USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1961 > Part 7
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Thus, we feel that additional classrooms are needed, probably four, sub- ject to further study.
Because there is but one Gymnasium, and because of its size, only half the students in High School now take Gym.
Because the public passageway runs through the shower room and because Gym suits are now in closed lockers and because monitors are needed during Gym classes, we recommend addition of a Gymnasium which can be divided into girls and boys gyms with appropriate showers and' locked basket type lockers.
Since the library can accommodate only about 30 students, it should be enlarged. We recommend that the auditorium in the main building be con- verted into the library since only leveling of the floor is needed to change it into a beautiful library.
The existing lockers in the main building are crowded together, and in disrepair. Earlier, gymnasium showers have been recommended. We, there- fore, recommend the removal of the showers in the main building and that the shower and locker area be made into roomier, better divided locker rooms.
With the exception of one room in the Oxford School, all classrooms in the different elementary schools are being used.
East Fairhaven School has two full elementary schools, one to six plus a third first grade (85 students). Surveys indicate that next year, the first grade will consist of 95 students.
The building in Hamlet Homes, and the homes now begun on Sconticut Neck, are bringing families who already have children of school age. It appears to us, that in another four years, or one year after any construction now proposed is completed, a complete one to six addition will be filled.
We, therefore, recommend addition of 12 classrooms with appropriate offices, cafeteria, and an all purpose-room, in the south-east part of town.
Signed : DR. PAUL C. SICARD, Chairman MR. JAMES P. HONOHAN MR. HARRY YOUNG, JR. MRS. MARY AMARAL MR. ROGER DEMANCHE
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MR. JAMES B. BUCKLEY, CHAIRMAN of the FAIRHAVEN PLANNING COMMITTEE for the NEW BEDFORD-FAIRHAVEN HURRICANE PROJECT, rendered the following report:
The Interim Report of the Fairhaven Planning Committee for the New Bedford-Fairhaven Hurricane Project Committee.
Your committee, since its formation, has been working with the New Bedford-Fairhaven-Acushnet joint hurricane project committee in planning for the construction of a hurricane protection dike.
THE NEED
1. The area flood loss of $27,340,000 in 1954, of which Fair- haven's flood loss was $2,460,000 (not including areas beyond the proposed dike), would grow to more than $96,000,000 if the winds of the 1944 hurricane were present in hurricane "Carol" in 1954. It is estimated that such a combination would produce a flood height of 18 feet above mean sea level in our harbor. The proposed dikes are designed to prevent such a loss which, if it should occur, would surely mean an end to Greater New Bedford as an industrial area. Please refer to the attached report from New Bedford City Planner, Richard J. Wengraf, on a recent mail survey of building subject to flooding.
2. The construction of the dike would increase jobs in the area by
A. Preventing the present uncertainty brought out by al- most yearly hurricane scares,
B. Making our harbor the only completely flood-proof har- bor on the Eastern Seaboard.
C. Construction of the dike itself would provide approx- imately 300 jobs yearly for about three to four years.
3. Last but certainly not least, with the large concentration of waterfront activity in this area, our fishing industry, etc., it would mean that if we were hit by an 18-foot flood, even with good advance hurricane warnings, the likelihood that many lives of people engaged in waterfront activities would be in grave jeopardy. The proposed dike would protect the harbor area which would have the highest concentration of such activity.
THE COST Latest cost figures are approximately as follows:
1. Construction cost of the dike - $17,300,000, of which $120,- 000 are pre-authorization costs not subject to reimburse- ment. On the balance of $17,180,000, the Federal Government has agreed to assume 70%, or $12,026,000. The local share is presently assigned at 30%, or $5,154,000. The capitalized maintenance cost, presently 100% a local cost, would be approximately $1,300,000, making the total local share $6,454,000. Assuming that the local share is proportioned according to the flood damage in the 1954 hurricane and that no assistance is available from other sources, Fairhaven would be liable for 9%, or approximately $581,000. Your committee feels that this is too great an amount and has been working diligently to find ways and means of reduc- ing the local share. There are presently four possibilities of reducing the local share.
A. A grant under the Area Redevelopment Act which New Bedford has already applied for. ,
B. The Keith-McCormack Bill which would reduce the local share of the capital cost from 30%, to the same as the share of fresh water projects currently running from 0% to 22%,
C. State Aid. A bill is now in committee, which is being replaced by a new bill, providing for two-thirds con- tribution by the State.
