USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1944 > Part 2
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13,600.00
Hard-Surfacing Streets
3,500.00
3,500.00
Sidewalks
3,000.00
3,000.00
Granolithic Sidewalks and Curbing
1,000.00
1,000.00
Snow and Ice Removal
11,000.00
11,000.00
Street Sprinkling
1,000.00
1,000.00
Street Lighting
18,000.00
18,000.00
Harbor Master
543.40
543.40
Public Welfare Dept.
9,824.88
42,500.00
9,675.00
42,500.00
Aid to Dependent Children
30,000.00
30,000.00
Old Age Assistance
3,130.00
121,000.00
. 2,991.00
120,535.00
Soldiers' Benefits
472.16
9,500.00
472.16
9,500.00
School Dept.
220,800.00
53,300.00
220,800.00
53,300.00
School Dept. Military Retirement Fund
767.22
767.22
⑈
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1
Recommended by Departments Salaries Other Expenses Personal Services
Recommended by Committee Salaries or Personal Services Other Expenses
School Lunch
2,400.00
3,500.00
2,400.00
3,500.00
Park Dept.
5,802.86
6,562.00
5,802.86
6,562.00
Pensions for Town Laborers
1,796.00
1,796.00
Insurance of Town Property
6,093.00
6,093.00
Contributory Retirement System
Pension Fund
21,207.64
21,207.64
Military Retirement Fund
330.40
330.40
Expense Fund
500.00
500.00
Sexton
242.00
242.00
Miscellaneous Account
490.00
3,300.00
490.00
3,300.00
Water Dept. Maintenance
17,000.00
24,690.00
17,000.00
24,690.00
Water Dept. Construction
2,000.00
2,000.00
Town Wharf Maintenance
150.00
150.00
Town Wharf Repairs
450.00
450.00
Town Forest Maintenance
557.00
557.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemetery
2,900.00
10,000.00
2,900.00
10,000.00
Burial Hill Cemetery
2,500.00
2,500.00
Chiltonville, Manomet, Cedarville and South Pond Cemeteries
1,500.00
1,500.00
Town Debt and Interest
30,300.00
30,300.0J
Totals
$421,954.02
$535,337.11
$421,665.14
$534,872.11
Total of Article 6
957,291.13
956,537.25
·
. .
...
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1
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SPECIAL APPROPRIATION ARTICLES
Requested Recommended
7. Public Library
$9,800.00
$9,800.00
8. Loring Library
3,560.00
3,560.00
9. Manomet Library
1,000.00
1,000.00
10. Memorial Day
400.00
400.00
11. July Fourth
100.00
100.00
12. Mosquito Control
500.00
500.00
13. District Nurses
2,500.00
2,500.00
14. County Aid to Agriculture
150.00
150.00
18. Public Safety Committee (Civilian Defense)
500.00
500.00
19. Bucket Loader with Snow Plow
4,500.00
4,500.00
20. Long Pond Road
6,000.00
6,000.00
21. Purchase of Pederzani Property
3,000.00
3,000.00
23. Whiting Timber, Little South Pond
255.39
255.39
24. Armistice Day
300.00
300.00
25. Police Dept. Radio
2,800.00
2,800.00
27. U. S. Bond Investment
40,000.00
40,000.00
28. Reserve Account, from E. and D. Reserve Account, from Overlay
10,000.00
10,000.00
31. Fire Dept. New Car for Chief
900.00
900.00
32. Standish Avenue Playground
2,000.00
2,000.00
33. Swimming Instructors
450.00
450.00
34. Playground Equipment
500.00
35. Park Dept. for Care of Shade Trees
200.00
200.00
37. Garbage Collection in Manomet
6,000.00
6,000.00
38. Highway Maintenance (Chapter 90)
9,000.00
9,000.00
41. Assessors' Plans
2,500.00
2,500.00
43. Purchase of Brewster Shore Land
500.00
Total of Special Articles
$113,915.39
$112,915.39
Less:
From other funds than taxes
65,755.46
65,755.46
Amount of Special Articles from Taxes Add:
48,159.93
47,159.93
Total of Article 6
957,291.13
956,537.25
Total Appropriations from Tax Levy
$1,005,451.06 $1,003,697.18
Less:
Special Reduction, Art 26
40,000.00
40,000.00
$965,451.06
$963,697.18
"From Excess and Deficiency
$53,000.00
From U. S. Bond Interest
1,000.00
From Reserve Overlay
10,000.00
From Dog Tax from County
1,600.07
From Receipts from sale of timber ..
