USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1944 > Part 4
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The savings bank books and securities represented the investment of trust funds in custody of the town treasurer and the trustees were examined. The income was proved and the withdrawals were verified.
The payments for maturing debt and interest were compared with the cancelled securities and coupons on file and with the amounts falling due.
The records of tax titles held by the town were exam- ined and checked. The amounts added to the tax title account were compared with the collector's records, the redemptions were checked with receipts as recorded on the treasurer's cash book, and the tax titles on hand were listed and proved.
The books and accounts of the tax collector were examined and checked. The poll, property, and motor vehicle excise taxes and moth assessments outstanding according to the previous audit, as well as all subsequent commitments, were analyzed and checked with the asses- sors' warrants for their collection. The payments to the treasurer were checked to the treasurer's cash books, the recorded abatements were compared with the assessors' rec- ord of abatements granted, the taxes and assessments transferred to the tax title account were checked with the treasurer's records of tax titles held by the town, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved.
The collector's cash balance on February 19, 1944, '
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was verified by actual count of cash in the office and by examination of a bank statement furnished by the bank of deposit.
The departmental and water accounts receivable out- standing according to the previous examination, as well as all subsequent commitments, were audited and proved. The payments to the treasurer were checked with the treas- urer's recorded receipts, the abatements were compared with the records in the departments authoized to grant such credits, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved.
The outstanding tax, assessment, departmental, and water accounts were verified by sending notices to many persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, and from the replies received thereto it appears that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
The records of dog and sporting licenses issued by the town clerk, as well as of miscellaneous receipts, were examined and checked, the recorded payments to the treas- urer and the State being verified by comparison with the treasurer's books and with the receipts on file.
The surety bonds of the town officials required by law to furnish them were examined and found to be in proper form.
The financial records of the selectmen, of the sealer of weights and measures, of the police, health, school, and library departments, as well as of all other departments col- lecting money for the town or committing bills for collec- tion, were examined and checked with the treasurer's cash receipts.
There are appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, tables showing a reconcilation of the treas. urer's and collector's cash, summaries of the tax, assess- ment, tax title, departmental, and water accounts, together with tables showing the condition and transaction of the trust funds.
While engaged in making the audit, cooperation was received from all town officials, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to express apprecia- tion.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN B. DINE
Assistant Director of Accounts.
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
FEBRUARY 5, 1945
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Barnstable, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Harwich, in said County, Greetings :-
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the Inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in Elections and Town Af- fairs, to meet in Exchange Hall in said Town on Monday, February 5, 1945 at 9 A.M., then and there to act on the following articles :---
Polls will be open at 9 A.M. and may close at 2 P.M.
Article 1. To choose on one ballot the following Town Officers and Committees: Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, for one year; one Selectman, Overseer of Public Welfare and Board of Health, for three years; one Assessor for three years; three Herring Committee for one year ; one School Committee for three years; three Con- stables for one year; one Trustee of Brooks Library for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years; Mod- erator for one year; one Water Commissioner for three years; Surveyor of Highways for one year; one Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
Article 2. To choose all other Town Officers and Committees.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen,
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to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1945, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 4. To hear the report of all Town Officers and Committees for the year 1944.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray Town expenses for the ensuing year, and act fully thereon.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to fix the sal- aries of the elected Town Officers for the year 1945.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to instruct its Selectmen to control, regulate and prohibit the taking of eels, clams, quahaugs and scallops, within the town limits as provided in Chapter 130, Section 57, as amended by Chapter 329 of the Acts of 1933 and to make any regula- tions in regard to such fisheries as may be expedient, and act fully thereon.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from surplus revenue or available funds a sum not in excess of twenty thousand dollars, ($20,000) for the purpose of reducing the 1945 tax rate and act fully thereon.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to defray the ex- penses of Harwich Ration Board and to act fully thereon.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the use of Har- wich Post No. 292 American Legion in the proper observ- ance of Memorial Day and Armistice Day and other proper patriotic purposes.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell by public sale any property the Town may acquire or has acquired by the foreclosure of tax titles and act fully thereon.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and
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appropriatt a sum not to exceed one thousand ($1000.00) dollars to be paid to the Cape Cod Hospital for the estab- lishment and maintenance of a free bed in the Hospital for care and treatment of persons certified by the Selectmen to be residents of the Town and unable to pay for such care and treatment, in accordance with Section 74 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, or take any action in relation thereto and act fully thereon.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate certain sums of foney to repair hurricane dam- age, said money to be used by the Park Commissioners, the Cemetery Commissioners, School Committee and Tree War- den and Highway Department and act fully thereon.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $700.00 to continue work on Asses- sors' Maps and act fully thereon.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 High- way Maintenance, or take any action in relation thereto.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3000.00 for the prevention of Beach erosion, said money to be used with money from State or County.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $659.64 to be used for the extending water mains where requested, providing that the income from such extensions will be at least 6% of the cost.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or borrow a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of laying a water main on Neel Road and act fully thereon.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or borrow a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of laying a water main on Gorham Road and act fully thereon.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or borrow a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of laying water mains on Brooks Road and Lower County Road and act fully thereon.
