USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1941 > Part 6
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The Child Welfare Conference was conducted by a State Unit from the Mass. Dept. of Public Health, which consisted of a pediatrician, dental hygienist and a nutritionist. The purpose of this conference was educational and the opportunity was offered to demonstrate to the parents the importance of periodic medical, dental and nutritional supervision. 56 of these children needed to be vaccinated. One of our goals this year is to try to teach the mothers that vaccination is to prevent smallpox, rather than it is just a necessity for admittance to school.
To the members of the Board of Health and the Board of Public Welfare for their splendid co-operation, and to all who have assisted, appreciation is hereby expressed.
Respectfully submitted,
EDITH B. HORNE, R. N.
Report of the Sewer Commissioners
To the Citizens of the Town of Fairhaven:
The Board of Sewer Commissioners organized on February 15, 1941 as follows: G. W. Valentine, Chairman, John M. Reilly, clerk.
During the year twenty-one new sewer connections have been made and repairs to one existing connection, making a total of 1638 connections now in use. We have been unable to do any sewer cleaning and very little repair work on the pumps during the past year, but we hope to be able to do more cleaning and to make much needed repairs to the several pumps in the various stations next year.
The State has informed us what they would require the town to do on the reconstruction of the sewer system in Huttleston Avenue before they will take it over as a State highway. The de- tails of their requirements are not available at the present time, but it is understood that a cement jacket or cap will be made over the already existing sewer and laying of a new cast iron sewer on the north side of Huttleston Avenue joining the present sewer near the monument. The estimate of the cost of the job, as given by the State engineers, is $5,200.
We have recommended to the Civilian Defense Committee the purchase of four gasoline driven portable pumps, one to be placed in each station, to be available in case of loss of power through any cause whatsoever.
The net expenditures for maintenance during the year totali- ed $6,952.21 and we refer you to the financial statement found elsewhere in this report for the expenditures in detail.
Respectfully submitted, G. WINSTON VALENTINE JOHN M. REILLY LAWRENCE B. MAXFIELD
Board of Sewer Commissioners.
Report of Fairhaven Committee on Street and Highway Safety
To the Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
The past year has seen Fairhaven penalized with sixty-five accidents resulting in eighty-eight injured and one death.
It is to be regretted that, after three years as a safe town, Fairhaven has been visited with a death. (It must be our constant realization that every accident is a potential death. )
During 1941, Fairhaven was honored for the third time with an Honorable Mention from the National Safety Council as one of the few safe towns of its size in the country and the only town to receive three Honorable Mentions in eight years.
It is hoped that, before the end of 1942, Fairhaven will have adopted a set of modern traffic by-laws regulating parking, bus stops and traffic flow. The fact that we have had so few serious accidents with minimum personal injuries and but one death is a tribute to the safety-mindedness of the townspeople of Fairhaven.
The Police Department, under Chief of Police Norman D. Shurtleff has done fine work in keeping down accidents, but his department is tremendously handicapped by the lack of modern traffic rules and regulations. The reason for the delay in this important phase of Civic Welfare is not understood by the safety- minded public.
A safety feature adopted by the Police Department during 1941 and long desired by the Committee on Street and Highway Safety is a Spot Map. The Committee suggests that this map be exhibited to the public and throughout the schools as a feature in the interests of safety.
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The following table sets forth Fairhaven's record for the past nine years,
Year
Accidents
Deaths
Total Injured
Pedestrians Injured
1933
54
2
97
25
1934
52
3
83
25
1935
47
0
73
20
1936
54
1
96
11
1937
77
0
118
31
1938
79
2
114
10
1939
60
0
85
18
1940
61
0
83
11
1941
65
1
88
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It is again recommended that steps be taken to fence in the Rogers School Playground. This would prevent tresspassing dur- ing games and the danger of some youngster being injured when chasing a ball or some other object into the street.
Again the Safety Committee wishes to express its grateful thanks to the Fairhaven Post of the American Legion and all other Civic and Business Associations for the fine spirit of cooperation and encouragement in the worthwhile work or hobby of saving lives; to the Superintendent of Schools and his fine corps of as- sisstants for the safety-educational work in the schools, which work is equal to the best in the country. The Street Department continues its fine work in keeping ice-coated streets sanded and they deserve the thanks of a grateful safe-driving motoring public.
