Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1956, Part 5

Author: Harwich (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 204


USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1956 > Part 5


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The operating overhead will consist of heat, light, wa- ter, fire insurance, minor repairs, etc. and can be estimated from the requirements-whether the tenants pay their own share of these costs or not should be borne in mind. It would seem best to heat all of the first floor and the second floor toilets continuously, whereas the Auditorium (and 3rd floor) only as necessary. These operating expenses should be offset by the rental revenue.


The long term maintenance such as painting, shingling, etc. can be scheduled and planned for, so the burden could be divided over the years. The probable repair projects for the next twenty years would be: Painting outside 4 times $12,000.00 Paint (Odd Inside) 3,000.00 Odd Repairs 5,000.00


$20,000.00


$20,000.00 divided by 20 years-$1,000 a year


As with any building or equipment, regular preventative maintenance is absolutely necessary for optimum over- head expense, and in this case, a little forethought and fore- sight could have minimized such a large expenditure as is currently necessary both inside and outside the building.


66


One interesting aspect of this building is that there is no expense for lawns, grounds, parking areas, snow removal, etc. such as are usually associated with a new building.


This, generally is our finding. From this general report it is an easy matter to get into endless detail, but before any real details are delved into it is important to determine what is to be done and why. In this report we have pre- sented to you what we feel is the best thing to do and why we think so."


This concludes the Builder's Report - submitted by Frank Joy.


At this time we would like to insert the cost of oper- ating the Exchange Hall for the past ten years.


General Maintenance, Janitor, Utility


$50,800.00


Special Repairs


6,400.00


Insurance


7,200.00


Wiring, Painting


15,600.00


$80,000.00


Annual Income @ $1,450.00 a year


14,500.00


$65,500.88


We can figure for the next ten years that this expense will stay the same (probably will increase). Now, if we add to this the amount necessary to bring the building into top shape, so that it could be used for all actviities, we have a total cost of $139,750.88. You must take into consideration that if this money would be spent that we still would not be able to use this Auditorium for many events, such as ath- letic events, large dances, etc. It also would only seat at top about 800 people, vs. 2,000 in a new building.


We felt for an additional $30,000.00, we could erect a building that would last the Town for twenty years. You must remember that this additional $30,000.00 would include a new Police Station. We felt that if two buildings could be built at the same time that the Town would save on outlay, maintenance and supervision. This new building would serve all School functions and other needs of the Town in- cluding the Recreation Committee extra needs, and would be located as best to serve them all. We have thought of the location where the present Police Station is, as we have sufficient land for both buildings and a large parking area. It is close to the schools and would centralize departments (Police, Highway, and Moth) which should be the ultimate goal of the Town, as it will save on both maintenance and


L


67


supervision. However, if the schools should decide to change their location, then another location for the Municipal Building should be given consideration. We are aware of the fact that no one likes additional expense at this time, but we felt that over a ten year period that this would be a less expensive proposition than maintaining the present buildings and would save the taxpayers money. At the same time it would give them the best in facilities and allow the Townspeople more programs and activities which they could enjoy.


We have inserted the following Articles in regard to the Exchange Hall, which we feel is the solution to the prob - lem of the existing building.


1. To sell the Building.


2. To spend $80,000.00 to repair completely the building.


3. To spend a smaller amount just to get by another couple of years.


4. To appoint a Committee to negotiate with a State His- torical Society or other organization to see if the Build- ing could be given away as a Historical Site.


Of course these articles will depend on what is done with regard to the Municipal Auditorium.


The recommendations and thoughts expressed by us have been in our best judgment, as to the least expensive and most feasible solution for the Town. We feel we pre- pared as many facts, figures and studies as possible before making such judgments. We hope you will give them your consideration at the coming Town Meeting.


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES G. HALL, Chairman EDWARD EDMUNDS, Secretary PETER BARBER WALLACE WALES BIDDLE THOMPSON H. WILLIAM MOREY BARNEY TAYLOR CHARLES LANDEN VICTOR RYDER


68


Report of the Building Inspector


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Harwich, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit my Annual Report as Building In- spector for the year ending December 31, 1956.


