USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1963 > Part 4
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During the year thirty-eight new water services and twenty sewer connections were installed, making a total of fifty-eight for the year. There are now approximately 2,316 sewer connections in use, and to date 1,029 water services have been installed in Sconticut Neck.
Approximately eight hundred feet of six inch water pipe was laid in Jameson Street and Nelson Avenue, and the water main in Holiday Drive was extended approximately four hundred feet.
The re-construction of the outfall sewer at the foot of Cogges- hall Street was completed.
Due to work done by this department during the year, we were reimbursed in the amount of $25,413.49.
LAWRENCE B. MAXFIELD DUDLEY S. RICHARDS CHARLES A. MAXFIELD, JR.
78
Care of Trees and Moth Control
Tree Department
To safeguard our shade trees in various parts of the Town, all streets throughout the Town have been sprayed as well as a large number on private property. Also, a second spray- ing and a third spraying in some sections has been given to keep under control the later breeding of beetles.
During the year we have taken down ninety-seven (97) trees and twenty-seven (27) tree stumps (so that the stump chipper could cut them down below street level), trimmed trees, removed dead limbs and elevated the trees. I have planted one hundred (100) trees in various parts of the Town.
The elm trees are dying faster than we can remove them; so, therefore, I am requesting a larger appropriation. Within five (5) years we will lose most of our elms due to Dutch Elm Disease, which at the present time is uncontrollable. Therefore, I recom- mend an appropriation of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) for the year 1964.
Moth Department
During the past year we sprayed all shade trees and removed dead limbs in various parts of the Town and carted and burned brush at the Town Dump.
I recommend an appropriation of Two Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($2,400.00) for Insect Pest Extermination in 1964.
JOHN JARVIS Tree Warden and Supt. of Moths
79
Civil Defense
The Civil Defense office of the Town of Fairhaven is now a part of the vast network of the Department of Defense at the Federal level. The importance of life-saving throughout the nation. is recognized by the Congress of our country. Instructions to local Directors is now the same, nationwide, and we are kept informed of all new developments.
The fast pace of our military expansion and the scientific technology points the need for constant training and evaluation of information.
Our shelter program stocking is on schedule and we now have the High School stocked with emergency water, food and Radiac instruments. We have about 190 spaces available in this building. The only other building scheduled for stocking at this time is Our Lady's Haven where about 144 spaces are available. The Federal Requisitions are all processed and we have received the instruments for this shelter.
These are the only shelter spaces available and approved by the Army Corps of Engineers.
This will point out the severe shortage of shelter spaces in our town. The Director would again urge the inhabitants to provide some form of shielded shelters and make some provisions for protecting themselves and their families.
Valuable information on this protection is available at the Civil Defense Office.
We have also been part of the new Sector 2-A expansion and we now have a Sector Director and staff ready to help us out with problems and we are in a good position to keep up with the current changes and are much closer to the Commonwealth's program. The Town of Fairhaven is grateful for the help and guidance from the Sector 2-A Director during the past year. We hope to continue this work with Sector 2-A.
ARMAND A. GUILMETTE Director of Civil Defense Town of Fairhaven
80
Board of Appeals
During the year 1963 the Board held 10 public hearings and acted upon 25 petitions for variances. 20 petitions were granted
and 5 were denied.
The expenses were kept within the appropriations for the year.
JOSEPH A. WALKER,
Veterans' Benefits
A total of 57 cases received Veterans' Benefits during the year 1963, at a total of $30,619.20.
There were 32 cases receiving aid on January 1st and 34 cases on December 31st.
The present case load is divided as follows:
World War I
6
World War II
23
Korean War
5
34
Dependent parents in their homes
10
Dependent parent in Nursing Home
1
Widows of Veterans
3
Disabled Veterans
8
Families because of illness of Veteran
9
Families because of unemployment of Veteran
3
34
The Veteran who is ill is admitted whenever possible to a Veterans' Administration Hospital. It is often necessary to assist his family while he is away.
The Town receives 50% reimbursement from the Common- wealth for assistance granted on cases approved by the office of the Commissioner of Veterans Services.
EARL L. HOLDEN,
Veterans' Agent
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Sealer of Weights and Measures
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed
Scales 100 to 5,000 lbs.
3
14
Under 100 lbs.
