Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955, Part 7

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1951
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1262


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 7


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Gravel for dump


238.50


Printing and stationery


18.85


Medical supplies


116.11


Gas


3.23


Disposal of animals


7.44


Agents expenses


358.40


Inspectors expenses


114.74


Sundry Items


6.57


$1,874.34


Inspector of Animals


Salary :


Arno H. Perkins Sundry Expenses $8.04


$150.00


135


$5,656.52


P


Garbage Disposal


Henry Anderson, contract 1,918.50


Advertising


8.00


$1,926.50


Eradication of Poison Ivy, Article 22


Charter Tree Service


$999.48


HIGHWAYS Village


Wages:


Russell C. Berry, Supt.


492.00


Payrolls .


1,034.80


Expenses :


Trucks


303.35


Gravel and sand


70.75


Fire Station roadwork


605.00


Tools


228.31


Paint


76.51


Welding


44.71


Sundry Items


142.44


$2,997.87


Chapter 81


Wages:


Russell C. Berry, Supt.


1,979.51


Payrolls


6,756.10


Expenses :


Trucks


1,587.45


Machinery rental


4,736.95


Cold patch and asphalt


3,534.73


Stone, sand and gravel


2,668.95


Calcium Chloride


90.00


Cable guard and posts


2,960.94


$24,314.63


136


Chapter 90, Maintenance


Wages:


Russell C. Berry, Supt.


66.00


Payrolls


207.95


Expenses :


Trucks


26.40


Rental of machinery


718.60


Stone, sand and gravel


569.71


Asphalt


2,010.26


$3,598.92


Chapter 90, Main Street Construction


Wages:


Russell C. Berry, Supt.


654.00


Payrolls


2,414.20


Expenses :


Trucks


261.60


Rental of machinery


4,825.05


Stone and gravel


5,203.93


Asphalt


1,639.49


$14,998.27


Pine Street


Wages :


Russell C. Berry, Supt.


54.00


Payrolls


170.80


Expenses :


Truck


27.00


Rental of machinery


227.00


Gravel


434.40


Split rock


5.00


Laying out


75.00


$993.20


137


Road Machinery


Gasoline


785.88


Tires


472.32


New equipment


356.05


Welding


43.80


Repairing equipment


672.10


Sundry Items


11.84


$2.341.99


Snow Removal


Russell C. Berry, Supt.


741.56


Payrolls


2.576.42


Trucks


944.50


Sanding


1,072.25


Plowings


2,168.00


Sand


1,388.46


Salt


1,542.00


Gasoline and Oil


201.72


Forecast service


150.00


Welding


163.75


Sundry Items


50.39


$10,999.05


Snow Plow, Article 8 850.00


Street Lighting


Boston Edison Co.


$4,992.52


Traffic Signs and Lines


Signs


162.20


Express on signs


11.87


Painting lines


210.35


$384.42


1 .


138


CHARITIES


Public Welfare


Temporary Aid :


Cash Aid, provisions and medical aid to individuals


4,027.29


Relief by other cities and towns 287.00


$4,314.29


Administrative


Salaries :


A. Perry Marble


112.50


Lossie E. Laird


87.50


Walter Stevens


75.00


Lossie E. Laird, agent


600.00


Virginia Milbery, clerk


757.95


Vesta Thompson, clerk


2.25


Expenses :


Attending meeting and travel


expenses


43.84


Stationery and printing


22.86


Sundry Items


73.21


$1,775.11


Old Age Assistance


Cash Aid to individuals


33,921.95


Aid by other cities and towns . 1,078.05


Federal Grant:


Cash aid to individuals


28,380.30


$63,380.30


Aid to Dependent Children


Cash aid to individuals .. $8,535.68


139


Veterans' Benefits


Salary :


Edward J. Higgins, Agent . $150.00


Administrative:


Stationery 8.85


Travel expense, postage &


telephone


166.50


Cash aid to veterans and hospitalization


$175.35


Veterans' Services


Theron A. Lowden, services 735.00


Geraldene Prentiss, clerk 54.75


$789.75


Education


Salaries


95,689.35


Expenses : School report


24,316.02


State-Federal milk fund


1,435.40


High school athletic fund


1,348.63


Vocational tuition, Article 13


1,823.47


Physical education, Article 14


500.00


School lunches, Article 15


100.00


Redecorating high school, Article 31


620.00


Center School heating system Art. 32


5,800.00


Insurance, high school, Article 33


97.00


Special School Building Comm. ..


