USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1947 > Part 3
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$22.34
In 1947 None
On Vessel Excise 1946
In 1946 $100.00
In 1947 $ 17.59
On Vessel Excise 1947
In 1947 $1,832.77
Recapitulation of Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise Assessed in the Town of Fairhaven for the Year 1947
Commitment
Date of Commitment
No.
Value
Excise
First
January 28, 1947
198
$28,060.00
$1,023.02
Second
March 13, 1947
373
71,770.00
2,603.73
Third
April 30, 1947
560
88,320.00
3,073.64
Fourth
August 15, 1947
1707
271,070.00
9,060.25
Fifth
September 12, 1947
476
163,550.00
4,852.12
Sixth
November 14, 1947
222
102,890.00
1,850.01
Total
3536
$725,660.00
$22,562.77
CLARENCE A. TERRY, CHRISTOPHER J. BIRTWISTLE, SUSAN B. VINCENS,
Board of Assessors of Fairhaven, Mass.
Table of Aggregates, Omitted Assessments
Number of Persons Assessed on Personal Estate
Total 2 .
Value of Personal Estate:
Live Stock
$100.00
Furniture
80.00
$180.00
Rate per $1,000.00 - $43.00
Taxes, Omitted Assessments:
On Personal Estate
$ 7.74
Vessel Excise - 1/3 of 1%
151.12
Total
$158.86
Subscribed this 30th day of December, 1947, under the penalties of perjury.
CLARENCE A. TERRY, CHRISTOPHER J. BIRTWISTLE, SUSAN B. VINCENS,
Board of Assessors of Fairhaven, Mass.
58
Report of the Board of Public Welfare
Expenditures for General Relief have steadily increased each month as applications for aid were granted. For the most part the case-load is made up of persons incapacitated for work and not eligible for other forms of relief and for board of children in private homes or state institutions.
Since there has been such a consistent increase in applications and a corresponding expenditure of funds the Board has requested approximately $10,000 more for 1948 than was spent in 1947 for General Relief.
GENERAL RELIEF 1947
(Public Welfare)
Case Load and Expenditures
Month
Total Cases
Employ- able
Unem- ployable
Number Aided
Single Persons
Obligations Incurred
January
33
2
31
52
23
$1,575.21
February
35
4
31
59
21
1,500.40
March
37
6
31
68
24
1,824.46
April
38
7
31
63
24
1,471.10
May
40
9
31
68
25
1,628.10
June
41
7
34
68
28
1,759.45
July
42
6
36
67
28
1,656.02
August
44
6
38
75
31
1,905.69
September
48
6
42
81
33
2,106.91
October
55
12
43
96
36
2,087.58
November
53
8
45
88
36
2,295.34
December
55
1
51
100
40
2,237.62
521
77
444
885
349
$22,047.88
Total Grants
$22,047.88
Received from
Paid Other Towns
769.74
State
$729.68
Individuals
492.40
Total Expenses
$22,817.62
Total Receipts
$1,222.08
59
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Aid to Dependent Children is granted to dependent children under 18 years, if regularly attending school, who have been deprived of parental support by reason of the death, desertion or physical or mental incapacity of parent and who are living with a parent or blood relative.
Legislation has made it mandatory to cover the budget of expenses under this category of relief. During the year a new State Budget of prices in keeping with the times was issued by the Massa- chusetts Department of Public Welfare. Four new families were added to the rolls after October Ist and two more applications were to be acted upon after the close of the year. Therefore the Board anticipates that the sum of $20,345 will be required for Aid to Dependent Children in the coming year.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN EXPENDITURES
1947
Month
Case Load
Payrolls
Federal Share
State Share
Town
January
10 families
$888.45
$240.00
$296.15
$352.30
February
10
851.55
252.00
283.85
315.70
March
10
779.60
236.80
259.87
282.93
April
10
794.15
236.80
264.72
292.63
May
10
823.15
243.00
274.38
305.77
June
10
854.05
243.00
284.68
326.37
July
10
828.95
243.00
276.32
309.63
August
10
815.15
237.63
271.71
305.81
September
10
990.98
286.31
330.33
274.34
October
12
1,085.70
292.00
361.90
431.80
November
13
1,253.18
270.45
417.73
565.00
December
14
1,254.85
331.68
409.45
487.22
$11,219.76
$3,112.67
$3,731.09
$4,249.50
Case Load
January 1, 1947
10 families
22 children
Added
4
11
December 31, 1947
14
33
,
60
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Expenditures for Old Age Assistance continue to grow from year to year until an all time high of $160,490.85 was reached in 1947 with a case load of 273 as of December 31st.
