USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 54
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EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Inspector of Slaughtering.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ELIZABETH WHITE FUND For the Year Ending December 31, 1955
The Trustees of this fund have investigated fifteen cases throughout the year and have signed orders to the Town Treasurer for the sum of eight hundred ninety dollars ($890.00).
Respectfully submitted,
CLARA L. SAWYER, HELEN B. WOOD, THELMA M. BLOOD, Trustees of Elizabeth White Fund.
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REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR 1955
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT: Front Row : Commissioner Ray Harris - Foreman Elwin Hollowell - Superintendent Fred Kennedy. Back Row: Commissioners Harry Holt - Howard Jones.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
We hereby submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1955.
A former member of our Board, Mr. Horace F. Tuttle, died on the 19th day of December in his 92nd year. He was elected to the cemetery board on March 2, 1891 and served as clerk of the board until March 2, 1945 when he retired from the board. We desire to place on record our testimony to his long and faithful service and his interest in the care and improve- ment of our cemeteries.
The account of the town treasurer shows that during the past year cemetery department has received and paid into the treasury the sum of $1,627.05 which can be found itemized in the town treasurer's report. Also in the town collector's report you will find the sum of $624.00 collected for the annual care of lots, which is credited to the cemetery department receipts.
There has been added to the perpetual care account the past year, in new and additional accounts, the sum of $3,925.00.
It was necessary during the past Fall to remove many large trees in Woodlawn Cemetery for the following reasons: first many of these trees had suffered heavy damage during the two hurricanes of 1954 and secondly we felt that to protect a
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great many monuments, it was necessary to remove several large pine trees.
A new section has been laid out in Woodlawn Cemetery and we have adopted a new policy in regards to the sale of lots in both cemeteries, that all lots are to be sold with perpetual care charge included. In adopting this policy the town is assured that all the lots sold in the future will have an income for the care of these lots and it will also eventually do away with the annual care accounts.
Respectfully submitted,
RAY L. HARRIS, HOWARD F. JONES, HARRY E. HOLT, Cemetery Commissioners.
REPORT OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY
Board of Selectmen Town of Acton Acton, Massachusetts
Dear Sirs :
During the year of 1955 the Acton Civil Defense Agency expanded its organization in orderly fashion. The radiological team was organized and equipped and is now ready for opera- tion. The Communication system has been expanded, though it is not yet complete. A sector radio has been purchased and is being installed so that contact with sector headquarters can be maintained should other means of communication fail in an emergency. Equipment to be used for liaison with the Fire and Police Departments is being acquired and should be set up in the near future.
Mr. Charles D. MacPherson was succeeded recently by Mr. Harry L. Stiegler as director of the agency, and he has devoted his time in studying the organization and equipment
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of the agency. Mr. Allen C. Beddoe has been appointed a Deputy Director.
The Warden Service and Ground Observer Corps remain large and important problems, and it is hoped that these units can be organized and placed into operation. The communica- tion set up needs portable 2 meter equipment for use in staff operation, and a standby emergency generator to provide power for the continued operation of the headquarters estab- lishment during a disaster is still needed.
Respectfully submitted.
Very truly yours, HARRY L. STIEGLER, Director.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE GOODNOW FUND For the Year Ending December 31, 1955
INVESTMENTS
Charlestown Savings Bank
$465.54
Concord Co-Operative Bank 3,000.00
$3,465.54
RECEIPTS
Charlestown Savings Bank
$13.36
U. S. Bonds
37.50
Concord Co-Operative Bank
45.00
$95.86
EXPENDITURES
Treasurer of the Evangelical Church in Acton
$75.86
Town of Acton for perpetual care of Goodnow Lot in Woodlawn Cemetery
20.00
$95.86
ROY H. LINSCOTT FRANK E. GREENOUGH, Trustees of Goodnow Fund.
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REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
TREE WARDEN: Franklin Charter
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1955. The Tree Department removed approximately 100 trees this year. Many of these were weakened by our recent hurricanes and were considered dangerous.
The Department planted 35 new trees along the town ways.
The poison ivy along the town ways and on the school grounds was sprayed.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANKLIN H. CHARTER, Tree Warden.
