USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1958 > Part 2
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4,491.06
Gordon Spinney
Care of Town Elms
3,500.00
Clayton Atwood
Insect Pest Control
500.00
Clayton Atwood
Brush Control
1,000.00
Clayton Atwood
Sidewalk Maintenance
500.00
Clayton Atwood
Street Department
7,500.00
Clayton Atwood
Chapter #81-
Highway Fund
7,350.00
Clayton Atwood
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ANNUAL REPORT
Chapter #90-Maintenance 1,700.00
Clayton Atwood
Dighton-Berkley Bridge
1,000.00
Clayton Atwood
Fire Department
9,542.78
William Benevides
Police Department
6,810.00
Earle Smith
Public Library
1,936.00
Lois Staples
Civic Center Maintenance 275.00
Earle Smith
Veterans' Memorial Hall
1,000.00
Clayton Atwood
Memorial Day Observance
175.00
Clayton Atwood
Playgrounds & Recreation
1,210.00
Edward Antunes
Board of Health
4,100.00
Earle Smith
Town Ambulance Maintenance 345.00
Earle Smith
Care of Town Dumps
2,000.00
Earle Smith
Hydrant Rentals
1,740.00
Earle Smith
General Relief
Administration
2,700.00
William Benevides
Aid to Dependent Children
3,800.00
William Benevides
Disability Assistance
2,700.00
William Benevides
General Relief (Welfare)
7,000.00
William Benevides
Old Age Assistance
28,500.00
William Benevides
Veterans' Benefits
4,500.00
William Benevides
Assessors' Department
3,000.00
Harold Mendoza
Auditor's Department
750.00
Milton Horton
Dog Officer's Account
200.00
Clayton Atwood
Election, Registration & Census
1,820.00
Milton Horton
Planning Board
300.00
Clayton Atwood
Public Property Account
350.00
Clayton Atwood
Selectmen's Department
2,700.00
Clayton Atwood Milton Horton
Town Office Account
6,708.00
Town Clerk
925.00
Milton Horton
Town Collector
2,190.00
Milton Horton
Town Treasurer
1,710.00
Milton Horton
Finance Committee
50.00
Gordon Spinney
Tax Title Foreclosure Account
400.00
Milton Horton
Tax Possession Account
300.00
Milton Horton
Town Insurance
8,180.95
Milton Horton
Town Shade Tree Account
500.00
Clayton Atwood
1957 Bills
132.71
Clayton Atwood
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ANNUAL REPORT
(5) VOTED: On motion of Milton Horton that the salaries of the elected Town Officers as appropriated within the De- partmental Accounts, be established for the year January 1 to December 31, 1958 as follows:
Board of Assessors :
Chairman
$ 700.00
Clerk
500.00
Others
600.00 each
TownAuditor
600.00
Board of Health :
Chairman
200.00
Others
100.00 each
Board of Public Welfare:
Chairman
350.00
Others
250.00 each
Board of Selectmen:
Chairman
1,000.00
Others
500.00 each
Moderator
20.00
School Committee Secretary
25.00
Town Clerk
700.00
Town Collector
1,600.00
Town Treasurer
1,200.00
Tree Warden
35.00
(7) VOTED: On motion of Gordon Spinney that the Town appropriate and transfer the sum of $5,000 from the Reserve Fund (Overlay Surplus) to Reserve Account Appropriated, in accordance with Chapter 40, Section 6, General Laws.
8) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that the Town appropriate and transfer $3,000 from the Machinery Fund to the Machinery Account for purposes of operating and purchasing miscellaneous highway equipment.
(9) VOTED: On motion of Albert DeSilva that the Town
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ANNUAL REPORT
appropriate the Dog Tax Refund in the amount of $602.35 for use of the High School Library Account.
(10) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that the Town authorize the transfer of unappropriated available funds in the Treasury in the sum of $50,675.00 to Highway Revenue in anticipation of reimbursement from the State and County for Chapter 81 and Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance and Construction.
(11) VOTED: On motion of Gordon Spinney that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Se- lectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1958, 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.
(12) VOTED: On motion of Gordon Spinney that the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Se- lectmen, to sell at public auction or private sale, all properties which the Town has legally acquired by Tax Title.
(13) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood 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 1958 Highway Program under Chapter 81 and Chap- ter 90.