When you consider the 13.3% increase in traffic on Route 6 over 1940, you can easily appreciate the good work done in Fair- haven in preventing accidents and their resultant worries and heartaches and Fairhaven's low automobile insurance rates.
Therefore, for 1942, let us adopt Safety Rules and Regula- tions for controlled speed, speed zones, and whatever may come under our jurisdiction in this National Emergency. And in so do- ing we will continue to have a safe and happy Fairhaven.
Respectfully submitted, VICTOR O. B. SLATER, Chairman RAYMOND T. BABBITT
Report of Emergency Relief
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
I am submitting report of projects completed in the year 1941. This report is compiled from data and reports submitted by the various departments of the Town directly sponsoring the projects worked.
W. P. 20793- A project employing women sewing in the Ban- quet Hall. This is a continuation of the program carried for several years, but under a new number and a new project. Project started December 14, 1939, closed February 1, 1941 when it was incorporated in a new State wide project. Es- timated contributory cost $7081.00, and actual values incor- porated in the project $6583.16. Town's proportionate cost of cloth $3284.00; findings $314.78; office supplies $62. 25; sanitary supplies $139.01; first aid $2.51; repairs and re- placements $86.67. Charges allowed for rent, heat and light $1059.35, equipment rental $1289.50, contributory la- bor $345.09. 28401 garments were made and sent to the commissary in New Bedford for disbursement.
W. P. 21115- A continuation of the household aide project. This project started February 5, 1940, closed May 23, 1941 and continued under a new State wide project. Estimated con- tributory contribution $2156.00, actual values incorporated in the project $784.73. Transportation, office supplies, san- itary supplies and telephone $260.74. Rent, heat and light $224.45; typewriter rental $64.00; desk rental $32.00; con- tributory labor $203.54 allowed. This project seemed parti- cularly worth while, aid being given in homes where the woman of the house was incapacitated and unable to care for the family. The welfare department was relieved of the expense of such care.
B1. 21847- Unit operating in Blackburn Street entailed the grad- ing and resurfacing of 1070 lin. ft. of roadway with 12" of
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gravel in 2 courses penetrated and sealed with tar. The construction of 2140 lin. ft. of cement curb and 1 catchba- sin; also grading of 2140 of sidewalk resurfaced with 4" of gravel; and the resetting of 2 concrete bounds. Project started Jan. 14, 1941 and completed June 26, 1941. Estima. ted contributory cost on project proposal $3628.00, actual values incorporated in the project $3110.74. Material in the amount of $860.73; equipment rental $1904.64; contributory labor $345.37. 2512 gallons of tar was supplied by W. P. A. at a value of $251.20 and 360 bags of cement at a value of $252.00. The work in this street was particularly difficult because of frost conditions during the first part of the period of operation. The lack of a compressor necessitated the use of frost wedges and bull points breaking out frozen ground.
B1. 21847- Unit operating in Coe Street. Project called for the construction of 624 lin. ft. reinforced cement curb and to excavate 308 lin. ft. of roadway to a depth of 12 inches, re- fill with 2 layers of gravel each rolled, penetrated and seal- ed. To construct 2 catchbasins and to lay 100 lin. ft. of 8 inch surface drain pipe. Project started on Sept. 17, 1940 and suspended on Nov. 8, 1940 because of weather condi .. tions and was finally completed on Oct. 18, 1941 with Town labor, no W. P. A. labor being available because of curtail- ment of quota and operation of Sconticut Neck Water pro- ject. The estimated contribution for the Town was $1273. 00. Actual values incorporated in the project: equipment rental $512.25, material $303.49, contributory labor $188.44, total $1004.18. W. P. A. supplied 1121/2 bags of cement at a value of $78.75. The work done by the Town to com- plete the job consisted of applying a seal coat.