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D. A number of industries have indicated a willingness to assume a percentage of the annual cost.
Inasmuch as none of the above have been actually resolved, we are not able to ask for any action by the Town Meeting at this session.
QUESTIONS The United States Army Corps of Engineers have been work- ing on this project for approximately six years and have expended more than $600,000 on the study and construction plans. With their vast experience on flood projects added to their six-year hurricane studies in New Bedford Harbor and the Providence Area, they have the following answers to the most commonly asked questions in Fairhaven.
1. Installation of the dike will definitely NOT increase the level of water outside of the dike to any height which can be measured. In other words, the danger of flooding to areas adjacent to the dike would NOT be increased.
2. The dike will NOT make the sewer conditions worse.
3. The dike will NOT make icing conditions worse
4. The dike will NOT increase silting in the harbor.
It has been asked, why is the dike placed where it is? Why not extend it to other areas, etc., etc .? First of all, when the Army Engineers were requested by the Congress to study hur- ricane areas they commenced their studies in 1955 on the two most vulnerable areas from the standpoint of past experience -New Bedford Harbor and Providence. The Federal Govern- ment has rigid standards involving benefits to cost ratio. Our project qualifies for Federal help by having a favorable ratio of benefits to cost. The Army Engineers will continue to study other areas as they complete the work on the most vulnerable spots. The Providence dike is already under way. Construction of our dike should be ready to start in mid 1962 - provided local financing can be worked out in the meantime.
SUMMARY
A major reason that prevents growth of job opportunities in this area can be laid to the 1954 flood and the subsequent flood scares. Construction of the dike will protect many of our homes and public buildings as well as our jobs. It will greatly improve our most valuable natural asset - our harbor. And who will doubt that if we should ever experience an 18-foot flood without dike protection, that many lives along our water- front would be endangered.
Respectfully submitted,
Fairhaven Planning Committee for the New Bedford-Fairhaven Hurricane Project JAMES B. BUCKLEY, Chairman VICTOR N. FLEURENT LOUIS B. GOLD HAROLD W. PIERCE LOUIS ROGISSART
November 13, 1961
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APPENDIX I
REPORT
To: Mayor Lawler and David Luiniansky, Chairman, Hurricane Protection Committee
From: Richard J. Wengraf, City Planner
Subject: Industry Sample Survey of Effects of Hurricanes on Employment
Date: 9 November 1961
During the past several weeks the members of the Hurricane Protection Committee and the City Planning Department circulated a questionnaire among a sampling of firms in buildings subject to flooding, to ascertain what effect flooding by a "design" hurricane might have on the firms and their employment, and on the other hand, what effect the completed hur- ricane protection project might have on their plans for future expansion.
The results of this mail survey are summarized below:
Firms responding : 31
Number of jobs in responding firms: 10,050
Number of firms which would certainly, or probably, leave the area if struck by a design hurricane: 14
Jobs involved: 4,050
(Several firms plan to leave even without a design hurricane, be- cause of the uncertainty caused by hurricane threats).
Number of firms which would possibly relocate if struck by a design hurricane : 6
Jobs involved: 5,700
Number of firms contemplating expansion if project is completed: 8 Estimated number of additional jobs: 2,670
(Four firms would expand without specifying the number of jobs) In addition, the director of the Harbor Development Commission esti- mates that, as a consequence of adequate protection from flooding, 2,000 jobs would be created in five years on land subject to development by the Harbor Development Commission.
The questionnaire survey thus showed that the difference between building or not building the hurricane protection project might be about 12,400 jobs for this area, taking into account only those firms which responded to the questionnaire. In evaluating these figures it should be remembered that they represent answers of only a sample of the affected firms, although most of the major employers in the area were contacted, and that a complete canvass of all affected firms would undoubtedly show a very substantial increase in the above employment figures.
In trying to evaluate the effect of the hurricane protection project on employment, it should be remembered that virtually all the firms contacted furnish "basic employment", that is, the firms' products are sold primarily outside the Greater New Bedford Area. Such jobs furnish the money which enables the area to support trades, services, secondary industries, and local government. One "basic" job directly or indirectly creates at least one, probably more, other jobs.
