USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1957 > Part 2
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This year, in order to clear up the confusion the Finance Committee suggested that the cost of all survey work be added to the article or budget item that required it, that all survey work be taken out of this item, and that this item be called "Assessor's Maps" and be used for that purpose only. This designation would seem to represent more accurately the thinking of the townspeople. Expenditures for the year under Survey & Maps of the town were as follows:
Survey, plan, order, filing of:
Lincoln Village Road
$233.75
Railroad Avenue
115.00
East Harwich Wellfield
476.10
Herring River Landing
291.10
Allen Harbor Extension
687.50
Survey, plan of:
Pleasant Lake Avenue
1,101.50
Highland Avenue
115.50
Round Cove
276.75
Sidelines & Selectmen's requests
324.33
Red River Beach Work
128.00
Highway Department requests
221.50
Water Department requests
356.15
Assessors Old Maps
783.50
New Assessors' Maps
1,881.25
$6,991.93
Balance to revenue
8.07
$7,000.00
The Selectmen thank all other town officers, employees and committees for their assistance during the past year. The voters are strongly urged to study this and other re- ports contained in these pages. Such a study can help towards an understanding of some of the problems which will be discussed at the Annual Town Meeting.
ALTON E. WALKER, Chmn.
STEPHEN WEEKES
MILTON H. WELT Board of Selectmen
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Report of the Assessors
To the Citizens of the Town of Harwich:
The Assessors have inserted an article in the 1958 Town Warrant asking the voters for instructions in regard to a revaluation of all the property within the town. This revalu- ation would be done scientifically by an outside concern and would give the Assessors complete and up to date information. It would also provide just and equitable assessments plus a system which would guarantee just and equitable assessments in the future.
The assessments and the system of assessing now in operation in Harwich is subject to too much error to be practical in these times. The taxpayer in Harwich is paying $5.10 in taxes for each one hundred dollars of value which the assessors place on his property. Consequently, each one hundred dollars of value becomes extremely important- from the point of view of both the taxpayer and the assessor.
Under the present system, the assessed values have come about as a result of a view of the property by the assessors, and agreement reached, after discussion, as to its value. The assessments have been made over a period of a great many years, under widely differing conditions, by different Boards of Assessors, made up of different individuals, with different opinions as to property values. It is obvious that under the conditions listed above, it is practically impossible to arrive at consistent assessments even on identical properties.
The present Board of Assessors, therefore, will recom- mend to the townspeople that they approve a revaluation. The Board feels that such a revaluation would guarantee that all assessments would be made on an equal basis. It would take the process of assessing away from opinion and guess- work into the area of informed, scientific method. Once in force, this system would provide a readily applicable formula for the use of this and future Boards of Assessors.
While your Board of Assessors is willing to do the job, and feels that it is capable, there are several reasons which make it far more practical for the Town to hire an outside firm.
In the first place, when local people attempt a project of this kind, it is impossible to avoid suspicion; suspicion of motives, favoritism and politics. The result is a wide spread lack of confidence which would defeat the purpose of the revaluation.
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Secondly, such a project requires a tremendous amount of work and if the local Board of Assessors were to attempt. it, other duties, which are just as important, would have to be neglected.
Equally important is the fact that outside firms special- izing in this work have been hired by neighboring Cape towns. Their work and systems have been tried and tested and their ability to correct situations similar to the one facing Harwich at this time has proved highly successful.
For the past several years the Assessors have, within the scope of their limited time and funds, attempted to correct inequities in the present system. They recommend to the voters of Harwich, however, that the only real solution is, as we have stated, a complete revaluation by an outside, pro- fessional firm. Further, they feel that they would be remiss in their duty if they did not make this recommendation.
The Assessors are at the present time obtaining cost es- timates which they expect to have available shortly. In this connection they have been informed that it is possible to arrange for payment over a period of three years.
