USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Rockland > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Rockland Massachusetts for the year ending 1959 > Part 14
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235
Town of Rockland
(1) Inspection of the foundation.
(2) Inspection of the framing.
(3) Final inspection upon completion.
Permit fees for additions, remodeling, alterations, one car garages and miscellaneous buildings cost $3.50, for which approximately $3,500 worth of construction can be done.
Out of these fees, I must pay my expenses; such as automobile allowance, clerical, postage, registered mail, and many other incidental expenses. I therefore recom- mend that the building permit fee for a new dwelling be set at $2.00 per thousand of the estimated construction valuation. For additions, alterations, remodeling, garages and the like a minimum fee of $3.00 plus $1.00 for each $1,000.00 and fraction thereof of the cost of construction in excess of $1,000.00. For commercial businesses, and all other such buildings a minimum fee of $20.00 plus $1.00 for each $1,000.00 and fraction thereof, of cost of con- struction in excess of $10,000.00. All such costs for all types of building construction to be estimated by the Building Inspector.
All the buildings have been inspected by the Build- ing Inspector as required by the Town Building Construc- tion Code and the Laws of the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to the Board of Selectmen and to all other officials of the town throughout the year for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
LAWRENCE R. ARENA,
Building Inspector.
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Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Report of the Drainage Committee
To the citizens of the Town of Rockland :
At the Annual Town Meeting held on March 2, 1959, under Article No. 45, it was VOTED: to establish a Committee to be known as the Drainage Committee con- sisting of the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, Highway Surveyor, and the Finance Committee for the purpose of correcting drainage problems in such locations as may be deemed advisable, locations of correc- tive or construction work to be determined by joint con- sultation of the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, Highway Surveyor, and the Finance Committee, each Board to cast one vote in the final deter- mination of work locations including all drainage on road construction, and the Chairman of the Board of Health to serve as Chairman of this Committee, with responsibility of calling meetings as advisable.
Committee Meetings were held monthly in the Con- ference Room of the Town Offices, and attendance at these meetings was excellent. At each meeting, represent- atives of different sections of the Town were present to discuss drainage problems. However, the main objective of the Drainage Committee was the installation of a new storm drain on East Water Street, from Union Square to the Cushing Brook, and there had been appropriated $50,000.00 under Article No. 47, of the Annual Town Meeting referred to above, for this purpose.
Bids were prepared by the Perkins Engineering Associates. Opening of the bids took place on June 9th, 1959 at 8:30 P.M. Twelve bids had been received, and were opened by the Chairman of the Drainage Committee.
The bids were as follows:
1. Tower Heights Realty Inc. $47,497.95
2. Buccella & Son 51,306.10
3. DiMascio Brothers 52,291.75
4. Pipeline Construction Co. 55,062.75
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Town of Rockland
5. Susi & DeSantis
57,075.70
6. Roslindale Contracting Co. 58,557.75
7. C. Russo, Inc. 59,471.00
8. D'Alessandro & Sons
59,577.00
9. C. Jiustino
60,946.50
10. H. DiTullio
63,660.20
11. J. J. Struzziery Co. 64,578.00
12. Ricci & DeSantis Co. 79,995.25
The award was made to the lowest bidder, Tower Heights Realty Incorporated. The work was commenced on August 3, 1959, and was completed on November 24, 1959. 2% of the contract cost is withheld for one year, the period of guarantee, to cover any cost of repairs of said work as the Drainage Committee may deem expe- dient, in accordance with Article XLIII of the contract.
Four other pressing problems were corrected. The estimated cost of each was presented to the Committee, at meetings and on vote of the Drainage Committee the work was delegated to the Highway Surveyor to be accom- plished by using Town Labor. Following is a detailed list of each of these four drainage projects :
1. Green Street Drainage
Estimate of cost given by the
Perkins Engineering Associates $4,300.00
Cost of project, as listed below, work done by Highway Surveyor using Town labor 6,975.25 Payroll :
M. Bowen
$71.75
H. Callahan
7.65
A. DeRochea
105.40
J. Arena
41.80
D. Baker
147.20
R. Borden
97.53
W. Cannaway
170.00
J. Lyons
87.55
H. Inkley
96.05
A. Tedeschi
28.05
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Eighty-sixth Annual Report
W. Ware
20.40
J. Winslow
81.60
F. Cifello
27.20
P. Turner
59.45
D. Gillis
40.80
F. Bryson
61.20
E. Casey
6.88
L. Cull
1.70
F. Green
125.12
R. Keane
115.16
R. Lonergan
75.20
F. Blake
172.20
J. Stracqualursi
206.25
Total Payroll
$1,866.14
Hired Equipment :
Twin Elm Farms $479.50 Loader, etc.