Number of Permits issued


167


Number of Inspections


714


Mileage covered in 1956


5,516


Permits listed as follows:


Dwellings


95


Garages


13


Motels


1


Commercial Buildings


5


Additions and Alterations


53


Estimated cost of New Construction-$1,184.700.


Appropriation for 1956


$2,900.00


Salary and Expenses


$2,900.00


Payments


$2,900.00


Paid Town of Harwich for Permits-283


Layout and Drainage Inspections:


Number of Water Supply Inspections 5


Number of Sewerage Disposal Inspections 118 Appropriation for 1956 $300.00


Payments $300.00


Respectfully submitted,


WINSLOW B. SAWYER, Building Inspector


69


Report of the Committee on Department of Public Works


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of the Town of Harwich:


This Committee was appointed by the Town Moderator, in accordance with the vote of the 1956 Town Meeting, to study the advantages and disadvantages of establishing in the Town of Harwich a Board of Public Works, as provided in Chapter 101 of the Acts of 1953 and to make a report of its findings and recommendations, together with appropriate legislation, to the Annual Town Meeting of 1957. Chapter 101 provides a form of Public Works Department for any town which accepts the same. The procedure prescribed is as follows: a town meeting must first vote to accept, secondly, the question of acceptance is placed on the ballot at the next town meeting and if the ballot is favorable the statute takes effect at the next annual town meeting.


If Harwich should vote to create a Board of Public Works, the Highway, Park, Cemetery, Tree, Moth and Water Departments would cease to exist as independent depart- ments. The town would elect a three man Board of Public Works serving staggered three year teams which Board would exercise all the powers and duties of the old departments. In addition, the Board would exercise such powers of other boards and offices, reasonably related to a Public Works De- partment, as the Town may fix by by-law. The Public Works Department Board would appoint a Superintendent. By statute, this Superintendent must be fitted by education, training and experience, to exercise such of the powers and duties of the Board as it may designate. He would hold office at the will of the Board and would, subject to the approval of the Board, appoint such assistants and employees as may be required. He may or may not be a resident of Harwich but he could hold no other job or office. The town may, at the expiration of three years from the establishment of a Department of Public Works, abolish the Department by a majority vote at an annual town meeting.


As an alternative to the foregoing procedure, Chapter 101 authorizes a town to vote to have its selectmen act as a Board of Public Works. The objections to this plan are that


70


it might heap more work on the selectmen than they could handle and, further, result in a concentration of authority which would not be in accord with that traditional policy of the towns which favors divided responsibility and a system of checks and balances.


As a basis for this report, this Committee, has, through the courtesy of town clerks and others, been able to examine the reports of town committees, who have studied the prob- lem, especially in the towns of Bedford, Hamilton and Swampscott. This Committee interviewed a number of Har- wich citizens and, on invitation, obtained the thoughtful opinion of Mr. John L. Morris, who sponsored the article in the 1956 town warrant which authorized this committee. The committee received the cordial cooperation amongst others of the Massachusetts Federation of Taxpayers Associ- ations, the Bureau of Government Research of the University of Massachusetts and Richard B. Johnson Esq. of the Boston Bar, chairman of a Swampscott committee, which studied and recommended a board of public works, a recommenda- tion which the town voted to accept.


As of January 1955, twenty-two towns had, under special acts of Legislature, established boards of public works. Five other towns, since the 1953 Act, had used its provisions to establish boards of public works. With the exception of Nahant, all of the above twenty-seven towns have a popu- lation, and probably a budget, larger than the population and budget of Harwich.


The principal advantages claimed by the advocates of a public works department plan are, increase in the efficiency of the public service and financial savings to the town. It is claimed that these advantages would result from the super- vision by a single board and an experienced and trained superintendent. Under such supervision, it is argued, men and equipment could be coordinated, purchasing centralized, and work more effectively programmed.