2,186.65


Regional School District, Art. 36 (1950)


77.45


LIBRARIES Memorial Library


Salaries and Wages :


Mary Lothrop, Librarian


840.00


140


$3,244.25


Henry Johnson, custodian 350.00


$1,190.00


Expenses :


Fuel


477.03


Lights


88.53


Water


24.00


Insurance


87.12


Book Truck


76.50


Stationery and printing


80.05


Shelving


48.00


Sundry Items


86.95


$968.18


Citizen's Library - West Acton


Salaries and Wages:


Mary Lothrop


27.00


Edith Hopkinson


86.50


: Thelma M. Blood


3.00


Sundry Expenses


7.79


$124.29


Library Books


Books and Magazines


$603.35


CEMETERIES


Salaries and Wages :


Fred S. Kennedy, Supt. 2,600.00


Payrolls 2,783.05


$5,383.05


Expenses :


Fuel oil & heater service 297.46


Postage, telephone and dues 22.42


Typewriter 40.00


141


Insurance


45.00


Express charges & trucking


550.25


Paint


46.88


Gas and oil


29.60


Grass seed and fertilizer


63.80


Repairing mowers, etc.


170.27


Lime and cement


36.79


Lumber


53.56


Flowers


30.95


Water


36.00


Miscellaneous tools


136.05


Lighting


32.48


Loam


57.00


Sundry Items


250.79


$1,899.30


Perpetual Care


Payrolls


708.30


Flowers


30.95


$739.25


Susan Noyes Hosmer Fund


Payrolls


1,139.60


Fertilizer


59.74


Weed killer


45.98


Loam


99.00


Pipe


16.74


Roadwork (hot-top)


145.00


Vases and candles


33.85


$1,539.91


Lowering Device


Cemetery and Park Equipment Co.


331.55


Private Trust Funds


Wetherbee Gate Fund


$665.00


142


.:


Georgia E. Whitney Cemetery Fund


:. . . Roland Wetherbee Fund


Luke Blanchard Cemetery Fund


25.00


Unclassified


Advertising


126.51


Cabinet for Isaac Davis Plow


75.00


Search for missing fisherman


226.70


Clerical Assistance


306.53


Rental of equipment


60.00


Center Fire Station fire insurance


91.50


Center Fire Station furniture and equipment


360.61


Moving Accountant's safe


25.00


Perambulating town lines


60.00


Sundry Items


25.85


$1,357.70


Civilian Defense


Medical Supplies


231.02


Communication equipment &


service


281.93


Finger print equipment


28.25


Radio station, transmitter and re- ceiver


2,031.00


$2,572.20


Recreation


Frederic W. Rimbach, Supt.


