USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1955 > Part 2
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VOTED : On motion of Clayton Atwood to hear the re- port of the Finance Committee.
Report of Finance Committee given by Charles Harris.
VOTED : That the Town raise and appropriate the fol- lowing sums necessary to defray Town charges and assess- ments as approved by the Finance Committee.
Account
Elementary School Bonds Interest on School Bonds
$25,000.00 8,690.00
Amount Maker of motion Wyman Hawkes Wyman Hawkes
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ANNUAL REPORT
School Department
222,498.00
Wyman Hawkes
High School Athletic Fund
1,350.00
Wyman Hawkes
Public Library
1,766.00
Earle Smith
County Retirement Fund
2,892.00
William Benevides
Civilian Defense
356.00
Earle Smith
Care of Town Elms
2,000.00
George Rose
Gypsy Moth Control
500.00
George Rose
Memorial Day Observance
150.00
Donald Costa
Veterans' Memorial Hall
990.00
Donald Costa
Police Department
5,338.00
Earle Smith
Fire Department
6,361.50
Donald Hathaway
Fire Dept. : Pump Account
495.00
Donald Hathaway
South Station Repair Acct.
1,000.00
Donald Hathaway
Street Department
4,500.00
Henry Goff
Street Dept .- Sidewalk Maintenance
600.00
Earle Smith
Chap. 81-Highway Fund
7,350.00
Henry Goff
Chap. 90-Maintenance
1,700.00
Henry Goff
Chap. 90-D. & B. Bridge Main.
280.00
Henry Goff
Dighton & Berkley Bridge
1,000.00
Henry Goff
General Relief Adm.
2,200.00
Earle Smith
Aid to Dependent Children
3,500.00
Earle Smith
Disability Assistance
3,200.00
Earle Smith
Old Age Assistance
32,000.00
Earle Smith
Public Welfare Dept.
5,000.00
Earle Smith
Veterans' Benefits
7,500.00
Bella Boucher
Board of Health
3,600.00
Earle Smith
Care of Town Dumps
2,000.00
Earle Smith
General Government:
Assessors' Dept.
3,400.00
Charles Harris
Auditing Department
753.00
Charles Harris
Dog Officer's Account
190.00
Charles Harris
Election and Registra- tion
1,160.00
Charles Harris
Selectmen's Dept.
2,459.00
Charles Harris
Town Clerk
1,230.00
Charles Harris
Town Collector
2,124.00
Charles Harris
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ANNUAL REPORT
Town Treasurer 1,793.00 Charles Harris
Town Office Incidentals
4,250.00 Charles Harris
Town Insurance Account
5,667.56 Charles Harris
Hydrant Rental Account
1,740.00 Charles Harris
Tax Title Account
250.00
Clayton Atwood
VOTED : On motion of Clayton Atwood that the Town appropriate and transfer from the surplus revenue account to a 1954 Bills Account the sum of $2,518.27 as provided under Chapter 44, Section 64 of the General Laws. Unani- mous vote.
VOTED : On motion of Charles Harris that the salaries of the elected Town Officials as appropriated within the De- partmental Accounts be established for the year 1955 as follows:
Board of Assessors :
Chairman
$ 700.00
Clerk
500.00
Others
600.00 each
Town Auditor 600.00
Board of Health :
Chairman
200.00
Others
100.00 each
Board of Public Welfare :
Chairman
200.00
Others 100.00 each
Board of Selectmen :
Chairman
1,000.00
Others
500.00 each
Moderator 20.00
School Committee Secretary
25.00
Town Clerk
600.00
Town Collector
1,500.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
Town Treasurer 1,150.00
Tree Warden
35.00
VOTED: On motion of Charles Harris that the Town appropriate and transfer the sum of $5,000 from the Re- serve fund (Overlay Surplus) to Reserve Account-Appro- priated, in accordance with Chapter 40, Section 6, General Laws.
VOTED : On motion of Henry Goff that the Town ap- propriate and transfer the sum of $1,900 from the Road Ma- chinery Fund to the Road Machinery Account, of which $1,600 will be for Maintenance expenses of Town owned highway equipment and $300 for the purchase of a new power saw.
VOTED : On motion of Peter Tuttle that the Town ap- propriate the Dog Tax Refund in the amount of $474.21 for the use of the Elementary School Library Account.
VOTED: On motion of William Benevides that the Town authorize the transfer of unappropriated available funds in the Treasury in the sum of $39,935 to Highway Revenue in anticipation of reimbursement from the State and County for Chapter 81 and 90 Maintenance and Chap- ter 90 Road Construction.