Edmund Carriere 68.00 Back-hoe
Del Prete Const.
1,080.25 Back-hoe, etc.
J. Arena
138.00 Truck
Morehouse
192.00 Truck
J. Smith
120.00 Truck
P. Mahoney
167.50 Truck
A. Casey
135.20 Truck
Total Hired Equipment
$2,380.45
Material :
Del Prete Const. $382.50 Gravel
E. L. LeBaron Fdry. 372.50 Catch Basins, etc.
S. E. Const. Co. 405.11 Blocks Rings, etc.
A. Culver 15.68 Cement
Weymouth Lbr.
3.40 Lumber
Nelson Pre-cast Co.
49.59 Inlets Curbing, etc.
Rockland Coal
2.51 Pipe
Concrete Pipe Co. 715.80 Pipe
Warren Bros. Roads
781.57 Black Top
Total Material $2,728.66
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Town of Rockland
TOTAL .
$6,975.25
$600.00
Liberty Street Drain : Estimated Cost Actual Cost 715.00
Payroll :
A. DeRochea
$14.45
D. Baker
13.60
R. Borden
7.00
J. Lyons
13.60
A. Tedeschi
13.60
J. Arena
20.50
P. Turner
53.81
F. Green
21.00
R. Lonergan
6.80
F. Blake
33.00
Total Payroll $197.36
Hired Equipment :
J. Arena
$27.00 Truck
Twin Elm Farms
42.00 Loader, etc.
E. Carriere
96.00 Back-hoe
Total
$165.00
Material :
Concrete Pipe Corp.
$129.36 Pipe
LeBaron Fdry. Co. 80.56 Catch Basins, etc.
Del Prete Const. 2.50 Gravel
S. E. Const. Co.
83.87 Blocks, etc.
Warren Bros. Roads
56.35 Black Top
Total
$352.64 $715.00
George Street Drain :
Estimated Cost
$200.00
Actual Cost 300.23
Payroll :
F. Green
$ 7.00
F. Blake
26.00
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Eighty-sixth Annual Report
P. Turner
20.50
H. Callahan
24.65
J. Arena
20.95
R. Borden
8.50
Total $107.60
Hired Equipment :
J. Arena
$12.00 Truck
E. Carriere
48.00 Back Hoe
Total
$60.00
Material :
E. L. LeBaron Fdry.
$43.32 Catch Basin
Del Prete Const. 3.00 Gravel
Tri City Concrete
20.25 Concrete
Concrete Pipe Co.
34.50 Pipe
Warren Bros. Roads
31.56 Black Top
Total
$132.63
$300.23
Charles Street Drain :
Estimated Cost $460.00
Actual Cost 443.40
Payroll :
H. Callahan
$ 7.65
J. Arena
24.00
M. Bowen
19.25
D. Baker
75.73
J. Lyons
67.15
F. Green
18.38
F. Blake
28.40
P. Turner
51.25
F. Bryson
27.20
Total
$319.01
Material :
Concrete Pipe Corp. $26.89 Pipe Del Prete Const. 97.50 Gravel
241
Town of Rockland
$124.39
Total
$443.40
One other item was corrected. The retaining wall of a Town Brook on property on Spring Street, was rebuilt, at a cost of $125.00. This work was done by the Del Prete Construction Company.
There are still several serious drainage problems facing the Committee and it is hoped that sufficient money will be appropriated at the next Town Meeting to allow the committee to alleviate at least some of them. There are now no funds in the Drainage Committee Account. A proposed budget has been presented to the Finance Com- mittee with the above problems in mind.
Legal questions concerning drainage problems were referred to the Town Counsel for a ruling and the author- ity and responsibility of this Committee was clarified by the Town Counsel.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the members of the various Boards for their interest and support of this very worthwhile committee. Their interest was evi- denced by almost one hundred percent attendance at meetings.
Respectfully submitted, NORBERT F. LOUGH, M.D.
Chairman of the Drainage Committee
242
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Report of Director of Veterans' Services
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Director of Vet- erans' Services for the year 1959.
With the continued growth of the population of the Town, due mainly to the numerous new housing develop- ments, the veteran population continues to increase pro- portionately. This condition is prevalent in most other towns of comparative size, population and commuter distance from large cities of the Commonwealth. As in the case of other Town Departments, this report is pre- pared while reading of still another proposed large de- velopment of 750 units in the Beech Hill area of Town. It is readily assumed that a large percentage of the new residents in that development will be war veterans. As in the past, this will result in another increase in the service work dealing with the Veterans Administration for vet- erans and their dependents.
