USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1920 > Part 3
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During the past year, the Selectmen were practically forced by the increased traffic on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, to put traffic officers on many of the streets in order to avoid accidents as much as possible. This has proved a success and has been appreciated by many of our citizens as well as those from out of town, although it has cost the town somewhat more money than was anticipate."
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but it is fair to presume that as the town grows and traffic increases it will be necessary to have these officers every sum- mer at certain cross streets in the town as well as in the out- skirts.
There are many financial problems coming up in this pres- ent Town Meeting and we earnestly ask the support of the citizens of the town in these matters. There are many streets and sidewalks that should receive some attention' and with the increased growth at the north end and the many houses that have been built there by the Fairhaven Mills Corpora- tion, we find it necessary to build a new school house at the north end, which in all probability will be built on North street. This is quite a problem although we have got to meet it. We are asking for an appropriation of Eighty-five Thousand Dollars ($85,000.00) for the building and Two Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($2,700.00) for the land.
We sincerely hope that the citizens vill vote unanimously for articles 16, 17 and 18, for the reason that it is needed and that we should take care of the school children as fast as they are large enough to attend school. According to the report of the School Committee this building should be fin- ished early in the fall of the present year so that the seven or eight rooms may be available at that time.
There are many other financial problems which you will find in the annual warrant, all of which is most respectfully submitted.
JOHN I. BRYANT, THOMAS W. WHITFIELD, ISAAC N. BABBITT.
Selectmen.
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As part of the requirements of the Town for the coming year we report the following for debt and interest:
Howland Road Sewer,
$ 500.00
Motor Chemical Wagon,
560.00
N. B. and F. Bridge Maintenance Notes,
1,100.00
Refunding Loan Note,
400.00
Oxford School House Note,
1,400.00
Refunding Loan Note,
650.00
Fort Street Extension,
300.00
Green and Watson Street Sewer Note,
500.00
Refunding Loan Note,
400.00
Refunding Loan Note,
450.00
Adams Street Construction & Awards Note,
500.00
Bridge Schoolhouse Note,
1,900.00
Farmfield Street Construction & Awards Note,
500.00
Garrison Street Sewer Note,
310.00
Refunding Loan Note,
500.00
Sycamore Street Sewer Note,
2,000.00
Bristol County T. B. Hospital,
1,821.59
Job C. Tripp School Note,
1,500.00
New Construction Note,
2,000.00
Street Truck Note,
1,000.00
Town Farm Barn Note,
500.00
Alpine Avenue Sewer Note,
500.00
Hook and Ladder Note,
350.00
Sconticut Neck Road,
1,000.00
$20,641.59
New Bedford and Fairhaven Bridge Bond,
1,000.00
$21,641.59
Interest on Bridge Bonds, $ 1,120.00
Interest on Notes, 9,344.26
Interest on Temporary Loans, 1,400.00
$11,864 26
$33,505.85
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The Board most respectfully submits the following esti- mates for appropriations as asked for to maintain the various departments for the ensuing year :
Debt and interest,
$31,396.26
Sewer department,
13,850.00
Poor department,
.10,000.00
Fire department,
8,000.00
Fire alarm,
200.00
Highway department,
18,000.00
Hydrants,
5,500.00
Police department,
3,000.00
Town Hall,
4,500.00
Salaries,
6,000.00
Street lights,
4,000.00
Park department,
3,300.00
Incidental account,
Tree department,
2,500.00
Board of Health,
1,000.00
Shellfish Commission,
500.00
Mothers' Aid,
1,000.00
Vocational School,
1,500.00
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths,
$114,246.26
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN I. BRYANT,
THOMAS W. WHITFIELD,
ISAAC N. BABBITT.
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REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
At the beginning of the year, the Selectmen appointed Thomas W. Whitfield as superintendent of streets and he, with George W. King, as foreman under his supervision, had charge for the year.
At the annual town meeting a year ago, many new streets were laid out and accepted. Elm Avenue, from Green to Adams streets, graded ready for broken stone and tar the coming year, Newbury avenue, Veranda avenue and Jesse street, all in the north end of the town were laid out and accepted and graded, so as to be put in passable condi- tion, and on some of them sidewalks of gravel or cinders were laid. Newbury avenue and Veranda avenue were laid out from North Main street to the Acushnet River and Jesse street from North Main street to the Alden road, so called. South Pleasant street which had been laid out and accepted several years ago was never made passable until the past year owing to the fact that a ledge was at the south end. This has since been blown out and the street put in passable con- dition with cinders during the past year.