155.39
$65,755.46
1,500.00
1,500.00
42. Plymouth War Price and Rationing Board.
5,000.00
5,000.00
22. Recreation Commission
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Article 7. To take such action as the Town shall see fit in aid of the Plymouth Public Library.
Recommended appropriation of $9,800.00, including the Dog Tax of $1,600.07.
Article 8. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of three thousand five hundred and sixty (3,560) dollars, to be expended by the Plymouth Public Library for the Loring Library.
Recommended appropriation of $3,560.00.
Article 9. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding one thousand (1,000) dollars in aid of the Manomet Public Library.
Recommended appropriation of $1,000.00.
Article 10. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding four hundred (400) dollars for the Observ- ance of Memorial Day, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $400.00.
Article 11. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one hundred (100) dollars for the Observance of July Fourth, said appropriation to be expended under the direc- tion of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $100.00.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for the purpose of maintaining during the ensuing year the mosquito control works constructed in the Town of Plymouth, as estimated and certified to by the State Reclamation Board, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 112, Acts of 1931.
Recommended appropriation of $500.00.
Article 13. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of two thousand five hundred (2,500) dollars for the employ- ment of one or more district nurses, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $2,500.00, to be expended as specified in the article.
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Article 14. To see what amount the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture and to choose a Town Director, as provided in Section 41 and 45, Revised Chapter 128 of the General Laws, and act thereon.
Recommended appropriation of $150.00 and that a Town Director be chosen.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some con- venient and public place in the Town fourteen (14) days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under tax title procedure, provided that the Selectmen or whom- soever they may authorize to hold such public auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.
Recommended that the Town so vote.
Article 16. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to control, regulate or prohibit the taking of eels, and any or all kinds of shellfish and sea worms within the borders of the Town of Plymouth and such other authority as is provided in Section 52 of Chapter 130 of the General Laws, as inserted therein by Chapter 598 of the Acts of 1941, or take any action in relation thereto.
Recommended that the Town vote to so authorize the Board of Selectmen.
Article 17. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to issue licenses for private shellfish grants in accord with the provisions of Section 57 of Chapter 130 of the General Laws, as inserted therein by Chapter 598 of the Acts of 1941, or take any action in relation thereto.
Recommended that the Town so vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen.
Article 18. To see what amount the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the use of the Plymouth Com- mittee on Public Safety, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $500.00. This is the amount of the budget presented to the Advisory and Finance Committee by the Committee on Public Safety.
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Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of forty-five hundred (4,500) dollars, to be used for the purchase of a new Bucket Loader and snow removal attachment for the Highway Department.
Recommended appropriation of $4,500.00.
Note. This recommendation is made on the condition that written guarantee of delivery is secured by the Highway Department. At the time of the Committee's last meeting this had not been received.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of six thousand (6,000) dollars for improvement of two miles of Long Pond Road.
Recommended appropriaion of $6,000.00.
The Committee is convinced of the necessity for this work and is informed that there is hope that Federal reimbursement may be obtained for the whole or some part of the outlay.
Article 21. To see if the Town will authorize the School Committee to acquire by purchase from Mrs. Esta Pederzani the land hereinafter described with the buildings thereon, and make an appropriation therefor, and authorize the School Committee to dispose of said buildings as it may see fit. Said land is bounded and described substantially as follows: Northeasterly by Standish Avenue; southeasterly by other land of the Town; northeasterly again by said land of the Town; southeasterly again by land formerly of Isaac L. Hedge; southwesterly by land formerly of said Hedge; and northwesterly by land of the Plymouth Cordage Company.
Recommended appropriation of $3,000.00.