501.25


Payrolls


272.25


Gas and oil


75.18


Mower repairs


55.01


Lime


4.95


Welding


9.20


Fencing


7.50


Tools


7.09


Acton Water District


156.30


143


22.00


98.80


. 49.10


Sundry Items


$1,137.83


Town Reports


Reports


934.50


Delivering reports


10.00


$944.50


Insurance


Liability


$634.41


Workmen's Compensation


$1,546.63


Surety Bonds


Collector


264.00


Treasurer


162.00


Town Clerk


7.50


$433.50


Dog Officer


Keeping and destroying 51 dogs


$450.00


Memorial Day


23rd Infantry Band


200.00


Flags


64.80


Wreaths


25.00


Buses


60.00


Refreshments


26.96


Flowers


105.00


Notices


4.50


$486.26


Pensions


Pension Fund


1,410.00


Expense Fund


145.00


$1,555.00


144


Power Mower - Article 29


Farquhar Tire Service $105.00


Maturing Debt


High school addition


1,000.00


Fire house


15,000.00


Interest


232.08


$16,232.08


No Appropriation Accounts


County Hospital Assessment


2,671.06


County Dog Licenses


1,052.20


County Tax


10,554.00


State Parks and reservations


455.90


State audit


733.33


Refunds on taxes


1,441.47


Withholding taxes


16,474.16


Massachusetts Hospital Service


1,479.43


Middlesex County Retirement


2,607.78


Massachusetts Teachers


Retirement


3,906.93


Trust accounts


2,110.00


Interest on Trust Funds


4,948.81


Bond Issue


70.13


Elizabeth White Fund


1,207.80


Georgia Whitney Charity Fund


550.00


Estate of Murray Brown


500.00


50,763.00


Total Expenditures


494,533.98


Cash Balance, December 31, 1951


137,975.55


$632,509.53


145


Reserve Fund Transfers


Moth Dept. Dutch Elm disease


control


250.00


School Dept. books and supplies


600.00


Accountant, expenses


15.00


Workmen's Compensation


246.63


Election and Registration,


expenses


89.15


Veteran's Benefits, expenses


77.00


Fire Dept. salaries


89.10


Fire Dept. expenses


475.00


Health Dept. salaries


1,200.00


Chapter 81, Highways


1,425.00


Town Clerk, salaries


92.33


Treasurer, expenses


40.00


4,599.21


-


Machinery Fund


Balance, January 1, 1951


6,671.38


Received from rentals


3,486.25


Unexpended balance, Road Ma-


chinery account


158.01


10,315.64


Transferred to Road Machinery


account 2,500.00


Balance, December 31, 1951 7,815.64


10,315.64


146


Cemetery Land Fund


Balance, January 1, 1951


2,815.35


Received from sale of lots


500.00


3,315.35


Transferred to Woodlawn for clear- ing and grading


1,000.00


Transferred to Mt. Hope for clear- and grading 500.00


Balance, December 31, 1951


1,815.35


$ 3,315.35


147


BALANCE SHEET


DECEMBER 31, 1951


GENERAL ACCOUNTS


ASSETS


Cash


$137,975.55


Accounts Receivable :


Taxes


Levy of 1947


Poll


2.00


Levy of 1948


Real Estate


$ 818.78


Personal Property


677.63


Poll


70,00


$1,566.41


Levy of 1949


Real Estate


2,986.90


Personal Property


860.10


Poll


242.00


$4,089.00


Levy of 1950


Real Estate


8,642.94


Personal Property


1,294.92


Poll


360.00


$10,297.86


Levy of 1951


Real Estate


26,470.52


Personal Property


7,782.75


Poll


616.00


$34,869.27


Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes


Levy of 1947


28.64


Levy of 1948


252.10


Levy of 1949


1,474.28


Levy of 1950


4,174.23


Levy of 1951


1,799.55


$7,728.80


148


BALANCE SHEET


DECEMBER 31, 1951


LIABILITIES AND RESERVES


Tailings Account


$ 144.81


Blue Cross


154.85


County Retirement


275.49


Road Machinery Fund


7,815.64


County Dog Licenses


8.40


Cemetery Land Fund


1,815.35


High School Athletic Fund


165.86


State and Federal School Milk Fund


129.46


Wetherbee Memorial Gate Fund


16.62


Appropriation and Transfer Balances:


Painting Town Hall


$ 1,200.00


Highway Culverts


4,000.00


Special School Building Committee


688.35


Library Books


7.96


Redecorate Interior of Memorial Library


375.00


Mt. Hope Cemetery, Oiling Roads


800.00


Mt. Hope Cemetery, Clearing and Grading


500.00


Woodlawn Cemetery, Purchase of Land


8,200.00


Woodlawn Cemetery, Clearing and Grading


1,000.00


Civilian Defense


2,126.66


Town Forest Committee, Purchase of Land


500.00


Town Forest Committee, Cutting Brush


152.40


$19,550.37


Other Balances: Cemetery Department:


Perpetual Care


200.67


Wetherbee Fund


1.55


Raymond Fund


18.45


Hosmer Fund


88.05


$308.72


Federal Grants:


Old Age Assistance


3,980.15


Aid to Dependent Children 1,099.96


Old Age Assistance, Administration Expense


21.13


Aid to Dependent Children, Administration


Expense


136.61


$5,237.85


Reserves:


Reserve Fund, Overlay Surplus .. $2,748.80


149


ASSETS


Overlays Reserved for Abatements:


Levy of 1947


2.00


Levy of 1948


1,060.69


Tax Judgement


$502.62


Tax Titles


$55.37 $400.19


Tax Title Possessions


Departmental


School Department


865.02


Aid to Dependent Children


674.63


Cemetery Department


105.00


$1,644.65


State and County Aid to Highways


County


3,750.36


State


12,853.70


16,604.06


Under Estimate 1951 County Tax


. .