(14) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that the Town accept a proposed layout of Elm Street as shown on a plan on file with the Town Clerk and to authorize and accept a pro- posed taking by eminent domain or purchase, as provided by the General Laws of Massachusetts, by the Selectmen of the Town of Dighton, for the purpose of constructing, altering, locating or repairing a highway in said Dighton, known as Elm Street, as shown on a plan of the proposed layout of Elm Street, entitled "A Plan Showing a Portion of Elm Street at the Segreganset River in the Town of Dighton, Bristol County, Scale 40 feet to the inch-Massachusetts Department of Public
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ANNUAL REPORT
Works, February, 1958," said plan being on file with the Town Clerk, certain parcels of land in fee with all rights, easements, privileges and appurtenances thereto, including all fixtures, buildings, structures affixed thereto, and all trees, including shade trees, fruit trees, shrubs and stone walls.
(15) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that the Town accept a proposed layout of Elm Street as shown on a plan on file with the Town Clerk and to authorize and accept a proposed taking by eminent domain or purchase, as provided by the General Laws of Massachusetts, by the Selectmen of the Town of Dighton, for the purpose of constructing, altering, locating or repairing a highway in said Dighton, known as Elm Street, as shown on a plan of the proposed layout of Elm Street, entitled "A Plan Showing a Portion of Elm Street at the Richmond Hill Brook in the Town of Dighton, Bristol County, Scale 40 feet to the inch-Massachusetts Department of Public Works, February, 1958," said plan being on file with the Town Clerk, certain parcels of land in fee with all rights, easements, privileges and appurtenances thereto, including all fixtures, buildings, structures affixed thereto, and all trees, including shade trees, fruit trees, shrubs, and stone walls.
(16) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that the sum of $3,750 be appropriated to meet the Town's share of the cost of Chapter 90 Highway Construction, and to meet said ap- propriation the sum of $3,750 be transferred from the pro- ceeds received from the State under the provisions of Chapter 718 of the Acts of 1956.
(17) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that the Town appropriate and transfer from the Surplus Revenue Account, the sum of $17,500.00 for the purpose of gravelling and im- proving Town roads.
(18) VOTED: On motion of William Benevides that the Town raise and appropriate $750.00 for the purpose of defraying costs of making necessary repairs to the Town Offices.
(19) VOTED: On motion of Earle Smith that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $250.00 for the purpose of main-
1
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ANNUAL REPORT
taining during the ensuing year, the mosquito control works as estimated and certified to by the State Reclamation Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 112, Acts of 1931.
(20) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that the Town raise and appropriate $1,900.00 for the purpose of completing repairs to the abutments of the Dighton and Berkley Bridge as provided under a Chapter 90 Maintenance project.
(21) VOTED: On motion of Harold Mendoza that the Town raise and appropriate $6,000.00 for the purpose of completing phase #2 of the Tax Mapping Project as established by vote of the Town on May 6, 1957.
(22) VOTED: On motion of Richard Simmons that the Town raise and appropriate $1,000.00 for the purpose of defraying expenses for the improvement of recreational and playground facilities.
(23) A report of the Town Office Committee was given by Clayton Atwood as follows:
"The Town Office Committee last reported under Article 24 at the 1957 Annual Town Meeting. Within the year the Chairman, acting in behalf of the Committee, submitted a request to the Regional School Planning Committee whereby the needs of additional Town Office space be included in the plans of that Committee, in relation to adoption of the High School Building as a Junior High School.
"However, in accordance with a previous report, any physical change will await the decision of the Town relative to School Building Needs.
Respectfully submitted, Clayton H. Atwood Percy B. Simmons William F. Benevides Stafford H. Hambly Earle M. Smith Harold M. Mendoza Robert T. Roy"
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ANNUAL REPORT
VOTED: On motion of William Benevides that the report of the Town Office Committee be accepted as a progress report and the committee be instructed to continue to func- tion as outlined.
(24) A report of the School Building Needs Committee was given by Stuart Arnold.
"Three meetings were held during the year with the Se- lectmen, School Committee, and Regional Planning Com- mittee. These meetings were held to hear the reports of the Regional Committee meetings, to offer suggestions, and to hear proposals of surrounding towns. The Com- mittee is unanimously in favor of a four year regional high school if the Regional Committee were to bring in such a report."
VOTED: On motion of William Benevides that the Town accept the report of the Dighton School Building Needs Com- mittee as a report of progress.
(25) The report of the Regional School Planning Committee was given by Stuart Arnold as follows:
"At the Town Meeting of March, 1957, it was reported that we were studying regional plans with Berkley. This study came to an end when the Berkley Committee ex- pressed a desire to wait and see what happened in the Freetown-Lakeville Regional.
"In May we met with a sub-committee of the Rehoboth School Needs Committee and discussed our needs and theirs.