Wilding street at the north end from Adams street to Main street was also graded and macadamized and tar sur- faced. The sidewalks were also graded. Bridge street from Tripp's Hill to Alden Road was stoned and tar surfaced, and tarred and sanded from Mill Road to the New Boston Road. The Gellette Road was also given some consideration and repairs were made upon that road with cinders so that it is now in fairly good condition. Sconticut Neck Road also re- ceived a coat of tar and sand in order to save the road be- cause on account of the enormous amount of travel on the Neck during the summer months, it was found necessary to re-surface this road in order to keep it in good condition.
There was appropriated at the annual town meeting some money for the Howland Road, but on account of the new construction of Dover, Winsor and Morgan streets, it
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was found necessary to raise the grade on a part of Sycamore street and Howland Road and to fill in with cinders to pre- pare those streets for another year when they will receive a top coating of stone and tar.
At the special town meeting held August 23, Twenty Thousand dollars ($20,000) was appropriated for new con- struction taking in Winsor, Morgan and Dover streets. These streets have since been graded and are now ready to receive the finishing touches of stone and tar so as to make a com- plete job. Granolithic sidewalks were also laid in some of these streets and will be completed in the early spring. Sewers, water, gas and hydrants were also put in these streets.
There is an article to be acted upon at the adjourned town meeting to appropriate Ten Thousand dollars ($10,000 for the purpose of completing the work on the above men- tioned street, Winsor, Morgan, Dover and Sycamore streets and Howland Road.
At the last annual town meeting, money was appro- priated for culverts in Maitland and Blackburn streets. This work was done with concrete and is considered a first class job. There was also a very large culvert built on the east end of Elm street near Adams street so that the street is now used from Main to Adams streets, and when the east end is finished with stone and tar, it will be as good as any street in any part of the town.
Many of the country roads in the outlying districts have received considerable attention and cinders have been placed upon them, making them much better than they have been for many years. The new truck which was purchased at the last annual town meeting has given excellent service .. It can haul larger loads and make many more trips per day than could be done the old way of hauling by horse and cart. The truck has been used a good part of the winter and is still being used in carting cinders to the outlying districts, and it will not be long if this work is continued to have the most of our country roads in good passable condition.
Many of the sidewalks în town have also received some top dressings in the line of stone screenings, and it is very hard to get good screenings for that kind of work.
The ashes and rubbish have been taken care of during the past year as well as could be expected, considering that many times we were short of help, and men, as a general rule, do not like that kind of a job.
The citizens of the town are most respectfully asked
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not to dump rubbish in the gutters of the streets as, in the first place, it is against the law, and in the second place, it makes rather an unsightly mess so we hope that the citizens will co-operate with the superintendent of streets, whoever he may be, in this particular work. All of which is most respectfully submitted.
THOMAS W. WHITFIELD,
Superintendent of Streets.
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REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
Fairhaven, Mass.
To the Citizens of Fairhaven :
The Tree Warden hereby respectfully submits his an- nual report.
The spraying of the trees was thorough and successful as can be seen from their healthy appearance. The work of preservation must continue as the trees require steady atten- tion. A number of the largest trees had to be removed in- suring the safety of pedestrians and many large, decayed limbs had to be removed. There are many more decayed limbs that should be removed but the Tree Warden thought that owing to the high cost of labor and material it was best to remove only what was really necessary and dangerous.
We planted twenty-five (25) young trees, most of them being planted in places where dead trees were removed. The Improvement Association supplied some small trees which were planted on North William street and Linden avenue, a work in which the Improvement Association had always taken a hand, although growing smaller from year to year.
That the work of care may be carried on the Tree Warden respectfully recommends that the sum of Two Thou- sand dollars ($2,000.00) be appropriated to continue the work of maintenance and preservation.
Respectfully submitted
PETER MURRAY,
Tree Warden.
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FIRE ENGINEERS REPORT.
During past year the Fire Department has answered 35 still alarms and 17 bell alarms. A tractor has been purchased for the Hook and Ladder and has already been mounted to- gether with two-35 gallon chemical tank, which gives the de- partment a reserve piece of apparatus to answer still or bell alarms in case the chemical is out or under repairs. The board strongly recommend the purchase of a pumping engine.
