USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Lenox > Town annual report of the town of Lenox, Massachusetts > Part 4
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1956 Tax Rate $61.00
Excess of operating costs over operating receipts in 1959 5.50
Sewer amortization 2.50
School amortization and added operating expenses 11.00
1.00
Miscellaneous
Estimated Tax Rate for 1959
$81.00
In summary, the Capital Outlay Committee feels that Lenox, like most other communities throughout the Commonwealth, is faced with expensive addi- tions to their school and public service institutions. Our problem here is graver, though, than in practically any other town in Massachusetts in that 33% of our real estate is exempt from taxation. We are also aware that the answer may not have been found to our water supply shortage during the summer peak periods. Our inter-connection with the Pittsfield system in 1956 did not prove to be of help as Pittsfield suffered the temporary loss of a reservoir that year.
To maintain our Town in a sound financial condition, these large capital out- lays should be approved only after thorough investigation. Our endeavors this year have been to develop recommendations that will keep Lenox's reserve funds from growing leaner, to commence the charting of capital outlays in a program that can be adequately carried through taxation, and to inform the Town of the effects on our tax rate. Our studies will so continue in the year ahead.
As the Committee has felt the need during the last year for a small budget to cover miscellaneous expenses, we are asking at this Town Meeting for an appro- priation of $250 for 1957.
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Board of Selectmen and to all departments of the Town for their cooperation and assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
EARL R. CLARK, Chairman WALTER E. DAVERIN, Clerk JOHN D. BLAKE NORTON M. CASE
CHARLES A. DEE
HENRY A. FUORE
GEORGE L. HUGHES
JOHN D. KENNEDY
TOWN OF LENOX RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES 1946 to 1955 (As condensed from the Town Reports)
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
952
1953
1954
1955
General Receipts:
Taxation
$156,672
$227,898
$208,267
$237,852
$236,707
$261,154
$277,359
$280,962
$281,844
$291,210
State Distribution
36,667
37,802
37,211
66,134
50,651
64,386
69,935
66,124
65,449
62,041
Vehicle Excise
4,435
8,891
13,488
20,646
25,901
27,643
27,391
32,799
38,192
44,330
Water Revenue
20,736
30,328
29,672
32,195
33,443
35,625
37,102
41,996
Other Receipts
35,166
46,351
54,714
67,404
67,369
87,189
107,802
111,603
106,855
119,452
Total
$232,940
$320,942
$334,416
$422,364
$410,300
$472,567
$515,930
$527,113
$529,442
$559,029
General Disbursements:
Schools
$ 69,100
$ 88,074
$ 92,817
$109,938
$115,340
$131,863
$139,755
$154,100
$173,063
$182,820
Highways (w/o Chapter 90)
39,049
47,378
55,948
60,056
51,136
58,665
68,214
74,952
77,934
75,433
Public Welfare
24,150
29,773
33,899
42,475
43,093
56,392
67,674
66,927
65,924
72,381
Water Dept. (Incl. Water Debt)
23,184
27,434
28,502
29,877
29,989
32,870
32,957
34,960
Debt Retirement
5,225
5,113
8,000
7,880
7,760
7,800
10,810
10,630
10,450
Town Government and Misc.
74,022
91,386
102,873
115,355
121,119
131,987
139,760
150,705
171,678
191,680
Total
$211,546
$261,724
$308,721
$363,258
$367,070
$416,544
$453,192
$490,364
$532,186
$567,724
Excess Revenue or Loss:
$21,394
$59,218
$25,695
$59,106
$43,230
$56,023
$62,738
$36,749
$2,744
$8,695
Add Surplus Revenue, beginning:
$101,058
$80,526
$127,791
$143,851
$161,328
$181,643
$223,416
$265,990
$295,884
$250,505
Add Other Funds Received:
Borrowing
$173,000 25,978
$100,000 17,855
$26,430 10,300
$25,000 7,500
$25,198 10,000
$31,000 15,397
$10,992 15,000
$20,000 13,640 779
$15,708
From Post War R. Fund
$25,000
26,090
Grand Total
$147,452
$338,722
$297,431
$239,687
$237,058
$272,864
$332,551
$328,731
$327,559
$257,518
Capital Outlay and Other:
High School Addi. and Improve.