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Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or borrow a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of extending the water main on Earle Road and act fully thereon.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or borrow a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of extending the water main on Hiawatha Road and act fully thereon.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and . appropriate or borrow a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of laying water mains on Sisson Road and act fully thereon.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money, not to exceed three hundred and fifty ($350.00) dollars, to defray the expenses of main- taining a certified life guard on the Town Beach, during the Summer Season of. 1945, and act fully thereon.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money not to exceed sixteen hundred ($1600.00) dollars, under the provisions of sub-section 21 of Section 1 of Chapter 371 of the Acts of 1921, and any and all amendments thereof and additions thereto for the employment of a nurse through the Harwich Visiting Nurse Association, Inc.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to remove the debris washed up by the hurricane onto the shores of Wychmere Ilarbor.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for unpaid bills as provided for in Chapter 179 of the Acts of 1941.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for Chapter 90 High- way Construction (Allen's Harbor Bridge) or take any action in relation thereto.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the use of the Harwich Veteran's Rehabilitation and Re-employment Committee and act fully thereon.
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Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to raise ($300.00) three hundred dollars for the purpose of straight- ening road, beginning at the Southeast corner of Route 137 opposite the Evergreen Cemetery and extending Northerly to approximately three hundred feet.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand ($1000.00) dollars to purchase and equip the Police Department with a new Patrol Car, to replace the old Patrol Car now in use, and to authorize the Selectmen to sell or trade the Patrol Car now owned by the Town and the sum received, therefrom to be used towards the purchase of a new car, and to act fully thereon.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to increase the wage for Town labor to seventy-five ($.75) cents per hour.
Article. 33. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate the sum of $1000.00 to widen and harden the road in East Harwich (known as the Schoolhouse Road) from the Harwich Center to South Orleans Road East to corner of Bay Road and Main Street which is a short cut to Pleas- ant Bay and Route 28.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of twelve hundred ($1200.00) dollars for the purchase of a sand loader.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred fifty ($450.00) dollars for the benefit of the Chase Library Association, and act fully thereon.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred ($100.00) dollars for the feeding and propagation of game within the Town Limits and that a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to have charge of the work.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to erect on the Town Beach at the foot of Bank Street flush toilets for the use of the Bathing Public and act fully thereon.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of ($350.00) for the purpose of keep-
.
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ing the beaches clean and for the repair of the board walks used on the Town Beach and act fully thereon.
Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to raise and. appropriate the sum of ($350.00) for the care and repair of the Town Docks at Round Cove and Wychmere Harbor and act fully thereon.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to pay members of the State Guard for hurricane duty.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of six hundred ($600.00) dollars for the benefit of the Harwichport Library Association.
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to expend the Refunded Dog Tax for the support of Brooks Free Li- brary.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to reshingle the roof of Brooks Block and to repair the gutters and interior leak- age damage.
Article 44. To see if the Town will vote to accept thie road leading from Lower County Road, Southerly to Shore Road as a Town Way, as laid out on a plan of the late Henry N. Chase, said road being forty feet wide.
Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to raise and apropriate the sum of one thousand ($1000.00) dollars for the purpose of planting shade trees along the Public High- ways of the Town, under the provisions of Chapter 87, Section 7, of the General Laws.
Article 46. To see what action the Town will take in regard to the Herring Fisheries for the year 1945 and act fully thereon.
Article 47. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase a new Honor Roll, said Honor Roll to be erected at Wheeler Park, Harwichport, and that a committee consisting of three members of the American Legion and the Selectmen be authorized to make such purchase and provide for its main- tenance and upkeep.
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Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to erect and maintain one street light on Chatham Road in front of the residence of William J. Reid and act fully thereon.
Article 49. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to erect and maintain one street light on Woodland Road between Bank and Bayview Avenue in Harwichport and act fully thereon.