$425.70


$216,161.48


DEBT ACCOUNT


Net Funded cr Fixed Debt


$6,000.00


TRUST ACCOUNTS


Trust Funds, Cash and Securities:


In custody of Town Treasurer 241,971.94


In custody of Trustees


3,465.54


$245,437.48


150


LIABILTIES AND RESERVE


Levy of 1949


2,263.89


Levy of 1950


2,030.58


Levy of 1951


1,816.61


$7,173.77


Revenue Reserved Until Collected:


Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes


8,231.42


Tax Titles


455.56


Departmental


1,644.65


State and County Aid to Highways


16,604.06


$26,935.69


Over Estimates - 1951


State Parks


54.96


County Hospital Assessment


906.99


Surplus Revenue


$961.95 $142,717.85


$216,161.48


DEBT ACCOUNT


High School Addition Loan


$6,000.00


TRUST ACCOUNTS


Henry S. Raymond Monument Fund


791.35


Henry S. Raymond Cemetery Fund


1,684.34


Charlotte Conant School Library Fund


1,589.16


Hoit and Scott Cemetery Fund


538.35


Roland Wetherbee Cemetery Fund


10,267.08


Elizabeth White Charity Fund


27,705.68


Georgia Whitney Charity Fund


15,011.07


Wilde Memorial Library Fund .


17,091.40


West Acton Firemen's Relief Fund


757.24


Acton Firemen's Relief Fund


5,339.95


Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds


61,601.82


Cemetery Surplus Fund


205.71


Luke Blanchard Cemetery Fund


1,530.34


Frank C. Hayward Cemetery Fund


1,079.07


Georgia Whitney Cemetery Fund


1,628.62


Susan Noyes Hosmer Cemetery Fund


84,752.19


Betsy Ball Charity Fund


10,398.57


Charlotte Goodnow Fund


3,465.54


$245,437.48


Respectfully submitted, DONALD O. NYLANDER Town Accountant


151


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


I herewith submit my report for the year 1951. An appropriation of $2,500 was made for tree work. This money was used for removing dead and dangerous trees and removing limbs below minimum clearance over the streets. One hundred and forty-eight trees of all species were removed. Low limbs removed along 16 miles of streets. Corrective pruning was done on 124 of the newer trees planted by the department.


Under a special article $250 was appropriated for plant- ing of new trees. Thirty-three trees were planted, the ma- jority of these on private property. With utility wires and gas and water pipes crowding the sides of the streets, the trees have a better chance to develop within the property lines.


Under a special article $1,000 was appropriated for Poison Ivy control. The grounds around the schools and other town buildings were sprayed with a herbicide to kill poison ivy. In addition, 22 miles of streets were sprayed for this control.


An appropriation of $500 was made for feeding trees. The large trees along Main Street and the Common were fed with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Most of the new maples planted during the last five years were also given a feeding.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANKLIN H. CHARTER


Tree Warden


152


REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR 1951


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


We hereby submit the following report for the year end- ing December 31, 1951.


The account of the town treasurer shows that during the past year the cemetery department has received and paid into the treasury the sum of $1724.00 which can be found itemized in the treasurer's report. Also in the town collector's report you will find the sum of $421.00 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 accounts, the sum of $1,700.00


We recommend an appropriation for the care of the cemeteries, the sum of $9,250.00 for the year 1952.


We wish to call attention to all lot owners who have lots that are not under perpetual care, the following: The State Auditors claim that by the vote taken at the annual town meeting, March 14, 1949, that annual care bills are ac- counts receivable to the town and must be collected. There- fore we have instructed the superintendent to commit to the town collector for collection all annual care bills on lots not under perpetual care. We ask for the co-operation of all the lot owners in regards to this matter.


When we were in the process of having the title to the land which the town voted to purchase for the addition to Woodlawn Cemetery, looked up, we found that the matter of a right of way was involved and we have placed in the warrant for the annual town meeting an article to take care of this matter. As soon as the town approves of this article, we plan to purchase the land and to start developing it at once.


Respectfully submitted,


HOWARD F. JONES RAY L. HARRIS HARRY E. HOLT


Cemetery Commissioners


153


1951 ACTON TOWN REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF


THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE


Middlesex County maintains an Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics for the benefit of all towns within the County. This service is available to all citizens, especially farmers, home gardeners, homemakers, rural youth and 4-H Club boys and girls.


The work is developed by an unpaid Board of Trustees, who maintain a staff of agents at the headquarters at 19 Everett Street, Concord. The trustees appoint a director in each town to represent them in all phases of Extension Work or in a few cases towns elect a director and make an appropri ation to help defray local expenses.