A new Veteran's pension program, Public Law 86- 211, was enacted by Congress on August 29, 1959 and will become effective on July 1, 1960. This law does not effect, in any way, any veteran who is receiving service-connect- ed disability compensation. It is a law which makes available, under certain conditions, a pension for a totally disabled veteran or for a widow of a veteran and/or his children. For the first time a widow of a World War II or Korean War veteran will become eligible for pension benefits on an equal basis with the widow of a World War I veteran.
This pension is not automatic, and, in the case of a veteran, it must be proven by medical evidence and exam- ination that he is totally and permanently disabled for purposes of employment and earning a living for himself and his family. The pension is subject to annual income
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Town of Rockland
limitations from other sources and the pension rates are best termed as "modest".
It is expected that the local Veterans' Service Office will receive many inquiries on the new law and requests for assistance in filing the applications for the pension benefits. Numerous documents are necessary with each application to substantiate the claim and it often proves time-consuming to complete and file one such claim. This office plans on holding open meetings in the evening sev- eral times prior to the effective date of the law to explain the entire pension program.
A review of applications for pension and/or com- pensation made to the VA over a period of four years through this office, and the number of awards granted, shows that a total of $60,507.00 is received annually by war veterans or their survivors in Rockland. This figure does not show any awards made prior to 1955, nor does it include any awards made in which the veteran or depend- ent eventually died. This anual income in the form of federal funds substantially reduces the amount of money which the Town would find necessary to expend to those veterans and their dependents in need.
In Veterans Benefits, a total of $18,092.34 was ex- pended during 1959. This figure does not include adminis- trative costs but does include $485.80 appropriated under Article 25 in the 1959 Warrant for unpaid bills of 1958.
The number of cases in receipt of Veterans Benefits changes continuously throughout the year and averages out to a figure between 50 and 60 cases in a year.
The office is open to veterans and their dependents for assistance and advice in dealing with the Veterans Administration and other governmental agencies both federal and state. These other activities include : employ- ment, housing, pension and compensation claims, burial allowances, headstones, burial flags, discharge reviews and corrections, education and on-job training, GI Loans, Medical and dental out-patient treatment, hospitalization,
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Eighty-sixth Annual Report
all phases of GI insurance, state bonus applications, tax abatements, annual income questionaires, military funer- als, awards and decorations, discharge photostating and recording and many other miscellaneous activities.
In this report I would like to remind all World War II veterans that the deadline in filing applications for GI Loans is July 27, 1960. Korean War veterans have until January 31, 1965.
The location of the Board of Health Office in the Veterans Service Office continues to benefit both de- partments resulting in better services to persons having business with one or the other.
I wish to extend my thanks to the Board of Select- men, town officials, veterans organizations and other in- terested citizens who have assisted this office during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, RUSSELL J. LITTLEFIELD
Director of Veterans' Services
Report of Veterans' Burial Agent
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Veterans' Burial Agent for the year 1959.
The deaths of all veterans during the past year were properly recorded together with locations of graves, military service data and all other essential information. A total of fourteen veterans living in Rockland died during
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Town of Rockland
the year and five other veterans, not residents of Rock- land, were interred in Rockland cemeteries.
The Town was saddened by the death of John McQuaide, last surviving veteran of the Spanish War, on May 15, 1959. Mr. McQuaide served as commander of Peter A. Bowler Camp No. 63 USWV from 1951 until his death. During the Spanish War he served as a private with Company M, 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a unit known as "McKinley's Own". He was interred in Holy Family Cemetery and was accorded full military honors by the veteran and patriotic organizations of the Town. In good health, until a year before his death, he was a frequent visitor to the Rockland Veterans' Service Office on behalf of the widows and survivors of other deceased Spanish War veterans. The street flags of the Town were displayed at half mast for three days in respect for this old soldier.
Two other Spanish War veterans, members of the Peter Bowler Camp, survive but reside in other towns.
Veterans graves in all of Rockland's cemeteries were suitably decorated by veteran and patriotic organizations for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
U.S. Government veterans headstones were ordered, delivered, and placed on the unmarked graves of several war veterans.
Recommend an appropriation of $500.00 for the care of veterans graves for the year 1960.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL J. LITTLEFIELD
Veterans Burial Agent
246
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Report of the Zoning Enforcement Officer
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen:
During the year of 1959, I have received and heard 79 requests for the interpretation of the Zoning By-Laws from persons interested in obtaining information on the Zoning By-Laws.