Article 50. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to continue the con- struction of the asphalt sidewalk on the West side of Cross Street between Pleasant Street and Miles Street.
Article 51. To see if the Town will vote to change the present elective term of Collector of Taxes, Town Treas- urer and Town Clerk from one to three years.
Article 52. To see if the Town will vote to rescind the action taken at the Regular Town Meeting on February 2, 1931 whereby it accepted Section 1, 3, 6 and 7 and Sec- tions 11 to 16 inclusive of Chapter 142 General Laws and all amendments and additions thereto; said act being rela- tive to the Supervision of Plumbing, to take effect at once.
Article 53. To see if the Town of Harwich will appro- priate a sufficient sum of money to construct a concrete flume at Long Pond, the outlet to Herring Brook.
Article 54. To see if the Town of Harwich will vote to purchase a seining pool and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000.00) for same or take any action thereon.
Hereof, fail not and make returns of this Warrant with your doings thereon at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands the 8th day of January, 1945.
CHARLES D. HOLMES, CHARLES T. CHASE, HOWARD C. CAHOON, Selectmen of Harwich.
A true copy : ATTEST :
Constable.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Town of Harwich MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1944
1
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ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1944
School Committee
Norman E. Holmes, Chairman
Wilbur H. Crowell
J. Howard Doane
Term expires 1947
Term expires 1945
Term expires 1946
Superintendent of Schools
Charles H. Pratt, A. M.
School Physician John P. Nickerson, M. D. Arthur J. D'Elia, M. D.
School Nurse
Adelyn J. Peabody, R. N.
Supervisor of Attendance
Charles S. Smith
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Expended in 1944
Need in
1945
General Control:
School Committee
Salaries and Expenses
$ 450.00
Superintendent of Schools
Enforcement of Law
Salaries
2,528.78
Office Expenses
349.06
$ 3,327.84 $ 3,210.00
Instruction :
Supervisors
1,860.08
Principals and Teachers
29,495.76
Textbooks
598.86
Supplies
1,013.80
32,968.50
338,78.00
Operation :
Janitors
5,041.96
Fuel
3,030.65
Electricity, Water, Gas
and Janitor's Supplies
1,991.46
10,064.07
9,610.00
Maintenance:
Repairs, Replacement and Upkeep
1,991.46
2,715.56
1,000.00
Auxiliary Agencies :
Libraries
88.30
Health
360.01
Transportation 4,800.00
Graduation, Athletics, Lunch
Supplies, Cooks' Salary, Senior
Class Service, H. S. Phone,
Films, Tuition, etc. 9,583.96
14,832.27
16,102.00
Outlay :
New Grounds and Buildings
5.19
New Equipment
66.66
71.85
Total
$63,980.09
$63,800.00
Appropriated for 1944
$63,803.00
Refunds
260.87
$64,063.87
Expended in 1944
$63,980.09
Balance $83.78
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NET COST OF SCHOOLS
$63,980.09
Expenditures during 1944
Received and Receivable:
Due on account of
Expenditures in 1944
Mass. General School
Fund Part I
$3,618.70
City of Boston:
Transportation
$ 99.32
Tuition
541.54
640.86
Mass. Adult Education
420.00
Town of Dennis Tuition
69.67
Town of Chatham: Telephone
27.19
Town of Eastham:
Telephone
10.08
Town of Orleans: Telephone
45.60
Lost Book
1.48
Lost Art Supplies
1.47
Materials bought in Manual Training
18.75
Rental H. S. Auditorium
20.00
H. S. Toll Calls
1.10
Receipts from High School Lunch Sales
3,741.13
Receipts from Elementary
Lunch Sales
$3,502.37
Receipts brought forward
from 1943 1.78
Receipts Extra Milk Sold
88.38
Federal Subsidy Nov. '43 to
Oct. 1944 inclusive 957 .. 98
From Visiting Nurse Assoc. (paid meals) 37.20
From Salvation Army (paid meals) 84.60
From City of Boston,
(paid meals) 24.30
4,696.61
13,312.73
Net Cost
$50,667.36
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS HARWICH
To the School Committee of Harwich :
The Annual School Report for 1944 is as follows:
The school membership of 349 in all grades in October first 1944 shows an increase of thirteen above that of a year ago'. Grades of the elementary schools have eleven more than a year ago while grades seven through twelve have increased two in membership. The membership in 1933 reached the total of 532 which was the highest during the last fifteen year period.