VOTED: On motion of William Hathaway that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anti- cipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning Janu- ary 1, 1955, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
VOTED : On motion of Earle Smith that the Town au- thorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Select- men, to sell at public auction or private sale or lease all
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ANNUAL REPORT
properties which the Town has legally acquired by Tax Title.
VOTED : On motion of Louis Constantine that the Town make changes in grade, take land by purchase or eminent domain, and to settle damages for land taken in conjunction with the 1955 Highway program under Chapter 81 and Chapter 90.
VOTED : On motion of William Benevides that the Town establish the compensation of laborers employed by the Town in the highway department at $1.25 per hour and $1.60 per hour for the Superintendent of Streets.
VOTED : On motion of Clayton Atwood that the Town appropriate and transfer from the Surplus Revenue Ac- count, the sum of $7,500 as the Town's share to complete the construction of Williams Street as provided under the Chapter 90 Highway Program for 1955.
VOTED : On motion of Earle Smith that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000 for the purchase of a new tractor loader for use of the Town Highway Department.
VOTED : On motion of Henry Goff that the Town ap- propriate and transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account, the sum of $5,000 for the purpose of gravelling and improv- ing Town roads.
VOTED: On motion of George Riley that the Town, pursuant to a petition of Stafford H. Hambly and others, lay-out, accept, and establish "Baylies Street", as a public highway, a description of which is contained in a lay-out dated January, 1955, together with a Quit-Claim Deed as filed with the Town Clerk.
VOTED : On motion of Joseph Allie that the Town in- struct the Board of Selectmen to take the necessary legal action whereby the Town may accept the extension of Muddy Cove Lane as a public way.
VOTED : On motion of Albert Enos that the Town au-
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ANNUAL REPORT
thorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to parcel, convey and sell for the considera- tion of all liabilities incurred, to the present owners of abut- ting lands, that strip of land known as the "railroad bed" located north of Hart Street, west of Pleasant Street, east of County Street, and south of Muddy Cove Lane as de- scribed in a deed issued to the Town by the Trustees of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company and dated September 25, 1945.
VOTED: On motion of Mrs. Walter Candelet that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with the provisions of Section 15A, Chapter 40, General Laws, to establish the land and building formerly used for School purposes, known as the Segreganset School located on Som- erset Avenue, as a Civic Center for the purpose of public and civic services.
VOTED : On motion of Earle Smith that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $600 to defray costs of installa- tion of water and other sanitary facilities in the newly es- tablished Civic Center.
VOTED: On motion of George Rose that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $250 for the purpose of maintaining during the ensuing year, the mosquito control works as estimated and certified to by the State Reclama- tion Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 112, Acts of 1931.
VOTED: On motion of William Hathaway that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to parcel, convey and sell to the owners of abutting lands, a tract of Town owned land for- merly used for school purposes, located on Prospect and Chase Streets and described in a lay-out as filed with the Town Clerk, for the consideration of an amount to be deter- mined by a board of appraisers.
VOTED : On motion of Gordon Spinney that the Town,
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ANNUAL REPORT
as provided under Section 15A, Chapter 40, General Laws, establish as a public playground to be under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen, that section of Town owned land formerly used for school purposes, located on School Street and described in a lay-out as filed with the Town Clerk.
Report of the School Building Needs Committee of Dighton given by Walter Candelet:
REPORT OF SCHOOL BUILDING NEEDS COMMITTEE OF DIGHTON.
By vote of a special Town Meeting held on December 29, 1954, a committee to study the building needs of both the Dighton Elementary and High schools was created, with instructions to report its findings to the next Annual Town Meeting. The following persons were subsequently ap- pointed by the moderator: Mrs. Stafford Hambly, Mrs. Ar- nold Shaw, Mr. Earle Smith, Mr. Wyman Hawkes, Mr. Stu- art Arnold, Mr. Walter Candelet, Mr. Caesar Araujo, Mr. Robert Bradshaw, and Mr. Thomas L. Warren.
The committee held six meetings during which the school buildings were inspected, and the following were in- terviewed : Mr. Edward H. Gillespie, Principal of the High School; Mr. Oliver J. Collard, Principal of the Elementary School; Mr. Charles F. Day, Director of the Vocational School; Mr. Leslie Nutting of the Vocational Department of the State Department of Education; and Mr. Israel T. Almy, Architect.