$13,555
$87,876
$56,208
$4,379
$4,800
$ 688
$ 1,499
Chapter 90 Roads
34,801
18,597
26,586
12,153
33,816
16,713
14,648
18,154
20,405
Town Hall and Bldgs. Repairs
8,470
9,356
12,503
6,134
Water Mains
6,910
33,313
9,778
28,145
11,771
22,672
28,046
Sewers
Stabilization Fund
15,000
15,000
Other
173,000 7,475 (Fire Pump) (Water Co.)
5,179
7,339
(Truck) (Truck Trac.)
Total
$7,475
$221,356
$114,943
$99,060
$70,331
$53,209
$70,736
$36,294
$67,827
$72,289
Available Funds, ending *
$139,977
$117,366
$182,488
$140,627
$166,727
.$219,655
$261,815
$292,437
$259,732
$185,229
Note *- When adjusted for the changes in uncollected taxes and unpaid appropriations and reserves, this figure becomes the Surplus Revenue for the end of the year.
Capital Ouilay Committee.
12,362
9,615
21,499
5,075
County and State Chap. 90 Roads
50
REPORT OF CENTRAL BERKSHIRE WELFARE DISTRICT AGENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Lenox, Mass.
I hereby submit my report as Agent for the Central Berkshire Welfare Dis- trict, comprising the towns of Lenox, Richmond and Tyringham, as related to the Town of Lenox, Massachusetts.
General Relief:
On January 1, 1956 there were two cases being aided in Lenox and five Lenox cases being aided by other towns. During the year nine cases were added in Lenox and two Lenox cases were added in other towns, making a total of eighteen cases aided. By December 31, 1956 nine cases were closed in Lenox and two Lenox cases closed in other towns leaving a total of seven active cases; two being aided in Lenox and five being aided by other towns.
Assistance payments to:
4 Lenox settled cases $ 348.40
3 cases settled in other towns 701.37
4 State cases
1,874.18
7 Lenox cases in other towns
3,275.98
Total expenditures
$6,199.93
Aid to Dependent Children:
On January 1, 1956 there were four active cases with seventeen dependents. During the year two new cases were added with eight dependents, making a total of six cases aided. By December 31, 1956 one case was closed leaving a total of five cases with nineteen dependents. Total expenditures $5,784.78
Disability Assistance:
On January 1, 1956 there were two active cases in this category. During the year one case was added, none were closed, leaving a total of three active cases December 31, 1956.
Assistance payments to:
3 cases
$4,501.40
Checks cancelled
35.53
Total expenditures
$4,465.87
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Old Age Assistance:
On January 1, 1956 there were fifty-three cases being aided in Lenox and eight Lenox cases being aided by other towns. During the year five cases were added in Lenox and three cases added in other towns, making a total of sixty-nine cases aided. By December 31, 1956 nine cases were closed in Lenox and four in other towns leaving a total of fifty-six active cases.
Assistance payments to:
58 Lenox cases
11 cases aided by other towns
$55,737.83 1,073.67
$56,811.50
Checks cancelled
56.30
Total expenditures
$56,755.20
Total refunds 1956
$ 1,020.38
A summary of important changes which took place during the year 1956 as regards assistance payments is as follows:
1. Cost of living adjustment.
Effective July 1, 1956 it was required that assistance budgets on OAA, ADC and DC be raised 5.07% due to an increase in the cost of living index.
2. Federal matching in OAA, ADC and DA.
Effective October 1, 1956 an amendment to the Social Security Act pro- vided for an increase in the maximum on assistance payments subject to Federal Participation.
3. Eligibility of non-citizens for OAA.
Effective November 7, 1956, this amendment extends the benefits of OAA to non-citizens who have resided in the United States for twenty years and who have met all other requirements of eligibility.