In the course of its investigations, this Committee re- ceived two particularly pertinent opinions. One was from an official in a town where a public works department was in favorable opinion. He wrote, "I personally believe that if proper officials are elected the old form of New England government is the best for small towns. Good town govern- ment hinges on good elected officials rather than on the form of government." This opinion is supported by other persons who believe that a close relationship should be main- tained between the voter and his town officials, a relationship which might be interfered with if most of the old boards were superseded by a single board and a superintendent.


71


A second pertinent opinion came from a gentleman who was thoroughly familiar with his own town's board of public works and who examined the Harwich 1955 Town Report. He wrote, "Your budget (Harwich) as appears from your report would run considerably less than ours and the opportunity for substantial dollar saving would be proportionately less. We think we can justfy the added expense of our Superin- tendent's salary, which is about $7500. In Harwich, you would have to pay a Superintendent of Public Works at least $5000. I would suppose. But could he save that much for you? And even if he could, would the net saving be worth it, in view of the advantages of having more citizens par- ticipate in the Town's affairs, as they do when there are several boards and departments? Hamilton recently turned down public works no doubt on some such considerations."


After considering the advantages and disadvantages of establishing, in Harwich, a Board of Public Works, this Com- mittee is of the unanimous opinion that it cannot, in this town, and at this time, recommend the establishment of such a Board. If, in the future, conditions in Harwich change, especially if there is a substantial increase in population and in town budgets, a re-examination of the Public Works De- partment problem may be required.


Respectfully submitted,


HARRY B. ALBRO JAMES BALDWIN ALTON P. HALL HERBERT R. MORSE ERNEST C. WOODSUM Dept. of Public Works Comm.


Report of the Registrars of Voters


The Board of Registrars of the Town submit their report for the year of 1956.


We now have a total of 2,480 voters on our lists as fol- lows: Women, 1,358; Men, 1,122. This is an increase of 89 over the previous year.


Respectfully submitted,


CLEON S. CROWELL, Chm. HELENA T. MAGUIRE JOSEPH V. GAVIN


Registrars


72


Engineers and Surveyors Report


The seven thousand dollar ($7,000) appropriation was spent as follows:


A. Old Assessor's Maps $878.33


Work consisted of plotting new subdivisions and prop- erty transfers and copying deeds at the Registry of Deeds.


B. New Assessor's Maps $2,854.50


Work consisted of completing area adjoining Mid-Cape Highway extending into East Harwich with new maps.


C. Town Roads $1,042.35


Work consisted of completing plans and descriptions of Roads to be taken at the 1957 Annual Town Meeting. Layout for widening and altering of Queen Anne Road (Originally a request by the subdividers of Bucks Pond land for a road definition.) This work was extended to include the section between Route No. 39 and Pleasant Lake Avenue. This work also consisted of laying out the following roads to be taken as Town Ways at the 1957 Annual Town Meeting as per in- structions of the 1956 Annual Town Meeting.


Highland Avenue-South Harwich


Lincoln Village Road-Harwich Port Railroad property (section between Pleasant Lake Avenue and Oak Street-Harwich).


D. County Roads


$751.00


This work consisted of completing plans and descrip- tions for widening and altering of Depot Road and Uncle Venies Road in South Harwich, running from Route No. 39 to Red River Beach. Plans were prepared for widening and altering Pleasant Lake Avenue (section between Main Street in Harwich and the Mid-Cape Highway for petitioning the County Commissioners to rebuild this road as an access road to the Mid-Cape Highway.


E. Departmental Requests $880.25


The Highway Department for staking road sidelines and checking grades on the following roads:


Pleasant Park Road, Harwich; Pleasant Bay Road, East Harwich; Division Street, West Harwich; Colonial Way, Har- wich Port and Red River Road in South Harwich.


73


The water department in preparing plans for eminent domain taking of property on Pleasant Bay Road, East Har- wich for taking as a well field also staking centerline of Depot Road in South Harwich for the location of water mains and plotting grades for access road to new pumping station.


The School Committee for making a survey and setting bounds on property purchased from Mildred B. Paine et ali and making composite plan of the school property between Sisson Road and South Street.


The Recreational Committee for setting grades and staking base lines for the Little League Field.


The Fire Department in preparing plans and specifica- tions for hardening the parking area at the Fire Station. F.