The factors which make this category of relief so expensive are first, present high living costs which have been considered in the State Standard Budget: second, the amount of medical care required by aged persons and third, the increasing number who are becoming eligible to receive Old Age Assistance. The amounts granted by the Federal Government are not keeping pace with budgets granted under State rules and regulations so that the amount of money which the town must raise to cover the share of the State and Town has increased.
During the year 83 applications have been received of which 7 have been denied as ineligible to receive aid and 45 cases have been closed.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE EXPENDITURES 1947
Month
Case Load
Payrolls
Federal Share
State Share
Town
January
242
$11,848.05
$5,427.24
$4,610.86
$1,809.95
February
244
11,860.35
5,511.75
1,589.40
1,759.20
March
248
12,249.00
5,594.73
4.804.52
1,849.75
April
252
12,697.45
5,602.52
5,072.45
2,022.48
May
260
12,348.88
5,720.23
4,780.74
1,847.91
June
260
12,816.05
5,903.71
5,007.00
1,905.34
July
260
12,607.03
5,794.15
4,892.73
1,920.15
August
266
13,281.88
5,931.45
5,276.40
2,074.03
September
266
13,463.31
5,894.62
5,477.37
2,091.32
October
274
14,921.53
6,498.09
6,033.09
2,390.35
November
278
15,313.18
6,377.78
6,456.29
2,479.11
December
273
14,696.96
6,299.33
6,023.67
2,373.96
$158,103.67
$70,555.60
$63,024.52
$24,523.55
Paid Other Cities and Towns
2,387.18
$160,490.85
61
Report of the Planning Board
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The annual report of the Planning Board for the year 1947 is submitted herewith.
The Board held four regular meetings and five public hearings. Representatives of the Board attended two regional meetings with the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards. There were ten petitions for zoning. New and revised by-laws are being printed and the secretary of the Board will distribute same at the annual town meeting.
Attention is called to the following zoning regulations:
"All roadside stands must be twenty feet back from the inside line of the sidewalk. Existing stands on edge of road-bed are in violation of the zoning by-laws, also of the State safety regulations".
We urge the Selectmen to have all future petitioners for street acceptances bear all survey expenses. The fact that the Planning Board approves the layout of any road does not mean that we recommend its acceptance. Fairhaven can very easily bankrupt itself by accepting street layouts. By accepting same the town automati- cally obligates itself to the maintenance of those streets,-and the town is liable for any accidents occurring on accepted streets
Respectfully submitted,
VICTOR O. B. SLATER, Chmn. WILLIAM TALLMAN, Vice-Chmn. KENNETH R. VINING, Sec'y GEORGE A. STEELE CHARLES R. DUGDALE
HERBERT L. CANDAGE ARSENE DUVAL JAMES PARKINSON
62
Report of Fire Engineers
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The Board of Fire Engineers herewith present its annual report for 1947.
During the year, this Department responded to 33 Bell Alarms and 246 Still Alarms, a total of 279 calls, an increase of 8 more calls over those answered in 1946. Fifteen still alarms were converted to Bell Alarms and 5 False Alarms were recorded.
The Apparatus and Equipment is in good condition and is being properly maintained. Replacement of the 26-year-old Engine No. I is again requested in a special article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting.
The Stations at North Fairhaven and East Fairhaven were given a coat of paint and minor repairs outside. The Oxford Street Station should be painted and repaired this year.
Practice meetings of the various companies were maintained during May to September inclusive. The Protecting Society has continued to render valuable aid to this Department. Their help during the extreme dry season of 1947 in maintaining patrols and in other ways was of great help to this Department.
The purchase of a 2-way radio, for the use of the Fire Depart- ment is urgently requested. The advantage of direct and instant communication between Headquarters and any, or all parts of the Town would save time and money.
Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS EDWARD G. SPOONER, Chief CHARLES H. LAWTON ANDELL W. MONK
63
Report of Superintendent of Fire Alarm
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The annual report of the Fire Alarm Department for 1947 is as follows:
The Tower Bell striker formerly located in the Tower of the Oxford Chapel was removed and replaced by two Civilian Defense Sirens located on the New High School and the Oxford School. These Sirens are controlled from Headquarters Station and used in conjunction with the Fire Alarm to notify the Call Fireman of a Fire.
Replacement of Alarm wires, etc., due to utility pole replace- ments and changes was maintained.
Replacement of old wire in several sections of the Town with new wire should be carried out this year.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD G. SPOONER,
Superintendent of Fire Alarm
64
Report of the Board of Health
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Health hereby submits the annual report for the year ending December 31, 1947.