Signed.
. .
JESSE F. GIFFORD, Chief, ALEXANDER PRICE, Jr., 1st assist. GEO. EDWARD JENNEY, 2nd assist.
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REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS FOR YEAR 1920.
ORGANIZATION-G. Winston Valentine, Chairman; William Fitzsimmons, Superintendent of Power House, and Frank W. Morse, Clerk.
SEWER CONSTRUCTION-Under vote at the last annual town meeting the Board has had constructed the fol- lowing sewers:
In Alpine Avenue (Howland Road System) at a cost of $6720.34; built by Mr. O. T. Perkins: 610 ft. of 1255 pipe and two manholes.
In Linden Avenue, Huttleston Avenue Gravity System, at a cost of $681.75; built by Mr. O. T. Perkins; 153 ft. of 8 inch pipe and two manholes.
CONNECTIONS-During the past year two connec- tions have been repaired and seventy new connections made, making a total of eight hundred and sixty sewer connections now in use.
POWER HOUSE-Owing to increased costs of labor and supplies, the cost of running the station the past year was $7,470.00.
REMARKS-Although few repairs have been called for during the year the cost of maintenance has exceeded that of any preceeding year due largely to the continued high prices. In nineteen hundred and fifteen, coal was pur- chased at $4.50 per gross ton while at present coal is selling for $14.00 per net ton.
In the same year, fuel oil was selling for four cents per gallon, while at present we have to pay twelve cents per gallon; steam cylinder oil sold for forty-four cents per gal- lon, present price is $1.04. Other lubricating oils have ad- vanced in price over one hundred per cent.
Machine shop labor could be had for sixty cents per hour; for the same kind of labor we now pay $1.25 and the station engineers wages have increased one hundred per cent.
It would seem useless for us to expect conditions to go back to the standard of five years ago and therefore, we must ask for a liberal appropriation in order to give the
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public adequate service. Like all other towns and cities, we have simply been keeping the system in good operating condition and waiting for an opportunity to bring before the public some practical solution to overcome the un- healthy conditions so detrimental to health and property, namely: flooded cellars. The Board has therefore decided in the near future to ask for an appropriation to equip one of our ejector stations with submerged centrifugal pumps, electrically driven, which we feel confident will eliminate flooded cellars in that section of the Town.
With many new connections added to the Shone System during the past five years the station has maintained its high standard of efficiency established in nineteen hundred and fifteen.
Much inconvenience and offensive odor was caused at several manholes during the past year and in looking for some good method of cleaning out the obstructions the Board has tried the Stewart Cleaning Machine which has proved highly successful and the Board recommends the purchase of this outfit for $850.00 and have included this amount in the budget for 1921, which we estimate at $13,850.00.
Respectfully submitted,
G. W. VALENTINE, W. J. FITZSIMMONS, FRANK W. MORSE.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen-I herewith submit my annual report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1920.
During my general inspection for the past year, I have inspected 1,121 animals, of which 668, were dairy cows, 183 young cattle, 256 swine, 11 bulls, 2 oxen, and 1 sheep.
The total number of premises visited was 113, and of these 19 stables were found unciean, 27 pooriy drained, 11 having poor light, 22 insufficient ventilation, and 4 insuffi- cient space.
The average conditions however were an improvement over other years, in most cases an effort naving been made to comply with advice and directions for more sanitary con- ditions.
One case of tuberculosis was discovered, put in quaran- tine, and finally condemned.
in Juiy cholera was found on the premises of six hog owners. The serum treatment was successfully ussa, many of the animais recovering and none of the healthy hogs which were treated contracted the disease.
Subsequent visits were made to all infested places to see that the premises were properly cleaned and disinfected.
Some changes have been made in methods curing the past year and the Inspector is now required to visit at fre- quent intervals the places where any contagious disease has been found to examine the hogs, of neras or cattle remaining on the premises to see that none of them have contracted the disease.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. SCHROEDER.