Town Lands and Harbors $295.45


Making map of Allens Harbor for the Shellfish Consta- ble. Also staking property lines of Town Beach at Seymour's Pond at Pleasant Lake. Outline plans of Allens Harbor, Wychmere Harbor and Red River (copies of these plans given to the State Division of Waterways and the U. S. Army Engi- neers). Plans and specifications were prepared for the park- ing area at Red River Beach in South Harwich.


G. All other $289.86


Recording fees at the Barnstable Registry of Deeds, pur- chasing of bounds and photostatic copies of the Assessors' Maps.


H. Balance to Revenue $8.26


Total appropriation $7,000.00


Respectfuly submitted,


BENJAMIN P. CHASE Registered Land Surveyor


74


Report of the Highway Surveyor


January 1, 1957


To the Board of Selectmen and


the citizens of the Town of Harwich:


I hereby submit my report for the year 1956.


The Highway Department has seal coated 8.6 miles of road and has mixed and placed 2.2 miles of road.


The Department has used approximately 65,000 gallons of asphalt for different work.


A new drainage system was installed on South St. Catch basins have been cleaned throughout the year and new basins have been installed.


Cement posts have been replaced where the old wooden posts were. Sidewalks have been constructed during the year and it has included seal coating and resurfacing sidewalks in the various sections of the Town.


I want to thank all Town Departments for their co- operation during the past year.


Cooperation is the greatest asset to the taxpayers in any Town.


Respectfully submitted,


ALTON P. HALL Surveyor of Highway


Sidewalks


Appropriation Balance


$2,000.00


Labor


584.40


Material


695.60


Total


Balance to Revenue


$1,279.64 $720.36


Chapter 90-Maintenance


Appropiration Balance


$3,000.00


Labor


479.00


Material


1,021.58


Truck Hiring


168.50


Socony Oil Co.


1,330.03


Total


Balance to Revenue


$2,999.11 $.89


75


Snow Removal


Appropriation Balance


$11,900.00


Labor


$5,280.45


Equipment Hiring


4,962.20


Material


1,657.35


Total


$11,900.00


Overpayment


$616.39


General Repairs


Appropriation Balance


$45,000.00


Return from Water and Police Dpts.


543.09


Total


$45,543.09


Labor


$22,241.50


Asphalt


10,863.62


Gasoline-Oil


3,324.00


Loader & Bulldozer Hiring


3,315.00


Truck Hiring


1,500.00


Material


850.00


Fuel


648.50


Electric


85.00


Telephone


220.50


Water


30.00


Office Supplies


42.50


Boiler Inspection


20.00


Express


40.00


Signs & Lettering


70.00


Repairs


597.00


Total


$45,541.03


Balance to Revenue


$2.06


Insurance Fund


Appropriation Balance


$900.00


Douglas B. Sawyer


$266.64


Norman O. Nickerson


366.58


Total


633.22


Balance to Revenue


$266.78


76


Repairs To Highway Department Building Fund


$300.00


Appropriation Balance


Labor


$89.40


Material


130.34


Total


$269.48


Balance to Revenue


$30.52


Fences & Railings


Appropriation Balance


$600.00


Labor


$241.20


Material


100.64


House of Correction


195.00


Total


$597.14


Balance to Revenue


$2.86


Appropriation Balance


$600.00


Labor


$250.25


Material


297.10


Total


$596.00


Balance to Revenue


$4.00


ROADS Queen Anne Road


Appropriation Balance


$2,000.00


Balance from 1955


1,570.48


Total


$3,570.48


Labor


$962.05


Truck Hiring


528.50


Socony Oil


1,931.73


Total


$3,422.28


Balance to Revenue


$147.30


Clifford Road


Appropriation Balance


$350.00


Labor


$250.00


Trimount Bituminus Products Co.


93.44


Total


$348.64


Balance


$1.36


Bridges


77


Sunset Road


Appropriation Balance


Labor


$280.65


Trimount Bituminus Products Co.


116.48


Land Taking


1.00


Total


$398.13


Balance to Revenue


$1.87


Elwood Road


Appropriation Balance


$500.00


Labor


$296.85


Trimount Bituminus Products Co.