As a result of the interviews, it was found that Dighton High School is now handling as many students (300) as pos- sible. The enrollments of the elementary grades of Digh- ton, Freetown, and Berkley are of such a size that the pros- pective number of pupils who would like to enter Dighton High will increase each September for many years to come.
The Vocational School has been hampered for some time by the lack of adequate space and facilities for the op- eration of the best program possible. In the wood shop
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ANNUAL REPORT
much more space per pupil is essential if each boy is to per- form to the maximum of his ability and in safety. Pupils in the automobile shop must do all welding and spray paint- ing out-of-doors and, therefore, these types of work are sub- ject to the vagaries of the New England weather. This com- mittee is unanimous in the opinion that vocational educa- tion is of the utmost importance and should continue to be carried on in Dighton, and if anything, expanded, for it was found by talking with personnel managers of local indus- tries that there is a great need for vocationally trained men in our own and surrounding communities.
The removal of the town offices from the High School would make available space which is vitally needed for school purposes. The report of the High School Principal for 1954 goes into this in great detail.
The possibility of renting or purchasing the garage for- merly owned by the Mount Hope Company for use as a vo- cational school, town offices, and storage of street depart- ment equipment was investigated, but the cost was far in excess of what was considered worthy of consideration.
The Elementary School, though only in its third year of operation is already crowded. There are now three first- grade classes with an average of 27 pupils; three second- grade classes with an average of 23 pupils, and two third- grade classes with a total of 71 pupils. Should present en- rollment trends continue, and there is every indication that they will, it will soon be necessary to have three sections of each grade rather than two which is now true of grades 3 to 8, for as groups become larger than 25, particularly in the lower grades, the learning progress of each pupil lessens.
Grade
1
2
3
4 32
5 29
6 35
7
8
27 27
22 23
37
28
23
40
36
29
35
29
24
27
24
Total-523.
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ANNUAL REPORT
It becomes readily apparent that it will soon be neces- sary to make a sizeable addition to the Elementary School, or remove the pupils of grades 7 and 8 from the building and start a junior high school comprised of grades 7 to 9.
If the present high school continues to be used as such, it will be necessary in the very near future to add eight classrooms and a separate gymnasium to the present ele- mentary school, 43 % of this cost would be paid by the state. However, if Dighton becomes a partner in a regional high school district, the present high school could be used as a junior high school, and only a small addition would have to be made on the elementary building. Financially, because of the greater state reimbursement for regional schools, it would be less expensive for Dighton to follow the latter plan.
Possible Courses of Action:
The committee, after more than twenty hours of inten- sive study and discussions offers the following possible courses of action for the townspeople to consider:
1. Dighton High for residents of Dighton only. If this were done
a. The student body would be too small for proper grouping such as college English, general English, etc. In terms of good education, this would be a very poor arrangement. This condition would be true until about 1962 at which time there would be ap- proximately as many pupils as we now have.
b. Eventually the high school would be too small for even Dighton residents and it would be necessary for Dighton alone to build a new high school.
c. A new addition for the vocational school should be built in the rear of the high school. The cost of this building, which would provide adequate space for a wood shop, related classrooms, and an auto shop
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ANNUAL REPORT
with the required space for welding and spray painting, would be about $75,000, of which the state would reimburse 43%, or $32,250. This net cost of $42,750 could be taken from the excess and deficiency fund and thereby save any cost of bor- rowing.
Should the high school be used as a junior high school, the proposed new vocational building could be used as an industrial arts shop for the pupils of grades 7-9, or for other town purposes.
d. An elementary addition of six regular classrooms and two classrooms for special education (a require- ment resulting from a law passed in 1954) plus a separate auditorium would be required as soon as it could be planned and built. The cost of this would be about $300,000, 43% of which would be reimbursed by the State.
2. Retain the pupils of Berkley and Freetown for a period of about five years and then operate the high school for Dighton residents only. This would have the following results :
a. The town offices would have to be moved within a year, and a new vocational addition built in order to provide sufficient classroom space in the present building.
b. The elementary addition spoken of in Section 1 would still be necessary.
c. Again, in about eight years, Dighton would have to build a new high school, at a very great cost.
3. Continue to accept the tuition pupils from Free- town and Berkley, and begin immediately to study the pos- sibility of becoming a partner in a Regional School District, the purpose of which would be to build and operate a re-
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ANNUAL REPORT
gional high school. The results of this would be :
a. Removal of the town offices.
b. Construction of a vocational building.
c. Use of the present high school as a junior high school when the regional high school became op- erative.
d. Addition of two rooms on the elementary school at an approximate cost of $35,000, less 43%, rather than eight rooms and an auditorium for about $300,- 000, less 43 % .