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AN INSURANCE REPORT TO THE SELECTMEN OF ACTON
In accordance with the request of the Selectmen dated November 1st, the Insurance Committee herewith submits its report on the condition of the Town's insurance policies and recommendations for the improvement of existing policies as well as the purchase of additional insurance. The report will deal with the following types of coverage:
I Fire and Extended Coverage
II Public Liability
III Automobile Liability
IV Automobile Comprehensive Fire, Theft and Collision
V Workmen's Compensation
VI Boiler and Machinery
VII Surety Bonds
VIII Money and Securities Coverage
IX Destruction of Records
X a) Teachers' and Students' Accident Coverage
b) Firemen's Accident Insurance
c) Police Accident Insurance
XI Pension
XII Group Life, Accident and Hospitalization
In each instance the report will list the present insurance coverage describing briefly the pertinent features of the form of policy and the basic insuring clauses. A discussion and, where possible, definite recommendations will follow. Many times we will suggest alternatives and leave the determination up to the Selectmen.
In general, the Committee has searched for the substantial unprotected exposures and deliberately overlooks exposures that have a fixed penalty to the Town of less than $1,000. For example, a shed worth $200 which contains old machinery worth $50 should not be included in the Fire Schedule; its inclusion would only tend to increase the average rate and its total loss without insurance would make little difference to the Town. However, Town property of equal value in the custody of a Town official using his home as an office, should
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be insured, because $250 could mean a great deal to the official. This insurance would then serve the purpose of preventing a dispute between Town departments as well as financial reim- bursement to the Town.
Item I Fire Insurance
Standard Massachusetts Fire and Lightning Insurance is provided on all the buildings belonging to the Town on a sched- ule of twenty-two items totaling $948,428 of value as follows subject to 80% Reduced Rate Contribution Clause and insured for 80% of value.
Item
No. Item
Location
Amounts
1 School House
Main Street, Acton Centre $22,400
2 Public Library
Main Street, Acton Centre 33,600
3 Fire House
Concord Road, Acton Centre 40,000
4 Town Hall
# 480 Main St., Acton Centre .... 32,000
5 Frame Building
Tree and Moth Dept., R480 Main St., Acton Centre 960
6
Frame Building
Office Bldg., R480 Main St., Acton Centre 600
7 Frame Building
Repair Shop, R480 Main St.,
Acton Centre 2,400
8 Frame Building
Sand Shed, R480 Main St., Acton Centre 2,400
9 Frame Building
Storage Tools, Signs and Ladders R480 Main St., Acton Centre .. 2,000
10 Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel
Acton Centre 28,000
11 School House
School St., South Acton 20,000
12 Fire House
School St., South Acton 9,600
13 High School
Mass. Avenue, West Acton
144,000
14 School House
Mass. Avenue, West Acton 20,000
15 Fire House
Windsor Avenue, West Acton ...
8,000
16 Mt. Hope Cemetery Chapel
West Acton 2,000
17 Tool House
Goward Field R480 Main St., Acton Centre
240
18 Tool House
Woodlawn Cemetery, Concord
Rd., Acton Centre 800
19 Tool House
Jones' Field, Martin St.,
South Acton 400
214
20 Tool House
Rear of Chapel in Mt. Hope Cem- etery, West Acton 300
21 School
North Side of Mass. Avenue,
West Acton 180,000
Mass. Ave., West Acton 210,000
22 Blanchard Auditorium
$759,000
No insurance is provided for loss of the contents of these buildings due to Fire, except $3,000 at the Woodlawn Chapel, $500 at Woodlawn Tool House, $800 at Mt. Hope Chapel, $700 at Mt. Hope Tool House and $16,800 at the Town Library.
To establish proper values the Town secured an appraisal of nineteen buildings from Clayton K. Brooks & Son in January, 1951. These valuations have been increased 15% upon the authority of construction cost indices published periodically by the Engineering Department of the Factory Mutual Insurance Companies and other recognized appraisal services.
Values of small buildings omitted from the 1951 appraisal and/or constructed since that time have been arbitrarily set by comparison ; and in the latter case contract costs have been increased upon the same authority as the original nineteen items. Obviously, these opinions of proper values can not be binding on any insurance company but are at the same time, a sensible basis for discussion.
The value of building contents are given on the basis of figures submitted to this Committee by the separate depart- ments or in absence of written evidence our best estimate of value on general knowledge, not based on a visual inventory.
Hence, the Committee recommends that the Town's Fire Insurance be revised to include all buildings and their contents with the possible exception of buildings whose combined build- ing and contents value is less than $1,000. The revision should be discussed on the basis of the following values :
Item
No.
Item
Location
Values Contents Buildings
1 Primary School
Julia McCarthy (1952)
Mass. Ave., W. Acton
$26,400
$242,000
2 School House
Main St., Acton Cen.
3,420
32,200
3 School House
School St., So. Acton ..
