USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1951-1955 > Part 8
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To the Board of Health:
There were forty-seven cases of contagious diseases which are dangerous to public health reported to the Board of Health during the year 1951. All cases of contagious diseases must be reported to the agent of the Board of Health, who in turn reports them to the State Health Department and the North Middlesex Health District. This report is compiled by the State Health Department and reported in turn to the United States Public Health Service.
Cases reported :
Chicken Pox 8
Dog Bite 3
Mumps 17
Scarlet Fever
2
Amebic
2
German Measles 6
Influenza 5
Measles
4
EDWARD J. HIGGINS,
Agent
REPORT OF TOWN NURSE
To the Board of Health
Gentlemen :
My report for year ending December 31, 1951.
Bedside calls 758
Pre-natal calls 172
Post-natal calls 150
Welfare 425
Night and off hour calls 23
T. B. Patients and Contacts 30
Eight patients were taken to Middlesex County Hospital for X-ray and check-up.
Respectfully submitted, LILLIAN F. TAYLOR, R.N.
Town Nurse
160
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health
Acton, Massachusetts
Submitted herewith is report of Inspector of Slaughter- ing for the year 1951.
During the year there were no reports of slaughtering of animals for which permits were requested and approved.
There was one permit issued for the slaughtering of poultry and seven cases of poultry slaughtering investigated, with three cases reported for further investigation.
EDWARD J. HIGGINS, Inspectior of Slaughtering
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SANITATION
To the Board of Health
Acton, Massachusetts
Submitted herewith is the report of Inspector of Sanita- tion during the year 1951:
During the year there were sixty-two (62) cases of sani- tary inspections initiated by complaints of individuals, citizens of the town, or requests from home builders who were in- terested in complying with normal health conditions in build- ing their homes. All cases were investigated and found to be in compliance with normal conditions required by present laws in Acton.
Cess pools draining toward wells 18
Waste food and rubbish on roads 22
New installations of septic tanks 20
Inspection of swimming places 2
It is not recommended that new laws or restrictions be invoked at this time due to the recent increase in building of both homes and business establishments.
EDWARD J. HIGGINS,
Sanitary Inspector
161
REPORT OF BURIAL AGENT
There were thirty-nine (39) deaths reported for which burial permits were issued during 1951.
Deaths 39
Died in Acton 35
Died elsewhere 4
Buried in Acton
16
Buried elsewhere 23
EDWARD J. HIGGINS,
Burial Agent
REPORT OF MILK AND FOOD INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health
Following is the report of the Milk and Food Inspector for 1951.
Total Calls made :
Dairy and Goat Barns 27 :
Milk check
6
Restaurants
51
Store Inspections 49
Septic tanks
11
State and Region B. of H. 9
Odors and Complaints 13
Expense of water analysis must be borne by complainants unless it is a health nuisance.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS B. WHOULEY, Milk and Food Inspector
REPORT OF WELFARE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
We respectfully submit the report of the Board of Public Welfare for the year 1951.
The appropriation for Welfare for 1951 was $4,500.00.
162
During 1951, we aided ten cases in Acton and three cases out of town with Acton settlements. At the present time, we are aiding five welfare cases in Acton. For the out-of- town bills during the past year, we paid $296.00, while $4,018.29 was paid for the ten cases in Acton. In anticipation of bills which will be incurred during 1952, we find it neces- sary to ask for an appropriation of $4,500.00, the same as last year.
For Aid to Dependent Children, we are asking an ap- propriation of $6,000.00. This is $1,000.00 more than the appropriation for 1951. During the year, we aided six families having a total of thirteen dependent children. Our present case load is four families with a total of nine children.
We are asking for $41,000.00 for Old Age Assistance for the coming year. This is $6,000.00 more than last year's appro- priation. The increase is due to an increased budget through legislation. On January 1, 1951, our case load was 78 and on December 31, 1951, it was 76. During the entire year, 89 persons were aided under this category of assistance, 66 of these had Acton settlements, 10 with out-of-town settlements and 13 which were unsettled.
Chapter 741 of the Acts of 1951 establishes a new cate- gory of Public Assistance called Disability Assistance. This law became effective November 1, 1951. Basically, this provides for assistance to needy persons, who are permanently and totally disabled, and who have resided in the Commonwealth for one year immediately preceding date of application. Any- one desiring further information may contact our office.
In accordance with Chapter 793 of the Acts of 1950, it is necessary that a Welfare Board employ a Civil Service Agent or combine with other towns to form a Welfare District. It is the opinion of the Board that the latter plan is the cheap- est and most advantageous.
