construction Repayment
$473,300.00
51,632.86
Total Surplus (Schedule D)
$ 524,932.86 595,056.83
Total Liabilities and Capital
$ 1,165,567.57
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSE Year Ending, December 31, 1951 GAS DEPARTMENT
INCOME FROM THE SALE OF GAS
Residence
$179,619.06
Commercial
29,096.99
Prepay
1,081.74
Municipal
1,319.93
Minimum
207.64
Total
$211,325.36
DEDUCT - OPERATING EXPENSES
Gas Purchased
$110,954.79
Distribution
45,537.62
Commercial
9,257.76
New Business
235.93
General
12,107.38
Depreciation
18,752.82
Total
$196,846.30
OPERATING INCOME
$ 14,479.06
ADD - OTHER INCOME
Jobbing
$ 67.62
Interest on Bank Balances
262.50
Income from Rents
630.00
Total
$ 960.12
GROSS INCOME
$ 15,439.18
DEDUCT -OTHER EXPENSES
Interest on Consumers' Deposits
$ 479.83
Bad Debts
64.41
Total
$ 544.24
NET INCOME TO SURPLUS (Schedule D)
$ 14,894.94
145
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
INCOME FROM SALE OF ELECTRICITY
Residence
$274,255.83
Commercial
107,081.12
Power
89,229.31
Municipal Lighting
4,877.52
Municipal Power
12,640.16
Street Lighting
27,000.00
Minimum Bills
211.81
Total
$515,295.75
DEDUCT - OPERATING EXPENSES
Electricity Purchased
$296,461.85
Distribution
84,562.78
Utilization
11,166.54
Commercial
21,898.92
New Business
671.25
General
26,226.37
Depreciation
56,193.83
Total
$497,181.54
OPERATING INCOME
$ 18,114.21
ADD - OTHER INCOME
Jobbing
$ 123.45
Interest on Bank Balances
612.50
Income from Rents
1,470.00
Total
$ 2,205.95
GROSS INCOME
$ 20,320.16
DEDUCT - OTHER EXPENSES
Interest on Consumers' Deposits
$ 1,119.61
Bad Debts
443.35
Total
$ 1,562.96
Net Income To Surplus (Schedule D)
$ 18,757.20
PLANT INVESTMENT GAS DEPARTMENT - SCHEDULE A
Land Structures Boiler Plant
$ 6,604.47
76,818.60 1,636.11
146
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Miscellaneous Power Plant Equipment
877.75
Street Mains
194,587.11
Services
51,494.03
Consumers' Meters
31,796.69
Consumers' Meter Installations
10,861.54
Total
$374,676.30
ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT - SCHEDULE B
Land
$ 6,021.82
Structures
86,914.26
Substation Equipment
89,422.81
Poles, Fixtures, and Overhead Conductors
106,708.98
Underground Conduits
30,952.83
Underground Conductors
66,661.75
Consumers' Meters
21,915.42
Consumers' Meter Installations
2,858.91
Line Transformers
44,753.70
Transformer Installations
7,753.45
Street Lighting Equipment
17,347.95
Total
$481,311.88
GENERAL EQUIPMENT - SCHEDULE C
Office Equipment
$ 2,789.83
Store Equipment
3,889.72
Transportation Equipment
9,902.13
Laboratory Equipment
897.88
Miscellaneous Equipment
15,186.16
Total
$ 32,665.72
SURPLUS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1951 SCHEDULE D
Balance, January 1st
$603,692.06
Profit from Electric Operations
18,757.20
Profit from Gas Operations
14,894.94
Total
$637,344.20
DEBITS
Paid to Town
$ 25,000.00
Property Abandoned
17,287.37
Total
$ 42,287.37
Surplus, December 31, 1951
$595,056.83
147
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
COST OF GAS
Total Cost at Plant
$110,954.79
Cost per M. C. F.
$ .848
Average Cost delivered per M. C. F ..