Valuation of the Town-Dec. 31, 1957
$14,927,400
Valuation of the Town-Dec. 31, 1956
14,769,750
Increase in valuation
$157,650
Valuation of land exclusive of buildings
$2,718,810
Valuation of buildings exclusive of land
10,954,600
Total valuation of land and buildings
$13,673,410
Valuation of Personal Estate:
Stock in Trade
$54,700
Machinery
32,700
All other tangible property
1,166,590
1,253,990
$14,927,400
Taxes levied :
Tax on Real Estate
$697,343.91
Tax on Personal Property
63,953.49
Tax on Polls
2,020.00
$763,317.40
Tax rate-$51.00 per thousand
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Added Valuation: August Real Estate Personal
$308,540.00
11,690.00
$320,230.00
Added Taxes levied:
Real Estate
$15,735.54
Personal
596.19
$16,331.75
Added Valuation: September Real Estate
$9,300.00
Added Taxes levied:
474.30
Added Valuation: November
Real Estate
$10,800.00
Personal
300.00
$11,100.00
Added Taxes levied:
Real Estate
$550.80
Personal
15.30
$566.10
Number of acres of land assessed
7,528.93
Number of Dwellings assessed
3,179
Number of livestock assessed: Cows-3; Pigs-10; Goats-1; Fowl-60
Recapitulation
Total appropriation as certified by the Town Clerk
$996,347.61
Amount used from Available Funds
6,029.38
Debt and Interest Charges
4,412.80
Overlay Deficit
2,301.98
County Retirement and Snow Removal
5,112.69
State Parks and Reservations
2,234.68
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
1,126.26
Mosquito Control
5,168.32
County Tax
93,089.78
Overlay of Current Year
9,000.00
Gross amount to be raised
$1,124,823.50
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Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
Income Tax
$49,383.24
Corporation Taxes
30,992.20
Old Age Tax (Meals)
1,858.04
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
35,000.00
Licenses
4,000.00
General Government
3,000.00
Charities (other than Federal Grants)
8,000.00
Old Age Assistance (other than Federal Grants)
30,000.00
Veterans Services
3,000.00
Schools (Funds from Income Tax not included)
7,000.00
Public Services (Water)
65,604.01
Court House Rent 1,250.00
Total estimated receipts $239,087.49
Overestimates of previous year-(Mosquito Control)
9.23
Amounts taken from Available Funds 122,029.38
$122,038.61
Gross amount to be raised by taxation
$1,124,823.50
Total estimated receipts and available funds
361,126.10
Net amount to be raised by taxation
$763,697.40
Tax on Polls
$2,400.00
Tax on Personal
63,953.49
Tax on Real Estate
$697,343.91
. $763,697.40
STEPHEN WEEKES ALTON E. WALKER MILTON H. WELT
Assessors of Harwich
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TOWN OF HARWICH ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
MARCH 3, 1958
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Barnstable, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Harwich in said County,
Greeting:
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 affairs to meet in the High School Auditorium in said Town on Monday, March 3, 1958 at 12 noon then and there to act on Article 1 and afterwards on the following day, Tuesday, March 4, 1958 at 7:30 P.M. to meet in Exchange Hall and act on the re- maining articles.
Polls will be open at 12 noon and will close at 8:00 P.M.
Article 1. To choose on one ballot the following Town Officers and Committees: Moderator, Town Clerk, Town Treas- urer, Collector of Taxes for one year; One Selectman, Overseer of Public Welfare and the Board of Health for three years; one Assessor for three years; one Surveyor of Highways for three years; one Recreation Committee for five years; three Con- stables for one year; one Trustee of Brooks Library for three years; one Cemetery Commissioner for three years; two School Committee for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years; one Park Commissioner for two years; one Water Commissioner for three years; one Planning Board Member for five years and one Planning Board Member for four years.
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Article 2. To choose all other Town Officers and Com- mittees.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to bor- row money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1958 and to issue a note or notes therefore 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 of the General Laws.