Budget for year 1957:
Old Age Assistance
$38,000.00
Aid to Dependent Children 3,500.00
Disability Assistance
4,000.00
General Relief
8,500.00
Welfare Administration
1,287.00
At this time I wish to thank the Board of Public Welfare of Lenox for the cooperation and assistance given this Department during the year 1956.
Respectfully submitted,
RUTH M. FIELDING,
Welfare Agent.
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52
REPORT OF HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT .
To the Board of Selectmen:
Following is my report for the year 1956:
The Highway Department consists of a Superintendent and a crew of seven men in the summer, five in winter. The Department's equipment consists of four dump trucks, one pick-up, one grader, one combination front-end loader, one side- walk snow plow, a broom sweeper and a road rake, one sewer cleaning machine, and other equipment incidental to road work, both construction and maintenance.
This Department is responsible for maintenance of several bridges, street sign installation, snow removal, park, street and sewer maintenance, and some re- surfacing and construction work on sidewalks, curbs, gutters and roads.
All road work authorized last year has been completed.
The Town by its street improvement program, is decreasing the number of miles of unimproved dirt and gravel roads each year. Those remaining still require costly maintenance in the form of constant grading, gravel and dust laying sub- stances. Our paved streets require black topping, patching and occasional resur- facing. I recommend that a 3-ton roller be purchased. This would pay for itself in about 4 years time. Traffic is heavier than it used to be and the people are more road conscious. Chapter 90 work is progressing on East Street, but at the rate of a quarter of a mile a year, and at this rate it will take 10 years to complete it. I recommend that the Town forces be authorized to do a part of this work, say $5000.00 a year, which could cut this time in half. My recommendation on total budget for roads per year would run something like this:
Chapter 90 construction
$ 5,000.00
Chapter 90 maintenance
1,000.00
Resurfacing specific roads
28,000.00
Highway maintenance
21,000.00
$55,000.00
Usual State and County help
15,000.00
$70,000.00
Every one of the ways coming up for acceptance are "dead-end" streets and construction and maintenance costs are high. For this reason, only two of these roads are recommended for construction each year even if accepted.
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW PIRETTI,
Superintendent of Highways.
53
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of the Town of Lenox:
During this past year the routine duties of the Board of Health were carried out. In addition to the routine immunization clinics at which the triple vac- cine was administered to the school children, clinics were also held for the ad- ministration of the Salk vaccine to the pre-school and school children, and certain selected eligible adults. Numerous complaints relative to sanitation were received and investigated. The Board is pleased to learn of the progress being made in North Lenox relative to a purposed sewer system to that area. A tri-town Boards of Health meeting was held in the spring at the East Lee Inn, which included Boards of Health from Lenox, Lee, and Stockbridge. Our Milk-Sanitary Inspector, Mr. Paul Morse was the speaker of the evening and he discussed items of sanitation which were common to our three towns. He also touched on pollution of the Housatonic River.
A new custodian has been appointed to the town dump. He is Robert Herrick formerly of Bull's garage. He assures the Board that under his watchful eye the dump will be kept as neat as possible. All users of the dump are encouraged to throw their rubbish well over the edge so that the surface may be kept clear and free of litter at all times. This will relieve some of the work load of our part time custodian and reduce the expense of bull-dozing.
In regard to reportable diseases the following list is submitted:
Chicken Pox 17
Dog Bites
14
German Measles
2
Gonorrhea 4
Mumps 22
Scarlet Fever
4
Syphilis
1
Tuberculosis
1
Reports of the various inspectors follow:
A. Inspector of Slaughtering, Joseph Smith; 5 beef, 7 veal, 1 swine.
B. Inspector of Animals, James Pelton; Milk cows 2 years and over 217, heifers 1 year to 2 years 64, calves under 1 year 44, bulls 11, steers 1, horses 88, goats 27, sheep 3, swine 2. Forty-two stables were inspected and found clean. No tubercular reactors were found. Fourteen cases of dog bite were investi- gated and quarantined. No cases of rabies were found.