$ 1.566
$ 1.687
Average Selling price per M. C. F. Total Gas Purchased Cu. Ft. Total Gas Sold Cu. Ft.
130,833,600
125,245,900
COST OF ELECTRICITY
Total Cost at Switchboard
$296,461.85
Cost per K. W. Hr.
$ .01548
Average Cost Delivered per K. W. Hr.
$ .02813
Average Selling Price per K. W. Hr.
$ .02924
Total Electricity Purchased K. W. Hr.
19,151,166
Total Electricity Sold K. W. Hr.
17,617,458
Respectfully submitted, MICHAEL F. COLLINS, Manager
RECEIVED LUCIUS DGIRE A MARROMIAL LIBRARY NYÅRELD, MASSACHUSETTS
148
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Board of Public Welfare
February 1, 1952
To the Citizens of the Town of Wakefield:
The Board of Public Welfare submits its annual report for the fiscal year of 1951.
Relief is administered by Massachusetts Welfare Boards in four cate- gories - Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, Disability As- sistance, and General Relief. The three first named are participated in financially by the federal government, the state, and the town of legal settlement. A legal settlement is a statutory right acquired by a person by reason of which financial responsibility is placed upon a city or town to relieve that person when in distress and in need of relief. General Relief is paid by the town of city settlement, or by the state, if no settlement exists. Thus while Wakefield spent $402,965.90 in 1951 on all four cate- gories, and also for maintenance of the Town Home, and administration, $289,217.52 will be returned from all sources, leaving a net cost to Wake- field of $113,748.38, or 28.2%. In 1951 Wakefield spent approximately $3,635,889.82 for all town departments and the net welfare cost of $113,748.38 is 3.1% of total town expenses.
The 1951 Legislature established a new category of public assistance entitled, "Assistance to Persons who are Disabled." This law was enacted on October 30, 1951, and became effective November 1, 1951. Basically the new category provides for assistance to needy persons, eighteen years of age, or over, who are permanently and totally disabled, or who are medi- cally unemployable. The Federal government and the State jointly will bear 75% of the cost and the town of residence will assume the remaining cost of 25%. As the program is new, it is too early to predict its full de- velopment, but it is safe to record that there will be some reduction in the cost of General Relief.
It is of great interest to note that during the year 1950 and 1951, a total of 38 states, Massachusetts being one of these states, have adopted legislation known as the "Uniform Enforcement of Support Act" which provides for reciprocity in the enforcement of support orders issued against persons who have deserted their families and gone to another state. This should result in a tightening of controls in Aid to Dependent Children cases and help reduce costs in this program.
The 1951 Legislature passed a bill further liberalizing the Old Age Assistance program, providing for increased minimum payments, and fur- ther exempting children from support. This, together with a cost of living increase, granted in November 1951, will add at a minimum, $22,000.00 to $25,000.00 increased costs, or, about five dollars a case per month. There is one factor which may result in a lowering of the number of cases aided this year, and that is the new property law, passed by Legislation in 1951, and effective January 1, 1952. Any person in receipt of Old Age Assistance,
149
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
after the above date, will have a lien placed on their property. When that person dies, the town can recover all of the money given for aid down to a figure of $1500.00, which is left for final burial expenses, or estate of the deceased. At this time of writing, it is not possible to predict exactly how far reaching the effect will be. It has been shown in other states which have a similar lien law, that there are many less applications for Old Age Assistance from persons who own property, and we, therefore, look for some persons in Wakefield to request their cases be closed. It is significant to note, from a stand-point of national thinking on assistance problems, that 11 states, during the year 1951, either for the first time, or by way of an amendment to existing laws, legislated in the field of liens and recov- eries.
The Town Home, under the direction of Mrs. Lena Peck, as Matron, and assisted by Mrs. Anna Miezwa, as cook, has operated very successfully, and we are entirely satisfied with their services. We wish to express our appreciation to the many merchants who have contributed various food stuffs, which has, in no small way, helped to reduce costs. The results from the Town Home garden were not so good this year due to the varied and inclement weather.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.