Article 4. To hear the report of all Town Officers and Committees for the year of 1957.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate such sums of money as may be required to defray Town charges for the calendar year of 1958 and to act fully thereon.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote that the terms of office for the Collector of Taxes, Town Clerk and Town Treasurer be three years instead of the present one year terms, said three year terms to commence with the 1959 municipal year. By request of Tax Collector, Town Clerk & Town Treasurer.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provision of Chapter 223 of the Acts of 1957 authorizing cities and towns to establish Conservation Commissions to promote the development of natural resources. By request of Board of Selectmen.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate or take from available funds a sufficient sum of money to be spent under the direction of the Board of As- sessors for professional equalization of valuation of all real estate and tangible personal property in the Town of Har- wich and to act fully thereon. By request of Board of Assessors.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) for the purpose of having a professional firm make a Job Classification and Salary Plan Survey of all town depart- ments excepting the school department and to report on or before the next annual meeting and to act fully thereon. By request of Harwich Town Study Committee and the Board of Selectmen.
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Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of seventy-five hundred dollars ($7,500) for the purpose of reimbursing the County of Barnstable for land damage claims and legal services and to act fully there- on. By request of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) for the pur- ยท pose of surveying and bounding certain town properties and to act fully thereon. By request of Board of Selectmen.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars ($300) for the purpose of resetting certain town line bounds and to act fully thereon. By request of Board of Selectmen.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to sell by public sale any real estate that the town may acquire or has acquired by the foreclosure of tax titles under any statute. This vote to remain in full force and virtue until rescinded or repealed by some future town meeting and to act fully thereon. By request of John H. Paine and others.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to amend the By-Laws of the Town of Harwich by inserting the following new section under Article II, Section 2 as follows:
Section 2A-wherever a motion is presented to the meet- ing either annual or special calling for an appropriation, the whole or any part thereof to be raised by the issuance of bonds, the vote on said motion shall be taken by a secret ballot. and to act fully thereon. By request of Charles G. Hall and others.
Article 15. To see if the voters of the Town will vote to instruct the Finance Committee to print a brief explana- tion of its recommendations under each article in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, stating why it approved adoption of the article, or why it recommended indefinite postpone- ment of the article and to act fully thereon. By request of Harwich Town Government Study Committee.
Article 16. To see if the voters of the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to list individually, in any article re- questing an appropriation to pay unpaid bills, all such bills, the amount of each such bill and the department responsible for each such unpaid bill, the provision of this article, if adopted, to take effect upon its adoption by the voters. By request of Harwich Town Government Study Committee.
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Article 17. To see if the voters of the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to change the item in the annual budget which reads "Survey and Maps of the Town" to read "Assessors' Maps" and that the Selectmen instruct each department desiring the services of a surveyor to insert a sum of money in its annual budget to cover the cost of such anticipated surveys and to act fully thereon. By re- quest of Harwich Town Government Study Committee.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to make the appointments of all appointive offi- cers of the town, beginning in 1959, on or before the 15th day of January, the term of office to be for the term of not more than one year or until a successor is appointed. By request of Harwich Town Government Study Committee.
MISCELLANEOUS
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to transfer by deed to the Harwich Post #292 American Legion Inc. the land together with the buildings thereon situated in Harwich in that part known as West Harwich and bounded and described as follows: northerly by land of John T. Wood two hundred five feet (205) more or less; easterly by land of John T. Wood one hundred fif- teen feet (115) more or less; southerly by cemetery land ad- joining the West Harwich Baptist Church two hundred twenty feet (220) more or less and westerly by a Town Road known as School Street one hundred fifty feet (150) more or less. The premises being known as the Old Harwich School Property in West Harwich and to act fully thereon. By re- quest of Harwich Post #292 American Legion Inc.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) for the purpose of installing and maintaining Christmas lights along the main business sections in the Town of Harwich, said money to be spent under the direction of the Selectmen and to act fully thereon. By request of Marie G. Morgan and others.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars ($160) for the purpose of purchasing a tape recorder for the use of the Harwich Town Government Study Committee. By re- quest of Harwich Town Government Study Committee.
Article 22. To see if the Town will allow "The Harwich Visiting Nurse Association" to receive and administer the collections made by the nurses as in previous years, up until 1948. By request of Harwich Visiting Nurse Association.