The North Harwich School close for the 1944 April vacation and was not again opened. The teacher of grades 4, 5 and 6 resigned at that time and the school was trans- ferred to the Center. At the time of closing there were twenty-eight children in attendance in grades as follows: Grade I 4 children Grade IV 6 children
Grade II 3 children Grade V 7 children
Grade III 4 children Grade VI 4 children
11 in the primary room 17 in the intermediate room These children have now been assigned to grades at the Center with resulting enrollment as shown in the "Tabular Statement of Membership By Grades as of Octo- ber First" on another page of this report.
As a result of the present organization, every child in town has the opportunity to share the benefits of the noon lunch. The faculty of the elementary schools is two less in number than was the case a year ago. The economy effected in instruction, upkeep of building, fuel, janitor ser- vice, etc., exceeds $3,000 per year, while the educational results are,in my opinion, much improved by the change.
It is due in part to such savings as above that it has been possible to submit a school budget for 1945 which is no more than that of 1944. Increased costs in all the essen- tials of life are reflected by some increase in school costs.
Fortune, the magazine speaking as press agent of busi- ness under "Ferment in Education" is quoted as saying, "Our Country is not going to be any better than our school system ; in very measurable part we shall get exactly
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the school system we pay for. We need more schools and not attracted to the profession . Many school systems better teachers". They go on . . . Teacher's salaries are pay maintenance, carpenters, and electricians more than the teacher". A school man who used such powerful lang- uage would be discounted as one sounding his opinions tinged with prejudice. Big business cannot be accused of this weakness.
Our present teachers need more appreciation for the work they have done. They need nancial encouragement to invest in their own professional growth. Certainly we have found that if we go outside our own towns to find replacements we must pay higher salaries. If schools are to have future leadership commensurate with the import- ance of the service, there must be far greater financial in- ducement and higher appreciation of the teacher's position of trust and responsibility.
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
In this, the fourth year of America at war, the school is very definitely trying to achieve three major objectives.
First of all, we are trying to run a school. This means an educational institution in which the traditional pro- cesses are carried on, fulfilling the needs of those pupils who are preparing to enter higher schools and colleges, teaching the skills and practices to those pupils who are planning to enter the commercial field, and teaching the practical arts to those pupils, both boys and girls, who's plans for life call for them.
In order to make this teaching effective, it is neces- sary to maintain the levels of achievement demanded by schools, colleges, hospitals, and the business world. There must be no slackening of effort because of war hysteria, uncertainty of the future, or upset social conditions.
We find it impossible to run a school and maintain satisfactory levels of achievement, without insisting on a high standard of social order and personal self-discip- line. We firmly believe that if our conduct and discipline breaks down, that the pupil achievement will suffer, and that the school, as such, will not function effectively as a genuine educational institution.
In the second place, we are trying to serve the com- munity. A large part of the social life of the youth of the
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town, and this social life is very essential to our welfare, centers around activities of the school. Of late, these have necessarily been severely curtailed, but now we are slowly expanding them. More social opportunities are opening, and our youth are being given greater recreational fa- cilities.
We are trying to teach the responsibilities of citi- zenship. A clearer understanding of the fundamental bases and foundations of our social order together with an op- portunity to take part in the management of the develop- ment of these expanding movements, will create a con- dition of awareness of the integration of the relative parts and processes which we think will have a tendency to make a better and more understanding citizen.
We have served the community by continuing our efforts in the salvage work.
Every pupil in the school is a member of the Junior Red Cross, and as such, who have tried to be of assist- ance to the men in the hospital at Camp Edwards. In fact, this institution has been our chief objective along this line.
We have sold bonds, and bought stamps, to an extent which should have been of material assistance to the com- munity in reaching its quota in our war drives.
In the third place, we are trying to do' our part in making America strong.
We believe that the best way to help make America strong is to cooperate to the best of our ability with the program outlined by the War Department for the prose- cution of the national effort on the various fronts, both at home and abroad. The splendid response of the girls graduating from our school in joining the Cadet Nurses Corps is an example of this cooperation.
The War Department, joining with the U. S. Office of Education, asked that the following nine areas of in- struction be covered in high school teaching for the boys; namely: physical fitness, mathematical skills, knowledge and ability to apply scientific principles, basic language skills, occupational skills, knowledge of why we fight, or- ientation to army life, health sanitation and first aid, and map reading ability.
We are including these areas in our regular instruc- tion as well as we can, in our small way, that our boys,
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