4
39
3
Weights Avoirdupois Troy
4
22
36
Liquid 1 gallon or under
8
Meters Inlet 1" or less
Gasoline
58
Oil-grease
6
1
Pumps Diesel pump
1
1
Kerosene
16
-
--
-
12
200
4
Sealing Fees collected
$111.30
WILLIAM L. LACASSE, Sealer
82
Fire Department
The Fire Department answered 307 Calls during the year 1963. There were 49 Bell Alarms and 258 Still Alarms. There were 3 Resuscitator Emergency calls during the year. Station #3 and Station #5 are in good condition. Station #2 on Oxford Street is in need of repair. This Station will probably be turned over to the Selectmen when the New Station is completed. The Board is asking for Engine #4 to be replaced this year. Engine #4 was bought in 1932. All other Apparatus is in good working condition. The Fire Prevention Bureau is very active, as more homes are being built. We would like at this time also to thank the Personnel of the Department for their cooperation in such a busy year.
Board of Fire Engineers
FRANK ROGERS HAROLD S. MACOMBER LINDSEY GIFFORD WALTER JACHNA JOSEPH ANDREWS
Fire Alarm
The Superintendent of the Fire Alarm herewith submits his report for 1963.
During the past year Four (4) new Gamewell boxes of the three fold type were added to the Fire Alarm system.
Box 183 Harvard & Highland Ave.
Box 292 Babbit & Hamlet Sts.
Box 432 Laurel & Phoenix Sts.
Box 722 Adams & North Sts.
A new Signal Horn has been purchased for the East Fair- haven Station to replace the Siren. The Fire Alarm system is in very good condition. Considerable work is to be done this year in conjunction with the New Fire Station. The North Fairhaven Fire Alarm circuit in the very near future shall have to be made into Two (2) circuits, as it is becoming too large.
FRANK ROGERS
Superintendent of Fire Alarm
83
Police Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The following are some of the facts concerning police activities in Fairhaven during 1963.
Up to this writing, in January 1964, we have 151 reports of 1963 accidents in which personal injuries were suffered. There were 240 persons who sustained these injuries. In addition, four persons lost their lives on our highways. Over $200.00 damage was reported in each of 47 other accidents.
We received 4155 complaints during the year. These, with other transactions, brought 4290 reports into our files.
The department made 560 traffic checkups. Two hundred seventy-three citations were issued. The Registry of Motor Vehicles notified us of 152 Fairhaven operators' licenses and rights being suspended or revoked and of 10 registration suspensions or revocations.
During the year the department was notified of 387 Class 1 motor vehicle transfers and 566 Class 2 transfers.
We made 120 arrests for out-of-town police. These involved 154 offenses. Three of these actions were against Fairhaven Corp- orations; 14 were female offenders.
There were 133 arrests for local offenses. August was our biggest month with 21 arrests. One hundred twenty-six were males. Two hundred twenty-four offenses were involved.
Reported value of property reported stolen aggregated $30,234.14 and recoveries added up to $19,980.50. I urge that property owners help us in the future to increase the accuracy of these figures.
The preceding paragraphs indicate that we had more of al- most everything this past year.
I need not remind you that the so-called juvenile problem is repeatedly mentioned in various quarters. I urge parents to not only be alert to their responsibilities but, also, to be constantly on the lookout for opportunities to assist all our young people through the difficult transition from childhood to adulthood.
Respectfully yours, MANUEL A. OLIVERA Acting Chief of Police
84
Planning Board
January 9, 1964
At the first meeting of 1963, held February 14, Mr. Victor O. B. Slater was elected chairman and Mr. Kenneth R. Vining, vice- chairman, Mr. James Parkinson, secretary, and Miss Linda Poirier, clerk. New members, Raymond Fleurent and Edward G. Duval, were welcomed. In October, Mrs. Walter Manchester, Jr. was elected clerk in place of Miss Poirier, who is attending college.
The Fairhaven Planning Board held sixteen meetings during 1963. There were approved seventeen sub-divisions, (Planning Board approval under sub-division control law not required) and three sub-division hearings which were approved. Three hearings for signs were approved.
A public hearing was held, at the request of the Board of Selectmen to bar trailers in Fairhaven. The Planning Board ap- proved Article 39 which was defeated in town meeting. The Planning Board is still of the opinion that something should be done to relieve the trailer problem, and will continue to study.