COPY
U. S. ARMY ENGINEER DIVISION, NEW ENGLAND CORPS OF ENGINEERS 424 Trapelo Road Waltham 54, Mass.
Address reply to Division Engineer
Refer to File No. NEDGW
9 November 1961
Mr. James B. Buckley, Vice President
Revere Copper & Brass Incorporated
24 North Front Street
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Buckley:
Reference is made to your letter of 6 November 1961 and the enclosed article "Fairhaven Group Asks Tests of Dike Model" in the November 3, 1961 New Bedford Standard-Times relative to the New Bedford, Fairhaven and Acushnet Hurricane Project.
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While it is true that a particular model of hurricane structures at New Bedford, Fairhaven has not been constructed and tested, this was not the result of oversight. Serious thought was given to this facet, so that our design would provide the greatest possible protection without detrimental effects. Two and a half decades of experience with design and construction of flood control projects and continuing research into water resource develop- ment problems attest to the structural integrity and successful operation of Corps of Engineer projects.
You will recall that Hurricane Protection was a relatively new field when assigned to the Corps of Engineers for study following the 1954 hur-Y ricanes. Early in the studies it was recognized that a model should be constructed in order to obtain basic data to verify research and to provide needed design criteria. Because the Narragansett Bay area had more com- plicated and varied problems, and had sustained the greatest concentrated damage in New England from Hurricane flooding, it was decided to con- struct the model of the Narragansett Bay area. Data obtained from these model studies is being applied, with proper interpretation, to other hurricane projects nationwide.
Data obtained from the studies of the Narragansett Bay model were used to establish the design criteria for the New Bedford, Fairhaven Hur- ricane Project. Cooperating agencies in the research and basic studies and which contributed to the design criteria at New Bedford included:
(a) Waterways Experiment Station, Corps of Engineers.
(c)
(b) Beach Erosion Board, Corps of Engineers.
U. S. Weather Bureau.
(d) Texas A and M Research Foundation.
All the design criteria for the New Bedford Project have been approved. There are no unresolved problems. The New Bedford, Fairhaven Hurricane Project will have no measurable effect on the water level before it. Prin- cipal reasons for this are, the harbor area is small compared with the area of Buzzards Bay and the length of the New Bedford Harbor is small compared with the length of a tidal surge.
I' there had been any question, on interpretation of data or design criteria for the project by the consulting and cooperating agencies, a model would have been recommended. Research and detailed studies provided re- liable data for design so that no model of the New Bedford Project was necessary.
Sincerely yours, (signed) John W. Leslie JOHN W. LESLIE Chief, Engineering Division
Photostatic Copy of "Official Enrollment October 1, 1961" attached to typed minutes of Town Meeting. VOTED: to receive and file report.
ELLSWORTH BURGESS, Chairman, rendered the following report of the DRAINAGE COMMITTEE.
The committee is making a study of the unsatisfactory drainage condition in the Church Street - South of the Atlas Tack Co. area and will report at the next Annual Town Meeting.
VOTED: to receive and file the report.
Bradford W. Luther, Jr., rendered the following report of the Recreational Committee.
November 10, 1961
BEACH COMMITTEE REPORT
This Committee was appointed to consider the feasibility of acquiring additional recreational property: specifically Plot 28A, Lots 497-513 inclusive and Plot 28B, Lots 1-5 inclusive. Committee appointment authorized by vote of 1961 Annual Town Meeting.
The property under consideration is that now known as "Pope's Beach", located on the west side of Sconticut Neck and owned by Mr. Alexander Pifko.
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This property is currently used as a beach; charges being made for use of beach and also for parking in connection with this use.
A large pavilion type building is located on the property. This building has been fitted out as a restaurant and bar and also contains a roller skating section. The upper stores of this building contain apartments currently in use as residences by various members of the owner's family.
The property extends along the shore approximately 500 feet and extends approximately 550 feet in depth. A good portion has been cleared and filled. Some additional clearing and filling would be required for full use of all property.
Mr. Pifko has offered the total property to the Town of Fairhaven for a price of $14,000. His family now have other commitments. He is no longer interested in running the businesses for which the pavilion has been fitted out. He believes the recreational or beach facilities can best be used, if under the auspices of the Town.