202.45


Total


$499.30


Balance to Revenue


.70


Appropriation Balance


$0.45


Earle Terrace


Appropriation Balance


$2.80


Victory Drive


Appropriation Balance


Long Pond Drive


$175.00


Labor


174.80


Balance to Revenue $0.20


Report on the Supervision of Herring


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Harwich, Massachusetts


There have been three runs of Herring this season- about April first, small run. May 1st to 27th, large run. June 1 to June 7th, small run.


The water in the reservoir has been very high-and the brook from the ponds has been running full.


Have had to tend water at reservoir four times a day -- at half ebb tide and at half flood tide-otherwise water run- ning so strong herring could not not make the run through the Flume-this was done during the May and June runs, four times a day.


Trumet Road


$0.97


Appropriation Balance


$400.00


78


Herring will not go through the culvert at Railroad Bridge in the day time, only at night-culvert has been full of water to the arch at all times making it dark so herring would not enter.


Herring started to come back from Ponds about the 21st of May.


Brook needs cleaning from Ryder's Dam to Meeting House swamp.


Suggested that next year man be on by the first of April, so that the water may be lowered in reservoir, then it will not be necessary to tend reservoir plank in flume during the herring run, only occasionally.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE M. MOODY


Report of the Inspector of Wires


The following inspections were made for extension of wiring, change-overs from 2 to 3 wire services, off peak hot water meters, new construction and contractors services, in the Town of Harwich for the year ending December 31, 1956.


In addition to these inspections there were many trips with electricians to look over prospective work and advise as to location of services and what was needed to comply with the code.


We also want to inform home owners to the fact, that there has been enacted an amendment to the General Laws which requires any person installing any electrical wiring or fixtures to notify the inspector within five days after com- pleting the work. Any person failing to give such notice shall be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty dollars.


Location


Estimate


Time


Inspections


West Harwich


10,600


841/2 hrs.


93


Harwichport


33,600


671/2


75


East Harwich


7,650


42


49


South Harwich


7,950


271/2


32


Harwich


3,750


201/2


24


Pleasant Lake


3,150


131/2


15


North Harwich


450


3


6


Totals


67,150


2581/2


294


Respectfully submitted,


BRADFORD L. BARRETT


Inspector of Wires


79


Fire Department and Forest Warden's Report


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and to the Citizens of the Town of Harwich:


I hereby respectfully submit the annual report of the Fire Department and Forest Warden's Department for the year 1956.


Personnel


Rank


Name


Address


Yrs. Service


Chief


*Charles A. Hall


West Harwich 10


Dep. Chief


Arthur H. Chase


Harwich Center 39


Dep. Chief


Fred T. Young, Jr.


Harwichport 27


Captain


*William L. Fratus


Harwichport 9


Chaplain


Rev. Harry Meyers


Harwich Center


3


Ladder #1


Lieutenant


Brenton I. Wixon


Harwich Center


10


Ladderman


Samuel J. Arsenault


Harwichport


7


Ladderman


Eugene Winston


Harwichport


16


Ladderman


Douglas Witherell


Harwich Center


7


Ladderman


Robert Winston


Harwichport


2


Ladderman


Walter Eldredge


Harwich Center


3


Ladderman


Richard Chase


West Harwich


3


Ladderman


Rufus D. Pina


North Harwich


3


Ladderman


Theron C. Holmes, Jr.


Harwich Center


1


Engine #2


Lieutenant


*Robert Greenough


West Harwich


5


Engineman


John Daluze


Pleasant Lake


10


Engineman


Alfred B. Higgins


East Harwich


7


Engineman


Alfred T. Carter


West Harwich


9


Engineman


Emulous E. Hall, Jr.


Harwich Center 10


29


Engine #3


Lieutenant


*Richard E. Johnson


West Harwich


2


Engineman


Clayton E. Chase


Harwich Center


11


Engineman


Lawrence F. Nickerson, Jr.