Article 22. To see if the Town will establish and elect a Recreational Commission to co-ordinate, develop and direct the recreational activities in the Town, and make an appro- priation therefor, for the operation of the recreational pro- gram under the direction of said Commission. (By petition of Burr F. Jones et al)
Recommended that no appropriation be made and no Recreational Commission be elected. That a committee of seven be appointed by the moderator to study the matter, at no expense to the Town, and report at the next town meeting.
Article 23. To see if the Town will pay Adrian P. Whiting and others for the timber which was standing on the lot of land at Little South Pond conveyed by them to the
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Town, and appropriate therefor the sum of two hundred fifty-five and 39/100 (255.39) dollars, and permit the re- moval by them of the timber already cut.
Recommended appropriation of $255.39.
Article 24. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding three hundred (300) dollars for the Observ- ance of Armistice Day, said appropriation to be spent under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
(By petition of Guy R. Cole et al)
Recommended appropriation of $300.00.
Article 25. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twenty-eight hundred (2,800) dollars to be used to pur- chase a complete radio system for the Police Department to replace the present system purchased in 1935.
Recommended appropriation of $2,800.00.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of forty thousand (40,000) dollars to reduce the tax rate of the current year.
Recommended that the Town vote to authorize the Assessors to use this amount to reduce the tax levy of the current year.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of forty thousand (40,000) dollars to be invested in U. S. War Bonds.
Recommended that the Town appropriate from money in the town treasury not otherwise appropriated (from the Excess and Deficiency account) the sum of $40,000.00 to be invested in U. S. War Bonds, under the provisions of Chapter 5 of the Acts of 1943.
Article 28. To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of five thousand (5,000) dollars to the Reserve Account in the hands of the Advisory and Finance Committee and will authorize the transfer of the sum of ten thousand (10,000) dollars from the Reserve from Overlayings of Taxes to the said Reserve Account.
Recommended that the Town appropriate and authorize the transfer of a total of $15,000.00 to the Reserve Account in the hands of the Advisory and Finance Committee, as set forth in Article 28.
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Article 29. To see if the Town will pass a by-law to provide for annual audits of the town's accounts under the supervision of the Director of Accounts of the Department of Corporations and Taxation in accordance with the pro- visions of Section 35, Chapter 44, General Laws, or take any action relative thereto.
Recommended that the Town vote to adopt the following by-law:
"There shall be an annual audit of the town's accounts under the supervision of the Director of Accounts of the Department of Corporations and Taxation in accordance with the provisions of Section 35, Chapter 44, General Laws."
The Town voted, in 1943, authorization to the Selectmen to re- quest such annual audits but it has developed that unless we have a by-law, regularly adopted and filed, there is no assurance that annual audits can be made by the Department, as the auditing force is limited and obliged to work on a schedule.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to accept twenty- three (23) . cemetery perpetual care funds, amounting to four thousand five hundred and twenty-five dollars ($4,525) re- ceived and deposited in the Plymouth Savings Bank in the year 1943, in accordance with the usual votes of the Cemetery Commissioners and Selectmen, and listed as New Funds in the town report.
Recommended that the Town so vote.
Note: An article for this purpose will be inserted in the warrants for succeeding annual town meetings, as our practice for some thirty-five years wherein the funds are received by the Town Treasurer and deposited in the Savings Banks on orders of the Cemetery Commissioners and Board of Selectmen, is ruled to be incomplete as an acceptance by the town, required by the law.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of nine hundred (900) dollars, to be used for the purchase of a new car for the Chief of the Fire Department, to replace machine purchased in the year 1935.
Recommended appropriation of $900.00.
Article 32. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) said money to be expended by the Park Commissioners for further development of the playground now under construction on the land given to the Town on Standish Avenue by the Plymouth Cordage Com- pany.
Recommended appropriation of $2,000.00.
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Article 33. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00) said money to be ex- pended by the Park Commissioners to continue the classes in swimmnig and life saving, which first were put into opera- tion last year.
Recommended appropriation of $450.00
Article 34. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) said money to be expended by the Park Commissioners to purchase playground equip- ment.
Recommended that the Town take no action.
Article 35. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) to be expended by the Park Commissioners for work to be done on shade trees coming under the jurisdiction of the Park Department.