5,760
28,750
215
4 School House
Mass. Ave., W. Acton 5,760
28,750
5 High School
Mass. Ave., W. Acton 27,340
207,000
Main St., Acton Cen. 45,625
48,300
7 Branch Public Library Windsor Ave., West
Acton
500
Nil
8
Town Hall
Main St., Acton Cen.
5,000
46,000
9 Frame Building
Tree and Moth Dept., R480 Main St., Ac- ton Centre
2,976
1,400
10 Frame Building
Office Bldg., R480 Main St., Acton Centre ....
300
800
11 Frame Building
Garage and Storage Shed, R480 Main St., Acton Centre
2,700
2,900
12 Frame Building
Repair Shop, R480
3,400
3,500
13 Frame Building
Sand Shed, R480 Main St., Acton Centre ..
1,500
3,500
14 Blanchard Auditorium (1954)
Mass. Ave., W. Acton
40,000
269,860
15
Tool House
Mt. Hope Cemetery, West Acton
2,703
425
16
Tool House
Jones' Field, Martin St., South Acton ....
700
625
17 Tool House
Woodlawn Cemetery, Concord Rd., Acton Centre
4,754
1,150
18
Tool House
Goward Field R480 Main St., Acton Cen.
Nil
350
19
Fire House
Concord Road, Acton Centre
14,157
57,500
20
Fire House
School St., So. Acton
14,572
13,800
21 Fire House
Windsor Ave., West
Acton
16,654
11,500
22
Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel
Acton Centre
12,273
40,250
23
Police Chief's Home
Prospect St., S. Acton
500
Nil
24
Mt. Hope Cemetery Chapel
West Acton
400
2,875
25
Town Accountant's Home
Arlington St., West Acton
260
Nil
26
Treasurer's Home
Main St., South Acton
300
Nil
..
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ยท
Main St., Acton Cen.
6 Public Library
27 Tax Collector's Home Rimbach's Home (Fire Alarm)
28
Central St., W. Acton 525
Nil
Main St., Acton Cen.
560
Nil
Sub Totals ... $240,039 $1,043,425
Total Building Value
1,043.425
Total Contents Value
240,039
Grand Total
$1,283,464
Note: In addition, $18,290 worth of High- way Department Equipment is stored outside. Snow Fencing valued at $2,000 only is combustible hence, not included in table above.
These values represent an increased insurance requirement of $179,382 on buildings and $193,735 on furniture, supplies and other equipment not previously insured and would increase the average annual cost by about $1,515. In the past insurance has been purchased on 80% of value but due to the recent history of inflation, 90% of value is recommended and it is on this basis that these figures are submitted.
Extended Coverage #4 is a type of protection that most banks require on mortgaged property and, hence, a sound type of insurance to consider. Prior to the tornado at Worces- ter in 1953, most people considered windstorm or hail damage to town buildings of serious proportions as extremely unlikely and, hence, never considered this type of coverage. Since the tornado a number of hurricanes have swept New England causing serious damage to all types of buildings. Therefore, we recommend this coverage for the Town. Besides Wind- storm and Hail this extension includes Explosion (except boiler) Smoke Damage (from defective oil burners), Falling Aircraft, Motor Vehicle Damage, etc. many of which can cause major damage to buildings and contents. This endorsement would necessarily be carried for the same amount as the insur- ance carried on any specific item of the schedule as a whole. If added to the entire schedule the approximate rate would be $.077 @ $100 per year overall or an increased average cost to the Town of $889 annually.
An alternate recommendation is that the revised schedule be written on a Blanket Form, which means that a single
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amount is placed on each building and this may be applied to building and/or contents in case of loss. This allows greater flexibility and less susceptibility to penalty under the coinsur- ance clause. This form does require checking up on all values each year which may be a nuisance to Town employees but will serve as constant reminder that values should be reviewed.
All Fire Insurance policies should be consolidated into one policy or group of policies to guarantee concurrency of form (important if making a claim) and to simplify the administra- tion.
Item II Public Liability or Bodily Injury and Property Damage
No coverage is carried at the present time.
In most cases municipalities are not liable if the people are injured as a result of negligence on the part of Town or City Government. Municipalities enjoy the same type of exemp- tions from this type of responsibility as would a charity. How- ever, this exemption is not 100% water-tight, as there are occasions where the Town may be held responsible and cannot fall back on these exemptions. One such example would be an occasion on which a public building or hall had been loaned or rented to an organization which was to charge admission to the event for which the hall was rented. In cases of gross negligence, even though the city may escape liability through the municipal exemption, the Town officials may be personally held liable.