The town voted, on recommendation of the Planning Board, $7,000.00, to be matched with $21,000.00 from the Federal Gov- ernment, a total of $28,000.00, for a Master Plan. During the year, the Planning Board met with Mr. Blackwell of Atwood and Black- well and with Mr. James F. Shurtleff of the Economic Development Associates, Inc., Boston, regarding the Master Plan, and with Mr. Tzizik, planning engineer for the Massachusetts Department of Commerce, for advice and information. It was voted to hire the Economic Development Associates, Inc. for the development of the Master Plan. The application was signed on July 3, 1963. The Master Plan is an eighteen month project. On December 27, 1963, word was received from Mr. F. A. Fallon, planning engineer of the Department of Commerce, that our application had been ap- proved and the project would commence in the very near future, and that contracts would be received for signature.
During the year, a visit was made to Middleboro to visit the Housing for the Aged. The Board also attended the fall meeting
85
of Region 6 Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards in Taunton. Also the fall meeting of the Federation of Planning Boards in Falmouth, and a meeting in New Bedford to view New Bedford's progress of their Master Plan was attended.
During the year meetings were held with the School Building Committee, at which time, the Board suggested an improvement to the entrance and exits at the proposed Sconticut Neck Elemen- tary School. The Board also suggested that care be taken to eliminate any drainage problem existing at the Junior High School, and approved the building plans for both the Junior High School and the Sconticut Neck Elementary School. At the annual town meeting, the Planning Board recommended, and it was adopted, that Article 52 relating to the Sconticut Neck School site be amend- ed so that at the extreme westerly end of the proposed site, sufficient land be set aside for a street, if and when one is contemplated running north and south, making a second road to Sconticut Neck.
Several meetings were held during the year with the Town, State and Federal Relationship Committee, the Water Resources Committee, the Sanitary Disposal Committee, the Fairhaven Hous- ing Authority, the Sewer Committee, and the Fire and Police Station Committee, where plans for the station were approved. The Planning Board was very much disturbed at the action of the Fairhaven School Committee on night football in the high school stadium, as, in our opinion, this was a flagrant violation of the zoning by-laws, and it does not have a good impact on the town for an elective body such as the School Committee to encourage a violation of the town's zoning by-laws. When the Planning Board met with the student body of the high school, one of the topics discussed was enforcement of the zoning by-laws.
Mr. Milton Delano was asked to make a sketch view of Fair- haven's Waterfront north of the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge showing potential use of this area. The Planning Board is apprecia- tive of Representative William Q. MacLean in updating the Board regarding our waterfront and the need of dredging so that Fair- haven's potential of the waterfront can be realized. Fairhaven's waterfront is Fairhaven's lifeline and Fairhaven's future is de- pendent on this needed dredging.
The Planning Board suggested to the Federation of Planning Boards that a law be passed making it mandatory for the Mass- achusetts Department of Public Works to submit to the Selectmen and Planning Boards of a town, tentative plans for new roads or extensions before any plans are made.
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Once again, in closing, the Fairhaven Planning Board follows its usual procedure in urging active participation and interest in town affairs, service on boards and committees, and awareness of the problems in the community.
The Planning Board, in its advisory capacity, elected by the voters, and governed by statute of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, always stands ready to aid and assist administrative and enforcing agencies of the town. Complete cooperation of all con- cerned is absolutely necessary if Fairhaven is to progress.
Respectfully submitted,
VICTOR O. B. SLATER, Chairman KENNETH R. VINING, Vice-Chairman JAMES PARKINSON, Secretary CHARLES R. DUGDALE NOEL B. COUTURE ARNOLD CORREIA RAYMOND FLEURENT EDWARD G. DUVAL JUNE MANCHESTER, Clerk
87
Public Assistance
A comparison of the case loads of the various categories of public assistance at the beginning and end of the year 1963 is as follows:
Jan. 1, 1963
Dec. 31, 1963
Old Age Assistance
164
153
Medical Assistance for the Aged
50
66
Aid to Dependent Children
48
45
Disability Assistance
23
24
General Relief
14
10
299
298
Applications approved for aid 93, applications denied 16.
The total amount expended for all aid furnished and for administrative salaries was $420,791.88. The Town was reimbursed for 871/2% of this amount by the Federal Government, the Com- monwealth and Other Communities, making the net cost to the local taxpayer $52,692.05 or 121/2%.
The Town also received $6,005.76 in Recoveries from indi- viduals who had received General Relief, Disability Assistance and Old Age Assistance.
Legislation affecting grants in aid was an increase of 5.1% cost of living budgetary adjustment and also, for Old Age Assist- ance only, an increase of $1.00 per month for leisure time activity.