B1. 21847 -- Unit operating in Francis Street from Larch Ave. to Elm Ave., the project proposal called for the relaying of 164 ft. of 12" surface drain pipe and the laying of 120 ft. of new 12" pipe, also 116 ft. of 8" drain. The construction of 3 catchbasins and 1055 ft. of reinforced cement curb. To ex- cavate and refill with 12" of gravel in 2 lavers, each rolled 520 ft. of roadway 30 ft. in width, same to be stabilized with tar. Also to grade with gravel 990 ft. of sidewalk 10 ft. in width. Project was opened on Nov. 7, 1940, suspended De-
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cember 26, 1940 and reopened on June 17, 1941, again sus- pended June 26, 1941 because of reduction in quota, finally completed on October 17 of this year with Town labor. Project proposal called for sponsor's contribution of $2130. 00. Actual values incorporated in the project: equipment rental $697.51, material $785.14, contributory labor $246.81, a total of $1729.46. This unit in the project proposal called for all tar stabilization to be supplied by W. P. A., but be- cause of the lack of W. P. A. labor and the condition of the road, the Town completed same by applying a seal coat and was forced to buy tar amounting to $46.27. W. P. A. sup- plied 2251/2 bags of cement at a value of $157.85 and 853 gallons of tar at a value of $68.24.
B1. 21847- Granolithic sidewalks operating under the road blan- ket suspended Jan. 11th of this year was reopened on April 26th to complete a section in Howland Road left with cinder fill. Project again suspended on May 3rd and inoperative since.
No. 21932- Project for cleaning public buildings started Sept. 30, 1940 operated in the Town Hall, cleaning paint, woodwork, floors, etc. was suspended on June 26th of this year because of quota reduction, and inoperative for the balance of the year.
No. 22451- A supplemental sewing project operating in the Ban- quet Hall started Feb. 3, 1941 was suspended on June 26th due to quota reduction and has since been inoperative.
In January, 20 men were transferred to work on Camp Ed- wards Access Roads and later on the Hyannis Airport; Fair- haven paid transportation and continued to October 11th when men were returned to the water project here. The number transported varied over the months because of changes in personnel due to securing private employment and other causes. 'In the last month only 12 men were left in the group.
No. 22765- Sconticut Neck Water System was started April 14th of this year and provided for furnishing and laying water mains, fittings, gates and hydrants, service pipes in streets: from the main to property lines.
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The main 10" line with master meter at Washington Street is complete to Jerusalem Road, hydrants are set, services completed and mains are filled. Fire and house service is now available along this section.
Excavation, pipe laying, back fill in Highland Rd., Pope Beach Section is completed with 6" mains, hydrants and house service to property line and approximately 80 ft. of 6" mains laid in Bay View Avenue at the end of the year. No water is yet available in this line. Excavation in this a- rea is difficult due to ledge, boulders, and in the west end of Highland Rd. and north end of Bay View, ground water is causing trouble. A power pump recently made available has helped greatly.
Approximately 60 men have been used on this project until December 15th when 30 men were taken from the project for work at Camp Edwards under an emergency defense or- der by W. P. A. Transportation was furnished by the town. 31 men were left on the job here so that with the ground conditions and curtailed forces progress was slow.
In August the W. P. A. office was moved from the rooms over the Fairhaven National Bank to an office made avail- able in the Town Barn at considerable saving in expense. The office has been wholly adequate and the changes in no way hampered the work to be done. The reduction in office force was necessitated by the curtailment in W. P. A. per- sonnel at a further saving to the tax payer.
Respectfully submitted,
E. W. SANDERS
Coordinator
Report of State Audit
Mr. Theodore N. Waddell Director of Accounts Department of Corporations and Taxation State House, Boston
Sir :
In accordance with your instructions, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Fairhaven for the per- iod from September 8, 1940, the date of the previous examina. tion, to October 1, 1941, and submit the following report thereon : The recorded financial transactions as appearing on the books of the several departments receiving or disbursing money for the town or committing bills for collection, were examined and reconciled with the books and records of the accounting of- ficer.
The accounting officer's ledger was analized, the recorded receipts being checked with the treasurer's books and the pay- ments being compared with the warrants authorizing them and with the treasurer's records of payments.
The appropriations, transfers, and loans authorized were checked with the amounts voted by the town meetings as shown by the records of the town clerk and with the finance committee's authorizations of transfers from the reserve fund.
A balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was pre- pared showing the financial condition of the town on October 1,- 1941.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examin -. ed and checked. The receipts, as recorded, were analyzed and checked with the records of the several departments collecting money for the town and with other sources from which money
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was paid into the town treasury, while the payments were com- pared with the selectmen's warrants authorizing the treasurer to disburse town funds. The cash balance on October 1, 1941, was verified by actual count of the cash in the office and by reconcili- ation of the bank balance with a statement furnished by the bank of deposit.
The reported payments on account of debt and interest were compared with the amounts falling due and with the cancell- ed securities on file. The unpaid interest was listed and recon- ciled with a statement furnished by the bank of deposit.
The savings bank books and securities representing the in- vestments of the trust and retirement funds in the custody of the town treasurer were examined and listed. The transfers to the town were verified, the income was proved, and the other re- ported transactions were found to be correct.
The income from the Henry H. Rogers High School Fund as recorded by the town treasurer was compared with a statement furnished by the City Bank Farmers Trust Company of New York, Trustees.
The records of tax titles held by the town were examined and checked. The amounts added to the tax title account were compared with the collector's records, the tax titles redeemed were checked with the receipts as recorded on the treasurer's cash book, the foreclosures and disclaimers were verified, and the tax titles on hand were listed and compared with the records at the Registry of Deeds.
The books and accounts of the tax collector were examined and checked. The poll, personal property, real estate, and mo- tor vehicle excise taxes, as well as special assessments outstanding according to, the previous examination were audited, and all sub- sequent commitments were checked to the warrants for their col- lection. The payments to the treasurer were checked to the trea- surer's cash book, the recorded abatements were compared with the records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the respective controlling ac- counts in the accounting officer's ledger.
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The commitments of departmental accounts were examined and checked. The recorded receipts were checked with the pay- ments to the treasurer and with the accounting officer's books, the abatements as recorded were checked with the departmentai records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved to the accounting officer's ledger.
Verification of the correctness of the outstanding tax, as- sessment, and departmental accounts was made by sending no- tices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books and records as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
The town clerk's records of licenses and permits issued were examined and checked in detail, the recorded payments to the treasurer being verifled by comparison with the treasurer's and the accounting officer's books.
The records of dog and sporting licenses were also examin- ed, the payments to the State being verified by comparison with the receipts on file and the payments to the town treasurer being checked to the treasurer's cash book.
The surety bonds furnished by the several town officials for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found io be in proper form.
The records of departmental cash collections by the select- men and the sealer of weights and measures, by the building in- spector, as well as by the police, fire, health, sewer, highway, wharf, public welfare, and school departments, and of all other departments in which money was collected for the town, were examined and checked. The payments to the town treasurer were verified, and the cash on hand in the several departments was proved by actual count.
There are appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's and the collector's cash, summaries of the tax, assessment, tax title, and
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departmental accounts, together with tables showing the condi- tion and transactions of the trust and retirement funds.
While engaged in making the audit, co-operation was re- ceived from all the officials of the town, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted, HERMAN C. DINE
Assistant Director of Accounts
Report of the Park Commission
To the Citizens of Fairhaven :
The routine care of the nine plots of the Park Department maintained from April to November, inclusive, has presented fewer of the depression problems than for some years. The des .. tructive element of the community has for the most part been otherwise occupied, and with the present labor absorption only a normal wear and tear may be expected.
The extra appropriation for 1941 has enabled the Depart- ment to accomplish several necessary repairs for some time in the offing; viz; fencing on the railroad side of Willow Park, a retain- ing wall on the east side of Garrison Lot; and at Livesey at cost of some $300.00, fill and grading for a soft ball field towards the southwest corner, besides the setting of a group of shade trees on the playground site. The large area including the old ball field is still debatable ground as to its treatment and must be left for further appropriation, as must the Boulder Memorial Plot on Morgan Street. It has, however, been kept reasonably clean and the new plantings are beginning to show encouraging growth.
With the refurbishing of a few more shrub beds the hurricane ravages have been all but obliterated. A number of damaged trees which made no comeback have been entirely removed, others have been more severely pruned in the hope of saving some of them. No solution of the Huttleston Avenue Parkway has been attempted pending State control of the Boulevard.