In addition to farm and home visits made upon request, local meetings are held, or sectional or county-wide meetings or tours are helps available to everyone. A monthly bulletin is published, timely letters mailed on spraying, fertilizing, seeding, poultry problems, information to home makers, boys and girls' 4-H work or general community problems.


Some of the activities that took place last year in Acton are as follows :


Educational work with the dairy men was concentrated on programs to assist the farmers in solving their problems of raising better roughage, disease control and milk market- ing. Daniel Sweeney, dairyman, enrolled in the Green Pasture Program. He completed the program and received an ap- propriate seal for this work.


Close contacts were kept with Louis A. Flerra and Albert Jenks. Several other fruit and vegetable growers as well as home owners were serviced. A Twilight Fruit Meeting was held in co-operation with Mr. Flerra and Mr. Jenks, and the pre-harvest meeting with Worcester County was held at Flerra's packing house and storage.


Increased efficiency, flock health, greater breeding prog- ress, and better marketing practices were the principal goals


154


of the Extension Poultry Program. Efficient management practices and equipment were among the topics discussed at meetings of the Middlesex County Poultry Association, held at the town hall on the second Monday of the month. F. W. Putnam, Woodbury Lane, is enrolled in the Middlesex Flock Health Program, through which the Extension Service is attempting to help poultrymen and turkey growers to keep their flocks healthy. Rabbit breeders were given assistance through the Middlesex Commercial Rabbit Association, which meets monthly at the Extension Service "Schoolhouse" in Concord.


Mrs. Cleon Phelps and Mrs. Laurence Winslow have been active in promoting Extension Service in Acton. During the year local women attended the "New Ideas in Food Prep- aration." A kitchen visit in South Acton was made to help with remodeling problems. The "Tater Family" program of Understanding Ourselves and Others was presented. Christ- mas brought a request for the gift kit, a collection of easy- to-make items that make popular Christmas presents.


There were forty-nine 4-H Club Members in Acton during the past year. The clubs included clothing, child care, poultry, garden, and dairy. People instrumental in the or- ganization of 4-H Club work were Mrs. Laurence Winslow, Rev. David Thompson, Mrs. Daniel Sweeney, Mrs. Fred Richards, Mrs. Cleon Phelps, Mrs. Roger M. Myrick, Mrs. Kenneth Jewell, and Mr. Paul Cornwall.


Janice Phelps of South Acton distinguished herself in club work by being chosen as a delegate to both the State 4-H Dress Revue at the University of Massachusetts in Am- herst and the 4-H part of Eastern States Exposition. Allan Warner of South Acton won a trip to Boston and a medal for excellent work in building up a herd of dairy cattle.


HARLAN E. TUTTLE


Town Director


155


REPORT OF THE ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY


BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Carl A. Christofferson, Chairman


Arthur F. Davis


Alden C. Flagg


Wilfred W. Forbes, M.D.


Eugene L. Hall


Arthur W. Whitcomb


Wendell F. Davis, D.M.D.


Florence A. Merriam


Gertrude P. Tuttle


Miss Tuttle, Miss Merriam and Dr. Davis hold office by election. The others are Corporate Members.


Librarians


Mary Lothrop, Memorial Library Edith Hopkinson, West Acton Branch


Custodian


Henry A. Johnson


Under the will of the late Murray Brown, the Library has received a gift of $500, for which it is very grateful. After the formality of acceptance, the Trustees plan to spend the money for Standard Reference Books. They feel that Mr. Brown would want his contemporaries to get the good of several articles of enduring usefulness. They intend to indicate the source of the gift with proper labels.


The three days a week plan is working well. People like the greater leeway in returning books and I like a little extra time for helping students and newcomers. Although there come times when people still have to wait, the con- gestion is much less.


The Children's Party given for those who have earned Honor Certificates in reading was a success. This was due to their good work and to the kindness of Mr. William Owen who lent equipment and time to show us the pictures. We thank him sincerely. Several small readers were inspired to begin reading immediately for this year of 1952.


Mrs. Barrett and her Second Grade pupils came visiting outside Library hours. It was a pleasure to show them about


156


and answer their questions as they were so well behaved. It is a part of a greater cooperation than has existed before, with the schools, extending into the High School. In fact, the teachers there and all over the Town, have helped us to help them, by making reading lists, giving helpful sug- gestions and encouraging students to use the Library. Furthermore, the pupils come with definite requests and their manners are those of grown people .