Your Board, desiring to give you an analysis of the ex- penditures for 1951, submits the following :
Temporary Aid
Paid to other places on Acton settled cases
$ 296.00
Paid to cases in Acton 4,018.29
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$4,314.29
Estimated reimbursement from other towns $ 112.33
112.33
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton $4,201.96
Aid to Dependent Children
Total expended $8,535.68
Estimated Federal Grants $2,958.73
Estimated State reimbursements 2,845.24
5,803.97
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton
$2,731.71
Old Age Assistance
Total expended $63,378.30
Estimated Federal Grants $25,972.84
Estimated State reimbursements 26,248.26
Estimated reimbursements from other
places
696.73
52,917.83
Approximate net cost to Town of Acton
$10,460.47 Appropriations recommended for 1952:
General Relief $ 4,500.00
Aid to Dependent Children 6,000.00
Old Age Assistance 41,000.00
Disability Assistance 1,500.00
Administration
1,800.00
Respectfully submitted,
A. PERRY MARBLE LOSSIE E. LAIRD WALTER B. STEVENS Board of Public Welfare
164
REPORT OF THE FIRE HOUSE COMMITTEE
On September 8th, 1951, "Open House" was held for the public to inspect the new fire station at Acton Center. A band concert and refreshments added enjoyment to the occasion.
Final acceptance by the town was on October 19, 1951.
The contract as originally awarded left the upstairs unfinished except for the toilet room. However, as con- struction progressed the school department became interested in the large meeting room available on the second floor.
At a special town meeting held on April 30, 1951, the school department cooperated in explaining their need for extra classroom facilities. It was voted to take $8,000 from the surplus revenue account to complete the entire upstairs. A third grade has occupied the second floor since September.
The fire house is not only complete but is completely paid for. It will provide ample accommodations and facilities for a long time.
The committee wishes to extend its thanks to Jenney Bros., the contractors., and Frederick H. Gagnon, the archi- tect, for their cooperation and interest. Many details which the committee eliminated to keep within the appropriation were included by the contractor. Mr. Gagnon drew the extra plans, did the weathervane, and based his fee on original estimates rather than on the actual costs.
Several citizens and organizations made contributions which greatly helped the committee, the weathervane and goldleafing was made possible by two Acton Center gentlemen. A desk was added by another. Acton Garden Club furnished the evergreens and shrubbery while Acton Grange has given money to erect a flagpole.
The building has hot top pavement and walks, is com- pletely equipped with lightning rods, and in the spring the lawn will be incorporated into the town common.
WALTER B. STEVENS EDWARD J. BURSAW F. WENDELL PUTNAM, JR. LLOYD W. PRIEST H. STUART MacGREGOR
Fire House Committee
165
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE, SUBMITTED JANUARY 21. 1952
This report is submitted to the Town of Acton in the belief that it provides a reasonable solution to our school housing problems at a minimum cost to the town.
In accordance with Article 48 of the annual town meet- ing of March 12, 1951, this committee retained Educational Service Associates of Medford to make a school population survey of Acton. It was hoped that this study would sub- stantiate the population estimates made by this committee in the autumn of 1950, thereby enabling the town to secure state assistance in the construction of a local high school.
The results, however, indicated that the probable popu- lation of a four year high school would average 294 or 39 less than the average of 333, estimated by this committee for the 4 year period, September 1960 to June 1964, inclusive.
Representatives of the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commission have stated that Acton can expect no state aid for a local High School on the basis of these figures.
The survey report came to a number of conclusions dealing with the relation of their population study and the development of the regional school system. One of which is quoted herewith as in it your committee sees real common sense. "No. 7 Acton should not take any action which will commit the Town to a policy contrary to regionalization." To this conclusion your committee, for the present, subscribes.
The Educational Service Associates made two recom- mendations which are pertinent to the present stage of de- velopment of the Acton School system.
They recommend that Acton participate in the develop- ment of a regional high school district with neighboring communities. In their report they admitted that for the present this plan could not be carried out, so they put greater priority on a recommendation for "Acton to build an 8 room unit adjacent to or integrated with the present high school building and use it to house elementary grades."
Your committee feels that this latter recommendation made the basis of real progress in that it would alleviate pressure where it has been felt first, in the elementary
166
grades; yet it does not commit the town to a policy contrary to regionalization. An 8 room unit would relieve the situation only until September of 1953 which is the earliest date upon which you could expect the building to be ready for occupancy.