The improvement Association in its forsythia campaign generously donated one hundred plants which were grouped and distributed where they should make a gay showing in successive scasons. It merits note that previous forsythia plantings now give a glorious April display in Cushman, Willow and Cook Men- orial.
The summer playgrounds under Mrs. Dutton's supervision were most satisfactory. Her report is appended. East Fairhaven presented several problems the best solution of which seemed to be its discontinuance at least for 1941. The North End revived
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in 1940 after a two year lapse, was this year taken over by Mrs. Dutton and her assistant. The records of attendance and enthu- siasm, as appreciation of the parents, attest the wisdom of pro- viding more skilled supervision, especially for he younger child- ren.
It is evident little constructive work can be planned for the duration, but it is hoped adequate maintainance may be continu- ed. The need for local Park and recreation facilities is bound to increase and our small part in the national morale should mean provision for picnic facilities at Fort Phoenix, for larger playground and game attendance, and in general uses of the Parks as far as may be consistent with their normal appearance.
For some years the Park Commissioners have felt and would here record, an appreciation of the attractive gardens in various sections abutting Park property. Such private property by its care or neglect is by its very location the more conspicuous.
MABEL L. POTTER, Chairman ARSENE G. DUVAL HAROLD B. DUTTON, Secretary
Playground Report
To the Members of the Park Board :
The total registration for our 1941 playground season was 1245. Of this number 381 were enrolled mornings at the Oxford area and 864 afternoons at Cushman Park Center. The daily av- erage attendance at Oxford was 71 and the records of Cushman Park show an average of 195 daily.
Weekly' sports programs were carried on at both play- grounds. Miss Louise DeMello, assistant at Oxford area was in charge of sewing classes at Cushman Park. Scrap books were made for Sol-E-Mar Hospital, and some of the giris did Junior Red Cross work by knitting squares for an Afghan.
It was deemed advisable to discontinue activities at Anthony and East Fairhaven and build up recreational facilities at Oxford, where the need was greater. Children at the north end were very co-operative throughout the season and showed more ap- preciation in general for their apparatus than the majority at the center. This may be due partially to exclusion from the area while it was given over for two seasons to a W. P. A. Project. Outstanding events were the parade at Oxford of about 100 gaily dressed youngsters, the 15th Annual Doll Show at Cushman Park and the Annual Boy's Day and Vehicle parade.
Your playground Director attended the 26th National Re- creational Congress in Baltimore. This is regarded as the Recrea- tion Round-table of America. Approximately 1700 delegates from 42 states met as a National Forum for discussion of recrea- tion as a human need and community service, regardless of who was doing it or how it was being done. Sessions were devoted to recreation in national defense, as well as normal community life. Representatives of local communities, federal and local govern- ment departments, private agencies, churches, Army and Navy adequately presented the magnitude of the task ahead in these turbulent days of war.
Respectfully submitted,
MABEL OBER DUTTON
Report of the Town Physician
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Town of Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen :
For the year ending December 31, 1941 the families of Wel- fare, Aid to Dependent Children, W. P. A. families where their in- come was insufficient to afford medical care, State Aid cases, were treated by the Town Physician.
On these groups a total of 1719 calls were made, 1327 of which were supplied with medicines from the "stock" of the Town Physician with no added expense to the town, the remaining 392 were given prescriptions which were filled at the local drug stores.
There is a considerable number of families in town who do not receive any aid from the town other than medical care.
For some years past your Town Physician has taken it upon himself to help the recipients of town aid by apportioning a bud- get system with more strict attention to a careful selection of foods for the family needs that will give them the most nourish- ment for the least expenditure of money as represented by their weekly slip. This not only helps the tax payer but it gives to the family a fuller dinner-pail by eliminating the non-essentials and utilizing what otherwise might be wasted. One housewife was found peeling potatoes with a suitable knife but the parings were at least one quarter of an inch thick. When I asked her if she didn't consider this wasteful she replied, "No indeed, because I give the peelings to the hens". A little tactful persuasion con- vinced her that baked or boiled potatoes will result in lesser waste and larger amount of nourishment. In nearly all cases I have been pleased by their full cooperation and understanding.
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