Accession-Number of volumes in Library January 1,


1951 20919


Increase by purchase


236


Increase by gift


285


Withdrawn from circulation


563


Number of volumes in Library January 1, 1952 20,877


Circulation-Number of days Library was open


143


Number of volumes circulated


21,100


Largest daily circulation December 19


551


Smallest daily circulation March 19 Daily average


21


147.5


Gain in circulation over previous year


1,782


The circulation breaks up as follow :


Fiction 11,487, Juvenile 6894, Non-Fiction 2719


The Library has given Boxborough Library 22


The Library has given Emerson Hospital 185


The Library acknowledges with gratitude, gifts from the following :


BOOKS


Mr. and Mrs. Stanley J. Olsen 1, and a subscription ; Mil- dred Pope Moore, 93 and magazines; Mr. and Mrs. Hollis, 1; W. B. Stevens, Magazines; Dr. and Mrs. Wilfred W. Forbes, 9; B. and M. R.R., 1; Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Gaebel, 9; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Darling, 5; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Christofferson, 63; Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Callahan, 8 and a magazine; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lewis, 403; Mr. and Mrs. John Black, Magazines; Mrs. Laura Forbes, 6; The Randen Foundation, 1; Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 5; Mr. and Mrs. Laurence F. Petersen, 3; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hapgood, 6 and magazines; Dr. and


157


Mrs. Donnell Boardman, Magazines; Avis Collins, 1; Concord Free Public Library, 7; Mr. and Mrs. John Crighton, 63; Katie Motley, 1; A Friend, 3; Mr. and Mrs. William Hinckley, 1; Henry Seton, 1; Mrs. Walter M. Bird, 1; Robert Whittier, 1; Charles C. Carr, 1; E. H. Washburn, Magazines.


FINANCIAL RECEIPTS


Fines


$181.63


Miscellaneous


18.35


Books sold


4.00


Total


$203.98


MARY LOTHROP,


Librarian


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Acton, Massachusetts


The Board of Health herewith submits its report for the year ending December 31, 1951, together with the report of its Agent, Town Nurse, Inspector of Food and Milk, In- spector of Slaughtering, Inspector of Sanitation, Burial Agent, and items of interest concerning the health of the residents of Acton.


Environmental Sanitation: Each year for many years, your Board of Health report has included the necessary in- formation for closing out the year in which there has been expenses, or a salary paid to someone connected with the Board of Health such as Agent, Inspector of Food and Milk, Town Nurse, Caretaker of the Town Dump and others. For most of us this is the end of the year, and a new year must then be planned with whatever might happen, could happen, and what might be necessary in view. What we know will happen we plan and submit a budget for, but what might happen, we plan, but do not submit a request for funds until we are sure it is going to happen. Various plans for sanitary improvement have been talked over at the Board of Health meetings which are held usually at the office of Dr. O. L. Clark on Sunday afternoons from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Every complaint or request for service is reported to the Board


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by the Agent, Inspector of Food, or the Town Nurse, or any member of the Board who might have received the complaint or request. A record is kept on file and some we have are many years old but might come up again, but all concerning health conditions in the Town of Acton.


At present we have two patients in the Middlesex County Sanitorium in Waltham. They are expected to be there for some time yet.


There have been two licenses issued for Child Centers or Kindergartens in the Town of Acton, both of which have been inspected by the Board of Health and approved.


The Town Dump will remain at its present location, and citizens of the town are requested to assist the caretaker by throwing refuse over the banks as it will save the neces- sity of hiring heavy equipment to push it over later. It would also prevent paper from being blown around the area.


Your Board of Health has been working constantly for the best interest of the people of Acton, and should problems arise concerning any group or number of people, we are cer- tain that it can be worked out to the best advantage of the citizens of the Town.


The District Health Officer has approached us several times asking what we had done as a Board of Health toward putting it up to the town to join a Union Board of Health. The article was placed in the town warrant and a committee appointed, but no report has been received. In discussing it at Board of Health meetings, we feel that it is going to Le a large added expense to the town, even at $1.00 per capita over and above what the Board is already having to spend, therefore, your Board has felt that while the state may compel us to join a Union Board of Health in the next few years, we feel that as long as we are carrying out the minimum requirements of an active Board of Health they will not force us to do so, but rather wish that we would request joining. This the Board feels is not feasible at this time unless the town as a whole wishes it.


Respectfully submitted, ORMA LAWRENCE CLARK, M.D., Chrmn. HERBERT L. LEUSHER MARTIN J. DUGGAN


Board of Health


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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH AGENT




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