The Board has held regular monthly meetings and frequent special meetings during the year. All nuisances and complaints have been investigated promptly and action taken thereon.
HEALTH
The following diseases dangerous to public health have been reported:
Chicken Pox
16
Dog Bites
22
Measles
86
Mumps
3
Scarlet Fever
5
Tuberculosis
6
Whooping Cough
12
Eye Infections
6
Anterior Poliomylitis
2
Diptheria
1
159
During the year we issued 120 burial permits, 3 pasteurization licenses, 6 alcohol licenses, 5 oleo, 3 ice cream, 68 milk, and 4 camp licenses.
We had 3 patients at Bristol County Tuberculosis Hospital during the past year. In addition, 13 tuberculosis contacts were x-rayed and 111 visits to tubercular patients were made.
In the Board of Health Clinic, 289 children were immunized against diptheria and 113 were vaccinated against smallpox. The Community Nurse, under the supervision of the Board of Health, made a total of 135 visits to persons ill with communicable diseases.
65
DENTAL CLINIC
The Board of Health this year secured the excellent services of Dr. Edward J. Mee who has filled the vacancy in the Dental Clinic. Dr. Mee is at the Clinic in the Tripp School every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9:30 to 11:30. Mrs. Richard A. Dennie, who supervises the Clinic reports the following work done from March 1, 1947, to December 31, 1947: 155 cleanings, 242 fillings, 3 examinations, 14 treatments and 35 extractions.
SANITATION
Mr. Joseph Mello has supervised the collection of garbage with the utmost efficiency. Mr. Samuel C. Barrett, animal inspector, and Mr. Henry Stevens, slaughter inspector, have discharged their duties most competently. In addition to his other duties, Mr. Barrett has capably undertaken the duties of milk inspector, and he has already obtained remarkable cooperation from the milk pro- ducers. Mr. John Reilly, Miss Grace Smalley, and Mrs. Dennie, the other agents of the Board of Health, have been of the greatest pos- sible assistance.
The Board of Health has done more study on the subject of milk pasteurization and we believe that only pasteurized milk should be sold and consumed in Fairhaven. Regulations to enforce this procedure have now been formulated, and our community, on April 1, 1948, will join the growing list of towns in Massachusetts to have this requirement.
The new regulations of the Board of Health, which were revised last year for the first time in many years, are already showing good results. Printed copies of these new rules may be obtained at the office of the Board of Health in the Town Hall.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation to the com- munity nurses and the police department for the help and coopera- tion given us during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, DR. C. E. P. THOMPSON CLARENCE A. TERRY DR. FILBERT A. SILVEIRA, JR. Secretary and Executive Officer
66
Inspector of Slaughtering
To The Board of Health
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1947. During the year forty six inspections were made with no carcasses being condemned.
Respectfully submitted, H. STEVENS
Inspector of Slaughtering
Report of Inspector of Animals
To the Board of Health:
Under the Supervision of the Division of Livestock Disease Control, and in co-operation with the Board of Health.
Inspected are 873 milk cows, 77 heifers one or two year old, 93 heifers under one year old, 33 bulls, 24 goats, 1 steer, 4 sheep, 262 swine, 70 horses.
There were 149 head of cattle that entered from out of State. I have Quarantined 27 dogs for biting, and 3 dogs for mange. There has been no case of Rabies.
Under the new Law that requires all dogs entering from out. of State, to have a certificate of health stating that it has been vac- cinated for Rabies within a period of one year, I have quarantined 3 dogs; The length of quarantine period is 90 days, unless the owner has the dog vaccinated, then the quarantine period is 21 days.
This year I have been able to have the barns and cattle kept a little cleaner, owing to the fact that I have been granted the au- thority to do something about it.
Respectfully submitted, SAMUEL C. BARRETT
Inspector of Animals
67
Report of Inspector of Milk
To The Board of Health:
Inspected are 33 places that sell milk to dealers who pasturize their milk; 51 places that do not sell their milk to dealers, and 7 places that sell unpasturized milk and are inspected once each month.
Of the 51 places that do not sell their milk to dealers, a canvass will be made to find out how many of them are selling milk to the public.
There are 91 places that keep livestock in the Town, not including places that keep poultry.
There were only 58 permits issued to keep horses, cows, goats, sheep and swine which means that some people are keeping animals in the Town without a permit.
These permits are issued for one year from January 1, to December 31, and must be obtained by people intending to keep livestock.
As of March 1, 1948, all milk sold in the Town of Fairhaven must be pasturized.