C. Recorder, Mrs. Ann K. Gorman: Births 85, Deaths 69.
D. Milk-Sanitary Inspector, Paul A. Morse; during 1956 something over 3500 samples of milk, water and restaurant utensil swabs were checked at the lab- oratory. Farms, milk plants and restaurants were inspected at regular inter-
54
vals. Sanitary conditions as a whole continue to be satisfactory. We rate very high with the State Department of Health in our sanitation program.
Swimming pools become more popular each year. Three new ones were in use last summer and plans are under way for two more this coming year. These and swimming areas at the lake are checked frequently.
New buildings and housing developments with their septic tank installations continue to take an increasing amount of my time. Even more are scheduled to get under way this year. Barring unforseen setbacks and given adequate additional water supplies this will continue to be a booming area.
I again recommend that serious consideration be given to providing proper sewage disposal for the more thickly settled areas that are not now taken care of.
The usual licenses for milk, oleo, pasteurizing and ice cream were issued.
E. Complaint Agent, Mr. William H. Gorman: homes posted for Scarlet Fever 4, complaints investigated 24, trips out of Town for Board of Health 7.
Report of the clinics, Miss Morrison: in the Diphtheria Clinics new series of injections were given to 16 and 41 stimulating injections. In the Salk Polio Clinics 328 were given their first injection and 535 received their second. Dr. Mackey examined 437 in the Dental Clinic.
Regular business for issuing licenses and inspecting places of which might be injurious to the public health has been carried out.
Appreciation for excellent cooperation goes to Miss Nellie Morrison, R.N., the School Nurse for her efforts in the Diphtheria, Dental and Polio Clinics;" to Mr. Paul A. Morse, our Milk-Sanitary Inspector; Dr. William Mackey, School Dentist; Mr. James Pelton, Inspector of Animals; Mr. Joseph Smith, Inspector of Slaughtering; Mr. William Gorman, Complaint Agent; Mrs. Ann K. Gorman, Recorder; and Mrs. Nellie Noonan, R.N., of the Visiting Nurses Association whose timely advice was of help on numerous occasions.
Respectfully submitted,
CARL A. BERGAIN, M.D., Chairman WALTER HUTCHINSON, Clerk HAROLD R. FELTON
Board of Health.
55
VETERANS' SERVICE DEPARTMENT
To the Citizens of Lenox:
Veterans' Benefits granted during the year 1956 were well within the appro- priation. Compared to the year 1955 this shows a decline in the benefits. It is con- sidered that this is due to a healthy condition of the economy, as well as the health of the veterans themselves. We must be cognizant of the potential increase in the number of cases this office may be called upon to assist, due to unemployment, accidents or illness of veterans and their dependents.
During the year several veterans were placed in Veterans' Administration Hospitals, for temporary treatment and return to their homes.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. HOUSE,
Veterans' Agent.
REPORT OF VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
During the fiscal year the Visiting Nurse made the following visits: 1096 home nursing 50 in the office 1146 total, serving 67 families
Hospital beds have been lent to 3 persons.
Wheelchair used by 1 person.
The Nurse accompanied 10 patients in the Town ambulance to Pittsfield Hospitals.
She assisted in the Triple Inoculation and Salk Injection programs in the Lenox Public Schools and Windsor Mt. School; also gave G.G. injections at Cran- well Summer Camp.
She assisted in the Well Child Conference, sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Association.
She delivered Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts for The Kiwanis Club.
Mrs. Noonan attended classes at the Pittsfield High School, also classes in Westfield, given by Boston University, on the new trends in the treatment of Tuberculosis.
We wish to thank Mrs. Noonan for her faithful work and extend our apprecia- tion to the Board of Health and the Welfare Department for their help and co- operation.
Respectfully submitted,
LYDIA L. DANA,
President.
56
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Fire Department regrets the loss of three of its members during the year and the department expresses its deepest sympathy to their families.
IN MEMORIAM
L. Harry Peters
Entered Fire Dept. Nov. 7, 1910-Died Jan. 16, 1956 46 years Fire Service
Irving Campbell Entered Fire Dept. Oct. 4, 1926-Died Jan. 17, 1956 30 years Fire Service
James O'Brien, Jr.