Recommended appropriation of $200 00.
Article 36. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Health to appoint a member of said Board physician to the board, the salary of the appointee to be fixed by the Town at $600 per annum.
Recommended that the Town so authorize the Board of Health, and fix the salary at $600.00 per annum.
Article 37. To see if the Town will approve the collec- tion of garbage in Manomet and make an appropriation therefor.
Recommended that the Town authorize the Board of Health to provide for the collection of garbage in Manomet and appropriate the sum of $6,000.00 for that purpose.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, or take any action relative thereto.
Recommended that the sum of $9,000.00 be appropriated or trans- ferred from available funds (Excess and Deficiency account) to meet the Town's, State's and County's shares of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance; reimbursements from the State and County to be restored upon their receipt to the Excess and Deficiency account.
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Our custom followed for the last two or three years, of appro- priating only for the Town's share of this work, and depending on reimbursements from the State and County to carry on, has re- sulted in showing the appropriation as overdrawn until the final payments are received in January of the following year.
Article 39. To see if the Town will accept section Forty- two A and sections forty-two B to forty-two F, inclusive, of chapter 40 of the General Laws, as amended, which provide that if the rates and water charges due to a town for supply- ing or providing for water or rendering service or furnish- ing materials in connection therewith to or for any real estate at the request of the owner or tenent are not paid within sixty days after their due date as established by local regula- tions or by-laws, such rates and charges, together with in- terest thereon and costs relative thereto, shall be a lien on such real estate in the manner therein provided.
Recommended that the Town take no action under Article 39.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to reserve sur- plus Water Department revenue for the Water Department, determine how any deficit in the Water revenue shall be provided for; or do any other thing in relation thereto.
Recommended that the Town take no action on the subject matter presented in Article 40. That a committee consisting of five or more be appointed by the Moderator to study this question, and all possible contingencies that might arise from such change of policy in handling of Water Department income, and report at the next annual town meetng.
Our Water Department has operated successfully for about ninety years. The present simple method of handling it like any other town department, even though rated as a public service enterprise by the State Division of Accounts, is still in use in other Massachusetts towns larger than Plymouth.
If the profits, over a period of years, have grown so that it appears desirable to collect them into a special reserve, it would seem possible that some class of water users is being overcharged.
From the very brief investigation that we could make in the time since this article appeared in the town warrant, we find that in towns where water revenue is segregated from other funds, the other departments are rated as customers of the Water De- partment and pay from their appropriaitons for water used.
Article 41. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Twenty-five hundred (2,500) dollars for the purpose of carrying along the Assessors' Plans from the southerly end
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of Clifford Road, south along both sides of Warren Ave. Money to be expended under the direction of the Assessors.
Recommended appropriation of $2,500.00.
Article 42. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of fifteen hundred (1,500) dollars for the Plymouth War Price and Rationing Board No. 249, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Recommended appropriation of $1,500.00
Article 43. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to acquire by purchase from Miss Laura Brewster a parcel of shore property, lying easterly of Water Street, opposite Brewster street, for the sum of five hundred (500) dollars.
(By petition of Jules H. Toupin et al)
Recommended that the Town take no action under Article 43.
The property is a portion of the shore easterly of the stone wall. There are other parcels in this same strip of shore and it does not seem to be advisable for the Town to acquire them sep- arately and at different times.
Respectfully submitted, ,
ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
Hugh L. Garrity, Chairman; Harold W Gould, Armelao Maccaferri, George C. Peterson, Lester W. Thurber, Al- fred R. Cross, Robertson C. Damrell, Walder J. Engstrom, Joseph Costa, John Petrell, Jr., Dexter M. Brooks, Ken- dall S. Estes, Louis G. Giovanetti, James C. Goodwin, Ralph C. Weaver.
Attested: Elmer R. Harlow, Secretary.
The members of the Committee take pleasure in thanking Secretary Elmer R. Harlow for his help during the year. He has been capable, faithful and his exceptionally good judg- ment and advice was appreciated. He has the best wishes and confidence of each member.