Harwich Center


1


Engineman


William M. Williams


Harwichport


9


Engineman


George Small


South Harwich


4


Engineman


Raymond Gessner


Harwich Center


1


Engineman


William S. Johnson


West Harwich


2


Engine #4


Lieutenant


Arthur P. Doane, Jr.


Harwich Center


10


Engineman


Leo St. Pierre


West Harwich


3


Engineman


Sheldon Thayer, Jr.


South Harwich


1


Engineman


Russell L. Ritchie


Harwich Center


5


Engineman


Arthur Peavey


West Harwich 3


Engineman


Harold Peterson


Pleasant Lake


4


Engineman


Francis Nickerson


Harwichport


80


Rank Name


Address Yrs. Service


Captain


Sheldon Thayer


South Harwich 9


Rescueman


Melvin Orton


West Harwich 1


Special Service Unit (Diving Squad)


Chief


Charles A. Hall


Lieutenant


Richard E. Johnson


Lieutenant


Robert Greenough


Engineman William S. Johnson


Engineman


Sheldon Thayer, Jr.


Engineman Russell L. Ritchie


Engineman


Arthur Peavey


Engineman Lawrence F. Nickerson, Jr.


Engineman Alfred B. Higgins


Engineman


Raymond Gessner


* Permanent Firefighters


Dispatchers


Mrs. Arthur P. Doane, Jr.


Mrs. Charles A. Hall


West Harwich


7


Mrs. Brenton Wixon


Harwich Center 1


Mrs. Douglas Gardner


Harwichport 5


Mrs. Richard E. Johnson


West Harwich


2


Mrs. Walter Eldredge


Harwich Center


2


Mrs. Veronica Ritchie


Harwich Center


1


Life Members


Mrs. George Moody


(Ex-Dispatcher)


North Harwich


Mr. George Moody


(Ex-Fire Chief)


Mr. John Condon


(Ex-Fire Warden)


North Harwich Harwich Center


Mr. William Chase


(Ex-Fireman)


Harwichport Japan


Town of Harwich Insurance Rating


(1) Property subject to minimum rates:


(2) Specifically rated property:


7th Class


STATISTICS


(1) Total number of fire and rescue alarms answered:


NORTH HARWICH Fire - 10 Rescue - 13 EAST HARWICH Fire - 1 Total - 23 Rescue - 10 Total - 11


SOUTH HARWICH Fire - 3 Rescue - 19


Total - 22


WEST HARWICH Fire - 26 Rescue - 38 Total - 64


HARWICHPORT Fire - 31 Rescue - 76


Total - 107


HARWICH CENTER Fire - 22 Rescue - 38 Total - 60


PLEASANT LAKE Fire - 10 Rescue - 15 Total - 25


OUT OF TOWN Fire - 0 Rescue - 4


Total .. 4


Fire - 103 Rescue - 213 Total - 316


(2) Total hours of service at alarms:


Fire


88 hours 15 minutes


Rescue


326 hours


20 minutes


414 hours


35 minutes


(3) Total miles covered answering alarms:


Fire


293.0


Rescue


7,011.1


Total


7,504.1


Grade D


Sgt. Charles S. Pratt


(Ex-Fireman)


Harwich Center 9


Rescue #1


81


(4)


Total number of alarms answered by:


1. Ladder No. 1 39


2. Engine No. 2 45


3. Engine No. 3 26


4. Engine No. 4 4


5. Engine No. 5


29


6. Rescue No. 1 34


7. Ambulance 181


(5) Total number of fire and rescue alarms by type:


A. Building


24


B. Woods and Brush 15


C. Grass


9


False or Needless


5


E. Vehicle 2


F. Dump or Rubbish


6


G. Investigations


20


H. Service


13


I. Chimney


4


J. Electrical 4


K. Pier 1


103


RESCUE AND AMBULANCE


(1) Auto and Pedestrian accidents


19


(2) Maternity


6


(3) Service


26


(4) Dead on arrival 7


28


(6) Medical


69


(7) First Aid


13


(8) Needless


11


(9) Heart attacks


30


(10) Out of Town


4


213


(6) Trips to various hospitals with Ambulance and Chief's car: Cape Cod Hospital 118




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