In a recent meeting with the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commission this fact was pointed out, and the administrator for the Commission stated that if justification could be shown for additional classrooms, he would recommend to the commissioners that state aid be granted for the new unit if it were to house only elementary grades.
Acton's long range school plans should comprise two major steps: (1) the construction of an elementary school of sufficient size to relieve present over-crowded conditions; and (2) the construction of a new High School, either Regional or Local. Simultaneously the town should convert the present High School into a grade school and close the village schools.
Based on this plan and a study of the population figures in the survey and consultation with the School Committee and Mr. Pearson on the utilization of the space proposed; the Special School Building Committee recommends; (1) that the Town of Acton construct as rapidly as possible an elemen- tary school unit with a minimum of 12 classrooms; (2) that the Town authorize the committee to continue immediately the study of High School building problems both from local and regional aspects.
Estimates for such a unit have been secured from S. W. Haynes Associates of Fitchburg, based on current contract awards for comparable schools.
Building cost $450,000.00
Equipment, architects fees, Engineering,
landscaping, Cost of land and
miscellaneous expenses 125,000.00
Estimated Total Cost $575,000.00
The $40,000 requested in Article 2 of tonight's Town Meeting is included in this figure of $575,000 and is not in addition thereto. The breakdown and specific uses for this money are estimated as follows :
167
Architectural and engineering fees for
drawing plans and specifications $18,000.00 Land purchase 13,070.00
Contingencies-Test borings, contour surveys, site development, legal expense, advertising for bids and miscellaneous expense 8,930.00
Total $40,000.00 It should be noted that this is a very rough estimate, prices are changing by the week and actual cost can only be determined when the bids are opened.
Rough Financing Estimate
Total Cost $575,000.00 185 000.00
Approximate State Aid
Amount to be financed by the town $390,000.00
Finance Plan A-Entire amount financed by a 20 year bond issue and state aid of $185,000.00.
Town must raise in first year at 2% int. $11,500.00
plus principal payment 19,500.00
Total
$31,000.00
This represents tax rate increase of $6.73.
Finance Plan B-Raise $20,000.00 by taxation in 1952 and transfer $20,000.00 from surplus revenue in 1952.
Town must raise interest by taxation in first payment on bond issue
$10 700.00
plus principal payment 17,500.00
Total
$28,200.00
This represents a tax increase of $6.13.
Reduction of interest charges reduces this tax increase at a rate of 12ยข on a $1,000 valuation a year. In simple language, the first year cost for the home owner with $4,000 assessed valuation would be about $25.00 and, through the lowering of interest charges, this gradually reduces to an average cost of about $14.00 in the 19th and 20th years.
Even these estimates may be too high as they make no allowance for the increased valuations on new construction in the town which may be considerable.
168
The plan of action set forth in this report is, in the eyes of your committee, the most practical solution to the school housing problem, and we ask for your favorable consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Special School Building Committee CARL A. CHRISTOFFERSON PORTER G. JENKS MARION C. REED THOMAS MOTLEY 2nd.
INTERIM REPORT OF THE ZONING COMMITTEE APPOINTED IN OCTOBER, 1951 AS AUTHORIZED BY THE 1951 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
It is the consensus of your committee, after a careful study of the problem, that it would be impossible to com- plete protection by-laws on zoning and give them desirable and necessary publicity and hearings in time for publication in the 1951 Annual Report and presentation at the 1952 An- nual Town Meeting in March. Your committee is therefore submitting this interim report, and requests further time to complete the job.
In the past, Acton has considered protective by-laws on several occasions. Your committee feels that, even though all legal provisions were strictly complied with, the citizens never had sufficient opportunity for discussion and to con- tribute their thoughts prior to the official hearing and pres- entation at the town meeting.
In order that this may not happen again, we have had the protective by-laws mimeographed as submitted to the 1948 Annual Town Meeting and contained in the 1947 An- nual Report. Copies are in the hands of the committee and at the Town Hall and may be had on request. We hope every voter, and every club and civic organization will study the zoning by-laws as proposed in 1948 and let the committee know how they should be corrected and improved.
After hearing from you, your committee plans to draw up tentative by-laws and present them to the various localities
169
in Acton for discussion. A map will then be made and by-laws presented for final hearing as required by law. It is planned to call a special town meeting for final consideration of the protective by-laws.