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Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750) to be expended under the direction of the library trustees, for the purpose of redecorating the main library room, the work room, the stairway and upper hall floor of Brooks Free Library and to act fully thereon. By request of Library Trustees.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to expend the re- funded Dog Tax for the support of Brooks Free Library and to act fully thereon. By request of Library Trustees.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and to authorize the Selectmen to purchase a new police cruiser and equipment, to trade the 1957 Plymouth cruiser now owned by the town, the sum received from said trade to be used toward the purchase of the new car and to act fully thereon. By request of Chief of Police.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and to au- thorize the Selectmen to purchase a new police cruiser and equipment to trade the 1957 Plymouth cruiser now owned by the town, the sum received from said trade to be used toward the purchase of the new car and to act fully thereon. By re- quest of Chief of Police.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of eighteen hundred and seventy-seven dollars and fifty cents ($1,877.50) to purchase a new Station Wagon and equipment for the Fire Department and to auth- orize the Selectmen to trade the 1955 Station Wagon now owned by the Town, the sum from said trade to be used toward the purchase of the new vehicle and to act fully thereon. By request of Chief of Fire Department.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of nine hundred and thirty dollars ($930) for the purchase of approximately five hundred feet (500) of 21/2" double jacket fire hose and approximately three hun- dred feet (300) of forestry hose and to act fully thereon. By request of Chief of Fire Department.
Article 29. To see if the Town will accept and adopt as a By-Law the following ordinance: "Town of Harwich Gas Code." In accordance with Chapter 143, General Laws, Sec- tion 3 and subsequent amendments thereto-Section 1-Gas Fitting Regulations-
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SECTION 1 Gas Fitting Regulations Definitions
Para. 1 Gas Fitting: The term "Gas Fitting" as used in these regu- lations shall mean the work of putting together any fittings, pipes, or fixtures or other appliances which are to contain gas for heat, light or power purposes.
Para. 2 Gas Appliances: The term "Gas Appliances" shall be deemed to include gas pipes and equipment and/or appliances which are to contain or use gas for heat, light or power purposes.
Para. 3 Gas Fitter: The term "Gas Fitter" shall be deemed to include only a person, firm or corporation holding a "Gas Fitters Per- mit" issued by the head of the Fire Department.
Para. 4 Gas Company: The term "Gas Company" shall be deemed to mean any corporation, company, association or person furnish- ing gas for heating, lighting, and power purposes within the Town of Harwich, through a system of gas mains, pipes and/or tanks or bottles.
SECTION 2 Gas Fitting Shall Be Done Only By Qualified "Gas Fitters"
A person, firm, or corporation shall not make or alter a gas instal- lation until a certificate of competency hereafter referred to as a "Gas Fitters Permit" is obtained from the Head of the Fire Department. Such certificate shall be issued on the basis of the following:
1. Previous experience in making installations or alterations to Gas Appliances.
2. Knowledge of, and familiarity with, the type of installations or alterations proposed.
3. Facilities and equipment available for making such an installation.
4. Confirmation through endorsement, or reliability as to the pur- pose of such certificate.
All statements made with request to the foregoing shall be in writing on forms furnished by the Head of the Fire Department, with such en- dorsements as he may prescribe, and such certificate shall continue in effect until suspended or revoked for cause by the Head of the Fire Department.
SECTION 3 "Permits Required"
Whoever desires to install or alter gas appliances shall first make application to the Head of the Fire Department, and obtain a permit therefor. Such application shall be made in the name of the owner or occupant of the building or structure by the person or persons who pro- pose to make the installation of such equipment. Upon exhibition of a "Gas Fitters Permit" as defined in these rules and regulations, and sub- mission of evidence that the gas appliance to be installed or the alter- ation to be made has been approved by an accredited national testing agency, for the use with such gas as it is to be supplied, the Head of the Fire Department shall grant a permit authorizing such installation or alteration.