"In August this committee called upon us again and ex- pressed a desire to study the regional school problem. with us. Since that time we have had at least one meet- ing a month with that committee. The fact that Reho- both had engaged the services of Mr. John Marshall, school building consultant, to do a school survey slowed the work of the committee.
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ANNUAL REPORT
"The report of Mr. Marshall's survey was received in Jan- uary. After it was discussed and revised to a certain ex- tent, the committee began its work on a regional agree- ment. The committee is now working on an agreement to establish a four year regional high school."
VOTED: On motion of Harry Hagopian that the Town accept the report of the Regional School Planning Committee as a report of progress and instruct them to continue study with any interested towns.
(26) The report of the Town Ambulance Committee was given by Clayton Atwood:
"The Board of Selectmen acting under authority of the Town Meeting vote, appointed a committee of eight in February of 1958 to work with them to study the needs and feasibility of replacing the present town-owned am- bulance.
"The Committee has met on two occasions and at the pre- sent have the following to submit:
1. The present town-operated ambulance should be re- placed in the immediate future.
2. The Town should be requested to provide the neces- sary funds to purchase a good, suitable and satisfac- tory vehicle to meet the Town's needs.
3. A new system of service charges should be established whereby all who benefit from the ambulance are assessed a fee.
4. Whereas several neighboring communities and private agencies have orders placed for delivery of various types of ambulance vehicles, the Committee desires to inspect these upon delivery which is estimated to be near April 1, 1958, in most instances.
5. The Committee will further study the possible pur- chase of used deluxe type ambulance vehicles which become available in the price-range of $3,000 to $4,000.
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ANNUAL REPORT
6. The Committee has unanimously resolved to complete recommendations in time for Town Meeting considera- tion of the required appropriation at the adjourned Town Meeting, Monday, May 5, 1958.
Respectfully submitted,
Clayton H. Atwood William F. Benevides Earle M. Smith Board of Selectmen
Charles H. Mason Chief of Police
Donald B. Hathaway Chief of Fire Dept.
Stafford H. Hambly Civil Defense Director
Bella M. Boucher Social Worker
Charles M. Souza
Town Physician
Esther Bowden Town Nurse
Wendall B. Carey Arnold Hoffman Co.
John Perry Dighton Industries"
VOTED: On motion of Earle Smith that the Town accept the report of the Town Ambulance Committee as a report of progress.
(27) VOTED: On motion of Clayton Atwood that action on Article 27 be tabled pending a report of the Ambulance Com- mittee at the adjourned Town Meeting.
At 8:59 P. M. it was voted to adjourn to 7:30 P.M. on May 5, 1958.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The adjourned Town meeting was held at Town Hall at 7:30 P. M. on May 5, 1958. The meeting was called to order by Stafford H. Hambly.
Article 6, Item 6, VOTED: On motion made by Earle M. Smith to reconsider Article 6.
VOTED: On motion made by Earle M. Smith to recon- sider Item 6 of Article 6-Care of Town Elms.
VOTED: On motion made by Earle M. Smith to raise and appropriate $750.00 as a supplement to the original appropriation for the Care of Town Elms.
Article 6, Item 10, VOTED: On motion made by Clayton H. Atwood to reconsider Item 10 of Article 6-Street De- partment.
VOTED: On motion made by Clayton H. Atwood that the Town appropriate $6,500.00 to the Street Department for the purpose of resurfacing 2,800 feet of a portion of Spring Street and to meet said appropriation, available funds in the Treas- ury be transferred as follows:
$3,326.51 from Chapter 718 1,000.00 from Chapter 81 2,173.49 from Gravel Roads
$6,500.00
Article 6, Item 14, VOTED: On motion made by Wil- liam F. Benevides to reconsider Item 14 of Article 6-Fire Department.
VOTED: On motion made by William F. Benevides to raise and appropriate $300.00 as a supplement to the original appropriation for the Fire Department.
Article 25, VOTED : On motion made by Stuart A. Arnold to reconsider Article 25.
The following report was given by Stuart A. Arnold, Chairman of the Regional School Planning Committee:
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ANNUAL REPORT
"Since the March 10th Town Meeting the Regional Planning Board has met with the Rehoboth Committee and drawn up an agreement. This agreement calls for the building of a four year regional high school with a vocational program as well. The school would be located in the vicinity of the Dighton-Rehoboth town line. ,
"The agreement has been approved by the School Building Assistance Commission and by Bond Counsel. It is now before the Emergency Finance Board and then will be approved by the Department of Education. This should be completed within a week.