A canvass was made of people selling small quantities of milk to find out if they were interested in small pasturizing equipment but not enough of them were interested to put on a demonstration.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL C. BARRETT
Agent for the Board of Health
68
Report of Health Nursing Service
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Public Health nursing is an organized community effort to prevent and reduce sickness and promote physical and mental health. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the public health nurse to not only care for the sick, but to give health instructions to all who need it.
The appropriation from the Town for health nursing services made it possible to make the following visits during the year 1947.
Communicable Diseases
135
Child Welfare
2,047
Tuberculosis
111
2,293
The appropriation paid for 55% of the above visits, the re- maining visits were free. The Town paid for 181 bedside nursing visits to Old Age Assistance recipients.
Active cases of tuberculosis have been hospitalized and contacts have been checked periodically. Some of these examinations were made at the State Sanatoria, and others at the New Bedford Tuber- culosis X-Ray and Chest Clinic. Many others have had periodic examinations by their family physicians.
Assistance was given at the following clinics held under the supervision of the Board of Health:
Diptheria Toxoid Clinic - 289 children were inoculated Vaccination Clinic - 113 children were inoculated
The Board of Health Executive Officer has been most helpful in reporting some of the new laws and policies of the Common- wealth, as they affect those doing public health nursing.
To all who have assisted and co-operated appreciation is hereby expressed.
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE E. SMALLEY, R.N., Agent of the Board of Health
69
Report of the Sewer Department
To the Citizens of the Town of Fairhaven
The new sewer in Spring street was completed and is doing excellent work. There have been installed thirty new house con- nections and repairs have been made to four connections. The air compressor with tools has saved time and money for the property owners as well as the town. The new truck has proved to be a great convenience.
Bids were asked for a new sewer in Rotch street from Wash- ington street south to Center street, but the appropriation voted was insufficient for the work and we have been obliged to ask for another $5,000 before construction can be started.
This department has been able to turn back to the Town an unexpended balance of $1,786.00
Respectfully submitted, G. WINSTON VALENTINE JOHN M. REILLY LAWRENCE B. MAXFIELD
Sewer Commissioners
70
Report of Highway Department
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen Town of Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Among the varied activities during the past year were the following. At available periods the buildings at the Town Yard were painted and minor repairs made where necessary. Bushes and weeds on all suburban roads were cut back widening the road way, corners and intersections and while this is done to a certain extent each year it was necessary to do considerable more this year as the growth has been faster and more extensive during the preceeding three seasons.
ROAD REPAIRS
Cinder roads have been maintained with difficulty because of our inability to secure a sufficient supply of cinders from the utility company which is producing far less than formerly due to changed methods and equipment at the power plant and it now seems quite possible that all or many of the cinder roads in town may have to be rebuilt with gravel.
Gravel roads have been patched, scraped and graded but we have been handicapped by lack of proper road equipment as our ancient and antiquated road scraper which was towed by a truck has become obsolete and useless making it necessary to hire proper equipment when needed. Drains (open & closed) sand catchers, catch basins and ditches have been cleaned and repaired. Sidewalks without a hard surface, in various parts of the town have been cleaned of weeds, grass and bushes, graded and covered with screen- ings.
Streets have received the usual attention and many holes have been filled with tar mix patching material and some of those streets should have been given a coat of tar but we were able to tar seal only a few of those on our list because of limited funds.
71
Those treated with a seal coat of tar were East Brown, East Wilding, Hopkins and Terry Streets and portions of other streets as follows, Ash east of Adams, Bellevue east of Adams, Church east of Pleasant, Chestnut between Church and South, Green between Elm and Massasoit, Massasoit from Adams to Francis and from Green to North William, Pilgrim from Adams to Francis, and Park Avenue two lanes from Huttleston to Bridge.
There are thirty-nine other scaling jobs on our list that was prepared for 1947 and we hope to complete most of them in 1948 if sufficient funds are made available.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Our new mechanical loader has been a great improvement over the old method of loading trucks by hand and has speeded up the work of sanding over tar, ice and snow.
During the summer we constructed two new pieces of road for which appropriations were voted at the last annual town meeting, Massasoit Avenue from Francis to Green with new curbs and side- walks, and Chestnut Street from Church to Farmfield resetting the curbs and grading and improving the sidewalks.
SIGNS
Through the year we did considerable work on street name signs and traffic control signs, replacing many missing and damaged signs and obtaining and erecting many new ones where needed. It has not been possible to purchase metal signs and posts of the type needed and we have been compelled to use wood substitutes.