Chapter 651 of the Acts of 1963 increased exemptions of single children in Old Age Assistance and Medical Assistance for the Aged, making it mandatory for the Town to increase the payment to the parent.
88
Medical care costs totalled $146,144.76 for the following:
Hospitalization
$25,951.50
Nursing Homes
74,531.93
Clinic care
1,566.03
Medication
33,212.39
Physicians
7,216.00
Dentistry
1,896.00
Eyeglasses
663.25
Other medical
1,107.66
In making up the budgets for 1964 we have anticipated the effect of repeal of legal settlement in Old Age Assistance and General Relief under Chapter 566, Acts of 1963 and Chapter 726 respectively. Effective January 1, 1964 in General Relief the Town will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth 20% of all aid furnished and in Old Age Assistance 70% of the amount remaining after the Federal reimbursement
CLAUDIA I. SCHILLER, Director
WALTER SILVEIRA
JAMES B. LANAGAN
EARL L. HOLDEN Board Members
89
Librarian's Report to The Board of Trustees of The Millicent Library
LIBRARY EXPLOSION
Utilization of empty window sills and storage closets is the fate of all librarians who have yet to realize proposed building expansion.
In spite of weeding and rearrangement of furniture, all libraries are crowded to the front doors because of additional patronage which occasions a demand for more books and services.
The library explosion has been felt very keenly here at home. Only through the kindness of Beatrice Mosgrove, whose close associations with this library prompted her to reward it so gener- ously in her will, is the library able to afford the costly additions and repairs that were instituted during the year.
A new circulation desk that will be serviceable to patrons and staff is promised for early in January, 1964. New book cases in the center aisle have provided room for teen corner expansion and for an overflow of adult fiction. Book cases under the stained glass window in the foyer provide additional space in this new books section. Now, browsing can be done away from the circu- lation and reference areas.
An additional catalog case was purchased to ease a tightly packed card catalog.
The general appearance and greater comfort to users of the adult Reading Room has undergone a transformation with the addition of pieces of furniture sent to the library from New York by our trustee Mr. Henry Rogers Benjamin. Among the collection was a magnificent mahogany desk which is now in the Librarian's Office.
New concrete sidewalks and extensive roof repairs were made possible because of our legacy.
The Trustees and Librarian realize that these innovations will temporarily solve some of the space problems and that for any future thinking an addition is the only answer. A larger children's room with space for the young adults at one end; a garage for the bookmobile; heat in the basement so that books could be safely stored there and programs could be held in the auditorium during the winter as well as during the summer. Such improvements would provide for all future growth.
90
ADDITIONAL GIFTS
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Peralta-Ramos have donated to the library a collection of gold and silver jewelry of intrinsic value and unusual design. Mr. Peralta-Ramos' mother, Millicent Rogers, niece of the Henry Rogers' Millicent for whom the library was named, designed and partially made these pieces the last few years she lived. Her inspiration came from the Indian culture she admired so much in her home in Taos, New Mexico. It was here in Taos that her son recently built in her memory a museum which houses her priceless collection of Indian objects and other jewelry executed by her. Part of our collection can be viewed in the Trustees' Room.
Mr. and Mrs. Peralta-Ramos also donated some Rogers scrap- books for the Rogers collection along with two volumes of whaling material-one a log book of H. C. Ship Herefordshire, third voyage, 1818-1820 and the other papers and accounts of the whaling ships "Jasper" and "Navigator" 1832-1855. These two items were es- pecially marked for public use; and because whaling enthusiasts can best avail themselves of material of this nature in the New Bedford Free Public Library's Melville Room, the Trustees de- cided to lend the two volumes to be used in that collection.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rogers Benjamin have provided more material for the Rogers Room; Mr. William Rogers Coe donated several choice books; many library borrowers also have given inter- esting and valuable volumes - Mrs Henry H. Saunderson, for example, has sent the library some of her husband's writings as well as volumes from her famous Browning collection.
The Exchange Club of New Bedford presented the library with a beautiful flag and standard to be used inside the building. This now occupies a prominent place in the foyer.
LIBRARY USE
1,803 borrowers registered during the year; 1,095 adults and 708 juveniles, making a total of 5,681 registered or 39% of the population. 219 non-residents were added, making a total of 789 out of town borrowers registered at the library - 13 % of the total of all library users. 852 new patrons were welcomed. 117,328 books, magazines, records, pictures and pamphlets were circulated in 1963. The bookmobile issued 25,364 items making up 21% of our total circulation.