"In the meantime the Committee is working out an educa- tional program for such an enterprise. It is hoped that areas may be determined so that we may compare the cost in square feet of a regional as compared to the square foot costs of additions.
"When this is completed the Committee will hold some open forums to discuss the plan. It is the aim of the Committee to present this agreement to a special Town meeting before the summer vacation period.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) STUART A. ARNOLD
Chairman of Regional School Planning Committee"
VOTED: On motion made by Clayton H. Atwood to ac- cept the report of the Regional School Planning Committee as a report of progress and to instruct the committee to con- tinue its efforts with the Rehoboth committee.
Article 26, VOTED: On motion made by Clayton H. At- wood to reconsider Article 26.
The following report of the Town Ambulance Committee was read by Clayton H. Atwood:
"The Town Ambulance Committee, through the means of solicitation for listings by the various agencies and dealers of Ambulances, is in receipt of an offer from the Miller
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ANNUAL REPORT
Meteor Sales of N. E. Inc. of Lynn, Mass., to sell the Town a 1952 Superior Cadillac DeLuxe Ambulance in the amount of $3,900.00.
"The Committee has had the vehicle surveyed by competent persons, who report that the vehicle is in excellent condi- tion, and of good value as offered. The Committee un- animously recommends that the Town appropriate $3,900 .- 00 for the purchase of this vehicle, and that the Select- men be authorized to process the acquisition of same in conformity with the statutes.
Respectfully submitted,
Clayton H. Atwood William F. Benevides
Earle M. Smith Board of Selectmen
Charles H. Mason Chief of Police
Harry F. Willis Chief of Fire Dept.
Stafford H. Hambly Civil Defense Director
Bella M. Boucher Social Worker
Charles M. Souza
Town Physician
Esther Bowden Town Nurse
Wendall B. Carey Arnold Hoffman Co.
John Perry Dighton Industries"
Article 27, VOTED: On motion made by Earle M. Smith to reconsider Article 27.
VOTED: On motion made by Clayton H. Atwood that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $3,900.00 for the
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ANNUAL REPORT
purpose of purchasing a suitable second-hand ambulance to replace the present Town operated vehicle and that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to process the acquisition of same in conformity with the statutory requirements.
The following appointments to the Town Finance Com- mittee to serve until the final adjournment of the 1959 Annual Town Meeting were made by Stafford H. Hambly, Moderator ; John Cambra, Main St .; Louis Constantine, County St .; William L. Donle, Pine St .; Clarence J. Eliason, Wellington St .; Milton F. Horton, Walker St .; Roger B. Perry, School St .; and Gordon E. Spinney, Summer St.
Voted at 7:54 P. M. to adjourn without date.
The special town meeting was held on June 9, 1958 at 8:00 P. M. in the Town Hall. It was called to order by the moderator, Stafford H. Hambly, who read the warrant for the calling of the meeting.
The following motion was made by Albert DeSilva and seconded by Robert Bradshaw :
That the Town vote to accept the provisions of sections sixteen to sixteen I, inclusive, of Chapter seventy one of the General Laws, providing for the establishment of a regional school district, together with the Town of Rehoboth and the construction, maintenance and operation of a regional school by the said district in accordance with the provisions of a proposed agreement filed with the Selectmen.
The moderator called for a discussion on the above motion and the report of the regional school planning committee was read by Stuart A. Arnold.
"A study of the school building needs for the Town of Dighton was authorized in December of 1954 by the vote of a special Town Meeting. In the last three and one-half
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ANNUAL REPORT
years, your committee has held many meetings and has studied every aspect of Dighton school needs.
"The committee has made a progress report at every Town meeting since that time for the purpose of informing the taxpayers on its progress. At the Annual Town Meeting of March 14, 1955, a detailed report was presented.
The following important facts were noted :
1. The Vocational School is hampered by lack of adequate space and facilities.
2. The High School program is suffering from lack of room for an adequate curriculum.
3. The Elementary School is becoming seriously over- crowded.
4. The Town Office space is too small.
"The following possibilities for improvement have been considered :
1. A new Vocational School
2. An addition to the High School
3. A new Dighton High School
4. An addition to the Elementary School
5. A Regional High School with some nearby town.
"After intensive study and research, we recommend that Dighton build an 800 pupil, four year Regional High School with Rehoboth. This plan would include a Vocational School and correct that situation. Our high school needs for room and an improved curriculum would be satisfied. The present High School would become the Dighton Junior High School and house the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. The Junior High program could be expanded and room allocated for additional Town Office space. The present Elementary School will allow three rooms per grade and the special classrooms required by law.