This Committee has visited and inspected the property. The beach is sandy and clean and must be sanitary if usage is allowed for bathing pur- poses. This facility is much needed in this area, as it appears to be the only site not otherwise privately owned. This is an area where the popula- tion is increasing rapidly in the age groups, that mostly use and need this type of recreation
In the event that this property is acquired by other interests than the Town, it could be diverted to other usage and its availability to the general public would cease. In that event, the children that now ordinarily use these facilities, would probably encroach upon other private facilities in the area, with trouble resulting.
This property is located within easy access of public transportation, making it available to residents of other areas of the Town. This is in contrast to the availability of the Town facilities on West Island which are accessible only by private transportation, which, therefore, restricts its use considerably. This property, however, does have ample parking area for those desiring to use private cars.
The property could also include other recreational activities beside those of the beach. A small ball field, tennis courts, or similar activities usually associated with playgrounds could be provided.
The property has all necessary utilities and is to be sold, including all equipment now present with the exception of tenants' and owners' personal household furnishings.
The Committee discussed what purposes the Town could use or lease out the present building. Although there are many possibilities, the Town would have to decide the best course. One suggestion would be to acquire the property and lease it to private interests, to be used as at present. The Committee, after consideration of all the foregoing, recommends that the Town acquire the property for use as a recreational facility.
N. F. TANGNEY, Chairman LEO G. DAIGNAULT BRADFORD W. LUTHER AVELINO BARBOZA EARL F. SHERMAN
VOTED: to receive and file report.
Mr. Roland Tripp moved that a committee of 3 be appointed by the Moderator for the purpose of making a study of water and drainage con- ditions in the vicinity of Babbitt, Coolidge and Dartmouth Streets, and report with recommendations at the next Annual Town Meeting.
Seconded.
VOTED: that a Committee of three be appointed by the Moderator for the purpose of making a study of water and drainage conditions in the vicinity of Babbitt, Coolidge and Dartmouth Streets and report with recom- mendations at the next Annual Town Meeting.
MOTION TO ADJOURN.
VOTED ADJOURNMENT AT 9:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted, MICHAEL J. O'LEARY, Town Clerk
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1
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT
WE LIVE IN A GOLDFISH BOWL
We, in public service live in a goldfish bowl. We are subject to un- usual scrutiny and unusual investigation. We are fair game for everybody. Everybody is willing to take a crack at us, everybody is just waiting for us to slip; everybody is willing to ridicule us. The nature of town gov- ernment, belonging as it does to all the people, makes it fair game for all the people, and makes it a subject of proper concern for the press, the radio, and the newspapers.
The standards of private conduct of a public servant are higher, I believe, than are the standards of the private conduct of a private citizen. They have to be. If you work for Town Government the community is watching you, watching what you do, and how you behave much more than it watches its private citizens. We know that any time any public official does anything wrong, or questionable, the headlines are spread through the newspapers because the public is interested. On the other hand, when a public official does something fine and renders good service, it is very hard for him to get even a line on the back of a page of a news- paper. Notoriety far supersedes the positive aspects of newspaper cover- age of government activity. This, of course, is a problem which we all face.
As your Town Clerk, and a member of the Institute of Municipal Clerks, I subscribe to the following Town Clerks' Code of Ethics:
"As I believe in the American way of life and wish to increase co- operation between the public and the Town officials, the following prin- ciples and ethics govern my conduct as Town Clerk. I will . .
"Endeavor to perform my duties with a constructive, creative, and practical attitude.
"Consider it my duty continually to improve my ability and useful- ness as a trusted public official.
"Live by the highest ideas of honor, integrity, dignity, and loyalty in public relationships.
all "Encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule.
"Believe in civil government as ordained to protect all persons in the enjoyment of their natural rights.
"Promote the adoption and application of the highest professional stand- ards.
"Serve, ever mindful of my public trust, ever alert to the best inter- ests of all the people on a nonpartisan basis.
"Uphold and defend the ideals and goals of my community.
"These things, I, as Town Clerk, do subscribe to do to realize the purposes for which our government is established."
The Vital Statistics for the year 1961 may be briefly summarized as follows:
BIRTHS 261 MARRIAGES - 164 DEATHS - 187
Any interested persons may secure any information to which they are entitled by applying to the Town Clerk's Office.