HAROLD Y. BANQUER, 48 Nashoba Road, West Acton MEDVILLE L. CLARK, 246 School Street, South Acton CHARLES JUDD FARLEY, 328 Nagog Hill Road, Acton Centre, Chairman
ELLIS C. JOHNSON, 7 Great Road, East Acton NORMAN R. VEENSTRA, 22 High Street, South Acton
REPORT OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
Some progress has been made during the year toward putting together a Civil Defense Organization for the Town of Acton. Much remains to be done and many volunteers are needed for assignment and training if our organization is to succeed.
A housing survey was completed by the Board of Public Welfare for the purpose of ascertaining the number of evacuees that could be cared for in private homes in the event of necessity. Schools, churches and other buildings within the town have been designated as shelters and their capacity for housing purposes has been registered with the Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency.
Dr. Wilbur W. Forbes, Director of the Medical and Health Department of our Civil Defense program, has procurred some first a'd supplies and prepared kits to be used by corpsmen assigned to emergency work. He is in need of volunteers for first aid courses and other assignments.
A communication system consisting of a Master Station, Auxiliary Station and one mobile transmitting unit has been purchased and is now being used by the Police and Fire De- partment. This equipment permits direct communication by both the Police and Fire Departments with the Police and Fire Departments of Concord and Maynard and is of valuable
170
assistance to these departments in their work. In the event of an emergency this equipment is readily movable and would give us an inter-communication system within the town.
Headquarters for Civil Defense is being moved to the Acton Center fire house and anyone who will assist in this program should communicate with Dewey E. Boatman, Ac- ton 602.
Respectfully submitted, DEWEY E. BOATMAN
REPORT OF THE INSURANCE COMMITTEE
Av the Board of Selectmen, Town of Acton :
At the 1951 Town Meeting the Moderator was authorized to appoint a Committee to investigate and recommend the advisability of insuring all or any part of the town buildings or equipment and report at the next annual Town Meeting.
Your Committee has had a preliminary appraisal made by a reputable insurance company and they estimate the value of all buildings to be $457,450. While this amount is not binding on the insurance company, it is an indication of building value.
On the basis of this value of buildings which Acton has at risk and in view of the fact that there are only three build- ings now insured and two of these only for a nominal amount, your Committee recommends that the voters consider the purchase of fire insurance on a blanket basis up to an amount of at least 80% of the replacement value less depreciation of the buildings (not the amount necessary to rebuild new) at a net annual cost (providing the three-year premium is paid in advance and assuming the continuation of the com- pany's current dividend rate) of $1500. In order to start this program, it would be necessary for the Town to ap- propriate a sum of $3,000. and write the insurance on a budget basis.
171
It is recommended that if the insurance is purchased, an accepted practice of other towns be followed and one local agent in town be charged with the responsibility of serv- icing the fire insurance on the town buildings and receive the bulk of the commission income rather than distribute it among several agents and have no one responsible for the fire insurance program.
As respects building contents and town equipment, there is not the potential large loss as there is in the buildings and if insurance is purchased on buildings, then consideration can be given to the other for which the cost, in comparison, would be nominal.
WILSON D. SKED, CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN J. INESON HOWARD BILLINGS (resigned in June because of ill health) .
172
1951 ANNUAL REPORT
of the School Department
For the Year Ending December Thirty-First
RATED
P
ONI
-1735
^ACTON.
Town of Acton, Massachusetts
ORGANIZATION
School Committee
Mrs. G. Howard Reed, Chairman
Term expires 1952
Mr. Wilson Sked Term expires 1952
Mr. Leo Cunningham Term expires 1952
Mrs. Gerald Hollis, Secretary Term expires 1953
Mrs. Harlan Tuttle Term expires 1954
Mr. Dana Hinckley Term Expires 1954
Meetings of the School Committee
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held the third Monday of each month in the high school at 7:30 p.m. Exceptions may be made especially during the summer months.
Superintendent Whitman Pearson
School Department Office, High School Building Telephone Acton 110
School Department Secretary Mrs. Donald Felt
School Physician
Paul P. Gates, M.D. Telephone 412
School Nurse Mrs. Simon Taylor, R.N.