CHAPTER 90
Under Chapter 90 Maintenance with the exception of some shoulder work and brush cutting on Sconticut Neck Road, most of the work was ordered to be done on Alden Road where the bushes and weeds were cut back, shoulders repaired, drains cleaned, the large 36" culvert under and across the road north of Long Road was rebuilt with new pipe and 1982 gallons of asphalt applied. Alden Road is now in such good condition that it should require little if
72
any expenditure in 1948 and the principal work under Chapter 90 authorization will probably be on Sconticut Neck Road.
RUBBISH COLLECTION
Use of the new equipment has resulted in reducing the mile- age to and from the dump 21 per cent and reduced the labor cost of collecting 19.5 per cent but the volume of material (rubbish and ashes) and the number of pick ups have increased considerably so that if any extension of the present territory is contemplated or re- quested and authorized it will be necessary to provide another truck and crew for one or two days a week at least and a substantial in- crease in the cost of this service will result and additional funds must be provided.
We gratefully acknowledge with full appreciation the fine co-operation from the Town Officials, other Town Departments and the citizens and have only one request to make and that is we will appreciate more co-operation and consideration from the owners and drivers of automobiles by keeping the cars off the highways as much as possible during snow storms and most important of all by not leaving the car parked on the highway at night while we are trying to do a satisfactory job of making the roads passable and safe. This cannot be done properly where the road is even partially obstructed.
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED J. TRIPANIER
Superintendent
73
Report of Building Inspector
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Permits were issued for the following buildings in 1947: 1 Flower Shop, 141 Dwellings, 55 Garages, 2 Brooder Houses, 5 Barns, 3 Vegetable Stands, 1 Drug Store, 1 Store, 3 Boat Houses, 1 Office Building, 5 Greenhouses, 6 Work Shops, 2 Milk Houses, 1 Lunch Bar, 1 Bath House, 20 Henhouses, 124 Alterations, 2 Show- rooms, 1 Silo, 1 Pigeon House, 11 Sheds, 1 Generator House, 4 Relo- cations, 2 Fireplaces, 12 Buildings remodeled and 10 Buildings were razed.
The estimated cost of this building was given as $466,692.00 and for the issuing of the permits to do the work, the department received the sum of $760.00-141 Dwellings at $5.00 and 55 Garages at $1.00 each. No charge for other types of building.
PLUMBING INSPECTION
There were 390 plumbing inspections made by the Plumbing Inspector in the year 1947. All Plumbing permits must be taken out at the office of the Building Inspector.
Yours very truly,
ALFRED J. TRIPANIER
Building Inspector
74
1
Report of Sealer of Weights & Measures
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my annual report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1947 during which time the following devices were tested and sealed or condemned.
Scales
Platform
Adjusted 12
Sealed 48
Not Sealed 3
Con- demned
Counter Platform
6
14
3
Counter
9
11
2
Spring, 100 Lbs. Over
3
12
3
Spring Under
17
65
8
Beam 100 Lbs. Over
3
5
1
Computing
18
49
3
8
Person Weigher (Slot)
4
1
Prescription
3
Weights
Avoirdupois
50
420
Apothecary
16
Metric
7
Troy
Volumetric Measures
Liquid Over 1 Gal.
I 28
2
Liquid Measures
69
Dry
4
Measuring Devices
Gasolinę Pumps
1
Stops on Pumps
8
Gasoline Meter Systems
17
38
1
7
Tank Truck Meters
2
6
Bulk Station Meters
2
8
Grease Pumps
5
Oil Pumps
1
17
31
7
75
.
Linear Measures
Yard Sticks
Adjusted
Sealed 3
Not Sealed
Con- demned
Sealing fees collected and turned into Town Treasurer $114.50
Again I wish to thank all the various officials for the support extended to me during the past year.
Appropriation recommended for 1948 as follows:
Salary
$1,000.00 250.00
Transportation
Equipment and Supplies
45.00
Tel., Postage and Printing
15.00
Convention and Travel
35.00
Scaler's Helper
55.00
$1,400.00
Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. P. THATCHER
Sealer of Weights & Measures
76
Report of Shellfish Inspector
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my report on shellfish for the year ending December 31, 1947.
There were fewer commercial licenses taken out this year than, last year, due to the scarcity of shellfish. Legal sized shellfishı is spread very thin as constant digging of the whole area keep the beds torn up most of the time hindering the growth of shellfish. · There is a fair set of seed but without a rotating program we cannot look for much improvement.
There were seven to fourteen men working with tongs this season and although prices were high, the yearly cash value, com- mercially, was lower than last year. The opening of the Pope Beach arca netted the six or seven boats fishing there around 8,000 bushels.
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