Entered Fire Dept. Nov. 7, 1910-Died Aug. 12, 1956 46 years Fire Service
New water main extensions were made this year on East St. and fire hydrants were installed so that all of East St. from Walker St. to the Pittsfield Town Line is now covered with hydrants within 500 ft. of all properties which allows better insurance rates.
Attic stairs were installed at the Lenox Dale Fire Station, and the Lenox Fire Station stairs were rebuilt.
I recommend the replacement of the 32 year old American La France Truck and the 25 year old Buffalo Stewart Fire Truck as soon as possible.
After meeting with the Board of Selectmen, The Capital Outlay Committee, and the Finance Committee and receiving the opinion of them that only one piece of apparatus should be bought this year I recommend that a Fire Truck that will combine longer ladders, larger booster tank, high pressure fog streams, and oil fire extinguishing apparatus be obtained. By combining these features it seems it would eliminate the need and expense of a separate ladder truck and allow a much sooner replacement of these two very old fire trucks.
The replacement of these two old trucks is also recommended by the New England Fire Insurance Rating Assn. who sets our insurance rates on the basis of fire protection provided and they state that Fire Apparatus over 20 years old should be replaced.
57
I ask that the 1957 Fire Protection appropriation be as recommended by the Finance Committee.
The Fire Department answered the following calls during 1956: Chimney Fires 2, Resuscitator calls 1, Building fires 16, Heating equipment 4, Out of Town 1, Grass and Forest fires 11, Leaking gas 1, Electrical equipment 5, Auto accidents 5, Auto Fires 4, Miscellaneous 3.
Total Fire Calls 57
Ambulance calls 59
Total calls 116
We wish to thank the many persons who have aided the Fire Department during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
OSCAR R. HUTCHINSON, Chief Fire Department.
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
For Year 1956
Auto accidents reported and investigated
52
Doors found unlocked
27
Summonses served for out of town police
33
Complaints answered
61
Arrests made
8
Trips to Northampton State Hospital
2
Arrests for non-support
2
Children reported missing
1
Stolen property reported
6
Attempted breaks
1
Cars stolen
2
Dogs reported hit by automobiles
5
Dogs killed by automobiles
3
Lost property
3
Prowlers
2
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID H. MACKEY,
Chief of Police.
58
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Citizens of Lenox:
In accordance with the Town's By-Laws the Planning Board herewith sub- mits its Annual Report.
During the year 1956, the Planning Board granted the following permits:
New Construction: Residences 30
Commercial
11
Alterations
4
Garages (private)
16
Signs
11
Swimming Pools
3
Miscellaneous 8
Within this period, the Board conducted 9 Public Hearings and denied 2 permits to applicants.
The Planning Board is submitting Articles for the Town Warrant to be acted upon at the Annual Town meeting in 1957.
The Board is recommending the following changes in the Town's By-Laws:
(1) Change Section 1 of Chapter XIII to read as follows:
"No motor trailer used for residence purposes shall be parked within the limits of the Town other than in a duly authorized motor trailer parking lot."
(2) Change Section 8A-"Area Regulations" part 3 of Chapter VI to read as follows:
"Lot Size. No building, except one story buildings of accessory use, shall be erected in a residence district on a lot containing less than twenty-two thousand five hundred square feet, or less than one hun- dred and fifty feet wide: provided that one building may be erected on any lot which, at the time the original Zoning Law was adopted (February 3, 1941) is separately owned and contains five thousand square feet: and provided further that one building may be erected on any lot which prior to July 18, 1956, is separately owned and con- tains fifteen thousand square feet."
(3) Change Section 3-"Subdivision A" of Chapter V to read as follows: "A subdivision for the purpose of this Section is hereby defined to be a division of a tract of land into two or more lots in such manner as to require provision for one or more new public ways, not accepted by the Town at the time when this By-Law is passed, to furnish access for vehicular traffic to one or more such lots, and shall include sub- division. The minimum width for each lot on such public way shall not be less than two hundred feet and the total area of such lot shall not be less than forty-thousand feet."