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ANNUAL REPORT
"It is the unanimous opinion of the School Building Needs Committee, the School Committee, the Regional School Planning Committee and the Selectmen of the Town of Dighton that the best educational program may be offered to the students of Dighton in the most economical way for our taxpayer under this plan.
Respectfully submitted, STUART A. ARNOLD ROBERT H. BRADSHAW ALBERT R. DeSILVA Regional School Planning Committee"
After a talk on the subject by Frank Rogers, Gordon E. Spinney made a motion that there be a call for the voting on the question. The vote was made by a raising of hands and failed to pass for lack of a two-thirds majority.
The discussion period which followed lasted for about an hour and was terminated when Wayne M. Philbrook made a motion to proceed with the voting on the question. It was so voted.
A motion was made to accept the report of the Regional School Planning Committee. This motion was passed and the moderator declared the meeting recessed at 9:14 P. M. while polling was carried on by special ballot downstairs in the high school cafeteria. The election workers acting as checkers and tellers were: Anna Simmons, Ruth Leeming, Hazel Reed, Catherine Sherman, Muriel Carey, George W. Rose, and Elaine Varley. The polls were closed at 9:40 P. M.
The meeting was again called to order at 9:54 P. M. and the result of the voting was announced as follows:
Total number of ballots cast-313; yes votes-186; no votes-127. The motion was declared carried and the meeting adjourned at 9:57 P. M.
The State Primary was held in the three precincts on September 9, 1958. The total number of votes cast was as
33
ANNUAL REPORT
follows: Precinct A, Republican 110, Democratic 29; Precinct B, Republican 57, Democratic 8; Precinct C, Republican 20, Democratic 27-Total 251.
The State Elections were held on November 4, 1958 in the three precincts. Five hundred twenty-six votes were cast in Precinct A; 348 in Precinct B; 390 in Precinct C-Total 1,264.
A special town meeting was held on Wednesday, December 3, 1958, at 8 o'clock, Stafford H. Hambly, moderator.
Clayton H. Atwood made a motion to dispense with the reading of the warrant. The motion was seconded and passed.
(1) VOTED: On motion made by Edward Roy that the Town vote pursuant to a petition of George L. and Rose Gray, to lay-out, accept, and establish "Rose Terrace", as a public highway, a description of which is contained in a lay-out dated May, 1958 and filed with the Town Clerk.
(2) VOTED: On motion of Earle M. Smith that the Town vote to accept a proposed layout of Smith Street as shown on a plan on file with the Town Clerk and to authorize and accept a proposed taking by eminent domain or purchase, as pro- vided by the General Laws of Massachusetts, by the Select- men of the Town of Dighton, for the purpose of constructing, altering, locating or repairing a highway in said Dighton, known as Smith Street, as shown on a plan of the proposed layout of Smith Street, entitled "Plan of Smith Street in the Town of Dighton, Bristol County, Scale 40 feet to the inch- E. Otis Dyer, Engineer, dated August 21, 1958", said plan being on file with the Town Clerk, certain parcels of land in fee with all rights, easements, privileges and appurtenances thereto, including all fixtures, buildings, structures affixed thereto, and all trees, including shade trees, fruit trees, shrubs, and stone walls.
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ANNUAL REPORT
(3) VOTED: On motion made by Earle M. Smith that the Town vote to accept a proposed layout of Williams Street as shown on a plan on file with the Town Clerk and to authorize and accept a proposed taking by eminent domain or purchase, as provided by the General Laws of Massachusetts, by the Selectmen of the Town of Dighton, for the purpose of con- structing, altering, locating, or repairing a highway in said Dighton, known as Williams Street, as shown on a plan of the proposed layout of Williams Street, entitled "Plan of Williams Street in the Town of Dighton at the Segreganset River, Bris- tol County, Scale 40 ft. to the inch-E. Otis Dyer, Engineer, dated October 28, 1958", said plan being on file with the Town Clerk, certain parcels of land in fee with all rights, ease- ments, privileges and appurtenances thereto, including all fixtures, buildings, structures affixed thereto, and all trees, including shade trees, fruit trees, shrubs, and stone walls.
(4) VOTED: On motion made by Clayton Atwood that the Town vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Town Finance Committee in a report given by Louis Constan- tine, Chairman, to transfer the following departmental ac- counts :
$100.00 from Aid to Dependent Children to General Relief Administration
$1,000.00 from Aid to Dependent Children to General Re- lief
$100.42 from Public Property Acct. to Street Dept.
$1,215.35 from Special Dump Acct. to Street Dept.
$41.50 from Sidewalk Maintenance to Street Dept.
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