Telephone 33-22
Attendance Officer . Louis Leveroni
High School, Telephone 110 Vice-Principal William O'Connell Custodian, Louis Leveroni
Center School, Telephone 86 Principal, Mrs. Dardana Berry Custodian, Norman Livermore
Fire House Classroom Miss Joan Dwane
Mrs. Celina MacLean Church Classroom South School, Telephone 445 Principal, Miss Julia McCarthy Custodian, Kenneth Harvey West School, Telephone 105 Principal, Mrs. Carolyn Douglas Custodian, Ernest Banks Maynard Classrooms (Roosevelt School) Mrs. Helen DeCoste Miss Anne Derby
2
School Calendar 1952-1953
Reopening of schools, January 2, 1952 Winter recess, February 18-22 Spring recess, April 14-18 Memorial Day, May 30 Close of School, Grades 1-8, June 6 Close of School, Grades 9-12, June 13 Graduation, June 13 Summer Recess
Reopening of High School, September 3
Reopening of Elementary Schools, September 8 Columbus Day, celebrated October 13 County Convention or Visiting Day, October 31 Armistice Day, November 11 Thanksgiving recess, November 27, 28 Christmas Holidays, December 24 to January 4 Reopening of schools, January 5, 1953 Winter Recess, February 23-27 Spring Recess, April 20-24 Close of School, Grades 1-8, June 5 Close of School, Grades 9-12, June 12 Graduation, June 12
No School Signal - All Schools, All Day
7:00 A.M., Fire Horn 2-2-2-2 7:00-8:00 A.M., WBZ, WEEI
(Either Maynard or Acton No School Signal applies to Acton children who use Maynard rooms)
3
ACTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
In conjunction with the 1951 school department report, which has been approved by the School Committee, we wish to make the following report.
At the March election, Mrs. Gertrude Tuttle and Mr. Wilson Sked were re-elected and Mr. Dana Hinckley elected as a new member of the School Committee. At the organi- zation meeting Mr. Ernest Simpson was elected chairman and Mrs. Eleanore Hollis clerk. Later Mr. Simpson resigned as he was moving to Belmont. Mr. Leo C. Cunningham was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The special articles, approved at the town meeting, call- ing for completion of the High School interior decoration and installation of a new heating system in the Centre School were carried out during the summer months.
The school room in the Centre Firehouse is most satis- factory, but by fall of 1952 we must have another classroom and possibly two. We trust the town will give much thought to future facilities.
Six new teachers joined our faculty in the fall. Only two of these replacements were made because of higher salary offered elsewhere.
The committee has revised the salary schedule to be effective in September. We feel that an increased minimum and maximum with other incentive pay are steps in the right direction.
ACTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
MARION C. REED,
Chairman
4
Received - To Credit of Schools
State Aid for Transportation (cost above
$5 per pupil) $
3,080.00
State Aid for Public Schools (approxi- mately $1,000 per teacher) 29,712.73
Tuition - State Wards 1,158.58
Tuition - City of Boston Wards
854.48
Tuition - Town of Boxborough
3,245.84
Tuition and Transportation, Town of Westford 534.60
State Aid for Vocational Education
219.98
Micellaneous Collections at High School 18.50
$ 38,824.71
Net Cost of Operation
Appropriated March 1951
$120,550.00
Transferred October 1951
600.00
$121,150.00
Unexpended balance
1,144.63
Expended
$120,005.37
Received to credit of schools
$ 38,824.71
$ 81,180.66
Less : Cost of New Equipment
$ 835.30
Net Cost of Operation
$ 80,345.36
5
Expended For Operation in 1951
Salaries
High $48,769.16
Elementary $46,920.19
Total $95,689.35
Fuel
1,835.09
1,989.30
3,824.39
Books and Supplies
1,819.96
2,031.15
3,851.11
Transportation
4,180.00
4,180.00
8,360.00
Power, Repairs, Rent, Misc.
2,659.00
4,399.07
7,058.07
Libraries
74.86
21.39
96.25
Health
161.70
129.20
290.90
Gross cost of Operation
$59,499.77
$59,670.30
$119,170.07
Gross cost per high school pupil (245) $242.85
Gross cost per elementary school pupil (391)
$152.61
Gross cost per pupils (636)
$187.37
Gross cost of Operation (as above)
$59,499.77
$59,670.30
$119,170.07
Less Receipts (except $219.98
State Aid for Vocational Tui- tion)
$20,628.99
$17,975.74
$38,604.73
Net Cost of Operation
$38,870.78
$41,694.56
$80,565.34
Net cost per high school pupil (245) $158.65
Net cost per elementary school pupils (391)
$106.63
Net cost per pupil (636)
$126.67
Net Cost of Operation
$80,565.34
Less State Aid for Vocational Tuition
219.98
$80,345.36
Proposed Budget for 1952
Item Explanation
Amount $110,000.00
57 Fuel
4,500.00
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