SECTION 4 "Inspection and Approval"
Para. 1 Inspection and Test: All gas fittings shall be done in accordance with the permit granted. No concealed work shall be covered
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before being tested. All piping shall be tested to withstand an air pressure of fifty (50) percent in excess of normal operating pressure of the system, and not less than fifty (50) pounds per square inch for not less than ten (10) minutes in welded piping systems, without showing any drop in pressure.
The Fire Department may from time to time, as it deems proper cause to be inspected, the gas appliance in any building, and if the inspection shows that they do not comply with the provi- sions hereof, the gas company shall be so notified in writing. Upon receipt of such notice the gas company shall shut off the supply of gas for such appliances until it has been again notified in writing by the Head of the Fire Department that such appli- ances have been approved by the Head of the Fire Department.
Para. 2 Damaged Installation: In buildings that have been damaged by fire or other casualty, the gas piping and fixtures shall not be used or gas turned on until authorized by the Head of the Fire Department.
Para. 3 New Installations: A Gas Company shall not cause or permit the passage of gas from its mains through or to any gas appli- ances in any building, unless such appliances, and the gas fitting done in connection with the installation thereof have been in- spected and approved as required by the provisions hereof.
SECTION 5 "Certificate of Inspection"
When any gas fitting or gas appliances have been inspected and ap- proved by the Inspector, such Inspector shall furnish to the Fire Depart- ment a written certificate duly signed by him bearing the date upon which inspection was made, or approval given, which shall be kept on file in the Fire Department. Such certificate shall state character of the gas appliances inspected and that the same have been approved for use by the Inspector signing such certificate. A copy of the above certificate shall be furnished to the gas company.
SECTION 6 "Appliances''
Para. 1 Use of Approved Appliances: No gas shall be installed, except that any appliance which is in good condition, may be used only after it is properly converted, adapted, and tested for perform- ance with the gas with which it is to be supplied, before the appliance is placed in use.
Para. 2 Safety Devices: All automatic gas appliances shall be equipped with an approved automatic device that will prevent excessive temperatures or undue pressure of the appliance.
Para. 3 A Manual shut-off valve shall be installed at a location where the operator can view the fire.
Para. 4 All natural gas fired appliances shall be equipped with auto- matic devices to shut off flow to the main burners.
Para. 5 All liquid propane gas fired appliances shall be equipped with automatic devices to shut off the flow to the main burners and the pilot, should the pilot fail.
Para. 6 Water Heaters: Water heaters shall not be installed in bedrooms, bathrooms, or any room normally kept closed.
SECTION 7 "Labeling Flues"
Flues installed for the use of gas appliances which are not suitable for solid or liquid-fired equipment shall be plainly marked with the
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words "This Flue For Use Of Gas Appliances Only". The label shall be attached at a point near where the vent pipe enters the chimney, or near where the gas vent enters a wall, floor or ceiling.
No Flue except VanPacker type or its equivalent shall be used as an exterior vent or flue.
SECTION 8 "Venting of Appliances"
Under this caption appears the fundamental standards for venting gas appliances which must be observed to assure safety to persons or property under ordinary circumstances.
5.1 Requirements For Venting
Gas appliances are here divided into two classifications:
(1) Appliances required to be vented.
(2) Appliances not required to be vented.
5.1.1. Appliances Required to be Vented
Appliances of the following types shall be flue or vent connected or provided with other approved means for exhausting the flue gases to the outside atmosphere.
(a) Central heating appliances including steam and hot water boilers, warm air furnaces, floor furnaces and vented recessed heaters.
(b) Unit heaters and ducts furnaces.
(c) Gas fired incinerators.
(d) Water heaters with input over 5000 BTU per hour.
(e) Room heaters listed for vented use only. Room heaters installed in sleeping quarters for use of transients, as in hotels, motels and auto courts, shall be of the vented type and shall be connected to an effective flue or vent and equipped with an automatic pilot. Room heaters installed at any location in institutions such as Homes for the Aged, Sanatoriums, Convalescent Homes, Orphan- ages, etc. shall be of the vented type and shall be connected to an effective flue or vent and equipped with an automatic pilot. This includes the space heating sections of bungalow gas ranges.
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