Park Commission Account 1920
Appropriation, Less 1919 Deficit,
$2,600.00
320.86
Expenditures, Supplies :
$2.279.14
2 lawn mowers-Babbitt S. S. Co., $44.00
Fertilizer-H. L. Wilson, 7.00
15 cedar posts-J. B. Ricard, 41.25
Chain for posts-Briggs Beckman 47.98
5 gals. machine oil-W. F. Nye Labor :
3.25
Patrick Sullivan, power mower,
29.25
Westgate, horse hire,
7.50
Jos. Vera, horse hire,
72.38
Frates ,labor,
.25
Jas. Goggin, superintendent,
1,224.00
Fred Rounseville, labor,
697.50
M. J. Sheehan, labor,
703.50
Advertising-Standard-Mercury,
7.50
Freight and cartage,
4.46
$2,889.82
Overdraft on appropriation,
610.68
$2,889.82
$2,889.82
289.82 Total overdraft,
HARRY L. POPE,
Secretary Park Board.
January 12, 1921.
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSION FOR 1920
The Board of Park Commissioners, Henry L. Wilson, Harold B. Dutton and Harry L. Pope, met early in March and organized, appointing Mr. Wilson, the senior member, Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Pope, secretary.
Mr. James Goggin was reengaged as Superintendent, his work in the past having been entirely satisfactory.
As a matter of economy, no funds being available to resurface the roads in the Park, it was thought advisable to close the Park to traffic, the roads being in such bad shape that they were hardly safe for automobile travel. By closing the roads to autos, it was planned to make the grounds safer for children as a play space and it is the desire of the Board to encourage the townspeople to use the Park more as a playground.
To this end suitable apparatus would be a great help and would, without question, make the grounds very popular.
Such equipment, however, is costly and until such time as by vote of our people we can have it, the park must serve in other ways.
During the year we have replaced thirteen trees that had died, putting in Laurel Leaf Willows.
These were furnished the Park without expense, being presented by the Fairhaven Improvement Association.
New mowers were purchased and the cost of posts and chains at the Park entrances were rather heavy expenses.
Starting with an appropriation of $2,600; increased labor costs and items mentioned above, called for an ex- penditure of $2,889.82, an overdraft of $289.82.
It seems necessary to ask for $3,600 for 1921, to clean up overdraft of $610.68 and maintain the Park.
HENRY L. WILSON, HARRY L. POPE, HAROLD B. DUTTON.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
With the exception of the Scarlet Fever epidemic in the Spring the year has passed with few contagious diseases.
During the year the Legislature has passed several new and important laws. Following are two of the most im- portant ones
1. "The Bakery Law", which requires Bakeries to be registered and inspected twice a year. 2. "The Burial Permit Law" which enables more accurate records to be kept.
During the year there has been reported :
19 cases of Chicken Pox.
16 cases of Mumps.
12 cases of Measles.
184 cases of Scarlet Fever.
11 cases of Diphtheria.
3 cases of Typhoid Fever.
2 cases of Eye Infection.
13 cases of Tuberculosis.
With the growth of the town and the enforcement of therefore we fell innc &e Brard for galo wy pa to meet the ad- dit omal works which w "The wommol mat '_a . The col- lechaent Culage is to mom - wir which the Board has rad to contend with For at the present time with the help of the street department we feel that the Garbage is being well taken care of with the exception of the north end of the town which will have to have more attention the coming year.
We recommend that a larger ippropriation be made this year to carry on this work.
The animals slaughtered during the year were: 756 Cattle.
150 Swine. 2 Sheep. 1500 Calves.
Fifteen animals were condemned for Blood Poison and Tuberculosis, 6 Calves undersized and 5 Hogs for Blood Poison.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE A. TERRY, W. FRED DELANO, LESTER W. HORNE, M. D.,
Board of Health of Fairhaven.
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Report on the Town's Financial Condition
DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS AND TAXATION
DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS
REPORT OF AN AUDIT OF
THE ACCOUNTS OF THE TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN.
Made in Accordance with the Provisions of Chapter 245, Acts of 1920, January 18, 1921.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Corporations and Taxation Division of Accounts.
State House, Boston.
January 18, 1921.
To the Board of Selectmen,
Mr. John I. Bryant, Chairman,
Fairhaven, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the accounts of the town of Fairhaven made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 245 of the Acts of 1920. This report is in the form of a report to me by Mr. Edward Ff. Fenton, Chief Examin- er of this Division, who was placed in charge of the work.
The balance sheet which is appended to the report is of especial interest, as it presents, in concrete form, data showing the financial condition of the town. The statement is self-explanatory, but I would call particular attention to the number of overdrafts which must be provided for either by an appropriation from surplus revenue or by raising the necessary amounts in the tax levy of 1921.