The Insurance Committee feels that it is in the best interest of the Town to carry Public Liability Insurance on such build- ings as are normally assessable to or used by the general pub- lic. Specifically included are such items as Chapels in the Ceme- teries, the School Buildings, Town Hall, Public Library, Fire Houses and the operation of the Town dump, which is particu- larly susceptible to causing property damage to adjacent property owners. Consequently, we have secured a quotation for this liability insurance: Bodily Injury Liability Limits of $25/100,000 and Property Damage Liability Limits of $25,000 and would cost $664.91 per annum.
You can well ask, "What is the value of such a policy if the municipality has so many exemptions?" The answer is that
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the policy would have attached to it a Rider waiving the muni- cipal immunity unless the Board of Selectmen of the Town direct the Insurance Company to use the exemption. In other words, claims would be handled in exactly the same way as if the building were owned and operated for commercial purposes. It is obvious that the most likely people to be injured in the buildings of Acton are fellow citizens and the good will of the Town Government could be shown by taking proper care of accidents which were caused by negligence of some Town offi- cial individually or an official board.
Item III Automobile Liability
American Motorists Policy, #F5M17122, expiring May 20, 1956, Bodily Injury Limits of $25/100,000 with $5,000 Property Damage, covers Statutory coverage under Rule No. 63A (Chapter 40, Section 5) of the General Laws, covering on seven vehicles of the Fire Department, two Police Cruisers and six vehicles on the Highway Department. This policy is properly written and carries the maximum limits of Bodily Injury Liability, authorized by the State Auditing Department. A minor suggestion is that the Property Damage Liability Limits be increased to $25,000 at an estimated additional premium of $100.
One other type of Automobile Liability Insurance that should be considered is known as Non-Ownership Liability Insurance. Basically, this insurance would protect the Town for its lia- bility arising out of an automobile accident in which a Town employee was involved while driving his personal car on Town business. This insurance is extremely reasonable; it is a remote exposure but still, potentially, a very large one. On the basis that thirteen Town employees and officials normally use their own cars in the course of their official business, the annual premium for such a policy would be $67.77 with $25/100,000 limits on Bodily Injury and $25,000 Property Damage Liability.
Item IV Automobile Comprehensive Fire, Theft and Collision Coverage
The present coverage is in the Federal Mutual, Policy # KX177151, covering the two Police Cruisers for Comprehen- sive Fire and Theft on a 1955 Ford in the amount of $3,000 and a 1954 Dodge for $2,900.
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Recommendations are to reconsider the purchase of Collision Insurance on these two vehicles, since they are very susceptible to serious accidents. This should be considered in the light of the fact that Collision Insurance carries a deductible in varying amounts, from $50 or $100 per accident and the estimated premium per year for the two cruisers would be $103 with a $50 deductible and $67 using a $100 deductible.
Comprehensive Fire and Theft Insurance on the seven Fire Department vehicles and the six Highway vehicles and Fire and Theft only on the Tree Department truck is strongly recommended, since the possibility of concentrated loss is con- siderable at the garaging point. The cost of this insurance is extremely reasonable for the amount of protection obtained. To cover these vehicles for Comprehensive and Fire and Theft would cost annually $222.45.
Collision Insurance on these same vehicles should be con- sidered separately and having in mind the past experience of the various Departments in this respect: Having also in mind that these vehicles are used primarily locally and are not as susceptible to damage as the Police vehicles but in order that you may determine whether or not the Town should purchase Collision Insurance on these vehicles, the Committee submits the Collision quotation on the basis of a $250 deductible, of $466.
Item V Workmen's Compensation
American Motorists, #5CM36377, expiring May 23, 1956. This Compensation Policy is written correctly under the Massa- chusetts Statutory Form covering employees of the Town in accordance with existing law. No changes are recommended. Item VI Boiler and Machinery
Some of the keynotes resulting from our analysis of Boiler and Machinery coverage are the following :
1 We note that Bodily Injury coverage is included at all locations.
We would like to point out that this coverage is optional and can be adequately covered under a Public Liability policy to cover individuals other than employees. Em- ployees would be covered under the Workmen's Com-
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pensation. There is not much savings involved here by eliminating this coverage. On the other hand, it would be a duplication of liability if they are now properly covered.
2 We note that some of the boilers have Broad coverage and others Limited coverage. It is our understanding that the boilers on Limited are so insured because of their age. The thinking here is that in the event of a Broad Form accident, the rate of depreciation would be so high that there would be small percentage of recovery.