59
(4) Sections 6 and 7 shall be added to Chapter XIII "Miscellaneous Pro- visions." Section 6 to read as follows:
"No person or corporation shall, within the Town of Lenox, act, or be collectors of, dealers in, or keepers of shops for the purpose of sale, or harbor junk, old metals, or second hand articles in a business or industrial district unless licensed by the Board of Selectmen, as pro- vided by Statute, and only after a Public Hearing has been held."
Section 7 to read as follows:
"No person shall in a Resident District in the Town of Lenox harbor for sale junk, old metals and unregistered vehicles, except those vehicles used for farm purposes."
The pressing need for a parking lot near the center of the Town is obvious to everyone. A study of this problem was made by the Planning Board during the year, and the Board is recommending that a portion of the land (70' by 100') of the westerly part of the park on Main Street and Sunset Avenue be converted into a Town parking lot; provided, however, that the park is properly landscaped on that part of the land adjoining the new parking lot. It is estimated that a gravel, oil and tar surface would cost approximately $1800.
The Planning Board is also recommending additional Articles to be included in the Warrant for the next Town Meeting.
(1) The acceptance by the Town of the following private ways as public ways:
(a) Brunnel Avenue
(b) Lasher Lane
(c) Bolton Drive
(d) Neilsen Road
(e) Orchard Street
(f) May Street
(g) Jenifer Street
(h) Lawton Avenue
(i) Henry Avenue
The Board recommends, however, that no reconstruction work be done on any of these accepted public ways, except Brunnel Avenue and Lawton Avenue, and on Lawton Avenue only that portion that lies between Crystal Street and School Street. The Board, realizing the difficulties faced by the Finance Committee this year, makes these recommendations subject to the availability of moneys for these expenditures.
The Planning Board regrets to report that nothing has resulted from its at- tempts to arrange a meeting with State and neighboring Town Officials to discuss and try to solve the impending traffic problems that will be created when the Massachusetts Thruway is completed. The barn door is slowly closing and the horse is nowhere in sight. The Planning Board prays that it may behave with restraint and dignity and refrain from saying "we told you so" when the stampede is on us.
60
After some difficulty was encountered in clearing title, the Board is gratified to report acquisition of the Aspinwall property as a Town Park and Playground.
At long last the Board has completed the task of numbering the buildings within the limits of the Town. The Board expresses its profound thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Francis J. Ford for undertaking and completing this onerous and diffi- cult job.
All changes and additions to the By-Laws passed at the last Town Meeting have been approved by the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth, and these modifications together with earlier changes have been printed for insertion in the By-Law booklet.
Many changes have occurred in the physical lay-out of the Town since the present Zoning Map was drawn in 1940. Unfrequented roads have been aban- doned, new streets and avenues added, zoning districts changed, for example. The Board is, therefore, recommending that a new map be published and to help de- fray expenses that a fee be charged to those wishing to purchase the same.
The Capital Outlays Committee, of which the five members of the Planning Board are members, was authorized at the annual Town Meeting held in 1954 "to study and appraise the future capital needs of the Town relative to the possi- bilities and resources of the Town." This Committee has during the past two years held meetings with the various Town departments and officials and is staggered by the future outlook. Not only are we faced with School and North Lenox sewer- age problems, but some of our public buildings are in need of immediate repairs; our water supply is diminishing because of increased demand with no foreseeable adequate reserves; the replacement of obsolete equipment, such as fire and road- way machinery, is long past due; and there is obsolescence of existing facilities which should be gradually replaced before complete deterioration sets in. Before the formation of the Capital Outlays Committee, there existed no comprehensive authorized group to study and anticipate not only the future needs of the Town but the realistic present as well. While the Town was small, there existed no com- pulsion for such unpleasant thinking, but growth is invariably accompanied by growing pains, which unfortunately cannot be cured by Nature as in human be- ings, but only by direct human action. With this in mind the Planning Board rec- ommends that the Capital Outlay Committee make a more intensive survey of the future capital needs of the Town for the next five years. This report to include:
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