In the report attention is called to the method of financing appropriations for which loans were authorized; on the bal- ance sheet there appears on the asset side, the total of such loans as "loans au- thorized," and on the liability side, among the appropriation balances, are the unex- pended amounts of the appropriations. Whenever the town makes an appropria- tion to be niet by a loan, no bills should be paid on account of such appropriation until the funds have been provided as di- rected by the town. The statutes speci- fically provide that the proceeds of loans shall be used only for the purposes stipu-
lated in the vote, and surely this law can- not be constru 'd to mean that such loans may be issued at any time and the pro- ceeds used to remiburge the treasury for money al endy expended,
Among the liabilities are a large num- ber of outstanding bills, a summary of which given in tal le in
the report. No good reason ap-
peaurs offered for allowing this condition to exist; sufficient funds were raised for their payment, and, so far as I cen I hrn. the hills were ap- proved within a reasonable time If such a preti were general, it would be a somos milearnt against town govern- ment ha luckily sach is not the caso: and I trust that thes accounts in Fair- haven bave ilreidy been adjlisted and thit in the funin, ell bill- approved for Loyment. ť within the appropriation granted, will be paid promptl.
The funeral atcontent is inadequate to Dent the gods of the town. and while I do not bolove in, nor do I recommend, a complicated et of books for towns, nev- Finse should be kept in a single duand want curloch general records which will show on assets and liabilities, the appropriatees oude and the charges jan- Rom is well - a detal of re- ( : - / 10 ] \\ pts These accounts, if high up to date at all times will emble
** * To Poled and the
, cif he ane mane al condition of the to mil
The Poid of Sel (Minen Is, in reality, tìm Director of the omon . pal Corporation, swould have at me imetes books and record viel will smith complete in- formation os to the finances of the town, in order It is new time as possible may be E vin to selecting the work most is intal bo be done with the means at hand. Every department official respon- able fi the x enditure of money should he (unsmo ly divis w of the amounts ex- penbed and the wwwown - available for the balanse of The fear and should plan the work of the seamsirim Accordingly.
In the preparation of the budget for the Var 1 27 I Would call your attention to the prevhinns of Chapter 591 of the Acts of 1920, wirch specifies that departmen- til receipts shall be paid into the treas- urs Hid rot be used mi departments unless specifically appropriated for such departments. This statute evidently con-
templates the appropriating of a flat sum for a particular purpose, and the use of receipts to reduce the amount to be raised by taxation. Its operation will not mean an increase in the tax rate, al- though it will necessitate the appropria- tion of a larger sum than was formerly made when the receipts of a department were added to the amount appropriated. The great advantage of this method is that the town officials responsible for carrying on the work of departments will be informed early in the year of the amounts which will be available for their use, and they will thus be able to plan their work accordingly.
I would recommend the establishment of a small reserve fund in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1913. Amounts from this fund can be transferred only to meet extraor- dinary or unforseen expenditures, but its establishment will tend to prevent over- drafts of the necessity of calling special town meetings to make additional appro- priations to meet such expenditures,
Very truly yours, Theodore N. Waddell,
Director of Accounts. Mr. Theodore N. Waddell, Director of Ac-
counts, Department of Corporations and Taxation, State House, Boston. Sir:
As directed by you I have made an au- dit of the books and accounts of the town of Fairhaven for the period from Janu- ary 1, to November 1, 1920, and I submit the following report thereon:
The financial transactions of the town as recorded on the books of the several departments were examined and verified.
The selectmen's records of bills ap- proved and charged against the several appropriation accounts were examined and checked with the treasurer's records of payments and with the unpaid bills on file in the treasurer's office.
The original bills are approved by the selectmer. and forwarded to the treasurer for payment with the exception of the school department bills, which are re- turned to the school department after ap- proval by the selectmen, the record of expenditures being kept by the school de- partment.
I would recommend the use of a treas- ury warrant by the selectmen on which should be listed for payment the bills of each department or account; by the use of the warrant the selectmen are relieved of the necessity of approving each in- dividual bills and pay-roll and can, there- fore, devote their time to the more im- portant duties of the office.
The records of licenses issued by the selectmen were examined and the unpaid accounts were listed, a summary of the licenses issued being appended to this re-
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