The decision of the committee is that financially and educationally the school building needs of the Town of Dighton may best be served by following plan number three, because of the added reimbursement given by the State for a regional school, plus the fact that other communities would be sharing the costs.
Advantages of a Regional School District:
A regional school has the following advantages:
a. All pre-construction costs such as the preparation of preliminary and final drawings as well as en- gineering costs are paid by the State.
b. 65% rather than 43% of the cost of construction will be paid by the State.
c. A bigger school offering a much more diversified program may be built, and yet at a lower cost to each participating community.
d. Each town in a Regional School District receives 15% more general school aid than it would if it were not in a regional. This year this would mean about $5,632 to Dighton. In later years as the en- rollment grows this amount would increase.
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ANNUAL REPORT
e. All transportation costs of a region are reimbursed by the State. This would amount to approximately $750 more reimbursement in 1954-1955 for Dighton and increase as the number of secondary pupils in- creased.
f. Cost of Regional School.
If a regional high school sufficient in size to accom- modate the pupils of grades 9-12 of Dighton, Re- hoboth, Freetown and Berkley were built it would cost approximately $2,000,000. The State's share of this, including all pre-planning costs and 65% of all other costs would be $1,335,000.00. Dighton's share of the net cost of the region would be 35.4% of $665,000.00, or $235,410.00. The yearly pay- ment for this on a 20-year bond issue would be $11,- 770.50 plus interest.
g. If Dighton were in a regional school district it would pay only the actual per pupil cost for annual opera- tional expenses, whereas under the present arrange- ment it pays more than this cost in order to main- tain its own high school.
COMPARATIVE COSTS OF PROPOSALS.
1. Dighton High for Dighton pupils only (immedi- ately) :
a. Vocational Building-$75,000, less State reimbursement, 43 % $ 42,750
b. Elementary addition-$300,000, less 43% State reimbursement 171,000
c. Eventual cost of a new high school or extensive additions and alterations to present building approximately (less 43 % State reimbursement) 427,500
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ANNUAL REPORT
d. Loss of tuition fees for the next five years 155,000 plus
Total
$796,250
2. Dighton High for Dighton Pupils only (1960) :
a. Vocational buildings as in 1a $ 42,750
b. Elementary buildings as in 1b 171,000
c. Cost of a new or renovated high school (1963) 427,500
Total 641,250
3. Regional High with present Dighton High used as a Junior High :
a. Vocational Building as in 1a 42,750
b. Regional High 235,410
c. Elementary addition, two rooms- $35,000, less 43 % 19,950
Total $298,110
VOTED: On motion of Stuart Arnold that the report of the Dighton School Needs Committee be accepted as a re- port of progress, and that the committee is hereby instructed to further its study and to explore the feasibility of the es- tablishing of a regional school district consisting of towns adjacent to the Town of Dighton and to investigate the needs of expansion of the whole Dighton School System, in- cluding the Elementary School, High School and Vocational School, and to report back at the adjourned Town Meeting.
VOTED : On motion of Miss Helen Lane that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $100 for the purpose of marking and preserving historic spots within the limits of the Town.
VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that the meet- ing be adjourned to 7:30 P. M. on May 2, 1955.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Meeting adjourned at 10:15 P. M.
The adjourned Town meeting from March 14, 1955 was held on May 2, 1955 in the Town Hall and was called to order by Stafford H. Hambly, Moderator at 7:30 P. M.
VOTED : On motion of William Benevides to dispense with the reading of the warrant.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY: On motion of Earle Smith to reconsider Article V.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY: On motion of Clayton At- wood to amend the established vote to read thus: That the salaries of the elected Town Officials as appropriated within the Departmental Accounts be established for the year Jan- uary 1 to December 31, 1955.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY : On motion of William Bene- vides to take up Article 6.
VOTED : On motion of Earle Smith to hear the report of the Finance Committee.
Mr. Charles Harris gave the report for the Finance Committee stating that each requested change in the ap- propriations had the approval of the Finance Committee, as the exact figures for some of the accounts were not known at the time of the Town Meeting in March.
VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood to accept the report of the Finance Committee.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY : On motion of William Bene- vides to reconsider the 1954 Bills Account.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY : On motion of Clayton At- wood that the Town amend the vote as established to read thus : that the Town appropriate and transfer from the Sur- plus Revenue Account $2,615.23 for the 1954 Bills as pro- vided under Chapter 44, Section 64.
1
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ANNUAL REPORT
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY: On motion of Earle Smith to reconsider the Retirement Fund appropriation.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY: On motion of Clayton At- wood that the Town raise and appropriate $2,892.20 for the County Retirement Fund thus amending the vote as estab- lished.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY : On motion of William Bene- vides to reconsider the Town Insurance Appropriation.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY: On motion of Clayton At- wood that the Town amend the established vote in the in- surance account to read thus: that the Town raise and ap- propriate $5,803.86 for the Town Insurance Account.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY : On motion of William Bene- vides to reconsider the South Station Repair Account ap- propriation.
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY: On motion of Clayton At- wood that the Town amend the established vote to read thus: that the Town raise and appropriate $1,600 for the South Station Repair Account.
VOTED: To hear the report of the School Building Needs Committee.
The report was given by Walter Candelet: The Com- mittee has recommended that the Town Offices be removed from the Town building so that the incoming classes in 1956 will be able to use those classrooms. Also, a new vocational building be built so we can use those rooms in 1956. Then, we have considered the regional high school which will take time to get under way. We recommend that we continue to accept the tuition pupils from Freetown and Berkley, and be- gin immediately to study the possibility of becoming a part- ner in a regional school district, the purpose of which would be to build and operate a regional high school, and that we use the present high school as a junior high school when the regional high school becomes operative.
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ANNUAL REPORT
VOTED: To recess adjourned Town meeting to 8:00 P. M.
Warrant for Special Town Meeting was then read by Stafford H. Hambly, Moderator.
VOTED: To recess the Special Town Meeting at 8:09 pending completion of the adjourned Town meeting.
VOTED : To incorporate the report of the School Build- ing Needs Committee with the report given at the previous meeting.
VOTED : On motion of Earle Smith to accept the report of the Chairman as a report of progress and authorize the committee to further continue its study.
VOTED : To recess adjourned Town meeting and re- open special Town meeting.
VOTED : On motion of Walter Candelet to create a spe- cial unpaid committee to be known as a Regional School District Planning Committee, to consist of the three mem- bers, including one member of the School Committee, to be appointed by the Moderator in accordance with the provi- sions of Section 14 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws as amended.
VOTED : On motion of Charles Harris to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell to the highest bidder the old Town owned ambulance.
Stafford Hambly appointed the Regional School Dis- trict Planning Committee as follows: Wyman Hawkes, Wal- ter Candelet, and June Hambly.
VOTED : To adjourn Special Town Meeting at 8:18.
Stafford Hambly appointed the following to the Fi- nance Committee of the Town of Dighton to serve until the final adjournment of the 1956 annual Town Meeting : Elliott D. Cole, Louis Constantine, Charles W. Harris, William F.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Hathaway, William Marsden, Jr., Carl P. Gorden, Milton F. Horton.
VOTED : To adjourn without date at 8:20 P. M.
The results of the State census as of January 1, 1955 are : Precinct A, 1,308; Precinct B, 683; Precinct C., 1,324. Total-3,315.
The following appointments were made by the Select- men for the year, each being duly sworn to faithful per- formance of duties thereof :
Agent of Board of Health : Charles A. Carlstrom, Percy B. Simmons.
Auctioneer : John W. Synan.
Civil Defense Director : Stafford Hambly.
Constables: Charles A. Carlstrom, Raymond Horton, Percy B. Simmons, Arthur F. Sprague.
Constable for Somerset Water Works: Henry Reckord.
Dog Officer : John Medeiros.
Election Officers: Anna C. Simmons, Catherine Sher- man, Dorothy Donnelly, Selma Wall, Leland Pierce, Elaine O'Connell, Ervin Barney, Evelyn M. DeSilva, Cora B. Barry, Elaine Varley, Caroline Tripp, Helen Atwood, Mary M. Perry, Yvette Alves, Lillian Deslauriers, Ruth Leeming, James Bacon, Jr., Louise Catabia, Hazel Reed, Florence I. Perry, Bernice Darling, George W. Rose, Florence Sprague, Irene S. Goulart, Agnes Murray, Mary Allie, Muriel J. Carey.
Fence Viewers: Willis Barlow, Raymond Horton, Har- old Mendoza.
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