Of this amount, 29 public hearings were held for Zoning variances from the petitioners because they did not come within the requirements of the Zoning By-Laws.
I attended 24 of these Public Hearings, and sent out 73 letters to the various petitioners.
Twenty-nine of the petitioners properties were in- spected and viewed before public hearing. These 29 prop- erties were inspected after the Public Hearings to see if the requirements of the Zoning By-Laws were complied with.
Twelve gravel pits within the town were inspected. There are two legal cases on gravel pits pending trial in Superior Court. The cost of legal fees for the preliminary inspections amounted to $190.00. A cost of $20.00 also occured when my automobile became mired in one of these gravel pits, on an inspection. These expenses were paid from the budget of the Zoning Board of Appeals, from legal fees, as there is no budget set up for the En- forcement of the Zoning By-Laws.
There is much clerical work attached to the enforce- ment of the Zoning By-Law, and incidental expenses, such as postage, registered mail, return receipts, telephone, auto expenses, office supplies and such have been paid by the Zoning Enforcement Officer. I have spent approxi- mately 327 hours on Enforcement of the Zoning By-Law.
247
Town of Rockland
I sincerely hope you will give the Zoning Dept. some consideration, when it comes up for discussion on the floor, at the Town Meeting in March.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to the Board of Selectmen, and all the other town departments for their helpful assistance during the year.
Respectfully submitted, LAWRENCE R. ARENA,
Zoning Enforcement Officer.
Report of Civil Defense
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and
the Residents of the town of Rockland :
Gentlemen :
The following activities have been accomplished dur- ing the year 1959 :
1. A complete study of the Civil Defense Laws estab- lished by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
2. The examination and recording of all equipment and material of a non-expendable nature which has been purchased during the past years by the Town of Rockland, and the location of such equip- ment, and material.
3. A complete study of the Civil Defense administra- tion files of the town.
4. A terrain study of the town and the various de- partments to determine the proper Civil Defense organization necessary to give maximum assis- tance to the residents of Rockland in the event of an emergency.
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Eighty-sixth Annual Report
5. The attendance of Civil Defense personnel to the Radiological School conducted by the Massachu- setts Civil Defense Agency has given Rockland a qualified instructor in the field of fallout and the use of detection instruments.
6. The reviewing of the Survival Plan, which super- cedes all other operations plans and established in compliance with Federal and State Agencies. This plan is required under the Acts of Congress, August 1958, and known as Public Law 85-606, which amends the original Civil Defense Laws.
In spite of the criticism I have received from various quarters, the above activities have been accomplished, but the apparent lack of interest in Civil Defense has caused the organization to remain at a standstill.
The active units that function satisfactorily are the Auxiliary Police, Communications, Radiological fallout, Canteen and First Aid. These units are constantly work- ing to improve their efficiency, to be of service to the general public, should the occasion arise.
Revised Civil Defense Air Raid Instructions
If there is danger of an enemy plane or missile attack and we have enough time to evacuate the town our WARNING SIGNAL will be NINE BLASTS on the fire alarm Repeated Four Times. Factory whistles will also be blown if time permits.
Go Home At Once. Pack blankets, Clothes, Food, First Aid Kit, Water. Shut off all Utilities, and be pre- pared to leave for a Two-Week Period. Make space in your car for neighbors who need transportation.
The Mass. Survival Plan directs that Rockland citi- zens move away from the probable target area by follow- ing Route 123 (Centre Ave.) southwest to Route 18 (Bed- ford St., in Abington) and thence to Bridgewater where lodging is to be provided. One of our Selectmen will evacuate to Bridgewater and act as Rockland's Town Gov't while there.
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Town of Rockland
The Mass. Survival Plan also directs the Rockland Civil Defense Organization to evacuate to Pembroke Cen- ter via Rts. 139-3-14 with a percentage of heavy equip- ment, fire and rescue etc., from where they will attempt salvage and re-organization of Rockland as soon as attack is over. Portable short-wave radio will furnish communi- cations between Bridgewater, Pembroke and Rockland.
If attack is expected at once, our TAKE COVER SIGNAL will be a series of TWO BLASTS on the fire alarm, Repeated Continuously for Three Minutes. Factory whistles will also sound if time permits.
Take cover at once. If at work, go to those areas in your place of employment designated as shelters. At present, Rockland does not have designated public shel- ters, but wherever one may be, take cover in the Most Protected Place Available.
