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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