2,653 volumes were added and 1,294 withdrawn, making a total of 56,698 in the collection.
2,641 books were cataloged, 1,988 adult and 653 juvenile. 255 new titles were added to the teen collection.
A survey was made to determine how many patrons used the
91
library from eight to nine p. m. The majority of serious borrowers came to the library before eight o'clock. On the strength of this conclusion,the Trustees voted to close the library Monday, Wed- nesday and Friday evenings at eight instead of nine o'clock.
The Millicent Library entertained visitors on two occasions - Sunday, August 11, the New Bedford Summer Festival featured a tour of historic buildings in the greater New Bedford area and our library was chosen as a building to be visited; and on October 5 the Saturday Club toured the library and heard a talk on "Rogers Reminiscenses" by the Librarian.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
The emphasis on reading evidenced in the schools and the programs planned by the library has made Fairhaven children well aware of books.
Films and story hours planned around familiar book themes is the aim of the library staff. Johnny Sisson, the popular puppeteer drew 492 youngsters to see an old fairy tale acted out during National Library Week. The summer film program scheduled for eight Wednesday mornings during the summer attracted 2,012 children, or an average of 252 a week.
During Book Week some of the new children's books were brought to the schools by the Librarian; and at the Library a show just for fun was planned. 560 children jammed in to watch Joseph Burke, Jr. perform some magic tricks.
TRUSTEES AND STAFF
Mrs. Charles J. Lewin was elected a Trustee to replace Mabel L. Potter. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rogers Benjamin attended the June meeting of the Board.
Mrs. Evelyn McNeil resigned in December and Mrs. Beverly Robinson was hired as Childen's Librarian.
Members of the staff attended meetings of the New England Library Association, The Massachusetts Library Association, The Old Dartmouth Library Club and the Cape Cod Library Club. A workshop on weeding was conducted by the Division of Library Extension in Padanaram, and three members of the library staff participated.
The Librarian continued her part in the Regional Library planning for eastern Massachusetts. She was asked to speak to thirteen different groups about new books and about the uses and abuses of the library.
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CONCLUSION
Material gains measure some degree of accomplishment; and with the many acquisitions and higher circulation figures the library feels an acknowledged sense of pride.
It will always be the aim of the Board and staff, however, to maintain the dignity with which Mr. Rogers endowed this institu- tion as equal in importance to its educational role in community life.
Respectfully submitted, RITA E. STEELE
STATISTICAL REPORT THE MILLICENT LIBRARY FAIRHAVEN, MASS. American Library Association Form of Statistics
Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1963
Name of Library - The Millicent Library
Librarian - Rita E. Steele
Town - Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Date of Founding - 1893
Population served (1960 census)
14,339
Assessed valuation of town (1962)
$17,290,685.00
Total number of agencies
10
Consisting of -
Central Library
4 Stations (Bookmobile, King's Daughters Home, Our Lady's Haven, West Island)
5 Schools (126 classroom collections)
Number of days open during year (Central Library)
300
Hours open each week for lending
60
Hours open each week for reading
60
Book Stock
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Volumes at beginning of year
43,051
12.288
55,339
Volumes added
1,962
691
2,653
Volumes lost or withdrawn
408
886
1,294
Total volumes at end of year
44,605
12,093
56,698
Periodicals currently received
144
Publications issued
Annual report, monthly list of books
Use
Adult
Juvenile
Total volumes loaned
69,717
47,611
Total 117,328
Circulation per capita
8
Circulation per registered borrower
21
Registration
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Borrowers registered during year
1,095
708
1,803
Total of registered borrowers
3,431
2,250
5,681
Percent registered borrowers of population served
39 %
93
FINANCIAL STATEMENT THE MILLICENT LIBRARY Report of the Treasurer for the year ended December 31, 1963
BALANCE ON HAND December 31, 1962
$ 233.79
Receipts
Town of Fairhaven
$27,214.00
State Aid
3,585.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Trust Fund)
3,500.00
Fairhaven Water Company
4,800.00
Building Fund
3,655.00
Miscellaneous
2,275.61
45,059.61
$45,293.40
Expenditures
Salaries: Library Staff
23,611.41
Salary:
Janitor
3,576.61
Social Security
966.89
Books
6,753.31
Periodicals
915.08
Book Binding
90.72
Library of Congress Cards
310.05
Telephone
286.36
Gas and Electricity
846.56
Fuel
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