There will be no whistles signals for the "ALL CLEAR". First information will come to the State C. D. Director, who will await reports of radioactive, chemical, or biological contamination, before announcing the safe areas over public news broadcasting media. Tune your A.M. radio to a CONELRAD station (640 or 1240kc) on your dial, for emergency instruction and listen for Civil Defense Public Address System (Loud Speakers) for local conditions. Stay under cover until you are definitely sure that the "ALL CLEAR" signal has been broadcast.
We sincerely hope that we will never have to use this plan.
Respectfully submitted, LAWRENCE R. ARENA,
Civil Defense Director.
250
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
Weights and Measuring Laws have been strictly en- forced throughout the year.
Few people realize what an important part the ac- curacy of weight determinations and measurements play in their daily lives. The average family has a financial stake estimated at one hundred fifty dollars per year in savings by weights and measures enforcement.
The next time you make a purchase at a store look at the scale upon which your parcel is weighed. You will notice a small seal on it, which I placed there. This is your guarantee that you are getting full net weight on everything properly weighed on these scales. It also pro- tects the merchant from giving away the profits of his business by overweight.
Inspections are made of stores frequently for re- weighings.
Gasoline vending pumps, grease meters, oil measur- ing meters are sealed annually. .
Pedlars must have licenses and these are checked by me.
I protect both buyer and seller alike. My job is to see that everybody gets as near as possible what he pays for -
No more - No less
Following is account of the work performed for the year:
Pedlar's Licenses Inspected
.... ............. 20
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Town of Rockland
Weighing and Measuring Devices Sealed 325
Weighing and Measuring Devices Adjusted 25
Weighing and Measuring Devices Condemned 4
Weighing and Measuring Devices Not Sealed 25
Reweighing
Total Tested 280
Total Correct 245
Total Overweight 20
Total Underweight
15
Complaints Received 15
Telephone Calls
30
Scales Found Under Zero After Sealing
25
New Work Performed
25
Sealing Fees Returned to Town Treasurer
$157.60
Inventory Working Equipment
6 Testing Cans
10 Fifty Pound Weights
Weights 1/16th of an ounce to ten pounds 1 Each Apothecary Weights Two Sets
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD J. INKLEY
Sealer of Weights and Measures
252
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Report of the Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent
Honorable Board of Selectmen and
Citizens of the Town of Rockland :
Again it is my privilege to submit my report to you for the year of 1959.
As Tree Warden, I am happy to report that eighty (80) trees have been planted by the town. I have super- vised the planting of 162 trees by Oman Realty Company and 54 trees by Ward and Johnson Contractors.
I have planted four (4) types of Maples, they being ; Norway, Sugar, Schinedler and the new Crimson King Maple, a patented tree. The Moraine Locust and the Plane Tree are very satisfactory shade trees and are being used more and more.
It is very gratifying to see the trees grow and grace our streets and highways.
As your Tree Warden, I have had to remove approxi- mately 182 trees mostly of the Dutch Elm Disease.
I have trimmed and checked over 120 Hardwood Trees of various species for cavities and bacteria.
I have attended monthly meetings of the Tree War- dens Associations and several tree conferences held at Massachusetts State College and Waltham Field Stations.
Now I may submit my report of the Gypsy Moth Trapping program. Those unfamiliar with the trapping program may be interested to know that we put out forty (40) traps, (can type traps) each are spaced about 1/2 mile apart. These traps are lined with tanglefoot attractant containing the organ of 15 female moths. Once the moth is entangled, I remove it and send it into Amherst for a report.
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Town of Rockland
I have received 824 calls during the current season, either complaints or otherwise.
I have sprayed all the trees three (3) times, under the guidance of Mr. Charles Parkhurst, Local District Superintendent. I have reported to him personally which is mandatory for the Moth and Dutch Elm Accounts.
I have dusted the swamps with D.D.T., as has been required by the State Department.
To close my report I will say that all town officials have been very kind during my season. I am dealing with nature, I can't tell what the next day might bring, but as your Tree Warden, I will give you the best that my educa- tion and knowledge will allow.
Respectfully submitted, FREDERICK W. HUSSEY
Tree Warden Moth Superintendent
254
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Report of Highway Surveyor
To the Citizens of the Town of Rockland :
The annual report for the year 1959 is herewith sub- mitted.
All of the projects unfinished during the year of 1958 have been satisfactorily completed during the year of 1959.
The following streets in whole or part were resur- faced and necessary drainage was installed: - Warren Ave., Norman St., Pine Haven Circle, Plain St., Salem St., and Durbeck Rd.
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