MICHAEL J. O'LEARY Town Clerk
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IN MEMORIAN
MISS MABEL POTTER
Died in Lawrence, Kansas April 7, 1961
Miss Mabel L. Potter was prominent in civic affairs here for more than 60 years.
Designed the landscaping of the Unitarian Memorial Church, many town buildings and parks, the Old Dartmouth Historical Society garden in New Bedford, New Bedford housing developments and many private homes throughout this area.
Town Park Commissioner, former Chairman of that Board.
Member of the Town Forest Committee. Chairman of the shade tree committee of the Fairhaven Improvement Association for many years.
Trustee of the Millicent Library.
Member of the Unitarian Memorial Church and honorary member of the Women's Alliance of that church, of which she was past president.
Charter and life member of the College Club of New Bedford and charter member and honorary member of the Fairhaven Colonial Club. Former director of the Improvement Association and was active in the Old Dartmouth Historical Society and the Garden Club of Greater New Bedford. One time served as president of the Massachusetts unit of the American Association of University Women.
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IN MEMORIAM
AUGUSTUS H. XAVIER
Born in New Bedford Died in Fairhaven
April 2, 1898 June 17, 1961
Mr. Xavier was a civic leader in this community for more than a quarter century. Founder of the Fairhaven Boys' Club, served as its President for more than 15 years.
Town Meeting Member.
Member of the Board of Assessors.
President of the Bristol County
Assessors' Association.
Member of the Fire Department, Board of Fire Engineers, Deputy Chief.
Past President of the Fairhaven Association of Business Men and Fairhaven Lions Club.
Inspector of petroleum. Chairman of town fuel oil committee.
Member of Fairhaven Health Committee.
Veteran of World War I and former member of Fairhaven Post 166, American Legion.
Former member of the Leighton Club.
Member of the Holy Name Society of St. Joseph's Parish; Damien Council, Knights of Columbus; Fairhaven Grange and Fairhaven Fire Fighters' Association.
Member of the town Finance Committee. Past President of the Fair- haven Improvement Association and member of North Fairhaven Im- provement Association and Sconticut Neck Improvement Association.
Also member of Our Lady of Angels Association and active in charita- ble drives for the benefit of the Heart Fund, the United Fund and other enterprises.
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IN MEMORIAM
CHARLES W. KNOWLTON
Born in Ashtabula, Ohio January 19, 1882 Died in Fairhaven July 17, 1961
Selectman from 1933 to 1957 - a total of 24 years.
From 1957 until his death he was a member of the Board of Assessors.
Treasurer of the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association and former Secretary of that organization.
Member of the Board of Appeals and of the Finance Committee.
Active member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, of New Bedford. Member of George H. Taber Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and Treasurer of the Fairhaven Colonial Club for many years.
Town Meeting member since the time of the inception of limited town meetings.
Former member of the Board of Health.
Past President of the Fairhaven Improvement Association.
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TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
FAIRHAVEN, MASS.
1961
Tabulations of information gathered in our annual canvas shows that there were 9,467 persons, male and female, 20 years of age or over resid- ing in the town January 1, 1961 and by the use of a formula in general use for estimating the total population, it is found to be 14,584 which it must be understood is an estimate and not an actual count. Broken down by Precincts, the results are:
PERSONS 20 YEARS AND OVER
PRECINCTS
1
2
3 983
4
5
6 545
TOTALS
MALES
683
733
776
714
4434
FEMALES
948
820
1068
866
767
564
5033
TOTALS
1631
1553
2051
1642
1481
1109
9467
UNDER 20
864
823
1187
870
785
588
5117
TOTALS
2495
2376
3238
2512
2266
1697
14,584
The Voting List at the time of the Town Election, February 6, 1961 con- tained the names of 8,196 persons which broken down by Precincts and Party Enrollment was as follows:
PRECINCTS DEMOCRATIS
REPUBLICANS UNENROLLED TOTALS
1
325
657
449
1431
2
353
566
487
1406
3
990
231
511
1732
4
511
400
541
1452
5
545
277
439
1261
6
376
181
357
914
3100
2312
2784
8196
Revision of Voting List
After revising the Voting List in 1961 and removing 296 names for various reasons such as moving out of town, women that have married and not re- registered under their married name, and the deceased, the result was as follows :
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