3 Repair or Replacement coverage - We would like to bring to attention that this item of depreciation can be eliminated completely by providing Repair or Replace- ment which covers property of the Insured. In the event of a boiler explosion, not only would the boilers be repaired or replaced without consideration for deprecia- tion, but also other property of the Insured such as the building and contents (except stock and supplies). In most cases the amount taken for depreciation on older equipment exceeds the amount of recovery. Where one is buying insurance on the boiler explosion basis, con- sideration should be given to adding this coverage. This can be provided on the present policy for an additional $118 per year.
4 Varying Limits per accident - We note that there are varying Limits on the present policy which run from $100,000 at the High School and Elementary School to $10,000 at the Windsor Avenue Fire House. We would also like to point out that the present contract covers Bodily Injury Liability. It is our feeling that in the event of a boiler explosion, the resulting damage to buildings and to persons could and would probably exceed these present Limits. We feel that $100,000 Limits should be provided at all the school locations and $50,000 at the Fire Houses. The additional annual charge to increase these Limits would be approximately $44.21.
Item VII Surety Bonds
The Boston Insurance Company writes the existing Faithful Performance Bonds that are required by statute in the follow- ing amounts :
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1 Town Clerk $1,000
2 Town Treasurer $45,000
3 Tax Collector's Bond
$48,200
These Surety Bonds protect the Town against dishonesty of these three officials and even goes so far as to guarantee the faithful performance of their duty. This clause is considered broader than just dishonesty. The Forms are written accord- ing to statute and at standard rates and there are no recom- mendations for the improvement.
The principal exposure to loss through dishonesty of officials or employees of the Town lies with these three officials and they are now adequately bonded. However, there are many other Town employees and officials, who, if they so desired, could through dishonest means, cause loss of considerable amounts of money. By way of background, dishonesty losses are seldom caused by deliberate stealing of a bundle of money or a single check. Usually the loss is caused by the collusion of one or more employees with an outside party who can falsify between them, accounts, so that the Town pays too much for various supplies, etc. The annual losses caused by dishonesty, countrywide, are almost as great as that caused by fire annually, and there never yet has been invented a system of financial control that cannot be beaten eventually by dis- honesty. Should the Town of Acton be in the position of dis- covering a large dishonesty loss, not caused by one of the three bonded officials, it would be very difficult to announce to the Town that no insurance had been provided for this type of loss. A Blanket Bond covering all employees of the Town whether compensated or serving the Town on a voluntary basis may be provided. A minimum Bond of $10,000 on each occurrence carries the minimum premium of $150 per annum or $538.65 for four years. The Committee recommends purchase of this Surety Bond.
Item VIII Money and Securities Coverage
Existing Policy, American Surety Company, #BAE104- 38364, expiring June 24, 1956. This is a limited policy covering Robbery or Holdup of the Tax Collector while in his office, at home or on the way to a bank to deposit the funds. His safe is also insured against Burglary for the minimum amount of
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$1,200. Robbery in the insurance company language means that a man must be put in threat of violence or injured in the course of the money being taken away from him. Holdup has the same connotation. Burglary means that there must be visible signs of breaking and entering into the safe itself. There would be no protection if the door of the safe were not locked at the time of the removal of the cash. Your Insurance Committee do not feel that this is adquate insurance for the protection of the collector of his funds. The amounts are ade- quate for the premises of the Collector. The Messenger (or Transit) Holdup Limits may be insufficient. Apparently, there is no cash exposure in the Treasurer's office.
It is recommended that a Broad Form Money and Securities Policy be purchased for the Town of Acton at a minimum annual premium of $62.50 and a three-year cost of two and a half times this figure. This policy would cover money and securities for almost all-risk of loss or disappearance. The premium quoted is a minimum premium which gives $2,850 of coverage within the premises of the Tax Collector and $1,850 outside the premises but in custody of a Town official. This coverage would be limited to the Tax Collector's fund and his operation and we realize that there may be small amounts of cash available in other parts of the Town but believe that the expense of insuring small petty cash accounts is too great to warrant the purchase of the coverage. The chances of loss can be minimized by the use of impressed funds wherever possible, if not already the practice of the Town. The Broad Form Money and Securities Policy should be placed in the same company that is to write the Fidelity Bond of the Tax Collector, for there should be no question on a mysterious disappearance or misplacement loss as to whether it was caused by dishonesty or just mysteriously disappeared and if the loss is insured in both cases by the same company, there is no room for argument; the Town will receive reimbursement.
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