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CHAPTER 5, ACTS OF 1943
Section 1. During the continuance of the existing state of war between the United States and any foreign country, any city, town or district may appropriate money for the purchase of defense bonds, war bonds or other bonds issued by the federal government, or other bonds which are legal investments for savings banks; provided, that the aggregate amount of such bonds held at any time under authority of this act shall not exceed five per cent of the assessed valuation of real estate and tangible personal property therein in the year nineteen hundred and forty-two. The aggregate amount purchased and invested under authority of this act and all interest earned thereon shall be set up as a separate fund in the custody of the treasurer of such city, town or district, who is hereby auhorized, in case any bond held in the fund matures or is called, to reinvest, with the approval of the mayor, selectmen, prudential committee or commissioners, as the case may be, in other bonds authorized by this act to be purchased. No bonds held under this act may be sold prior to the termination of the existing state of war.
The proceeds from the sale of any such bonds, shall be used only for purposes for which the city, town or district may borrow money for a period of not less than ten years in accordance with sections seven and eight of chapter forty-four of the General Laws; provided, that such proceeds may, in each instance with the approval of the board estab- lished under section one of chapter forty-nine of the acts of nineteen hundred and thirty-three, be appropriated and used in whole or in part for other purposes.
Said board in giving its approval shall give especial consideration to necessities then existing in such city, town or district involving re- habilitation following the war or due to unemployment conditions or
Section 6. Chapter four of the acts of nineteen hundred and forty- two, except sections three and six, is hereby repealed, and bonds pur- chased under section one of said chapter four shall, for the purposes of this act, be deemed to have been purchased hereunder and shall be held subject to the provisions hereof.
Approved February 2, 1943.
otherwise.
*
*
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ANNUAL REPORT of the Board of Selectmen
For the Year Ending December 31, 1944
In making our report, we find it very difficult to con- fine ourselves to matters of the town which come directly under our jurisdiction. This is brought about by a mis- understanding by the public as to just what the duties of the Selectmen are. A great many things have hap- pened in the past year, that if properly reported, would make a very lengthy report. However, we will just touch on them and feel sure that you will all be familiar with what we have in mind.
The hurricane which brought great damage to trees, not only on public property, but also on private, cost the town a great deal of money and left a fire hazard which may cost us considerably more if some precautions are not taken. We have had several talks with other officials and department heads to try and prevent any serious fires occurring as a result of all the fallen timber. The cost was serious and yet we feel, the most serious of all, was the loss of the beautiful shade trees which are im- possible to replace. A concerted effort must be made, however, to plant more to take the place of those lost. While on the subject of the hurricane, we feel that we would be very ungrateful if we did not mention the splendid work done by the Electric Light and Power Companies and the Telephone Company in restoring their services as promptly as was humanly possible with the scarcity of labor and material.
The sewerage system is a very important part of our
4
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town and we must at all times bear in mind that in the near future a large expenditure will have to be made to bring it up to date. A large proportion of this system is very old and a great many of the pipes will soon have to be replaced. There were several instances this year of manholes overflowing. We are recommending that the town appropriate $1,000.00 to go with money we already have to complete that part of the intercepting sewer that was started as a W.P.A. project.
Very little has had to be done in the past year by the Defense Committee, and while a portion of the commit- tee is still in operation, very few of us have been called on to give any of our time other than the Auxiliary Police branch who still hold their organization together and are giving splendid assistance to the regular depar- ment.
We are happy to report that the Honor Roll is com- pleted and fitting ceremonies were conducted at its dedication. A great deal of work was done by the com- mittee in compiling the names and this part of the work must be kept up to date.
The Board has given considerable time and thought to the rehabilitation of our returning soldiers. At the request of the Governor to appoint a committee for this purpose, we deemed it advisable to keep the member- ship small until we knew more about what was expected. Therefore, the members of the Board and its Clerk were made the nucleus of this committee, and while we have talked to several people who, we believe, would make good members and who have expressed a willingness to serve, we do not yet feel that it has been necessary to add them. The Board has delegated one of the members of the committee to attend a school in Boston which is being sponsored by the Federal and State Governments where all the information will be given as to the part they intend to take in this very important matter. This committee knows of no veteran that has not been prop-
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